World Astrology Network

September 2010

We start this month with Mercury retrograde, but don’t let that set us back.  Once we get a grip on the mechanical and electronic snags that lurk in the shadows, this is simply a time to practice being more careful with our words.  What writer is going to argue with that?

Sep 01 is a Wednesday (Mercury’s day of the week) with the Moon in Gemini.  Take it as encouragement to make this a writer’s month.  We are going to get another month of Wednesdays with the Moon in the mutable signs.  This is excellent for communication, writing, and networking of all kinds.  Put those brilliant ideas, scenes, and plots down on paper (or electronic equivalent).  Don’t just talk it all away.  Go for it.

Fri Sep 3 the Sun conjuncts Mercury retrograde.  The Moon is in Cancer.  Domestic instincts may be heightened.  Work to make your settings and scenes more concrete.  Do not sit idly vegging in front of the Home and Garden channel (unless it’s research, of course).

Sat Set 4 the Moon is still in Cancer when Venus trines Neptune.  The beautiful and the mystic join forces.  This is the stuff of high fantasy.

Tue Sep 7 the Moon conjuncts Mercury retrograde in Virgo.  This may be a day for making lists, editing, and generally getting thoughts organized.  It’s also the day before the New Moon.  Do the small but important stuff.  Consider keeping a low profile.  Heads Up.

Wed Sep 8 we have the New Moon at 15Vir.  Get those details under control.  Later, Venus changes signs and moves into Scorpio.  Resist being oversensitive.  That night, Jupiter retrogrades back into Pisces.  Sensitive, yes, oversensitive, please no.

Thu Sep 9 the Moon is in Libra when Mars trines Neptune.  We can work magic on the relationship and diplomatic fronts.  Display a magnanimous and good temper.  Confrontation can wait for another day.

Fri Sep 10 the Moon conjuncts Mars in Libra, then goes void of course.  There’s extra energy for harmonious activities.  You can be more outgoing, if you must.

Sat Sep 11 the Moon conjuncts Venus in Scorpio.  Convictions have a beauty of their own.

Sun Sep 12 the Moon is still in Scorpio when Mercury goes stationary direct.  So how bad was that?  Start slowly, and enjoy Mercury’s repeat of the second half of Virgo.

Tue Sep 14 the Moon is in Sagittarius when Mars changes signs and enters its home sign of Scorpio.  Heads Up.  Mars now has the upper hand in the Venus-Mars drama.  Think courageous, not belligerent, when sculpting your protagonists.  Antagonists can benefit from the extra belligerence.

Wed Sep 15 the Moon conjuncts Pluto in Capricorn.  Word count, word count, word count.

Sat Sep 18 the Moon is in Aquarius when Jupiter retrograde conjuncts Uranus retrograde at 28Pis.  Pay more attention to the undercurrents of change and dissatisfaction than to any obvious events.  These undercurrents have a few months to simmer and perk. (Consider this for the first half of any involved plot outline.)  These heavy-lifting outer planets will repeat this conjunction at the end of the year, when they are both direct, at 26 Pis.  What we catch hints of now may more fully manifest then.  Take this as a slow acting but serious Heads Up.

Tue Sep 21 the Moon is in Pisces when the Sun exactly opposes Jupiter.  Heads Up.  Have you noticed how bright Jupiter is in the night sky?  A planet is brightest when it is in opposition to the Sun.  It’s the planet’s “full moon” phase, as seen from Earth.  This aspect evaluates how worthy you are of your good luck, if the universe owes you more or if what you’ve received is on some karmic tab, to be paid for later.  (Personally, I prefer to pay in advance, so to speak, and be as generous as I can).  Luck is a big part of a writer’s life, hence this Heads Up.  A few hours later, the Sun exactly opposes Neptune.  Shine a spotlight on the spiritual quality of life.  Any lame pretenses or foolish addictions can be brought to light now, for us to make any necessary adjustments.  A couple of hours later, the Moon opposes Mercury.  Heads Up.  Every writer knows about criticism and self-criticism.  Negative self-criticism is just another name for pity party and self-abuse.  Go for the honest, objective self-criticism, and make it positive.

Wed Sep 22 the Sun finishes its time in Virgo and moves into Libra.  This is a good month to focus on that romance novel, that political thriller, and all things that are relationship, and open partner-open enemy based.  The Sun will be a bit more cheerful, being deposited by Venus for the next month.  That evening, the Moon conjuncts Jupiter in Pisces, and forty-seven minutes later conjuncts Uranus.  In Pisces.  Heads Up.  Expect emotions to be strong, overt, and surprising.

Thu Sep 23 is the Full Moon at 0Aries.  The Moon will rise due east and set due west, and in general offer us the beginning of a new cycle, even though it’s the Harvest Moon.  We can harvest something of profound importance to the future.  Later, the Moon opposes Saturn (which is still in Libra).  Balance is a beautiful condition, one that requires careful effort.  We are being given what we need to pull it all off.

Mon Sep 27 the Moon enters Gemini, where it will be until early Thursday morning.  Jump in and accomplish a lot.  It’s a fabulous way to finish off the month.

Wed Sep 29, the Moon is in, yes, Gemini.  Don’t fritter this away.

Thu Sep 30 the Moon is in Cancer when the Sun conjuncts Saturn in Libra.  This is the one day of the year when authority gets to question you.  Be respectful and true to yourself; if you draw any unwanted attention then it was unavoidable.  If you happen to be the authority, don’t abuse it, because today it’s just too easy.

We’ve seen more challenging months, but September is not to be taken lightly.  Take advantage of having Mercury in a home sign.  Take advantage of Jupiter being in so strong a position, virtually on the start of the zodiac, before retrograding back into its home sign of Pisces.  There are a lot of advantages if we remember that they exist.  Have strong resolve, faith in yourself and in your work, and blast on through.  Heads Up!

It’s a month of retrogrades and long-lasting conjunctions.  Life may seem stuck in low gear, but the low gears are the strong ones. Venus and Saturn are within orb for conjunction from Aug 2 till Aug 13.  Heads up for any unwarranted feelings of self-sacrifice or self-pity.  Mars is deep in the mix, too.

Mars will be in a separating conjunction with Saturn until Aug 11 or so.  Be on guard against feeling so strong that you’re willing to be a doormat.

Then we have Venus and Mars, ah!  This gives charm and beauty to the world, and reckless flirtation, jealousy, and temper.

Now that’s a Heads Up configuration!

