"The natal chart is like a seed and progressions are the unfolding in time of that into the plant it is to become. Transits, are like a daily weather report. In political astrology, these three factors have to be taken into account!"
May 14, 2012 - Same-sex marriage, Venus and the financial markets, and Tom Gabel's transformation
Reader feedback
re: Monsanto - Senator Tester has proposed an amendment that would delete the Monsanto rider.
Concerned readers can call the White House @ (202) 456-1111. Live people actually answer this line. Of course, people can also email the White House and call and email their representatives in the House and Senate.
re: drought - I read your blog regularly religiously as it is informative and educating. I live in heartland and I remember your writing last summer that it will be very difficult and those transits will remain in effect till this late this summer also due to lilith. Would you please be kind enough to refresh this prediction if possible because last year's drought here was extremely unbearable and it was extremely disheartening to farmers. So if time permits would you again enlighten us with your astrological thinking about heat and drought in heartland of America.
re: astro-detective - It would be interesting to see the Travis Alexander natal horoscope and the horoscope for the day he was killed on June 4, 2008.
re: Amanda Knox - I really enjoyed your new page about the Amanda Knox case--excellent work! I do have a question, though--at the very end, you suggest that the hard work for Amanda started when Uranus retrograded right square her Saturn and pr Saturn, but still minutes away. I've often wondered about these spare minutes--Saturn retrograded just minutes before conjuncting my Neptune a few months back (actually, looking at the chart now, it was 1 degree 14 mins...)
My tendency is to say there is no actual effect if there is not actual connection, and well, minutes are still minutes. But it sounds like you feel differently--if so, within how many minutes, or even degrees do you feel a transiting aspect must be to actually create an effect in a retrograde like this? What's your experience with this? The Knox case certainly seems proof.
A. Every case is different, but a natal planet doesn't operate in isolation. Consider the progressed planets, and faster moving transits, like the Sun or Mars, or even the Moon, to carry the connection from the transit to the natal planet. This is known as the "translation of the light" in traditional astrology.
In Amanda's case, transiting Uranus turned retrograde while only 0º03’ from her progressed Saturn. The closeness of that station in itself suggests major life events unfolding. That's pretty much as close to a direct hit as one can get.
re: Zendaya - I always enjoy your weekly column. I'm wondering if a birthtime of about 11:15 AM might be right for Zendaya Coleman? This puts that sensual Moon right on an angle, creates a Fixed Grand Cross, and highlights the existing Kite Grand Earth Trine... Plus Lilith right next to the MC.
A. Hmmm... maybe so. It's an interesting concept that Disney girls have a prominent Lilith. I did a quick check and noticed that Britney Spears has her Sagittarius Sun conjunct Lilith and Annette Funicello has Lilith conjunct her Cancer Ascendant.
Pope Francis - What do you think about his Sun in the 266 zodiac degree and being Pope 266?
Here is the Sabian Symbol: 26º Sagittarius (266): A Flag-Bearer In A Battle. Keyword: Nobility.
A. Marvelous synchronicity! I don't know what it means though....
Global Warming - Hi, I clicked several times on 'Science' but was told that it was in error. I'd like to read the article.
A. I apologize about the broken link. It was to an L.A. Times article explaining the Science article in plain English. Here it is again: climate-warming
re: Pope Francis - I wanted to point out that there are THREE St. Francis's: St. Francis de Sales being the third. HIS life's work also coincides with Francis I's ideas, I think: From Wikipedia: Francis de Sales, (21 August 1567 – 28 December 1622) was a Bishop of Geneva and is honored as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. He became noted for his deep faith and his gentle approach to the religious divisions in his land resulting from the Protestant Reformation.
Keep up the good work, tho I am really sick and tired of the ongoing power and influence that the forces that hold back our moving forthrightly into the New Age, are still so much in control, as your recent comments said... :-(
re: NeptuneCafe - Just wanted to say that I'm really impressed with this site. I've studied astrology since I was little ( a long time ago) and for the last 6 years or so, intensively, with Noel Tyl.
