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March, 2020
 
I don't know how it happened but all of the updates I thought were here from 2017 through 2019 are missing. When I spoke to my web host, they couldn't explain it either. If I can I will fill in the rest at some point, but for now here is the last post from 2019 and the first three from 2020.
 
 
 

 
February, 2017
 
So Everyone, it's been a while,

but with how much has happened it seems like forever. How're you'all doing? We have entered a new era that is so surreal that if feels sort of like the Twilight Zone, or George Orwell's utopia of 1984 fame, or maybe we're down the rabbit hole. So much is happening that most of us are hard-pressed to keep up and de-pressed about our abliity to stop this reckless rampage by the Orange Bull and his posse who are  attempting to dismantle our government and alter life as we know it. The similarities to pre-war Germany of the 1930's seem more real now, the executive orders the Orange Menace is cranking out, aside from being in some cases downright unconstitutional, are truly appalling in the context of democracy, and frightening in their tone and scope. The fact that most were not at all well-thought out is another cause for consternaton, if not outright alarm. And it's only in the third week, gang - It's going to be a long four years. Seatbelts, crash helmets, and oxygen all come to mind. I realize that some of you may be reveling in these changes, I have heard some people say that the so-called President (Michael Moore coined this name after Trumpity called the judge who ruled against his Muslim ban a so-called judge - if a GW Bush appointee with great credentials who was confirmed 99-0 is a so-called judge
because he ruled against the Muslim immigrant ban, then I can call Trump a so-called president) is doing what he said he would and find that refreshing, but I would ask you to look up the early history of the Third Reich (or go to my website overtherainbowservices.com to the Astrology page, scroll down to the Archives link, and scroll down in the astrology archives for the March, 2016 update), and see how reassured you feel then. For what it's worth, there are those who think that we are in the midst of a constitutional crisis at the least, and that the situation has more in common with a coup d'etat than most are willing to admit. Anyone who still thinks that not voting is a viable choice, or that it doesn't matter who is in office may want to examine that thought and think again. Voting for the LOTE may be frustrating, but if the operative word is Lesser instead of Evil, then in the case of DJT vs HRC, Lesser would have been infinitely better.

So that's the bad news, which you know all about unless you are living off the grid or have your head in the sand or in the clouds or somewhere (no judgement there, it's a tempting position to take). The good news is the resistance that has sprung up, beginning with the stunning Women's March the day after the inauguration, and continuing in large and small demonstrations including the spontaneous response to the Muslim immigration ban. There are people all over the country standing up and demanding that their voices be heard, by their Congressional representatives and by the new administration. The Democrats are also finally finding their voice, though I have my doubts that they can regain their footing, to forcefully and publicly resist being steamrolled into confirming unqualified, bizarre and dangerous cabinet choices. Alas, all those voted for so far have been confirmed anyway, and it doesn't bode well for the Supreme Court nominee. Still, all of this has made it crystal clear that resistance will be essential going forward to stem the tide of terrible policy decisions, distortions and outright lies streaming from the West Wing. Astrologically, I am more and more understanding the Tweeter-in-Chief as the personification of the Uranus/Eris (also known as Discordia) conjunction in Aries, a sower of distrust and lover of discord, and an unpredictable wild card, a term that might describe Uranus at his most negative. His dual Gemini nature is also in play, as he vacillates between unwarranted criticism of others to high praise, from belligerent proclamations of American superiority to statements about America being victimized by other countries who take advantage of us. It's like trying to follow a ping pong ball set in motion in a closed space - bouncing off the walls.

Thankfully, this week we also have some good astrological news in the upcoming lunar eclipse in Leo on Saturday. The chart is so positive and hopeful, and should give us a boost of energy that will help us move forward in our own lives, despite all the uncertainty and upheaval. Remember that the influence of eclipses lasts for about 6 months, in this case until mid-August, so it's even better that there are many good aspects to this eclipse.

The February full moon, also called the Snow Moon and for good reason (13 inches of snow here today), is in creative, fun-loving Leo, opposite the humanitarian and cerebral Aquarian Sun. Both are at 22 degrees, a Master service degree that carries a powerful spiritual vibration. The moon is conjunct the North Node,
which points to the future, to destiny, and the node is in practical, detail-oriented Virgo. This combination presents the possibility of bringing  whatever lofty ideas or projects we hope to implement during this eclipse period down to earth, into reality. Keep that in mind as  we continue to navigate the choppy waters of the Trump era - there is always a path for transcendence, which is its own form of resistance for this critical time. 

The Moon is one vertex of a Grand Fire Trine, with Saturn in Sagittarius and Uranus in Aries. Saturn trine Uranus alone is a positive aspect, with two outer planet giants communicating about their respective rulerships, Saturn/structure and limits, Uranus/high frequency energy bringing change, (r)evolution. Eris is of course in the mix next to Uranus, but the trine energy may render her a little less destructive than usual. These are blended nicely with the enthusiastic emotional energy of the Leo Full Moon. All together a fine aspect, one which may give you the impetus to take a risk and go public with something you not have been able to put out there before. In addition, there are two sextiles, 60 degree angles, linking Uranus and Saturn to the Sun, making the trine into a kite configuration. Kites allow talents or projects to take flight from imagination into real life. So if there's something you have been wanting to do, some new creative enterprise or an extension of what you have already created, this eclipse period is as good a time as you'll find to launch it. Since eclipses are also about endings, there may be something that has to be completed before this is fully activated, but that's fine, the cycle last 6 months.

So this full moon and eclipse period has an uplifting, 'light at he end of the tunnel'  feeling to it. It can preview a productive time for many, when ideas and dreams long held in check by circumstance or other constraints might be realized. I'm not sure what that might look like on the political level, but rather than visualize the nightmare of a far right Republican agenda being enacted, why not instead focus on the possibility that a progressive, 'for the People' time may be beginning. And because we are subject to universal law and divine timing, nature and the cosmos, the sun will rise in the East and set in the West, and Spring will arrive on time as it does every year, give or take some weather anomalies.


Hope springs eternal I guess, and as President Obama said, it's not the end of the world until it's the end of the world.

 
 
November, 2016
 
Hi All,

As Stephen Colbert said I think Thursday or Friday last week, "Well, it's still happening.", a sentiment many of us share as the enormity of what has occurred in our country sinks in. I said earlier that I don't necessarily believe the election results as reported to us. Why would anyone think that the dirty tricks would end with this election, that this was not an engineered result, when the stakes were so high? The Republican establishment is over the top ecstatic now that they have all three branches of government and can finally complete their long agenda.They couldn't endorse Trump when he was running as a crazy person, but they are embracing him now.

Here's a quote from one of the framers of the Constitution,
James Madison, about that separation of powers:
"The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny."

And the philosopher Montesqiue,
describing the problems of non-separated powers:
"When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person or body," says he, "there can be no liberty, because apprehensions may arise lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws to execute them in a tyrannical manner." Again: "Were the power of judging joined with the legislative, the life and liberty of the subject would be exposed to arbitrary control, for the judge would then be the legislator. Were it joined to the executive power, the judge might behave with all the violence of an oppressor."

We have been manipulated and lied to for so long by our media, it is hard to say whether anything we read or view is true. So I try to get different points of view to make a more balanced decision. Not that the Democrats didn't also engage in election fraud, I mean, somehow Hillary won the nomination, but In the current scenario, the opposing views are so unbalanced to begin with that it's hard to entertain any of them. One hopeful idea was that the Donald really didn't want to be the President, he just wanted to be elected President. Now that he has been elected, I don't think he will want to give up the attention and, oh my, all that power. Another idea was to think that since he is a colossal liar and master con, he would immediately reverse all the bullshit he spouted on the campaign trail and turn out to be a liberal. Well, he has done that a little, like he has now said he is ok with gay marriage, because 'it's the law". On the other hand, he has begun to choose his cabinet and administration. Besides his children as his closest advisors, there is Stephen Bannon, his campaign manager and former head of right-wing media outlet Breitbart News, Reinse Preibus, chair of the RNC, as Chief of Staff, Rudy Giuluani as Attorney General, Newt Gingrich is still his pick for Secretary of State though it's unclear if he will accept the posiiton, and perhaps Sarah Palin (you heard that right) as Secretary of the Interior. So he has wasted no time beginning his betrayal of his anti-establishment campaign. Is anyone surprised? Of course, this is not the betrayal the rest of us were hoping for, but it might start giving some of the people who voted for him pause. Way to go, Trumpsters!

So here's an article explaining some of the possible election fraud that allowed this highly questionable candidate to win the highest position in the land:

"The Election Was Stolen - Here's How

By Greg Palast, GregPalast.com
13 November 16
 
Before a single vote was cast, the election was fixed by GOP and Trump operatives.

tarting in 2013 – just as the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act – a coterie of Trump operatives, under the direction of Kris Kobach, Kansas Secretary of State, created a system to purge 1.1 million Americans of color from the voter rolls of GOP–controlled states.
The system, called Crosscheck, is detailed in my Rolling Stone report, “The GOP’s Stealth War on Voters,” 8/24/2016.
Crosscheck in action:
Trump victory margin in Michigan: 13,107
Michigan Crosscheck purge list: 449,922
Trump victory margin in Arizona: 85,257
Arizona Crosscheck purge list: 270,824
Trump victory margin in North Carolina: 177,008
North Carolina Crosscheck purge list: 589,393
On Tuesday, we saw Crosscheck elect a Republican Senate and as President, Donald Trump. The electoral putsch was aided by nine other methods of attacking the right to vote of Black, Latino and Asian-American voters, methods detailed in my book and film, including “Caging,” “purging,” blocking legitimate registrations, and wrongly shunting millions to “provisional” ballots that will never be counted.
Trump signaled the use of “Crosscheck” when he claimed the election is “rigged” because “people are voting many, many times.” His operative Kobach, who also advised Trump on building a wall on the southern border, devised a list of 7.2 million “potential” double voters—1.1 million of which were removed from the voter rolls by Tuesday. The list is loaded overwhelmingly with voters of color and the poor. Here's a sample of the list
Those accused of criminal double voting include, for example, Donald Alexander Webster Jr. of Ohio who is accused of voting a second time in Virginia as Donald EUGENE Webster SR.
No, not everyone on the list loses their vote. But this was not the only racially poisonous tactic that accounted for this purloined victory by Trump and GOP candidates.
For example, in the swing state of North Carolina, it was reported that 6,700 Black folk lost their registrations because their registrations had been challenged by a group called Voter Integrity Project (VIP). VIP sent letters to households in Black communities “do not forward.” If the voter had moved within the same building, or somehow did not get their mail (e.g. if their name was not on a mail box), they were challenged as “ghost” voters. GOP voting officials happily complied with VIP with instant cancellation of registrations.
The 6,700 identified in two counties were returned to the rolls through a lawsuit. However, there was not one mention in the press that VIP was also behind Crosscheck in North Carolina; nor that its leader, Col. Jay Delancy, whom I’ve tracked for years has previously used this vote thievery, known as “caging,” for years. Doubtless the caging game was wider and deeper than reported. And by the way, caging, as my Rolling Stone co-author, attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr., tells me, is “a felony, it’s illegal, and punishable by high fines and even jail time.”
There is still much investigation to do. For example, there are millions of “provisional” ballots, “spoiled” (invalidated) ballots and ballots rejected from the approximately 30 million mailed in. Unlike reporting in Britain, US media does not report the ballots that are rejected and tossed out—because, after all, as Joe Biden says, “Our elections are the envy of the world.” Only in Kazakhstan, Joe.
While there is a great deal of work to do, much documentation still to analyze, we’ll have to pry it from partisan voting chiefs who stamp the scrub lists, Crosscheck lists and ballot records, “confidential.”
But, the evidence already in our hands makes me sadly confident in saying, Jim Crow, not the voters, elected Mr. Trump.
What about those exit polls?
Exit polls are the standard by which the US State Department measures the honesty of foreign elections. Exit polling is, historically, deadly accurate. The bane of pre-election polling is that pollsters must adjust for the likelihood of a person voting. Exit polls solve the problem.
But three times in US history, pollsters have had to publicly flagellate themselves for their “errors.” In 2000, exit polls gave Al Gore the win in Florida; in 2004, exit polls gave Kerry the win in Ohio, and now, in swing states, exit polls gave the presidency to Hillary Clinton.
So how could these multi-million-dollar Ph.d-directed statisticians with decades of experience get exit polls so wrong?
Answer: they didn’t. The polls in Florida in 2000 were accurate. That’s because exit pollsters can only ask, “How did you vote?” What they don’t ask, and can’t, is, “Was your vote counted.”
In 2000, in Florida, GOP Secretary of State Katherine Harris officially rejected 181,173 ballots, as “spoiled” because their chads were hung and other nonsense excuses. Those ballots overwhelmingly were marked for Al Gore. The exit polls included those 181,173 people who thought they had voted – but their vote didn’t count. In other words, the exit polls accurately reflected whom the voters chose, not what Katherine Harris chose.
In 2004, a similar number of votes were invalidated (including an enormous pile of “provisional” ballots) by Ohio’s GOP Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell. Again, the polls reflected that Kerry was the choice of 51% of the voters. But the exit polls were “wrong” because they didn’t reflect the ballots invalidated by Blackwell.
Notably, two weeks after the 2004 US election, the US State Department refused the recognize the Ukraine election results because the official polls contradicted the exit polls.
And here we go again. 2016: Hillary wins among those queried as they exit the polling station—yet Trump is declared winner in GOP-controlled swings states. And, once again, the expert pollsters are forced to apologize—when they should be screaming, “Fraud! Here’s the evidence the vote was fixed!”
Now there’s a new trope to explain away the exit polls that gave Clinton the win. Supposedly, Trump voters were ashamed to say they voted for Trump. Really? ON WHAT PLANET? For Democracy Now! and Rolling Stone I was out in several swing states. In Ohio, yes, a Black voter may have been reluctant to state support for Trump. But a white voter in the exurbs of Dayton, where the Trump signs grew on lawns like weeds, and the pews of the evangelical mega churches were slathered with Trump and GOP brochures, risked getting spat on if they even whispered, “Hillary.”
This country is violently divided, but in the end, there simply aren’t enough white guys to elect Trump nor a Republican Senate. The only way they could win was to eliminate the votes of non-white guys—and they did so by tossing Black provisional ballots into the dumpster, ID laws that turn away students—the list goes on. It’s a web of complex obstacles to voting by citizens of color topped by that lying spider, Crosscheck."


Draw your own conclusions, I'm just passing things on, trying to keep moving and processing this scenario.

In astrology, the Super Moon is past full as of this morning, but will be visible for a couple of days as the energy disperses. Two sign changes have occurred in the last week, Mars into Aquarius and Venus into Capricorn. Venus will be more subdued in this sign, and will conjunct Pluto on November 24th and 25th, then enter Aquarius on December 6th. Mercury will enter its shadow phase December 1st and be retrograde from the 18th through the end of the year. The retrograde may impact some of the decisions being made now, ours and those involved in the election. As always, we shall see. This might be the time for 'buyers' remorse' re:the election of Trump to really set in.


Keep taking care of yourselves and do your best to keep a good thought,


Hello Everyone,

As the days progress into this new political reality, I am trying to make sure that I don't slip into apathy out of the sheer frustration most of us are feeling. Depression is easy, apathy is easy - staying engaged is not. So I am reading and sending articles as I can, not too many, but  to keep informed about what is playing out on the national stage. I don't think we can afford to be lulled into complacency about what might occur, what legislation might be enacted, as this new administration takes shape. We are all wondering how this could have happened, but the signs were there that it might all along, we just did not want to see them.

Before the articles, a little astrology. There is another Full Super Moon coming up on the 14th, very big, very bright if the weather cooperates. We are under the influence of the gathering lunar energies now, and there is a lot of hype and buzz around it, the closest moon to the Earth since 19148, not to be seen again for 18 more years. This moon will bring out the Taurean need for security/safety/comfort in opposition to deep and sometimes dangerous Scorpio desires in a big way. If what we really want is in conflict with our finances, we will feel that more now. Taurus is about the material plane, possessions, and also values on the higher level, so any conflict between our values and our material wealth may also surface. Witness that we now have a billionaire for president-elect. The usual tension and hyper-activity before a full moon is heightened as well by the general anxiety and sleeplessness most of us experienced in the last few days.
Another event this week is the 11:11 portal, always an opportunity to take in higher dimensional frequencies, this time enhanced by the building energy of the super moon. So we have a lot to draw on this week for energetic support to keep us moving through the stress. Grounding is all important at this time, being outside in the fall sunshine, connecting with animals and nature, always helps. Some use sex for grounding high energies, as long as it's healthy and loving, or it might also have the opposite effect. Spritual practice, whatever that may be for you, helps.

So first, how did this election happen? Could every single poll have been wrong? Well, maybe.
Then again, the election may have been rigged, just as Mr. Trump kept saying - but not by the Democrats. Just because Republicans professed to hate Trump doesn't mean they wanted to lose the election. Here's the beginning of a possible explanation.

Vote Machines Audit Function Disabled - and Worse

By Greg Palast, GregPalast.com
08 November 16
 
or two decades, computer touch-screen voting machines have been derided as “push and pray” voting. You had to take it on faith that the machine records your vote as you intend. The machines lacked a “paper record” to audit and recount.
So, voting rights attorney Robert Fitrakis was thrilled to learn that many of Ohio’s voting machines would, for this election, have a brand-new anti-hacking capability. The computers could now take a photo of every voter card loaded in, time stamp each marking and keep the images in an order that allows an audit and recount.
But there’s one thing wrong with the new tamper-proof voting machines. “They’ve decided to TURN OFF the security.”
What? In 2004, Ohio’s “push-and-pray” machines produced suspect tallies that won President George W. Bush’s re-election victory over Sen. John Kerry—although Kerry had a comfortable lead in exit polls. And in this year’s contest, the FBI has raised fears of fiddling these machines by Russian hackers.
Yet, the Republican Secretary of State of Ohio, Jon Husted, is allowing county officials to simply turn off these security functions—with no explanation as to why.
The counties, Fitrakis discovered, “bought state-of-the-art equipment and turned off the security,” both the ballot imaging function and the audit application that can detect and record evidence of machine tampering.
Fitrakis, Green Party candidate for Franklin County Prosecutor, sought a temporary restraining order to require voting officials to simply turn on the ballot integrity functions on the machines. As a reporter for Democracy Now, I was permitted to observe, though not film, the hearing in the judge’s chamber in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in Columbus, Ohio’s capital.
Lawyers for the Republican Secretary of State as well as county officials from around the state gave no reason for turning off the ballot protection functions on the machines. Instead, they pleaded that turning them on “would cause havoc.”
Fitrakis, armed with a copy of the machine’s instructions noted that the “havoc” was no more than clicking on a drop-down computer menu and choosing “record” images instead of “do not record.” The menu has a similar yes/no option for the audit application.
Nevertheless, Judge David Cain, a Republican, ruled that Fitrakis’ demand was “borderline frivolous.” Counsel for the state’s GOP Attorney General argued, successfully, that Fitrakis would have to return after the election and prove the election was stolen. Of course, he’d have no audit trail nor ballot images with which to make the case.
Fitrakis told me, “It’s Catch-22. It’s Ohio.”
And the stakes are high. This is the ultimate swing state that could decide not only the Presidency but the balance in the US Senate.
Long Lines for Black Votes; Zero Lines for whites
On Sunday, I joined the members of the Freedom Faith Missionary Baptist Church of Dayton for early voting. All over Ohio, churches bus the faithful to the polls for early voting. Nearly 70% of Ohio’s African-Americans vote on “Souls-to-the-Polls” Sunday as many do not have the transport nor the day off to vote on Tuesday.
They arrived at the one and only early polling station and waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. The lines for several thousand voters at the one poll snaked up and down three floors of the county building and spiraled through the multi-story garage. At the end of the line they were given numbers to wait in an auditorium to be called to vote.
Yet, today, on Election Day Tuesday, when the majority of white Ohioans vote, there will be 176 polling stations in Montgomery County (Dayton) alone. For many whites the lines are not short—they are non-existent, with more poll workers than voters.
The system was created by that same GOP official, Jon Husted, who had permitted counties to turn off ballot protection applications on the voting machines. Husted had wanted to eliminate Sunday voting completely.
But Husted ran into resistance. I located Dennis Lieberman, until recently, a Dayton County elections board member. Lieberman told me, “We had voted, both Republicans and Democrats, for long [voting] hours on weekends so that people, like this” – he gestured to the church groups – could come and vote.”
But Secretary Husted was none too pleased.
“After we did that [voted for Saturday and Sunday voting], we were told by the Secretary of State that if we didn’t change our vote, that he would fire us.”
Lieberman and the others refused to give in. And, as a result, said the voting official, “I got fired.”
Secretary Husted has refused several requests for an interview.
The Purge begins of half a million suspected “duplicate” voters
Donald Trump claims that, the election is “rigged”—specifically because, “You have people …voting many, many times.”
Trump’s accusations simply repeats the claim of more than two dozen Republican state voting chiefs who have created a secret list of those suspected of voting twice or registering twice with the intent of voting a second time. Altogether, there are an astonishing 7.2 million names on the GOP blacklist, labeled “Crosscheck” by Republican operatives.
Ohio’s Secretary of State has a whopping 497,000 suspects on his list in that one state – and he is systematically removing them. Of these, approximately 60,000 Ohioans will find their names simply removed from the swing state’s voter rolls—and they will have no idea of the accusation against them.
Crucially, the list is racially loaded—tagging an astounding one in six voters of color in the GOP states using Crosscheck.
Voting twice is a felony crime—and, despite the humongous list, only one Ohioan has been convicted. Yet thousands are losing their vote.
Although it is “confidential,” our team obtained over 100,000 of Ohio’s blacklisted voters facing disenfranchisement. We spoke to several—and one, Donald Webster, agreed to speak to us on camera.
Donald Alexander Webster Jr. of Dayton, Ohio, is accused of having registered a second time in Virginia as Donald Eugene Webster Sr.
He claims that he never used the name “Eugene” – and he can’t imagine why someone would vote a second time when, to fix an election, he would have had to conspire with thousands of others.
So I asked, “Well, do you? Are you part of a large conspiracy?”
“No, no. No I am not, sir.”
Yet he and the other Donald Webster are at risk of losing their vote—and will not know why.
Rights attorney Fitrakis said of Husted’s “Crosscheck” game, “He knows what he’s doing is illegal. What he’s doing is counting on bigotry to get away with it. He’s picking first and last names only because he doesn’t want to actually [catch double voters]. He wants to purge Blacks and Hispanics. And he’s trying to make Ohio winnable in the only way he knows how: by stealing American citizens’ votes.”

- The RSN Team
 
+32 # ericlipps 2016-11-08 22:53
I had trouble voting myself. When I tried voting for the Democratic ticket using our local voting machines, where you fed in a paper ballot, filled it out on screen and pushed a button to have your vote tallied and your ballot returned to you, at the presidential level a checkmark for Trump appeared. I corrected it, but when I was finished the machine refused to mark my ballot and return it. This happened twice; I had to get a third ballot, mark it by hand and have it scanned in, and who knows whether it was actually registered. And this was in New York; who knows what's been happening in, oh, just to take a couple of examples, Florida and Ohio.


Second, what exactly, does Mr. Trump intend to do when he gets into office? Here's the plan, some not so bad, some horrific, some clearly unconstitutional.

Here Is What Donald Trump Wants to Do in His First 100 Days

By Amita Kelly, NPR
10 November 16
 
t the end of October, Donald Trump spoke in Gettysburg, Pa., and released a plan for his first 100 days in office.
The plan (below) outlines three main areas of focus: cleaning up Washington, including by imposing term limits on Congress; protecting American workers; and restoring rule of law. He also laid out his plan for working with Congress to introduce 10 pieces of legislation that would repeal Obamacare, fund the construction of a wall at the Southern border (with a provision that Mexico would reimburse the U.S.), encourage infrastructure investment, rebuild military bases, promote school choice and more.
On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell mostly made nice with Trump but also shot down or expressed little enthusiasm in some of his plans. On Trump's proposal to impose term limits on Congress, McConnell said, "It will not be on the agenda in the Senate." McConnell has been a long-standing opponent of term limits, as NPR's Susan Davis reports. "I would say we have term limits now — they're called elections."
McConnell also threw some cold water on Trump's infrastructure plans, calling it not a top priority.
McConnell did say repealing Obamacare is a "pretty high item on our agenda" along with comprehensive tax reform and achieving border security "in whatever way is the most effective." But he also declined to discuss the Senate's immigration agenda further.
"We look forward to working with him," McConnell said. "I think most of the things that he's likely to advocate we're going to be enthusiastically for."
Below is the 100-day plan Trump's campaign released in October, called "Donald Trump's Contract With The American Voter."
What follows is my 100-day action plan to Make America Great Again. It is a contract between myself and the American voter — and begins with restoring honesty, accountability and change to Washington
Therefore, on the first day of my term of office, my administration will immediately pursue the following six measures to clean up the corruption and special interest collusion in Washington, DC:
* FIRST, propose a Constitutional Amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress;
* SECOND, a hiring freeze on all federal employees to reduce federal workforce through attrition (exempting military, public safety, and public health);
* THIRD, a requirement that for every new federal regulation, two existing regulations must be eliminated;
* FOURTH, a 5 year-ban on White House and Congressional officials becoming lobbyists after they leave government service;
* FIFTH, a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government;
* SIXTH, a complete ban on foreign lobbyists raising money for American elections.
On the same day, I will begin taking the following 7 actions to protect American workers:
* FIRST, I will announce my intention to renegotiate NAFTA or withdraw from the deal under Article 2205
* SECOND, I will announce our withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
* THIRD, I will direct my Secretary of the Treasury to label China a currency manipulator
* FOURTH, I will direct the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to identify all foreign trading abuses that unfairly impact American workers and direct them to use every tool under American and international law to end those abuses immediately
* FIFTH, I will lift the restrictions on the production of $50 trillion dollars' worth of job-producing American energy reserves, including shale, oil, natural gas and clean coal.
* SIXTH, lift the Obama-Clinton roadblocks and allow vital energy infrastructure projects, like the Keystone Pipeline, to move forward
* SEVENTH, cancel billions in payments to U.N. climate change programs and use the money to fix America's water and environmental infrastructure
Additionally, on the first day, I will take the following five actions to restore security and the constitutional rule of law:
* FIRST, cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama
* SECOND, begin the process of selecting a replacement for Justice Scalia from one of the 20 judges on my list, who will uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States
* THIRD, cancel all federal funding to Sanctuary Cities
* FOURTH, begin removing the more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants from the country and cancel visas to foreign countries that won't take them back
* FIFTH, suspend immigration from terror-prone regions where vetting cannot safely occur. All vetting of people coming into our country will be considered extreme vetting.

Next, I will work with Congress to introduce the following broader legislative measures and fight for their passage within the first 100 days of my Administration:
  1. Middle Class Tax Relief And Simplification Act. An economic plan designed to grow the economy 4% per year and create at least 25 million new jobs through massive tax reduction and simplification, in combination with trade reform, regulatory relief, and lifting the restrictions on American energy. The largest tax reductions are for the middle class. A middle-class family with 2 children will get a 35% tax cut. The current number of brackets will be reduced from 7 to 3, and tax forms will likewise be greatly simplified. The business rate will be lowered from 35 to 15 percent, and the trillions of dollars of American corporate money overseas can now be brought back at a 10 percent rate.

  2. End The Offshoring Act. Establishes tariffs to discourage companies from laying off their workers in order to relocate in other countries and ship their products back to the U.S. tax-free.

  3. American Energy & Infrastructure Act. Leverages public-private partnerships, and private investments through tax incentives, to spur $1 trillion in infrastructure investment over 10 years. It is revenue neutral.

  4. School Choice And Education Opportunity Act. Redirects education dollars to give parents the right to send their kid to the public, private, charter, magnet, religious or home school of their choice. Ends common core, brings education supervision to local communities. It expands vocational and technical education, and make 2 and 4-year college more affordable.

  5. Repeal and Replace Obamacare Act. Fully repeals Obamacare and replaces it with Health Savings Accounts, the ability to purchase health insurance across state lines, and lets states manage Medicaid funds. Reforms will also include cutting the red tape at the FDA: there are over 4,000 drugs awaiting approval, and we especially want to speed the approval of life-saving medications.

  6. Affordable Childcare and Eldercare Act. Allows Americans to deduct childcare and elder care from their taxes, incentivizes employers to provide on-side childcare services, and creates tax-free Dependent Care Savings Accounts for both young and elderly dependents, with matching contributions for low-income families.

  7. End Illegal Immigration Act Fully-funds the construction of a wall on our southern border with the full understanding that the country Mexico will be reimbursing the United States for the full cost of such wall; establishes a 2-year mandatory minimum federal prison sentence for illegally re-entering the U.S. after a previous deportation, and a 5-year mandatory minimum for illegally re-entering for those with felony convictions, multiple misdemeanor convictions or two or more prior deportations; also reforms visa rules to enhance penalties for overstaying and to ensure open jobs are offered to American workers first.

  8. Restoring Community Safety Act. Reduces surging crime, drugs and violence by creating a Task Force On Violent Crime and increasing funding for programs that train and assist local police; increases resources for federal law enforcement agencies and federal prosecutors to dismantle criminal gangs and put violent offenders behind bars.

  9. Restoring National Security Act. Rebuilds our military by eliminating the defense sequester and expanding military investment; provides Veterans with the ability to receive public VA treatment or attend the private doctor of their choice; protects our vital infrastructure from cyber-attack; establishes new screening procedures for immigration to ensure those who are admitted to our country support our people and our values

  10. Clean up Corruption in Washington Act. Enacts new ethics reforms to Drain the Swamp and reduce the corrupting influence of special interests on our politics.
On November 8th, Americans will be voting for this 100-day plan to restore prosperity to our economy, security to our communities, and honesty to our government.
This is my pledge to you.
And if we follow these steps, we will once more have a government of, by and for the people.
 

And third, the spontaneous protests across the country were heartening, especially those on college campuses. It will be up to the youth of America to take over the activist roles that have been played by our generation as they age, retire or leave the planet, as 60's activist Tom Hayden did recently. I know that many will be saying, suck it up, we lost, it's going to be a new administration, let's move on, or whatever, but I want to point out that in this case, many if not most of those who voted for Mr. Trump did not respect or even like him at all. If Hillary had won, the Republican response would have been similar and probably more vociferous. This is more for us than a 'get over it' situation, this is perhaps a lifetime of hard-won reform and progress in the areas of civil rights, environmental law, and labor law being threatened or rolled back, as well as the possible installation of three Supreme Court justices creating a permanent imbalance toward conservatism on the high court. Processing it will take time, even with President Obama's insistance on immediately ensuring a smooth transition of power. This more than a show of civility, it is that he is acutely aware of the depth of the anger that at least half the country is experiencing, and how that might play out publicly. 

'He Is Not My President': Donald Trump Inspires Thousands to Protest Across US

By Safia Samee Ali and Mohamed Hassan, NBC News
10 November 16
 
housands of protesters swarmed the streets of several major cities Wednesday to voice their opposition to Donald Trump, who less than 24 hours earlier stunned the world to become the 45th person elected president of the United States.
Protesters in Chicago chanted "Not my president" and "F--- Trump" outside Trump International Hotel & Tower in what seemed like a grand uprising — one in which minority groups that have felt targeted by Trump over the past 18 months hoped to send a direct message to the president-elect.
"I'm here today because I'm speechless at what happened," Rebecca Gomez, 22, told NBC News. "I'm Mexican, but I was born in the United States. I'm afraid people won't care about that, though. I'm afraid they will be violent."
In New York, thousands of protesters could be heard chanting and banging drums as they marched past Rockefeller Center up Sixth Avenue, barely even acknowledging the rain.
Trump protesters pass by 30 Rock pic.twitter.com/KJZCvO2GBW
— Hasani Gittens (@hgitty) November 10, 2016
"It's horrible that we have to do this," said Trevor Wheeler, 18, of North Dakota, who now lives in New York City. "I identify as a queer person. I will most likely lose my right to get married. ... I will not be able to present myself the way I want to."
Some chanted "Racist, sexist, anti-gay! Donald Trump must go away!" and "F--- your wall!"
At least 30 people were arrested, NBC New York reported, quoting police. Most of the arrests appeared to be for disorderly conduct.
Besides New York and Chicago, protests took place in many other cities Wednesday:
  • More than one hundred people shut down a major highway through downtown Los Angeles Wednesday night NBC Los Angeles reported.

  • A crowd that police estimated at several thousand marched Wednesday night through downtown Seattle chanting "not my president" and carrying signs reading "Fight Racism" and "Impeach Drumpy," NBC station KING reported.

  • Dozens of young people chanting "Hey hey! Ho ho! White supremacy's got to go!" burned a U.S. flag on the campus of American University in Washington, D.C., NBC Washington reported.

  • At Berkeley High School in Berkeley, California, which has significant populations of Hispanics and African-Americans, students staged a walkout while chanting "Love trumps hate" and "Not our president."

