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 10/18/2021: Sneak Peek at the Week; Mercury & Jupiter Direct; Full Moon in Aries; Mars on the March

October 18, 2021/0 Comments/in The Forecast /by Elisabeth Grace

It’s Sunday night, and we’re in the middle of a long Moon void — this one in Pisces. Jupiter and Mercury are at virtual standstills, both preparing to turn direct tomorrow (Monday) at 1:30 AM ET and 11:16 AM ET, respectively. Planets at their stations (this is the technical term for a planet about to change direction) function like car horns blaring when leaning on by a driver. Matters they rule command attention and FOCUS. For Mercury, this is communication and information; for Jupiter, this is the law, education, sports, publishing, religion, travel, foreign affairs — and especially our collective belief systems.

Add to the mix three other patterns — all involving either Mars (action, aggression) or Pluto (power plays and catharses, news from underground — and all exact between today (Sunday) and Friday, and we really need to salute the NYT for today’s front-page story: “90 Seconds of Rage on the Capitol Steps.” It’s a meticulously researched FOCUS on a concentrated span of time, with plenty of investigative dirt and connections dug up. True to the spirit of Sunday’s Pisces Moon, the article ends on a note of tears and empathy. Astrology is amazing — and the NYT gets five stars for once again being in sync with planetary patterns.

Here’s how the week goes:

MONDAY: Jupiter turns direct at 1:30 AM ET, activating the horoscopes of anyone with planets at 23 degrees of Aquarius, Scorpio, Taurus, and Leo. We can expect Mitch McConnell to be expansively controlling, and Justice Brett Kavanaugh to simply be expansive, for better or worse. Jupiter moving forward suggests exactly that in real life: projects that have been frustrated or stymied finally getting a go. For a clue to how things will be moving, we look to the Sabian Symbol for 23 Aquarius: “a big bear sitting down and waving all its paws.” Sabian Symbol sage Blain Bovee alerts us to a powerful surge of creativity that may be harnessed if we stay centered and seated on a bumpy ride. Watch for ways to bring grace to raw power, and otherwise bring beauty to the beast (says Bovee). It may be helpful to look back at the Full Moon of August 2019, which also activated this Sabian Symbol. Whatever was illuminated then may be expanded upon now.
MONDAY: a day driven by Moon in me-me-me Aries is certainly up for a powerful surge of creativity, especially if it gets something started — not now, but RIGHT NOW. Adding to the urge to surge — sort of — is a harmony (a trine) between Mars (action!) and Jupiter (expansion!), exact at 10:36 PM ET. But with both Mercury and Jupiter at a standstill, I’m not sure how far we’ll get — at least today. The former guy is supposed to be sitting for a deposition, and rumor has it that the Freedom to Vote Act will actually get a vote in the Senate. In your own personal world, pay attention to words, directions, and technology. FOCUS! You are more personally affected by Mercury today if you have a planet around 11 Libra, Capricorn, Cancer, or Pluto. That would include Rachel Maddow, Piers Morgan, and Hungary — watch the wires. The Sabian Symbol for Mercury’s change of direction is “a professor peering over his glasses,” setting us up for a contest between brute (bearish? beastly?) executive willpower vs. refined studied knowledge. The Aries Moon’s crusade is steadied by a sextile (cooperative connection) to Saturn, exact at 7:14 PM ET.
TUESDAY: Moon opposes Mercury at 1:25 AM ET, sparking illumination on opposing sides. Something’s got to give, and perhaps the early morning will get off to a sweet start, as the Aries Moon trines Venus at 6:39 AM ET. The rest of the day is driven by the Moon’s desire to get up to speed — without any interference from the other kids in the sandbox. Emotions are on the rise, reflected by the waxing Moon, which will be full on…
WEDNESDAY: …at 10:56 AM ET, after a volatile early morning. Moon opposes Mars at 2:28 AM ET and squares Pluto at 4:55 AM ET. This is intense physical energy seeking an outlet — and a sneak peek of the weather just after midnight on Friday when Mars squares Pluto. Get to the gym; go for a run; find a constructive way to work off steam. These patterns are better suited for projects you’re working on by yourself, especially with that Aries Moon! Once the Moon is exactly full — right on VP Kamala Harris’s own Aries Moon and Libra Sun — the Moon goes void for the next five hours. Whatever blazing crisis crops up during the void may be much ado about nothing. Roll with the twists and flakes; avoid impulse shopping and CHILL. When the Moon enters Taurus at 3:58 PM ET, the need is to steady the energetic flow in an effort to maintain material comfort and security. The caveat is that Mars-Pluto square humming in the background. This can be a brutal expression of power (over others) and echoes the two Sabian Symbols that were in focus on Monday. At 7:56 PM ET, wish our VP a happy solar return (and good luck over the next several days, as Mars squares her Sun and Moon). Here is Kamala Harris’ horoscope.

Here is the chart for the Aries Full Moon, set in Washington, D.C.:

Obeservations:

A Full Moon in me-me-me Aries challenges the we-we-we energy of the Libra Sun. Why is so-and-so so darn selfish and why can’t we just compromise and be done with it? Or: why is so-and-so so wishy-washy? Make a decision, already! The need for freedom of creative self-expression jumps out at me in this chart, driven to extremes of action by its recent contact with Mars, Pluto — and Eris, too. Matters of children and conception may also be brought to light.
In addition to the horoscope of Kamala Harris, this Full Moon activates Pluto in the U.S. horoscope (already under stress by its impending Pluto Return in early 2022). It offers further illumination on money and power behind the scenes, especially in government institutions. The Nodes fall on President Biden’s 3 Sagittarius Ascendant, suggesting challenging relationships and associations, and Saturn is minutes away from its third and final opposition to his Pluto (exact on Halloween). These patterns feel confining, but remember that patterns in his horoscope in December suggest expansion.
The Sabian Symbols for this Full Moon are, for the Aries Moon: “a large disappointed audience;” and for the Libra Sun: “A man in the midst of brightening influences.” We are advised to manage our expectations with a dose of realism — and perhaps be pleasantly surprised by a gift from out of the blue. Echoing patterns in the Full Moon horoscope that suggest a need for freedom of creative self-expression, Blain Bovee suggests that rewards may come to those who demonstrate an uncompromising sense of self. Hmm. For better or worse? Pay attention to what is heard — anything to do with audio, sound, listening, and hearings. Trust that life is full of ups and downs, and that whatever is down this week may not be there for long.

