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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 Monday-Wednesday 9/15-17/2014: Sneak Peek at the Week
/in The ForecastGood morning!
The work week begins with a buzz of supportive planetary patterns that can facilitate efforts related to communication and information-gathering, courtesy of the Moon in pixie chatterbox Gemini. Innovation is favored, as the Moon connects with rebel Uranus and mental Mercury at 7:13AM ET and 12:52PM ET, respectively. As noted in my last post, the Third Quarter Moon at 10:05PM ET suggests an energetic push or insight regarding whatever illumination you received on last week’s Full Moon. Mull it over without turning it into a mountain; the Moon goes void at that time, not to enter the next sign — Cancer — until 11:24 AM ET on Tuesday.
With the Moon in the sign of the Crab, the need of the day is emotional and/or homeland security. Consider issues of home, patriotism, motherhood and a chicken in every pot. What nourishes your body, feeds your soul and makes you feel safe at home? Do you even have a home? A vision about these matters may well be yours around 10:35PM ET on Tuesday, when the Moon makes an easy connection to rose-colored Neptune.
Wednesday’s planetary patterns are more dynamic, as the Moon makes its weekly contact with the Uranus-Pluto square, a.k.a., the Planetary Pattern Everyone Should Be Talking About. Moon opposes Pluto at 9:05AM ET, suggesting a potential emotional catharsis or power play — for better or worse. Moon squares rebel Uranus at 5:38PM ET, suggesting a potential disruption, innovation or other upset — again for better or for worse.
Your Moon voids for the week, other than the one that begins tonight: Thursday 2:38PM ET unti 11:10PM ET and Sunday 12:33AM ET until 11:54AM ET. Use the voids to take care of routine matters and/or chill. Avoid shopping sprees, as impulse purchases made during voids have an odd way of proving to be not nearly as useful as you thought. Avoid finalizing plans, signing contracts and making mountains out of molehills.
And now the news.
One potential expression of the healing, empowering potential of Sunday’s trine between Venus (love, social expression) and Pluto (regeneration, potent) was duly reflected in this story about Pope Francis marrying couples who had co-habitated and/or had children outside of marriage. In other news, a look at how successful Germany and some other countries have been as they ditch conventional energy sources for solar, wind and other renewables. Read the article and note how many times the words “disruptive” and “transformation” are used; those are keywords for the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square. Elsewhere, a city in Vermont is pleased to announce it is now running on 100% renewable energy — how cool is that?
Speaking of disruption, have you heard about the short film called “Disruption”? It’s about climate change — and was produced to build awareness for the so-called Peoples’ Climate March happening this Sunday the 21st in New York and other cities around the world. I opined some years ago that climate change — and what we must do to stop trashing our planet — would be the biggest shift in awareness to come out of the disruptive dance Uranus and Pluto have been doing since 2011….and will continue to do for another year or so. You can watch the 52 minute film here.
I’ll be back from Japan and available for personal astro-logical consultations on Saturday. See you on the other side of the International Date Line…
Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 9/12 & the Weekend: Postcard from Tokyo; Obama Update
/in The ForecastKonbanwa from Tokyo!
Yesterday’s flight during the mostly all-day Moon void was uneventful, save for an early AM technical smartphone glitch which rendered by Uber app inoperative, causing a momentary much-ado-about-nothing panic as I searched for car service for a car service with an available driver to pick me up, stat. At the airport, I opted out of the whiz-bang techno body scanner machines, as I always do, and the TSA patdown lady was very sweet and far too young to have experienced a time when there were only metal detectors — or even no metal detectors at all, and passengers were greeted by loved ones directly at the gate. I know this because we talked about it, and my intention was to make our interaction as pleasant and human as possible. Our conversation made me wistful and sad, especially since I was flying on 9/11. I wondered if any human will ever be greeted by a loved one at an airport gate again…or at least in my lifetime.
It’s actually Saturday morning here, but it’s still Friday night in the Americas. The Moon is holding steady in security-seeking Taurus, and lunar aspects are harmonious and upbeat, if a bit indulgent. Let the sensual delights commence!
Moon cruises without interference until 6:24AM ET Saturday, when it is challenged by dear Saturn, everyone’s favorite wall or wet blanket. Push through whatever rained on your parade and keep your end goal in sight. Balance is restored with a sigh at 9:31AM ET, when the Moon goes void of course until 2:26AM ET on Sunday. Take care of routine tasks; avoid the malls and yard sales and chill, chill, chill.
