The July Eclipses – End of the World or What?

There are two eclipses in the month of July.  The Solar Eclipse on July 12, 2018 and the Lunar Eclipse on July 27, 2018. There has been a lot of hype about the upcoming Lunar Eclipse because it is the longest eclipse of the 21^st century and it appears to be red. Contrary to the alarmists among us, this is not a portent of the end times.  It is merely a refraction of the light as the Sunlight passes through the Earth’s atmosphere and is “bent” so it strikes the Moon’s surface.  This “bending” also causes those beautiful sunsets that folks are always snapping with their phones and posting on Facebook.

The July 12^th Solar Eclipse degree of 20 Cancer is in direct opposition to Pluto at 20 Capricorn.  Pluto rules elimination, disintegration, transformation, terrorism, corruption and destruction.  Not a fun planet. While there are other aspects in play at this eclipse, Pluto is the big dog here.  There is a lovely Grand Trine between Uranus in Taurus (revolution), Saturn in Capricorn (tradition), and Venus in Virgo (diplomacy). Will a balance (Venus) be created between the new (Uranus) and the old (Saturn)?   Jupiter (borders/treaties) in Scorpio is trine Neptune (fraud) in Pisces.  Someone or something is not what they appear to be. Mars (the warrior) retrograde conjunct the South Node in the 12^th house indicates covert action. Retrograde says be careful, think before you act.

Activity around this Eclipse include fires blazing across the western half of the US and floods plaguing other areas of the US and the world.  A Thai Soccer team is trapped in an underground cave and the world watches as a difficult rescue operation takes place.

 Secretary of State Pompeo visiting Korea with two totally different versions being presented.  President Trump is to meet with Putin in Helsinki on the 16^th.   When world leaders, movers and shakers meet around this time you can bet that big dog Pluto will be in play.  It’s all about power and control, who controls what and where does the big money go.  Here in the US, the chart has Pisces Rising with that old deceiver Neptune in the first house.  With Neptune connected to the 8^th house Jupiter expect big exaggeration and a fancy front to cloak all the cloak and dagger stuff. Taxes, tariffs and treaties are all on the agenda.

The Lunar Eclipse closes the month.  At a Full Moon things come to fruition and this one promises to bring some fireworks that will make the 4^th of July celebrations seem quiet in comparison.  Our old buddy Mars retrograde is together with the Moon at this event.

 Mars goes retrograde about every two years.  This is not a good time to start a war or love affair. In matters of love folks often decide to take a break from each other during a Mars retrograde period to figure out whether or not they wish to stay together.  This is the time to review ones actions and plan for future actions.  Mars goes direct again on August 28^th.   If you can delay taking any action until then, you would do better at achieving your goal. When begun under a retrograde Mars actions do not produce the outcome expected.

At this Lunar Eclipse, the Moon and Mars oppose the Sun and square Uranus.  This is a dynamic aspect that usually shakes things up and makes things happen. With the planet Uranus involved it is difficult to say what that “thing” might be.  Mars squared Uranus is not a pretty sight on its own, couple it with the Lunar Eclipse and things can get ugly. This could be a man-made ugliness or a natural event.  Earthquakes, explosions, tornadoes, riots and violence.  Uranus shocks us with the unexpected bringing actions and events that we could not possibly conceive of.  Pearl Harbor and 9/11 were Uranus events, both shocking and inconceivable at the time.  This eclipse in the chart for Washington, DC falls across the 2^nd/8^th house axis. This has to do with money.  With Uranus pulled into the mix think speculation and risk taking.  With Uranus in the 5^th minors, schools, places of amusements and the Senate are called into play.  August 1^st +/- a week is an especially volatile period.