Back to the weekly forecast:

THURSDAY: a potential cut, loss, or authoritative advance in the morning, as the Taurus Moon is squared by streamlining Saturn at 5:44 AM ET. Get up and get to work — but watch yourself in traffic and large crowds, given that impending Mars-Pluto square. Some people are simply spoiling for a fight (here’s looking at YOU, former guy). Choose your battles with care. At 6:27 PM ET, Moon meets up with rebel Uranus, offering pushback against the controls of the early morning. Again — be mindful of volatility, shocks, and upsets that may be especially ruthless (thanks, Mars-Pluto), but hey — if you’re running a marathon, you could do worse than to have this pattern driving you across the finish line.
FRIDAY: Mars squares Pluto at 12:19 AM ET, activating the Venus-Saturn square in the former guy’s horoscope. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t making noise all through the weekend. As for the rest of the Free World, note your dreams in the morning, as imagination is sparked by Moon sextile with Neptune, exact at 9:26 AM ET. A bit of exuberance or excess lands on your plate around lunchtime, as the Moon squares Jupiter at 12:31 PM ET. Depth is easily demanded and received a few hours later, as Moon trines Pluto at 4:35 PM ET — and then goes void for the rest of the night.
SATURDAY: The Sun ditches Libra and enters Scorpio at 12:51 AM ET — there’s no need to run screaming down the hall. While Scorpio may spark fear in those who follow stupid astrology, we do not do stupid astrology in this forecast. For example, I will never tell you which zodiac sign is most likely to get a dog this fall, even if you are a reporter writing a story about it because that would be stupid. But back to the Sun in Scorpio. It demands substance; none of that airy-theory-rational stuff that Libra does so well. Scorpio is a deeply emotional sign, noted for its need for privacy, power, and control. Scorpios “build all the way up to Heaven…and all the way down to Hell,” wrote astrologer Linda Goodman. Hopefully, you can hang with one who builds an escalator that only goes up. A Scorpio heading for Hell will happily annihilate everyone and everything in its way — but then, again, it does make them interesting. Scorpios also have a strict code of honor and are known to be loyal to a fault. Scorpio is a Fixed Sign — which means they are here to create form — and they are quite stubborn in their way of being. Theodore Roosevelt was a Scorpio who famously said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” He probably had one of those famous “Scorpio stares” that wordlessly inform you (a scorpion has no need for words when it has such a compelling sting) that he sees right through your song and dance.
SATURDAY: Moon enters Gemini at 3:57 AM ET, buzzing around for the latest news — possibly without much direction, until around 6:11 PM ET when Gemini’s multitasking energy is stabilized by a trine with Saturn. Whatever plan is consolidated, perhaps on…
SUNDAY: you can get the word out, as Moon trines Mercury at 6:16 AM ET. Note that even though Mercury is moving forward, it’s still retracing steps it’s already taken twice before — forward — backward — and now forward again. Now is the time to revise and rethink yet again. At 5:42 PM ET, Moon opposes Venus in Sagittarius, offering a potential indulgence in high-flying, boundary-pushing social expression. Put on your rose-colored glasses and plan an entertaining escape, as Moon squares Neptune at 10:13 PM ET. They say everything is beautiful at the ballet, and Neptune favors music and dance.

Fun fact: the 17th is my favorite day of each month because that’s the day I receive the most Cosmic Tips from Avid Readers, Fairy Godparents, Guardian Angels, and Biggest Fans who have pledged Faithful Monthly Expressions of Appreciation — so inspiring when typing the Sneak Peek at 1:23 in the morning! I wish I could remember what I wrote on that lucky 17th that inspired so much support, but please know I’m ever so grateful to those who were moved to place a value on my astrological insights.

And now, the news.

There were plenty of stories reflecting last weekend’s triple conjunction of Mercury, Mars, and Sun in Libra — a sign in which the latter two are inclined to behave a bit badly — perhaps in an effort to accommodate the other side. Mars refers to men, cars, heat, and steel; the Sun refers to ego, leaders, and the heart:

“Aspirin is no longer recommended as a preventative measure against heart attacks and strokes in older individuals”
Las Vegas Raiders’ coach Jon Gruber resigned after the NYT dug up gobs of racist, homophobic, and misogynistic emails he’d scribed over the past 12 years. SNL had a field day with the story in its cold open.
SNL also lampooned “Squid Game,” the record-breaking hit on Netflix. Squid Game is a dystopian drama in which hundreds of cash-strapped South Koreans agree to compete in a series of children’s games, knowing that the sole prize winner will also be the only one who isn’t killed. Critics have opined that Squid Game is yet another reflection of the consequences of unfettered capitalism, which reflects the passage of Pluto (power and resources; corruption exposed) through the final degrees of Capricorn (corporations; government; the Establishment). Fun fact: North Korea agrees (!). Other critics have opined that Squid Game is not healthy for children, as it facilitates bullying and desensitization of violence.
On October 8th, the day of the Sun-Mars meet-up, teachers in Texas were reminded to present “opposing views” of the Holocaust to their students, as Heather Cox Richardson explains. It’s interesting that HCR didn’t actually write about the directive until October 16th, reflecting the STOP AND FOCUS potential of Mercury (information) and Jupiter (teaching) at a virtual standstill.

File this under Pluto turning direct on October 6th (a nice follow-up to the release of the Pandora Papers, which has resulted in the Denver Art Museum returning certain artifacts to Cambodia, and the possible impeachment of the president of Chile):

“Over 130 countries clinch a deal that could radically reshape how companies are taxed.”

Saturn turning direct last week suggested potential cuts and losses — and with respect to the $3.5 trillion infrastructure bill the Biden Administration would like Congress to pass, it’s now looking like funding for home health care, child care, the expanded child tax credit, and universal pre-K will be reduced or cut. Did you know that Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia publicly espoused a $4 trillion infrastructure bill on January 19, 2021? Why is he trying to cut it by 75% now? Over the weekend, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg warned Manchin that his resistance to the clean energy proposals (as a remedy for inevitable climate change) in the bill will “cost lives.” This is an apt headline for a weekend dominated by Sun square Pluto (power plays and energy resources). Manchin’s horoscope (8/27/1947 in Farmington, WV) — even without a birth time — is on an expansive tear this year, as transiting Jupiter opposes his Sun, Mercury and Venus. His ego energies (Sun) are being amplified to the extreme by contact with Pluto, which my astrology software program compares to a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, allowing one’s true nature to be revealed.

This just in…

It’s now Monday morning and Mercury has just turned direct, upping the odds that the media won’t get it quite right. As if on cue, we’re seeing stories that former Secretary of State Colin Powell has died of “complications of Covid,” (true) but neglecting to add that Powell had multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that compromises the immune system. There is no truth to the statement made by John Roberts at Fox “news” that Powell’s death raises questions about the efficacy of the Covid vaccine.

Avid Readers will recall that the horoscopes of the recently deceased often reflect current planetary patterns, and Powell’s is a fine example of this week’s “military power” square among Sun-Mars and Pluto. His Mercury is at 27 Aries — same as this week’s Full Moon — and it is squared by an opposition between Jupiter at 24 Capricorn and Pluto at 26 Cancer. This T-square pattern was under stress all through 2020 and continuing into 2021, mostly courtesy of transiting Pluto on his Jupiter. This week we can expect illumination on how he needed to think and communicate, reflecting the Full Moon right on his Mercury. Transiting Mars activates all three planets in this T-square into next, reflecting matters involving expansion, status, reward, power, and transformation. There will be a discussion of his performance at the United Nations on February 5, 2003, in which he presented “proof” that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, in an effort to convince the world that invading Iraq was justified. I don’t about you, but I’ve never forgotten that UN speech, illustrated by an easel of placards depicting diagrams of WMD-loaded trucks that every fiber of my being screamed was 100% false. I remember feeling heartsick because I expected better of him — and because the speech accomplished its objective.

And before I forget…

“Alden Global Capital: the Hedge Fund Killing Newspapers” is a sobering focus on publishing, information, and Pluto-in-Capricorn news from underground and corporate power plays.

In closing, I welcome any recommendations for alternatives to AT & T. During this Mercury retrograde, it was revealed that AT & T is a financial backer of One American Network News (OANN) — as you can see here. Now that Mercury is moving forward, it’s time to change — and also upgrade my iPhone. Do any Avid Readers have T-Mobile, Mint, Credo or some other cell phone service provider that they just adore (if it’s possible to adore a cell phone service provider)? Inquiring minds want to know!

Meanwhile, here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Happy Mercury turning direct!

