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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 1/7/2014: Breakthrough Potential
/in The ForecastBrrrr! It’s five degrees in New York. Even my keyboard froze up last night. Extreme? Score another round for planetary patterns….
My money is on a non-stop day of action, especially for those with planets engaged with the Cardinal Grand Cross discussed in yesterday’s forecast. The Moon continues to charge through Aries, zapped by an Uranian lightning bolt at 6:20AM ET; engaged in a power play or emotional catharsis with Pluto at 11:13AM ET and challenged by willful Mars and expansive/expensive Jupiter just in time for Happy Hour. By the end of the day, you should know what needs to be done to move your New Moon agenda forward, suggested by the First Quarter Moon’s conflict between me-me-me Aries and the (Sun in) Capricorn Establishment.
There may be some idealism involving said Establishment, or at least in areas of status and society, suggested by hook-up between mental Mercury and Venus (social expression, women, art, money) in practical Capricorn, and plenty may be revealed. After writing all the above last night, I am delighted to see on the NYT home page an item in which five activists who broke into a FBI office in 1971 are now breaking their silence.
Gosh, this sounds familiar. Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden, anyone? Could there be an astrological pattern repeating itself? The activists who are the subject of these new revelations were a product of the 1960s, also known as the revolutionary Uranus-Pluto conjunctions of 1965 and 1966. Interesting to note that things really got wild in the aftermath of the exact Uranus-Pluto conjunctions, i.e., up until 1972. Astrologer Bill Herbst has opined that we can expect a similarly increased level of disruption in the years following the seven exact squares between Uranus and Pluto happening between 2011 and 2015. Wow!
Meanwhile, more news in the power and energy sector, as forecast. Toyota plans to put a hydrogen-powered car on the market in 2015 and last year, Spain’s greenhouse emissions dropped 23%, thanks to increased usage of electricity generated by wind and hydropower. Why can’t we do that here?
More news from Spain, involving power and corruption in high places: a member of the royal family faces charges of money laundering and tax fraud. Yikes! Meanwhile, in New York, 80 police officers and firefighters were arrested on charges filing fraudulent disability claims — in a several hundred million dollar operation that dates back to 1988 — and possibly even earlier. Wow again! Oh, and JP Morgan Chase will be paying out billions of dollars again, this time to settle charges that it enabled Bernie Madoff’s ongoing Ponzi scheme.
Aries, which is where the Moon is today, rules the head. Thus I leave you with two groundbreaking stories: one about mapping the brain and the other about measuring consciousness. As Rene Descartes famously said, “I think; therefore, I am.” Yes, of course, Rene Descartes was an Aries — with a truckload of other Aries planets in the 3rd house, which refers to mindset and communication. Interesting to note that his Aries Sun is at 10 degrees and his Ascendant is 10 degrees Capricorn — both currently supercharged by the Cardinal Grand Cross. Mais oui, Rene, we are thinking of you aujourd’hui…bodies may pass away, but horoscopes live forever….
This fire-engine red is brought to you by the Moon in me-me-me Aries, inspiring you to start the New Year off with an astro-logical consultation that’s all about YOU. Here’s how to contact me.
If you must ship in the next 48 hours, ship it today or before 11:22AM ET on Wednesday, when the Moon goes void for a 10 hour spell.
Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 1/6/2014: The Cardinal Grand Cross of 2014
/in The ForecastGood Morning!
The first full work week of the 2014 may begin with a twist, upset or detour, courtesy of a “go with the flow” Pisces Moon being void-of-course between 4:44AM ET and 2:45PM ET. Even so, we’re off to another super-charged week in an equally super-charged first half of the year. Who’s feeling the urge to take action the most? People born 10 to 16 days into Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn….and anyone who has a planet or angle at 10 to 16 degrees of those signs. There is tremendous potential for personal empowerment and emancipation — and much of that growth will likely involve change, so get ready!
The urge to initiate intensifies when the Moon charges into Aries at 2:45PM ET. You may be dealing with an idealistic mindset or communication, suggested by a hook-up between mental Mercury and Venus in enterprising Capricorn. Still, the energy and focus is available to flesh these ideas out, suggested by friendly input from disciplined Saturn. This round of action builds to a physical and/or enthusiastic release on Wednesday, courtesy of an exact challenge between aggressive Mars and jovial Jupiter.
