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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 Sunday-Monday 1/18-19-2015: Get Wiggy With It

Happy soggy Sunday! It’s been pouring rain on the East Coast. I hope you’ve been mindful while in transit, as planetary patterns are both ambitious and potentially wiggy, especially with mental Mercury slowing down and about to turn retrograde on Wednesday. No whingeing — just back up your computers and smart phones.

As of Thursday, I’ve been soaking up astrological insights at the absolute best astrology conference in the Universe. Heading home in a few hours. Much of this forecast was written on Friday — see if you experienced the past few days in sync with these planetary patterns.

Friday’s high-flying Sagittarius Moon was tempered at 7AM ET with a seriously focused hook-up with ambitious Saturn. Feeling especially purposeful that morning? As the day progressed, we could expect a noticeably lighter mood, tending toward the visionary or dreamy around lunchtime, courtesy of nebulous Neptune.

The rest of Friday was free and clear, giving you a green light to apply the practical energy of the Capricorn Sun, combined with the Moon in fiery Sag, to broaden your horizons, express your righteous opinions and entertain a gambol or a gamble, especially in areas of mass media, collective beliefs and foreign lands.

Moon went void of course Saturday at 2:25PM ET; hopefully you accomplished your weekend shopping done by then and chilled for the rest of the day. Wandering during the void and enjoying the unexpected twists that may have cropped up in your efforts to move forward in a straight line was encouraged. Sports matches happening during the void are more likely to experience upsets that favor the underdog — something to test if you’re plopped in front of TV. I’ve been away from the news — so you’ll have to let me know if said upsets did occur.

Sunday, which is now today — the energy is primed to take care of business, as the Moon enters Capricorn at 7:03AM ET.  How big and indulgent you may be with your agenda is tied to how you may respond to an expansive and/or expensive face-off between Venus and Jupiter on Monday afternoon.  Yea verily, this conference I’ve been attending has been on maximum overdrive.

You are strongly advised not to make a serious purchase on Monday, as the Moon will be void of course in Capricorn as of 5:51AM ET  — perfect for those who are observing Martin Luther King Day — a holiday in the U.S.  Planetary patterns could not be more cooperative for a day honoring the man who famously said, “I have a dream…”, given an exact hook-up between action hero Mars and visionary Neptune in empathic Pisces at 7:09AM ET.

Mars-Neptune aspects suggest a focused expression of pixie dust — actions based on the ideal or surreal. Magnetic attractions would be expected. Ooh, how everyone you meet may sparkle. You may enjoy being carried away on a wave of emotion, given that Mars and Neptune are together in Pisces, a water sign.  Spiritual and healing experience may be sublime. Same goes for music and the visual arts. The caveat is that things may not be as they seem, so do be cautious about signing on the dotted line. The pixie dust needs to settle before you can determine if it’s for real.

Monday is the last day of the current lunar cycle and the last full day with the Sun in Capricorn. The next New Moon happens Tuesday, as both the Sun and Moon meet up at 0 degrees of Aquarius.

Back with the news — and New Moon forecast — on Tuesday….be careful on the roads!

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday & Thursday 1/14-15/2015: the Moody Depths

Moon entered Scorpio at 6:44PM ET Tuesday night, ending a long wandering Moon void that took up most of yesterday. Hopefully you stuck to routine tasks and did not make mountains out of molehills. Now, we are focused on knowledge for the sake of power and control; a quest to be seen as having depth and substance – nothing casual here.

Note your dreams upon waking, as Neptune makes contact with the Moon at 5:52AM ET, thirty minutes after mental Mercury makes contact with innovative Uranus. Really, there could be a valuable idea in your early morning musings. Write it down. As evening falls, a debate may well intensify, with an opportunity for healing around 8-9PM ET, followed by indulgence in or a clash of aesthetics at 10:18PM ET. You decide.

More indulgence — of a regally entitled kind — may be yours Thursday morning, as the Moon is challenged by expansive Jupiter in Leo at 9:29AM ET. This carries through the rest of the day until 6:52PM ET, when the Moon loses steam and goes void until 3:01AM ET. Get it off your desk before 7PM ET and plan to chill for the rest of the night.

A dominant pattern today and tomorrow is action hero Mars, steaming in  soulful Pisces, and challenged by hard-headed Saturn in philosophical Sagittarius. What a perfect backdrop for the much-publicized  cover of this week’s Charlie Hebdo magazine. The New York Times would not publish it and called it “defiant”.  Yeah, well Mars together with Saturn can be experienced as “militant”.

Others might look at the cover and see sorrow, forgiveness, empathy, unity –all Piscean themes —  which is what the cartoonist who created it stated she wished to convey.   Certainly it has added more fuel to the fire of this ongoing debate over freedom of beliefs (Sagittarius) and boundaries (Saturn). You do remember I told you we’d be talking about this for a while…back in November, right?  This will be a hot topic for a couple of years.

In other news, an update on Senator Ted Cruz, whose horoscope was looked at here some time ago. Back in  September of 2013, predictions were made about the senator’s supercharged mindset and communication carrying him (away?)  through 2014 (and a little beyond). His natal Mercury-Uranus square has been under high tension, courtesy of Uranus and Pluto. Mercury-Uranus contacts suggest potential genius, erratic or “out there” thinking and plenty of nerve — or nervous energy.

For Ted Cruz, we’d expect those qualities to become prominent, persuasive and even more inventive in recent months — and they have. Mercury-Uranus suggests technology, space cadets and rocket scientists. Guess what Senator Cruz will be overseeing, now that the Republicans are running the Senate? The committee in charge of NASA.

Astrology is amazing, isn’t it?

