New Year's New Moon

We start 2014 with a New Moon in Capricorn at 6:14 AM Eastern Time. That alone is a powerful kick off to a new year - because the New Moon is a great time for manifestation. This year, however, the sky will be full of even more cardinal energy. There are three kinds of signs, mutable (the easy going sometimes easily coerced signs), fixed (the stubborn ones) and cardinal (the movers and shakers.) Get used to a lot of cardinal energy coming from the sky because this year is going to be anything but dull.

On January 1st, during that Capricorn (cardinal) New Moon, Mars will still be in Libra (cardinal) and  opposite Uranus in Aries (cardinal) and Jupiter will be in Cancer (cardinal) opposing four other bodies in cardinal signs, the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Pluto and retrograded Venus.

Those placements also make for a very combustible square between Mars, Uranus, and Pluto. This is nothing to mess around with - and do not be surprised if you hear of more road rage or violent acts. If people are unaware of how these energies affect them can just feel angry, restless, and ready to strike out. The amount of anxious energy is almost spooky.

For those more aligned with the universe it is a great time to use that power to constructive change. So where do you want to improve? Go beyond the silly New Year's resolutions and make a pledge to use this energy to make meaningful change in your life. Movement especially in the area of money and our values (Venus) and speaking our truth (Mercury) would be especially beneficial.   Use the energies to your benefit – they are powerful.

Happy New Year – Happy New You.

"Light of Venus" - Interview with Adam Gainsburg

Speaking of Venus - Please during this time of Venus moving inward - check out of interview with Adam Gainsburg as he speaks about his revolutionary way of view this planet - not by sign and house but phase from the Sun. You will think of Astrology in a completely new way!


http://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/2013/12/23/astrological-cook-light-of-venus/

It could be a Griswald Christmas

I will keep this brief because no one has excess minutes this time of year  - which is so odd because this is the time of year when we should be nesting and go within. When it is darker and colder we are programmed to be inward and more reflective. Oh well, another way we are out of sync with nature!

Venus went into retrograde on the Solstice - bringing her creative and loving energies inward. At the same time, Mars moved into the cardinal (action) sign of Libra. With Venus being less than forceful and Mars in full tilt - let's just say keep crabby Uncle Sam away from the rest of the family. There is too much energy out there that is unbridled and angry.

I hope the world keeps a lid on the anger through the new year.

Happy Holidays all!

Major Gemini-Sagitarrian Activitiy TODAY!

The question of today is where is Gemini at 27 degrees in your chart?  Let me explain.

Every year at this time, the Sun passes over the Galactic Center - the rotational point of Milky Way. The Center is at 27 degrees Sagittarius - so 27 degrees into the constellation of Sagittarius is the center of the Milky Way.  (The Sun is at 25 degrees Sagittarius now and will be fully at 27 degrees on Thursday.)

Today we are going to experience a full Moon - (when the Sun and Moon are opposing one another in the sky. The Moon is "full" because it is far away from the Sun and its natural light flows uninhibited.  That full Moon is in Gemini at 27 degrees. 

Gemini and Sagittarius share an astrological axis. Gemini is the ruler of our thoughts, the way we communicate. Sagittarius is where we go out into the world and explore to hone our truth and expand our knowledge. Both deal with expressing ourselves. 

This is a perfect Moon placement to expand our perceptions, explore our beliefs, and examine how our mental tapes are running. From now until the Solstice on Saturday, we should be tuning into those energies to help clear out our mental cobwebs, finding, and expressing our truth! 

To help this new mental energy flow even better we finally have Uranus (rebellious, new energy) out of retrograde. It is at station direct - meaning it is sort of appearing to stand still in the sky but it is not heading backwards. Use Uranus - set that goal to be honest with your thoughts and honest with others.

So back to my first question - where is Gemini at 27 degrees in your chart. That is the area where this activation vibrates most for you. For me it is in 9th house - the house of Sagittarius, which happens to be my North Node. Wow, I have no excuse not to pursue and live my truth now. I had better get to work!

The Affordable Care Act

I have had several friends ask me about the horoscope of the Affordable Care Act. The past few months have been a little scary for those of us who believe that one should not go broke because of illness. There was the bad roll out and then the piling on of the radical Right and a clueless media that just loves a dramatic story even if the facts get in the way of their ratings.

I cast a chart for the time President Obama signed the bill into law because that is in essence its “birth.” 

There are many things about this chart I find interesting, even ironic but two of the big items that jump out at me are the 10^th and 6^th houses.

First, Pallas Athena, the warrior goddess who was also the patron of hospitals and healing (a woman for all occasions I say) is retrograded in the 6^th house –the house of health. Note to President Obama, do NOT sign a health care law under this planetary alignment! A retrograde means the energies of that planet are going backwards. So it was almost as if all of Pallas’ good intentions would be thwarted… or at least harder to reach fruition.

In the 10^th house, the house of government and the “social consciousness” we have quite a collection of planets.  I can’t take my eyes off the conjunction of Uranus and the Sun. Uranus is rebellious energy – quick starts and stops – just off the charts energy. On the other end of the 10^th, we have a Chiron and Neptune conjunction. Neptune is all about lofty spiritual ideals that have a heck of a hard time dealing with the realities of day-to-day living. Chiron is a deep wound issue and in the 10^th represents our fears about society accepting us. Both of these bodies are in Aquarius, ruled by that rebel Uranus. Nothing is easy about these placements.

What gives me hope of long-term success is Jupiter, in the sign of Pisces – of compassion and caring for all, shooting up like an arrow in the middle of these conjunctions. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, hope, and understanding – of finding our philosophical truth. America is the last “first-world” country to offer universal health care – the time for us expanding into the rest of civilized society is overdue and helped by Jupiter.

Jupiter will carry the day for the ACA in the long term but the value of this act remains hidden until long into the future.

P.S. If you are into irony take a look at retrograded Saturn (the symbol of the old way – the task master – the people who say you must do things like they always have been done) opposing the Sun/Uranus conjunction. To me it looks like the Right trying to lasso the rebellious, change energy of Sun/Uranus to prevent it from working into society. However, I guess that is what they have been trying to do for five years now!

Happy Birthday Pope Francis

I never thought I would be typing, speaking, or in any way conveying this sentiment but I love this new Pope! This man who is telling Christians to worry about the poor, do not worry if your fellow Man loves men not women and to basically get back to the “fundamentals” of the teachings of the Church is shaking the world. More importantly, he is scaring those who have co-opted Christianity to mean – hate the poor, or anyone who is in any way different from you but war is a great thing!

With his birthday coming up soon I just had to look at this mavericks chart.

The Pope was born Dec 17, 1936 at 9:00 PM in Buenos Aires, Argentina and even a quick glance at his chart shows how sincere he is about his message of brotherhood and compassion.

His North Node, his current life karmic identification is in Sagittarius – that is the sign of expansion - of reaching out to all to find and understand their beliefs.  Sagittarius is by nature encompassing. However, look at the planets surrounding his North Node. Jupiter, the ruler of Sagittarius is on the North Node, intensifying that energy. In addition, he has his Sun, his inner light if you will, with Jupiter – another intensifying placement.

If this weren’t enough Ceres, the planet were we get and give nurturing is next to Jupiter and on the other side of this stellium is Pallas Athena the warrior goodness, who indicates in Astrology, where we take up the cause for the underdog. All of these planets are in his sixth house – the house of day-to-day work.  This is his life’s work – to bring the Sagittarian expansionism – the desire to know and understand what makes everyone tick and to care and nurture everyone. His life’s goal was to find work in which he could nurture, care for and understand all people.

