Miscellaneous Astrological Musings - December 2017

The Mercury Retrograde:

In case you missed it, we are in a Mercury retrograde period. Mercury stationed retrograde very late on December 2 (on the Pacific coast). That was on Saturday, and this astrologer was out and about enjoying holidays festivities. I lost my cell phone somewhere along the way and have not recovered it. Mercury is retrograding through my third house of communications. Astrologers are not immune from or to Mercury retrograde effects. Nevertheless, this is working out fine for me because I’ve need to invest in a new cell phone anyway. Mercury stations direct on December 22.

The United States Congress is trying to get quite a bit done during this period. They are trying to pass bills to keep the government open into next year. And, they are also trying to pass a major tax bill (which is highly unpopular among the populous). While GOP leaders in Congress insist that they have the votes, it is unclear whether or not the tax bill will pass on schedule - they are supposed to vote on it next Tuesday, the 19th. However, two Republican senators are out due to illness - Senator John McCain and Senator Thad Cochran. At any rate, any major legislation passed during this Mercury retrograde period is unlikely to work out as planned. They will at least need to make corrections, and might have to redo the whole thing.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee:

I was saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected death of San Francisco’s mayor, Ed Lee, on December 12, 2017. Mayor Ed Lee was only 65.

When someone dies suddenly and unexpectedly, they usually have quite a bit of stress showing in their charts. I don’t have Mayor Lee’s exact time of birth, so I cannot do a comprehensive and complete analysis, but I can see some of the planetary stresses in his chart - and, particularly his progressed chart. Mayor Ed Lee was born on May 5, 1952 in Seattle, Washington.

Mayor Ed Lee had a heart attack, so his Sun (the Sun rules the heart) would be a major indicator. His natal chart shows a potential to have heart issues - natal Pluto (in Leo) squares his natal Sun (in Taurus), and natal Mars (in Scorpio) opposes his natal Sun. The only transit at the time of his death was transiting Jupiter in a fairly wide opposition to his natal Sun. That would not normally indicate a heart attack, however it might indicate that he was a bit overconfident and tried to do too much during this period of time (which might add some stress).

In Mayor Lee’s progressed chart, his Sun had progressed to 18 Cancer. His progressed Neptune (at 18 Libra) is in a square aspect to his progressed Sun. Mayor Lee’s natal Mercury is at 18 Aries and squares his progressed Sun. And, transiting Pluto is at 18 Capricorn. That’s a great deal of stress. As the Moon squared his progressed Uranus (14 Cancer) from Libra very early in the morning on the 12th, Mayor Lee had the sudden and unexpected heart attack. He was later pronounced dead at San Francisco General. My sincerest condolences to Mayor Lee’s family and friends.

Lasting Love Relationships:

I’ve just read Rose Murray’s book, “When Planets Promise Love.” It’s a good book, and in that book she mentions something very interesting regarding her research of numerous couples. This is in the chapter about Sun/Moon midpoints. She writes:

I’ve found that no matter how compatible two horoscopes seem to be, two people seldom marry or sustain a serious relationship unless one of the following indications is seen between the two charts:

1 The Sun/Moon midpoint of one partner is in hard aspect to the Sun or Moon of the other. (a hard aspect includes the conjunction, square, opposition, semisquare, and sesquisquare.)

2 The composite Sun/Moon midpoint is in hard aspect to the Sun or Moon of one or both of the partners.

I had never heard of this rule before, so I wanted to check it with some couples in my own database. Now, it’s clear from the language in this book that the author is focusing primarily (perhaps entirely) on straight couples. So, i wanted to look at some couples comprised of gay and/or bisexual persons. And, at least so far, this rule actually does work in the way that the author indicates.

Major Astrological Influences Of 2018

2018 promises to be a very interesting year. There will be more of the unexpected, more lessons to learn, more growth and opportunities with regard to our close relationships, more dreams and ideals, and more transformational experiences. I’ll attempt to explains some of the major astrological influences of the year in the following paragraphs.

There are usually three Mercury retrograde periods every year. In 2018, these Mercury retrograde periods will fall in the fire signs. These periods are generally marked by miscommunications, misunderstandings, problems with communications equipment, travel delays, and plans that will later need to be revised or completely changed. It’s usually better not to make important decisions or to sign contracts or anything else if that is possible during these periods. Complications and problems are too easy to encounter, and often we don’t have all the information that we need. The best thing to do is to continue to collect this information throughout the period. Sometimes, a person with whom we have had an important relationship in the past will reappear in our lives. How these periods will affect you personally depends on where it happens in your astrological chart(s). If you’d like to know, ask me.

