Feel Like You Are Riding a Roller Coaster? You Are.

Right now we are hip deep into the most volatile period of the year. I have written about the converging cycles of the outer planets that reach their crescendo during the summer months of 2010. So here we are in the thick of it. Jupiter squares (90 degree angle) Pluto today, July 24, 2010 at 9:51 PM EDT. Saturn will make the 5th and last opposition to Uranus on Monday, July 26, 2010. The first of this series occurred on Election Day in 2008, and the election mirrored the symbolism of these two in opposition, old/young, tradition/innovation, and the conventional as opposed to the revolutionary. Obama not only changed the game because he was the first black President but also in the way he raised massive amount of money through small donations. Prior to this, that kind of money was only raised through rich, powerful people and entities. By the end of the week, Mars will move into Libra and will first oppose youthful revolutionary Uranus on Friday and on Saturday he will join hands with conservative Saturn. The first week of August, Jupiter will once again square off with Pluto. Mars will join the party, with an opposition to Jupiter and a square to Pluto. What Mars brings to the table is military action, a bit of strife, and a willingness to dispute or fight. If your birthday falls during this period, these energies will be present in your Solar Return, the Solar Return chart is a strong indicator of the types of issues, events and action you will be dealing with for the upcoming year. These major aspects occur and affect the early degrees of the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn as well. So if your birthday falls between the 19th and 27th of March, June, September and December you can expect the Rock and Roll that your life has become to continue for awhile. These are life changing times for you. At times the outside events bring great change to your life but often there is an inner change that occurs that can be or bring about an enormous change. For all of us we can expect weather related events, fluctuation in the stock market and financial world, a few natural or manmade disasters, a diplomatic or international crisis or two to add to the fear and terror many feel when the world around them is changing. During these troubling times a little meditation goes a long way. Find your still center, this is the calm in the center of the storm, this is your true north. Listen, breathe, this too shall pass.

Solar Eclipse, Sunday, July 11, 2010

This week brings the New Moon of July 11, 2010, a total Solar Eclipse visible across the Pacific and lower South America. The New Moon energy is felt for the entire lunar month. With a Solar Eclipse the impact is felt for a longer period. If the Solar Eclipse is up close and personal with a planet or personal point in your chart you can expect a year of change. The planet/s touched by the eclipse and the house it falls in give you an idea where the action will take place. A tenth house eclipse might signal a career change, a new boss or a shift in your life’s direction. An eclipse conjunct a personal planet like moon (emotions, Mom), Mercury (communication, siblings), Venus (love, money, relationships) or Mars (energy, action) will shake up the issues associated with that planet. This eclipse, sun and moon are in a close aspect with the planet Mars situated 60 degrees away in the sign of Virgo. This type of aspect brings opportunity through connections or networking. The eclipse itself is in Cancer, the sign of home and family. Here in the United States, the chart set for Washington, DC, the eclipse falls in the 9th house of international relationships. International affairs, diplomacy, courts and religion take center stage. We are within the time band of the stressful configuration between the outer planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto. Around the Full Moon, Saturn and Uranus make their 5th and final opposition in the series that began on Election Day in 2008. This Solar Eclipse serves to stir up the conflicts, issues and personalities that frame the present day. Worthy and unworthy individuals will rise and fall. Political change is a given. Treaty violations, border disputes create international incidents requiring delicate diplomacy. Women play an important role in these affairs. Wall Street will try to wiggle out of any regulation. The end of July will see more scandals involving important people involving finances, the environment or the low down cheating spouse; or all of the above. A natural eruption, flood or major storm stretches an already stretched budget. As much as we try to ignore and insulate ourselves from the discord around us it becomes nearly impossible. Remember to breathe.

