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 5/25/2021: Sneak Peek at the Week; Full Moon & Total Eclipse in Sagittarius

May 25, 2021/in The Forecast

Alllllll-righty then!

The week began with the Moon in Scorpio, on a mission to consolidate knowledge for the sake of being in control. If your Monday morning felt a bit like treading water, credit the fact that the Moon didn’t connect with any other planet in the cosmic sandbox until 6:14 PM ET (15 minutes ago, as I’m typing), when it opposed rebel Uranus. Has a jolt or other disruption of the status quo captured your attention? Is that why I’m finally giving form to the words in my head now? Whatever cattleprod you observed or experienced, the Scorpio Moon is serious about it, as demonstrated by its next stop: a square to Saturn — now officially retrograde –at 8:34 PM ET.

Highlights of this week are as follows:

The Moon is waxing to fullness, exact on Wednesday at 7:13 AM ET.
Moon will be in Sagittarius.
It’s a SuperMoon — i.e., close to Earth and really big in the sky.
It’s a total lunar eclipse — so the Moon will turn red.
Venus squares Neptune on Thursday.
Mercury turns retrograde on Saturday at 6:33 PM ET. BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS NOW.
Mercury meets up with Venus on Saturday.

Conclusion: there’s a whole lotta pixie dust scattered around this week. How apt that Tarot Diva Beth Owls Daughter’s Card of the Week is The Fool. And yet, The Fool has no small amount of courage, and I thought about that part of The Fool when I read Heather Cox Richardson’s tribute to Frederick Douglass earlier today. It ended with this sage advice:

When the day comes that you have to choose between what is just good enough and what is right… find the courage to step on the train.

You’ll have to read the whole tribute to fully appreciate what that means.

Here’s how the rest of the week goes:

TUESDAY: Rise and shine, and get something done. The Scorpio Moon trines (harmonizes) with Mars at 6 AM ET, then does the same dance with Neptune at 11:30 AM ET. Together, the three are in a brief Grand Trine in the Water Signs: Scorpio, Mars in Cancer, Neptune in Pisces. This is a pattern that needs to project an aura of emotional self-sufficiency. It keeps its cards close to its chest, acting as if it is a law unto itself. It can make abundance look oh-so-easy, which is why some astrologers say having a Grand Trine in your horoscope is lucky. I don’t know if it’s lucky, but the attitude of being a law unto oneself — perhaps without a care in the world — could be seen as an embodiment of The Fool. Hmm.
Scorpio Moon goes void at 5:18 PM ET. Now is the time to chill, especially with intense Scorpio moods on the rise. Exhale at 10:39 PM ET, as the Moon soars into Sagittarius.
WEDNESDAY: The Moon in Sag need to push boundaries is expanded further by a square to Jupiter at 12:2 AM ET. That expansion — righteous, blunt, and enthusiastic — is what we’re bringing into the eclipse, which is exact at 7:13 AM ET.

Eclipses interrupt the regular flow of light and whatever other energy flows from the Sun or the Moon, like a river meeting a dam. This creates a bottleneck of energy that must eventually find a release, usually over the course of a few months’ time. In the case of this eclipse, the time frame is about five months.

Eclipses often highlight an area of life where something needs to be brought to a close. Wherever the eclipse falls in your horoscope is where you may experience a bottleneck of energy, followed by a release. Since this is a lunar eclipse, the release is likely to be highly emotional. That can be a very good thing, as when things are released, they leave space for something new. It can also be experienced as quite an ordeal if the karma cops are behind what is being shut down.

Here is what the Full Moon/Total Lunar Eclipse looks like, set in Washington, D.C.:

Observations:

Pixie-dust, inspiration, magical thinking. Chart ruler Mercury is meeting up with Venus in chatty, info junkie Gemini, right on the Gemini Ascendant. Both planets square Neptune.
Jupiter is Pisces, right on the Midheaven. Whereas Mercury in Gemini is clever, young, and informed, Jupiter in Pisces is older, wiser, and bases its understanding on feelings and faith.
A lot of what’s going to be released and revealed over the next five months is likely to focus our attention on what we’re taught to believe and how it influences our reality. Watch for significant stories of education, publishing, courts, psychology, foreign affairs (culture clashes), religious dogma.
This eclipse falls in the 6th and 12th houses. Watch for stories involving labor, cooperative systems, hospices, hospitals, prisons, and other places of confinement.
Saturn is less than a month away from its next square to rebel Uranus. We are experiencing heavy tension between the old guard and the avant-garde.
Mars is on the cusp of the 2nd house — of money and values. Mars will soon oppose Pluto (on June 5th). There’s a ton of energy available to realize a pixie-dusted dream, for better or worse. Mars and Pluto are not a marshmallow combination. It’s ruthless to the max, and in this case, it’s focused on defending its turf.

For further insight on the potential significance of this Full Moon/Eclipse, we turn to Sabian Symbol Guru Blaine Bovee. His take on these cryptic Symbols is so appreciated. For the Sun at 6 Gemini: “drilling for oil”; for the Moon at 6 Sagittarius: “a game of cricket.”

“Drilling for oil” means drilling through layers of earth and rock in search of a pocket of wealth. It’s interesting that Bovee points out that in order to drill for oil, you need a rig — and that this element of “rigging” is significant. And guess what? 6 Gemini was where Venus was when it turned retrograde last May. Venus refers to who, what, and how we need to love. If you have a planet or angle around 6 Gemini or 6 Sagittarius, you may absolutely, positively experience a release of some matter of VALUE that was on your plate around this time last year.
For “a game of cricket,” Bovee notes that cricket is “an open-air game,” and that what is “not cricket” is said to be “not fair or sporting!” Noting that cricket originated in Britain, and was embraced by many of its colonies, Bovee says it has “a commonwealth theme born out of the imperial ambitions of the past,” and thus we are advised to watch for stories of “historical ironies like imperialism giving rise to more level playing fields,” as well as “valuables that lead to sticky situations; assumptions about living off of others’ resources; money games; rigging matters in order to propel advancement.” Bovee’s wonderful book can be ordered here.

And yes, by popular demand, I am happy to offer thoughts on what this eclipse suggests for you. Toss $46 into my Cosmic Tip Jar as a Joyful Random Expression, and email me your birth data if I don’t already have it. I will send you a few paragraphs of personal insights.

After Wednesday’s early morning Super Flower Blood Moon eclipse (here’s how to watch it), the Sag Moon continues to drive the day with enthusiasm. Go for a gambol or a gamble; get out in nature; do something sporty; engage in a righteous debate; go see a foreign film. By late afternoon, you could have a productive conversation about some of your Full Moon revelations, assisted by the consolidating structure of Moon sextile Saturn, exact at 8:01 PM ET.

