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Heads Up! The February 2012 Writer’s Astrological Almanac
by Kathy Watts on Feb.01, 2012, under Forecasts, Traditional Astrology
Happy February!
Wed Feb 01 gives us the Moon moving into Gemini. We start the month off with a writing bash that lasts until Friday evening. Put on that extra sweater, socks, maybe turn up the heat, or cuddle closer to your laptop, and indulge your writing passion while the outside world does its chill winter thing (assuming you’re in the northern hemisphere or not in the tropics, Hawaii or Key West or some other classic writer refuge). Also today, Venus exactly opposes Mars retrograde. Ah, Love on the tips of both horns. Perhaps paper (or bytes) are the best place to put passions today.
Thu Feb 02 the Moon trines Mercury, a nice touch to add when the Moon is already in Mercury’s home sign of Gemini. Ideas should be in generous supply today. Take notes.
Fri Feb 03 the Moon is still in Gemini when Neptune finally leaves the sign of Aquarius and moves into Pisces. This is the modern home sign for Neptune (traditional astrologers still prefer Pisces being ruled by Jupiter). Regardless, if we can keep our illusions, addictions and fantasies in check, this has to be good for all things artistic and visionary. Neptune will experience a retrograde period later this year, but it will go direct again at 00Pis22. Neptune, say goodbye to Aquarius. To celebrate, blast some of your favorite music, or have a private film festival.
Tue Feb 07 the Moon is in Leo when the Sun conjuncts Mercury. Five hours later Saturn goes stationary retrograde in the last degree of Libra. This is a long slow Heads Up. This can stall progress with relationships, romantic or business. And, heck, it’s the very middle of the Via Combusta. The only good thing I can think about this is, at least Saturn is answering to Venus, to the extent that Saturn listens to anything. Eight hours later, we get the Full Moon at 18Leo. Ask for something noble, grand, and worth sharing with the world. Fifty minutes later, the Moon opposes Mercury. Don’t get hyper-self-critical but take this chance to look at your ideas with a fresh pair of eyes. Later that night, Venus changes signs, leaves Pisces and begins the zodiac again when she enters Aries. Something beautiful can be born anew or get a second chance.
Wed Feb 08 the Moon enters Virgo in the morning. Look forward to a focused day of work, with minimum excitement and psychodrama. We are getting a month of 5 Wednesdays with the Moon in mutable signs. The first and last Wednesdays, the Moon is in Gemini. Write about people, don’t let them swamp you, and you should make some serious progress.
Thu Feb 09 the Moon is in Virgo all day. This is not quite as good as the Moon in Gemini, but it’s not bad. Edit something you wrote yesterday. Venus conjuncts Uranus in early Aries today. Start something beautiful even if it’s tiny, just for yourself. Evening, the Moon conjuncts Mars retrograde. Brainstorm.
Sun Feb 12 the Moon conjuncts Saturn in the end of Libra, then goes void of course. Remember to be nice and appreciate small kindnesses. Don’t let self-criticism run rampant. You’re doing fine. Now say it again.
Mon Feb 13 the Moon is in Scorpio all day. Get serious. This afternoon, Mercury changes signs and enters Pisces. Your thoughts may take a more philosophic bend. Before day’s end, Mercury conjuncts Neptune. Write and create uncensored but think twice before saying something out loud.
Wed Feb 15 the Moon is in Sagittarius all day. Be adventurous in your work.
Thu Feb 16 the Moon is still in Sagittarius when Mercury sextiles Jupiter. You can do lots of little favors, especially for writer friends, but don’t get swept away with it.
Fri Feb 17 the Moon conjuncts Pluto in Capricorn. It’s also the last day of the month that the Sun spends in the sign of Aquarius. Heads Up. Stay pleasant and practical, and don’t let anyone tell you that you haven’t accomplished enough.
Sat Feb 18 the Moon is in Capricorn all day. The Sun trines Saturn today. Responsibility doesn’t have to be a burden. Just do what you need to do. Later, the Sun leaves Aquarius and moves into the sign of Pisces. Heads Up. The world takes on a more ethereal, emotional quality. Give yourself, your work, and others, more slack for the next month.
Sun Feb 19 the Moon enters Aquarius. That night, the Sun conjuncts Neptune in the very first degree of Pisces. Heads Up. This could be one of the moodiest and frustrated-feeling days of the year. Socially, be cool and cheerful. Save all that quality angst for your plots and characters. This could be a very spiritual day, too. Do something soulful.
Mon Feb 20 the Moon is in Aquarius all day. The big deal is, tomorrow is the New Moon. Automatic Heads Up. Take care of your own stuff, and don’t let yourself feel cut off from others.
