Aquarium Age - Transformational Astrology

Hello to readers everywhere!

Transitional is the key word for 2018. It’s a year of integration, a threshold moment where past, present and future meet to create what happens next. Poet and author David Whyte describes a threshold as the place where you don’t know how to proceed and need to ask for help. And that ability to ask for help — that need and that willingness to reach out to others of like mind, heart and soul — is the key to navigating not only 2018, but it’s also the key to navigating all the years ahead. Seen from that perspective, 2018 is a year of community, in which those of us who understand the deep physical and metaphysical ecology of life on planet Earth move into an active and deeper experience of unity. Some of us will find it hard to acknowledge a need for a combined effort, working with others to achieve necessary goals. But others will find it comforting, because as individual and collective confidence in our ecological connectedness grows, the realization that we’re not alone fertilizes a determination to work even harder to preserve our shared ground: Planet Earth. Transitions, as many know, are seldom easy — the passages from one phase of life to another are often tumultuous, so be prepared for more than a few rough moments. But also anticipate glorious moments of authentic transformation.

Perhaps it’s best to think of 2018’s transitional signature as the astrological equivalent of a gap year — you know, that hiatus between high school and college that’s supposed to facilitate greater maturity before taking on the rigors of higher education. Not that 2017 was high school — indeed, it was a year of extreme polarization, symbolized by a series of three Uranus/Jupiter oppositions which turned the world upside down with one startling shift after another. And all those upsets were punctuated by the Great American Eclipse with its preponderance of startling revelations. 2017 simply tilted the very axis of reality, throwing the planet and most of her inhabitants into a tailspin.

While 2018 has its own share of unexpected plot twists, it is essentially a year of integration and preparation, because what lies ahead of us is even more intense than what we’ve just been through. From 2019 through 2025, we’re under the influence of increasingly intense planetary patterns, and we need to prepare for those changes. Unfortunately, that means 2018 is not a vacation. In hindsight, it’s likely to be seen as relatively quiet — the calm between the storms. Don’t misunderstand...there are plenty of astrological changes occurring over the coming twelve months, but with the exception of Uranus and its change of Signs, what happens astrologically in 2018 are tiny inconveniences compared to the coming years. I don’t mean to be scary or obscure — I’m simply suggesting that we make the most of the year ahead. Forewarned is better prepared.

The Big Shift of 2018

Uranus leaves Aries on May 15, 2018, beginning the end of its transit through Aries, a transit that began in May 2010 and was completed on March 11, 2011 — the day an earthquake sent a tidal wave crashing onto the shores of Japan, a wave that started the Fukushima nuclear fires. (In an article in the New York Times on the anniversary of this event, an expert is quoted as saying radioactive waste is likely to pour into the ocean for the rest of time.) Because we tend to experience the presence of Uranus more intensely than almost any other planet, I tend to think of it as the most dramatic of all the planets — there’s just no ignoring how immediately we feel its influence.

Uranus enters Taurus on May 15, 2018, beginning a cycle that will last until 2025. It’s leaving a Fire Sign and entering an Earth Sign. Recently there were articles in the news about increased earthquake activity during 2018 because of the slight wobble in the Earth’s rotation — the Earth is slowing down. When I heard that more earthquakes were a possibility, I couldn’t help but think about Uranus and its dramatic effects. Originally, I thought this Uranian move from Fire to Earth would be more akin to a huge volcanic eruption and the ensuing disruption. But there’s simply no telling what the effect will be until Uranus settles into Taurus on March 6, 2019. The good news is that the retrograde pace of its transition between Signs allows plenty of time to tie up the loose ends of the last seven years of Uranus, in Aries.

Taurus signifies money and all personal resources other than real estate, so from a practical perspective, finances are certain to be an issue for the next seven years. I don’t necessarily think we’ll see the full effect on markets and banks until March 2019 — but we will get glimpses throughout 2018. What we are most likely to see is a backlash to against the newest version of the tax bill passed by both Houses of the Congress in late 2017 — a backlash that’s indicative of just how polarized we continue to be.

Uranus also symbolizes revolution, invention, and surprising twists of fate — it throws lightning bolts of illumination into stagnant situations. From a personal perspective, these lightning bolts tend to manifest as startling events. For example, you think your marriage is doing just fine, and then Uranus enters your Solar House of relationship, and suddenly you or your significant other start talking divorce — from zero to sixty in the blink of a cosmic eye. From a collective perspective, Uranus, in Taurus, could also mean that previously tried-and-true financial institutions fail — again — only this time there’s no way out of the mess other than a complete overhaul.

Be aware, as Uranus shifts the focus from Fire to Earth, everyone is going to experience that shift, consciously or unconsciously, so be prepared to review and reflect on seven years of change as you simultaneously prepare for more upset and upheaval.

Integration: Saturn

Saturn entered Capricorn on December 20, 2017, a transit that will last until 2020. I often describe Saturn as the voice of reality, and for the next two years it’s broadcasting, in no uncertain terms, information about what’s working and what’s simply falling apart. During 2018, Saturn moves steadily toward a conjunction with Pluto in January 2020, and while some astrologers feel that the start of the Saturn/Pluto conjunction is in 2018, I don’t agree. We won’t really start to understand how the coming Saturn/Pluto conjunction will manifest until the beginning of 2019 — if then.

Saturn signifies authorities, structures and organizations; it helps us get to the bones of things. The next couple of years are essentially about the battle to solve problems — there is so much to figure out and the problems are mounting daily. As Saturn transits through its Home Sign of Capricorn, its powers of problem-solving will be at an all-time high. The thing is…things are going to continue to fall apart during 2018 and it wouldn’t be wise to be too hasty in putting things back together. No quick fixes will work; the solutions have to be real — grounded in practical wisdom that will serve the greater good. 

Eclipses 2018

After the Great American Eclipse on August 21, 2017, it would be difficult to not mention the eclipses of 2018 — none of which will gather the publicity of the Great one. And for good reason: No eclipse in 2018 travels as dynamic a span. That being said, the solar eclipse on February 15, 2018 comes very close to the degree of the Great Eclipse, and we are likely to see a resurgence of the same issues in both individual and collective arenas. 

Here’s the list:

Lunar Eclipse on January 31
Solar Eclipse on February 15
Solar Eclipse on July 13
Lunar Eclipse on July 27
Solar Eclipse on August 11

Retrogrades 2018

There are always Mercury Retrograde phases, and this year there are three:

Mercury Retrograde March 23 - April 15
Mercury Retrograde July 26 - August 19
Mercury Retrograde November 17 — December 6

But — and this is a big but — this year Mars is also retrograde, from June 26 -August 27. Please make a note that the second Mercury Retrograde of 2018 occurs during Mars Retrograde — and that means those few weeks are sure to be brutal when it comes to getting anything done. More about the particulars as the year unfolds. But please note that the three eclipses of the summer take place during Mars and Mercury Retrograde.

And…yes…there is more: Venus Retrograde begins October 5 and ends November 16, with the final Mercury Retrograde of 2018 beginning the very next day.

Learning to work together toward the greater good is part of the transitional force of 2018. Healing is always about finding the truth of a condition, recognizing its causes, and then applying the appropriate remedy. Mr. Trump and his gang of hungry ghosts are the manifestation of the worst of us. The conceit of their greed is that they believe themselves to be the best. Their egregious behavior woke many from a deep sleep of complacency. You might even say that while the Trump Gang was one extreme of what happens when you are unaware of the interconnectedness of life, complacency is simply a milder version. The failure to recognize yourself as a part of a much bigger reality — one that requires your active participation — means that you’ve become complicit. Silence is consent. If you want to make a difference in the world, find your voice and speak your truth to power.

The Earth has a lot more to say during the coming year. It’s our job to listen closely and take her seriously. We also need to listen to each other closely, and not just because we need each other, but because a continuing dialogue will help us handle the transitional signature of the year. The realization that we are all in this together — that we are not alone even when we feel as if we are — gives us all hope for a better future. And learning to listen eventually strengthens and widens our ability to be kind and compassionate with our fellow travelers.

Hello to readers in Berry-Bouy!

The next several days are a whirlwind of astral activity — the planets are busy with important work and the rest of us are preparing holiday celebrations, sending out glad tidings, or happily donning our bah-humbug seasonal suit. Even if you’re up to your limit of things that must get done, it would still be wise to find the time to mark the winter solstice on Thursday, December 21 at 4:28 PM, GMT. The solstice is the matrix for all our seasonal festivals of light. It promises the eventual arrival of spring and reminds us that darkness has a limit and that the light will eventually return — a knowing that comforts the winter-weary soul. And since this has been a year, not just a winter, of discontent, celebrating the return of the light could strengthen hope for the future. From Menorahs to Christmas trees to pagan goddess dances around the fire, all these seasonal festivities are love-fests for life’s renewal and continuation.

Of course, this year we need hope more than ever. Mr. Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts have let loose their appetites for power, tilting the axis of the Earth, and have sent most of us reeling from the ensuing threat of extinction. I’ve refrained these last several weeks from writing about their egregious behavior toward their fellow humans and other inhabitants of Planet Earth because like many, I’ve grown weary of immersing myself in their toxicity. But now at the close of this year, their effect and their ongoing threat cannot be ignored.

Saturn enters Capricorn today, December 20, at 4:49 PM, GMT, just prior to the winter solstice tomorrow. Saturn’s entry into its Home Sign signals a serious and sober approach to the next several years. It will be in Capricorn until March 2020, and during these next couple of years it will insist on a reckoning, and whether that accounting takes the form of a pointing finger of blame or a sincere desire to take personal responsibility is up to each of us. It’s far too easy to point a finger at someone else — another’s flaws are often obvious. But what we forget is that when there’s a charge on someone else’s behavior we ourselves are usually wrestling — consciously or unconsciously — with a similar issue. The hatred and fear of this Gang of Hungry Ghosts and their leader is a manifestation of our collectively denied disconnection from each other. The good news is that their blatant behavior is so blatant that it’s waking a huge desire to transform those themes.

The final Mercury Retrograde of the year ends on Saturday, December 23 at 1:51 AM GMT — in the United States Mercury Direct begins on December 22. Mercury Direct begins just in time for last minute shoppers, but don’t forget that for the first few days it’s retrograde or direct, the retrograde wobbles are still in effect — and for some those disturbances last even longer.

Uranus goes direct on January 2, 2018 and its preparation for “forward” motion is certain to disrupt regular routines between Christmas and the New Year. When Uranus “changes direction,” technology tends to express that turnaround through any number of ‘issues,’ so try to be patient when hooking up those new gadgets — or even getting the old ones working properly. Uranus has a strong astral signature and its forward motion marches it right into a new cycle that begins on May 18, 2018, when it moves into Taurus. I will be writing much more about Uranus’ journey through Taurus over the coming weeks and months. But for the next couple of weeks, its forward motion means two things: (1) Because Uranus symbolizes startling plot twists, we’re in for even more of those surprises as it closes one cycle and opens another. (2) As Uranus moves forward, it revisits the degrees it transited in 2017, so be prepared for more than a few déjá vu experiences as we clean up a lot of details from 2017. And there are a lot of details to take care of, individual as well as collective.

It would be very easy to believe that the chaotic behavior of Mr. Trump is just the disconnected behavior of a narcissist lost in his own glory. But that would be a naïve position, given just how much he has dismantled the American government and thrown it into a state of chaos. The State Department, for example, has lost most of its senior staff, which means there’s no one with enough experience to decipher certain situations should there be a crisis — and this is true in almost every department. Don’t be fooled:  Hidden behind the sweeping Republican generalization that government is too big and bloated, the Gang of Hungry Ghosts and their leader have been setting the stage for confusion and anxiety. What’s more, roiling the waters of racism, classism and sexism, they have exacerbated polarized positions, making it even more difficult for their opposition to organize. This is not accidental. This is a plan — for what isn’t sure, but it is not haphazard.

With all the societal and cultural darkness that’s occurring, it’s easy to get lost in a permanent winter of fear, frozen and paralyzed in hatred, anger, greed, blame, or any of the other self-righteous positions meant to protect, defend, and insure survival. We are essentially divided between those who care for their fellow travelers and all the other beings that inhabit our shared planet, and those that don’t. Those that don’t…well… let’s just say their hearts are cold. And when hearts resemble ice sculptures, it takes more than a faint ray of light to start the necessary melt.

But here’s the thing: That thaw is still possible if we are willing to open our hearts to ourselves. If we can figure out how to stop calling Mr. Trump names and stop categorizing all his followers as stupid, and instead listen closely to what’s being said — dropping down beneath the parts that don’t make sense and hearing how hurt those frozen hearts are, we will find a way to make it through. Listening at this level is just one of the ways to heal the great divide, and those who know how to hear through their hearts understand the value — it lets the light in. Listen compassionately this week to your fellow travelers, and allow kindness to illuminate your vision of what could be.

Hello to readers in Addis Ababa!

‘Tis not quite a jolly season, so don’t be surprised if celebrating seems slightly out of sync with the zeitgeist — festivities could feel forced or even manic in their need to be joyous, and the mistletoe is certain to be missing from office merriment. One of the things we’ve learned this last year is that madness does indeed take its toll, and for the next several weeks, as the intensity of an already too intense year intensifies, the regular routines of daily life reflect the stress of a year’s worth of chaos, individual and collective. Lots of our fellow travelers simply need relief — physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual — as they continue to deal with the consequences of fire and flood, unimagined loss and disappointment and other forms of tangible suffering. And those safe from physical harm need relief from the psychic uncertainty of whether the world will ever be sane again. Of course, it will. It’s just not clear when. The best way to navigate the current travails — yours or others’ — is to set your internal compass to the highest conscious ground you can. The Earth is in a cathartic process and one of the ways to not get swallowed is to hold fast to the knowledge that before this process settles down, there are certain to be many more moments of reckoning.    

Here’s the skinny for the week:

Mercury continues its retrograde motion for another ten days, which translates into continuing traffic snarls and traveling snafus — it’s always good to expect delays and detours during a retrograde because if they happen you are prepared, and if not, you’re still good to go. Also anticipate increased techno interference and interruptions with all your devices, old and new. Patience is always the key to handling retrograde trials and tribulations. The good news is that lots of people are aware of Mercury Retrograde, and that knowledge translates into increased tolerance when files go missing, voicemail keeps repeating, or that blast from the past email or text shows up in your inbox.

Saturn is seven days away from its entry into Capricorn, its Home Sign. Pay attention. The next week is an intense distillation process. Saturn is concentrating its force on the essence of its journey through Sagittarius, the Sign where we search for truth and meaning — a journey that’s been going on since September 2015, and a journey that won’t happen again until 2044. Saturn’s focus on belief systems has been a contributor to the current prevailing chaos. So much has happened in these last two years that have challenged the belief systems of so many. And not just in the United States, but all around the world. Brexit, anyone? Or Myanmar? Syria? Spain?  

We’re also under the influence of an ongoing Jupiter/Neptune trine, which on the surface appears as a positive configuration — and you will read much about its spiritual attributes. This trine heightens the urge to merge and sends psychic sensitivities off the charts. But increased sensitivity is only one of the possible manifestations. Yes, this trine encourages experiences of spiritual unity — something most of us would welcome, especially during the holidays. But because Jupiter symbolizes excess, and because Neptune represents all sorts of mood-altering substances, and because seasonal festivities encourage larger than normal appetites for drugs and alcohol, this trine could also provoke an over-the-top attitude that’s willing to risk everything because you only live once. If you or your family or loved ones suffer from addiction, this Jupiter/Neptune trine could amplify anxiety and increase the desire to self-medicate. (And just as an aside, you don’t have to be an addict to be susceptible to the need to self-medicate. Handling the current intensity may require fortification.)

On December 9, Mars enters Scorpio, its Home Sign, a position that is sure to ramp up sexual desire, but also a desire for power — and some of us will be hard put to know the difference. It joins the Jupiter/Neptune trine just as Mercury Direct begins. Be aware, Mars has the power to turn the abstract into reality, which could make some of those appetites impossible to quell.                                                                

We’re seven days away from the winter solstice on December 21 at 5:27 GMT.  In the northern hemisphere, the days are darkest just before the Sun’s “standstill”, which signals the return of the light. These darkest days are always best spent in quiet contemplation — stillness is the key, stillness that allows us to listen to both the head and the heart. Winter is the season when the life force of the Earth goes deep down into the roots of things, gathering strength and fortifying itself for the vernal equinox, when spring expresses life’s irrepressible resilience.

All the ancient winter festivals are festivals of light. The solstice marks the end of the darkening days and the return of the light, and we might do well to consciously attune to that cycle. For although many feel caught in dark days that feel as if they will never end, the light will eventually return. Use the current moment to go within, right down to the roots of things, and gather your strength and resilience in preparation for what lies ahead. And while you’re at it, contemplate the power of kindness and how it helps us grow. Kindness will eventually lighten the days, and we need to be ready for that turning point when it occurs.

Hello to readers in Ulaanbaatar!

This week and the next several weeks are threshold weeks on Planet Earth — we’re moving into a new astrological pattern in preparation for other planetary patterns which unfold over next year and the next several years. And while I know that most readers are concerned about what’s happening right now, it might be prudent to contemplate how the power of the current moment sets the stage for what comes next. When we live — really, when we embody — the idea that our co-creative human superpower sets our personal and collective future in motion, we can choose to be responsive rather than reactive. So put those thinking caps on and get ready to contemplate what it is you want to co-create, and don’t forget to attach the extraterrestrial antennae — lots of information from a wide range of sources is available to help you sort through a variety of decisions.

The first and maybe most telling bit of current astral information is Mercury Retrograde, which started on December 3 and persists until December 22/23. (I’ve covered the particulars of Mercury Retrograde do’s and don’ts in previous columns, and I won’t reiterate them in this one other than to say that during a Mercury Retrograde phase you can expect detours, delays and snafus related to communication and travel.) What makes the current Mercury Retrograde phase significant is its relationship to Saturn. Mercury began this retrograde on December 3 (also the day of the Full Moon, in Gemini) a little more than one degree away from Saturn. That conjunction is exact today, December 6, and will be exact again on January 13, when both Mercury and Saturn are both in the early degrees of Capricorn.

Currently, Mercury’s proximity to Saturn (they travel in tandem until December 11) is an invitation to reflect on Saturn’s transit through Sagittarius. You could say that Mercury’s nearness is the equivalent of good-bye kisses — Mercury won’t be conjunct Saturn, in Sagittarius, again until Saturn returns to the Sign of the Archer in 2044.

Mercury/Saturn conjunctions tend to manifest as mental endurance — occasionally this mental might is characterized as an unwillingness to let go of an idea. At its best, this combination provides the capacity to think deeply. Sagittarius is the Sign where we search for truth, so we could speculate that these goodbye kisses are about deepening our understanding of what’s transpired since Saturn began its transit of Sagittarius in September 2015, a transit that began with Mercury Retrograde, in Libra. But before that deepening can occur, it’s important to understand Saturn’s influence.

I like to think of Saturn as the voice of reality because it symbolizes rules and regulations, limits and limitations, and all things related to systems, open or closed, as well as structure, physical or conceptual. But Saturn isn’t only about boundaries. At its best, it is the principle of discernment — it allows us to gather wisdom from our experiences, or put another way, Saturn represents growth. It’s how we mature. We can become harsh and judgmental and rigidly cling to our opinions, or we can understand that life is a process that often challenges what we think we know for sure and continually asks us to reevaluate the limits of our understanding.

On December 20, 2017, Saturn enters Capricorn, its Home Sign, a position that amplifies Saturn’s qualities as well as Capricorn’s. Capricorn is an Earth Sign, and it literally represents a down-to-earth practical and pragmatic approach to just about everything. For some, Saturn’s entry into Capricorn could resemble a crash-landing, especially after the idealism of Sagittarius. For others, Saturn’s entry into Capricorn is likely to feel more like a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-to-work moment that makes everyone want to take charge and deal with whatever needs to be dealt with.

Most importantly, Saturn’s entry into Capricorn begins its inexorable approach to a conjunction with Pluto that is exact in January 2020. While that may seem a good distance away, it isn’t as far away as we may think, at least not in cosmic time, and as Saturn transits Capricorn, its resonance with Pluto will gather strength. Capricorn is all about corporations, government and authorities of every variety. In its essence it signifies order, but as with all things on Planet Earth, the need for order is often exploited by a hunger for power. Be prepared for even more rigid controls. But also anticipate intense resistance to the greedy exploitation of those controls.

Mircea Eliade writes about thresholds as the liminal space between chaos and order. They are passage ways from the profane to the sacred. Thus, crossing the threshold into a temple, mosque, synagogue, church or any other structure that signifies sacred space means entering into a different dimension. That’s what we are doing these next several weeks as we move with Saturn across the solstice threshold into the next phase of human endeavor.

There are many decisions to be made over the course of the next several weeks, decisions about how we want to handle what lies ahead — how we want to co-create our future. Some of the choices won’t be easy. For many, the next several weeks are a time of heightened sensitivity, and those overwhelmed by a surplus of feelings are sure to need helping hands and tender gestures. For others, the next couple of weeks are the holidays as usual and their choices will be more about Mercury Retrograde interference with traffic and shopping — not to mention a wide variety of techno-hassles. But most of us are likely to turn thoughtful, determined to hone our ability to stay responsive to each new development. Saturn and Capricorn are both synonymous with responsibility and that is likely to be the keyword for the coming year. Don’t forget to be kind to your fellow travelers — it’s much needed.

Hello to readers in Shepherd's Bush!

It’s a moody week on Planet Earth — volatile one minute, deflated the next — and dealing with the flux is going to challenge everyone, even the saintly. It would be best to find your favorite soothing mantra and repeat it as often as possible. Yet even in the midst of these emotional peaks and valleys there are moments of clarity with the potential to provide penetrating insight — but it’s important to use these moments with skill. For instance, even if you have a blinding realization about your lover’s blind spot or your best friend’s irrational fear — one they just can’t see — it might be best to keep that information to yourself rather than share it in a rush of enthusiasm because you finally understand that thing about them that’s been driving you crazy. As the I-Ching advises in Hexagram 13, Fellowship with Men, sometimes, even in the closest and most intimate relationships, the heavy burden of knowledge must be shut away in silence. Timing is often a determining factor in how our words fall on the ears of others, and this week just isn’t the best week for difficult conversations.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this week’s mood swings is their timing — right before the next Mercury Retrograde phase that begins on December 3 and ends on December 23. For those new to Mercury Retrograde, this is not a good time to initiate new projects and plans, but it is the perfect time to review, reflect and reconsider what is already in motion. It’s the best time to slow down the pace of life and catch your breath and pay attention to the details. Unfortunately, it can also be an extremely frustrating period, especially when you have no desire to take life at a slower pace. What’s more and what is especially difficult for those in a hurry, the days leading up to Mercury Retrograde always seem to drag through the hours and minutes. It’s as if Mercury slows down in preparation to its ‘turnaround” — unless as Mercury goes retrograde it is drawn into activity through another planet with the power to agitate the air. (By the way, we know Mercury doesn’t actually slow down or move backwards; it just appears to do so relative to our position in our own orbit around our shared Sun.)

The problem with this Mercury Retrograde phase is that it occurs during the holiday season, and because Mercury Retrograde always interferes with travel, communication, and commerce, mail and all other sorts of deliveries are likely to suffer — be prepared for delays and snafus.

This Mercury Retrograde is also characterized by a conjunction to Saturn in its final degrees of Sagittarius — a conjunction that continues for the next two weeks and ends on December 13, a week before Saturn moves into Capricorn on December 20. (More about that in the coming weeks.) It would be wise to use these last weeks of Saturn in Sagittarius — especially as Mercury conjuncts it — to review Saturn’s transit through Sagittarius, which began in September 2015. It won’t be back in the Sign of the Archer until February 2044, and given that Mercury Retrograde is a great time to review, the next several weeks could deliver valuable information about important themes and issues stimulated during this Saturn cycle.

As Mercury goes retrograde, it also forms a wide trine to Uranus, and that lively interaction is likely to color much of this retrograde with an erratic pulse. As Mercury moves back through Sagittarius, it will maintain its trine to Uranus until December 14. This positive interaction provides a mental landscape for invention and innovation, as well as a desire to break through old thought patterns, particularly those holding back a fresh approach.

One of the other contributors to this week’s erratic pulse is the ongoing Mars/Uranus opposition that began on November 23 and is exact and separating on December 1. This pernicious opposition exacerbates polarized positions, and as it separates, stands for any and all positions are likely to become even more staunch. Yes, principles are necessary. No, violence will not convince anyone of the righteousness of your point of view.

As the week unfolds, do your best to make kindness your first choice. There just can’t be too much of it right now. We are in the season of goodwill — let’s embrace it and make it work for everyone.

Hello to readers in New York City!

I have a lot of resistance to writing this week’s column, and not just because a pernicious astral wind blows through the week — a wind with the power to raise the hackles of those already poised for a fight, a wind with the power to polarize those at the extreme ends of the political spectrum, a wind with the power to dismantle what little remains of normal. I’m resistant because there’s just so much wrong with the world that I fear I won’t be able to find what’s right. And we need what’s right to bolster the heart’s hope and courage so that we can move forward with the work before us — to move forward with confidence in our fellow humans and in the goodness of our collective heart. At times like this, I miss the inspirational leaders who were able to delineate even the most complex situations with clarity and commitment. Recently, a friend expressed just how much he missed Bobby Kennedy. I replied that there are great leaders in the world today, leaders who think, speak and act in the syntax of the current moment. Maybe they haven’t yet reached critical mass because we’re still finding our way through these times.

I was stunned by the news about Al Franken, but also heartened that after the shock wave pulsed through the collective, several people started to make a distinction between a stupid act and premeditated abuse. I can’t defend Al Franken’s boob picture — it’s simply awful. But to vilify him is a mistake. I’ve seen a version of that picture a thousand times. And it would be really valuable if the people going after him would acknowledge that they’ve also seen that picture a thousand times too. I’ve known men — not just boys — my entire life who view breasts as mysterious dials, with the power to open a door to the magic kingdom — you grab them, and with a few twists dial up the secret code. And all the sex education and consciousness-raising in the world hasn’t erased that idea. I grew up in the music business, where women have always been (and maybe have only been) objects, so it’s completely disingenuous for people in the entertainment business to be judgmental about Al Franken. There have always been boob jokes and, yes, she was asleep and it is a terrible prank. But viewing breasts as a punch line isn’t the same as being a sexual predator, a distinction that’s important to keep in mind in the deluge triggered by the Weinstein Effect.

