Karmic Astrology

Rick Santorum - Taurus South Node

2012-02-20T10:51:00.000-05:00

OK. I know several people have asked me to look at Rick Santorum's birth chart. The problem is that his birth time is not public. Birth time is key to determining what the rising sign is and that tells us what the personality traits are of a person and it places the planets in the correct houses. I refuse to do a full chart based on a birth time of noon which is what is done when the time is unknown. It just won't be accurate.

However, we can learn a few things just by knowing the place and date of birth. Santorum has a South Node in Taurus and North in Scorpio. In general someone with this past life - current life access is someone who needs to find their personal power; they must face some kind of fear or even near death experience. They must go into the fire of life and be transformed by it. Taurus is epitomized by security at all costs, Scorpio loves the risk even the risk of death.

Coming from lives with a Taurus influence he only knows how to rely on his "gut instinct." Stability and all that it represents - a "good" family, a dogmaticeee religion, safety, security are essential. He has to feel safe - he needs to be wrapped in the security blanket of life. Scorpio is pushing him to put himself out there - break the safety net but it is hard. Therefore, he wants to bring that blanket with him when he faces the world.

One of the shadows of a Taurus South Node is unbridled stubbornness. Is there anything more immovable than a bull? So you will see him doubling down on his rather bizarre world and social views because they represent comfort to him. They are his Linus blanket.

At some point, in this life or the next or the next...you get my drift - something will happen that will force him out of his shell and open him up to face the world without that blanket but if and when is anyones guess.

Whitney Houston - Pisces

2012-02-13T14:27:00.000-05:00

I feel a bit ghoulish about this but several people have asked me if her chart can give us some insight as to the tragedy of Whitney Houston. The answer is fairly clear when we see her first house. Whitney was born with Pisces rising and more importantly she had a retrograded Chiron, the sacred wound asteroid, on her first house cusp. The shadow of Pisces is illusion and escapism. Pisceans in a tail spin will want to leave reality and addiction is a big problem. With her wound issue also in Pisces and right on the cusp of her personality house - which is basically I don't feel worthy to connect to the universe - I am not worthy of spiritual blessings - we can see how her demons had to be huge.

Pisces is ruled by Neptune and her Neptune ironically was in Scorpio and in the 8th house - the house which vibrates to Scorpio energy. Scorpio is a very dramatic sign and the 8th house is the house of death and transformation. It would be too pop-psychology to say she had a death wish but the idea of challenging death of going to the edge - would have been fascinating to her.

That Leo Sun conjunct Venus gave her the artistic talent and that huge collection in the 7th house - the house of intimate relations - how we connect to the other showed how she reached us deeply with her talents.

Your birth chart is an indicator of what you are dealt...it isn't set in stone. She wasn't "doomed" at birth nor did she have to develop her considerable talents. We have free will. However, some people are dealt harder hands than others.

Neptune in Pisces: All Peace and Love?

2012-02-07T12:32:00.002-05:00

Neptune moved into its ruling sign, Pisces, on February 3 and frankly I have been a bit shocked over what I have been reading in the "Astro-circles" about this movement. There is an awful lot of this is the harbinger of the new wonderful world we will all transit to in 2012 and there is nothing more wonderful than Neptune being in Pisces. Right, let's all wait for the fairies and angels to arrive. It seems that many people are caught up in one of the biggest shadows of Pisces – that is illusion and delusion.

Don’t get me wrong Neptune in Pisces is a mild placement. It is a wonderful time for spiritual awakening and for connecting to the cosmic unconsciousness. However, let us step back into time to the last time Neptune was there. It was 1846 – 1861. Spiritualism did bloom and it was the time of Transcendentalism. Still there were many spiritual charlatans around who promised people they could see the spirits of their dead loved ones in the new found technology of photography. There were also many people running “peaceful communes” who were living well off the people who gave them all of their money in a fit of brotherhood. Lest we not forget what happened when Neptune was still in Pisces – April 12, 1861 – the attack on Fort Sumter and the start of the Civil War!

I am afraid that too many astrologers are buying into the 2012 hype and in Pisces delusion! Use these years of Pisces in Neptune to develop your spirituality and use it act on social injustice and unfair imbalance: these are wonderful aspects of the sign. Pisces knows no bounds and caste systems are distasteful to her – so be all for furthering brotherhood. Just remember that it is also a time where people can get so caught in their own reality – or rather unreality – that they can’t see anything but their own side – leading to huge battles. It is a time where escapism can be rampant – where addictions and “dropping out” are the order of the day.

Like all things, Neptune in Pisces is both positive and negative. Keep your head about you and you can reap the benefits and avoid the pitfalls!

Mitt Romeny - Uranus and Gemini In The First

2012-01-31T11:45:00.000-05:00

I assume I will be talking a lot about Mitt in 2012. Although my progressive heart would love to see Newt as the GOP nominee I do think they will eventually nominate a beaten and bruised Romney.

One knock on Mitt is his shall we say flexibility. He has the amazing talent to be all things to all people - liberal governor of Massachusetts and author or "Romneycare" or conservative businessman. He adapts for the occasion.

Well no wonder! He has as an ascendant or rising sign - Gemini, the sign of duality and the twins. The ascendant is how we present ourselves to the world. Remember, in the ancient days the Sun Sign was a triviality. Who you were was determined mostly by the first house - the ascendant. This is a much better way of doing Astrology than the modern fascination with the Sun.

Also, in his first is wild and crazy Uranus, the electric, quick change artist! How can he not be a chameleon! His first house is all about change and duality...perfect for a politician but not in the days of instant replay when the many opinions can be played against one another.

Stay tuned...

Feeling especially spiritual today?

2012-01-26T12:18:00.000-05:00

I just had to share today's chart with you! There is a huge conjunction or stellium of planets in the 12th house - the house that connects us with God, the Universere - Right now, Pallas Athena, Neptune, Chiron, Venus, the Moon, Vesta and Uranus are all transiting the 12th house. So if you feel like chucking your work and contemplate a flower go with it - there is no better time!

Oh Newty - Newty

2012-01-24T11:56:00.000-05:00

A few blog entries ago I said that there was going to be a big shift in Washington right after the New Year. While my peaceful Aquarius friend said it could bring in a peaceful time in Washington, I felt my snarky Scorpio interpretation would be more on target. That is, it would be a time when one side would go too far to real blow things out of the water. I do hate to say I told ya so but along came the reborn again - and again - and again - Newt Gingrich and his hate wagon appealing to the worst in all of us- also known as the Tea Party and kaboom!

Of course, I had to look up the Newtsters chart - there had to be some big fixed signs in there I thought. Low and behold fixed it is - a stellium of Leo planets and asteroids that straddle the 6th and 7th houses. Leo, the king of jungle - the Lord who demands that things be done his way.

Ironically, his North Node where he should be going toward is in Leo - however, I feel he is deeply ensconced in his Leo Chironic wound issue - the need to stand out - to be powerful to be heard and to be obeyed because secretly he feels inadequate in all of those areas. Chiron is trumping the North Node. With his past life indicator, Aquarius South Node in the 12th, I can see him as part of a wandering boys club – I could even see him as a warring crusader – a part of an independent band of men who convinced themselves they were doing good by “killing for God” – hence he satisfied the Aquarius need to do good… Very anti woman ( negative aspects to the "girl asteroids"– very much all about personal freedom and vanquishing the opponent.

Oh and if you are wondering why he has foot in mouth disease and is such a loose cannon, look at the ruler of his South Node, Uranus, sitting right next to Mercury, the communicator. Uranus is the quirky planet, and when it comes up next to Mercury the person will say whatever without much regard for consequences.

So there he is in a nutshell ensconced in his past warrior mode, suffering the slings an d arrows of a Chironic wound that he doesn't seem to want to heal and saying whatever he feels his loyal bands of haters will want to hear so that he can stay in power. As an astrologer it makes me sad, but as a Progressive I say - have it Newt keep talking!

Make Friends With Uranus - Because He Is About To Go

2012-01-17T14:56:00.001-05:00

Loopy! On January 20th the Sun will enter the constellation Aquarius ruled by the planet Uranus. Uranus is the only planet that rotates on its side so you get some idea of what the archetype is for Aquarius --- the rebel, the change agent. The other side of Aquarius is a sense of universal brotherhood, a love of freedom. It also rules electricity and electronics.

courtesy of Arlenew.com

Uranus itself has just entered Aries - the sign of the take charge warrior. For the next several years we are going to see an explosion of freedom movements around the world - some that will be violent, sadly. We will also have advances in electronics that will make even the last few years like the horse and buggie days.

Also watch for that "quest for freedom" and be my friend but don't get too close to happen in relationships...you might see some folks break up that you will never expect that to happen to!

Just expect the unexpected - in spades!

Teleclass - The Mythological Archetypes of Astrology

2012-01-09T11:02:00.000-05:00

The Mythological Archetypes of Astrology Class

What are the roots of Astrology? What are those universal “Forms”, as Plato called them or Jungian archetypes that are the core energy that vibrate in each house of zodiac?

Find out in this six week course that will bring ancient Astrology to life and show you how it affects your chart today. We will explore the gods and goddess of the Babylonians, Sumerians, Greeks and Romans and their roles in Astrology. For instance, who was Chronos and what does he have to do with Capricorn and the 10^th House? The Romans called him Aries but how did the Babylonians define his energy and why did he get the 1^st House? Ishtar is Venus energy by another name – how has she changed over the millennia and how do we interpret her today?

By the end of the class you will know the historical roots of Astrological energy and how that energy translates in your chart. (You will get a print out of your birth chart if you do not already have one.)

Each week in this six week course we will explore two Astrological signs.

Each 90 minute tele-class is $30. If you sign up for all six the cost is $150. Participants will receive a telephone number and pin for access to the class. For questions or to sign up please email me at Joansastrology@gmail.com. Credit card payments can be made at Joansastrology.blogspot.com. Checks can be sent to Joan’s Astrology P.O. Box 5121, Arlington, VA 22205.

Classes begin Feb 15, 2012 and will be held every Wednesday night starting at 7:30 PM Eastern time.

Forget Resolutions - Get Your Yearly Chart Analyzed

2012-01-03T12:08:00.000-05:00

This is the time to make resolutions which only serve to make you feel terrible two weeks down the road when they already in tatters on the floor. Why not ask the stars what areas of your life that the will be highlighted in the next twelve months? Think about it - why bother working against the tide? If you are getting help from the universe in a few areas work with it!

Order the chart on the blog - you will get a full eighteen month - two year analysis for only $75.

joansastrology.blogspot.com

New Horizons for the New Year

2011-12-29T18:08:00.000-05:00

As we start 2012, we will see some big changes in the large, slower moving planets that make large impacts on society. Jupiter is moving into Taurus, a change from loosey goosey Gemini, into the stable Bull. I hope it will bring some stability to the stock market and get people thinking about prosperity again.

Uranus heading in Aries will see an explosion for technology. I know - what have we been seeing? However, Uranus is all about electricity and sparks and the future is Aries is the epitome of masculine charging energy. This also a time when we question authority figures - the Occupy Movement started just as Uranus reach Aries.

Finally and perhaps more interestingly, in early 2012 Neptune will move into Pisces, the sign it rules. While I highly doubt the world will end in 2012- please! --- this is a time for an intense spiritual awakening. We haven't seen Neptune in Pisces since 1848 and it is so funny that several books about that year have been published lately. That was a time when the "Communist Manifesto" was published - a false Utopian hope for a new way of governing - very Piscean. It was also the beginning of waves of spiritualism and Utopian communities of the Alcotts and Thoreaus.

Those who are spiritually attuned will have a wonderful time exploring new planes.

However, the shadow of Neptune is total illusion - 1848 was the start of the Gold Rush - where masses thought they would make it big in the West. With Neptune you also have drug use and escapism of all kinds. I think with that Uranus in Aries there will be wild new ways to disengage and "drop out" of society.

So hang onto your hats kids - 2012 is bringing in a lot of changes. Keep your feet on the ground but your head in the spiritual realm and your hands on the Ipod 1000!

Happy New Year

Solstice Time

2011-12-20T14:24:00.000-05:00

I love winter Solstice - it is a time of rebirth in the midst of stillness and "death" and is the ultimate of optimistic universal events. This year the Solstice will actually take place around 12:30 AM on the 22nd of December. That is when the Sun moves into 0 degrees Capricorn. Looking at the Solstice chart I am seeing alot of unsettled energy around Uranus and Pluto (which will be hugging the Sun for at least the first week into the Solstice.)

Now I tend to be a wee more pessimistic than some - that is the Scorpio Sun in me. I had a discussion with another astrologer today who sees this chart as some kind of awakening where people come together and put aside some differences in a Christmas week sing around the Christmas tree like a bunch of Whos. He actually said politicians may come together and do something good for America! Silly boy.

I see it is something "big" happening between the 26th and 29th - some group or person pushing the limits so much that more than just the "Occupiers" will want to do something. I see the Uranus square Sun/Pluto as a real explosive energy and the Neptune, Vesta, Chiron conjunction in Aquarius being the "birth" of a new cooperative energy but from the ground up not the top down.

So sit tight and see who eats crow just before the new year.

Happy Holidays ALL!!

That Funny Lunar Eclipse

2011-12-13T11:22:00.000-05:00

Remember when I said that the Lunar Eclipse would cut across linear time? Well it sure did. Saturday I was scheduled to represent First Book (a great charity that gets books into the hands of kids) at a gift giving fare at a local church. I had known for weeks that my shift was 10a- 12 noon. However, when I woke up Saturday morning I was convinced that I had the whole morning to play around because my shift didn't start until noon! I was enjoying the morning, drinking up the eclipse when I suddenly heard my blackberry sound the 15 minute alarm.

I couldn't help but laugh - the eclipse was having fun with me. By making me forget the correct time for my appointment, the universe allowed me to have some eclipse time. Had I remembered the 10:00 AM start I probably would have been spending eclipse time getting ready - and while I had to rush around the house like a chicken with its head cut off - I was able to spend time with the moon AND get to the event in time.

How did you feel the eclipse?

Lunar Eclipse This Saturday

2011-12-08T14:09:00.000-05:00

If you want to do some cutting across linear time remember that there will be a lunar eclipse this Saturday the 10th of December at 9:32 AM, Eastern time. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes behind the Earth and the Earth blocks the light of Sun from reaching the Moon. As you can see on the cart below, the Sun and Moon are in opposition to one another and the Earth is in the middle.

Astrologically this is a great time to break the bounds that keep us on the same old path and shake us up. Think of it as the time to make real life resolutions and to start new paths! It is like we are going inward and then coming out of the darkness into new awareness.

So don't let the energy be wasted!!

Where Do You Find Your Joy?

2011-12-06T12:01:00.000-05:00

In this season of joy I ask the question, where on your chart do you show the capacity for fun and joy?

Take a peak at the cusp of your fifth house, that will tell you alot. The fifth house is where we see our creativity, sexuality - fun things! A cusp is what opens each house. Look at the small outer wheel to see what sign is sitting on the line between the 4th and 5th houses. For me Aquarius is there - so I like to do things like read astrology charts for fun - (yeah I know), and read in general and do things that take me far away from where I am physically. I have a friend who has Scorpio sitting there sort of challenging her to find some fun - so she has the perpetual serious-ess!

Of course, the planets in the 5th play a roll in fun too - but take a quick peek at the 5th house cusp of friends and family - before you go Holiday shopping! It will get the right present!

On the chart below - the 5th house cusp sign is Moon Child, so expect this person to like cuddling up with a book and a hot cup of tea and doing other homey activities - as well as visiting historic sites!

Feeling Secretive in Love?

2011-11-28T11:15:00.000-05:00

Well blame it on Venus! Venus is now in the 12th house, the house of hidden knowledge and the house of karma, and is conjucting that very karmic planet Pluto. Don't be surprised if someone comes into your life who you knew many lifetimes ago. This placement could also make you feel like making a change in your love life - maybe even taken on a clandestine relationship. Now don't go using this as an excuse to be bad! I am just saying if you are feeling a little frisky, if you want to add some zip to your love life or do something you would never -ever do.... now might be the time....Good thing Venus is in the staid sign of Capricorn or people would be running amuck. As it is you should use it to bring new life to an old situation - if you catch my drift.

Solar Eclipse Time

2011-11-15T14:06:00.000-05:00

The day after Thanksgiving here in the States, we will experience a solar eclipse in Sagittarius. Eclipses happen when the Sun and Moon are within one degree of each other. For those of us on the East Coast that will be 1:10 AM on November 25, when the Sun and Moon will both be at 2 degrees Sagittarius.

There is a lot of energy behind an eclipse and when in the sign of Sagittarius can help boast you on a spiritual path or just help you find your truth. Sagittarius is all about expanding out in the world and beyond in order to find personal truth. So this is a great time to work on those areas where you have been less than honest or where you feel other are being less than honest.

For some real fun - start doing this at the Thanksgiving table!

To find out where this will impact you the most you need to do a biwheel of your natal chart and the eclipse chart which is something I can whip up for you.

Moon and Jupiter - Appearing Together Now!

2011-11-10T07:32:00.000-05:00

There are many spots on planet Earth, including the East Coast, where you can get a good shot of a Moon/Jupiter conjunction. For the next few nights look to the right of the silvery Moon and you will see a bright dot - that is Jupiter. The Moon is now 7 degrees Taurus, and retrograded Juptier is 3 degrees Taurus. Now we know that the Moon and Jupiter are NOT right next to one another in the sky; four degrees of Taurus is a long stretch of property. However, it gives you a good idea of what we mean by a conjunction.

You can see this conjunction on the chart above. Look on the right side in the seventh house. You see a quarter Moon and then slightly downward is the big 4 - that is the symbol of Jupiter. Charts are snapshots of the sky at a moment in time!

Saturn Move Away From My Door

2011-11-07T15:22:00.000-05:00

Oh crap I thought as I looked at my own little cute birth chart.... Saturn has just entered my first house. Now I don't want to hear from Saturn anti-defamation league but there can be some real issues when Saturn comes near a personal "planet" - Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury and Venus - or if it hits the house of personality - the first.

Saturn is necessary for us to have order - it rules the bones of people and societies - so it is a necessary little devil. However, the shadow is that it can be so restrictive that it will lead to depression, or at best a sour mood. I was waking up annoyed at the new day - NOT something that is common for me; I did not want to interact with people - again not my thing. It would have been more worrying had I not be able to say - Ah Saturn having its way.

The benefits of Saturn in the 1st is that it will help me work on parts of personality and physicality that I know needs some tweaking, which is why I have started walking every morning religiously and watching my diet - for serious.

One of the many great things about Astrology is to know what the heck is happening to you. So now I won’t worry about the shadow and will instead concentrate on the good it can do me. Had I not known, I could have wasted valuable time worrying that perhaps I was becoming a mean old lady.

Yeah I know hard to believe - because I am soooo lovable.............

Nodal Return

2011-11-02T16:26:00.001-04:00

Courtesy of arlenew.com

I had a birthday last week that is going to start a series of Astrological events that can be someone trying albeit educational. At the ripe age of 56, we hit our nodal return, that is, the North and South Node are back where they were when you were born. This happens once every 18-19 years but the ones we "feel" are the ones that happen between 37/38 and 56/57 because we have had some life behind us.

A nodal return brings up unfinished karma. Remember your South Node is where we are coming from in our previous lives - so if there are situations or people that we haven't quite resolved they are going to come up and smack us in the face. That could be perceived as "bad" but it is really a great thing to be aware of what is happening. If you know that things are happening because of unresolved karma then instead of moaning and complaining you can make an effort to clear the annoyances.

When people are unaware of what is going on they are confused, angry and missing wonderful opportunities to move on and grow.

So check the calendar - is the nodal return happening? If so, take advantage of it. Let me take a look at your chart and see what issues might be on the horizon!

Rethinking Jupiter

2011-10-25T13:11:00.000-04:00

When I first learned Astrology I was told Jupiter was the best thing under the Sun, pun intended. Oh, where you see Jupiter you see nothing but happy happy joy joy, was the general consensus. Then I started to look at some charts. I have a friend with Jupiter in her sixth house - the house of health. If that theory held she should be a picture of robust health. In reality she is the person who gets the one disease in a million or the one complication that no one ever gets. Then I noticed that when Jupiter was transiting my sixth house I got cold after cold and my one sinus infection per year turned into three that year. What is it with you Jupiter?

