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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 Wednesday 5/6/2015: Sagittarius in the Spotlight; Helpful Maxims & Your Life Purpose

Moon continues its journey through Sagittarius, pushing boundaries and reaching new heights. It’s aided by the expansive optimism of Jupiter this morning at 8:34AM ET, and by the innovative spirit of Uranus at 4:45PM ET. Together, the three planets are in a rare and brief Grand Trine pattern, often associated with abundance and ease of action. Your mission today is to not take it for granted.

And now, the news.

This just in: “Astronomers Measure Distance to Furthest Galaxy Yet”. What I just said in the first paragraph.

Sagittarius is driven by righteous opinionation. It can be blunt, coarse and brutally honest. Yesterday a sex-education quiz allegedly  taken two years ago by a 14 year old girl went viral. The girl was suspended, even though all of her answers were truthful.

In other news, power plays at a foreign media outlet are making headlines (“foreign” and “media” are Sagittarius keywords). Al-Jazeera America is in “turmoil,” says the NYT. Top executives have departed; allegations are swirling about dysfunctional and sexist management; a lawsuit has been filed.

I once interviewed for a job at Al-Jazeera. I was not hired. Which turned out to be a good thing, as the article above confirms.

This gives me the opportunity to share with you one of my favorite maxims: “When man (or woman) rejects, God protects.”  Think about that, especially when you are feeling down because someone shut a door in your face (or did not ask you out for a second date). In hindsight, you’ll likely be glad they didn’t pick you!

Which brings me to another one of my favorite maxims: “You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be”.

Finally — so I can post this sooner, rather than later — an update on NYT columnist David Brooks, whose horoscope we’ve been following for almost a year, as it’s been on an expansive run.  Yesterday, when transiting Jupiter (expansion, publishing) was minutes away from an exact meet-up with his Mercury (writing, communication, travel), he posted an op-ed specifically plugging his latest book. Of course he did.

In the op-ed, “What is Your Purpose?” he asks readers if they think they’ve found their life purpose, and how they did so. I’m guessing he wrote about this subject because so many people do not feel they know why there are here or what they are designed to do. And you know what I’m going to say next, right? (other than “David Brooks is going to make a fortune selling this book.”)

Get to know your horoscope. It’s  a map, as intricate and insightful as DNA or a software program (with the extra bonus of Free Will). Use it for guidance. If you do, you will better understand who you are naturally designed to be — and who you need to be — in order to fulfill your life potential.

Here’s the last paragraph of the op-ed:

Mostly the idea is to use a community of conversation as a way to get somewhere: to revive old vocabularies, modernize old moral traditions, come up with new schools and labels so that people have more concrete building blocks and handholds as they try to figure out what life is all about.

Revive old vocabularies? Astrology has been around for a verrrrry long time. But for some people, it might feel more like a “new school” of thought. Still, it has plenty of “concrete building blocks and handholds” to offer. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 5/5/2015

As of 7:13AM ET Moon will be fully engaged in Sagittarius, suggesting opportunities to state your opinion and broaden your horizons. Go for a gamble or a gambol; entertain a different point of view. Around lunchtime ET – 12:38PM – a Moon-Saturn meet-up may dim the lights a bit (downside) or force you to get real about an especially buoyant aspiration (potential upside).  Adapt and move on….there’s another debate scheduled around 6:32PM ET, when the Moon is challenged by Mercury in clever Gemini. Then you can party like it’s Cinco de Mayo…which in fact, it is.

And now, the news.

Coming off of yesterday’s indulgent, potentially excessive challenge between Sun in mine-mine-mine Taurus and Jupiter in party on (royally) Leo, how interesting to see this article about the wild parties at Davos — an exclusive, PTB event that happens in January. Coincidence or conspiracy? No coincidence of timing I’m sure, given the easy alignment that’s exact at 3:08AM ET on Wednesday between the Sun and power broker Pluto.

And while I’ve got wretched excess and glamor on my mind, check out the couture on display at Monday night’s Costume Institute gala at the Met.

There will be plenty of upheavals and power plays to report tomorrow.

Take it away, David Bowie

Thank you for reading this forecast — and forwarding it to the Entire Free World.

To find out what’s going on in your horoscope— and thus learn 1) why you are like this; 2) why things are/are not happening; or 3) how an objective perspective can help you solve whatever problem is on your mind — contact me to schedule a personal consultation.

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 5/4/2015: Sneak Peek at the Week; Full Moon Fallout

Good Morning!

Over the weekend I trust you felt only the positive potential of the expansive contact between the Taurus Sun and Jupiter in Leo, exact this AM at 5:02 ET. Y’know, sunny, optimistic, playful and pleasurable.  Combined with the serious focus of Sunday’s efficient Mercury-Saturn opposition, and you might have woken up yesterday with a brilliant plan for streamlining the U.S. tax code. I know I did, along with more than a few ideas for expanding this website. Very exciting stuff.

In the news so far, my favorite headline expressing the potential of this morning’s planetary patterns is this: “Justices’ Opinions Grow in Size (Jupiter Square Sun), Accessibility & Testiness (Mercury opposed by Saturn)”. The first line of that article? “The Supreme Court seems to be in a foul mood”. Well what would you expect in the fallout of a Full Moon in oftentimes intense Scorpio?