So I'm sure I've been aware of The Neptune Cafe, but hadn't referenced it. But today, I got interested in Ceres because I noticed it was aspecting Pluto in a horary I set up and so in making a query I ran across your site. Wonderful work! A real resource for anyone wanting to learn Astrology, which I believe is really a soul endeavor. So you're doing God's work !!
re: Pluto in Leo generation - How is the Pluto in Capricorn going to affect the people who have the Uranus Pluto conjunction in Virgo? I saw the article Donna Cunningham did on the Pluto in Leo generation.
re: Reeva Steencamp - So if we knew her birth time, would it be easier to see something definitive, death-wise? You are being clear enough. But golly, these transits touch a lot of people and they don't die. Everyone born the same day as she was, for instance, didn't die when she did. You've talked, in the past, about the nodes being involved when someone dies, too.
A. Her choice to be with Oscar Pistorius creates another perspective of her life, and that's how her planets interact with his. The martial influences are overwhelming, and they exacerbate her own Mars-Juno square.
re: Monsanto - I am on your site several times a week to glean your astrological insights into current events and personalities and find your analysis very insightful. I just read an article on the Yahoo Financial page where Monsanto is suing a 75 year old grain farmer from Indiana, Vernon Bowman for $84,456. claiming he is using seeds that were developed by Monsanto and not signing the patent protection agreement which Monsanto closely guards.... The case is now going to the Supreme Court. I am wondering if you could run a chart on Monsanto and share your insights into this upcoming case.
re: Pope Benedict - I just read your column on Pope Benedict XVI's announcement from earlier this week, and thought you might enjoy a photo of lightning striking Saint Peter's Basilica within hours of Pope Benedict's declaration that he was resigning as Pope: http://www.bibleprobe.com/last10popes.htm
re: NewsScope - thank you for your weekly NewsScope. Your writings are very lucid and enjoyable.
May 21, 2012 - FB's IPO, Will Greece leave the Eurozone?, Wis. Governor Scott Walker's recall
May 28, 2012 - Mohamed Morsi - Egypt's next president, June's astro-events, Jupiter and the SE
June 4, 2012 - Obama or Romney? Spain's financial T-square, cyberwarfare's General James Cartwright.
June 11, 2012 - Part Two of Who will win - Obama or Romney? A deeper look at each candidate's chart
June 18, 2012 - Pluto and the billionaries; Putin and the patriarchs, and the NBA finals with Kevin Durant
June 25, 2012 - The Vatican's protector of predator priests, July's top five, Larry Ellison buys Lanai
July 2, 2012 - Roberts and Obamacare, European leaders reach accord, Katie Holmes files for divorce
July 9, 2012 - Michelle Obama and Ann Romney on Election day, Henry Higgs and the UR-PL cycle
July 16, 2012 - Ceres and commodity prices, Condi Rice rumors, Woody Guthrie, dustbowl troubadour
July 23, 2012 - Black Moon Lilith Rising, James Holmes' split personality, celebrity CEO Marissa Mayer
July 30, 2012 - Romney's gaffe at the Olympics, August's top five events, Kristen Stewart's love life
Aug 6, 2012 - The Dawn Mission, Oscar Pistolius the blade runner, and James Holme's timed chart
Aug 13, 2012 - Paul Ryan wins the Veepstakes, the U.S. progressed Moon-Mars,Angelina wedding day
Aug 20, 2012 - The activated Uranus-Pluto, Russia's Black Moon, Jessica Alba's busy life.
Aug 27, 2012 - Romney's victory and the fiscal cliff, September's top five, Lance Armstrong's career dives.
Sept. 3, 2012 - The clash over Medicare, Clint East-wood talks with a chair, Mariah Carey's horoscope.
Sept. 10, 2012 - the astrology of QE3, Black Moon in Israel's chart, Leann Rimes and Patsy Cline
Sept. 17, 2012 - Chaos in the Middle East and Peace Day; women doing well; Kate Middleton's dilemma
Sept. 24, 2012 - Romney's 47 percent video, October's top five astro-events, Lindsay Lohan's attitude
Oct. 1, 2012 - Special Black Moon Lilith Issue, Romney's progressed Lilith; Iran's Lilith; Lilith celebrity profiles.
