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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 Friday 10/30/2015 & the Weekend: Spellbinding?
/in The ForecastTGIF!!
Buzz, buzz, buzz goes the Moon in chatty Gemini, getting off to an optimistic and creative start, courtesy of contacts made to Jupiter and Uranus before 8:04AM ET. Lunch suggests an indulgence or conflict over personal styles, as the Moon is challenged by Venus in persnickety Virgo at 12:49PM ET. Less than three hours later, a potential conflict or push over the perfect way to get that clever message disseminated is suggested by a challenge to the Moon from Mars. Then, peace.
Dominating the day is a potentially healing flow between the deep Scorpio Sun and sublime Neptune in Pisces. Music, arts, spirits and the spiritual are also favored. The alignment happens at 5:06PM ET. Chill — especially if you are on the West Coast — as the Moon goes void at 10:52PM ET, not to enter Cancer until 5:09AM ET on Saturday.
All Hallow’s Eve seems hardly scary. Spellbinding, maybe. Where’s the party? This is only day of the year when I can wear my native costume without raising eyebrows, darn it. What about you?
Saturday’s Cancer Moon suggests a need to focus on home/family/emotional security concerns. It travels without interference until 5:44PM ET, when it, like the Sun on Friday, aligns with nebulous Neptune. Yes, you are free to shop this weekend…for your home, sweet home.
A lovely balance between the Sun and the Moon happens at 7:44PM ET. If there’s any horror to be found, it might happen after midnight, as the Moon is opposed by ruthless Pluto at 3:53AM ET on Sunday. We can expect a jolt, revelation or other upset to the status quo around 11:52AM ET on Sunday, as the Moon is challenged by rebel Uranus.
Humming in the background is a fast-approaching meet-up between Venus (yin) and Mars (yang), exact on Monday at 8:10PM ET. Keep an eye out for your perfect match if you have a planet or angle around 23 degrees of Virgo, Pisces, Gemini or Sagittarius. You’ll need other patterns active in your unique horoscope to pull in a seriously significant other, but this fleeting pattern could be fun.
Moon goes void at 10:35PM ET on Sunday…not to enter Leo until Monday at 10:48AM ET. Slow start to the work week for you East Coasters…
And now, the news.
A serious ambition involving women and/or motherhood hit yesterday’s newswires, as China announced it was officially abandoning the one-child policy it established 37 years ago. Interesting to note a disruptive pattern between the Moon (women, motherhood) and Uranus, as well as a militant alignment between Mars (action) and Saturn (control) in China’s horoscope back in 1978. Also interesting to note that transiting Pluto (transformation) was exactly conjunct China’s idealistic meet-up between Mercury (mindset) and Neptune (vision) in its 8th House (joint assets/values; procreative energy). Now transiting Pluto is just wrapping up a challenging square to that Mercury-Neptune conjunction. If you’re a serious student of astrology, you may find that fascinating.
An easy Sun-Neptune pattern, like the one that will be exact on Friday, suggests the potential for a peaceful flow, forgiveness and redemption. It also suggests the potential for dreamy potions that may not be what they seem. Regardless, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) was sworn in as Speaker of the House, accepting the heavy responsibility suggested by transiting Saturn to his Ascendant, combined with the silver lining of transiting Jupiter (expansion) to his Midheaven (career, status). Elsewhere, Edward Snowden received a righteous thumbs-up as the European Parliament narrowly voted to urge member nations to drop all charges against him and offer him asylum. I will be interested to see what moves he might make in January, June and/or October.
Feels like a slow news day. The NYT is still parsing last night’s Republican debate in op-eds too numerous to mention. Fortunately they posted a video about the search for life on Saturn’s Moons, courtesy of NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, or there’d be nothing else to talk about. If you’d like to know if there’s life on your Moon, here’s the 411 on personal consultations. Yea verily, if your Moon is not feeling productively engaged and appreciated, you’re likely not feeling appreciated, either. I’ll wager that many reading this are not quite sure how this applies. Suffice it to say that it is empowering stuff. There’s a lot more to your horoscope than your Sun Sign, and I would be delighted to tell you all about it.