  • In the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, hundreds of protesters chanting "No Trump" and "Not My President" marched down Bond Boulevard on Wednesday night bearing a banner reading, "We must stand together against fascism," NBC station WPXI reported.
  • Protesters shut down Interstate 5 in both directions in Portland, Ore., the Oregon Transportation Department said. One protester spray-painted "Impeach" on the side of Moda Center, home of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, NBC station KGW reported.

  • More than 400 people chanting anti-Trump slogans clogged the streets of downtown Austin, Texas, and marched to the state Capitol, NBC station KXAN reported.

  • Scores of students walked out of classes at historically black Fisk University to march through the streets of Nashville, Tennessee, NBC station WSMV reported. The group sat down at the intersection of Charlotte Pike and 6th Avenue and shouted, "This is what community looks like."
Hundreds of sticky notes plastered the walls of New York subway stations Wednesday with messages of support and dissent.
At various points during his campaign, Trump proposed a temporary ban on Muslims' entering the country, vowed to forcibly remove millions of undocumented immigrants from the United States and spoke of African-Americans' communities as crime-ridden and bleak, among other comments.
He also said he would appoint justices to the Supreme Court who would reverse Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark decision that legalized marriage equality across the country.
Although Trump performed better than Mitt Romney did in 2012 among black and Hispanic voters, the business mogul's win metastasized longstanding apprehensions among many Latinos, Muslims, African-Americans and members of the LGBTQ community, among others who say they don't know what the future holds for them.
For example, 68 percent of black voters told NBC News during exit polls that they would feel "scared" if Trump won, compared to 30 percent of white voters. And despite Trump's attempt to peel away LGBTQ voters with targeted appeals in speeches and even campaign merchandise, many in the demographic viewed those efforts with suspicion, some activists say.
"The future of coming out depended upon who we voted in. Today, that future looks darker," said Hannah Simpson, a transgender activist.
The sentiment resounded throughout the streets of Chicago.
"I'm a queer woman, and I'm afraid that who I am is under threat," said Erin Uttich, 24. "People have to know that even though the Electoral College chose him, he is not my president."
Minority voters worry about whom Trump will pick for his Cabinet and various other posts, said Andra Gillespie, a political scientist at Emory University in Atlanta. They also worry about how the Trump administration will tackle issues of voting rights, policing and immigration.
"The question on the minds of these people is if Trump will govern the way he campaigned," Gillespie said. "He's said a lot, but without a track record, it's unclear what he will actually do."
A survey of registered Muslim voters by the Council on American Islamic Relations, or CAIR, last month reported that 85 percent of respondents believed Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment had increased in the past year — a rise the council linked to the divisive presidential campaign.
Despite the fears, many Trump critics are refusing to back down. In a statement, CAIR vowed that "American Muslims are here to stay."
Others took to the streets to express their rage.
"All day long, I've been facilitating between shock, disbelief, grief, anger, horror [and] shame, and I knew I had to come out here, because this is not the vision of the world that I can bear to live in," Edita Birnkrant, 39, said in New York.
Birnkrant said she believed the country was moving backward.
"It's just impossible to even imagine how we can go forward in the coming days or weeks knowing what's to come and knowing that the vision of the world and the changes that a President Trump said he wants to make are truly terrifying," Birnkrant said.
Some groups are banding to use Trump's election as an opportunity to work harder.
"The next four years are going to be hard for all of us, but this is an unprecedented chance for all of us to fight as one," said Jonathan Lovitz, a senior vice president of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. "Think of the possibilities when all minorities stand together."
"The resistance begins today," Ben Jealous, past president of the NAACP, wrote in a column for NBC News.
"We must build the most robust movements we have ever known to defend our rights and those of our neighbors, protect our planet, end poverty, and shift the world away from war and towards peace," he wrote.
 
A couple of others. Here's Bernie's response to the election.

 
Breathe,

Jan





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(203) 431-7759.

November 9, 2016

HI All,

I trust everyone is going to get some rest tonight as we move toward recovery from the bombshell events of last night and this morning. I'm sure most of you are as devastated as I am in the wake of the debacle that was the election. And more than shocked, which I am, or angry, which I am, or sad, which I am, I am frightened for our future.

I don't really do predictive astrology, so I did not predict this election. I did look at the candidates charts and make some observations. I did think Bernie would have a good run in the Primary, and I did think Hillary's chart was somewhat of a mystery, even to her, and that she might have some trouble - but not this much. I think I mentioned there could be some surprises along the way. I did not, however, think Trump would win either - I will have to look at the astrology again and see if I detect anything I missed, but anyway, it just didn't seem possible. I forgot the famous quote from H.L. Mencken, "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people."

So since the Democrats did not anticipate
this loss, I am offering the Dems a plan, and I was pleased to see that Bernie Sanders pretty much agrees with it in his statement about Trump's win.
As this article says, if Mr. Trump and the Republican Congress propose things we like, then fine, Dems, go with them. But anything we don't like, Dems, DON'T go with it - JUST SAY NO, as the 'Pubs have been saying since 2009. JUST SAY NO.

It's the only plan that makes sense to me right now for the Democratic party going forward.



We oppose everything

by Kos
November 9, 2016  11:01 am
"When President Barack Obama was first elected, Republicans made no bones about their desire to obstruct absolutely everything on his agenda. They didn’t even care if it was their own agenda. As soon as Obama adopted it, it was the second coming of communism—from the Heritage-created, Mitt-Romney implemented Obamacare, to Republican James Comey’s nomination to the FBI, to traditionally bipartisan transportation spending, to the Senate’s Gang of 8 immigration reform effort. 
Their obstruction became so blatant, they even refused to perform their Constitutional duty to advise and consent to Barack Obama’s final Supreme Court justice pick. And did they suffer anything for it? Of course not. They won big in 2010, and again in 2014. And they won big last night.

Not only did obstruction help hamper Obama’s agenda, but just as importantly, it sent a message to base Republicans that their party actually gave a shit. It let them know that their party would fight for them, even if everyone else thought they were being assholes. It didn’t matter. That singular focus on obstructing Obama and the Democrats said they cared.  
If Trump wants to pass a new Voting Rights Act, or renominate Merrick Garland, then we can work with him. Anything else, he can go fuck himself. Infrastructure spending? Let him get the votes from his own caucus. Anything else he might propose, even if we might agree with it? Let him get the votes from his own caucus while we hurl metaphorical molotov cocktails from the sideline. 
They broke it, they own it. 
Show our people we are fighting for them, and they’ll fight back for us in return. We are the fierce opposition. And as such, we need to oppose. Full stop. From Day One."

A lot of Democrats won't like this idea, including Barack Obama, but anyone got a better one?


I will send some astrology another time, I'm out for today. If you voted for Hillary, good, if you voted for Trump - well, I hope you get what you (thought) you wanted.


Jan, trying to keep a good thought (or even think of one)















 
 
October, 2016
 
 A little note about the Mars/Pluto conjunction. It's not exact until the 18th, so though they are in the same room and have sat down at the table for the full moon, they have a little more time to decide what course to take - will it be war or peace? This combination has the dual power to destroy or build up, so ignoring the political circus for now, what are your plans for shaking up the universe?

O:-)
 
Stay alert, expect the unexpected - October 11
 
There is an important Full Moon coming up Saturday night at just about 11:30 pm EDT. The moon at full phase always brings energies that create some tension, but this one is particularly laden with even higher intensity frequencies due to its close alignment with the ongoing Uranus/Eris conjunction I have mentioned in earlier updates. Those who are sensitive can expect some strong energy downloads this week, I started feeling them a couple of days ago.

Uranus is the highest frequency planet of the traditional nine bodies in our solar system. Ruled by Aquarius, its astrological keywords are electricity, technology, lightning, accidents, surprises, bizarre, unusual, eccentric, quirky, (r)evolutionary, humanitarian, brother/sisterhood. It is gender neutral, inclusive, and unbiased, sometimes sort of militantly so, as Aquarius is a fixed sign. Eris is the goddess of discord, credited with starting the Trojan War due to her jealous rage when not invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. Associated behaviors include the instigation of chaos, delight in conflict and betrayal, and fear of abandonment or exclusion leading to inharmonious relationships. These two energies will combine with the emotional high of the full moon at 22 and 23 degrees Aries, sign of war, passion, action, sex, anything martial. If it sounds like a super-sensitive, potentially volatile combination, you read that right. Also, both candidates took hits from Mars and Pluto last week to their own natal Eris, which is not so far away from where Eris is now. Eris has a way of making sure she is noticed, that's her point. And all the chest-beating and ill-timed inflammatory remarks by and about Putin and Assad, same influence. I just want to say, "Yeesh!".

Remember that a full moon is opposite the Sun, so all of what I just described is also opposite the Sun in Libra. Uranus opposite the Sun can be a powerfully disruptive influence all by itself. Mercury/communication, thoughts and Jupiter/good fortune, exuberance were conjunct today in Libra, making this a more pleasant day than we might experience later in the week. Both Mercury and Jupiter will still be very near the Sun on Saturday. The Libran vibe of equality, balance, justice and beauty will provide helpful counterweights, mitigating some of the erratic energies around the moon. So there is at least some hope for better communication.
 
In our personal lives, as always, the impact depends on where 22 degrees Aries is located in your own chart. For example, if you have the Sun, Moon or Ascendant at or around that degree, expect some unexpected shifts for you personally or in your environment or workplace. Whether the changes are easy or more difficult ones will depend on the aspects those planets make to the rest of your chart, and of course on your preparedness and reaction to change. May your surprises be happy ones, but do stay on top of your and others' reactions, and drive carefully, in your car and over emotional terrain. Be cautious around electricity as well.

The thing is that Uranus is an outer planet, meaning that it has a long orbit. The outer planets have individual effects to be sure, but because they have such extended cycles, they also exert an influence on large groups of people, on generations, even on the entire world. Just when we thought it was safe to say that our political situation could not get any more bizarre, this week and into the weekend may even top the events since last Friday. From now through Saturday, though, the full moon will get into the act and really rev things up. If you read back through those keywords again, you'll get the gist.

That "debate", really more like a food fight, on Sunday was a perfect example of Uranus/Eris for disruption and sheer shock value, with Mr. Trump creating discord for all the world to see, not to mention adding to his own bad karma. Oddly enough, much as I find this man vile, it's painful to watch him crash and burn in public by the very media that created him, with his ignorance on display. This whole scenario has been a demonstration of the universal principle of attraction - what you pay attention to increases. It's also a great reminder of why we all need to be so vigilant with our thoughts and where we expend our energy. Good thoughts lead to good words and good deeds. It's impossible to create a positive future with incivility and evil acts.
 
There's one more big aspect building this week, Mars conjunct Pluto, three degrees apart, in Capricorn, the sign of government. So, we have the God of War and the Ruler of the Underworld (aka Hell) in the same room for this full moon. This aspect definitely has an ominous feel to it, along with a level of unreality not unlike other times when our political future hung in the balance, eg. while we waited for election results in 2000. I haven't checked the astrology for those events, but I'm sure others have and I imagine there are some parallels.

This is divine timing? More like an inside cosmic joke. Maybe we'll see the humor later, when we're all sitting around on the New Earth reminiscing about the pre-Ascension years when everyone was crazy and nothing made any sense. "Hey, remember when....?" -  and let's hope it's a funny story.

OK, that got away from me a little, but, I mean, seriously, this could be a memorable full moon. So remember the latest buzzwords of wisdom, "Keep Calm and Carry On".

Peace,

Jan
 
September, 2016
 
addition, already!
 
I wrote that the SGC (Super Galactic Center), now conjunct Jupiter, was at 1 degree Libra. I'm adding ting this because I when read the Sabian Symbol, it supports my impression that this eclipse has more of a global influence, even galactic. The Sabian Symbol for Jupiter and the SGC at the time of this eclipse is:
      
 "The light of the 6th race transmuted to the 7th."

This sounds suspiciously like what we call the Ascension, an upgrade in our evolution, the quantum leap humanity is supposed to take, either at the end of the Great Year cycle we are in, and/or when the mass consciousness rises to a high enough frequency, that is, when critical mass is reached for the higher vibration that will carry us fully into a renewed earth, the New Earth or Terra. (if that ever happens...)

Hi All,

The surreal time period between eclipses is almost over, with the second eclipse on the Pisces Full Moon today at 12:45 pm EDT. This inter-eclipse time has been a particularly odd one, everything in slow-motion with Mercury retrograde and the lead up to the equinox next week bringing time almost to a standstill, even as the usual 'busyness' of the fall season is just getting going. It's a strange juxtaposition.

The most prominent features of this eclipse are that it is conjunct Chiron and that it forms a T-square with Mars. Chiron is the wise centaur of Greek mythology, who is known as a maverick, and uses higher octave energy to bring deep wounds that require attention to conscious awareness for resolution. This kind of healing might be akin to ruthlessly ripping the band aid off, painful and shocking, revealing either the scab or perhaps that the wound is not healing and needs air and further treatment. Hidden problems may come to light - witness Hillary Clinton's week - though she seems to be weathering it for the moment (unless the woman who hit the campaign trail yesterday was the same one who came out of Chelsea's apartment in NYC last Sunday, who some have hypothesized may not have been the real Hillary but a body double). On the other hand, long-standing issues may finally begin to be resolved, or at least acknowledged, as there is no more time for denial or procrastination. In emotional Pisces, this eclipse has been hard to ignore. We have been feeling it all week, perhaps intensely. The tension is even more heightened because Chiron is naturally also opposite the Virgo Sun, since the moon at full phase is opposite the Sun.

Mars is also forming a T-square to the Sun and the Moon, while Uranus/the unusual, evolution, humanitarian is in a compatible trine to Mars/action, passion, war. This adds an extra element of surprise, hopefully in a good sense, but with an edge, maybe in the form of anger or a confrontation of some kind, especially when we remember that Uranus is conjunct Eris, the vengeful Goddess of Discord. Mr. Trump and his outrageously irresponsible and insensitive utterances kind of remind me of Eris conjunct Uranus. His Moon, by the way, is at 21 Sagittarius, two degrees away form the Mars of the eclipse chart, so he must be feeling the strain of this eclipse whether or not he admits it (and of course he doesn't) His Sun is at 22 degrees Gemini, and his Sun is also conjunct his natal Uranus, making him truly an unusual person, very erratic and unpredictable. Not exactly presidential traits. But here's the thing -
his Sun and Uranus are both directly opposite the Mars in the eclipse chart and so create a Grand Square with this eclipse, which could spell big trouble for him. Note that his widespread international business dealings are finally being analyzed and are featured in Newsweek this week. The consensus is that his connections are so intertwined with various governments that it will be impossible for him to conduct a foreign policy (as if he could..) that will not threaten national security. That's eclipse energy for you, and it might just spell the beginning of the end of his bid for the presidency - at long last and just in time. One article I saw about this was entitled, comically, "Donald Trump would sever ties to his business - by not severing any ties to his business".

In addition, we are still under the influence of the Saturn/Neptune square, now exact, and the stress between the status quo/Saturn and the independent, revolutionary/ Neptune is at a peak. Even without an eclipse series, change is inevitable, and though this square seems to be making it more difficult, in reality all is in perfect order. Saturn is needed to maintain an organized foundation while Neptune does the work of eroding those parts of the structure that are ready to transform. The tension is necessary if everything is not to fall apart all at once. If you are inclined to think in terms of dimensions, Saturn could represent the older 3D world while Neptune is more aligned with the new 5D apparatus coming in on the higher frequencies.  On the personal level, in relationships, some of us are more attuned to the Saturn vibration, others to Neptune, and though most of us have some of each, at this time partnerships with two people or teams in the two different vibes could be having a rough time. Know that both sides are needed. If you are to continue in the relationship, a balance will need to be struck. Fortunately, Jupiter has now entered the sign of Libra after its year in Virgo, and what better sign to help with that balance than Libra. Look for the good, which is what Jupiter represents, in fairness and equality, hallmarks of Libra, and you will find what you need to restore any partnership on new and more harmonious ground. If detente can't be reached, it may be time to amicably go your separate ways, at least for now, rather than escalate disagreements. This goes double for international diplomacy. We have reached an accord with Russia over Syria, that's good. Maybe we should lay low, though, and leave North Korea and even Israel and Palestine, for the time being, to themselves.

To complete the eclipse picture, two more points stand out in this chart and render its consequences more global that personal. One is the Galactic Center, the GC, the center point of the Milky Way located at 26 Sagittarius, and so conjunct Mars, and therefore energizing Mars. It is highly magnetic, constantly pulling all the planets, stars and everything in the galaxy, including us, toward itself. It acts as sort of a spiritual homing device for us, and at this time, so close to Mars, it is available to us for information, for a take on our place in the scheme of things. Then there is the Super Galactic Center, the SGC, at 1 degree Libra, exactly conjunct Jupiter, expanding all of the life-enhancing qualities already emanating from the planet known in antiquity as 'the Greater Benefic'. Current planetary problems are big enough that we might do well to consult the GC and the SGC, see if they can provide any illumination or insight into our collective future.

If this sounds sort of complicated, it is quite a mixed bag of energies. As always, try to ride the energy gently from now through the equinox next Thursday. No doubt some things will have sorted themselves out by then, others will of course take longer to resolve, but I like to remember the title of the book by Wayne Dyer, There is a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem. One suggestion for any eclipse, especially for one as potentially disruptive as this one, and if it seems to be hitting you right on the head, is to sit with whatever the major problem is and to do what is known as 'Give it up', not to be confused with 'giving up'. It is to quietly go within and ask for help, not from an outside entity but from that place inside where we can access all the answers if we could just be still enough long enough to contact it. Then, wait quietly and act only when you are clear on what action should be taken. This could be said for every decision, but eclipses bring up important issues and situations which need careful consideration. It's also still Mercury retrograde, about to go into the 'storm' period before it changes directions on the 22nd, the day of the equinox, so even more reason to move with caution.


Tread lightly, take care,

Jan
 
Hello All,

Tomorrow morning, Thursday September 1st (yes, really!) at 5:06 am Eastern is the total solar (annular) eclipse, the second eclipse of two that began last month with a penubral lunar eclipse. You won't see it (unless you're in Africa or thereabouts), but eclipses are global energy so it doesn't matter. The major aspect it highlights is the Saturn/structure - Neptune/dissolution square we are all dealing with this year. Our personal, relationship, and societal structures are under great stress, with Saturn's strong, organized energy trying to hold them in place while Neptune's watery influence erodes their foundations. So if it seems that nothing is holding together very well or for very long, well, that's the energy we're in.

The eclipse Sun is in Virgo, along with Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, and the North Node (the stellium), while Saturn is still in Sag and Neptune in Pisces.This is called a T-square, with Neptune opposite, 180 degrees away from, the Virgo Sun, et al, and Saturn square, 90 degrees away, from both, making a big T. With part of the T being in eclipse, it makes for a very strained and strange feeling - like everything is unresolved but it's going to change anyway. Add Mercury going retrograde yesterday, taking clear communication with it, and you get an unsettled mix. Anything that wasn't decided upon before this week would usually remain undecided during the retrograde, but the eclipse energy may break the logjam on that, with some situations succumbing to the inevitable earlier. Or it may feel like the Light is being obscured for a bit as the eclipse proceeds, and when it's over, things feel a little, or maybe a lot, different.

Remember from the information that I posted a couple of weeks ago, that stelliums and eclipses have similar energy and effects, and that both may take some time to play out. Though eclipses can bring major events that change thigns immediately, the entire transformation takes about 6 months or more. Again, the upcoming (only 69 days away) election figures prominently in all this. It may be the only thing that makes me look forward to this fall season, that this interminable election season will be over (God/dess willing).

I hope all of you are making some progress in practical matters during the Virgo stellium. It could be stalled right now, but should resume after Mercury settles into its retrograde and the eclipse is over.

Keep calm and carry on!

Jan
 
August, 2016
 
The Sky Lights Up in Virgo
 
Hello Everyone,

Some of you have no doubt been hearing about a major event that has been taking shape in the sky since early August. It's called a stellium, when four or more planets, points and asteroids gather in one sign.
The current one will have 4 planets, the North Node and 3 asteroids in Virgo, and will be at a peak on August 23rd after the Sun enters Virgo.The effects of a stellium vary, but one thing for certain is that we must take the long view when interpreting what those effects might be.

There has not been a major stellium like this in Virgo since  and won't be another until. Events related to a stellium may begin up to a year in advance, and play out over time afterwards as well, much like an eclipse cycle or the Pluto/Uranus square of 2012 - 2105, the outworking of which we are witnessing now. Two historic examples of this are a stellium in February, 1962, in range of the Cuban Missile Crisis o October, 1962 and culminating with the events of November 22, 1963. I say events with an 's' because I have only just read that there were at least three other noteworthy news items that day along with the most obvious, the assassination of JFK, with their own consequences. On the morning of Nov 22, both Aldous Huxley, noted philosopher-author of Brave New World and C S Lewis, another visionary author, died. Also that morning, NBC  announced an special segment that was to air that evening, but  of course was pre-empted. It was to be the first TV exposure of the Beatles in the US, about the phenomenon of Beatlemania that was sweeping Britain before they arrived here in 1964.(It aired later on December 10th.)       
Another major stellium, in Pisces, occurred  the year that most historians and theologians believe the man known as Jesus of Nazareth was actually born, 7 BCE. This was the year that Mary and Joseph would have been traveling to  through Judea, and Bethlehem, to be counted in the Roman census that is recorded in the Bible as taking place in 6 BCE. The stellium in 7 BCE included Jupiter and Saturn which would have been visible because Jupiter is the brightest planet in the sky. Backlit by Saturn it must have appeared as a very bright star - the 'Star of Bethlehem'. One traditional interpretation of Jupiter conjunct Saturn is "the birth of a king".

We can't really say what will happen with this stellium, but the US presidential election in November will certainly be one of the highlights, or low points, as the case may be. Though we may not think of the birth of Jesus as a political event, it actually was, and of course the assassination of JFK was political, many believe it was a coup d'etat. May we receive enough cosmic light from the stellium to render some sort of good and helpful outcome to this election which is so fraught with uncertainty. Unbelievably, Nostradamus, who scholars believe  accurately predicted such events as the French Revolution, the rise of both Napoleon and Hitler, World War II, the deaths of both of both Kennedys and Princess Diana, and 9/11 way back in the 16th century, has some interesting predictions for 2016 involving President Obama - he predicted that he would be the 'last president' - what that means is open to further interpretation - any ideas? Other future (but not so far) predictions include a one world government, climate change, and World War III featuring the Anti-Christ as the leader of the evil side of the conflict. So, we have a lot to look forward to!

On the personal level, any astrological aspect impacts individuals differently depending on their own chart. In general for now we can look to the characteristics of the sign Virgo and apply them to our daily lives right into late next month, as they will all be exaggerated with this much energy concentrated in Virgo. In this pre-autumn, pre-back-to-school and end of season time, we always want to extend our leisurely carefree summer lives, but this month we might be doing a little early practical planning and organizing for the upcoming autumn. We will certainly have the impetus for that, Virgo is nothing if not practical. Other keywords for Virgo are health-minded, detail-oriented, analytical, critical, perfectionist, practical idealist, earth-connected, measured, results-oriented, workoholic. So if you've been struck with a sudden urge to organize all your old CD's or photos, go for it and get it done. If you need to execute a detailed plan for any kind of project, this is a great time - the order of tasks, tools required, phone calls, emails, and timing should come easily. Well, except that we are now in the pre-Mercury retrograde period, but even so, the retrograde will be in Virgo and the same desire to do practical life tasks will prevail, it just may go a little slower than you hoped.The Virgo Mercury retrograde runs from August 30th to September 21st.

Last Thursday was another full moon, in Aquarius opposite the Leo Sun. This was an interesting moon, with many planets and points between 23 and 25 degrees of several signs and already a preponderance of planets in Virgo, including Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and the North Node for starters. The next phase will be the Pisces New moon on August 31st, ushering in the new lunar cycle just as September begins.

AS the Virgo stellium continues,
try to remember the forest while counting the trees, or the details may become overwhelming. And try not to be consumed with working on the projects or work in general. Remember to play/rest - it is after all, still summer.


Blessings,

Jan
 
 
July,  2016
 
One More Thing
 
Hello Again,

Remember on July 14th at about 2 pm when I wrote "
Coming up next are a square from the Sun to Uranus on Saturday, so we could be in for more surprises, we can only hope of a positive nature." ? So much for that - the terrorist attack on Nice, France happened that evening (this was only 4 days ago!!) on the heels of the Dallas funerals, then Turkey erupted, then Baton Rouge - we are left wondering "What next?" Very unsettled energies continue, and unfortunately, the sky picture isn't going to change much very soon.

The "Trump Show" in Cleveland, about as unconventional a convention as one could imagine, will be in full swing under the Capricorn full moon tomorrow. This full moon is the peak of the Cancer lunar cycle that began 3 weeks ago at solstice, so we can only pray, again, that nothing else terrible happens, (though I would postulate that nominating Donald Trump for President is pretty terrible in and of itself.) This full moon features that ongoing Uranus/Eris conjunction in Aries I spoke about last time, which the Sun and Moon will be squaring and thus highlighting. This is a rare (last time was 1927 - 8) long-term aspect of the outer planet variety, that is, the kind that affects everyone over years. Remember, Uranus is erratic and (r)evolutionary and Eris is the Goddess of Discord, which we have in spades. Mars will be moving very slowly away from it, but is still in play and has accentuated it considerably in the last few weeks. Other planets will follow that pattern into 2017, so it will be activated over and over. If this sounds familiar, it is reminiscent of the Pluto/Uranus square that I spent so much time explaining between 2012 and 2015 - similar vibe. Try for calm, avoid confrontational people (ha! Trump...), and see if there's anything from the past month that might be resolved, whether with a decision, an apology, or the determination to forgive and move on.

Above all, let's be as kind as we can with to one another. This seems like a no-brainer, but the undercurrents are so fraught with alarm signals, despair, and volatility, it is not as easy for many of us as it sounds. Steer clear if an argument seems likely, do not engage. Definitely a time for prayer, and to take a moment daily to count our blessings. Right now a good night's sleep is a blessing, and not so easy to come by either - exhaustion and emotional depletion are becoming normal. If there was ever a time for us to 'rise to the occasion', it is now.

Stay in the light and sleep well,
Jan
 
Heart Before Head
 
 
Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all managing to find some summer enjoyment amidst the unsettling news we are steeped in here in our troubled country. As if the political climate wasn't enough, we had to endure another spate of racially motivated murders last week. We can all pretend these issues don't affect us, that they are not our problem. Many in the spiritual community are in the habit of doing just that, tuning it all out, but try as we might to rise above the negativity, it remains in the background of our lives, emitting vibrations of shock, anger, sadness, and guilt.

The current astrology, as always, tells a story that can help us overcome our denial and move forward together, if we choose. Emotions are flowing for the time being, with the Cancer Sun/soul self, Mars/action (and today the Moon/feelings), and Chiron/healing through awareness, in a grand water trine in effect until about Tuesday. Reinforcing the emotional context, Venus/heart on Tuesday and today Mercury/mind, have both entered the sign of Leo the lion-hearted. That's as good as a direct order from the cosmos - Mind following Heart. See? It will be so for just a couple of days until Mercury/Mind catches up with and then moves past Venus/Heart on Saturday, so until then, go with your heart. The details of any decisions you make now will fall into place after Saturday. Significantly, since the 4th of July is our nation's birthday, the US also has it's own Sun, that is its soul, in Cancer. We might thank Chiron (again, healing through conscious awareness) that even the corporate media has been doing some soul-searching in the aftermath of the shootings. The long-overdue reckoning about race relations and our shameful racial past has finally become part of the national conversation. Another other aspect factoring into this is the ongoing square between Uranus/the humanitarian revolutionary and master of sudden change and Eris/the discontent Goddess of Discord who insists on bringing out those buried and disowned parts of ourselves that we usually keep well hidden. We all have the opportunity to search our own broken hearts and fractured psyches for our hidden biases and secrets and owning up to any negative traits we don't usually admit to. Only in acceptance can forgiveness and wholeness thrive.

Coming up next are a square from the Sun to Uranus on Saturday, so we could be in for more surprises, we can only hope of a positive nature. Mars will finally move into the next degree of Scorpio after sitting at 24 degrees since the beginning of June, so projects and plans that may have seemed stalled will start moving a bit. The Sabian Symbol for Mars at 24 degrees of Scorpio is very revealing -  "Crowds coming down the mountain to listen to one inspired voice." This could refer to both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, both of whom commanded large audiences. Now that Bernie has exited stage left for the time being, Mars will be on the move and even perhaps Mr. Trump will find himself  less in demand. Mars has spent 2 months plumbing the dark recesses of Scorpio, and will move into the truth-telling light of Sagittarius on August 2nd. The Sun joins Venus and Mercury in Leo which will remind us it is still summer and
for a while yet and we can safely ignore those back-to-school ads which are already starting to hit the airwaves (kind of like the way we ignored those summer ads that started around the Spring equinox). We can also safely ignore most of the political blather about the conventions, though it would be wise to at least know who the candidates choose as their vice-presidential running mates, especially if you haven't decided on your vote yet.

Here's to enjoying summer as long as we can.

Jan

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Addendum to Blue Strawberries
 
Hi again, All,

I neglected to paste this paragraph into the update yesterday. I hope everyone is feeling a little calmer now after that intense full moon/solstice.
Another reason you may be feeling more mellow is that Mars is going into the phase when its slows down to a stop just before it returns to direct motion next week on June 29th. During this passage, physical activity may all but cease. It may seem like just putting one foot in front of the other takes monumental effort. This feeling may have been present on and off during Mars' long retrograde since April 17th as well. I know many people who have reported just not wanting to get out of bed or off the couch. This should improve as Mars gathers speed in the coming weeks.

On the other hand, action with great precision and even passion is possible if we just realize that there is only one speed, slow mo. We can take some time to assess just what has happened over the past two months, and/or we can start taking action on things that need our attention or resolution.

OK, I wrote that part early yesterday, and was going to just add a little to finish the paragraph.
But astonishingly, something happened in the US House of Representatives last night that writes my conclusion by itself. The House Democrats, frustrated beyond the breaking point, led by venerated civil rights era leader Rep. John Lewis, staged a sit-in, of all things, on the floor of the House of Representatives. Literally, they sat down on the floor inside the House in order to force a vote on two gun control bills, which Republican Speaker Paul Ryan has refused to call to a vote. This is totally unprecedented, and is in fact against the House rules. It is civil disobedience at its best. And the only reason we even know about this is that some members created bootleg videos and posted on Facebook and other social media, because no taping is allowed on the House floor except the C-Span feed, and even that is cut off when the House is not in session. The Democratic representatives spent the night, the sit-in lasted 26 hours. Senators, notably Warren and Sanders, joined them as well, though I don't know if they spent the night. Today, when they filed out of the building, there were some brief comments and thank yous, and then they sang "We Shall Overcome" on the steps of the Capital. Very moving, makes me glad I'm a Democrat.

Meanwhile, Speaker Paul Ryan did not reopen the House session for a vote. They were to go on break tomorrow. That was the meaning of the "No vote, no break" slogan the Dems were chanting. Instead, the Speaker and his Republican supporters left early for their holiday break. I'll be watching for the spin on this from the media, which has reported about last night, but the only station I could find with this live today was MSNBC.
We'll see what happens when they resume on July 5th.
 
So, passionate action is a definite possibility.

Light,

Jan

 
Blue Strawberries
 
Welcome to Summer!

As our society has moved further and further away from nature's cycles, people use different markers for the beginning of their personal summer. Memorial Day weekend is one,
or perhaps the first day at the beach. The last day of school is another, (though I can tell you that school children believe it's summer on the first spring day warm enough for shorts and a t-shirt), and if you frequent most stores, it looks like summer starts right after the Saint Patrick's Day parades. But today, of course, is the true beginning of the summer season. Astronomically, the Sun has reached its zenith in the Tropic of Cancer, creating the day with the most hours of sunlight, 17 hours to be exact.

Astrologically, it is the day when the Sun is poised for a moment at solstice, or standstill, before entering the cardinal sign of Cancer at 6:34 pm Eastern time. Zero degrees Cancer is at a stressful 90 degree angle, or square, to the first degree of the zodiac which I refer to as the Aries point. At these times, and during the period leading up to them, we might witness events that affect everyone at once (Orlando comes to mind - God/dess bless all involved, and to some extent the conclusion to the Democratic primaries) and which one astrologer has described as a moment when "the political becomes personal". Well, right now in our culture, it seems that the political is always personal, but during Aries point moments the effect is magnified, and with this solstice, even more so. There is also always an influx of cosmic energy which comes in at a solstice or equinox. Sensitive people can feel it for weeks in advance. Others perceive it, but may not identify is as having to do with the planet preparing for the change of the seasons. Most of you reading this would have felt more or less of this energy buildup as a mixed bag of emotions and physical sensations ranging from a sense of impending doom to euphoria, from irritability or tension to full blown panic. Spiritual practices are invaluable if you're feeling any of these strongly, as are staying grounded, working in the garden or just walking, getting enough rest, staying hydrated - you know the drill. None of these can erase entirely the events going on around us, but we can choose to react differently, and to tune out if we are susceptible to being influenced by the irrational mass culture.

