Follow us on TwitterFind us on FacebookFind us on Tumblr

Get daily Astro-Logical forecasts delivered to you here.

"Thank you so very much for your time and brilliance in deciphering my chart. It was a pleasure putting all that history in your capable hands, and I value the gentle care you took with it. I will tell those I know all about your special talent!"
--L.L.
Los Angeles

I CAN'T WRITE THIS WITHOUT YOU : ) PLEASE support my time and efforts. CONTRIBUTE to my COSMIC TIP JAR using the gold button below. THANK YOU.


Monday 11/11/2019: Sneak Peek at the Week; the Transit of Mercury: Full Moon in Taurus

Greetings from 35,000 feet!

I’m psyched to be heading to New Orleans for a little Mercury retrograde REtreat, as it is sure to be more fun than the REorganization of my closets that took up most of  yesterday’s long Moon void in Aries (which began around 9 AM ET and ended at 5 PM ET). Usually I would have done that at the end of the September in conjunction with the mercury falling, but there was no need to switch out tank tops for heavy sweaters…until now. How are you making the most of this Mercury retrograde opportunity to REcharge, RElax and REview? Any unexpected REunions and calls from people you haven’t heard from in years? How are your schedules flowing? Are you maintaining an attitude of flexibility with any lapse or misunderstanding in communication?

Mercury is a big focus today, thanks to a relatively rare event  that happens about 13 times in a century. It called a transit of Mercury.  At 10:22 AM ET, Mercury and the Sun will meet up at 18 degrees of Scorpio. What makes it rare is that Mercury will cross in front of the Sun – not behind it. In other words, the meet-up will be visible to many on Spaceship Earth, including those in the U.S. It’s not unlike what you see when there is an eclipse involving the Moon, except that the Sun is not blotted out — not even close. You will have seen only a relatively tiny black dot, if you were able to see it.

Avid Readers will recall that Sun-Mercury conjunctions (astro jargon for “meet-up”) suggest a focused mindset that is often idealistic. The idealism reflects Mercury’s closeness to the Sun; thus our way of thinking may be blinded by the Sun’s light. Upside potential: your vision can be a true inspiration to others, daring them to make it real. Downside: you may stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the clay feet of the hero you worship. Denial is not just a river in Egypt, you know.  If you were born with Sun conjunct Mercury, how does your need to see things in their best possible light manifest in your own personal world? If you don’t have a Sun-Mercury conjunction in your horoscope, don’t worry, there are other patterns that also suggest idealism. You, too, can believe in the impossible.

It’s the stark visibility of Mercury as it crosses in front of the Sun that makes this conjunction special. Greeks and Romans who studied the stars thousands of years ago took notice of Mercury’s proximity to the giver of light (the Sun) and concluded that Mercury (a.k.a. Hermes) must be a messenger of sorts. And that seems to be how Western astrology embraced Mercury as the symbol of thought and communication. Mercury the planet became Mercury, Messenger of the Gods.

OK, so what is the message of this particular transit of Mercury?  For insights, we can consider its Sabian Symbol: “a parrot listening and then talking, repeats a conversation that he has heard.” I wrote about this Symbol in October 2013, when Mercury turned retrograde on this degree. To me it suggested we’d be hearing a lot of “twittering blah blah blah” — and you’ll find a few headlines from that time period cited in that 2013 forecast. Sabian Sage Blain Bovee’s interpretation seems to be an alert about the power of soundbites, especially as they are used in TeeVee News. A soundbite sticks in your mind, but does it tell the whole story? And what is lost because of it?

If you’re not familiar with the Sabian Symbols, here’s the story.

Astrologer Lynda Hill (also a Sabian Symbol specialist) offers these cautions — here’s an excerpt  — for more, look here.

Rote responses that are ill considered. “Towing the party line” without having any opinion of your own. Going over the same territory. Losing true meaning through repetition. Repeating without knowing the real meaning or purpose. Meaningless banter. Tunnel vision. Gossiping. Missing the true essence of what’s being said. Not having a mind of one’s own. Brainwashing. Re-runs of the same old line. Broken records.

