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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 Tuesday 2/4/2014: It’s Elementary…
/in The ForecastAnother day of proactive drive, courtesy of the Moon in RAMbunctious Aries. There’s an easy balance this morning, which flows unimpeded until 6:14PM ET, when the me-me-me Aries Moon may clash with the relationship-oriented Mars in Libra. Let the conflict fizzle out with a sigh, as the Moon will be void-of-course from then until 4:46AM ET. Remember that crises that crop up during voids are likely to be much ado about nothing. Chill!
A couple of patterns dominating this week: first, a dreamy/delusional flirtation between nebulous Neptune and Mercury in Pisces may result in fuzzy thinking and communication. Hard to tell what’s real and what’s not. What does your gut tell you?
Second, a carry over from last week: status-conscious Venus in Capricorn, just getting up to speed as it now moves forward, is close enough to ruthless Pluto to feel things oh-so-deeply — and sometimes just over the top. So, no…you’re not crazy. It’s a little weird out there…and intense. So how about a cosmic joke:
Get it off your desk before the Moon void begins at 6:14PM ET…did you BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS YET?
Now for a limited time: the Cardinal Grand Cross Special. Find out how this important planetary pattern will impact your horoscope in 2014. If you were born around the 2nd of April, July, October and January, you are likely to find this mini-consultation especially helpful. Ditto if you have a planet or an angle around 9 – 14 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra & Capricorn.
Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 2/3/2014: Sneak Peek at the Week; Phillip Seymour Hoffman, RIP
/in The ForecastWell, OK! Is the game over yet? Yes, the Super Bowl is over, and after a looooong Moon void in dreamy Pisces. Was there a surprise upset in that game? Did the underdog win? You tell me. Meanwhile, as of 11:55PM ET Sunday, Moon is now fully engaged and charging through impulsive, fiery, pioneering Aries. What are you waiting for? Get to work! Planetary patterns suggest a high-octane day.
Be aware of the potential for a flash of insight or sudden jolt around 4:17PM ET, when rebel Uranus meets up with the Aries Moon. A power play or other catharsis may be yours around 9:15PM ET, when Moon is squared by ruthless Pluto. In between, expansive Jupiter adds its two cents with an infusion of optimism, generosity and/or bombast. An indulgent/self-indulgent connection between the me-me-me Aries Moon and Venus in status-conscious Capricorn wraps up the night.
The biggest planetary shift this week is Mercury turning retrograde on February 6th for a three week-long opportunity to review the progress you’ve made since the last Mercury retrograde, which was in November. No whingeing, if you please. These REview periods are necessary. They offer opportunities to REconnect, REsearch and RElax. Make space for those activities and you can actually have fun — really! Just do me a favor and BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS NOW. Electronic gizmos have a strange way of going on the fritz during Mercury retrogrades. Sometimes there are total meltdowns; other times the fritz will happen…and then be mysteriously resolved once Mercury, which refers to mind and communication, moves direct. More on the particulars of this Mercury retrograde later in the week what it means for you, etc.
Moon voids this week — schedule critical meetings and launch dates around them and avoid the malls: Tuesday 6:14PM ET until 4:46AM ET Wednesday; Thursday 11:49PM ET until Friday 1:44PM ET.
Lots of news to report. First, the continuing changes in our social paradigms were out in force in a few of those nifty Superbowl ads. Well, last week’s New Moon in Aquarius invited us to consider 1) tuning in to our sole/soul purpose; and 2) like it or not, we all wrestle with the same issues. We all put our pants on one leg at at time. We’re all in this together…and there was the adorable Cheerios family back in a new Superbowl ad to prove it, not to mention everyone in this historic ad for Coca-Cola. The latter ad features “America the Beautiful,” a song with lyrics written by a professor of English at Wellesley College — and here’s the story behind it.