They begin an applying conjunction on Aug 6, reach exact conjunction on Aug 20 (the same day that Mercury goes stationary retrograde), do the exact conjunction again on Oct 1 (shortly before Venus goes stationary retrograde on Oct 8), and they don’t pull away from one another until Oct 12. Then there’s Jupiter and Uranus, still conjunct in the borderlands of early Aries and late Pisces.  It lasts till the end of the year, and then some.  This is the stuff of Big Business, big and generous authority, and big surprises.  Make friends with these conditions and Heads Up all month. Get all that?  Did it stick?  Me, neither.  That’s why I need to look at the sky day by day, night by night.

Ready for August?

August 1 falls on a Sunday with the Moon in Aries.  Is that enough fire for you?  Take your place in the world, even if it’s that BBQ you thought you wanted to skip.  Network, network, see and be seen.  Smile.  The Sun is in Leo.

Tue Aug 3 the Moon is in Taurus when Mars exactly opposes Jupiter.  If you see a risk worth taking, don’t be too slow about it.  If it’s questionable (as most risks are), hesitation may be the better part of virtue.  Heads Up.

Wed Aug 4 the Moon enters Gemini, where it stays till Friday afternoon.  We have a month of Wednesdays with the Moon in mutable signs.  Gemini, Virgo, and Sagittarius are friendly to writing and publishing.  Get some work done!

Fri Aug 6 the Moon is in Cancer when Venus changes signs and moves into her home sign of Libra.  (Yes, Venus rules Taurus, too.)  Practice some random act of civility and good manners, and watch civilization return to the world.

Sat Aug 7 the Moon is still in Cancer when Venus opposes Uranus.  It’s the perfect day to indulge in being a tea (or coffee) snob.

Sun Aug 8 Venus exactly conjuncts Saturn.  Something (or someone) venerable and feminine might save an awkward situation.  About six hours later the Moon moves into Leo.  The Moon may be at its darkest, but you can still shine, with discretion.  It’s also the day before the New Moon.  Heads Up.

Mon Aug 9 Venus exactly opposes Jupiter.  It’s a risky time to be emotionally all over the map.  Heads Up.  About three hours later comes the New Moon at 17Leo.  This is a lot of regal energy.  Start something anchored in dignity.

Wed Aug 11 the Moon conjuncts Mercury in Virgo.  Pick something you care about and make it perfect.

Thu Aug 12 the Moon conjuncts Saturn in Libra.  Correct some old problem or flaw, or just apologize (even for nothing) and win back an alienated teammate.

Fri Aug 13 the Moon conjuncts Venus, then four hour later conjuncts Mars in Libra.  There is great beauty in restraint.  (All of this Venus-Mars stuff has got to be good for the writers of romance.)  That night Uranus retrogrades out of Aries and back into Pisces.  It’s never going to be too late to reevaluate some ideas.  This is your basic Heads Up day.

Mon Aug 16 the Moon is in Scorpio when Jupiter exactly opposes Saturn.  Your failings are less severe and less of a hindrance than you think. Aim high, with courage and cheer.  Heads Up.

Wed Aug 18 the Moon is Sagittarius all day.  Resist major distractions, especially time sinks while trying to instruct others, and work on your own stuff.

Thu Aug 19 the Moon conjuncts Pluto in Capricorn.  Did I say ‘work on your own stuff’ yet?  Also, Mercury is grinding to a halt, preparing to go stationary retrograde tomorrow.  Make preparations of your own.  Be good to your car, your computer, and your cell phone.

Fri Aug 20 the Moon is in serious (though not grim) Capricorn when the Sun exactly opposes Neptune.  This is a tough day for fantasies.  Midday Venus exactly conjuncts Mars (I’m so glad this is happening on Venus’s turf, at 14 Lib).  An hour later Mercury goes stationary retrograde in his home sign of Virgo. It’s a serious Heads Up day, but with many friendly overtones for writers.  Be sharp, alert, but also patient and tolerant. Mercury retrograde in Virgo is made for editing and fact-checking.

Sat Aug 21 the Moon is still in Capricorn when Saturn exactly squares Pluto.  Some authority figures like being challenged.  Choose your revolution with care.  Heads Up.

Sun Aug 22 the Moon is in Aquarius when the Sun leaves its homesign of Leo and enters Virgo.  Can’t you just feel the glitz fizzing away?  The universe is not contractingand getting more dull.  Rather, it’s changing its focus.

Tue Aug 24 the Moon conjuncts Neptune in Aquarius.  Dream of deep beautiful things.  Late morning is the Full Moon at 01Pis.  Some secrets are truly universal.

Wed Aug 25 the Moon is in Pisces when the Sun exactly trines Pluto.  Sometimes transformation can improve character.  Remember dignity and integrity, and then go for it.  Write with passion.

Thu Aug 26 the Moon conjuncts Uranus in the fishtail end of Pisces.  Feelings can be so deep, you wonder if this is the first time they’ve surfaced.  Then, four hours later, the Moon enters Aries and conjuncts Jupiter.  A bright energetic outlook is a magnet for good luck.  Write with conviction and joy.

Tue Aug 31 the Moon enters Gemini in the late afternoon.  Leave yourself copious notes for tomorrow.  It will be a new month, a Wednesday, and the Moon will still be in Gemini

This is one heck of a writer’s month.  Don’t be shy about a single day of it.  It’s a month full of ideas, contacts, inspiration, lucky hunches.  It’s also a month rich in examples of the bad stuff, negative self-criticism, exaggerated humility, inappropriate self-degradation.  Keep the head and hands up, and the shoulders down.  Relax and settle into the blissful magic of making art with…words!  Imagine that!  Heads up!

We tend to hear a lot about ‘essential dignity’ and dispositors in traditional astrology, but very little is said about that all important piece of our astrological puzzle, the all ‘dasturiya’ which is the planet that rises directly to the east of any given planet. In traditional astrology, we come to take for granted that the disposing planet, that planet which owns the sign the planet or luminary we are examining. The disposing planet is often called the ‘lord’ because the disposer tends to ‘lord’ over said planet.  Let’s take Venus for example. She is said to be soft, and ever sweet and full of ardor. Place her in the sign, Virgo, and Mercury will act as her director.  Since Mercury is neuter, the person with this Venus may be more  drawn to the library, than to the boudoir.

Disposition, of course, is ‘old hat’ to most traditionalists and moderns alike, but what Abu Massar referred to as the dasturiya, seems to have vanished from the traditional lexicon. Hopefully we can remedy this situation, because the dasturiya, (especially of the Sun) is one of the most potent planets in the entire chart, goading the person to achieve. In a sense, the dispositor acts like a lord, while the dasturiya acts like a nagging wife. You just cannot avoid it! The ancients felt that the dasturiya of the Sun, especially important. According to the ancients, the Sun was the fountain of divine fire, which inspired man to find his purpose in life. To get a fire going, we need a spark. We might say that the dasturiya, especially that of the Sun, will act as a  divine  spark, igniting us to find own special greatness. To find the  dasturiya we need only look just east. In the case of the Sun, we look to the planet or luminary which rises directly previous to the Sun.

