Last Quarter Moon - Incorporate, Assimilate and Meditate.

Moon in Taurus keeps us grounded and cautious. We get emotional about our money, possessions and sense of security. Our “stuff” takes on greater importance. Venus ruled Taurus indicates a time to enjoy beautiful things of an earthly nature, sunrise, sunset and moonrise. Moon goes void of course on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 7:13 PM EDT and enters Gemini about an hour later at 8:19 PM EDT. Air sign Gemini moon lightens things up a bit; we are motivated by the intellect rather than the gut. It is easy to see both sides of the picture and because of this we often have difficulty making up our minds. There is a certain busyness, a talkativeness and restlessness about this moon. This moon is great for writers and communicators. The Last Quarter Moon occurs on Wednesday, September 1, 2010. Quarter moons are times of crisis and action. The waning phase is a time for introspection and assimilation. This current cycle began with the New Moon in Leo. The New Moon plants the seed, at the Full Moon that seed is in full blossom. Now as the moon wanes we incorporate what we have learned and prepare for the next phase to begin. Completion is the key word here. Finish what has been started rather than beginning something new. Wait until the New Moon on September 8, 2010 to initiate the new. The Gemini Moon goes void of course on Friday, September 3rd at 1:40 AM EDT until 2:50 AM EDT. At this time Moon slides into the welcoming arms of Cancer. This is where moon belongs, home base; the emotional nature of the moon flourishes here. We become a little more sensitive, tend to get weepy and sentimental and need to nurture or be nurtured. This is gut reaction time where the intellect takes a back seat. Beware of the over stocked Buffet line while moon travels through Cancer as food brings a great deal of comfort to the sensitive soul. On Friday, sun conjoins a retrograde Mercury, so be sure to dot the I’s and cross the T’s. On Saturday, Venus makes a lovely trine, an aspect of ease, to Neptune. This could be true love, soul mate time or bring the great deceiver into play. Be sure you are seeing things as they really are not how you want them to be. A concert, a visit to an art gallery or a meditation brings the positive qualities of this aspect to the fore. This is a great week to quietly adjust to any recent changes in your life and to prepare for the New Moon and upcoming planetary shifts in store for next week. Stay tuned.

An Interesting Week - Moon in Aquarius - Pisces

Moon in Aquarius from Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 9:37 PM EDT until Tuesday the 24th at 10:11 AM EDT cultivates a friendly but impersonal atmosphere. We’re concerned about the welfare of others but tend to write a check rather than tote a pot of homemade soup to our neighbor. We flex our independence muscle and feel the need to come and go as we please. Pay attention to the spontaneous and serendipitous, it may be advantageous to go with that flow. On Monday the 23rd sun moves into Virgo. The sun is the source of all energy and the annual solar rhythm affects our energy levels. You may notice at certain times of the year you have more energy than at others. This is due to the transiting sun’s relationship to your natal sun. The sun also acts as a trigger setting off the long term transits of the outer planets. If these long term transits are in range of your natal planets, the sun will turn on the ignition precipitating an event or action. While sun travels through Virgo the spotlight is on health issues, the military, jobs and unemployment. Mercury, ruler of Virgo, remains in retrograde motion until September 12th. Transiting Mercury directs our focus and attention. In retrograde motion, in Virgo, critical analysis and review is your best bet. Tuesday morning, moon enters Pisces and the Full Moon culminates that afternoon. Under Pisces moon we’re dreamy, a bit unfocused and impressionable. The music moves us, the painting speaks to us and the author has us talking to ourselves. It is important to stay with and be with the positive now as we are easily influenced by the energies around us. On Thursday, August 26th the sun trines Pluto, a trine is an aspect of ease. Although considered to be beneficial, a trine between two people can make it easy for an abuser to abuse. In this instance, the sun’s beams kicks off the long term aspects between Pluto, Saturn, Uranus and Jupiter. On a personal level the natal houses and planets involved in this configuration will tell the tale. It will be an interesting week. With Mercury retrograde try to remain flexible as plans may change, hit a snag or the information received is incorrect. Notice your energy level as the sun changes signs and pay attention to your mood as the moon slips from Aquarius to Pisces. You will begin to see how the knowledge of when and where the planetary shifts take place can be a valuable tool when planning your course of action.

