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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 Thursday 5/12/2011: Raj Rajaratnam
/in The ForecastFor some, the headline yesterday that brought much good cheer (keeping in line with good cheer anticipated all this week), was the news that Raj Rajaratnam, hedge fund manager extraordinaire, had been found guilty of conspiracy and securities fraud http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/12/opinion/12thu1.html?hp
Rajaratnam was reportedly born in Colombo, Sri Lanka on June 15, 1957 (time unknown); Sun in chatty Gemini (like Donald Trump and Newt Gingrich) and Moon in either make-it-happen Capricorn or socially significant Aquarius (I suspect it’s enterprising Capricorn, but I’m not willing to spend the hours it would take to test for an exact birth time). What else might we expect to find in his horoscope? This is your chance, for those of you who read this forecast everyday, to amaze yourselves with what you’ve learned about astrology and how you can apply it to good use yourself (my secret stealth mission).
Here are some facts about today’s astro-logical poster child, followed by planetary patterns we might expect to see in the horoscope.
Let’s go to the chart. We see Uranus (technology, genius, innovation) in royal Leo (grand, sense of entitlement) in an exact connection to Mercury (mind) in clever Gemini. DING! This man is very, very smart. We see expansive……JUPITER in a tight challenge to the Sun. A challenging influence from Jupiter can be over-indulgent. DING DING! Finally, we see nebulous….NEPTUNE in a challenging aspect to Mars. Newt Gingrich, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and Bill Clinton all have challenging aspects between these two planets. Would you say that all of these people might be described as charismatic…to the point of being slick? Do they exist in their own unique version of reality? Have they ever been thought of as deceptive? DING DING DING!
Now let’s say this horoscope belongs to someone running for office or applying for a job in your company. Would you vote for them? Would you hire them? If you said “yes,” what other information would you need about them in order to feel confident that you’d made a good decision? What do you think would be this person’s strengths or weaknesses? Remember: there is nothing inherently good or bad with planetary patterns. People decide how to use — or misuse/abuse their abilities. People decide whether to build all the way up to heaven or all the way down to hell.
Use today’s analytical Moon in Virgo energy to digest this complimentary astro-logical lesson…or anything else on your plate that requires mulling over and organization. Oh– and here’s another example of idealism/”miracles just might happen” thinking hitting the headlines. Yesterday a bill was introduced in the Senate — again — (by Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Jim McDermott of Washington State )to establish a single-payer health insurance/care system in the United States. It is astonishing to me how many otherwise super-smart Americans do not know what “single-payer” means. I am convinced that it is perhaps the most significant reason why the concept hasn’t won greater support. Houston, we have a problem. A MARKETING problem.
Read about single-payer health care here http://www.pnhp.org/facts/what-is-single-payer, or enjoy my pithy explanation. Single payer means taxpayer-funded, as in Medicare For All. OK, what does that mean? It means given a choice between spending your tax dollars to build military bases all over the Middle East or paying your hospital bills in the event you are hit by a bus, how would you choose to spend it? Excellent. I see you are in favor of a single-payer system, as you would prefer to spend your tax dollars on your health care. In the best of all possible worlds, we would use the money we currently spend on, for example, military bases in the Middle East and spend it on keeping you healthy and free from the worry that if you get sick, you will go bankrupt. Y’know, like they do in every other allegedly civilized Western nation. Single-payer/taxpayer funded health care is nothing new. If you know anyone whose parents served in the military, that person has enjoyed the benefits of taxpayer-funded health care. Why should they have all the fun?
Of course, if we don’t spend our money building military bases in the Middle East, we won’t be able to stand guard over all that oil…which means maybe we’ll have to stop relying on oil and come up with an alternative source of energy that doesn’t require a military base to guard it. Oh my, I am really dreaming here. Must be the stars… ; )
Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 5/13 and the Weekend
/in The ForecastEnjoy the last few days of impulsive thoughts and social expression. Mercury (mind, communication) and Venus (social expression) leave the sign of Aries on Sunday evening, so you can expect a “wobble” — a day or two to shift into the new gear. See? Mercury and Venus are STILL in Aries, and I’m getting ahead of myself. That’s what Aries does. Let’s talk about the forecast for today, Friday.