Put the Scorpio Moon to good use. It’s strategically-minded. Use that potential, along with the lift of the Sun-Jupiter connection, to carry you through the business day. Actions involving consolidation of resources and power, for better or for worse, are favored, given an easy flow between the Sun and Pluto. Be advised, however, that the Moon goes void on a stubborn face-off with Mars at 9:49PM ET — raising the potential for clashes of will. Chill tonight; the Moon enters high-flying Sagittarius Tuesday at 7:13AM ET.

Other than a 17-minute Moon void on Thursday (blink and you’ll miss it), there are no cosmic chill periods that might delay your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Venus enters Cancer on Thursday night, suggesting women, nurturing and social expression will be prominent. Barack Obama has Venus at 1 Cancer, so we may hear some news on those subjects related to him. Thursday is also when we’ll be feeling the dreamy vision and/or bewilderment of a challenge between Mercury and nebulous Neptune, exact on Saturday at 12:09PM ET. Usually we go from dreams to reality. This week, it’s the other way around.

FYI, Mercury turns direct on May 18th. BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS NOW.

And now, the news.

What a disruption of the status quo in Baltimore on Friday, as the six police officers who arrested Freddie Gray on April 12th now face charges related to that homicide. Now that Uranus and Pluto are more than halfway through their respective signs (and in the aftermath of their 33-month long square), we will likely see more efforts to curtail abuses of power. I did think the event chart for Mr. Gray’s arrest — 8:38AM — was a compelling suggestion of foul play when I looked at it several weeks ago.

Now Baltimore’s state attorney — Marilyn Mosby — is being called a hero. We don’t have a birth time for Ms. Mosby, though her date of birth is listed as January 22, 1980. She’s an idealistic, humanitarian Aquarius with Moon in me-me-me Aries. An Aries Moon typically does not wait to take the lead on an inspiring crusade (often for the underdog). Three planets in Virgo (Mars, Jupiter & Saturn) add to a need to do what’s right.

Right now Ms.  Mosby is enjoying a pleasant alignment between the Sun and Venus (no wonder she’s so popular). Another pattern between Mars and Pluto suggests she will have quite a battle on her hands next year. Coincidence or conspiracy?

You know who else has Moon in Aries (other than Brian Williams, Dominique Strauss-Kahn & Bill O’Reilly)? Bernie Sanders, the Senator from Vermont, who announced over the weekend that he is running for president — as a Democrat. He wasted no time making a statement which is a perfect reflection of  current planetary patterns:

“We need a political revolution in this country involving millions of people who are prepared to stand up and say enough is enough, and I want to lead that.”

Sen. Sanders’ revolutionary drive is not likely to abate over the next 18 months; quite the contrary. I wish we had an exact birth time. He’s a Virgo with two highly effective planets —  Venus in Libra and Mars in Aries, both of which will be supercharged by rebel Uranus through 2016. It’s probable that his Aries Moon is being supercharged now, too. What’s certain is that his natal conjunction between Uranus and Saturn is currently being triggered by Saturn, suggesting a potential ambitious reach on his innate need for alignment between the “old guard” and the “avant garde”. Solar arcs among Sun, Mercury (communication) and Saturn also reflect Senator Sanders’ timing.

Update: the last time we checked in on Bill Cosby’s horoscope, we anticipated a change of status/shock to the system at the end of May/June, when transiting Uranus will challenge his 19 degree Cancer Sun and 20 degree Aries Ascendant. It was thus interesting to note that three more women came forward with allegations of being drugged and sexually assaulted. What’s different about this latest batch is that one of the incidents allegedly took place in New Jersey, which has no statute of limitations on sexual assault. Let’s see how the summer progresses…

Last, but not least, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced the birth of their daughter on Saturday at 8:34AM in London. The new princess has a Cancer Ascendant, along with her Taurus Sun and Moon in Libra, in case you needed to know. She was just named Charlotte — same as Chelsea Clinton’s daughter. “Charlotte” means, according to different sources, “manly” or “freeman”.

You now know everything you need to know to take on the world today — except, perhaps —  what’s going on in your own unique horoscope. I can help with that. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 5/1/2015 & the Weekend: Nick Loeb, Poster Child for Sunday’s Full Moon in Scorpio

TGIF!

Moon is in airy, people-pleasing Libra today and Saturday. Arise, go forth and be socially gracious. Note the potential for power plays and/or upsets around 5:08PM ET and 9:54PM ET, when the Moon makes its weekly clash with Pluto and Uranus.

Avoid the yard sales and shopping sprees on Saturday, as the Moon will be void between 10AM and 9:47PM ET. Chill and take care of routine matters; roll with any twists that come up in your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Once the Moon enters Scorpio, the intensity factor is likely to rise, courtesy of the Moon waxing to its fullness on Sunday at 11:42PM ET.

A Full Moon in Scorpio highlights the polarity between “ours” and “mine”…in possessions, values and resources. This Full Moon is colored by a face-off between Mercury in Gemini and Saturn in Sagittarius, suggesting a need to think with disciplined ambition. That can be harsh. The good news is that Mercury (mindset, communication) functions well in Gemini. Let the witticisms fly and the intellect shine!  The X factor is how that well-functioning mindset will be applied. Sure, it can make the trains run on time…but do you really want to live in Italy under Mussolini’s dictatorial control?

Thinking of Mussolini is apt for another pattern that is part of Sunday’s Full Moon, and that would be an exuberant challenge between the Sun in Taurus and Jupiter in Leo. That aspect is exact Monday at 5:02AM ET, but it can be felt now. It adds no small sliver of festive potential and sensory indulgence to the emotionally intense and mentally focused energy of this Full Moon weekend. It also suggests the potential for some stubborn and regal drama. Mussolini was a regal Leo, in case you did not know.

