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 9/6/2021: Sneak Peek at a Short Workweek; New Moon in Virgo

September 6, 2021/in The Forecast

Alllll-righty then!

What a wiggy week it was, with Thursday’s exact opposition between Mars (aggression, assertion) and Neptune (surreal), hmm? Now we have a rush of energy surging through this weekend but under the cover of a dead Moon. What is going on behind closed doors, right this minute, one wonders. Let’s review those rushing energetic patterns, starting with the trine between Mercury and Saturn, exact on Saturday night at 9:30 PM ET. This is serious and thorough planning, which I’ve been using all day to edit a few writing projects, instead of going outside to play in the sun. Even with the Moon in playful Leo, I’m glued to my word processor. Go figure.

Obviously that above paragraph was written over the weekend. It’s now Monday.

Here’s the recap for…

SUNDAY: if those plans involve gobs of money or a focus on women, art, social expression, and values, they would be reflecting the square between Venus and Pluto, exact at 11:06 PM ET. But before that happens, the Leo Moon needs to party on, big time until 10:21 AM ET, when it opposes expansive Jupiter. Chill during the ensuing void — and if you feel driven to extremes, consider that the Venus-Pluto square can suggest a waste of emotions, bringing a sledgehammer to a situation instead of a smaller, less destructive tool. Hmm. Sounds like a golf day, and I’ll be careful what I swing at with my clubs. Once the Moon enters Virgo at 7:05 PM ET, the evening is driven to perfection and analysis, with supersized intensity and possible indulgence, suggested by patterns exact on…
MONDAY: …which is Labor Day in the U.S. An easy and potent flow of force is suggested by Mars trine Pluto, exact at 8:19 AM ET. It’s followed by an exact trine between Venus and Jupiter at 9:05 AM ET. It’s always nice when the two planets associated with good fortune are getting along. If you have planets at 25 degrees of just about any sign, but especially Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius, buy a couple of lottery tickets and try your luck (I’m not promising anything; this exercise is strictly for entertainment purposes).
It may be a holiday, but I’m convinced some heavy people will be working hard to get things right, as the Virgo Moon and Sun need to do. Others may feel restless or listless, sensing that’s there’s something just around the corner, but they don’t know what. The fact that there are no aspects to the Moon for most of the day may reflect a bit of wandering, but ultimately taking you to your best friends, some of whom you may have just met. The New Moon at 14 Virgo finally kicks in at 8:51 PM ET and three minutes later, the Moon trines Uranus. At 9:28 PM ET, the Sun trines Uranus, and taken together, suggest a coalition of power and/or leaders coming together for a humanitarian cause; networking genius — including power networks/grid — and tech-savvy. Astrology and aviation may also pull focus. As I said in the last forecast, these patterns suggest the potential for a speedy recovery and/or reconnection after last week’s chaos.

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

Observations:

Keywords for Virgo include perfection, discernment, work, service, integration, analysis. A focus on these keywords during this New Moon cycle may well lead to opportunity. We are all invited to consider whom or what does our creative self-expression serves? How does it function? How do we integrate it into our daily routine? Virgo rules the digestive tract, which assimilates elements that provide nourishment and eliminates those that do not. Some digestive systems work more efficiently than others, depending on what they are given to process. What is your process? Is it efficient? What does your gut tell you?
For the United States, the New Moon falls in the 5th house (of creative self-expression, including children), but it’s right on the border of the 6th, which suggests a need to move on to matters of work routines, diet, service obligations and dis-ease. The trine to Uranus is part of a Grand Trine with the Midheaven, suggesting opportunities for innovation that project an aura of self-sufficiency and material abundance. Those in certain positions of power may decide they have all the resources they need to launch their clean-up plan, without support from any other, thank you very much. Or perhaps the Sun-Uranus trine will reflect an easy flow of energy among a coalition of forces.
After the trine with Uranus, Moon will oppose Neptune and conjoin Mars . This Mars-Neptune connection may represent an idealized masculine/assertive energy (Mars) seeking alignment with highest possible manifestation of spirit, empathy and healing (Neptune). One potential downside would be kneejerk nitpicking and needless freakouts. Curb your inner Nervous Nellie.
The Taurus Ascendant of this chart is ruled by Venus, strong in Libra, one of the signs in which Venus thrives. Venus has just absorbed a potent square with Pluto and trine with Jupiter, supercharging all that Venus represents: women, aesthetics, money and especially women.
The strength of Venus and Mars in this New Moon chart is echoed by the Sabian Symbol for the Sun and Moon: “an ornamental handkerchief.” This is “an image of power and rank embellished by beauty and refinement,” says Sabian Sage Blain Bovee. We are reminded of the chivalric code of the Knights of the Round Table, “where a fearsome knight might earn the handkerchief of a noble lady, which he would prominently display. His fighting energies would thus be sworn to serve her presumably gentler, kinder and more refined qualities.” I can’t wait to see how Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week will reflect this New Moon potential!
The last time we worked with this Sabian Symbol was in March 2015. Take a look at what was going on back then.
You are more personally affected by the innovative organizing potential of this New Moon if you have a planet or other point around 15 degrees of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces. If that doesn’t apply to you, look to where this New Moon falls in your horoscope. That’s the area of your life where you can plant seeds for an effective housecleaning. Remember, Mercury goes retrograde during this lunar cycle — on September 27th! The shadow period starts on the New Moon. If you still don’t know what that means, book a consultation with your local astrologer.

As for the rest of this week….

Once again we have a relatively long stretch of days — until September 14th — with no exact aspects among the planets, except for those that involve the Moon. The pattern on the 14th is the annual opposition between the Sun and Neptune, suggesting more of what we’ve already experienced involving the surreal, drugs, visionaries, pacifism, floods, victims, toxins, viruses, refugees, water, oceans, oil, film, photography, etc. Anything intangible refers to Neptune, which denies and dissolves the material world, and in this case those intangibles affect the Sun, which refers to leaders, ego and the heart.

But before we get to the 14th, we have this apparent pause in the action. I don’t know why these “pauses” coincide with events that seem like the sudden collapse of an ice shelf into the ocean, but that’s what I’ve observed over the years. They suggest tipping points…so…we’ll see. In your own personal world, you can get a lot done this week — so do it!