As usual the easy explanation is rarely right. Yes, Jupiter is usually a harbinger of good things. However, as with all things Jupiter has a shadow and that is that it makes everything bigger. Someone with too much Jupiter in their chart can be a gambler or terrible risk taker with money because they think they will always be lucky even when the odds are against them. So Jupiter run amuck is not always a wonderful thing.

I have also learned to look for Jupiter as a harbinger of death. Saturn in the 8th - Pluto there as well usually portend death but so can Jupiter - as the spring board of something bigger - a life beyond.

As are all things, planets are not black or white, they are nuanced - even big, robust, loopy Jupiter.

The Real Eisenhower

2011-10-18T15:55:00.000-04:00

First, I am sorry but we still can't find Herman Cain's birthdate... believe me, astrologers are spanning the universe to find it but so far it is a distant secret.

I did read a book this week about a real president, "Going Home To Glory: A Memoir of Life with Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961-1969" by David Eisenhower and Julie Nixon. I thought the book showed him to be petty and small - not things I ascribed to the great general turned two term president. Frankly, I think it was History rewritten with a Nixonian touch to show how much Ike really like Nixon – really, really and JFK was bad – bad… Please.

When I went to his birth chart, I saw why Eisenhower presented that stoic, silent persona. Look at Saturn in the first house in quiet Virgo. His rising sign too is in Virgo. This gave him an unassuming personality – very methodical, very nose to the grindstone – you know all of those things necessary when planning oh say D Day! I would love to read a good biography to find out about his secret doubts, fears and even depressive feelings.

The ruler of Virgo is Vesta – and we see that his Vesta is in the Cardinal sign of Libra. Cardinal signs are the movers and shakers of the zodiac – they take the lead and get things done. This Vesta is conjunct his Sun, Moon, Uranus – and all in the second house – the house of stability and security. Can you see the picture of Ike emerging?

Lucky for all of us he had the Part of Fortune, a little karmic marker of good benefits right on his ascendant. The plans that he made with painstaking detail, with strong leadership had a little kiss of karmic goodness.

Oh and no, I don’t see anything that would make me think he was petty and mean spirited!

James Madison, the Constitution and Pluto

2011-10-13T12:31:00.000-04:00

My History Group is doing a program on the Constitution and I am presenting a report on James Madison, the often neglected Father of the United States Constitution. So, of course, I have to run to my software to see what his chart looks like!

Jemmy as he was called by his family has a fascinating combination right on his first house. Remember, that is the house of how we express ourselves to the world. He has as his rising sign, the sign on the cusp of his first house, Sagittarius. A Ha, the novice might say, there is an outgoing, robust, adventurous person! As usual, the novice would be wrong. Look what is sandwiching his Sagittarius rising sign--- Pluto and Saturn.

Anyone with Saturn in the first house, especially with one so close to the ascendant, is going to have a somber, perhaps even depressive personality. Madison was so shy, so withdrawn in a social setting that is said his effervescent wife, Dolley, had the band play a song to let people know he was in the room. This, if the story is correct, is the origins of playing “Hail to the Chief” when the President enters a room.

Pluto on the first house cusp gives someone the almost obsessive need to improve themselves .Pluto demands slow and grinding change – it gives a purpose and sense that one must make something of themselves. Important it is although not necessarily fun!

Looking a bit further we can see he has a Moon hidden in his 12^th house, next to the sign of our deepest wound issue, Chiron. Both of these are in the deep, passionate, introspective, very serious sign of Scorpio (ruled by Pluto. See the double Pluto hit?) Any “personal planet” – Sun, Moon, Venus, Mercury, and Mars in the 12^th house makes a person secretive and guarded.

Can you see how this 5’4” 100 pound man was often described as a withered apple john? Everything about him was inward, driven and somber!

Next- I will look at his North and South Node axis which he used so well – thankfully for all of us!

Don't Discount The 99 Percenters

2011-10-05T14:03:00.000-04:00

I should know better. Watching CNN is not good for the blood pressure but, silly me, I was doing it anyway. There was the new "Outfront" anchor Erin Burnett smugly mocking the people occupying Wall Street something no one at the major networks ever did with the Tea Party. As I typed out a furious email to CNN, I got to thinking about the movement and how important an impact it will make on America. According to the stars, no one would be wise to mock or discount this movement.

Keep your eye on Uranus, in the chart it looks like a pink H on a unicycle. In the past few months it has moved in Aries, the sign of the ancient god of war. Uranus is electric and quirky and is the harbinger of unique and sudden changes. Meld the two together and you get the energy for the beginnings of a off beat mass of angry people to coalesce into something to be reckoned with.

Now if you look at the chart of the USA, seen on the inside wheel above, you can see that Uranus has just moved into our 4th house, the house of roots and home. So electric warrior energy in the roots of who you are - anyone paying attention yet?

Don't forget, simultaneously we have Pluto, the transformer, in the sign of Capricorn transiting our first house. Remember what I said when Pluto moved into Capricorn? This is will be harbinger of change in those structures which keep society together - the government, the banking system. Pluto moved into Capricorn in 2008 - need I say more.

These guys are poky - both of them will stay in their respective houses for years - well through the 2012 elections and several years beyond. I would tell all politicians not to take anything for granted and be prepared for anything. Nothing will be normal during this time.

Feeling Goofy???

2011-09-28T18:11:00.001-04:00

Finding the Path, Arlenew.com

Are you feeling a little wacky, a little off-balance? Blame it on the Libra stellium now sitting over us. If you are on the East Coast of the U.S it is in the 8th house, if in Western Europe on the 7th and if on the West Coast it hovers somewhere between the two.

Libra is and air sign depicted by the Scales - Libra tries to seek balance but often it swings wildly. Libra is very concerned with the other person - not self and it's biggest shadow is co-dependence. Libra also deploys her planet Venus to help us create things of beauty.

Right now we have the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Juno, Saturn and the Moon all hanging out together having a good old time in Libra. In a nut shell, this means we are looking for something to attach to, something or someone to join. Of course, if in the 7th house, the house ruled by Libra - this could be a wild time of people looking to resolve issues, please the other people in their life, forge new alliances. However, this is also a harbinger of a time of great creative expression - someone with well aspected Libra in their chart could find themselves finishing that scrapbook, working on that painting again or even finally cleaning up the bedroom and hanging the pictures!

The eighth house is a bit more tricky - this is the house of death and rebirth, it is also the house of insurance and goods of the dead. Feeling the need to literally shed old skin and do some heavy internal work - figure out where we are going - what we are doing with ourselves; these are all in the eighth house arena. This is a time of intense soul searching to say the least.

If this were all loopy enough those retrogrades that I spoke of last week have now crept up to first house - our house of personal expression. So on one hand we have this need to deal with this huge issues, what do I believe in, who should I commit to and on the other our personal energy and power are being dragged down by the retrogrades. How Libran! One side up - the other side down.

My suggestion - think about this big issue items but don't try to act on them until the retros get moving out of 1 - better yet wait until they go away completely in the early New Year. Think, ponder, delve - then act in January!

Happy Equinox - beginning of Cardinal time.

2011-09-20T12:21:00.000-04:00

The Autumnal Equinox will soon be upon us - September 23, 9:04 AM is when fall arrives in the Washington, D.C. area. Yippee... I love fall and winter - sorry for those who are cold-boned but I can't wait for fireplaces, sweaters and stews.

This is a time when the Sun reaches a "balance" and the day and night will be equally long. It is also the time when the Sun will be at zero degrees Libra, moving into the Constellation of Libra. All of the equinoxes and solstices happen when the Sun is moving into a Cardinal astrological sign.

Cardinal signs are the movers, the shakers the doers. If you are born with a well aspected cardinal sign on your ascendant you are apt to be someone who takes lead, takes charge of things. The Cardinal Signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.

When people take on spring cleaning in March (Aries) and fall cleaning in September (Libra) they are doing Cardinal activities. Cancer time is summer the time for planting and Capricorn happens around the winter Solstice activities when the houses are full of people and activity.

Fixed signs are those that exhibit stubborn resolve to forge ahead no matter what. Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius are all fixed. Taurus follows Aries so you need to cultivate and watch your garden to make sure it grows. Leo is in rule in summer when, for me anyway, you have to get the resolve to face another hot day. Scorpio is the time of Halloween and moves us into the other fixed tradition of Thanksgiving when much attention must be paid to working hard on the harvest and Aquarius is in the dead of winter when it takes a lot to get through the cold.

When the Sun goes into mutable signs, Gemini, Virgo Sagittarius, Pisces we are less concerned with tromping ahead and slugging it out. Gemini is late spring, early summer when we can relax and exchange in mental exchange of ideas, Virgo early harvest when we can see what foods we need to gather to care for our bodies. After Scorpios hard work, Sagittarius can lay back and shoot his arrows into the sky looking for the truth and then Pisces, ah other-worldly Pisces – March brings buds of spring and the time to think of rebirth and new worlds.

So enjoy this Cardinal time. Celebrate the Equinox and get to harvesting your thoughts for the winter to come!

Retrogradessssssssssssssss

2011-09-13T11:47:00.000-04:00

A friend whined to me a few weeks ago, "When is Mercury going to get out of retrograde?" It was about to leave I assured her. (However, it will zip back in November 23 - December 13.) Retrogrades are a time for whining. Everything seems to go backwards, cars don't start, computers go on the fritz, and things just don't get done. However, instead of whining we should remember that retrogrades are a time for going within and working on the internal stuff before pushing forward.

Right now we have an inordinate amount of number going retrograde. No wonder people feel like they are under water and so dejected.

Pluto is still in retrograde - until Sept 16 - but we talked about Pluto recently in another blog entry.

Right now most of the "girls" - the big asteroid are in retrograde. Juno, Vesta and Ceres are all retrograded. Juno is where our loyalty lies - so there might be relationship issues coming up. Vesta, where we feel we must dedicate to something, when in retrograde will make us feel like I can't get excited about anything. Ceres is our mothering, nurturing nature - need I say more?

An asteroid that vibrates to male energy, Chiron, our sacred wound issue - a pain so deep we don't want to deal with it is also retrograded. We are feeling pain but can't get to the source, can't confront it.

Had enough? Too bad. Neptune, Uranus and Jupiter are also all retrograded! Really people - I wish the pundits who rap about how the American people are feeling can take a look at this! Neptune, our connection to the spiritual, Uranus, our energetic change energy and Jupiter our expansion and hope guide are all going in reverse. Makes you sleepy just reading it.

Never fear - these guys never stand still for long. Jupiter is being quite dramatic and going straight again on December 25, Uranus December 10, Chiron November 10, Neptune November 9 and Ceres December 6. Vesta will only be retrograded a few more days and Juno will follow Chiron.

So see - it won't last. Remember that retrograde is a time to go within and learn why we are feeling the way we are. Whining never gets us anywhere!

Perry - a bit more

2011-09-09T07:37:00.000-04:00

OK several people have asked me, "Does Rick Perry, like Bachmann, believe what he is saying or is it a political act?" My answer. It doesn't matter to him. Deeply ensconced in his Libra South Node he will do what gets approval. Libra is all about the other person - about getting others to approve and accept you. When Texas was a Democratic state - no really it once was - really ------ he worked for Al Gore. That got him the approval of the political powerful. Now he embraces the radical right because they have overtaken Texas and the entire Republican Party. The more they approve of the nonsense he spews, the more he will do it.

The trick is that I don't think he is capable of realizing that this stuff doesn't play with thinking independent people. He is getting reinforcement from those closest to him - the circle of radicals. It is hard for him to pivot away from that and realize that he needs to appeal to a broader audience. He is hooked on the acceptance of those in his immediate area.

Rick Perry- yes I found the chart information... hang on kids.

2011-09-07T13:57:00.000-04:00

Compliments of Arlenew.com

OK by popular demand, I give you Rick Perry's chart. Now, I don't know if this birth time is accurate. It is running around the astrology boards and it is alleged to have been checked out with the county board but again let's hope it is correct.

This time would place his South Node in Libra in the 5th house. The South Node is where we are coming from karmicly, the identity that we carry over from previous lives. Libra is the sign of "the other" - they are karmicly addicted to being in motion, and of relating to others and the social reality of others. Basically what a Libra South Node person is saying "who am I unless you tell me who I am?" They must reflect in other people's eyes. They tend to co-dependence. Being an air sign it is hard for Libra to know boundaries.

The fifth house is the house of creativity and personal expression. A Libra 5th house person screams accept me for how unique I am - see how interesting I am - see me - please - see me! Remember the 5th house is the house which vibrates to the sign of Leo - the king of the jungle, the astrological narcissist.

Perry's South Node is conjunct a retrograded Neptune, Mars, Juno and Saturn. His Moon is also there - it is the only thing NOT retrograded in the fifth house. His past lives were characterized by an illusionary attachment to some aggressive or even militaristic group. Since Saturn, Moon and Juno are still in Virgo - this was some fierce dedication - service to something in a big way. Retrogrades are a pause for karma -an additional lesson learned. A retrograded Neptune is a call to rework spiritual values and awareness - how is that going, Rick old boy? Retrograded Juno is asking us to look at the relationships - the things we are loyal too and Mars in retrograde asks us to rework our thoughts on aggressive, drive and assertion.

Perry started out a Democrat but was convinced by Rove, et al to switch. He saw the tide changing in the South and in order to stay attached, to get the positive feedback and acceptance via votes (all very Libra qualities ) he embraced the views and became the center of (5th house Leo) radical right wing.

His North Node -where he should be moving in this lifetime is Aries in the 11th house - the house of group activities. He needs to be working on becoming a group leader of some group, humanitarian activities. The humanitarian comes in from the Aquarius influence of the 11th house. Now if you read this blog with any regularity you may surmise that I am a proud latte liberal. I am sorry I can't see anything humanitarian about a man who has executed more people than any other governor in Texas. To hold that record in Texas you have to really work at it.

So while he seems ensconced in his South Node still the question everyone asks me about Tea Party politicians is, do they believe this stuff or are they doing it for votes? With him I don’t' think it matters because he now believes he believes it. It is like the person who tells the same story so many times it becomes a reality for them. His Mercury is conjunct Jupiter in Aquarius in the 10th house - the house of government and society. Mercury is all about thoughts and communications and Jupiter is expansion and growth. Being grouped together and in the quirky, changeable sign of Aquarius we can see how this guy is capable of saying anything even carrying it to extremes. In fact, he likes to say things that are offbeat and shocking - and fortunately for the country he will probably going around shocking any sane thinking sentient being between now and election day.

So who is Rick Perry? Someone who is still clinging to the need to stand out and shine in a group -someone still stuck in his religious warrior past who will say or do anything as long as it keeps him in the spotlight.

Another one?

Thank you Lord - we have Michelle Bachmann's Chart!!!!!

2011-08-30T13:28:00.000-04:00

Michelle Bachmann was SO intent on proving to everyone that she was a "real" American unlike you know who in the White House that she proudly told the "Des Moines Register" that she was born "at 12:08 on July 6." We have a time - but like so much of Mickey Girl - it is half-baked. Is it AM or PM? Well-armed with at least some kind of time, we hand maidens of Satan, astrologers, cracked open our computers to see if we can figure out which is more plausible. After reading several analyses and studying the possibilities, I concur with a majority of political astrologers that it was noon. Besides, if you are born at midnight most people would say midnight or 12:08 in the morning. By just saying 12:08 it sort of implies noon to me.

Also, the noon time chart places Jupiter in the 5th house - a perfect place for someone to manifest many children. (Mia Farrow has the same placement although I think her style of raising children (I refuse to say parenting) might be a tad different than Mickey Girl's.

Most importantly, the noon chart places her rising sign - how she projects in the world - as Aries - the archetype of aggressive, militant dominant energy. Uh Duh? The ruler of Aries, Mars, is in Pisces in the 12th house in her chart. The 12th house is how we connect to the universe, the god-source. Mars in Pisces is one of those funny oxymoronic placements - it makes one feel like a warrior for God. Because Pisces vibrates to the 12th house she has a double dose of this spiritual warrior stuff that flows right out into the world. (I could say that craps all over the world but I am really, really trying to be nice here.)

Even spookier - she has a retrograded Neptune (ruler of Pisces) conjunct her Vesta in the 7th house. In English, that means that she is dedicated (Vesta) to bringing her somewhat deluded spiritual views to people on a very personal level (7th House.) In other words, she is frustrated proselytizer. She really believes this stuff. It is a part of her big time.

The bad news for liberals is her Venus (albeit it retrograded), Mercury conjunction in Gemini in the 3rd house - the natural house of Gemini. Retrogrades remember are pauses for karma and they cause the person to have issues in these areas that they should reflect upon and work out.). Venus, the goddess of beauty along with the communicator Mercury in Mercury and in Mercury's house means she is not to be underestimated when it comes to her ability to communicate. She has some talents in that area.

The good news is that with these retrogrades and with the arrogant Aries rising she will say things that will shock anyone comfortable with living in a world that has progressed past the year 1510. It won't be because she is a goofball a la Palin; it will be because she believes them and is arrogant enough to think everyone should believe her word too. With her South Node also in Gemini, she has lots of life times of communicating to people and sadly she doesn't think she is done with that yet.

Astrological Gift Baskets Are Here!

2011-08-23T11:58:00.000-04:00

Photo by Eric G Brown

I am happy to tell you that I have teamed up with CandC Gift Baskets, to produce Astrological Gifts
Each basket is unique and will contain a frame- able astrological chart as well as a full 60 - 90 minute interpretation by yours truly on a thumb drive.

This is a wonderful wedding, birth, birthday or holiday gift and you won't find a more personal gift!

Order them on the C and C website. www.candcgiftbaskets.com or by calling 888 534 3660!

Get a jump on holiday shopping!

Retrograded Pluto - A Good Time to Refresh

2011-08-16T14:05:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of Arlene Weinstock

Pluto has been in retrograde for the past few months and will not go direct again until September 16. Pluto is the planet of change and transformation - and makes us want to eliminate and release the old, outworn, outdated and obsolete in our lives. When Pluto goes retrograde, it is the perfect time to go deep within yourself - do some deep deep soul searching and get rid of the attitudes and ideas that simply don't work anymore. Think of it as a house cleaning of your inner workings

Ask yourself the questions - what do I really need in my life - what do I really want - what is working for me or what I am doing because I feel I should. THere is nothing worse than a bad case of the shoulds. It is a time to ask - who do I want to be when I grow up (no matter your age.)

Pluto which rules Scorpio, the detective of zodiac, wants us to investigate - go deep and investigate - those patterns that don't work for us. This isn't a time for lying to yourself or anyone else. It is a time for brutal honesty. This job, this relationship, this activity -- does it really serve me or am I doing it because (insert reason here)?

This is a time for regeneration - for detoxing not only the body but the entire lifestyle you now have Get quiet, go deep and be honest. Get rid of what no longer works and make way for the new fruitful ways of life.

Look at your personal chart and see where Pluto is now transiting. (I can whip one up for you.) That is the area that Pluto is calling you to examine and change. Use the retrograde - heed the call of Pluto - if he isn't heard he will cause a change - change or be changed. Isn't it better to be in control of the change?

Full Moon

2011-08-14T08:41:00.001-04:00

Don't forget to catch the full Moon! It is so pretty over the Ocean here in Maine! The Moon is "full" when it is directly opposite - or the furthest away from the Sun -- because it isn't competing with Sun energy we can see it at its maximum.....

Astrology of Sea Gulls

2011-08-10T21:39:00.000-04:00

Last week we made the Earth changing revelation about the astrological make up of lobsters…this week it is sea gulls. No, I am not joking. Here in Maine the sea gulls rule to skies over the Atlantic and with their screaming squawks and cries they let you know they are around. It is hard to describe the noises they make. It is a cross between a cry and a war whoop. Mercury conjunct Uranus I said to myself – what else could make such a crazy voice! If you are old enough to remember Howard Cosell, the sports commentator, you remember his very distinctive voice. He epitomized a Mercury (the planet of communications) conjunction Uranus – the wild and unpredictable planet. If you hear a funny voice think Mercury in Aquarius or aspected with Uranus (the planet that rules Aquarius.)

