Aug 2011
goodnight, Irene
29/Aug/11 09:07
So what happened on the East Coast, particularly New York City, over the past weekend?
On the surface, we were threatened by a massive hurricane and took precautions. Some areas were hit rather hard (check out this video from Spencertown, in upstate New York), but the city escaped the worst of it. All's well that ends well.
If you were in the city over the weekend, you know that a strange and eery vibration informed everything that happened. Cases of water and canned goods hoarded into homes, bathtubs filled with water (is that to drink?!?), and boarded homes and businesses were part precaution, part panic. Mayor Bloomberg's decision to shut the city down as early as Saturday morning seemed extreme, especially the risky move of hundreds of hospital patients.
But even extreme actions don't fully capture the mood. On Facebook, the general feeling seemed to be that this wasn't going to be any kind of storm of the century, and that everyone was over-reacting. But why?
As a table-setter, Neptune's retrograde into Aquarius earlier in November has revived something of the mass panic feel that characterized the watery planet's time in that sign. The impending release of Contagion will revive the bird flu issue, for example.
What better fear than a mass epidemic or natural disaster to play on us with Neptune in the sign of the Water Bearer? During those years, we did have the Asia Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the swine flu issue (or nonissue), and of course the poisoned mail after 9/11. Just as Neptune was leaving Aquarius, the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, and radiation poisoned air and water. As one Facebook follower pointed out, our fear of the wrath of Mother Nature is a reflection of our unwillingness to seriously address global warming.
A little closer to this past weekend, Mercury stationed to go direct on Friday. Misinformation - and perhaps some disinformation - informed our decisions.
The tough Mars aspects to Uranus and Pluto of two weeks earlier were also being revisited. Those aspects coincided with the London riots. On Thursday and Friday of this past week, the moon was in Cancer, going over those same points, and Mars was squaring Saturn. The strong overprotectiveness that we felt, along with the authoritarian response, resonated with these aspects.
Add together Neptune/Aquarius and Mars/Cancer/Saturn, multiply by Mercury stationing, and you have a recipe for paranoia. Over-reaction to the storm is one manifestation. Perhaps Mayor Bloomberg had London on his mind and felt the need to exert control in advance.
Yet there is something deeper about what happened this weekend, and it is more specific to New York. As you know, we are approaching the 10th anniversary of 9/11/01. For all New Yorkers, this grim milestone is a reminder of the many losses, personal and collective, that that day brought.
The next few weeks will be a collective "visit to the cemetery" for us all. There will be a number of events, and strong media coverage. For example, National Geographic channel premiered its interview with President Bush last night.
Astrologically, the resonance of this past weekend with 9/11 was very strong. If you look at the chart for the moment the first plane hit the World Trade Center, you will see that this past weekend Saturn was one degree past the ascendant and tightly conjunct the 9/11 Mercury, while Mars was in partile conjunction with the 9/11 midheaven.
My assessment is that in a sense we "relived" 9/11. Transportation was shut down. No baseball or Broadway. Lower Manhattan was evacuated, and there was talk of cutting off the power there. Airports were closed and the skies were silent.
It wasn't all over-reaction and panic, of course. Some prudent decisions were made. But what we felt was amplified by the strong resonance of this past weekend with 9/11.
On the surface, we were threatened by a massive hurricane and took precautions. Some areas were hit rather hard (check out this video from Spencertown, in upstate New York), but the city escaped the worst of it. All's well that ends well.
If you were in the city over the weekend, you know that a strange and eery vibration informed everything that happened. Cases of water and canned goods hoarded into homes, bathtubs filled with water (is that to drink?!?), and boarded homes and businesses were part precaution, part panic. Mayor Bloomberg's decision to shut the city down as early as Saturday morning seemed extreme, especially the risky move of hundreds of hospital patients.
But even extreme actions don't fully capture the mood. On Facebook, the general feeling seemed to be that this wasn't going to be any kind of storm of the century, and that everyone was over-reacting. But why?
As a table-setter, Neptune's retrograde into Aquarius earlier in November has revived something of the mass panic feel that characterized the watery planet's time in that sign. The impending release of Contagion will revive the bird flu issue, for example.
What better fear than a mass epidemic or natural disaster to play on us with Neptune in the sign of the Water Bearer? During those years, we did have the Asia Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the swine flu issue (or nonissue), and of course the poisoned mail after 9/11. Just as Neptune was leaving Aquarius, the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, and radiation poisoned air and water. As one Facebook follower pointed out, our fear of the wrath of Mother Nature is a reflection of our unwillingness to seriously address global warming.
A little closer to this past weekend, Mercury stationed to go direct on Friday. Misinformation - and perhaps some disinformation - informed our decisions.
The tough Mars aspects to Uranus and Pluto of two weeks earlier were also being revisited. Those aspects coincided with the London riots. On Thursday and Friday of this past week, the moon was in Cancer, going over those same points, and Mars was squaring Saturn. The strong overprotectiveness that we felt, along with the authoritarian response, resonated with these aspects.
Add together Neptune/Aquarius and Mars/Cancer/Saturn, multiply by Mercury stationing, and you have a recipe for paranoia. Over-reaction to the storm is one manifestation. Perhaps Mayor Bloomberg had London on his mind and felt the need to exert control in advance.
