Daily Forecast Archives - Page 65 of 156 - Elisabeth Grace

Astrology for News Junkies

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

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 7/18/2014 & the Weekend: Mars in the Spotlight; MH17 and More

Another day with Moon charging through me-me-me Aries, a sign whose mantra might well be, says astrologer (and fellow Aries) Rick Levine, “Ready. Fire. Aim!” Moon entered this trigger-happy sign with an exuberant connection to Jupiter at 1:07AM ET on Thursday. It was then challenged by Mercury at 8:26AM ET, suggesting a conflict or glitch involving mindset, communication, followed by a power play or emotional catharsis 12 hours later, as Moon makes its weekly contact with ruthless Pluto.

Some may find themselves bolting out of bed in the wee hours this morning, courtesy of the Moon’s hook-up with disruptive Uranus at 4:37AM ET. I actually typed that on Thursday night, and here I am editing today’s forecast at 5:08AM ET. Go figure. If you’re not personally feeling the buzz, you may simply bear witness to the increased drive in others. This is intensified as we get closer to 10PM ET, when the 3rd Quarter Moon is opposed by action-oriented Mars. Around 2AM ET on Saturday, Sun and Mars form an exact square, suggesting an outburst of energy for better or for worse, as was advised in Monday’s forecast. Be mindful on the roads…and around people who may be looking to pick a fight.

Mars is especially powerful now for a few reasons which I will address later in this forecast. Better to apply the energy at the gym or other creative endeavor. Or consider a dreamy mental escape, suggested by an easy connection between Mercury and nebulous Neptune soon after midnight. In the words of those who blithely misquote the opening line of William Cosgreve’s The Mourning Bride, “Music has charms to soothe the savage beast”.

In addition to the tension suggested by Mars, three planets will change sign or direction over the next few days. Some may feel a bit wobbly as they adjust to the new direction. On Friday (today), Venus enters watery Cancer, seeking emotional security in social expression. At 0 degrees of Cancer (the Aries Point), we thus expect Venusian concerns, (e.g., women, art, money) to be prominent. How interesting to see Edward Snowden, whose 29 degree Gemini Sun was conjoined by Venus yesterday, giving another interview in which the most prominent takeaway was a caution about social expression on the internet and what happens to nude photos that are intercepted by 20-something male surveillance types. Also making news: Pvt. Chelsea (nee Bradley) Manning will reportedly begin gender treatment while in military custody; Airbnb’s new logo sparks a feverish debate in marketing circles on whether it looks like ladyparts; while in Japan, a woman artist is arrested for “distributing data that enables recipients to make 3D prints of her vagina.” Yea verily, and have you seen her kayak?

Moon goes void Friday at 10:18PM ET and enters stability-seeking Taurus at 4:43AM ET on Saturday. Perhaps the Moon void will take some of the edge off of the Sun-Mars square, which happens around 2AM ET. Once in Taurus, the Moon suggests a need to build or preserve material security, and an appreciation for these comforts is encouraged. Saturday evening is ripe for the arts, healing and more sweet music. Sunday has more gravitas, suggested by a stern face-off between Moon and Saturn around noon ET, which may manifest as a reach for ambition or an unwelcome control, courtesy of an authority. Saturn is the second planet changing sign or direction this weekend; it turns direct at 4:38PM ET. Uranus is the third planet; it turns retrograde on Monday.

OK. More news…and more about Mars.

Warrior Mars is especially potent now for a couple of reasons. First, as of yesterday it was at 26 degrees of Libra. That’s the same degree as the April 15th lunar eclipse. You may recall that eclipses create bottlenecks of energy that are subsequently released when transiting planets trigger the degree of the eclipse. For example, check out these two articles about what was going on in the Ukraine on April 15th and on April 16th, the day after the eclipse. Here’s what happened yesterday, as you must have seen in headlines everywhere: a Malaysian Airlines (!) plane is shot down by rebels using a surface-to-air missile. I can only imagine what is going on in the horoscope of Malaysian Airlines. For the record, Vladimir Putin (mentioned here back in March) was the subject of the NYT editorial on April 15th — and again today.