Gulls live in noisy, packed communities which they leave to scavenge for food. Fourth house cusp – the cusp of family and roots – must be opened by Aries. Aries, the ancient god of war, would be a perfect setting for a noisy, active home life occupied by scavengers! I would even say that Mars, the planet that rules Aries, is in Aries natally in the chart of our gull friends. There is just way too much male energy in those communities.

To those of you who think I may have gone off the edge with the animal astrology bit don’t worry. It is just a fun way to explain the many way astrology can play out. Besides, the only other things I have seen around here are chipmunks, moose and skunks….no matter how hard I try I just don’t have it in me to try to figure out what makes them tick.

The Astrology of Lobsters - Part 2 - The Real Lobsters....

2011-08-03T13:57:00.002-04:00

Courtesy of Arlene Weinstock

So I am up in Maine making my annual escape from the Virginia heat and I am trying to think of a blog entry. Maine is conducive to many things including deep introspection but for some reason my imagination is failing me.... what to write what to write? My mind wanders. I had a lobster Cobb salad last night - very yummy. Lobster - that is it - I will write the Astrology of Lobsters. Now that is silly, Joan, I hear my subconscious saying. How can you know the exact day and time that lobsters came into being on Earth? I can't of course but I when in doubt - heck, make things up. It works for the news media, why not me?

So with the help of Wikipedia I present to you the real Astrology of lobsters. "Lobsters...have blue blood due to the presence of haemocyanin, which contains copper." Blue blood? They must have Leo rising. After all, Leo is the king - the ruling lion of the Zodiac. Think about it - even though they often wind up on our dinner plates, they do demand a king's ransom before allowing us to eat them. There is nothing cheap and tawdry about them. How Leo of them. Besides, how do you think they got that big claw? It had to be from preening their shells!

Again thanks to Wiki I learned that, "Recent research suggests that lobsters may not slow down, weaken, or lose fertility with age. In fact, older lobsters are more fertile than younger lobsters. This longevity may be due to telomerase, an enzyme that repairs DNA sequences of the form "TTAGGG."
A ha - they must have Venus in Aries! Aries is the masculine, fire sign - if you want an aggressive lover find an Aries. Go Lobsters.

As for Moon sign - I have to go with Pisces. After all, for all of their airs, they do wind up on your platter more often than not, a martyr to Man's insatiable appetite. They might even jump into the traps to save another - cuter - species - now that would be a very Piscean move.

So the next time you are pouring butter over one of these crustacean friends, remember his Leo and give him due homage, remember his Aries and keep the antacid close by in case his fire burns in your stomach and don't forget to thank him for his sacrifice.

Gotta go - there is a new restaurant on Goose Rocks Beach that has oven roasted lobster on their menu. I can't miss that.

The State of the Union -- Continued

2011-07-26T12:00:00.000-04:00

Last week I started to talk about the progressed chart of the United States because my acupuncturist asked me, "What in the world is going on with the U.S. right now?"

One really fascinating placement is our progressed Chiron, our wound issue, is in the 1st house in Sagittarius. Chiron is where we carry a wound so deep that we don't want to go near it - it is like a nagging pain we don't want to aggravate. With Chiron in Sagittarius in our first house - the house of who we are it is a good time to come to reckoning with our spiritual truth. I happen to think this is the last hurrah of hard right spiritual forces in our political arena. Yes, it might be wishful thinking but this Chrionic wound issue will soon be in the 12th house - and while it will be even stronger it will once again be "underground." The 12th house is the hidden house - the first house is the house of how we project in the world.

Chiron is loosely opposed to Mars in Gemini in the 7th - as these two pull away and Chiron recedes into the 12th house - the vocal, vigilant and some cases violent hard "religious right" should have their power weakened. However, don't for one minute think they will go gentle into that good night.

I tend to be a pessimist when it comes to the future of this country. However, I am happy to see that Sun and Venus are transiting the 8th house - that is actually a good sign for us. Sun and Venus in the house of power and personal transformation are transiting over our progressed ascendant and our North Node. Venus was the goddess of beauty and love but she also dealt with money. We forget how much of an influence Venus has on money. (Mercury is the flow of money - Venus is the personal gaining of money.) Hopefully, President Obama will hang strong and force Congress to make some good long term financial decisions.

The stars are working in our favor - that doesn't mean we won't still screw it up! Perhaps if more people call and crash a few websites on the House they will come to their senses.

The Progressed Chart of the United States - What in the World is Going On With Us?

2011-07-24T15:40:00.000-04:00

My wonderful acupuncturist, Kate, asked me a question that I frankly wish I had thought of. "What is going on with the progressed chart of the United States?" Eek - after I thought for a second, I replied, "I don't know but I think I am afraid to look."

Well, life is all about conquering of fears so I finally looked. What I did was a triwheel - with the birth chart of the United States (the moment the Declaration of Independence was signed) in the middle, the progressed chart of the U.S.next and a current transit chart on the outside. A progressed chart shows the movement of the planets from the time of the birth chart to now. The final transit chart is just showing where the stars and planets are now.

There is so much here that I think it is going to be two blog entries - if not, you may all start snoring. The first thing that grabs me is that progressed South Node is conjunct progressed Pluto in the 9th in the cusp of the 10th house. The 9th house is the house indicates where we go out into the world and search for our larger truths, the 10th house is career and social status - and the house of government.

Any individual who has this combination - progressed South Node and Pluto in conjunction - will be facing a time where past karma must be addressed - and where they must change because of it. Is there much of a stretch to think of past karma coming up with us now? Race relations, hideous debts built by people who now must get our "budget in order" -- these are a few issues coming to a head now. We didn't have to get our budget in order when the GOP destroyed the economy - now it is high priority for them! I think it is hysterical that this conjunction is happening in the house of higher truth. I have a feeling the truth will come out during this whole mess and that is the truth that some people will do anything even destroy the country to make sure a black man won't win re-election. Sad but true, no?

To make this more interesting, this combination is over the natal Neptune of the U.S. Our natal Neptune is in Virgo in the 9th. Neptune is where we can rise to spiritual awareness and brilliance - but it is also where, when we are in shadow, is where illusion takes over. Happily America is known to come to people's aid -with food and care (very Virgo) when countries are in trouble. However, we are also in illusion about our place in the world and have a hard time reconciling some of the negative things we have done with our foreign policy. So we swerve from savior to illusionary super power because of our Neptune 9.

Our standing in the world will be effected by this Pluto/South Node - karma issue. This goes beyond the economic catastrophe that will be loosed on the world if we default - it is a matter of how much of a banana republic we appear if we allow a handful of ideologues to NOT face their past accurately and live in Neptunian illusion.

Pluto demands change - if you don't head Pluto's call you are headed to a big downfall.

More later......

President Obama at 50

2011-07-12T11:20:00.000-04:00

On August 4th President Obama will turn 50 years old. It is so depressing realizing that for the first time in your life the President is younger than you but I will have to deal with that later.

One of the big things that happens around our 50th is our Chironic return. Simply put, that is why Chiron returns to the same position it was when we were born. For the President, he has Chiron at 5 degrees Pisces in the 1st house and right now Chiron is hovering at 4 degrees Pisces. It is almost back where it was when he was born.

Chiron is where we carry a deep, deep wound. Chiron in Pisces creates a wound issue around our connection to source, God, the universe - whatever word you want to use. Pisces Chiron people fall into two basic archetypal patterns - either they firmly believe that they are the ONLY way we can connect to source - they know the actual truth or they feel unconnected to the God-source, believing they don't know or don't have the right to know how to be a "child of God."

With Chiron on the first the President's wound issue and this disconnect directly to his self assertion, his basic aggression and focus values. With his natal Mars in Virgo (Mars vibrates to the first house) he kind of has to battle the Virgo-Pisces - victim/martyr syndrome. In other words, it is easy for him to have had problems about who am I, how do I fit in here on Earth and in the whole cosmic picture. As you can imagine, it must have been hard for a highly intelligent, highly ambitious bi-racial man, raised in various parts of the world to put all of his parts together.

One left over of his learned behavior of fitting in is his desire to round off the edges, make himself invisible not to offend (Virgo-Pisces.) Let's hope that after being kicked around by the lunatic fringe or the lunatic base I should say of the GOP, after years of trying to meet them in the middle when the middle keeps moving right, he will experience a Chironic awakening of his own power.

His North Node is Leo - the ego centric sign (and I don't mean that in a critical sense.) His South Node is Aquarius (which is also his rising sign.) It is very easy for him to try to come to some center point to bring all people together - to find results that will be happy for all. But, Mr. President, please - that is your South node - your past karmic identification.

Embrace your Leo - embrace your Lion energy - take the return of Chiron to realize you have found your rightful place. Now roar like the Lion you need to become!

Happy Summer Solstice

2011-07-11T14:30:00.001-04:00

The Summer Solsitice is here but what does that mean? Simply, it is when the Sun moves into the sign of Cancer, or Moon Child, if you are more PC. What does that mean exactly? Well let me illustrate this with a few charts. The symbol for the Sun is the circle with the little dot in the middle. OK, on the first chart, cast for 1150 AM Eastern time today shows the Sun 29 degrees into the the sign of Gemini. (Each sign is 30 degrees.)

The second chart is cast for 2:00 PM Eastern today. Look! The Sun is now at 0 degrees Cancer. The Solstice will take place around 1: 15 PM - when the Sun moves into Cancer. Anyone born this morning will actually be a Gemini Sun person - this afternoon will see the birth of Cancer Sun people. This only happens on the Solstices and Equinoxes.

So you ask, if there are twelve signs why do we get so involved in just the 2 solstiices and 2 equinixes? Well, because that is when the Sun moves into Cardinal signs. Astrological signs are divideed into Cardinal, the movers and shakers, Mutable, the more complaint -some say vasilating signs, and Fixed, the stubborn more stable signs. Cardinal signs, Libra, Aries, Capricorn and Cancer, because they are the more active ones - because they are leadershup signs, if you will, contain a great deal of energy and thus give a boost to the whole chart.

So when you start to enjoy the summer remember that it all starts with the Cardinal energy of Cancer.

Group Charts! Think of the possibilities

2011-07-11T14:30:00.000-04:00

I have to tell you about the cool new project I am undertaking... group charts!
By combining the charts of several people into one new relationship chart I can tell alot about the dynamics of that group. For instance, if I combined the charts of you and your spouse and children I would get a new chart that details how you interact as a group.

I recently did this for a spiritual book club I belong to and it showed how we are feeding each other's needs provide security through knowledge. It also pointed out some human faults that we were guilty of that if not addressed could cause disharmony in the group. It was great to look at and talk about our pluses and minuses.

These charts are often doors to discussion on issues we sometimes don't know how to approach.

So get your family chart done - or your office chart - or book club...whatever. Awareness is the stepping stone to understanding after all!

Happy Birthday to the Dalai Lama

2011-07-06T15:28:00.001-04:00

The Dalai Lama is celebrating his 76th birthday today by coming to Washington, D.C. (It is a good thing he is used to warm weather.) He has such an interesting chart as you might expect.

One of the most fascinating aspects is his South Node. As a karmic astrologer I always look at the South Node first - it is one of the largest indicators of our current personality because we carry over so much from our previous lives. His South Node is in Moon Child in the 10th house - the house of society and government. Moon Child is the sign most linked to the Mother and our emotions. Therefore, he has a karmic memory of being a nurturing figure in society. He provided for people's food, housing - or even could have been a counselor.

Here is the really neat part. The ruler of his South Node, the Moon, is in the 12th house in Virgo. Virgo is the sign of duty and service and the 12th house is the house where we connect with the universe, God, the Source.

So in a nutshell he was known for caring on a deep emotional level for members of his society. This society was in service to God. Hmmm, do you think they got something right when the Buddhist leaders claimed that he was the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama? It seems he has done this before.

His North Node (a current soul desire indicator) is Capricorn in the 4th House - so this lifetime he has to be more of a father figure to people in his immediate family - his immediate neighborhood, if you will. With the Tibetan Diaspora he has had to become the center figure, the father figure, of his people.

In the past he was able to be the emotional, nurturer of his people - now he has to hold them together - be a beacon.

The Astrology of "the hat"

2011-06-28T17:47:00.000-04:00

OK what made her do it? Why did Princess Beatrice don the hideous hat at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton? Her South Node made her do it, of course! Well sort of. Beatrice was born with her South Node in Virgo in the 7th House. Our South Node is the indicator of our karmic past - our karmic addiction - because we have the memory of living with that signature. In her case, she is coming from many lifetimes as a Virgo who worked on 7th house issues - the house of close personal relationships.

People with a Virgo South Node, regardless of the house, bear the burden of control. They have to control, organize, fix and make perfect even though that is an impossible task. When they "fail" they must affix blame which is why Virgo is known as the most critical of signs.

Beatrice's S. Node in the 7th calls her to control others - those very close to her. This manifests as someone who dominates other or who plays the victim to keep people under her thumb. See what you did to me? See how you make ME suffer? So when someone close to her - her mother - was not invited to the royal wedding - she made them know how they were making her suffer. It was even OK that she walked around looking like a deranged Martian she caused a scene at the wedding of the people who hurt her and she made them suffer through her victimization.

Let's hope with age she will progress into her North Node - Pisces in the first house and realize that she can embody something greater - that she doesn't need to look to and blame everyone else. Going from Virgo to Pisces is going from tunnel vision to embodying the view of the universe. Hopefully, from up there she will be able to spot a better hat.

Happy Solstice....

2011-06-21T12:35:00.000-04:00

The Summer Solstice is here but what does that mean? Simply, it is when the Sun moves into the sign of Cancer, or Moon Child, if you are more PC. What does that mean exactly? Well let me illustrate this with a few charts. The symbol for the Sun is the circle with the little dot in the middle. OK, on the first chart, cast for 1150 AM Eastern time today shows the Sun 29 degrees into the sign of Gemini. (Each sign is 30 degrees.)

The second chart is cast for 2:00 PM Eastern today. Look! The Sun is now at 0 degrees Cancer. The Solstice will take place around 1: 15 PM - when the Sun moves into Cancer. Anyone born this morning will actually be a Gemini Sun person - this afternoon will see the birth of Cancer Sun people. This only happens on the Solstices and Equinoxes.

So, you ask, if there are twelve signs why do we get so involved in just the 2 solstices and 2 equinoxes? Well, because that is when the Sun moves into Cardinal Signs. Astrological signs are divided into Cardinal, the movers and shakers, Mutable, the more complaint -some say vacillating signs, and Fixed, the stubborn more stable signs. Cardinal signs, Libra, Aries, Capricorn and Cancer, because they are the more active ones - because they are leadership signs, if you will, contain a great deal of energy and thus give a boost to the whole chart.

So when you start to enjoy the summer remember that it all starts with the Cardinal energy of Cancer.

Part of Fortune

2011-06-16T17:03:00.000-04:00

With all of the bad news in the world, riots, earthquakes, the GOP Presidential Debate, I decided to talk about good news - or the Part of Fortune. Besides, I promised last week this would be an easy one.

The Part of Fortune is an astrological marking shown on your chart as a circle with an X in the middle - and indicates where we get karmic reward. Can't beat that! If you happen to have a Part of Fortune in Aquarius in the seventh house then you will have karmic rewards that come from close relationships. If it appears in your first house, however, then your "luck" would come from expressing your own self assertive, independent energy. However, in the eighth house look for it to come from insurance, other people's money.

A fifth house Part of Fortune brings reward through creative energy and the 6th when you dedicate to self improvement and hard work. The second house you can be lucky with money or sudden "fortune" but the third will come through your intellect. When in the fourth house the Part shows the way when you get in touch with your emotional center - your roots.

The ninth house Part of Fortune triggers when you head out on your search for truth, but the 10th house only when you involve yourself in some endeavor that benefits society. Groups will bring the Part's effects to you if it is the 11th but the 12th house is all about meditation and solitude.

So take a look at where your Part of Fortune is located and then see if you are working to help it work its magic for you!

Nodes on the Loose

2011-06-09T18:26:00.000-04:00

I had lunch with a friend today who has been feeling a little out of sorts. You know the feeling; pulled one way and then another - wanting to do something as opposed to having to do something - knowing you should be working on your business when you want to be hibernating. So being the dutiful astrologer I checked her chart before I met up with her. Sure enough her nodes were transiting one another, sort of.

Follow me here - right now the North Node is at 23 degrees Sagittarius and the South Node is 23 degrees Gemini. My friend was born with just the opposite - S Node Sag and North in Gemini - and they happen to be passing each other now. So transiting South Node is sitting on her natal North and vice versa. (Sit with it - trust me it works.) If the South Node is our karmic identity - what we are programmed from the past - and the North is where we are going to - or should be going to, we can see the root cause of her agitation.

As the opposite Node activates her natal nodes she feels the urge to try new things (North Node) but she is hanging onto the things from the past and the fear of what would happen or could happen if she lets go of her old identity (South Node.) She feels like a push-me-pull-you llama in some ways.

It is a clash of stepping out of the old and into the new fearlessly. No small fete.
So if there are feelings of being stuck and confused it doesn't have to be but it could be a nodal transition happening.

And I promise - next week will be easier...

Uranus has moved into Aries.

2011-06-02T23:44:00.000-04:00

We have recently seen yet another slower, outer planet shift into another sign. I have already talked about Neptune moving into Pisces and Pluto heading into Capricorn, now we have Uranus moving in Aries. Uranus takes about seven years to move through one sign. Contrast that to Mercury which makes it through all twelve in eighty-eight days!

courtesy of arlenew.com

Uranus is the sign of quick change - it is the rebel. I liken Uranus to the teenager of the Zodiac because it hates status quo and likes to shake things up as it explores new opportunities. Like a teenager who can turn a house on end in a minute by tossing clothes about as soon as they enter the door, leaving the refrigerator door opened and blaring loud music, Uranus brings upheaval whether you are ready or not.

Like youth, Uranus also has a humanitarian side. It isn't jaded yet like Saturn and Pluto and sees the beauty in every person. Uranus really cares about humanity and wants to help all humans.

So now we have the teenager meeting the baby - Uranus meeting the infant of the zodiac - the raw aggressive energy of Aries. If there was ever a time to change - to finish a project or start one or to analyze a relationship. Be spontaneous- take a trip on the spur of the moment, learn Russian.

Like all teenagers, Uranus is a techno-geek - so expect another explosion of gadgets and widgets in the next seven years.

However, remember that teens are prone to explosions and irrational anger. So watch for impulsive, erratic energy.

It is important to look at your chart and see what Uranus/Aquarius Aries/Mars activate - control the energy and you will make great headway in these areas. (Countries can also have these planets in strategic areas of their charts so watch for eruptions around the world.)

Check out The Wisdom from Within Workshop!

2011-05-23T12:18:00.000-04:00

http://www.meetup.com/Wisdom-from-Within-Workshop-Series/?gj=ej4&a=ti1_lm1

My student and all around spiritual wizard, Wendy Hamilton, is sponsoring this series. If you are in the Columbia area check it out. It will be well worth your time!

Mars and Venus conjunction tonight

2011-05-23T09:32:00.001-04:00

Mars and Venus are in conjunction tonight in the 9th house- the house of spiritual seeking. This is a wonderful placement to engage the energy of Mars and the beauty of Venus - in your spiritual journey.

Participate in a meditation led by the man who taught me so much about astrology, Adam Gainsburg of Soulsign Astrology...

From Adam: "The only conjunction of the tantric planets in 2011, tonight's Meditation will both illuminate and somaticize this unique conjoining between Mars and Venus."

No need to register! Just dial...

+218-936-4700 with 885588#

When: 23 May 2011, 8p ET, 30-45 minutes (please adjust for your time zone).

Prep: Light a candle, Quiet your mind, Make some love, Breath into your Heart's altar

Why (to participate): Because there is no better cosmic reflection for our Inner Union than a Mars Venus conjunction

Planets without orbits?

2011-05-19T17:23:00.000-04:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/18/planets-without-orbits_n_863661.html?fbook

I have no idea what this means yet astrologically but it will be interesting to see what energy the universe will be revealing!

