Monday, December 1, 2014

The Home Stretch

We’re in the home stretch of the seven exact squares between Uranus and Pluto. The last three (Apr 21, 2014, Dec 14, 2014 and Mar 16, 2015) are all triggering the Sun/Saturn square in the USA chart. I’ve mentioned before that these contacts – ongoing since mid-June, 2012 – are the main players in the unfolding drama. It is a conflict between the status quo (like oil energy, for instance) and new, inventive break-through solutions, which Uranus represents. Plus, Pluto represents controlling autocrats, whereas Uranus is the epitome of freedom and individual expression. We are seeing these themes unfold daily.

But that’s not all that is going on with the USA chart. (July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia, PA at 5:10 pm) The thing that has me most concerned is the approaching conjunction of solar arc Saturn with the USA descendant (opposite the ascendant). It will be exact in about eight months. The last time Saturn by solar arc contacted an angle (the 4th cusp) was in the summer of 1945 when WWII was winding down. The war had gone on while progressed Mars was conjunct the MC. After that, the USA flourished. On the day it ended, Sep 2, 1945, transiting Jupiter was conjunct the MC. The progressed south node was two minutes from conjoining natal Pluto. Most of all, the progressed Sun was only six minutes from changing signs. A new era had begun.

Saturn opposing the ascendant can speak to authority having too much control of the populace, especially economically, since Saturn rules the second house. Saturn represents “conflict, fear and doubt.” When it is opposing the ascendant, it is most obvious and painful. Since historically these contacts seem to play out just before they are exact, it is what we are going through right now. The populace is controlled now by economic circumstances that are producing fear. However, Uranus and Pluto contacting the chart’s Sun brings in rebellion against the status quo, so it is not going to be permanent. People, as we see now, are rebelling.

This time, rather than the Sun going into a new sign, it is Venus that is changing signs by solar arc. It will go into Pisces only a few days from now. It’s in the last minute of Aquarius right now. I have a lot of optimism about it all. After all, Jupiter by solar arc is about to trine natal Venus in only three or four months, and natally they are conjunct, which is the indicator of the wealth we generate. Progressed Saturn is only two minutes from an exact trine to natal Venus, which is economic stability – gas prices are going down, for instance, but it could represent a “correction” of economic circumstances that might be painful at first, but best in the long run. In nine months solar arc Uranus will conjoin the USA south node, which is a sudden awakening to our mistakes of the past, or possibly some unexpected events like weather-related drama.

Keep in mind that for the last couple years and for the next year, Saturn is transiting the USA 12th house, and that is always a potpourri of issues to be resolved before emerging into a new cycle with new foundations to build. It’s the end of a cycle, and during this time we encounter basic issues that have not been resolved. Usually, it’s messy if we are stubbornly trying to hang on to the status quo. As they say, “It’s always darkest before the dawn.”

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Jupiter in Leo

Jupiter entered Leo this morning a few seconds after 6:30 where it will stay for roughly a year. The general consensus is that Leos, Sagittarians, and Arians will find this beneficial, since those three are in naturally good aspect—i.e. they trine each other. Also, the house it is transiting during that time will be “blessed with good fortune,” as a simplistic pundit might say. Jupiter is called the “greater benefic,” Venus being the “lesser” one.

In astrology classes we are taught that Jupiter is one of the “good guys” and that wherever it is placed, and whatever it may contact during your life, as it traverses the solar system, benefits abound. For instance, when it goes through the second house, income is usually better; through the 11th house, you might find goals easier to reach and make more friends. I got married the first time when it was traversing the seventh house, where we find a description of partnerships. The key word, “expansion” is associated with Jupiter.

