Aquarium Age - Transformational Astrology

Hello to readers in Weehawken!

2019 is a conundrum: On the one hand, astral patterns unfold with super simplicity—there are normal retrogrades and normal eclipses, which means we’re free to breathe an almost normal air. But that ease is countered by a pattern of deep red karmic threads, threads that continue to reach deep into individual and collective hearts, illuminating fundamental human issues and demanding that we bring consciousness into our mad, mad, mad world. 2019 offers moments of bliss as well as moments when some of us may feel that our hearts are failing. It’s not a pretty picture, but you would need the best drugs in the world to think that all the recent trials and tribulations around the planet—not just in the United States—will disappear at the stroke of the first day of a new year. Quite the opposite. On December 31, at 9:20 PM EST, Mars enters Aries, its Home Sign, signaling a dynamic end to 2018 as well as a dynamic start to 2019. Mars is a fiery planet that revels in assertion, ambition, and aggression—it thrives on challenge and competition, and because it likes to win, New Year celebrations could play out with an edge.

One thing is certain: 2019 is an inexorable planetary march toward January 12, 2020, when the Saturn/Pluto conjunction in Capricorn is exact. We start to feel the full force of this conjunction in April, and even though Saturn retrogrades away from Pluto for the summer, by the fall, this contractive force kicks in. By the end of 2019, we’ll find ourselves caught in the tractor beam of a contracted universe.

Saturn is always about limitation; Pluto is always about power; and when these two Titans challenge each other, we experience profound cultural shifts. Of course, there’s always the possibility that these shifts are beneficial—the groundswell of resistance to Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts continues to grow steadily and throughout 2019 its presence will only increase. But the shadows that have been revealed—the hatred and greed that have been released and encouraged—won’t go quietly, and it’s up to those of us who value awareness and compassion to find ways of creating a new paradigm for conscious living, one that includes all of us, even those who hate. It won’t be easy to dismantle the polarization that has been so assiduously fed by the right-wing propaganda machine, but if we are to move forward toward peaceful resolution we must find a way for all of us to come in from the cold. As Dylan once wrote: “I’ll let you be in my dream if I can be in yours.”

Uranus also plays a key role in 2019. It goes direct on January 6, at 3:26 PM EST, less than 24 hours after the first solar eclipse of the new year at 15° Capricorn 25′, so the year is off to a dynamic start. Uranus Direct moves steadily forward, finally leaving Aries on March 6 and moving into Taurus, where it will stay until 2025. Uranus is sure to rock the financial world, but for those who aren’t invested as well as those who are, the transit of Uranus through Taurus is about more than money—the next seven years are about a revolution of values.

Just a brief look at history to add some context to what we might expect. In 1988, Saturn entered Capricorn, where it was quickly joined by Uranus that same year, and by 1991, as Saturn exited Capricorn and moved into Aquarius, the Soviet Union dissolved, evidencing that communism doesn’t work—at least not in its Russian iteration. Since the Saturn/Uranus oppositions of 2008/2010, we’ve been learning that capitalism doesn’t work either—the most recent crash course was the market collapse of 2008/2009. (We may be witnessing another one as I write.) Saturn moved back into Capricorn in 2017 and throughout 2019 it is steadily closing in on Pluto. We’re learning lessons similar to those we learned in 1988, only now we’re learning about the failure of capitalism.

We don’t really need the planets to remind us that economic inequities are at the heart of most of our problems, both local and global, but just in case anyone had any doubts, Uranus’ journey through Taurus, the Sign of resources—which includes m-o-n-e-y—makes those imbalances and their consequences undeniably clear. The next seven years—the length of a Uranus transit through each Sign, is likely to put a period at the end of capitalism’s reign. This examination of what matters most, individually and collectively, starts in 2019. As part of that process, many could find themselves bereft of resources, while others could find themselves experiencing overwhelming abundance. At either side of that spectrum, there are deeper value issues to be examined. For example, once survival needs are met, how much is enough? And if all your needs are met many times over, when does generosity become a responsibility?

To live authentically we need to know what we value most. It’s not enough to accept the party line—what we’ve been taught or told is “right” by family, church, school, or other authorities. Living consciously requires identifying intentions and being aware of what motivates our actions. Why is kindness important? Because it’s the right thing or because it feels good, strengthens the heart, and helps all of us to feel more connected to ourselves and each other?

As you sort through your values, keep in mind that hatred only feeds a negative energetic field—it’s ultimately a dead field, but it still radiates with power, especially when it catalyzes fear. Figuring out how to neutralize hatred with love and how to awaken compassion in the heart of an enemy…now, that’s magic, of a kind that’s both practical and necessary, so don’t confuse it with magical thinking. Find your magic in the coming year and help others to do the same.

Several significant astral interactions color the moment of the sun’s standstill and set the tone for 2019. (For those new to these pages, the winter solstice is a compass point for celebrations of a new beginning and the chart for that moment can reveal information about what lies ahead; the Gregorian calendar also indicates influences for the coming year, and both are useful navigation tools.)

At the moment of the solstice, Saturn is at the midpoint between the Sun and Pluto, indicating that reality might make a comeback in 2019—and wouldn’t that be a welcome relief from the barrage of falsehoods that have become the political fabric of daily life. But keep in mind, it’s completely possible to land on the solid ground of reality with a thud that reverberates throughout the year. A getting-in-touch-with-the-truth frequency often gives birth to unexpected wake-up calls, coupled with difficult transitions, especially when it comes to dealing with the consequences of awakening from denial.

The next day, December 22, a full Moon, in Cancer, opposes the solstice Sun, indicating high emotional tides around the issues of safety and security. Align with the highest frequency of this opposition by determining a way to stay rooted in kindness even when dealing with the most difficult challenges of the practical world.

Back to the solstice chart: there’s also a wonderful Mercury/Jupiter conjunction in Sagittarius—a reason to celebrate—because this dynamic duo fosters snappy, interesting, and informed conversations that cover a variety of topics, from the deeply philosophical to the just plain silly—and one of those subjects is certain to be “what is truth, anyway?” Lots of people will be talking like crazy during this coming celestial year, so get ready for everyone to be sharing opinions. Although the belligerent tone of Mr. Trump lingers through 2019—mostly because it’s his only tone—there is plenty of potential for the rest of us to share a very convivial attitude. The shadow of Sagittarius may be zealous fundamentalism that insists on one way and one way only, but Sagittarius is also a Mutable Sign, which makes it one of the peacemakers of the zodiac—its goal is actually sharing information and helping others to grow.

The friendly frequency of the Mercury/Jupiter conjunction lingers through Christmas Day, when it is amplified by the Moon, in Leo. While a Leo Moon can tend toward drama, Leo is essentially a generous Sign, and when that generosity is bolstered by both Mercury and Jupiter, it easily turns gregarious, which could infuse Christmas festivities with true goodwill.

As the final weeks of 2018 unfold, allow the winter solstice to inspire a new perspective—let it lift your spirit and illuminate all your celebrations with kindness and compassion. 

Hello to readers in Charlottesville!

There aren’t many days left until the end of 2018, and now that Mercury Direct has gathered momentum (it went direct on December 6), the days and nights that are left could become a blur of endless tasks and details, and while I can’t argue against taking care of what needs attention, this is the time of year when the impulse of the natural world is to slow down, go within, and gather strength for the coming year. What' more, 'tis also the season to p-a-r-t-y, which makes the idea of ramping up chores and other responsible activities seem extremely counter to the seasonal pull. I don’t think the profusion of influences will stop anyone from getting as much done as possible. 2018 was a year of so many delays and detours—one retrograde after another impeded forward progress—that slowing down now might not feel like the right thing to do. Fortunately, planetary patterns this week support introspection, reflection, and reveling, which means there’s no need to choose one way to spend your time. The only challenge might be finding the right balance.

The introspective potential is attributable to a Neptune/Saturn sextile, a positive, if subtle, interaction that continues well into 2019. Neptune symbolizes imagination, spiritual pursuits, and all altered states, which includes addictive appetites. Saturn signifies structure and order, and because this is a positive alliance, Saturn is likely to harness the positive threads of Neptune and turn them toward contemplative pursuits.

But a Jupiter/Neptune square also begins this week, a fractious interaction that also continues through 2019. Jupiter signifies exaggeration, which means that this dynamic interaction could tilt Neptune’s appetite for altered states toward excessive behavior. Of course, that would fit the seasonal need be jolly, and revel in good food, wine, and every other type of sensual pleasure. The only risk is overdoing, so pace yourself or you will burn out quickly.

By the weekend, Mercury moves into a conjunction with Jupiter, and as these two share a perfect union, they incline hearts and minds toward jovial attitudes and a desire to have fun. Expect some of that joy to involve convivial conversations. This conjunction takes place in Sagittarius, an already loquacious Sign, and that translates into a wide range of topics, so anticipate talking about everything—and I mean everything, from the smallest to the most significant goings-on in your personal world and the world at large. But because this is a benign conjunction, most interactions will reflect the goodwill of the season and aren’t likely to turn sour. Jupiter symbolizes humor, and Mercury represents the mind, so this combination easily keeps a light touch—a welcome relief for many, I am sure.

As the last days of 2018 unfold, find time to reflect on the multitude of events that have occurred this year, not just what’s transpired in your life but also what’s happened in the world. We are citizens of Planet Earth and we share her destiny. Recently someone asked me how I thought the coming astrological events—events I will continue to go into detail about during the coming weeks—will play out. I replied that I don’t think it’s possible to know because we are in the process of creating our individual and collective vision for the future. Make yours a positive vision that includes kindness and care for all sentient beings, from your family and friends to the plants in your garden to the animals you may never meet to birds that welcome the morning.

Hello to readers in Red Lodge!

I’m not sure it’s possible to isolate the exact moment that knowing the difference between right and wrong stopped being a valued indicator of good character. I know it was well before Mr. Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts seized the ring of power. I also know that these mendacious players are perfect examples of what happens when a person has no character. For these gangsters, it’s not how you play the game—winning is all that matters. My best guess is that slide into our amoral society accelerated during the ’80s, when spin took over as a platform for success, Reagan’s Hollywood persona became more important than his policies, and looking marvelous became more important than being marvelous. Somewhere in the age of coke and shoulder pads, Gordon Gecko replaced George Bailey as a hero. The good guys became the suckers. That was the decade Mr. Trump hit his stride.

The astrological patterns of the ’80s shed a little light on how contemporary culture began its more blatant tilt toward spin. In 1980 and 1981, a Jupiter/Saturn conjunction occurred in Libra. These conjunctions happen every twenty years and they always indicate a cultural shift as well as a regime shift. In 1982, a Saturn/Pluto conjunction also occurred in Libra. Saturn/Pluto conjunctions signify the struggle between contractive forces that want to maintain their grip on the status quo and revolutionary forces that strain for change. Both new cycles took place in Libra, the Sign of relating, which translated into new attitudes toward relationships. And both new cycles also swung those Libra scales of justice and fairness toward a more conservative direction. Reagan nominated Sandra Day O’Connor in 1981and William Rehnquist, Antonin Scalia, and Anthony Kennedy in 1986/87.

But that’s not all. In November 1983, Pluto moved into Scorpio, where it stayed until 1995. Pluto rules sex, death, finances, and the process of transformation, both individual and collective. During its journey through Scorpio, we experienced the AIDS epidemic, the surge of the recovery movement, the breakdown of the Soviet Union and its brand of communism. From an astrological perspective, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 is attributable to a Saturn/Uranus conjunction that occurred three times in 1988.

For those of us who lived through the ’80s, that decade was one year of upheaval after another. The world changed: sex became deadly, money became everything, and greed was nothing to be ashamed of. It was the decade of “the one with the most toys wins.”

At the present moment, as we continue to be bombarded by the list of all those who have lied and continue to lie in service of the god of greed, I can’t help but wonder not only how we got here, but most importantly, how we’re going to emerge from this culture of deceit. How do we transform the idea that truth doesn’t matter? Of course, many people still value truth and don’t lie as a way of life, but given the current culture of dishonesty, it would be wise to consider where many of us have normalized deceit in our personal lives. Often we lie to ourselves as a way of bolstering spirit. Some lie to children to protect them from information that might be disturbing, but others ask children to lie as a way of covering up awful behavior—the behavior of adults or family.

This week’s focus on deceit is brought to you by a Mars/Neptune conjunction. Mars signifies the process of individuation and the intensity of character that allows us to form a self that knows itself as separate and distinct from others. Neptune symbolizes the vastness of imagination and is seen as the urge to merge and the ability to stand in someone else’s shoes. Neptune is empathetic, and at the extreme end of that spectrum, it signifies a susceptibility to suggestion. It can be argued that we believe what we want to believe and no amount of fact or fiction is going to change opinion. But if that were always true, no one would ever grow and nothing would ever transform. We grow, but slowly, and sometimes not quickly enough to make difference.

We know that Mr. Trump isn’t the first president or elected official to lie—he’s simply taken lying to a grotesque level—his actions have laid bare the agenda of those who seek to maintain positions of privilege at any cost and revealed their total disdain for the rule of law. Unfortunately, it’s a level we need to pay attention to because Mr. Trump teaches others—especially young people—daily by example that lying is just fine, especially if it gets you what you want. Lying, as many of us learned quite early in life from Pinocchio, isn’t just fine. And even though telling the truth can be uncomfortable, it is liberating. Let’s be determined to live our lives with greater integrity in all the small things that we do, so that the bigger picture can reflect our commitment to truth.

To be completely honest about this astrological week…Mercury Direct begins tomorrow, at 5:22 PM EST. And so the retro-madness of 2018 comes to a close. Just be aware, it's best to wait until the beginning of next week to set plans and projects in motion.

Hello to readers in Quito!

Clarity is the key to sanity this week and in the coming weeks. We’re in the final stretch of a long, hard year, one that has required prodigious psychic stamina just to survive—and that need for super-strength isn’t disappearing anytime soon. We just entered the season of each year when hearts and minds incline toward deep emotions, which is why it’s essential to maintain the type of mental might that supports a broad, objective perspective. Without that view, without considering the long-term consequences of all that’s been put in motion and continues to be put in motion, much of what transpires in the near future is certain to be crazy-making—and we need a multitude of sane people working in unison to correct the course of Spaceship Earth.  

The good news: We’re under the influence of a Sun/Jupiter conjunction in Sagittarius, a positive alliance that began Sunday, November 25, and was joined by Mercury on Tuesday, November 27. Yes, Mercury is retrograde, and by Friday it pulls away from the Sun and Jupiter, but in the meantime Mercury is working with both the Sun and Jupiter to foster a positive mindset determined to focus on solutions. The Sun/Jupiter conjunction stays in effect until Tuesday, December 4. We love this conjunction because it translates into an optimistic attitude capable of embracing diversity, working toward unity, and staying confident.

The not-so-bad news: All week long, a Mars/Neptune conjunction in Pisces feeds susceptibility to suggestion. (Oy…those Trump supporters are going to get an earful.) This conjunction is exact and separating on December 7, and we will be completely out from under its influence by December 15. Mars is the planet that symbolizes individuation or the ability to take a stand for one’s self, even if that stand is different from what’s expected by authority figures—family, friends, or bosses. Mars is a fiery planet and it doesn’t do well in Pisces, a Water Sign, unless you exert extra effort to get moving and stay moving. Neptune is the ruler of Pisces and among other things, it symbolizes the capacity to merge or the ability to stand in another’s shoes and empathize with another point of view.

On the negative end of the empathetic spectrum, this Mars/Neptune conjunction symbolizes the ability to be too open to suggestion—so open, you might not be able to recognize that you are being sold a bill of goods that simply doesn’t exist, which pretty much translates into even more lying, projection, and other bamboozling techniques used by Mr. Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts. On the positive end of the spectrum, this Mars/Neptune conjunction has the power to manifest as real altruism, the kind that does not define the needs of others as separate from one’s own. That particular manifestation of the Mars/Neptune conjunction would be a welcome contribution to the collective perspective—but we might have to put up with a lot of snake-oil ads as well.

After Mercury Retrograde ends on December 6 at 5:22 PM EST, the only planet left in a retrograde phase is Uranus, and since it feels as if it’s moving at the speed of light even when it’s retrograde, we can safely say that there are only a few more days of delays and detours left in this frustrating retrograde year. Try to spend at least a small amount of time contemplating the effect on your life of almost an entire year of stops and starts.

From a collective perspective, it’s important to use the next several weeks wisely. Contemplate how you can participate—even more—in making a difference in your world, which is really our world. And as always, remember to be kind even if kindness isn’t your first choice. It can be overwhelming to realize how many of our fellow travelers are in need of comfort—but we can all do something to help ease that condition.

Hello to readers in San Francisco!

I’m taking a break this week from the regular format of these pages. Yes, the current Mercury Retrograde is overwhelming with techno-challenges (wasn’t last Friday just a bitch?). And you certainly don’t need me to delineate the retrograde do’s and don’ts. Mercury Retrograde is a modern sky myth that’s grown so popular we hardly need astrologers to point out its pitfalls.

It’s been a long, intense couple of years reporting astral activity with an eye toward contextualizing the evening news. Seeing the ongoing political madness through the vast lens of the sky takes a lot of spiritual stamina, so I’m taking a rest this week but not necessarily skipping a beat. I think we could all use a moment to replenish our reservoirs and fortify our strength, and I hope you will also find the time to rest.

But there is one more thing:

I want to say thank you to all the readers of the Aquarium Age who have been so supportive and loyal over the years. I am so grateful for you because each week for the last twenty-two years, you’ve reminded me of just how many people there are around the world who share a similar sensibility, for whom compassion and kindness are the first go-to response in times of crisis, and who passionately care about their fellow travelers.

Aquarium Age readers are smart, conscious, creative, and caring people and I want you to know that I know that. You make me a better astrologer, a better writer, and most importantly a better human. Those of us who care about our planet don’t get as much media coverage as we deserve. There are actually more people who care than those who don’t—we just don’t tend hear about the former. It’s almost as if we’re still stuck in the old model of the ‘70s that made fun of hippies, granola, and Birkenstocks before all those alternative choices became big business.

Oh, my…how things have and haven’t changed!  

As I have written before: To be grateful is to be humble, and while it is hard to be grateful in a world that seems to be falling apart, don’t let appearances fool you. The current chaos we are experiencing is changing us—we can no longer deny the inequities and injustices that separate, divide, and blind us to our common humanity. Rather than concentrate on what divides, we need to feel what unites and strengthen an awareness of our fundamental interconnectedness.

This is my Thanksgiving prayer:

I put aside my grievances and refuse to let arrogance cloud my heart. Let humility clear my vision. Let each breath be humble. Let each breath open my heart to the Great Mystery of life, a mystery so vast, so unknowable, so powerful, even more powerful than the stars, that I can only be humble before its Presence. Let each breath strengthen my heart. Let all hearts be strengthened. And may humility teach us how to live love, even if we think love is lost. Let humility help me take a deeper, more resonant breath, a breath that feeds my hope in a better, kinder, and more compassionate world.

Hello to readers in California!

Here’s the big astro news of the week: Venus Direct begins Friday, November 16, at 5:51 AM EST. Yay! But don’t get too excited. On that very same day, at 8:33 PM EST, Mercury Retrograde begins. Take heart—it’s the last one of this year. Best be prepared for the next couple of days to unfold with an uneven rhythm, stops and starts that feel at first like two steps forward and three steps back, but quickly shift to two steps forward and one giant banana step to the left…oops, make that a sidestep to the right, at least where America is rapidly becoming a Banana Republic.

From a non-political perspective, this last Mercury Retrograde of 2018 is an opportunity to reflect on the entire year, which has been one retrograde phase after another—anyone remember that Mars Retrograde from the end of June until the end of August? (Oy!) Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius, the Sign where we search for truth, and as it begins its final backward glance of the year, it forms a square to a Moon/Neptune conjunction, in Pisces. A Mercury/Neptune square fosters deception of every denomination, and that poses a big problem for those of us still hoping to hear truth spoken in the White House. Trumpworld is built on lies and this square has the power to reinforce that foundation. Think carefully about what you’re being told and what you choose to tell others.

Mercury Retrograde ends on December 6 at 4:22 PM EST, and by the time it completes this final journey, it’s back in Scorpio, where it has the power to reveal secrets, especially political secrets. Remember…Scorpio, ruled by Pluto, is the keeper of what lies beneath. For those new to Mercury Retrograde, this time is best spent reviewing, reflecting, and reconsidering recent events and choices. And as experienced retrograders already know, this is not the best time to initiate any new projects.

From a personal perspective, it would be wise to stick to the truth—no lying to self or others—which means that getting clear on what truth means to you would be the best way to spend the next several weeks. From a political perspective—who knows? Certainly those recounts are going to be challenging.

But that’s not all. Mr. Trump obfuscates the truth of almost every situation, perhaps believing that if he repeats a lie enough, it will become truth—a tactic advertisers learned a long time ago. What’s particularly disturbing and obvious from last week’s elections, is that he is targets his base knowing full well that he is appealing to their ignorance and the hatred that ignorance engenders. It’s unbelievably cynical and politically effective.

Very few seem to remember that in 2008 when President Obama won, nearly sixty million people voted for John McCain and­—really—Sarah Palin. So many of us took pride in the election of the first black American president, that it was easy to sweep aside awareness of the many millions who didn’t vote for him. But as many of us know, President Obama’s win brought racism more fully to the surface of our American skin. The large block of red that appears on so many maps as the vast expanse of the American heartland, is populated for the most part by those who did not vote for one of the smartest people to ever run for president because he was black. Now, more than ever, those same people are empowered by Mr. Trump’s bigotry and they are not going to go away quietly. Their hatred is so ossified, so deep, that they would rather see America dismantled than see it rise to its promise of liberty and justice for all. As D. L. Hughley put it: “Obama is who we aspire to be. Trump is who we are.”

Here’s the good news: Those of us who care about our fellow humans can no longer deny what we are up against—and it ain’t Russia. While the Republican’s have brainwashed their base and carefully cultivated their fear and ignorance into virulent hatred and violence, those of us who continue to care must continue to work toward a greater good. We must continue to counter ignorance at the ground level—on school boards, in the classrooms, and through a multitude of local efforts to help the next generations respect our essential unity and to value the principles that support democracy.

A friend in Scotland recently asked, “I know what Republicans stand for, but what is it that defines Democrats?” A great question. I replied that Democrats embrace diversity—women; people of color; children; all those who are disenfranchised through poverty, lack of jobs and education, homelessness, exploitation; and countless disparate groups that band together to take care of their communities and environment.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote: “The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either—but right through every human heart—and through all human hearts. This line shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years. And even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained.”

Each of us has the power to hold the line of good in our hearts, and when we do, we can help those filled with hate to find that small bridgehead still inside them. When we care about our fellow travelers, the world breathes easier.

Hello to readers everywhere, on and off planet!

I am in a time warp—and it’s the same one I enter every national election year: I’m writing this column several days before its publication, which means I have no idea what the midterm election results are. It’s frustrating each time because the temptation to predict is so strong—and there’s just no telling who will win. But this year is different, because as I write, I realize just how exhausted I am from the entire political process that has become daily reality: for the last two years, just like millions of other people, I wake up and check the news to see what horrible thing has occurred overnight. I know I’m not alone in this dread and exhaustion. But more importantly, I am keenly aware that no matter who wins, America’s political turmoil will persist well past 2020, not only because our cultural polarization has reached a fevered pitch that’s going to take a long time to cool down, but also because the upheaval in America—and all around the world—is part of a healing crisis, a catharsis of gigantic scope that is still in process. There’s no telling what the eventual, long-term outcome will be because we’re still deciding what we want to create.

On November 6, in the midst of the voting day, Uranus retrograded back into Aries, where it will stay until March 6. Uranus represents the nervous system, so it’s likely that your natural election antsy-ness felt more intense—so intense you might have mistaken the intensity for an anxiety attack. As Uranus retraces its steps, it reviews its path since April 2018, but given that this is the last pass through Aries until its next cycle there, which begins in 2094, it’s more than certain that the coming five-plus months will be a review of what’s happened since 2011, when Uranus ignited its revolutionary intentions through the fire of Aries. As part of that Uranian journey, we experienced seven Uranus/Pluto squares, all of which set the stage for our current turmoil. Uranus, in Aries, signifies the charismatic individual, and one of the questions we’ve confronted, and continue to confront individually and collectively is how to balance the needs of the one with the needs of the many. Mr. Trump is emblematic of that question, as he signifies the glamorization of the powerful individual who refuses to be constrained by any external reference point (as Mr. Comey put it), not even the awareness of right and wrong. Perhaps Mr. Trump’s excesses are exaggerated by the aggregation of his followers’ projections.

On November 8, Jupiter enters Sagittarius, the Sign that explores and expresses our intellectual as well as our instinctual urges, and because Jupiter rules Sagittarius, those urges are sure to be amplified by Jupiter’s presence. Sagittarius is the symbol of synthesis—the Archer/Centaur who aims for the stars as he is simultaneously rooted to the earth in a half-human, half-horse body. All spiritual and philosophic traditions fall within the domain of Sagittarius and Jupiter, and together they tell all the stories humans have imagined and told to meaning to existence. So those of us who are suffering from the “what’s it all about” blues may find some solace during the coming twelve months of Jupiter’s Sagittarian journey. There are always more stories to tell, and certainly our recent history is delivering doozies. Sometimes just telling the story can console the soul.

The Moon follows Jupiter into Sagittarius, which has the potential to color the next year of Jupiter’s journey quite emotional. Not that there’s any need to ramp up emotions. As part of my Post Traumatic Trump Disorder, I often find myself in a dystopian tear-o-rama, crying over almost every aspect of the damage he and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts have done—a photo of caged immigrant children, the malicious maneuverings on the part of Republican politicians to prevent huge segments of the population from exercising their right to vote, regressive government policies on gender issues, women who still think that Mr. Trump is the ideal man, and the blatant disregard for the health of Planet Earth and all her inhabitants. Sometimes it’s just heartbreaking to realize how much work lies ahead. Nevertheless, Jupiter’s journey through Sagittarius offers several rays of hope, if only because they both represent the capacity for optimism—something we need plenty of.

The next couple weeks are certain to be bumpy with adjustments on both sides of the polarized landscape—no matter what the election results, we are in the foothills of the American Revolution 2.0. Do your best to keep in mind that all of what we are going through is part of a much broader process leading up to the elections of 2020 and beyond. Pace yourself—there are many more miles to go. As always, when possible, offer a helping hand to a fellow traveler.

Hello to readers in Funchal!

Over the course of the next ten days, three major events have the power to tilt the axis of daily life in a new direction: (1) the American mid-term elections, which occur on November 6; (2) Uranus retrogrades back into Aries—also on November 6; and (3) on November 8, Jupiter enters Sagittarius, where it hasn’t been for twelve years. We could—or maybe even should—call these days Ten Days That Shook the World, the title of John Reed’s book on the Russian Revolution (published 99 years ago) because the coming ten days will set the tone for the next several years, and those years are best understood as the American Revolution 2.0.

