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Wednesday, January 31, 2007Discriminating fiction from fantasy......is becoming more difficult as Saturn moves into alignment to the second phase of its opposition from Neptune, and the deceptions (Neptune) of the Bush/Cheney White House (Saturn) are becoming more and more apparent.
The faceoff between Saturn and Neptune can be destabilizing on a personal level as well. This is a good time to add form (Saturn) to spiritual practice (Neptune), and to surrender to the flow (Neptune) when the structures of our life (Saturn) are threatened by outside forces. Labels: Politics, Saturn/Neptune Tuesday, January 30, 2007Microcosm, Macrocosm and MetacosmI found this very interesting, perhaps you will too: It is the hermetic idea of the macrocosm, the universe, being reflected in man as the microcosm that helped to integrate astrological symbology in Christian and Islamic civilisation. This substantiated the idea of man being created in the image of God. This is another new astrology blog with some interesting posts and unusual connections. Labels: blogosphere  I just noticed Jude (of Stars Over Washington fame) has a few new art blogs. I particularly like this one with its dreamy art (perfect for my SunNeptune conjunction in Libra). Some of the art connects with astrology which gives it an additional dimension of interest.For example this illustration (click to enlarge) is in honor of Chiron, showing the path of healing. Hopefully Jude won't mind if I snag her art from time to time to illustrate a point!  I really like this article by Suzanne White which says, among other things:Astrology is not superstition. Not even close. Astrology is a language. It exists. Like Estonian or French. It just plain exists. Like hard boiled eggs or chutney. Now, for some, languages that they do not know and are unable to read or converse in, constitute a sort of threat. When we hear friends chatting in a language that we don’t know and we are present, we almost automatically imagine that they are talking about us. This is a kind of natural paranoia. We cannot understand. So we feel threatened or left out and perhaps even targeted as a victim. Exactly! Labels: Astrology, blogosphere Monday, January 29, 2007Saturn/Neptune and Civil WarAs you know if you've been reading this and other astrology columns over the past six months or so, we are in the middle of a major planetary cycle involving an opposition between Saturn, and its desire to create societal structures such as buildings but also governments and marriages, to Neptune, the planet which seeks a detachment from our physical reality in order to bring us into contact with a deeper state of being. The opposition is a "hard" aspect, meaning that there is a tension between the two planets which makes it more difficult to realize the more beneficial qualities of the two planets. In its highest form the combination of Saturn and Neptune creates a society (Saturn) which is grounded (Saturn) in spiritual ideals (Neptune) that exhibits compassion and universal love (Neptune). But because humans are not yet perfect, the Saturn/Neptune cycle more typically brings the dissolution and breakdown (Neptune) of the structures upon which society depends (Saturn). (See earlier article for more details on this cycle.) The beginning of the Saturn/Neptune cycle was the witness not only to the unraveling civil war in Iraq, but also was the harbinger of civil war in Somalia, Kirkuk, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, and among the Palestinians. The concept of the "failed state" seems also to be tied in with the Neptune (failed) Saturn (state) cycle. Saturn is in Leo now, where it has been creating challenges and limitations (Saturn) on leaders and kings (Leo). This has been seen virtually everywhere - not only in the US where the Republican leadership has fallen to the Democrats, but also in the UK with the government of Tony Blair, the confusion (Neptune) over who is running Iraq. We are likely to see continued confusion (Neptune) in Cuba with the demise of Fidel Castro, and in Israel with a nearly universal disillusionment (Neptune) with their political leaders. We are currently in range of the second phase of the Saturn/Neptune opposition and it is not surprising that these issues are in the forefront of the news. But I believe that this is just the first step in the path towards the upcoming cultural breakdown that will provide the basis for rebuilding a global society. Neptune continues to create confusion over the structures of Saturn over the next year, paving the way for Pluto as it enters Capricorn (the sign ruled by Saturn) and begins destroying those structures which no longer serve us. The sands are shifting and faith is required now - faith in the ultimate Intelligence that guides our evolution. Labels: political cycles, Saturn/Neptune Sunday, January 28, 2007Looking into the mind of Jeffrey KishnerJeffrey was the first astrologer to link to my blog, and I naturally have a soft spot in my heart for him. With his first house Pluto he is often reluctant to participate in the memes that reveal bloggery secrets, but now you can learn all about Jeffrey in this interview. Jeffrey has several blogs including Astrology in the Movies and Lunar Tunes, and is a psychotherapist in New York as well. I particularly like what Jeffrey has to say about astrology: The significance of astrology to me is that there is a divine order to the Universe, and that we are born at a specific time and location so that we can spiritually evolve. Astrology helps people grow into who they are "called" to be. On a more mundane level, it helps people navigate times of transition by understanding cycles of change. If you know that you are supposed to be breaking down structures in your life, then you can consciously explore what parts of your life are rigid, so that the restructuring comes from within rather outside of yourself.Check it out! Friday, January 26, 2007Iran to try Space Launch This seems to echo both of the major planetary cycles going on right now: the square of Jupiter (overconfidence) to Uranus (technology and innovation) and the opposition between Saturn (government structure) and Neptune (mystery and deception):Iran has converted one of its most powerful ballistic missiles into a satellite launch vehicle. The 30-ton rocket could also be a wolf in sheep's clothing for testing longer-range missile strike technologies, Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine reports in its Jan. 29 issue. The opposition of Neptune to Saturn in Leo (leadership) asks the question, "Who's in charge?" The face of global power is changing. I just stumbled upon another astrology blog, this one from Neil Paris in the UK. He has a great post on possible manifestations of the Jupiter/Uranus square that we are experiencing this year: Religious exile - people abandon their previous beliefs, members of the church quit, resign or are fired, or change faiths altogether, or else abandon their faith entirely! I particularly like this last one. This Jupiter/Uranus cycle is still in the first phase, the second phase of the cycle comes in May with the wrapup in early October. The exciting expansion of Jupiter/Uranus will have an interesting effect on the contracting confusion of the Saturn/Neptune opposition that continues through June. Labels: Jupiter/Uranus Thursday, January 25, 2007Mercury conjuncts Neptune, Venus enters Pisces Venus Verticordia*, by Dante Gabriel RossettiMercury is nearing a conjunction with Neptune that will be exact on Friday but will remain in effect for the next few days. Mercury represents the thought function, communication and the manner in which we process our experiences. Neptune is the Great Dissolver, the planet of mystery, mysticism and true spirituality. With Neptune present we face the fact that life more than mere physical reality, and we long to ascend to an experience of the divine. The conjunction can bring out the best of the two planets or the worst, there is more of a choice with the conjunction than the hard angle aspects (squares and oppositions) which tend to bring out the more negative aspects of the planets involved. Neptune combined with Mercury confers creativity as we expand our ordinary awareness and intellect to channel that divine experience into music, art and writing. Life becomes more imaginative, more mysterious. The conjunction of Neptune and Mercury also tends to obscure what we usually think of as reality and confuse the issue as we reach for the ideal image rather than see what is right in front of us. There can be confusion, illusion and delusion, as well as fabrication and lies. On Sunday Venus enters Pisces, the sign ruled by Neptune, extending this Neptunian period and bringing a little more romance into our lives. With Venus in Pisces life is a little more beautiful and a little more harmonious as the aesthetics of Venus find expression through the Pisces desire for a divine experience. Compassion (Pisces) between people (Venus) is another hallmark of the Venus/Pisces experience. With Venus entering Pisces, the electrical energy of the past couple of Uranian weeks will begin to smooth out and the peaceful harmony of Venus/Pisces could help to soften things as we move towards the second stage of the Saturn/Neptune opposition. *Venus Verticordia, the "Changer of Hearts" In browsing around for interesting astrology news I came across this in a forum on relationships: I happen to analyse my horoscope.One astrologer told my marriage life is going to be full of problems and difficulties. I will go to the extent of commiting suicide I will have to face aso many problems. I was really worried abt it.I told my would be abt it.He scolded dont believe in this all.I was very much worried on what the astrologer told.Pls tell me wat u peole say? should i beleive this or notThe querent lives in India so I assume his astrologer followed Vedic principles, and the Vedics are very much based in prediction of the future. Regardless of the type of astrology one practices, there are two issues here. First, there is no way to predict for certain whether someone will commit suicide or how a difficult chart will turn out. I have seen people with incredibly difficult charts who have worked very hard through their issues to gain wisdom and inner peace. Second, nearly everyone in the psychic field agrees that it is unethical to predict a negative future for an individual; first, some of the most amazing experiences occur through difficult times and second, if you instill fear in that client they will create their own disaster. Certainly when a Pluto transit is coming that will hit the clients Chiron/Moon conjunction which squares Pluto, you know there will be some kind of trouble. But there are keys to navigating those rough waters so that the client can get the most out of the process. I hope that this individual was able to find better advice. It's astrology "readings" like this that give us all a bad name. Labels: "bad" astrology Wednesday, January 24, 2007Leadership and the Twelfth House Sun Sonia made a good point in the comments section to the profile of Tony Blair: "How these 12th house sun people get elected to positions of power is beyond me. I wouldn't have thought they were the most apt leaders." Tony Blair has the Sun in the twelfth house, as does George W Bush.The twelfth house in ancient astrology was known as the "House of Troubles" and the "House of Karma." Planets that live in the twelfth house tend to operate on a subconscious level, and therefore are more difficult to access easily. They tend to show issues that lie dormant until they create a crisis - hence the "house of karma." The ancients also called this house the place of "self-undoing," where the subconscious has the primary influence for good or for bad. On the positive side, individuals with twelfth house planets have a greater ability to access the subconscious and if they choose to follow that route they can control their own destiny. Individuals with twelfth house Suns tend to be highly sensitive to the energies around them and consequently need a great deal of privacy. Twelfth house people are said to be secretive, but I believe that to be misreading the issue here. These people do tend to withdraw but less out of secrecy (that's more an eighth house/Scorpio retreat) than from a need to protect themselves from the energies of others and establish a firm footing. In the twelfth house we are not very sure-footed as the sands tend to shift quite a bit. Astrologer Rob Hand was prescient in his early profile of George W: I suggest that what we are going to see during his administration will be the following: 1) George W. Bush will continue to carry on as much of his private life as possible away from the media. 2) More than is usual, the public will have little idea of what is going in Bush’s administration. 