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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 5/16/2014 & the Weekend: Upsets and Power Plays at the New York Times
/in The ForecastAllll-riiighty then!
As of 3:43AM ET, the Moon in high-flying Sagittarius is void of course — not to enter the next sign — Capricorn — until 4:12AM ET on Saturday. This suggests a day of opinionated, righteous optimism, all dressed up with no particular place to go. Or optimistic, righteous opinions to fuel a philosophical debate.
Moon in Sag is always up for a gamble or a gambol — and in the void, there’s likely little consequence for indulging in either. Use the energy — or lack thereof — for Sagittarian pursuits including, but not limited to broadening your mind, wandering a bit, getting out in nature or mulling over your travel plans for next month, when Mercury retrograde on June 7th suggests an opportunity for escape.
On Saturday & Sunday, make good use of an enterprising and practical Moon in Capricorn to take care of projects around the house. There’s no Moon void to deter you from finding thrifty bargains at yard sales or hitting other retail stores. The “thrift” is the Moon in Capricorn. On the other hand, an indulgent connection between loving Venus and expansive Jupiter on Sunday at 11:31AM ET counters that thrift with an inclination to consume three instead of just one. “But it was such a good price!”. Yeah, OK, enjoy.
Be mindful of a challenging connection between the make-it-happen Moon and willful Mars around 7:14PM ET on Saturday; this suggests the potential for outbursts on the roads and in the house. Find a positive channel for all that energy and you’ll be fine. The wee hours between Saturday and Sunday are colored by the usual upsets and power plays we’ve come to expect once a week, as the Moon engages with the disruptive Uranus-Pluto square. Could be interesting if you happen to work in an ER.
On Monday there’s a brief Moon void between 3:02AM and 5:58AM ET — and then it’s off to work — no sleeping in.
And now, the news.
My, my, my what a rollicking few days we have had in the aftermath of Wednesday’s Full Moon and Venus (women, money, arts, social expression) hooking up with rebel Uranus in warrior Aries and squaring power-mongering Pluto in Establishment Capricorn (Wednesday & Thursday). First, as I’ve noted before — the Venus-Uranus-Pluto patterns suggest volatility in the markets. How interesting to see record highs in a number of markets on Tuesday…followed by “the worst two-day drop since a swoon in mid-April”.
Second, a truly startling upset involving a woman behind the headlines now making headlines: Jill Abramson, the first female executive editor of the New York Times, was abruptly fired — ten minutes after the potentially nasty and cutting square between Venus and Pluto and one hour before the Full Moon in equally cutting Scorpio. Whoa! How could this happen? Was it because she discovered her pay package was far less than male predecessors? Was it because she was “pushy” (and a woman)? Better to ask, “what’s going on in her horoscope?” Let’s find out, since everyone who knows nothing about astrology is abuzz over this event — at least here in New York.
Ms. Abramson was born March 19, 1954 (time unknown) in New York. She’s a Pisces, with her Sun conjunct the Aries Point, which regular readers know is a suggestion of a need to become prominent. Her Pisces Sun is also conjunct the Fixed Star Scheat, which suggests great intellect, on the one hand. It is also associated with shipwrecks. Yes, really. Yikes. Her Moon is either late-degree Virgo (a need for exacting perfection) or early degree Libra (a need to be appreciated, seen as fair and/or people-pleasing) — and either way, the Moon is also likely on that Aries Point. Her natal Uranus is unaspected (“running wild”), suggesting a bigger than average need for freedom. This could easily manifest in a work situation as a failure to keep others in the loop. Also running wild: her Venus (social expression) at 10 Aries — and this is a tough placement. Venus in Aries can be a champion for the underdog; a pioneering warrior. It also can be brash, self-absorbed and impulsive. Y’know, pushy. Deal with it. Back in June of 2011, when Ms. Abramson became the executive editor, Saturn was at 10 Libra — exactly opposing her Venus. This suggests an opportunity to anchor the “running wild” energies of Venus with practical, diplomatic and gracious ambition. Interesting to note that transiting Uranus had just completed a series of conjunctions to her Sun, suggesting a need for greater freedom of independent expression — and an opportunity to be recognized for her unique talents. (Also interesting to note that on May 8, 2007 — just three days before ruthless Pluto made a second conjunction to her Sun, she was hit by a truck in Times Square. The story of her recovery — and of other New York Times colleagues hit by reckless drivers in New York — was published earlier this month — talk about adding insult to injury).