This Week July 5, 2010 - Change is in the Air

This week will be a week of change and a shift in trends, path and focus. Monday, July 5th Uranus changes direction going from direct to retrograde. When a planet appears to slow down and stop before it changes direction the energies of that planet are enhanced and qualities associated with that planet come to the fore. Of course, it really does not go backwards, it appears so from our vantage point here on earth. Where transiting Uranus falls in your chart is the area that gets the vibe from the changing direction. The only thing we can say for sure about Uranus transits is: expect the unexpected. Uranus brings change and something new into your life. This can be good or not so good, depending on how resistant you are to change. We are creatures of habit and the good or bad of a Uranus transit depends on whether your life is one of the rigid, stuck in a rut variety. Often we remain at a job we hate or in a marriage that makes us miserable because we cling to the familiar and fear the unknown. When Uranus comes along, be ready for change. You can make it easy on yourself by being open to that change. If you don’t change on your own initiative, outside events will force that change upon you. Hate the job? Along comes Uranus and the plant shuts down. Unhappy marriage, out of the blue comes the unfaithful spouse. Uranus is a game changer and rule breaker. When Uranus gets up close and personal with one of your planets or transits sensitive points in your chart, brace yourself. Moving on to Venus, the Goddess of Love and Money, who makes one final aspect to that old deceiver, Neptune before she exits center stage Leo and moves into the more shy, sedate Virgo. Venus brings things/people/events to you as it is a Yin planet. A keyword for Venus is attract, which is why it rules love because we must be “attracted” to someone before we can begin the game of love. Venus transits are usually nice, so nice that we often don’t notice them. Venus brings the creative impulse, as well as a bit of lazy, self indulgence. A Venus transit through your first house will bring invitations, people, and cultural events into your life. Another mover and shaker this week is the planet Mercury as it makes interesting aspects this week before changing signs as well. First a friendly chat with sober Saturn before leaving Cancer, then a grand entrance into Leo on Friday; where by the end of that day, a fiery connection with Uranus hints at an upset to the norm or some shocking news. Mercury rules our everyday routine. The people, places and things that we do so routinely that we barely notice them. We often fail to see how important these day to day exchanges are until they are not there. How we depend on that barista who makes our coffee just so. When Mercury transits a particular area of the horoscope, that is where you find the mental focus, communications with and discussions about. What we want, how and who we talk to, will shift as the week progresses up to Sunday’s, (July 11, 2010) New Moon Solar Eclipse. The Fourth of July celebrations on Monday, July 5th will have the flavor of the Uranus direction change and will start the week off with a bang, literally and figuratively. Make a mental note when Mercury changes signs on Friday and Venus on Saturday. Who do you want to talk with, who do you want to be with and what do you want to do? And where is Uranus nudging you into change?

Karl Rove, Lunar Eclipse, Solar Eclipse and Pluto

Karl Rove was George W. Bush’s Senior advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff but his connection to the Bush family goes back to 1973 when Bush Sr., then chairman of the RNC, chose him to be the chairman of the College Republicans after a contentious and controversial convention where the College Republicans had 2 votes and 2 winners. At that time transiting Saturn opposed his natal sun and transiting Pluto was on his natal Saturn. These two planets were in their waning square phase, as they are now. Saturn is about society’s structure, organization and authority figures. Pluto’s nature brings issues of power and control, most often beneath the surface or behind the scenes. When playing on the world stage Pluto manipulates on a mass scale through propaganda and psychological warfare. This relationship between Rove and Bush, father and son, is a Plutonian one. In the May 27, 2010 issue of Rolling Stone there was an article entitled “Rove Rides Again” about Karl Rove’s involvement with various conservative 527 organizations. 527’s are tax exempt organizations that avoid regulations by the Federal Election Commission. In essence, Rove is capturing all the big money donors that normally contribute to the Republican National Committee. This is a Plutonian end run around the official front of the Republican Party. They are amassing huge funds because Barack Obama, through his collection of hundreds of millions in small donations, has changed the game. This group loves all the hoopla around the Tea Party, Sarah Palin and the like because it allows them to work quietly behind the scenes, Pluto again. What sparks may astrological interest is that this week’s Full Moon Lunar Eclipse falling at 4 degrees of Capricorn, has the moon and Pluto joined at the hip, as they oppose the sun at 4 degrees of Cancer. They sit right on Karl Rove’s natal sun at 3 degrees of Capricorn. In July, the New Moon of the 11th is a Solar Eclipse with sun and moon at 19 Cancer opposing his Mercury and Venus. His moon in Cancer, with no exact time I cannot tell where, may configure in as well. With Pluto so strong in the picture here my guess is that Karl Rove is making a major move now. Pluto on the sun is a powerful, transformative transit. Pluto sucks you in, leads you down the garden path and fills you with hubris. It is very important with Pluto transits to maintain a high spiritual purpose otherwise Pluto will bring you down. Expect news and events concerning Rove, fundraising tactics and techniques to surface now. With Uranus and Jupiter in the picture the “big news” will be big on the shock factor. This summer promises to be one that we will all remember. And keep your eye on Karl Rove.