3) What we see is not quite what we are going to get.The past few years has been ruled by twelfth house leaders, a surprising fact since this placement makes it difficult and uncomfortable to be out in the public eye. Vladimir Putin, has a twelfth house Sun, and Ariel Sharon's Sun is on the cusp of the twelfth. The illusion and delusion that the twelfth house can create around an individual can make them ideal people on which to hang a projection. Vladimir Putin was KGB and definitely inscrutable. Ariel Sharon was the warrior of Israel for many years. Americans have built George Bush into the president they wanted to have, not the president he is. And the same can be said of Tony Blair, who is famously called Tony Blur. I think it's fair to say that twelfth house leaders need to be carefully watched; their penchant for secret alliances and agreements can erode the democratic process, and their ability to create a glamor of illusion has a hypnotic effect on the citizens over which they rule. Update: Dharma adds: "Gordon Brown, the next British PM, has 12th House Sun in Pisces - as well as Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Node in the 12th." (see comments section for the rest of his comment) Tuesday, January 23, 2007Jupiter/Uranus and Presidential AnnouncementsThe one thing you can expect with a square of Jupiter to Uranus is the unexpected. Jupiter brings expansion and Uranus turns convention on its head and creates surprise, so under this influence it's possible that none of the current flock of declared candidates (at least a dozen on each side of the aisle) could end up in the running in October when this cycle concludes. Phil Brown covers the charts of Sam Brownback and Bill Richardson today. Hillary Clinton has of course announced her candidacy, and while I'd love to see a woman president I'm not sure Hillary is the one I'm looking for. Nearly a year ago I profiled Hillary and discussed her second Saturn return which she is still in the middle of, and because Saturn is square to Mercury in her chart her thought process and communication function is also involved in the Saturn square. To complicate matters further, Saturn and Neptune are in their opposition dance and Neptune is involved in this square as well, creating confusion and making it difficult for her to communicate with clarity or to see where her true path lies. Chiron is square her natal Chiron, showing that this is a difficult time for her emotionally, and Chiron is also nearing a square to her Mars/Pluto conjunction that forms the foundation of her very intense drive. These are not the most auspicious transits and indicate some trouble ahead for her campaign. Still, Hillary is tough and she has pulled through worse than this so we can't discount her yet. The most difficult of the planetary cycles will have completed by August and it's still very early in the presidential campaign season. Labels: Jupiter/Uranus  Keith Urban has a lovely video on his website today, thanking his fans for their support during his stint in rehab and explaining what happened to encourage him to seek help and talking about the recovery process. In the video he says that during the first 30 days he learned that abstinence is only the ticket to the movie, not the movie itself. Evidently he chose to stay longer in order to learn more about himself and what led to his problems that made his life "unmanageable." Back in October when Urban entered rehab I wrote that he was beginning a challenging transit of Pluto, the planet which pushes us to transformation, to Chiron in his chart. Chiron is the "wounded healer," and a transit of Pluto to that sensitive point brings up old painful emotions and feelings. This is a difficult process, since we typically hide from our feelings of discomfort and push them away to a place where they won't bother us. Pluto can be rather ruthless when it hits a sensitive point in our chart and demands that we give up whatever is holding us back from our evolutionary process. The transit of Pluto to Chiron that began for Keith Urban in October demands that he face the demons of his pain and work through the healing process. Surrender is required, and it appears that he is facing the challenge: he says "Thirty days became 60. Sixty days became 90 and, with each week that passed, I found myself really learning to surrender." He also talks about how much he is learning about himself, which is the key to this planetary cycle. I had never seen him before, and was struck by the obvious sincerity and sensitivity he displays in this video, thanking the fans for their support and explaining why he failed to go on tour after his album was released. Keith has a strong sense of responsibility to those that love him, with Mars (his drive) in Capricorn (responsibility and hard work) and Venus (relating to others) in Virgo (service and usefulness). The Pluto cycle that has created this pressure on him to heal his inner wounds has eased off but he will face the second phase of the cycle this year. Pluto will make what's called a "station" on this sensitive point in his chart between June and November, a critical time in his healing process. Hopefully he will be able to continue his journey of healing and recovery and gain a greater sense of peace within. Labels: Celebrities, Chiron Monday, January 22, 2007Speculation and the Stock MarketI came across this treatise on market speculation from the 1930s that some kind blogger posted on his/her site which has some interesting tidbits such as these: SUN--The Sun rules gold, gilt-edged stock and Government Securities, and the general tone of the Market. It does not materially affect the Market itself, except as it forms aspects to other planets, and its influence is exerted thru the sign in which it is placed. Favorable aspects increase the value of Government securities of the country ruled by the sign, and bad aspects depress it.This has relevance for today's world: Jupiter and Uranus square or in opposition and the Sun in trine or sextile to them make a very strong Cereal Market and some strength in Stocks.Kellogg was up 15% last year and General Mills up 17%, so it will be interesting to see if under the current Jupiter/Uranus square that trend continues. Labels: Stock market Sunday, January 21, 2007State of the President, 2007 As President Bush prepares to deliver his (OMG) seventh State of the Union address, we take a look at what the stars have in store for him over the next few months. You may want to revisit my original overview of Bush's chart, last year's "State of the President" post, and the update from last November.To summarize briefly, over the past few years President Bush has been going through a long period of Saturn transits over sensitive points in his chart. Saturn is the planet that teaches us restraint and discipline by pointing out where we have made mistakes, and that is certainly true in this situation. Saturn has challenged his partnerships and alliances when it crossed his ascendant and opposed the cusp of his seventh house, resulting in the loss of his Chief of Staff Andy Card, press secretary Scott McClellan and the shifting of position for his henchman Karl Rove. Saturn confronted his thoughts and ideas when it passed over his Leo Mercury that filters all of Bush's experiences (Mercury) through his ego (Leo) driving his poll numbers down, and when it crossed his Pluto the country became fully aware for the first time of the breakdown (Pluto) of the government (Saturn) in response to Hurricane Katrina. On a personal level, Bush has been experiencing some deep emotional distress over the past year with a conflicting aspect (square) from his progressed Mars (aggression and drive) to the Moon in his chart, showing that he is more defensive and prickly than usual as Mars irritates the sensitive Moon. Now he faces a series of difficult cycles involving Chiron, the wounded healer. Where Saturn creates disappointments and restrictions, Chiron brings up old unresolved wounds that need to be addressed. Where Saturn works to effect change in the structure of our lives, Chiron works on the deeper emotional fabric and encourages sensitivity and evolution. On December 22 Chiron crossed Bush's ascendant, just as he admitted to the nation for the first time that the US was not winning the war in Iraq. In late January Chiron will go on to aspect Bush's Mercury/Pluto conjunction, but at the same time a number of positive Jupiter transits will buoy up his optimism and keep him from sinking too deeply into introspection. In March Jupiter and Saturn transit Uranus in Bush's chart, creating excitement and expansion and likely bringing him in contact with different people (Uranus falls in his 11th house of friends and social groups). These are periods of change and awakening where the status quo isn't good enough. At the same time Neptune will begin a long transit of Bush's Venus where it will begin to cause confusion in his marriage and probably with Karl Rove as well. Transits of Mars often show the trigger points that will set off the longer-reaching planetary cycles, and right now Mars in Capricorn is making a square to Neptune in Bush's chart, the first of four planets in his Libra stellium (grouping of planets). Mars impels us to take action, but when it hits our Neptune it can be confusing as we struggle to identify our goals. In early February Mars will oppose Bush's Cancer Sun and he will begin to get his energy back but start to express his aggression in a more focused manner, and shortly afterward Mars squares Bush's Chiron/Moon conjunction which will create a profound emotional irritation as it stirs up painful memories. The stressful aspects of Mars can create feelings of frustration and dissatisfaction and bring out the worst qualities of the planet: willful and reckless behavior as we try to make things happen in order to release the pentup energy of these aspects. Bush has these qualities in his chart in abundance: his Mars makes no aspects to other planets which makes him a bit of a loose cannon, and a square of Jupiter to Uranus expands (Jupiter) the rebellious nature of Uranus, giving Bush the nature of a pugnacious renegade. Mars will set off the Jupiter/Uranus square in his chart in mid February, we'll begin to see its influence during the first week and it will carry through until the 17th or so. I would expect more rumors of war for the next month or so as Bush struggles to contain his Mars. Labels: GWBush I'm giving my brain a rest today, please visit some of my friends:
Saturday, January 20, 2007Isaiah Washington: Chiron and the Fall of Ego Isaiah Washington is one of the coolest actors around; I've been a big fan since his early days with Spike Lee. No one can match his smoldering charisma, and in the role of Preston Burke of Grey's Anatomy he lights up the screen with a lethal combination of hot sexuality and icy coolness. His anger is as legenday as his beauty, however. A recent spat with co-star Patrick Dempsey ended in Washington's putting a chokehold on Dempsey, and a recent tabloid tale reports that similar moves by Washington resulted in a restraining order by a movie costumer.Isaiah Washington is a Leo, and inside every Leo is a need to be respected. Washington describes the Leo personality perfectly when he said, "I always knew that if I had the opportunity to be celebrated, I would shine." Leo needs to shine, to be admired, and to accomplish this Leo does great things and often displays tremendous generosity. But the dark side of this need to be admired is a tendency towards anger when that admiration is withdrawn. The presence of Leo in the chart generally suggests confidence and pride, but confusing Neptune is in difficult aspect to his Leo Sun. This suggests that his confidence is easily eroded and that he may blame others for the lack of confidence within himself. The square of Neptune to the Sun often indicates an individual who becomes both a savior and a scapegoat; they carry the projections of others and their true nature is often obscured. Uranus and Pluto were conjunct in in the early 1960s, a time of great social (Uranus) upheaval (Pluto). Everyone born during this time period carries this archetype of revolution and radical change in their nature as Washington does, but in his chart Mercury (his communication process) is tied in with the Uranus/Pluto dynamic. This gives him a tendency to be both passionate and compulsive (Pluto) in his thinking (Mercury), and be radical and rebellious (Uranus) in his ideas (Mercury). Isaiah Washington has gained his success by refusing to sacrifice his principles, something we would expect from the combination of Uranus/Mercury. But this combination also indicates someone who tends to be intense (Pluto) and argumentative (Uranus), and not likely to back down from a fight (Mercury/Pluto). The Mercury/Uranus/Pluto triad is opposed by Chiron, the Wounded Healer. The presence of Chiron shows that Washington's tendency to be outspoken and abrupt (Uranus/Mercury) has created problems for him in the past. With Chiron opposite Pluto there an intense (Pluto) inner pain (Chiron) that requires periods of crisis throughout his life in order to release the buildup of intensity and negative energy that results. Where some would deal with this kind of crisis through physical battle, for Washington it comes in the form of words (Mercury). Participation in martial sports such as hockey or kung fu would help Washington to release some of this pent-up intensity without creating arguments and drama. His reckless (Uranus/Mercury) use of the words "faggot" and "bitch" has