Moon went void at 10:52PM on Thursday…entering the people-pleasing sign of Libra at 11:56AM EST on Friday. Regular readers of this forecast know that the Moon void suggests a slow start to the morning or a twist to your routine: an unusual commute, a flaky AM meeting — or no meeting at all; or an alarm clock that does not function as designed.
No exact aspects among the planets until a little jolt from rebel Uranus at 5:20PM EST that launches happy hour on the East Coast. Perhaps some juicy revelations or jealousy will crop up later in the evening, thanks to a challenge to Moon, trying so hard to be thoughtful, from ruthless Pluto. Curb your inner control freak.
Saturday really is Saturn-day, featuring a potentially serious, focused hook-up between the planet of wet blanket control and Moon, again, trying to be thoughtful, fair and rational. Grab a buddy and get some chores done. On Sunday, especially in the early AM, you can relax. After a short void you likely won’t even notice, Moon enters Scorpio at 12:32PM EST, demanding depth, substance and…later in the evening, earthly pleasures.
Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 5/11/2011: Newt and Callista Gingrich
/in The ForecastShall we talk some more about idealism and people with idealism strongly suggested in their horoscopes making news at this time? Oh, let’s. I do hope you’re out there pitching this month….
Yesterday morning Newt and Callista Gingrich entered the race to become the Republican nominee for President of the United States in 2012. Callista, a reportedly devout Catholic, began her relationship with Newt in 1993, while he was married to his second wife. Their affair went on for seven years. While involved with Callista, who is 23 years his junior, Newt called for the impeachment of President Clinton — for lying about his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. What kind of planetary patterns in a horoscope could suggest such bewildering, seemingly hypocritical actions and beliefs?
In the horoscope of Callista, we immediately see Mercury (mind, communication) in touch with Venus (social expression) — a classic sign of idealism (birth data: March 4, 1966, Whitehall, WI — time unknown). Other patterns suggest a likely challenging relationship with the father; an element of being somehow suppressed in her early home life, and a sense that life is hard work. These same patterns also suggest great discipline, determination and achievement. A Pisces with Moon in regal Leo, she likely has a bit of a queen complex, as well as more than a bit of glamor and charisma suggested by a connection to Mars from nebulous Neptune. With idealism identified in a horoscope, one is inclined to wonder — what unpleasantness that rose-colored outlook be masking?
In the horoscope of Newt, we find more than one familiar pattern. First, Sun in Gemini and Moon in opinionated Sagittarius — just like Donald Trump. Fascinating! Signs of idealism? How about nebulous Neptune (fantasy, delusion, glamor, spirituality, drugs, sacrifice, deception, enlightenment) commanding attention at the Aries Point (remember how active that point was in global events back in March), in a challenge to Sun (Barack Obama, Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck also have this aspect) AND opinionated, often preachy Moon in Sagittarius. This Moon is augmented by a grandiose connection to expansive Jupiter, not unlike the Moon-Jupiter connection in Charlie Sheen’s horoscope. Sure, he can be extremely inspirational. But there is also the potential for more than a bit of magical thinking…
For today: Moon is void between 12:52 – 9:59AM EST. A slow start or a twist to your usual morning routine is suggested, after which Moon enters the discerning sign of Virgo, where it can spend the entire day in search of perfectly organized bliss. Though frankly, with the luscious abundance suggested by a “big idea” connection between Mercury and Jupiter…AND an indulgent connection between loving Venus and the cosmic sugar daddy (Jupiter), “organized” might be a challenge. Leave it to Mars, entering the sign of stable, stubborn Taurus, to temper the impulsive urge to take action we’ve experienced for the past few weeks with Mars in Aries. Some of us will breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Astro-logical Forecast for Tuesday 5/10/2011: Hillary Clinton Photo-Shopped Out
/in The ForecastMore thoughts on idealism. continued from yesterday’s forecast. As I was sipping my morning coffee while scanning the headlines, I was stunned to find this item about Hillary Clinton and another woman being photoshopped out of this now-iconic image taken at the White House last Sunday http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/hillary-clinton-audrey-tomason-go-missing-in-situation-room-photo-in-der-tzitung-newspaper/2011/05/09/AFfJbVYG_blog.html Talk about seeing the world through rose-colored glasses!
