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Thursday-Sunday 2/16-19/2017: Weekend Forecast

Allll-righty then!

The energy of the day is driven by the Moon in Scorpio, which it enters at 1:41 AM ET. A Scorpio Moon seeks depth and substance for the sake of power and control, and we don’t get a break in the emotional intensity until Saturday afternoon. The only exact pattern is a harmony between Mercury (thinking, speaking) and Mars (doing) at 1:15 PM ET. Make your innovative and inspiring pitch; paint a solid picture of how you will walk your talk. Color the evening a shade of rose, courtesy of a harmony between the Moon and Neptune. Music, spirits, art — or some other visionary escape?

On FRIDAY, a clash of opinion over control is suggested by a challenge between Mercury and the Moon at 9:18 AM ET. Perhaps it will light up your Twitter feed.  Moon goes void with a sigh on a harmony with Pluto, digging up dirt and consolidating power. Whatever crisis crops up between 2:38 PM ET and SATURDAY at 1:52 PM ET may well be much ado about nothing. You can skip out early for the holiday weekend without consequence. Chill!

At 6:32 AM ET the Sun enters Pisces. Happy birthday to your favorite fishies! Pisces is a sensitive, intuitive energy that at its best expresses compassion and loving kindness for everyone and everything, in its understanding that we are all One.  Being such a sensitive soul is not always easy. Pisces has been known to wallow in suffering. It can go to extremes of surrender in order to escape life’s hard knocks, drowning its sorrows in the nearest rose-colored glass. Pisces is ruled by Neptune, a dreamy energy that can be challenging to integrate, but oh what sublime creative visions it can bring to life, when effectively channeled.

Pisces folk born between February 28 and March 4th should chat with Fish born a few days earlier about how spacey life has seemed in  past two years. Lots of potential for creativity and soulful questing, though. Pisces folk born between March 10th and March 19th will be feeling the pressure of Saturn, demanding streamlined plans for advance. May be time to check in with your local astrologer…  And that’s not a bad idea for Gemini, Sagittarius and Virgo folk born 10-14 days and 21-28 days into their respective signs. And while we’re on the subject of hot horoscopes, if you are an Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn born about 20 days into your sign, you would benefit from an astrologer’s perspective, too.

At 1:52 PM ET on SATURDAY  the Moon enters Sagittarius, needing to express its righteous opinion and push boundaries with enthusiasm. Activities that expand your horizons are favored: a walk in nature; a foreign film. The afternoon is charged by the Third Quarter Moon, advancing the whatever illumination and/or release you experienced on last Friday’s Full Moon and eclipse.

The last time Moon entered Sagittarius this foreign perspective hit the airwaves, soon going viral.  Have you seen “America First; Netherlands Second,” a a satirical video introducing The Netherlands to P45? Many other countries have since offered their own introductions; the latest is from India.

Patterns on SUNDAY are dreamy and playful. Patterns on MONDAY are active — mentally and physically. Big ideas and daring action will be front and center for the next two weeks. If you thought this week was full of surprises and shifts, just wait and see. We’ll have Mars (action!) and Jupiter (expansion!) supercharged by disruptive Uranus and power player Pluto…and much, much more.

The news is up next.

Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 10/4/2016 & Beyond: Sneak Peak at the Week; When Mars Attacks!

Alll-righty then!

Picking up from where we left off on Friday, which was:

No sleeping in on Monday — planetary patterns suggest high-energy and discipline throughout the week, with a power play by the week’s end.  This bodes well for the application of those New Moon projects you’ve got planned.

The work week began with the Moon in controlling Scorpio, seeking to fulfill its mission of being appreciated for its emotional depth and substance. It goes void at 9:04PM ET, just in time for the VP debate between candidates Mike Pence and Tim Kaine. Much ado about nothing? Of little consequence? Upsets and twists in efforts to move forward in a straight line? A higher than average flake factor, reflected in the ratings? A victory for the underdog? All of these are caveats until 4:26AM ET WEDNESDAY, when the Moon enters high-flying Sagittarius and is no longer void. In this contest, I’m putting my two cents on Tim Kaine, given the action of transiting Jupiter and Mars in the contenders’ horoscopes — even without a confirmed birth time for Mike Pence.

Moon in Sagittarius (sign of the philosopher-clown) is bright and bouncy, ready for a gamble or a gambol. Wednesday through most of Friday, consider ways to broaden your horizons. Have an opinionated debate. Take in a show. Take a walk in the woods. Watch a foreign movie. If you can give yourself permission to wander on Friday, you’ll maximize the potential of a Sagittarius Moon that is void-of-course, which could be quite an adventure. Friday’s Moon void will occur between 2:26AM ET and 4:40PM ET. Can you start your Columbus Day holiday weekend early? Go for it!