Plenty of “news from underground” reflecting last Friday’s opposition between Pluto (lord of the underworld) and Jupiter: a deadly volcanic eruption in Sumatra and more lava spewing forth on Mt. Etna. Regarding news involving energy and resources, the proposed Keystone pipeline is one step closer to approval, as yet another Canadian train carrying “thick crude and other hazardous chemicals” derailed in Mississippi. Meanwhile, some states are actually facing budget surpluses, and battles are expected over how to spend all that money…as California and other Western states are facing a serious, serious lack of water (as projected in earlier posts, given Neptune in Pisces).
In other news, the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square, suggesting massive disruptions of the status quo, was reflected in this front-page story about “the largest migration of people in human history,” as villages in China are demolished and their residents move into cities. This morning, yet another article about America’s vaporizing middle class hit the NYT home page: Barney’s is in; Loehmann’s is out.
Seems like there’s always a headline reflecting the nitty-gritty, down and dirty potential of Saturn’s current transit through Scorpio: sex (abortion, contraception, rape), death and money (debt). Really, am I the only one noticing how often these issues are in our face in the past year? Today we learn that abortions in the U.S. are at their lowest rate in three decades. Capital punishment has been generating controversy, as certain drugs used to execute Death Row inmates in the U.S. are no longer available. And over the weekend, the NYT published a letter from Dylan (a.k.a. Malone) Farrow about the sexual abuse she states was inflicted upon her by her adoptive father, Woody Allen. The Daily Beast also had a take on this story (from the documentary filmmaker who made a film about Allen) and so did The Onion (from Mr. Allen himself — bearing in mind that The Onion is a satirical publication).
Follow-up story: Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), who gave one of the Republican rebuttals to last week’s State of the Union speech, stated in a CNN interview that she absolutely supported laws that gave women equal pay for equal work. Further investigation revealed, however, that while she may support said laws in principle, she has not actually voted for any of them. Given her horoscope — especially the challenging connection between Mercury (mindset) and nebulous Neptune, this idealistic spin on hard, cold facts is not surprising. Prior post on her horoscope is here.
Last, but not least, acclaimed actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman died yesterday, as most of the Free World now knows. I could not help but think of two planetary patterns that happened the week of Whitney Houston’s sudden death, especially since I gave a talk about it a couple of weeks ago. Houston passed away just as Venus (art, money, women, social expression) made challenging connections to Uranus and Pluto..and also just as Mercury (mindset) was about to meet up with nebulous Neptune (drugs, illusion, film, music, spirit, escape). Same patterns are happening now.
We do not have a confirmed birth time for Mr. Hoffman; the Sun changed signs from Cancer to Leo on his birthday — July 23 1967. It would take considerable time to test potential birthtimes, and our interest in looking at the horoscope is not to find out what sign he is, but to confirm certain transiting and natal patterns we could expect to see, given recent events. Drug addiction? We’re probably going to see a strong Neptune. Sudden disruption of the status quo? We’re probably going to see the horoscope impacted by the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square. For starters.
A quick glance at the noon chart, and we’re immediately drawn to an exact square between heavy Saturn at 12 degrees of Aries and mental Mercury at 12 degrees of Cancer. Well, there you go — that somber, disciplined pattern has in fact been under fire from the Uranus-Pluto square, augmented by additional pressure from Jupiter and Mars. Right? Everybody with me on this one? Anyone born 9 to 13 days into the signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn…or with a planet or an angle at 9 to 13 degrees of these signs is most likely experiencing pressure to change…that can, if managed effectively, lead to empowerment and emancipation. Really. Book a consultation with your astrologer and plan a strategy! What are you waiting for?
In Hoffman’s case, the pressure on Mercury would suggest high tension to the nervous system/mindset/communication; the pressure on Saturn (from Pluto especially) suggests hard, hard effort under threat of loss…likely feeling overwhelmed in recent months…and as it turns out, he did check into a rehab clinic last year after reliance on prescription drugs segued back into heroin, an old demon.