We live in a completely sexualized society that teaches men and women to see themselves as objects. In 2013, Joseph Gordon-Levitt wrote, directed and starred in Don Jon, a movie about the objectification of women through porn as well as the objectification of men for material gain. When MTV killed the radio star back in the 1980s, music videos became increasingly sexual, and when you marry those images with the images of video games, you only amplify an already sexualized view of the world, and you train young minds, male and female, to see women in a certain way. Add Madonna’s instructions to an entire generation that sex is the most powerful currency, and you create a maelstrom of sexual confusion — and she’s just one of many who sent that message and continue to send that message.

Yes, the music business has always been sexual (and imagine…we haven’t even heard those stories of abuse, although as I am writing, some of those stories are starting to emerge). But our consumer society exploits young people to such an overwhelming degree — from every angle — that there is barely a chance for them to explore sexuality without being bombarded by a barrage of images, all of which direct them to see their bodies as an assemblage of parts that need to be attractive. Entire generations have grown up believing that being an object of desire should be more important than any other goal; they are taught to objectify themselves from their earliest moments. Women can try to break the glass ceiling, but they had better be able to pole-dance their way to the top.

And this is not a new problem. When movies became popular, D. H. Lawrence worried about what would happen to individual sexual expression. He thought that seeing a perfected kiss enlarged on the screen would make kissing a self-conscious act for those watching because we would always measure our technique against a larger-than-life image. While I’m aware there are feminists who categorize Lawrence as a misogynist, his take on the perfected image was and continues to be spot on.

However, rape, pedophilia and serial sexual predation are something else — they are all acts of violence expressed in a sexual context and these acts speak to societal issues that underlie sexual objectification. This past week we took a collective stand against the murder of elephants for trophies — thus, elephants have moved beyond the status of objects. Imagine what might happen if we took a stand for all sentient beings, if we refused to objectify anyone or anything — including ourselves. What if we valued children more than guns or the Earth more than money. If I can objectify you, I can exploit you, and so it goes…if I can turn you into an object because of the color of your skin, your religion, your age, or your gender, then I don’t have to treat you with respect; I don't have to value your life.

It took me a long time to grow out of the notion that my leaders needed to be perfect. Fortunately, I finally embraced the idea that my leaders have feet of clay because all humans have feet of clay. I wanted my heroes to be gods — or at least god-like. Now I want my heroes to have a brain, a heart and some courage — and if they’ve petitioned the Great Oz to get those qualities, that’s fine with me. I also want them to have common sense. I want them to have grown past their narcissistic tendencies so they can consider the greater good in each situation. Included in growing-past-narcissism — something we all should do — is the realization of our shared humanity with all its awful imperfections — that’s part of what makes good leaders. It’s why we identify with and love our good leaders — we feel the truth of their experience; they’ve learned the hard lessons of life through their successes as well as their failures.

Mr. Trump is not such a leader, but he is nonetheless a potent force for change because he embodies both the disease and the cure. His blatant misogyny is a kind of homeopathic remedy that has precipitated a profound healing process. His proud abuse of women has triggered a massive healing crisis, and as many know, during a true healing crisis we often experience previous symptoms as they move through and out of the system. Mr. Trump is the Predator-in Chief. He is unrepentant, and for the moment impervious to punishment. But the force of women’s refusal to tolerate that behavior any longer — anywhere — is one way of understanding the Weinstein Effect. But again, it’s disingenuous for people in the entertainment industry to be surprised by the extent of Harvey Weinstein’s abusive behavior. For many people in that business, that kind of behavior is just the way it is — and you just put up with it.

It’s never a good idea to put up with any form of abuse — and perhaps that’s what we need to learn most from Mr. Trump and his cohort of hungry ghosts, all of whom are intent upon abusing their power as much as possible. It’s as if they know their time is coming to an end so they are destroying as much as they can for selfish gain, oblivious to the consequences of their actions. But we have a choice: We can put up with it and tell ourselves that’s just the way it is. Or we can demand something more.

Many of us, especially readers of this column, are demanding more. But we need to keep our wits about us because those hungry ghosts are driven by insatiable appetites for power and they will try to take down every good leader we have, especially if that good leader has feet of clay. Don’t fool yourself by lumping everyone into the same category because you’re mad as hell that a madman is running the world. This is an opportunity to find sincere leaders and support them. Al Franken got into politics because he cares about the world. He’s not interested in pillaging the planet for personal gain. He has a heart and a brain and the courage to confront power. Rather than be disappointed because he isn’t a saint, let’s acknowledge the deeper roots of this problem. It’s not just a male/female dilemma — it’s a human problem.

So many challenges have risen to the surface of daily life since Mr. Trump took office — all of them human problems and none of them new — that sometimes it feels as if we’re being called into service whether or not we want to participate. The hardest part of this process is finding middle ground — the human ground we all share — without relinquishing principles that most of us recognize as guiding lights. It’s completely possible to have compassion for a pedophile, but that doesn’t mean condoning compulsive sexual behavior that harms children, and it is important for all of us to learn the difference. Compassion says, I am that too, but it doesn’t simultaneously agree with the harm being done. Compassion requires a discerning mind.

We are still in the aftermath of those seven exact Uranus/Pluto squares that occurred from 2012-2015. Those squares surfaced issues of social justice. Social justice is love at the collective dimension of our shared experience. It means we acknowledge our interconnectedness, even if it means — and obviously, it does — acknowledging the shadows that unite us, and then doing something about transforming those shadows.  This week, as the tension tightens among Mars, Pluto and Uranus, it will be more than necessary to remember our shared humanity — our common ground — because the tension of those three planets is going to irritate the resonance of those exact squares. Some may even feel transported in time. But don’t let that shake you from holding onto your internal center.

Most of us know the difference between right and wrong, cruelty and compassion, and ruthlessness and kindness. It’s time to increase the application of compassion and couple it with common sense everywhere we find ourselves polarized beyond compromise, polarized beyond our shared common ground. Ultimately, we are insignificant in the vast mystery we call the universe. But for some reason, while we’re here on Planet Earth, we exist in an ongoing paradox: While we are only dust in the wind, each of us also has the unique power of co-creation, a power that makes every thought, word, and deed matter. It is a human superpower--use it wisely.

Hello to readers in Sligo!

It’s forty-six days until the calendar New Year 2018 begins and 36 days until the solstitial New Year on December 21/22. During the final days of this truly trying year there is enough planetary activity, personal and political, to keep most of us busy right up to the stroke of midnight on December 31. Get out those to-do lists and start keeping notes — it won’t be easy to track all the threads as 2017 comes to a close.

Here’s the skinny:

(1) From December 3-23, we’re in the grip of the final Mercury Retrograde of 2017, which throws a monkey wrench into most of the month, which is traditionally devoted to shopping, reveling, partying, traveling, and other festivities that require good timing. Make your travel plans now before the retrograde makes getting around more than a little gnarly. (Yes, I know that it’s a couple of weeks away, but forewarned is better prepared.) And while you’re at it, you might also do your online Christmas shopping early too, especially if you’re having gifts delivered.

Most of you know the Mercury Retrograde drill by now, but just in case you’re an astro novice…Mercury Retrograde is a great time to pause for review and a lousy time to start something new. Travel plans go wonky and every variety of communication device starts speaking in tongues. (More about Mercury Retrograde challenges as we get closer.) Of course, a review at the end of the year is always a wise way to spend your time, but when Mercury Retrograde insists on that review in the middle of celebrations, mulling over and over and over the details can be soul-crushing, especially this year when there are so many unpleasant memories to review.  

On a completely different Mercury Retrograde note…it might also be wise to start your back-up engines now — check external hard drives, flash drives, the cloud, Dropbox and every other data storage device. By the time December 3 rolls around, it might be too late.

(2) There is also a pernicious wind blowing through the next couple of weeks. It started Saturday, November 11 with a Mars/Pluto square, which is exact and separating on November 19, but lingers until November 30. Mars signifies the warrior archetype. Pluto signifies issues of power and control. Squares signify fractious interactions. And when the clash is between Mars and Pluto, even the air becomes cruel and brutal. From a personal perspective, this combination indicates harsh attitudes aimed at yourself or at others. From a collective perspective, this Mars/Pluto square can also indicate increased violence — everywhere.

Unfortunately, on November 24, just as the Mars/Pluto square pulls apart (and just in time for the Thanksgiving leftovers), Mars moves into an opposition with Uranus, which will be exact and separating on December 1. Oppositions symbolize tension. Uranus symbolizes rebellion, with or without a cause. And Uranus, not to be outdone by Pluto, exacerbates the already stress-laden atmosphere by fueling the need to break free from stagnant situations that no longer serve — on the heels of the Mars/Pluto square that could easily escalate all sorts of bellicose words into aggressive behavior. Anticipate a stressful start to the holiday season, especially as that Mars/Uranus opposition starts to separate at the same time Mercury is ‘slowing down’. At the very least, the combination of Mars, Uranus and Pluto is probably going to make many of us more than a little cranky-pants, and when you add that to the normal seasonal mood swings, it’s gonna take a lot of work to find the jolly.

(3) And there is more: On December 20, Saturn shifts Signs, and as the Lord of Karma (as some like to call Saturn) leaves the Fire of Sagittarius, with all its idealism, and enters the Earth of Capricorn, its Home Sign, with all its rules and regulations, we are likely to experience a profound shift in focus. Don’t misunderstand: Saturn in Sagittarius wasn’t fun, even if Sagittarius is the Sign of humor. But Saturn in Capricorn is more than slightly serious, and it will definitely take more than a moment to adjust to the new frequency.

For the next several week as the planets dial up the intensity, skillfully handling the stress won’t be easy. You’ll need more than patience pills or shots of Tequila — you might even want to stay in Shavasana for days on end…and if you do, no one will blame you. It is possible to harness the planetary intensities, but to do so requires an objective stance that doesn’t need to blame anyone. Just don’t confuse the absence of blame with an acceptance of a negative or even egregious situation. Not-blaming simply bypasses the conditioned responses of the emotional body and its need to go into lengthy diatribes that only strengthen an attachment to anger and resentment, and instead asks: What are we going to do about it? Each of us can do something every day by reaffirming our commitment to joining love with revolution so we can create evolution.

Hello to readers in Berlin!

I know lots of readers were surprised when last week’s column didn’t mention the Mueller indictments. My inclination was to wait rather than celebrate, given there’s still more to be revealed and the people who put this entire mess into play are far too Machiavellian to simply surrender. Although I have to admit that for the first time in a very long time as I read about the indictments, I felt a surge of pride for those citizens committed to upholding the true values of the United States and that they are doing their jobs regardless of White House shenanigans and obscurations. Yet I remain cautious about the next phase. Mr. Trump and his gang of hungry ghosts are too determined to dismantle all the good that’s been put in motion — all the baby steps taken to implement programs of social justice for all sentient beings, including Planet Earth itself. They won’t give up easily. When there’s an intention to use chaos as the means to one’s ends, and when those ends are motivated by greed, racism or voracious appetites for power — one will do anything to keep that chaos going.

But here’s the thing: Uranus, symbol for surprising plot twists, is retrograde until January 2, 2018, and as it continues reviewing its recent past — going as far back as last April — we can pretty much expect more startling information about the Trump/Russia alliance. Whether or not those revelations will matter to Trump supporters or to Congress is debatable. It didn’t matter to Trump voters when he bragged about grabbing pussy. It doesn’t matter that he’s a racist. Or that he constantly lies. We can only wonder if collusion with a foreign power during an election — which could be called treason — will matter to his patriotic base? We won’t know until all the information has been made available and all the reactions are in. Of course, reactions to the investigation will depend on the spin, and these days the spin on information matters more than the facts — at least for too many of us.  

And here’s the spin challenge: A Jupiter/Neptune trine is in effect from this week until nearly the end of January, 2018, and it promises to deliver a richly textured and woven spin on everything. Take a deep breath — there’s gonna be a lot of moments when you’ll need to turn off the TV before you throw your shoes at the talking heads or your phone out the car window. Both Jupiter and Neptune represent more than a fair share of the blarney, and as they unite in a positive alliance, lots of stories, including stories that seem to shift with the wind, stories designed to obfuscate the truth, and stories meant to mesmerize and divert attention away from what’s really going on…all these are going to resound through the airwaves. From a personal perspective, everyone will be weaving a tale — even you.

Jupiter symbolizes the potential for a broad perspective, which is one of the reasons it’s infamous for its tendency to exaggerate. The good news is that Jupiter searches for truth no matter what Sign it’s in, and because it’s currently transiting Scorpio, the Sign that knows there’s always more to the story than is being told. Its journey through Scorpio is certain to ferret out the undercurrents, especially the secret details about politics, money, sex, and power. From a collective perspective, this is likely to blow the lid off long-festering secrets that weren’t so secret — from now on we will call it The Weinstein Effect.) From a personal perspective, things you would rather keep hidden could be exposed.  

Neptune’s bandwidth is as wide as the oceans, and among its many domains it symbolizes illusion, delusion and deceit. Its union with Jupiter is certain to reveal a vast repertoire of dreams and schemes — and perhaps even more scandals. This alliance also produces is a strong susceptibility to suggestion and strong feelings of empathy. Neptune does signify spiritual aspirations and idealism, and when it combines with Jupiter those attributes amplify a generous spirit. From a personal perspective, try to keep things moderate, if only because this Jupiter/Neptune alliance tests boundaries — what is too much and when is enough — and because it endures for a couple of months, you’ll need to pace yourself, especially if you are taking care of others, otherwise by the time it’s over, you’ll have given it all away.

The Saturn/Uranus trine continues this week. Saturn signifies structure. Uranus symbolizes change. Trines represent positive interactions. And the entire bundle supports strength even in the midst of a shift. From a personal perspective, this trine can be used to overcome difficult situations through precise yet innovative processes. Remember that old cliché: Necessity is the mother of invention. It’s a clear Saturn/Uranus message. From a collective perspective, this trine is about willpower — not the blunt imposition of your agenda over another’s, but the application of strength combined with intention. 

Venus just entered Scorpio on November 7, moving into a conjunction with Jupiter, which creates the potential for joy. Use this positive alliance to foster positive interactions — even if you don’t want to talk to those who share opposite opinions, you can still wish them well. And this is not just about politics. One of the greatest challenges is figuring out how to hold the space to disagree without having to make the other person wrong. I can usually stay fairly accepting if the opposite opinion isn’t causing any harm — but this is definitely a work in progress and is likely to stay that way for a while.

As the coming weeks unfold, many of us are sure to continue encountering ideas as well as actions that are antithetical to our personal value systems. It hasn’t been and won’t be easy to stay compassionate through this next phase. But that shouldn’t alter or deter your efforts to try. Any one of us could be the 100^th Monkey — the one that tips the scales toward greater awareness — and that tipping can be as simple as the refusal to engage in an argument over something that is absolutely meaningless in the long run. We are all in this together and it is up to each of us to figure out how to skillfully handle the chaos we now call daily life.  

Hello to readers in Odessa!

A bristling mood rides the routines of daily life this week, so don’t be surprised if lots of folks — including yourself — are more than a little prickly. Also anticipate that most of us will feel the need to break free from restraints, real or imagined. And because idealism, with all of its expectations, is also a theme this week, you can expect disappointment to be a source of some of those raised hackles — just be careful, some of those spikes could have thorns, especially if dreams fail to manifest according to plans. We’re nearing the end of a very long year, a year that has tried many souls to the point of exhaustion, and not just because so many are suffering from Trump Fatigue, a new existential disorder listed in the DSM as PTTD, or Post Traumatic Trump Disorder, the main symptom of which is waking up each morning and wondering what awful thing happened overnight or is about to happen next. It’s also been a long, overwhelming year of physical hardship and devastating loss for just too many people. And even if you are fortunate and not facing a physical challenge from a hurricane, earthquake, fire, flood, war, or ethnic cleansing, the psychic air on Planet Earth is so heavy with the suffering of others that only Herculean strength could make you impervious to the effect of so much grief — and the year’s not over. Do your best to do what’s healthy for you and those you love. It’s important to stay buoyed and supported physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

The source of the bristle and prickle of the week is an opposition between the Moon, in Aries, and Mars, in Libra. The Moon represents the emotional body. Mars symbolizes a fighting spirit. Oppositions signify tension in search of an outlet. And because Mars rules Aries, and lots of us need to blow off steam, and Aries is about individual will, and because Libra is all about relating, this opposition ignites trouble spots in partnerships already struggling to hold it together. The good news is that this fire also has the potential to illuminate creative solutions to persistent negative issues — but only if those involved are willing to admit and examine stagnant areas — and shift them through positive action. The very best news is that it’s over quickly — by Friday, for sure — unless it has illuminated areas of concern that can no longer be ignored.

But that’s not all. Venus, in Libra (her Home Sign), opposes Uranus, in Aries, all week long. Venus is the goddess of love and beauty. Uranus is the rebel, with or without a cause. And when these two forces oppose each other all sorts of sparks fly, igniting erotic and amorous urges. Unfortunately, this opposition indicates more separating than uniting, particularly if there are hurdles to overcome — real or imagined. This opposition is also decidedly creative, which means there is a high potential for transformative solutions. Just be aware that the Moon joins this opposition on Thursday into Friday and that’s sure to ramp up emotional bodies.

The Sun, in Scorpio, trines Neptune, in Pisces, feeding an idealistic attitude (something people suffering from PTTD might not be able to embrace wholeheartedly). Nevertheless, this is a powerful alliance that creates the potential for spiritual pursuits that nourish the soul through altruistic endeavors. Of course, in this new age of selfishness those actions may not be all that easy to put into motion — but it is not impossible.

This Sun/Neptune trine can also amplify sensitivities, making even the most reserved among us highly sentimental and…well…deeply delicate, so when you are making those Uranian declarations of independence, be careful not to say things that might lodge like brainworms in the minds of your adversaries. Sometimes blowing off steam is healthy, but it can also be harmful. The really good news about the Sun/Neptune trine is that it feeds a desire for spiritual pursuits. Use this powerful energy to deepen your meditation practice or intensify your spiritual search.

All month long there is a trine between Saturn and Uranus. This is a powerful configuration that signifies indefatigability, a dogged determination that won’t give up. Because this is a positive interaction, we are likely to see many reinvigorated to overcome and survive awful situations. Our fellow travelers in Puerto Rico, Northern California, Houston, Florida, and too many places in the Caribbean are all struggling to cobble life back together, a process that requires an unrelenting effort, as does the life of a refugee, a survivor of war and any other sentient being on every continent on the Planet Earth who has been displaced from the safety and shelter of a home — a place to come to rest. While Saturn does symbolize stability, Uranus represents sudden and startling plot twists, which means that in the midst of its positive signature, we could be in for a few more surprises.

As the week unfolds, try not to get snagged by the prickle and bristle of the week. Take your stand if you must, but try to be compassionate — and that does not translate into being apologetic for your point of view. It simply means stating your truth without having to harm the other person. Compassion isn’t always nice. But it also doesn’t have a charge. And that’s an important distinction to make as we move into the final weeks of an extraordinarily difficult and polarized year.    

Hello to readers in Aberdeen!

Here’s the good news: All week long, we’re under the influence of a Sun/Jupiter conjunction, which is about as optimistic a combination of planets as you can find — even when that conjunction takes place in Scorpio. Poor Scorpio…it has such a bad reputation, but the truth is Scorpio’s waters run about as deep as the human soul can fathom — and that’s pretty deep, which is the real reason Scorpio scares people. Scorpio reminds us that there is always something happening beneath the surface of life’s events, and that something usually has to do with unconscious urges that inform complex and often compulsive behavior. I know Scorpio is known for being controlling, manipulative, suspicious, and vengeful, but where I come from, those qualities are survival mechanisms for a sensitive Sign that feels almost too deeply to ever be comfortable. Ruled by Pluto, together Scorpio and Pluto signify change at the core of whatever is being worked on or dealt with — it’s the Sign of transformation and that’s why it symbolizes death. That’s no easy challenge to meet, and in response to that challenge, Scorpio (like all good Fixed Signs) clings to what it knows, and when it is frightened tends to resist the exorable force of change that is its nature. (Yes…I know that’s a deeply philosophical perspective, but…hey…Jupiter is the Planet of existential search, and its conjunction to the Sun enables everyone to wax as expansively as possible.)

Here’s more good news: There are no pernicious interactions this week to color our ongoing collective catharsis with deeper shades of despair. Consider it a slight respite from the constant consequences of suffering that have been breaking on the shores of daily life with ever-increasing intensity. Just don’t be fooled into thinking anything is normal — nothing is and won’t be again for quite some time. What’s more, because Nature abhors a vacuum, the absence of difficulty may provide the perfect opportunity for difficulties that have been waiting in the wings to suddenly make an appearance.

Also be aware that Mr. Trump and his team of rapacious opportunists are working overtime to dismantle whatever compassionate and progressive policies they can — all in their own selfish interests — so don’t let this brief respite from grating astral interactions fool you. No one can fall asleep at the wheel or be distracted by his seeming buffoonery. He and his team are quite practiced at these particular slight-of-hand techniques, and they are using them quite skillfully to roll back environmental restraints, education policies, medical services, and every other program meant to protect those who are unable to protect themselves.

In my continuing search to find hope in the midst of our present global madness, I stumbled upon a quote from William Blake: The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom. And I would add, eventually and only when we learn from those excesses — something any recovering addict can testify to. The idea that excess can eventually transform into wisdom — a very Jupiter-in-Scorpio idea — also reminded me of Hexagram 32, Duration, in the I-Ching, the ancient Chinese book of wisdom, which quotes Lao-tse: If we wish to compress something, we must first let it fully expand. While I am not in favor of the systematic dismantling of all good things that Mr. Trump and his greedy cohort seem intent on, I’m holding onto the notion that as his policies are revealed — as his excesses continue to come to light — more and more of the people he’s bamboozled will recognize the conceit of his deceit and find their path to the palace of wisdom.

Hello to readers in Fortaleza!

For far too many weeks far too many of our fellow travelers have been bombarded by extremes. Fire and rain as well as earthquakes and hurricanes, not just in the United States, but all around the planet — continent to continent — disasters of every kind have exacerbated the suffering of sentient beings. Fires in northern California, earthquakes in Mexico and Italy, floods in Peru, hurricanes — Nate, Harvey, Irma, Maria, and as I write this Ophelia is headed for Ireland and the United Kingdom — are presenting unprecedented challenges for recovery. And the list above doesn’t even include the floods in Mumbai and other parts of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, as well as Typhoon Hato in Macau and southern China. Floods in New Zealand, mudslides in Sierra Leone, and earlier in the summer, the fires in southern France and Portugal, which are currently reoccurring in Portugal and Spain. It’s as if the Earth is convulsing in response to our human condition.

The difficulty is that in a world that no longer makes sense — and in reality, hasn’t made sense for a while — the aggregation of our bad habits is putting us continuously at risk. But not just physically. We are also at risk spiritually, mentally and emotionally as we hold onto the day-to-day, trying to not get swept away by the enormous waves of grief that are relentlessly pounding the shores of daily life. Unfortunately, this grief is a necessary part of our ongoing global catharsis. It’s painful, but it’s teaching us that we must live differently.

I realize that reading a list of natural disasters is both stultifying and redundant — you’d have to be living off-planet to be oblivious to the current extreme conditions. It’s no longer possible to isolate or tune out from what’s going on. The Internet is now our global fascia, and that makes all politics truly local and all suffering local, too. Social media changed our relationship to everything. It’s one thing to read about a hurricane and the damage done. It’s another thing to hear about it from someone on the ground, unscripted and live-streaming from the actual site.

The immediacy created by our undeniable interconnectedness has both unfortunate and fortunate effects. Unfortunate because it exacerbates frustration about not being able to help in a practical way across long distances. Fortunate because it’s fueling creative responses to dire situations from individuals committed to making a difference. Despite the callousness of many of our current world leaders and the seeming rise of segments of our global population who deride caring for others, a network of compassion is growing. It may be growing slower than many of us would like, but there’s no denying that people are waking up. For example, while many have felt powerless in the face of Mr. Trump’s blatant misogyny, the anger roused by his entitlement and the acceptance of his entitlement has fueled a new feminist fire — and the intensity of that fire can be seen in the searing reactions to Harvey Weinstein’s ritual misogyny. From an astrological perspective, the exposure and revelation of Mr. Weinstein’s serial sexual abuse of power can be attributed to Jupiter’s move into Scorpio on October 10. Jupiter symbolizes excesses. Scorpio represents sex and power. No more need be said.

Our current catharsis on planet Earth can be understood through the cycles of Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, all of which have been signaling the need as well as the potential for personal and planetary transformation since the end of World War II — not long after the discovery of Pluto, the creation of the atomic bomb and the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Pluto has probably played the most dynamic role — it represents change at the core — and as it has combined with Saturn, inflexible regimes of power have come into being. For example, in 1947/1948 there was a Saturn/Pluto conjunction in Leo, and during those years, the CIA was established as was the NSA, India and Pakistan gained independence, and the State of Israel was formed. Another Saturn/Pluto conjunction in 1982, during Reagan’s reign, when Reaganomics took effect and unemployment was at 16.3 percent. The events of September 11, 2001 correlate to a Saturn/Pluto opposition that occurred at the midpoint of the 1982 cycle. We are still dealing with the consequences of that opposition. We are headed for another Saturn/Pluto conjunction in January 2020, which will certainly be a reaction to all that’s taking place now.

Pluto has also interacted with Uranus and those cycles are about revolution. Uranus symbolizes the rebel with or without a cause, and under the combined influence of Uranus/Pluto cycles, issues of social justice tend to dominate the zeitgeist. Certainly the last several years of Uranus/Pluto squares (2012-2015) gave us a pretty clear picture of what needs to shift, and its aftermath also revealed the depth and breadth of forces opposed to change, condensed and intensified in the blatant narcissism, racism and greed of Mr. Trump and his cadre of hungry ghosts.

The good news is that Mr. Trump is so over-the-top that even those who would rather stay asleep are alarmed and quickly waking up to the urgency of this evolutionary moment. The need to stop the systematic destruction of the environmental progress that’s been made in the last several decades has never been more important. And the attempts to nullify the leaps in social consciousness that moved us out of prejudice and into compassion also need our protection and vigilance. The very awfulness of the Trump policies serve as a constant reminder that we can no longer tolerate the ignorance of the past — to do so is to travel the path of self-extinction.