This fire-engine red is brought to you by the Moon in me-me-me Aries, inspiring you to start the New Year off with an astro-logical consultation that’s all about YOU. Here’s how to contact me.
The planetary pattern that is reflecting all this proactive, super-charged energy is a Grand Cross configuration, that revs up the high-voltage of the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square with the addition of challenges from physical, willful Mars and expansive — and sometimes bombastically so — Jupiter. This Grand Cross is an easy image to visualize. Just picture a square with one planet at each corner. Uranus in Aries and Mars in Libra are opposite each other; Jupiter in Cancer and Pluto in Capricorn are opposite each other. Draw a line between the planets opposing each other, and you’ve got a Grand Cross — got that?
The Grand Cross is an extremely tense configuration among planets in Cardinal Signs (refer to the forecast posted on the Winter Solstice), and the way Cardinal Signs release tension is to initiate action. Because of the nature of the planets involved, such actions are likely be extreme. How long will this Grand Cross be hanging around? Off and on through May, with an exact square among all four planets happening April 20th-23rd — mark your calendars, especially since it will be directly impacting the horoscope of the United States.
Here are some topics likely to be dominating the headlines during the Grand Cross. Mars-Uranus oppositions suggest volatility, accidents, aviation, rebellion and technological breakthroughs. Jupiter-Pluto oppositions suggest issues of power and resources of all kinds: energy and currency; corporations and governments. Uranus-Pluto squares suggest disruption of the status quo; with Uranus in Aries it is also the power of one individual to effect radical change, which shakes up the “powers that be” Establishment (Pluto in Capricorn). We can expect the PTB to exert great efforts in order to maintain power and control. Meanwhile, Mars-Jupiter squares suggest great physical stamina and/or overblown ego; Jupiter-Uranus squares suggest sudden windfalls and news from the cosmos.
We’ll recap the Uranus-Pluto square tomorrow; my plan to do that today was preempted by a need to discuss the Cardinal Grand Cross.
FYI, the other Moon void for the work week — other than today — is Wednesday 11:22AM ET – 9:24PM ET.
And now, the news.
Here in New York, commuting delays are rampant, as the subways are officially called “a mess,” courtesy of pouring raining melting whatever was left of last week’s snow. But wait, there’s more. Temperatures will drop from 55 degrees Fahrenheit to 7 degrees tonight. Extreme? Yes, and that’s no surprise.
On corporations & corporate reforms: the NYT Op-Ed section has a piece arguing that the corporate income tax should be abolished, with lost revenue replaced by higher taxes on corporate shareholders. Over the weekend a Maine newspaper published an in-depth report on how the Trans-Pacific Partnership treaty “threatens” that state’s “frail economy”. You do know about the TPP, yes? I have mentioned it several times over the past year or so. This is a big monster trade agreement that is being negotiated in secret, though Wikileaks and other news organizations have managed to dig up some of the dirt, as noted here; the overall scuttlebutt is that if the United States has its way, the agreement will be extremely favorable to corporate interests.
Meanwhile, solar energy stocks are starting the year on a rally, as Ford Motors prepares to unveil its solar-powered “concept car” at this week’s Consumer Electronic Show. Thought I’d close this forecast with a little bit of sunshine from the Jupiter oppositing Pluto “power & energy sector” on this rainy Monday…
Have I mentioned that this fire-engine red is brought to you by the Moon in me-me-me Aries, inspiring you to start the New Year off with an astro-logical consultation that’s all about YOU? Here’s how to contact me.
Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 1/3/2014 & the Weekend: The Big Push; Neptune in Pisces Review
/in The ForecastWednesday’s proactive New Moon energy continues with optimistic verve through the weekend and all next week. Really, if you are a self-employed or other entrepreneurial type, this time offers much potential for breaking through blocks like so much liquid Drano. So even though it’s looking like a snow day in most of the U.S., and it’s the weekend, it can’t hurt to focus on big goals and long-term ambitions. Get your finances in order. Write that business plan. Clear out any static you may have in relationships, being extra-mindful of respectful social decorum. Whatever is holding you back, make the push…driven by consciousness, not ego. Got that? Get out of your own way!
If that sounds terribly scary and overwhelming, here are some practical things you can do to make it far less so. We have six of ten planets in cardinal signs right now…and as you all remember from my Winter Solstice post, cardinal signs need action and change. Go for it!