Oct. 8, 2012 - candidates' progressions, Turkey's Grand Cross, Miguel Cabrera wins Triple Crown.
Oct. 15, 2012 - Ohio, the bellwether state to win; Malala Yousafzai, freedom fighter; Ben Affleck's Argo...
Oct. 22, 2012 - Cyber Pearl Harbor, November's top five astro-events, and Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Biel
Oct. 29, 2012 - Neptune and the election, the Solar Eclipse hits Ohio's Neptune, and Queen Elizabeth II
Nov. 5, 2012 - Hurricane Sandy, the astrology of hurricanes, and Taylor Swift's philanthropy
Nov. 12, 2012 - Paula Broadwell, Election result commentaries, Spielberg's Abraham Lincoln
Nov. 19, 2012 - Mars along the Hamas-Israel border, Saturn and Obama's Neptune, Twinkies Gone?
Nov 26, 2012 - Mohamed Morsi - Egypt's new pharaoh, December's top five, Alfred Hitchcock
Dec. 3, 2012 - The fiscal cliff and the Mayan calendar, Tesla Motors, Park Jae-sang's Gangnam Style
Dec. 10, 2012 - Assad's progressed Mars, Orcus in Romney's and Assad's charts, Bill Murray as FDR
Dec. 17, 2012 - Adam Lanza - Newtown shooter, the U.S. twelfth house; John McAfee on the run
Dec. 24, 2012 - The National Rifle Association, January's Top Five Astro-Events, Suzy Favor Hamilton's double life.
Dec. 31, 2012 - Mars in key charts of 2013, India's social revolution, Matt Damon's new film Promised Land.
Jan. 7, 2013 - "Save us from self-inflicted wounds", Hugo Chavez's health crisis, Lilith - the comedians' muse.
Jan. 14, 2013 - Chuck Hagel, John Howard's gun control program, Paul Salopek begins his journey.
Jan. 21, 2013 - A brilliant Moon-Jupiter occultation; Natalie Wood's case re-opened; Chelsea Clinton.
Jan. 28, 2013 - Mary Jo White to head SEC, February's Top Five, Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Feb. 4, 2013 - The Dow hits 14,000, immigration reform coming up, Kevin Spacey stars in the House of Cards.
Feb.11, 2013 - CIA nominee John Brennan, Apple shifting gears, and the search for cop killer Chris Dorner.
Feb.18, 2013 - Sequester is coming, the Blade Runner and Beauty Queen, Steve Martin becomes a father.
Feb. 25, 2013 - Lilith upsets the Vatican, March's top five astro-events, racing pioneer Danica Patrick's rising star.
March 4, 2013 - Seven planets in Pisces, the Keystone XL project, Dorothy Hamill joins DWTS
March 11, 2013 - Energy independence and global warming, Kim Jong Un's Saturn return, Bernadette
March 18, 2013 - Mars activates four outer planets, Pope Francis, Ryan Sea-crest and Julianne Hough
March 25, 2013 - Pope Francis, an accurate birth chart; April's top five astro-events, Zendaya on DWTS
April 1, 2013 - The New Moon's uncharted territory, the Monsanto Protection Act, Amanda Knox's Venus
"Thank you very much, you answered all of my questions and offered me great insight into my life and any future issues as well as potential issues that may arise. Your reading was phenomenal!"
The Full Moon on April 25 happens to be a partial Lunar Eclipse, which intensifies the potential for pivotal, fateful events. This eclipse is dramatically illuminated since the Sun in Taurus is accompanied by Mars and the Scorpio Moon is next to Saturn. Although Mars and Saturn are 5º away from their opposition, events tend to reach a climax around the Full Moon, which emphasizes the confrontational nature of this dynamic.
North Korea:
Rhetoric or Serious Threat?
Last week after North Korea threatened a nuclear attack on U.S. positions and declared war on South Korea, many politicos began wondering if the rogue nation is committing national suicide. Old hands emphasized that Kim Jong Un is just posturing to establish his internal authority before setting up further negotiations. North Korea’s horoscope (September 10, 1948; 9:50 pm; Pyongyang) offers a glimpse of what we can expect.