THURSDAY: And now we’re back into dream mode this morning, as Sag Moon opposes Venus and squares Neptune right around 11 AM ET. Women, money, art, and social expression may all be seeking a seductive, beautiful escape. Note that Mercury is now pulling focus as it slows to a virtual standstill. Clashes of opinion vs. facts may turn up around 1:35 PM ET, as Mercury and the Moon oppose each other. Chill for the rest of the workday, as the Moon will be void until 10:23 PM ET. See if you notice the shift in tone as the Moon enters proactive Capricorn, needing to Make Things Happen.
FRIDAY: The drive to take care of business forges ahead, unimpeded by other planets. Moon sextiles Uranus at 6:21 PM ET, inviting a more diverse or innovative approach. If this day is chattier than usual, I won’t be too surprised. Venus and Mercury are both in Gemini –and pushing the usual boundaries. They meet up at 1:12 AM on…
SATURDAY. With the Moon still in Capricorn, checking off practical chores around the house would be apt. Note the potential for an argument about safety and security around 10:35 AM ET. Do you really need a sledgehammer to hang a picture? Another power play or catharsis may arise around 6:13 PM ET, when the Moon meets up with Pluto — and then goes void for the rest of the night. At 6:33 PM ET, Mercury turns retrograde. Did you back up your computers???? How about your iPhone? Chill for the next six hours and double-check your travel plans on this holiday weekend. Here’s your basic Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide.
SUNDAY: Moon enters Aquarius at 12:04 AM ET, looking to hang with all its friends. Did I mention this is a holiday weekend in the United States? Put on your rose-colored sunglasses and escape. Humming in the background for the past few days is a trine between Mars and Neptune, exact at 1:15 AM ET on Monday. This can be magical and seductive, for better or worse. The Aquarius Moon is challenged by a square to Uranus and a meet-up with Saturn between 9 PM and midnight. With Mercury now retrograde, make an extra effort to be clear and present while in conversation and in transit.

And now, the news.

Planetary patterns reflected in the headlines include:

Saturn (structure, authority, control) in Aquarius (networks, technology, airwaves) turning retrograde on Sunday
Sun in Gemini square Jupiter in Pisces (exact Friday), suggesting BIG news about news
Mercury square Neptune, exact on Saturday, suggesting lies, lies, and more lies
Venus trine Saturn (women, control, authority, business)
Sun trine Pluto (consolidation of power among leaders; news from underground)

Ready?

John Oliver captured the first three patterns on Sunday. As The Guardian reports, “John Oliver places fake sponsored content on local news; says ‘It was far too easy.” You really must see the full episode.
Conservative Republicans pressured AP to fire cub reporter Emily Wilder because of the pro-Palestinian advocacy she was involved in as a student at Stanford. AP gave in, accusing Wilder of violating its social media policy.
Meanwhile, across the pond, a former British Supreme Court judge blasted the BBC and former BBC journalist Martin Bashir for using “fake documents and false pretenses” to score its infamous 1995 interview with Princess Diana. Princes William and Harry are not at all amused.
“Ask Yourself What Books You Truly Love,” is the title of Salman Rushdie‘s essay published in the NYT’s Sunday Review. Much is said about fairy tales (he calls them “wonder tales”), and it’s fascinating to see that his Venus is at 6 Gemini (conjunct imaginative Neptune). He would have been personally affected by last year’s Venus retrograde, and whatever value adjustments he made will be accelerated over the next five months.

It was chilling to read about the Ryanair commercial jet that was hijacked at the personal behest of “Europe’s Last Dictator,” Alexander Lukashenkoof Belarus. It was an apt reflection of Saturn stationing retrograde in Aquarius, i.e. authority exerting control in flight, in an effort to crush 26-year-old Roman Protasevich, a journalist who “operated a communications channel to provide information about the democratic movement during the demonstrations,” reports Heather Cox Richardson. It also reflects the new paradigm of the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction: that the one who controls the flow of information may control the world. It doesn’t matter how much stuff you own. The hijacking succeeded in part because of a Mercury-Neptune lie, i.e, the fake bomb threat that was the “excuse” for landing the plane in Belarus instead of Lithuania, its intended destination. Not to mention an actual military threat (in the form of a fighter jet).

Avid Readers may recall reading about Belarus in this forecast back in August when dictator Lukashenko claimed to have won a rigged (obviously) election with 80% of the vote. Yes, and that’s why tens of thousands of people in Belarus took to the streets, and thousands were arrested. Astrologically, Mars was around 20 Aries, square Jupiter-Pluto in Capricorn, and triggering the January 10, 2020 eclipse. In Lukashenko’s horoscope, we note Jupiter-Uranus in Cancer, square Venus-Neptune in Libra — activated by transiting Mars in August, and activated again now, as transiting Mars approaches 20 Cancer! We see how he would take action now. If his birth data is correct, multiple planets in his horoscope were eclipsed in December 2019 and January 2020. His 6 Virgo Sun will be affected by Wednesday’s lunar eclipse, and his 26 Aquarius MC – Pluto opposition will be eclipsed in November. Perhaps the continued pressure will effect a change in his regime at the end of this year or next year.

Meanwhile, in Floriduh (not to be confused with Florida, which is another state of being), Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that blocks social media platforms from banning “political candidates.” — because in the Jupiter-Saturn in Aquarius Age, whoever controls the information flow will have the power. So will we have a congressional investigation into the January 6th attempted coup at the Capitol? Not if Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy get their way.

There is so much more I would love to talk about, but this forecast needs to ship!

Random Venus trine streamlining Saturn at a standstill headline: birth rates around the world are plummeting; the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case on Roe v. Wade, which is not good news if you’re female and live in a red state.

Random Mercury square Neptune headline: “Alabama’s Vaccine Passport Ban is a Ticket to Nowhere”

Upside reflection of the above two patterns, laced with the publishing potential of Sun square Jupiter: have you heard of the Linda Lindas? It’s a punk band of four girls in Los Angeles. (Punk is something I understand. Gabba gabba hey!) The drummer is 10; the oldest guitar player is 16. They’re Asian and Latinx. A video of a concert they did at the Los Angeles Public Library (publishing!) went viral last week; they just got a record deal. Their new hit single: “Racist Sexist Boy.”

Random Saturn square Uranus headline, disrupting the status quo: “A seismic standoff over remote work is building”

Finally, SNL reflected the big boozy potential of Sun square Jupiter with Mercury square Neptune. Here’s Cecily Strong going completely over the top as Judge Box of Wine (Jeanine Pirro). Cheers!

Thank you for reading this forecast. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations. Here’s how to support this public service with random or monthly expressions of appreciation. It really does make my day when Avid Readers make sure I know they find my insights worthwhile.

Monday 5/17/2021: Sneak Peek at the Week; Saturn Turns Retrograde

May 17, 2021/in The Forecast

Allll-righty then!

