Astrological Forecasts with a Traditional Twist

Heads Up!

The Writer’s Astrological Almanac

May 2013 

Happy May Day! Whether you celebrate with May poles or with workers’ parades, it’s a holiday. High Spring! Flowers! Let’s all take a deep breath and be grateful that April is over. It might have been a rough ride, but it’s behind us now and a bright strong month lies ahead. We have work to do! 

Wed May 01 begins with the Moon moving into Aquarius. An hour later, Mercury changes signs and enters the most stubborn sign of them all,  Taurus. This can be a month of strong clear thinking and deep appreciation of the good things in life. We are also getting a month of Wednesdays with the Moon in fixed signs. Dig in! 

Fri May 03 the Moon conjuncts Neptune in Pisces. This is always good for dreams, fantasies, and lush music, as well as romantic imaginings, all story material. 

Sun May 05 the Moon is in Pisces when Mercury exactly opposes Saturn. Listen more than talk, read more that write, and leave the criticism to others if you can. Five hours later, the Moon makes a sextile to Venus and goes void of course till evening when the Moon moves into Aries. It’s hard to get more tender-hearted than this, until the Aries part. Be sensitive, then flame on for the work week.

 

Mon May 06 the Moon conjunct Uranus in Aries. Start the work week with a constructive, positive bang.

 

Tue May 07 the Moon is void of course in Aries when Mercury conjuncts Mars. Mars. In Taurus. How refreshing! It’s not all sweetness, light, and roses, though. It can be indecisiveness with stubbornness at every step and misstep. Continue anyway, knowing that what you write today may need heavy editing later.

 

Wed May 08 the Moon is in Taurus all day. Ration those desk-side treats, go for less or no sugar in the coffee, and write. It’s also the day before the New Moon, so Heads Up. Actually, this New Moon is also going to be a Solar Eclipse. Make that a double Heads Up! Compose yourself, keep calm and carry on with the writing. At the risk of self-contradiction, let me say Heads Down, too, and let the outside world do its stuff while I hide out and write in peace.

 

Thu May 09 is a celestially busy day. First, a very dark Moon conjuncts (occults, actually) Mars in Taurus. Some very deep personal pleasure may be what keeps you going. This is early in the day and it’s always good for striking a few sparks. Two hours later Venus changes signs and enters Gemini. You may desire to work on more beautiful projects than the world currently allows. Four hours after that, an even darker Moon conjuncts (and occults) Mercury in Taurus. Thoughts and attention may turn dark and profound. Five and a half hour later, at last, we get the New Moon and solar eclipse at 19Tau. Then, for better or worse, the Moon goes void of course. Happily, all this is happening on Jupiter’s day of the week, perhaps comforting and reminding us that we are not alone.

 

Fri May 10 in the late afternoon, the Moon enters Gemini, making a conjunction with Venus three hours later. It’s an auspicious start to the writerly hours from now till the wee small hours of Monday May 13. If you’re not writing, you can still gather information, observations, conversations, all those things that get processed into writing at the end.

 

Sat May 11 while the Moon is in Gemini, the Sun conjuncts Mercury in Taurus. Is it not the season for parties and social get-togethers of all kinds? There will be lots of people with lots of news and lots to say. Mentally take notes, and try to not eat and drink toooo much.

 

Sun May 12 the Moon conjuncts Jupiter in Taurus, then goes void of course. Look forward to a pleasant, maybe productive, low-stress end to the weekend. Start the work week full of energy.

 

Wed May 15 the Moon is void of course in Cancer when Mercury changes signs and goes home to Gemini. You may want to just sit quietly and listen to the birds sing. Mercury may consider this fun for a bit, but the Moon may find it inspiring. Two hours later, the Moon moves into Leo. If it’s been a lackluster, less than inspired and inspiring day, this can perk up things for you.

 

Sat May 18 the Moon is void of course in Leo when Mercury squares Neptune. Go for low-profile in public, as this combination easily makes for big misunderstandings (and spicy plot complications). Two hours later the Moon enters Virgo. This often cools things down. Twelve hours later, the Moon opposes Neptune. This means we have the Moon, Mercury, and Neptune in mutable signs, making a T-square that points to mutable fire, Sagittarius. Something you’ve submitted or said or posted could be published and/or seen soon. Heads Up. Be discreet (or at least deliberate) on Facebook, if nothing else. Monday and the start of the work week may tell the tale.

 

Sun May 19 has little of writerly or artistic interest going on, although the Moon is in Virgo (one of Mercury’s home signs). However, it’s also the last day of the year that the Sun spends in the sign of Taurus. Often the last degree of a sign can carry an extra punch, so be on guard to be kind to your tummy and not over-gluttonize. Tomorrow the world may seem brighter, faster, more chipper and chippier. Brace yourself and look forward to as much writerly activity as you can tolerate as the Sun prepares to spend the next month in Gemini. Heads Up.

