Sunday 5/31/2020: Sneak Peek at the Week; Busting Out in June; Eclipse Alert

It’s Sunday…

At 10:38 AM ET, after being void for just over five hours, the Moon left Virgo and entered Libra. While in Virgo, its goal was to put things back in order  and make things right. A Libra Moon shifts the focus to needs of relationship, as in fairness and equality, which may be a subject of debate. Which side are you on?

Today is the sixth of seven straight days without an exact aspect between two planets that does not involve the Moon. I don’t know why these apparent breaks in the action coincide with events that seem like the sudden collapse of an ice shelf into the ocean, but that’s what I’ve observed over the years. They suggest tipping points — and that’s what we’ve seen all week — in more than one headline story. The most obvious one is the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man who begged for his life while white police officer Derek Chauvin drove his knee into Mr. Floyd’s neck, making it impossible for Mr. Floyd to breathe.  All while Chauvin was knowingly being filmed by a bystander, leading us to conclude that Chauvin felt his behavior was perfectly acceptable. Millions across the nation — and in some cities in other countries — took to the streets to say they’d had enough.

Where is the tipping point taking us? In the short-term — i.e., this week — it goes like this:

  • MONDAY — No sleeping in, as Moon continues its trek through Libra, supported by easy contacts from the  Sun and Venus in Gemini. General mood: hope for the best; let’s talk it out.
  • TUESDAY — More Libra Moon challenged in the wee hours by its weekly supercharged contact with Pluto and Jupiter in Capricorn. We see potential for exaggerated power plays and catharses, especially in the minutes leading up to 3:22 AM and 6:40 AM ET. Moon then goes void — chill, chill, chill — it’s a fine day to sleep in or flake out during the void.
  • TUESDAYMoon enters Scorpio at 12:06 PM ET, now looking for depth and substance for the sake of establishing power and control. Moon is in its Fall in Scorpio, though it is considered to be fertile and thus creatively productive. It can also be quite creatively ruthless and vengeful (down side) in defending its personal honor code. Heavy cuts and structuring efforts present themselves around 2:38 PM ET, as the Moon squares Saturn. 
  • TUESDAY — At 8:41 PM ET, we finally have contact between two planets that do not involve the Moon. Retrograde Venus in Gemini squares Mars in Pisces. Let the record show that before Venus turned retrograde, Mars was in Aquarius. The two planets were ohhhhhhhhh sooooooo close to an exact trine, suggesting an easy flow of energy between them. Venus in Gemini can totally grok with Mars in Aquarius as an innovative and humanitarian rebel. The two have plenty to talk about, which is what Venus in Gemini needs to do. BUT — Venus and Mars never made that EXACT connection. It was a flirtation, as Venus started to slow down to a standstill and REthink matters by turning retrograde.
  • What is Venus retrograde in Gemini re-thinking? It’s rethinking whether what is said accurately reflects authentic value. In an effort to correct any disparity, social graces are thrown under the proverbial bus — and that’s how Speaker Nancy Pelosi ends up taking off the gloves on national TV and observing that P45 should not take hydroxychloroquine because he is “morbidly obese.” Have you found yourself — and other around you — speaking with less care for manners than usual?
  • When Mars left Aquarius and entered Pisces on May 13th, its agenda changed. Mars in Pisces needs to execute a plan based on feelings (e.g., faith, delusion, empathy, compassion, intuition — any and all may apply), but direct confrontation is not its style and — since fish are mute — there’s not much to talk about.
  • Tension has been building between Venus and Mars for several days. When they do meet up, it won’t be an easy alliance, as it looked like it might be several weeks ago. Adjustments will have to be made. Sparks will fly, especially since Venus retrograde is not inclined to hold back for the sake of appearances. This Venus-Mars square is not the only pattern of conflict, as you’ll soon see.
  • WEDNESDAY — Upsets in the wee hours, as the Scorpio Moon is opposed by Uranus in Taurus at 2:17 AM ET. Moon is supported in its efforts to control for the rest of the day, as it harmonizes with Mars (action) and Neptune (vision, healing). Not only that, but at 1:42 PM ET, the Sun and Venus will meet up, adding intensely clever communication to the news flow, some of which may not seem so ideal after a little distance.
  • THURSDAY — another morning of chilling, as the Moon goes void at 7:36 AM ET. Roll with the twists and flakes; remember that crises which arise during voids are usually much ado about nothing. At 1:17 PM ET, Moon soars in to Sagittarius, seeking to push boundaries and express its righteous opinion. An innovative twist to your big idea can be had, should you opt to make use of a cooperative pattern between Mercury (how we need to think) and Uranus (innovation, technology), exact at 7:03 AM ET on…
  • FRIDAY. This Mercury-Uranus harmony is in effect all week. Both planets rule astrology, so why not contact your local astrologer and schedule a check-up? If it’s been over a year, you’re overdue — and there’s much to discuss, including the first of three eclipses over the next six weeks, one of which is especially potent. If you’d prefer to have a few paragraphs of personal insights on the three eclipses instead, toss $64 into my Cosmic Tip Jar, using the link for the Quick Question. Why $64 for the eclipse insights instead of the usual $44? Because there are three eclipses to talk about, not the usual two. Then please email me your birth date, time and place — if I don’t already have it.
  • FRIDAY — the Sagittarius Moon waxes full — and is eclipsed at 3:12 PM ET. If you have a planet around 15 degrees of Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo or Pisces, you’re scheduled to receive some illumination and a likely release.  I will write more about the Lunar Eclipse in a later forecast.  Do note that the next aspect the Moon makes is a square to Mars (assertion, aggression) at 3:44 PM ET, so outbursts of such would not be surprising. We also note the potential lack of clarity in the afternoon and evening hours, as Moon next squares wiggy Neptune at 12:11 AM ET on…
  • SATURDAY — …and then goes for a loooong void, not to enter Capricorn until 3:44 PM ET. Keep an eye on the action a couple of hours beforehand, as 1) the Moon activates the Aries Point, demanding we pay attention; and 2) Mars squares the Sun (willpower, leaders) at 3:12 PM ET. The Sun-Mars pattern needs an assertive/aggressive outlet, and it’s been in effect all week.
  • In the U.S. horoscope, transiting Mars has activated Uranus, facilitating a sudden burst of rebellion (!)  or daring initiative in technology.  Once the Moon is in Capricorn, the goal is to make something happen out of whatever assertion the Mars-Sun square expressed.
  • SUNDAY — in your own personal world, you can make use of the Capricorn Moon’s practical and strategic energy to get tasks done around the house. Fortify your structure.