The high-energy and discipline suggested this week comes courtesy of an easy alignment between the Sun and Saturn (facilitating said discipline and structure) and a super-charged aspect between Mars in Capricorn (practical, effective ambition translated into action) and Jupiter (expansion). The former is exact today at 12:59PM ET; the latter happens WEDNESDAY at 5:45PM ET. Also of note on Wednesday at 5:20PM ET: an easy alignment between Venus in Scorpio and Pluto in Capricorn. Venus refers to women, money, values, beauty and social expression. Pluto refers to power, resources, underground currents, transformation and regeneration.  Those Plutonian symbols are likely to be reflected in power-play headlines towards the end of the week, as Pluto squares the Libra Sun on Friday at 3:31PM ET.  Also on Friday: Mercury leaves Virgo for Libra at 3:56AM ET, moving past the point at which it turned retrograde on August 30th. Our collective thinking officially moves forward….until the next Mercury retrograde on December 19th.

If a surprise were going to show up in October (as opposed to the power play Friday’s Sun-Pluto challenge may bring), I’d look to the days leading up to the Full Moon on the 16th, when rebel Uranus will oppose the Sun and conjoin the me-me-me Aries Moon. Mars (action) and Mercury (communication) are in a combative connection on the 13th. On the 19th, Mars (assertion and action) meets up with Pluto in Capricorn, sign of the Powers That Be. Hours later, Mercury (ideas, communication) is disrupted by a hard connection to Uranus, suggesting innovation, shock or some other lightning bolt from the blue. In the U.S., the third and final debate between Hillary Clinton and her opponent happens on the 19th. Yowza. The days leading up to the 29th may also be provocative, as Mars is challenged by Uranus.

And now, the news.

Astrology — in two parts. First, some of you may have seen a “news” item in which NASA allegedly tells everyone that thanks to the precession of the equinoxes, your Sun Sign has changed. This is about the same “news” that caused panic in the populace at the beginning of 2011 — and refuted in this forecast at that time.   Why would this story be back now?  Off the top of my head, I do note that in late 2010 and early 2011,  Jupiter and Uranus (which refers to astrology) were together at the end of Pisces, close to the prominent Aries Point. Last month, Jupiter was at the end of Virgo, making contact with its position in 2011…so perhaps this, along with other planets recently at the end of Virgo, served as a trigger for the “story” to be revisited.

Stay tuned for the second astrology part in the next forecast.

Meanwhile…a few random observations of the astonishing synchronicity of planetary patterns and the headlines.

On Saturday’s exact harmonious alignment between Venus (arts) and Neptune (even more sublimely artsy-fartsy), the home page of the NYT was littered with more than the usual array of stories on this theme. I was traveling over the weekend — I did not write them down.

Last week, big was BIG — as in Jupiter, which is in Libra, a people-pleasing, appearance -conscious sign if ever there was one. And on the 26th, the day of the first debate between HRC and her opponent, the Libra Sun met up with that big, hot, gaseous planet. The fallout: Alicia Machado, the former Miss Universe whom HRC’s opponent famously fat-shamed in the mid-90s, was back in the headlines with a Venus-in-Scorpio vengeance.

If you’ve been wondering why Ted Cruz took the opportunity on September 23rd  to tell the world he had consulted his conscience and concluded that the man who trashed Cruz’s wife and father, whom Cruz publicly declared to be “a pathological liar” was now his personal pick to become the next U.S. President, look also to transiting Jupiter and the Sun. Both recently squared his Capricorn Sun, suggesting a need for an expansive push of ego expression. As for why his conscience could forgive the deliberate cruelty of the current Republican nominee’s remarks, remember that Cruz is driven by a conflict-averse, appreciation-needing Moon in Libra. Also consider the anguish suggested by a once-in-a-lifetime measurement between Pluto and his natal Saturn, putting severe pressure on efforts to hang on to power and authority.  That measurement is exact on October 12th, in effect a few months before and after.

Finally, a little story about Mars — and how it suggests the potential for a release of energy — for better or worse — when it make contacts with planets and points in your own personal horoscope. On Sunday, Mars was at 3 degrees of Capricorn, almost exactly conjunct my 4 Capricorn Ascendant. The Ascendant is one of the health points in the horoscope, and a planet making a hard contact to the Ascendant often suggests a health concern. When the planet is Mars, accidents and inflammation are not uncommon. Which is what happened to me walking across a street on my way back from a trek to Costco. Didn’t see the little depression in the road. Caught my foot the wrong way and landed with a thud. Result: severely sprained ankle (inflammation; accident) — nothing broken, thankfully as the x-rays determined — but this has curtailed my tap and ballet lessons for at least a couple of weeks, which is disappointing.