 

Mon May 20 the Moon moves into Libra. That afternoon the Sun itself changes signs, leaving Taurus and entering Gemini. Heads Up for us for the coming month. This would be prime productive writing time if it weren’t also so darn invigorating and full of social interactions, field trips, cultural enrichments, and other people’s words. Go with the flow and make what magic you can.

 

Wed May 22 the Moon is void of course in Libra for the first half, then moves into Scorpio for the second half. You may not get more serious as the day progresses, but the world around you might.

 

Thu May 23 the Moon conjuncts Saturn retrograde in Scorpio. It’s also the day before the Full Moon, which is also a Lunar eclipse. Heads Up on the eclipse part. Don’t severely judge your work or yourself. Just keep working and give it time.

 

Fri May 24 the Moon is in Sagittarius when Mercury and Venus make an exact conjunction in Gemini. If you haven’t submitted or returned phone calls for a while, this is a good time. Four and a half hours later, we get the Full Moon and lunar eclipse at 04Sag. This is a lot of mutable energy. If you’re having trouble staying focused, at least you shouldn’t be bored. This could make for great social situations and opportunities, too. Just be safe, and don’t party all this energy away. If you’re feeling brave, maybe ask the universe for something to work on that’s bigger, grander, and of more universal appeal and usefulness. You don’t have to save the whole world at once, but your work might help some tiny corner of it. Every bit helps. This Sun in Gemini-Moon in Sagittarius Full Moon comes only once a year, after all.

 

Mon May 27 the Moon is in Capricorn when Mercury and Jupiter make an exact conjunction in Gemini. Even if you write profusely or find yourself running off at the mouth, it should mostly be work-oriented. Capricorn doesn’t like gratuitous anything. Seven hours later the Moon conjuncts (occults, actually, not that we can see it) Pluto in Capricorn. Stay calm and have a cup of tea.

 

Tue May 28 the Moon is in Aquarius when Venus makes an exact conjunction with Jupiter. Here are the two benefics, conjunct in Gemini. Yes, I know, it’s the day of the week belonging to Mars. So be proactive and do something great with it. Heads Up in a good, good way.

 

Wed May 29 the Moon is in Aquarius all day. We started the month with the Moon in Aquarius and now we’re getting the chance to tie up some mental loose ends, maybe return to something we started or resumed a few weeks ago.

 

Fri May 31 the Moon is in Pisces all day. In the wee small hours, Mercury changes signs and enters the Moon’s home, the sign of Cancer. This is a lot of the element water, and if you don’t tend to being weepy, you still may spend a lot of the day being more emotional than usual. About three hours later, the Moon conjuncts Neptune in Pisces. If you don’t normally remember your dreams, now you might. Not an hour after the Moon-Neptune conjunction, Mars changes signs and enters Gemini. This eventually can fire up your writing enthusiasm. All these things happen before the day has properly begun on the East Coast of the U.S. It may be a groggy day with a lot to think about, or it could be a day when thoughts coalesce out of some emotional mist. Perhaps it’s better to write than talk about it, except with a very select few folks, of course. (For some of us, it’s almost always better to write than to talk, anyway).

 

The month may seem like one colossal cosmic mixed bag but you can pull it all together and get more done of lasting value than you ever suspected.  Just dig in and hammer away. That’s what it mostly comes down to, anyway. Have a well-anchored, powerful, productive month, plough on ahead and don’t look back. Heads Up!

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Heads Up!

The Writer’s Astrological Almanac

  April 2013

 

Welcome to the flowery fantastic month of April. The way this year’s going, it may still have some snow and rain, too.

 

Mon 01 Apr the Moon is void of course in Sagittarius most of the day. You may have a zillion plans in mind and people to call. Relax. You don’t have to do everything instantly. The Sun makes a sextile to Jupiter, a nice touch for the start of month.  Late that night, the Moon enters Capricorn. Serious attention to work kicks in tomorrow. Sleep while you can.

 

Tue 02  Apr the Moon conjuncts Pluto in Capricorn. Keep the intensity under control and you can be extremely productive.

 

Wed 03 Apr the Moon is in Capricorn all day. We do get a nice little Moon sextile Mercury aspect in the profoundly early hours, before the Moon goes void of course in Capricorn. We can work with that, though. Think intensity of feeling that can be expressed with a light touch.

 

Sat 06 Apr the Moon conjuncts Neptune in Pisces. This can be one dreamy weekend. Have fun but be safe. Can you feel the temperature of the universe rising? It’s because tonight Venus conjuncts Mars. Heads Up. Go long on deep passionate appreciation and go short on anger and impatience.

 

Sun 07Apr the Moon conjuncts Mercury in Pisces. If there’s a need for any ‘kiss and make up” from yesterday, this aspect will not help. Say as little as possible and listen as much as you can.