Chiron Neptune and Pisces

2011-05-16T12:42:00.001-04:00

courtesy of Arlenew.com

I talked about Neptune entering Pisces a few weeks ago and the general karmic implications of having Neptune in its ruling sign. Pisces and Neptune, remember vibrate to the 12th house - the house that is our connection to the universal unconsciousness. Many astrologers say Pisces is the universal unconsciousness!

Now we have an extra added attraction to this because Chiron, the asteroid which pinpoints where we carry our deepest wound - a wound that is so painful we don't want to touch - is now in Pisces. Of course, we much transmute the pain of Chiron if we are to heal; the trick is to have the courage to do that.

The last time Chiron was in Pisces was from 1962 - 1968. Remember those fun years?

Keep in mind - and this is very important - we also had some wild transits of Uranus and Pluto at that time which is not in the cards now. Don't expect a return to the go- go '60's.

However, for the next nine years Chiron will be in Pisces and for a large chunk of this year Chiron will be conjunct Neptune in Pisces. Whatever house this conjunction transits and whatever planet it agitates in your chart you will feel a deep karmic pull. Let me explain this with a story of what happened to me. Right now, over the Washington, D. C, area and much of the East Coast, this conjunction is in the 7th house - the house of intimate relationships such as marriage and business contracts. The 7th house is an "angular house". These include the 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th houses - these are very powerful, very active houses. My natal Chiron is also in an angular house - the 4th. I am feeling this conjunction.

To make a very long story short, I found out that a large bank had totally screwed up a major account to the point where they actually had no clue how to undo their error. I went through 2 weeks of "bank hell" and finally, with the help of my ace financial advisor, got them to move on fixing the problem. Oh, did I say their screw up threatened my business accreditation and I had only one month to fix it?

Throughout this time, the bank never apologized and even had to nerve to hold up the process of fixing their mistake because they found one small error I made. Six years of major errors they made - one little paperwork error on my part and they tried to turn it around and lay all the blame on me.

It was at that point that a nerve was struck or more correctly it was my 4th house Chironic wound - of not feeling heard, of being validated and having root source - of being a grounded, accepted person. They were trying to put me in the place of little kid and it angered me. Instead of retreating into the wound - and becoming the chastised little kid - I found a way around them and basically told them what they could do with my account. I took the money out and found a new way to do what I needed to do.

So be aware of painful karmic issues that are going to pop up in contractual relationships. Look at where Chiron is in your birth chart and see how this is going to resonate with you. This is the time to clear up a lot of wound issues that are karmic in nature IF you are aware of what is happening. Don’t fall into Pisces martyrdom – don’t accept what is happening – analyze how this is making you feel and use this to transmute your Chironic wound issue.

Announcing ASTROLOGICAL GIFT BASKETS

2011-05-10T09:28:00.001-04:00

You can now order the most personalized gift under the Sun - an Astrological Gift Basket! I have teamed up with C and C Gift Baskets, a fantastic gift company to bring you gift baskets that will be designed toward a specific chart. I will interpret the birth chart of the recipient and then C and C will design a gift basket based on my analysis.

This is the perfect gift not only for birthdays but for weddings, anniversaries and babies!

Order at the C and C website!

http://www.candcgiftbaskets.com/category_23.asp

May 1, 2011

2011-05-02T17:32:00.000-04:00

Several friends told me last night that I had to do the chart of Osama Bin Laden. However, I just don't have the desire to do it - I just feel like I have to go wash even when I mention his name. What is cool is to look at the chart over Abbotbad at the time of the raid.

Look at that Aries Stellium in the 3rd house! Remember the third house deals with things local - things in your neighborhood. Well that neighborhood got visited by the Aries - warrior energy force - of our Navy Seals.
I am sorry that is just neat.

Also, look at the rising sign - in Capricorn the sign of authority figures. The ruler of Capricorn, Saturn, was in the 9th house - the house of worldly searching and going beyond ourselves and our homes. It doesn't take much to see the our authority figures were making an impact on some part of the world!

In earlier posts I told you that this Aries Stellium that we are in was pure raw masculine, warrior energy. I am so happy that at least in this case it was used to combat a force of evil. My only fear is that it is still there - so we need not to let our guard down - it is still a time when that energy can go either way.

"Easter" Musings

2011-04-22T11:28:00.000-04:00

Recently I asked a group of people where the word Easter came from. Didn't that name always seem out of place? Not surprisingly, no one knew. Easter - it has no correlation to the day. Right? Well, if you dig back into the history of it all it clearly does. Easter is named for the Germanic and Celtic goddess Eostre. Depending on the tribe telling the story, she was either a young maiden who travelled the country side with her rabbit spreading eggs in your garden or a magical woman who transformed into a rabbit in Spring. Virgin, rabbit, eggs - yes, fertility and rebirth - they weren't subtle back then. (Actually, there were many variations on the theme but these were the general avenues of interpretation.)

To celebrate the day of Eostre one would bake breads with the cross of the rising sun which have become translated into hot cross buns and dye eggs. Who said human beings have original ideas?

Interestingly in Sweden they celebrate Easter by celebrating witches! The children dress as the up as the witch Blakulla, make drawings and then go door to door exchanging the drawings for candy. Sounds like a take on Halloween. Interestingly, in Italy, the witch Buffana comes to the children on Christmas Eve. Witches, girls, maidens, they all find their way into someones celebration.

Anyway, back to Astrology and Easter. However, the celebration it is important to remember it all starts with the stars. The Spring Equinox, when the Sun is at the mouth - zero degrees - of Aries, the first sign of the zodiac - the sign that starts the wheel of life again - is March 21. Easter takes place on the Sunday after the first full Moon following the Equinox. Who can guess whether I was taught that little tidbit during eight years of Catholic school? Easter linked to the Equinox - linked to the Moon! Shock.

Passover too starts a day or so after the first full Moon after the Spring Equinox.

This year the full Moon was April 17, so Passover started at sundown on April 18 and Easter is April 24.

And they both have to thank Aries the first sign of the Zodiac for it. Speaking of Aries, it is still in full force. We currently have Mars, Uranus, Lilith, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter in an Aries stellium (that is, more than five bodies in one sign.) That is a lot of raw, dynamic change energy circulating in the universe. Using it to harness change in your life, new ways of expressing yourself, a new search for love and new way to open new doors. Those people who aren't aware of themselves or their natal planets could be feeling very angry and restless because they embody the shadow of Aries. So that potential for anger, violence and just raw emotions is still very high.

In any case, dye your eggs, plant your gardens and tip your hat to Eostre this weekend!

Mary Todd Lincoln - Can We Find the Real Person?

2011-04-12T09:42:00.000-04:00

This April is the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and while some people think of the battles and the military strategy, I am always more interested in the people involved. One of our more fascinating historical figures is Mary Todd Lincoln, a woman who I feel we will never really get to know because she has been defined through the prism of so many others prejudices for more than a century.

The closest we can get to the “real” person is to look at her birth chart but even that is shrouded in some mystery. Most astrologers use 6:00 PM as the time of birth. When I researched it the closest I got was an entry in a Bible stating it was a “rainy early evening.” For sake of discussion, I will use the 6:00 PM time but keep in mind, the fast moving bodies, Moon, Mercury, Venus – can move a lot in fifteen to thirty minutes.

This chart shows her Moon in Moon Child in the 12th house. I would tend to think this is off, because Moon in the 12th would be someone who would keep their feelings to themselves. Mary was not known for this! (This is another reason I think she was born a bit later.) Moon in Moon Child people are often ruled by their emotions. Added to this is that her rising sign – how she presented herself to the world – was also Moon Child. Her Moon and her rising sign were both Moon- driven so I am sure that the stories that she was highly emotional and given to outbursts followed by depression were correct.

What grabs my eye even more than that was the Stellium (five or more planets) in the 6th house. (Again this could have straddled the 6th and 7th if her birth time is later.) She clearly had many planets in the 6th house the house of health. Mars and Uranus both in the fire sign of Sagittarius in the 6th points to someone who has mercurial rages. You are mixing male fire energy and Uranian lightening – that is combination for flare ups. The theory that they were driven by headaches and other medical conditions is proven by this sixth house placement.

This Mars/Uranus conjunction is sitting right on top of her Sun/Neptune conjunction. Sun and Neptune makes us unaware of our true selves. Neptune is the great obfuscator and gives everything have an air of unreality. When Neptune is tightly conjunct our life force, the Sun, a person has a hard time learning or facing who they are.

This is a classic definition of the historical Mary Lincoln – highly emotional, prone to rages, someone unaware of their public persona – out of touch with reality of the day. However, there is much more to this very complicated chart. In my next blog we will explore her Capricorn Venus – do you see the attraction to the Saturnian, dour looking Lincoln? However, it is her Moon and Lilith conjunction and her Aries North Node in her intercepted 11th house that I believe will give us a more rounded look at this highly complex woman.

Her ninth house (the house of spiritual seeking) is also jammed packed and highly charged with Chiron, Pallas Athena and Saturn there all in Pisces, the sign that connects us to the cosmic consciousness. Today she might be a spiritual leader. Then she was ridiculed for having séances in the White House.

Few people in the 19th Century looked beyond the flighty, emotional woman. Why bother, she was after all just a woman? Worse, she was a woman with a rebellious streak and a calling to be a leader at a time when those traits would be castigated. How easy to use her emotional short comings to keep her inner drives from being realized.

Happy Birthday Michelle!!

2011-04-06T17:01:00.000-04:00

I can't let this auspicious occasion pass without a few words. It is Michelle Bachmann's birthday! What do you get the queen of the Tea Party? First thing I can think of is a good American History book since she seems to screw that up repeatedly. In lieu of that how about a chart? I am sure she would LOVE nothing more than an astrological chart.

Alas and alack we don't know the time of her birth but we can cast a chart for April 6, 1956 in Waterloo, Iowa. (Is she really younger than me? Really?) The Moon was in Aquarius. Let's see what comes to mind when I think Moon in Aquarius? How about erratic, disruptive, fickle, stubborn and a little peculiar? Yup, that fits.

However, it is her North Node in Sagittarius in the 5th that is more interesting to me.
A North Node in Sagittarius in the house of creativity certainly gives her the drama gene. This is someone seeking the creative arena to speak her truth and with a North Node in Sagittarius it is very easy to assume even demand that your truth be the truth for all.

Sitting right next to her North Node is Saturn, the epitome of authority. Someone born with Saturn conjunct the North Node is seeking to join with traditional authority groups. She is seeking paternal, authoritarian approval. Of course, with Saturn retrograde it is hard for her to do this to her satisfaction so she has to out tradition the traditionalists. "See, I can be like you. I can be the most traditional, flag waver on the block."

Conversely, Venus, the feminine symbol of love and creativity, is conjuct her South Node in Gemini- where she is coming from karmicly. She has used her femininity to get her voice heard before. So this lifetime she is using her "good girl" feminine energy to get the approval of very traditional masculine authority groups.

Fueled by the eccentricity of Aquarius it isn't hard to see how she can take on this persona of Mom, Apple Pie and oh yeah everyone who isn't exactly what the traditional, white, straight, paternal power structure decrees valuable should be marginalized.

So I guess I shouldn't mock dear Michelle, she is in a way a victim of her Nodes. And anyone who believes that should check my chart.

Everyone please breathe!

2011-04-04T16:36:00.000-04:00

courtesy or Arlenew.com

My friend Arlene - whose paintings and photos you see here has a tag line on all her emails which reads, "Take care and breathe." I tease her about going Los Angeles on us but I think we should all listen to her right now.

First, we have the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Lilith and Uranus all in Aries right now, the sign of unbridled male energy. It is a great time to start new projects and chart new courses. However, it is a also a time where we can make impulsive and wrong headed decisions on the spur of the moment. Think of it as all of these planets experiencing road rage. So if these planets are falling in your 7th house you might suddenly decide to make changes to your business or marriage relationships. They might sound good at the moment but after thinking about it for a day or two you realize those changes are disastrous.

Also on April 5 and 6 the Moon will be void of course. When a body moves from one sign to another - when it is 27 degrees in one sign to 3 degrees in the next - it is considered void of course - a little off kilter. Because the Moon moves so quickly it is void of course a few days every month. This is a time when our emotions may be a little hinky.

If you couple void of course Moon with all of this male Aries energy flying around it could lead to some serious mistakes. So please everyone for the next week or so - breathe first act second!

May 21 - The Rapture - the Rapture

2011-03-28T10:49:00.003-04:00

It seems like my prayers will be answered on May 21, 2011 because that is when the Rapture is supposed to come! Christian leader Harold Camping, founder and president of Family Stations, Inc., a company which produces Christian radio and television programs, has announced the end of the world will take place on Saturday, May 21, 2011. Well I am not sure if it is really the end of the world or the beginning of the Rapture which will lead to the end of the world - the stuff is always fuzzy to me. However, if on May 21 all of these fundamentalists will be zapped up into Heaven and out of my face I can't wait for May 22!

Bring it on!

Camping is basing this on his highly scientific studies which show the Creation taking place 11,000 years ago. I guess that is why the Creationist Theme Park in Kentucky shows dinosaurs roaming around in saddles - is there a thing called Flintstone envy???

Being the goof ball that I am - I just had to look at the chart for May 21, 2011 to see if my astrological crystal ball could tell us what the stars will look like on that day. I would assume end of the world stuff would fall under the realm of Pisces which is the connection to the god source, right? Well let's see Neptune is in Pisces now and Pisces is ruled by Neptune so that does portend a very spiritual time. On the day, over Washington, Neptune will be in the 8th house - the house of death and rebirth. HMMM.

Neptune is conjunct Chiron, the harbinger of deep sacred wound issues. Now, I would see it as a time to spiritually address our wound issues surrounding power issues. However, someone else might see the healing of the wounds of evil Mankind by raising the righteous and smiting the rest of us heathens. See it is all in the interpretation.

You know this guy may have something - Uranus is in Aries, the warrior sign, in the 9th house the house of spiritual truth. It is a time to cut a new path - find a new way to find your higher truth! But then again if the world is ending why bother? I mean talk about too little too late.

Of course this same dude predicted the world was going to end in 1994. There are still people who believe him this time. No wonder Madonna has been able to pass herself off as an entertainer all these years. People will believe anything!

Perhaps, hopefully, it will be a day when people will "die to" ridiculous fundamentalists’ beliefs and have the courage to find their own truth...or they all could be raptured up. Either way I think it is a win win. No?

I say LET'S PARTY! SEND THEM OFF IN STYLE.

The North Node on the Galactic Center!

2011-03-22T12:29:00.000-04:00

The Galactic Center is the center of the Milky Way where scientists believe there is the enormous black hole called a super massive black hole. Black holes are so dense that nothing – not even light can escape At the center of the super massive black holes exists gravitational singularity, a place where the space-time curvature becomes infinite. In essence singularity equals infinity. If you can get into the black hole at the Galactic Center, you would find a place where time and space do not exist – you would find infinity.

In the amazing string of events that is going on in the Universe these days, Neptune moving into Pisces, Uranus into Aries, the coolest to me anyway is the fact that the North Node is now sitting on the Galactic Center.

The Galactic Center of the Milky Way – our universe is 28 degrees into the constellation Sagittarius. Actually it is so big that it transverses 26 -28 degrees Sagittarius. Right now the North Node – that symbol of soul progression is at 27 degrees Sagittarius. So the marker of soul progression is sitting right next to the source of the Big Bang - the source of infinity. Do you think this is a good time to think about how you are living up to your soul desires in this lifetime?

I find it amazing that the Galactic Center would be in Sagittarius – the seeker of universal truth. Think about it – the source of all is in the sign of truth. We all need to be finding our personal truth in life the sign of truth is holding the source of all knowledge. Gives you chills, doesn’t it?

For someone like me, born with her North Node in Sagittarius, this is a very special time to realign with current life’s goals and to see if I am following Sagittarius’ demand to find and speak the truth.

Take a minute to explore these wonderful photos of the Galactic Center and think about what it would be like to transcend this center of all universal truth. You don’t need a spaceship just the expansive power of your mind!

http://www.astrosurf.com/sguisard/Pagim/Milky-Way-GC-STL-50mm.html

Catch the SUPERMOON on March 19th

2011-03-17T13:18:00.000-04:00

courtesy of arlenew.com

Get out the binoculars… Sunday nights full Moon will be pretty.

The Moon hasn’t been this close to Earth in 19 years…so the full Moon will be about 15 percent brighter than usual! (And yes some people may be 15 percent battier than usual but who will notice!)

Some people are predicting all harbingers of evil to happen. WHY do we always thing something evil is going to happen? Isn't there enough freaking evil around? It just means we might feel our emotions on a different, stronger level - see them more clearly.

The Moon will be moving from Virgo to Libra that night - so it is a good time to check our emotions in realtion those closest to us..not a good time to pick a fight with our spouse!

Uranus is now in Aries - Will Progressives Hear It?

2011-03-16T11:12:00.000-04:00

courtesy of Arlenew.com

Ok kids all excuses are now mute - Uranus is in Aries and will live there for the next seven years. Think of that balance of energy - Uranus the rebel, the harbinger of the unexpected mixing with Aries the epitome of raw, warrior energy! Wow. It is a cliché but I have to say it, "Expect the unexpected." Remember that Uranus is the only planet that orbits the Sun on its side not up and down. Is that goofy or what? Notice I didn't say it would bring "good" or "bad" things - just new and different. Whatever happens it is best to accept it and grow.

The most exciting part about this for me is that I think people will become more energized to work for the betterment of humanity. I truly believe that the days of a few trying to funnel the money of the middle class to the rich, the days of the left being cowed to stay silent while the radical right destroys our economy and works hard to bring us back to the dark ages socially may finally run their course. Uranus has a heart - it is the humanitarian of planets and the sign it rules, Aquarius, supports group activities on behalf of social betterment.

With Neptune soon moving into Pisces and bringing that sense of the "little guy" standing up against all odds and this crusading energy of Aries fueling Uranus we should see a rejuvenation of the progressive sensibility. If the left doesn't mobilize now they never will because they also have Pluto still in Capricorn - demanding change in authority structures and bringing secrets to light.

The stars are aligned kids; you have to do the rest!

A Pisces Stellium - Let's Take Advantage of it!

2011-03-07T09:49:00.000-05:00

A Pisces Stellium is upon us - Did you feel like doing some more yoga this morning - maybe a bit more meditation? If you did then you have Pisces on one of your "personal planets" - Sun, Moon, Mars, Ascendant, Venus or Mercury.

Right now Chiron, Mars, Mercury, Sun, Uranus and Lilith are all in Pisces and for those of us in the D.C. are they are concentrated in the 11th house - the house of group social activities. Dare I be hopeful to think that Congress will use Pisces influence and its connection to the Cosmic Consciousness to work together and come up with legislation that will help all? Nah, more than likely Democrats will fall into the shadow of Pisces which is being a martyr and give in even more to the GOP.... oh well, I can hope.

This morning my Pisces Moon pulled me to actually do my morning yoga instead of thinking of about really seriously for a few minutes. I then lit a candle for my Pisces Mom who would have been 95 today and did some meditation.

Think of where Pisces is in your chart and reach for the high of Pisces - the brother/sister hood of Pisces - the unity with God side of Pisces. All of these planets are heading to Aries soon and all that unity will be replaced with unbridled ME energy.

Breathe now.

What Would the Moon Say?

2011-02-28T13:56:00.001-05:00

courtesy of Arlenew

I played a little game with my class at the Institute for Spiritual Development in Washington D.C. which I unofficially entitled "What would the Moon say?" I posed the scenario, what if a someone with a very strong Sagittarian influenced walked up each sign of the zodiac as it embodied the Moon and said something totally Sag. like, "Wow that dress makes you look like Orca!" You know how Sag. is about telling the truth - or I should say their truth. How would these Moons - our emotional barometers respond?

Aries wouldn't mince words. An Aries Moon would just deck Sag. with one well placed blow to the side of the mouth. Now if this Aries Moon were in a daintier body then the words would flow and flow and flow until Sag. was duly chopped up and humbled.

Taurus on the other hand would pull herself up to full height; straighten her dress (which is a bit snug over the bull's hips) and say. "I don't think you are right Sag. This dress is made from the finest of silkworms. I flew to China to oversee the spinning myself." She would then huff off comforting herself with a box of the finest of Swiss chocolates.