Monday 10/11/2021: Sneak Peek at the Week; Saturn Turns Direct

October 12, 2021/0 Comments/in The Forecast /by Elisabeth Grace

Allll righty then!

Mercury is still retrograde, but as of 10:16 PM ET on Sunday (as I type), Saturn — which refers to authority, loss, structure, ambition, and necessary controls — turned direct at 6 degrees of Aquarius. It’s sitting right on Mitt Romney’s Midheaven, and if he were playing his cards right, he’d be at a peak in his professional status, recognized as an authority. Perhaps he’ll make an interesting appearance in the news this week, though with Neptune sitting right on his Pisces Sun, perhaps he’s feeling a bit lost or wiped out — instead of the visionary he could be using the upside potential of Neptune.

Anyhoo…

Now that Saturn is moving forward, matters related to wherever it’s been sitting in your horoscope since May are likely to move forward as well. You may see even greater expansion in those matters after October 18th, as that is when Jupiter turns direct. Jupiter is also in Aquarius. October 18th is also when Mercury turns direct, so I’m anticipating a bit of big news.

Here’s how the week goes:

MONDAY: the Sag Moon went void at 12:30 AM ET, in a jovial harmony with Jupiter. The Moon void continues until 1:14 PM ET, so there’s your excuse if your morning routine includes a twist or flake. That — and Mercury retrograde. Fun fact: astrologers in the 17th century maintained that a Moon void in Sagittarius, Cancer, Taurus, and Pisces was less of a bust than in the other signs. Still, we’re likely to notice a shift in focus once the Moon enters Capricorn and seeks to Make Things Happen.
TUESDAY: Lots to talk about with your network of unconventional besties — with a bit of technology thrown in. Moon squares Mercury at 11:50 AM ET and trines technogeek Uranus at 12:33 PM ET. Sparks may fly around 8:26 PM ET, as the Moon squares Mars in Libra (facilitating passive-aggressive behavior). At 11:25 PM ET, we’ll have the First Quarter Moon, suggesting a clash between the need to get down to business, frustrated by energy that seeks a more diplomatic, people-pleasing result.
WEDNESDAY: And yet, taking care of business is supported in the early part of this week, courtesy of harmony between Venus (women, money, art, and social expression) and Saturn (business!), exact at 3:26 PM ET. We may see a power struggle at 6:53 AM ET, as the Moon meets up with Pluto — and then goes void for the next TEN HOURS. Stick to routine concerns; roll with the twists and flakes. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill and avoid impulse purchases, as things bought during Moon voids often do not live up to expectations. Case in point: on Sunday I discovered that the fab navy blue cotton sweater I snagged for $19 a couple of weeks ago had a literal snag in it! I managed to hide the flaw, and for $19, it’ll do just fine. But still…it was a Moon void purchase and it didn’t quite turn out as expected. You can max out your credit cards after 4:47 PM ET, when Moon enters Aquarius, seeking recognition for its unique social significance. The urge to splurge is reflecting a rare trine between the Sun and Jupiter, exact on FRIDAY, but in effect this week. Isn’t life grand?
THURSDAY: Perhaps not grand quite yet — at least in the early morning. Moon meets up with Saturn at 4:54 AM ET, which may be sobering. But hey– one hour later, Moon sextiles Venus in Sagittarius, which is only too happy to enthuse over the Aquarius Moon’s humanitarian agenda. Communication flows better than usual for a Mercury retrograde around 1:08 PM ET, as Moon trines Mercury. A pushback or surprise upset — perhaps related to whatever heavy news hit the wires this morning — shakes up the early evening, as Moon squares Uranus at 4:51 PM ET.
FRIDAY: Overnight action makes for an expansive and/or expensive morning. Moon trines Mars at 3:57 AM ET (action!); Sun trines Jupiter at 7:46 AM ET (did you win the lottery?); Moon meets up with Jupiter at 8:29 AM ET (somebody MUST have won something!); Moon trines Sun at 8:32 AM ET (and it was so easy!). Hope you got everything done before breakfast because the Aquarius Moon is now VOID for nearly 14 hours. You are free to wander, work on your novel and otherwise chill. Moon enters Pisces at 10:21 PM ET, ready to be accommodating and adaptive, and compassionate, especially while basking in the possible glow of this morning’s grand gesture.
SATURDAY: There are no exact aspects to the Pisces Moon until 5 PM ET when Moon squares Venus in (open mouth; insert foot) Sagittarius, and someone’s feelings may be hurt by someone else’s frank opinion. A cooperative connection (a sextile) between diplomatic Mercury in Libra and Venus at 9:23 PM ET helps smooth things out — for the moment. Moon sextiles Uranus at 11:14 PM ET, and of course, we can still be friends. Caveat: humming in the background for the past few days and exact at 8:12 AM ET on…
SUNDAY: is a square between the Sun and Pluto, suggesting power and resources are front and center, especially among CEOs and heads of state (ergo, heads may roll). Watch the volcanoes and other news from underground. Indulge in a dreamy escape or vision around 12:59 PM ET, as Moon meets up with Neptune. Moon sextiles Pluto at 7:24 PM ET and then goes void for the next ten hours. Chill! And remember to focus focus focus today and MONDAY, as Jupiter and Mercury both move forward.

And now, the news — written on Monday:

I am fascinated by how well the Sabian Symbol for last week’s New Moon in Libra played out in the news and in real life. It was “a noonday siesta,” suggesting that in a moment of peak illumination (with the sun at its highest and hottest), the apt action was to get out of the heat. I can’t tell you how many people told me they slept in more than once over the past several days and that their dreams were more intense. I did, too. You?

From last week’s forecast for Wednesday’s New Moon and this whole lunar cycle:

Perhaps we become aware of Things As They Really Are — but need more time to actually do something about it, no matter how urgent it is. Maybe a “power nap” is what is needed.

and for Thursday:

Moon must plunge into the emotional depths of Scorpio at 10:22 AM ET. The rest of the day is driven by the Scorpio Moon’s need for knowledge that grants it substance and control. Action may also be driven by a potential blinding fury, as Mars in Libra meets up with the Sun at midnight. …which may be seen in an assertive response to whatever rain fell on someone’s parade…

Oh good grief, it seems there was a big boxing match in Vegas on Saturday and the winner was…Tyson Fury.

Meanwhile, cue Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who spent last week playing games with the U.S. financial system, threatening to push the U.S. into an unprecedented default on our debt. Describing his actions on Wednesday, Heather Cox Richardson wrote:

In a scorching statement that laid all the blame for the crisis on the Democrats, he offered to “allow” Democrats to use normal procedures—that is, the Republicans won’t filibuster them!—to extend the ceiling into December. Democrats indicate they will take that deal.

There is one major takeaway from this manufactured crisis: McConnell was willing to come right to the verge of burning the nation down to get his way. In the end, he stopped just before the sparks became an inferno, but it was much too close for comfort.

As it turned out, McConnell managed to convince ten Republican senators (plus himself) to vote with the Democrats to raise the debt ceiling until early December. In other words, McConnell got out of the heat, but not before sending a “scorching letter” (driven by a blinding fury?) to President Biden…after which (as HCR reported on Sunday), it was suggested that McConnell seems to have lost control of his caucus to the former guy. And indeed, it really was something to see 88-year-old Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) — the ranking member and former chair of the House Judiciary Committee — kiss the ring of the former guy at TFG’s latest gathering on Saturday night. Grassley is running for an 8th six-year term in the 2022 election, told the crowd, “I was born at night but not last night. So if I didn’t accept the endorsement of a person that’s got 91 percent of the Republican voters in Iowa, I wouldn’t be too smart. I’m smart enough to accept that endorsement.”