Summer Solstice, Full Moon, Lunar Eclipse

The Summer Solstice, the moment when the season changes from spring to summer, takes place on Monday, June 21, 2010 at 7:30 AM EDT. The Ingress Chart, the chart cast for the moment the Sun enters Cancer, is a useful tool to forecast what the season will bring. This Summer Solstice chart reflects the current turmoil in the world and promises more to come. The Sun in these Mundane Charts represents heads of state, CEO’s, leaders and any person who is in charge. Where the Sun is situated and aspects from the other planets point to the types of activities our leaders will be up to. Here in the US, with the Ingress Chart set for Washington, DC the Sun falls in the 12th house of secrets and behind the scenes manipulation and machinations. The Sun is under a lot of pressure receiving stressful aspects from the heavy hitters of the Zodiac, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto. President Barack Obama, a Leo, will put a good face on it all but he faces battles on many fronts, Wall Street, bankers, Congress, Courts as well as an international crisis or two to keep him on his toes. The season should get off to a rousing start as the Sun quickly squares off with Uranus, Mr. Surprise, and then Jupiter, Mr. Abundance. At the end of the week, the Full Moon Eclipse on June 26th sits with Pluto. This is not a happy little aspect. Pluto brings major upheaval. With Uranus and Jupiter in the mix, it is anything goes, from natural disasters, like earthquakes, volcanoes, storms and fires to manmade disasters like we are seeing in the Gulf of Mexico. It is going to be a roller coaster ride so hang on to your hat. I expect something really bizarre, seemingly from out of nowhere that will shock and dismay many people. Some of that shock comes from the actions of heads of state. Expect the unexpected. Meditate and take the higher path always. The highly spiritual individuals withstand these tumultuous periods easier than those who cling to social status and material things. Remember, this too shall pass.

David Cicilline a Rhode Island Kinda Guy

Yesterday David Cicilline formally kicked off his campaign for Congress. David Cicilline has a brother who is a convicted felon, a father who is a mob lawyer and he is gay. He’s a Rhode Island kinda guy, you know what I mean? Cicilline’s a Cancer with, I am fairly certain, a Leo Moon. Cancer’s love to nurture and be nurtured, they are sensitive and at times moody. His Leo Moon loves the spotlight. With Mercury in Cancer he speaks what he feels. David also has a wide, out of sign conjunction between Saturn and Jupiter. Saturn is strong in Capricorn. Saturn rules the father in a natal chart. His father is strong and powerful making a deep impression upon him but the relationship was not without problems. At the same time the relationship brought great benefits. A familiar conundrum many of us face. We have known for months that David Cicilline is running for Congress but the formal kick off is an important event and the chart for that time offers clues to how the campaign will go. Yesterday transiting Venus was sitting on top of David’s Sun. Venus is considered the “lesser benefic” bringing good fortune wherever she goes. Venus attracts. Venus is an important planet in David Cicilline’s natal chart. He leads with that Venus. Transiting Mars had just shifted gears moving from Leo to Virgo bringing a lot of energy to his Leo and Virgo planets. He is going to attract a lot of money, make important connections and put on a “really big show”. On Primary day transiting Mercury (the vote, the polls,) hugs his natal Pluto (power, control, masses of people) and transiting Pluto opposes his natal Mercury. He has a lot of action going on between his natal planetary positions and the current planetary positions, as all the candidates usually do and like Patrick Lynch, who is running for Governor, he has made his candidacy formal under the very powerful conjunction between Jupiter and Uranus. The planetary lineup on Primary Day indicates to me that that is where the action is. It is going to be an interesting day and not without a number of surprises. Cicilline is running with that energy. His opponents are Bill Lynch and David Segal with Anthony Gemma expected to join the race. This campaign season promises upsets, surprise and unexpected events. Stay tuned and keep your eye peeled for the proverbial monkey wrench.