By the time you wake up on Sunday, Moon will be in chatty Gemini, gathering and sharing information that may have more of an emotional depth and healing potential than usual, given an easy connection between loving Venus (arts, money, women, social expression) and potent Pluto, exact at 10:33AM ET. Note the potential for dreamy bewilderment around lunchtime, as Moon is challenged by nebulous Neptune at 1:05PM ET. Great for a day at the museum or your meditation temple; not so great for instant clarity, unless it shows up in the form of sublime intuition.
No sleeping in on Monday — the Gemini Moon will be buzzing happily until 10:05PM ET, supercharged by the 3rd Quarter Moon. Other planetary news of note: on Saturday at 5:57PM ET, action hero Mars leaves intense, effective and oftentimes vengeful Mars in Scorpio and enters high-flying Sagittarius. When it comes to action for the next few weeks, the sky’s the limit, especially when it is challenged by nebulous Neptune on the 21st. Who said anything has to be practical? Mars-Neptune aspects, especially in Sagittarius-Pisces, love a good razzle-dazzle show, whether it’s on Broadway or pitched by your local snake oil salesman…or guru…or fanatic. There’s gotta be a vision — often based on the loftiest ideals and collective beliefs. The challenge is whether is based on anything real. Watch the headlines for showstopping actions and opinions…from the sublime to the ridiculous to the quite possibly deranged.
And now, the news.
Take last week’s sublime rose-colored face-off between Venus and Neptune and mix it with mental Mercury’s engagement with rebel technogeek Uranus and transformational Pluto and you’ve got a perfect recipe for the launch of Apple’s latest ground-breaking products. In other news, George Zimmerman made headlines again — in yet another raging social expression — as predicted he would continue to do until transiting Pluto finishes its square to his Libra Sun later this year. Even then, the over-the-top emotions are likely to dissipate any time soon, thanks to Pluto also challenging Venus, which refers to social expression. Triggering the bombastic entitlement expressed in this latest outburst: transiting Mars in Scorpio squaring his Venus in royal Leo. Here’s his horoscope — birthtime unknown.
Elsewhere, President Obama gave a speech in which he said he would expand military actions intended to defeat ISIS. The speech began just two minutes after the Moon went void on Wednesday night. In Aries, sign of the warrior. Hmmm. When we last looked at Obama’s horoscope, transiting Mars (action/war) had just squared his Aquarius Ascendant. What did he do? Authorize military strikes. On Wednesday, transiting Mars was conjunct his Scorpio Midheaven, suggesting more assertive action — likely quite public. Add this to transiting Saturn now squaring his Ascendant, and we would expect to see a heavy authoritative hand, likely operating under considerable pressure. Check. And with Saturn ruling Obama’s 12th house (secret enemies, self-undoing, critical illness, government institutions and stuff kept tightly under wraps), we can expect that actions taken now are perhaps based on criteria of which we know naught…or at least not much.
Your mission, should you choose to accept, is to have a lovely weekend. Thank you for reading this forecast.
If you feel like you’re in a crisis or a bit of a rut, rest assured you’re not alone. We are living in very interesting times, That being said, a personal astro-logical consultation can provide you with clarity and confidence.
Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday – Thursday 9/9-11/2014: Full Moon Fallout
/in The ForecastNon-stop sirens and honking horns all day yesterday, as the Moon waxed to a lush, ripe fullness last night. What was going on in your neck of the woods? Did you note your dreams yesterday and this morning?
Moon continues its sojourn through soulful, empathic Pisces for most of the day. A positive application of energy is suggested for whatever task you’re on as the Moon makes a harmonious connection to an especially effective Mars in Scorpio around 3:09PM. Then it goes void for a few hours, offering the chance to focus on routine matters and/or chill. Get it off your desk before the void, as actions initiated during voids are more likely to be delayed or have no consequence. And don’t forget to VOTE!!!
Empowered revelations and news from underground are suggested in the headlines, as mental Mercury engages once more with the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square. Today it makes contact with ruthless Pluto at 6:38PM ET; it opposes rebel technogeek Uranus on Saturday. Combined with other patterns in yesterday’s Full Moon, these stories seem especially relevant: first, a former portfolio manager at the notorious SAC Capital was sentenced to nine years in prison for insider trading.
Second, football player Ray Rice has finally been booted off the Baltimore Ravens’ roster, after a graphic video showing him punching his then-fiancee in the face and knocking her unconscious went viral. Is this one of the wounds to our collective psyche this Full Moon’s contact with wounded healer Chiron is seeking to release and cleanse? Do we really believe NFL bigwig Roger Goodell never saw this video until yesterday? Why was it OK for the Baltimore Ravens to Tweet several months ago that the fiancee in question took responsibility for her alleged role is having the living daylights knocked out of her? And why the heck is she defending her husband now? What’s up with those Venus-opposing-Neptune rose-colored glasses? And why do Americans love football so much? Don’t they know how dangerous and damaging it is? Astrologer Bill Herbst has written a compelling article about the Uranus-Pluto square and its impact on professional sports in the U.S. He’s written a lot of compelling articles, and I owe him a debt of gratitude — and also to astrologer Rockie Gardiner, who told me about Herbst so many years ago.