TUESDAY: Note your dreams, as Moon opposes Neptune upon waking, if you’re waking around 9:34 AM ET. Maybe it will take a second cup of coffee to get going this morning. After lunch, I expect a power surge of organizational energy, as the Virgo Moon trines Pluto and conjoins Mars at 1:56 PM ET and 3:23 PM ET, respectively — and then goes void. Stick to routine during the void, and roll with the twists and flakes. Chill if you can. Moon enters Libra at 11:20 PM ET.
WEDNESDAY: the Libra Moon seeks fairness and balance in relationships, and today its trine to Saturn gives its diplomatic agenda extra structure and authority. Hammer out that deal, and maybe you’ll have something to say about it around 9 PM ET, when Moon meets up with Mercury (how we need to think and communicate).
THURSDAY: the Libra Moon travels without interference for most of the day, weighing and balancing and debating. Powerplays and resources are on the agenda, and at 4:47 PM ET, Moon makes its weekly clash with Pluto. Minutes later — at 5:03 PM ET — Moon trines Jupiter, suggesting expansion and perhaps some good cheer, especially as Moon meets up with Venus at 12:47 AM ET on…
FRIDAY. The Libra Moon enters Scorpio at 2:04 AM ET, shifting our focus from airy ideas to intense emotions. The workweek ends with gravitas, reflecting the square between the Moon and Saturn at 2:52 PM ET. A sense of urgency about arriving at a compromise may be in the air all day, as Venus is at the very end of Libra. At 4:39 PM ET, Venus leaves Libra for Scorpio, intensifying social expression until October 8th. Where Venus in Libra is inclined to compromise, Venus in Scorpio is fixed in its ways and is more likely to extract a payback for a perceived slight. On the other hand, loyalty to a fault is one of Scorpio’s best qualities. I seem to recall stories of couples who’d been together for decades making headlines during one particular Venus in Scorpio passage.
SATURDAY: the heaviness of Friday’s Moon-Saturn square is replaced by a jolt around 2:36 AM ET, as Moon opposes rebel Uranus. Balance is restored in the morning, as the Moon sextiles the Sun at 10:07 AM ET. No Moon void today means you can shop with confidence. The afternoon and evening reflect vision, resources, expansion and assertion in matters of knowledge acquired for the sake of power and control.
SUNDAY: Moon goes void at 1:32 AM ET and enters Sagittarius at 4:34 AM ET. Time for a gamble or a gambol in nature. Take in a foreign film or some other perspective that is not native. Yes, you can have a righteous opinion about it — gawd knows, everyone else will. By now we’ll be feeling the opposition between the Sun and Neptune, exact on Tuesday morning. That explains a desire to escape, to heal, to forgive — or the boundary-pushing rabbit hole that’s hot in the headlines.

I’ll update the news either tomorrow in a separate email, or I may add items to the Forecast on my website. I leave you with Heather Cox Richardson’s latest Letter, which explains the significance of Labor Day, and why Frances Perkins is someone you really should know about. You better believe Frances Perkins was a pioneering Aries, with a hundred other planets in Aries, too. Here is what we know of her horoscope.

Enjoy the holiday — and thank you for reading this forecast.

To schedule a personal consultation, here’s how to contact me.

Monday 8/30/2021: Sneak Peek at the Week; Mars Opposes Neptune

August 31, 2021/in The Forecast

Alll-righty then!

Moon is in Gemini, driving the day with a need for information. The workweek contains only one exact pattern between two planets that doesn’t include the Moon, and that would be an opposition between Mars (action, aggression, combat, cars, iron) and Neptune (surrender, idealism, drugs, oil, deception, spirits) on Thursday afternoon. Mars combined with Neptune suggests potential seduction, surrender, sexy scandals, genuine charisma, snake oil, fanaticism, sparkly razzle-dazzle, or action that ends with a fizzle. As we get closer to the weekend, we’ll pick up the reflections of other patterns that kick in on Saturday night through Monday.

Here’s how the rest of the week goes:

TUESDAY: if Monday was fairly calm, it reflected the Gemini Moon’s trine to diplomatic Venus in Libra, exact at 12:29 AM ET. The wee hours may be restless and provocative, as the Moon squares Mars at 6:35 AM ET, followed by a square to wiggy Neptune at 9:40 AM ET. Note your dreams upon waking. The stories hitting the wires get bigger and bigger, reflecting the Moon’s trine to Jupiter at 4:46 PM ET. Chill for the rest of the evening, as the Moon will be void. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill, and avoid impulse shopping. Moon gets back into gear at 1:25 AM ET on…
WEDNESDAY: when it enters Cancer. Now is the time to focus on emotional and home/homeland security, including food, clothing, and housing. We can expect a debate about such concerns around 7:46 AM ET, when the Moon is squared by Mercury, trying to weigh both sides in Libra. That’s where Mercury has been since 1:06 AM ET on Monday, and that’s where it will stay until November 6th. Why? Because Mercury turns retrograde on September 27th, turning direct on October 18th. There will be NO WHINING about this upcoming opportunity to REview and REorganize and REconnect…and possibly even REtreat. Just start paying attention to the debate about what’s fair, balanced, and rational after September 7th, because whatever is in play then is subject to quite the persuasive review. As for this Wednesday’s Moon-Mercury spat, it should all balance out in the evening, aided by the sextile between the Moon and the Virgo Sun. Glad to be of service, doncha’ know.

Speaking of balance, that theme has turned up in Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week, to no Avid Reader’s surprise.

THURSDAY: Unconventional alliances may have formed overnight, reflecting the sextile between Moon and Uranus. The Mars-Neptune opposition is exact at 1:42 PM ET, and here are links to past posts, if you’d like to review what happened during other Mars-Neptune face-offs. The Cancer Moon’s need for emotional security clashes with someone’s sense of worth around 6:24 PM ET. Action on a cherished ideal may ensue as the Moon trines Neptune at 8:51 PM ET and sextiles Mars at 9:15 PM ET, with a powerplay or emotional catharsis on….
FRIDAY: …at 1:37 AM ET, as the Moon opposes Pluto. I expect all of this intensity may be reflected in whatever the Supreme Court has to say about a petition to ban Texas’ latest effort to turn itself into Gilead, which will go into effect this week, on the surreal Mars-Neptune opposition if it is not blocked. My point here is that as you will see, planetary patterns over the next few days reflect this kind of story coming over the wires. We shall see. Meanwhile, as I type this Forecast on Monday evening, this is the most-viewed story on The Guardian’s website. As for Friday, chill, chill, chill during the ensuing ten-hour void. That explains a slow start, twist, or flake to your Friday morning. Stick to routine concerns. Remember that crises that crop up during voids have an odd way of vaporizing once the Moon shifts gears. That happens at 11:58 AM ET when the Moon enters rip, roarin’ Leo, looking for a stage upon which to shine. There are no other exact aspects among the planets that day, but by now the weekend’s patterns are in play, which you’ll read about in a minute. Meanwhile, I’m keeping an eye out for provocative and regal rulings.
SATURDAY: Moon sextiles Mercury at 12:45 AM ET, which is good for talking things out. Moon opposes Saturn at 2:54 AM ET, suggesting a wet blanket or loss — and also an authoritarian advance. Avid Readers will recall that because of the Saturn-Uranus square that is in effect all year and next, the heavy controls of Saturn are shortly followed by the release demanded by Uranus. After the Moon opposes Saturn, it squares Uranus at 3:23 PM ET — let freedom reign. Humming in the background for the past few days and exact at 9:30 PM ET is a trine between Mercury and Saturn, which is a fine pattern for structuring ideas and plans, with gravitas.
SUNDAY: if those plans involve gobs of money or a focus on women, art, social expression, and values, they would be reflecting the square between Venus and Pluto, exact at 11:06 PM ET. But before that happens, the Leo Moon needs to party on, big time until 10:21 AM ET, when it opposes expansive Jupiter. Chill during the ensuing void — and if you feel driven to extremes, consider that the Venus-Pluto square can suggest a waste of emotions, bringing a sledgehammer to a situation instead of a smaller, less destructive tool. On the other hand, the catharsis potential of Venus-Pluto may be just what the doctor ordered, in order to clear the air. Contributing to the potential for indulgence is a trine between Venus and Jupiter, exact on Monday morning, not to mention another trine between Mars and Pluto, facilitating action that may be more yang in expression than in yin. Once the Moon enters Virgo at 7:05 PM ET, the evening is driven to perfection and analysis. Note that the Moon is at the end of the lunar cycle, preparing to begin anew the next evening at 8:51 PM ET.

