THE
I am a reporter with a unique beat. I use my understanding of planetary cycles to provide advance notice and analysis on the Zeitgeist of the day. If you have ever wondered “why is this happening now,” my insights will transform your experience of the headlines, adding new meaning and understanding. Call it Astrology for News Junkies. If you’re curious to know why the Impossible Burger is trending…or why the outcome of the 2019 Israeli elections was likely to be a shocker …or why “Woodrow Wilson, Stud Muffin” was a New York Times headline in December 2013, you will find it here, in over a decade’s worth of historical research and reporting.
Note that I do use astrological jargon in The Forecast in my effort to show how the planetary patterns are reflected in mundane events. I explain what the jargon symbolizes, so that all who want to understand the connections between astrology and the news may do so. However, I do not use astrological jargon in personal consultations, just plain English.
Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 9/14/2012 & the Weekend: New Moon in Virgo
/in The ForecastFor those burning the midnight oil, give it a rest already! Moon is void of course from 1:14AM ET…not to enter Virgo until 5:31AM ET. Note your dreams upon waking, as nebulous Neptune casts a potentially dizzying spelling on the Moon at 7:36AM ET, which may well add a bit of weirdness to this day.
Moon is in Virgo, dying to get everything in perfect order, which is a fine goal in the last two days of the lunar cycle. In the dark side of the Moon (where we are now), we often feel a restlessness and a listlessness, knowing that something new is about to hit, but we do not know what it is just yet. Nevertheless, details and clarity should likely roll in, as we get closer to 5:39PM ET, when we’ll have a supportive connection between the Moon and perspicacious Pluto.
No void of course Moon on Saturday, so you can bounce out of bed with all the energetic exuberance suggested by supportive connections between action-oriented Mars and expansive Jupiter. Got a detail-oriented project that’s been hanging over your head? Go for it. Or make a list of intentions for the New Moon, which is exact at 10:11PM ET, at which time you can light a candle and get focused.
And what a New Moon this is! Like the New Moon in June, this one features an exact square between rebel Uranus and potent Pluto, just dying to disrupt the status quo — or propel you into a new, higher level of consciousness. Waaaakkke upppp!!!! Ideas, communication, technology and travel are certainly in the spotlight for the next four weeks, courtesy of mental Mercury being challenged by the Pluto-Uranus square (the aspect is exact on the 20th – but applies to the New Moon). Information may well be flying so fast you can hardly keep up with it — check and double check that story in the news before you believe it. And if that’s not enough for you to handle, note that passions may also be riled up, as loving Venus in proud, regal Leo is approaching a challenging square to an intense Mars in Scorpio, ready to get it on. Though that square won’t be exact until the 27th, we will be feeling it from now until then. Watch the headlines for battles of the sexes, drama and passion and other sexy beasts.
This New Moon is at 24 degrees of Virgo, an earthy sign that is often happiest when its organizational skills and discerning tastes are channeled into service. The Sabian Symbol for 24 Virgo offers clues to coping with the volatility you may encounter over the next four weeks. Here it is: “Mary and her white lamb” — one of my favorites. Why? Because it is an image of innocence and utter simplicity, one that we all know from the nursery rhyme of our childhood. Little Mary and her lamb are just so sweet — how can you not love them? And the lamb follows her to school, isn’t that wonderful? But as Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee points out, having that lamb at school does not sit well with the authorities, but somehow Mary’s innocent attitude makes it all turn out OK. The lamb sticks around, and even the stern teacher has to acknowledge the awesome power of love conquering all. See? That’s your coping strategy in turbulent times.
Finally, something I’ve been meaning to mention for months, and that is China. It has the Sun at 7 Libra, currently opposed by Uranus and squared by Pluto; it has Uranus at 4 Cancer, which was opposed by Pluto and will have its third hit from Uranus later this year. There have been fascinating stories of power and intrigue in the headlines in recent months, including a murder trial, a blind dissident who escaped to the U.S., disputes with Japan over islands, and now this one about the presumed “disappearance” of its new leader. Both Pluto and Uranus were exact at 7 Libra earlier this month; both planets will hit those degrees again (for Pluto: all through Oct and November; for Uranus early next year. Keep watching the headlines…and oh…quantitative easing is on, says the Federal Reserve.
Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 9/13/2012: Speed Bumps Ahead
/in The ForecastMoon continues to roar through royal Leo all day, bolstered by a supportive connection with expansive, perhaps indulgent, connection to Jupiter. Indulgent, eh? Did you order your pricey new iPhone5 yet? Kudos to Apple for unveiling it on a day with Venus in flashy, luxury-loving Leo and trine to technogeek Uranus in pioneering Aries. What’s not to like? The phone hits the market on September 21st, when Mercury (mind, gizmos, communications) will be challenged by the Uranus-Pluto square. This suggests this new iPhone will deliver on its promise to be a game-changer…and it certainly is from a design standpoint. The phone has a new kind of connector port, which will make old iPhones obsolete. What other game-changing news involving mindset, communication and/or transportation might we see in the coming week? Yesterday a proposed merger between two aerospace “giants” was announced, which could create the world’s largest company in that industry.
