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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.

Monday 8/21/2023: Sneak Peek at a Big, Wiggy, Potent, Serious Week; MERCURY goes RETROGRADE
/in The ForecastAlllll righty then!
Moon is in Libra, driving the day with a need for fairness, balance, and diplomacy in relationship. It is not technically void, but because it spends much of the day traveling without input from the other planets, our sense of the passage of time may be affected. If it feels like it’s moving like a lonnnnng stretch, I would understand.
And while it’s August, and many may be on vacation, planetary patterns are still driving plenty of action. Highlights this week:
It goes like this:
A pause, while we discuss the Mercury retrograde phenomenon and what it means for YOU:
Mercury turns retrograde at 22 degrees of Virgo…and retraces its steps all the way back to 8 degrees. It turns direct on September 15th and arrives at 22 Virgo again on September 30th. Since August 4th, Mercury has been in its “shadow phase.” The shadow phase refers to the distance Mercury traveled since the 4th — and will now retrace, while retrograde. Once Mercury turns direct, it will again be in a “shadow phase,” as it retraces old ground for the third time. Mercury covers new ground and leaves its shadow phase on September 30th. Clear?
Note that Venus, Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto are all currently retrograde. Mercury joins them this week; Uranus turns retrograde on August 28th, and Jupiter turns retrograde on September 4th. There is nothing unusual about all these planets retrograde, so please ignore any mainstream media hysteria about it, OK? Retrograde planets suggest it is time to stop looking outward, as in stop projecting the fulfillment of your agenda on other people. Now is the time to TUNE IN (and maybe even TUNE OUT). The potential here is that — having taken time for REview and REorganization — you’ll feel ever so much more refreshed and ready to move forward, especially when the inner planets (Mercury and Venus) turn direct.
Back to the Forecast;
And now, the news.
Here’s the correct link for that court ruling about the Venus Rx “lookback window.”
Here are two stories aptly reflecting the Libra Moon’s focus on fairness, relationships, and equality, against the fast-approaching Venus -Jupiter (royally big!) and Mars-Neptune opposition (weird, on the one hand, and a fizzling approach with respect to action, perhaps, on the other).
Wait — did I just type “weird?” I did, and check out the headline of this NYT op-ed, posted today:
So here’s a post I stumbled across on Twitter this morning, whose author wants us to know that, last night:
Second, there was OUTRAGE about the Women’s World Cup finals, because no one from the British royal family (or government) took time to attend the game, even though the LIONESSES (i.e., the UK team) were playing. Prince William – who has been president of England’s Football Association since 2006 – has apologized for the snub…but really…do you think he would have missed that game in Australia if the men’s team were playing? Crikey! England lost to Spain, 1-0, btw.
Third — which is potentially good news for human actors and writers who are currently on strike:
Additionally:
The disruptive potential of last week’s Sun-Uranus square, added to the above, along with the easy flow of innovative/technological energy suggested in last week’s trine between Mars and Uranus, and this week’s trine between Mars and Pluto can be seen in:
Did you know that it takes Uranus 84 years to revolve around the Sun? And that the freaky Tropical Storm Hilary that flooded Mexico and Southern California yesterday was the first in…84 years? And that the (downgraded before landfall) hurricane came with an earthquake (Uranus is associated with seismic activity). The latest on Hilary can be found here.
A big Venus retrograde review of spiritual values is seen in this piece, currently the most-read op-ed in WaPo:
It is my hope that I will have time to post a forecast before Wednesday’s Republican debate, talking about the horoscopes of those participating. Hopefully you’ll find plenty to inform and amuse you until then.
Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. I look forward to helping you see the astro-logic of everything happening in your own personal world, and providing insightful coping strategies.
Thank you for reading the forecast — and sharing it with others.
Mercury keeps watch over Lviv. Slava Ukraini!
Saturday 8/19/2023: Weekend Update; Venus Retrograde in the News; Mercury Retrograde Alert
/in The ForecastHere’s a quick reminder of the weekend forecast, and a brief news round-up:
SATURDAY:At 7:53 AM ET, Moon shifts gears into Libra, now seeking fairness and balance in relationship. Once again, we have another lonnnnnng stretch of the Moon traveling without interference in a sign. This time, the snowball rolling down a hill may be turbulent, as the Moon is in an Air Sign. High winds and tumbleweed? Thoughts in a tizzy? Plenty of hot air? It goes and goes and goes like this until….
