THE
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 8/24/2020: Sneak Peek at the Week; Mars Square Saturn in the News
/in The ForecastHappy birthday to all Avid Readers born with the Sun in Virgo. That is where the Sun is as of 11:45 AM ET today — soon to be known as yesterday by the time I finish and post this forecast — probably on Sunday.
Virgo is an earth sign (as opposed to fire, water or air). It is also a mutable sign, as opposed to cardinal or fixed. What does that mean? Cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn. These signs initiate; they come up with the idea. Fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius. These signs give form to the concepts pitched by cardinal energy. Mutable signs — Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces — spread the word about the nifty form the fixed signs materialized.
Virgos are fueled by an energy that is discerning, refining, perfecting. Virgos born a third of the way into the sign may be coming up with all kinds of innovative processes between now and mid-2021, while Virgos born two thirds of the way into the sign may be feeling a little lost in their process, possibly seeking a new vision. Virgos at the very end of the sign may have opportunities to creates structures that feel empowering. Consult your local astrologer for details.
On Sunday, Moon enters Scorpio at 6:16 AM ET, and needs to channel Virgo’s perfecting energy into a form that is acknowledged for its depth and substance (ergo, this forecast!!). It’s a potent flow that culminates around midnight with a revelation or other upset, as Moon opposes Uranus.
The rest of the week goes like this:
And now, a truckload of news.
Dominating the headlines in the U.S. for four nights straight was the Democratic National Convention — live from a Zoom room near you. The theme of the first night: We The People, reflecting the cooperative connection between Venus and Uranus that was exact the next day. Everyone was there — including respected Republicans. Bernie Sanders demonstrated the continued firepower of his Moon-Mars in Aries and Venus in Libra, supercharged over the past four years by transiting Uranus — and now Jupiter and Pluto. Though he did not win the nomination, he has pushed this year’s Democratic platform in his preferred direction.
Meanwhile, Michelle Obama’s Capricorn Sun was being squeezed for the second time by transiting Saturn (the aspect was exact the very next day). Her message was severe: if P45 is not voted out, it will get worse. He is not the president we need. “It is what it is, ” she said. Her assertiveness has to command attention now, as aspects to her Mars demand it. Apparently her speech has been the most-talked about on social media.
In other news, P45 had an especially active Mercury at the beginning of last week, so we could anticipate communication from him or about him to pull focus. He tried to create a buzz about a pardon for a significant person — and everyone wondered if it might be Julian Assange or Edward Snowden. Turns out it was a pardon for Susan B. Anthony, just in time for that inclusive Venus-Uranus sextile (and the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote). Without consulting her horoscope, a thought popped into my mind: “If Ms. Anthony were alive today, she’d kick him in the nuts?” — and I confess, dear Avid Reader, that I was surprised by the words that suddenly came to mind. But guess what? The presidential pardon was rejected a few days later — so wherever that thought came from, it was on point!
And now looking at Susan B. Anthony’s horoscope, my gut response is 100% corroborated. She has an exact Venus-Pluto conjunction in touch with Saturn, square to Uranus and Neptune. We see potential for emotional extremes, ideals and daring — along with a grand Sun-Jupiter conjunction in humanitarian Aquarius. She would have reveled in her rebelliousness, and I look forward to debating my thesis at the next astrology conference.
The theme of the second night of the DNC was apt for the New Moon in Leo (and Mercury on Regulus): Leadership Matters. The diverse and quirky potential of the Venus-Uranus sextile was exemplified by the roll call vote, where each U.S. state and territory announced the number of delegates pledged to each of two qualifying candidates: Joe Biden and — yes, Bernie Sanders. The roll call won raves for its unique spark, with Rhode Island’s presentation deemed most appetizing. Creativity, fun, playfulness — so apt for a Leo Moon!
Remember that a dead Moon is apt for the release of something you hope no one will notice. Earlier that day, the Senate Intelligence Committee released its fifth final volume of its page-turner: “Russian Active Measure, Campaigns, and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election.” Heather Cox Richardson explains here why the report is so heinous — and provide links to pdfs of the full report. A key highlight:
Because who among us has not run for national office and hired exactly such a person to run their campaign? It is still stunning to recall that when Manafort had to resign in the summer of 2016 because of his questionable affiliations, it wasn’t front page news every single day. But you heard about it here.
