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.

Friday 6/18/2021 & the Weekend: Summer Solstice; Happy Birthday, Cancer!

June 19, 2021/in The Forecast

TGIF!

The Moon is in Libra, weighing issues of fairness and balance in relationships. The Sun is at the end of Gemini, ready to send a pithy message to some significant other. That’s it for the rest of Friday. Here’s a reminder for the rest of the weekend:

SATURDAY: More Moon in Libra –and no Moon void to mess up your shopping expeditions. Maybe an object of beauty for the home…or a lovely new do at the salon…but not around 5:07 PM ET, when the Moon squares Venus, suggesting overindulgence or someone not getting quite what they bargained for. Still, a harmony between Venus and Neptune, which won’t be exact until Monday, can facilitate a dreamy escape.
SUNDAY: Moon enters Scorpio at 7:57 AM ET, seeking emotional depth and substance. Jupiter turns retrograde at 11:04 AM ET; Moon trines Jupiter 30 minutes later, and both are trine the soon-to-be-in-Cancer Sun. Enjoy the feeling of abundance that may be briefly had– or at least a feeling of emotional self-sufficiency that can coincide with this fleeting Grand Trine. Around 5:29 PM ET, Mars squares the Moon, adding provocative energy to the mix, for better or worse.

A pause, while we discuss the chart for the Summer Solstice, which occurs at 11:32 PM ET. The Sun enters Cancer, and everyone wants to go to the beach. I know I do. Don’t you?

Here’s what you need to know about the first day of any season — i.e., equinoxes and solstices — from an astrological point of view. The first days of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter correspond with the first day (or first degree) of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, respectively (there are thirty degrees in each sign of the zodiac). Got that? Good. (This is for the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern Hemisphere has different rules).

These four signs are called cardinal signs. Cardinal signs initiate. They come up with the idea and put it into action, which leads to necessary change. “Cardinal” suggests (from the Latin root of the word), “that on which something turns or depends.” So the first day/degree of a Cardinal sign is a turning point. In astrology, the technical term for the first degree of any Cardinal sign is the “Aries Point,” just to confuse people who are not professional astrologers. In other words, the first day of Cancer, Libra, Capricorn and Aries is the Aries Point. The first day of Taurus (and the rest of the signs) is NOT at the Aries Point). Clear?

Equinoxes and solstices are also prominent. We make a fuss over them, right? In Japan, the first day of each season is actually a national holiday. How cool is that? Thus, in a horoscope, a planet or angle at the Aries Point needs to be prominent.

A person born with the Sun in Cancer is here to create and maintain emotional security. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, which changes signs faster than any other celestial body. Moon refers to emotional response; thus, Cancers have a rep for being moody. The keywords for Cancer are: I FEEL. If you are a Cancer born in the last few days of the, my money says you’ve been feeling a lot these days, especially a pressure to breakdown and transform. Maybe you’d like to talk about it with your astrologer.

Here is the chart for the Summer Solstice, set in Washington, D.C. We can use it to assess potential happenings in the U.S. for the next three months:

Observations:

It is fascinating to me that the angles of the Summer Solstice are the same as the ones for the March 2021 Vernal Equinox: 21 Aquarius Ascendant; 7 Sagittarius Midheaven. I can’t recall this uncanny repetition ever happening before. I have no idea what it implies.
It is fascinating that the Moon in the solstice chart is 9 Scorpio, the same Moon that was in the 2017 inauguration chart of the former guy. Uranus and Pluto are shaking up that 2017 chart; perhaps we’ll see a ton of shake-ups related to that old regime over the next 90 days.
The 9 Scorpio Moon opposes the 10 Taurus Ascendant of the 2021 inauguration chart of President Biden. I’m not sure what that might reflect, either, but it’s noteworthy. If you have theories, fire away.
Speaking of fire, Mars in fiery Leo is opposing Saturn and squaring Uranus. This is assertive energy that is at first stubborn and militantly disciplined, then recklessly rebellious or daringly innovative as we shall see. Point is, the next three months lack the cooperative spirit we had on the Vernal Equinox. Fasten your seatbelts and be prepared for push, shove and shock.
An opposition between Venus (money, values, social expression) and Pluto suggests extremes.
A Grand Trine among Jupiter, Sun, and the Moon suggests an aura of protective good fortune — or at the least, emotional self-sufficiency. Jupiter is at a standstill (about to turn retrograde), strong in the 1st house and strong in Pisces, a sign it rules. Empathy and benevolence are front and center, no matter how hard the struggle may be in this long, hot summer.
It’s interesting that the Cancer Sun is prominently placed in the 5th house (children, creativity) and the Scorpio Moon is in the 8th (taxes), both in harmony with that “lucky” Jupiter in the 1st. In the past 24 hours, there’s been a rush of stories about the expanded tax credit that will be paid to families with children, starting on July 15th. That should help with those escapes to the beach. I expect we’ll be seeing other important initiatives designed to support children over the next three months.

No sleeping in on Monday. The Moon will not be void. Do note your dreams, though, as that lovely Venus-Neptune trine will be exact at 9:57 AM ET. Also, note that Mercury turns direct on Tuesday and we’ll have a Full Moon on Thursday.

And now, the news.

How cool was it to see in The Guardian a rave review about the new album by…

“Joan Armatrading: Consequences; strikingly inventive songwriter gets her due.” I had no idea what Armatrading was up to when I wrote last week that someone should be singing her praises to the whole world right now, courtesy of her current Jupiter return. Astrology is amazing! What’s going on in your horoscope?

