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.

Tuesday 5/12/2020: Sneak Peek at a Jam-Packed Week, Part 2: Jupiter Retrograde; Surreal News Round-Up; Dash of Pepper

May 13, 2020/in The Forecast

A quick replay of the forecast for today: at 11:39 AM ET, Moon officially entered Aquarius. Now is the time for social significance, intellectual innovation and networking panache. Hang with your chosen group of buddies and come up with a seriously sobering communications playbook. Around 3 PM ET, Moon met up with “get real” Saturn and harmonized with clever Mercury in Gemini. At 4:14 PM ET, Mercury and Saturn were beautifully aligned — reflecting that aforementioned playbook.

How fascinating that here in these United States we have not one, but TWO “get real” events streaming online today. Tough choice, but I opted for SCOTUS, which is finally hearing arguments in the battle for the release of P45’s tax returns. The other “get real” option was Dr. Fauci’s testimony for the Senate, in which he was reportedly going to say that it would be the dumbest dumb thing ever to re-open America for busy-ness too soon — and it would have “really serious consequences,” including “suffering and death.” Here’s a recap of the “reality check” he delivered.

More news in a minute — but first let’s do Part 2 of the Sneak Peek at the Week, continuing from yesterday:

THURSDAY — Moon in Aquarius trines Venus at 5:20 AM ET — facilitating sweetness in relationship. As the morning progresses, the Third Quarter Moon kicks in, exact at 10:03 AM ET. It suggests a conflict or release of energy involving sharing with others what some people would prefer to keep for themselves. Moon goes void for the next 11 hours, not to enters Pisces until 9:24 PM ET. Chill out during this long void; stick to routine concerns; avoid impulse shopping online; take a nap; go for a walk (wearing your mask). Roll with the twists and flakes — and remember that crises which crop up during voids are usually much ado about nothing.
THURSDAY — Jupiter turns retrograde at 10:03 AM ET. As you know, Jupiter is in Capricorn until December 20th, expanding matters ruled by Capricorn: ambition, government and corporate entities, social status, patriarchies — to name a few. If you’ve got a planet or angle around 27 degrees of Capricorn, Cancer, Aries or Libra, that planet may be in an expansive phase of development, for better or worse.
In the horoscope of the United States, Jupiter is ALMOST — but not quite exact — on its Pluto, reflecting a drive for the expansion of power — for better or for worse. When will Jupiter be EXACTLY conjunct Pluto, fully releasing the potential of this power drive? December 7th. Anything happening around that date? Well, the Electoral College meets on the first Monday after the second Wednesday of that month, i.e., December 14th. It’s fascinating that literally one minute ago, the Brennan Center for Justice reminded everyone on Twitter that tomorrow SCOTUS will hear two cases related to the Electoral College. Hmm. Jupiter also refers to travel — and it appears that the power of Americans to travel around the world is about to be delayed.
Jupiter turning retrograde puts a hold on expansion — and may be related to travel, publishing, courts, sports — which are a few examples of Jupiter-ruled concerns. Patience is advised. Jupiter turns direct on September 13th at 17 Capricorn. The Sabian Symbol for this Jupiter retrograde is “a large aviary” — and here is the link to further insights from Blaine Bovee.
THURSDAY — Moon enters Pisces at 9:24 PM ET, shifting our focus to feelings, impressions and ideals.
FRIDAY — At 12:06 AM, Moon meets up with Mars, suggesting an assertion of will that may be challenging to fathom — but it’s likely related to executive power and an easy earthy flow of resources, suggested by two harmonies between the Taurus Sun over the next few days. The first one is Sun trine Pluto, exact at 2:49 AM ET. Sun-Pluto aspects often reflect stories of CEOs, news from underground, power and resources, regeneration and transformation.
An easy flow of innovation sparks controversy around 1 PM ET, as Moon sextiles Uranus and squares Mercury.
SATURDAY — Go with the flow of this Moon-in-Pisces day — wherever your dreams may take you. Just remember that those who are reality-challenged may be especially susceptible to whatever fantasy is put forth around 2:34 PM ET, as Moon meets up with nebulous Neptune. Tension over women, arts and social expression may briefly spark around 4:35 PM ET, as Moon squares Venus.
SUNDAY — Moon goes void at 3:59 AM ET — you may sleep right through it. At 9:36 AM ET, the pace picks up, along with a need to get something started, as Moon charges into Aries. Count your blessings in this day of potential bliss, reflecting the good cheer of a harmony — a trine — between the Sun and Jupiter.

And now, the news — mostly highlights of the past week.

Driving a majority of headlines was the surreal, magical thinking potential of nebulous Neptune, as it squared Venus and sextiled the Sun. These patterns reflect a need for people to see what they want to see; ergo, any conspiracy theory that crops up under these patterns should be taken with a hefty grain of salt — or disregarded entirely. Other stories reflected the simply magical, charismatic or surreal. Music — another Neptune keyword — was also big:

“The White House’s coronavirus cure is even more magical than we imagined”
“Covid-19 conspiracy video goes viral; flamingoes in Venice and other fake news”
“Roy Horn, who dazzled audiences as half of Siegfried & Roy, dies of covid-19”
“Little Richard, flamboyant rocker who fused gospel fervor with R&B sexuality, dies at 87”
Elon Musk and Grimes name their newborn X AE A-12. Bizarre?
“Live and Let Die” plays in the background as P45 visits a mask factory — without a mask
“Woman killed by alligator in SC was visiting gated community to do nails”

UPDATE: on Robert Mueller. Some Avid Readers may recall these observations from the forecast posted on July 29, 2019 — after his disappointing testimony before Congress:

What contributed to the fizzle effect of Mueller’s testimony, as opposed to a potential sizzle? In a word: Neptune. As Avid Readers may recall, transiting Neptune has completed a series of oppositions to Mueller’s razor-sharp Mercury in Virgo and is now in the middle of a series of oppositions to Mueller’s equally precise Virgo Mars. Neptune dissolves and fogs whatever it touches — and in this case, it’s Mueller’s ability to act with said laser-precision. Neptune will continue to exert its foggy influence on Mueller’s Mars for the next 12 months.