Take this controversial op-ed from Thursday’s NYT, penned by Nick Loeb. Last year Mr. Loeb broke up with his fiancee, the actress Sofia Vergara, and it’s complicated.  In happier times, they talked about having children, and thanks to the wonders of modern technology, they created a few embryos, one of which they hoped a surrogate would carry to term — but only if both of them were in agreement that things should move forward. And then they broke up. And she already has a child. And he’s suing her for custody of the embryos.

As I’m reading his thoughts on the subject, I’m thinking, “Man, if this isn’t a Jupiter-Leo thing talking, I’ll eat my hat”. Words like “king complex” and “entitlement” popped into my head. And guess what? Mr. Loeb is in fact a Leo, with Mercury also in Leo…and it’s just been conjoined by transiting Jupiter in Leo!  This king is feeling expansive, along with his edicts. We do not have a birth time for Mr. Loeb, so I can’t confirm whether he has Moon in late Taurus or early Gemini….but he does have Jupiter in me-me-me Aries and Mars in mine-mine-mine Taurus.

This intense personal drama is an apt example of the mine vs. ours potential of this Full Moon.

Here is Ms. Vergara’s horoscope. Students of astrology, what do you see? Think Mr. Loeb will prevail?

If you’re struggling with a big emotional drama, I would be delighted to help you sort it out by providing an objective astrological perspective. Here’s the 411 on consultations.

No sleeping in on Monday, btw.

Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 4/30/2015: Bruce Jenner’s Perfect Timing; Mercury in Gemini

Allll-righty then.

This was Wednesday:

Moon continues its sojourn in analytical Virgo, seeking perfection and order in all things. There’s an easy flow of action to this day, courtesy of a contact between the Moon and Mars at 4:21PM ET. This is preceded by a supercharged contact between the Moon and Venus in multitasking Gemini at 3:38PM ET. Translation: a potential ego drama over seemingly trivial details. Move on!

The other pattern exact today is a cooperative connection between the Taurus Sun and visionary Neptune in Pisces, exact at 7:11PM ET. Dreams, healing, music, art, empathy, illusion, martyrs, suffering, faith, hope and charity — with  drugs, spirits, oil, gas and other toxins mixed into the headlines. In your own personal world, you may be feeling especially sensitive, as emotions are building to a seriously ripe Full Moon late Sunday.  Feed your soul. Indulge in a gentle, dreamy escape. Practice random acts of kindness and senseless beauty.

This is Thursday:

Moon is void between 8:23AM and 10:03AM ET. Then it enters Libra, seeking balance and harmony in relationship. At 10PM ET, Mercury leaves Taurus for Gemini, the sign it rules. Mercury will be in Gemini until July 8th, where it functions with speed and efficiency. Make your pitch!

And now, the news.

Many were feeling especially sensitive to a beer company’s latest campaign slogan — and not just because it is cumbersome and clumsy. Bud Light:  “The perfect beer for removing ‘no’ from your vocabulary for the night.”  I can’t believe some marketing team got paid thousands of dollars for that brain-dead effort. If the marketing objective is to brand mediocre “beer” as an aphrodisiac,  a catchier line would be “Bud Light: With you all the way.”

Should I ditch astrology for the glamorous life of an advertising copywriter?

But I digress. As it turns out, since our collective consciousness has just been through two heavy  years of Saturn in Scorpio (10/12 – 12/14), thus raising  awareness of the harsher realities (Saturn) of sexual energy (such as date rape), I’m pleased to report that Bud Light pulled its tasteless campaign.

Drugs, suffering, prisons and martyrs. These are uncomfortable potentials of Neptune. Add a challenge to Neptune from Saturn in Sagittarius (foreigners) and it might reflect the timing of Indonesia executing eight people by firing squad last night —  only one was Indonesian. Most had spent over ten years on death row, convicted on charges of narcotics trafficking. One of those men, Myuran Sukumaran, became an accomplished artist while incarcerated. His paintings will be exhibited around the world this year, as transiting Uranus conjuncts his natal Mercury. Horoscopes live forever.

Here in the US, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case brought by Oklahoma inmates about whether the drugs used in lethal injections created unconstitutional pain and suffering (Neptune also refers to the surreal). Not-so-surreal was the detailed Moon-in-Virgo questions asked by SCOTUS in the second day of arguments in a case involving same-sex marriage. Chief Justice John Roberts, whose horoscope certainly suggests potential for innovative thought and perspicacity made a point that hadn’t been getting a lot of attention:

“I’m not sure it’s necessary to get into sexual orientation to resolve this case,” he said. “I mean, if Sue loves Joe and Tom loves Joe, Sue can marry him and Tom can’t. And the difference is based upon their different sex. Why isn’t that a straightforward question of sexual discrimination?”

That question created some buzz, as the above link explains. Frankly, I’d be surprised if the Court does not rule in favor of a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. And then they will move on to hearing cases arguing that discrimination is OK if not discriminating would violate one’s religious beliefs. We’ve got two more years of Saturn in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces…

…and here are thoughts on that Saturn-Neptune aspect, as well as a reminder on what we can expect in the aftermath of the seventh Uranus-Pluto square. I wrote it at the beginning of the year. I wrote this other piece at the end of last month  — it has more perspective on the onslaught of recent catastrophic headlines — see the paragraph about the quindecile.

