Aries Full Moon Mercury Mars Health Care What a Combo!

The big debate going on In Congress this week about Health Care Reform rages on. Watching C-Span it’s like a dog and pony show, with each dog and pony playing to the master that feeds them. The public option is the big issue and two bills that contained some form of a public option were voted down by the Senate Finance committee. This is all going on while the Moon is waxing, increasing in light, a time of growth that favors new ideas and initiatives that culminate at the Full Moon. This Full Moon is really interesting because during the run up to it, Mercury combines with Mars which is usually a onetime occurrence. But because Mercury moves slow when first changing direction, Mars the slower moving planet manages to get ahead of Mercury. As Mercury picks up speed, the little messenger catches up with Mars and makes another aspect. So what does this mean you ask? Mercury/Mars alignments indicate action, decision making and progress. These alignments occur first, in the wee hours of Thursday morning and again Sunday morning at 7:37 AM. The Full Moon perfects at 2:10 AM Sunday morning. The Full Moon signals a break in any deadlocks and obstacles to the issues and ideas promulgated during the waxing phase. Mercury/Mars combinations point to quick, decisive action. Sunday afternoon, busy little Mercury faces off with radical, revolutionary Uranus. What’s happening is this, despite the dog and pony show going on; much of the action takes place behind the scenes. A decision will be reached over the weekend, although we may not hear about it until the actual work week begins. Mercury with Uranus indicates a bit of shocking news or a sudden upset. On a personal level Mercury/Mars/Uranus connections say look out, be careful, and pay attention. Curb the tendency to think and act impulsively. Remember, once you’ve done it or said it, you can’t take it back. And forget about putting the pedal to the metal. Bad idea!

Moon in Pisces/Aries

Moon goes into Pisces tonight at 7:26 PM and we sense the shift from the analytical airy Aquarius to the more subtle vibrations of Pisces. We’re softer, more vulnerable and impressionable under Pisces Moon. Our heightened sensitivity puts us in the mood for more artistic and spiritual endeavors. We want to escape from reality, whether it is through music, prayer or the bottom of a bottle. Idealism reigns beneath this Moon and difficulties often arise when faced with the actual reality of the situation. Nonetheless we are dreamy, imaginative, tend to lose focus and are often misunderstood. The energy changes dramatically when Moon charges into Aries Saturday morning before sunrise. We’re energetic, enthusiastic and impulsive when the Aries vibe takes over. Aries Moon favors start ups, initiation of change and impulsive actions. This is a great time to begin something new but be sure to have a plan to carry it through. Aries Moon lacks patience and perseverance to see projects through to the end. We’re aggressive, tend to express strong opinions and want to be first. This me first attitude often makes us appear selfish but if you normally don’t assert yourself and your needs, Aries Moon will give you a boost in that direction. The Full Moon of the 4th is an Aries Full Moon. As the Moon increases in light the energy is favorable for starting projects, new ideas and making new beginnings. As the light increases so do these issues and ideas. The waxing First Quarter can often present obstacles that need to be overcome. If things reach a stalemate or you’re deadlocked in any group effort often the impasse is broken at the Full Moon. More to come on this particular Full Moon.

Aquarius Moon and Mercury Direct

Moon treks through Aquarius from Monday morning the 28th at 7:07 AM until Wednesday the 30th at 7:26 PM when she slips into Pisces. While Moon is in Aquarius we rely on out intellect not trusting our emotions. Moon in Aquarius favors friendly get togethers. This is a great time to hold a rally for the “cause” as humanitarian issues and efforts are successful now. Under this Moon anticipate spontaneous meetings, sudden changes in events and unexpected outcomes. We’re OK with it because Aquarian energy produces a desire for freedom and distaste for restrictions which dovetails neatly into the free flowing events of Aquarius Moon. Along with the freewheeling energy of Aquarius that starts off this work week is the change in direction of Mercury. On Tuesday morning Mercury stations (seems to stop) and turns direct. The communication snafus, misinformation and false rumors are put to rest when Mercury goes direct. New information surfaces and projects that have been hitting one snag after another move forward with ease. You can sign on the dotted line and begin new projects now. With Mercury in direct motion, in combination with Saturn/Uranus we can expect startling, and at times serious, news and events to unfold in the lead up to the Full Moon with the dust finally settling at the Last Quarter Moon on the 11th of October. Hang onto your hat and get ready to Rock and Roll.

