The Forecast

I am a reporter with a unique beat. I use my understanding of planetary cycles to provide advance notice and analysis on the Zeitgeist of the day. If you have ever wondered “why is this happening now,” my insights will transform your experience of the headlines, adding new meaning and understanding. Call it Astrology for News Junkies. If you’re curious to know why the Impossible Burger is trending…or why the outcome of the 2019 Israeli elections was likely to be a shocker …or why “Woodrow Wilson, Stud Muffin” was a New York Times headline in December 2013, you will find it here, in over a decade’s worth of historical research and reporting.

Note that I do use astrological jargon in The Forecast in my effort to show how the planetary patterns are reflected in mundane events. I explain what the jargon symbolizes, so that all who want to understand the connections between astrology and the news may do so. However, I do not use astrological jargon in personal consultations, just plain English.

Monday 3/30/2020: Sneak Peek at the Week; Focal Points; Mars in Aquarius; Venus in Gemini

March 30, 2020/0 Comments/in The Forecast /by Elisabeth Grace

It’s another stay-at-home work week, this one starting with the buzz of the Moon in Gemini, chatting up a storm in an effort to keep everyone entertained and informed. As of 11:11 AM ET, Moon goes void on a square to Neptune, planet of visions and fog. It’s a fine day for a dreamy musical escape, even at home. Chill during the void — and do not make mountains out of molehills. Moon won’t enter the next sign — Cancer until 7:43 AM ET on TUESDAY. Chill!

Meanwhile, at 3:44 PM ET Mars — planet of action, assertion and aggression — leaves earthy practical Capricorn. Next stop: airy Aquarius, which seeks to consolidate that which is intellectual into a fixed social contract that can be built upon. Mars in Aquarius is the “rebel with a cause.” So we can expect action in the headlines involving rebellious and/or humanitarian concerns, some of which will have a technogeeky (Aquarius) or fringe factor. Think aviation, circuitry, freedom, astrology, outer space, uranium, what’s allegedly “best for everyone.” Those sorts of things — until Mars enters Pisces on May 13th.

The last time Mars entered Aquarius was in May of 2018, and it almost immediately squared rebel Uranus for the first of three hits. Here’s what was predicted back then. Now, the structures that were shaken up two years ago have an opportunity to take form with militant authority — or a smack down comparable to a brick wall. Why? Because on …

TUESDAY — Mars will meet up with (be conjunct) Saturn at 2:33 PM ET. This is the beginning of a new cycle for these two planets. Remember how a conjunction is an opportunity for a FOCAL POINT? It is a time of seed-planting for the energy of action/assertion/aggression, combined with authority, structure and control. It will be expressed in ways that may be humanitarian…or simply detached and impersonal. It will be interesting to see how its authoritarian controls are expressed on a day with the Moon in Cancer. As you know, a Cancer Moon needs to establish emotional and home/homeland security. As for the fallout of the Mars-Saturn conjunction, all of the areas Aquarius rules are likely to be affected — some of which are listed above. If you were born around the 19th – 22nd of January, April, July and October, your horoscope is affected — and planning strategy with your astrologer is recommended.
WEDNESDAY — good grief — it’s April — and just in time for the First Quarter Moon at 6:21 AM ET. The sensitive security needs of the Cancer Moon are challenged by the me-me-me initiative of the Aries Sun. After the dust settles, many may rely on intuition to get through the rest of the day, as Mercury and Neptune in Pisces trine the Moon.
THURSDAY — choppier waters just before dawn ET, as the Moon opposes Jupiter and Pluto in Capricorn. The emotional and home/family security needs are challenged by the status-preserving needs of the 1%? That’s one possibility. Another possibility is an expansive happening regarding the Covid-19 pandemic. I think I mentioned in a prior forecast that Jupiter was conjunct Pluto back in 1918, at the start of the second wave of the Spanish flu epidemic. A pattern, perhaps?
THURSDAY — lunch time may be pleasant enough, reflecting the harmony of the Moon with Venus at 12:50 PM ET, which then goes void. When the Moon enters Leo at 2:26 PM ET, the rest of the day may be volatile. The Leo Moon needs to shine, shine, shine — and when it knows it’s loved, it’s happy as a kitten. At 6:13 PM ET, the Moon is opposed by Mars, pitting ego needs against the needs of a bigger concept. At 11:40 PM ET, Moon squares Uranus, setting up a potential disruption.
FRIDAY — another planetary shift, as Venus leaves Taurus for Gemini. Venus refers to who, what and how we need to love — and Venus functions happily in Taurus, as sign that values simple pleasures. Venus in Gemini may have difficulty choosing between two or more pleasures — and needs to talk up a storm in the process. We are going to learn a lot about who, what and how Gemini needs to love for the next few months — through August 8th. Why? Because Venus will turn retrograde on May 13 for six weeks, turning direct on June 25th. We’ll be reviewing our finances, social expression and aesthetics as only an information junkie Gemini can do. More on that as we get closer to May 13th. Meanwhile, the Leo Moon goes void at 3:26 PM ET — Happy Hour starts early at home offices everywhere, especially since Mercury meets up with Neptune at 9:15 PM ET. Another potentially dreamy escape– with music or your favorite rom-com.
SATURDAY — the Leo Moon is STILL void — party on, dudes! Moon doesn’t enter Virgo (to clean up after Leo’s party) until 5:19 PM ET. If you’re lucky enough to have a big backyard or access to a deserted nature path, go for a wander. Meanwhile, there are two other patterns of note, and the focus is on power, resources and control. First Venus harmonizes with Saturn at 1:09 PM ET. Around 7 PM ET we see tension between Virgo Moon’s need for perfection and detail, as it is challenged by Venus in Gemini’s chatty indecisiveness. Can we really afford it?
SATURDAY — At 10:14 PM ET, we have the first of three conjunctions between Jupiter (expansion) and Pluto (power, resources, extremes — and some astrologers say viruses, too). Will this weekend be a peak of some kind for Covid-19? I don’t know, though I do believe we may receive a bit of illumination around Monday.
SUNDAY — no exact aspects among the planets, but tension is building to a release next week — suggested by a Full Moon and other stuff. Absorb the significance of whatever extremes of power and resources made themselves known in the wake of Jupiter-Pluto’s first date. Use the Virgo Moon to check the details and get organized. Get ready for another big week.