If you have a planet or angle around 19 degrees of Scorpio, your horoscope is more personally affected by the transit of Mercury (and tomorrow’s Full Moon) than most. If you find yourself falling into any of the patterns in the above paragraph, it may be helpful to consider how a need to see something  or someone in the best possible light is a factor.  Are you blinded by the light?  This would be one potential. Another strong potential is a glut of information and communication flowing at this time — especially as it applies to a REview of past events. Mercury is retrograde, after all — and in Scorpio, it needs to dig deep as it retraces the past.

Meanwhile, the Moon has been in Taurus since 5 PM ET on Sunday, advancing steadily forward on its quest to establish material comfort and security. That includes good food, good music and a snuggle with your sweetie. It includes organizing your ideas into solid structures that will support your empire. And if you happen to be vacationing in New Orleans, it includes lunch at Commander’s Palace. The rest of the week goes like this:

  • TUESDAY — The Taurus Moon waxes to exact fullness at 8:34 AM ET and promptly goes void for the rest of the day, not to enter Gemini until 3:45 AM ET on WEDNESDAY. A Taurus Full Moon suggests conflict and illumination regarding  what is mine (Taurus) vs. what is ours (Scorpio). The wave of emotional energy associated with a Full Moon is further amplified by a cooperative connection between warrior/crusader Mars and expansive Jupiter. Just DO IT, already. While Mars typically does not function at its finest in people-pleasing Libra, for much of this week Mars (and Jupiter, too) benefit from contacts with the Fixed Star known as Spica, considered to be one of the most auspicious aspects for success. Let’s just hope that whatever succeeds this week is on the side of the angels. Mars – Jupiter patterns are great for physical expression and confidence. Just DO IT already!

More on this Full Moon. The activated Sabian Symbols are 20 Taurus (Moon) and 20 Scorpio (Sun). The latter was the activated degree on the New Moon in Scorpio of November 2015.  Are Avid Readers noticing how the New and Full Moons of the past few months are triggering lunations that occurred in mid to late 2015, and 2016? Here is the whole forecast — worth a review. And here is an excerpt:

The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon furthers the opportunity to reveal what has been hidden. It is “a woman drawing two dark curtains aside”. Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee cleverly points out that the Symbol does not specify what the curtains were covering. A window? A passageway? The former would let in light; the latter could take you someplace else…up, through or down…which will it be? Bovee suggests we are invited to imagine it for ourselves.

The Sabian Symbol for 2019 Full Moon in Taurus is connected to the May 2016 New Moon. Here is the whole forecast — and here is an excerpt about the relevant Sabian Symbol:

…the Sabian Symbol for 20 Taurus is “wind,  clouds and haste,” suggesting, as Blain Bovee points out in his wonderful book, “an image of accelerated ideas that create a stir, excitement or massive confusion…extremes of revelation and being heavily covered; shedding light on something previously hidden.” Extremes? We’ll see how that plays out over the next few weeks…

OK. Back to this week…

  • WEDNESDAY —  Moon in Gemini drives the day with a constant buzz of info involving practical magic and sobering thoughts on a scandal or ideal involving power and resources. The exact aspects suggesting this agenda are: 1) Mercury’s  sextile with Saturn (there’s yer sobriety); 2) Mercury trine Neptune (there’s yer ideal); and 3) Sun sextile Pluto (there’s yer power, resources and heads of states/corporations).
  • THURSDAY — Whatever transpired on Wednesday, get out your rose-colored glasses for this day, with its challenging aspect (a square) between Venus and Neptune. Venus refers to women, money, art and social expression; Neptune refers to the arts as well, and also oil, drugs, dreams, etc.
  • FRIDAY — Chill in the morning, as the Gemini Moon will be void between 6:38 AM ET and 11:14 AM ET. Roll with whatever twists and flakes crop up; remember that crises that happen during voids are usually much ado about nothing. Once the Moon enters the next sign — Cancer — see if you notice a palpable shift in the energy that drives the day. Isn’t it just a wee bit more focused? Are the priorities now about emotional and home/homeland security (Cancer’s concern), as opposed to Gemini’s need to be the smartest kid in the room? Cancer drives most of SATURDAY and SUNDAY — will fill you in on the details on my flight back to NY on Friday.