On Thursday, October 19, there is a New Moon, in Libra, that forms an exact opposition to Uranus, in Aries. A New Moon always signals the beginning of a new emotional cycle and it’s almost always a good time to plant seeds of intention or initiate new projects. This New Moon cycle is about a fierce devotion to relationship and how that commitment challenges an equally fierce urge for independence. Anticipate declarations of every sort, yours or others’. It would be safe to assume that some of those bursts of personal expression are motivated more by the need to blow off steam than to actually effectuate a permanent change.

As the week unfolds, do your best to stay present and emotionally sober — it’s not going to be easy to handle the flux of feelings as so many fellow travelers attempt to cope with loss — and not just physical loss. Many are struggling to hold onto hope for the future, despite the grim present. Try to stay centered and grounded in the knowing that we are in a dynamic process, and then do your best to share that perspective with others.

Hello to readers in Las Vegas.

I decided to prep for this week’s column by listening to music that would inspire a thoughtful attitude toward our current collective mess. Interestingly — actually, synchronistically — the Sunday New York Times had a piece on music that included a live performance of West Side Story by the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra from Venezuela conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, recorded at the BBC Proms in 2007. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfLTp2XHvHA

There could not be a more timely piece of music to capture the pathos of the moment. Just the story itself, an allegory based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet about the devastating consequences of bigotry and hate, as well as the truth of love and its power to heal, would have been enough to inspire. But it was also completely appropriate because those very same issues and their effects, not just in Venezuela but also throughout the rest of the world, signify the potent damaging attitudes affecting all of us, especially children. It also demonstrates the efficacy of music and art to express as well as heal the wounds of the soul. The irony was not lost on me (though I was unaware of it when I began listening) that the lyrics of America still sing and sting with a particularly relevant poignancy.

The planets also play poignant melodies this week. Jupiter is in the last days of its journey through Libra — it enters Scorpio on Tuesday, October 10 — and as it transits the final degrees of Libra, it distills the essence of a journey that began on September 9, 2016. Libra is the Sign of relating and relationship. Jupiter signifies, among other things, the search for truth. And certainly, this last year we’ve all been searching for the truth — indeed, never has truth felt so imperiled. As part of that search, we’ve also been exploring — the relationship between fact and fiction as well as the relationship between opinion and reality. Truth in the Trump years is a universe all its own, and as it continues to parallel our own universe, we’re continually confronted with the need to refine and master our capacity for clear discernment.

When Jupiter entered Libra last year, I wrote that its transit through Libra, the Sign symbolized by the scales, would make balance an ongoing theme, and as part of that process we would be exploring extremes, from an individual perspective as well as a collective one. For the next six days, as Jupiter distills the essence of that year-long exploration, it might be valuable to contemplate what and where your life has shifted from one side of the scale to the other, and if during that process you’ve found a new sense of balance. But a word of caution: During this review, try not to think that Jupiter caused the shifts occur. The planets are not causal; they are archetypal indicators of universal rhythms and cycles, and it’s how we respond to those cycles that determines what occurs. It may be that as planets move through the Signs we become more aware of their qualities and characteristics — and their presence becomes more palpable, making it easy to ascribe agency. But to do so would be to miss the point. Something far greater than the planets informs all things great and small.

That being said, it’s quite easy to see a year’s worth of extremes from a collective perspective, especially given the Jupiter/Uranus opposition that exacerbated almost every polarized position — political, racial, religious, financial — you name it. Those Libra scales swung wildly from one point of view to another, making most of us a little crazy trying to keep up with the shifts. Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that Jupiter’s move into Scorpio will calm things down. Scorpio is an intensely private Sign, but it’s also the Sign of death and rebirth, and as Jupiter spends the next year searching for the truth of transformation, we are likely to see one revelation after another regarding our ability to sustain life on this planet. Yes…I can hear you wondering how could there be more revelations, but of course, this is one of life’s mysteries — there are always more. Also keep in mind that Scorpio is a Water Sign and its emotional waters run as deep as Earth’s oceans.

I’d like to be able to predict that things will settle down during the coming weeks, but I’m not sure that would be an accurate assessment of what lies ahead — too much is in motion to think that the waves of change will stop crashing against the shores of daily life. And too many of our fellow travelers need help coping with the consequences of those waves. So rather than say we are out of the water, I would say we are learning to swim in waters with stronger currents than we’ve ever imagined. Let consciousness guide your choices and when possible make it a raft in the midst of a sea of change. And as always, reach out to your fellow travelers through a consistent practice of compassion. Kindness never sinks a ship — it just makes you a more sea-worthy vessel.

And so it goes…another week of global upheaval, chaos and confusion, along with polarized positions that display both the worst and the best in us, positions that resist any and all attempts at reasonable resolution. This is what daily life has become for many, and now it’s not just Mr. Trump and his gang of hungry ghosts at the epicenter of turmoil. Mother Nature has put her foot down, shifting the focus away from the needs of a few and toward the needs of too many — seemingly to make sure we focus on how to alleviate and heal the suffering of our fellow travelers, because so many — too many — are in such desperate need of help. It’s impossible to deny our interconnectedness and our interdependence in the face of such misery, and surely only the hardest of hearts would be immune or impervious to the cries for help from those stranded on that ocean of genuine need.

Many who are not suffering physically are dealing with mental, emotional, psychological, or spiritual overload and overwhelm and finding it hard to cope with what seems to be the end of the world. It’s so bad that Sunday’s New York Times had an article on how to survive the coming apocalypse.

www.nytimes.com/2017/09/23/style/how-to-survive-the-apocalypse.html?_r=0

Frankly (and on a lighter note), I thought it was a sign of the End Times when years ago Madonna offered Gwyneth Paltrow spiritual advice from the Kabbalah on how to handle the backlash to her emotional speech at the Academy Awards, saying it was just karma. (I know..that’s why it was a sign.) But I was wrong: When the New York Times publishes an article on what you’ll need for the End Times — specifically what survival gear to buy — that’s a sign that the end is near.

But of course, these are not the End Times and we are not moving toward the Rapture. These are difficult, extreme, unsettling, provocative, and downright scary times, and even though it feels as if the Earth is spinning out of control, we are in a process of transformation that is so deep we can’t see the bottom, and so wide we can’t see the edges, and so high we can’t see an end.  It’s individual as well as collective, and its scope is mind-blowing, given the realization that the only solution is evolution. We are the clear and present danger to ourselves, the greatest threat to our existence. Gaia knows how to take care of herself. We are in a process of deciding whether or not to facilitate our own extinction. It is an extraordinary time to be alive on Earth, but it is also incredibly stressful.

This week, the sky mirrors our polarized positions through the final opposition between Jupiter and Uranus, which is exact and separating tomorrow, September 28. When hard aspects separate, we tend to feel the gist of their meaning as they release their tightly held positions. As many readers may recall, this planetary combination is interpreted as the sudden release of tension.  How that is likely to manifest in a world where so many tense positions are being tightly held, I have no idea. Will even more startling events add to the cacophony of suffering that surrounds so many? Will a conversation between Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin surface? Will the Republicans push through their mendacious health care plan? Will good-hearted global citizens all around our world go on strike until their corrupt leaders have a change of heart? Or will all these things occur and many more — enough to trigger a tipping point in our collective consciousness? This exact opposition forms a square to the position of Pluto in the United States’ chart, signaling that whatever transpires now has a direct effect on the United States government in the years to come as we move inexorably toward the US Pluto Return in 2022.

Significantly, within a few Earth hours of Jupiter and Uranus separating, Pluto Direct begins, ending a retrograde phase that began on April 20, 2017. Pluto goes direct in a conjunction to the Moon, also in Capricorn, which translates into an intense emotional time for just about everyone. Anticipate a rough couple of days as the tension that’s been building since the start of this year (when the Jupiter/Uranus opposition began) finally begins to let go. I don’t think this release will necessarily solve all our problems, but it will help many gain a greater sense of clarity about what needs to happen next.

This week, it’s important to remember that we are but specks of life in an infinite universe, and as our souls stream together through space, love makes our shared ride much more fun. So when possible, reach out to your fellow travelers with an open heart, even if you disagree, and continue to work on finding compassionate solutions to our very real problems.

Hello to readers in Kotzebue!

You’re going to need coping mechanisms this week — lots of them, from stress eating to stress exercising to stress marathons to stress meditation to all manner of addictive appetites — self-medicating as well as self-soothing habits are certain to be a crucial part of each and every day. Even if you haven’t smoked in decades, you might find yourself suddenly overwhelmed with an almost urgent desire to light up. The same is true for alcohol, drugs, sugar, or shopping — anything and everything with the promise of alleviating anxiety is gonna start looking good. Just be aware that although some historical survival mechanisms are still powerful enough to override even the best intentions to stay on a middle path, they still aren’t the best way to stay steady — and staying steady is a must. We’re at an astrological tipping point related to a year’s worth of intense planetary activity, which is why balance continues to be the task, the challenge and the goal. Do whatever it is you do — whatever it is you do that’s healthy — to find and maintain your equilibrium. We live in extraordinary times, times that require being and staying as conscious as possible. Turning off and tuning out isn’t going to work. This is a profound time to clean up all sorts of lingering issues, for what gets set in motion under the current skies stays in motion for longer than most of us can imagine.

The current source of this extremely stressful atmosphere is a final contact in a series of three oppositions between Jupiter, in Libra, and Uranus, in Aries. This series began December 2016 and persisted almost without a break until March. Now on September 28, there is this third and final opposition in the series, and this week, as both planets continue to tighten their positions, many of us are likely to feel slightly more on edge — even those who don’t think there’s room on the edge for even a smidgen more intensity. (Alas…it seems there is always room for more.)

Jupiter symbolizes good fortune and expansive awareness. Uranus represents invention and surprise. And when they interact, the combination of their signatures generates strong urges for personal freedom. This combination also represents the desire to break free from stagnant patterns that still have power to hold you hostage to situations or behaviors that no longer serve. (Another reason why addictive appetites are ‘trending.’) Over the next two weeks, as this opposition increases in intensity and then releases, notice what you’re clinging to out of habit, and then rather than indulging, find outlets that allow you to channel the intensity into creating positive remedies for the stress.

Oppositions signify polarities, so do your best to notice where you are polarizing rather than synthesizing. Synthesis is an alchemical key to transforming a wide number of tense situations. And while I’m not suggesting that compromise is always the best or most useful answer — for example, you can’t compromise with evil — I am proposing that we find solutions that include our fellow travelers even if we don’t share the same opinions. We need solutions that facilitate progress toward creating environments that nourish all sentient beings.

Significantly, this third Jupiter/Uranus opposition forms an exact square to Pluto’s position in the United States’ birth chart. Jupiter also trines the United States’ Moon as Uranus sextiles it, but neither of those contacts is as important as the square to Pluto, simply because Pluto signifies power and America is definitely wrestling with power issues — and not just along party lines. What’s more, the United States is also moving steadily to its Pluto Return which occurs from March 2021 until December 2023. As I have written about in previous columns, this series of Jupiter/Uranus oppositions has raised key issues that America is certain to face during that return: Who really has the power in the United States: The people? The government? The politicians? The corporations? Or a small number of extremely wealthy individuals who seek to shape the world according to their vision of what America should be. Pay close attention to how the disaster policies and financial compensation for the Harvey and Irma clean-ups reflect political, corporate and financial priorities. Also pay attention to how the people in those areas react to those policies. Those reactions will eventually turn into action.

Back to 2017…Friday, September 22, is the first day of fall, marked by the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, and the vernal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s a good day to remember that we are a planet spinning in space around a ball of fire that is the physical source of life, which makes it a good day to reflect on how best to spend our brief moments here.

Hello to readers in Rome!

So many thoughts and feelings come to mind as I watch the sky and the news, as well as listen to friends and strangers talk about the state of our world and the condition of our lives. Too many people are displaced — and not just physically. For while you may not be in an actual flood where the waters of the sea and the sky combined to a devastating effect, you may be caught in the midst of an emotional deluge, and it could take just as long for those waters to recede — maybe even longer — as it does for the waters of Harvey, Irma, and all the other violent storms around the planet to find their new normal levels.

The stars speak to those sensitivities this week. A Mercury/Mars conjunction, in Virgo, is opposed by Neptune, in Pisces. This is a tense combination which could manifest as a restless energy that moves into action without consideration of the consequences. Yet at its core lies the potential for sympathetic responses to the plight of others. But it will take strong determination to hold an empathetic stance, especially as huge waves of grief pound the shores of minds and hearts, waves generated by millions of people struggling to get their lives back to some sort of normal. And that’s just the suffering caused by the weather. All around our increasingly small planet our fellow travelers are suffering from such extreme acts of violence and cruelty that it is almost impossible to imagine that it could grow any worse. When Desmond Tutu has to remind Aung San Suu Kyi to remember why she won a Nobel Peace Prize, it’s yet another indication that our world has turned upside down.

Recently I saw the movie Let Me Go — a film about multi-generational trauma and how trauma runs along family lines, each generation expressing another iteration of the wound. This film is particularly poignant and relevant because it is about four generations of women, three of those generations descended from a woman who abandoned her child in order to join the SS and become a Nazi officer in Auschwitz.  As the movie unfolds, it becomes a deep and poignant look at what lies beneath the need to hate and how the effect of that poison infects so many lives for so many generations. It is a true story, which makes it all the more powerful. The good news is that even as it tells the truth, it also offers hope.

If we are to transform the new wave of bigotry and hatred that is infecting so many lives, we must do more than condemn it; we must understand its causes and do something about it at the causal level. Of course, that won’t be easy — it’s much harder to understand the suffering of the victimizer, especially when that victimizer is rattling swords, promising violence and wielding power. What’s more, some may argue that in this realm, the realm of samsara, which is by its nature the realm of suffering, transforming hatred is impossible. But if that were true, then soul growth would not be possible and no one would experience the power of compassion. For those in need of a way to structure compassionate acts and solidify your commitment to compassionate action, try this website: charterforcompassion.org/

From an astrological perspective, even though the energy has shifted and we are out of the slog of Mercury Retrograde coupled with the double-eclipse effect, we are nonetheless moving toward the third and final Jupiter/Uranus opposition on September 28, a configuration that began last Christmas and persists in its seesaw effect until March. This last pass has everything to do the functioning of the United States government, and while I don’t mean to take an American-centric position, the final degree of the Jupiter/Uranus opposition occurs in an exact square to the position of Pluto in the USA natal chart. Even if there’s no dramatic event — which is hard to imagine, given that every event is dramatic these days — there’s likely to be a window into what will become the deciding factor from 2020 through 2023.

As you move through this week and next, try to find and then maintain your personal balance. Know that this is a process and it could take more than a moment to sort yourself out. But finding that balance continues to be a must, as does helping others find theirs. We are, as always, all in this together.

Hello to readers in Port-of-Spain!

Balance — physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual — is the key to navigating the intensities of the week. Whether you’re struggling in Houston, Bangladesh, Montana, Los Angeles, or any other place of extreme physical suffering; or if your heart is beating too fast from either great grief or great joy; or if you’re wrestling with difficult ideas, stretching the boundaries of your known intellectual universe, or simply trying to make sense of impossible situations; or if you’re doubting spirit because you’re surrounded by too much suffering to blindly believe it’s all happening as it should…wherever you find yourself challenged and uncomfortable, that’s where balance is a must — and that’s where balance is hardest to find.

To be sure, finding and maintaining your equilibrium isn’t easy under normal circumstances — and daily life is anything but normal. But this week it might be just a wee bit more difficult, given the Full Moon, in Pisces, today, and also given Mercury Direct, which began yesterday, September 5.  What’s more, this week we start moving steadily toward the final Jupiter/Uranus opposition, which is all about balance in the midst of upheaval. (More about this interaction next week.)

But that’s not all. There’s also North Korea and its nuclear arsenal, and as it happens, North Korea’s Saturn is exactly at the eclipse sensitive point or where the eclipsed occurred. (Yes, the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 is the gift that keeps on giving.) On Sunday, September 3, Mars crossed the eclipse sensitive point, triggering North Korea’s Saturn. Mars symbolizes war. Saturn symbolizes authority. Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s leader symbolizes his nation. On Sunday, as Mars activated the eclipse sensitive point, Kim Jong-un made his power known through a nuclear test — the strongest one yet. And because of all the things previously written in this column concerning Mr. Trump’s chart and his relationship to the eclipse sensitive point, and because Mr. Trump has no diplomatic skills whatsoever, we’re in this escalating eclipse mess — and there’s no way of predicting what the outcome might be. North Korea celebrates its Independence Day on September 10 and we can only hope and pray that a missile, as a declaration of strength, can be avoided.

A Sun/Pluto trine provides plenty of stamina, strength and staying power to get almost any job done. For those of us who are not engaged in international incidents, the week offers the promise of moving out of Mercury Retrograde stagnation and into dynamic Mercury Direct progress. Just don’t expect instant results or overnight miracles.  

Fortunately, a Venus/Saturn trine kicks in by the weekend. Venus is in Leo and Saturn is in Sagittarius. This is a positive alliance that can generate goodwill as well as a steady hand in almost any situation. Use this configuration and its dazzling yet reliable energy to enliven situations in need of a boost.

This week and the weeks ahead require an extraordinary effort to stay calm and clear about what’s truly important. Try to keep in mind that the only thing we take with us when we leave this world is the love we create, express and hold onto as we move through the vicissitudes of earthly existence. Spend more than a moment contemplating what you really value. Then integrate those values into action. And as always, do your best to help those in need of care, compassion and tenderness.

Hello to readers in Paris!

The madness of King Donald continues! And as he persists in the deconstruction of the American government, those aware of the damage being done also continue to be baffled about how to stem the tide of greed and ignorance before we reach the point of no return — although climatologists are likely to say we are well past that time. It’s no longer enough to be unhappy about what’s taking place or to be angry — or to process through any other stage of grief. There’s no accepting the violence being done to Earth and all her children. But it is also unacceptable to think that countering that violence with violence is a viable solution. We are at a Wheel Turning moment, again — we’ve been there often in the last nearly 20 years. But never before has it felt so immediately threatening.

From an astrological perspective, the madness of King Donald persists because of what’s being triggered in his chart. He has a Mars Return on Thursday, August 31, and when Mars returns to the position it occupied at birth, there is a tendency to experience a renaissance of will. Mars is the archetype of the warrior and Mr. Trump seems to be growing increasingly confrontational. What’s more, he is still in the pulsation of the eclipse effect, which occurred on his Mars and his Ascendant — we've been witnessing a live report on how that contact can play out. And it is fascinating, living through its exaggerated form is also distressing.

For the rest of us living in this brave, new and surreal world, this week plays out through a Mercury filter. Mercury goes direct on September 5, and as many of us have learned through the last many years of Mercury Retrograde, even though the retrograde phase is over, it takes a few more days to gather forward momentum. This time, Mercury goes direct conjunct Mars on the eclipse sensitive degree and that’s likely to stimulate the otherwise normal slog of forward momentum. A Mercury/Mars conjunction signals hyperactive conversation and negotiation, so anticipate that even the normally reticent have a lot to say, and for those who lean toward the verbose…well…you just have to pull up a chair and settle in for a diatribe.

Saturn went direct on Friday, August 25, on Mr. Trump’s Moon, in Sagittarius, where it sat for nearly the entire summer as it simultaneously opposed his Sun. This may be one of the reasons he’s having such a hard time settling down. Between the eclipse effect, Uranus trine his Ascendant, a Mars Return, and Saturn trying to squelch his sense of his own glory, it’s been a rough ride. Unfortunately, we’re on that ride with him. (More about Saturn next week.)

From an astrological perspective, it is possible to see Mr. Trump and his hungry ghosts, both cabinet members and followers, as the very worst manifestation of Uranus in Aries. Aries is the Sign of individuation, and as part of Uranus’ nearly seven-year journey through Aries, we’ve all been learning a lesson on what individuation actually is. Aries has a bad reputation in some astrological circles, primarily because Aries anything — Sun, Moon, Rising, and all the other planetary positions — is direct. And sometimes that Aries bluntness is hard to take. Not because they are always right, but because once Aries puts it out there, there’s no taking it back. (I have Aries Rising, and someone once said to me (and not with love), “You’re just the most direct person I’ve ever met.” My response was, “And that would be bad…how?”

The thing about Aries is that it represents the will to be an individuated self, distinct from other selves — think about that for a moment, because without that impulse there would be no separation, no one being separate from another. For the last seven years, Uranus, the planet of revolution, has been feeding the fire of that individual will to assert, and as a result many have come into a deeper awareness of what it means to be separate and what separation can cost. It goes without saying (but I am going to say it anyway,) that it’s possible to individuate and still stay connected to others — other separate selves — especially when we recognize that a far deeper unity underlies all the differences in personality. And that may well be one of the lessons Mr. Trump and his cadre of selfish hungry ghosts are here to teach: You can’t actually have a self completely disconnected from others. It’s simply against nature. Which may be why the Earth is convulsing from the cruelty and violence of a selfish view that has persisted well before this “new and improved’ regime, a view that isn’t solely limited to Republicans or Americans.

But of course, it is important to remain optimistic about the future — something I try to remember daily. As a friend recently pointed out (as recently as this morning), as Trump’s egregious behavior escalates, people continue to wake up to the need to assert their individuality and move into positive action. The multitude of grassroots movements that are taking the lead on any number of dire situations is a good indication that he is catalyzing consciousness — although that may not be his intention. And perhaps this is the ultimate gift of the Reign of Trump: It is uniting us in our efforts to heal our planet and literally save our lives. As we witnessed last week through the interest and participation in eclipse-watching, we’re still in awe of the vastness of the sky — the only place that actually knows no bounds nor separation.

Hello to readers in Halifax!

It’s got to be the morning after… has officially become the brain worm guiding the content of this week’s missive. But while the event may be behind us, the effect is far from over. (And for those who’ve been off-planet, in a coma or in a cult that bans media, the event was the Great American solar eclipse on Monday, August 21.) The effect lingers because that’s what happens with eclipses — they distort time, with an effect that stretches six weeks before and after the actual event, and the magnitude of the August 21 solar eclipse lingers a little longer than most. So if you’re feeling as if nothing has changed — that the tumult and tension of recent weeks hasn’t dispersed, you’re right. This week is as intense as the last several weeks, maybe even more so, if only because the overtones of the eclipse chord are still reverberating through the regular as well as the irregular routines of daily life.

The reason the eclipse effect resonance continues is because of something called the ‘eclipse sensitive point’, which is the degree along the zodiac belt at which the eclipse occurs. The sensitive point for the recent solar eclipse is 28 degrees Leo 58 minutes — or nearly 29 degrees. Every time another planet hits that point, it triggers the eclipse effect, and the list of planets for this eclipse is long.

On September 2, Mercury, which is currently retrograde, crosses that degree of Leo and stays on that degree until it goes direct on September 5. Mercury symbolizes all aspects of communication and travel, and when it “turns around” at a specific degree, it lingers in that spot, which creates an emphasis on what that degree holds. Mercury represents all things related to communication and travel, and given that eclipses are said to reveal previously hidden information, Mercury’s thumb on the eclipse sensitive point is likely to provide all sorts of communiqués that lots of folks would prefer to keep private. Unfortunately, Mercury’s presence on that point is certain to make much of that data public. Mercury Direct begins on September 5, but it’s likely to take more than a moment to gather momentum.

But that’s not all: Mars, the God of war, crosses the eclipse sensitive point on September 3, in a conjunction with Mercury, which amplifies Mercury’s fleet feet — he is the winged messenger — but more importantly, Mars’ militaristic inclinations add a strident force to Mercury’s messages. It will be difficult not to engage in a war of words, so think before you speak, and as I like to say, bite your tongue until it bleeds before you say something you will regret for a very long time.

And, of course, there is more: Uranus, the God of surprising plot twists, trines that Mercury/Mars conjunction as it triggers the eclipse sensitive point, sending impulsive urges through an already tempestuous environment. Remember… Uranus is the God of reversals of fortune and its presence signals the potential for even more surprising developments. (And again: How many more surprises could there be?)

One more bit: Late in the day on September 4 the Moon, in Aquarius, opposes the eclipse sensitive point, adding even more emotional volatility to an already supercharged atmosphere.

I am writing about what will occur next week rather than this week because this is the week when everyone will think that the eclipse is over — and it’s not — which makes this week an important week to prepare for the shudders and shocks that lie ahead.

For the last several weeks this column has focused on how the solar eclipse has affected Mr. Trump’s natal chart because he is the primary symbol for the United States, and according to the astrologers of ancient times, how an eclipse affects the king’s chart determines how the country will be affected. (If you are new to this column and interested in that information, you can find it in the archives.)

Each of us has the Leo/Aquarius axis in our personal charts. The lunar eclipse took place in Aquarius and the solar eclipse, in Leo. This axis symbolizes the connection between individual expression and collective reception to that expression, which then becomes the zeitgeist. To be sure, we are witnessing the strife along that axis through the various movements that are being revived, created and activated. But it would be wise to also try to identify where the strife of that axis is occurring in your personal life. It could be ideological, but it could also be psychological, emotional, financial, locational, or a crisis of faith.

Eclipses signify dimensional shifts. The “regular” order of things is disrupted and for a moment, darkness prevails. But that darkness often allows what’s hidden to be seen, and in the revelation of those shadows, powerful insights can occur. And those penetrating realizations often facilitate a new attitude, one that turns bitterness to gratitude. For some, it is an out-with-the-old — whatever that is — and suddenly closets and cupboards are emptied and cleared of debris that no longer has emotional significance — it’s the realization that what once had tremendous value is no longer important. And for even more, the dimensional shift of an eclipse resembles the clarity of a corrective lens: “I once saw it this way, but now I see so clearly what I was missing.”

Leo signifies the heart and Aquarius symbolizes the altruistic possibility of community, and much has been written about this eclipse and a universal opening of the heart. I hope this is true, but my sense is that this eclipse is more likely to reveal where the heart is closed, individually and collectively — that’s the shadow and it’s only when the shadow is embraced that a true opening can really occur. Predictions, as many know, are projections of the oracle’s point of view, which is why it would be wise to use the next several weeks to witness what has occurred and continues to occur in your life that resembles a dimensional leap into a different consciousness. Soul growth is a personal experience, and the gathering of wisdom requires a strong self-awareness dedicated to applying that wisdom to the rigors of daily life.

Hello to readers in Red Lodge!