His Venus Moon conjunction in the seventh in Aquarius is interesting because it indicates either someone who is gay or someone who really doesn’t give a hoot who people sleep with. In any case, it shows a very open view toward sexuality.

This has not been an easy path – he has many enemies – Pluto retrograded in the first house, Uranus retrograded in the 10^th and Saturn in the eighth. I would caution him never to let his guard down or his security for that matter. There are people who do not like “change” even when it is a return to the true roots of the organization. 

Pluto, Forgotten Women of History and Great Holiday Recipes Too!

HI!

Check out two sites today for some fun listening and reading. First, I am excited to report that we have a new podcast up on Web Talk Radio which is dedicated to my favorite planet Pluto and features a interview with the always-interesting MCV Egan. She talks about her fascinating book, "Bridge of Deaths" and how she is resolving this 70 year old mystery utilizing past life regressions among other modalities!

Listen to MCV and find out why I love Pluto at
http://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/2013/12/09/astrological-cook-producing-change-with-pluto/


Remember you can get downloads on your RSS feed by going to
http://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/category/podcasts/fun-food-pets-and-travel/astrological-cook/feed/

If you love History then you jump over to MCV's blog "Is History the Agreed Upon Lie" and see my 7 part series on The Forgotten Women of History."  - Remember there are 7 entries - check out all 7 women.

http://ishistorytheagreeduponlie.blogspot.com/2013/12/forgotten-women-of-history-hetty-green.html

Happy Holidays - remember there is still time to order a copy of "Signs of the Tines: The Ultimate Astrological Cookbook" for a unique gift! www.signsofthetines.com


PS! The recipe I talk about this week is my Sausage and Sage Stuffing (or Dressing) but below is a great egg and breadcrumb recipe my Mom always made.

Jean Garofalo Porte’s Egg and Bread Stuffing

Serves 6 -8

Note:  Mom had a bin full of stale bread and when full she would toast the bread and then grate it into breadcrumbs on the hand-grater that I still have. I sort of do the same although I don’t eat the amount of bread that we did back then. However, I grind up the toasted bread in the food processor – sorry Mom, time moves on as does technology!

1-tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

2 medium stalks celery, diced

5 large eggs

4 cups breadcrumbs

½ cup Italian flat-leaf parsley, minced

1-teaspoon kosher salt

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced

½ cup – to 1-cup chicken stock.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a small sauté pan. Add the onion, celery, and sauté about 5 minutes until they are getting soft. (IF you are making turkey and want to dice up the giblets and add now – do so – they add great flavor.) Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Beat the eggs in a large mixing bowl then add the breadcrumbs, parsley, salt, pepper, and thyme. Combine well. Add the onion, celery mixture and enough chicken stock so it is moist but not falling apart.  You want this to be almost cake like – not crumbly like other stuffing.

NOTE: If you have drippings from a chicken or turkey or are smart enough to save them from past meals add about 1 tablespoon of drippings now.

Turn the mixture into a greased 2 quart baking pan and bake for 30 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.

Mom would stuff this into a veal shoulder and serve with a brown gravy but it will work for any stuffing need. 

Forgotten Women of History Harriett Ann Jacobs

I am so pleased to be given the opportunity to guest blog on "Is History the Agreed Upon Lie?" Check out the blog and MCV Egan's great book, "The Bridge of Deaths."  Today Harriett Ann Jacobs!

http://ishistorytheagreeduponlie.blogspot.com/2013/12/forgotten-women-of-history-by-joan.html

Harriett Ann Jacobs

Today we turn our astrological radar on another largely forgotten African American hero, Harriett Ann Jacobs. She was born into slavery in Edentown, North Carolina on Feb 11, 1813 to an owner who sexually abused her for years. When she turned fourteen, he built her a cabin away from the main house so that his wife would not learn of his abuse. In a desperate attempt at freedom, she took a white lover, Samuel Sawyer, who despite being a lawyer was unable to free her from the abusive Dr. James Norcom. Norcom created a convoluted “ownership” contract that kept Harriett and the two children she had with Sawyer his property.

In 1835, unable to stand the abuse any longer, she escaped and for seven years lived in a nine by seven foot, rodent infested crawl space in her grandmother’s shack where she was able to only catch glimpses of and hear her children occasionally. This is a horrible situation for any mother and made doubly so for Jacobs born with her Moon in Cancer, the sign of the mother nurturer.  (Sawyer eventually bought his own children from Norcom but never freed them.)

When she finally made her way to freedom and Philadelphia, she became involved in the Anti-Slavery Reading Room and other abolitionist programs. However, following the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act, Harriett shuttled between Boston and New York, often in hiding, until a friend officially bought her freedom for $300.

That demand for freedom despite all odds and at all costs is a quality of Ms. Jacobs’ South Node in Aquarius. (For a full explanation of the North and South Node, roles in an astrological chart see my previous entry on Ida Wells.) Coming from past lives as a freedom loving Aquarian the horrors of slavery were exceptional hard for her to bear. Freedom for Aquarians is as precious as air.

Upon learning that Harriet Beecher Stowe might use her story in a book Harriet’s Aquarius energy again demanded freedom. This time it was the freedom to write her own book. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl opened the eyes of many of Northern churchwoman to the ravages of slavery on a “woman’s chastity” and made the world aware of what few spoke about for generations – slave rape. During and after the Civil War she aided the adoption of children orphaned by slavery and worked with slave–refugee groups using her celebrity to raise money.

By writing her own book and telling her own story, Ms. Jacobs was using the talents of her South Node – her relentless quest for freedom – in service to her North Node – the sign opposite Aquarius, Leo. Leo demands attention. She had the inner strength to know that no one could tell her story as well as she, not even the revered Ms. Stowe

As a slave and then a run-away Ms. Jacobs never had a meal fit for a Leo, the King of the Zodiac. Had I the chance to cook for her from my book, ‘Signs of the Tines: The Ultimate Astrological Cookbook” I would chose a dish a designated for Leo, my Lobster Ravioli with Mushrooms and Sage Cream Sauce.” I only hope that somewhere in her later years she tasted something that luxurious. It would have suited her well.

Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday we have it all.

 Give the most unique gifts under the Sun and never have to leave the comfort of your home.

For the cook who has everything - give a signed copy of "Signs of the Tines: The Ultimate Astrological Cookbook." Just order a copy from the website, www.signsofthetines.com and drop me an email at Joansastrology@gmail.com and tell me how you want it personalized and who to send it to and your shopping is done!

If you are in the mood for a gift basket then why not an Astrological Gift Basket? You will get a wonderful basket from C and C Unique Gift baskets that is tailored to the recipients birth chart. AND they will receive a printed copy of their birth chart as well as a thumb drive with an audio analysis done by yours truly!

To order visit http://www.candcgiftbaskets.com/category_23.asp.

Want a gift for yourself? Take advantage of our December special. ANYONE who wants a 2014 yearly analysis chart to prepare for the new year - - can take advantage of our special. Order your birth chart under "birthday special" and save $5.

Have a wonderful holiday season!!

Thanks for all of your support this year.

Joan

Check out my interview On Super Change Your Life

http://superchangeyourlife.com/interviews/interviews-joan-porte/


I had a great interview with Stanley Bronstein of "Change Your Life." Learn how I use Astrology to change how you look at the energies from the planets!

And HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALLLLLLLLL

President Kennedy

Today on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy, I felt it was appropriate to look at his birth chart. For all of his faults, he was a leader who told us that public service was a great thing - not that government was bad, He told us that we could reach great goals not that we don't want to pay taxes. He told us that we all had to contribute to the country, not just grab all we want for ourselves and damn the other guy, especially if he is poor or "different." That is what we lost 50 years ago today and we yearn for it again. He made us feel good about America and united us toward common goals. Yes, he was a flawed man but a charismatic leader who makes us reach for the stars is something all nations crave.

It is not ironic that his South Node, his karmic identity was in Cancer in the 9th house. Cancer is the sign of the nurturer, the one who helps his people, and the 9th house is our connection to people beyond our borders. He came from lifetimes of involvement in huge, worldly issues that he tried to manipulate to help those in his care. Cancer is the traditional sign of the mother, the nurturer. No wonder that he loved international politics - he had been doing it for quite some time. 

With his North Node in Capricorn, the sign of the authority figure - the provider in the 3rd house, the house of communications it is no wonder we still hear so many of his words. He took that role very seriously - he constructed his words as much as he created his image. He took the role of leader, communicator, and thinker very seriously. In addition, the ruler of Capricorn is Saturn that is in the 10th house, the house of politics and government. It is a fair bet that he loved being the leader. Also note his Mars and Mercury in conjunction in Venus, the sign of creativity, is in the 7th house - the house of interacting with people on personal level. Mars, an intense amount of energy, conjuncting the communication planet yielded a speaking style that still inspires. Again, the words, the power behind the words and how they affect us is so prevalent in his chart.

Speaking of leader his chart is one of cardinal energy - cardinal signs are the movers and shakers, His "anchor houses" the first, fourth, seventh and ten houses are holding cardinal energy. He wasn't about to not take the lead. (Cancer and Capricorn, his nodal axis, are also cardinal.) Sometimes this burst forward as recklessness, over reaching but he was not one to let life go by,

In his 6^th house, the house of health is the sacred wound carrier, Chiron, and Vesta, the asteroid that puts roadblocks in our path. Pisces opens his 6th so we see how hard it was for doctors to pinpoint his illnesses - Pisces is very ephemeral. 

What about his notorious womanizing? (Actually, it went well beyond that and my liberal friends who bash Newt Gingrich for his sexual faults should be careful. JFK would today be classified as a predator.) Well, let's look at his Venus in the 8th house, the house of power, regeneration, death, and rebirth. The 8th house makes it a power conquest issue and shows how reckless he could be - he dared and tempted the fates. His Venus squares the Moon and Ceres so emotion and nurturing would not natural to him and makes a trine to his retrograded Uranus- the sign of the rebel. Any Venus-Uranus combination gets me wondering about someones sexual preferences. 

Here is something interesting too. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' Venus was also in the 8th house. Both shared a Venus in Gemini. So they shared that sense of drama and shared a love of words. This was a karmic marriage and one that will repeat itself sometime in the future.

Who was John Kennedy? He is who we need him to be and he was gone too soon. 

A Few More Retrogrades Bite the Dust...

Did you feel the shift this weekend? Besides the full Moon in Taurus we had last night, this weekend saw the movement of Neptune and the asteroid Chiron into a direct motion. They had been retrograded for a good part of 2013. Pluto led the way earlier this month and Uranus will follow next month. Then once we have Jupiter heading forward things will be smoother - once we get over the horrible Grand Cross in April - but let's not dwell on that so close to Thanksgiving.

This will be a bumpy week emotionally as the Moon makes a quick pass through Cancer on Wednesday and Thursday squaring Uranus and then opposing Pluto along the way. Moon and Uranus interactions are a time of high and changeable emotions. It is best to stay away from "jumpy" or "high strung" people at that time. Pluto will be anything but excitable and will bring on sadness and a questioning of our emotions. The good news is the Moon never tarries! So just breath and think of the big guys going direct! We need some good energy from them for a change.

Be Creative with Wild Mushroom Soup!

This week on my podcast, "Astrological Cooking" I am happy to have as my guest, Arlene Weinstock, artist, photographer, author, and all around creative wizard. 

http://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/astrological-cook/

Arlene talks about her "loosen up" method to find your creative juices and she insists that all of us are creative. Check out the programs she offers on her website. http://www.arlenew.com/.

At the end of this week's podcast, I give the recipe for my "Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup."  This is a great holiday soup because it is so elegant and creamy and one that helps you express your creativity. There are so many mushrooms from which to choose. I like creminis and hen of the woods but you can try any assortment to make this dish exciting.

Check this and my other recipes in my cookbook, "Signs of the Tines: The Ultimate Astrological Cookbook," available at www.signsofthetines.com.

OK I Can Tell You Now - Jupiter is in Retrograde.

I know I have been telling you that the big invisible guys, Neptune, Pluto, Uranus and the asteroid Juno are finally going direct and all will be out of retrograde around the beginning of the year.  I didn't lie - don't come after me with pitchforks. However, I may have sort of let's say - neglected to tell you about Jupiter. Yes, Jupiter is heading backwards - well it is already there  - yes Jupiter will be retrograded in Cancer until mid March 2014.

But wait there is good news. Jupiter is the planet of expansion and moving up and out and forward - constant growth and movement. However, we are headed into the time when we should be going inwards. The days are getting shorter, on December 21 we will experience the shortest, darkest day of the year. You know it is insane that we race around in November and December, shopping and doing - we should be coming in from the cold and nesting not racing to Toys R U at 1 in the morning!

Since Jupiter is in the sign of Cancer, of home and hearth what better time for it to be in retrograde? It is telling us to slow down, assess where we need to work out any issues at home. Appreciate the beauty of a roaring firing and maybe making gifts for people instead of buying something. Spend some time learning how to be inwardly expansive as the days go away and be reading to burst forth in spring. How better to follow the pattern of the seasons. Let Jupiter be your guide on your inward journey.

