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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.
Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday & Thursday 7/13-14/2016: Vetting Potential Veeps; Game On
/in The ForecastThe work day is driven by the intensity of Moon in Scorpio, seeking depth and substance in its quest for world domination. It’s aided and abetted by a smooth connection to dreamy Neptune at 4:47PM ET. Easy connections to other planets continue into Thursday, with a buoyant alignment with Jupiter at 7:23AM ET, followed by another to the Sun at 2:45PM ET, suggesting balance.
Thursday evening, however, is marked by a meet-up between the Scorpio Moon and Mars at 6:22PM ET, suggesting focused and penetrating action re: that Scorpio need for mastery. Moon then immediately goes void, not to enter the next sign — Sagittarius — until 5:14AM ET on FRIDAY. Chill on Thursday evening.
Of note today (Wednesday) is Mercury, which leaves Cancer for Leo at 8:47PM ET. This shift, along with the ingress of Venus yesterday also into Leo, is certainly contributing to the spotlight currently shining on Governor Mike Pence of Indiana. Pence is apparently one of three candidates — along with Newt Gingrich (written about in Monday’s updated forecast) and Chris Christie — that Trump is considering for VP.
Pence has Venus and Mars at 0 and 3 degrees of Leo, respectively. Both will be receiving a brief dose of popular buzz this week, courtesy of transiting Mercury and Venus — and also the Sun, when it enters Leo on Friday. Hmmm. Pence’s horoscope comes equipped with pixie-dust and snake oil, similar to the stashes we see in the horoscopes of Trump, Christie and Gingrich. How so?
Surely we must be now talking about Neptune, since we are talking about pixie-dust and snake oil. Yep. Pence has Neptune square to his regal, “get away with murder” Venus-Mars in Leo. Trump has Mercury (the way he needs to think; communication) square Neptune. Gingrich has Sun and Moon square Neptune, along with an obsessive aspect between Neptune and Mars. Christie’s Neptune is in a self-contained bubble with Mars and Jupiter in a defensive pattern known as a Grand Trine.
Neptune is an essential ingredient in any creative vision. Too much of it can be hard to manage. Hillary Clinton has one aspect to Neptune in her horoscope — a “soft” aspect to Neptune from Mars. It pales in comparison to the level of Neptune in these other horoscopes. If she had a strong Neptune, perhaps she’d be seen as more inspiring or visionary. Barack Obama has Sun square Neptune — more problematic, suggesting challenges in figuring out exactly who he is. But it also explains why he successfully ran his first campaign on one word: HOPE. Speaking of hope, do you think Bill Clinton — the man from Hope, AR –might have a heavy Neptune influence in his horoscope? And of course the U.S. has Mars square Neptune in its horoscope…
While we’re looking at similarities among these Republican VEEP prospects, consider that both Trump and Gingrich are Geminis with Moon in Sagittarius; Christie is a Virgo, likely with Moon in Sagittarius; Pence is a Gemini with Moon either in Cancer or Gemini, probably the latter. What’s the big planetary pattern that’s been at play over the past bewildering couple of months? A T-square among Saturn in Sagittarius, Jupiter in Virgo and Neptune in Pisces, with the Sun, Venus and Mercury in Gemini occasionally dropping in to turn the T-square into a Grand Cross.
Back to Governor Pence, whom Trump took on a trial run as a prospective running mate yesterday. In the words of the Washington Post’s James Hohmann:
A good question, and welcome to the lessons taught by the Mutable Signs: Gemini, Sagittarius, Virgo and Pisces. Here’s the blurb I wrote about them back in June, along with the Mutable Grand Cross. Mutable Signs are also called double-bodied signs. They are changeable and adaptive. Some might say they are evasive and/or totally two-faced. Hillary Clinton’s Moon in is Pisces. Perhaps people who have called her evasive – and worse in that vein — are responding to the potential for fluctuation a Pisces Moon suggests.
Hohmann continues:
So what else is going on in Pence’s horoscope to reflect the potential for a sudden surge? His Jupiter at 24 degrees of Scorpio, where Mars has been sitting for almost two months now, energizing his need for expansion and reward. Not only that, but he just had the third expansive hit of transiting Jupiter to his Gemini Sun last month.