Actually, Jupiter is not ALL sweetness and abundance. Sometimes we don’t want too much of something. For instance, when it is in a conflicting relationship with Venus, there is a good chance that sugar-related illnesses may be part of that person’s life. Many years ago I heard a lecture by astrologer, Mary Vohryzek, who explained this nicely. http://solsticepoint.com/astrologersmemorial/vohryzek.html (her memorial tribute--copy and paste to see it)
Mary was a knowledgeable pioneer in medical astrology, and it was such an eye-opener when she said that Venus/Jupiter stressful aspects could indicate sugar-related diseases, such as hypoglycemia, diabetes and even cancer. It is now generally agreed that sugar feeds cancer cells. It stands to reason. Sugar is ruled by Venus; Jupiter indicates “expansion”…when they are in stressful aspect (meaning “too much” of something), we have the resulting, “too much expansion.” Even a thing like overweight can be indicated by those two in negative relationship.

But, in general, it will most likely be the best year out of twelve for Leos, and not too shabby for Aries and Sagittarius—especially if Jupiter is well-placed in your natal chart. The affairs of the house with Leo on the cusp might get some of that abundance raining down, as well.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

The USA Sibly chart now


Many years ago, I was deeply impressed by a session in astrology class when we were shown how to see events that would be life changing. It was when patterns or aspects moved by solar arc to conjoin other major aspects or patterns in a chart. Right now, the Pluto/Mercury opposition in the Sibly USA chart has been, is, and will continue to be congruent with our natal Mercury/Neptune square by solar arc motion. In other words, the opposition is now sitting on top of the square by solar arc.

The solar arc Pluto/Mars opposition has been affecting the natal Neptune/Mars square for several years, first Pluto squaring Mars almost three years ago, and conjoining Neptune about 2 ½ years ago. Pluto does not act alone, since in the natal chart it tightly opposes Mercury. Now solar arc Mercury is about to go over this square, as well, which continues the long term drama. Solar arc Mercury will square natal Mars in about ten months, and then go on to oppose natal Neptune in roughly one year and ten months. There should be a huge lesson about deception during this whole time. We are seeing it with the dramas of Edward Snowden’s revelations and many other examples of the insidious reach of spying worldwide.

This is disturbing because Neptune in the USA chart is located in the ninth house, which is where we look to see what kind of Congress we would have. The natal Neptune squares Mars, indicating deceptive behavior. This has been an ongoing issue in our country ever since it was founded, and probably will continue to be so until there is a “re-birthing” of the country, and therefore, a new chart.

Neptune, Uranus and Saturn

Meanwhile, transiting Neptune is now around 7 degrees Pisces and is right in the middle of squaring natal and progressed Uranus. These both rule the third house in the Sibly chart by the Koch system of houses. It’s even transiting through the third house. With all that Neptunian influence, plus Neptune being square Mars, natally, (and Mars rules the fourth house which is the grass roots populace) you can be sure we are being mightily deceived. However, about nine months ago the progressed Sun squared natal Uranus, and a great awakening began. Probably, that is connected to the Snowden affair. It had been in range for about a year before when it was square the progressed Uranus. However, since the Sun rules the ninth, it is possible that this energy reflects the increasingly autocratic behavior of some congressional members.

Meanwhile, solar arc Saturn is now at 11 degrees of Gemini and in about fourteen months will oppose the Sibly chart’s ascendant. When 9/11 struck, Pluto was transiting this chart’s ascendant within minutes, and on March 19, 2003 when we first invaded Iraq, solar arc Pluto was within minutes of squaring it. That’s compelling. This coming Saturn opposition should be extremely important if this is a viable chart. So far, I’ve observed its’ working very well and fully expect a serious turn of events around the later part of 2015. It will probably be economic considering that Saturn rules the second house.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

The Steenkamp Murder

Oscar Pistorius, the handicapped athlete from South Africa, shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in the wee hours of February 14, 2013. He says he thought she was a burglar even though she was in the bathroom behind a locked door. He shot her through the door with deadly aim. His stories have been varied about the details of what happened, and he has displayed extreme dramatic distress in the court proceedings.

