The Forecast

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.

Monday 9/12/2022: Sneak Peek at the Week; Catching Up on the News

September 13, 2022/in The Forecast

Alllllll righty then!

Mercury is officially retrograde (as of 11:38PM ET on Friday), so hopefully you are rolling with any delays, strikes and communication snafus you may be encountering. If you’d like to view a brief Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide video, check out this Whether Forecast, posted on Wednesday, September 5th. At the end you can see for yourself how the actual front page of the Sunday New York Times was in perfect sync with planetary patterns. Astrology is amazing!

Highlights for this week are:

Venus in Virgo squares Mars in Gemini on Friday
Sun makes its annual opposition to Neptune on Friday
Mercury retrograde opposes Jupiter (second of three) on Sunday
Sun trines Pluto on Sunday

Here’s how it goes:

MONDAY: Moon in me-me-me Aries drives the day with a need to lead courageously. Structuring initiatives is aided by a trine (harmony) with Saturn, exact at 1:25 PM ET. A power play or catharsis may arise around 12:52 AM ET on...
TUESDAY: …as Moon makes its weekly clash with Pluto. Chill during the ensuing seven-hour Moon void. At 7:39 AM ET, Moon enters Taurus, driving the next couple of days with a need to build and maintain material comfort and security; preserve the status quo.
WEDNESDAY: A happy wake-up call perhaps, as the Taurus Moon trines Venus at 4:41 AM ET. The evening may offer a jolt. followed by a need for control — or a loss, as Moon meets up with Uranus at 6:33 PM ET, then squares Saturn at 8:29 PM ET. Note that this pattern is similar to what we had last Thursday morning, when we learned the upsetting news that Queen Elizabeth II required medical supervision…and then passed away. Note also that because Saturn and Uranus are almost square to one another –and will be in this pattern for several weeks — we are likely to experience more sudden jolts and controls whenever the Moon is around 17-20 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. If you have a planet or angle around those degrees, when was the last time you consulted with your astrologer?
THURSDAY: a sense of balance returns in the wee hours, as Moon trines the Sun at 1:30 AM ET. Note your dreams upon waking, as the Moon sextiles (dreamy!) Neptune — and the Sun is fast-approaching its face-off with Neptune, too. Moon trines Pluto — adding depth — at 8:58 AM ET. If this day has a slow start or wandering focus, it’s reflecting another seven-hour Moon void. Stick to routine; roll with the twists and flakes; possibly take the day off. Conventional astrological wisdom holds that actions taken during Moon voids are often of little consequence — or at the very least, often don’t live up to expectations, for better or worse. I do have plenty of stories of “for better” in my files. Moon shifts gears and enters pixie-chatterbox Gemini at 4:16 PM ET, seeking to be the smartest kid in the room and talk up a storm.
FRIDAY: There’s a lot to talk about, and the challenge may be to separate fact from fiction…or find a dreamy/spiritual retreat. The day starts off pleasantly, with harmony among the Moon, Mercury and Jupiter. At 2:48 PM ET, Venus — which refers to who, what and how we need to love – squares Mars. Venus is in Virgo, demanding perfection in every detail. Mars – which refers to action and desire — is in Gemini, possibility using words as a coping strategy, a weapon or a call to arms — but in ways that may be entertaining or diverse. Sparks may fly! A few hours later, Sun opposes Neptune. Sun refers to ego expression and leaders; Neptune refers to smoke and mirrors, spirits of all kinds, forgiveness, surrender, music, oil, poison, oceans, drugs, etc. etc — so watch for those themes in the news. More sparks as the evening progresses, as Moon meets up with Mars and squares Venus, as 8:51 PM ET and 9:18 PM ET, respectively.
SATURDAY: A trine between Moon and Saturn at 7:03 AM ET may feel as if everything is under control. A bit of wigginess may weigh in between 4 PM and 6 PM ET, as Moon squares Neptune (double check the directions) and squares the Virgo Sun. This Third Quarter Moon challenges us verbally and mentally — echoing what I said about Friday, i.e., separating fact from fiction/fantasy. Chill during the ten hour Moon void that starts at 5:51 PM ET.
SUNDAY: Moon enters Cancer at 3:59 AM ET, now focused on emotional and home/homeland security. Big news and big ideas push boundaries of emotional comfort zones, as Moon square Jupiter at 1:37 PM ET and squares Mercury at 1:56 PM ET. Mercury in Libra — seeking fairness and justice — opposes Jupiter in me-me-me-first Aries for the second time at 6:33 PM ET. Look back to what was polarizing on September 2nd. What were the big deals in publishing, courts, sports, media, travel; those issues may be back for a second look. At 11:57 PM ET, Sun (leaders) trines Pluto (breakdown, transformation, power)...which will be close to dawn in the UK, as the world prepares to bid a final farewell to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

And now, the news.

Welp. Last week’s Sneak Peek was spot-on, as was Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week:

But the lack of contact among the planets doesn’t mean a lack of action here on Earth. In my experience, several days of no exact aspects among the planets (except to the Moon) reflects a potential release or collapse, not unlike an ice shelf suddenly collapsing into the sea. Maybe we didn’t notice the cracks in the ice shelf’s structure before (created by a build-up of tension, which is what exact aspects among the planets suggest). Without the tension, there may be a long exhale…or sigh…or an “other shoe” dropping, and…there you have it.

[I wrote that paragraph 12 hours ago; now it’s 9:30 PM — and here’s an article about a glacier the size of Florida that’s ‘rapidly disintegrating.’]

It’s fascinating that Beth Owl’s Daughter’s always-in-sync Tarot Card of the Week begins with this quote:

The weight of the world is a trifle, if we all put our two fingers under it and try to lift together.
Vera Nazarian

And let the record show that Beth’s interpretation of this week’s card — The World — has to do with culmination and completion.