We don’t have a birth time for Mike Pence. Data: June 7, 1959 Columbus Indiana. Even without an exact birth time, I’m not convinced he’s the “attack dog” running mate Trump says he wants, as he apparently told the Wall Street Journal yesterday. The horoscopes of Christie and Gingrich suggest they would make more effective snarling canines. Without an exact time confirmed for any of these candidates, we can’t speculate for sure, but of the three, Gingrich’s horoscope seems hotter going into 2017.
How did I end up on this long political track?
UPDATE as of July 14th: Contrary to what he told the WSJ, Trump said in a subsequent interview that he was NOT looking for “an attack dog.” Fine, then choose Pence. Right now rumors and other alleged leaks report that Mike Pence WILL be his VP pick — here it is on the NYT — while still acknowledging that with all the mutable energy in Trump’s horoscope, not to mention the prominence of his bewildering and potentially duplicitous Mercury-Neptune square, maybe it won’t be Pence who finally makes the cut when the VP pick is scheduled to be announced Friday at 11AM ET. Next week, when Trump accepts the Republican Party nomination, the Leo Sun will meet up with Pence’s Venus (apologies — in an earlier version of this post, I said that would happen on July 15th). OK, the NYT didn’t really cite those astrological observations in its reportage. Then again, it did refer to Trump as “mercurial”…and he is a Gemini, ruled by Mercury…
UPDATE: Trump announced on Twitter that Pence was his pick — around 11AM ET on the 15th.
Let’s talk about Pokemon Go, the app that was launched in a week in of tech buzzy/superpowered planetary patterns among many planets, on a day with Moon in playful Leo. What did you launch last Wednesday, July 6th? This game, which mixes real life and virtual reality, is going gangbusters in U.S.; Nintendo’s stock is through the roof. There’s so much press about it that it feels like the game has been around since forever, even though it’s only been a week.
With all that’s going on in the world, it’s understandable that people would welcome an escape, especially one that makes the “real world” seem more fantastic. I’d argue that the U.S. is especially receptive to anything that paints the world as a magical place, given transiting Neptune currently making contact with the U.S. Ascendant. Neptune-Ascendant phases can be surreal, disorienting, bewildering. Here are some thoughts…and here are some others…on Neptune in the U.S. horoscope now.
Astrology can also be a magical experience. What’s going on in your horoscope? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. We will have an excellent discussion together.
Thank you for reading this forecast.
Astro-logical Forecast for Monday & Tuesday 7/11-12/2016: Sneak Peek at the Week; Rudy, Newt & Meanwhile, Across the Pond…
/in The ForecastGood Morning!
The work week begins with the Moon in Libra, where it has been since Sunday at 4:32AM ET. Its need for social graces, harmony and balance in relationship flowed without interference yesterday, save perhaps for a mental buzz or startling revelation suggested by Mercury in a supercharged connection with innovative Uranus and energetic Mars, exact Sunday night at 10PM ET and Monday at 3:29AM ET. What was the big brainstorm?
On Monday, the Libra Moon’s need to keep the peace is challenged by Pluto at 12:46PM ET and by the Sun at 8:52PM ET. The former suggests emotional intensity and power plays. The latter is the First Quarter Moon — suggesting a challenge to the New Moon agenda you set last Monday. Another upset is suggested on Tuesday at 5:30AM ET, when Moon opposes Uranus. But you’re used to these weekly clashes among the Pluto, Uranus and the Moon, right?
Moon goes void on Tuesday at 11:01AM ET, on a charged connection with Mercury, suggesting communications that may result in a much ado about nothing crisis during the long void. At 11AM ET tomorrow, Bernie Sanders is scheduled to formally endorse Hillary Clinton. Moon enters the next sign — Scorpio — at 4:52PM ET, seeking depth, substance, control and perhaps a bit of self-indulgent moodiness.
Planetary patterns of note this week include Venus (social expression) and Mercury (thought and communication) both leaving nurturing Cancer for drama queen Leo. For the next few weeks, it’s showtime! Venus enters Leo at 1:34AM ET on Tuesday; Mercury follows at 8:47PM ET on Wednesday. They both meet up with a rose-colored opinionated roar on Saturday at 6PM ET.
