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.

Wednesday 2/23/2022: Late Sneak Peek at a Short Work Week: Eclipse Triggers; Mars on the March; Full Speed Ahead

February 23, 2022/in The Forecast

Alll-righty then!

First, an announcement. I’m pleased to be creating a segment for a weekly podcast produced by Avid Reader Alison Woo. Her podcast is called “2022: The Year of Love” (which it really is, as you will recall that The Lovers is the Tarot Card for 2022). Every week Alison does a cool interview with a guest who presents Really Useful Ideas on how to live life better (e.g., feng shui, life coaches, chiropractor care, etc.). My segment is a “Whether Forecast,” i.e., a roughly 3-minute summary of what we can expect for the week, suggested by planetary patterns. It’s at the end of the weekly interview (if you like to listen to podcasts), or — if you just want the Whether Forecast, the video of that segment can be found here. You can sign up to receive notifications of podcast postings, and if you’d known about this last week, you could have watched the Whether Forecast for this week on Monday, so you wouldn’t be totally in the dark about what to expect.

But wait, there’s more! I was her guest on Episode 4 of “2022: The Year of Love,” and here is the link to that — in which we talk about astrology in general and the outlook for the first few months of 2022.

Podcasts are fun!

As for the weekly forecast, here are the driving forces of this Big Week of Action (as Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week affirms):

First exact hit of the U.S. Pluto Return was Sunday, reflected in headlines within the past two days that make it abundantly clear that we are a dysfunctional, divided nation engaged in an internal battle for power and control (as Heather Cox Richardson explains)
Mars and Venus are at 20-22 degrees of Capricorn, activating the January 10, 2020, lunar eclipse (which affected the horoscope of Queen Elizabeth II, as you can see in this next link about 1/12/2020), and the January 12, 2020, Saturn-Pluto conjunction. We use the former as a birthdate for Covid, since that’s when the genetic sequence was published. Whenever a planet activates 20-22 Capricorn (which it does whenever it is in Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn), we anticipate pandemic-related news. If you have those degrees in your horoscope (as does the queen), you may also be affected. Queen Elizabeth tested positive for Covid over the weekend.
Jupiter is at 12 Pisces, activating the December 4, 2021, solar eclipse at 12 Sagittarius (which is the Ascendant of the most widely used horoscope for the United States). We expect the U.S. to expand its role in global affairs, and we expect a surge of expansion/excess in the world in general
Mars and Venus are sextile Neptune, reflecting a bit of oil poured on troubled waters — which may not be for real. I’m thinking of Vladimir Putin calling the troops he ordered into Ukraine “peacekeeping.” That and five bucks might get you a copy of George Orwell’s 1984, which coined the word “doublespeak.” It’s relatively calm now. What concerns me are the conjunctions of Venus and Mars with Pluto on Thursday, March 3rd. Those suggest extremes of emotion, worth, action and aggression. A couple of days later, Venus meets up with Mars at 0 Aquarius, activating the December 21, 2020 Great Mutation of Jupiter-Saturn at 0 Aquarius — and also activating a truckload of horoscopes who are very much in the public eye, including President Biden, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and many more.
Mercury squares Uranus just as it exits its shadow period. We anticipate disruptions — for better or worse — in communication, technology, aviation, gender-bending, etc.

Here’s how the week went — and goes:

MONDAY: No more Moon in Libra talk, as the Moon entered Scorpio at 4:19 AM ET. The mission is to prove to the world that one is right, deep and in control. Cue Vladimir Putin’s “spontaneous” security council meeting, essentially declaring that Ukraine has no right to exist. Note that the meeting was actually pre-recorded, as anyone looking at the watches of those present could tell. This reflects the pixie-dust potential of this week’s sextiles among Venus-Mars and Neptune. In your own personal world, you should be applying this practical, earthy energy (with its pixie-dusted spin) to making believe (i.e., sell the hell out of it) and then making it happen.
TUESDAY: More Moon in Scorpio, whose quest for world domination may have been thwarted by the 11:53 AM ET square to the Moon from Saturn (authoritative control). Hopefully you recovered and kept on trucking — pun obviously intended — as Moon’s sextiles with Venus and Mars suggests strong potential for cooperation and communication.
WEDNESDAY: After a four-hour Moon void which most in the Americas slept through, Moon soared into Sagittarius,= at 8:28 AM ET, now seeking to influence everyone with its righteous opinion. Get out of that state you’re in; go for a gamble or a gambol; take in a foreign film (Oscars are this weekend, if anyone still cares about such things in these interesting times). The sextile between Mars and Neptune is exact at 2:11 PM ET — great for sexy seduction — but caveat emptor! At 5:32 PM ET Moon squares the Pisces Sun: righteous, boundary-pushing opinions challenge impressions
THURSDAY: Ebullience upon waking, perhaps, as the Sag Moon squares Jupiter in Pisces. Perhaps you enjoyed an exceptionally dreamy sleep, reflecting the rose-colored glasses of a sextile between Venus and Neptune, exact at 11:03 AM ET. How will NFTs and other idealized forms of worth and aesthetics make news today? What will you do with other inspirations in your own personal world? Nail it down with substance; get support from others today, supported by Moon’s sextile to Saturn, exact at 3:44 PM ET. Humming in the background and exact at 9:21 PM ET is Mercury’s square to Uranus — happening just after Mercury returns to where it was when it turned retrograde on January 14th, exits its shadow period and starts covering new ground. Mercury-Uranus squares “coincide” with revelations and other surprise, for better or worse. Moon goes void on a square to dreamy Neptune at 10:24 PM ET. Have a toddy and toddle off to bed.
FRIDAY: A slow start to the morning, as the Moon is still void. At 11:27 AM ET, it’s all hands on deck as Moon enters Capricorn, driving the weekend with the need to Make Things Happen. You could make progress on those practical chores around the house.
SATURDAY: Capricorn Moon is well-supported by the innovation and expansion potential of a trine to Uranus at 6:40 AM ET, followed by a sextile to Jupiter at 9:43 AM ET. No Moon void suggests you’re free to shop without worrying that what you buy may not live up to expectations.
SUNDAY: Busy morning, as the Moon meets up with Venus and Mars in the most practical and earthy ways between 4 and 5 AM ET. Note the potential power play or catharsis around 9:49 AM ET, as the Moon meets up with Pluto — and then goes void for about four hours. No shopping! Moon enters Aquarius at 1 :35 PM ET, now seeking to network and appreciate the unique social significance of individuals, especially as they relate to larger groups. I know. Aquarius is so complicated…who’s yer buddy?