If your New Year’s resolutions include planning a successful strategy for 2015, here’s the 411 on astro-logical consultations. Even if you do not believe in astrology, (perhaps like Senator Ted Cruz),  rest assured that astrology believes in you. Imagine how helpful it will be to finally understand your personal game plan so you can fulfill your potential…

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday-Tuesday 1/12-13/2015: Sneak Peek at the Week; Mars in Focus (and Now in Pisces)

A surge of energy — rattling, perhaps — as the balance-seeking Libra Moon, which seeks makes contact with disruptive Uranus and Pluto between 8:40 and 10:20AM ET. While typing the forecast this morning, I have been on hold with the office of the NYC Public Advocate, calling on behalf of a friend whose housing status has been compromised in a stunning snafu. After an hour of waiting, the line went dead and so I had to call again.

Imagine you are on disability and have been homeless for a year, living in a city shelter. A non-profit agency that receives funding from the city tells you that they have found you an apartment. They move you and your belongings into the apartment on a Friday afternoon. Hours later, you meet the super of the building, who wants to know why you are there. He calls the landlord, and the landlord’s wife tells you that the former tenant was evicted because the agency did not pay rent on the apartment. She says you can not stay in the apartment. So where are you supposed to go, late on this Friday afternoon?

I hear stories like this and compare them to this item from Sunday’s NYT, entitled “New York’s Emptiest Co-ops and Condos”. I marvel at the world of extremes in which we live. Yea verily, this imbalance is not sustainable.

With the potential upsets of the morning now behind us, may we do our best to facilitate harmony, fairness and balance in relationships (and be appreciated for our social graces), in the spirit of the Libra Moon’s reigning need. Meanwhile, Rhode Island and Connecticut were rattled by an earthquake. Coincidence or conspiracy?

There are no other exact aspects for the rest of the day, and the Moon will be void tomorrow from 4:45AM until 6:44PM ET, so get it off your desk today, if you wish it to be of consequence.

At 5:21AM ET today,  action hero Mars left rebel Aquarius to wallow, with no small amount of steam, in watery Pisces. We can expect to note a plethora of actions driven by a need to identify or work with ideals in the next coming weeks. We can also note potential for passive-aggressive behavior, as Pisces is not the most direct sign when it comes to expressing itself. It feels; it empathizes; it suffers — but it is no fan of conflict. Mars will be in Pisces until March 20th.

Mars is also the driving force between two planetary patterns which are exact on Thursday and next Monday. The first is a challenge to hard-nosed Saturn, which for those having a planet or angle around 2 degrees of Pisces, Virgo, Gemini and Sagittarius, may be experienced as a brick wall, kick in the butt or other frustrated charge.

The latter is a pixiedust-laced, magical, mystical hook up between Mars and nebulous Neptune. This hook-up can be experienced as charismatic, sexy, scandalous, fanatical, showstopping or as an outright con. Bill Clinton has a Mars-Neptune hook-up in his horoscope — right on his Libra (charmer) Ascendant. Off the top of my head, Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck and Newt Gingrich also have charged connections between Mars and Neptune.

Already in the headlines I’ve noticed a couple of lurid scandals brewing — one involving countless prominent figures and convicted billionaire sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. This one is re-brewing, actually…but look for more on this and other similarly lurid stories as we get closer to next Tuesday.

Also keep as eye out for significant stories involving the tech world and unconventional attractions in relationships, aesthetics and finances. Why? Because mental Mercury and loving Venus are in  harmonious connections to rebel Uranus, facilitating innovation in mindset, communication and socal expression. Those aspects are exact Tuesday and Wednesday and may be applied to all of your problem-solving for the next few days. Think outside the box.

In that tech-friendly vein — and noting that Uranus also refers to astrology and astronomy — check out this cool find from a Greek shipwreck that modern day scientists now realize was

designed to predict eclipses and calculate the positions of the sun, moon and planets as they swept across the sky.

And it’s only taken them 114 years to figure that out. Those ancient Greeks were masterful astrologers.

Also in a wonky, Venus in “I love you, but don’t take it personally” Aquaris vein: the “Modern Love” column in the Sunday NYT has attracted considerable attention for taking a rocket scientist approach to why and how we fall in love. Could you really fall in love with anyone? Arguably yes, if you ask the right questions. What a humanitarian Aquarian concept.

More harbingers of things to come with Saturn (structure, control, disclipline) now in Sagittarius (higher education, mass media, collective belief systems) include President Obama announcing a proposal to provide two years of community college eduction for “free,” i.e.,  to be financed with public funds, presumably the way we collectively finance our military, police and most highways. What do you think of that potential restructuring of our higher education system?
Your Moon voids for the week:  Tuesday — practically all day, as noted earlier. Thursday from 6:52pm ET until 3:01AM ET on Friday; Saturday 2:25PM ET until 7:04AM ET Sunday. Chill out and take care of routine tasks during Moon voids, which suggest twists and delays in efforts to move forward in a straight line.
Thank you for reading this forecast.
If your New Year’s resolutions include planning a successful strategy for 2015, here’s the 411 on personal astrological consultations. Even if you do not believe in astrology, rest assured that astrology believes in you. How helpful it will be to learn the game plan!

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday & the Weekend 1/9/2015: Thoughts on 2015 and Beyond

Clean-up time, as the Moon has been in Virgo as of 5:58PM ET Thursday, seeking to make things right. Organize, analyze, separate the wheat from the chaff, and cue John Lennon now.

Note your dreams upon waking, as the discerning Moon makes contact with visionary Neptune at 5:21AM ET. Go about your business unimpeded by other exact aspects, save for an easy connection between the Moon and Pluto at 9:20PM ET, which favors emotional depth and healing….a change in perspective, perhaps?

Forget impulse shopping on Saturday, as the Moon will be void from 10:45AM ET until 6:57AM ET on Sunday. Take care of routine Virgo-themed tasks as noted above, and chill.  On Sunday, the Moon will be in Libra, focused on social graces and rationality in relationship.

There’s no void Moon on Monday, so no sleeping in.

And now, a few thoughts on some major patterns happening in 2015.

Pattern #1: the seventh and last of the disruptive squares between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn, exact on March 15th at 15 degrees of those signs. What does this portend? Will this intense period of disruption be over, asked a reader? Oh heavens, we are just getting started.