It's a Capricorn Weekend

Moon enters Capricorn Friday, September 25, 2009 at 6:19 PM EDT and remains there throughout the weekend until early Monday morning, September 28th. Capricorn Moon puts a lid on all the confident exuberance of Sagittarius, kicking the spiritual aside to focus on the material. Moon (emotions) in the opposite sign of her ruler, Cancer, does not express well here. This is a no nonsense, let’s get things done Moon. Being structured, getting organized and doing serious, hard work brings us a feeling of security while Moon travels through Capricorn. This is not party time but a good time for a “working weekend”. Projects on the home front that require construction, organization and discipline do well now. We feel good when we accomplish something concrete, when we have “something to show” for our actions under Capricorn Moon. At 12:50 AM on Saturday morning, September 26th the First Quarter Moon perfects. The Moon is waxing in the sky, growing bigger, and has reached the halfway point to the Full Moon. Ideas, projects or issues begun at the New Moon now begin to manifest in the physical world. The Quarter Moons are aspects of tension between the Sun and Moon. The First Quarter Moon calls for action. Many times the need to act is precipitated by a “mini crisis”. Often we find ourselves at a point where we need to make a decision. The Moon sits with Pluto at this First Quarter Moon. Sun, Moon, Pluto in combination bring together leaders, (Sun), public opinion, (Moon) and issues of power and control (Pluto). Terrorism falls under Pluto’s purview as well. In the lead up to this First Quarter the headlines reflect these issues. Foiled terrorism plots, the UN meetings, the G-20 meetings in Pittsburgh mirror the symbolism of the planetary line up. Internal tensions are indicated with covert infighting and jockeying for position taking on a life of their own. Be on the lookout for a weekend surprise.

Moon in Sagittarius and the United Nations

Moon moves into exuberant Sagittarius before 8AM on Wednesday morning September 23rd. Unlike the secrecy of Scorpio, Sagittarius Moon fosters openness and candor. Sagittarius Moon gives you the confidence to step beyond your usual limits and explore new ground. Under this Moon the flavor is international, sparking an interest in travel and adventure. The energy is great for the UN meetings going on this week. Wednesday morning along with the Moon’s shift into Sagittarius, Sun in Libra squares off with Pluto in Capricorn. The Sun represents the head of state, the leader, Kings, Presidents and the like. Pluto symbolizes power, overt and covert. These two at a 90 degree angle indicates tension and with Moon in Sagittarius opinions will be expressed with vigor. Before noon, that Trickster, Mercury, in retrograde motion, faces off with unpredictable Uranus. This increases the possibility of a verbal faux pas. A Sagittarius Moon, retro Mercury and Uranus combination virtually guarantees a foot in mouth situation. At any rate, all of these heads of state and UN delegates will be talking out both sides of their mouth (retro Mercury) and peddling propaganda (Pluto). And let’s not forget that along with communication snafus, Mercury/Uranus can trigger commuter and computer glitches and sudden, unexpected surprises of all sorts. With Uranus the deal is, if you can think of it, that ain’t it. Whatever mishaps or missteps occur; the dust will not settle until Thursday around 6PM when Sagittarius Moon snuggles up to Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius. Some of Jupiter’s concerns are treaties, borders, finance, religion and the law. On a personal level, under Sagittarius Moon, you may not be able to get a word in edgewise while those around you passionately express their opinions. Try to avoid those who foam at the mouth when espousing their favorite belief or cause. This is a good time to look at those travel brochures and plan your next trip. Sagittarius loves to travel.

Moon in Scorpio, Monday, September 21st

At 12:52 AM on Monday, September 21, 2009 until Wednesday morning, September 23rd, the congenial energy of Libra Moon gives way to the passionate, intense, oft times jealous energies of a Scorpio Moon. The idle chit chat of the cocktail party is not for this Moon. Scorpio Moon likes conversations with meat on the bones. Deep emotional needs and issues surface. If you believe passionately in something, this is the time to stand up and defend it. If you end something under this Moon, it is done. Strong desires emerge and people will stoop to manipulation to get what they want. Scorpio Moon encourages the secret and the hidden. In the wee hours of Monday morning, Moon connects with Pluto, Scorpio’s ruler and Venus. Venus has just transitioned from show girl Leo into prim and proper Virgo. Here the power brokers (Pluto) negotiate (Venus) about public health and the armed forces (Virgo). When retrograde Mercury in Virgo, joins Saturn early Tuesday morning it’s get down to business time. Venus’ move from Leo to Virgo signifies that the show is over placing further emphasis on getting down to business. Mercury is still retrograde and will not go direct until Tuesday, September 29th. This indicates there is still time to revise and review but be aware that you may not have all the information. And when Mercury the Trickster aligns with Saturn, as on Tuesday morning, be sure to speak true. Saturn demands the truth and will come back and bite you if you don’t have the facts to back you up. In the public arena, Congress will be debating the big issue of Health Care Reform and there is a lot of covert action going on behind closed doors. Despite all the hoopla around this issue, and despite where any particular politician may stand, only they know what they are hearing from their constituents. When planets and the “lights”, the Sun and Moon, change signs the energy shifts. Autumn officially begins at 5:19 PM on Tuesday, September 22nd. As the season changes so does the psychology of the masses and the markets change. Venus rules love, diplomacy, currency and finance. Her move into Virgo indicates further change. It is interesting to note that with Venus’ move to Virgo details are emerging about the Jonathan Edwards affair. Venus = love/Virgo=details. The headlines this week will include health care, of course, questions about where and what is being done with all the TARP money that Congress dished out and military matters.