And just because astrology has such a wicked sense of humor (it is ruled by wacky Uranus, after all), the Ascendant (i.e., “the face of”) the event chart of my fall is exactly conjunct the Fixed Star Scheat (a.k.a. “shit”), often associated with shipwrecks — and also Mars.

Did you know that sprained ankles heal faster if you walk on them, as opposed to plotzing on a couch like a sack of potatoes? Ya learn something every day.  Did you also know that it takes Mars two years to make a complete circle around your horoscope? That’s at least four opportunities for it to make contact with your Ascendant. Where is it in your horoscope now? Order a Your Year Ahead  report; mark your calendar and be prepared. You may also wish to book a personal consultation, maximizing potential in your quest for world domination.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 5/6/2015: Sagittarius in the Spotlight; Helpful Maxims & Your Life Purpose

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

And now, the news.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 9/5/2014 & the Weekend: Joan Rivers, RIP

TGIF!

Make the most of the morning hours to take care of business while the Moon is still engaged in Capricorn and supported by an energetic connection to action hero Mars.  At 11:08AM ET, Moon goes void until 7:59PM ET, suggesting a higher probability of twists in your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Stick to routine tasks, chill or start your weekend early, perhaps on a less dramatic, more refined note than in previous weeks, given that Venus leaves Leo for Virgo today at 1:07PM ET. Venus refers to social expression. Virgo refers to perfection and discernment.

At 7:59PM ET, Moon enters “who’s yer buddy” Aquarius for the bulk of the weekend, seeking to be of social significance and network with friends from all walks of life. Saturday’s a go for making purchases, though you may need to resist a temptation to overindulge around 2:11Pm ET, when the Moon opposes expansive, expensive Jupiter.

The evening favors more of what’s innovative and unconventional, suggested by a friendly connection between the Moon and rebel Uranus at 9:05PM ET. A few hours later, however, note the potential for a wet blanket or other imposed control suggested by a challenge between Moon and stern Saturn, which can not get out of Scorpio fast enough, if you ask me. Alas, we’re stuck with Saturn in Scorpio until the end of the year. Moon goes void again on Sunday at 1:19PM ET on a highly-charged challenge to aggressive Mars. If you’re a sports fan, keep an eye out for twists and upsets that favor the underdog until the Moon enters compassionate Pisces at 7:47PM ET.

No sleeping in on Monday. Moon will not be void and it will be waxing to fullness at 9:36PM ET.

And now, the news.

Wednesday’s potent alignment between the Sun and regenerative Pluto was the highlight of the week, suggesting news from underground, corruption exposed and/or resolved, oil and gas (underground resources) and healing.  In Virginia, former governor Bob McDonnell and his wife were found guilty of corruption. BP was found to be the “primary culprit” and  “reckless” four years after its Deepwater Horizon oil rig blew up; it now faces an additional $18 billion in penalties. Meanwhile, a dinosaur skeleton unearthed in Argentina some years ago was described in fascinating detail as the most ginormous dinosaur yet. Elsewhere, as predicted on June 11th, former Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor landed a seven-figure job on Wall Street. What will he be doing? Giving out advice.

When it came time to find a new job after losing a primary battle with David Brat, a relatively unknown college professor with deep support from Tea Party activists, the lawmaker said he eventually decided to head to the boutique investment bank to focus on dispensing advice to clients.

Mazel tov, Mr. Cantor! May we all be so richly rewarded for the wisdom we’ve accumulated over the years.

Which brings me to the subject of healing and regeneration, one of the more positive potentials of a Sun-Pluto alignment.  Here’s a fascinating NYT piece about the Center for Courage & Renewal, which “help(s) people strengthen their sense of purpose and deepen their self-awareness and understanding of others.” The author of the piece found himself wishing that every member of Congress would attend one of the Center’s retreats, to help bring this polarized body into some form of functional alignment. But the retreats work just as well for regular folks, too.

In other news, Joan Rivers,  passed away yesterday at 1:17PM ET in New York, when the Moon was exactly conjunct Pluto (power plays, transformation, catharses). Here is her horoscope — a slam dunk, given the life she led. How so? Take a quick look and we immediately note the Sun in pixie chatterbox Gemini opposing Moon in opinionated Sagittarius,  in a T square to a pugnacious and expansive/bombastic conjunction between Mars and Jupiter. Moon is in the 9th house, where it would need to seek an international reach, perhaps through a collective broadcast/publishing medium. The challenges from Mars and Jupiter in Virgo suggest a need to talk about everything, driven by a need for perfection.