Think about boxes, tables and other structures where the integrity of that structure is maintained by the tension of parts at 90 degree angles to each other. Remember your high school geometry? A 90 degree aspect is a square.  Without those square relationships — of four table legs to a table top, for instance — what happens to the structure when the tension is released? The table loses its functional form. A collapse, you might say. Without form, there is potential chaos….out of which a new form will eventually emerge.

Think about the mid-60s. The Uranus-Pluto conjunction ended in 1966, with continued upheaval through the next few years. The early 70s brought key legislative resolutions born out of that revolutionary awareness: e.g., the EPA, the Clean Water Act, legal access to contraception, Roe v. Wade.

While the square relationship between Uranus and Pluto is close — through 2015 and into part of 2016 — we can expect more action  and revelation on themes already brought to consciousness over the past few years in matters of energy resources, climate change, civil rights, corruption in our hallowed institutions and fights for freedom.  Look back to the mid-60s for examples of the seeds of change that were planted, as we blasted into space.  Didn’t we deal with them all back then? No, we did not. Consider the radically different priorities of that hippie-dippie generation compared to, say, the yuppie-preppie folk of the 80s. We wandered away from those planted seeds.

So now, with the Uranus-Pluto square, we have the opportunity to bring the seeds planted in the 60s to flower, as issues that were hot then are hot again now.  Because #blacklivesmatter, for example. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 were status quo-disrupting steps, but clearly the spirit of that legislation has not fully materialized. There is still work to be done.

Either we bring these seeds to flower in the next year or so….or we’re really going to have a problem at the next stage of the Uranus-Pluto cycle, which is in 2047. That’s when these flowers should bear fruit, if we’ve tended them well. This is especially true as we face the challenges of climate change and sustainable energy resources, which necessitate the end of our use of fossil fuels. As I’ve mentioned before,  scientists are now saying that 2047-ish is a drop-dead deadline if we are to keep this planet as a home that comfortably sustains us.

Fifteen degrees is the halfway point of any zodiac sign. As Uranus and Pluto make their way through the back half of Aries and Capricorn, we’ll have a clearer sense of what structures and paradigm shifts will materialize as old perspectives fall away. Resistance is futile.

And, just to make sure we’ll have space for something new to emerge, the cosmos has arranged for two important eclipses within weeks of the seventh square. On the Vernal Equinox (one week later), we’ll have a New Moon and solar eclipse at 29 Pisces, which is related to the prominent Aries Point. The last degree of Pisces suggests endings; a New Moon suggests beginnings. The beginning of an end, perhaps…but don’t despair.

On April 4th, we’ll have a lunar eclipse at 15 Aries-Libra, on the same degrees as the potent eclipse we had in October, in aspect to last week’s Full Moon at 15 Cancer and also in aspect to the seventh square. Do you have a planet or angle around 15 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn? What major changes are happening in your life, I wonder.

Pattern #2: Saturn in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces. Well, the beginning of a square, actually. The square between these two planets won’t be exact until 2016. What does that suggest?

Briefly, Saturn is reality. Neptune is fantasy. Put them together and what have you got? A bubble of optimistic faith. When will it burst?  A few months ago, when I was reading The Big Short — about the collapse of the housing bubble and the outrageous speculation going on in the financial markets that led to the fiscal crisis in 2008,  I noticed a challenging aspect between Saturn and Neptune as that bubble was building.  There was a similar aspect in 1999, coinciding with the internet bubble and everyone freaking out about Y2K, which proved to be much ado about nothing. What pixie dust-covered fantasy will captivate us now and into the next year?

Random thought about Saturn in Sagittarius,  as the world reacts to Wednesday’s attack at the offices of the French satire magazine, Charlie Hebdo. Sagittarius refers to broad comedy, in addition to other keywords noted in prior forecasts. I think of Sagittarius as “the philosopher clown,” presenting the wisdom of the ages while tripping over its feet. Entertaining, but brutally blunt, as court jesters have always been to the powers that be.

Consider  Jon Stewart and Ann Coulter, who both have Sun and Moon in Sagittarius.  They need to tell you their righteous opinions (I love how this SNL parody of Ms. Coulter ends with the word “righteous”), even as they push the limits. Speaking of Coulter, she is mentioned in this timely  op-ed from NYT columnist David Brooks. Here, he offers philosophical musings on some hardcore realities (Saturn) about free speech (Sagittarius) in allegedly civilized societies. (Brooks is not a Sag. He’s a regal double Leo, and it’s no surprise that his critics blast him for having a “privileged” perspective).

Random headline:  a new study announced that you’ll be happier in your marriage if you marry someone who is also your best friend. How perfectly timed, given that Venus and Mercury  are currently conjunct in Aquarius, which understands the value of…friendship! Of course friendship would be seen as the ideal (Mercury conjunct Venus suggests idealism).

And all that concern about the surge in divorce rates that happened in the 70s? Just a phase, apparently…but what would you expect, given that Pluto (breakdown and transformation) was in Libra (marriage) during that era? We needed a new paradigm. Wait ’til you see what happens as Pluto now travels through the back half of Capricorn (governments, banks, corporations).

Random forecast update: back in April, I wrote that Supreme Court Justice Samual Alito was on a roll for the next couple of years, sure to be winning friends and influencing people (in certain circles). Here’s an op-ed from today’s NYT confirming that prediction — he’s quite the rock star now.

Have a great weekend.

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday-Thursday 1/7-8/2015

Happy Wednesday! I’ve been resisting getting back into the hustle and bustle of  usual work week…and my wreath and the decorations on my Christmas palm tree aren’t going away anytime soon. I’ve also been working on a workshop I’ll be presenting soon, but that’s another story. And you?

The Moon has been in Leo since early Tuesday morning, favoring drama kings and queens on a quest to shine, shine, shine.   A Leo Moon can be so festive and fun so long as it’s not sulking in a corner over a perceived ego snub.