Pay no attention to that man in front of the curtain — he is only there to obscure what’s going on behind the scenes in the quiet stealth of a conservative agenda that is drunk on the idea of dismantling every intelligent advance ever made toward the preservation of not just human beings but of every species on this fragile planet. The salvation of our planet’s capacity to foster life for all sentient beings hangs in the balance. And no, I haven’t seen Al Gore’s new movie yet — I don’t have to, although I want to. All I have to do is watch the news and feel the air (which in most places is seasonally extreme), and I understand that we are at a tipping point that threatens extinction — our own. The planet is certain to survive this showdown with ignorance…but it’s uncertain whether we will.

The good news is that the outcome is not yet decided. And the reason it isn’t a done deal is because daily more and more people are waking up to the realization of just how egregious these policies are and just how much damage is being done. In my world, it seems all too obvious that Trump’s greedy cohort of hungry ghosts are pulling a fast one with each passing minute, but not everyone is sure their policies are ill-intentioned. And they may not be…they may simply be stupid and drunk on their power, so intoxicated that they’re willing to gamble the lives of their offspring for an extra buck. For these people, there is no long view. For their worrisome followers, there is just the desire to vent fear and frustration, fear of a world that is no longer intelligible and frustration with a world no longer works as it once did. In their despair, they lash out violently, causing suffering at every turn. 

Fear and frustration are emotional responses that each of us must transform in order to mature, regardless of our political orientation, and for this week and the next several weeks, emotional responses are the dominant social gravity of daily life. This is because we’re still in the eclipse shadow, caught between the lunar eclipse of August 7 and the solar eclipse of August 21. (And yes, this liminal eclipse zone is a bitch). When the Moon obscures the light of the Sun, unconscious drives overshadow conscious concerns, the veils of psyche grow thin, what lies behind or beneath conscious action is laid bare, and primal urges dominate the terrain of daily life. And if that isn’t enough, eclipses distort time and thus circumstances related to an eclipse often occur six weeks before or after the actual event. Charlottesville is emblematic of these parted veils which make it possible to see the hatred, so blatantly encouraged by Mr. Trump, take center stage. Surges in hatred and violence create chaos.

Don’t underestimate the desire of those behind the Trump curtain to cause social chaos. This is part of the systematic dismantling of all the social justice gains made in the last many decades. Conservatives and neo-conservatives have been waiting a long time for someone like Mr. Trump to emerge, someone who appeals to the worst of us, so that the worst of us can seize the moment and once again feel powerful in a world that grows increasingly more self-conscious of its need for unity. More and more he reminds me of the cocaine- driven Reagan years, the 80’s, when everything had to be the best, “world class,” when looking marvelous was more important than being marvelous, and money as well as success became the Yuppie mantra — the one with the most toys won.

The advisors leading the current devolution know all too well that chaos creates a need for order and that a frightened society will often say ‘yes’ to measures that promise to provide the safety they are craving. As Trump supporters confront Trump resisters we are sure to see violence escalate and with that a simultaneous escalation in social anxiety. Unfortunately, that almost always leads to a totalitarian government and the very masses seeking the safety of order will suffer the consequences. Mr. Trump and his hungry ghosts are building toward something that resembles martial law — and no I am not exaggerating. When this same eclipse point was triggered in 1998 on the President Bill Clinton’s Sun, impeachment proceedings began. In Mr. Trump’s case, the current eclipse could trigger a coup d’état.

In the astrological practices of old, the king was seen as the embodiment of his nation. The current United States “king”, Mr. Trump, has made it clear that he would prefer to rule as a king, and interestingly, he is directly affected by this solar eclipse:

(1) His Mars is well within reach of the eclipse sensitive point. On August 19, the Sun, on its way to the eclipse, conjuncts his natal Mars — a signature of war, given that Mars is the God of War; and Uranus, in Aries, also a Sign of war, trines his Mars, an influence with the potential to incite impulsive and aggressive behavior.  

(2) But that’s not all. Mr. Trump has a Mars Return on August 31, signaling a new cycle of militaristic intensity — he leans in that direction, anyway — and this has the potential to give him a fresh start.

(3) The solar eclipse actually occurs on his Ascendant, the most visible point in any chart and a point known for self-assertion, as well as the point of public persona. There’s simply no way to assess the direction that public opinion will turn, but if the last several days are any indication, it does look good for all those who are against his politics. What’s astounding to witness is just how many people still expect him to act presidential. For example, so many are condemning him for not taking a stand against the white supremacists in Charlottesville, when he has made it clear all along that he is their president.

And again, those who stand behind the Trump current of erratic behavior and retro-posturing are counting on those right-wing fanatics to come this regime’s defense when necessary. I admit that this may be the most negative reading of this eclipse effect but it is possible, especially given the chaos we’re already in.

How to transform this chaos is the question anyone with consciousness or a conscience needs to confront. What each of us is being asked to do during these remarkable times, punctuated by remarkable astronomical events, is figure out how we can actively participate in putting the emphasis on love, peace and understanding. As always, my response is kindness — but not namby-pamby kindness that’s afraid to take a stand for the best interests of all. We need kindness that is born of clarity and isn’t afraid to tell the truth, and a large portion of that clarity must be based on a broad enough vision of the future to include everyone, even people we don’t agree with. What’s required is an revolution of heart and mind, and when that revolution is guided by compassion, revolution becomes evolution. Nothing less will do.

For some relief and clear instructions about how to participate, here’s are a link with guidance for handling the intensity of the eclipse from a compassionate perspective. saraswatibhawan.org/solar-eclipse-a-buddhist-perspective/

Hello to readers is Oujda!

Riding the waves of consciousness this week — and for the next several weeks — is going to take patience, skill and an expansive perspective that’s flexible enough to include a variety of ideas and opinions, even those contrary to common sense. We’re between eclipses, a lunar and solar, a confluence of celestial activity that is simultaneously mesmerizing and confounding. It is the Twilight Zone of the astral screen, where dimensions appear and disappear in the blink of the mind’s eye. Those skilled at surfing the waves of daily life will know when to bail and when to ride the wave safely to shore. Those less able are likely to feel lost in distorted time signatures as well as oppositional everythings. Keep in mind as you paddle your way through this constant flux that this is both a deeply transitional phase for just about all of us as well as a highly creative phase for those interested in exploring new territory. There’s been a lot written about this point in time, some of it extraordinarily insightful. Again, for those less traveled in the realms of awareness, the next couple of weeks could be difficult to handle. So those more traveled would do well to lend a helping hand to their fellow travelers in need of assistance.

The source of dimensional distortion is the time warp attached to the eclipses — the shadow started in May, but traditionally astrologers allow a six-week window on either side of the actual eclipse event. The lunar eclipse was on Monday, August 7, and the solar eclipse will be Monday, August 21. Adding astral insult to injury, Mercury Retrograde begins on August 13, and as most readers are well aware, Mercury Retrograde phases can often unfold like a slo-mo slog through the regular routines of daily life, and the time signature for this particular Mercury Retrograde is more than a little bit wonky.

First, Mercury “turns around” in an opposition to Neptune, indicating that the normal boundaries of daily life are certain to be stretched for the duration of the retrograde, which ends on September 5. Neptune is in Pisces, its Home Sign, a position that amplifies its penchant for destroying the illusion of borders and boundaries — Trickster is, after all, one of its nicknames. Mercury is in Virgo, its Home Sign, a position that amplifies its obsession with detail, and although every Mercury Retrograde phase is about reviewing the details of existing plans and projects, this retrograde phase concentrates on those details with increased vigor. Mercury too is known as a Trickster, and as its negotiating skill combines with Neptune’s, we mere mortals must be careful about what we commit to.

But that’s not all. At the moment Mercury Retrograde begins, there is a trine among the Moon, in Aries and conjunct Uranus, also in Aries, and Saturn, in Sagittarius, as well as the ongoing Mars/Sun conjunction, in Leo. This is a Grand Trine in Fire that is certain to heat up the atmosphere with passionate and creative endeavors, which is good. The bad news is that Mercury Retrograde is not the ideal time to initiate new plans and projects. Do your best to be patient, but don’t let astro-fundamentalism keep you from doing what’s needed.

And there’s more: Mercury goes direct on the solar eclipse sensitive point, which means its retrograde intensifies the eclipse effect, impeding certain features of its forward motion — so don’t expect those after-the-retrograde plans to take off at the speed of light.

As the world muddles through the crazy, mixed-up mess of the next several weeks, try not to get embroiled in the madness. I’m not suggesting turning a deaf ear or moving into a deep state of denial about what our planet needs to right its course. Not getting embroiled in the toxicity that tries to pass itself off as normal is going to take a huge effort. And then there’s the Trump regime (Did you really think I would write the entire column without mentioning his name?) with all its seeming stupidity, which has gone to great efforts to create a chaotic environment whose purpose is to mask consistently mendacious behavior. Do not be fooled — this cosmic moment is of great consequence and each of us is a prime player in the unfolding drama. For while the Earth continues its daily spin as well as its yearly revolution around the Sun, it is our efforts that determine the quality of life on this beautiful blue planet.

Hello to readers in Pigeon Forge!

Welcome to August 2017, where just about every day for at least the next forty days feels more like an episode from the Twilight Zone than any previously known reality. We’re under the influence of a double-eclipse effect — there’s a lunar eclipse on August 7 and a solar eclipse on August 21 — and because eclipses tend to blur the boundaries of time and space, daily life and its regular routines are regular no more. What’s more, as reliable time signatures dissolve and the dimensions of past, present and future melt away, a super-charged emotional atmosphere is likely to become the standard fare. The entire month is a wild ride…yes…wilder than it’s already been. And the best way to cope with distortions, real or imagined, is to aim your awareness at the highest ground possible and then do whatever it takes to anchor that view.

Unfortunately, taking the high road won’t be easy. In the midst of this wonky eclipse effect there are also two powerful retrogrades: (1) Uranus begins its retrograde on August 3, and (2) Mercury Retrograde begins on August 13. As many already know, retrogrades also always distort time, thus the combined effect of this entire astral bundle is certain to produce more than the ‘normal’ amount of frustration. So as you are attempting to hold the highest view, you will also need to breathe deeply as often as possible. Consider the next several weeks an aerobic workout for your heart as well as your soul.

Both eclipses occur along the Leo/Aquarius axis. The lunar eclipse is at 15 degrees 25 minutes Aquarius and the solar eclipse is at 28 degrees 53 minutes Leo. The lunar eclipse occurs at the midpoint; the solar eclipse, at the very end. What’s interesting about this astrological axis is the interplay between personal creativity and individual self-expression, symbolized by Leo, and collective creativity and the aggregation of individual expression, which is best understood as the zeitgeist.

The shadow of this solar eclipse began in May when the lunar node transited the eclipse sensitive point, or the point at which the full eclipse occurs. Generally, astrologers tend to define the shadow of any eclipse as six weeks before or after the actual event. But this eclipse is different, perhaps because it directly affects the most visible point in Mr. Trump’s chart — his Ascendant — as well as his Mars, and because he’s the symbol for his country, his administration seems to be deeply affected by this double eclipse effect. This became glaringly apparent in May when, as regular readers of this column know, Mr. Comey, then head of the FBI, was fired — the first tug of the continuing unraveling of the Trump regime and its connections to Putin. Today as I am writing this, Putin has just ordered over 750 people at the US Embassy in Russia to leave. That, coupled with all the people at the US State Department who were dismissed immediately at the start of the Trump regime, leaves this country with a deficit of diplomatic experience and intelligence — an worrisome state of affairs for informed international relations.

During a lunar eclipse, when the Moon is obscured, practical matters tend to obscure more esoteric concerns. During a solar eclipse, when the bright light of consciousness is obscured, the veils around the unconscious become increasingly thin, allowing Psyche to voice her concerns. Eclipses are also considered to be points in time when hidden information is revealed. Frankly, there’s so much hidden information being revealed daily, that it’s hard to imagine more might emerge — yet we are only at the beginning of the month. It’s also hard to imagine that in the midst of the solar eclipse shadow, the practical matters emphasized by the lunar eclipse will carry enough weight to counter what seems to be a constantly leaking effect of the solar eclipse.

But that’s not all — Uranus begins its five-month retrograde review on August 3, turning the next many weeks into an ongoing déjá vu of déjá vu, as Uranus retraces its path, it throws lightning bolts at all sorts of stagnant situations that just won’t move. From a personal perspective, this has everything to do with frustration that ‘things’ aren’t moving fast enough, especially if you feel like you’re backtracking or backpedaling on certain plans and projects.  From a collective perspective, it’s important to note that this Uranus Retrograde is the next to last Uranus Retrograde of its seven-year transit through Aries. So while its retrograde is certain to focus on the recent past, it’s also likely to revisit situations from 2011 — and that goes for personal as well as collective situations.

Most of us know the Mercury Retrograde drill, so I won’t go into it in great detail this week. But for those who don’t…because Mercury symbolizes all things related to communication and travel, during its retrograde cycle, all things within that vast domain tend to go awry. Combine this with a Uranus Retrograde — a phase that challenges technology — and snafus of every type are probable, so get out those patience pills and make sure you have as many as necessary to get through the next several of weeks.

Actually, many weeks of intense disturbances lie ahead, which means you’ll have to do your best to keep from attaching to the chaos as it unfolds around you. I’m not advising passivity, but I am just suggesting that the best way through this eclipse effect is to hold the broadest view possible and then do whatever is necessary to maintain that perspective. Also, despite a trillion distractions, remember that everyone is reacting to these intense signatures, so do your best to be understanding and kind, especially with children, who feel these energies but can’t necessarily express their discomfort.

Hello to readers in Oujda!

Moderation coupled with concentration is the key to handling this week’s planetary interactions. We’re in a stop/start pattern that splits the rhythm of daily life. On one hand, certain regular routines feel accelerated — almost as if you can’t catch up to the constantly moving deadlines. Yet on the other hand, persistent stagnant situations have never felt more stuck. Add this split screen to an already too-polarized psychic climate and all sorts of anxieties could find emotional hooks to hang on and start making themselves at home. Protect your nervous system by doing whatever it is you do to self-soothe. But be aware that this unsettled atmosphere is also rich with creative potential: When old structures are evaporating and hardly anything that was once reliable can be trusted — when absolutely nothing is certain — then everything is possible. So rather than spend your precious mental energy imagining the worst, be a spiritual warrior. Concentrate your mental might on envisioning the best. It’s time for co-creatives everywhere to seize the moment!

The first quality of a spiritual warrior is unstinting devotion to self-awareness, a devotion that’s determined to face her emotional body — the karmic body — with all its warts and flaws, always with the goal of bringing thought, word and deed into alignment with the highest universal principles. True strength — lasting strength — begins within. From that place of integrity anything is possible, even admitting mistakes, and especially continuing to grow. This internal strength is what makes it possible to endure obstacles and still persist, challenging the mind to move past its obscurations of anger, hatred, greed, and fear. This internal strength is what makes it possible to hold the vision of peace, love, generosity, and courage.

A Sun/Mars conjunction that began on July 12 continues to fuel the fires of ambition, as well as a fighting spirit that may not know when to call time-out or disengage from interactions that could turn combative, whether those tests of strength demonstrate mental muscle or physical prowess. There’s nothing wrong with being determined to win — but not at any cost. The Sun symbolizes the vital life force. Mars signifies self-assertion, including everything from unbridled ambition to conscious self-actualization.

This conjunction began in Cancer, where it stimulated the unsettled psychic waters of safety and security issues. Last week, both the Sun and Mars moved into Leo, the fiery Sign of self-expression, extending the influence of this conjunction through August 18. The Sun rules Leo, which means it’s very happy to be brightly shining its light. Mars also enjoys the heat of August’s Sun, and their conjunction enlivens creativity of every variety. So rather than use this fire to pick fights you’re confident you can win, channel its intensity into projects and plans that inspire because they include rather than exclude. For while Leo at its worst can be self-involved and self-aggrandizing, there is no more generous Sign in the zodiac.  

The most important news of the week: Uranus Retrograde begins on August 3. The start of a Uranus Retrograde phase tends to resemble Mercury Retrograde because Uranus has such a close relationship with technology, so don’t be surprised if all sorts of devices start to demonstrate peculiar behavior. But be aware that Mercury Retrograde begins on August 13, making it a must to backup your files NOW.

Last week a reader wrote to tell me I was obsessed with Donald Trump and I should realize that I lost the election and I should get over it. I replied as I always do to negative comments: If you don’t like what I have to say, don’t read me. But I also wrote that it isn’t an obsession — it’s a mission. Because to normalize anything about this regime is to agree with its hatred, greed, and absolute absence of moral integrity. Silence has always been seen as consent. I will not be silent.

Another person expressed the idea that although it eases the tension to make fun of him and his minions, while we’re laughing, releasing stress and feeling superior, his regime is putting egregious plans into motion and those actions need to be stopped. You can’t normalize racism, bullying, hatred, or ignorance. These are not the noble attributes of a democracy. You also can’t normalize alternative facts, the selling of the National Parks, attempting to rewrite the constitution to suit your own needs, or denying climate change. Most importantly, you can’t normalize selling the election process to a hostile nation that only stands to profit from treasonous behavior. To be clear: I do not wish Trump and his followers harm — from a deeply metaphysical point of view, their mendacious behavior is teaching many valuable lessons. My wish is that enough people wake up, take positive action, and continue to resist ignorance before Trump and his cadre of hungry ghosts do irreparable harm.

Hello to readers in Paradise Cove!

Welcome to another tough week, where everyone continues to feel empowered to express their opinions, and the clash of ideas, ideologies and idiots continues, moving us deeper into the chaotic abyss that has become daily reality, an abyss where ignorance continues to challenge the welfare of Planet Earth. But don’t despair — there’s still time for conscious beings to find solidarity and solutions. Positive news arrives daily from the fertile field of individual efforts to make a difference in the world by taking a stand against the mendacious policies of the Trump regime. Those efforts are gaining support at local levels all across the United States, in blue as well as red territories on the map. (See links below.)

Uranus dominates the astral action this week:

(1) Uranus has been in a square to the ongoing Sun/Mars conjunction since Monday, July 10, and continues as a square to the Sun until July 27. This fractious interaction fuels the need to break free from whatever enslaves, so be prepared for all sorts of declarations of independence. From a personal perspective, this volatile combination tends toward impulsive behavior that’s intended to demonstrate who’s the boss. From a collective perspective, it’s the need to demonstrate military muscle without a long-term strategy. Framed from a positive perspective, and used wisely, the intensity of the Sun/Mars/Uranus configuration can fuel the desire for adventure and at the very least, the desire to try something new — a new way into town, a new walk to work, a new recipe.

Because we are currently in the separation stage of this Sun/Mars/Uranus influence — the most powerful phase — it would be wise to be prepared for meltdowns and tantrums, especially in situations where adjustments are required. Under the power of this interaction, resistance to any adjustment at all is fierce. Before you engage in battle because you just can’t take it anymore, breathe. Then breathe again. Yes, outrage is an appropriate response to the outrageous, but what the world needs now are spiritual warriors committed to being peacemakers.

(2) Uranus goes retrograde on August 3 and remains retrograde until January 2, 2018. When the planet of surprising plot twists makes a “course correction” it’s best to anticipate startling close encounters with the past as well as sudden reversals of fortune in the present — and with absolutely no idea what the future will bring. Of course, reversals won’t happen for everyone. And turnarounds aren’t only negative — some can even be deemed positive twists of fate — it all depends on the condition your condition is in. However, the coming Uranus Retrograde is a doozy, which makes it prudent to start thinking about it now.

And here’s what makes it extreme:

For the next two weeks as Uranus “slows” to a crawl, daily life resembles a techno-Mercury Retrograde because Uranus has a close relationship to technology of every iteration, in every industry, and when it goes retrograde, machines somehow feel the shift. What’s more — and not to alarm you — the second Mercury Retrograde phase of this year actually begins on August 13, ten days after Uranus Retrograde begins, as well as five days after the lunar eclipse on August 7, and eight days before the solar eclipse on August 21. Be prepared for the cosmic gears to grind throughout August — it’s a month of dynamic planetary activity, so even though it seems far away, it would be a good idea to start your backups now. And don’t expect any plans — even the best laid — to sail through without a hitch.

There’s more Uranian activity to talk about but it occurs in the fall, however before any of that could make any sense at all (as if it’s possible to really make sense of Uranus), it’s best to just get through August.

That being said, there is one more thing about Uranus that’s crucial to note:

On May 15, 2018, Uranus leaves Aries and enters Taurus, signaling a seismic shift in influence. Taurus is the Sign of money and other resources, which could translate into shockwaves throughout the financial markets of the world. One thing we know for sure: When Uranus changes Signs, we feel that shift in focus quite dramatically. For example: On March 11, 2011, the day of the Fukushima tsunami, Uranus left Pisces, a Water Sign, and entered Aries, a Fire Sign, and the power of the ocean literally transformed into the power of Uranian fire. There’s no telling what next May will bring — and I’m not hedging my bet or being coy. It’s simply impossible know how Uranus will punctuate its move from Aries, a Fire Sign, into Taurus, an Earth Sign.

What’s important now, as Uranus starts to wind down its Aries journey through its next to last retrograde phase, is to make the most of these last Uranian lessons on what it means to be an individual in a society that grows increasingly uniform. As I have said before, Mr. Trump represents the symptoms, the disease, and thus also the cure for what ails our global situation. He is the worst manifestation of what’s wrong, and recognizing what he represents is the first step in healing the problems. He appears to be the individual who doesn’t take guff from anyone, but actually he is the status quo of a bygone era that many have outgrown.

Yet his supporters hold his truths to be self-evident: We are a country of rugged individuals who grab what we can and take care of our own interests regardless of the consequences to others. This is the worst of Aries. This is individualism in the name of selfish interests. And this is the lesson we are being taught. Nothing exists separately any longer, and while it is healthy to assert one’s Self, it’s not healthy to assert oneself over others in a callous or cynical manner that denies the rights of others to have an equal self, especially if that self-assertion prohibits another individual’s ability to live peacefully and pursue happiness.

Hello to readers in Los Angeles!

“May you live in interesting times” goes the curse we always thought was from ancient China but now (thanks to Google) we know isn’t. Yet there couldn’t be a more apt sentiment to describe these days and nights here on Planet Earth where each day normal is replaced by chaos and regular routines routinely evaporate — Ivanka Trump at G20, for example. But this week I’m proposing an edit to that old adage: “May you live in extraordinary times.” Not just because we are, but also because it’s essential to realize just how exceptional daily reality is. No one needs an astrologer to point this out, but astrology is actually a most useful tool for times like these. As the I-Ching advises in Duration, Hexagram 32: Heavenly bodies exemplify duration. They move in their fixed orbits, and because of this their light-giving power endures. These enduring fixed orbits allow us to identify repetitive planetary patterns and with that recognition, find a sense of order in the midst of chaos. And order is a must if you want to prevent madness from taking its toll.

Here’s this week’s organized chaos:

We’re in the shadow of the August 21, 2017, solar eclipse, now called the American Eclipse because it travels the entire span of the contiguous United States. (Some have even dubbed it the Great American Eclipse.) Eclipses always reveal previously hidden information, and even though I’ve asked this next question a trillion times, I’m asking it again: How much more could possibly be revealed? And, of course, the answer is more, maybe even a lot more about the Trump regime, especially as the eclipse shadow deepens, bringing more hidden information to light. Because the leader or president of a country is also a symbol for that nation, it’s significant to note that the exact degree of this eclipse occurs at Mr. Trump’s ascendant and is well within range of his Mars — both of which have to do with public perception. And it seems that with each new day, positive public perception of the United States grows increasingly dim. No longer seen as an ideal nation or a nation of ideals, the rest of the world moves forward as the Trump machine vainly tries to turn back the hands of time.

At the moment of the solar eclipse, Uranus trines both the Sun and the Moon. Uranus symbolizes startling plot twists, and even though the last several months have delivered enough plot twists for a lifetime, we’re certain to see more. And we don’t have to wait until the actual eclipse for those surprises to emerge — the dynamic effect of an eclipse can kick in six weeks before and continue for six weeks after the event. Of course, one of the surprises could be that Mr. Trump’s election to the highest office in the land had nothing to do with Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election — actually, that would be quite a surprise. But to demonstrate how the eclipse shadow functions, on May 10, when shadow began, we learned that Mr. Trump had fired Mr. Comey on May 9. One week later, Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel for the Russia investigation. Whatever is now being uncovered is sure to be revealed under the influence of this eclipse. Remember, this is the same eclipse degree that finally revealed that President Clinton was lying about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, and even more important than what went on between them, the eclipse also signified the ensuing impeachment process.

But back to present time….

The final opposition between Jupiter and Uranus occurs on September 28, five weeks after the solar eclipse but still within the range of its effect. This last Jupiter/Uranus opposition puts a period at the end of a long and rambling “sentence” that began in December 2016 and manifested through a seesaw — no, make that a plethora — of reversals of fortune for the United States government and its people. So many of Trump’s cabinet appointments and their ideological inclinations have turned these reversals of fortune into shock waves, one after another, agitating the collective psychic pond, and affecting everyone on the planet, not just United States citizens.

But even though this is the last opposition in a series of three, the turmoil this final opposition sets in motion will linger for quite some time because it signals serious shifts in structures of the United States government, especially as those shifts are related to power and control. Both Jupiter and Uranus are in an exact square to the position Pluto occupies in the United States birth chart. Pluto signifies transformation and that transformation usually includes the death of what is no longer authentic and the eventual rebirth of what is true…or truer. But that birth doesn’t happen immediately. We are moving toward a United States Pluto return in 2022 and some would argue that we can already sense the effects of that return. This last opposition between Jupiter and Uranus punctuates the themes as well as the turmoil of that return, a return that’s likely to be characterized by a wide and diverse range of ideas and visions of a more perfect union. Do not think a coup to consolidate power is out of the question.

Hexagram 32 of the I-Ching elaborates on the enduring power of planetary patterns: The seasons of the year follow a fixed law of change and transformation, hence can produce effects that endure. So likewise, the dedicated man embodies an enduring meaning in his way of life, and thereby the world is formed. In that which gives things their duration, we can come to understand the nature of all beings in heaven and on earth.

This week and throughout the coming weeks, rise to the occasion of these extraordinary times, embody the enduring power of the planets, and simply be the best you can be. And while you’re at it, help others to also embody their best self. We need to be quite clear about what we hold to be self-evident.

Hello to readers in Minneapolis!

If I were to participate in ‘fake news”, I would begin this week’s column with an ode to the joys of summer and its easy living, but as it’s said in France, pas possible — or as we say in America “no way.” It’s simply not possible to sugarcoat the collective chaos and to do so would actually contribute to the madness. Not only are we still riding the waves of last week’s Mars/Pluto intensity but we are headed straight into an illuminating Full Moon at almost exactly the same spot on the zodiac wheel as that Mars/Pluto opposition. Consider this Full Moon the astral equivalent of that old est question: Got it? So much is occurring within the same field of influence that it is almost impossible (not completely pas possible) to deny “there’s something happening here.”