"This dress? This dress is too tight? Really? How can that be I researched the purchase of this dress for three weeks? I tried on 18 different dresses. I went to 7 stores and then...." As Gemini was still babbling on Sag. runs away in self defense.

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa." Yes, that was Moon Child running off in tears. She will stay in her crab shell for weeks pouting and weeping.

Leo the Lions' reaction is a wee bit different. "HOW DARE YOU! I have more knowledge about dressing in my little paw then you have in your entire quiver Sag. Begone!" Sag darts out dodging mirrors from Leo's vast collection being tossed out at her.

Virgo doesn't respond just immediately becomes anorexic.

"Really? Really? I asked twelve people and weighed their responses very carefully. Then I asked twelve more - it took me twenty weeks to weigh everyone's opinion of what I should do. How could it be wrong? Libra's scales were wobbling back and forth with such a flurry Sag. thought a wind storm was in the offing.

Scorpio whipped off her dark glasses in a furor and starred silently into Sag's soul with such unbridled fierceness that Sag. was terrified for a week.

"Yeah well your hair looks like a home for drug addicted weasels."

"And your perfume smells like 'Ode De Goat.'"

"Your shoes are left-overs from the Von Trapp Family AFTER the clomped over the Alps."

Oh my - Sag. Vs. Sag. is an ugly sight.

Capricorn never looked up from her historical tome. Who cares about such nonsense as fashion? Sag. is so frivolous.

"Wow baby so you don't like my duds. That is cool. Hey we are all brothers and sisters under the skin where it counts. Coverings are like so superficial. It is all good." Insulting Aquarius was such a drag.

Pisces suddenly looked even sadder if that was indeed possible! "Oh I knew it would be terrible. I just can't pick out clothes." Pisces was so pathetic that for a minute Sag. said he would never insult another person again...or until another ugly dress came into view and the truth just had to be told.

What's for supper?

2011-02-22T16:53:00.001-05:00

courtesy of arlenew.com

I thought I would have some fun playing with my two favorite things - food and Astrology. Now keep in mind it is silly to say all Pisces will eat this particular kind of food. Sun Signs, remember are a very minor part of our astrological makeup. We have to look at the rising sign and for something like food - see where a person's Venus resides. Those are better indicators of whether they think food is something they have to bother with in order to survive or if it is almost a religious experience!

If you are expecting a heavily Aries influenced person over tonight reach for the spice rack. Aries like to have their food bite back a bit -nothing boring and bland. Oh and don't waste their time with an hours long meal - they want to keep moving. Taurus on the other hand wants gourmet meals, lavish foods and the best of wines. Don't you dare serve them a frozen dinner or the Bull could charge!

Gemini is easy - serve them a meal that is bite-sized. Remember Cher's character in the movie, "Mermaids"? She only made meals in finger sandwich size. Now that is someone with a lot of Gemini in her! They want to be able to read, eat, and play video games all at the same time. For Moon Child, however, it is all about cozy, family comfort food surrounded by as many generations of family as possible. Think chicken-pot-pie, apple pie and macaroni and cheese when you think of Mood Child.

Leo the lion has to have a table big enough for their adoring courtiers to surround them while they dine. Like Taurus they want the best food and wine but with Leo you have to serve it in the best china you can muster. Virgo has already lived this life of Riley and their digestive systems have paid the price. Go directly to the health food store and get the healthiest organic meal and serve in on biodegradable dishes!

Libra has to be with other so break out the Leo table, take all the gold off and put it out for Libra. For food, think of things that can be shared because Libra is all about the other person - Chinese food - pizza....whatever it is - it has to be shared. Scorpio loves to delve into mystery so think of something deep dish and maybe have a surprise on the bottom!

Make something foreign for Sagittarius - or better yet take them to a part of town that is known for exotic food - like little India or little Thailand - and let them think they are travelling the world! Capricorn the goat is all about meat and potatoes and good solid veggies - all American food please!

Ok for Aquarius take all the leftovers you may have from the other signs and make one big wacky dinner. To make them even happier - serve it on the floor on a big silly blanket. Finally for Pisces keep the booze under lock and key - some of them might have an issue with that. Make sure you have some dreamy music playing and make soothing soups and soft custards.

Time to make dinner! Have fun.

Back to Basics

2011-02-16T11:52:00.000-05:00

courtesy of Arlenew.com

Hi, before I start, take a look back at my Jan. 24 entry about Neptune and Pisces and look what is going on in the Middle East. Neptune hasn't even gotten into Pisces yet, that will happen in April, but see how the energy is stimulating those people who have just had enough of living under dictatorships and are willing to risk it all for freedom.
-----------------------

Did you ever wonder where it all began? Who started this Astrology thing? Well, we give credit to the Sumerians who lived about 8,500 years ago. They devised the twelve house system based on archetypal energies. (They devised it or were the first to write it down in a form that has survived.) Twelve is a mystical number - like the numbers three and seven, it has a special energetic field. Each house has contains a specific archetypal energy and vibrate to the energy of a specific sign.

The first house vibrates to the energy of Mars and Aries - male aggressive energy - and it controls how we project our personality. The second house vibrates to Taurus and Venus - it deals with possessions and our survival - what goods we need to survive in this world. Three is Gemini - Mercury and deals with our thoughts and gathering knowledge. The fourth contains the energy of home, our roots, and our mother and vibrates to Moon Child and the Moon. Five is all about Leo, Sun energy and handles matters of creativity. Six takes Virgo - Vesta energy and works with our diet and health. Seventh house is personal contracts with people - marriage and business deals and has the energy of Libra and Venus. Eight is all about death and rebirth and dying to the old self and is vibrating with Scorpio - Pluto energy. The ninth house brings us out in the world and sets us on a search for our truth with the help of Jupiter and Sagittarius. Government and societal structure is the domain of the 10th house and is filled with Capricorn - Saturn energy. In the eleventh we find social contacts and group activities spurred on by Aquarian and Uranus energy. Finally in the twelfth house we connect with the collective unconscious with the help of Pisces and Neptune.

It is all energy but then again, isn't everything?

What to Buy Your Valentine?

2011-02-11T14:09:00.000-05:00

courtesy of Arlenew.com

I will be heading over to TBD Newschannel 8 tonight to do a segment on Astrologically correct Valentine's gifts. However, I will give you a heads up! Keep in mind that you have to look at an entire chart to know what makes a person tick but if someone has a strong Venus or Ascendant in a certain sign then these gifts will appeal to them.

Aries - go to an adult website - the one you never tell Mom about -- and something wild and in red. Aries will thank you for that.

Taurus - Head to the gourmet store and get the biggest basket of wines, cheeses, steaks, breads... appeal to the gourmet/glutton aspect of Taurus.

Gemini - What they need and what they want are two different things. They should get some calming aromatherapy sachets but what they want is the latest APP that would allow them to talk to 10 different people at the same time, read a book and catch a movie.

Moon Child- Get out the tea cozy, the family photo album and wrap them up in a cuddly shawl.

Leo - Easy. Get the biggest mirror you can carry and throw in some brushes and watch them primp all day.

Virgo - A packet of seeds will suffice. Seriously, get a gift basket of crunchy, healthy things wrapped in recycled plastic!

Libra - You can take them to a romantic dinner but remember to get a dessert that you can share with the neighbors. Libra is all about the other person.

Scorpio - They are made for Valentine's! Load up on candles and bubble bath and get some deep, emotional music on the I-Pod.

Sagittarius - Fill the picnic basket and go for a hike in the woods with Sag!

Capricorn - Again what they need and want will differ. They will probably be happy with the latest historical fiction tome but why not get them something silly and inane - something to play with. They may grumble but I bet they will play with it when no one was around.

Aquarius - Zip over and get the latest electronic widget. If it is fast, future and fun it is for Aquarius.

Pisces - A book to hid their dreams is perfect or an Impressionist painting of the ocean!

So whatever your honey's sign is have a great Valentine's Day....watch Cupid's arrow.

Check out this planet placement!

2011-02-04T13:06:00.000-05:00

I had to show you what is going on overhead! Every major planet and asteroid is hanging out in the 3rd quadrant, houses 8, 9 and 10. Ceres and the North Node are on the tail end of the 7th. This is the quadrant which deals with socializing - and spiritual discovery. The 8th house is personal power and the power to transform. On a more mundane level it deals with goods of the dead and insurance issues. The 9th house symbolizes our personal quest for the truth and the 10th is how we socialize our goals and normally represents government and authority figures. Gee, I can't think of anything going on in the world right now which deals in these areas.................

Jupiter and Uranus are still in conjunction at the top of the chart although Jupiter has already moved in Aries. So that masculine, aggressive Mars energy is combining with the expansiveness of Jupiter and being unhinged by the electrical bolts being thrown by Uranus. Mars, ruler of Aries, is conjunct the Sun - adding a double dose of fire to the soup.

Can you see how these planets help a simmering group of angry people to find their power, speak their truth and send shock waves through long established, oppressive governments? I also wonder how many future little rebels will be born in the next few days who will grow up to lead future social movements?
It is an amazing placement!

2011 continued - Aries all Around!

2011-01-31T11:17:00.000-05:00

courtesy of arlenew.com

April is always a wild month astrologically. The archetypal energy is of Mars, the god of war. Mars and the sign it rules, Aries, is the epitome of male aggression. We need energy and spunk to make our mark in our world. However, keep in mind the shadow of this is testosterone overload - unbridled aggression and violence. The Revolutionary and Civil Wars started in April. Hitler was born in April just as the Sun was moving out of Aries. Columbine was in April. We invaded Iraq in 2003 under Aries. You get the picture.

It is no surprise, therefore, that we face the coming Stellium of asteroids and planets in Aries with some trepidation.

On April 4th when Neptune moves into spiritual Pisces (see last week's entry) we will also have the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus, Mars and even the black Moon Lilith all in Aries. Fortunately, most of these are "personal planets" - the inner guys who make the biggest impact on an individual's chart not the planet as a whole. If you have Aries personal planets or if yours make aspects to Aries - you will be able to start new activities just be sure you don't fly off the handle for little reasons. Watch for spikes in personal violence during this time. Just remember to stay in the light - the energy Aries brings - and not the shadow.

Uranus is Aries is a generational shift - it hangs around a sign for about 7 years. Jupiter stays about a year in each sign. Uranus and Jupiter will be squaring Pluto in Capricorn - this will be a huge time when the big issues of fairness, justice and truth come to light. I would advise any President of Prime Minister or dictator to be very careful at this time. Any act of dishonesty, any act of underhandedness will see the light. Anyone who acts with extreme individualism will get a good smack in the face.

Uranus in Aries can blaze the trail for social reform and science. Expect to see big breakthroughs in these areas.

It is all about the harnessing of this energy. Those who use it for social good for social justice will blaze new trails in these areas. Those trails will not always be smooth sailing - there can be wars and battles needed to bring about these changes. Anyone who goes to shadow of Aries - who seeks to subjugate freedom and justice - will wreck havoc on the world around them.

Hopefully from this disruption will come the beauty of Neptune in Pisces (see last week) when the spiritual overtakes the illusion. If we all do our part to try to stay out of the shadow that can happen. Yes, I know, I know --- but we can all try.

2011 -2012 preview

2011-01-24T12:54:00.001-05:00

courtesey of arlenew.com

I saw some signs in downtown DC a few months ago telling me to repent because the world was ending in May 2011. Apparently the Lord is returning and he is still pissed. Then, of course, the New Agers are telling me we have all the way until December 2012. If I thought either were correct I would daily eating my way through a bathtub of chocolate chip ice cream.

While I can’t see the end of the world coming, I do see some hum dinger of planetary changes coming in the next few years.

Neptune will be moving into Pisces on April 4, 2011 and will remain there until 2026. Pisces is ruled by Neptune so this will be a time when Neptune will be felt particularly if it makes a strong aspect to Neptune, Pisces or their aspects in your personal chart.

Remember Pisces is a sign of duality. Look at the two fish, one swimming upstream toward the God-source and the other stuck in the illusion of life.

The last time Neptune was in Pisces (1848 – 1860), we saw the growth and flourishing of the Transcendalist Movement. These were people like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Louisa May Alcott who believed in spirituality, and humanitarianism. Utopian societies sprang up and around the country and spiritualism was in favor. Impressionism, the style of painting characterized by flowing and visible brush strokes became popular. Sigmund Freud, the father of dream therapy was born. Charles Darwin published the “Origin of the Species” and Marx the “Communist Manifesto.”

All of these are very Piscean qualities – a rejection of the traditional religious dogmas for a spiritual outlook, a belief that we all must find our own path to God, a dreamy quality and a rejection of the individual for the good of all.

Pisces is also the sign of the martyr and throughout Europe tens of thousands of died in Peasant Revolutions that raged from France to Sicily and Hungary to Poland. Desperate people banded together to try to change entrenched political systems that favored only the nobility.

The shadow of Pisces is illusion, disillusionment, giving into addictions and ennui. Pisces is that great ocean of cosmic consciousness but it has a hard time deal with the nastiness of Earthly reality. Be aware of people following false gurus. Sadly, we might see more people martyring themselves in hope of furthering a bigger cause. We will see more pathetic and dangerous violent outbursts. Those people who are upset and disillusioned will have a hard time getting on course.

We are seeing signs of this with the self-immolations in Tunisia and the job riots in Spain. If you have the ability both financial and innate to grow spiritually it is a wonderful time. However, anyone stuck in desperation – even those who aren’t forced into those situations by governmental of money issues; people who keep themselves stuck – will be that swirling pool of illusion for a long time.

Get Your Valentine's Chart Today!

2011-01-21T16:45:00.000-05:00

What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day then to get a chart of your relationship for your honey? Order a synastry or relationship analysis chart today and it will be ready for February 14th.

If you don't want to explore the depths of your mutual love... why not get his or her natal birth chart done? It is a very personal day what more personal gift than an in-depth personal chart analysis?

State of the Union

2011-01-18T08:47:00.000-05:00

Will President Obama continue his upward spiral in the polls with his State of the Union address? I progressed his chart to see where the stars will be for him that night and found some promising news.

First, his transiting Moon will be conjunct his progressed Mercury and Mars in the 12th house. Don't expect a fire and brimstone barn burner - the 12th house is introverted. Mercury and Mars together especially in Libra the house of the "other person" - gives mental energy and a sharp mind and the ability to reach people. Add the Moon and you get emotionalism but they are all tucked away in the 12th, thus the more subdued approach.

With transiting Sun and Mars conjuncting his natal Saturn/Jupiter in the 3rd house (see last week's entry for more on that) , his words will have power behind them. I believe the blending of the toned down passion but words that are direct will make a very important statement to the American public.

My biggest cause for concern sits in his 7th house where his progressed Vesta in Gemini conjuncts his Natal Vesta/Moon in the 7th house. The 7th, like Libra, vibrates to the energy of uniting with the other person. With Vesta in Gemini it is a great time to focus energy on words and conveying information. However, Gemini can be somewhat professorial - too intellectual. There is a chance that Professor Obama and not Touchy Feely Obama will appear. I am hopeful that his words will hit the right spot with those people who enjoy having a President with a brain. Those who need to be hit over the head are probably a lost cause.

Overall, most of us will see the new Obama who will present his ideas in a new way - a way that will stress humanitarian ideals and the need for all to work as one. Those who hate him for who he is and what he stands for will be vociferous in their negativity but he will have reached the rest of us on another level.

Ophiuchus: Nothing New Under the Sun

2011-01-14T09:35:00.000-05:00

courtesy of Arlenew.com

Ok everyone breathe… deep breath. Your astrological signs are NOT changing. Got it?

First a bit of self promotion – anyone in the Washington DC area – check out News Channel 8/TBD tonight I am taping a piece about this new Astrology chart brew ha-ha around 4:15 PM today.

The Minnesota Planetarium Society has apparently suddenly realized that there is a constellation called Ophiuchus or Serpentenius which sits between Libra and Scorpio and that the Sun moves through there for a bit in December. Well, guys can you tell by those names that the ancients knew about this constellation that has been sitting there for oh say 80 gazillion million years? Ptolemy wrote about it. The ancient Babylonians who are credited with being the parents of Astrology wrote about it. Ok here comes the trite saying. “There is nothing new under the Sun.”

Sidereal astrologers have been using it in their charts for millennia. Sidereals use constellations not signs to cast charts.

It is true that due to the shifting of the magnetic poles – which is always occurring* and the Moon’s small but steady pull on the Earth our orientation to the Sun has changed. From Earth it appears that the Sun is staying longer in Ophiuchus (pronounced O FEE u KUSS). However, Tropical Astrology which is the basis for what we do in the West is based on signs not constellations. The Babylonians, who by the way knew the Earth was round -- sorry Columbus, chose a system of twelve signs of 30 degrees each.

This is not to stay Astrology doesn’t change. For years the furthest known planet was Saturn. However, as others reveal themselves the archetypical energy is incorporated. For instance Scorpio shared Mars with Aries for millennia until Pluto popped up. Taurus is still searching for its own planet and Virgo is just now being assigned by some to the asteroid Vesta. However, we aren’t reorienting the whole thing because of something the ancients were well aware of. Perhaps in another few millennia if things change to the point that the Sun appears to skip a sign or two this might happen but it won’t because of a press release from a group who doesn’t know anything about Astrology.

The funny thing is that no astrologer worth their salt looks at the Sun as being all that important in a chart. It certainly doesn’t do much to define a personality. For that we look at the Ascendant and the South Node.

So relax. If you were born a Capricorn you are still a Capricorn. No one is changing the whole archetypal energy of the system because of the Minnesota Planetarium Society. They may know planets but with all due respect they don’t know didly about the stars.

*The Tampa airport closed their biggest runway last month so that the markings used by pilots could be redrawn. The poles had shifted to the point making the old ones no longer compatible with compass markings.

He's BAAAAAACKKKKK

2011-01-13T10:57:00.000-05:00

In my blog entry entitled "Happy Birthday Mr. President" I wrote last summer about the transits to President Obama's chart. At the time his12th house was loaded with personal planets including Mercury the communicator and that is always an indication of a time of inward looking. It is not a time of connecting to other and making heart stirring speeches. However, I told Progressives to hang tight because that would all be clearing out in 2011. And boy has it!

Just before the Tucson speech last night, I ran to the computer and checked out his chart. There was Mars, the sign of energy and strength sitting right in his 3rd house that which vibrates to speech and communication. Mr. Obama was born with Saturn and Jupiter in conjunction in the 3rd. Those two together indicate manifestation and give him the ability to stir with his words. So like a goof ball I was sitting in front of the screen yelling "Come on Barack! Mars is conjunct your Saturn/Jupiter let it rip!" (Sad isn't it?)
He started out slowly. Professor Barack was at the podium. Then he went off script and said "Gabby opened her eyes." You could see the spark come to his eyes and it was all over. By the end the audience and the country were on their feet and in tears. He is back.

Pluto and Vesta are transiting his second house bringing change and a new dedication to harboring resources. Hmmm have there been changes at the White House staff level? New resources, new dedication and new start.

Watch The President Tonight!

2011-01-12T21:19:00.000-05:00

He has Mars conjunct his Natal Jupiter/Saturn in the 3rd House - house of communications. He has all there is to be the Barack Obama we know and love - the speaker of amazing power and depth. This could be an amazing speech!

The Astrology of Tragedy

2011-01-11T21:26:00.002-05:00

courtesy of arlenew.com

I am as furious as every other thinking human over the carnage in Tucson this weekend. There is no way we can make sense of something like this --- a madman aided by ridiculous gun laws and a crazy hate driven political atmosphere. Without the birth data of the shooter I can't do a full analysis, however, we can look at what was going on over Tucson when he went on a rampage.

Remember that whole Mars/Pluto - hot and cold and anger and change conjunction we had going on a few weeks ago? In Tucson it was in the 8th house - the house of power, death and transformation. We tend to think that once an aspect has passed, the energy has passed. Not so. It can create a spark that sees ignition later.