When I wrote those words, I remember wondering how Mueller could possibly be erased more than he already had. But then Bill Barr’s Justice Department announced it was dropping its case against General Mike Flynn, who had already pleaded guilty to lying:

“Barr Undercuts Mueller Investigation as P45 Cheers Him On”

Dropping the charges against Flynn also undercuts the rule of law, which Mueller arguably represents.

UPDATE: P45, because it explains much. Avid Readers may recall my post from January 6th, anticipating when he would be in an especially aggressive period of attacking and being attacked for the first half of 2020. At the time, he had already scheduled certain events:

January 29 – February 5 (his State of the Union speech was on the 4th)
May 4 – 12 — invited to attend a military parade in Moscow (cancelled by covid-19, but he still spoke with Putin by phone on May 7th)
June 8 – 16 (P45 was scheduled to host the G-7)

The most intense days of aggression in May were the 4th, 10th and 12th (today). So what happened?

P45 “Throws Full-Blown Tantrum Over GOP Ad Criticizing Coronavirus Response” — the ad is called “Mourning in America”
P45’s personal valet tests positive for Covid-19, along with others in his inner circle, as The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah explains
President Barack Obama referred to the P45 administration’s coronavirus response efforts as “an absolute chaotic disaster” given its “…mindset — of ‘what’s in it for me’ and ‘to heck with everybody else’”
P45 struck back with a marathon rage-tweet session on May 10th, which was Mothers’ Day — howling about a newly-imagined conspiracy
On May 11th, he “stormed out” of a press briefing in response to questions from women reporters
The legality of his change of residence from New York to Mar-a-Lago is now in question — that just came in
Paul Manafort was released from prison “due to fears of the coronavirus,” and will spend the rest of his eight year sentence in home confinement. Astrology is amazing.

P45 isn’t the only one in the world with Mars and Mercury activating planets in his horoscope. Case in point: Mitt Romney, who wasn’t afraid at all to offer a “scathing rebuke” of the P45 Administration’s response to the covid crisis. Nor was he afraid to ask Dr. Fauci if there was any truth to P45’s allegations that Barack Obama was to blame. Mercury is right on Romney’s Gemini Ascendant today; later this week, Mars will square it. More fireworks?

In other news…

I can’t bear to write in detail at the moment about the unspeakable awfulness of how 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery was murdered in Georgia for the offense of Jogging While Black — other than to note that it happened on a dead Moon, which reflects how the video recording of the crime remained hidden for so many months.

Meanwhile…

Saturn’s station in Aquarius (aviation) offers a long sobering look at the future of airline travel. WaPo reports that consumer complaints have skyrocketed.

Just in time for the retrogrades — reflecting potential delays:

The Keystone XL pipeline that was on — is off again, thanks to a judge’s order
Los Angeles will likely keep its “stay-at-home” order in place until July
Judge Emmet Sullivan is in no rush to dismiss the case against General Flynn
“How to Re-think Your Wedding” — if you were planning on tying the knot this summer

Speaking of weddings…and to always try to end on an upbeat note, Avid Reader Andra says you must must must tune in to John Krasinski’s Good News Show — available to all on YouTube. In the last episode, he officiated at a wedding. Awww.

Thank you for reading this forecast. And thank you to Avid Readers Whitney, Sarah and Stephanie for their recent generous contributions to my Cosmic Tip Jar, which welcomes Joyful Random and Faithful Monthly Expressions of Appreciation. Such support enables me to maintain this website and pepper it with photos to enjoy. And speaking of Pepper, she says hi.

Monday 5/11/2020: Sneak Peek at a Jam-Packed Week, Part 1: Saturn & Venus Retrograde

May 12, 2020/in The Forecast

It’s a busy week of planetary shifts — as Saturn, Venus and Jupiter reverse direction, demanding we slow down and REview. Mercury and Mars change signs, demanding an adjustment in matters of walking and talking.

Here’s how it goes:

MONDAY — Moon picks up from where it was on Sunday, i.e., in Capricorn, driving the day with a need to Make Things Happen. As in baseball, no crying will be tolerated. At 12:09 AM ET, Saturn turned retrograde.
Saturn refers to ambition, authority and necessary controls. It turned retrograde at almost exactly 2 degrees of Aquarius. It will back up into Capricorn on July 2nd — all the way back to 25 degrees of Capricorn — turning direct on September 25th.
FUN FACT for Astro-Nerds: It will take until January 3, 2021 for Saturn to return to where it is right now. It is absolutely fascinating to note that when Mars turns retrograde this September, it will also take until January 3, 2021 for it to return to the place it will be at — 28 Aries — when it turns retrograde. January 3rd is the start of the 117th Congress. Hmmm.

You’re more personally affected by this Saturn retrograde if you have a planet around 2 Aquarius, Leo, Taurus or Scorpio. You are likely feeling a streamlining squeeze in the area of life the squeezed planet represents. Consult your astrologer for details.

In general, Saturn retrograde suggests a time to turn inward in matters related to ambition, structure, controls and authority. External authority figures may not be reliable — and may present delays, reconsideration or necessary revisions.

One theme we’ll likely see in the headlines: who has power over whom? Saturn in Aquarius would argue that authority belongs to humanity, networks of all kind (including technology); or a group of free-thinking like-minded souls. Saturn in Capricorn would argue that authority belongs to the Powers That Be; established corporate entities of business and government. Capricorn is often the “old guard;” Aquarius, the avant garde. See if you notice a shift in power dynamics when Saturn re-enters Capricorn on July 2nd.