Moon in Libra

This weekend, Moon travels through congenial, sociable Libra. This is the “can we talk” Moon, the people need people Moon. We’re drawn to others and have a need to interact. This is a good time to form partnerships as Libra Moon favors teamwork and negotiations. Shop for beautiful clothes and beautify your surroundings under this Moon. If you are planning on remodeling this weekend is a good time to select the color scheme and purchase the paint. Moon in Libra rules color. This is a good sign to plant flowers that will bring beauty to the garden. Beauty treatments such as massage, facials and hair styling do well now. Parties and entertaining friends run smoothly. Everyone is out for a good time. It is not without a few glitches though. If you’re out and about on Saturday night, watch how the energy shifts around 11:45PM EDT. That is when the Moon squares off with argumentative and belligerent Mars in Cancer. Emotions run high. The question is, can intellectual Libra Moon talk petulant Mars in Cancer down?

Friday's New Moon

The New Moon is Friday, September 18, 2009 at 2:44PM EDT. This New Moon is in Virgo. Virgo separates the wheat from the chaff. An Earth sign, ruled by Mercury, what is healthy, what is serviceable, what is useful interest Virgo. Critical analysis, details and pragmatism do well when Virgo holds the cards. These are the influences that hold sway during the Lunar Month that begins under Virgo. This particular New Moon has Saturn in the same degree of Virgo as the Sun and Moon with Uranus opposing in Pisces. This is not an easy time. The polarization of society brought on by the current issues continues. At the First Quarter on September 25th, Sun will have moved into Libra and Moon, in Capricorn, joins forces with Pluto. Things could get ugly. At the Full Moon of October 4th, Moon is in Aries and Sun is in Libra and Mercury will have turned direct in motion. The energy peaks at the Full Moon. With a direct Mercury and Sun in sociable, amiable Libra, talks and negotiation have a good chance at achieving goals and accomplishing something workable. In world events, these talks, deals, and issues will involve the health care debate, public health, Unions, Labor, and the Armed Forces. I’m thinking swine flu, Health Care Reform, Afghanistan, and city and state governments talking with Union officials in order to balance the budget. For individuals it all depends on where Virgo falls in your horoscope. A horoscope has twelve houses or slices of life and where the New Moon falls is the slice of life that gets activated. In general though, a New Moon in Virgo presents an optimal time for someone to review their dietary and health habits, clean out your closets and organize stuff. Anything that requires attention to detail flourishes under Virgo. Remember, in the next few days you will be assimilating all that you have processed since the previous New Moon. Introspection, meditation and preparation for the next New Moon, finish what has been started and don’t begin anything new until Friday’s New Moon.

Joe Wilson, hypocrite

How ironic it is to find that Joe Wilson, who called President Obama a liar when he said that the healthcare bill would not cover illegal immigrants, has himself voted for legislation that would provide funds for illegal immigrants healthcare. “The vote came on the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, which contained Sec. 1011 authorizing $250 million annually between 2003 and 2008 for government reimbursements to hospitals who provide treatment for uninsured illegal immigrants.” I’m not sure, but I think this is the bill that created the “donut hole” and also provided for the drug companies to be paid 125 percent of the cost of prescription drugs from Medicare. So there ya go. You can read the whole story at www.opencongress.org