Happy haunting this Saturday! Don’t forget to turn your clocks back at 2AM Sunday, when Daylight Savings Time ends.
Thank you for reading this forecast.
Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 10/29/2015: It’s Debatable — Again — With a Warm Kiss
/in The ForecastA chatty Moon in Gemini kicks in at 2:24AM ET, driving the day with a need for information, communication and diversification. An ambitious advance or a wet blanket may permeate the morning, courtesy of a face-off between the ever-so-clever Moon and taskmaster Saturn at 8:41AM ET. Communication lines may be blurred or dreamy around 2:11PM ET, when the Moon is challenged by nebulous Neptune. Make sure what you say is clearly understood.
And now, the news.
In the wake of yesterday’s change-resistant Moon in Taurus, engaged as it was in a stability-seeking Earth Grand Trine, let the record show that the budget accord between the White House and Congress (good until 2017) passed, and the Fed declined to raise interest rates yet again.
During the Moon void, let the record also show that a military surveillance blimp “wreaked havoc” when it broke loose, and all that hot air landed somewhere in Colorado, just in time for the Republican debate. OK, I made that up. The blimp landed somewhere in Pennsylvania.
About the debate. Comcast was one of the biggest losers, as it offered no way for voters to watch CNBC– or even listen on the radio or online — without paying. You’d think that’s what the candidates would have bashed the moderators for, instead of complaining that the mainstream media was essentially a Super PAC for the Democratic party…or that some of the questions asked weren’t “nice”.
The debate started late — which should not have worried anyone watching who understood that twists and delays are more likely to plague events during Moon voids. One of the NYT bloggers described it as “non-linear” and noted how many of the candidates did not answer the questions they were asked. Void!
Over at the Washington Times, Jeb Bush was declared a loser, despite initial efforts to score a few punches. Recall that yesterday we noted that Mr. Bush’s Ascendant was eclipsed on September 13th. Let’s see if there’s any effort at recovery on Monday, when transiting Mars and Venus will be exactly on his 23 Virgo Ascendant. Wait — what was that he said about a warm kiss? Perhaps that was his recovery effort…or at least the alluring potential of that transit made manifest — like it or not! If your Ascendant happens to be 21-25 Virgo, you may be feeling especially alluring, too. As it were.
According to the WT, Carly Fiorina did not get any attention, which is interesting, given that she had more speaking time — over 10 minutes — than any of the other contenders. Jeb Bush had the least — ouch. Underdogs Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz were declared winners — by the NYT as well — and I’m thinking transiting Uranus and/or Pluto in their horoscopes are likely reflecting the boost.
Front-runners Trump and Ben Carson were notably lackluster. Mr. Trump’s horoscope has lost much of the razzle-dazzle it enjoyed over the summer. We do not have a birth time for Mr. Carson. It’s a mystery. Would that he fades into the background, so as not to have to think too much about him in the future.
As anticipated by looking at the horoscope for the debate, there were plenty of statements made that were not true. Here is Gail Collins, with her always-cheerful take.
Meanwhile, on Monday you may recall that the Moon was also void all day. Perhaps you may also recall the video that went viral. It involved a “school resources officer” in South Carolina who turned a molehill of a conflict into a mountain of crisis by brutally flipping a student onto the floor because she had refused to put away her cell phone and leave the classroom. That officer was fired yesterday, but apparently this is not the first time his aggressive tactics have been applied.
Perhaps his firing bodes well for Alabama, where a police officer is facing a second trial on charges of violating the civil rights of an Indian grandfather out for a morning stroll, i.e., Walking While Brown. Inexplicably — yet captured on tape — the grandfather was slammed to the ground and ended up in the hospital. Putting this into an astro-logical perspective, history buffs will recall that civil rights was a hot button issue in the mid-60s, when Uranus and Pluto were conjunct in Virgo. Now that Uranus and Pluto are square to each other, we would expect matters that were hot in the 60s to be hot again now. Sure, seeds were planted in the 60s — but now we are finding out if those seeds will flourish. With respect to the United States, its horoscope is experiencing a potentially anguishing transit of Pluto to the US Saturn. It is time for the US to face its dark side.