November Issue - Astrological Awareness - Freebies - Podcasts and Gifts

November, 2013 Welcome to the November issues of "Astrological Awareness" - this month we have several opportunities for you to get some gifts for friends and yourself! This is a great time to get a jump on 2014 with a yearly astrological chart to see what is coming up for you in the New Year. Also check out a great new E Magazine, that you can get for free and my Astrological Cooking podcast! Did you FEEL the Eclipse on November 3? Many people wanted to see it but the Astrologically attuned wanted to feel it – an eclipse is a big event – it is a catalytic event. This one was in Scorpio – the sign of change and transformation. Where did it "hit" in your chart - what areas are ready to change in your life? If you don't know - drop me an email - we can take a look at your chart. Thanks! Joan Porte Get your free 12-month subscription to “Lean Toward Happy!” I am so excited to tell you that every month one of my recipes will be in the new Apple magazine “Lean Toward Happy.” The first edition is now out and features my yummy dish for Sagittarians. To get your free 12-month subscription to “Lean Toward Happy” go to http://www.leantowardhappy.com/gift3912. Check out my free podcast! I am so happy to tell you that my podcast, “Astrological Cooking” on web talk radio.com is really taking off. Every other week we have a new guest to help understand some aspect of Astrology’s influence on our lives. This month we have a wonderful artist Arlene Weinstock, www.arlenew.com visiting us on November 11 and tell us about unleashing creativity. November 28 will feature coach and facilitator Kate Trygstad, www.creativefacilitating.com, will show us how we can shoot our arrow in the air like the Archer, the symbol of Sagittarius and reach our goals. Never miss a podcast – get a free RSS feed at http://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/category/podcasts/fun-food-pets-and-travel/astrological-cook/feed/! Get a Jump on Your Gift Giving Give a signed copy of my cookbook, “Signs of the Tines: The Ultimate Astrological Cookbook” for the Holidays The book is available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com but to get a signed copy order a copy directly from the website and shoot me an email to tell me how the book should be signed. http://www.signsofthetines.com/ Give the most personalized gift under the stars! Whether you want to surprise someone with a natal birth chart for the holidays or want me to chart what the energy of the stars have in store for them in 2014 it is best to order the chart early! I will email it out on whatever day you want. However, since these charts are so personalized and they take a bit of my time it is best to get them started early. I wish I had Santa’s elves! To order visit my blog http://joansastrology.blogspot.com/p/get-your-chart.html Jump for Joy over Jupiter: Acorn Squash and Polenta Soufflé In my latest podcast of The Astrological Cook on Web Talk Radio http://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/astrological-cook/, I spoke of Jupiter and the joy and expansion it looks to bring to our lives. Because my interview with Lean toward Happy creator Roz Warren www.leantowardhappy.com/ went a bit long (how Jupiterian is that), I didn’t have time to give listeners my recipe for Acorn Squash and Polenta Soufflé so here it is! I made this out of leftovers a few weeks ago and it is so easy and delicious. Makes 6 -8 servings 2 medium acorn squash 1 ½ cups corn meal 2 teaspoons salt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter ¼-cup milk 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon, freshly ground nutmeg ½-teaspoon cardamom Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. NOTE if you are one of those people who hates to wield dangerous knives there is an easy way to handle acorn squash. Just bake them in a 400-degree oven for about 40 minutes until they are soft, let them cool then slice them in half, remove the seeds and the skin. It is easier that doing all that when they are hard as a rock. While the acorn squash is cooling, make the polenta. Bring 3 quarts of water to a mild boil then slowly whisk in the corn meal. You do not want lumps so keep whisking until smooth, stir in the salt and butter, and blend well. Remove from the heat. Combine the cooled acorn squash and polenta in a food processor, add the milk and spices, and blend until very smooth. Pour into a greased 1-quart soufflé pan and bake 20 minutes. Serve immediately. HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .

Scorpio Eclipse November 3 –See it or FEEL it?

OK ready or not here comes the eclipse! What does this mean astrologically? All eclipses give as a great possibility to initiate change in our lives. Solar eclipses are a new beginning – because we are seeing the coming together of the opposite forces – the yin and yang – Sun –fire and Moon – emotion. It is a great time to make plans, commitments, and decisions and say I am going to do this. It is like one big New Year’s resolution but with cosmic energy instead of ten martini’s to back it up. What I find funny is so many people want to “see” the eclipse (NOTE: watch your eyes – there are correct ways of doing that) but how many people want to feel it – to live it – to embody the energy of it? This eclipse is in Scorpio – a very transformative energy. Scorpio demands that we dig deep within ourselves, overcome our secrets, fears, and taboos, and find a new sense of power. The questions that we should be asking are where does this eclipse interact with my chart – where should I be feeling the energy of change?

Jump for Joy Over Jupiter: Acorn Squash and Polenta Soufflé

In my latest podcast of The Astrological Cook on Web Talk Radio http://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/astrological-cook/, I spoke of Jupiter and the joy and expansion it looks to bring to our lives. Because my interview with Lean toward Happy creator Roz Warren www.leantowardhappy.com/ went a bit long (how Jupiterian is that), I didn’t have time to give listeners my recipe for Acorn Squash and Polenta Soufflé so here it is! I made this out of leftovers a few weeks ago and it is so easy and delicious. Makes 6 -8 servings 2 medium acorn squash 1 ½ cups corn meal 2 teaspoons salt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter ¼-cup milk 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon, freshly ground nutmeg ½-teaspoon cardamom Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. NOTE if you are one of those people who hates to wield dangerous knives there is an easy way to handle acorn squash. Just bake them in a 400-degree oven for about 40 minutes until they are soft, let them cool then slice them in half, remove the seeds and the skin. It is easier that doing all that when they are hard as a rock. While the acorn squash is cooling, make the polenta. Bring 3 quarts of water to a mild boil then slowly whisk in the corn meal. You do not want lumps so keep whisking until smooth, stir in the salt and butter, and blend well. Remove from the heat. Combine the cooled acorn squash and polenta in a food processor, add the milk and spices, and blend until very smooth. Pour into a greased 1-quart soufflé pan and bake 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

Guest Blogger today - author of "Feminine Transitions: A Photographic Celebration of Natural Beauty"

Please welcome my guest blogger today Alyscia Cunningham, a photographer and author of "Feminine Transitions: A Photographic Celebration of Natural Beauty" a wonderful new book reminding us about real values. Check out Alyscia's work at her sites below! Thanks www.Alyscia.com www.facebook.com/FeminineTransitions www.twitter.com/AlysciaCPhoto www.facebook.com/AlysciaCPhoto My Creative Discovery As I child I vividly remember cutting out Garfield comic strips from the New York Times in attempt to draw it. I used to trace but gave it a go free hand. To my surprise, it looked exactly like the drawing of Garfield, emotions and all. From there I began recreating all sorts of animations in my notebooks (I was a doodler in school and my notebooks proved it). In the 7th grade, I drew a picture of Tupac I had hanging on my bedroom wall. I was stunned! It was my first attempt drawing a non-cartoon character and it looked exactly like Tupac. I could now draw people. Or maybe it was always there but I never explored it. After that, I started drawing portraits of classmates for a small fee ($2-$3). I remember having someone different scheduled each week during a particular class (I can’t seem to remember what class it was and how I got away with sitting in the back, not getting any work done, yet drawing away). I first discovered my love for Photography when I took it as an art elective - Photographic Expression, while studying at Montgomery College. At the end of the course, my Professor was so impressed with my portfolio that he encouraged me to take the next course, Photography I. Discovering my passion for photography I did not stop at Photography I but continued with Photography II. By then, my Professor and classmates were suggesting that I consider a career in photography. Changing my major from Physical Therapy to Photography was the easiest decision of my adult life. My main focus is human images and how it can be incorporated with light and shadow. I use dramatic lighting in many of my images because it fosters greater interaction between you and the photographs, as you tend to analyze it a little more. Likewise, the use of close ups creates a sense of intimacy and usually draws a greater emotional reaction from you. Above all I love to convey a feeling of ease or comfort through my subjects. I believe my innate tranquility is of great help in doing so. My visions are the biggest inspiration for my creativity. I typically don’t plan a drawing or photo in advance. A visual almost always comes to me in pictures, including the idea for my book, Feminine Transitions. First I foresee it then use my camera or pen to capture what I visualized. In order to me to remember, I began to sleep with a journal by my bedside. I would wake up in the wee hours of the morning and sketch or write down the imagery that came to me. To this day it still amazes me how I see my images beforehand. How does one describe the logic in that? Science always seems to have an answer for the unknown. To be quite honest, it really can’t be explained. It is one of the beautiful mysteries of inherent creativity and the Universe.