 

Tue 09 Apr the Moon conjuncts Uranus in Aries. Surprise yourself, and try to keep surprise small and close to home. Also, it’s the day before the New Moon. Automatic Heads Up. Today and tomorrow are not good days to take any unnecessary risks.

 

Wed 10 Apr we have the New Moon at 20Ari.  Heads Up. This might be your big chance to launch some major project near and dear to your heart. Four hours later, the Moon conjuncts Mars in Aries. It may be hard to rein yourself in, so if wild horses are dragging you off somewhere, try have it be somewhere good. Three and a half hours after that, the Moon conjuncts Venus in Aries. This is a little sweeter and gentler, but don’t totally trust your judgment or any self-criticism, since you’ll likely just love everything that you’re doing. Remember, Venus and Mars were conjunct just a few days ago. Yes, Venus moves that fast. We’re getting another month of Wednesdays with the Moon mostly in cardinal signs. (A few hours later today when the Moon moves into Taurus is the only non-cardinal Wednesday time we get.)

 

Fri 12 Apr the Moon is in Taurus when Pluto goes stationary retrograde. Why am I even mentioning this? Some people think Pluto’s not even a planet. Old habits die hard.

 

Sat 13 Apr the Moon enters Gemini. Heads up in the most writerly of ways. We have from now till late on Monday to make the most of our word count, our submissions, networking, and all the research we can squeeze in. Seven hours into this, Mercury changes signs, leaving Pisces and entering Aries. See if you find yourself writing, or at least talking, faster. (The signs Aries and Gemini are sextile to one another and it’s not all that hard for an Aries spark to start a fire in Gemini.  See what you can do with it.)

 

Sun 14 Apr the Moon conjuncts Jupiter in Gemini. You may be working on something big, or you may be partying and networking (or eavesdropping and researching) in high gear. Of course, it’s also a good day to read yourself into the ground.

 

Mon 15 Apr the Moon is in Gemini when Venus changes signs and enters Taurus. You may be more inclined to stop and smell the roses. Venus rules Taurus, by the way, and everybody might be wanting more beauty (and just plain old more of everything) in their lives. Write long and luscious. This evening the Moon enters Cancer. It’s hard to get softer and deeper than this. Heads up for tomorrow, though, because this marshmallow could just get toasted.

 

Wed 17 Apr the Sun conjuncts Mars in Aries.  This is a lot of heat and flame. Heads Up. It’s a good day to lock yourself in your writing office, write the most inflammatory personal emotional outrageous stuff you can, and let the rest of the world go its own way until tomorrow, as much as the world will permit you. If you get a rejection or negative reply or exchange of any kind, take a deep breath, keep smiling, and keep all murderous thoughts to yourself, since this will all defuse itself and pass rapidly. Have a cup of tea. A hot cup of tea. Don’t spill it.

 

Thu 18 Apr the Moon is in Leo most of the day. You may be compelled to show somebody some work before it’s really ready. You know what you can share with whom. Before the day ends, the Moon makes a trine to Mercury. Apply this to sensible plans for tomorrow and don’t hash over anything you did today. That’s done. This is also the last day of the month that the Sun spends in the sign of Aries, and this could lend a slightly manic feel to your work. Tomorrow will be vibrant and bright in a totally different way. Relax and sleep well. You’ve earned it.

 

Fri 19 Apr the Moon is void of course in Leo when the Sun changes signs and moves into Taurus. The Sun and Moon are both in fixed signs, and people may be less willing to change their plans or their opinions. There could be a slight control-freak feeling to the day. Be happy that Taurus is ruled by gracious, seductive Venus.

 

Sat 20 Apr the Moon is still void of course in Leo when Mercury conjuncts Uranus. Wonky ideas may have a longer shelf-life today. Two hours later Mars changes signs and enters Taurus. This should slow things down some but don’t expect a lot of mellowness. This can have a lot of ‘work hard, play hard’ energy, and that can create one of those weekend you need to recover from.

 

Tue 23 Apr the Moon is in Libra when Mercury makes a sextile to Jupiter. You should be able to listen better today, but you’ll still have to pay attention to hear what’s really being said. This makes a great character flaw or quality, by the way.

 

Wed 24 Apr the Moon is in Libra all day, though most of the time it’s void of course. Take a breather and let yourself settle down into something pleasant that deserves a chunk of focused time and energy. (Venus rules Libra, too, so pleasantness counts.) Heads up for tomorrow, though.

 

Thu 25 Apr is the Full Moon at 05Sco. Scorpio full moons are always intense, so just stay calm and work on the small but crucial details, even it it’s only grammar and punctuation. If that’s too big, choose to work on only commas or breaking up run-on sentences. This full moon is also a lunar eclipse. Heads Up. Resolve to fix  one basic flaw or eliminate one bad (or unproductive) habit this month. Four hours later the Moon conjuncts Saturn in Scorpio. You can’t do things too slowly or too carefully today. Be happy, after the mania and mad rush of the previous month.