Tue Feb 21 a very dark Moon conjuncts Neptune in the morning, then about three hours later we have the New Moon at 02Pis. We can find a way to stay practical and still express our feelings. Start something compassionate.
Wed Feb 22 the Moon conjuncts Mercury in Pisces. Writers need to analyze feelings as well as experience them. Keep your characters honest. Two hours later the Moon opposes Mars retrograde then goes void of course. This may be a day better suited to planning than to the execution of plans.
Thu Feb 23 the Moon is in Aries when Mercury opposes Mars retrograde. Rethink, reevaluate, and be happy at any changes or alterations you decide are wise to make. There’s no need to get angry with yourself over anything.
Fri Feb 24 the Moon conjuncts Uranus in Aries. Innovate, invent, dare to explore and experiment. Look forward to a wild weekend, then keep it as under control as you want and need.
Sat Feb 25 the Moon conjuncts Venus in Aries. See and create beauty in places and ways that you’ve never noticed before. Have charming conversations, then go home and write vibrant personal poetry.
Sun Feb 26 the Moon enters Taurus early in the day. That evening, the Moon conjuncts Jupiter. If the day is too slow-paced for you, go write an action scene or something with a big car wreck, then be happy the day is so slow and serene.
Tue Feb 28 the Moon enters Gemini in the evening. We have from now till early Friday morning March 02 to indulge, promote, and progress with our writing schemes. It’s not a bad way to close out the month. Is there something you started this month that would be quick to finish? Go for it.
Wed Feb 29 the Moon is in Gemini all day. Yes, we are getting a leap day, a Wednesday no less, with the Moon in Gemini. Don’t squander it. Do something special, out of the ordinary, and maybe something you’ve been saving for just such as day as this.
While this month has some rough stretches, there are plenty of powerful positives to get us through. The first week, both Jupiter and Saturn are in signs ruled by Venus. Mars may be retrograde and some things done now may need to be done over, but at least Mars in in Virgo, which is ruled by Mercury. We can be more careful and considerate, and perhaps a bit less manic. Resolve to keep on track, as slowly as you please. Jupiter in Taurus likes steadiness of effort, and certainly Pluto in Capricorn likes effort. Uranus in Aries likes effort, too. Be brave, resilient, cheerful, and confident. Do good things all month long. Heads Up!
Heads Up! 2012 The Writer’s Astrological Almanac
by Kathy Watts on Jan.02, 2012, under Forecasts, Traditional Astrology
Heads Up!
The Writer’s Astrological Almanac
by Kathy Watts
January 2012
Happy New Year! Jupiter is no longer retrograde and few things shine brighter or higher in the sky than Jupiter. May this be a beautiful, benevolent year when we are happy to be good luck for each other. It also promises to be a very mercurial year, in that Mercury participates fully in the dance with all the planets. May we be prolific and widely appreciated for the good work we do.
Let’s start at the beginning. The Moon is in Aries on Sunday, the Sun’s day, January 01. Be willing to shine all year, even on days when enthusiasm sags. Heads Up in all good ways.
Mon Jan 02 the Moon conjuncts Jupiter in Taurus. Look for good luck to share with other people.
Wed Jan 04 the Moon is in Taurus all day. Love your work and make it gorgeous.
Thu Jan 05 the Moon enters Gemini and gives us from now till Saturday night to write with the best. Start the year strong and don’t hold back.
Sat Jan 07, with the Moon still in Gemini, Mercury sextiles Saturn, Be a little more careful with your words, because they’re powerful. Seven hours later Mercury then sextiles Neptune. Relax and be a bit more fanciful. These aspects carry extra punch because Mercury is in the final degrees of Sagittarius. Think big while you can. Midday, the Moon opposes Mercury, then goes void of course until the Moon enters Cancer an hour or so later. What you say and write and will be noticed. By end of day, Mercury leaves Sagittarius and enters the hardworking sign of Capricorn. Tomorrow things will sound more constrained and serious.
Sun Jan 08 the Moon is in its home sign Cancer when Mercury trines Jupiter. Be generous with your ideas. Five hours later Mercury squares Uranus. Be constructively self-critical and make some discoveries. Late that night comes the Full Moon at 18 Cancer. Make this a month to work on projects of meaning and substance. (continue reading…)
Heads Up! The Writer’s Astrological Almanac December 2011
by Kathy Watts on Dec.02, 2011, under Forecasts, Traditional Astrology
Heads Up!
The Writer’s Astrological Almanac
by Kathy Watts
December 2011
Happy December. As the solar year wanes, the holiday season kicks in. Mercury is retrograde for the first two weeks, so social interactions may be a bit more scrambled than usual, but that can be considered part of the fun. Resolve to enjoy this month!