Onward…to last Wednesday’s perfection-seeking Virgo Moon, where the theme of the DNC’s third night was “A More Perfect Union.” Coincidence or conspiracy? Here’s HCR’s recap of that and the full news day. With transiting Mars (guns; anger) at the midpoint between Pluto (extremes; power) and Saturn (control), it makes sense that we’d be hearing concerns about gun violence and domestic violence. There was an awe-inspiring speech from Gabby Giffords, who was critically wounded by a gun-toting constituent nearly 10 years ago — and has miraculously recovered.
Barack Obama — like Michelle Obama — has been under the lean, mean influence of Saturn in recent weeks. He delivered his stern and scathing remarks with not one — but two patterns involving Mars and Saturn — similar to the Mars-Saturn square that is exact on Monday. Wednesday’s grand finale was Kamala Harris’s formal acceptance of the vice-presidential nomination. With Mercury in touch with her Midheaven, this was an apt moment for a significant public statement.
FUN FACT: the lean, mean patterns in Obama’s horoscope this month give away to patterns in November that are potentially expansive and rewarding. This is not a prediction, mind you. But it does give me a measure of hope that if his life experience fulfills the potential of his horoscope, a majority of Americans may be feeling good, too.
Meanwhile…
Who remembers that the Sabian Symbol for last Tuesday’s New Moon in Leo was “daybreak?” So how in sync was it that in Joe Biden’s acceptance speech on Thursday, he referred to his opponent’s regime as “darkness” and said this:
Yup. That really happened. The Sabian Symbol for the First Quarter Moon this Tuesday (which we will see defined in the RNC all week) is “two men playing chess.” I wrote about this Symbol in –yikes — November 2011. It falls almost exactly on Biden’s Sagittarius Ascendant and exactly opposite his natal Uranus. Hmm. Sabian Symbol Sage Blain Bovee notes that the kingly game of chess works only when players observe the rules of the game. I am imagining the scene in Alice in Wonderland where Alice overturns the chess board and sends the pieces flying — or perhaps that was a deck of cards. Hmm.
We’ll see what happens this week.
In other news…
Steve Bannon was arrested (by the Postal Service police) on a yacht and charged with running a fake fundraising scheme to privately build P45’s big fat Mexican wall. The arrest happened with transiting Mars (action!) exactly square Bannon’s Neptune (fraud, yachts) — and charges were filed by the heroic Southern District of New York. He and his cohorts are charged with bilking individual P45 supporters out of millions of dollars.
P45 has said nary a word about the now-confirmed poisoning of Alexei Navalny, yet another vocal critic of Vladimir Putin who may have been “deterred” by such means. File this brutal incident under the midpoint picture of Mars = Saturn/Pluto, along with these other stories:
Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, now ‘de facto second in command’ Avid Readers may recall I noted that North Korea’s horoscope was likely to be going through some major shifts at the end of June.
Or just Mars square Saturn in general:
Finally…
If you happen to be someone who has transiting Mars ruling your 9th house (of publishing), squaring the ruler of your 3rd house (siblings) and 10th house (reputation), you could be P45, whose niece Mary L. Trump released to WaPo 15 hours of secretly recorded conversations with his sister Maryanne Trump Barry dishing the dirt on her lying, cheating baby brother. The timing of this release is extraordinary. Astrology is AMAZING!!!!
Whew! That WAS a truckload! What’s going on in your horoscope? Is your sibling scheduled to be your champion or your critic? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations…or if you just like this forecast a lot and would like to support it, Avid Reader Diane invites you to toss a Random Joyful or Faithful Monthly Expression of Appreciation into the Cosmic Tip Jar.
Thank you for reading this forecast, following me on Twitter — and sharing with your friends.
Stock photo sponsored by fabulous Avid Reader Michelle
Monday 8/17/2020: Sneak Peek at the Week; New Moon in Leo
/in The ForecastGood morning!
I hope you made the most of the weekend’s easy flow of assertive energy, sponsored by the trine between the high-functioning Leo Sun and Mars in Aries. Another trine between Mars and Mercury helps get the word out, exact on 1:30 AM ET on MONDAY. Meanwhile, the revolutionary spark in the air reflected the rebellious focus of Uranus as it stationed retrograde on Saturday. Have you seen the videos of the 200,000+ protesters in Belarus? Is it a coincidence that the soundtrack accompanying my forecast writing is the rock opera La Revolution Francaise –– which I must have listened to 1000 times when I studied it in high school French class? Time span: 5 mai 1789 – 8 juin 1794 — imaginez-vous. You can listen to it, too — on YouTube.
