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 7/19/2021: Late Sneak Peek at the Week; Venus in Virgo; Sun in Leo; Full Moon in Aquarius

July 20, 2021/0 Comments/in The Forecast /by Elisabeth Grace

Alllrighty then!

How was your Sun opposing Pluto weekend? Any catharses or other emotional breakthroughs? Sunday’s Scorpio Moon was apt for a purge or a consolidation of power, and its intensely focused energy continued into just past noon on Monday. During the ensuing Moon void, deep stretches, twists, and groin openers were the main components of my afternoon yoga class. Makes sense, right?

Did you notice a shift in energy and focus around 5:07 PM ET, when the Moon left Scorpio for fiery, righteously opinionated Sagittarius? The sky’s the limit for the next few days, so find ways to push boundaries constructively. Get out in nature; take in a foreign film or point of view; go for a gamble or a gambol. That’s what gazillionaire Jeff Bezos is doing: pushing boundaries in an 11-minute joyride into space (allegedly), just after Mercury sextiles Uranus at 5:37 AM ET on…

TUESDAY. The flight crew includes Jeff and his younger brother, along with the 82-year-old pilot, Wally Funk, and an 18-year-old physics student who got to hitch a ride after an anonymous other gazillionaire canceled his $28 million ticket, due to a scheduling conflict. As one does. Transiting Mars will be opposing Bezos’ Venus; the Sun will be opposing his Mars. Clearly, he’s feeling energized, as evidenced by the shape of his big giant space rocket. It should surprise no one that Wally Funk has the Sun at 12 Aquarius square Uranus at 13 Taurus. She’s having her Uranus return, which is often experienced as liberating. Funk was barred from NASA’s all-male astronaut corps in the ’60s because of her gender. Check out what we know of her horoscope here. Meanwhile, the day’s Sagittarius Moon is stabilized by a trine (harmony) with Saturn, exact at 11:31 AM ET. Let that help you make productive use of your high-flying ambition.
WEDNESDAY: Note your dreams, as Moon squares wiggy Neptune at 7:08 AM ET. A trine to Mars at 10:05 AM ET helps channel your visions into action. Moon goes void on a trine to Venus at 6:25 PM ET. Venus is at the very end of Leo, almost conjunct the fixed star Regulus, as well as the former guy’s 29 Leo ASC. We’ll talk more about that in a minute. Point is, honor and reputation may make headlines this evening — and not just his. After a 10-minute void, Moon enters Capricorn, driven to Make Things Happen. It gets a big cheer from Jupiter at 7:41 PM ET–RAH! At 8:36 PM ET, Venus exits Leo for Virgo, where she will stay until August 16th. Venus refers to who, what, and how we need to love; Virgo can be in a constant quest for perfection. It’s the “quest” part that led to the conventional astrological wisdom that cosmetic surgery is ill-advised when Venus is in Virgo. How can it ever be satisfied, when it’s so keenly aware of every little “fault?”
THURSDAY: Generosity to a fault may be on deck in the morning, as Venus opposes cosmic sugar daddy Jupiter at 8:44 AM ET. This is the pattern I’m sure Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week is reflecting. Don’t worry — be happy — especially with the Sun leaving Cancer for fun-loving Leo at 10:26 AM ET. Use today’s Capricorn Moon for the purpose of achievement, inspired by trine to innovative Uranus, exact at 6:25 PM ET. Time to reach across the aisle for the sake of humanity. There’s plenty of room for everyone to shine. OMG, that sounds like a commercial for the Olympics, which start tomorrow, with no spectators amid scores of cases of Covid.
FRIDAY: Get it done in the early morning, East Coasters. The Capricorn Moon goes void on a conjunction to Pluto at 12:34 PM ET, perhaps revisiting last weekend’s power play or purge. West Coasters, your business day may be a bust, as the Moon will be void between 12:34 PM ET and 8:12 PM ET. Start the weekend early if you can, or stick to routine concerns if you can’t play. Roll with whatever twists and flakes crop up during the void and CHILL! Moon enters Aquarius at 8:12 PM ET, looking to network with its besties. Emotions are on the rise, and the Full Moon will be exact at 10:36 PM ET. Let the Games begin!

Here’s what the Full Moon looks like, set in Washington, D.C.:

Observations:

Aquarius refers to humanity and what’s best for the greatest good. Leo refers to personal ego recognition and the divine right of kings. A Full Moon in Aquarius illuminates this inherent conflict. A regal entity willing and able to serve the people would be fine right about now.
In this horoscope the humanitarian Aquarius Moon is besieged; i.e., trapped between the corporate Powers That Be Pluto and tech bro Saturn.
Neptune is conjunct the Ascendant, suggesting an aura of possible magic, mysticism, vision, scandal, fog, and/or wipeout.
Mercury is trine Neptune, suggesting inspired vision or magical thinking. You decide.
Mercury is opposing Pluto, suggesting plenty of news from underground will be illuminated over the next two weeks.
It’s interesting that the 19 Pisces ASC-19 Virgo DSC corresponds to President Biden’s Midheaven-IC.
It’s interesting that the 24 Sagittarius MC corresponds to VP Kamala Harris’ 24 Gemini ASC-24 Sag DSC.
It’s interesting that Mars is conjunct the Mars in the former guy’s horoscope; Saturn opposes his Pluto; Neptune squares his Sun and Moon.
The Sabian Symbols for this Full Moon were last encountered in May 2020, when Saturn turned retrograde. Here’s what we are revisiting: for the Moon at 2 Aquarius: “an unexpected thunderstorm,” which Sabian Symbol Sage Blaine Bovee suggests may be experienced as heavy rains turning an adobe hut into mud. “Man plans; God laughs” would also be apt.
The Symbol for the Sun at 2 Leo: “an epidemic of mumps.” Yes, really. Again with the epidemic. “Mask mandates are back,” and with good reason. And if the headlines aren’t convincing enough to take the Covid resurgence seriously, here’s Stephen Colbert. Bovee advises us to watch for:

Things that spread rapidly, upsetting normal expectations…something that seems too good to be true probably is. Watch for immunity to current fads; cathartic turns of events; knowing when to be quiet…”

…and so forth. I think his advice is well-taken, with respect to headlines in the mundane world. I recommend Bovee’s fascinating book on Sabian Symbols.
This Full Moon activates The Great Mutation of December 21, 2021 — i.e., the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction at 0 Aquarius. What was going on back then may come up again, and let the record show that the Full Moon will square the 0 Taurus Sun and Moon of Queen Elizabeth and President Biden, respectively.