Astrology is not about prediction, it is about reality.  What energies are prevalent? What possibilities are there?  The energy is active and unstable.  The information is suspect. The Lunar Eclipse has a retrograde Mercury so the information is doubly suspect.  When emotions run high stop and think.  Who or what is stoking that emotional response? During this eclipse period try to avoid knee-jerk responses. Try and maintain balance and remain grounded amidst the conflicting energies. Mercury goes direct on August 19^th and Mars on August 27^th.  Life will look different after that, so hunker down and endure until then.

Looking For Trouble? No Need - This Full Moon Will Bring It.

This Full Moon falls across the Cancer/Capricorn axis.  Saturn in Capricorn sits on the Moon and opposes the Sun.  The Moon/Saturn combination is involved in a configuration with Uranus in Taurus and Ceres in the last degrees of Leo. This configuration is called a Grand Trine.  A Grand Trine is considered an aspect of ease and as such it makes it easy for the various energies to blend and does not hinder the action. 

While Jupiter may rule the law, courts and the judiciary Saturn rules the obeying of that law.  If you cross that line, Saturn is there to step right on your toes.  Saturn supports the traditions and structure of society. Uranus on the other hand flouts tradition and looks for the novel and the new.  When traditions and structure become rigid ruts that is when Uranus steps in to shake things up. Ceres rules agriculture, motherhood and sacred law.  These three are in compatible aspect which infers that the energies they represent will be able to work together. 

The chart of the Full Moon set for Washington, DC has Aries on the ascendant with Chiron close by.  Chiron is a weird little dude called a minor planet, an asteroid or comet, folks just can’t seem to make up their minds about him.  Chiron was considered the wisest of the Centaurs.  Called the wounded healer, it was Chiron who trained the heroes of Greek Mythology.  Here he forms a dynamic aspect between the Sun/Moon/Saturn opposition.  This is called a T-square and is an aspect that creates a lot of action and movement.  This aspect does not make things easy.

The ruler of the Aries ascendant is Mars.  Mars has just turned retrograde.  In Aquarius it is situated in the 11^th house and straddles the Nodal axis.  The nodes of the Moon are the points where the Moon’s orbit crosses the ecliptic. When a New Moon or Full Moon falls near these points we have an eclipse.  Where it hits the ecliptic going north is the North node and directly opposite that is the South Node.  Nodes are important in relationships. This is Nodes in a nutshell, volumes can and have been written about them. To keep it simple, Mars likes to fight.  Retrograde he’s apt to lose. 

Jupiter in Scorpio makes an easy connection to Neptune in Pisces.  On the high road this aspect can open you to the higher realms.  Spirituality, Zen, the Buddha and the road to Nirvana can be found under this aspect.  Taking the low road, Jupiter can bring excess, exaggeration, and too much of a good thing.  Neptune in Pisces can be quite beautiful but also lead one down the primrose path.  Booze, drugs and any way to escape reality fall under Neptune’s purview.  Hope for the best, but expect the worst. This aspect makes the “big lie” easy.

In Mundane astrology, the astrology of world events, the 10^th house rules the head of state. The Sun, which also refers to the head of state is in Cancer in the 4^th house.  The Moon and Saturn oppose it from the 10^th.  An opposition, is just that, the people (Moon) and tradition (Saturn) oppose authority (Sun).  Uranus, the game changer and Ceres, agriculture, women and law are pulled into this mix via their connection to the Sun/Moon. When Saturn opposes you, glib phrases won’t work.  Saturn prefers due diligence and will call you out if you don’t do your homework. The Moon signifies the public.  In Capricorn with Saturn nearby indicates worry, fear and general unhappiness.  With Saturn there, they will do their homework.  Ceres says that women will be active. Uranus brings the revolution. You see this in Egypt where women are finally being allowed to drive and in Iran where women are removing the hijab and waving white scarves in protest. 