The need for emotional and homeland security was driven by the Cancer Moon, moved to action by big dreams on Sunday morning. Action intensified throughout the day, as Moon clashed with Pluto, Mars and Saturn between 1:23 PM and 7:59 PM ET. I hope you chilled during the ensuing void. Which brings us to today, the start of the work week:
Here is the chart for the New Moon in Leo, set in Washington, DC:
A New Moon in Leo offers the opportunity to plant seeds of intention that reflect our heart’s desire — and don’t be shy about it. Plant those seeds wherever 26 degrees of Leo falls in your horoscope. If you don’t know where that is, consult your local astrologer. In P45’s horoscope, it falls exactly on his Mars, so he’ll be planting seeds of assertion/aggression for the next few weeks.
The Sabian Symbol for this degree is straightforward and hopeful. It is “daybreak,” as Blain Bovee describes it, “the return of a luminous glow after times of darkness, to which gods and men were subject.” Reading further from his wonderful book on these Symbols, we are advised to apply this degree with a mind to “the awareness of a higher spiritual sense of the time of return and renewal; the slightest glimmer of hope; small offerings made with sincerity bringing supreme good fortune.” I’m sold.
Looking at the chart for the New Moon set in DC, there’s an awful lot of Capricorn Establishment “stuff” happening at the MC, as seen by Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn all retrograde. Somehow these planets of extreme control and transformation are likely to influence our public status/leader of our nation in this lunar cycle It’s interesting to see rebel Uranus and Pluto applying to the angles of the chart. This is a marker for impending change, with the Uranus element sponsored in part by its easy connection with Venus in Cancer (nurturing women, values, art, money).
The next exact aspect among planets that do not involve the Moon is a square between Mars and Saturn, suggesting militant action for the sake of authority and/or control. It can also suggest charging into a brick wall. In real time, that aspect is exact next Monday, August 24th. Let’s keep an eye on it, as we carefully navigate the choppy waters otherwise known as the last months of 2020. That Mars-Saturn square will happen three times between now and then.
Let’s move on to…
Oh — I should explain the significance of Uranus turning retrograde, aside from the upsets in the headlines. Know that when a planet is retrograde, the energy it represents is best expressed by turning inward. When direct, Uranus tends to rebel against the status quo set by others. When retrograde, Uranus suggests a need to set the self free from limits that are self-imposed. So if you have a planet between 6 and 10 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius, you can expect an intense second test of issues you’ve recently experienced involving freedom, independence, being yourself without compromise and sudden upsets of the status quo. You’ll get a third hit in the early months of 2021, after Uranus turns direct on January 14th.
If Uranus happens to be making contact with the angles of your horoscope, this suggests opportunities for significant change — consult your local astrologer for details.
And now, the news.
But first, a warm welcome to new Avid Readers who found me through Heather Cox Richardson’s community on Substack…or from astrologer Jessica Adams on Twitter.
UPDATE: on Kamala Harris, whose supercharged horoscope was first written about here back in September 2018 — and in greater detail in June 2019 for Mountain Astrologer. The connections between her horoscope and Biden’s horoscope seem karmic, especially with her Saturn squaring his Scorpio Sun and conjoining his South Node. Pundits opining that she may challenge her running mate — and potential new boss — may be right, but such a challenge is not necessarily a negative element, though sparks may fly (her Mars squares his Mercury — how he needs to think). There are other easier personal connections to draw upon, such as her Venus on his Midheaven (she makes him looks good) and her Moon conjunct his Moon. If he is smart, he will defer to her Moon in Aries need to lead and consult with her first.
Bottom line: it’s super cool to see the strength of patterns observed in her horoscope two years ago fulfill their full potential. What’s going on in your horoscope that might be realized a few years from now, hmm? How would it change your plans if you knew there was a peak period ahead? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.
Meanwhile…
With Uranus pulling focus last week at its virtual standstill, we expected headlines of aviation, disruption, technology (possibly space age) and revolution:
Take that disruptive Uranian energy and mix it up with last week’s high-functioning square between Mars (cars! fire!) and Pluto (power & resources; extremes; corporate corruption):
Random cosmic headline:
UPDATE: Avid Readers who’ve been reading this forecast for a few years know that Israel is due for one upset after another. Here’s the 411 from a recent Mountain Astrologer column. Last week, the Mars-Pluto square activated Israel’s Ascendant (how it needs to be seen). This is a dynamic, transforming pattern — and darned if Israel didn’t announce a peace initiative with the UAE, opening direct phone lines between the countries for the first time in — I don’t know how long. But Israel is far from finished with the transforming and such, as Pluto will not be done with Israel’s angles (ASC and MC) until early 2022.