At 7:33PM ET, Moon shifts gears and charges into RAMbunctious Aries. That should carry us through a dynamic day of action and initiative tomorrow. Some of it may be bumpy, as the Moon makes contact with Uranus and Pluto, but overall, thoughts and communication will likely be flowing freely and spirits will be high. Moon goes void Wednesday at 8:58PM ET….not to enter the next sign, Taurus, until 9:17PM ET on Thursday. Rule #1 for coping with crises that crop up during Moon voids: consider that they may well be much ado about nothing. There’s a tendency to make mountains out of molehills during voids, and said mountains have a way of going “poof” once the Moon is back in gear. Case in point: CNN was in total alarm-freakout mode last Friday when the unfortunate pilots of a private plane lost touch with air traffic controllers and veered off course towards Cuba before crashing in the Caribbean. I saw it while standing in line at my credit union and thought, “Man, this is some mountain…”
Other news, in the wake of this Full Moon: weddings and impending births — the lush, ripe and dreamy potential of a Harvest Moon, combined with the romance of Venus opposed by Neptune. Neil Patrick Harris got married. So did two women in their 90s who have been together for over 70 years. The Duchess of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales are expecting another child. Hooray!
It’s nice to end on a positive note, don’t you think? Yesterday the Senate passed what could be the beginning of a meaningful effort to overturn Citizens United with a constitutional amendment. Did I mention there may be a primary election in your state today? Don’t forget to vote!
If you feel like you’re in a crisis or a bit of a rut, rest assured you’re not alone. We are living in very interesting times! That being said, a personal astro-logical consultation can provide you with clarity and confidence. I look forward to a fine discussion with you about your horoscope.
Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 9/8/2014: Full Moon in Pisces – Practically Ideal or Totally Wigged Out?
/in The ForecastNote your dreams upon waking, as the Pisces Moon conjoins visionary Neptune at 5:09AM ET. Intuition, feelings and other sensitivities are likely on the rise, in synch with the waxing Full Moon, exact at 9:38PM ET tonight. In between, around lunchtime ET, note the potential for a healing heart-to-heart or other deep revelation as the Moon makes a supportive contact to potent Pluto.
More on the Full Moon, as its patterns will ripple out through the rest of the week. This is the Harvest Moon and it’s a Supermoon — and you can find out why that’s so special here. Full Moons offer enlightenment and/or release of projects that started or landed on your desk two weeks ago. What will you learn? Planetary patterns suggest a startling blend of the mystical and the practical. First, there’s a sharp contact between mental Mercury and ruthless Pluto (exact Tuesday at 6:38PM ET), suggesting a power play or empowerment in thoughts and communication. You may find yourself making a bold pitch or laying it all on the table if you have a planet or point around 11-13 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn. You’d be feeling quite optimistic about it, too, given that Mercury is also supported by expansive Jupiter (exact on Wednesday at 2:37PM ET).
Second, there’s a face-off between Venus (art, women, money, social expression) in discerning Virgo and nebulous Neptune, exact on Wednesday at 6:51AM ET. This is the mystical element, suggesting a need for beauty in its most idealized form, preferably accompanied by a choir of angels. Or a sublime ile flottante (floating island). Look for idealized Venusian themes in the headlines. You may be feeling the bewildering, bewitching fog of Neptune more personally — and have been for some months now, with more to come — if you have a planet or important point around 5-7 degrees of Pisces, Sagittarius, Gemini and Virgo…or were born 5-6 days into any of those signs.
Third, there’s a communicative connection between taskmaster Saturn and the Sun (exact on Thursday at 11:04AM ET) which can be superbly applied to projects requiring discipline, detail and structure — and actually shipped the day before, when the Moon will not be void. Fourth, there’s an added flash of insight — electric and/or cosmic — suggested by another face-off between mental Mercury and rebel Uranus, exact on Saturday at 4:06AM ET. Here are a few stories that made headlines the last time Mercury made contact with the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square at the end of July. And finally, action hero Mars is running wild in intensely focused — sometimes ruthless — Scorpio. Some may want to count to ten before lashing out.