Anyway. Now, just three years later, it is fascinating to see that her dismissal happened with Mars stationary retrograde — sitting at a dead stop at 10 Libra — exactly opposing her Venus. The Scorpio Full Moon at 24 Scorpio exactly squared her Pluto, suggesting an illumination or release involving power and resources. [Note to Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., Ms. Abramson’s former boss: firing and hiring employees when Mars is retrograde is not generally advised, as it is highly probable that such actions are motivated more by impatience, resentment and frustration than by rational thinking. Time will tell.] Also of interest in Ms. Abramson’s horoscope: 1) her Saturn at 9 Scorpio was eclipsed by the powerful New Moon on April 29th. An eclipse to Saturn in the horoscope often brings career and status into focus. 2) her Neptune at 25 Libra is in alignment with an important midpoint which refers to writing and publishing. Neptune (and the writer/publisher midpoint) was also eclipsed: last month — on the April 15th Full Moon at 25 Aries/Libra, and last year on October 18! Astrologer Celeste Teal notes in her book, Eclipses, that Neptune naturally rules the 12th house — which is the house of self-undoing. On the plus side, Teal notes the potential for increased “inspiration, creativity, spirituality and absolutely blissful times.” Interesting to also note that in 2010, before Ms. Abramson was promoted, three of the year’s four eclipses personally impacted her horoscope.
Looking ahead at prospects for Ms. Abramson, we see the New Moon on August 25th exactly opposing her natal Mercury, suggesting seeds planted in areas related to communication and mindset. Around March of 2015 (give or take a few months — wish I had her exact birth time), a connection between rebel Uranus and expansive Jupiter suggests a windfall opportunity that affords her greater independence and satisfaction.
Other prominent women of arts and letters making headlines: author Mary Stewart passed away at 97. She wrote The Crystal Cave, which retold the legend of King Arthur from Merlin’s point of view. Love that book. RIP. And Barbara Walters is retiring from television today — at 84.
What’s going on in YOUR horoscope? Plan a strategy for maximizing opportunities in a personal astro-logical consultation. Here’s how to contact me.
Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 5/13/2014: Venus & Mars Help Each Other Out
/in The ForecastOK, get to work — but first note your dreams and intuitive hits upon waking, courtesy of the Moon in the watery depths of Scorpio in harmony with visionary Neptune. Go about your business with strategic flair, as you seek the knowledge you need to support your plans for world domination. Get it structured, organized and under control — despite those around you who may be erratically acting out the buzz of this week’s meeting of Venus and Uranus, challenged by ruthless Pluto (see yesterday’s post for details). Oh yeah — and note that the Scorpio Moon is waxing full — exact tomorrow at 3:16PM ET. You’ll want to ship your stuff by then — or wait until Thursday if it’s a project you wish to be of consequence.
And now, the news.
I was not able to post a weekend forecast, though there was plenty of planetary action — especially on Mothers Day. The people-pleasing Libra Moon was supercharged by contacts with generous Jupiter, rebel Uranus and potent Pluto. A need to see things in the most beautiful light was suggested by a rose-colored connection between mental Mercury and dreamy Neptune. There were so many gracious, soulful and appreciative (Libra keyword!) posts about moms on Facebook that there were actually posts thanking people for posting them.
Also exact on Sunday: a passionate connection between Venus in Aries and Mars in Libra, doing their best to help each other out. How so? Well, Mars is in a sign that is ruled by Venus; Venus is in a sign ruled by Mars. So there’s a helpful connection there & the technical term for it is mutual reception. It is fascinating to note that in traditional astrology, Venus in Aries (the Ram — make a note of this) is considered to be a very challenging placement. All that feminine energy running around in a warrior sign…horrors! And Mars in Libra is also thought of as challenging. The warrior planet sitting in a feminine sign associated with cotton candy pink and sweet talk…eek! To add insult to injury for Mars — it is retrograde — dancing backwards — and we know only girls do that, right? Geez.
Thus I was fascinated to see that football player Michael Sam — who so looks like he might have Libra Ascendant, with that perfectly balanced face — made headlines on Sunday. Michael Sam is the first openly-gay player in the NFL. It could be argued that being gay has traditionally been a disadvantage in the “macho” world of pro football. Kind of like macho Mars at a disadvantage in graceful Libra? But on the day that Mars in Libra was exactly opposed by Venus in Aries — traditionally suggesting a passionate connection between partners — Michael Sam is chosen to play (drafted)…at the very last minute….by….the planet of love (Venus) helping out the planet Mars…with Venus played by…the St. Louis RAMs. Of course Venus is all super-charged, given its connection with Uranus and Pluto this week. Perfect time for “unconventional” attractions and disrupting the status quo!