The activated degrees are all in Cardinal Signs, which are the action heroes of the astrological system because they are all about movement — and they all occur at a change in season: Aries/spring, Cancer/summer, Libra/autumn, and Capricorn/winter. Each occupies a cardinal direction of the compass. Cardinal Signs signify and initiate change. This can be seen through the seven squares of the recent Uranus/Pluto squares, all of which occurred in the Cardinal Signs of Aries and Capricorn. What’s more, what lies ahead in 2020 also occurs in Capricorn when we will experience the next Saturn/Pluto conjunction. More about that later — and I know I keep promising to write about it, but there’s still plenty of time — and I am referring to it now because since December 2016 the degrees within the range of that Saturn/Pluto 2020 conjunction have been repeatedly activated. Last week it was the Mars/Pluto opposition. This week it is the Full Moon on July 8 and 9.  

This Full Moon occurs in Capricorn with the Moon conjunct Pluto and both opposite the Sun and Mars in Cancer. Mars is pulling away, but the Moon draws it into this configuration. What’s more, Jupiter squares the Sun, Moon, and Pluto — it’s a little too wide to include Mars, but then again, the Moon has the strength to pull it within reach. The Full Moon in any Sign at any time of the year is an emotionally tumultuous time — some folks have even been known to start howling. But the one on July 9 is particularly potent because it reiterates all the turmoil of the last six months and because the next Full Moon on August 7 is a lunar eclipse and well within the shadow of the solar eclipse on August 21.

Yes…I know this is all a bit technical, so here’s a translation: We’re building to a crescendo in 2020, and the next two months are the end of the first movement of this grand celestial orchestration. Those born in the second half of each of the Cardinal Signs — Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn — are feeling the tension quite keenly. Those born in the last third of each of those Signs are likely to be reeling from the intensity. Do your best not to move into action simply for the sake of it. Breathe. Breathe again. And then breathe even more deeply. You will get through this by staying present, being honest with yourself and aligning your intentions with the greater good.

The rest of us should pretend that we also were born in the last third of those Cardinal Signs and follow the same advice. Each of us has these degrees somewhere in our personal chart — astrology is a democracy, which means we each have all the Signs and all the Planets as part of our personal sky map. So take as many deep breaths as necessary to make it through the emotional flux of the week, and if you get caught by your anger, fear, grief, pride, or any other emotional undertow, turn it into your teacher and learn from the intensity of that feeling. We are all in this together and the more we understand the ground we share, the more we will be able to find solutions and create conditions that benefit all of us.

Hello to readers in Brooklyn!

We’re in the planetary hot zone this week, and as this celestial heatwave replaces several recent terrestrial scorchers, the day-to-day intensity of life on Earth intensifies even more — and that’s a problem, especially in all those places where daily life is already too hot to handle. Anticipate meltdowns, yours or others’, as frustration leads to tantrums — again, yours or others’. Also be prepared for standoffs of every type, from the silly and superficial to the serious and significant — lots of folks are going to insist that their opinions are correct and refuse to tolerate any other. We are as polarized as this week’s planets, and the tension of oppositional forces is certain to be almost impossible to bear. Do your best to stay present in the moment, for as difficult as life may be at times, this is a freewill planet and you can choose to be responsive rather than reactive. Remember: the past informs the present, as the present informs the future — that’s where the power is, and each present moment plays a pivotal role in determining what lies ahead.

The source of this week’s danger zone is an opposition between Mars, in Cancer, and Pluto, in Capricorn. Mars signifies the athlete, the warrior and the adventurer as it simultaneously represents ambition, the need to succeed and the impulse to move. Its passion has the power to escalate Cancer’s normal emotional hypersensitivity into hyperspace moodiness, which is likely to manifest as extreme impulsivity. Be patient with your Cancer friends and family — it’s not easy being ruled by the Moon, especially when the archetype of the warrior is roiling deep-feeling waters. We all have Cancer somewhere in our individual birth charts, so it would be wise to also be patient with ourselves.

Of course, being patient won’t be easy because Pluto, the Planet of death and rebirth, is in Capricorn opposing Mars, and that tense interaction tends to kill empathy and instead engender ruthless intent — it’s a get-the-job-done-at-any- cost attitude without concern for consequences. It’s not an accident that the fight about the new health care bill proposed by the Republicans is occurring under the influence of this opposition — it directly demonstrates the polarization between Capricorn and Cancer. Capricorn can be all about the bottom line, while Cancer is almost always about issues of safety and security. What’s more, Mars symbolizes anger, and as the ramifications of this bill (and other actions by Mr. Trump and his cohort of heartless hungry ghosts) become clear, tempers are certain to pin to the red, particularly as Cancer’s fears and anxieties about safety and security are provoked by its stunning and complete lack of empathy.

The Mars/Pluto opposition started on June 25 and is exact and separating on July 2. But Mars and Pluto are not alone in this volatile and pernicious interaction. From June 28 through July 3, Mercury conjuncts Mars and opposes Pluto, and beginning July 3, the Sun also conjuncts Mars and opposes Pluto. Mercury and the Sun both add a fanatical obsession to the entire bundle — translation: We are likely to see the Republican health care plan become a catalyst for protests, many of which carry the potential for extreme violence. This isn’t surprising, given that opponents of this plan will literally be fighting for their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

But that’s not all. On July 2, there is also an opposition between the Moon, in Libra, and Uranus, in Aries. Interestingly (and I mean that), this opposition occurs at the same degrees and in the same Signs as the final Jupiter/Uranus opposition on September 28. This final oppositional contact between Jupiter and Uranus is the culmination of the seesaw cycle that took place between December 2016 and March 2017. Although much was set in motion during those months, we still haven’t seen the full effect — and it will take all summer for the rest of the story to unfold.

And it takes all summer because immediately following the next few weeks of astral heat we enter the eclipse zone, which turns up the heat on all that’s transpired during the last many months of the Trump regime. As mentioned in the column of May 10, on May 11 we entered the eclipse shadow zone of the August 21 solar eclipse, a potent field of events and information that comes to a head six weeks before, or on, or after the actual eclipse event. This solar eclipse is called the ‘American Eclipse’ because its visibility spans the entire country. It transits Mr. Trump’s ascendant and his Mars, and both of those contacts indicate increasing difficulty for him personally as well as publicly. Eclipses always reveal what was previously hidden, and while it is impossible to believe that anything more could be hiding about his involvement or his advisors’ involvement with Russia, there’s sure to be more. Interestingly, he fired FBI Director Comey the very day the eclipse shadow began.

As these coming weeks unfold, do your best to find healthy ways of coping with the stress. From a personal perspective, try not to let frustration foster ultimatums you might later regret. Everyone is suffering from over-exposure to the chaos we’ve been swimming in for the last several months, and knowing that can be quite helpful in dealing with tantrums. From a political perspective, it’s important to take heart — goodness will eventually have its day. But that will require lots of people who think they are on the good side to stop hating the people who aren’t. And we are a long way from that. So continue to work at making kindness your first choice, especially this week and next — your fellow travelers will need a lot compassion and care.  

Hello to readers in Madrid!

Today is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, a day that signals a midpoint in yet another cycle in Earth’s orbit around the Sun, a day that has been celebrated in a wide range of cultures for centuries. The astrological marker for this celestial event is the Sun’s entry into the Sign of Cancer. In the United States, the Sun entered Cancer last night, on June 20. In Europe, the Sun moved into Cancer very close to sunrise on June 21. Cancer is a deeply feeling and sentimental Sign that symbolizes both the mother and the home. Its shadows are worry and concern about safety and security, issues often expressed as anxiety about not just what is, but also about what will be. Cancer is also the Sign of family, making this the perfect season to contemplate as well as participate in family activities. I realize that not every family is safe or loving, but lots of folks have the capacity to create a “family of choice”, and such a community can be a source of comfort and strength, whether it’s made up of friends, neighbors, pets, online contacts and connections, or, as some of my friends would have it, an extraterrestrial brotherhood.

As we cross the summer threshold we enter several weeks of increasing astral intensity, some subtle and some blatant. I realize that many readers are wondering if the planetary intensity will ever end…and I can’t honestly say that it will anytime soon, especially given the huge undertow of the collective unconscious that’s presented itself for healing. But the planets will still provide support for transformation as well as for periods of respite from the tumult — just not this week nor during the weeks to come.

On Sunday, June 25, Mars begins an opposition to Pluto, which is exact and separating on Sunday, July 2. This is a pernicious interaction which fosters a ruthless brutality that uses power, without regard for consequences, purely as a means of exerting control. Because Mars is in Cancer and close to the Sun (although not an exact conjunction), this opposition to Pluto is certain to exacerbate fears for safety. Gatherings for Independence Day celebrations may well require increased security. From an individual perspective, this Mars/Pluto opposition is likely to stir issues of personal power and the difficulty of getting one’s needs met. Don’t be surprised if surges of frustration and impatience pepper your interactions. As always, the best road is the high road — do not engage in ruthless behavior of any kind. This probably won’t be easy, if only because levels of personal and collective intensity are already pitched at such a high note. But as we are learning daily, compassion goes a long way toward soothing most situations. 

Jupiter, in Libra, forms a square to Mars, in Cancer, which is exact and separating on Sunday, June 25. This fractious interaction tends to manifest as exaggeration and excess, especially when it comes to claims about what’s possible. Do your best to be circumspect and avoid hasty action of any kind — especially avoid lies unless you’re interested in growing a Pinocchio nose.

On Saturday, June 24, the New Moon, in Cancer, conjuncts Mars, giving us a preview of how the coming weeks are likely to unfold. Anticipate an emotional day for everyone. Do your best to dispel as much negativity as possible by simply refusing to take just about anything personally. And by that I mean integrate the awareness that most people are under a tremendous amount of stress and much of the anger that gets thrown around is grounded in projection, and there’s no need to attach to it.

As the coming weeks unfold, planetary patterns will become increasingly volatile. For mere mortals — like thee and me — this volatility translates into obstacles and interference from humans as well as from machines, and some might even mistake these obstacle for retrograde troubles. But it’s just the rawness of life on Planet Earth as all of us continue to react and respond to the moment, making it up as we go, co-creating reality, unconsciously and consciously. Do your best to continue to lend a helping hand — we are all in this together and every time we reach out to a fellow traveler the world becomes a kinder place.

Hello to readers in Hull!

The regular routines of daily life continue to fade away as the status quo continues to evaporate. And even though the airwaves continue to broadcast disturbing news about our collective condition, it’s not all bad news. The anomaly of Trump continues to stir equally unprecedented responses of consciousness as well as conscience to the damage being done. And if you search beyond the headlines of the latest lies, there are surprising responses to persistent problems and harmful situations that previously had been just too much to tackle. The wake-up emergency alarm that’s been blaring from Trump and his supporters is actually waking people up — and that’s a good thing. Yes…the dissolution of the status quo is disturbing, but nothing shifts until enough people move into compassionate action — and the number of individuals rising to that occasion is growing. For example: artforjusticefund.org/

Of course, perspective and perception determine how we view the unfolding celestial and terrestrial patterns. Several readers wrote in response to last week’s column that consciousness is the key to transformation, and of course I agree. While I may have been a little late out of the gate, I am increasingly determined to view the current collective mess as a profound collective healing crisis. And a crucial juncture of every healing crisis is a return to the point of origin that set the illness in motion. Mr. Trump and his cohort of hungry ghosts symbolize (as one reader suggested) both the symptoms and the disease. I’ve often written that they represent the white man’s last stand, and now they have returned to power with a renewed determination to dismantle all the progress the rest of us have made. They are emblematic of what set injustice in motion: a complete ignorance of and disregard for our fundamental interconnectedness. And that ignorance is so undeniable that it has catalyzed vast numbers of previously complacent people into action.  

From an astrological point of view, the current state of turmoil on this planet can be seen as a consequence of the last nearly ten years of fractious planetary interactions among the celestial agents of change:

(1) Pluto moved into Capricorn in January 2008, retrograding back and forth until December of that year. Pluto symbolizes all the aspects of life we have no control over, including the process of death and rebirth, as well as the myriad unconscious forces that inform the process of daily life, individual and collective. Capricorn is the Sign of corporations, government, authorities, and all the structures — large and small, good and bad — that hold the realities of daily life in place. Since Pluto’s transit through Capricorn began we have witnessed Pluto’s inexorable power to reveal the hidden forces affecting what we once viewed as stable societal structures. Pluto’s journey through Capricorn begins to end in 2023. But it is in 2020 that we will feel the full effect of this transit through a Saturn/Pluto conjunction.  But more about the significance of that conjunction in future columns.

(2) The destabilization process that began with Pluto’s entry into Capricorn was intensified by a series of five Saturn/Uranus oppositions that began November 4, 2008, Election Day in the United States, and persisted until July 26, 2010. Saturn/Uranus interactions are always about the dissolution of the status quo. Barack Obama’s presidency signified the dissolution of the status quo, as did the ensuing financial crisis of those years. Yet little was done to replace the nefarious financial structures that destroyed the lives of so many of our fellow travelers.   

(3) From June 2012 through March 2015 we endured seven Uranus/Pluto squares. Uranus/Pluto interactions are infamous for stirring the caldron of revolution and highlighting all the issues of social justice. And during those years so much — maybe even too much — of what needed to shift, both individually and collectively, blared across every media outlet from television to tablets to social media to smartphones, making it impossible to ignore what needed to change. But that barrage of information also made it impossible to deny the resistance to those movements, a resistance born of fear and ignorance that fomented so much rage. That resistance found its voice in the election of Mr. Trump, who is the preeminent symbol of the forces resisting the next inevitable evolutionary leap in consciousness. He is also a symbol for all the forces seeking to exploit the fear, ignorance and rage of that resistance.

And here we are in the aftermath of nearly ten years of astrological tsunamis — but we are not yet at the end of these tidal waves of transformation. And the undertow continues to churn beneath the oceans of collective consciousness.

This week, Saturn and Uranus continue to catalyze the status quo, only instead of a fractious interaction, their alignment is positive. The first exact trine in this cycle occurred on December 25, 2016, the day before the first exact Jupiter/Uranus opposition. (You remember that one: it kept us on a seesaw for nearly three months.) The second exact Saturn/Uranus trine took place on May 19, 2017 and the final exact contact is November 11, 2017. This week, although not exact, they are still close enough to exert influence. One could make the astrological argument that Mr. Comey’s testimony is a positive manifestation of the dissolution of the status quo, given that a Director of the FBI seldom speaks publicly with such candor.

Saturn opposes the Sun this week, and while this interaction is normally seen as a spirit-squelching combination, because Uranus simultaneously sextiles the Sun, the inhibiting effect of Saturn is diminished. Uranus is, after all, the principle of spontaneity and freedom, and when it combines with the Sun, which is the essence of spirit, the need to express cannot be denied, not even by Saturn’s stern glare.

Also, we are entering into a Mars/Neptune trine, which begins this week and ends at the end of the month. This is a highly empathetic alliance that stimulates hypersensitivity and the urge to merge. Used without skill, this interaction can cause all sorts of boundary issues. Used with skill, it can facilitate the ability to step into a different point of view and see the world through the eyes of another. Let it guide you into an even more compassionate attitude toward yourself as well as your fellow travelers.  

Hello to readers in Key West!

As each week of 2017 unfolds, I encounter the same problem as I face the blank page: Should I go micro with the planets and talk about the influence of astral activity on the individual, or stay macro and talk about the influence of astral activity on the collective? I used to be able to combine both fairly easily (although some complained I was always and only writing about the intensities of daily life). But since the start of this year, when it became apparent to most that the former realities of daily life were evaporating at an alarming rate, and that it was imperative to learn how to live in a brave new world where nothing is what it once was, it started getting harder and harder to find a synthesis of the micro and the macro that could provide practical advice. I know I am not alone in this dilemma. Colleagues in the counseling profession, from the mainstream to the fringes, are witnessing the devastating psychological effect of Trumpism on patients and clients, making it all the more important to offer advice that’s relevant in a world spinning out of control.

In previous columns I’ve shared my struggle as I have worked through the disappointment and heartache at the way the world turns as a result of the election. I’ve also shared my search for a new equilibrium capable of containing the existential uncertainty of these interesting times. It’s been helpful to contextualize Mr. Trump as an anomaly, more specifically an anomaly very few could have imagined, and even those who saw something like him on the horizon could not have expected the weight of this disruption. This is why I cannot refer to him as President Trump — he simply defies the standard definition of a statesman, let alone a President of the United States. Frankly, I thought President G. W. Bush had done as much damage as possible to the dignity of the office. But I was wrong. While he and his gang of war-mongering capitalists opened the Gates of Hell with the war in Iraq, nothing compares to the devastation and destruction currently being set in motion by Trump and his greedy band of cruel and mendacious cronies.

To be sure, I am as tired of writing about it as I am of reading about it — and my exposure to the barrage of information regarding his egregious behavior is less than most because I am currently living overseas, safely away from the 24/7 news cycle. But I am still affected — we all are — and I know you are as weary as I am. Even so, there is no escaping the political reality of daily life — As Tip O’Neill would say: All politics is local. And local is the new global.

But I am encouraged this week by Mr. Trump’s unenlightened decision on climate change and the responses it engendered, responses that brought to light a deep, powerful and organized resistance to the ignorance of his decision. Cities, states, corporations, and individuals took a stand and said no, we’re going to do what’s necessary to save our planet because it is the right thing to do, and their defiance signals a strong ray of hope. Sanctuary cities and states, as well as the lawsuits against his abuses of power through edicts based on fear are all indications that we will abide by our highest principles. I suspect we will see more and more powerful demonstrations with positive effects.    

The seemingly insurmountable problem is education — and it’s always been a problem. Fifty years ago, no one thought understanding ecology was important until enough people realized the implication of ecological systems. The same was true about the rights of women — and we are still struggling with educating enough people about the consequences of domestic violence.  And certainly, racial and religious differences have been exploited by capitalism for as long as history can remember. How do you educate people who don’t understand the value and power of knowledge? I suppose the process is akin to Annie Lamott’s Bird by Bird — you simply do it one person and one issue at a time until enough hearts change to tip the balance.

I used to think effective resistance to Trump and the reeducation of his base would take too long to make a difference, but I’m changing my mind. The power of the Trump anomaly to destroy cannot be denied. But its power to awaken and galvanize resistance is equally powerful, if not more so. The evolutionary shifts required for this phase of survival are gaining momentum. Unfortunately, the healing crisis is painful for far too many and it’s important to offer assistance and aid to those in crisis, many of whom voted him in. There is nothing noble about ignorance. We all suffer from it in some way. It’s in our best collective interests to focus as much effort as possible on education.

Astrology

Jupiter is the big news this week. It goes direct on Friday, June 9, one hour after the Full Moon, in Sagittarius, that very same day. Jupiter has been retrograde since February 6, and for the last four months it has been retracing the path it covered since November 11, 2016 — yes, just after the election…really...sometimes astrology just gets it right. Jupiter Direct reviews that same ground once again. All retrogrades are a planetary version of Groundhog Day. But we are the ones learning the lessons, not the planets.

A Full Moon always intensifies emotional responses, and because this is a Full Moon, in Sagittarius, opposite the Sun, in Gemini, the war of words continues as too many opinions and obscurations continue to pile up on the information highway. Jupiter tends toward exaggeration, so some of the claims are sure to be outrageous. Normally, the best advice would be to fasten your seatbelts and hang on. But I think the wisest advice is to stay awake and pay attention to what goes down — valuable information is sure to be hidden among the hyperbole.

Kindness is a powerful antidote for ignorance. So while there’s no escaping the magnitude of our shared situation and we dare not normalize the fear and hate, we can continue to practice compassion.

The chasms of opposing perspectives continue to widen this week, and while these astounding gaps in attitude continue to create profound psychic tension, individual as a well as collective, these very same crevasses in consciousness also continue to awaken those still asleep at the wheel of life. It’s not easy to feel powerful and effectual in a world that seems to have been taken over by evil aliens with self-serving intentions — didn’t we defeat those parasitic bastards in Independence Day? Still, the recognition of the intense toxicity that’s been brewing beneath the surface of daily life is valuable information. And holding the awareness of that toxicity until all of the underhanded undercurrents and ruthless strategies have been revealed is what we are being asked to do. As Angeles Arrien once wrote (and I am paraphrasing here), the longer one can hold the tension of opposites, the more of what needs to be healed is revealed.

The dominant astrological source of tension this week is the separating opposition between Mars, in Gemini, and Saturn, in Sagittarius. Mars signifies the warrior, Saturn represents the expert, and their current polarization is best understood as a war of ideals as well as ideas. While the battles of this war are mostly fought with words, last week, as the tension from this Mars/Saturn opposition increased, we witnessed increasing and horrifying physical brutality by those who feel empowered to use sheer brute force against those with different religious practices. We were also witness to Mr. Trump pushing other world leaders out of his way. My heart goes out to parents who must explain to their children why Mr. Trump’s blatant support of violence is wrong. What’s more, I can’t imagine how difficult it is to explain to a child why we are in this mess in the first place. With the fate of the planet hanging in the balance, who would’ve thought that the test for survival of the fittest would come down to the ability to discern the difference between fact and fiction?

The Mars/Uranus sextile continues this week as well, but with a slight shift. Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, conjuncts Uranus and their perfect union sextiles Mars and trines Saturn. This bundle inspires spontaneous acts of amorous infatuation — it’s simply a lusty combination in search of the erotic thrill of romantic attraction! Don’t hesitate to fall in love, but also be aware of the Venus/Uranus Rule: Marry in haste, repent at leisure. The Saturn trine does add a touch of stability to those dramatic desires, but don’t let that fool you. Have fun, but don’t expect these liaisons to be more than passing fancies.

Jupiter is still holding steady at 13 degrees Libra in preparation for going direct on June 9. And while that preparation usually means regular routines tend to be as slow as molasses, because Jupiter is, after all, Jupiter — the planet of excess and expansion — and although it’s holding fast, it’s also busy trining the Sun. We love this because it’s a positive interaction with the power to ease some of the stresses of the week.

Unfortunately, we are also in the thrall of a Sun/Neptune square, a fractious interaction that feeds a high degree of susceptibility to cons of all kinds. This square lasts until June 12, and even though twelve days doesn’t seem like a long time, the power of Neptune to skew the information-seeking Sun, in Gemini, toward deceit and self-deception cannot be denied. The spin is going to get laid on thick. Think twice before you agree to anything that sounds too good to be true.

Holding that tension of opposites is hard soul work, and whether it manifests as a personal process that requires swallowing pride and saying “I am wrong,” or a political process that relentlessly searches for the ways and means of authentic compromise, it takes a toll. Sometimes that toll is physical, and other times it is mental, emotional, or psychological. And this is true across the holographic spectrum of opposites. If you are one of the many holding that tension, you may be feeling the stress quite keenly. But don’t give up. Your efforts, combined with the efforts of many more of our fellow travelers around the world, will eventually find viable, compassionate and effective solutions to right the wrongs that are being committed in the name of greed and agreed to in the name of fear and anger. Don’t give up. But also take care of yourself because you will need strength to maintain your energetic progress in the good.

Hello to readers in Gatineau!

Tensions of every denomination — individual, collective, personal, and political — intensify this week and a plethora of stressful interactions heat up the ethers. If you don’t want to engage in polarized dialogue, this would be the perfect week to take a vow of silence. Normally I would admit to being overly dramatic, but not these days — too many surreal events have combined to make even drastic predictions look less like fortune cookies and more like regular reporting. The challenge this week is holding an even keel in the midst of the ongoing stress that is daily producing an extreme and dynamic flux between fact and fiction.

The source of this week’s tension is an opposition between Mars, in Gemini, and Saturn, in Sagittarius. Negative interactions between these two planets tend to be characterized as harsh and often stimulate the need to use sheer brute force as a way of making a point. Mars symbolizes the warrior, ready and willing to dive into all sorts of competitions and always with its eye on winning. Gemini is the Sign of information. Saturn symbolizes the expert, ready and willing to share knowledge, but often requiring acknowledgement of its superior skill before dispensing wisdom. Sagittarius is the Sign of global communication. Oppositions symbolize the stress and tension of polarized positions. (Oy!) This opposition began Monday, May 22, and is exact and separating on Monday, May 29.

Although the full throttle of any opposition isn’t felt until after the exact contact when the tension finally releases, the stress of this opposition is certain to be experienced as the tension builds, especially given the reality that we are already in an information war, where fact and fiction are battling it out in desperate attempts to control how the world spins. Under the influence of this opposition, there are likely to be even more confrontations about what’s purposely guided (or planted) misinformation and what is actually true. As a wise friend once pointed out: Facts are facts, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be an infinite number of opinions about it. Knowing the difference between a fact and an opinion is a much-needed skill these days.

While all these blurred lines between fact and fiction are awful as well as harmful, the outrageous denial of truth coupled with the outrage at that ignorance has awakened a lively and penetrating discussion about not only how we assess reality, but also how that assessment demonstrates our values. I often refer to the Trump regime as the white man’s last stand — all his choices and all his followers’ choices demonstrate a value system that has been and continues to be guided by the antithesis of what would be best for Earth and all her inhabitants. A discussion about the melting ice caps keenly illustrates the great divide we are currently facing. And while that divide is political, financial, educational, and religious, it is ultimately a divide of consciousness: Do we ignore our essential interconnectedness or do we acknowledge it and honor all sentient beings by our actions? 

Uranus is the good news of the week. It sextiles Mars, inviting the warrior in us all to find an innovative way of standing in the need to have our opinions win out. Uranus also trines Saturn, which enables Saturn to shake off some of its stodgy attitude and soften its superior edge.

Each of us makes ten thousand choices a day about how we want to live. This week, as the tension heats up the great debate between the real and the unreal, test your skill at knowing the true from the false. Learn to recognize the difference between an opinion about something and an actual fact. Then try to help others to do the same — not with a blaming, finger-wagging Saturnian sneer or even with a snarky I-beat-you-at-your-own-game Martian conceit, but rather with a compassionate understanding that waking up is hard to do.  

Hello to readers in Isla Vista!