Patrick Lynch's Run for Governor

Saturday, June 5, 2010 Attorney General, Patrick Lynch formally launched his bid for Governor of Rhode Island. He faces a Primary election on September 14, 2010 against Frank Caprio. Patrick Lynch is an Aquarian with a Pisces Moon. Without a time of birth it is impossible to pinpoint the exact degree of that Moon, but a noon time chart places it at 19 degrees Pisces. This tells me that given the speed of the Moon that the Moon was in Pisces at the beginning of the day as well as at the end of the day. So Pisces Moon it is. Now an Aquarian Sun is intellectual, original, independent, and usually a humanitarian and reformer. Aquarians depend upon the rational; they look to topple the old in order to bring about the new. Pisces Moon, pardon the pun, is another kettle of fish. Pisces Moon is gentle, intuitive, dreamy and sensitive. There is a tendency to be self sacrificing, sympathetic and empathetic. Often these individuals have trouble defining their space, their sense of “I am” as they seem to meld and merge with those around them. The Sun is what we are conscious of; it is the heart of the person and all other planets and points are filtered through that Sun. The Moon is our unconscious, our emotions, and signifies what we need. Patrick Lynch needs to talk to God, to escape from the harsh realities of this world. Some with strong Pisces in their chart do this by bellying up to the bar; others sink to their knees before their favorite altar. Most are somewhere in the middle. With Patrick Lynch this Aquarius/Pisces combination brings a strong desire to serve, help and assist. The Aquarius Sun does this intellectually, while the Pisces Moon does it through the gut, it “feels” like the right thing to do. On the day that his formal announcement took place; the waning Moon was in Pisces, a Lunar Return for Patrick Lynch. Waning Moon is not good for starting something you want to grow, but transiting Moon on his Natal Moon pumps him up for action. Emotionally he’s in sync with the prevalent energy. What intrigues me most about the planetary positions on that day is that between the transiting planets, (where the planets are in the sky at a given moment) and his natal planets a combination was created that astrologer’s call a YOD, or as it is sometimes called, “the finger of God”. People born with this aspect are generally unique and kind of special, like Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo. (To be clear, Patrick was not born with this aspect, he’s no Da Vinci) This set up between the transiting planets and Patrick Lynch’s natal planets says a lot about what kind of campaign he will run. The planets involved speak to the type of energy expended. On this day of formal announcement Patrick Lynch’s natal Venus at 29 Capricorn was sextile (60 degrees) to transiting Jupiter at 29 Pisces (where Jupiter was in the sky that day). Venus was also Inconjunct (150 degrees) from transiting Mars at 29 Leo. A sextile is nice and easy, creating flowing connections while an Inconjunct is an aspect of agitation and adjustment. Mars is the apex of this configuration. This is a competition, a fight and Mars wants to win. Also, transiting Saturn was conjunct (right on top of) Patrick Lynch’s natal Mars. What this means in plain old English is: Saturn on his Mars tells me that Patrick is going to have to work hard and his victories will come in increments. Any advances will be hard fought and hard won but they will be advances that are worth the fight. Mars at the apex of the YOD also indicates a great deal of energy expended and with Jupiter in that configuration, think abundance of energy. Venus, the natal planet involved in this configuration signifies what Patrick wants. Moon is what you need, Venus is what you want. Venus in Capricorn is all dressed up in her business suit and wants to be the executive, the head of state, chief of staff. All this energy is focused on that Venus. On Primary Day, Jupiter, through retrograde motion, comes back to that Venus. This can be good but Jupiter; running with Uranus on that day tells me that there is going to be a certain element of surprise. With Uranus, if you can think of it now, that isn’t it. I mean surprise, straight out of left field, the cosmos, the bolt from the blue. For sure, Primary Day will start out one way and end up in a totally different place.