Natally, a Mercury-Saturn square suggests the potential for great mental discipline/focus…but also depression. Interesting to see this line from his obituary in the New York Times: “…perhaps the most ambitious and widely admired American actor of his generation…who embraced some of the theater’s most burdensome roles on Broadway…” The word “burdensome” is an apt word for hard Mercury-Saturn configuration. But oh what awesome mental powers, too.
Contrast the rigid Mercury -Saturn square under fire with a potentially bewildering square between Hoffman’s natal Neptune at 21 Scorpio and his Moon in Aquarius. Yes…a strong Neptune in the horoscope, as we might suspect. The Neptune-Moon square suggests a need for idealism; drugs, film, illusion, sacrifice, escape, spiritualism would be potential experiences and/or expressions, and it would be a helpful for an actor/chameleon to have this resource in a toolkit. Not surprisingly, this Moon-Neptune square has been under pressure from a heavy Saturn transit, suggesting issues with structure, ambition and reality. Side note: Dennis Rodman has Neptune on his Midheaven, and it was just hit by transiting Saturn. Guess what? He has gone into rehab — again.
Also of note in Hoffman’s horoscope: a midpoint picture involving Saturn/Pluto, the Aries Point and Chiron, the wounded healer. In consultation with a client with this aspect pattern, we’d expect to find a ready discussion of a prominent “skeleton in the closet,” along with prominent suffering of a pain that defies integration. Mr. Hoffman made no secret of his struggles with addiction. At age 46, Hoffman was at a key turning point in life. Truly a sorrow that he did not survive the heavy pressure and tension suggested by the horoscope. This, too, would have passed. RIP
Mercury retrogrades are excellent times to REview your life with an astrologer. Here’s the 411 on consultations…
Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 1/31/2014 & the Weekend: Soul Food; Amanda Knox Update
/in The ForecastLots of planetary shifts today, as noted in Monday’s forecast. In addition to Venus turning direct and the “power and resources” opposition between expansive Jupiter and ruthless Pluto, mental Mercury sloooowly slips into dreamy Pisces until February 12th. Thoughts, travel and communication could be sublime or surreal over the next week, as nebulous Neptune is close enough to Mercury to cast its usual rose-colored, pixie-dust spell. Plus this New Moon was a Supermoon — a term coined by astrologer Richard Nolle decades ago. Nolle often notes the increased potential for weird, wild weather before and after a Supermoon. Certainly the folks down South — which was apparently paralyzed by a rare snowstorm this week — could appreciate that notation.
Get it off your desk by 11:45AM ET if you want to ship something of consequence. The Aquarius Moon makes two connections this morning: first to stern Saturn at 10:56AM ET, suggesting a reach for ambition or a cold shoulder. At 11:45AM ET the Moon goes void-of-course on an easy connection to action hero Mars, not to enter Pisces until 10:45PM ET. Gosh, wouldn’t it be nice if you could spend some time during this long natural rest period by honoring the New Moon suggestion to chill, go with the flow and turn in? If you must move forward, remember to be patient with any twists or delays that may hinder your efforts. How interesting that I just pulled a Tarot card — from the Osho Zen deck — and it was this: TURNING IN.
At 10:45PM ET, Moon enters dreamy Pisces. Less cerebral; more soulful is what Saturday suggests. Optimism, depth and social graces flow easily into the evening. Music, film, spirit, healing and other intangibles, anyone? More of the same on Sunday, except that the Moon goes void for another long spell starting at 11:34AM ET, so do your major shopping on Saturday. Moon enters Aries just before midnight — presumably well after the end of the Super Bowl, which will kick off some time Sunday after 6:30PM ET in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Sports matches during Moon voids often favor the underdog and other surprise upsets…
Meanwhile, our do-nothing Congress actually did something earlier this week when it finally passed a farm bill. How wonderfully in synch with the resources-themed opposition between Jupiter in (food, nourishment) Cancer and Pluto in (government) Capricorn. Much was noted in the headlines about one provision that will cut $8 billion in food stamps, though some also noted that it could have been worse. For example, it could have been a member of Congress, not a “child nutrition manager” who personally took away the lunches of 40 schoolchildren in Utah because they did not have money in their lunch accounts…and then threw the lunches in the trash. And before everyone screams, “well of course, because Utah,” let me share another Jupiter in home/emotional security-seeking Cancer story. Did you know that Utah is reportedly on track to end homelessness in the state by 2015? And they are doing it by giving the homeless homes…because it’s simply more cost-effective? Author Malcolm Gladwell wrote about this novel approach in Outliers — here’s the excerpt.