At 9:30AM ET on Saturday, the Cancer Sun will be challenged by rebel Uranus, possibly reflecting the other shoe dropping after the intense power plays of last Thursday’s opposition between the Sun and Pluto. Also on Saturday just before midnight ET (11:45PM), we’ll have an easy flow between the Sun and Mars, operating efficiently in Scorpio. May it be used for better, not for worse.
Your Moon voids for the week — natural breaks in the action when efforts to move forward in a straight line may be impacted by curious twists and flakes — are as follows: Tuesday 11:01AM ET – 4:52PM ET; Thursday 6:22PM ET – 5:14AM ET; Sunday 4:57AM ET – 3:33PM ET. Remember that crises that crop up during voids are often much ado about nothing. Stick to routine concerns and chill!
And now, the news.
Since I’m writing this under the influence of Monday’s erratic Mercury-Uranus square, these items will be suitably provocative, brilliant and in no particular order.
Speaking of erratic, Rudy Giuliani. Why is he all over my newsfeed, where he hasn’t been since March of 2015, when he hijacked my forecast? Back then it was transiting Mars at the Aries Point, putting pressure on his Aries Point Midheaven and Ascendant. Yesterday it was transiting Mars again — at an exact square to his regal Leo Moon, prompting a blah blah blah about #BlackLivesMatter being “inherently racist” and that we really need “boots on the ground” to fight ISIS — presumably so long as those boots are not his own. Wow, that was so helpful, Mr. Giuliani. Thank you!
With his natal Mars in Leo (where it may well get away with murder, as astrologer Grant Lewi once observed, placed so close to Pluto, we can appreciate his penchant for forceful, imperious action. Hillary Clinton also has Mars conjunct Pluto in Leo (and even more intricately involved in her persona). Oh, but there is more with Mr. Giuliani. His bewildering 2015 Neptune-Sun transit is behind him, and now he has Solar Arc Midheaven and Ascendant in nearly exact contact with his natal rebel Uranus all year. This suggests opportunities and needs for taking the stage, shining in the spotlight and perhaps a dramatic new direction in his career/public status. Let’s watch.
UPDATE: On July 14th it was announced that Mr. Giuliani will be one of the speakers at next week’s Republican Convention.
I am kicking myself for not posting this next one last night, when I started drafting it. You’d be kicking yourself too, if you were experiencing transiting Saturn square Pluto, but that’s another story. THIS story is about the fact that in the aftermath of last Thursday’s Sun-Mercury-Pluto power play, combined with the chick-friendly upset of Venus, challenged by rebel Uranus and give-me-a-place-at-the-table-or-I-will-tear-your-head-off Eris, Britain is absolutely, positively going to have a woman running the show as prime minister. Which one of two possible contenders was to be decided on in September….but…
With all of last week’s intensity, I stepped away from the headlines for a few days. Finally got around to following up on the birth data for the two women — Andrea Leadsom and Theresa May — last night. Didn’t read a single story about them — just looked at the charts, birth times unknown. First thought: wow, they are both so conservative…with Ms. Leadsom’s horoscope striking me as a bit more militant. And this confused me, because I momentarily forgot that the UK has a parliamentary system of government, which means the political party that is in power elects the prime minister. It’s not like in America, where candidates from different parties compete for the top slot in a general election. The party in power in the UK right now is the Conservative Party; ergo, we’d expect its members to have horoscopes reflecting this potential.
Theresa May (Oct 1, 1956 in Eastbourne UK), is having a Jupiter return, so I thought that gave her an edge over Andrea Leadsom (May 13, 1963 in Aylesbury UK) who true to her name, did have a lead as of last week. True, the make-it-happen needs of Ms. Leadsom’s Capricorn Moon might be supercharged by transiting Uranus or Pluto…or fired up by solar arcs from the Sun and Mars. Can’t tell without an exact time. Transiting Uranus has been intensifying Ms. Leadsom’s pioneering Venus at 23 Aries — and that will continue through the rest of the year. But Theresa May’s Jupiter return is happening right now at 17 Virgo…and transiting Jupiter will meet up with her Libra Sun in October. That looks good for expansion, don’t you think?