Are you finding this weekly forecast helpful? This delights my Gemini Moon. Other parts of my horoscope would find it delightful if my palm were crossed with silver, which can be made to happen via the Cosmic Tip Jar, with much gratitude for your appreciation.

And now, the news.

Lots of action over the weekend, reflecting the anticipating surge of energy symbolized by Mars activating the June 10th solar eclipse. There was even a power surge in New York last night that knocked out service on eight subway lines. Hundreds of riders had to be evacuated, and New York’s new governor was not amused.

That’s a huge story, but not the top one (obviously), as Hurricane Ida landed in Louisiana as a Cat 4 storm. It was fascinating to see Ida reflect the weekend’s patterns. We had a high-functioning Taurus Moon, needing to build material security at a slow and steady pace. The Moon was well-supported by the Sun, Mercury, and Mars in supremely organized Virgo, boosted by a square to Jupiter. I told you it was a good day to get stuff done, right? Here’s how atmospheric scientist Kimberly Wood reacted on Sunday morning, according to WaPo:

She looked again at satellite images showing what scientists call a “well-organized” storm.

“Well-organized,” eh? Ya think? Not only that, but Ida didn’t race through towns like an entity with a lot of fire or squares. Noooooo, it hung around for hours, stubbornly enduring. Silver lining: though over a million people in Louisiana (especially New Orleans) are without power (until who knows when), most all of the levees held, sixteen years to the day of Hurricane Katrina. I’ll take that silver lining while reading WaPo’s explanation of how human behavior has affected the changes in our climate, which in turn created this very persistent storm. My heart goes out to Avid Readers in Ida’s path — and frankly in any other environmental crisis zone (fires, floods, droughts, etc) in these challenging times.

UPDATE: it seems that the loss of power in Louisiana could be far more impactful than the brick and mortar damage done by Hurricane Katrina. It is a sobering reflection of the paradigm shift of the Jupiter-Saturn Great Mutation in Aquarius, which suggested that the resilience of our support networks, including power grids, would become paramount in this new era. Humans are ridiculously clever and adaptable, and the power will be restored…but our systems must change. The trine between the Sun and Uranus, exact on Monday after the New Moon, combined with the ruthlessly effective Mars-Pluto trine and benevolent Venus-Jupiter trine does bode well for a successful collaborative recovery effort over the next several days.

Meanwhile…

The White House said it had evacuated over 122,000 people from Afghanistan in recent weeks, and today, the last troops departed, officially ending America’s longest war. The stories of the 13 U.S. servicemen and servicewomen killed in last week’s suicide bombing are worthy of time and attention if you ask me. For Barbara Lee (D-Oakland, CA), the only U.S. Congressperson to vote against invading Afghanistan way back in 2001, this day comes as transiting Mars squares her Uranus-Node conjunction at 19 Gemini (birthdate: 7/16/1946 in El Paso, TX). An eclipsed Uranus suggests an opportunity to showcase one’s independence; the eclipsed Node can push one into the spotlight, as demonstrated by the press she’s receiving.

Here’s another important Neptune-themed ending: “Leaded petrol era officially over as Algeria ends pump sales.” Neptune refers to oil.

If Neptune is demanding focus in the news, it’s time for another chapter in the life of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, noted here back in 2016. She claimed to have developed a way to run a zillion lab tests from one pinprick of blood, and while maybe one day in the future this will be possible, it wasn’t possible when Holmes was running a billion-dollar company based on nothing. With transiting Saturn on her 14 Aquarius Sun, which is also being squared by Uranus, it’s time for her to get real and shake things up. She’s finally going on trial this week and her rumored defense is that she was in an abusive relationship with her co-defendant (and former boyfriend and business partner).

From Mercury opposing Neptune last week…to Mars opposing Neptune this week, we were bound to hear stories of fanatics and viruses combined. Three fierce anti-vaccine crusaders died of Covid in recent days, all with broadcasting platforms (Neptune refers to broadcasting through intangible airwaves). Two of the three changed their stance before they died. Also:

“Conspiracy theorist who called COVID-19 a hoax dies of COVID,” with this subhead: “Robert David Steele, a former CIA officer, had also claimed NASA is operating a child slave colony on Mars.”
“Anti-mask rally organizer Caleb Wallace dies of COVID in Texas, his pregnant wife says”
“Unvaccinated, unmasked elementary schoolteacher infects 26 people, including her students, in California”

Oh lookie what NYT columnist Paul Krugman posted just minutes ago — he is so in sync with planetary patterns:

“The snake-oil theory of the modern right” — and he’s talking about health care.

Ooh, a scandal that’s not happening here in America:

“Austrian government collapses over Russian scandal”

Mars-Neptune patterns can be transcendent and miraculous.

Jacob Blake, a Kenosha, Wisconsin resident who was shot seven times last year by police and was left paralyzed, expects to walk again.
Nearly every story about an athlete competing in the Paralympics this week in Tokyo is transcendent and miraculous. Example: swimmer Morgan Stickney
“Harvard University’s new chief chaplain is…an atheist”

And finally, Mars-Neptune patterns can reflect men (Mars) who dance (Neptune) en pointe, thus dissolving boundaries (Neptune), as seen in this video posted on Twitter by the good folks at Now This! Overall, it reflects the ground-breaking potential of the 2021-2022 square between Saturn (old guard) and Uranus (avant-garde), a contest in which Uranus will always, always, always. prevail.

All in good time.

Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. We will have a most excellent discussion together.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Friday 8/27/2021 & the Weekend: Eris Squares Pluto; Eclipse Gets Triggered

August 27, 2021/in The Forecast

It’s Thursday, (that’s when I started this post, which continued into today, which is Friday), and astrology is functioning as anticipated and as designed. Astrology does not care whether you believe in it or not. I’m thinking these thoughts in light of today’s headlines, which reflect the potency of current patterns. For instance, Avid Readers who requested personal insights on the June 10th solar eclipse knew that the last few days of August were ripe for an “unexpected” sudden surge of action and aggression, especially for those whose horoscopes were personally affected. The trigger for the surge is Mars — currently at 17 Virgo — as it activates that June eclipse at 20 Gemini. Mars is close enough to an exact square to 20 Gemini to spark an energetic release, with more to come the closer we get to August 30th. Entities whose horoscopes are affected include President Biden (Midheaven at 19 Virgo), the United States (Mars-Neptune at 21 Gemini and 22 Virgo). For the latter, we should keep an eye on the first couple of days in September.

Also adding fuel to the fire is the 4th in a series of five squares between Pluto and Eris, exact within the next 24 hours. Avid Readers may recall this discussion of Eris last month:

Eris is a minor planet that was discovered in 2005. Eris moves at a snail’s pace, from our perspective on Spaceship Earth.

In mythology, Eris is known as the Goddess of Discord. Chaos is her middle name, but the havoc she wreaks is not random. Eris represents the outrage of those who perceive they don’t have a seat at the table. It is the “have-nots” rising up against the perceived “haves.” Eris was conjunct rebel Uranus in 2017. From 2021 through 2022, Eris will be squared by Pluto. This amplifies the potential for efforts to overthrow the status quo for the sake of acquiring power, as seen in a news outlet near you. I’ll wager it also amplifies the havoc Mother Nature is currently wreaking in the form of fires, floods, famine, etc. If you have a planet around 24 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn, you are more personally affected by the ruthless and crusading needs of Eris. Bernie Sanders has Eris on Mars at 23 Aries. The former guy has Eris squaring his Venus-Saturn conjunction in Cancer.

Of course, any entity that is being activated by Eris is also being activated by Pluto. The United States has Mercury (how we need to think) at 24 Cancer, currently being squared by Eris and opposed by Pluto. Our national dialogue has been especially ruthless, persuasive, and outraged, as aggrieved factions demand a seat at the table — has it not?

Anyhoo, the 4th Eris-Pluto square is exact as I type, and it’s happening at the same time as Mars triggering the June 10th eclipse. The fifth and final Eris square in this series happens on October 9th, along with other heavy patterns, including Pluto and Saturn turning direct on October 6th and 10th, respectively, and Mars meeting up with Sun and Mercury on October 8th and 9th. Point is, the intensity of August — at least in the headlines — is bound to continue in the near-term future, building on the action that’s happening now.

Here’s an entire website devoted to Eris, if you’d like to dive in…

Meanwhile, we add the above volatility to the weekend forecast, and we see how the volatility is reflected in Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card for the Week:

FRIDAY: Moon enters Taurus at 12:26 AM ET, seeking to build and maintain material security. This is good, as Moon in Taurus tends to calm things down. A trine between the Moon and Sun at 9:19 AM ET facilitates cooperation. Oh — and look at the story WaPo posted, right before 11 AM ET: “Teddy bears, clothes and messages of love: Afghan refugees receive warm welcome in some countries.” The work week ends with an authoritative advance or a streamlining cut, however, as Moon squares Saturn at 5:04 PM ET. Cut your losses, if this pattern affects your own personal world. Count your blessings and find comfort in pleasures that delight the senses: music, food, drink, and a snuggle with your sweetie.
SATURDAY: More Moon in Taurus, jolted awake by a bit of buzz around 5:51 AM ET, when the Moon meets up with rebel Uranus. Unless a shock has thrown you off-balance, this is a great day to get stuff done, ’cause after the wake-up call, Moon trines Mars, planet of action at 2:14 PM ET. More music can be made in the evening, under the influence of dreamy Neptune and the Moon’s sextile, exact at 8:55 PM ET.
SUNDAY: Moon trines Pluto at 1:49 AM ET, facilitating emotional depth and pillow talk. Moon squares Jupiter at 4:36 AM ET, adding expansive energy and more meaningful discussion as the Moon trines high-functioning Mercury in Virgo at 10:58 AM ET. Moon goes void for two hours — blink and you’ll miss it –and then enters Gemini at 12:41 PM ET. What’s the buzz? Tell me what’s happening –with prominence– as Mercury will be at the end of Virgo, about to enter Libra, a.k.a. one of the four Aries Points. The news that hits the wires late this evening may be the setup for next week’s action.

No sleeping in on Monday. The Third Quarter Moon at 3:13 AM ET suggests a challenge demanding resolution. Then it’s buzz buzz Moon in Gemini buzz for the rest of the day.

And now, the news.

Tuesday’s Mercury-Neptune opposition suggested significant news in the music industry, some of it bewildering or surreal:

“Charlie Watts, Rolling Stones’ drummer, dies at 80″
“Baby on ‘Nevermind’ cover sues Nirvana over child sexual exploitation” –– yes, really — and the baby in question just had his first Saturn Return. No wonder he’s getting serious about establishing himself in the material world — and suing for damages. You must be wondering what’s going on in Kurt Cobain’s horoscope to reflect this bewildering, sudden attack, right? I just gave you two clues. Obviously, he has transiting Neptune hitting all the angles of his horoscope, much like Gavin Newsom, whom we discussed earlier this week. And yes, transiting Mars is about to hit those angles, too; hence the attack.
“‘It was the happiest time,’ –the Beach Boys on their strange second coming.”
“Grace Slick and Jack Cassady: ‘How we made White Rabbit'”

The magical thinking potential of the Mercury-Neptune opposition, combined with the weekend’s Sun-Jupiter opposition put ivermectin in the spotlight. Ivermectin is a drug used to de-worm horses, and it’s flying off the shelves, alarming the CDC. In the language of astrology, the Sun refers to horses.

The above planetary patterns suggest excess, fog, and scams, as in“Hospitals and Insurers Didn’t Want You to See Their Prices. Here’s Why.” a fine piece of investigative journalism from the Sunday NYT.

And speaking of excess and scandal, have you been following the latest developments in the search to find a new host for Jeopardy!? After an alleged exhaustive search, which has trotted out umpteen candidates over the past several months, executive producer Mike Richards pulled a Dick Cheney and declared himself the winner. Except that things were not as they seemed with respect to Richards, so he was forced to step down. That leaves Mayim Bialik — touted as a Ph.D-toting neuroscientist –to hold down the fort. But it turns out that Bialik is also controversial. Meanwhile, fans of LeVar Burton have been lobbying hard for the Star Trek and Reading Rainbow icon to be awarded the gig, and you can find out why in the next issue of Mountain Astrologer, which is due out any day now. I wrote that column a few months ago, and I’m fascinated to see how Burton’s real-life experience suggests he’s not totally out of the running at this time.