There are no exact aspects during business hours in the Americas. Get it off your desk before a Moon void kicks in at 12:04PM tomorrow, as you’re likely to feel like kicking back until 5:58PM ET and the Moon enters “clean up time” Virgo. Plus, efforts to move forward in a straight line during Moon voids are subject to a higher probability of twists, delays and flakes. They’re great for wandering and creative noodling….though do be advised that the void begins on a face-off between the regal Moon and warrior Mars in Aquarius, sign of “We, The People”. That’s a pattern with potential for an aforementioned “perceived ego snub”. Resist the urge to turn that molehill into a mountain.

And now, the news.

In the aftermath of last month’s sixth exact Uranus-Pluto square, Venus, Mercury Sun and an especially potent Full Moon have all made contact with this harbinger of change. Pluto refers to power and energy resources; Uranus is a disruptive force. I am thus fascinated by the continuing downward slide of oil prices and its disruption of the status quo. What timing!

Elsewhere in energy news, President Obama finally announced he would veto any bill passed by the Congress authorizing the construction of the notorious Keystone XL Pipeline.   Showdown! Drama! Meanwhile, researchers concluded that a series of recent earthquakes in Ohio were caused by fracking.  Science! Reality! Carrying on in the energy vein, Sunday’s NYT magazine included a cover story about a Shell Oil-owned drilling rig in the Arctic that had to be scrapped; this week Shell agreed to pay $84 million for damages caused by massive oil spills in Niger.

Meanwhile,  some fallout from Sunday’s Cancer Full Moon. When calculated for New York City,  this lunation fell on the angles of that horoscope, along with Uranus and Pluto. This suggested that New York might have more than its share of issues involving power plays and disruptions specifically related to emotional and homeland security. And in fact, one of the biggest local headlines involves a dramatic work slowdown by the police, which have virtually ceased issuing citations for various “quality of life” infractions.  Are they really that angry with mayor Bill de Blasio? Has the security of the city been compromised? Certainly from an economic security  standpoint,  given the amount of revenue those citations generate. On the other hand, there are plenty of people who feel relieved by the reduced policing measures. What do you think?

In other news, I’m paying particular attention to sobering and/or restructuring (Saturn) stories about the media, higher education, religion and other collective belief and mass communication systems (Sagittarius), now that Saturn has just entered the sign of Righteous Opinions.  This morning in Paris, there was a deadly attack on the offices of a satirical magazine presumably perpetrated by people who felt the satire offended their beliefs. Freedom of speech, religious beliefs, who controls the supply lines of information used by the collective…we’re likely to read more and more on this in the next couple of years.

Elsewhere, I’ll be interested to see the impact of documentary that will begin touring the festival circuit later this year. The Brainwashing of My Dad details the transformation of the filmmaker’s father after he started listening to certain talk radio shows. The timing is apt, given that the Fairness Doctrine, under which those shows (and “news” networks) arguably would not have existed, was abandoned in 1987, the last time Saturn (structure/regulations) and Uranus (freedom!) were conjunct in….Sagittarius. Now that Saturn is back in Sagittarius, we’ll have a chance to review the choices we made 28/29 years ago. Fascinating to see how events coincide with planetary cycles.

Finally, so we end on  fun, festive, Moon in Leo note: a follow-up on an earlier “news from underground” story. The time capsule buried by Sam Adams over 200 years ago in Boston was opened this week. Here’s what was found.

Astro-logical Forecast for Sunday-Monday 1/4-5/2015: Full Moon in Cancer; Bono & Other News

…and a very Happy New Year to you.

Writing this during the long void-of-course Moon in Gemini that’s been going on since 6:55AM ET …not to enter Cancer until 8:08PM ET tonight. If you’re doing Moon void-y things like chilling out, going with the flow, focusing on routine tasks and generally resting or wandering, the otherwise supercharged patterns happening today may well pass you by. And those patterns would be the enterprising Capricorn Sun hooking up with Pluto at 6:32PM ET, ready for a power play hours after freedom-mandating Uranus insists on a state of independence.  Upside: potential empowerment and/or emancipation. Downside: for whose benefit? Remember, planets have nothing to do with how energy is used. We humans have plenty of free will to choose whether we act for better or for worse.

Meanwhile, at 9:48AM ET, Venus (love, money, art, women) entered “I love you, but don’t take it personally” Aquarius. Venus in Aquarius suggest less status-seeking and social-climbing; more friendly vibes and humanitarian concerns in social expression, if a bit unconventional.  That’s the vibe until January 28th, when Venus enter Pisces with a sigh an empathic sigh.

Tonight’s Cancer Moon is happy to stay close to home, where it can focus on preserving emotional security. If emotions are running high, look to the Full Moon, which will be exact Sunday at 11:53PM ET. During the day tomorrow, there is much practical potential in the social expression front, as Venus will be anchored by Saturn in philosophical Sagittarius. Where are you going and what does it all mean — in your relationship — and your finances? What do you value?

As Sunday evening falls, the potential for revelations and catharses (for better or worse) rises, as the Moon makes its weekly clash with the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square. Communication may be jumbled as mental Mercury leaves Capricorn for rocket scientist Aquarius at 8:08PM ET. Mercury in Aquarius is happily wonky and less concerned with every darn word needing a practical purpose or why bother saying it. The jumble comes from having to adjust to the new mental vibe….and OMG we’ll have plenty of time to appreciate the weirdly stubborn-yet-perfectly-cerebral-technogeek Aquarian mindset, given that Mercury won’t leave the sign of the Water Bearer until March 12th. Why?

Because Mercury turns retrograde on January 21st. You will love it.

Keep an eye on world events on this Full Moon in comparison to events that happen around April 4th. Both lunations will trigger the Uranus-Pluto square, so we’ll see if things that happen now will be moved further along in April (I expect they will be).  Certainly if you have a planet or angle around 15 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn, you will be feeling some shift in your life, especially if Sun, Moon or angles are involved. And if you do not know where your angles are and if they are involved, get thee to an astrologer forthwith! Otherwise I am going to wonder why you are reading astrological forecasts without considering how these planetary cycles might be reflected in your own life development — and how helpful it would be to know the game plan.