Also, Uranus and Jupiter are still together in Pisces and both are in the 11th house in conjunction with the Black Moon Lilith over Tucson. The Black Moon is where we feel a void - emptiness. The 11th house is the location for group activities. If someone was Hell-bent on destruction that feeling of emptiness could manifest in the desire to bring mayhem to a public place. Uranus makes this electric and highly charges and Jupiter is all about expansion. Expansion can be a good thing but not when it is fuel to insane ideas.

When I look at Saturn I see it is in 6th House. Sixth house vibrates to health issues and Saturn is what gives us form and structure. It basically deals with our skeleton and protective bone covering. Need I say more?

Oh Aries You Little Devil....

2011-01-06T16:05:00.000-05:00

courtesy of Arlenew.com

Happy New Year all! And what a year it is going to be. We came through that Mars/Pluto conjunction with a huge Wikileaks "attack" and bombings in various places. I don't know how it manifested in your chart. For me it has been a lingering cough triggered in my throat. Pluto - Mars were passing through my 3rd house - the house of communications which vibrates to Mercury and controls the throat area.

So what is coming up? Aries will be on the march that is what is coming up! On January 20th Jupiter will move into Aries but will only stay for 5 months. That is about one half the time Jupiter spends in a sign and that is a big key - movement and speed. Jupiter in this fire sign of masculine energy indicates a time of new raw expression of and seeking of truth. In my chart Jupiter is conjunct Pluto - the instrument of transformation so I see a great time of personal growth and expansion.

This Aries influence will just increase as the year continues so by the new Moon on April 2, Mars, the Moon, the Sun, Mercury and the asteroids Lilith and Eros will join Jupiter in Aries. I am sorry but you will really have to be dead not to feel this influence on Aries warrior energy on the personal planets. More interestingly, over Washington, D.C. that Aries stellium will be in the 8th house of house of power, sexuality, and death - all of those fun issues. Can you just see the power struggles and testosterone eruptions that will take place on Capitol Hill?

Let's hope that is all that manifests. Remember the Civil War, Revolutionary War and Mexican/American Wars all started in April. It is as if the rope is stretched so tightly and then Aries cause the spark that burns the last thread.

On the positive side this is a time of new beginnings or new growth but that can cause painful breaks with the past. Remember the old saying, "out of pain comes growth." Riding this crescent of energy can be a fun ride if we are aware of what is happening and staying in the positive aspect of Aries - which is the courage to take the lead in life and not the negative warrior energy it can also embody.

How Pluto in Capricorn is WikiLeaks?

2010-12-27T07:07:00.000-05:00

courtesy of Arlenew.com

Whatever you think of the whole Wikileaks thing whether it is treason or the height of patriotism -- from an astrological stand point it epitomizes the concept of Pluto in Capricorn. When Pluto moves into a new sign, something it does every 15 to 20 years, it brings change to society - to the world -- in the area that sign fuels.For instance, when Pluto was in Virgo in the early 1960's we saw the rise of environmental movement and the "feminization of the workplace." Virgo rules health and healthy eating and day to day work situations. When it later moved into Scorpio we saw the sexual revolution. Then when it went into Sagittarius we saw the rise of the "New Age" and spiritual movement. Each sign also has a shadow aspect - to every yin there is a yang. The rise of fundamentalism was the shadow of Pluto in Sagittarius, AIDS the tragic shadow of Scorpio.

Pluto brings to the front those things that were hidden. Women came behind the apron with Virgo. People with different sexual persuasions did during Scorpio's reign and those with alternative religious beliefs during the spin in Sagittarius.

Now that it is in Capricorn we will see changes in structures that hold society together. First, we saw the collapse of the financial system, then, thankfully, we saw the election of the first African American President. What must come to the foreground now are those things that governments, banks and other authority figures wanted to keep hidden... ta da... Wikileaks.

Pluto just moved into Capricorn in 2008 and will be there until 2020 so it will be a long interesting ride. The last time it was in Capricorn was during the American and French Revolutions. See what I mean?

Happy New Year all.

Ebeneezer!

2010-12-21T09:25:00.001-05:00

Ok I can't do fictional characters and not examine the classic story of Mr. Scrooge and his merry band of ghosts now can I? Some are a no brainer: Mr. Cratchet, long suffering victim - ding ding - heavy Pisces influence. (As is his little son, Tiny Tim.) Is it me or does he annoy anyone else?) Mr. Fezziwig - strong family man, brings a familial touch to his workplace - strong on the Moon Child. The ghosts are also easy. Christmas Past is also strongly Moon Child, which vibrates to the 4th house, that of roots and home and our past. Christmas Present is a Taurus, of course. Look at all of the food and candles which surround him. Taurus loves luxury and comfort and food! Spooky Christmas Future has to be an Aquarian. Ruled by Uranus, Aquarians defy normal time and remember what Marley said, "The third, more mercurial, will come in his own good time." Also, Aquarius is future minded - it is all about what is to come.

What about Scrooge? Well obviously he embodies the shadow on the signs because there isn't too much positive energy there. I see Saturn in his first house because that is always a harbinger of depression. Come on, he has to have depression to live in the house. Added to that Capricorn, the ruler of Saturn is his rising sign. The shadow of Capricorn is being stuck with the nose to the grindstone and all about gathering material wealth. Added to this I think his Sun would be in Aries. Shadow Aries folks are all about themselves and being the boss and letting everyone know they are in control. Remember Scrooge doesn't really have his epiphany until the Christmas Future ghost scares the be-gabbers out of him by showing what his future will be like. That is the way to get to Aries - show him how something will affect him!

So Merry Christmas or Bah Humbug...that is my take on Scrooge. Now I have to figure out George Bailey in time for next year!

Be Sure You Are Awake Tomorrow Morning - December 21

2010-12-20T08:19:00.001-05:00

between 3 -4 AM. It will be the best time to see the pink sky caused by the total lunar eclipse. It will be the first lunar eclipse on the winter solstice since 1638! It is also taking place when the Sun is at 28 degrees Sagittarius which is the location of the galactic center -- the spot where astronomers believe is the giant black hole remnant of the big bang.

A lunar eclipse happens when Sun and Moon are in opposition to one another so the Moon will be in Gemini. As I said last week, that is the axis of my North and South Node so this is a time of huge soul evolution for me. Even if this isn't the case for you with the Sun in the Sag. the truth seeker and the Moon in Gemini, the communicator - this would be a good time to evaluate your personal truth and your ability to express it.

Happy viewing, Happy Solstice!

courtesey of Arlenew.com

The Sixth

2010-12-13T14:02:00.001-05:00

courtesy of arlenew.com

No not the sense, the house; today I want to talk about the 6th House of the zodiac, the house of day to day work and health. Now that sounds a little bit goofy at first glance but it does make sense. If you have health issues, either real or imagined it is going to affect your work, right? I know of one chart that, among many other “issues”, has Neptune negatively aspected in the 6th with Pisces on the cusp of the 6th. Neptune deals psychosomatic illness – Neptune is all about vagaries – so perceived illness, illness driven from the mental arena, these are all Neptunian in nature. This person hasn’t worked a full six months in twenty years because of a wide variety of health issues which always crop up when work gets too difficult.

My current interest in the sixth house is sparked by two occurrences. First, I have had those two very slowly moving planets Uranus and Jupiter transiting my sixth for about 5 months now and they will be there for a few more. During this time I have gotten more colds than I normally get in a year. One came upon me so fast (Uranus lightening) and just when I thought it was gone it came roaring back (Jupiter’s ability to be expansive. Thanks a lot.) I have also started acupuncture during this time – a very Uranian activity. Although acupuncture is an ancient science it is for Westerners new and unique. Acupuncture also deals with grids and the electricity which runs throughout the human body and all electrical matters fall under Uranus.

I have a friend who is having another recurring bout of coughing which is believed to be link to allergies and may be a mild allergy driven asthma. It appears as an annoying tickle in her throat. As always, when I hear of someone’s illness I run to look at their chart. Hmmm, remember that Mars/Mercury/Pluto mishmash I spoke of last week? Well guess where it is intersecting in her chart? Right, in the 6th. These planets are also now in conjunction with her solar progressed* Venus and to make it more interesting she has Pallas Athena also in her 6th right now.

Mars’ male energy, Pallas Athena coupled with, androgynous female energy with Venus – that planet which rules the throat all churning together. Can you see how the allergy has come back? What has me more concerned is that Pluto is in this mix. Pluto is the harbinger change and transformative. Some astrologers look at Pluto, with its rulership of the 8th house the traditional house of death and change, as a harbinger of death and rebirth. I don’t want to go there, but I do see a change in her health that she will have to take good care of.

*Solar progression is charts the movement of planets from the time of a person’s birth.

P.S. Does anyone else see the Wikileak attacks on websites as the secret “violence” I mentioned in my last blog entry?

Mars and Pluto and Mercury - yikes

2010-12-07T10:13:00.002-05:00

courtesy of Arlenew.com

Hold onto your hats kids and not just because the wind is going insane out there.

For the next week or so we will have a conjunction that is fraught with issues. Pluto which has been in Capricorn for a few years now, is conjuncting the North Node. OK that is pretty good. Pluto brings slow change – the North Node is one’s evolutionary goalpost. That should help people make moves into their right path. So far not bad.

However, today Mars will also join this conjunction as will Mercury on December 10th and it will also be retrograding. Mars and Pluto together can always spell trouble. You have the clash of pure, raw male aggressive warrior energy (Mars) and cold but formidable Pluto. When hot and cold mix we get thunder, right? When Mars and Pluto mix we can misunderstandings, arguments and even war. Remember the sign this is all happening in is Capricorn – that which rules authority structures, government and keeps society in place. This next week to ten days is a time we all need to be on our toes. With Uranus and Jupiter hid Pisces which likes to be hidden, these could be secret attacks or attacks we learn of later.

Add to this the mental confusion and miscommunications that are the signature of Mercury retrograde and you can see where the spark for the tinderbox can come. This retrograde will remain until December 30 so all of those cautions about thinking before you speak, reading before you sign, watching your electrical equipment should be in place.

Once we ride this wave, we have right on the winter solstice, December 21, a total lunar eclipse in at 29 degrees Sagittarius. Guess what else is 29 degrees Sag? The Galactic Center. That is the center of the Milky Way basically where it is believed that there is a giant black hole. Now for someone on a spiritual path this can be a fantastic time. Remember we still have Uranus and Jupiter conjunct for a few more weeks. The forward thinking Uranus and the expanding and spiritual Jupiter make good partners in the spiritual realm. (Be careful where the conjunction is triggering your natal planets however, as they can bring accidents and overspending in everyday life.)

A lunar eclipse, therefore one that moves our emotions, right at the Galactic Center can be a fantastic spiritual ride for someone who can capture the power. My concern is that the less spiritually aware a person is the more this tremendous power, coming on top of the Mars/Pluto storm, can cause havoc in their lives. People (including leaders of governments or splinter groups) can be reacting in dramatic ways that they really don’t understand. When you have the potential for great spiritual awakening for some you also have the flip side of great upheaval for those prone to be at the mercy of Mars.

Personally the solstice eclipse should be interesting since it will awaken my nodal Gemini/Sagittarius axis (Gemini being the opposing sign to Sagittarius.) My South Node is in Gemini in 8th house so my North has to be in Sagittarius in the 2nd. I am evolutionarily moving from existences of gathering and dispensing lots of information to hold onto whatever power I had (often not my own but the words of others – that comes from the heavey Libra influence in my chart) to thinking deeply and seeking my own truth for my own self value. (How is that for soul intention in a nut shell?) This will be a time of great spiritual growth for me if I play my cards right. It will be a time to see what I am still holding on from the past and how I need to still shed my own skin. Remember, the ruler of Gemini is in still retrograding at this time so a lot of “junk” from my past will be hitting me in the face. Retrogrades are karmic pauses. With Pluto and the North Node together I can really make some huge evolutionary moves.

I point this out only to show how personal planetary movements can become. With all of this energy roaming around I urge you to pull out your chart and see if any of these will directly affect you this month. The more aware you are the more you can make these changes work for you in a positive fashion.

Let’s hope that so called world leaders and those who can agitate world events don’t get too over wrought during this Mars/Pluto/Mercury conjunction and we don’t pay for the spiritual awareness with earthly terror.

The White House -

2010-12-02T11:41:00.000-05:00

As I walked past the White House last night and saw it decorated for the Holidays, I renewed my oft-repeated but never followed up on pledge to do some research on the House and the people responsible for it. Well, no time like the present.

The Cornerstone for the White House was laid on October 13, 1792 after a parade from Georgetown. By the way, I have read so many conspiracy Mason theories on their "take over" of our early government which state that this was a Friday. Oh, Friday the 13th well see how that links it to the Cathar's and the original evil connotations of Friday the 13th...... Wrong, it was a Saturday!

Anyway, the first thing that struck me was that Capricorn was "rising" - on the Eastern horizon at that time. That is a great time to dedicate a structure that you hope will endure. Capricorn is the sign that gives form and structure - it keeps things in place. What a great start for a grand house. Capricorn's ruler, Saturn is in the 4th house - the house of home and home-life. However, it is in Aries, a fiery warrior sign and in retrograde, a pause for karma. This is a harbinger of the burning at the hands of the British during the war of 1812.

Now look at the 10th house, the house of government and leadership in society. The Sun, Vesta, Neptune and Mercury are all there in Libra. Sun and Vesta together is a very powerful placement. It combines our internal energy drive with the devotion of Vesta - the burning heart's desire. This was intended to be a house that would dominate the world scene. Mercury indicates our thought process - how we learn and communicate. And Neptune is a symbol of our dreamy idealism. All of these are in Libra, the sign that while it may go to extremes from time to time - seeks balance This tiny country that just defeated the worlds’ largest military power, was holding itself out to a new experiment of freedom for all (well some anyway - but at least we continued to extend those benefits albeit slowly). Yes, it has gone to the over-board at time but we still have that candle of belief that we are dedicated to freedom and pursuit of happiness.

In the future I will look at the men who made the house a reality from Washington, who never lived there, to Adams, who was the first, to Hoban, the architect behind it all.

Green Mountains and Taurus

2010-11-23T07:46:00.000-05:00

www.arlenew.com

Hello from Vermont - up here for Thanksgiving with some family and friends. We are spending the week cooking at an inn here. Should be very "New Englandy". Of course, I had to take a minute to look up the chart of Vermont. You know I love Maine because as a Scorpio Sun/Pisces Moon I need the water but the politics of Vermont is much closer to my heart than lovely Maine!

Made a state on March 4, 1791 Vermont is by Sun Sign a Pisces. Figures - it is full of touchy feely people dedicated to live and let live and go connect with the Universe in the Green Mountains. What is really interesting is the stellium (more than 5 planets) in the 9th house. Remember, the 9th vibrates to Sagittarius - the archer seeking truth - his personal truth. Vermont has Venus, Pallas Athena, Mars the Sun and Moon all there in Pisces. Can you see the desire to balance male and female - Venus and Mars with the androgynous queen Pallas in between them? There is also the union of male Sun energy and female Moon energy. Vermont, the only state to have Socialist Member of Congress is one of our most progressive, most forward thinking States. It was the first to pass a host of anti discrimination laws and is the leader of environmental legislation.

In the 10th house, the house of our social status - how we are perceived by the world. On the cusp of Vermont's tenth is Taurus. Ruled by Venus, Taurus is the Bull who sits calmly in the beautiful pasture. Well guess what the nickname is for Vermont? Right - the Green Mountain State. I love this stuff! Vesta, the burning hearts desire, Ceres, the symbol of Mother Earth and Saturn, the planet that gives form and structure, are all in Aries, the leader, in the 10th. They take their preservation of Vermont's beauty very seriously here.

The influence of the Universe is all around us. To be able to connect to it - in every setting at every season is a wonderful gift. It is one I will be thankful for this Thanksgiving among other things.

Have a wonderful holiday.

Mark Your Calendars - Astrology Class

2010-11-19T15:33:00.000-05:00

Hi, I have just been tapped by the Institute for Spiritual Development in D.C. to teach a 5 week beginning course on astrology. The dates are February 1 - March 1, 2011 at 7:30 PM.

If you are interested in attending please let me know.

More info to follow!

Why Am I In Such An Awful Mood?

2010-11-19T10:46:00.000-05:00

I need a little peace!

I consider myself a pretty even-keeled person. I credit this to four cardinal signs on my "anchor houses" (1,4,7,10.) (Ah ha, me thinks me sees another blog entry about those houses on the horizon.)

Anyway, for the past week I have been grumpy and irritable and just plain not happy. This is not a state I would recommend to others or particularly enjoy myself. There had to be a reason for my general grumpiness so I went to my charts. What? You are surprised?

Low and behold there it was. The transiting Moon in Aries was exactly opposite my natal Mars. Think of it Aries, god of war, rules Mars - it is opposing my emotional barometer, the Moon. Hello. Fortunately, that Moon is a quick little sucker and that has gone away. However, when I checked my chart it was the three day high of my grump ride so I could see the Moon-Mars opposition doing it's thing.

More importantly, and much more longer lasting. Saturn is now transiting my 12th house where my natal Mars lives. When Saturn conjuncts anything it always puts a blanket on it. Saturn holds things together - gives form and structure So big cold Saturn is pressing on my Mars warrior energy -churning. Because they are in the 12th house - the house of connection to the universe but also to things hidden, things not of the world, it shows my irritability when "the world" interrupts my solitude. I want to sit and read and let the cares of the world go by.

Saturn is poky so this will last well into winter. When the Moon comes around again I am sure to feel really crabby but at least I know why!

This is why it is good to get your yearly charts read to see what is coming on the horizon.

Happy Thanksgiving all! Could be worse - I could be a turkey. Oh, and the full Moon is Monday November 22. I will be on train to Vermont with two of my sisters. What a time to be crabby!!

You Either Got It Or You Don't - The Astrology of Charisma.

2010-11-15T14:50:00.000-05:00

The air suddenly seems to stop and the room crackles a bit. We have all been in that situation. Someone has walked into the room who literally has sucked the air out. That person has IT - charisma. Is there an astrological signature that would indicate a person born with that little something extra? You have to ask??
Of course, there is!

Take a peek at Mercury and how close it resides next to the Sun in a chart. I mean really close. They must be in a conjunction for a person to even have a hope of charisma. A conjunction is when two planets appear to us here on Earth to be sitting next to one another in the sky. On the chart, a conjunction is when they are within 6 degrees of one another.

Take a look at Frank Sinatra's chart. The Sun (the little circle with the dot in the center) and Mercury the sign for the female with a funny little hat on top) are in Sagittarius.

Another person noted for her ability to wake up a room was Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis whose conjunction was in the fire sign of Leo. She had the energy of Sun adding further fuel to her charisma fire. Her husband,
President Kennedy had an interesting Mercury/Sun combination - they are not that close really. BUT right between them he had Jupiter - the planet of expansion and reaching out to people - especially those beyond our borders and hope - How could he not have had people flocking to him?

The charts of Princess Diana and Madonna bear this out as well. However, you don't have to be a president or superstar to have charisma. I remember doing a chart of a man I didn't know and he had that conjunction. When I spoke to his wife about the chart, I asked her what he did and how would the charisma play out. She then told me he was a chaplain on an Army base and everyone is always flocking to his door. "He can't get away from them. The minute he walks on base they are following him." Yup, he's got it!

The Second House- Survival!

2010-11-08T11:05:00.000-05:00

I know I have spent a ton of time of the 1st house or ascendant. It is a really important house, OK? However, there are other houses in the sky as they say. The second house is one easy to misinterpret. The traditional assignment given it is that it is the house of resources and money. Oh, have a strong second house and you will put Bill Gates in the poor house. Wrong! As is typical for much of Western Astrology that explanation is too pat, too compact, too trite.

The second house resonates to survival. More specifically it resonates to that which we need to ensure our survival...material goods upon which we rely to keep going. Yes, there is an aspect of money especially in a capitalistic society such as ours. Someone with a strong, well aspected second house is going to want more, as George Carlin would say, "stuff." A person whose second house is badly aspected may fall into squandering money or even hoarding things. However, it is not all about money.

What resides in the second house is the question, "what do I need to keep me satisfied and comfortable?"