Though he passed away last November, Alex Trebek’s horoscope is very much alive. A tough pattern between Saturn and Pluto reflects this anguished period of time. We may hear significant news this weekend, as Mercury hits all four angles, with a burst of assertive or provocative action due around September 14th, when Mars follows in Mercury’s footsteps. Like all difficult phases, this too shall pass. I expect Trebek’s legacy to be reaping rewards by late spring 2022.

In other news…

Planetary patterns did suggest Congress could move significant legislation forward, and the House did pass a $3.5 trillion bill intended to expand the social safety net, including expanded access to healthcare, childcare and even safeguard our planet through clean energy subsidies. The vote was 219-212, and not one single Republican voted for it. The House also passed the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, designed to restore provisions against voter suppression that were stripped away by the Supreme Court in 2013, enabling states like Texas to make it harder and harder for people to vote. HR 4 also passed on party lines, and both bills are likely to be killed by Senate…unless the Democrats get their party together and kill the filibuster. On Saturday, on the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s
“I Have a Dream” speech, thousands are planning to March on Washington for Voting Rights.

Meanwhile, reflecting the potent revelations suggested by yesterday’s Mercury-Pluto trine:

“The police officer who fatally shot Ashli Babbitt reveals his identity”
White cop in Louisiana beat Black motorist at “routine traffic stop;” video released after being kept secret for two years
“Newly Unsealed Transcript Reveals Crux of Mueller’s Collusion Case”
“Times Up leader resigns amid outrage over ties to Andrew Cuomo” are revealed

Meanwhile…

I resist linking any U.S. mainstream media coverage of yesterday’s suicide bombings in Kabul. “If it bleeds, it leads” has always been the media’s marching orders (my cynicism is based on actual work experience) — and it reflects the sensationalism (Neptune) of combat in all forms (Mars) of the Mars in Gemini square Neptune in Virgo in the U.S. horoscope. Remember that this Mars-Neptune square is hyperactive now, thanks to transiting Neptune’s engagement (in 2021 and 2022), with bonus action over the next week provided by transiting Mars. The tragic deaths of 13 U.S. soldiers are dominating the news landscape, as editors and producers seize the opportunity to talk about a fresh event, at the expense of older ones; e.g., over 200 people in Florida dying daily of Covid.

Heather Cox Richardson summarized the progress and challenges of the evacuation efforts in Afghanistan in last night’s Letter, marveling at the response of Republican leadership. Instead of condemning the suicide bomber and the terrorist organization (ISIS-K) that claimed responsibility for the attack, as everyone else in the world seems to be doing, Republicans are blaming President Biden. Fortunately, we have astrology as a tool for understanding these surreal and divisive tactics. We understand the pressures in the U.S. horoscope, and we’ve been following planetary cycles long enough to appreciate that we really do live in all too interesting times.

Using the lens of astrology, we can also understand Biden’s statement that he would hunt down those responsible for the bombing and make them pay. Though often masked by an optimistic Sagittarius Ascendant and comforting, low-key Taurus Moon, Biden has four planets in Scorpio, including Mars square Pluto in Leo. A stereotypical Scorpio doesn’t forget or forgive, as Biden stated last night.

I leave you with an aptly-timed interview with Russian dissident Alexei Navalny. Despite everything he’s been through, he remains optimistic that the regime that has imprisoned him after trying to poison him will end, “sooner or later.” Until then, here’s a truckload of uplifting stories from the Good News Network.

What’s going on in your horoscope? Do patterns support you being one of the 55% of Americans who say they anticipate changing jobs next year? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

To support the time and effort it takes to write these weekly forecasts, contributions to the Cosmic Tip Jar may be flung here.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Eris, Greek Goddess of Discord

Monday 8/23/2021: Sneak Peek at the Week; Full Moon in Aquarius Review

August 23, 2021/in The Forecast

It’s Sunday, and the Sun leaves Leo for Virgo at 5:34 PM ET.

Virgo is an earth sign (as opposed to fire, water, or air). It is also a mutable sign, as opposed to cardinal or fixed. What does that mean? Cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn; they need to come up with the idea and take action. Fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius. These signs need to organize and give form to the concepts pitched by cardinal signs. Mutable signs — Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces — get to spread the word about the cool form the fixed signs made. Got it?

More about Virgo: it is ruled by Mercury, which also rules how we need to think and communicate. Virgo is symbolized by a virgin with a shaft of wheat. Virgo’s motto is I ANALYZE. Virgo needs to apply its mental energy to discernment and discrimination, as it separates the wheat from the chaff. Happy birthday, Virgo!

Earlier today — at 8:01 AM ET, we had a Full Moon in Aquarius. Here is what that looked like, set in Washington, D.C.:

Observations:

Mercury and Mars are on the Ascendant of this chart and both are about to oppose Neptune. The U.S. is likely to experience a continuation of the sharp words/”everyone’s a critic” bickering and aggressive actions that last week’s Mercury-Mars conjunction in Virgo reflected. The opposition to Neptune fogs up the messaging and adds Neptune themes to the bickering and aggression: conspiracies, drugs, spirits, viruses, music, victims, refugees, wipeouts, healing, water, oceans, etc.
Our fearless leader is represented by Mercury in high-functioning Virgo, right on the Virgo Ascendant. This Mercury is right on President Biden’s Midheaven (career status), so that’s one of several patterns reflecting him being so much in the spotlight now.
The Sun and Moon are at the very end of Leo and Aquarius, reflecting a feeling of crisis about the energies involved. Leo Sun is the energy of passion, creativity, and the divine right of kings; Aquarius is more intellectual, scientific and refers to the masses.
Continued disruptions in the health and education of our children are suggested in this horoscope.
The Sun and Moon at 29 Leo and Aquarius fall on President Biden’s North and South Node, respectively; his Chiron (the wounded healer) is conjunct his North Node. Astrologer Steven Forrest has written that a Leo North Node suggests that the individual’s path to growth is to take on a position of leadership in society — one in which they can be heard. Their mission is to help others in society who, in a past life, would have burned them at the stake. How’s that for destiny, hm?
The Sabian Symbols for this Full Moon are (for the Sun at 30 Leo) “an unsealed letter;” and (for the Moon at 30 Aquarius) “the field of Ardath in bloom.” For the latter, Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee writes:

“…an open expanse flourishing with growth from an ancient era. ‘The field of Ardath’ is a reference to ancient Babylon and a mystic meadow symbolizing the blossoming of a mystical brotherhood….associated with ‘the cradle of civilization’…a meadow without specific identity or characteristics: a symbol for all peoples in all times”.