No sleeping in on Monday, if you’re working next week. The Libra Moon will not be void, though it will be back in another long stretch of no input from other planets, building to a power play or catharsis around 4:19 PM ET, when Moon squares Pluto.
As we move through this weekend, headlines will begin to reflect these patterns, exact on Tuesday:
Meanwhile, Mercury is slowing to a virtual stop, preparing to turn retrograde on Wednesday at 3:59 PM ET. BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS NOW. Wednesday is August 23rd, the date of the first Republican presidential candidates debate. It’s also the first day of the Sun in Virgo, starting at 5 AM ET. I’ll have more to say about all that in the next Forecast.
And now, the news.
Reflecting the build-up of air suggested by the weekend’s runaway Moon in airy Libra):
Elsewhere…
I can’t remember ever seeing the words “aesthetic injury” in a court ruling, but these words are apt for a Venus retrograde. Venus refers to aesthetics, and a retrograde planet is considered debilitated — and arguably injured. Another word for a retrograde planet — according to traditional astrologers — is “imbecilic,” and I’ll let you decide if that fits, too.
Meanwhile…
It wouldn’t be a Venus retrograde without one or more attention-grabbing celebrity break-ups.
“Lookback window” is another apt reflection of Venus retrograde (combined with Rx Saturn, Rx Neptune and Rx Pluto), as in:
Meanwhile…
I meant to share this story earlier this week as an example of Venus-Sun square Uranus shock and Venus Rx overkill — literally.
Finally…
Heather Cox Richardson has the latest on the historic summit of the leaders of South Korea and Japan, hosted by President Biden at Camp David. In an earlier post, she notes other expansive efforts at global cooperation, in sync with planetary patterns noted on the Summer Solstice, and the overall patterns in the 2020 Great Mutation in Aquarius, now supercharged by transiting Pluto.
Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. Mercury retrogrades are an excellent time for a REview of your life.
Thank you for reading this forecast — and for sharing it. Referrals are the best.
Sunrise at Haleakala National Park in Maui
Tuesday 8/15/2023: Late Sneak Peek at a Dramatic Week: Sun-Uranus Square; the Latest Indictment and More…
/in The ForecastAlllllrighty then!
Still more buzz, buzz, buzz in the air, especially in the early part of the week. We have:
Meanwhile, Mercury is already in its shadow stage, as it prepares to go retrograde next Wednesday, August 23rd. There will be NO WHINGING about these essential opportunities for review, reorganization, and relaxation. Just make a note that your fine actions this week may be up for a second look later this month. Don’t panic!
It goes like this:
A pause, while we look at the chart for this New Moon in Leo, set in Washington, D.C.:
Observations:
Back to the daily Forecast:
No sleeping in on Monday, if you’re working next week. The Libra Moon will not be void.
And now, the news.
I salute Beth Owl’s Daughter, whose Tarot Card of the Week for August 7th — the 9 of Swords — zeroed right in on the potential for sorrow and loss. While the headline of my Forecast anticipated that fire would be a major theme, beginning over the weekend of August 4th (“Burn, Baby, Burn”), I did not think too deeply about how precious a resource might go up in flames. Turns out it wasn’t just precious. It was paradise.
The bird sanctuary is in Makawao, Maui, one of my favorite places. If you’ve been a guest in my New York Zoom room, you’ve seen Makawao — and the road to that bird sanctuary — in the painting on the wall behind me. I have many pieces of art from Hawaii. I have sat under Lahaina’s 150-year-old banyan tree.