Happy Full Aries Moon - And an Eclipse

Tonight at 7;38 PM Eastern - we will experience a lunar eclipse and a full Moon in Aries. This is a Hunter's Moon, a signal to the ancients that is time to store food for the winter. It is also called a Blood Moon. How appropriate that this year it is in Aries. Aries is the sign of action, movement and initiation so this a wonderful time to commit to follow your goals. No excuses.

With the Sun in Libra, this is also a time to balance your needs (Aries) with others (Libra.)Compromise, balance and effort - geez I wish this Moon had come about two weeks ago over Washington! On second thought - we need more than a full Moon to fix that bunch.

I Will Say It Again - Uranus Square Pluto

OK I haven't a clue. That is my answer when someone asks me what is going to happen this week with the Washington mess. Astrologers are NOT fortune-tellers and if someone tells you they are, run away - run far away. All I will say is keep your eyes on that hard square between Retrograded Uranus and Pluto. Uranus is in Aries - the sign of unbridled male energy and warrior drive and it is retrograded meaning it is churning inward and misdirected - and OH LOOK where it is over Washington right now ---- it is on the cusp of the second house - the house of money and resources. Uranus is the planet depicted rebellious energy - quick change, hard to grasp energy. (So yes, it would be the sign of people trying to disrupt the social order.) But wait there is more... It squares - or makes a disharmonious aspect to Pluto, the slow and grinding change planet. And - I could NOT make this up - Pluto is in the 10th house, the house of government and authority structures- and is in Capricorn the sign that vibrates to the 10th house. Who will win this tug of war and what is winning? Is winning destroying American resources - to some it might be?

I take some hope looking at the biwheel of American and the current transits. That Uranus is in our 4th house - so yes they disrupting our "family" but Vesta/Ceres - in Virgo is sitting on the cusp of the 10th house. Vesta, the burning heart’s desire, and Ceres, the planet of the mother, nurturer - can come together to provide a balm. However, Vesta does not make it easy. So we will have some "paying of the piper" for appeasing the lunatic fringe - the people who want to destroy our country. I hate to depress you further but Saturn is about to move into the 12th house for America - that is a time that forces us to face what we have been avoiding. It essence it makes us comes to terms with our secrets, our inner fears and the lies we tell ourselves. IF we use that time to be honest about what these Tea Party haters are then perhaps, - perhaps - all of this pain will be worth it. However, even if we win we will lose – something.

Download my Astrological Cook podcasts! http://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/astrological-cook/

Rafeal Edward Cruz I Love You

I love Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. No, really I do! If you are someone who has been reading my blog you might be scratching your head at this point saying, "Has she gone mad?" Nope. Think about it. Ted Cruz is doing two things for which I have been begging the universe. He is ripping the Republican Party apart exposing the Tea Party for the loonies that they are and showing their total hypocrisy for embracing a man NOT born in America. Yes, apparently the same people who can castigate the President for being born in the far off country of Hawaii are embracing as their 2016 candidate a Canadian! I love it - he is made to order for any liberal or really any thinking person in America today! Thanks to him releases his birth certificate we have his date and place of birth (did I say it was CANADA?) but unfortunately not his birth time. Drat those evil foreigners. However, we can learn a lot about a person even without the time thanks to that wonderful device, the South Node.

Ted’s South Node is in Leo, telling us that his past lives featured him demanding center stage. Leo, ruled the Sun is the sign of the King, the ruler, who demands to be the center of his subject’s attention. Leo needs people to surround him and reflect off of him. He has to have others revolve around him. Well let’s see – can we say the Ted is still living in his South Node? We are supposed to be moving from the South to the North in our lives. Therefore, he should be embracing the ideals of Aquarius – the sign opposite of Leo. Aquarius is all about brotherhood, humanity - thinking things through. Now he might think he is doing that – however, we can see how much he loves to have those people cheering for him no matter the consequences. This puts me in a quandary. I love to see people embrace their North Nodes and work to help my clients reach that goal. However, the longer Ted plays the megalomaniac the better for America… what to do – what to do? Ah, now that I think about it – he wouldn’t listen to me anyway. After all I am one the evil, educated elites. So Ted – keep it up. The more you stay in Leo shadow the happier I will be!

Is There An Astrology To The Government Shutdown?

***Download my new podcast Astrological Cooking http://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/astrological-cook/******* Is There An Astrology To The Government Shutdown? Probably not -I guess the beginnings start with the Tea Party. How can we tell when that started? I don’t know, was it the the Civil War or when a black man became President? I would rather not think about them any more than forced to, frankly. If you want to destroy your government, you are an anarchist. If you want your fellow Americans to go broke you are not a patriot. Keep in mind that we have until December 13 before Uranus comes out of retrograde and November 13 before Neptune gets its act together so we have a few more weeks, months of the energy of those big guys messing around. I put the astrological blame on the square retrograded Uranus makes to Pluto. Retrograded Uranus is quick, rebellious energy turned inward - with no real direction. It is in the sign of Aries, the sign of male energy and drive. Aries of course wears the shadow of the baby of the zodiac; do it my way or we will pout. DO it my way or I will throw the biggest temper tantrum ever. It is safe to say that that the Tea Party faction, who fancy themselves rebels are now exhibiting the worst of the Aries shadow and the Uranus retrograde. I want it now and I want it now and… You get my picture. Uranus being retrograded exacerbates the fact that they talk only to themselves in their Fox-bubble. They actually think they are winning the public relations battle.

Pluto, which has just come out of retrograde is in Capricorn, the sign of government. I have spoken often of the 2008 – 2027 reign of a Capricornian Pluto and the change it brings upon government and authority structures. That energy of that Uranus retrograde (which over Washington is in the 6th house, the house of day to day work) is just irritating slower Pluto – in the 3rd – the house of ideas and communication. Those “rebel” Tea Partiers are just enjoying the heck out of irritating the big lumbering government – with their wacky ideas and don’t care whose paycheck they effect by closing down the daily functioning of the government. I am relying on that direct Neptunian energy after November 13 to force a collective sign of “ENOUGH” from the public. Neptune in Pisces is a time of peace, brotherhood, and coming together. Hopefully that energy will be enough to keep the Uranus gang in the corner. Let’s hope.

The Astrological Dinner Party: A Great Holiday Gift and Fun Way to Kick Off the New Year

What better way to spice up your parties than by adding a little bit of stardust? Star the New Year off with a new way to entertain; the astrological dinner party. It is a wonderful new way to do a potluck that will not only assure a great variety of foods but hours of conversation as guests compare their choices with their chart signs. Invite some friends over and ask them to bring a dish that epitomizes their Sun sign*. They do not have to be astrological wizards. Everyone knows their sun signs and knows something about the energy they emit. Have them bring the food in a brown bag, with no outside markings. No one is to peek at anyone else’s’ offerings. Invite your guests to have some wine and snacks in the other room while you get the dinner ready. Remove the food from the original plates and place them in your own service. This will eliminate people knowing who brought what by recognizing someone’s china. Once you serve the dishes, have everyone guess who brought what. That healthy quinoa salad has to be from the Virgo while the Capricorn probably came armed with a chicken potpie or something else of great substance. If there are two people of the same Sun sign it is no problem. There are many traits exhibited by each sign and it will be interesting to see how they express in each person. Of course, I would encourage you to have my cookbook on hand to answer any astrological questions that might arise. If you prefer to cook the food yourself and surprise your friends with their own personalized Sun-sign dishes, you can prepare any number of meals from my cookbook. There are at least ten recipes for each astrological signs “In Signs of the Tines.” For your Libra friend create a surf-and-turf to keep them in balance. For the Aries, the warrior inspired Mongolian Hot Pot. If you are stuck with the age-old question, what should I buy for everyone this Holiday season, why not prepare an astrological meal? It is fun, personalized and something they will always remember. What greater gift can you give then to prepare a dish just for them handpicked by the stars? *For the more astro-savvy crowd ask them to cook for their rising sign! That will really spark discussions. “Signs of the Tines: The Ultimate Astrological Cookbook” is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and www.signsofthetines.com. For chart readings me Joan at Joansastrology@gmail.com. Download my podcast Astrological Cooking at http://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/astrological-cook/.