Jupiter in Pisces at a standstill suggested empathy and compassion would pull focus. Throw in Mercury retrograde and the Saturn-Uranus square, which suggests a new attitude to the value of material goods:

“A teen buys repossessed storage units at auctions, then gives the contents back to the original owners.” As in — not making a profit off of someone’s pain and suffering. What a concept.
“This charity plans to buy and wipe out $278 million of medical debt”

Meanwhile…

The horoscope of the signing of the Affordable Care Act (March 23, 2010, at 11:55 AM ET in Washington, D.C.), is not without issues, but it is essentially strong. I’ve written about it many times over the past decade (!). This week, SCOTUS voted 7-2 to dismiss a challenge to the law, in its third ruling on the matter. It’s easy to see why ACA prevailed when we consider current patterns in its horoscope. Troublesome patterns are in the past; now, Jupiter (luck, expansion) is trining the 2 Cancer Ascendant, close enough to ACA’s 5 Cancer Moon, which needs to provide emotional security and care. In 2022, ACA will have a Jupiter return (just like Joan Armatrading), so it’s not unreasonable to expect continued expansion.

In other news…

I thought we’d see a curious headline about market manipulation by “ordinary” people, and we did. Soccer star Cristiano Rinaldo of Portugal “snubbed” European championship sponsor Coca-Cola at a press conference and “wiped billions off the Coca-Cola’s market value,” just like that. There were other sudden swings, too. While NASDAQ hit another record high at the start of the week, by Friday, the Dow had dropped 500 points in “Wall Street’s worst week since October 2020.” Investors are concerned that interest rates may rise sooner than expected.

Finally…

Special shout-out to Avid Reader Katya for making sure I did not miss the website of Canton Becker. He curates an astronomical calendar of events to which you can subscribe. When asked by one subscriber why he includes Mercury retrograde dates in his astronomical calendar, Becker replied:

While I’m generally a scientific-minded fellow, I couldn’t help but notice this odd correlation in my own life between communications-related foul-ups (hard drives crashing, email going wrong, websites disappearing) and the three or so times a year when astrology-minded friends would warn me to brace for “Mercury Retrograde”. I’m not talking about an observation bais correlation, I mean a downright creepy correlation. I started avoiding things like major systems upgrades during mercury retrograde. This gave me extra time to deal with all the other batshit crazy computer stuff that happened to my clients during retrogrades. I can’t explain it, but it works for me, so maybe it will work for you too.

Thank you for reading this forecast. And thanks especially to cherished Avid Readers who gift my Cosmic Tip Jar with continued support.

Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Mercury turns direct on June 22nd. Keep on double-checking everything thrice before hitting “send!”

Beach day!

Monday 6/14/2021: Sneak Peek at the Week; Saturn-Uranus Square #2; Jupiter Retrograde

June 15, 2021/in The Forecast

It’s 3:26 PM ET as I’m starting to write this forecast. The Moon is in Leo, seeking ways to shine brighter than the sun. It’s a wonderful lunar placement for paying someone a compliment. It’s also an apt pattern for drama queens and kings. Moon squares rebel Uranus at 3:27 PM ET and opposes Saturn one minute later. I’ll be waiting to hear about a rebellious advance or break that may be happening as I type; e.g. President Biden’s press conference at NATO.

Between now and next Monday, the only pattern between two planets that do not involve the Moon happens today. At 6 PM ET, Saturn in Aquarius squares Uranus in Taurus for the second time this year. Saturn refers to reality. Uranus refers to sudden breaks. How cool was it to read this breaking news: “NSA whistleblower Reality Winner released from prison.” Surprise — and hooray for reality! Score another one for the astonishing synchronicity of planetary patterns and the news.

Here is a link to a prior forecast explaining what Saturn and Uranus represent, and what we can expect from their ongoing 2021 square. Avid Readers will recall that on the first square, two big stories were 1) the disruption and collapse of the Texas power grid (it’s back in the news again today); and 2) the wild ride in the stock market created by ordinary people who connected online and manipulated the value of certain stocks, e.g., GameStop (NASDAQ is at another record high today).

You are more personally affected by the disruptive potential of this second Saturn-Uranus square if you have planets or significant points in your horoscope at around 13 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Aquarius. That includes President Biden (Mars at 12 Scorpio), Allan Weisselberg (Saturn, Pluto, and maybe Moon at 13 Leo), Mitch McConnell (Mercury at 11 Aquarius), and Ghislaine Maxwell (Moon at 14 Leo; Neptune at 12 Scorpio).

The rest of the week goes like this, as we process whatever the Saturn-Uranus square shakes up:

TUESDAY: Moon is happily connected to the Gemini Sun and Mercury in the morning; get the word out and/or reconnect. Chill during the long Moon in Leo void that begins at 1:25 PM ET. Roll with the twists and flakes; remember that crises that crop up during voids are usually much ado about nothing. No impulse shopping purchases. Stick to routine concerns and chill — or have a Moon in Leo celebration. Moon enters Virgo at 11:01 PM ET, determined to clean up the confetti.
WEDNESDAY: Setting things right may be taken to the max in the wee hours, as the Moon opposes Jupiter at 2:59 AM ET. That exuberance may drive your cleaning, sorting, and organizing efforts all day. Go for it, as the Moon travels without interference. But speaking of Jupiter, it is slowing to a virtual standstill this week, as it prepares to turn retrograde on Sunday.