Back to Mars. When Mars squares the Sun on Saturday morning, the Sun will be at 27 degrees of Cancer. The Sabian Symbol for 27 Cancer is “a violent storm raging in a canyon filled with expensive homes”. 27 Cancer was the degree of the volatile New Moon on July 19, 2012, which you may recall was the night of the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shootings — astro-analysis here. Finally, Mars will reach 28 degrees of Libra on Sunday, which is where it was when it turned retrograde on March 1st — so this is also a sensitive point.

Back to MH17. Of course when news broke that the plane crashed, I immediately looked at the chart for the plane’s departure: 12:14PM in Amsterdam. Instantly noticed Mars at that very significant eclipse point in the 1st house; rising, and considered that an explosion or other volatile attack was a likely cause. It is absolutely fascinating to note the position of the Moon in the flight departure chart: right on the cusp of the 7th house — same as the chart for MH370! This Moon is at 3 degrees of warrior Aries, and in contact with the angles, it suggests an event that will make prominent impact on the public (Aries is symbolized by the Ram; in this case, perhaps, a sacrificial lamb). This prominence is echoed by the 2 Libra Ascendant and 3 Cancer Midheaven, as these degrees are close to the Aries Point. It is echoed again by its square to Mercury (information/communication), co-ruler of the 9th house (suggesting an international involvement and reach).

With Libra rising, the ruler of the chart is Venus, which also represents the plane. Venus is also prominent — in the 9th house and co-ruling the 9th — and also at the Aries Point and conjunct the Midheaven. Venus is in an extremely volatile and obsessive power struggle with ruthless Pluto, which sits at the bottom of the chart, in contact with the Midheaven. The 4th house refers to the “end of the matter” for the plane; its end was certainly Plutonian, as in totally annihilated. Compare this to MH370, which had Neptune in the 4th in Pisces, exactly squaring a Gemini Moon, suggesting an end involving water and/or suffocation…and mystery. The Libra Ascendant is impacted by two other obsessive contacts: one from Uranus (aviation, accidents, shock, technology) in the 7th house (public, open enemies) and another from Chiron, the wounded healer, in the 6th.

There’s more, but you get the idea. Unlike MH370, the chart suggests that information about MH17’s fate will not be shrouded in mystery. Within hours, in fact, a transcript of an intercepted phone call allegedly between members of the rebel forces in Ukraine was published. They are talking about the plane. It seems one person is genuinely shocked to discover that it is a civilian aircraft and that the dead include women and children. You know how we’ve been talking all week about cognitive dissonance — currently symbolized by an uncomfortable tension between Saturn (old paradigm) and Uranus (new information)? In the last words of this transcript, the speaker — perhaps the authority (Saturn) figure in the conversation — can’t process the fact that it’s a civilian plane, and that the rebels made an undeniable, murderous error by destroying it. When his colleague wonders why the plane was in Ukrainian airspace, he bends the facts to suit his version of reality: “That means they were carrying spies. They shouldn’t be f…cking flying. There is a war going on.”

Cue Jack Nicholson now, please.

I’ll end on a hopeful note. As I am about to post, the NYT reports that Vladimir Putin has called for a cease-fire in the Ukraine…

Have a lovely weekend in pursuit of comforting Moon-in-Taurus pleasures of the senses. West Coasters can likely sleep in a bit on Monday, as the Moon will be void from 10:13AM until 12:36PM ET.

Your donations never fail to make my day, with much gratitude to you for your appreciation. Gratitude also to those of you who share this forecast with friends. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. Have a wonderful day!

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 7/16/2014: Jupiter in Leo

More of the same intuitive, sensitive flow from yesterday, courtesy of the Moon in dreamy Pisces, which forms a harmonious alignment with the Cancer Sun around 2PM ET. An indulgent connection between the Moon and Venus at 8:57PM ET suggests the potential for an especially pleasurable evening.

Big news today is Jupiter, a.k.a. The Cosmic Sugar Daddy, ending its year-long stay in Cancer and moving into regal Leo at 6:30AM ET, where it has not been since August of 2002. It will remain in Leo until September of 2015. What does that mean? Well, Jupiter suggests expansion and enthusiasm, sometimes excessive and otherwise overblown. Keywords associated with Leo include the sun (solar power?), gold, kings and queens, leadership, drama, creative self-expression, pride, lions, the heart, love and adoration (lionizing), the need to shine (and help others shine, too).