Queen Elizabeth II took her last breath during Thursday’s long Moon void in Aquarius, shortly after the Moon met up with Saturn at 8:02 AM ET, which was right on her Mars. “Queen under medical supervision in Balmoral” was posted on WaPo at 8:33 AM ET. Not long after…just like that…the end of an era. Avid Readers can find numerous posts about Her Majesty’s horoscope in the archives of this Forecast — here’s one from 2016 — a lifetime ago. Hers was affected by the lunar eclipses of last November and this past May, both of which were activated by transiting Mars around August 13th. And obviously, the horoscopes of the rest of the Royal Family were affected, too – -because that is what happens in the horoscopes of families. A major life event in the horoscope of a parent is nearly always reflected in the horoscope of the child.

If you haven’t seen this brief account of the Queen’s encounter with two American hikers near Balmoral, you simply, simply must, because it will make you smile. And it simply can not be a coincidence that after her passing, a double rainbow appeared over Buckingham Palace…and later over NATO, where flags had been lowered to half-staff.

It was fitting that tributes to the Queen’s “wicked sense of humor” were posted when the Sun (kings/queens) was trine zany Uranus, inventor of wicked humor.

Meanwhile, her horoscope lives forever…which is why we can expect dramatic changes in her home/family and/or homeland in the summer of 2024…continuing into 2025.

Here is Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card for this week.

In other news…

“Ukraine retakes territory in Kharkiv region as Russian front crumbles”…like an ice shelf falling into the sea, perhaps? Heather Cox Richardson’s latest Letter from an American (posted just after 11:59 PM ET on Monday) has details — and an update on how tides are turning in Europe and in the United States, too.
Also the end of an era: “CNN’s first anchor Bernard Shaw dead at 82″. If you don’t believe it’s the end of an era for CNN, consider this in-depth profile on John Malone, CNN’s new owner.

Last week’s trine between Sun (leaders) and Uranus (technology; innovation; weird; astrology) could be seen here:

“President Joe Biden speaks after groundbreaking for Intel’s $20 billion semi-conductor plant“
Apple introduced its new iPhone
A 2016 photo of King Charles III with noted astrologer Dr. Nick Campion made the rounds on Twitter
“A chimpanzee who ran away from a Ukrainian zoo was talked into returning after zookeepers offered her a raincoat, a hug and a bike ride”
Heather Cox Richardson shared a photo of a blue lobster on in Friday’s Letter From an American — with a note about a “crazy, rare find.” Saturday’s Letter was her wedding photo –– a fitting and lovely surprise.
“California leaders credit cellphone alert for sudden energy conservation” — or as podcaster Joe Wiesenthal tweeted, “Wow, look at the timing of the text…and the moment energy consumption started to drop…” and so naturally I ran the chart for the tweet and could see immediately why the tweet was so effective.

These two factor in the surreal potential of the Jupiter/Neptune midpoint at the Aries Point:

UPDATE: on Barack Obama, who returned to the White House last week with Michelle Obama for the unveiling of their official portraits. I hadn’t looked at Barack Obama’s horoscope in a while, and it occurs to me now that a period of extreme pressure is behind him, and that he should have good reason to be happy in November.

Finally…

Some Avid Readers have expressed an interest in learning more about astrology, especially as it was taught to me by my mentor, Noel Tyl. If you’re that kind of Avid Reader, mark your calendar and plan to attend the next Empowered Astrology Conference — happening on October 22-23 — on Zoom. I’m teaching a class called TURBO ASTROLOGY — which will feature Tyl’s “indispensable keys” to analyzing a horoscope. Astrologers and fellow Tyl graduates Kathy Rose, Catherine Goshen, Matthew Ouimet, Hiroki Niizato, Pam Gregory and John Marani will be teaching invaluable lessons, too. Holler if you have questions.

Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Thank you for reading this forecast — and sharing it with friends.

Tuesday 9/6/2022: Late Sneak Peek at a Short Work Week; Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide; Full Moon in Pisces

September 7, 2022/in The Forecast

Alllllllllll righty then!

I hope you enjoyed a lovely long weekend. Here’s how this short work week goes:

Mercury turns retrograde on Friday night. BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS BEFORE MERCURY TURNS RETROGRADE.
Full Moon in Pisces on Saturday morning.
Sun trines Uranus on Sunday morning.

That’s it.

But the lack of contact among the planets doesn’t mean a lack of action here on Earth. In my experience, several days of no exact aspects among the planets (except to the Moon) reflects a potential release or collapse, not unlike an ice shelf suddenly collapsing into the sea. Maybe we didn’t notice the cracks in the ice shelf’s structure before (created by a build-up of tension, which is what exact aspects among the planets suggest). Without the tension, there may be a long exhale…or sigh…or an “other shoe” dropping, and…there you have it.

[I wrote that paragraph 12 hours ago; now it’s 9:30 PM — and here’s an article about a glacier the size of Florida that’s ‘rapidly disintegrating.’]

It’s fascinating that Beth Owl’s Daughter’s always-in-sync Tarot Card of the Week begins with this quote:

The weight of the world is a trifle, if we all put our two fingers under it and try to lift together.
Vera Nazarian

And let the record show that Beth’s interpretation of this week’s card — The World — has to do with culmination and completion.