With Saturn at 8º Scorpio -- exactly conjunct the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant -- we can expect that some historic developments will be unfolding around the Full Moon. When the chart is set for Washington DC, Jupiter is at the Midheaven, which one might consider to be a blessing or good fortune. However, Jupiter is heading into a conjunction with the U.S. Mars, which points to military engagements.
Mars in the eclipse chart is nearly opposite North Korea’s Mars, which describes a very poignant showdown. In personal charts, those with their Sun, Ascendant or other important placements in the 4º to 9º region of Taurus and Scorpio will be feeling the brunt of this Lunar Eclipse. Some, like Jay Leno, are already aware of the fundamental life changes taking place.
Other celebrities with their Sun in this degree area are Kelly Clarkson, Penelope Cruz, Bill Gates, Henry Winkler, Julia Roberts, Dan Rather, Winona Ryder, Renee Zellweger, Bruce Jenner, Carol Burnett, Shirley Temple Black, Al Pacino, and Shirley MacLaine. Watch for news items concerning many of these stars over the next few weeks. How does this Lunar Eclipse affect your chart?
NK’s natal Mercury-Neptune conjunction in the diplomatic sign of Libra describes the nation’s confusing mindset and its tendency to veil its true intentions. Currently, transiting Pluto is squaring this configuration, which has led to all kinds of bizarre statements and threats. Transiting Uranus is heading into an opposition to NK’s Mercury-Neptune over the next few months, ensuring more radical statements and abrupt shifts.
North Korea requested that foreign embassies submit evacuation plans by April 10 in case of war, a date which coincides with the New Moon at 20º Aries. The degree is significant since that is the exact location of NK’s progressed Moon, which in turn is trine a conjunction between progressed Mars and natal Jupiter. In other words, the New Moon activates a combination of planets that promotes military adventurism.
One would think that NK’s Moon-Jupiter conjunction offers good friends and allies, and protects its people from economic hardship. China and South Korea both could fill this role, but NK’s angular Mars conjunct its South Node completely dominates this chart, so that all resources are funneled into the military. Transiting Saturn will be turning direct on NK’s Mars on July 7 (orb: 0º15’), marking a decisive turning point in this current confrontation. It’s a do-or-die moment, fight or negotiate.
Jay Leno to leave “The Tonight Show”
Last Wednesday NBC announced that Jay Leno will be stepping down from “The Tonight Show” to make way for “Late Night” host Jimmy Fallon. Jay has been holding down the coveted spot since he replaced Johnny Carson back in 1992. The actual transition to Jimmy Fallon takes place in the spring of 2014 when Jay departs for greener pastures.
North Korea's and Kim Jong Un's full charts with additional narrative can be found here
Jay Leno was born with a Sun-Lilith conjunction in Taurus (April 28, 1950; 2:03 am; New Rochelle, NY), a combination that often bestows a great sense of humor.* Naturally, he has several natal placements that closely align with the U.S. horoscope to help him reflect back American pop culture. Most notably, he has good natured Jupiter near his Aquarius Ascendant.
Jupiter at 2º Pisces forms a perfect trine to the U.S. Venus, so he naturally enhances American’s sense of pleasure. Currently, Leno has a very favorable double Sun-Jupiter combination: progressed Sun and Jupiter are trine, and progressed Jupiter and natal Sun are sextile. He leaves at the top of his game, ranked #1 in the ratings. Also, Leno’s Sun at 7º Taurus is closely aligned with the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant, so when his celebrity status shifts, so does the face of America.
Transiting Saturn forces the changes: when NBC announced that Leno would replace Carson on June 6, 1991, transiting Saturn in Aquarius was squaring Leno’s Sun (and the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant). Last week, transiting Saturn in Scorpio opposed Leno’s Sun and conjoined the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant (orbs within 2º). Leno isn’t leaving peacefully, and has been making plenty of acerbic zingers about NBC executives. His progressed Sun-Mars square has been set off by transiting Uranus, making an angry, volatile combination.
* “Black Moon Lilith: The Comedians’ Muse” by Michael O’Reilly will be published in the July 2013 issue of Dell Horoscope and fully explains this odd connection between Lilith and humor. For a preview, visit lilithprofiles