Back to the forecast for the week:

SATURDAY: Mercury trines Neptune at 12:34 PM ET. How has it sparked your imagination over the past few days? Focus on ways to make it real, as the Aquarius Moon meets up with Saturn at 2:24 PM ET. If you experienced that as a wet blanket, as opposed to constructive criticism, know that a rebellious break is on the way. Moon squares (rebel) Uranus at 8:42 PM ET, shaking up the status quo. I expect plenty of rewards for investigative reporters, as Mercury opposes Pluto on…
SUNDAY: …at 4:14 PM ET. What is revealed may spark conflict, in sync with Moon opposing Mars at 7:13 PM ET. Chill during the ensuing void. At 11:29 PM ET, Moon gets focused and into its feelings when it enters soulful Pisces.

A pause…

…while we acknowledge the active presence of Eris in current planetary weather. In astrology, Eris is a minor planet that was discovered in 2005. Eris moves at a snail’s pace, from our perspective on Spaceship Earth. Don’t get me started on a rant about the stupid astrology I stumbled across on a tragically hip ezine, helpfully explaining what it might mean if you had Eris in Taurus or Cancer. No one under the age of 95 has Eris in any sign but Aries. Got that? That’s how slow Eris is, from our point of view!!

In mythology, Eris is known as the Goddess of Discord. Chaos is her middle name, but the havoc she wreaks is not random. Eris represents the outrage of those who perceive they don’t have a seat at the table. It is the “have-nots” rising up against the perceived “haves.” Eris was conjunct rebel Uranus in 2017. From 2021 through 2022, Eris will be squared by Pluto. This amplifies the potential for efforts to overthrow the status quo for the sake of acquiring power, as seen in a news outlet near you. I’ll wager it also amplifies the havoc Mother Nature is currently wreaking in the form of fires, floods, famine, etc. If you have a planet around 23 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn, you are more personally affected by the ruthless and crusading needs of Eris. Bernie Sanders has Eris on Mars at 23 Aries. The former guy has Eris squaring his Venus-Saturn conjunction in Cancer.

We should also acknowledge the action of Chiron, the Wounded Healer. It’s almost halfway through its sojourn in Aries, moving at a faster pace than Eris. Chiron turned retrograde last week at almost 13 degrees of Aries, which means if you have a planet or points —and especially the Sun or Ascendant —at 12 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn, Chiron has been challenging it since May —and will continue to do so into September. A friend of mine has an affected Sun, and they’ve been experiencing an illness that has baffled their physicians. The United States’ Sun is 13 Cancer, and I see this Chiron square to the Sun as another pattern suggesting a psychic wound we are struggling to heal. Chiron won’t get to 13 Cancer until April 2022 — we’ll see if the U.S. has a healing crisis then.

Anyhoo.

The news.

Last week’s big patterns included Sun trine Neptune (spirits, dreams, refugees, the surreal, water, oceans, oil, drugs, subterfuge, fog) and Sun opposing Pluto (power plays, corruption exposed, news from underground).

“Revealed: leak uncovers global abuse of cyber-surveillance weapons,” in which authoritarian regimes targeted activists, politicians, and journalists. The Israeli company that sells the software insists it is “only intended for use against criminals and terrorists,” perhaps not fully comprehending that an authoritarian regime might not care about a spyware company’s “intention.”
“Lost lives; lost culture: the forgotten history of indigenous boarding schools” in North America
A Texas federal judge declares the Obama-era’s DACA program illegal. DACA “prevents the deportation of immigrants who were brought to the US unlawfully as children, known as “Dreamers”. The Justice Dept. will appeal.
“How about a concierge for your spiritual life?” It’s the latest amenity in high-end developments, reports the NYT.
Elsewhere in the same paper of record: “Los Angeles goes to war with itself over homelessness.“
“This Anglo-Saxon cave dwelling may have been home to an English king who became a saint.“ Yes, he was a floor wax and a dessert topping.
“His voice silenced for years, a man can now communicate using only the electrical impulses from his brain”
NASA says the moon’s wobble will shift in 30 years — increasing the occurrence of floods.
This one was so lovely on a day with the Sun in caring Cancer, trine healing Neptune: “Missouri Inmates Sew Custom Quilts For Foster Children: ‘It Kind Of Breaks Your Heart’”
95-year old message in a bottle found at the bottom of the ocean; finder locates message writer’s daughter via the internet. The message writer was born with Eris in Pisces and he is no longer among the living.
“Home renovation leads to discovery of 150 bowling balls under porch”
“Equatorial Guinea’s oil minister allegedly siphons off millions from public construction project”
“Majority of COVID misinformation came from just 12 people, study finds”
“Kremlin papers appear to show Putin’s plot to put former guy in the White House” This is an amazing story. It affirms everything some hoped The Mueller Report would do, but it’s so on the nose, that there’s reason to be skeptical that the leaked papers are for real.
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE: we anticipated significant revelations impacting the former guy’s status last week, and what we saw was a spate of tell-all books, including headlines like “Top US general warned of ‘Reichstag moment’ in former guy’s last turbulent days.“
Another expose: “Ken Starr, Brett Kavanaugh, Jeffrey Epstein & Me”— written by a “former partisan” and an extramarital flame of Starr’s. Next April, transiting Chiron will be at 13 Aries, squaring Starr’s 13 Capricorn Ascendant. Transiting Pluto will be opposing his Sun-Saturn conjunction at 28 Cancer, while at the same time, squaring Epstein’s natal Saturn, even as transiting Saturn will be conjunct Kavanaugh’s 23 Aquarius Sun. It should be an uncomfortable period for all three of them, and perhaps there will be further connections revealed.

