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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 Thursday 5/21/2015: News, News and More News
/in The ForecastShould be busy. First, the Sun leaves Taurus for Gemini at 4:45AM ET, adding more air to the action and mindset we’ve already got going with both Mars and Mercury in the Sign of the Twins. The keywords for Gemini are “I think.” Geminis are known for their curiosity, diverse interests and the energy that is designed to disseminate information. ,
A meet-up between the Cancer Moon and Venus sounds lovely and nurturing around 1pm ET, but it may also feel intense, given that it will oppose ruthless Pluto at 1:50PM ET. At 8:36PM ET, we may expect a jolt or buzz, as the Moon then clashes with rebel Uranus. At 9:54PM ET we’ll have that Pluto-Venus face-off we’ve been talking about all week.
Busy…intense…and with Mercury retrograde, too…so…check and double check your lines of communication to avoid flipping out over snafus. Moon goes void at 8:36PM ET until 5:42pm ET on FRIDAY. Really — start your Memorial Day weekend early — and chill! If you’re working tomorrow, TRIPLE check everything.
And now, the news — so much of it, that choosing among a truckload of stories has delayed today’s forecast.
We’ve got more potent stories in a Pluto-Venus vein, i.e., concerning big money, empowered women, aesthetics and social expression. First, I’m delighted to report that as anticipated in this forecast, a lawsuit is about to filed against Bill Cosby. Janice Dickinson announced she will sue the comedian for defamation.
I thought I’d written about Ms. Dickinson’s horoscope last fall when she accused Mr. Cosby of drugging and raping her, but apparently not. If I had, I would have noted that Ms. Dickinson’s Saturn (control/karma cop) is conjunct Mr. Cosby’s Mars (action, machismo) in Scorpio, and that her Mars in warrior Aries is conjunct Mr. Cosby’s Ascendant. These connections, along with other potent measurements, suggest she may well be a formidable opponent.
We do not have a birth time for Ms. Dickinson, but I’d wager her Moon is in very early Sagittarius. Thus we could expect an ambitious reach — driven by a righteously opinionated Moon — and prodded by transiting Saturn. Stay tuned…I expect there will be much more to come on this story.
Second, we have a fascinating shift in the world of corruption and high finance, as “5 Banks to Pay Billions and Plead Guilty in Currency and Interest Cases”. The fines are not news, of course, but the “pleading guilty” part is. No is going to jail, however.
Third, another fascinating admission from George W. Bush’s CIA briefer: “Bush and Cheney Falsely Presented WMD Intelligence to Public”. I’ve been anticipating some kind of reckoning for Mr. Cheney this summer ever since I noticed that transiting Saturn opposed his 27 Taurus Midheaven (public status, reputation) last fall and will come close to exactly hitting it again in July. Here’s what happened in December, when that Saturn transit was exact. Plus 27 Taurus, as you may recall, was the degree of Monday’s New Moon, so you can now see an example of what can happen when a horoscope is personally affected. Next year transiting Uranus squares the ruler of Mr. Cheney’s Midheaven, suggesting further changes in status. We shall see.
George W. Bush’s horoscope is also hot. Mars, the ruler of his Midheaven, is under the foggy spell of transiting Neptune. Well, that can be helpful if you happen to be an artist. His 13 Cancer Sun is being hit by Pluto all year; his 16 Libra Moon is being hit by transiting Uranus through 2016…suffice it to say dramatic changes of status are in store.
Meanwhile, it didn’t take long for a headline about someone literally losing their head to hit the wires. A Brazilian journalist who has been missing for several days has been found — decapitated. With Monday’s New Moon conjunct the fixed star Algol, this was expected.
Oh there is so much more. For Pluto opposing Venus: Michelle Obama packs an empowered punch (literally) in a workout video that’s gone viral. A woman named Maria was awarded $83 million by a jury that was not at all happy by a debt collector’s “malicious prosecution” over a debt she did not owe (the actual debtor was a man, who presumably was not named “Maria”).
Oil and “news from underground” are to be expected with Pluto triggered by another planet. There’s a massive oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara; a massive settlement reached involving Transocean, one of the companies that brought us the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and spill a few years ago.