No matter what the results of the November 6 elections, the battle over whose values will prevail is certain to continue for quite some time. The values we are divided over—race, gender, religion, climate, and every other polarizing issue—are symptoms of being beholden to a value system that worships at the altar of money and the power it provides. This is both capitalism’s finest and worst hour, and its worshipers are reveling in its intensity. Capitalism has always divided and exploited people on the basis of their differences, and those with less agency—women, children, people of color—have always borne the brunt of its cynicism. This is an age-old story of humanity’s struggle to find its better self, and it’s a story that seems to only improve slowly, over time. Some would argue that the struggle to end capitalism’s victim/victimizer dance is a useless pursuit, while others might argue that our accelerated digital world has the power to hasten the pace of an egalitarian transformation.

This is where Uranus, in Taurus, comes in. Uranus is the symbol of egalitarian idealism—it is the rebel, with or without a cause, provoking stagnant waters with its lightning bolts of illumination.

Uranus began its journey through Taurus, the Sign of values in May 2018. Uranus’ previous transit through Taurus began on June 6, 1934, and in the seven years it journeyed through Taurus, it provoked a crisis of values. In 1935, the Social Security Act was passed , an act that also included unemployment insurance. In 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act, which protected children from being exploited, was made law. But lest we get cocky or overly optimistic, Hitler’s power was solidified in August, 1934.

Polarized value systems—then and now. Republicans call social security an entitlement. Really? Needless to say (but I’m gonna say it anyway), Mr. Trump models his rhetoric on Hitler’s. (I guess some things don’t change.) The question is not how we can silence the hate speech. The question that lies before us—for as long as it takes to shift it—is how we can address the causes and conditions that give rise to hate.

On November 6, Uranus dips its revolutionary tail back into Aries, the Sign where individual self-assertion finds its fire. Anger often motivates action—and there is certainly plenty to be upset about. The mantra of unbridled Aries energy often translates into I want it my way, my way only, and I want it now. (Since we all have Aries somewhere in our natal chart, don’t be too quick to go on any self-righteous, anti-Aries tirade about the selfishness of such a rant.) The moment Uranus enters Aries on November 6, it hits the midpoint between the Moon and Venus, activating the two female principles in astrology. (For more details, see last week’s column.)

This activation is symbolic of the anger women are experiencing as the patriarchy tries to hold its position and continues to subjugate the feminine at any cost. Uranus symbolizes shift, and one such possible manifestation is that a multitude of women will turn out in droves to vote for their equality, once and for all. Michael Moore has likened America’s relationship to Mr. Trump to that of a victim of domestic violence, who believes despite all evidence to the contrary, that the abuser will eventually change and becoming loving. Michael Moore is right—as long as we kowtow to Mr. Trump, his Gang of Hungry Ghosts, and the bullies he recruits to do his dirty work, we will stay shackled to the old model. There’s no standing by your man if he is a violent misogynist who has no regard for the consequences of his actions. My hope is that when Uranus presses that Moon/Venus midpoint, it will unleash the power of the feminine to effectuate change and break free from the shackles of the patriarchy.

Here’s the good news: Jupiter enters Sagittarius on November 8, and as the planet of hope moves from the deep waters of Scorpio into the expansive fires of Sagittarius, we move into a new mood. Jupiter is a generous presence that signifies wisdom. It also represents global communication, and as it transits Sagittarius, the Sign where we search for truth, it has the potential to encourage diversity. This journey could also inspire great leaps of faith, and even if some of those leaps seem foolish at first, through Jupiter’s guidance they can be characterized as hopeful.

And we need as much hope as we can muster. We’re in the midst of a values crisis—a cultural crisis that is pitting us against one another and it’s likely to take years for us to recover. Finding a way to identify our shared concerns is part of the task ahead. Finding the hope that makes such an enormous effort possible won’t be easy. Sometimes it will require standing in the shoes of another even when those shoes are too small, too big, or too tight. Of course, there are some things we can’t empathize about—we can’t share hate. But we can acknowledge fear as a shared experience. We can understand that one of the ways people manage fear is by projecting it onto anyone or anything they can’t understand and making those people or that thing the enemy. We can have compassion for people who are afraid even if we abhor the behavior their fear motivates.

The ongoing chaos of our world requires that we dig deep—each of us, through whatever method works best—and find our shared humanity. All of our lives depend on it.

Hello to readers in Matsuyama!

The planets ratchet up the intensity this week—there’s a full Moon today, with the Moon conjunct Uranus and both opposing the Sun, which is conjunct Venus. Anticipate a flood of emotional pronouncements, most of which can be seen as declarations of independence. I quit, I can’t, and I won’t punctuate conversations of every denomination, and while most, if not all, of these emphatic assertions are sincerely aimed at clearing the air and establishing a clean slate, they are nothing compared to what’s coming. So take a deep breath and as you exhale contemplate how you can ride these intense waves skillfully to shore. There are no guarantees of a safe harbor other than the safety of your intention to be part of what heals.

The emotional intensity of this week bleeds over into the next two weeks, reaching a crescendo on November 6, mid-term election day in the United States, and also the day Uranus retrogrades back into Aries. It’s the final flick of the dragon’s tail, and it is certain to reignite the fires of individual freedom and fuel revolutions everywhere—remember those Uranus/Pluto squares that began with the Arab Spring? This time we’re in for a few surprises with a Uranian signature that’s more experienced and significantly seasoned by the seven years it spent in Aires.

On November 6 at 1:58 PM EST, as Uranus moves into Aries, it will oppose the midpoint between the Moon, at 3° Scorpio, and Venus, at 27° Libra. Midpoints represent a combination of influences, and this influence is decidedly feminine. Venus symbolizes the feminine, expressed through love, beauty, and what matters most. The Moon represents the maternal principal; it is the emotional body, the feeling body, and it is also the longing to belong. Uranus signifies the principal of freedom and independence. 27° Libra is a position on the zodiac that keeps repeating itself: it was the third and final degree of the Jupiter/Uranus oppositions of 2017 and it squares the United States’ Pluto, which is at 27° Capricorn. I’ve been watching this degree carefully because transiting planets keep activating it, and my hunch is that every activation ups the ante on the American Revolution 2.0, a revolution that many recognize as being led by women.

In the ancient Greek myth, Aphrodite (Roman Venus) was the goddess born of the sea—the great waters of the feeling deep. Uranus was the sky god and when he mated with Gaia (Terra), they created all the creatures of the earth. As the myth goes, Uranus didn’t like some of his children, and Gaia, realizing he would harm them, enlisted Cronus (Saturn, one of their children) to help her to kill his father. When Gaia and Cronus castrated Uranus and threw his penis into the sea, Aphrodite was born. So potent is the creativity of the sky that Uranus continues to create even after his death. Aphrodite embodied many of her father’s qualities, especially his infinite creativity.

Astrology makes a distinction between its two feminine principles, the Moon and Venus, which is why the opposition of Uranus to both of these symbols is so significant. Of course, with Uranus there’s always a surprise, so I’m sure that at the start of election day, the pundits and pollsters, and predictors—astrologers included—won’t really have any idea of the outcome. Because at midday, when Uranus activates the combined influence of the feminine—maternal, creative, free-spirited, and independent—we are sure to see powerful shifts. Those shifts could turn it into a day that women rule. Mothers and daughters, aunts and cousins, grandmothers and every other category of women outraged by the subjugation of the feminine and the misogyny that permeates our current culture are all called to action through this Uranian impulse to break free from whatever enslaves. We all know it’s up to women to change the world. Whether there is enough combined outrage to reach critical mass and shift the balance of power remains to be seen. And just for the record: Madeleine Albright was right—there is a special place in hell for women who don’t support women.

It’s also up to men to change the world. It’s important for all of us, but especially for women expressing their pent-up rage, to remember that there are far more men who are nonviolent than there are misogynists and abusers. As women rise up, they need to be inclusive. That’s what the feminine principal of the mother does—she includes. Not without discernment, but with the wisdom. Because if the world is really going to change, if we are really going to free ourselves, we must acknowledge our common humanity. We are human before we are male or female, black or white, young or old, or any of the other many polarities that have been historically used to exploit our differences and pit us against each other.

I watched an interview with Tina Turner on the BBC this weekend, part of the publicity tour for her new memoir. Unlike the superficial American interviews I’m used to, this was an in-depth interview about her life experiences, some of which we already knew, and some of which she’s just talking about for the first time. What was most intriguing to me about the interview was her candor and acceptance of the awful things as well as the wonderful things that have shaped her as a human being, and from a Buddhist perspective how one might skillfully respond to the conditions in their lifetime.

I watched not as a Buddhist and not even as a music lover, but through the lens of the #MeToo movement. It was a revelation. Turner talked about what we already know—that Ike was a bastard and leaving him set her free, and that Buddhism gave her a way to contextualize her experience, and to “see death as part of life.” She talked about what it was like to sing “River Deep, Mountain High” live in the recording studio with Phil Spector. (For those of you who remember Phil Spector, yes, he was just another version of Ike.) But when she described what it was like to sing in that studio, with a full orchestra and find her full voice—that was revelatory, because finding her voice set her free—not as a woman, but as a musician, a step toward independence.

Turner describes herself as a prisoner and Ike as the guard. Who could’ve imagined during all those years of watching her be astonishing that she was a victim, brutally controlled by a cruel victimizer? But she set herself free—and the rest is history. When asked in the BBC interview what she would like to be in her next life, she replied that she wanted to come back and share the knowledge she had gained from this life to help people learn how to live better lives.  Her inspiring story of complete transformation is worth keeping in mind, especially at this moment when the world is spinning from the despair and rage that women everywhere are feeling about their second-class status. It wasn’t being a superstar that set her free, it was the ability to say “no” to her oppressor and break free from the pattern of the victim/victimizer dance. She found her voice as a woman—as a human being—and it set her free.

This is something we all need to do as human beings, regardless of race, gender, religion, or age. We need to say “no” to violence of every kind, even the violence we do to ourselves through negative thoughts and harsh self-judgment. Keep Tina Turner in mind as you search for your voice in the coming weeks—she is a worthy inspiration for all who want to break free from what enslaves and keeps us in shackles of one kind or another. She is a worthy inspiration that change is always possible. Always.

Hello to readers in Jaipur!

Parallel universes continue to collide this week and the fallout from these physical and psychic collisions continues to be crazy-making. The good news is that for the next couple of days there’s a possibility of uplift, as the alternate astral realities of imagination and independence converge. While this combination isn’t necessarily smooth or calm, it’s still worth every attempt to ride that wind, if only because it has the power to inspire a new approach to a persistent problem: how to deal with the soul-crushing effect of Trump World.  

A Mercury/Neptune trine provides the power of imagination. Mercury, signifying all the dimensions of the mind, is in Scorpio. Neptune, signifying the sympathetic resonances that unite everything, is in Pisces, its Home Sign, a placement that amplifies the awareness of our interconnectedness. Trines symbolize a powerful, mutually supportive connection, and the entire aggregation represents intuitive, intellectual perception that has the capacity to reach into and explore the imaginal realms. Because both Scorpio and Pisces are Water Signs, those wanderings are deeply felt, and as many know, the key to manifesting your vision is feeling its reality. Anticipate inspiration flooding the day-to-day with impressions of what might be or even what could have been—this is a poignant current that flows through and enlivens memories and dreams, past, present, and future. 

In contrast to the boundlessness of that Mercury/Neptune trine, a Sun/Uranus opposition feeds the need to break free from whatever enslaves, be it person, place, idea, or simply the stubborn resistance to change of any kind. The opposition starts this week, is exact and separating on October 23, and finally ends on October 30—and its presence is going to color all interactions, individual and collective, personal or professional for the next couple of weeks. As part of this opposition, the Sun moves forward from Libra into Scorpio. Uranus is retrograde at 0° Taurus, on its way back into Aries, which it enters on election day. As both the Sun and Uranus oppose each other in Fixed Signs—the Signs that don’t let go—many of us are likely to entrench even more into deeply held positions.

Pay attention: This opposition fuels freedom fighters, with or without a cause, and because these times are already prickly with political polarization, we are likely to see increased tension devolve into violence. Make an extra effort to be thoughtful and kind, even if you disagree with what’s being said. I am not suggesting passivity. I’m warning that given the zeitgeist and continuing efforts on the part of Republicans to rile their base, the potent power of this Sun/Uranus opposition needs to be handled skillfully.

The last weeks and months have been nearly unbearable—so much has been done so purposefully to harm so many that it’s been impossible to imagine that this madness will eventually end. But imagine it we must because despair is also a weapon. A broken spirit loses hope that it will ever heal, and we need hope to envision a future free from the demons of hatred and cruelty. While we must confront those demons in our own lives as we help others to quell their own, we must also confront the demon of despair and find hope even in the midst of the madness.

Hello to readers in Healdsburg!

Venus Retrograde began on Friday, October 5, at 3:04 PM, at approximately the same time that Susan Collins began her speech supporting the appointment of Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. On the surface, the synchronicity of this alignment is so blatant it doesn’t need an explanation, but given the intensity of the moment, let’s dive into the deep anyway.

Not being angry about the appointment of Mr. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court would be the exception. Anyone with a conscience and a moral compass aimed at veracity was and continues to be outraged by this blatant move on the part of Republicans to install a partisan on the court to solidify their conservative agenda. Yet, their blatancy will ultimately be their undoing—we are too far along the path of diversity to tolerate the GOP’s myopic vision of the world. For those still trembling with rage, Chani Nicholas channels it well on her site and offers a wealth of information about the myth of Inanna and her sister, Ereskigal, earlier names for Venus. In a nutshell, Venus Retrograde—Inanna’s Retrograde—was explained by the ancients as her descent to answer the call of her sister, who was the goddess of the underworld and as such, embodied the shadow—all the unconscious qualities that accompany the archetype of love and beauty. The suffering of Venus during this journey ripens into her fullness, and most importantly to the deepest quality of Venus, into ultimate value.  chaninicholas.com/2018/10/venus-retrograde-october-2018/

Susan Collins’ retro-vote astounded, bewildered, and enraged millions of women and men because it was a clear vote to keep women subjugated, a vote that colludes with the prevailing ill-winds of Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts. Perhaps Collins’ vote was supposed to signal a return to a “simpler” time, when women were expected to be demure and men ruled the world, a time when sexual assault wasn’t talked about and women simply kept quiet as they kept on cooking and cleaning. But her vote was actually worse than that more obvious interpretation, because with Kavanaugh installed on the Supreme Court, the deconstruction of the American justice system is just about complete.

From the beginning of his regime, Mr. Trump has purposefully dismantled the branches of government we rely on for information and protection. First it was the State Department and the firing of career diplomats, all of whom had the experience to anticipate and track the consequences of Mr. Trump’s disastrous and dangerous diplomatic agenda and sound an alarm, especially about Russia. Of course, the FBI was already on to him, which is why the FBI was next on his list. Then Trump moved on to the Department of Justice and to undermining its reputation to “enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic….” (www.justice.gov/about)

The last piece of this political push is the contamination of the Supreme Court. It can only be assumed that all of these challenges are preparation for the installation of another kind of government, a kind of rule that is incongruent with our existing principles and their abiding structures, which is why those structures must be undermined. What we are living through is not a random plan.

The good news is that the concerted efforts of the right wing are galvanizing millions of people to join the resistance. Do not succumb to despair. We are going through the most important time of our lives and participation is key to our success. Also keep in mind that viewing this latest episode of supreme injustice only as a #MeToo matter serves to obfuscate the blatant reality that the man just appointed to the highest court doesn’t feel that he needs to tell the truth. His appointment sends an alarming message: truth can be sacrificed if a lie gets you what you want.

As everyone points out every day, voting is the most powerful tool for change. But here is something to consider: Putin hasn’t given up or gone away, and the more he can destabilize our democracy or any democracy, the happier he is. In my Hollywood version of this epic moment in history, Putin has the dirt on all those GOP Senators and House representatives, which is why almost none of them have the courage to vote their conscience. In my real-world version (which may not be that different than the Hollywood one), Trump is smug in his certainty of winning the midterms because he knows that the Russians have already hacked the voting machines and made a blue wave impossible. We’d better print paper ballots—the trees might even willingly volunteer for that particular sacrifice because they know what hangs in the balance.

Again, do not despair. It’s important to remember that we are in the early throes of the American Revolution 2.0. Women were not considered equals in the original revolution, and neither were slaves of either gender, let alone Native Americans. Our current battle may be driven by women but this time, equality is a cause that includes everyone. Venus has been known by many names—Aphrodite, Ishtar, and Shukra, to name but a few. In the Mayan tradition, she was a he, Kukulkan, as was true of the Aztecs’ Quetzalcoatl. While Venus is best known to us as the goddess of love, beauty, and ultimate value, throughout history Venus has also been a fierce warrior—a female energy that’s best represented in our contemporary culture as Wonder Woman.

Venus goes direct on November 16, and as she emerges from her most recent descent, rested, renewed, and ready, she is sure to reveal much more information about Mr. Kavanaugh and what went on behind the scenes. This battle is far from over. But as always, what’s most important is the realization that the means never justify the ends. The means determine the ends, so do your best to be a compassionate, but nonetheless fierce and adamant, spiritual warrior.

Hello to readers in Hat Yai!

When I lived in Santa Fe (nearly twenty years ago), I named the gas station where Old Las Vegas Highway meets Old Pecos Trail “the place where parallel universes converge.” It was where shared needs overlapped—everyone needed gas—from the woo-woo to the rancher to the tourists to the trucker to the farmer to the struggling artist to the pot growing outlaw just in from Pecos. Very few who filled their gas tanks knew each other or had much else in common. Had we talked to each other, we might have discovered that we shared a love of the beauty of the mountains, the slightly thinner air of high altitude (Santa Fe rests at 7,000 feet), the light that draws so many painters, or the smell and taste of green chili roasting in August and September. But my guess is we also would have discovered that what we loved most was the underlying assumption that we were able to live our very different lives without interference. Residents used to joke that Santa Fe was the perfect place to hide in plain sight, given that no one was much interested in poking around in other people’s business. I don’t know if that live-and-let-live attitude still prevails, but I am sure the gas station is still a junction for co-existing realities; parallel universes that only merge through shared needs. I am well aware that huge conflicts played out beneath the surface of daily life, but somehow the vastness of the landscape always reminded me of the need to include ideological differences in my universe. When you live in the shadow of the Blood of Christ Mountains, humility is essential.  

Watching the political events of last week, I knew I was watching parallel universes collide—and not just the he-said-she-said-they-said aspect of it. At a deeper level what I witnessed was a war between cultural realities. And while “tribal” is the way our differences are often described, I think it’s important to remember that not all tribes were or are enemies and that many tribes shared and share the same values—they just expressed those values differently.

Pluto Direct began early in the morning (GMT) on Monday, October 1, and its dynamic presence is at the core of our currently clashing cultural paradigms. Pluto signifies death and rebirth and therefore the undeniable reality of impermanence. Pluto also symbolizes power, which if you think about it makes sense: faced with the truth of impermanence, which is the ultimate powerlessness, human beings must confront the inevitable reality of death. Paradoxically, that fear of death is the motive behind all attempts to control life, but acknowledging that particular truth is a complex process that requires peeling away the many layers of our psychic onion.

Unfortunately, most of us aren’t interested in diving that deeply into a personal existential crisis and as a result, we spend most of our time dealing with superficial issues. We find power where we can and tend to be satisfied with its material manifestations—money, sex, success, and politics. And when those attempts at power include the exploitation of others, whether those others are fellow human travelers or the rest of the world’s sentient population, we rationalize that exploitation away. I don’t need to name all the rationales; we all know what those justifications look and sound like, from petty personal grievances to the ravages of war.

Pluto Direct continues until April 2019, and as it moves forward we begin to feel the full force of its transit through Capricorn. As part of that forward motion during the next six months, Pluto activates the degree of its regime changing alignment with Saturn on January 12, 2020. (Saturn will be close to that degree during 2019, but not close enough to call the conjunction exact.) Capricorn represents rules and regulations, governments, authorities of every ilk (including the Supreme Court), and corporations. In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations are people too, a ruling that opened the doors to financial manipulation of politicians even wider than they already were, making it possible for special interest groups to monetize their values through elected officials. (Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission)

Pluto’s transit through Capricorn began in January 2008, and its journey out of that Sign starts in 2023. Pluto will take two years to leave Capricorn, and from an astrological perspective, those two years are the equivalent of lingering because Pluto doesn’t usually take that long to exit an astrological Sign. As Pluto moves through the final degrees of Capricorn, it will continue to stir unrest. What we witnessed last week at the Kavanaugh hearing is barely the beginning. Arguably, the Supreme Court lost its apolitical veneer in 2000 with Bush v. Gore, and the Citizens United case seemed to seal its newly politicized status. Should Brett Kavanaugh’s appointment go forward, the rulings of the Supreme Court will be tarnished for decades.

Pluto is only concerned with what lies at the core; it only wants the deep and it will push, and push, and push until its message is received. “We are far from the shallow now,” as Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper sing on their new release from A Star is Born, and that song also asks if we are “happy in this modern world.” Capricorn is the sign where all that is superfluous is stripped away and Pluto facilitates that exposure because authenticity—what is real—is its signature. The post-truth universe is also manifestation of Pluto’s transit through Capricorn because it’s the perversion of truth, and through that perversion we are forced to examine why truth matters. Not everything is relative. The good news is that truth still matters to enough people, across a wide range of parallel universes—more universes than the deniers or distorters of truth. Whether we like it or not, we’re in the deep, and it is wiser and easier to embrace Pluto than to resist it, so find your way of diving into this next phase. Find the place in you that knows the true from the false—even if requires a bit of work to identify and acknowledge it.

My time in New Mexico taught me the fundamental truth of our shared human condition: we are not separate, even from those we hate. Separation is an illusion, and you need only gaze upon the night sky to know that to be true. We live in parallel universes, but we are united by an inexplicable mystery. For some reason it is up to those of us who recognize that unity—who know that truth to be self-evident—to help others see the beauty of that unity.

Hello to readers in Merida!

2020 Currents and Beyond, Part 3

An undeniable hustle and bustle underscores the regular routines of daily life this week. We’ve been gaining forward momentum in the non-retro zone long enough (it’s been approximately three weeks) to gather steam and the enterprising among us are happy to be back on track. Unfortunately, our respite from retrogrades doesn’t last much longer: on October 5, Venus Retrograde begins, which means by the end of the weekend, those regular routines are likely to slow down again, but only slightly. Venus Retrograde isn’t Mercury Retrograde—the goddess of love doesn’t spend her currency on communication and travel snags and snafus. Venus signifies the feminine—she is the embodiment of love and beauty, and because what we love and find beautiful represents our values, Venus represents what we value most. Anticipate the coming weeks to be a rich, textured tableau of what we care about and how the feminine expresses those concerns.

Venus Retrograde begins on October 5 and ends on November 16. (The next Mercury Retrograde begins on November 16, something to keep in mind as we enter the autumnal retro zone.) From a practical point of view, Venus’ association with values translates into money as a measure of value, which means that during Venus Retrograde, financial matters tend to dominate all other concerns, with the exception of romance. One possible manifestation of this retrograde phase is a review of your personal finances, especially with an eye toward creating greater order and stability—something not easily accomplished unless you’re fortunate enough to not have to think about what somethings cost. From a romantic perspective, anticipate the potential return of previous lovers. In the absence of actual contact, you might find yourself reviewing previous relationships, not necessarily in a sentimental way but with an eye toward understanding your desires and intentions. What’s more, this Venusian focus might also include a creative projects-and-partnerships retrospective.

Venus begins her retrograde journey almost exactly a year after the eruption of the #MeToo movement, which coincided with Jupiter’s entry into Scorpio on October 10, 2017—an astral event that many astrologers speculated would lend momentum to women finally being heard. Scorpio is the Sign most associated with sex as well as power. Jupiter represents expansion, excess, and, oddly, justice. Jupiter’s transit through Scorpio this past year has supported women, in massively large numbers, no longer staying silent about abuse.

Mr. Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court and the response to it by women (and men, of course) can be seen as a powerful aggregation of feminist power—as I wrote a couple of weeks ago, those pussy hats aren’t going away anytime soon. Whether or not the #MeToo movement will have gathered enough voices to insist that Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court be withdrawn remains to be seen (at least at the time of this writing—although I awoke this morning to new allegations about his sexual abuses as a teenager). But here’s the thing: Venus, still retrograde on November 6 (mid-term election day in America) squares Pluto in the chart for the United States. One way to understand that square is to realize that women are doing battle (once again) with the foundational structure of America.

But that’s not all. Also on November 6, Uranus moves back into Aries and as it does, it forms an opposition to Venus. While this opposition is not exact, it is close enough to be strongly felt (2° for those who are counting) and it is significant, first because it signifies the independent woman able and willing to take a stand for personal freedom. The second reason this opposition is important stretches back to 2017, when we experienced the seesaw effect of three Jupiter/Uranus oppositions, all of which were symbolic of the political and cultural chaos occurring in the first year of Mr. Trump’s presidency. The third opposition in that series occurred on September 28 (a month after the Great American Eclipse and its ongoing revelations about America’s leader). That third opposition happened at 27° Libra, which is exactly the position Venus occupies on November 6, when it squares Pluto in the United States chart.

I can hear you thinking, “So what does that mean?” We are living its meaning. The chaos that has become daily life is the dissolution of the status quo, a process that began in 2001 and was intensified in 2008 and then again in 2012, each planetary pattern intensifying what was already too intense. We are at the turning point—and it is going to last for several more years. Last week someone wrote in to say, “Ralfee you are in 2020 and we are in 2018.” That’s the point. We think we are in 2018 but everything that’s happening is the prelude to what is about to occur—and that timeframe to 2022. For the last couple of years, the planets keep aligning with and pointing to the same degrees in the same Signs, and that continuous repetition should get our attention, particularly the emphasis on Capricorn, which signifies governments, corporations, and structures—all structures, from the personal to the collective to the political to the financial. Pluto is currently transiting Capricorn, where it is soon to be joined by Saturn and eventually Jupiter in 2020. (See the last two columns for more information on those alignments.)

Which brings us to the United States Pluto Return on February 20, 2022. Actually, there are three exact returns during 2022; the other two fall on July 11 and December 28. It’s not really clear how each of these returns will manifest, but for now the specifics are not as important as the understanding that we are currently in the midst of a monumental catharsis that reaches a crescendo in approximately three years. The core of this catharsis is revolution. The United States is fundamentally a country of ideals—ideals we have failed to live up to time and time again. From the original genocide of and ongoing violence against Native Americans to the most recent violence towards immigrants who we no longer seem to respect to the institutionalization of slavery and the continuing practice of black oppression and every other form of bigotry to religious freedom which we no longer honor to the exploitation of the Earth and her resources, very little has changed; very little has shifted since the essential conceit that all men—let alone women—are created equal.

Pluto signifies change at the core—it is the process of death and rebirth, and the alchemical principle of creativity and transformation. It always, always, always demands authenticity and tends to violently strip away all that is not true or genuine. And so we find ourselves in our current dilemma: facing the reality of political, social, and economic hypocrisy, with all of those who have been excluded from the ideal of democracy demanding equality, and with many more waking up to the idea of deserving equality. It’s wearying to demand equality when the status quo deems you invisible and your efforts are ignored time and again. Fortunately the status quo has been blown to pieces—and we may have Mr. Trump, his Gang of Hungry Ghosts, and his army of deplorables to thank for lifting that cloak of invisibility and making egregious societal undercurrents undeniable. Unfortunately we are still in the midst of that explosion, and it’s almost unbearable to tolerate the toxicity that has been so blatantly revealed. Nevertheless, that poison must be transmuted as we move forward. The United States Pluto Return is the test of our combined alchemical power—and we are already in it.