This Full Moon has a lot of divergent energy coming together, some of it will clash, and some of it will blend.  The week may seem calm at the beginning but Mars goes retrograde on Tuesday the 26^th.  Mars sits still and the Martian energy concentrates.  People take action under this energy for good or ill.  This will be a week where the news cycle keeps you dizzy and unable to find your footing.  A good antidote is to get outside, preferably in the countryside or at the shore, and plant your feet on the ground.  Ground and center yourself wherever you are.  You need to be grounded in order to withstand the turbulence around you. 

Some of this stressful energy may dissipate by the next New Moon on July 12, 2018.  This is an all-important New Moon as it is a Solar Eclipse as well. Stay tuned.

Happy Summer Solstice or Not?

Maybe not so happy. The Summer Solstice chart for 2018 set for Washington, DC has Neptune in Pisces prominent conjunct the MC, the highest point in the chart.  It is in a Grand Trine configuration with Mercury in Cancer and Jupiter in Scorpio.  Neptune at the highest level is about spirituality and being one with God.  We can only hope.  Most often Neptune is involved with illusion and delusion.  It can indicate the fraudulent and misleading.  Mercury is all about communication and transportation.  Mercury is the news media.  Jupiter brings growth and expansion ruling higher education, the law, religion and philosophy.  It can bring overconfidence, exaggeration and promising more than can be delivered.  With this configuration imprinting our summer days it would be wise to stick to that old adage, “don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you see.”  Be ready for smoke and mirrors and now you see it, now you don’t.

Venus and Mars oppose one another across the 2^nd/8^th house axis.  In a Mundane chart this axis is about money and debts owed and owed to the nation.  Income tax, tariffs and budgets will need attention.  Jupiter is in this pictures as well.  Jupiter in the sign of Scorpio brings debt and interest rates into the picture. 

A few days after the Solstice that 8^th house Mars goes retrograde.  Mars goes retrograde about every 2 years.  Mar is the warrior, the athlete and the initiator of action.  During retrograde periods our initiatives don’t turn out as expected. This is not a good time to start a love affair or a war.  Your sizzle will most likely fizzle.  Mars is retrograde from June 26^th until August 27^th.  Mars will square off with Uranus twice during the summer season.  While retrograde on August 1^st and again when direct on September 18^th as the summer closes.  This is a volatile and explosive aspect which can manifest through natural causes, i.e. volcano or earthquake or through human action.  Either way, it’s not pretty.

 Mercury retrograde overlaps this period from July 26 to August 19^th.  Mercury is retrograde a couple of times a year and it is especially important during these periods to dot the I’s and cross the T’s.  Scheduling mishaps, delays, and unexpected snafus require the ability to make adjustments at a moment’s notice.  Be especially vigilant during the periods when both Mars and Mercury are retrograde.

Into this mix are the summer eclipses.  The first one on July 12^th is a Solar Eclipse in Cancer.  The eclipse point opposes Pluto in Capricorn.  Pluto rules terrorism, guerilla warfare and issues of power and control.  This eclipse may act as a trigger for Plutonian energies.  The accompanying Lunar Eclipse on July 27^th has retrograde Mars conjunct the eclipsed Moon.  This is not a warm and fuzzy aspect. Mercury is now retrograde.  A Lunar Eclipse with Mars and Mercury retrograde fosters a knee-jerk reaction.  Emotions are awry and information is not clear. The final eclipse of the season is the Solar Eclipse on August 11^th in Leo.  Echoes from last January and the 2017 summer eclipses reverberate as issues and events from that time resurface raising questions and bringing pressure to bear in the search for solutions.

Saturn in Capricorn sits on the 7^th house cusp.  This is the house of partnerships and open enemies.  Saturn calls you to duty. Whatever it is, Saturn makes you face it.  The Sun in Cancer opposes this Saturn from the 12^th house.  The Sun is symbolic of the Head of State.  In the 12^th house it points to something secretive going on.  Saturn, the opposition, exposes those secrets. 

Uranus in a grand trine with the asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres reminds us that the women of the world are waking up, speaking out and running for office. Women and children and how we treat them will a major theme over the summer.

