Winter Solstice and Beyond - A Rock and Roll January 2016

The Sun entering Capricorn is the moment that winter begins. A time of the year that has been celebrated since before recorded history.  This marks the turning of the wheel of the year, it is the longest night and hereafter the days begin to grow longer. It is and has been a celebration of the return of the light. 

Astrologers cast a chart for a given location for the moment that the Sun enters Capricorn to ascertain what the season will bring.  This is called an Ingress Chart.  I cast the chart for Providence, RI, which is my neck of the woods. The location gives you the angles, i.e., the cusp of the 1^st, 4^th, 7^th, and 10^th houses. The angles change for a chart erected for a difference location.  In Providence, the Ascendant or cusp of the 1^st house is 0 degrees, 59 minutes of Libra.  A chart erected for Washington, DC has 26 degrees, 29 minutes of Virgo Rising on the Ascendant.  This changes the tone of the chart considerably and moves the planets into a different house than the one set for Providence. If you want to know what is going on in the country you set the chart for the capitol of that country.  If you want to know what is going on in a particular state you set the chart for the state capitol. 

Wherever you set the chart, the planetary configurations remain the same. The Sun, indicating the head of state, Governor/President moves from the third house in the Providence chart to the fourth house in the Washington, DC chart.  Here the Governor sits on the angle so her actions will be more noticeable.  The President with the Sun off the angle into the fourth house will take action that is more foundational.

Overall in Rhode Island and across the country money, debt, interest rates and unexpected action from open enemies will occupy the government and the people.

The first week of January 2016 will start the year off with a bang.  Mars goes home to Scorpio. The warrior is vengeful in this sign. He takes action and cuts to the quick. Mercury and Jupiter go retrograde and the Sun squares off with Uranus.  This is a lot of energy packed into one week.  Jupiter can be a real good guy bringing plenty of pizza and a couple of six packs to the party but he can also bring a lot of hot air.  Folks promising more than they can deliver, exaggeration and a philosophy that says my way or the highway.  Sun, square Mr. Surprise Uranus, lights the torch of anything goes. 

On January 25^th Mercury goes direct.  When planets change direction they slow down and seem to sit in one spot, the energy of that planet is strong at this time.  At this moment of direction change Mercury sits on the degree where Pluto was in the Ingress Chart, the Winter Solstice.  Pluto goes to the extreme, in the 4^th house of the Ingress chart he speaks of extreme weather.  A 60 degree Christmas Day is pretty extreme. But be ready because he can go just as extreme in the opposite direction. At the Solstice there was only 4 degrees separating Mercury and Pluto, this is considered a conjunction.  When two planets are conjunct they energy melds, combines and can be either positive or negative depending on other circumstances.  When Mercury changes direction on that degree we revisit what went on at during the Solstice period.  Weather wise Mercury can be windy, with Pluto strong wind.  The wind could come from the mouths of those who wish to keep societal constructs in place or from those who want to do just the opposite.  Remember Pluto can destroy, but always something better comes after.  But the transition is always tough.

Remember to keep your cool during this period. Don’t fall victim to fear and hysteria and try to maintain compassion.  Not an easy thing to do.  During difficult times it is important to operate on the highest vibration possible.  Get your inner Mother Theresa going. Breathe, meditate and go to your happy place.  Get outside and touch the Earth. Stay grounded and stick to the high road. 

You Think Last Week Was Tough? Get Ready for More

After teetering on the edge of default Congress finally reached an agreement to raise the debt ceiling; an agreement that many are not happy with. They reached this agreement on Tuesday just before Mercury went retrograde. In typical Mercury retro fashion (nothing resolved) the agreement included a plan to form a committee of 12, 6 from each party to review the budget cuts, revenue and debt ceiling again at the end of the year. If they don’t do this, automatic spending cuts will be implemented in a wide variety of programs. On Friday Standard and Poors downgraded the United States credit rating, from AAA to AA+ citing “the difficulties of bridging the gulf between political parties.”  On top of all this, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell to its lowest since December 2010.