Here’s how it goes:

TUESDAY: Moon in Capricorn drives the day with a need to take care of business, supported by the innovative potential of a trine to Uranus at 5:23 AM ET. Tap into the powers of imagination for the rest of the day, reflecting the Moon’s sextile to Neptune at 2:21 PM ET, followed by a conjunction to Pluto at 5:42 PM ET. Chill during the six-hour Moon void. No impulse shopping; roll with the twists and flakes; don’t make a mountain of crisis out of a molehill. Moon enters Aquarius at 11:41 PM ET, seeking to be appreciated for its social significance. Do you know where your friends are? Get in touch; they’d love to hear from you.
WEDNESDAY: Moon flows easily through the day, sextile Jupiter at 9:44 AM ET, trine to Mercury and Mars around 2 PM and 4 PM ET. Note that Mercury and Mars are both in their “shadow phases,” in preparation for their respective retrogrades. This suggests that ideas and actions taken now may be subject to review later, and we would be wise to manage expectations accordingly. Mercury (how we need to think and communicate) is especially in focus now, slowing to a virtual standstill from our perspective on Spaceship Earth.
THURSDAY: A surprise revelation, followed by a necessary control (imposed by the nearest authority figure, perhaps), as Moon squares Uranus at 6:25 AM ET and meets up with Saturn at 8:33 AM ET. Chill, chill, CHILL during the ensuing 16 hour Moon void.
FRIDAY: Moon enters Pisces at 12:42 AM ET, driving the next two days with a more emotional/intuitive approach, as opposed to the Aquarius Moon’s detached objectivity. A clash exposing a conflict of values greets us at 9:39 AM ET, as Moon opposes Venus in (never satisfied, unless it’s perfect) Virgo. If you’d like to fight further — in a war of words, perhaps, Moon’s square to Mars at 7:07 PM ET provides ample opportunity. If there is a spat, illumination and release may present themselves on SATURDAY morning, as the Full Moon in Pisces opposes the Virgo Sun. But FIRST, at 11:38 PM ET…

Mercury goes retrograde at 8 degrees 55 minutes of Libra. Here is what you need to know:

Contrary to popular belief, Mercury retrograde is no reason to freak out. Mercury retrograde gets a bad rap because we are geared, in this crazy modern age, to always be thinking, doing, moving FORWARD. You 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. Why else would your computer, phone and/or car choose THIS time to malfunction? Because you are supposed to be slowing down. And as you slow down, it is vitally important that you FOCUS.

When Mercury is retrograde, be prepared for travel delays, scheduling screw-ups, mechanical breakdowns, computer crashes, having to repeat what you’ve just said, misunderstandings, the past coming back for a second look, surprise reunions and having to repeat what you just said. Use your FOCUS and double-check important details, like whether the restaurant you’ve chosen for a meet-up is still in business. Or whether it is booked for a commercial shoot or a private party — all of which has happened to me during Mercury retrogrades.

If you are looking for a job, Mercury retrogrades are a perfect time to reach out to people from your past. Mine your address book and trust that your contacts will be happy to hear from you. However, do not be frustrated if your target is away on vacation or keeps rescheduling meetings. Also, triple-check your emails and resumes before you hit “send,” as there is a higher probability of typos and other sloppy snafus.

In your business, you’ll need to make sure all communications have been received and are clearly understood. Be mindful of the higher potential for communications equipment to go on the fritz. MAKE SURE YOUR FILES ARE BACKED UP. Also be aware of a higher than average probability for delays in shipping and travel arrangements. For this you will need an extra dose of patience.

You may also find it profitable to REview a project from the past. Maybe you shelved it then, but now is the time to REconsider. However, be advised that a spontaneously, “out-of-the-blue” idea for advancement may not be so sound when Mercury turns direct. This is why the conventional wisdom advises against finalizing and/or signing contracts on deals during Mercury retrograde. An exception might be supported if you are REnegotiating or RElocating. If you absolutely must close a deal, triple check everything. The key is not to RUSH.

This is a good time to schedule a corporate REtreat. Any activity that affords the opportunity to REview past performance is encouraged. REsearch on a new strategy is also favored.

Mercury retrogrades are not favored for launching a new website or a new communications systems. There is a higher than average probability of technical glitches and confusion. REvisions, however, are A-OK.

In general, adopt a playful attitude of flexibility to whatever twists you encounter. Avoid making major purchases (especially electronic ones), unless your A/C unit has died and there’s a heat wave. Sometimes you just have to buy an appliance, Mercury retrograde or not. This is life. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Don’t believe everything you hear or read in the papers when Mercury is retrograde. Rumors have a higher probability of spreading. Avoid losing patience — that’s a big one.

When in doubt, be silent!

Do plan on RElaxing, REviewing, REsearching, REorganizing, REgenerating, REconnecting and REcreating….and REviewing your life with your astrologer.

Mercury will travel backward in Libra until September 23rd, when it will re-enter Virgo. Mercury turns direct at 24 degrees of Virgo on October 2nd. Mercury won’t cover new ground until October 17th, when it returns to 8 Libra. Mercury retrograde in Libra suggests a ton of “on the one hand…but on the other hand” discussions in a quest for balance. The operative word is is QUEST, as Mercury in Libra swings from side-to-side…BIG TIME. I say “big” because during this Mercury retrograde period (including Mercury’s shadow period), Mercury opposes Jupiter (expansion) three times. The first opposition was on September 2nd; the next two are on September 18th and October 12th. What comes out on that last one may be a boondoggle, as it will coincide with the first square between Mars in Gemini (a war of/on words) and Neptune (idealism; lies; scandal). Mercury is also in a series of trines with Pluto, suggesting that ideas and information being weighed during this period have depth, possibly in the extreme. Mercury-Pluto contacts generally bode well for investigative reporters. The Mercury-Pluto trines were/are on August 22nd, September 27th, and October 6th.

The Sabian Symbol for this Mercury retrograde is “three old masters hanging in an art gallery,” which Sabian Sage Guru Blain Bovee interprets as a level of excellence that may not be appreciated in its own time. Perhaps this doesn’t matter, hmm? Be excellent anyway. Whaddaya think? With respect to our mindset during this Mercury retrograde, we are advised to reflect on “finding a home where one’s creative visions can be hung; admiring a past in order to project a future.” Somehow we’re likely to see these themes in the news.