The Gemini Sun is in a power-packed 3rd house of communication, along with a tight conjunction of mental Mercury and aesthetic Venus at 29 Gemini, which regular readers of this forecast know is also the Aries Point. So we immediately expect that social expression, communication and aesthetics are going to need prominence. And you can see why she might become known for having umpteen cosmetic surgeries, in a quest to achieve perfection. It’s interesting to note that Mars and Jupiter are in the 6th house (physical body) and that Mars rules her Aries Ascendant (how she needed to be seen).

An Aries Ascendant would need to be seen as a pioneer and an inspiration. Well, that totally fits. Both her Ascendant and her make-it-happen Capricorn Midheaven are close enough to the Aries Point to suggest a further need for prominence. This horoscope was born to be famous. It also has rebel Uranus in Aries, and in the 1st House. This suggests an electric, potentially shocking and unconventional first impression, and a need to disrupt the status quo. The potential for being a game-changer is further supported by a square to Uranus from ruthless Pluto. It is interesting to note that her Uranus, which rules the 12th house of critical illness/self-undoing was eclipsed in April. It is also interesting to note that her natal Saturn at 16 Aquarius was under pressure from transiting Saturn in Scorpio all summer.  Also suggesting a potential stress in health matters: her natal Neptune is currently opposed by transiting Neptune. Regular readers know that Neptune tends to dissolve whatever it touches. Her natal Neptune sits in the 6th house and rules the 12th, both of which refer to health matters.

Fascinating, isn’t it? RIP, Joan Rivers. You lived your horoscope to its fullest potential…and you won’t need any more face lifts now that you’re in Heaven. You’re perfect, just the way you are.

Final note — because I truly enjoy facilitating abundance for other people. The glamor photo in my last forecast of my beloved cat, Phoebe, was taken by photographer Jim Herrington. He’s an extremely gifted professional, and you can see more of his work here.

Are you living your horoscope to its fullest potential?
Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

 

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 6/11/2014: Eric Cantor’s Sudden Upset

Good Morning!

The Scorpio Moon is void of course until 11:23AM ET, suggesting a slow start or twist to your morning routine. After that, the Moon enters high-flying Sagittarius, lifting spirits and lessening the  heavy intensity some may have noted during the past 24 hours.  Moon in Sagittarius is an excellent time for travel and other activities that broaden your mind, including righteous and fiery discussions on philosophical subjects. It’s good for a gambol or a gamble, too. There are no exact aspects to the Moon until just after midnight on Thursday, when it is challenged by nebulous Neptune. A dreamy evening may be yours, accompanied by spirits or a spiritual escape. Maybe some high art or music, too.

Or you may simply feel bewildered, as soon-to-be former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor may be feeling. He’s a Gemini, born with Moon in Sagittarius, so he can certainly appreciate the Sag need to express opinions and be respected for having them. We do not have an exact birth time, but if he was born within a few hours of noon on June 6, 1963 (in Richmond, VA),  he’s experiencing a bewildering challenge from nebulous Neptune to the Moon in his own horoscope. In case you have not heard, Mr. Cantor “lost his Republican primary bid (Tuesday) in a completely befuddling upset no one saw coming.” Befuddling definitely sounds like Neptune in action.

I’ve looked at the planetary patterns on Mr. Cantor’s birth date in the past, long enough see what planetary patterns might suggest him being so darn mean. Seriously, that’s always been part of my impression of him. Mean — as in, not much empathy for certain people who might be impacted by his sincerely-held beliefs on how things should be. I actually started to type “Why is Eric Cantor so mean?” into  Google, but only got as far as “Why is Eric Cantor…” before Google helpfully suggested “…such a douche”.  Which surprised me, but apparently that word has been used in tandem with Mr. Cantor since 2009-ish, at least on the web. But about his planetary patterns…

