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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 10/25/2013: Revelations About Love; Mercury Retrogrrrrade Headlines
/in The ForecastGood Morning!
And such a dreamy morning it may be, courtesy of the harmonious connection between the intense Scorpio Sun (life force) and nebulous Neptune in Pisces (illusions, spirits and other intangibles), exact at 6:41PM ET. Please refer to earlier posts this week for more on this rose-colored planetary pattern. Man, I could just float…gently down a stream…as we have six of ten planets in emotional Water signs today: Sun, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and…
…the Moon, which continues its sojourn in Cancer, suggesting another day of focus on and fulfillment of home and emotional security needs. What can you do to nurture yourself and others today? Thoughts flow easily this morning — especially for those with an intuitive bent — how lovely for those on a creative or spiritual quest. It can all build to a burst of optimism by the end of the business day, as Jupiter, the cosmic sugar daddy, hooks up with the Moon at 4:31PM ET.
From then until 12:12pm ET on Saturday, the Moon will be void of course, offering a natural break in the action. Avid readers of this forecast know that when the Moon is void, it has a wandering, drifting energy, which we often experience as twists, delays or upsets in our efforts to move forward in a straight line. You may notice a lack of focus in those around you, such as a waitress who cheerfully says “Good Morning” when it’s three in the afternoon. There’s a higher potential for flake outs and space outs during voids, and even more so now with mental Mercury being retrograde. The good news is that if you’re the one flaking, it’s likely to be of little consequence. You’ll find more thoughts on Moon voids here.
You can bask in the afterglow of a rose-colored Friday night until 12:12PM ET on Saturday, when the Moon gets into gear in sunny Leo. This Fire sign needs to play, create and shine — often with a sense of royal entitlement. So here’s a little tip for dealing with any drama queens and kings you may encounter: let them know you love them, even if they are total strangers. This is especially true if you’re dealing with someone who was born with Moon in Leo; love is what they need, and the whole world is a much happier place when that need is fulfilled. Don’t believe me? Check out this fascinating, absolutely must-read piece called “10 Things You Might Not Know About Love”. Interesting that it was originally published in January, on a day with the Moon in nurturing Cancer and the Sun in “I love you, but don’t take it personally” Aquarius.
Meanwhile, the Third Quarter Moon, suggesting a challenge to the agenda you set on the New Moon, is exact on Saturday at 7:40PM ET. Sunday morning dawns with a friendly, innovative connection between the Moon and rebel Uranus that can open minds and hearts to new and unusual attractions. A wet blanket may hit the headlines by 2:24PM ET, as stern Saturn in stubborn Scorpio challenges the equally fixed Leo Moon, with a potential communication clash ensuing around 7PM ET, courtesy of mental Mercury.
FYI: on Monday, the Leo Moon will be void from 8:26AM ET until 11:45PM ET, suggesting a slow start to the work week. Chill if you can.
And now, the news. We’re five days into Mercury retrograde, which is a most excellent time to FOCUS on what we are thinking and saying, and in terms of what is said, the less said, the better. Idle chatter and gossip often have greater consequences during Mercury retrogrades, and often times what is said is later proven false or embarrassing. My sense was that we’d see a lot of stories in the headlines along those themes, especially since the Sabian Symbol for this Mercury retrograde is 19 Scorpio: “a parrot listening and then talking.” To me, that’s an instant image of twittering blah blah blah. Here’s a direct link to Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee’s thoughts on 19 Scorpio — I highly recommend you get his book.
Here are a few related stories:
First, Jofi Joseph, a White House staffer who posted blah blah blah snarky remarks about Persons in High Places via an anonymous Twitter account was fired after an investigation identified him as the source. Second, Don Yelton, a North Carolina county precinct GOP chair resigned after The Daily Show aired a typically entertaining, incisive interview in which Mr. Yelton blithely expressed comments that were “offensive, uniformed, and unacceptable of any member within the Republican Party,” according to a statement released by the Buncombe County GOP. Meanwhile, Twitter itself is making news. It just made a significant new hire and it set a price range for its “eagerly anticipated” upcoming IPO.