Oscar was born on November 22, 1986 at 10:30 a.m. in Pretoria, South Africa. Miss Steenkamp was born on August 19, 1983 in Capetown, South Africa, but unfortunately, I could not find a time of birth. One of the first things I look for between charts is the condition of their inter-chart Mars and Saturn relationship. That pair, when they are connected, can be extremely difficult, but also obsessive between two people. I’m used to seeing it as a conjunction or negative aspect in troublesome couplings, but these two have a mutual trine between the two. However, they are connected, which is a clue that they will definitely have an aspect of some kind in the composite. (A time of birth for Miss Steenkamp would not be necessary for this. It would simply give us more detail.)

However, in my long astrological career, I’ve often found that even though the natal charts might have a positive connection between planets, it might not be so in the composite—and vice versa, by the way. That was the case here. In the composite (no matter what time Miss Steenkamp was born), the composite Mars and Saturn are in opposition. Not only that, but recently, Saturn had been going over that opposition, meaning that it was becoming an issue arousing “conflict, pain, and doubt,” as my teacher used to describe Saturn. Furthermore, Mars is the handle in a bucket pattern—a singleton, thereby becoming a focal point of the relationship.

A negative relationship between Mars and Saturn in a composite is troubling. I first heard about it years ago in the book, Relating, by Liz Greene. What an eye-opener!! We are so used to looking at the Moon, Sun, Venus, Saturn and Mars in love affairs, this pair is often over-looked, and I would never have dreamed it would be the pair describing a “fatal attraction.” I’ve found her assessment to be true after countless examples. A couple in an intimate relationship with such a pairing has the problem of one of them potentially being extremely obsessive. I’m reminded of the movie with that same name (Fatal Attraction) starring Glenn Close and Michael Douglas.

Reeva Steenkamp

Although I don’t have an exact time of birth for Miss Steenkamp, there are some things that would be true no matter what time she was born. One of the most important was her very close Venus-Uranus square. Even if she had been born far from the hypothetical 6:00 a.m. time I am using, it still would have been a tight square. This is the signature of a sort of “femme fatale” (Elizabeth Taylor had the conjunction). Jupiter is conjunct Uranus, as well, which “enlarges” this and adds humor to it. She probably was a very humorous, teasing and unpredictable person in intimate relationships. I say “probably” because we do not know her time of birth, and there are other modifying indicators, so we cannot be positive about it—and even then, free will can play a part, as well. Venus square Uranus is famous for changing direction in mid-stream—i.e. running hot and cold.

Since Neptune and Jupiter were beginning to activate that configuration, she was probably not declaring undying devotion to anyone. Those energies would be arousing confusion and doubt about her relationships in general. Since Jupiter was leaving an opposition to Uranus, she was using humor to get around issues she might not have wanted to confront. Or she could have been displaying more independence than usual. Furthermore, she had a tight Mercury-Neptune square, which indicates she evaded things she did not want to discuss until she had sorted it all out. She might even have resorted to deception, although I doubt she really wanted to. With Jupiter conjoining Uranus in brutally honest Sagittarius, I think she preferred to be honest—although Mercury square Neptune can be quite deceptive when necessary. Also, at this time, Neptune was transiting long term opposite her solar arc Mars and square natal Jupiter, and she was probably very confused about how she was going to handle all this—not just on this night, but the whole time, in general.

Oscar Pistorius

Oscar was born with the Sun in the last degree of Scorpio. (Miss Steenkamp was a Leo, which is not compatible, in general, but Oscar has the Moon in Leo, and so would be drawn to that type. And who knows? She might have Scorpio or Taurus rising, which would make a difference.) Oscar is and has always been an angry man in this lifetime. He has Mars square the Sun, very defensive and quick to have his temper aroused. In fixed signs, it has probably been there for many lifetimes and so, as in most fixed squares, projection has set in. (i.e. “I am not defensive and hot under the collar; it’s YOU.” Or the old, “You made me do it. It’s not my fault.”) Not only is the Sun in Scorpio, but at the mid-heaven there is a conjunction of Venus, Pluto and Mercury in Scorpio, as well. Being angular, it is the strongest part of the chart. This is not light-hearted. He is possessive and prone to jealous outbursts. It does show intense dedication to whatever he does professionally, but in relationships, he’d be hard to deal with if he were to be suspicious or feel threatened. He needs mega doses of re-assurance (Venus conjunct Pluto). With Jupiter square Saturn, his judgment can sometimes veer to fear. And, his stellium in Scorpio squares the Moon in Leo, which would tell of such insecurities with women, he needs vast amounts of re-assurance. He is possessive in the extreme.

