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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 Wednesday 8/28/2013: A Deeper Perspective
/in The ForecastA need for depth and perspective in all areas of fact-gathering, mindset and communication is suggested today by the Moon in information-junkie Gemini and a supportive connection between mental Mercury and perspicacious Pluto. Oh, how these thoughts have power…and considerable debate over the facts may be had around 1:48PM ET, as the Gemini Moon squares Mercury in exacting Virgo. Get it off your desk today; Moon goes void for a long break at 12:44AM ET Thursday…not to enter Cancer, the next sign, until Friday at 7:33AM ET.
The day begins with a charge and a challenge: the 3rd Quarter Moon, offering the final hit to the New Moon agenda that was set on August 6th. What was that all about, you may wonder (how quickly we forget). It was about “a pageant” — suggested by the bold, creative and imperial conjunction of the Sun and Moon at 15 degrees of royal Leo. Here is that New Moon forecast again. The Sabian Symbol for the 3rd Quarter Moon at 6 degrees of Gemini is “drilling for oil”. Now isn’t that interesting, given one of the dominant themes in the headlines. For more on that story, I offer you this. If I didn’t, I might hide under the covers for the rest of the day.
Let the record show that drilling for oil is a highly speculative venture. Yes, there is the potential for great wealth that can be obtained by going deep & tapping into resources that are millions of years old. However, such gains in wealth may be painfully short-term, and ultimately destructive to the rest of the environment. Plus, when that oil is tapped, it’s tapped. Or it might not be there to begin with. You drill and strike out, leaving behind a big mess (google “fracking” for further details). Sabian Symbol guru Blaine Bovee has a lot of other interesting things to say about the symbolism of this particular degree — I recommend you get his book.
In your own personal world, use the energy of this 3rd Quarter Moon to look deeper. Think twice before taking things at face value, even if doing so would be easier. Do your homework. Sometimes it’s good to be boring, even if it spoils the party. You may discover some hidden resources as a result. Also (I am realizing, after already shipping this forecast to my email subscribers), if you have to make a persuasive argument today, planetary patterns have your back. Onward!
Coming up: a look at the horoscope of the United States in 2014 — I’ve been meaning to post something for some time…meanwhile, here’s an intriguing story about a group of forward-thinking people in area of natural resources…oil-drilling is not on their agenda.
Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 8/27/2013: Wondrous Strange; Mars in Leo
/in The ForecastMore of the same from yesterday: Moon in practical, sensual Taurus, either reinforcing our efforts to build material security or stubbornly maintaining the status quo. Mental Mercury (mindset, communication) starts the day off well-supported by disciplined Saturn — well, that’s good for fleshing out an idea and other serious communications. Expressing the sensual side of that Taurus Moon is given quite an edge by a potentially over-the-top connection between a delightfully considerate Venus and expansive Jupiter, also in a security-conscious sign. It’s a great day to be on an expense account; otherwise, keep an eye on your wallet and your appetite, lest ye overindulge. The Venus-Jupiter challenge is exact at 5:53PM ET. An overindulgence in rationalizations in favor of efforts to maintain homeland security is another potential.
At the end of the day — 10:05PM ET — aggressive Mars leaves watery Cancer and blusters its way into Leo, sign of drama queens and other royally entitled persons. On the plus side, we can expect less passive-aggression in acts of assertion. With Mars in Leo, there is the suggested need for actions to be accompanied with a regal flourish, often bold and playful. On the downside, there is that royally entitled thing, and more than one astrologer has noted that people born with Mars in Leo have an amazing ability to get away with murder. They assume they will receive special treatment and are definitely the ones to hang out with if you’re looking for complimentary upgrades.
Meanwhile, we continue to process the fallout from yesterday’s visionary and/or surreal Neptune-Sun opposition, combined with the freedom-seeking and unconventional expression of rebel Uranus opposing Venus. Neptune keywords include: music, toxins, film, photography, oceans, oil, spirit, redemption, suffering, empathy, glamor. Related headlines include the disturbing confirmation of chemical weapons killing many in Syria (as if there wasn’t enough misery in the world) and a much more uplifting story of redemption involving a former bank robber who served his time and is about to begin a prestigious clerkship with an equally prestigious judge. Within this article is a link to a fascinating exchange between the reformed bank robber and the judge who sentenced him to several years’ in prison.