I could not make this stuff up if I tried. And between that story and all the tributes to Mom on Facebook, you really needed to have a box of Kleenex handy on Sunday. Many more stories to share…but my taxi to the airport will be here any minute.
Mahalo for reading this forecast. Gotta fly!
Dear New Yorkers, I’ll be back in the city this week and will be available for in-person consultations. Dear Rest of the Free World, I am always available for personal consultations via Skype or telephone. Here’s how to contact me.
Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 5/12/2014: Sneak Peek at the Week
/in The ForecastGood Morning!
As of 8:51PM ET on Sunday, the people-pleasing Libra Moon has been void-of-course, wandering ever so aimlessly until 9:07PM ET this evening. If you slept in late or experienced some other unusual twist, delay or flake this morning, it is par for the course. If your efforts to move forward in a straight line are thwarted, your best strategy is to roll with it, and trust that whatever crisis has everyone in a mild panic is likely much ado about nothing. Take care of routine tasks. Avoid impulse shopping; however, as astrologer Rockie Gardiner liked to advise, it’s a fine time to return items you do not really need.
Pay attention to communications and brainstorming today. Though the Moon is void, there is a harmonious aspect between mental Mercury (in clever Gemini) and action hero Mars (in diplomatic Libra). Perhaps a nugget to be filed away for further development…or a truly dynamic, but really surprising revelation supporting the major planetary pattern of the week.
Said major pattern would be Venus (money, women, social expression, beauty) making contact with the never-ending and disruptive Uranus-Pluto square, a.k.a. The Planetary Pattern Everyone Should Be Talking About. Venus-Uranus-Pluto patterns suggest sudden attractions and alliances with unusual partners; unconventional social expression and sexual orientation; social expression that is intense, witchy-bitchy, and/or emotionally cathartic. We last experienced this pattern in mid-November of last year, and here are some headlines that reflected it back then. Here’s another batch, and in it you’ll note an item about a company called Snapchat. How fascinating that this company made news again last week, on a similar pattern — and it isn’t pretty. Wonder if the owners regret not taking the zillion-dollar offer they received last fall…
In your own personal world, be open to connections and communication with others that break old established patterns and/or clear the air. Letting go of what no longer serves, based on a startling revelation is amplified, given that it’s happening on a Full Moon in intensely emotional Scorpio, exact on Wednesday. You are especially affected by this Venus-Pluto-Uranus tension if you were born between the 2nd and 4th of January, April, July and October…or if you have a planet around 13 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn. Don’t know what degrees your planets are at? Order an Astro-Basics Report, available here.
Also of note this week: action hero Mars is fiiiiiiii-nally getting ready to move forward again, as of May 19th. And since May 8th it has been moving ever so slowly backwards at 9 degrees of Libra…and it going to stay at 9 degrees Libra until June 1st. It will stationary — i.e., sitting at an apparent dead stop — from the 18th through the 22nd. So if you were born around the 30th of March, June, September or January…or if you have a planet or angle between 8 and 10 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn, you will feel it more than most. And by “it” I mean a drive to take action, for better or for worse; feeling pumped up; feeling easily irritated; attracting or engaging in outbursts of anger/aggression…or having a raging headache. “It” is neither positive nor negative; use it how you will. Doing something physical or heroic would be a positive application…and who doesn’t want to be a hero?
Your Moon voids for the rest of the week: Wednesday right after the Full Moon at 3:16PM ET until 1:44AM ET on Thursday. Friday is a bust: Moon is void from 3:43AM ET until 4:12AM ET on Saturday. Three-day weekend, anyone?
Tonight I’m packing up my bikini and portable printer and heading for the airport. Will try to post a forecast for Tuesday before then. Sad to leave Hawaii behind for now…but also looking forward to spring in New York. I love this time of year when the lilacs and peonies are in bloom….
Thank you for reading this forecast and sharing it with the Rest of the Free World.
Dear New Yorkers, I’ll be back in the city this week and will be available for in-person consultations. Dear Rest of the Free World, I am always available for personal consultations via Skype or telephone. Here’s how to contact me.
Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 5/8/2014: Perfectly Organized; Cardinal Grand Cross Realizations
/in The ForecastOK campers, the long Moon void is over as of 2:24AM ET. From now until 6:08PM ET, Moon is fully engaged in Virgo, offering plenty of drive to organize, discern, sort and make things right. Take time to daydream around 5PM ET, when nebulous Neptune opposes the Moon; otherwise, move through your tasks with astonishing efficiency. You can do it!
And now, the news.