 

Tue 30 Apr the Moon conjuncts Pluto in Capricorn. Isn’t this pretty much how the month started? Given all that Scorpio and Saturn energy yesterday, today we’re buttoning down of the last button left open from yesterday. Embrace the narrow focus, the intensity, and the dedication to perfection, even if it’s only one small item. One by one, those small things add up. Don’t be too hard on yourself, though. Be sane, reasonable, and forgiving, especially of yourself. Things aren’t always this restrained.

 

It’s a super high-energy month and we can get a lot of work done. We can also fritter away a lot of time, so pay attention day by day to where your time and energy are going. We’re also up to our horns in passion, too, with the Venus Mars conjunction and also the Sun Mars conjunction. Go with constructive rather than destructive when you can, but we all know, sometimes you just have to pitch that manuscript into the fireplace, get a drink, and start afresh. Mar is also about having the courage to start afresh. You can’t be a wimp and write (or do any art), but you already know that.

 

And so onward we go, into the spring and into a year that looks to be rampant in creativity.  Grow and nurture your share!  Heads Up!

  

 

 

Here comes March comes howling in!

 

Fri  01 Mar the Moon enters Scorpio. Serious stuff, this, and good thing. We have serious work to do. That it’s Venus’s day of the week may grant us all a little grace throughout the month. (continue reading…)

Heads Up! The Writer’s Astrological Almanac

February 2013

Welcome to short and sweet February. (It might be cold, too.)  We start on the sweet Venus day of Friday with the Moon in Libra (one of the two signs ruled by Venus). Go for pleasantness and nice manners all month long. It can take you further than you suspect. (continue reading…)

Happy New Year!

We have the Moon in Virgo, giving us meticulous attention and appreciation for the small things as well as the big things in the coming month, and indeed in the whole year.

Jan 01 is a Tuesday, and the planet Mars brings us energy and motivation. Let’s not just burn it away.  Aspect-wise, it’s  a rich and complicated new year day, with the Moon opposed Neptune. Let this keep pointless fantasy under control without squelching your sources of inspiration. Two hour later the Moon trines Mercury, opening wide the channel to express yourself. The day ends with the Moon square Jupiter retrograde in Gemini. Big heads can resume normal size and the faucet gush of wordage can be set to an appropriate stream or trickle. (continue reading…)

There seems to be some confusion on the meanings of the houses that keeps coming up at our traditional astrological list, Angelicus Merlin Knowing the meanings of the houses, and by heart, is absolutely essential to making progress in the study of horary. Thus, as an aid to all astrologers out there,  I am enclosing, below, the meanings of the Houses according to Master Astrologer,  William Lilly:

Of the twelve Houses, their Nature and Signification.

As before we have said there are twelve signs, and also twelve Houses of Heaven, so now we are come to relate the nature of these twelve Houses; the exact knowledge whereof is so requisite, that he who shall learn the nature of the Planets and Signs without exact judgment of the Houses, is like an impovident man, that furnisheth with variety of householdstuffe, having no place wherein to bestow them.

There is nothing appertaining to the life of man in this world, which in one way or other hath not relation to one of the twelve Houses of Heaven, and as the twelve signs are appropriate to the particular members of mans body; so also doe the twelve houses represent not onely the severall parts of man, but his actions, quality of life and living, and the curiosity and judgment of our Fore-fathers in Astrology, was such, as they have alotted to every house a particular signification, and so distinguished humane accidents throughout the twelve houses, as he that understands the Questions appertaining to each of them, shall not want sufficient grounds whereon to judge or give a rationall answer upon any contingent accident, and successe thereof.

Of the first House and its Signification.

The first house, which containeth all that part of Heaven from the line where the figure one standeth, until the figure two, where the second house beginneth.

It hath signification of the life of man, of the stature, colour, complexion, form and shape of him that propounds the Question, or is born; in Eclipses and great Conjunctions, and upon the Sun his annuall ingresse into Aries; it signifieth the common people, or generall State of that Kingdom where the Figure is erected.

And as it is the first house, it represents the head and face of man, so that if either Saturn, Mars or South Node be in this House, either at the time of the Question, or at the time of birth, you shall observe some blemish in the face, or in that member appropriate to the signe that then is upon the cusp of the house; as if Aries be in the Ascendant, the mark, mole, or scarre is without faile in the head or face; and if few degrees of the signe ascend, the mark is in the upper part of the head; if the middle of the sign be on the cusp, the mole, mark or scar is in the middle of the face, or neer it; if the later degrees ascend, the face is blemished neer the chin, towards the neck: This I have found true in hundreds of examples.

Of colors, it hath the White; that is, if a Planets be in this house that hath signification of white, the complexion of the Party is more pale, white and wan; or if you enquire after the colour of the cloathe of any man, if his significator be in the first house, and in a sign corresponding, the parties apparell is white or gray, or somewhat neer that colour, so also if the Question be for cattle, when their significators are found in this house, it denotes them to be of that colour or neer it: The house is Masculine.

