Saturday, May 10, 2008

The investigation of where astrology’s influence really is may raise the question of whether things are predestined or whether free will exists. Even if events, life circumstances, and behaviors are, to some degree, predestined, we discover that we are timelessly free when we place our attention on the Here and Now and open ourselves to the present moment {3}. In this expanded state of Being, there is no separate identity left to have free will. This shifting of one’s attention to "the Now moment" is essential: although past and future seem substantial, only Now is real. Eckhart Tolle, in his book The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, says it beautifully:

Have you ever experienced, done, thought, or felt anything outside the Now? Do you think you ever will? Is it possible for anything to happen or be outside the Now? The answer is obvious, is it not?

Nothing ever happened in the past; it happened in the Now.

Nothing will ever happen in the future; it will happen in the Now.

What you think of as the past is a memory trace, stored in the mind, of a former Now. When you remember the past, you reactivate a memory trace – and you do so now. The future is an imagined Now, a projection of the mind. When the future comes, it comes as the Now. When you think about the future, you do it now. Past and future obviously have no reality of their own. Just as the moon has no light of its own, but can only reflect the light of the sun, so are past and future only pale reflections of the light, power, and reality of the eternal present. Their reality is "borrowed" from the Now.

The essence of what I am saying here cannot be understood by the mind. The moment you grasp it, there is a shift in consciousness from mind to Being, from time to presence. Suddenly, everything feels alive, radiates energy, emanates Being.

We practitioners of astrology tend to be attracted to the apparent security we get from knowing where the planets are and where they’re going. We can predict with certainty where, say, Saturn will be five years from now. After all, if we have an early warning of what’s coming, we can brace ourselves for the future (or open ourselves to it, if we think something positive is coming). Psychologically sophisticated astrologers who see themselves as non-fatalistic may still fixate on future astrological events in order to anticipate the energies that will arise (to try to create what they think will be a positive outcome). My point is that our impulse is to insulate ourselves with a layer of preconceptions about what is imagined as coming in the future, because we feel that the future cannot be trusted (when it gets here) and needs to be controlled. This tendency is not unique to astrologers, but we stargazers are particularly devoted to it. More than that, we rely on it to keep clients coming. Forecasting the future is our business as long as clients expect it of us. The future is the "bait" with which we hook most new astrology clients and students.

Many clients come to see an astrologer in the belief that the astrologer, the designated seer, has a better view of the future than they do. Unless the astrologer is way out in left field, the client, to some degree, adopts the version of reality presented by the astrologer. For instance, how can you get pronouncements like "pay attention to any chest pains you might have in June" totally out of your mind? Being given this power by the client, the astrologer may feel infallible and begin to make arrogant assumptions about the client’s limitations, talents, and hidden problems – all apparently based on the chart. In the worst-case scenario, the astrologer forgets that the client is more than a soup of cosmic symbols. I know that I did all this when I was reading charts.

The predictive astrologer weaves a story of the future for the client, a tale typically woven from a combination of textbook keywords, memories of previous transits, and the astrologer’s beliefs about life, people, and the world in general. The scenario presented by the astrologer often has only a vague resemblance to the actual future experience of the client. The astrologer knows deep down that he or she is on shaky ground and may be simply guessing at what shape the future will take – all to satisfy the client’s expectations.

This "educated guess" may be supported by years of astrological research and lots of charts, tables, and graphs. It may be flavored with a smooth, sophisticated presentation of psychological terms, astrological jargon, and so on. But the truth remains: The astrologer doesn’t really know what’s coming. The future is unknown.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:59 AM :: |

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Friday, May 09, 2008

The danger of "financial astrology"

I have always felt that if the Universe wanted us to be able to predict the future, It wouldn't have given us a life of mystery.  The unfolding of the mystery and the ability to make choices every moment that affect the rest of our lives is a key part of our journey here.

An awareness of planetary cycles give us the ability to work with the planetary gods in order to maximize the potential of each cycle of change, but it doesn't give us the ability to predict the future.  The gods do not reward hubris, as Icarus discovered when he flew too close to the Sun, and as soon as we believe we are beyond the boundaries of time and space our wings are likely to melt and we will likely fall back to Earth.