Meanwhile…
Last Friday’s big buzz had to do with P45’s acknowledging on Thursday that yes, he is “deliberately sabotaging an institution established in the Constitution to steal the election,” as Heather Cox Richardson explains. Outrage led to protests outside both residences of the newly-appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy — a.k.a. Republican/P45 Trump mega-donor and man with millions of dollars personally invested in companies that compete with the post office for business. Photos of blue mailboxes stacked on a flatbed — presumably taken out of service to sabotage the election — made me feel like Cindy Lou Who watching the Grinch take away all the presents and decorations on Christmas Eve.
But when it comes cherished values, Americans are proving they can be as tenacious as the Whos of Whoville (see video of noisy protest a few links back). On Sunday, reflecting the proactive connections among Sun, Mars and Mercury, Nancy Pelosi called members of Congress back to work sometime this week so they can stop the madness. As for why USPS is under such stress, we do see in the U.S. horoscope that its Mercury (a.k.a. the Messenger Planet) is being hammered by Pluto (extremes, breakdowns, power plays) and the destructive potential of the dwarf planet Eris. This is the warrior goddess who will fight for a place at the table by whatever means necessary.
Guess who else has a planet being hammered by contact with Eris? P45, whose Venus (what and how he needs to love, women, money, values) was in an exact aspect with Eris on August 11th and again on August 14th. In his horoscope, Venus refers to siblings, mindset, communication, professional and family status (i.e. reputation). The pattern has been in effect all year — but it’s quite interesting that in the past month there has been such a focus on his brother Freddie and his brother Robert (who died in a hospital on Saturday). It’s also apt to observe that Eris is in a challenging pattern to P45’s natal Mercury-Neptune square, which is an apt astrological explanation of why his inability to tell the truth is so harmful and compulsive.
In other news…
Special shout out to Avid Reader Karen, who wrote to thank me for including helpful links to check your voter registration status and request your absentee ballot. You can drop your ballot off at your local Board of Elections or other designated outpost — check with your local BOE. And don’t forget to complete the 2020 Census online.
I am delighted to be of service — and I am also delighted to accept Joyful Random and Faithful Monthly Expressions of Support and Appreciation, as Avid Reader Diane made me promise I would remind you. We should all have friends as fiercely loving and supportive as Avid Reader Diane.
Finally, as an antidote to last week’s heavy macho planetary patterns
Thank you for reading this forecast.
Monday 8/10/2020: Sneak Peek at the Week; Mars Square Pluto; Uranus Retrograde
/in The ForecastHappy Monday!
The start of the work week is driven by a Taurus Moon — high-functioning and looking to build something solid and/or preserve the status quo. The shock of recognition that greets us upon awakening reflects the genius buzz a square between Mercury (how we need to think) and Uranus (disrupter of the status quo). Use the fresh perspective in your quest for world domination. Another spark of innovation or upset occurs around 7:05 PM ET, as Moon meets up with Uranus, followed by the imposition of someone’s royal edict on someone else’s need for material comfort and security around 9:12 PM ET. Why? Because Moon squares Mercury in Leo, that’s why.
This week is colored by the potent force of Thursday’s exact square between Mars (guns, war, assertion, men, desire, action) and Pluto (power, breakdown, annihilation, resources). Breakthroughs in brain surgery would be a happy reflection, but the Neanderthals among us may respond to this pattern with unchecked aggression, as in this story from The Guardian about survivors of sexual abuse and brutality in the Phoenix police department…or this shocker about McDonald’s suing its former CEO on charges he lied about having affairs with not one — but three — employees in a single year. Which leads us to the other pattern pulling focus: Uranus — symbol of rebellion, disruption, aviation, technology, astrology, seismic activity — slowing to a virtual standstill as it prepares to turn retrograde on Saturday.
It goes like this:
And now, the news.
Venus entered Cancer on Friday, a point of prominence. Thus we anticipated stories of art, women, money and social expression to be prominent in the headlines:
Meanwhile, Twitter had NYT op-ed columnist Maureen Dowd for lunch over the weekend (it was not a good thing) after her latest column pondered that it had been 36 years since a man chose a woman as a running mate (as Joe Biden is expected to do this week)…as if it really had been 36 years since a man and a woman campaigned to serve as president and vice-president of the nation. Hillary Rodham Clinton was not amused that Ms. Dowd apparently had no memory of 2016, in which HRC chose Y chromosome owner Tim Kaine to be her running mate. Then again, Kaine did have transiting Neptune on the Midheaven that year, so perhaps we can understand how his status could have been wiped from memory.
In other news…
Uranus refers to uranium, and with Uranus pulling focus last week and this week, we have:
Uranus refers to seismic activity, and there was a 5.1 earthquake on Sunday in an unconventional location: North Carolina. In Indonesia, Mount Sinabung – an active volcano — has been making noise.