The Cosignificators of this house are Aries and Saturn; for as this house is the first house, so is Aries the first signe, and Saturn the first of the Planets, and therefore when Saturn is but moderately well fortified, in this house, and in any benevolent aspect of Jupiter, Venus, Sun or Moon, it promiseth a good sober constitution of body, and usually long life: Mercury doth also joy in this house, because it represents the Head, and he the Tongue, Fancy and Memory: when he is well dignified and posited in this house, he produceth good Orators: it is called the Ascendant, because when the Sun commeth to the cusp of this house, he ascends, or then ariseth, and is visible in our Horizon.

Questions concerning the Second House.

From this house is required judgment concerning the estate or fortune of him that asks the question, or his Wealth or Poverty, of all removeable Goods, Money lent, of Profit or game, losse or damage; in suits of Law, it signifies a mans Friends or Assistants; in private Duels, the Querents second; in an Eclipse or Great Conjunction, the poverty or Wealth of the people; the Sun his entrance into Aries, it represents the Ammunition, Allies and Support the Common-wealth shall have; it imports their Magazines.

It represents in man the neck, and hinder parts of it towards the shoulders, of colours, the green.

So that if one make demand concerning any thing specified above in this house, you must look for signification from hence: It’s a feminine house and Succedant, called in some Latin Authors Anaphora.

It hath Cosignificators Jupiter and Taurus; for is Jupiter be placed in this house, or be Lord hereof, it’s an argument of an estate or fortune; Sun and Mars are never well placed in this house, either of them shew dispersion of substance, according to the capacity and quality of him that is either born or asks the questions.

The Third House.

Hath signification of Brethren, Sisters, Cozens and Kindred, Neighbours, small Journeys, or inland-Journeys, oft removing from one place to another, Epistles, Letters, Rumours, Messengers: It doth rule the Shoulders, Armes, Hands and Fingers.

Of Colours, it governeth the Red and Yellow, or Croceall, or Sorrell colour: It hath Cosignificators, of the Signe Gemini, of the Planet Mars; which is one reason why Mars in this house, unlesse joyned with Saturn is not very unfortunate, it is a Cadent house, and is the joy of the Moon; for if she be posited therein, especially in a moveable sing, it’s an argument of much travell, trotting and trudging, or of being seldom quiet: The house is Masculine.

The Fourth House.

Giveth Judgment of Fathers in generall & ever of his Father that enquires, or that is born; of Lands, Houses, Tenements, Inheritances, Tillage of the earth, Treasures hidden, the determination or end of any thing; Towns, Cities or Castles, besieged or not besieged; all ancient Dwellings, Gardens, Fields, Pastures, Orchards; the quality and nature of the grounds one purchaseth, whether Vineyards, Cornfielfd, &c. whether the ground be Woody, Stony or barren.

The Sign of the fourth denoteth the Town, the Lord thereof, the Governour:   It ruleth the Brest, Lungs.

Of Colours, the Red: It’s Cosignificator is Cancer, and of Planets the Sun; we call it the Angle of the Earth, or Imum Coeli; it is feminine, and the North Angle: In Nativities or Questions, this fourth house represents Fathers, so doth the Sun by day and Saturn by night; yet if the Sun be herein placed, he is not ill, but rather shews the Father to be of a noble disposition, &c.

The Fifth House.

By this house we judge of Children, of Embassadours, of the state of a Woman with child, of Banquets, of Ale-houses, Tavernes, Playes, Messengers or Agents for Republick; of the wealth of the Father, the Ammunition of a Town beseiged; if the Woman with child shall bring forth male or female; of the health or sicknesse of his Son or Daughter that asks the Question.

It ruleth the Stomack, Liver, Heart, Sides and Back, and is masculine.

Of Colours, Black and White, or Honey-colour, and is a Succedant house; It’s Cosignificators are Leo and Venus, who doth joy in this house, in regard it’s the house of Pleasure, Delight and Merriment; it’s wholly unfortunate by Mars or Saturn, and they therein shew disobedient children and untoward.

The Sixth House.

It concerneth Men and Mid-servants, Gallislaves, Hogges, Sheep, Goats, Hares, Connies, all manner of lesser Cattle, and profit and losse got thereby; Sicknesse, it’s quality and cause, principall humour offending, curable or not curable, whether the disease be short or long; Day-labourers, Tenants, Farmers, Shepherds, Hogheards, Neatherds, Warriners; and it signifieth Unkles, or the Fathers Brothers and Sisters.

It ruleth the inferiour part of the Belly, and intestines even to The Arse:   this house is a Feminine and Cadent  house, unfortunate, as having no aspect to the Ascendant.

Of Colours, black colour, Mars rejoyceth in this house, but his Cosignificator is of the Signes Virgo, of Planets Mercury; we usually find that Mars and Venus in Conjunction in this house, are arguments of a good Physitian.

