The Forecast

I am a reporter with a unique beat. I use my understanding of planetary cycles to provide advance notice and analysis on the Zeitgeist of the day. If you have ever wondered “why is this happening now,” my insights will transform your experience of the headlines, adding new meaning and understanding. Call it Astrology for News Junkies. If you’re curious to know why the Impossible Burger is trending…or why the outcome of the 2019 Israeli elections was likely to be a shocker …or why “Woodrow Wilson, Stud Muffin” was a New York Times headline in December 2013, you will find it here, in over a decade’s worth of historical research and reporting.

Note that I do use astrological jargon in The Forecast in my effort to show how the planetary patterns are reflected in mundane events. I explain what the jargon symbolizes, so that all who want to understand the connections between astrology and the news may do so. However, I do not use astrological jargon in personal consultations, just plain English.

Monday 11/29/2021: Sneak Peek at the Week; Neptune Direct; New Moon/Eclipse in Sagittarius

November 29, 2021/in The Forecast

I hope you had a festive Moon in Leo Thanksgiving. Happy Hanukkah, to all who are celebrating. Next up: a total solar eclipse!

This post-holiday work week is driven by the Moon in Libra, seeking fairness, harmony, and balance in relationships. Planetary patterns over the next several days are indeed less jagged than the first half of November, and most of the action happens today and tomorrow. It goes like this:

MONDAY: Mars trines Neptune at 9:10 AM ET, offering an easy flow of effective action that is supported by vision, music, arts, and healing. Really, just get out there and do it. The afternoon offers more cooperation, as the Libra Moon sextiles the Sun and Mercury at 5:44 PM ET and 6:33 PM ET. The sloppy thought process of Mercury in Sagittarius gets a useful dose of practicality, reflecting a sextile (harmony) between Mercury and Saturn, exact at 2:19 AM ET on…
TUESDAY. Around 2:55 PM ET, there may be a few kinks among the folks who would like to make nice-nice vs. others who prefer to use resources and people as a means to an end, as Moon squares Venus in social-climbing Capricorn. But even that potential conflict is softened by a sextile between Venus and Neptune at 3:48 PM ET, followed by another sextile between Sun and Saturn at 6:14 PM ET. Having succeeded in your quest for world domination by dinner, you can prepare for the potential power play or catharsis that erupts around 10:42 PM ET, as the Moon squares Pluto, followed by a trine to Jupiter at 11:19 PM ET. Chill overnight (in the Americas), as the Moon then goes void until…
WEDNESDAY: …at 6:55 AM ET. It then enters Scorpio, driving the next two days with a need for emotional depth and substance. At 8:22 AM ET, Neptune turns direct, ending a five-month period of subtle focus on using your own dreams and intuition for guidance. When a planet is retrograde, the suggestion is to turn inward on issues involving that planet, as opposed to looking outside the self. You’ll feel the effects of Neptune’s change of station more personally if you were born 20-23 days into Pisces, Virgo, Gemini, and Sagittarius…or if you have a planet or angle at 19-24 degrees of those signs. What kind of effects? Oh….perhaps you are feeling somewhat bewildered…or less inclined to be in Type A personality mode (if you are normally a Type A personality). You may find yourself needing to express your creativity — even if you have never thought of yourself as a “creative” person. You may also find being of service richly rewarding. Note that whenever a planet changes direction, it pulls focus in the headlines several days before and after. See an uptick in stories of music, drugs, oil, spirits of all kinds, etc? I sure do.
WEDNESDAY: around 9:43 PM ET, a dose of reality may break Neptune’s dreamy spell, as the Moon squares Saturn. Wait four hours for the rebellious response, as Moon opposes Uranus at 2:01 AM ET on…
THURSDAY. Now we are in the balsamic phase of the lunar cycle, starting to sense a new cycle just around the corner. Such times of little light from the Moon are apt for clandestine meetings, and I suppose that’s doubly true when the Moon is in Scorpio. Sometimes we feel restless or listless on a “dead” Moon, and that may well apply during the early part of the day. The Moon doesn’t make exact connections until late afternoon, but once it gets going, the flow is easy — and perhaps even enthusiastic. At 3:57 PM ET, Moon trines Neptune — there’s your inspiration. Moon sextiles Venus at 5:51 PM ET, and then meets up with Mars at 7:45 PM ET. That’s an assertive focus, and the next stop is to Pluto — the Powers That Be — at 11:25 PM ET. Finally, at 12:22 AM ET on…
FRIDAY: Moon squares Jupiter — there’s your enthusiasm or some other Big Thing. Chill during the ensuing nearly seven-hour void. Moon soars into Sagittarius at 7:12 PM ET — seeking to express its boundary-pushing, righteous opinion. But hey — the Moon is dead, and an eclipse is just around the corner. Not only that, but the Moon doesn’t connect with any other planet until 9:45 PM ET. You could wander a bit today, too — out in nature or in your mind, somewhere outside the box. The evening offers opportunities for cooperative efforts when the Moon sextiles Saturn.
SATURDAY: Moon meets up with the Sagittarius Sun at 2:43 AM ET. The New Moon is also a total solar eclipse.

Solar eclipses act like a “bottleneck” of energy. Light flowing from the Sun is temporarily interrupted, focusing attention on that interrupted point. As light is held back, something new and possibly fragile may enter the picture and grow. And here I would be thinking of Michael, the kindhearted policeman in the storybook 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. Otherwise, they would have been roadkill. Got that?

Often the seeds planted for growth during an eclipse are hidden. Sometime later, when the eclipse is activated by a transiting planet, whatever was planted can make itself known quite suddenly and forcefully. And once it’s out, there’s no going back.

Here’s an example of an eclipse trigger. On January 10, 2020, we had an eclipse at 20 degrees of Cancer/Capricorn. It was a lunar eclipse, offering illumination and release. This is when the novel coronavirus was named and its genetic sequence released. Countries began mobilizing to deal with it. In early March 2020, Jupiter hit 20 Capricorn, followed by Mars on March 17th. That’s when most of the world went into lockdown. Then, on December 14, 2020, Mars was at 20 Aries for the third time this year (because Mars was retrograde). 20 Aries is a square to 20 Cancer/Capricorn, thus triggering the eclipse again. That’s the day the first Covid vaccine was administered in the U.S. The planet representing the vaccine in the chart for that event is Mars! Meanwhile, in the UK, a mutation of Covid-19 that spreads faster than the original was identified. Coincidence or conspiracy?

Here’s where this Saturday’s total eclipse will be visible. Here’s what it looks like, set in Washington, D.C.:

Observations:

With the Moon in Sagittarius, the seeds planted in today’s eclipse involve matters of collective beliefs and righteous opinions. Other Sagittarius themes include publishing, film & theater, sports, foreign affairs, travel, religious dogma, and judicial rulings. This eclipse is the last of a series of eclipses in Gemini-Sagittarius that began in 2020. How have things changed in matters ruled by these signs since then?
The Ascendant for this chart in D.C. is Libra, the same as it was for the lunar eclipse earlier this month. Thus Venus is the ruler of the chart, same as it was last time, too — see link for detailed thoughts on that. Now, however, Venus is at the root of the chart, about to meet up with Pluto, which once again rules the area of the horoscope related to values, assets, and worth. Note that Uranus has moved closer to the area of the chart associated with shared investments, debts, taxes, death, and alternative methods of healing. An upset to the status quo may be on the way.
Upsets to the status quo are also suggested by the building tension between Saturn (old guard) and Uranus (avant-garde). The two will make their third exact square on December 24th. The first two happened on February 17th and June 14th — here’s a recap of this very significant pattern.
The eclipse is at 12 Sagittarius — which is the Ascendant in the horoscope most commonly used for the United States. An eclipsed Ascendant suggests a change in the image projected by an entity onto others. Let the record show that the last time we had an eclipse on the U.S. Ascendant was December 4, 2002. What happened in the aftermath? The U.S. invaded Iraq three months later, on a bogus claim that Saddam Hussein had “weapons of mass destruction.” Secretary of State Colin Powell presented this bogus claim to the U.N. on February 5, 2003…the day Mars hit 12 degrees of Sagittarius, triggering the eclipse. This time, Mars will be at 12 Sagittarius on December 30 – 31, so let’s keep an eye out for outbursts of assertive energy around then. Here’s a list of other significant events that happened in February 2003.
Bottlenecked energy just waiting to be triggered at a later date is suggested by Mars — strong in Scorpio — sextile Pluto and square Jupiter. Actions may be based on inspiration or delusions, suggested by Mercury square Neptune.
The Sabian Symbol for the eclipse is “a widow’s past is brought to light.” It doesn’t matter if the widow is grieving, argue astrologers who have written about this Symbol. She must still be held accountable for past actions, of which the public will be made aware. What is revealed may be accompanied by an outpouring of emotion, though an effort may be made to put on a brave mask of control.
If you would like a few paragraphs of personal insights on how this eclipse may manifest in your own personal world, I am happy to provide them. Toss $52 into my Cosmic Tip Jar, and email me your birth data if I don’t already have it. Insights will be delivered to you by the end of the week.