Here’s the good news: Each of us is the antidote to the toxicity because each of us leads the revolution through our thoughts, words, and deeds. It’s a big responsibility to live every moment, every choice, and every action as a reflection of your commitment to effectuating change. And yet one of the lessons we are learning is that to shift the balance of power we must use power with conscious intention. It does no good to hate your enemy—hate doesn’t shift anything. Consciously choosing your revolutionary stance, contributing your heart and spirit to envision a true egalitarian democracy, might be the most powerful way to handle the turmoil of this Pluto Return, especially when you remember that the combination of love and revolution creates evolution.

Hello to readers in Norwalk!

2020 Currents, Part 2

Presence is key to navigating the unpredictable astral tides this week. We’re still in the retrograde-free zone of the year, and while that unobstructed flow has for the most part been beneficial, the force of forward motion can also be overwhelming. (This assessment has nothing to do with the floods that many people are experiencing in the southern United States and around the globe.) The autumnal equinox on September 22, when the Sun moves into Libra, marks the end of our summer of discontent, but the consequences of what the last several months have set in motion persist, and finding wholesome ways of negotiating positive resolution to those problems is the task at hand. Families are still separated, children are still in cages, corruption at almost every level of the Trump regime still undermines government structures that support democracy, and the divide between our worst and best selves, individual and collective, continues to inflame daily life. When things fall apart great transformation is possible, but only if we are willing to seize the moment and make it so.

The best way through these waves is developing and maintaining the ability to stay present for what is—not denying, not fixing, but paying attention to how the collective picture reflects the personal one. What’s also required is honesty—honesty about what you want and need as well as honesty about what others want and need, and finding a way to acknowledge those desires without causing harm to those who disagree. The day-to-day flux of life is so erratic that what’s also necessary is the willingness to let go of the emotional, mental, and even spiritual desire for specific outcomes. This letting go is likely to be the greatest challenge, especially in the current atmosphere of fear and unrest. It’s not easy to acknowledge that there may be a solution other than yours that would benefit you as well as others. I’m not suggesting passivity. Quite the contrary; I am advising participation with an awareness that we are still in the process of creating the future, and what may look like a viable solution in this moment may not be viable a year from now.

We’re currently crossing the threshold of several new astrological cycles. The first began on May 15, with Uranus’ transit through Taurus, and these last few months have provided a preview of several possible manifestations within this cycle. We’re also building toward a Pluto/Saturn conjunction on January 12, 2020, merely fifteen months away. Both of these cycles were covered briefly in last week’s column.

The next significant cycle is a Jupiter/Saturn conjunction on December 21, 2020, at 0° Aquarius. Sandwiched between the events of January and December, there are also three Jupiter/Pluto conjunctions. I forgot to mention these three contacts last week (can't imagine why), which means we’re dealing with five new cycles as we head into 2020: the cycle of Uranus through Taurus, happening now and for the next seven years; Pluto/Saturn, Pluto/Jupiter, and Saturn/Jupiter, all of which begin in 2020; and the United States Pluto Return, which occurs three times in 2022.

Hello to readers in Ogallala!

2020 Currents, Part I

Sky-watching is pretty simple this week. Not much has changed since last week: we are still retrograde-free for the next couple of weeks and that freedom translates into busy schedules and jam-packed agendas, personal, professional, and political. Trump World watching isn’t as simple—with each news cycle that world continues to disintegrate, yet resolution remains a mystery. Each revelation about Trump’s ties to Russia or the non-stop efforts to destroy the careers of anyone who might be able to tell the truth about those ties seems a good enough reason to just call bullshit on the entire last two years and push the reset button—but we never seem to reach the required critical mass to make that happen, so we just keep spinning in chaos and cruelty. Unfortunately, it’s just as exhausting to watch the “fall” of this regime as it was watching its rise—the depth of the corruption and cynicism is almost too much to bear. As many of those far more educated and equipped to assess the situation have already stated, our country and our world will never be the same; Republican, evangelical, Trumpian madness has taken its toll. Now the main challenge is how to turn outrage against that madness into a currency that creates effectual change and real justice.

Four astrological signatures—all of which lie before us and three of which occur 2020, signaling potent new cycles—point the way toward understanding our current situation.

(1) While we are already at the beginning of Uranus’ transit through Taurus, we have yet to experience the full effect of this seven-year journey. Uranus signifies revolution—it catalyzes whatever is stagnant and in need of innovation. Taurus represents resources, including money and all it buys (with the exception of real estate). But Taurus also represents the deeper psychological values of self-esteem and self-confidence, and at an even deeper, spiritual and esoteric level, it represents the power of being a spirit in the material world, a power that includes the capacity to create.

Uranus entered Taurus on May 15, 2018. Currently retrograde, it heads back into Aries on November 6, where it will stay until March 6. Both this retrograde phase and the coming reentry into Aries offer an opportunity to gain perspective on what the next Uranian cycle might be. My money is on a revolution in values. While I know there have been many predictions about the stock market, recessions, and the like (and I’ve made those predictions too), more and more I am starting to think that these next seven years are a crisis in what matters most—to all of us, individually and collectively. Really…what is the value of being a spirit in the material world if you live like a zombie? Mr. Trump has roused a quickening of concern in many who might otherwise have adhered to the status quo and let a small group of people decide our collective destiny.

Uranus’ reentry into Aries could serve as a potent reminder of just how powerful individual intention can be when that individual is willing to take a stand. At its worst, Uranus’ transit through Aries gave us Donald Trump, and through his toxicity revealed the consequences of a value system that supports narcissistic impulses and rewards individuals for their greed. At its best, Uranus’ transit through Aries has empowered a broad spectrum of individuals to put aside their apathy and find their voice. It may be slow going, but those pussy hats aren’t goin’ anywhere.

(2) The second configuration we’re moving toward is the Saturn/Pluto conjunction that occurs in Capricorn on January 12, 2020. This is a restrictive combination. Saturn symbolizes the bones of things—think structures stripped of the superfluous—as well as boundaries, limitations, and inhibitions. It also signifies wisdom—the type of insight that is distilled from experience and imbued with the pragmatism of time. Pluto symbolizes transformation, particularly the process of death and rebirth. It is a constant reminder of the deeper mysteries of life and thus signifies all of those facets of life we have no control over. When Saturn and Pluto share the same space, there is a struggle between the status quo and its inexorable degeneration.

Rick Tarnas sees these cycles as periods of contraction. But in Cosmos and Psyche he also writes that these cycles are “characterized by displays of personal and collective determination…[and] a deepening capacity for moral discernment born from experience and suffering.” Mr. Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts represent the absence of any morality that considers the well-being of the collective. They are the worst of us made manifest, and I can’t help but see this as an opportunity for the rest of us to choose to be our best selves. If we don’t rise to the occasion with the strength of Saturn/Pluto—not with the judgment and harshness that pairing also embodies, but with the determination and fortitude it represents—resistance is likely to be futile.

Next week’s column will cover the remaining two signatures of 2020 that have a direct bearing on our present circumstances: a new Jupiter/Saturn cycle and the United States Pluto Return.

As this week and the coming weeks unfold, pay close attention to what’s revealed. Despite continuing indications of the nefarious forces working behind the scenes to cause chaos and confusion, there are still more dots to connect. Try to be patient with those struggling to make sense of what’s occurring—if we are going to make lasting changes, we have to include all our fellow travelers, not just the ones who agree with us.

Hello to readers in Kiel!

The sky is busy this week and as the planets arrange themselves in a variety of planetary patterns, the regular routines of daily life reflect their astral diversity, so don’t be surprised if you feel pulled in several directions simultaneously. A strong creative flow infuses the days and nights with inspiration, as does an equally strong impulse toward romance, while underneath it all an even stronger current of grounded determination underscores efforts made toward tangible goals. Use this week and the next couple of weeks to breathe vitality into all your aspirations. Remember, the next several weeks are the only retro-free zones until the second week in December, so now is the time you’ve been waiting for.

A Venus/Uranus opposition is the source of creative as well as romantic impulses. It’s in effect now, exact and separating on September 12, and ending on September 19. Oppositions signify tension, but tension can be a great stimulant for creative process and/or sexual attraction, so enjoy this creative and romantic quickening even if it feels a little prickly. And as I always advise with Venus/Uranus contacts, also keep in mind that these attractions can dissipate quite quickly when the astral contact is over. From a creative perspective, even if you don’t have time to execute all your ideas, keep track of them. You can always work on them later. From a romantic perspective, try not to make impulsive commitments you might later regret.

The grounded energy of the week is attributable to a Saturn/Uranus trine. Saturn, in Capricorn, goes direct tomorrow, ending a retrograde that began in April, and as Saturn moves forward, we move into an even deeper Capricornian mood—serious, sober, and somber about almost every issue. Saturn’s forward motion also infuses a new level of determination to get any and all jobs done, no matter what it takes. Uranus is now retrograde, retracing its first foray into Taurus that began on May 15. It retrogrades back into Aries on November 6, Election Day in the United States, and stays there until March 6, 2019, when it reenters Taurus. I’m not sure how to interpret this Uranian move back into Aries on that particular day—the only thing I am sure of is that there will be lots of surprises no matter what the pundits, political or otherwise, predict. A Saturn/Uranus trine is a determined combination of energies that can be aimed at difficult tasks because it supports endurance and perseverance. But be aware, as Uranus goes through the first degrees of Taurus, we will be looking back on what transpired over the summer of our discontent, which will engender plenty of temptation to redo what might have already been overdone.

Mercury moves into Virgo today, where it immediately forms a trine to both Saturn and Uranus, turning this already positive partnership into a Grand Trine in Earth, heightening its already positive influence. Because Mercury moves quickly, this Grand Trine doesn’t last long—just barely until September 10—but it is nonetheless powerful enough to stimulate clear, level-headed thinking. And that would be a welcome relief.

A Sun/Pluto trine also begins this week. (I told you it was busy!) This enterprising partnership is exact and separating on September 11, but its effect continues until September 18. Sun/Pluto contacts are always about power, so try to be aware of how you hold your own. Are you domineering? Understated? Do you delegate well? Use this intense interaction to make progress toward refining your personal power, but be careful how you wield that power, particularly when it comes to managing others.

The ongoing Jupiter/Pluto sextile is exact on September 12, and even though this is a positive interaction, it doesn’t necessarily manifest benignly. Jupiter/Pluto contacts feed an appetite for power that’s so strong it could convince you to grab power, no matter what the cost, without considering the consequences. It could also trick you into thinking that you have more power than you actually do. Try not to pay too much attention to any man or woman behind any curtain or on any screen that inflates your ego and urges you to displays of power that might cause harm to others. Instead, trust in your own common sense, and if you don’t have any—and some of us don’t—try not to give your power away to a snake-oil salesman whose promises sound impossible, because they are.

Mars hits 0° Aquarius—again—on September 10, and that’s likely to translate into even more information about the 2016 presidential election and the Russian efforts to corrupt it. It’s impossible to imagine that more could be revealed—but that’s seemed impossible for quite some time and it hasn’t stopped the flow of revelations.

It’s too bad we can’t binge-watch the entire Trump World debacle instead of having to live through it. Simply going to the final episode to find out what happens and then going back and watching how the pieces fit together would spare us so much misery. I continue to feel as if I’m living in some strange, alternate universe—a nightmare, really—where the heartless have taken over, committing atrocity after atrocity, while the rest of us are forced to watch in “real” time—no fast-forward or final episode available because it has yet to be created. I guess that’s part of the reason daily life feels so ponderous. And this nightmare is not just occurring in the United States. It’s happening all over, as part of some massive catharsis of fear and hatred—a healing process we must go through before we can move into a much more conscious, peaceful way of life. Even better than binge-watching would be the ability to identify now how this horrible period helps us to right Planet Earth—our precious spaceship—and get back in touch with spiritual value systems that honor all life everywhere.

One more thing: On September 11, the Moon will conjunct Mercury’s position from that same day in 2001—there are other transits, but none as emotionally poignant. Many of our fellow travelers can recall exactly where we were on that day, one that lingers because it changed the world irrevocably. From an astrological perspective, 9/11 was an event that correlated to a Saturn/Pluto opposition—the midpoint of a cycle that began in 1982. In approximately 16 months, we will begin another Saturn/Pluto cycle. One of the ways to make sense of the insanity of your current situation is to see it as the culmination of events set in motion under the previous conjunction of 1982, events that came to a head in 2001. As we make crucial decisions in these next several months, decisions that will influence the next evolutionary phase of our planet, let’s make compassion one of the guiding principles. Compassion doesn’t need financing. Compassion is free because it is the true terrain of every heart, and it’s a place we all need to inhabit.  

Hello to readers in Ennis!

It’s a good week to take a nice slow, long, deep breath and then to exhale, taking as much time as you need. Repeat this breathing exercise until you’ve expelled as much tension as possible. Breathing deeply is no miracle cure for what ails, but it will allow a moment of awareness to put you in touch with the shifting astral currents of the week. Mars is pivoting on its power point—it went direct on Monday, August 27—and as Mars takes the time to “reorient” itself, we have a chance to do the same. Mars isn’t going to gain momentum immediately, and neither are we. We are at the end of a long, difficult summer and before we gear up for fall, it’s important to notice if and how the summer of our discontent has transformed body, mind, and soul. So don’t be in a hurry to jumpstart all those things you’ve been keeping on hold—just about everyone is gonna need some time to get used to the new air, including all the people involved in your plans and projects.

Mars Direct began on Monday, but because it lingers at the same degree—28° Capricorn—until September 3, it doesn’t gain a full head of steam until mid-September. As Mars slowly gains momentum, it coalesces with Saturn’s preparation to go direct on September 6, and while they are not connected to each other, it’s likely that Saturn’s “course correction” will override the Martian need to move and that could turn certain efforts sluggish. The best way through is to enjoy the end of summer as you continue whatever it is you do to stay patient. Of course, it’s also possible to forge ahead—just try not to be too disappointed if you still feel trapped in retrograde delays and detours.

As the Sun moves forward in Virgo, the Grand Trine in Earth Signs loses some of its power, and by the weekend, we’re left with a trine between Saturn and Uranus. The power of this Saturn/Uranus trine isn’t much diminished, which means there are still plenty of opportunities for grounded, practical endeavors.

The Jupiter/Neptune trine is also lessening its influence, but its power still applies until mid-September. This positive interaction feeds the imagination, as it simultaneously provides insight and inspiration for altruistic action. Continue to use its bright light to motivate good works.

When you’re betwixt and between retrograde and direct motion, it’s a great time pick up loose ends or clean up dangling threads, both recent and those that have been lingering for a long time. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself reaching out to old friends with an intention of clearing up misunderstandings or hurt feelings. Even if you can’t make actual physical contact, make a heart-to-heart connection that includes a strong wish for peace. There’s no need to carry any negativity forward.

I’m not sure peace offerings are going to help reorder Trump World; there are several cards Trump hasn’t played and those who support him, not just his base, but his wealthy patrons who have resolutely stood behind his dismantling of the United States government, are not going quietly. There’s plenty more ahead, and a lot of it will be at least as difficult as what’s already transpired—if not worse. I watched the John Brennan interview on Bill Maher last week and it was a chilling: Mr. Brennan says that he is “worried” because “we are in a crisis” that he believes will get “worse before it is better.” His concern is that as Mr. Trump grows increasingly desperate, he will continue to divide us as a country and that the animosity he is fueling could spill out into the streets, which would be a real disaster. And although Brennan doesn’t say this directly, his concern is that such that a disintegration of law and order could do real damage to our country. I never thought there would be a time in my life that I would support the CIA, but every indication is that the former director has assessed the threat and knows that it is real—real enough to break his silence as keeper of the secrets. That should worry all of us. As the rats leave the ship, Mr. Trump and the others invested in maintaining power will hold on tighter and tighter.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tv7-sIRwMg

As you deep-breathe your way through the week, try to relax but also try to keep your eyes and ears on what’s happening. I know that sounds like a contradiction but awareness has many facets. As you contemplate the state of the state as well as the condition your condition is in, start to think about how you can continue to hold the banner of democracy even higher. We are not at the end of our struggle, and what lies ahead requires all of us to go even more deeply into compassion for our fellow travelers—never has Earth been in greater need of loving-kindness.

Hello to readers in St. Paul!

It’s a rough ride this week, with ups and downs and stops and starts all happening simultaneously, and several of these jolting shifts require an even deeper level of patience than usual. And that’s just from a personal perspective, not a political one. The political perspective is sure to have some of us reverting once again to Munch’s The Scream.  Mercury Direct began on Sunday, an event that should trigger increasingly rapid forward motion. But Mars is in the final days of its retrograde that began on June 26 and ends on August 27, which means as Mars “slows down” for its “course correction,” regular routines move slower than a snail. When you couple these opposing Mercury/Mars rhythms with the emotional currents of the week, many fellow travelers are going to find it difficult to navigate the waters of daily life. Fortunately, last week’s Jupiter/Neptune trine continues to strike an empathic chord which reverberates through the days and nights of this week. There is also a Grand Trine in Earth Signs that provides helpful support for staying grounded and practical. But all this astral activity plays out against the backdrop of an increasingly tense political situation in the United States that shows no sign of letting up any time soon. (Again, no one will blame you for mimicking The Scream.)

The best way to handle this particular Mercury Direct, is to be prepared for starts and stops—a rhythm that isn’t usually associated with Mercury’s forward motion. Put simply: bide your time and wait until the skies clear. This coming week is sluggish: Mars goes direct on August 27 (just five days away), freeing Mercury to make haste on winged sandals, but two things interfere with that rapid forward motion. First, Mars takes the next two weeks to gather its forward momentum. (Yes, that is a bummer, especially for those in a hurry to get started on all their fall projects.) Second, Saturn goes direct on September 6, which means even as Mars and Mercury gain speed, the gravity of Saturn preparing for its “turn around” holds back forward motion. If you can stand to wait (and many won’t), the best time to initiate or negotiate anything is September 8—30. Don’t forget that Venus Retrograde begins on October 5, so by the last few days of September, as Venus prepares to review her recent past, we’re back in a retrograde kinda love. The summer of our discontent may be ending, but the fall presents its own astral challenges. If you can, put your eggs in the retro-free basket of September—it's the only retro free zone until December.

Emotional tides are problematic this week. The Moon conjuncts Pluto, in Capricorn, and then moves into a conjunction with Mars, stationary on its power degree, also in Capricorn. Mars represents the warrior and as it prepares to go direct, it’s likely to be a little prickly—Mars wants action and it’s been stymied by a retrograde for nearly two months, which means standing still at the same point only exacerbates frustration. Be careful not to channel this antsy energy into confrontations designed to satisfy your ego by diminishing someone else. Avoid arguments just to blow off steam. Be aware that Mars is still square Uranus and that their testy, fractious interaction continues to provide a current of belligerence in an already too-bellicose world.

The good news is a Grand Trine, in Earth Signs: The Sun is about to enter Virgo; Saturn is about to go direct, in Capricorn; and Uranus is retrograde in Taurus. All three Earth Signs—Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn—are practical, pragmatic, and determined, and when they align in a positive combination—and nothing is more positive than a Grand Trine—there is a strong potential to ground ideas into action. Fortunately, the ongoing idealistic trine between Jupiter, in Scorpio, and Neptune, in Pisces, offers the possibility of altruistic intentions and motivations. The potential for good work is mighty this week, especially if you can harness these two forces and make them work together. Imagine these powerful forces working for the greater good, manifesting the best of us.

Only a year ago we were in the shadow of the Great American Eclipse of 2017, and while it was a beautiful sight to behold, I can’t help but think about how ancient astrologers, especially the priests of ancient Mesopotamia, would have viewed its effect. Eclipses were not good for the king, and thus not good for the country. And often the priests would sacrifice a “false king” to spare the life of the real one. Sometimes they would even pretend that if you couldn’t see the eclipse, its effect was non-existent. I guess spin is spin no matter the century, no matter the culture.

Eclipses reveal what’s hidden in the shadows, and the Great American Eclipse took place on Mr. Trump’s Ascendant and his Mars—his persona and his aggressive tendencies—illuminating the shadows of his back story, which continues to be revealed. After this week’s revelations, and especially the courageous stand by intelligence officers, I’m thinking that backstory has to be really bad—truly awful—and much worse than can be imagined. What else would make those who hold so many powerful secrets break their silence? The putrid core of Trump World must be so subversive and pose such an imminent danger to democracy that those entrusted to defend, protect, and maintain the structures of state are refusing to remain silent. It’s terrifying to watch them come forward with their warnings—chilling, actually. But it’s even more terrifying to realize that the mad king’s staunch supporters are empowered by his reign of terror and emboldened by his immoral behavior—so in love are they with how he reflects their worship of power that they refuse to listen to common sense. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been well-trained by endless episodes of Law & Order, so well-trained that I can hear the music cues with each new revelation about how Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts have violated and continue to violate the integrity of the office.

But nothing is more horrifying than those men and women in Congress who remain committed to maintaining their support of someone they know is damaging the rule of law. It’s impossible to understand the depth of their greed, the hardness of their hearts, or their cancerous cruelty. I can only imagine that Putin’s minion has gathered so much negative data on these feckless souls that they are willing to go down in history as his agents. The only good news about their behavior—and I’m not sure it’s really good news—is that they are unwittingly stirring the caldron of revolution, and that come the 2020 elections, the American Revolution 2.0 will already be underway.

Despite the negativity of our political situation, do your best this week to stay steadfast in your intention to help others this week via altruistic actions. There are people in the world moving mountains to make positive changes and we can only assume they are inspiring others to do the same. Not every rich person is a miser—here’s an example of a positive shift that counterbalances Trump greed:

www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2018/08/16/nyu-makes-medical-school-tuition-free

Hello to readers in Scandicci!

It’s a good week to intensify your search for inspiration—we all need to feel the power of compassion right now. Be sure to look everywhere, even in those places you might deem unimportant or insignificant. The deepest wisdom can be found in the simplest act of compassion, so don’t be fooled by the seemingly hopeless madness of our current moment here on Earth. Goodness and heart have always held the fabric of daily life together and they continue to do so; it’s just not that easy to see their enduring effect at this particular moment in time and space. The waves of hatred that crash daily against the shores of life are disconcerting and disheartening, so much so that it’s easy to get lost in grief, anger, despair, or numbness. As I write this, I’m thinking that soon someone will identify and name the stages of Post Traumatic Trump Disorder. It will probably go something like: disbelief, horror, anger, fear, and galvanized resistance. Wherever you find yourself along this range of reactions—and I am sure there are many more to name—to the recent political and cultural tilt in the world’s axis, this is the week to focus on what gives you the strength to endure. It’s also the week to reach out to your fellow travelers and help those less capable of persistent resistance to make it through these turbulent waters.

The planetary combination opening this gate to greater inspiration is a Jupiter/Neptune trine. Both planets are in Water Sgns—Jupiter is in Scorpio and Neptune is in Pisces—and that placement amplifies their already expansive and intuitive qualities. I always get a little nervous when I write about the commingling of these planets because in addition to enhancing spiritual pursuits—meditation, contemplation, and visualization—their combined force also feeds addictive appetites. Not the best news for addicts struggling to resist temptation. Neptune represents all altered states of consciousness, from the lowest form of drug and alcohol states of awareness to the highest levels of mystical bliss. It’s an interesting arc of symbolism that I think is best understood when we define drugs and alcohol as the false gods, offering only temporary relief to those too sensitive to endure the hardships of daily life. Of course, once the demon of addiction bites, the reality of physical suffering only increases, and along that line, I think that’s one of the reasons Alcoholics Anonymous works: the false god is replaced by a Higher Power, a force that restores sanity and makes it possible to live in one’s skin, again. 

On August 17, the Moon conjuncts Jupiter, in Scorpio, magnifying the effect of this inspirational trine, but at the same time, encouraging emotional reactions to run a little higher than you might like, so be careful not to get swept away in waves of feelings. I’m not suggesting an absence of feeling as an antidote, but I am advising taking a long view that anticipates the consequences of overreacting.

The Jupiter/Neptune trine is exact on August 19, the same day Mercury goes direct. Yes…Mercury Retrograde is over soon, but before you get too excited and rush to implement all those plans you’ve been waiting to initiate, be aware that for the first few days nothing—nothing—is going to move quickly. The very day after Mercury goes direct, August 20, as Mercury begins to gain forward momentum, Mars starts to “slow-down” in preparation for its “turn around” on August 27. But before Mars goes direct, it will linger on the same degree for nearly three weeks, which makes pushing forward with Mercury Direct a whole lot harder than it should be, so take your time. What’s more, the degree Mars lingers on is its degree of exaltation—28° Capricorn—a point that amplifies all of its mighty Martian potency, and that amplification is certain to intensify aggressive attitudes. Be prepared for even more bellicose and belligerent tirades from everyone, but especially from Mr. Trump and his already inflamed, encouraged, and out-of-control base. From an individual perspective, expect everyone—even you—to be flexing muscle and taking a stand for what they want as well as what they need. State your case, but try to negotiate your terms without harsh words or implied threats. There’s enough aggression in the world to last ten thousand lifetimes, and those of us who know better need to lead by example.

As the week unfolds, we’re likely to be bombarded by even more stultifying revelations about the degree of corruption in Washington, D.C., and other power spots around the world. It’s nearly impossible to stay idealistic or optimistic about the outcome of the current cultural chaos in the midst of so much moral decay, which is why we need to find inspiration. There have been, there are, and there will be leaders who have served the greater good. But as we are beginning to realize, each of us has to be the leader we long for. Find your inspiring leader and help others to do the same. Let the light and wisdom of those you admire guide your choices through these unrelenting times of personal and planetary upheaval.

Here's my choice this week:  www.akong-remarkablelife.com/#film

Hello to readers in Detroit!

You’re gonna need a score card to track the astral action this week—the planets are plenty busy, and daily life reflects their hustle and bustle with the stop and start rhythm of an erratic triple retrograde pulse that makes direct, forward motion next to impossible. Actually there are six retrograde planets at the moment—Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Mars, and Mercury—but I’m only counting three: Mercury and Mars, because they are integral to the day-to-day functioning of regular routines such as communicating, commuting, and counting on your smart phone not to turn stupid. And as of this week, Uranus, which began its retrograde yesterday, because Uranus has a deep relationship to technology and when it goes retrograde at the same time as Mercury, device issues tend to dominate all other personal concerns. But that’s not all the astral activity that takes place this week. The second solar eclipse of the summer occurs on Saturday, August 11 completing the 2018 eclipse season—and stretching its effect to 2020. And on August 12, Mars Retrograde triggers the now infamous 0° Aquarius point, as it continues its retrograde back in Capricorn.