The Sabian Symbols for the Full Moon are, for the Moon: “A group of people who have overeaten and enjoyed it”; and for the Sun: “Many toys in the children’s ward of a hospital”. This inspired Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee to muse thoughtfully about themes of hospitality, hospices and stewardship, as well as the virtues of “guarding the joy and pleasures of life without straying into repeated excess” versus “avoiding life’s issues through indulgence in trifles”.  If you do not have Bovee’s lovely book about Sabian Symbols, consider adding it to your collection.

And now, the news.

I do love this week between Christmas and New Year’s, as much of the Western World takes time to rest without the pressure of daily deadlines. This doesn’t suggest a lack of productivity. It’s just….nice…and I hope you’ve enjoyed many blessings whilst ringing out 2014.

That being said, there are a few headlines that have caught my eye  — with more on what we might expect as reality check Saturn moves through Sagittarius (collective beliefs and mass communication) for the next two years.  Saturn is limitation and control.  So how about this item:  “Web Freedom Seen as a Growing Global Issue.” Ah..limited access…and perhaps…censorship?

Today there was a story about a widow who was stunned to watch her husband die on commercial TV — months after his passing — in primetime, no less. Seems that when he was taken to the ER after being hit by a sanitation truck, cameras were rolling in the operating room, courtesy of the “why should we bother paying writers and actors to create scripted shows when we can get them for practically free” forces behind the reality show, “NY Med”.  The family of the deceased patient has sued, citing violations of privacy. So far, they have not prevailed in court. What do you think?

Meanwhile, add Bono to the list of people with life events likely reflecting the potential squeeze of Saturn to planets and/or angles in the horoscope. In November he had an accident while bicycling in Central Park, breaking his arm in six places. Today he released a statement noting that “he may never play guitar again”. He will spend the next several months recovering and preparing for a summer tour, which is when Saturn will return to the place it was at the time of the accident — right at the top of his horoscope, ruling his Ascendant, an important health center. Feel free to send him healing thoughts so he may succeed with his efforts to be at the top of his game this summer. Overall patterns in his horoscope for the next few years are intense, as you might imagine.

As for Monday…

Sunday’s Cancer Full Moon at 11:53PM ET immediately goes void, not to enter Leo until 6:03AM ET on TUESDAY. So a slow or wandering start to the back-to-work week can be forgiven, though focusing on practical to-do lists is suggested  — and aided and abetted by a cooperative alignment between mental Mercury and disciplined Saturn at 5:21PM ET Monday. This is the only exact aspect of the day.

In the next forecast, I hope to offer some thoughts on major planetary patterns of 2015, including the end of the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square on March 15th/16th, depending on your time zone.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

To find out what planetary patterns suggest for you in 2015, consider scheduling a personal astro-logical consultation.

 

 

 

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday-Friday 12/29/2014-1/2/2015: Sneak Peek at a Rollicking Week

Good morning!

There’s plenty of energy for work or play, courtesy of a proactive Aries Moon that’s always up for something new. Let it carry you through the day with gusto, being careful not to butt heads in a petty disagreement when mental Mercury challenges the Moon at 12:16 PM ET. Keep on truckin’, then chill at 7:46PM ET, when Moon goes void until 5:56AM ET.

Tuesday, Wednesday and part of Thursday are driven by a material security-seeking Moon in Taurus. Slow and steady is the pace of Taurus, compared to the impatient Aries charge.  Use it to temper and structure the power surge suggested by other patterns that will be exact Thursday and through the weekend, but likely felt now (more on those in a minute). Also note that Taurus is a sensual sign that does adore its creature comforts. A New Year’s Eve celebration with extra helpings of caviar, Champagne and music, too? If not quite so luxurious, perhaps an abundance of whatever comforts are available.  Happy, happy!

A Moon void on New Year’s Day between 7:19AM and 12:08PM ET is a perfect excuse to take your time recovering from the prior evening’s indulgence, despite the surge of physicality looking for a release as assertive Mars faces off against expansive Jupiter at 2:49PM ET.  You’ll feel that surge more personally if you have a planet or angle around 21 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius…or if you were born around the 13th of February, May, August or November. In the news, watch for headlines that are over-the-top.

After 12:08PM ET on Thursday there should be much to talk about, as the Moon enters information-junkie Gemini through Saturday night.  Though exact patterns on Friday are almost non-existent, we’re building to a Full Moon (in Cancer) on Sunday and super-charged contacts on Saturday, as the Capricorn Sun is challenged by rebel Uranus at 3:40AM ET and then meets up with ruthless Pluto at 6:32PM ET.

In the sign of Capricorn, Sun and Pluto suggest power plays related to government, corporate and patriarchal structures. Corruption exposed and other forms of news from underground, including oil and gas, seismic and/or explosive shifts in the natural world are also possibilities. Shake-ups, rebellions, revelations and other “change or die” events are added to the mix, especially by quirky individuals perhaps born ahead of their time.  Credit rebel Uranus in Aries for that pioneering spirit, challenging the established Pluto in Capricorn order. These themes can all be found in a lengthy  front-page story just posted about “oil, corruption and death” involving the ousted leader of a Native American tribe in North Dakota. For more shake-ups and revelations, consider this story about how a new approach to genetic mutations — random disruptions & thus ruled by unpredictable Uranus — is “turning genetic research on its head”.

If you were born around the 1st of January, April, July and October, you’re feeling the shake-ups more personally, as well as anyone with a planet or angle around 15 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. But wait — there’s more. You’re still in the hot seat on Sunday, as the Full Moon in Cancer at 11:53PM ET also triggers 15 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. More on the Full Moon in the next forecast.

And now, the news.

Saturn has been in Sagittarius for less than a week and already there’s sobering news about publishing, mass communications and other Sag concerns that we’ll be working through over the next few years. Exhibit A: authors annoyed with Amazon over its alleged continued devaluation of their written words.  This time it’s authors inspired to self-publish (under the influence of the entrepreneurial spirit of Uranus in Aries), who are Not Happy.