And now, the news.

Last week’s Moon-Uranus challenge was made possible by Rep. Thomas Massie, the Kentucky libertarian Republican who was more than willing to put the health of his colleagues at risk by demanding they all return to Washington for a roll call vote on the $2 trillion relief bill. Disruptive, right? And he has two degrees from MIT — in science!?? But guess what? House members from both sides of the aisle joined together to shut that guy down. Imagine that. A unified focus — reflecting the potential of planetary patterns. Massie was born on January 13, 1971. His 22 degree Capricorn Sun was supercharged and streamlined by Saturn-Pluto on January 12th and eclipsed on January 10th. For the rest of the year he’ll have two more hits of Jupiter and Pluto on his Sun, testing the limits (and wisdom) of his personal power initiatives.

Meanwhile, in some parts of the world, the Mars-Saturn conjunction is being used as an opportunity for authoritarians to seize greater control (with the excuse being the Covid-19 pandemic). That’s what happened today in Hungary, as “Orban Takes Sole Command of Hungary with Emergency Law” (that has no end date, not even a date for a review). My dream of visiting Budapest one day may be shattered.

UPDATE: Mars-Saturn is sitting on Jeffrey Epstein’s Sun right now. It doesn’t matter that he’s dead; the horoscope lives forever. This Daily Beast exclusive is behind a paywall: “Epstein’s Hollywood Pipeline Ran Straight to Harvey Weinstein.” Let’s see how this story has evolved by the end of June – mid-July. Looking for other sources for this story led me to a bit stating that Prince Andrew may be cooperating with investigators…it’s not quite clear (though what is clear is that the horoscopes of most of Britain’s royal family are under high developmental tension all year).

The Mars-Saturn meet-up in Aquarius activated the 0 degree Aquarius Sun in the 2017 P45 inauguration. We see potential for a provocative, militant streamlining on the essence of this presidency. Question is, will the controls come from the presidency (taking a page from Orban’s book), or will the expression of the presidency be attacked or squeezed? And how curiously disturbing it is to learn that P45 spent the morning on a call with Vladimir Putin. Whatever could they be talking about (other than the publicly stated topics of oil and covid-19? Stock tips? Recipes? Golf?

P45 was faced with a bit of a brick wall yesterday when he was forced to walk back his dangerous delusion that America would be back in business by Easter, and everyone should celebrate by ~~brunching at one of his hotels~~ filling the churches. He had a feeling about that — this how he justified it — and having a feeling about something is exactly what we anticipate when Mercury is in Pisces (as I said in an earlier forecast). In Tampa, btw, a megachurch pastor was just arrested for packing churches during this pandemic. No word on what may happen to Jerry Falwell, Jr., whose decision to have students at Liberty University return to campus after spring break has resulted in one student testing positive for the coronavirus — and others displaying symptoms.

In other news, the Department of Justice finally gave a copy of the unredacted Mueller Report to DC federal judge Reggie Walton, who has questioned AG Bill Barr’s candor. I would still not be surprised if much of the foundation Mueller attempted to lay in order to bring certain Russian persons to justice may be erased, given patterns in Mueller’s horoscope. We’ll see.

I have a feeling…about Covid-19 that I posted on Facebook and people seemed to like it, so I’ll share it here. It occurred to me that the Amazon rain forests (and other forests) are the lungs of Mother Earth, a conscious entity. Humans have decimated the forests, depriving Mother Earth of oxygen. We have severely lowered oxygen levels in the oceans, too — that’s why there are “dead zones” — utterly devoid of life. It doesn’t seem to be a coincidence that Covid-19 attacks the lungs of its human hosts. I wondered if this virus is Mother Earth’s way of telling us, “This is what you’re doing to me. I can’t breathe. Please stop.” In forcing the immediate halt to human activity, perhaps Mother Earth is also buying necessary time. Breathing room. A space for humans to consider how they can help Mother Earth re-balance. What do you think?

I think it would be nice if America didn’t have a malignant narcissist in White House, crowing about his TV ratings while declaring the possible loss of 200,000 American lives a success. Fortunately many governors have stepped in to fill the leadership vacuum — even with minimal to incompetent federal support. Those on the Dean’s List include Gavin Newsom (D-CA), Gretchen “the woman in Michigan” Whitmer (D-MI), Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Andrew Cuomo (D-NY).

Since I wrote about Cuomo for the next Mountain Astrologer, I can’t say much about his horoscope here. But I can share one observation I didn’t make in the TMA article. P45 is a Gemini with Moon in Sagittarius. He needs to be respected for his righteous opinion, and he will do his darnedest to keep you entertained and focused on HIM. We don’t have a birth time for Cuomo, but he is the opposite of P45: a Sagittarius driven by a Gemini Moon. He needs to be appreciated for being the smartest kid in the room, delivering facts and figures that illuminate the Big Picture.

Y’know who else is a Gemini with Moon in Sagittarius? Jerry Falwell, Jr. His 5 Capricorn Ascendant was eclipsed in December and his Venus at 0 Leo is being opposed by transiting Saturn. That’s called a reality check scheduled in your cosmic calendar…and he’ll get three doses of it this year, so stay tuned.

Also getting a reality check, as Saturn enters Aquarius: Uranus, which apparently “ejected a giant plasma bubble during Voyager 2’s last visit,” to the delight of frat rats everywhere who can’t help but snicker at the thought of Uranus having gas. If you liked that laugh, here’s one about an astrophysicist who got magnets stuck up his nose whilst trying to invent a Really Useful coronavirus device.

So, like that. It’s my birthday and I got to do what I love to do –i.e., spend eight hours researching and compiling this forecast. Tomorrow I’m booked for consultations. It delights my Gemini Moon to be a source of information that is helpful, insightful and entertaining, especially in these seemingly chaotic times.