A pause, while we discuss this Jupiter retrograde. First, as it slows to its turning point, it grabs our attention in the way a car horn does when it leaned on. Jupiter in Pisces refers to expansion and excess in matters of compassion, empathy, whales, oceans, refugees, victims, spirits, intuition, etc, etc. When Jupiter turns retrograde, it suggests that whatever was in a process of expanding may now be subject to a review and/or delay. Jupiter retrogrades back into Aquarius on July 29th, shifting its focus to networks, humanitarianism, and social significance –and back under the thumb of authority, controls and technology. Why will it be back under the thumb of those controls? Because Saturn is also in Aquarius, where it stronger than Jupiter and can push it around. Jupiter turns direct on October 17th, at 22 Aquarius. It re-enters Pisces on December 29th.

The Sabian Symbol for this Jupiter retrograde is “a petrified forest,” and I last wrote about it on the New Moon in February 2012 (!). A petrified forest suggests — on the plus side — near-eternal principles that stand the test of time. A forest of formerly living trees turned to stone hasn’t decayed or rotted, presumably because it deserves to last forever. On the downside, this Sabian Symbol suggests stiff, rigid forms that have long outlived their relevance — but remain because they are frozen — perhaps out of fear (petrified).

Avid Readers may recall that nearly all of the planets were moving forward between January and April. Because many were close to a conjunction with the Sun, they were also moving faster than average. And didn’t things move at lightning speed? Now, one by one, the planets are turning retrograde, so things are slowing down — as anticipated. The pace will pick up in November and December when all planets except Uranus and Neptune will be direct and up to speed. ALL planets will be moving forward in February, March, and April 2022. So, like that.

You are more personally affected by the initial stage of this Jupiter retrograde if you’ve got a planet or angle around 2 degrees of Pisces, Gemini, Sagittarius, or Virgo. That includes VP Kamala Harris (2 Pisces Midheaven). Right now, with Jupiter sitting almost exactly on her Midheaven (but not exact yet), she will continue to be in the spotlight. Tomorrow the Sun crosses her 24 Gemini Ascendant, suggesting another opportunity to shine.

Back to the rest of the week:

THURSDAY: Moon continues its mission of making things right, aided and abetted by contact with five planets between 6 AM and midnight ET. It should feel like a more active day than Wednesday, and it ends with the First Quarter Moon between the Moon and the Gemini Sun. This is time to make adjustments to last week’s New Moon intentions, perhaps involving a communication effort that seemed clever and entertaining, but could have been more precise. You do realize that Mercury is still retrograde, yes? Double-check everything before you hit send! Moon goes void on that First Quarter Moon at 11:52 PM ET. Chill until…
FRIDAY: …at 4:53 AM ET, when the Moon enters Libra. Now is the time to focus on fairness and balance in relationships. A sense of drama and style can aid those diplomatic efforts, as Mars in Leo sextiles (harmonizes with) the Moon at 12:32 PM ET.
SATURDAY: More Moon in Libra –and no Moon void to mess up your shopping expeditions. Maybe an object of beauty for the home…or a lovely new do at the salon…but not around 5:07 PM ET, when the Moon squares Venus, suggesting overindulgence or someone not getting quite what they bargained for. Still, a harmony between Venus and Neptune, which won’t be exact until Monday, can facilitate a dreamy escape.
SUNDAY: This is the last day of the Sun in Gemini. Sun enters Cancer at 11:32 PM ET, as the summer officially begins. Moon enters Scorpio at 7:57 AM ET, seeking emotional depth and substance, not idle speculation. Jupiter turns retrograde at 11:04 AM ET; Moon trines Jupiter 30 minutes later, and both are trine the soon-to-be-in-Cancer Sun. Enjoy the feeling of abundance that may be briefly had– or at least a feeling of emotional self-sufficiency that can coincide with this fleeting Grand Trine among Sun, Moon, and Jupiter. Around 5:29 PM ET, Mars squares the Moon, adding provocative energy to the mix, for better or worse. Will write about the Solstice in the next forecast.

And now, the news.

Comedienne Blair Erskine has an update on that Texas power grid story. She’s funny.

Patterns driving the weekend headlines included:

Sun square Neptune, suggesting stories of fantasy, healing, drugs, oceans, oil on troubled waters, deception
Venus sextile Uranus, suggesting unconventional alliances and aesthetics; uniting for the greater good
Mars in Leo, suggesting regal drama; pomp and circumstance

Ready?

“Lobster diver in Cape Cod says humpback whale scooped him up and spat him back out.”
“L’Arc de Triomphe, wrapped: Christo’s dream being realized”
“G-7 nations expected to pledge 1 billion COVID vaccine doses for the world”
I told you we’d have a headline about an ice shelf breaking up
NYT “publishes, then deletes, a story about fields of watermelons discovered on Mars” because Mercury is still retrograde — d’oh!
“Crazytown conspiracy theory: doctor claims COVID vaccine makes cutlery stick to your head,” as Stephen Colbert explains
“Can astrology make sense of cryptocurrency? Maren Altman and a million TikTok followers think so.” Fun fact: when I emailed the reporter yesterday to object to his use of the word “astrologist” (the preferred term is “astrologer”), he wrote back promptly to thank me for alerting him to the error. Let’s all raise a glass to WaPo’s Travis M. Andrews, who just wrote a book about actor Jeff Goldblum.

The New Moon chart set in D.C. looked like an apt time for the United States to make a good impression on the rest of the world. With Venus rising in that chart, it was fitting that on the first day of the Bidens’ European tour, First Lady Jill Biden wore a coat with the word “LOVE” on the back, “setting the tone for the whole G7 summit.” And what a dreamy seaside setting it was, with the group photo looking like the G7 family was waiting for Scotty to beam them up. President Biden did not block anyone’s path, shove them out of the way or otherwise stink up the room. It was a good look for the United States, and Queen Elizabeth seemed genuinely pleased to host our First Couple for tea.