The Sabian Symbols for tonight’s Full Moon at 16 degrees Pisces/Virgo are as follows. For the Moon in Pisces: “A Easter promenade.” For the Sun in Virgo: “A volcano in eruption.” Once again, astrology presents us with contradictory images and challenges us to figure out how they can be integrated. Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee observes that we have an image of raw, uncontrollable creative power on the one hand, versus an image of a socially acceptable and contained mode of creative expression. If you love Sabian Symbols, get Bovee’s book for more details. What happens when one wild energy comes into contact with that which is controlled? Bovee suggests we be mindful of “social capacities of acceptance and tolerance being tested by new, raw social expressions…flare-ups of all kind…energies that flow with a mind of their own…ideas that take form only after a long period of cooling down, as opposed to the natural pace…of a promenade”.
There’s an added element to the heightened emotional rush of this Full Moon, and that is an exact conjunction between the Moon and Chiron, often called “the wounded healer”. So whatever is slated to erupt into the headlines over the next few days is likely to be rooted in a long-standing wound to the psyche. You may feel this in your own personal world if you have a planet or angle around 15-17 degrees of Virgo, Pisces, Sagittarius or Gemini. It’s always helpful to know in what area of the horoscope Full Moons and New Moons fall, as you can expect that area of your life to be stimulated soon thereafter. If you don’t know where your planets are, consult your local astrologer.
Moon voids for the week are as follows. First on Tuesday, Moon will be void from 3:09PM ET until 7:33PM ET. That means if there’s an election happening in your city, as there is in New York, cast your vote before the void. You’re more likely to flake out during the void, or some other thing is more likely to happen that makes your vote of no consequence. So vote early! Because if you don’t vote, somebody else will. One of these days I’ll put that on a T-shirt.
Moon will also be void from Wednesday at 8:58PM ET until 9:17PM ET on Thursday — that’s a long time to focus on routine and roll with whatever twists detour your efforts to move forward in a straight line, but roll with them and chill you must. Moon will also be void from 9:31AM ET Saturday until 2:26AM ET on Sunday. Here’s more on Moon voids, if you’re new to the forecast.
And now, a little bit of news.
First, my favorite practical, mystical headline today concerns scientists who have been able to devise an experiment that enabled them to “transmit the thoughts of one individual into the brain of another thousands of miles away.” Oh, these scientists — they’re finally catching on! Here’s a practical/mystical bit about hardcore data in the world of online dating, in which the CEO of OK Cupid notes the disconnect between what certain men say they are looking for in a mate vs. the prospects they actually contact. And speaking of hardcore, this week’s Modern Love column in the Sunday Times was written by a practical-minded woman who works in business that’s all about fantasy. She met her husband on the set of a porn movie; their marriage is rock solid, but not without a number of “strange realities”.
In other news, here’s a story the NYT has yet to cover — and I find this to be a strange reality, given the columns of ink devoted to the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson last month. On August 5th, another young man was shot and killed by police while he was shopping at a Walmart. A panicked shopper (an alleged ex-Marine) called 911 to report that a man was waving a rifle around and pointing it at shoppers. This happened at 8:21PM ET in Beavercreek, Ohio. If you run that chart you will immediately notice the Moon in pie-in the-sky Sagittarius squared by nebulous Neptune, and also action hero Mars trining Neptune. And if any of the police officers responding to the call had been astrologers, they might have paused for a minute and thought, “Hmm….with Neptune so prominent, things may not be as they seem.” Or “Gosh, that Mercury-Jupiter conjunction in Leo right on the 7th house cusp suggests the potential for exaggeration.” Alas, they were not astrologers, and two people died in the confusion. Now, a more accurate version of reality is beginning to take shape. I will be interested to see where this story is at in a couple of weeks.
Thank you for reading, sharing and supporting this forecast.
If you feel like you’re in a crisis or a bit of a rut, rest assured you’re not alone. We are living in very interesting times! That being said, a personal astro-logical consultation can provide you with clarity and confidence. I look forward to a fine discussion with you about your horoscope.
Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 9/5/2014 & the Weekend: Joan Rivers, RIP
/in The ForecastTGIF!
Make the most of the morning hours to take care of business while the Moon is still engaged in Capricorn and supported by an energetic connection to action hero Mars. At 11:08AM ET, Moon goes void until 7:59PM ET, suggesting a higher probability of twists in your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Stick to routine tasks, chill or start your weekend early, perhaps on a less dramatic, more refined note than in previous weeks, given that Venus leaves Leo for Virgo today at 1:07PM ET. Venus refers to social expression. Virgo refers to perfection and discernment.