There will be eclipses in January, February, July, and August of 2018. They occur in Aquarius, Leo, and Cancer. Eclipses are intense astrological events, and they often trigger important events that affect the masses. An eclipse will affect you personally if it hits one of your personal planets or points (within a two degree orb). Again, if you’d like to know if an eclipse will affect you personally, ask me. Most people will experience these eclipses as either a Full Moon or a New Moon.

Saturn will continue its transit through Capricorn. It could influence the large multi-national corporations, the leather and hide industries, and the iron and steel industries. This transit will affect you personally depending on where Saturn is transiting in your astrological chart(s) (its house placement and if it aspects any of your natal planets or points). If you’d like to know, ask me. Transiting Saturn will trine transiting Uranus (in Taurus) during the summer of 2018. Those periods should be important and most likely beneficial.

Uranus, the planet of change and the unexpected, will continue to transit the later part of Aries in 2018. Transiting Uranus will enter Taurus in May and then re-enter Aries in November. Transiting Uranus could affect the high technology industry, astrology/astrologers, civil rights issues, and other humanitarian interests. Transiting Aries, it could affect the sports industries as well as the military related industries. Transiting Taurus, it could affect banking and investments as well as restaurants and the foods industries. If you’d like to know how this transit of Uranus will affect you, ask me.

We also have a Mars retrograde period in 2018. Taking action could produce complications during this period of time. Mars is in retrograde motion from late June through late August of 2018. If you’d like to know how this transit of Mars will affect you, ask me.

During the later part of the year, we will experience a Venus retrograde period as well. Relationship (romantic, friendship, familial, business, etc.) issues will be up for review then. The Venus retrograde period is from early October through mid November of 2018.

Jupiter will be providing more opportunities with regard to close relationship matters, joint finances, taxes, insurance, and sex. Some might benefit through an inheritance. At various times of the year, Jupiter will trine transiting Neptune (in Pisces). And, at other times, Jupiter will sextile transiting Pluto (in Capricorn). These aspects are easy and are most likely positive - producing favorable results. If you’d like to know how this transit of Jupiter will affect you, ask me.

Neptune will continue its transit through its home sign of Pisces in 2018. The oil and gas industries will be impacted by this transit. Neptune also rules the motion picture industry and the shipping industry. If you’d like to know how this transit of Neptune will affect you, ask me.

Miscellaneous Astrological Musings - October, 2017

My eclipses posts:

Among my most popular blog posts are the ones related to eclipses. I first became intensely interested in eclipses about three years ago. I looked up everything I could from various favorite astrologers of mine. As with some other areas, there wasn’t a great deal of agreement among them with regard to how to interpret eclipses. In terms of major world events, I became very impressed by what I read from Celeste Teal in her book, Eclipses, Predicting World Events & Personal Transformation. Her discussion of recent events including the September 11, 2001 attack is especially interesting.

There was a very powerful total solar eclipse at 0 Cancer on June 21, 2001. Transiting Mars was stimulating this eclipse at 1 Capricorn on September 11, 2001 when the attack on the WTC began. We went on to experience the collapse of both towers, the attack on the Pentagon building in DC, and the crash of the San Francisco bound plane in Pennsylvania. To say that it was an enormously significant day almost seems like an understatement. We would later discover that Osama Bin Laden was responsible for the attack. Interestingly, his natal Moon is at 0 Cancer.

The Loss Of A Good Friend:

Last March, I discovered that a couple of my friends that I had not heard from in a long time had died. I did not know that either one of them was even sick.

One of those friends - I’ll call him Bill, although that is not his name - is an Aries with Pisces rising. I met him after I first moved to San Francisco in 1989. We became close friends very quickly. About ten years later, he moved to Palm Springs. And, I learned from another friend of mine that he had moved to Puerto Vallarta a couple of years ago, which is where he expired from liver disease.

Bill had natal Uranus on his IC (bottom of his chart - home/family) and in Gemini. Bill moved around quite a bit during his life. He lived in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Palm Springs, Tucson, and Puerto Vallarta during parts of his life - and, those are just the only the locations that I am aware of.

Bill’s natal Mercury is conjunct his natal Mars in Aries and his first house of personality and appearance. He LOVED to talk. He would call me on the phone and talk nonstop for two or three hours. I’d almost have to get rude to get him to say goodbye and hang up. You see, I have Saturn in the third - I don’t like to talk on the phone that much (if at all). He did not mean to capitalize or waste my time - he just LOVED to talk. And, he had a lot to say too. He also like to watch car racing events on TV. I think that’s the only sport he watched. He owned a sports car during his younger years and after completing college, and had a fairly serious accident. He recovered from that, but I think he decided that his own race car driving days were over.