In the spirit of Mercury retrograde, in which facts previously hidden come to light, the Senate Judiciary Committee released its report on tfg’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Grassley published his own report of alternative facts. Astro students and pros may appreciate a look at what we know of Grassley’s horoscope.

A pause, while we consider Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week, which is always in sync with planetary patterns. This week’s oracle relates to the heavier side of Saturn turning direct — and perhaps the weekend’s cathartic Sun-Pluto square, too. We do not have an exact birth time for McConnell, but I have seen a rectification speculating that he has a regal Leo Ascendant, with Pluto sitting right on it, opposed by Venus retrograde in Aquarius, in a T-square configuration with Moon in mine-mine-mine Taurus. If that rectified chart is correct, then transiting Saturn is on his Venus, opposing his Pluto-Ascendant and square his Moon. These are harsh patterns indeed. A noon chart can be found here. Perhap McConnell can commiserate with Chief Justice John G. Roberts, who has lost control of his domain, too. We don’t have a birth time for Roberts, either, but Saturn turned direct right on his 6 Aquarius Sun. Heavy.

Also harsh — but apt for the day Saturn — the original grim reaper — turned direct. A woman in Colombia made news early last week because she planned to be euthanized on Sunday, but the procedure was canceled at the last minute because 1) the story had been broadcast around the world, and 2) her doctors declared that her disease (she has ALS) was not in a terminal stage.

Also canceled — or at least postponed:

William Shatner’s 10-minute space flight has been pushed back to Wednesday because of “high winds.” Hmm. With Sun, Mars, and Mercury in Libra — the element of Air — are we surprised by the weather?
Flights in general if you’re a would-be Southwest Airlines passenger. Southwest says the cancelations are due to weather and air traffic control issues, not sick-outs by workers upset by Covid vaccine mandates…
…which, by the way, seem to be working, as Covid infections in most of the U.S. have come down
…and a new treatment for head and neck cancer has been making tumors in terminal patients disappear. Mars rules the head.

In other news…

Here’s an item from September 23rd that merits an astro-logical perspective: “FBI data shows an unprecedented spike in murders nationwide” — with the spike happening in 2020. Experts are mystified, of course — except for every mundane astrologer under the sun who said at the beginning of the year that with Mars being retrograde in Aries and squaring Saturn-Pluto in Capricorn three times in 2020, we were likely to see a rise in violence, especially involving firearms.

This month, as you know, Mars is in Libra — which is generally less direct in its expression of aggression. Over the weekend we had a triple conjunction of Sun, Mercury, and Mars in the sign of the Scales, seeking fairness and balance. Oh — and Mercury is retrograde, and Saturn in Aquarius just turned direct — with karma, uniqueness, and friendship in heavy focus. Plus, Libra rules the kidneys. Mix all that up and you might find a provocative feature in the New York Times Sunday Magazine called “Who Is the Bad Art Friend?” In brief, a woman writer donates a kidney to a total stranger and shares her story in an online writer’s forum. What could go wrong? A lot of bad behavior apparently — with yet another tip of the hat to the NYT editors who are always in sync with planetary patterns. How do they do it?

Mars rules men, steel, and the Man of Steel…as in Superman: the Next Generation. Libra strives for balance; and after emerging from the heart of the Libra Sun, DC Comics is pleased to reveal their new Superman swings both ways.

I leave you with Stephen Colbert’s macho Mars monologue from Friday, in which he covers macho man William Shatner’s upcoming space trek; the 25th anniversary of Fox news; plans to blow up an asteroid because –hey –it’s there; and finally, all the stuff we’re running out of, reflecting the disruptions in global supply networks we expected with Saturn in Aquarius (streamlining squeeze on circulation) square Uranus in Taurus (disruption/liberation from literally everyTHING), especially with Mercury retrograde. These shortages may well command our attention in 2022, when Saturn and Uranus will both reach 15 degrees — the halfway point — of their respective signs. That’s also when we’re likely to see some meaningful solutions.

What’s going on in your horoscope? Is Saturn putting you through the proverbial wringer? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Monday 10/4/2021: Sneak Peek at a Pivotal Week; New Moon in Libra; Pluto & Saturn Direct

October 5, 2021/0 Comments/in The Forecast /by Elisabeth Grace

All rise!

It’s the first Monday in October, and the Supreme Court is now in session. A look at the patterns of this week will tell much about the issues and opinions that come from the Court in this term. Highlights include matters involving Pluto — e.g., power and resources; breakdowns and corruption exposed — as it slows to a standstill and turns direct on WEDNESDAY. A raging fight for a place at the table by those who feel disenfranchised is suggested by Pluto’s third in a series of squares to Eris, Goddess of Discord, on October 9th. The battle — and a focused attack or crusade — is echoed by the Sun and Mercury’s meet-ups with Mars (planet of action, assertion, and aggression) this FRIDAY and SATURDAY. Meanwhile, Saturn is also slowing to a virtual standstill as it prepares to turn direct on SUNDAY. Thus we have another focus in matters of authority and control. Because Saturn is in Aquarius, we anticipate that these controls may involve humanitarian, “for the people” concerns, and also technology and networks.

Here’s how the week goes:

MONDAY: Moon in Virgo drives the day with a need to get it right. Oh — but Mercury is still retrograde, suggesting that many “right things” that are gotten now, have a higher probability of a rewrite when Mercury turns direct on October 18th. Moon opposes Neptune at 5:47 PM ET, and that can be dreamy or delusional. A trine to Pluto at 11:03 PM ET adds depth to your quest for perfection.
TUESDAY: A easy flow to the wee hours is sponsored by Moon’s sextile to Venus, exact at 4:46 AM ET. Moon goes void for a few hours, not to enter Libra until 8:41 AM ET. East Coasters can take it slow in the morning. There are no exact aspects to the Moon until 8:15 PM ET, when Moon trines Saturn. Moon in Libra is seeking balance, fairness, and diplomacy. Today it has support for its mission, which may be accomplished behind the scenes, under cover of darkness, reflecting –as it were — the fact that the Moon is at the end of its cycle, getting ready for a rebirth on…
WEDNESDAY….at 7:05 AM ET, as the New Moon in Libra begins. If you’re feeling especially supercharged upon waking, note that the Moon meets up with Mars at 8:03 AM ET, looking for action. At 2:28 PM ET, Pluto turns direct, suggesting a focus on seismic activity, news from underground, power, and resources (as noted earlier), including OIL. Fun fact: Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in just days before Pluto turned direct in 2018 — and here’s what was written back then (on Monday, days before Pluto turns direct, SCOTUS is having a ceremonial swearing-in for Amy Coney Barrett). In any case, by the end of the day, Moon meets up with Mercury and trines Jupiter, at 5:39 PM ET and 10:39 PM ET, respectively, so we can expect an Important Announcement about reconciliation or diplomacy in the news. Social expression may have an especially ruthless, controlling, or depth-demanding edge, given that Venus (our money and values; women and art) is at the verrrrrry end of Scorpio. If this New Moon affects your personal horoscope, my money says that relationships are in the spotlight for you during this cycle.

