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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 Friday 4/17/2015 & the Weekend: New Moon in Aries

TGIF!

The Moon in pro-active Aries would love to forge ahead, fueled by the exuberant physicality of a Mars-Jupiter contact at 8:29PM ET. But unless you wish to keep your project under wraps, better to wait to launch until after the New Moon. Channel any restlessness or listlessness to wrapping up projects started a month ago, or work on your to-do list for the next cycle. Note the potential for a flash, upset or power play between 6 and 9PM ET, when the Moon makes its weekly clash with Uranus and Pluto. No, those planets aren’t backing off their one-two weekly punch anytime soon.

On Saturday, Moon meets up with the Aries Sun at 2:57PM ET, then goes void until 5:31PM ET, when it enters Taurus. Oh hooray for a weekend with Moon in Taurus, a placement that delights in keeping things all cozy and cuddly: good food, wine, song — a snuggle with your sweetie or an extra 10-minute massage with your mani-pedi.

Color it all artsy-sweetsy-rose through Sunday, as dreamy Neptune makes exact contact with mental Mercury, socially-conscious Venus and the Moon in the wee hours.What dreams may come…what inspiring vision will you seek to make real, fueled by your pioneering New Moon in Aries agenda and driven by the earthly Taurus Moon? Make the most of the optimistic easy flow of energy and resources provided by supportive contacts to the Moon by Jupiter, Mars and Pluto in the afternoon hours ET.

Moon goes void at 7:06PM ET on Sunday…not to enter Gemini until 7:28PM ET on MONDAY. If you’re late to work on Monday, blame the flake factor of the Moon void, as well as the slower pace of the Sun, which leaves Aries for Taurus on Sunday at 5:42AM ET.

Meanwhile…

Saturday’s New Moon in Aries offers us an opportunity to re-set  intentions and goals for the next lunar cycle.  Make a list, light a candle, say a prayer. Around April 25th, on the First Quarter Moon, we can expect a challenge to those goals, with appropriate adjustments made. At the time of the Full Moon on May 3rd, we can expect illumination on the success or failure of our goals for the cycle. If we succeeded, we can consciously release our success into our reality; if we failed, we let go of whatever did not work. After the Third Quarter Moon on the 11th, we can review our achievements, tie up loose ends and get ready to begin another New Moon cycle on May 18th.

A New Moon in Aries suggests a need — or an opportunity — to be a courageous, inspiring pioneer and/or warrior, preferably on the side of the angels.  At its best, Aries is a champion for the weak, the vulnerable, the underdog. It inspires people to take initiatives and defy the odds…yes, sometimes foolishly, but hey — if Plan A blows up, there’s always a Plan B, a Plan C and D. A true Aries never never never gives up. Astrologer Linda Goodman once wrote that Gone With the Wind heroine Scarlett O’Hara was a classic Aries, and never more so than at the end of the film when, after Rhett Butler dumps her and life is totally over, Scarlett declares, “I’ll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day”. To Aries, there is always a tomorrow.

This New Moon suggests vision, courage and enthusiasm rarin’ to go — but perhaps not quite sure where to plant it. I say this because the Sun and Moon are not in touch with any other planet in the New Moon chart. That vision is amplified more by Mercury and Venus in touch with Neptune — noted a few paragraphs ago. These are potentially big plans here — suggested by Mars and Mercury in touch with expansive Jupiter.  And Mars (action) is in an easy flow with Pluto (power and resources) — even better. What did you say you were planning to do over the next few weeks? Lay the groundwork and rest assured you’ll have the next lunar cycle to review your game plan, as Mercury turns retrograde on May 19th.

The Sabian Symbol  for this New Moon is: “a celestial choir singing“. I just looked that up after writing about the grand aesthetic vision suggested by other patterns in this New Moon chart. Neptune refers to music and other intangibles. Coincidence or conspiracy?

Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee suggests this image evokes an “inward listening” (how very Pluto retrograde), leading to an awareness of heavenly influences. He also notes the significance of the numbers nine and three in celestial choirs, as in “nine orders of angels” required to sing the music of the spheres, presumably in “three part harmony”. So we’ll see if the numbers 3 and 9 pop up in the headlines during this lunar cycle. We’re definitely sure to see stories involving divine justification, for better or for worse. Let’s also look for efforts to harmonize that which is earthbound with what seems to be a bit “out there”.

Bovee mentions Pythagoras in his write-up of this Symbol, which led me to do further reading on “music of the spheres”. My Google search also brought me this gem of a cartoon, “Donald Duck in Mathmagic Land” – which I hadn’t seen in decades. In the first few minutes, Donald meets Pythagoras and learns about the mathematics of music, as well as the significance of pentagrams. Watch it and appreciate how geometric patterns are everywhere, constantly repeating. Geometric patterns are everywhere in astrology, too, as well as repeating cycles of time.

You will feel the inspirational push of this New Moon more personally if you have a planet or angle around 28 degrees of Cancer, Libra, Capricorn and especially Aries. Consult your local astrologer for details.

Meanwhile, the new Star Wars trailer is out. May the Force be with you.

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 4/16/2015: Pluto Retrograde; Corporate Musings

Chill and go with the expansive flow. Moon is void in dreamy Pisces until 5PM ET. You know the drill: be advised of a higher than average potential for flakes and twists in your efforts to move forward in a straight line. After 5PM ET, the pace and focus should pick up noticeably when Moon enters me-me-me Aries.

