Cosmic Capsule - Woody Allen - Did Woody Diddle?

We hate it when our heroes are proven to have feet of clay.  We prefer to overlook it rather than face the harsh reality.  Elvis Presley, overweight and over medicated, to this day has legions of fans flocking to Graceland with nary a question as to where he hid his barbiturates. Michael Jackson’s fans didn’t raise a peep when he dangled a toddler off a balcony and rallied round during his trial for child molestation. Bill Cosby has been accused of sexual misconduct, Roman Polanski has famously been exiled from America for an incident with a young girl and Morgan Freeman raised a few eyebrows when he married his ex-wife’s granddaughter. When someone accuses our heroes of misconduct we prefer to have the accuser melt back into the background so we can continue in our fantasy.  Anita Hill, the lady who brought the issue of sexual harassment to the front page during the confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas said, “I resent the idea that people would blame the messenger for the message, rather than looking at the content of the message itself.” 

 Our latest messenger is Dylan Farrow who has recently penned an open letter published in the New York Times about the alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of her adoptive father Woody Allen.  She was 7 years old at that time.  Previously, Dylan’s mother, Mia Farrow had discovered revealing Polaroid pictures of her other adoptive daughter, Soon-Yi at Woody’s apartment.  These pictures were quite graphic.  

Woody Allen is a Sagittarius with Virgo rising and Moon in Aquarius.  His Sagittarius Sun sits with Jupiter, his ruler, and Mercury all clustered together.  Jupiter brings a massive amount of energy to this Sagittarian cluster of planets.  This provides him with enormous vision, he dreams the impossible dream. The Ascendant or rising sign is an inherent part of the personality and allows Woody Allen to transport those visions to the earthly plane.  The Moon in Aquarius speaks to an unconventional home life. 

What catches the eye in this horoscope given the accusations floating around is his Mars/Pluto opposition, both squaring Venus.  Traditionally Mars is a malefic, meaning he’s a bad guy capable of war, aggression and various other forms of ugliness.  Pluto ain’t such a nice guy either.  Obsession, power, control and plumbing the depths are all attributes of Pluto.  Together with Mars he harshly aspects Venus.  This does not paint a pretty picture. This Pluto aspect goes a long way in explaining why Woody Allen is somewhat of a professional analysand as he perpetually undergoes psychoanalysis. It also reveals that there is potential there for abuse although that is not a given.  Other folks with a Mars/Pluto opposition include Angelina Jolie, Mohandas Gandhi and Richard Nixon.  Nixon was surely into power and control and there are stories that Gandhi slept naked with young girls to test and strengthen his control. Angelina Jolie as a youth was a bit of a sexual provocateur.  Woody Allen is a complex individual with all of his personal planets below the horizon.  He’s a very private person and keeps a lot hidden.  His Mars/Pluto opposition squaring Venus indicates a definite issue with women.  The up side is a lot of energy focused on the artistic.

Dylan’s reason for going public now was prompted by Woody Allen receiving the Cecil B. De Mille Lifetime Achievement award at the Golden Globes this year.  Astrologically there is another reason. I don’t have Dylan Farrow’s birth date but she was 7 then which makes her 29 now.  In astrology these are 2 very important years in the life cycle the individual.

Through the technique of Secondary Progression   that astrologers use to advance the chart throughout a person’s lifetime, moving the planets along the zodiacal path, at 7 years old the individual’s Secondary Progressed Moon has move 90 degrees to square the natal Moon.  At the same time the person’s Saturn has moved to square the natal Saturn.  This is a period in a child’s life when they transition from babyhood to a more mature posture.  Yes Virginia, there is no Santa Claus.

At about 27and ½ years old, the Secondary Progressed Moon moves back into to its natal position.   This is a period of emotional maturation. Some youngsters don’t make it for a variety of reasons.  Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Hendrix and Cobain come to mind.