And now, the news.

It’s crazy out there. But we expected it, right? Here’s an article from 2006 — written by astrologer Michael Lutin for Vanity Fair. It’s about Pluto in Capricorn, the seven Uranus-Pluto squares of 2012-2015, and the U.S. Pluto Return. Read it and you will appreciate that — crazy or not — we seem to be exactly where we’re supposed to be. We will get through this — and rather than give you a laundry list of headlines today, I suggest you review some of the links above, which explain how we got to this point in time. Then, boogie on down to this uplifting song from my fave Joan Armatrading — because big brown bears are all over the headlines — symbolically and physically, too. Have you heard about Hank the Tank?

Here is Joan Armatrading on bears. Turn up the volume and dance!

Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. We will have a fun and productive discussion together. Here is the link to the Cosmic Tip Jar, where expressions of appreciation are always accepted, with gratitude.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Thursday 2/17/2022: And Now, the News…in a Podcast! Introducing “Off the Charts: A Stellar Newscast”

February 17, 2022/in The Forecast

Happy Thursday!

The Moon is in Virgo, driving the day with a need for perfection. At 7:12 PM ET, Jupiter (which refers to expansion, publishing and broadcasting) makes a cooperation connection with Uranus (which refers to innovation, online technology, renegades and astrology). Sounds like an apt time to announce a NEW fun podcast about astrology and the news.

Introducing… OFF THE CHARTS, in which “two corporate media renegades, Whitney Fishburn and Elisabeth Grace, use their insider’s knowledge to flip the script on the media, using astrology to offer perspective and analyses on world events that corporate media won’t and can’t share with you.”

Whitney is a journalist who has segued into a second career as an astrologer, and as Avid Readers of this forecast know, I worked in film, TV & news promotion before segueing into a second career as a reporter with a unique beat (the astonishing synchronicity of planetary patterns and the headlines), and an astrologer for the real world (as it says on the home page of my website).

In the inaugural episode of our bi-weekly podcast we talk a little bit about our experience in the mainstream media, and a lot about the U.S. Pluto Return and its potential for breakdown and transformation.

You can listen to OFF THE CHARTS on iTunes right here.

Or you can find us on Whitney’s nifty Substack platform: ensouled: the journal of cultural astronomy…

Looking forward to your thoughts on our joint endeavor — thanks for listening!

Monday 2/14/2022: Sneak Peek at the Week; Full Moon in Leo; Venus-Mars Conjunction; Sun Enters Pisces

February 14, 2022/in The Forecast

Alll-righty then!

It’s Sunday as I type, and there’s a big game on and while I’m not watching, I’m rooting for the Rams — obviously — because what Aries and former L.A. girl wouldn’t? That, and Heaven Can Wait. Such a great film.

We are off to a busy week — with more to come next week and the week after that, as cycles that started at the end of last year are triggered. I’ll do my best to help you stay on top of it. This week we have five notable patterns:

Mercury leaves Capricorn and enters Aquarius on Monday.
Venus and Mars meet up in Capricorn on Wednesday morning (after flirting with each other like mad at the end of last November)
Full Moon in Leo on Wednesday, so emotions are running high as we start the week
Jupiter sextiles Uranus on Thursday
Sun enters Pisces on Friday

Here’s how it goes:

MONDAY: Moon enters Leo at 6:17 AM ET, cruising without interference for the entire day. What shall we do with this fiery energy? How about what Leo does best: take the stage and shine — and help others shine, too. Start by paying someone a compliment. Isn’t it convenient that today is Valentines’ Day, when romantic gestures and silly love songs are encouraged? If you’re on your own, you may still enjoy a successful prowl, reflecting the powerful attraction building between Venus and Mars.
MONDAY: At 4:53 PM ET, Mercury enters Aqurius. Thoughts and communication become less status-conscious and strategic. Mercury in Aquarius favors wonky genius that needs to organize the spark of an idea into a fixed — and perhaps stubborn — form. Note that Mercury is still in the shadow period of its last retrograde. Translation: we’re still reviewing old ground, and don’t fully move our collective mindset into new territory until February 24th, when Mercury will be back at the place it was on January 15th, the day it turned retrograde.
TUESDAY: Moon squares rebel Uranus at 3:55 AM ET, reflecting a potential jolt or revelation (if you happen to be awake). The Leo Moon continues to drive the day with a need for ego recognition. How far will some go for the sake of love, honor and/or respect? An authoritarian advance or other wet blanket seeks to contain the joyful noise around 3:38 PM ET, as Saturn opposes the Moon — but humming in the background is that Venus-Mars alignment, facilitating unions and other alliances of a practical and strategic sort. The conjunction is exact at 9:28 AM ET on...
WEDNESDAY...and perhaps we’ll read about Something Big Happening in the News, reflecting the Full Moon’s potential for illumination and release, exact at 11:56 AM ET. Here’s what that looks like, set in Washington, D.C.:

Observations:

A Full Moon in Leo offers illumination on ego needs that are seeking recognition — and perhaps conflicting — with the needs of a larger group. The Moon in this lunation is the handle of a bucket chart formation. All the planets except the Moon are above the horizon. The Moon is below, and grabbing on to it — as if it were a handle — and you were swinging the bucket around with it — is the only way access this horoscope. The need for love and honor and respect is reeeeeally driving this chart — and the energy of this day!
The Sabian Symbols for this lunation are “a tree felled and sawed” (for the Sun) and “many little birds on the limb of a tree” (for the Moon). The felled tree was the Sabian Symbol for the New Moon in Aquarius in February 2018, which was also a solar eclipse. We can’t help but note that this Full Moon straddles the former guy’s Leo Ascendant-Aquarius Descendant and activates his “get away with murder” Leo Mars. We also note that this Full Moon activates two other eclipses: the Great American Eclipse of August 2017 and the November 2021 reeealllly long lunar eclipse. Thus, we expect plenty of nuts to fall out of any tree/horoscope that is “shaken” by the rippling energy of this Full Moon.
Sabian Sage Blain Bovee says that “a tree felled and sawed” is complicated — as in, “to be ‘felled’ is to be struck down…an archaic sense of ‘fell’ means cruel, deadly, as in a ‘fell potion,’ and from which the term ‘felon’ is derived.” We are advised to be in a planning mode — stockpiling or renewing resources for future leaner times. Bovee has more here. As for the “many little birds,” their chatter may be a distraction and we are encouraged to pay attention to subliminal messages and also the sublime.
I was curious to see where the Venus-Mars conjunction would fall in this chart calculated to assess possibilities in the U.S. It’s in the 8th house — associated with mortality, taxes, debts and other peoples’ money Some astrologers associate the 8th house with sexual intimacy. Planets in the 8th house suggest energy that may dig deep into the affairs of others, but not in an immediately obvious way. The Sabian Symbol for the Venus-Mars conjunction echoes that hidden quality: “a girl surreptitiously bathing in the nude,” i.e., (says Bovee) “a raw and naked experience…done precisely so that others may not see. Private and personal, this is an image of quiet daring.” I wonder how this image could suggest plans laid bare and partnerships being made — and one day, maybe we’ll all find out about it.
27 Aquarius and 27 Leo are two of the degrees associated with astrologers, so maybe we’ll see a few looking good in the headlines this week.
You are more personally affected by the illumination and release of this Full Moon if you have a planet around 27 Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio or Taurus. That includes President Biden, whose affected planets include Sun, Venus, Chiron and the North & South Nodes. It also includes Mitt Romney, author Richard Bach, North Korea, Bill Clinton, Jim Jordan, LeVar Burton , Joe Manchin and Bob Saget.

Back to…

WEDNESDAY. After the Full Moon at 11:56 AM ET, East Coasters can take a long siesta, while West Coasters can take it slow or even sleep in. Moon goes void until 3:42 PM ET and then enters Virgo, ready to clean up the confetti from the Moon in Leo’s parade.
THURSDAY: Efforts to set things right may be pushed to the max, with an innovative and surprisingly cooperative spin, as Moon opposes Jupiter at 12:26 PM ET and then trines Uranus six minutes later. There may be a feeling of magic in the air, reflecting a rare cooperative alignment (a sextile) between Cosmic Sugar Daddy Jupiter and revolutionary technogeek Uranus, exact at 7:12 PM ET. Buy a couple of lottery tickets and let me know if you win anything, especially if you have planets around 11 degrees of just about any sign. The easy flow continues into the wee hours, as the Moon trines Venus and Mars at 12:46 AM ET and 1:13 AM ET, respectively. Nice.
FRIDAY: Note your dreams upon waking, as the Moon opposes wiggy Neptune at 8:22 AM ET. At 11:42 AM ET, get ready for another shift as the Sun exits Aquarius and enters Pisces. Happy birthday to all the fishies!

A pause, while we pay proper homage to the sign that has been called “the dustbin of the zodiac.”

Pisces is a sensitive, intuitive energy that at its best expresses compassion and loving kindness for everyone and everything, in its understanding that we are all One. Being such a sensitive soul is not always easy. Pisces has been known to wallow in suffering. It can go to extremes of surrender in order to escape life’s hard knocks, drowning its sorrows in the nearest rose-colored glass. Pisces is ruled by Neptune, a dreamy energy that can be challenging to integrate, but oh what sublime creative visions it can bring to life, when effectively channeled. Pisces appreciates that the individual and the collective are one and the same; that the illusion that we are separated from one another is just that: an illusion.

This Pisces truth is expressed in a book I stumbled across years ago. It’s called Happier Than God by Neale Donald Walsch. At the end of Chapter 15, Walsch talks about his quest to find the answer to these questions: 1) What does it take to make life work? and 2) Why does my life have to be such a continuing struggle? Walsch credits a conversation with God with this answer:

“Your life does not have to be such a continuing struggle. The problem is simple. You think your life is about you. Your life is not about you.”

“It isn’t?” I asked.

“No,” God answered.

“Well, then, who in the world is it about?”

“Everyone in the world.”

The book then expounds on a simple, yet profound concept that “All Things are One Thing. There is only One Thing, and All Things are part of the One Thing That Is.” Walsch makes the case that when you can apply this concept in day-to-day living, you will have mastered the key to success. Sounds pretty Piscean to me.

Pisces folk born 22-25 days into the sign should chat with Fish born a few days earlier about how spacey life seemed in the past two years, as transiting Neptune met up with their Sun. Lots of potential for creativity and soulful questing, though. This year may be especially expansive for all Pisces, given that Jupiter will be in Pisces for much of 2022. I’d say the same is true for Geminis, Sagittarians and Virgos born in that range. May be time to check in with your local astrologer…

Famous Pisces include Kurt Cobain, Elizabeth Taylor, George Harrison and Mr. Rogers. All sensitive, soulful and sublime, in their own magical way.