For instance, we can look at the chart of Abraham Lincoln, who according to the note in his mother’s bible was said to have been born ‘right at sun up.’  Thus, we notice, his Sun is right at the eastern horizon. Having the Sun here, btw, according to the ancients is one of the  the best places for the Sun, and it alone will give young Abraham the vigor to live a long and productive life. It will add to his ability to ‘get ahead’ because so placed it will enhance his sense of purpose, and most importantly, placed on the strongest angle of the chart, gives him the ability to act.

With the Sun rising, Lincoln will have a healthy ego, but placed in Aquarius, the Sun’s detriment, Lincoln will think in terms of the bigger picture. Such a person will not be what one could consider warm and gregarious, because when the Sun is in Aquarius, it is ruled by the grim Saturn. So Abe will be aloof, and considered even a bit cold. Perhaps given his Aquarius Sun, he might be well ahead of his time, and not afraid (to parody the Apple commercials) ‘think different. Given his times, he might have become a reformer, or even an inventor, one who would go far, because the dispositor or ruler of his beautifully placed Sun, the ringed planet, Saturn is also very strongly placed up at the Midheaven, or the noon position. The combination of the Sun in Aquarius disposed by Saturn in Sagittarius, will give him the zeal to push through is goals.  With Abe’s Sun placed at dawn position, and dispositor at noon, we already have confluent indicators that Abe will be an ambitious and mature young man who will take the long view, and have what it takes to go very far in life.

However, what sets Lincoln apart from other men of determination and ambition is because of his dasturiya. Money is a powerful elixir.They say that ‘power corrupts totally.’ There is a reason for this. Let’s face it, when a person gets to a certain stage in life, it is easier to keep the wheel going. Once a person ‘gets to the top’ it is human nature to try to keep on accumulating; to protect ‘whats mine.’   This is where the adage, ‘the rich get richer’ came from, because once most people get to the top of the pyramid, they spend the rest of their born days, grabbing more and fighting off competitors. It is Lincoln’s dasturiya,  the Moon which at sets him apart,  not just from other successful politicians, who ‘make it’ but from all presidents because she forces him to remember his roots. Detrimented in Capricorn, and also disposed by that powerful 10th house Saturn, it becomes the goad that sparks his altruistic zeal that made Lincoln stand up for every one of his subjects, not just the rich and powerful. When he said,  ”that government, of the people, by the people and for the people, will not perish from this earth”   it was his Moon talking. We know from mundane astrology that the represents the common man. Because he did what the Moon forced him to do, take care of everybody in need, black, white and in between. And because of this, Lincoln stands out above all other presidents.

Now mind you, even though the Moon is Lincoln’s royal goad in life, we do not see ‘lunar’ features or temperament outwardly. This is because of ‘accidental’ placement. In charts, when it comes to ‘what you see’ it is the angular planets.  So with Lincoln, we see the overt characteristics like his very dark angular, some would call, Saturnian features (the Sun in Aquarius, angular 1^st with dispositor Saturn in angular 10). And indeed, Lincoln was not what you would call a touch feely kind of a guy. In fact, he was said to have been dumped by his first girlfriend who said he was ‘no gentlemen’ when they had returned from long walk with a pregnant woman, toting sleeping babe in her arms, and had never once offered to carry her load. When confronted with this, he said something to the effect of, ‘well, I figured if she wanted help she woulda asked.”  So instead of seeing a soft and round personage, the lunar dasturiya is placed in the 12^th a cadent, house, and nstead, acts like a subtle voice whispering from the shadows. In addition, like his Sun, Lincoln’s Moon is also detrimented. Since Lincoln is a man, the Moon will represent the women in his life. Mary Todd Lincoln was known to have suffered emotional stress, some said she was unstable. In addition, his mother was considered a ‘lose woman’ because it was said that she cohabited with Lincoln’s dad, prior to marriage.  Thus she was shunned from society, which out in the ‘frontier’ meant company. It was also said that she was a cultured and literate woman, but also a sad woman because of all the isolation. We see this in Lincoln’s placement of the detrimented Moon in Capricorn (the sign opposite its home base of Cancer). I think it in many ways, given that the Moon is his dasturiya, that he was deeply affected by her being an outcast, so that he remembered all the other outcasts and became a president who was ‘of, by and for the people’ not just some of them, but every last one of them.

This post was inspired by the brilliant work of Silva who did an amazing piece on the doryphory at our list Angelicus Merlin. Her astrological work,  each an exquisite lesson in itself, of which I am forever indebted, is not to be missed. Enjoy!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/angelicusmerlin/

Are we not entering the heart of summer?  And what a summer this is going to be.  Let the Sun shine in!

July 1 starts on a Thursday (Jupiter’s day) with the Moon in Pisces (traditionally ruled by Jupiter).  Look forward to a month of expansion and all things big and beautiful.  Remove the word “disappointment” from your vocabulary this month.

Sat Jul 03 the Moon opposes Saturn and goes void of course until it enters the sign of Aries.  Criticism may sting, but not for long.  The Moon then conjuncts Uranus (always bringing a fresh look at the world), then Jupiter in the sign of Aries.  Feel personally lucky.

Mon Jul 05 the Moon is in Aries when Uranus goes stationary retrograde.  This happens so often, it’s hardly worth mention, but sometimes it’s good to recall that not even the Universe does inventiveness non-stop.

Wed Jul 07 the Moon is in Taurus for all but the last hour of the day.  Dig in deep, make solid progress, and give your work strong bones.

Thu Jul 08 the Moon enters Gemini, where it stays until Saturday.  You can get a lot done by the end of this week.  In the afternoon Venus exactly opposes Uranus.  The classic approach will be more appealing.  That night, Mercury sextiles Saturn.  Think clear and unrushed thoughts.  Write them down for later.

Fri Jul 09 the Moon is in Gemini when Mercury changes signs and enters Leo.  Ideas become more daring and dramatic (always good for storytellers).  That night, Mercury trines Uranus.  The bizarre loses its power to shock, and may even become amusing.  A mild Heads Up on this.  (Isn’t the world jaded enough?)

Sat Jul 10 the Moon is void of course in Gemini when Venus changes signs and enters Virgo.  Details and accessories take on more importance.  Six minutes later, the Moon moves into its home sign of Cancer.  Your senses and gut feelings have never been so strong.  That night, the Sun sextiles Mars.  There’s energy to move mountains, or to weather the most demanding parties.  It’s also the day before the New Moon.  Heads Up.

Sun Jul 11 the Moon is in Cancer when Mercury trines Jupiter.  The little mind may spin with good thoughts.  Enjoy, and consider what might be useful material later.  Midday is the New Moon (and solar eclipse) at 19Can.  Start something close to home.  Think gardens or cook books.