So this morning it was reported that Ms. Leadsom has suddenly (translation: transiting Uranus likely hit something in her horoscope) withdrawn her candidacy, and there was a kerfuffle over the weekend about Ms. Leadsom saying she was more qualified to serve as PM because she was a mother. Ms. Leadsom was against Brexit; then she supported it (more erratic rebel Uranus at play in the horoscope, likely). Ms. May, in contrast, favored staying in the EU. Ms. May, with her solar arc Neptune at the Aries Point, could be poised to blossom as a visionary over the next year or so. That would be a high-octave manifestation of the potential of Neptune.
UPDATE: There was no waiting until September. The third hit of Ms. May’s Jupiter return was July 6th. On July 13th, she was invited by the Queen to become Prime Minister and form a government. As expected, Theresa May accepted. Here is the photo of the new Prime Minister and the Queen.
Meanwhile, over the weekend the Moon was in Virgo — as noted in the last forecast — encouraging you to clean up your act at least through Saturday. The NYT facilitated your organizing efforts with a lengthy piece about Marie Kondo, whose Kon-Mari system of decluttering continues to take the world by storm.
Elsewhere, I’m delighted to report that Isabella Rossellini has been rehired by Lancome. Ms. Rossellini was fired twenty years ago because at 43, she was declared to be too old and thus of no monetary value — and that’s when I stopped buying Lancome products. Plenty of women between 45 and 60 are likely to treated as if they’re worthless in the workforce, says Ms. Rossellini. Her re-hire by Lancome is happening just as Jupiter (ruling her outspoken Sagittarius Ascendant) is meeting up with Uranus by solar arc. Here is her horoscope. We could expect a lucky break for her right about now. Welcome back, Ms. Rossellini!
A solar arc, for Avid Readers who are new to astrology, is one way astrologers use to measure the timing of opportunity and events in a horoscope. So whenever you see the words “solar arc,” just think, “Ah! An opportunity presents itself.” Got that? Same thing with the word “transit” or “transiting.” It means “this is an opportunity to work with the potential of whatever planets are making contact/transiting one another.” Clear?
Continuing to reflect last week’s powerful, dirt-exposing potential, especially on behalf of women who are mad as hell and aren’t going to take it any more (last week’s Venus square Uranus-Eris): after Gretchen Carlson filed a lawsuit accusing Fox News head Roger Ailes of sexual harassment, six more women told similar stories — going back decades — with more presumably to follow. In the NYT, a former trader weighed in with this expose, “How Wall Street Bro Talk Keeps Women Down.” In other news, Bill Cosby was informed that a lawsuit charging him with sexual assault will go forward, true to patterns in his horoscope continually noted in this forecast, and despite multiple efforts on his part to delay the inevitable.
Meanwhile, Newt Gingrich is getting a lot of press for being a potential Republican VP nominee. I’ve written about Mr. Gingrich several times in the past — way back in 2012 when he announced his run for president. Even back then I noted how much he and Donald Trump have in common: they are both Geminis with Moon in righteously opinionated Sagittarius, with no small amount of visionary or simply fantastic pixie-dust to sell. This year, Mr. Gingrich’s horoscope — with its unconfirmed 11:45PM birthtime — is poised for zealous and formidable action, regardless of the time. How so?
First, consider a solar arc between Mr. Gingrich’s Sun and Uranus, exact at the end of June. This suggests an opportunity to shine as himself and be accepted. Second, consider patterns between Mars (action!) and Pluto (empowerment), as well as the Sun and Mars, suggesting the zealous and formidable action — needing to seek a broad public reach — noted above. These are patterns in effect through the rest of 2016. In 2017, if the 11:45PM birth time is correct — and this is a BIG if — we see a potential for recognition and reward that comes along rarely in a lifetime (solar arc Sun = Midheaven), combined with a definite windfall/big break potential suggested by transiting Uranus to his natal Jupiter. Definitely one to watch over the next year. Sun refers to life force/ego identity; Midheaven refers to career/status.
Much more to report, but after four hours of indulging my passion for astrology and my need to be of service with this careful research and writing, it’s time to wrap. If this forecast adds value to your life — in more ways than, say — the $7.99 you’ve been giving to Hulu every month for a subscription you never use, I invite you to cancel that Hulu subscription and invest that energy into something that brings you joy and a helpful perspective. I will thank you from the bottom of my heart. The big gold DONATE button is on the left-hand side of this page. Thank you for letting me know that this forecast is worthwhile.