We can see why Her Majesty would connect with President Biden, with his Taurus Moon exactly conjunct her Sun. Note that the Queen’s 12 Leo Moon is affected by the current Saturn-Uranus square, and the Uranus part of that pattern got noticed over the weekend. She used a ceremonial sword to cut a birthday cake, “because it was more unusual,” and made a quip at the G7 photoshoot that reporters duly published. When Uranus is hot in the horoscope, innovation, quirkiness, fresh starts and upsets are common. The Queen has already experienced enough gravitas reflecting transiting Saturn opposing her Moon (e.g., the death of her husband, Harry, and Meghan’s interview with Oprah), and the year is only halfway done. An example of the square of Uranus to her Moon would be the birth of great-granddaughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten Windsor on June 4th. “Lilibet” was the Queen’s childhood name, and there’s already controversy over whether the Queen approved of the name beforehand.

WaPo put together a fabulous piece with photos of the Queen with the last 14 U.S. presidents (except Lyndon Johnson), starting with Harry Truman. With transiting Jupiter at 2 Pisces, we could see the focus on her long reign as a fitting reflection of the upside potential of a “petrified forest,” i.e., something that has stood the test of time. I can’t imagine a world without her in it. I feel the same way about our democracy sometimes. The expression “American Experiment” came to mind, so I looked it up to make sure I’d use it in the right context. The first thing Professor Google gave me was an op-ed published in the New York Tribune in 1860.

ICYMI…

Another revelation — this one from Pro Publica:

“The Secret IRS Files: Trove of Never-Before-Seen Records Reveal How the Wealthiest Avoid Income Tax,” as in ZERO dollars in federal tax paid in certain years by Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Michael Bloomberg, etc., despite earning billions.
NYT’s Maureen Dowd has an opinion on this revelation, which can be filed under the U.S. Pluto return, which is likely to coincide with corruption exposed regarding the Powers That Be.

Meanwhile, in Israel…

…the stars finally aligned in the aftermath of its last election and a coalition of unconventional alliances handed Bibi Netanyahu a pink slip. For now, he is PM no more. The vote was 60-59 — by ONE VOTE, ONE VOTE, ONE VOTE –– so do not ever say your vote does not matter!! Avid Readers will recall that Israel’s horoscope has been dealt upset after upset in recent years, but an entity with a plethora of fixed signs (e.g. Taurus Sun, Moon plus four other planets in Leo) is resistant to change. Glancing at Israel’s horoscope just before the last election, I did think there was a chance to arrive at an accord (Venus, ruler of Israel’s Libra Ascendant, has been driving the action since April). However, transiting Pluto will continue to put pressure on Israel’s Midheaven over the next year, suggesting its transformation is not complete.

Netanyahu’s birth data is not certain, but a rectified time of 10:15 AM has Neptune exactly on the IC, at the bottom of his horoscope. This transit can reflect a feeling of standing on shaky ground, a bit like this car in India that was just swallowed by a sinkhole. Plus, the 10:15 AM time gives him a Sagittarius Ascendant that was recently eclipsed. Netanyahu, like many would-be kings in government today, reportedly threw a tantrum, claimed the election was fraudulent and said he’d work to “topple” the new government. He has Mars in Leo, like the former guy, which can be regally indignant when not granted the respect to which it feels it is entitled.

Meanwhile, in the United States…

I hope you’re keeping up with historian Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American. She sums up the key political developments of the day and explains how much of what we’re experiencing in the U.S. has happened before. I could be wrong, but I have a sense she may not be keen on astrology, which is too bad because astrologers, like historians, study cycles. The difference is that astrologers know when cycles are going to repeat. Last year, HCR said she thought she might be able to stop writing daily after Biden’s first 100 days. Fat chance, I thought, knowing that patterns in the U.S. horoscope suggested there’d be way too much wigginess going on. Here’s a recap of those patterns.

Developments in government at state and national levels have certainly been especially wiggy. File these under 1) transiting Neptune (erasure, fog, delusion, wipeout, fantasy) square the U.S. Mars-Neptune square; and 2) the U.S. Pluto return (the power struggle that may well make or break us as it intensifies in 2022):

Senate voted 54-35 to block a bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6th attempted coup. The vote was the day after the May 27th eclipse, a time when nefarious activities may be hidden in plain sight, as you may recall from last week’s forecast. We’ll have to keep an eye on the first week of August and mid-December, when the May 27th eclipse will be triggered by Mars. Maybe we’ll learn more about what those who voted against the investigation were trying to cover up.
Senator Joe Manchin and Senator Kyrsten Sinema, both declared Democrats, are enabling the opposition party. Sinema flies around the country to compete in grueling athletic contests but didn’t show up for the vote on the January 6th commission. It’s interesting that Sinema has a nearly exact square between Saturn and Uranus in her horoscope. She carries within her the tension between the old guard vs. the avant-garde, and we can appreciate why it’s seemingly so hard for her to move firmly in one direction. With transiting Mars currently squaring her Uranus and conjunct her Saturn, moving anywhere is going to be even more challenging, as she broke her foot in a marathon over the weekend. Mars-Uranus transits alert us to potential accidents; Mars-Saturn transits especially alert us to potential broken bones.
Mitch McConnell said today that if the Republicans take back the Senate in 2022, he would block any Biden nominee to the Supreme Court in 2024. Transiting Uranus will conjoin his Mars-Saturn conjunction three times, starting in mid-2023. This is potentially daring and reckless. Right now, as noted earlier, transiting Uranus is square his Mercury, prompting a daring or reckless mindset, while transiting Saturn is conjunct his Mercury, sharpening a heavy focus. HCR has more on this story, for those who can’t access the NYT paywall.
30% of Republicans believe the former guy will be reinstated in August. Highly unlikely, though the former guy’s horoscope was heavily affected by the June 10th eclipse. Let’s keep an eye on the first week of September and most of October for an outburst of energy or revelation. We also need to watch June 27, July 10, and the last ten days of July.