I can’t celebrate tonight at a restaurant, ’cause they’re closed. I can’t have friends over for a party, either — that would be foolish and inconsiderate — and is also currently prohibited. But if you find my efforts of value, I would be thrilled thrilled thrilled if you would take the opportunity to become a Faithful Monthly Subscriber of this forecast. I would love to believe that you find these insights worth the price of an exotic mocha latte or a modest glass of Gavi. If you have 17 hard aspects to Uranus in your horoscope and the idea of making a Faithful Monthly commitment scares you to death, I understand. My fabulous webmaster Mark Marshall has created a platform for Joyful Random Expressions of Appreciation, too.

Thank you for reading this forecast — and sharing it with your friends. It’s been an awesome 11 years of writing :)

Birthday daffodils!

Monday 3/23/2020: Late Sneak Peek at the Week; New Moon in Aries

March 26, 2020/0 Comments/in The Forecast /by Elisabeth Grace

Happy Wednesday!

I just filed my “Charts in the News” column for Mountain Astrologer; hence the delayed New Moon forecast.

As you know, the Moon was void for most of the day on Monday, then charged into Aries that night at 8:58 PM ET. The New Moon kicked in on Tuesday at 5:29 AM ET, at 4 degrees of Aries. If your horoscope was affected by the December 26th eclipse (you would know if you asked for personal insights from me back then), this New Moon offers a push forward in those matters.

On Wednesday (as I write), the Moon cruises through the day with no interference from other planets. At 8:43 PM ET, enthusiasm is building to some potent release, as Moon squares Jupiter. At 11:02 PM ET, Moon makes its weekly clash with Pluto, suggesting a power play or emotional catharsis. In the House and Senate, they’ve been talking and pushing — pushing and talking — but they haven’t reached consensus yet. As anticipated, the fight is over who gets a taxpayer-funded bailout: actual taxpayers or corporations that spent their big fat tax cuts on stock buybacks to increase shareholder value.

At 3:16 AM ET on THURSDAY, the me-me-me Aries Moon squares Mars, suggesting sparks may fly. If you’re up at that hour, find a productive channel for that energy. Moon goes void and enters Taurus at 9:37 AM ET, seeking to build something solid and comforting out of all those Moon in Aries initiatives. This drive may be frustrated around 10:15 AM ET, as the Moon squares Saturn. But this is a different Saturn now, as it’s in Aquarius, sign of the humanitarian — not in Establishment Capricorn. Let’s watch and see if the authoritarian blocks will come from the people, not from the PTB. A spark of innovation comes together around 7:29 PM ET, as Moon meets up with Uranus.

On Friday, there is one pattern between the Moon and Mercury at 5:03 AM ET and that’s it. Humming in the background all this week — and exact on Saturday, are two harmonious patterns that perfectly reflect the sensual abundance potential of Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week.

At 12:24 AM ET, Venus trines Jupiter. Venus is at her finest in Taurus, and here she is supporting Jupiter in crusty old Capricorn. At 10:52 PM ET, Venus moves on to Pluto, also in Capricorn. Meanwhile, the Taurus Moon meets up with Venus at 10:20 AM ET and spends the rest of the day in flow with Jupiter, Pluto, Mars and Saturn. Translation: I’ll be surprised if the markets do not reflect this energetic pattern of earthly comfort as we get to the end of the week. For the Entire Free World that is staying at home in an effort to save the human race, count your blessings.

Moon goes void at 7:05 PM ET on Saturday and enters Gemini at 9:38 PM ET, looking for information, entertainment — anything to talk about. It travels mostly free and clear all day, which makes it an apt day for fun and games. Puzzles and online Trivial Pursuit, anyone?

On Monday, note your dreams, Moon squares Neptune at 11:11 AM ET and then goes void for the rest of the day. If you take the day off, you may do so without consequence.

Here is the chart for the New Moon, set in Washington, DC:

What’s in our collective face in this chart is the New Moon itself, along with Neptune and Mercury in Pisces. Neptune refers to faith, viruses, empathy and lies — that certainly fits. What’s shoved under the rug — or behind closed doors — is that pile-up of planets in the 12th House: Mars, Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn. Three Establishment heavies…and Saturn in Aquarius. Saturn is the ruler of this chart; it is the strongest planet and it has the final say. Hmmm.

The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon is “a triangle with wings,” which Blain Bovee says is “an idealized form of transcendence.” Simply put, know thyself and to thine own self be true. In a cycle with much of the world confined to its home, how in sync is it to get this Symbol — about which Bovee writes, “consider being comfortable about not quite being in the social picture.” Wow. For more, look here — and here.

I appreciate what Lynda Hill has to say (in the first of those two links) about taking care of the body at this time. Get plenty of sleep. Drink water. Find a yoga or fitness class online — here are some that are free. Meditate. Call your friends and family — but not the ones cause you stress. CNN has a helpful list of ways to strengthen your immune system with your diet. Yay, CNN. Here’s an app for city dwellers to use if they need help from friendly neighbors they’ve never met. It’s called Next Door.

Take this pandemic seriously. Stay the &^%$ home. And while you’re home, please take ten minutes and fill out the U.S. Census — online.

The news will continue in the next forecast, which I thank you for reading and supporting from the bottom of my heart. Now there are 20 who have pledged the equivalent of a fancy mocha latte or a modest Chardonnay on a monthly basis, up from 16 last week. This does not include several others who Randomly and Joyfully tossed appreciation into my Cosmic Tip Jar. Much gratitude to all of you for making this soon-to-be birthday girl feel loved.

Cherry blossoms in the Japanese garden

New York, NY

Sunday & Monday 3/22-23/2020: the Synchronicity of COVID-19 & More

March 22, 2020/0 Comments/in The Forecast /by Elisabeth Grace

I started this post on Friday (two days ago), which seems like years ago. Here’s what was happening, with updates in italics:

It’s the first full day of the Astrological New Year. The Sun has ditched Pisces (the end of the world) and charged into Aries, seeking a fresh new start. At its best, Aries is an inspiring and courageous pioneer, daring to accomplish the impossible. How apt that Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card for the Week is The Fool. With a bindle over his shoulder and a faithful furry companion at his heels, he’s got everything he needs. Things are definitely looking up — as he’s about to step off a cliff. Does he?