If you experienced a catharsis or power play in the wee hours, blame it on the Cancer Moon’s opposition with Pluto at 2:21 AM ET. At 8:43 AM ET, Moon enters Leo, looking for a party in which to shine, shine, shine. Themes of consolidating power are likely to ripple through the day, reflecting the trine between the Sun and Pluto that was exact at 5:48 AM ET. Some stories may have a sense of someone “losing their head,” as the Sun is currently conjunct the fixed star Algol, associated with decapitations. Here are a few examples:

“AT & T-Discovery deal would create a media juggernaut”
“Commander of Space Force unit fired…” after publishing a book accusing the military of pursuing a Marxist agenda
South Carolina governor signs bill forcing death row inmates to choose between the electric chair or the firing squad

Here are the main patterns driving the week:

First is Saturn, a symbol of authority, karma, structure, and necessary controls. It’s slowing down to a virtual standstill, preparing to turn retrograde on Sunday. In Aquarius, Saturn’s controls are easily expressed in matters related to technology, humanitarianism, and networks. Maybe we’ll see a bit about astrology, too. Avid Readers will recall that a planet about to change direction functions like a driver leaning on the horn of their car. Matters related to the planet grab our attention!
Second, a trine between Venus and Saturn on Wednesday suggests stories of enduring love in the news, and apt for work on any project you hope is built to last. Good for business!
Third, Friday’s square between the Sun and Jupiter suggests boundless enthusiasm, potential ego expansion involving leaders and big news that may tug at our heartstrings. Jupiter is now in Pisces, and everything it touches during its stay is likely to spark empathy. Last week, when Jupiter was in Aquarius, executive decisions were more emotionally detached.
Fourth, on Saturday we’ll have the first of three squares between Mercury and Neptune. Get out your rose-colored glasses and prepared to be dazzled, inspired, deceived, or simply confused.

There are no exact aspects among the planets after the Moon enters Leo this morning; thus, some would-be drama kings and queens may wander without focus. You’ll know it when you see it.

TUESDAY: Moon’s weekly clash with rebel Uranus at 7:03 AM ET could get you out of bed faster than a shot of caffeine. At 10:28 AM ET, the regal expression of the Leo Moon may be streamlined by a face-off with Saturn. This is the way we will roll for the next two months on days that the Moon is in the middle of Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, and Scorpio. A revelation or other disruption of the status quo (as Moon connects with Uranus) quickly followed by a streamlining effort to restore structure and control (as Moon connects with Saturn). We’re having this experience because Saturn and Uranus are getting closer and closer to their second square of 2021 on June 14th. The first one was on February 17th. GameStop stock went bonkers, thanks to clever manipulation of the markets by a few “little people;” the Texas power grid went kaplooie, and Ted Cruz snuck off to Cancun and then lied about it.

A pause, while I remind you what the three Saturn-Uranus squares of 2021 are all about:

Saturn represents necessary controls, such as authority, the limits of time, responsibility, and ambition. We need Saturn’s structure to exist in the material world; without it we’d be living in a field without a roof over our heads. Uranus represents the intensely disruptive energy of change, lightning bolts, seismic shake-ups, genetic mutations and awakenings. If you have a Saturn-Uranus square in your horoscope, there is a suggestion of tension between the need to fulfill perceived obligations and maintain control vs. a need to break free of it all. That tension may persist for years, but eventually, the pressure for innovation and change wins the day.

Uranus briefly entered Taurus in 2018, backed into Aries and then re-entered Taurus in early 2019. Since then we’ve seen its disruptive energy reflected by shake ups in Taurus-ruled concerns: our values and possessions in general; earth beneath our feet; the concept of ownership; retail, money, beauty, restaurant (food) and real estate businesses, as I told you it would at the end of 2017. We’ve also seen a disruption of a material comfort we took for granted for far too long, i.e., human touch. I can’t believe I wrote this in April 2019 as a coda to an analysis of Joe Biden’s horoscope (he has Moon at 0 Taurus).It’s amazing how it has played out:

“Joe Biden was due for a sobering shock. And on a collective level, this is one of the exercises we are being given, courtesy of Uranus (shock) in Taurus (material comfort and security; physical touch). Those hugs that were once a secure expression of comfort and non-sexual caring affection? Not so secure anymore.”

Uranus represents the energy of awakening — with a shock to the system. Saturn represents the reality of the material world. When Saturn/reality is in a hard aspect with Neptune (fog/deception/idealism), as it was in 2006-2007 and 2015-2016, we get magical thinking and bubbles. The last time Saturn and Uranus were in a hard aspect (conjunction, square or opposition), was late 2008-2010. Anyone remember any bubbles bursting back then (e.g. mortgage crisis & auto bailout)? They say history repeats itself — and so do planetary cycles.

Many bubbles are likely to pop in 2021. The dates of the three Saturn-Uranus squares are Feb 17, Jun 14 and Dec 24. In 2022, we do not have an exact square, but Saturn and Uranus will still be in a tense pattern, especially in the fall.

Here’s a story reflecting the potential for disruption in the material flow: “World Economy Suddenly Running Low on Everything.” You’re more personally affected by the June 14th square if you have a planet around 13 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Aquarius. Consult your local astrologer for details.