SATURDAY: Full Moon in Pisces demands illumination and release in matters of boundless faith and feeling vs. sorting and discernment. The Sabian Symbol for this Full Moon is
“a gigantic tent,” suggesting a gathering place of like-minded souls. And with the next stop for the Moon and Sun being a contact with Uranus (inventor of unconventional alliances), we may see headlines of innovation and coalition — in technology and leadership. The Sabian Symbol for the Sun is “a ouija board,” and I invite you to read this post for the 2018 New Moon in Virgo for more on that and how astrologers can use repeating patterns to anticipate future events. Moon meets up with dreamy/befuddled Neptune at 4:55 PM ET and then goes void on a sextile to Pluto at 8:28 PM ET. Chill during the six hour Moon void.
SUNDAY: Moon zooms into Aries at 2:47 AM ET, picking up the pace. Moon’s meet-up with Jupiter at 12:30 PM ET is inclined to expand with abandon. A harmony (trine) between Sun and Uranus at 9:09 AM ET suggests an easy flow of cooperation among leaders and innovation.

Here is the chart for Saturday’s Full Moon in Pisces, set in Washington, DC.

And now the news — briefly.

Artemis did not launch last week. As you know from last week’s Forecast, the chart for the planned launch on Monday had Neptune in contact with the angles of the chart — a potential dissolving of boundaries, reflected by a mysterious engine leak. NASA thought about launching on Friday, with Moon in Scorpio on a Scorpio Ascendant, which did not look promising, in my humble opinion. The third effort was on Saturday, starting at 2:17 PM ET — with Moon in Sagittarius (better for a lift-off) on the Sagittarius Ascendant. However, Neptune was at the root of the chart — and as it turned out, the leak was still causing problems! I’d be stunned if NASA is using astrology to pick these dates/times, but it’s interesting that all three of these launch possibilities had the Moon rising in the East. Anyhoo, the launch has been postponed until later this month or next.

In the chart for Friday launch, it is interesting to see that Mercury and Mars are in an approaching trine…BUT…because Mercury is about to turn retrograde, this trine isn’t going to happen. Remember when I wrote last week (commenting on the patterns among Mercury, Mars and Jupiter suggesting BIG ACTION and BIG THINKING) and added:

“So we have a rush of energy to process, & some of it may go nowhere, fast.”

In other words, no Artemis launch…and oh, by the way, that TFG-appointed, loose Cannon of a judge whose confirmation was rammed through the Senate AFTER the former guy lost the election, is throwing wrenches in the DOJ’s efforts to hold TFG accountable for his theft of top secret documents belonging to the U.S. government. Former U.S. Attorney General/TFG enabler Bill Barr declared Judge Cannon’s recent rulings “wrong” and “deeply flawed.” We don’t have a birth time for Barr, but I was wondering what sort of heavy, disruptive thought patterns he’d be dealing with as transiting Saturn and Uranus connect with his persuasive Mercury-Pluto square. Now we know.

Random headlines reflecting BIG news:

Finally…

“Liz Truss meets Queen Elizabeth; becomes UK’s new prime minister”.

We don’t have a birth time for Truss, but she is a Leo driven by Moon in Pisces, with the Moon potentially square to Neptune. Translation: a keenly sensitive soul, for better or for worse. It’s interesting that her natal Mars (how she needs to execute an action plan) has been under the intensely innovative/disruptive influence of transiting Uranus, and she’ll have two more transiting of Uranus on her Mars over the next several months. Her action plan is likely to be innovative, daring and possibly reckless. Both her Sun and Mars will be affected by the next two eclipses, and I’ll write more about that potential as eclipse season approaches. Meanwhile, transiting Pluto has been opposing her natal Mercury (how she needs to think), suggesting that her communication and mindset are in a period of persuasive power. There’s more, but that’s it for now.

Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Aerial view on Statue Of Mercury in Lviv, Ukraine

Friday 9/2/2022 & the Long Holiday Weekend: Venus Enters Virgo; Catching Up on Big News

September 2, 2022/in The Forecast

TGIF!

The Moon is in Sagittarius, driving the weekend with a need to expand your horizons and express your righteous opinion, boundary-pushing as it may be. It’s OK to feel as if you’re a little bit outside your comfort zone as you broaden your mind. Moon enters Capricorn at 10:02 PM ET on SUNDAY, inviting you to take care of business — on Labor Day, no less. Meh!

Five minutes after midnight on MONDAY, Venus exits Leo for Virgo, where she will stay until September 29th. Venus refers to who, what, and how we need to love. Virgo can be in a constant quest for perfection. It’s the “quest” part that led to the conventional astrological wisdom that cosmetic surgery is ill-advised when Venus is in Virgo. How can it ever be satisfied, when it’s so keenly aware of every little “fault?” You can use the discerning needs of any planet in Virgo for organizing, analyzing and sorting. If that planet is Venus, focus on your values, your money, your aesthetics and your social expression.

No sleeping in on TUESDAY. The Capricorn Moon will not be void.

And now, the news.