What’s going on in your horoscope in April 2022? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. I should be all caught up with emails by the end of the day tomorrow.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Happy birthday to all Leo kings and queens

Tuesday 7/13/2021: Sneak Peek at the Week; Fiery Passion; Sublime Power Plays

July 13, 2021/0 Comments/in The Forecast /by Elisabeth Grace

It’s Monday and the Leo Moon has been void-of-course since 8:37 AM ET. That’s your explanation for any sense you may have of time moving slowly, or of a lack of focus. If you are new to this Forecast (welcome!), and unfamiliar with the term “Mo0n void,” the short form is to stick to routine, roll with twists, flakes, and scheduling changes, and don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.

Void or not, in Leo, the Moon drives the day with a need for drama, play, and creativity. This is my favorite headline so far:

“Creativity may be key to healthy aging. Here’s how to stay inspired.”

This week, there are only three exact planetary patterns that do not include the Moon. The first one is the conjunction between Venus and Mars in love love love Leo. Hopefully, you put that to good use over the weekend by setting aside time to enjoy yourself. Yes? The other two patterns are a trine (harmony) between the Cancer Sun and Neptune (exact on Thursday), and the Sun’s annual opposition with Pluto (exact on Saturday). The latter suggests power plays involving corporations and heads of state and news from underground. Coming on the heels of Thursday’s Sun-Neptune trine, we’ll add themes of drugs, oil, toxins, oceans, healing, mysticism, idealism, and fantasy to whatever intensity the weekend brings.

TUESDAY: Moon enters Virgo at 4:30 AM ET, ready to organize, discern and make things right. It’s infused with a grand sense of enthusiasm and empathy, courtesy of an opposition to Jupiter at 7 AM ET — and it’s quite a different wake-up call from Monday’s. Getting the word out about how things feel and how people should be cared for is supported by a sextile between the Moon and Mercury (in Cancer). Minutes later, at 9:32 AM ET, Venus and Mars finally connect. The Sabian Symbol for their meet-up is “the Zuni worshippers,” and we last saw this symbol activated on the Full Moon in February 2020.” Zuni sun worshippers” refers to a small Native American tribe in western New Mexico. ‘Sun worship’ in an arid region is inseparable from the need for water, says Sabian Sage Blain Bovee. He also says that the Zuni believe there are “two types of men: sun-baked and un-baked,” and that the Zuni language is not related to any other Native American language. “It is as if it were created from divine communication.” In the headlines, we might see stories of “genius that finds the sacred everywhere…listening for unique language; messages of relief precipitated by intense, burning reverence.” Also: “a strong sense of community” or “intense extremes…red-necked bigotry…affinities for a host of world-religion motifs.” In your own personal world, we are advised to pay close attention to our intuition and messages that seem to come from out of the blue but may be quite profound. You are more personally affected by the Venus-Mars conjunction if you have planets around 20 degrees of Leo, Taurus, Aquarius, and Scorpio. Pay attention!
WEDNESDAY: Moon in Virgo marches on, taking care of details and setting things in order. Reach across the aisle in the morning and afternoon, aided by the Moon’s trine with Uranus at 6:24 AM ET, as well as a cooperative sextile to the Sun at 9:46 PM ET. Evening hours are fine for a dreamy or musical escape, as Moon opposes Neptune at 10:16 PM ET. We may also be hearing some seriously surreal spin tonight.
THURSDAY: A slow start to the morning would not be surprising. Moon goes void at 2:46 AM ET on a trine to Pluto. During the void, Sun trines Neptune at 4:48 AM ET. Note your dreams! Moon enters Libra at 10:31 AM ET, seeking fairness and balance in relationships. Moon cruises through most of the day without interference until 10:09 PM ET, when the Moon’s rational Libra approach is challenged by Mercury in Cancer’s charged emotions.
FRIDAY: Quiet before the storm? The day begins with a trine between the Libra Moon and Saturn in Aquarius. That’s helpful for stability, structure, and control. There are no other exact aspects among the planets for the rest of the day.
SATURDAY: Busy, busy — with depth, feeling, and empowerment. If your Friday night date lasts until Saturday morning, the Moon’s sextile to Mars and Venus at 1:04 AM ET and 5:03 AM ET facilitates smooth operators. This may be followed by friction — for better or for worse — as the Libra Moon squares the Sun at 6:10 AM ET, and then squares Pluto at 7:03 AM ET. Chill for the next seven hours, as the Moon will be void until 2:38 PM ET. No impulse shopping, if you please, as purchases made during Moon voids often do not live up to expectations.
SATURDAY: at 2:38 PM ET, Moon enters Scorpio, seeking depth and substance for the sake of power and control. A trine to Jupiter in soulful Pisces at 4:22 PM ET may soften the edge of the Scorpio Moon, combined with the exact opposition between Pluto and the Sun at 6:46 PM ET. Alternatively, it may be reflected by a headline about a power play of a notably large size. Jupiter represents the energy of expansion.
SUNDAY: News of with a dose of gravitas, perhaps, as the Scorpio Moon trines Mercury at 9:12 AM ET and squares Saturn at 9:44 AM ET. Avid Readers will recall that right now, we’re in a pattern where the gravitas of Saturn is soon followed by a shake-up because the Moon’s next stop is to Uranus at 2:59 PM ET (it’s an opposition).

And now, the news.