WEDNESDAY: Leo Moon continues to drive the action. Its need for creative self-expression is challenged by the First Quarter Moon at 3:12 PM ET, and neither the Moon nor the Taurus Sun is inclined to give an inch. After a brief void, Moon enters Virgo at 4:59 PM ET and works hard to set things right, aided by an exuberant contact with Jupiter. The trine between Venus and Saturn is exact at 9:58 PM ET. Put it to work crafting a structure to support your great ideas about the things you love.
THURSDAY: Keep on sorting out the details, inspired by the Virgo Moon. Think outside the box around lunchtime, as Moon trines Uranus at 2:08 PM ET. At 3:36 PM ET, Sun leaves Taurus and buzzes into Gemini, finally free to circulate — with grand enthusiasm over the next few days, courtesy of that square from Jupiter on Friday. Generally speaking, clever communication of boatloads of information is what Gemini is designed to do — often while doing several other things at once (to keep from being bored or boring). If Taurus gives form to Aries’ initiatives; Gemini sells what Taurus builds and takes a commission. The challenge over the next few weeks may be whether what is being sold is for real.
FRIDAY: Note your dreams upon waking, as the Moon squares Mercury and opposes Neptune at 7:47 AM and 9:24 AM ET. Magical thinking and general good cheer may make life feel quite grand, as that Sun-Jupiter square is exact at 11:03 AM ET. The hours after lunch may be quite empowering, as Moon trines Pluto at 3:55 PM ET. Chill during the ensuing Moon void. At 9:35 PM ET, Moon enters Libra, focusing our weekend on a need for fairness and balance in relationships.
SATURDAY: No exact aspects to the Moon for most of the day may feel like a loss of direction. Ride the horse in the direction it’s going and plan a magical mental escape. Moon trine Saturn at 8:10 PM ET endeavors to keep it somewhat real, though the square between Mercury and Neptune at 10:42 PM ET may wish otherwise. Pay close attention if you’re on the road because others likely won’t. Overnight action may be contentious, especially around 3:50 AM ET on…
SUNDAY:…as the Libra Moon is squared by Mars, seeking to defend its turf in Cancer. At 5:18 AM ET, Saturn officially turns retrograde, giving us a chance to review the advances made so far this year. Retrograde planets suggest a time to look inward for authority in whatever matters ruled by that planet. They also suggest delays, reconsideration, or revisions. Saturn turns retrograde at 13 degrees of Aquarius and will back up to 6 degrees before turning direct on October 11th. 6 Taurus is where rebel Uranus was in the days leading up to January 6th; perhaps we’ll see hammers coming down on a few insurrectionists around then. October looks significant for Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney, to name a few.
The Sabian Symbol for Saturn’s station this week is “a train entering a tunnel.” Bovee notes that such a train disappears for a while, but it does emerge at the end, as it sees the light. This is an apt image for those of us who are impatient for certain doses of karmic to kick in. This Saturn retrograde may be a training period, suggests Bovee. It is a caution against “tunnel vision.” Here’s what Lynda Hill had to say when Mercury stationed on this degree in 2015. Meanwhile, astronerds will appreciate that I’ve noticed more than one story of trains derailing — and I will never forget this one from January 2018, in which a train carrying Republicans to a retreat collided with a garbage truck. What’s fascinating about the chart for that event is how hot it is now. Transiting Uranus is sitting right on the 12 Taurus Ascendant, squaring the Aquarius-Leo Sun and Moon. This train wreck happened days after an eclipse at 26 Capricorn, which is where Pluto stationed last month. Astrology. Is. Amazing. And if this week’s forecast has a wandering feel, it’s reflecting a less-than-focused Leo Moon.

Meanwhile, back up your computers NOW. Mercury turns retrograde at the end of the month. There will be NO WHINGEING.

And now, the news.

In honor of Jupiter’s ingress into Pisces, I’ve added Gurdeep Pandher of the Yukon to my Twitter feed. Every day he posts a video of joyful dance in the wilderness — sometimes alone, sometimes with others. Joyful dance is a perfect reflection of Jupiter in Pisces. How can you not feel we are all connected when swaying to the music, hmm? Joyful dance is a recommended coping strategy for crazy, cruel headlines.

Also on Twitter: a quick test for the strength of your lungs, which Jupiter rules (in traditional astrology). And while we’re testing astrologically synced health conditions, WaPo ran an article on testing for certain childhood traumas and how they have created greater stress and isolation for those who experienced them, especially in the pandemic. Number Story seeks to raise awareness, and “takes what we’re feeling, and gives us a vocabulary and resources as to how we can connect to support,” according to the article. As Jupiter progresses through Pisces and is joined by Saturn, we are likely to see greater empathy and practical coping strategies and therapies for these way-too interesting times.

Jupiter in Pisces coincided with the CDC’s loosening of mask requirements for people fully vaccinated against Covid. That’s great, but since Jupiter is only in Pisces for several weeks, and Mercury and Venus will square Neptune in several days, I’m erring on the side of caution. I’m not convinced that the CDC guidelines will be adhered to in the way they were intended. I just got my second dose yesterday (yes, using astrology to pick a time), and other than a sore arm and a bit of fatigue today, I’m not having major side effects. Meanwhile, I’m thrilled by the prospect of having friends over for dinner.

Speaking of yoga, my teacher was attuned to Jupiter’s ingress into Pisces, as demonstrated in his Friday Zoom class, which was an expanded focus on strengthening and nurturing…the feet!! Pisces rules the feet, doncha know. Fun!

Also fun — and exemplifying the best of Jupiter in Pisces’ grand charity: Stephen Colbert presents the recipients of his Small Biz Bump.

In other news…

Planetary patterns last week were “go” for consolidating power, with some initiatives bordering on the surreal:

“Leaked video: Dark money group brags about writing bills suppressing voting rights across the nation.” This should not be surprising in the least, as any Avid Reader who remembers my mentioning the 2005 Citigroup plutonomy memo will recall that this has always been the game plan of the 1%. Here’s a post on that from 2013.
Liz Cheney was ousted from her leadership role in the Republican party and is calling for investigations, as Heather Cox Richardson explains. OK, let’s see what happens in October.
What Cheney’s ouster means is that the Republican Party is all-in for the twice-impeached former guy, who is due for a change of status in the coming months. Here’s a perspective from the Times of India.
There was a brief run on gasoline last week, thanks to the ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline. This event illustrates a few key astrological patterns. First, that the Great Mutation of Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius argues that success will be had by those who control information and networks, not material goods. The run on gasoline recalled similar panics in the late ’70s, the last time transiting Neptune (oil, wipeouts) squared the U.S. Mars-Neptune square!
I can’t believe I neglected to mention the new series, “The Underground Railroad,” as a reflection of Sun-Venus trine Pluto’s potential for news from underground!
Ellen DeGeneres is finally fulfilling the potential in her horoscope for a fresh start. She’s calling it quits on her talk show, and it’s generating not-so-flattering press. Why is she quitting? “I just don’t feel like doing it anymore,” she said. Ellen has a truckload of planets in the early degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, not to mention a combative Mars currently challenging her me-first Aries Moon. And then there is transiting Neptune melting down her natal Saturn, putting her ambition to sleep and prompting her to question her core values.

There’s much more to discuss, but I am also melting down. It’s naptime, brought to you by FEMA and the Covid vaccine. The chart for the time of the second shot had Neptune (confusion) affecting the health care practitioner. She was a young woman in fatigues serving in the Coast Guard or the U.S. Navy — not sure which. But what she really wants to do is go back to her farm somewhere in the Midwest. I mentioned I was an astrologer and she cheerfully confided that two of her teachers were also astrologers and that she loved looking at the constellations. It took me a minute to realize that she was confusing “astrologers” with “astronomers.”

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Tuesday 5/11/2021: Late Sneak Peek at the Week; New Moon in Taurus; Jupiter in Pisces

May 11, 2021/in The Forecast

Allll-righty then!

The Moon is in Taurus, at the very end of its cycle. In such times we may feel listless or restless, sensing that something new is just around the corner, but we don’t know what. With no light from the Moon, it’s a fine time for clandestine meetings or actions you’d rather see fly under the radar. If the air felt heavy overnight, you may have sensed the square between the Moon and Saturn, exact at 10:54 PM ET on Monday. It was the last aspect the Moon will make until 2:59 PM ET today(TUESDAY), when the Moon meets up with the Sun. Happy New Moon in Taurus!