In other news…

Mercury retrogrades — in tandem with other patterns — coincide with revisions of past statements. For example, at 2:26 PM on May 1, 2019, in D.C., then-Attorney General Bill Barr was asked by then-Senator Kamala Harris if the former guy or anyone at the White House had ever asked him to open an investigation of anyone. Barr mumbled and deflected and acted as if he couldn’t recall, and everyone in the Entire Free World knew he was lying, as you can see from the video here.

Fast forward to last week’s eclipse, with Sun-Mercury at 20 Gemini, which was where Mars was the day Barr said what he said. The NYT broke the shocking story that the former guy’s Department of Justice had subpoenaed Apple for certain information on members of Congress and their families. Earlier this month we learned that the former guy’s administration seized phone records and other data belonging to journalists. This story is moving fast, and now we are learning that the DOJ investigated White House counsel Don McGahn and his wife, too. Good grief! Today the House Judiciary Committee announced its own investigation, so stay tuned.

Thank you for reading this forecast. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. We will have an enlightening and productive discussion together.

Flowering cactus, Giant Logs Trail

Petrified Forest National Park

Monday 6/7/2021: Sneak Peek at the Week; New Moon/Eclipse in Gemini; Mars in Leo

June 8, 2021/in The Forecast

Allll-righty then!

With Mercury retrograde square Neptune and Mars opposing Pluto building to an exact release a couple of days ago, life in New York included an uptick in the number of sirens wailing and household appliances crashing.

I figured out how to fix the printer (with the help of Brother’s tech support), but the A/C and the electric teakettle were toast. Mercury retrograde or not, I couldn’t wait two weeks to replace them, even though the risks of delays and other snafus were increased. Sometimes you just have to buy an electric teakettle, and since the Moon was in Aries, the new one is fire engine red.

So far, so good — but the A/C was quite an adventure. With four planets in fixed signs (Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) in my horoscope, naturally, I wanted the same GE model I bought six years ago. Fixed signs can be so resistant to change! And since I don’t have a car in the city, getting the item shipped or delivered was a consideration. Without going into the details of efforts made to procure said A/C, suffice it to say that every time I initiated an action, I looked at the horoscope for that moment, and every time it looked like it wouldn’t deliver, pun obviously intended. Finally on Sunday, on an exact sextile between the Taurus Moon and Venus in Cancer, I hit “BUY NOW” on a Frigidaire that was more than I planned to spend, but promised to be super quiet, super energy-efficient, and could be delivered that day for a modest fee. By then I figured that trusty old GE just wasn’t meant to be.

As it turned out, the A/C was delivered this morning, and because of the delay (!), the modest delivery fee was cheerfully refunded by the most excellent customer service at P.C. Richard & Sons. The A/C is sleek and quiet, and I couldn’t be happier. Meanwhile, the Cuisinart immersion blender I ordered won’t be arriving at all, as the merchant has no more in stock. How’s your Mercury retrograde going?

As for this week…

With the weekend’s volatile patterns behind us, today (Monday), I did not hear a single siren. The Taurus Moon launched the work week with a need for material comfort and security, including my new A/C. If the pace of the day felt slow, note that the Moon made no aspects to any other planet in the Cosmic Sandbox. It’s a fine night for dreaming, as Moon sextiles Neptune at 12:46 AM ET on…

TUESDAY: Take the vision that awakens you and put it into constructive form. Moon trines Pluto at 7:30 AM ET, facilitating depth and power, then sextiles action hero Mars at 11:05 AM ET. Moon goes void until 2:47 PM ET; roll with whatever twists and flakes disrupt your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Moon then enters Gemini, buzzing with desire to be the smartest kid in the room, expanded by a square to Jupiter at 6:47 PM ET. Want to know what the upside potential of a Moon-Jupiter square might sound like? Listen to this buoyant song by Joan Armatrading every morning. See if it changes the way you interact with your world.
WEDNESDAY: Now we are in the balsamic phase of the lunar cycle —the last days until the Moon begins anew. We may feel restless or listless, sensing something is around the corner, but we don’t know what. That sense of restlessness is amplified by the Gemini Moon, which travels without interference from any other planet except a trine to Saturn at 5:43 PM ET. Someone’s big ideas may be grounded in reality or voiced with authority.
THURSDAY: Finally, we have planetary action. I have to say that when I looked at patterns for this week a couple of weeks ago, I thought we’d be in for one of those stretches when anything can happen, like an ice shelf suddenly collapsing into the ocean — gone forever — just like that. Thus I was not at all surprised that Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week was the Ten of Swords. There’s only one pattern among the planets in a seven-day span that does not include the Moon, and that’s an idealistic meet-up between Sun and Mercury, exact at 9:12 PM ET. You could see it as a mental reset, with Mercury (how we need to think and communicate) plunging into the heart of the Sun, purified by the Sun’s fire and rising like a phoenix from its ashes.
THURSDAY: Mars is at the very last degree of Cancer, ruthlessly defending its turf. A planet at the last degree of any sign is at a crisis point, and in the case of Mars in Cancer, we may see an uptick in defensive warmongering today.
THURSDAY: M0on meets up with the Sun at 6:52 AM ET. This New Moon in Gemini is a solar eclipse, and here’s how and where you can see it.