Richard Branson clearly took the weekend’s potential for maximum playtime over to heart. The gazillionaire entrepreneur made it into space in his own plane after seventeen years of research and development. You can hitch a ride on one of his planes for $250,000, as over 600 people have reportedly signed up to do. Here is Branson’s horoscope, and obviously it is hot. His Cancer Sun is currently opposed by transiting Pluto, suggesting empowerment. His Virgo Moon is opposed by transiting Jupiter, suggesting expansion. He has a Moon-Jupiter opposition in his natal chart, reflected by a need for GREAT-ness. He was born with Pluto conjunct his regal 14 Leo Ascendant, and he certainly does project an aura of kingly power and resources. Currently, his Ascendant is being opposed by transiting Saturn and squared by transiting Uranus, suggesting 1) an ambitious public debut; and 2) a fresh start. His Venus in Gemini will be exactly squared by transiting Neptune next year, suggesting a need for a romantic and/or creative ideal. Looking at the “big bells” in his horoscope for the next several years, it seems he has nowhere to go but up.

Not everyone was impressed, and the Columbia Journalism Review had a few things to say about how the media covers “the privatization of space.” Jeff Bezos is next on the launchpad with his own toy rocketship, and Elon Musk is already out there. Astro-logically, we can see these “space barons” as another reflection of the 12/21/2020 Great Mutation of Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius. Success over the next 200 years will be had by those who rule the air. For the past 200 years, success has been had by those who exploited the earth.

Meanwhile…

It was interesting, on Thursday’s New Moon in Cancer, to see Bernie Sanders interviewed by NYT columnist Maureen Dowd in her weekly missive. The column has a photo of Bernie holding up a list of talking points that pertain to his efforts to pass “the most consequential piece of legislation for working families since the 1930s.” Family, home, and nourishment are big Cancerian concerns.

In Cuba, people took to the streets in the largest protests in decades. “‘Everyone has a tipping point.’ Hunger fuels Cuba’s Protests”

On a day with Mercury (communication) at the Aries Point (demanding prominence), it was apt to see this story in Sunday’s New York Times Magazine. How do they know how to commission these articles that will be in sync with planetary patterns at the time they are published?

“The Man Behind China’s Aggressive New Voice: How one bureaucrat, armed with just a Twitter account, remade Beijing’s diplomacy for a nationalistic era.” Prominent communication indeed!

In other news, it was good news for the publishing industry on a day with Mercury at the Aries Point trine Jupiter:

“Print Book Sales Soared in the U.S. in the First Half of 2021″

As I type, Democrats in the Texas State Legislature are holding a press conference at Dulles Airport. During today’s drama queen Moon in Leo, they “fled” their home state today in an effort to prevent their colleagues in the opposing party from passing laws that would further suppress voting rights in the Lone Star State. Will their Moon-void exodus come to naught? We shall see, but tomorrow, when the Moon is in Virgo (a sign that needs to be correct and insightful), President Biden will give a speech in Philadelphia in which he is “expected to call out the Big Lie and to talk about ‘actions to protect the sacred, constitutional right to vote,’” (as Heather Cox Richardson explains in her latest Letter about other Moon in Leo dramas that happened over the past two days).

What’s going on in your horoscope? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. Special shout-out to Avid Reader Linda, whose Joyful Random Expression of Appreciation was received with much gratitude by my Cosmic Tip Jar. Thank you, Linda, from the bottom of my heart. May your generosity be returned to you in kind one thousandfold.

And finally, here’s Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Happy Venus conjunct Mars in Leo.

Friday 7/9/2021 & the Weekend: Venus in the Spotlight; New Moon in Cancer

July 9, 2021/0 Comments/in The Forecast /by Elisabeth Grace

…and we’re back.

The Moon is in Cancer, driving the past two days with a need for emotional and home/homeland security. Talking about feelings and other heart-to-heart experiences are supported. If there’s no one around to talk with, fix yourself a nice meal at home –whatever makes you feel nourished and nurtured.

We are in the balsamic phase of the lunar cycle — i.e., a dead Moon. Time to wrap up projects from the current cycle and contemplate your intentions for the next one. The New Moon in Cancer happens at 9:16 PM ET. But before we talk about that, let’s review the week so far.

Last week, Mars in Leo drove the headlines, first opposing Saturn and then squaring Uranus (militant controls, followed by disruption). This week, Venus in Leo followed in Mars’ footsteps, opposing Saturn on Tuesday at 10:36 PM ET, and squaring Uranus on Thursday at 3:25 PM ET. Venus refers to money, values, women, and aesthetics. In opposition with Saturn, we expect stories about controls, cuts and losses, women of steel, art, and commerce. Squaring Uranus, we expect stories of unconventional women and volatility in the markets, for starters. For example:

“Scripps Spelling Bee 2021: Zaila Avant-garde becomes first African-American winner” Uranus invented the avant-garde, and of course, Zaila is female. This has to be one of my favorite headlines ever. Astrology is amazing!
“Microchip manicures turn your nails into business cards.” See? Innovation, technology, beauty, women, business. Why is this story making news now? Amazing!
Perfectly timed, from Forbes: “50 women over 50 who are making an impact”
Uranus in Taurus reflects disruptions in retail, brick-and-mortar stores, and ownership of tangible goods (which is why renting has become so popular in recent years). Saturn reflects reality. “Renting clothes is worse than just throwing them away.” Darn!
Uranus in Taurus has been disrupting foodstuffs and supply chains: “Beyond Meat is bringing back its alt-meat chicken”
“If You’re Struggling With Money, Read This”— a reality check from NPR the day after Tuesday morning’s delusional Mercury-Neptune square.
My next favorite, originally posted after the first surreal Mercury-Neptune square in June, but making another round on Twitter the day after the third one: “Why do we turn to the word ‘surreal’ during disasters?”
This New Yorker piece was published in 2016, but REturned for a REvisit on July 5th, just two days before Mercury came out of its retrograde shadow: “What are the odds we’re living in a computer simulation?”
“Biden administration announces it will remove the Hyde Amendment,” releasing funds and removing controls on women’s health
Most-viewed story on The Guardian’s homepage at the moment: “Vanessa Kirby and Katherine Waterson’s frontier romance (The World to Come)”
Uranus refers to aviation. “Hijack thriller Falling draws upon author’s experience as a flight attendant”. This eagerly awaited book has made headlines on a Uranus transit more than once over the past year. Coincidence or conspiracy?