The June Full Moon, also called the Strawberry, or Honey, Moon was also today, on the solstice. It was Full Sagittarius Moon at 7:02 this morning, and not just a Full Moon, but a blue moon, the second in a row in the same sign. These come along, well, once in a blue moon, or about every two years. The Sabian Symbol for this Moon, 29 degrees Sagittarius, is "The Pope blessing the Faithful," a definite spiritual connection telling us we may look to our Higher Selves for answers to any dilemmas we are facing. Then there is this: the point in astrology called the Galactic Center, is at 27 degrees Sag, so this moon is also drawing energy from the magnetic center of the universe. A more mundane interpretation might be that if there's one thing that says Sagittarius, it's truth. Some things may become apparent under its influence that had been hidden, perhaps blurted out unexpectedly in true Sag form. On a lighter note, Sag is one of the most gregarious and fun-loving signs. You may have noticed these themes for the past month. In addition, a Full Moon on a summer solstice, that hardly ever happens, like the last one was in 1967 and the next won't be until 2062. Maybe plan to do some moon-gazing tonight. Considering this won't happen for another 46 years, this is truly the last time in this lifetime, see what that thought brings up. Maybe this all doesn't mean anything other than that it's a rare event, but I know it adds another blast of high intensity energy to the mix.



Pagans celebrate the summer solstice 


Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England at Summer Solstice


Today and tonight, then, the Sun is moving us through the longest day of the year, and the moon is passing the peak of its monthly cycle. It is a culmination of two cycles by our planet's two luminaries, or light-bringers. We may not be at Stonehenge, but we can tune into the vibrations around us where we are, see if they have any message for us, or just take them in. We can contemplate our connection with the earth, the sky and the universe on these special days and remember with gratitude that we are a part of it all.

In Service,

Jan
 
June, 2016
 
Hello Everyone,

 At 11:00 pm tonight EDT,  the New Moon in Gemini is in one corner of a mutable Grand Square, also called a Grand Cross if you recall, with the Sun and Venus. The other players in the cross are Saturn in Sagittarius, Neptune in Pisces, Jupiter and the North Node in Virgo.

I hate to mention this, but 'the Donald's' Sun is at 22 degrees Gemini, with Venus and North Node close by, so he is essentially hanging from this Grand Cross. Hillary went after him big time this week, pointing out a range of frightening possibilities if he were to be elected president, and he has offered little in self-defense so far. His crazy campaign for President continues to reveal his outrageous egomania, (some say narcissism) his bigotry, his vanity, and his duplicity, (a negative Gemini trait). It's as if he unwittingly signed up to be psychoanalyzed in public, and in this astrology, all his pathology is showing and he has nowhere to hide. I wonder if he'll ever get it?

You too may have been feeling as if all your pathology has been on display, if only to yourself, since about May 21st, the time of the first Sagittarius Full Moon within a month. There have been several sky events that range from the not very frequent to the very rare in that time, and more to come before the second Full Sagittarian Moon on June 20th, right before the Summer Solstice. (The following list of dates are courtesy of astrologer Philip Sedgwick, who is very good at cataloging these things, as well as being an expert in minor planet astrology. I am basically paraphrasing him in the next two paragaphs. Interpretation is mine, as are any political comments or opinions.)
Mercury went direct on May 22 for the second of three times this year. Venus entered Gemini, an annual event, on May 24. An exterior (or ‘superior’) conjunction from the Sun to Venus, also a more-or-less annual event, will take place this weekend. It's when Venus' path places her exactly on the other side of the Sun in relation to Earth. Also on May 24, Venus opposed Mars for the first time in about two years. On May 27, Mars changed signs in retrograde motion for the first time since the end of 2007. That time it retrograded from Cancer back into Gemini, but you would have to go back to May of 1937 for the last occasion when retrograde Mars returned to Scorpio from Sagittarius, which we experienced last week. In addition, the last time Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune were in anything near the mutable configuration they are in now was 1936. At that time, Neptune was in Virgo (instead of Pisces, where it is now), Saturn was in Pisces (instead of Sagittarius, as it is now) and Jupiter was in Sagittarius (instead of Virgo, where it is now). A long time ago, in what was an equally fraught time, when the world's balance of power was threatened and many were in dire straits.
There is also another conjunction which I haven't even mentioned, Uranus, the revolutionary humanitarian, and Eris, remember, the Goddess of Discord, occupying the same degree of Aries, a surefire aspect for apparently sudden issues to surface having to do with envy, isolation, exclusion, betrayal, and perhaps vengeance. The last time for this one was in 1928. Witness all the strife around womens' issues, here in our country and certainly in others, the Arab and African worlds especially. Some of the ways that Hillary Clinton is described in the media, and sometimes her responses, seem Eris-inspired to me. And Bernie Sanders seems to be representing Uranus and at times, Eris. He has definitely not been invited to the (Democratic) party. To his credit, and everyone's astonishment, he has been throwing his own parties across the nation, albeit with some sharp Eris-jabs at Donald, Hillary and the establishment along the way. His message though, is generally one of inclusion, not exclusion. Keep an eye and ear out for out-of-the-blue attacks from or on females in your own life, too. If you have been or felt excluded, ignored or disrespected, like Bernie, ask yourself why? Or perhaps you, like Trump, are the agent of someone else's exclusion? Again, is this what you want?

I trust things will loosen up a bit after the tension of the past couple of weeks, as the Cross disengages after the weekend. We will have a T-square between the slower moving planets, Saturn, Neptune and Jupiter, however, for most of the summer, and beyond for Saturn and Neptune. Insights gained now can only help us in the months to come. We must remain vigilant and truthful about our own responses to our immediate environment and those in it, and to the outer world. And though the political scenario will probably be painful to behold, don't give up entirely, stay informed but keep some personal distance. Sometimes it's even funny, with the right perspective. I mean, Donald as President isn't funny, but as a candidate, he's pretty hilarious. I saw a clip from a comedian I've never heard of, describing what's wrong with Trump even before he was a candidate. He said he was "like a parody of what a poor guy would do if he were ever rich - "I'd build tall buildings and put my name in big letters on them. I'd have my own airline and my name would be on all the planes. I'd have golden hair!"  But oh, how I wish Jon Stewart were still on the air! Jon Oliver is pretty good, but he's no Jon Stewart.

This is a special moment, stressful and perhaps confounding, but potentially revealing as well. It may have been feeling confusing, but only in order to get to clarity. Hidden facts may finally be revealed. There may be expansive and optimistic thinking, alongside deceptive and limiting factors. We could think of Venus as Mother, Saturn as Father across the dinner table from each other, working out the family drama from opposite viewpoints. The sky is showing us a patch of blue among a lot of clouds, a possible breakthrough. We are getting a glimpse of the future, and depending on our outlook and actions, it could be heaven or it could be hell. As usual, it's up to us, our choice. Tread lightly.

Take it easy,

Jan

 
May, 2016
 
Hi Everyone,

I've been letting a lot of astrology go under the bridge lately, but I have some excuses. One is that I've been very fatigued on and off this past month or so, and have actually been listening to my body and resting more. Or maybe it just laziness, always a possibility. There may also be another reason for the fatigue and/or laziness, namely that by April 28th, there were no less than 5 planets in retrograde motion. That's a major 'slow down and take a breather' signal, and for many of us it became a physical imperative.

It began with Jupiter on January 7th, followed by Saturn on March 25th, Mars on April 17th, Pluto close on his heels on the 18th, and  Mercury just three days ago on April 28th. So what happens when all these influences retrace their heavenly steps? Well, when a planet is retrograde its usual energetic influence decreases, it doesn't 'act' the same way. Situations that arose when that planet was in direct motion may need to be reassessed, or they may suffer reversals, opinions may change, along with activities associated with the planet. These alterations may be not be permanent, but will require at least some temporary adjustment during the retrograde. We do best when we take retrogrades as a gift of time, a period of R & R; rest and relaxation, review and reflection, rewind and reboot.. For everyone, the effects will be most evident in the house or area of life each planet is located in, and be influenced by whether and how the planets aspect natal planets.

When Jupiter retrogrades, for instance, expansion and growth may seem to come to an abrupt halt. We may 'lose' something we have been relying on in order to use that energy on the internal plane. The term 'reversal of fortune' comes to mind, as Jupiter is connected to our fortune, or good. In this case Jupiter has been in Virgo, so many practical projects and plans might have had to be shelved for a time, perhaps to look within to find out how much, really, is enough. Remembering that it is all for our ultimate well-being is wise. Jupiter's retrograde is about to end, on the 9th, so look for a little more optimism as the other retrogrades proceed.

Saturn goes into reverse motion for about 4 and a half months at a time.
Saturn retrograde began on March 25th and will go direct on August 13th. There will be many delays and unwanted hindrances, causing disappointment and frustration. Everything will feel like more of an effort, require more work than usual. In Sagittarius, it may alter educational or travel plans, and dampen enthusiasm in general. This may have caused anything that had already been affected by Jupiter's turn inward to really feel stuck.

Mars retrogrades for a period of 2 - 4 months on average, but only about every two years. This time it began in Sagittarius, backs into Scorpio on May 27th and turns around on June 29th. Mars retrograde is about literally slowing down rather than running around in circles trying to accomplish the impossible, doing too much or doing everything at once. The point is to focus instead on how our activities enhance or interfere with relationships. The goal would be to deepen our connections, bring ourselves more in line with those close to us. Don't cont on that being in the sexual arena however, Mars retrograde might tamp down the libido too.

Then there is Pluto, retrograde until September 26th. Pluto's influence is felt on the deepest levels of our being. This is a good time for soul searching, cleansing ourselves of patterns that no longer serve us, including inherited ones, and paths that take us away from our purpose. Perhaps we may even need to find that purpose again, to remember and be true to ourselves. Pluto in Capricorn may help us do that in a serious, systematic way, researching, planning for or reestablishing studies or practices that keep us on track with our true inner intentions.

Finally, Mercury backtracking in slow-moving Taurus has us seeking those things that give us the earthly comfort we may have been missing. Comfort food, beauty in whatever form nourishes us, soft fabrics, gentle touch. Gardening is especially nourishing now, which is nice as it's planting time, or just being outside, taking in the sun and the fresh scenery, watching birds build nests - the miracles of spring. All the usual cautions about Mercury retrograde are doubled or tripled with all the other retrogrades in play. Mercury returns to forward motion on May 22nd. It is simply not the optimal time to make new decisions, big purchases, or initiate big, bold schemes.

Right now, Mars is in a loose, 7 degrees apart, conjunction with Saturn, both retrograde in Sagittarius. They are both also square to Neptune and Jupiter, making forward progress even less likely. This pairing may exaggerate the negative aspects of both retrogrades, perhaps especially because Sagittarius is usually such a positive, exuberant sign. It seems that the political scenario playing out, which has been heavily influenced by all these retrogrades, will be even more so now. Bernie Sanders is hanging in against the odds, (which include a biased media that has been bent on dismissing him since he announced his candidacy), as are both Ted Cruz and John Kasich on the Republican side, against all odds. (As for that media, I just want to point out that the Democratic delegate count reported in all major mainstream media outlets includes the super-delegates, something I believe is unprecedented. Super delegates pledge to support a candidate pre-convention, but are allowed to change their mind and vote for another when warranted. Many did just that in 2008, switching from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama at the convention.) All the candidates seem to be digging their heels in, retrograde fashion, holding onto their positions with little flexibility. And the main problem is the archaic system that we are all having to operate within, the primary process itself, the use of super-delegates instead of the popular vote, the fact that each state operates with different primary rules, not to mention all the 'voting irregularities' as they have been euphemistically labeled. There's a lot to be said and much to be gained by viewing all this at a safe distance, like a bad movie. All very 'retro'.

Other current aspects are a New Moon at 16 degrees Taurus (Sabian Symbol, "a battle between the swords and the torches", age-old struggle between might and enlightenment (like Trump vs Clinton, Sanders, or just about anyone else?) on Friday May 6th, with Mercury and Venus nearby also in Taurus. These four planets in Taurus are one vertex of an ongoing Grand Earth trine, with Pluto at another vertex, and Jupiter and the North Node completing the triangle. That's a lot of energy keeping us grounded and connected to the earth, which may have the effect of of making all the retrograde energy feel even slower.

Though much more could be said about these retrogrades, taking it easy while doing what needs to be done seems like the best course, in case the message that it's ok, advisable, and even necessary to slow down hasn't gotten through yet. Researching ideas, making plans for changes, and biding our time are good uses of these energies. Certainly continue with anything already in place, but expect that some things may need more time and don't try to push something that is stalled to completion now, that will only lead to mistakes, end in frustration and create future problems. Retrogrades teach us that things get done when they can get done, sometimes even without our input, if we can just pace ourselves, match our rhythms to the natural flow around us, stop and listen, then proceed with joy and ease. Remember also that the exact dates of the retrogrades do not include the 'shadow' periods before and after, the times when the planets are at a virtual standstill and we are still under the retrograde influence. All will resolve in divine timing, despite apparent setbacks and delays.

En-joy the Spring, weird weather and all, it is still very pretty here in New England. A good time for retro-fitting our lives, realigning with our spirits and regaining our footing within ourselves.

Love,

Jan

Disclaimer: With all these retrograde planets, including Mercury, please excuse me if something doesn't appear to make sense, and if any of the actual data is incorrect, I will correct it at some point. I did my best to recheck my facts, but, well, you know...
 

Oops, 2 mistakes!
 
Hi,  ok, it was Garrison Keillor of Lake Wobegone fame who calls Mr. Trump "The Great White Snapping Turtle", and disregard the last line of the post, it was supposed to be cut and moved up to where I put the quote about Bernie Sanders' campaign.
I'm sure there will be more, no big deal, I just like to correct them when I notice them.

Jan

 
March, 2016
 
Hi Everyone,

WARNING: I am about to try and make some sense out of the nonsense that is the presidential campaign. I know, I know...no one wants to think about it any more, especially not about Donald Trump, and I may be preaching to the choir (I hope I am.) But just because it is irritating and absurd does not mean we shouldn't be paying attention. So for those who aren't paying much attention, I'm sort of summarizing what's happening, especially in Donald Trump's campaign - because this man cannot become president.
He's pathological, can't take criticism, and when challenged, strikes back just like a fourth grade bully.  (I've spent some time with fourth grade bullies - they don't back down either)
He has no policies except "making America great again" (Great like MEEEEE!), so no one will "mess with us", making "good deals', "winning", oh, and building a great, big wall.
How anyone thinks he should be representing the United States in global politics is beyond comprehension. Most of this post is clips and quotes, you can pick and choose. But  now that Donald Trump is clearly the Republican frontrunner, and perhaps will be taken more seriously as a viable nominee,  We all need to remember who the man is and what he has actually said during his campaign. I'm going to repeat that: Mr. Donald Trump, real estate mogul and reality TV star, is clearly the frontrunner to be the Republican nominee in the 2016 presidential contest.

At the end I return to astrology, covering the historical context and also the equinox and lunar eclipse.
Please excuse any typos or incorrect grammar, I read it over and spell-checked, but it's long and there may still be errors.

I offer this in the spirit of this quote, usually attributed to sociologist Margaret Meade, who was actually quoting Irish statesman, Edmund Burke. Again, it's one you have heard:

                                        "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

When the results were coming in from the 5 primaries last Tuesday, I think good people were doing something. Those Democrats in Ohio who "crossed over" and voted for John Kasich in order to stop Donald Trump, decided to do something, and in the very way we all should, through the voting process.
(
I can only hope, however, that they will return to the Democratic side for the general election in November, because the forces that allowed someone like Mr. Trump to get as far as he has were in play before this election, and will be so afterwards.)

So, for what it's worth, I'm also doing something,
 

In his statement immediately after the aborted event last Friday night in Chicago, Mr. Trump actually sounded conciliatory toward the protesters. Of course, he also took up an hour and a half of air time on various news stations, insisting that he canceled because he didn't want anyone to get hurt.

This next point is so, so important to understand. This is the CEO of CBS stating that profits are more important than covering the presidential campaign honestly, that covering Mr. Trump is making them rich this year, at the expense of the country. Les Moonves, CEO of CBS on covering Trump in the media:

 '
"I've never seen anything like this, and this going to be a very good year for us. Sorry. It's a terrible thing to say. But, bring it on, Donald. Keep going.” 
The bottom line: “It may not be good for America, but it’s damn good for CBS.” 
In fact, Moonves thinks the whole ball of wax is fun. FUN??'

This is why the mainstream media are covering him non-stop, and all but ignoring everyone else. Don't let anyone get away with calling our media 'liberal, or 'fair and balanced'. It is not.

So, the day after the Chicago event, back on the campaign trail, Mr. Trump was more confrontational than ever at the podium, trashing protesters, Ted Cruz, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, President Obama, but mostly protesters and Bernie Sanders (who Mr. Trump has referred to as that "Communist" or "I don't know what the hell he is") and who he has accused of sending supporters to his rallies to disrupt them.
"Bernie Sanders is lying when he says his disrupters aren't told to go to my events. Be careful Bernie, or my supporters will go to yours!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2016
You may not like Bernie Sanders or resonate with his message, but most would agree that Senator Sanders does not issue schoolboy taunts, is not adding bullying threats to his stump speech and would never ask anyone to disrupt anything. He has integrity, and gives a reasoned, direct response. Here is one of them:

           "As is the case virtually every day, Donald Trump is showing the American people that he is a pathological liar. Obviously, while I                appreciate that we had supporters at Trump’s rally in Chicago, our campaign did not organize the protests. What caused the protests at Trump’s rally is a candidate that has promoted hatred and division against Latinos, Muslims, women, and people with disabilities, and his birther attacks against the legitimacy of President Obama's birth certificate."

Here's Mr. Trump a few days ago, calling Sen. Sanders a communist while slamming former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the same time, two birds with one...

Communist

We all know that Donald Trump (one blog commenter called him the "Great White Snapping Turtle"!) is purposely inciting his already angry and disgruntled supporters to hate, rage, and ultimately violence, and he has all along. Saying
otherwise, as he persists in doing, is an obvious lie. By the way, he is also riding high and playing on the emotional Pisces wave we are all experiencing during this inter-eclipse period, so if it seems like rational thought has nothing to do with his supporters response to him, it doesn't.

Mr. Trump is kicking out protesters with "Get him/her outta here!", his new "You're fired!" catchphrase. He uses his own privately hired protection services,  armed bouncers
(who resemble Mussolini's Brown shirts or Hitler's Black boots) to eject people, at this point before the rally even begins. He calls the protesters violent when almost none are and meanwhile one of his own attendees punched someone for no reason at one of his rallies and is being sued for assault for it. He's "looking into" paying the man's legal fees. But he's not inciting his followers to violence or anything. They're just "passionate" and "love their country". He doesn't condone violence, oh, except for waterboarding and other torture techniques that "work", meaning they elicit information, guilty or not. Donald Trump thinks he can single-handedly change international law, disregard the Geneva Conventions, because he says so. What a nightmare he would be in international diplomacy.

Protest, the right of assembly, is one of our Constitutional rights, not to mention that it is the very way this nation was formed. Mr. Trump's whole campaign is really a very loud protest against the current administration, anyone who disagrees with him, anyone else not white and privileged, and democracy. He says he will not have to answer to anyone because he is paying for his own campaign. I believe that's called dictatorship. He does say he is working for his supporters - but of course certainly not for protesters, Muslims, Mexican immigrants, or anyone he deems a "loser",
one of his favorite words - in other words, anyone he doesn't like. A president has to answer to all the people, not just the ones he or she agrees with or those who pay for his or her support. Trump has now decided that protesters should be arrested, and would like it to be on felony charges. This man rails on and on about how 'they' don't allow him and his supporters the right of free speech, but of course no free speech for those "bad, bad people", who dare to show up at a Trump rally. There have been several events for which Mr. Trump has issued free online tickets, I'm not sure if this was the case in Chicago or not, but several young people who were escorted out of an earlier rally for no reason other than that they were there, held free tickets. They were shown the door because they were young and black, and were wearing black clothing, though they said not one word, they were silent. The protesters last Friday night were mostly students at UCI, who had sent a petition with 50,000 signatures to their administration asking that Trump not speak there, that his rhetoric had no place at their school. Their petition was ignored, so they decided to crash the event. It is significant that no violence took place until after Mr. Trump canceled the rally. The total number of arrests was 5, total injuries as far as I know was 2, one protester, one policeman. The first reports as the news of the disturbance broke were that it was a riot. Some riot. Many of the students had signs for Bernie Sanders, which led to Mr. Trump's accusation that the Sanders campaign had sent protesters to the rally, obviously not the case. They came of their own volition. The entire scenario appeared to have been orchestrated - or 'trumped up' - by Donald Trump himself, including purposely choosing an unwelcoming venue, as if to justify his emotionally charged rhetoric designed to produce just such results, and to boost the fanaticism of his supporters. He was not yet at the rally when he canceled it, and may not even have been intending to show up, knowing as I'm sure he did about the students' petition in advance. I'm sure he wished there had been a riot, as did the media. (NB: This tactic appears to have worked, as there have been more violent attacks on protesters at Trump Rallies by Trump supporters, this weekend.)

You've most likely seen this one, but here's the video of the older man in a veteran's hat shoving the young black girl out of a rally, yelling at her all the while. As far as anyone has been able to ascertain, she did nothing and said nothing. So it's a new non-crime for which you could be arrested if you are black, like DWB (Driving While Black), which devolved into WWB (Walking While Black); now ATRWB (Attending a Trump Rally While Black). No racism there either of course. He later apologized, said he wasn't a racist.
Woman Shoved out of Rally

Here is Rachel Maddow's video of Trump rallies chronicling the incendiary speech he has employed all along note the date stamps
Trump Rhetoric

and more
Rachel Maddow today

Here's Mr. Trump lamenting the "good ol' days" when if was ok for black protesters to be really hurt so that they wouldn't protest again:
the "good ol' days" a la Trump

And here he is saying he'd like to punch a protester in the face:
Trump would like to punch someone


This from one of Mr. Trump's endorsers:
"I would like to see a little more violence from the innocent Trump supporters set upon by violent leftist hoodlums."

— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) March 13, 2016

I do not want to evoke the specter of Adolph Hitler too much, Mr. Trump is not Hitler, but all of this together is more than reminiscent of the rise of both
of Adolph Hitler to power and of Benito Mussolini in Italy before WW II and , as a matter of fact, it is eerily parallel. There are even a few people who were eye-witnesses during the 1930's who have said as much. We're a different nation in a different time, with different circumstances, but the path to power looks very much the same. It also reminds us of McCarthyism, anti-communist blacklisting,  in the 1950's and of the internment camps for Japanese American citizens during WW II.

Remember this one? in Nazi Germany, Pastor Martin Noemoller wrote a famous poem. It has seen many versions, but the pastor wrote it to reflect the culmination of the Nazi advancement. The following is most widely accepted as the poem he wrote:

                                                                                                "First They Came for the Jews"

By Pastor Niemoller

 "The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities." - Ayn Rand
First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.

IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN.  
IN FACT, IT NEVER STOPPED.
v.2000

First they came for the hackers.
But I never did anything illegal with my computer,
so I didn't speak up.

Then they came for the pornographers.
But I thought there was too much smut on the Internet anyway,
so I didn't speak up

Then they came for the anonymous remailers.
But a lot of nasty stuff gets sent from anon.penet.fi,
so I didn't speak up.

Then they came for the encryption users.
But I could never figure out how to work PGP anyway,
so I didn't speak up.

Then they came for me.

And by that time there was no one left to speak up.

- Alara Rogers

and anther one:

"First they came for the “liberals,” by eliminating the right of dissent through “free-speech” zones that continued to get further and further from the administration and grew smaller and smaller.
But I am no liberal! So, I grumble at the TV and on the Internet.

Then they came for the media, by allowing the “Fairness Doctrine” to continue to be non-existent and creating a propaganda machine run by the ruling party.
But I am not a member of the media! So, I grumble at the TV and swear off the “news.”

Then, they get brazen, and come for the gays, by appointing right-wing judges that reinstate the “crimes against nature” and “sodomy” laws; thereby, turning consenting adult relationships into criminal acts, costing people their jobs, homes, and lives.
But I am not gay! So, I grumble at the TV and vow to send money to gay rights groups.

Then they come for immigrants, by making asylum impossible and closing off our borders through legislation.
But, I am no immigrant (at least not a first-generation one)! So, I grumble at the TV and vow to join Amnesty International.

Then they come for me and I can’t speak up for myself because I am not in a “free speech” zone. I can’t get the news to cover my arrest except as a dissident. I find the laws that the right-wing judges have created, now apply to me through vague and unconstitutional language. I can’t even flee the country because the borders are closed!


Leaving me wondering…how did this happen? I didn’t see any “signs!”


I might add one, that now they're coming for our democracy. I admit there are more of these, an anti gun control one about coming for their guns, which I don't agree with - but I do agree with their right of free speech. As I do of Trump's right of free speech. He can say whatever he wants, I just don't think he is fit to be president, not by his experience or psychologically, and certainly not by temperament. We need someone who, like the Democratic candidates, displays statesmanship, not dictatorship, showmanship, or one-upsmanship, governance not business deals.

I've sent this one out before, but here it is again, the 10 steps to Fascism:


Then there are the ten steps to fascism, many of you will also have seen these before, but here they are again.These ten steps, each of which has been taken at the time of this writing, are:
  1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy.' (Eg. "terrorists," mainly Muslim terrorists).
  2. Create secret prisons where torture takes place.' (Eg: Offshore secret hell-holes plus on US soil including 44 solitary confinement torture units where presently, 100,000 Americans are secretly tortured daily.)
  3. Develop a thug caste or paramilitary force not answerable to citizens (Eg: Police and military police are operational plus an Executive Order signed by President Obama for "targeted killings," to assassinate Americans on U.S. soil.)
  4. Set up an internal surveillance system (Eg: Cell phones and cell phone towers, paid neighborhood snitches, NSA mass data mining...)
  5. Harass citizens' groups (Eg: Such as Targeted Individuals including whistleblowers, rights defenders, peace and justice workers, protesters).
  6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release. (Eg: National Defense Authorization Act 2012)
  7. Target key individuals (Eg: Innocent Self-identified Targeted Individuals now report but officials refuse to aid).
  8. Control the press (Eg: Black-out most of what is in best interest of the public and manipulate viewers to watch what is in best interest of the corporate government, obvious media bias toward either money-makers like Trump or corporate candidates like Hillary Clinton) )
  9. Treat all political dissidents as traitors (Eg: President George Bush's doctrine - 'You are either with us or with the terrorists..." )
  10. Suspend rule of law (Eg: The U.S. has done this so many times in recent years, it is known around the globe as a nation state believing it is above the law, a rogue state).

I mean, seriously...

And now the astrology...here is a brief historical/astrological analysis, not of the candidates, but what this campaign represents in the evolution our country. I have mentioned the link between the present astrology and the 1960's, which is the Pluto/Uranus cycle. Pluto and Uranus were conjunct in the 60's, and now they are coming out of the series of exact squares they went through between 2012 and 2015. The impact of those squares is being played out now. One astrologer referred to this interplay of the two planets as alchemy, generated in the 60's, reemerging now. It's as if the influence loosed in the 60's have been spellbound until now. To add to that, there are significant points of contact between the most commonly read US chart (for July 4th, 1776) which has the US Sun, Jupiter, Mercury and Venus in Cancer and Pluto in Capricorn. Remember that Pluto has a long orbit of 248 years. What that means for astrology is that Pluto stays in one sign for many years, actually a generation, only completing the 12-sign cycle approximately every 250 years. And how old is the US?  240 years. So Pluto, the planet of birth, death, resurrection, and transformation is now where it was when the US was born, in Capricorn, not to the exact degree but approaching it. So astrologically the United States is in an extended period of transformation and rebirth. One astrologer analyzing this whole awakening process of seeing what exactly has happened to America, likened it to the stages of grief outlined by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. Much of the country is now coming out of the shock/denial stage, but many of them are in the anger or depression stages (think Trump supporters).  Some are in the bargaining stage, and a few are moving toward acceptance, which hopefully will get us to some solutions.

So the current emphasis on the Constitution
in politics and in our civil discourse is no mistake, it's divine timing in action, and it's good. We all need to think about the rights we usually take for granted, our Constitutional rights, as we prepare to vote in this election this year.  We need to be aware and stay aware of the danger the Supreme Court has posed to those rights these last years, and decide who would best protect them going forward. Even on the outside chance that an appointment by President Obama goes through, as other justices leave the court, new appointments will need to be made. These are not matters to be left to others, they are our responsibility as citizens. And also of Sagittarius, ruling over legal matters, such as the replacement of Antonin Scalia on the High Court. The delays and complications around the president's nomination and the confirmation process all fall within the purview of Saturn, which is all but at a standstill in Sagittarius right now. Then on March 25th, Saturn will be turning retrograde, bringing even more delays. At the same time, Mars will also be slowing down, sitting at the same degree for almost the entire month of April before it retrogrades.

So this week's astrology is pretty much one thing after another. The equinox was this morning at 12:31 am. In the Northeast, as in much of the country, we are expecting snow, a little cosmic joke for our amusement (and annoyance) on the first day of Spring. Take it as last bit of time floating in the Piscean dream world, with Venus conjunct Neptune just as we are leaving the waters of Pisces and just before entering action oriented Aries, nicely complementing all that Sagittarian energy.  Oh, except that Jupiter in Virgo is square Saturn.  Jupiter expands, Saturn restricts, so a feeling of having one foot on the gas and the other on the brake pedal will persist through the end of March, reinforced by Saturn's retrograde motion. Does anyone remember that Jupiter (now retrograde, but still close) has also been conjunct both the North Node/the path forward, and Bernie Sanders's Sun? And BTW, transiting Jupiter has also been conjunct the US chart Neptune, indicating idealism and compassion. Does all this not explicitly mirror Bernie Sander's campaign, hampered all the way by the status quo media/Saturn which has refused to cover him almost completely, yet he has persisted and won/Jupiter a fair number of delegates anyway, voicing his idealism/ Neptune about America and his compassion/Neptune for the middle and working classes?

As a TruthOut op/ed put it:
"However, what Sanders has tapped into is more than just anger. People have gravitated toward him not just because they are righteously angry at the way things are, but also because they see in him an earnest and lifelong passion for justice. They perceive in his campaign something that has been lost and needs to be recovered — an authentic (rather than opportunistic) sense that an ethical orientation in politics grounded on fairness, democracy, and the common good is not something that just “happens,” but something for which we must collectively fight.
Sanders’ recent political campaign is just another chapter in a book that he has been writing over the course of 50 years — a book that gives life to something that has been stomped on by the neoliberal agenda, but has deep roots in the psyche of most Americans: compassion and care for the other."
 
Anyway,  there will be a lot of "hurry up and wait" type energy, requiring lots of patience, but with persistence, things that have been elusive in the past can actually get done with Jupiter and Saturn. Neptune and Saturn are also still square, pitting the logical and realistic against the deluded and irrational - Sanders (and Clinton) vs. Trump anyone? We are in the midst of several reality checks this month, a time when our aspirations and goals will be tested for authenticity in the face of frustrations and limitations. We may also have several chances to see how honest we are being with ourselves, or how honest others are being with us, with all that Sagittarius around.    
                                                                                                                                       

All of these aspects are present for the other big star show for the week - the second eclipse on Wednesday morning, March 23rd. This is a Full Moon penumbral (partial) lunar eclipse on the Aries/Libra axis, and close enough to the equinox (Sun at zero degrees Aries) to classify it as an Aries point event, one that affects masses of people. A byword for eclipses is "turning point", and a byline for the Aries point is "the personal is political" - no need to elaborate on that. A word to the wise: lunar eclipses intensify emotional reaction and Aries/Libra is about relationship. Again, honesty will be essential. Belligerence, however, is not to be equated with truthfulness - shouting a lie in a loud and obnoxious manner does not make it true, and there probably will be more shouting. Buckle up, wear your helmet, and proceed with caution. Mercury, the Messenger, planet of communication, will be conjunct the Sun for the eclipse. As for the eclipsed Moon, it will be opposite the Sun of course, but so also Mercury. Feelings/Moon opposing Thought/Mercury. After Wednesday we may know if perhaps there has been a turning point in this crazy ride we've been taken on by Mr. Trump. Maybe it'll even turn out be one of those reverse psychology trips that we'll actually thank him for later, you know, for pointing some important things out to us. Many odd and seemingly meaningless things will be demonstrated to us in other ways as well. Like here's one I couldn't have made up, strange but true: An Indiana state trooper stops a woman and give her warning for a traffic violation, then asks her if she has accepted Jesus as her savior. Huh? Religion on the highway

Above all, remember that we are all in this together and strive for kindness and compassion, especially in the face of people exhibiting their own pain for public viewing, (otherwise known as flaming out). There are always alternatives to dealing with chaos and uncertainty, and peace is always a possibility. We must make it a reality, and leave the reality show to Mr. Trump and your drunken neighbor. (If you haven't seen this video from last fall, it's highly amusing, if also tragic): Trump is Your Drunk Neighbor There are also really fantastic energies coming in if you're open to them, higher vibrations that all but wipe out all this nonsense, but also serve to bring them into stark relief, black/white, dark/light, all those opposing forces - just think of them as there to keep us AWAKE and, like Bernie Sanders, looking up. This is from a TruthOut  op-ed, describing Bernie's campaign:


Thanks for listening,

Jan


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Greetings Fellow Travelers,

Like time, astrology marches on, and we either advance into the future or repeat history as the planets turn and return. Here on Earth it does seem that we repeat ourselves more than not, and in that spirit, the Sun entered Pisces just after midnight on Sunday, the annual sign of winter coming to an end. Saturday and Sunday the Leo Moon, waxing to full, created a lighter mood. On Saturday, the moon opposed both Mercury and Venus - it was a good day to have some fun, indulge in a hobby, relax with loved ones and I hope you were able to do that. Sunday featured a fire grand trine between the Moon, Saturn and Uranus, so the good times continued, until the evening when the moon and Mars mixed it up a little and might have caused a little ruckus. All in all, a weekend as weekends should be. Except that there may have been a slightly less jovial undertone, with two of Chiron's centaur cousins, Nessus and Pholus, opposing the moon one after the other. The centaurs are all about healing through conscious awareness, each with a different emphasis. Nessus indicates family or ancestral patterns, particularly of abuse, that need to be overcome, and Pholus' byline is "the buck stops here" urging us to take responsibility even, or especially, when we don't want to. There may have been some breakthrough in the wall of denial we usually hide behind when it comes to family matters. Well, hey, if you're going to spend time with family, might as well have some "family fun", right? So there was that. 

