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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 Monday 12/3/2012: Sneak Peek at December; A Binder Full of Woman & DSK
/in The ForecastHey! We made it to December! Just in time for the end of the Mayan calendar! Is it really the end of the world? Ohh, probably the end of A world, but not THE world. We’ll still be here in January…
Planetary patterns for the first three weeks of this month are mellower than we’ve seen in a while. We’ve got a bit of weird spaciness that should hit early next week, and that will probably recall some of the weirdness we experienced during November’s Mercury retrograde. We may have a bit of a jolt around the New Moon on the 13th, when rebel Uranus turns direct in pioneering Aries. I do think this year will go out with a bang, given that we are in for a repeat of the intensity we experienced around October 29th, which was a Full Moon (Sun opposing the Moon) in a tense challenge with the ongoing Uranus-Pluto square. Look for revelations and rebellions, startling breakthroughs in technology, potent power plays and news from underground, and maybe some weird, wacky weather. And as it has been the case all fall, those born around the 30th of March, June, September and December will be feeling it more than other Sun Signs.
OK, so we’ve covered December. But what about today? Mostly upbeat, courtesy of the Moon’s promenade into regal Leo Sunday night at 8:57PM ET. The day starts on a techno-geeky buzz, as innovative Uranus makes a supportive connection to the Moon’s need for recognition (think: party-ers, kings and drama queens). If an authority figure should deign to demand a re-write or some other control or re-organization, deal with the brief rain on your parade cheerfully, knowing that the rest of the day has plenty of potential to flow beautifully.
And now, the obligatory reminder about my Special Holiday Offer: A One-Hour Consultation at a delectably reasonable price — the perfect fit for everyone on your list, including yourself. I mean, next week is Hannukah, for chrissakes!
Meanwhile, in the news…with the weekend’s Moon in Cancer, I noted a striking number of stories about Cancerian themes of homeland security issues, including food and shelter. This one about what’s happening to certain farms in Pennsylvania ought to be required reading for everyone; whereas this one ought to be required for anyone who’s ever thought about renting their home to travelers using AirBnB (lots of big city dwellers in that category), as well as this follow-up piece (much food for thought).
In Washington, a binder full of woman was apparently dropped on John Boehner’s desk, and on Friday he announced the appointment of Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI) to head the House Administration Committee. Here is the exciting job description, per Speaker Boehner. Out of 20 chairs appointed (so far, as far as I know), Rep. Miller is the only woman — and I would love to be thrilled for her, except the job she lobbied for was chair of the Homeland Security Committee. And given her horoscope, I can understand why.
Before I even looked at her photograph — or her horoscope — I suspected she would have Moon in Cancer, suggesting a reigning need to be concerned with homeland security issues — and in fact, she does! Born May 7, 1954 near Detroit, MI (time unknown), her Sun is in Taurus — more energy to focus on (material) security. Her chart is hot; she was clearly due for a big boost this year, with her Mars in practical Capricorn currently supercharged by empowering Pluto. Odds are she has been lobbying very hard over the past year. She has Venus in oh-so-charming Gemini, running wild in her horoscope (i.e., it is not connected to any other planet). Transiting Jupiter, however, is temporarily providing this charming Venus energy with an anchor, as it is exactly conjunct her Venus. Talk about luck and expansion — and if that weren’t enough, she’ll have transiting Jupiter conjunct Jupiter next spring — yet another suggested lucky break.
But wait — there’s more. At age 58, Rep. Miller is just beginning a critically important life cycle: the second Saturn return (she had Saturn conjunct Saturn last week). Her task now is to plan the next 28 years of her life. Having done whatever she was going to do to establish herself in the material world starting around age 28-30, this is her time to take stock of her accomplishments and failures, build on what works and let go of what doesn’t. Whatever she decides to do next year, she’ll have rebel Uranus challenging her natal Mars in Capricorn, suggesting some initiatives in her new gig others may find bold and/or surprising.