The Seventh House.

It giveth judgment of Marriage, and describes the person inquired after, whether it be Man or Woman, all manner of Love questions, our publique enemies; the Defendant in a Law-suit, in Warre the opposing party; all quarrels, Duels, Law-suits; in Astrology the Artist himself; in Physick the Physitian; Theeves and Thefts; the person stealing, whether Man or Woman, Wives, Sweetharts; their shape, description, condition, Nobly or ignobly born: in an Annuall ingresse, whether Warre or Peace may be expected: of Victory, who over-comes, and who worsted; Fugitives or run­awayes; Banished and Out-lawed-men.

It hath cosignificator Libra and Moon, Saturn or Mars unfortunate herein, shew ill in Marriage.

Of Colour, a dark Blacke colour.

It ruleth the Haunches, and the Navill to the Buttocks; and is called the Angle of the West: and is Masculine.

The Eighth House.

The Estate of Men deceased, Death, its quality and nature; the Wills, Legacies and Testaments of Men deceased; Dowry of the Wife, Portion of the Maid, whether much or little, easie to be  btained or with difficulty.      In Duels it represents the Adversaries Second; in Lawsuits the Defendants friends.      What kinde of Death a Man shall dye., it signifies fear and anguish of Minde. Who shall enjoy or be heir to the Deceased.

It rules the Privy-Parts. Of colours, the green and Black.

Of Signes it hath Scorpio for Cosignificator, and Saturn, the Hemoroids, the Stone, Strangury, Poysons, and Bladder are ruled by this house; and is a succedant House, and Feminine.

The Ninth House.

By this House we give judgment of Voyages or long journies beyond Seas of Religiousmen, or Clergy of any kinde, whether Bishops or inferiour Ministers; Dreams, Visions, forraign Countries, of Books, Learning, Church Livings, or Benef ices, Advowsions; of the kindred of ones Wife, & sic e contrario.

Of colours it hath the Green and White.

Of mans body it ruleth the Fundament, the Hippes and Thighes, Sagittarius and Jupiter are cosignificators of this House; for if Jupiter be herein placed, it naturally signifies a devout man in his Religion, or one modestly given; I have oft observed when the Dragons tayle, or Mars or Saturn have been infortunately placed in this House; the Querent hath either been little better then a Atheist or a desperate Sectarist: the Sun rejoyceth to be in this House, which is Masculine, and Cadent.

The Tenth House.

Commonly it personateth Kings, Princes, Dukes, Earles, Judges, prime Officers, Commanders in chief, whether in Armies or Towns; all sorts of Magistracy and Officers in Authority, Mothers, Honour, Preferment, Dignity, Office, Lawyers; the profession or Trade any one useth; it signifies Kingdoms, Empires, Dukedoms, Countries.

It hath of colours Red and White, and ruleth the knees and Hammes.

Its called the Medium coeli, or Mid-heaven, and is Feminine. Its cosignificators are Capricorn and Mars; either Jupiter or the Sun doe much Fortunate this House when they are posited therein, Saturn or South Node usually deny Honor, as to persons of quality, or but little esteem in the world to a vulgar person, not much joy in his Profession, Trade or Mystery, is a Mechanick.

The Eleventh House.

It doth naturally represent Friends and Friendship, Hope, Trust, Confidence, the Praise, or Dispraise of any one; the Fidelity or falsenesse of Friends; as to Kings it personates their Favourites, Councellours, Servants, their Associates or Allyes, their Money, Exchequer or Treasure; in Warre their Ammunition and Souldiery; it represents Courtiers, &c. in a Common-wealth governed by a few of the Nobles and Commons, it personates their assistance in Councell: as in London the tenth House represents the Lord Major; the eleventh the Common-councell; the Ascendant the generality of the Commoners of the said City.

Of members it ruleth the Legs to the Ancles. Of colours, it ruleth the Saffron or Yellow.

It hath of the Signs Aquarius, and Sun of the Planets, for cosignificators Jupiter doth especially rejoyce in this House; it’s a succedant House, and masculine, and in vertue is equivalent either to the seventh or fourth Houses.

The Twelfth House.

It hath signification of private Enemies, of Witches, great Cattle, as Horses, Oxen, Elephants, &c. Sorrow, Tribulation, Imprisonments, all manner of affliction, self-undoing, &c. and of such men as maliciously undermine their neighbours, or inform secretly against them.

It hath cosignificators Pisces and Venus; Saturn doth joy in that House, For naturally Saturn is Author of mischief; and it ruleth in Mans body the Feet.

In Colour it presents the Green.

Its a Cadent House, Feminine, and vulgarly sometimes called Cataphora, as all Cadent Houses may be. This is the true Character of the severall Houses, according to the Ptolomeian Doctrine, and the experience my self have had for some yeers: I must confesse the Arabians have made severall other divisions of the Houses, but I could never in my practise finde any verity in them, wherefore I say nothing of them.” -William Lilly

We start the last month of the year on a Saturday (Saturn’s day) with the Moon at home in Cancer. (continue reading…)

Heads Up!