Pluto Leaves Retrograde!!!!!

The long astrological nightmare is soon to be over... to paraphrase Gerald Ford. Our poor beleaguered little planet is finally pulling out of those big planet retrogrades - Uranus, Pluto, Neptune and the asteroid Juno. A retrograde is the phenomena that makes a planet look like it is going backwards in the sky. This is a trick of the eye because of where we are on the ecliptic and where they are. Astrologically, when a planet is in retrograde the energy that it is sending us is "garbled." We have to search for it. If you are born with a planet retrograded, you need to go inwards, and rework that energy. Therefore, people with Mercury energy may not learn "normally" or have speech issues - they need to work that energy in a new way. We have all been under a retrograde of these "big guys" for several months and boy have we felt it...fighting, anger, feelings of being stuck...well hang on - the first one, Pluto, will station direct and start moving forward starting September 20th. Take advantage of this by putting some change that you have been contemplating into motion. Pluto rules the world of change - transformation and rebirth. So what have you been procrastinating about? Do it - do it now. Pluto will burst forth with energy on the 20th, which will help you. Be sure to check my new podcast on webtalkradio.com http://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/astrological-cook/

International Day of Peace - Sept 21

With all of this talk of war and bombing Syria I find it a bit ironic that we are coming up on the International Day of Peace. This was established in 1981 by the United Nations. According to their website: In 1981, the United Nations General Assembly, by unanimous vote, adopted Resolution 36/67 establishing the International Day of Peace (IDP) which stated in part, “…to devote a specific time to concentrate the efforts of the United Nations and its Member States, as well as the whole of mankind, to promoting the ideals of peace and to giving positive evidence of their commitment to peace in all viable ways.” The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982 on the opening day of the General Assembly. In 2002 the UN General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent annual date for the International Day of Peace. It sounds terrific and a hopeful respite to the constant conflict we Earthlings always seem to find ourselves in. There are two hopeful astrological signs that day. One is the Pluto will finally be out of a retrograded position! YIPPEE - finally - maybe we will stop spinning our wheels and get out of that collective rut we have been in. The other is that Mercury will be in the sign of Libra - the sign of the mediator and it is in the 11th house - the house of group activities. Wouldn't it be nice to utilize that energy even if for a day! So remember to think peace on Sept. 21- and beyond. Speaking of peace and mediation check out a new book, "The Bridges of Death" by M.C.V Egan!

Diana Nyad - a Lion in the Water

I HAD to do this chart today! Diana Nyad, who at 64 years old has successfully reached the Florida shore on her fifth attempt to swim from Cuba to Key West. I have been trying to find her birth time but that doesn't seem to be public information however, we do know that she was born on August 22, 1949 in New York City and while her rising sign, which is contingent on knowing the time of birth, is unknown there is a lot to be gleaned from her chart. The thing that is cracking me up totally right now is that she was born with a South Node conjuncting the planet Neptune, God of the Sea! While there is absolutely no astrological correlation between past lives linked to Neptune and swimming ability it does make me smile. All you need to know about this gutsy woman can be found in the stellium of Sun, Pluto, and Juno all in the fixed fire sign of Leo with her Leo Moon hanging on close-by. Signs fall into three categories, the fixed signs that are the stubborn folks, the mutables who are the go along and get along people and the cardinal signs - the leaders. She has her Sun, her Juno (the goddess of loyalty), her Moon and Pluto all clustered together Leo - which as I said is not only fixed but fire! Nothing was going to stop that determination especially with Pluto the planet of transformation and change kept her glued to that goal with determination. What do I mean by fire? Well, again the signs fall into categories, the water signs are emotional, spiritual and deep, the earth signs are sturdy and stable, air are mercurial and intelligent and fire people are seeking prominence - they have to make an impact. Diana is all fixed fire! If that wasn't enough fuel for her, check out her Saturn, Pallas conjunction. Saturn is the task master, the planet of "doing things right and following the rules." When it is combined with Pallas Athena, the androgynous warrior goddess a person has a "pit-bull mentality." Her North Node, where her soul is intending to go in this lifetime, is in Aries, the uber-determined, cardinal and yes, fire, signs. It is ruled by Mars which in her case is in Cancer - another cardinal sign. No matter her chosen career she would have exceled and exceeded. So congratulations Diana - you certainly used your planetary "gifts" to the maximum today!!

Juno the Loyalty Goddess in Retrograde

First I want to thank the people at "Dell Horoscope" for their wonderful review of "Signs of the Tines: The Ultimate Astrological Cookbook," which can be read on my website wwww.signsofthetines.com - under "press." I have written a lot about the "big" retrogrades we are under right now - Pluto, Neptune, etc. The big boys and girls. We do have a fairly prominent asteroid also in retrograde, that is, Juno, the goddess of loyalty - the consort. When she is strong in a birth chart - and hovers around the 7 - 8 houses the person will be looking for a committed relationship - sometimes to a fault. I have seen many strong Juno's cause a person to stick with a highly unfavorable mate because they are stuck on that need to be committed to someone no matter what! However, what does it mean when Juno, like now, is in retrograde? Well this is a time to find fault in relationships - to want to tear down and analyze what isn't making us tick. Someone born with Juno in retrograde will have to work harder to find that "one and only" and to make it work for all parties. Right now Juno is retrograded in the rebellious planet of Uranus. Depending on where Juno is in your natal chart - you can be doing a lot of questioning about the relationships that you are in. Remember it is Juno - don't make any rash decisions! I wonder if the little "tiff" in the Republican Party has something to do with Juno. There are the rebels our "Tea Party" - ah pals - who are questioning the loyalty of what is left of the normal GOP. I for one love watching what is going on and thank Juno for stirring up a wee bit of trouble. :)

DOG DAYS AND BLUE MOONS

As a kid I always remember hearing about the “Dog Days of Summer.” I didn't have a clue what it meant but it ws hot and humid and the dogs were panting and lying down more than usual so it must have something to do with it - so I decided dog days are hot summer days in August. Little did I know that, of course, had roots in ancient astrology. It is the time of year when the star Sirius (called Canis Major, or the Dog Star) can be seen in the eastern sky just before dawn. Dog Days! Of course!  Well we are now in the dog days and watery days they are. 

All the big slow guys,  Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune in water signs and will be for the foreseeable future. You know water loves to delve deeply into the emotional issues and with Neptune being in retrograde - you can expect those emotional issues to be backing up on you - particularly if you are not getting in touch with them. Use the time to assess emotional issues - don't keep pushing them under the rug. 