Mon Jul 12 the Moon conjuncts Mercury in Leo.  Let the writing sparks fly!  The roar is supposed to be loud.

Tue Jul 13 the Moon is in Leo when Venus trines Pluto.  Take some demanding thing and transform it into something beautiful.

Wed Jul 14 the Moon enters Virgo in the morning and conjuncts Venus that night.  Indulge in a day of making all the little things shine.

Thu Jul 15 the Moon conjuncts Mars in Virgo.  Remember yesterday?  You have the energy to continue (unless you’ve run out of little things…I haven’t).

Fri Jul 16 the Moon conjuncts Saturn in the end of Virgo, and goes void of course for about half an hour.  This slow-going, precise energy is worth saving.  The Moon then enters Libra and opposes Uranus in the morning and Jupiter by midday.  Heads Up!  The morning may throw crazy people and problems your way (or, better still, into your storylines), to peak in an avalanche of nuttiness by midday, but you are prepared.  Never underestimate the entertainment value of the silly.

Wed Jul 21 the Moon is in Sagittarius when Saturn shifts signs and enters Libra.  Heads Up.  The heavy critical eye of Saturn now shifts its gaze onto people, relationships, and all things social.  Be calm and diplomatic, to a fault if need be.  Problem people and situations may be slow to reveal themselves.  Honesty and integrity are your best and most powerful weapons.  Cunning will not be your friend.

Thu Jul 22 the Moon is in Sagittarius when the Sun leaves the sign of Cancer and enters its home sign of Leo.  Have a brilliant afternoon (and coming month).  May the spotlight of publishing fall upon your work.  Be prolific and proud of your projects.  You are the only one who can bring them to life.

Fri Jul 23 the Moon is in Capricorn when Jupiter grinds to a halt and goes stationary retrograde at 03Ari.  This is a long retrograde period, lasting into November.  What mania appeared out in the open now goes underground (until September when Jupiter retros out of Aries and back into Pisces).  Three hours later the Moon conjuncts Pluto in Capricorn.  The first mania to burn out may be that of the pointless workaholic.  Use your energy and creativity on grounded projects and relationships.

Sat Jul 24 the Moon is in Capricorn when Jupiter exactly squares Pluto.  Heads Up.  Go out and have a good time, but beware of ego clashes.  Keep your sense of humor in the foreground and flash that smile.  People will need to see it often.

Sun Jul 25 is the Full Moon at 03Aqu.  Engage in massive inventiveness and enjoy every surprise.  Share.

Mon Jul 26 the Moon is in Aquarius when Mercury exactly opposes Neptune.  Question the social paradigm but keep your reservations private.  An hour and a half later the Sun trines Jupiter.  People will be more agreeable than you ever expected.  Five and half hours later is the exact opposition of Saturn and Uranus.  Major Heads Up.  Without attention to social and diplomatic skills, today could be one minor landmine after another.  Stay calm and cling to that Sun-Jupiter trine.  Some people will prove to be sincere.

Tue Jul 27 the Moon is in Aquarius when Mercury changes signs and moves into Virgo.  This is good for writers, as Mercury is the nocturnal ruler of Virgo.  The small is often the embodiment of the large; so don’t shy away from little concerns or thoughts.  That night, the Moon conjuncts Neptune and goes void of course.  Let the mind slow down.  Maybe meditate on some the fur that’s been flying, or may be flying soon.  This is not a heads up, at least, not quite yet.

Wed Jul 28 the Moon is in Pisces all day.  Feelings play a huge part in all writing.  Let the emotions bubble up in your writing.  Even the most academic of papers need to be written with style.  Remember yours.

Thu Jul 29 the Moon is in Pisces when Mars changes signs and moves into Libra.  Heads Up for the next few days, here.  The Mars-Saturn conjunction is applying, and sometimes an aspect is stronger as it approaches perfection.  Pressures are mounting.  The “good news” is that Mars is weakest (though not powerless) in Libra.  Heads Up.

Fri Jul 30 the Moon is void of course in Pisces when Mercury trines Pluto.  Big changes make a lot sense but later may be hard to justify.  Three and a half hours later, Mars opposes Uranus.  Don’t spend your time debunking other people’s crackpot ideas.  Enjoy all the creativity and let ideas collapse on their own.  In the afternoon the Moon enters Aries and conjuncts Uranus.  You may have some controversial ideas of your own.  Twenty-six minutes later, the Moon opposes Mars.  Don’t let your enthusiasm fizzle.  Twenty-three minutes after that, the Moon opposes Saturn.  Nothing can rob you of your ambition to reach your goal.  Can you feel that Mars-Saturn conjunction coming on?  That evening, the Moon conjuncts Jupiter retrograde.  You feel strong enough to be good luck for others.

Sat Jul 31 the Moon is in Aries when Mars exactly conjuncts Saturn at 00Lib.  Luckily, it happens in the middle of the night for most of us, so how much trouble can we get into?  Start the day with good focus on what matters and don’t be tricked into being over deferential because you know you’re so strong.  Mars and Saturn together can feel like one foot on the gas and the other foot on the brake.  Stay centered and apply all that Mars power constructively to what work you take most seriously.  Great good can come from this aspect, and of the two planets, Saturn is the stronger.  Go for the long-term rather than the flash in the pan.  Heads Up in a magnificent way.

This has not been an easy month.  We start in one world, and conclude in another.  We have at our disposal all the energy, glory, and nobility of the Sun in its home sign by the end of it.  Persevere and have faith in yourself.  Great forces are stirring in the heavens and on the earth.  You are one of those forces.

In a cosmic nutshell, we have Jupiter and Uranus conjunct in early Aries.  The lightning bolt brilliance of the individual is ready to go!  Opposing that is Mars and Saturn conjunct in early Libra.  Society (although made up of individuals) simply can’t move that fast, but it has great motivation towards progress.  Square to all this is Pluto in early Capricorn, saying that no quantity of work may be enough.  This all makes a T-square, pointing to, yes, the early part of Cancer.  Whatever is dreamed, attempted, manifested, achieved now will have great impact on the root of all things, on our homes, our hearts.  What we say and do now will have clear and direct-line results.  So say and do everything with great care and compassion

This is no time to be shy.  Write your heart, and your here and now.  No one else can.  Only you.  Each one of us.  We speak for ourselves.  We are also the voice for those who cannot speak.  Be like the Sun, and shine with commitment.  Heads Up!

June is always a heady, high energy month. The first three weeks of it, the Sun is in Gemini. If only we could find some way to channel that into more writing! This month especially, Mercury is involved in a lot of high power aspects, so sharpen those pencils, and back up those disks and hard drives, and make room in your notebooks and address books. Remember, too that Uranus is now in the very beginning of Aries. Expect the unexpected! Take good care of your car.