Back to the forecast for the week:

SATURDAY: after the New Moon/Eclipse, Mercury meets up with the Moon at 7:43 AM ET, dying to talk about something. Holiday shopping today will produce more creative results than holiday shopping tomorrow. The Moon-Neptune square at 3:22 PM ET may inspire you.
SUNDAY: Moon goes void on a sextile to Jupiter at 12:08 AM ET. That could be fun for SNL, provided they were on the night before. Moon goes void for the next six hours, entering Capricorn at 6:30 AM ET. There are no exact aspects for the rest of the day, though the Capricorn Moon is determined to take care of business with its usual hard-nosed practicality.

And now, the news.

With Neptune in focus over the weekend and for the next few days, I found myself suddenly inspired to design a few options for the 2022 Really Useful Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide Bookmarks. You can thank Beth Owl’s Daughter for the nudge, as I did not have one printed up last year. But Beth asked — so stay tuned — and I hope everyone likes the new design. Inquiring minds are wondering how many other Avid Readers were carried away by the creative/inspiring potential. Do tell!

Meanwhile…

Last Monday, at the tail end of all those authoritarian patterns involving Mars and Saturn, not to mention the “Big Idea” potential of Mercury with Jupiter and Pluto, Heather Cox Richardson made sure to tell us that

the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, based in Stockholm, Sweden, released its 2021 report on “The Global State of Democracy.”

The report identifies the United States as one of the democracies that is “backsliding,” meaning that it has “experienced gradual but significant weakening of Checks on Government and Civil Liberties, such as Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Association and Assembly, over time.”

“The United States, the bastion of global democracy, fell victim to authoritarian tendencies itself, and was knocked down a significant number of steps on the democratic scale,” the report says.

It is amazing — and also quite sobering — that mundane astrologers anticipated these events so many years ago. Meanwhile, the Biden Administration has scheduled a two-day virtual summit on democracy, to which 110 nations have been invited. The Moon will be in Pisces; the Sun will be squaring Neptune, so we have the potential for a dreamy vision, empathy, and compassion. Potentially.

Other, much more positive news: U.S. News & World Report lists five things about the economy we can be thankful for right now.

Anyhoo…

With a week of no exact aspects among the planets (other than to the Moon), we expected events akin to a glacier shelf suddenly collapsing — just like that. Neptune (in partnership with Pluto) refers to viruses/infection — and just like that, we have Omicron, the latest incarnation of Covid — and it’s a variant with a higher-than-we’ve-seen-before transmission rate.

Jack Dorsey stepped down as Twitter’s CEO this morning — just like that. It’s worth noting that Dorsey’s Sun-Mars at 27-28 Scorpio and his Jupiter at 26 Taurus were impacted by the last lunar eclipse…and transiting Pluto-Eris has been hammering his 24 Libra Moon. In 2022, transiting Neptune will activate all the angles of his horoscope, suggesting a possible disappearing act or involvement with intangibles.

Planetary patterns are often reflected in the obituaries. With Neptune, it’s music, victims, spirituality, fantasy, romance:

Not an obituary, but still in the NYT over the weekend:

“In Good Spirits: Carissa Schumacher Channels the Dead for A-List Celebrities”

Meanwhile...

Everyone is raving about “Get Back” — Peter Jackson’s documentary about The Beatles — it’s epic.
Speaking of music, Angela “Merkel’s punk pick for leaving ceremony raises eyebrows.”
U.S. Customs officials seize 4000 bongs at D.C. airport
NASA to slam spacecraft into asteroid to see if it can deflect actual asteroid threats
Snowplow rescues music fans trapped for days at British pub (weird!)
Neptune refers to oil, plastic, and poisons. “Nurdles: the worst toxic waste you’ve probably never heard of” (actually I had, but I read a lot of news)

Remember how the major trials happening over the past two weeks reflected out-of-control aggression suggested by the Mars-Saturn square? This week, reflecting the s*x scandal potential of Mars-Neptune, we have:

Finally, did you know that the key to happiness is…kindness? This story comes around again and again, but it’s especially apt for days with Neptune (charity; selflessness) so hot in the heavens.

OK, that’s it for now. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations –– and yes, gift certificates for everyone on your holiday shopping list are available. I will be raising my rates in 2022 — if you buy now, you can schedule appointments next year.

This year’s version of my Moon void Christmas tree

— mentioned in last week’s forecast.

Happy holidaze!

Monday 11/22/2021: Sneak Peek at a Holiday Week; News Round-Up, Especially Mars

November 22, 2021/in The Forecast

It’s SUNDAY, and the Gemini Moon has been void since 10:51 AM ET. Enjoy the long chill time, and resist the urge to do any significant Black Friday shopping until after the Moon enters Cancer at 10:32 PM ET. Purchases made during Moon voids often do not live up to expectations, so this is why I use the word “significant” with respect to the caution against purchases on a Moon void. I have bought “frivolous” items on impulse during voids and can report at least one instance with a surprising twist to the upside.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art was having a grab bag sale of select items. Whatever you could stuff into a shopping bag was all yours for $5. On impulse, I filled a bag with 10 gorgeous tree ornaments, even though I’d never put up a tree for the holidays. The ornaments sat in my hall closet for a year or two, until one late December night — in the middle of another long Moon void — I realized that since I wasn’t traveling anywhere for the holidays, I needed to decorate my apartment. I walked over to Walgreens and bought a strand of fairy lights, which I wrapped around the tall potted palm tree in the living room. Then I remembered I had that grab bag of ornaments from the Met, and those went on the palm tree, too. I was thrilled with the results, and it’s now an annual tradition. Surprise!

I would not buy a computer during a Moon void.

At 9:33 PM ET the Sun ditches Scorpio for Sagittarius. Happy birthday to all the philosopher-clowns! Whereas Scorpio seeks to control and master; Sagittarius pushes boundaries — even if it trips over its feet. Whereas Scorpio may be suspicious and keep its cards close to its chest, Sagittarius expresses optimism — and its opinions. Even if its foot lands in its mouth. If you are a Sagittarius born two-thirds of the way into the sign (around December 12th), you may be feeling a need for a vision — or simply lost. The same goes for Virgo, Pisces, and Geminis born around the 12th of their birth months. When will the dreamy clouds disperse? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Here’s how the week goes:

MONDAY: until Sunday, there are no exact aspects among the planets that do not involve the Moon. A six-day “lull” in planetary action seems to “coincide” with events that may feel as if they’ve come out of nowhere, in the way that an ice shelf in Antarctica suddenly collapses into the sea. Or so I’ve observed in years past. Today is driven by the Moon in proactive Cancer, focused on matters involving women (especially motherhood), homeland/home/family security; nurturing. Apt for many who are focused on feasting and traveling to be with family on Thanksgiving, yes? There are no exact aspects to the Moon from any other planet until 10:58 PM ET, when Moon sextiles Uranus, suggesting cooperative communication involving technology, networks, and social significance. It’s rumored that the Supreme Court will hand down a few rulings today, and one might be about the draconian law in Texas that has effectively denied constitutionally-protected reproductive rights to women who can’t afford to go out-of-state. I’m prepared for a surprise upset.
TUESDAY: Moon opposes Venus in Capricorn at 5:48 AM ET, reflecting an illumination and release involving social climbers and other ways in which people are used as a status-conscious means to an end. Moon trines Mars at 7:24 AM ET, facilitating your early morning workout. Going with the flow, indulging in a dream or idealized vision of home and family matters is suggested around 3:50 PM ET, when the Moon trines Neptune. A power play or catharsis may crop up in the evening, as Moon makes its weekly clash with Pluto at 12:46 AM ET on…
WEDNESDAY. Chill during the ensuring 10+ hour void — especially if you are traveling. Go with the flow; roll with the twists and flakes that may disrupt your efforts to get to Grandma’s house in a straight line. Stick to routine tasks and don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. This advice applies mostly to night owls and early risers, as the Moon enters Leo at 10:58 AM ET. Perfect for a celebration or a dramatic performance, so party on, dudes. Meanwhile, at 10:36 AM ET Mercury (how we need to think and communicate) leaves Scorpio for Sagittarius. From now until December 13th, Mercury in Scorpio’s penetrating focus is replaced by Mercury in Sagittarius’ need to wax rhapsodic about “big picture” concepts, which may lack precision and thoroughness in the actual plan. Watch for the words “sloppy thinking” to show up in the headlines, as well as discussion about boundary-pushing and righteousness in the expression of opinions. Other than that, the Leo Moon is well-supported by trines to Mercury and the Sun for the rest of the day, exact at 11:01 AM ET and 4:34 PM ET. Those should help you get where you’re going, with gusto.
THURSDAY: The Leo Moon’s need to pull out the stops is clipped by an opposition to Saturn at 3:51 AM ET. How will this impact the high-flying balloons in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? I don’t know, but I’m prepared for a quirk or two around 10:32 AM ET, when Moon squares rebel Uranus. The earlier your Thanksgiving Day gathering happens today, the better, as the regally entitled Moon squares Mars in ruthless Scorpio at 10:19 PM ET. If there’s a game happening in the evening, this should supercharge the action on the field. It may also spark provocative debate, with neither side willing to give an inch. So choose your battles carefully, especially in the evening hours.
FRIDAY: Finish your impulse Black Friday shopping by 11:23 AM ET, as the Moon opposes Jupiter and then goes void. The Moon-Jupiter opposition suggests a possible early morning spending spree, especially for gifts that enable others to shine (Leo Moon), and may involve technology — and hey, even astrology (Jupiter is in Aquarius, doncha know). If you’re racking your brain for a gift that screams “it’s all about YOU!” I would be delighted to prepare an astrological report for your special someone or send them a handcrafted gift certificate for a consultation.

Please note that I will be raising rates for all services on January 1, 2022. I have not raised rates in over three years, but PayPal’s processing fees have increased, etc., etc. If you know you’d like to schedule a consultation in 2022, you may pay for it now — and schedule it later. Thank you for your understanding.

FRIDAY: at 9:11 PM ET, Moon enters Virgo to clean up the confetti from the Leo’s Moon’s extravaganza.
SATURDAY: Use the insights reflected by the Virgo Moon to get organized and make things right. The early morning offers a challenge to someone’s need for perfection in every detail, as the Moon squares Sun-Mercury in Sagittarius’ need for broader brushstrokes. At 7:18 PM ET, Moon trines Uranus. Time to hang with your besties…or perhaps an unconventional date that may continue through…
SUNDAY:…benefitting from the easy flow of energy among the Moon, Venus, and Mars, exact at 8:14 AM ET and 9:36 AM ET. A dreamy romanticism could be yours as Moon opposes Neptune at 10:49 AM ET (at the very least, note your dreams). Depth of analysis is supported by Moon’s trine to Pluto at 7:02 PM ET. Chill during the nearly nine-hour Moon void. By now we’ll be feeling the spell of two patterns noted at the beginning of this forecast. First, Sun meets up with Mercury at 11:39 PM ET, suggesting idealism. Second (and more compelling) is a trine between Mars and Neptune (exact on Monday) which facilitates seduction. Perhaps this Sunday evening will carry you away…

And now, the news — two weeks’ worth — and much of it reflecting the militant discipline of November 10th’s trifecta: Mercury conjunct Mars in Scorpio, square Saturn in Aquarius, followed by Mars opposing Uranus on November 17th. Was it just a coincidence that three trials grabbing the media’s attention involved ruthless — and arguably reckless — expressions of aggression and firepower?

Exhibit A: on Friday, the day after the lunar eclipse at 27 Taurus-Scorpio, a jury found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty of murdering two men he killed with an AR-15, nor was he found guilty of the attempted murder of a third man he severely wounded. In coming to terms with what seems to me a horrible miscarriage of justice, I appreciated reporter Kurt Eichenwald’s analysis of how, according to current laws in Wisconsin, a jury would arrive at such a verdict. Who wants to run for office in Wisconsin and change these laws? And how about this law in Missouri, which is interfering with law enforcement officers’ ability to conduct criminal investigations? From an astrological perspective, note that Rittenhouse and Greta Thunberg were born on the same day (we don’t have birth times), and here’s an analysis of Thunberg’s. We can certainly see how the midpoint pictures noted apply to both of them. Also of note: last week’s eclipse fell on their square between Venus at 26 Scorpio and Uranus at 26 Aquarius, to eclipsed again in May 2022. At that time, transiting Pluto will be sitting on their respective Mercury at 28 Capricorn, suggesting a persuasive and empowering mindset and communication.

Exhibit B: the trial of the three men who pursued and killed Ahmaud Arbery as he jogged through their neighborhood in Georgia. Closing arguments are expected to begin this week.

Exhibit C: Sines v. Kessler (happening in Charlottesville) is the civil trial of two dozen white nationalists who are accused of violating the civil rights of peaceful protesters by conspiring to commit racially-motivated violence, in violation of the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act. The jury in this trial is in deliberations.

Still, I anticipated a Really Big Military Story on that November 10th Mercury-Mars square Saturn, and I was surprised not to see one trending in the U.S. lamestream media. Thank goodness Heather Cox Richardson was on the case so that we could be told in her nightly Letter of the “unusual military activity” on the Russian-Ukraine border. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is concerned that Russia may invade Ukraine again as it did in 2014 — and now, a week later, the story is getting mainstream attention.

HCR also told us that the authoritarian leader of Belarus has been flying in immigrants from the Middle East and busing them to the Polish border (after apparently making the immigrants believe that Poland and other EU countries would take them in). HCR points out that this strategy of encouraging an “Us vs. Them” conflict in a democratic society is an attempt to destabilize it. A destabilized democracy (i.e., where people are fighting against each other for resources) is vulnerable to authoritarianism, which is one of the anticipated potentials in the aftermath of the 2012 – 2016 Uranus-Pluto square.

Other stories that fit these patterns involving Mars in Scorpio:

“China Builds Missile Targets Shaped Like U.S. Aircraft Carrier”.
Russia “recklessly” destroys one of its satellites; endangers astronauts on the International Space Station
“Tech mogul who flew with William Shatner on Blue Origin flight killed in plane crash” That happened within hours of the Mars-Uranus opposition, aptly reflecting themes of aviation, shocks, accidents, and technology.
Stephen K. Bannon was indicted on contempt of Congress charges and appeared in court last week. Outside the courthouse, rebel Bannon stated that he and his followers would “take down the Biden regime” (which wants to cap your monthly insulin costs at $35 and make sure you have paid family medical and parental leave, so you better watch out). There is no public record of Bannon’s birth time, though we clearly see a pattern similar to one the former guy had throughout 2020, suggesting an anguished effort against the threat of loss, exact next month. Other patterns suggest he is at a peak recognition point in his career right about now, collecting his just deserts, for better or for worse. It is possible that other patterns in 2022 will reflect themes associated with visionary zeal, martyrdom, massive amounts of pixie dust, or possibly a disappearing act.
The House voted to censure Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) after he Tweeted a video of him as an anime character killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and slashing at President Biden with swords. An employee in any other company would be fired immediately for creating a hostile work environment, but Congress apparently lacks a functional HR department. Only two Republican members of Congress — Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger — voted with the Democrats to condemn Gosar’s hostile actions and strip him of his committee assignments. Yes, you read that correctly: only two. Gosar’s response was to re-Tweet the video, while House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy vowed that Gosar would have even better committee assignments when the Republicans took back the House in January 2023, which they may well do if Congress does nothing to stop the current wave of brazen gerrymandering that is going on in so many states — all explained here in the same HCR post (what would we do without her?)
Here’s a surprise: even though federal pandemic unemployment benefits ended in September, millions more Americans continue to resign from their jobs. This runs contrary to certain politicians who predicted that once the benefits ended, Americans would return to work in droves. But hey — there’s lots of upbeat news to report re: the economy, including that even with millions of Americans not returning to the traditional hamster wheel, many more jobs were created in recent months than initially reported. Supply chain blockages appear to be getting unblocked, and President Biden has moved to replace two hangers-on at the USPS, including the board chair. That means we’re getting one step closer to getting rid of current US Postmaster Louis DeJoy, who had made no secret of his mission to raise costs, slow service, and destroy taxpayer-funded machinery.