This week’s headlines sure as heck are in sync with astrology, as you may recall from Monday’s forecast:

Mars in Gemini sextiles Jupiter in Aries on Thursday morning
Mercury opposes Jupiter on Friday night

Both of these patterns suggest BIG, as in BIG action/assertion re: Mars...and BIG ideas/communication re: Mercury, especially in sports, courts, travel and publishing:

Billions and billions of investment in clean energy and new manufacturing initiatives here in the United States, as Heather Cox Richardson reports.
$1 billion in federal economic grants headed coast-to-coast
The BIG economic news should have been Tuesday’s top story, but it was overshadowed by the release of the DOJ’s timeline of its efforts to recover classified documents unlawfully taken by TFG and squirreled away at Mar-a-Lago. The DOJ’s filing was accompanied by a photo of some of the classified documents found (in his office, where he frequently entertained guests, according to a statement made on live television by one of his lawyers). I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a security clearance and thus had never seen a classified document. Thus I found the photo helpful, as I could now accurately visualize what was being talked about. Here is a link to a gifted article from the Washington Post, in which they explain everything we can see in the photo.
Today, DOJ released an inventory of all that was recovered, and this detailed list notes that classified documents were commingled with articles of clothing, news clippings going back over a decade and nearly 50 EMPTY folders marked “CLASSIFIED“…all of which drives home — just as the image in Beth Owlsdaughter’s Tarot Card of the Week drives home — the irrefutable, undeniable evidence that TFG is and always has been a threat to our national security and our American democracy. AND — and this is key, because this forecast is about astrology — the threat TFG poses to our democracy aptly reflects patterns in the horoscope of the United States (e.g., U.S. Pluto return), and the authoritarianism vs. democracy battle suggested by recent major planetary cycles, including the Uranus-Pluto square of 2011-2016, the Saturn-Pluto conjunction of 2020, the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction of 2021, the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction of 2022, and the current Saturn-Uranus square of 2021, the latter of which is back for a final round through this fall.
Elsewhere in “overkill,” Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the 77-year-old former leader of Myanmar, was sentenced to another three years of prison, but this time with hard labor. Her party “crushed” the military-backed opposition party in what international observers deemed a free and fair 2020 election, and the losing party retaliated by staging a coup. ICYMI, a fitness instructor unintentionally captured part of that coup on camera.
Also in “overkill,” an Ohio man stung 20,000 times by bees is expected to recover.

Meanwhile…

Twitter is finally adding an edit button — so typos in tweets can be corrected!
The battle of the epic TV series is on: Rings of Power vs. House of Dragon — which one are you w
The U.S. Department of Transportation announces its Airline Customer Service Dashboard, with actual improved customer service. For example, 8 out of 9 airlines now waive rebooking fees and provide vouchers for meals and hotel stays if a flight is delayed or canceled because of mechanical or staffing snafus.
The Department of Veterans Affairs will now provide pregnant veterans with expanded reproductive health care services in cases of rape, incest or when the health of the pregnant veteran is threatened.
Big news in sports: Serena Williams’ upset win at the U.S. Open — and she’s still going strong!
Mary Peltola defeats Sarah Palin in a special election to become first Native Alaskan elected to Congress and more. Peltola is another apt example of the tension reflected by the Saturn (old guard) – Uranus (avant garde) square. In Peltola’s case, she’s a staunch Democrat with a reputation for kindness, and she maintains friendly ties with those who may not share her political party affiliation. If you’ve never heard of ranked-choice voting, which was approved by Alaska’s voters in an initiative in 2020, Alaska’s state website explains it all for you.
Mikhail Gorbachev, last leader of the former Soviet Union, has died.
Jackson, Mississippi — the state capital — has no running water after recent heavy rain and flooding. The state has no money to pay for the infrastructure repair. Governor Tate Reeves (R-MS) has asked the federal government for financial assistance, which President Biden immediately approved. Mississippi has two senators and four congressmen in Washington. Of those six, Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) voted in favor of the landmark Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; the other elected representatives — all Republicans — voted against it.
“Ravil Maganov: Russian oil chief dies in (alleged) ‘fall’ from hospital window.” The oil chief had been critical of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Finally…

President Biden gave a widely-publicized speech in Philadelphia last night. It was so widely publicized, I thought I might watch it live on the TeeVee. Imagine my surprise when none of the Big Four U.S. networks carried it, apparently because it was deemed a political speech, as opposed to an announcement on U.S. government policy. In the speech (with a blood-red backdrop that looked like something you’d see on a night with Moon in Scorpio), President Biden addressed the elephant in the room, calling out MAGA extremists and their leader, Donald Trump, as a peril to our democracy for their willingness to “fan the flames” of political violence for the sake of power at any cost.

Astro-logically, this “newly aggressive line of attack Biden has unleashed” (reports the Guardian) makes perfect sense. Avid Readers will recall that Biden’s Scorpio Sun was recently activated by transiting Mars in that aftermath of two lunar eclipses, and we expected a genie to jump out of a bottle or a curtain to fall. This is what is happening now, right? As another op-ed opines, Biden’s “rose-colored glasses are off” (an astrologer might argue that transiting Neptune is no longer opposing his Midheaven, as it was from 2019-2021). Or, as Bard College professor Joseph O’Neill tweeted, “Perhaps the most powerful element of Biden’s speech is the unspoken message to the Republican Party that the era of Democratic cowering is over. That is a very important step in the termination of an abusive relationship.” Can’t stop thinking of that Tarot Card of the Week image. Stick a fork in it, already.

The former guy’s horoscope was triggered by transiting Mars (as you may recall), and his surge of assertive energy included a vow to pardon anyone who participated in the January 6th attempted coup, should he prevail in 2024. Not only that, but in the Sibley horoscope for the United States, note that the U.S. Moon at 27 Aquarius was also activated by recent eclipses and transiting Mars. Thus, we expect a surge of bottlenecked energy affecting the entire country. Astrology supports America now finding itself at a crossroads, with a critical midterm election on the horizon, and a choice to be made (though astro-logically, we have a few years to go before we can see how it will all work out). Democracy or authoritarianism. What will it be? (And yes, perhaps in a few years, a third option will have emerged).

This isn’t a new dilemma. In November 2015, I posted a lengthy bit on potential fascism in the United States, suggested by planetary patterns. Here is one from 2011, noting that events that happened in the 30s are up for a potential revisit. Astrology is amazing.