Yet there is something deeper about what happened this weekend, and it is more specific to New York. As you know, we are approaching the 10th anniversary of 9/11/01. For all New Yorkers, this grim milestone is a reminder of the many losses, personal and collective, that that day brought.
The next few weeks will be a collective "visit to the cemetery" for us all. There will be a number of events, and strong media coverage. For example, National Geographic channel premiered its interview with President Bush last night.
Astrologically, the resonance of this past weekend with 9/11 was very strong. If you look at the chart for the moment the first plane hit the World Trade Center, you will see that this past weekend Saturn was one degree past the ascendant and tightly conjunct the 9/11 Mercury, while Mars was in partile conjunction with the 9/11 midheaven.
My assessment is that in a sense we "relived" 9/11. Transportation was shut down. No baseball or Broadway. Lower Manhattan was evacuated, and there was talk of cutting off the power there. Airports were closed and the skies were silent.
It wasn't all over-reaction and panic, of course. Some prudent decisions were made. But what we felt was amplified by the strong resonance of this past weekend with 9/11.
do as i say
25/Aug/11 08:23
Okay, so we all know that Mercury is retrograde until tomorrow evening.
Three days before the retrograde might not have been the best time to finally decide to put up a Facebook page and open a Twitter account, but I did. The funny thing about retrogrades is that not only do we experience snafus in the area of life described by the planet, we often feel a real compulsion to do the very things we know we might be better off delaying.
A few clients have asked me about when they can safely go buy new electronics, for example. During Venus retrogrades, we often feel that we want to begin a new relationship. And during Mars retrogrades - well, we want to do a lot of things.
Anyway, it was no surprise when yesterday morning I logged onto my Facebook page and found myself confronted with the setup screen. It wanted me to upload a photo, invite friends, and all the other first steps - steps I had taken a month before.
Later in the day, I just forwarded through all those screens, and eventually got back to my page, just as I had left it the day before. But in the meantime, I decided to take my own advice, and rather than anxiously or angrily dealing with the Mercurial setback, I went to the zoo.
Three days before the retrograde might not have been the best time to finally decide to put up a Facebook page and open a Twitter account, but I did. The funny thing about retrogrades is that not only do we experience snafus in the area of life described by the planet, we often feel a real compulsion to do the very things we know we might be better off delaying.
A few clients have asked me about when they can safely go buy new electronics, for example. During Venus retrogrades, we often feel that we want to begin a new relationship. And during Mars retrogrades - well, we want to do a lot of things.
Anyway, it was no surprise when yesterday morning I logged onto my Facebook page and found myself confronted with the setup screen. It wanted me to upload a photo, invite friends, and all the other first steps - steps I had taken a month before.
Later in the day, I just forwarded through all those screens, and eventually got back to my page, just as I had left it the day before. But in the meantime, I decided to take my own advice, and rather than anxiously or angrily dealing with the Mercurial setback, I went to the zoo.
the absent sun
23/Aug/11 07:54
It is worth noting that on yesterday's sun-Neptune opposition, those not present - particularly men - were making headlines. We had both bright and dark images of men as leaders, yet neither was with present - the absent sun.
Martin Luther King was one man not with us yesterday, although in Neptunian fashion he was here in spirit, as his memorial opened in Washington.
More darkly, as Libya appears to join the Middle Eastern dictatorships that have fallen, their leader, Moammar Gadhafi was nowhere to be found.
Martin Luther King was one man not with us yesterday, although in Neptunian fashion he was here in spirit, as his memorial opened in Washington.
More darkly, as Libya appears to join the Middle Eastern dictatorships that have fallen, their leader, Moammar Gadhafi was nowhere to be found.
wedding bells
22/Aug/11 08:55
I somehow missed it!
With Venus in Leo opposing Neptune in Aquarius, I expected that we would have a story about a prominent female in the news sometime over the weekend.
But it wasn't until this morning that I realized that this weekend was Kim Kardashian's wedding! The event had all the elements - Kim standing in for Venus in Leo, with USA Today even describing it as a 'royal' wedding. And of course, there is a ton of illusion (Neptune) and lots and lots of media (Aquarius) surrounding the event.
Today, we might see a more serious manifestation of the sun-Neptune opposition, as Libya's Moammar Gadhafi, representing an extreme of solar power (ah, yes, sadly even Leonine energy can go wrong) is pressured by the international community and rebels in his own country to step down.
And/or, we might just see another movie star gathering Neptunian attention - Charlie Sheen, are you there?
In our personal lives, it can be a matter of seeing clearly versus over-idealizing someone or something. We might find someone to be a 'star' in our lives, or we could decide to step into the limelight ourselves. Either way, it could be the case that today's fanfare fades as quickly as the hoopla about Kimmy's wedding will.
By the way, there is no particular reason why today's picture is a Marigold.
With Venus in Leo opposing Neptune in Aquarius, I expected that we would have a story about a prominent female in the news sometime over the weekend.
But it wasn't until this morning that I realized that this weekend was Kim Kardashian's wedding! The event had all the elements - Kim standing in for Venus in Leo, with USA Today even describing it as a 'royal' wedding. And of course, there is a ton of illusion (Neptune) and lots and lots of media (Aquarius) surrounding the event.