Here’s what the chart looks like, set in Washington, D.C.:

Observations:

A Taurus Moon needs to plant seeds for creating material comfort and security. From the U.S.’s perspective, those seeds are being planted in the 9th house — dreams, publishing, travel, higher education, foreign affairs, court opinions and collective belief systems. With rebel Uranus on the cusp of 9th house — supported by a sextile from Mars — innovative action involving caring for families and homeland security may be one manifestation. Technology may be a key factor.
The Ascendant–19 Virgo– is President Biden’s Midheaven. His professional status and reputation is key to this lunar cycle’s story.
Neptune is heavily involved in the drama, as it was in the chart for the last Full Moon. Neptune upsides refer to compassion for human suffering, vision and healing. On the downside, Neptune refers to batsh*t craziness, drugs and deception. In general, Neptune refers to oil, oceans, film and spirits of all kinds.
Neptune is sextile the Sun and Moon, adding visionary potential to initiatives intended to build material security.
Chart ruler Mercury is high-functioning in Gemini and it is trine to Saturn. This is a good week to make that pitch!! Your ideas can be structured for the benefit of all.
The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is “a white dove flies over troubled waters.“ Some interpretations say the dove is “fearless” in its flight, and that this symbol reflects the peaceful, contented potential of Sun-Moon in Taurus, in harmony with “oil on troubled waters” Neptune. I’m fascinated by Blain Bovee’s suggestion (see the preceding link) that this symbol may suggest rising above a situation that has become toxic, trusting that if left alone, the toxicity will resolve on its own. Lynda Hill, another Sabian expert, also argues that the white dove suggests that help is on the way. Therefore, be proactive in seeking whatever support your quest for material security requires.

After the New Moon at 2:59 PM ET, Moon sextiles Neptune. Note your dreams, even if you’re awake.

WEDNESDAY: Excess or simple exuberance greets us in the morning, as Moon squares Jupiter at 8:22 AM ET. Practical chatter is favored, as the Moon enters Gemini at 8:42 AM ET, looking for hardcore facts. The aforementioned Mercury-Saturn trine is exact at 2:33 PM ET. After its encounter with sobering — yet productive — reality, the rest of the day is driven by a need for diverse flirtations, aided by the Moon’s meet-up with Venus in Gemini at 6:20 PM ET. Imagination is sparked by the sextile of the Sun and Neptune, exact on…
THURSDAY: …at 1:44 AM ET. More practical planning and outreach can be accomplished today, supported by the Gemini Moon’s trine to Saturn and conjunction with Mercury at 12:02 PM ET and 2:31 PM ET. The biggest planetary shift happens at 6:35 PM ET, when Jupiter dips its toe into Pisces until July 29th. Jupiter refers to expansion and reward, and for the next several weeks, watch how expansion impacts Pisces-ruled concerns, including feet, empathy, surrender, oceans, oil, refugees, spirits and other escapist tactics, suicides, suffering, soulfulness, and plenty of other things listed here. Jupiter is the traditional ruler of Pisces, which means it functions well in this sign. It’s good news for people looking to choose a time to do certain things. Those affected more personally during this Jupiter-in-Pisces sneak peek are those born in the last several days of Aquarius, Leo, Taurus, and Scorpio, as well as those born in the first three days of Pisces, Gemini, Sagittarius, and Virgo. Jupiter turns retrograde on June 20th (at 2 Pisces); it turns direct on October 18th (at 22 Aquarius), and re-enters Pisces on December 28th. Meanwhile, get it off your desk today, as the Moon will be void on…
FRIDAY: ….starting at 6:50 AM ET, right after it squares wiggy Neptune. Note your dreams and then chill, chill, chill. Moon won’t enter the next sign —Cancer– until 9:30 PM ET. Until then, stick to routine concerns (i.e., resist launching an important enterprise), and roll with the twists and flakes that may disrupt efforts to move forward in a straight line. Remember that crises that crop up during voids are often much ado about nothing. CHILL — and if you can clock out early today, go for it.
SATURDAY: Moon in Cancer seeks the comforts of home and family. Plan accordingly. Moon’s sextile to Uranus at 8:34 PM ET could include a few friends. Note the potential for provocation as we get closer to…
SUNDAY: …at 1:05 AM ET, when the security-defending, sensitive drive of the Cancer Moon meets up with action-hero Mars. Humming in the background all week and this weekend are certain easy efforts to consolidate power among the Powers That Be, suggested by a trine to Pluto from the Sun, exact at 5:48 AM ET on Monday. Meanwhile, Mercury officially enters its shadow period today, as it prepares to turn retrograde on May 30th. “Shadow period” means that whatever Mercury-ruled matters are acted upon between now and the 30th (e.g., documents released, contracts signed) are subject to review, as Mercury will retrace its path when it turns retrograde. It also means that Mercury is slowing down, and your thought processes should slow down, too. Clear?

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And now, the news.

Stories reflecting the bewildering potential of Neptune running wild were rampant, especially in the United States, where Neptune is activating the U.S. Mars-Neptune square. Avid Readers will recall that this square symbolizes America’s idealization of cowboys, guns, soldiers, and its own ego (i.e., “American exceptionalism,” as astrologer Bill Herbst skeptically explains), as well as Hollywood fantasies, its notion of the “American Dream,” the current opioid crisis, and cults of all kinds. Last week’s trine between Venus and Pluto suggested we’d have stories of women and power plays, as well as intriguing “news from underground.” Here’s a sampling:

“Cult Leader ‘Mother God’ Was Found Dead and Mummified. Why Are Her Followers Celebrating?”
Thom Hartmann had a few things to say about Ayn Rand’s inspiration for Howard Roark, the hero of The Fountainhead, and OMG, it’s so bizarre…and who knew? Ayn Rand was an Aquarius, driven by an achievement-oriented Moon in Capricorn. Saturn exactly conjoined her Sun last week, so I’m not surprised by the harsh “reality check” now, nor is it surprising that Atlas Shrugged was the response thousands of people on Twitter gave to the question, “You’re on a first date, and they tell you the name of their favorite book. You immediately leave. What’s the book?” Astrology is amazing.
There are big power plays involving the control of leadership in the Republican Party, and they currently involve Rep. Liz Cheney and Rep. Elise Stefanik. We don’t have birth times for either one (thus we are limited to what we can anticipate), but we do have a timed chart for Cheney’s father, former VP Dick Cheney. Like Ayn Rand, his Aquarius Sun is under the disruptive and streamlining influence of transiting Uranus and Saturn, so we can appreciate 1) why he may be feeling shocked and squeezed by his party’s effort to oust daughter Liz from her leadership post; and 2) how the power play is enabling both to be seen in a fresh new light, i.e., as defenders of truth and integrity. We can also appreciate how confounding it may feel for the former VP, as transiting Neptune is sitting right on his 22 Pisces Moon — and will be there off and on into 2022. The attacks on Liz last week occurred as transiting Mars conjoined her natal Mars at 10 Cancer, and she says she’s not backing down. In the language of astrology, a Mars return is an opportunity to initiate a new two-year course of action. Liz Cheney’s Mars sits right on top of would-be usurper Stefanik’s 10 Cancer Sun. This is an energizing connection, for better or worse. Stefanik’s Mars is 12 Scorpio (like President Biden’s), and it’s under the influence of Saturn and Uranus now and into next year. We see the potential for discipline, frustration, and daring action. What kind of daring actions? The kind of action Liz Cheney took when she reached out to former U.S. defense secretaries and convinced them to write an op-ed warning the military to stay out of politics, as it is now being reported. Liz Cheney was under the influence of a daring Uranus transit in January 2021.
The Republican party’s horoscope — as I’ve mentioned before — is similar to the horoscopes of Israel and Boeing in that all three have transiting Pluto activating the Ascendant and the Midheaven. We see strong potential for breakdown, transformation, and power plays over the course of a few years, especially in matters of identity and public status. Pluto transits take time.
“Republican senator says ’embarrassing’ Arizona recount ‘makes us look like idiots.'” Stephen Colbert has more on this bizarre story, including other bewildering happenings of the week (e.g., the effort to oust Cheney).
For some reason, Salon published a piece about six documentaries about con artists.
“Archaeologists uncover oldest human burial in Africa” Fascinating news from underground.
WaPo exclusive: “The Making of a Myth” — an investigative report on the origin of The Big Lie (i.e., that the 2020 election was stolen); Heather Cox Richardson explains it here if you can’t access WaPo.
Meanwhile, guess who else has Mars at 10 Cancer, and thus could be expected to launch a new two-year action initiative last week? Melinda Gates! Now it is being reported that she met with divorce attorneys in October 2019, after a report in the NYT revealed husband Bill’s connections with Jeffrey Epstein. It is also being reported that Melinda voiced objections to Bill’s relationship with Epstein back in 2013. Without a birth time, we don’t have an Ascendant and we don’t know if Melinda has her Moon in Scorpio or Sagittarius. But we can see that her Venus-Mars conjunction in Cancer would have been rocked by the disruptive Uranus-Pluto square in 2013, and perhaps some of that disruption involved a need to take a closer look at her values and finances (Venus) and her ability to assert herself (Mars). This tidbit is brought to you in response to Avid Reader Liz, who wanted to know why I didn’t take the time to mention Melinda’s horoscope last week.

Meanwhile…

Over the weekend Venus in Taurus squared Jupiter in Aquarius. Financial expansion and indulgence were anticipated, and the stock market reached yet another new high. Factor in a runaway Neptune, and you might have heard that Jeff Bezos has ordered a “super yacht” that’s longer than a football field and will cost $500 million. He’s also been selling boatloads of Amazon stock. We don’t have a birth time for Bezos, but we can see his horoscope was also activated by Mars at 10 Cancer last week.

Mars also activated the horoscope of Ben Affleck, whose Venus sits on his 8 Cancer Ascendant. Transiting Mars on Venus can spark romance, and for Affleck it “coincided” with a presumed romantic getaway with Jennifer Lopez, a former fiancee. No birth time is available for Lopez.

I leave you with this intriguing headline from New Scientist: “Measuring Time Accurately Increases Entropy in the Universe.” Entropy is defined by Professor Google as:

PHYSICS

1. a thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system’s thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system.

“the second law of thermodynamics says that entropy always increases with time”

2. lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder.

“a marketplace where entropy reigns supreme”

What does this suggest for astrology, I wonder. What do you think?

Here’s the 411 on consultations. We will have an enlightening discussion together.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Paris me manque.

Monday 5/3/2021: Sneak Peek at the Week; Mercury in Gemini

May 4, 2021/in The Forecast

Alllll-righty then!

Most of the major action in the cosmos this week happened today, starting with tension between Mercury (how we need to think and communicate) in Taurus, in a square to Jupiter (publishing) at 5:32 AM ET. That was followed by the streamlining square between the Sun and Saturn at 6:01 AM ET. The Moon was –and still is –in Aquarius, seeking to be of social significance, network with its buddies and innovate, innovate, innovate — preferably in ways that are tech-savvy. Mix it all together and we’ve got a day that starts with the news that Verizon is selling AOL and Yahoo! for a cool $5 billion, because it wants to get out of the media business. That story is totally in sync with planetary patterns. Astrology is amazing.

Another jolt…followed by a streamlined focus…would have perfectly reflected Moon’s square to Uranus at 10:51 AM ET and meet-up with taskmaster Saturn at 3:07 PM ET. The Third Quarter Moon at 3:50 PM ET — a clash between the status-quo preserving energy of the Taurus Sun and the stubbornly innovative need of the Aquarius Moon — may have been an opportunity to be like Elsa and Let. It. Go. I finally gave up on the good tech support people at HP and Zoom, and I gotta tell ya, for some reason my spacebar has loosened up on its own and is functioning more in tune with its intended design. Maybe because transiting Mars (assertion, action) is currently hammering my Mercury (communication)?

Or maybe it’s because Mercury is currently at the verrrrrry end of “immovable rock” Taurus, about to become much more mobile and efficient when it enters one of its home signs — Gemini — tonight at 10:49 PM ET. Bring on the quick-thinking charmers who are just loaded with information to share. Take advantage of Mercury’s clear path this week (as Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week also advises). After the 15th, Mercury will be in its “shadow phase, ” preparing for its next retrograde on May 29th. It will also be within range of a square to Neptune, just as Venus was when it turned retrograde last June. Translation: plenty of magical thinking between the middle of May and the middle of June. Some of it may be truly inspired and visionary; some of it may be delusional, especially with respect to Covid theories and protocols.

The rest of the week goes like this:

TUESDAY: Aquarius Moon drives a perfect networking day, ending on a high note around 8:04 PM ET, as it meets up with Jupiter. After a brief void, Moon enters Pisces at 10:08 PM ET, replacing Aquarian detachment with Pisces empathy and sensitivity.
WEDNESDAY: Pisces compassion is supported by caring action and innovation, as the Moon harmonizes with Mars at 12:06 PM ET and sextiles Uranus at 6:56 PM ET. Humming in the background is Venus — losing her head, perhaps — in a deep expression of sensual and other material comforts that could be empowering. Venus trines Pluto on…
THURSDAY:…at 7:26 AM ET, and this is the only planetary pattern happening during much of the business day. Look for it in matters related to women, art, money, social expression — and potent news from underground. Happy hour and the rest of the evening may be dreamy, as Moon meets up with Neptune at 5:16 PM ET, following by easy connections with Pluto and Venus in the wee hours. Nice.
FRIDAY: Up and at ’em, as Moon shifts gears into me-me-me Aries, looking to get something started. What that is may lack a specific direction until later in the day, when Moon makes a cooperative connection (a sextile) with that high-functioning Mercury in Gemini. Whatever is planned feels like a big giant indulgent splurge, in anticipation of the square between Venus and Jupiter, two planets associated with good fortune (generally speaking). The square is exact on….
SATURDAY: …at 9:37 AM ET. Will there be a jackpot to win this weekend, I wonder…? If you have planets around the 29th degree of just about any sign, buy a couple of lottery tickets and see. At 10:01 PM ET, Venus leaves Taurus and flutters into Gemini. Alert your inner flirt; Venus in Gemini is happy to facilitate sweet-talking with more than one Juliet or Romeo.
SUNDAY: the Aries Moon clashes with Pluto around 1:15 PM ET, adding depth and potential catharses and/or power plays to your Mothers’ Day brunch. It lightens up by 6:50 PM ET, as the Aries Moon’s me-me-me focus connects with Jupiter, now at the end of its first visit this year in humanitarian Aquarius. Jupiter will dip its big toe into Pisces on May 13th, ready for a pedicure after way too many months (Pisces rules the feet). Jupiter functions well in Pisces, and I’ll tell you more about what we can expect in the next forecast. At 7:46 PM ET, Moon enters Taurus, looking to building something solid and secure for the next few days.