The full Virgo (Snow) moon on Monday kept the emotions and energy running high. With the opposing Sun moving into a conjunction to Neptune, there may have seemed to have been magic in the air, but some of that magic might have rested on unreliable information, making rational thinking dicey. This conjunction is still in effect, so hold off on final decisions for a bit. I hope you had a nice mystical or meditative day yesterday, the 'extra' day we have in Leap Years, because today, Tuesday, we are being brought back to earth when the moon squares stern Saturn midday. Things look up later on, with an optimistic Jupiter aspect ending the first day of March. It may not be coming in like a lion, but the month ahead is a full one.

As of Sunday, then, the astro-scenery starts morphing into an imaginative, emotional Pisces watercolor. Pisces offers oceanic views and total immersion in emotional and mystical experiences. Our psychic fields will be wide open as more planets move into Pisces territory, heading into  one big conjunction later in the month. People will want to sink into their favorite escape modes, but watch out for over-indulgence and dissolution, Pisces is the sign of addiction, as well as entertainmnet and mass conciousness. With Neptune, Chiron, and the Sun already in Pisces, March 5th Mercury follows suit, then Venus on March 12th. Jupiter, traveling just ahead of the North Node, lend some earthly balance on the opposite side of the circle in Virgo, and will also be in a trine relationship with Pluto for the month, adding more depth. It's an interesting time for the presidential primaries, what with the  illusory nature of a Neptune conjunction now, and all that Pisces coming in, massive deception is a distinct possibility. But we know all about politicians, right? Don't be fooled, look beneath appearances.

Meanwhile, the one thing that may throw a monkey wrench into to this Piscean dreamscape is Mars, now in compatible Scorpio, but entering straight-arrow, fiery Sagittarius on March 6th where it will immediately be square some of the planets in Pisces. The veneer of illusion will crack and at least some of the truth will be let out, not without sparks flying though.
Saturn is also in Sagittarius, so it will also be squaring those Pisces planets during their transits.

There is also a total solar eclipse in Aries on March 8-9, not visible in North America but energetically important everywhere. The second eclipse, a penumbral lunar event two weeks later on March 23rd, will be visible here. So these first three weeks of March, always somewhat challenging as the energy for the equinox builds, may bring unexpected difficulties or unwelcome changes. Taking the zen approach, if youcan, remember that change is not good or bad, it is change only.

After the Spring equinox on the 20th and the Aries Sun coming in, Mercury follows into Aries on March 21st. Much of April will feature good energy between the Arian planets and the Sagittarian ones, easing the earlier stress from the Piscean influence. There could still be some surprises with Uranus also in Aries, perhaps good ones though.This Spring will be great for getting a lot done using that initiatory Arian fire and the assist from Mars, Aries' ruler, in complimentary Sagittarius.
Then Mars will take the long way through this transit, retrograding beginning in Sagittarius on May 22nd, reentering Scorpio on May 29th, going direct on June 29th but not returning to Sagittarius until August. This sets up a topsy-turvy and confusing political landscape during the presidential primaries and even the national conventions in July, and perhaps a surprise reversal for one or more of the candidates, even after the conventions. Personally, Mars retrograde can indicate the same. There may be a 'do over', a chance to make a course correction and take steps for real progress on ideas or projects, perhaps even having to wipe the slate clean and start over, or a project may have to go on hold and be picked up again after the retrograde. Projects that can be completed before Mars reverses course in May should be.

Walk mindfully through this shifting environment for the next few weeks. The accumulating pre-equinox vibrations tend to make us feel that we need to be in a hurry. The expression "Make haste slowly" is appropriate. Being aware of your breathing, taking in more oxygen, is one way to slow things down, clear your mind, and energize your body throughout the day, as is taking a walk outside, or just taking a few minutes to just stop and do nothing. There's a reason these breaks are often called 'breathers'.

Enjoy the annual anticipation of the coming Spring, feel the hope rising with the first green shoots, visible signals that the repeating cycles are not just the same old, same old, but rather proof of life and renewal.

In Service,

 Jan

January, 2016
 
Hello Everyone:

Here's a short summary of the week's aspects leading up to the Leo Full Moon tonight. Wednesday morning the Sun entered quirky Aquarius, the fixed air sign whose symbol is the Water Bearer. We usually think of Aquarius in terms of its modern ruler, Uranus, the high frequency energy of technology, innovation, genius, surprises, electricity, accidents and revolution. But the traditional ruler of Aquarius was Saturn, with all its gravity and restrictions, rules and regulations. It's complicated. Aquarians my appear at times to be quite conservative, overly organized and set in their ways, and then suddenly they will display their unconventional side and act or sound more like a human rights activist or, if they're Baby Boomers, like flower children. So that's the kind of energy we will be living in for the next month. Thursday we also had two other aspects, Mercury, retrograde in Capricorn and not far from Pluto, was square Uranus in Aries, and perhaps we experienced reminders of the power struggles of the past couple of years. If so, I hope yours were just reminders, and not revisits.

Now we are in the midst of the pre-Full Moon in Leo (11:16 tonight) snowstorm here on the East coast. In NYC, the news has been showing people playing in Central Park with their dogs all day, and even after dark, walking around in Times Square in the snow because there is a driving ban so, no cars. That's Leo, the party hound sign, making everything fun. The Moon of course also affects the tides, so along with all the snow there are coastal flood warnings and actual coastal flooding in New Jersey and elsewhere. Maybe you've noticed how Mercury Retrograde the storm reporting has been? North of the DC area they just could not decide on the forecast, here in CT they only issued the blizzard warning this morning. And maybe they were correct to hold off, because it's not really acting like a blizzard as far as I can tell. This is what we can expect two days before Mercury turns Direct again, that will be Monday. Coincidentally, this period before the change of direction is called the 'Mercury Storm'. It will take about until about Wednesday or Thursday for everything to start returning to normal after the snow, which is just about the length of time the 'storm' usually lasts. However, Mercury is closely conjunct Pluto when it turns, so the fallout (ha, ha, Pluto rules nuclear power), may be significant.

So take it easy for the next few days as things sort themselves out. If you're in the snow zone, may you be safe and warm for the duration. Have a little snow party, hot chocolate and a fire maybe.
 
 
Correction and Additions:
 
luto opposite Cancer Sun conjunct Mars. This is fairly tense energy, with the distinct possibility of power struggles. There is already the very public one going on between proponents of the Supreme Court decisions and those opposed (and I realize that it’s not just
Thanksgiving, 2015
 
Neptune messing with me!

OK, the correct dates are Saturday the 28th for the Grand Cross, Sunday the 29th for Sun/ Saturn square Neptune, and Monday for the Grand Trine. Friday is a blessedly quiet day, good for digesting, winding down, and resting a little.
Enjoy!

I hurried to get the update out before the Full Moon, so I skipped an important configuration on Saturday the 28th. There will be a Grand Square featuring Pluto opposite the Cancer Moon and both at odds with Uranus and Mars. If your relatives or guests are still around for the holiday weekend, this may present quite a challenge to close ties. Those old flashpoint issues may surface with a vengeance, if briefly. Try to keep it light, avoid confrontations, unless you're in the mood for a knock down, drag out fight. Saturday also presents some difficulty with the Sun and Saturn together but both square Neptune. Sunday brings relief, with a fiery Grand Trine easing the energy flow considerably. I don't know why the intensity has to be on the holiday when we are all trying just to get through it with some measure of grace and enjoyment, so we just have to have faith that God knows what He/She is doing and do the best we can.

 
Thanksgiving Greetings Everyone,

This is going to be quick, and again my apologies, I'm finding it difficult to carve out (pun intended) the time to write a decent update.

Here's a little list of the recent astrological developments:

  • Sunday the 22nd at 10:25 am, Sun entered Sagittarius, the sign of the Centaur, half man, half horse, representing the integration of spirit and body, and the search for Truth, ruled by optimistic Jupiter - should lighten the mood somewhat, bring in some enthusiasm and good cheer (should...)

  • Full Moon today, Wednesday the 25th at 5:44 pm EST - this is a pretty serious one, as you may have noticed - the stress has been palpable, even physical for some, and of course pulling everyone's emotional triggers and setting off little fires all over the place - much of the intensity comes from the trio of planets in Sagittarius directly opposite the Gemini Moon. Saturn is the closest angle, with Mercury next to it. Saturn with Mercury can have us thinking seriously or about serious subjects, perhaps depressed thoughts as well. It could also help with problem-solving and organization. Those who are responsible for Thanksgiving dinner may find the planning and execution a bit easier, but complicated by emotional considerations. 

  • Saturn square Neptune, exact the 29th - this is the first in a series of three spanning next year, and it is significant - the energies of Saturn and Neptune are generally not compatible, as Saturn tends toward structure and limits, and Neptune toward dissolution and boundlessness, so what Saturn erects, Neptune dissolves. On a generational level, Neptune is in the process of dissolving many of our societal institutions. I had wondered what some of the effects of this angle would be, and then came the Paris attacks - you see? I wouldn't want to expect more of the same, but in reality, we may indeed see more of the same. The forces of Saturn, which has rulership over governments, are holding on tight; witness the front-runners of the Republican presidential primaries. Neptune, which rules the oceans, just keeps the tides coming in and going out, wearing away whatever structures or obstacles are in its way. Some of this erosion is both necessary and good, but having to live through it is another story. Since Saturn is in charge of keeping structure intact, the overall feeling is one of confusion and chaos. This is a time for all of us to practice what we know, not to resist change, but to allow the transitions and to flow with them while maintaining only what is essential in our own little lives. As always, resistance is born of fear, and fear limits our options and our vision.
The good news is that the Full Moon is today, and we can all thank our lucky stars (;-)), not just because it's Thanksgiving, but that by the time we all sit down to dinner with our favorite dysfunctional people, our families, the most intense energies will be dispersing instead of building up. The Sabian Symbol for 3 degrees Gemini, the degree of the Full Moon, reminds us that this is the start of the holiday season, andeven with all the problems and crises personally and here on our planet, we might as well be cheerful -  the symbol reads, "a series of rooms in a hospitable house decorated gaily with holly and mistletoe".
So strive for balance, relax a little, be kind, and of course, remember gratitude.

Peace,

Jan
 
September, 2015
 
Here we are past the Equinox, at the midpoint of the Mercury Retrograde cycle and the end of the inter-eclipse cycle. How’s everyone doing?

From what I’ve heard, it’s been pretty intense for those hit directly (by which I mean if the eclipse contacted their Sun, Moon, or another prominent planet in their natal chart, especially Virgos, Sagittarians, Pisceans, and Geminis) with the solar eclipse on September 13th. The upcoming total lunar eclipse early Sunday night (exact at 10:11 pm Eastern, visible here) will be on the Aries/Libra axis, which is about self and other. It is also being billed as a Supermoon, large and super bright, and is the last in a series of four so-called Blood Moons, with a reddish tint. (There is a biblical reference to the blood moon in Revelations, but I interpret ‘end times’ as metaphoric, not literal - so far.) The Moon is about emotion, our emotional make-up, especially in the context of our childhood and the past. So the emotional content of our relationships will be the focus of the eclipse energy. Add Mercury Retrograde, also in LIbra, highlighting communication within relationships, and thinking before we speak becomes even more essential. Eclipses can also signal breakthroughs. And who among us couldn't use a breakthrough in communication in at least one close relationship? A breakthrough creates a crack that lets light in. Also, the eclipse occurs at 4 degrees, very near the Aries point, which if you remember, is the beginning of the zodiac and has been associated with events that affect millions of people.

So, anyone detect anything relative to these themes on the collective level this past week or so? Well, we all witnessed Pope Francis’ historic visit, his wise and timely words touching millions of Catholics and everyone else as well. And well-chosen those words were. His address to Congress was a powerful and refreshing, yet gently delivered, reminder that we are indeed our brother’s keeper, to a governing body that appears to have lost its way in regards to that very concept. Few individuals have the creds to pull that off. We suffered John Boehner weeping through the Pope’s speech together, thinking that he was A) drunk, B) overwhelmed by his own Irish Catholic background and proximity to the Pope, or C) overcome by the crowning achievement of his tenure in the House (he invited the Pope to speak). And it may actually have been D) All or None of the above, as we were taken by surprise on Friday when he announced his resignation as Speaker and from Congress at the end of October. Quite the eclipse for the House of Representatives and the Republican party in particular. One might ask, what could possibly go wrong?

The recent entry of Saturn into Sagittarius seems to be playing into all of this communication shifting. The words “Speaking Truth to Power” come to mind. Sagittarius demands a couple of things, truth is one and discernment is another. We are already getting a dose of how our societal structures and government/Saturn might function differently if more truth were introduced. The same goes for our relationship structures, honesty is vital to true intimacy. We must ask ourselves what is left without the truth and what is it worth?

We have also been treated to, or tortured by, the communication style of one Donald Trump on the campaign trail, a trail littered with all manner of blather, bluster, and insults to assorted groups and individuals he doesn’t like, all delivered with utter self-assurance, and then the intent listening with that squinty-pouty thing, topped off by the famous hair - it’s more than a bit much. He did not fare as well in the second Republican 'debate', when someone even more outspoken, Carly Fiorina, won the nastiest insult contest, so perhaps his star is fading. That would be a relief, except for the question of who will be the next rising star? At least it won’t be Scott Walker, who was apparently called out of the race by God. I mean, you can’t make this stuff up. In counterpoint, we have Stephen Colbert. Many were worried that his more mainstream late night position would take the edge off of his political humor. If his first shows are any indication, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about. But kidding aside, we are all aware that there are conscientious, reasonable Republicans in the Congress, it’s the extremism on display that concerns me and many others of both parties. We can take heart that perhaps the shake-up will be beneficial in the long run, providing the energy needed to break the logjam and lead to forward movement. That would be the essence of a positive outcome from seemingly disruptive eclipse changes. We’ll see in the coming months how it all plays out.

In other news, we were collectively saddened by the death of Yogi Berra, talented baseball star but perhaps even more well-known for voicing his backwards logic that somehow made sense to everyone. His daughter was asked if the quotes attributed to Yogi were authentic and she affirmed that they were, and stated that her uncles all spoke the same way - imagine the conversation at a Berra family holiday dinner! And in case all of this is just plain wrong, as a disclaimer and in honor of Yogi, I would just like to say “I didn’t really say everything I said."

Speaking of rising stars - after her summer-long retrograde, Venus has been transitioning from Evening to Morning star. She is now visible in the early dawn hours while she and Mars move along in tandem until they meet again for their third exact conjunction in early November. Their path represents another facet of the communication drama, the age-old dance - or battle, our choice - of the sexes. On the global level, this is the struggle between the patriarchal culture that has been built up over millennia and defines much of our world today, and the oppressed matriarchal forces which must return in order for us to regain balance. Spiritually, it is the rising of the Divine Feminine, the Goddess, to meet and merge with the masculine God, as is the way in most of the universe. Personally it is our task to balance these forces within us, energetically right and left sides of the brain and energy body. In relationships and in society, the goal is equality between women and men. Much progress has been made, and much work is yet to be done. 


If you are personally undergoing stressful or disruptive situations during this cycle I hope this information is helpful (or at least a little amusing.) You are definitely not alone. I have already heard some harrowing accounts of things that people have experienced, and would welcome any feedback you might want to share. In the meantime, Try to utilize the power of this period to create a positive outcome and take care of yourselves and each other.

 
 
July, 2015
 
Hello Everyone:

Have you noticed that there’s a lot of 60’s music being revisited these days. Neil Young is still writing protest songs, and found himself in the news recently when Donald Trump of all people, used his music, without his personal permission, and of course against his wishes, to launch his campaign for president. (OMG, the hair alone should disqualify him.) The Grateful Dead is celebrating their 50 year anniversary (a little early, it’s really this fall) in Chicago this weekend, and James Taylor has released his first album in 13 years, his latest in a public music career the began 47 years ago. And Joni Mitchell, unbeknownst to many, is suffering the effects of a massive stroke last March that left her unable to speak - what irony for one so eloquent in her songwriting. Here’s link to one of her best, purposely poignant: The Circle Game

Why was Rock and Roll so revolutionary? Well, it was born out in the shadow of the last leg of the Pluto/Uranus cycle, Pluto was conjunct Uranus from 1964 to 1968. That astrology sent shockwaves through our culture with ripples throughout the 70’s. We have just lived through Pluto/Uranus square, from 2012 to 2015, and will be seeing the outworking of it for some time to come. This past week was a taste of that, actually a pretty large gulp. It was quite an interesting week, no?

The first hit was on June 18th with the shooting of 9 people in one of the oldest black churches in the country in South Carolina - seems like another era, doesn’t it? We could not have foreseen the events of the next few days. First, the families of the slain in an act that can only be understood as an act of Grace, publicly forgiving the shooter. Then, several days of demands for the Confederate flag, which still flies at the state capital of South Carolina, to be taken down, with the likes of conservative Southern Republicans, among them Governor NIcki Haley and Senator Linsday Graham, graciously agreeing it was the right thing to do. Followed by Confederate flags being removed all over the place, including from the shelves of Walmart and Sears, and the pages of eBay and Amazon. And speaking of Grace, then there was the stunning eulogy for state Senator Clementa Pinckney by President Obama, culminated by his singing “Amazing Grace”. Here’s the link in case you missed it, or just want to see it again: Obama, Amazing Grace  Better than Joan Baez, the 60’s again, during the original Civil Rights movement. Today it was announced that Misty Copeland has become the first African American ballerina to be named principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater. Then two rapid fire decisions by the Supreme Court, one upholding the ACA, Affordable Care Act, as the law of the land, and the second in favor of same-sex marriage nationwide. 

It’s hard not to feel the reverberations from the social upheaval of the 1960’s, echoing down through the decades in the music itself. Here’s another link, a little event that was filmed just yesterday at  James Madison University:  Students drown out anti-gay preacher with Love                                  

Not to bring us all down, but we must remember that these are victories, to be sure, but the struggle is ongoing and there is much more to be done. Even as those killed in South Carolina were being buried, no less than 6 black churches burned in the past two weeks, at least three so far set on fire intentionally. The extreme right wing of the Republican party has been aflame (or flaming out) with Biblical references about marriage, with another presidential candidate, Senator Ted Cruz, declaring last Friday “the darkest day in our history”. Seriously. I mean, buying good candidates for president is as hard as finding good household help these days, isn’t it? (Political and racial references intended, but not to offend.)

Now, the astrology of the shooting would have been comical it was so obvious if it hadn’t been a tragedy. The newly minted Cancer Sun was conjunct Mars the day after solstice and so both had just made a square to the Aries point. Remember the Aries point, the first degree of the zodiac, the one that may precipitate mass public events that affect large numbers of people? Yeah. So there was that. 

Coming up tomorrow is the Capricorn Full Moon at 10:30 pm. This is a pretty interesting Full Moon, featuring Capricorn Moon conjunct P
Republicans, they’re just the most vocal). Watch your reactions to close partners, family, spouses, friends, bosses and try for balance rather than one upsmanship or attempts to control, or conversely to be controlled. You may also be in an internal tug of war of your own, whether between what you want and what you have, or with your past and your present, or your goals and how you may have compromised in trying to reach them. Or it may feel like “ Hurry up and wait”, being ready to get going but feeling held back at the same time. Good thing we have Venus conjunct Jupiter tonight, a happier aspect that is easing us into the Full Moon on a lighter note. 
OK, everybody, the snow may have stopped but the Mercury retro storm is still raging.The Full Moon was at 8:46 Eastern time last night, I don't know where I got 11:16, but if you didn't catch it last night, look outside tonight - especially with the snow, it's quite beautiful. I also left out another sign change that happened yesterday, Venus went into the Capricorn, creating a shift in our attitude having to do with our values, our desires, and what, who and how we love. Venus will be joining Mercury and Pluto in Capricorn. Retrograde Mercury was conjunct Pluto last Friday and will join it again next Saturday in direct motion, the second and third conjunctions since December. So we've been in an intense review during this retrograde of our methods of communication and our mental processes. Now with Venus in the mix, we will be seriously, with Capricorn precision, looking at what and who we value. Are there changes you have wanted to initiate in your way of relating to family members or in a close partnership? If so, the need for change will be on the radar all week, with Pluto pushing the energy relentlessly, getting the job done by whatever means necessary. Watch for over-reacting or over-thinking, just be aware when habitual means of relating come up, observe your own and others' knee-jerk reactions and see what can be adjusted to better serve your needs and desires.

Jupiter/good fortune, exuberance has also been on the North Node/destiny path at 22 degrees Virgo for a while, exact again on Friday, lending some optimism to our perception of the future, especially for Virgos or those with Virgo prominent in their chart. For example, Senator Bernie t
Sanders has his own North Node, his personal destiny path, at 22 degrees Virgo, and look at the trajectory of his campaign for president.  His Sun is also in Virgo, at 15 degrees. His Neptune is in Virgo as well, at 26 degrees, which most likely denotes his highly idealistic nature. The North Node in the sky on his Neptune may be helping him translate that idealism to the voting public, but it could also be clouding his message, by design and deceit on the part of his opponents, or with confusion over what it means when he calls himself a Democratic Socialist. The fact that he is making such an impact despite both those factors in play, and in an almost total media blackout, is significant. It will be interesting to see what happens with the first primaries in Iowan and New Hampshire coming up.The North Node and Jupiter, which is retrograde, will both reach the Senator's Sun (the Nodes move through the zodiac in reverse) in June, and he will have other positive influences right through the election. We shall see what that ends up meaning for him.

So have a good week, the weather has cleared for the time being, and you may be noticing the days getting longer. February 2nd is one of the cross-quarter days, the midpoint between winter and spring. We call it Ground Hog Day now, but it is known in the older traditions as Imbolc or Candlemas. Whatever we may call it, it is a reminder that winter will not last forever, that spring is just around the corner.

 

Take the counsel of this Moon, which is to keep your eye on the next steps but take them in turn, one at at a time. And always to remember God’s timing, it’s different than ours. And it’s perfect. 

Like that old (60’s) phrase, (and the title of the 70’s book) "Don’t push the river, it flows by itself.”

Jan

 
March, 2015
 
HI Again,


Total Solar eclipse of March 20, 2015 at 29 degrees Pisces (from space.com)


To continue, yesterday’s eclipse was a powerful catalyst for transformation. The changes may have been long in the making and may even be welcome, but they will seem sudden and may feel disruptive. As always, resistance can cause some consternation, so watch for flare-ups and short tempers, especially about old, unresolved issues with the South Node and Uranus involved. Also remember that there will be another eclipse in two weeks, they come in pairs. Eclipse intervals are like being in another dimension, they have a surreal quality to them, but this one perhaps more so. The last degree of Pisces can be surrealistic all by itself, the unconscious becomes conscious and you’re not sure if you’re awake or sleeping, like a lucid dream. 

The second eclipse will be on April 4th at 14 degrees Libra. The two eclipses bracket a specific set of circumstances that change for better or worse, or that need to change, but the effects continue for about six months until the next eclipses, which this year are in September. Lunar eclipses are said to be connected to our ‘shadow’, the inner darkness that we hide from ourselves and project onto others. This total lunar eclipse will point to our partnerships, a marriage, or other close relationships and involve much emotional/lunar content in the context of the solar eclipse and whatever issues or events occur in the two-week inter-eclipse period.   

Eclipse season can be very trying, so be aware, be kind, and as always, follow the first rule of the inverse, according to Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), “Don’t panic!” When we come out at the end of this cycle, Spring should really have arrived, and very  welcome indeed.

In service,

Jan

 
Today was quite the active astrology day (and it is apparently International Astrology Day as well, whatever that means). At 5:36 am was the solar Eclipse (visible in the Arctic but not here), and at 6:45 pm was the Vernal Equinox, and in-between the snow stared again, now up to about 5 inches in CT and still going. Ha, ha, funny joke, kind of like April Fool’s Day.

The eclipse was no joke though, coming in at the last degree of Pisces, which always indicates an ending as it is the last degree of the zodiac, followed by the new beginning of the equinox at 1 Aries, which could arguably be the real new year. The line-up of Sun (consciousness, soul)/Moon (emotional body)/South Node (where we are coming from, past patterns)/Uranus (revolutionary, erratic, electric)/Mars (action, passion, war) in Aries in trine aspect to Saturn (structure, limits) in Sagittarius (truth) is quite the setup - for what it’s hard to say, but it will be palpable whatever happens, and will not feel like easing into the new season. 

And it all comes on the heels of the last Pluto/Uranus square in the long series we have lived through since 2012 last Monday, and Saturn returning to retrograde motion last Saturday. It feels to me like everything is moving in slow motion and fast forward at the same time. Makes you kind of dizzy, and you may actually be a little dizzy, because to top it off there were some serious solar flares again last week.
The expression "Plus ça change, plus c’est la meme chose may be appropriate, everything changing and staying the same simultaneously.

 
January, 2015
 
Hi ALl,

This is a very brief note to alert you that Mercury, now stationary, will be going into (apparent) retrograde motion tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at 10:54 Eastern time. When I say apparent, remember that the planet does not really go backwards in its path, it merely appears to do so, creating an illusion much like passing a train while driving your car. You will have the sensation that you are indeed moving in reverse, but it is but an illusion. For this retrograde, Mercury is conjunct the Aquarian moon, which was conjunct the Sun just today for the New Moon. So this is a multi-level shift. The Moon represents our past, childhood, and Mom while the Sun is our consciousness at birth and throughout our life. Mercury, our mental processes, in retrograde brings us back a bit to review more recent history and shed old baggage before we move forward again into new pursuits. So it’s one step forward, two steps back. All the usual precautions are definitely in order with this particular retrograde. Then again, life does go on, just take your time with decisions, spending, and new comittments, preferably waiting the retrograde out if you are able. 

Aquarian themes are in the air for the next few weeks, among them universal brother/sisterhood and our common humanity.In the State of the Union address tonight President Obama will be outlining proposals that already have the Republican majority in Congress’ knickers in a twist. The President seems to have returned to the promises he made during his campaigns and be putting forth a much more progressive agenda with a decidedly Aquarian slant. We’ll see how well he follows through. It is a tricky evening to be giving this address, but let’s hope it really does represent a fresh start.

Take care, more soon.

Jan


ASEA notes:

Check out my updated ASEA website, same address:


There are more videos, one in particular I like is the one called Breakthrough. Click on the Science pull down menu and go to Redox Signaling. This video gives a glimpse of the visionary point of view of those who developed the ASEA products, as well as a clear explaination of the science they are based on.

Take a look and let me know if you are interested in trying ASEA.
 
November, 2014
 
Hello there,

Here’s a little update for this week, which may tend toward some stresses, tension and drama as we head into the Full Taurus Moon on Thursday. .The emphasis is still on Scorpio, with the Sun, Venus, Vesta, and Saturn, which planets made some nice trines to Neptune and Chiron last week, while the Moon in Pisces over the weekend also provided some relaxed trine energy to the same planets in Scorpio, ending with the trine to Saturn this morning at 4:05. The obvious Scorpio themes of Halloween, Samhein, Day of the Dead, All Saints Day November 1st, and All Soul’s Day November 2nd, are about to morph to an even deeper level this week as we journey through the fall of 2014. At 1:52 pm today, the environment will shift as the Moon enters Aries, so beginning a couple of days of serious squares until about 4:30 pm on Wednesday. The Aries Moon will pass through the Pluto Uranus square, so it will square Mars, then Pluto, then conjunct Uranus and Eris. This rapid-fires series of squares to major planets will challenge us to keep our cool, think before reacting, and generally be aware of our emotional triggers. We also need to remind ourselves that we have power/Scorpio in any situation, even if it appears otherwise. If you’re having trouble, rather than trying to do everything yourself, try to reach out to allies (assuming you know who they are) for support. Remember how much more can be accomplished by "two or more gathered” together.
 And speaking of “gathered together”, we will be doing that as a nation tomorrow, going to the polls to vote (please do vote, especially if you are a Democrat or a progressive, and believe in civil rights, women’s rights, voter rights, the Bill of Rights, a clean environment, a non-corrupt political process, and democracy itself) and then the long vigil, waiting to see which way the vote falls for control of the Senate.You may think it makes no difference, but mid-terms are important, none mores than this year. Remember that the original Conservative revolution in the House of Representative, ushered in by Newt Gingrich, occurred during a mid-term election, as did the more recent take- over by the so-called Tea Partiers, the radical right-wing element who want to dismantle Medicare, and of course ‘Obamacare’, and privatize Social Security and everything else. If you like what happened to your 401K around about 2008, you’ll love privatized Social Security, a  program that has successfully kept millions out of poverty for 75 years, never missing a monthly payment to any recipient.  

The mini-crisis period will wrap up with the Full Moon at 14 degrees of the Taurus/Scorpio axis Thursday at  5:23 pm EDT. 

oops, a slip of the hand, like it wanted to send itself!
So the Full Moon on Thursday will have a bit of a rough run-up, including a contentious election, and perhaps a contentious post-election period (some are predicting several run-offs, or recounts, of election results in the closer races, and there are several). We would all do well to monitor our reactions, keep our own council, if possible (I know, I should talk…)
The Sabian Symbol for 14 Taurus is “on the beach, children play while shellfish grope at the edge of the water”. Hmmm, sounds like two levels of consciousness, human life and sea life, both naturally exploring their own environment from different stages of evolution.  It was the opposite symbol (14 Scorpio, the degree soy the Sun) that caught my eye, though “telephone linesmen at work installing new connections”. WHile children play and innocent sea creatures forage for food, others are working to secure connect lines of communication. I can’t decide if that is a hopeful sign for the election or not…we shall see. 
Light on the entire process and on every voter, and everyone running for office with the intent of lifting our society out of its present mess.

Thanks for listening, take care,

Jan


 
June/July, 2014
 
Changing Scenery
 
Hello All,

Last week may have reminded you of all the pressure we have been under all year as the Cardinal Grand Cross unfolded. We have all hopefully learned something about how to navigate the intensity, so it may be easier now than a year ago - if the issues are being addressed constructively. (Unlike Israel, or Iraq, who appear bound to keep duking it out.) The Cross and the Water Grand Trine have been active for several days now, peaking this morning with the Capricorn Full Moon and the Cancer Sun completing the square with Moon/Pluto, Mars in Libra and Uranus in Aries. If by any chance you don't know what problems or challenges you individually or we collectively face, you may not have been paying attention. Also by now you should be able to see and act on at least some solutions.The energy will now start waning and then shifting with two planets changing signs - Jupiter into Leo on July 16th and Mars into Scorpio on July 25th, moving them both out of cardinal territory. The Pluto/Uranus square, the crux (get it?) of the cross, will remain until next year. So the landscape is about to shift and clear the view to the future.

As we take our summer breaks from our routines, when we return there may be renewed energy to act on plans and tackle projects. What seemed like sheer rock cliffs may be reduced to navigable mountains, probably not molehills though. Leos born in the early degrees of the sign may need to watch for overconfidence or overextension of resources. Scorpios, especially those who still have Saturn on or near their Sun, may find they have more energy with the addition of Mars, the traditional ruler of Scorpio, to their sign. They might also need to watch for anger, be careful driving, with power tools, sharp instruments and tongues. The long march of Mars through LIbra, including a 5 month retrograde, was about relationship, partnership, balance, equality and sharing. A few already had the message, some got the message, others may never get the message. Didn't they ever go to kindergarten? 


All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

~by Robert Fulgham~


Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in Kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at nursery school. 

These are the things I learned: Share everything.  Play fair.  Don't hit people.  Put things back where you found them.  Clean up your own mess.  Don't take things that aren't yours.  Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.  Wash your hands before you eat.  Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.  Live a balanced life.  Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work some every day. 

Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.  Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the plastic cup.  The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that. 

Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the plastic cup ~ they all die.  So do we. 