Today, we might see a more serious manifestation of the sun-Neptune opposition, as Libya's Moammar Gadhafi, representing an extreme of solar power (ah, yes, sadly even Leonine energy can go wrong) is pressured by the international community and rebels in his own country to step down.
And/or, we might just see another movie star gathering Neptunian attention - Charlie Sheen, are you there?
In our personal lives, it can be a matter of seeing clearly versus over-idealizing someone or something. We might find someone to be a 'star' in our lives, or we could decide to step into the limelight ourselves. Either way, it could be the case that today's fanfare fades as quickly as the hoopla about Kimmy's wedding will.
By the way, there is no particular reason why today's picture is a Marigold.
ideally...
20/Aug/11 09:41
On Sunday and Monday, Venus and the sun will take turns making oppositions to Neptune. The book on these aspects suggests getting taken for a ride by a con man of one type or the other... seeing too much in a potential lover, or following an ideal that comes crashing down. With Mercury and Neptune both retrograde, it certainly is the case that we could act on misinformation. But...
Neptune-in-Aquarius issues like health care and immigration can get a fresh look under these oppositions. We'll be revisiting these issues over the coming months, until Neptune returns to Pisces next year. What these oppositions do is to give a personal face to public issues.
For example, there are two stories in the news about immigration. President Obama's recent decision about deportation procedures includes the possibility of gay marriages being considered ground for an undocumented immigrant staying in the U.S., and a San Francisco couple is using this to appeal deportation.
Perhaps even more powerfully, the man who rescued a kidnapped six year old girl in New Mexico has revealed that he is an undocumented immigrant.
These two news stories put personal faces of love (Venus) and heroism (the sun) on the immigration issue, throwing Leonine light on the Aquarian debate. A higher manifestation of the aspects over the next two days could be greater compassion. Venus in opposition to Neptune - sharing the love, transcending the boundaries.
Neptune-in-Aquarius issues like health care and immigration can get a fresh look under these oppositions. We'll be revisiting these issues over the coming months, until Neptune returns to Pisces next year. What these oppositions do is to give a personal face to public issues.
For example, there are two stories in the news about immigration. President Obama's recent decision about deportation procedures includes the possibility of gay marriages being considered ground for an undocumented immigrant staying in the U.S., and a San Francisco couple is using this to appeal deportation.
Perhaps even more powerfully, the man who rescued a kidnapped six year old girl in New Mexico has revealed that he is an undocumented immigrant.
These two news stories put personal faces of love (Venus) and heroism (the sun) on the immigration issue, throwing Leonine light on the Aquarian debate. A higher manifestation of the aspects over the next two days could be greater compassion. Venus in opposition to Neptune - sharing the love, transcending the boundaries.
freedom
16/Aug/11 13:50
India's popular anti-corruption leader Anna Hazare was jailed yesterday. The Indian government said it was necessary to prevent violence... leading Hazare to comment that the current Indian government has more in common with the British Raj than a true democracy.
We've seen a lot of clamp-downs on freedom for our own protection lately. San Fransisco's BART system cut off cell phone use over the weekend out of fear that protests would turn violent, leading to both controversy and retaliation (see yesterday's post).
Uranus-in-Aries rebels like Hazare, Wikileaks, and Anonymous are challenging government and business power structures, which are responding in a Pluto-in-Capricorn way. Pluto will transform the powers that be, but in Plutonian fashion will probably do so by bringing both sides to an extreme.
But the powers that be are concerned. BART allowed the protests to go on yesterday without turning off passenger cell phones. They took care of the protesters the old fashioned way - with police in riot gear. No arrests were made.
We've seen a lot of clamp-downs on freedom for our own protection lately. San Fransisco's BART system cut off cell phone use over the weekend out of fear that protests would turn violent, leading to both controversy and retaliation (see yesterday's post).
Uranus-in-Aries rebels like Hazare, Wikileaks, and Anonymous are challenging government and business power structures, which are responding in a Pluto-in-Capricorn way. Pluto will transform the powers that be, but in Plutonian fashion will probably do so by bringing both sides to an extreme.
But the powers that be are concerned. BART allowed the protests to go on yesterday without turning off passenger cell phones. They took care of the protesters the old fashioned way - with police in riot gear. No arrests were made.
please turn off your cell phones...
15/Aug/11 07:15
Here's a question a lot of people have been asking me in the past few days: "Something's going on astrologically, right?"
Last week's Martian aspects to Uranus and Pluto gave us a taste of the Uranus-Pluto square that we'll be living with for the next several years - and the results were not encouraging. Anger was the most prevalent emotion, erupting into violence not only in the usual hot spots like the Middle East, but also in the usually-stable U.K..
But although the fiery energy of the T-square is perhaps most obvious, Neptune's influence can also be felt. From the largest internet hacking caper in history, to the court decision that will probably send U.S. health care reform to the Supreme Court, to the coordination of the London riots via Twitter and other social media, the seeping, covert energy of Neptune is all over the past week.