If you’re a Leo — or have a significant planet or angle in Leo, this suggests an opportunity for you to expand your reach and/or receive recognition for being the magic that is you. Look back to what was going on for you in late 2002-2003. You can also look back to late 1990 – late 1991 and late 1978 through most of 1979. What happened?

Following up on the adjustment challenge of assimilating new information into old paradigms as reflected by planetary patterns and discussed yesterday, here’s an interesting article on how Miami is currently being impacted by climate change — dramatically so — and the equally dramatic response by the “powers that be”. Meanwhile, you’ve probably heard by now that 97% of the scientific community believes that climate change poses a dire threat to humanity. Here’s an article about one scientist who is in the 3% that believes otherwise.

Finally, here’s an intriguing article about how the Moon influences our mind and our sleep patterns…just because it is intriguing.

What’s going on in your horoscope? Make an appointment for a personal consultation and find out. Really, there’s too much going on in the cosmos, reflected in world events, to remain clueless about how it is all likely to impact YOU.

Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 7/15/2014: Saturn at the Halfway Point

An ethereal Pisces Moon on a day with the Sun in Cancer can facilitate greater emotional sensitivity and compassion. Note your dreams upon waking — especially West Coasters, as the Moon meets up with nebulous Neptune at 10:25AM ET. What may be experienced as rose-colored fog or befuddlement for your analytical brain may also be experienced as a flash of insight channeled from some other plane. Further depth of insight and/or a potential healing or regenerative communication may be yours this evening, as the Moon makes an easy connection to potent Pluto.

Now, a little bit of news. Saturn now sits at a virtual standstill at 16 degrees of Scorpio, halfway through the 30 degrees it must travel to get to the next sign, Sagittarius. Regular readers of this forecast may recall that when Saturn first entered Scorpio in October of 2012, we anticipated that reproductive health issues and other consequences and controls (Saturn) of sexual energy (Scorpio) would be a major focus. For example, we’ve seen many efforts to control and restrict the ability of women to access contraceptives. Today, however — halfway through Scorpio — there is a notable push back against these controls, as the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on a new bill called the Women’s Health Protection Act, as explained in this NYT editorial. Does it have a snowball’s chance in hell of passing? Not with the current crop of members in the House of Representatives. But things change…

If you’ve been reading this forecast for the past five years, you may also recall that when Saturn entered Libra, I opined that fairness in relationships (Libra) under the law (Saturn) would become a major focus, and specifically, the issue of gay marriage. I projected that once Saturn got halfway through Libra, we would see the beginning of a clear shift against laws that banned gay marriage, and that’s what happened.

Follow up from yesterday: you may recall that there is an uncomfortably tense pattern between Saturn (old guard) and Uranus (avant garde) all month. This suggests challenges of adjustment and assimilation, as new information is presented that does not fit with old paradigms. It also supports the prominence of mindset and beliefs trumping established facts and laws that we’ve seen in the headlines over the past couple of months. Thus, yesterday I was delighted to see a number of Facebook posts reflecting this tension, especially this link about cognitive dissonance, Yes, exactly — cognitive dissonance — the challenge of assimilating new information that contradicts an old paradigm. Coincidence or conspiracy?

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 7/14/2014: Sneak Peek at the Week; A Lover Makes Headlines

Ideas and communication in their airiest form — literally — are a likely focus today, given the Moon in (airy) Aquarius in harmonious aspect to Venus and Mars, in Gemini (air) and Libra (air), respectively. With Mercury (mindset/communication) at the Aries Point (a need for prominence), it’s a fine opportunity to “reach out and touch someone,” as this cornball commercial from 1979 suggests. Oh, were we really so innocent and sincere back then?

Get it done before 3:23PM ET, when the Moon goes void until 10:40PM ET. This is the only Moon void we’ll have during business hours in the Americas this week, suggesting fewer flakes and twists to derail your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Other voids are Wednesday 8:57PM ET until 12:07AM ET Thursday and Friday 10:18PM ET until 4:43AM ET on Saturday.

Highlights of the week include Jupiter changing signs on Wednesday, leaving nurturing Cancer for regal drama queen Leo — which is great news for anyone with a planet in Leo — but especially the Sun, Jupiter, Ascendant or Midheaven. Jupiter transits often coincide with opportunities for expansion, recognition and sometimes a boost in material resources. Yippee! It takes 12 years for Jupiter to travel through the horoscope, and it’s helpful to know where Jupiter is in yours at any given time. Consult your local astrologer for details or consider ordering the Astro-Basics Report, available here.