The week is busy above and below, which means the intensity of daily life continues and all the revelations continue to be unbelievable. Handling this intensity skillfully requires staying present despite an inconsistent and sometimes frustrating pace of the week. Here’s the skinny:

(1) Mercury Retrograde began on July 26 and ends on August 19, which means we’re pretty much right in the middle of it. Mercury Retrograde is our new urban sky myth—it’s just part of the vernacular now, and because of that inclusion, every time Mercury goes retrograde, it gets blamed for more and more difficulties, even if those problems are unrelated its domain. For example, Mercury Retrograde gets erroneously blamed for relationship breakups—I can’t tell you how many people tell me about Mercury Retrograde and divorce. But Mercury has nothing to do with marriage or any other relationship, unless you’re talking about your relationship to your computer. Its collective effect is all about communication and travel delays and detours. Think…lost packages, stalled negotiations, a vehicle breakdown, a train cancellation, or a plane delay—all Mercury Retrograde. Being left at the altar—not really.

(2) Mars Retrograde began on June 26 and ends on August 27, which means we are closer to the end of this cycle than we are to the beginning—and that’s a bit of a relief—but it’s not over yet. What’s been particularly difficult about this Mars Retrograde is that most of the time it’s been in a square to Uranus, which translates into irritation (beyond the normal retrograde irritation), frustration, and meltdowns—yours, theirs, Mr. Trump’s—just about everyone.

On August 12, the day after the next solar eclipse (see below), Mars hits the 0° Aquarius point. This is a significant degree because it seems to be tied to several significant events with long term consequences: It happened early in the morning of November 9, 2016. It happened again, the day after Uranus entered Taurus, and it occurs again the day after tomorrow’s eclipse, with one last time in this cycle on September 10. Be aware, Mars lingers on and around this point for the next several weeks, and as it does, it continues to surface information related to the election of 2016. When Mars goes direct on August 27, it ‘turn’s around’ at 28° Capricorn, its exaltation point, which amplifies all its qualities. You don’t need astrology to know we’ve been locked in an intensely aggressive phase, but it is interesting to note just how often and just how long Mars is pressing its power button.

(3) Uranus Retrograde began on August 7 and it stays retrograde until January 6, 2019, (the day after a solar eclipse on January 5, 2019). As Uranus ‘turns around’ it surveys the path its traveled since April 20, 2018—and what a busy journey it’s been. Not only did Uranus complete its transit through the final degrees of Aries, but it also began its transit into Taurus, and as Uranus revisits its activities since April, so do we. Uranus goes back into Aries on November 6 and stays there for nearly five months. Uranus enters Taurus once and for all on March 6, 2019, and that’s when we are likely to get the clearest indication of what to expect for the next seven years. After all, the Fukushima tidal wave didn’t happen until the day of Uranus’ final entry into Aries. So hold tight this week, and the next several weeks, as Uranus gets used to moving behind instead of ahead. Also anticipate that for the coming months we’re likely to be revisiting history, again and again…and yes, again. As an immediate manifestation: anticipate all sorts of techno snafus for the next week—at least.

(4) The next solar eclipse takes place on Saturday, August 11, and as we’re all learning, eclipses illuminate what the sunlight often obscures, which means we’re dealing with shadows—all sorts of them, personal and collective. An eclipse effect often extends six weeks before and after the actual event, and while it once was possible to pinpoint likely revelations related to an eclipse, these days, all bets are off. It’s been a wild eclipse ride since June, and so much hidden information has been revealed, it’s hard to imagine anything more—although I’m certain (as you probably are) there’s more.

This week and the next several weeks, all those areas of life, individual and collective, that are already too intense reach a crescendo, but don’t equate that quickening with an ending. Some of the hot spots of daily life are going to continue to burn out of control, and my heart goes out to those who are physically experiencing the heat of the fires in California, as the rest of us attempt to cope with psychic and emotional wild fires. Help others when you can, and don’t forget to take good care of yourself.

Here’s an inspirational short video by Takashi Tanemori, a Hiroshima survivor, who made it through the devastation of Hiroshima—he is living proof that hope is possible even when we think it isn’t. He would suggest that you find the blade of grass in your heart and know that it is possible to endure any hardship. www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=7285

Hello to readers in Oeiras!

We’re at a significant midpoint in our summer of discontent, and while the week is not—no way, no how—a break in the madness, there is a quality to the air that permits moments of reflection, even if those moments seem burdened by all there is to do. This is what life is like in the midst of a double retrograde, with a triple retrograde about to begin. (As a reminder: Mars Retrograde persists until August 27 and Mercury Retrograde just started a week ago, and it persists until August 19. Uranus is ‘slowing down’ in preparation for its retrograde which begins on August 7. Not only that, but having just finished the lunar eclipse on Friday, July 27, we are between solar eclipses, one on July 13 and another on August 11.) It’s been a busy astral summer, and the frequency this week is akin to the eye of a hurricane which makes it an excellent time to review, reflect, reconsider, and maybe even recalibrate, before moving forward. So even if the routines of daily life are devouring every moment, find the time or make the time to contemplate where you are along your journey of transformation, as well as where you would like to go.

As anyone paying attention knows, we are living in interesting and powerful times that affect each of us collectively, but also individually, for although the political madness appears to be externalized daily in a barrage of headlines, individual lives are reflecting the zeitgeist—upheaval is everywhere. The zeitgeist is an aggregation of our individual conscious and unconscious choices. It’s created by the combined effect of our emotional bodies, and as always, the sum of whole is greater than the individual parts. So be careful not to project all your trials and tribulations on Trumpitis. As I suggested in previous columns, Mr. Trump can be seen as a homeopathic remedy, bringing to the surface of our collective skin all that needs to be healed.

Lots of fellow travelers feel oppressed by the prevailing mood of the moment. Mr. Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts have done a good job of tamping down hope for a quick, positive and progressive shift away from their retro policies of greed and ignorance. The constant bombardment of outrageous cruelty and utter disregard for Planet Earth and all who live here has had a deleterious effect on hearts and souls. It’s the White Man’s Last Stand.  But it is important to remember that Trump is the worst of us—the very worst of human nature—and his presence is a constant reminder of what each of us needs to shift in our own hearts, in order to manifest the best of human nature. Some deny that they have any of his characteristics and those are the ones we’re hoping will shift into deeper awareness. There’s no room for bullies in this phase of planetary transformation—they’ve already ruined the world. What we need are spiritual warriors who recognize our fundamental interconnectedness, which makes it impossible to harm anyone or anything, least of all children, animals, or any other beings we profess to love.

One reader wrote last week to say she is thankful for the weekly head’s up on just how crazy it is, but she also wondered when the skies might present a more positive picture. The retrogrades are over for a brief period of time in September, so the best time to initiate new plans and projects and get things started is September 5 – 25. The reason it’s such a short period of time is because Venus Retrograde begins on October 5 and lasts until November 16, and on November 16, we begin the final Mercury Retrograde of 2018 which lasts until December 6. The good news is that holiday travel isn’t threatened by retrogrades. The not so good news is that the retrogrades continue. To those looking to initiate plans and projects: If you can’t hold on until a retro-free zone, go ahead and get started. You may run into difficulties but forewarned is better prepared, which could translate into handling any interference with skill.

Her question also started me thinking about a bigger question: how to sustain hope in the midst of the current relentless turmoil? I have often written that hope is a tough gig. (In 1998, I wrote that it just might be the toughest job on the planet. Clearly, I had no idea of what we would be facing nearly 20 years later.)

Many already committed to personal growth are struggling with the challenge of sustaining hope—and it is really a challenge. One way is to refuse to succumb to cynicism and nihilism. As I also once wrote, there is no inoculation against the futility flu—once you have it, you have to work your way through it—and it's a bitch. Yet one of the ways through hopelessness is the realization that we are part of a much greater mystery than we realize. Whatever name we give our gods, finding refuge in their Higher Powers is a way to sustain positive contact with that bigger picture. What’s more, accepting the spiritual ground of our interconnectedness means knowing that each of us plays a role in co-creation. As Mr. Comey pointed out during his interview with Rachel Maddow, one of the reasons we have descended into our current state is that our mad king has no external reference point with which to measure himself and his choices. Mr. Trump has no higher power other than his voracious need to feed the demons that drive him. His followers have deified him and his demons. Democracy in Trumpistan isn’t a value—money and power are the primary gods.

Another way to stay positive and sustain hope is knowing—not believing, knowing—that the moral arc of the universe does ultimately bend toward justice. When you know that to be true, it’s possible to look at all that’s wrong in the world with an eye towards overcoming the obstacles through consistent compassionate action. Thought, prayer and meditation are marvelous, but it is action that turns the karmic wheel and finding your way toward active compassion is crucial to maintaining hope. Knowing allows us to look at the reality of the situation with courage and determination rather than fear. Hope is complex and demanding, but when it is lived, and channeled into positive action, it changes the world.

On a personal note: I am immensely thankful for readers all around the planet who read the Aquarium Age each week. There is great comfort in knowing how many of us share a similar sensibility. It fortifies my knowing that we will make it through these waves of change.

Hello to readers at the Hollyhock Summer Gathering!

Although it’s impossible to imagine, for the next several weeks planetary patterns intensify what’s already too intense and regular routines of daily life mirror that intensification. Mercury Retrograde begins Thursday, July 26, at 6:02 AM GMT, 1:02 AM EDT. There’s a super powerful lunar eclipse on Friday, July 27. Uranus Retrograde begins on Tuesday, August 7. And as if all that isn’t enough, there’s another solar eclipse on August 11. It’s quite appropriate to imitate Munch’s Scream, so hold your head in your hands and howl—it’s as good a way as any to express your stress and anxiety, and you won’t be alone.

Mercury Retrograde is always about communication and travel snafus, but this one is a techno-nightmare that’s sure to push some beyond the verge—whatever that verge may be. (It’s a little late to back up your digital world safely, but it’s still worth a try if there’s something you’re terrified of losing.) There are several factors other than just the normal retrograde headaches that make this retrograde so difficult. The chart for the retrograde contains a T-square between the Sun, Mars and Uranus. T-squares always indicate tension and this one is particularly volatile because it’s rebellious. It’s not that I think machines are ready to turn on us—I don’t think Hal has been born yet—but given the stress of this T-square, you’re likely to think that your devices are asserting themselves over you. Don’t trash your phone…just breathe…and keep breathing until your blood pressure returns to normal.

A Moon/Pluto conjunction is also in effect as Mercury Retrograde begins and this difficult combination could turn efforts to recover lost documents obsessive. This conjunction also feeds compulsive behavior, so be careful not to revert to self-destructive default settings—and that includes addictions of all types—for stress management.

The first of the three Munch moments is the July 27 lunar eclipse which is fraught with volatility, and when you add that to the escalating retrograde frustration of Mercury and Mars Retrograde, it’s almost too much to bear. During this lunar eclipse, the Sun, in Leo, opposes the Moon, in Aquarius, and the Moon is conjunct Mars, also in Aquarius, and all these planets form a square to Uranus. Just to be clear…this is nearly the same T-Square signature of Mercury Retrograde only the Moon is conjunct Mars, adding an even deeper level of emotional reactivity to the bundle. One way to handle this epic configuration is to prepare for meltdowns, individual and collective, public and private, political or just purposeless. Keep your head, but also try holding it—that position might mitigate the stress.

The second Munch moment exacerbates the first: Uranus Retrograde begins on August 7, which means that even as you read this we’re already entering its slo-mo rewind. As Uranus Retrograde joins Mercury and Mars, you can be sure that all sorts of retrospectives will be playing on screens near you, be it the multiplex of your mind, heart and soul or the dramas of others, which could all too easily spill out and become yours. Patience. Patience. And just when you think you’ve had enough, more patience.

The third hold-your-head-and-scream moment happens with the second solar eclipse of the summer on August 11. I know that’s two weeks away but eclipses cast large shadows and some of the madness of the moment is related to this next solar event. This eclipse contains two important signatures:

(1) The eclipse occurs in Leo at 18° 42' which is the same degree (within 12 minutes) of the Moon at the exact moment of the Saturn/Pluto conjunction of January 12, 2020.

(2) During the August 11 solar eclipse, Mars is at 0° Aquarius, which is where Mars moved to early in the morning of November 9, 2016, when the votes were being counted and we were dealing with the shock of Hillary’s losing. Of course, now we know that loss was a premeditated defeat orchestrated by a foreign power and not simply an accident of history.

Expect this solar eclipse to reveal even more information about the forces at work during that election, and because of the Moon’s placement, also anticipate that what comes to light also affects what occurs in 2020.

We've already been through so many difficult weeks that it’s hard to be prepared for even more…but be prepared for even more. Emotional tides are running high and there are likely to be even higher waves of frustration. The best way to ride these seas safely is to deepen your commitment to compassion, but not in a superficial or trite way. Kindness as a genuine response can shift moods away from hostility and that has the power to make a difference for everyone, including you.

Hello to readers on my home planet!

So where to begin in this upside down, inside out world that continues to spin through space at roughly 1,000 mph, orbiting a star that is 92.96 million miles away at a speed of 67,000 mph, and whose inhabitants—not all, but many—don’t seem to appreciate just how insignificant we are in the large scheme of things and because of that hubris continue to put themselves and Earth in jeopardy of extinction. Also baffling is that there are plenty of people who think that the Earth is flat, NASA is a hoax, and no one walked on the Moon. But wait, there’s more. Republicans—Republicans—don’t trust the FBI (Hel-lo???), King Donald, the King of Cruelty, is confident he can meet Mr. Putin alone and no one will censure him and the Senate of the United States of America just approved the appointment of Brian Benczkowski, a man with known ties to Russian banks, to lead the criminal division of the Justice Department. My head can’t stop exploding.

I thought the most bizarre thing thus far was watching the Republicans aggressively grill the man who was the head of the counterintelligence division of the FBI. That was simply surreal. But after I saw Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin together….

I am beginning to think that Republicans—en masse—are possessed by beings from an alien race who are determined to hasten the demise of the planet by gaslighting everyone. As I might have mentioned in a previous missive, I used to wonder who Republicans root for when they watch Star Wars. I wonder no longer. Clearly, Republicans are on the side of the Empire and Darth Vader is their iconic hero.   

The local sky—anywhere along the curve of Planet Earth’s horizon—doesn’t exactly express the depth of our current existential dilemma (or the urgent need for persistent resistance), unless you take in the biggest picture possible (which is really what the sky is all about). And if you reach for that perspective, you begin to understand that we are at the end of two potent cycles: (1) a Saturn/Pluto cycle that began in 1982 and (2) a Jupiter/Saturn cycle that began in 1842. Things falling apart at the end of a cycle is part of a natural ebb and flow. The next new phase for both these cycles is 2020, but before we start anew, we have to verify and witness the effect of the entire cycle—and that’s one of the factors contributing to the current chaos. This week, I’ll focus on Saturn/Pluto with more about the end of the Jupiter/Saturn cycle in future columns.

The Saturn/Pluto cycle that ends in 2020 began in 1982, and during this cycle Republicans gained incredible cultural traction. President Reagan, Ralph Reed (remember him?), Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, both Bush presidents, Dick Cheney, and now Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan, with Mr. Trump embodying the distillation of their entire political agenda. That may be one of the reasons they can’t say no to him—they created him, and like Dr. Frankenstein, they have empathy for their creation, their monster. Or it could be that Mr. Putin has a dossier on every Republican in Congress which is why they are afraid to say no to what they must recognize as Trump’s treason. Or these Republicans could—unbelievable as it might seem—actually believe their own mendacious doctrine.

Whatever their reason for surrendering their conscience, if their actions are seen as part of the 1982 Saturn/Pluto cycle that’s ending, it’s possible to contextualize what’s going on as part of some greater cycle rather than think of it as aberrant. It’s also helpful to know that when the 1982 Saturn/Pluto cycle began, as both planets formed a conjunction they simultaneously formed a square to the position Pluto occupies in the birth chart for the United States, which means that the entire 38-year cycle can be seen as the preparation for the United States Pluto Return, which I’m calling the American Revolution 2.0.

But while Republicans are waiting for the rapture, Democrats are waiting for a miracle. And I’m one of them—I’m still hoping for a positive alien intervention or some other indication that we aren’t alone in the universe. Or hoping, with fingers and toes crossed, that Gandalf breaks free from his fictional prison, comes to life, and help us throw the ring of power into the fires of Mt. Doom. Hey…maybe that’s what Pele is waiting for at Kilauea. Just as a side note, parts of Kilauea have been erupting since 1983, almost at the start of this Saturn/Pluto cycle and before the synchronicity sticklers chime in that any connection between Pele and Saturn/Pluto is preposterous…who would have thought that Republicans would undermine and besmirch the FBI, which historically has been the long arm of law they used to threaten liberal activists? Anything is possible when anything goes.

On the current local front of astral activity, we are in the wake of the solar eclipse of July 13, heading full steam toward the lunar eclipse of July 27, and continuing to deal with Mars Retrograde which doesn’t end until August 27. But as regular readers know, that’s not the entire picture. Mercury Retrograde begins on July 26, the day before the lunar eclipse, and Uranus Retrograde begins on August 7, all of which is certain to create an obstacle course of snafus. Uranus rules technology of all kinds, and when it ‘turns around’ it tends to behave like a Mercury Retrograde and since Mercury will already be retrograde...backup, backup, backup everything now.

And there’s more. The lunar eclipse of July 27 contains a pernicious T-Square among the Sun, Moon, Mars, and Uranus that feeds testy temper tantrums and more than a few meltdowns. Although an eclipse effect can be felt up to six weeks before and after an event, as we move closer to the actual date, the intensity worsens. Anticipate that tempers, yours and others’, will resemble solar flares, and do your best to stay patient through the coming weeks—it won’t be easy, but it will be necessary.

As the week unfolds, try to be sensitive and kind to your fellow travelers. We all live under the same sky—even Republicans—and we’re all subject to the same influences. Remember the stars do not compel, they incline, which means we always have a choice to respond rather than react. And that may be what we are learning on this free will planet.

Hello to readers in Phoenix!

Strong astral winds continue to blow through daily life this week, so don’t feel surprised if you feel tossed and turned, maybe even a little queasy, from emotional highs and lows—being buffeted by so many strong currents at once can make even the most experienced sky watcher falter. We’re currently in one of the more difficult passages of an already too difficult year and it’s hard to hang on to the hope that there’s a light at the end of this seemingly endless tunnel, especially when so much is being stirred up simultaneously. For some, these disturbances are manifesting as personal shifts that grow increasingly hard to manage. For others, the collective turmoil is so overbearing it corrupts what should be moments of joy. Figuring out how to stay on course in the midst of these winds is the challenge we’re facing. Fortunately, there’s also planetary support for getting grounded.

Here’s the planetary breakdown:

Mars Retrograde continues to disrupt time signatures and throw monkey wrenches into daily routines, which may be why you’re showing up early one minute and an hour late the next. Try to keep in mind that although all retrogrades share common characteristics, not all retrogrades are the same. This Mars Retrograde is slightly wonkier than usual and some days it feels more like Mercury Retrograde. That’s because when Mars ‘turned around’ in Aquarius on June 26, Mercury was moving forward into Leo, and by July 2, they began an opposition which was exact on July 5 and persisted until July 10. A Mercury/Mars opposition signifies an active mind but its energetic impulse tends to veer toward a nervous mindset that’s on the lookout for what’s wrong—and finds it. 

Unfortunately, even as that Mercury/Mars opposition dissipates, that Mercury Retrograde je ne sais quoi doesn’t disappear. Mercury actually begins its second retrograde phase of 2018 in two weeks, and while Mercury won’t go back into an opposition with Mars, we will have a dual retrograde from July 26 – August 19. These are the two planets that drive the mechanics of daily life and their retro-combo is sure to drive some to throw away any and all sky-watching tools and just hang out by the pool. Mercury Retrograde is only two weeks away, so it might be wise to start your backup engines now.  

One more bit: The middle of the summer becomes a retrograde triple header, because on August 7, Uranus also goes retrograde. So there it is…Mercury, Mars, and Uranus Retrograde for most of August. I think the appropriate cliché is ‘read it and weep’. And because Uranus also affects technology, start your backup now. (And no, I can’t say that too often.)

Here’s some good news: Jupiter Direct began on July 10, and even though it takes a couple of weeks to gather forward momentum, by end of the month it closes its trine to Neptune, which is exact on August 19, the day Mercury goes direct. (There’s so much going on this summer I am starting to consider flags to track the action—you know, like the ones they have on aircraft carriers or better yet, the flags they use at NASCAR.) This Jupiter/Neptune trine carries a strong emotional charge, so don’t be surprised if lots of people grow increasingly hypersensitive and sentimental. But also keep in mind that this trine is all about the spin—so much so that by the end of the summer you may never watch TV again. Of course this trine can also be beneficial—it symbolizes idealistic and altruistic inclinations—something we could use a lot more of right now, even though the movement toward kindness and compassion is growing. Let the power of this trine inspire a deeper commitment to help those in need.

More good news: We are also under the influence of a Saturn/Uranus trine, a positive interaction that provides the capacity to overcome almost any obstacle no matter how difficult the situation might be. It’s an indefatigable determination to endure whatever hardships might stand in the way of success. This force needs to be applied to reuniting families and ending the institutionalized abuse of children.

There is a solar eclipse on Friday, July 13, in Cancer, at 20°41′. This eclipse occurs opposite Pluto, in Capricorn, at 20°00′. During a solar eclipse, when the Moon overshadows the Sun, what’s unconscious—individually and collectively—comes to the surface of daily life and drives the action. Because this eclipse occurs in Cancer, the Sign of mothers and their children, the full breadth and depth of the cruelty the United States has visited on the families crossing our borders continues to resonate through the coming weeks.

Pluto is all about power and control, personal and collective. It signifies change at the core, and because of that, it always points a finger at what needs to change as well as the resistance to that transformation. It has the power to both destroy and create and its influence is relentless. Capricorn thrives on discipline, responsibility, organization, and authority—it is the expert. The shadow of its need for expertise is often a ruthless authoritarianism and a stern, controlling reach that tends to be cold and dismissive. The effect of an eclipse can be felt six weeks prior or after the actual event, so there’s no denying that the separation of these innocent children from their parents is the signature of this eclipse.

Children in cages, separated from their families without comfort and reassurance is the worst of this eclipse—and it is the worst of us. Surely these souls are brave beyond belief, for they have taken on the burden of reflecting back to us the depth of our moral dilemma. They are making evil impossible to ignore because they are innocent and because we know they are innocent, their suffering has awakened the conscience of many who were still sleeping through this nightmare called Trump. The Parkland students are transforming their tragedy into positive action. We must transform the assault on these children and children everywhere into positive action because the consequences going forward are dire. If you haven’t seen this TED talk on the effect of trauma on children, please watch because the science reveals that when we ignore the consequences of trauma, we do so at our own risk and at the risk of our young—a risk we shouldn’t take.

www.ted.com/talks/nadine_burke_harris_how_childhood_trauma_affects_health_across_a_lifetime?utm_source=newsletter

As you navigate your way through this week’s winds listen closely to your heart. It knows your best course and it knows how to help others find their way. We need each other. It’s that simple.

Hello to readers in Washington, D. C.

The surreal quality of daily life persists—we’re in the Mars Retro zone, a peculiar type of time warp where some things happen at a slo-mo rewind pace and others, at the speed of light. We’re also in the eclipse zone, where the world’s wobbles—mostly emotional, at least for this week— ripple across the collective pond, often resulting in startling tsunamis or devastating droughts. The combined effect of these overlapping dimensions exacerbates daily life which already feels more like an episode from Twilight Zone than it does any previously recognizable day-to-day reality.

Of course, we’ve been surviving in a bad acid trip for so long—since November 8, 2016 to be exact—some might not even notice the recent increased intensity, but those paying close attention are probably even more rattled than usual, which means there’s also an increased need for self-care. Most of us weren’t taught how to self-soothe, but don’t let that stop you from trying. Pay attention: The stresses and strains of coping with a world spinning out of control could irritate old issues you thought were long gone. An appetite for old survival mechanisms—drinking, drugging, shopping, and all the other activities you once used to alleviate stress but eventually gave up because they actually only made matters worse—could rear its addictive head. If the cravings return, ask for help. This is not the time to go it alone.

For those new to these pages, Mars Retrograde began on June 26 and it ends on August 27. Mars signifies muscles and movement, and when it seemingly shifts into reverse, our ability to move forward in just about any area of life happens in fits and starts—one moment the world is moving at a snail’s pace and the next, plans and projects are moving so swiftly, it feels as if any moment you might careen off a cliff. This uneven pace is going to continue all summer long, so keep breathing your way through any obstacles you encounter along the path or any frustration you experience trying to deal with those problems.

Keep in mind as you work your way through this two-month retrograde that Mars also symbolizes a fighting spirit, ready, willing, and mostly able to take a stand. That fighting spirit is certain to be on display during this retrograde, for several of reasons, not the least of which is when Mars has to move behind instead of ahead, it gets prickly and lots of little things easily morph into much bigger issues. Be cautious about starting a small skirmish about something insignificant—you know, squabbling over putting the top back on the toothpaste or squeezing the tube from the bottom. Those seemingly unimportant disagreements are often symptoms of a divide far greater than bathroom protocol and this wouldn’t be the wisest time to open up discussions about divorce.

From the collective perspective, Mars stays within close range of its square to Uranus all summer and then some. This square began May 1, was exact for the first time when Uranus entered Taurus on May 15 and will be exact again August 2 and September 19—twice more—before it technically ends October 1. A Mars/Uranus square is never easy. Uranus is the rebel, with or without a cause; squares indicate fractious interactions, and because both Mars and Uranus represent energy, their squares tend to be explosive and violent. Significantly, those explosions are usually motivated by a need to break free from whatever enslaves, whatever the cost. We know it is going to be a long, difficult summer, so try not to add to the already highly charged atmosphere by blowing up just because it feels good to blow off steam.

A solar eclipse takes place late in the day on July 12 EDT, early morning on July 13 GMT. The on-going Mars/Uranus square is part of this eclipse signature, and even though the square is wide at the time of the eclipse, it is still powerful. During a solar eclipse, the Moon overshadows the Sun.  Modern astrology interprets the symbolism of this event as unconscious concerns overriding conscious ones, and as a result, reactions turn deeply emotional. This solar eclipse is especially fraught with feeling because it occurs at 20° 41’ Cancer, the Sign of the mother, home, and the longing to belong. We know that an eclipse effect can be felt six weeks prior to the actual event as well as six weeks after, which it is why it is possible to frame what’s happening to children and families at the borders of the United States, as well as the swell of protests about that situation, as part of this eclipse effect.

What’s more, this week there is a Grand Trine in Water—the Sun, in Cancer, trines Jupiter, in Scorpio, and both are in a trine to Neptune, in Pisces—which indicates a fairly high emotional tide for the next 11 days taking us straight through the lunar eclipse of July 13. But that’s not all. Jupiter goes direct on July 10 and the forward motion of that expansive and excessive bright light is sure to push the emotional waves of the week even higher. So take a deep breath and expect that lots of our fellow travelers are going to be highly sensitive for the next couple of weeks, especially with children and animals, who feel the energy and often channel it, but are at a loss to articulate exactly what they are experiencing.