There’s a stubborn, idealistic and material security-seeking hook-up between mental Mercury and Venus in Taurus that is exactly squared by stern, controlling Saturn in equally stubborn and potentially fringe Aquarius.  Irony: Saturn in Aquarius suggests a need to help people. I am sure he does. A Saturn-Venus square could be reflected in a reserved or chilly emotional expression — “warm and fuzzy” would not be the first impression, compared to — say — this video of an adorable and heartwarming relationship between an orphaned baby rhino and his human caretaker. The Saturn-Mercury square suggests a potentially controlled or controlling mindset; disciplined and careful, but also perhaps narrow-minded.  This pattern among Mercury, Venus and Saturn was hit hard by transiting Saturn through February, March and April, likely triggering issues concerning his professional ambition. He was elected to the Virginia House in 1992, on his first Saturn return (which also would have activated that Mercury-Venus conjunction).  In 2000, with transiting Saturn squaring Saturn and conjunct his Mercury-Venus, he ran for Congress. In 2002, rebel Uranus made contact with Cantor’s Mercury-Venus-Saturn square, and he was appointed Chief Deputy Republican Whip, the highest appointed position in the Republican Caucus. In 2008, with pixiedust Neptune engaged with that square, he was unanimously elected Republican Whip. So there’s a little picture of how planets making contact to Saturn may be reflected in over time in a horoscope — and now you may understand why becoming aware of them can be helpful.

Anyhoo…

Cantor has an exact hook-up between Mars (action) and Uranus (rebel). Mars-Uranus aspects can be volatile; in Virgo, we’d expect an intensification of Cantor’s need for detailed, perfectionist action by whatever free-spirited/revolutionary/independent means possible.  Also of significance: his Jupiter at 13 Aries, which you should immediately note was supercharged by April’s Cardinal Grand Cross. Jupiter in the horoscope suggests how a person needs to be rewarded, and with Jupiter in Aries it is me-me-me all the way. Me first, me lead, my way or the highway, as suggested in this intriguing page from Cantor’s high school yearbook. You’d think transits to Jupiter, the cosmic sugar daddy, from Uranus, Pluto, Mars and Jupiter would suggest expanding resources, as in a windfall investment. And other measurements in Cantor’s horoscope do support material enjoyment in the near future. His next gig is likely to be quite lucrative.  This sudden upset is likely reflected by transits to his Midheaven and/or his Ascendant, which we’d see if we wanted to take the time to figure out his birthtime.

In the horoscope of the US, April’s Cardinal Grand Cross suggested a disruption of the status quo, which was mentioned in this forecast back in 2011 – and in other posts, should you care to search this site or Google “us horoscope 2014 graceastrology” I’d argue this upset in the balance of power in Congress is part of that disruption, with more to come…

What’s going on in YOUR horoscope? To find out, feel free to contact me for a personal astro-logical consultation.

 

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12/27-29/2013: The Healing Power of Sudden Breakthroughs

TGIF!

East Coasters who are working during this holiday week may have experienced a slow start or twist to the morning, courtesy of a three-hour Moon void between 6 and 8:58AM ET. Now the Moon is fully engaged in Scorpio, seeking depth and substance for the sake of power and control. But before you run screaming down the hall, which some people do at the mere mention of the word “Scorpio,” consider that this depth-seeking energy is well-supported by positive contacts from visionary Neptune, mental Mercury and the enterprising Capricorn Sun. Put it all together and you have the potential for mastery and healing — even for a few sublime moments. What projects and visions are you seeking to move forward? Pay close attention to the quality of seemingly “random” encounters, even the ones you experience in your dreams.

Exact lunar aspects on Saturday are equally supportive, save for a potential downer of a hook-up between the Moon and stern Saturn. On the upside, this serious aspect (exact at 7:58PM ET) can a facilitate a necessary reach for ambition, driven by a sense of lack. Go for it, with all the idealistic fervor you can muster, aided  by a flash of disruptive genius. That’s the potential of mental Mercury aligning with the Sun and challenging rebel Uranus on Sunday. Far out!

Sunday, like today (Friday) may get off to a wandering start, given that the Scorpio Moon will be void for a few hours starting at 8:54AM ET. Please hold off on those super-duper after-Christmas sales until the Moon enters Sagittarius at 12:37PM ET. After that, the Sagittarius Moon drives the day with a need to broaden horizons, express opinions or take a gamble or a gambol. “The sky’s the limit” might even be too conservative, given the breakthrough potential of another challenge from rebel Uranus, this time to the Sun in patriarchal Capricorn, exact just after midnight on Monday. Disruptions of the status quo — in aviation, technology, revolutions, energy resources and “news from underground” are likely to make headlines. Also on Monday — but likely to be reflected in headlines beforehand — a challenge between aggressive Mars and ruthless Pluto that suggests extreme action and persuasive force, for better or for worse.

If you were born around the 1st of January, April, July and October…or if you have a planet or angle around 8-11 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn, you are more likely to feel the pressure to “make it or break it” continuing on for the next few days. Book an appointment with your local astrologer for guidance and strategies. As someone who happens to have a planet at 8 degrees of Aries, I can say from personal experience that sharp knives and other metal objects should be handled with great care. I’ve cut myself twice this week doing utterly mundane tasks, making typing this forecast quite a challenge. D’oh!