Jupiter sets the tone as well as the pace of daily life for the next several weeks as it starts to wind down a four-month retrograde phase that began on February 6 and ends on June 9. It holds steady at 13 degrees from May 18 through July 2, and because Jupiter lingers so long on the same degree, lots of folks are sure to confuse Jupiter’s ‘course correction’ with Mercury Retrograde. But Mercury won’t be retrograde again until August 13. Feel free to blame the next several weeks of snafus and interference on Jupiter, but don’t get too out of sorts. Jupiter is a big, fat, happy, expansive planet of good fortune and when it throws its weight around, all sorts of opportunities open up. And because Jupiter is currently in Libra, these openings also include relationships with others, personal as well as professional, which means some of the interference could come in the form of having to take care of others.

Seen as the symbol for wisdom, Jupiter signifies all things related to philosophy, law, religion, and classical traditions of all kinds. And although Uranus is generally thought to indicate computer and online activity, the content of the Internet falls under the auspices of Jupiter, if only because Jupiter represents all wisdom, and cyberspace is the new frontier where knowledge, old and new, individual and collective, can be easily accessed.

Jupiter may be at the heart of our challenging times, for while it’s easy to attribute the social, economic and political turbulence to the waves of change set in motion by Uranus and Pluto, part of the problem many of us are having is how to find our individual places amid the daily deluge of information that bombards us through the Internet. No one can predict what’s going to happen next, and one consequence of the uncertainty of these times, is the inability to parse the true from the false amidst all the available information.    

Somewhere along the line (I’m not sure where) we made a collective decision that reality could be determined by the person with the best story, regardless of whether the narrative was true. Daily life slowly but not unnoticeably became a game of “the one with the best spin wins” — advertising being the best example of that attitude. And because the Internet gave birth to never-ending opportunities to upload and then download compelling narratives (narratives that did not have to be based on fact), far too many individual and collective perspectives are now based on opinion, and for some, opinion actually trumps fact. And that is an ever-escalating problem for those who refuse to be swayed by fiction created to serve personal interests at the expense of planetary integrity — climate change, anyone?

There are many theories as to why the lines between fact and fiction blur with increasing intensity. Spin isn’t new but it seems to be more widely embraced as fewer and fewer of our fellow travelers are able to distinguish between propaganda and reality. What’s more, as online life expanded, lots of people simply emptied the content of their heads into cyberspace. And while this opened up incredible vistas of information that could be shared for the greater good, it was also done without regard for boundaries or consequences. Thus, within a matter of moments you can find a recipe for gluten-free coconut cake as well as a recipe for making a bomb. It’s all there. No discrimination. No boundaries. And because you can also be anonymous, there are no consequences. Bullies thrive as do gurus. Racist rants proliferate, as do meditation classes. The Internet is us, conscious and unconscious, filling cyberspace with all of our humanity. It is the vastness of Jupiter made manifest, from the lowest cravings to the highest pursuits.

But there’s a problem with this Jupiterian expanse: Our brains aren’t moving at the speed of fiber optics; and a majority of minds haven’t made the necessary evolutionary leap that can discriminate and discern the true from the false. Many don’t know how to digest and metabolize all the available information and as a result feel lost in space, stranded on oceans of too-much-data, with no way to process, no direction known, and no compass to guide them safely back home. This is especially true for young people who are overexposed to violence, sexism, and racism long before their minds can contextualize what they are viewing. Those seeking to exploit the Internet data-glut and the ensuing confusion know all too well the less said the better. Tweets, code words, and abbreviations may seem like easy navigation tools, but for those brains that have not made the mental leaps necessary to handle the influx of information, it’s simply an overwhelming challenge to make sense of it all. Perhaps the current chaos of daily life is more a reflection of the chaos of cyberspace rather than a reflection of the cycles of celestial space.

As Jupiter determines the playlist for the next couple of weeks, pay attention to what you are listening to and why. We are all in the process of turning the wheel of life in a new direction. Some play out their role on the world stage, but most of us contribute to the outcome through our every thought, word and deed. That’s what makes us co-creators. That’s why the power is always in the present moment.

Hello to readers in Mechelen!

The planets are busy this week and terrestrial life reflects their celestial activity. Some of the activity is a carryover from last week but some is new. In reviewing the week, I was struck by a subtle, yet powerful pattern that starts this week, underlies the coming weeks and months, and culminates with the Solar Eclipse on August 21, 2017. This eclipse is called the ‘American Eclipse’ because its path of visibility will run west-to-east from Salem, Oregon, to Charleston, South Carolina. eclipse2017.nasa.gov/ 

The American Eclipse occurs at 28 degrees 53 minutes of Leo, and today, May 11, the Moon’s North Node is within a degree of that position and by Monday it conjuncts that point. The degree at which an eclipse takes place is called ‘the eclipse sensitive point" and when there is any aspect to that point, it triggers the eclipse effect. Please pay close attention: What emerges from this point on reaches a crescendo at the end of August and resonates well beyond. (Even as I write this, I am painfully aware that so much will emerge over the course of the next several months that tracking all the information will require a highly technical computer program — or maybe just a good memory and a quick eye and ear.)

One of the most interesting facets of this American Eclipse is that it falls on Mr. Trump’s Ascendant, the most visible part of his or anyone’s natal chart because it is the point that signifies public perception. Eclipses always reveal what’s been previously hidden in the shadows, and if we know anything about him, we know there are plenty of secrets hiding in a plethora of shadows. But that’s not all. Mr. Trump’s Mars is at 26 Leo 47 minutes, also well within the range of this eclipse. Mars represents the archetype of the Warrior and is closely related to the Ascendant (in any birth chart), and this double whammy in Mr. Trump’s chart could intensify the effect of the eclipse on his persona. It’s hard to know what more could be revealed about this regime, but if I’ve learned anything at all over the last several months, it’s that the surprises just keep comin’. The people who voted for him may not care about revelations of his collusion with Putin or any other ill-intended leaders looking to dismantle democracy, but what’s hidden about those interactions is likely to become increasingly hard to deny. Just by way of history: Bill Clinton had the August 22, 1998 Solar Eclipse within three degrees of his Sun. On August 17 of that year he testified before the grand jury. On August 20, Monica Lewinsky testified again. And the impeachment movement began.

One more thing about Mr. Trump’s natal chart and the transits he is under for the coming months: Saturn sits on his Moon starting in the middle of July and does not let go until the middle of September. Saturn signifies the voice of reality, and when it transits a planet as sensitive as the Moon, mood swings tend toward anxiety and depression, if only because of the restrictions and inhibitions Saturn exerts. His Moon, in Sagittarius, is one of the astrological reasons he can’t self-censor. Come on, Sagittarians…fess up…you know sometimes that waggin’ tongue gets you in trouble too.

The Mercury/Uranus conjunction, in Aries, is exact and separating today. It lingers until Wednesday, May 17, and while some may miss the excitement of this dynamic duo, others will breathe a sigh of relief as nervous systems finally settle down.

The Sun/Pluto trine is exact and separating today. It too lingers until next Wednesday, but given the inherent power of this beneficial alliance we aren’t likely to feel its strength diminishing until the contact is actually over, so continue to keep your sleeves rolled up in preparation for another week of hard (but positively supported) work.

A trine between Mars, in Gemini, and Jupiter, in Libra, began on May 6 and continues until May 19. We love this fortunate combination because it fosters harmony, and because both Gemini and Libra are Air Signs, this particular trine has the power to reach out and gather new ideas without a judgmental knee-jerk response to ideas contrary to one’s own. We need this wide bandwidth if we are to find ways to heal the vast chasm that separates so many points of view. This trine also encourages and supports all sorts of creative endeavors — so apply it liberally wherever you’re in need of a creative touch.

A Mars/Neptune square has been operating since Mercury Direct began on May 3, and this might be one of the reasons it’s been a little difficult to clear your head. Fractious Mars/Neptune interactions make it quite difficult to delineate appropriate boundaries, and in some cases this pernicious interaction generates the potential for a peculiar kind of paralysis that inhibits the ability to implement plans and projects because there is an equally peculiar lack of motivation. Try not to let this square keep you from taking advantage of the much more positive planetary interactions of the week.

As you attempt to weather the days and nights of life on Planet Earth, try to hold the broadest view possible. From a collective perspective, we have all contributed to our current situation. But please don’t confuse this view with blame, acceptance or agreement. The power of co-creative responsibility is the power of transformation. Each of us has the power to change the world, and when enough of us unite with clear and aligned intention, the truth of our power is self-evident. We are all in this together and we just need to keep remembering that.

Hello to readers in Launceston!

Mercury Retrograde ends today, May 3, and even though it will take a couple of days for Mercury Direct to kick in, and despite several other retrograde planets — Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto — as the madness of Mercury Retrograde recedes, the regular routines of daily life find a slightly more even rhythm. And while normal isn’t likely to return any time soon, it is safe to exhale. Nothing is normal, so please don’t confuse the absence of astral stress as a guarantee of anxiety-free days and nights — we are, after all, living in a topsy-turvy world. But there are opportunities during the coming weeks take a deep breath and replenish inner reserves.  

Mercury Direct occurs with Mercury continuing its tight conjunction to Uranus, in Aries — this conjunction began on April 21 and continues until May 18. Both Mercury and Uranus are closely related to the nervous system, and when they are aligned, and especially when they share the same space, sleep patterns are disrupted and restless anxiety can fill the air. Mercury represents all things mental. Uranus signifies invention and innovation, and given the tendency for both planets to move at the speed of light, that translates into problems with concentration and focus. The good news is that Saturn also continues its trine to both Mercury and Uranus, and that grounded Saturnian energy has the power to harness the mental might of this conjunction. Saturn is the king of keepin’ it real, and that’s a bonus rather than a deterrent when it comes to taming the often wild ideas generated by the brilliant intensity of the Mercury/Uranus conjunction.

A Sun/Pluto trine begins this week, producing the potential for hard work that yields tangible results. The Sun, in Taurus, is all about a fresh, creative and fertile approach to almost any endeavor. Pluto, in Capricorn, provides the power and strength to amplify the already strong impulse of the Sun to “make it so,” and their positive alliance supplies the necessary ballast to bring some of those Mercury/Uranus/Saturn ideas to life. Use the power of this Sun/Pluto influence wisely because it can also foster the need to lead at any cost, and right now the world already has one too many despots.

I like to consult the I-Ching as well as the stars for guidance, especially in times such as these when so much is changing so rapidly that it’s hard to keep my bearings on the practice of the everyday and stay focused on the mundane tasks of simply being a spirit in a material world. For those unfamiliar with the I-Ching, it is an ancient book of Chinese wisdom that also functions as an oracle of profound accuracy. (I use the Wilhelm/Baynes translation with the forward by Carl Jung.) This week Hexagram 43 came to mind, with its excellent counsel on how to combat evil. It provides guidelines for the fight, but ends with the advice that “the best way to fight evil is to make energetic progress in the good.” That energetic progress in the good has the power to right the ship of conscious living through a myriad of opportunities to be of service and to help each other out. Whether it’s through money, time, effort, intention, or prayer, make that progress part of your daily practice throughout the coming weeks.

Hello to readers in Bilbao!

Since Mercury Retrograde began on April 10, the regular routines of daily life have been a wild and wacky ride. And even though the retrograde ends mid-day on May 3, the madness is certain to continue for a while, so don’t expect anything related to communication and travel to settle into an even pace anytime soon. This Mercury Retrograde is unusual for several reasons, not the least of which is its contact with Uranus, the planet of surprises, spontaneity and startling plot twists. The best advice I can offer this week is to expect the unexpected and be prepared for just about anything.

Normally during a retrograde phase, when Mercury appears to be moving backward relative to Earth’s orbit around the Sun, all things within its vast domain seem to go awry. Mercury Retrograde is all about reviewing the details, especially when those particulars are about negotiations, current contracts, travel delays, or just conversations, personal or professional. (As a side note, Mercury Retrograde is not about relationships unless the retrograde occurs in Libra, the Sign of relating, or the retrograde occurs in a natal chart in the House of relationship.) Mercury Retrograde is never a good time to initiate new endeavors, and it is always a good time to edit and perfect what is already in motion.

But this current retrograde phase is a bit of an anomaly (and one could argue that all of life is right now) because as Mercury moves behind rather than ahead, it is conjunct Uranus, the ancient Greek god who moves at the speed of light, throwing thunderbolts of illumination into stagnant waters. Uranus is brilliant at illuminating what needs to shift, but sometimes the constant barrage of bolts from the blue can be exhausting. And when that happens, information fatigue sets in — too much data to process combined with a nagging sense of being swept away by a deluge of information can simply be overwhelming.  

When you mix that Uranian Olympian activity with fleet-footed Mercury (also an Olympian god known as Hermes in the Greek system), the pace of Mercury Retrograde quickens. And this can be confusing when you also add to the mix the one-step-forward-two-steps-back rhythm of a normal retrograde. Nervous systems tend to rattle from the stress of an erratic pace, creating another symptom of this retrograde phase: disturbed and disrupted sleep patterns.

The good news is that Saturn, the great stabilizing force of the astrological pantheon, continues to form positive relationships to both Mercury and Uranus, which translates into a modicum of stability. Retrograde madness may take its toll, but there are pockets of sanity amidst the crazy chaos.

There is a New Moon, in Taurus, on April 26 (today, if you are reading this on the day it’s published), and a New Moon is always about a new beginning. Taurus is the Sign of fertility — it’s creative, physical and sexual — which turns this new cycle into an excellent time to think about the seeds you would like to plant during this next cycle. Use the remainder of Mercury Retrograde to reassess what you would like to grow in your garden — physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual — over the coming months. And when the retrograde is over, be ready to plant those plans and projects.

And one last thing: A Mercury/Uranus conjunction symbolizes quick and often impulsive action, and while I’m not advising you to hold back on something your heart knows is the best choice, it might be wise to exercise a bit of caution before you boldly go after what you may in the retrograde aftermath discover you don’t really want or need. And as always, practice compassion whenever possible — we are in this together, even if it is sometimes uncomfortable.

Hello to readers in Santa Fe!

Daily life is anything but normal — even Mercury Retrograde, which began on April 10 and persists until May 3, is unfolding with an abnormal rhythm (if such a thing is possible). And because nothing is quite as it should be, lots of people are coping with unusual circumstances, situations that require unique rather than standard solutions. The good news is that by the weekend, Mercury Retrograde aligns with Saturn as well as Uranus, providing the necessary brain power to handle the constant curve balls that have become regular routines. So put on your thinking caps, attach the ET antennae, and allow this week and next to illuminate the strange underpinnings of our brave new world.

The trials and tribulations of Mercury Retrograde are well known to man. I’ve dubbed it a new urban sky myth — and I’m not defining ‘myth’ as a lie or something untrue. Myths are narratives that convey valuable information if they are understood from a non-literal perspective. During its retrograde, Mercury does not actually move backward through the sky; it only appears to do so relative to Earth’s orbit around the Sun. Yet many astrological observers have catalogued correspondences with events on Earth when that illusion of moving behind occurs. When I first learned astrology, Mercury Retrograde was all about contracts needing constant changes, mail deliveries being delayed and detours crippling major traffic arteries. Mercury represents all things related to communication and travel and it was easy to witness whether those astrological claims were true. And they were. But now that we are utterly reliant on electronic communication systems of every ilk, from email to text messages to voice mail to Dropbox to GPS, to name but a few, it’s easier to witness the effects of a Mercury Retrograde phase, which is why even non-believers will throw up their hands and say, “It must be Mercury Retrograde”… even when it’s not!

The current Mercury Retrograde adds fuel to the ever-expanding snafus we blame on a retrograde. This is primarily because Mercury makes contact with other planets as it retraces its path. First, Mercury conjuncts the Sun as Mercury moves ‘backwards’ from Taurus to Aries, and the Sun moves forward (as it always does) from Aries to Taurus. Sun/Mercury conjunctions are known for a lack of objectivity. So notice where you or someone else is obviously ignoring the facts in favor of sticking to their own opinion.

Next, from now until May 18 (well after Mercury Direct on May 3), Mercury stays in a close conjunction to Uranus, and both Mercury and Uranus trine Saturn — talk about a powerful constellation of astral energy! A Mercury/Uranus conjunction is the astral equivalent of the universal symbol for invention — the light bulb — so don’t be surprised if you experience the need to invent and innovate. Uranus signifies lightning bolts of insight that illuminate the landscape with new ways of seeing things. This is why you can expect to find unusual solutions to unusual and perhaps persistent problems. Both Mercury and Uranus are related to the nervous system, which means many are like to experience increased restlessness. For some, that increase could look like extra energy to spend on creative projects. For others, it might manifest as an inability to sit still. Try not to be too hard on children during this time, as they tend to uninhibitedly channel these sorts of currents.

Fortunately, Saturn provides a grounding rod for both Mercury and Uranus, enabling mere mortals to channel the unbridled power of Mercury/Uranus into specific areas or projects in need of extra attention and reorganization. Remember, this is Mercury Retrograde combined with Saturn Retrograde, and as they double down on the details, Uranus is likely to be slightly less squirrelly under Saturn’s demanding eye.

Pluto begins its retrograde phase tomorrow, April 20 and that phase lasts until September 28. Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto are reviewing recent history — and that’s a good thing, if only because we get a chance to review all that’s been put in motion since the beginning of this year. And it’s a lot to reflect on.

Even though it sounds unlikely or improbable to accomplish, use the next couple of weeks to rest. Sometimes Mercury Retrograde is the astral antidote to the need to be busy all the time. Certainly, Mercury Retrograde keeps it real, but when life moves at the speed of light, which is what computers have enabled us to experience, the deluge of data can become overwhelming. Not only is there a tendency to miss important bits of information. It’s also possible to suffer from information fatigue — too much to know all at once can lead to a peculiar type of mental lethargy. It’s not that you don’t want to know. There’s just no room for the brain to process and integrate the new information. So be kind to yourself during this phase. And as always, please be kind to others.

Hello to readers in Cornwall!

Daily life under the Trump regime continues to lay bare the dark shadows of the collective unconscious — it’s as if the collective aggregation of what Buddhists call the fundamental ignorance of the true nature of reality is manifest through each and every thought, word and deed that emanates from Washington DC, which increasingly resembles Mordor. This fundamental ignorance is defined by Buddhists as the inability to recognize the ultimate interconnectedness and interdependence of life. Under the influence of the Trump regime, every appointment, every edict, every reactive response defiantly delineates the separation of self and others. No one is ecologically united — from humans to animals to minerals to plants to water to air (and I’m sure this regime would include the solar system if that were possible) — no aspect of life is left untouched by the grasping greed of this group of despots so intoxicated by their power, so determined to cause harm to others that they do not even consider the detrimental consequences of their actions to their offspring. Left unchecked, this regime is certain to insure the extinction of their own children.

The actual consequences of their defiance — the rise in hate crimes and other forms of violence that are causing grave harm to others, as well as the potential consequences of their hubris and its inevitable harm to Planet Earth — grow increasingly hard to witness and endure. I know I am not the only one who feels intensity of the times. Too many days I feel as if I am living in a bad dream or a surreal alternate universe, a universe that makes absolutely no sense because its values are so blatantly self-destructive. It’s just not possible for me to imagine that millions upon millions upon millions of people support such unnecessary violence. I’ve never been able to wrap my head around the disconnect between pro-lifers and the consistent neglect and abuse of children by those very same people. But the realization of just how many people actually consent to the brutal cruelty of their fellow humans has knocked me on my idealistic ass — and I am still recovering from the blow.

From a Buddhist perspective, I realize this is samsara, the realm or dimension of suffering. I get it…and I know that karma is exact. But from a human perspective, the intensification of suffering put into motion by the eruption and manifestation of such mendacious ignorance is simply hard to take. I know I am not alone in this state. I also know I am not alone in feeling helpless to make a meaningful difference. And I also know that I must do my best to try to contribute to the wellbeing of others.

The extent to which the Trump regime has triggered the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual chaos that so many are currently experiencing cannot be easily explained away by the stars. As I often write on these pages, astrology is only one way of understanding the human condition. It is a powerful and enduring system for many reasons, not the least of which is that it places our small human story in the context of a much larger ongoing story that is beyond the limits of the human mind to fully comprehend. Nevertheless, it was possible to predict that the issues of social justice — race, gender, religion, and financial equality — would rise to the surface of our collective skin. And they have. So much so that they can no longer be denied. But it was not possible to predict that the anomaly of Trump would so clearly illuminate the shadows of those issues — bigotry, misogyny, hatred, and greed. It was also not possible to predict the poisonous effect of so many united against themselves; it’s still impossible for me to believe that so much poison could be embraced by so many. That’s the place I keep revisiting. That’s the place of my deepest personal work.

The good news is that each day more and more people are waking up to the need to participate in finding the remedies and antidotes to the toxicity of our current state of social disintegration. No one who is awake is complacent about what is occurring. Those who understand the true nature of reality — that we are all absolutely connected — are actively participating in whatever ways they can. Where and how to participate is the biggest question because it is so easy to feel overwhelmed by all there is to do — the distress of the overwhelming need of so many can be debilitating. My sense of urgency grows daily because each day I am reminded that every aspect of life hangs in the balance. Yet I am also reminded that this is a creative crisis — those of us who are awake can move into positive action simply by listening to our hearts and acting on that wisdom. We can give more, share more, care more, and through those efforts continue to put the needs of the many before the needs of the one. The idea that anything exists independently is an artifact of archaic thinking. And you don’t have to be a Buddhist to know this. Anyone who watched Star Trek — Democrat, Republican or Alien — understands this fundamental truth.

The astrology this week is similar to last week: It’s a bumpy ride of planetary motion. Mercury Retrograde and Saturn Retrograde just began and both retrograde cycles invite a review of the recent past. This is in conflict with Venus Direct, which begins on April 15, and as that forward motion collides with the power of the double retrogrades, the dissonance of these disparate daily rhythms is sure to cause more than a few moments of frustration.

The problem of the week is handling the power of the Sun/Uranus conjunction, in Aries, a combustible configuration that sends power surges through freedom fighters everywhere. It signifies revolution. This is a fundamentally creative force, and when it is filtered through Aries, it is generally seen as the power of the individual to make a difference. Transform the Aries fixation on one self, with all its self-ish interests, into a multidimensional self in service to the interconnectedness of all selves and you will access a way to handle all the fire and passion this conjunction signifies. Be the one who dedicates her power to the many. Be the one, free from the ignorance of the true nature of reality, the one who knows that no-one and no-thing exist separately, and you will be the one who serves the greater good of all sentient beings.

Hello to readers in Nicosia!

The next several weeks are an extremely bumpy astral ride, but fastening your seatbelts isn’t necessarily the best way to handle the flux. You’ll need a smart strategy to manage the disparate daily rhythms, as the regular routines of daily life turn irregular. Just about everyone is likely to struggle with the fits, starts and stops of interruptions, and almost everyone’s patience is certain to fray from the inconsistency. And as this emotional unraveling collides with an already militant atmosphere, more than a few of our fellow travelers are likely to blow. Anticipate meltdowns, yours or others’, and expect some of these I-just-can’t-take-it-anymore moments to have a detrimental effect — not everyone is able to deal with anger and very few are skilled at self-soothing. It is possible for some of these fluster-bluster moments to have a positive outcome — sometimes blowing your top clears the air, making it possible to see the emotional terrain of a situation with greater clarity. An angry outburst can be edifying for everyone, including the person erupting in frustration or impatience. That being said, it’s still a good idea to set your internal compass on kindness and compassion. That way, if you’re caught in an uncomfortable situation you’ll be able to find your way to higher ground.

Bump One: Saturn Retrograde begins on April 6. All retrogrades are about reviewing, reflecting and reconsidering recent choices. Saturn represents the principle of discernment, and through its critical eye we learn and grow — without Saturn we wouldn’t be able to distill wisdom from experience. Saturn began its transit through Sagittarius in December 2014. Sagittarius is the Sign where we search for truth — and we’ve certainly been doing a lot of truth-searching since this cycle began. Not that we aren’t always searching for answers, but it seems ironic that at the end of Saturn’s transit through Sagittarius — it ends in December 2017 — we are collectively engaged in figuring out how to tell the true from the false. During part of its time in Sagittarius, from November 2015 — September 2016, Saturn formed a square to Neptune, which a friend likes to call “The Great Destroyer of Illusion,” and as Saturn, the voice of reality, collided with Neptune, fake news became part of the vernacular. 

Not that it seems possible to be surprised by anything anymore, but as Saturn Retrograde unfolds, Saturn forms a trine to Uranus, the principle of startling developments, which means we’re in for few more revelations. Let’s hope the new information is based on fact not fiction.

Bump Two: Mercury Retrograde begins on April 10 and lasts through May 3. Most of us know the drill by now, but just in case you’re new to this information: Mercury Retrograde is not a good time to initiate new projects, but it is a good time to review what’s already in motion. Mercury signifies all things related to communication and travel, which means that under the influence of a retrograde, miscommunication is probable, as are delays and detours. If you haven’t yet backed up your computer, do it now. There’s a lot of information available about Mercury Retrograde and how its shadow effect precedes the actual day the retrograde begins and extends beyond the actual day it ends. My personal preference is to follow the 3-Day Rule: Just to be safe, consider the retrograde operative three days before and three days after.

Bump Three: Venus Retrograde, which began on March 4, ends on April 15. During these last weeks of this retrograde, Venus visits Pisces, turning moods slightly more sentimental. Venus Direct moves the goddess of love and beauty into Aries again on April 29, but for the next several weeks expect more than a few tender moments. Just don’t limit those moments solely to romantic engagements.  It’s quite possible to feel the emotional effect of Venus throughout a wide range of relationships, with a wide range of significant others.

Bump Four — the biggest bump of all: The Sun, in Aries, is closing in on a conjunction with Uranus, also in Aries, and when these two dynamic forces form a perfect union, innovative urges surge like lightning bolts through the landscape of imagination, electrifying the desire to create something new. Honor those flashes of brilliance, even if you can’t actualize your vision immediately.

But that’s not all. This combination also represents a need to break free from whatever enslaves, be it a person, idea, regime, cult, or any other dogmatic system that insist on conformity.  Aries is all about individuation and when the Sun shines its light through that filter, the need to know oneself as separate and distinct is undeniable. Add Uranus, the astro-revolutionary, and that need-to-be accelerates, rejecting all restraints. Pay attention: This conjunction is exact on April 14 and lasts until April 22. Under this influence, I don’t think it will be possible to deny radical desire but that doesn’t mean you have to throw every caution to the wind. Do what you can to stay centered and grounded in what you know to be ultimately true — not just what you want to be true — and let those higher principles guide you through the maze of what may be considered impulsive or reactive choices.