Have a wonderful weekend — and don’t forget to read the article about love, linked above. That one can change your life.
Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 10/24/2013: A Dream Home with Moon in Cancer
/in The ForecastOK, break’s over. The Moon is fully engaged in Cancer as of 11:36PM ET last night. This suggests a focus on building and maintaining emotional and home security needs: connecting with family, tending to your home and whatever else nurtures and nourishes. With Mercury retrograde, a REview of or REconnection with these needs may also be on the table. Dreams may have been especially vibrant upon waking, courtesy of a lovely connection between the intuitive Moon and nebulous Neptune.
The morning and early afternoon have an easy flow, bathed in a rose-colored glow or fog, courtesy of the alignment between the Sun and Neptune discussed in yesterday’s forecast. By early evening on the East Coast, however, we can expect the weekly jolt, revelation and/or power plays that occurs when the Moon makes contact with the disruptive Uranus-Pluto square. You’ll feel this more personally if you were born 9-10 days into Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn…or if you have a planet or angle at 9 degrees of those signs. Don’t know where your planets are? Well, for heaven’s sake, make an appointment for a personal consultation and find out! Really, there’s too much going on in the cosmos, reflected in world events, to remain clueless about how it is likely to impact YOU.
So…yesterday as you know, the Moon was void of course for 27 hours, and there was a major sports event last night, a.k.a. Game 1 of the World Series. The supposedly red-hot St. Louis Cardinals went up against the Boston Red Sox and the Sox trounced the Cardinals, 8-1. The general rule of Moon voids is that in sports matches, we can expect upsets, twists and outcomes that favor the underdog. Here’s how the game was written up by the New York Times:
Fascinating, isn’t it?
In other news, I’m seeing the disruptive and destructive potential of the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square, combined with the rarefied artsy-vibe of tomorrow’s Sun-Neptune alignment reflected perfectly in an art exhibition opening today at the Smithsonian called “Damage Control: Art and Destruction Since 1950.” What perfect timing! Meanwhile, Germany is quite upset over a recent report alleging that the U.S. tapped into Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone, and Germany is not alone in its outrage. Given the upsets to the status quo suggested in the U.S. horoscope in mid-2014, it will be interesting to see how stories like these develop over the next year.
Following up on Monday’s forecast, JPMorgan Chase is making headlines as it faces another penalty for “turning a blind eye” to the Ponzi scheme run by its customer, Bernie Madoff. Can we expect another bold action from Chairman & CEO Jamie Dimon, reflecting the high tension happening in his horoscope? His Mars (planet of action) is under pressure from rebel Uranus through February of 2014, along with pressure to his Mercury (mindset, communication) from other planetary patterns. Here’s one possible brilliant maneuver we might see — this one involving taxpayer dollars and the “record fine” allegedly levied against the bank for its mortgage practices leading up to the 2008 financial crisis.
As we approach the fourth exact hit of the Uranus-Pluto square on November 1st, we can expect significant news involving aviation, nuclear energy, seismic events, revolution, transformation and the cosmos, just to name a few keywords associated with Uranus and Pluto. Here’s a story that hit yesterday about the cosmos: the discovery of a galaxy far, far away…
Peace out.
Don’t know where your planets are? Well, for heaven’s sake, make an appointment for a personal consultation and find out! Really, there’s too much going on in the cosmos, reflected in world events, to remain clueless about how it is all likely to impact YOU.
Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 10/23/2013: A Looooong Break; Sun Enters Scorpio
/in The ForecastWriting this with the Moon void of course in information junkie Gemini, where it will likely drift aimlessly in search of idle conversation and trivia until 11:36PM ET. Chill, chill, chill! If you are new to this forecast and are unfamiliar with Moon voids, here’s an older post with thoughts on how to handle them — worth digging out of the archives.
The big astro-logical shift today is the Sun leaving airy, cerebral Libra for the watery, emotional depths of Scorpio (exact at 2:10AM ET). Theories just won’t cut it; Scorpio demands substance. Mention Scorpio to those who know just enough about astrology to be dangerous, and they may run screaming down the hall. Perhaps they find Scorpio’s natural bent for power and control intimidating. Per pioneering astrologer Linda Goodman, “Scorpios build all the way up to Heaven and all the way down to the Hell. That’s what makes them so…interesting.” Interesting, indeed. And fiercely loyal and protective of what and whom they love. Even when they’re in one of their moody bastard modes.