become a lightning rod for prejudices of all kinds over the past week. Blacks believe that Washington is being persecuted for his race, whites say that if he weren't black he would have been fired. Gays express horror at the use of the word "faggot," comparing it with the word "nigger." Washington's attempt to apologize during the Golden Globes was pounced upon as he tried to claim he hadn't said "faggot," and now he is in danger of losing his job. Washington is currently undergoing a painful cycle of Chiron to his Sun that is opening up his old wounds and feelings of inadequacy. Chiron cycles serve to expose the places where our old wounds haven't healed so that we will be forced to deal with those experiences and release them. At the same time, Uranus is transiting Chiron in his chart, setting off the painful memories and creating a crisis as described above that ultimately will result in transformation. Isaiah Washington faces a challenging year astrologically that will require a strong will and courage to face his inner demons. For Washington, those demons will be faced in a very public arena. Labels: Celebrities This is NOT meant as a fearmongering post predicting the end of the world, but you all know that I am fascinated by unusual connections. In looking for information on the comet, I came across this passage from Nostradamus: Quatrain 2.70 The proud nation, the United States, does appear to be losing its grip as the world superpower as the Bush Doctrine causes us to lose even our staunchest allies. This has been made painfully clear by Condi Rice's failure to garner any respect for the US during her trip through the middle east this week. Meanwhile, Jordan and Egypt have announced plans to acquire nuclear technology in order to defend against Iran. I couldn't find any explanation that I like for the phrase "the stone in the tree," but what makes sense to me is a chaotic planetary upheaval where stones from the ground end up in the trees. This could speak to severe weather and climate change. Concurrent with the appearance of Comet McNaught there have been severe winter storms in Europe and the western US as well as Canada, torrential rains in Mozambique, and powerful earthquakes in Scotland, Indonesia, Iran, El Salvador, New Zealand, Panama, and Pakistan. There's no doubt that we are transitioning into a new world where the old rules no longer apply. Climate isn't the only thing that's changing - old notions of power are fading and the mideast is becoming the central arena for longstanding power conflicts. Pluto's fingerprints are everywhere, and over the next year as Pluto completes its passage through Sagittarius we will see these theological and philosophical (Sagittarian) power conflicts (Pluto) swept towards completion in one way or another. update: Rich just suggested to me that the stone in the tree could be a meteorite (stone) or missile that lands in a nation symbolized by a tree. We looked at a page of national flags and  discovered that the flag of Lebanon has a tree on it, and further research revealed that the cedar trees of Lebanon were prized in antiquity, so even during the time of Nostradamus Lebanon would have been associated with the tree. He also suggested that "death while speaking" could indicate a comet or meteorite hitting the earth which would cause instant death, even in the middle of a conversation, and vaporize everything causing a "human mist."Before we fall into a panic, let's remember that not everything Nostradamus has predicted has come true, and we can change our own fate and the fate of the world in one moment. Labels: Comet McNaught, predictions Friday, January 19, 2007Aquarius AlignmentVenus and Neptune are completing their little dance and Mercury is approaching a conjunction to Chiron, all in Aquarius. Aquarius brings inspiration and insight to the Chironic healing experience, and Mercury facilitates communication and a deepening wisdom. The Moon has just joined these four Aquarian planets and tomorrow the Sun enters Aquarius as well, so we'll have four planets and both luminaries (Sun and Moon) strengthening the Aquarian focus. Aquarius remember is ruled by Uranus, planet of innovation, rebellion, radical change, the authentic process and that which is unusual. Jupiter is in square to Uranus right now, expanding its reach and its dominion, so with this heavy Aquarian/Uranian influence the next few days should be quite interesting. Watch for new inventions, technological advances, radical ideas in the world political arena. Aquarius is more concerned with fairness than with ego, but as a fixed sign it can become bogged down with the need to control. It is not comfortable in the emotional realm, making this a less auspicious time for romance or other emotional situations. By the way, am I the only one having technological difficulties now that Jupiter is square to Uranus? (Uranus rules technology.) The heavy Aquarian influence will predominate over the next few weeks until Mercury and Venus move into Pisces and Jupiter lifts its crown off of Uranus. Labels: Aquarian age, Jupiter/Uranus Comet McNaught is only visible in the Southern Hemisphere now (click image to enlarge).  Photo from spaceweather.com Labels: Comet McNaught, wonders of the universe Thursday, January 18, 2007And now for something completely different...I can't think of a more perfect article to reflect the expansion towards the bizarre that the Jupiter/Uranus square offers: A group of researchers working at the Human Genome Project indicate that they made an astonishing scientific discovery: They believe so-called 97% non-coding sequences in human DNA is no less than genetic code of extraterrestrial life forms.After years of reading David Icke's synthesis of conspiracy theories from around the world this doesn't surprise me, but the source of this article is suspect. There doesn't seem to be a Professor Change associated with the Human Genome Project for one thing. Still, I'm very interested to learn more about this  DNA connection. For some time now psychics and channelers have claimed that dormant DNA can be activated up to 12 strands and many people will be glad to take your money to do so. Although I'm skeptical, it does make sense that the DNA encoding is intended to serve a purpose that may not yet been known.If you have more information on this, please send it to me!! update: Dharmaruci refutes the science here. Labels: Jupiter/Uranus, UFOs  Barack Obama has been a rising star in the Democratic party since his keynote speech to the Democratic convention in 2004. His unique combination of humility and confidence along with a brilliant rhetoric and populist philosophy in a charismatic package has made him virtually irresistible to many voters who seek a change from the cutthroat political landscape of the past fifteen years. His shiny image remains untarnished and he appears to have no skeletons in his closet. He is a dedicated family man who has been married for fifteen years, and a regular churchgoer.His astrological chart shows his Sun is in Leo, the sign that inspires creative self-expression. In Leo the ego is celebrated - the individual is called on to develop their own personal identity and story. Leo is associated with the heart, and Leos are typically generous and warm-hearted. They crave admiration and respect, and inside every individual with a strong Leo component there is a sense of royalty. Obama's Sun is challenged by the planet Neptune in his chart (square to his Sun) which shows that his ability to develop an individual identity has been difficult. Neptune is the planet of mystery and confusion, and when in difficult aspect to the Sun which forms the basis of the personal ego there is a tendency to lose one's sense of Self. This is reflected in Obama's early childhood: born to a white middle American mother and a father from Kenya, his parents divorced when he was two and he was moved to Indonesia with his mother and her second husband. Subsequently he moved back to the US and was raised by his grandparents. Obama talks candidly of experimenting with drugs (Neptune) to erase thoughts and doubts about his identity (Sun) out of his mind. The fact that his Sun is in Leo has helped him to develop that sense of self despite the Neptunian obstacles as Leo is inherently a strong (fixed) sign whose very purpose is to build that strong foundation of personal identity. The Neptune/Sun combination is much more difficult for someone with the Sun in a sign like Gemini, which has a tendency to change identities easily and become lost in a variety of experience. Mercury is in Leo in Obama's chart, showing that his thought process and communication style (Mercury) reflects the Leonine qualities of pride and ego. There is a strong sense of purpose with Mercury in Leo, and a sense of mission to accomplish great things. Obama's Mercury is opposite Jupiter, the planet of abundance and possibility. Jupiter is expansive and confident, and the opposition, which is a challenging aspect, shows that we may see the more negative aspects of the combination of Jupiter with Mercury in Leo which can reveal arrogance, overconfidence, and a bit too much pride in one's accomplishments and brilliance. There can also be some stubbornness (Mercury) in one's ideas (Leo) and religious fervor. Jupiter rules philosophy and shared ideas as well as theology, and the stressful aspects between Jupiter and Mercury often show someone who feels they are always right. This is somewhat countered by Obama's Virgo Mars. Where Mars is the planet of aggression and shows the nature of the individual's drive, Virgo is humble and focused on serving others. Mars in Virgo feels a drive to help others and avoid the limelight. Obama likely feels an inner conflict between the Leo urge to demonstrate his greatness and this Virgo need to remain humble and sensitive to the needs of others. Mars in Virgo also shows a desire (Mars) for perfection (Virgo) in the details of life. Mars in Obama's chart is in harmonious aspect (trine) to Saturn, the planet that gets down to business and creates success through hard work. Mars in Virgo is cautious but disciplined and practical, and in tandem with Saturn's pressure for responsibility and grounding through the material world, this is a powerful aspect for manifestation that virtually guarantees success. Obama's strong ties to his family are shown by his Venus which is in Cancer, the sign of nurturing and family roots. Venus in Obama's chart forms a Water Grand Trine with Chiron (in Pisces) and Neptune (in Scorpio), showing the healing power (Chiron) of his relationships (Venus) and his inner connection to his spirituality (Neptune). Obama is religious as we saw above, but his religion includes an inner sense of spiritual connection rather than just theological dogma. 2007 looks like a good year for Obama, with several positive planetary cycles involving Jupiter (opportunities) and Saturn (perseverance and commitment). He is going through a long term cycle of Pluto in square to his progressed Sun which could lead to battles over power issues (perhaps with the Democratic establishment?). Still, his unique combination of charisma, confidence and humility could make him the candidate to beat in 2008. Labels: Political figures Wednesday, January 17, 2007Capricorn new moon tomorrow! The New Moon on January 18 occurs at 11:01 pm EST in the last degrees of Capricorn. The New Moon is a time of beginnings, when the Sun and Moon are conjunct and begin a new lunation cycle. The new beginning at the end of a sign has a special symbolism: the beginning of the ending. The initiation of the completion of that sign. This is the fifth new moon in the last degrees of a sign, and we will have two more before we're done.In Capricorn we are called on to achieve, to make our mark on the world, to be responsible. This is a reminder that it's not enough to be spiritual, it's not enough to love. We also need to take responsibility for ourselves and be a contributing member of the planet. But with four planets in Aquarius including an exact Venus/Neptune conjunction, we are lit up with innovative (Aquarius) and creative (Venus/Neptune) ideas. With Venus (love) conjunct Neptune (transcendence), meditation and a focus on love will help to integrate these dynamics, facilitating the new beginning that is offered here. This New Moon is clearing the debris as we break up our old structures (Capricorn) and prepare for a new illumination. This New Moon incorporates the square of Jupiter to Uranus which suggests a struggle between the need for discipline and structure of Capricorn and the urge for freedom of the Jupiter/Uranus cycle. The always creative JM has this to say about Jupiter/Uranus: The planet Uranus represents that which does not go with the prevailing direction. Only Pluto occasionally joins Uranus in its eccentricity. And yet Uranus remains part of the system, reminding the others of the successful alternative. Jupiter expands, and these two entities are going to spin together for most of the year, a symbol of events on earth. Labels: New Moon  The face of the Doomsday Clock shifted two minutes closer to midnight Wednesday, symbolizing the impending destruction of humanity in a "Second Nuclear Age:"Chicago's Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the group that has maintained the timepiece since 1947, wound the minute hand closer to the grim hour for the first time since 2002, when it was frozen at seven minutes to midnight.It's interesting to me that when the Doomsday Clock was first instituted Saturn and Pluto were conjunct in Leo (the conjunction was exact in August of 1947). I wasn't able to find out exactly when in 1947 the Clock began but this was a powerful conjunction that had a tremendous effect on the psyche of the planet. This same year saw the following events:
Still, it would be wise to heed the warning of the Doomsday Clock that has added climate change to the threats against our planet. The change in our climate could be the spark that fuels the cultural upheavals that we can expect as rebellious Uranus moves into position to square Pluto in 2011. Labels: doomsday Tuesday, January 16, 2007A look ahead to 2008 electionsI'm working on a profile of Barack Obama but other obligations are tearing me away from the computer. While you wait, read Phil Brown's excellent analysis of the Saturn/Uranus opposition that will mark the 2008 elections: We can already see the 2008 Saturn-Uranus opposition forming politically, or at least the foundation being laid for its later manifestation.You may also want to read why John McCain will never be president. Labels: Politics, Saturn/Uranus  Two things I have learned in my life:1. If you have to ask the question, the answer is no. and 2. If you don't know what to do, it's not yet time to make a decision. In my younger days I, like many others, sought the advice of psychics, tarot readers, palmists, past life regressionists, spiritual advisers. I desperately wanted to be told what to do. Should I stay with this guy? Would that other one ever love me? Would I ever get a job that I wanted? Now I'm the adviser that people come to with these questions. "I am not a fortune teller," I warn them. "I can't tell you when you will meet your soulmate and frankly, no one can. That's not how this works." Yet still their hearts are yearning for the answers to their questions. What we often don't realize is that those answers are given from within but very few of us really trust our own inner voice. The woman who wants to leave her husband but is afraid to lose the security of her marriage knows in her heart what to do, but her head is arguing with her. Still, the voice in her heart drives her and she asks counselor after counselor, should I leave my husband? Counselors all tell her different things because no such person can or should answer this question. Decisions are part of the process of our life: we're given free will so that we can make a choice at every moment. I truly believe that there are no mistakes in life; each doorway opens to a new world of evolution. The anxiety of not knowing how to proceed can be excruciating, but sometimes we just have to wait until the answer comes from within. Then the questions fall away. The process of discovering the answer is crucial to our personal development which is why I will never tell a client what to do even the answer is obvious to me. The astrological reading will point out the strengths and weaknesses in the relationship, it will explain why the lover was more attractive than the wife and why the affair failed. It will open up a doorway into the querent's inner world and explain perhaps the origin of his inner dissatisfaction that was projected into the marriage. It will not, and should not in my opinion, answer the question of what to do next. Those questions and choices belong to each individual and only them. If you have to ask the question, the answer may be no or it may be that the time has not yet come to make the decision. If you know you want to marry someone, you don't have to ask your friends, psychics, parents, etc. You know the answer and move confidently forward. But sometimes we don't know the answer and even when we ask the questions of others and receive their advice we are still confused. At these times we can only wait for clarity: there is more information yet to receive, more process to unfold before the answer is given. Meditation is a beautiful tool to help us to tune in to our inner voice and help us to listen more carefully to what it has to say. The more we listen inside the more we will learn to trust that voice that comes through our heart. Then the magic of our life unfolds more easily as we learn to follow the flow of our inner guidance. Labels: Fate, predictions Monday, January 15, 2007Brightest comet in 70 years Comet McNaught is the brightest comet visible from earth in a generation - at magnitude -5 it is the brightest comet since Ikeya-Seki in 1965 according to Universe Today. It is six times bigger than Hale-Bopp in 1997 and 100 times brighter than Halley's comet as it last appeared in 1986 according to NASA scientists.Humans have been fascinated by comets for thousands of years. Unlike planets, comets are unpredictable which led many cultures to believe that the gods were sending a message through the comet. Not every single thing has meaning and significance, but it makes sense to me that if planets and stars have symbolic significance, and if Chiron, officially classified as both a comet and an asteroid, has meaning, then intermittent comets must have meaning as well. Ancient cultures feared comets, but they also feared Saturn and we now know that every aspect of astrological symbolism has both a positive and negative manifestation. Perhaps comets are indeed intended to get our attention and cause us to look at the sky; to look for meaning in life and experience the wonder of the natural world. Labels: Comet McNaught Sunday, January 14, 2007Comet McNaught now visible in daylight!! From spaceweather.com: Comet McNaught is now visible in broad daylight. "It's fantastic," reports Wayne Winch of Bishop, California. "I put the sun behind a neighbor's house to block the glare and the comet popped right into view. You can even see the tail." Daylight comet at the same time as Mars conjunct Pluto conjunct Galactic Center. That's quite a few simultaneously occurring rare astronomical events! George Bush says he talks to God, perhaps he should pay attention. Labels: Comet McNaught  Image from Tim BoucherWe like to think of the Age of Aquarius as the time of peace, love and understanding: Harmony and understandingIt's a nice fantasy, and while Aquarius is indeed concerned with issues of fairness and equality and honesty, we mustn't forget that Uranus is the modern ruler of Aquarius. Uranus is the planet of liberation and revelation, but also of technology. Bill Gates's keynote speech last week to the Consumer Electronics show delivered a vision of the "Connected Experience" as provided by Microsoft, which connects everything we need for 21st century life so we never have to leave the house. Don't get me wrong - I am a technology addict and acclaimed gadget geek, and I love the connectedness that the wired experience provides. But there is a danger that a wired life of technology is beginning to replace real life. We're connected via internet, television and cellphones, but how connected are we to our communities and family? At the dawn of the technology revolution it's very exciting, but our friend Tim Boucher looks down this road and delivers this chilling report (do visit his site for films and images): How many years this will take to happen, I can’t say. Maybe five years? But the world is going to look like this. You are going to walk around with an augmented reality device, as well as a variety of devices whose purpose is to record, sort and “index” audio, visual and other information about your experience of life. You will become the spiderbot for Google walking around and “crawling” the physical earth. You will be paid a modest amount for your data-collection efforts. We think of these technologies now as “tracking” and “surveillance” but those terms will fall away and be replaced by terms which more accurately reflect the breadth of cultural change these devices will entail. By way of analogy, you could think of your experience of life as going something like this. You walk around and perceive augmented or mixed reality through your headset. Science fiction? Perhaps, but I believe that the future holds experiences that go beyond what we can imagine today. We are already seeing problems with media addiction, a problem with its own label (internet and communication technology addiction, or ICT). With information coming only through the media, we lose the ability to process information independently and live as autonomous beings; instead we will become cogs in a huge wheel that is controlled by the media machine. The better alternative, I believe, is the choice to live a real and authentic life. *(lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni from the musical Hair. ) Labels: Aquarian age, technology, Uranus Saturday, January 13, 2007The Pluto process and the galactic center shiftWith Mars conjunct Pluto and the G.C. this week there are a lot of theories about the significance, if any, of the Galactic Center shift. The spirituality boards are fired up and here are some of the things I've found: Mars conjuncts Pluto near the Galactic Center on the 13th. Mars then enters Capricorn on the 16th. The Sun enters Aquarius on the 20th. Jupiter in Sagittarius squares Uranus in Pisces on the 22nd. Venus enters Pisces on the 27th. There's a sense of deepening heaviness, gravity as time goes on. It's ironic that the energies are so flowing now in comparison to recent years. You wouldn't expect this mounting heaviness. But this is the nature, the gravity of the unconscious. If you are not conscious with it, it will drag you down. Your intentions will come manifest. Do you want your intentions to be unconscious based on your karmic crud? Or would you like to be consciously intending your manifestations? Time will tell. Mark Krueger Remembering that we inform the mysteries as much as they inform us and noting the coming together of these major transformative cycles with the December Solstice near Galactic Center (a 26,000 year timing) with Pluto (a 248 year timing, with the Lunar Standstill (a 19 year timing) with Jupiter (a 12 year timing) this may well be a once in many eons of time kind of Celestial Event. We at least know it can’t have happened since the last turning of the Galactic Wheel 26,000 years ago. Cosmologically this is, simply said, bigger than BIG and the question is how are we choosing to participate? When we use the power to inform with the intent to transform ourselves and the planet without attachment to the results, but rather trusting what is unfolding is within the divine plan, then we are making the most of this unprecedented time. Cayelin Castell Celestial alignments with the Galactic Center are delivering potent transmissions of energy affecting everything on Earth, and as these super-voltage energies continue to enter your reality and speed things up, you must be much more aware of the thoughts and messages you are sending forth. Remember, your thoughts are broadcast as frequencies of energy that act in a similar fashion to a homing pigeon trained to deliver a message - thoughts literally fly out from your mind to connect with whatever you are thinking about. And during these times of accelerated energy everything quickens and manifests with much greater speed. Understanding the cosmic laws of manifestation is like having the keys to the universe. If you are aware of your thoughts, knowing that what you focus on is what you get, then ideally you are consciously creating the version of life you want. But, if by chance, you believe what is sold in the mainstream media's business of thought control, then you are following a program and are being used. In times of acceleration, you must think and question everything, and be willing to feel your way through life in order to ascertain the many layers of truth that define your reality. Pleaidians/ Barbara MarciniakIt does seem quite evident that there is an acceleration of energy that is affecting many of us in different ways. For many of us there is an expanded experience of connection to those energies and to a more multidimensional experience of life on earth, and this is necessitating major changes in our day-to-day lives. However, the idea that this Pluto/Galactic Center event will simply propel us into a more celestial existence doesn't seem to me to reflect the power and purpose of Pluto. As individuals, our path of growth and evolution takes place every day, not just during Pluto cycles. Every moment we are faced with a choice that brings us closer to our ultimate destiny. The planets assist with this by pulling us through evolutionary cycles: Saturn brings challenges, Jupiter brings expansion, Uranus brings change, Venus brings gifts of love and harmony. Then the Pluto transit will act almost like a final exam. Did we do our homework? Are we on the right road? Anything that no longer serves us in our path towards conscious evolution is swept away and discarded during the Pluto transit. It does seem clear from my research that historically, conjunctions of Pluto to the G.C. have resulted in major shifts of civilizations. But I