The optimistic Big News involving mail delivery, documents, and words aptly reflect last week’s Sun-Mercury square to Jupiter, sextile Pluto. Add these stories to the mix:

Hedge fund manager buys first-edition of U.S. Constitution for $43 million, setting a record for most-ever paid for a written document
On the eve of Friday’s eclipse, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy strung words together for over eight hours, breaking a record for the longest string of words uttered on the House floor. McCarthy’s grandstanding delayed the vote on President Biden’s Build Back Better bill…but we knew Speaker Pelosi had the votes, given the trine between Venus and Uranus, exact at 1:07 AM ET. After the eclipse at 3:57 AM ET, McCarthy was still at it, and the Moon went void until 9:32 AM ET. The House passed the Build Back Better bill at 9:46 AM ET. Now it must be passed — in some form — by the Senate, and thus may look more the Build Back Kinda Better bill by the time that happens, only not as kind as originally hoped for.

UPDATE: on President Biden, whose horoscope was personally impacted by the eclipse. This is super-important since he is the leader of a country. Remember how we said that lunar eclipses are apt for illumination and release of what no longer serves? Turns out that what Biden was doing on the eve of the eclipse was prepping for a colonoscopy, which –as you may know — involves a total purge of the intestines. The actual procedure involved anesthesia, and right before Biden was knocked out, he transferred presidential powers to VP Kamala Harris (our Moon in Aries VP can add another “me-first” accomplishment to her resume, as she was our first woman Commander-in-Chief, if only for 85 minutes). Transiting Mars will trigger the lunar eclipse when it conjoins Biden’s Sun-Venus on December 9th and 11th, so we’ll be watching for an energetic surge.

UPDATE: on LeVar Burton, whose horoscope continues to function as designed, with 2021 being a year of expansion. Even though he did not get that “Jeopardy!” gig, turns out that there was something better in store. He’s been tapped to host a “Trivial Pursuit” game show, and though the show doesn’t have a network, if a deal with one does happen by mid-December, that will be in sync with the third and final hit of transiting Jupiter to Burton’s Sun. Astrology is amazing.

And finally…

Reflecting the daring and shocking potential of the recent Mercury-Mars oppositions to Uranus, coupled with the escapist fantasy potential of the November 12th Sun-Neptune trine, let the record show that on the 12th, the Late Show with Stephen Colbert aired a segment in which Bootsie Plunkett (the show’s Uninformed Correspondent), investigated whether or not s*x clubs exist. Colbert has expressed skepticism, you see…just as he is skeptical of astrology. Who wants to tell him that Bootsie’s latest assignment was perfectly in sync with planetary patterns?

What’s going on in your horoscope? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Tuesday 11/16/2021: Late Sneak Peek at the Week; Lengthy Observations on a Lengthy Lunar Eclipse

November 16, 2021/in The Forecast

Allll-righty then!

It’s Monday…and the expansive buzz of the weekend continues to permeate the start of the workweek, as noted in the last Forecast:

By now we should be feeling the expansion and exuberance (and perhaps some wretched ego excess) of a square between the Sun and Jupiter around midday on MONDAY. By then, we’ll also be feeling the disruptive buzz of Mars (the energy of action and assertion), as it prepares to oppose rebel Uranus around noon ET on the 17th. Here’s a bunch of Mars opposing Uranus action from January 2014.

After the 17th (Wednesday), we’ll be warming up for an especially significant Full Moon in Taurus on Friday, which is also a partial lunar eclipse. Here’s how it goes:

MONDAY: is driven by the pioneering Moon in me-me-me Aries, charging to the front of the line. There are no exact aspects to the Moon from any other planet during business hours today, but don’t worry. If your pioneering drive wasn’t fully engaged today, wait until tomorrow. Meanwhile, the expansion and exuberance of the Sun-Jupiter square (exact at 2:58 PM ET) were aptly reflected by the “celebratory signing” by President Biden of the $1 trillion infrastructure bill, which truly is cause for celebration for New York straphangers, because thanks to Biden’s bill, subway fares will not increase and service will not be cut. For the records, 95% of Republicans in Congress voted against it, and if you were watching Fox “News” yesterday, what you saw on the air was the closing arguments in the Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial instead of the historic signing. Thus you may not have learned what this infrastructure bill means for you. Anyhoo, the power and resources behind this expansive cooperative event are reflected by harmony (a sextile) between the Sun (leaders, energy) and Pluto (empowerment!), exact on TUESDAY. If you didn’t have a celebratory bill-signing event on your calendar today, I hope you found other productive expressions of sunny exuberance. For me, it was a serenade of “You Are My Sunshine” — to the most excellent nurse tasked with giving me an IV for a routine medical procedure. That’s my coping strategy for an aversion to needles — and fortunately, the nurse seemed to enjoy it.
TUESDAY: the Aries Moon echoes the action of the Scorpio Sun as it sextiles Jupiter at 8:55 AM ET, and then squares Pluto at 10:50 AM ET. Avid Readers know that the Moon’s weekly clash with Pluto suggests power plays and catharses. Whatever is released then, don’t make a mountain out of a molehill over it just yet, as the Aries Moon goes void for the next 10+ hours. Roll with whatever twists and flakes derail your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Remember that crises that arise during Moon voids are usually much ado about nothing. Refrain from impulse shopping sprees; stick to routine concerns; work on your novel — and CHILL. When the Moon enters Taurus at 9:17 PM ET, the gears engage — and the need to build and maintain material comfort, security, and the status quo takes over. That need is challenged by another pattern we’ve been feeling for the past several days: the opposition of Mars (action, war, guns, men) and Uranus (upsets, innovation, mutations & things that are out of this world), exact on…
WEDNESDAY: …at 12:23 PM ET. A shock to the system may be seen as an authoritative cut or advance, reflecting the Taurus Moon’s square to Saturn at 1:19 PM ET. The rest of the day is a mixed bag, as comfort-preservers connect with the status-minded, reflecting the Moon’s trine to Venus in Capricorn at 7:38 PM ET. That’s followed by an upset or streak of genius, as Moon meets up with Uranus at 9:44 PM ET — but not without heated opposition, as Mars opposes the Moon at 10:20 PM ET. If only we all shared the same dreams and ideals. I say this because on…
THURSDAY: …at 10:37 AM ET, Mercury (how we need to think) trines Neptune (dreams & ideals). So this is a good morning to take note of your dreams and inspirations, and the Moon’s sextile to Neptune at 2:13 PM ET may coincide with tangible realizations of what can manifest. Emotions are likely running high, as the Taurus Moon is waxing full –– and that may be reflected in a hard-headed debate, as Moon opposes Mercury (in “get to the point”) Scorpio at 2:47 PM ET. Power and resources may align in the evening, courtesy of unconventional alliances, as Moon squares Jupiter at 9:22 PM ET and trines Pluto at 10:57 PM ET.
FRIDAY: A curious attraction to the avant-garde reflects the trine between Venus and Uranus, exact at 1:07 AM ET. This is the set-up for the Full Moon — which is also a partial lunar eclipse — and here’s where it can be seen.