And now, the news.

I confess I was expecting a truly freaky (Uranus)  act of aggression (Mars) to hit the wires by Christmas Day  and was somewhat miffed by its absence when I started writing this last night. Yeah, OK, there was a big ice storm that knocked out power in Maine, Michigan and Canada…a father who threw his young son off a building and jumped to his own death in New York (factor in the potentially cold, cruel behavior of Venus retrograde in Capricorn)…and yet another story of anger involving airplanes. Oh, and the markets are going nuts. Then the BBC reported an “exceptional” event in Argentina, in which 70 bathers were injured by a school of ravenous piranhas. Truly freaky. Astrology strikes again.

But planetary patterns don’t just show up in the headlines; they can be reflected in daily life, too. Here’s an example of how the visionary potential of  mental Mercury aligned with Neptune in Pisces and the “sudden breakthrough” potential of action hero Mars with rebel Uranus was reflected quite unexpectedly (Uranus) in my day yesterday.

I’d made an appointment with the lovely and talented Claudia Rosenhouse Raiken,  whose exquisite hands and loving energy make her one of the most extraordinary cranio-sacral therapists I’ve ever worked with (New Yorkers, take note). Claudia’s unique approach also includes visualization techniques (Neptune!), which facilitates healing (more Neptune) and breakthroughs in consciousness (Uranus!) Claudia is also an extraordinary doula (her true calling), and has assisted in over 200 births since 2011.

Now what is a birth if not a profound push forward, and thus a perfect higher expression of Mars-Uranus energy? And how perfectly timed could it be that Claudia’s work is included in a book that will published next week called Dreambirth: Transforming the Journey of Childbirth with Imagery? This powerful tome is chock-full of empowering and healing visualization exercises for every aspect of the birthing journey, including pre-conception, postpartum, miscarriages and abortions. There are exercises for prospective fathers and same-sex partners, too, including some super-cool visualizations that facilitate connections with the soul of the unborn child.

Point is, in a period of heavy Mars-Uranus-Neptune-Mercury activity, you could be attacked by a school of ravenous piranhas (Neptune does rule fish)…or you could make the startling discovery of a book about dreams, birthing/breakthroughs and healing. Planetary patterns have many levels of expression…for better or for worse…and often, the choice is up to you. What healing breakthroughs have you manifested this week, hmmm? Better to choose that option than to slice off a small chunk of your index finger with a pair of scissors…

Plan your strategy for the the New Year with a personal astro-logical consultation! Here’s how to contact me.

Donations are always welcome, with gratitude for your expression of appreciation. I’ll also mail you a nifty Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide bookmark, so you’ll always know when that trickster planet is doing its backwards shuffle — and how to handle it.

Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 3/29/2013 & the Weekend: Deep Thoughts

Another day with an interesting dichotomy. On the one hand, we have the potential for big optimistic ideas and communication, based on intuition, delusion or whatever buzz is in the air and quite possibly acted on impulsively. Why? Because mental Mercury is challenged by expansive, cosmic sugar daddy Jupiter at 12:56PM ET.  And we’ll have fallout from yesterday’s wildly electric hook-up among rebel Uranus, Sun and Venus (money, art, women) in pioneering Aries. How about those U.S. stock markets yesterday, huh? Pretty darned optimistic, given that they hit another record high.  A market master proclaims the signals the market is sending are “unusual”. Ya think?

On the other hand, the Scorpio Moon offers a dose of skepticism and demands for investigative research, focus and control, as it meets up with stern Saturn at 2:13PM ET. If your agenda includes digging up dirt, organizing facts and otherwise cutting to the chase, today’s planetary patterns can support you. Take a long cathartic break at 4:25PM ET when the Moon goes void of course until 11:13PM ET on SATURDAY. Remember the void rules: resist the urge to make impulse purchases; root for the underdog; be patient with whatever twists you may encounter in your efforts to move purposefully forward in a straight line and chill, baby, chill.

Important Safety Tip: be especially mindful of the potential for emotional overkill, power plays and witchy-bitchy women from late Friday until early Sunday, as ruthless Pluto in Capricorn will challenge Venus in Aries. The sign of the Ram is a tough placement for Venus, often suggesting a consummate flirt with an overwhelming need for approval and great sensitivity to rejection. On the plus side, this aspect can also suggest passion of the juiciest kind…

Sunday’s Moon in Sagittarius (sign of the philosopher-clown) is bright and bouncy, ready for a gamble or a gambol. Once it clears the aforementioned Venus-Pluto square at 6:10AM ET, you are free to broaden your horizons. Have an opinionated debate. Take in a show. Get outside. Whatever feathers that were ruffled in the wee hours may be stroked by noon when jolly Jupiter engages in an communicative, delightful and indulgent connection with Venus.