Please be careful in your travels today. Yesterday, two emergency airplane landings made headlines. Mercury retrograde and today’s Moon void suggests a higher than average potential for flaky people behind the wheel. Plus we’re starting to feel the dreamy influence of nebulous Neptune’s exact alignment with Sun on Friday, suggesting an urge to merge with a higher consciousness or escape into some other rarefied, intangible state (e.g., music, spirit or drug-induced fantasy). How appropriate, then, that a recent Gallup poll reveals that for the first time, a majority of Americans favor legalizing marijuana. If you’re inclined to sing about this statistic, here’s a list of “smokin’ songs about weed” that Billboard published on April 20th, a day after another planetary alignment with nebulous Neptune. Coincidence or conspiracy?
Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 10/22/2013: More Mercury Retrograde Strategies; Jamie Dimon, Right on Schedule
/in The ForecastA buzzy, busy day of stimulating conversation and information gathering, except everything may feel as if it’s running backwards. Welcome to the second day of mental Mercury being retrograde — how is it manifesting in your world? Yesterday morning, just minutes after the official start of this three-week communication snafu period, Facebook was on the fritz. I heard plenty of other reports of cars stalling and computers crashing. Later that night, I found myself on the downtown F train, instead of the uptown F train, and I have no idea how that happened. Damn you, Mercury retrograde!
A successful strategy for managing this pesky planet is this: FOCUS. You must slow down. You must be patient. If you can create a space for it in your Type-A world, take some time to tune in and tune out. There’s likely to be more gold in that inner knowing stream of consciousness than in all the gossip flying around. Make the most of it.
If you absolutely, positively must ship within the next 48 hours, get it off your desk today if you can (or wait a few days). Today’s chatty Gemini Moon goes void of course at 8:35PM ET, not to enter the next sign (Cancer) until 11:36PM ET on WEDNESDAY. That’s 27 hours of time motivated by nothing in particular, ripe for flake outs, space outs and other odd twists. Take care of what is routine, go with the flow, absolutely no impulse shopping sprees and chill if you can. Recognize that whatever crisis crops up is likely much ado about nothing.
Planetary patterns this week are fairly quiet. Mercury’s change of direction is the biggest exact shift, followed by the Sun’s shift tomorrow as it leaves cerebral Libra for emotionally intense Scorpio. A harmonious connection between the Sun and nebulous Neptune on Friday adds to the pixie dust — magical and/or surreal — that was sprinkled throughout last weekend, courtesy of bedazzling and bewildering face-off between aggressive Mars in analytical Virgo and Neptune in dreamy Pisces. I was thus intrigued to find this article in the Sunday NYT: “Data-Mining Our Dreams” — dream (Neptune in Pisces) active gathering & analysis (Mars in Virgo). How cool is that?
There is one pattern rumbling along that is not so quiet, and it’s about to make an exact hit for the 4th of seven times. And this would be the challenging connection of rebel Uranus to ruthless Pluto, which you can read about in a historical context here. The 4th hit happens on November 1st, and I expect a significant disruption of the status quo to hit the headlines. And what could you expect if the Uranus-Pluto square is personally impacting your unique horoscope? Here’s one example.
Jamie Dimon (whom we’ve been writing about for two years now — search the archives), is back in the news and right on schedule. Mr. Dimon has been under enormous pressure, courtesy of the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square currently supercharging his natal Mars in enterprising, earthy Capricorn (and likely supercharging the pioneering, daring need to be “numero uno” of his fiery Aries Moon, too). We’d expect him to be expending tremendous effort and taking extraordinary action. Mr. Dimon is Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, a financial institution that apparently has reached a huge settlement with the Justice Department over its “questionable mortgage practices leading up to the (2008) financial crisis”. So how did this deal get done? According to this report, hours before the Justice Department was to announce civil charges against the bank, a “rare outreach” by Mr. Dimon put the announcement on hold and led to this “record” deal.