All of the patterns described above are in the chart for the New Moon. Here’s what that looks like set in Washington, D.C.:

Observations:

With the New Moon, Mars, and Mercury in the 1st House, square to the Midheaven, we have a picture of a feisty and highly visible identity crisis for the nation. Saturn and Pluto — both about to turn direct — are in the 4th house— our land, our core collective family foundation. Pluto in this chart rules the 2nd House — our finances and our values. What is the focus and how are they likely to transform? This question is key for the U.S. now and over the next two years.
The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is — curiously — “a noon siesta.” With so much action in this chart, why do we have an image of the need to take a break? Because Mercury is retrograde? Because there are times when it is wise to get out of the heat? Sabian Symbol sage Blain Bovee suggests that the noonday sun brings “a burning intensity” to a situation, and working under that condition can be hazardous. “The paradox is that resting at noon in such conditions actually improves productivity.” It is also a paradox, writes Bovee, that the light of the noonday sun is usually the peak of illumination — nothing is in shadow — it’s all crystal clear — and the appropriate course of action is to sleep on it. Really? Hmm. Bovee suggests that the challenge of this Symbol is awakening on a spiritual level — which may by necessity require rest for the physical body. I’m not sure how this will play out in the news. Perhaps we become aware of Things As They Really Are — but need more time to actually do something about it, no matter how urgent it is. Maybe a “power nap” is what is needed. Hmm…” power nap”…with Pluto turning direct and Mercury still retrograde.
Off the top of my head, this New Moon chart activates the horoscopes of the United States, Kyrsten Sinema, and George W. Bush. If you have planets or angles around 14 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn, seeds for a diplomatic mission may be planted.
For additional guidance, Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week is priceless — and perfectly in sync with planetary patterns.

Back to the weekly forecast.

THURSDAY: the Libra New Moon goes void on its weekly clash with Pluto at 1:03 AM ET, reflecting last night’s power play or catharsis. During the ensuing nine-hour Moon void, roll with the twists and flakes and take time to CHILL. At 7:20 AM ET, Venus gets the hell out of Scorpio, where she’s been brooding for weeks –and soars righteously into Sagittarius. From now until November 5th, social expression, values, and aesthetics dare to push boundaries with enthusiasm — and yes, a foot may well end up in more than one mouth. But first, the Moon void in Libra must end and the Moon must plunge into the emotional depths of Scorpio at 10:22 AM ET. The rest of the day is driven by the Scorpio Moon’s need for knowledge that grants it substance and control. Action may also be driven by a potential blinding fury, as Mars in Libra meets up with the Sun at midnight. This Sun-Mars conjunction may be seen in an assertive response to whatever rain fell on someone’s parade, suggested by the square between Moon and Saturn at 9:37 PM ET.
FRIDAY: Surprise! At 8:59 AM ET, Moon opposes Uranus, and the day begins with an upset, revelation, or pushback against last night’s controls. For the next two days, thought and communication is focused on achieving a balance, blinded somewhat by its own light — and willing to fight. Still, your Friday night may end on a dreamy note — and perhaps a grand gesture, as Moon trines Neptune at 8:52 PM ET and squares Jupiter at 11:03 PM ET.
SATURDAY: Moon goes void on a sextile with Pluto at 2:05 AM ET, facilitating emotional depth. Chill for the next nine hours-– a good long sleep will do you good. See if you notice the energetic shift around 11:24 AM ET when the Moon enters Sagittarius. The rest of the weekend is apt for being in nature, engaging in spirited and opinionated debates. Get out of your usual box; go for a gamble or a gambol. Mercury meets up with the Sun at 12:18 PM ET and then meets up with Mars at 6:48 PM ET. With FOCUS, walking and talking can be done at the same time, and it may even be fun around 3:36 PM ET, as the Moon makes a cooperative aspect with Venus. If there are especially volatile headlines over the weekend, consider that today Pluto squares Eris for the third time. In any contest between the Powers That Be (Pluto) and the Disenfranchised (Eris), it’s the latter that has the edge. You may experience volatility in your own personal world if you have planets or angles around 24 Cancer, Capricorn, Aries, and Libra. FYI, the U.S. Mercury (how the nation needs to think and communicate) is at 24 Capricorn. Fun times!
SUNDAY: Another day to be productive, especially if your projects are Mercury REtrograde related: reorganizing, reconnecting, retreating. The enthusiasm of the Sagittarius Moon flows easily in partnership-focused Mercury, Mars, and the Sun — all in Libra — between 12:49 PM ET and 4:44 PM ET. Humming in the background is Saturn — the energy of necessary control — which turns direct at 10:17 PM ET. As Saturn gets back up to its usual speed, roadblocks are likely to give away and progress can be made. At the moment — and I do mean at the moment, the potential for progress may be muddled, as Moon squares Neptune at 10:16 PM ET. Watch where you’re going. If you have planets or angles around 7 degrees of Aquarius, Leo, Scorpio, or Taurus, you’ve been feeling constrained more than most. Off the top of my head, that includes President Biden and Liz Cheney.

And now, the news.

Welp. Facebook has been down since 11:39 AM ET — along with Instagram, Messenger, and What’s App. This happened after last night’s bombshell dropped by 60 Minutes, in its interview with Facegbook whistleblower Frances Haugen. Tens of thousands of documents now make it clear that the company has been lying about “making progress” against hate and disinformation, because doing would mean making less money. Facebook deactivated certain safeguards immediately after the election, and it is alleged that doing so enabled the attempted coup on January 6th. How cool is it that this bombshell dropped over the weekend, in sync with planetary patterns that were screaming for a big data dump that would expose rot and corruption among the corporate (Capricorn) elite? Astrology is amazing! (and as of 6:30 PM ET, Facebook is back online).

Major media outlets are also abuzz with the juicy details found in the Pandora Papers (South Dakota has a starring role), which detail how power and resources are held by a teensy minority of oligarch-types, to the disadvantage of the vast majority of everyone else. This is how Heather Cox Richardson frames the Pandora Papers in her most recent letter, drawing a parallel with this story and the 650 marches for reproductive rights that happened over the weekend. A clear majority of Americans in both of the major political parties support a woman’s right to decide for herself whether she is willing and able to bear a child, but that right is being chipped away by another teensy minority.

Meanwhile, here’s another bombshell revelation: “Chinese detective in exile reveals the extent of torture against Uyghurs” as reported by CNN. What is wrong with humans that they feel a need to be so horrible to one another?

In other news…

If you enjoyed the NYT’s feature about The Sopranos (linked in the last forecast), you may appreciate WaPo’s review of Fiona Hill’s new book, “There’s Nothing For You Here: Finding Opportunity in the 21st Century”. It’s noteworthy because the challenges Hill outlines apply not only to America but to other democratic societies. We really are all in this together.

Pluto refers to power and resources, including oil — and with Pluto slowing to a standstill, we are not surprised to see oil making headlines:

A huge oil spill off the coast of Orange County, south of Los Angeles is wreaking havoc on the beaches and on wildlife. It is speculated that a ship’s anchor may have ruptured an underwater pipeline — oh how Mercury retrograde.
Plastic is made of oil — and the problem of plastic is the subject of today’s op-ed in WaPo

The news is heavy today– it seems. But at least we can celebrate that the five zebras on the loose in Maryland continue to evade capture…and on October 12th, William Shatner will blast into space. At 90 years old, there are plenty of new and exciting things to do — so let that potential inspire you in your work and play today, and always. Here is Shatner’s horoscope.

Here is the 411 on personal consultations.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Sunday 10/3/2021: Catching Up on the News

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

Allllllrighty then!