Bill’s Moon is conjunct his natal Venus (both in Pisces). He had a great relationship with his mother, and he adored her.

He died from liver disease. He had Jupiter (which rules the liver) in Scorpio and in the eighth house (of death). His natal Sun in Aries is in an inconjunct aspect to his natal Jupiter.

Another younger friend of mine also has Gemini on his IC. He goes back and forth between two homes - one is on a farm away from the City, and the other one is an apartment in the City.

Trump issues:

Transiting Mars is now in the early degrees of Libra, and will activate Trump's Mercury/Neptune square. This aspect helps to explain why Trump plays fast and loose with the truth at times (probably a lot of the time). Expect him to have difficulty as a result of that during the period that this aspect is in effect - October 30, 2017 through November 7, 2017.

Special Investigator Robert Mueller has Neptune at 2 Libra and Saturn at 6 Cancer. The next several days could be eventful. As Mercury activated the August 7, 2017 eclipse, CNN announced (on October 27) that the first charges are about to be filed in the Russia investigation. According to the report, they already have been, but the names are held under seal by a federal court judge. Mueller himself was born on August 7.

The California Fires

On October 9, 2017, California fires are burning out of control - especially in Northern California in the wine country. Hundreds of homes have been burned. Many of them are in the Santa Rosa area.

When we have events such as this that affect many folks over a large geographical region, I always look to see if an eclipse has been activated. In this case, the September 16, 2016 lunar eclipse in Pisces has been activated by transiting Mars in Virgo (by opposition). Mars symbolizes fire, and it is in a square aspect to both the the Sun and the Moon in the eclipse chart. Mars is activating this eclipse now by opposing the eclipse point. Transiting Saturn (in Sagittarius) is activating this eclipse in this chart by square aspect. And, transiting Chiron (in Pisces) has been activating this eclipse by conjunction. So, we have a t-square involving this eclipse point. It’s a very intense and frightening configuration.

In the events chart for the formation of the state of California, Mars is at 11 Libra and Mercury is at 13 Libra. The Sun and transiting Mercury conjoined both in the past few days, and this is the time that many of the fires across California formed. We generally have some of these natural fires in California every year, but they don’t all expand and burn so rapidly and so out of control. Mercury has played a part in this because of the wind and how that has added to the problem. In California’s progressed chart, Mercury is at 9 Aquarius and Mars is at 12 Aquarius. On occasion, we get the effects of an eclipse prior to that eclipse. We will experience a lunar eclipse at 11 Aquarius on January 31, 2018. Progressed Mars is also conjunct the August 7, 2017 lunar eclipse in Aquarius and in opposition to the lunar node in California’s formation event chart.

Updated: For those who would like to help the California fire victims, check out this article:

https://www.fastcompany.com/40479325/how-to-help-napa-fire-victims-8-things-you-can-do-for-californias-wine-country-right-now

The Las Vegas Massacre

The Las Vegas Massacre

Stephen Paddock open fired on a crowd attending a country music concert in Las Vegas at about 10:08 PM PST on October 1, 2017.

At that time transiting Mars was activating the March 8, 2016 solar eclipse. This eclipse occurred at just under nineteen degrees Pisces, and transiting Mars was at just over seventeen degrees Virgo (and, in opposition to the eclipse point). That eclipse point is located in the fifth house of entertainment (and gambling) in the eclipse chart over Washington DC. In that eclipse chart, Asteroid Paddock is located on the Ascendant.

Another mass killing occurred in Orlando, Florida at Pulse nightclub. In that event chart, the Sun had activated this same eclipse (March 8, 2016 solar eclipse) by square aspect.

In the event chart (for the Las Vegas shooting), the IC is located close to the the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse point (the Great American Eclipse). Initial reports had indicated that the shooting began at about 10:00 PM PST. And, at that time, the IC would have been (almost) right on the eclipse point. The Moon is in opposition to the lunar node in Leo (sign of entertainment and gambling) and close to the MC. Transiting Saturn is on the descendant in this chart. Mercury, the ruler of this chart is in Libra and in conjunction to the March 23, 2016 lunar eclipse. Asteroid Paddock is located in conjunction to the August 7, 2017 lunar eclipse. Transiting Jupiter is also located in the fifth house and in opposition to transiting Uranus and Eris in the eleventh house of large groups (could symbolize the chaos that ensued when the shooting began). Transiting Mars squares both the Ascendant and Descendant. Transiting Mars squares transiting Saturn (in the seventh house and ruler of the eighth house of death) and trine transiting Pluto (in the eighth house of death and transformation).   