And now, the news.

This is my favorite headline reflecting the “bolt from the blue” potential of Friday’s Sun-Uranus conjunction. I told you to expect surprises, likely in technology and aviation.

“Unexpected passenger: woman gives birth on flight to Hawaii” — and guess what? She didn’t even know she was pregnant. Surprise! But don’t worry, there were three neo-natal ICU nurses on board to assist with the delivery of the premature bundle of joy.
Also: “Turmoil shakes California Air National Guard with firing of top generals”
And: “Joe Biden is Electrifying America Like F.D.R.” Mm-hmm. “Electrifying.” As anticipated.
“How the Pentagon started taking U.F.O.’s seriously”— adds the Sun-Saturn square (serious) to the Sun-Uranus flying saucers
VP Kamala Harris will be leading the National Space Council. Transiting Jupiter is conjunct her Saturn and fast-approaching her Pisces Midheaven. We anticipate an ever-expanding level of authority and public status in the coming months.
The Sunday NYT Magazine was “a special issue about the past, present, and future of the human life span.” Innovation meets mortality. For a paper that doesn’t seem to think that much of astrology, they’re batting 1000 when it comes to being in sync with planetary patterns.

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, tech innovations in the Taurus-ruled world of real estate were rock-solid, as “Dutch couple becomes Europe’s first inhabitants of a 3-D printed house.” The house even looks like a rock.

In other news, tech icons Bill and Melinda Gates announced their divorce after 27 years of marriage –almost a Saturn cycle. Bill Gates’ Scorpio Sun was shaken up by transiting Uranus last year and streamlined by Saturn in early 2021. This suggests a need for a break, followed by a potential cut or restructuring. His pioneering Aries Moon was lit up by the Full Moon at the end of March; his Sun was illuminated by the Full Moon at the end of April. Given the action on his Sun for over a year, we could see how these two consecutive Full Moons would reflect a potential release. Plus, Gates is one of several notable newsmakers whose horoscopes have planets or angles (i.e., the Ascendant or Midheaven) at 26 Capricorn, which is where Pluto has been sitting for the past few weeks. Pluto refers to breakdown and transformation, leading to potential empowerment (we always hope). Resistance is futile. Pluto is almost exactly opposing Gates’ 26 Cancer Ascendant, which needs to be seen as sensitive and caring. A big giant philanthropic organization would be highly fulfilling, with tons of resources at his disposal, suggested by Jupiter-Pluto in his 2nd house (of money, values, and self-worth). Here is his horoscope.

President Jimmy Carter is also in the news, thanks to a visit a few days ago from the Bidens. Carter is a Libra with Moon in Scorpio, suggesting relationship-focused energy that needs to be appreciated for its depth and substance. With transiting Saturn now squaring his Moon, gravitas is readily available (including the death of his VP Walter Mondale two weeks ago). Soon, the Scorpio Moon’s need for depth will be jolted by an opposition from Uranus. Carter has not always been appreciated for the genius his wonky Mercury-Uranus opposition suggests. Now, however, with transiting Neptune opposing his Mercury in Virgo, perhaps he’s now being seen as the visionary his Venus-Neptune opposition to Mars in Aquarius could reflect. I’ll never forget how he put solar panels on the White House in the 70s…only to have them taken down by the trickle-down policies of Ronald Reagan. Carter was so ahead of his time. His 26 Libra Ascendant is being squared by Pluto; his 28 Cancer Midheaven will be opposed by Pluto next year. As with Bill Gates’ horoscope, Carter’s is due for empowering transformation. Meanwhile, with transiting Venus squaring his natal North Node-Neptune-Venus conjunction in recent days, he was due for a lovely visit with old friends, as this photo shows.

Looking for a few good astrology books? I can recommend a ton — and I did — to the good folks at Business Insider. Reporter Lauren David said she’d read them all, and then pick the ones she liked best to share with the Entire Free World.

Thank you for reading this forecast. I can’t believe how unstuck this spacebar has become, now that Mercury is in Gemini.

To find out what’s going on in your horoscope, here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

Friday 4/30/2021 & the Weekend: Greased Lightning; News Round-Up

April 30, 2021/in The Forecast

TGIF!

If there’s a twist or flake to your morning, it may reflect the Sag Moon going void at 9:26 AM ET, not to enter Capricorn until 12:15 PM ET. Maybe you slept through your alarm or poured hot water over coffee beans you forgot to grind. I’ve done both during voids. Such lapses are usually of little consequence during these natural rest periods when the Moon is wandering without focus, so chill! Once the Moon enters Capricorn, the drive of the day is to take care of business, though things may not go as planned. The electric buzz of the Sun’s annual meet-up with rebel Uranus (at 3:43 PM ET) has permeated the week. Shake-ups, shocks, seismic action, tech breakthroughs, and other bolts from the blue are to be expected, likely involving leaders, aviation, and maybe even astrology. Also affected: Taurus arenas, e.g., food, retail, real estate, banking, and beauty. If you were born between April 28 – May 2, you’re feeling the push for a break-out more personally than most. An opposition between Mars and Moon at 7:50 PM ET could generate sparks among unholy alliances.

SATURDAY: Moon in Capricorn facilitates practical chores around the house, with less friction than last night. Accomplishments may be influenced by other patterns exact on…
SUNDAY: ..starting with a dirt-digging trine between Mercury and Pluto, exact at 5:18 AM ET. A harmony (sextile) between Venus and Neptune at 6:38 PM ET can be sweetly sensual. The Capricorn Moon was busy all morning, flitting from Venus to Neptune to Pluto and Mercury, before going void at 10:37 AM ET. Chill, chill, chill until 3:30 PM ET, when Moon enters Aquarius, seeking social significance and the company of friends. Humming in the background all weekend are two patterns exact early Monday morning. A square between Mercury and Jupiter suggests Big News on expanding a comfortable status quo; another square between the Taurus Sun and Saturn in Aquarius suggests austerity, ambition and controls — especially involving CEOs and heads of state.