Sunday night ends with a potential rumble, power play or transformation as the fiery Aries Sun is squared by potent Pluto. News from underground, including covert efforts to assert control are likely to hit the headlines — and have been hitting them all week. Appreciation to the avid reader who sent in this covert effort, a.k.a. a little provision dubbed “The Monsanto Protection Act” that was allegedly “slipped” into a spending bill signed into law a few days ago by President Obama. How to put such a story into a simple astro-logical context is a complicated question, but I will try: efforts made by the Established Order to control resources (Pluto in Capricorn, aided and abetted by Saturn in Scorpio). I imagine it will take a quantum leap of awareness, much as we saw this week with the outpouring of support for marriage equality, to turn this tide. Hmmm….rebel Uranus is in fearless Aries and challenging Pluto in Capricorn for the next two years. Quantum leap, eh? It could happen…

And now, some more deep thoughts, presented by the legendary Jack Handey.

Have a Happy Easter!

Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 1/8/2013: Lighten Up

Moon entered high-flying Sagittarius at 3:28AM ET.  Well that should lighten the intensity many felt over the past few days. Note your dreams upon waking, as a challenge between the gamboling Sag Moon and nebulous Neptune may have taken you on a sublime or surreal journey. Moon in Sagittarius is an excellent time for travel and other activities that broaden your mind, including righteous and fiery discussions on philosophical subjects. We may hear some particularly bombastic opinions expressed around 3:05PM ET, when the Moon is opposed by expansive Jupiter. This opposition also suggests other indulgences, such as a binge or shopping spree.

We are in the dark side of the Moon, a time for wrapping up whatever intentions you set at the New Moon few weeks ago. Remember what those were? Well if not, you have a chance to set your intentions anew on January 11th, with the Capricorn New Moon at 2:44PM ET. Next week would be the time to launch important new ventures.

Get it off your desk today or plan to ship it on Thursday or early Friday. Moon goes void-of-course at 9:28PM ET tonight, not to enter the next sign until 3:54AM ET Thursday. If you are new to the forecast (welcome!) and you are not familiar with Moon voids, click here. Understanding this very common planetary pattern can save you plenty of grief. Basically, voids suggest 1) efforts to move forward in a straight line are more likely to be fraught with delays, twists and misunderstandings;and 2) crises that crop up are often much ado about nothing (i.e., don’t panic!). Voids are wonderful for chilling out, brainstorming and recharging — and if you can do that during the all-day void on Wednesday, good on you. Fun fact:  sports matches played during voids often favor the underdog and are notable for surprise upsets. As I type, Alabama is trouncing top-ranked Notre Dame 28-0 during Monday’s all-day void, and the game is not even half over.

And now, the news. I saw plenty of headlines reflecting truth about corruption, suggested by the annual hook-up between ruthless Pluto and mental Mercury. Lance Armstrong is reportedly close to admitting his past drug use. Investigative reporter Matt Taibbi filed another must-read expose, this one about the TARP funds in the alleged bailout of 2008.  And if you were a part of Occupy Wall Street in the fall of 2011, congratulations, the FBI may have a file on you.

Last, but not least, another story about harsh realities — with a happy ending. This 77-year-old man spent 14 years in prison, 10 of those in solitary confinement, where his only companions were a few rats and a frog. He was sent to prison in the early 70s, after a brief career as an urban guerrilla. When he was apprehended, he was apparently shot six times. When he was released from prison, he embarked on a new career and worked his way up the ranks. In a nation known for its cattle, he is a vegetarian. He donates 90% of his salary to charity. His lifestyle is described as “austere,” but he seems quite content  — and is happily married. He is Jose Mujica, the president of Uruguay, and for those of you who are going through tough times, I thought you might find his story inspiring. Plus, transiting Pluto at 9 Capricorn is exactly opposing Mujica’s Venus at 9 Cancer, suggesting an empowering surge in social prominence — so of course he’s making news at this time. Isn’t that interesting? (birth data: 5/20/35 in Montevideo, Uruguay)

 

 

Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 10/24/2012: More Real and Unreal

Interesting patterns today. Moon is in Pisces, as of 7AM ET, where it soon met up with nebulous Neptune, suggesting a morning tinged with themes of fantasy, illusion, delusion, spirit and other soulful escapes. The Sun and stern Saturn are together in Scorpio, suggesting a serious focus, reach for ambition, consolidation or loss (note that the markets have dropped in recent days). Mercury and Venus are linked in a pattern that suggests a need for idealism; aggressive Mars is in opinionated Sagittarius, challenging bombastic Jupiter in information-junkie Gemini, suggesting actions that may push boundaries.  Looks like a memorable day — and in your own personal world, much can be accomplished if you are working consciously to give tangible form to a dream, especially if you can focus on what is essential. Do not be distracted by tangents.