If you have your natal Mars (or any other planet or angle) at 8 to 14 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn, your capacity for action is likely supercharged right now, too — and wouldn’t you like to know about it, so you can use the proactive energy to its fullest potential? Book an appointment for a personal consultation and we’ll have a fine discussion about your horoscope — in plain English — with no astrological jargon whatsoever. For more on how astrology works and how it can help you live life better, take a listen to this fun interview I did recently on the radio.
Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 10/21/2013: How to Handle Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio
/in The ForecastHappy Monday!
I hope your weekend settled into the very best that the material comfort and stability-seeking Moon in Taurus could support on Saturday and Sunday, especially after a RAMbunctious Full Moon in me-me-me Aries on Friday. I was out of town — on a magical and nostalgic visit to Wellesley College, my alma mater — and I apologize for the delayed forecast & lack of response to the many emails that are sitting in my inbox. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
As it turns out, delays and snafus involving communication and transportation devices (computers, cell phones, cars, trains, etc.) are exactly what we can expect, given that mental Mercury is now officially retrograde as of 6:29AM ET today, at 18 degrees of Scorpio. So if 18 Scorpio is a significant point in your horoscope, you will be more personally affected by this retrograde. In Scorpio, Mercury can be probing and intense, as it unflinchingly examines subjects considered too taboo to be frankly discussed in polite company: e.g., sex, life and death, debts and joint resources, power, corruption and all things rotting away in hidden corners. Mercury in Scorpio can also be paranoid, controlling and relentless in its search for absolute truth. It’s quite willing to blow dearly-held concepts to smithereens, forcing us to reform and regenerate. Watch the headlines for examples over the next few weeks. Mercury will turn direct on November 10th.
Those who know just enough about astrology to make them dangerous often curse Mercury retrograde, and that’s a shame. It gets a bad rap because we are geared, in this crazy modern age, to always be thinking, doing, moving FORWARD. Ya know what that gets you? Burn out! We need our down times, and Mercury retrograde is a perfect time to give our minds a rest — and an opportunity to review our progress over the past few months. Why else would your computer, phone and/or car choose THIS time to malfunction? Because you are supposed to be slowing down!
Be prepared for travel delays, scheduling screw-ups, mechanical breakdowns, computer crashes, having to repeat what you’ve just said, misunderstandings, people you haven’t seen in years showing up on your doorstep and having to repeat what you just said. Take advantage of this prime opportunity to review and rethink a project you may have abandoned. It’s probably worth a second look. Get out your Rolodex and reach out to people. Trust that they will be delighted to hear from you. Take a break from your routine. Take a vacation. Unplug your computer and cellphone. Avoid signing contracts, making major purchases (especially mechanical ones) and losing patience. Make sure the restaurant you’re meeting at is still in business. Don’t believe everything you read in the papers and ignore the juicy gossip at the water cooler. Do plan on RElaxing, REviewing, REsearching, REorganizing, REgenerating, REconnecting and REcreating.
This particular Mercury retrograde is an especially superb time for getting organized (or reorganized). That’s because Mars, the action hero planet, is in Virgo, the perfecting organizer extraordinaire. That’s good news for programmers hired to fix a multitude of website glitches delaying the health insurance exchanges mandated by the Affordable Care Act. In your own personal world, you can be highly efficient in your efforts to purge what no longer serves. Start with your closets and file cabinets. This is also a superb time to review your life in consultation with an astrologer. Contact me to schedule an appointment.
P.S. Moon is in Gemini as of 12:14AM ET, needing to inform and be informed. Well good luck with that, as our brains adjust to Mercury’s shift in motion (translation: double check everything before you hit “send”). As the day progresses, nebulous Neptune suggests a need for vision — or the potential for confusion — followed by an impassioned critique or clash over the details at 7:47PM ET.
Moon voids for the week: Tuesday 8:35PM ET until 11:38PM ET on WEDNESDAY; Friday 4:31PM ET until 12:12PM ET SATURDAY. Plan your life accordingly.