No sleeping in on Monday. The Moon will not be void.

And now, the news…

…which I planned to update earlier, but every free moment for the past few days involved conversations with HP tech support. Who knew that a misbehaving spacebar could take up so much…time and space?

Last weekend’s headlines were ridiculously reflective of the sobering squares between Mercury-Venus and Saturn, sprinkled with the shock value of their conjunctions with Uranus. You could have looked no further than the NYT, and when I first started writing this forecast over a decade ago, that’s all I did.

Saturn is karma, and it finally caught up with “volatile and vengeful” Hollywood producer Scott Rudin, who faces “reckoning for abuse.” That was the Sunday front page.
Saturn-Venus patterns suggest steely women; Uranus adds a touch of rebellion. Liz Cheney was profiled in the NYT Sunday Magazine, and her Leo Sun (and other planets in Leo) have been directly affected by the “old guard clashes with avant-garde” potential of this year’s Saturn-Uranus square.
Unconventional billionaire philanthropist Mackenzie Scott made it into the Business Section; the story angle was a Saturn-Venus-inspired reality check on how scammers are abusing her good name.
Venus-Uranus patterns are reliable markers of “unconventional” attractions, and Saturn weighed in heavily with “Escaping ‘this fear’: LGBTQ people flee a more hateful Poland.”
“Breaking with tradition,” President Biden declares mass killings of Armenians “genocide”
A Saturn-Venus square is a lousy backdrop for Hollywood’s most glamorous event, and NYT’s Maureen Dowd was in no mood to party at the Oscars. “Crushed Dream Factory,” was the title of her op-ed about how people were not likely to tune in this year. Did you? I didn’t — and confess to not having seen a single nominated film — even though I worked in “the biz” for years. It was a perfect time for The Handmaid’s Tale to return for a new season, however — but gawd, the influence of 2020’s heavy patterns is all over this lean, mean production.
Upside: Saturn-Venus with Uranus suggests serious, unconventional women who could shatter a glass ceiling — and they did! Chloe Zhao became the first woman of color — and second woman ever — to win the Oscar for Best Director. Her film, Nomadland, won Best Picture. I expected Frances McDormand to win for Best Actress and wrote about her horoscope when she won in 2018. Anthony Hopkins’ win for The Father didn’t surprise me, either. Really, the show’s producers should have looked at his horoscope. Last year was brought to us entirely by “the father,” a.k.a. the pile-up of planets in patriarchal Capricorn, and Hopkins is a Capricorn — with a 22 Capricorn Ascendant that was hot hot hot in 2020. Not only that, but he — like Frances McDormand, has a planet at the Aries Point — i.e., the early degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.

Remember that Mars entered Cancer on Friday? As anticipated, many making headlines in recent days have planets at the Aries Point, including:

Rudy Giuliani, whose apartment and office was raided by the FBI yesterday. He has all four angles and Neptune at the AP, as you can see here. That, and Saturn just conjoined his Mercury (ruler of his career and Virgo ASC) for the first of three hits this year. That’s karma for you.
The death of Ahmaud Arbery has a chart, and that chart has a 29 Gemini Ascendant, opposed by Mars. The three men charged with Arbery’s murder were indicted on federal hate crime charges.

As I type, I’m already seeing stories reflecting the shock potential of the Sun-Uranus conjunction at 10 Taurus:

“Insanely cheap energy:” how solar power continues to shock the world”
“Researchers shocked to find Egyptian mummy was a pregnant woman,” no pun intended.
“Bombshell” confession letter claims Rep. Matt Gaetz did pay an underage woman for s*x, and if Gaetz does resign by Monday, it would be an apt example of Sun conjunct Uranus, followed by the cut of Saturn square Sun.
Meanwhile, NASA now has a new leader: Bill Nelson, former Florida senator who once flew on the space shuttle. Kewl.
This was a shocking admission: “NY Post reporter resigns; says she was ordered to write false Kamala Harris story”. And by “shocking,” I mean it was shocking that the reporter admitted it and then quit. In other Rupert Murdoch news, Fox anchor John Roberts apologized for telling viewers that President Biden’s plan to reduce carbon emissions by half over the next decade would force Americans to consume no more than one burger a month. It does no such thing, but that did not stop the Faux story from running wild on the Twitter. File those stories under Mercury conjunct Uranus square Saturn (newsflash, followed by reality check).

Meanwhile…

9 PM ET was a fine time for President Biden to give an address to Congress on Wednesday night. The chart for that time in Washington had a 22 Scorpio Ascendant, conjunct his natal Mercury. The chart’s boundary-pushing, righteous Sagittarius Moon was at 5 Sagittarius, conjunct Biden’s Ascendant. I told you last time that the President is determined to initiate and innovate, as Uranus is about to oppose his natal Mars in ruthlessly efficient Scorpio. And last night, he delivered, as Heather Cox Richardson explains.…and Stephen Colbert backs up with clips and commentary.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt — himself an Aquarian with a nurturing Moon in Cancer — would be so proud of Biden’s humanitarian agenda, which aims to put a “We The People” government to actually work for “We The People.” Using tax dollars to pay for expanded child care, health care, elder care, and education; broadband access; products made in America; green energy, and salaries that provide a living wage — what a concept. It was surreal to see half of the audience sulking in their seats while the President spoke of reducing child poverty by 50%, while the other half of the room stood up and cheered. Fun fact: FDR’s Mercury is 27 Aquarius, and it rules his Ascendant and Midheaven. Jupiter will activate FDR’s Mercury three times this year, including rightthisminute. We can appreciate FDR’s expanded profile right now. Astrology is amazing.

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Amazing Avid Readers may recall my musings on the fate of the Affordable Care Act when it was challenged in the Supreme Court during the seven Uranus-Pluto squares. Social Security happened after the Uranus-Pluto squares of the early 1930s; Medicare happened after the Uranus-Pluto conjunction (in Virgo!) in the mid-60s. I think it’s reasonable to anticipate that finally, in the aftermath of the seven squares of 2011-2016, we’ll see our social safety net expanding again. The challenge is one of power, and who has it, suggested by the U.S. Pluto Return, in effect now — with the first hit in February 2022. President Biden called this out in his speech as a fight to preserve our democracy in a world which autocrats and oligarchs wish to control. Making the challenge more difficult is the persistence of The Big Lie – that the 2020 election was stolen. This is reflected in the astrology of the United States, with transiting Neptune (fog, illusion, lies) activating the U.S. Mars-Neptune square. But of course, there’s always an upside potential. Neptune refers to vision, ideals, and healing. I’d happily give up burgers for that.

To be continued…

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Thank you for reading this forecast.

THE FORECAST

THE
FORECAST