FYI, this was the Sabian Symbol for the New Moon in Aquarius in February 2015, another time when events in that area of the world were hot in the headlines, as you will see in the link to the news round-up for that forecast, along with climate change and innovative power sources. This was the last New Moon before the seventh game-changing Uranus-Pluto square, which happened on March 17, 2015.
Taken together, the “unsealed letter” and the “field of Ardath in bloom” suggest (writes Bovee) that we are open at this time to “creative energies that belong to no one, that are not owned, but shared…messages that cannot be traced to any particular source. These two Symbols were activated on the Full Moon in Leo in February 2011 — here’s an intriguing post by another astrologer with more on the meaning of Ardath.

And now, the Sneak Peek at this Week:

MONDAY: No sleeping in, as the Pisces Moon is not void. It’s a light week in terms of exact planetary patterns that do not involve the Moon. At 8:48 AM ET, Venus — high-functioning in Libra –trines Saturn, suggesting ideas about money, values, art, and women given a practical, effective structure. Let’s hope! (UPDATE: oh lookie! As I was typing this last night, the FDA released its approval of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine. Watch, as that approval means entities across the U.S. can now require vaccination in workplaces, etc.) Grab your friends and unconventional allies and reach across the aisle in the early morning. By noon, we’ll be feeling the face-off between the intuitive and compassionate Pisces Moon and Mars, demanding we get it right. That opposition happens at 12:42 PM ET, and it’s followed by another face-off — this one with Mercury, at 10:02 PM ET. Note that much of the debates are colored in various shades of rose, reflecting 1) a meet-up of Moon and Neptune, exact at 12:49 AM ET on…
TUESDAY: …as well as an opposition between Mercury (how we need to think) and Neptune, exact at 9:13 PM ET. Hark! There’s music in the air! Meanwhile, note the potential twist, flake, or slow start to your Tuesday, as the Pisces Moon goes void at 5:12 AM ET, not to enter the next sign — Aries —until 2:58 PM ET. Stick to routine concerns; take time to wander and CHILL over perceived crises, as those that arise during Moon voids have an odd way of being much ado about nothing. Once the Moon does enter Aries, see if you notice the energetic shift, as the headlines and people around you are driven by a need to lead the way, get things started, etc., etc. not now, but RIGHT NOW.
WEDNESDAY: The crusading drive of the Aries Moon gets a lift from the nearest authority figure in the morning, as Moon sextiles Saturn. The only other exact aspect is an opposition to Venus at 11:56 AM ET. In Libra, Venus is focused on manners, fairness, and diplomacy, which the me-me-me Aries Moon is not usually inclined to consider. The opposition suggests potential conflict, illumination, and release. Then…onward…for the rest of the day.
THURSDAY: still more Moon in Aries, an excellent day for investigative journalists, as a trine between Mercury and Pluto digs up news from underground. What fresh hell will we discover now — about the powers and resources that be? On the other hand, Congress is back in session this week, and planetary patterns could reflect positive developments, once they get past the Mercury-Neptune fog of Tuesday. At 2:01 PM ET, Moon makes its weekly clash with Pluto, suggesting power plays and emotional catharses, along with someone emphatically demanding a place at the table. At 5:14 PM ET, Moon sextiles Jupiter, cheering the crusaders on. Chill during the ensuing void; avoid making impulse purchases, as things bought during Moon voids have an odd way of not fulfilling their intended purpose.
FRIDAY: Moon enters Taurus at 12:26 AM ET, seeking to build and maintain material security. Congress, are you paying attention? A trine between the Moon and Sun at 9:19 AM ET facilitates cooperation. The work week ends with an authoritative advance or a streamlining cut, as Moon squares Saturn at 5:04 PM ET. You’ll feel better in a few hours, indulging in the sensual pleasures Taurus loves best: good food, drink, and a snuggle with your sweetie.
SATURDAY: More Moon in Taurus, jolted awake by a bit of buzz around 5:51 AM ET, when the Moon meets up with rebel Uranus. This is a great day to get stuff done, ’cause after the wake-up call, Moon trines Mars, planet of action at 2:14 PM ET. More music can be made in the evening, under the influence of dreamy Neptune and the Moon’s sextile, exact at 8:55 PM ET.
SUNDAY: Moon trines Pluto at 1:49 AM ET, facilitating emotional depth and pillow talk. Moon squares Jupiter at 4:36 AM ET, adding expansive energy and more meaningful discussion as the Moon trines high-functioning Mercury in Virgo at 10:58 AM ET. Moon goes void for two hours — blink and you’ll miss it –and then enters Gemini at 12:41 PM ET. What’s the buzz? Tell me what’s happening –with prominence– as Mercury will be at the end of Virgo, about to enter Libra, a.k.a. one of the four Aries Points.

And there you have it. August is almost done. Where did the time go? How’s your summer going?

And now, the news.

First, an important story fitting the disruptive patterns of two weeks ago. I didn’t mention it because of all the other overwhelming stories, and this one was not unexpected. But this is science stuff, and thus good to know. From the BBC, which explains all the science stuff clearly, “Climate change: IPCC report is ‘code red’ for humanity” and from The Guardian, “Climate crisis: Scientists spot warning signs of Gulf Stream collapse” (which I’ve posted about in much earlier forecasts).

Another significant story of disruption and diversity, fitting for planetary patterns: “2020 Census data: the U.S. is more diverse and more multi-racial.”

Meanwhile…

Last week’s forecast suggested forces aligning in a great humanitarian mission. This certainly applies to international efforts to airlift tens of thousands of people out of Afghanistan, as Heather Cox Richardson explains. And it would be an airlift, with Uranus (aviation!) so hot in the cosmos right now. In the US, commercial airlines have been ordered to participate, including Hawaiian Airlines, can you imagine. The U.S. alone has evacuated over 28,000 people, and HCR included an observation from Matthew Dowd (who served in the Bush-Cheney administration), that during the time the US safely evacuated 20,000 people from Afghanistan, here in the U.S., 5000 people died from Covid and 500 people died from gunshot wounds. And yet, if you listen to the media, the exit is a disaster. I don’t know about you, but I don’t remember a single story about the impact of the U.S. withdrawal from Syria on our abandoned Kurdish allies. That happened in October 2019, and it took considerable searching to find a Bloomberg article from September 2020 about that impact.

Anyhoo…as Avid Readers will recall, President Biden had a once-in-a-lifetime challenging pattern in his horoscope that was exact on August 16th. This involved Saturn (streamlining, karma, necessary controls) and his Midheaven (public status). In September and October, Biden will have two hits of an opposition between Saturn and Pluto on September 20 and October 31, suggesting an intense squeeze in that time, followed by a need for daring/innovation action around November 9, as transiting Uranus opposes his Mars for the third time this year. My sense is that much will be accomplished in November and December, with more supportive press.