And then remember the book about Dick and Jane and the first word you learned, the biggest word of all:  LOOK.  Everything you need to know is in there somewhere.  The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation, ecology and politics and sane living. 

Think of what a better world it would be if we all ~the whole world  had cookies and milk about 3 o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets for a nap.  Or if we had a basic policy in our nation and other nations to always put things back where we found them and clean up our own messes.  And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.
Too banal? Too cliche? Too old-fashioned? So what?

Never did that last line resound in my mind more poignantly than when I first viewed the photos of this children being led out of Sany Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012, reverberating even louder when I read that their slain classmates had been found holding hands. I hope the children crossing our Southern border fleeing lives of poverty and violence are holding hands and sticking together. Would that our leaders would do the same - but after viewing the film of them attempting to do just that while singing a lame version of "We Shall Overcome" on the Senate floor at the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington, I doubt that many of them are still capable of it, nor do they want to be. Maybe there should be a mandatory kindergarten review course for all those entering Congress before they are sworn into office? At least have this be mandatory summer reading - for all of us, every summer.

May the energy shifts bring us closer to our goals, and to each other. May the lessons learned in these past months not have been for naught. And may we all remember, when venturing out into the world, it's always best to hold hands and stick together.

Love, Jan


ASEA News:
I am narrowing down a date to gather and introduce Renu 28 to those interested. In the meantime, call me at (203) 431-7759 or write me here if you wish to sign up or order.


 
HAll,
 
I missed the last New Moon in May, and now have almost missed reporting on June's yesterday in Cancer, sign of all things maternal and all things big business, as well as all things crabby and cranky. Each New Moon sets the tone for the coming month so it is good to be aware of the subtle shifts they bring, and to consciously reset our priorities. Cancer will add an emotional note to everything, in contrast to last month when the New Moon was in mental Gemini. Our responses will be of a more emotional nature, for better or worse. Home and family are emphasized under Cancer, so family gatherings, picnics and reunions in the month of July are favored. and not just because it's summer. 

Mercury will be returning to direct motion on Tuesday July 1st, but as always don't expect everything to aright itself immediately, give it a few days or so. Later on, Jupiter will be changing signs from Cancer, where it has been traveling for the last year, to Leo, good news for fire signs, perhaps especially all you beleaguered Aries whose Sun has been challenged by Uranus and the Cardinal Cross. Mars will also be leaving Libra and entering Scorpio, so speaking of that Cross, we are almost at the end of its long and for most, disruptive, influence - yay! Don't get me wrong, the Pluto/Uranus square is ongoing into next year, and right now Uranus is still opposing Mars, but the Grand Cardinal Cross will be waning as the summer progresses.  Friday's New Moon and corresponding Capricorn Full Moon in two weeks are the last moments of this intense energy we’ve been living with all year. Between these two events we will get some confirmation of what we’ve learned, whether and how we’ve mastered our lessons and some ideas about where we may want to go from here. Like New Moons, sign changes of major planets reset the tenor of the environment and these sign changes will create the sensation of ‘a whole new year’ within the current year. For many, that will be welcome news.

I leave you with this quote, from Ted Kennedy, who passed the torch of responsibility before he left us with this mantra to begin each New Moon, or each day really, of our journey. It reminds me of the oft-repeated one "In the spiritual life, you are always at the beginning."


“The work begins anew. The hope rises again. And the dream lives on.”

Peace,
Jan
 
May, 2014
 

Hello Everyone,

Now that Spring has finally kicked in, the nicer weather and greenery helps us cope with the lingering effects of the waning Grand Cross, the Blood Moon eclipse and subsequent solar eclipse The stress has eased some but the fallout will continue due to slow-movers Pluto and Uranus who are still within one degree of each other and will remain close until their last square in 2015. Every so often the Cross will be activated briefly by a transiting planet. Nothing to do but keep putting one foot in front of the other and address existing problems head on rather than fall into denial, apathy, depression or complacency - and we all know that's easier said than done. One of the after-effects is a deep kind of exhaustion that many are feeling. Just being able to be outdoors, take in some direct sunlight, and connect with nature is restorative and refreshing for sagging energy levels.

Venus has entered Aries (I want it and I want it NOW) and has already begun a series of transits that are all about what we want. Tomorrow, the 11th, Venus is opposite Mars. They are occupying each other's signs, so it's like a role reversal and It could be causing some friction between the sexes. It may be like looking in a mirror (or maybe through the looking glass..) Despite the sexual tension, make plans to get what you want anyway, no apologies. Also this Mother's Day weekend the Libran moon will conjunct Mars on its way to moving through the big Cross by around Tuesday. And Mercury in Gemini is square Chiron and Neptune, so deception is possible. Be in integrity. And Saturn in Scorpio is opposite the Taurus Sun, so if you have something to say to someone, you might want to wait a few days, though it is a good weekend for written or mental work. Anytime the Cross is activated by transiting planets, the energy might translate roughly as AFGE (Another Fucking Growth Experience). This would explain the exhaustion.

On the 14th Venus will be square Pluto. At its best this will bring in a lot of creative expression and artistic fervor, and again, don't worry about social pressure to conform to what others think you should want or express. On the 15th, Venus and Uranus are conjunct, leading us to find our own fit and to abandon efforts that do not fulfill our needs. Uranus urges us to be creative out of the box. On the 17th Venus is opposite the asteroid Vesta, who would demand that we receive our proper due, protect your creativity, but also use it to help others use theirs. On the 18th, Venus squares Jupiter, so create a financial plan, but watch for over-extension and use good judgement. Venus opposes the asteroid Ceres on the 19th, more insistence on fiscal responsibility, emphasis on what nurtures you in the context of your financial bottom line. Venus and Eris conjoin on the 22nd, don't allow abandonment issues to keep you from your good. On the 26th Venus is conjunct the South node, which is what we bring in with us to this lifetime. Don't be surprised if old familiar faces show up from your past. Don't fall into old traps, but welcome honest offers of help if you need it. All these Venus aspects may bring out our neediness if our wants aren't being met. Remember they are there to help us get clear about what those needs really are and about who/what we need and want around us as well as who/what we don't.

Mars will be returning to direct motion on May 19. As it travels back over the degrees it retrograded through, physical progress can be made on earlier decisions and plans. In Libra, these might involve changes to existing relationships and partnerships, as well as activity regarding pending legal decisions or other issues related to justice. Libra seeks equality, so in any situation that is imbalanced, with one partner doing all the heavy lifting, the need for adjustment will become more obvious. Note the growing public discourse about the widening inequality between the advantaged and the disadvantaged in America, and the growing disgust with the current Congress to alleviate it in even the smallest measure. The House has refused several times to reinstate extended unemployment benefits to the long-term unemployed, and last week even the Senate has voted against raising the minimum wage to a measly $10.10 per hour. Mars will be at the degree it was for the Grand Cross, only direct, in mid-June, so that's a good timetable for action on the fronts that have been on hold through the winter months with Mercury, then Venus, then Mars retrograde. The time for refelection and hesitation is over, the sky is calling us to action, but well-considered action. Finally.


Another helpful transit is the last Jupiter/Saturn trine of the year-long water Grand Trine which will be on May 24th, so this is the time to take advantage of it, while Saturn's organizational skills are being enhanced and his limiting traits tempered by the expansiveness of Jupiter.


Happy Trails and Happy Mother's Day,

Jan

(203) 431-7759

 
 
 
August, 2014
 
Hello Everyone,

Happy (?) Aquarian Full Moon, exact at 2:09 pm Eastern today. The Moon is at per ogee  meaning it is the closest to Earth that it gets in its orbit during the year, so it will appear as a Big Moon on the horizon. In addition to the usual tension we feel as the Moon waxes to full, there were other influences in play as the Moon squared groups of planets in both Leo and Scorpio in the past few days. Today, the Moon and Sun are making a t-square, which is actually three quarters of a Grand Cross (not the cardinal, but in fixed signs), to Saturn in Scorpio. This is no frivolous Full Moon. Saturn is right between the two luminaries, making sure we all work on our responsibilities in a mature, timely and dedicated fashion. Saturn reminds us of our obligations, and in Scorpio can indicate something hidden from view, or give us the impression that there’s even more work to be done than we know about, or that the other shoe is about to drop. 
Then again, the Sun is also trine (120 degrees away) Uranus while the Moon is sextile (60 degrees away), high intensity, flowing energy that adds some inspiration and intuitive new ideas that may help us do our work more efficiently and effectively once we can develop and apply them. So if you have a lot to do but it seems that the way you have always operated is much more cumbersome than it used to be, try tuning into the Uranian energy today and tomorrow and see if you can come up with an easier way. 

After today, the planets will be working their way to the next big thing, a conjunction of Mars and Saturn in Scorpio on Saturday the 23rd. This aspect sounds scary, but the best way to utilize these energies is to keep working at whatever it is you’re passionate about, side-stepping the many obstacles that may be strewn in your path, and just maybe Mars and Saturn together will reward your diligence with a harvest rather than more pitfalls that you didn’t anticipate. Saturn and Mars like hard workers, and Scorpio takes no prisoners, as they say. So a word to the wise, the conjunction of the two can be difficult if you haven’t done your due diligence.

More later. Keep on keeping on, but take (a little) time outside - the weather has been gorgeous around here.

Take care, Jan


ASEA News: There is no presentation this month, we’ll be scheduling one for later in September. Call or email with any questions or to order RENU 28.

(203) 431-7759 


April, 2014
 

Hi All,

We are in the aftermath of Tuesday morning's full Blood Moon the lunar eclipse that occurred between 2:58 and 5:33 am. This eclipse was not not visible in New England as it was in most of the US, but such an event will not be seen anywhere again until 2019. The usual tension of a run-up to the full moon was intensified this past week by several factors. 
On Friday Venus was conjunct Neptune in Pisces. This aspect may have been inspirational for some, delusional for others, and just plain confusing for the rest of us. Some of that confusion will abate after today, Tax Day. (I remember a joke from the New Yorker many years ago, when they used to put in-print bloopers at the bottoms of columns in the magazine as fillers for empty space. They were hilarious, but the comments made about them by the New Yorker staff were even funnier. One of these went something like, "He was accused of understanding his gross income on his federal tax return." The NYer's comment was, "Hell, they ought to give him a medal.")
This week is proving to be another tense one, with the Cardinal Cross again exact for a time on Saturday due to the Moon's position and almost all players on board - Pluto, Uranus, Mars, Moon, and Jupiter retrograde - and each day also brings us closer to the Grand Cross on the 23rd - 24th, more and more anxiety and more straws being added to the camel's back. We can strive to use all our resources to stay calm and balanced - and it still may not be that easy.
Just as a review, first there's the Pluto Uranus square. Uranus in Aries is radical individualism, may be creative, may be tyrannical and self-serving, revolutionary or just incendiary. There can be great scientific innovation that can either serve or destroy the community. It can be a society controlled by out-of-control technology.
The second part, Pluto in Capricorn, can indicate systems breakdowns and the collapse of governments and institutions, like the banking crisis. There may be struggles for and obsession with power, (the Koch brothers, Putin and the Ukraine and the constant sensation that we are living on the edge and about to go over it. Put those two planetary energies together and you have the potential for massive and sudden changes, revolution, catastrophe. Also the possibility of great advancement, albeit with attendant chaos.
Now add the second two elements of the Grand Cross. Mars in Libra, the essence of "passive aggressive" behavior, about which there is actually nothing passive, more like aggression with a hidden agenda. Mars is the fastest moving planet in the mix, and as such, the one that rocks the boat.
Last is Jupiter in Cancer, and conjunct the USA Sun it denotes our home. Jupiter amplifies everything, so let's hope it doesn't indicate another major disruption here at home.

Again, another configuration is combined with the Grand Square and that is the Grand Trine (or triangle) which connects to the square at Jupiter and links to Saturn in Scorpio and Neptune, Chiron, and Venus in Pisces. This trine allows for the flow of emotions (water), a necessary part of moving through a crisis and arriving at the other side of it, lest we hold onto them until either we explode in some negative fashion or become stuck in our old patterns, patterns that get us so caught up in our emotions that we can't act reasonably. So there is that.
We are left to look for the "pony in the manure" if we still can, we have faith that these abberations are signs that the pendulum has swung about as far as it can go before turning back toward decency and reason, harmony and a sense of common destiny. And while the still doubting part of me can't help feeling, "good luck with that", the part that stays connected and aligned with what is good and right knows that truth is still true whether anyone believes it or not, and that loving kindness is still the best way to go. Many high vibrational healer types are feeling a combination of battle fatigue, sudden energy drain, frustration, disappointment, and even outrage at the way things seem to be going. And it is frustrating to keep bumping into the same old (mostly non-existent) barriers. That's why they call it "fighting the good fight". Then there may be moments of elation, remembering that all is well and that this is all temporary, and finding a reason the be grateful and joyful. Not the fleeting happiness of material gain or ego gratification, but joyful. In the midst of great upheaval, it's still possible, actually essential, to lend a hand or an ear to others, to practice harmlessness in thought, word and deed. And it is still possible to turn to those you are traveling with, smile and say "YES!" We're alive! What a ride!" even if it's mostly bravado, some of it can rub off and mean something.

Namaste,

Jan

 
March, 2014
 
The planets have been really busy shifting gears this past week or so, turning this way and that as they move in synchronized motion across the sky. What with Mercury and Mars changing direction, the fact that Saturn in Scorpio also went retrograde last Sunday night almost got lost. And Jupiter moved forward again in Cancer last Thursday. Mars is in the cardinal sign of Libra and therefore is involved in the Cardinal Cross and the Pluto/Uranus square. In addition to these challenges, Saturn and Jupiter have been in that on-and-off grand trine in water signs with Neptune and Chiron for quite a while now. The squares are dynamic, causing stress in order to move a situation forward, or at least to call attention to it. A trine is two planets working in harmony. One astrologer calls Saturn and Jupiter "the two hands of God", indicating that they do know what the other is doing, their movement is precise and choreographed, one expanding, one containing the expansion to maintain structure. Not a bad idea, because we need both, particularly when Uranus is trying to break up structures and Pluto is engineering the deep transformational work of those changes. The other day a business advisor was saying how we need to be both the tortoise and the hare while building a business. Saturn and Jupiter will help us do just that, expand within reasonable limits Saturn in Scorpio deals with the structures involving life, death, sex, other peoples' money, and regeneration at deep emotional levels. Jupiter in Cancer may emphasize expansion of big business, or a family, and may be about the matriarch of a family.

On Tuesday, Mercury squared Saturn, the third of three such squares since January 25th.The aspect might be named "Speaking Truth to Power". Scorpio rules power of all kinds, from persona to nuclear, and and is always seeking the truth. Mercury may have something to say to a power structure, be it to oneself, in a personal relationship or on the global level - like a conversation between Barack Obama and Vadimir Putin or Vladimir Putin and the current rulership of the Crimea. Think back and see if your personal power has grown or been diminished in the past two months. What do you have to say for yourself about that? The aspect can also impair decision-making, so if you've been wrestling with a decision, perhaps one that has been in the works since January, and have been see-sawing back and forth with the pros and cons, that was Saturn and Mercury duking it out. 
Assistance may come in the form of a Sun/Saturn trine on Thursday. This harmonious aspect helps us align intent with structure. We may be able to envision how some decision or action will fit in with our current situation, or how it will change it in a beneficial way. Saturn in Libra has to do with balance in partnerships and the Sun in Aquarius with technology or humanitarian concerns. The energy of this transit may provide a third option for solving a dilemma we have been facing. Then Mars and Mercury align on Friday, enabling us to act on a decision or solution we have come to. These two trines amy lessen some of the tension as the lunar energy builds, reaching full phase again on Sunday the 16th at 1:08 pm Eastern in Virgo under the Pisces Sun. Both signs have an affinity with service, so we need to be aware of our intentions and our motivation for service this weekend. By all means help others out, but avoid martyrdom. Think about how to best serve while preserving your own autonomy. Virgo is associated with heath and healing, so we may be dealing with our own or others' health concerns. Virgo is the best energy for taking care of the day-to--day business of life, all the little details that help things run smoothly.
That does it for the week, next week is the equinox - Spring at last (after the snow tonight...)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yesterday Mars turned retrograde at 11 am, and the New Moon at 3 am helped us shift gears. The slowed down feeling continues despite Mercury returning to direct motion, but there is a hint of a new season coming - finally. Looks like the snow forecast for tonight and tomorrow is not going to amount to much, at least in coastal CT - the collective sigh of relief is almost audible. But having dodged one bullet, there may be another one ocming later in the week. Well, March, (and Mars) will have their way. This time of year I buy daffodils and think spring.

Anyway a New Moon begins another month-long lunar journey, starting with the Sun and Moon conjunct, this time in Pisces. Then they separate until in two weeks the Moon is full, this month on the 16th. This New Moon was interesting, it occured in time right between Mercury and Mars change of direction, and in space, the Sun and Moon were right between Chiron and Neptune, and conjunct both. If Chiron represents conscious awareness and healing and Neptune heightens intuition, this could have beeen a deepy healing moment, a nice seguay into the new month, extentuated by Mercury and Mars essentially standing still for the weekend. Even if the energy is running negative and the less desireable traits of Neptune and Chiron have emerged - denial or addiction with Neptune and some sort of rude awakening or healing crisis with Chiron - healing is happening. All of this will be accentuated by Jupiter trining both Sun and Moon - a great aspect bringing all kinds of blessings, perhaps more in the form of a silver lining. (You know the one about the pony in the manure? Look for it if you think everything is going wrong.)

Next big thing, Venus will enter Aquarius on March 5th, finally leaving Capricorn after its longer-than-usual stay there.
 
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Neptune will continue to make several aspects after it's conujnction with the Sun today, and it also has some interesting ties to the United States chart and those of the two Russian Presidents, Putin and Yanukovych of Ukraine. Some other things Neptune rules are film, video, cinemtography, mass communicaton, and the psychodrama of manipulation. Hmmm. I looked at the pictures of Kiev burning, juxtaposed with the wholesome images of the Olympics, and it was cognitive dissoncance, it didn't make any rational sense. So I investigated further and found that Neptune is making a  less well known aspect to both the Sun and Pluto - a septile, a 51 egree angle. This is the circle divided by 7, which is not divisible equally, and therefore is an irrational number. The events around a septile are also irrational, they don't make linear, left-brain sense. The septile is known as a spiritual aspect because its effects are accessed by intuition, not reason. On Tuesday, the Moon will be in Capricorn and conjunct Pluto, then septile Pluto and then the Sun, along with other harder hitting aspects as it will be on the cardinal cross as well.

Right now these events don't seem to jive, to make any sense, and they may not this week either as these transits unfold, but something else is happening here, something that involves all of us. We are the captive audience (well, semi-captive, we don't have to watch or listen... but it's hard to be here and not know something about what's going on in the rest of the world.) We each have a role in the universal dance, but public figures have a more visible one. They represent more than themselves, and sometimes the universe seems to use them as catalysts for larger chains of events. The astrology between the US, Putin,and Yanakovych is complicated, but it all points to something like this, with Yanukovyvh as the lightening rod. His natal Neptune will be conjunct Neptune in the sky at the degree, 7 Pisces, where it wlll sit for three months as it retrogrades this spring and summer, so I would expect him to be in the news again in connection with the relationship between the US and Putin. Yanakovych's chart also has a strong connection to the US Venus.
The spiritual nature of Neptune is that it is known as the higher octave, or vibration, of Venus. Venus is love, Neptune is higher love.  Just sayin'.

There have to be ways to look for the higher purpose in everything that happens to us and around us, because especaily these days, it all too often seems chaotic and senseless. Astrology provides us with one means, so I try. If all of this seems like a stretch, so be it, I look anyway, and hope that something good will come of all the violence and negativity.Meanwhile, the Neptune melt (sounds like a new type of sandwich...) is amost over, with winter set to return tonight and this week. It's been nice, and with the ice almost all gone, it should help us cope with whatever nature deals us next. Or we could always retreat in to one of Neptune's coping mechanisms - fantasy, drugs and foods of choice, tv and computer screen gazing, denial, etc. It's good to have a choice anyway.

This is also the last week of Mercury retrograde, so things may get alttle confusing again. Be patient with traffic, missed messages, and misunderstandings. This too shall pass.

More bites to come.


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I reported that the Sun/Neptune conjunction was on Saturday, but it's Sunday at 1:11 pm. We are already under the influence (interesting metaphor for Neptune in Pisces!) and will be for the weekend and a little beyond. Those who are sensitive to others' energies should take extra care. While no boundaries can be fine for falling in love, it's not so greeat for those who tend to take on others' pain or lower vibrations as their own, and disastrous for co-dependents. Even though these tendencies occur suconsciously, if you find yourself losing energy and wonder why, remember to create some mental, and perhaps even physical, distance between yourself and those close by. don't give in to to invitaitons that you know will waste your valuable time.The other reminder is to watch for mindless escapism, it's one of Neptune's specialties, as are all addictions. If you have a creative outlet, this would be the weekend to use it, the 'muses' will be around, and creativity will be flowing if you tap into it.  
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I'll be feeding you small bites of astrology for a while in order to keep up to date until I can write more in depth analysis.

The Sun entered Pisces today at 2:11 pm, a soft shift of energy into the watery realm of dreams, empathy, compassion or delusion. Even given the surreal snowy landscape real life will go on, and tomorrow at 1pm Mercury squares Saturn, time to do some seroius thinking about, well, whatever needs serious thinking. Could be in the areas of friendships or groups you are asociated with, including your soul group, and/or personal finances, possessions and your value system. Don't let the serious quality of the transit get you down, depressed thoughts are as unecessary and counterproductive as denial. 

Speaking of denial, the first aspect the Piscean Sun will make is to conjunct Neptune, Ruler of the Oceans and King of Denial, on Saturday, with illusion or confusion mixing with the mental lapses associated with Mercury retrograde. Watch for any tendency to float through the day in a Neptunian fog, perhaps aided by the use of drugs, alcohol, or another favorite escape method.

Enjoy the warm-up and snow-melt  this week - probably also brought to us by Pisces and its ruler, Neptune.
 
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I have thrown in the towel on January's review, too many cows have jumped over the moon since then. I will say that since I last wrote, Venus turned to direct motion and is now in Aquarius, the Sun is of course in Aquarius, and Mercury continues its retrograde also in Aquarius.

The Winter Olympics are a great example of the Aquarian ideal of universal brotherhood, even as there have been some pretty nationalistic overtones, what with everyone making fun of Putin, and now Petroshenko's withdrawal from competition bringing him not accolades for his four-Olympic run, but disparagement as unpatriotic for not 'playing through the pain' for Mother Russia. Still, the Olympics are one of the few symbols of international cooperation we have. And as the snow continues to pile up here in the Northeast, Sochi is experiencing record high temperatures, with snowboarders showing up for competition in shorts, all of which is probably making even climate deniers a little nervous.

I hope you spent Valentine's Day with a loved one, even if it was your family pet, focusing on the love and not the tension of the run-up to the Leo Full Moon last night. Leo rules the heart and is good for fun, parties, and family warmth - note the brief snow-melt yesterday. Meanwhile the Mercury retrograde 'storm' hasn't let up since the end of January with the snowstorm on the 28th that caught Atlanta unawares. That was classic Mercury retro material, major miscommunication and massive transportation problems. The Sabian Symbol for the beginning of the actual retrograde on the 6th was"Heavy traffic on a narrow isthmus between two seaside resorts." a very apt symbol for more snarled traffic and delays. The decision not to cancel school in New York the other day was another typical manifestation of the Trickster, Mercury in apparent backwards motion.

Today, the 15th , is the day the Sun and Mercury align, and the one day during a retrograde when you might communicate something clearly, make decisions, clarify plans, and sign contracts. It's fleeting, catch it while you can if you have something important to decide or to impart. Personally, I am getting this upgrade to you at long last, see? 
Two other angles are coming up, Mercury will trine Mars tomorrow, helping us align thought and action, as long as we don't do so in anger. It will square Saturn on the 19th, watch for unbidden feelings of dismay and disruptions to plans or organized schedules. Keep in mind that in the background the geometry of the Grand Cross in cardinal signs is reconfiguring from now until late April when the Pluto/Uranius square will again be exact. 

Remember also that as the Messenger, Mercury, or Hermes in the Greek tradition, was one of the few gods able to navigate all three realms, Heaven, Earth, and Hades or the Underworld. The sublte messages that come through during a retrograde are perhaps even more important that the conscious ones. Pay attention to dreams and insights that come through altered states of consciousness, they hold clues to where you stand on the inner plane and what your soul may be trying to tell you.

Before we know it, though, Mercury will return to direct motion in Aquarius on the last day of the month. The Sabian Symbol is reminiscent of the initial one, "A forest fire is being subdued by the use of water, chemicals, and sheer muscular energy." Sounds like battling more of the forces of nature to me. Aarg! not more snow shoveling! 

As soon as that is done, Mars in Libra is fixing to go retrograde the very next day. This is the third personal planet to be retrograde in a row, so we are not off the hook as far as an internal review yet. This also indicates physical rest and renewal, (good idea after all that shoveling.) And the next day, March 2nd, Mars squares off with Venus in Capricorn, highlighting the gap between what we want/Venus and what we will have to do to get it/Mars. Also on the 2nd, Saturn retrogrades in Scorpio, just in case we are inclined to get lazy and just want to hibernate, Saturn will keep us on track organizing and planning how to go about getting what we say we want. I would characterize Mars and Saturn retrograde together as "Proceed with caution." When Saturn is direct, our path is laid out pretty clearly, we can put one foot in front of the other and check off the completed tasks on our to do list toward a larger objective. When Saturn reverses, however, it is often felt as a setback, denial, rejection or an unsatisfactory assessment of our progress. It is really more like a slowdown in order to do some course correction, damage control. or to get ourselves better positioned for success when the tides (or Mars and Saturn) turn again. There is a lot to be said for having our ducks in a row, so this is a good use of this time. As they say, when fishermen can't fish, they repair their nets. 

Given recent transits and the additional burden of the wild winter weather, many are already reporting a feeling of "why bother?" and/or "is this worth it?" kind of general malaise. Mars and Saturn retrograde may seem to deepen these feelings if we let them. Well, when things look the darkest, that's usually when the dawn arrives. Or, as Forrest Gump put it "...just then, God showed up." (and if you recall, He showed up with a hurricane force storm.) The real question is, can we gather our forces and energy and make the effort to move forward, with the original plan or a new one, when the time is right? If we use these retrogrades as a time to reassess where we are and to decide where we want to be, the answer will be 'yes' no matter what the decision or changes of plan we need to make. 

So we are, as always, inclined to press on in this adventure called 'life'. Is is worth it? Ultimately, and considering the alternative, how could it not be?

Keep that light on! 
 
I owe you an update, but for now I just wanted to remind everyone that today it's Mercury retrograde once again, until February 28th. This week may have seemed confusing, that was the Mercury 'storm' before the actual turn of direction, which will probably last a few more days. I intend to catch up during the retrograde, review and revise, reboot and regroup, then move forward again come March.
 
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January, 2014
 
Here we are again, at that time when the holidays we just went through seem like they may never have happened, with a 'new' year ahead of us that may feel just like the 'old' year. The same problems exist, the same decisions and changes remain to be made, and in fact, the same astrology is in effect. What we do with it is, as always, up to us.

There are so many aspects among the planets right now, and which ones are most important depends on how they interact with everyone's personal chart. But the main point is that every planet in our solar system excluding Neptune, plus some minor ones, is involved in some way with the Cardinal Cross, or Grand Square, either directly - Sun, Pluto, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, soon Venus, and sometimes the Moon. - or indirectly, Saturn and Chiron. Uranus will be opposing Mars for several more days, while Jupiter continues to oppose Pluto and the Sun. Does it seem that your energies are at odds with the opportunities coming your way or with your judgment? Do your efforts seem to actually seem to end up working against your own best interests? That would be Mars square Jupiter. And each separate aspect on the Cross presents another conundrum, with two or more elements that are not blending easily. And we get to experience all sorts of aspects like these right through the winter to varying degrees, until April 23rd when there is another powerful reconfiguration of the Pluto/Uranus square and Grand Cross.
Mercury has moved out of the Cross, but his presence in late Capricorn still adds a dimension of organized thought and mental clarity to the dynamic, which the stress of all the oppositions and squares may obscure for many. Tomorrow Mercury will be conjunct retrograde Venus, focusing awareness on our desires and our thoughts about them. 

In addition to the Cross, there is another rare meeting of outer (slow-moving) planets, the continuation on and off until July of the Grand Trine in water signs. Saturn is currently trine Jupiter and Chiron, a set-up for some serious consciousness raising and emotional healing, sorely needed with all the changes and disruptions going on during the Cardinal Cross. We can count our lucky stars (tee-hee) for this less stressful aspect to help us through the rest, whatever it all may bring.
There is always more, but that's all I have for now.  

December, 2013 


Holiday Greetings Everyone,

In a rare alignment of astrology with the civic calendar, the planets are moving into position for a significant New Moon on January 1st.  Several planets are already on the Cardinal Cross, that now-familiar configuration that is the hallmark of this era, and are coming into exact aspect in the next few days. Today we had the Sun and Mercury conjunct at 7º Capricorn, good for a sober look at the future and long-range planning. Also in the Cross are Uranus at 8º Aries, Mars at 10º Libra and Jupiter at 16º Cancer, still in a loose trine with Saturn in Scorpio. Venus is not yet in the Cardinal Cross, but will be moving closer later in January as it goes through a rare retrograde in Aries. Tomorrow Mercury squares Uranus, making caution when speaking both imperative and a little difficult. Watch also for surprises in the news or in personal communications. 
At the New Moon, the Moon and Sun will be at 10º Capricorn, Pluto at 11º and Mercury at 12º. The concentration of energy in Capricorn is appropriate at this moment of the year when we look back and assess our accomplishments and defeats, decide if we're better or worse off, and pause to reconsider our options. The Capricorn signature points to our dysfunctional government, our tattered infrastructure, and the fragile ecosystems we have always depended on for structure, but which are no longer so reliable. As we attempt to reposition ourselves for a new push forward, we are hoping against hope that relentless Pluto in wise old Capricorn will blast open the doors to progress and change without also opening the gates of hell and obliterating all of us in the process.
All of this makes it a really good time for resolutions and clearing our minds for the New Year. Venus will be making sure we remember those desires we have put on the back burner so that we don't leave them there, while the Pluto/Uranus square and Jupiter, completing the Cross, will keep us on our toes by providing the stress that leads to action.
The astrology continues to be demonstrated by many unexpected and unsettling events in many parts of the world, in our own country, and  personally as well. The Syrian situation is a good example as is the Yosemite fire.
to be continued...
The Yosemite fire is still raging, has destroyed 200,000 acres, but has not touched the Sequioas yet. I have a feeling there is a great deal of divine protection surrounding the giant redwoods. Here is the astrology of the fire, to give you an idea of the potential of Uranus in Aries, already in aspect as one point on the cardinal square, and periodically aspected by other fast-moving transiting planets like the Moon. Volatile.

Yosemite Fire. Nearly 5,000 firefighters are battling a raging fire that began in Stanislaus National Forest. More than 192,000 acres have burned so far, including 40,000 acres in Yosemite National Park. The fire began August 17, 2013, at 3:15 pm. Click here to see the lunar phase and transit charts. Uranus conjunct the Midheaven indicates a high-pressure system over the area, and Mars conjunct the Ascendant reflects high temperatures; both are indicators of fire weather, as is Mercury in Leo trine the Midheaven and Jupiter opposition Pluto square the Midheaven and Uranus. The fire began soon after transiting Mars crossed the lunar phase chart Ascendant and as the transiting Moon triggered the Jupiter-Uranus-Pluto-Midheaven configuration. (Sources: U.S. Forest Service; CNN)

Summertime is winding down to completion, but we still have Indian summer to finish up and enjoy the warm weather. If something is left undone, no worries - let it go, as long as that doesn't interfere with new initiatives. Letting go is one of the hallmarks of these accelerated times, a new and necessary skill that most of us have yet to master. We have some support for it right now, so if there is something you know you would be better off without, now's a good time to release it.Tomorrow morning about 7:30 is the Virgo New Moon (Moon conjunct the Sun) beginning the new monthly cycle which will include the Autumn Equinox. The Moon and Sun are also square Chiron, a good set-up for healing through awareness on many levels. Chiron in Pisces connects back into the grand water trine as well - more healing. The Sabian Symbol for the new Moon at 13 Virgo is "an ancestral tree", so expect messages from and news about relatives, here and in spirit, and some of the healing and releasing may involve old, ancestral patterns. (Yes, we are still doing that.) Mars in Leo is also moving into square aspect to Saturn in Scorpio, exact next Monday. This stress between physical action and restraint can feel a little like "hurry up and wait", and can be frustrating as it indicates situations where action is needed, but may only serve to weaken the existing structure but not solve the problem. Sounds like a pretty good explanation for the concept of a 'limited/Saturn strike/Mars' on Syria. Will it quell the Assad government's attacks or will it actually incite further violence? I'm never convinced that military action will help, but I feel that at least there is now a spotlight on biological warfare, which must be eliminated if we are to move forward as a species. Also, we as a nation are much more skeptical and discerning about claims of 'wmd's than before the lies that brought us Iraq. Again, healing through awareness. Jupiter makes a sextile to the Moon and Sun, which can ease the tension if the creative energy is utilized. Also square the Moon are the lunar nodes, bringing into focus both past or karmic issues/South Node and what destiny path/North Node one/we are on. Unpredictable Uranus is also involved in the configuration, in an uncomfortable angle called a inconjunct or quincunx to the Sun/Moon combination. Negotiating may not go so smoothly under the current sky.