Elsewhere, the organization known as ISIS, IS, ISIL or Daesh has officially conquered new territory. This entity does have a horoscope and it should not surprise you to learn that it has about 50 planets in warrior Aries, three of which are being supercharged by transiting Uranus through the summer. OK, 50 is a bit of an exaggeration. Still, risks, upsets and uncompromising self-assertion are to be expected.
Let’s end on a lighter note. Let’s salute David Letterman, whose departure was perfectly timed, as written about in this forecast a year ago. His final show aired last night. Here are ten of the funniest remote shoots from his 33-year run. Choosing those ten was as challenging as it’s been to choose from the headlines this morning…enjoy!
Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 5/20/2015: Empowered Women and Other Pluto-Venus Musings…
/in The ForecastOne of the fun things you can do when Mercury is retrograde is to go through your Rolodex (how quaint) and REconnect with people you have not seen in months, years, decades….
Try it and let me know what happens.
Writing this during a long Moon void in information-junkie Gemini. The Moon won’t get into gear until 9:56AM ET, when it enters Cancer. That’s when any feelings of “meh” may lift…and the double potential for twists in your efforts to move forward in a straight line may end. Huzzah!
There are no exact aspects today. A Cancer Moon seeks emotional and home(land) security, so projects involving nurturing, Mom, home and patriotism are favored. Do things that show you really care….or make you feel cared for.
Humming in the background is an approaching face-off between Venus in Cancer and ruthless Pluto in Capricorn. That’s exact tomorrow. Hard aspects between Venus and Pluto suggest witchy-bitchy women, or power plays and other deep happenings involving the feminine, money, aesthetics, social expression. Here’s what happened the last time we had this pattern. Use it as a guide for anticipating what we can expect this week…and for understanding what we’re already seeing, like this piece about a bill to grant women in the military greater access to contraceptives. There it is on the home page of the NYT — empowering Venus-Pluto stuff.
So the other week I was talking about some of my favorite maxims, and apparently they were well-received. Would you like some more?
OK, here’s one — for those of you who feel you are involved in a Challenging Relationship Situation: “If you want to know where you’re at, look at who you’re with”.
Whoa.
The corollary is this: “You have to be willing to give up what you do not want.”
Ahhhhh….that last one is oh-so-appropriate for days when Venus and Pluto are especially supercharged…
Food for thought until next time…and meanwhile, if you’d like to discuss your relationship situation from an objective, helpful astro-logical perspective, here’s the 411 on personal consultations (via the preceding link).
Peace out.
Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 5/19/2015: Barack Obama on Twitter; Losing Your Head
/in The ForecastSo how’s your Mercury retrograde going? The wireless driver on my computer died and set me back a couple of hours. But thanks to the magic of Google, I found a solution. All I needed to do was not panic, stay focused and download a new Realtek driver. Take THAT, Mercury retrograde!
Lots of buzz in the air today. Take care of business before 2PM ET and then focus on what is routine, as the Gemini Moon will be void until 9:56AM ET on Wednesday. Don’t turn molehills into mountains of crisis, especially with emotions running so high and wiggy under current planetary patterns.
Yesterday I mentioned the wiggy part, due on Memorial Day. The high emotions will show up now and through the week, as power maven Pluto opposes Venus (social expression, money, women, art) in Cancer late on Thursday. On Friday, we’ve got the annual face-off between control freak Saturn and the life-giving Sun. Sounds like a week of market volatility, for sure.
And now, the news.
I couldn’t make this up if I tried. Within minutes of posting yesterday’s forecast wondering how the darker side of the feminine and themes of “losing your head” would be reflected in the headlines (as suggested by planetary patterns, these items appear. Exhibit A: “Irish-born Samantha Lewthwaite has murdered 400 people…”. Exhibit B: “Saudi Arabia advertises for eight new executioners as beheading rate soars”. Exhibit C: 170 (!!!) people were arrested and charged in Waco, Texas, in the aftermath of a shoot-out among bikers that left nine people dead. Exhibit D: a New York City council member proposed that panic buttons be installed in the backseats of taxicabs.
How does this happen? It’s a mystery. All I know is that it works. I do not know why.