With Uranus pulling focus in the cosmos, it’s not surprising that people with strong Uranus placements in their horoscopes would be in the news. Exhibit A: Geena Davis, whose Aquarius Sun opposes Uranus, which in turn sits on her Midheaven. She’s bound to be known for being unique and independent, and a champion for social equality. A profile about her has been The Guardian’s most-read story all weekend. Here is her horoscope.
I have no idea what Rocket Companies offers or produces, but news of its IPO seems to be everywhere. Its founder is enjoying a Saturn return (well done, founder) — and this is what he had to say about his success: “Rocket Companies has a proven record of innovation that drives industry disruption …” Rocket, innovation, disruption…blah blah blah Uranus pulling focus in the cosmos, reflected in the headlines. Astrology is amazing.
Meanwhile…
Arguably bonkers, but reflecting the defiantly rebellious energy of Uranus, as well as this week’s Mars (wheels) – Pluto (extreme) square, would be the tens of thousands of bikers trekking to Sturgis, SD for a 10-day rally — most of whom won’t be wearing masks.
Also unmasked were most of the audience who reportedly paid as much as $350,000 to join P45’s New Jersey golf club, where they bore witness to P45’s announcement and signing of three memoranda and one “executive order” purporting to extend financial relief to those unemployed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The executive order attempts to usurp powers of taxation specifically given to Congress by the U.S. Constitution — so good luck with that. Here’s Heather Cox Richardson with her usual Really Useful Take. But if these edicts did fly — and if the payroll tax were permanently eliminated, Social Security would be toast, as it is the payroll tax that funds those retirement checks — and part of Medicare, too. People who are not on a payroll contribute to Social Security by paying a self-employment tax — but no one is talking about that. It all seems to be a big distraction from other news, such as the “chilling” intelligence that Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) would like to declassify, so everyone can understand how Russia is once again spreading seeds of division and corruption in our election.
Anyhoo…astrologically, the timing of the announcement of these edicts looked impressive as a PR stunt, but are not likely to come to fruition as planned — as Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) explained. But this will not stop P45 from continuing to push boundaries past the limits of the Constitution over the next several weeks, as we see in his horoscope.
Pop quiz, dear Avid Reader: what planet refers to expansion?
If you shouted JUPITER!!! at the top of your lungs, you have been paying attention. Congratulations!
Yea verily, transiting Jupiter is only two degrees from a nearly-perfect square to P45’s Jupiter in his very own personal horoscope. Jupiter is just….starting….to….slow….down….as it prepares to virtually STOP…and then turn direct on September 13th. And in between now and then, transiting Jupiter will activate P45’s natal Jupiter twice — on September 7th and September 18th. So this is the energy of expansion activating inherent expansion — impacting areas in P45’s life related to self-worth, money, creative self-expression, entertainment, children and gambles — to name a few. We should look back and see what expansive actions he tried to pull off around February 18th — the first of this series of three.
Do you have any planets around 17-19 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn? You’re in for a spell of expansion in those areas of your horoscope, too. Consult your local astrologer for details.
Another pattern reflecting extremes of action on the part of P45 in an effort to maintain control was brought to my attention by astrologer David Crook has been going on since the first of July and will continue through September. Transiting Uranus is activating a measurement in P45’s horoscope (midpoint picture Pluto = Mars/Saturn, for astrology students who may be reading this) that suggests a need for extreme effort, likely aggressive. Uranus adds intensity and erratic combustion to the mix. The last time this midpoint was activated by Uranus was in 1998, when he reportedly met his current spouse — and shared thoughts on women with Howard Stern. Hmm.
Elsewhere…
UPDATE: on Jerry Falwell Jr., whose horoscope is functioning as anticipated on March 30th, when we observed that he was due for a big reality check in 2020. Last week he was put on “an indefinite leave of absence” from his position as president and chancellor of Liberty University, a Christian educational institution. Why? Because his decision to post a fun vacation photo of himself with his pants unzipped and arm around a woman with her pants also unzipped just didn’t fly, pun obviously intended. I suspect the next few years will be deeply transforming for Mr. Falwell.
Here’s a long article from Rolling Stone on how the Covid crisis has catalyzed the “end of American exceptionalism” — the kind of wipe-out one might experience with transiting Neptune on one’s Mars — as the U.S. is just getting into now…
Random disruptive news: the Friday night massacre at the USPS. Please request your absentee ballot now. You can return it directly to your local Board of Elections office before Election Day or your polling place.