Meanwhile, if you’d like to find out what’s going on in your own personal horoscope, I invite you to schedule a consultation. Here’s the 411 on my updated services page.
Thank you for reading this forecast and for sharing it with your friends.
Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 7/7/2016: Mind the Regal Void; Hell in the Headlines
/in The ForecastAlll-riighty then!
The Moon in regal drama queen Leo went void at 8:06AM ET, setting the stage for a whole day of play, pomp and circumstance, or insufferable much-ado-about nothing grandstanding. What a lovely backdrop for FBI director James Comey, who will explain to Congress this morning why he did not recommend filing criminal charges against Hillary Clinton for 1) using a private email server; and 2) not being entirely truthful about it, etc. etc. etc. The clean-up crew doesn’t arrive until 6:41PM ET, when the Moon shifts backs into gear in discerning Virgo.
Adding color commentary to the drama are three other exact patterns as follows:
Your mission is to roll with the flakes and twists which may derail your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Crises that crop up during voids are often blown way out of proportion and then fizzle out with a big “never mind.” Deal with it with a playful spirit; show a roaring/sulking drama prince or princess a little appreciation; that should help calm things down. If there’s no drama to deal with, then play as you focus on routine tasks or simply chill.
And now, the news.
Along with many other violent headlines around the world, it is tiresome and upsetting to read of yet another African-American killed by police officers here in the United States, captured on tape by a civilian. Earlier this week, 37-year-old Alton Sterling was shot in Baton Rouge. There’s a fascinating and redemptive, ruthlessly investigative “news from underground” element, reflecting today’s Mercury-Sun-Pluto tension, as the person who filmed that incident was not a random bystander. Last night in Minneapolis, a 32-year old man named Philando Castile ended up dead after being pulled over for having a broken tail light; his girlfriend livestreamed the aftermath on Facebook. This heinous incident prompted Minnesota governor Mark Dayton to state:
Back in February of 2015, transiting Pluto was exactly square to Saturn in the U.S. horoscope:
Transiting Pluto is now retrograde at 16 Capricorn, just two degrees away from the U.S. Saturn at 14 Libra. Pluto will be exactly at 14 Capricorn in September and October, putting more pressure on the need for the U.S. to adjust its perspective on how fair and balanced (Libra) we are in terms of law enforcement (Saturn). The Guardian has been keeping track of the number of people killed by police since January of 2015. This year, 275 Caucasian people have been killed, compared to 132 African Americans. Did this statistic surprise you? Now look at the stats per million: 1.39 to 3.23, respectively.
Not specific to the U.S. are a couple of other volatile patterns worth remembering, as you peruse the news. First is Mars, now direct in Scorpio, in an uncomfortable aspect with freakishly erratic Uranus and destructive Eris — all month. Second is a midpoint pattern noted here back in March:
This Saturn/Pluto midpoint = Aries Point pattern has been in effect since January 2016 and will continue through the rest of the year. It may help your perspective and processing of the upsetting events in the headlines to see them as a reflection of a collective agreement to focus on the anguishing skeletons we might prefer to keep in our closet. This is an opportunity to bring those skeletons into the light, so they may be healed. That is the potential upside.
The Saturn/Pluto midpoint at the Aries Point was discussed in the context of an individual’s horoscope back in 2014.
In other news, fired FOX anchor Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment suit against Roger Ailes. Smart of her to wait until after Mars turned direct. In the UK, a 2.6 million
year-longword report based on a seven year-long investigation concluded thatFinally, file this one under yesterday’s hugely idealistic hook-up between Sun and Mercury in Cancer (family, nurturing), Venus trine Mars (sexual energy/union) and a regal Leo Moon. Charles Chaput, the Archbishop of Philadelphia, declared this week that couples who divorce and then remarry should not have conjugal relations. Now just what sort of patterns do you think we’d see in his horoscope to suggest, “on WHAT PLANET, your Archbishopness?”