The Writer’s Astrological Almanac

by Kathy Watts

November 2012

Welcome to November, in an autumn when even the weather has been intense and weird. We have a great beginning, with Nov 1 being on Thursday (Jupiter’s day of the week) and the Moon in writer/artist-friendly Gemini. Venus exactly opposes Uranus today. Don’t let this turn you off from the experimental and unconventionally creative (is that redundant?) this  month. Let it enhance your sensitivity to the new and fresh. Find the charm in what’s radical, without getting swept away. The Moon also conjuncts Jupiter today. This can raise emotions and personal expectations, too.  Make this a happy, productive day and take it forward with you all month long. (continue reading…)

Sending love and prayers to our friends on the East Coast as Hurricane Sandy makes landfall.  I am hoping that this storm will be a repeat of the hurricane that hit New York last September.

This is especially chilling, personally, because it is but seven blocks west of the 48 story luxury high rise, which, at that time was still under construction.  It was my job to close up the models, which were the only apartments that were finished. Since I had access to the elevator key, and being quite  young and adventurous, I loved nothing more to go up to the higher floors and sneak out to the balcony of an as yet unfinished apartment and look down and out across at the great metropolis of New York from as high a floor as the elevator would allow me to step out onto, as the papers blew across the apartments, because the windows had not yet been installed.

I am still optimistic that despite the wind and storm surge that the damage from Hurricane Sandy will not take a huge amount of lives. My reasoning is that we were lucky to have an exceedingly benign Spring Equinox Chart.

The reason that I do not believe we will see an enormous death toll, despite Saturn smack dab on the New Moon chart set for New York, is that the lunation, is on the most beneficial fixed star in the universe, Spica. Let us pray that this is the case.

I will send up the charts, in a bit, but please pray that I am not out in left field on this one. Pray for everybody on the East Coast.  Update at midnight nyc, time. I understand that the lights are out and there will be no subway service for several days to come. The storm made landfall at 8:00 pm local time.  According to Marc Lavorgna,  https://twitter.com/NYCMayorsOffice, the surge of water crested at almost 14 feet high at the Battery (the far south end of the Manhattan penninsula) and the waters are now receding at 9 feet. I am sorry to say that there are five deaths reportedly due to Sandy, which has now been downgraded from a hurricane to a superstorm. The good news is that reports of a fire at a hospital on Coney Island, are erroneous.

The first place we look to when forecasting or trying to explain great events of any kind, from weather to finance is the Spring Ingress chart. Generally we can set that to the capital. I tend to use New York City as the capital in many charts, because it was in presently flooded lower Manhattan that George Washington swore to uphold the Constitution, and where he fought his initial battle with the British for Independence.

The concept of prognosticating with Spring Ingress and all charts is based on the ancient concept of ‘ as above, so below. In other words, whatever happens down here  on terra firma is written well advance up in the heavens above us.  We look to the day that the Sun arrives at 0 Aries in the tropical zodiac, to ascertain what the coming events in any given year will be.  This date is known as the Spring Equinox, because the days and the nights are exactly the same length in time. It marks the beginning of the astrological year.

Right from the ‘get go’ we can see s that 2012 is going to be very unusual in the city that never sleeps, the Spring Equinox Chart’s Sun is associating with the planet of surprise, Uranus sits right there at the ground level of the chart, the 4th. Now, this is why, I am praying that the storm does not take as many lives as it might have. For evaluating deadly events, we always want to look to the 8th house, of death. In this case, using Regomontanus House Cusps, we see that the 8th house has Cancer on its cusp. Thus, the Moon will rule death and destruction. If we look closely, we will notice that the Moon is in Pisces. Since the Sun is in Aries, this indicates that the Moon is in its last days of light, what we call a waning Moon. A waning Moon is a weakened Moon. And thus, when it rules the house of the grim reaper, a dark Moon is a good thing to see. This is the first sign of hope for this storm. The next thing we see is that the Moon is in a cadent house, the third, where she joys. The Sun and Uranus conjunction, itself is in Aries a hot and dry sign, and yes, most of the country experienced the hottest driest Summer on record, but in New York City with Uranus placed at the ground zero, so to speak, we saw something different, flooding. This is because death and destruction, i.e., the 8th cusp, is ruled by a very wet Moon in Pisces, which is made even wetter by it’s conjunction with the planet of the seas, Neptune. It is this combination that brought this enormous tidal surge.

Why now? Well, one look at the previous New Moon set for October 15th 2012, in New York City will provide those ‘who are in the know’ about about that icy  ringed meanie, Saturn, the answer.