Let me say off the bat HEADS UP FOR JUNE 4-12. There’s a Jupiter-Uranus conjunction
in our immediate future, and Mars conjuncts the royal fixed star Regulus. In fact,
let’s rate a moderate HEADS UP from now till early August, till the Mars-Saturn
conjunction is over. Till then, Summer is a’comin’ in. Let’s go!

Tues Jun 01 has the Moon in Aquarius. This sets the tone for a month of fresh,
maybe unexpected ideas, people, and situations. Contribute and do something good
with it.

Wed Jun 02, the Moon is still in Aquarius. This month, the first two Wednesdays
will have the Moon in fixed signs. Then, things switch around and the Moon will be
in mutable signs. On this Wednesday, remember that even if you don’t feel very
revolutionary, sometimes writers do change the world.

Thu Jun 03 the Moon conjuncts Neptune in Aquarius. Cherish your dreams and
aspirations, and be happy that this is not happening tomorrow, when Mars exactly
opposes Neptune. At least the Moon is checking in on the side of visionary Neptune
and not belligerent Mars. The Moon then moves on to enter the sign of Pisces.
Dreams take on a deeper, more personal power. Be inspired.

Fri Jun 04 the Moon is in Pisces when Mars opposes Neptune. This may be one of
those days when it seems like none of the old magic is working. Heads Up, but don’t
be discouraged. It only frees up time and space for future new magic.

Sat Jun 05 the Moon conjuncts Jupiter in the last degree of Pisces. This might be
intensely lucky for you, or it may be intensely lucky on some universal scale that
has nothing to do with any of us personally. One minute later the Moon moves into
Aries, taking all that luck with it into some new cosmic cycle. Twenty-nine minutes
later, the Moon conjuncts Uranus. Something new is beginning, with or without us.
Just before day’s end, Jupiter moves on and enters the sign of Aries. Heads Up for
tomorrow, and for the coming week. Be open, if not eager for changes, but don’t go
manic with it. Stay cool and centered in your enthusiasm. The real Heads Up,
though, is because today and tomorrow Mars conjuncts the royal fixed star Regulus.
The constellation of Leo the Lion is not exactly a pretty sight right now,
astrologically speaking, with Mars near Regulus, the heart of the Lion, and Saturn
near Denebola, the Lion’s tail. Luckily, Mars moves quickly and by the start of
August, the Mars-Saturn conjunction at 0Lib will be over and Mars will rush ahead.
I say, until Aug 1, Heads Up on this one; be calm, agreeable, and generally try to
be safe and stay out of trouble. (Big order for writers, I know)

Sun Jun 06 the Moon is in Aries when Mars changes signs and enters Virgo. There’s
suddenly extra energy for getting the details right. (That doesn’t mean you have to
fight to the death over every comma.)

Tue Jun 08 the Moon is in the last degrees of Aries when Jupiter exactly conjuncts
Uranus. You may experience a wealth of wild and crazy ideas. Take notes; act
later, and with extreme prejudice. Later, the Moon is in Taurus when Mercury trines
Saturn. The mind slows down a bit and it’s easier to give things proper attention.
This is a total Heads Up day.

Wed Jun 09 the Moon is in Taurus when Mercury squares Neptune. It’s easy to
criticize something that’s not fully formed, and it’s rarely helpful. Late in the
evening, Mercury changes signs and moves into its homesign Gemini. An extra
writer’s Heads Up on this one. Give your work more priority.

Thu Jun 10 the Moon enters the sign of Gemini. (Enjoy this into Saturday.) As an
extra bonus, the Moon conjuncts Mercury in the afternoon. Even if your phone is
ringing off the hook (now there’s an anachronism!), you can still demand your
writing time.

Fri Jun 11 the Moon is in Gemini when Mercury squares Mars. Heads Up. The universe
does not need any more anger or arguments right now. Also it’s the day before the
New Moon. More Heads Up. Think defense. (This is not being wimpy, since we all
know what the best offense is.)

Sat Jun 12 is the New Moon at 02Gem. Start something brilliant and sharp, and be
prepared for the month to go fast.

Mon Jun 14 the Moon is in the end of Cancer when Venus changes signs and moves into
Leo. Write for that larger audience, and do it with heart. In the evening, the
Moon also enters Leo, and conjuncts Venus. Sometimes beauty deserves to be proud.
Heads Up in a good way.

Wed Jun 16 the Moon is void of course in Leo most of the day but moves into Virgo
that night. Spend the day figuring out how to tie up loose ends and how to finish
what is almost done.

Thu Jun 17 the Moon conjuncts Mars in Virgo.  Clean you office.  While you’re at it, clean your car.  Clients and other visitors will be impressed.

Fri Jun 18 the Moon conjuncts Saturn in Virgo.  Settle into your nice clean organized workspace, feel virtuous, and then be productive.  Start with the little stuff on your list, and work up.

Sat Jun 19 the Moon is in Libra when the Sun squares Saturn.  Heads Up.  If you must challenge authority, do it diplomatically.  It might even work.  That night, the Sun trines Neptune.  Regardless of how the day has gone, you can find things to feel good about that are worth taking into the future.

Sun Jun 20 is, along with being Father’s Day, the last day the Sun is in Gemini.  Heads Up.  We always knew that this month would go fast.  Celebrate with a last-minute writing bash, or maybe just go to a party.  Summer is a’comin’ in and it is party season, have you noticed?

Mon Jun 21 the Moon in the final degrees of Libra when the Sun moves into Cancer (the Moon’s sign).  Prepare for a harmonious and home-centered month to come.

Wed Jun 23 the Moon is in Scorpio when the Sun squares Jupiter.  Heads Up.  Over-enthusiasm sometimes just chases people away.  There’s a time and place for intensity.  Choose well.  Midday, the Moon moves into expansive Sagittarius.  More Heads Up.  If you haven’t gotten things under control by now, give up, go for broke, and resolve to make good afterwards.  Of course, today may be the day to see something get published and paid for.  You never know.

Thu Jun 24 the Moon is in Sagittarius when Mercury first squares Saturn, then trines Neptune.  Heads Up twice.  Your doubts and second thoughts may later make the right person smile on you and your work.  Doom’n'gloom is contagious, but you do not have to catch it.

Fri Jun 25 the Moon is still in Sagittarius when Mercury changes signs and moves into Cancer.  Now that really went fast.  Expect attention to shift from the social and mental to the private and emotional.  Six hours later, Mercury squares Uranus.  Heads Up.  This aspect sometimes brings the downfall of many a beloved crackpot idea.  Midday, the Sun exactly opposes Pluto.  A final Heads Up (which carries over into tomorrow).  Fears and paranoia are usually imaginary, exaggerated, and short-lived.  Don’t get bent out of shape without solid cause.  Heads Up.