The article notes:

Complaints about literary overproduction are ancient. “To write and have something published is less and less something special,” the French critic Sainte-Beuve wrote in 1839. “Why not me, too? everyone asks.”

I read that and thought, “I bet Sainte-Beuve wrote that when Saturn was in Sagittarius.” I looked it up. He did. Yes, we have all been here before. Planetary patterns run in cycles. Good to know about them, especially how they run in your own personal horoscope.

Also making headlines: a list of media companies (and executives) in the hot seat in 2015 — so keep an eye on them. In other news,  Gmail accounts have been blocked in China. North Korea’s internet service was disrupted over the weekend, as well as Sony’s PlayStation service. Speaking of Sony, it changed course and released its controversial film, The Interview, online and in some theaters.

Elsewhere, on Meet the Press, host Chuck Todd copped to a hardcore reality (Saturn) about why mainstream media shows like his (Sagittarius) are so soft on their guests. I see Saturn in Sagittarius in this headline, too: “In Battle to Defang ISIS, U.S. Targets Its Psychology“. Limitation and/or restructuring (Saturn) through collective beliefs (Sagittarius)?

Meanwhile, the departure chart for AirAsia flight 8501 (5:27AM 12/28/2014 in Surabaya, Indonesia), now presumed to be “at the bottom of the sea” does have a few notable similarities to the departure chart of MH370, which disappeared on March 8th.  Coincidence or conspiracy?

And finally, Pope Francis is taking full advantage of his potential for supercharged action and communication now and over the next few years, as Uranus and Pluto make contact with his natal Mars and Mercury. Having facilitated a breakthrough in US-Cuba relations, he’s now focused on saving the rest of the world from climate change with a host of super-amazing initiatives. Look for more daring actions for the sake of world peace, balance and harmony from Pope Francis in 2015.  What have you got planned?

What does your horoscope suggest for you in 2015?  A personal astro-logical consultation would be a brilliant way to start the New Year.

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday-Saturday 12/23-27/2014: Saturn in Sagittarius

After an industrious day yesterday (Monday), the Capricorn Moon went void of course with a sigh last night at 10:17PM ET, and it will continue to wander through today until 9:52PM ET. Is that why I found myself drawn to listen to Ayn Rand, who has Moon in Capricorn, being interviewed by journalists Mike Wallace and Phil Donahue? Does she sound all business? You weren’t expecting that in today’s forecast, were you? Me neither.

Regular readers know that Moon voids suggest twists and detours in  efforts to move forward in a straight line. The flake factor is high; energy levels can fizzle; you may sense a lack of focus. The way to handle voids is to roll with the twists and know that crises which turn up are often much ado about nothing. Brainstorm all you like, but avoid initiating important agenda items and/or finalizing plans until the Moon gets bck into gear. Chill and take advantage of this natural rest period if you can. Avoid impulse purchases, as items purchased during voids often prove to be not as useful as you thought.

Other voids for the week are: Thursday Dec 25th from 10:11AM – 11:07PM ET and Saturday from 10:44AM until 1:35AM ET on Sunday.

Yesterday was also the last full day of karma cop Saturn in Scorpio, where it has been since October of 2012. During that time, as I’ve been writing since September 2012, we could expect to get to the nitty-gritty of issues involving sex (creation),  death (transformation), and money (resources), especially debt. We could expect the revelations to be ruthless and sometimes downright horrific. And in fact, they have been, as stories involving rape, domestic violence, abortion and contraception, questionable death penalty practices (including botched executions and convictions overturned after years of incarceration), and debt have been front and center for the past two years.

Well huzzah, huzzah, finally a change, as Saturn enters Sagittarius today at 11:33AM ET. How will headlines reflect that shift over the next two years?

Saturn refers to control, discipline and structure. Sagittarius refers to collective belief systems, including the law, religion, philosophy and academia. Hmm…how about mind control? Or tests of faith?  It also refers to publishing and other mass communication media, as well as sports and entertainment. Expect efforts involving restrictions and/or restructuring. Sagittarius refers to that which is foreign, so issues of border control will likely become hotter. It refers to travel.  So we can expect headlines involving controls in these areas, too.

Righteousness is another Sagittarius buzzword, as is blunt honesty. As its best, the Saturnine restructuring of Sagittarius concerns will stem from righteousness, much as the restructuring of the institution of marriage (Libra) to include same-sex couples evolved when Saturn was in Libra. Fairness is a big Libra buzzword. Got that?

For those born in December 1985- December 1988 and  February 1956 – January 1959, congratulations, you were likely born with Saturn in Sagittarius. You’re about to embark on your first or second Saturn return, which suggests a critical time in your life,  rich with developmental potential. Many of my clients book their first astrological consultations on a Saturn return.

For those born at the very end of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius,  or the very beginning of Gemini, Virgo, Pisces and Sagittarius, these next 12 months are a critical time in your life development, too.  You may need to cut your losses and focus on what’s really important. Saturn transits can inspire your ambition, but they can also be experienced as limiting, isolating and sad. Know that this, too, shall pass. Be brave enough to ask for support if you need it. You are worth it.

Brief detour, courtesy of the Moon void: yesterday’s NYT editorial was a call for the prosecution of “torturers and their bosses,” with the top boss cited being Dick Cheney. It is interesting because the last degrees of Scorpio correspond to an angle in Cheney’s horoscope, and that with Saturn now sitting on that angle, we could expect an urgent need to focus on core personal foundation (and also home/family) issues at this time. That pressure will let up for the first few months of 2015, but will be back (with a vengeance?) for a few months this summer. This is also within the time span that the US horoscope will feel the pressure of transiting Pluto (resistance is futile) to its natal Saturn, suggesting no small amount of anguish. Let’s see what happens.