We do have start times for the first fire reported on Maui (12:15 AM local time on 8/8/23 in Kula), and later, in Lahaina (6:37 AM local time). The charts look like what you’d expect: the Venus (in fiery Leo) – Uranus square falls on the angles. We know these events are shockers. Not only that, but in the chart for the Full Moon in Aquarius sets in Lahaina, we see Mars right on the Ascendant. Mars refers to action and attack. It is fascinating that the Sabian Symbol for Mars at 14 Virgo is “a family tree.” Yes, “the branching roots of heritage,” says Blain Bovee. Much has been written about the historic significance of Lahaina, once the capital of the Hawaiian kingdom. And then there is that banyan tree.
Perhaps meteorologists and astrologers will work together one day…
Meanwhile…
…there is hope. We have a ruling in a case discussed in Episode 4o of Off the Charts: A Stellar Newscast, and if memory serves, the ruling is as anticipated:
Oh, lookie…as I type, the former guy is being indicted again…as anticipated…in Georgia. Thirteen felonies, including RICO charges. RICO charges are very serious, carrying a mandatory sentence of five years, as Heather Cox Richardson explains. The Fulton County grand jury indicted TFG and 18 others for trying to overthrow 2020 Georgia election, reports Tamar Hallerman. The 18 others include Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Jeffrey Clark, and Kenneth Cheseboro — all familiar names in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s four-count indictment recently filed in Washington DC. Not indicted — surprise, surprise — was Senator Lindsey Graham. Perhaps he is one of the 30 unnamed and as-yet unindicted co-conspirators. Meanwhile, karma finally caught up with Mark Meadows, in the form of transiting Saturn (karma) opposing his ruthless Mars-Pluto conjunction — in effect through the end of the year. If you can’t remember who these alleged co-conspirators are, Greg Olear has prepared this helpful primer.
We do not have a birth time for Fani T. Willis, the DA who is prosecuting this massive case. She was born on October 27, 1971 in Inglewood, CA. Scorpio Sun, driven by Moon in Aquarius, suggesting high ideals, visionary ambition and lofty goals. As a Scorpio with Mercury and Venus also in Scorpio, Willis cuts to the quick. It is notable that she refers to the primary defendant as Donald John Trump rather than Donald J. Trump (his preference). The connection between Willis and TFG is obvious. Her Mars opposes his Mars and squares his Midheaven — his career and reputation. This is a provocative connection, and her assertive energy may be payback from a past life, if one believes in such things. Her South Node is conjunct TFG’s Pluto, suggesting a fated connection involving ruthless power plays.
You can read her 98-page indictment here.
So far, astrology has accurately anticipated a reckoning for TFG this summer, directly related to the extreme efforts made to overthrow our democracy in 2020. Looking ahead, we see potential for a significant disruption in matters of career and reputation, with potential for geographic relocation. That pattern — transiting Uranus conjunct Midheaven — starts in July 2024 and continues into early 2025.
In other news…
Stories reflecting last week’s squares between Sun-Jupiter (big!) and Venus-Uranus (unconventional women and others) were discussed in Episode 47 of Off the Charts: A Stellar Newscast. Not discussed, but worth mentioning here are:
Meanwhile…
Sun’s square to Uranus (seismic action; aviation disruptions) sponsored this one…
…and here are plenty of other disruptive headlines on homepage of the Guardian this morning:
In other news…
Paul Krugman is an economist who writes for the NYT. He gets it right more often than other pundits, and I wrote about his horoscope in 2011 (!). In his latest he explains “How (many) economists missed the big inflation.” But since Krugman isn’t an astrologer, he can’t tell you that what economists also failed to consider was the June sextile between Jupiter in Taurus and Saturn in Pisces. This is a stable alignment between two planets whose Great Conjunctions every 20 years plant seeds for business cycles. With Jupiter in Taurus, the energy of expansion needs to preserve the status quo and calm things down. Saturn — the energy of contraction and structure — in Pisces must play by Jupiter’s rules, because in traditional astrology, Jupiter rules Pisces. Saturn is essentially a guest in Jupiter’s domain. Clear?
Elsewhere…
I’ve been expecting news about Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter this month, and sure enough, their grandson has provided an update. And because all of these patterns involving Uranus are full of surprises, it turns out that the update given by Hugo Wentzel (Amy Carter’s son) was in an exit interview on the game show Claim to Fame.
