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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 Tuesday 6/7/2011: Congressman Anthony Weiner
/in The ForecastAngelenos, you could probably get away with sleeping late today. A self-indulgent challenge to Moon from loving Venus is exact at 8:27AM PDT, at which time Moon goes void in royal Leo until 12:33PM PDT. If you encounter a twist to your morning routine, a crisis of “sound and fury, signifying nothing”; a general feeling of aimless wandering or other lack of focus, blame the void. Or blame yourself for not taking advantage of a natural break in the usual push forward. Voids are a good time to chill, brainstorm or just be present.
New Yorkers, you might enjoy an especially long lunch — how about a picnic in a park?
At 12:33PM PDT/3:33 EDT Moon moves into perfectionist Virgo, where it will spend the next two days trying to get the facts exactly correct and precise. A supportive, practical connection between Mercury (mind, travel, communication) and disciplined Saturn fights to keep us down-to-earth and focused. However, while the mind may strive to be focused, emotions may lean toward expansion and/or escape. Perhaps you can plan logistics for your August vacation (Mercury will be retrograde then).
Meanwhile, a slow news day yesterday, as Congressman Anthony Weiner held a press conference to announce that yes, he did send allegedly lewd pix of himself to a number of women who are not his wife. Weiner, born Sep 4, 1964 in Brooklyn (birth time unknown) is an allegedly discriminating Virgo with Moon in Leo, suggesting an enormous…need to be loved and adored. This need is either running wild in the horoscope, or augmented by an expansive connection to Jupiter in sensual Taurus. But if the Moon isn’t connected to that expansive, sometimes expensive Jupiter, a sexy hook-up between loving Venus and rarin’ to go Mars definitely is.Add to the Virgo Sun a magnetic connection with ruthless Pluto and a brilliant aspect between rebel Uranus and techno-geek Mercury and you’ve got a guy with a lot of pizzazz. You’ve also got a guy who isn’t afraid to take risks, and in fact, arguably needs to do so.
What’s going on in Weiner’s chart now? Nebulous Neptune (unreal) is exactly on Weiner’s Saturn (real), suggesting “depression, losing focus and a sense of being wronged,” according to master astrologer Noel Tyl. Ahhhh…so that’s why Weiner initially stated that his Twitter account had been hacked, eh? Neptune dissolves whatever it touches. If it’s in touch with Saturn, which represents structure, authority, reality and ambition, reality can feel a bit like quicksand. And this aspect will be prominent in Weiner’s life well into 2012. Also of note w/in the past two weeks: rebel Uranus making contact with Venus (women, social expression), suggesting more than a bit of disruptive excitement in those areas. And of course, Uranus refers to technology, including Twitter. Coincidence or conspiracy?
Astro-logical Forecast for Monday 6/6/2011
/in The ForecastA sobering connection from controlling Saturn to Moon in regal, fiery and sometimes overblown Leo could help bring you back to Earth this morning after yesterday’s rousing emotions. A supportive connection from Sun to Moon helps establish balance in the afternoon. By evening, however — at 10:01PM EDT — if you find yourself in a clash of wills or similarly combative state, blame the challenging square to the Moon from aggressive Mars in possessive, stubborn Taurus.
A detached, practical mindset offers lucidity by Tuesday afternoon, as service-oriented Moon in Virgo (as of 3:33PM Tuesday) tries to sort it all out.
Note the Moon voids this week: Tuesday 11:27AM – 3:33PM EDT and Thursday 4:13am – 6:31PM EDT.
Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 6/3 and the Weekend: Nebulous Neptune and a Bit of Mitt
/in The ForecastEase into the morning, which begins with a potentially spacey or muddy feel on the East Coast, thanks to nebulous Neptune challenging Mercury, which relates to mind, travel and communication. Take note of your dreams & let me know if yours were especially “out there”. With the Moon now in Cancer, a sign which craves emotional and homeland security, leaving your comfort zone might be difficult, and you may find yourself focused on security concerns. Watch the headlines.
Meanwhile, on the West Coast, the morning may begin with a jolt or a flash of genius, as the security-craving Moon is challenged by disruptive Uranus at 9:04AM LA time/12:04 PM NY time. The rest of the day you may be challenged by issues involving power and control. Try to respond by seeing the potential for growth offered by the challenge, even if it forces you outside your aforementioned cherished comfort zone.