Sat Jun 26 is a major Heads Up.  The Moon conjuncts Pluto, then becomes the Full Moon at 04Cap.  That’s a full moon with a lot of Pluto energy, with the emotional Moon weighing in on the side of Pluto (in no-nonsense, no-frills Capricorn).  Stay calm and strong, and remember that the opposing Sun is strong and bright.  You can see through to the truth of whatever may come up, and the truth might just be that there’s nothing threatening going on.  Now, a bonus Heads Up.  An hour later, Mercury squares Jupiter.  You can see through the glamour and over-enthusiasm of others, but it may not be wise.  Did I say ‘Heads Up?’  And, since this is a Full Moon, after all, I say, use it.  Work with this crazy energy for honesty, fairness, and truth.  I know, I know, these themes only win out in fiction….

Sun Jun 27 the Moon is still in Capricorn when Mercury opposes Pluto.  Heads Up.  Mercury just will not stay out of the mix.  Your analysis can be perfect and your results correct, but you may lack the power to do anything about anything.  Be realistic as well as smart.  (This is also good advice for a suffering protagonist in a nasty plot snarl).

Mon Jun 28 the Sun conjuncts Mercury less than an hour before the Moon moves into Aquarius.  The material world may seem designed to drive you crazy, but this too shall pass.  Enjoy the breath of fresh air that follows.

Wed Jun 30 the Moon conjuncts Neptune, then moves into Pisces.  We can take into the next month all the dreams and inspirations that we can carry.  Be happy.

June is a month full of massive challenges, but also massive opportunities.  Be calm, stalwart in your efforts; keep faith in your own vision, yes, all these aphorisms apply to June.  Take them literally and remember to smile.  It’s a month to pursue the glorious happy ending in fiction, and the realistic, perhaps small serial happy endings in daily life.  The splendid and majestic sunset of a June evening qualifies as just such a happy ending.  Don’t miss out on a single one.  Take each day, and each night, in hand, and make it your own.  Share it with the world, throughout time and space.  It’s what writers do.  Heads Up!!

Go for it!  Heads Up

Chairman Levin, Ranking Member Coburn and Members of the Subcommittee:

Thank you for the invitation to appear before you today as you examine some of the causes and consequences of the financial crisis.

Today, the financial system is still fragile but it is largely stable. This stability is a result of decisive and necessary government action during the fall of 2008. Like other financial institutions, Goldman Sachs received an investment from the government as a part of its various efforts to fortify our markets and the economy during a very difficult time.

(continue reading…)

While most everybody in the media has been down playing the problems at Goldman Sachs, recently, big changes are coming up in their future. Why, one of the ways in which we look into the future of any given companies stock by a method known to astrologers as directing. After all just as people grow, so do charts. Companies have their ups and downs, and directing is one of the easiest way to see those fluctuations in fortune.

There are several different kinds of directions, the one most utilized in the western tradition is called ’secondary progression.’ When we direct This method takes the planets and luminaries and projects them forward in the sign they are in symbolically. In general, this moves the planets forward (or backwards) in general by ‘ephemeris’ time, which is approximately one day in the ephemeris is equal to one year in the life of the company.

In the situation we have with Goldman Sachs, we have a company that has had vigorous growth since the stock went public in 1999. Moving the Goldman’s stock (GS) forward by secondary direction, we see that the Moon has just come to the same degree as the Sun. Whenever the Moon and the Sun are one in real life, we call a ‘new Moon.’ The reason we call it a ‘new’ Moon is because it is the start of the lunar month. If you watch what takes place at this time, all the old business from last month comes to an end, and brand new focus takes place. The first sighting of the New Moon was so important to the ancients that 1st century CE astrologer, Al-Biruni tells us that the ancient Jews who would send forth their swiftest warriors to the mountain peaks, where they were instructed to build a fire at the very first second that they saw the tiny crescent of the New Moon. This is because our script changes, every time that the Sun and Moon are one, every month.

Because the directed Moon moves so slowly, the coming together of the Sun and Moon is a rare event in a stock’s life, taking place but once every 27 years. When this happens, as it with GS, sweeping changes take place, which set the stage for almost the next decade.  Goldman is going to see heads roll because the coming together of Sun and Moon took place on the dreaded fixed star, Algol, who represents the severed head of the Medusa. It is an indication that it will be hard for GS to get away with the ABACUS scandal as easily as it was able to cover its bad bets back in 2008.

This coming together of the Moon and the Sun is all the more poignant because the sign Cancer is rising on the eastern horizon. This makes the Moon the landlord, so to speak, of the chart. We see the Moon in the main or natal chart is in the devil may care sign of Sagittarius. This sign has a great deal to do with gambling and taking risks of all kinds. This is not surprising given the nature of this company, which is known to create and bet on all kinds of financial instruments. There is nothing controversial about an investment bank taking risks. However, legal problems arise because in the case of GS, it appears that the government, bailed this company out, using taxpayer money to cover for bets that appear that the risk was not fully disclosed to the potential investor.

The investor is the person that the company sells the stock to. This would be the 7th house. Notice when the Moon is in the 6th house, it subverts the customer, because it stands behind the customer, like a predator in the house of self undoing to the potential investor.

With Capricorn on setting in the west, the people who are sold financial instruments will be represented by Saturn. Now, a real problem arises for any potential investor because when we look at the condition of their representative, we see that potential customers are at a great disadvantage because they are not getting the full picture about the risks that they are about to take on because their rep is only 6 degrees shy of the Sun. When the symbolic client is too close to the Sun, they become blinded in the Sun’s glare. They are not given all the facts necessary to make a wise purchase. Even Lilly, made a misinformed decision when he went ahead and bought property, when his own symbolic ruler was in this state. In essence, when we see ruler of the 7th combust, clients get burned. In this case, they also get ‘taken to the cleaners’ given Mars opposition.

Management is full of hot air, promising one thing, and delivering another given Jupiter’s conjunction with Mercury in Aries. Most the money to be made on this stock go to the upper echelon. However, big changes are coming up at GS. Even though reporting huge profits for this quarter, the stock went down. Allegations of fraud are being played down by a complacent media. However, one cannot fool Mother Nature. Given Venus’ placement by direction, this is not GS’s death knell by any means.   Even if the SEC suit turns out to be a slap on the wrist, by Summer, we may see some top heads roll. Will one of those heads be CEO Lloyd Blankfein (born September 20 1954 NYC)?

Stay tuned ….