Other highlights include Venus happily moving into Cancer on Friday; Saturn grinding to a virtual standstill as it prepares to fiinnnnnally turn direct on Sunday; and rebel Uranus also slowing down, as it prepares to turn retrograde on Monday. There’s a tense aspect happening all month between these two planets, suggesting an enhanced tension and uncomfortable adjustment between the old guard (Saturn) and the avant garde (Uranus). You’re feeling it more personally if you have a planet or angle at 16-17 degrees of just about any sign.

Lots of news to report, most of which I’ll cover in Tuesday’s forecast. For now, please enjoy one of the most surprising reflections of Sunday’s exact trine between Venus in charming, double-talking Gemini and Mars in sweet-talking Libra, suggesting a potential harmony between sexes: the love letters of US President Warren G. Harding. The general consensus is that he was a lousy President, perhaps the worst ever. And he may have been a lousy husband, too — as these letters, which were excerpted in the NYT Sunday magazine, were written to his mistress. Still, he had a remarkable way with words.

So why are these letters being published now? It should surprise no one that in his horoscope, his natal Venus in Libra is opposed by his natal Neptune. That strongly suggests a dreamy romanticism, and this opposition has been and continues to be supercharged by the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square. Pluto is currently at 12 Capricorn, making the second of three hits to his Venus at 12 Libra. Looking at the solar arcs in the horoscope, we instantly see themes of empowered communication in a solar arc to Venus by Pluto, too, as well as a solar arc to Harding’s Ascendant by Venus, suggesting a need to be seen as especially pleasing — dare I say romantic — even though Harding has long since passed on! Also of note: transiting Saturn (gravitas) is right on Harding’s Mercury (communication) at 17 Scorpio.

I’m always fascinated to see how horoscopes continue to reflect “life events” for people who are no longer living. Margaret Thatcher made news over the weekend, and though it wasn’t pretty, it made sense in light of her horoscope. Ms. Thatcher was a Libra with a seriously controlling Saturn in Scorpio sitting right on her Scorpio Ascendant. Generally speaking, Libra detests conflict, and has been known to go to outrageous lengths to avoid it. Generally speaking, a Scorpio Ascendant needs to present an image of control…and this would include a need to maintain privacy more than other signs. So the news that came out was that she allegedly knew that one of her senior ministers had sexually abused young boys, and instead of holding him accountable, she covered it up. And right now transiting Saturn is sitting within one degree of Thatcher’s 15 degree Scorpio Ascendant, perhaps now holding her accountable for actions taken over thirty years ago. There are other significant transits in her horoscope now, but one in particular that coincides with the timing of this news report is Mars, planet of action, sitting right on top of Thatcher’s Mercury, triggering the release/outburst of communication published over the weekend.

Isn’t astrology amazing? Thank you for reading this forecast.

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 7/11/2014 & the Weekend: Full Moon in Capricorn

Get down to business; make things happen. Those are the marching orders of the Moon in practical, no-nonsense Capricorn, aided by a softer, intuitive connection to Neptune at 11:12AM ET. West Coasters, note your dreams upon waking.

As the day progresses, intensity and potential for great clarity increases, as the Moon waxes to its fullness and makes its weekly contacts with the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square. Note the potential for a power play or catharsis around 7pmET, as the Moon connects with ruthless Pluto, followed by a shake-up or revelation around 1:45AM ET, as Moon squares Uranus.

The Full Moon is exact at 7:25AM ET on Saturday at 20 degrees of Capricorn, the chart suggests a strong expression (or clash) of wills. Action hero Mars squares the Moon (exact at 12:42PM ET) and it is also within range of another square to the Sun that won’t be exact until next Saturday, but may still be felt now. You’ll feel it more personally if you have a point or angle between 22 and 27 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn. If you do not know where your planets are, consider getting an Astro-Basics Report here. If it tells you that your Ascendent is 23 degrees Libra, for example, you’ll understand why you are likely feeling so supercharged.