Pulling out all the razzle-dazzling stops of Neptunian showbiz, Julian Assange released a “surreal” campaign video supporting his run for public office in his native Australia. You did not know he was running for office? Of course he is, as reflected by current Saturn transits in his horoscope, seeking an ambitious and authoritative expression. If you were having a major Saturn transit, you might be acting on a few ambitions, too. And speaking of surreal, Miley Cyrus’s showstopping performance on the weekend’s VMA show is most definitely not suggested by a Saturn transit. She’ll get that later this year. Chalk this one up to an innate need for unconventional social expression (Venus conjunct rebel Uranus and glamorous Neptune in her horoscope), triggered by transiting Mars (action!). Plus Ms. Cyrus is a gamboling Sagittarius with her Sun conjunct an equally gamboling and rowdy Sagittarius Ascendant. We’d expect to see some frankly in-your-face personal projections…including the gawd-awfully garish outfit worn at said Awards.
Moon goes void for ten minutes at 6:58PM ET; then it moves into information junkie Gemini, giving us more to talk about tomorrow…
Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 8/26/2013: Realizing the Dream
/in The ForecastA day of inspired vision, celebrating and/or demanding the expression of unconventional and liberating social/financial/artistic mores. Also known as more of the same from yesterday. The Moon is still in steady, material comfort and security-seeking Taurus, where it has been since Sunday at 9:13AM ET. Without going into all the details of the supportive aspects to mental Mercury and Venus (money, art, social expression, women), today and tomorrow are most excellent days to do just about anything. And the rest of the week isn’t bad, either. Move forward on your efforts to build and maintain your empire.
Major aspects exact today include rebel Uranus opposing Venus at 1:56PM ET (unconventional social expression demanding freedom) and dreamy Neptune in soulful Pisces opposing the practical, perfection-seeking Virgo Sun at 9:43PM ET. These are perfect aspects to help you celebrate Women’s Equality Day, noted here with style and flair by NYT columnist Gail Collins. Other dreams worth celebrating include yesterday’s 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington, which helped bring about critical voting and civil rights legislation in the mid-60s, during the Uranus-Pluto conjunction. It is no coincidence that now, during the Uranus-Pluto square, these issues of civil rights and participation in the legislative process would be back in the headlines.
Not all dreams are worth celebrating, but made the news nonetheless. “Ignoring Qualms, Some Republicans Nurture Dreams of Impeaching Obama” read one in the Times. Maureen Dowd has more on this story. Meanwhile, a woman with a status quo-disrupting and arguably more noble cause is also in the news: Muriel Siebert, “a determined trailblazer for women on Wall Street” passed away over the weekend. Isn’t it fascinating that this news would hit the wires on an highly-charged aspect among Venus (women, money), rebel Uranus and ruthless, power-wielding Pluto?
In Siebert’s obit, she is noted for her “brash attitude” and once explained her strategy for dealing with obstacles as: “I put my head down and charge.” Wanna take a guess as to what we’ll find when we look at her birthday, September 12, 1932 in Cleveland, OH? (Use a noon chart; no time of birth is available). Start with Sun in Virgo, Moon in humanitarian Aquarius, needing to be socially significant. Add a ruthless, charging conjunction between aggressive Mars and ruthless Pluto in Cancer (finance) in a tough-as-nails opposition to patriarchal Saturn…all of which is squared by rebel Uranus! Frost with a visionary hook-up among mental Mercury, expansive Jupiter and rose-colored Neptune — thinking big and ahead of her time.
And while we’re celebrating Women’s Equality Day (which also happens to be Geraldine Ferraro’s birthday), on a Venus-Uranus opposition and on a day with Neptune (ruler of intangibles and illusions, including photography) so prominent, how cool is it to see this article about women photographers in the Middle East post on the NYT homepage moments ago?
Moon voids for the week: a ten minute void on Tuesday no one will notice; Thursday from 12:44AM ET to 7:33AM on FRIDAY — that’s a long one; plan accordingly.
Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 8/23/2013 and the Weekend: Rose-Colored Glasses and Witchy-Bitchy Women
/in The ForecastAnother planetary “wobble” today as mental Mercury follows the Sun into analytical Virgo, where it be until September 8th. This is an excellent placement for Mercury; let the record show that Venus is also well-placed (in Libra, a sign it rules). This bodes well for many kinds of projects that may be initiated between now and then; consult your local astrologer for details.
With Mercury so close to the Sun — and in opposition to nebulous Neptune, look for expressions of an especially idealistic mindset through the weekend. It’s great for music, healers and other visionaries. It’s also great for con artists and other yarn spinners. If something sound just too good to be true, read the fine print before signing. Twice. Otherwise, enjoy the flight of fantasy.