At 7:59PM ET, Moon enters “who’s yer buddy” Aquarius for the bulk of the weekend, seeking to be of social significance and network with friends from all walks of life. Saturday’s a go for making purchases, though you may need to resist a temptation to overindulge around 2:11Pm ET, when the Moon opposes expansive, expensive Jupiter.
The evening favors more of what’s innovative and unconventional, suggested by a friendly connection between the Moon and rebel Uranus at 9:05PM ET. A few hours later, however, note the potential for a wet blanket or other imposed control suggested by a challenge between Moon and stern Saturn, which can not get out of Scorpio fast enough, if you ask me. Alas, we’re stuck with Saturn in Scorpio until the end of the year. Moon goes void again on Sunday at 1:19PM ET on a highly-charged challenge to aggressive Mars. If you’re a sports fan, keep an eye out for twists and upsets that favor the underdog until the Moon enters compassionate Pisces at 7:47PM ET.
No sleeping in on Monday. Moon will not be void and it will be waxing to fullness at 9:36PM ET.
And now, the news.
Wednesday’s potent alignment between the Sun and regenerative Pluto was the highlight of the week, suggesting news from underground, corruption exposed and/or resolved, oil and gas (underground resources) and healing. In Virginia, former governor Bob McDonnell and his wife were found guilty of corruption. BP was found to be the “primary culprit” and “reckless” four years after its Deepwater Horizon oil rig blew up; it now faces an additional $18 billion in penalties. Meanwhile, a dinosaur skeleton unearthed in Argentina some years ago was described in fascinating detail as the most ginormous dinosaur yet. Elsewhere, as predicted on June 11th, former Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor landed a seven-figure job on Wall Street. What will he be doing? Giving out advice.
Mazel tov, Mr. Cantor! May we all be so richly rewarded for the wisdom we’ve accumulated over the years.
Which brings me to the subject of healing and regeneration, one of the more positive potentials of a Sun-Pluto alignment. Here’s a fascinating NYT piece about the Center for Courage & Renewal, which “help(s) people strengthen their sense of purpose and deepen their self-awareness and understanding of others.” The author of the piece found himself wishing that every member of Congress would attend one of the Center’s retreats, to help bring this polarized body into some form of functional alignment. But the retreats work just as well for regular folks, too.
In other news, Joan Rivers, passed away yesterday at 1:17PM ET in New York, when the Moon was exactly conjunct Pluto (power plays, transformation, catharses). Here is her horoscope — a slam dunk, given the life she led. How so? Take a quick look and we immediately note the Sun in pixie chatterbox Gemini opposing Moon in opinionated Sagittarius, in a T square to a pugnacious and expansive/bombastic conjunction between Mars and Jupiter. Moon is in the 9th house, where it would need to seek an international reach, perhaps through a collective broadcast/publishing medium. The challenges from Mars and Jupiter in Virgo suggest a need to talk about everything, driven by a need for perfection.
The Gemini Sun is in a power-packed 3rd house of communication, along with a tight conjunction of mental Mercury and aesthetic Venus at 29 Gemini, which regular readers of this forecast know is also the Aries Point. So we immediately expect that social expression, communication and aesthetics are going to need prominence. And you can see why she might become known for having umpteen cosmetic surgeries, in a quest to achieve perfection. It’s interesting to note that Mars and Jupiter are in the 6th house (physical body) and that Mars rules her Aries Ascendant (how she needed to be seen).
An Aries Ascendant would need to be seen as a pioneer and an inspiration. Well, that totally fits. Both her Ascendant and her make-it-happen Capricorn Midheaven are close enough to the Aries Point to suggest a further need for prominence. This horoscope was born to be famous. It also has rebel Uranus in Aries, and in the 1st House. This suggests an electric, potentially shocking and unconventional first impression, and a need to disrupt the status quo. The potential for being a game-changer is further supported by a square to Uranus from ruthless Pluto. It is interesting to note that her Uranus, which rules the 12th house of critical illness/self-undoing was eclipsed in April. It is also interesting to note that her natal Saturn at 16 Aquarius was under pressure from transiting Saturn in Scorpio all summer. Also suggesting a potential stress in health matters: her natal Neptune is currently opposed by transiting Neptune. Regular readers know that Neptune tends to dissolve whatever it touches. Her natal Neptune sits in the 6th house and rules the 12th, both of which refer to health matters.
Fascinating, isn’t it? RIP, Joan Rivers. You lived your horoscope to its fullest potential…and you won’t need any more face lifts now that you’re in Heaven. You’re perfect, just the way you are.
Final note — because I truly enjoy facilitating abundance for other people. The glamor photo in my last forecast of my beloved cat, Phoebe, was taken by photographer Jim Herrington. He’s an extremely gifted professional, and you can see more of his work here.
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