Anyhoo….

Bruce Jenner, as promised. Here is his horoscope.

Mr. Jenner is a Scorpio with Scorpio rising, suggesting depth, substance and a need to be — and be seen as — someone in power and in control.  With that Scorpio Sun on the Ascendant, we anticipate a need to shine as a soloist in his vocation. Note that the Sun rules the Midheaven (career) and it is in mutual reception with Pluto, the ruler of the chart. Pluto is in the 10th house, along with Mars (action)  in pristine Virgo. Fascinating to note that Mars rules the 6th house of work, cooperation and the body. Mars is in harmony with the Ascendant, which also refers to physical appearance. On the surface, we’d see the potential for a perfectionist drive, tremendous resources and discipline in presentation.

Scorpio rising and an eastern hemisphere emphasis suggest a defensive posture. As his astrologer, we’d want to find out why. What might he be protecting?

Mr. Jenner’s Moon is in Aquarius, and like his Sun, it sits on an angle of the chart, giving it added presence.  An Aquarius Moon needs to be appreciated for being unique and for being socially significant. Keywords for Aquarius include: humanitarian, unconventional, friendship and offbeat. If you watched the Diane Sawyer interview last week, you’ll recall Mr. Jenner saying more than once that his “mission” (that’s Scorpio talking) was to promote tolerance and understanding (that’s Aquarius).  He’d love to sit down with fellow Republicans Mitch McConnell and John Boehner and help them see that a transgendered person is nothing to fear (he said that as much, too). And with his Moon in the 3rd house conjunct Jupiter, he’d make an awesome sales pitch.

So here’s where things get interesting. His Moon is in an obsessive relationship with Pluto, suggesting some kind of competitive feeling with the feminine/maternal influence, impacting his identity. He’d need to communicate this awareness in a big way, and it’s no coincidence that he’s had such an international reach in his career — especially in the media.

We see an equally obsessive-compulsive relationship between Venus (social expression, values) and rebel/eccentric Uranus. Venus rules his 7th house of relationships, so we expect an intense need for freedom in his partnerships — and that need for freedom is likely quite avant garde. In Sagittarius and in the 2nd house,  this Venus needs to have righteous expression of social values and self worth, but this need is likely to be constrained by Saturn, planet of necessary control. Why? Because Saturn is in a hard aspect with Venus. Something about this constraint is related to 1) an anxiety about being lovable; and 2) a conservative mindset, suggested by Saturn in the 11th ruling the 3rd.

Venus also rules the 12th house — traditionally the house of “self-undoing” or things that are suppressed in the subconscious. What clues about Mr. Jenner’s need for eccentric, righteous, honest social expression and self-worth will we find?  Only a meet-up of Mercury, Neptune and the Nodal Axis, suggesting a bewildering and/or idealistic mindset, along with a need for avoidance of conflict at all costs (this meet-up is in Libra). We would know without a doubt that the relationship with the feminine/maternal is also bewildering, and we would ask him how this is so in the consultation. We’d ask how it influences areas of creative self-expression, and we’d soon be engaged in a meaningful conversation.  If he’s like any of my clients, he would be thrilled (after the initial surprise), that his potential would be seen so clearly in his horoscope. How validating and empowering is that?

He would also be amazed that the timing of significant life events would also be suggested by planetary transits. “Mr. Jenner, there’s a strong suggestion of bewilderment about your identity — a potential ego wipe-out in 1958…” and he would tell you that this is when he felt compelled to put on a dress for the first time.  “And in the summer of 1976, why do we see the suggestion that you were at the top of your game professionally?” That was when he became a gold medalist at the Olympics. And so forth.

As for the timing of his interview with Ms. Sawyer and the documentary about his transition that will air this summer, you better believe that such a ground-breaking disruption of the status quo involves the seventh Uranus-Pluto square, as well as those two potent eclipses at 14 Aries-Libra in April and 15 last October. Mr. Jenner’s Neptune is at 15 Libra; the North Node is at 15 Aries in his 6th house. Talk about a supercharged vision of self-expression meeting the public!

A North Node in Aries in the 6th suggests a need to be one’s own pioneering self — especially in the physical body. Uranus just hit that Node for the 3rd time this winter; Pluto is at 15 Capricorn — squaring the Node and Neptune all this year.  And let’s not overlook an exact square between transiting Chiron and his natal Chiron in the 2nd house of self-worth, suggesting an opportunity to heal lifelong wounds.  Not to mention other arcs I’d love to write about, in an article for which someone is actually paying me.

One segment of Ms. Sawyer’s interview showed her speaking with medical professionals about gender dysphoria. One of the doctors showed a chart — an infrared ultraviolet x-ray CAT scan thing of a human brain “lit up” in different colors. The colors represented hormones — male, female, whatever. Hardly anyone at home watching TV would expect to understand what those patterns of colored light on the brain meant, but everyone would trust that the doctor did; therefore,  this chart was Reliable Proof that gender dysphoria was something that could be measured and validated.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if Ms. Sawyer — who is going to need a follow-up act for her journalistic scoop — did a serious journalistic piece on how a natal chart can also be used to anticipate one’s potential in life, including the timing of life events? It would be even more compelling if she interviewed some Serious People who had consulted with an astrologer and found it accurate and helpful.

It would be even more awesome if you found out what your unique horoscope suggests about your life potential. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Thank you for reading this forecast and sharing it with your friends. Thank you for the generous donations which have kept me inspired to write for the past six years.