The Sabian Symbol for Saturn at 2 Aquarius is “an unexpected thunderstorm,” which Sabian Symbol Sage Blaine Bovee suggests may be experienced as heavy rains turning an adobe hut into mud. “Man plans; God laughs” would also be apt.

Sabian Symbols tend to work in pairs, with the second half of the pair being a Symbol’s opposite. In this case, the opposite Symbol for 2 Aquarius is 2 Leo: “a epidemic of mumps.” Coincidence or conspiracy? Bovee advises us to watch for:

Things that spread rapidly, upsetting normal expectations…something that seems too good to be true probably is. Watch for immunity to current fads; cathartic turns of events; knowing when to be quiet…”

…and so forth. I recommend Bovee’s fascinating book on Sabian Symbols.

OK. Back to the day by day forecast:

MONDAY (cont.) — coloring the past few days, exact at 3:33 AM ET, was a square between Mercury (how we need to think) and Mars (how we need to act; assertion). If you have a planet around 28 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius, you were personally affected by this supercharged pattern — and likely feeling called to battle in your personal crusade. Exhibit A: P45, who was on a highly aggressive Twitter meltdown yesterday, as these planets activated his regally entitled 29 Leo Ascendant — noted in the last and other prior forecasts.
MONDAY (cont.) — at 5:58 PM ET, Mercury leaves Taurus and enters Gemini, one of the signs it rules. This is a comfortable and efficient placement for Mercury, so we can look forward to thoughts and communication in the headlines that are focused on presenting information that is clever, entertaining and intense.
MONDAY (cont.) — the Capricorn Moon touches base with Neptune and Sun around dinner time ET, suggesting an easy flow of vision and/or faith added to today’s enterprising agenda. Tension builds after that, as the Moon meets up with Pluto on…
TUESDAY — …at 2:14 AM ET. This is the weekly power play and/or emotional catharsis, as Pluto tears down, empowers and purges. Moon goes void on a jollier note, meeting up with Jupiter (planet of expansion) at 6:30 AM ET. If you are new to this forecast and unfamiliar with the term “Moon void” or “void of course Moon,” here is the primer. Basically, roll with whatever twists and flakes crop up that may disrupt your efforts to move forward in a straight line. Remember that crises which crop up during Moon voids are usually of little consequence. Chill!
See if you notice the shift in focus at 11:39 AM ET, when the Moon officially enters Aquarius. Now is the time for social significance, intellectual innovation and networking panache. Hang with your chosen group of buddies and come up with a seriously sobering communications playbook. Around 3 PM ET, Moon meets up with “get real” Saturn and harmonizes with that clever Mercury in Gemini. At 4:14 PM ET, Mercury and Saturn are beautifully aligned — reflecting that aforementioned playbook.
WEDNESDAY — Next up: Mars — symbol of action, courage and assertion — ditches Aquarius and its “rebel with a cause” agenda. At 12:17 AM ET, Mars enters Pisces like a hot poker plunged into a cauldron of cool water. Mars in Pisces invented the phrase “steaming mad” and co-invented (along with Mars in Libra) “passive-aggressive.” But unlike Mars in Libra, the energy of action reflected by Mars in Pisces needs to reflect awareness of feeling and ideals. We see the potential for action based on intuition, suffering, empathy, escapism — anything in the Pisces realm.
Keep an eye on “Moscow Mitch” McConnell over the next few days, as his Pisces Sun is activated by Mars. Themes of provocation, assertion and/or aggression would not be surprising.
WEDNESDAY — At 1:52 AM ET, Moon is squared by Uranus, suggesting a disruption to the status quo. Moon travels without speed bumps for the rest of the entire day. Go with the flow.
WEDNESDAY — at 2:45 AM, Venus turns retrograde at 21 degrees Gemini — not to turn direct again until June 25th. What does this suggest?

Venus refers to how we need to express ourselves socially. It refers to women, art, beauty and money; in health matters Venus refers to the belt line area of the body (as well as the thyroid and the throat). Venus rules copper, which is an important indicator of economic growth in the commodities markets.

In our social interactions, Venus is the sugar that sweetens our demands, facilitating cooperation. When direct in motion, Venus supports social graces and words like “please” and “thank you.” When retrograde, courtesy and consideration do not come so easily — and relationships can suffer the consequences. The image I hold of Venus retrograde is one of those old-fashioned sardine cans — which you need a key to open. Roll back the lid of the sardine can and there you have it: stinky fish exposed, for all to see. There’s no hiding that smell!

Venus turns retrograde about every 18 months — less often than Mercury, which retrogrades 3-4 times a year. Venus retrograde may present challenges in relationship, finances or aesthetics. Wherever Venus is traveling in your horoscope (in this case 5-21 degrees of Gemini) is where a focus is likely. Look back to May of 2012 for guidance; this is the last time Venus was retrograde in Gemini.

Mindset and communication are Gemini’s domain. Therefore, pay close attention to what you think and say during this Venus retrograde. Do your words and thoughts reflect your true values?

This tweet from Anil Dash offers sage advice for Venus (who, what and how you need to love) retrograde (review) in Gemini (mindset) — especially in what you share on social media:

A reminder that may not be obvious: amplification on social networks has monetary value. Twitter’s algorithm counts it as engagement even if you shared a tweet to criticize it or mock it, and uses that signal to amplify the tweet further. Only RT what you would pay to promote.

The rest of his advice can be found on Twitter here. Meanwhile, this article by Julio Vincent Gambuto (reposted from last week) makes a compelling case for reviewing how you spend your hard-earned cash — eliminating indulgences that do not support your authentic self.