suggest that these shifts occur gradually over time and as in our personal lives, the Pluto transit to the G.C. forces us to let go of that which our civilization no longer requires. And as with any Pluto transit, whatever we don't let go of willingly is ripped from us kicking and screaming. The end result is heightened awareness and an enhanced sense of purpose, but we aren't always aware of the effects of the transformation until long after the event. Recent celestial symbology have appeared to focus on a theme of endings. The past few New Moons have been in the last degrees of a sign. This is Pluto we're talking about after all. Pluto is finishing up its work in Sagittarius (where it's done quite a job transforming Sagittarius issues of religion, theology and travel). Pluto rules endings and new beginnings, and it does seem that we are on the threshold of tremendous change. This could involve the earth itself: the earth's magnetic field is weakening and the earth's magnetic pole is shifting rapidly away from the North Pole towards Siberia. According to scientists we are overdue for a pole shift, a concept popularized by Al Gore in his new film. Pole shifts have occurred an average of every 300,000 years and the last one was 780,000 years ago. Holding onto past ways of experience are no longer possible, and as with any Pluto events, surrender and trusting the process hold the keys to a successful transition into the New World. Friday, January 12, 2007Israel needs an astrologerThanks to the Townleys for this tidbit from the Jerusalem Post: Hebrew University Prof. Moshe Idel opened the panel by relating how, several years ago, he was asked to attend a Knesset committee meeting on astrology.This is so cool! Everywhere people are beginning to take astrology seriously. Pluto has just begun a harmonious cycle affecting Jupiter and Mars in the chart of the Israeli nation. This is a time when Israel can grow truly powerful and protected if as a nation they seek the higher path. Saturn is simultaneously in a challenging cycle to the Sun/Chiron opposition in the chart, creating restriction (Saturn) and forcing confrontation of areas that need healing (Chiron). The next year will be an interesting time for Israel (for more information on the astrology of Israel and Palestine you may want to read this earlier article). Thursday, January 11, 2007Who is Keith Olbermann?  My sister Jill, who has been a fan of Keith Olbermann long before it was fashionable, compares him to Max Headroom. For those of you who are too young to remember, Max Headroom was an early invention of the Cinemax network. Max was, quite literally, a computer- generated "talking head" talk show host. Like Keith, Max was always impeccably dressed in a fashionable suit. And like Keith, very little was known about Max Headroom, the man.John Townley adds in a comment: Keith Olbermann may actually BE Max Headroom...in from the film database site IMDB on Keith: "Doesn't drive because of a loss of depth perception caused by a head injury. In 1980, he hit his head on the top of a subway door while running into the waiting car." Straight out of the TV series, except in the original, it was an overpass... Keith Olbermann became a hero to the left in the early days after the invasion of Iraq when he dared to speak out against the war and the repressive atmosphere that reviled dissent while the rest of the news media pandered to the White House. Now that the rest of the country is beginning to wake up to the debacle that is the Bush presidency, Olbermann's ratings are soaring. Still, Olbermann is not a Democrat but a clearly independent radical thinker who makes fun of just about everyone. His taste for gossip and natty dress has led to rumors that he is gay, but the rumor mill reports that he has moved in with his 22-year old girlfriend who is a fellow journalist. Keith's astrological chart reveals that he was born with the Sun in Aquarius, the sign of independent and free thought. Aquarians are reputed to be somewhat eccentric, and it is true that they always seek their own way of doing things. They are not the ones to conform to a pack mentality, and ultimately their concern and goal is for liberation and equality for all humanity. Keith's Sun is opposite Uranus, the planet that rules Aquarius. In astrology we call this a "double whammy," or two signatures that say the same thing indicating that this influence is very strong in his chart. Uranus shows where we seek autonomy and freedom, where we defy convention. When opposite the Sun we develop a fiercely independent and rebellious nature, and because in Keith's case the Sun is in Aquarius it accentuates this characteristic. Keith's Moon (emotional nature) is in the detailed sign of Virgo, showing that he craves order and is somewhat obsessive about the details of life that Virgo rules. Discriminating and analytical, he also has a tendency to be critical of himself and others. He is also fastidious as reflected in his taste in clothes. Mercury is in Capricorn which is the sign of material success and hard work. Capricorn is very goal-oriented and ambitious, reflecting Keith's desire for achievement and success. There is a sense of competition here, and a tendency (like all cardinal signs) for the ends to justify the means. Mercury is in harmony (trine) with Mars in his chart which energizes (Mars) his thought process (Mercury) and gives him an ability to express powerful views without seeming overly aggressive. Mars is an independent planet, and in trine to Mercury it amplifies Keith's independent (Mars) thinking (Mercury), adding to the radical tendency that his chart already shows with the Aquarian Sun opposite Uranus. However, Mars in his chart is in the conservative sign of Taurus, a sign that has a tendency to resist change. Mars in Taurus can be stubborn and unyielding, with a remarkable persistence and tenacity that can serve them well. This combination of earth signs helps to stabilize Keith and keep him from becoming a rebel without a cause - it also provides the grounding to keep him on track to achieve his goals. He famously left earlier jobs with ESPN and MSNBC after very public disputes with management, but this tenacity has helped him to continue his broadcasting career despite his need to do things his own way. This is not a man who cares what others think, as long as it doesn't interfere with his ambition. His chart lacks the water element that confers sensitivity to others, except for Jupiter which falls in the fiery water sign of Scorpio. Scorpio has the sensitivity of the other water signs, but it operates differently. In Scorpio there is an awareness of emotional undercurrents but without the compassion and empathy that Pisces and Cancer possess. Scorpio is more manipulative and more concerned with the reality of a situation than taking care of the needs of others. The sting of Scorpio is renowned, but there is also a depth of character here that no other sign engenders. Mars in Keith's chart opposes this Jupiter in Scorpio, expanding (Jupiter) his desires and aggressive instincts which often results in a reckless and insensitive personality. This is a very competitive placement, excellent for someone in the sports world. Keith has taken the competition of sports and injected it into the nightly news, particularly in his famous feud with Bill O'Reilly. Mars and Jupiter both square a conjunction of Venus and Chiron, forming a stressful T-square in his chart. The combination of Venus and Chiron shows that relationships (Venus) are painful (Chiron) for Keith, probably due to a painful episode that happened early in his life. Stressful contacts to Venus tend to show damage to one's sense of self and one's value to others. With both Venus and Chiron in the rational sign of Aquarius Keith lacks the introspection that is required to venture into a difficult emotional healing process, and the square of Mars to this sensitive point in his chart explains his tendency towards rudeness to women that has offended even his most ardent fans. The Taurus Mars/Scorpio Jupiter opposition is intensely sexual, and Keith is rumored to have engaged for many years in brief sexual affairs without commitment which is a perfect way to escape the difficulty of his difficult Venus configuration. Transiting Saturn began a stressful cycle to the Mars/Jupiter/Venus/Chiron combination back in October as one of his paramours publicized his supposed lack of prowess in bed both in gossip columns and with her own blog (as an astrologer, I would doubt this from looking at his chart). This very public exposure of his private life must have caused him considerable pain, and it was shortly after this that he appears to have moved in with his young girlfriend. This cycle will continue for Keith through September of next year, but it is doubtful that we will see much evidence of it. Keith appears to compartmentalize his life and his private life is extremely private. Still, other positive influences show that the next year is certain to be a good one for Keith Olbermann in the public life where like Max Headroom, he is most effective.  I love articles like this that claim to debunk astrology. When I find one of these articles I always email the writer. Let me do your chart for free, and then see if astrology is "bunk"! Yet no one ever takes the challenge. The basic points in this article:
At the risk of offending many of my colleagues, some of whom I am thankful to say read this column, I have to say that this kind of mindless reaction to astrology appears to me to be directly the result of sun sign "horoscopes" which simplify astrology to the point where it does appear to support some of the suppositions here. I don't mean to say that without sun sign columns there would be no skeptics, because some people (many of them have Saturn in Pisces or Sagittarius, by the way), have a deep inner need to avoid anything that goes beyond the rational mind. More and more, though, "real" astrology is creeping into the mainstream and dispelling some of these notions. Finally, the conclusion of the article: Some would argue that astrology is above the fray neither science nor religion. It is a system of faith that transcends the need for either. If this is true, what is the mysterious force that extrudes from the planets? If true, what exactly transcends the concept of God? [Why would this mysterious force not be God? Does God have to be an old man with a beard sitting on a mountain?] There is either a physical force moving our lives or a spiritual one.I view this question differently: for me it is ALL divinity. The dark mass in the center of the Galaxy, the bright light that resides within me, the science that educates me and the faith that gives me the courage to go on - all are magical elements of the Universe that have been divinely inspired. As Camus said, the only evil in the world is ignorance  Graphic from Ursi's siteThanks to Ursi's Eso Garden for this link to Judith Orloff's five steps to healing: Step 1: Notice Your BeliefsI would add one more step, which is to use conscious breath to expand the energy around the affected area. For me and my clients this is more commonly psychological healing than physical, but the body, mind and spirit are connected so what heals the soul will heal the body as well. Astrologically, Jupiter and Chiron are still dancing in sextile where they stimulate each other to initiate healing. Additionally, the square of Jupiter to Uranus that is nearly exact can open up energetic pathways that were previously closed. Breath is a powerful tool to use the "chi" or kundalini energy for healing and this is a beautiful start. Wednesday, January 10, 2007Galactic Age of CapricornDharma always has a unique take on astrological cycles that I just love. With the Galactic Center at 26 degrees Sagittarius (and moving VERY slowly), in a few hundred years it will move into Capricorn. Here's what Dharma has to say about that transition: So what might characterise the Age we are moving into, the Galactic Age of Capricorn? The GC is nearing the end of Sag, so we might expect to see a few signs of what GC in Capricorn might be, even though it’s 200 years away. What immediately springs to mind is the religion of materialism. I don’t think there was ever a Golden Age when humanity was not materialistic. It’s just that we’re a lot better at it these days, to the point where the creation of wealth for wealth’s sake has become a sort of widespread religion, an ultimate value that gives meaning to many people’s lives, or so they think. Even the creation of the wealth we need to live on is given an inflated moral value, particularly in the USA. (So you can take care of yourself - good, now do something interesting!) All this is a relatively recent phenomenon, and may therefore signal the Age to come: the Age of Mammon! It may be that we ain’t seen nothing yet when it comes to mankind’s ability to worship material wealth. More positively, it may be an age when people with real wisdom, based on age and experience, will come to be valued more – hierarchy in the best sense. Sagittarius, with its bias towards the ‘puer’ archetype, reflects our modern youth culture that does not know how to value old people. And the tendency of organised religion to worship dead images of perfection instead of valuing real people. What we're likely to get in the Capricornian Age is the 'senex' archetype, which at its worst is the "appalling old waxworks" - Prince Charles' description of the current Chinese leaders. At that point we will be firmly in the Age of Aquarius, an interesting contradiction. The Galactic age of Capricornian materialism in the Grand Age of Aquarian idealism? I'm sure what actually occurs will be beyond our imagining, but it's an interesting idea to ponder.  