So I was not surprised to see this article linked from Astrococktail on the fall of Chartwell Enterprises: 

CHARTWELL Enterprises used astrology to help predict stock market trends and profile investors, the Geelong Advertiser has learned.

The mystical learnings were explained as part of a system used for more than 20 years to global market trends, investors said.

The latest revelations follow a similar discovery on Tuesday that Graeme Hoy paid spiritual business planner Suzanne Goodchild an estimated $200,000 a year to help run the business.

Ms Goodchild confirmed she worked for Mr Hoy but refused to comment any further.

Open folders with investor details, seen by the Geelong Advertiser after staff rushed from the building following their sacking, showed a detailed analysis of star signs and what motivated an investor, from wealth creation to family and health.

"We were told it was part of the Gann investing system," said one investor, who fears she has lost $5.7 million from three generations of her family.

"They (Chartwell) just kept telling us it was all part of Gann and had worked for years throughout the rest of the world.

"We didn't understand it, but we trusted them."

Documents seen by the Geelong Advertiser show the Gann system was reportedly invented by an Indian trader who claimed to have discovered a correlation between lunar cycles and global market trends.

The walls of Chartwell's Ryrie St offices were covered in stock charts over two floors and were matched with lunar maps in a bid to align the moon's cycles to highs and lows on the world's stock exchanges.

Chartwell Enterprises, an Australian trading company, embodied the worst of the Pluto in Sag period - high risk trading in commodities that used investments of new recruits to pay off the older ones, a "Ponzi" scheme that offered returns of up to 70%.

It's hard to tell what kind of astrology was used by consultant Suzanne Goodchild, but it is nearly impossible to use astrology for successful trading for multiple investors. There are so many variables - the chart of the company being traded, the chart of the investment adviser and their current planetary cycles as well as those of the individual investors.

And then there's the Hubris factor, the danger of which in my mind cannot be overstated. Astrology puts us in touch with the gods, but it does not make us gods. To think otherwise is a very risky proposition!!

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:19 AM :: |

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Thursday, May 08, 2008

Barack and Hillary's Tarot Profiles

Beth Owl's Daughter has posted some very interesting profiles of the two candidates (still two, as of this writing!!) based on their Tarot profile. The Tarot profile come from the numerology of the birth date and is quite interesting!

For example, Obama's Tarot profile is derived from the Judgment, High Priestess, and Justice cards. Beth writes:

As a lightning rod for America’s racial divisions, his Justice card challenge is to deal with the problems of racism while also remaining impartial and distancing himself from being defined by them. Tapping into his gifts of the High Priestess, he truly can become a bridge across the abyss – between the past and the future. Like her, he sits between the columns of black and white.

Because they seem so self-contained, yet enigmatic, people with this profile naturally engender profound trust, and often, even casual acquaintances will confide their innermost secrets and longings. High Priestess/Judgment/Justice people are world-class listeners, and exude a sense of serene acceptance, often simply mirroring back to those around them, but seeming as if they know their thoughts. This quality of enabling people to feel heard and seen is a rare and great gift.

It is no surprise that Barack Obama has sometimes been characterized as aloof or even messianic. The High Priestess/Judgment/Justice profile is someone who walks his talk. He is deep, not easy to know, and is rarely casual or chummy. He is on a mission, a sacred calling, and is someone to whom compromise may seem like excuse-making. The energy that flows around his profile is such that he would always be deeply sensitive to the possibility of imminent, apocalyptic change.

Hillary's profile is based on the World, the Empress and the Hanged Man. According to Beth,

Hillary Clinton would never doubt that anything is more privately important to her than being Chelsea’s mom. But the other choices and events in her life have thrust her, with her full willingness, into a global role, as well. She truly is an international citizen, although her Empress energy ensures that she is unfailingly patriotic to her own country. Her point of view is always on the big picture, often preferring to leave the details to others. Her World card reveals that she will always act on behalf of her understanding of the web of life, and is especially sensitive to global issues that impact humanity regardless of arbitrary political boundaries or ideology.