Saturn Square Pluto – What Does It Mean to You?

Early Saturday morning, August 21, 2010 Saturn, in Libra, makes the final square aspect to Pluto, in Capricorn. This series of three square aspects began in November 2009. A square is not a friendly aspect. The two planets are poking and prodding one another, often trying to push in a direction that is not comfortable. Squares do make things happen. Saturn usually indicates a contraction of sorts. If Saturn is moving through your house of money expect less cash and be prepared to tighten the budget. Saturn through the house of relationships brings a testing of your relationships. Pluto purges and transforms. Through your house of money you’ll go from one extreme to another, from floating in dough to abject poverty and back again. In your relationship house, Pluto reveals the psychological dynamics of the relationships along with issues of power and control. These two are not nice guys. You are not going to sit down, have a beer and watch the game with Saturn and Pluto. You are going to work hard, dig deep into your core self and pull yourself out of whatever hole you’ve got yourself into by grit, guts and sand. The houses in the horoscope they are transiting are the areas of life that have been and are facing challenge. If Saturn is transiting your 7th house of relationship, Pluto is in your 10th house of career, public image and destiny. In this instance, relationships with your significant other, your boss and authority figures are under pressure. If Saturn is transiting your 10th house, Pluto is in your 1st. The 1st is your physical appearance, how you relate to others and your approach to the world. Pluto transiting here points to a deep transformational experience, with Saturn in the 10th there is a restriction or some block to your progress. An accurate timed birth chart can tell you what houses the planets are transiting at a given time. A Venus transit through the 1st house is very different from a Saturn transit. A look at the upcoming transits prepares you for the tough times, the fun times and most importantly, the right times.

Moon in Sagittarius – Capricorn and a TGIF You Won’t Forget

Things lighten up a little when moon moves into Sagittarius early Tuesday morning, August 17, 2010 at 1:34 AM EDT providing some relief from the intense Scorpio energy experienced over the last few days. Sagittarius moon brings the influence of Jupiter to the fore, ruler of Sagittarius. A warm, friendly attitude prevails. We see the big picture and may get a little restless as we need independence and freedom of movement. Interest in the spiritual peaks and we are curious about other’s viewpoints and philosophies. By Thursday, August 19, 2010 we will have had enough of this exuberant Sagittarius moon and will be ready for the shift into the Capricorn mode when moon steps into Saturn’s domain at 10:17 AM EDT. We get down to business under Capricorn moon being concerned with the material aspects of life and with a need for security. This need sparks our ambitions and prods us to “get ahead”. We sometimes become insensitive to the feelings of others as we work our way up the ladder. This is a good time to organize and work on the tasks at hand. Friday, August 20, 2010 the annual opposition between the sun and Neptune takes place. The energy of Neptune can be murky and difficult to pin down. The sun shining bright beams on this mysterious planet may reveal some secrets and expose deceit. There is much going on behind the scenes and the revelations may come as a shock. Before the day is through, Venus and Mars will get up close and personal and Mercury will begin its retrograde motion. On Saturday, the last of the Saturn/Pluto squares takes place and they both are in aspect to Jupiter and Uranus. This is the famous cardinal t-square that is stressing the horoscope of the United States, July 4, 1776, as well as the horoscope of the Federal Reserve. In the US chart, the money planets Jupiter and Venus are getting whacked and the t-square is dead on the Pluto/sun opposition in the chart of the Fed. The Mercury station retrograde point at 19 Virgo sits on the Mars of the New York Stock Exchange. On the world stage it is all about money and power. Those that have it don’t want to let it go. People are clamoring for change and are not getting it. On a personal level, you love him/her, you hate him/her, you can/can’t live without etc. etc. The job sucks, I need the job, I can’t get a job, I quit this job. All kinds of fun and games are going on and trying to figure out where you stand, where you want to go and what you want to be and who you want to be with is a full time job in and of itself. The retrograde Mercury period from August 20th to September 12th is an opportune time to reflect, review and meditate. This too shall pass.