FRIDAY (CONT.): Virgo Moon trines Pluto at 6:19 PM ET, facilitating depth in your quest for perfection in every detail. Chill during the ensuing Moon void (or leave work early, if you’re on the West Coast). Moon enters Libra at 10:50 PM ET, shifting our focus to fairness, balance and people-pleasing in relationships.
SATURDAY: No Moon void means you’re free to shop this weekend. Enjoy the relative peace of the Libra Moon traveling without interference from other planets into the evening.
SUNDAY: Somebody somewhere is waking up with a To-Do List on their mind, reflecting the harmony between the Libra Moon and Saturn, exact at 6:45 AM ET. A debate about that action plan may be heated between 9 and 10 AM ET, as the Moon squares Venus and then Mars. The rest of the day is quiet enough, though a power play or catharsis may erupt around midnight, as Moon makes its weekly clash with Pluto and that goes void with a sigh for the next four hours.

If you find these forecasts helpful — especially if you are an astrology student or professional — support for this work may be made via the Cosmic Tip Jar, with gratitude. To schedule a personal consultation, here’s the 411.

And now, the news.

The big patterns from last week involved Mars in make-it-happen Capricorn, coming off a cooperative connection with Jupiter in no-boundaries Pisces, and moving into a trine with rebel technogeek Uranus.

As anticipated, we are seeing the Jupiter-in-Pisces need to expand — e.g., in in the number of nations and states that are loosening mask mandates and other Covid safety protocols. When Jupiter was in Aquarius, it was under the controlling influence of Saturn. No more! I would love to travel this year, but I’m keeping my mask on in public spaces. We are not out of the woods yet — especially with Venus and Mars traveling through the end of Capricorn this month/

Mars refers to motor vehicles — and this was one of the good stories:

“Nikola kicks off hydrogen truck tests with pre-Super Bowl beer runs for Anheuser-Busch”

Another Mars/motor vehicle story began developing during the Mercury retrograde — always apt for a strike. And this would be the truckers in Canada who occupied Ottawa and blocked roads and bridges as a stated protest against vaccine mandates for truckers hauling cargo back and forth across the U.S.-Canadian border. This “brazen occupation of Ottawa” — reports The Guardian — “came as a result of unprecedented coordination between various anti-vaccine and anti-government organizations and activists, and has been seized on by similar groups around the world.” The “unprecedented coordination” aptly reflects the rare cooperative alignments and intense focus of power and resources in recent planetary patterns. I would not be surprised to see a repeat of this effort to disrupt civil and functional societies happening again this year, given upcoming patterns — and the encouragement of certain seditious persons. Oh – and here we are — a story about efforts to launch such a disruption in the U.S. in the Monday morning news.

Not about cars — but about loosening restrictions on protests against another kind of moving violation: a bipartisan bill was passed in the Senate that will allow victims of sexual misconduct to make their cases in court — instead of being forced into private arbitration.

Elsewhere…

We had the last of three conjunctions of Mercury and Pluto in Capricorn. Translation: extremes in thought and communication; persuasive arguments. You will recall we expected a banner week for investigative reporters, as in:

“Flushed office papers clogged toilets in [the former guy]’s White House,” according to yet another book by a reporter who couldn’t be bothered to report such things in real time while on a newspaper’s payroll
More importantly, the National Archives went to Mar-a-Lago to retrieve 15 boxes of documents — some labeled ‘top secret’ and ‘classified’ — taken from the White House in violation of the law. This week, as transiting Mars in Capricorn squares TFG’s Jupiter, we can expect action, assertion and attacks — in publishing, courts and foreign affairs.

Reflecting the series of Venus-Pluto conjunctions in Capricorn, suggesting transformation of values involving power and money:

“There’s finally momentum to stop stock trading in Congress,” and note that one of the champions of this effort is Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA). His Sun is 27 Aquarius, so he’s affected by Wednesday’s Full Moon — and his Mars is 27 Aries and thus supercharged by Pluto this year. Translation: resistance to his pioneering actions is futile.

Reflecting the gravitas of last week’s Sun-Saturn conjunction in Aquarius, which suggested an ending of one cycle and the planting of seeds for what’s next — especially in matters of heads of state and business:

Jeff Zucker has resigned as head of CNN. When he was head of NBC at the turn of the century, his regime launched Fear Factor (hosted by Joe Rogan) and The Apprentice. Under his guidance at CNN in 2015-2016, he gave the former guy hours and hours of free advertising by keeping the cameras rolling on his every move.
Queen Elizabeth announces her sincere wish that Camilla be known as “Queen Consort” instead of “Princess”
Coincidence or conspiracy? The last two Doonesbury Sunday comics take place at the funeral of a former head of state.

Meanwhile…

A post-Mercury retrograde revision: “Bob Saget cause of death was accidental blow to the head, family say”. The beloved comedian died suddenly and mysteriously on January 9th, and this update prompted me to look at his horoscope. His Ascendant is 26 Scorpio and his Sun is on the Descendant at 27 Taurus, conjunct the Fixed Star Algol (associated with “losing one’s head.”) One helpful takeaway from this sad story is that if Algol is strong in a horoscope, one would be advised to pay serious attention to any injury to the head.

Finally…there’s been a ton of action and anxiety in foreign affairs, as the world grapples with the perceived serious threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. and other nations have advised their citizens in Ukraine to leave, and U.S. intelligence has even reportedly speculated that Russia might launch an attack on Wednesday. That would be an extreme happening, driven by one man’s apparently insatiable need for love, honor and respect, wouldn’t it? It’s challenging to contemplate the mindset of a person with the will and actual power to send tens of thousands of armed other persons to the border of a neighboring country. It’s even more challenging to contemplate the mindset of that same person who would then order an army to invade that country, knowing that another who-knows-how-many people will be harmed — and likely killed. Such a person must surely be insane — and I might wonder about those armed persons who opted to enable them.