In contrast to the dynamic patterns of Full Moon, a harmonious contact between Venus (women) and Mars (men) on Sunday morning suggests one possible productive outlet for all that energy. By then, Moon will be in Aquarius (as of 11:07 pm ET — after a one-hour void), where it will remain all through Sunday and most of Monday. Great for networking and hanging with your friends — the more unconventional the better. Aquarius may also facilitate your inner technogeek and/or rebel humanitarian.

Also of note on Sunday: mental Mercury makes it third and final contact with the Aries Point when it leaves Gemini for Cancer at 12:45AM ET. If you’ve been reading this forecast since the end of May, you may recall Mercury being at the Aries Point around May’s New Moon. After Mercury turned retrograde on June 7th, it hit the Aries Point again around June 17th. Whatever big ideas, mental focus and prominent changes of mindset were active at those times may be up again now. In my opinion, one example of how this prominence of mindset has been reflected in recent headlines is the Hobby Lobby SCOTUS decision, which appears to now allow (religious) beliefs to trump the law. I’ve also seen a number of articles discussing what people believe vs. actual fact –and how they are able to rationalize believing things that are simply not true — here’s an interesting one from a few days ago.

Last but not least, on October 24th, when news broke that the US had tapped into Angela Merkel’s cellphone, I anticipated that there would be developments on this story right about now (here’s the October 24th forecast). Perhaps you’ve heard that earlier this week, Germany demanded that America’s “top spy” leave the country. As reported in the New York Times

The decision by Chancellor Angela Merkel to publicly announce the expulsion of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Berlin station chief was seen as a highly symbolic expression of the deep anger and hurt that German officials have felt since the exposure of the American espionage operations.

Told ya so.

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday and Thursday 7/9-10/2014

I’m on the road today and tomorrow, so if you are waiting for me to reply to an email or voicemail, thank you for your patience and apologies for the delay. I’ll be back in NY on Thursday.

There was a dreamy/spacey contact between nebulous Neptune this morning at 10AM ET, which explains why I woke up in a hotel room at 7AM PT wondering briefly where the heck I was. Otherwise, the Moon in high-flying, opinionated, horizon-expanding Sagittarius continues unimpeded through the day, believing whatever it darn well pleases and facilitating a sharing of said beliefs. Go for it today, because they just might buy it.

How interesting to see theories on why we might believe one thing over another right on the NYT homepage, as a new study is released that argues our DNA might be a factor. Yes, and the planetary patterns in our horoscopes might also reflect our beliefs, but that study has not yet been published in the NYT. But one day, it could happen…

In other news — and perhaps not surprisingly to some of us — what we believe might be influenced by our sources of information, suggests this recent analysis of several news networks. How often do they tell the truth and how often do they flat-out lie? Which news organization has the most truly informed audience? Find out here.

More of the same “put your money where your mouth is” potential on Thursday, as the Moon continues in Sagittarius, supported by action hero Mars at 11:07AM ET. A possible conflict of opinion may arise around 8:19PM ET, when Moon is opposed by mental Mercury; this aspect increases the likelihood of communications expressed that others find provocative. Chill during Thursday’s Moon void: 8:19PM ET – 11:25PM ET…and get ready to get down to business when the Moon shifts gear into Capricorn on Friday.

Finally, a little Moon-void travel adventure to share, because it seems I get more questions from readers about voids than anything else. It so happens that my flight last night was scheduled to depart when the Moon was void. OK, no worries, since I had flexibility about when I needed to arrive at my destination, and I was also fully prepared to keep myself entertained with Japanese language textbooks and Italian lessons online during any delays or twists that might arise. Sure enough, the 7:59PM departure time was delayed. First, the plane arrived late to the departure gate. Second, security had to deal with a woman who would not put her luggage in the overhead bin, possibly because she was drunk. They removed her from the plane and this took time. At 9PM, just as we were cleared for take off, we were then told to wait because of incoming inclement weather. I checked my forecast and noted that the Moon would get into gear in Sagittarius at 9:25PM ET, and sure enough, at 9:27PM ET, Captain Cindy’s (another surprise twist — woman pilot!) co-pilot told us that we had been given a new route. We took off 20 minutes later. Cool, huh? Or, as they say in Japan, “Subarashi“!

Moral of the story: don’t freak out about Moon voids. Watch what happens and be prepared to handle the twists with grace and serenity. That is one way you can apply your knowledge of planetary patterns productively.