A pause, while we consider the forecast for today’s (Friday’s) New Moon and the rest of the week. Light a candle, make a list, and set your intentions for the next lunar cycle. The New Moon happens at 9:16 PM ET.

The Moon functions well in Cancer, the sign it rules. Here it seeks to fulfill a need for emotional/homeland security (as I said before). Y’know, core foundational concerns. Are you standing on solid ground? Where is your home? Tell me about your family, your mother, your ancestors. How are you being nourished and nurtured? How are you nurturing others?

Here is the New Moon, set in Washington, D.C.:

Observations:

The 0 Aquarius Ascendant corresponds to the 0 Aquarius Great Mutation (Jupiter-Saturn conjunction on December 21, 2020). It squares President Biden’s 0 Taurus Moon, and I expected we’d see news reflecting the humanitarian, egalitarian values that are likely to prevail over the next 200 years. Guess what happened today? “Biden’s bid to take on big business sets off battle on who holds power in the U.S. economy.” File this under “U.S. Pluto Return,” too. The 0-degree Ascendant marks the beginning of something so new that it is impossible to know exactly how it will go. Much free will is at play here.
In other news, the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan feels like a very bad thing for women and children, but Heather Cox Richardson explains –without using a word of astrological jargon –how it’s an acknowledgment of the Great Mutation’s new paradigm. We’ve had 200 years of exploiting the earth, brick and mortar, and boots on the ground. That strategy doesn’t apply when one person with a mobile device can take out an entire network with the click of a cursor. We’re now in the Age of Air.
Venus is conjunct Mars in Leo, suggesting passionate alliances, for better or for worse
The Sun and Moon are in the 6th house, suggesting we’ll be seeing developments involving labor, public health (e.g., Covid), human relations, and systemic processes. New Moon forms a Grand Trine with the Midheaven and Neptune. I’m anticipating significant news about water (who has it and who doesn’t), oceans, drugs, fantasy, refugees, conspiracies, etc., etc.; i.e., all those Neptune things Avid Readers know so well.
The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is “a priest performing a marriage ceremony.” How interesting that it echoes the aforementioned Grand Trine among Neptune (spirits of all kind), Sun-Moon in Cancer (family), and the Midheaven (public status), as well as that fiery meet-up of Venus and Mars! Sabian Sage Blain Bovee notes that “the idea of marriage is greater than the sum of its parts, and wonders if this Symbol offers a contemplation on whether we are “mature enough to carry the load.” Does Biden’s cancellation (today) of $1.5 billion in student debt carried by victims of “for-profit school fraud” suggest an awareness of the pitfalls of expecting immature/unformed persons to take on such burdens? Bovee suggests we apply this Symbol with a mind to “the arithmetic of the situation, as in ‘does it all add up?’; incapacitated parents, caring for siblings; uplifting relationships, elevating status; assuming the responsibilities of others,” to name just a few.
You are more personally affected by this New Moon if you have planets or angles around 19 degrees of Aries, Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn. Events that commenced around January 10, 2020, maybe advanced in this lunar cycle. Consult your local astrologer for details.

Back to The Forecast for the weekend:

SATURDAY: Note your dreams in the morning, as the Cancer Moon trines Neptune at 7:10 AM ET. A power play or catharsis may arise around 12:09 PM ET, as the Moon opposes Pluto. Moon goes void for the next eight hours. Now is the time to CHILL, rest, stick to routine concerns. Roll with any twists and flakes, and don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. Resist the urge for impulse shopping, as purchases made during Moon voids often do not live up to expectations. Don’t just take it from me; try it for yourself and see. Moon enters Leo at 8:20 PM ET, looking for the nearest summer party, and if a BBQ or fireworks are involved, even better.
SUNDAY: more partying and passion, under the light of the love love love Leo Moon. Naturally, there will be drama kings and queens aplenty, looking to hog the stage. Meanwhile, communication, travel, and information demand our attention. Why? Because Mercury is at the Aries Point — this time at the very end of Gemini, one of its home signs. It enters Cancer at 4:35 PM ET, where it will be until July 27th. Mindset and communication become less intellectual, more intuitive. We’re sure to hear from Elizabeth Warren, Prince William, Barack Obama, and Adam Schiff within a day or so, as their horoscopes have planets at the Aries Point. However it feels is how it’s gonna go. A cold shoulder or serious focus weighs in around 6:32 PM ET, as Moon opposes Saturn. A rebellious pushback or shake-up or some other form of excitement is likely around 11:10 PM ET, as Moon squares Uranus.
MONDAY: the Leo Moon meets up with Venus at 7:13 AM ET, followed by a meet-up with Mars at 8:28 AM ET. Ooh la la, why not stay in bed for the entire day, as the Moon then goes void for the ENTIRE DAY. Moon voids suggest little consequences for no-shows, so no worries if you sleep in or cancel appointments. This long Moon void facilitates play — whatever allows to you to shine, shine, shine! Mercury trines Jupiter at 3:45 PM ET, so we may have big news about women, children, and emotional security in the courts or other Big Picture arena. Moon enters Virgo to clean up the Leo’s Moon’s confetti at 4:30 AM ET on TUESDAY. And for those who are wondering, Venus and Mars finally make their passionate connection at 9:32 AM ET on Tuesday. Enjoy enjoy enjoy until then.

More news…

UPDATE: on Pope Francis, who had colon surgery last week. This is not surprising, given the tension his 12 Aquarius Moon is under, recently squared by Saturn and Uranus, with more hits on the way this year. As Saturn retrogrades back through Aquarius, it will also conjoin Venus, ruler of his Midheaven (career status). We anticipate a streamlining or an ambitious advance in professional concerns.

Meanwhile…

If you haven’t seen the NYT’s 40-minute video timeline of the January 6th insurrection, you simply must, must, must.

In other news…

God Save the Queen…for allowing the public to picnic in her backyard for the first time ever. All hail Her Majesty’s Leo Moon!