Today (Friday) kicks off with big ideas, driven by an easy flow of action and practical innovation, suggested by mental Mercury opposing buoyant Jupiter, and the technogeek Aquarius Moon getting along well with action hero Mars. Yes, there is a “get real” potential around 8:47PM ET, when the Moon clashes with stern Saturn and hands us 1) a wet blanket or other limitation; or 2) incentive for an ambitious reach. Let it percolate during the Moon void period that will last until 11:58AM ET on Saturday. Go with the flow of any twists and delays that may crop up, especially if you are traveling during a blizzard. Enjoy the detour!
After 12pm ET on Saturday the Moon shifts into dreamy Pisces, and the only exact aspect is a rose-colored hook-up between the Moon and nebulous Neptune. Sounds like a good time to lose yourself in an intangible escape: music, film, spirit(s), healing and/or dreams…or a winter wonderland.
Sunday is a lovely day for mind-expansion and communication, courtesy of cooperative connections to the empathic Moon from a platoon of other planets. An opposition between the practical Capricorn Sun and exuberant Jupiter in nurturing Cancer suggests further expansion or big expenses. Caveats: 1) make sure you really can afford it before you buy it. Credit card companies just love Sun-Jupiter patterns; and 2) with Venus currently retrograde, you may be willing to pay more than something is really worth. Hardcore example: I once bought property during a Venus retrograde, in a time when I was not paying attention to planetary patterns. Had I been paying attention, I would have negotiated a much better price. Live and learn!
Moon is void of course on Monday from 4:44AM ET until 2:45PM ET, suggesting a slow start to the first full work week of 2014. But things are sure to get feisty as soon after the void, when Moon enters RAMbunctious me-me-me Aries — and it’s off to the races we go.
OK, so — yesterday we talked about Jupiter and Saturn in 2014; now let’s talk about Neptune, which dipped into Pisces for four months in 2011 before fully committing to a 14-year run in its home sign in 2012. Neptune energy can be challenging for people who live in a material world, as Neptune tends to dissolve whatever it touches. It doesn’t strike with a lightning bolt, like Uranus, or blow things to smithereens, purging and/or transforming, like Pluto. Its effects are much more subtle, but no less powerful. A few key words for Neptune: intangible forms (wireless communication including film, photography, telepathy, healing, intuition, spirituality, rarefied art forms, including music), oil, dreams, drugs, blood, alcohol, poisons, viruses, water, oceans, seafood. A few key words for Pisces: surrender, empathy, compassion, collective consciousness, belief, martyr, saint.
The last time Neptune entered Pisces was in 1847, and I thank astrologer Adrian Duncan for putting together some key developments reflecting that last journey so I do not have to. Read on for clues to what we can expect to see — and already are seeing — from 2012 to 2026:
I think Pope Francis, with his empathy for those who are suffering, is an apt reflection of Neptune in Pisces. So is every headline about water (and lack thereof), oceans and fisheries in crisis. Instead of opium, we’re seeing marijuana becoming more socially acceptable. As for fantasy, imagination and dissolving boundaries, I leave you with this super cool headline, “Quantum Physics Proves Death is an Illusion,” as well as a link to the book that inspired the headline, even though the book was published in 2009. Frankly, there’s nothing new in the article that I didn’t read about 30 years ago in a little book called Illusions, , or figure out for myself during hours of playing Baldur’s Gate. Still, I’m glad that scientists are getting closer to understanding how the imagination creates “reality”…and we’ll likely to see more in that vein in the very near future.
Donations are always welcome, with gratitude for your expression of appreciation. You have no idea how thrilling it is to receive a spontaneous gift for all the information I am called to passionately provide. I also have some GraceAstrology Official Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide Bookmarks, which I’d be delighted to send as a gift to you for reading this forecast. To schedule a personal consultation, here is how to contact me.
Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 1/2/2014: Jupiter & Saturn in 2014
/in The ForecastIf you’re headed back to the office this morning, note that the enterprising Capricorn Moon goes void with a sigh at 6:12AM ET, not to enter the next sign — Aquarius — until 12:03PM ET. So if you’re rarin’ to go with your New Moon agenda, hold off on those important first connections until after 12PM ET. That’s when people will be less likely to flake out or lose focus.