Speaking of Beth, a warm welcome to her fans who acted on her suggestion that they become Avid Readers of this forecast, too. We should all be as fortunate to have allies like Beth in our lives. Deep, deep gratitude!

ICYMI, on Monday I wrote an overview for likely developments in These United States for the next three months — here it is again.

As for the weekend…

FRIDAY — the Aquarius Moon needs to network and be appreciated for its social significance. It’s went void at 5 AM ET — and void as I type — and it won’t engage until 8:33 AM ET on Saturday. It’s apt for sticking to routine concerns, with one caveat: the Get It Done desire of Mars meeting up with Jupiter in practical, earthy Capricorn. After not leaving the house for the past three days, today was the day to shop for groceries, wine and supplies from the hardware store. I’ve got a ton of projects that need to get done around the house, and I anticipate being at home for some weeks to come. We’re all in this together.
SATURDAY — Moon enters Pisces at 8:33 AM ET, facilitating empathy and ideals. That kind of thinking may end the day, as Moon meets up with Mercury at 4:29 PM ET and harmonizes with Uranus at 5:51 PM ET. And then, at 11:57 PM ET, Saturn (control, authority) dips its toes into the airwaves of Aquarius (the masses, aviation, astrology, technology).
SUNDAY — Another argument for innovative thinking, fueled by benevolent idealism is Mercury (how we need to think) sextiling Uranus at 9:18 AM ET. The end of the day favors intense beauty, as the Moon sextiles Venus and Neptune, which are in turn sextile (harmonizing) with each other — and it all happens between 10:36 PM and 11:09 PM ET. Some enchanted evening! The intensity reflects Mars (desire, action, aggression), which meets up with Pluto (resistance is futile) at 1:16 AM ET on Monday. I expect we’ll see plenty of results of that nine months from now. In the headlines watch for explosive action, for better or worse. The fact that guns are flying off the shelves this week would be one example. Earthquakes — as in “news from underground” — would be another. Mars = guns; Jupiter = BIG; Pluto = extreme. But I’ve also been seeing plenty of reflections for the need for beauty symbolized by the rose-colored Venus-Neptune sextile. On Twitter, over 70K people have retweeted Steve Martin’s “Banjo Balm” — which it is.

Monday is the last day of the current lunar cycle. That means this is a Dead Moon Weekend, when we may feel listless or restless, sensing that something new is just around the corner. This weekend “restless” is definitely an understatement, given the surge of assertion needed by Mars meeting up with Jupiter and Pluto. Dead Moons are apt for clandestine meetings and other activities you hope no one will notice.

Examples: on Saturday it was reported that the DOJ has “quietly asked Congress” to “suspend certain Constitutional rights during the coronavirus emergency.” While it’s highly unlikely that Congress will agree, the fact that Bill Barr’s DOJ would even ask should be seen as yet another reflection of the authoritarianism astrologers warned would be prevalent at this time (even though we couldn’t see the specifics of how the authoritarians would get away with it. Now we know.) Meanwhile, on Sunday, Congressional leaders will meet with Treasury Secretary Mnuchin to hash out a proposed massive stimulus plan to rescue the economy. With his Sun at 0 degrees Capricorn (the Aries Point), of course he’d be all over the TV now. Corporate bailouts or cash for the middle and lower income human beings? Film at 11!

With Mars and Jupiter activating the January 12th’s Lean Mean Meet-Up of Saturn and Pluto at 22 Capricorn. Saturn = necessary control. Pluto = resources, breakdown, extremes. Capricorn = corporations and government. And here we are, executing a Big Action Plan, with much of the world coping with limited mobility imposed on them by their government.

Think about this. The world is united in its FOCUS. This is what a planetary conjunction represents, along with the planting of seeds for a new cycle. Avid Readers will recall that January’s Saturn-Pluto conjunction is the first one we’ve had among the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) since 2011. This is an apt reflection of why we haven’t been able to come together and FOCUS for the past decade. The outer planets have been at odds with each other, by square or opposition. So have we, as reflected by zillions of pundits bemoaning our polarized politics. Kudos to astrologer J. Lee Lehman, Ph.D. for making this case in her excellent book, The Astrology of Sustainability.

We have three major planetary conjunctions in 2020 — as you may recall from earlier posts. After Saturn-Pluto, the next one is Jupiter-Pluto on April 3rd. The third one happens on the Winter Solstice: Jupiter-Saturn in game-changing Aquarius. We are getting focused now!

Anyhoo…the Pisces Moon goes void at 10:51 AM ET on MONDAY. Take advantage of the early morning hours, as the Moon is well-supported by other planets. Once void, Moon won’t enter Aries until 8:58 PM ET, so chill for the rest of the day. The New Moon in Aries kicks in on Tuesday at 5:28 AM ET. That’s when I’ll post a Sneak Peek for the Week.

And now, the news.

Mars-Jupiter-Pluto suggests big news in sports — probably involving a leader. Why a leader? Because the Sun (leaders) has been at the Aries Point all week, suggesting star power:

Superstar quarterback Tom Brady ditched the Patriots and signed with the Buccaneers. His Midheaven is 20 Cancer, so it was hit by the Jan 10th eclipse, and activated this month by Jupiter and Mars. Boom. A new chapter begins. Was your horoscope hit by the Jan 10th eclipse? What happened?

Once again, I invite you to read historian Heather Cox Richardson‘s nightly Letter to America for a summary of the day’s top stories — and I will offer the astrological perspective. In her post from Friday, she writes:

The rest of the day’s news is more of the same that we have been getting for the past few weeks, all on steroids that this week’s surge of the COVID-19 (and efforts to contain it) is “on steroids.”