In other news…

Governor Gavin Newsom of California is facing an effort to recall him. It is a totally bonkers recall process, fitting the patterns in his horoscope. Right now, Newsom has Neptune hitting all of the angles of his horoscope, as well as his natal Mars-Pluto square. Translation: a potential wipe-out, in the face of surreal conditions. California voters are being asked to answer two questions. The first is whether they are in favor of recalling Governor Newsom. If less than 50% vote NO on that question, Newsom is recalled. Second, voters are asked to choose their preferred replacement from a list of 46 candidates, which does not include Newsom or any other “prominent Democrat,” despite California being a Democratic-majority state. The leading Republican candidate is Larry Elders, a radio host whom pundits have called “the Black face of white supremacy,” with an ex-fiancee who recently alleged that Elders brandished a gun at her during their abusive relationship. The LA Times has a whole webpage devoted to the recall election. This detailed paragraph was written for the majority of cherished Avid Readers, who live in California, and I hope it motivates them to participate in this September 14 election (which will happen unless it’s challenged in court). Because if you don’t vote, someone else will — and then you’ll be sorry.

Right-o. Moving on.

Last week’s Sun-Jupiter opposition, combined with Uranus at a standstill, in harmony with Mercury and Mars, brought lots of disruptive tech news:

“Elon Musk announces plans for android ‘Tesla bot'” — intended to make human performing physical labor “a joke.”
“Meet Grace, the ultra-lifelike nurse robot”
“Are you ready for sentient Disney robots?“

Add the Mercury-Mars opposition to Neptune, and stories of music surface, as in:

“Lorde’s (new album) ‘Solar Power‘ is mostly just wind” Perhaps, but the title track was the most played single by radio stations in Maine while I was driving all over the back roads two weeks ago.
This one is a Darwin Award contender — tragic — but reflecting planetary patterns suggesting overconfidence (Sun-Jupiter) and music, drinking, wipeouts. At a Dead & Company concert at Citifield on Friday, a man named Ian Crystal attempted to do a backflip over a balcony and died. He was the CEO of a liquor company and reports say he may have been intoxicated.
In Central Park, another big, fat music concert was canceled, thanks to the warm-up act for Hurricane Henri. On Saturday, New York was hit by a record amount of rain. The concert was supposed to be a celebration of a new post-Covid era, and it was scheduled back when Jupiter was in early Pisces, suggesting it was way too soon! Who schedules an event celebrating a new era on a day with the Sun at the very END of a sign, opposed by Jupiter at the end of Aquarius? People who know nothing about astrology, that’s who.

Finally, a few stories of big-hearted actions, reflecting last week’s Sun-Jupiter opposition:

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Thank you for reading this forecast.

Tuesday 8/17/2021: Late Sneak Peek at a Big, Big, Week; Uranus Retrograde

August 18, 2021/in The Forecast

Greetings from New York — and happy Tuesday. Having shipped my next “Charts in the News” column to my most excellent editors at Mountain Astrologer, I can now put this overwhelming week in astro-logical perspective — and yes, catch up on the news!

Key patterns this week are as follows:

Venus left Virgo for Libra just after midnight on Monday. This is an improvement in condition, as Libra is one of the signs Venus rules. Other planetary patterns permitting, Venus in Libra is a fine time for cosmetic projects and partnerships. Enjoy the sweetness while it lasts, as Venus enters Scorpio on September 10th.
Mercury is rushing to meet up with Mars, planet of aggression and action, exact on Wednesday night. Both planets are in Virgo, which is great for projects involving sorting through the details and making things right. The meet-up with Mars may inflame the debate, as in Virgo, everyone’s a critic.
Heated words — however accurate — may be blown up further by the Sun’s opposition to Jupiter on Thursday. Sun is in regally entitled Leo; Jupiter expands whatever it touches. So…big drama…big egos (on the downside)…or big parties and big-heartedness (Leo rules the heart) on the upside.
Humming in the background all week and last week, too is Uranus, planet of rebels, eccentrics, and shocks to the system is slowing to a virtual standstill as it prepares to turn retrograde on Thursday. A stationary planet is like the sound of a blaring car horn, pulling focus in all that it rules. When a planet is retrograde, the energy it represents is best expressed by turning inward, instead of outward. When direct, Uranus tends to rebel against the status quo set by others. When retrograde, Uranus needs to set itself free from limits that are self-imposed. So if you have a planet between 10 and 14 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Aquarius (like Kathy Hochul, soon to be New York’s new governor), you can expect an intense second hit of issues you’ve recently experienced involving a need for innovation, being yourself without compromise, and sudden upsets of the status quo. You’ll get the third hit in early 2022, after Uranus turns direct on January 18th. Uranus will advance into new territory on May 6. Keywords for Uranus include lightning, aviation, seismic activity, revolutions, astrology, uranium, gender-benders, genetic mutations, eccentrics, technology.
On Sunday: Full Moon in Aquarius; Sun leaves Leo for Virgo. The Full Moon will be covered in a later post.

Here’s how the week goes:

MONDAY: was driven by the Moon in Sagittarius, pitting righteous opinions against cool analysis as it squared Mercury and Mars at 1:56 PM and 6:31 PM ET, respectively. Newsfeeds are packed with argumentative posts and op-eds about who’s at fault for the shock and awfulness in Afghanistan.
TUESDAY: If it all feels like too much (as Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week suggests), step away from that newsfeed and make a dreamy escape into nature or your local yoga Zoom room. Moon squares Neptune at 1:18 PM ET, challenging clarity of expression in the early part of the day. Take advantage of the balance offered after the Moon-Neptune square; the next stop for the Moon is a trine to the Sun, exact at 5:50 PM. Go with the easy flow of support in the evening as the Moon sextiles Jupiter at 9:42 PM ET and then goes void. Time to chill!
WEDNESDAY: Moon enters Capricorn at 1:57 AM ET, ready to take care of business. Stick to facts; don’t take sharp words personally. The Moon travels without interference and the build to the Mercury-Mars meet-up at 11:27 PM ET offers a whole day of intense — but efficient analysis. Mercury-Mars together in Virgo suggests a new cycle in matters of work, service and/or health. Over the next 24 hours, a grand humanitarian plan may materialize, facilitated by the easy flow among Moon, Mercury and Mars before midnight, continuing into…
THURSDAY: with more flow between the Moon and Uranus (good for reaching across the aisle) at 2:58 AM ET. The proactive energy of the Capricorn Moon is determined to meet goals, especially with the surge of energy happening among other planets today. Moon meets up with Pluto at 7:59 PM ET, facilitating a catharsis or power play. CHILL during the ensuing void, and roll with whatever twists or flakes crop up. Remember that crises that happen during voids are often much ado about nothing, easily resolved when the Moon engages its focus in the next sign. Meanwhile, the Sun-Jupiter opposition is exact at 8:28 PM ET, Sun refers to leaders; Jupiter refers to courts, publishing, churches, and academia. Watch for illumination in the news. At 9:40 PM, Uranus turns retrograde, trekking backward through Taurus through the rest of the year.
FRIDAY: Mercury trines Uranus at 4:05 AM ET; Moon enters Aquarius at 4:48 AM ET. Time to connect with your unconventional friends and acquaintances, using technology or other innovations. Reach across the aisle, already. A trine to Venus at 2:01 PM ET facilitates good cheer, though Sunday’s upcoming Full Moon has emotions on the rise. The work week ends on a serious or somber note, as Moon meets up with Saturn at 7:55 PM ET.
SATURDAY: Pushback from imposed controls, perhaps, as Moon squares Uranus at 6:11 AM ET. Waking up with a jolt? There are no other exact aspects among the planets today, though humming in the background is the driving perfection of Mars in Virgo trine to Uranus in Taurus, exact on…
SUNDAY: at 2:37 AM ET. Innovative action involving cars and combat; maybe even in healthcare, given Mars is in Virgo. Moon meets up with Jupiter at 3:18 AM ET, and its exuberant surge of expression is illuminated on the Full Moon in Aquarius, exact at 8:01 AM ET. Moon enters Pisces at 8:42 AM ET, facilitating empathy and soulful reflection. Sun leaves Leo for Virgo at 5:34 PM ET, hopefully cooling passions and reducing heat.