On Friday, we learned that found out that the all time winner in the ‘get away with financial murder’ department, Goldman Sachs has been sued for fraud by the SEC. You may remember that it was those captains of the universe at GS that created the toxic debt instrument, the Collateral Debt Obligation, better known as CDOs, that nearly wiped out the financial institutions.  GS has a lot of chutzpah, because not only are they said to have helped to create the toxicity, but they also managed to get billions of dollars in  TARP  bailout money.

By Joshua Gallu and Christine Harper

April 16 (Bloomberg) — Goldman Sachs Group Inc. was sued by U.S. regulators for fraud tied to collateralized debt obligations that contributed to the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. The firm’s shares tumbled as much as 16 percent and financial stocks slumped.

Goldman Sachs created and sold CDOs tied to subprime mortgages in early 2007, as the U.S. housing market faltered, without disclosing that hedge fund Paulson & Co. helped pick the underlying securities and bet against them, the Securities and Exchange Commission said in a statement today. Billionaire John Paulson’s firm earned $1 billion on the trade and wasn’t accused of wrongdoing. The SEC also sued Fabrice Tourre, a Goldman Sachs vice president who helped created the CDOs.

‘ “The product was new and complex but the deception and conflicts are old and simple,” SEC Enforcement Director Robert Khuzami said. “Goldman wrongly permitted a client that was betting against the mortgage market to heavily influence which mortgage securities to include in an investment portfolio, while telling other investors that the securities were selected by an independent, objective third party.”

“Goldman Sachs became emblematic of public outrage at the banking industry after posting a record $13.4 billion profit in 2009, a year after receiving $10 billion in taxpayer aid during the financial crisis.”   More from Bloomberg

Like yours truly, back in 2006 (see Llewellyn’s 2006 Moon Sign Book), Paulson warned investors that the building boom was about to go bust. However, unlike yours truly, Paulson put his money where his mouth was and made a fortune by creating a financial instrument (collateral debt obligation or CDO)  of real estate mortgage based securities (RMBS) that he was betting against.   At first, he lost money, then in 2007, he hit pay dirt - big time. It is estimated in 2007, alone, Paulson & Co. made $15 billion dollars. This transaction, is said to have netted Paulson close to $4 billion dollars.

So where is the fraud?

Not on John Paulson’s part, he has been absolved off all liability in this situation. We need to roll back the clock to 2007. In a nutshell, John Paulson went to Goldman Sachs (as well as other investment banks)  and asked them to ‘create’ (structure) a type of RMBS (special emphasis on the last two letters) that some say was designed to fail. Gary Zuckerman’s book, ‘The Greatest Trade,’ tells us that Paulson shopped around to various banks. Not all of them took the bait.  According to Zuckerman, thinking that Paulson would want especially ‘ugly mortgages,’ Bear Stearns turned him down. There has been the analogy raised that this was like benching your best player, while betting on the opposing team.  While there might be of questionable ethics to create a CDO to fail and then bet against it,  there is hardly anything illegal about that. Investment banks come up with (structure) financial instruments of all types, all the time.

What was the SEC alleges to be fraudulent is that Goldman Sachs,  as well as, their Vice President Fabrice Tourre  not only created the financial instrument, but also prepared the marketing materials, and sold them directly to customers. In addition, and perhaps worst of all, the SEC alleges that Goldman Sachs did not disclose the risk, specifically that hedge fund, Paulson & Co. had a significant bet (short) against this particular financial instrument.

Will this be the end of Goldman Sachs?  Given the heavily restricted resources of the Securities and Exchange Commission and what seems to be the vast resources of Goldman Sachs, I tend to doubt it. However,  given the allegations, it might not be a bad time to check out Goldman Sachs initial public offering. Goldman Sachs went public, that is offered shares in their company stock on May 4th 1999. We use 9:30 a.m., New York, because this is the time that the New York Stock Exchange opened.

Looking at the chart, we see that Cancer rises, making the Moon very important in this chart.  We see that the Moon is in the gambling sign of Sagittarius, placed in the 6th sector of service. In a sense, what G.S. does is to serve the investment community with a host of financial services. The Moon will represent the company, and all who work there.  I have to admit, I was surprised to see a movable sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) rising. The movable signs are so named because they are very changeable. And as such, when we see one of them rise, because of the speed involved, there is a sense of hyper speed up. Companies with movable signs on the rise, see a lot of action, but there is less stability than I would like to see in a company that has this kind of influence on the markets.

The next thing I look for is what planet or luminary has power over the sign rising coming up in the east. In the case of GS, the company and all who work, therein, and because we are talking about an stock,  not a corporation (which has different rules) and all who own a piece of it, (stockholders) instead of something stable, to bring balance, instead, we see the fluctuating Moon.  Aptly, the Moon is in speculative sign, Sagittarius, in the service sector, indeed that is what Goldman purports to do, serve the banking and investment community. The Moon is in a wonderful relationship with its ruler, Mr. Moneybags, Jupiter.  Luck is always important in the realm of big time finance, or else it wouldn’t have gotten this big to begin with. In addition to owning the company, Jupiter has a lot to say about the upper echelon of the company. We might say that Goldman Sachs has friends in high places, as can be clearly seen by Jupiter’s position in the tail end of the 10th house. The revolving door between GS and government is well known. We have several C.E.Os who left GS to become Secretary of the Treasury.  Jupiter will represent management.

The deal in question went on April 26, 2007. What is intriguing to me is that it looks like management (the 10th) was very anxious for this deal to proceed.  I do not know the particulars, but with Mars, the North Node and Uranus sitting in the house of bigwigs, on that fateful day, while the diminishing Saturn sat in the

As this suit comes about,  Jupiter just happens to be cresting at the 10th house of the stock. In traditional astrology, the 10th house is what we pay for things. Since the 10th house is the top of the chart, the noon position, it might suggest that the stock price is peaking.  It is interesting to note that the deal itself,  went down on April 26 2007. If we look at the transiting planets on that day,  it looks like management might have been a bit too anxious for push this deal through with anxious Mars, and Uranus all right up at the top on that day.  In addition, the planet of  bear markets and diminishing returns, Saturn was not only in their money house (2nd) but also square their money ruler… It looks, at least from an astrological point of view that Goldman Sachs was ‘hot to trot’ for this deal. We have to wonder what kind of other deals GS had made back in 2007.  Were they anxious about some other trades, or where they just greedy or was this just business as usual? We will probably never know. What we do know is that in 2007, Goldman was trading upwards of $250, but in March had dropped quite a bit, and what we also know is that Goldman dropped 13% on Friday. There are now probes taking place in both Great Britain and Germany.  Don’t forget that Goldman is a huge player  in China.

To be continued…..

April 1st may be April Fool’s Day, but astrologically, there is no fooling around.