If governments were not happy with Wikileaks, they must be freaking out over Anonymous. The group hacked into a variety of law enforcement sites last week, releasing embarrassing data about police practices. Then, yesterday, the group released private customer's information as a retaliation for San Francisco's transportation system cutting off cell phone use.
BART claims it cut off cell phone use because riders planned a disturbance. Watching London burn last week must have made them anxious to avoid a similar scene. But Anonymous has made sure that such simple measures can't be used without a second thought. And of course, shutting down communication networks is also a strategy used by governments in the Middle East and particularly in China. There are no easy answers.
Rogue groups like Anonymous capture the energy of Uranus in Aries. Whether any one group is viewed as heroic or terrorist is largely a matter of perspective. What is certain is that over the next seven years we will see increasing influence from these groups. Sometimes we'll cheer them on as they challenge the existing power structures, sometimes we'll see them as the lunatic fringe.
Either way, going to extremes is part of what the Uranus-Pluto square is all about - deep change that is created as we whirl between polarities.
It seems many of us felt personally the same kind of energy that was so apparent in the collective. This week's moon in Aries (especially on Wednesday) will have us revisiting the Uranus-Pluto square. Take a deep breath...
Last week's Martian aspects to Uranus and Pluto gave us a taste of the Uranus-Pluto square that we'll be living with for the next several years - and the results were not encouraging. Anger was the most prevalent emotion, erupting into violence not only in the usual hot spots like the Middle East, but also in the usually-stable U.K..
But although the fiery energy of the T-square is perhaps most obvious, Neptune's influence can also be felt. From the largest internet hacking caper in history, to the court decision that will probably send U.S. health care reform to the Supreme Court, to the coordination of the London riots via Twitter and other social media, the seeping, covert energy of Neptune is all over the past week.
If governments were not happy with Wikileaks, they must be freaking out over Anonymous. The group hacked into a variety of law enforcement sites last week, releasing embarrassing data about police practices. Then, yesterday, the group released private customer's information as a retaliation for San Francisco's transportation system cutting off cell phone use.
BART claims it cut off cell phone use because riders planned a disturbance. Watching London burn last week must have made them anxious to avoid a similar scene. But Anonymous has made sure that such simple measures can't be used without a second thought. And of course, shutting down communication networks is also a strategy used by governments in the Middle East and particularly in China. There are no easy answers.
Rogue groups like Anonymous capture the energy of Uranus in Aries. Whether any one group is viewed as heroic or terrorist is largely a matter of perspective. What is certain is that over the next seven years we will see increasing influence from these groups. Sometimes we'll cheer them on as they challenge the existing power structures, sometimes we'll see them as the lunatic fringe.
Either way, going to extremes is part of what the Uranus-Pluto square is all about - deep change that is created as we whirl between polarities.
It seems many of us felt personally the same kind of energy that was so apparent in the collective. This week's moon in Aries (especially on Wednesday) will have us revisiting the Uranus-Pluto square. Take a deep breath...
taking care
13/Aug/11 14:37
As predicted (by me), the return on Neptune to Aquarius has led to a reexamination of the issue of health care reform in the U.S..
Aquarius is all about the collective, and Neptune has the capacity for compassionate action, and of course for caring. Hospitals and nursing homes are under Neptune's sign, Pisces, for example. Care for the masses is thus very Neptune-in-Aquarius.
Hardly has Neptune returned to the sign of the Water Bearer (he retrograded in just a bit more than a week ago) than the Health Reform Act has been dealt a major setback. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that forcing Americans to buy private health insurance is unconstitutional, a ruling that conflicts with a prior Appeals Court ruling. The conflicting rulings suggests a strong probability that the issue will go to the Supreme Court, and that could mean the end of Obamacare.
With Mercury and Neptune both retrograde, it's hard to see an outcome. Rick Perry's Tea Party candidacy seems to suggest dark days ahead for liberal causes... but that requires an understanding of the Uranus-Pluto dynamic, too much for a Saturday.
Personally, I have been a long-time advocate of universal health care in the U.S., but I think that we need a government-run system, not private insurers profiting from mandatory enrollment. As a strong advocate for health care reform, I nonetheless agree with recent ruling, although undoubtedly with a very different motivation than others who are cheering it.
Aquarius is all about the collective, and Neptune has the capacity for compassionate action, and of course for caring. Hospitals and nursing homes are under Neptune's sign, Pisces, for example. Care for the masses is thus very Neptune-in-Aquarius.
Hardly has Neptune returned to the sign of the Water Bearer (he retrograded in just a bit more than a week ago) than the Health Reform Act has been dealt a major setback. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that forcing Americans to buy private health insurance is unconstitutional, a ruling that conflicts with a prior Appeals Court ruling. The conflicting rulings suggests a strong probability that the issue will go to the Supreme Court, and that could mean the end of Obamacare.
With Mercury and Neptune both retrograde, it's hard to see an outcome. Rick Perry's Tea Party candidacy seems to suggest dark days ahead for liberal causes... but that requires an understanding of the Uranus-Pluto dynamic, too much for a Saturday.
Personally, I have been a long-time advocate of universal health care in the U.S., but I think that we need a government-run system, not private insurers profiting from mandatory enrollment. As a strong advocate for health care reform, I nonetheless agree with recent ruling, although undoubtedly with a very different motivation than others who are cheering it.
no show
12/Aug/11 09:27
Yesterday's cosmic energy was full of mixed messages.