Meanwhile, the “expansive” part of today’s flow comes courtesy of an energized connection between Mars (action) and Jupiter in regal Leo — exact on Friday at 8:29PM ET, but in effect all this week. How big is beautiful? Size 24 apparently, as supersized model Tess Munster makes headlines by becoming the biggest ever to sign with a mainstream agency. Doubleplus good for her. Meanwhile, fat yoga, anyone?

Biggest news today is potent Pluto turning retrograde in Capricorn just before midnight. Retrograde planets suggest a time to look inward for authority in whatever matters ruled by that planet. Pluto is power, control, regeneration, transformation, healing. So stop trying to control the world around you, already. Work on controlling (mastering) your own inner world — and then the world around you will start to reflect your newly-masterful self.  Y’know? You’ll feel the potential for a change of perspective more personally if you have a planet or angle halfway through  Aries, Libra, Cancer — and especially Capricorn.

Pluto will continue to hover around 13-15 degrees of Capricorn through the rest of the year. In June and July, it hits 13 degrees and triggers that Cardinal Grand Cross everyone and their dogs were talking about last April. 13-15 degrees Capricorn is in a obsessive-compulsive relationship with 0 degrees Cancer, a.k.a. the Aries Point, so we can expect continuing prominent power plays, changes of perspective and inner transformations in matters of hallowed government and corporate institutions, especially as related to Cancer concerns such as motherhood, nurturing (food), home and home security.

Take Monsanto, for example. In the summer of 2013, The Mountain Astrologer ran a fascinating cover story about Monsanto’s horoscope, concluding with the author’s opinion that Monsanto might well be affected by the status quo-disrupting potential of the Uranus-Pluto square. And when I looked at the horoscope (Nov 29, 1901 at 12p in Jefferson City, MO) for the filing of the initial incorporation papers, a potent conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn at 14 degrees of corporate Capricorn pulled focus. Also of note: Neptune (toxins, ideals, chemicals, vision, deception, drugs, spirit) in Cancer  at 0 degrees. Isn’t it interesting that Monsanto is perhaps best-known for GMO foods, pesticides and a certain lack of transparency? Neptune (ideals/deception/toxins) in Cancer (nourishment). Astrology is an amazing language.

So this Neptune in Monsanto’s horoscope is in an obsessive relationship with its Jupiter-Saturn meet-up, and also with Uranus (innovation, technogeek) in Sagittarius (sky’s the limit). Neptune with Jupiter suggests faith, healing and rose-colored legal eagles; Neptune with Saturn suggests a nebulous component to its structure (albeit with the potential for great compassion); Neptune with Uranus is a potentially freaky disruption of the ideal. Remember the Goth trend of the early 90s? That was Neptune conjunct Uranus in Capricorn. Freaky. In black (Capricorn, natch).

Anyhoo.

Around the time of 1) the 7th Uranus-Pluto square on March 16th (at 15 Aries-Capricorn); 2) the New Moon/Solar Eclipse at 29 Pisces on March 20th; and 3) the Vernal Equinox at the Aries Point, also on March 20th, I expected that we’d see something significant about Monsanto in the headlines. And in fact, we did.  On March 20th, it was reported that a World Health Organization study had concluded that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Round-Up, the world’s most widely-used weed killer, “probably causes cancer in humans”. What timing! Not surprisingly, within days, Monsanto demanded a retraction, as papers such as the NYT published an op-ed calling for glyphosate to be pulled off the market until it could be proven safe beyond a doubt.

Let’s see how this story has developed by the end of June, when Mars will meet up with Monsanto’s Neptune, and Pluto will be close to an exact hit to Monsanto’s Jupiter-Saturn conjunction. It will also be interesting to see what happens in 2016 when transiting Saturn conjoins Monsanto’s 6-7 degree Sagittarius Sun and Midheaven, triggering a lunar eclipse that happened at 7 degrees of Sagittarius on May 25th of 2013. As the The Mountain Astrologer notes, that day coincided with the “first worldwide protest against one company: Monsanto,” followed by its “worst week ever”.

General Electric also made headlines this week when it announced plans to 1) sell its once hugely-profitable GE Capital division; and 2) partner with producers Brian Grazer and Ron Howard on a new techie television series called “Breakthrough”. So I looked at GE’s horoscope, too — April 15, 1892 at 12pm in New York. GE is a pioneering Aries with Moon at 3 Sagittarius, which is currently being conjoined by transiting Saturn. We could expect some separations and also structured ambition related to the empowered visionary needs of Neptune and Pluto opposing its Sagittarius Moon. GE’s innovative brilliance is suggested by a face-off between mental Mercury and technogeek/rocket scientist Uranus, prominently placed near the angles of the chart.

Interesting that these announcements were made when transiting Mars met up with its natal Mercury (the communicator, of course). We can expect more innovative risks this year and into next, as transiting Uranus fires up GE’s natal Mars in enterprising Capricorn. Monsanto has Mars in Capricorn, too.

Meanwhile, Uranian-Pluto upheavals continue to make headlines in the form of strikes, power plays and other disruptions.  I love this story about a Seattle CEO who took to heart a study concluding that the key to happiness was about $70K a year. Less than that causes stress; anything more is just icing on the cake — but does not increase overall happiness. So he’s reducing his $1 million dollar/year salary and giving everyone else in the company a raise — to $70K. The company is called Gravity — a credit card processor — and if I can work with them instead of PayPal, I’ll switch.