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 4/28/2015: More on Obama; Venus-Uranus Fallout; Sneak Peek at the Week

Good Morning!

Monday’s Leo Moon was void during business hours between 10:12AM and 9:07PM ET.  Did you feel a bit “meh” about this wonderful new week? Have any twists and delays in your efforts to move forward in a straight line? You were not alone. If you are a NYT subscriber, perhaps you read this helpful and aptly timed article about the futility of trying to push through obstacles when you are clearly headed in the wrong direction. Yesterday’s regal Moon was square Mercury in stubborn Taurus, doncha’ know…and that can present a logjam. Or a regal outburst of frustration. What does the article recommend? Walk, wander and chill…perfect during a Moon void.

Today the Moon is in Virgo, perfect for projects that involves organizing, analyzing and cleaning of the confetti and other remnants of the weekend’s Moon in Leo bash. Make good use of this energetic flow for the next three days.

The only other Moon void during the work week happens on Thursday between 8:23AM and 10:03AM ET.  Other exact planetary patterns include Wednesday’s communicative alignment between the Sun and Neptune, suggesting headlines involving intangibles, such as high art and music, colored rose.  Here’s one about a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Musicians against three movie studios who allegedly outsourced film scoring work, in violation of a union agreement.

On Thursday, Mercury leaves Taurus for airy Gemini, the sign it rules. That should pick up the pace and efficiency of thought and communication. It will also coincide with the planned crash of NASA’s Messenger spacecraft on Mercury.  Amazing. On Sunday, just before midnight, we’ll have a Full Moon in Scorpio…suggesting a palpable building of emotions as we get closer to the weekend. There’s a big fight scheduled on Saturday night…sure to be intense. I think I’ll pass.

And now, more news.

Certainly you have heard about the 7.8 earthquake that occurred in Nepal just before noon on Saturday. With two potent eclipses and the seventh Uranus-Pluto square releasing over the past several weeks, a major seismic event is not surprising, but I can tell you from my own experience with earthquakes that this is no consolation.  I did find it interesting that the most destructive quake to hit Nepal in the past 100 years happened on January 15th, 1934, after the last series of Uranus-Pluto squares. The chart for that quake is much more intense than this recent quake, as was the loss of life.  I know that two events hardly qualify as a full-blown data analysis. I promise to do more when my MacArthur Fellowship materializes.

Not surprised about yesterday’s fiery turmoil in Baltimore, either, for reasons stated plenty of times before in this forecast. Sign of the times.

Meanwhile, during the earlier part of that long Moon void in Cancer, at least 17 million Americans did stay home Friday night (as suggested) and spend time with their favorite gal pal (also suggested). That gal pal was Diane Sawyer, whose riveting interview with Bruce Jenner could not have been more perfectly timed, also reflecting that cooperative aspect between Venus (women, aesthetics, values) and unconventional, tech-friendly Uranus in gotta be me-me-me Aries.

I will do a write-up of  Mr. Jenner’s horoscope (he has not asked to be addressed as “Ms.” yet), hopefully in the next forecast. It paints an accurate portrait of his personal struggles and triumphs, and along with the timing of life events. It’s a complicated horoscope, as you can imagine,  and I can’t help but think how much Mr. Jenner would benefit from a consultation with a sophisticated astrologer. It would be a validating, liberating experience. I hope he has one on call.

Meanwhile, let the record show a few more  apt Venus sextile Uranus headlines, reflecting offbeat themes. First, it was a perfect backdrop for John Oliver to host a Monty Python panel discussion at the Tribeca Film Festival. Venus and Uranus together can be quirky and funny. It was also well-suited for a review of Anne Hathaway’s solo performance as a fighter pilot (Uranus refers to aviation) in “Grounded,” now playing at the Public Theatre. How about an NYT op-ed about how to attract women engineers? And finally, there was this story: “Websites in India Put a Bit of Choice in Arranged Marriages” — putting an innovative spin on an old-fashioned convention.

Last, but not least, a regal Leo Moon, combined with the social tolerance (and wit) of that Venus-Uranus made for quite a show at the Annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. And there was President Obama bringing down the house with a string of one-liners. But wait — you might say — didn’t I specifically write on Friday that Barack Obama wouldn’t be partying over the weekend? Watch his speech (aided and abetted by Luther, his personal anger translator). Do you really think he was joking? See the write-up here. The video of the whole speech is here. The part with Luther is here.

The heavy Saturn transits in the president’s horoscope are happening in tandem with transiting Jupiter to his Sun at 12 degrees Leo. This Jupiter transit suggests an ego boost,  with opportunities for ego expansion and  — in traditional astrology — good fortune and timing. It may facilitate the ambitious reach of those concurrent Saturn transits, but likely not completely cancel out their potential pitfalls. Horoscopes nearly always contain patterns that seem contradictory. This is why it is wise not to obsess about a seemingly “bad” or “good” pattern in your chart.  Besides, planets don’t do anything — as astrologer Noel Tyl has said. People do!

On Saturday it was revealed that Russian hackers had gained access to President Obama’s unclassified emails. Heavy.

What’s going on in your horoscope?

 

 

 

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 4/24/2015 & the Weekend: Party On! (Except Barack Obama)

Today’s major planetary action occurred in the early morning, with the sensitive Cancer Moon rattled and/or fired up by contacts to intense Pluto, action hero Mars and rebel Uranus — all by 9AM ET.  No chance of sleeping in today with that kind of buzz.