The void moon in Capricorn suggested applying oneself to routine tasks. Working is always a good idea when the moon is in the sign of the mountain goat, and while a void isn't a great time to initiate, you can often sail easily through daily matters.
On the other hand, the moon's last aspect before going void on Wednesday night was tense square to Saturn, and during the day it made edgy quincunx's (150 degree aspects) to the sun and Mercury. The explosive Mars-Pluto opposition also happened during the void, early Thursday morning.
What all that means is that there was a great deal of internal combustion cooking during a time when sailing on autopilot might have been the preferred option.
It seems that managing to hold back and not saying anything might have been the best strategy. Texas Governor Rick Perry didn't make it to the Republican debate Thursday night, and his absence may have put him in the pole position for the 2012 Republican nomination. I didn't watch the debate, but reports are that things were not exactly inspiring.
Today, the moon is in sociable Aquarius. There are a couple of challenging aspects, including a square to Jupiter that is exact at 6:20 p.m. EDT. After that, the moon heads towards a trine to Saturn. The evening's energy should be outgoing and optimistic.
Having a direction or purpose to guide our meetings is a good idea, and we might find that idle discussion wends its way around to politics or ideals. The Jupiterian energy might push us towards a bit of excess, but the evening really calls for good manners.
The void moon in Capricorn suggested applying oneself to routine tasks. Working is always a good idea when the moon is in the sign of the mountain goat, and while a void isn't a great time to initiate, you can often sail easily through daily matters.
On the other hand, the moon's last aspect before going void on Wednesday night was tense square to Saturn, and during the day it made edgy quincunx's (150 degree aspects) to the sun and Mercury. The explosive Mars-Pluto opposition also happened during the void, early Thursday morning.
What all that means is that there was a great deal of internal combustion cooking during a time when sailing on autopilot might have been the preferred option.
It seems that managing to hold back and not saying anything might have been the best strategy. Texas Governor Rick Perry didn't make it to the Republican debate Thursday night, and his absence may have put him in the pole position for the 2012 Republican nomination. I didn't watch the debate, but reports are that things were not exactly inspiring.
Today, the moon is in sociable Aquarius. There are a couple of challenging aspects, including a square to Jupiter that is exact at 6:20 p.m. EDT. After that, the moon heads towards a trine to Saturn. The evening's energy should be outgoing and optimistic.
Having a direction or purpose to guide our meetings is a good idea, and we might find that idle discussion wends its way around to politics or ideals. The Jupiterian energy might push us towards a bit of excess, but the evening really calls for good manners.
out of the ordinary
10/Aug/11 13:31
A friend of mine recently summed it up like this: "Everything is getting beyond itself."
Maybe it's the end of the Mayan calendar. Maybe it's the Cardinal Cross in the skies. But today's Astroblog doesn't explore either causes or synchronicities, just the facts.
Consider:
9 of the 10 warmest years, since we've been keeping track in 1880, have been in the last decade. The 10th year was 1998.
Of the 20 largest stock market percentage losses in a single day, 5 have been in the last decade.
And, interestingly enough, there have only been 20 perfect games pitched in major league baseball, going back to the 19th century. Four of them were pitched in the last decade. Three were pitched in the last two years. And had a bad call not foiled on perfect game, 3 would have been pitched within a three week period in 2010.
Just a few facts that seem to indicate that things are indeed getting beyond themselves.
Maybe it's the end of the Mayan calendar. Maybe it's the Cardinal Cross in the skies. But today's Astroblog doesn't explore either causes or synchronicities, just the facts.
Consider:
9 of the 10 warmest years, since we've been keeping track in 1880, have been in the last decade. The 10th year was 1998.
Of the 20 largest stock market percentage losses in a single day, 5 have been in the last decade.
And, interestingly enough, there have only been 20 perfect games pitched in major league baseball, going back to the 19th century. Four of them were pitched in the last decade. Three were pitched in the last two years. And had a bad call not foiled on perfect game, 3 would have been pitched within a three week period in 2010.
Just a few facts that seem to indicate that things are indeed getting beyond themselves.
mobbed up
09/Aug/11 09:21
The London riots began as Mars entered Cancer, setting off the Summer Ingress (when the sun enters Cancer). No doubt this summer will be remembered as the summer of the riots in England.
Mars didn't just enter the sign of the crab, of course. This week he's aspecting Uranus and Pluto, setting off the square between the two of them. That aspect will be in orb for years to come, and we've seen signs of it in action already. The riots in the U.K., however, serve to get our attention. In a world filled with violence, it matters when a Western city like London is rocked by mayhem - we don't notice the Middle East as much because we're used to such things happening there.
Mobs - angry, but also looking to make a little on some looting - are quite characteristic of Uranus in Aries: it's The Age of the Pirate (click here for my article on the topic). Mars later makes an aspect to Pluto in Capricorn, bringing in a sense of festering anger at the status quo. Rogue groups and Power Brokers will face off - neither will win, but in the process we will dig up deep issues about who is in charge and what needs to change.