A lot happened last week that I did not share because I was distracted by dental drama. But last week’s headlines were extremely significant, as they reflected the “crisis of awareness” suggested by the Cardinal Grand Cross/Square everyone should have been talking about. For example, I’ve been saying for a couple of years now that one of the Really Big Crises That Would Change the World, as reflected by the seven exact squares between rebel Uranus and ruthless Pluto, would be climate change and the realization that the reckless, short-term thinking of human beings has caused it. And headlines last week and this week, too, continue to support that realization. Here’s a study released yesterday that shows how climate change has already impacted the United States, state-by-state. And here’s the NYT editorial about that study, published just minutes ago. And here’s an op-ed by Jon Huntsman, Jr. (R-UT), urging members of his party not to ignore the writing that is so clearly on the wall. Coincidence or conspiracy?
Another big story last week was the tape of LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling apparently advising his bi-racial girlfriend “not to bring black people” to basketball games. How does this news event reflect the huge potential for corruption exposed and a disruption of the status quo suggested by the Uranus-Pluto square? Because the world of major league sports stuff leaves me somewhat glassy-eyed (unless there’s a triple lutz involved), I was challenged to put L’Affaire Sterling in planetary perspective. Thankfully astrologer Bill Herbst , whose posts are rare these days — wrote a commentary on April 30th.
As noted in prior forecasts, I discovered Bill’s website 10 years ago; he was writing about the potential suggested by the Uranus-Pluto cycle way back then. I was determined to learn everything I could about why he saw things the way he did (the passage of time has proven him right)…and now that I can see them for myself, I share them with you. If you are new to this forecast and aren’t quite clear on why the Cardinal Grand Cross and the Uranus-Pluto cycle is so important, read the commentary Bill posted on April 10th. It sums up much of what I’ve written in bits and pieces during the past few years.
Last, but not least — thank you to those of you who were inspired to send donations this week — wow! I need to check my horoscope to see what transits have prompted this small outpouring of appreciation, as often months go by without that big gold button on the Daily Forecast page being clicked. Please know that these delightful surprises made my day…may your kind generosity be returned to you a thousandfold. Gratitude!
To be continued…
Dear New Yorkers, I’ll be back in the city next week and will be available for in-person consultations. Dear Rest of the Free World, I am always available for personal consultations via Skype or telephone. Here’s how to contact me.
Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 5/7/2014: Monica Lewinsky, Right on Schedule
/in The ForecastA challenging connection between the royal Leo Moon and controlling Saturn at 6:51AM ET may get the day off to a cranky start. Could also suggest a stubborn and ambitious reach. Whatever it is, do not turn a molehill of attitude into a mountain of imagined crisis. The Moon will be void of course from 6:51AM ET until 2:24AM ET on Thursday, suggesting you chill! It’s a great day to play and/or wander, but if you must show up at the office, stick to what is routine. It’ll be easier to roll with whatever twists and flakes may thwart your efforts to move forward in a straight line if the stakes are not so high. Resist the urge to shop impulsively; chances are that whatever you buy will not be useful.
Meanwhile, at 10:57AM ET, mental Mercury leaves methodical Taurus for its home sign, Gemini. That should quicken thoughts and communication, especially once the Moon is no longer void. Otherwise, note the potential for communication snafus as Mercury changes signs in the void.
Many are wondering why Monica Lewinsky is suddenly back in the spotlight, talking about her affair with Bill Clinton. Because planetary patterns in her horoscope suggest it, that’s why. She is a Leo with Moon in Taurus; Libra Ascendant — just like Bill Clinton. Isn’t that interesting?
Her Moon is at 10 Taurus and directly impacted by last week’s New Moon and Solar Eclipse at 9 Taurus. Her Moon is in the 7th house (the public) and rules the 10th (career, reputation), so we expect those areas of her life to be “hot”. Rebel Uranus is now on the cusp of her 7th house, suggesting a need to be seen for who she is — without compromise — in relationship. It also suggests a need to disrupt the status quo within the context of a relationship — or with the public.
Meanwhile, Jupiter, the cosmic sugar daddy, is right at the top of her horoscope, suggesting an expanded public status, reward or other need for recognition made manifest. There are other measurements in the horoscope that suggest a sudden burst of attention and buzz, but you get the idea.
Now what would you do if this were your horoscope and your astrologer told you about this potential for increased public status a year or two ago, hmmm? What plans would you have made?
Dear New Yorkers, I’ll be back in the city next week and will be available for in-person consultations. Dear Rest of the Free World, I am always available for personal consultations via Skype or telephone. Here’s how to contact me.