Notice that Saturn, the natural ruler of the grave, is situated smack dab on the cusp of the Ascendant. In mundane charts, the Ascendant rules we the people. Whenever we see Saturn in the first house, of any mundane map, be it Spring Equinox, to New or Full Moon Charts, we can expect trouble, and trouble Sandy brought.  And she is wet trouble because Saturn has just entered the wet sign Scorpio. Some might say, Saturn is not yet on the cusp of the first. Well, I refer you to the article below on the dark degrees.  Although Algol is on the cusp of destructive 8th house, I am praying that most of the people of New York will be okay when I wake up in the morning. I pray that South Node, also known as the Dragon’s Tail will hold Algol in check. We shall see in the morning. Please pray for all on the East Coast.

The upcoming vice presidential debate should be a more lively one than the first presidential debate. Both of the vice presidential candidates,  incumbent Vice President, Joe Biden and Republican Congressman Paul Ryan, seem to have little qualms regarding sharing their opinions. At the same time, their views for the future and their backgrounds are radically different from one another.

The debate is scheduled to commence at 9:00 p.m. EDT live from Danville, Kentucky giving us a rising of 28 Taurus. However, those who remember the first presidential debate will note, it did not start exactly on time. First there are the obligatory, niceties, which we gauge from the last debate last about 5 minutes.

This changes the rising sign, from Taurus, to the verbal Gemini. Once again, like the last time, we simply divide the chart straight down the middle. We give the left side, or the rising side of the chart, home field advantage to the seated vice president, Joe Biden and the setting side to the Republican challenger, Ryan.

The new chart has Gemini right on the Ascendant, representing Joe Biden, the seated vice president, will make Mercury, ruler of the first house, his designated player. Mercury is in the steady, Scorpio, which we noted last time, spells trouble for Joe Biden right off the bat. After all, a debate is a war of words. When a debater’s significator falls in a sign without a voice,  as we recently witnessed with Obama in the first debate, the words just do not just spring out at us. Further, Biden is also situated in a weak house, that of the sixth, of illness, and more importantly, on Ryan’s side of the chart. Even though at a disadvantage, when so placed, it makes sense, because the sixth is the house of the common worker and Biden worked his way up from his blue collar roots to become vice president. His father cleaned furnaces in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Even though his ruler is weakly placed,   Biden is not completely helpless.  According to the Indians, the sixth house is called an ‘upachaya’ or growing house. This implies Biden starts out slowly, but gains momentum. In addition, the rising lunar mansion is none other than the hot and fiery Krittika. In a situation where nice guys finish last,  it is advantageous  to have a mansion rising.  The ancient Indians said Krittika has razor like tendencies.  Krittika people burn others out with their ceaseless energy. It seems like they get up and have glass for breakfast, then ask for more. This hidden lunar mansion may help Biden, overcome his mute ruler.

The republican challenger Paul Ryan, will get the right or setting side of the chart. With Sagittarius on the cusp, the Republican contender, will be represented by fat cat, Jupiter in the talkative Gemini. Needless to say,  Ryan is  vociferously against entitlements to the poor.  His plan also calls for  privatization of Social Security,  repealing Obama-care while leaving military spending the same. Ryan’s Jupiter is in the in the, ‘do as I say, not as I do, sign, Gemini. This is one of the poorest places for the truthful, Jupiter because it is so hypocritical.  It is no surprise that Ryan’s plan to gut social spending, keeps the Bush era tax breaks, that garnered his presidential running mate, Romney a nice $26,000,000  yet only had to pay 14% in taxes.  Even though Ryan is clearly against government spending,  his family, from his grandfather, who built highways,  to his wife, a former lobbyist for Price Waterhouse all made vast sums from Uncle Sam!

Since nice guys finish last,  Ryan gets a tremendous edge over Biden,  initially,  with that Mars right on his first.  Ryan will put in a good fight, and will come right out of the box punching.  At first it may seem he makes mincemeat out of Biden. However, he walks a fine line. If he goes too far, he falls in Vice Presidential Biden’s lap, because Ryan’s Jupiter is in Biden’s own house.  Many of Ryan’s core beliefs,  alienate much of the female population.  Too much aggression,  will turn also turn the the elderly away, as well. The Moon is the designate for ‘we the people’ in any mundane charts. And the Moon is already hostile to both candidates, but the Moon is especially antithetical to Ryan because it applies by partile (exact) square to Mars in Ryan’s first and at the same time, she opposes his house ruler, Jupiter.

With so much on each other’s side of the chart, this should prove to be a lively debate.   With Ryan in  Biden’s first, neither side has a distinct edge.  With that angular Mars, we will see both pull punches. That aforementioned lunar square to Ryan’s Mars is a nasty one.  Even though Ryan will keep swinging,  the chart implies, Biden gets his own way. I may be wrong,  but I sense this will be so close a debate, that some will say, draw, but  I think Vice President Joe Biden has a slight edge with the Moon heading towards Venus, who as almuten of Biden’s hopes and wishes.  We shall see.