There is a lot of energy in this Solstice chart which reflects the turbulent times we are in.  Real fake news is a real problem.  If you want the truth, you’re going to have to dig for it.  And if you find it you will find that some would rather believe the lie.  Neptune’s influence has many looking through rose-colored glasses believing what they want it to be, not what it really is. 

Quarter Moon – Where the Action Is

The First Quarter Moon arrives on Friday, October 27, 2017 at 6:22 PM EDT.  Quarter Moons call for action.  The energy has been shifting all week with Mars’ entry into Libra on Sunday the 22^nd and the Sun entering Scorpio on Monday the 23^rd.  Change is in the air.  Thursday the Sun joins Jupiter in Scorpio and Friday evening Pluto gets into the act when Venus and Mercury connect with the Lord of the Underworld.

So what does it all mean for us simple folk going about our daily business?

Relationships are the focus during this Lunation period which was kicked off by the New Moon in Libra last week.  Mars moving into Libra is chasing Venus who is scampering ahead.  Libra is Venus’ home turf and all those Venusian attributes, love, beauty, harmony are enhanced when Venus is in the house.  Mars on the other hand rules the opposite sign Aries and is in detriment when in Libra.  Mars is the warrior, athlete and explorer and those energies are difficult to express while in the sign of Libra.  So aggressiveness, assertiveness and taking action are not as easy for Mars while traveling through Libra.  Libra is the relationship sign, while Mars, a planet of passion, can just as easily go it alone.  Venus here wants everyone to get along, wants to socialize and be in relationship or relate to others in a congenial manner.

Thursday afternoon the Sun conjuncts Jupiter.  Be on the lookout for those who promise more than can be delivered.  Bragging, boasting and over confidence are common manifestations of this aspect. Judicial matters or thoughts of travel to faraway places emerge.

On Friday, when Venus squares off with Pluto congeniality goes out the window as passions are aroused.  This aspect can bring obsession, tension and jealousy.  It is not about love, it is about power and control.   When Mercury comes along and connects to Pluto we’re reminded that words have power.  They can hurt, heal or set the stage for a new beginning.  At any rate, deep and penetrating conversations are on board.

The Quarter Moon in Aquarius kicks off the weekend and this logical air sign Moon goes a long way in diffusing emotional situations.  Aquarius Moon likes a good argument, is not overly emotional and can detach, take a step back and take a cool look at the situation.  Aquarius Moon is open, but fixed.  It is not easy to get someone to change their mind under this Moon.  It can be done but you better have a good, logical, reasonable argument on hand.

This is the week to shift gears and move ahead, along or take some action of some kind.  The Taurus Full Moon coming up next week will tell another tale.  Stay tuned. 

An Eclipse Recap and Quick Look Ahead

While there are different opinions as to how long the effects of an eclipse will be felt it has been noted that events occurring around an eclipse are significant. This past eclipse promised some explosive action.  A couple of fiery plane crashes on both coasts started the week with a bang.  The stock market made record highs mid-week and Attorney General Sessions is recused himself from the investigation about Russia. Let’s not forget that North Korea is firing missiles and President Trump accused Obama of wiretapping. 

The upcoming week holds some surprises as well. As the Moon moves into Cancer on Monday morning it will aspect the volatile planetary combination in the eclipse chart with Tuesday and Wednesday highlighted for some unusual and unexpected events. I expect “something” to hit the fan Wednesday morning when Cancer Moon makes a nice aspect to the Warrior Mars in Aries.

Thursday the warrior Mars moves from his home sign Aries into Venus’ domain, Taurus. When planets change signs the energy shifts.  Mars in Taurus is not necessarily looking for a fight but there is the danger of digging one’s heels in and sticking to one’s guns even when all evidence and events indicate a change in position.  Taurus is stubborn for sure. Venus, Taurus’ ruler has turned retrograde in Aries.  This is Mars sign and this is a condition called mutual reception with two planets in each other’s sign.  It is said that when this occurs they help each other out.  I don’t know if Mars will be able to assist Venus during this retrograde period.  Venus rules love, money and the things you value.  Venus is about your wants and desires.  A retrograde period often calls these issues into review. Past loves may resurface and current loves get a second look.