Here's to Indian summer, may it last through October! (I'm not ready to release summer yet - I  still have stuff to wrap up and I love that summer sun!)
 
 
August 
 
 
 
 
May 24, 2013    Eclipse Notes 
 
 
The Sagittarius Full Moon eclipse energies that have been gathering for tomorrow morning at 12:25 am have been creating a good deal of tension these last few days. This third eclipse in the series beginning a month ago will set whatever has been rearranged in our lives into a pattern that will overlay the next 6 months, possibly longer. The eclipse itself also represents the end of the Gemini/Sagittarius eclipse series of the last two years, returning to the Taurus/Scorpio axis for the next several eclipses into 2014.
A triple conjunction of Jupiter/expansion, Venus/love and values, and Mercury/insight, communication, is the most prominent feature of this eclipse. Venus and Mercury together means head and heart will actually be on the same page, well, as much as they can be in Gemini! And Jupiter adds the wow factor, the enthusiasm to the mix. Perhaps all the changes the eclipses have wrought will work out for the best after all, as we begin to integrate them after tomorrow. The trio of planets are soon to be entering Cancer as we head into the season of the summer solstice in June. Venus will arrive there on May 31st followed by Mercury on June 2nd. Jupiter will be later in the month along with the solstice Sun. For now, though, they are visible in the sky on the horizon after sunset (if only we were having them this week), Jupiter, the largest, on top, Venus, even brighter than Jupiter, underneath, and Mercury, though not visible, under Jupiter. See if you can catch a glimpse of them when the weather clears, this conjunction won't happen again until 2058, in other words, never for most of us.
 
 
May 20, 2013
 
I trust you are all navigating the current not so pleasant energy well enough and keeping your vibe up. Most of us are having unusual challenges having to do with facing obstacles around shadow material and anything we have been avoiding in any area of our lives.  The message is to complete, let go, and begin anew. Not an easy time, this. Tonight at 7:02 pm was the third exact Pluto/Uranus squareWhatever you may have been conflicted about has come to a head, and will be resolving one way or another in the next few weeks or months. So too the collective conflict, with the 'powers that be' (or were as some insist). And, coming as it does right on the heels of the major aspect of the 2012 era, the third eclipse has not even happened yet, that will be May 25th, at 4 degrees on the Sagittarius/Gemini axis. 

So, the question is, are we having fun yet? (Sigh)

Two planets have already slipped into Gemini, Venus shortly before the Taurus/Scorpio eclipse last week, and Mercury yesterday morning. The airy, talkative, Gemini can be tricky for these planets, as it can be of two minds (Mercury) and two loyalties (Venus). Just look at the news - the nature of the communications coming out about various alleged breaches of security and civil liberties is pure Gemini duplicity, obviously designed to smear Hillary Clinton and to continue to distract the President from getting anything useful accomplished. so that they can then make the claim that he isn't geting anything useful accomplished. And they will be right about that. The Sun will follow Venus and Mercury into Gemini on Tuesday. More conversations, more mental gymnastics, more mind changing. And Neptune has been making squares to Venus, Mercury and the Sun, adding the element of deceit to the general confusion.
And then there's just more bad news. Here's some brought to us by the Republican House of 'Representatives', who represent no one but themselves and their corporate sponsors. Here's an outrageous bill they just passed, one you've probably not heard of and one which leaves me wondering, yet again, 'Who are these guys and where did they all come from?" This bill is heartless, and further unravels about 75 years of progress for working people. These headlines are shocking to those of us who lived with very different rules for most of our lives.

House Republican Majority Votes to Axe 40-Hour Work Week

By Tennessee Democratic Party
15 May 13

Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen: "Today was one of the saddest days the House of Representatives has probably ever seen."

ongressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) spoke on the U.S. House floor about the House passage of HR 1406, which eliminates the 40-hour workweek. The measure, designed to drive down earnings for working Americans to inflate corporate profits, was passed with support from every Republican member of Congress from Tennessee — U.S. Reps. Phil Roe (TN-01), Jimmy Duncan (TN-02), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Scott DesJarlais (TN-04), Diane Black (TN-06), Marsha Blackburn (TN-07) and Stephen Fincher (TN-08).Democratic Reps. Jim Cooper (TN-05) and Cohen both voted against the bill which passed 223-204 mostly on party lines.
The "Pay Working Families Less Act," which Republicans tried to call the "Working Families Flexibility Act," would cheat workers out of overtime pay, with no guarantee of paid vacation days when employees need to use them, and give working families less flexibility, not more.
While House Republicans advertise the bill as aiming to help working families, independent evaluations have found that the bill will actually hurt them by undermining overtime pay and giving workers little flexibility.
The nonpartisan National Partnership for Women and Families finds that "The mis-named Working Families Flexibility Act will mean a pay cut for workers without any guaranteed flexibility or time off" and that the proposal "erodes the basic guarantees of the Fair Labor Standards Act: fair pay for overtime work and time off from work."
A senior economist for the Center for Economic and Policy Research writes, "Its major effect would be to hamstring workers - likely increasing overtime hours for those who don't want them and cutting pay for those who do."
Instead of working to expand the middle class with reforms that reward hard work, this bill drives down pay and rolls back workers' benefits. Republicans have entered the American worker in a global race to the bottom. The only winner is big corporate special interests.
Here's more on the "Pay Working Families Less Act" from Congressman Cohen's office: What this bill really means is more work and less pay for workers, not flexibility:
  • Workers will not get paid for hours that exceed 40 hours per week. That pay will instead go into an employer-controlled pot to be paid later.
  • An employer can refuse to allow a worker to take time off to deal with a family member or attend a parent-teacher conference. This is not real flexibility for workers.
  • Employers could schedule excessive overtime hours and only offer overtime work to workers who agree to take comp time instead of overtime wages.
  • Since unused comp time will not be paid to workers until the end of the year, this amounts to an interest-free loan out of workers’ pockets to the employer.


Doesn't seem real does it? Those who claim that the United States is becoming a third world country may be right - third world countries don't protect workers (witness the factory collapses in Bangladesh, and China and oh yeah, that factory that blew up in Texas), or provide benefits, or sick days, or pensions or, wait - aren't these the same things that many American companies have renegged on? These legislators, and the corporate CEO's who back them, do not believe in the original promise of America. So many abuses of power have gone by the board and they are predominately Republican-conceived and backed, with some Democratic support as well, or just 
And here's another bill I just read about, truly alarming.


Military Quietly Grants Itself the Power to Police the Streets Without Local or State Consent

The lines between the military and law enforcement have blurred even further.
 
 
 
 
The manhunt for the Boston Marathon bombing suspects offered the nation a window into the stunning military-style capabilities of our local law enforcement agencies. For the past 30 years, police departments throughout the United States have benefitted from the government’s largesse in the form of military weaponry and training,  incentives offered in the ongoing “war on drugs.” For the average citizen watching events such as the intense pursuit of the Tsarnaev brothers on television, it would be difficult to discern between fully outfitted police SWAT teams and the military.
The lines blurred even further  Monday as a new dynamic was introduced to the militarization of domestic law enforcement. By making a few subtle changes to a regulation in the U.S. Code titled  “Defense Support of Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies” the military has quietly granted itself the ability to police the streets without obtaining prior local or state consent, upending a precedent that has been in place for more than two centuries.
The most objectionable aspect of the regulatory change is the inclusion of vague language that permits military intervention in the event of “civil disturbances.” According to the rule: “Federal military commanders have the authority, in extraordinary emergency circumstances where prior authorization by the President is impossible and duly constituted local authorities are unable to control the situation, to engage temporarily in activities that are necessary to quell large-scale, unexpected civil disturbances.”
Bruce Afran, a civil liberties attorney and constitutional law professor at Rutgers University, calls the rule, “a wanton power grab by the military.” He says, “It’s quite shocking actually because it violates the long-standing presumption that the military is under civilian control.”
A defense official who declined to be named takes a different view of the rule, claiming, “The authorization has been around over 100 years; it’s not a new authority. It’s been there but it hasn’t been exercised. This is a carryover of domestic policy.” Moreover, he insists the Pentagon doesn’t “want to get involved in civilian law enforcement. It’s one of those red lines that the military hasn’t signed up for.” Nevertheless, he says, “every person in the military swears an oath of allegiance to the Constitution of the United States to defend that Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.”
One of the more disturbing aspects of the new procedures that govern military command on the ground in the event of a civil disturbance relates to authority. Not only does it fail to define what circumstances would be so severe that the president’s authorization is “impossible,” it grants full presidential authority to “Federal military commanders.” According to the defense official, a commander is defined as follows: “Somebody who’s in the position of command, has the title commander. And most of the time they are centrally selected by a board, they’ve gone through additional schooling to exercise command authority.”
As it is written, this “commander” has the same power to authorize military force as the president in the event the president is somehow unable to access a telephone. (The rule doesn’t address the statutory chain of authority that already exists in the event a sitting president is unavailable.) In doing so, this commander must exercise judgment in determining what constitutes, “wanton destruction of property,” “adequate protection for Federal property,” “domestic violence,” or “conspiracy that hinders the execution of State or Federal law,” as these are the circumstances that might be considered an “emergency.”
“These phrases don’t have any legal meaning,” says Afran. “It’s no different than the emergency powers clause in the Weimar constitution [of the German Reich]. It’s a grant of emergency power to the military to rule over parts of the country at their own discretion.”..
(Well, the scenario following the Boston Marathon bombings was a prelude to this. There is more, you can read it at alternet.com if you are interested.)
Severe weather and weather anomalies continue, mirroring the chaotic energy, including:
 
    Severe tornadoes in Texas (13 in one place), a massive one today in Oklahoma, and more to come 

    18 inches of snow in Colorado after two 80 degree days

    historic flooding (following historic drought earlier this year) of the Mississippi River, very bad in St. Louis

So again, anyone having fun yet?

Take care, and stay calm, connected, and focused,

 
May 7, 2013
 
Here's hoping you are all riding the current energy out with your sense of humor and all other aspects of your life intact.

Today, the 5th, is Beltane, the midpoint between spring and summer. It's a celebration of new beginnings, a good time to look forward to whatever you have planned for the summer months. Beltane, which we think of as May Day, was traditionally several days long, It will stretch through Wednesday when Mars will be in the same position as the Sun is today. The days are much longer, and the world in New England is bright with greens of all shades, flowering trees, lilacs, and all the other signs of spring in full bloom. Usually this is a source of joy, and it is uplifting. However, t right now everything looks nice, but nothing feels quite right. The sun seems a little too harsh, people are pretending to be happy but there is an underlying anxiety. The kids at school are always a good barometer for the energy at any given moment, and they are wild, so, so noisy, just barely in control. And not just with substitute teachers either, all the time. Everyone is calling it spring fever, but it feels more frenetic than ever, a frantic sort of happy-happy high, that all feels just false. Maybe it's just me, but there will be more long days ahead. I mean, how many people do you know who you really think are doing just fine? Scratch the surface and it may be a different story. You may shun the news so as not to fill your mind with fear or upset, and that's not a bad idea for many, but we all feel things anyway - we are all connected..

The inter-eclipse period is calmer than the actual eclipse, but wait, another is due May 9th at the New Moon. Sun and Moon at 19 Taurus, opposite Saturn (not as closely opposite as last week's eclipse, but close enough). While the Sun was opposite Saturn, and then Mars was opposite Saturn, all authorities were in their most authoritarian mode, and quite intractable if you wanted to be heard about anything to do with bucking that authority or asserting yourself in certain situationsToday, Sunday, Mercury opposed the old man, Saturn. Whatever structure has changed in the eclipse may have felt more restrictive and limiting than you had wanted. You may have been more worried about events in the world or in your immediate surroundings than usual. If you felt your thoughts going downhill into negativity or depression, you might feel them lifting a bit back up now that the angle is over. Otherwise it might have manifested as serious thinking about whatever changes you are making or that are ongoing with the eclipses.

The solar eclipse Thursday morning is preceeded Tuesday by a helpful aspectr, Merucy conjunct mrs in Taurus, that will give us the mental drive to make clear decisios about our future couerse in teh wake of the eclpse cycle. Release anything outdated, whether it be a relationship, a situation, a belief, or an old resentment - anything in your life that brings up old karma that has already been resolved. If there are talents and gifts that are natural to you but that you aren't using, get them out and dust them off. They are what you brought in with you, and they will help you through anything you may be experiencing.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Onesaving grace in all this is that most of the inner planets are now in Taurus - a blessing that the eclipses aren't happening with everything in Aries. Then again, there is still fire, notably the explosion of the plant in Bangladesh, death toll now at 675, wildfires in Southern CA, and the air attacks in Syria. Will the chaos ever end? Some channels are saying yes, but incrementally over the next several years. The timeline tsn't set in stone though, schedules for the ascension have changed many times. More than one channel has suggested that lightoworkers are now feeling the first real symptoms of physical ascension, feeling like we're in another reality, then abruptly coming back into the body in this one, dizziness, fatigue. Most of us have had these symptoms before, but not to this extent, the contrast between where we are headed and where much of the 3D world is is much greater, the 're-entry' more unsettling. The word for the time being is, get used to it and stay aligned with your own truth, your new reality, with peace, as much as possible. Focus on the new diligently, do not engage in old patterns, and especially disengage with fear, your own or others'.

Parting thoughts by Chris Hedges, a pastor, columnist, and longtime activist for equality and justice, and a Senior Fellow at the Nation Institute:
"Any act of rebellion, any physical defiance of those who
                           make war, of  those who perpetuate corporate greed and are responsible for  state crimes, anything that seeks
                           to draw the good to the good,  nourishes our souls and holds out the possibility that we can touch and  transform
                           the souls of others. Hope affirms that which we must affirm.  And every act that imparts hope is a victory
                           in itself.  
Also from poet William H. Auden:
"Defenseless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame." "
Well, we all do what we can.
 
 
 April 21, 2013
 
 This quote is from my March 21st post to you,referring to Mars conjunct Uranus:
" This is a potentially volatile, combative, aggressive, and accident-prone energy." 

This quote is from another astrologer's blog referring to Venus going 'home' to Taurus:
"All you have to do is be present with both confidence and restraint for the remainder of April in order to fulfill the highest purpose any human being can hope to attain: serving to connect what is above with what is below for your own homecoming."

restraint...hmmm
 
Venus in Taurus, Sun in Taurus, Mars in Taurus - ahhh...

More than a few of us are heaving sighs of relief as the grounding Taurus energies begin to supplant the Aries conflagration of the past few weeks, but it is taking a while for cooler heads to prevail. As if to prove that point, we were again reeling from yet another public attack, killing and maiming innocent people, this time at the Boston Marathon. This is another incident of public violence on or around April 20th, as several others have been, including the Oklahoma CIty bombing, the Waco Texas confrontation, Columbine, and VIrginia Tech. Earlier in history, events include the beginning of the Revolutionary War, April 19, which is of course what Patriot's Day in MA commemorates. Lincoln was  assassinated on April 16th and the Titanic sank on April 15th. The term "Aries point  event", an event which affects large numbers of people, potentially everyone, should be becoming clearer, as these are all Aries point events. Mars and the Sun were conjunct in late Aries last Wednesday. The last time these two were together in Aries was in 1981 on the day that Reagan was shot. So, get Mars/war, action and the Sun together and Boom! Wednesday was the explosion at the Texas fertilizer plant - with many more casualties than in Boston. I'm not sure how the first responders there missed the fact that the tanks that had yet to explode were full of highly flammable ammonia, maybe they didn't know that people sometimes make bombs out of fertilizer? Mercury joined the Sun in Aries on the 13th, passed over the Aries point, and then teamed up with Uranus on Friday. President Obama's impassioned speech in Boston on Thursday was a Mercury/Uranus masterpiece, using the fire of Aries passion positively to communicate the higher humanitarian ideals of Uranus and rally the community in the aftermath of tragedy. The bombers in Boston had another kind of Mercury/Uranus message in mind. Mercury will not be in Taurus until May 13th, so there may still be lots of incendiary rhetoric, but hopefully no more actual fires. And I hope Kim Jong Un of North Korea (he's only 29 years old!) keeps it together. As the President said, "All in all, it's been a tough week."

So we had at least three public nightmares being played out on our tv screens, if we were inclined to tune in. Just surreal, and also sad for those of us who knew a very different world earlier in our lives. The new, new normal. And in the middle of all this, we had our Senate voting, unconscionably and incomprehensibly, against expanding background checks for those who wish to purchase guns. If that doesn't say f--- you to almost all Americans, perhaps especially to the people of Boston and the Newtown parents, I don't know what it says. It's so irrational that it defies logical analysis. And it is hard to imagine that one lobby, the NRA, has that much power, especially as the principals of that group appear to be clinically insane.

What's coming up will relieve some of the more explosive (sorry, not intended as a bad pun, it just describes the astrology), impulsive activity of the last few weeks, cooling everything down a bit. Thank You-Know-Who, as most of the personal planets, led by Venus, enter the down-to-earth sign of Taurus. Venus moved into  Taurus last Tuesday, the Sun was next into that pacific sign on Friday, and Mars followed suit today, the 20th. 

Of course, that doesn't mean nothing else will be happening. It's the beginning another eclipse cycle with a penumbral lunar eclipse on April 25th at 5 degrees Scorpio opposite the Taurus Sun, followed in two weeks by a partial solar eclipse on May 9th at 19 degrees Taurus. Both eclipses will most affect those with prominent planets or angles in fixed signs (Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, Aquarius) around these degrees. Significantly, Saturn is very near the Moon for the lunar eclipse and opposite the Sun for the solar, indicating possible changes in life structures or serious limits placed on existing ones. 

So on it goes, never a dull moment in astrology or on our beloved Mother Earth.
 
 
 
March 21, 2013
 
The Vernal Equinox was at 7:02 Wednesday morning Eastern time, so, it's ...Spring? Snow on the ground, more on the way, today colder than yesterday...but there are those purple crocuses by the mailbox, so it must be true. It has seemed like the sun was harsh instead of bright, and the longer daylight hours still not long enough to get everything done as the energy was generally on in a downslide throughout the Mercury retrograde. Now things are finally looking up, but we still have some aspects to live through.

Most prominent this week has been the buildup to Mars colliding with Uranus tomorrow, Friday. This is a potentially volatile, combative, aggressive, an accident-prone energy. Drive, move, and use machinery, especilly anything to do with electricity, very mindfully. 

 

February 26, 2013 

Today, Monday, at 3:26 pm EST was the Virgo Full Moon, making aspect to several other planets. There is still a stellium in Pisces, with the Sun conjunct Chiron, so the Moon is opposite Chiron. Mercury  is also conjunct Mars again in Pisces, (exact on Tuesday). Finally, Jupiter in Gemini completes a t- square with Chiron, the Sun, and the Moon. Jupiter at the apex of the t-square adds a lot of energy to the already energized Full Moon.

The two ends of the Full Moon, as always, are urging us in two different directions, and with Jupiter at the fulcrum heightening both sides of the opposition, we must take control and create our own balance. On the Sun/Chiron side, we are inclined to go inside and connect with our core, our deeper Selves. On the Moon end, we may want to act physically on our emotions. Another point to consider in the configuration is the point opposite Jupiter, which is at 7 Sagittarius. If any points or planets in your own chart are there, they will form a grand square with the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter and add more balancing energy to the mix.
Given that Mercury has just gone into retrograde, it may be wiser to go with the introspective Sun/Chiron energy rather than the Moon side, counterintuitive as that may seem on a Full Moon. At least, definitely pause to consider what your inner Self needs before acting or speaking. That way you may avoid some unintended consequence later on. All the Pisces energy should make this easier, as its creative expression is one of the most intuitive and introverted of all the signs. Virgo's expression, on the other hand, is one of the most analytical and practical. To integrate the opposing forces of this Full Moon, go inside with your most creative ideas to intuit how best to present them to the world in a practical way. 
And remember that Mercury is retrograde, so even though it is right next to Mars, don't jump right into the manifestation of a new idea before thoroughly grounding it in reality, things like making sure you know how you are going to pay for it and how you will follow it through to completion. You can also use the energy to complete projects, as long as you already have the vital details taken care of, or for tidying up and packing (or throwing) them away in good Virgo fashion.
There are some "minor" (or at least less well-known) planets involved as well. Two are on the same degree as the Sun, 7 Pisces. One is at 6 Sag opposite Jupiter, and another is at 9 Gemini almost conjunct Jupiter. Without going into all of their characteristics and confusing everyone, it's understood that they add another layer of meaning to the chart. 

So that's it for now. Next big change will be when all the inner planets move into the next sign, Aries - they'll be contacting Uranus then and that could make for some surprises or unusual events.
 
February 9, 2013
 
another New Moon... already?

We may all well ask if it's really time for another new moon. The current energy is so fast moving, it's hard to keep up. Something that happened last week will seem like it was yesterday - or this morning. On the other hand, some things seem so far away and long ago that we can't believe they only happened yesterday - or this morning. It seems that time as a dimension has almost completely collapsed, along with our entire concept of its passage. And yes, Sunday at 2:20 am is another New Moon.
The New Moon is the moment each month when the Sun and Moon are at the same degree.
Though the New Moon is the beginning of a new lunar cycle and sets the ambient tone for the coming month, not everyone feels it equally. We each have a personal lunar restart every month at the time when the moon reaches the place it was when we were born. For instance, if you were born under a Full Moon, the New Moon will be the middle of the cycle for you, with two more weeks until the beginning of a new one. Still, there is a general reset at the New Moon. The blizzard yesterday set us up, at least on the East Coast, for a clean sweep of new energy. The air is so clear, the scenery pristine, and everything feels purified under the two-foot thick blanket of crystalline white. This is good because this New Moon takes place with several other planets and might pack a punch. Right after the Sun and Moon at 21 Aquarius come Neptune, Mars, Mercury, and Chiron in Pisces, all in the third house. On Friday, Mercury and Mars were conjunct, mingling the wings of Mercury and the passion of Mars. In Pisces, that would mean vision, imagination, and intuition driven to creative self-expression. It's always interesting to see who has a certain placement - well, Elton John has Mercury and Mars conjunct in Pisces, so does Johnny Cash. Then, right after this New Moon, Mars will pass over Chiron, adding the dimension of awareness.
The third house is ruled by Mercury and involves everyday communication, siblings and relatives other than the parents, neighbors, early childhood education, and the lower mind. With this house so full on a New Moon, we can expect to be communicating with or about these people or subjects. In Aquarius there might be detached conversation via Facebook or email rather than in person, like hearing from a cousin or a distant aunt, but the communication will be heartfelt, even nostalgic. The nostalgia may even be about the fact that the message is through technology and not face to face, as we have less and less of that now. The awareness of Chiron may be about childhood secrets in the family, now finally out of the closet, still a source of pain, but ready for forgiveness and release. Again the nostalgia, for the way we pretended it used to be.
This New Moon is also almost conjunct another of the centaur planets, Nessus. Like Chiron, the centaurs all raise awareness of different aspects of life or the psyche that need healing. If Chiron carries the secret of the original soul wound, Nessus sheds light on patterns of abuse, especially deeply buried emotional or sexual abuse, and the psychological wounding they engender. These themes may surface in conversation or in dreams this week, and we may be able to look at them more objectively, like an Aquarian, or even discuss them. Given the third house placement, and given that most hidden abuse happens in families, the conversation may be with a sibling. The point of conjunction with a centaur brings the possibility of release.Take note of any material that surfaces in these sensitive areas that are so critical to personal growth, but also to the health of society. Remember, this is a universal theme as well - these are the last bastions of denial that are falling in our culture, the revelations of serious abuse of all kinds inside our most valued institutions, in marriage, the church, our schools, and in the corridors of power. The centaur planets have been prominent in the aspects for quite some time, and while the energy they carry is not comfortable for most, it is essential to the healing of human consciousness. While this New Moon may be challenging for many, the Sabian Symbol is one of comfort, "A rug placed on the floor for children to play on." Taking care of the inner child, or real children, can bring a sense of safety and security. And play is necessary for all of us too. The snowstorm brought children of all ages outside to play, since no one is allowed to drive on the highways yet. As as always, God knows what s/he is doing, and is doing it in Divine Timing.
What next? Well, Chinese New Year is on Monday, time to reconfigure the feng shui. Here's a link to Raymond Lo's  forecast for 2013, the year of the Water Snake. His analyses are very comprehensive and he gives recommendations for feng shui in the home for the year as well. Raymond Lo.

Quotes for the day:
                   
                    "Be like melting snow - was yourself of yourself."    -   Rumi

                    "Genius is an African who dreams up snow."     - Vladimir Nabokov

                   "Snowmen fall from heaven - unassembled."  -  Author Unknown
 
 
 
January 26, 2013
 
Here we are in 2013, Barack Obama is still president, and what is the state of the union? Here are some of my thoughts.

This quote touches on something which bothers me more and more, that language has become so sloppy as to be almost incoherent. I bristle at the constant use by almost everyone of buzz words and phrases, many taken from idiotic TV shows, in everyday conversation. In trying to avoid using them, I am taking a stand against mind control, because that's what I think the continual repetition is. The author here expresses it in even stronger terms:
 
"This theft of language, this technique of usurping words and deploying them like weapons, of using them to mask intent and to mean exactly the opposite of what they have traditionally meant, has been one of the most brilliant strategic victories of the czars of the new dispensation. It has allowed them to marginalize their detractors, deprive them of a language to voice their critique and dismiss them as being "anti-progress," "anti-development," "anti-reform," and of course "anti-national" - negativists of the worst sort. To reclaim these stolen words requires explanations that are too tedious for a world with a short attention span, and too expensive in an era when Free Speech has become unaffordable for the poor. This language heist may prove to be the keystone of our undoing.
6 
Educators, progressives, and civic-minded citizens need a language that puts justice back into the regressive culture of cost-benefit analyses and rejects the civic vacuum created by the extremist apostles of casino capitalism."

In other words, we need to speak truthfully and correctly in order to have a democracy. These quotes are from an article which reminded me of something I deeply believe in, and of why I so appreciate the way President Obama uses the English language to communicate the truth, not to obfuscate it. His command of the language is so far beyond most public figures that it upsets people, who feel he's an elitist if he uses language to speak the truth. There are many who think he's just another hired actor, and I hope that's not the case, but if so, we have at least hired ourselves a very good one.

The Inauguration chart was a very Aquarian one, and we can thank heaven for that, (astrologers thank heaven regularly.) And President Obama is very Aquarian as well, also thanks to his lucky stars. But the chart indicates that the situation is not all that cut and dried. Both Mercury and Mars are in revolutionary Aquarius with the Sun, ruled by unpredictable Uranus, in the tenth house of government, which would seem to favor 'We, the People" in matters such as freedom and equality. However, the Midheaven, which is really the ruler of the 10th house, is still in stuffy old Capricorn, ruled by the old mountain goat himself, Saturn, as are both Pluto and the Moon. This would place the President, with his Aquarian Ascendant which lends him that unflappable 'no drama Obama' quality that so irks some people, squarely between a rock and a hard place, engineering a pathway forward between Uranus and Saturn/Pluto, akin to the dance he has had to do between the demands of the 'We the People' and his Democratic base and the brick wall of Republican opposition. No easy ride into his second term for this Commander in Chief.

But while it is true that Pluto and Uranus are still in a wide square in the sky, they are  aspecting the natal Eris, Goddess of Discord, of a huge number of the people on Earth, a tense alignment to be sure, just take a look at global affairs. If we look further there may be some hidden blessings. Even though power-hungry Pluto squares Uranus, Pluto also sextiles the stable, practical and grounded Saturn. Meanwhile, pesky, unpredictable Uranus simultaneously sextiles the grand and magnanimous Jupiter in opinionated Gemini.  If we, and our President, can harness the energy of these two aspects and the assistance they offer, they may provide just enough of a silver lining to allow us to solve a few problems.

Jupiter sextile Uranus denotes a willingness to innovate and upgrade in unusual or unorthodox ways for altruistic or humanitarian goals. Science, technology and spirituality may combine into amazing breakthroughs intended for everyone. In the personal realm, tap into your unique abilities, your most out-there ideas, and find a new way to incorporate them into your business or home life. Note coincidences and seize the spontaneous opportunity they offer. Try something different to expand your world.

Pluto sextile Saturn is characterized by progressive, foundational changes in political, economic and corporate structures. Perhaps a few of our politicians will actually do something to move the country forward.
Personally, the aspect can lead one to pinpoint fears related to commitment to a cause larger than the self, and to dig deep into the psyche to find the inner drive to take action. What radical thing do your dream or fantasize about doing?

Basically, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto all aspect the natal position of this most disruptive planet Eris for all born from 1940 through 1966. She represents whatever we have excluded from our lives and psyches. If 'issues' arise, and they inevitably will, it will be in those neglected areas. Those of you relative newbies here are not as impacted right now but, take notes and look ahead because by the end of May, Jupiter will have aspected the Eris of everyone born after 1966, to address these unwanted but insistent parts of you, too. 

So here's Barack Obama, just past his own Chiron return, dealing with the foregoing astrology and having to address the nation. What's a beleaguered President to do? Well, he needs to somehow navigate between the apparently opposing forces toward achievable goals within what may well be a radical framework. Doesn't that sound just like what he has been trying to do so far? Is he perhaps just the man for the job, after all, and is this perhaps not the exact right moment in divine timing? Did we get any clues as to his thinking?


The President's inaugural speech struck me as Aquarian to the point of being revolutionary, so I reread the text to see if it was as progressive as I thought when I heard it live. The verdict is Yup, even more so. It was a speech for this moment, in our country here on Earth, but as if he were reaching into the galaxy for his material. And indeed, if he fulfills his promise, he was. Here it is, see for yourself.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much.Vice President Biden, Mr. Chief Justice, members of the United States Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens, each time we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution. We affirm the promise of our democracy. We recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our names.
OBAMA: What makes us exceptional, what makes us America is our allegiance to an idea articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.
(APPLAUSE)
That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, and among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Today we continue a never ending journey to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they’ve never been self-executing. That while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by his people here on earth.
OBAMA: The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few, or the rule of a mob. They gave to us a republic, a government of, and by, and for the people. Entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed. And for more than 200 years we have. Through blood drawn by lash, and blood drawn by sword, we noted that no union founded on the principles of liberty and equality could survive half slave, and half free.
OBAMA: We made ourselves anew, and vowed to move forward together.
Together we determined that a modern economy requires railroads and highways to speed travel and commerce, schools and colleges to train our workers. Together we discovered that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play. Together we resolve that a great nation must care for the vulnerable and protect its people from life’s worst hazards and misfortune.
Through it all, we have never relinquished our skepticism of central authority, nor have we succumbed to the fiction that all societies ills can be cured through government alone. Our celebration of initiative and enterprise, our insistence on hard work and personal responsibility, these are constants in our character.
"For we have always understood that when times change, so must we, that fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges, that preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action.
For the American people can no more meet the demands of today’s world by acting alone than American soldiers could have met the forces of fascism or communism with muskets and militias. No single person can train all the math and science teachers we’ll need to equip our children for the future. Or build the roads and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and businesses to our shores.Now, more than ever, we must do these things together, as one nation, and one people.
This generation of Americans has been tested by crises that steeled our resolve and proved our resilience. A decade of war is now ending. An economic recovery has begun. America’s possibilities are limitless, for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands: youth and drive; diversity and openness; an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention. My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it – so long as we seize it together.
For we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it. We believe that America’s prosperity must rest upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class. We know that America thrives when every person can find independence and pride in their work; when the wages of honest labor liberate families from the brink of hardship. We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else, because she is an American, she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyes of God but also in our own.
We understand that outworn programs are inadequate to the needs of our time. We must harness new ideas and technology to remake our government, revamp our tax code, reform our schools, and empower our citizens with the skills they need to work harder, learn more, and reach higher. But while the means will change, our purpose endures: a nation that rewards the effort and determination of every single American. That is what this moment requires. That is what will give real meaning to our creed.
We, the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity. We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit. But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future. For we remember the lessons of our past, when twilight years were spent in poverty, and parents of a child with a disability had nowhere to turn. We do not believe that in this country, freedom is reserved for the lucky, or happiness for the few. We recognize that no matter how responsibly we live our lives, any one of us, at any time, may face a job loss, or a sudden illness, or a home swept away in a terrible storm. The commitments we make to each other – through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security – these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.
We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms. The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries – we must claim its promise. That is how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure – our forests and waterways; our croplands and snowcapped peaks. That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God. That’s what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared.
We, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war. Our brave men and women in uniform, tempered by the flames of battle, are unmatched in skill and courage. Our citizens, seared by the memory of those we have lost, know too well the price that is paid for liberty. The knowledge of their sacrifice will keep us forever vigilant against those who would do us harm. But we are also heirs to those who won the peace and not just the war, who turned sworn enemies into the surest of friends, and we must carry those lessons into this time as well.
We will defend our people and uphold our values through strength of arms and rule of law. We will show the courage to try and resolve our differences with other nations peacefully – not because we are naïve about the dangers we face, but because engagement can more durably lift suspicion and fear. America will remain the anchor of strong alliances in every corner of the globe; and we will renew those institutions that extend our capacity to manage crisis abroad, for no one has a greater stake in a peaceful world than its most powerful nation. We will support democracy from Asia to Africa; from the Americas to the Middle East, because our interests and our conscience compel us to act on behalf of those who long for freedom. And we must be a source of hope to the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the victims of prejudice – not out of mere charity, but because peace in our time requires the constant advance of those principles that our common creed describes: tolerance and opportunity; human dignity and justice.
We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths – that all of us are created equal – is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth.
It is now our generation’s task to carry on what those pioneers began. For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity; until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country. Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for, and cherished, and always safe from harm.
That is our generation’s task – to make these words, these rights, these values – of Life, and Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness – real for every American. Being true to our founding documents does not require us to agree on every contour of life; it does not mean we will all define liberty in exactly the same way, or follow the same precise path to happiness. Progress does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of government for all time – but it does require us to act in our time.
For now decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay. We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate. We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect. We must act, knowing that today’s victories will be only partial, and that it will be up to those who stand here in four years, and forty years, and four hundred years hence to advance the timeless spirit once conferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall.
My fellow Americans, the oath I have sworn before you today, like the one recited by others who serve in this Capitol, was an oath to God and country, not party or faction – and we must faithfully execute that pledge during the duration of our service. But the words I spoke today are not so different from the oath that is taken each time a soldier signs up for duty, or an immigrant realizes her dream. My oath is not so different from the pledge we all make to the flag that waves above and that fills our hearts with pride.
They are the words of citizens, and they represent our greatest hope.
You and I, as citizens, have the power to set this country’s course.
You and I, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time – not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideals.
Let each of us now embrace, with solemn duty and awesome joy, what is our lasting birthright. With common effort and common purpose, with passion and dedication, let us answer the call of history, and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom.
Thank you, God Bless you, and may He forever bless these United States of America."
 