A pause, while we look at this eclipse, happening at 3:57 AM in Washington, D.C.:

Observations:

Yes, it’s the longest lunar eclipse in almost 600 years, which gives the lamestream media a tidbit to tempt you into clicking on their websites. Otherwise, yes, there is a justifiable buzz about this eclipse, and since more than one Avid Reader has asked about it, here are a number of lengthy observations — in honor of this lengthy eclipse.
What I hope you’ll learn here — even if you’re not a serious student of astrology — is that the horoscope tells a story. There’s a moment of potential at any given moment, and we follow the subsequent movements of the planets at that moment as if they were players on a stage. The challenge for the astrologer is determining what the planets represent; i.e., who are these players? Astrologers are not psychics. We can’t know specific details of how storylines symbolized by patterns in a horoscope will play out. We rely on the entity living out those patterns to fill us in. But once the players reveal themselves, we can anticipate how they are likely to develop. With respect to this eclipse and what it may hold for the United States, I’m not entirely sure who the players are (though I have a few theories), but even without certainty, we can still get a sense of the action ahead. Got that?
This is the first of a series of eclipses in Taurus-Scorpio. The series continues until October 2023. From now until then, we are collectively working on issues involving “what’s mine” (Taurus) vs. “what’s ours” (Scorpio). Taurus values material comfort; tangible structures of security and simple physical pleasures. Scorpio values intangible structures of emotional depth (intimacy), coupled with the power of knowing. If there isn’t a balance between these two opposing sides, the side that is lacking (and likely annoyed about it for some time) is likely to make itself known. The illumination leads to a release in an effort to achieve a balance — which ideally enables the hero of our story to rise — or fall — to a new level.
The chart set in Washington D.C. has a 20 Libra Ascendant. Libra is ruled by Venus; ergo, Venus is the ruler of this eclipse, with respect to the United States. Venus is in the 3rd house — mindset, neighbors, documents, short journeys. It is in Capricorn and it has dignity (“dignity” being the technical term describing an entity’s ability to perform). Venus has just separated from a trine (harmony) with Uranus (rebels, eccentrics, mad scientists, and humanitarians). All this month, Venus has been trying to connect with Mars in a sextile relationship. A sextile is a cooperative aspect between two parties. At present, Mars is stronger than Venus in terms of its dignity, as Mars is in Scorpio, one of the signs it rules (in traditional astrology; modern astrologers assign rulership of Scorpio to Pluto). But here’s the thing: Scorpio is not a comfortable energy for Venus; though Mars is exceptionally comfortable with Capricorn. And here’s another thing: the sextile between Venus and Mars isn’t going to happen, because Venus is slowing down…preparing to turn retrograde on December 19th. Rather than harmonizing with Mars (in Scorpio, which is Venus’ detriment), Venus is going to meet up with Pluto (motto: change or die; resistance is futile) three times in her retrograde period, which runs into early March. When Venus is retrograde, we are given an opportunity to review matters related to who, what, and how we need to love. That includes money and worth; women and aesthetics. Remember, Venus is in Capricorn, and Capricorn refers to the Establishment: structures of government and other corporate entities and authorities.
Venus does connect with Mars in February when the two will be dancing around each other all month. However, they will connect because Mars catches up with Venus. By then, both planets will be in Capricorn, where Mars is considered to be “exalted,” for better or for worse. In other words, Mars in Capricorn may be accorded high status (i.e., put on a pedestal) that could be more hat than cattle. We shall see. Venus will not have dignity in this Mars-Venus meet-up; her ability to perform is a bit of a wild card, frankly, she might not be terribly invested in it, and besides, Venus will have a third date with Pluto on March 3rd. And guess what? So will Mars, though it will only be a one-night stand. Remember, Pluto is breakdown, transformation, empowerment, extremes. Resistance is futile.
Three days later, on March 6th, Venus and Mars meet up again — only this time, Venus is doing the chasing. Both planets are transformed — because now they have both left Capricorn and are at 0 degrees of Aquarius. That’s interesting for a few reasons. First, we are reminded that Venus in trine with Uranus was the setup for the November 19th eclipse. Now that Venus and Mars are in the sign modern astrologers associate with Uranus, will their focus be on great humanitarian causes, revolution, fringe movements, or rocket science — with respect to these United States? Second, 0 Aquarius is the degree of the December 21, 2020, Jupiter-Saturn conjunction, otherwise known as the Great Mutation, i.e., the end of a 200-year era dominated by the element of Earth, and the beginning of a 200-year era dominated by the element of Air. Third, this will be the first time Mars has been in Aquarius since 12/21/2020, so it’s going to serve as a trigger for the Great Mutation. Fourth, Mars at 0 Aquarius has no essential dignity, but Venus does — in the sense that it may be fearfully focused as a result of its hook-up with this no longer exalted Mars. Hmmm. Also of interest: hours before (on March 5th), the Sun and Jupiter will meet up in Pisces. Their last “charged” connection was yesterday, November 15th. It will be interesting to see how yesterday’s headlines have developed, as reported by Heather Cox Richardson.

More observations:

Pluto is at the root of this eclipse, with respect to the United States. Look at the chart and you’ll see Pluto quite clearly at the bottom (root) of the horoscope: breakdown, transformation, empowerment, extremes.
The eclipse is conjunct the fixed star Algol — a.k.a., “the blinking demon” — a.k.a., the Medusa’s head. Algol is an “eclipsing star” — who knew? It does have a bad rap in astrology, as it is associated with destruction, sickness and literally losing one’s head. But perhaps that depends on who is telling the story. Medusa has evolved into a feminist icon, with the power to turn patriarchy into stone. It’s fascinating that Avid Reader Lillian tagged me on Facebook yesterday, asking if I’d seen the statue of the Medusa that was installed outside Manhattan’s criminal courthouse last year — coinciding with sexual predator Harvey Weinstein‘s trial. I had — but the timing of the reminder doesn’t feel like a coincidence. Algol’s prominent involvement seems to amplify what a lunar eclipse represents: illumination and release — of what no longer serves.
The eclipsed Moon is in the 8th house in this chart for Washington, D.C. The 8th refers to shared investments/values, debt, taxes, inheritances, and death. Planets in the 8th may function as if they are “locked away” — perhaps because they are so focused on managing the resources of others (sometimes in occult/alternative healing ways) that they have difficulty expressing themselves for their own advantage. Note that Venus rules the 8th house of this chart, as well as the Ascendant, thus increasing the importance of the affairs of the 8th house.
In this chart, the Moon rules the 10th house — the leader of the nation — and this eclipsed Moon at 27 Taurus opposes President Biden’s 27 Scorpio Sun. The last time Biden experienced an eclipse opposing his Sun was in November 2002. A look at that time in his life — through the end of 2003 — may offer clues to what may be on his calendar in 2022.
This eclipse opposes Mitt Romney’s Moon-Jupiter conjunction at 27 Scorpio, so he’ll be another one to watch. Anyone with planets at 27 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius will be more personally affected by the illumination and release potential of this eclipse.
The Sabian Symbols for this eclipse are the same as the May 2019 Full Moon in Scorpio, only swapped: “a woman pursued by mature romance” (for the Moon), and “the king of the fairies approaching his domain” (for the Sun). Sabian Symbol sage Blain Bovee suggests we apply these Symbols with a mind for “…attempting to maintain a mature center while being called to a deep longing; trying not to lose one’s head in love and romance…personal creativity blooming late in life; attentions that seem to come out of another realm; a strange sense of security in never quite returning home; staying with a rigid routine out of fear of mystery.” Other Sabian Symbol specialists argue for a “make it or break it” potential, as in a second chance of fulfilling the heart’s desires. Hmm. Interesting that the May 2019 Full Moon was the first lunation after April 25th, when Biden announced he was running for president.

There’s more, but that’s plenty to consider — and we’ll all watch how it unfolds over the next several months. On with the forecast for the rest of the week.

FRIDAY: After the Full Moon at 3:57 AM ET, the Moon goes void until 9:32 AM ET, which may be an East Coaster’s excuse for sleeping through their alarm. The rest of the day is driven by the Moon in pixie chatterbox Gemini, needing to talk and gather more information. Thought and communication create an authoritative structure in the evening, reflecting the Moon’s trine to Saturn, exact on…
SATURDAY: …at 2:12 AM ET. The Gemini Moon makes no aspects to any other planet for the rest of the day, but Big Ideas in publishing, court opinions, foreign affairs, and travel are likely to pull focus, as Mercury squares Jupiter at 6:42 PM ET. Meanwhile, your late-night date may be a dream or a fantasy, as Moon squares Neptune at 3:05 AM ET on…
SUNDAY. There’s depth and power in thought and communication all weekend, reflecting the cooperative connection between Mercury and Pluto at 4:13 AM ET. Watch the op-eds for a message from the Powers That Be. Rise and shine with enthusiasm, as Moon trines Jupiter at 10:51 AM ET — and that’s as late as I’d be snapping up bargains at the local yard sale (do we even have yard sales anymore?). The Gemini Moon then goes void for almost 12 hours. Take care of routine tasks and CHILL. Sun enters Sagittarius at 9:33 PM ET; Moon enters Cancer at 10:32 PM ET; more on both in the next forecast.