In his chart at the time of the murder, his progressed Pluto had moved to exactly conjoin the MC. This is a forceful and thorough transformation of one’s public image, which could happen a myriad of ways. Saturn in transit was in Scorpio going over that stellium showing his insecurities were of concern to him. He was fearful of loss of his relationship. I’m sure he realized his lover was having second thoughts. Saturn was about to square his Ascendant, so he was certainly not happy about the way his love life was going. He was feeling insecure. Even his career was peaking and would soon be waning. Only a few months before, when progressed Venus was conjoining his natal Mercury (ruler of his fifth), he was a very happy, loving person, but with his nature, when self-doubt creeps into his consciousness, he over-reacts, since he has the combination of Venus and Mercury conjoining Pluto and Mars square the Sun. This is jealousy along with angry projection upon whomever he sees as causing his pain.

Also, only a couple months earlier, his solar arc Moon had changed signs for the first time in his life. He was born with it in Leo, and now it had entered Virgo. He began to see women differently. Miss Steenkamp was born with Venus and Mercury in Virgo, and so she would have been meticulous and detail-oriented. It can sometimes devolve into criticism. He does not take criticism well, (although with Moon in the sixth, he can dish it out generously), and with his solar arc directed Moon now in Virgo, I’d suspect he was having quite a bit of self-doubt. With his emphasis so much on Scorpio, he has a need to be in control and confident (Moon in Leo as well), plus he has Mars in Aquarius, which is notorious for “knowing it all.” Virgo has doubts, so it’s probable he was having a crisis in ego and worthiness that was very hard to deal with.

There is much more, of course, like the transiting Sun opposing her natal Sun and a few other things, but until we have a good time of birth for her, I hesitate to do more. If we ever get a time, it would be interesting to see how his transits, progressions, etc. affected her chart and vice versa. That was clearly a past life relationship with unfinished business. #

Sunday, February 23, 2014

USA chart's economics

We’ve been watching the Uranus/Pluto square unfolding for several years now, and, like most, I had expected a repeat of the Great Depression or the rebellious sixties, since those two were active then in a similar fashion. However, I met another astrologer in December, Barbara Taylor, when I attended her lecture in Richmond, VA. She is a nurse and also one of Alphee Lavoie’s “Gators,” who do a lot of astrological research. She mentioned that this time the Uranus/Pluto configuration has a difference: it does not include Saturn. That is an important distinction I had not considered. It is still very important and the backbone of current events. But, even so, there are other factors at play besides transits.

While we’re all distracted by Uranus, Jupiter and Pluto moving to activate the USA chart’s Sun, solar arc Saturn has been quietly moving closer to opposing the Sibley chart’s ascendant. Saturn, ruler of the second house, is a strong indicator of the health of the economy. It’s square the USA Sun in the 8th of the natal chart, so there always seem to be strong issues about the economy when it’s activated. Solar arc Saturn will oppose the ascendant in less than two years and the Sun will square in three years (with transiting Neptune accompanying it, too), and when something that momentous happens, we look for a similar time in the past so that we can assess what happened then, and therefore, what might manifest this time.

When Saturn conjoined the ascendant by solar arc in this Sibley chart (it has never opposed it before), it was in 1836. That was when we had the battle of the Alamo, after which Texas joined the union, and around that time President Jackson issued “Specie Circular” making it necessary to use hard currency in purchasing public lands. Right after that, British banks called in their loans which led to a seven year depression. Since Saturn rules the second in this chart, it is not surprising.