Meanwhile, at 11:38AM, with the transiting Moon in clever, chatty Gemini exactly conjunct his natal Gemini Moon, President Obama launched his very own Twitter account. At that moment, expansive Jupiter (King of the Gods) in regal Leo was conjunct the 14 degree Leo Ascendant — within a couple of degrees of the president’s own Leo Sun. I mean, really. Coincidence or conspiracy? Is there an astrologer in the house?
Oh, and there is technogeek Uranus in the 9th house of broadcasting, trine the Ascendant and Jupiter. Nice. Let the record also show that the Moon was thisclose to warrior Mars. Not a pattern that is likely to mince words, especially with Mercury/Pluto at the prominent Aries Point.
Not so crazy about the Sun, ruler of the chart, being opposed by Saturn, ruler of the 7th (the audience). Not every tweet will be well-received. I guess you just can’t please everybody all the time. Thus I conclude that it is unlikely that the President will tweet the full text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal in 140-character installments any time soon.
Have I mentioned that Mercury retrograde is awesome for reviewing your life with your astrologer? I would be delighted to help you assess your progress over the past three months and make a plan for the future. Here’s the 411 on consultations.
Thank you for reading this forecast.
Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 5/18/2015: New Moon in Taurus; Mercury in Retrograde
/in The ForecastGood Morning!
Moon entered Gemini at 5:27AM ET. A new day, a new week — and five hours earlier, a New Moon. More on that in a minute. High-flying ambition and action designed to tell the world about it are in play, as Moon is challenged by Saturn at 8:49AM ET, followed by a meet-up with warrior Mars at 1:26PM ET.
Hmm. I wrote that line last night, and the headline dominating the home page of the NYT is this: “Obama to Limit Military-Style Equipment for Police Forces”. Excellent, Mr. President. Now when are you going to back off this TPP (doubtful).
Be aware that mental Mercury is at at standstill (from our Earthbound perspective) and will turn retrograde at 9:53PM ET. You can be quite productive during this period of mental review, so no whinging, please.
Did you back up your computers and other electronic gizmos? Good. Will you promise to triple check written communications before you hit “send”? Excellent. Do you swear you will call the restaurant before you meet that important client, just to confirm that it is still there and/or not closed for private party? Awesome. And will you promise to slow down enough to make sure that what you say and what you hear are accurately understood? Great! You’re going to be just fine.
I meant to post this forecast last night, but my computer “mysteriously” froze. I did not get upset. I read an inspiring book and then went to sleep. This morning the computer is functioning as designed.
Contrary to popular belief, Mercury retrogrades are 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. Ya 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 tuning IN. And as you slow down and tune inward, it is vitally important that you re-adjust your FOCUS.
When Mercury is retrograde through June 11th, be prepared for travel delays, scheduling screw-ups, mechanical breakdowns, computer crashes, having to repeat what you’ve just said, misunderstandings, projects from the past coming back for a second look, surprise reunions and having to repeat what you just said.
Adopt a playful attitude of flexibility to whatever twists you encounter, as with void-of-course Moons. Avoid making major purchases (especially mechanical ones). Avoid gossiping and believing everything you hear or read in the papers. Most important, avoid losing patience. Make friends with your inner Zen Buddha instead.
Mercury turns retrograde at 13 degrees of Gemini. If you have a planet or an angle around that degree, you’ll be more personally affected than most. If you know where 13 degrees Gemini falls in your horoscope, that’s the area of your life that will be most stimulated by Mercury’s apparent backward motion.
Do plan on RElaxing, REviewing, REsearching, REorganizing, REgenerating, REconnecting and REcreating. Mercury retrogrades are excellent times to REview your life with your astrologer.
The NYT published a superb article about Mercury retrograde back in January. So encouraging to see a Serious Newspaper run a serious, smart article about astrology. In February, the Washington Post also ran a piece about Mercury retrograde, but with a sensationalist headline. Mercury retrograde “madness”? Give me a break. For potential “madness,” wait until Memorial Day. That’s when we’ll have a fanatical/delusional/starstuck challenge between Neptune and Mars and a challenge in which rebel Uranus shakes up Venus (women, social expression, art, money). But I’m getting ahead of myself.