 
 
 
 
 



The Leo Full Moon is tonight at 11:38 pm. It is of course, on that Leo/Aquarius axis, between the Leo "I" and the Aquarian "We. Saturn will be square both the Sun and the Moon, providing the possibility of grounding something new into reality. We, each of us and all of us together, have had the opportunity to allow a new agenda to seep into our consciousness. Now we must see what actions we, each of us and all of us together, might take to bring it to manifestation in the new lunar cycle beginning tonight.

"Until one is committed,

There is hesitancy,

The chance to drawback,

Always ineffectiveness,

Concerning all acts of initiative and creation.

There is one elementary truth in ignorance
Of which kills countless ideas
And splendid plans:

That the moment one
Definitely commits oneself,
Then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that
Would never otherwise have occurred.

A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
Raising in one’s favor all manner
Of unforeseen incidents and meetings
And material assistance
Which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

Whatever you can do,
Or dream you can,
Begin it.

Boldness has genius, power and
magic in it.
Begin it now."
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goeth
 
 
January 8, 2013
 
I hesitate to get too far ahead as some astrologers do, telling you all the high points of the year in astrology - the meaning of any sky event depends on how things are actually unfolding. You won't remember them anyway, and the future of our 3d  (or 4d or whatever we're in now) reality is really too fluid to make precise predictions, especially after the  disappointment many felt at the end of 2012, both for the US society, falling apart before our eyes, and for the planet as it appeared not to be in the great shift as foretold (more on the Ascension in a bit.)

The year began with some calm energy, good aspects, right through last Friday when Jupiter was in trine with Mars, a fine, uplifting day. Last week brought more tension as the annual square between Mars, residing in Aquarius, and Saturn, now in Scorpio ramped up to exact on Sunday. The political theater in Washington over the 'fiscal cliff' was a clear demonstration of the kind of the power struggle drama that this aspect might bring when running negative.
And although I try not to pay too much attention, our President has disappointed once again with his apparent inability not to capitulate even in a situation when he held all the cards. He won the election in part on the promise that he would not allow tax raises on lower and middle income people, and that he would let the Bush tax cuts expire, period. Why on earth then, should the payroll tax holiday be allowed to expire while any of the Bush tax cuts are extended? It was another case of something important being "off the table" without explanation or apology, reminiscent of the public option during the health care battle. All I know is that the payroll taxes will go up for all 160 million of us working folks, so our paychecks will be 2% smaller, and that's a lower and middle class tax increase no matter what anyone says. And anyone who pulls in $400,000 a year is not middle class, also no matter what anyone says. But I'm trying not to pay too much attention, as I said. I hope that all of you fared better in any negotiations you were engaged in on the personal or business levels.

Tonight, at 11:11, Venus will join the Sun, Mercury and Pluto in the sign of Capricorn. Pluto is also now conjunct Juno, so more struggles may surface in close partnerships. Pluto is working its magic on our ideas about marriage now, deeply transforming the entire idea of that institution. The Defense of Marriage Act and the laws about same-sex unions are evidence that the change is underway. In the same way, as Pluto moves slowly through Capricorn for the next several years, all of our major institutions will be altered.

On Friday the 11th is the New Moon in Capricorn, topping off a very Caparicorn week. It might be a good idea to tweak your list of resolutions and things you want to manifest in 2013 before the new cycle begins.

As for the Ascension, all the channels are sort of apologetic about the less than spectacular Solstice of 2012. But most agreed that the Earth did indeed keep moving on her Ascension timetable, more than one declaring that the energy drain and let-down many were feeling over the holidays was actually the "Three Days of Darkness", only they stretched into about 7 days before the energy lifted. So be it, whatever, and so what? We'll get there when we get there.

I leave you with the following article, the most positive I have seen in the aftermath of the Newtown shootings.

4 Reminders of Human Goodness After Sandy Hook
Tuesday, 25 December 2012 10:24 By Jeremy Adam Smith, YES! Magazine | News Analysis

I first heard about the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Twitter. In the flood of reactions, one stood out to me. “The children were killed execution style,” tweeted one woman.
“People are horrible.”
Are people horrible?
It’s a question we as a culture pose after every war and atrocity; it’s a question we as individuals ask ourselves after we experience personal betrayals or cruelty. The question certainly crossed my mind as the details of the massacre emerged; my immediate reaction was to think about the violence I’ve experienced in my life, and to look inside at my own capacity for violence. In the face of such horror, we feel overwhelmed. Optimism about our species seems out of place, perhaps even frivolous and offensive.
But that is exactly why it’s important, in the aftermath, to remind ourselves of human propensities for compassion, empathy, forgiveness, heroism, peacefulness, and altruism.
We can find evidence of human goodness in the event itself—in the actions of teacher Victoria Soto, school psychologist Mary Sherlach, and principal Dawn Hochsprung, who gave their lives in defense of the kids. Several friends have told me that they wept after reading the story of Soto, who died at age 27. I admit that I cried as well. We were crying over its tragedy, of course, but I believe we were also moved to tears by the example of primal human goodness that Soto now represents.
We can also look beyond this one event—to its context, and to what the science reveals about such violence. I like to say that science is essentially counting. That sounds like a cold activity, perhaps, but we humans count because it’s a tool that helps us create an accurate picture of reality. Emotions can be counted, and so can actions. And that natural human propensity for counting helps correct for our “negativity bias”—that is, our tendency to remember threats better than the good things.
Before we make room for counting and logic, we must allow ourselves to feel. To weep and to mourn, and to feel terrible about ourselves and humanity. But then comes the work of understanding what happened, and why, and what events like the one at Sandy Hook Elementary tell us about human nature, and what we can do to cultivate the good and diminish the bad. Here are four reminders that people are not, in fact, horrible—and that we can turn to each other in times of horror and need.

1. Compassion and forgiveness are everywhere.

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this image, of one child comforting another. This image may be burned into my mind because the boy is just a little younger than my own son. But I am also struck by the maturity of the girl’s compassion. This girl (whose name I haven’t been able to discover) was probably frightened beyond all reason, and so the way she holds the boy seems to me to be an act of heroism.
And if you do an image search for Sandy Hook, you’ll find picture after picture of people holding and comforting each other. We shouldn’t be surprised. There is now a mountain of research showing that compassion and empathy are instinctive, defining human traits, ones that manifest themselves in children from a very early age. As Dacher Kelter writes in “The Compassionate Instinct,” the brain “seems wired up to respond to others’ suffering—indeed, it makes us feel good when we can alleviate that suffering.”
What happened in Sandy Hook is incomprehensibly horrific. But against the act of one mentally ill young man, we have to count the sacrifices of women like Victoria Soto. Let’s remember to count those children and parents who comforted each other. Let’s not forget the first responders—police, paramedics, firemen, doctors, nurses—who rushed to help, not knowing what they would face. Their work is part of an entire infrastructure of compassion, one supported by all of us through our tax dollars.
And we should remember the words of Robbie Parker, the father of one of the children who was killed. He offered comfort and forgiveness to the family of shooter Adam Lanza, saying “I want you to know that our love and support go out to you as well.” We should all take to heart Parker’s hope that the killings “not turn into something that defines us, but something that inspires us to be better, to be more compassionate and more humble people.”

2. Schools are safer than ever.

When I heard about the massacre, my first instinct was to rush to my son’s school. I gave in to that impulse, and I secretly spied on him and his classmates during recess. I didn’t go to him or pull him out of school, because I think that would have created questions and fear. I want school to feel safe for him.
And, in fact, Americans schools are safe. Yes, there has been violence. But believe it or not, school violence has been declining for almost 20 years, and your kids are safer at school than outside of it. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the number of homicides in American schools fell by half in less than two decades, from a peak of 34 in 1993 to 17 in 2010, the latest figures available—this, despite the fact that enrollment skyrocketed during the same period.
Why? Most criminologists agree it’s not tighter school security or zero-tolerance policies, which more and more school districts are rejecting. As Claudia Anderson, director of Student Support Services for San Francisco Unified, once told me: “For a decade we went through this zero-tolerance era. And quite frankly it didn’t work. It didn’t make one bit of difference.”
That’s why San Francisco and hundreds of other school districts around the country are turning from punitive policies to ones that are designed to foster empathy for victims and to provide mental health support for families. The data are still coming in, but so far these policies seem to have contributed to reducing school violence. Today, parents can send their kids to school confident that they will be safe.

3. Children (and adults) are resilient.

Much of the attention has focused on trauma, and some press coverage has looked to divorce, Asperger’s Syndrome, and video games for explanations of Adam Lanza’s violence.

The trauma is real. And it may well be the case that elements of Lanza’s personal life fed the rampage. But tragedy can feed speculation, which, if unchecked, can lead to scapegoating and stigmatization. What are the facts?
As Christine Carter regularly discusses in her Greater Good blog about raising happy kids, children of troubled families can struggle—but divorce is often a solution to, not a cause of, these troubles. Most school shooters have come from intact homes; quite a few have come from seemingly happy, stable homes, though parental conflict and neglect are huge risk factors. People on the autistic spectrum, such as those with Asperger’s, can be treated and can manage their own difficulties, and autism is not at all linked to shooting rampages. Most kids today play video games without ever physically harming others—and the best evidence we have does not reveal a link between mass shootings and video game play.
It’s critical in the wake of tragedy to not go to the easy answers—and to remind ourselves that divorce does not create homicidal killers, people with Autism should not be viewed as threats, and the data on video games remains inconclusive. If we allow these unsupported explanations to flourish, we risk blaming and marginalizing people who happen to share Lanza’s traits and experiences without actually changing one thing for the better—and we risk making things even worse for people who might need help.
We have good reasons to have faith in ourselves and each other. People are built to survive and rebound from life’s difficulties and tragedies, including divorce, illness, and encounters with violence. In What Doesn’t Kill Us: The New Psychology of Posttraumatic Growth, psychologist Stephen Joseph argues that treatment for trauma must highlight strengths, reframe horrible experience in a more positive way (by, for example, focusing on being a survivor rather than a victim), and taking positive steps in your life.
As childhood trauma expert Dr. David Schonfeld told the New York Daily News, “The one thing to remember is that while these experiences are life-changing and traumatic, it doesn’t mean these kids are damaged for the rest of their lives.”

4. Peace is the rule, not the exception.

“Believe it or not,” writes psychologist Steven Pinker, “violence has declined over long stretches of time, and today we may be living in the most peaceable era in our species’ existence.” His 2011 book The Better Angles of Our Nature assembles an impressive array of evidence for this startling argument.
But again, we shouldn’t be surprised—the evidence has been mounting for decades. “The study of killing by military scientists, historians, and psychologists gives us good reason to feel optimistic about human nature, for it reveals that almost all of us are overwhelmingly reluctant to kill a member of our own species, under just about any circumstance,” writes Lt. Col. Dave Grossman in his Greater Good essay, “Hope on the Battlefield."
Anthropologist Douglas P. Fry studied violence in hundreds of societies—and found that it is peace, not war and violence, that characterizes most human lives. “Our daily observations may seem to contradict the idea that peacefulness predominates in human affairs, especially when we have become accustomed to Hollywood films and daily newscasts that depict unrelenting violence. In actuality, the vast majority of people on the planet awake on a typical morning and live a violence-free day—and this experience generally continues day after day.”
That’s easy to forget when confronted by horrors like the one at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Of course, peace is never a given. It’s something we have to work for every day, in every interaction with other people. As a result of Sandy Hook, we are now engaged in national discussions about mental health, guns, and education, much of which is shaped by trauma and fear. In that discussion, it’s critical that we follow Robbie Parker’s example—and speak out for the good in people.

Peace is the rule, violence the exception. Here's to a more peaceful, productive, and happier 2013.
 
 
December 29, 2013
 
I took some time to review 2012 again, a practice recommended by many as we begin each new year. Usually there are some sweeter days in there with the bitter ones. I took a much-needed mini-vacation trip to MD/DC to visit one of you and that was fun and restorative. Another of my best friends transitioned to spirit; greeting to you Michelle and thanks for the signals you send from the other side of the (very thin) veil. The 2012 presidential election was one of the most hilarious, tragi-comic, and infuriating ever on the Republican side, and only somewhat less so on the Democratic. This year, $2 plus billion was spent on campaigns, money that even I could think of much better ways to spend.  But, hey, for most of us, it turned out well, we think, so far. My father's health, mental and physical, continues to be good for his advanced age and
with a few ups and downs. Same for my own health, and that of my sister's family and my cat, Angel, who continues to love me unreservedly, and provides great comfort, amusement, and etheric protection. And I am not currently residing in an insane asylum (not that there are many of those left, we just stay at home these days...). I am at least semi-gainfully employed and expect more abundance to come. So 2012 wasn't all bad all the time, however I'm looking forward to great improvement in 2013, with less boredom in daily activities and more excitement that does not involve death and destruction.

2012 was a good year for books, authors I hadn't read before, like Rosamund Pilcher, and ones I rediscovered. For much needed levity, the book I mentioned, The Situation is Hopeless but Not Serious (subtitled The Pursuit of Unhappiness), is a seriously funny look at how we create unhappiness. Another one to check out if you have trouble with negative thoughts is You Can't Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought. Both of these illumine the ways in which we think negatively, and very few, I think, could read them without recognizing themselves somewhere. (Example chapter: "If It'll Be Funny Later, It's Funny Now" to diffuse those frustrating, irritating situations in modern life which can unleash a barrage of unproductive negative thinking, beginning with phrases like "Why does this always happen? and "I knew I should have left earlier," followed by more useless thoughts like, "How could I be so lazy and stupid?", and "Speaking of stupid, look at this idiot..." etc. etc. etc.) These books remind us that the world is not out to get us and that if there is any conspiracy of that kind, it starts inside our own minds. The universe is actually conspiring to give us just what we need and want at all times, again, if we allow it to.

Another series I've been led back to is Douglas Adams' 'triology' (there are actually 5 books in it, that's funny all by itself) A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, very British, very out there, but then not really so out of the question. I think that might have been a movie, but the books are infinitely better (always my opinion). And Dave Barry always make me laugh, especially his zany take on male/female relations, (Dave Barry is From Venus and Mars, and others) triggered by the
emphasis on that theme in the Solstice chart, and Jupiter's wife Juno's prominent presence in the sky.

It was a banner year for exciting astrology,
with the ongoing Pluto/Uranus square in particular providing a backdrop of drama and change. It won't be exact again until May 20, but the tension will be building again in the intervening months. Also in 2012 we had all the inner planet retrogrades, Venus, Mars, and of course Mercury, taking us inward for some deep-cleaning hopefully leading to some kind of renewal.
Today the Cancer moon has been void of course, meaning making no aspects to other planets, all day, so it has been relatively quiet, like the snow falling on many of us tonight. Tomorrow the Capricorn Sun is conjunct Pluto and sextile Saturn, which might be a powerful catalyst for something transformative, let's hope it's in our government. Internally, it's time to go deep, get rid of old patterns rooted in fear, and do at least one thing, symbolic or real, that moves us toward what we want 2013 and the future to look like. The last day of the year is a good one, with a party-hearty Leo moon in a late afternoon trine to loving Venus, then an active sextile between Uranus and Mars in the evening. Good for socializing and being with loved ones if you are so inclined, or using the future-oriented energy of  Uranus to visualize your plans for the new year. Whatever way you chose to greet the new year, be at peace.

The past year was definitely a high point for the bringing in the light frequencies. We are ever learning that the higher the vibration we reach, the more stark the polarity when the lower shows up, as it did emphatically in 2012. So we are learning to be in the higher dimensions more permanently instead of just visiting, as we have done for so long, until we actually live there. Some already do. There, no matter what happens, we keep ourselves in love, able to respond appropriately or detach without guilt or self-recriminations. Personally I continue to straddle 3D and 5D, preferring 5D, but necessarily interacting with 3D as well and sometimes just reverting sort of by default. It is becoming easier to maintain a high vibration and merely observe disturbances in the environment, even given recent bouts of 'edginess'. The cauldron of the 2012 Solstice, holiday, Newtown, and Full Moon energies certainly got the better of me at times there, though I do have a a huge toolbox that helps me up again. I'm sure all of you did just fine.

I want  leave you with this exquisite poem that one of you sent, thank you. It gracefully expresses what I was trying to in that last aborted post. Like 'The Invitation',  it touches on all the themes we have always struggled with, and especially now as we travel with our dear planet Earth out of 3D and into 5D, into a new way of life.

Allow
 
There is no controlling life.
Try corralling a lightning bolt,
containing a tornado. Dam a
stream and it will create a new
channel. Resist, and the tide
will sweep you off your feet.
Allow, and grace will carry
you to higher ground. The only
safety lies in letting it all in -
the wild and the weak; fear,
fantasies, failures and success.
When loss rips off the doors of
the heart, or sadness veils your
vision with despair, practice
becomes simply bearing the truth.
In the choice to let go of your
known way of being, the whole
world is revealed to your new eyes.

~ Donna Faulds, from Poems from the Heart of Yoga: Go In and In
 
 
 
December 16, 2012
 
I remember writing to you all earlier on in this 2012 saga that I couldn't for the life of me see anything about the actual solstice chart that stood out. The 2012 astrology in general is quite volatile and interesting, what with the Pluto/Uranus square repeatedly rocking the Cardinal Grand Cross, and with several major outer planet sign changes, all of which have now occurred. But these events happened over the past few years, and will continue for the next few. So again, the actual Solstice chart of December 21, 2012 is not an example of amazing, in-your-face astrology. That is, in part, the basis for my contention that we will all still be here on December 22, 2012, God willing.
The only aspect I can find in the solstice chart that is at all unusual is the Sun conjunct the asteroid goddess Juno. Juno, who was called Hera in the Greek tradition, was the wife of Jupiter, or Zeus if you will, and the Queen of Heaven. She was also the epitome of the jealous wife, and she wasn't shy about expressing it. To be fair, her husband did have numerous well-publicized affairs, so she had some reason for her behavior. Juno in astrology, rules marriage. But what does this mean, on the last day of the 13th baktun of the Mayan Long count, and could this really be the focal point of the end of a very long era? It seems kind of ridiculous that it would come down to this, the age-old battle of the sexes. But maybe this is the thing, it is age old, and many, many people, especially women I might add, are very weary of it. Many men still seem to enjoy it all, but women, whose voices have not been listened to much in the last 5,125, or even 26,000, years, have just plain had it with the jealousy and game-playing, the power struggling, the generally imbalanced nature of our most important relationships, crystallized now as they are in the institution of marriage itself.

But Juno represents something more profound than the modern concept of marriage.There is the marriage that is known in the spiritual traditions as the conjunctio, the sacred marriage, the inner communion between the ego self and the Higher Self. This relationship makes all other relationships possible.
And even more important for us today is that Juno is one of the embodiments of the Divine Feminine energy, denied and suppressed for so long in our male-dominated culture.
If enough of us can master the integration of our inner masculine and feminine aspects, it could save the world.
Like Juno, the Divine Feminine will not be denied, not without serious consequences. Resistance to it has been creating havoc in our society, illuminating the schism in our collective psyche, most recently and tragically of course with the shootings in Newtown, CT. Lest we forget, though, President Obama read a grim list of such events in his speech on Friday, beginning with the shooting in Oregon just last Tuesday, the 11th. We had the 12th and the concert to help Sandy survivors providing some hope, and similarly on the13th Steven Colbert donating the $700,000 remainder of his PAC funds to Sandy and to efforts to extract money from politics. And then there was Friday. Quite the week.

Didn't all those channels in the 1990's warn us that those who didn't do their spiritual homework would not be able to handle the accelerated frequencies and rising vibration? I guess they got that right. Thank yourself for doing yours.


Here are some wise words about the times we are in this December of 2012 from a writer I greatly respect and  whose Lightworker, Baby Boomer perspective I share:

"Forty years is a long time to anticipate an event, dearhearts, and I long ago lost my edge in terms of how this had to look, but never, ever, my investment in how it was going to feel. No terror, no sorrow, can make this juncture less powerful than it is. The darkness of this moment only makes the Light brighter.

So, with many of us looking for signs and portents — Jesus descending from the sky like Tink at Disneyland or the Mothership looming large over Washington, DC — 12/12 came and went with little fuss, those seeking a thrill ride missing the point. The point? This IS the thrill ride, the opportunity to express ourselves within each miracle-ready moment of life, the possibility of our quickly shifting awareness and discovery streaking the sky like a shooting star. In a world deeply flawed, darkly illustrated with all that’s wrong, can we imagine what is right? Can we celebrate our communal humanity, our hearts joined in empathy, our prayers affirming healing and tenderness for all that are wounded, Chiron-style?"

There's this, 'The Invitation' by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, which you have all no doubt read, or perhaps have hanging in a frame somewhere.

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dreams
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become shriveled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your
fingers and toes
without cautioning us to
be careful
be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.

If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand on the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes."

It doesn't interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after a night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the center of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.


Well, the last two days have not exactly been empty. On the contrary they've been rather full - of stress, shock, and sadness. To say that his new tragedy hits close to home is an understatement. For those of us in Fairfield County, it is home, and too close for comfort. For myself, I spent Friday teaching a 4th grade class at an elementary school in Weston, CT. We were in partial lockdown from about 10:15 am through the rest of the day. This means we were locked in the school building, there were off-duty police guarding each outside door, after they apparently searched the parking lot and the surrounding woods while there was still uncertainty about a second shooter. One teacher, who lives in Newtown, was allowed to leave to pick up her children at school, not Sandy Hook fortunately.  Our classrooms weren't locked, and we had class 'as usual', so the children knew nothing about the events taking place just 12 or so miles away. It was a long and surreal day, getting the progressively worse news surreptitiously on our phones, relatives and friends calling to check on us, and very little discussion with colleagues for fear of a child overhearing. I was never so grateful for cell phones, which of course were also the means by which those in Newtown contacted the police and each other so quickly. I've participated in many lockdown drills, but the idea of something real happening in our school felt remote, if not impossible.

So, what do we do now?

Well, we 'sit with our pain'  until it passes. We allow our hearts to break because that's how our capacity to love expands. We cherish each other and our time together. We recognize that "...there's a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in."

And we carry on.
 
 
November18, 2012
 
Finally, the political chessboard has been rearranged and the players are moving into place for the President's second administration. So too, on the big chessboard in the sky the planets are positioning themselves for the fast-approaching historic solstice on December 21, 2012. And it is coming on fast, with an acceleration of time and cosmic energies that is dizzying. There seems to be almost no time to get anything done at all. Every day we're ostensibly busy getting things done until we look at the clock and half the day is gone and very little has actually been accomplished.  Of course the non-productive factor is also characteristic of Mercury in retrograde motion, where it remains in late Scorpio. Issues of power, death, sex, and other people's money percolate under the surface. Remember, if you have any important decisions, financial arrangements, or paperwork to complete, today, and to some extent Sunday, is the safest time during the retrograde. If it can be put off until after the effects of the retrograde have died down, say the first week of December, that would be a good plan.

For now, the holidays are again upon us - next week is Thanksgiving and we're thinking, really? how did that happen? And do they have any relevance anymore? For many, we're not sure, we are just going through the motions at this point. Yet there is a very poignant, nostalgic feel to these times, a sense of  'this could be the last time' caused by the uncertainties of the coming Shift of the Ages, so long awaited, and still so lacking in specifics in many of our minds. So we continue to recreate our traditions, maybe in a modified form, knowing they are going to change soon.
We are approaching the end of a 26,000 year cycle, folks. On a soul level, most of us have been around for all or much of that time. Talk about your senior citizens! Of course, in the eternal sense, we're more like toddlers, or maybe second graders. How big the second graders are to the toddlers, and the 6th graders to the second graders! What do toddlers even know about high school? and it goes on like that. I can't recall who said that "in the spiritual life, one is always at the beginning", and I'm not sure if that's comforting or not either. We know what we are at the end of, and we are truly weary of much of it, but what are we at the beginning of? The terms we have heard for this new stage we are entering don't seem to convey anything real enough for us to have solid confidence in it. The New Earth, the Golden Age, the Second Coming, the 5th Dimension, Terra - sounds great. Now, what exactly does it mean? Many of us have developed our MerKaBa's, what we call light bodies to get 'there' in, and have experienced the peace and joy of the higher energies, briefly or for sustained periods. We think we're so cool. Yet we still don't know where 'there' is, or what it will be like for us. So we cultivate our spiritual resources, our connection to the divine, and our faith that it will all be lovely and effortless, whatever that means. And sometimes we wonder if it's all been a hoax, which just reminds us that we're currently more used to lies than truth.

Lately, though, as the frequencies ramp up, there is a rising current of positivity, of upliftment, of belief in the possibility of sustained goodness and abundant life even in the midst of huge problems, devastating storms, intractible circumstances, improbable odds. It was said that the old things would fall away, and that now seems to be happening. We were told we needed to be 'as children' in order to enter the Kingdom, and I propose that we are doing just that. Remember (or imagine)as a kid being in the car, or maybe on a plane, going to an unknown destination for a vacation, all excited, and knowing it would be the best, whatever it was? We're just like that, and asking, repeatedly, "Are we there yet?, When are we going to be there?", while long-suffering parents answered our impossible questions as best they could, knowing that we wouldn't understand the answers anyway. "We'll be there soon." or "Not much farther." "You'll see." We had no idea what "not much farther" meant, but when we arrived, we forgot all about the long trip, the cramped quarters, the parental or sibling squabbles - we were there! There was the beach or the lake, the hotel, or farm or whatever - and it was great! Unless it was a trip that turned out like the "Sloop John B", and we all hope that's not the case. Then again, sometimes the difficulty of the journey makes it all the more worthwhile. Collectively and individually, we might certainly own that one.

I hear Jesus' words that he will return sort of like a Dad going on business trip, "Don't worry, I'll be back in a couple of days." or "before you know it." Again, a couple of days might as well be eternity to a child with no sense of time, yet most children trust that Dad will return. And for Jesus, who was going to Heaven, where a "day is as a thousand years", that would make the last 2000 years, "a couple of days", wouldn't it? I admit that 26,000 years, even in Earth time, is pretty long, though. We use the term "end of and era" all the time, but this is truly the End of an Age, or more like twelve ages.

Meanwhile, other distractions continue, and so does day to day astrology. The two major effects the Solar Eclipse in Scorpio brought to the public were Mitt Romney's loss of the election, and the resignation of CIA Director General Petraeus over an extra-marital affair, of all things. One might wonder how the director, a general no less, of the baddest intelligence agency in the country got himself caught in an affair, why he didn't have better cover. Or why it was announced right after the election, or right before the general was to testify in the hearing over the Benghazi consulate attacks. Lots of Scorpio scandal and intrigue there. For Romney, who was so sure he would win that he didn't bother to write a concession speech, his political power and reputation was lost, along with the remainder of the credibility of the entire Republican Party. When Scorpio sets its transformative sights on something, it can destroy it completely, sometimes forever, but usually for the purpose of reconstructing it.

Here's a good one on the election, starting with a great title. This is by Mark Morford, from SFGate, he always has great articles, and really funny too, like this or this.
 

Twilight of the old white guys

This doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. This doesn’t mean it’s going to be smooth or fun or make any sort of cohesive sense. Not by a long shot. And not for a long, long time.
But across the board and down the line, the take on Obama’s astonishing, historic re-election is the same: America is more wildly, unexpectedly diverse than ever, and those diverse voices – Latino, gay, black, immigrant, female, et al – somehow coalesced into a potent, vociferous, albeit hotly unstable coalition to vote more powerfully and more passionately than any time in our short history, mostly because they never really existed as a functioning coalition in our short history, until now.
This is what the Republican punditry and even many old-timer Dems are coming to terms with: America is no longer a nifty, sepia-toned melting pot kept anodyne and marginal by the rich, starchy bleach of the white ruling class.
Is it not the most astonishing thing? The country is not getting any whiter, older white bigoted people are helpfully dying off, and we now have a messy and nearly incomprehensible Catherine wheel of assorted nonwhite minorities (and women) all spinning, dancing and surging into the limelight – not to mention the cross-breeds, the already mixed, the racially unidentifiable who are, say, a quarter black, a quarter Chinese, a quarter Indian, a third polyamorous and a tenth Cuban kinky hipster lesbian schoolteacher, with a no-religious-affiliation kicker. Sweet.
This is your new American majority, each and every one of whom terrifies the old guard, the rich white guys, Ted Nugent, Bill O’Reilly, and the way it used to be. And this is why the Republican party threw every repulsive weapon it had at Obama to try and avert the inevitable; deep down, they sensed their own imminent obsolescence, even if they didn’t quite believe it was possible.
And oh, they tried everything. Racism. Birtherism. Sexism. Abortion, birth control, “legitimate rape” and irresponsible “sluts.” Religious intolerance, homophobia, xenophobia, Socialism, Communism, Nazis, Kenya, monkeys, Big Bird, gun rights, tax laws, welfare, elitism, oil shortages, health care reform that would secretly herd up and kill the elderly. Just for starters.
Nothing worked. Check that: It all worked. Just not as well as it used to. As one distraught fundamentalist Christian activist said, “It wasn’t that our message didn’t get out. We got the message out. But our message was rejected.”
The face of imminent obsolescence?