Mars is approaching a conjunction to Pluto which is still conjunct the Galactic Center. Any combination of Mars and Pluto can be explosive, since Mars is the god of action and war while Pluto is the god of death and the underworld.The galactic center is the center of our galaxy, a point the ancient Mayans called the "Hunab Ku." The Mayans worshiped Hunab Ku as the Supreme Creator, the source of consciousness which organizes all matter. You may already know that the Mayan calendar describes the end of the Fourth World in 2012. It seems likely that the conjunction of Pluto to the Galactic Center marks a turning point and a realignment of the destiny of our planet, just as it has throughout history. The addition here of Mars could provide the spark to the flame that speeds up the process. One has to wonder if a Mars/Pluto conjunction was the best time for the US to attack Al-Qaeda targets in Somalia resulting in mass civilian casualties. The conjunction of Mars and Pluto is exact on January 13 but we are definitely beginning to feel its effects, and there is likely to be a strong buildup of intensity over the next few days. On a personal level, particularly if we have planets or angles in the mutable signs of Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo and Pisces, we may be feeling an inner adjustment at the core of our being. Pluto represents the higher self, removing from our lives anything that no longer serves us. As Pluto contacts our own Galactic Center, it is changing our course and adjusting our track so that we move forward in the intended evolutionary direction. Geeky astrological detail: This event includes an inconjunct to Mercury. The inconjunct aspect creates discomfort without offering an outlet; unlike the challenging aspects which create a crisis that promote growth, the inconjunct brings a continual irritation. The inconjunct of Mercury in tandem to the Mars/Pluto/G.C. event suggests that we will have difficulty integrating the fiery energy of the event in a way that would provide intellectual meaning. This is a gut-level event, one that occurs at an instinctive and soul level and bypasses the intellect completely. Tuesday, January 09, 2007Fate and predictionThere's an old story about an astrology student who, fearing his Saturn return, dug a deep hole and buried himself in it, hoping to escape the challenges of Saturn. The irony of the story is that in confining himself in a dark space with no light and from which he could not escape, he created his own Saturn experience. I have a Moon/Pluto conjunction near the IC and have always had a difficult relationship with my mother. After a long estrangement she moved to the town where I live, and it takes an enormous effort on both of our parts to maintain a relaxed relationship with each other. Last summer Saturn was approaching a conjunction to my Moon, and I told my mother that due to a planetary event I was going to need a break from her because I would be more sensitive to her and less able to manage difficulties. Of course I was hoping to escape problems of the Saturn/Moon conjunction. As fate would have it, that week my mother noticed a tumor that needed to be removed by a specialist, and she and I were tumbled together into a Saturn experience despite my best efforts of avoidance. However, like all Saturn experiences, the work that we did in the process helped me to overcome some old patterns which had been limiting my ability to grow. Challenging planetary cycles aren't always difficult, but if there are issues that have ripened to the point where they need to be considered by us the planets will force a confrontation. That is not always the case, and sometimes we sail through so-called "challenging" transits without a hitch. In my own house, Pluto is currently making a square to Rich's Sun. I had warned him about this transit for months, but here he is in the middle of it, having a blissful experience of expanding power. He was elected Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor in the last election and is making a name for himself in our county. Pluto more than any other planet hands out our fate, but it shows that for now Rich is successfully navigating the path which is overseen by his higher self and no course corrections are necessary at the moment. He is just in the first pass of the cycle, and it may be that he will begin to experience challenges later. But if he surrenders to the process, which as a Pisces he has a tendency to do anyway, he will flow through a Pluto transit as he does other aspects of his life. Many clients come to me quaking in fear of an upcoming Pluto or Saturn transit because of what they have read on the internet. While it's true that the cycle cannot be avoided, there's always a way to use it to our advantage.  Leslie from Karmic Knowledge writes today on President Bush as Warmonger in Chief: It’s not difficult to understand why George W. Bush is stubbornly set in his approach to war when you take a close look at his hands. Bush has a very short Saturn finger (middle finger). Associated with accountability, integrity and the ability to follow rules, a short finger shows a disdain for said rules. Consider the number of times Bush has added a signing statement to newly passed laws. Some estimate it to be over 700. As Saturn is the finger of conservatism and security, Bush’s lack of length shows that, without a doubt, he is neither a conservative nor concerned with true security.This corresponds very nicely to Bush's astrological profile. Monday, January 08, 2007Planetary Pairs this weekWe are approaching a combination of interesting planetary configurations this week that seem to indicate a bit of a struggle to coordinate urges that come from different directions. The Sun and Mercury are conjunct in Capricorn over the next few days, speeding up communication and bringing forth new ideas. Yet this conjunction is quincunx Saturn which suggests that these new ideas will find no outlet, no way to ground them (Saturn) into reality. Venus is approaching a conjunction with Chiron which can be a positive healing experience or a challenging and wounding one. With Venus and Chiron both in detached Aquarius, our dealings with others are on more of a mental level now than an emotional one. We are relating (Venus) through the realm of ideas (Aquarius) and although this can be painful it can also generate truth as Chiron strips away the veneer of social niceties to expose any areas that are out of alignment. Jupiter has been in a sextile (harmonious) formation with Chiron for several weeks where it has expanded our range of experience, and the addition of Venus here offers real opportunity for healing our interpersonal problems. On the other hand, the warrior Mars is in Sagittarius where it can be somewhat opinionated and judgemental as well as a jubilant seeker for truth, and it is preparing to conjunct Pluto (on January 13) where it tends to become involved in power issues. This can be a time of great conflict because the question of "who has the power" predominates now. These smaller influences occur within the larger framework of the square from Jupiter to Uranus, of which I keep promising to write more and still will. But for now suffice it to say that with Jupiter's self-righteousness in conflict (square) with the revolutionary idealism of Uranus there will be a great deal of impatience to move forward and rebellion (Uranus) against established theology (Jupiter). Lots of new ideas, lot of plans and somewhat reckless behavior. This could generate enough energy to shift any part of the process that becomes stuck, but it may not have any real lasting power. All told, this does not bode well for President Bush's great new idea to send yet more troops into Iraq, but it could be a good time for the Democrats to sweep through Congress, bringing their rebellion and new ideas into the US government.  Red Ice Creations is a riveting site with lots to offer the conspiracy-minded and seekers of truth and interesting miscellany. A recent article linked from Red Ice suggests the idea that the Sun actually is god, and the so-called Sun gods that share a common mythology represent the Sun itself. The author quotes from a book called The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold: The solar mythos, in fact, explains why the narratives of the sons of God previously examined are so similar, with a godman who is crucified and resurrected, who does miracles and has 12 disciples, etc. To wit, these stories were in actuality based on the movements of the sun through the heavens. In other words, Jesus Christ and the others upon whom he is predicated are personifications of the sun, and the gospel fable is merely a repeat of a mythological formula revolving around the movements of the sun through the heavens.The Winter Solstice is associated with a number of dying and resurrected gods (the article cites sixteen different cultures). The Red Ice article goes on to list qualities of these resurrected gods: # The sun “dies” for three days at the winter solstice, to be born again on December 25th.The article goes on to analyze DaVinci's "The Last Supper" and the concept of illumination. It's an interesting read and opens a door to many new questions. Sunday, January 07, 2007Michael Lutin Profiles for Forbes!I'm just amazed at how much REAL astrology is getting into the mainstream. Automobile insurers discussing drivers by sun sign, Vanity Fair publishing a genuine astrology article from Michael Lutin who has written a sun sign column for them for years. Now he appears in Forbes (thanks Astrococktail for the tip!!), profiling 10 billionaires from the Forbes List: So what does the year portend? Last year, Warren Buffett gave much of his fortune away, pledging $31 billion to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. But as a Virgo "worker bee," in Lutin's words, Buffett just might keep raking in money through his Berkshire Hathaway (nyse: BRKA - news - people ) holding company and other investments. Amazon.com (nasdaq: AMZN - news - people ) chief Jeffrey Bezos may have government regulation in his future, warns Lutin, while Oprah Winfrey, he thinks, should try something new--both for her own good and for the sake of the rest of us. Apple Computer's (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ) Steve Jobs starts off this year in the spotlight, not all of it welcome. But stockholders and Mac fans can rest assured that he's fired up to "keep the wolves at bay," Lutin says.Let's give Forbes a big hand for taking astrology seriously! And thanks to Michael Lutin for writing about real astrology as well as his popular "horoscope" column. Saturday, January 06, 2007Poetry for the Galactic CenterI doubt that Rilke had the Galactic Center in mind when he wrote this poem, but it certainly seems a vivid description of what we know of the G.C.  Art from Deviantart.com Center of all centers, core of cores, almond self-enclosed, and growing sweet-- all this universe, to the furthest stars all beyond them, is your flesh, your fruit. Now you feel how nothing clings to you; your vast shell reaches into endless space, and there the rich, thick fluids rise and flow. Illuminated in your infinite peace, a billion stars go spinning through the night, blazing high above your head. But in you is the presence that will be, when all the stars are dead. Buddha in Glory --Rainer Maria Rilke Urania has a lovely post on the occultation of Saturn as the Moon passed over it this morning: We have the unusual occurence early on the morning of January 6 — Epiphany — of the Moon passing before Saturn within viewing distance of the Earth, which is a very good omen for the domestic agenda of caring for the needs of working people, women and children.Read the full article here with links. When the planet of expansion travels through its own sign, we can expect expansion of all kinds. Political, economic, and expansion of the physical body as well since Jupiter can bring self-indulgence and complacency. The Labor Department yesterday announced that employers boosted hiring and raised earnings a half percent in December. Economic sectors with employment gains included architectural and engineering outfits, hospitals and doctors' offices, banks, computer design firms, bars and restaurants, hotels and motels, and schools. This suggests expansion in planning for building, if not building, which may suggest the higher aspirations of Jupiter. Entertainment and travel are certainly under Jupiter's domain, as is higher education. This could give some hints as to where to invest your money over the next year. Just be aware that the cycle of squares from Jupiter to Uranus (the first of which is occurring now) could bring sudden surprises to your portfolio. Friday, January 05, 2007A New Comet! Harbinger of...? Click photo to enlargeSpaceweather.com reports: Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1) is plunging toward the Sun. It won't hit, but at closest approach on Jan. 13th it will be only 0.17 AU away--much closer than Mercury (0.38 AU). When the hot comet emerges later this month it could be brighter than a 1st-magnitude star. Or not. No one knows what will happen.Space.com has a live cam here to watch the drama unfold. Comets of course have had significant importance to human cultures since time immemorial. We are familiar with their portending doom and gloom, but they also were known to be the harbingers of great kings. Some believed comets to be messengers of the gods; they originate in the outer reaches of the solar system and merely appear as visitors. Even today, comets can bring hysteria. Who can forget the hysteria that occurred during the appearance of Comet Hale Bopp, when fringe groups waited on mountains to be taken to heaven. It will be interesting to track this comet and see what comes of it. It's unexpected arrival comes just in time for the Uranus/Jupiter square! Perhaps there is a message here after all.  