Where is this all going? Here are the highlights for June:

  • June 11th and June 13th: Sun squares Neptune; Mars is conjunct Neptune. More of the sublime and surreal;
  • June 18th: Mercury turns retrograde, offering a rest and review until July 12th;
  • June 18th and June 20th: Mars sextiles Pluto and Jupiter, supporting actions and rewards involving power and resources.
  • June 20th: Summer Solstice; we can look at this chart for a three-month prognosis and we will.
  • June 21st: New Moon/Eclipse in Cancer at 0 Cancer — the Aries Point — a rare and potent event. It is sure to amplify the tumultuous events of this past week (of May), as the North Node and Mercury are both at 0 Cancer.
  • June 23rd: Neptune — our need for vision — turns retrograde. Look within for that dream.
  • June 25th: Venus turns direct — what did we learn about our values; did we toss what no longer serves? Did you stumble across some money you didn’t even know you had? To find out, please visit my favorite website — and search the state treasuries of every state in which you’ve ever worked and/or lived. Let me know if you score!
  • June 27th: Mars enters Aries and activates the June 21st eclipse. Mars will be in Aries until January 2021. Mars rules Aries, and the two refer to courage, crusades and combat. The word “martial” is derived from “Mars,” and this long stay in Aries — in combination with the heavy controlling patterns of Saturn-Pluto in Capricorn, expanded by Jupiter in Capricorn — reflects why some astrologers included martial law in their list of potentials for 2020.
  • June 28th: Mars sextiles Saturn — the energy of action supports the energy of necessary structures and controls.
  • June 30th: the second of three conjunctions between Jupiter and Pluto in Capricorn. The first was on April 4th; the third happens on November 12th. The agenda is the expansion of power and resources in all earthly matters — and who has worked hard enough to claim power as their reward.