This eclipse in Pisces corresponds to the eclipse of September 26, 2016 which was at 9 degrees of Virgo.  For the past few years the eclipses have been falling across the Pisces/Virgo axis.  Eclipses move backward through the Zodiac and this year there is a shift to the Aquarius/Leo axis.  Where these signs fall in your horoscope points to where the action is in your life.  While eclipses bring change, significant change usually occurs when the eclipse is smack-dab on one of the planets in your horoscope with the conjunction being the strongest.  Late May, when the Sun is in Gemini it will make a square, a 90 degree angle, to the eclipse degree activating issues that are current now.

The Full Moon reaches exactness on Sunday morning, March 12^th at 10:54 AM.  In the sky at that time Mercury in Pisces at right angles to Saturn in Sagittarius.  News and the media have been under scrutiny for quite some time now with the term fake news, dishonest news being bandied about.  With this aspect we will hear more of this.  But Saturn in the picture the demand is for the truth.  Pisces Mercury needs to take the high road here and whip off them rose colored glasses.  To add to the mix there is a Grand Cardinal Square, an aspect that involves four bodies in angles and oppositions that look like a square.  This one includes the asteroid Vesta, she who guards the hearth and home, opposing Pluto and at right angle to Jupiter on one side and Uranus on the other.  This is another hit the fan moment. We may not figure it all out until Mercury moves into Aries on Monday afternoon.  While Mercury in Pisces may be a bit confused, Mercury in Aries is going to speak, may not think it through, but the words, news will come out.  This is a Mercury that “shoots from the hip” as the saying goes.  As the Moon winds down it is time to assimilate and digest all that has gone on. The Sun/Moon dance is entering the final phase before the next New Moon.  We can hope things will calm down but we are in a volatile time period with anything goes Uranus in the picture.  Remember to fasten your seat belt.  Try to remain grounded and centered. Knowing that you are on a firm foundation brings a feeling of security no matter what the outside world may bring.

The Solar Eclipse, Donald Trump and the Rest of Us.

Tomorrow’s Solar Eclipse at 8 degrees, 12 minutes of Pisces is a real humdinger. This Eclipse has the warrior Mars conjunct the rebel Uranus with both opposing Jupiter; usually considered benevolent but often bringing too much of a good thing.  This combination squares off with Pluto the destroyer and transformer.  Pluto is the “don’t fuck with me” planet.  You can’t win, he’s inexorable, hangs around for a long time, goes back and forth over the same degrees seemingly forever, he’s there until you get it right or discard it and start anew.

Expect wild swings in the stock market and other financial markets.  Also a surprise, covert military operation.  This has an international flavor with treaties, debt owed the nation and immigration boiling up and overflowing. Strong reactions on all sides confuse the issues.  Monday will start off with a bang. The shock waves will continue throughout the week with Thursday being an especially volatile day.  Saturday Venus begins her retrograde period another factor that will have an impact on the markets. The aspects in the chart of the Eclipse create an anything goes atmosphere.  In addition to the unexpected in the financial and political world the natural world also holds a few surprises.  Uranus in this chart, in combination with Mars, Jupiter and Pluto speaks to explosive events, whether it’s an earthquake, volcano or a shocking headline.

The Putin/Trump/election business will continue to unfold.  And with Jupiter retrograding back to his natal Jupiter he will continue to blow it off as disgruntled Democrats. But Saturn is waiting in the wings.  At present President Trump’s supporters continue to believe and support him despite the obvious and repeated falsehoods.  This summer will be a hot one for him. Some of the allure he holds over folks will begin to unravel.  Cracks will begin to appear in July and August as Saturn hits his Sun and Moon.  By this time next year when Saturn opposes his talker, Mercury, President Trump will be facing some hard truths.