And there’s more: There’s a lunar eclipse on July 27 (the day after Mercury Retrograde begins) which packs and even more powerful emotional wallop than the solar eclipse. During this lunar eclipse, Mars conjuncts the Moon as the Moon opposes the Sun and both square Uranus. It is as intense as it sounds and for the next several weeks, we are building to this crescendo, which unfortunately is just one in a number of this summer’s tsunamis. More about the details of this eclipse in the weeks to come.

As you attempt to ride these astral waves, do your best to pay attention to what’s happening around you. Each day we are moving toward the awareness that each of us is just one individual thread in the fabric of the collective and each of our decisions effects everyone around us. We may not see the immediate result, but that doesn’t mean our efforts are in vain. Daily, more and more of our fellow travelers are waking up and beginning to participate in life with new awareness of our fundamental interconnectedness. As you celebrate Independence Day, declare yourself free from the notion that anyone or anything exists independently. Then honor that interdependence with a commitment to causing no harm to any sentient being.

Hello to readers in Creteil!

The big news this week is Mars Retrograde, in Aquarius, which began yesterday, June 26 and continues until August 27. Those of us tuned into astro-activity—and I’m assuming most reading this column are—have been feeling its effect for the last ten days, so much so that a few people have asked if we were under the influence of Mercury Retrograde. The quick answer: No. Mercury Retrograde begins on July 26, which means there’s still time to back up those hard drives and make duplicates of important documents.

Mars Retrograde has its own distinct signature, and this Mars Retrograde is complex for several reasons:

From a completely commonsense perspective, Mars is a forward-moving, straight-shooting, dynamic force that doesn’t much like to dwell on the past—reviewing and reflecting are not its strong suits and because of that, its retrogrades tend to be cranky…really, really, cranky. So make a mental note to make kindness a priority even when you are disagreeing with someone. It may not have an immediate effect, but if we are going to make it through this protracted moment in time and space, we are going to have to figure out how to live with each other even when we don’t want to.  

Mars begins its retrospective in a conjunction with the North Node, a less-than-perfect union because it feeds fractious interactions, both individual and collective. Aquarius is a Fixed Sign, and when you couple that innate need to entrench with a configuration that indicates an inability to adapt or adjust, everyone is likely to dig in and no one is going to feel much like compromising about anything. I’m not suggesting that kindness is capitulation, but seeking compassionate compromise is a good place to start.

But that’s not all. From a collective perspective, this Mars/North Node conjunction indicates dissonance among groups of people. And this is where it gets tricky, because probably the only thing we know for sure about the summer of 2018 is that it’s the antithesis of the Summer of Love. Now is the summer of our discontent, and most, if not all, of us are going to be wrestling with a stubborn resistance to change, our own or others’, and that pigheadedness is going to show itself on both sides of the great political/social/economic/racial/gender/cultural divide, and not just in America—all around Planet Earth, which is doing its best to survive our abuses, including how we treat our fellow humans and every other species on the planet.

Because Mars signifies action, its retrograde is going to feed frustration unless and until you can figure out where your voice can make a difference. On a positive note, there’s an advertising campaign aimed at empowering everyone to participate in public discourse. It’s a creative message aimed at unity and it’s worth a look. It’s only $10 to participate. creators.kickstarter.com/forfreedoms

On a non-Martian note, we are two weeks plus away from a solar eclipse that occurs opposite Pluto. Some of you may remember that I don’t think eclipses indicate anything good—and I am sticking by that statement. Eclipses reveal what’s lurking in the shadows, and this next eclipse takes place in Cancer, the Sign where we long to belong. Cancer is also about issues of safety and security, as well as mothers and their children. What’s more, the eclipse takes place opposite Pluto, which symbolizes death and rebirth. One indication of the power of this eclipse is the situation occurring at the borders of the United States of America where children—including babies and toddlers—are being taken away from their mothers and fathers. Anticipate this eclipse to reveal even more egregious behavior on the part of the Trump regime to abuse those seeking asylum in a country that used to represent freedom for all. But let’s also not forget that children everywhere on this planet are suffering from equally egregious conditions. If we want a future for the planet, we need to create a planet that nurtures its young. Otherwise, we will just become the planet of the broken hearted.

The King of Cruelty and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts have launched a premeditated campaign to discourage civil discourse. Don’t be fooled into thinking that because the King is mad he is without a plan. And also don’t forget the United States’ Pluto Return underlies all that’s taking place and will continue to take place over the next several years. From my perspective that Pluto Return indicates a second American Revolution.

My father, who some of you might remember was a Communist organizer for the National Maritime Union (way back in the golden days of yesteryear) and who was blacklisted and chased by the FBI during the McCarthy era, had a favorite ditty: “The working class can kiss my ass…I’ve got the bosses job at last.” He repeated it so often, I still remember it even though I haven’t heard it in years. He was quite astute in his political observations and believed that one of the deepest forms of capitalist corruption was the way the hierarchy of corporate structures positioned workers against one another. He was right. And that structure is one of the reasons capitalism endures—it successfully exploits our differences and pits us against each other, and as long as we are identified with what divides rather than what unites, we can be exploited. That’s the core of the mad King’s doctrine: divide…divide…divide, which is why the Left must start thinking about how to unify. Whether the Left has leaders that can do that—penetrate to the issues that unite—is dependent upon their ability to hold a truly bold vision that is inclusive. No exceptions.

As the summer unfolds, Mars will revisit many of the events and circumstances of the last six weeks. As you reflect on what’s transpired, also contemplate what you can do to bolster your confidence that positive change is possible. For some, that might simply mean finding a way to help others in a consistent manner—volunteering in any number of ways that make a difference. For others, political action may be the key. For even more, taking a civics course could provide useful information and inspire participation in your community.

I refuse to live under the oppression of either Sauron or Saruman, and even though Gandalf is still MIA, I refuse to despair that the orcs are going to rule forever. The King of Cruelty and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts have done their best to obscure hope—and don’t think for a moment that taking babies away from their mothers was an unintentional policy that just happened to cause waves of despair. But those committed to personal and planetary transformation must persist. Every despairing heart is a casualty of Trump’s Draconian vision, so find healthy ways to fortify your fire and sustain your heart. Identify what unites you with others, again, even if you don’t think it’s possible to share one iota of your life with those you hate and then figure out how to use that sense of unity for the greater good. Consciousness and awareness of our interconnectedness is ultimately the way the world will shift—it has to this time because the planet really does hang in the balance. And although it may be a long struggle, we will prevail.

Hello to readers in Chofu!

It’s a week of transition as well as a week of preparation for even more transitions. The summer solstice is tomorrow, June 21, at 6:07AM EDT, and as the Sun moves into Cancer, we move into summer, but this year, summer promises to be filled with days that are anything but lazy—hazy, maybe, but definitely not lazy. Summer 2018 is gonna be a doozy, which makes getting ready for it a must. I’m not sayin’ there won’t be time for vacations, sun bathing, or lolling about in the shade with a good book, but I am sayin’ that no matter how you spend the next few months, you’re likely to encounter controversy and frustration. The best way to prepare for what lies ahead is to take the long view—a perspective that permits an objective state of mind that’s determined to witness what’s occurring, and then rather than reacting negatively, transforming those observations into constructive action. This isn’t about denying or ignoring what needs to shift; it’s about being resolute in your determination to find positive solutions.  

Mars Retrograde is center stage all summer long. Beginning June 26 and ending August 27, the planet of movement is moving backwards—not its favorite direction—and as it reviews its recent past, so do we. Mars goes retrograde at 9° Aquarius and ends its review at 28° Capricorn, which means it is revisiting the path it traveled from May 12 twice: once going backwards and then again when it goes direct. Expect to reexamine decisions, plans and strategies—individual and collective, personal and planetary—made during this phase. Do not anticipate a smooth and even flow. Also anticipate lots of rethinking and realigning, and even if that is frustrating or disconcerting, minds are sometimes meant to change, especially when there’s a better idea.

Mars symbolizes muscle—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. That muscle shows itself as sports and competition or as the need to succeed—it’s simply ambition of every ilk. Mars also signifies sexuality, and while historically it represents the male principle, given the current fluidity of gender identification, it might be wise to classify Mars as the yang energy inherent in every chart regardless of sexual persuasion. Mars also represents the process of self-actualization, or the ability to realize our full, individual potential, as well as the principle of individuation that allows us to know ourselves as separate and distinct from others.

Mars is also the archetype of the warrior, ready and especially willing to take a stand. Sometimes this willingness to fight is simply the urge to feel the release of pent-up emotions. Other times, Mars aggression shows up as the need to push back and say, “no I don’t agree with you because I’m not you—I’m me!” And from yet another angle in the hologram, Mars represents the warrior who puts self-interest aside and holds firmly to a principled position that places the needs of the many before the needs of the one, and then defends that position regardless of personal cost.

Aquarius is the Sign of altruism—it’s where we engage and participate in community, with the intention of sharing our gifts with others, all with an eye toward helping to make the world a better place. In Aquarius, the gifts and talents of the one benefit the improvement and enhancement of the many. It may not be possible to realize every altruistic dream, but the intention that underlies the effort to do so has a supportive effect. Try not to be disappointed if even the simplest efforts to help others are met with opposition—as we know, we are in a fight to make things right.

This week as Mars continues to slow down in preparation for its two-month retrograde review, daily life continues to slow to a crawl. Last week, some readers complained about technology glitches and wondered if Mercury Retrograde had started. Not yet…that doesn’t happen until July 26. The current static is a preview of what’s to come.

The best way to prepare for Mars Retrograde and then Mercury Retrograde is to prioritize your time—if you’re clear about where your energy is best spent, you’ll have an easier time dealing with retrograde obstacles and interference. But there are several things to keep in mind as you create your priorities. The first and most important is figuring out how to sustain your health—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual—in a world that’s bleeding from all the wounds it’s had to bear. Next, you’ll need to steady your intuition, so that you can rely on your inner GPS if you get lost in retrograde delays and detours. You’ll also need to reaffirm your desire to do no harm. A couple of months ago, I wrote about the idea of karma neutral, a spiritual position that would try to add no additional mental or emotional waste to the environment. It’s not an easy stance to assume, but it is worth the effort. So when possible, make kindness your first response.

Hello to readers in Fincastle!

It’s unclear what to write about this week—there’s so much that’s been said and so much more that needs to be said, but the stars aren’t offering any immediate remedies, quick-fixes, spiritual bypasses, or astral ointments to lessen terrestrial tensions. This lack of relief—or better yet what might be called our unrelenting minute-by-minute confrontation with the shadows of our democracy—is best understood as the turmoil that accompanies the United States Pluto Return. The date of the actual return doesn’t occur until February 2022, but we’re close enough to feel the conflict, chaos and confusion that happens when a planet as powerful as Pluto begins to wind down one cycle and begin another. Pluto moves slowly—it takes 248 years to complete an orbit around the Sun and we are only four years away from the end of its cycle. In cosmic time, that’s nothing.

No matter which chart is used to represent the birth of the United States, Pluto’s position is always 27° Capricorn. Before Pluto went retrograde on April 22, 2018, it was within six degrees of separation from that natal position. Again, in cosmic measurements, not a great distance. Consider we’ve been living through and are living through a preview of things to come—Pluto is raising unresolved issues to the surface, and as a result, we’re facing one crisis after another, struggling between our lesser selves and our better selves to find sustainable solutions to these undeniable concerns. And that struggle is not just happening in America, it’s global. The American dilemma is simply more obvious because we are a model—an idea, really—of what government by the people and for the people should be.

Pluto moved into Capricorn in January 2008, retrograding back and forth until December of that year. 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. Pluto symbolizes all the aspects of life we have no control over, including the process of death and rebirth, as well as unconscious forces—negative and positive—that inform conscious behavior, individual and collective. Every Sign has a shadow—drives, compulsions and appetites that we learn to suppress or repress but nonetheless play a role until they are integrated into consciousness. When Pluto transits a Sign it exhumes the underbelly of that Sign, shining its unrelenting light on the hidden places—the illuminates the secrets.

Since the beginning of Pluto’s transit through Capricorn, we’ve witnessed its inexorable power to destabilize societal structures, but nothing compares to Mr. Trump’s agenda to purposefully undermine and subvert the government. I mean…really…it has to be pretty bad when officials from the FBI and NSA go public and declare the President a dangerous despot. And I know you don’t need me to tell you that. I just had to say it, because I’m reeling from imagining what they aren’t saying because that’s what’s motivating them to say anything at all.

Last week, too many of us experienced a new level of psychic and emotional overwhelm and that’s what got me thinking about the US Pluto return. It is depressing and distressing to see ICE agents embrace heartlessness in the name of the law or witness the police—not all but many—who already have extreme policies of profiling and prejudice further embrace a policy of hatred promulgated by the Trump administration as a justification for even more blatant violence. We have, unfortunately, grown used to hearing and seeing these stories of violence—we’re almost inured to them. But what no one was or is prepared for, is the violence perpetrated on thousands of children, wrenched from their parents and put into cages in the name of making America great again. It’s egregious, awful, Draconian, and just wrong. Do not underestimate the corrosive effect of this particular brand of tyranny—its effect is akin to the half-life of Plutonium.

Forget the G7 meeting, the tariffs, the loss of America’s standing in the world, the new tax laws that will plunge even more citizens into poverty, the lack of health care that is literally crippling far too many, Puerto Rico, and anything else that is likely to occur between writing and publishing this column. The idea that the country which once welcomed the huddled masses yearning to breathe free is now the country that imprisons children is too much for many of us to tolerate. Too. Much. These detention centers, these cages, are institutionalized abuse. Just as war is legalized violence, these detention centers are legalized abuse facilities. We’re witnessing the degradation of our principles. Now, the huddled masses are yearning to be free from us.

The reason I am focusing on this is because so many are affected by this situation—not just these children and not just their families. Anyone who has ever been abused knows the effect these detention centers are having on those children and just how much it will take to heal their suffering. The incarceration of children in cages—the terror and hopelessness that is imprinting their young nervous systems—is designed to harm innocent souls who have no recourse but to endure.

What’s more, this abuse is triggering the thousands, if not millions, of our fellow travelers who have suffered abuse at the hands of parents, siblings, bosses, teachers, friends, or lovers. No matter how hard you may have worked on and continue to work on the deleterious effect of abuse in your life, these cages are almost certain to trigger PTSD. And that could lead to depression, hopelessness and futility, all of which could trigger harmful addictive appetites, or worse, suicidal tendencies. It’s imperative that we take a stand for these children. I don’t know what can be done, but surely there are enough people with enough money, creativity, spiritual awareness and clout to find a solution.

A solar eclipse, in Cancer, exactly opposite Pluto, in Capricorn, occurs on July 12. Solar eclipses always reveal what’s hidden and while it is impossible to conceive of anything else being hidden…. Cancer is the Sign of children, nurturing, belonging, and issues of safety and security. An eclipse effect also extends out six weeks prior to the actual event and six weeks after—we are within that range, which means we can expect to hear much more about these children and the cruelty they are experiencing.

Hello to readers in Soborg!

Disparate astral interactions stretch the boundaries between idealism and pragmatism this week. In one dimension, it’s completely probable to be dreamy, while in another, it’s equally probable to be cynical. In yet another parallel universe, facts are ignored or fudged for personal profit, but in the universe right next-door facts are the currency of clarity. Not that any of these differing realities are new news, but some of us have held the stretch between fact and fiction for so long, our mind-muscles are growing fatigued from the rigors of traversing the vast expanse of possible realities every day. But don’t give up just yet—it’s not quite time to sing Strawberries Fields, where nothing is real. Some situations are very real and they need very real solutions, solutions that provide conscious, caring, common sense remedies to help those in need.

The astrology for the week delineates this multidimensional perspective.

(1) A Sun/Mercury conjunction, in Gemini, inspires a need for information. Gemini is the Sign of communication as well as intellectual curiosity—Mercury is Gemini’s Ruling Planet and when any planet is in its Home Sign all its qualities are amplified, so anticipate that many will be questing for facts and information. That being said, a Sun/Mercury conjunction—in any Sign—tends to skew facts toward a subjective point of view, making it important to interpret those facts as freely as possible from personal interest.

(2) That Sun/Mercury conjunction squares Neptune, in Pisces, and because Neptune rules imagination and illusion, this square easily encourages deception. We only need to check the headlines—or better yet the tweets—to see the strength of this influence. We’ve been under its thumb since the start of the month, and although Mercury pulls slightly ahead by June 10, we aren’t entirely free from it until June 14.

(3) We’ve also been under the influence of a Jupiter/Neptune trine for the last several weeks. Jupiter is currently retrograde, in Scorpio, until July 10 when it goes direct. Last week, both Jupiter and Neptune formed a Grand Trine to Venus, stimulating imaginations and inspiring expansive thoughts of love. Venus moves on this week, leaving the trine between Jupiter and Neptune. Trines always indicate positive interactions, and as Venus pulls away, we move out the more sensual expression of love and into a more general altruistic love—the Jupiter/Neptune trine on its own symbolizes a mystical expression of love that is essentially unconditional.

Of course, it might be difficult to imagine that the Jupiter/Neptune trine has any power at all, especially given current events around the globe and the implementation of horrific policies by Mr. Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts. But it is also important to notice just how many people are rising to the occasion of passionate, active altruism and actually helping in situations where they may not have helped before.

Neptune Retrograde begins on June 18 and as it meshes with Jupiter Direct on July 10, both planets stay within close range of each other until they form exact contact on August 19. Also be aware that any combination of Jupiter and Neptune feeds addictive appetites so if you are challenged by bingeing of any kind you might want to stay hypervigilant about finding healthy ways of soothing your cravings.

I must admit I succumbed to the influence of Jupiter/Neptune this past weekend, when I decided to self-soothe by binge watching The West Wing. I know The West Wing is fiction and ancient history, but I was so fed up with the news of yet one more egregious act emanating from the White House that I had to ease my Trump Fatigue. Some of you may remember that when George W. Bush stole his first Presidential Election, I couldn’t listen to anything but the Beatles for a year. It’s been a little harder finding a remedy for Mr. Trump because he presents an even more dangerous agenda and staying present for his shenanigans is essential but soul-wearying.

My tired brain and heart were longing for a time when as a collective we valued smart people in the White House enough to have a television series about them.  Here’s what I learned from indulging my fantasy: nothing has changed. The issues are exactly the same nearly twenty years later. From white extremists to partisan politics to nuclear threats to poverty to a pervasive misunderstanding of what government ought to do and provide for its citizens to lying in order to obscure the truth to religious wars and tribal differences to racism, sexism, and spin, all continue to be potent issues. I was actually stunned. But that didn't stop me from communing with fictitious people, people in power who care about their fellow humans—and it did the trick. Whatever your opinion about the fast-talking dialogue, it was great to hear CJ talking to the press about things that matter and know that they mattered to her. In later seasons that may change, but for right now, I’m making it my drug of choice—perhaps it will be my gateway drug to optimism.

As you work your way through this week, keep in mind that by the June 13 Mars starts to slow down in preparation for its retrograde that begins on June 26. With that slow down, we’ll get a glimpse of what the Retro Summer of 2018 will feel like. It’s also important to remember that good things are happening everywhere because the more we keep that in mind, the easier it is to tolerate the difficulties. Here’s a link to a heart-warming story that’s real—not fiction—an inspiring video about how people endure the harsh realities on this planet and how their story can inspire transformation.  www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=8021

Hello to readers in Vienna!

It’s a good week for taking as much time as necessary to assess your situation, both personal and professional, with an eye toward gaining greater clarity about what’s in motion and what needs to be put in motion. We’re currently in a retrograde free zone, which means this assessment isn’t so much about reviewing as it is about knowing where you stand and what your options are. By the end of June, when the full throttle Retro Summer of 2018 begins—with all its stops and starts and stops—there won’t be as many opportunities to put course corrections in motion. Seriously: from June 16 – September 10, there isn’t a retrograde free moment—and that’s going to impede all kinds of progress as it simultaneously agitates emotional bodies.

We started 2018 with the clarity that it would be a transitional year—a year that was best spent preparing for what lies ahead, which is why many recent columns have focused on future events. One of the most important transitions this year is Uranian: Uranus leaves Aries and enters Taurus—a shift we are currently in the midst of, and a shift that nervous systems are working hard to adjust to. For new readers, Uranus entered Taurus on May 15, just fifteen days ago, ending one cycle and beginning another—and most of us are still getting used to the new frequency. This ‘neuro-adjustment’ affects lots of different areas of life, personal and professional, but disrupted sleep patterns are probably the most obvious manifestation.

Another powerful transitional force this year is Mars. Last week’s column spent a lot of time talking about Mars and its activation of Zero Aquarius, a point that is playing a large role in the political fabric of Planet Earth—and a point that Mars transits three times this year.

Mars goes retrograde on June 26, at 9° Aquarius and continues its retrograde until August 27 when it goes direct at 28° Capricorn—that’s the reason it transits Zero Aquarius three times: May 16, August 12 and September 10. Mars Retrograde is a drag (that’s the highly technical way of describing its retro-transit) because Mars symbolizes movement. It signifies the athlete, the muscles of the body, competition, activity, and ambitious endeavors. No one likes running a race backwards, especially a marathon—which is what the rest of 2018 is and the summer months are likely to be the most grueling, so don’t be surprised if almost everyone, you included, gets caught by an irritable wind. And yes, I can hear those groans.

By June 13—just two weeks away—Mars starts slowing down in preparation for its ‘turn around’. And just so we’re clear: the planets don’t actually travel backwards in their orbits. Their retrograde motion is called that relative to our view of their orbital path around the Sun. Astrology interprets planetary retrogrades as opportunities to review, reflect and reconsider recent choices, with an eye towards making any necessary course corrections. These next two weeks are free from retrograde interference. The weeks prior to a retrograde, things start to slow down, and the weeks after a retrograde, forward motion takes a moment to gather momentum—so neither are free from retrograde problems. If there’s something you must get started, now is the time.

Mars is retrograde all summer, and on July 26, it’s joined by Mercury, which begins its second retrograde phase of the year, a phase that ends on August 19. (And yes, again, I can hear those groans—no need to wail louder, your protests won’t make the planets change their positions.) Mercury and Mars drive the mechanics of daily life and the rhythms that keep regular routines stable—the comings and goings, whether its trains, boats, planes, or automobiles, not to mention technological devices of all denomination.

And that leads me to one more thing that might make matters worse: Uranus begins its retrograde phase on August 7—and the combination of these three retrogrades is certain to cause a great gnashing of teeth. It would be wise to prepare for a rather hellish summer, and I’m not being negative, dramatic or exaggerating the potential for heated intensity. I’m being realistic. Those in the know about this retrograde nightmare will appear to the world as Zen goddesses and gods, so practice explaining these astral influences so you can help others to achieve some level of satori—or at the very least, help them chill.

This week, Mars, in Aquarius, continues its square to Uranus, in Taurus, which means the air continues to feel nervous, especially as some fellow travelers persist in aggressive confrontations. Be aware, a fight might feel good in the moment but even if it feels like the best way to spend the excess energy generated by this square, the consequences of these interactions have the shelf life of Uranium.

Also this week, Mars also continues its trine to a Sun/Mercury conjunction in Gemini, which exacerbates restless energy even as it encourages curiosity. Being patient won’t be easy—there’s just too much happening all at once and everyone wants to rule the world—but that doesn’t mean your efforts to stay steady and calm are for naught.  

As the week unfolds, accept the challenge of being a peaceful warrior. Assess how these last few months have played out from a personal perspective, but also consider how they have manifested on the collective stage. Contemplate what you would like to shift and then strategize how to implement those changes. Most importantly, consider how your actions affect others and how you can refine all your interactions to create a more peaceful environment.

Hello to readers in Funchal!

Time travel with me…. First to the past: Back to November 9, 2016, at 12:55 AM, when Mars entered Aquarius and the world tilted on its axis. It was still Election Day on the west coast of the United States of America, the day Donald Trump won the highest prize of the land. Prior to that day, most astrologers predicted that Hillary Clinton would win and hardly anyone saw Mr. Trump’s win, except for Michael Lutin (michaellutin.com), one of my favorite astrologers. (To the other few astrologers who predicted Mr. Trump’s win, my apologies for only singling out Mr. Lutin.)

Now, back in the time machine…and on to the future: On March 30, 2020, Mars enters Aquarius again, but this time it follows on the heels of Saturn, which just moved into Aquarius on March 21, 2020, nine days earlier. Then on December 19, 2020, Jupiter enters Aquarius, and on December 21, 2020 forms an exact conjunction with Saturn, still at the threshold of Aquarius. All of these positions—past and future—occur at the same degree of Aquarius—zero.

Back to the recent past: Last week, on May 16, Mars entered Aquarius, immediately forming a square to Uranus, which had just entered Taurus the day before. Mars/Uranus interactions always indicate an intolerant and impatient atmosphere that tends to manifest as bursts of anger and sudden violence. Sometimes these events happen exactly on the day and other times they happen very soon after exact contact, as the planets start to separate out of their hard angles. I don’t need to reiterate the headlines of last week to demonstrate that sudden explosive eruptions—not just physical, but also emotional, mental, and spiritual—dominated the week’s events.

Present time: Mars continues to transit the early degrees of Aquarius, as it did on November 9, 2016 and will again in 2020. It also continues to square Uranus, only now it is in the separation phase, which means the pernicious influence of that square persists. It won’t be easy being tolerant, staying patient, and resisting the temptation to melt down or dissolve in a tantrum. Do your best to avoid wagging fingers that only blame and punish—positive solutions are what’s needed. Harness the power of this combustive and combative configuration and convert it into the courage to take a peaceful stand for what you believe in.

Also in present time: A Venus/Saturn opposition that is exact and separating on May 26 reinforces the tendency toward a judgmental attitude. Again, rather than devolve into harsh criticism of yourself or others, practice restraint. I’m not suggesting that you surrender your opinions; I’m simply advising caution—lots of us are hypersensitive at this particular cosmic moment, and careless commentary could engender lasting negative consequences.

Back to the future: The present is created by the past, just as the future is created by the present. We’re either reacting or responding to what was set in motion, and through our reactions and responses we’re setting the future in motion. I’m making a distinction between reactions and responses because that’s where the power of the present lives. When we react, we tend to reinforce a habit. When we respond, there’s the possibility—however small—of taking a moment to consider the situation and perhaps make a different choice. When we step out of habitual reactions we enter the power of the now.  

What was set in motion on Election Day, November 2016, when Mr. Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts decided to turn back the hands of time and reinstitute the days of yesteryear, is affecting our current situation. But the overall consequence of that effect won’t be seen until 2020, a pivotal point that will determine how the future of the planet plays out, not just for the United States, but for the world. From an astrological perspective 2020 is already a significant year because it begins with a Saturn/Pluto conjunction, in Capricorn. (It should be noted that the Israeli State was forged under a Saturn/Pluto conjunction, in Leo. More about that in future columns.) Saturn/Pluto interactions signify the dynamic tension between the status quo and the inexorable process of change. Saturn wants to draw and hold the line, preserving the tried and true, while Pluto signifies the reality of death and eventual rebirth.   