In other news, Amanda Knox received the upsetting and presumably bewildering news that a court in Italy once again found her guilty of murder, even though another court had overturned the original conviction a few years earlier. So there must be planetary patterns in her horoscope that suggest potential bewilderment and/or upset, right? And that if it’s “bewilderment,” it’s probably Neptune…and if it’s an “upset,” it’s likely Uranus. And in fact there are current arcs and transits involving Neptune and Uranus to planets in her natal chart. This case is far from over, however, as there will be another appeal. Things could be “lucky” for Ms. Knox when Jupiter conjoins her Cancer Sun later this year. We’ll have to wait and see how her next appeal meshes with another potentially bewildering Neptune transit in 2015.
Have a good weekend!
Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 1/30/2014: New Moon in Aquarius
/in The ForecastThe New Moon in Aquarius begins at 4:38PM ET, offering us an opportunity to re-set intentions and goals for the next lunar cycle. Around February 6th, 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 the 14th, 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 22nd, we can review our achievements, tie up loose ends and get ready to begin another New Moon cycle on March 1st.
Aquarius is a airy (mental), fixed (organizing) energy. Keywords for Aquarius include innovation, eccentricity, friendship, humanitarian, unconventional, rocket scientist and/or mad genius. If you were born with the Sun in Aquarius, you have the energy to innovate and intellectualize with others. If your Moon is in Aquarius, you need to be socially significant — and dare I say appreciated for it. You probably need to be unusual, too. I learned these nifty, pithy expressions of solar energy and lunar needs from my mentor, Noel Tyl. “I love you, but don’t take it personally” is another nifty, pithy Aquarian expression — and I came up with that one all by myself. If you have Venus in Aquarius, chances are you especially know what I’m talking about.
The chart for this New Moon has Uranus, ruler of Aquarius in a cooperative connection, suggesting innovative, status quo-disrupting ideas affecting the masses (also ruled by Aquarius) are likely to be key throughout this lunar cycle. These ideas are likely to involve power and resources — who has it; who doesn’t. An overkill of emotions about these issues is also likely to be seen, along with visionary (or delusional) thinking, and courageous (or reckless) applications of willpower in order to maintain — or establish — power and control. Sounds like a lot of excitement, and Mercury will be retrograde through most it, suggesting some spectacularly misfired communication signals making headlines. And we haven’t even gotten to the likelihood for supercharged action we’ll see later in the year — and discussed in this earlier forecast.
OK, so. What does this mean for you? The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon — at 11 degrees of Aquarius — is “man tete-a-tete (head-to-head) with his inspiration.” It’s not clear if this is an image of one man or “man” in a general sense, as in “mankind”. Hmm. As usual we turn to Sabian Symbol guru Blaine Bovee for additional insight, who writes: “a private experience of being aroused to a higher wisdom, knowledge or creativity…sudden brilliant flashes of a timely sort…a focus of inner, personal reflection of an exalted nature…re-collecting oneself around a sturdy inner core.”
Personal reflection and “re-collecting” just happen to be keywords for the aforementioned Mercury retrograde, starting on February 6th and turning direct on February 28th. Use this New Moon energy to reflect and reconnect with your own divine inspiration, i.e., that which delights you and makes you feel alive.
If you want to know where 11 degrees of Aquarius falls in your horoscope, here’s how I can help you.