Here is what it looks like, set in Washington, D.C.:

Observations:

In Gemini, the New Moon suggests a focus on new ideas, new mindsets, new ways of communication, and gathering information. Got that? Your thoughts and your words can move mountains; i.e., they manifest in your physical reality.
Mercury, Sun, and Moon are square to Neptune. Upside potential: support for visionary thinking; healing. Downside: delusions and conspiracies; magical thinking; ego-wipe-outs.
Gosh, there’s a lot of stuff in the 12th house. This is the area of people and things that are confined, often in institutions. The 12th refers to self-sabotage and hidden enemies. When this solar eclipse is triggered in late August and again in December, what do you think might be suddenly revealed?
On the upside, Venus is conjunct the Ascendant, which is trined by Jupiter. Cue that previously mentioned Joan Armatrading song again now. But seriously, it’s interesting that President Biden will be traveling overseas this week and next. Jupiter is in the 9th house of foreign affairs and travels in this New Moon chart; Venus rising can’t help but make a good impression on behalf of the US of A.
A shake-up is on the horizon, symbolized by the second square between Saturn (old guard) and Uranus (avant-garde). That’s the buzz we’ll all be sensing until June 14th, when that pattern releases. Stories we might see in the news: spectacular disruptions in supply chains, information networks, and power grids; stock market manipulations. Example: Heather Cox Richardson notes in her latest post “that major global crime networks have been broken open as criminals were communicating on an encrypted network broken into by the Australian Federal Police and then run by the FBI.”
There are other patterns, but that’s plenty to think about for now.
The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon at 20 Gemini is “a cafeteria.” So many choices efficiently presented — but perhaps not with the greatest of sophistication. Sabian Symbol sage Blain Bovee invites us to apply this symbol with a mind for “service genius that skillfully handles matters of hot and cold; creating an atmosphere that encourages communal gatherings,” locally and around the world, I suspect. Everyone gets a little bit of something; no one gets anything of note, Bovee opines.
This New Moon hits the same degree as the Full Moon in Gemini of 2019 –– and here’s the forecast from back then.

But of course, this is not just a New Moon. It is also a 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. On December 14, 2020, Mars was at 20 Aries, squaring — and thus triggering — the eclipse at 20 Cancer/Capricorn. On that day, shortly after 9 AM ET, the first Covid vaccine was administered in the U.S. Meanwhile, in the UK, a mutation of Covid-19 that spreads faster than the original was identified. Got that? When an eclipse is triggered, events related to the seeds planted (on a solar eclipse) or released (on a lunar eclipse) surge forward. Clear?

If you’d like a few paragraphs on how this solar eclipse at 20 Gemini is likely to be reflected in your life, I will be happy to send you personal insights. Toss $46 into my Cosmic Tip Jar, and email me your birth data, if I don’t already have it.

Back to the forecast for the week:

THURSDAY: The Moon squares Neptune at 1:37 PM ET, and goes void for the rest of the day. Time to chill!
FRIDAY: Moon enters Cancer at 3:22 AM ET, shifting our focus to emotional and home/family security needs. Moon trines Jupiter at 7:27 AM ET; cue that Joan Armatrading song yet again now, please. It could carry you through the entire day, as the Moon travels without interference until after midnight. Fun fact: Joan Armatrading has Sun, Moon, and Venus in Sagittarius, all likely sextile Neptune, planet of rose-colored glasses. Here’s her horoscope. Note that she’s having her Jupiter return as I type; no wonder someone’s telling the world about her. Meanwhile, at 9:33 AM ET, Mars leaves Cancer for drama queen/king Leo, a placement astrologer Grant Lewi said could “get away with murder.” Watch for action to become more fiery, regal, and proud. Mars in Leo does need to put on a show, and that show must go on until July 30, when it enters Virgo.
SATURDAY: More Moon in Cancer, perfect for tasks that create a comfortable home. There’s no Moon void, so you’re free to shop — and the Moon travels without interference all day. The evening could be dreamy and eclectic, as Moon trines Neptune on…
SUNDAY: …at 1:05 AM ET (dreamy), followed by a sextile (harmony) between Venus and Uranus at 1:39 AM ET (eclectic, unconventional attractions). Early morning is ripe for emotional depth, power plays or a catharsis, as Moon opposes Pluto at 7:15 AM ET and then goes void until 2:22 PM ET. Next stop for the Moon is Leo, where it needs to shine, shine, shine. At 5:17 PM ET the need for regal attention heats up, as the Moon meets up with Mars. If it’s all a tad bewildering or surreal, it’s reflecting the wiggy potential of the Sun’s square to Neptune, exact at 7:39 PM ET.

And now, the news.

Mars in Cancer was reflected in many headlines last week, especially as it arrived at 20 Cancer, triggering the lunar eclipse of January 10, 2020, which is discussed here. January 10th, 2020 was the day the Covid-19 genome was made public — but not many people were paying attention. This is how lunar eclipses can function. Something is happening right in plain sight, but it goes essentially unnoticed, as if someone had put a SEP field around it. And then, when the eclipse is triggered by a transiting planet — surprise, surprise — we wonder how we ever missed it. With respect to Covid, the theory that it might have come from a lab that — OMG can you believe it — is located in the same city where Covid was first discovered, had some reporters wondering why it was suddenly generating headlines NOW.

Well, astrology knows why stories make news at certain times. Not only was the January 2020 eclipse triggered, but Avid Readers may recall that the three squares between Mercury and Neptune were likely to coincide with bewildering stories about Covid at this time. Fun fact: Dr. Fauci has Mercury at 22 Sagittarius, currently squared by Neptune. We see how what he thinks and communicates could be doubted, clouded, or wiped away, the way a wave washes away footprints in the sand. His Venus (his values and his social expression) was eclipsed on May 27th. That eclipse will be triggered the first week of August; let’s see what comes out. Meanwhile, last week, some of his emails were published (thanks, Mercury retrograde!), and they “raised questions on whether he backed Chinese denials of the theory that Covid-19 leaked from a lab in Wuhan.”