News from underground is another trend when Pluto is active in the cosmos. Here’s a story about a woman who believes composting could be the wave of the future when it comes to burying your loved ones. Meanwhile, in Italy…you won’t believe what this man discovered under his home when he embarked on a quest to fix a toilet.

Remember that the Moon is void until 5PM ET today. If you have time on your hands to work on something of no consequence, put your brain to work on this logic problem from Singapore that went viral this week. Can you figure out when Cheryl’s birthday is? You missed mine.

If you’d rather focus on your birthday (and who would blame you), here’s how you can contact me to discuss the unique patterns at your birth that created the magical miracle that is you.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 4/15/2015: Short & Sweet

Note your dreams upon waking, as the visionary Pisces Moon meets up with equally visionary Neptune at 6:52AM ET. Go about your business until 5:37PM ET, making good use of planetary patterns suggesting an easy flow among ideals, action and resources. After that, Moon will be void for almost 24 hours — not to enter Aries until 5PM ET on Thursday.  Avid readers of this forecast know that voids often coincide with twists, delays and flakes in your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Chill and don’t turn molehills into mountains of crises — it’ll all sort itself out. Go with the flow; avoid impulse purchases and find some time to rest and/or take care of routine concerns, such as filing your tax returns.

The news will be back tomorrow.

 

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday-Tuesday 4/13-14/2015: Hillary’s Big Announcement; Sneak Peek at the Week

Good afternoon!

The work week begins with the Moon in humanitarian Aquarius, cruising without too much interference until 3:45PM ET on Tuesday, when it goes void for barely 30 minutes. At 4:12PM ET, Moon shifts gears from the cerebral Air Sign to the emotional Water Sign of Pisces, suggesting a need to go with the intuitive flow.

Mixed messages may crop up on Tuesday night. On the one hand, there’s an ego-indulgent alignment between the Moon and Venus at 10:51PM ET.  Ooh — cake! On the other hand, there’s an ambitious and/or restrictive alignment between Moon and Saturn at 10:59PM ET. Didn’t you say you were dieting? You’ll feel this push-pull more personally if you have a planet or angle around 4 degrees of Virgo, Sagittarius, Gemini and Pisces. Collectively, we may all see stern headlines about strong women, streamlined finances, serious social graces and other values, as Venus is subsequently opposed by Saturn at 12:25AM ET on Wednesday. Here are some headlines from a prior harsh alignment between Venus and Saturn — last paragraph.

Other planetary shifts this week include mental Mercury, which leaves zippy Aries for steady Taurus at 6:52PM ET on Tuesday. That should slow down the pace of collective thought and communication for a few weeks. On Thursday, Pluto turns retrograde, mostly affecting people with planets and angles at 15 Capricorn. On Saturday, we’ll have a New Moon starting at 2:57PM ET, so use the rest of this week to wrap up your projects started at the New Moon — gawd how time flies — on March 20th.

And now, the news.

To no one’s surprise, Hillary Clinton announced on Sunday that she was running for president, and is now on her way to Iowa. Here was the forecast for Sunday:

Sunday morning is lovely for sleeping in, as the Moon will be void between 4:15AM and 1:44PM ET. There’s pixie dust in the air, helpful for artistry and healing, suggested by a cooperative connection between Mars and Neptune. This patterns also supports fantasy and showbiz types, including those who might want to sell you a bill of goods. Don’t buy it during the Moon void.

After the void, the Moon enters Aquarius, favoring gatherings of friends, especially with such an easy connection to the aforementioned chatty Venus in Gemini at 4:08PM ET. The menu might be quite exotic, as well as your guests.

So what do you think? Did Hillary Clinton pick a good day to launch a campaign? There was some debate among astrologers as to what event should mark its official start, and I’m going with 3:27PM ET, which is when her intention to run was announced on her Twitter feed. Also, if you had picked that time in a contest held by The Washington Post, you would have won. Alas, I did not see that contest until today.

Looking at the chart for 3:27PM  in Chappaqua, NY, a few things stand out. First, the Moon is not void and it is in Aquarius, which aims to be everyone’s best friend. Take a look at the diversity showcased in this introductory campaign video. Lovely pixie dust, right? Second, the Moon is in a fine alignment with Venus, which is beautifully placed at the top of the chart. Third, ambitious Saturn is actively engaged with  Ascendant and the Midheaven. This suggests a serious effort, driven by Saturn in righteous Sagittarius ideals. opposed by Venus in eloquent Gemini.

With Virgo rising, we’d expect an image of perfect organization — definitely no drama, despite the drama potential of the candidate herself (she has Mars and Pluto conjunct in Leo). Interesting that the chart ruler — Mercury in pioneering Aries — is not applying to any other planet in the chart. It’s forging ahead on its own.

Nebulous Neptune in this chart has pluses and minuses, as it is also making contact with the Ascendant and Midheaven. On the plus side: vision, charisma, glamor and the aura of a savior. On the down side: potential fog in presentation and interpretation.

If you like learning about Fixed Stars, you may find it fun to know that Mars, planet of action in the chart, is conjunct the Fixed Star Schedir, which refers to “the Queen; female power” (with a certain caveat). Isn’t that interesting? Mars is in an energetic relationship with Jupiter and in easy alignment with Pluto, suggesting stamina and resources (albeit with a potential for overexertion).

We’ll look at Hillary Clinton’s personal horoscope in another forecast. Meanwhile, I am compelled to call attention to NYT columnist David Brooks and his latest Sunday op-ed, because it is getting so much attention on social media — at least here in NY.