In other news, Jupiter is halfway through Virgo, so we can expect to see some initiatives on its “small is great” agenda. Here’s one:
Feels like we should end on something that is not political. Of course there is always the friendly reminder that if you would like to better understand yourself in minute detail, a personal consultation about your unique horoscope is a most excellent investment. You’ll be amazed at how much depth can be achieved in 90, 60 or even 33 minutes. Here’s the 411 on all of that.
But what I was also thinking about — along the “small is great” theme of Jupiter in Virgo — was a film made in 1977 called “Powers of Ten”. And if you are certain age, you probably remember it from your school days. Perhaps you thought this nine-minute “adventure in magnitudes” was pretty cool, too.
Thank you for reading this forecast.
Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 10/28/2015: Mind the Void
/in The ForecastMake the most of the early morning’s steady focus, courtesy of a material-security seeking Moon in Taurus. It makes easy connections to Venus (social expression) and Mars (action) before 11:20AM ET, after which it goes void until 2:24AM ET on THURSDAY. Stick to routine matters that involve organizing, consolidating and stabilizing. Chill if you can and indulge in some pleasures of the senses today and into the evening hours. Good food and wine, sweet music and a snuggle would all fit the bill. Go with the flow of any twists that may crop up in your efforts to move forward in a straight line.
If your horoscope was directly affected by the solar eclipse on September 13th, you may have experienced a release in matters relating to the affected planet or angle. This is because Mars is at 20 Virgo, triggering the 20 degree Virgo degree of last month’s eclipse — although let the record show that we often see events triggered before an exact hit. Joe Biden’s Midheaven (career/public status) is almost at 20 degrees Virgo — plus or minus a few minutes. Jeb Bush’s Ascendant (personal projection) is at 23 Virgo — is he coming across as somewhat eclipsed these days?
I have tickets to a concert and won’t be watching the Republican debate, airing on CNBC at 8PM ET. In the debate chart — calculated for 6PM in Boulder, CO — we see the Moon conjunct the fixed star Algol in the First House. Algol has a foreboding reputation in mythology and astrology, conjuring up images of empowered-yet-intimidating women and “losing one’s head”. EarthSky calls it “the scariest star in the heavens”. While the Moon is in the First House, it rules the Fourth House in this chart, which refers to mother, family and home(land) security. We’ll see how that plays out.
Mercury — mindset and communication — is strongly placed, in diplomatic Libra and connecting with the public. The chart is ruled by Venus in perfectionist Virgo, so perhaps we’ll see more decorum than we saw in the last debate…except for the part where someone loses their head over something. There’s a pile-up of planets in the Sixth House, suggesting a focus on process, cooperation, healthcare, unions, work regimes. There’s also an awful lot of pixie-dust, with Mars and Neptune in an obsessive relationship; the reality check of Saturn dissolved by a challenging contact with nebulous Neptune, along with the intense Scorpio Sun.
Hmm. I’m now seeing that Hillary Clinton’s campaign will be airing four commercials during the debate — featuring working women. Fascinating.
Speaking of dissolving, one day I will finally get around to writing about the horoscope for the Republican Party.
OK, more news.
Yesterday I wrote this about Tuesday’s Full Moon:
I was therefore thrilled to see this article on the homepage of the NYT: “The Ambivalent Marriage Takes a Toll on Health”. Of course there would be an added health focus, with three planets — including Venus and Mars about to meet up — in Virgo. The Venus-Mars meet-up (exact next Monday) seems an apt pattern reflecting an update on another symbol of enduring affection. Remember the love locks that threatened bridges in Paris some time ago. They’ve gone global…
Meanwhile, here’s another homepage story about sugar — as was anticipated in the wake of the weekend’s meet-up between Venus and Jupiter. This one says its health threat is vastly underestimated. Make that two homepage stories: “Sugar Market Reform Could Flood EU with Cheap Imports” Coincidence or conspiracy?