But 2020 not only begins as a wheel-turning year, it also ends with a Jupiter/Saturn conjunction. These conjunctions occur every twenty years, and although we may think of that as fairly frequent, ancient astrologers believed they were quite powerful indicators of change. These Jupiter/Saturn conjunctions were believed to signal a regime change, and when they shift from one Element to another, that change is interpreted as pervasive and massive. The Jupiter/Saturn conjunction in 2020 moves the cycle from Earth to Air. It takes place at zero Aquarius, indicating a game-changing shift in how we—and I do mean all of us—see our world. And this shift was set in motion with the 2016 Presidential Election. More about this in future columns.

As you work your way through yet another potent week, it would be wise to pay close attention to what’s happening in your individual world as well as our shared world. Awareness can act as a buoy in the midst of change because it’s an antidote to numbness. As the coming weeks and months unfold, you’ll need that buoy because it will grow increasingly difficult to stay in present time. But as difficult as it might be, it’s important to at least try. Each of us contributes to our shared future with every thought, word and deed. And the more aware we are, the better our choices.

Hello to readers everywhere in Hawaii!

It’s finally here: Uranus entered Taurus on May 15 and now we get to find out what really happens—how the planet of revolution will revolutionize our lives yet again. Take a good look around because it’s likely that seven years from now the landscape of life—and maybe the actual terrain—will have changed dramatically. Some, but not all, of the predictions about our future world, shaped by Uranian twists and turns and illuminated by its lightning bolts, may actually come true. But it would be wise to prepare for unforeseen shifts, some seismic, others quantum, but all having a multidimensional influence on our world, including our parallel universes, which daily seem to be simultaneously pulling apart as well as overlapping. The polarization around the globe is happening so dramatically and dynamically that it’s impossible to predict what will happen next. For instance, who would have thought that George Will would be an ally in this brave new world? (If you haven’t read his Washington Post piece on Mr. Pence, it is something to behold and appreciate.  Here’s the link. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-is-no-longer-the-worst-person-in-government/2018/05/09/10e59eba-52f1-11e8-a551-5b648abe29ef_story.html)

Over the last couple of weeks as Uranus approached its entry into Taurus, lots of people experienced increased stress as old issues seemed to present themselves anew and new issues compounded anxieties about almost everything—old, new and not yet in existence. These tremors are likely to continue for quite a while as we adjust to the new astral frequency. Uranus symbolizes nervous systems—personal and collective—and as it moved, most if not all of us were on overload, and we still are. The best physical examples of our collective Uranian stresses are the volcanic eruptions and earthquakes that seem to be occurring everywhere, but especially along the Ring of Fire and Hawaii, most hard hit so far. (I’m writing this on Sunday, May 13, and by the time you read this, Kilauea may have erupted again.) I’m not sure it’s possible to characterize these eruptions as a direct result of Uranus’ entry into Taurus, but they are certainly a physical manifestation of what’s been churning and burning inside many hearts and minds.

As Uranus entered Taurus it formed a conjunction to Mercury, also in Taurus, and both were in a square to Mars, which occupied the final degree of Capricorn, wrapping up a dynamic and aggressive Martian cycle that began on March 23. Mars is now ending its transit through Capricorn—it entered Aquarius today, May 16. But—and this is important—as Uranus moved into Taurus, its square to Mars tightened and was nearly exact (barely 13 minutes away). The position of Mars speaks to the tone of this first Uranian phase: Mars/Uranus squares are restless astral spirits that stir a need to fight just for the sake of blowing off excess energy. This square is the freedom fighter—the rebel with or without a cause—who needs to vent regardless of the consequences.  

Unfortunately, this week as the sky unfolds its majesty and mystery, the Mars/Uranus square continues, so be prepared for a fair degree of aggressive energy that wants to spend itself in a brawl. You can harness the power of this square by channeling it into ambitious undertakings and spending its energy creatively, despite any controversies erupting around.

Uranus also made its entry into Taurus under the auspicious presence of a New Moon that was in a trine to Pluto, signaling the potential for a powerful new cycle and insuring that whatever is planted during this New Moon phase, as well as this new Uranian phase, will have the stamina and strength to blossom.

I’ve been listening to David Bowie the last few weeks, and the newest musical brain worm is Under Pressure, with Freddie Mercury. As I watch the news and scroll through social media, I keep hearing them singing This is ourselves under pressure. I suppose if there’s any chance of making contact and negotiating an intervention with friendly aliens, Mr. Bowie is probably the best choice and the one to do it—he was, after all, channeling that contact long before he returned to the spirit world. (Who knows? Contact might be easier from that dimension.) I’m hoping for an intervention, even if it’s a Doris Lessing Shikasta intervention, which I think we’re actually already in the midst of. (It’s a great read and too long to synopsize here.) We may not have put the old guard on trial yet, but we know enough about their crimes. And we are actually quite close to achieving the critical mass necessary to move into new, innovative ways of coping with our global situation. In the meantime…we can give love one more chance, even if it is such an old-fashioned word, because love does dare each of us to change the way we care. Be kind to your fellow travelers—it’s the best remedy for what ails.

Hello to readers in Ennis!

Give yourself as much time and space as you need this week…next week…and yes, for as many weeks as you desire. Uranus is ending its journey through Aries and beginning its journey through Taurus on May 15, and the shift in astral emphasis is going to take some getting used to. And because transitions are seldom smooth, it might be wise to anticipate that some of the more difficult, yet necessary, adjustments will require time. Of course, what most of us are wondering is how Uranus, in Taurus, will manifest and what it will mean individually as well as collectively. But because Uranus symbolizes surprise, spontaneity and unpredictability, there’s just no telling, and trying to pinpoint its presence through a specific event feels like chasing the wind.

What can be identified is Taurus’ relationship to values—beyond money and other financial resources and assets, Taurus symbolizes what matters most, including individual and societal value systems. This is one of the reasons we also assign beauty to Taurus. Its ruling planet is Venus, the embodiment of beauty, and when we deem something beautiful, it’s because it expresses our values. Recently, Dan Rather (who was probably not thinking about astrology or Uranus entering Taurus) wrote that in times of trouble, he craves the deeper truths that art expresses. “It is the genius of artistic expression that conveys understanding within an economy of time or space.” He ended his essay by quoting Keats: “Beauty is truth, truth beauty.” Rather’s words helped me recognize just how deeply our current chaos is a fundamental crisis of values. I know this isn’t new news—that’s not my point—but framing Uranus, in Taurus, through this lens afforded me a clearer picture of our already wobbling Earth and what we may expect.

Ever since Mr. Trump was elected, I’ve railed against him, his Gang of Hungry Ghosts and their egregious agenda. They are not guided by the values we assume to go hand-in-hand with the Oval Office as well as the responsibility to govern well. This gang of criminals do not value life in its infinite expressions, and their greed, cruelty, crassness, ruthlessness, and hubris (Did I leave anything out?) demonstrate their utter disregard for others. Their only enduring value is M-O-R-E.

It’s been confusing and confounding to watch his supporters support him even though their identification with him is harmful—to themselves. Who are the women who support pussy-grabbing and don’t see it as sexual assault? Or the Christians who apparently approve of his adultery? Or the followers who thrive on speaking without thinking and who hold lies, lies, and more lies as better choices than actually acknowledging the truth and honoring the facts? What do they value? (And why isn’t Oprah back on TV helping us make sense of it all? I can only assume she is hiding out with Gandalf—and Jon Stewart.)

Right now, we live in a post-truth world where opinion, spin, and media manipulation have become the new norms—the new values—and most importantly, a world in which opinion is more important than fact. And Mr. Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts have assiduously fed the beasts that rule the post-truth world by inflaming emotions, with the goal of creating chaos. There’s no portion of their agenda that’s haphazard—his cabinet was designed to dismantle every positive gain made on behalf of the poor, the sick and the safety of the planet.

What been so disconcerting about the implementation of this agenda is just how insidiously these gangsters have used deceit and deception to undermine the ability for lots of folks to think clearly. Of course, the ground for the current crisis in values has been fertilized and tended for many years. It has purposely exploited its constituents, selling them hatred, ignorance, hostility, and self-righteousness.

What I realized while reading Dan Rather and listening to the endless news revelations of last week is this: Uranus, in Taurus, is going to throw lightning bolts into these warring value systems and lay bare what is at the core. We are only at the beginning of those revelations and as this transit unfolds, each of us will have to make choices about what matters most. 

Again, I know this is not new news, but Uranus is new news, and over the next couple of years it’s going to provide plenty of opportunities for us to decide what we really value, not just as individuals but also as global citizens, sharing the common and threatened ground of Planet Earth. We can no longer assume that ideals are self-evident because we now know that they aren’t. Uranus, in Taurus, will ask: Is truth itself is a value? And if so, how does each of us plan to integrate that value into the way we live our daily lives?

But because Uranus symbolizes surprises, there are certain to be more than a few startling plot twists, especially during the coming weeks and months as this new phase gains momentum. And while it would be nice to think that the great Uranian surprise would be a return to normal—or what we once thought was normal—that isn’t likely. What is likely is a constant need to adjust to this new astral frequency, a need that is guaranteed to be wearying for most, if not all, of us. Uranus represents the nervous system, which makes one of the side effects of our adjustment phase akin to a psychic ‘rewiring’. And because Taurus symbolizes the body, that rewiring is not just an intellectual process—many of us could experience a deep physical response to this new phase.

Uranus signifies invention, innovation and change. It’s spontaneous and unpredictable, and its active presence always signals shifts because it catalyzes stagnation—the status quo isn’t safe from Uranian lightning bolts aimed at illuminating what’s no longer vital. The Uranus Effect often manifests as dramatic events, and while I wouldn’t call Uranus a ‘drama queen’, I would be prepared for even the most reliable and steady among us to be more than a little reactive. These days, every time I think about Uranus I hear David Bowie singing Ch…Ch…Ch…Ch…Changes.

Uranus also represents revolution, or as Hexagram 49 describes revolution in the I-Ching, the Chinese Book of Changes: “Times change, and with them their demands. Thus the seasons change in the course of the year. In the world cycle also there are spring and autumn in the lives of peoples and nations, and these call for social transformations.” Uranus signifies cultural and collective trends, so when Uranus enters a new Sign, we often experience disruption as we transition into a new astral season.

Uranus’ transit through Taurus lasts until July 7, 2025, but before that, Uranus will retrograde back into Aries on November 6, 2018—Election Day in the United States of America. It will return to Taurus on March 6, 2019.

Taurus symbolizes form—the tangible shape and appearance of everything, which includes the Earth and everything it gives birth to. All you need do is plant seeds in your garden during the lusty month of May, the time of Taurus, and as those seeds grow, you’ll witness the incredible creative potential of the Earth. Taurus also represents resources—it’s money and all the other ways of measuring value (with the exception of real estate). In esoteric astrology, Taurus represents the body, created and inhabited by spirit, which is ultimately the greatest resource of all.

Although we’re expecting the unexpected, one of the things we can count on during Uranus’ transit through Taurus is a financial revolution. We already know there’s a huge problem with wealth inequality, and as Uranus catalyzes that issue, we’re certain to see innovative and inventive solutions—and I’m not talking about cryptocurrencies. Of course, the stock markets may reflect Uranus’ erratic pulse and banking institutions may finally have to pay the piper—as so many people are predicting. And while those predictions may be true, because Taurus represents the infinite potential of spirit to manifest in physical reality, Uranus is sure to inspire financial innovation that we haven’t seen before. For example, neighborhoods uniting around shared resources, with people forming their own credit unions, taking money out of global institutions and investing it locally, where it can do the most good, short-term and long-term. It’s also likely that food cooperatives will gain greater stature as we move into a revolutionary (for most of us) approach to the Earth and her abundance.                                                                                                                              

From both a personal and collective perspective, Uranus, in Taurus, could engender a new relationship to the body—fashion trends notwithstanding—and that new relationship could include a different understanding of the body’s needs, especially nervous systems, young and old. We know so much more about how the human nervous system forms, gets hardwired into negative patterns, and what it needs to be able to relax into a positive state of being. With Uranus guiding the way, the next seven years could see that knowledge being applied in a deeper and more grounded way, changing lives, especially the lives of children. The transit of Uranus through Taurus could also lend deeper and much-needed insight into the nervous system of Planet Earth and what she needs to survive our many abuses to her body.

Even if I were to advise against spending too much time trying to figure out what kind of revolution Uranus is likely to provoke in your life, my admonition would fall on deaf ears—we’re all looking for any answers we can find. So spend some time honestly assessing what’s stagnant in your life: Is it a relationship, career, friendship, creative endeavor, attitude, or just a general malaise about the state of the state? Then think about how you might revolutionize your point of view. Are you holding onto a specific position because it’s meaningful? Or are you holding on out of habit? Whatever it might be, Uranus has the potential to set you free, especially if you’re willing to bring awareness to the ties that bind. As always, try to keep in mind that we are all going through this transition together—everyone everywhere is having the Uranus Effect somewhere in their lives—which translates into an even more intense need to treat each other with respect and tenderness.

Hello to readers in Aveiro!

This week and for the next many weeks, we’re caught between two equally powerful astral currents. The good news is that these forces are not in opposition to each other—they aren’t polarized or partisan. The not-so-good news is that their combined power amplifies the ongoing, pervasive, soul-wearying (and seemingly endless) WTF psychic fatigue many of us are experiencing, as one startling revelation after another rips away the polite surface of daily life—the shallow interactions that we once so happily pretended was reality. And even though some of us knew it was a sham, it was still a whole lot easier than this. Couple that combined effect with the sheer force of their individual influences, and the result is a constant erosion of the regular routines that once held reality together, an erosion that makes it almost impossible to stay steady and stabilized. It hasn’t been easy…it’s not easy…and it won’t be easy. But that’s all the more reason to stay conscious.  We are witnessing history as it is being created, and even though it doesn’t seem like it, each of us is a vital part of that creation. Our choices have a direct effect on the outcome, so even if it requires a Herculean effort to stay present, do your best. Be a glad participant despite the madness of the moment—each of us has the power to co-create with the universe.

Uranus rides and drives the first powerful astral current. Uranus, which is both the Mother of Invention and the Father of Revolution, leaves Aries and enters Taurus on May 15. In anticipation of that shift and because Uranus has such a potent relationship to the nervous system, lots of us are experiencing an antsy, uneasy restlessness that's interfering with our day-to-day ability to either stay focused during the day or sleep well at night. Uranus literally sends shivers up the spine, and nervous systems can only stand so much strain—we all need more sleep than we are getting. Do your best to stay calm and help others to do the same. Children have a hard time coping with Uranian intensity, so be as patient as possible.

When Uranus changes Signs, we usually experience some sort of dramatic event. As I’ve written before in these pages, the best example of Uranus changing Signs is the tidal wave that crashed into the Fukushima Nuclear Plant on March 11, 2011, the day that Uranus made its final move from Pisces, a Water Sign, to Aries, a Fire Sign. My hunch is that we might not notice anything upon its first foray into Taurus—although even as I write this, I’m thinking, “Really…in this climate of dramatic events, you think Uranus will be subtle?” But given that Uranus signifies surprises, its very silence could be the surprise. Uranus retrogrades back into Aries on November 6 and makes its final entry into Taurus on March 6, 2019—and that's when we may see some sort of dramatic event. Although, interestingly, there was an eruption of Mount Io in Japan, on April 19, a volcano that hasn’t erupted since 1768—250 years ago, also when Uranus was entering Taurus. (I’ve searched the Internet to find the exact date of that eruption and can’t find it. If anyone does find it, please share that information.)

Pluto is the orchestrator of the second and equally powerful current. This week, the ongoing Mars/Pluto conjunction that began on April 16 is exact and separating on Thursday, April 26. This is a destructive interaction that feeds the need for sheer brute force to get anything done, and while it can be harnessed to work without interruption, it easily slips into compulsive behavior that neutralizes its positive attributes. When hard aspects separate, we feel the full brunt of their inherent intensity, so watch the next couple of days carefully. Do your best to resist devolving into cruel or violent behavior toward anyone—and make no exceptions. Harmful actions will haunt the days ahead, because as Mars conjuncts Pluto, it triggers two future Plutonian events: (1) The Saturn/Pluto conjunction of January 12, 2020, and (2) the United States Pluto Return, which occurs on February, 20 2022. And while that may seem like a very long time from now, in cosmic time, it’s not even the blink of an eye.

Some planetary configurations take a long time to form and different astrologers calculate the orb, or range of a planetary pattern, along differing time frames. In personal astrology, I tend to use a very tight range, but for weekly and yearly calculations, a wider range seems more appropriate. And certainly that’s true of the 2020 Saturn/Pluto conjunction and the US Pluto Return. They both indicate the culmination of the current political and social chaos. They also indicate the culmination of individual shifts, which is one of the reasons it’s wise to be careful about what you put in motion.

One could argue—and I do—that we are already in the disruption, deterioration, turmoil, and upset of those two future astral events. Saturn represents authority. Pluto signifies death and rebirth, particularly the death of what is inauthentic, as it simultaneously represents the resurrection and rebirth of what has value. We’re certainly witnessing the dismantling of what were once deemed inalienable ideals, and as those values crumble, so do the reliable structures of daily life. And as we know, these are not just the structures of government—although who ever thought it would be possible to feel sorry for the FBI? The structures I’m referring to are the very bones that hold the country together and support the promise of freedom for each of its citizens.

For the last several weeks, as Mars has moved through Capricorn, it not only moved into a conjunction with Saturn, but it also began a conjunction with Pluto. As Mars approached Pluto, it moved through the position it occupies on the exact day of the US Pluto Return. This is significant because what’s being set in motion now is an indication of what’s to come. Do not think that Mr. Trump, his Gang of Hungry Ghosts, and the mendacious, aggressive agenda of those who support him will go lightly.

Even if you aren’t political…even if you don’t care about your fellow travelers…even if you don’t care about the fate of Planet Earth, it’s almost impossible to ignore the atmospheric discharges of a world where evolution currently resembles devolution. Just about everything feels tenuous, and many of us—far too many—feel uncertain about everything, from what to wear to what to say to what to think to what to believe to where to live and everything else that binds the ties of daily life. Yes, I know this all sounds extreme, but…really…in this present moment, isn’t life itself extreme?

In times of crisis it’s important to know how to self-soothe in healthy ways that promote soul-growth, so do whatever it is you do to calm your nervous system and then help others do the same, especially children who feel the intensity but have no way of naming it. We are witnessing as well as creating history together, and we need to remember each and every day that each and every one of us has a role to play.

Hello to readers in Paris!

Just like last week, this week we’re in the throes of even more shifts, and while some of us could mistake this week’s changes as the crescendo we’ve all been waiting for, my hunch is there’s still more to come. To be sure, last week’s chord will resonate for quite some time as will this week’s, but as unbelievable as this might seem there’s still more to be revealed. And much of what’s yet to come could turn even the most idealistic among us quite cynical about human nature. And while I can’t honestly criticize cynicism as a proper response, it might be wiser to resist that temptation and instead cling to a higher ideal. The human condition is imperfect, and while samsara is the realm of suffering — and it is our realm — when we transform our understanding of suffering and take personal responsibility for our choices, anything is possible. As Pema Chodron has said many, many, many times: When things fall apart — that’s the opportunity for change. Here we are in a flood of opportunities for change and the most important question is: How are we going to facilitate all the shifts that need occur? Keep that question in mind as the coming weeks and months unfold.

Here’s the good news: Mercury is direct — its retrograde ended on April 15 and it won’t be retrograde again until July 26.

But don’t get your hopes up for a full-throttle, forward-motion pace of daily life to begin anytime soon — at the moment, the only runaway trains are political — and there is so much retro-interference for the rest of the year that you might want to consider learning how to swim upstream. Yesterday, April 17, Saturn began its retrograde phase of the year, which will end on September 6. Saturn retraces its path all the way back to the position it occupied mid-January, so be prepared to review decisions, positions and strategies, personal and professional, put in motion since the beginning of the 2018. And as you do, keep in mind that when Saturn entered Capricorn, its Home Sign, in December 2017, it started us on an inexorable path toward the Saturn/Pluto conjunction that takes place in January 2020. This Saturn/Pluto conjunction is the actual crescendo many of us are anticipating — everything occurring now is pushing us to that point.

Also this week — and not such good news — Mars and Pluto, both in Capricorn, are tightening their conjunction, which is exact and separating on Thursday, April 26. Their perfect union occurs at 21degrees Capricorn, one degree away from where the Saturn/Pluto conjunction happens in 2020, which makes what happens this week and next key events contributing to the 2020 crescendo.

A Mars/Pluto conjunction is a pernicious influence that turns even the air prickly with desire to fight for control. Mars signifies war; Pluto symbolizes death and rebirth, and when they join together, their combined signature indicates a tendency toward using compulsive, obsessive brutality without regard to the consequences. Be careful what you say to family and friends in the heat of the moment — your words could have the shelf-life of Plutonium. From a collective perspective, this conjunction fans the flames of Mr. Trump and his new War Lord Bolton to act on their worst fears and put us all in jeopardy.

The other significant astral news of this week as well as the next several weeks is Uranus’ entry into Taurus on May 15. This is one of the primary reasons nervous systems are out of whack and lots of folks are feeling more than a little edgy — although Trump’s Gang of Hungry Ghosts are providing plenty of reasons to be nervous. That being said, from an astrological perspective we are caught in a huge Uranian vortex because the planet of surprising plot twists is leaving Aries, where it’s been for the last seven years, and simultaneously preparing to enter Taurus, where it stays for the next seven years.

We always feel a special kind of intensity when Uranus shifts. Many of us — and not only the most sensitive — are experiencing an increasing uneasiness about what’s next. And while we don’t need the planets to amplify our already queasy feelings about the state of the world, Uranus is exacerbating our individual and collective anxiety. Be aware, Uranus retrogrades back into Aries on November 6 — yes, Election Day in the United States of America — which is certain to disrupt the voting process, making it all the more important to protect the voting system from being hacked.

I’ve been looking at the charts of Mr. Trump, Mr. Mueller and Mr. Comey and observed some interesting aspects:

(1) Biggest news: Mr. Trump and Mr. Mueller have a Mars/Venus conjunction: Mr. Mueller’s Venus to Mr. Trump’s Mars. Astrologers love this aspect because it signifies complete sympathetic resonance, and if people are so inclined, an exquisite sexual rapport. Astrologers would interpret this as a match made in heaven — the perfect partner, lover and best friend. Venus-receives-Mars is the traditional way of interpreting this aspect, which made me contemplate just how tuned-in Mr. Mueller might be, given that this contact would make Mr. Mueller highly receptive to every little move and mood of King Donald and able to anticipate what might happen next.

(2) On April 18, the day after Mr. Comey’s book was released, transiting Mars conjuncts his natal Saturn. Synchronistically, the collective has been under the influence of a Mars/Saturn conjunction for the past several weeks, which was exact on April 2, in an opposition to Mr. Trump’s Mercury. (See the archived columns for more info.)

(3) On May 1, transiting Mars is exactly opposite Mr. Trump’s Saturn. I’m not sure he can handle the tension of that transit, given that its essence is the repression of anger. By the way, this transit also occurs at the same degree as the Saturn/Pluto conjunction we will all experience in January 2020.

Of course, we’re all wondering what happens next — and there’s just no way of knowing. Uranus symbolizes unpredictability, so how can we possibly know how it’s going to manifest? The one thing we know for sure is that Uranus sends its lightning bolts of illumination into stagnant waters, so wherever you might be feeling stuck or mired, you can anticipate a shakeup. But try not to dwell on all the difficult things that might occur. Pema Chodron is right — when things fall apart, we experience opportunities for growth. These are the perfect times to reaffirm your commitment to conscious living. 

Hello to readers in Sao Cosme!

I think it’s a good idea to start this week with inspiring news: A couple of weeks ago, on March 28, donorschoose.org announced that ripple.com was fully funding all the requests for help from teachers all around the country — 35,647 requests, to be exact — the total amount was $29 million. If you don’t know about donorchoose.org, it’s a great website where you can make a donation of any amount to help teachers get the supplies they need for students. This enormous contribution is a great story about someone having the courage to ask for what’s needed for those in need. And it’s an important story to keep in mind in these days of increased greed and parsimony by Mr. Trump, his Gang of Hungry Ghosts, and all the others following their lead and choosing selfishness over altruism. It’s good to be reminded that lots of people care about the welfare of their fellow travelers and are willing to put their money where their hearts are and share their success so that others may prosper. It’s especially good to know that we care enough about all of our children to help them learn. As most of us know, education is the most important gift and knowledge is the greatest superpower.

www.nytimes.com/2018/03/30/us/donors-choose-donation-ripple.html

This week, we need a big story of kindness to counter a tendency to turn pessimistic about the state of the world. The list of what must be transformed continues to grow and continues to be overwhelming. Recently I saw a video about all the garbage floating in the oceans — not something new — but for some reason, this particular clip which showed waves crashing on a beach filled with debris became a metaphor for daily life: The Internet has enabled each of us to open up our heads and pour everything out into the oceans of cyberspace. And now we are swimming through the garbage of what’s been dumped there — everyone, everywhere, sharing everything without discrimination or hesitation to the point where our collective waters are now so murky, inside and out, we can no longer ignore the problem. The planet is literally and figuratively demonstrating what needs to be cleaned up so we can save ourselves from ourselves.

This week we also need an inspirational story to soften the strident tone of the current planetary patterns. Mars, still in Capricorn, is separating from its conjunction with Saturn, also in Capricorn. This is a pernicious interaction that leans toward stern, authoritarian attitudes, and as it pulls apart, tempers are likely to do more than flare. Some of us — okay, maybe many of us — could get so angry about anything, big or little, that we run the risk of going off at the slightest provocation or infraction of personal space. Don’t be surprised if you, someone you love, or a co-worker melts down. Especially be prepared for children to have a hard time coping emotionally with what’s happening around them. They have no way of contextualizing their feelings as part of a bigger picture, and they may be frightened by the intensity.

Definitely keep those patience pills within reach because as the week progresses, Mars moves into a conjunction with Pluto, in Capricorn, another pernicious interaction that is exact and separating on April 26. This conjunction signifies brute force and the desire to use it as a solution for every problem — it empowers bullies and encourages violence. The bellicose behavior in the White House is certain to escalate to an even more fevered pitch as this next Martian phase unfolds.

But that’s not all. An ongoing Sun/Pluto square is separating today — it was exact a little before 1:00 AM EDT — and as it pulls apart, appetites for power increase. This square feeds the craving to be Number One, so anticipate despots, petty or otherwise, to assert their authority, real or otherwise, whether or not their ‘authority’ is welcome.

Also be aware…the Sun, in Aries, is closing in on its conjunction with Uranus, which will be exact on April 18. Please note that Sun/Uranus conjunctions will continue as Uranus changes Signs, but the Sun and Uranus will not be conjunct in Aries again until March 2095. This conjunction is all about the need to break free from whatever enslaves — physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual — so make the most of this contact and liberate yourself from the stagnant ties that bind you to situations that are no longer congruent with your desire to grow.

More good news: Mercury Direct begins on April 15 at 5:21 AM EDT. Yes…it’s been a rough retrograde ride, but don’t get too excited and jump the gun — give Mercury a couple of days to gain forward momentum before you start setting too much in motion.