Phil Brown has posted an interesting review of the movie The Good Shepherd. I like what he says about the US Sibley chart (the one most commonly used. The Sibley chart shows the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter all in Cancer and Sagittarius rising, as is appropriate for a nation that was founded on exploration (Sagittarius). The principle of nurturing the world comes from the strong Cancerian influence. The movie suggested a connection between the national obsession with Communist Russia and a national neglect of the family and its children. We were so fixated on an outside foe that we neglected to nurture our own homes. Our whole national enterprise was given over to fighting Communism.  Art by Melanie WeidnerIn late December abundant Jupiter made a sextile (harmonious aspect) to Chiron, facilitating our understanding and openness (Jupiter) and encouraging us to face the painful facets of our lives and experience healing there. We are still experiencing the echo of this combination until mid-January. Jupiter is traveling through Sagittarius until December, and because Jupiter rules Sagittarius its power to expand and open up new possibilities can operate unimpeded by other influences. Jupiter in Sagittarius seeks adventure, prosperity, faith and meaning in life. Jupiter was last in Sagittarius in 1995 when Pluto entered Sagittarius, and this journey through Sagittarius marks Pluto's leaving Sagittarius for Capricorn. There is a danger with Sagittarius of reckless optimism and self-righteousness, and we are likely to see some of these more negative aspects of this very positive sign over the next year. Jupiter is also approaching the first of a series of squares (challenging aspect) to Uranus which will culminate towards the end of January. This is a revolutionary cycle that will continue through October of this year, bringing an eruption as Jupiter's need for expansion accelerates the rebellious demand for change and freedom that Uranus inspires. This could also bring even greater religious battles since Jupiter rules religion and theology and Uranus seeks to knock the power base off its structure. This cycle will return again in May and conclude in October and signals extreme volatility in world affairs. On a more personal level we will experience an urge for change and expansion. I'll be writing more about this cycle later. For now, I thought it would be useful to explore some of the deeper aspects of Jupiter. It's tempting to dismiss Jupiter as the planet of luck, wealth and good fortune, the planet of opportunity and abundance. But just as with every facet of astrology, there are layers of meaning of this planet and doorways of understanding to pass through that take us deeper into the world of transformation. Jupiter in the birthchart or by transit provides the impulse for us to grow and evolve. It is involved in the realm of faith and the search for meaning in life, and in doing so there is a bit of restlessness since growth cannot take place where complacency resides. Jupiter is bigger than life and this is shown by its astronomical properties: it is the biggest planet in the solar system with a huge magnetic field and is surrounded by over 60 moons, making it a small solar system in itself. For Jupiter to be effective, we must be on alert and prepared to receive its bounty. Its gift of new possibilities can only be received when we are aware and open and able to experience gratitude for the gift. I'm sure you have known people who had wonderful things in their life but no appreciation - for them the gift of Jupiter was lost. There are fascinating stories of people who won the lottery only to have a string of bad luck follow them. The quality that makes the difference between good luck and bad luck is a deliberate openness of the human spirit. A closed heart will never truly experience good fortune. As a social planet, Jupiter is involved in the development of shared ideas and cultural traditions as well as theology. Unlike Neptune, which confers a spiritual experience, Jupiter is instead involved with the mental realm of ideas, such as Truth, Beauty, Philosophy. Jupiter seeks a greater level of understanding through higher education, and seeks to connect people and create cultural ties through theology (religion) or shared ritual behavior. It is often said that Jupiter rules the law, but I can't help but see that more as Saturn's domain (the establishment of social norms and conventions). Jupiter is associated with optimism and confidence, but in its more negative manifestation it is likely to over do these positive qualities. Arrogance and self-righteousness results when confidence has no limits, and unchecked optimism can lead to reckless behavior. As Jupiter travels through Sagittarius we are likely to see the best and worst of this glorious planet. With Jupiter we become the Creator God, bringing thought into manifestation, but the restlessness of Jupiter that inspires us to seek higher realms may become impatience and frustration. Jupiter's rewards will be completely missed if the mind is focused towards negativity and doubt. A positive viewpoint is more likely to manifest an experience of Jupiterian abundance, regardless of the physical circumstances. Thursday, January 04, 2007Thank you AstroPro!!I am very pleased to announce that Richard Nolle has selected Astrodynamics as the Website of the Week for the first week of the year. Richard is a well-known astrology writer who maintains the Astropro website which has been a favorite resource of mine for years. Check out his site, especially his detailed 2007 forecast which I'll be excerpting over the next few months.  Don't get me wrong, I like John Edwards. I live in North Carolina so I've liked him for quite a long time. As a Democrat I was excited when he ousted conservative Lauch Faircloth and breathed new life into the North Carolina legislature, and I was impressed when he responded by letter to every email I sent about one particular issue or another. My disillusionment with Edwards began when he voted to support the Iraq war, stating not just that he thought the president should have war powers, as most of the Democrats who voted for the war said, but insisting that we faced a serious threat from Iraq. I still don't understand how someone like me who lives in a small town in North Carolina and millions of others like me could have foreseen the debacle we are now faced with in Iraq where supposed professionals in Washington with access to better data could not. But I digress... John Edwards is driven both by a sincere desire to help people and a fierce ambition combined with a brilliant intellect. But with four planets in Gemini, he has difficulty focusing. Gemini of course is the sign of the twins, the sign of communication. Gemini has a thirst for experience, an intense curiosity and a desire to digest as much information as possible. Gemini is the jack of all trades and extremely versatile; they are chameleons who can change their skins frequently and in fact they usually dislike becoming overly involved in one particular project. The career of John Edwards has reflected this trait. Gemini usually bestows a youthful appearance, and we can see this in the face of John Edwards as well. Edwards was an extremely successful trial lawyer for 20 years, representing families and children before entering politics. After the death of his son in 1996 he gave up on his dream of a family law business and went into politics and it was at this point that he appeared to lose his focus. He won the Senate seat in North Carolina in 1998 but almost immediately began pursuing higher office and was reportedly on the short list for vice president in 2000. We Democrat consistuents were dismayed at the lack of commitment that Edwards showed to his party and to the state in not waiting for his term to be completed when he began campaigning for president as early as 2001. In 2004 when Edwards retired to run for president that Senate seat went to Republican Richard Burr. After his presidential bid failed he became the first director of a new Center on Poverty at the University of North Carolina - a post that he just resigned in order to run for president. John Edwards is an extremely likeable guy - my friend ran into him at the local physical therapist and was overwhelmed by his charm and his chatty friendliness. There is no doubt that he is brilliant. However, his political history reflects the lack of focus indicated in his birthchart and I wonder whether he has the ability to stick to a position as intense as President for four years and really focus on the issues at hand. The four planets in Gemini in the chart of John Edwards are the Sun, Mars and a conjunction of the Moon to Mercury. This is a powerful Geminian influence that is the fulcrum of his chart. Mars in Gemini shows that he is driven (Mars) to experience a variety of things and to learn (Gemini), but also that his physical energy (Mars) can be scattered and unfocused (Gemini). Moon in Gemini shows an emotional need (Moon) for variety and a dislike of convention (Gemini). There is also a need to talk and communicate one's feelings and this can lead to an intellectualization (Gemini) of the feelings (Moon). Jupiter in Gemini suggests success (Jupiter) will come through communication (Gemini) but also that the Gemini tendency to multitask and seek variety becomes expanded (Jupiter). Most importantly, the conjunction of Jupiter to the Moon indicates an individual who is on a mission (Jupiter). There is an expanded (Jupiter) sense of compassion and nurturing (Moon) and an inner sense of righteousness in one's path. Jupiter is the King of the Gods after all, and can often bring the kind of self-righteousness we have seen with religious and political leaders whose Suns are connected to Jupiter. Rising in Edward's chart is the nurturing sign of Cancer and Mercury (thought process) is in that sign as well, showing that he is very concerned with taking care of others. Cancer is a "cardinal," or active sign so the nurturing that it provides is very action-oriented: feeding the poor, organizing groups of social conscience. Cancer is also driven by love of family and very protective of their loved ones. It is no wonder that Edwards's trial practiced focused on families. With Mercury in Cancer his thinking process (Mercury) is colored by the emotional sensitivity of Cancer which gives him a strong sensitivity to the needs of others. However, he is likely to be somewhat moody and make important decisions based on the feeling of the day. Venus is in Taurus in his chart showing that his relationships (Venus) provide the stability that he needs (Taurus) and help to ground him. A challenging T-square in the chart of John Edwards may help to explain what drives him relentlessly towards the Presidency. Saturn and Neptune are conjunct in his chart in the fourth house, a configuration that combines the desire of Saturn to create form and achieve success with the urge of Neptune to dissolve form and withdraw into the world of spirit. There is a deep inner conflict here that is made stronger by the fact that both planets are retrograde and therefore operate a a more internal level. When Saturn is retrograde in a birthchart it also shows an individual who is self-critical and feels a lack of self-worth on a deep level. Ultimately the goal of this conjunction is to successfully unite the energy of the two planets by giving form to our dreams and ideals rather than dividing in conflict between these two directions. Uranus squares Saturn and Neptune as it does in the charts of many babyboomers, indicating a conflict with authority figures and conventional society (Saturn/Uranus) and between one's ideals (Neptune) and the reality of change (Uranus). Saturn and Neptune are both squared by Chiron, showing that this confusion between the world of matter and the world of spirit is a deep wound (Chiron) that Edwards carries within him. Chiron intensifies the negative self-talk of his retrograde Saturn and