Similarly, she is a born networker, and her innate sense of bringing together skillful, useful people (especially to whom she can delegate) is invaluable. As she implies in her campaign, she indeed knows very well how to play “the game” of politics and power, in order to get things done. But it must hurt her Empress/Mother self deeply to think that people attribute this skill to her own ambition and ego desires. For someone with her Tarot profile, nothing could be further from the truth. All her power broker skills, and all the sometimes Machiavellian choices she makes, originate from her profound desire and ability to serve goodness in the World.

In fact, that brings us to her Shadow or Teacher card – the Hanged Man. The Hanged Man in the Tarot is not about punishment, but about unconditional love and willingly making the sacrifices that give birth to our spirit. The Hanged Man teaches us that we sometimes must surrender the self and the ego in order to receive divine wisdom. Sometimes, the Good Mother may suffer, in order to protect and serve her loved ones.

This connection to the mother is interesting to me, because I have hypothesized a Cancer ascendant for Hillary.

Read more on the Barack Obama Tarot Profile here, and the Hillary Clinton profile here.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 12:19 PM :: |

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Wednesday, May 07, 2008

The New Moon and the May 6 Primary

The New Moon occurred yesterday at 17 degrees Taurus. At the New Moon, the Sun and the solar principle of conscious awareness conjoins the lunar principle of instinctive reaction. The New Moon is the beginning of the solar cycle, in which the Moon rejoins the Sun to begin a new phase of life.

The New Moon on May 5 closely preceded an important primary in the US presidential race and fell in the tenth house of Barack Obama's chart. The tenth house is the house of career but more than that, it identifies where we find our true life path. We may have a career as an accountant but feel our life path is as a bodyworker - in that case the accountant job falls in the sixth house of work rather than the tenth house which would house the bodywork practice.

This is the primary that turned the corner once and for all and cements Obama's candidacy, despite the transit of Pluto opposing Venus in Obama's chart that ended his long-time relationship (Venus) with his former pastor, the egomaniac Jeremiah Wright. (Wright, incidentally, is going through a transit of Pluto in square to his Neptune/Sun conjunction.) Except for the Pluto/Venus transit, this is a good planetary time for Obama with transiting Jupiter at a station on his natal Saturn over the next few months and bringing opportunities (Jupiter) for success (Saturn), rewarding his hard work and discipline. The New Moon also formed a trine to Mars in Obama's chart, energizing him to continue his battle (Mars) for the White House.

This has not, however, deterred Hillary Clinton who, as we've noticed many times in this column, is exhibiting the dogged determination typical of Scorpios. The Taurus New Moon formed a square (challenging aspect) to the triple conjunction of Mars, Pluto and Saturn all in Leo in her chart. If I saw this coming in a client's chart I would tell them that this was a harbinger of an event that made a change to their focus and their path. Clinton is very focused, and she is adept at using adversity to strengthen herself even more. But this New Moon event in her chart reveals that the tide is indeed turning.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:40 AM :: |

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Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Retrograde Pluto brings stock market optimism

As predicted in this column, stock markets around the world rallied in April with US stock funds rising nearly 5% in that month following Pluto's retrograde turn as it heads back into Sagittarius. The Sagittarian optimism that has fueled overspending, overborrowing, overinvesting, and a drastic increase of home sizes and prices sank into despair when Pluto first entered Capricorn in January.

Some financial analysts are agreeing with astrologers, calling this a "Sucker's Rally."

Jean-Marie Eveillard, who runs the $US22 billion ($23.5 billion) First Eagle Global Fund, is skeptical the gains can last because the worst housing slump since the Great Depression will reduce earnings. S&P 500 companies are valued at 22.7 times profit, the most in four years.

Options traders are paying 63% more to protect against a drop in the S&P 500 than to bet on a gain, the widest difference since at least 2005.

''It may be a suckers' rally,'' said Eveillard, who is based in New York. ''Investors want to believe. But if I'm right, then there's truth to the argument that this is the worst financial crisis since the end of World War II. The same kind of reflex is the wrong reflex.''