Thu Dec 01 we begin the month with the Moon conjuncting Neptune in the end of Aquarius, then going void of course. Dreams are rarely as strong as they are now. Two and a half hours later Venus exactly conjuncts Pluto. Keep the level of excitement under control, except perhaps in your works of fiction. An hour after this, the Moon enters the sign of Pisces. Sensitivity peaks, but remember, Mercury is retrograde so don’t get maudlin.
Fri Dec 02 the Moon is in Pisces all day. In the very early morning, the Sun exactly squares Mars. Heads Up. You don’t have to be impatient with yourself.
Sat Dec 03 the Moon enters Aries, and conjuncts Uranus an hour and twenty minutes later. The Moon will be in Aries until Tuesday morning, so feel independent and make time to work on some of your own stuff. (continue reading…)
Heads Up! The Writer’s Astrological Almanac November 2011
by Kathy Watts on Nov.02, 2011, under Forecasts, Traditional Astrology
Heads Up!
The Writer’s Astrological Almanac
by Kathy Watts
November 2011
Happy November! Autumn and the closing of the year is upon us with its usual vengeance.
We start on a Tuesday (the day of the week ruled by Mars) with the Moon void of course in Capricorn. It’s easy to work hard on something already started. In the wee small hours Mercury exactly squares Neptune. You may dream dissatisfaction, but on waking things will be fine. Before dawn, the Moon enters Aquarius. Enjoy a focused day.
Wed Nov 02 the Moon is in Aquarius all day. Work with a clear mind. In the early hours, Venus changes signs and enters the expansive and uplifting sign of Sagittarius. This will lighten anyone’s mood. Eight hours later, in the late morning, Mercury leaves Scorpio behind to enter Sagittarius. You can be serious in a bigger, less brutal way.
Thu Nov 03 the Moon is in Aquarius when Venus trines Uranus in the wee smalls. Dabble with some small quaint experiment. Six hours later Mercury trines Uranus. Dabble more cleverly. As Mercury and Venus slowly perfect their conjunction, we’ll see these mirrored aspects get closer together in time. That night, the Moon conjuncts Neptune in Aquarius, then goes void of course. Dream your to-do list for tomorrow.
Fri Nov 04 the Moon enters Pisces. Five hours later, the Moon squares Mercury, and thirty-one minutes later, the Moon squares Venus. Note that it happens to Mercury first, as Mercury is still catching up with Venus. The gap is closing fast, though. Emotions may be near the surface. Write something romantic.
Sun Nov 06 the Moon conjuncts Uranus in Aries. Surprise yourself with an abnormally busy weekend.
Mon Nov 07 the Moon is in Aries when Mars exactly opposes Neptune. Write with extra deliberation because you can make unusually strong impressions today. (continue reading…)
Heads Up!The Writer’s Astrological Almanac October!
by Kathy Watts on Oct.03, 2011, under Forecasts, Traditional Astrology
Heads Up!The Writer’s Astrological Almanac
by Kathy Watts
October 2011
Happy October! Where is this year going?
We start on Saturday (Saturn’s day of the week) with the Moon in Sagittarius. Think society, adventure, and yes, publication! Think this all month long. Not quite a couple hours after midnight, the Moon trines Uranus. You could discover something useful in a dream. Midmorning, the Moon trines Mars. Have a lively weekend and still get things done.
Sun Oct 02 the Moon is still in Sagittarius when Mars exactly squares Jupiter. It’s okay to decide that some other project is more important.
Mon Oct 03 the Moon conjuncts Pluto in Capricorn. This gets the work week off to a smart start.
Wed Oct 05 the Moon enters Aquarius in the early morning. Three out of four Wednesdays this month will see the Moon in a fixed sign. Make up your mind, and don’t be distracted from your work.
Thu Oct 06 the Moon is still in Aquarius when Mercury exactly conjuncts Saturn. Aquarius is traditionally ruled by Saturn, so look forward to a day at a slower pace with fewer mistakes.
Fri Oct 07 the Moon conjuncts Neptune in Aquarius, then goes void of course. Maybe it’s better to be social and let people inspire you.
Balance! The Autumnal Equinox 2011
by Kathy Watts on Sep.24, 2011, under Forecasts, Traditional Astrology
Happy Autumnal Equinox. Go balance something.
Seriously. This is one of the two days of the year when there are 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night, everywhere, all over the world. (The other day, of course, is the vernal equinox, the first day of spring.)