OK now August 21 is going to be a hum-dinger because Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto will be in a t-square  - that is a bunch of oppositions - Jupiter - Pluto and then a square to Uranus. Emotions will be ragged - oh and did I mention that Pluto is also retrograded. You will feel "picked on" and judged and can find yourself and others lashing out at each other for reasons that are not the real ones. "You made the door slam again could be a cover up for "Why don't you ever listen to me?" on the 23rd and 24th Venus and the Moon get hung up in this mess. Oh great the goddess of love and the one of emotions in a vast, difficult square with the watery big guys. Everyone remember to count to 10 please! 

It might not be a good time to tell you this but there will be a "Blue Moon" on the 20th - the second full Moon of the month it that unique and rebellious sign of AQUARIUS.  Yeah folks - hold on to your wigs - this is going to be a bumpy week. Better go outside and play with the dogs! 

The Tale of Two Leo Presidents

Two recent Presidents were born under the Sun Sign of Leo. But just to show you how little the Sun Sign means to a full chart analysis let's look at these two men, President Clinton and President Obama to see how that Leo energy manifests in their chart.

First, President Clinton whose birthday is later this week. His Leo Sun is in the eleventh house, the house of group and social interactions - well yes, he does excel at that, don't you think? However, look at his first house, the house of personality. It is opened by Libra - the sign that demands interaction with other people  - it is a people sign and Libra rising people can even exhibit co-dependent traits. Libra loves human interaction! Mars right on the ascendant! Holy Cow - the god of war - the raw energy of Mars also in the sign of "other" - and one degree away from his rising sign.  I have to make myself heard and seen not only in a crowd but to everyone. Love me please, love me! (Chiron also in the first,  the wounded warrior shows how much he really needs to be love and accepted by others.)

Neptune sits on Mars - well you know Neptune - the obfuscater - that helps that President well shall we say distort his version of things from time to time! Adding Venus to the mix - the goddess of love and romance - oh let's not rehash that. You get the picture.

All in all he has a stellium - more than 5 planets and asteroids in Libra in or bordering the first house. Even if his talent was in shoe sales and not politics he would be the town's best known, most affable and most avuncular show salesman. He can't help it. Is a a person who needs people.

President Obama, also a Leo Sun, has a vastly different first house. His rising sign is not people loving, people needing Libra, but aloof and cool Aquarius. Aquarius loves all Mankind but he isn't too interested in getting down and dirty with people every day - he feels your pain but doesn't want to learn too much about it. Where Libra is all about other - Aquarius is a very cerebral, very detached sign - they are smarter than the average bear - know what needs to be done and expect everyone to just do it without any fuss or muss. 

His Sun is in the 6th house the house of work and service. So he firmly believes if he keeps his head down and keeps working the noise will dissipate. Unfortunately, the noise of opposition  is too determined to just go away but since they are illogical to the Aquarius mind he just doesn't imagine that he has to address them as serious. 

President Obama's South Node is in the first house - and like Clinton, the Chiron, wound issue. (I wonder how many people who carry a deep wound in the first turn to politics for acceptance?) So he is carrying a lot of deep issues inside him that are just below the surface - which again translate to caution.

To Leo's - two Presidents - vastly different men!

Grand Cross - Drama or Just Awakening?

I am feeling annoyed...not terribly annoyed because I am in Maine taking in the breezes, the lobster and ocean air - but as annoyed as one can be in this situation.The reason for my consternation is the talk about the coming of the April 23 grand cross. As you might recall I went heard two speakers weave a tale of horror and destruction that will occur when this grand cross occurs; i.e., the EU will fail, our dollar will be gone, mass economic and political upheaval will occur and a new world order will arise from the gloom! 

A grand cross is when four planets are in opposition to each other. In this case we will have retrograded Pluto in Capricorn opposing Jupiter in Cancer and Uranus in Aries opposing Mars in Libra. These planets will be in cardinal signs. There are three kinds of signs, mutable, cardinal and fixed. The mutable signs are easy going - go along and get along, The fixed signs have more stubborn in nature and cardinals are the movers the shakers, the doers. Hence, the doom and gloom - the god of War, the god of expansion, the god of quick change and the god of slow change all pulling against each other and in cardinal signs - each grasping for their piece of the pie!

Any type of cross, square or opposition is a difficult time but not always horrible - without them we would not have change - not have awakenings. Someone with a birth chart overloaded with "positive" aspects can have a rather boring and unfulfilled life because they have no mountains to climb. I keep thinking what are these gloomy astrologers going to tell people born on April 23, 2014 - OH you will have a terrible life? Instead of seeing this time as a nightmare I am hoping that people will throw off the old ways and say we are tired of waiting around - we want to move forward! Cardinal signs want action. Perhaps people will be tired of stalemates and do-nothing politicians and those who want to bring our country back into the Stone Age. 

I am not saying there won't be some violence - there could be an aspect of "taking it to the street." Bad things could happen at that time but I am not comfortable with saying the only result will be total destruction of the social order. 

Change is not always easy but let's use it as a time to break bonds, break stalemates and demand the end to inertia. Energy release is energy release - it is up to us to make it constructive and not destructive. Let's not paint an ending before we have even started and let's encourage people to use a rough time to yield a positive outcome!

A Royal Tizzy

Oh my, it seems some people in the astrological community have their royal panties in a wad over the royal baby! Is he a Cancer Sun or Leo Sun - it is a topic that is quite the sticky wicket. The new Prince George of Cambridge had the dastardly audacity to be born on a day that the Sun moves from one sign to another and at just about the exact moment the deed was being done. On July 22 the Sun moves from Cancer to Leo - earlier in the day it is at 29 degrees Cancer and later it tips into 0 Leo. 

Do please pardon me as I partake in a wee bit of astrological esoterica. There are many different house systems that astrologers use; some use units of time to divide the sky into 12 houses and some use degrees of distance. I know it would be "loverly" if we could all get along and there be one standard system but life is messy. I like Koch and Porphyry myself but there is also Placidus and a few others. The differences are minuscule and usually unnoticed unless someone is born on the razor's edge. (For we Yanks it is sort of like a Presidential election in Florida.)

The little imp was born at 4:24 PM London time. When I heard the news I jumped on the computer and cast a chart in Koch which showed the Sun at 0 Leo Sun. I went with it and wrote my blog entry for the day which was placed here and on another site.  You would have thought I said that kid was the direct reincarnation of Oliver Cromwell! No, no I heard from some sources - he is 29 degrees Cancer, you fool. He is a Cancer Sun like his father and his late grandmother Diana - he is of the Cancerian line and at 29 degrees which is a very karmic placement we have family karma... Diana karma! He must be a Cancer Sun you silly wench!

Sorry but I don't do astrology to make cute stories fit. I remember 30 years ago when astrologers were running stories about Diana and Charles and how "wonderful" the marriage would be. I was looking at those charts saying HUH - this is going to suck. (I have published the article I wrote then on the blog.) Yes it is romantic and it is what people want to hear but if it isn't true I am not writing it!

 I have since run the baby's chart in 2 other house systems and they show 0 Leo. The funny thing is - the really funny thing is folks - in karmic astrology your Sun sign doesn't amount to a pile of fish and chips. Unless it is aspecting one of the nodes or Pluto or doing something similarly earth shattering it really isn't that key. I have done many a chart interpretation with very little reference to the Sun sign. Sun sign astrology is a Western construct that has done a lot of confuse and bewilder people - sort of like the question, "what does the Queen put in that purse?"