A divine inspiration might be your soul purpose, a.k.a, your sole purpose. Why are you here? Right now? That’s a big, fat question — and since we’re asking it on an Aquarian New Moon, we might also consider that all of our friends and associates — all of humanity, in fact — probably wrestles with the same big, fat question, too. We are all in this together. We are each here to contribute something unique. This applies to people we may not like very much — or whom we don’t think are part of our collective. Ooooh, deep thoughts.
You are more personally affected by this New Moon energy if you were born around the 29th of January, April, July and October….or if you have a planet or angle around 11 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius. For clues to what we can expect as the Cardinal Grand Cross of 2014 increases in intensity (especially this April), talk to your Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn friends born in the first eight days of those signs. Ask them what empowering and/or emancipating upheavals they experienced in the past few years. Then ask your friends born 9-12 days into those signs what big changes they’re going through right now.
And now — a quick look at a recent headline. You may have heard of the New York congressman who blew up at a reporter and threatened to throw him over a balcony — all caught on camera at Tuesday’s State of the Union, yes? Sounds like that congressman has a bit of temper, right? Immediately any skilled astrologer would be thinking,”Hmm….temper…sudden outbursts…gaining prominence now. There’s gotta be a Mars (aggression) – Uranus (hair-trigger) challenge in that horoscope…and I bet it’s impacted by the Uranus-Pluto square.” Well guess what? The congressman in question — Michael Grimm — was born February 7, 1970 — and he does have a challenge between Mars (10 Aries) and Uranus (8 Libra), and it is being impacted by the Uranus-Pluto square! Coincidence or conspiracy? You know I do not believe in coincidence.
Back to you in the studio…
This cobalt blue is sponsored by the New Moon in Aquarius, inspiring you to seek lightening bolts of insight in a personal astro-logical consultation.
Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 1/29/2014: President Obama, As Predicted
/in The ForecastMore of the same enterprising, “make it happen” energy from yesterday, with the caveat being that the Capricorn Moon goes void of course at 11:47AM ET, on a combative connection from action-oriented Mars. Translation: there’s the potential for a strong assertion of willpower (upside), that may provoke conflict (downside, but perhaps necessary). During the long Moon void (until 11:33PM ET), remember that making mountains out of molehills is a common response to the energetic shift from fourth gear (Moon engaged) to a wandering drift (Moon void). Chill, chill, CHILL! This is the last day before a New Moon; something fresh is just around the corner. Take care of what is routine, take time to take a break; go with the flow of a 12-hour window that may feel like you’re herding cats.
Meanwhile, the news. Regarding the State of the Union speech, I have been, thrilled, thrilled, thrilled to note the headlines in the New York Times: “Expecting Obstruction, Obama Charts an Independent Path” or “Obama Vows to Act Alone on the Economy”. Why? Because of what I wrote about his second term a year ago, that’s why — as well as our “do-nothing” Moon-void 113th Congress:
Last week I posted a bit about how Obama is likely feeling a need for a more prominent expression of nebulous Neptune energy, y’know — like a vision. Potential expressions of Neptune — for anyone, not just Obama — include: ego wipeout, surrender, rarefied art, music, film, photography, idealism, fantasy, healing, spirit, spirits, drugs, deception and/or this one — SAVIOR. I wonder about that last one, as President Obama is now resolved to go it alone.
Meanwhile, who saw Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), perch on her dainty lady sofa and project “a hopeful Republican vision” (the Republican rebuttal to the President’s SOTU), whilst waxing rhapsodic about her personal manifestation of a dream come true? If you read about her horoscope in yesterday’s forecast, you weren’t surprised by all this Neptune Neptune Neptune rose-colored pep talk. Random observation: men have desks. Women have sofas. Just ask Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey. “I wonder why that is,” she mused rhetorically…
New Moon happens tomorrow in Aquarius at 4:38PM ET. Stay tuned to this channel for continuing coverage….with gratitude.
The color black is brought to you by today’s Moon in Capricorn. Make something happen and book a personal astro-logical consultation today.