Regarding the news…it’s flowing as anticipated, isn’t it? People are starting to talk….and talk…and talk…but what are they actually saying?

Thank you for reading this forecast.

 

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 2/8/2016: New Moon in Aquarius; Sneak Peek at the Week

Good Morning!

The New Moon in Aquarius began at 9:39AM ET, offering us an opportunity to re-set  intentions and goals for the next lunar cycle.  Around February 15th, 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 the 22nd, 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 March 1st, we can review our achievements, tie up loose ends and get ready to begin another New Moon cycle on March 8th (which will also be an eclipse, FYI).

Aquarius is a airy (mental), fixed (organizing) energy. Where Leo, its opposing sign, is concerned with personal creative expression and recognition, Aquarius needs to focus on the expression needs of a particular group or group consciousness. For some reason John Stuart Mill and his idea of doing “the greatest good for the greatest number” pops into my head, even though Mr. Mill had no planets in Aquarius. He was a practical yet visionary Taurus, with Mercury and Mars in easy alignment with Jupiter in earthy Capricorn. We’d expect him to walk his talk, and he had plenty of provocative things to say, still relevant nearly 200 years year later.  We humans are slow learners, in spite of our whiz-bang technology.

Keywords for Aquarius include innovation, eccentricity, friendship, humanitarian, unconventional, rocket scientist and/or mad genius. If you were born with the Sun in Aquarius, you have the energy to innovate and intellectualize with others. If your Moon is in Aquarius, you need to be socially significant — and dare I say appreciated for it.

The chart for this New Moon has Uranus, ruler of Aquarius in a cooperative connection with the Sun and Moon, suggesting  innovative, status quo-disrupting ideas affecting the masses  are likely to be key throughout this lunar cycle. With Saturn (old guard) in alignment with Uranus (avant garde), we can expect these ideas to attempt to re-invent the wheel. That applies in your own personal world, too — especially if your horoscope has a planet or angle around 20 degrees of Aquarius — and to some extent Leo, Taurus and Scorpio. Don’t know where your planets are? Then why not order an Astro-Basics Report — or schedule a personal consultation with your local astrologer, who will be happy to explain it all for you.

What might be inspiring our efforts to reinvent the wheel? Whatever flashes of insight and/or shock to the system we may have received last week — and especially the weekend — regarding relationship — with the public, a significant other or ourselves. What cuts need(ed) to be made? What truth(s) needed to come to light? How will that impact your relationships?

The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon — at 20  degrees of Aquarius — is “a big white dove, a message bearer”. As usual we turn to Sabian Symbol guru Blaine Bovee for additional insight, who notes this image is “one of communication borne by a creature of the sky; a peaceful message from a heavenly source.” Interestingly, he also notes that that “white” is seen when light is reflected “without sensible impression of the visible rays of the color spectrum”. Color blind?  Hmmm. Politically, Bovee notes that white is a “conservative” color — as opposed to the “fiery” hue of “radical inclinations”. Spiritually, Bovee associates white with “purity”. And then, just to confuse everyone, he notes that “white” can in fact be burning — as in “white-hot”…or cool, refreshing and pure as the driven snow.

How are we to apply this Symbol? What might we see reflected in the headlines? On the upside, Bovee suggests “genius that finds the sacred everywhere…listening for unique language; messages of relief precipitated by intense, burning reverence”. Also to the upside: “a strong sense of community”. On the down side: intense extremes…and “affinities for a host of world-religion motifs”. However it manifests, I hope we’ve seen the end of the long list of beloved music greats who took their leave last month, beginning with David Bowie. That seemed to be an eerie but apt reflection of last month’s New Moon Sabian Symbol, “a hidden choir singing”.