The killer, Stephen Paddock, was born on April 9, 1953. We don't have an exact time or place of birth. However, we nevertheless do know that transiting Pluto had been conjunct his natal Chiron (in Capricorn) and in square aspect to his natal Sun (in Aries) for much of this year. And, Pluto had just turned stationary direct on September 28. His natal Neptune and Saturn are in Libra and in opposition to his natal Venus/Juno in Aries. The transiting Jupiter/Uranus opposition had activated that configuration in his natal chart at the time. It looks to me like a lot of gambling and perhaps too much drinking (and, maybe even some drugs) combined with possible relationship problems.

Mexico's Earthquake Of September 7, 2017

An earthquake struck just off the Mexican coast on September 7. It occurred very close to Pijijiapan, Mexico at 11:49 PM local time. The event chart is below.

When earthquakes occur, the event chart often shows outer planets - usually Uranus and/or Saturn - on one of the angles. This chart is different but similar in that the lunar node is on the nadir (exactly on the IC). Transiting Mercury is also close by in the fourth house and conjunct Mars (also in the fourth house). Transiting Mercury is conjunct the August 21 total solar eclipse in Leo - the Great American Eclipse. Transiting Mercury/Mars is in a sesquiquadrate to Pluto in the eighth house of death. The Sun (also transiting the fourth house) is in a sesquiquadrate aspect with transiting Uranus in the eleventh but very close to the twelfth house. Numerous people were killed.

The other interesting configuration is a YOD. Transiting Pluto and transiting Neptune are in a sextile aspect, and they are both inconjunct transiting Venus. And, transiting Venus is opposite the August 7, 2017 lunar eclipse point in Aquarius. The apex of the YOD is opposite the lunar eclipse point and transiting Venus.

The Sun (in the fourth) is opposite transiting Neptune (in the tenth). The earthquake epicenter was actually out at sea in the Pacific off the coast.   

Hurricane Harvey And The Eclipses

Let’s take a look at the development of Hurricane Harvey, the disastrous consequences we are now witnessing, and the Astrological forces at play.

Much has already been said about this event in the aftermath of the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 - the Great American Eclipse. I agree with those assessments. However, I think there is much more to it.

You see, the actual events related to an eclipse do not always happen during the eclipse or right afterwards. Often, the event occurs when one of the inner planets - usually the Sun or Mars - later transits the eclipse point by square, opposition or conjunction. Sometimes, a weather related event occurs when Mercury activates an eclipse point.

Hurricane Harvey formed and grew into a Hurricane as transiting Mercury (in Virgo) was in opposition to Neptune (in Pisces) and had turned retrograde at about 11 Virgo. It had activated two previous eclipses - the solar eclipse on September 1, 2016 (at about 9 Virgo) and the solar eclipse on February 26, 2017 (at about 8 Pisces). I believe that these two eclipses have as much to do with this disastrous weather event as the Great American Eclipse and maybe more. Today is August 30, 2017 and the Sun is now activating those eclipse points, and we are seeing the devastation the Hurricane and the flooding have caused and the heroic efforts to save lives.

Let’s also take a look at the charts of a couple of the cities involved. Corpus Christi was first incorporated on February 16, 1852. On that date, transiting Neptune was at 8 degrees and 31 minutes Pisces (right in the crossfires of both eclipses). Houston was first incorporated on June 5, 1837. On that date, transiting Uranus was at 8 degrees and 28 minutes Pisces (also right in the crosshairs of these two eclipses). Beaumont has laso been hit quite hard by this weather event. It was incorporated on December 16, 1838, and transiting Uranus was at 8 degrees and 32 minutes Pisces on that date.

The State Of Texas was admitted into the Union on December 29, 1845. Transiting Neptune was at 24 Aquarius. The solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 was in opposition at 28 Leo. The lunar eclipse of February 10 occurred at 22 Aquarius. And, the lunar eclipse (although there was no shadow for this event) on August 18, 2016 occurred at 25 Aquarius.

For those reading this post who are not Astrologers, Neptune rules large bodies of water and flooding events. And, since Neptune is the modern day ruler of Pisces, the sign of Pisces is also involved.

That is quite a bit of eclipse activity in Texas, and especially some of the cities on the Gulf Coast region of the state.

The charts for the state of Texas and the cities cited above were gotten from Carolyn R. Dodson's Horoscopes of the U.S. States & Cities.