Whew!

I’m dying to share all the news — but will save it for next time. I leave you instead with a link to Episode 8 of The Maverick Podcast — hosted by my dear friend and astrologer colleague Kathy Rose. I was delighted to be her invited guest for a talk we recorded on Halloween. My ostrich-feathered purple witch’s hat didn’t make the cut, but you may still find our discussion about “maverick” patterns provocative and entertaining. Anything “maverick” is apt for today’s Moon in Aries, with the Mars-Uranus opposition humming in the background. The video link is here…feel free to post a comment. Or, if you prefer...here’s the audio-only. We had so much fun that we’re planning another episode, to be released in mid-January.

Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Monday 11/8/2021: Sneak Peek at the Week; Mars on the March (“Something’s Got to Give”)

November 8, 2021/in The Forecast

Alllll-righty then!

Planetary patterns continue to rock and roll through November 19th, driven mostly by star player Mars, getting stuff done ruthlessly as it marches through Scorpio. On the 19th, we’ll have a lunar eclipse, followed by relative calm in the cosmos. We’ll have a solar eclipse on December 4th. What — eclipses — again?! Yes, and once again I will be offering a few paragraphs of handcrafted insight on how these eclipses are likely to affect your own personal horoscope. Toss $52 into the Cosmic Tip Jar and email me your birth data if I don’t already have it. Insights will be crafted and sent back to you in a week.

Now let’s focus on the week ahead. Moon enters Capricorn at 8:03 PM ET on Sunday, looking to Make Things Happen. If you’re burning the midnight oil, the Moon makes a series of cooperative connections to Venus, Mercury, and Mars, ending with a sextile to Mars at 5:48 AM ET on MONDAY. Time to get up and get to work — and call in your most unconventional alliances should you need reinforcement, reflecting the trine between the Moon and (unconventional tech genius) Uranus, exact at 4:47 PM ET. That’s followed by an easy flow between the Scorpio Sun and the Capricorn Moon, exact at 12:06 AM ET on…

TUESDAY. Note your dreams upon rising, as the Moon’s sextile to Neptune at 6 AM ET may offer inspiration. You will need to stay focused on a vision in order to push through the agenda you’re working on for the rest of the week. If you have a planet or angle around 5 – 8 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Aquarius, or Scorpio, you may do battle with someone who responds to your push with a shove, and it all comes to a crescendo on WEDNESDAY. But first –on TUESDAY — we have this “get down to business” drive building to a power play or cathartic release around 12:51 PM ET, as the Capricorn Moon meets up with Pluto. Roll with the twists and flakes that then may derail your efforts to reach the top of a mountain during the loooooong Moon void. Remember that crises that crop up during voids are usually much ado about nothing, and find a way of resolving themselves once the Moon shifts gears into the next sign. At 10:03 PM ET, Moon enters Aquarius, driving the next couple of days with a need to network and innovate.
WEDNESDAY: features three stubborn releases, all of which impact President Biden’s horoscope, as explained in last week’s Sneak Peek. At 7:56 PM ET Mercury (how we need to think and communicate) meets up with Mars (the energy of action and assertion). This is a potent, ruthless expression of focused “walking the talk — and good morning to you, too. Next on deck: the Aquarius Moon squares Mercury and Mars, with none of the above wanting to give an inch around 10:54 AM and 11:08 AM ET ET. Six minutes later, Moon meets up with Saturn, attempting to lay down the law, advance a strategic humanitarian plan, or cut to the quick. Fifty minutes later (12:04 PM ET), Mercury squares Saturn, suggesting heavy thoughts and communication, for better or worse. But wait– there’s more. At 6:13 PM ET, Mars squares Saturn, suggesting militant discipline in action and expression, including combat. However, the action and expression are likely to be challenged, and the advice is not to give up if you’re really, really serious about getting what you want. That includes not taking any blocks, frustrations, and challenges personally. Here’s what was going on in the news on a Mars-Saturn square two years ago. Relief may arrive around 7:45 PM ET, as the Moon is squared by rebel Uranus, breaking up the blocks– and helping parties in conflict see their way clear.
THURSDAY: More challenges are on the table in the early morning, as the First Quarter Moon squares off against the Scorpio Sun at 7:46 AM ET. However, the Sabian Symbol for this First Quarter Moon suggests that relief is on the way. The Symbol for the Moon at 20 Aquarius is “a big white dove, a message bearer.” Sabian Symbol guru Blaine Bovee notes this image is “one of communication borne by a creature of the sky; a peaceful message from a heavenly source.” Interestingly, he also notes that that “white” is seen when light is reflected “without the sensible impression of the visible rays of the color spectrum”. Colorblind? Hmmm. Politically, Bovee notes that white is a “conservative” color — as opposed to the “fiery” hue of “radical inclinations”. Spiritually, Bovee associates white with “purity.” And then, just to confuse everyone, he notes that “white” can in fact be burning — as in “white-hot”…or cool, refreshing, and pure as the driven snow. How are we to apply this Symbol? What might we see reflected in the headlines? On the upside, Bovee suggests “genius that finds the sacred everywhere…listening for unique language; messages of relief precipitated by intense, burning reverence.” Also to the upside: “a strong sense of community.” On the downside: intense extremes…and “affinities for a host of world-religion motifs.”
THURSDAY: Moon meets up with Jupiter at 2:52 PM ET — another note of optimism and expansion. Chill during the 12-hour Moon void.
FRIDAY: Moon enters Pisces at 2:53 AM ET. Now is the time for empathy, compassion, and the understanding that All are One. Humming in the background of this week’s Mercury-Mars-Saturn clashing and thrashing is a trine (harmony) between the Sun (leaders, heart) and Neptune (which dissolves whatever it touches, includes hardheaded and hardhearted boundaries), exact at 11:23 AM ET. Other astrologers have also noted that this is the week in which “something has to give.” So mote it be! At the end of the day, the Pisces Moon sextiles Venus and trines Mars, at 3:17 PM ET and 7:28 PM ET. Here’s to fostering a cooperative spirit — receptive to the brilliant communication/mindset that clears the air with disruptive brilliance on…
SATURDAY: …when Mercury opposes Uranus at 10:56 AM ET. There’s no Moon void today to mess up your shopping adventures, though dreamy escape — music, art, meditation or a creative cocktail — may be on the agenda the closer we get to 4:45 PM ET, when the Moon meets up with Neptune. More easy flow is suggested as the Moon trines the Sun at 7:18 PM ET. Depth of perception is facilitated in the late evening, as Moon sextiles Pluto on…
SUNDAY: …at 12:40 AM ET. Chill chill chill for the next ten hours, as the Pisces Moon will be void. At 10:48 AM ET, Moon zooms into Aries, looking to get something started. By now we should be feeling the expansion and exuberance (and perhaps some wretched ego excess) of a square between the Sun and Jupiter around midday on MONDAY. By then, we’ll also be feeling the disruptive buzz of Mars (the energy of action and assertion), as it prepares to oppose rebel Uranus around noon ET on the 17th. Here’s a bunch of Mars opposing Uranus action from January 2014.

And now, the news…

…which is in sync with planetary patterns, as always…and also in synch with Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week. Last week’s Card was The Tower, and it was a perfect match for the potent New Moon in Scorpio and its revolutionary Sun-Uranus opposition. We expected upsets, and we were not disappointed, especially in the world of leaders. We saw this play out in last Tuesday’s elections here in the U.S.:

In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy became the first Democratic incumbent to win a second term. The second stunner in the Garden State was the apparent defeat of State Senate President Stephen Sweeney to Edward Durr, a truck driver with a campaign budget of a few hundred bucks and a just-discovered cache of xenophobic social media posts.
Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin narrowly defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe and will become Virginia’s next governor. Youngkin is the former CEO of The Carlyle Group and reportedly self-funded his $5.5 million dollar campaign. He ran on a platform of election integrity and what a surprise it was to learn that his young kin (his 17 year-old son) tried to vote twice, even though he’s not of legal age. He was at the wrong polling site, too. Meanwhile, Virginia’s incoming Lt. Governor is Winsome Sears, the first woman and the first Black woman to be elected to a statewide office. When Uranus is hot in the heavens, conventions are shattered.
As always, historian Heather Cox Richardson has thoughts on the results from Election Day that are not conventional narrative.