Power issues, personal and collective, dominate daily life this week, and while too many fellow travelers are enduring tremendous suffering at the hands of others, many more have the power to choose how to respond to the turmoil that surrounds us. This is why we need to be reminded that many good deeds are being done in a world that needs many good deeds. Use this powerful week to contemplate how you can make a positive difference in your world. It’s not necessary to donate a gazillion dollars; it might be a simple as this: Be kind to everyone you encounter and engage with. Kindness always has an exponential beneficial effect.

Hello to readers in Padalarang!

The next several weeks are a confluence of powerful astral interactions, so don’t be surprised if you feel pulled in several directions simultaneously and confused about what should be a priority. There’s a whole lotta sky-shakin’ goin’ on, and trying to stay on task, steady and stable, is going to require great effort. It can be done, but it will require moderation and a refusal to go to extremes, coupled with discipline and a determination not to be distracted. Here’s the big picture:

We’re six weeks away from Uranus’ entry into Taurus on May 15 — this is a big transition, so big that even the ethers are shivering in anticipation of what the next seven years of Uranus, in Taurus, will be. Taurus is the Sign of m-o-n-e-y and just how much financial upheaval we will have to cope with is part of the nervous anticipation. But another current within the week, and perhaps a more potent one, relates to the last seven years of the transit of Uranus through Aries. We’re in the last six weeks of that journey, which translates into a tightly condensed tableau of the important moments of the last seven years. Yes…Uranus retrogrades back into Aries in the fall and doesn't fully enter Taurus until March 2019, but right now it’s winding up a powerful dynamic journey as it simultaneously prepares for the next.

Transitions are seldom easy, and Uranus always, always, always demonstrates its potency with surprising events. And that is a conundrum for astrologers because trying to predict what the Planet of unpredictability is going to do, is well…. That being acknowledged, we know that Taurus is an Earth Sign and that the Earth is in dire need of assistance from as many helpers as she can get, so we can be sure that the next seven years will be about Uranian intervention, invention and innovation regarding what can be done to preserve the health, beauty and voice of the planet herself.

Back here in the rapidly ending days of Uranus, in Aries, the power of the individual or individuals to assert their will is dominating the news. Aries represents self-assertion, from the lowest forms of global rage to the highest forms of self-actualization. Uranus represents the rebel, with or without a cause, fighting for individual and collective freedom from whatever enslaves. And over the course of the last seven years, we’ve witnessed the power of an individual to transform her life — Malala comes to mind first — as well as the power of individuals to unite for the greater good — the recent March for Our Lives demonstrations to end gun violence that took place all around the world.

I’ve written about Mr. Trump as a kind of cultural homeopathic remedy, and the chaos he continues to generate as a healing crisis for the planet. But he is also a dense example of Uranus, in Aries, given that he and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts not only strive to put their individual needs above the needs of the collective, but also because they consciously manipulate the desire of certain individuals to feel superior to their fellow travelers by appealing to their worst fears. He and his cohort exemplify the negative attributes of Aries combined with the stubborn quality of Uranus to rebel simply for rebellion’s sake — to know oneself through stubborn individualism rather than through cooperation with others.

As these next six weeks unfold, it might be a useful endeavor to explore how that selfishness has presented itself in your life during the last seven years, and what, if anything, you’ve done to transform it.

Another potent interaction this week is the ongoing Mars/Saturn conjunction, in Capricorn, which was exact on April 2 and is now separating. As we know, this is a pernicious combination that can resort to cruelty, whether inflicted on oneself or others. It's interesting to note that this conjunction was opposite Mr. Trump’s Mercury as he made his decision to take DACA off the table and simultaneously threatened NAFTA. Even though these decisions seem to stem from the madness of a despot drunk on power, do not be fooled. The chaos he is attempting to create is purposeful — the greater disruption you can create in society, the easier it is to solidify your political agenda, if only because fear is a great disrupter of progress. The good news is that fear can also give birth to unflinching courage. Again, Malala is a great example of that courage, as are the Parkland students, and all the participants, female and male, in the #metoo movement.

But that’s not all. This week, we are also in the grip of an ongoing Mercury Retrograde phase that began on March 23 and is in effect until April 15, which means we are still subject to delays, detours, snags, and snafus related to communication and travel.

This week and the next several weeks are rare example of planetary influences in motion. Earthly life always reflects heavenly motion because we are inextricably bound to a greater unity than mere mortal minds can perceive — and yet our imaginations know this unity to be true as do our hearts.

Hello to readers in Koloa!

It’s another week of intensified intensity here on planet Earth — we’re in the deep space of personal and planetary transformation and the stakes are high. Who would or even could have imagined that our entire planet — everyone, including animals, minerals and vegetables, everywhere, including land, sea and air — would be sharing a simultaneous identity crisis? Each new day highlights another facet of our changing world. And it’s not just local or specific to the United States, although Mr. Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts seem to be spearheading a devolution, vainly attempting to hide from the social shadows in dire need of attention — shadows that are giving birth to a revolution.

It’s also a global identity crisis, as countries around the world experience an increase in right-wing resistance to an inevitable paradigm shift, a shift that’s more about our shared common ground than it is about our individual nations. The convulsions of this identity crisis are also pulsing through the animal and plant world, as one after another of our fellow travelers becomes extinct. And the oceans, once considered too vast to be polluted, are suffocating under the weight of our refuse. There’s so much to take in that no one would be wrong to feel it’s simply too much to handle gracefully.

And for the next several weeks that might be true for all of us, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself in perpetual crisis-management mode. The ongoing Mars/Saturn conjunction, in Capricorn, tightens its grip this week — it’s exact and separating on Monday, April 2, which means we’re within its strongest effect for the next week at least. This is a pernicious interaction that signifies inflammation of every kind — physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Mars wants to move and Saturn wants to control. Mars is the Warrior and Saturn is the Authoritarian. Saturn sits on that Martian need for action, and the result is an atmosphere rife with frustration, arguments and power struggles. As noted last week, under this influence it’s likely that most of us will be more than a little irritable, so try not to take your frustrations out on others. No snarly, snarky comments to the barista or snide asides about a co-worker. Even the smallest perceived infraction could escalate into a full-scale battle.

What’s more, the Mars/Saturn effect is exacerbated by several other interactions. (1) The ongoing Mars/Sun square, which was exact on March 24, persists until April 7, ramping up the idea that a fight seems is as good a way as any to blow off steam. (2) The Sun/Saturn square is exact and separating tomorrow, March 29, and we’re in its critical wake until April 8 — so anticipate harsh and angry exchanges about the way things should be done. (3) On March 31, the Full Moon, in Libra, squares the Mars/Saturn conjunction, adding an emotional component that few will have the patience to tolerate. (4) A week later, the Moon conjuncts Mars and Saturn, in Capricorn, continuing the thread of emotional hypersensitivity. Yes…it is as complex as it sounds. But the gist is this: It’s a cranky, bellicose bundle that is sure to stimulate a need to fight — bullies are empowered, but even the meek and mild-mannered could blow a gasket under this influence.

And that is a problem because on April 2, the day the Mars/Saturn conjunction is exact, it is also exactly opposite Mr. Trump’s Mercury, in Cancer, at eight degrees. Mercury, as we know, signifies all things related to communication and thought processes, and when Mercury is opposed by Mars and Saturn, an irritable mental state, beset with anxiety and fear, could push a need to take action to alleviate the stress. Mr. Trump has been not-so-quietly putting together his war team, and the influence of this opposition could trigger his determination to start a war, if only to serve as a further distraction from his deep-rooted anxiety about the Mueller investigation.

Add in Mercury Retrograde, which is in full blown delay-and-detour mode until April 15, and…well…it’s a mess.

Here’s the good news: While constant upheaval is unnerving, it can also be exciting and inspiring. Daily we are witnessing spontaneous eruptions of conscious goodwill aimed at tackling one or another of our common problems: Corporations refusing to be a part of the pollution problem. Members of the one percent sharing their wealth to make the world a better place for those less fortunate. And, of course, children taking a powerful stand against gun violence, children who are teaching many of us to take a powerful stand for what we believe in despite any cynicism that may have accreted to an older generation’s early revolutionary inclinations. They are inspiring hope everywhere. And these children are terrifying to the complacent white men currently in power whose narcissism blinds them to the consequences of their actions. As David Bowie sang in 1971: And these children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds are immune to your consultations. They’re quite aware of what they’re goin’ through. Don’t tell them to grow up and out of it. Apparently, the revolution will be live AND on television. But it is no longer a local revolution. It’s global, and Planet Earth really does hang in the balance.

The spiritual cliché goes: No one is given more than she can handle. I’m not sure that’s true at this moment in time and space. We may have to modify that wisdom to: Handle as much as you can…but try to handle it with compassion. The world changes one heart at a time, and what we are witnessing through the Parkland students is the power of individual hearts joining together to facilitate social change that benefits not just the one, but the many. Social justice is love at the collective level — love for all our fellow travelers, animal, mineral and vegetable. When you combine that love with revolution you create evolution.

Hello to readers in Pamplona!

It’s almost an impossible week to unpack: The madness of King Donald persists, and as his heartless reign continues to wreak havoc across the land, his cadre of Hungry Ghosts continue to ravage the countryside, while his misanthropic minions continue to poison cyberspace and actual space with their evil intent to obscure the truth. You could say it’s just another week on Planet Earth, where daily her inhabitants are asked to tolerate mendacious behavior that so blatantly disregards common decency…so blatantly that I keep asking myself: Didn’t Frodo throw the ring into Mount Doom? (Yes, I know it was ultimately Gollum’s greed that saved us from Sauron.) So why are the Nazgul still flying overhead generating terror with every screech and wing flap? And most importantly — Where the fuck is Gandalf when you need him? I thought he was the Wizard who conquered death — he fought and survived the Balrog, didn’t he? Seriously…this movie has gone on far too long.

Alas, it’s not a movie; it’s real life — or a cartoonish version of it — but I’m still holding out that the eagles will rescue Gandalf and fly him to Washington, D.C., where he can take care of this mess with a wave of his magic staff. In the meantime, I guess it’s up to us to keep forging ahead, no matter what the obstacles — and there are plenty — so here’s the breakdown for another week of high intensity.

The Sun entered Aries yesterday, signaling the start of spring and the end of winter’s hibernation. Aries can be as restless as the wind, which is why it thrives on action. As this restless Aries Sun illuminates a new season, it immediately moves into a square with Mars, in Capricorn. Squares symbolize friction, and as the Sun bumps up against Mars, that fractious interaction is sure to exacerbate the need to do something with that restlessness. This Sun/Mars square is certain to make everyone more than a little cranky-pants. And patience will be at a premium.

But that’s not all. Mars, in Capricorn, moves into a conjunction with Saturn, also in Capricorn, which means that they will both square the Sun — and that’s a hard interaction. A Mars/Saturn conjunction often indicates a judgmental, demanding energy that is unable to tolerate mistakes. It’s fantastic for detail work, but not such a swell influence for tolerance and compassion. When it squares the Sun, obstacles seem to appear out of nowhere, and even simple tasks seem hard and frustrating. And human interactions can turn into test of strength, as in who has the bigger you-know-what.

The Sun/Mars square begins this week, is exact and separating on March 24, and finally ends on April 7. The Mars/Saturn conjunction begins this week, is exact and separating on April 4.  For those new to astrology…when hard interactions separate, the tension releases and we tend to experience those releases as intense events.

And there’s more. This Sun/Mars/Saturn configuration tightens its grip as Mercury Retrograde, in Aries, begins on March 23 and lasts until April 15. Experienced retrograders know that for at least 3 days before and after an actual retrograde, daily life seems to slow to a crawl; and when you add in the frustration of the Sun/Mars/Saturn mess, the next several weeks are likely to be rife with frustration. And that frustration is likely to manifest as tantrums, yours or others’. Do your best to refrain from taking out your frustrations on those around you. Be especially tender with children — they tend to channel these energies not knowing anything about what’s happening, and the next few weeks could generate a lot of hyperactivity. And also, please don’t kick the dog or blame it or the cat for things just because you can.

I’ve been playing David Bowie’s Space Oddity while I wait for Gandalf to get here. I’m hoping that if Gandalf can’t make it, the extraterrestrials monitoring Earth will finally intervene and save us from ourselves. Please don’t confuse my longing for fantasy heroics as a refusal to deal with reality — I’m more than willing to deal. But a steady dose of Trump reality hurts the heart, and humor is one of the best ways of healing that despair — at least for the moment. The next several weeks are not easy, and each of us will need to do whatever it is we do to keep our sanity — just do your best to keep it healthy. As always, try to be kind to your fellow travelers, most of whom are just as weary from the constant bombardment of cruelty and ignorance emanating from the White House. If we can stay strong and connected, we will make it through this next phase.

Hello to readers in Miami!

The planets form new alignments this week, and as they shift their positions, the regular routines of daily life strike a different chord. You’ll need balance to maintain your alignment in the midst of these shifts — physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Get out those yoga mats, internal as well as external, and be prepared to strike and hold several poses. And even if you think you don’t have time to make time for yourself, find a few minutes to stretch — again, on all levels, because flexibility is key to finding your perfect pitch. It’s also key to helping others find their way through the shifts.

Mars makes the first move of the week as it enters Capricorn on Saturday, March 17. Mars signifies physical energy — the energy of the body, its muscles and movement. It also represents the desire to win and achieve, and when Mars is in Capricorn, it feeds a need to succeed. Ambition flourishes under this influence, so anticipate lots of people, including yourself, having the get-up-and- go to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goals.   

Just be aware that some of your efforts are likely to be impeded by the rapidly approaching Mercury Retrograde that begins on March 22 at 8:18 pm EDT in the US and March 23 at 12:18 am GMT. Most of us know the Mercury Retrograde drill by heart, but for those who don’t:  Mercury Retrograde is not a good time to initiate new plans and projects, but it is the perfect time to review and reflect on what’s already in motion. The normal warnings are: don’t sign contracts, leases, buy travel tickets, or purchase any technology whatsoever, from phones to consoles. That being said, life doesn’t and shouldn’t stand still just because Mercury is retrograde. It’s wise to be prepared for the delays, detours, and deadline dramas that usually occur during Mercury Retrograde. Several days before a retrograde, the routines of daily life start to slow down, as they also do during the several days following the end of a retrograde phase when Mercury goes direct. This retrograde ends on April 15 (Tax Day in the USA), but don’t expect the pace of Mercury-related areas of life to return to normal — because two days after Mercury Direct begins, Saturn goes retrograde, and that’s certain to stall Mercury’s ‘forward’ motion.

Mercury Retrograde is notorious for technical snags and snafus, so the best way to prepare for it is to back up everything now.

The next important shift is a seasonal one — the Sun moves into Aries on March 20, and as it does, we move into spring and its promise of renewal. Aries is a potent Fire Sign that signifies the will to be. In psychological terms, it symbolizes the process of individuation. Since Uranus began its transit through Aries seven years ago, we’ve been learning, collectively and individually, about the power of one person to change the world. Being an individual isn’t always easy, and stubbornly clinging to an individualism that forfeits common sense and decency isn’t authentic individuation. Part of what we’ve been learning these last seven years is how to balance the needs of the one with the needs of the many, and during the coming weeks, as individuals continue to unite into communities, we will be witnessing the power of those combined efforts to effectuate change.

As the Sun moves into Aries and spring begins, there is a trine between the Moon, in Taurus, and Saturn, in Capricorn, both Earth Signs and both devoted to the practical application of creative efforts. This is a precursor of what’s to come when Uranus moves out of Aries and into Taurus on May 15. As Uranus moves through those last degrees of Aries, lots of us are probably going to experience daily life as tests of individual physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual strength — another reason to maintain your balance and flexibility.

But that’s not all: We’re on the threshold of what could be called the Retro Slog of 2018. Jupiter is already retrograde, and once Mercury Retrograde begins there are hardly any weeks throughout the rest of this year that are retrograde-free. The best way to handle this retrospective is to be introspective. But it is also important to be thoughtful about your choices, so put on your thinking caps, attach the extraterrestrial antennae, and start listening for those multidimensional signals. They are there — we just have to hear them clearly. And when possible, help others hear those messages too — there’s a lot of wisdom available to all of us if we are willing to pay attention.

Hello to readers in Soborg!

The week weaves a variety of threads together into a mosaic that is simultaneously potent, powerful and unpredictable. Some of those threads symbolize conflict and combat, while others represent a potential for synthesis. Either way, the days and nights that lie ahead are best understood as opportunities to coordinate, apply and integrate spiritual understanding into positive action. For some, that may be as simple as not engaging in a fight — any fight, whatever the cause. For others, the lines being drawn could inspire the courage to take a stand for your beliefs. For those already called to positive action, the need to lead others not as skilled or practiced at taking a stand becomes increasingly clear, so don’t hesitate to make a contribution. Just remember that the ends never justify the means — the means create the ends, so walk your talk as best you can and encourage your fellow travelers to do the same.

A Mars/Uranus trine is the source of this week’s combative attitude. Mars signifies aggression and anger, from the lowest forms of unprocessed global rage to actual war, which the Dalai Lama once called legalized violence. All astrological symbols play out along a spectrum from negative to positive, and on the positive end of the Mars spectrum, Mars represents self-assertion — when anger transforms into self-actualization and the ability to take a stand for oneself as well as for others. This is where the deepest qualities of Mars are realized. Anger is almost always a healthy response to having one’s self denied, but few of us are taught how to skillfully channel that power. Mars rules Aries, and at the vernal equinox, when the Sun moves into Aries and signals the start of spring (in the northern hemisphere), we can witness that Martian power: The winds of March can stir a profound restlessness that is often characterized as irritating or agitating. But at the same time, the plants of spring demonstrate that Martian power — crocuses and daffodils, with their tender shoots, push away the frozen ground and anything that might be in the way of their growth, all the while maintaining their delicate shoots and blooms.  

From a political perspective, Mars is always best channeled into positive action, so don’t be surprised if the many movements for social justice gain momentum during the coming weeks. To be sure, there will be resistance to those movements and that resistance will be channeling the same militant thread, and because Uranus also plays a role, the might of Mars is apt to be difficult to channel.

Uranus represents the revolutionary — it fights for freedom wherever freedom is trapped by the stagnant waters of the status quo. Essentially unpredictable, Uranus provokes and instigates — it’s the rebel with or without a cause, and because of that it often manifests as surprising plot twists and reversals of fortune. As Uranus trines Mars, it stimulates — a better word might be agitates — that Martian need to push past any obstacles and engage in action. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself moving out of stasis, sloughing off winter’s stagnation.

A Sun/Neptune conjunction, in Pisces, produces the potential for a calm, gentle approach. It’s an interesting contrast to the Martian need to assert, and synthesizing these two seemingly disparate forces takes skill. The Sun/Neptune conjunction has been with us since February 26. It was exact on March 4, and it is separating all this week. Pisces is the Sign of empathy, and the influence of this conjunction has generated the potential for profound empathy — something we may be witnessing through the responses to the recent school massacre in Parkland by chain stores selling automatic weapons.

Jupiter, in Scorpio, goes retrograde on Friday, March 9, and continues its retrograde phase until July 10. As Jupiter reviews its journey through Scorpio, a journey that began October 2017, many of us will be reviewing what’s transpired since Jupiter’s transit through Scorpio began, so be prepared to reexamine lots of things because on March 23 — just a little over two weeks from now — Mercury Retrograde begins. But more about that next week. This week, Jupiter begins a trine to the Sun, in Pisces, that lasts until March 21. Sun/Jupiter trines are positive and optimistic interactions, and this one, because it’s in Pisces, also fosters empathy — and lots of it.

There’s only one glitch in this empathic mix, and that’s a Sun/Mars square, which can manifest as a restless spirit that needs to blow off steam. This square feeds the need to fight just for the sake of it because sometimes a good fight just feels good. I know most of us won’t cop to that, but my mother always picked a fight just to get her blood moving.

It will be interesting to witness how this strong impulse toward empathy coalesces with the equally strong Mars/Uranus impulse toward aggressive action. It’s likely to drive King Donald into even more dramatic manifestations of madness. And as for his Gang of Hungry Ghosts…more of them are likely to be revealed as solely devoted to their own selfish interests, deaf to the revolution happening around them.

As for the rest of us mere mortals, these weeks demand even more skill than previous weeks — and that’s saying a lot. For those of you who have been practicing transformation as a way of life, figure out how to share your wisdom with those, young and old, who are new to the idea of taking personal responsibility. For the road-weary, it can grow tedious to be constantly explaining how thought, word and deed align in every moment to co-create reality — but it is absolutely necessary to help others through these waves. Reach out to those drowning in despair at our current situation and help them contextualize what’s happening. Each of us is a change agent and our secret weapon is compassion. Remember, kindness is winning — even when it doesn’t look like it.

Hello to readers in Chicago!

The next two weeks — actually until the Ides of March on March 15 — are quite tricky and navigating them peacefully requires great skill combined with consistent presence, mixed with a healthy dose of goodwill, and as long as I’m at it: humility, kindness and a commitment to do no harm. The sky portends a righteous strength that could easily manifest as an even more combative air than the one we are already breathing — as if that’s possible. But the difference between the current strident signature and others we’ve experienced is its potential to positively support efforts for freedom and independence, both individual and collective. It is not a miracle cure for the soul sickness our planet is currently working through, but it does provide a potent potential to make what the I-Ching calls energetic progress in the good.

The source of this powerful planetary pattern is a Mars/Uranus trine. Mars is in Sagittarius and Uranus is in Aries, both Fire Signs, and as noted in last week’s column, this is the last trine between Mars and Uranus in a Fire Sign for the next 22 years. To be sure, there will be other positive Mars/Uranus interactions between now and then, but not filtered through the tempestuous and passionate Element of Fire, and certainly not through Aries, which Mars rules, until 2094. 

This current trine is significant for two reasons: (1) It is the last time we will be under the influence of this signature for at least three generations. (2) Uranus is at the end of its transit through Aries, a journey that began on May 28, 2010 and fully established itself on March 11, 2011, but also a journey that was punctuated by three years of seven exact Uranus/Pluto squares between June 2012 and March 2015 — or what I lovingly refer to as the seven squares that shook the world and upended so many assumptions as they simultaneously fomented so many issues of injustice in so many places around the world, most of which have yet to be resolved.

On March 11 2010, as Uranus moved out of Pisces, a Water Sign, and into Aries, a Fire Sign, a tidal wave set off a nuclear fire that is still burning. Yes, this is a physical manifestation of an astrological event, but it also has tremendous symbolic meaning because the cultural ‘fires’ started by Uranus during its journey through Aries — the fight for social justice where it is most needed — also cannot be extinguished. The issues of race, gender and poverty (to name just three) are part of our daily lives now, especially where the fight for social justice encounters its resistance through the mendacious policies of Mr. Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts.

The next eleven weeks of Uranus, in Aries — now through May 15, when it enters Taurus — are an existential pop-quiz on what we’ve learned these last seven years about the power of personal fire and collective fire to facilitate change. We’re in the wisdom-gathering stage of Uranus’ transit through Aires, and the next several weeks illuminate what has shifted and what hasn’t.

But even though we are gathering wisdom, both Mars and Uranus are action planets and their current trine expresses their combined need to move. Mars symbolizes muscle and might. Uranus represents the revolutionary. And as they join forces, the urge for freedom burns like a fire in the belly of all those who feel oppressed. Their trine is exact and separating on March 11, which means for the next 12 days the intensity of daily life builds and then releases after March 11 with an equally intense charge. This is why it is essential to navigate your way through these weeks carefully.

In the context of the current battle for gun safety in America, both sides of the argument feel oppressed. The proponents for gun control are tyrannized by the lack of safety — and not just from guns, but from the vitriolic cyber-bullying by the far right. (And who knows where the hatred is coming from.) The opponents of gun control are terrified that their guns will be taken away, leaving them vulnerable, stripped of what they believe is their constitutional right of self-defense.

I am not sure oppression is relative, but I am willing to stand in the shoes of those who are afraid of losing their guns, even if their fear is unconscious and unexamined, so that I can better understand what drives their anxiety. But my problem is just how much harm is caused by unexamined fear, especially when there is such easy access to guns and such resistance to recalibrating that access. It’s even harder to tolerate being oppressed by the threat of violence by people who are armed and so easily manipulated by cynical forces who only profit from their ignorance and anxiety.

What I am also concerned about is just how often Mr. Trump incites riot. He feeds hate groups as if they are precious pets, empowering their position and giving them a spotlight they’ve only previously dreamed of. I am concerned that his praise is solidifying their positions and exacerbating the already too polarized atmosphere.

Fortunately, the young people opposing gun violence are illuminated by the beauty of their innocence, an innocence that holds up a mirror to those less courageous and asks what they are going to do to ensure safety for every child. These smart kids and the power of their combined hearts is shifting the paradigm, sometimes with a shift of many changes of heart and sometimes one person at a time.

For example: www.marchforourlives.com/

And edition.cnn.com/2018/02/18/politics/gop-donor-ban-assault-weapons/index.html

Hexagram 43 in the I-Ching is entitled Breakthrough, and it speaks to the idea of long accumulated tension letting go as well as the struggle of good and evil. It warns against using evil against evil, something all the agents of enduring change caution about. Getting entangled by hatred only strengthens hatred. The I-Ching is always worth a read, but for the next couple of weeks, its advice to refuse becoming involved in hatred is completely apropos. It advises that the best way to fight evil is to make energetic progress in the good.

Hello to readers in Omaha!

Spend the next two weeks concentrating on what you want to put in motion or bring to completion, because these are the last two weeks of the first six months of 2018 that are unencumbered by any retrograde delays, detours, snags, or snafus. Make hay while the Sun shines, as that old cliché advises, because Jupiter begins its retrograde cycle on March 9 and Mercury begins its first retrograde cycle of the year on March 23, and we don’t come up for non-retrograde air for a while.

Jupiter begins the Retro-Slog of 2018 — months and months of one planet after another reviewing its previous path — which doesn’t really end until the end of the year. Jupiter Retrograde ends on July 10, but by that time we’re in the midst of Mars Retrograde, which begins on June 26 and persists throughout the summer until August 27. And I hope you’re sitting down, because in the middle of that Martian retrospective, we move into the second Mercury Retrograde of the year which starts on July 26. I think you get the picture and are already refilling your patience-pills prescription.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. The first Mercury Retrograde of the year begins on March 23, two weeks after Jupiter Retrograde begins. But as most of us know by now, the weeks before and after any retrograde are characterized by a slower pace than we might like. Yes…it’s a mess, but this year it’s worse than a mess — and I don’t really have a specific word for it other than slog. What I can say is that we will be examining every detail of life for the entire year, and while that may ultimately prove beneficial, it will also be aggravating, irritating and really, really frustrating. So get your priorities straight and use the available energy to put things in motion now. Please don’t procrastinate and wait until the last moment to back up your computer, phone or any other technology that might be vulnerable to retrograde obstacles. Back up now…really…now.