Signs Venus and Mars are on their way to a hook-up in Leo:

You did get vaccinated, right? Covid cases are on the rise again (as anticipated), mostly among those who haven’t been vaccinated, and the Delta variant is particularly nasty and contagious. That’s the PSA portion of this forecast. Get vaccinated and even if you are vaccinated, don’t be so quick to take off your mask. I’m still wearing the fabulous handmade mask (pictured below) Avid Reader Marianne sent me several months ago. Maybe she can make one for you, too, if you contact her via her Etsy site.

And while we’re in a shopping mode, there’s a book Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick doesn’t want you to read — so much so that he is responsible for the cancellation of a book event at Bullock Texas State History Museum three and a half hours before it was supposed to start (thank you, militantly controlling Mars opposing Saturn). The book is Forget the Alamo, and I confess I didn’t know much about the Alamo, to begin with, so let Heather Cox Richardson explain it all for you. File it under the bonkers transit of Neptune squaring the U.S. Mars-Neptune square, combined with transiting Pluto opposing the U.S. Mercury (attempting to force a transformation of facts).

Ya learn something new every day, right?

What’s going on in your horoscope? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Here’s Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week, still in effect…

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Friday 7/2/2021 & the Long Holiday Weekend: It’s a Mars, Mars, Mars World…

July 3, 2021/0 Comments/in The Forecast /by Elisabeth Grace

TGIF!

Here’s a reminder of the forecast for this long holiday weekend in these United States:

FRIDAY: The Aries Moon’s crusading energy forges ahead, supported around noon ET by a sextile to clever Mercury in Gemini’s magical thinking. Humming in the background now is the buzz of the “other shoe” of this week’s assertive patterns: the rebellious Mars-Uranus square that pushes back against Thursday’s Mars-Saturn controls. Action on the social circuit this weekend may be especially daring and reckless, facilitating unconventional alliances. Not only that, but Venus entered Leo several days ago and is on its way to a hook-up with Mars, exact on the 13th, but close enough to be flirty, right about now. Emotional power plays and catharses are likely as the clock approaches midnight on…
SATURDAY: …as the Aries Moon clashes with Pluto at 12:14 AM ET. Chill during the 8-hour Moon void. At 8:27 AM ET, the Moon enters Taurus and seeks to establish material comfort and security. Innovative sensual delights are supported around 12 PM ET, courtesy of a sextile between Moon and Jupiter at 12:19 PM ET. Mars and Uranus finally square off at 9:39 PM ET; if you’re around fireworks, do be extra-careful, as Mars-Uranus patterns often “coincide” with accidents and explosions. They also coincide with innovation and excitement. With the Moon in Taurus, which seeks to preserve the status quo, perhaps the potential for dramatic upsets should be diminished.
SUNDAY: Happy Birthday to the US of A. Moon in Taurus seeks simple pleasures, though its need for security may be disrupted around noon, as Moon meets up with Uranus at 12:40 PM ET and squares Mars in drama queen Leo at 1:28 PM ET. The rest of the night is quite lovely for bringing people of all walks of life together, true to the upside potential of the Aquarius Moon in the horoscope of the United States. There are no exact aspects to the Moon after 1:28 PM ET, but the communicative flow of Monday’s sextile between the Sun and Uranus should be reflected in the evening’s celebrations.
MONDAY: Note your dreams, as the Taurus Moon sextiles Neptune at 7:29 AM ET. Moon goes void on a trine to investigative Pluto at 12:56 PM ET. Sun sextiles Uranus at 3:29 PM ET, facilitating unconventional alliances, innovations in technology, and leadership. Chill for the next eight hours. Moon enters Gemini at 9:23 PM ET, perhaps moving about the country on its way home from a holiday escape. Pay attention while in transit, as Mercury (how we need to think) is about to make its third exact square to Neptune, which may muddle our mindset, make us gullible, and cloud our sense of direction. On the upside, it’s a fine time for dreams and making music.
TUESDAY: Mercury squares Neptune at 3:39 AM ET, so take slow if you’re getting back into work mode. The Gemini Moon is seeking information and entertainment but may drive the day with a wandering focus.

And now, the news.

Really, if you’ve ever doubted that the astonishing synchronicity of planetary patterns and the news is a Very Real Thing, the headlines this week should convince you for all eternity. The driving factor was Mars in drama queen Leo, as it militantly opposed controlling Saturn on Thursday, followed by its rebellious and explosive square to Uranus, exact on Saturday night. Humming in the background is the dreamy or delusional square between Mercury and Neptune. Ready? We anticipated men getting away with murder, militant controls, explosive action, accidents in aviation, and magical thinking. We were right to anticipate, as you can see:

Accused serial rapist Bill Cosby “suddenly released” from prison, his conviction overturned on a legal technicality, after serving three years of a ten-year sentence. Yes, the 84-year-old former con is having his Uranus return which does suggest liberation, and his Uranus is at 13 Taurus, activated this week by Mars.
“Boy Scouts of America reach $850m agreement with sexual abuse victims”
“Judge denies Britney Spears’ request to end father’s conservatorship” (Mars opposes Saturn). Follow-up headline: “Financial Management Firm Drops Out of Spears’ Conservatorship” (Mars squares Uranus)
“Donald Rumsfeld, Former Defense Secretary, and Accused War Criminal, Dead at 88.” That obit in Teen Vogue raised more than one pair of eyebrows.
“U.S. Leaves Last Afghan Base, Effectively Ending Operations.”
“Auto-Scrap Billionaire Pays to Send South Dakota National Guard to Patrol Southern Border” Heather Cox Richardson has more on this story.
“Flying Cars Will Be A Reality by 2030” –whether you want them or not.
“Air Force Academy distributes They Called Us Enemies,” a graphic memoir by Star Trek icon George Takei
“Hundreds of American business hit by ransomware attack“
“Swimming caps for natural black hair ruled out of the Olympic Games,” because it does not fit “the natural shape of the head.” I hope this Mars-Saturn rule gets blown up by late Saturday when Mars squares Uranus…or at least by next week when Venus does.
“17 injured, including 10 LAPD officers, as seized illegal fireworks are detonated in bomb truck“
“Firestorm in British Columbia helps spark 710,000 bolts of lightning”
“Eye of fire: gas leak sparks huge blaze on surface of the ocean in Gulf of Mexico”
“Boeing 737 cargo pilots rescued after emergency landing off coast of Hawaii”
Record-breaking star is size of the moon, has mass of the sun
Tesla erupts in flames and briefly traps owner after electric doors fail
AG Merrick Garland suspends federal executions
“Gender markers on U.S. passports are changing; it’s ‘huge’ for non-binary and trans people”

Are you noticing a pattern here?