Meanwhile, I can’t tell you how pleased I was by Friday’s synchronicity between planetary patterns and the action in Congress. Let’s review what was written. I’ve added what was going on in Congress in italics.

FRIDAY: after the dreams, exuberance, and depth, as the Scorpio Moon squares Jupiter and sextiles Pluto at 9:32 AM ET and 12:10 PM ET (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is consolidating power and resources in hopes of having a vote on the infrastructure bill). before going void for the next almost-nine hours. Chill time — cut out of work early — you’re not going to miss much of anything (in the wandering Moon void, it seems as if nothing is going to happen) At 6:34 PM ET, we’ll have another planetary shift, as Mercury ditches Libra for Scorpio. No more weighing matters in the balance, as mindset now needs to be ruthless in its quest for knowledge. (we can imagine the intensity deal-making happening with Mercury at the veerrrry last degree of Libra, suggesting compromise and people-pleasing at a crisis point). At 8:52 PM ET, the Moon heaves a sigh of relief as it exits Scorpio and soars into Sagittarius for the weekend.
SATURDAY: broaden your horizons; think outside the box; go for a walk in the woods; share your righteous opinion. So sayeth the Moon in Sagittarius — traveling without interference for most of the day. (obviously this energy applied to Friday night, and did you notice how Speaker Pelosi got enough votes so that members of The Squad (AOC et. al.) could vote their consciences against the bill without destroying it?) There’s no Moon void, so you can shop with confidence, perhaps inspired by the idealism of a rare sextile between Mercury and Venus, exact at 11:58 AM ET. Translation: a harmony between mindset/communication and values/social expression might bear fruit. (once I heard that Speaker Pelosi planned to have a vote on Friday evening, I thought it had a good chance of passing, given this rare Mercury-Venus sextile. And pass it did — at 11:27 PM ET, with Mars square a 4 Leo Ascendant and with 13 Republicans joining all but six Democrats in support of cool Pluto in Capricorn‘s infrastructure like roads, bridges and internet access. Astrology is amazing — and Mars in Scorpio needs to get stuff done!)

President Biden canceled his planned weekend escape to Delaware in order to work on getting the bill passed. Not surprising, given how activated his horoscope is by last week’s New Moon and other patterns. Speaker Pelosi’s natal Saturn-Pluto square was also activated by transiting Mercury and Mars, as you can see from her horoscope. She’ll be rallying the troops again at the end of November and into early December, as transiting Mars moves on to oppose her Venus, Uranus and Saturn.

In other news…

With Mars hot in the heavens, we’re seeing more than the usual number of explosive headlines involving motor vehicles (Mars rules cars):

Please be extra careful in transit this week, OK?

Meanwhile…

Venus entered Capricorn on Saturday, and Avid Readers know that the first degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn corresponds to the Aries Point (AP, for short). The AP needs attention, and you will not be surprised to learn that Ted Cruz has the Sun and Pluto at the AP, which means that anytime any planet is transiting the AP, we are going to hear from Ted Cruz. What did he say over the weekend that was all over the Twittersphere, you might ask?

“Ted Cruz condemns Big Bird for advocating Covid vaccines for kids”

Venus in Capricorn suggests prominent headlines about women, art and money. Some of these fall into that category; others are just plain cool:

“Wooden bird bought for 75 pounds revealed to be Anne Boleyn’s”
“Discovery of Pompeii slaves’ room sheds rare light on real Roman life”
Elon Musk asks Twitter if he should sell 10% of his Tesla stock; Twitter says ‘yes’.
Stock market hits record highs (again) on good jobs report; Pfizer’s Covid pill
“Lights Out: Five New Dark Sky Places for Top-Shelf Stargazing”
SNL’s Cecily Strong defends abortion rights on “Weekend Update” as Goober the Clown. To appreciate the synchronicity of this headline, it helps to know that Cecily Strong has Mercury-Pluto square that suggests a powerfully persuasive manner of communication, and that this square was activated last week by transiting Mars. Here is what we know of her horoscope.
“A way to deal with emotion: how teaching art can help prisoners”
“They were supposed to die in prison. Instead, they earned freedom as college graduates”

This one isn’t as nearly as awesome as the above, but it’s provocative. I think it reflects a few key patterns that have to do with how our view of work is changing — and must continue to change. First, we have Neptune in Pisces opposing the 1966 Uranus-Pluto conjunction in Virgo (revolutionizing work, diet, the environment). Second, we have the aftermath of last December’s Great Mutation (Jupiter conjunct Saturn) in Aquarius — in which we can expect networks, technology and airwaves to be the way to win in this new era. Mining the Earth just can’t cut it anymore. Third, we have the Saturn-Uranus square in effect all year, reflecting the thousands of workers who’d rather quit than fight. “While Working, You Simply Stop Thinking” is a thoughtful short by two Swedish filmmakers — and the NYT ran it as an op-ed. What do you think?

What’s going on in your horoscope? Here’s the 411 on consultations.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Monday 11/1/2021: Sneak Peek at the Week; New Moon in Scorpio

November 1, 2021/in The Forecast

Allllll righty then!

Get it done before lunchtime on the East Coast, as the Virgo Moon — driving the day with a need to get it right — goes void at 1 PM ET. Roll with the twists and flakes that may derail your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Remember that crises that crop up during Moon voids are usually much ado about nothing — and will soon work themselves out once the Moon regains its focus when it enters the next sign. Case in point: on Saturday the Leo Moon was void between 3:04 AM ET and 2:09 PM ET. When I got to my desk that morning, the floor lamp behind me wasn’t working. I changed the bulb — still no light. I’m thinking, “well, darn, I’ll have to take this lamp to the repair shop and have them replace the socket.” Within minutes after the Moon entered Virgo (and conjoined my natal Uranus), a much more meaningful lightbulb went off and I realized that the power strip thingy had mysteriously turned itself off, and that’s why the lamp wasn’t working. Flipped the switch on the power strip — et voila — case closed.

Anyhoo, get it done today before 1 PM ET — or ship it after the Moon enters Libra at 7:10 PM ET. Until then, we’ll be processing the third trine between Mercury and Jupiter (exact at 12:18 AM ET) and the third square between Mercury and Pluto, exact at 5:39 AM ET on TUESDAY. Already we’re seeing heavy news from underground — with extra gravitas supplied by the weekend’s hard-nosed square between Saturn and the Sun. Watch for heavy headlines involving court opinions, legal theories, and the media. Time for everyone to get real, and for WaPo to deliver another exclusive investigative report about the January 6th insurrection, with this one absolutely, positively concluding (according to Heather Cox Richardson’s summary, for those who can’t access WaPo) that TFG is the culpable party.

I should mention that the Virgo Moon goes void at 1 PM ET on a square to Venus in Sagittarius, suggesting a challenge between someone’s question for correctness vs. the opinionated social expression involving women, money, and aesthetics. It’s the backdrop for the action in the Supreme Court today, as it hears arguments re: the Texas abortion law it did not strike down last month.