Big news on Saturday is Jupiter, the cosmic sugar daddy, leaving the pioneering sign of Aries for the stabilizing sign of Taurus at 9:56AM NY time, where it will remain for a year. This is excellent news for Bulls, especially those born in the first ten days of the sign: look back to whatever was going on in your life 12 years ago — what opportunities did you have for expansion and abundance? The key words for Taurus are I HAVE. Whereas Jupiter in Aries seeks its reward in ego-recognition or the excitement of a newfangled vision (with its accompanying risk), Jupiter in Taurus is can be the one who wants to die with the most toys. Or be the one who digs in his heels and insists that vision be damned, the bottom line is the bottom line.
Sunday dawns with a Moon void from 1:33 AM – 11:03AM NY time (Saturday night hook-ups are likely to be of no consequence), followed by Moon in royal Leo. Today the focus will likely be more on having the most toys than on the bottom line. Leo Moon wants to play, and a square to Moon from expansive Jupiter can be quite grandiose (just ask Charlie Sheen). Have fun!
As for recent headlines in synch with planetary patterns, yesterday Michelle Obama 86ed the Food Pyramid and introduced its replacement, The Food Plate http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/03/business/03plate.html?_r=1&hpw So now we can all learn to think differently about something we do every single day. How’s that for a radical new mindset, as this month’s New Moon suggests?
Other headlines in synch with nebulous Neptune in Pisces pulling focus (review the New Moon forecast for details), include toxic chemicals (Neptune) in the Mississippi (Pisces) http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/03/science/earth/03runoff.html?hp ; email fraud known as spear phishing (Neptune refers to deception) http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/03/technology/03hack.html?hp and a seemingly complete non-news story about a “mysterious” shipwreck on Malibu Beach that really isn’t a mystery at all — go figure. If it’s not a slow news day, blame this on Neptune stationary retrograde in Pisces — I mean honestly, New York Times — you put this on the home page???? http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/03/us/03shipwreck.html?hp
Last but not least, Mitt Romney, a Pisces ruled by Neptune, officially declared himself in the running to be the next President of the United States. Yes, I know I still need to talk about Tim Pawlenty, so I won’t go into too much detail here — and I’ll get around to Pawlenty one day soon, I promise. But here’s what’s interesting about Mitt. Pisces, Moon in Scorpio — this is a man who needs to be seen as someone of depth and substance, who acquires knowledge for the sake of power and control. He knows people. And people like him.
What’s interesting to me is Romney’s Gemini Ascendant is currently being squared by — nebulous Neptune. And Donald Trump’s Leo Ascendant is being challenged by — nebulous Neptune. And Barack Obama’s Midheaven (the other important angle in a horoscope, referring to career and status) is being squared by — nebulous Neptune. What an interesting pattern! Glamor, intrigue, masks, mystery, confusion, delusion, deception, fantasy — or sublime spiritual sacrifice, artistic success (especially in intangible media) — these are keywords for potential manifestations of Neptune in a horoscope.
To be continued…
Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday 6/1/2011: New Moon in Gemini w/Solar Eclipse
/in The ForecastFits and starts. This day likely began with a serious focus of intention and ideas, even on a dead Moon in Gemini. An innovative connection between rebel Uranus and that Moon got you out of bed this morning, and a stabilizing connection between disciplined Saturn in the cooperative sign of Libra and the Sun in Gemini (mind, information, communication) quickly followed. And yet…
The dark side of the Moon, the time before the New Moon begins can feel restless, listless. Something new is coming — but what? From a courthouse in Queens, a lawyer friend just called to say she is waiting, waiting, waiting to find out if a judge will show up so she can begin a trial. What might you be waiting for?
At 5:03PM EDT the New Moon arrives at 11 degrees of Gemini, along with a solar eclipse, the first of three eclipses we’ll experience between now and July 1st. Eclipses act as “bottlenecks” of energy. Light flowing from the Sun or Moon is temporarily interrupted, focusing attention on the interrupted point and allowing something new and possible fragile to enter the picture and grow. And here I would be thinking of Michael the kindhearted policeman in Make Way for Ducklings, who stopped the flow of traffic on Beacon Street so Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their brood of eight could safely make their way to the Boston Public Garden http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Make_Way_for_Ducklings
Bottlenecks can buy you time. Think of that next time you’re stuck in traffic, even if you’re running late for an appointment. Since you can’t control the jam, you might as well do something productive with it. As I’ve been saying for years, “you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.” And, yes, it would be lovely to think that Oprah Winfrey read that quote on my facebook page when she said exactly the same thing to viewers on her final show last Wednesday.
In Gemini, the New Moon suggests a focus on ideas, mindsets, communication, information. An interruption in the normal traffic flow of ideas allows for the birth of some new way of thinking. With the New Moon in a supportive connection to Saturn in the cooperative sign of Libra, the suggestion is that the new ideas that will be most effective are those which consider what is fair and just for all concerned. Easy to apply in your own personal world, but in the bigger scheme of things, will our fearless leaders take this to heart in their thought processes? More on that in a minute.