Here’s a quick recap of patterns driving the weekend:

SATURDAY: Issues of women and empowerment, especially in matters of sex and death — were on the agenda this morning, as Venus in Scorpio dares to go there, supported by a sextile to Pluto. We’re being set up for the second round of significant news regarding court opinions and cases, and incriminating documents, as Mercury trines Jupiter on Sunday at 8:04 PM ET. In your own personal world, the Leo Moon — combined with Mercury retrograde — is an excuse to party. Moon squares Mercury at 7:42 PM ET, suggesting a communication matter that may need to be sorted out. Moon then goes void…and doesn’t enter Virgo (to clean up the Leo Moon’s party confetti) until 4:37 AM ET on…
SUNDAY. A Virgo Moon needs to sort things out and make things right. It’s the perfect pattern for a Mercury retrograde REorganization project. Attack those closets, files, and drawers! There are no exact aspects to the Moon for the entire day, which can almost feel as wandering in focus as a Moon void. Go with the intuitive flow. A whole new cycle begins next Wednesday with the New Moon in Libra.

No sleeping in on MONDAY. The Virgo Moon continues on its mission, with a bit of confusion around suppertime, as it is opposed by Neptune. And of course, Mercury is still retrograde, muddying communication channels and messing with schedules. But since you know about Mercury Retrograde, you won’t let these glitches throw you off balance, right? And you’ll remember to FOCUS and double-check the tech stuff thrice before hitting SEND.

And not only that, but the Moon is at the end of its cycle, leaving us feeling listless or restless. But rest assured there will be plenty of clandestine meetings scheduled so as to profit from these days with no lunar light.

And now, the news.

This Mercury retrograde is “coinciding” with a ton of news from underground, thanks to its second trine to Jupiter (big!) on Sunday, and its second square to Pluto last Friday. I’ve noticed plenty of exceptionally deep stories that REvisit people and events from the past because Mercury retrogrades are the perfect time for a REunion. For example:

Dasani is on the cover of the NYT Sunday Magazine. No, not Dasani the bottled water. Dasani, was the oldest of eight children in a family living in an NYC homeless shelter in December 2013. She was twelve years old when she was the focus of a five-part NYT investigative report called Invisible Child. Her horoscope was discussed in this forecast way back then. How has she managed since then?
Also in the NYT Sunday Magazine: “Why is Every Young Person in America Watching The Sopranos?” This is one of several profound and worthy essays I read this week, reflecting current planetary patterns. Highly recommended, as it speaks to the potential of the U.S. Pluto Return. Looking back, as one does during a Mercury retrograde, we can appreciate the show’s prescience.
Also hinting at the U.S. Pluto Return: “Our Constitutional Crisis Is Already Here.” It’s a WaPo op-ed from last week — but also a worthy read.
From the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (the folks who brought us the Panama Papers) comes the next installment: the Pandora Papers. They say it’s “the most expansive expose of financial secrecy yet” — and they’re dropping it on Sunday around 12:30 PM ET.
“Whistleblower to Accuse Facebook of Contributing to January 6th Riot” — catch the interview on the next 60 Minutes
“January 6th Was Worse Than We Knew,” opines the NYT Editorial Board
On Friday, the U.S. Post Office implemented a rate hike and an infuriating decrease in service because for some reason Postmaster Louis DeJoy has not yet been relieved of his position. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for January 1, 2022.
Barack Obama has a lot to say on how uncovering his past helped him plan his future.
Even Heather Cox Richardson revisited the past this week, comparing Friday’s headlines with what was going on just one year ago.
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is erupting again, after a months-long hiatus. There’s one in the Canary Islands, too, that’s getting particularly feisty…
On a less sobering note, Stephen Colbert revisited the past by taking a field trip to Milwaukee to offer an apology for a past transgression. Find out why Colbert is a national treasure — in two parts — here and here.
And let the record show that Mercury Retrogrades are an apt time to reconnect with lost objects, as in “Bruce’s Beach to be returned to Black family 100 years after it was seized…” by a California city.

Mercury itself is making news, courtesy of the BepiColombo spacecraft, which has just sent back its first images of the Messenger Planet.

Meanwhile…

Venus was also hot in the headlines. Venus trined Neptune on Wednesday; squared Jupiter on Thursday and sextiled Pluto on Saturday. We anticipated stories of women, money, values, and social expression that could be any combination of abundant, extravagant, ruthless, dreamy, or delusional.

It was an apt pattern for a Women’s March on Washington to protest laws in Texas that effectively and unconstitutionally ban abortion. The Women’s March was one of 60o held around the country on Saturday.
Earlier this week, three U.S. Congresswomen — Cori Bush, Barbara Lee, and Pramila Jayapal — spoke to a House oversight committee on reproductive rights about their personal decisions to terminate their respective pregnancies — one of which happened before Roe v. Wade.
On a day driven by fun-loving Moon in Leo, combined with the aforementioned Mercury retrograde and Venus patterns, are we surprised to see that the most-shared story on the Guardian’s website is “Sun-powered orgasms are fantastic: Why I went to live in a desert cave.” (Mercury retrograde is an apt time for a REtreat).
Erotica also made news in the NYT

In other news…

Congress managed to get it together enough to keep most of the government running until December. President Biden signed the funding bill on the heels of Wednesday evening’s stabilizing Sun-Saturn trine, averting a shutdown.
Nancy Pelosi pushed the deadline for the House passing its infrastructure bill from last Thursday to October 31st, a day that looks especially forceful and challenging for President Biden. That day looks forceful and challenging for the Speaker, too, with transiting Mars at 0 Scorpio, activating her exact natal Saturn-Pluto square. The first week of December looks more expansive for both of them. We’ll see.
Economist and NYT columnist Paul Krugman (who has the most accurate track record of any pundit, as longtime Avid Readers may recall), proposed an apt Venus square Jupiter solution to the U.S.’s fiscal problems: “President Biden Should Ignore the Debt Limit and Mint a $1 Trillion Coin”
Did you know that Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) owns a yacht? He does, and when not obstructing President Biden and his Democratic colleagues’ efforts to Build Back Better, that’s where he can be found. Did you see the footage of Manchin standing on the deck of his yacht like Eva Peron on her balcony, literally talking down to the resourceful constituents who had paddled their kayaks up the river to see him? We can understand why Manchin is feeling so expansive these days, with transiting Jupiter opposing his regal Leo Sun three times in 2021. What’s maddening about Manchin is that on January 19th, 2021, he was waxing rhapsodic to reporters about the necessity of passing a $3 to $4 trillion infrastructure bill. And now he’s digging in at $1.5 trillion.
Also feeling expansive is Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), another obstructionist who is at the spa this weekend with her big fat corporate donors, and deservedly trashed by NYT op-ed columnist Maureen Dowd in her Sunday column.

Stay tuned to this channel for continuing updates. Meanwhile, here’s the 411 on personal consultations. And here is the link to my world-famous Cosmic Tip Jar, with much gratitude to Avid Readers who support my efforts to keep you cosmically informed.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Signs that more than one planet

might be retrograde…

Monday 9/27/2021: Sneak Peek at a Rollicking Week; Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide; October Astrology Alert

September 27, 2021/0 Comments/in The Forecast /by Elisabeth Grace

It’s Monday, and Mercury is now officially retrograde as of 1:10 AM ET. Did you back up your computers and other data storage devices? I sure hope so!

Contrary to popular belief, Mercury retrograde is no reason to freak out. Mercury retrograde gets a bad rap because we are geared, in this crazy modern age, to always be thinking, doing, moving FORWARD. You know what that gets you? BURN OUT. We need our down times, and Mercury retrograde is a perfect time to give our minds a rest. Why else would your computer, phone and/or car choose THIS time to malfunction? Because you are supposed to be slowing down. And as you slow down, it is vitally important that you FOCUS.