With the Uranus-Pluto square in orb for years to come (to 2016, if you give it ten degrees), we'll be seeing a lot of this energy. Many aspects of the old power structure and the ways of life we have become used to will have to change. If we can accept the need for change, we might make the transitions less violently and with more compassion.
More patient astrologers will find the exact moment that the riots began and the astrological triggers. But the big picture is that our attention is focused on a city much like any other in the Western world, and we aren't as safe and secure as we might like to think. That's the symbolic message of the situation in London.
Mars didn't just enter the sign of the crab, of course. This week he's aspecting Uranus and Pluto, setting off the square between the two of them. That aspect will be in orb for years to come, and we've seen signs of it in action already. The riots in the U.K., however, serve to get our attention. In a world filled with violence, it matters when a Western city like London is rocked by mayhem - we don't notice the Middle East as much because we're used to such things happening there.
Mobs - angry, but also looking to make a little on some looting - are quite characteristic of Uranus in Aries: it's The Age of the Pirate (click here for my article on the topic). Mars later makes an aspect to Pluto in Capricorn, bringing in a sense of festering anger at the status quo. Rogue groups and Power Brokers will face off - neither will win, but in the process we will dig up deep issues about who is in charge and what needs to change.
With the Uranus-Pluto square in orb for years to come (to 2016, if you give it ten degrees), we'll be seeing a lot of this energy. Many aspects of the old power structure and the ways of life we have become used to will have to change. If we can accept the need for change, we might make the transitions less violently and with more compassion.
More patient astrologers will find the exact moment that the riots began and the astrological triggers. But the big picture is that our attention is focused on a city much like any other in the Western world, and we aren't as safe and secure as we might like to think. That's the symbolic message of the situation in London.
Gathering clouds
08/Aug/11 09:24
At this writing, the New York markets are not yet open. Everyone is speculating about whether they will come tumbling down, or if the S&P downgrade of the U.S. credit rating will be shrugged off by investors. A shrug-off could certainly happen: after all, professional investors often by 'junk' bonds and very iffy penny stocks. But markets run on psychological contagion just as much as rational assessment, and with Neptune back in Aquarius and Mars about to square Uranus and Pluto, a mild reaction seems unlikely.
Some people are apparently hoping for a crash, a way of clearing out our old system so that we can begin building a more sustainable, sane economy and society. As much as I'd like to see change, I don't think we are ready for such a dramatic shift. Bread lines and mass unemployment are more likely to fuel violence and mindless destruction than to stir up universal compassion at this point. The London riots over the weekend are an example.
Those riots are also yet another example of Neptune in Aquarius - as they were apparently coordinated via a network of Blackberrys, making them harder to trace than other social networking devices. With Mercury opposite Neptune, getting a clear idea of what happened may take some time, if it happens at all.
We are in the most energetically packed week of the month. Between now and the full moon on the 13th, the energy will be running fast and furious. Mars squares Uranus later tonight, then Pluto on Wednesday, followed by Saturday's full moon.
You might want to get a bag of popcorn and watch what happens in the world, as issues bubble up and burst open. But in our personal lives, those same energies can lead to a sense of frustration and anger. The Dog Days of summer are hot this year, so try to chill.
.
Some people are apparently hoping for a crash, a way of clearing out our old system so that we can begin building a more sustainable, sane economy and society. As much as I'd like to see change, I don't think we are ready for such a dramatic shift. Bread lines and mass unemployment are more likely to fuel violence and mindless destruction than to stir up universal compassion at this point. The London riots over the weekend are an example.
Those riots are also yet another example of Neptune in Aquarius - as they were apparently coordinated via a network of Blackberrys, making them harder to trace than other social networking devices. With Mercury opposite Neptune, getting a clear idea of what happened may take some time, if it happens at all.
We are in the most energetically packed week of the month. Between now and the full moon on the 13th, the energy will be running fast and furious. Mars squares Uranus later tonight, then Pluto on Wednesday, followed by Saturday's full moon.
You might want to get a bag of popcorn and watch what happens in the world, as issues bubble up and burst open. But in our personal lives, those same energies can lead to a sense of frustration and anger. The Dog Days of summer are hot this year, so try to chill.
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Up, Up, and Away...
07/Aug/11 11:30
The moon has climbed out of the Scorpionic waters and has begun floating through Sagittarius. There are two things we are likely to see as a result.
The first is a general improvement in our individual and collective moods. Sagittarius has an openness and a hopefulness that is much harder to come by when Scorpio is the dominant sign. Even with the moon making some tough aspects today and some very hot aspects just around the corner, the feeling should be a bit lighter than the past two days.
On the other hand, Sagittarius is also associated wi
th beliefs and belief systems. The optimistic energy of the sign can also be used to fuel polarized ideological fights. We could see this in the fallout from the S&P downgrade of the U.S. credit rating and Governor Rick Perry's faith-based rally on Saturday.
In our personal lives, Sagittarius gives us a choice between exploring new possibilities or clinging dogmatically to beliefs we may have outgrown.
A nice Venus/Saturn sextile tonight supports relationships and social activities. It's more of a nice family dinner than a wild party, but that might feel right just now. A bit of elegance wouldn't be out of place, given the signs involved (Leo/Libra).