At 1:04PM ET, Moon goes void on a communicative connection to Mercury, facilitating whatever you might have to say about getting needs for emotional and home(land) security met. No need to make a crisis about it, though some may be inclined to do so while the Moon is in a wandering freefall — challenged by its efforts to move forward in a straight line. Take care of routine matters; roll with whatever twists and flakes may crop up; avoid shopping sprees and  making mountains out of molehills. An evening at home — or with your favorite gal pal — is not a bad strategy under the light of the Cancer Moon.

Moon engages in Leo at 9:13AM ET, encouraging drama queens everywhere to take center stage in efforts to be loved and adored. An easy flow between Moon and Saturn  at 4:09PM ET facilitates serious effort. Use it to push through the challenges that may emerge regarding seeds planted on last week’s visionary New Moon, thanks to the First Quarter square between the Sun and Moon at 7:55PM ET.

An exuberant meet-up at 11:04AM ET on Sunday between the Moon and Jupiter lifts spirits. Dinner with unusual friends or an appreciation of some other innovative, unconventional aesthetic would be favored, courtesy of an alignment between Venus and Uranus. Did you know that astrology is ruled by Uranus? Don’t be surprised if your conversations have a metaphysical flavor, as Moon will be engaged with both Uranus and Venus around 8PM ET.

Caveat: on a clash between the regal Moon and assertive Mars at 11:34PM ET, avoid going to bed angry on Sunday night. Do something else with that willful force of nature. On Monday, the Moon will be void from 10:12AM ET until 9:07PM ET. Same way we started the work week last week…

And now, the news.

All I have to say right now is that ever since Barack Obama read a collection of Mean Tweets directed at him on Jimmy Kimmel’s show last month, I’ve been noting how transiting Saturn has been impacting Mr. Obama’s horoscope. Avid readers will recall that Saturn (authority, ambition, structure) was at the top of his chart at the end of last year, suggesting (as I had been writing for months and months), that he would be at the top of his game. Saturn has moved off his 28 degree Scorpio Midheaven and is now at 3 degrees Sagittarius. That’s an exact opposition to his Gemini Moon. Saturn-Moon transits can lead one to feel lonely and unlovable.

Yea verily, this is a heavy pattern, and with the Moon and Saturn ruling areas of Mr. Obama’s horoscope that refer to “behind the scenes” influences, one can only imagine what’s cooking. Yesterday, we saw a few manifestations. First, a fast-track approval process for the seriously behind-the-scenes Trans-Pacific Partnership appears to have been OK’d in Congress. Some people think this is a very bad idea. They might be happier to hear that in Florida,  the president took a hard line against those who deny that climate change is real — Happy Earth Day, America! Third, and heaviest of all — was the announcement that an unmanned drone strike in Pakistan had killed an American and an Italian hostage, both of whom were being held by al-Qaeda. That drone strike allegedly happened on a militant Mars-Saturn pattern on January 15th. Mr. Obama accepted “full responsibility” for this Epic Fail. Heavy.

Saturn will be exactly at the top of Mr. Obama’s chart from July 3rd until September 1st, offering plenty of opportunities for him to demonstrate more hard lines and executive authority. Saturn will oppose his Moon for the third and final time the week before Halloween.

In your own personal world, it’s good to know about Saturn transits. Much can be accomplished, but discipline and focus is required. Feelings of depression and isolation are also not uncommon, which is why it is super-helpful to have an astrologer to help you put these heavy times in perspective. You can plan ahead for these challenges — and actually look forward to them. Doesn’t that sound like fun? Here’s how to schedule a personal consultation.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Astro-logical Forecast for April 4/23/2015: Good Luck; Good Timing

Moon entered Cancer at 12:25AM ET, ending an almost 24 hour void, and a higher than average flake, twist and “meh” factor. Now that the Moon is fully and happily in gear (and in the sign it rules, no less), forge ahead on your initiatives.  There’s a lovely balance this morning between the Moon and the Taurus Sun, and no serious bumps in the road for the rest of the day. Emotional security, nurturing and home concerns may become a focus — and be especially fulfilling. An easy connection between the Moon and sensitive Neptune at 5:23PM ET favors empathy, intuition and vision.

Get it off your desk today — or at least before the Moon goes void again on Friday at 1:20PM ET. Be advised that the Moon will be more rattled by its weekly clash with Uranus and Pluto early Friday morning. That’s another incentive to pitch today, as there will likely be less resistance. Good news, perhaps, for Loretta Lynch, who was nominated last November to replace outgoing U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Her nomination is expected to be voted on by the Senate sometime this afternoon.

Meanwhile, you may recall my wondering what sensational buzz we might experience over a seemingly mundane, yet captivating image-gone-viral during yesterday’s all-day Gemini Moon void. Not a dress of controversial colors this time, but an equally mysterious and wondrous quadruple rainbow seen in Long Island — or was it? The good folks at Snopes have the story.

Many believe rainbows are good omens, and it’s fun to note that this one appeared during an easy alignment between Venus and Jupiter, two planets which are considered to be lucky by traditional astrologers. And it is true that when Venus and Jupiter are making strong connections in someone’s horoscope, that Someone often attracts good things,  e.g, marriage, money, a promotion or some other happy expansion. If you’d like to know when your horoscope will be experiencing these fortuitous patterns, book a personal consultation.

