Happy Monday!

The Moon in enterprising Capricorn continues to drive the day, as it has been doing since 7:01 AM ET on Saturday. How much business did you take care of — even around the house — over the weekend, hmm? Practical communication that is also innovative and/or disruptive is suggested in the afternoon, as Moon sextiles (harmonizes) with Mercury at 3:38 PM ET, followed by its weekly clash with rebel Uranus at 4:27 PM ET.  Chill during the ensuing two-hour Moon void and remember that crises which crop up during Moon voids are often much ado about nothing.

At 6:39 PM ET, Moon enters humanitarian Aquarius, looking for its new best buddy. It drives the bus until THURSDAY at 7:40 AM ET. Then Moon enters Pisces for the rest of the work week, seeking to work with ideals, impressions and empathy.

As noted in the last forecast, there are no exact aspects among the planets this week, except from the Moon. Uranus and Pluto are especially isolated from the other kids in the cosmos. What does that suggest? It suggests that issues symbolized by Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn are running wild, including, but not limited to: self-driving cars, rebellion, news from underground, the PTB, corruption exposed, etc. I’m ready for anything. We’re working with New Moon energy, with every planet except Uranus moving full speed ahead, with no trippy Moon voids to space people out. Onward!

On WEDNESDAY at 6:43 PM ET, Mercury leaves Scorpio and re-enters Sagittarius. See if you notice the shift in the headlines, as thought and communication once again push the envelope with optimism, righteousness and sloppiness.

On SATURDAY at 6:49 AM ET we’ll have the First Quarter Moon between the high-flying Sag Sun and the empathetic Pisces Moon. This suggests a necessary adjustment to the New Moon agenda you set last week. Go with the Pisces Moon flow and roll with the twists and flakes, as the Moon will be void until 7:44 PM ET. Save the impulse shopping for SUNDAY, as purchases made during Moon voids often do not measure up to expectations.

Just in time for the holidaze! The 2019 Really Useful Mercury Retrograde Bookmarks! Everybody loves these super-handy bookmarks, which clearly tell you when Mercury will be retrograde in 2019 (three times next year!) A list of helpful coping strategies is also provided. Makes a great stocking-stuffer for friends and family — 3 for $11.88! Toss that silver into my Cosmic Tip Jar— there’s a link to it on the left hand column on this page.  Then send me your name and snail mail address. Ooh — and here’s another fab gift idea: clarity, direction and confidence. Otherwise known as gift certificates for reports and consultations. 

And now, the news — most all of which reflects the Alice in Wonderland potential of last week’s Mars conjunct Neptune in Pisces; Sun square Neptune.

• Dallas Cowboy “Ezekiel Elliott Runs Afoul of NFL with Salvation Army Celebration”.  Faith, charity, wigginess and sports.
• “Chinese tech executive  (Huawei’s CFO) lied to avoid sanctions on Iran, U.S. charges”   Follow-up: China Summons U.S. Ambassador (over this arrest).
• “A Yacht, A Monet, A See-Through Piano; the U.S. Collects on a Fugitive’s Buying Spree” (as new charges are filed against Malaysian financier Jho Low in “one of the largest international kleptocracy cases ever pursued”)
• “Satanic Temple statue among holiday displays at Illinois Capitol”.  Meanwhile, displays of actual pure evil are evident in Wisconsin and Michigan, where “lame-duck” state legislatures are busy destroying their respective democracies. And this is how the authoritarian potential of the dreaded Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn (exact on January 12, 2020) could take hold. Because Wisconsin and Michigan are not France, where protesters continue to march in the streets.  Follow-up: a NYT op-ed names these corporations as the driving force behind the Wisconsin power grab. Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn suggests corporate power to the max — and we’ve got more than another year of it, as I told you this time last year.
• This item reflects Mars (men) with Neptune (sensitivity). From the NYT Style Section: “The New Iron Johns.…amid a societal reckoning over male behavior, chastened menfolk are getting touch with their emotions in meetings and communal retreats.”
• Do you think the TV critic at The Guardian knew about last week’s heavy Neptune patterns? “SNL: Aquaman sinks; Robert DeNiro fishes for laughs; cast flounders.” Coincidence or conspiracy?

UPDATE: on John F. Kelly, the now soon-to-be-departing White House Chief of Staff. We discussed his horoscope a couple of times, here and here. Last year, Kelly’s Saturn was under the bewildering spell of transiting Neptune. The fog has now lifted. Not only that, but transiting Mars just opposed his Saturn, suggesting an encounter with a brick wall. Thus it has been announced that he will leave the White House by the end of the year. On December 20th, transiting Mars will oppose his natal Mars, suggesting action on his part or an attack. Perhaps he’ll skip out early.

UPDATE: on the Uranus-Neptune semi-square, which has been active since August 2017. Its purpose is to give us the chance to take a hard second look at the “we are all connected” potential of 1993’s Uranus-Neptune conjunction in Capricorn. Is Facebook really that great? Are we happier together with our faces perpetually glued to tiny screens that may well make us go blind? On the lighter side, fashionistas will recall that 1993 brought us goth and grunge. How totally cool to find this fashion supplement in today’s NYT: “Redux Grunge Collection 1993/2018 by Marc Jacobs”  And by “cool,” I’m referring to the apt timing. I’m not convinced the collection itself qualifies. What do you think?

UPDATE: on the maple trees in my courtyard, because many Avid Readers have asked. You are so awesome to ask about trees! I’m pleased to report that most were saved — but not without drama. After rallying a few dozen neighbors to petition our less-than-transparent co-op board, a landscaping committee was formed to steer the courtyard renovation project.  It took almost two months to get a written report from the arborist — the darn thing was supposed to be delivered to us by Labor Day. The report recommended taking out only a select few trees that had been declared dead or “compromised.”  Three saplings would be transplanted to more spacious accommodations in the courtyard.

It’s a good thing we formed a committee of Concerned Treehuggers. Why? Because as you may recall from my original post in August, a dozen trees in the courtyard were marked for destruction with red paint. The paint can’t be removed, because it might hurt the trees. Meanwhile, the landscaping crew was working without supervision. Apparently they did not understand the Actual Plan, which was to only cut down three trees.

A member of the landscaping committee just happens to live in an apartment overlooking the courtyard, and was working at home that day.  She watched the crew cut down a perfectly healthy tree. Fortunately she was able to reach the super and a board member, who ran outside just as the crew was preparing to chop down another tree — I kid you not. The landscaper will replace the tree that was cut down in error. Ya think?

The good news is that the way our building is managed is changing for the better. Residents are more involved, because we have insisted on being a part of managing our shared investment. Our group of Concerned Neighbors continues to meet once a month for pow-wows. We are building a more caring community. One day, perhaps we will take over the world.

Now don’t forget: Mercury retrograde bookmarks! Gift certificates for everyone on your shopping list! Appointments for yourself — to plan your strategy for 2019! Astrologers are like dentists, doncha’ know. For maximum effectiveness, schedule regular check-ups every six months to a year.

Thank you for reading this forecast.