We do not have a confirmed birth time for Vladimir Putin, so observations are limited. If what is posted online is correct, we can see how he would need to focus on shoring up the foundation — of his home/homeland in 2022, He’s been set up for significant disruption and change in 2023. We do have birth data for Ukraine’s President Zelensky, and we note that his executive authority is scheduled to be accelerated (either forward or backward) in 2022. Over the weekend, while President Biden was on the phone with Putin outlining what would happen if Russia invaded, transiting Mars and Venus were sitting right on top of Zelensky’s natal Mercury at 14 Capricorn, no doubt stimulating ideas and communication. Today, Mercury enters Aquarius and opposes his regal Mars; Venus and Mars will follow suit March 6th. On Wednesday, Mars and Venus will square Zelensky’s Pluto — potentially provocative and forceful. Zelensky’s Saturn is 28 Leo — impacted by the action around this week’s Full Moon. Meanwhile, transiting Saturn will oppose Zelensky’s Moon on February 19, suggesting a potentially sobering and heavy experience. In mid-March, Saturn will be at the top of his horoscope — usually a career peak — and a time when one’s authority is clearly recognized. That will continue into early 2023.

There’s a lot going on next week in the U.S. horoscope that is a likely to play out in world affairs, as 1) the U.S. experiences the first hit of its Pluto return and 2) the December 2021 solar eclipse is activated by Jupiter. That eclipse fell on the Ascendant of one of the most-referenced horoscopes for the birth of the United States.

Today, however, is today — and it is Valentines’ Day — driven by the Moon in Leo! Go out there and spread some love around.

Monday 2/7/2022: Sneak Peek at the Week; You’re Grounded!

February 7, 2022/in The Forecast

Good morning and get ready for another dynamic week. All of the planets are now moving forward and getting back up to speed. The Moon is waxing, so it’s a time to build and grow. Venus and Mars are both in Capricorn, where they are 1) usually high-functioning; 2) attracted to each other for productive reasons; and 3) actually moving towards one another, with an exact meet-up on February 16th. Mars — planet of action and assertion — is coming off of a cooperative connection with Jupiter (planet of expansion) and is moving towards a harmony (trine) with Uranus (innovation and unconventional alliances), exact on TUESDAY. Mercury (how we need to think and communicate) is still in Capricorn and will make its third and final meet-up with corruption-exposing, highly persuasive Pluto on Friday. Onwards and upwards!

It goes like this:

MONDAY: Moon is in Taurus, driving the day with a need to build and maintain material security. We have gorgeous productive energy this morning, as Moon sextiles Jupiter at 10:57 AM ET and trines Mars at 2:12 PM ET. Use it well! The afternoon buzz is brought to you by the Moon’s meet-up with rebel Uranus a 3:22 PM ET, sparking innovation or an upset to the status quo. Early evening is pleasant enough, as Moon trines Venus at 7 PM ET, apt for comfort food, wine, sweet music and a snuggle with your sweetie. Night owls and early risers on…
TUESDAY: will have some tension to work out. At 2 AM ET, Moon squares Saturn, which may be experienced as a wet blanket or an effort to contain and control whatever spark emerged yesterday afternoon. At 8:50 AM ET, we’ll have the First Quarter Moon — i.e., the material comfort-seeking, possessive Taurus Moon squares the intellectual detachment of the Aquarius Sun. Who will win? I don’t know, but the trine between I’m-too-sexy-for-my-shirt Mars in Capricorn and unconventional technogeek Uranus at 9:57 AM ET could produce wondrous action. (You can make that linked tune by Right Said Fred your theme song this week, FWIW). The afternoon and evening support visionary communication, as Moon sextiles Neptune at 12:39 PM ET, followed by a trine to Mercury at 8:48 PM ET and Pluto at 11:47 PM ET. Make that persuasive pitch.
WEDNESDAY: Moon enters Gemini at 5:26 AM ET, driving the day with a need for information. Moon’s path is free and clear of interference, so this day may be carried away by pixie chatterbox cleverness, becoming grander by the hour as we approach 12:28 AM ET on…
THURSDAY: …and the Moon squares Jupiter, planet of grandiosity. Exuberance ripples out through the morning, and finds structure by 3:20 PM ET, as the Gemini Moon trines Saturn.
FRIDAY: Moon squares Neptune at 1:43 AM ET, facilitating fog and/or enchantment overnight. Moon goes void on a trine to the Sun at 3:22 AM ET. If you’re planning a Valentines’ Day weekend escape, you can take the day off without consequence, as the Gemini Moon won’t engage in the next sign — Cancer — until 6:26 PM ET. You know the Moon void guidelines: roll with the twists and flakes that may disrupt efforts to move forward in a straight line. Stick to routine concerns during Moon voids and avoid impulse shopping, especially big-ticket items. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill, as crises that crop up during voids are often much ado about nothing, as my experience working in a newsroom will attest. Once upon a time, I wrote and produced promos at CNBC, and I can’t tell you how many times I’d get an assignment during a Moon void that was an absolute top priority — until suddenly it wasn’t (once the void was over). Meanwhile, my editor and I would be encountering any number of odd twists in our efforts to get the spot done. Astrology is amazing.
FRIDAY: this particular all-day Moon void includes the third and last in a series of conjunctions between Mercury and Pluto, exact at 9:04 AM ET. It’s happening closerthanthis to the U.S. Pluto, suggesting a potential bonanza for investigative reporters whose beat is the Powers That Be. Once Moon enters Cancer at 6:26 PM ET, our focus shifts to family, homeland and emotional security concerns.
SATURDAY: Enjoy the comforts of home and family, buoyed by the harmony between Moon and Jupiter at 2:34 PM ET and the creativity of a sextile to Uranus at 4:49 PM ET. Home decorating, anyone? Adventures in the kitchen, with a posse of your weirdest, most marvelous friends? Just be advised that sparks that may fly around 11:21 PM ET, as Moon opposes Mars and then Venus at 12:45 AM ET on…
SUNDAY…when enough may be enough. The only exact aspect during daylight hours in the Americas is a creative harmony between Moon and Neptune at 2:15 PM ET. All is forgiven now — though the late evening hours may present a power play or catharsis, as Moon makes its weekly clash with Pluto at 1:06 AM ET.