 

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 4/22/2015: Gwyneth Paltrow; Postcard From the Void

The last time we had an all-day Moon void in trivia-loving Gemini, the internet was abuzz with controversy over the color of a dress: black and blue? Or white and gold? What wandering twist will capture our attention today? This morning there was a traffic snarl in the UK, caused by a collie commandeering a tractor.

A certain depth of perception, the result of an investigative effort, is suggested by mental Mercury’s alignment with muck-raking Pluto at 9:25AM ET, perhaps affording some insight into the Powers That Be. A cooperative connection between Venus in breezy Gemini and Jupiter in regal Leo exact at 2:41PM ET suggests general good cheer and an indulgent, extra-long lunch. Stubborn resolve in communication and action is suggested around 7:04PM ET, when Mercury and Mars meet up in earthy Taurus. On the plus side, maybe some positive talk and action in honor of Earth Day. On the down side, this would be the time to remember that crises that crop up during Moon voids are usually much ado about nothing, with little consequence for actions initiated.

The Moon doesn’t enter the next sign — Cancer — until 12:25AM ET on Thursday. Look up, and you can catch the annual April Lyrids meteors.

And now, the news.

Moon void, meet Supervoid. During Monday’s all-day Moon void in Taurus, astronomers announced the discovery of the largest “structure” in the known Universe: a giant, gaping hole.  Meanwhile, sandwiched between the idealized beauty of Venus square Neptune (on Sunday) and the luxury of today’s Venus sextile Jupiter, last night  a “perfect” diamond sold for $22m at Sothebys. Add Tuesday’s “think big” Mercury square Jupiter and a highly acquisitive and resourceful Mars in Taurus trine Pluto to that story.

What I’ve been seeing in the headlines this week are plenty of stories illustrating larger planetary patterns. The death of an estimated 900 migrants in a capsized ferry on Mediterranean is yet another story of how immigration and refugees are likely to be ongoing concerns, suggested by Saturn’s 28 month passage through Sagittarius (foreigners), currently squaring Neptune in Pisces (victims, refugees).  The overall disruption of the status quo is, of course, reflected in the aftermath of the square between Uranus and Pluto.  Let the record show that the only other time we experienced a longer period of Uranus-Pluto action was between 1496 and 1500, out of which emerged the New World. There was a big immigration problem back then, too.

Disruption of the status quo in work routines. These seeds were planted in the mid-60s, with the Uranus-Pluto conjunction in Virgo (Virgo refers to work routines, cooperative systems and service). We’d expect to see advancement on these seeds at the Uranus-Pluto square, and here’s a piece a reader sent in about the rise of machines and what it might mean for those with certain jobs. Pluto will be opposed by Uranus in Virgo in 2047 — so that’s when we should have full illumination on how those seeds have thrived.

Inequality of resources. This is another pressing Uranus-Pluto revelation. Ever hear of a “poor door”? In New York, 88,000 people have applied for a chance to live in a controversial Upper West Side building that has separate entrances for low-income tenants and much higher-income owners. Quoted in the NYT article:  “I guess people like it,” said Gary Barnett, founder and president of Extell Development Company, the tower’s developer. “It shows that there’s a tremendous demand for high-quality affordable housing in beautiful neighborhoods.”  What a jerk.

Meanwhile, federal workers are on strike today, including a number of them who work in the U.S. Senate cafeteria. Apparently they used to be U.S. government employees, but as of 2008, they are contract workers for a corporation headquartered in the UK. I was intrigued by this cashier’s account of how her life has changed, as well as this story penned by one of the cafeteria’s cooks, a single father working two jobs who also apparently receives food stamps to make ends meet.

Gwyneth Paltrow. The actress, whose horoscope is laced with patterns that can’t help but attract attention, was mocked last week when she accepted a challenge from Mario Batali to try to live on $29 worth of food for the week –and failed.  She did not do her food stamp challenge shopping at Aldi, which has much lower prices, but this NY Daily News reporter did.

Current transits in Ms. Paltrow’s horoscope  suggest a potential wipe-out and other immediate upheavals, and I thought to myself that this little PR effort wouldn’t be all we’d see in the headlines about her. Sure enough, today she filed for divorce from her husband, from whom she’d “consciously uncoupled” last year, at the beginning of a long and bewildering transit of Neptune to her Pisces Ascendant.

Presumably, Ms. Paltrow has a consulting astrologer on her team who helps her put relationship and other life challenges in perspective. To find out what’s going on in your horoscope — and how you can use astrology to resolve career and relationship concerns — consider scheduling a personal consultation. We will have an excellent discussion together.

 

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday & Tuesday 4/20-21/2015: Neptune Musings; Sneak Peek at the Week

Good Morning!

A double dose of earthy, steady Taurus energy kicks off the work week, as the Sun enters the sign of the Bull at 5:42AM ET and joins the Moon — currently void until 7:28PM ET. Perhaps you will need an extra push to get you going this morning. Or your plans may be subject to a higher than average “flake factor” of twists, delays and “crises” that later prove to be much ado about nothing.

Once you do get started, however,  you are likely to find an easy flow of applied action and resources, driven by some big idea. Why? Because mental Mercury and expansive Jupiter are making exact contact just past midnight on Tuesday. By happy hour Tuesday, Mars (action) and Pluto (resources) will also make contact. Got it? What are you working on today that will build upon your need for material security?