As I type, Donald Trump is 45 minutes away from making a “big announcement”, allegedly about Barack Obama.Let the record show that  Trump is a Gemini with  Moon in Sagittarius, who therefore needs to tell you his opinion, projected to the public with all the regal entitlement that a Leo Ascendant can muster. His horoscope is currently influenced by nebulous Neptune opposing the Ascendant, suggesting potential bewilderment, confusion, fantasy or a “savior-victim” complex in matters of relationship and public outreach.

Meanwhile, The Boston Globe is allegedly asking for papers in a certain nasty divorce case to be unsealed, so it can investigate reports that Mitt Romney lied under oath about the value of certain assets, which were reportedly sold at a profit. If you’ve been reading these forecasts for a couple of months, you may recall a post noting that planetary patterns in the last few days leading up to the election are potentially “witchy-bitchy”, with plenty of dirt and elevated emotions for all. Let’s see how these stories develop over the next week…

And now, a positive story of healing accomplished when a man diagnosed with lung cancer focused on essentials. Instead of undergoing chemotherapy, he leaves the United States and goes back to his ancestral home, which just happens to be a Greek island. He does not have chemotherapy. He is fully prepared to die. But he doesn’t. And that was in 1976. Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? Given the real/unreal potential of a day with heavy themes of control (Saturn) and vision (Neptune), let’s work on manifesting stories like this — and leave the guttersniping to someone else.

 

Astrol-logical Forecast for Friday 7/27/2012 & the Weekend: the Olympics Opening Ceremonies

I don’t about you, but when the Moon is void-of-course for more than several hours, the experience of time seems to slow down. It’s like swimming through a giant vat of Whip’n Chill. It’s been 13 hours of emotional freefall in the watery depths of Scorpio, and as I type this, we’ve got another 24 hours or so to go…or maybe 13, by the time you actually read this. Chill! Brainstorm! Breathe! Go with the flow! Moon voids often bring twists to the usual routine, and this is not a cause for alarm. Here’s an example: yesterday, three of my colleagues and I all showed up at the office at the same time. As we entered the lobby of the building, one of the guys moved toward a door I’d never opened before. And the rest of us followed his lead up a flight of stairs and took a totally new — and faster — way to get to our desks than the usual route. We went with the flow on a Moon void and did something different. Sometimes it’s that simple.

If you have to move in a straight line today — stay focused and practice patience. Look out for your neighbors and colleagues, who may not be aware of planetary patterns. Check for typos, like this one. Oops. Lord knows there are typos everywhere on a daily basis, including this forecast. But on days like this, they stand a greater chance of making headline news. These conditions may prove especially challenging for the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games at 9PM in London (that’s 4PM in New York). More gaffes, tech woes and other snafus — with a twist? Quite possibly.

The chart for the scheduled beginning of these Games suggests an obsessive outpouring of emotion and idealistic playful/regal national pride. Loving Venus and dazzling/nebulous Neptune are prominent, suggesting a spectacular show of charming and clever social expression. Neptune also refers to drugs — and over a hundred athletes will not be appearing in the Games after flunking doping tests. Back to the opening ceremony: Chiron, the wounded healer, sits exactly on the Ascendant — making a huge statement of “can’t we all just get along”? Meanwhile, certain key midpoints in the chart suggest record ratings and records broken. Stunning upheavals and dogged — perhaps even militant — determination are also suggested, which bodes well for superhuman athletic performance.  Of course that’s what we expect from an Olympics, but isn’t it interesting that the astrological measurements support them.

Moon enters Sagittarius at 1:18Am ET on Saturday, getting the competition off to a rollicking good start. Generally a feel-good weekend, excellent for international adventures, philosophical debates, taking a gamble or a gambol (do something physical — especially outdoors), or expanding your mind (with a film, a trip elsewhere). Moon goes void on Sunday at 5:01PM ET…enters practical Capricorn at 3:29AM ET on Monday, which means if you’re not on vacation, there will be plenty of work to be accomplished.