creates a relentless need for him to prove himself. I believe that this is the underlying element that is driving his political ambition. Transiting Pluto opposed Edwards's Sun back in 2003 and 2004 as he sought the Presidency and blocked (opposition) his reach for power (Sun/Pluto). Pluto is just beginning another cycle, this time opposing his Mars. Over the next year Edwards will face challenges to his ambitions as Pluto blocks his drive and ambition (Mars). However, other planetary influences are favorable for him, and perhaps this could be a time when he is able to achieve enough balance in his life to stabilize him and give him the persistence he will need to face another presidential campaign. Wednesday, January 03, 2007Full Moon Musings Early this morning I opened my front door to take my dog for a walk and encountered the setting full moon directly in front of me through the trees. It was an amazing sight and one I am more likely to see in the evening in the back of the house than at the beginning of the day.The moon is usually associated with night, where it illuminates the darkness and shines a light on our inner awareness which can shine more fully when there is less outer stimulation. Encountered in the morning, the moon was revealed in its full and brilliant splendor as if to remind me that in darkness and in light, the light of true consciousness never ceases to shine brightly within. A Buddhist site I found says this about the moon: The blissful state reveals itself as a shining light, as a luminescence permeating the still field of the mind. There is a sense of light from an undefined "above," silence, a fullness of vitality, and deep rest.The magnificence of this "unbounded awareness" is available to us any time we turn within. How incredible is that?! Neith posted this article by Raymond Merriman: We are living in a Renaissance time, and most of us do not even know it, or cannot find the time to step back and appreciate it. Every 500 years Neptune and Pluto return to their same spatial relationship to one another. Every 171 years, Uranus and Neptune do the same. And every 126 years, Uranus and Pluto do the same. Three Uranus-Neptune cycles approximately equals one Neptune-Pluto cycle. And four Uranus-Pluto cycles equal approximately one Neptune-Pluto cycle. That means every 500 years or so, these 3 outermost planets in our solar system (well, they were until scientists re-labeled them this past year) are in approximately the same position in reference to the zodiac and one another. An interesting thing to me is that this period generally corresponds with the conjunction of Pluto to the Galactic Center in 1510-1512. In the 1500s, humans were not concerned with matters of consciousness. The Church ruled and began at that time to rule with an iron fist, but the Neptunian creativity arose through music, art and literature. During this period we are experiencing an expansion of consciousness that has never been seen before on such a mass level. The Dog Whisperer is bringing the concept of "energy" into millions of homes, and every six-year old is learning how to do magic thanks to Harry Potter. Intention is the key here, and manifestation en masse for a world that we want to live in. Thanks Neith, for this very interesting article. Tuesday, January 02, 2007Vibrational shiftsI've been seeing an increased number of postings on panic and anxiety, and I admit to having some problems myself in this area. For me it began during the opposition of Saturn to Neptune that affected a sensitive point in my chart. Perhaps this is because of the conjunction of Pluto to the Galactic Center; perhaps its part of the changes that occurred beginning during the Uranus-Neptune conjunction in 1993. Several of you have written to me about your own difficulties with the increasingly intense energy that we are channeling in our bodies to which some of us are more sensitive than others. Susan Custer has a great article on this very subject. This mirrors my experience exactly: Many of us are living in two worlds. When we step out of our homes or normal routines, there is an off-putting energy. It makes us slightly dizzy, confused, or agitated. When we step out into the mundane world, we're in a different vibration and our strengthened intuitive senses are bombarded. This has been amplified by the opposition between Saturn and Neptune. On June 25, Saturn will make its final pass in this phase to Neptune. Neptune is creativity and sensitivity, and Saturn is grounding and manifesting. With the opposition, we have to figure out how to incorporate this new sensitivity and intuition in a comfortable way. This is a time to spend more time focusing within and strengthening our bonds with our inner self and guides because a great deal of trust and faith is needed to carry us through times like these. We are in the frontier of experience and although there is a lot of information out there, there is little than is grounded and useful. Remembering that these shifts are all part of accelerating growth for us as individuals and as a planet will help us to keep from worry. However, traditional medical solutions to anxiety may be useful for the short-term as we become more comfortable with the change. The AOL astrology department sent me this link, and my practical Capricorn Mars is thinking it's a pretty good thing to be noticed by AOL. Jeff Jawer (owner of the Star IQ website) is a great astrology writer. On upcoming planetary cycles in 2007 he writes: Controlled enthusiasm and well-managed risk-taking are major themes for 2007. Jupiter, the planet of opportunity and expansion, is back in its adventurous home sign of Sagittarius for the first time in 12 years. This is great news for long-distance travelers, truth seekers and those interested in advancing their education. Unconventional Uranus forms tense 90-degree angle squares with Jupiter on Jan. 22, May 10 and Oct. 9, which can trigger impulsive behavior. Brilliant breakthroughs in awareness are possible, but a desire to suddenly turn your life in a totally new direction should be tempered with a strong dose of common sense. It's natural to be excited, restless and ready to move into a world of ideas and experiences you've never seen before, but the unexpected inspiration can disappear as quickly as it came if you act without proper preparation. Jeff also has posted forecasts for each astrological sign, and while you all know how I feel about sun sign astrology these are better written than most, so check it out.  Artwork by Daniel MerriamOn January 1 Mars made a sextile to Neptune, harmonizing the aggressive instinct (Mars) with a heightened sensitivity and compassion (Neptune). Our drive for action is tempered over the next couple of days with concern for the feelings of others, and our physical energy is channeled into pursuits that have a higher purpose. Neptune is not content with mundane reality but demands that we pursue a relationship with the divine essence within us. This is a wonderful time for creative endeavors such as art or music. On January 3 Venus (planet of love and values) leaves the earthy sign of Capricorn where it has brought practicality to our relationships for the more intellectual sign of Aquarius. In Aquarius Venus seeks fair play and honesty in all relationships and may be unconventional. We may suddenly find ourselves interested in people that are very different from us, or new acquaintances may enter our lives and bring the unexpected. This same day (and for the next day or two) Mercury (communication) harmonizes with Uranus (innovation and radical change), bringing new and original ideas and insights, accelerating the thought process and enabling understanding at new levels of awareness. Uranus opens the doorway to other dimensions of consciousness, and the harmonious aspects with Mercury can bring radical change to the way we think about an issue. These influences set the stage for the Full Moon in Cancer that takes place at 8:59 am EST on the 3rd. The Moon makes a trine to Uranus, accentuating even further the Uranian (unusual) quality to this period. The Full Moon occurs when the Moon is opposite the Sun and the Sun's light illuminates the Moon, giving her power and exposing her inner secrets. The Moon is the ruler of Cancer, which is the sign that is focused on family and caregiving. This Full Moon will bring our attention to issues of family; both those that we love and those from whom we are estranged. The healing component of this Full Moon cannot be ignored; Jupiter is still in aspect to Chiron where it is operating to facilitate the healing process, and the Uranian influences will encourage a detachment from emotional grudges that hold us back from making progress in our relationships. The effect of the Full Moon can last up to a week, beginning a few days before and lingering for several days afterwards. During the Full Moon Mercury is approaching a conjunction to the Sun which will facilitate communication even more. Both the Sun and Mercury are in sextile (harmonious aspect) to Uranus for the Full Moon and for a day or two after the exact Sun/Mercury conjunction on January 6. This is a beautiful time for communication - for coming up with new ideas to solve old problems, for writing letters or novels, for self-exploration in our journal. Monday, January 01, 2007Henry and I both got it wrongMy regular readers know that earlier this year I had forecast a difficult year for the stock market. Six planets retrograde over the summer and a difficult aspect between Jupiter (optimism and prosperity) and Saturn (discipline and disappointment) filled me with trepidation over the financial markets. Evidently I was not alone: Henry Weingarten, one of the foremost financial astrologers in the US and manager of the Astrologers Fund, also predicted a "hellish stock market and a recession." The New York Sun reports: Why was he so wrong about 2006? Mr. Weingarten based his outlook on his expectation that another terrorist attack would occur on American shores this year, and that the country would be going into a recession in the third or fourth quarter.I disagree with this assessment. I feel that the stock market remained strong because of the determined optimism of Jupiter's passage through Scorpio, which rules other people's money and therefore the stock market, as well as the continued travel of Pluto through Sagittarius and its irrational exuberance. The astrological indicators are relatively benign for 2007. Except for the ongoing opposition of Saturn and Neptune which could disappoint (Saturn) some deluded (Neptune) investors who wear rose colored glasses and the square between Jupiter (expansion) and Uranus (sudden change) which may bring about sudden changes of fortune for all kinds of people, I don't see anything that will bring about a recession. Henry is concerned about a lunar eclipse on March 3, but we had eclipses this fall that didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the market. The danger that I see is the intense optimism that encourages spending which strengthens the financial markets can also lead to the kind of speculation and disregard for market fundamentals that can bring the market down. I'll continue to report astrological financial news, but my recommendation is to be particularly careful with your investments and make certain the fundamentals are strong. Of course that is sound advice no matter what the stars are doing. Thanks as always to the Townleys for the link.  The Romans celebrated the first day of the year as a festival to Janus, their god of gates, doors, beginnings and endings. They named the month of January after him, and portrayed him with two faces: one looking back and one looking forward. Janus presided over transition from past to future, the passage from childhood to adulthood and into old age. One of his faces was often portrayed clean-shaven with the other bearded. Gates and doors are both portals from one experience to another. We enter through a gate and leave a part of ourselves behind; we enter the world of the unknown when we transition from one phase to another. Sometimes we seek change, sometimes we embrace it. Other times we fight it - holding on to the past for dear life. However we approach change it is, of course, inevitable. No matter how hard we wish for the day to remain, the night will come - followed by the next day of new beginnings. For many, the first day of a new year is a day like any other, and to think otherwise is just a trick of the calendar. But a magical life is filled with symbols and meaning, and the passage through the doorway into a new year can be filled with the magic of transformation. I love the African concept of "Sankofa," which literally means "it is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot." The word "Sankofa" comes from the Sankofa bird  which flies forward while looking backwards. Sankofa teaches that we must look backwards to look forwards, reclaiming and preserving the past as tools for the future. In this way we can pass through the gateways without losing any part of ourselves in the process, achieving a wholeness and grace of spirit.I wish you all a magical passage into the New Year!
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