Other news dominating the headlines today involves the destructive and disheartening consequences of people failing to see themselves in each other (please refer to yesterday’s forecast for thoughts on the potential benefits of acting as if we are all connected). And here I would be referring to the attack on the US Embassy in Libya, in which the US ambassador was killed. And now we are seeing violent protests spreading to US embassies in Yemen, Egypt and Iran. These protests are allegedly in response to an anti-Muslim video created by an as-yet-to-be identified person, and no one would have seen this reportedly “amateurish” and clearly inflammatory effort if it had not been posted on YouTube. Surreal, isn’t it? (Update: Minutes after this forecast was posted on Thursday morning, I came across another piece dismissing the notion that this nebulous video could have sparked these attacks).Yes, it’s weird and changing by the hour. It’s volatile! And in previous forecasts, volatility was expected to back in the headlines as we approach the second of the disruptive seven squares between rebel Uranus and potent Pluto. Depending on your time zone, that second square will be exact on the 18th or 19th, one day after Pluto turns direct. Stay tuned for more potent releases of energy between now and then. One such release of energy may come from the Federal Reserve, as there is much speculation that some kind of action will be taken to boost the economy. I have been thinking that if action were taken (in the form of quantitative easing), this week or next would be the time I might expect it. If you do not know what quantitative easing is, click on the link above.
Finally, my deepest gratitude to you, dear Readers, for the wonderful response to yesterday’s forecast. Thank you for your continued attention and connection, and for sharing my writing with family and friends. Keep on shining!
Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 9/12/2012: Let It Shine
/in The ForecastSo yesterday was September 11th, and it was the 11th anniversary of an act of violence that stunned the world and resulted in the loss of thousands of lives. I couldn’t bring myself to acknowledge this in yesterday’s forecast because, frankly, I was living in New York on That Day. Then I noted someone on Facebook opining that on every September 11th since, all of America gets very patriotic, while New Yorkers just get somber and quiet. So I thought, “OK, I’ll post something.” After all, the Moon was in Cancer (needing to focus on homeland/emotional security; America is a Cancer nation, etc.), and it was slowly approaching a square to serious Saturn, suggesting a need for gravitas.
Here’s what I wrote:
We approached each other with such loving kindness — back then — perhaps because we were all so conscious of our collective shock and grief. Everyone seemed to know someone who knew someone who had died…or was at Ground Zero and escaped, covered in ash…or was supposed to be there, but Fate intervened, and they missed their train or their appointment in the city was canceled or whatever. Point is, we all had a story to tell…and a connection to this experience that connected us to each other. We were able to see ourselves in each other.
Time passes…it heals wounds…and we forget. And often, we forget the connection. Separation — which is an illusion — creeps back in. It’s us against them. We racing to get here, there, everywhere. We get impatient with each other and start honking our horns again…or worse. And yes, I do have a thing against people who honk their horns and I have a byline to prove it. Point is, we are still sharing the same human experience — in a Big Picture, yet profoundly simple way. Even though we may forget.
These thoughts led me to decide as my tribute to 9/11, I would pretend to be an exalted human being — and try to act accordingly — during the course of my errands in the city. That meant taking the time to consciously assess whomever I engaged and imagining myself in their position before promoting my own agenda.
The employee behind the counter at Pret A Manger, for example, was a 20-something man with a wonderfully grounded, friendly intelligence. I thought about where he was at in his life — working behind a counter for probably not much more than minimum wage — and I wondered what his dreams might be at this nascent stage of his career. And as we were discussing the comparative merits of the caffeinated beverages offered at this fine establishment, I found myself telling him what a great job he was doing, and that I was certain his attitude and attentive presence would take him very far in life. I put my two dollars on the counter to pay for my coffee (decided not to spring for the cappuccino), and darned if he didn’t say, “It’s on the house”.
What a delightful surprise. What a lovely connection.
And what, pray tell, does this have to do with anything astro-logical? How about this: with today’s Moon in playful, regal, sunny Leo, you are encouraged to let your light shine! Practice senseless acts of beauty and acts of random kindness. Remember, that was the challenge presented at the beginning of this lunar cycle — the New Moon was in Leo on Aug 17th, right? Show the world the results of your intention. Shine! You’ll be aided by lovely connections to the Moon from loving Venus and electric Uranus, ’round about lunchtime on the East Coast. You’ll be helped even more by another lovely connection between Venus and Uranus, suggesting you expand your networks and allow yourself to be open to encounters that are delightfully unconventional and unusual…based on the simple premise that we are all on the same ride in the big scheme of things. That stranger on the bus could be your new best friend, even if it’s just for the few minutes you share until you arrive at your stop.
And look…here’s a song to inspire you…so many versions to choose from. Take your pick of Odetta, the Boss or the Templet Family Band. A tough choice, for sure.OMG, here’s Brenda Lee, too. The Odetta version opens with a passage written by Marianne Williamson that may give you chills….and…oh wow. Apparently Odetta sang this song(with the Harlem Boys Choir) on the first Letterman show after 9/11. I did not know that…until now.
Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 9/11/2012: Sneak Peek at Next Week
/in The ForecastMore of the same from yesterday: Moon in security-needing Cancer, driving the day, supported by a detail-oriented, number-crunching hook-up between Sun and mental Mercury in fastidious Virgo. Plan away until 5:58PM ET, when Moon goes void of course on a challenge from restrictive Saturn. That could be just the boost you need to reach for that brass ring, or it could be the wet blanket you dread from some uptight person who dares to rain on your parade. Thank goodness the Moon enters playful Leo at 11:01PM ET, lifting spirits everywhere.
So…next week has a couple of milestones we may be feeling from now until then. Pluto, which has been retrograde since April 10th, will turn direct at 1:08AM ET on the 18th. Right now it is sloooooowing down, getting ready to move forward…and this brings a focus on Pluto concerns, such as power, corruption and news from underground. Also next week: the second exact square of the seven squares we will experience between rebel Uranus and ruthless Pluto. The first square occurred on June 24th, and here is what was written then. You might want to read the forecasts for the week after June 24th to refresh your memory of what upheavals occurred, such as the surprising Supreme Court ruling on the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, I’m happy to toss Monday’s crash of Go Daddy dot com into the category of Uranus in Aries (rebellious individual) squaring Pluto in Capricorn (the Establishment; Corporations), as the crash was apparently caused by a single hacker. If you have a website or a domain name, you might find these “Five Reasons to Leave Go Daddy” of interest, courtesy of Forbes Magazine.
And finally, a couple of other headlines, sponsored by Moon in Cancer (women; financial savings), and presented here as a public service: “Ovarian Cancer Screenings Are Not Effective” and the truth about who benefits from low interest rates. I am certain we will read more nitty-gritty stories like these when Saturn moves into Scorpio on October 5th (not the 6th, as I wrote yesterday, unless you live in Japan or other points Far East).
Update from yesterday’s Emmett C Burns/Baltimore Ravens kerfuffle: Mr Burns has decided that the linebacker in question has the right to speak his mind after all, as suggested in the First Amendment.
Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 9/10/2012: Sneak Peek at Saturn in Scorpio
/in The ForecastAnother week of productivity in reasonably calm seas. Not that there isn’t a lot going on underneath the surface, for sure. Use this last week of the optimistic lunar cycle that began August 17th to bring your New Moon agenda to a conclusion — or at least to a stage where you feel, “Ah…a chapter is finished…onto the next one.”
Moon is in Cancer today and most of tomorrow, happily working to establish emotional and/or homeland security. Idealistic thoughts with a surprisingly sharp attention to detail are suggested by a conjunction between the Sun and mental Mercury in discriminating Virgo. Your intentions are further fueled by an easy connection between Mars (action) and the Moon. The potential shake-ups and power plays that are suggested by hard contacts to the sensitive Moon and rebel Uranus and ruthless Pluto are happening while most of us (in the US) are sleeping (around 3AM ET), so you may not need to lash out at anyone today — and vice versa — how cool is that?
Moon voids for the week: Tuesday 5:58PM – 11:01PM ET; Friday 1:14AM – 5:31AM ET
Let’s see…the news. Did any big opinions and/or heated exchanges make headlines, perhaps in a letter form? Why yes, at least one did. Apparently Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendan Ayanbadejo has been voicing his support for legalizing same-sex marriage, especially since Maryland(and a few other states), will be voting on a ballot initiative in November. Emmett C. Burns Jr. is a local politician and minister who wrote a letter to the owner of the Ravens, asking him to put a muzzle on his linebacker. Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe heard about the letter Burns wrote when Moon was in earthy Taurus on Thursday, and he was moved to write a blistering response (think “earthy, salty” and be forewarned). Why is this important? Well as the New York Times explains (without the earthy language), it is a very big image shift for NFL players to publicly support gay marriage, as it reflects a level of tolerance that was not there ten years ago.
Why is this of interest astro-logically? Well, Kluwe’s letter was published on a Sun-Mercury square to expansive Jupiter, which refers to sports, religion, politics and big, fat opinions. But to me, it also suggests another step forward as Saturn (structure, law) gets ready to wrap up its 28-month journey in Libra, sign of fairness, equality and (marital) relationships. Saturn will leave Libra behind on October 6th. Where will it go next? Scorpio. What can we expect? We can expect to get to the nitty-gritty of issues involving sex (creation), death (transformation), and money (resources), especially debt. Saturn was last in Scorpio from December of 1982 to November of 1985. What was going on in the world back then? Good question — I’ll do some research and get back to you. But here’s a quick coping strategy for Saturn in Scorpio: tell the truth.
For those born in November 1982- September 1983 and November 1953 – September 1954, congratulations, you were born with Saturn in Scorpio, and you’re about to embark on your first or second Saturn return, which suggests a time rich with developmental potential. Saturn will catch up with those born after September ’83 and ’54 in about a year.
For those born at the very end of Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn or the very beginning of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, you’ve got Father Time (Saturn) likely pushing for discipline. You may need to cut your losses and focus on what’s critically important. Saturn transits can inspire your ambition, but they can also be experienced as limiting, isolating and sad. Know that this, too, shall pass. Be brave enough to ask for support if you need it. You are worth it.