Is this a good thing? This is, of course, a very good thing. On the other hand, it’s also all flavors of potential bedlam, with every group and region now demanding its own representation, its own voice, its own right to stir things up and be heard. Or maybe they just want what the white menfolk have had all along: a more honest chance, and a game that’s not rigged against them from the start. I know! The nerve!
So here we have Obama’s 2012 America, a riot of color and noise, melodrama and fierce clamoring for attention. Can it all possibly hold together? Not a chance. Does it have to hold together lest we implode and melt down even further? Without a doubt.
This is why the reaction to Rainbow Bright America has been, to say the least, exhilarating, and strange, and all over the map. Say what you will about unhappy white males running the joint for the last 200 (or 2,000) years. At least they were consistent. Consistently intolerant, patriarchal, oppressive, ruthlessly capitalistic and just a little bit sad? Of course. What the hell do you want from paranoid, monochromatic Christians, enlightenment?
One point everyone agrees on: The channels must open. We must broaden the social lens, appeal to the wider spectrum, understand there is no longer a single religion, voice, sex, color, attitude, or even standardized marriage format that rules the land. Sure, we’ve always been diverse. But we’ve never been completely guided by it.
Is part of the answer to become more multicultural, multilingual, open-ended? It would seem to go without saying. It would seem we should begin, quite directly, with education, and immediately require Spanish, Latin, passing fluency in German, maybe a little Chinese, just in case. Don’t you think?
Praise Jesus, we no longer have a single dominant religion. Even Christmas, which used to be relatively charming and quaint and even a tiny bit sacred, was sold to Wal-Mart for scrap something like 30 years ago; everyone knows we have no major holidays left that aren’t owned by corporations that openly hate you.
Hence, would it kill us to learn a little about, say, Diwali, India’s breathtaking festival of lights? How about Dia de Los Muertos, and Samhain, and Buddha’s birthday? How about teaching kids a little about Christian mysticism, goddess lore, a hint of Wicca, toss in a few of the 3 million Hindu gods? Why not?
You disagree? Oh right, like hammering them with uptight Christian doctrine for all these years has worked so well. Do you want to see the election results again? Shall we talk teen pregnancy rates, divorce rates, just who it was who sent out the most racist, hateful, intolerant Tweets after the election? Didn’t think so.
I know a little of what I speak. As a not wildly young, indo-European white guy myself, I can testify that it is both scary and oddly refreshing to slide so dramatically into the cultural minority. And we’re certainly not all bad – far from it. Of course, I’m nowhere near as endangered and obsolete as, say, the Catholic church, who is right now trying – quite miserably – to wrap its crusty, blood-caked talons around the throat of giddy gay marriage and choke it to death.
(Oh, by the way? This is how you know. This is how you understand you are on the right side of history, culture, love. When the pope and his armies of flying monkeys shake and fume so violently over a new definition of love that their eyeballs curdle, you know you’re doing something very right indeed).
Let us not get too carried away. White ruling classes aren’t quite gone yet. Obama still won a huge and relatively normal percentage of white voters, and Romney got quite a bit more (although, interestingly, the four states with the highest percentage of them – ME, VT, IA, NH – all went for BO).
It’s just that they didn’t matter as much this time around. Not nearly as much as they mattered to Mitt Romney and the GOP, for whom scared white males in particular were the foundation, lifeblood, the meaning of all goddamn existence. And when that meaning is removed? When that long-standing, ironclad political underpinning is uprooted and proven no longer reliable, and never will be again?
You get shock. Awe. Bewilderment. And roughly 4,000 political pundits from every media outlet spinning in the grave of their stunned analysis. Awesome.
But most of all, you get to experience something we in America just don’t get to enjoy all that often. We get to experience the wonderful, terrible, completely disorienting thrill of remaking ourselves anew, changing the conversation, exploding the stagnant American experiment and assembling it into something we just haven’t had the parts to attempt before.
Isn’t that fantastic? Isn’t that destabilizing? Isn’t that what the warped American idea is supposed to be about, after all?


To the old white guys I would quote Stephen Colbert, who commented in a recent interview "You have to be vigilant to stay ignorant." Yes, indeed.

I know it's not 'politically correct' in the spiritual/healing community to talk politics. But the demographics of  Barack Obama's reelection do seem to bear some resemblance to what many of us envision as the new culture we are entering into. A peaceful, cooperative coalition of very diverse elements, building a truly Democratic society together, celebrating both the differences and the commonalities to the highest good  of all concerned. And led, in the leaderless sense, by intelligent, educated people of good will.

But in order to arrive there, we must get through the last of the process of dredging the sewer of our collective karma, even if we weren't personally involved. Who better than Saturn in Scorpio, and a Scorpio eclipse, to keep the ball rolling.  As well as General Petraeus, revelations are coming in the form of stories of rape in the armed forces. The brave women coming forward who have risked their careers to report sexual assault, 3,191 of them just last year, (and
according to the Pentagon the number is one every half hour, or 19,000), who feel it is their duty to testify in such cases, deserve at least to be listened to, whether we want to or not. They are doing all of us, especially women, a huge service in the clearing of old energy, just as those who testified about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church were. Rape is an act of violence, en masse it can be seen as an act of war. War is another of those things on its way out with the old white guys, those who have perpetrated wars over the millennia and have tipped the balance of male/female power so tragically on our planet that it has taken all of us until very recently to even be able to recognize and address the issue. So that's part of where we are.

The other part, the good part, the saving grace for us, is the frequency of love being beamed to the planet continually for about the past 70 years, courtesy of our own better angels and unseen friends and relatives from all over the universe.
  Which just goes to prove that Love conquers all, Love is all there is, Love is the answer, Love will find a way, and All you need is Love.

To get to over the finish line, all we need is Love. But we do need that. Which means we need to love all the crazy generals, all the dictators, all the racists, all the priests, all the misguided old white men (even Mitt Romney?) who have screwed up so badly. If that makes you feel that we might have some more work to do yet, probably so. We get to use Mars in Capricorn, respectively ruled by Scorpio and Saturn, and Saturn in Scorpio, and tap into our latent Scorpio ability to uncover the darkest secrets we keep, bring them into the light, and watch them transmute into something beautiful and useful. That's the work of love, playing a new game of chess. Your move.

 
 
 October 7, 2012
 
                We live in a moment of history where change is so sped up that we begin to see the present only when it is already disappearing.― R. D. Laing
 
Yes, we're at warp speed these days - I'm finding it difficult to get these updates to you on time. Please excuse the earlier false start and delay.
A while back I told you there would be several sign changes coming up - and this was the week. Are you feeling the difference? One planet changed direction, and four changed signs. Significantly, all four sign changes involve an aspect to Neptune. Neptune can add an element of idealism but more often one of confusion,  denial, deceit, and illusion to the change in the overall atmosphere. Neptune is at once the most idealistic and the most easily corrupted or seduced planetary influence. If you perceive any of these things in or around you, you're on the pulse of the energy.

It all started on Tuesday with Venus moving from Leo into Virgo. This may have had a little to do with our Leo President's lethargic showing in the debate.  Wednesday morning there was a directional change, Jupiter turning retrograde in Gemini, an apt metaphor for what happened Wednesday night in the presidential debate.

Friday morning Mercury, and later in the afternoon, Saturn, entered the sign of Scorpio, which also means that both Mercury and Saturn were in the last degrees of the sign Libra earlier in the week. These are called the critical degrees, and sometimes come with a sense of almost desperation, a last chance, gotta-get-this-done now feeling.
This is another interesting comment on Mitt Romney's apparent 'win' in last night's debate, that is if you confuse arrogance with confidence and aggression with leadership, and value a performance that included repeated lies over substance and civility. Maybe the President was keeping his distance from the lies so as to not give them any credence or energy, or was taken aback at how blatant the disrespect was with Mr. Romney basically calling him a 'boy', unbelievably racist, and a liar at the same time, albeit as he also called his own sons/boys liars - a family tradition? Or maybe he should have responded differently. But what exactly should a president reply to such outright lies and obvious disrespect? Should he give it any power by responding at all? Was he allowing it in order to respond not in kind, but effectively in the next two debates, like his sucker-punch to Donald Trump at that awards dinner? Is he just weak? I don't know, but some of the commentary was that he is very afraid of something, given his equally lack-luster speech at the convention as well. (And some may remember Michelle Obama's demeanor on the night the President spoke, that reflected an element of great distress, even terror, as opposed to her own rousing speech.) Perhaps the PTSD effect of 4 years of 40 death threats a day to himself, his wife, and his daughters, has taken its toll. Or it's possible that in the regular course of executing the duties of his office, he is dealing with pressures we know nothing about yet, from the Mideast for example. Personally, I think Mr. Romney came across as at least pathological, probably sociopathic, someone who would say anything in order to win, someone who 'can't' in the psychological sense, lose. That makes him extremely dangerous. "I love competition!" he crowed, in his best vulture capitalist style, reminiscent of Michael Douglas with his creepy grin, saying "Greed is good."  His over-excited manner, kind of like blood lust, was so, so distasteful. I can't bear the thought of seeing that and his weird smile for four years, and I dread what it would really mean for this man to become our president.

Anyway, I digress. Fast moving Mercury usually stays in one sign for only about 5 weeks if direct. This time it has entered Sagittarius, retrogrades on November 6, Election Day, then re-enters Scorpio in retrograde motion on November 14th, coupled with a total Solar Eclipse. Mercury will remain in Scorpio through the Solstice in December.  
As for Mercury stationing retrograde on Election Day, I had stated earlier that Mercury had turned retrograde on Election Day 2000, but actually it returned to direct motion on that day. Both events are a change of direction, and both spell trouble, though for whom is not yet clear. The 2000 election was the first Presidential election in history that featured a change of direction for Mercury, and this year is the only one when Mercury retrogrades. Given the unprecedented result of the 2000 election, this does not bode well. At the very least we can expect the usual mixed messages, reversals, generally messy communications, and technical difficulties inherent in any Mercury retrograde. But mechanical failures could prove to be particularly troublesome on Election Day, and at worst it could spell a meltdown of the entire election process, replete with lost or uncounted votes, legal challenges, and all manner of fraudulent activity, up to an including falsifying the election result. Again. Something could happen to the Internet that would really screw things up. One other possibility though, is that the truth will come out during the retrograde, and especially in Sagittarius, the truth-teller. In the meantime, may President Obama and his family have all the unseen help they need and deserve.

Saturn will not change signs again until 2015. During Saturn's residence in airy Libra, the mental aspects of partnerships, relationships of all kinds were highlighted, as was balance, equality, justice, the law, and civil discourse. Of course, the opposites of all these qualities were also in evidence. In water-laden Scorpio, the emphasis will be on the underlying emotions and deep psychological change, or resistance to it. Emotional "baggage" that has been buried within the psyche of individuals, societies, nations, and all of humanity, will surface for transformation into the light. No baggage is allowed to go with us to our destination in the higher realms, the higher frequencies will not support it, just as a new platform on a computer will not support older programs.
Congratulate yourself if you have worked on these issues because there's no getting out of this one. Don't be surprised if some of your most stubborn patterns try to reestablish themselves. If this seems to be happening, realize that it's more like a last gasp effort of the ego to reassert itself, because it is afraid. Thank your ego, praise its hard work over the years and lifetimes, and firmly tell it there's no need to worry, it can relax now, because your spirit is now in control. This is the higher view of Saturn in Scorpio. On a mundane level, it's more like a marriage power and focus. May we all use it well.

The last change happened yesterday, when Mars moved into Sagittarius, while squaring Neptune, again that element of idealistic, furtive, or deceitful actions. Read between the lines of what you are presented with for the next several days. Sagittarius is the sign of international affairs, so watch the international news these last weeks before the election. Who becomes president always has global implications, this time perhaps more so.

Tomorrow, Jupiter will be in trine aspect to the Sun, a nice break from the challenging atmosphere of the past week. Neptune will trine Saturn, softening the harsher energy of the ever-present Pluto/Uranus square, but will still be square Mars. Be aware of the illusory nature of Neptune with its tendency toward escapism and addiction.

We all have a lot on our plates, and the astrology is dishing out constant challenges too. We can all strive to be well, be discerning, and remember to find some relaxation and fun amidst the more serious things that require our attention.
 

 Sep;tember 26, 2012
 
The Autumnal Equinox occurred last Saturday at 10:49 am and it's now officially Fall. Though it is a biannual event, there are equinoxes and there are equinoxes, just as there are Full Moons and there are Full Moons. The implications of this equinox and the upcoming Aries Full Moon on Saturday are both powerful and poignant. It feels like a very 60's moment, (more on that in a bit) I can hear Libran John Lennon singing in the background, "All we are saying, is give peace a chance." He used his air sign artistic genius to bring an ideal into musical form. He also embodied the Libran ideal of a higher love partnership in his relationship with Yoko Ono. Peace and Love, in other words. That's the theme, that's the challenge. And just like now, some of us were singing with him, others were sneering at the naive ideal of a peaceful, loving world. Saturday we stood at the point of equilibrium, and now we need to decide, which way will it go? Peace and Love or War and Hate? Unity or separation? Inclusiveness or divisiveness? We're either all in this together or it's survival of the fitt- (Mitt? rich?) est. It's our choice, each and every one of us has to make this critical choice and then follow it through, walk our talk, all the time.

And though I know there are some, even on this list, who would rather stay away from controversial political opinion, on the 3D level part of that choice, for Americans especially, will be whether you vote and who you vote for in this pivotal Presidential election. One of the recurring themes of the Cardinal/Aries points so prominent in our current astrology is "the personal is political (and vice versa)." But I will still try not to say too much, I'll leave it to some of the many others who commented on the latest Romney screw-up, the one when he told the truth and it got out to the public he seems to so disdain. If you want to find out who Mitt Romney is, if that 47% video footage didn't jar you, read this article: Private Equity and the 47%  His company, Bain Capital, did this to several other companies that they leveraged (or is that leveled?) in order to extract as much capital as they could from them. The company's past record didn't matter, the number of people they employed didn't matter, the workers, their livelihoods and families didn't matter, the communities they lived in didn't matter. Nothing mattered except that a small number of people made a large profit. And here's an example of Mr. Romney in his more private role as a Mormon, when he served as Bishop for his church in 1982, not a kid anymore.
When Bishop Romney Came to Call
It seems that the reason Mitt Romney is unappealing even to some other Mormons and those who sort of agree with him, is that he is exactly the person he showed himself to be in that video. Tell us how you really feel, Mitt. 

But what was it about last week in particular that propelled that video, taped back in May, into the public eye? And what about that other video, the one that supposedly inflamed the Muslim world yet again into embassy attacks, rioting and violence. And why all that unrest all at once? Well, as Horus said so long ago, "As above, so below." The astrology picture could not have been more telling.

It began when Mercury entered Libra, Cardinal point territory, on September 16th, and then last Wednesday was the second exact Pluto/Uranus square in early Capricorn and Aries, then the Sun moved into Libra for the Equinox on the 22nd.
  Mercury already in Libra was positioned in the third corner of the Cardinal Grand Square or Cross, while asteroid/Dwarf Planet Ceres, nurturing Goddess of Grain, representing food security, held up the fourth corner in Cancer for the Equinox. Mercury is communication, and the media and video are, of course, our modern day messengers. This configuration pointed to a lot of conversation, among a whole lot of people, in this case, the entire country and the entire world. Conversations about equality, fairness, shared resources - Libran concerns. And as Mercury is also a personal planet, there have been many similar private discussions going on too, in our homes and within the context of our personal relationships.

The Full Moon at 7 degrees Aries and the Sun at 7 degrees Libra next Saturday will gather with Uranus, Pluto, and Ceres to again complete the Cross. We will be feeling the energies build all week. Let's all believe they're building toward something wonderful and uplifting and not the opposite. Soon the planet will start changing signs again, this moment will have passed and we shall see what the Cross has wrought in our lives and our world.


The reason this time is this so reminiscent of the 60's is that Pluto and Uranus were conjunct in that decade, and now they have moved 90 degrees in their 360 degree cycle to square each other. This first square beings up the patterns inherent in the conjunction in a kind of stress test, to see if the patterns can hold, need adjusting, or need to be jettisoned for new ones. So several things are becoming clear about peace, love and equality. They need vigilance, commitment, and some level of organization to sustain them in a culture. They may be God-given, but on Earth they require some maintenance and physical renewal, just as all our systems, from family to government, do. The 60's it was about getting the word out, now it's more like how do we implement these in our lives everyday. Fortunately, the Pluto in Leo Baby Boomers were loud, rowdy, and liked drama, while the 60's Pluto and Uranus in Virgo kids are more practical and serious. See how it works?

On the higher level, the Cardinal Cross is the last of the three Grand Crosses, and indicates planetary initiation. Its supposed to propel humanity into spiritual maturity
, or at least a recognition that we have a place in the greater universe, and that we are not the only ones we need to consider. And it's about time, isn't it? 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
August 26, 2012
 
After a relatively mild-mannered week in astrology, the Sun began its passage through Virgo on Wednesday, but several other planets and points are headed into the fixed water sign of Scorpio. Mars entered Scorpio on Friday at 11:24 am. The North Node follows suit on August 31st, retrograding in from the end of the sign.Later on, Saturn sails into Scorpio on October 5th, with the messenger Mercury at his side. Then of course, Sun in Scorpio begins in late October, reinforced by Venus entering the sign in late November.
For now, though, I always associate Sun in Virgo with the first day of school and fall cleaning because Virgo likes schedules and cleanliness. With Mars, the traditional ruler of Scorpio, in the sign of deep transformation, fall cleaning may take on more of a feeling of a demolition. Don't try to clean it up, just get rid of all of it! Leave no prisoners! I'm talking dumpsters! Giant dumpsters! So don't resist the urge to eliminate useless or unused items. Be gentle with the people around you though, Mars in Scorpio can be less than polite. Remember that the inner planets, Mercury, Venus and Mars are all direct, so we can't blame them if we're procrastinating.

The Sun has been opposite Neptune, blurring the line between reality and unreality, and causing a dream-like waking state for many. Neptune can bring illumination, imagination, and creativity, or lies, deceit, and illusion. Our choice what to focus on. You may find your fondest wishes and dreams surfacing to consciousness, or if you're lucky, manifesting. Early this morning Mars trined Neptune, fueling the fire with energy and passion.

The week ahead features the full Pisces Moon on Friday, August 31st, and Mercury enters the sign Virgo that day as well. The Virgo/Pisces axis is known as the service axis, so our obligations to our various life roles come to the fore. Venus has some discordant contacts with Chiron this week which may be uncomfortable but enhance healing capacity.
On September 2nd and 3rd, Venus squares Saturn, restricting our romantic side and reminding us of our commitments to existing relationships. A 'summer's over' kind of week, but at least with planetary support for getting back to business.

The Republican National Convention which was to begin tomorrow in Tampa has been postponed due to Hurricane Isaac. Although I don't really wish them harm, and certainly hope all the residents there are safe, I'm a little amused at the timing. The Democratic convention follows in September in Charlotte, where they can refute everything that was said at the GOP Convention, including the title "We Built It" (oh, except the stadium, the convention is taking place in a stadium built with 62% government funding). See the video Obama, You Didn't Build That if you don't know what the President really said in that speech.  But no need to talk politics, Bill Maher and the following article (ah, British humor) say it all:

"Next week in Tampa the Republicans must admit that the difference between a GOP convention and Comic-Con is that the people at Comic-Con have a much firmer grasp of reality."
Bill Maher, Real Time on HBO
(Comic-Con is the annual international convention of comedians, this year held in July in San Diego)

The Republican National Convention: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
By Oliver Burkeman, Guardian UK

"The following list of worst-case scenarios - and I'd like to be absolutely clear about this - is provided solely in a spirit of generosity, to help the GOP forestall them. No anticipatory Schadenfreude is intended. None whatsoever."
Hey, we're the monkeys: at least one macaque is on the loose in Tampa, Florida, where Republicans hold their convention next week. (photo: Chaiwat Subprasom/Reuters)
Hey, we're the monkeys: at least one macaque is on the loose in Tampa, Florida, where Republicans hold their convention next week. (photo: Chaiwat Subprasom/Reuters)

The Republican National Convention: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

By Oliver Burkeman, Guardian UK
25 August 12
 
Hurricanes, alligators, Donald Trump and some of the worst-case scenarios GOP operatives will be hoping to avoid.

ext week's Republican convention in Tampa has, of course, been choreographed down to the tiniest detail. The stage set, we're told, has been meticulously engineered to convey "warmth, approachability and openness". Much thought has been given to avoiding last-minute disruptions by supporters of Ron Paul, or by anarchists wielding acid-filled eggs. Nor are we likely to see the high drama of the 2008 party conventions, marked as they were by historical firsts, most notably the first nomination of a vice-presidential candidate based on under three minutes' vetting by her party.
But things might still go wrong. The following list of worst-case scenarios - and I'd like to be absolutely clear about this - is provided solely in a spirit of generosity, to help the GOP forestall them. No anticipatory Schadenfreude is intended. None whatsoever.

1. The hurricane scenario: will Hurricane Isaac, most recently reported as a tropical storm gathering strength in the Caribbean, wreak havoc in Tampa? (As you may recall, Hurricane Gustav - though it came nowhere near the convention HQ in St Paul - gave John McCain another chance to engage in his favourite campaign tactic of "suspending the campaign".) Hurricanes, Michele Bachmann and Pat Robertson agree, are generally signs of heavenly anger at profligate government spending, or feminists. So what will it mean if God smites Tampa? Perhaps it will mean that He is sick of being used as an explanation for naturally occurring meteorological phenomena.

2. The sex scandal scenario: Tampa's strip clubs are expecting an income boost from the convention, though at least one establishment is now offering the opportunity to participate online, regrettably reducing the chances of big names being photographed emerging from darkened doorways. Still, after a tiring evening on the convention floor, and a few drinks at the hotel bar, inhibitions crumble. Will this be the moment at which Paul Ryan is finally exposed as harbouring a super-secret sexual fetish that involves dressing up in correctly fitting clothes?

3. The fugitive wildlife scenario: to hold your convention in Florida is effectively to guarantee that it'll intersect with some kind of animals-on-the-loose story: it's a fact, although not a statistically accurate one, that 50% of all Florida news stories involve alligators, and - as detailed in this week's New York Times magazine - a wily macaque has been on the run from Tampa cops since 2009, achieving heroic outlaw status among locals. The worst-case scenario here involves a monkey or alligator on the loose in the convention centre itself, which among other things might startle the stable of dressage horses with which Mitt Romney travels at all times (strapped to the roof of his car).

4. The "major party figure goes off-message" scenario: for days, Republican talking heads have been insisting that Joe Biden's use of the word "chains" was a racially divisive reference to slavery. Imagine, then, if a high-profile Republican, say Sarah Palin, were to accuse President Obama of putting people in "chains", or "shackl[ing]" them! That would be extraordinarily embarrassing. The party would never let that happen! Oh, wait.

5. The "rock musician objects to the use of his or her music" scenario: another Republican classic, borne of the truth that most rock musicians are left-leaning, while many rightwing politicians are convinced that the way to appeal to a wider audience is to be seen to Rock Out. We've already heard Rage Against the Machine's rage at Ryan (a little ungrateful, since he has presumably bought several of their t-shirts in XXL). Rumours that Chris Christie plans to arrive on stage to the music of Billy Bragg remain unconfirmed.

6. The "Democratic counter-programming actually works" scenario: each party always holds a few half-hearted press conferences near their rival's convention, in an effort to grab a bit of the TV coverage. (Rudy Giuliani spent much of the 2008 Democratic convention loitering in Denver, muttering about 9/11.) It rarely works. But this time, the Democrats are sending Joe Biden, the Gaffemeister-general - who just this week implied he'd had sex with three presidents - so anything could happen. Ironically, a big reason Biden's gaffiness is back in the news is the GOP's own strategy of trying to turn it into a liability for Obama. A big enough Biden gaffe - on the scale of asking a man in a wheelchair to "stand up … let 'em see you!", say - could steal precious television time.

7. The "Donald Trump does anything at all" scenario: according to several reports, the billionaire self-promoter and hair comedian has been given a "surprise role" on the convention's opening day, though Trump himself shyly insists it will be "rather minor". (Only kidding! He says it'll be "very, very major".) Perhaps, in the spirit of the times, he will share his unsolicited musings about sexual assault or reproductive biology? Perhaps he will launch a new toupee. Perhaps he will reveal a previously unknown talent as a human beatbox. Or perhaps he'll deliver a genuine surprise by watching quietly from the audience. One can dream.

8. The "GOP ideology undermined by some basic fact about the convention itself" scenario: the theme of the convention's second night will be "We Built It!" - the latest effort to capitalise on Obama's "you didn't build that" line. Unfortunately, it will be held in a convention centre built with 62% government funding. Cue sad trombone.

And consider bookmarking that sad trombone link. In the coming days, we may be needing it frequently.

Meanwhile, there is a lot going on in the subtle, and getting less so, energetic sense. We are literally being bombarded with new programs, matrices, and high-frequency data, to the point of way overload. At the same time it is essential that we keep up with it, clear our fields daily, or we can easily become exhausted and disheartened. It is also critical to guard our thoughts, and stay out of doubt and negativity. We think this should be easy by now, and maybe for some it is, but not for most of us.

This is the quickening, the run-up to Ascension, so we are told. I still don't know what that will mean for each of us, or all of us for that matter. Whatever it turns out to be, I hope we are worthy of the honor.

 
August 17, 2012
 
I usually remember to look up the Sabian Symbol for lunar and other events before posting information, but sometimes it gets away from me. Fortunately, it's not too late, the New Moon is tonight at 8:29 pm EST at Leo 26. The original symbol is simply "A rainbow" and the modern version is "After a heavy strom, a rainbow appears."
 
If you experienced a heavy storm this week, the silver lining should be showing up soon. This weekend's astrology aside (Mars opposing Eris) the issue brought up by the Mars/Saturn conjunction may begin to yield some benefits. 
 
Rainbow Blessings to you.
 
August 15, 2012
 
How's everyone feeling this week? The Mars/Saturn conjunction is certainly causing some stress, kind of like stepping on the gas and the brakes at the same time. Interesting that Mars is in the news this week, with the new probe named Curiosity launched.
The conjunction is taking place in one of the signs that Venus rules -- Libra. This describes pushing the boundary of a relationship, or the structure of relationships in general. Something in a long term relationship or involving a long term frustration may come to a head. If handled well, it will blow over.
However, besides Mars and Saturn we have two of the more significant new discoveries in the picture, right there in those same degrees of the cardinal signs. Eris, Goddess of Discord, is in Aries, Libra's opposite sign, and Mars will oppose Eris this weekend. This is a potentially violent aspect, with a sense of out-of-control anger or movement. It may be taken out internally on oneself, so we must try to process the energy in a healthy way. Saturn requires us to be conscious of our boundaries and the agreements we've made in the past. If you feel you have to renegotiate a commitment, do so openly, with clarity and compassion, or make a plan to proceed slowly with self-control.
The Moon is passing through Cancer today, making squares to Eris, Mars and Saturn. This is one to feel your way through as much as you need to in order to balance those feelings with your words and actions. These aspects don't describe a calm emotional ride; the 'attachment'  of Venus' attachment issues may surface or are undergoing some kind of change, raising questions about relating and how the human need for nourishment fits the picture. There is help in the mix, however: Venus trine Chiron urges us to stay with our feelings so that we may see the meaning in the deep experiences. Maybe my Dad has the right idea, just stay in bed and sleep all day. The stormy weather, appropriately, is good for that too.
The conjunction was exact this morning, but the Saturn principle of delay may apply at least through Friday, so don't expect things to resolve immediately. Then we begin a new lunar cycle with the Leo New Moon, (Sun conjunct Moon).

Politically, the conjunction has played out in the announcement by Mitt Romney/Saturn naming Paul Ryan/Mars as his running mate. The ridiculous (as in, begging to be ridiculed) Freudian slip, introducing Ryan as "the next President of the United States', may indicate something more sinister, though. Maybe he meant to expect a Bush/Cheney type presidency, in which Ryan would really be the driving force. Energetically, Romney has much more energy/Mars with Ryan nearby than he does by himself, when he reverts to his more dour/Sarturnine, self. So they're like a father/son team, one determined to keep the status quo/Saturn, alive and well. If you still think you may vote for Romney, please research Ryan on your own, even before September when more will become public. Go and watch some You Tubes of Ryan extolling the virtues of Ayn Rand, (and if you don't know her philosophy, watch some of her being interviewed, they're pretty enlightening) read his voting record, and read about the Ryan Budget plan, and what the OMB says about what its real impact on the economy would be. I'm urging research about the election now because Mercury turns retrograde again on Election Day - just like it did in 2,000, the year Bush stole the presidency from Gore.

Here's to a more settled weekend and end of August. Stay calm and look on the bright side, wherever you may find it.
 

August 11, 2012

Happy Mercury Direct! It turned early on Wednesday, with its usual 'storm' effect, (that's when Mercury gets its last licks in, creating as many snafus as it can before moving forward) and also in a strained aspect to Neptune, p[lanet of confusion and illusion. Did you feel it? (I was on the road that day - New Jersey in the Mercury storm is pretty much a nightmare, but I just laughed and laughed. Especially when I was crossing the Tappan Zee and the right lane was blocked by three small DOT trucks, moving along at a snail's pace for what looked to be no reason at all, I could not detect any construction or work purpose. Of course, the laughter may have been due to the fact that by that time I was in a trance from 5 hours of driving with numerous slowdowns and stops, one as much of a mystery as the next.) So now, what a relief! Like the breaking of the summer heatwave, the clouds of indecision and confusion are parting and rationality is pouring in. After the weekend rains today and tomorrow, all should be much clearer, and next week we might actually be able to accomplish something. The downside is that we are now on the approach to the back-to-school /back-to-work season - and with the very early spring we had, it looks like an early fall too - the deck is already strewn with the evidence. The squirrels are having their acorn picnics, and some of the less hardy leaves have begun to fall. Sigh. At least I'm starting to think straight enough to string a few sentences together.

During the retrograde the biggest news was the two mass murders in Colorado and Wisconsin. No need to dwell on them,  but one thing about the Wisconsin one is that Venus was at 28 degrees of Gemini - the same degree that is featured in so many charts of recent and not so recent, catastrophes, including 9/11, the 2005 and the Japan earthquake/tsunamis, and even the sinking of the Titanic. Just saying.

Mercury moving to direct motion marks the last retrograde in the parade of personal planet retrogrades since last fall. It will free up some of our energy for new projects that we might have been planning during the retrograde, for new relationship adventures, for creativity. Not to say that Mercury won't be retrograde again - it will be, in November and every few months thereafter.  But Venus and Mars won't be, not for a long time, nor will Venus do that occultation thing with the Sun. Remember all the fuss about Venus last spring?
Well, Venus has now entered the sign of Cancer, just a few hours before Mercury turned, after spending an inordinately long time in Gemini. Cancer is a cardinal sign, so it brings Venus right into the territory of the cardinal cross and the Pluto/Uranus square we're becoming so familiar with, and so it will be aspecting Chiron, Uranus, and Pluto during its transit through Cancer. The tone will be of a maternal nature, softer and more accommodating than Venus in Leo. And business ventures on hold perhaps since last year, may be jump started again if they weren't abandoned altogether.

Next up in the ever-changing sky picture is a conjunction of Mars and Saturn in Libra, exact next week but building now. That will give a boost of energy to relationship structures that are solidly in place, but may be disruptive if the structure is no longer safe or viable. These could be business or personal relationships, or larger structures of society. Mars is physical energy and Saturn is limits - so our energy might be lower than at other times, which just means get enough rest and try not to over do. As always, some will be hit harder by this aspect than others. Those born or with planets in the late degrees of Libra, Capricorn, Aries and Cancer will be more subject to it's effect, but it is a strong aspect for everyone.

Here's a little not-so-funny Olympic humor. But how about that Gabby? She's a perfect example of the new children, no longer Indigos, but now Crystals and Rainbows, who embody the upgraded DNA. Unbelievable athletic ability. And she told more than one interviewer that she would think of the "Glory of God" before and during her performances.

Click box to see cartoon.
Have a good weekend and enjoy the renewed energy for the last half of August. September will arrive before we know it with its own twists and turns of the wheel.


July 28, 2012
 
We're now almost a week into the Leo Sun, the height of those "lazy, hazy days" of summer, moving at warp speed along with the ever-accelerating energies we now live in. The Mercury retrograde is serving to slow us down internally and this
I don't have much to say about the shootings in Aurora, CO, except it's of course awful and I'm thankful I don't live there. 
The astrology of the event and of the shooter is being dissected by some astrologers, but I don't have the stomach or heart for that. Astrology doesn't cause terrible things to happen or people to do bad things, it shows the entire range of potentials at any given moment, including the moment of birth. Then we all have to make our own choices.
If you want to sign a petition to reinstate the ban on automatic assault weapons (a no-brainer if there ever was one) go to this link: Petition
 
There are always good things happening, our media and our politicians simply choose, and get paid, to take the low road.  Like the Romney campaign deliberately quoting President out of context to create lies about what he is saying - two weeks in a row, two obvious lies, and only a small percentage of the media calling them on it. I just will never understand that choice, but then, what do I know?
 
This weekend is not bad for astrology, given the ongoing stress of the Uranus/Pluto square. A Grand Trine in fire signs between the Moon, the Sun and Mercury, and Uranus facilitates the flow of emotions and high frequencies through our systems. As the Sun/Uranus trine continues for several days, any surprises Uranus might bring should be on the positive side (or at least the humorous, see below.) Jupiter is opposing the Moon which can add to the generally high spirits. Today is also the one day during Mercury's retrograde when it's easier to make decisions and get some business done.

The Olympics began on this high note, with an over-the-top (think Leo/drama) opening last night. The true idea of the games though, is unity among nations, and that's a good thing to focus on, what with with Mitt Romney's Traveling Side Show spreading ill-will across the pond and beyond. I've been steering clear of politics lately, but I find this irresistible. This presidential candidate has been hopping around the world with his foot in his mouth and then trying to wrench it out, only to shove it in further. After his London Olympics blunder for which he was called out by the Prime Minister himself, it was on to Israel to dis the freedom fighters in the Mid-east, saying that Arab Spring could have been avoided by following Bush’s “Freedom Agenda.” Tweeters are having a field day, one observer writing : “Mitt Romney makes George Bush look like Aristotle,” followed by another, which reads: “Dear Great Britain: Yeah. We know. Sorry. Welcome to our world. Signed, America.”
!Ay, de mi!
I can't imagine how his handlers let him loose overseas when he's clearly not even house-broken yet. If he's having a bad attack of Mercury retrograde-itis, I can empathize, but at least in my case I'm only sending unfinished emails out. He's messing with our already damaged national reputation, being compared not only to GW, but to none other than Sarah Palin, who McCain decided was the better of the two candidates for Vice President in 2008. Please, my Republican friends on this list, this man can not become president, or we'll never be able to get back from Wonderland.
 
So I hope you are able to take a breather during this relative lull in the action, because everything starts ramping up again in August and come September things will be rocking again in the skies

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