Finally, a story shared for no reason other than it made me happy to read it — and with Uranus in focus, stories of liberation are aptly timed. “How to Move Your Elephant During a Pandemic.” For more uplifting news, check out the Good News Network.
Thanks to the Avid Readers who were inspired over the weekend to support this forecast with Joyful Random and Faithful Monthly Expressions of Appreciation. Your contributions sustain me through hours of research and writing each week.
Thank you for reading this forecast.
Friday 8/7/2020 & the Weekend: Big, Ginormous News
/in The ForecastTGIF!
Here’s your reminder for the weekend:
No sleeping in on Monday. The Taurus Moon is high-functioning and looking to build something solid and/or preserve the status quo, using the genius buzz of the Mercury-Uranus square. The rest of the week is colored by the potent force of Thursday’s exact square between Mars (guns, war, assertion, men, desire, action) and Pluto (power, breakdown, annihilation, resources). Breakthroughs in brain surgery would be a happy reflection, but the Neanderthals among us may respond to this pattern with unchecked aggression. The other pattern pulling focus is Uranus — symbol of rebellion, disruption, technology, astrology, seismic activity — slowing to a virtual standstill as it prepares to turn retrograde on August 15th.
And now, the news.
Astrology is batting 1000 this week.
The Full Moon on Monday suggested an illuminating reveal involving genius, madness or general shock involving leaders, reflecting the Sun-Moon square to Uranus. Also involved: an opposition between Mercury (how we need to think) and Saturn (control, authority, endings), suggesting talk of heavy subjects, e.g., depression, death and debt (taxes). Cue Axios reporter Jonathan Swan in the White House, now please — for a sit-down interview with P45, in which he revealed a stark and stubborn lack of understanding of the scope of the Covid-19 pandemic in the U.S., compared to countries with sane leaders capable of empathy. In response to the rising death toll, behold his words of comfort, “It is what it is.” Also stark: the realization of just how badly Americans who call themselves journalists have covered this president.
It’s Jonathan Swan’s birthday today, btw. A Leo driven by the Moon either in Aries or Taurus — we don’t have a birth time. His Mars is in Leo, too — and it is squared by Pluto — not as potent as the one that will be exact on the 13th — but potent enough. Watch the interview; feel his personal power; read the glowing reviews.
As for the debt shocker (potential noted above), consider the revelation from Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance that he might be investigating P45 and his company for possible bank and insurance fraud — not just the hush money paid to Stormy Daniels. Oh, and Deutsche Bank did comply with Vance’s subpoena.
Also disruptive, involving a sudden limitation (Saturn) on statistics (Mercury): the P45 Administration is going to end the critical 2020 census count a month early, on September 30 instead of October 31. Four former Census Bureau Directors who have served under nine former presidents howled in protest. Which brings us to our first
To do what, you might ask. To transform itself from a half-dead former film and camera manufacturer into a manufacturer of pharmaceuticals. All very Neptune — but wait! there’s more.
With her Sun-Uranus conjunction at 0 Cancer — right on Kodak’s Neptune — we can see how Warren would be all over any efforts on Kodak’s part at fog and mirrors. Right?
That was a fun one!
If you’re enjoying these astro-logical insights, why not support the human being who works so diligently to bring them to you each week. Avid Reader Diane assures me that these dedicated reminders will one day motivate even the ones who have been reading this forecast for eleven years to toss a bit of appreciation into the Cosmic Tip Jar. Seriously, would it kill ya? I hope you’re enjoying this Yo-Semite edition of The Forecast, typed with a big, warm smile. That last link captures the technogeek genius of Monday’s Mercury-Uranus square, coupled with today’s in-your-face me-me-me Aries. What are you crusading for today?
Elsewhere…
There were several primaries on Tuesday in this Election That’s Going On Forever. In Arizona, Maricopa County still does not know who will be the Republican candidate for sheriff: convicted felon Joe Arpaio or a guy who wasn’t charged with the same offense — but could have been — and might have been convicted, if it weren’t for a statute of limitations. Which brings us to the
SECOND PSA OF THE DAY
Check your voter registration status here
https://www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote/
and request your absentee ballot today!
You can drop off your ballot at your polling station
on Election Day if you don’t want to mail it.