Born in Concordia, Kansas on September 26, 1944 — birthtime unknown, the Archbishop has the Sun EXACTLY conjunct Neptune in relationship-focused Libra, thus needing to deny/dissolve ego energies, along with the rest of the material world. This is as screamingly rose-colored as it gets. Also in Libra: Venus and Mars, adding to the Libra need to avoid conflict at all costs. As for why he might need to impose this need on the rest of the Free World, we see Saturn (control, authority) in Cancer (family, emotional security) either running wild or starkly opposing a Moon in Capricorn, a sign not known for emotional intimacy, but awesome when it comes to figuring out the best way to use people and things for practical purposes.
Astrology is amazing. What’s going on in your horoscope? To schedule a personal consultation you will find enlightening and enjoyable, here’s how to contact me.
Thank you for reading this forecast and sharing it with others. Referrals are always appreciated!
Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday & Beyond: Sneak Peek at the Week; Hillary Clinton: Elizabeth Gilbert
/in The ForecastGood Morning!
I hope you had a festive and restful holiday weekend.
The Cancer Moon is void of course until 12:28PM ET. There’s your excuse for a slow or late start to the work week. Did you note your dreams? An easy alignment between Mercury and Neptune, exact at 8:20AM ET may infuse the day with an intuitive/visionary, rose-colored glow.
Until the Moon engages in Leo after noon, stick to routine matters; roll with whatever twists and flakes disrupt your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Remember that crises which crop up during voids are often much ado about nothing. Chill! Once the Moon gets into gear, the focus shifts from emotional security/nurturing concerns to a need for creative self-expression, with fire and no small amount of showmanship. How can you shine — and help others shine, too — over the next three days?
Lots of exact planetary patterns this week, fueled by the seed-planting energy of Monday’s New Moon in Cancer. Refer to the last forecast for thoughts on that.
On WEDNESDAY, the day begins with a stabilizing alignment between the Leo Moon and Saturn. Great! This suggests a disciplined and constructive focus to all that love-love-love-me-do Moon in Leo potential. At 4:17PM ET, Venus in Cancer aligns harmoniously with Mars in Scorpio, suggesting a rare ease of expression between matters of yin and yang. At 11:24PM ET, the Cancer Sun meets up with Mercury, suggesting another layer of rose-colored vision on top of today’s Mercury-Neptune alignment.
On THURSDAY, the Leo Moon goes void at 8:06AM ET, not to enter Virgo until 6:41PM ET. What will be reflecting the excitement? Two exact aspects happening between 8AM and 10:30AM ET — the influence of which may be felt all week — along with a third at 6:24PM ET. The Sun and Mercury will be opposed by Pluto, suggesting power plays, news from underground, a greater-than-usual emotional intensity. One fitting story in the NYT this morning is an expose– thanks to one brave whistleblower — about corruption and shoddy workmanship at a so-called “clean coal” power plant in Mississippi that is billions over budget and years behind schedule. Who’s at fault? The Usual Suspects in the Pluto-in-Capricorn Powers That Be. Here are some headlines from past Sun-Pluto oppositions.
The third exact aspect of note on Thursday is a gender-bending challenge between Venus and Uranus, exact at 10:24AM ET. Venus-Uranus aspects suggest unconventional attractions and other innovations; free-spirited and/or volatile artists, women and financiers — possibly reflected in the day’s obituaries, too.
On FRIDAY, the analytical power of the Virgo Moon is boosted by an easy connection between Mercury and Jupiter, suggesting communication of a big idea. Pitch it in the earlier part of the day, as by 3PM the Moon will be challenged by Saturn, suggesting a wet blanket or other authoritative block. On the upside, a Moon-Saturn challenge may be just the critical input you need to effectively revise your strategy. The work week ends with a dreamy/bewildering face-off between the Moon and Neptune at 5:11PM ET, perhaps facilitating indulgent bar tabs at happy hours all over the East Coast.
Get up and get going on your plans for world domination — intuitively, deliberately, steadily. No need to rush about madly. If planetary patterns aren’t enough to convince you, check out Beth Owlsdaughter’s Tarot Card of the Week, pulled a few days after I posted the New Moon forecast. I just love the synchronicity of these cards. And I am deeply appreciative of the shout-out, too. Thank you, Beth!
And now, the news.