Besides the kid is dripping in Cancerian influence - his Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Lilith and Pallas Athena are all in Cancer so he will be touchy-feely enough for everyone. So let's have a spot of tea, a crumpet or two and relax - all very Cancerian things to do by the way. 

Full Moon Royal Baby - Born to Bring Change!

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I get a strong feeling from his chart that the new royal baby is going to use his Capricorn Moon to brood over the power and luxury he was born into and then, when he takes control of the throne, and with that force of his incredible 7^th house – modernizes, changes and brings his country into the new century in a way that is remembered for a very long time.  

The new British royal baby boy who was born today at 4:24 PM London time just shy of a total full Moon. Had he waited a few more hours it would have been complete but with the Moon just 2 degrees away from Aquarius and the Sun already 0 degrees Leo - well it is close enough. 

We consider the Moon "full" when it appears totally lit and round.  This is because it is the furthest from the Sun and is out of the grasp of the its rays. The Moon is always "full" we just can't see it when the sunlight is normally hogging a lot of the space.

Full Moon babies sometimes have a hard time connecting to their  emotions. Expressing their emotions, understanding them, feeling and channeling them will all be hurdles to conquer. During those times when the Moon goes "full" every month, if it is a constellation that activates his Natal Moon, he is going to be a bit off kilter for a day or so. 

I find it interesting that his Moon is in Capricorn. Capricorn Moon people are more serious and might even be prone to depression and with his Moon squaring Saturn I would alert the family to watch for depression and because the Moon is in the 2^nd house of self-worth he might have to learn that he is “worthy” of the office he has been assigned to a birth. Still a monarch with a serious Capricorn Moon will serve him better than a more loosey-goosey Aquarius Moon. 

Speaking of Saturn – what issues is he going to have with daddy? He has Saturn right on the North Node – which again makes him more serious but also makes him more prone to have daddy issues.

However, that Saturn North Node placement is even more important in light of his profession! Follow me here.

Nodally speaking, he has his past life indicator of the South Node in Taurus in the 5^th house and his North Node – where he should be going to in this life – in Scorpio in the 11th.  He shares that placement with such luminaries as Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln – not too shabby.  Taurus South Node people are comfortable relying on their physical self – they withhold, withstand and are as stubborn as all get-out. His Venus (ruler of Taurus) is in Virgo – so you want someone who gets a goal in his head and never budges – well watch this baby as he grows! No one will get him off course!

Scorpio 11^th house North Node people are fulfilled when they bring about some great social change. Now back to Saturn on the North Node. Saturn represents all male authority structures – like say a 1000 year old monarchy for instance!  He will fulfill his North Node if he stubbornly sticks to his guns and brings about vast and lasting change to the monarchy.

Like his late grandmother Diana, the baby has Sagittarius rising. This is good for several reasons. Sag. rising people are outgoing, athletic, inquisitive and good at people skills. The ruler of Sagittarius is Jupiter and his is right in the middle of a powerful stellium in the 7^th house. In his 7^th house, the house of intimate and contractual relations, Jupiter is joined by Mars, Mercury, Lilith and Pallas Athena all in the compassionate water sign of Cancer. This is where he will excel, with leading people by his action and his words – to take up the causes of the down-trodden or showing people how they can help and nurture people.

Pluto is still in retrograde and his is again on that tricky 2^nd house – so he is going to work hard on feeling that he is doing something to earn his position. As long as he doesn’t beat himself up that should be OK.

The retrograde that I find really funny is Uranus in the 4^th. That is an indicator of being born into a unique and rather odd family and having an interesting and even difficult childhood. Well , yeah we can all see that can’t we?

Grand Cross 2014 - Doomsday???

I recently attended a seminar on the astrology and the chart of the United States. As I mentioned before, the US is coming into its first Pluto Return as a nation and Pluto is a planet that "makes you an offer you can't refuse - change or else!" With Pluto in our 2nd house of wealth, resources and financial stability it is no wonder that we are experience in great trauma around the banking industry, jobs and savings. When Pluto finally reaches the closest point with our natal Pluto around 2021 we will have undergone a major change in these areas. However, the question that begs is, what kind of change will that be?

Two of the speakers at this seminar, spent their entire segments painting a dire picture of effects of the April 23, 2014 grand cross. A grand cross is when four planets are in opposition to each other. In this case we will have retrograded Pluto in Capricorn opposing Jupiter in Cancer and Uranus in Aries opposing Mars in Libra. These planets will be in cardinal signs. There are three kinds of signs, mutable, cardinal and fixed. The mutable signs are easy going - go along and get along, The fixed signs have more stubborn in nature and cardinals are the movers the shakers, the doers. Hence, the doom and gloom - the god of War, the god of expansion, the god of quick change and the god of slow change all pulling against each other and in cardinal signs - each grasping for their piece of the pie!

Among the predictions are the collapse of the EU, the fall of the dollar, massive rioting in Spain, Greece and Syria and a new social order rising out of the economic disaster this cross will bring.

I don't know I am a bit skeptical. I mean Y2K, the Mayans - haven't we been doomed and gloomed before?  I will say that with Mars in the 2nd and Uranus in the 8th we can see some big movement by the 99 percent against the power of the 1 percent and some major economic upheaval..but is that always a bad thing? Yes, there could be some riots, there could be some economic issues but do I see the total collapse of the Western economic system? I don't think so.

We have been in a Uranus Pluto square for months and that will continue - which is why nothing has gotten done anywhere for a long time. Jupiter's expansion will break that energy. So something will happen - and it could be something big but they will have to go a little further to convince me to start hiding my pennies in the mattress.

Saturn in Scorpio - on the USA Chart

Last time I spoke about Pluto and the Pluto return America is about to undergo. There will be more on that and the Grand Cross of 2014 later but this week I promised a look at Saturn in Scorpio. Saturn moved into Scorpio on October 20, 2012 and will remain there until December 23, 2014. (It will retrograde back in for a few months June - September 2015.)

Saturn is called the task master of the zodiac. It makes us color within the lines. Generally considered a malefic planet, we often forget that without Saturn we would live in timeless anarchy. In medical astrology Saturn controls the bones and teeth. Indeed, where would we bewithout Saturn?

With it's turn in Scorpio, Saturn will make us delve deeply into the houses it transits rooting out secrets and bringing the hidden to light.

"Natally the United States has Saturn in Libra in the 10th house (the house of government and authority and the natural house for Saturn) conjunct the asteroid Juno, the goddess of loyalty. It is no wonder we are known for stability but also for our tendency to tell others how to run their governments (Libra loves to meddle.)  Right now, transiting Saturn is on our 11th house, the house of social contacts and interactions, conjunct another asteroid, Ceres, the mother nurturer. If that weren't enough, Saturn by progression (how it has progressed since our birth) is also in the 11th and conjunct the Moon.

I see two manifestations of this placement. The first is the sudden acceptance of gay marriage both by the public and more surprisingly the Supreme Court. What was hidden is now socially acceptable - what is a better way to express Scorpio - and Saturn in the 11th  brings that to public social and government arena.

The other manifestation is sadder, that is the Trayvon Martin  death and verdict. To date the verdict has brought people out of their homes and onto the streets in mostly peaceful protests to say this is no longer acceptable - a young black man's life has value and he can't be targeted. The racial secrets must be brought to the surface in a public arena. Hopefully, these protests will be turned into political action. Then there will be some long lasting value to this death.