I should also mention that once the Moon enters Libra at 7:10 PM ET, the next couple of days are driven by a need for fairness and balance in relationships. The rest of the week goes like this:

TUESDAY: It’s Election Day in the United States and if you don’t vote, someone else will, and then you’ll be sorry. Are you registered to vote? Please check your status here. After processing more news from underground, dug up by that Mercury-Pluto square at 5:39 AM ET, the Libra Moon seeks stability and structure via a trine to Saturn at 7:31 AM ET. It might feel like a bit of a Moon void because there are no other exact aspects to the Moon from other planets for the rest of the day. Also, we’re moving into the balsamic phase — the end — of the lunar cycle. A feeling of listlessness or restlessness would not be unusual. These days with little light from the Moon are apt for clandestine meetings — and you can be assured that they are happening in a back room near you. Whatever must they be talking about, hmm?
WEDNESDAY: an easy flow of expansive energy, followed by a power play, as the Moon trines Jupiter at 9:07 AM ET and then makes its weekly clash with cathartic Pluto at 11:57 AM ET. Everyone may hear what happened around 3:26 PM ET, as the Moon meets up with Mercury. Last stop before going void at 6:32 PM ET: a pleasantly cooperative connection between the Moon and Venus. Enjoy a bit of peace before the Moon enters Scorpio at 8:52 PM ET.
THURSDAY: Actually, a bit of peace is debatable. There’s been a buzz in the air all week, as the Sun makes its annual opposition to Uranus. Watch for stories of rebellion, technology, uranium, aviation — and perhaps even astrology. These stories are likely to involve CEOs and heads of state. At 1:55 AM ET, Moon meets up with Mars in Scorpio, taking no prisoners. At 8:45 AM Moon squares Saturn, which may throw a wet blanket on someone’s enthusiasm. We get to spend the next several hours seeking depth, substance, and a consolidation of power until 5:14 PM ET when the Scorpio Moon meets up with the Sun. Make a list of intentions — here we go with another new cycle — and this one may come with a big surprise, given that the Moon opposes Uranus at 5:25 PM ET…and the Sun follows suit at 7:57 PM ET. Here’s what was going on in October 2015 under similar patterns.

Here is the chart for the New Moon, set in Washington, D.C.:

Observations:

The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon echoes the potential disruptive genius of the opposition to rebel Uranus. It is “an inventor experimenting,” and Sabian Sage Blain Bovee says it is an image of “tinkering with possible better ways.” Think creation, innovation, genetic mutation — trying anything out in an effort to build…a better mousetrap…or just to build back better? Bovee has other ideas for working with this New Moon symbolism, as in, “What if you carried yourself in a way that did not hinge on pleasing others?” Mars is now out of conflict-avoidant Libra; Mercury will follow in a few days. As noted in the last forecast, people are likely to forego cooperation and compromise now for the sake of getting things done– ruthlessly.
In this chart, Venus is at the verrrry end of Sagittarius — soon to enter Capricorn. The energy of social expression, money, women, values, and art is at a turning point — and thus demands prominence. All of those themes are likely to pull focus in this lunar cycle. Watch the headlines this week.
Pluto squares the Aries Ascendant in this horoscope — creating a sense of urgency and “resistance is futile” among partners and open enemies.
As noted last week, this New Moon falls on President Biden’s Mars at 12 Scorpio, suggesting the energy of assertion and action is activated. Keep an eye on November 9th and 10th (and perhaps a couple of days before), when transiting Uranus opposes Biden’s Mars, and Mercury-Mars in Scorpio squares his natal Pluto. November 10th may be challenging for many people, frankly, but for our president, it is likely to be felt personally. We’ll likely see themes of militant discipline in the headlines, as Mercury meets up with Mars in the morning, and both square Saturn around noon and 6 PM ET, respectively. Note that the North Node is currently conjunct Biden’s Uranus, suggesting meetings with unusual groups of people — and perhaps his meeting with Pope Francis over the weekend and with leaders at COP26 in Glasgow would qualify.
Fun fact about Biden’s meeting with Pope Francis, which happened on the last day of Mars in Libra. IMHO, the upside potential of Mars in Libra is to become a warrior for peace — and Pope Francis has Mars in Libra (like several of his predecessors). Isn’t it interesting that President Biden said — upon meeting His Holiness — that he was “the most significant warrior for peace I’ve ever met.” Astrology is amazing.

On with the weekly forecast:

FRIDAY: note your dreams in the AM, as Moon trines Neptune at 5:53 AM ET. At 6:43 AM ET, Venus leaves high-flying Sagittarius for Capricorn, demanding decorum and a pedigree in matters of love, money, and social expression. Venus in Capricorn knows exactly how to use its connections to climb up a ladder (preferably corporate), and until March 7th, so could you. Why such a long stay in Capricorn? Because Venus will be turning retrograde in Capricorn on December 19th, not to turn direct until January 30th. Where have we seen this pattern before? November 2013 through early March 2014. Stay tuned for further details as we get closer to mid-December.
FRIDAY: after the dreams, exuberance, and depth, as the Scorpio Moon squares Jupiter and sextiles Pluto at 9:32 AM ET and 12:10 PM ET before going void for the next almost-nine hours. Chill time — cut out of work early — you’re not going to miss much of anything. At 6:34 PM ET, we’ll have another planetary shift, as Mercury ditches Libra for Scorpio. No more weighing matters in the balance, as mindset now needs to be ruthless in its quest for knowledge. At 8:52 PM ET, the Moon heaves a sigh of relief as it exits Scorpio and soars into Sagittarius for the weekend.
SATURDAY: broaden your horizons; think outside the box; go for a walk in the woods; share your righteous opinion. So sayeth the Moon in Sagittarius — traveling without interference for most of the day. There’s no Moon void, so you can shop with confidence, perhaps inspired by the idealism of a rare sextile between Mercury and Venus, exact at 11:58 AM ET. Translation: a harmony between mindset/communication and values/social expression might bear fruit.
SUNDAY: Another dreamy morning, courtesy of a Moon-Neptune square at 4:46 AM ET, made grander by harmony with Jupiter at 8:43 AM ET. After that, enjoy the Moon void that goes on and on and on until 8:03 PM ET. No shopping, if you please. Just chill and enjoy. The evening brings us back to earth with the Moon’s ingress into Capricorn, looking to Make Things Happen.

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And now, the news.

Let’s start with a few stories reflecting last week’s Venus square Neptune & Venus sextile Jupiter:

“Spanx founder gifts all her employees with first-class plane tickets and $10,000″ — how nice is that?
FDA approves Covid vaccine for emergency use on children ages 5-11
“Merck will share formula for its Covid pill with poor countries”
“Super troupers! ABBA on fame, divorce, ageing backwards — and why they’ve returned to rescue 2021“
Facebook rebrands its corporate identity; unveils plans to build a “metaverse” – an online world where people can game, work, and communicate in a virtual environment, often using VR headsets.
More make-believe: stock market still riding high

Add in the weekend’s no-frills Sun-Saturn square, and that’s the kind of royal wedding that happened in Japan a few days ago. You can see these patterns in this story, too:

“‘They broke my heart.’ Sculptor laments removal of Central Park Covid memorial.”

Isolation and self-reliance are apt for a Sun-Saturn square, as well as this item about the debut novel of an author who is an only child — in which she imagines what it would be like to have siblings. Also: “the cultural factors behind falling fertility rates.”

As anticipated in last week’s forecast, at the end of the day on Thursday, the proverbial rock had rolled back to the bottom of the proverbial hill, and the planned vote on President Biden’s infrastructure bill was once again postponed. But at least when the bill does pass, seniors on Medicare will finally be covered for their hearing aids, but not their glasses and dentures, as Michael Moore explains. Moore’s rant aptly reflects our anticipation that these past several days were likely to be harsh for Biden. Translated into astrological jargon, what Moore is saying is: “President Biden had transiting Saturn opposing Pluto and transiting Mars opposing Moon over the weekend.” In other news, can you imagine being in the room with lawmakers having a serious discussion about which two of these three quality-of-life essentials would have to be cut from the bill? Why did hearing win out? No idea. Saturn does refer to hearing, and it also refers to teeth. Vision in the language of astrology is ruled by the Sun and the Moon. Maybe they flipped a coin re: hearing vs. teeth. Meanwhile, Avid Readers will recall that the U.S. has a Sun-Saturn square in its horoscope. That’s the “rugged individualism” in our national psyche, as well as the “you can have it all — if you work hard at it” and the “just pull yourself up by your bootstraps” philosophy of life. Translated into astrological jargon, what Moore is asking (rhetorically) in his rant is, “why does the U.S. Sun-Saturn square have to be such a bitch?”

Meanwhile, even Heather Cox Richardson took note of the fact that Republicans were literally cursing at President Biden (in euphemisms over the past several days) — and so did an on-duty pilot for Southwest Airlines. Astrology is amazing.

THE FORECAST

THE
FORECAST