Astrology is amazing.

UPDATE: on the June 22 primary elections in NYC, in which I served as a poll worker, as you may recall. Who schedules an election on a day when the Moon is void for half the day and Mercury turns direct on a square to Neptune? “Confusion Is Winning the Race for Mayor: race thrown into chaos when test results were counted by mistake.” Ya think?

UPDATE: on Allen Weisselberg, who was called out in this forecast on June 14 as Someone To Watch, as his Saturn-Pluto conjunction at 13 Leo is affected by the disruptive Saturn-Uranus conjunction, triggered this week by transiting Mars. “Prosecutors allege 15-year tax fraud scheme as former guy Organization and CFO Weisselberg arraigned on multiple criminal charges.” Remember that the next significant hit for the former guy’s horoscope is July 10th, and it is likely to affect finances, documents, family, real estate, professional status, and reputation.

In other news…

The Supreme Court handed down provocative (Mars) decisions that favored authoritarian controls (Saturn). These are examples of the power struggles suggested in the U.S. horoscope as it faces its first Pluto return.

“John Roberts takes aim at the Voting Rights Act and political money disclosures, again”

Let Heather Cox Richardson explain why we have all been here before, as in the year 1890 . At that time, there was a rare Neptune-Pluto conjunction in Gemini, squared by Saturn in Virgo. This could have been experienced as brutal and surreal in general, and with respect to the U.S. horoscope, these patterns challenged its Uranus, intensifying that potential.

In a second post, HCR reports the latest effort by extremely short-sighted politicians to make it harder for U.S. citizens to kick the fossil fuel habit. This can be seen as a reflection of Neptune turning retrograde (a spotlight on oil and petroleum). It’s also a reflection of those who are still attached to the 200-year-old business model of making a living by literally exploiting (drilling and mining) the Earth. The new business model is literally Air, symbolized by the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Aquarius (an Air sign) on the last Winter Solstice. The U.S. Pluto return is in Capricorn. Pluto refers to things underground and power; Capricorn refers to corporations, governments, and mines. This is a significant battle that could make or break us. Clear?

Fighting for Team Air: “Global Tax Overhaul Backed by 130 Countries”

Meanwhile, an ExxonMobil oil lobbyist was caught on tape naming 11 U.S. senators in both political parties considered to be “crucial” to ExxonMobil, while admitting that the company fights the science that sees climate change as an existential threat to humanity. This story aired on the UK’s Channel 4.

Team Air has its work cut out for it.

Finally, President Biden told reporters today he’d prefer to talk about “happy things.” It’s a holiday weekend, unemployment numbers are down, job numbers and the markets are up, and the U.S. has a birthday to celebrate. OK then! We’ll get back to all the depressing stuff on Tuesday, and make reading about it informative, entertaining — and hopefully motivating and inspiring. We live in such interesting times.

What are you doing for the holiday?

Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. Here’s the link to my world-famous Cosmic Tip Jar, to be activated by Avid Readers wishing to melt my heart.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Monday 6/28/2021: Sneak Peek at the Week; Mars in Focus

June 28, 2021/0 Comments/in The Forecast /by Elisabeth Grace

Alllll-righty then!

Did your Monday have a slow start, twist or flake? The Aquarius Moon went void Sunday at 3:07 PM ET, suggesting a longggg time to chill until 1:50 PM ET today. The Aquarius Moon was the perfect reflection of a spontaneous gathering of neighbors in the lobby last night, complete with an impromptu bottle of chilled rose. Longtime Avid Readers may remember the 2018 Mars retrograde drama regarding the fate of several towering maple trees in our building’s interior courtyard. Residents rallied; the trees were saved, and our community is all the better for it.

The maples in the courtyard now stand proudly in a newly planted garden, their leafy branches defending us against the scorching sun. Our next step is to install a few benches in the garden so residents can sit and enjoy the birds and waterfall in the open air, as opposed to looking longingly at it through the lobby window. It takes a village and an eternity to get things done in a New York co-op, as anyone familiar with New York co-ops will know. But eventually, it will get done!

Anyhoo…

This week, the only pattern involving planets other than the Moon is an opposition between Mars in Leo and Saturn in Aquarius on Thursday morning, followed by a square between Mars and rebel Uranus on Saturday night. Themes we’ll see in the news involve militant discipline, dogged persistence, stubborn endurance, assertive breakthroughs…not to mention cars, warriors, masculinity, athletes and technology, to name a few. Examples so far:

“USAA urged to drop ad support of Tucker Carlson after Fox host” insults military on his show; boycott is demanded.
“Toyota is top donor to Republican lawmakers who voted to overturn 2020 presidential election;” boycott is demanded.
“Carl Nassib becomes first openly gay player in the NFL,” and I’ll be writing about his horoscope for my next Mountain Astrologer column. Happy Pride Month!
“Supreme Court won’t hear dispute over bathrooms for transgender students“

You are more personally affected by this Mars-Saturn-Uranus configuration if you have planets around 12 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius. You may be feeling more combative, provoked and/or frustrated than usual, so choose your battles wisely.