I’m thinking I’ll take Monday — Labor Day — off. Look for the next Sneak Peek at the Week on Tuesday. I will create a video Whether Forecast on Sunday — sign up here to have it delivered to you via email. And Whitney and I will soon be back at our mics, recording Episode 15 of “Off the Charts: A Stellar Newscast.” That will drop next Friday.

To schedule a personal consultation, here’s the 411.

Thank you for reading this Forecast — and sharing it with your friends.

This wall relief of Aphrodite (Venus) and Hephaestus (Vulcan) is hopefully still intact in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Vulcan is the blacksmith of the gods, and Ancient Greeks thought he was the true ruler of Virgo — not Hermes/Mercury.

I thought it was an apt image for the ingress of Venus into Virgo on Monday.

Monday 8/29/2022: Sneak Peek at the Week

August 30, 2022/in The Forecast

Alllllllll righty then!

Not as many planetary patterns to write about this week, other than:

Mars in Gemini sextiles Jupiter in Aries on Thursday morning
Mercury opposes Jupiter on Friday night

Both of these patterns suggest BIG, as in BIG action/assertion re: Mars...and BIG ideas/communication re: Mercury. We’re starting the week with the ripple effect of the weekend’s square between Mars and the Sun (assertion, aggression involving leaders) and the hard aspects to Venus (money, women, social expression, arts) as it was pummeled over the weekend by disruptive Uranus and streamlining Saturn.

So we have a rush of energy to process, and the thing is, some of it may go nowhere, fast. I say this because next week, Mercury will be slowing down to a virtual standstill, preparing to go retrograde late next week. And Mars is slowing down, too — though won’t’ retrace its steps until the end of October. Your mission is to use last week’s New Moon in Virgo seed-planting potential and review, rethink, sort, analyze and work on a PLAN to walk your actual talk.

Naturally the sight of all these patterns led me to wonder how Beth Owl’s Daughter’s always-in-sync Tarot Card of the Week would reflect the potential for BIG STUFF this week. She did not disappoint, and here it is.

Here’s how the week goes:

MONDAY: Moon enters Libra at 5:44 AM ET, focused on diplomacy, fairness and balance in relationships. Talking and walking are supported, as the Moon meets up with Mercury at 12:10 PM ET and then trines Mars at 3:49 PM ET. A feeling you may have gone overboard — or are enjoying too much of a good thing (is that so bad?) may peak around 6:59 PM ET, as the Moon opposes Jupiter.
TUESDAY: Pull it all together, profiting from the Moon’s trine to Saturn, which facilitates the creating of structure — even if they are just in your mind. That trine happenes at 8:12 PM ET.
WEDNESDAY: A power play or catharsis may rupture your dreams, as Moon squares Pluto at 6:43 AM ET. Chill during the six and 1/2 hour Moon void. Stick to routine; roll with the twists and flakes, and don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. No impulse purchases. At 1:11 PM ET, Moon shifts gears and enters Scorpio, demanding emotional depth, power and control. Efforts at such may go swimmingly, reflecting the cooperative energy of the sextile between the Sun and Moon, exact at 5:19 AM ET on…
THURSDAY. Not only that, but at 7:51 AM ET, we’ll have that sextile between Mars and Jupiter, seeking to expand and inspire with clever, entertaining and intense words and deeds. Watch for news in the world of sports (U.S. Open!), court opinions (documents!!), travel and publishing. Maybe a big weather event, too. A shock presents itself around 11:05 PM ET, as Moon opposes rebel Uranus…with an effort to regain control around 2:02 AM ET on…
FRIDAY: …as Moon squares Saturn. The morning may be deeply felt (empathetic?) and dreamy, reflecting the Scorpio Moon’s trine (harmony) to Neptune at 8:52 AM ET, followed by a sextile to Pluto at 12:22 PM ET. A square between the Moon and Venus in regal Leo at 1:21 PM ET suggests a clash of social expression/values. Chill during the ensuing five hour Moon void. At 6:39 PM ET, see if you notice the shift as the Moon enters Sagittarius. And by shift, I mean a sense of relief to have escaped Scorpio’s need for control. The Moon in Sagittarius supports those with a need to influence others with their righteous opinions. In your own personal world, a weekend with Moon is Sagittarius is a great time to expand your horizons. Go for gambol in nature – take in a foreign film or any other perspective that is outside your comfort zone. Now is the time to broaden your mind. At 9:49 PM ET, we are sure to have big, broad information to debate, as Mercury in fairness-seeking Libra opposes Jupiter in me-me-me Aries.
SATURDAY: In the aftermath of last night’s big news, Moon opposes Mars at 8:22 AM ET, suggesting a physical or verbal confrontation, and possibly both. By 2:07 PM ET, another challenge presents itself as the Sag Moon squares the Virgo Sun, having a big, broad righteous opinion about someone’s insistence on exacting detail. Who’s gonna mince words now?
SUNDAY: Steady in the morning; a bit dreamy or bewildering around noon ET, as Moon squares Neptune. Venus is at the verrrrrry last degree of Leo, right on the former guy’s 29 Leo Ascendant and on President Biden’s North Node. Both are likely to get notable attention today — we’ll know it when we see it. When a planet is at the last degree of any sign, it is at a crisis point, and with Venus in Leo, it is a crisis involving drama, honor and reputation, for better or for worse. Moon enters Capricorn after a 12 minute Moon void you won’t even notice. Minutes after midnight on MONDAY, Venus enters Virgo until September 30th. Don’t bother scheduling that face lift; chances are, you won’t be happy with the results.
MONDAY: It’s a holiday — Labor Day — for workers in the United States, and it’s driven by the Moon in Capricorn, looking to Make Things Happen. If you’re not happening at the beach or lake, you can make something happen around the house. Grab your to-do list and start checking things off.