Since last fall, Mr. Brooks has been enjoying an expansive transit of Jupiter to his Mercury, Sun and Moon — all in Leo, which is where Jupiter is now. He’s also been experiencing a period in which spiritual concerns would likely become prominent — noted a couple of times before in this forecast — and especially this year, there is a strong suggestion of a need to take action on them. What is the title of this op-ed? “The Moral Bucket List”. Everyone is like “OMG…this is exactly what life should be about!” Check it out.

I wonder if David Brooks has ever consulted with an astrologer. Or Hillary Clinton, for that matter….

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 4/10/15 & The Weekend: Lincoln Chafee & Other Disruptors of the Status Quo

Arise, go forth and get down to business, driven by the Moon in enterprising Capricorn as of 8:47AM ET. There’s a heady idealism in mindset and communication, suggested by a meet-up between Mercury and the Sun in Aries which occurred just after midnight. This could be highly persuasive (Aries is indomitable), even if it does require a revision down the road (Mercury, when so close to the Sun, can be blinded by the light — unable to receive input from any other Source). Classical astrologers define planets conjunct the Sun as combust.

There’s no Moon void on Saturday to dissuade you from accomplishing your weekend chores. Have at it, being mindful of the potential for upsets and power plays in the hours between 11AM and 3PM ET, as the Moon makes contact with Uranus and Pluto.  Just before midnight ET on Saturday we’ll have the 3rd Quarter Moon, presenting another bit of light regarding the agenda you set on the New Moon a few weeks ago.

On Saturday we’ll also see Venus (arts, women, social expression, values and money) leave Taurus for Gemini at 11:29AM ET. In Gemini, Venus can be oh-so-charming, seeking social expression by being informed, intense and entertaining — and able to love both sides of the same coin — or several coins at once. Is that fickle?

Sunday morning is lovely for sleeping in, as the Moon will be void between 4:15AM and 1:44PM ET. There’s pixie dust in the air, helpful for artistry and healing, suggested by a cooperative connection between Mars and Neptune. This patterns also supports fantasy and showbiz types, including those who might want to sell you a bill of goods. Don’t buy it during the Moon void.

After the void, the Moon enters Aquarius, favoring gatherings of friends, especially with such an easy connection to the aforementioned chatty Venus in Gemini at 4:08PM ET. The menu might be quite exotic, as well as your guests.

No sleeping in on Monday.

And now, the news.

Surprise, surprise — there may be a new presidential candidate in town, as the NYT reports that Lincoln Chafee, the former Republican senator from Rhode Island, who then was elected governor as an Independent, is exploring a run — as a Democrat. Mr. Chafee is a pioneering Aries with Moon in Leo — birth time unknown, though I do have a few ideas about why we are seeing this expansive/ambitious reach now.

What we can see clearly in his horoscope is unconventional Uranus running wild (Barack Obama has this pattern, too). No wonder he defies description — and the status quo. As a US Senator, he voted against invading Iraq. This need to buck the trend is being supercharged by Uranus, Pluto and last Saturday’s Full Moon/Eclipse. Assertive Mars is also active now, by transit and by solar arc — there’s the need for action now.

Elsewhere, more startling revelations in communication from Alex Millard, a woman who posed as a man on Twitter for just one week and found herself being retweeted and favorited for what she had to say, instead of being the recipient of rape threats and insults about her weight. Her opinions were even picked up by a media outlet, too — imagine that. Which reminds of comedian Hannibal Buress — a person with a Y chromosome. Funny how only after he called out the numerous rape allegations against Bill Cosby did people start taking seriously what dozens of women had said before. Ohhhhh if only that were funny.

Anyhoo…

In other news of breakouts and triumphs for equality no matter how unconventional you might be (Sun conjunct Mercury-Uranus in Aries square Pluto in Capricorn, thanks very much), score one for Tamara Lusardi, a transgendered woman who just won a discrimination suit against her employer, the US military. As I’ve opined before, these suits reflect the opportunity to take the seeds of civil rights planted during the Uranus-Pluto conjunction of the mid-60s to the next level. They also stretch and challenge whatever notions we may have about gender and identity, arguing for a paradigm shift that overturns the status quo…

Which reminds me of a conversation I had recently with a woman well-versed in Tarot who wanted to better understand the potential of Uranus square Pluto. Here’s what I showed her:

the tower

…and here’s what Tarot sage Beth Owlsdaughter has to say about this powerful card (I can’t wait for her to finish her book).

Have a wonderful weekend….and meanwhile, if you’re passionate about understanding why you are the way you are…what you need in order to live your life to your fullest potential…how you can better understand the significant others in your life…what opportunities are likely to present themselves this year…or even how you can use astrology to better manage your co-workers at the office, here’s how you can contact me to schedule a consultation.

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 4/9/2015: Stan Freberg, One in a Billion….RIP

Take care of business in the early part of the day, assisted by an easy flow of mindset and initiative to the righteous, expansive drive of the Sagittarius Moon. At 1:42PM ET, give it a rest or focus on a routine project, if you’re at the office. Otherwise, chill out and indulge in a gambol or other wandering adventure. The Moon gets back into business mode Friday at 8:47AM ET — when it enters enterprising Capricorn.

I’ve been writing this forecast for almost six years (it’ll be six years on April 24th). I’ve observed a lot — as Yogi Berra would say — by watching. Even though I expect the headlines to manifest in sync with planetary patterns, I’m often astonished by just how in sync they can be.