When Venus is retrograde, tried and true connections may be strained — but they will survive. Less sturdy bonds may snap. Celebrities may suddenly divorce. All that fishy smell can mess up our aesthetic senses, too. Be careful about starting a fling with that hot new thing, lest ye awake in a month or so with buyer’s remorse — or worse — the horrible panicked aftermath of a coyote date. This applies to all partnerships, not just romantic ones.

Exercise caution in matters of decor. If you’re planning on redecorating, you hopefully picked out your colors before the Venus retrograde. Putting in an offer on a new home? Look under the rugs, kick the tires — make sure you’re not seduced by surface charm covering up so much….stinky fish. As for cosmetic surgery? Meh. This is not the best time.

Gemini needs diverse, clever and intense entertainment. Gemini fears being boring — or bored. Gemini’s need for diversity leads to restlessness. The challenge of Venus retrograde in Gemini: moving forward too quickly on an aesthetic, monetary or social initiative out of restlessness and/or boredom. It will be interesting to see the results when hair salons can finally open.

So what good can come out of Venus retrograde? Abandoned artistic and creative projects may be ripe for a second chance. Relationships from the past may return. Review your finances. Review your values, so that when it is time to move forward, you can build something that isn’t thrown together out of a need for idle entertainment. Better to build a thing of authentic beauty that may last forever.

So much to cover during this busy week of planetary shifts! Stay tuned for Part 2 of this Sneak Peek at the Week — in which we’ll talk about Jupiter turning retrograde in Capricorn, exact on Thursday at 10:32 AM ET.

As for the news — that must also wait ’til next time — save for this fun tidbit. Avid Readers will recall from last Monday’s forecast that Saturn stationing in Aquarius suggested a focus on astrology. We were bound to see it in the news — and once again the New York Times delivered. “Will Coronavirus Kill Astrology?” the headline wonders.

Bless their hearts — and send them kudos for providing continued validation by once again publishing a story about astrology as anticipated, in sync with planetary patterns. Kudos also to Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week — hot off the press — and also always in sync.

Thank you for reading this forecast. Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.

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

Monday 5/4/2020: Sneak Peek at the Week; Look Both Ways Before Crossing

May 3, 2020/in The Forecast

As astrologers like to say, “As above, so below.” Saturn, Venus and Jupiter turn retrograde this month — on the 10th, 12th and 14th, respectively. Word to the wise: slow down. Focus. Because that is what these three planets are doing — soon to join Pluto for a period of REview. This can be extremely productive.

If you live in a state that is rushing to open up for business, caution is advised. These initiatives are being launched under the dreamy spell suggested by Venus square Neptune, exact on May 3rd, May 20th and July 27th. Venus-Neptune patterns are wonderfully inspiring for artists and spiritual types, so please dream on! However, they also reflect a need for ideals. An ideal is a fantastic thing to frame and hang on your wall, or use to inspire others to create a better world. Idealism is problematic when it refuses to face inconvenient facts.

Exhibit A, as pointed out in Heather Cox Richardson‘s May 1st edition of Letters From An American is that the P45 Administration and its enablers are working overtime to gloss over the fact that tens of thousands of people in the United States (67,365 as of 2:14 PM ET today) Have. Died. From. Covid-19 — which Jared Kushner proclaims a “great success story.” Right. A great success story — when the number of dead now surpasses the number of Americans who were killed in the Vietnam War (which lasted eight years).

Exhibit B, pointed out by HCR in the May 2nd edition, calls out the media for enabling the P45 Administration to seize control of the narrative (the Venus — Neptune pixie-dusted spin) now driving the U.S. presidential campaign. Avid Readers will recall that the narrative spin of the 2016 presidential campaign was also surreal — and brought to you by Saturn square Neptune. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

Let the record show that both of those HCR letters and this forecast were written under an industrious Virgo Moon, seeking to make things correct in exacting detail.

Exhibit C is a repeat of Julio Vincent Gambuto’s article from April 10: “Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting.” In his follow-up — “The Gaslighting Has Begun. Resist” — he lays out a case for doing exactly what these retrogrades suggest: resisting the urge to return to autopilot hamster wheel. I stumbled across it after writing that idealism can be used to inspire others to create a better world. I wonder how much Gambuto knows about astrology. I’m impressed that he suggests using this next month to REview and REconsider who, what and how you love — and how you spend your money. That is just so Venus retrograde.

Anyhoo…

In the days before a planet’s change of direction, the matters symbolized by that planet present themselves with the insistence of a driver leaning on the horn of her car. For Saturn in Aquarius: social distancing, controlled networking; the power of smaller groups of like-minded souls; controls in technology, astrology and aviation. For Venus in Gemini: how the mind and what is said reflects our values and aesthetics; beauty for the sake of entertainment; pleasure through information and chatter; diversity of social expression; double-talk. For Jupiter in Capricorn: reward/expansion for those deemed to have “earned it.”

UPDATE: on Sunday, hours before Saturn officially turned retrograde in Aquarius, NYT published: “The Astrologers Didn’t Predict Coronavirus“. Gratitude to the NYT for once again proving the validity of astrology by publishing an article about the subject, in sync with planetary patterns — and as anticipated.