Last, but not least…Dominique Straus-Kahn was in the news again. We have been following his horoscope ever since May of 2011, when he was arrested after the apparent sexual assault of a New York hotel maid. Specifically, we have been watching him make headlines every time Pluto and Uranus make contact with his Midheaven (one of the important angles in a horoscope, referring to public status/career). Over the weekend, it was reported that DSK and the hotel maid are close to settling her civil suit against him. DSK’s Midheaven is 8 degrees of Aries. Where was Pluto (and Mars) last week? At 8 degrees of Capricorn, squaring his Midheaven. Look for more exciting developments to come when rebel Uranus is at 8 Aries next year.
Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 11/30/2012 & The Weekend: Jolly Good Show!
/in The ForecastThe day starts off dreamily enough — especially for East Coasters, who must still meet the challenge of the void-of-course Moon until 8:55AM ET. Then, after a day and a half of wandering, Moon gets into gear and enters Cancer. Moon rules Cancer, where it is happy to do what it needs for the sake of nurturing and the comforts of home, family, apple pie and whatever is in the bank. We may see a surprise, jolt or other revelation when Moon squares Uranus at 6:22PM ET; a stabilizing connection between Moon and disciplined Saturn kicks in a few hours later. For West Coasters, you may bear witness to a power play or other high state of emotion when Moon opposes ruthless Pluto at 1:36AM ET/10:36 PM PT.
Saturday morning may inspire passion of a juicy kind when Moon is opposed by macho Mars at 7:01AM, followed by an easy connection from loving Venus. This is a good day to shop for everyone on your list (keeping in mind, of course, that your astrologer is offering a Special One-Hour Holiday Consultation from now through January 1st — which can be scheduled after the New Year). Merchants and gift recipients will love you, and here’s why:
First, the Moon is not void (and it will be nearly all day on Sunday). Second, Sun and Jupiter will be in exact opposition on Sunday at 8:45 PM ET, suggesting an exuberant mood and credit cards swiped to the limit. The inclination to indulge is high! But seriously — I’d do the shopping on Saturday, not Sunday. Purchases made during voids often prove to be far less useful than you thought — or just plain wrong.
The last thing I bought during a void should have been a no-brainer, as all I needed was a new tube of tinted moisturizer from the Clarins counter at Bloomingdale’s. But noooooo….I got home only to discover that it was the wrong shade of pale. Void! Clearly Vice President Biden was not paying attention to his astrologer when he went shopping at Costco during yesterday’s all-day void — what was he thinking?? Gotta love Costco, though.
Sunday is another long day of voidness, starting at 1:55AM. Cancer voids are grand for doing things around the house. Moon enters Leo at 8:57PM ET. This placement, combined with Sun-Jupiter opposition suggests a jolly good time. Invite some friends over for dinner and feed them all the yummy treats you made while the Moon was void in Cancer. Enjoy!
Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 11/29/2012: A Day for a Long Lunch
/in The ForecastLast night the Gemini Moon made contact with jolly Jupiter at 8:04PM ET, suggesting a buoyant mood that will carry us through today. Did you buy your lottery tickets? Of course it was a mad frenzy with Jupiter conjunct the Moon. People are thinking BIG!
The hook-up with Jupiter is the last planetary connection Moon will make while it is in Gemini…and…having made that last contact, the Moon is now said to be “void-of-course” until it enters the next sign (Cancer) at 8:55AM ET on FRIDAY. Everybody clear on that? This loooooong period of the Moon DWV (Driving While Void) suggests a natural break in the action — for you, for me, for everyone. Chill if you can. Meditate. Cogitate. Do something playful that engages your mind in an informative way, but without any expectation of results. If you are Barack Obama, invite Mitt Romney to lunch. Sure, the flake factor is higher during Moon voids, as well as surprise twists in efforts to move forward in a straight line. But the press won’t be there, so who cares? Plus, aggressive Mars has moved past ruthless Pluto, and is now in a cooperative, communicative and downright appealing connection with loving Venus. Very smart!