As for the rest of this week, be advised that mental Mercury will be making contact with the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square on Wednesday and Thursday. This suggests breakthroughs and/or upsets in communication and travel. During the all-day Moon in Aquarius void on Christmas, note that whatever sharp words and other dramas that do crop up are more likely to be mountains made over molehills, so chill, chill, chill!  If you looking for peace, healing, music and mystical pursuits, those are favored on Friday and Saturday, when the Moon will be in Pisces and the Sun will be supported by visionary Neptune. Meanwhile, here are some headlines from July, when Mercury also made contact with Pluto and Uranus.

Warmest wishes to you all for a joyous Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and whatever else you are celebrating. To the fabulous people who have stuffed my stocking with notes of appreciation and other delights, or who share this forecast with others, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

If you’re looking for a last-minute gift for a deserving special someone, gift certificates for a personal astro-logical consultation can be emailed anywhere in the world. The insights are priceless and will last forever. Email me after the Moon void ; )

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 12/22/2014: New Moon in Capricorn; Winter Solstice; Unconventional Women

Happy New Moon! Happy Winter Solstice! Happy Uranus Turning Direct! What should we talk about first?

Let’s start with Uranus, since its change of station happened before the other two events, on Sunday at 5:45pm ET. Uranus refers to revolutions, rebellion, seismic activity, innovation, genetic mutation, accidents, aviation, space travel, technology, astrology, uranium and genius, to name a few. In Aries, Uranus suggests a need for self-reliance, favoring an entrepreneurial spirit. Watch for movement in the headlines on these areas over the next several days. In your own personal world, consider how your genius insights and notions of freedom can be applied outward. Surely you’ve been feeling an intense buzz about making a break, especially if you have a planet or angle around 15 degrees (halfway through) Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, yes?

Next up, the Winter Solstice  — Sunday at 6:03PM. ET.  Say goodbye to the Sun in Sagittarius and hello to the Sun in Capricorn. In the Northern Hemisphere, days will be getting longer and nights will be getting shorter, as the light pushes back against the dark and prevails. How inspiring! Today, however, we can meditate on this wonderful NYT article about the Winter Solstice, “Why We Need the Dark”.

From an astrological point of view, the first days of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter (the Solstices and Equinoxes), correspond with the first day (or first degree) of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, respectively. Got that? Good. These four signs are called cardinal signs of the zodiac. Cardinal signs initiate. They come up with the idea and put it into action, which leads to necessary change. “Cardinal” suggests (from the Latin root of the word), “that on which something turns or depends.”  So the first day/degree of a Cardinal sign is a turning point. In astrology, the technical term for the first degree of any Cardinal sign is the Aries Point, just to confuse people who are not professional astrologers.

Equinoxes and solstices are also prominent. We make a fuss over them, right? In Japan, the first day of each season is actually a national holiday. How cool is that? Thus, in a horoscope, a planet or angle at the Aries Point needs to be prominent. Off the top of my head, Meryl Streep (a Cancer) and William Shatner (an Aries) were both born with the Sun at the Aries Point. They’re pretty prominent in everything they do, don’t you think? So pay close attention to what’s going on in your own personal world and the headlines at this time. They are important turning points.

With the Sun now in Capricorn, we move from big-picture thinking (Sagittarius) to practical application. What will we build that materially defines our collective philosophy? Think corporations, governments and maybe The Junior League. Think status and ambition. The possibilities are endless.  This enterprising spirit is magnified by the New Moon in  Capricorn, which  officially begins Sunday at  8:36 PM ET.

A New Moon offers us an opportunity to re-set  intentions and goals for the next lunar cycle.  Around the 28th, 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 January 4th, 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 13th, we can review our achievements, tie up loose ends and get ready to begin another New Moon on January 26th.

Capricorn is an earthy, enterprising, social-climbing energy which means business like no other sign in the zodiac. Capricorn knows how to use resources (including people) to get what it needs, which is to make things happen and move things forward. This New Moon chart has five planets in Capricorn, with mental Mercury at the midpoint between the Sun and Moon, on the one hand…and Venus and Pluto on the other. This cycle holds potential for  concentrated investigative focus and piercing communications, involving plenty of Uranian themes noted at the top of this forecast.

The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon makes it quite clear what’s at stake:  “an Indian chief demanding recognition”. Need I say more? As Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee notes that a “chief” is not someone who needs to demand recognition, it is suggested that we are talking about an emergent power. Hmmm, well that changes the game a bit, doesn’t it? I can think of a number of examples from the headlines that support that Symbol.

You are likely feeling the emerging power of this New Moon more personally if you were born around the 21st of March, June, September or December…or if you have an angle or planet around 1 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn.  This includes Barack Obama, whose Venus (social expression) is at 1 Cancer, and thus opposed by this New Moon. So we can expect even more initiatives from him during this lunar cycle, in addition to what was previously expected from him, with authoritative Saturn now at the top of his horoscope. I can’t tell you how much fun it’s been to see the awed op-eds marveling at how well the president seems to be doing, given the November midterms. Why? Because I’ve been writing about this surge happening at this time since before the 2012 elections.  It’s fun when what I expect to happen, happens!

And now, more news…so much of it…

The weekend’s action among Venus (women, art, money, social expression), Uranus and Pluto suggested disruptions of the status quo involving those Venusian themes. We could expect headlines involving prominent women — or the prominence of women. One of my favorites happened on Friday, during Obama’s last press conference of the year. Did it involve prominent women and surprise upsets? You bet it did. In a first, the president only called on women reporters. Take a look at the last part of this short clip and observe the faces of some of the men who were likely realizing that Something Had Just Happened.

Elsewhere, it was revealed that Monopoly was based on a game created by a woman. Wow! And yet it seems that writer/inventor/feminist Lizzie Magie received a patent for her invention in 1904, which she called “The Landlord’s Game”.  She hoped that, “In a short time, men and women will discover that they are poor because Carnegie and Rockefeller, maybe, have more than they know what to do with.”