On the first day of autumn, the Sun crosses the celestial equator, heading south. The Sun rises exactly due east on the horizon, and sets due west. Go out and look. Be careful driving, though, because a lot of streets run due east-west, and you could get sun-blinded at sunrise or sunset. If you’re familiar with the neighborhoods, of course, you already know this.
It also means that in the Northern Hemisphere, the days are getting shorter and the nights longer. Being a hardcore stargazer, it pleases me to think of the nights getting longer.
This year the Moon is in the tropical sign Leo when the Sun reaches 0 degrees Libra. In 1999, though, we had the Moon in mid-Pisces when the Sun entered Libra. Had the Moon been nearer the end of Pisces, or at 0 degrees Aries, we would’ve had a full moon to go with the autumnal equinox. This was close enough, though, that (in the San Francisco area at least), if you went outside at sunset you’d see the new risen Full Moon. If you faced north (or south, I don’t care) and reached out your arms, you could “hold” the setting sun in one hand and “hold” the Full Moon in the other. Now that’s balance!
Checking the ephemeris, it seems we won’t have another autumnal equinox Sun and (almost) Full Moon until September 2018. For the Sun and Moon to (almost) repeat their positions in 19 years tells me that the Metonic Cycle is involved (something we normally only think about in terms of eclipses).
Enjoy having a little extra balance in the world, if only for a day!
Heads Up! The Writer’s Astrological Almanac September
by Kathy Watts on Sep.03, 2011, under Forecasts, Traditional Astrology
Heads Up!
The Writer’s Astrological Almanac
by Kathy Watts
September 2011
This month begins on a Thursday (Jupiter’s day of the week)
with the Moon in Libra, entering Scorpio by early afternoon.
I take that as a trend for the month, beginning smoothly
with big plans, and ramping up as the days go by. Let’s see
how much we can get done!
Fri Sep 02 the Moon is in Scorpio when the Sun exactly
trines Jupiter. Keep your eye on the big project and don’t
get complacent if it’s going well.
Tue Sep 06 the Moon conjuncts Pluto in Capricorn. We see
this at least once a month, but it’s good for getting work
done (especially today, on a Mars day) if we can stay calm
enough to do it.
Wed Sep 07 the Moon is in Capricorn all day. It’s another
month of Wednesdays with the Moon in a cardinal sign. Start
things, but don’t let them languish. The Moon makes an
opposition to Mars in midafternoon, then goes void of
course. If you decide on a major rewrite of something, be
brave but not manic. (continue reading…)
Heads Up! the Writer’s Astrological Almanac August 2011
by Kathy Watts on Aug.02, 2011, under Forecasts
Heads Up!
The Writer’s Astrological Almanac
August 2011
Happy August. It’s a hot month, in more ways than one, very Mars and Mercury heavy. This year is just buzzing by.
Aug 01 is a Monday, the day of the Moon, with the Moon entering Virgo. The Moon conjuncts an almost stationary Mercury. Tomorrow Mercury goes retrograde. Heads Up. Whatever your personal retrograde preparation ritual may be, remember to calm your mind and look forward to a chance to do some quality retrospection, editing, and revising. Four hours later the Sun exactly squares Jupiter. This is a good time to evaluate your use of time and other resources, and to rein in any excesses or lavish indulgences. You don’t have to go to extremes and give up all good and fun things, though.
Tue Aug 02 the Moon is void of course in Virgo when Mercury goes stationary retrograde. Mercury will be retrograde for almost the entire month of August. This is a prolonged Heads Up. I suggest that we learn to love it and resolve to make good use of it. (continue reading…)
Heads Up! The Writer’s JulyAstrological Almanac
by Kathy Watts on Jul.03, 2011, under Forecasts, Traditional Astrology
July 2011
by Kathy Watts
We are not lacking for excitement and entertainment this July. If it feels like eclipse season is never going to end, you’re not imagining it. We start off with a New Moon and Solar eclipse on day one, for the second month in a row. This year we get four partial solar eclipses (in January, June, July, and November) and only two lunar eclipses. This is powerful stuff, less in the personal realm, more in the events of the outer world. Stay calm and watch the show from a safe place! (continue reading…)
Heads Up! The Writer’s Astrological Almanac June 2011
by Kathy Watts on Jun.01, 2011, under Forecasts
June 2011
The month of June starts off with a big bang — a New Moon and solar eclipse at 11Gemini. It is Wednesday, Mercury’s day of the week (the writer’s day of the week) but I suggest keeping a low profile until after the solar eclipse. My affirmation is, “May this eclipse portend lots of your work getting out into the world.” In which case, do your best, because once out in the world, your words cannot be summoned back. Make this a Heads Up in a good way. (continue reading…)