A heavily Aquarian second house is going to make a person really not concerned at all with wall paintings and McMansions. A car will have four wheels and an engine, of sorts. Work will be done for the pleasure of work or for the social good it will do and there will be little worries about building a pension. Top off the house with a strong Capricorn influence and that person will be toiling day and night perhaps in a job they hate to have the ability to buy what they want and to save up for old age. If Taurus alights there then hours will be spent a Neiman Marcus and Dolce and Gabana.

Each one of the latter two people will argue until death that all of things around them are totally necessary for them to survive. They don't do it for the "stuff". They do it for that inner feeling of peace of survival those goods bring them. That is the key to the second house.

With my Saturn in the second house I hated being a consultant because the paychecks were sporadic and the contract could be canceled at any time. (Saturn is ruled by Capricorn.) I had to build a business - steady and reliable. Now friends tell me to give up all other sources of income and rely solely on astrology. The picture is romantic - living in a small house with few financial responsibilities surrounded by my charts. But Saturn keeps screaming at me - are you nuts, you need money coming in regularly, you need security, and you need to save for your even older age? The idea threatens me at the level of basic survival and I shudder at that thought.

That is what the second house does to us. Pretty important little guy, No?

Order Your Holiday Chart Gift Today

2010-11-08T08:18:00.000-05:00

I just got this from a woman whose chart I have just completed. Yes, glad we have stopped the witch burnings! Get your Winter Holiday Gift today! Order a chart for a loved one. Order right here on the blog!Don't wait until the last minute -- order your gift chart now!

I am reminded of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" when the crowd of peasants screams, "She's a witch! Burn her!" Good thing we don't go in for witch burnings nowadays!

So much of what you had to say resonated SO clearly and loudly it was downright spooky.

The March Girls

2010-11-02T22:04:00.000-04:00

After my last blog entry about the astrological signs of the fictional characters of “A Streetcar Named Desire” someone asked me about the main characters of Louisa May Alcott's classic "Little Women." So here we go. I hope I don’t need to remind anyone that the book is a coming of age novel about four sisters growing up during the Civil War in the progressive but somewhat impoverished New England March family.

NOTE: Remember our public persona is mostly dictated by our ascendant, or rising sign. Our inner energy drive is driven by the Sun Sign – it is who we are underneath the public masks.

The leader of the pack, although not the oldest, is Jo March. She speaks and then thinks, has trouble controlling her temper, wants more than anything to travel the world and write and hates the boundaries inflicted upon 19th century females. She suffers fools not at all but is deeply devoted to her family and hates the idea that they are actually growing up and going out on their own. The idea of her little nuclear family being torn apart is very painful to her. I see Jo as a person born with a Moon Child Sun because at her core she is devoted to her family and she mothered sickly Beth until her death. At heart she is the little mother hen of the group. However, her public persona (her ascendant), the boldness, the honesty, the temper, the wanderlust is all Sagittarius.

Meg, who is the oldest and prettiest of the girls, often takes a back seat to Jo. She is allowed to tip-toe on the outskirts of genteel society because of her role as governess to the children of a wealthy family. However, she rejects marriage for money and becomes the wife of a tutor with whom she has three children. Astrologically, I find her one of the most interesting characters because she is a one of those unfortunate people born with a sun sign and ascendant which are at odds with one another. Pretty Meg is Taurus rising. She is pretty – Taurus is ruled by Venus – and she really wants to have worldly goods and comfortable things. However, she suffers two traumatic romances and only then learns that her inner drive – which is Aquarian – is the one which will bring her happiness. The last thing an Aquarius at heart cares about is money and status. They want friendship and unity and peace. However, an Aquarian can be quite stubborn and after she gives birth to twins she almost ruins her marriage by neglecting her husband. They come to the brink of separation when she finally listens to him and starts to discipline them and include him into the family again.

Beth is the sweet tragic character and she will eventually die of complications from scarlet fever. Beth is a musician; seamstress and a healer (remember her “hospital” for her six kittens?) She is the perfect example of someone on the Pisces/Virgo – victim- martyr axis. Pisces and Virgo are opposing one another in the zodiac thus forming an axial line between them. Pisces are often martyrs’ to a cause or they martyr themselves to a person. You often see Pisces people suffering “in silence” when they are being hurt by someone. Beth was the sacrificial lamb of the March family – the other sisters went boldly into the new post Civil War era and she was the symbol of the older, “weaker” traditional woman of the pre-bellum days. Her dedication to healing, and of the more domestic duties all point to a rising sign of Virgo.

Then there is spoiled, vain, temperamental Amy. She and Jo fought tooth and nail and Amy even tossed some of Jo’s early writing into the fire in fit of anger. Of course, they clashed. They were both fire. Jo’s Sagittarius fire often ignited Amy’s Leo Sun. Oh yes, Amy was a Leo. She had to have the best clothes, the finest carriage and she made sure she married rich Laurie. Leo has to have the top of the line in everything. However, that is not the end of fire for I believe Amy is Aries rising. What does she do when she doesn’t get her – way? She pitches a holy fit, of course! How Aries-like! They are the babies of the zodiac – and make quite the fuss when the world fails to comply with their demands.

I always knew she would wind up with meek Laurie, a sweet, handsome but confused Pisces/Taurus combo. He was initially and wrongly drawn to Jo’s watery Moon Child Sun. Pisces and Moon Child are both water signs and find comfort with one another. Jo knew better. She knew she would be bored with him. It was in the double fire sign sister, Amy that he found he could satisfy his Piscean need to be in service to someone by showering her with worldly Taurean goods!

STELLA!

2010-10-25T12:58:00.001-04:00

OK so I am wasting time on a Sunday afternoon, flip on the tube and find "A Streetcar Named Desire", the original 1951 version. (Is there any other?) I am hooked instantly. At one point Blanche asks Stanley about his astrological sign. (She may have been a little nutty but the girl was enlightened, no?) She says, correctly in my humble opinion, that he was to be Aries the Ram because of the way he bounds around the house so. However, his wife responds that he was born 2 days after Christmas which would make him a Capricorn. Capricorn? Stanley? Mr. Williams you were a magnificent writer but rotten astrologer.

I will give you that he might have been a Capricorn Sun but he had to have Aries rising. The rising sign or ascendant is our projected personality. Aries rising people are prone to rages, they want what they want when they want it and being the "enfant terrible" of the zodiac they find a way of making everyone uncomfortable until they get it. Now, I am talking about the shadow aspect of Aries of course but didn't Stanly exhibit the shadow aspects of life?

So if Stanley was Aries rising, what was Blanche? Let's see, she lived in a dream world, couldn't stand the harshness of the Earth, escaped into the bottle and lived in her childhood fantasies. Can you say Pisces? Again, we are talking shadow here so don't start getting your scales in a tizzy you Fish!

Stella was strongly Virgo. She gave up the trappings of her ancestral home and became the long suffering wife of Stanley. Virgo's in shadow have a thing for being victims. In the movie they made her leave Stanley because of the ethics of the day in the play she stayed with him even though she was fairly certain he did rape her sister. That is a total Virgo action. However, and some people may disagree with me on this, I am going to give her a Scorpio Sun. Yes, Scorpio is known to be dynamic and strong but what drew her to Stanley? His passion - these two were great in the sack. He was forbidden, the other side of the tracks kind of guy with great passion, all things that spark Scorpio interest.

I take that back Mr. Williams perhaps you were a great astrologer and understood that rising signs are much more powerful indicators of who we are then Sun signs. The Sun signs give us our inner energy but the persona is all ascendant.

Ironically, in her other great incarnation the great Vivien Leigh embodied the ultimate depiction of an Aries woman. I am speaking of Scarlett O’Hara. Fiery, impulsive, courageous yet very childlike in some of her thinking, Scarlett was all Ram.

What makes these great characters is that they embody the extremes of each sign.

Why did Rhett and Scarlett hit it off? He was the perfect Leo man - fire attracts fire. Brash, arrogant, hot tempered and seeking the spot light always, Rhett was the archetypal Leo rising although I am sure his Sun was Aquarius. He was detached for such a handsome man and slapped society in the face with his war views and his taking up with "painted women."

Melanie Wilkes, Scarlett's demure but intelligent, sweet, nurturing but tough as nails sister-in-law was Cancerian through and through with a touch of Scorpio. Her first reaction was to forgive and mother and she called on her Cancerian sense of patriotism to get through the years she was separated from Ashley. (Who by the way was all Pisces.)

Most great fictional characters are archetypes for the various signs. Hmmm what sign do you think was Miss Havisham?

Alice

2010-10-19T11:11:00.000-04:00

I just finished reading Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker by Stacy A. Cordery - a very interesting take on a woman who led a fascinating life. I was going to say a fascinating woman who led and amazing life but Alice was a hard person to like. She was terribly cruel to her cousins Eleanor and Franklin, was spiteful and capricious. This is what makes the book more interesting - it has a protagonist with major faults and yet kept my interest.

Well you just know I ran to my computer and whipped up her birth chart as soon as I finished the book!

February 12, 1884, 8:30 PM in New York City. The first thing that grabbed my eye was her Aries South Node. Remember that is our karmic identity - the memory of who we were in our past lives. Aries is the ruler, the sign that demands everyone to follow. Aries, ruled by Mars the god of war, wants its way NOW and if you don't listen to me I will let you know about it. Let's flesh this out more. Her South Node is in conjunction with Pallas Athena, the androgynous warrior goddess and in the 10th house - the house of government and societal structures. Do you think that before she came into life as the rambunctious daughter of the President of the United States, Alice lived lives as the leader of society - a woman but one who led her society with force with power and with an iron fist? She was used to being the undisputed power source and wouldn't allow anyone to usurp her power.

Now let's look at the ruler of her South Node. The planet that rules our South Nodes indicate where our strongest karmic identity exists - where it is hardest for us shake our karmic past. Alice's Mars (the ruler of Aries) is in her first house in the fire sign of Leo, in retrograde for goodness sakes! Our first house is the ascendant, where we project ourselves to the world. She carried that Aries ruler identity into her current personality. It is no wonder she had a love hate relationship with her father. She wanted to be the President!

With her Mars in retrograde - a pause for karma - this is an indication that she overstepped her bounds in the past and has to learn a new way to express her power. So she was born female in a society that wouldn't allow them to advance. She was born next to power - married power but never found satisfaction because the males in her life held all the cards. (Her husband was a known womanizer and alcoholic.)

With her Leo ascendant giving her a regal, domineering bearing - she was fire personified.

The "trick" to her life would have been to move from the Aries dominance to a Libran existence - one in which she became more involved with "the other." Did she do it? Well, that is something each person can only know for themselves. Judging from the book I would kind of doubt it.

The confusion of Libra

2010-10-11T14:41:00.000-04:00

It is no wonder why my astrology teacher pounded into my head that I should try to forget at least 70 percent of what I learned of "boxy Western astrology." Keep the basics but leave the silly interpretations behind, he would say. It took me a while to figure out what he was saying but it became very clear when we dealt with a sign near and dear to my heart.....Libra. And happy birthday Libra Sun people!

I have Libra rising. Remember, your rising sign or ascendant is the sign on the Eastern horizon at birth and it really dictates our outward persona - how we express ourselves to the world. Every analysis I read when I started out insisted that a Libra rising person likes to bring order and balance and is a born diplomat and is all about being the epitome of balance and harmony. Huh? Me? It drove me loopy until the universe sent me into the wonderful world of evolutionary astrology.

Libra is about trying to FIND balance not being balance. Libra rising and to a lesser extent Libra Sun people go to extremes in their quest to seek balance. We often have co-dependence issues because we are so attuned to "the other." Many Libra risings spend a good chunk of time running around saying in essence, do you like me now, well, if I do that will you like me then? Yes, the answer to your question is yes. Sally Field is a Libra rising person. ("You like me. You really like me.)

Venus Libra people use their romantic entanglements to search for self as well. They literally learn who they are through the other person. Well, so and so liked it better when I responded this -so that must be right. However, I got a negative reaction from so and so, therefore, maybe I need to work on it more. It is all through the eyes of other with Libra. We have a really hard time coming from a point of ME.

Libra rules the 7th house - the house of close personal relationships with other people.

The shadow comes into play when we continue to seek approval -- and never feel satisfied with our own views and beliefs. Be careful Libras! At some point we have to stop with worrying about everyone else. It is one thing to learn from others it is another to spend life without any self awareness.

the 2010 Elections

2010-10-04T11:42:00.001-04:00

OK I admit it freely I am a coward. Several people have asked me to look at the 2010 Midterm elections and I have just not wanted to go there. In truth, the only accurate way to do this is to look at each candidate in every single race and compare their charts. In lieu of doing that I decided to look at President Obama's chart to see what will be cooking for him on election night.

The President was born with Ceres and Vesta and the Moon all conjunct in the 7th house. Ceres is the mini planet that vibrates to the energy of a Mother Earth, Vesta is the burning heart’s desire and the Moon is our emotional barometer. This not only makes him a devoted family man it is what makes him connect emotionally to people. He thrives on nurturing and serving others. On election night his combination will be opposite transiting Mars and Pallas Athena, the warrior goddess. Both of these will be in the fire sign of Sagittarius. In short, what all this means is he is going to be a fighting mood. He will be able to see the big picture and will come out swinging. His masculine energy will far outweigh his feminine.

Will he be fighting mad because he lost the House or Senate and will now bring back the fire of his own campaign or will he be rejuvenated and vindicated and come out renewed and energized to fight for his goals? Yup, the million dollar question!

He will have transiting Juno, our loyalty marker, in Virgo transiting his Pluto in the 10th house. Juno in the 10th is a wedding to career and with Pluto playing there it gives a deep transformative urge. Juno in Virgo brings a desire to get down to the nitty gritty and plan action.

Transiting Sun and Vesta will be in his 12th house and conjunct his natal Neptune. The 12th house is always an indicator of pulling in. This is actually a sign of a spiritual rejuvenation - of going inside self and finding a spiritual calling.

Because I am an optimist I see a night that will not be as bad as the talking heads predict for the President and that he will find a new energy and a new fight. Of course he could also get his political butt kicked and go inside himself and come out fighting to regain control. It won't be pretty and we might lose one of the two houses of Congress but I just don't see the tidal wave they are babbling about.

There is one astrological source for my optimism other than my hope that Americans can't fall for GOP crap again can they???? is that his Part of Fortune - that little karmic blessing is on the cusp of his 10th house. The 10th deals with society and government structures... Hey every little bit helps.

Oh No Not You Again! How You Can Find The Karma That Binds

2010-09-27T14:34:00.000-04:00

Do you have a family member who just drives you around the bend…someone who pushes every button, who manipulates and uses you and your emotions? Yeah, well join the club. Maybe now is the time to try to figure out the deep, karmic reasons for this person being in your life this go around. It may not stop the person from being a pain but understanding where they are coming from goes a long way in keeping your headache away. Knowing where you are destined to travel with this person during this incarnation can also help mitigate any negative karmic influences for the future.

Some of the best tools an astrologer has are the synastry chart and the Davison combined chart. A synastry chart is a grid that matches one chart against the other. If your Venus is squared the other person’s Venus any romantic relationship is going to be bumpy. If your Venus is square their Uranus – well you may have a quick love that ends suddenly. If we see Mars and Saturn together especially in romantic relationships or child/parent combinations we have to warn about potential violence. By examining each planetary aspect we can get a pretty good picture how you and the other person will interact.

We can take this one step further with a Davison Relationship Chart. This combines both charts into a single chart. So we take your chart and Pain in the Neck Relative’s chart and make a new chart that combines the two. Then the real fun begins. By coming up with a new chart just for your relationship, we can read it like a birth chart and look into your past lives together. For instance, I put the chart of a rather heinous member of my family together with mine. The placement of Pluto in Leo in the 8th house shows that in our past lives we were involved in a power game. 8th house is power and Leo is the Lion who wants the center of attention. Our combined Pluto is in conjunction with Ceres – the mini planet that was the ancient symbol of Mother Nature – as well as Mars and Venus. All of these planets are in Virgo. This is a male-female power struggle over who can organize and structure (Virgo) issues surrounding goods and money.

Our current soul desire is to – what we should be getting out of this to evolve – is indicated by Pisces in the 2nd house (the opposite of past Pluto). This means that we should be teaching each other how to connect with self and accept who they are. Well, I know that through the pain of this relationship I took a huge step in learning who I am. I hope my family member has done the same but I am not sure. It was a torturous lesson but they taught it to me that is for sure!

Our South Node in Cancer in the 7th shows that we were linked in a very personal close relationship. Ironically, our combined South Node is conjunct both Uranus – the quick change artist and the rebel and Juno, the consort asteroid which indicates where our loyalty lies. The first image I see flash before me is two people married to each other who fought and separated and played tricks and fought and separated but never left each other. It was a horrible death struggle of constant battle and tricks. Sadly, that was symbolic of our current relationship. Although not married this time – we are linked as immediate family and until I walked away and said you can’t be part of my life if you can’t treat me as a human – this was the exact relationship we had.

With our combined North Node in Capricorn in the 1st we are both destined to learn how to embody ourselves. The first house is the house of personality and Capricorn is all about putting form and structure around something. I know that I have fulfilled this North Node command. Through the Hell this relationship put me through I had to say no more. I had to go inside and learn about myself and define myself and be true to that self. Again, did the other person learn this? Only they can know. I can only hope but from what I hear I doubt it.

Through this analysis I can look back and actually be thankful for this person. It was a horrible lesson but once learned it propelled me much further on my evolutionary track. I not only defined who I am more clearly (a first house issue), I realized I had more self worth than I had thought before (a second house issue.) Even if I lost every other member of my family I had to be true to myself and stop the attacks and secret tricks. I stopped the negative karmic identity we held as the two battling cats in a sack as indicated by our South Node, I learned the lessons and moved on in my life.

If we meet again in future lives I won’t fall back into that old South Node pattern – I stopped that karma. If this person comes to me with negative energy again I will have the subconscious memory of what I did in this lifetime and will be able to walk away. If they too have learned the lessons then hopefully we can come back together in a positive fashion and help either other in a much less painful way. Here is hoping!

Rally for Sanity!

2010-09-21T10:51:00.000-04:00

OK, you know I had to do this. Last week I talked about the electric religious fervor being wrought by the Uranus/Jupiter conjunction in Pisces. My last line mentioned perhaps something coming along to tamp down the zeal and low and behold here comes Jon Stewart with his Rally for Sanity scheduled in Washington on October 30. (And Colbert's March to Keep the Fear Alive - you gotta love them.) You know I ran to the computer to gin up a chart for this one right away!

Mars will be in retrograde in Sagittarius in the 11th house. The 11th is the house of group humanitarian activities. Sagittarius is the sign of searching for truth. This is a perfect setting for a large gathering of people tired of the yelling and name calling and the stupid signs who want to come together and show that America can indeed spawn normal people looking for a different way to express themselves. With Mars in retrograde the anger will be turned down. This is good.

The 10th house - the house of government - will be inundated with touchy-feely planets and asteroids on that day. We have Venus, the goddess of love, and Vesta, the asteroid that signifies where our burning heart’s desire - where we are dedicated to something - both in conjunction with the Sun and Mercury! All are in Scorpio. This may have started off as something that appeals to the Comedy Central college frat boys who are a big part of Stewart's audience. However, this is going to become something very different - very deep. Scorpio in Venus and Vesta - especially when conjunct - will not only feminize this but will bring a devotion, a dedication that is going to surprise both the organizers and the people who attend. Mercury in the mix will make sure the message gets out no matter how Fox and the Main Stream Media try subduing it. This is all happening in the 10th house, remember - this is going to make an impact. I hope it is held in time to get this people to the polls for the midterm elections.

Capricorn, which vibrates to the 10th house, will be on the ascendant during the time of the rally. It is conjunct Ceres, the Earth Mother mini-planet. This is a day for those who want to restore caring and concern to government.

I understand the Fox Noise Machine is already decrying this rally - and they have reason to be nervous. It will show their noisy minority is just that.

Jupiter and Uranus conjunct in Pisces? How cool is that?