In other news, with transiting Pluto opposing the Sun in the U.S. horoscope, we might expect a bit of a power play. “China accused US navy of ‘serious provocation’ after USS Lassen sailed close to Chinese artificial island…” reads the headline in The Guardian. You’ve heard about these artificial islands in the South China Sea, yes? No, it’s not the plot of the new James Bond movie, which just opened in the UK — and is apparently a smash. In the next Bond film, perhaps he’ll figure out how to stop Greenland from melting. That’s the subject of the most-viewed article on the NYT home page at the moment. The Mets and the Royals are still tied…Moon in Taurus…just goes on and on…resistant to change….
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Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 10/27/2015: Full Moon in Taurus; Lots of Virgo in the News
/in The ForecastAlrighty, then!
The Taurus Moon waxes to its fullness at 8:05AM ET. Like the last two Full Moons before it, this is a SuperMoon, meaning that the Moon is closer to Earth than usual, and will appear to be that much bigger in the sky. Thus emotions are also likely running higher than usual. Or so the theory goes.
By the way, I hope you’ve been looking up at the sky in recent weeks, to appreciate Venus, Jupiter and Mars so close together in Virgo — it’s quite a lovely sight.
A Taurus Moon can be quite resistant to change. It prefers to establish material security firmly in its own comfort zone. A Scorpio Sun is interested in jointly-held or shared resources. It is the conflict between MINE and OURS that we may experience in this lunation. If you remember the seeds planted at the New Moon two weeks ago, you may recall it had to do with startling revelations involving relationship. So…more of the same here, with a focus on establishing security.
This Full Moon happens at 3 degrees of Taurus, which considered a favorable placement. It is opposed by the Sun at 3 degrees of Scorpio. So if you have planets or angles at 3 Taurus, Scorpio — and to a lesser extent — Leo and Aquarius, this Full Moon will impact your life more personally. If you don’t know where your planets are, then consult your local astrologer.
The Sabian Symbols for the Full Moon are — for the Moon — “a rainbow’s pot of gold,” and — for the Sun — “a youth holding a lighted candle”. Don’t those sound dreamy? And in fact, we see in the patterns of the Full Moon chart an alignment between the Sun and dreamy Neptune. Yes, something about the illumination potential of this Full Moon borders on the ideal. But are we not “such stuff as dreams are made on?”
Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee suggests we apply these symbols with a mind to “the challenge of the enthusiastic pursuit of reward; balancing dreams that enrich the spirit with appreciating what one already has.” He cautions us against gussying up something of intrinsic value. Isn’t it fine just the way it is? Three planets in Virgo in this Full Moon chart can be so fussy! Hmm…maybe your relationship is just fine, too.
If you like these Symbols and find them fascinating food for thought, get Bovee’s wonderful book. He has plenty of other things to say about these two Symbols, but space and time do not permit me to list them here.
In the 24 hours following the Full Moon, we’ll see a loose Grand Trine among the Moon, Pluto and Jupiter-Venus-Mars — all in Earth Signs. As noted yesterday, a Grand Earth Trine is a pattern suggesting material self-sufficiency and ease of effort in establishing material security. So apply this practical Earth energy to building your monument to material comfort over the next day or so….seasoned with a liberal dash of dreams. This pattern would seem to bode well for the alleged efforts going on in Washington to reach a budget accord without having to default. Nice.
And now, the news.
How interesting that yesterday did begin with a jolt, as anticipated. There was a 7.5 quake affecting Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Another jolt was a health study from WHO, advising that processed meats “rank along smoking as cancer causes”. A Moon void much ado about nothing? It’s not like this news has not been published before — it has. But this was how The Guardian presented the study, which was all over social media. Nobody wants to give up their bacon! Later that day, it was fascinating to see how the NYT told the story, with these words in the first paragraph:
Have you read The China Study yet? It was billed as “the most comprehensive study of nutrition ever conducted,” and it’s a page-turner. Darn these three planets in Virgo — and especially Jupiter, which suggest the potential for expanded awareness in matters of health, nutrition and food processing.