And now, the news.

If you watched this week’s Whether Forecast — part of Avid Reader Alison’s cool podcast, 2022: The Year of Love — you heard me answer a viewer’s question, and I hope it gave you a greater understanding of what astrologers are looking at when they interpret planetary patterns. Here is the link to that video.

Here’s a recap of key happenings this year that we could file under “U.S. Pluto Return.” For a reminder of the astro-logic of the U.S. Pluto return, here’s a blurb from this Forecast, posted in January.

A lot of news over the weekend and today reflects the high-energy aggression/assertion of Sun square Mars. Another lot of news reflects the unconventional-yet-streamlined effect of Saturn and Uranus as they made contact with Venus over the weekend. In no particular order:

Monster floods in Pakistan, where a third of the country is under water. If we use this horoscope for Pakistan, we can see how such disruptive, devastating events would be happening now. Transiting Pluto opposing the Cancer Moon suggests extremes in matters of emotional/home security; Saturn and Uranus are in hard aspect to Pakistan’s t-square among its Ascendant, Sun and Jupiter; Neptune is squaring (flooding?) Uranus, ruler of Pakistan’s Midheaven (public status)…and that’s just a thumbnail sketch of current patterns.
Scientists now say that Greenland really is likely to dump a gazillion zillion thrillion gallons of melted ice water into the ocean, raising sea levels around the globe. This might be an utterly fascinating story, if we didn’t all live here, right?
In Brazil, the last member of an isolated indigenous tribe dies
Nebraska school shuts down student newspaper after LGTBQ publication
Dr. Emily Porter blew up Twitter and has organized a boycott against CVS after a one of their pharmacists refused to fill a 55-year-old post-menopausal woman’s prescription for a medication she needed to take before an upcoming surgery…because the 55-year-old post-menopausal woman couldn’t prove she wasn’t using the drug for an abortion. Roevember is coming. Are you registered to vote?
The release of the redacted affidavit filed in order for the FBI to obtain a search warrant to retrieve stolen classified documents taken by TFG to Mar-a-Lago was bad news for national security. It got some people on the Twitter thinking about an article that showed up last October, as Saturn and Pluto were turning direct: “CIA admits to losing dozens of informants around the world”

On the softer side, but still in sync with those heavy/disruptive/desirous planetary patterns:

NYT op-ed: “Summers End, But Our Desires Last Lifetime“
An apt Jane Austen quote that made the rounds on Twitter: “Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.”
“Can Coco Gauff the Tennis Prodigy Become a Tennis Legend?” is the cover story of the NYT Magazine. Genius female athlete who “plays under the weight of high expectations” — total reflection of planetary patterns, right?
“A new start after 60: ‘I finally became the artist I always felt I was inside'”
Venus-Uranus suggests unconventional attractions; Saturn adds a lifelong bond, as in “His emotional support animal is an alligator. They sleep in the same bed”
“Text your friends. It matters more than you think”

Meanwhile….

I told you that Mercury entering Libra would activate the horoscopes of people with planets at 0 degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn):

Elizabeth Warren is concerned that the Fed will tip the U.S. into a recession
“Mar-a-Lago stay helped save [Rudy Giuliani] from drink and depression, book says” — oh — and there were tunnels involved, too. How does that sound for our national security?
Ted Cruz blasted after calling those who would benefit from student loan relief ‘slacker’ baristas
Justice Samuel Alito is the subject of an in-depth profile in The New Yorker, described as “a big one,” as you can see below. Here’s what’s going on in Alito’s horoscope.

Finally…

When I was looking at this week’s planetary patterns, I had a sense that it was an apt time to launch a rocket — more likely at the end of the week. Turns out there was a rocket launch in the works — the Artemis — and it’s the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built. I learned after recording this week’s Whether Forecast that the launch was scheduled for Monday (today) at 8:33 AM ET. Looking at that chart, set in Cape Canaveral, Florida, I did not think it was helpful to have Neptune opposing the Ascendant and squaring the Midheaven. On the upside, it suggests something visionary. The downside of Neptune is that it is associated with the dissolving of boundaries…and what happened today is that the launch was scrubbed…because of a leak! They’ve rescheduled a potential launch for 12:48 PM on Friday 9/2 — and I’ll be watching to see what happens just after 12 PM ET. No predictions here. This is a research project. As Yogi Berra always said, “You can observe a lot by watching.” So let’s watch…and see what happens…and take copious notes.

Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Here’s the link to Episode 14 of “Off the Charts: A Stellar Newscast” — with my brilliant colleague Whitney Fishburn. New episodes drop every other Friday.

Thank you for reading this forecast — and sharing it with your friends.

Friday 8/26/2022 & the Weekend: Catching Up on the News; Astrology is Amazing

August 27, 2022/in The Forecast

TGIF!

It’s Friday, but not just any Friday. It’s an every-other-Friday, which means that a new episode of “Off the Charts: A Stellar Newscast” is available for your listening pleasure. Tune in and hear what astrologer Whitney Fishburn and I have to say about whose horoscope was affected by last week’s trigger of the last two lunar eclipses, and what seven months of Mars in Gemini is likely to bring. You’ll also want to read Whitney’s notes about the episode, ’cause they are just so darned thought-provoking and enlightening.