As an eternal optimist, this month I will glom on to the part about messages of relief and a strong sense of community, so true to the spirit of a New Moon in Aquarius.  The “messages” theme is echoed by Mercury (mind, communication), which will be back at 0 degrees of Aquarius on February 13th, which is where it turned retrograde on January 5th. So by the end of the week, we should be back up to speed, having integrated whatever deep review we went through in January, with special attention paid to the revelations that came to light during the last week of the month. Got that? FYI, Sarah Palin’s Mercury is 0 degrees Aquarius. Perhaps she’ll have a message for us later this week, too.

More on today and the rest of the week. The Aquarius New Moon went immediately void (9:39AM ET), offering us an opportunity to chill and ready our intentions for launch once the Moon is fully engaged in Pisces. That happens at 3:31AM ET on TUESDAY, when the only exact aspect we’ll have is a meet-up with visionary Neptune at 6:03PM ET. A day to go with a sensitive, focused flow?

If you think of the Moon as a pinball bouncing off bumpers (which symbolize the other planets) in an-old-fashioned pinball machine, Wednesday’s pinball Moon bounces six times through the day, before falling back to the bottom of the machine for a reload. Translation: higher potential for a faster pace and more action. The time it take for the pinball to reach the bottom of the machine corresponds to the duration of the Moon void. Can you appreciate how the energy of the falling pinball is different that when it bounces with direction and force off of the bumpers? Wednesday’s void begins at 11:25PM ET; it ends at 4:55AM ET, when the Moon races into Aries, driven by a need to lead and inspire.

Also on Wednesday — at 2:54AM ET — Venus (love, women, money, values, social expression, aesthetics), after being supercharged over the weekend, gets a little boost from expansive Jupiter. Many astrologers might say that a harmonious aspect between the two planets traditionally associated with good fortune is peachy keen-o. If you have a planet around 22 degrees of Virgo, Capricorn or Taurus, let us know how the day flows.

My plan is to recap the news in a post later tonight or tomorrow. Lots of fun stories to share. Oh — all right — here’s one to savor until I can pull the rest of them together. I confess I did not watch the debates among either party’s  candidates over the weekend. But I did note the write-ups and I especially noticed this video showing the awkward, flaky, spaced-out start of the Republican debate on Saturday. Watch it, and — quick —  what planetary patterns immediately come to mind? If you answer “Moon void! Strong Neptune!” then I am very proud of you. That’s what I thought before I even looked at the chart for Saturday, February 6th at 8PM in Manchester, NH.  And indeed, the Moon was void — and Neptune was in  an obsessive-compulsive relationship with an important angle of the chart.  Isn’t that fun?

Other patterns add to the potential for an implosive debut.  Apparently the debate was quite combative, aptly reflecting the witchy-bitchy  potential suggested by planetary patterns. I did not take the time to see how the patterns were impacting the horoscopes of the debate contenders.

Astrology is amazing. Thank you for reading this forecast. Thank you for sharing it with the rest of the Free World.

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 8/28/2013: A Deeper Perspective

A need for depth and perspective in all areas of fact-gathering, mindset and communication is suggested today by the Moon in information-junkie Gemini and a supportive connection between mental Mercury and perspicacious Pluto. Oh, how these thoughts have power…and considerable debate over the facts may be had around 1:48PM ET, as the Gemini Moon squares Mercury in exacting Virgo. Get it off your desk today; Moon goes void for a long break at 12:44AM ET Thursday…not to enter Cancer, the next sign, until Friday at 7:33AM ET.

The day begins with a charge and a challenge: the 3rd Quarter Moon, offering the final hit to the New Moon agenda that was set on August 6th. What was that all about, you may wonder (how quickly we forget). It was about “a pageant” — suggested by the bold, creative and imperial conjunction of the Sun and Moon at 15 degrees of royal Leo. Here is that New Moon forecast again.  The Sabian Symbol for the 3rd Quarter Moon at 6 degrees of Gemini is “drilling for oil”. Now isn’t that interesting, given one of the dominant themes in the headlines. For more on that story, I offer you this. If I didn’t, I might hide under the covers for the rest of the day.