Jaa, mata! (see you later)

A presto! (see you soon)

Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 7/8/2014

The emotionally intense Scorpio Moon continues to rule the day, searching for depth, substance and knowledge for the sake of power and control. It goes void at 6:33PM ET until 9:25PM ET, suggesting a natural break in the action. After that, the intensity lifts when Moon enters high-flying Sagittarius and offers us the opportunity to broaden our horizons.

A surprise upset or technological/cosmic revelation may present itself before 12:23PM ET, when the Cancer Sun is challenged by rebel Uranus. I did a near spit-take upon seeing this headline on the NYT homepage: “Why Teenagers Today May Grow Up Conservative”, especially after reading about Kentucky state senator Brandon Smith’s stunningly flat-out wrong statements about surface temperatures on Mars presented as scientific fact (and as a rationalization for why we should continue to burn fossil fuels), captured on tape. In all fairness, I feel compelled to report that the committee on which Smith (R-KY) serves is chaired by one Jim Gooch (D-KY), a notorious climate change denier who once justified not including scientists in a hearing on climate change because “you can only hear the sky falling so many times” — and this was in 2007 — and apparently nothing has changed.

Regardless of the morning’s potential upsets, the afternoon presents opportunities for productive structures moving forward with enthusiasm, suggested by harmonious connections between Moon and expansive Jupiter at 6:33PM ET and a harmonious connection between the Sun and practical Saturn at 8:29PM ET. Onward.

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

Good Morning!

Note your dreams this morning, as the Moon in oh-so-deep Scorpio makes a harmonious connection to transcendental Neptune at 5:14 AM ET. A few hours earlier, Venus (social expression) and eccentric Uranus formed a friendly alignment that may have brought you in contact with someone/something unconventional and/or humanitarian during your holiday weekend. A friend’s post on Facebook notes she spent one day seeing Kinky Boots on Broadway and the next day waiting for an embrace from Amma, the hugging saint. Yeah, that works.

After noting said dreams, get up and get organized today. Deep connections are suggested by at 2PM ET alignment between the Moon and potent Pluto, and there’s a lovely balance suggested by a harmonious connection between the Sun and Moon at 8:27PM ET. Yeah, there’s a heavy focus that follows at 10:12PM ET, when Moon hooks up with Saturn — but on the plus side, this may fuel an ambition for the rest of the week. On the down side, it may be experienced as some controlling authority raining on your parade.

Highlights for the rest of the week (which we’re feeling today) include a disruptive challenge to the emotional security-focused Cancer Sun tomorrow afternoon, followed by an easy flow of structured ambition as the Sun aligns with Saturn. If you’re trying to reinvent the wheel or otherwise put an avant garde spin on something old guard, tomorrow would be a day to do it. The next cosmic event of significance would be the Full Moon in Capricorn on Saturday morning.

No long-lasting Moon voids during business hours this week or even during after hours — at least not in the Eastern Time Zone. Mark these natural rest periods in your calendar: Tuesday 6:33PM – 9:25PM ET; Thursday 8:19PM ET – 11:25PM ET; Saturday 9:56PM – 11:07PM ET.

And now, the news.

A stellar jobs report and yet another new record high for the US stock markets — not a bad way to celebrate the birthday of the United States on Friday. What’s going on in its horoscope? Whether you use the Sibley chart (Sagittarius rising) or the Gemini rising, you’ll still note an exact opposition by Jupiter (the cosmic sugar daddy) to the US’s Pluto, suggesting a potential expansion of resources. Factor in another suggestion of empowerment: the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square engaged with the US 13 Cancer Sun. If you prefer the Gemini rising chart, you’ll note the potential for a dramatic change of direction in 2022, suggested by a couple of compelling solar arcs. Time will tell.

Pluto refers to plutocracy; Uranus to the common (wo)man and also revolution. How interesting to see this piece penned by plutocrat (and philanthropist) Nick Hannaeur urging his fellow zillionaires to share their riches with the 99%. Pluto also refers to healing and regeneration. Factor in Neptune (forgiveness) in empathetic Pisces, and you might stumble across a poignant piece about restorative justice, in which convicted felons and those they harmed engage in meaningful dialogue that appears to be empowering for all parties concerned.