Here’s how the week unfolds:

MONDAY: Moon in Libra drives us with a need for social graces, fairness and diplomacy. No speed bumps to the Moon suggests an easy flow of energy. Stubborn idealism is highlighted, as the Sun and Mercury meet up in Taurus at 5:41 PM ET. How we think and communicate needs to reflect a state of material comfort and security — or else! For Avid Readers who jumped at the chance to read my five-page essay on how to use astrology to determine if rumors and statements made are true, they had a fine example in my analysis of Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany’s promise that she would never lie to reporters. If you would like to read those five pages for yourself, toss $18 into the Cosmic Tip Jar as a Joyful Random Expression of Appreciation. I’ll send them to you right away.
TUESDAY: Clear sailing for the Libra Moon during most of the day, building to a catharsis or power play around 7:05 PM ET, as the Moon makes its weekly clash with Pluto. This one gets an extra boost of energy, as Moon trines Mars at 7:13 PM ET and squares Jupiter (expansion!) at 10:31 PM ET. Chill during the ensuing Moon void. Reminder: P45’s horoscope is especially assertive this week, as Mars activates his natal Midheaven and Mars on Monday and Friday. More action likely around the 12th, as Mars opposes his regal Leo Ascendant. And with Venus slowing to a standstill opposite his Sagittarius Moon, he’s likely to be needier than ever — how will that need be fulfilled? Victorian astrologers believed this transit may coincide with “scandalous relationships,” writes Rob Hand in Planets in Transit.
WEDNESDAY: Moon enters Scorpio at 3:05 AM ET, shifting our focus to emotional depth and substance for the sake of power and control. If your dreams are heavy as you wake, they may reflect the potential anxiety of Moon’s square with Saturn, exact at 6:10 AM ET. Someone’s morning tweetstorm may be especially dictatorial. Controlling initiatives may be in for a pushback around 2:31 PM ET, as rebel Uranus opposes the Moon and clears the air. Emotions are on the rise, as the Moon is waxing full.
THURSDAY: Note your dreams, as Mercury sextiles Neptune at 6:42 AM ET, facilitating an easy flow of vision. Three minutes later, the Scorpio Moon exactly opposes the Taurus Sun, offering illumination on the needs of MINE vs. the needs of OURS. Stay tuned for details in the next forecast. Moon trines Neptune at 11:40 AM ET, facilitating peaceful vision, but it’s challenged minutes later by a face-off between the controlling Scorpio Moon, demanding to be taken seriously — and Mercury in Taurus, not willing to budge. More power is added to the mix around 7 PM ET, as Moon sextiles Pluto…building to a more assertive confrontation around 9:33 PM ET, as the Moon square Mars. Moon goes void at 10:39 PM ET, on a sextile to Jupiter, no doubt giving someone their just deserts. Chill during the void.
FRIDAY: Moon heaves a sigh of relief and enters Sagittarius at 3:15 AM ET. It’s ready to structure its big-picture plans and righteous opinions, using the energy of a sextile between the Moon and Saturn, exact at 6:27 AM ET. Depth of perception and investigative powers may be applied, reflecting a harmony between Mercury and Pluto, exact on…
SATURDAY: at 6:17 AM ET. No void during business hours means you’re free to shop online, though do note that patterns between the Moon, Neptune and Venus between 1 and 4 PM ET may challenge your sense of aesthetics. Wait until after 4 PM ET to press that BUY NOW button.
SUNDAY: Moon goes void at 2:11 AM ET and enters Capricorn at 5:39 AM ET. Capricorn’s proactive energy is dying to be applied to yet another dreamy/healing/philanthropic project, suggested by the Sun’s sextile with Neptune at 12:16 PM ET. If it’s super-sized, it’s reflecting the expansive potential of a harmony between Mercury (how we need to think) and Jupiter, exact at 10:36 AM ET. Meanwhile, Saturn will be at a full stop, turning retrograde just after midnight. To be continued.

And now, the news.

Everything coming up roses reflects the pixie-dusted spell of Venus square Neptune. We expect ideals of women, art, money to be associated with themes of scandal, fog, healing, forgiveness, victims.

“Feminism isn’t one-size fits all on ‘Mrs. America’ and that’s why you should watch” — referring to the Hulu miniseries that premiered on April 15th, but is getting more traction now. It’s a star-studded cast of women playing feminist and anti-feminist icons, including Betty Friedan and Phyllis Schlafly.
While most of the Week in Review section of the Sunday NYT is focused on the coronavirus, “The Father I Never Forgave” is former career diplomat Brett McGurk’s moving essay about the relationship with his alcoholic father. It should come as no surprise that McGurk wrote this sobering tribute now, given that he was born on April 20, 1973 in Pittsburgh, PA. His Taurus Sun is being squared by transiting Saturn, suggesting a focus on added responsibility or heavy loss, often involving an authority figure.
Another cause for Venus-Neptune empathy and compassion: “Sinking Feeling: I Clung to the Middle-Class as I Aged. The Pandemic Pulled Me Under”

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Meanwhile…

UPDATE: on George W. Bush, who suddenly made news over the weekend with a “Message to America,” calling for an “end to pandemic partisanship.” It is the perfect time for him to have a fresh new start, as transiting Uranus just squared his Leo Ascendant. Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto squared his Midheaven and opposed his Saturn, so this fresh start needs to have gravitas. One expression of a perfectly timed fresh start was a flurry of news a month ago reminding us that it was Bush who presciently initiated a serious strategy and infrastructure for combating a pandemic. Back in 2005, he read a book about the Spanish flu epidemic — while on vacation. The Obama Administration sustained and developed Bush’s protective initiatives because obviously. Then P45 demolished them, with the help of John Bolton.

Bush’s horoscope is under tremendous developmental tension this year. We see potential for empowering moves in home, family and profession. The way he thinks is likely to be rewired, as transiting Uranus will also square his intense Mercury-Pluto conjunction. What will he do with this potential? Looking ahead to 2021, it is interesting to see transiting Pluto opposing Saturn. This measurement suggests intense effort against a threat of potential loss — all year long. This is the same heavy challenge that’s active in P45’s horoscope through all of 2020.

Guess who else has a similar pattern in 2021? Barack Obama, who will have transiting Pluto conjunct his Saturn. It’s striking that Bush and Obama — born almost two decades apart — have scheduled this experience in their cosmic calendar at the same time — but one year after P45. It’s also striking that Bush and Obama’s Saturns are more closely connected to the U.S. horoscope’s Pluto at 27 Capricorn. Will their experience be tied to the U.S. Pluto Return, in effect now — and exact in 2022? If so, how? We shall see.