The Aquarius Moon is well-suited for networking, and there’s certainly no lack of willpower to move forward, suggested by a clash between the Capricorn Sun and action hero Mars in relationship-focused Libra. If you are the type of person who dislikes conflict, your karmic challenge today may be to push ahead with your own agenda with great enthusiasm, while diplomatically navigating the resistance. How can you make this a win-win?
Speaking of enthusiasm, over the next week, expansive Jupiter will make buoyant connections to mental Mercury, the Sun and Mars, suggesting the successful selling of something that’s pie-in-the-sky.Ooh, looky — the markets hit another new high. Meanwhile, Venus retrograde adds to the potential for overestimating the value of a material object…which is all fantastic news if you’re selling, right? Kick the tires and look under the rug — multiple times — if you’re buying, k? Not like these “high rollers” are doing…
The overall forecast for 2014, especially in the U.S., is a continuation of the maddening mishegoss of 2013, with an ever-intensifying wake-up call accompanied by startling disruptions, breakthroughs and breakdowns. On an individual level, many will be challenged by opportunities for emancipation and empowerment — and that’s super cool, even if it requires pushing through the fear of letting go of old patterns. Planning and patience — especially in relationship matters — will likely be required in the first six months of the year, given that Venus is retrograde in January; Mercury is retrograde in February and June; Mars will be retrograde in March, April and most of May. Don’t worry, though — there will be plenty of things going on — if they may not be going full speed ahead. It’s just that events launched during certain retrograde periods often — not always, but often — are subject to review and retooling when a relevant retrograde planet turns direct.
And now, some thoughts on Jupiter and Saturn in 2014:
Jupiter in Cancer and Leo. Jupiter, which needs to expand whatever it touches, is in emotional and financial security-seeking Cancer, where it will be until it finally enters Leo on July 16th. Until then it offers a potential boost of optimistic energy to Cancers born after July 1st. Cancers born in the first ten days of the sign hopefully got that boost in 2013. When Jupiter is in your Sun Sign (which it is every 12 years), it is suggests a period of luck and/or relative ease. Be alert for opportunities to expand your horizons, with the wind at your back. After July 16th, it’ll be Leo’s turn to shine.
Jupiter refers to “big picture” thinking, law, academia, broadcasting, publishing, religion, travel, etc. — so we can expect those areas to continue to have a Cancerian focus for the next seven months. What does Cancer care about? For starters: food, mothering, money, home, family, emotional security and my country — right or wrong.
Saturn in Scorpio. Saturn entered Scorpio in October 2012. The last time Saturn was in Scorpio was between December 1982 through 1985. Scorpio is concerned with issues of power and control, of building all the way to Heaven and all the way down to Hell. Scorpio is also concerned with matters of sex, death and (other peoples’) money, including debt.
Saturn is a strict taskmaster, more than comfortable with Scorpio’s controlling needs, including the need to make cuts. Letting go of what no longer serves is one thing, but ouch! — Saturn in Scorpio can go to extremes. Its discipline may force us to face the nitty-gritty consequences of our highest and basest instincts; we simply can not look away. For example, one of the biggest stories of Saturn’s last transit through Scorpio was AIDS, certainly a matter of sex, life and death. How did this story transform consciousness? What were the highs and lows?
Since October 2012, I’ve noted more than a few nitty-gritty headlines in this Scorpionic vein. One was the story of the Hindu woman in Ireland who suffered a miscarriage and died after doctors refused her an abortion in November. Abortion continues to be a hot-button issue, as is contraception; just yesterday, the latter issue made headlines. Another relevant nitty-gritty issue is rape, and there have been plenty of horrific headlines everywhere — noted in past forecasts. The silver-lining hope is that these events will spark a major transformation of law and consciousness. Transformation is a positive potential of Scorpio.
For those born in November 1982-November 1985 and November 1953 – October 1956, congratulations, you were most likely born with Saturn in Scorpio, and you have had — or are about to have — your first or second Saturn return. This is an intense experience rich with developmental potential, often involving an urgent ambitious reach. It is an excellent time to consult with an astrologer about realizing your life’s purpose.
For those born in the middle to the end of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, you’ve got Father Time (Saturn) likely pushing for discipline. You may need to cut your losses and focus on what’s critically important. Saturn transits can inspire your ambition, but they can also be experienced as limiting and isolating. Be brave enough to ask for support if you need it. You are worth it.