Take, for example, the obituaries. So often it happens that the qualities and/or vocations of people who have passed (and made the NYT obits) reflect the symbolism of planetary patterns. Yesterday Mercury was in pioneering Aries, super-charged by perspicacious Pluto and quirky Uranus. When you have a horoscope with strong contact between Mercury (mindset), Venus (social expression) or Moon with Uranus, we expect that horoscope to have an off-beat sense of humor — and in Aries, an exceptionally quick wit. Yesterday the Sun and Uranus also met up in Aries, which is a strong statement of inspiring individualism. How fascinating, then,  that pioneering “madcap adman and satirist” Stan Freberg passed away yesterday at the age of 88.

Mr. Freberg has Sun and Mercury exactly conjunct at 14 degrees Leo, which is where expansive Jupiter was at the beginning of March. His Moon is in Leo, too — very independently placed in the 1st house. This suggests a strong need for drama and showmanship — a real king and entrepreneur.  Check out that showmanship in this commercial showing off the power of radio (and the imagination), as Lake Michigan is transformed into a ginormous mug of hot chocolate.

Interesting to also see the Mr. Freberg’s Moon in a provocative square to combative Mars. Why? Because Mr. Freberg called himself called himself a “guerrilla satirist,” — according to his NYT obituary — “using humor as a barbed weapon to take on issues ranging from the commercialization of Christmas to the hypocrisy of liberals.” Here’s another famous spot (“John & Marcia”), in which he spoofs the (melo)drama of soap operas.

So how does Uranus factor in Mr. Freberg’s  horoscope, known for its wacky wit? Good question! How about Uranus at 29 degrees Pisces — the prominent Aries Point — in the 9th house (broadcasting), exactly trine his 29 degree Cancer Ascendant, and in touch with his Leo Moon, too.  We’d expect his quirkiness to easily flow forth in his personal projection. It would need to do this!

As for that Cancer Ascendant, we could expect Mr. Freberg to wear his emotions on his sleeve, along with perhaps an intense need to comment on matters related to the home(land) and security, suggested by Venus and Pluto together in Cancer, too.  Here’s a track from the classic LP “Stan Freberg Presents The United States of America.”. And here’s his PBS special from 1982, “The Federal Budget Review,” complete with a donkey, an elephant and David Ogden Stiers.

For more on Stan Freberg’s work in voiceover, television, advertising and radio, here’s his really long and impressive Wikipedia entry. You could spend more than a few happy hours listening to his fun songs and sketches….indulge yourself in this afternoon’s Moon in Sagittarius (broad comedy, righteous opinions) void.

RIP, Mr. Freberg, wherever you are…may your wit be loved forever….

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 4/8/2015: Rand Paul, Jupiter Turning Direct & More

A lighter, brighter day as of 1:08AM ET, when the Moon leaves intense Scorpio for high-flying Sagittarius. Genius potential and quirkier than usual opinions may grace your morning, as mental Mercury conjoins rebel Uranus at 8:20AM ET. There’s also a aura of gravitas suggested by the Moon’s meet-up with taskmaster Saturn.

As noted on Monday, Jupiter turns direct at 12:58PM ET, finally moving projects forward that may have been delayed over the past four months. Those born with a planet or angle at 12 degrees of just about any sign are more personally affected, especially if that planet or angle is Leo.  A dreamy escape may be yours around 5:38PM ET, when the Moon is challenged by nebulous Neptune. Could be a miscommunication, too.

And now, the news.

Startling communications and revelations favoring rebels and other unconventional types is what we anticipated, given the Aries Sun’s annual meet-up with renegade Uranus yesterday. Not to mention Mercury’s dance with Pluto and Uranus. And with Tuesday’s Scorpio Moon, the revelations might be pretty darn deep.

Exhibit A: just 90 minutes after Saturday’s Full Moon/Eclipse, an unarmed black man was killed by a police officer in North Charleston, South Carolina. The man had been pulled over for a broken tail light — the officer said that there had been a struggle — and that the man had taken his Taser. Yeah? Well, guess what? As I am sure you know by now, just before Mercury (information) was challenged by Pluto yesterday,  headlines were ablaze with the news that a bystander captured the whole incident on a cellphone. It turns out that the officer’s Taser wasn’t taken, though it seems the officer did try to plant that Taser next to his target’s body. The officer — Michael Slaser — has been charged with murder.

Avid readers of this forecast will recall that the US horoscope is under considerable stress by transiting Pluto to its natal Saturn at 14 Libra. We are collectively being challenged to face the realities of law and authority in our homeland. Extraordinary effort may be required and our perspective is likely to be transformed — and not without some degree of anguish. If you have ever personally experienced a transit of Pluto to your natal Saturn, you know exactly what I’m talking about. FYI, this Pluto-Saturn transits will be around through 2015 and into 2016).

Exhibit B: Pluto refers to therapy, depth, perspective and transformation. Mercury refers to information and mindset. With the Moon in investigative Scorpio, of course it makes sense that we’d see an NYT op-ed about patients who Google their shrink.

Exhibit C: Rand Paul. We’d expect him to be feeling very independent and empowered these days, given that his 16 degrees Capricorn Sun is being exactly squared by rebel Uranus at 16 Aries…and conjoined by potent Pluto. When else would he declare his candidacy for president but on a day with Sun in Aries conjunct Uranus? This was a day to take “the road not taken”…and how cool that the NYT headline for Paul’s announcement reads: “Paul is Taking an Untested Route to the Nomination.” Of course he is.