People are still googling “Mitt Romney horoscope,” wondering what opportunities may be in store. Well, he’s just had a classic “ego wipeout”. This term was coined by astrologer Noel Tyl and has been discussed in prior forecasts. Nebulous Neptune symbolically shrouded Mr. Romney’s personal projection, self-image and mindset in a rapturous rose-colored fog; many were bedazzled; many more were bewildered — and in the end, it was nothing more than a dream. Wipeout. And it’s not completely over until the end of the year. Seriously, this is a classic pattern astrologers see over and over in horoscopes.
When Neptune is prominent, seeing things clearly — realistically — is often a big challenge. The love of your life turns out to be married with a family in Denver. Your business partner invested the money, lost it and did not tell you. Alcohol and drugs become verrrrry appealing. You decide to join a cult. Your Type A personality can’t find the energy to get to kick-boxing class…for an entire year. Yes, there are ways to manage these phases constructively, especially if you’re an artist or a healer. But if they are not handled constructively and the bubble bursts…wipeout!
Mr. Romney now has Saturn, the planet of “Get Real”, moving through the area of his horoscope that refers to cooperation, health, work and service. He could spend the next two years restructuring these areas and find himself in a genuinely happier place around December 2014 — with a renewed sense of purpose he’s ready to take public. Let’s all wish him well.
And now, the news. First, reflecting the theme of constructive transformation and advancement in relationship noted on Tuesday, columnist David Brooks penned a provocative piece called “How People Change”. The reader comments on this one are equally provocative. And, just in time for yesterday’s eclipse in Gemini-Sagittarius, suggesting a bottleneck in areas of information and communication, Gail Collins wrote a witty, informative (and thus very Moon-in-Gemini) piece about one of the most talked-about bottlenecks affecting the Senate: the filibuster. And here’s how some people outside of the Senate are trying to unclog this major traffic jam.
Remember, in your own personal world, the Moon is void-of-course all day.Go with the flow — even if you’re stuck in a bottleneck or jam. And if all else fails, take a really long lunch…and watch this gorgeous ten-minute film about an unusual lunch date in Grand Central Station. I guarantee this happened during a void-of-course Moon! I guarantee you will love this film!
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My Special Holiday Offer — a One-Hour Consultation at a very reasonable price is still on! Yes, you can schedule the consultation after January 1st — and so can other lucky recipients. Happy gift-giving!
Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 11/28/2012: Full Moon & Eclipse in Gemini
/in The ForecastWriting this forecast in the throes of a Full Moon/lunar eclipse in Gemini, opposing the Sun in Sagittarius. The eclipse was exact on the East Coast at 9:46AM. It’s also sitting right on my Moon at 6 Gemini — perhaps explaining why this forecast is posted so late. Because when I sat down to write this forecast earlier, my reigning need of keeping you informed was bottlenecked!That’s my story and I’m sticking to it : )
Eclipses interrupt the regular flow of light from the Sun or the Moon, like a river is interrupted when it held back by a dam. This creates a bottleneck of energy that must eventually find a release, usually over the course of a few months’ time. In the case of this eclipse, the time frame 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 Gemini/6 Sagittarius in your chart and take note of the house which contains it. Better yet, consult your local astrologer for insight, especially since she is now offering a special one-hour initial consultation (from now through January 1st) that is so reasonably priced you’ll want to give one to everyone on your shopping list, including yourself.
As with the other eclipses that have been in Gemini/Sagittarius over the past two years, we are letting go of old patterns in Gemini/Sagittarius issues: communication, mindsets, “big picture” thinking (law, religion. education), foreign relations, information (and information control). I don’t have to look very far to find dozens of headlines reflecting dramatic changes in our collective thoughts and understanding. Other big planetary patterns (e.g., the ongoing square between disruptive Uranus and ruthless Pluto) are a contributing factor in what astrologer Bill Herbst calls the potential for “a wake-up call equivalent to a 20,000-volt electric cattle prod”; it is the eclipse cycle in Gemini/Sagittarius which suggests a collective change of mindset that leads to the construction of a new reality. For example, here’s a really cool headline to a very long article that challenges our understanding of mortality, as it details the efforts of one scientist in Japan. [The power of an individual (Aries) to disrupt (Uranus) the established order (Capricorn) is suggested by the aforementioned Uranus-Pluto square]
Anyway…back to this particular lunar eclipse. The Sabian Symbol for 7 Gemini is “an old-fashioned well”; for 7 Sagittarius we find “Cupid knocking at the door”. How do we apply these symbols in our own personal worlds? Turning to Blain Bovee’s most excellent book for inspiration, we note that a well is the source of water, without which life on this planet could not exist. Cupid is a divine– yet often mischievous energy — that awakens desire, with consequences that may — or may not — benefit the awakened party. Why? Because under Cupid’s influence, you could find yourself desiring superficial things instead of caring and cultivating for something deep, profound and life-sustaining (like a well). So therein lies the conflict of this Full Moon/Eclipse: that which is desirable vs. that which is essential; shallow indulgences vs. divine Source. What does this mean to you and how do these themes play out in your life? Here is a fascinating article that shows how what we deem desirable changes as we age, as evidenced by where we spend our money.