The month starts on Thursday (Jupiter’s day) with the Moon in Scorpio. Scorpio does

not know how to fool around. We have the Moon trine Jupiter, though, so the world

does not have to be deadly serious. And, Venus changes signs and enters Taurus (a

sign it rules). Life may not instantly become better, but at least it can look

better.

Fri Apr 02 Mercury changes signs and enters Taurus, too. This lightens things up,

although perhaps slowing down the pace. The Moon enters Sagittarius, making

impatience even more of an issue. Why rush? Everything is not a race.

Sat Apr 03 the Moon is in Sagittarius when Venus squares Mars. Look at the bigger

picture, and don’t fiercely cling to your opinion.

Sun Apr 04 is Easter Sunday. The Moon enters Capricorn in the evening, and is there

when Venus trines Pluto. Necessary changes can still have some beauty about them.

An hour later, Mercury squares Mars. Resist pointless criticism, especially

self-criticism.

Mon Apr 05 the Moon conjuncts Pluto in Capricorn. A mild Heads Up. Work on

something radically transformative, if only in private and for a few moments.

Tue Apr 06 the Moon is in Capricorn when Mercury trines Pluto. Those necessary

changes may start to make a little sense. That evening, Pluto goes stationary

retrograde. That slight feeling of more security is an illusion, but it’s still

nice.

Wed Apr 07 the Moon enters Aquarius early in the morning. We can look forward to a

month of Wednesdays with the Moon in fixed signs. Think persistence, rather than

stubbornness. Engage in something, and stick with it. Midday, Saturn retrogrades

back into the sign of Virgo. Heads Up. Fear no rewriting or editing task. Nor is

there any fear of being rushed. Good work cannot be rushed.

Fri Apr 09 the Moon conjuncts Neptune in Aquarius. Dream something good for the

mass market. Four hours later, the Moon moves into Pisces. Some of your personal

feelings will resonate with others.

Sat Apr 10 the Moon is in Pisces for a day of sextiles. The Moon sextiles Pluto in

the early morning. This can take away the worst of the sting from some unwelcomed

change. Mid-afternoon, the Moon sextiles Mercury. It becomes easier to present a

difficult idea to even difficult people. Evening, the Moon sextiles Venus.

Regardless of how the day went, it now has the warm inner glow of a glass of wine.

Take gentle assistance where you find it.

Sun Apr 11 the Moon conjuncts Jupiter in Pisces. Swim with the big fish today.

Mon Apr 12 the Moon conjuncts Uranus in Pisces. Be careful that you don’t offend

unintentionally. About three hours later, the Moon opposes Saturn retrograde. Any

serious misstep earlier in the day may come back to haunt you. Don’t be knocked off

balance.

Tue Apr 13 the Moon is in Aries all day. Limit feverish activity to your work.

It’s the day before the New Moon. Heads Up. Don’t do anything rash that isn’t

absolutely necessary.

Wed Apr 14 is the New Moon at 24Ari. Begin something that’s expressly for you.

Your passion for it will carry you through to completion.

Thu Apr 15 the Moon is in Taurus all day, conjuncting Mercury in the midafternoon.

It’s Tax Day in the U.S. It’s also, I believe, the 98th anniversary of the sinking

of the Titanic. Way too late for a heads up on that one.

Fri Apr 16 the Moon conjuncts Venus in Taurus. Sit still and savor something you

love. Late that night, the Moon enters Gemini. Look forward to a weekend of

productivity, mental cross-fertilization, and brainstorming. Wait, there’s more.

Heads Up!! Mercury is grinding to a halt in the sky, to go stationary retrograde

tomorrow. Think computer backups, cell phones and all things with batteries well

charged, all the usual electronic, mechanical, transportational, and communicational

things safeguarded. Or maybe it’s as simple as knowing where your checkbook, keys,

Ipod, and notebooks are. Heads Up!

Sat Apr 17 the Moon is in Gemini when Venus sextiles Jupiter. Communicate

gracefully, but with restraint, because eight hours later comes the Mercury

stationary retrograde at 12Tau. Prepare to feel like your brain is slipping into a

deep freeze. Stay calm. Everyone else feels like it, too. Drive carefully. Heads

Up!

Mon Apr 19 the Moon enters Cancer in the early morning. Cravings for home space

fill the mind and heart. That night, the Sun changes signs and enters Taurus. The

need to manically live the life of Aries is over and we can settle deep into

something more substantial and hopefully more comfortable.

Wed Apr 21 the Moon enters Leo. Write with brilliance, willing to take risks with

words and themes.

Thu Apr 22 the Moon conjuncts Mars in Leo. This can be a high energy day. And,

it’s Earth Day. Some of us feel that each day is Earth Day. I mean, where do you

live?

Fri Apr 23 the Moon enters Virgo midday, and about an hour and half later, Venus

squares Neptune. Share criticism and edit with a light hand. That evening, Venus

sextiles Uranus. It’s not too late in the day to be adventuresome.

Sat Apr 24 the Moon is in Virgo when Venus trines Saturn retrograde. Doubts about

earlier efforts will vaporize. Late that night, Venus changes signs and moves into

Gemini. Suddenly there aren’t enough people with whom to share all these luscious

new observations and opinions. Thank goodness for email.

Sun Apr 25 Mercury squares Mars in the very early hours. You can be polite and

still not agree. Later that morning, the Sun trines Pluto. Enjoy the power of your

convictions, especially concerning the upbeat. The Moon conjuncts Saturn

retrograde, then enters the sign of Libra. Tomorrow can be a very satisfying day.

Mon Apr 26 the Moon is in Libra when Saturn retrograde opposes Uranus. Major Heads

Up. If your work needs some major innovation, stop putting it off and just do it.

In the world at large, this aspect suggests that if a big change needs to be done,

there may be less resistance than normal. Be happy about that Saturn retrograde.

Wed Apr 28 we have the Full Moon at 08Sco. This is the stuff of deep-seated

passion. Another Heads Up. Tackle that crucial climax scene with confidence.

Thirty minutes later the Moon opposes Mercury. Let no one interrupt you or talk you

out of it. Four hours later, the Sun conjuncts Mercury retrograde. Take a

well-deserved break from all that mental exercise.

Thu Apr 29 the Moon enters Sagittarius, where it remains through the end of the

month. End on a high note and write big. Feel good about it.

April has a few heavy-duty days in it, but nothing we haven’t weathered before.

Persist in your pursuits. It’s surprising how, long after the fact, you learn that

people not only like what you did but they admire you just for doing it. Don’t lean

on that, though. Don’t lean on anything. Dig in, churn away, and work your way

through to the end. No one can stop you. Be brave, inventive, and even brilliant,

like the flowers of spring. Some of them are perennials, you know. Heads Up!