I’ll write a detailed post about the Full Moon later this week. It’s a potent one and activates the horoscopes of the 2017 Great American Eclipse, President Biden, VP Harris, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, the former guy, and more.

And now, the news — two weeks’ worth!

First, a bit of apparent good news, as the Senate did get its act together and reached across the aisle to pass a $1 trillion dollar infrastructure bill. The vote was 69-30, with 19 Republicans supporting it. That was how the first part of last week was supposed to flow, as you may recall from the Sneak Peek at the Week. The House now has to work on it, and planetary patterns in the Biden-Harris inauguration chart do suggest that a ginormous windfall funding bill is possible — perhaps within the next two months.

This past weekend looked mighty disruptive, driven by a potentially unforgiving Scorpio Moon clashing with heavy Saturn and shocker Uranus (blaring its horn as it slows to a virtual standstill). Also, as Avid Readers who ordered personal insights on the most recent eclipses will recall, those eclipses are currently being triggered by other planets — especially Mars — as they travel through Virgo. When eclipses are triggered, a release of bottlenecked energy is anticipated, in the way a genie pops out of a bottle. There’s no putting it back.

On Saturday morning, there was a 7.2 magnitude quake in Haiti.
the Delta variant is wreaking havoc, and in parts of the world — especially in the U.S.–some protests against mask mandates and vaccines were violent, and the start of the school year has been disrupted even more.
In New Zealand, one case of Delta has been reported, and no-nonsense PM Jacinda Ardern immediately called for a national lockdown for at least three days. Transiting Mars is right on top of her Jupiter, an apt time for expansive action. Neptune at 22 Pisces is opposing her Saturn, and square her Venus-Neptune opposition. Surreal. Ardern’s horoscope is here.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, the Taliban has taken over. Stephen Colbert has the details. If you subscribe to Mountain Astrologer, you may have seen in the current issue an update on the horoscope of President Biden:

The May 26 lunar eclipse at 5° Sagittarius falls within two degrees of Biden’s Ascendant.The June 10 solar eclipse at 19° Gemini squares Biden’s MC. Those eclipses will be triggered by transiting Mars in Virgo in early and late August, and with SA MC = Saturn exact on August 16, a surge of bottlenecked energy regarding Biden’s professional status would not be unexpected. On August 17, he’ll have the second of three squares to his Sun from Jupiter. Since the Sun rules his 9th house, we may see an expansion involving publishing, travel, the courts, or foreign affairs.

SA MC= Saturn refers to a solar arc (another way astrologers measure time). It is a once-in-a-lifetime event, suggesting focused ambition and significant development in professional status. When Saturn is hot in the horoscope, it can be an apt time to cut your losses, heavy as they might be. Biden’s horoscope is right on schedule.

For the past few days, Venus has been at the Aries Point, attracting prominence as it moved through the last bit of Virgo and into Libra. The Aries Point refers to any planet at the very beginning of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. Venus refers to women, and in Libra, commands dignity. A global focus and concern for the fate of the women and girls of Afghanistan reflect Venus at her best.

On a related note, thanks to psychic James Cinclair for sending these lovely thoughts to everyone on his email list:

The people of Afghanistan are intelligent, diverse and beautiful. What they are experiencing right now is a nightmare that we can only imagine. I’m sending along this video from Kabul in 2016 and ask that you keep the Afghan people in your thoughts.

The world needs lots of lovely thoughts — and images — right now.

Meanwhile…

UPDATE: on Andrew Cuomo, who finally gave New York his two weeks’ notice. We don’t have a birth time for the outgoing (!!) governor, but the timing of his resignation was such a blow-up that it makes me suspect his Moon is around 5 Gemini and was therefore eclipsed in May. Eleven women detailed allegations of sexual harassment in an explosive report. A write-up of his horoscope from over a year ago, when his star was shining far brighter, is here.

Cuomo will be replaced by Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul. Born on August 27, 1958, in Buffalo, NY, she is a Virgo with Moon in humanitarian Aquarius — and thus won’t be as chit-chatty as her Gemini Moon predecessor. Though we don’t have a birth time, there’s plenty to see that reflects her sudden promotion. Transiting Jupiter is trine her Jupiter at 28 Libra, and it’s been opposing her powerful Sun-Pluto conjunction in early Pisces. She has Venus-Uranus conjunction at 13-14 Leo. This conveys considerable razzle-dazzle, which is amazing, given that she’s been such a non-public presence in the Cuomo administration. See how transiting Uranus is squaring that charismatic conjunction all month, and suddenly she’s ready for her close-up? She takes office on August 24th.

Finally…

My favorite story reflecting the August 2nd Sun-Saturn opposition (necessary control), followed by the August 6th Sun-Uranus square (disruptions on airplanes; wacky humor):

Flight attendants had to duct tape an unruly passenger to his seat on Frontier Airlines. Here’s flight attendant “Alfredo Rivera” with the details.

And…

My favorite Leo Sun opposing Jupiter in Aquarius story so far (we expect stories of big-hearted humanitarian relief):

“Polish javelin thrower Maria Andrejczyk auctions silver Olympic medal to pay for an infant’s heart surgery.” The winning bidder covered the cost of the surgery and let Maria keep her medal.

As Jacinda Ardern likes to say, “try to be kind.”

Here’s the link to the Cosmic Tip Jar (to show appreciation for my Gemini Moon’s effort to keep you entertained and informed).

Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

THE FORECAST

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