About this New Moon…
The New Moon in Taurus happened at 12:13AM ET, offering us an opportunity to re-set intentions and goals for the next lunar cycle. Make a list, light a candle, say a prayer. Around May 25th, on the First Quarter Moon, we can expect a challenge to those goals, with appropriate adjustments made. At the time of the Full Moon on June 2nd, we can expect illumination on the success or failure of our goals for the cycle. If we succeeded, we can consciously release our success into our reality; if we failed, we let go of whatever did not work. After the Third Quarter Moon on the 9th, we can review our achievements, tie up loose ends and get ready to begin another New Moon cycle on June 16th.
New Moon in Taurus needs to build material stability and security. So what do you want to have? What do you value? How creative can you get when it comes to acquiring what you want?
There is a dynamic action potential in this New Moon chart, for better or for worse. The Sun and Moon are applying to warrior Mars and controlling/ambitious Saturn. The Sun and Moon are also conjunct the fixed star Algol, which you may remember was prominent in the departure chart of that ill-fated Germanwings flight.
Algol suggests losing one’s head. The word “alcohol” comes from “Algol” — isn’t that interesting? Algol also suggests “immense female passion and power,” as you’ll read in this fascinating piece by UK astrologer Nick Kollerstrom.
The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon at 27 Taurus echoes this overwrought feminine theme: “a squaw selling beads”. “Squaw” is a controversial word. Some say it is derogatory because it means vagina. This is also a point of controversy. But with two powerful symbols of feminine energy that is seen through a distorted lens and is thus feared, I’m curious to see how this will manifest in the headlines.
Sabian Symbol guru Blaine Bovee suggests that “a squaw selling beads” is a image of someone having to take on a job that is beneath her dignity. Is she selling herself short? Why does she have to “sell out”? Bovee also notes that Manhattan was sold for a handful of beads. How interesting to be faced with this Symbol as the aforementioned Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement gains traction in the news.
On the plus side, Bovee suggests this Symbol implores us to consider being true to ourselves. How we can not “sell out”? How can we not throw our precious pearls (beads?) before swine?
And on that note, I’ll close…so I can post this by 10AM ET. Apologies for any typos left uncorrected as a result…
To be continued…
Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 5/15/2015 & the Weekend: It’s A Wrap
/in The ForecastTGIF!
Up with a buzz perhaps, as the feisty Aries Moon meets up with rebel Uranus at 8:03AM ET. A twist in your morning routine may follow, as the Moon then goes void until 3:02AM ET on Saturday. Chill, take care of routine matters and start the weekend early. We’re in the dark side of the Moon — nothing to do but wrap up your projects that started a month ago and prepare for the next cycle. That New Moon happens at 12:13AM on Monday.
Shopping for items of beauty and material comfort may be a distraction on Saturday, with a Moon in cozy Taurus, aided by a artsy alignment between Venus (art, women, money, social expression) and dreamy Neptune at 2:49PM ET. Color the day rose…and keep it that way on Sunday.
No sleeping in on Monday. We’ll have New Moon energy to report on, as well as Mercury turning retrograde at 9:50PM ET. Did you back up your computers yet? Already I’m hearing reports of communication snafus. Slow down, be patient; make sure you heard what was actually said or suffer the consequences. The key to surviving Mercury retrograde is FOCUS. More on all that on Monday.
And now, the news.
Take the militant potential of Friday’s controlling Mars-Saturn opposition and add it to the aforementioned artsy Venus-Neptune alignment exact on Saturday. Then sit there stupefied, when you see how the Fox “news” affiliate in New York City censored the breasts of “Women of Algiers”, the Picasso masterpiece that sold for $179 million dollars earlier this week. Or be further stunned by this one: “ISIS Reaches Gates of Ancient City of Palmyra, Stoking Fears of Destruction”. Then ponder what difference there is, if any, between the thinking behind the acts reported in these two stories.
Update: it is being reported that Brandon Bostian, the engineer on the Amtrak train that derailed earlier this week, has no memory of the events leading up to the crash. A bewildered mindset is what was anticipated in yesterday’s forecast.
In a related story about memory, here’s an interesting item about what witnesses said they saw on during Wednesday’s violent confrontation between the police and a man wielding a hammer. Their accounts do not reflect what was captured on camera. Verrrry interesting indeed. And a good thing to be reminded of, in preparation for this next Mercury retrograde.
To be continued…