The sextile could also serve to provide some stability in the financial markets, although the Mars/Uranus/Pluto aspects early Tuesday morning are already beginning to build, returning us quickly to the Scorpionic tension.
The first is a general improvement in our individual and collective moods. Sagittarius has an openness and a hopefulness that is much harder to come by when Scorpio is the dominant sign. Even with the moon making some tough aspects today and some very hot aspects just around the corner, the feeling should be a bit lighter than the past two days.
On the other hand, Sagittarius is also associated wi
In our personal lives, Sagittarius gives us a choice between exploring new possibilities or clinging dogmatically to beliefs we may have outgrown.
A nice Venus/Saturn sextile tonight supports relationships and social activities. It's more of a nice family dinner than a wild party, but that might feel right just now. A bit of elegance wouldn't be out of place, given the signs involved (Leo/Libra).
The sextile could also serve to provide some stability in the financial markets, although the Mars/Uranus/Pluto aspects early Tuesday morning are already beginning to build, returning us quickly to the Scorpionic tension.
Bond, 006+
06/Aug/11 10:15
Standard and Poor dropped the U.S. government's credit rating from AAA to AA+ late on Friday, around the time that the Moon in Scorpio was squaring Venus (associated with values and valuables). Scorpio is associated with banks, investments, and financial institutions.
The economic impact in uncertain, although it can hardly be considered a shot in the arm for the economy. Interestingly, the S&P report said that the political system in the U.S. has become less stable, a reminder that our 50/50 political stalemate has consequences beyond getting our ears chewed off by cable news networks.
The fallout of the decision is likely to be intense at least through all of those Sunday-morning political talk shows. When the moon reaches Sagittarius later on Sunday and into Monday, we may see a more optimistic response (floating away from the issue) and/or more polarized ideological debates.
Neptune is back in Aquarius, and issues about the collective welfare (health care reform was a Neptune/Aquarius issue) will be prominent over the next six months. That won't undo the energy of the Uranus/Pluto/Saturn square-off in the skies, but it might help to stir up some compassion and a realization that we're all in this together.
Meanwhile, the Neptune/Aquarius energy blends with the rogue energy of Uranus in Aries, as a group named Anonymous has hacked into U.S. law enforcement websites and released scads of internal information about policing practices.
Wikileaks receded as a top news story when Neptune left Aquarius earlier this year - but this story is sure to recapture our collective imagination.
The economic impact in uncertain, although it can hardly be considered a shot in the arm for the economy. Interestingly, the S&P report said that the political system in the U.S. has become less stable, a reminder that our 50/50 political stalemate has consequences beyond getting our ears chewed off by cable news networks.
The fallout of the decision is likely to be intense at least through all of those Sunday-morning political talk shows. When the moon reaches Sagittarius later on Sunday and into Monday, we may see a more optimistic response (floating away from the issue) and/or more polarized ideological debates.
Neptune is back in Aquarius, and issues about the collective welfare (health care reform was a Neptune/Aquarius issue) will be prominent over the next six months. That won't undo the energy of the Uranus/Pluto/Saturn square-off in the skies, but it might help to stir up some compassion and a realization that we're all in this together.
Meanwhile, the Neptune/Aquarius energy blends with the rogue energy of Uranus in Aries, as a group named Anonymous has hacked into U.S. law enforcement websites and released scads of internal information about policing practices.
Wikileaks receded as a top news story when Neptune left Aquarius earlier this year - but this story is sure to recapture our collective imagination.
Dark Waters
05/Aug/11 08:44
I hope you enjoyed yesterday's Venus-Jupiter aspect, with the moon in sociable Libra. Today's energy is quite different, as the moon has moved into Scorpio. Luna will square Venus late Friday/early Saturday, and yesterday's fun and friendship can become more intense - either more passionate or contentious.
Although we are approaching a nice Venus/Saturn aspect that should make the mood on Sunday a bit lighter (the moon will be in Sagittarius then, too), we can also feel the building of a series of aspects between Mars and Uranus, Pluto, and Saturn that will make for a very hot beginning to next week.
Financial markets are reeling all over the world, and the political situation - particularly in the Middle East - is very volatile. The tension of the Mars aspects is enough to overshadow more positive energies, at least on the collective level.
Rebels and rogues (or Pirates, as I like to call them) abound. That's part of the theme of Uranus-in-Aries, and we'll be seeing a lot of it over the next seven years. From political rebels in Syria to polygamists in Texas, the energy of the rebel is strong. Witness the Tea Party's effect on the recent U.S. debt negotiations.
In our personal lives, we're likely to be feeling something of the same energy. It can make for a difficult time, but as individuals we have a greater chance to steer this energy in a positive direction. Be true to yourself, while being considerate of others, something I like to call Creative Selfishness.
Although we are approaching a nice Venus/Saturn aspect that should make the mood on Sunday a bit lighter (the moon will be in Sagittarius then, too), we can also feel the building of a series of aspects between Mars and Uranus, Pluto, and Saturn that will make for a very hot beginning to next week.
Financial markets are reeling all over the world, and the political situation - particularly in the Middle East - is very volatile. The tension of the Mars aspects is enough to overshadow more positive energies, at least on the collective level.