“Steroids” are a reflection of Mars-Jupiter-Pluto. What’s likely to happen next? We’ve identified 20-22 Capricorn as significant trigger points in this particular cycle. We’ve identified conjunctions as opportunities for a unified focus. So here are some key dates to watch — I’ll provide details on what we may anticipate as we get closer to each one:

March 31: Mars conjunct Saturn at 0 Aquarius
April 3: Jupiter-Pluto conjunction #1 at 24 Capricorn
April 7: Full Moon at 18 Libra — close enough to 20-22 to be effective
April 23: Mercury hits 20-22 Aries
June 29: Jupiter-Pluto conjunction #2 at 24 Capricorn
November 12: Jupiter-Pluto conjunction #3 at 22 Capricorn
August, October & December: Mars will be at 20-22 Aries three times during its retrograde cycle
December 21: Jupiter-Saturn conjunction at 0 Aquarius

Jupiter is also in a series of three sextiles with Neptune this year: Feb 20, July 27 and October 14. Neptune refers to viruses. So while we may be successful in containing this first wave of contagion in the short-term, we can also see how a second wave could manifest, in sync with these cycles, especially when Mars arrives at 20-22 Aries in the late summer. This pandemic is being compared to the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, which had a first wave starting in January 1918, and a second wave in August. It is interesting to notice a Jupiter-Pluto conjunction in August 1918.

The other big news Richardson reported in her Friday post integrated the “prominent leaders” of the Sun at the Aries Point: “U.S. Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) Briefed on Coronavirus. Then They Sold Stocks.” Burr is the Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Loeffler is married to the head of the New York Stock Exchange, is worth $500 million and was appointed to her Senate seat by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. We now know that in those briefings back in January, those present were told in no uncertain terms that the coronavirus was a serious, serious threat to the public they allegedly serve. They responded by telling the public that everything was fine, while at the same time dumping investments in hotels and purchasing stock in tech companies that enable online meetings. PEOPLE ARE NOW DYING BECAUSE THESE “PUBLIC SERVANTS” FAILED TO SHARE THE INFORMATION THEY RECEIVED BACK IN JANUARY. They are senators who voted to keep P45 in office, knowing that he was failing to act on the intelligence received.

What does this have to do with astrology? It confirms the potential we anticipated: that this year, we would be faced with extremes of wealth, power and control, including corruption and breakdown in government and corporations. This is Pluto in Capricorn, and it — along with all the other planets in Capricorn — is directly affecting the horoscope of the United States.

Another story Richardson highlights is P45′s hostile response to a softball question NBC’s Peter Alexander asked during Friday’s all-day Moon void in Aquarius. Transiting Mars was exactly opposing P45’s Saturn, suggesting — according to astrologer Robert Hand — “an extremely irritating transit…with potential for being hit in a psychological weak spot.” P45 was handed a perfect set-up for an FDR moment. He failed because he is incapable of empathy. The idea that anyone would be frightened on his watch enraged him — as in — “how dare they?”

P45 was born on an eclipse of a Full Moon. The Moon in his horoscope has no light. It is blotted out by the Sun, like a big black hole in the sky. Hmmm.

UPDATE: in Israel, the government is employing extreme surveillance measures to track cellphones of unsuspecting citizens and order quarantines. Even though challenger Benny Gantz was asked by Israel’s president to form a government a week ago, Benjamin Netanyahu has used his power to postpone his trial (on corruption charges) and is moving forward with a “palace coup,” says this WaPo op-ed.

There’s always an upside potential, and with respect to leaders thrust suddenly into the spotlight, many are exercising authority brilliantly, with care and concern. Richardson calls out several state governors as examples — one day, I’ll get around to looking at their horoscopes. Meanwhile, I’m fascinated to see Andrew Yang‘s horoscope performing as expected. His Sun is at 22 Capricorn, activated now by Mars and Jupiter. Add to that his three planets in humanitarian Aquarius and a deeply compassionate Jupiter in Pisces in the area of his horoscope that refers to money and values. Not only has he announced a $1m coronavirus relief package for New York service and low-income workers, but his Big Idea to provide everyone with a basic income appears to have been embraced by Congress! Watch him continue to make an impact in 2020.

Elizabeth Warren‘s horoscope is also delivering on its promise of attracting expansive public support at this time. Her North Node is at 22 Aries and thus activated by Mars and Jupiter over the past few days. “How Elizabeth Warren lost the White House but became the U.S. president of ideas” sums it up.

In other news, Saturn is now officially in Aquarius — it’ll be there until July 2nd. “I love you, but don’t take it personally” is the Aquarian motto — and you can quote me on that, ’cause I said it first. As if on cue, Randy Rainbow released another brilliant song parody — this one a tribute to Saturn in Aquarius, also known as social distancing. Add Saturn in Aquarius to Uranus in Taurus, and it seems the words I wrote a year ago about how Joe Biden was the poster child for Uranus in Taurus were exceptionally prescient:

And on a collective level, this is one of the exercises we are being given, courtesy of Uranus (shock) in Taurus (material comfort and security; physical touch). Those hugs that were once a secure expression of comfort and non-sexual caring affection? Not so secure anymore. We will probably have to wait eight years — when Chiron enters Taurus — for us to put back together our sense of material comfort and security that is likely to be shattered as Uranus continues in Taurus.

I leave you with a video Avid Reader Louisa sent via Italy: Ascolta (Listen: a Letter from the Virus) Grazie mille, Louisa, per la prospettiva piu elevata. No matter what it is, it always sounds beautiful in Italian.

Thank you for reading this forecast. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. We will get through this together.

Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week

is always in sync with planetary patterns!

Monday 3/16/2020: Sneak Peek at the Week; Eclipse Triggers; Goodbye Pisces, Hello Aries

March 16, 2020/0 Comments/in The Forecast /by Elisabeth Grace

It’s Monday…and the Moon went void in Sagittarius, after it squared the Sun at 5:34 AM ET. This is the Third Quarter Moon, suggesting a challenge integrating whatever illumination was received during last week’s Full Moon. We expect tension released and possibly running away with the morning during the void, which won’t end until 12:25 PM ET, when the Moon enters Capricorn.