Let the record show that drilling for oil is a highly speculative venture. Yes, there is the potential for great wealth that can be obtained by going deep & tapping into resources that are millions of years old. However, such gains in wealth may be painfully short-term, and ultimately destructive to the rest of the environment. Plus, when that oil is tapped, it’s tapped. Or it might not be there to begin with. You drill and strike out, leaving behind a big mess (google “fracking” for further details). Sabian Symbol guru Blaine Bovee has a lot of other interesting things to say about the symbolism of this particular degree —  I recommend you get his book.

In your own personal world, use the energy of this 3rd Quarter Moon to look deeper. Think twice before taking things at face value, even if doing so would be easier. Do your homework. Sometimes it’s good to be boring, even if it spoils the party. You may discover some hidden resources as a result.  Also (I am realizing, after already shipping this forecast to my email subscribers), if you have to make a persuasive argument today, planetary patterns have your back. Onward!

Coming up: a look at the horoscope of the United States in 2014 — I’ve been meaning to post something for some time…meanwhile, here’s an intriguing story about a group of forward-thinking people in area of natural resources…oil-drilling is not on their agenda.

 

 

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 6/24/2013: Capricorn Super Moon & Fallout

On Sunday at 4:08AM ET, Moon entered the enterprising sign of Capricorn, where it needs — as I learned from  astrologer Noel Tyl — to Make Things Happen. Three and a half hours later, that Moon waxed full at 3 degrees of Capricorn, very close to the prominent Aries Point. Avid readers of this forecast will recall that the Aries Point corresponds to the solstice and equinox points: 0 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Perhaps that’s why everyone and their dog was talking about this Full Moon being a Super Moon, as if it was a completely new and rare phenomenon, which it is not. They happen every year and more than once. Astrologer Richard Nolle coined the term”SuperMoon” in 1979 — here’s his explanation of what can be expected when the Moon is closerthanthis to Earth. Still, it is pretty darn awesome that an awareness of Something Planetary is being reflected so strongly by the general public. It bodes well for astrologers…. : )

You can charge ahead with a few caveats today, using the proactive energy of the Capricorn Moon to fuel your ambition. Be aware, however, that communications are subject to more than the usual snafus, given that Mercury is about to turn retrograde on Wednesday. Back to today: as evening approaches, the potential for a clash between an idealistic wish for emotional comfort and security may be smacked down by impersonal authority — or someone insisting on following the company policy or party line, as mental Mercury opposes the Moon at 4:20PM ET. We’ll get a break in the action as the Moon goes void at 10:24PM ET, not to enter the next sign, Aquarius, until 3:26AM ET. Take the evening off!

Now, about that Super Moon. The Full Moon was exact at Sunday 7:32AM ET at 3 degrees of Capricorn. We would have expected an easy flow of communication for transcendent/spiritual/healing purposes, especially with persons and/or institutions of authority. We would have expected a stunning upset and/or power play referring to an enterprising ambition, as the Moon was challenged by ruthless Pluto and rebel Uranus in the evening hours, ET time.  I’d argue that one reflection of these patterns was daredevil Nik Wallenda’s successful tightrope walk across the (sort of) Grand Canyon, notable for Wallenda’s constant state of audible prayer. Talk about an easy flow of communication with a higher authority!

We would have expected illumination and/or release on your New Moon agenda (can you remember what that was on June 8th), which was reflected in the Sabian Symbol for 19 degrees of Gemini: “a large archaic volume reveals a traditional wisdom”. In other words, volumes and volumes of data collected and stored, reflecting the consciousness and value systems of the people collecting it.  And that is one big question with a Book of Secrets or Akashic Records or any such text: who is deemed wise and/or responsible enough to be privy to the knowledge contained therein. Everyone? High priests and priestesses? Governments and corporations? Knowledge is a powerful thing, with compelling and sometimes terrible and perhaps even unjust consequences, as anyone who has read the Book of Genesis can tell you.