Here’s your recap of the weekend forecast:

FRIDAY: Chill, chill, CHILL during the ensuing 17 1/2 hour Moon void. Take an extra day of vacation. Stick to routine. Roll with whatever twists and flakes disrupt your efforts to move forward in a straight line. No impulse shopping. Don’t make a mountain of crisis out of a molehill. CHILL. Plus we are now in the last hours of the old lunar cycle, suggesting a sense of restlessness or listlessness, waiting for the New Thing to begin. With no light from the Moon, it’s a fine time to be invisible or host an activity you hope will fly under the radar. Moon enters Virgo at 8:24 PM ET, ready to clean up the confetti from the Leo Moon’s party. Ohhhh…but there are still tensions to be released just after midnight ET on…
SATURDAY…as Venus squares Uranus at 12:33 AM ET, followed by Sun square Mars at 1:27 AM ET. The former suggests unconventional attractions and upsets in matters of women, art, money and social expression. The latter suggests action/assertion, for better or worse….and it’s followed by a square between Moon and Mars at 4:11 AM ET. Whatever the outbursts of energy, they are the set-up for the New Moon in Virgo that begins at 4:17 AM ET.
SUNDAY: Virgo Moon trines Uranus at 8:47 AM ET. That’s good for the “dream for all humanity” Bovee described above. What could throw a wrench into the works? Well…that Venus-Saturn opposition, exact at 2:27 PM ET. Who’s raining on everyone’s parade? On the other hand, the tension between Venus and Saturn could reflect women taking care of business. An opposition between Moon and Neptune at 7:27 PM ET may lack clarity, but may also prompt a fantastic escape — made deeper by Moon’s trine to Pluto at 11:08 PM ET. Chill during the ensuing 6 1/2 hour Moon void.

No sleeping in on MONDAY. Moon enters Libra at 5:44 AM ET, focused on diplomacy, fairness and balance in relationships.

And now, the news.

During today’s long, lingering, dead Moon void in drama queen Leo, the big show was the release of the affidavit that had to be filed in order for a judge to approve the FBI’s request for a search warrant of Mar-a-Lago. It was redacted, obviously — which is fitting for the “no consequences” Moon void. WaPo has annotated it, and you can read the redacted document here (I’m posting it as a gifted article — no paywall). Heather Cox Richardson will no doubt weigh in later tonight — and if you’ve never read one of her Letters from an American, here is the link to her Substack page. They are jam-packed with solid reporting, and best of all, HCR gives us her perspective as a historian, letting us know that we have all been here before. History — like astrology — is cyclical, and I hope this understanding gives you comfort in these interesting times. Alternatively, you can let Dan Rather get you up to speed right now in his Substack post — aptly titled (given current planetary patterns) — “We Should Not Become Inured to the Shock.”

UPDATE: on President Biden, whose horoscope is functioning as designed. Transiting Mars, triggered a surge of bottle-necked energy last week as it opposed his Scorpio Sun-Venus conjunction…then moved on to a meet-up with his Uranus (daring action!) and an opposition to his 3 Sagittarius Ascendant, where it was noted by Some People On The Twitter as follows:

“I genuinely have no idea what combination of factors has convinced Biden to abandon his traditional moderation for pugilistic anti-Trumpism and confident unilateral policy-making, but… isn’t this GREAT? Doesn’t it feel BETTER to be moving around, trying things, throwing punches?”

And:

“At multiple points in his swaggering speech tonight, Biden made a point of using his major new climate bill to dunk in the face of deniers who blocked action for so many years.”

“Pugilistic” and “swaggering” are what we would expect when Mars is activating the horoscope, right? Astrology. Is. Amazing! Here’s more on that speech, ICYMI, with thoughts on how “the tide has shifted” for President Biden and his party. In other news, since Mars was on his Descendant (significant others) and Mars refers to attacks, it’s remarkable that the First Lady (Dr. Jill Biden) tested positive for Covid — in an apparent rebound.

Meanwhile…

Uranus stationing retrograde on Wednesday was expected to “coincide” with startling news in technology, with nuclear power being one possible angle:

Uranus square Venus and opposing Saturn, exact over the weekend, is already being reflected in the news. We expect startling and/or controlling stories involving women, art, values, social expression and money:

In other news…

Do you know who Megan Coyne is? She used to run social media for the state of New Jersey, and she was so good at it, that she was hired by the White House. Take the above disruptive patterns and toss in Mars’ recent ingress into Gemini, which suggests words used as weapons, for better or worse. Then check out the White House’s “feisty” new Twitter feed, which caused quite a stir by shooting down the squeals of MAGA members of Congress who objected to President Biden’s forgiveness of up to $20,000 of student loan debt. How did the White House Twitter feed do this? By quoting said MAGA members and then revealing how many hundreds of thousands of dollars — and in some cases, millions — in PPP loans that they received — that were then later forgiven.

Elsewhere…

“Slew of trigger laws kick in as three more U.S. states ban abortion.” I have said this before, and it’s worth saying again. There is a certain astro-logic to posts popping up on social media, noting that “Roevember is coming” or advising citizens to “Roe, Roe, Roe your vote.” Many states are seeing a surge of newly-registered women voters, and certain planetary patterns suggest that concern over the loss — or potential loss — of reproductive health care freedoms will be a key driving factor in the upcoming midterms — enough for the current party in power to defy convention and prevail after the midterms. We shall see. Are you registered to vote? Do check your registration status here — it’s not something to take for granted.

That’s the news for the weekend! Yes, I’m still offering my “Star Special” (as Avid Reader Stephanie calls it): a few paragraphs of personalized insights on what seven months of Mars in Gemini suggests for you. Toss $52 into my Cosmic Tip Jar as an expression of Joyful Random Appreciation. Then send me your birth data if I don’t already have it.

For in-depth personal consultations about your life, love, work, family, health, the Universe and Everything, here’s the 411.

Yes, I’m available to speak about astrology to your group, company retreat, book club or any other organization. I’m thrilled to report that I received four invitations just this week — my Moon in Gemini couldn’t be happier!! Here’s how to contact me.

Thank you for reading this forecast — and sharing it with your friends.

Venus squares Uranus and opposes Saturn.

Unconventional women carrying their own baggage.

Photo credit: Elisabeth Grace

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