And now, the news — lots to cover.

First, a couple of fun Moon void anecdotes.

Exhibit A: Remember last Monday’s all-day Moon void? Moon voids are a time to CHILL, as usually nothing of consequence is likely to be initiated. It was therefore delightful to read the letter Heather Cox Richardson posted that night: “There is nothing happening tonight that cannot wait until tomorrow. Let’s take the night off and regroup on Groundhog Day…” I could not resist sharing this on Twitter with a comment on how aptly it reflected the all-day Moon void. Even more delightful: Professor Richardson tweeted me back!
Exhibit B, a.k.a. This Week in Schadenfreude: Moon was also void last Friday between 4:40 AM and 9:50 AM ET, right when morning news producers were readying their shows. It was a big day for economic news, as the first Friday of the month is when the jobs report comes out. Astrologically, we were alerted to Mercury turning direct, suggesting that a certain mindset over the past few weeks of Mercury retrograde was up for a REview. That, and a…

…harmony between Mars and Jupiter, exact at 8:37 AM ET. This sextile between the planets representing action and expansion is especially potent because both planets are in signs (Capricorn and Pisces) in which they perform effectively and happily. You — or anyone else — could use this flow to your advantage all week — not just on the day the pattern is exact.

Alas, the good folks at Fox opted to bet against the rare cooperative spirit of the Mars-Jupiter sextile. People whose job is it to Predict Economic Things had anticipated a downer of report, and the Fox folks were salivating at the prospect of “a morning of pain” — i.e., misery affecting the entire nation — and especially President Biden (as evidenced by the unflattering photos accompanying the “news” presenters’ rhapsodic doom-praying). A Moon-void twist ensued, and the positive, proactive potential of that rare Mars-Jupiter sextile prevailed. The job numbers were a blowout — and you can watch Team Schadenfreude’s ghoulish glee evaporate into nothingness, as Moon-void happenings are wont to do.

I have not forgotten the 2015 documentary film: The Brainwashing of My Dad.

In other news…

We started last week with Venus moving direct. Her six-week retrograde gave us the opportunity to review our finances, worth and aesthetics, with the result being an adjustment to our newly revised values — but not without controversy. The controversy is amplified as a reflection of Mercury in practical Capricorn conjunct Pluto — suggesting extremes of thought that involve power and resources:

Minnie Mouse trades her dress in for a Stella McCartney-designed pantsuit; heads explode — even though Minnie is also getting a new pink dress and it’s not the first time she’s worn pants.
The M & M’s get a more “progressive” look, including more sensible shoes for the M & M gals; heads explode.
Neil Young — a likely double Scorpio who remembers what it was like to have polio as a child — pulls his music from Spotify rather than share a platform with Joe Rogan, whose podcast regularly contains falsehoods about Covid treatment and prevention. It is Spotify that makes the decision to keep Rogan and release Young. Other musicians follow in Young’s footsteps, and DeleteSpotify becomes a hashtag on Twitter, as Spotify’s stock plummets in value within days. Things gets even more interesting when people who never listened to Rogan’s show discover multiple episodes laced with racist and misogynistic vulgarities. Spotify starts deleting the disturbing episodes and the CEO insists they do not reflect Spotify’s values. And now we get to the bottom line — which is what planetary patterns in January were all about, right? Who, what and how do we need to love? You see, this isn’t just about “canceling” a show that many find offensive vs. the freedom to say things that a government entity might find offensive (as our First Amendment guarantees). We know how much Spotify values Joe Rogan because it paid him a whopping $100 million dollars to give Spotify the exclusive distribution rights to Rogan’s podcast. Meanwhile, most every other artist on Spotify gets $1 for roughly 250 streams per song. Neil Young is likely to be further provoked around March 5 – 10th. Meanwhile, Rogan (who spread doubt about Barack Obama being born in Hawaii ten years ago) is surely feeling the controlling squeeze of transiting Saturn opposing his Leo Sun. The setback is likely temporary, however.

How did your values change during the past six weeks?

In the Metaverse — f.k.a. Facebook — a.k.a. Mark Zuckerberg, values changed a lot! This is not a surprise for anyone who’s been following what we know about their horoscopes. As I posted on Twitter:

Facebook turns 18 on Friday (2/4), transiting Saturn is right on its Aquarius Sun. Translation: potential streamlining, loss & necessary controls. According to “The Facebook Book,” by Greg Atwan and Evan Lushing, Facebook launched at 8:04 PM. If that time is correct, Facebook has been getting Neptune from all angles since 2020, with one more decisive hit exact on Feb 10th (the Ascendant in that horoscope is 21 Virgo). Even if that time is not accurate, there are planets in horoscope for that fateful February 2004 day that have been hit by Neptune in recent years. Others will continue to be in challenging contact with Neptune as 2022 progresses. Translation: things are not as they seem, for better or for worse. Visionary potential, success in the arts (e.g., virtual reality), and charity would be upsides; scandal, deception & wipe-out would be downsides. Look at recent events: Facebook’s name change & new mission focused on virtual reality (announced last October), ginormous philanthropic gifts, along with whistleblower scandals, and today’s stunning stock drop (wipe out!).

The potential for wipeout is also seen in what we know of Zuckerberg’s horoscope. His birth time is unknown, but a fellow graduate of Noel Tyl’s Masters Course proposed a rectified horoscope with an Ascendant of (drumroll, please) 21 Virgo! You can find a link to astrologer Lauren Delsack’s rectification in this post from 2015, where we tested her proposed birth time when the Zuckerbergs announced they were expecting their first child (but didn’t say when).

Here’s what I wrote about Zuckerberg and the Facebook IPO on May 18, 2012. I was working at CNBC then. How time flies. Looking at the IPO chart now, it’s fascinating to see that the 10 Leo Ascendant was exactly squared by Uranus for the last in a series of three on…February 5, 2022. Did I mention that Facebook lost $232 billion on February 4th — making it the largest one-day stock drop in history? That 10 Leo Ascendant will be impacted by the next solar eclipse on April 30th, just as Pluto turns retrograde, squaring the IPO chart’s Aries Midheaven and Zuckerberg’s 20 Aries natal Mercury. More changes in store.