Still, Pluto's activity governs the mood of the masses, and there is no doubt that the masses are responding to the hope of Sagittarius as it springs back into view (Pluto will re-enter Sag in early June). A report from UBS noted an "unmistakeable return of investor optimism" in April and said "An increasing belief that the worst of the credit crisis has passed and that central banks will do what it takes to avoid a meltdown in the financial sector has been lifting investor spirits for much of April."

Sagittarius rules our belief systems, and while it is true that we create our reality from our belief system, we must also integrate that Capricornian reality check. Blind optimism and belief alone cannot make us rich; we must have a strong and positive intention of financial abundance, but then we must do our homework and avoid the pitfalls of fantasy.

I've written before here that Pluto's last travel back through Sagittarius will be the last hurrah of the stock market, and it is my belief that when Pluto changes direction and heads towards Capricorn (September 9) the optimism will fade and financial sectors will respond to that. Ray Merriman reports that Jupiter is even stronger over the next few weeks:

Over the next 2-3 weeks, we have four major Jupiter signatures coming up: Jupiter turns stationary retrograde on Friday, May 9, followed by the trine between the Sun and Jupiter on May 12. On May 18 Venus will form a harmonious trine to Jupiter, followed by the long-term sextile between Jupiter and Uranus. As suggested before, the combination of 1) the Federal Reserve Board easing (they reduced FED funds rate again this past week), 2) the $168B stimulus package of tax rebates to American tax payers (the money is being sent out now), and 3) so much money being poured into mutual funds for retirement accounts that was just waiting for a sign to go into stocks, would generate a rally stronger than anyone expected. [All of these being Sagittarian events.] It’s started. Look for new all-time highs before the end of this summer, maybe even a DJIA above 15,000. It’s Jupiter’s time coming up, and Jupiter is the cosmic Santa Claus.

Just don't forget about Capricorn's boss Saturn, who can be a cranky old taskmaster. These Jupiter events are based on the BELIEF that these three events will save the market. As long as the belief persists, the markets will do well. But a breath of pessimism will cause the markets to falter and if the underlying market conditions are poor an adjustment will be necessary.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:13 AM :: |

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Monday, May 05, 2008

My Mars Pluto story

I hesitate to write this, because the transit of Pluto to my Mars is only at its midpoint now, but many of you have written and are curious to know my experiences so I'll tell you what I've learned so far.

First let's look at the players. Mars in the birthchart shows the way we express our desire nature. What we want, how we set boundaries to defend what we have, how our basic drives are expressed and what those drives desire. Pluto is often called the "higher octave" of Mars, because where Mars acts as the Will of the individual self, Pluto acts as the Will of the higher self. The outer planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, each is a higher octave of a personal planet and assists in the soul's evolution of that personal planet. For example, Uranus is the higher octave of Mercury, and takes the concept of learning and communication to a higher level.

When Mars and Pluto interact, either in the birthchart or by transit, on a transformational level we have the Will of the personal self colliding in some way with the Will of the higher self. Our individual desires are subsumed by the process of the soul's evolution to take us on a path of growth rather than personal satisfaction. This can result in tremendous frustration and dissatisfaction, especially if Mars and Pluto are in stressful aspect in the birthchart, or if the individual is successful at aligning the individual Will with the higher self, there is a tremendous focusing of individual power.

Someone asked me yesterday, "how do we know that we have worked through our issues so that we get to the higher manifestation of the planets?" Our personal issues and personality quirks create resistance within us to the unfolding progress of soul growth. As long as we identify with these issues and quirks and hold onto them instead of relaxing into the process of change, the difficult planetary transits create lessons and challenges for us in order to facilitate that process. Once we have stopped resisting and feel enough trust in the process so that we surrender each moment to the energies of the planetary gods as they work to deepen our evolutionary story.

I didn't know what to expect during this Pluto transit, which began for me at the end of January. Mars in my chart is in Capricorn, which makes me a very big DO-er as some of you know, and it conjuncts Chiron which shows that the necessity of doing under Mars in Capricorn is both a wound and the key to healing for me. I have always been a person who says "Just Do It" ; Capricorn doesn't really care about personal excuses and the desire (Mars) for achievement (Capricorn) is a powerful drive that has been a great motivator for a somewhat consistent exercise program. However, when Pluto was exactly on my Mars I found I couldn't move. I felt like I wanted 2000 pounds and it was difficult to even walk from my house to the car. I remembered what I had counseled so many clients with Mars/Pluto in their charts, and forced myself to walk and get to the gym occasionally and did find that the action helped to create more energy. Great job, I told myself.