In Missouri, voters made the Show-Me State the sixth one to approve the expansion of Medicaid, despite “resistance from their Republican leaders.” That brings the total of hip humanitarian states to 37 out of 50. I am not surprised — and if you’ve been following this forecast for ten years, you aren’t surprised, either. Avid Readers know that in the aftermath of the supercharged Uranus-Pluto patterns in the early 30s and mid-60s, the social safety net in the United States expanded, with Social Security (1935) and Medicare (1965) being established. In the aftermath of the last Uranus-Pluto square of 2011-2016, I do anticipate another similar expansion, especially as we move into the new paradigm set by the Great Mutation of Jupiter-Saturn in Aquarius on the Winter Solstice.
Meanwhile…
Allan Lichtman — who successfully predicted P45’s win in 2016 — explains why he believes Biden will win this November.
UPDATE: on George W. Bush. We spoke a few months ago about the need for a disruptive fresh start for him this year and into 2021. He gave an elegant and loving tribute at John Lewis’s funeral, even though Lewis did not go to either of W’s presidential inaugurations. It was just announced that W is publishing another book — on a fresh subject: portraits and stories of 43 immigrants he has known. The book is called “Out of Many, One.”
UPDATE: on Michelle Obama. Told ya to keep an eye out for heavy news, as transiting Saturn conjoins her Capricorn Sun three times this year — with the second hit this month. This week she shared in her new podcast that she’s experienced “low-grade” depression all year, as a result of the current state of the union. Not surprising — and not only because astrology. But here’s the thing about Saturn. Even though it can be a tough reminder of a lack or loss, that awareness can then be channeled into a focused ambition for getting what you realize you need. And that’s what I expect Michelle Obama to do under her Saturn transit. She’s down — but not out. Follow her lead.
Wow! I think we covered everything for now — and I even gave you a to-do list for the weekend.
To find out what’s going on in your horoscope — and plan an effective coping strategy, here’s the 411 on personal consultations.
Thank you for reading this forecast — and sharing it with your friends. My work for the day is now done.
Happy positive cute young woman eat popcorn watch cinema (says the caption in the Adobe photo stock catalog)
Monday 8/3/2020: Sneak Peek at the Week; Full Moon in Aquarius
/in The ForecastHappy Monday!
Moon in Aquarius drives the day with a need for social significance. Aquarius keywords include: innovation, eccentricity, friendship, humanitarian, unconventional, rocket scientist and/or mad genius. The buzz this morning (I woke up before 6 AM, without an alarm clock), reflects the tension to be released involving 1) yesterday’s square between the Sun and Uranus; 2) today’s square between the Moon and Uranus at 9:52 AM ET; and 3) the Full Moon at 11:59 AM ET.
Here is the chart for the Full Moon, set in Washington, DC:
Aquarius refers to humanity and what’s best for the greatest good. Leo refers to personal ego recognition and the divine right of kings. A Full Moon in Aquarius illuminates this inherent conflict. Will the U.S. congressional leaders get their act together and extend relief to the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs and health insurance in the current pandemic? That would be one enlightening reflection of this Full Moon.
This is a dramatic chart for Washington. Note the planets on the angles: Mars opposing the Libra Ascendant; Mercury on the Midheaven; Saturn and Pluto opposing the Midheaven. These placements suggest strong themes of attack/courage/conflict; messages transmitted; power and control in homeland security concerns. We see heavy mind control and/or serious focus on authority suggested by an opposition between Mercury (how we need to think) and Saturn (necessary control; ambition), exact today at 5 PM ET. It’s like the U.S. Post Office is being drowned in a bathtub before our very eyes. Mercury is the Messenger Planet — and ruler of post offices. Saturn can be quite a squeeze.
We see a ginormous build-up of physical/assertive/military energy in a square between Mars in warrior Aries and Jupiter in Capricorn, exact on TUESDAY at 9:07 AM ET. This Mars-Jupiter square is especially significant, as it is a hair’s width away from an exact trigger to the January 10th lunar eclipse. If you were born around the 10th of January, April, October or July, you are feeling the rush of expansion or excess more than most. Jared Kushner, Nikolai Tesla, Joe Scarborough and Brett Favre: this means you– and it doesn’t matter if you’re dead.
Oh look –– Deutsche Bank says it is investigating Kushner’s personal banker. Deutsche Bank is such a tease.
The Midheaven in this chart for Washington refers to the head of state. The Midheaven is 23 Cancer, which is also the placement of Saturn in P45’s horoscope. Saturn refers to the father, authority and ambition. The planet ruling the Midheaven is the Moon (because the Moon is the ruler of Cancer), so here we have an illuminated Moon that has just separated from Uranus. A square between the Moon and Uranus suggests electric buzz, emotional upset, rebellious independence, possible genius or madness. Right now, P45‘s morning tweets include outright lies about the size of his crowd at a recent trip to Tampa, batshit crazy attacks on Dr. Deborah “Scarf Lady” Birx (for admitting that Covid-19 is out of control in the U.S.) and a demand that schools re-open (his son Barron’s school remains defiantly and sanely closed). It’s fascinating to see this activity in sync with planetary patterns.