An empowering shift in consciousness and greater empathy were themes in these two articles. One involves the work of an animal behaviorist who treats zoo animals with mental health issues that are not unlike those suffered by humans. The other is a recent study that led to this headline: “Plants Can Hear Themselves Being Eaten”.

When the Uranus-Pluto square is triggered by contact with other planets we can expect certain headlines to pull focus. It’s no surprise to see Fukushima making news today, nor is this story involving a near-collision between two airplanes or this one about a 7.1 quake in Mexico. These larger quakes happen more often than you might think, but they are not always reported. Planetary patterns involving Uranus suggest headlines involving sudden breaks. Nice to see this story about 60 women and girls in Nigeria who apparently have escaped from Boko Haram — though the 200 schoolgirls who were kidnapped in April are still being held.

Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 7/3/2014: Pluto Power Plays and a Super Virgo

Today’s Virgo Moon continues its quest for perfection relatively unimpeded all day — great for sorting, organizing and hammering out details. Try not to overthink it around 7PM ET, when the Moon is challenged by Mercury. Should you find yourself tempted to engage in a verbal spat, consider that ruthless Pluto will oppose the sensitive Cancer Sun at 4AM on Friday. Do you really want to pull a power play?

Power plays are all over the headlines — as expected — all over the globe. In Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe circumvented Parliament by simply reinterpreting Japan’s pacifist Constitution, so that its military may play a more assertive role. This was not done without dramatic protest; a few days ago a Tokyo man set himself on fire. In Hong Kong, huge crowds gathered to support democracy, defying Beijing — with plans for another protest brewing. In Israel, after three abducted teens were found murdered, reports of a suspected revenge killing of a Palestinian boy made headlines.

I’m glad I waited until this morning to post so I could discover another power play happening in India. The new Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has issued a directive ordering government employees to clean up their offices — which apparently have been accumulating clutter for the past 67 years. So there’s huge purge (Pluto) going on, as The Guardian reports:

…with his obsession for order and cleanliness, he has been able to energise bureaucrats to take ownership of their working space to make it more presentable – and potentially more productive.

Of course the minute I read that, I’m thinking, “wow — there must be some hyper-Virgo stuff in his horoscope” — and sure enough, in his Western chart, Mr. Modi has Sun in Virgo in a tight conjunction with Saturn (discipline) and Mercury (mindset). Isn’t that cool? His Venus (social expression) is also in Virgo, though not tied in to the Mercury-Sun-Saturn configuration. His Scorpio Ascendant suggests a need to present an image of power and control. Pluto sitting right at his Midheaven (top of the chart) supports that need for power in his career. And with his Moon in Sagittarius, we would expect him not to be shy about letting workers know they need to clean up their act:

Clean, well-ordered offices is not the only thing Modi is demanding from Delhi’s bureaucrats. He also wants them to come to work on time at 9am sharp, rely more on computers, abjure extended lunch and tea breaks to play cards in nearby parks (the junior ones) or golf at the club (an elite bunch of 200), say no to foreign junkets, be more responsive to the public and resist political interference by ministers and MPs.

The last instruction could be a potential gamechanger. The new prime minister has made it clear to the top bureaucrats in government that if they have a good proposal that is blocked by their own minister, they can pitch it directly to him (but only in a PowerPoint format please, since Modi hates reading long files and documents).

Modi’s approach may seem to undermine the cabinet system of shared ministerial authority, but it has made top civil servants enthusiastic about work after a demoralising phase under the previous regime.

“The top, secretary-level officers are feeling empowered for the first time and are hoping Modi succeeds in putting the new system in place,” said Soma Chakravarthy, deputy editor of Bureaucracy Today.

I’ve italicized words in the article that reflect the empowering, purgative energy of Pluto squared by the rebellious, autonomous energy of Uranus in Aries. The whole article has other tidbits. In other news, it was fun to discover that the New York Times ran a piece on what astrologers in India were predicting about Mr. Modi years before the election. The astrologers got it right — as indicated in this 2011 report that the Times may not have seen.