I had been working on beginning online astrology classes and had nearly 100 people express an interest in the classes, and I was fired up. However, in the midst of the first hit of Pluto when I began to schedule the classes there weren't enough people to participate. I surrendered beautifully to that and congratulated myself on my brilliant navigation of Pluto.

Pluto was less than a degree from Mars in my chart when it changed direction and started heading for Mars again, and I began to feel a simmering rage begin to burn in my intestines (solar plexus). This started causing some real physical distress and I looked back in my ephemeris to see when Pluto last aspected Mars in my chart, which was a square formation back in 1972. That was the time I ended up in the health center at the university I was attending, suffering from severe intestinal cramping. The natal Chiron conjunction to Mars suggests not only a fear that my needs will never be met, but it also provides a link to the physical body through Chiron for health problems to arise when this issue is confronted.

A situation with a neighbor began to exacerbate this burning rage and caused a confrontation in which I attempted to exert every bit of my power and need to control. A casual breakfast with my mother turned into a disaster as old wounds (Chiron) erupted to the surface and could not be held back. At the same time, it became clear that my 18-year old cat was nearing the end of her run. It is not uncommon to face death in one form or another during a Pluto transit, because we are never more aware of the power of life in a physical form than when we are exposed to death. My relationship with this cat has been extremely complicated, but knowing she would soon be gone made me realize how attached I had grown to her over so many years.

All through this, I could feel Pluto pressing in on me from all directions and my physical energy was completely sapped. It was as though Pluto was saying to my DO-er Capricorn Mars, STOP EVERYTHING!! So I took four days to retreat into my home. For the first two days I literally did nothing other than watch movies on TV. By the third day I was starting to feel reasonably human, and by the end I was, while not back to normal, at least functional. Some of the draining of physical energy is due to holding back the flood of rage that is stored in the body, and while I have released much of my inner rage over the years there was evidently still some left!

When we go through a big planetary transit like this the energy of the transiting planet needs to be assimilated so that we can absorb what it has to teach us. The first phase of the cycle is like a drive-by shooting - it wakes us up, but then we usually go back to sleep. By the second phase we recognize the need to pay attention and we begin making adjustments and alterations to our behavior and our mindset so that we can incorporate the lessons of the planetary god we're dealing with. Pluto demands that we let go of anything that no longer serves us and face up to the responsibilities of real power - the kind of power that flows within us that goes beyond the ego. Pluto requires the death of ego so that a more transcendent power can be born - a power that aligns us with our own higher self and Universal Consciousness as well.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:54 AM :: |

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Sunday, May 04, 2008

A new direction: Neptune, Rahu and the New Moon

Sunset Activation, by Francene Hart

One of the more interesting things about planetary activity this month is the fact that Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto are all slowing down to a "station" as they prepare to change direction. Jupiter traverses less than a degree during the month, Saturn less than half a degree, Uranus just one degree, Neptune only about 11 minutes, and Pluto just over 30 minutes. The influence of all of these planets is particularly focused and intense now, and this is exceptionally true if any of these planets are affecting us by transit.

The Nodes of the Moon are not planets; they are points in the sky where the Moon crosses the ecliptic, or the apparent path of the Sun. The North Node represents our evolutionary direction towards the future; the South Node holds us back. Aspects and transits of planets to and from the North Node often point to a change of course, or a (usually) fortunate event that aligns us more completely with our evolutionary journey.

Neptune opens our eyes and our hearts to a different way of seeing and healing - one that comes from within. Neptune's reputation for confusion and illusion and deception arises from the fact that sometimes in order to encourage us to look a little deeper for answers we can lose our footing and try to find those answers elsewhere. The alignment of the North Node this week signifies a change of direction that (a) encourages or (b) forces us to let go of our attachment to what we thought was real in order to deepen our experience of the true reality that transcends the physical world.