Coming up next: Uranus, Pluto and Neptune in 2014.
Donations are always appreciated with much gratitude, as well as a nifty Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide bookmark, so you’ll always know when that trickster planet is doing its backwards shuffle — and how to handle it. Thank you for reading — and sharing — this forecast.
Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 1/1/2014: New Moon in Capricorn; Ambitious & Resourceful
/in The ForecastThe New Moon in Capricorn officially begins today at 6:19AM ET, offering us an opportunity to re-set intentions and goals for the next lunar cycle. Around the 7th, 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 15th, 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 24th, we can review our achievements, tie up loose ends and get ready to begin another New Moon on January 30th.
Capricorn is an earthy, enterprising, social-climbing energy which means business like no other sign in the zodiac. Capricorn knows how to use resources (including people) to get what it needs, which is to make things happen and move things forward. This New Moon chart has five planets in Capricorn, four of which are not only in an intense conjunction, but are also making contact with the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square. Yea verily, I say to you: this is time to forge boldly ahead with a venture that promises a profound liberation, transformation or empowerment.
As I said in yesterday’s forecast (please refer to it for details on precise planetary patterns), this is a time to ask deep questions and listen intently to the answers you receive. Re-assess your partnerships. Why are you in them? Are they more or less valuable now than when they began? Are the parties involved moving forward on the same path? Consider hardcore, honest discussions about resources required to make dreams a reality. With rose-colored Neptune running wild in the New Moon chart, there should be no short supply of vision. Sketch out realistic plans and make them happen.
The four planets in a potent Capricorn hook-up in this New Moon chart are the Sun and Moon (obviously), mental Mercury and ruthless Pluto. That’s your concentrated investigative focus and piercing communication potential. These four are challenged by action hero Mars and rebel Uranus, adding willpower and breakthrough to the potential. Meanwhile, expansive Jupiter is in nurturing Cancer, adding its big, fat two cents to the pattern. These ambitious goals you have? How are they meeting the need for emotional and home security? Take advantage of the harmonious connection between the expansive potential of Jupiter, supported by “get real” Saturn in “did I mention ‘get real?'” Scorpio.
The fifth planet in Capricorn is Venus (social expression, love, money, beauty), and it is currently retrograde through the end of January. This is the pattern that suggests an opportunity to review your relationships, financial and aesthetic projects in the same way that Mercury retrograde offers an opportunity to review and reorganize your closets, thoughts and other clutter. Here’s a fun Venus retrograde-themed essay that’s been getting a lot of attention on the web in which a newly-wedded man comes to realize that marriage isn’t for him. Such a revelation!
You are likely feeling the ambitious push of this New Moon more personally if you were born around the 1st of April, July, October or December…or if you have an angle or planet around 11 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn.
The Sabian Symbol for 11 degrees of Capricorn is “a large group of pheasant on a private estate,” i.e., a bunch of wild birds living in a beautifully structured space created by persons with presumably aristocratic values. This month I’m relying on another Sabian Symbol guru — Dane Rudhyar — to understand how it may be applied to the potential of this dynamic New Moon. This symbol suggests a consideration of how we can “cooperate with Nature to create beauty and elegance by capitalizing on skill and opportunity,” (writes Rudhyar), and I’d add “…in a way that is sustainable.” It’s interesting to note a potentially major adjustment in values happening in New York, as Bill de Blasio was sworn in as the Big Apple’s 109th mayor just hours ago, vowing to “end social and economic inequalities that threaten to unravel the city we love.”
(Random footnote: Dasani Coates, the homeless 12-year-old whose story was reported in the NYT and linked here a few weeks ago, held the Bible for the swearing-in of New York’s new public advocate — see the link above for pics).
Heads up for those heading back to work tomorrow (Thursday), especially on the East Coast: Moon will be void-of-course from 6:12AM ET until 12:03PM ET. A slow start or twist to your morning routine would not be out of the ordinary. Wait until after 12PM ET to move forward on your ambitious New Moon agenda….and if you’d like some personal astro-logical insight on how to maximize opportunities now and throughout 2014, now is the time to book that consultation, given that I’m back from vacation. Make it so!
Donations are always welcome, with gratitude for your expression of appreciation, as well as a nifty Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide bookmark, so you’ll always know when that trickster planet is doing its backwards shuffle — and how to handle it. Thank you for reading — and sharing — this forecast.