Meanwhile…

Stephen Colbert opened a recent show with a graphic that read, “Hallucination,” but now I can’t find it. Must have been a dream. In other news, Jezebel reports that “We’re All Having the Same Covid Nightmares.”

Speaking of visions…

“She Predicted the Coronavirus. What Does She Foresee Next?” This is from the NYT and the woman featured is not an astrologer or a psychic. I now know of at least one astrologer who specifically saw potential for a pandemic between 2020 and 2023: Andre Barbault, who wrote about it in 2011, as the latest edition of the UK’s Astrological Journal reports. Let’s see if the NYT picks up on that story.

Thank you for reading this forecast. To schedule a personal consultation on how to maximize opportunities as we move into these summer retrogrades, here’s the 411. To grab a copy of my five-page essay on how to use astrology to determine if a statement is true (apt for students and professionals), toss $18 into the Cosmic Tip Jar.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

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Friday 5/1/2020 & the Weekend: Shades of Rose, in Every Moon-in-Virgo Detail

May 2, 2020/in The Forecast

TGIF!

Here’s how the last day of the work week and the weekend should roll:

FRIDAY — a potentially provocative lunch hour on the East Coast, as the Leo drama king Moon is opposed by Mars, the rebel with a cause in Aquarius (the people) at 12:04 PM ET. Start your stay at home weekend early, as the Moon then goes void for the rest of the day and night.
SATURDAY — Moon enters Virgo to put things back in order at 1:35 AM ET. Today the Moon will trine — not square — Uranus, Mercury and the Sun — all between 1:19 PM ET and 11:40 PM ET. Perhaps this earthy creative flow will be inspired by the rose-colored idealism of…
SUNDAY — a square between Venus and Neptune, exact at 11:52 PM ET. Watch for ideals of peace, love, understanding…and women, art and music. This pattern is in effect all this week. Sure, there may be a clash of aesthetics and/or manners around 11:06 AM ET, as the perfection-seeking Virgo Moon squares Venus in “how do I love thee/let me count the ways” Gemini. But harmonies among the Moon, Pluto and Jupiter at 7:01 PM ET and 10:25 PM ET suggests that substance can triumph over airy fluff.

No sleeping in on Monday. Moon will be in Libra, looking for fairness and balance in relationships.

And now, the news.

UPDATE: on Joe Biden, just ten days after the first of three exact oppositions to his Midheaven (public status) from Neptune, which can fog and/or dissolve that which it touches. Humming in the background for the past few months has been a controversial allegation by a former staffer who worked for him in the early 90s, when he was a U.S. Senator. She’s not clear on the date, so we can’t check the patterns that were active at the time of the alleged incident. We don’t have a birth date for her, either. But now, in the aftermath of this first exact Neptune hit in Biden’s horoscope, the allegations generated enough steam and fog to prompt Biden to go on national TV and deny them. No one is asking him what he would do to resolve the coronavirus, or about his future Cabinet, should he become the 46th president. A bit of a wipe-out, isn’t it? The focus is on the potential scandal — and isn’t it interesting that general planetary patterns this weekend are dominated by a square between Venus (women) and Neptune (scandal).

Biden’s Moon is at 0 Taurus. A year ago, it was hit by transiting Uranus — and this is what happened. Uranus transits can be shocks to the system. Now, transiting Saturn is squaring Biden’s Moon — transforming the upsets of Uranus into a heavy reality. The tests of this cycle do not end until January 2021.

More on women and lies: P45 has a new press secretary — Kayleigh McEnany, an apparently botoxed person who gained attention last week for past racist tweets about President Obama, as well as delusional predictions about the coronavirus. During this afternoon’s Moon void in drama queen Leo, McEnany held her first White House press briefing and made a promise to attending reporters: “I will never lie to you.” Fortunately, astrologers have a way of assessing whether a statement uttered is true or false. If you would like to learn the technique I use, I will share it. Toss $18 into my Cosmic Tip Jar and I will email my astrological analysis of the veracity of McEnany’s promise. What a great way to maximize the potential of the Leo Moon, which thrives on showmanship, mentoring and appreciation!

Venus square Neptune suggests ideals involving peace, values and social expression. This week’s aspects involving Mercury with Saturn and Uranus suggest thinking that is militant — and yet also rebellious and/or innovative. In Canada, Justin Trudeau announced an action plan in response to the worst mass shooting in Canada’s history: a ban on assault-style weapons, effective immediately. In the U.S., more armed gunmen stalked the Michigan State Capitol to defend their right to exhale into the faces of law enforcement officers without wearing protective masks.

Meanwhile, Facebook introduced a new emoji: the virtual hug.

Venus square Neptune suggests healing, victimization and possibly charity. This headline encompasses all three: “Harvard to donate remainder of Jeffrey Epstein gift to victim groups.” So might this: “Mitt Romney calls for hazard pay for coronavirus first-responders.” This one has two out of three: “Olympic gymnast recalls emotional abuse ‘so twisted I thought it couldn’t be real.‘” (the gymnast’s abuser is coach Maggie Haney, who has been suspended).

In other news, late-night comics had a field day skewering Jared Kushner’s rose-colored declaration that the 60,000 Americans who have died from the coronavirus was “a success story.”

I was hoping we’d hear a promising development re: the coronavirus when Mercury (news, information) was at 20- 22 Aries last week, activating patterns on January 13th, the day covid-19 was genetically sequenced. We did get some potentially dreamy news this week: remdesivir has been approved for emergency use as an experimental treatment after showing some promise. I first read about this drug on the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction at 24 Capricorn, exact on April 4th.