A Capricorn Moon needs to take care of business, and this need will be well-supported by other planets for the next two days. We need to consider a shift that happened at 3:43 AM ET, however. That’s when Mercury — now moving forward — re-entered Pisces, where it will be until April 11th. So here we go again — with mindset and communication that needs to be more aligned with beliefs and intuition, as opposed to rational thought, facts and figures. The rest of the week goes like this:

TUESDAY — Moon in Capricorn‘s need to Make Things Happen is supported by several patterns. Two are immediate, and three others will be exact on Thursday and Friday. The immediate patterns are an easy alignment with Venus (money, values, women, art) at 1:31 PM and another with Neptune (vision, ideals) at 11:37 PM ET.
WEDNESDAY — is intense. Moon meets up with aggressive Mars at 4:22 AM ET, then Jupiter at 6:47 AM ET. Action in a BIG way — no matter how it feels. At 10:53 AM ET Moon meets up with Pluto, suggesting a focus on planting seeds involving power and purging. Moon sextiles the Sun….now at the verrrrrry end of Pisces (which can feel like the End of the World — BUT IT’S NOT). We’re going to see news about political and business leaders become more prominent over the next few days, as the Sun approaches the first degree of Aries — a.k.a. the Vernal Equinox a.k.a. the Aries Point). At 8:48 PM ET Moon meets up with Saturn, suggesting a focus on planting seeds involving streamlining, ambition, structure and control. Moon then goes void and enters Aquarius at 9:16 PM ET.
THURSDAY — The Aquarius Moon needs to network and be of social significance, considering the uniqueness of every part of the whole of humanity. This need may be rattled around 6:04 AM ET, when it is squared by rebel Uranus. Moon travels without interference for the rest of the day, though I wonder how its humanitarian needs may be affected by the Sun (leaders) sextiling Saturn (patriarchy, authority, structure) at the verrrrrry end of Powers That Be Capricorn. Perhaps the airlines — or other businesses — will get a bailout, with no consideration for independent contractors and other workers in the gig economy. Whatever cooperative initiative we see, it’s likely to be prominent, as the Sun enters Aries at 11:50 PM ET. Happy Astrological New Year!

A pause, while we examine the chart for the Aries Ingress (the technical term for the moment the Sun enters Aries). The Aries Ingress set in the capital of a particular country offers a three-month prognosis. Here it is for Washington, DC:

You do not have to be a professional astrologer to notice a lot of stuff jam-packed in the piece of the cosmic pie chart that is labelled “2” (technical term for that piece of the cosmic pie chart is the Second House). Knowing that astrology is a symbolic language, you then wonder what the Second House symbolizes. Answer: money, values and self-worth. That’s the focus for the United States for the next three months, or — to quote the 1992 political campaign slogan, “It’s the economy, stupid.” This is especially true with respect to corporate and government entities, as all of that Second House “stuff” is in Capricorn, tightly focused and planting seeds, perhaps in a “last-gasp” effort to fortify their needs.

An example of the PTB fortifying their needs: Moscow Mitch’s top priority this week isn’t passing the Families First Act, which would help the 99%. Instead, he’s pleading with veteran federal judges to quit now, so he can oversee all of their replacements.

Back to the chart:

Mars is one of the planets in the Second House, functioning with high-efficiency in Capricorn. Mars is minutes away from an exact meet-up with Jupiter (expansion, abundance, braggadocio, benevolence), also in Capricorn — which is considered a detriment. If you want a reward, you either have to work for it, or have a reserved place at the Cool Kids Table by virtue of your status.

If those observations seem harsh, we can be heartened by the placement of the Part of Fortune (a point that symbolizes luck). It is strong and it is in the 2nd House. Also consider that the Moon in this chart is in Aquarius, and happily placed in the Third House, where it may effectively think and communicate. The Moon represents the people, and in this chart the Moon co-rules the 8th House of shared values, alternative healing, regeneration and joint investments. The Moon is challenged by a high-functioning Venus (money, women, values). One of the areas Venus refers to in this chart is health/disease.

The Aries Ingress begins ten minutes before midnight, long after the Sun has set. The Aries Sun is strong in the 4th House, but hidden from view. Thus we conclude that there will be a ton of machinations going on that will also be hidden from view. Plus, the 4th House is occupied by Neptune — facilitating fog.

The 10th House represents the leader of a nation. Here, the ruler of the 10th is Mercury, flying by the seat of its pants in “I have a feeling about this” Pisces. Mercury is the other ruler of the 8th House, and in a best-case scenario, the leader would work cooperatively with the people about shared investments. Worst-case, it’s a tug of war. We see that the path to maximum growth is by meeting the needs of the North Node in Cancer in 8th — i.e., providing nourishment and emotional home/family security. Sharing is caring.

Back to the forecast for the week:

FRIDAY – the first full day of the Astrological New Year begins with that Moon-Venus square at 5 AM ET. Feed the world; don’t overindulge! Moon then goes void for almost 28 hours. Whatever big initiatives (more likely to be controls) come out today, reflecting the supercharged Get It Done desire of Mars meeting up with Jupiter at 7:35 AM ET, CHILL!!! Crises which crop up during voids are likely much ado about nothing. Stick to routine concerns — or feel feel to wander from your planned course without consequence. Draft a book proposal. Take a walk. Pick up the phone and talk to people — or set up a friendly Zoom gathering with your best buddies.
SATURDAY — Moon enters Pisces at 8:33 AM ET, facilitating empathy and ideals. That kind of thinking may end the day, as Moon meets up with Mercury at 4:29 PM ET and harmonizes with Uranus at 5:51 PM ET. And then, at 11:57 PM ET, Saturn (control, authority) dips its toes into the airwaves of Aquarius (the masses, aviation, astrology, technology).
SUNDAY — Another argument for innovative thinking, fueled by benevolent idealism is Mercury (how we need to think) sextiling Uranus at 9:18 AM ET. The end of the day favors intense beauty, as the Moon sextiles Venus and Neptune, which are sextile (harmonizing) with each other — and it all happens between 10:36 PM and 11:09 PM ET. Some enchanted evening! The intensity reflects Mars (desire, action, aggression), which meets up with Pluto (resistance is futile) at 1:16 AM ET. I expect we’ll see plenty of results of that nine months from now.