This transit sets the stage for the Saturn Return, Saturn’s return to its natal position.  This first Saturn return occurs around 29 years of age. There is often a feeling at this return that time is running out and one must accomplish what one has set out to do before it is to late.  It is also a time to sort things out, to take a look at and revise inner values.  During this stage of one’s life that which is not necessary to the individual falls away.  It is a lot like cleaning out the attic dumping what is no longer useful.

Dylan is writing about this now because, from her point of view, all this shit is coming back to her, rising from her inner self.  As she has reached an emotional maturity during her 27^th year, now Saturn has come along forcing her to face reality.

The debate will continue, did he or didn’t he?  Dylan is standing firm.  Woody is rebutting declaring his innocence.  Children are taking sides.  It’s the modern equivalent of a Greek Tragedy but I doubt the deus ex machina will drift down from the rafters to resolve this plot.

The Week Ahead- First Quarter Moon – and Muddling Mercury Retrograde

Sunday, February 02, 2014 the Moon is Void in Pisces from 11:34 AM EST until 11:55 PM EST when Moon enters Aries.  Void Moon in Pisces is a great time to kick back and let things gel within us.  Moon in Pisces enhances our psychic impressions.  On the down side Pisces Moon encourages us to escape from reality.  Some do this through meditation and prayer, while others do it by bellying up to the bar for a few shots and beers.  Remember that the hangover is wicked payback. As for the Super Bowl,  Void Moons always promise that things do not turn out as expected.

By Monday morning with Moon firmly in Aries we are ready for action and action is what the Aries Moon calls for.  This is an initiatory Moon, we want to get started and get going. The drawback here is action is predicated on impulse and reason is thrown out the window as we neglect to think things through. Moon goes Void at 6:14 PM EST on Tuesday.

Wednesday morning at 4:46 AM EST Moon moves into stable, earthy Taurus.  If you want to start something that will grow and last start it now while waxing Moon is in Taurus.  Taurus is fertile, and waxing Moon encourages growth.  Beware though, Taurus Moon has a fixedness that will make it hard to get rid of what you started.  So make sure that it is what you want.   Folks get stubborn and dig their heels in under this Moon.

Thursday is the big day this week as the First Quarter Moon occurs at 2:32 PM EST with Moon in Taurus squaring, 90 degrees from Sun in Aquarius.  Quarter Moons shake things up.  Often, more than the Full Moons, the crazies come out.  Any square aspect between planets or the lights, as the Sun and Moon are referred to, brings action.  Things happen under Quarter Moons.

To add weight to this particular phase, Mercury in Pisces stations, or stops, in the sky and turns in retrograde motion.  Retrograde Mercury favors the introverted, those activities that focus on the inner landscape of the human condition.  Meditation, reflection and contemplation are favored while Mercury is retrograde, especially while it is in Pisces.  The energy of Pisces favors the contemplative. This can also bring about confused communication, messages gone astray and delays in travel. 

Whenever Mercury stations whether going direct or retrograde the mercurial energy is strong.  So information is often not reliable or confusing during those times.  Amanda Knox accused of murdering her roommate, Meredith Kercher made confusing statements at the time of her arrest.  At the time of the murder Mercury was stationing preparing to move in direct motion.  Amanda Knox has retrograde Mercury in her natal chart that opposes her natal Neptune.  This aspect is one of confusion.  She’s not clear in her thinking. Questions and answers may not have been understood.  The public may never know what really happened because of misunderstanding and the muddling up of the facts.

For the rest of us during a Mercury retrograde period it pays not to make decisions, sign contracts and prepare for disruptions in plans.  Decisions made now are often reversed after Mercury goes direct.  Information is not available while Mercury is retrograde.  This information pops up after Mercury moves in direct motion. It pays to check and doubled check on appointments, travel plans and gossip that surfaces now.

Moon ends the week in Gemini and remains there throughout the weekend until early Monday morning.  Gemini Moon is a restless Moon. People are talkative, adaptable and willing to exchange ideas and information.  Keep in mind the retrograde Mercury.  There is little danger of being overly emotional while Moon travels through Gemini as rationalization rules the day.