Fun fact: Governor Andrew Cuomo just said this in his daily press briefing:

“Change comes at a moment when the stars line up.”

He’s right!

Meanwhile…

Over the next year or so, we are at the end of an old order, come hell or high water — and probably both. Resistance is futile. Professor Heather Cox Richardson offers this historical perspective, and I wonder if she’s at all hip to planetary cycles. Seeds for a major new cycle will be formally planted in December — symbolized by the Great Mutation between Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius. You can read more about that here.

In these United States, we are simultaneously surrounded by fog, while beginning a gut renovation this country has never experienced since its inception in 1776. This would be a Pluto Return — and it works like a Saturn Return (which most Avid Readers know about). Pluto refers to breakdown and transformation, for the purpose of empowerment. The U.S. gets the first exact hit in 2022, but it’s in effect now.

Also in effect now — but not exact — is transiting Neptune in Pisces, squaring the U.S. Mars in Gemini and opposing the U.S. Neptune in Virgo. This pattern will be exact in 2021. Avid Readers will recall that the U.S. Mars-Neptune square reflects this country’s romance with war, religion, opiates, oil and Hollywood. It’s why we need to have this thing we call The American Dream. What’s it like to have transiting Neptune on your Mars (your ability to assert and take action)? Ask Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller, who has this pattern active in his horoscope all through 2019 and 2020. His two-year investigation into l’affaire Russe is being  erased, as charges are dropped and jailed guilty parties are released from prison and sent home.

Neptune dissolves whatever it touches. Thus the United States is at risk of having its assertive capabilities erased. The last time the U.S. had this kind of Neptune transit was during the Carter Administration — especially 1979. We had an oil crisis and a hostage crisis in Iran, which many viewed as embarrassing. We also had an upside of the healing potential of Neptune: the Camp David Accords, which resulted in a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. This Wikipedia entry summarizes the Carter Administration; you’ll see other shades of Neptune in the issues of that time.

Neptune patterns often reflect disappointment, as people operating under Neptune’s influence look for greener pastures. President Jimmy Carter lost his bid for re-election by a landslide in the Electoral College, winning only six states (plus the District of Columbia) and 41% of the popular vote.

The fog of Neptune lifted in 1981, as Ronald Reagan was inaugurated (with just 50.7% of the popular vote). The Republicans won control of  the Senate for the first time since the 1950s, just in time for two important seed-planting cycles that happened in late 1980-81 (Jupiter conjunct Saturn in Libra) and 1982 (Saturn conjunct Pluto in Libra).

One more point about cycles repeating themselves. There’s a lot in the press comparing these times in the U.S. to 1968 — and of course there would be. 1968 was the aftermath of the disruptive seed-planting opportunity of Uranus conjunct Pluto. We hadn’t had one of those since 1848 (think about that, history buffs). Avid Readers will recall that between 2012 and 2015, we experienced the next stage of the Uranus-Pluto cycle in the form of seven squares between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn. This post from 2014 talks about those squares in light of the protests that happened in Ferguson after yet another unarmed African-American man was murdered by the police. May it offer insights on the present unrest in these United States.

I had a slew of headlines to share — but it seems more helpful to review past cycles and remind Avid Readers that in many ways, we have all been here before. We will get through this — together.

Listen to the music from the late 60s/early 70s for further clues. Cue Ohio, by Neil Young now, please.

Thank you for reading this forecast — and for sharing it with your friends. If you find it worthwhile, Avid Reader Diane insists I remind you that the Venus retrograde in Gemini is an excellent time to support what you find of value. I deeply appreciate those of you who have chosen to be Faithful Monthly Avid Readers, Fairy Godparents and Guardian Angels as I endeavor to help you put the headlines in perspective during these oh-so interesting times.

Stay safe. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Maintain social distance. COVID-19 isn’t done with us yet. And if you’re out in the streets protesting, wear goggles and a helmet. Carry extra cell phone batteries, water and milk (for tear gas), as well as a first aid kit and phone numbers for the press and an attorney.