The weekend’s Balsamic Moon — the end of the lunar cycle — favoring actions that may be hidden from light — was an excellent time for the NYT to run a story about President Obama’s late-night work habits, don’t you think? Biggest scoop, according to media outlets around the world: seven salted almonds. Sigh.
This just in during the Moon void…view it as a surprise twist or an item of little consequence. The FBI does not recommend filing charges against Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server. I say “little consequence” because whatever you may think about Mrs. Clinton has likely not changed as a result of the FBI’s decision. I will also say that her horoscope — with an unconfirmed birth time of 8:02AM — does not suggest a major upset at this time (that would have been in March, perhaps reflected with Bernie Sanders – surprise, surprise — nipping at her heels). On the contrary, today we see transiting Sun in Cancer in harmony with her natal Venus in Scorpio; we see transiting Mercury (information/communication) exactly trine to her Scorpio Sun. Looks like a day of good news and sunny appreciation to me.
Elsewhere, Elizabeth Gilbert — the author of Eat, Pray, Love — announced on Facebook that she and her husband were splitting up. If you believe in true love, you may be crushed. How could this happen? Certainly we can see the potential for a break, given patterns on her birth date — July 18, 1969 in Waterbury, CT (birth time unknown). Cancer Sun; Moon in perfection-seeking Virgo. Sun conjunct Mercury. Transiting Uranus is putting pressure on Ms. Gilbert’s Sun and Mercury — likely in the form of a need for greater freedom of expression and communication.
We don’t know the exact degree of her Virgo Moon, but it may well be in a hard aspect to her Venus in Gemini, which is definitely under the streamlining influence of Saturn through this fall. Moon-Saturn and Venus-Saturn transits can be isolating and stark…but the silver lining is that out of the sense of lack or loss, a plan for advance may emerge. Finally, we see in her horoscope another pattern between Pluto and Saturn which was exact last month and in effect for most of the year. Pluto-Saturn measurements nearly always suggest hard work required under threat of loss, often with anguish. The NYT report on the split notes that there were hints months ago that this decision was not a sudden move.
Pluto-Saturn transits are relatively rare events, but you’re bound to have one sooner or later. When are you scheduled to have yours? I’d be happy to tell you in a personal consultation. We will have an excellent discussion together — and here’s the 411 — updated over the weekend.
Thank you for reading this forecast.
Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 7/1/2016 & the Holiday Weekend: New Moon in Cancer; Dream On
/in The ForecastTGIF — and here’s to a glorious holiday weekend!
Moon entered chatty Gemini at 7:44AM ET, where it will buzz through the day without interference. At 3:18PM ET, an easy alignment between Venus and Jupiter — the planets associated with good times and good fortune — adds its special brand of joy to social interactions. This may soften the brunt of any witchy-bitchiness you may have experienced last night, when Venus (women, social graces, money, beauty) was opposed by powerjunkie Pluto.
Wiggy and potentially harsh challenges to the Moon happen overnight in the Americas, as the Moon is opposed by stern Saturn at 2:03AM ET and squared by Neptune at 3:26AM ET. Take note of your dreams upon waking on SATURDAY. Expansion and exuberance are suggested around 12:15PM ET, as Moon is challenged by jolly Jupiter, perhaps influencing your Saturday shopping sprees. With no Moon void, you’re free to snap up bargains as you see fit.
Moon goes void at 11:43PM ET on Saturday and enters Cancer at 9:20AM ET on SUNDAY, a few hours before a harmonious alignment between the Cancer Sun and visionary Neptune. This alignment adds a rosy-glow to the whole weekend…and yea verily, to the seeds ye shall plant on the New Moon in Cancer, which will be exact on MONDAY.
Just remember that before we get to the New Moon, we’ll be in the balsamic phase of the lunar cycle — a time to wrap up projects and contemplate your list intentions you will set anew on Monday. You can also plan that secret meeting or rendezvous during the days when the Moon is dark. We may feel listless or restless, sensing that something is about to begin — but we don’t know what. But hey — it’s a weekend — and a holiday weekend for the US and Canada — so lazing around a bit shouldn’t cause too many problems, right?
The New Moon will be exact MONDAY at 7:01AM ET at 12 degrees of Cancer. Light a candle, make a list and set your intentions for the next lunar cycle.