In astrology there are certain patterns in a horoscope that suggest a client might have issues with reality. On the plus side, planetary hook ups between Mercury and Venus, for example (the pattern in effect yesterday and all through this week), can suggest great vision (especially when nebulous Neptune is also involved). On the downside, it signals a possible inability to face the facts. I have come to appreciate how idealism functions as a necessary defense in early childhood. “Why does this horoscope suggest,” I might ask a client, “that the relationship with your mother might have been somewhat bewildering?” A client with strong idealism might deny this…and only later in the session does it come out that Mom was an alcoholic, hooked on painkillers or some other bewildering (to the child) condition. Idealism!
Getting back to the two women edited out of a photo. The editors of the newspaper in question stated in their defense, “In accord with our religious beliefs, we do not publish photos of women, which in no way relegates them to a lower status.” Idealism or realism? What do you think? Current planetary patterns strongly suggest that it’s the former. And then — this is where it gets interesting — we are moved to ask why? As in, why is it deemed necessary to protect women from the eyes of men. What hard, cold reality could be denied or suppressed?
In other news, Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger announced their separation after 25 years of marriage. What patterns typically associated with a need for independence and transformation (that might cause stress on a marriage) are active in their horoscopes? In the case of Ms. Shriver, disruptive Uranus and nebulous Neptune suggest tension and bewilderment in relationship and identity areas (11/6/55 5:12PM Chicago, IL). In the case of Mr. Schwarzenegger, we see disruptive Uranus, “change or die” Pluto and nebulous Neptune suggesting a change of perspective in relationship and also bewilderment (7/30 /47 4:10AM Graz, Austria). Your friendly neighborhood astrologer can help you pinpoint times of stress in your significant relationships, too.
Today’s First Quarter Moon suggests a challenge to your New Moon agenda of turning your dreams into reality. There’s also the potential for abundance, ranging from the glorious to the wretchedly excessive (note to those keeping an eye on the rising waters of the Mississippi: keep your fingers crossed through Wednesday). A grand and festive Moon in Leo imbues the day with a desire to lord it over all. If you were born around April 16th, you could buy a couple of lottery tickets. In fact, anyone with a planet at 25 degrees of Aries might take a chance on Lady Luck today and tomorrow.
Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 5/9/2011: Idealism in the horoscope
/in The ForecastThere’s plenty of potential for a banner week, and at the very least, continued good cheer, starting with the Moon entering sunny, royal, playful, adorable (in its own mind) Leo at 5:35AM EST. Following that we have an exact hook up between Mercury (mind) and Venus (social expression) in the impulsive, direct, “leap before you look” sign of Aries. When Mercury and Venus get together, idealism is often the name of the game. Everything is wonderful! Impossible things can happen! We’re committed to nuclear power! (They actually said that in Japan over the weekend, which might well become a clear example of the dangers of idealistic thinking http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/09/world/asia/09japan.html?hpw)
But sometimes, the magic in magical thinking can be real. At least one miracle did happen here in New York on Friday morning. A baby red-tailed hawk pecked its way out of an egg in a nest overlooking Washington Square (you can see the nest live on the Hawk Cam — more fun than television! http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/06/hawk-cam-miracles-do-happen/?scp=1&sq=hawk%20cam&st=cse) Red-tailed hawks are a big deal in New York, and this nest is an especially big deal because 1) it has a Hawk Cam; and 2) “experts” had declared just a few days ago that there was no way these eggs were going to hatch; it was too late. But not too late, apparently, with planetary patterns like we’ve got right now which continue suggest hope, promise, expansion, abundance in an ‘everything happens for the best” kind of way.
It’s Monday. You’ve been advised on the potential pitfalls of idealistic thinking. Otherwise, go for it!