At 7:28PM ET, there may be plenty to talk about, as the Moon enters pixie chatterbox Gemini. Tuesday looks productive, for reasons noted in the preceding paragraph. Get the word out — gather the facts — for your New Moon plans for world domination.  On Wednesday, the Moon will be void all day, suggesting you resist the urge to formally launch anything you wish to be of consequence. Planetary patterns on Wednesday do favor serious research and resourcefulness, however, as Mercury moves on from Jupiter to potent Pluto and then Mars. Or we may see a lot of talk, but no action.

The only other Moon void this week happens on Friday at 1:04PM ET….until 9:13AM ET on Saturday. Overall, a week that begins with solid enthusiasm, backed by brainpower, resources and good cheer. If your unique horoscope is experiencing more challenging transits, call or shoot me an email and we will make an appointment to talk about it. Astrology is a wonderful tool for gaining clarity, whether you’re struggling to make sense of your own life or others around you.

And now, the news.

More headlines cropped up in the “big is beautiful” vein, courtesy of last week’s charged connection between Mars (action) and Jupiter (big).  Big money in politics received another  tax break from our elected representatives in Congress. Do not despair, as George Lucas demonstrated what Sir Isaac Newton first determined: that “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction”. With that Mars in Taurus (building and maintaining material security) and Jupiter in regal, generous Leo,  he announced he’d build and finance 224 units of affordable housing on his own land, “because we’ve got enough millionaires here,” thank you very much.

Power, resources and status quo disruptions are of course what we expect in the wake of the seven Uranus-Pluto squares. I love this one — the most-emailed article in Sunday’s NYT: “Solar Power Battle Puts Hawaii at the Forefront of Worldwide Changes” — guess who prevented one homeowner from installing solar panels that would have saved him $12,000 in one year? Meanwhile in California, a battle over another resource is brewing, as residents consider whether it makes sense for a private company to export bottled water for profit when they are being asked to reduce water consumption because of a drought. The San Bernardino Desert Sun did some investigative reporting and found that Nestle’s bottled water business “has been taking water from some of California’s driest areas on permits that expired as long as 27 years ago“.

Update on Meryl Streep, whose horoscope was last written about here in mid-February. Planetary patterns suggested themes of empowerment and emancipation, along with a fresh start in matters of career and reputation. Over the weekend, on that big Mercury (writing) – Jupiter alignment, laced with a dash of Venus (women) square Neptune (charity, arts), her “significant” contribution to an initiative supporting women screenwriters over 40 was announced.

Update on Jon Stewart, also last covered here in mid-February:  in a lengthy interview published in The Guardian, he explains what motivated him to leave The Daily Show — and it all sounds exactly what you’d expect to hear from someone going through a heavy period of Neptune, followed by Saturn. Translation: feelings of dissatisfaction, lack of purpose and bewilderment….followed by ambition and gravitas.

Update on Monsanto, which was written about here last week:  U.S. regulators announce they “may” start testing food for glyphosate, the active ingredient in Round-Up, Monsanto’s ubiquitous pesticide, which was labeled a “probable carcinogen” in a recent WHO study.

Update on John Harrison, a British clockmaker who has never been covered here before. He made news, as his horoscope suggested he might, despite having died over 200 years ago. Mr. Harrison’s has Sun at 14 Aries, conjunct Mercury at 16 Aries, and if you’re an avid reader of this forecast, you know that any planet or point at 14-16 Aries would likely be pushed into prominence or celebrated for its uniqueness — big time — thanks to two eclipses and the seventh Uranus-Pluto square all happening in that part of the zodiac.  Here’s an excerpt from the whole piece in The Guardian:

One of Guinness World Records’ more unusual awards was presented at the National Maritime Museum yesterday. After a 100-day trial, the timepiece known as Clock B – which had been sealed in a clear plastic box to prevent tampering – was officially declared, by Guinness, to be the world’s “most accurate mechanical clock with a pendulum swinging in free air”.

It was an intriguing enough award. But what is really astonishing is that the clock was designed more than 250 years ago by a man who was derided at the time for “an incoherence and absurdity that was little short of the symptoms of insanity”, and whose plans for the clock lay ignored for two centuries.

I appreciate the “maritime” theme of this story, given Neptune (ruler of oceans, fish) being so prominent in the weekend’s planetary patterns. Neptune also refers to refugees. With Neptune in a loose square to Saturn in Sagittarius (travel, foreigners), it is not surprising to read of an ocean tragedy: an estimated 700 migrants presumed perished while attempting to cross the Mediterranean from Africa to Europe.

On a lighter note, I appreciated the timing of Sunday’s NYT piece on trout-fishing — in the sports section — which included this dreamy Neptunian prose:

We stand in the stream and we become part of the circulatory system of the planet — the rivulets, brooks, streams and rivers that pulse throughout our lands and connect the land to the sea, and those seas to other seas (and through water vapor and clouds, and migratory birds and fish, those seas back to the land). Through fishing, we can, for brief moments, achieve a kind of immortality when we step into this perpetual flow, and see our reflection in the water, and become part of it.

Isn’t that lovely?

For another transporting experience, I submit this breath-taking and thought-provoking illusion: a time-lapse recreation of the evolution of the New York skyline — from 515 years ago to the present. It’s what visitors to the new World Trade Center Observatory during the elevator ride to the top.

Your horoscope is also awesome. If you’ve never taken the time to learn about its mystical patterns — and been amazed at how they have manifested in your real life, I invite you to do so now. Checking in with your  astrologer every six-twelve months will help you plan, prioritize and keep things in perspective. You can also use astrology to build better relationships with family, colleagues and friends.

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