Exhibit D: rebellion over the construction of a new telescope on the Big Island of Hawaii has temporarily halted the project. That’s one of the technogeek stories we’d expect with current planetary patterns. And I just love this NYT headline: “Who’s Coming to Dinner? Astronauts, Spelunkers and Explorers“. Yep — people who boldly go…etc. Or how about this one: “Fukushima Disaster Radiation Detected Off Canada’s Coast”.  Or another NYT piece that wonders if we might be better off if commercial airplanes were piloted by robots (because hey, we have the technology).

Meanwhile, although the UK elections aren’t until May 7th, yesterday was a great day to run a headline that read “Rise of Scottish and English Nationalists Threatens Old Order”.

Finally, a follow-up on yesterday’s bit about the statue of Edward Snowden that was taken down by authorities. Rebellious and innovative artists have put it back in a new form — a hologram. More of the appreciation we might expect to receive if we had transiting Jupiter conjunct a natal Venus in Leo, as Mr. Snowden has all month.

To find out why you are the way you are — and how you can use awareness of planetary cycles to live your life better, consider scheduling a personal astro-logical consultation. We will have a most excellent discussion together.

Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 4/7/2015: Edward Snowden Meets John Oliver & Other News From Underground

Keep digging deep for that innovative revelation, aided and abetted by a substance-seeking Scorpio Moon and a potent connection between Mercury (mindset) and Pluto (perspective, transformation), exact at 8:05PM ET. Get it off your desk by 4:42PM ET, when the Moon goes void until 1:04AM ET on Wednesday.

Avid readers know that Moon voids suggest a higher flake factor or other lack of focus, as well as twists and delays in your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Go with the flow and avoid turning molehills of crisis into mountains. Chill!

And now, the news.

More from underground, as the NYT posts an in-depth story on California’s growing groundwater crisis. Elsewhere, John Oliver scored quite a scoop on Sunday when he traveled to Russia for an in-depth interview with ex-pat Edward Snowden. I’ve had Mr. Snowden on my mind since last month’s solar eclipse at 29 Pisces, because it impacted planets in his horoscope. I figured he’d have to be brought to prominence somehow, and especially with transiting Jupiter (ruler of his 7th house — the public) now sitting on his Venus in Leo (king complex and drama in social expression) and squaring his depth-seeking Scorpio Moon.

Mr. Oliver’s interview deserves attention. Yes, there’s lots of fun — but there are hardball questions, too — the sort you might wish would be asked by more mainstream journalists when speaking with politicians and their ilk. You might even feel for Mr. Snowden when he watches a video Mr. Oliver made with random tourists in Times Square who either have no idea who Mr. Snowden is, or confuse him with Julian Assange. That’s got to be a disappointment for his love, love-me-do Leo Venus, Scorpio Moon and all the other planets in his chart which need to be known (they’re all at the Aries Point).  Perhaps he can appreciate the efforts of a “renegade sculptor” who erected a statue of Mr. Snowden today in Brooklyn…even though park officials quickly covered it. It’s the thought that counts.

Kudos, however to Mr. Oliver — for finally finding a way to frame the issues at hand (the upcoming possible renewal of the Patriot Act, especially Section 215), in a way that the average Times Square pedestrian can understand. It’s a startling revelation, in tune with current planetary patterns among Mercury, Uranus and Pluto. Brilliant.

We’d expect John Oliver to be on an assertive and provocative roll now, with his Mars in late Pisces also eclipsed last month. Over the weekend, he had both transiting Mars and solar arc Mars conjunct his 3 degrees Taurus Sun. The former is a short-term transit; the latter is in effect for several months. We do not have a birth time for Mr. Oliver, but if he were born around noon, he’d have Moon in Gemini (needing to be seen as witty, clever, intense, informative) near the end of the sign — also recently eclipsed.

In other news, here’s an interesting item regarding information (Mercury): a statistician is suing  a Kansas election official in order to obtain paper tapes from electronic voting machines. Why? To explain startling anomalies in election results favoring Republican “mainstream” candidates over the non-mainstream, such as those from the Tea Party. These puzzling anomalies are clearly presented in this research study. Just look at all those colored graphs.

Meanwhile, I’m seeing a number of headlines where discrimination against unconventional types is being called out and corrected, as we might expect with so much rebel Uranus-Pluto action disrupting the status quo. In New York City, a federal commission has found that women and minority managers consistently received less pay than their white male counterparts — and the city has been ordered to rectify the inequity. Elsewhere, the Justice Department has issued a directive declaring that states must treat prison inmates with “gender dysphoria” as they would “any other health condition,” thanks to a suit filed by a transgendered woman in Georgia named Ashley Diamond. Here is her unique, fight-for-the-right-to-be-herself story.

In the category of just plain Uranian freakazoid, there is social justice — finally — for Hollywood icon Lucille Ball. Possibly the most unflattering statue ever erected of anyone is being taken down — with apologies from the artist who created it several years ago. Is it coincidence or conspiracy that transiting Jupiter is exactly conjunct Miss Ball’s 13 degrees Leo Sun, suggesting an opportunity to show her some love and let her shine brighter still? Not coincidence at all. Horoscopes live forever, as we saw in yesterday’s discussion of Woodrow Wilson’s horoscope.