For those readers new to retrogrades, here’s some help: From Earth’s perspective, there are several times a year that planets appear to be moving backwards in their orbits around the Sun. Of course, they aren’t actually moving backwards at all, but astrology assigns significance to those retrograde cycles, and from an astrological perspective, the areas of life associated with those planets seem to encounter obstacles during that review process and thus seem to slow down the activities of daily life.

This week, in addition to being a try-to-get-it-done-before-the-retrograde week, is also a week of great sensitivities. The Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Neptune are all in the deeply intuitive Sign of Pisces, a Water Sign that embodies the essence of intuition. And even though Mars, in Sagittarius, squares the Venus/Neptune conjunction, in Pisces, the entire Piscean aggregation softens the Martian tendency to do battle and instead moves the collective psyche toward greater empathy. But by this time next week, Mars begins a trine to Uranus, in Aries, that is exact and separating on March 11, and as the energy builds between these two potent forces, empathy takes a backseat to willpower and the need to take a stand, with or without a cause.

An important note: This is the last Mars/Uranus trine in Fire Signs until 2040, when Uranus moves into Leo in 2039, and between now and then there will be no fiery Mars/Uranus trines. There will be other interactions, of course, but they will be in Earth, Air and Water Signs. From my perspective, the current and final (for the next 22 years) fiery Mars/Uranus trine on March 11 is an exclamation point at the end of the seven-year transit of Uranus, the Planet of revolution, through Aries, the Sign of the warrior. And because it’s the final contact in this cycle, it’s certain to contain a heated charge. Mars is the Ruler of Aries and it’s no slouch when it comes to using its might for whatever stand it is taking, which makes it even more important to keep a cool head during the coming weeks. There are already too many wars in our world, a world that desperately needs peace, so try to contribute to peace by avoiding petty personal wars that seem so important in the moment, but later on are recognized as nonsense.

The problem is that staying peaceful won’t be easy, especially in a world where so much injustice is perpetrated every day upon those with less agency and privilege. And yet there is reason to take heart: The patriarchy is losing and they know it, which is why they are grabbing every little thing they can, and causing so much trouble before they must surrender to the inevitable — those kids speaking truth in Florida are the future.

I have maintained for a while that Mr. Trump is the equivalent of a cultural and social homeopathic remedy, a potent dilution of the poison of the patriarchy and its policies of power, violence, greed, bigotry, misogyny, and oppression. And for those not familiar with homeopathy and how it works, it’s based on the principle that like heals like — the substance that causes the disease can cure it when administered through the proper process, which includes dilutions and dosages. From that perspective, it seems that Mr. Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts are just the right dosage to bring to the surface of our collective skin all the social diseases plaguing our evolutionary process since the old white guys took over the world and began ruining it for the rest of us.

Every homeopathic cure includes a healing process, and certainly we are in the midst of a massive healing crisis that’s painful to endure and almost impossible to bear — and it is sure to get worse before it’s over. But love is winning because there is simply no other sane choice if we want to make it through this truly dark night. Remember, love can take many forms including outrage, adamant principles and positive action. So when you can, choose love, and even if it feels like a losing battle, know that kindness, compassion and wisdom are the only way to save our planet.

Hello to readers in Cluj-Napoca!

I cannot wrap my head around the idea that anyone could or would call the FBI liberal — J. Edgar Hoover, even if he is already reincarnated as a rock somewhere on a distant planet at the other end of the galaxy, is certain to be raging over this utterly preposterous accusation, and Roy Cohn — a friend of Trump’s — is also sure to be having a stroke in whatever hell realm he’s been assigned to. But I have to admit it makes me smile just to think about the FBI as liberals — it’s so outrageous. My parents were card carrying members of the Communist Party their entire adult lives and the FBI were not friends of my family. My father was blacklisted and FBI agents followed him from job to job, insuring he would be fired from whatever job he managed to find. Growing up, the FBI were so much a part of my family system — they seemed to stay so close — that my father taught our dog, Maynard, how to lift his leg and pee whenever anyone said, “FBI.”

No part of me believes Mr. Trump’s bald-faced lie and phony baloney accusation that the FBI is a liberal branch of the government. I think I must be having a bad acid flashback. Just when I thought I had seen everything, Mr. Trump manages to trump himself. He and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts must be very, very scared, and they should be, given that colluding with Putin/Russia to meddle in an American election is tantamount to treason. But the irony of the moment isn’t lost on me: I live in a world where I am defending the very organization that persecuted my father, and I have genuine empathy for the many members of the FBI who feel betrayed by their President. Wow. The world really is upside down and inside out.

And so it goes in the current eclipse zone, where the lines that define normal are blurred by the reversals of lunar and solar light. This week is the midpoint between the lunar eclipse of January 31 and the solar eclipse of February 15, both of which are related to the eclipses of last August. Normally a solar eclipse reveals all sorts of hidden things lurking in the shadows. The Moon overrides the Sun and unconscious drives overpower conscious concerns. Often eclipses reveal surprising information. Take the solar eclipse of 1998, which was on President Clinton’s Sun…Monica Lewinsky, anyone?

Uranus ups the ante on next week’s solar eclipse, as it sextiles both the Sun and the Moon, as well as Mercury, which is traveling in unison with the Sun. All three — Sun, Moon and Mercury — are conjunct at 26-27 degrees of Aquarius. Those born at the end of the Fixed Signs — Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius — are likely to feel the effect of this eclipse quite keenly. So if you’re feeling slightly disoriented or disconnected, don’t despair. As much as this mantra is a cliché, use it: This too shall pass.

The orb of an eclipse — lunar or solar — makes it tricky to identify or pinpoint its effect. The orb of influence can be felt six weeks before and after the actual event, and when other planets transit the exact degree of an eclipse, known as the eclipse sensitive point, the eclipse effect is reactivated. This wide timeframe makes it a little difficult to make exact correlations, but the beauty of Mr. Trump is his consistently outrageous behavior, which makes it possible to choose almost anything as evidence of an eclipse effect. I am most curious to know what was revealed to Mr. Mueller during last year’s eclipse orb of influence, which ranged from the last week of June through the last week of September, 2017. It would be interesting to know how those revelations and that information is related to the current situation. But…alas…we will probably never know.

For those of us not in politics, this midpoint in the eclipse zone continues to wobble the regular routines of daily life, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself on uncertain or unstable ground. You could find yourself experiencing doubts about areas of life where you’ve previously felt completely confident. Or you could start doubting decisions made since June 2017, rethinking or even regretting some of those choices.  

Finding and maintaining your equilibrium won’t be easy, but it is a worthwhile endeavor because if you can establish balance in the midst of the current flux, that balance is certain to endure. The world may appear to be changing the tilt of its axis, but the constants that comprise a wholesome life are always steady. Hold fast to compassion and kindness — they will guide us all through the current storm.

Hello to readers in Paonia!

Before I get into this week’s column, which is all about being in the eclipse zone, I need to make it clear that eclipses are not good: no matter what you read online or in the paper, from an astrological perspective, an eclipse is not something you look forward to — unless you just want to watch it and be transfixed by its beauty. Synonyms for the verb eclipse are conceal, darken or obscure, so before you go celebrating today’s rare super blood blue moon eclipse, think about what you’re actually celebrating. An unusual occurrence in the sky and lots of information about that event doesn’t necessarily mean it is a good omen. Our ancestors knew that eclipses happened on a predictable schedule, but they didn’t look forward to them — unless they needed to hide an army, its horses or its soldiers — or maybe knock off a king, a general, or a senator. Conversely, the shadow of an eclipse might reveal something an enemy could be hiding and that might give you an advantage.

And if I may go off on a pet peeve unrelated to Mr. Trump for just a moment: While the Internet has normalized astrology, the proliferation of astrology websites has created an insatiable need for content, a need that resembles the constant craving for content that turned cable news into a circus. You could even speculate that the constant craving for content has set the precedent that blows all sorts of things so far out of proportion that it grows increasingly difficult to know the true from the false. From now on when you’re reading this column, and you read eclipse, think about what’s hiding in the shadows, what’s being obscured, and how the actual event might bring previously hidden information to light.

This week we’re dealing with a lunar eclipse, when the Sun overshadows the Moon and practical concerns overshadow emotional issues, but because the Moon is eclipsed in Leo, this particular eclipse might be slightly more emotional and certainly a tad more dramatic than that reserved (albeit zany) Aquarian Sun might desire. It would be wise to anticipate meltdowns, yours or others’, as pent-up feelings just can’t help but defy this eclipse’s prime directive: Stick to the facts.

This lunar eclipse occurs on Mr. Trump’s natal Pluto, and because his natal Pluto sits in his 12^th House of altered states of consciousness as well as hidden enemies, we’re all likely to be subjected to more than a view manic and mad tweets. It’s true that some altered states illuminate hidden enemies — as in You’re not paranoid, people actually are talking about you.” And altered states can also reveal hidden enemies, especially if your intuitive gifts are in a heightened state. Mr. Trump is likely to experience an increase in his untrammeled projections and accusations. And given that the influence of an eclipse event extends six weeks before and six weeks after the actual event, his recent behavior can be seen as an example of today’s lunar eclipse effect on his natal Pluto.

The solar eclipse on February 15 also affects Mr. Trump’s chart: It occurs exactly opposite his Mars and is quite close to an opposition to his Ascendant. This does not bode well for his temper or his persona. Mars signifies military might, and this eclipse could blow the lid off Mr. Trump’s petulant, irresponsible interactions with Kim Jung-un, especially because the solar eclipse will fuel Mr. Trump’s need to demonstrate his strength.

For the rest of us trying to live harmoniously in a chaotic world that daily challenges the need for intensified soul growth and greater consciousness, these two eclipses reprise themes that dominated the interactions of last summer, political but also personal. Some may experience the return of a spouse, lover or friend, while others may find that the commitment to a compromise made at that time won’t hold its water, making a breakup inevitable. Wherever you find yourself along this spectrum, consider how to handle these moments through a karma-neutral lens that allows you to participate without causing any additional harm.

As always, be kind to your fellow travelers — we are all in this process together, and the more we recognize our essential interconnectedness, the easier it is to extend kindness and compassion to each other. And remember that even though eclipses are a regular occurrence, they alter that regular order — a solar eclipse turns day into night, which means that over the next few weeks we can expect even more irregular events.

Hello to readers in Norwalk!

As I face the blank page of this week’s astrological missive it’s hard to know just where to begin. I have been overseas for the last year-plus, and out of the barrage of bad news — tuning in only as I wanted or needed to. But for the last several weeks, I have been in New York City, taking in the depth and breadth of Trumpitis — and it’s been an eye-opening experience, if only because I am having a direct experience of just how much of the status quo has evaporated since I’ve been away. I’ve never adhered to the status quo, but neither am I an anarchist. I like order.

Over this last year, I’ve written about the poisonous polarization that brought Mr. Trump to power and how it has infected all aspects of life, not just the political arena. But it’s another thing to witness the toxicity first hand and feel its deleterious effect on almost every aspect of life. My heart hurts from the truth of this great divide — a chasm really — between the people who care about their fellow humans and those who don’t. Daily life resembles a battlefield as too many wrestle, not just with the psychic ramifications of Trumpistan, but also with its deadening actuality.

Yet despite all the negative signals there’s still good news, and this week that’s an important piece of the existential puzzle. On January 15 the CEO of BlackRock, one of the largest public investment firms, announced that it would invest in companies that “serve a social purpose.” The headline of that article in the New York Times was: Contribute to Society, or Risk Losing Our Support. This is a huge shift in traditional capitalist values and it bodes well for the idea that lots of our fellow travelers — from every walk of life, regardless of race, religion, gender, age, or economic status — are waking up to the need for a profound sea-change transformation of values. We may not see the effect of this announcement immediately, but it’s a sure signal that Mr. Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts are walking on the not-so-solid ground of greed. It’s also another indication that he and his mendacious cadre are catalyzing a deep healing process — the Feminist Movement hasn’t been this alive and galvanized into action since the 60’s. And it is not going to quiet down any time soon.

www.nytimes.com/2018/01/15/business/dealbook/blackrock-laurence-fink-letter.html

www.nytimes.com/2018/01/21/us/womens-march-voices.html

As we contemplate this week’s good news, it’s important to keep in mind that for the next several weeks we’re in the eclipse zone — there’s a lunar eclipse on January 31 and a solar eclipse on February 15. Both eclipses are quite close to the degrees at which the eclipses of August 2017 occurred, and thus they are likely to trigger similar themes and issues — not that the issues have changed all that much since last summer. But eclipses always reveal previously hidden information, and while it is impossible to imagine what still might be revealed, it would be wise to anticipate even more startling developments. During the solar eclipse on February 15, Uranus sextiles both the Sun and the Moon, and because Uranus is the god of startling plot twists, anything goes.  

Mars changes Signs on January 26, shifting its focus from the emotional waters of Scorpio into the fiery domain of Sagittarius, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself in a different mindset, one that requires decisive action without much deliberation.

Mercury conjuncts Pluto this week, forming a perfect union that fosters a penetrating intellect that’s unafraid to ask tough questions. Mercury symbolizes the mind, and Pluto signifies the ability to plumb the depths. Together they support the capacity to contemplate complex ideas. Use this influence wisely this week and let it help you move beyond the standard ways of understanding the societal decompensation that’s taking place. We’re still in the middle of a huge cultural healing crisis, and while most of us wish it would end soon, there are still too many people asleep at the wheel of their lives to realize that the Wheel of Life is turning. Do your best to continue your efforts for personal and planetary transformation — and remember…there is good news. Each and every second of each and every day another heart opens to the possibility of caring for our fellow travelers. Social justice is love at the level of the collective. It’s love as a manifestation of our shared lives. It’s love for each and every life form on our shared planet.

Hello to readers in Shizuoka!

It’s another week of transitions: The Sun and Venus are changing Signs — Venus makes the move on Thursday, January 18, and the Sun, on Saturday, January 20 — and as both leave Capricorn, an Earth Sign, and enter Aquarius, an Air Sign, regular routines run the risk of losing just a little bit of their recent constancy. Aquarius is, after all, the Sign of utopian idealism, where the possible replaces the practical. It’s the Sign that invites Capricornian pragmatism to surrender to Aquarian dreams and the power of imagination. But don’t worry — even as ideas take flight, there’s still enough ballast from Saturn, in Capricorn, to keep the day-to-day fairly steady, and that translates into plenty of support for all sorts of endeavors.

The Sun and Venus have been traveling together since mid-December and they will continue to move in tandem until the end of January. When these two positive lights join forces, we tend to experience a deep need as well as a deep appreciation for beauty. It also encourages making ultimate value — not merely the riches of the material world — a motive force in making decisions. As the Sun and Venus move into Aquarius, their combined influence is likely to stimulate personal choices born of a desire to break free from the mundane.

Mars moves out of its conjunction with Jupiter this week — they’ve been sharing the same space in Scorpio since the last week of December. Their combined influence fuels the immediate implementation of plans and projects, even if some of those efforts are a bit exaggerated. Mars symbolizes ambition. Jupiter represents expansion. When they unite and travel together, the desire for success increases. Their journey through Scorpio, which symbolizes sex as well as power, certainly brought themes of sex and power to the surface of daily life, specifically the abuse of power through sexual predation and harassment. But the conversation and ongoing transformation of those issues won’t disappear just because their conjunction is separating. This Mars/Jupiter conjunction offered opportunities to deepen individual as well as collective awareness about how power can be abused in a sexual context, and that awareness isn’t going away any time soon. What’s more, Jupiter’s journey through Scorpio is far from over — it doesn’t end until November 8, 2018, which means there’s plenty of time for additional revelations. And on a lighter note, there’s plenty of time to simply enjoy the pleasures of Scorpio!

We’re also in an eclipse zone, with a lunar eclipse on January 31, which adds yet another transitional thread to this week and the next several weeks. Eclipses always cast a shadow of influence that begins about six weeks before and after the actual event. Keep in mind that the January 31 lunar eclipse is related to the lunar eclipse of last August 7, 2017, making it probable that issues from last August will reappear — if they haven’t already. During a lunar eclipse emotions are overshadowed by practical concerns, but given that this eclipse occurs on the Aquarius/Leo axis, we’re likely to see intense reactions, especially when the idealism of both Aquarius and Leo collide with the sobering influence of Saturn, in Capricorn. (NOTE: There’s a solar eclipse on February 15, which relates to the Great American Eclipse of last August 21 — but more about that as we get closer, even though we are already in its shadow.)

This week, contemplate the importance of blending the actual with the ideal — this is the strength of Saturn’s dual rulership of Capricorn and Aquarius: Capricorn is the voice of reality; Aquarius symbolizes the vision necessary to grow and evolve. As I keep reiterating, Mr. Trump (and you thought I wasn’t going there?) is the homeopathic remedy for the many, many ailments that plague our planet, and he has raised to the surface the symptoms of a deep global disease: the inability of too many of Earth’s human inhabitants to recognize our interconnectedness and interdependence. Greed, hatred and violence stem from a belief that we are separate from one another and separate from the Planet Earth. Those who know that we are not separate — that we are interwoven streams of consciousness — need to stay vigilant in their determination to remind others of our common ground. One of the ways to do this is through compassion and kindness to our fellow travelers.

Hello to readers in Burley!

It’s a good week to get grounded by gathering practical tools that will help you cope with the fluctuations of the New Year. Uranus Direct continues to dominate the airwaves, demonstrating its influence through an erratic rhythm and even more surprising plot twists. These startling developments are intensified by a Jupiter/Mars conjunction, in Scorpio, which stirs the waters of deep emotional reactions and secrets, personal and political, that some would rather remain at the bottom of the sea. The pace is so uneven and so charged that I’m actually grateful that four planets — Saturn, Pluto, the Sun, and Venus (in that order) — are lined up in the uber responsible Sign of Capricorn, and by tomorrow, January 11, when Mercury moves into Capricorn, it will be five planets tethering the routines of daily life to the sobriety of Capricorn’s common sense. We need a lot of Earth at this moment in time and space, especially Capricornian Earth, if only because that solid, stable lens has the potential to structure and organize a view of the world that doesn’t seem quite as random, chaotic and cynical as the one unfolding on the Internet, TV or myriad other media outlets. Capricornian Earth is also the perfect balance for the Fire and the Fury of recent Uranian revelations and the ensuing upheaval.

Saturn moved into Capricorn, its Home Sign, on December 20, and stays there until March 22, 2020, when it enters Aquarius (the Sign that follows Capricorn). But just to be clear: Saturn is also the co-ruler of Aquarius, so as it moves from Capricorn into Aquarius in March 2020, we will move into yet another octave of Saturn’s sobering influence; its transit through Aquarius end on March 7, 2023. You could say that Saturn’s journey through Capricorn is the overdue invoice we knew would eventually arrive — the sobering tally of all the areas in need of Saturn’s serious and sagacious discernment. And we’ve got a nice long time — nearly six years — to identify the lessons that need to be learned.

Saturn is, after all, the voice of reality, and with that in mind, its transit through Capricorn delineates what’s working and what isn’t, and when it finally moves into Aquarius a renaissance begins, as Aquarius provides the innovative impulse to create innovative solutions — new systems and new directions capable of revolutionizing what Saturn’s transit through Capricorn has revealed to longer serve.

Saturn symbolizes the ability to distill wisdom from experience: it is how we learn and grow. As a wise friend once said to me when talking about Saturn: Let’s face it — on this planet, it’s grow or die. And this is why I have come to see Saturn as a force for growth. For while it represents rules, regulations, boundaries, and traditions, it also signifies the bones of things — the essential structures of life — and it’s through Saturn that we identify the principles that ripen into wisdom. Saturn always strips away what is superfluous to reveal what is true. When we organize our choices around the essence of things — surrendering desire and focusing instead on necessity — we tend to make wiser decisions.

Sometimes Saturn’s revelatory process is cold, severe and maybe just a tad too detached. But its current journey through Capricorn is certain to be more messy than precise because Pluto is also in Capricorn, and Pluto’s presence in the Sign that symbolizes governments, corporations, and other major structures that hold the world order together is wreaking havoc with all sorts of systems. One way to best contextualize the current cultural chaos is to view it through a Plutonian perspective: Pluto, the planet of death and rebirth, demands authenticity, and that insistence annihilates all that’s inauthentic. The problem is that the death throes of the false and fake often suck the life force out of the true and genuine.

Plenty of people have been aware for a long time that corporations control politics, but now the very structure of their power is laid bare — no one is even bothering to hide it anymore. Fake news is also not new news — Hitler used the very same idea. News packaged as entertainment and TV viewers being exploited emotionally for profit are also not new. Paddy Chayefsky’s Network portrayed just such a scenario — and I can’t help but think that Fox News is something far worse than even he imagined. www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2017/09/05/the-anti-semitic-origins-of-the-war-on-fake-news/

The good but nonetheless painful news is that so much has been revealed — and all at once — that vast numbers of people are waking up to their responsibilities as planetary citizens — that’s Pluto, in Capricorn — and as Saturn intensifies that journey it will fuel the need to take action. The bad news is that there’s still resistance to remedying what needs to be healed. The death throes of the false can take a long time to run their course.

Uranus, in Aries, squares Venus, Pluto and the Sun this week and the sparks from those fractious interactions ignite rebellion everywhere, intensifying the need to be free, even in places where that struggle is already intense. From a personal perspective, these squares fuel the fire for personal independence, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself aching to break free from people, places or ideas keeping you enslaved to habits that are no longer meaningful. Use the potency of these squares to clear the air, but also realize that some of those old patterns are likely to be emotionally charged, which will make letting go a little more difficult. As Mercury moves into Capricorn it forms a conjunction to Saturn, and when they share the same space it’s possible to think deeply about any number of subjects — just be careful not to fall into a brood — Saturn sometimes overwhelms Mercury, turning it a bit depressive.

Saturn has often been called The Lord of Karma because it signifies the principle of cause and effect, or put simply: Saturn equals consequences, negative and positive. Recently I decided to make karma neutral my personal challenge for navigating Saturn transits during the next several years. Much like going carbon neutral — adding no additional damaging waste to the environment — I am setting an intention do the same with karma:  cause no additional harm, realize when I am being reactive and then do something about it, take responsibility for what I put in motion as well as what’s already in motion and coming my way. For those of you who think this might stop me from writing about Mr. Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts — don’t be silly. I perceive it as a responsibility of consciousness to point out their egregious behavior lest we become inured to it or afraid to take a stand.

While I have been highly critical of Mr. Trump and his followers, I’ve tried not to call him names or make fun of him. And I think it might be time for all of us to give up the name calling because unless you are a comedian, making fun of someone only diminishes the dialogue, and we need all our very smart minds to create a powerful awareness that elevates the conversation as it simultaneously combats the mendacious acts of his administration. Acceptance is not an option, but finding ways to hold the evolutionary ground of love without stooping to ignorance is important. As you move through this week and the coming weeks, consider the idea of what karma neutral would look like for you. Name calling isn’t likely to be part of the practice. One thing I know for sure, kindness and compassion have the power to create a karma neutral footprint.

Hello to readers in New York City!

2018 kicks off with Uranus Direct: a nonstop thrill-a-minute start to 2018, so fasten your seat belt and be sure to attach your ET antennae because since January 2 when Uranus began its forward motion, we began moving at light speed, traveling to galaxies both distant and near, known and unknown, and finishing up a seven-year journey that turned the world upside down and inside out. Uranus is heading toward its entry into Taurus on May 18 at maximum warp speed, and as if to hasten the pace, for the next nine weeks all the planets are direct — nothing interferes with this Uranian mission. ‘Round about March 9 Jupiter Retrograde begins and on March 23 Mercury starts its first retrograde of the year, and while those two retrograde phases are certain to alter our perception of time zones, it’s unlikely to affect Uranus. As you venture forth into 2018 anticipate even more startling events. Uranus is, after all, the astral symbol for surprising plot twists, and that translates into even more reversals of fortune, individual and collective, over the next several months. By the way…that’s why you will need your ET antennae — lots of sub-signals with important messages are going to create a truly multidimensional quality to the regular routines of daily life.

But before Uranus can begin its new journey into Taurus, it needs to end its journey through Aires which began in May 2010 and finally settled into full force in March 2011. Uranus is the Greek sky god who throws lightning bolts of illumination into stagnant waters. Sometime he is a rebel with or without a cause, which makes the turmoil and tumult of his transits seem arbitrary. But his influence is seldom capricious. Uranus signifies a revolutionary force for innovative change. For the last seven years as Uranus transited Aries, the Sign of individuation, many of us witnessed or experienced the call to shift out of what no longer served and into a greater awareness of the power of an individual to change the world. Unfortunately, Mr. Trump turned out to be the negative icon for that power. It will be interesting to see if the aggregation of aware individuals — people committed to our interconnectedness who formed the many, many resistance movements of 2017 — will harness enough power to counter his pernicious agenda.

During its transit through Aries, Uranus formed seven squares to Pluto that took place from 2012 — 2015. Pluto signifies change at the core — death and rebirth — and as its potent power collided with the Uranian need for change, issues of social justice dominated the zeitgeist. (For more about the particulars of those squares, please search the archives on this site.) One could argue quite convincingly that the current upheaval is a response to what those earlier years set in motion, for the world experienced the power of the combined revolutionary force of Uranus and Pluto. From a personal perspective it would be a valuable exercise to reflect on what was set in motion in your life during those years and what continues to ripple across the pond of daily life.

As part of this full-speed-ahead process, Uranus Direct reviews all the degrees it previously revisited during its retrograde that began on August 3, 2017. Yes, that does mean we’re in for another pass of what Mr. Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts set in motion — and even if that’s depressing, it is still beneficial. There is a deep strategy behind his madness and much more of it is certain to be revealed during the coming months. Try to remember that these mendacious acts are catalyzing a profound resistance to their greed and hatred. It may take a while for the positive forces to coalesce into an obvious unified movement, but it is only a matter of time. From a personal perspective if you made impulsive decisions over the last several months, you just might have a change of heart, so be prepared for changing minds, yours or others’.

Uranus Direct began with a trine to Mercury, a positive combination that symbolizes inspired thinking capable of conceptual leaps. And today and tomorrow, as the Moon, in Leo, joins the team, there’s a Grand Trine, in Fire, which fills the air with passion and the need to express that passion creatively. Make good use of this intensity by channeling its force into what you love.

That channeling might be easier than you think because this week we’re also under the influence of a Venus/Sun conjunction, in Capricorn, another positive interaction that fosters the ability to turn creative inspiration into actual, tangible forms. Just a word of caution: If you’re working with a creative team, try not to get involved with power struggles over whose ideas are best. A Sun/Pluto conjunction also contributes to the force field this week, and that combination almost always indicates a need for control and recognition. A Mars/Jupiter conjunction, in Scorpio, sextiles Pluto, providing the stamina to work almost non-stop to get any job done, so think about what it is you would like to create and then aim your efforts at getting the job done. All of these interactions benefit from the potent force of Uranus Direct.

Seize this astral moment and get a good start to your New Year. Yes…Mr. Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts are going to continue their destructive behavior — at least until the Extraterrestrials land — but until that decisive moment, it’s up to us Earthlings to generate a positive collective consciousness that will neutralize the incessant negativity put in motion through their ignorance. Make karma neutral your personal goal for the year: Do no harm. Don’t engage in negativity. And when at all possible, reach out to others in kindness, compassion and love.