Bump Five: The trine between Pluto and Mars is waning, but that doesn’t mean that ambitions are dying down. Pluto is preparing for a retrograde phase that begins on April 20, but before the principle of death and rebirth reviews its most recent past, it forms a square to that Aries Sun, a square that is exact and separating on April 9 and completely over by April 17. Squares are fractious interactions, and while the Sun is inclined to compromise, Pluto takes no prisoners. The negative end of this square empowers ruthless behavior that encourages despots, big and small, to throw their weight around. The positive potential — if you can find it — provides a tremendous amount of energy and stamina. The best way to use this superpower wisely is to apply humility liberally.

It’s not going to be an easy couple of weeks, but really, we don’t need the stars to tell us that we are in an extended and distended phase of turmoil, tumult, upset, and upheaval. Or that our responses to these storms of shift will determine the outcome — not just for our individual lives but for the lives of all our fellow travelers, including the Earth which holds all of us safely in space. Do your best to stay present. And when possible help those less skilled at handling change — these are big bumps and most of us will need a helping hand to manage the stress.

Hello to readers in Malaga!

The planets support a militant attitude this week, and as the sky displays its strength, many here on Earth are compelled to flex their muscles — all their muscles — physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Expect standoffs and showdowns to accompany finger-pointing tirades of blame. And even though it can be argued that this agitated environment is nothing new, it’s not the same-old-same-old. This week, Mars ups the ante on the already uptight atmosphere as it moves into a trine to Pluto, and when the might of Mars combines with the power of Pluto, lots of people experience the determination and stamina to move mountains.

An equally strong rebellious streak also runs through this week and the next several weeks, inspiring a plethora of revolutions and independence declarations, fueling the need to break free from whatever enslaves. What are we to do in a world so riled up and ready to fight? Actually, I’m not sure. But as I continue to witness the collective mess we are in, I continue to hold fast to the notion that despite all our advanced technology, we are still learning the same simple lesson: how to live harmoniously with each other and all other sentient beings, sharing the beauty and miracle of just being alive on our beautiful Planet Earth.

Here’s the breakdown:

Mars, archetype of the warrior, is in Taurus, the symbol for resources. Pluto, symbol of death and rebirth, is in Capricorn, the emblem of corporations and governments. Both are positively united in a trine, which signifies the harmonious flow of energy, efforts and agendas. This is a good astral influence for big ambitions as well as for the hard work to get things done. As you implement your plans and strategies, just keep in mind that Mercury Retrograde begins on April 10, which means by April 7 certain aspects of daily life are going to slow to a crawl. Get your projects in motion now. And need I remind anyone to back up their data?

Over the course of the next several weeks, the Sun, in Aries, moves into a conjunction with Uranus, also in Aries, and as they form that perfect yet rambunctious union, the days and nights of our already restive collective environment prickles with intensified revolutionary zeal. Be prepared for rebels with lots and lots and lots of causes to take a stand, especially as this rabble-rousing energy collides with the militant might of the Mars/Pluto trine. From a personal perspective, this entire combination of forces could make it impossible to tolerate circumstances that require acquiescing to values or behaviors that are antithetical to your principles.  

The New Moon, in Aries, on March 27/28, signals the volatility of this next phase, so don’t be surprised if the seeds you’re planting seem to be hyper-fertilized with the intention to grow quickly as well as uniquely. We are in the last phase of Uranus’ journey through Aries, and all through this year into 2018, as its transit winds down, we’re going to see the distillation and result of Uranian individualism, sometimes rugged and sometimes refined. We can already see it in Donald Trump as a symbol for, among other things, the frustration of individuals who reject and resist the process of transformation, a process that has left them confused about how and why the world has changed and continues to change. We can also see it in those who have awakened to a personal need to take a stand for what they value most, as well as a stand for the rights of others.

As this week and the coming weeks unfold with a Uranian signature of even more upheaval and upset, do whatever it is you do to stay grounded. When possible, try to help others to stay clear and calm. We are all in this together, and rather than allowing that shared unity to be an irritant, make it a reminder to practice greater caring and compassion toward your fellow travelers.

Hello to readers in Miami!

It’s never easy straddling parallel universes — the stretch alone is physically as well as psychically too difficult for most mere mortals to hold, and managing to stay present in several dimensions simultaneously is simply exhausting. This stretch has been and continues to be the task at hand and it is arduous. In one universe, there is a dynamic push to move forward, boldly and bravely. In another, there is an equally powerful force determined to return to the days of yesteryear. And in yet one more dimension, there’s an even more powerful impulse to throw out the old ways of doing everything and instead create something completely new. And I’m mentioning only a few of the choices indicated by the planets.

Each reality has its pros and cons — and because there are so many choices that must be made each day, lots of us are simply overwhelmed by dissonance of colliding universes, individual and collective, personal and political, internal and external. Yet the lack of harmony isn’t only negative — friction often creates a potent transformational environment conducive to growth. Nevertheless, it’s important to protect yourself from the wear and tear of these daily collisions.

Here’s the week in brief:

The Sun entered Aries on Monday, March 20, signaling the vigor and vitality of spring. This is Aries at its finest — full of life and the desire to move into action. The Sun is conjunct the ongoing Venus Retrograde, also in Aries, and together they symbolize the desire for romance in action. Be prepared to fall in love quickly and passionately.

Mercury is also in Aries, and all week long, as it forms a square to Pluto, the air is likely to light up with fractious arguments and heated debates over individual rights versus the rights of governments and corporations. (What else is new?)

Mercury quickly activates the waning Jupiter/Uranus opposition as it moves into an opposition to Jupiter and conjuncts Uranus. This should be interesting. A Mercury/Jupiter opposition indicates a lot of talk but not necessarily equal action. But a Mercury/Uranus conjunction signifies a lightning fast mind that desires nothing less than the transformation of ideas into action. Be prepared to be inspired and expect to want to turn those dreams into reality, especially as Saturn, in Sagittarius, trines Mercury. Saturn symbolizes structure and when it works well with Mercury, their combined presence fosters a determination to actualize ideas.

Jupiter is moving back into an exact square with Pluto, producing the potential for an even more Plutocratic power plays. Anticipate despots, petty and not so petty, to make even more dramatic attempts to seize and solidify power bases.

Use the steady but fast pace of the Mercury/Saturn/Uranus signature to get a lot done. By the first week in April the rhythm of daily life is going to shift dramatically. Saturn begins its retrograde on April 6, and following on the heels of Saturn, Mercury Retrograde begins on April 10, which means the next ten days are the best time to implement plans and projects.

As you navigate the week, try to make time for those less skilled at handling shifts. Some of our fellow travelers are stuck in a parallel universe, moving at a snail’s pace and wondering why everyone else is in such a hurry. Others are bemoaning stagnant waters that just won’t seem to budge. I know I am repeating myself, but we are in a powerfully potent transformational phase that is also mighty uncomfortable. Realities are colliding, making it difficult to get a clear picture of what lies ahead — and for some, no known direction seems to lead home — it’s as simple as just taking “the second star to the right….” So be kind; compassion will help bridge prejudice and unite rather than separate. It’s important to remember that a far greater reality, an infinite reality, holds all our disparate points of view.

Hello to readers in Vienna!

“Beware the Ides of March,” wrote Shakespeare in Julius Caesar and we’ve been repeating it ever since, even if we don’t exactly know what it means. I’m not going into detail because it’s easy to look up, but just noticing it started me thinking about why humans like to mark specific days, days that remind us of our participation in a much bigger stream of events. That led me to start thinking about religious holidays, which are really holy days, designated moments in time meant to reactivate participation in an original Divine moment. In The Sacred and the Profane, Mircea Eliade calls an eruption of the sacred a hierophany or the sacred making itself manifest in the profane. He notes that our ancestors recognized the power of the sacred and longed to live in that experience, creating rites and rituals to evoke and invoke sacred experience. He also points out that when we participate in the rituals of holy days, we are attempting to return to the meaning and magic of the sacred. Of course, the Ides of March is not a holy day, but it has endured as a marker and that started me thinking about time.

Time moves in cycles, cycles that have always been measured by the movement of the planets and stars. Those cycles of time, as the Maya knew only too well, are occurring on a spiral. History repeats itself but never in exactly the same way, never at the exact same point. This is the inherent creativity of life — if we want, we can choose how to live each moment consciously. History may repeat itself, but our choices in the present moment have the power to create a variation of history — we can choose a new iteration of the historical theme.

Planetary patterns indicate repetitive themes. Personal cycles can be seen through the cycle of the Moon. Other times they are most noticeable through the cycles of Mercury, Venus and Mars. And large historical periods are most identifiable through the cycles of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. This is one of the reasons I love astrology, not because it allows us to predict the future but because it enables the opportunity to learn from the past and make wiser choices about how to live in the present moment. This week I am choosing the let the Ides of March remind me that the universe is alive and we are participants, conscious or unconscious, in its vital force.

Also this week, the Jupiter/Uranus opposition persists — there’s one more week of its polarized intensity. But don’t confuse that with the end of political polarization. That ideological tension was in place long before this opposition and will probably be in place for quite some time. I’d like to be able to say that daily life, with its wonderfully boring banality of regular routines, will return but I can’t. There’s nothing normal about life now or any time soon, which is something the Trump regime is counting on. If you can dislocate and discombobulate enough people, you can create chaos, and chaos is a ripe environment for dismantling the structures that hold those regular routines in place.

Order allows orientation, and in ancient times, orient meant to face east, toward the rising Sun, and churches were oriented to that most repetitive planetary cycle of all — the start of each new day. As this powerful opposition between Jupiter and Uranus continues to separate, do your best to stay oriented within yourself. It’s very easy in times such as these to lose sight of what’s important. Do whatever it is you do to dispel despair (and try to keep it healthy), and use the anger at and fear of what is occurring to orient yourself to your highest ideals.

The good news this week is a Mercury/Venus conjunction, in Aries. Mercury symbolizes all things mental. Venus signifies aesthetics, and because what we find beautiful represents our values, Venus also represents what matters most. As these two beneficent planets share the same space, they indicate an atmosphere of grace and beauty. Some astrologers even attribute humor to this combination — and wouldn’t it be great to laugh a little and have it lighten our psychic load?

Mars moved into Taurus on March 10, indicating the potential for a down-to-earth, practical application of all things Martian, including ambition, self-assertion and self-actualization. One of the positive side effects of Trump tyranny is the mobilization of so many to take a stand against its mendacious agenda. Many have moved out of complacency, and while it’s scary and challenging to stay centered and optimistic during this phase — and it is a phase — applied consciousness has a power that cannot be denied.

Just as the planets move in cycles, so do solar systems and universes. I once wrote that the winter solstice marked the eternal return of the sun, and a dear mentor wrote to me and said, “No…the sun is not actually eternal. It too will fade away. We just think it is eternal because we can’t really contextualize billion-year cycles relative to our very small, infinitesimal lifetime.” And she was right. Use this present moment to expand your perception of time’s cycles. But don’t use it to rationalize or deny the day-to-day suffering of your fellow travelers. We are at our best when we are helping each other navigate the day-to-day, with our hearts open and kind and completely immersed in our interconnectedness. To quote Padmasambhava: Though my View is as spacious as the sky, my actions and respect for cause and effect are as fine as the grains of flour.

Hello to readers in Porto!

As with many of my fellow travelers, I am at a crossroads of concerns and I have to figure out how to handle the chaos and confusion of daily life. I am determined to keep my attention on resistance to the malignant intentions of the Trump regime, but I am also determined to maintain my spiritual and mental health, which means also keeping my attention on being joyous, inspired and grateful for what Buddhists call “the preciousness of life.” I feel as if I must choose between any of several well-traveled roads or a far less traveled road, a road that demands staying awake and alive on a path that paves its way as each day unfolds.

One of the conventional choices is to continue to contextualize events through a political/social/historical lens and link those patterns and events to astral cycles — not a bad choice, just not as creative as I would like. Another choice is to go into denial — although that’s not really a choice for me. And yet another choice is the normalization of the non-normal — also not a viable path to follow. I’m opting for the road less traveled because it is a path of co-creation, paved with a search for truth. The challenge is how to know what’s true, how to listen to the wisdom of my heart, and how to let that listening help me discern the true from the false. If I am to take the co-creative path, l need curiosity, consciousness and a commitment to being truthful with myself and others. There are no maps for this journey. There is only the power of the present moment, lived with as much awareness as possible. And even when there isn’t enough awareness to make the ‘right’ choice, the power of the now provides a strong enough intention to grow and to learn from those mistakes.

The planets are also at a crossroads of sorts. The Jupiter/Uranus opposition is moving out of the tight formation it’s held since mid-December. That formation brought us two exact oppositions which manifested as a seemingly endless seesaw cycle of extremes, providing an equally endless number of surprising plot twists. There are sure to be more reversals of fortune this week and next. But as the tension of the last few months actually starts to fade away, so will the extremes — although even as I write this I can’t imagine the Trump regime ever finding an even keel. And looking ahead we are also certain to see even more extremes during August and September as we build to the final Jupiter/Uranus opposition on September 28.

Venus Retrograde began on March 4 at 13 degrees Aries, the same degree Mars occupied the day Michael Flynn resigned, and as Venus retraces the path through Aries leading up to that resignation, more is likely to be revealed about the entire Russian affair. From a personal perspective, Venus retrograde is likely to manifest as a relationship review that focuses not so much on the role or behavior of a significant other as much as it focuses on how you maintain your individuality — how you assert yourself — in relationships of every denomination, not just romantic liaisons.  

All week long, Saturn pulls away from its trine to Mars, lessening the militant atmosphere just a tad. But it’s important to note that as Saturn lets go of its positive alliance with Mars, Saturn moves right into a square with the Sun, turning the atmosphere stern and judgmental. It won’t be easy backing down or stepping away from intense situations, but it might be best to cool off or cool down before your make your move.

Choosing the powerful path of the present moment is not synonymous with indulging the emotions of the moment. Being present requires an alert consciousness and a strong commitment to walking the talk. Of course, your steps may not be intelligible to others — they may criticize or judge your actions. But that critical field only increases polarization. In times of chaos and confusion, remembering what matters most — the core values that guide decisions big and small — is some of most important work each of us can do. Being true to those principles results in a life well-lived, and the integrity of that life eventually benefits all our fellow travelers — even those we don’t like, understand or agree with.

Hello to readers in Saint Austell!

March 2017 roars in…but not with the bellowing growl of a lion. This roar is more like the gunning engines of a renegade Hell’s Angels posse, and those engines are an aggregation of planets in Aries that intensifies the already too-intense atmosphere, turning the days and nights on planet Earth — at least for this week — into even bolder displays of power. And I do realize that daily life has been a power spectacle for so long that we’re at risk for power fatigue. But nothing we’ve been through quite touches this week’s dynamic formation. Self-regulation isn’t easy under this sort of astral influence, so be sure to do whatever it is you do to self-soothe, provided those calming practices are healthy and cause no harm to others. Everyone is certain to be hypersensitive for the next several days, so even if it means biting your tongue until it bleeds, try not to blurt out comments that could lodge like poison darts in the minds and hearts of others — there are enough wars going on. What we need now, more than ever, is peace everywhere we can create it.

The source of increased aggression is the addition of Mars, in Aries, to the ongoing final chord of a nearly three-month Jupiter/Uranus opposition that is exact and separating on March 3. Jupiter is in Libra, the Sign of relating, and Uranus is in Aries, the Sign of individuating. As many are aware, their opposition is best understood as a tense interaction that symbolizes swinging wildly to extremes, particularly relationship extremes, in a continuing effort to find the balance between the needs of the one and the needs of the others. Last week Mars joined this configuration, first as it formed a square to Pluto, representing the potential for unbridled ruthlessness and the use of sheer brute force as a way of demonstrating dominance. Then Mars formed a conjunction to Uranus and an opposition to Jupiter, adding an erratic and explosive component to the already aggressive environment.

I don’t think it will be possible to control militaristic or passionate blurts this week — so much has been building up for so long for so many who are frustrated and confused with the twists and turns of political events, as well as for so many more already in so much fear about survival, that the pernicious planetary pattern of the week is likely to be a tipping point. While the release effect of this conjunction doesn’t necessarily have to manifest negatively, it’s certain to manifest emotionally today and tomorrow as the Moon joins this astral aggregation, adding a decidedly reactive mode to the entire bundle and amplifying the already impulsive and tempestuous Aries temperament. Be prepared for orders and commands from everyone — and don’t leave yourself out of the despot category. If you manage, miraculously, to curb dictatorial tendencies, it’s possible to channel this energy into deep creativity, but it will still require discipline to pull that off.

Interestingly, there is an abundant and available supply of discipline being delivered daily through a trine between Saturn, in Sagittarius, and Mars, in Aries. This trine signifies concentrated effort and the ability to work ceaselessly to get the job done. Saturn is the symbol of regulation and restraint, and when it unites with Mars in a positive alliance, the will as well as the ability to work hard prevail. The only problem is that this trine also signals military might — it’s one of the signatures for war. The fog of war is often used to dissipate resistance, derail dissatisfaction and satisfy underlying and often hidden agendas.

But that’s not all. On March 4, Venus begins a retrograde phase that lasts until April 15.  Fortunately, Venus Retrograde doesn’t carry the same onerous signature of a Mercury, Mars, or Uranus Retrograde. Venus is the goddess of love and beauty, and when she seemingly retraces her path, we retrace ours, especially when it comes to past loves and lovers. But this Venus Retrograde carries a potential political effect: Venus goes retrograde at the same degree of Aries that Mars occupied on February 15, the day Flynn resigned and information about the Russian connection deepened. It wouldn’t be surprising if during this Venus Retrograde more and more information about the Trump/Putin connection is made public.

Continue to do whatever it is you do to stay calm and centered in the midst of chaos, but however you handle the stress, be careful not to bury your head in the sand and pretend the chaos isn’t happening. It is. And as everyone seems to be reminding everyone else…it is important to know fact from fiction. In an age when visuals are easily distorted and sound bites are easily edited, it’s important to know how to discern the true from the false, not just politically but also within your own heart. Being true to your highest principles is the best way to ride these waves of change.

Hello to readers in Stockholm!

Like so many of my fellow travelers, I’ve been trying to find a way to contextualize and understand what’s happening to our world. How is it possible that reactionary forces seem so intent on turning the Wheel of Life toward the past? Or is it that before we can go forward at the pace that’s needed to forestall climate disaster, we are required to take a closer look at what has been impeding progress for so long? Are hatred and fear on the rise, or is it that the Trump regime has simply given permission to the bigotry and violence that’s been lying beneath the surface of society’s skin, exposing it so blatantly that we can’t move on until we address the cause? Is separation our true state of being? Or is inclusion and unity the true nature of humanity?

I best understand the complexity of our current condition as a spiritual crisis, and while its material manifestations are many — political and social chaos; racial, gender, and economic polarization; as well as panic, despair, confusion, anxiety, anger, and depression. At its core, the madness that surrounds us is a manifestation of a spiritual emergency. The soul sickness, which we always knew was there but managed to deny, consciously or unconsciously, self-medicating in as many ways as possible with the hope that it will just cure itself, can no longer be denied. And the clarity of that realization — the glaring illumination and reality of a powerful, victimizing shadow — has the power to terrify but also the power to provoke tremendous healing. But it’s important to understand that as the structures of daily life dissolve and the safety nets disappear, we are being given a list of all the places where social justice — love at the level of the collective — needs to be more thoroughly applied. 

Please don’t not confuse spirituality with religion. The fundamentalists of all the world’s religions have all but bankrupted religion’s moral authority. Literalism prevails, and its myopic stagnation supplants the power of symbol, myth and metaphor, the power that religions once had to speak to the mind and the soul as well as the intellect and the heart. Of course for many, religious practice is still vital, and I don’t mean to imply that religions are dead. But for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which is existential anxiety fostered by the recognition of just how many ways there are to experience the sacred, fundamentalist certitude has provided a one-way-and-one-way-only means of making sense of a world too diverse to easily understand. Simplistic and angry fundamentalist dogma has dominated the airwaves for decades, indoctrinating its listeners with self-righteous, literalist explanations — just one of the reasons the Christian right seems to have taken over the United States’ Republican political machine.

I’m calling it a spiritual crisis because spirituality speaks to a transcendent experience of something greater than material reality, an experience that precedes the formation of a specific religion. The experience of the sacred or of spirit is at the core of all religious experience, and a religion can be defined as a system that provides a way of living in the context of that primary spiritual experience. Thus, a spiritual crisis — a spiritual emergency — also includes religions, which now need to reflect on their value and their values. No one is exempt from this process, and it is heartening to know that people everywhere are questioning how the principles of their religion are being applied. As a young woman expressed it at a recent town hall meeting (and I am paraphrasing): Aren’t Christians supposed to lift up those who have less?  

Those who have been paying attention to personal and planetary transformation through an astrological lens have known for quite some time that a crisis was coming. But not many were able to predict the current devastation, and very few predicted the awakening that would occur as a result. Millions of people are seizing this moment by taking personal responsibility and participating in a spiritual revolution that has as its core a genuine concern for all their fellow travelers, regardless of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, or species. Our shared humanity is awakened by a shared threat to our survival, and we will not be numbed again despite all efforts to contain our reactions. This is ultimately the remedy for our spiritual crisis: The recognition of our essential interconnectedness, combined with the willingness to put aside what separates and participate in what unites. We have so much more in common than we ever realized. And every one of us has a role to play and a mission to fulfill.

As delineated in last week’s column, the astrology for this week initiates a crescendo that builds until the beginning of March and sustains for the following week. Mars joins the ongoing Jupiter/Uranus opposition, turning polarized positions militant and military. What’s more, there is a solar eclipse on February 26 that’s certain to reveal even more hidden agendas. And while we don’t know what the madmen in Washington will do next, we do know that we can keep working toward inclusion in our personal lives, in our communities, in the workplace, and in every little act of kindness we can manage to fit into the day. Keep breathing your way through the tension and keep making compassion your first choice.

Hello to readers in Valencia!

You’re going to need to keep much more than your wits about you for the next several weeks. You’ll need patience, awareness, a clear mind, and a strong internal compass magnetized to the highest spiritual ground possible. The recent storm of extremes symbolized by the dramatic and dynamic effect of the Jupiter/Uranus opposition, with its seesaw of startling events, is building toward a crescendo that strikes its first chord at the end of this week, then modulates to a higher octave the following week and sustains its final chord through the first week of March. It is simply impossible to predict how this crescendo will manifest, but the intensifying tension of the last two months is likely to explode into militant, and even military action during the coming weeks. I seldom use the word “explode” because it’s scary, and given the current turmoil explosions seem probable. But there’s just no way to play down the planetary patterns of the coming days. Mars, archetype of the warrior, exacerbates an already too extreme environment, turning agitation and belligerence even more severe — and that translates into a need for action. The might of Mars is certain to make the current political polarization almost impossible to bear, and as the entire stellar combination releases, the lid is likely to blow on both sides of the great political divide.

Forewarned is always better prepared, especially in light of the unpredictable and seemingly impulsive reactive agenda of the Trump regime, which appears determined to overthrow and destroy anything in its way. For those not interested in being cowered and conquered, this intense energy is certain to be felt as a call to action. And while harnessing this resistance into concentrated civil disobedience is possible as well as necessary — and a much wiser choice than violence of any kind — it will require tremendous discipline to adhere to that course. This is a immense amount of energy that needs to be released, which is why it’s important to be mindful about how you choose to express this release.

Here’s the breakdown:

Since the middle of December we’ve been on the seesaw of a Jupiter/Uranus opposition, which is best understood as a ride of surprising plot twists and sudden reversals of fortune. (Some link it to good fortune and divine intervention, but that would be a difficult perspective for most to embrace in this current moment of extreme chaos.) Jupiter is in Libra and Uranus is in Aries. And for the last six weeks, the Moon, making its regular cycle through all twelve Signs of the zodiac, keeps forming hard aspects or angles — conjunctions, squares, and oppositions — to either Jupiter or Mars, adding an intense emotional component to the mix.

What’s more, Pluto, in Capricorn, is more or less at the midpoint of the Jupiter/Uranus opposition, turning the opposition into T-Square and magnifying the stress and strain of the entire bundle. Again, the Moon, moving through the Signs, also forms a conjunction to Pluto. Two weeks later it also forms an opposition to Pluto, transforming the T-Square into a Grand Cross. All the main players (Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto) are in Cardinal Signs known for strong urges to take action, as in Do something — anything — to relieve this tension.

Mars entered Aries, its Home Sign, on January 28, and for the last couple of weeks has been marching toward a conjunction with Uranus, and as it nears Uranus, Mars also forms an opposition to Jupiter and along the way, a square to Pluto. Yes…it’s a volatile combination, especially in Signs that want to take action. Mars begins its close contact with Uranus on February 19, and its conjunction to Uranus is exact and separating on February 26 and 27.

Mars is the muscle that moves the mechanics of daily life. Think of it as the arms and legs of the ego, or as the capacity for self-assertion, from the lowest forms of unspecified global rage to the highest forms of self-actualization. It represents the process of individuation, and when it is in its Home Sign, its essence is enhanced. So as it moves into the already unstable Jupiter/Uranus seesaw, the impulse for individuals to proclaim “Hey…this is the way I see it and this is the way it is” is likely to reach a fevered pitch.

Uranus represents rebellion, and one of the ways it fosters revolution is through sudden and startling plot twists. Fundamentally unstable, when Uranus unites with Mars, their combined influence more often than not manifests as an explosive force. From a negative perspective, that force can be violent. From a positive perspective, that force can be a concentrated determination and an indefatigable effort. Either way, it needs to be handled skillfully, especially when you add Pluto — the entire configuration signals extraordinary powers that need to be expressed. Sometimes this takes the form of violent interventions and other times it manifests as divine intervention — and there’s no guarantee that divine intervention won’t also be violent.

And as if this wasn’t enough…on March 1, this entire configuration reaches its peak as a Moon/Mars/Uranus conjunction simultaneously opposes Jupiter and squares Pluto. The Moon turns this already dangerous combination emotional and reactive. And as all the players start to separate out of this tight formation, we’re likely to see lots of situations fall apart.

But that’s not all — and here’s the rub: Saturn, in Sagittarius, is currently in a sextile to Jupiter and a wide trine to Uranus, adding just a wee bit of stability to this entire bundle. But as Mars moves out of formation on March 5, its trine to Saturn tightens, reinforcing its military might. There’s simply no telling how this plays out, but it would not be unreasonable to expect all sorts of outrageous and unwarranted declarations of war, individual and collective, personal and political.