As for the day itself, the Moon in Gemini creates a buzz of information to be shared before going void on an expansive hook-up with jolly Jupiter. That buzz could take you in all kinds of directions from 8:04PM ET (when the Moon goes void) until 8:55AM ET on FRIDAY morning, which the Moon finally gets back into gear and enters Cancer. In the fallout of this eclipse and Mercury getting used to moving forward again, we are advised to be patient with twists that may throw us off track, especially when said twists reveal errors in thinking and communication. If you have to ship something during the void, double check the details before you hit “send”.
Meanwhile, get out and mingle. Venus, planet of social expression, is happily supported today and tomorrow by potent Pluto and action-oriented Mars. Connections made now may be mercurial, but are likely to be stimulating and entertaining.
Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 11/27/2012: Moooving Through the Void
/in The ForecastGo with the flow today, suggested by the Moon being void-of-course until 7:58PM ET. As Moon voids go, Taurus is arguably one of the easier signs to handle. Other signs can be impetuous, tempting the twists and flakes a Moon void suggests. Taurus tends to be slow, deliberate and patient…which is a good space to put yourself in…and frankly, it may feel like time is moooooving slower than, say…when the Moon was in Aries on Black Friday. Can you appreciate the difference?
Consolidation of power — perhaps of a warrior kind — are also suggested, courtesy of aggressive Mars conjunct ruthless Pluto in enterprising Capricorn. That aspect is exact at 3:14PM ET — at 8 degrees of Capricorn. If you were born around the 30th of March, June, September and December…or if you have a planet or point at 8 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn, you may be feeling a surge of power — if not within you — then around you. Who’s been knocking at your door? China has its Sun at 7 Libra; the horoscope of Japan also has a planet aspected by this macho/warrior pattern. So it’s interesting to see a story about Japan expanding its military power on the front page of the NY Times. And here’s an intriguing allegation of the consolidation of corporate power — in what appears to be a trade agreement that’s described in this article as a “global coup”.
Venus is also highlighted this week — by disciplined Saturn on Monday; by ruthless Pluto on Wednesday and by macho Mars on Thursday. This is one reason why I suggested relationships would be up for constructive advancement and transformation this week. We can also expect news involving women, finance and social expression — and maybe all three themes combined in one story. Warren Buffett is on the front page again with his sobering argument on raising taxes for high-income households. OK, he is not a woman, but he is serious about finance. The Chair of the S.E.C. IS a woman, and she is on the way out; her replacement — another woman — is on the way in. Coolio!
Meanwhile, a Brooklyn-born social activist/”anarchist” named Dorothy Day, who passed away on November 29th in 1980, is reportedly being taken very seriously by Cardinal Timothy Dolan as a candidate for sainthood — and this has taken some people by surprise. Constructive advancement and transformation in relationship, anyone?
Oops — almost forgot: Moon enters chatterbox Gemini at 7:58PM ET and squares nebulous Neptune an hour later — probably in search of escapist entertainment that stimulates conversation. Plan accordingly. Also be aware that Gemini, when it is not grounded, can descend into chaos faster than you can say “Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse”. If you’re feeling like you’re all over the place, an old wives’ tale recommends eating potatoes to keep you earthbound on Wednesday morning.
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