The Astrology of Obama's address to Congress

Obama’s speech started around 8:15 PM. A horoscope set for that time reflects the perfect symbolism for the subject of the speech, the person making the speech and those opposing. In Mundane Astrology, the astrology that deals with world events, heads of state are represented by the Sun. The Sun in this chart is most fittingly found in the 6th house of health, along with Saturn, which represents authority and Mercury, the talker of the Zodiac. Retrograde Mercury is posited in the house he rules which gives him strength but he is retrograde signifying that this is not a done deal and Obama is willing to negotiate. Although Obama did mention the much touted public option, I think he is ready to ditch it, if need be, which will piss off a lot of his supporters. The 10th house represents the party in power while the 4th signifies the party out of power. Pluto, in Capricorn, on the cusp of the 10th indicates the power that the Democrats have now. Whether they use it or shoot themselves in the foot, the way they usually do, remains to be seen. The 4th house has Mars, in Cancer, on the cusp. Mars, the action or energy planet, is not comfortable in Cancer. The aggression associated with the God of War often comes across as petulance when in Cancer. Mars is fiery, Cancer is water, you get the picture. This is the grumbling from the gallery and a “You lie” outburst from a southern Representative who claims his emotions (Cancer) got the best of him. While Mars is in his “Fall” in Cancer, the Moon, representing the people and public opinion is “Exalted” in the sign of Taurus and on Taurus’ home turf, the 2nd house of money. The Moon expresses well here. This says, the people are being heard and no matter what side they’re on, there is concern about the cost. With a smooth connection to Saturn in the 6th the voice of the people is being heard and listened to by those in authority. The 5th and 11th houses are the domains of the Senate and House. The 5th being ruled by the Sun and the 11th by Saturn shows that the President, the authority figure has their attention. A Venus/Jupiter opposition between these houses indicates differences between House and Senate versions of the relevant bills but also denotes compromise and negotiation. Uranus, in the 12th house of hospitals and the hidden, sits opposite the Sun/Saturn, (President) in the 6th. There is a lot of behind the scenes maneuvering and manipulation going on here. The outcome will be startling, sudden and surprising. Remember, you heard here first.

Mercury Retrograde

Mercury, closest planet to the Sun has an orbit of 87/88 days. In astrology, Mercury represents the intellect, ruling thought, language and communication. Trains, boats and planes fall under Mercury’s jurisdiction. Mercury bridges the gap between the subconscious and the conscious. He’s a busy little fellow and covers a lot of ground. About three times a year Mercury goes retrograde. It looks like it is going backwards, it isn’t really, it merely looks that way from here on Earth. When Mercury is retrograde expect delays, communication snafus, lost letters, lost keys, and computer crashes. Don’t begin projects or sign anything during a Mercury retrograde period. They don’t turn out the way expected and often there is information you don’t know about that surfaces after Mercury goes direct. It is a good time to revise and review, to tweak projects already begun. Old ideas, projects or plans have an uncanny ability to resurface and require attention while Mercury is retrograde. During retrograde periods check and recheck your facts. If you have a lunch date with a friend it is a good idea to call and confirm the time and date. The right church, wrong pew scenario belongs to Mercury retrograde. Shortly after midnight on Labor Day, Mercury stations, stops dead in his tracks, and makes ready to turn retrograde until September 29th when he stations again, getting ready to move forward. We can’t hide under the bed for three weeks; we have to go on with our lives. Forewarned is forearmed, be prepared for delays, disruptions and remain flexible for the inevitable change of plans.

Health Care Reform Rally at State House and a Little Bitty Rant

Last night I went to the candlelight vigil for health care reform at the State House in Providence. There were about two hundred people there. Moveon.org organized these vigils nationwide. Here in Rhode Island the local chapter of Moveon.org was joined by Ocean State Action and Progressive Democrats. There were a few dissenters who were pretty much ignored. Most people are for health care reform in some form or another. You would be hard put to find anyone in America who has not or does not know someone who has had a bad experience with health care. The news media covers the events where there is lots of dissent and opposition to health care reform because they report what their corporate pay masters tell them to report. Most of the health care debate is being fueled by PR firms hired by the health care and pharmaceutical industries which have poured billions into the effort. The health care insurance industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the oil industry and Wall Street pour billions of dollars into the campaign coffers of our elected officials and they expect service for their dollars. So our elected officials serve the interests of these industries and not the interests of the American people. The clause in the Medicare legislation covering prescription drugs that legally provides for the United States Government to pay 125 percent of the cost of the drug to the drug companies is a good example of how these groups rule this country. I ask myself, how did this legislation pass? I know it was passed during the Bush administration, but this goes far beyond party politics. Democrats and Republicans alike are on these corporate payrolls. A Democratic Senator from South Dakota, Tim Johnson, who has accepted money from the banking and finance industry, voted with the banks, against legislation that would have placed a cap on the interest rates banks and lenders could charge for short term loans to military personnel. Now with the reshuffling between Senate committees due to Ted Kennedy’s passing, this Senator, because of seniority, has a good shot at heading the Banking Committee. Good for the banks, bad for the people. We need to take back this country from the corporate greed heads who rule it. One way is to call, write, and email your elected official. Voice your opinion. You don’t have to be a genius or write like a Pulitzer Prize winner, simply state, “I don’t like this about that.” Or “I like this about that.” We need to let them know that we are paying attention.