It would be quite easy to be driven mad by the current chaos, a chaos that feels deliberate, a chaos created by the mad men who have seemingly seized control of the world.  And if you have no way of contextualizing what’s going on, or you still think you’re caught in the middle of a surrealist nightmare and can’t wake up, the next few weeks could take a toll.  But all of us going mad from frustration, anxiety, despair, confusion, or anger may be one of the outcomes the Trump regime desires. Do not let the shock of their mendacious maneuvers drive you crazy or drive you to participate in behavior that will only play into their hands.

It is appropriate to be outraged about the outrageous, but it is equally essential to avoid violence as a way of dealing with the problem. Each of us is being called to participate in this transformative moment, and the planet needs every bit of positive resistance we can muster, but it needs that resistance to be practiced with awareness and consciousness. The old paradigm won’t shift until we shift it through a new system, an evolutionary system, and while that transformation will take time, we are closer than you think.

Hello to readers everywhere!

The planets continue to dial-up the intensity this week, inflaming already heated situations, individual and collective, and turning exchanges, personal and political, even more belligerent. Today, February 8, the Moon, in Cancer, once again acts as the completion piece of the puzzle for a Cardinal Grand Cross, and its emotional presence sets the tone for the week, a tone that has the potential to infect most interactions with fears about safety and security. What’s more, just as this Grand Cross is separating there is a lunar eclipse, in Leo, on Saturday. And because eclipses always turn the concerns of daily life inside out, revealing what was previously hidden, you can anticipate even more surprising events to rattle regular routines. But that’s not all. Jupiter Retrograde began on Monday, February 6, and as Jupiter retraces its path, we will revisit much of what’s transpired since the middle of December, including the seesaw effect of the Jupiter/Uranus opposition, which reaches its full force on March 1. Yes…it is as intense as it sounds, and many already suffering from Trumpitis and Post Traumatic Trump Disorder are also at risk for Trump-Fatigue. So even when the days are overwhelming, be sure to include self-care as part of your schedule. Resistance is not futile, but it is going to be a long haul and you want to be as healthy and present as possible for as long as it takes to right the course of the spaceship we call Planet Earth.

Today and tomorrow, February 8 and 9, the Moon, in Cancer, moves into an opposition with Pluto and a square to both Uranus and Jupiter. This configuration is called a Grand Cross and it operates almost literally as a cross to bear. Because it occurs in Cardinal Signs — the astrological Signs known for action — and because the Moon is literally the mover and shaker in this formation, it amps up the already highly charged emotional atmosphere with concerns about safety, something Cancer is always worried about. This same Grand Cross occurred on January 11 when the Moon was also in Cancer.  The Moon occupies this position once a month, every month, as it cycles through all twelve Zodiac Signs. But it rarely triggers an ongoing T-Square, especially when part of that interaction involves Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto.

 One of the reasons for the Moon’s repetitive role is the ongoing opposition between Jupiter and Uranus that began in early December and continues until the beginning of March. Both planets made “course corrections” during their opposition. Uranus Direct began right after Christmas, and Jupiter Retrograde occurred two days ago on February 6. The energetic signature of this opposition is going-to-extremes and Pluto has more or less been at the midpoint, squaring both Jupiter and Uranus, guaranteeing those extremes are related to power issues, individual and collective, personal as well as political.

The other significant bit of information about this seemingly endless Jupiter/Uranus opposition and its T-Square to Pluto is that it occurs at degrees that are related to astrological events in 2020.  Currently, Jupiter and Uranus have been opposing each other and holding steady between 20 and 23 degrees Libra/Aries. On January 12, 2020, Pluto will conjunct Saturn at 22 degrees Capricorn and that conjunction is within minutes of a square to the second exact Jupiter/Uranus opposition that takes place on March 3, 2017. The final exact opposition in this series of three Jupiter/Uranus contacts occurs on September 28, 2017, at 27 degrees Libra/Aries, which forms an exact square to the position of Pluto in the United States chart. (Yes…countries have birth charts.) More about the US Pluto Return over the course of the next several weeks.)

While this may seem like superfluous information at the moment, it is not. What is being set in motion during these months and leading up to September 28 has a direct impact on how the Pluto/Saturn conjunction of 2020 plays out and how the Pluto Return of the United States manifests; the exact Pluto Return is in 2022. Pluto/Saturn conjunctions are always about a new regime and most often that new regime is conservative. The Pluto/Saturn conjunction of 1982 brought us the Reagan Administration. The 1947 conjunction can be seen through the formation of the State of Israel and the ensuing conflict with Palestine. But this next conjunction is likely to break the pattern of conservatism, given that we are in a period of revolution against a radically conservative agenda, if that’s what you can call the Trump manifesto.

Of course, there is no way to predict what the next Pluto/Saturn conjunction will bring but chances are it will be directly related to current events, especially the great quickening to safeguard our planet, which so many are experiencing in reaction to Trump’s mendacious disregard of previous protective policies.

The eclipse this weekend also adds fuel to the fire of tumult and turmoil. Eclipses always reveal what’s been previously hidden, but because there have been so many surprises of late, it’s hard to isolate what’s due to the eclipse and what’s due to Jupiter/Uranus.

As always, the best way through the maze of current intensities is to hold fast to your Higher Power, whatever its name, and to let those principles align you with kindness and compassion toward your fellow travelers.

Hello to readers everywhere!

My apologies for the brevity of last week’s column. I had what I lovingly refer to as a bad case of Trump-itis: The flu combined with a deep descent into existential angst — you know, when everything hurts, even the soul and especially the spirit…and you know the remedy for what aches cannot be bought because there is no quick fix for soul sickness. The good news is that the physical illness didn’t last too long. But the combined effect did make last week a hard time to wax poetic about our free-will choices.

Trump-itis, however, is a far more powerful illness than the flu because it is absolutely toxic, infecting mind, heart and soul, and it is particularly pernicious for those who care about fellow travelers of every ilk and the well-being of our planet. There are many, many actions to take to protest, resist and ultimately neutralize the negativity of the new regime, but it is also important to remedy and fortify the spirit so that as the I-Ching advises in Hexagram 43, Breakthrough, each of us has the stamina and strength to fight evil by making energetic progress in the good.

I come from a lineage of revolutionaries. My grandfather was part of the IRA. My father was blacklisted, and when I was young we were chased by the FBI. For me, it was just a fact of my life that you could be persecuted for your ideas. Socialism/Communism for my parents was not Totalitarianism — it was simply the altruistic ideology of their day, the ideology that came closest to compassion for their fellow beings. (Yes…there are arguments about this, but that’s how my family saw it.)

As each of us inherits our physical DNA from our parents, we also inherit our karmic DNA — the patterns that define us, good and bad, and the patterns we repeat, positive and negative. (One need only look at alcoholic family systems to see this in action.) Revolution was my karmic inheritance — changing the world and making it a better place for everyone was what I was taught. But I also inherited a shadow of that altruism, a shadow that asks, “How is change possible in a world where so many inhabitants don’t recognize our inherent interrelatedness?” My father’s heart was broken when his revolution failed; he had many heart attacks, big and little. And as I witnessed his despair I promised myself to find a solution to my own heartbreak, as I also witnessed the revolution of the Sixties failing to occur as my idealistic heart thought it should. I have spent all of my adult life trying to find positive ways of sustaining hope. Transformation has been the key to that journey, a journey that has found its expression through a spiritual life.

But a spiritual life is only powerful when it is integrated into action and that takes a devotion to something greater than one’s self, coupled with a determination to live according to higher principles. Living according to those principles takes a different form for each of us, but one awareness unites a myriad of paths: We are all in this together. We are not separate from each other. And if we are one with everything, that means we…are…one…with…everything, even the things we hate.

From my Buddhist perspective, this is the meaning of compassion: I am that too. Like everyone, I have the potential to be what I despise, and because I recognize that potential in myself, I can find a way to make contact with my enemy. Compassion is not about forgiveness or permission. It’s about acknowledging that separation is an illusion and that we are a part of each other, whether we like it or not. And that includes the bad parts.

But that understanding wasn’t healing my Trump-itis, and as I witnessed his egregious behavior and blatant evil — his delight in ignorance and cruelty — the idea that I somehow share his narcissism and grandiosity was horrifying.

And then I had a dream. In the dream, I was held prisoner by an old boss, who was just an awful human being. In the dream, he was holding me captive in a glass cell in the basement. I could see him, but I couldn’t escape. When I woke and started analyzing the dream, I realized that this old boss was an iteration of Trump. He was rich, successful, the same age, misogynic, narcissistic, paranoid, and powerful — a dreadful combination, as we are witnessing with every passing moment.

Yet the dream was the antidote for my Trump-itis. It set me free. It was the deepest part of my psyche speaking to me: You know this demon, and now he is named Trump. You worked for him once and you quit. But he is a part of your unconscious. You see him clearly through the glass walls of your prison. But now you need to take action to break free so you can free yourself from the fear he incites through his torture. Most importantly, you must free yourself from the despair and nihilism that he feeds and thrives on because his toxicity generates a sense of meaninglessness, the same meaninglessness that infected your father’s heart. Do not be held hostage to hopelessness. It doesn’t need to infect your heart because you can see this demon through the clear walls of your prison — he is not a mystery and he is not aberrant. Each of us has the power to be the lineage breaker of our karmic DNA. Take that power. Don’t let your heart break.

Meaninglessness is a consequence of separation, and those who know we are interconnected need to stand in the truth of that interconnectedness and face our shadows through whatever method works. (And if you’re new to facing your shadows, investigate what that means.) Some have said that Trump is something more than a shadow — a great beast of the collective unconscious. Maybe…but if I am true to my heart, no beast of the collective is going to deter me from my path, a path that wants all beings on this planet to be free from suffering.

My dream also unites me with those who voted for him, and as hard as that is to swallow, that’s the next phase of deep work. I am related to every woman who is still trapped by abuse and the self-hatred and negation that is the result of that abuse. I am related to every person who feels left behind by the glamour of a society that worships at the altar of celebrity. I am connected to every person who feels the limitations of their ignorance but doesn’t know what to do about it, feels the scorn and judgment of others, feels the fear that they will be ignored, and feels the prejudice generated by the anger of being left out, and by the prejudice and polarity of the victim/victimizer struggle.

Being true to my heart means being true to my revolutionary roots. I will take whatever non-violent action I can to resist the pernicious effects of Trump, but I will not succumb to Trump-itis — not anymore. I will not allow myself to be slimed by the Cheetos version of the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters — although I will take him and his agenda quite seriously. There are no meaningless efforts when those efforts are motivated by love. Along the red thread of my lineage, love is the true revolution.

But making this revolution of the heart effective also means continuing to protest and resist — to continue saying “no” to what we know is wrong. An internal revolution united with an external revolution is the path to evolution. Many of us have had this revolution of the heart, but many more hearts need to open — and that’s part of the work.

Here’s the astrology for the week:

The planets continue to feed that revolutionary spirit. The Moon, in Aries, once again activates the already unsettling Jupiter/Uranus opposition. The Moon symbolizes the emotional body. Jupiter signifies excess. Uranus is the Che Guevara of the sky, instigating and provoking revolution where it is needed. Oppositions represents tension, and the combined effect of this astral bundle manifests as an intensification of the need for personal freedom. As mentioned in previous columns, the seesaw effect of the Jupiter/Uranus opposition lasts until March 3, when we experience the second exact contact, which will include Mars, archetype of the warrior, conjunct Uranus. (More about that as the time approaches.) This ongoing opposition is at the root of so many of the recent extremes, both individual and collective. Jupiter begins its retrograde phase on Monday, February 6, that lasts until June 9. As Jupiter revisits its recent path, it will trigger even more sudden and surprising plot twists — reversals of fortune are one of the signatures for this Jupiter/Uranus opposition, so be prepared.

February is also a month of two eclipses: There is a Lunar Eclipse on February 11 and a Solar Eclipse on February 26. Eclipses always reveal what has been previously hidden and their effect is often felt six weeks before and after the actual event. Again, it would be wise to be prepared for startling developments — although you don’t need an astrologer to tell you that!

As you work your way through this brave new world, do your best to strengthen your spirit, and when possible help those less experienced find their spiritual strength as well. And remember, even though it doesn’t look like it, we are winning. There are far more of us who know that love is actually the answer, and those who do are working hard to make that knowing a reality.

Hello to readers in Hull!

I couldn’t be there. I couldn’t physically march with my sisters (and brothers) and add my body to the loud and resounding resistance to the Trump regime. But my heart and soul were marching and I wept as I watched the reports. I wept from the potency of our combined resistance to the evil, a resistance intent on grabbing back the power for the people, a resistance forged through a multitude of hearts. The fierce determination of the gatherings all around the world was a healing balm for those in despair that the depravity of this new regime would be accepted and normalized. For while there are mountains of work in front of us, there’s an ocean of consciousness determined to make a positive difference. The protest signs told the story — and I won’t repeat them all — but my favorite was: I’ve seen smarter cabinets at Ikea.  (I know Make America Kind Again! is the sign I should be happiest with, but…oh well…every so often you just have to indulge.)

This week there’s a dramatic shift in the sky that underscores the global mobilization of so many millions of people who do not support the mendacity of the Trump regime. Mars enters Aries, its Home Sign, on Saturday, January 28, amplifying the already militant mood. Both Mars and Aries are symbols for the warrior, and during this transit, which lasts until March 10, we’re likely to experience an increase in strident stands — our own or others’. We will start to feel its aggressive intensity by mid-February when Mars forms a square to Pluto as it moves into a conjunction to Uranus and an opposition to Jupiter, turning the drama of that seesaw effect even more intense — if that’s possible.

Today and tomorrow, the Moon, in Capricorn, conjuncts Pluto, squaring Jupiter and Uranus, creating even more tension, exacerbating strong reactions. Issues of control are primary under this influence, so when you can, try to remember that there is no actual control. But there is potential for reasonable responses based on consciousness and a clear intention to do no harm. It’s a big task to take on — living consciously — but also a noble one, particularly in the face of how much has to be done to restore the balance of power.

As you move through your week, put compassion above all else, and as you do, remember that it’s often kinder to tell the truth — even when it is tough-love truth — than to deny what must change.

Hello to readers in Seattle!

So here we are — it’s another intense week of transition on Planet Earth. In just two days we will witness a new regime take power, a regime that seems hell-bent on returning to the days of yesteryear. It is possible to view this next phase as the last gasp of the old imperialist paradigm and its army of hungry ghosts — greedy, avaricious and disconnected beings — who relish in their ignorance of the abiding interconnectedness of all life, which is our true state of reality; hungry ghosts whose actions throughout history have decimated the indigenous populations of the world, devouring all available resources in an attempt to sate the insatiable appetite of their ignorance. The Trump reign can be seen as an audacious attempt to cling to that historically mendacious ground. With little thought for their fellow travelers, they seem determined to not only dismantle every social safety net, but also to place the planet and all its inhabitants in jeopardy. Alas…those who have struggled to create awareness about the ultimate goodness of open hearts must endure the learning process of the unaware over the next several years. It won’t be easy — but turning the Karmic Wheel never is.

As if timed for the inauguration, the ongoing Jupiter/Uranus opposition continues to dial up intense mood swings, personal and political, individual as well as collective. As it did last week, the seesaw effect of this opposition disrupts and disturbs the regular routines of daily life. Also just like last week’s Full Moon, this week’s waning Moon continues to be the key to the ongoing tumult as it triggers the emotional extremes of the Jupiter/Uranus opposition. (For more explicit information about the Moon’s ongoing role, see last week’s column.)

Today and tomorrow, the Moon conjuncts Jupiter, in Libra, and both the Moon and Jupiter oppose Uranus, in Aries. The Moon represents the emotional body; Jupiter symbolizes expansiveness and excess; Libra signifies relationships of every denomination; and Uranus is the emblem of the revolutionary, with or without a cause. But as it happens, this week the cause is deep — it is personal and political. And even though the week’s politics are focused on the United States Presidential Inauguration, this inauguration is no longer local. The world grows increasingly small, especially when it comes to climate change, making all local politics global. From a collective perspective, the entire Moon/Jupiter/Uranus bundle begs the question: Is it possible to have a relationship with my country when I strongly disagree with its leaders? From the perspective of the individual, issues of personal freedom are paramount: Can I have a relationship with a significant other without losing my individuality?

But there’s a new thread to weave into the fabric of the week: On January 19 and 20, there’s a pernicious Mars/Saturn square that’s exact and separating, and the power of this fractious interaction is likely to turn things even more mean-spirited than they already are. Mars, as many know, is the principle of the warrior, ready and able to take a stand for what he believes in. Saturn signifies the ability to distill wisdom from experience, and while it is often understood as the great inhibitor, Saturn symbolizes structure as well as limitation — it’s the voice of reality. As these two forces clash, more violence is likely to occur in all those places where there’s already too much animosity — and that violence could just as easily be expressed through word as it can through deed. It also sets the tone for the Trump regime: vitriolic, pugnacious, and never quite stable.

For the last several years, I’ve been writing about the Uranus/Pluto squares and how, historically, the cycles of Uranus and Pluto highlight issues of social justice and movements that arise to find solutions to all issues of inequality, whether racial, gender, economic, religious, or simply human (as Ms. Streep so eloquently pointed out). Resistance to the movements for social justice is part of the process, and it’s important to recognize what gives rise to that resistance, because it is the next obstacle to overcome. Certainly, we’re in the thick of that resistance and all its consequences for the planet.

You may think that my condemnation of Mr. Trump and his cronies lacks compassion. As I have often written, compassion is not synonymous with permission or agreement. I can have compassion for someone who doesn’t know the difference between right and wrong, but my compassion doesn't condone harmful behavior. Normalizing what and who Mr. Trump represents won’t serve anyone, but it especially won’t serve all the people who will suffer as a result of the anger and ignorance that elected him. It also won’t serve the highest good of the planet to normalize the ignorance that fuels choices intended to turn back the clock. Too many beings will suffer from the choices he makes at this crucial moment in time and space.

Those committed to personal and planetary transformation will have to find new, positive and non-violent ways to counter his policies without losing the ground of kindness. It’s a huge task, but it can be done.

Hello to readers in Boston!

The word for the week is shift and if you haven’t already felt the change of air, you can count on feeling all sorts of shifts — in attitude, behavior and perspective — all week long. It’s time to leave stagnation behind and delve into transforming what needs to move. Of course, I’m not promising miracle cures — like a new election or anything as sweeping as that (although a soul can wish).  But I am pretty sure that you’ll be able to identify at least one thing in need of an overhaul and then find the strength to devote yourself to shifting that habit or situation.

Several factors contribute to this climate of change:

(1) Mercury Direct. Mercury went direct on Sunday, a day when lots of folks started noticing a shift. (I know this because my phone started ringing with reports of progress — not for everyone, but for enough people to indicate something had shifted.) We won’t have another Mercury Retrograde phase until April 10 — May 3, so mark your calendars now. (We will also have a Venus Retrograde phase from March 4 — April 15. Don’t worry — there’s plenty of time to prepare.)

Mercury’s “course correction” isn’t the only source of this week’s dynamic shifts.

(2) Tomorrow, Thursday, January 12, 2017, there is a Full Moon, in Cancer, that completes a Grand Cardinal Cross among Jupiter, in Libra; Uranus, in Aries; and a Sun/Pluto conjunction, in Capricorn. And yes…it’s as complex and intense as it sounds. A Grand Cross always indicates polarized positions, locked in formation, and often those positions are only able to let go when one or another of the planets finally moves out of the gridlock. If you’re feeling pulled in several directions simultaneously, it’s not your imagination — you are.

Here’s a look at the pieces of this puzzle — and it’s important to get the whole picture because this formation is going to repeat itself as a T-square for the duration of the Jupiter/Uranus opposition, which ends its tight formation on March 3. The Jupiter/Uranus opposition signifies the seesaw effect we’ve been in since mid-December 2016. It symbolizes the extreme mood swings, and not just political highs and lows, but also radical personal ups and downs, especially in relationships. Jupiter is in Libra, the Sign of relating. Uranus is in Aries, the Sign of individuation, and the opposition, while often difficult to handle, signals the need for greater balance between the needs of the one and the needs of the many.

What happens during this Full Moon — the time frame includes today, January 11, tomorrow when it is exact and Thursday, January 13 — is that the Sun, which is currently conjunct Pluto, forms a square to Jupiter and Uranus as the Moon simultaneously opposes the Sun and also squares Jupiter and Uranus. The Moon is in Cancer, its Home Sign, where it is strongest, and its presence generates powerful emotional tides that exacerbate the entire flux of the ongoing Jupiter/Uranus opposition. Be prepared for breakdowns, yours or others’, as the Moon sweeps away any semblance of pretense. And because the Moon also opposes the Sun/Pluto conjunction, there are sure to be power struggles, individual and collective.

But here’s what you really need to know about this week and entire duration of the Jupiter/Uranus opposition: Each and every time the Moon forms a difficult angle — a square, conjunction or opposition — what happens this week will be triggered. But that’s not all. The issues and events of the next two months are directly related to the astrological configurations that occur in 2020 (And no, this is not always the case.) 

Full Moons illuminate the landscape and this illumination isn’t going to happen at this degree again until 2020, when the Full Moon that January will be closest to the position it occupies tomorrow. Pay attention: Issues and themes, individual and collective, in need of attention are illuminated for the next two days in ways that will not be repeated for quite some time. Don’t despair — there are always opportunities to grow. It’s simply that this is a unique astral occurrence taking place in a unique social climate and it behooves us all (yes…behooves) to apply our awareness.

As the Moon journeys through its cycle for the next several months, it will continue to form relationships to both Jupiter and Uranus, which translates into a repetitive pattern that some might find overwhelming and others might find helpful. We are in the thick of a vast transformational process and it is not comfortable, and because the Moon is playing such an important role, you can expect highly charged emotions to override otherwise logical choices.

Devote this week and the next several weeks to integrative awareness. Use the light of the Moon and the deluge of feelings to identify what needs to shift in you and then harness the potent power of this Grand Cross into positive action. And don’t despair about the darkness. Your life is your greatest masterpiece — live it fully and let the rest of us know through your thoughts, words and deeds just how precious all life is.

A final note: Last week, I wrote that populism was the new word for fascism and several readers wrote to correct me. Thank you for taking the time and caring enough to engage in a conversation about my use of that word. What I learned from that interaction is that we need a new language to talk about what’s currently going on. I realize I have a strong bias, but in my world, in a populist movement, the people do not organize against each other, they organize against the elites. So yes…you could say that both Trump and Sanders inspired a populist movement. But Trump’s movement pits the people against each other, promoting prejudice, anti-intellectualism, authoritarian aggression, and other characteristics identified in The Authoritarian Personality, a book written to understand the conditions that give rise to fascism and the rise of a fascist leader. This work has its critics, to be sure, but the qualities mentioned in the book relate to what we are experiencing today. So I’m not sure I want to rescind my use of that word, although I am certainly committed to investigating a new way of contextualizing our current situation.   

Hello to readers in Itabashi!

It’s the first week of a new year and even though it doesn’t really feel as if anything has changed other than the last digit on the calendar, don’t get fooled into thinking that 2017 is a year of stasis. 2017 begins with the dynamic seesaw effect of the Jupiter/Uranus opposition, which means the upset and upheaval that characterized December persists until March because Jupiter and Uranus stay within close contact to each other. But this tumult isn’t only reflective of the present political turmoil occurring in the United States and other countries where populism — which is really just another word for fascism — is grabbing hold of the collective because the collective is reacting to the deluge of change on Planet Earth. The current cultural earthquakes are part of a much larger process, a process that reaches a long, sustained crescendo in 2020 that continues through 2022, when several major astrological wheel-turning events occur. 2020 begins with a Saturn/Pluto conjunction, in Capricorn, an event that always signals a new regime; 2020 ends with a Jupiter/Saturn conjunction, in Aquarius, another event that signals the end of one empire and the beginning of another. And in 2022, the United States has its Pluto Return, an astral event that presages a new revolution. So as you start this New Year, don’t despair that the world has lost its way. We are being catalyzed at deeper level than most of us imagined possible, and the coming years are a necessary part of that transformational process.

What’s interesting about the current ongoing Jupiter/Uranus opposition is that it occurs quite close to the same degrees of the 2020 Saturn/Pluto conjunction. (Future columns will delineate this 2020 conjunction in much more detail.) It would be a worthwhile exercise to observe what happens during the next two months with an eye toward the long-term consequences of what’s being set in motion. Not all your conclusions may be accurate, but you’ll start to gain a bigger perspective, which will help sustain determination to work for the greater good.  

Jupiter/Uranus interactions always signify the release of tension through startling developments that are simply mind-blowing. But as you feel your head exploding from even more mendacious Trump activity, try to look beneath the skin of what’s taking place. It is possible to view the toxicity of what’s occurring as a healing process: Most of us were unaware of just how deeply the hatred of change and the resistance to transformation was festering beneath the surface of daily life. Now there is no denying it. And no superficial remedy will do. Watch your mood swings, as they won’t be isolated from the highs and lows of others. Use these extremes to deepen your awareness of what needs to be brought into alignment with a higher purpose. None of us are saints — not me, not my yoga teacher, not any one of the many people who provide guidance. A fearless, searching moral inventory of what you need to work on has the power to propel personal responsibility to an even deeper level, and that will hasten the revolution. Remember…we only change the world one heart at a time, and the first heart we must change is our own.

Saturn continues to be the good news as it continues to provide the ballast for the Jupiter/Uranus seesaw. Saturn is in Sagittarius, the Sign that symbolizes the search for truth, and its presence has the potential to facilitate a penetrating exploration into how we can discern what’s really true from the bombast of opinion. Saturn sextiles Jupiter, providing the potential for patience and perseverance even in the midst of fuddy-duddy insistence on outdated protocols. Saturn trines Uranus, providing the ability to endure, no matter how difficult the circumstances. This positive interaction supports the currents of necessary change, even if those currents are overwhelming.

2017 also opens with Mercury Retrograde almost at an end — it’s over on January 8. But just to be safe, bide your time and wait until January 10 before initiating any new projects. Patience for a few more days is a small price to pay for the lessening of snafus, and waiting will ultimately yield better results for your plans and projects.

As the coming weeks unfold use your best observational powers to witness what’s being set in motion. The 99% are riled — as they should be — but they need to gather their combined strength to effectuate change. The seeds of discontent are geminating in the field of revolution, but if those seeds are going to take root, they must also be fertilized with evolution.