The Moon functions well in Cancer, the sign it rules. Here it seeks to fulfill a need for emotional/homeland security Y’know, core foundation 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?
We are challenged this month to think creatively and deeply about these core foundation concerns. Don’t like what you’re standing on — or standing for? Sending the wrong message, are you? Then use the penetrating perspective of this particular New Moon to act accordingly.
Patterns in the New Moon chart suggest strong potential for an amplified, empowering flow of feeling and action, involving personally idealistic/visionary ideas and a rebellious push for tolerance of unconventional social expressions/attractions. That’s how I’m translating those patterns into plain English: Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus together in Cancer; opposed by Pluto (amplification; resources) and trine to Neptune (vision); Venus trine Mars (action) and square Uranus (surprise upsets outside the “norm”).
Mars – now direct – is moving forward slowly and deliberately. Follow its lead; steady as you go. The steadiness can keep you grounded in the face of whatever upsets may challenge your agenda – and here I would be thinking of events around Wednesday and Thursday, when three of the most intense and disruptive patterns will be exact: Mercury and Sun opposed by Pluto; Venus squared by Uranus. A gender-bender of some sort…and more.
The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon is one we haven’t talked about since the Full Moon in July or 2012. It is “one hand slightly flexed with a very prominent thumb.” Hmmm…an inflexible thumb suggests someone with a stubborn will; a slight flex suggests a bit of accommodation, but not much. Accentuating the thumb — with a ring, for example — is usually an indication of anger issues. We become angry when we perceive that our will is thwarted or otherwise blocked. Anger is a keyword related to Mars. So are desire and action.
Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee writes: “Imagine a lecture coming to an end. This is a moment signaling a show or approval or dismay about what has been said: thumbs up or thumbs down.” And adds: “sticking your thumb out may be an attempt to hitch a ride…join in a crowd in a shared experience….It depends on your bent: thumbing your nose…or being under the thumb of a particular binding belief or opinion.” What an interesting Symbol for a month in which the two major political parties will finally host their respective conventions and formally nominate their presidential candidates. Thumbs up or thumbs down? Think it will be an easy call?
Bovee advises us “to be alert for a willful insistence regarding what counts as correct expression; proper speech; true belief. Look for characteristics of resolve, conviction, inner strength; or inflexibility; unyielding in one’s stance; fixed in one’s beliefs…(and) consider the spiritual significance of the opposable thumb.” Spiritual significance: only primates and humans, the allegedly most evolved species on Spaceship Earth, have an opposable thumb. I don’t know about being “most evolved,” but the opposable thumb certainly gives humans a much greater range of potential when translating desire into action.
What I wrote in that Full Moon forecast posted four years ago is worth repeating now:
And now, the news.
ITEM #1: Mars (cars) turns direct. Mercury (information) hits the Aries Point, suggesting prominence. Uranus and Mars are in an uneasy connection, suggesting explosive action and accidents. Thus it was revealed this week that on May 7th, a driver testing one of Tesla’s self-driving cars was killed when the car’s computer failed to distinguish a white 18-foot trailer truck against a “bright spring sky.” I don’t know what time the crash occurred, but the Moon was void all morning, and in an approaching face-off with Mars when it entered Gemini at 12:34PM ET. The Moon was also combust — i.e., blinded by its close connection to the Sun, unable to reflect light (and greater visibility).
ITEM #2: Pluto (netherworld) opposes Venus (women, aesthetics). In the last forecast, the value of annual pelvic exams was questioned in a report making headlines. Hours after I posted it, the NYT ran a trendy piece informing us that more and more women are waxing their nether regions, for reasons that are “baffling” doctors. Planetary patterns at play — or is it simply bikini season? It is the fourth most-viewed article on the home page now.
Avoiding politics like the plague today. There will be plenty to talk about later this month. Let’s be expansive and dreamy, suggested by harmony among the Sun and Neptune, and Venus and Jupiter. On Monday, NASA’s Juno spacecraft arrives at Jupiter after a five-year journey. What do they hope to find?
And what would you hope to find in an equally stellar exploration — i.e., a discussion of your horoscope? Now that Mars is moving forward, what is your action plan? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.
Thank you for reading this forecast.