This aspect coincides with the Taurus New Moon tomorrow, and a Grand Trine of Venus, Saturn and Pluto which are all in Earth signs. All this wonderful Earth energy helps to ground the Neptunian longing for transcendence and can be used to help us along the path. Grand Trines offer opportunity but require focus and attention to take advantage of the positive energy that is present now. Intentions that are set now during this New Moon period will have tremendous power for the weeks to come.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:34 AM :: |

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Friday, May 02, 2008

The Death of the DC Madam

The woman known as the "DC Madam" was found hanged in a shed at her mother's home yesterday. Deborah Jeane Palfrey was convicted two weeks ago of running a prostitution ring that catered to the nation's power elite, and although she threatened to reveal the names in her client book most of those names were never made public.

While this story reeks of potential conspiracy and intrigue, the New York Times reports that journalist Dan Moldea who covered her story from the beginning had said that Ms. Palfrey had told him she would commit suicide before she would go to prison.

Statistics say that only 13% of women who commit suicide do so by hanging - it is not the method that would appeal to women who evidently prefer pills. While it's tempting to venture into the dark side of conspiracy here, Ms. Palfrey's trial concluded without her ever having revealed the names of famous clients (Dick Cheney was reported to be among them in conspiracy circles), so most reporters have concluded that there were no secrets to be revealed.

Astrologer Claire France Perez reports that Ms. Palfrey was her client and has kindly posted her chart. Claire began her analysis yesterday and promises to continue in a post today (thanks to Elsa for the link). Ms. Palfrey's chart shows that her Sun was at 28 degrees Pisces and prominently placed in her tenth house of career, suggesting a curious combination of hidden identity (Pisces) in the public eye (tenth house), the perfect metaphor for her life under the pseudonym of "Pamela Martin." Mars in her chart was in Capricorn, sitting right on the descendant (cusp of the seventh house), which sometimes indicates a danger and violence in relationships. Mars in Capricorn, being very practical, could easily turn this tendency into a business plan which would tie in perfectly with the fantasy escort service that she ran.

That Mars in the seventh house and its tendency toward violent relationships, combined with Chiron (the wounded healer) in the eighth house of sexuality and intimacy which squares Venus (love and relating to others) suggests to me a likelihood of sexual abuse or violence early in Ms. Palfrey's past. In addition, flamboyant Jupiter in Leo conjuncts Pluto in Palfrey's chart, a volatile combination that often exhibits excessive righteousness and difficulty controlling one's ego, especially when retrograde as they were in Palfrey's chart.

SF Gate reports that Palfrey left high school in Pennsylvania abruptly and finished in Florida, saying she couldn't take the bullying anymore and was close to a nervous breakdown, although her classmates don't recall any mistreatment of her. There are no reports of marriage or boyfriends, except for one two-month relationship that ended in a restraining order against her back in 1989 when transiting Saturn and Chiron transited her Mars/Ascendant opposition. After dating a Marine a few times she began stalking him incessantly, saying they were meant to be together.

Although Ms. Palfrey had been in trouble with the law for years, her very public troubles began when transiting Pluto made a square to Palfrey's tenth house Sun back in 2006. At the time she was arrested, transiting Saturn was crossing over that Jupiter/Pluto conjunction in her chart, creating additional challenges as the government (Saturn) imposed restrictions and limitations on her freedom (Jupiter).

At the time of her death yesterday, transiting Saturn was "stationing" (moving extremely slowly) in a nearly exact square to Saturn in her birthchart, the second phase of a cycle which began last fall and culminated during this period between April and June. Saturn squares are extremely difficult for most people but particularly for individuals like Palfrey appeared to be, who have little impulse control and a tendency to act out their inner dramas without much introspection.

Transiting Mars, which has been traveling through Cancer since last fall, passed back and forth over Palfrey's Mars/Descendant several times including most notably throughout the month of November. If Palfrey's death had occurred during that time we might have inferred that foul play was involved due to the Mars factor of violence. We do see a transit of Mars preparing to conjunct Uranus in Palfrey's chart, the planet of rebellion and change which can signify a violent event, though one more typically caused from inner distress.