Here’s how the week goes:

MONDAY: Moon enters Pisces at 1:50 PM ET, seeking to identify ideals, intangibles and the best place for a pedicure or a new pair of shoes. Pisces, rules the feet, doncha know, and a splurge may be instore around 5:33 PM ET, when Moon meets up with Jupiter.
TUESDAY: more Moon in Pisces, suggesting a generally easy flow of emotional and intuitive energy all day, save for that Mars-Saturn opposition humming in the background. Could feel like a “two steps forward, one step back” scenario, but after the Mars-Saturn block, Mars-Uranus suggests a breakthrough. At 10:59 PM ET, Moon squares Mercury, which is slowly getting back up speed and moving direct. However, mindset and communication –while seeking inspiration –is vulnerable to magical thinking and miscommunication, as Mercury is approaching its third and final clash with wiggy Neptune on July 6th. This is why, on…
WEDNESDAY: …the wee hours may feel cloudy or dreamy. Do note your dreams in the morning, as Neptune meets up with the Moon at 8:24 AM ET…and then goes void at 1:39 PM ET for the next 8 hours. Roll with the twists and flakes that may disrupt your efforts to move forward in a straight line, and do not make a mountain out of a molehill. Remember that crises which crop up during Moon voids are usually much ado about nothing. Stick to routine; avoid impulse shopping; work on your novel; go for a wander…and chill! At 9:21 PM ET, the mood is likely to palpably shift in tone, as the Moon charges into Aries, looking to get something started. Moon in Aries is too much of an idealist to appreciate that the Mars-Saturn opposition on…
THURSDAY: …at 9:08 AM ET may present blocks to Moon-in-Aries fearless initiative. Watch, as its me-first drive continues throughout the day, building to the Third Quarter Moon at 5:10 PM ET. Tension between the Cancer Sun’s homeland security energy and the crusading Aries Moon sparks action. Between 9 PM and 10 PM ET, action and authority combine forces, as the Moon sextiles Saturn and trines Mars.
FRIDAY: The Aries Moon’s crusading energy forges ahead, supported around noon ET by a sextile to clever Mercury in Gemini’s magical thinking. Humming in the background now is the buzz of the “other shoe” of this week’s assertive patterns: the rebellious Mars-Uranus square that pushes back against Thursday’s Mars-Saturn controls. Action on the social circuit this weekend may be especially daring and reckless, facilitating unconventional alliances. Not only that, but Venus entered Leo several days ago and is on its way to a hook-up with Mars, exact on the 13th, but close enough to be flirty, right about now. Emotional power plays and catharses are likely as the clock approaches midnight on…
SATURDAY: …as the Aries Moon clashes with Pluto at 12:14 AM ET. Chill during the 8-hour Moon void. At 8:27 AM ET, the Moon enters Taurus and seeks to establish material comfort and security. Innovative sensual delights are supported around 12 PM ET, courtesy of a sextile between Moon and Jupiter at 12:19 PM ET. Mars and Uranus finally square off at 9:39 PM ET; if you’re around fireworks, do be extra-careful, as Mars-Uranus patterns often “coincide” with accidents and explosions. They also coincide with innovation and excitement. With the Moon in Taurus, which seeks to preserve the status quo, perhaps the potential for dramatic upsets should be diminished.
SUNDAY: Happy Birthday to the US of A. Moon in Taurus seeks simple pleasures, though its need for security may be disrupted around noon, as Moon meets up with Uranus at 12:40 PM ET and squares Mars in drama queen Leo at 1:28 PM ET. The rest of the night is quite lovely for bringing people of all walks of life together, true to the upside potential of the Aquarius Moon in the horoscope of the United States. There are no exact aspects to the Moon after 1:28 PM ET, but the communicative flow of Monday’s sextile between the Sun and Uranus should be reflected the evening’s celebrations, hopefully looking a lot like Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week.

And now, the news (many of these picked up from the Guardian’s home page):

“California bans state-funded travel to five more states with anti-LGBTQ laws,” bringing the total of banned states to 17.
“Heat dome in Pacific Northwest breaks records,” with temperatures soaring into the triple digits. Mars in Leo suggests stubborn heat, though obviously that pattern alone isn’t reflecting the climate crisis. We got a wake-up call in the mid-60s with the Uranus-Pluto conjunction in Virgo. Our failure to respond forced a potential reckoning during the 2011-2016 series of seven Uranus-Pluto squares. Here are some past musings from January 2015 and March 2015. Let’s see how we’re doing in 2047, when Uranus and Pluto will be in opposition.
The Sunday NYT magazine was entirely devoted to stories about climate change.
“Revealed: Neo-confederate group includes military officers and politicians”
“Sydney McLaughlin shatters womens’ 400m hurdles world record at Olympic trials” Yes, and you should see her horoscope! She has an exact t-square among Sun, Mars and Uranus at 14 degrees of Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius — activated by transiting Mars, Saturn and Uranus this month and next!Birth date: August 7, 1999 in Dunellen, NJ — birth time unknown.
Breakthrough: NCAA to allow its athletes to “profit off their personal brand”
“All hell breaks loose” at Tour de France, with not one, but two massive crashes among the cyclists. Mon Dieu!
Mars refers to pain and the head. “Chronic pain sufferers have long been told it’s all in their head. Now we know that’s wrong.” Mars. Stubborn persistence. (With Saturn) Breakthough! (With Uranus).
“Skull found in China could be new species of human”
Top U.S. general (Mark Milley) got into shouting match with former guy, book reveals.
“Pelosi introduces resolution to investigate the January 6th insurrection.”
Without a birth time for former Attorney General Bill Barr, we can’t know for sure how his regal Leo Moon is being hit by transiting Mars, Saturn and Uranus, but it must be pretty close to 12 Leo, given his “shocking” revelation that he thought the former guy’s claims of election fraud were bullsh*t. Oh.

In the spirit of Mars being so hot in the cosmos, clearly it is time for me to walk a few miles to the local pitch and putt. Better to tee off than be tee’d off, right? We get to decide! Onward!

What’s going on in your horoscope? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Thank you for reading this forecast. And thanks especially to Avid Readers Marjorie, Stephen and Barbara, whose Joyful Random Expressions of Appreciation made my weekend extra sweet.

Altar of Ares in the ancient agora in Athens.

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