In the July 4, 1776 horoscope of the United States the money planets, Jupiter and Venus are conjunct in the early degrees of Cancer.  Pluto, the great destroyer and ruler of debt, taxes and interest rates is presently sitting directly across from these planets at 5 degrees of Capricorn.  Revolutionary Uranus currently at 4 degrees of Aries has been and will be creating a stressful square to the US Jupiter and Venus as well as to transiting Pluto. The energies created by the dynamic action between Uranus and Pluto impact financial, political and social constructs all over the world. Their last conjunction, occurring in the tumultuous sixties, should give you an idea as to how they shake up society. Today in their waxing square aspect we have most of Europe, along with the US, is in the financial toilet, revolutionary fire spreading across the Middle East; terrorism rearing its ugly head in the most unlikely places, natural disasters and weather extremes creating human misery across the globe.

Here on the eastern seaboard of the United States, Mars entered Cancer early Wednesday morning on August 3, 2011.  Zero degrees of any Cardinal sign; (Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn) is a potent degree. These are the degrees that change the seasons, a lot of energy there.  Pluto and Uranus are in the early degrees of Cardinal signs as is the Jupiter and Venus of the United States. Pluto and Uranus are already messing with these money planets and when Mars enters the picture, well he is the original Action Jackson.  

Last week there was quite a bit of turmoil in the United States, politically as well as financially.  There is more to come. Today, Sunday, August 07, 2011 transiting Mars is conjunct the US Venus. Before the week is out he will connect with the United States Jupiter bringing more money woes for sure with the diplomatic arena not looking to healthy either. Transiting Saturn, hip deep into the Cardinal sign Libra will move into stressful square aspect to the United States Sun.  As the Sun in a mundane chart signifies Heads of State it is safe to assume that Obama’s got himself a big headache.  Transiting Saturn often puts you between a rock and a hard place.

Monday morning at 5:46 AM EDT, pesky little Mercury retrogrades back into Leo and then he opposes Neptune in Aquarius.  I would check every fact and figure that crosses my radar. Don’t take anything at face value. Do your homework and avoid snap decisions.  On Tuesday, 12:34 PM EDT, Mars, Mr. Action, squares off with Uranus, Mr. Upset and later in the afternoon the Moon enters Capricorn and the fun begins as Old Lunar kicks off those Cardinal Degrees.  By Thursday when Mars opposes Pluto be ready for scorched earth, literally and figuratively.  Major events are unfolding now and we may not know or understand what is really happening or what the fallout will be for many Moons. Whatever the case may be, this week’s run up to the Full Moon in Aquarius on Saturday will be volatile, unpredictable and violent.

Barack Obama's Solar Return 2011

I always look at the Solar Return chart of the President of the United States because what is going on the President’s chart holds significance for the country as a whole. A Solar Return chart is a horoscope for the moment in time when the Sun makes its annual return to the sign and degree of the natal Sun.  This chart is a valuable predictive tool that reveals the conditions, events and themes of the upcoming year for the individual.  The Sun’s placement in the Solar Return chart reveals the focus for the upcoming year. In President Obama’s Return chart the Sun falls in the second house of money.  Money, debt, budgets and value systems play an important role. No big surprise there.  The President faces powerful opposition.  For the most part he knows who opposes him but this year will bring some surprises.  There are those that are not being quite honest with him and when the truth comes to light there will be a few shifts in alliances.  Women and diplomacy play an important role, a smart, intellectual, thinking woman in particular. There will be a lot of tense public meetings and events. Whatever agreement they come up with over the next few weeks will not be one that will stick because it will not really settle anything in a permanent way. The President knows this and will work throughout the year to consolidate, revise and review; getting all his ducks in a row for the big 2012 push.  He will have a serious communication problem with difficulty getting his message heard and understood.  Surprising, unexpected, innovative and unusual actions and events will highlight his year. Since he is the President much of this will play out in the public arena.  He will appear moody, emotional and at times petulant.  There will be a lot going on behind the scenes.  He may do an about face when he finds that those he thinks he can trust are perfectly willing to stab him in the back. There are powerful forces aligned against him and his reactions will often be based on emotion rather than intellect.  Within him this year is a need to negotiate, to see both sides of the picture and come to a just and equitable agreement.  This is a year where President Obama will make enemies of friends and friends of enemies.  Life will not be dull as the President faces difficult choices, hard negotiations and powerful, influential enemies.  The week after his birthday as we roll up to the Full Moon in Aquarius will be a week of action.  When listening to the late, breaking news, don’t rush to judgment. Be wary of lies, slurs, exaggerations and plain misinformation coming from all sides of the political spectrum with the media jumping in without a thought to something as simple as a fact check.

