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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 Saturday & Sunday 4/27-28/2013: What’s Eating You?
/in The ForecastOh, the relief of today’s Moon in fiery Sagittarius — as of 7:32AM ET — after two days of intensity in Scorpio. Randy and rowdy, Moon in Sag is up for a gamble or a gambol — whatever broadens horizons and expands minds. A need for respect for its righteous opinions is key to keeping a Sagittarius Moon content. Ramble in the park, explore a new neighborhood, read a provocative book — and tell the world what you think — sounds like a good day to me. The only exact aspect today is a square to the Moon from nebulous Neptune at 3:32PM ET, suggesting a need for a rose-colored vision to stimulate conversation. Or maybe today’s debates and headlines will have a special emphasis on idealism, sacrifice, spirituality, arts, drugs and other escapes.
The Sag Moon carries us through Sunday and it is mostly exuberant, with one caveat: a potentially heavy opposition between the comfort-seeking Taurus Sun and Saturn, the stern karma cop, in demanding Scorpio, exact at 8 degrees. You’ll feel the pressure to streamline and focus more than most if you were born around the 28th of April, July, October or January — and this is actually the second hit of a serious cycle of restructuring and/or ambition challenged that started in December of 2012. The third hit happens in September.
You are also feeling the pinch if you have a planet or angle around 6-10 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, and perhaps you would like to talk about it. Yea verily, nearly all of my clients in the past few months have had these degrees prominent in their horoscopes. With all Saturn transits, there is an urgency about a need to be more firmly established, which often requires letting go of many people and pursuits that no longer serve. There is also no escape.
In the news, I’ve been seeing plenty of stories about Taurus and Scorpio concerns. For Taurus, have you noticed how much has been written about food, lack of food, breakthroughs on how we process food and necessary changes in our diet? Part of these revelations I’d say are a reflection of the Uranus-Pluto square, as it approaches its third (of seven) exact hits on May 20th. You may recall that a revolution in diet and farming began in the mid-60s (think: organic farming, etc.) when Uranus and Pluto were conjunct; the square suggests a serious next step forward. Here’s a sampling of intriguing headlines: earlier this week I posted a piece about foods that cause inflammation & the relationship between bacteria and a healthy gut; now we see eggs being called out as a possible cause, too. Here’s an interesting bit about farmers, resources, discrimination (and possible fraud). Here’s a follow-up on that massive fatal explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant that occurred within minutes of the volatile Sun-Mars conjunction in Aries on April 17th in which a probable cause of the explosion should surprise no one.
Plenty more to talk about, but I have horoscopes to prepare. Have a wonderful weekend and be advised that there is no Moon void to detour your efforts on Monday (at least not in the US) — so be prepared to hit the ground running.
Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 4/26/2013: Postcards from the Sparkly Void
/in The ForecastAn indulgent opposition between Venus (art, women, money, social expression) in sensual, material-security seeking Taurus and the Moon in depth-seeking Scorpio sets the tone for the day at 4:56AM ET. What is mine, what is yours and what is ours, already? And how stubbornly fixated are we going to be about it? 4:56AM ET is also when the Moon goes void-of-course until 7:32AM ET on Saturday, suggesting that efforts to move forward a straight line may be thwarted by twists…or perhaps a wandering sense of meh. Chill if you can, and take care of what is routine…or let your mind wander further in a pixie dust-sprinkled creative or spiritual effort, aided and abetted by a communicative connection between aggressive Mars, softened by nebulous Neptune — exact at 9:47PM ET. Did someone say pixie dust? Here’s a story about young British royals having a perfectly magical day of charity at the film studios where “Harry Potter” was made — posted less than an hour ago. Coincidence or conspiracy?
Yea verily, it could be a fine evening for music..and definitely perfect for starting the weekend early.
I’ll write later on the rest of the weekend and fill you in on the news…there’s a lot of it…and most of it aligned with the never-ending status quo-disrupting, corruption-exposing Uranus-Pluto square….stay tuned…
Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 4/25/2013: Full Moon & Eclipse in Scorpio
/in The ForecastWith Moon no longer void of course, and in Scorpio as of 6:25AM ET, this day is ON. Knowledge gained for the sake of power and control; being seen as a person of depth and substance are Scorpio needs we’ll likely see reflected in the world around us today. A combative contact between aggressive Mars in stubborn, possessive Taurus and the equally stubborn and possessive Scorpio Moon at 12:52PM ET suggests a feisty standoff, frosted with a rosy-colored idealistic fog. Blame nebulous Neptune for sticking its nose in between Mars, Sun and Moon this week. Do you have a vision — artistic, spiritual or healing — or are you just plain delusional? Hopefully it’s the former, and if so, this is a time to use the practical earthy energy of Taurus to give your vision form.
Emotions are waxing full and run deep, as suggested by the Full Moon at 3:57PM ET. This Full Moon is also a partial lunar eclipse — not as intense as a total eclipse, but still significant. A eclipse suggests a bottleneck of energy. Light flowing from the Sun or Moon is temporarily interrupted, focusing attention on the interrupted point and allowing something new and possibly fragile to enter the picture and grow. And here I would be thinking of Michael, the kindhearted policeman in the storybook Make Way for Ducklings, who stopped the flow of traffic on Beacon Street so Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their brood of eight could safely make their way to the Boston Public Garden.