Also at that time, solar arc Mercury was about to conjoin Neptune after having just left a square to natal Mars, again highlighting yet another lesson about our deceptive, or at least "confused," government.

Right now solar arc Pluto is just leaving that same area—having activated the very strong indicator of our corrupt government, Mars square Neptune, with Neptune being in the ninth. Very recently there has been a LOT of corruption—way worse than that in 1836. Further, transiting Saturn is now traveling through the 12th house and will emerge into the first in two years around the time we see solar arc Saturn entering the seventh. We cannot go on as it is. There is a big “reset” about to be implemented around that time. However, since the progressed MC will shortly trine natal Pluto (about six months, and by the way, they are natally trine although out-of-sign), I believe some behind-the-scenes negotiating or covert activity will avert the worst of this. Pluto rules the twelfth.

Now Texas is talking about leaving the union, and our monetary system is again not anywhere near being “hard currency.” History repeats, and most likely it will do so the same way since we never seem to learn anything. Of course, an opposition is different from a conjunction, but the historical lessons will more than likely be very similar. By that time Saturn and Jupiter (the economic indicators) will be square, which is often the case when a financial correction is necessary.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Happy 2014!!

Many, many pundits and bloggers are writing about the New Year. Most are saying pretty much the same thing: today there is a New Moon that will be entangled with the infamous Uranus square Pluto that is defining this decade. They are saying, and I agree, that this year and next will be the apex of the life changing events underway during this decade. I just want to add a few things.

The New Moon was at 6:14 this morning, but the midnight chart displays the energies affecting the whole year. Actually, I think the Spring Equinox chart is more legitimate, but for now, we’ll look at the minute the New Year started. That chart, every year, always has Libra rising and the Sun square the ascendant. This year, those degrees are potent because Mars rises also, with Uranus opposite and the Moon, Pluto, Jupiter and Mercury (all within range of the angles) involved in the configuration. That’s a lot of dramatic energy showing a spectacular year with one unexpected, intense situation after another.

All of those energies also impact the chart of the USA. It is especially strong this year because most of this connects to the Sun-Saturn square, which indicates our collective responsibility in handling resources. We have so many issues now. Most of the time I read predictions of economic situations, but there are many other possibilities.

First, and immediately in front of us, is the radiation from the Fukushima disaster. Right now spent fuel rods are supposed to be in the process of being removed manually—an extremely delicate and dangerous operation—but we’ve heard very little about how it’s going since it started in early November, despite plumes of smoke coming from the site right now. Another earthquake affecting Fukushima would be the end of Japan and have great consequences for the American west coast. Americans returning from rescue operations there are suffering severe health issues. Uranus, Pluto and Mars in combination can be earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. These will be in combination for most of the first half of the year since Mars will stay in Libra for many months. Our own Yellowstone Caldera has been long overdue for an eruption, and it would be a major, long lasting disaster. It’s not a question of “if”—just “when.” Let us pray that it will remain quiet for a long time to come.

Fracking is another dangerous activity that the oil industry seems intent on pursuing despite proof of its polluting of the fresh water supply. We have tons and tons of garbage polluting the oceans with a clean-up nowhere in sight, although a teenager has designed a way to do it. Our food supply is poisoned with all-pervasive GMO additives, and even fresh produce is radiated before it gets to market so that it is nutritionally worthless. It is no wonder that we are a sick, sick nation with a healthcare insurance system that is so expensive, we cannot afford to be sick because it’s a sure path to bankruptcy.

Historically, Uranus making stressful aspects to Pluto have indicated periods of great change and upheaval. It can be done many different ways, and I think that how painful it will be depends on what we do for ourselves. The last important contact was from 1963 through 1969, a time of tremendous upheaval, protests, and even assassinations. Before that it occurred in the years of the Great Depression. We are now in a different time with many new resources, like the internet. It will be different, but the objective is the same…a correction of our path if we have strayed too far. [For more on this, if you don’t believe any of this is true, I’d suggest you get a book called “Cosmos and Psyche” by Dr. Richard Tarnas who also wrote “The Passion of the Western Mind,” which has been called the finest history of the western mind and spirit ever written.]