Fun and Games All Around - First Quarter Moon and Jupiter opposite Saturn

Today, Saturday, August 14, 2010 moon goes void of course in Libra at 4:06 PM EDT until entering Scorpio at 8:26 PM EDT. Void of course periods are good times to kick back, avoid taking decisive action and to recognize that our judgments may not be up to par. There are unknown factors at work. Of course life goes on so don’t tie yourself up in knots if you do have to take some kind of action. The weekend shifts into the Scorpionic mode which kicks the pleasant sociability of Libra to the curb. Things get intense while moon travels through Scorpio. People get jealous and suspicious. “Just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean they are not out to get you.” That is the Scorpio Moon rallying cry. The best thing you can do when things get intense is to remember to breathe. The breathe calms and centers. You’ll need it. The First Quarter Moon occurs on Monday, August 16, 2010 at 2:14 PM EDT and the second in a series of three oppositions between Jupiter and Saturn follows at 4:45 PM EDT. Saturn and Jupiter have a 20 year cycle from conjunction, (together in the sky) to opposition to conjunction again. (The moon does this in about 28 days). This First Quarter Moon occurs in the middle of the rare Cardinal T-Square that has accompanied all the financial, political and environmental crap we have been dealing with. The moon in fixed, intense Scorpio is 90 degrees (square) from the sun in fixed, fiery Leo. The lights, sun and moon, pull nebulous Neptune into the picture; Neptune has been laying low for awhile, but that does not mean he hasn’t been up to some mischief. It just means we don’t know what it is. The Quarter Moons are times of action; they create the energy that moves things, people and situations along. With the slower moving planets involved; this is about big societal changes. We all know something is going on, we can’t put our finger on it, nor can we articulate it yet. We are not seeing the big picture or getting the true story. I am still waiting for the other shoe to drop.

So You Survived the Weekend, Well, It Ain't Over Yet!

Well it looks like we survived the weekend with all of the unsettling aspects that went on but I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. The symbolism of these slow moving planets, when in rare configurations as they are now, sometimes take months, even years for the true meaning to unfold. Sometimes it hits you right away, like being hit over the head with a baseball bat, sometimes the realization comes in retrospect, “so that’s what that was!” We may not know or reach the realization of what has gone on until the Full Moon of September 23rd or when Mars enters Capricorn in December (the 7th), or around the Lunar Eclipse at the Winter Solstice; all of which spark the early degrees of the Cardinal signs where the slow moving planets are currently transiting. Today, the moon in Virgo goes void of course at 8:04 PM EDT and is void until tomorrow evening, Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 6:42 PM EDT when Old Luna enters Libra. Now there is a lot of Libra energy around now with Venus, at home, in Libra and Saturn, very comfortable, exalted as the astrologer’s say, on Venus’ home turf. Mars is here also, not so comfortable; in “detriment”, opposite the sign he rules. It is like this, Mars is strolling through the drawing room in his combat boots mucking up the carpet. He is not comfortable in these posh, beautiful Libran surroundings. He has no idea what he is doing here. His energy is more suited to the great outdoors, the sports arena or the battlefield. High tea and crumpets ain’t his thing. Venus here wants to make nice-nice, Saturn wants to negotiate a truce and Mars, well, Mars’ job is to take action, make war, or be a pioneer. That drive is stunted in Libra. Now all this Libra action has been receiving input from Jupiter and Uranus, in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn, all in Cardinal signs and in early degrees of those signs. Moon is going to jump into Libra and by Friday morning will have bounced off all of these planets activating all of these complex configurations. Generally moon in Libra encourages sociability and friendliness. There’s a sense of fairness and balance in the air. It is a good time to reach out, settle differences and smooth ruffled feathers. Late Friday evening, Uranus slips back into Pisces. The sudden, unexpected and unusual meets the guru, the oil slick and/or the drug pusher. Libra moon, all sweetness and light may not be able to cover up the darkness that may be revealed. Life goes on so enjoy, go to a party, an art gallery or take in a movie. There ain’t much you can do about it anyway.