The Sabian Symbols for this Full Moon are (for the Moon): “people on stairs graduated upwards“ and (for the Sun): “an evening lawn party.” The people on the stairs refers to finding one’s place in a social hierarchy, says Sabian Sage Blain Bovee. Those who step up are making a choice — and in his wonderful book about the Sabian Symbols, Bovee wanders off on a tangent about the consequences of apple-picking — as in the Judgment of Paris (which started a war) or the Garden of Eden. Hmm. Watch for apples and controversial, consequential choices in the news.
An evening lawn party is a social gathering before an important event, according to Bovee. He notes that the word “party” is from the French partir — which means to divide. An event divided among party lines is therefore one interpretation. Here in the U.S., these are apt symbols for the next two weeks, during which Joe Biden is expected to finally announce his running mate! Plus, there have been rumors about the Republican VP candidate, too.
You are especially affected by this Full Moon if you have a planet or angle around 11 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius. I bet you’re feeling pretty buzzed about something these days — and will be into next year. Wanna talk about how to handle it? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.
Here’s how the rest of the week goes:
And now, the news.
The Sun refers to leaders; Uranus refers to bucking the system. Of course we’d see “White House considers unilateral moves amid stalemate with Congress” on the front page today. Sun-Uranus aspects suggests space-age technology (or just plain old technology). And yes, Avid Reader Barb gets five gold stars for noting that yesterday’s Space X splashdown — minutes after the Moon entered Aquarius — was aptly timed!
Also apt: all this fuss about Tik Tok being banned by P45…or acquired by Microsoft…or whatever. It’s true that there have been security concerns for well over a year. On the plus side, Apple hit a record high and is offering an astonishing 4-1 split as it approaches a $2 trillion market value.
Ohhh…and here’s a shocker: P45 told reporter Chris Wallace two weeks ago that he would have a health care plan signed by August 2nd. Today is August 3rd. The surprise is that he was called out on this lie — on the WaPo homepage.
This story was definitely disruptive, sad and bittersweet:
This story was disruptive and just plain sad — but how odd to see it show up within days of Hubert and Kalisa: “Death of a Cat,” in which the author struggles to understand “her tears over a [feral] cat she did not love.” It’s a wake-up call, as Uranus suggests.
Yet another disturbing — yet beautifully-written essay — also involving animals symbolized by current planetary patterns was in the NYT Sunday Review. Jupiter refers to horses. Of course we have Mars (attack!) square Jupiter tomorrow. “To Break a Horse, and a Woman,”is about staying safe in a dangerous world — with a shocking twist.
But wait — there’s more! I was captivated by an essay in the NYT Sunday Magazine called “The Mysterious Life of Birds Who Never Come Down.” It’s about swifts — and it made me think that if swifts were human, they would be…astrologers. What do you think?
Here’s another apt Sun-Uranus headline:
Meanwhile, it’s bonkers in Berlin, as “1000s march to protest coronavirus restrictions.”
No one is quite sure why many Americans have received packets of seeds (Taurus) from China, but those who have received them are certainly surprised (Uranus).
In other news…
We last looked at the horoscope of Ellen Degeneres at the end of 2018, when it was rumored that she might end her run as a talk show host. With six planets in her chart affected by challenging contact with Uranus in 2019 through 2021, we see the need for a breakout — or a potential shocking upset. Now the so-called “Queen of Nice” is having to apologize for enabling a “toxic work environment,” including allegations of sexual harassment on the part of some of her producers. This “downward spiral” of her reputation began last fall (says WaPo) — reflecting those lengthy illuminating Uranus transits. There is talk now of her stepping down from her show…and y’know that makes a good argument for the accuracy of her speculative birth time, which gives her a 14 degree Sagittarius Ascendant. Why? Because it would have been eclipsed on July 4th, accelerating a potential change. Plus, transiting Mars was sitting right on her Aries Moon last week — that can be pretty darn provocative.
If you find this forecast as illuminating as a Full Moon in Aquarius, I invite you to consider Avid Reader Diane’s invitation to support this effort through Joyful Random or Faithful Monthly Expressions of Appreciation. Here’s the link to the Cosmic Tip Jar, with gratitude to you — and Avid Reader Diane, who is an Aquarius and thus inherently understands what it means to be a friend.
Thank you for reading this forecast — and sharing it with your friends too.