This concludes today’s tutorial on eclipses and how they are triggered.

To find out what it all means for you, here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Tuesday 6/1/2021: Sneak Peek at a Short Work Week; Venus in Cancer & More

June 1, 2021/in The Forecast

Rabbit, rabbit!

It’s June and the Moon is in Pisces, as of 5:07 AM ET. After two days of being driven by the Aquarius Moon’s need for intellectual innovation and emotional detachment, now we are driven by the Pisces Moon’s need for ideals, empathy, and intangibles. If your day gets off to a grand start, credit the Moon’s meet-up with Jupiter at 8:03 AM ET. There are no exact aspects among the planets today, but women, money, and aesthetics may be demanding our attention. Why? Because Venus is at the verrrrry end of sweet-talking Gemini, which means it is getting close to the Aries Point, and anything on the Aries Point demands prominence.

WEDNESDAY: At 3:24 AM ET, the Pisces Moon squares the Gemini Sun. Intuition wrestles with a multitude of facts and somehow sorts it out. Maybe a bit of tech support or a best buddy will assist, suggested by the sextile between the Moon and Uranus at 4:21 AM ET. At 9:18 AM ET, Venus leaves Gemini for Cancer and is now exactly on the Aries Point. We’re likely to hear some nurturing news about money, women, mothering, food, and home security. Venus at 0 Cancer is good for people like Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren, who both have their Sun at 0 Cancer. So does Prince William. We’ll probably hear from Barack Obama today or tomorrow, given that his Venus is at 1 Cancer. Everyone else can go with the emotional flow, which may incorporate the upside potential of two Really Useful Patterns that are in effect all week, and exact on…
THURSDAY: …but first, we may have to untangle a couple of crossed wires that happen just after midnight. Moon meets up with dreamy Neptune at 12:30 AM ET, then squares Mercury retrograde at 2:23 AM ET. These are lovely patterns for reflection, but perhaps not for doing calculus. Early morning on the East Coast has a ton of proactive drive, sponsored by the Moon in harmony with Mars and Pluto between 4 and 7 AM ET. But since the Pisces Moon goes void at 7:10 AM ET, your morning routine may be subject to a twist or a flake. Just roll with it, and note how the energy shifts at 1:58 PM ET, when the Moon charges into me-me-me-first Aries. Now is the time for leaders to inspire us while creating structures that serve us all — and that really does seem generous. At 3:05 PM ET, the Sun trines Saturn. This is an easy flow between willpower and authority, no matter what side of the aisle you’re on. At 5:08 PM ET, Moon squares Venus, suggesting somebody’s impatient initiative may clash with someone else’s sensitive feelings. At 7:32 PM ET, Venus trines Jupiter, and if you have planets in the early degrees of Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces, you may have an exceptionally pleasant evening. It’s these two patterns — Sun trine Saturn and Venus trine Jupiter — that are reflected in Beth Owls Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week if you ask me.
FRIDAY: Now we are moving into potentially explosive territory. Moon is still in Aries, seeking to start something, though it may not be quite sure what. During the first part of the day, the Moon travels without contact with other planets. At 4:23 PM ET and 6:37 PM ET, Moon sextiles Saturn and the Sun, which are helpful for communicating and executing a plan. Oh, but wait, Mercury is retrograde, right? Right. This is challenging for communicating. Plus, we should consider what kind of plan is about to be executed. And on…
SATURDAY:…Mercury will square Neptune at 3:04 PM ET. Here we have idealism, magical thinking, or just plain delusion. And 40 minutes later, Mars will oppose Pluto. This is a potentially explosive pattern. Mars is action and aggression; Pluto refers to extremes. This pattern will be reinforced when the Aries Moon squares Pluto at 6:37 PM ET and Mars at 6:46 PM ET. If you’re competing in a triathlon, these patterns suggest extremes of assertive energy that may serve you well. The downside potential would be headline news involving violence (possibly “inspired” by fanatical beliefs), guns, cars, seismic activity (Mother Nature can be explosive, too). The Aries Moon goes void on the Mars square at 6:46 PM ET, which may diffuse the impact of whatever is released this afternoon and early evening.
SUNDAY: Moon enters Taurus at 1:45 AM ET, seeking to build and preserve calm, comfort, and security. If your world was not rocked by yesterday’s Mars-Pluto outburst, the Moon’s sextiles to Jupiter and Venus at 5:32 AM ET and 11:56 AM ET can facilitate sampling life’s simple joys: good food, drink, art, music, and a snuggle with your sweetie. By nightfall, however, there may be electricity in the air.

I have a ton of news I’m dying to write about– all of it in sync with planetary patterns. I’ll be able to do that Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, I do post astro-logical commentary on breaking news on my Twitter feed a few times a day — here’s how you can follow me.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Venus (detail) by Sandro Botticelli in the vintage book The Florence, the painting gallery, by E. Dolgova, 1904

Saturday & Sunday 5/29-30/2021: Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide

May 30, 2021/in The Forecast

Happy holiday weekend — here in the United States.

The last two days were driven by the Moon in Capricorn, needing to accomplish goals and Make Things Happen. I was in stitches in yoga class on Friday because our astro-logically tuned-in teacher really put us through our paces, all the while telling us how wonderful it was that we had done so many things!! Coincidence or conspiracy?