UPDATE: on Anderson Cooper, whom I first wrote about in 2012. That’s when he announced publicly that he was gay. Check out what was going on back then — and now marvel at what has been going in the past year. As he did in 2012, he’s had Saturn (ambition, structure, control) activating his Moon, Venus and Midheaven (public status; family), along with Jupiter and Pluto. We expect ambition and a profound change of status — and yesterday he announced the birth of his son. Here’s Anderson Cooper’s horoscope. His son — Wyatt Morgan Cooper — was born on April 27 — birth time is a secret.

UPDATE: on Boris Johnson, who also announced the birth of a son this week. It’s not clear how many children he has, though this is the first with his current live-in partner, Carrie Symonds. They say they plan to marry this summer, which would reflect the likely change of status I noted last fall. I thought it might be a professional change of status, but marriage and a sixth or seventh child would fit, too.

UPDATE: on Michael Moore, whose horoscope I’ve been writing about since forever. A couple of years ago, he embarked on what I believed would be a remarkable change of direction in his career, as transiting Uranus crossed his Taurus Sun-Midheaven, and opposed his Saturn. What would he do to shake things up? Run for office? It had to be something shocking (so I thought). He launched a podcast a few months ago — not so shocking. But four days after the final hit of Uranus to his Midheaven and one day after the final hit of Uranus to his Saturn, Planet of the Humans premiered on YouTube. It’s by writer-director Josh Gibbs; Moore backed it. Salon explains why this new film about green energy is “so controversial.” A commentary in Rolling Stone by climate change activist Bill McKibben calls it “‘A Bomb in the Center of the Climate Change Movement’: Michael Moore Damages Our Most Important Goal.” Astrology is amazing.

Closing with a weirdly rose-colored Venus square Neptune story. An aquarium in Japan wants you to videochat with their garden eels, who have forgotten humans exist. Neptune refers to memory — and wipe-out.

Therefore, in case you’ve already forgotten about my offer to share with astrology buffs how it is possible to use astrology to determine if a spoken statement is true, let me remind you that I will send you an analysis of Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany’s promise that she would never lie to reporters. Toss $18 into my Cosmic Tip Jar; the analysis will go out on Saturday.

To find out what’s going on in your horoscope, here’s the 411 on personal consultations. I’ve yet to find a better tool for understanding why you are the way you are, and why things happen when they do — and what challenges and opportunities are likely to present themselves in the future.

Thank you for reading this forecast. Fun fact: Avid Reader Rose just subscribed today. Coincidence or conspiracy?

“Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit.”

Monday 4/27/2020: Sneak Peek at the Week; Mercury in Focus; Dreamy Weekend Ahead

April 27, 2020/in The Forecast

…and here we are, at the end of April. Wow!

The Gemini Moon goes void for 28 minutes at 1 PM ET. Next stop: Cancer, where it will drive the agenda of the next few days with a need for emotional, home and homeland security. At 3:53 PM ET, Mercury — how we need to think and communicate — ditches Aries for Taurus. This shift should slow down the rush of getting somewhere — anywhere — simply out of an impatient need to get things started. Mercury in Taurus needs to take its time to consolidate ideas into solid form, though it can be quite stubborn. Last week Mercury was one of the star players in the cosmos, as it squared Jupiter and Pluto. This week Mercury continues as a driving force among a myriad of patterns:

TUESDAY — the Cancer Moon is well-supported by contacts to the Sun (willpower, leaders) and Uranus (innovation) in the early morning. It then travels without any contacts for the rest of the day. No contacts isn’t quite the same as being void of course. Here, the energy flow is likely to be smooth — if a bit quiet. One exception might be reflected by the square between Mercury and Saturn, exact at 1:28 PM ET. Heavy, structuring thoughts and communications…or thoughts being hampered by an authority.
WEDNESDAY — note your dreams, as Moon harmonizes with Neptune in the morning. A power play or grand catharsis may occur as the Moon makes its weekly clash with Pluto at 12:01 PM ET, followed by an opposition to Jupiter at 3:29 PM ET — and then goes void. Roll with whatever twists and flakes crop up during the void; remember that such crises are likely to be much ado about nothing. Chill! Moon enters drama king Leo at 9:06 PM ET, looking for a way to shine and help others shine, too.
THURSDAY — for the past few years, the fixed signs of Taurus, Scorpio, Leo and Aquarius have been out of the line of fire, while all around them, Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn have been zapped with 10,000 volt cattle prods. Well, guess what, fixed sign people? Now it’s your turn to be zapped (consult your astrologer for details and a coping strategy). At 12:27 AM ET, the Leo Moon is opposed by streamlining Saturn, then squared by Mercury at 6:47 AM ET and squared by rebel Uranus at 9:21 AM ET. We’ll have people waking up on the wrong side of the bed, howling with indignation. Those who are more flexible can improvise brilliantly, courtesy of a meet-up between Mercury and Uranus, exact at 11:40 PM ET. Meanwhile, the first challenge to the seeds planted during last week’s New Moon may appear around 4:38 PM ET, the First Quarter Moon.
FRIDAY — a potentially provocative lunch hour on the East Coast, as the Leo drama king Moon is opposed by Mars, the rebel with a cause in Aquarius (the people) at 12:04 PM ET. Start your stay at home weekend early, as the Moon then goes void for the rest of the day and night.
SATURDAY — Moon enters Virgo to put things back in order at 1:35 AM ET. What a contrast to Thursday’s tensions! Today the Moon will trine — not square — Uranus, Mercury and the Sun — all between 1:19 PM ET and 11:40 PM ET. Perhaps this earthy creative flow will be inspired by the rose-colored idealism of…
SUNDAY — a square between Venus and Neptune, exact at 11:52 PM ET. Watch for ideals of peace, love, understanding…and women, art and music. This pattern is in effect all this week. Sure, there may be a clash of aesthetics and/or manners around 11:06 AM ET, as the perfection-seeking Virgo Moon squares Venus in “how do I love thee/let me count the ways” Gemini. But harmonies among the Moon, Pluto and Jupiter at 7:01 PM ET and 10:25 PM ET suggests that substance can triumph over airy fluff.