This Week March 8 to 13 - Mars Direct and Barack Obama

This week Mars ends the long retrograde period that began in December, making a station, (appearing to stop in the sky) and turning direct. Now Mars is the planet of action, in retrograde motion he puts a damper on any endeavor. Projects and plans suffer many starts, sputters, and stops while Mars is in retrograde motion. Mars goes direct on Wednesday, March 10th. Leo Barack Obama who has been pussy footing around the health care issue since last fall will pick up the gauntlet and begin aggressively pursuing his goals. Mars will give him the juice. During the retrograde period he has been positioning himself and strategizing. Direct Mars says planning and positioning is over, time to take action. He has from now until June to get the job done. Mars will give him the pump as he rolls over Obama’s Leo planets. He has already started ahead of the direction change. On the 29th of March Mars will join forces with Obama’s Mercury. This could signal some news or the signing of important documents. Leo Barack Obama will not lose this fight. Leo’s love the limelight, love to be on stage and they do not like to lose face. Leo’s are fixed signs and when they put their minds to it, they have an iron will. This week Venus makes important aspects on the day before Mars turns direct and on the day after. On Tuesday, Venus opposes Saturn in the sky. Venus rules money, Saturn rules contraction and restriction. The Dow closed lower today, Monday the 8th. On Thursday, Venus, the money gal, squares off with Pluto. Pluto rules big government, big banks, and big power structures. Venus is in his face. Venus likes fair and equitable. Pluto likes power. This is going to be an interesting week as we watch the markets and Obama take the gloves off and get down to some bare knuckle fighting.

What happened to Barack Obama? Why is he not delivering?

Everyone’s wondering what happened to Obama? I mean, he took the world by storm when he went up against Hillary Clinton. He won primary and the election, coming on with both guns blazing. Then he seemed to fizzle out. A look at his horoscope and the horoscope of his inauguration provides some answers. Barack Obama is a limelight loving Leo born in Honolulu, Hi. Trust me, when it comes to the accuracy of birth dates, birth times and birth places, Astrologers are more rigorous and rigid in their pursuit and demand for accuracy than any “birther” questioning Barack Obama’s suitability for the Presidential office. Obama’s Leo Sun is positioned in the 6th house of work and service to others. He has Mercury, (at home and functioning well in the 6th house) and Uranus in Leo as well. So what happened to his message and his administration? On Inauguration day, January 20, 2009, Mercury was retrograde at 0 Aquarius opposing Obama’s Leo Mercury. This speaks to the mixed messages and unclear positions that have been coming out of the White House and will characterize his term of office. The other culprit is Mars. On October 6, 2009, Mars entered Leo and proceeded to roll over Obama’s Leo Mercury, Sun and cross into his 7th house of significant others and open enemies. It hit his Sun on November 14, 2009; right around the time he announced that the 9/11 perpetrator would be tried in New York. On December 20, 2009 Mars went retrograde. When it hit Obama’s Sun again, the news was that the trial may not be in New York. Mars will travel all the way back to 0 Leo before it changes direction and begins to move forward on March 10, 2010. Mars will then revisit Obama’s Leo planets, Mercury on March 29th and the Sun on April 30th. (The terror trial will be in the news again) So what this means in plain English is, Mars has been cramping his style and will do so until it hits his planets again while in direct motion. Mars is the planet of action; it revs us up and keeps us going. In retrograde motion it lacks the drive, the sizzle and the pop. Mars retrograde is about strategy and the formulation of a battle plan. Leo’s like to be out there and up front and this type of action does not suit them. Obama is probably chafing and champing at the bit. Even though the election campaign was a long, hard, slogging battle, it will seem like a piece of cake after Obama has had four years of the White House. He may to appear more decisive and deliver clearer messages beginning in 2011 through 2012 but all indications lead to a tough uphill battle for him. The results of the 2010 elections will show us whether the task will become more difficult for him or not.