Of course while traffic is stopped, it’s also backing up…and when it flows again, it’s possible that some drivers may hit the gas a little too hard — and wham! — there’s a sudden release of the bottlenecked energy. If you have a planet or point at the degree of an exceptionally potent eclipse, you may feel the effects of the release of the bottleneck for months afterward — sometimes even years. And here I would be thinking of Rupert Murdoch, Rebekah Brooks and (former) Congressman Anthony Weiner, who all have a major point or planet at 11 degrees of Virgo, Pisces, Gemini and/or Sagittarius, which was impacted by June 2011’s solar eclipse at 11 Gemini. Remember what happened to them that year? Might they have been a little eclipsed?
The release period for this eclipse is four and half months. Wherever the eclipse falls in your horoscope is where you can expect a bottleneck, followed by a release of energy, which may be accompanied by an emotional catharsis. Eclipses highlight an area of life where something needs to be brought to a close, so something new can be brought to light. That can be a very good thing! So look for 6 degrees of Taurus/6 Scorpio in your chart and take note of the house which contains it. That’s the area of your life where something needs to be released, especially if you have a planet or angle around 6 Taurus, 6 Leo, 6 Scorpio or 6 Aquarius.
The opposition between the Taurus Sun and the Scorpio Moon suggests a conflict between the ability to preserve the status quo for the sake of material comfort and the need for greater depth and substance in our values and joint ventures, including relationships. Dare to go there, despite the discomfort — so that old patterns can be released. With stern Saturn and proactive Mars involved in this conflict, some may be quite militant about what absolutely, positively needs to go. On the plus side, discipline and resourcefulness are yours for the asking.
The Sabian Symbols for this Full Moon are “A bridge being built across a gorge” (6 Taurus) and “A gold rush” (6 Scorpio). Wow. Such promise of reward for constructive efforts – as in, bridging a gap or crossing a river — driven by a rush or excitement. In your own personal world, Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee suggests “finding ways to the other side; bridging difficulties; tying caution and excitement together in productive ways”. Consider situations that may be “water under the bridge” or “crossing the bridge when one comes to it”
The day ends on a serious note as the Scorpio Moon meets up with karma cop Saturn at 8:17PM ET. Hopefully you’ll have gotten it off your desk by then, as the Moon will be void all day tomorrow.
Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 4/24/2013: Creative Empowerment
/in The ForecastThe cerebral Libra Moon goes void-of-course at 8:12AM ET, on a charged connection with mental Mercury in feisty Aries. Could be a day marked by persuasive arguments, even if the only person you’re talking to is yourself. A extra dose of optimism is also suggested by a lovely connection to the Moon from expansive Jupiter at 7:13AM. This void day may feel less “meh” than other voids, given two other patterns noted below…but twists in your efforts to move forward in a straight line may still crop up. Go with the flow.
Creativity and empowerment — particularly the kind that gives ideas material form – is one potential of today’s easy connection between Venus (women, arts, money, social expression) in Taurus (things and values that provide material comfort and security) and potent Pluto. Deeper connections in relationship — those that are emotionally juicy and transforming — are also suggested. Maybe even a new vision — or a healing, too — which is supported by a communicative connection between the earthy Taurus Sun and empathic Neptune in sensitive Pisces.
Given this planetary palette, I was delighted to see this front page story about an 11-year-old girl who’s making waves with a thoroughly engaging science show on YouTube. It’s fun; it’s creative; it’s empowering — and what would you expect from something called Sylvia’s Super-Awesome Mini-Maker Show? May it brighten your day and inspire you to brainstorm and give your ideas form…which is what the current concentration of planets in Taurus (Sun, Venus & Mars) is all about. And when the Moon waxes Full in Scorpio tomorrow, we’ll see if those ideas have substance.
Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 4/23/2013: A Healthy Balance
/in The ForecastOne day on; one day off — that’s the pattern this week. And once the Moon gets into gear in Libra at 3:25AM ET, this day is ON. Always one for seeing both sides of a debate and fond of rational discourse, this people-pleasing Libra Moon suggests a need to focus on integrity in relationship. Expansive, generous and inspirational ideas and communication is supported by a cooperative connection between mental Mercury in Aries and jolly Jupiter in Gemini.
This all sounds lovely for seeking peace and balance, with one caveat: the Libra Moon makes contact with the disruptive Uranus-Pluto square this evening (exact at 8:37PM ET and 11:25PM ET), suggesting the peace may be challenged by a sudden shock, revelation or power play. As I have written in prior forecasts, we can expect this jolt every week for the next two years, whenever the Moon is in Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn.
How can we handle periods of stress when it may feel like things are falling apart? For sage advice on this very subject, here’s a link to a lengthy but valuable excerpt from spiritual teacher Pema Chodron‘s book, appropriately titled: When Things Fall Apart.
In other news, during yesterday’s Moon in Virgo, a sign associated with the gut and other health issues, this eye-opening article about probable cause and potential solutions showed up on my Facebock feed. The corollary to this piece would be this: a 14-year-old fast-food hamburger that’s been making the news, most recently on the TV shows, The Doctors. What’s for lunch?