Last week I noted that with Venus meeting up with Jupiter over the weekend, I wondered if we’d see a story involving diabetes or some other health matter involving sugar. And in fact, we did see one on Monday, dissecting and criticizing (how very Virgo) a study published last month which concluded that honey was no better than high fructose corn syrup and sugar. What the article did not say is who funded the study that dismissed honey.
Meanwhile, women’s hygiene products are also homepage news in more than one paper in more than one country. Venus (women) conjunct Jupiter (expansion; good fortune; excess) in Virgo (health, hygiene)…with probably a little bit of the adjustment suggested by a current tense pattern between Venus and Uranus (revelation; freedom). Wanna hear these stories? Of course you do. “Under Pressure, Feminine Product Manufacturers Disclose Ingredients” is one. A second is this one:
Hear that? Rebellion! And while we’re Going Down There, and since we’re also talking about rebellion, check out the innovative tactics that one woman used to singlehandedly disperse a protest outside her local Planned Parenthood on Sunday. That’s what happens when you mix the wacky lightning bolt of Sunday’s Mercury-Uranus opposition with a pile-up of chick-friendly planets in Virgo.
Also making news in the world of women (Venus) and abundance (Jupiter): Wellesley College (my alma mater) announced it has received a gift of $50m, the largest in the school’s history. Huzzah! That’s pretty big — and the timing is perfect, given planetary patterns. What’s also perfect is Wellesley’s launch of its biggest fund-raising campaign, too. My money says they will meet their goal of $500m. Go Blue!
Astrology is amazing. What’s going on in your horoscope? I can’t believe you do not want to know. Taking 90 minutes of time to put the significant events in planetary perspective is a worthwhile investment. Why? Because patterns repeat themselves, and if you’re facing a challenge or an opportunity now, we can see how you handled events under similar patterns. This inspires clarity and confidence, and it’s much cheaper than therapy. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.
Thank you for reading this forecast.
Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 10/26/2015: Sneak Peek at the Week
/in The ForecastGood Morning!
Planetary patterns suggest an upset or jolt to the start of the work week, as the me-me-me-get-there-in-a-hurry Aries Moon meets up with rebel Uranus at 6:57AM ET. Ninety minutes later the Moon opposes mental Mercury and then goes void until 2:07AM ET on TUESDAY. What is a Moon void? Look here.
Stick to routine matters, even as ye may feel the rising tide of emotions as the Moon waxes to its exact fullness Tuesday at 8:05AM ET. During voids, impulsive purchases are ill-advised, as is finalizing critical decisions. Avoid the temptation to turn a molehill into a mountain of crises. On Tuesday, when the Moon is in security-seeking Taurus, the vibe is sure to be much calmer, especially in the evening and wee hours heading into Wednesday. Why? Because the Taurus Moon will form a loose Grand Trine among Pluto in Capricorn and Mars, Venus and Jupiter in Virgo. A Grand Trine consists of three or more planets in an equilateral triangle formation. You remember your high school geometry, yes? In Earth Signs, a Grand Trine suggests a material self-sufficiency which some might call good luck.
The only other planetary pattern this week that does not involve the Moon happens on Friday, with the Sun in Scorpio forming an easy alignment with rose-colored Neptune. This suggests various shades of rose, peace, healing and sublime spiritual experiences. Those are some potential upsides….and let’s just focus on that for now.
Other Moon voids for the week: Wednesday from 11:20AM ET until 2:24AM on Thursday; Friday from 10:52PM ET until 5:09 AM ET on Saturday.
I was away from the news for much of the weekend — can you believe it? Will be back with that tomorrow.
Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. If you haven’t checked in with your astrologer in over a year, you’re due for a check-up…
Thank you for reading this forecast.