The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is “A topsy saucily asserting herself.” A topsy, as we learn from Blain Bovee’s marvelous book on Sabian Symbols, is a fictional character — a black slave child — in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Speaking truth to power, anyone? Any more French women want to step forward with stories of sexism and abuse? http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/22/dominique-strauss-kahn-arrest-dormant-anger-france-women Oh look, here’s a story that hit the New York Times 20 minutes ago: French Socialists May Expel Member Speaking Out on Strauss-Kahn http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/world/europe/02france.html
This New Moon cycle affords the opportunity to bring forth some pretty radical ideas. And not just about women, but any group or individual that no longer wishes to feel oppressed. Bovee notes of being on the lookout for “an awareness of experiences that defy one’s version of reality.” So we can expect that those whose do dare to speak their truth may be challenged by those who prefer to live in denial, with each party possibly accusing the other of being nuts.
The personal planets in the New Moon chart: Mercury, Venus and Mars are all in Taurus, suggesting a need to focus on preserving stability, especially of a material kind. What radical new ideas will you come up with for doing that? There may be more than a bit of magical thinking in need of a reality check (see previous paragraph), suggested by a challenge to Mercury (mind) from nebulous Neptune. This is one reason why I opened this forecast with the words, “fits and starts”. Patience and steady persistence this month, as you work the bugs out of your New Moon agenda, will come in handy.
Humming in the background of the New Moon chart is a pattern that was active — and gained much attention a year ago. Regular readers of this forecast will remember posts about the Big T-Square Party among the heavies: ruthless Pluto in Capricorn, sign of the Establishment challenged by Uranus, which turns order into chaos…which is turn opposing controlling Saturn…which is turn challenging Pluto. Imagine each planet at each point of a T-Square and you get the picture. It is a pattern that holds a lot of tension. The theme is the need for change and the resistance to change.
Saturn opposing Uranus is polarizing. It’s old guard vs. avant garde, and we’ve been experiencing this pattern off and on since November of 2008. That’s when we faced a choice between allegedly old guard John McCain and allegedly avant garde Barack Obama. When Saturn moves out of this T-Square configuration this fall, leaving Uranus and Pluto to challenge each other seven times over the following three years, it is possible that efforts to maintain necessary control will give way to necessary upheaval. Next summer could be very interesting.
For now, be bold in your New Moon meditation and wish list. Think different. Be persistent and patient in your actions to support your material goals. And if at first you don’t succeed, fry, fry a hen.
Astro-logical Forecast for Thursday 6/2/2011
/in The ForecastNo major aspects among the planets today, and yet there’s a lot going on. How can this be? First, Moon is running wild in information junkie Gemini, possibly spreading news — or rumors — like a virus or some other infection. I say this, noting Moon in Gemini running wild, combined with Mercury’s (mind, information, communication) challenge from nebulous Neptune in Pisces. Fact check what you hear, especially if it’s on the news. The challenge between Mercury and Neptune is exact early Friday AM. You can best apply it to exalted spiritual practices, music, fine art and healing modalities. Excesses of alcohol and other drugs may be tempting, but best avoided. Your brain may be foggy enough as it is.
But wait — there’s more! Mercury is leaving the steady sign of Taurus for the glib, multi-tasking, clever but often scattered sign of Gemini at 4:03PM EDT. That “wobble” could take a day of adjustment as our brains adapt to the quickened pace. Neptune is at a halt in the sky, about to turn retrograde early Saturday morning at zero degrees of Pisces, the sign it rules. Neptune refers to viruses and infections. Could news of a particularly potent strain of E coli spreading across Germany be a corollary to this planet pulling focus? http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/world/europe/02ecoli.html?hp Another Neptune in Pisces theme: water — and the lack thereof — this time in the Nile: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/opinion/02Brown.html?hpw
Rumor and scandal also relate to Neptune, and there seems to be all sorts of stories running amok, from media (Neptune) websites being hacked; twitter feeds belonging to a certain congressman allegedly hacked and used as a conduit for a mysterious photo; and rumors about the origin of a mysterious wildfire in Arizona raging out of control. It may take until Monday to get clarity on much of this mishegosh, and Friday is likely to be edgy, even with a bit of Neptunian fog. Take your time!
A note on the phenomenon of retrograde planets. They do not actually slow down to a halt, move backward and then forward. It just appears that they do from our point of view on spaceship Earth. Here is a groovy animation which explains it all for you: http://www.lasalle.edu/~smithsc/Astronomy/retrograd.html Any questions?
Many thanks for the recent referrals, btw. I am glad to be of service.