Would you like to know how Saturn in Aquarius will be reflected in your life experience for the next couple of years? I will send you a few paragraphs of personal insights. Toss $44 into my Cosmic Tip Jar as a Joyful Random Expression of Appreciation — and email me your birth data, if I don’t already have it. And while you’re there, perhaps you will consider supporting this forecast with a Faithful Monthly Expression of Appreciation.

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[Cue theme from Jeopardy! now, please]

And now, the news.

Here in the U.S., the impact of the coronavirus was felt like a bottleneck of energy suddenly let loose. Headlines reported actual bottlenecks of travelers awaiting hastily thrown together screening procedures at airports across the country. The Fed slashed interest rates again, hoping to maintain Friday’s market gains — and markets plummeted. Here in New York, many businesses are on a two-week hiatus; schools have closed. Other dense urban areas are following suit. We have reached a point of no return. Our way of life is forever changed.

“Bottleneck” should be a familiar term to Avid Readers. That’s how eclipses operate, in the language of astrology. We had two potent eclipses — one at 4 Capricorn on December 26th, and the other at 20 Capricorn on January 10th. Thus, Avid Readers were advised to mark mid-March in your calendars, as Jupiter would be at 20 Capricorn on March 3rd and Mars would be at 20 Capricorn on March 16th — today! Search the archives for “mars triggers eclipse” or “eclipse triggers” and you will find examples of ginormous bottlenecks released in the aftermath of past eclipses. Meanwhile, the South Node (a point of toxic release/destruction) is at 4 Capricorn, activating the December 26th eclipse.

Everyone understand how this operates? For those of you who ordered personal insights on how these eclipses would manifest for you in December and January, drop me line and tell me what’s happening.

With respect to the “point of no return” we’re experiencing in the U.S., I found this Slate op-ed of interest, as it calls out some of the absurd rules we meekly follow, believing they are of importance. These rules have been tossed out the window in the current crisis — and perhaps they need never return, too. Astrologically speaking, we are absolutely moving into a new way of doing and being.

OK.

Just looked at the headlines after two hours of writing. Breaking news: “airlines ask taxpayers for $50 billion bailout to cover losses of coronavirus.” The counterargument to that request is the subject of a NYT op-ed.

In other news, Europe is closing its doors to foreign travel.

Oh, look — three UK airlines are now grounded — with more likely to come.

In France, the health minister says that anti-inflammatories are aggravating for the coronavirus infection. Don’t use them. That’s an interesting reflection of Mars (inflammation) meeting up with Jupiter (which rules the lungs).

Meanwhile, there was a debate last night between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. I did not watch it, because I was busy cleaning out my linen closet and making an easy-peasy pasta dish with a can of white beans, butter, shallots, white wine and white wine vinegar — and so delish! However, it seems that Biden was declared the winner of the debate, on a day with the ruler of his Midheaven in a favorable alignment with symbols representing the public. Also exact yesterday: a solar arc between Saturn (ambition) and Venus (women, values). Here’s what he said:

“There are a number of women who are qualified to be president tomorrow, and I will pick a woman as my vice-president.”

Are we surprised?

Wash your hands. Avoid large crowds. Look for silver linings.

Even though late-night comedy shows are now on hiatus (here’s John Oliver’s last one from last night), celebrities filled in the gap over the weekend with helpful coping strategies, no doubt inspired by the sextile between crusading Mars and magical, musical Neptune. Here is Arnold Schwarzenegger (and his tiny horses). Here is Randy Rainbow’s latest. Here is the entire NYT Sunday Magazine — the music issue. And here are a bunch of inquisitive penguins featured in this story: “With Aquarium Closed to the Public, Penguins Roam Around and Interact with Other Animal Pals” Shirley MacLaine doesn’t do video, but she does send out a newsletter every two months that is always packed with helpful and hopeful things.

Finally, I was supposed to go to DC at the end of the month to teach at the Empowered Astrology Conference. We won’t be meeting in person — alas — but we’re going to hold it online. Silver lining: many more people can soak up the superb astrological insights that will be offered by stellar graduates of Noel Tyl’s masters’ course for astrologers. Here’s the 411 on the conference, if you’d like to Zoom in.

And don’t forget to email me as described earlier in the forecast if you’d like to order personalized insights on Saturn in Aquarius — and what it means for YOU.

Thank you for reading this forecast and sharing it with friends.

Special thanks to Crawford Jolly on Unsplash

for this whimsical photo signifying the spirit

of the last few days of the Sun in Pisces.

Friday 3/13/2020 & the Weekend: Mars-Neptune Looks for Silver Linings

March 14, 2020/0 Comments/in The Forecast /by Elisabeth Grace

TGIF!

Here’s a recap of the weekend forecast, with update:

FRIDAY — the Scorpio Moon‘s need for depth continues, but today it is well-supported by five other planets: Mars at 10:59 AM ET, Neptune at 11:54 AM ET, Jupiter at 5:14 PM ET, Sun at 9:47 PM ET and Pluto at 9:53 PM ET. Maybe it ends on a high note for the markets, compared to what’s going on now. We’ll see.

UPDATE: in fact, the markets did end on a high note — “the biggest rally since 2008” — so that was fun to see. This was after the market cratered after P45’s catatonic address to the nation on Wednesday night — with patterns among the Moon, Pluto and Saturn that echoed the ones that happened last week, on the night that Nathaniel Woods was executed by Alabama (refer to Monday’s forecast). Stephen Colbert reports on P45’s speech –– and what happened just before and after — in case you missed it.