To be continued…

Astro-logical Forecast for Tues. & Wed. 7/1-2/2014: Hobby Lobby and More

FOR TUESDAY: Chill, chill and don’t panic. Take care of routine. Double check all communications and travel plans. Mercury turns direct at 8:50AM ET; the regal Leo Moon goes void of course at 6AM ET, not to enter Virgo until 5:24PM ET. Avoid turning molehills of misunderstanding into mountains of Leo drama over wounded pride; when in doubt, ask for clarification of intentions. This evening, the Virgo Moon offers incentive to perfect, organize and clean up whatever mess may have been made when Mercury changed direction.

FOR WEDNESDAY: Note your dreams Wednesday morning, courtesy of a Moon challenge from mystical Neptune. Balance, indulgence and a potential emotional healing may be yours as the day progresses into the evening. The potential for major power plays can not be ignored as ruthless Pluto in Capricorn (the Establishment; corporations; patriarchy, mines, energy resources) approaches its next exact challenge to the Sun in Cancer (women, money, nurturing, emotional and homeland security) on Friday morning.

So the big news in the US yesterday (Monday) was the Supreme Court ruling on Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius, which we first discussed on April 2nd, along with Samuel Alito’s horoscope. Back in April, it was expected that Alito would gain greater prominence this year and next, and isn’t it interesting that his majority opinion in the Hobby Lobby case made headlines on a day when expansive Jupiter at 25 Cancer (women) squared his 25 degree Libra Midheaven, suggesting recognition in career and public status. Look for more action for Alito when Mars conjoins his Midheaven around July 16. Note also that his 25 Libra Midheaven was eclipsed on April 15th – we expect to see changes of public status in the months afterwards. And let’s not forget that Alito’s visionary/spiritual/idealistic/delusional (pick whichever applies) opposition between Mercury (mindset) in me-me-me Aries and Neptune in Libra is currently being supercharged by rebel Uranus. Quite a buzz going on in his mind that may be seen as disruptive, erratic, rebellious and/or genius.

The ruling in the Hobby Lobby case came as expected, supported by its release on a day with a heavy Moon (women) – Saturn (control, patriarchy) connection. I could have posted that in yesterday’s forecast, but why dampen your Monday morning, especially when the weather was so beautiful? And I’ve been thinking a lot about Saturn recently, given that it’s sitting at the same degree all month: 16 Scorpio (plus a few minutes, which means we read the Sabian Symbol for 17 Scorpio). What does that degree suggest? “A woman the father of her own child,” which I would love to interpret as , “hey you grumpy old men (and we know who you are), you’re on a fast track to becoming obsolete”. Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee has other useful insights.

For starters, “a woman the father of her own child” suggests “a spirited sense of self-fertilization and independence….[and also] bringing together masculine and feminine energies creatively for self-realization.” Oh and there’s more:

Every human being must balance masculine and feminine energies within themselves, It is an inner process of individuation that gives birth to the child of creativity. The issue is one of spiritual fertility: an independent and immaculate conception. Those filled with their own spirit may well be suffering from immaculate self-perception….one may have romantic visions of the way things used to be or ought to be…”

Whoa. Deep. And there’s still more:

Apply this degree-pair with a mind to an awareness of matters of spirit over ideas; passionate independence against archaic versions of the Mysteries. Watch for denial, such as teenage mothers who insist they have never had sex. Think of Gothic romances where passions collide with social and political realities…consider artificial insemination, fertility issues; sterile ideas and outdated, romantic passions to be championed….

So that’s the lesson Saturn has to share all this month — in areas involving structure, ambition, control and authority.

We also must consider the Hobby Lobby ruling against the backdrop of the current Uranus-Pluto square which — as noted before — is bringing up all sorts of revolutionary causes we thought we might have resolved in the mid-60s, when Uranus and Pluto were conjunct. Griswold v Connecticut was a 1965 Supreme Court case that declared it unconstitutional to prohibit married couples from using contraceptives; that right was extended to unmarried couples in 1972…followed by Roe v. Wade in 1973. The revolutionary agenda of the 60s is up for further development — and we can expect even more concrete action to be taken in the aftermath of the seven Uranus-Pluto squares in 2016 onward.

I don’t know if you, dear Reader, are old enough to remember how cool it was when the Equal Right Amendment, written in 1923 (!) was passed by Congress back in 1972. It never became law because not enough states would ratify it. This poignant ad campaign about what it means to “throw like a girl” shows how far we still need to go — and what needs to change, as argued in the accompanying article. Fortunately, planetary patterns suggest change is on the agenda for some years to come.

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