To find out why you are the way you are — how you can use awareness of planetary cycles to live your life better — and what might be going on in your life long after you’ve left Planet Earth, consider scheduling a personal astro-logical consultation. You may not believe in astrology, but rest assured that astrology believes in you.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 4/6/2015: Leonardo DiCaprio’s Perfect Timing; Sneak Peek at the Week

Good Morning!

The Moon is still in Scorpio, seeking to be someone or something of depth and significance. We’re still processing the fallout from Saturday’s Full Moon/Eclipse, as well as Sunday’s challenge between the Aries Sun and Pluto. Monday may coincide with a sudden jolt or other disruption of the status quo as the Sun and rebel Uranus meet-up at 10:08AM ET, adding to other jolts noted over the weekend.  As noted on Saturday, this electric buzz suggests a higher potential for news from underground (including seismic activity), rebellions, breakthroughs in technology or the cosmos, nuclear news and other power plays.

Mercury gets the most action of all the planets this week, starting with an easy flow from expansive Jupiter, exact at 9:26AM ET. Got a big idea to broadcast? On Tuesday, Mercury is squared by persuasive, perspicacious Pluto at 8:05PM ET.  On Wednesday, Mercury meets up with brilliant technogeek Uranus at 8:20AM ET. Just after midnight on Friday, Mercury meets up with the Sun in inspiring, pioneering Aries. Something new on the horizon for sure…and if you have a planet or angle around 15 Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn, you may sell have something to sell.

All of this sounds like a great time for the good folks working at the Large Hadron Collider to get back up to speed — and beyond — after the LHC went offline for a two-year retooling. Those good folks aim to “break physics” (so they said last month), and here’s the latest on what they hope to discover after they’re running at full throttle in May. Startling communications suggested by planetary patterns may not be such a great time for the editors at Rolling Stone, who published a retraction of its controversial story about a campus rape at UVA after a report written by the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism pronounced the story an epic fail.

Also in the limelight this week: Jupiter. The planet of expansion turns direct on Wednesday. If you know what area of your horoscope is ruled by Jupiter, it may feel like you’ve been in a holding pattern in that area since Jupiter turned retrograde at the end of last year.  A horoscope with Jupiter ruling the second house of finances and self worth, for example, may have experienced a delay in anticipated revenues.  With Jupiter turning direct, forward motion is now a potential. If you have a planet or angle around 12 degrees of just about any sign — but especially Leo — you are more personally affected by this expansive shift.  If you don’t know what degree and sign your Jupiter is in, consider spending $18 for an Astro-Basics Report — scroll down on this link here for more details.

Moon voids this week — natural cosmic rest periods best suited for chilling or taking care of routine matters — are as follows: Tuesday 4:42PM ET until 1:08AM ET on Wednesday; Thursday 1:42PM ET until 8:47AM ET on Friday.

And now, one more bit of news. At the end of December 2013 I wrote about the intriguing synastry between Woodrow Wilson and Leonardo Di Caprio, who had announced his intention to star in a biopic about Wilson. That all made perfect sense, though there have been no further announcements about that biopic since September 2013. Presumably a script is still in development.

However, given that Leonardo Di Caprio’s Moon is 15 degrees of Libra — and thus affected by the emancipating/empowering potential of Uranus, Pluto and the last two lunar eclipses at 14-15 Aries-Libra, it was expected that he would be doing something prominent at this time. Ready for it?

From the front page of Sunday’s NYT real-estate section:

In what may be his highest-impact leading role yet, the actor Leonardo DiCaprio, the Oscar-nominated “Wolf of Wall Street,” is planning to heal an island…

Actually, he’s planning to build an eco-resort on said island, which is off the coast of Belize. In Mr. DiCaprio’s horoscope his harmony and partnership-seeking Libra Moon rules the 10th house of career/reputation. It is in his 1st house, a highly entrepreneurial position, and it is squared by ambitious Saturn at 18 degrees Cancer. Not surprised to read about a supercharged real estate reach now, given how Uranus and Pluto have been stimulating this Moon-Saturn square. Cancer is concerned with home and nurturing; Saturn is a structuring energy and it rules Mr. DiCaprio’s 4th house which also refers to home and nurturing. This challenging project is reflected in his horoscope as a two-year period (through 2017) of extraordinary effort with much at stake.

Transiting Neptune is also strong in Mr. DiCaprio’s horoscope. Right now it is exactly conjunct his Jupiter at 8 Pisces, and square his natal Neptune at 8 Sagittarius. Neptune- Jupiter transits suggest amplified idealism. They also suggest a strong caveat in legal matters, as the glasses one wears when signing them may be a tad too rose. Mr. DiCaprio will be experiencing this transit through 2016.

On the other hand, Mr. DiCaprio’s horoscope is tremendously resourceful, suggested by three planets in Scorpio in the 2nd house: Sun-Venus and Mars. Scorpio can be a master strategist, and Mars in Scorpio can be highly effective. We also see Pluto in the 1st House, in contact with the Ascendant and the Midheaven, suggesting a relentless drive for prominence and accomplishment. There’s more, but you get the idea.

Also of note: Mr. DiCaprio’s  horoscope has no planets in Earth Signs, suggesting a potential lack of practicality — but the ability to think big. Some people with no Earth Signs compensate by delving into earthly concerns, including agriculture, cooking, nutrition and the environment — the latter of which is certainly true for Mr. DiCaprio.