SATURDAY — another brief void at 6:06 AM ET, then the Moon breathes a sigh of relief as it soars into Sagittarius at 7:09 AM ET. There are no exact aspects to the Sag Moon today, but two other aspects are exact. At 6:33 AM ET, pixie dust, the surreal and sex appeal are facilitated, as Mars (action; assertion; desire) forms a harmony (a sextile) with Neptune. At 12:04 PM ET, the Sun (willpower, leaders) sextiles Pluto in Establishment Capricorn, which sounds like a perfect storm for somebody’s empire.

Speaking of empire, Vladimir Putin came one step closer to his quest for world domination and his goal of becoming Russia’s “president for life.” Meanwhile, P45 and an army of corporate leaders presided over a press conference at the White House on Friday, declaring the novel coronavirus a “national emergency.” An action plan was presented, apparently with the help of Jared‘s brother Joshua’s father-in-law, who is a doctor and belongs to a Facebook group. Someone had to step in for the White House’s expert pandemic response team P45 fired in 2018, right? At the podium in Rose Garden (or was it the new White House tennis pavilion), the PTB — that’s shorthand for “Powers That Be” — all shook hands on it. I kid you not. Surreal. As I type at 6:17 PM ET, Nancy Pelosi announced that a deal has been reached and that there will be a vote in the House tonight on the #FamiliesFirst bill. Assistance will include paid sick leave and other benefits. See how easy aspects to the Moon are reflected in life development? The Sun is also well-supported, as you may recall. The Senate votes on the bill next week.

SUNDAY — Moon squares wiggy Neptune at 3:52 PM ET — and that’s it. Let the Sag Moon inspire you to take a walk in the woods and/or expand your mind. If you can’t get out of the house, you may find these virtual tours of 12 museums inspiring and apt for planetary patterns. Note your dreams and express your righteous opinions.

The Sagittarius Moon will be void on Monday from 5:34 AM ET until 12:25 PM ET, so that’s your excuse for sleeping in and/or flaking out. Then the Moon enters Capricorn, driving the next few days with a need to Make Things Happen. It’s an interesting week, as the Sun will be in the last days of Pisces (which can feel like the End of the World — BUT IT’S NOT). Sun enters Aries — to begin a new cycle — on Thursday night.

And now, more news.

When transiting Saturn makes a hard contact with the Ascendant, separations from the past are not uncommon. And if transiting Uranus makes a hard contact with the Sun, we often see an upset — with the higher purpose being liberation. That’s what’s going on in Bill Gates‘s horoscope, and he just announced he’s stepping down from the boards of Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway. He’s going to devote his time to philanthropic pursuits.

We don’t have a birth time for Chelsea Manning, so we don’t have a confirmed Ascendant. However, we do see she’s been in a period of emotional extremes, as transiting Pluto was exactly on her natal Venus on March 6th. Not being a White House staff member, she was jailed last year after refusing to testify before a grand jury, and was hospitalized last week after a suicide attempt. Emotional extremes indeed — enough to catch a judge’s attention, who ordered her released from jail.

Alex Trebek was discussed in my “Charts in the News” column for Mountain Astrologer last year, when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. There were a number of uplifting patterns in his horoscope, and his disease went into remission with astonishing speed. He recently shared a hopeful prognosis with fans — here on video. He’s considered how he might end his 35-year run as host of Jeopardy! — but doesn’t seem to have a date in mind. With transiting Saturn opposing his natal Mercury and Sun at 28-29 Cancer three times in 2020, we could see how he might opt for a graceful exit by the end of the year. We saw a similar potential for astrology skeptic Jon Stewart back in March of 2015, months before he called it quits on The Daily Show.

I’m looking for stories to inspire you — in case you haven’t noticed. Rep. Katie Porter is often an inspiration. She’s a no-nonsense California Congresswoman who stands her ground with her facts in order. We don’t have a birth time (Jan 3 1974 in Fort Dodge IA), but her Capricorn Sun is driven by the stubborn persistence of her Taurus Moon and Mars. With Venus and Jupiter together in Aquarius, we appreciate why she needs to be a benevolent and wonky champion for humanity. Her Saturn (ambition, structure, control) is at 0 Cancer — serving a need for emotional and home/homeland security — with prominence! Here she is demanding that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert R. Redfield actually do his job, in an exchange that reminds me of many I’ve had with customer service representatives in various industries. You?

In other news…

It’s fascinating to see how quickly the potential of Saturn’s ingress into Aquarius next week is already coming to life. Remember, Saturn is control and structure. Aquarius is groups, the masses and technology. And here we are, looking at massive controls on group gatherings, thanks to the coronavirus threat. Broadway is dark; museums are closed; sports events and presidential primaries are postponed; parades are cancelled. Students are packing up at colleges and heading home; professors are preparing to teach the rest of the semester online. “Social distancing” is now a thing.

Saturn in Aquarius should facilitate the shift to virtual gatherings. That’s the good news. Here’s another bit of good news: in areas hit hardest by the coronavirus outbreak, the air quality has dramatically improved. Perhaps we will do something productive with this newfound awareness.

It occurs to me to consider other silver linings this crisis — with its necessary slowdown — may offer. Perhaps it’s the fact that this virus does not discriminate based on income, social class or nationality. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson tested positive. So has Sophie Trudeau, a congressional aide to Rep. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the mayor of Miami, and the president of Brazil’s press secretary (pictured here last weekend with P45 and sidekick at Mar-a-Lago). Ivanka is self-quarantined, as is Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz.

Even in Italy, which is under lockdown in a serious way (as Avid Reader Alexandra reports from Rome), there are moments of sublime transcendence:

“Video shows quarantined Italians singing together from their windows”

The power of music is an apt reflection of the weekend’s harmony between Mars (action!) and Neptune (music), as well as the Sun’s sextile with Pluto (power). Cellist Yo-Yo Ma has music for you, too — via Twitter.

What’s going on in your horoscope that is reflecting events in your life at present? Are you working from home — for a change? I am always working at home — and would be delighted to provide insights in a personal consultation. Here’s the 411. We will have a fine discussion together.

Thank you for reading this forecast — and for washing your hands with soap and water many times a day. Let’s take good care of ourselves — and look out for each other, too.

Gratitude to Anne Marie Darling for creating this weirdly wonderful PSA

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