That did not happen.  She sold her patent to Parker Brothers in 1935 (during the last Uranus-Pluto square) for $500 and apparently never saw a penny in royalties.  This was the same year Charles Darrow sold his patent for a game called Monopoly to Parker Brothers. Guess who got the money? There’s a whole book about this due in February — check it out here — discussed in an article written for The Smithsonian.

Other disruptive and/or unconventional and/or empowering women now gracing the NYT home page  include a 107-year-old Buffalo Bills fan and the controversial  Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer (cover story of the NYT magazine).  YouTube  head Susan Wojcicki is profiled in the Business Section. Venus-Uranus does have a tech-friendly vibe.  As for unconventional attractions often associated with Venus-Uranus connections, Elton John got married.

For those of you who may be wondering if there is especially strong activity in the horoscopes of Elizabeth Warren and Seth Rogen, given how much press both have received this month, the answer is,  “Are you kidding me?!  Of course those horoscopes are hot!!” Nobody makes headlines unless there’s something going on in the horoscope, and if you’re not paying attention to your own horoscope, you’re missing out on insights that are simply  invaluable. To schedule a personal consultation or give one as a gift for someone special on your list, here’s the 411.

Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday-Saturday 12/16-18/2014: Cuba? No Surprise Here

All fired up at the start of the day, as the intense, knowledge-seeking Moon in Scorpio is challenged by action hero Mars in beyond-the-fringe Aquarius at 5:29AM ET.  You can dig even deeper later this morning, as Moon makes a cooperative connection to regenerative Pluto at 9:39AM ET — and after that, the coast is clear for the rest of the day.

We are in the dark side of the Moon — the balsamic phase — a time to wrap up projects started on the New Moon and think about your wish list for the next lunar cycle, which begins at 8:36PM ET on Sunday. In case I don’t get around to posting a forecast tomorrow, be advised that the Scorpio Moon continues through much of Friday. It goes void of course at 4:11PM ET, giving you a brief break in the action until 4:55PM ET, when the mood lightens up and the Moon engages in high-flying Sagittarius. Given the heavy meet-up between the Moon and Saturn at 4:11PM ET, we’ll welcome that shift in gears.

Meanwhile, the plethora of exact aspects on Saturday can be sensed now and Friday.  What a buzz! As noted on Monday, Venus (money, art, women, social expression) in social-climbing Capricorn will engage with Uranus and Pluto on Saturday. We can expect — as we have in the past — market volatility, intense emotional expression or ruthlessness in relationship and superwomen making headlines — possibly in the obituary section, especially with Sagittarius Sun fast-approaching 0 Capricorn, which regular readers know is the Aries Point, suggesting prominence.

Inspired thinking and innovative action is also suggested, given easy connections between mental Mercury and visionary Neptune, as well as Mars and technogeek Uranus. This makes me think of more discoveries from the Mars Curiosity rover hitting the wires. Check out the latest startling revelations here.

Speaking of technology, the widgetry of WordPress has recorded multiple clicks on the yellow DONATE button on my website, but tragically, no actual donations have materialized. If you happen to be one of those fabulous human beings who makes an effort to appreciate others for the value they bring to your life, and your efforts have been thwarted by a tech snafu, please let me know so my super-fabulous webmaster can investigate. Thank you!

And now, the news.

I can’t tell you how cool it is, two days after the sixth status quo-disrupting Uranus-Pluto square, to see a status quo-disrupting headline as big as the one announcing that the U.S. will restore diplomatic relations with Cuba. Just like that. Instant paradigm shift. As expected. See how easy it is? And the Pope helped!  Marco Rubio may be shocked, shocked, shocked by this news, but you, dear Readers should not be shocked at all. Especially since it’s a major shift tied to actions that took place during the build-up to the Uranus-Pluto conjunction of the mid-60s. The current Uranus-Pluto is the next stage of the cycle.

The horoscope that seems to be favored for Cuba is May 20, 1902 — 12:01p in Havana — this is the date of its declaration of independence from the US. And naturally, that horoscope is hot now, as we’d expect. Instantly we see that Uranus and Pluto is making contact with Cuba’s Venus at 14 degrees of Aries (same degree as Dianne Feinstein’s Ascendant, which we discussed last week). This Venus rules areas of the horoscope referring to public status and mindset — we’d expect a change of perspective! This Venus was hit by October’s lunar eclipse and will be eclipsed again in April. More in store!

Obviously there are other patterns suggesting opportunities for development, especially significant solar arcs involving transformational Pluto, the Midheaven and the Ascendant, as well as the Sun and the Moon. Also significant: transiting Saturn exactly conjunct the IC (also an angle that refers to foundation/homeland concerns). And let us not forget that transiting Saturn is on Barack Obama’s Midheaven (suggesting that he is at the top of his game).

In other world news, the U.S. now seems to believe that North Korea was in fact responsible for hacking into Sony’s computers as a payback for Sony’s planned release of The Interview, an alleged comedy in which the leader of North Korea is assassinated. And it made me think about a seminar discussion with astrologer Noel Tyl, in which he noted that the horoscope of North Korea is driven by a Moon in Sagittarius, which needs needs needs to express its opinions and have those opinions treated with respect (the Moon in Sagittarius also reflects North Korea’s apparent love of all things cinematic and Disney). The Interview doesn’t sound terribly respectful, does it?

Current patterns in North Korea’s horoscope show heavy action among Neptune (subterfuge, deception, film, intangibles), Uranus (technology, shocks to the system) and its Sagittarius Moon. Too bad Sony didn’t consult with an astrologer before greenlighting The Interview, which is now not going to be released on Christmas, as once planned…if ever. Really, Sony…what were you thinking? Do you have more respect for North Korea now?

In other news, Russia.

To be continued….

Need some inspiration for your holiday gift list? How about an empowering astro-logical consultation? Nothing says “it’s all about you” more than an in-depth 90 minute conversation full of insights last will last a lifetime. Pot of lovely tea served at no extra charge. Clients consulted by phone must provide own refreshment, but will feel no less cared for. Guaranteed. Here’s the 411.