When Mercury is retrograde, be prepared for travel delays, scheduling screw-ups, mechanical breakdowns, computer crashes, having to repeat what you’ve just said, misunderstandings, the past coming back for a second look, surprise reunions and having to repeat what you just said. Use your FOCUS and double-check important details, like whether the restaurant you’ve chosen for a meet-up is still in business. Or whether it is booked for a commercial shoot or a private party — all of which has happened to me during Mercury retrogrades.

If you are looking for a job, Mercury retrogrades are a perfect time to reach out to people from your past. Mine your address book and trust that your contacts will be happy to hear from you. However, do not be frustrated if your target is away on vacation or keeps rescheduling meetings. Also, triple-check your emails and resumes before you hit “send,” as there is a higher probability of typos and other sloppy snafus.

In your business, you’ll need to make sure all communications have been received and are clearly understood. Be mindful of the higher potential for communications equipment to go on the fritz. MAKE SURE YOUR FILES ARE BACKED UP. Also be aware of a higher than average probability for delays in shipping and travel arrangements. For this you will need an extra dose of patience.

You may also find it profitable to REview a project from the past. Maybe you shelved it then, but now is the time to REconsider. However, be advised that a spontaneously, “out-of-the-blue” idea for advancement may not be so sound when Mercury turns direct. This is why the conventional wisdom advises against finalizing and/or signing contracts on deals during Mercury retrograde. An exception might be supported if you are REnegotiating or RElocating. If you absolutely must close a deal, triple check everything. The key is not to RUSH.

This is a good time to schedule a corporate REtreat. Any activity that affords the opportunity to REview past performance is encouraged. REsearch on a new strategy is also favored.

Mercury retrogrades are not favored for launching a new website or a new communications systems. There is a higher than average probability of technical glitches and confusion. REvisions, however, are A-OK.

In general, adopt a playful attitude of flexibility to whatever twists you encounter. Avoid making major purchases (especially electronic ones), unless your A/C unit has died and there’s a heat wave. Sometimes you just have to buy an appliance, Mercury retrograde or not. This is life. Don’t sweat the small stuff!

Don’t believe everything you hear or read in the papers when Mercury is retrograde. Rumors have a higher probability of spreading. Avoid losing patience — that’s a big one.

When in doubt, be silent!

Do plan on RElaxing, REviewing, REsearching, REorganizing, REgenerating, REconnecting and REcreating….and REviewing your life with your astrologer.

Mercury will travel backward through Libra until October 18th, when it reaches 10 degrees Libra and turns direct. Mercury won’t cover new ground until November 3rd, when it returns to 25 degrees Libra (where it is right now). Mercury retrograde in Libra suggests a ton of “on the one hand…but on the other hand” discussions in a quest for balance. The last time Mercury was retrograde (back in May), Neptune and Mercury made a series of three squares, which was reflected by headlines that were especially bewildering, if not downright bonkers. During this retrograde, Neptune is nowhere near Mercury. Instead, Mercury is in a series of squares with Pluto and Eris, suggesting extremes of power and persuasion in a battle for a place at the table. Mercury is also in a series of trines with Jupiter, suggesting the ideas being bandied about are BIG.

The Sabian Symbol for this Mercury retrograde echoes the struggle for balance between extremes. It is “an eagle and a large white dove turning one into the other.” Well, geez. Those two birds are diametrically opposed to each other, aren’t they — a bird of peace and a bird of prey — but in this symbol they are interchangeable. Which is which? We’ll find out over the next few weeks — watch the headlines. You are more personally affected by this Mercury retrograde if you have planets or angles around 11 and 26 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn, and yes — if you’d like a few paragraphs of how this Mercury retrograde is likely to manifest for you, I will be happy to oblige. Toss $48 into my Cosmic Tip Jar as a Joyful Random Expression of Appreciation. Then email me your birth data if I don’t already have it. I’ll send out insights in a day or so.

I don’t know about you, but I felt Mercury’s change of station yesterday. I was at the local pitch-and-putt, and golfers ahead of me on the course were Not The Usual Sort. There were a couple of parties of more than four players (over the limit, according to the course rules), and they included teens and children who were simply Not Up To Speed. Even the parties of less than four players were moving at the pace of molasses. Had I played the holes in sequential order (i.e., 1-18), I would have gone mad waiting for the parties ahead of me to clear each green. My coping strategy was to be creative and adapt, and my game of 18 holes went quickly, like this: 1-2-5-12-13-14-2-13-14-13-14-15-14-2-15-16-17-18. Be flexible when Mercury is retrograde!

Meanwhile…

We’re rolling into October, which is literally a pivotal month in which four planets will turn direct. Pluto moves forward on the 7th; followed by Saturn on the 11th, Mercury on the 18th, and Jupiter on the 19th. That means that this week we see the reflection of Pluto (power, resources, breakdowns, corruption revealed) demanding our attention like a car horn blaring in the news — and in your own personal world if your horoscope is affected. Adding to the intensity of this week’s focus on Pluto is the third in a series of squares to Eris (Goddess of Discord), exact on the 9th. This suggests extremes of disruption from Certain People, Just Because They Can. Between the 16th and the 20th, Mars will travel from 20 to 22 Libra, activating the Saturn-Pluto conjunction and the lunar eclipse we had in January 2020, so we should have some significant developments in matters related to Covid. Not only that, but on the 8th and 9th, Mars will meet up with the Sun and Mercury in Libra. That should be provocative.

Here is the forecast for the week:

MONDAY: Moon in Gemini seeks information and chitchat. Take it slow, as we are adjusting to Mercury retrograde. Communication may be especially dreamy or fuzzy around 4 PM ET, as Moon squares Neptune. Good cheer follows in the evening as Moon trines Jupiter at 7:24 PM ET, followed by Mercury at 12:18 AM ET on…
TUESDAY: whereupon the Moon goes VOID for nine hours. This is the first of THREE long Moon voids we’ll have this week. We are being given time to chill and absorb the otherwise hectic pace of happenings, so CHILL. Moon void protocols include rolling with the twists and flakes that may disrupt efforts to move forward, and remembering that crises that crop up during Moon voids are usually much ado about nothing. Stick to routine concerns; avoid impulse shopping; take time to consciously wander if you can. Moon regains its focus at 9:34 AM ET when it enters Cancer. The focus for the next few days is apt for matters of emotional, home, and family security. At 9:57 PM ET, we’ll have the Third Quarter Moon between the Libra Sun and the Cancer Moon. The energy of rational balance tangles with the need for nourishment. Work it out!
WEDNESDAY: Moon squares Mars at 4:16 AM ET; its provocative drive may have kept you up last night — or inspired this morning’s crankiness. On the upside, two exact patterns suggesting an easy flow involving an authoritative advance, inspired by beauty and empathy mark this day — and hopefully the whole week. At 12:13 PM ET, Venus trines Neptune. Break out the deep rose glasses — and they must be a deep rose, given that Venus is in Scorpio. At 1:53 PM ET, Moon sextiles Uranus, facilitating unconventional alliances. At 6:19 PM ET, the Libra Sun trines Saturn in Aquarius, suggesting a potential meeting of the minds on a really big deal. The really big deal reflects the literal largesse of Venus, as it squares Jupiter on…
THURSDAY: …at 7:31 PM ET. Before that happens, the Cancer Moon’s emotional security agenda gets a boost from Venus and Neptune in the wee hours. By 10:48 AM ET, however, the Moon’s weekly clash with Pluto suggests a power play or catharsis, followed by a Moon void of TEN WHOLE HOURS. Chill! At 8:53 PM ET, soon after Venus squares Jupiter, Moon enters rip roarin’ Leo with a Grand Pronouncement. Will we have a reason to throw a tantrum or a big party as we leave September behind and enter October on…
FRIDAY? Possibly the former, in response to a potential roadblock or smackdown suggested by the opposition of Saturn to the Leo Moon, exact at 10:09 AM ET. Not only that, but at 10:26 AM ET, we’ll have the second of three squares between Mercury and Pluto. Whatever extremes of thought and communication that were hot around September 22nd will likely be up for a revision. Investigative reporters will be having another field day — continuing through the weekend. If you can take direction and come up with a Plan B, there’s support available in the afternoon, as the Moon sextiles Sun and Mars. Whatever blocks you faced in the morning may be blasted away (or at least challenged) by 11:31 PM ET, when Moon squares rebel Uranus. Plus, Venus in Scorpio (women, money, aesthetics, and social expression) is working overtime with the Powers That Be, suggested by a cooperative alignment to Pluto, exact at 3:47 AM ET on…
SATURDAY: We’re being set up for the second round of significant news regarding court opinions and cases, and incriminating documents, as Mercury trines Jupiter on Sunday at 8:04 PM ET. In your own personal world, the Leo Moon — combined with Mercury retrograde — is an excuse to party. Moon squares Mercury at 7:42 PM ET, suggesting a communication matter that may need to be sorted out. Moon then goes void…and doesn’t enter Virgo (to clean up the Leo Moon’s party confetti) until 4:37 AM ET on…
SUNDAY. A Virgo Moon needs to sort things out and make things right. It’s the perfect pattern for a Mercury retrograde REorganization project. Attack those closets, files, and drawers! There are no exact aspects to the Moon for the entire day, which can almost feel as wandering in focus as a Moon void. Go with the intuitive flow. A whole new cycle begins next Wednesday with the New Moon in Libra.

And now, the news.

The first part of the week before last (the week of Sept 12th) was sponsored by the surreal Sun-Neptune opposition and Nicki Minaj’s cousin’s friend’s balls. They were her explanation for not getting a Covid vaccine and thus not being invited to the Met Gala. If you missed this headline-consuming story, here’s Stephen Colbert. The second part of the week before last was sponsored by Friday the 17th’s Venus-Saturn square, moving us from the surreal to the very, very real, brought to you by women of steel.

Olympic gymnasts McKayla Maroney, Simone Biles, Aly Reisman, and Maggie Nichols testified before Congress about the wretched failure of the FBI to respond with respect, empathy, and action when they initially reported Dr. Larry Nasser’s sexual abuse (of scores of young women and girls). Maroney’s steely opening statement was an especially apt reflection of the stark realism of Venus square Saturn. It also reflects her horoscope: Sun and other planets in righteous Sagittarius; many other planets in no-nonsense Capricorn. At the time of her initial interview with the dismissive FBI agent (who was recently fired, finally), the potential for anguish was suggested by transiting Saturn conjunct her Pluto.
Albania elected its first female-dominated government.
“More Than 600,000 White Flags Placed on the National Mall Honor Lives Lost to Covid”
“Food Blogger Finds Connections to the Past in Old Recipes”
The US admits error in a fatal drone strike; Heather Cox Richardson writes about the history and use of drones by the U.S., a sobering Saturnian read indeed.
“Lawmakers announce an investigation into fossil fuel companies‘ disinformation efforts.” This one also reflects that week’s Sun-Neptune opposition and the Sun-Pluto trine.
Google, Apple remove Nalvalny app as Russian elections begin
As anticipated, the September 18th pro-former guy rally in D.C. was a total Moon void fizzle.

The first half of last week was dominated by the illuminating Full Moon, the turning point of the Fall Equinox, and Mercury’s first contact with Jupiter (big) and Pluto (potent):

Bombshell revelations were published in Bob Woodward’s latest book, Peril. Especially damning was a memo written by attorney John Eastman which outlined a legal strategy for an attempted coup, if only Vice President Pence could be persuaded to go along with it. We learned that Senators Lindsay Graham and Mike Lee reviewed the memo and didn’t think it would fly, but apparently did not alert their colleagues or law enforcement. We learned that Pence tried to be accommodating, but former VP Dan Quayle told him it wasn’t practical (but didn’t bother to tell anyone in law enforcement, either). Oh, and there was this bit about the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff being so concerned that the former guy might try to nuke another country, that drastic measures to prevent such an occurrence were taken.
Here is what we know about General Mark Milley’s horoscope, and you can see the bombshell about his concerns came out as transiting Mars squared his exact Sun-Mercury conjunction at 26 Gemini. Milley’s horoscope is interesting in that his Cancer Moon, Gemini Mercury, Taurus Venus, and Aries Mars are all in their natural signs of rulership, suggesting that they are exceptionally high-functioning.

Last Thursday’s Venus-Uranus opposition suggested news involving women, astrology, technology, gender-benders, money and/or aesthetics that could be innovative or disruptive.

Alexei Navalny, whose horoscope was activated by last week’s Full Moon, “slammed cowardly Google and Apple” for removing the aforementioned app
Gawd-awful uniforms for the Space Force Guardians were unveiled, “causing a stir.”
Your local astrologer updates her photo to something in living color if Mercury retrograde doesn’t mess it up. Surprise!
German Social Democrats beat conservatives in vote to determine Angela Merkel’s successor
Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau may have been surprised by the results of last week’s election, in which he kept his job, but did not gain the stronger majority he hoped for. We should not be surprised, as Trudeau’s horoscope was eclipsed at the end of May, and his Midheaven (career/public status) will be eclipsed in November and next May.
Surprise! Arizona audit of the 2020 election costs taxpayers millions; concludes that President Biden won by a greater margin than initially reported.
Dr. Alan Braid pens op-ed for WaPo, announcing he terminated a pregnancy in Texas; is promptly sued by two separate out-of-state attorneys, one of whom hopes S.B. 8 will be ruled unconstitutional; Texas S.B. 8 proponents howl in indignation

Finally…

UPDATE: on the search for a new host for Jeopardy! Fan-favorite LeVar Burton announced he is no longer interested in the gig, and his horoscope is discussed in the latest “Charts in the News” column for Mountain Astrologer. I promised my editors I wouldn’t write about the patterns that support this development until the end of the year, but suffice it to say that the interest Burton says he’s received from producers with other opportunities aptly reflects his horoscope, and it will be interesting to see where he’s at by the end of December. If you’d like to read about…

We interrupt this paragraph to inform you that everything that follows after this sentence in italics is a re-creation of what was lost when my computer suddenly crashed. It seems that the power cord wasn’t completely plugged in, and the computer ran out of juice. Don’t let this happen to you, especially when Mercury is retrograde. FOCUS! Also remember to be patient when usually reliable services don’t behave, as Mailchimp is again today (this forecast was scheduled to ship at 4 PM ET!)

Right-o. If you’d like to read about the horoscopes of George Takei, Carl Nassib, Olivia Rodrigo, and Burton, Mountain Astrologer is where you’ll find it. And if you already subscribe, don’t forget to send in the Reader Survey.

That’s it for now. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. We will have a fine discussion together.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

To receive these forecasts

by email,

sign up here.

THE
FORECAST