August 21, 2017 Solar Eclipse In Leo - The Great American Eclipse

August, 2017 is eclipse season. We’ll experienced a lunar eclipse in Aquarius on August 7. And, then we will experience a solar eclipse on August 21, and it occurs at 28 degrees and 50 minutes Leo. Eclipses generally affect the masses - events that affect most people in a large area or even worldwide. Since this eclipse occurs in Leo, this eclipse could affect leaders, heads of state, and royalty. Mars is the lord of this eclipse and indicates aggressive actions, violence, and perhaps even war. Aggressive action aimed at these leaders cannot be dismissed. However, Uranus in trine aspect could indicate unexpected and perhaps positive outcomes. A younger male leader could somehow benefit.

This eclipse will affect the nation quite strongly, because this eclipse will be visible across the continental USA from Oregon through South Carolina. It follows a fairly narrow swath between those two states, but much of the nation will see at least a partial eclipse. Where I live in San Francisco, we will experience 80% of the total eclipse. Eclipses are much stronger where they are visible.

For the US, this eclipse will affect our relationship with foreign nations, religious issues, higher education issues, the airline industry and foreign travel, and matters of a legal nature. The Congress is involved in that it creates the law. Various controversial bills will be pushed hard. It’s unclear whether any of them will be successful, however there will be surprises and if any bills make it into law, it could happen suddenly and surprisingly. Mars in the ninth house indicates aggressive actions abroad. The entertainment industry is affected - most likely in a favorable and positive way. There is some chaos, however, as Asteroid Eris falls in this house and conjunct Asteroid America.

Jupiter is square and Pluto is opposite Venus and Ceres in this eclipse chart, and Venus falls in the eighth house of death. This could indicate the death of a prominent female and mother (since Venus/Ceres is in Cancer here). Venus is conjunct Mercury in the USA’s natal chart, so it could be a media star. Venus ruled Taurus is on the sixth house in this chart, so our heath care system could be eliminated or totally transformed. There will definitely be power struggles related to health care legislation. There could also be economic losses since Pluto resides in the second house in this chart.

Mercury is retrograde and in opposition to Neptune in this chart. There will likely be more problems and confusion related to fake news. There could also be accidents at sea.

This solar eclipse falls on President Trump’s natal Mars and his natal Ascendant. Therefore, this eclipse is directly related to him. In this Astrologer’s mind, Trump has not dealt with Mars-type issues well in his life. This could be because Mars falls in his twelfth house but conjunct his Ascendant. He doesn’t seem aware of how his anger issues and his aggressive actions toward others undermine his objectives. Nevertheless, he does have the opportunity to do something unique, surprising, positive, and successful. My guess is that he will sabotage himself. The eclipse occurs in square aspect to his MC and progressed Vertex, so whatever happens is not likely to increase his popularity among the public. This eclipse could indicate his death, however I consider that to be one of the less likely scenarios. A fall from grace is more likely.

As always, this eclipse will affect you personally if you have planets and/or points conjunct or opposite the eclipse point (only a two degree orb). Those planets or points between 26 degrees Leo or Aquarius and 1 degrees of Virgo or Pisces are included. Eclipses are Uranian in nature in that what happens is unexpected, and you might not even be certain as to what is happening for six months. For a solar eclipse, it takes about a year for the event to completely mature. Whether the eclipse is experienced as positive or negative depends on the planet that is conjoined (or opposed), it’s place in your chart, the condition that the planet is in, and whether and how you might have prepared for what is happening (i.e. free will). If you’d like to know if you have planets or points that fall into this range, let me know. For most people, it will be experienced simply as a New Moon type event. Those are generally felt as the start of something new or a new beginning.

From expert Mundane Astrologer Celeste Teal:

As you may know, this is being called the Great American Eclipse because the eclipse will be visible for a wide swath of the USA. In a rare event, this is the first Total Solar Eclipse in the country since 1979 and the eclipse shadow will travel from the Northwest coast to the Southeast coast in a matter of hours.

Eclipses have greater effects in the countries where they are visible. Of course animals are apt to become temporarily disoriented when the light turns to darkness at midday, but eclipse effects can range from increased earthquake activity to decreased crop production. This will be a learning experience for astrologers and a memorable event for all.

With this eclipse falling in Leo, it will stir sensational events. Fire sign eclipses can trigger war. An eclipse in Leo sometimes signals the threat of death, downfall or overthrow of some great political leader or royal figure. President Clinton was impeached following a Leo Solar Eclipse that fell within three degrees of his natal Sun in 1998.

Often, it is when one of the planets in the sky moves through the eclipse degree later on that sets off events indicated by the planet formations at the time of the eclipse.

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