At 6:13 PM ET, Moon went void. Now is the time to chill, chill, chill — unless you happen to be an astrologer who is resolved to inform her Avid Readers that at 6:33 PM ET, Mercury turned retrograde at 24 Gemini, right on VP Kamala Harris’ Ascendant. Surely we’ll be hearing from her soon.

Contrary to popular belief, Mercury retrograde is no reason to freak out. Mercury retrograde gets a bad rap because we are geared, in this crazy modern age, to always be thinking, doing, moving FORWARD. You know what that gets you? BURN OUT. We need our down times, and Mercury retrograde is a perfect time to give our minds a rest. Why else would your computer, phone and/or car choose THIS time to malfunction? Because you are supposed to be slowing down. And as you slow down, it is vitally important that you FOCUS.

When Mercury is retrograde, be prepared for travel delays, scheduling screw-ups, mechanical breakdowns, computer crashes, having to repeat what you’ve just said, misunderstandings, the past coming back for a second look, surprise reunions and having to repeat what you just said. Use your FOCUS and double-check important details, like whether the restaurant you’ve chosen for a meet-up is still in business. Or whether it is booked for a commercial shoot or a private party — all of which has happened to me during Mercury retrogrades.

If you are looking for a job, Mercury retrogrades are a perfect time to reach out to people from your past. Mine your address book and trust that your contacts will be happy to hear from you. However, do not be frustrated if your target is away on vacation or keeps rescheduling meetings. Also, triple-check your emails and resumes before you hit “send,” as there is a higher probability of typos and other sloppy snafus.

In your business, you’ll need to make sure all communications have been received and are clearly understood. Be mindful of the higher potential for communications equipment to go on the fritz. MAKE SURE YOUR FILES ARE BACKED UP. Also be aware of a higher than average probability for delays in shipping and travel arrangements. For this you will need an extra dose of patience.

You may also find it profitable to REview a project from the past. Maybe you shelved it then, but now is the time to REconsider. However, be advised that a spontaneously, “out-of-the-blue” idea for advancement may not be so sound when Mercury turns direct. This is why the conventional wisdom advises against finalizing and/or signing contracts on deals during Mercury retrograde. An exception might be supported if you are REnegotiating or RElocating. If you absolutely must close a deal, triple check everything. The key is not to RUSH.

This is a good time to schedule a corporate REtreat. Any activity that affords the opportunity to REview past performance is encouraged. REsearch on a new strategy is also favored.

Mercury retrogrades are not favored for launching a new website or a new communications systems. There is a higher than average probability of technical glitches and confusion. REvisions, however, are A-OK.

In general, adopt a playful attitude of flexibility to whatever twists you encounter. Avoid making major purchases (especially electronic ones), unless your A/C unit has died and there’s a heat wave. Sometimes you just have to buy an appliance, Mercury retrograde or not. This is life. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Don’t believe everything you hear or read in the papers when Mercury is retrograde. Rumors have a higher probability of spreading. Avoid losing patience — that’s a big one.

When in doubt, be silent!

Do plan on RElaxing, REviewing, REsearching, REorganizing, REgenerating, REconnecting and REcreating….and REviewing your life with your astrologer.

Mercury will travel backward in Gemini until June 22nd, when it reaches 16 Gemini and turns direct. Mercury won’t cover new ground until July 7th, when it reaches 24 Gemini (where it is right now). Mercury retrograde in Gemini suggests a ton of doubletalk and “on the other hand” discussions, and even an insistence that two contradictions can both be true at the same time. Hey, Gemini sees it both ways. Clever and entertaining wordplay is likely to capture our imagination, none of it really going anywhere, but gosh, it sure is fun. Part of the bewildering spin is sponsored by Neptune, which Mercury will square for the second time on June 5th (the first was on May 22nd).

The Sabian Symbol for this Mercury retrograde is “a man trimming palms,” which suggests “grooming, cultivating growth and putting a personal finish on a personal victory,” writes Sabian Sage Blain Bovee. Somehow we’re likely to see these themes in the news. Grooming and pruning are certainly apt for Mercury retrograde. This week — with Mercury at a virtual standstill — I got a haircut for the first time since the end of 2019. It felt like a crowning achievement of sorts, after weathering the pandemic for so many months. Alert the media.

You are more personally affected by this Mercury retrograde if you have planets or angles around 16 and 24 degrees of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces.

SUNDAY: Moon enters Aquarius at 12:04 AM ET, looking to hang with all its friends. Put on your rose-colored sunglasses and escape. There are no aspects to the Aquarius Moon, until 9:29 PM ET when Moon squares Uranus and then conjoins Saturn at 11:24 PM ET. With Mercury now retrograde, make an extra effort to be clear and present while in conversation and in transit.
MONDAY: Humming in the background for the past few days is a trine between Mars and Neptune, exact at 1:15 AM ET. This can be magical and seductive. It can also glamorize Mars-themed matters, including warriors, athletes, cars, and firearms. Applied with respect, it’s an apt pattern for Memorial Days tributes, supported by the Aquarius Moon’s need for social significance.

No sleeping in on Tuesday. The Moon will not be void. Women, art, and money will be demanding prominence. Leaders will be getting serious. I’ll explain it all in the next forecast, along with a recap of the latest news.

Until then, thanks to all who ordered personal insights on the recent eclipses. I still have a few more to write up, with gratitude for your patience. Meanwhile, here’s the 411 on consultations, as well as the Cosmic Tip Jar, which Avid Reader Diane says I must mention in every single forecast. We should all have fans as fierce as Avid Reader Diane, who insisted on supporting my efforts to keep fellow Avid Readers informed long before I dared to ask.

Thank you for reading this forecast. Have a restful long weekend!

THE FORECAST

THE
FORECAST