Many are predicting a depression, and I was among those, but I attended a lecture in Richmond a few weeks ago by Barbara Taylor from Roanoke, who mentioned that economic collapses, like the Great Depression, did, indeed, happen under these same Uranus/Pluto connections, but that since the 1700s, they always also included Saturn, which is not the case this time. Therefore, she doesn’t expect a depression.

However, all year the Saturn/Neptune midpoint is involved tightly with this pattern (thanks to Astrolabe for their recent gift of listing critical degrees of the year which included midpoints, or I’d never have noticed it). I’d say that April and May are the most affected months since all culminates close to the USA Sun and Saturn at that time. May 15th to 17th is particularly highlighted. Also, in late March Venus will square Saturn (not the USA Saturn, but the one in real time), which can precipitate fear of loss on a global level.

In this New Year chart, the most positive planet is Neptune, which is indicative of jobs, since it rules the sixth house. It looks as though those will generally be better in the coming year, and it also represents the military, which will most likely stay about the same. Also, the chart’s Venus is sextile Saturn, so an overall relative stability will prevail, although we’ll have plenty of drama. There is so much, I might have to write about it on a monthly level.

“Obamacare”


The Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” was signed on March 23, 2010 at 11:56 am in Washington DC. Of course, since no one pays attention to Astrology, it went into effect under the worst possible conditions. There was a grand square between Sun, Moon, Uranus, Pluto and Saturn on ANGLES, with even Mercury involved weakly with some of it. How it has gotten this far is a miracle. That is probably due to the presence of Jupiter, ruler of the sixth, on the MC making only positive contacts. Also Mars is making positive aspects to the Sun, Uranus and Saturn.

The extreme stress in this chart is coming from rulers of the 7th, 8th, 9th, 3rd and the ascendant, which means there is conflict (we know all this from observation) from other people who have invested in the way things have been—i.e. insurance companies, lobbyist for them, public fleecing, outrageous “big pharma” profits, etc. However, with the ruler of the chart in nurturing Cancer in trine to the MC, and the ruler of the sixth, illness, in compassionate Pisces conjunct the MC and not stressed at all, the act itself, is an extremely positive thing.

Right now, January 1, 2014, the solar arc MC is exactly to-the-minute conjunct the natal Jupiter. I don’t need to tell you how positive that is. However, in three months, the solar arc Uranus will be opposing natal Saturn, ruler of the 8th (insurance, investments, etc) Expect something to suddenly come up that shakes the stability of this whole thing. That will not succeed because Uranus will go on to trine Mars a month or two later. After that another shakeup occurs in two and a quarter years, when it conjoins the Sun and again three months after that when it squares the Ascendant. That one is more “iffy” and could actually indicate legislation that changes it entirely—maybe making it a single payer system like Medicare, hopefully. Then we’ll be catching up to the rest of the developed world which is WAY ahead of us in treatment of their citizens.

In Conclusion…

Many of you may ask how someone who follows “A Course in Miracles” can be so negative about events when we know we’re in an illusion. I keep remembering a paper I wrote in college about the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of my heroes. He was executed for trying to assassinate Hitler. In his papers, he wrote one time that if you are in a car hurtling down the highway with a speeding mad man who is putting lives in danger, you don’t just let him keep going; you wrench the wheel away from him. He was a minister (Lutheran, I think) and murder was not in his belief system, but when we show love for our fellow man, we do what we can to help them. Sometimes it means stopping an injustice. I try to just make people aware of what is going on so they will have more information and vote accordingly—or do whatever they are led to do. We are in the world, illusion or not, and have to deal with it. After all, Marianne Williamson, who has written several books based on the Course, is now running for Congress representing California.