To find out why you are the way you are — and how you can use awareness of planetary cycles to live your life better, consider scheduling a personal astro-logical consultation. You may not believe in astrology, but rest assured that astrology believes in you.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Saturday & Sunday 4/4-5/2015: Full Moon in Libra & Lunar Eclipse

Wake up early and you’ll be able to catch the third of the four consecutive total lunar eclipses happening between last April and this September. Did you know that this series is called a “tetrad”? You learn something everyday. Here’s a nifty video I found on website of The Washington Post which explains it all for you.

Yea verily, I am digging WaPo lately because of its stories outside the usual box. For a couple of years now, it has been hosting live chats with a well-known astrologer — yes, an astrologer — in a serious newspaper like The Washington Post. How cool is that? Totally, though if you ever see me participate in such a forum and I tell a querent that her “love stars will be twinkling perfectly by December,” take the glass of Scotch out of my hand.

Astrology is a complex language, to be expressed with eloquence and gravitas. Sheesh. And don’t ask me for tips on how to seduce a Gemini (as if all Geminis are exactly alike), or what Sun Sign you should date if you’re an Aries. I’d much rather use my years of serious study to help you have a better relationship with yourself. Then we can talk about attracting a significant other. Geez.

Saturday’s eclipse is exact at 8:05AM ET, as the Libra Moon is opposed by the Aries Sun. Aries-Libra suggests a push-pull between me vs. we in relationship, with the Libra Moon pulling for the latter and the Aries Sun pushing back. Uranus and Pluto are in close contact with the Sun and Moon, suggesting exceptional intensity, revelations, upsets and transformations accompanying whatever is illuminated and released.

If you were born halfway through Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn, or if you have a planet or angle at around 15 degrees of those signs, this eclipse may recall whatever you experienced in the aftermath of the one that happened on October 8th. That eclipse happened at 15 degrees of Aries-Libra; this one happens at 14 degrees. FYI: the horoscope of the United has Saturn at 14 Libra; its Sun is at 13 Cancer.

The Sabian Symbols for this eclipse are — for the Sun: “an Indian weaving a blanket,” and for the Moon: “circular paths.” Right. Let’s see how Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee can help us make sense of these images.

OK. I just read three paragraphs of Bovee’s marvelous prose, and the bottom line is this: we are all connected and we have all been here before. Life is cyclical. Every action taken impacts everyone else. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

Bovee suggests we apply these symbols with a eye for “the genius of connecting a single thread to the whole of life….an appreciation of weaving the differing dimension of existence into a whole; a deep understanding that human failure is ultimately an illusion.” That last one was deep. Cue Joni Mitchell with The Circle Game now, please.

That being said, the immediate fallout from this eclipse — as in upsets and power plays — may be apparent before noon, as the Moon makes contact with Uranus and Pluto and then immediately goes void until 3:04PM ET on SUNDAY. This suggests a long period of time to chill, absorb and go with the circular flow. Avoid the malls and do not make a mountain of a molehill of crisis…for surely it will turn out to be much ado about nothing.

Sunday’s highlight is a challenge between the Aries Sun and Pluto at 11:05AM ET; on Monday we’ll have a meet-up between the Sun and rebel Uranus at 10:08AM ET. This electric buzz suggests a higher potential for news from underground (including seismic activity), rebellions, breakthroughs in technology or the cosmos, nuclear news and other power plays. Here’s the news from last year’s meet-up; here‘s a 45-second video that captures the eccentric-yet-potent genius of inventive Uranus combined with the very independent Aries Sun, amplified further by covert Pluto.

If you are a writer or thinking type, take advantage of the easy flow between mental Mercury and publishing house Jupiter, exact on Monday at 9:26AM ET. It will be in effect all weekend. In fact, innovation and persuasion are favored through the week. No sleeping in on Monday, by the way. The Moon will be in Scorpio as of 3:04PM ET SUNDAY, seeking power and control; depth and substance — and all day Monday and Tuesday.

And now, the news.

Did someone say “news from underground?” This item reports how “big oil” is pressuring scientists to not link fracking to all the seismic activity in Oklahoma, which now has more earthquakes than any other state in the U.S. Meanwhile, one innovative item about power and resources was the White House announcing its intention to train 75,000 workers in the fast-growing solar energy sector by 2020. 75,000 workers compared to the 35 permanent jobs that would have been created if the Keystone XL pipeline had been greenlit? That doesn’t sound so bad.

For “nuclear news and power plays,” consider “An Iran Nuclear Deal Built on Coffee, All-Nighters and Compromise”. As for elements of “compromise,” look for that Libra concept to be a subject of discussion through the weekend.

With Uranus prominent in planetary patterns, we’d expect more than a few headlines of liberation. In Alabama, a man who spent 30 years on death row has been set free. Interesting that the former inmate, Anthony Ray Hinton, is 58 years old — and thus going through his second Saturn return. A Saturn return often coincides with an opportunity for a new lease on life. Everyone goes through a Saturn return around ages 29, 58 and 84. Consult your local astrologer for details.

There will be many family gatherings on this holiday weekend — all different kinds of families. In closing, here is a thoughtful and lovely video the good folks at Honey Maid released one year ago today, after it received a ton of backlash from other folks who found some of the families depicted in Honey Maid ads offensive.

And here is Honey Maid’s latest two cents — in response to Indiana’s “religious freedom” bill that dominated headlines this week. We are all connected. We have all been here before.

To find out what state your horoscope is in, when and why things happen when they do — and how you can use awareness of planetary cycles to live your life better, consider scheduling a personal astro-logical consultation. Even if you don’t believe in astrology, rest assured that astrology believes in you.

To be continued….