Rebels and rogues (or Pirates, as I like to call them) abound. That's part of the theme of Uranus-in-Aries, and we'll be seeing a lot of it over the next seven years. From political rebels in Syria to polygamists in Texas, the energy of the rebel is strong. Witness the Tea Party's effect on the recent U.S. debt negotiations.
In our personal lives, we're likely to be feeling something of the same energy. It can make for a difficult time, but as individuals we have a greater chance to steer this energy in a positive direction. Be true to yourself, while being considerate of others, something I like to call Creative Selfishness.
Hacking Coffers
04/Aug/11 09:46
Neptune backs out of Pisces into Aquarius at 10:54 Eastern time tonight, but he is already casting his shadow before himself (behind himself?).
Neptune has many facets and aspects. He can signal an inspiring, spiritualizing ability to transcend our usual boundaries. When less evolved energies are involved, Neptune can be about deception, illusions, and dissolution. Personified, Neptune can be a saint or a con artist.
Aquarius is also multifaceted. The energy of this sign includes ideals, as well as the groups that embody them, and the mass communication networks that connect us: radio, television, and the internet.
When a planet changes signs, we often see a news event that shows the issues that are going to be part of the planet's trip through the sign. Not necessarily the only issue, but what we might call the flagship issue. Today, we have two stories that have Neptune in Aquarius written all over them.
The first is the report of the largest-ever internet hacking attack. The Los Angeles Times reports that thousands of companies, organizations, and government agencies were hacked in a coordinated and sustained attack (the hackers not only took data one time, but remained embedded in the sites for as long as five years). The attacks appear to have had support from an Eastern European or East Asian government (fingers are already pointing to China).
Infiltrating the internet is disturbing enough (read the LA Times story and you'll agree), but the other Neptunian story is even more disturbing, as more than 36 million pounds of ground turkey is suspected in a salmonella outbreak. The Associated Press reports that the government can't issue a recall as it isn't sure of the source - not atypical for Neptunian times.
Recent Neptune-in-Aquarius stories included the hyped-up scare over H1N1, swine flu (the story "broke" on a Neptune station). Neptune is indeed associated with viruses and diseases that spread through less-than-obvious means, and of course Aquarius implies distribution through mass means, such as the food supply.
There are even more Neptunian stories... once again, DB Cooper, the aerial thief who disappeared, is in the news. And New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg is giving away money for Aquarian causes - to help keep the state's regents exams in place, and to help minority youth. So, you see, Neptune in Aquarius ain't all bad.
Neptune has many facets and aspects. He can signal an inspiring, spiritualizing ability to transcend our usual boundaries. When less evolved energies are involved, Neptune can be about deception, illusions, and dissolution. Personified, Neptune can be a saint or a con artist.
Aquarius is also multifaceted. The energy of this sign includes ideals, as well as the groups that embody them, and the mass communication networks that connect us: radio, television, and the internet.
When a planet changes signs, we often see a news event that shows the issues that are going to be part of the planet's trip through the sign. Not necessarily the only issue, but what we might call the flagship issue. Today, we have two stories that have Neptune in Aquarius written all over them.
The first is the report of the largest-ever internet hacking attack. The Los Angeles Times reports that thousands of companies, organizations, and government agencies were hacked in a coordinated and sustained attack (the hackers not only took data one time, but remained embedded in the sites for as long as five years). The attacks appear to have had support from an Eastern European or East Asian government (fingers are already pointing to China).
Infiltrating the internet is disturbing enough (read the LA Times story and you'll agree), but the other Neptunian story is even more disturbing, as more than 36 million pounds of ground turkey is suspected in a salmonella outbreak. The Associated Press reports that the government can't issue a recall as it isn't sure of the source - not atypical for Neptunian times.
Recent Neptune-in-Aquarius stories included the hyped-up scare over H1N1, swine flu (the story "broke" on a Neptune station). Neptune is indeed associated with viruses and diseases that spread through less-than-obvious means, and of course Aquarius implies distribution through mass means, such as the food supply.
There are even more Neptunian stories... once again, DB Cooper, the aerial thief who disappeared, is in the news. And New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg is giving away money for Aquarian causes - to help keep the state's regents exams in place, and to help minority youth. So, you see, Neptune in Aquarius ain't all bad.
The Friendly Skies
03/Aug/11 16:22
| With Mercury retrograde, it seems a good time to re-sume the Astroblog. Or perhaps it's a bad time... that's the thing about Mercury retrograde, you can't be sure. At any rate, it is appropriate. Mercury rules transportation, and the FAA shutdown is a very Mercury retrograde story. Republicans want to cut $16.5 million dollars from the $200 million allotted for rural development, which Democrats would like to maintain. The stalemate has shut the FAA down (although the rest of the government is open for business... more or less). The thing is, with the FAA shut down, it cannot collect revenue on passenger fares - those annoying fees that make every day a Mercury retrograde when you purchase a flight for one price then watch is climb as fees are added. It is estimated that the shutdown will cost as much as $1.2 billion in revenue - about 73 times the dispute amount of $16.5 million. Passengers are still paying the fees, by the way - but they are going to the airlines rather than the FAA. You can't get much more Mercury retrograde than that. |