Here is Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card for this week. I’m delighted to see that after taking several months off, she’s teaching classes again. Hooray!!
As for astrology, here’s the 411 on personal consultations. We will have a productive and enlightening discussion together.
Thank you for reading this forecast — and sharing it with friends.
.
Monday 8/7/2023: Sneak Peek at the Week; Surprise, Surprise; Cazimi Venus & More
/in The ForecastAllllllrighty then!
I’m feeling optimistic at the start of this week, even with a few surprises in store.
Here are the highlights:
Here’s how it goes:
No sleeping in next Monday. The buzz is far from over. The Moon will be in Leo — not void — and the Sun will be supercharged by its square to Uranus on Tuesday. We anticipate upsets in the world of technology, leaders of state and business, seismic action, aviation, and astrology. Not only that, but we’ll be in the balsamic phase of the Moon, which is ever-so-accommodating for meetings behind closed doors.
Here is Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week, which offers a more sobering take on this week’s inevitable buzz…with coping strategies if the buzz is keeping you up at night.
And now, the news.
It’s worth bearing in mind that the last time Venus was retrograde in Leo was July-August of 2015. Planets move in cycles. These cycles are reflected in mundane events. Therefore, mundane events move in cycles, too. Here’s what was going on in the U.S. eight years ago — from the archives of this Forecast.
Last week, the focus of the aforementioned subject of that 2015 post was indicted and arraigned for the third time, but on a different set of charges. Yes, Donald John Trump, a Gemini with Jupiter trine his Sun, can’t help but be diverse in his chosen expertise. This set of charges aims to hold him accountable — possibly along with six unnamed co-conspirators — for conspiring to defraud the United States, conspiring to disenfranchise voters, and conspiring and attempting to obstruct an official proceeding. This indictment is directly related to his attempted coup on January 6, 2021. This is significant astro-logically because the attempted coup happened during certain planetary patterns in his horoscope that were repeated on July 15th. That’s how a skilled mundane astrologer could zero in on the last half of July as a time for karma to do its karmic thing, and if you’ve been reading this Forecast for more than a year, you saw it coming, too.
If you’d like to listen to the details on the timing of last week’s arraignment, and the horoscopes of Jack Smith (the prosecutor), Tanya Chutkan (the judge), and Ginni Thomas (you’ll find out why when you listen), check out Episode 46 of Off the Charts: A Stellar Newscast. This one is not exclusively for patron subscribers, and in it you’ll also hear co-host Whitney McKnight and I tell you about two useful life hacks that — in the spirit of Venus retrograde — could be good for your bank account.
As I am typing this Forecast, media company Paramount Global announced it is selling book publisher Simon & Schuster to KKR, a private equity firm, for over a billion dollars. File this story under the “big news in publishing” potential of Sun square Jupiter; Mercury trine Jupiter, combined with the disruption reflected by Venus square Uranus. Also reflective of these patterns:
Remember how last month’s New Moon in Cancer was notable for its square to Eris, Goddess of Discord? Turns out that around the time of the First Quarter Moon, a new Covid mutation — EG 5.1 — took hold in the UK. It’s nickname: Eris — and now, in the aftermath of last week’s illuminating Full Moon, Eris is making headlines. Coincidence or conspiracy?
UPDATE: on imprisoned Russian dissident Alexei Navalny. His horoscope is in a daunting period of development, with hard aspects to Saturn from transiting Pluto through 2024, and transiting Neptune in contact with all the angles of his horoscope. It’s hard to see hope for relief in the near-term future, and over the weekend, as Mars squared his Sun-Neptune opposition (a potential attack on vitality), he was given another 19 years of jail time for his “extremism.” Here is a write-up of Navalny’s horoscope.
UPDATE: on Lizzo, whose horoscope was last written about in October 2022. In what we believe we know about her horoscope, we note that her powerful t-square involving Mars, Pluto, Sun, Mercury and Jupiter was eclipsed last November…and triggered in recent days by transiting Jupiter. Translation: a curtain falls…or a genie jumps out of the bottle…in a big way! Not only that, but it’s likely that Venus stationed retrograde on her Leo Ascendant, drawing our attention to how she needs to be seen. Not only that, but it’s likely that transiting Uranus is on her Midheaven, disrupting her public status. So what happened? From the Guardian: “Lizzo: singer who shot to fame calling out bullies accused of being one.”