With the Moon now in me-me-me Aries, the pace can run quick through early Sunday morning. Some may experience emotional volatility and sudden changes of status — especially in matters of aesthetics, relationship and/or finance, as Venus and the Moon engage with the disruptive Uranus-Pluto square. We can also expect news of unusual and/or unconventional attractions and preferences. Those born about ten days into the signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn are more sensitive to this volatility than most.
On Sunday morning at 6:01AM ET, Moon goes void until 9:13AM ET — most everyone will sleep through it. The pace slows down as the Moon enters Taurus, shifting the focus material security needs and keeping things as they are “supposed to be”. That includes stubborn resistance to necessary change., As the day moves into night (ET), things can get particularly wiggy, as Mercury and nebulous Neptune reach exact opposition, and stern Saturn opposes the security-seeking Moon. Monday looks equally interesting…
In the news, a story about an American photojournalist held captive in Syria is one perfect reflection of today’s planetary patterns: Neptune in Pisces themes of fanatics, intangibles (e.g. photography), prison, escapes; Venus-Pluto themes of intense emotional experience; Moon-in-Aries themes of survival against all odds (he escaped). Leftover headlines from this week’s Jupiter-Uranus square include the what-took-them-so-long acknowledgement of Area 51 and a lot talk of doing something about the crushing debt of student loans (higher education is a Jupiter theme). Here’s a damning article about how these loans work — and who profits — courtesy of Rolling Stone. You’re welcome and have a fabulous weekend!
Astro-logical Forecast for 8/22/2013: Sneak Peek at the Weekend and Other Surprises
/in The ForecastMore of the same from yesterday: Moon in dreamy Pisces, only quieter. It goes void at 9:39PM ET and enters RAMbunctious Aries at 3:13AM. That void period — during which the Moon will make no exact aspects to any other planets — is a natural rest period. For those in Americas, this “time out” won’t interfere with your workday.
The big shift today is the Sun leaving royal Leo for discerning Virgo at 7:02PM ET. What can we say about Virgo? Well, it is an earth sign (as opposed to fire, water or air), and thus practical, with material concerns. It is also a mutable sign, as opposed to cardinal or fixed. What does that mean? Cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn; they need to come up with the idea and take action. Fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius. These signs need to organize and give form to the concepts pitched by cardinal signs. Mutable signs — Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces — get to spread the word about the cool forms the fixed signs made. Got it?
Other Virgo tidbits: it is ruled by Mercury, which also rules mindset. Virgo is all about analysis and making thing right. In health matters, Virgo rules the intestinal tract and assimilation. If you have planets in Virgo in your horoscope, and they are under a great deal of developmental tension, you may have some issues with your digestive system, especially with how your system absorbs nutrition from food.
While today’s planetary patterns are light, the weekend’s patterns are not. Nebulous Neptune will be pulling focus in the headlines — as it opposes the Virgo Sun and Virgo Mercury. That should make for some visionary, escapist and/or fanatical headlines. Also coming up: Venus (women, money, art, social expression) will once again engage with the ongoing and disruptive Uranus-Pluto square. We can expect volatility, changes of perspective, revelations and sudden breaks and attractions, some of an emotionally overwrought and/or cathartic nature through Monday. Things may be especially volatile Friday through early Sunday, when the Moon in impulsive, fiery and me-oriented Aries also connects with the Uranus-Pluto square. I’m telling you all this now, because there might not be a forecast posted for the next few days.
And now, the news. Following up on yesterday’s expectation that Bradley Manning’s sentencing would be surprising, Manning was in fact sentenced to 35 years — not 60, as prosecutors asked for — and may be eligible for parole in seven years. Compare that sentence with other military personnel whose actions have resulted in deaths, torture, etc., and it is stunning. Also stunning: Manning plans to ask President Obama for a pardon — and here is the statement she released. Did I just write “she”? Yes, because minutes ago, Manning declared that she was female, and identifies herself as “Chelsea” and wishes to live her life as a woman. Surprise! And given the planetary patterns in her horoscope, it makes perfect sense.
There’s a ton of other headlines to report, but I gotta hit the road. Thank you for reading and sharing this forecast. Thank you for your emails requesting personal consultations. And thank you for your very kind donations (the link to click is at the bottom of this email). It is a fine thing indeed to feel appreciated.
Have a fabulous, soulful Moon in Pisces day…