 In the meantime, President Trump will continue to try and control the media. Unlike Russia, where Vladimir Putin has the media in his pocket, here in the United States our Constitution guarantees freedom of the press.  President Trump and his advisors are acutely aware of the power of the media and the importance of controlling the flow of information.  President Trump’s continued battle with the media is an attempt at control.  His speeches and tweets about fake news, dishonest news, failing news are part of his efforts to undermine confidence in the media.  Which isn’t hard to do given that it is corporate media and honest news without a particular slant is hard to find.  But there are some good, honest, hardworking investigative journalists out there and they will continue digging and reporting. 

For the rest of us: Don’t try to rush into things without thinking them through.  Romance may hold disappointments if we are not seeing the other as they really are.  Take off the rose colored glasses and face the reality of the situation.  With Venus retrograding in Aries, love and money can be misplaced.  Mars in Aries wants to rush headlong into whatever strikes the eye, whether it is a love relationship, a money deal or a safari through the Amazon, with no thought to the consequences.  This Eclipse in Pisces nudges us toward the spiritual.  Drop the ego, get beyond the self and get into universal love, caring and giving.  Take the high road.

Trump and Putin – What’s the Connection?

With all the news stories floating around about Russian hacking into Democratic and Republican National Committee’s emails with an eye to influencing the election in Donald Trump’s favor a look at the horoscopes of Putin and Trump and how they interact with one another has been revealing.

Vladimir Putin is a quadruple Libra with Sun, Mercury, Saturn and Neptune in that sign. While Libra is a social sign, the people who need people sign it is often called the iron hand in a velvet glove.  This would seem to fit Putin to a tea.  He spent 16 years in the KGB rising to the rank of Lt. Colonel before becoming Prime Minister, then President of Russia.

When you place Putin’s planets around the outside of Donald Trump’s horoscope you see where his planet’s connect to Donald Trump’s planets. In astrology this type of comparison is called synastry. Synastry can reveal how folks interact with one another, the attractions and the points of friction between people.

There’s an ease of communication between these two. Trump’s Sun and Moon connect favorably with Putin’s Mercury, while Putin’s Venus returns the favor by smiling sweetly at Trump’s Mercury.

But there are issues of power and control here.  Pluto the chief architect of power and control plays a big role in this chart comparison.  Putin’s Pluto in Leo sits on Trump’s 12^th house Mars and is close to Trump’s ascendant. As explained in previous postings, the ascendant is an important component in the horoscope. The 12^th house is the house of secrets and behind the scenes stuff.  This power broker belonging to Putin sits on Trump’s Mars, how he uses his energy, his action planet. So yes, Putin wants to control Trumps movements.

Another control freak, Saturn is in the picture as well.  In Putin’s chart Saturn sits at 17 degrees, 27 minutes of Libra exact to the minute of Trump’s Jupiter in Libra. Saturn is all about restriction and confinement.  And once again control. 

In terms of the power of the planets, Pluto trumps Mars and Saturn trumps Jupiter. Another words, Putin’s got the power. No pun intended.

These planets pull in Trump’s all important Sun/Uranus opposite Moon combination that motivate and activate him.

The picture painted here is Vladimir Putin, behind the scenes pulling the strings. He definitely wants to control Donald Trump. Whether or not Trump is/was aware of these behind the scenes machinations will become apparent as transiting Saturn, in the sky right now, moves into position to kick off Trump’s inner dynamic as well as the dynamic between Trump and Putin.

Saturn is the planet of pay back and he’s been waiting in the wings.  If Trump makes it to the inauguration his first 100 days will not go as he planned.  As the Eclipses of January and February occur more damaging information will come out.  If he survives politically the August Eclipses should finish the job.