What’s going on in your horoscope? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. Yes, I take horary questions. Yes, I’d be delighted to speak to your group, company or any other gathering. Astrology is amazing!
Thank you for reading this forecast — and sharing it with your friends.
An ancient statue of Venus gets a modern facelift, courtesy of unconventional Uranus
Tuesday 8/1/2023: Late Sneak Peek at the Week; Full Moon in Aquarius; Burn, Baby, Burn
/in The ForecastHappy Full Moon in Aquarius!
We can expect a surge of energy and a flood of sobering illumination at the beginning of the week, potentially ending with a grand indulgence. Key patterns this week are:
That’s it.
Here is the chart for the Full Moon in Aquarius, set in Washington, D.C.:
Observations:
Back to the Forecast:
No sleeping in on Monday. The Moon will be in Taurus — not void — working to calm things down.
Here is Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card for the Week — always in sync with planetary patterns. It aptly reflects the practical realism of today’s Full Moon.
And now, the news.
If you’d like to listen to an astro-logical take on last week’s sobering news about Israel, Mitch McConnell, Sinead O’Connor, check out Episode 45 of “Off the Charts: A Stellar Newscast,” with my co-host Whitney McKnight. Yes, this episode is for patron subscribers, and here’s what Avid Reader/Listener Jane has to say about it:
Jane’s question is answered in the Comments section of the episode. Episode 46, which will air on Friday, will be available to all listeners, not just patrons. Please subscribe, leave comments and enjoy!!
As for more news…
…historian Heather Cox Richardson’s latest is a wonderful validation of observations made in this Forecast over the years. On July 29th, she devoted her Letter to President Biden’s focus on foreign policy, as anticipated in the 2023 Summer Solstice chart, and in plenty of earlier posts about Biden’s 12th house Sun (working deals behind closed doors, with an insider’s perspective), reaching out to be of influence in matters of foreign affairs, legal theory, higher education, and other collective belief systems. Biden’s Scorpio Sun rules his 9th House.
Last night, she continued to list President Biden’s successes, focusing now on the US economy, and quoting a couple of professorial analysts:
The continued comparison of FDR to Biden is music to my ears, which you would understand if you’d read my August 2021 Charts in the News column for Mountain Astrologer. Astrology is amazing.
Meanwhile, HCR notes another story that is perfectly in sync with planetary patterns. Mars refers to motor vehicles. It’s trine Jupiter, suggesting an easy flow of action, for better or worse. Mercury is opposing Saturn, suggesting sobering news. Venus is retrograde, refers to money, and is in-between two upsetting squares to Uranus. Yesterday, the trucking company Yellow filed for bankruptcy, putting at least 30,000 out of work. This story stinks — and further study of the astro-logic is merited — but you can find out why the story stinks in this bit from CNBC. But basically, hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars (i.e., COVID loans) were given to Yellow after key players in the former guy’s administration intervened…over the objections of the Defense Department, which was suing Yellow on allegations of fraud when the loans were made in 2020.
Elsewhere…
In anticipation of the jackpot potential of this weekend’s Sun-Jupiter square, here’s a story about 11 women in India who collectively bought a three-dollar lottery ticket and won the equivalent of $1.2 million dollars.
Meanwhile…
Practically every story in the Sunday New York Times was heavy stuff about cuts, losses and streamlining (Mercury opposing Saturn = heavy). This article is about streamlining, but with a helpful bent:
Finally…
...I added a few fun things to this website. I used to have another website which hosted my portfolio of movie posters, Must-See TV NBC radio spots, and other goodies from my past life in film and TV marketing. I decided to close that site and move a few favorites to a new page here. It’s called PAST LIFE…and there you have it. Those were the days…and they were good ones.
Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. We will have a fun and productive discussion together. Yes, I am available for speaking engagements. I love explaining how astrology works to people who have not studied it.
Thank you for reading — and sharing — this Forecast. Referrals are the BEST!