Meanwhile…

I’m intrigued by how the Sabian Symbol for last week’s New Moon has manifested. It was “a barometer,” suggesting that this week we’d see significant instances of people in politicians hedging their bets and taking sides, based on how they believe the winds are likely to blow. After the Mercury and Venus retrograde, finally 2022 is getting into gear…and what’s on deck this year is CHOICE, as in making a choice, as Beth Owl’s Daughter explained in her three-part series on the Tarot Card of the Year 2022: The Lovers. If you missed it, here it is.

Cue Mike Pence, whose Mercury at 21 Gemini is being opposed by wiggy Neptune. On Friday he announced that [the former guy] was wrong, and he as VP had no right to overturn the results of the November 3rd election, as the office of the president is decided by the American people, as Heather Cox Richardson reports.
Cue the Republican Party, which formally censured Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for their participation in the 1/6 Committee. The GOP went even farther out on a limb by declaring the 1/6 attempted coup “legitimate political discourse.” The breakdown and transformation of the GOP is aptly reflected by transiting Pluto at the bottom of its horoscope (I’m using (7/6/1854 at 1:01 PM in Jackson, MI), similar to the Pluto patterns experienced in recent years by Israel and Boeing — and you can find a discussion of those two horoscopes in the ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS section of my website.

Choices.

After the necessary review of values made in January.

Here’s a fun one. Perhaps you heard last week that the IRS announced that starting this summer, taxpayers would have to use facial recognition software in order to access any information about their tax returns — including refunds — online. The software and data would be managed by a third-party company. What could go wrong? Actually, the concept makes sense, given the way planetary patterns are going, with greater controls likely to be imposed on networks and data, right? However, people started to fuss (understandably) — and WaPo’s Editorial Board howled mightily…and…upon review, the IRS just announced that they were abandoning this no-good very bad idea.

Finally, reflecting the Sun-Saturn conjunction Aquarius (aviation!) and Mars sextile Jupiter and trine Uranus (aviation!), Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines just announced they will become one big happy airline. What a perfect headline for current planetary patterns.

What’s going on in your horoscope? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. Contributions to the Cosmic Tip Jar are always welcome, especially from serious students and astrology professionals.

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Use the abundance of planets in Earth Signs this week

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Monday 1/31/2022: Sneak Peek at the Week; New Moon in Aquarius; Mercury Direct & More

January 31, 2022/in The Forecast

It’s Monday, and the Moon entered Aquarius at 4:42 AM ET, driving the day with a need to network and innovate, ultimately being recognized for its unique social significance. There are no exact aspects to the Moon during business hours in the Americas today. Perhaps some are still processing the disruptive revelations that hit us yesterday (Sunday), as the Sun (leaders) squared Uranus (surprise!) Exhibit A: TFG’s promise to pardon insurrectionists should he be elected in 2024 — along with this — (as Heather Cox Richardson explains):

After more than a year of insisting he just wanted to address the problem of voter fraud, which he falsely claimed had stolen the election from him, [TFG] just came right out and said he wanted to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Avid Readers know that a dead Moon-– i.e., one that reflects no light from the Sun — is apt for clandestine meetings and other events you might wish to keep under the radar. This puts HCR’s commentary on TFG’s planned statement in perspective:

Apparently, declaring it openly makes it harder for people to see it as a crime.

Meanwhile, we may be feeling the listlessness or restlessness of the dark/dead Moon. We sense that something new is just around the corner, but we don’t know what it is. At 10:25 PM ET, Moon squares rebel Uranus, perhaps giving us a clue — and delivering another shock to the system. At 12 :46 AM ET, Moon meets up with the Sun, planting seeds for the next lunar cycle. Happy Chinese New Year (of the Tiger), by the way!

Here is what the New Moon in Aquarius looks like, set in D.C.:

Observations:

The theme of “shock to the system” is echoed by Uranus, right on the Descendant — a.k.a., the cusp of the 7th house — a.k.a., significant others, including open enemies.
The Ascendant of this chart is 10 Scorpio; the Descendant is 10 Taurus. When Joe Biden took his oath of office, the time was 11:49 AM ET — ahead of schedule. The Ascendant at that time was 10 Taurus, which makes that degree worth watching. Uranus has been at 10 Taurus since December 30th.
Venus has been in a nearly exact trine (harmony) with Uranus for several days, and in this chart, it rules the 7th house — all of those significant others. As it turns out, however, the anticipated alignment has been thwarted by Venus turning direct. The next harmony between Venus and Uranus will have to wait until Spring, when Venus enters Pisces. One symbolism of a Venus-Uranus trine might be ready acceptance of “unconventional” women, especially women in authority. It’s an apt alignment for all the talk last week of Biden’s vow to nominate a Black woman to replace Justice Breyer, is it not?
Seven planets — including the New Moon — are crammed into the 3rd House — documents, thinking and communication, local transportation and neighbors — including neighboring countries. These themes are likely to be hot — and driven by assertive and/or aggressive energy, for better or for worse.
Themes of intrigue, deception, victimization, faith and/or salvation are likely to crop up in matters regarding children, ambassadors, arsenals and conception/creativity.
The South Node is on President Biden’s 27 Scorpio Sun –– exact on February 7th. Suggests high visibility and engagement with groups and significant others. This New Moon squares President Biden’s Mars — which is already feeling the call to action as Uranus gets closer to an exact opposition in March.
Neptune squares TFG’s Moon and Sun — we’re in for months of bewildering spin. Neptune also squares the U.S. Mars, which has enough trouble staying real about matters involving aggression and assertion (because Mars is squared by Neptune in the U.S. horoscope).
After processing the shock of their respective contacts with Uranus, Moon and Sun next meet up with Saturn, which is at the very bottom — the root — of this chart. Saturn symbolizes control, ambition, structure, limitations and/or blocks.
The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is “a barometer.” Sabian Sage Blain Bovee notes that a barometer is used to predict changes in the weather, not measure them. He also notes that “the higher one is in elevation, the lower the atmospheric pressure” (and thus, no stormy weather). Hmm. It seems that this is not the time to act on base instincts. Bovee advises us to approach this Symbol’s potential with a mind to “maintaining poise while reading how the tides change; one’s position relative to the peaks and troughs of the collective; knowing what is coming by sensing the prevailing mood. We should be aware of “forecasting trends, money, commodities, consumer, intellectual, social.” Astrologer James Burgess offers more here. As I see it, now that Venus is moving direct and Mercury is days away from doing so, we will see in this lunar cycle what changes in mindset and values have occurred, which will launch us full speed ahead as Spring approaches. In the political arena, I anticipate news of significant persons choosing sides based on which way they believe the winds will blow.
You are more personally impacted by the seed-planting potential of this New Moon if you have planets or angles around 13 degrees of Aquarius, Leo, Taurus and Scorpio. Consult your local astrologer for details.