And now, the news.

Last Tuesday’s Saturn-Sun square suggested heavy news involving leaders/heads of state. Yesterday’s Sun-Uranus conjunction suggested an upset — and Saturday’s Pluto retrograde suggested that any news involving these themes would be especially potent. Late Monday night, it was reported that Kim Jong-un was brain-dead after undergoing heart surgery. That report was soon retracted, but Dear Leader’s status is still not clear…though…surprise (!) — yesterday, his train was spotted by satellite near a North Korean resort — but still no sign of him. The plot thickens…

We last wrote about North Korea back in August 2017. Using Jamie Partridge’s rectified horoscope, we note that transiting Neptune just squared North Korea’s Jupiter, ruler of its Sagittarius Ascendant. Neptune rules the area of North Korea’s horoscope that refers to its foundation/core family. How apt for the current confusion. There’s much to talk about in June, when North Korea will have patterns suggesting a significant change or family move. North Korea’s Venus — symbolizing a warrior/angry woman (says Partridge) will be activated by Saturn and Neptune. It is interesting that there is talk of Kim’s sister becoming his successor…

Pluto’s retrograde station suggested a focus on revelations of breakdown and decay in government and institutions. Heather Cox Richardson has the major stories. First, here’s the latest on how our non-partisan civil service is being broken down and replaced with partisan dunces, like the former dog breeder who was tapped to a big post at the Department of Health and Human Services. Her post on April 23 ended with “for all the dark nitty-gritty of politics today”, after reporting how Moscow Mitch suggested the federal government would allow states to go bankrupt rather than finance a blue-state bailout. Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) fired back directly at Moscow Mitch, reminding him that New York other blue states have in fact been bailing out red states for years, sending far more to the federal government in tax dollars than they receive. Seeds of a revolution?

This one from The American Prospect boggles the mind: “Mapping Corruption in the Executive Branch: the Interactive Exhibit.”

And speaking of the mind, transiting Pluto (transformation) sitting on the U.S. Mercury (our national mindset) can be seen here:

“Coronavirus shakes the conceit of ‘American exceptionalism'”

Meanwhile, we continue to see reflections of Uranus’s seven-year trek through Taurus. Translation: we anticipated disruptions (Uranus) in all Taurus concerns — e.g., food and retail chains, and also in matters of beauty. Yes, we all need a haircut and a mani-pedi now — but those will have to wait. In the United States, farmers have been dumping produce and dairy products; meat processing plants have closed. In the NYT Sunday magazine, one restaurant owner penned a frank and moving tale of how her restaurant — Prune — has been affected: “My Restaurant Was My Life for 20 Years. Does the World Need It Anymore?”

In other news, Sunday’s Sun-Uranus (aviation, technology) meet-up is reflected in these stories:

“Boeing shares slide after it scraps deal with Embraer”
“Pentagon officially releases UFO videos”
“What My Spacewalk Taught Me About Isolation,” writes an astronaut who was up in space for 90 days
“Tech Giants Profiting as Rest of Economy Tanks” (yes, and they will continue to do so)

I’d love to present P45‘s last bizarre press conference as an example of the eccentric leadership potential of Sun-Uranus, but his rambling speculations on possible treatments for COVID-19 could have been seen as just another Thursday for P45. Even though those speculations prompted Clorox and Lysol to remind the public that their products were not fit for human consumption. Then again, perhaps that particular presser was a fitting example, as there were no press conferences over the weekend. Relief is brief, however, as P45 will be in front of the cameras again later today.

Maybe it was SNL‘s brutal cold open on Saturday that is prompting P45 to fight back. Brad Pitt portrayed Dr. Anthony Fauci and attempted to clarify some of P45’s more bewildering statements. Why Brad Pitt? Because when asked by a reporter who should portray him on SNL, Fauci picked Pitt over Ben Stiller. Sold — and here is what we know about Dr. Fauci’s horoscope.

Anthony Fauci is a Capricorn driven by the Moon in Scorpio, a blend of earthy practicality seeking fulfillment by being of depth, substance and control. His chart has no planets in an air sign (i.e., Gemini, Libra, Aquarius), which reflects his careful and measured use of words. It interesting to see that Dr. Fauci’s Mercury (how he needs to think and communicate) is 22 Sagittarius, opposing 45’s Sun and conjunct his Moon. That’s a good connection to have in a relationship. P45 can feel comfortable with Fauci, and Fauci intuitively understands how to manage up. Fauci’s Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Taurus suggests a purposeful need to preserve the status quo; we can see how he would have a comforting, authoritative presence. His sudden boost in public status is suggested by his Capricorn Sun being eclipsed last December, as well as transiting Uranus activating at least three — and possibly four — planets in recent weeks.

So, like that. How are you faring in these interesting times? When are you due for a boost in public status? We would see that potential in your lovely horoscope, doncha’ know. Here’s the 411 on consultations — and here is a link to my Cosmic Tip Jar, which happily accepts Joyful Random Expressions of Appreciation for the teachings and insights provided.

I leave you with silver linings:

“Now We Know How Quickly Our Trashed Planet Can Heal,” according to this NYT op-ed
“Silence is Golden for Whales as Lockdown Reduces Ocean Noise”

And, because it took so many hours to produce this missive, I can include Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week, too. It’s an apt reflection of Mercury’s ingress into Taurus this week — don’t you think?

Thank you for reading this forecast.

Having a whale of a time – wish you were here.

THE FORECAST

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FORECAST