When a death occurs under a Saturn transit the conclusion of suicide is more believable since Saturn can impose a sentence of depression and despair to those who have not developed an inner core of strength.

We often find Jupiter in death charts, but it is missing here. Metaphysicians teach that the soul cannot find rest after taking its own life, and the lack of a Jupiter event in the chart of Palfrey's death suggests that there is no liberation in her suicide.

Update 5/2 4:30 pm: Early reports suggested that Palfrey was staying with her mother as she awaited sentencing, but evidently that was not the case - she was staying at a condominium that she owned. So her "suicide" at her mother's house seems all the more suspicious. This article reports that Palfrey was moving some of her belongings into her mother's house to prepare for prison, including boxes of her "evidence."

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 5:25 AM :: |

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Thursday, May 01, 2008

I'm back, Skywatch is posted, and Happy Beltane!!

Thanks to DR for filling in while I was in the Pluto school of death, inner rage and mystery (more about that later!!).

This is a wonderful and magical time, coinciding with the ancient Celtic festival of Beltane which occurs at the midpoint of Taurus (but more commonly on May 1) and the Buddhist Wesak festival later this month at the full moon. You can read more about the astrological significance of Beltane in this article from last year.

Meanwhile, Skywatch for May is posted, and here's what's happening during the beginning of the month:

The beginning of May finds us in a preponderance of Earth energy, with four planets (Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto) in earth signs, and no planets channeling Fire. Details are what is important now - the practical details that make up every day life. It may be more difficult to find the inspiration to take action and the energy to follow through (the Fire qualities) until May 10 when Mars leaves watery Cancer for Leo.

Mars has traveled back and forth through Cancer since the end of September of last year, and the sensitivity of that sign has created irritation and confusion as the concepts of defense and offense become confused by the protective instincts that Mars in Cancer promote. When Mars enters Leo on the 9th it will be the only planet in a Fire sign, but it will be a welcome change that will free up the Mars energy for action that gets bogged down in water.

Jupiter has been approaching the second phase of a sextile (harmonious aspect) to Uranus that will perfect on the 21st. This is a tremendously exciting and stimulating planetary combination as it incorporates the expansion and optimism of Jupiter with the stimulation and "new"ness of Uranus. New ideas and innovative ways of looking at the world are easier now than ever.

At the end of April Saturn was as close to a trine to retrograde Pluto as it has been since last summer when the two were locked in a close and harmonious dance. The trine of Saturn's discipline and structures to Pluto's instinct for transformation and regeneration is a powerful ally in any kind of business plan or spiritual metamorphosis. During the first week of May Venus trines both Saturn and Pluto in a Grand Trine that will promote harmony and beauty in interpersonal relationships as well as soften any rough edges to changes that we are making in our lives.

Saturn is powerful during this first week of May - it has been traveling retrograde since December 19th of last year and is now slowing down to a "station" as it prepares to change direction. Saturn turns direct on May 2 but will continue moving extremely slowly and its influence is therefore more intensely focused during this time (until mid-May or so). For good or ill, Saturn will be bearing down on us, challenging us to do our best work and focus on what really matters.

When Mercury leaves earthbound Taurus for Gemini on May 2, the mood will lift considerably. Mercury is at home in its own sign of Gemini, and the mental function is much more active there. Conversation, debate and other discourse is accelerated and minds tend to be more open and curious except for a few days around May 3 when Mercury forms a square to Saturn. At this time we could see a tendency toward more negative thinking and traditionalist views.

On May 4 Neptune conjuncts the North Node of the Moon, signifying an important event (North Node) having to do with the unfolding of our spirituality or consciousness (Neptune). Neptune is virtually at a standstill all month as it prepares to turn retrograde on the 27th, and its influence is more powerful than usual. Neptune demands that we let go of our attachment to the material world and realize an inner experience of divine transcendence. This transit to the North Node is likely to play out on the global stage since Neptune is a more transpersonal planet, and we could see an illumination of our collective dreams and fantasies (Neptune) aligned to a greater path or direction (North Node).

All of this leads up to the New Moon on May 6 which provides the opportunity for a new beginning.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:46 AM :: |

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