Back to the daily forecast:

TUESDAY: Moon meets up with Saturn at 6:01 AM ET. What thud, block or architecture of advance will we see in the headlines? How will it involve networks, freedom, friendships and/or technology? We will have an entire day to mull it over — and not freak out over a perceived crisis. Why? Because the Aquarius Moon will be void of course for 23 hours and 58 minutes. Stick to routine concerns; roll with the twists and flakes; don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. CHILL.
WEDNESDAY: Moon enters Pisces at 5:59 AM ET, inviting empathy for whatever went on the day before. Go with the intuitive flow. There are no exact aspects to the Moon — i.e., not much to engage or focus on — until later in the day, when Moon sextiles Mars at 5:32 PM ET and meets up with Jupiter at 6:57 PM ET. Translation: a cooperative flow of assertive energy — possibly initiated with a surge of enthusiasm, for better or worse. Cooperation among unconventional alliances is supported by the easy flow between the Moon and Venus, at 12:30 AM ET and 1:34 AM ET, respectively on…
THURSDAY. This day is ripe for intuition and going with the flow — with two caveats that require focus. First is that the Moon meets up with (dreamy) Neptune at 6:53 PM ET. As the day progresses, the seeds for a new vision (or delusion) may emerge. Second is that MERCURY is at a virtual standstill, turning DIRECT at 11:12 PM ET. Note that Mercury will turn direct at 24 Capricorn, exactly opposite the U.S. natal Mercury. What will be revealed about our national mindset today? Take it slow as minds get back up to speed and we can see how some of our seemingly brilliant Mercury Rx ideas weren’t really all that! Take care while in transit. The Pisces Moon lends a helpful hand as it sextiles Mercury at 11:55 PM ET. We won’t be fully up to speed until February 25th, when Mercury gets back to where it was when it turned retrograde.
FRIDAY: Moon sextiles Pluto at 4:40 AM ET and then goes void until 9:56 AM ET. That’s your excuse for sleeping in — or any other twist or flake to your morning. Today, however, sleeping in may not be the best use of your energy, given the harmony between Mars and Jupiter, exact at 8:37 AM ET. This sextile between the planets representing action and expansion is especially potent because both planets are in signs (Capricorn and Pisces) in which they perform effectively and happily. You — or anyone else — could use this flow to your advantage all week — not just on the day the pattern is exact.
FRIDAY: Speaking of action, that’s exactly what the Moon has on its agenda when it zooms into Aries at 9:56 AM ET. “Ready! Fire! Aim!” is how astrologer Rick Levine describes the nature of Aries, and he speaks from personal experience. Where is all of this “get things started — get out of my way” energy headed? And how will it handle the sobering reality check of the annual conjunction of the Sun (leaders of state and industry) and Saturn (control, karma, loss, authoritarian advance), exact at 2:04 PM ET? Here’s what happened last year. Fun fact: when thinking about this year’s Sun-Saturn meet-up, “When the Whip Comes Down” — by the Rolling Stones — popped into my mind. Probably because of the chorus, as I confess, I’d never really listened to the rest of the lyrics — which is how I’m experiencing the revelation potential of the Sun and Moon squaring Uranus! [Insert dance break here.] Right. Anyhoo, on Friday the late-night news dump may be provocative, as the Aries Moon squares warrior Mars at 1:27 AM ET on...
SATURDAY: A clash of aesthetics or a pushy social expression starts the day, as the me-me-me-first Aries Moon squares Venus at 7:56 AM ET. The afternoon is better suited for constructive initiative, profiting from the cooperative connections among the Moon, Saturn and the Sun at 3:22 PM ET and 5:17 PM ET, respectively.
SUNDAY: A clash of mindset and communication starts this day, as the me-first Aries Moon squares Mercury at 7:42 AM ET. Oh how Aries loves to clash — and the next one arrives around 12:20 PM ET, as Moon squares Pluto, prompting a power play or a catharsis. CHILL during the ensuing void. Skip the impulse online or yard sale shopping, as things bought during Moon voids often do not live up to expectations. At 5:52 PM ET, Moon enters Taurus, stoic in its efforts to build, maintain and/or restore the status quo.

I am going to ship this forecast to email subscribers now and add the news later. I need to run an errand, and besides, there is no heat in the building, as the boiler malfunctioned in the middle of the night. A blow-out involving heat in the home is not a surprise at all for me, with transiting Mars — ruler of my 4th house — active in my horoscope. I love how astrology identifies the logic and order in apparently random chaos. It is such a useful tool to have — and a very good thing to know about.

Astrology is amazing.

Here is the 411 on personal consultations. Here is the link to the Cosmic Tip Jar, with gratitude.

The constellation Aquarius says hello.

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