Moon in Cancer sets up a Wild Weekend

Moon enters Cancer Friday, August 06, 2010 at 5:50 PM EDT and before the night is through touches base with all the big boys involved in the great, rare cardinal t-square currently in the sky. The big boys, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto are slow movers and have been in orb of one another for some time. The moon often acts as a trigger setting off the prevalent energies. Moon in Cancer operates at full bore. The emotions, the instinct and the needs of people belong to this moon; here those energies are strong and easily manifested. Venus shifts gears and enters her home sign of Libra before midnight. Over the weekend Venus first opposes Uranus (Saturday morning) then conjuncts Saturn (Sunday afternoon). Venus is all about love, money, the arts, and relationships of all kinds, think of these attributes combined with, first, Mr. Anything Goes, (and the more surprising the better), Uranus. Then, blending with uptight, traditional, prim and proper Saturn, I would guess a wild Saturday night ends up with a wicked hangover Sunday morning. All of this with Moon in Cancer, ruler of our emotions, has us acting and reacting through our gut, logic is thrown by the wayside. Moon goes void of course Saturday afternoon, August 7, 2010 at 2:46 PM EDT and is void for the rest of the day until Sunday evening, August 8, 2010 at 7:23 PM EDT. Void of course moon is great for meditation and quiet contemplation. It is not a good time to make a decision. With Venus bouncing between Uranus and Saturn all weekend you may want to put the brakes on when it comes to commitment or even a one night stand and definitely keep your money safe, try to avoid impulse buying. Moon moves into Leo Sunday night and Venus, under this Leo for lover's moon, butting heads with Jupiter and Pluto Monday and Tuesday, insures that the rock and roll roller coaster is not over yet. We may have to wait until Moon moves into Virgo, Tuesday night, August 10, 2010 at 7:01 PM EDT to sort things out. Sorting out is what Virgo moon does and we will be reviewing and nit-picking every move, every word and every gesture, he, she or it made over the weekend. People will be calling their astrologer, doctor, lawyer, therapist or Tarot card reader to get a clearer picture. What happened?

Happy Birthday Barack Obama

I took a look at Barack Obama’s Solar Return chart for this upcoming birthday. The Solar Return chart is a forecasting tool astrologers use to predict what the upcoming year is going to be like for the individual or entity involved. Obama’s Solar Return has a Lunar Return this year as well. Both the Sun and the moon have returned to the place in the sky where they were when he was born. This is a somewhat rare occurrence. Moon represents, among other things, what you need. Obama’s moon is in Gemini, he needs to talk and he does it very well. Both his Natal moon and Solar Return moon are in the 3rd house of the Solar Return chart which further enhances the need to talk. This will be a yak, yak, yak year for him. The asteroid Juno figures prominently this year as well. Juno is the Goddess of marriage, the melding of the masculine and feminine and, the committed relationship. One of her major concerns is the equality of the sexes. In the Natal chart of Obama Juno is at 0 Aries and is getting a direct hit by Uranus and Jupiter. The symbolism is so apt, women and the law. Thus far he has nominated two women to the Supreme Court. His wife is an Aries type of woman independent, athletic and a trailblazer in her own right. Obama is and will continue to be a strong advocate for women’s rights. The sun in the Solar Return chart is in the 6th house, as is his natal sun. Issues of health care and the armed forces will be topics of discussion. The Uranus/Jupiter conjunction and the Great Cardinal Crescendo figure prominently in his Solar Return Chart, as it will/does in all the Leos this year. In Obama’s case the 1st (I) and 7th (you) houses figure prominently. He’s got Venus, Mars and Saturn in the 7th and Jupiter and Uranus in the 1st. Venus will be the diplomat, Mars brings the heated discussion, Saturn helps to hammer out the differences. The agreements will be literally hammered out. The 1st house represents Obama himself, his physical body, his persona and how people see him. With Uranus there he is still seen has the revolutionary First Black President. Jupiter gives him great confidence but also may have him biting off more than he can chew. Pluto in the 10th house of the Solar Return chart insures that the public will have no doubts as to who is in charge and in power. He is through playing games with the opposition and will not be looking for consensus. For all his talking he will still have a problem getting his message across. The inauguration chart for his presidency has a retrograde Mercury, very prominent thus very important. Most often he is misunderstood or opens his mouth inserting foot and has to go back and fix it. Think Gates, Sherrod etc. This will not be an easy year for him and probably not an easy year for the rest of us. So, Happy Birthday Barack Obama.