2010-09-16T15:28:00.000-04:00

Yes kids, Jupiter and Uranus are now spinning around the universe in 29 and 28 degrees of Pisces respectively - hugging quite close to one another. What does it mean to have the broad, expansive seeker of truth (Jupiter) conjunct with Uranus, the quick change artist, in that nebulous sign of Pisces? Keep in mind - and this is something people often forget -- you will only feel the effects of transits if they trigger something in your birth chart. For instance, if you were born with Mars in Pisces, when it comes around to Pisces again you are going to feel it. Someone born with Mars in Aries isn't going to feel a Mars in Pisces transit. Uranus and Jupiter don't come back around to the signs in which we were born in our lifetimes (unless we live well into our 90s) so you will feel the impact of these two if they are in aspect to your Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury or Venus (the personal planets.)

For the most part, two outer planets making a strong conjunction throw more of an influence over society as a whole than to individuals.

Ok that over with; let's see what is cooking with Jupiter and Uranus. Jupiter in Pisces is a time when mystical tendencies and religious fervor are at a peak. Uranus in Pisces heightens intuition and heightens spiritual awareness. Hmmm....none of that going on in the world right now!

Ok you want another twist? Of course you do. Both planets are in retrograde right now. That means they look as though they are going in reverse in the sky. Astrologically it indicates a time when those energies of that planet have to find a new way of expressing themselves. It is as though the normal channel is clogged and the energy has to make a new pathway.

I can't help but feel that the current Tea Party craziness and Fox media stars attempting to portray themselves as preachers bringing religion to American government are all a part of this sideways Jupiter/Uranus energy. Yeah I know I thought the religious right was gone for good too.

Threats of Koran burning, lies about "Ground Zero Mosques" - these are all expressions of this heightened energy too

Jupiter and Uranus will stay in this conjunction until late April 2011 so hang on kids. Let's just hope cooler heads can keep them hosed down before they do any real damage

BULLY!

2010-09-08T17:00:00.002-04:00

I recently finished reading The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey, by Candice Millard, a fascinating book detailing the ex-President’s harrowing trek through the wilds of South America. I dubbed the book “20 goofballs on a boat.” What would make anyone do something like that is beyond me- then again, I define “roughing it” as staying at a hotel where room service ends at midnight.

As I kid, I was fascinated by TR, as we seem to call him now. He was the first Scorpio President I had come across. (There were actually five Scorpio Presidents – the most of any sign, I might add. Well OK Scorp is tied with Aquarius .) In addition, his birthday on October 27 is one day away from mine on the 26th. I liked TR…then I started to read more about him.

There is much about the President that is admirable. Born a sickly, asthmatic child, he built his strength through sheer stamina and hard work. He also continued with a speech while President with a would-be assassin’s bullet lodged in his chest. His exploration and protection of the wild areas of America led to the National Park System and he wrecked havoc on big corporations that were bleeding workers in the early 20th Century.

However, his sheer love of war, his need to destroy opponents and his inability to compromise make him a hard role model.

At first look his chart stunned me a little. Pisces rising? Pisces rising? (Check my entry on Pisces on the first house to see why I was shocked at that.) Pisces rising is not one to run around charging into battle and yelling “bully” with decisiveness. To make things more interesting, he has the ruler of Pisces, Neptune in the first house – that is double dose of what should be a somewhat dreamy, rather confused – hard to fit into the world persona.

What is going on here?

The asthma, the sickly body – yup, that is Neptunian for sure. The dreams of preserving the wilderness, of charging up San Juan Hill and other great adventures, building the biggest Navy, starting a new political party – yes, that too is Neptunian. However, most Pisces rising can get stuck in their dreams. (I always say Walter Middy was a Pisces just like Scarlett O’Hara was the perfect Aries. Hmm, I see blog posts on fictional characters!)

What fueled his dreams? Look for your answer in the stellium on the top of his chart. A stellium is five or more bodies in conjunction with one another. He has Venus in conjunction with Ceres, Vesta, Juno and the Black Moon, Lilith, all in Sagittarius in his 9th and 10th house – the houses of international affairs and career and government. Hello! Ceres, mother earth, the care giver to the world, Vesta, the burning hearts desire, Juno, the sign of loyalty and devotion to a person or cause and Lilith the rule breaker all in the fire sign of Sagittarius, which itself vibrates to the 9th house. This is fire, this is energy, and this is go out in the world and do.

That stellium literally allowed him to put his dreams into actions.

Now, had he not been born into a wealthy family – had not had a father who told him to go out and heal his body and work to make it strong…could he just as easily have wound up sitting behind a desk dreaming of great exploits his whole life? You bet he could have! There is more the life than an astrological chart! It is the road map – if we have the ability or desire to follow it we do. If not, we go off the highway.

And then there is Mars in Capricorn. Mars, the god of war, is in the sign that rules 10th house – fueled by the Capricorn giving him a structure and way to channel his energy. This energy was particularly fueled by emotional hurts. Roosevelt lost his first wife and mother on the same day. His first reaction was typically water sign (Pisces rising, Scorpio Sun). He went away into the wilderness alone – expressing his grief by conquering the Nature that took away his loved ones. When he returned he would be ready to fire ahead on some great project.

In fact, he took this trip to South America after he lost the Presidency to Woodrow Wilson. This was part of the typical retreat and re-attack pattern. The trip would eventually lead to his early death so there wasn’t much attack left in him upon his return. Returning alive was the miraculous part.

He did live to see the death of a son in World War I. This would be horrible to any parent, of course, but to one who so championed war and adventure it was even worse. Roosevelt carried heavy guilt over that. In addition, several other sons were injured in the War. Take note of Saturn in his 5th house, the house of creativity and children. Where we see Saturn, we see a depression – a restriction in that area. Many Saturn 5th house people can’t have children. Those that do will often have problems with their off spring.

Roosevelt also was the father of fiery Alice Longworth Roosevelt of whom he said, "I can either run the country or I can attend to Alice, but I cannot possibly do both. Enough said about Saturn in the 5th.

TR was a fascinating mix of introspective water and unbridled fire. That combined with some strong DNA and unlimited opportunities made for one remarkable character who for better or worse will live in the history books of America as long as it does.

If you aren't as organized as Teddy Roosevelt contact Julie Gray at Profound Impact

http://www.profound-impact.com/index.php?page=resources

Ben Franklin Boldly Lived His Chart

2010-08-31T12:30:00.001-04:00

Ok I promised I would look at Ben Franklin’s chart and, as usual, Ben does not disappoint. In fact, his chart is so easy it explains itself! Look at his Aries ascendant with Neptune in the first – Aries, the sign of the leader combined with Neptune the dreamer. How many of Ben’s dreams that he used his Aries leadership energy to invent do we still use? The Franklin Stove, the postal service, bifocals and the lightening rod, to name a few.

More fascinating is his second house. He has Saturn, the Part of Fortune and his South Node in Taurus all in the second house, the house of self worth and possessions. (Taurus vibrates to the second house – so this is a double whammy of Taurian power here.) The first thing that jumps out is that Ben had very good karma in that area from his past lives. Taurus South Node – this is someone who dealt with money and goods in his past life- and he did a good, honest job of it because he was able to retire from his printing job at thirty years old and live quite well. The Part of Fortune is where we receive benefit from others. It is clear that he was able to receive a great deal of good will from others from the treatment he gave them in prior lives.

When you add the task master Saturn in Taurus to the second house you see someone who applies the stubbornness of Taurus and the methodical thinking of Saturn to amass a nice fortune for himself and his family.

Ah speaking of family! Look at this 5th house, the house of creativity and the ultimate creative act, having children. We see the trickster Uranus there – the one sudden change and just a deep level of quirkiness. We know that Franklin blamed himself his entire life for the loss of his young daughter from small pox because he didn’t give her the new vaccine. In addition, his son was illegitimate although raised by his wife as her own. His son became governor of the State of New Jersey and remained loyal to the Crown. The kicker here is that Franklin and his son suddenly and irrevocably split at the beginning of the Revolutionary war yet, Franklin would raise his son’s son – who by the way was also illegitimate.

Franklin was estranged from his own father and ran away from the printing shop of his older brother. Did I say Uranus makes things quirky?

I have to smile when I see his Sun in Capricorn in the 10th house – the house of career status and the structures that keep society whole – and his Venus also Capricorn 10 but sitting right on the Mid Heaven. The Mid Heaven is the vibration for our career. Can you see how it was easy for Ben to charm the pants (perhaps literally) off of French society as he tried to get them to side with the Colonies? He imported coon skin hats – something he never wore back home – but which furthered the image of the wild Colonist which the French just loved. He was the toast of France. (Much to the chagrin of the dour John Adams who despised Franklin. Ut oh. I see a synastry chart of these two in my near future.)

Why did he spend so much time overseas? Between London, Paris and Amsterdam, Franklin spent more than thirty years in Europe. Take a look at his 9th house, the house of seeking beyond our borders – of seeking and learning the ways of other cultures and other religions to find our own truth. He has Mars in its ruling sign of Aries, Pallas Athena, the warrior/healing goddess and Vesta, the goddess of the burning heart’s desire also in Aries in the 9th. If this was a chart of someone who didn’t have the Taurus and Pisces influences his does, we could be seeing the chart of an invading military authority. Franklin is more nuanced that that. Yes it was a time of war and he was there doing the bidding of country at war but he used the more placid aspects of his chart to finesse out of these countries what was needed for battle.

He also has Chiron, the sacred wound indicator in the 9th. He was born with a fear of not knowing he could connect to the sacred, or would not find his own truth. He didn’t shirk from this fear however. I believe his alms giving to different religions was really part of his search.

His wife, by the way, never left America and spent most of their marriage managing his affairs here as he charmed his way through Europe. In fact, he didn’t even return when he was told she was sick and then died. Remember the shadow of Aquarius (which is in his 5th) is the inability to get close to people – a very impersonal touch. The 5th vibrates to creativity and also has an influence in finding marriage partners. His marriage was tinged with co-dependence. He has Juno, the goddess consort in Libra in the 7th, the house of partnership. Libra rules his 7th house. Libra is all about the other person. Someone embodying the positive effects of Libra would be very caring toward the partner. With his Jupiter opposite dreamy Neptune – he was off shooting the Moon and having quite the co-dependent relationship with Debra, who remained behind, raising the kids and keeping the house.

See his Moon in Pisces in the 11th house? He was using this very spiritual Moon in the house of group friendship and group activities that help the public good – to work his Venus charm to forge a new nation! His Moon also explains another aspect of his personality. Franklin was a vegetarian who believed in reincarnation who gave money to pretty much every church in the Philadelphia area. While he was not a person who believed in organized religions, he had a strong Piscean belief that we all must find a connection to the universal god-source. At his funeral, representatives from every church marched in the procession.

I don’t think there is much doubt that Franklin embodied and lived his North Node in Scorpio in the 8th house – that is the sign and the house of personal power and transformation. His North Node is conjunct the goddess asteroid Ceres (which is now considered a mini-planet). Ceres was the Roman name for what we call Mother Nature and was the ultimate nurturer. By using his personal power and transforming himself from printer to inventor to diplomat to statesman, Franklin nurtured an imprinted a new nation as no other “Founding Father” did.

Next time, Thomas Jefferson. In this day of hatred, religious intolerance and a total lack of knowledge by some of our Constitution and the ideals of those “Founding Fathers”, it is important to look at this Father who kept a Koran in his home and held an Iftar in the White House.

Unity March September 12, 2010

2010-08-25T14:12:00.001-04:00

I am so tired of hate and fear mongering in our current dialogue and discrimination against religions some deem lesser than theirs. However, I want to talk about positive events and not dwell on the negative. I will leave that the so called "main stream media" who loves to churn fear into ratings.

On September 12, 2010 at 12:30 PM - there will be an interfaith Unity Walk in Washington DC - promoting peace and understanding among people of all religions and spiritual ideas.

http://www.911unitywalk.org/

(Hold onto your hats kids. Ramadan ends on September 11 this year.)

You know, Ben Franklin was a vegetarian who believed in reincarnation - (dang I have to do his chart!) but he contributed money to temples and churches of all faiths and denominations because he believed so fiercely in religious freedom. Where are you now BEN? Well, he is in the hearts, minds, souls and soles of those of us who will march together on the 12th.

I am sure the media will pay much more attention to the hate marches that will take place on the 11th, which this year also marks the ends of Ramadan but it is important to be a part of brotherhood, don't you think?

Of course, I had to whip up a chart for the day - and two things struck me. First, there are 4 "planets' in the 12th house - the house the deals with our connection to the cosmic consciousness - the universal source. Mars and Venus are in conjunction with one another - giving marchers the strength of Mars energy behind our ideals of a more beautiful world. Mars is in Libra; the sign of the dealing with other but Venus is already in Scorpio - the sign of passion.

Also in the 12th are the Moon and the asteroid Pallas Athena both in Scorpio. The city of Athens was named after Pallas - she is the goddess of war and healing. (She killed and then she healed.) This conjunction indicates a fruitful environment for sympathetic understanding and a rapport among people on a very deep, visceral and emotional level. A wonderful time for a unity walk.

In the 5th house, the house of creativity, we have a conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces. OK, here is the fun part, Pisces vibrates to the 12th house- that house of our connection with the universe, higher ideals, the god-source etc. Jupiter is all about expansion, and cultural and religious exchanges and going beyond our village to understand how other people survive and thrive. Uranus, rules Aquarius, is the epitome of brotherhood and understanding. (Yes, let's all sing the song --"This is the dawning....")

Putting those two together is a harbinger for a wonderful day of unity. Right? Well, yes but there is a rub. Both planets are in retrograde - which means they need a new and different way of expressing themselves.

The way I see, the unity walks here in Washington and others in major cities around the country will NOT be headline news. No, we will see all of the hate speech and signs instead. We just have to hope that there are others who have turned away from the main stream media and have found other avenues for peace and understanding.

August 28, 2010 - and I don't like it.

2010-08-18T15:13:00.000-04:00

I recently posted to my Facebook page a note about there being no hope for American politics if the allegedly unbiased media allows stories of hate and disinformation such as the so called ground zero mosque to distort reality. Progressives have almost no outlet for information dissemination with FOX, the arm of the radical elements of the GOP, spewing distortions on a 24-7 basis and the main stream media lapping up everything they say and pushing it out as viable news. (Remember Shirley Sherrod?) It is one stream of nonsense after another blown up as a major news story and then drummed into our brains over and over.

On August 28th Glenn Beck is planning another hate-a-palooza here in Washington, called the "Restoring Honor Rally." He claims he had no idea it was the anniversary of the historic Martin Luther King speech on the same Washington Mall. Oh please..and they just happen to be having the rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, right?

Astrologically it will be a busy day over Washington. Mars and Venus will be in conjunction in Libra in the first house. Libra, whose shadow is co-dependence and looking for excuses in the "other" - will have a field day with these whiners who we never heard from when Pres. Bush was running up the huge deficits we have now but squawk when President Obama buys a diet Pepsi.

Mars, the ancient god of war, will do his best to add fire and vitriol to the nonsense that poor Mr. Lincoln will have to sit quietly by and listen to all morning. To make matters worse, Saturn, the task master, and Vesta, the asteroid which depicts the spot of our fervent heart's desire - of extreme dedication - will also be in conjunction with the Venus/Mars duo. It will bring out the the hard core haters and we may be very shocked even by this crowd with what we hear.

If that isn't interesting enough, the emotional Moon will be in Mars - again the god of war - and in the 7th house - the house ruled by Libra - vibrating to the energy "other person." I don't see tell tale signs of violence here - but emotions could get out of hand.

It will be a day of anger squared which will be carried for hours on end by the press. I for one, am tired of it and am very glad that the NAACP will also be on hand to take another stand against hate.

The Astrology of Lobsters - the State of Maine

2010-08-11T21:31:00.002-04:00

Still in Maine- smelling the ocean air as I write this. Just had the best lobster spring rolls at the Kennebunkport Inn but that is not the purpose of this blog. Maine became a state on March 15, 1820 as a part of the Henry Clay orchestrated Missouri Compromise. This allowed Missouri to come into the Union as a slave state and Maine, a former arm of the Massachusetts Colony, as a free state. Maine also became the first state to provide freedom and voting rights to all men regardless of color...yes, darn it, only men.

I ran a chart for Maine on their Statehood date - and used the city of Portland as "birth place" because it was the capitol of the State until the 1840's. Wow - does it surprise me that everyone here is so friendly and it is State where people come to the aid of their neighbors? People come up to you on the street if you look the least little bit lost and go out of their way to give your car the right away. Look at that 11th house! A Stellium is when there are five or more planets in one house. Maine has seven planets, asteroids and stars in the 11th. This is the house of social, group interaction.

The Sun is conjunct Pluto in the 11th so the life force of the State undergoes change and transformation - it came in as a tail end of Massachusetts, a northern wasteland many thought a throw away used only to get Missouri into the Nation with as minimal amount of bloodshed as possible. Now it is one of America's premier vacation lands and our chief supplier of lobster and blueberries.

Interestingly enough Maine's North Node is in Aries in the 11th so as a State it will realize its full potential as a leader in group humanitarian activities. Hmmm, what did I say about Maine being the first state to provide freedom and voting rights to men of all races? I think it got off to a good start and it has been making up to women every since. Currently, both Maine Senators are female and Margaret Chase Smith served as Senator from 1949 - 1973 and was the first woman to have her name entered as a presidential candidate by a major political party in 1964.

With the Moon and Mercury also in Aries in 11th it is easy to see how the image of the no-nonsense, straight shooting New Englander came about. They say what they mean and they don't ramble on about it.

Maine always suffers from the "red headed step sister" image to its sexier New England states. While it did have the Bush's of Kennebunkport (too bad it is such a pretty little town), it couldn't compete with the Kennedy's of Cape Cod. Think of New England sports and skiing in Vermont and New Hampshire come to mind. It takes a few minutes to think of the summer sports on the miles of beaches and the skiing in winter of Maine. The cause for this? I believe it is in the 8th house -the house of personal power. Maine has Neptune there - the planet that deals with spirituality - and Uranus - the quirky quick change artist in conjunction with one another in the 8th. Neptune is great in the spiritual realm and there believe me if you can't meditate and zone out while looking out from the craggy beaches into the blue clear ocean you will never be able to do so anywhere else. On the physical plain, however, Neptune causes illusion and confusion. People don't have a clear image of Maine except for lobsters.

Neptune and Uranus together "dooms" Maine to a fuzzy existence without a clear and easy definition. However, I think they wouldn't want it any other way. It is as though Mainers are saying if you are lucky enough to find us we will be your friends forever. I am so glad I found you Maine - and hope to be your friend for a long time.

Sorry, have to go - I see a long walk on the beach in my near future. Did I say this place is amazingly spiritual?

The Astrology of Lobsters

2010-08-06T11:13:00.001-04:00

Today I am writing to you from the shore of the Kennebunk River which feeds into the Atlantic Ocean up here in Maine. Maine - where you can sleep on the second floor with your windows open in August...where you fall asleep to the distant mournful call of the ever alert fog horns and wake up to the clanking of the ship bells. Maine - where you can start growing claws from eating fresh lobster but get all your antioxidants from the blueberries which are everywhere. Ah.....

It is here on the banks of the river that you can also see astrology in action. Every morning and every evening the tides rush to an recede from the shores - every 12 hours and 24 minutes without fail. When the tide is out the river basin is so exposed that you can actually walk across the rocky floor. When the tide comes in the water is so high it rises the boats that had been asleep on the rocks and you are lucky to get an inch or two into the river bed without falling to your hips in water. Cold water I might add - the water never heats up here even in August.

That my dear friends is astrology in action. It is taken for granted even in the least spiritual circles (although I can't account for birthers or non-evolutionists because who knows what goes on in their heads) that the Moon controls the tides. Let me repeat that - the Moon controls the tides.

We also get the word lunatic from the Latin for Moon -Luna- because people act oddly during the full Moon. When I worked as a lobbyist for an engineering association many button down collar, conservative engineer types admitted that many nuclear power plants put extra security on during the full Moon because of the increased threats.

OK so the Moon controls the tides and our emotions. Why then is it so odd to think that the Sun influences our inner life force and Mercury our thought patterns and Mars our masculine warrior energy? Is it OK for the Moon to do things because we can't help but prove it's power over our lives so we have to accept it?
So many people who accept the concept of full Moon madness scoff at astrology without realizing how incongruous their argument.

Think about it - I know I will but first it is time for another lobster roll.