Given the above Sabian Symbol, one poster child for this lunar cycle has to be Edward Snowden, the former Booz Allen systems analyst who journeyed to Hong Kong, where he met with reporters from the UK paper The Guardian and informed the entire Free World what sort of data private contractors like Booz Allen have been collecting, paid for by US taxpayer dollars.   It is fascinating that the Full Moon coincided with another bold move in this saga,  and so are its Sabian Symbols. For the Sun at 3 degrees of Cancer: “a man bundled up in fur, leading a shaggy deer”. For the Moon at 3 degrees of Capricorn:  (for the Sun at 3 Cancer) and “the human soul receptive to growth and understanding” (3 Capricorn).

I wish I could quote all four paragraphs Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee has penned about these  intriguing symbols; as always, I recommend you get his book.  But briefly, for the man bundled up in fur (3 Cancer), Bovee suggests “an image of rugged individuality in a cold environment”;  the “human soul” image of 3 Capricorn is self-explanatory.  One of these symbols is closed/defensive; the other is open and receptive, and therein lies the polarity/opposition suggested by any Full Moon.  In your own personal world, Bovee suggests these symbols may manifest as an awareness of  “creative potentials that cook within” or as a sense of personal identity that is at once between the perils of experience (life’s harsh realities) and the soul (who you are in spite of said external realities). Bottom line: in light of these challenging — perhaps even perilous — times, we are being presented with an opportunity for a greater understanding and appreciation of what really and truly ties us all together.

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 6/13/2011: Saturn Turns Direct in Libra

Monday begins with Moon still in Scorpio, where it makes a potentially combative connection to aggressive Mars at 1:43PM EDT and then goes void until 10:38PM. Try to play nice with your toys today, and take care of essential business before the void if you can. When Moon shifts into fiery Sagittarius, the mood should lift noticeably.

Highlight of the day is Saturn, planet of ambition, structure and control moving direct as I type this on Sunday at 11:52PM EDT. Saturn has been retrograde for five months and perhaps put a hold on your personal business endeavors. Here’s what I wrote about the retrograde on January 26th — how did it turn out for you?

•    “Saturn, planet of ambition turns retrograde at 18 degrees of Libra at 1:11AM NY time until June 12th. The Sabian Symbol for 18 Libra is “two men under arrest” — suggesting, writes Blain Bovee, the Sabian Symbol Specialist I’ve often cited in this forecast, “a manifestation of irreconcilable differences”….hmmm…such as three Supreme Court Justices recusing themselves from SOTU? http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/01/justices-alito-scalia-thomas-to-skip-state-of-union-address/1  Bovee continues, ” there is a tendency to dig in rather than to negotiate. negotiation may seem impossible, plus the ‘other side’ is just as intractable in their beliefs.”‘

Saturn turns direct at 11 degrees of Libra. The Sabian Symbol is for this degrees is “a professor peering over his glasses”  Bovee writes, “Strangely, when optical instruments used to assist vision are set aside, only then can one see clearly eye-to-eye…The urge tends to be for major changes in how relationships function and a face-to-face, eye-to-eye, encounter may be in the offing. This does not guarantee a positive outcome, but it certainly promotes authentic and real relating.”

Well, that certainly suggests movement, in one direction or another, as well as a confrontation that perhaps has been avoided. On the plus side, we can expect projects put on hold over the past five months to gain traction. Wherever Saturn falls in your horoscope is the area of life you may find moving forward again. If you were born on the first or second day of April, July, October or January, you have likely been feeling Saturn’s challenge of serious focus for the past several weeks, to be continued until July 18th.
If you were born Oct – Dec 1981 or May- Aug 1982, you are having a Saturn return. This is a critical time in your life development; everyone goes through it around age 28/29. Pay attention to the sense of urgency you’re likely to be feeling. In what ways are you intent on establishing yourself in the material world? Are you thinking of changing careers? Getting married? Going back to school? What is the reach for ambition?

If you were born between Dec 1951- April 1952 or between Aug – Nov of 1952, you are also having a Saturn return. At this point in life, you may find yourself wanting to turn away from the material world. Having realized ambition during the past 28 years, nourishing the soul may now become more important. This can be a very good thing, even if other things have to be let go.

The United States is also going through a Saturn return, suggesting a review of priorities established at the beginning of Ronald Reagan’s first term. The third and final hit of the return happens mid-August…