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COSTA CONCORDIA: ITALIAN CRUISE SHIP DISASTER

2012-01-16T11:35:00.000-08:00

On January 13, 2012, Costa Concordia ran aground on a reef at around 21:30 local time near Isola del Giglio off the coast of Italy. According to the local coastguard, 3,206 passengers and 1,023 crew members were on board at the time.

On January 15 the Italian newspaper, La Repubblica, reported that the captain did not mention any mechanical problems but had stated that they were 300 meters (330 yards) from the rocks (about the length of the vessel) and that they hit a rock that was not marked on nautical charts. According to the local coast guard, the ship has a 50 meter (160 ft) gash on her port side, with a large rock embedded in the ship's hull. The ship is listing on its side and sinking in the water in a bizarre scene reminiscent of the Hollywood film The Poseidon Adventure.

Costa Cruises confirmed that the course taken was "not a defined route for passing Giglio." In a press release dated January 15, Costa Cruises stated: "We are working with investigators to find out precisely what went wrong aboard the Costa Concordia. While the investigation is ongoing, preliminary indications are that there may have been significant human error on the part of the ship’s Master, Captain Francesco Schettino, which resulted in these grave consequences. The route of the vessel appears to have been too close to the shore, and the Captain’s judgment in handling the emergency appears to have not followed standard Costa procedures." Nicastro, the Coast Guard spokesman, insisted that the waters where the ship ran aground were well-mapped. Local fishermen say the island coast of Giglio is known for its rocky sea floor. "Every danger in this area is on the nautical chart," Nicastro said. "This is a place where a lot of people come for diving and sailing. ...All the dangers are known.

Captain Francesco Schettino, who has worked for Costa Cruises for 11 years, and also the ship's first officer, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and of abandoning ship before passengers were evacuated. They were questioned on 14 January. Officials are trying to determine why the ship did not issue a mayday and why it was navigating so close to the coast. The ship got in contact with the Coast Guard once the evacuation procedures were already ongoing. The crew, officers and staff were totally disorganized with no evacuation or escape route in place to ensure passenger safety thereby resulting in chaos and the death of at least 6 people and 13 still missing as of the writing of this article.

Here are the astrological coordinates for this disaster:

January 13, 2012. 21:30 local time. Giglio, Italy.

What strikes me on first glance is the elemental balance. There is no water in the chart and a preponderance of earth. When there is a total lack of an element it’s as if there has to be a sacrifice to that God; in this case Neptune. How symbolic that this is a disaster at sea caused by running aground upon a rocky reef. Water keeps everything afloat or sinks things to the bottom of the sea. With the Ascendant, Mars and Moon in Virgo; Jupiter in Taurus and Sun, Pluto and Mercury in Capricorn the emphasis on Earth just weighs the chart down sinking the ship before it even has a chance to chart its course.

Mutable angles give the appearance of chaos, schizophrenic behavior, chaos, disorder and hysteria. Things tend to fall apart because of the indecisiveness and duality inherent in the mutable signs.

The Sun forms a T-square with Saturn opposite Jupiter. Before the trip even gets going on it’s journey (Jupiter) the Captain (Sun) who is overly confident of his powers (Sun trine Mars and square Jupiter) is brought down to earth (Saturn). The ship runs aground on a reef and hits a rock that tore a huge gash in her hull.

The Moon and Mars are conjunct the Ascendant representing the attack and danger on the public, in this case the passengers of the ship. The Sun, Pluto and Mercury all trine the Ascendant and if we read Mercury as the Captain of the Ship (ruler of the MC) conjunct Pluto (feelings of power) and the Sun (Ego of the leader) all trine the Ascendant, Moon and Mars then this is a man who felt his powers to be unstoppable. It shows someone who feels so totally in control to the point of hubris without any respect for Mother Nature. There is an overconfidence (trine) to take risks. Saturn square the Sun ensures the leader will have tests and challenges to deal with and a possible price to pay.

The Nodes are exactly conjunct the IC/MC axis and the south node at the top of the chart again emphasizes the weakness of the leadership. The south node is also about loss and the past coming into play. The north node at the bottom of the chart just has an eerie message of being at the bottom of the sea.

There are 3 major planets at critical degrees which are always important for out of control behavior in both people and events. Jupiter, planet of long distance journeys is at 0° Taurus and most importantly is Neptune conjunct Venus in an extremely tight conjunction at 29° Aquarius in the 6th house. This is an idealistic conjunction. It’s about not seeing the details, protocol, organization and order of things clearly. There is a blind quality to all the most important 6th house functions so necessary to running a finely tune machine like a large ocean liner. The Venus/Neptune conjunction trines Saturn and sextiles Jupiter making it easy for the crew (6th house) to be blind and oblivious to the real problems and totally unaware of the correct routine to implement in the case of an emergency. The rulers of this all important 6th house are Saturn and Uranus which inconjunct each other further emphasizing the discomfort, adjustment and the problems with the running and functioning of the plan.

Saturn and Jupiter are both disposited by Venus which is conjunct Neptune at that very important last degree of Aquarius before it’s entry into Pisces the Sign of its rulership and Venus’ exaltation.

With no planets in universal houses (9 thru 12) and the Sun being the focal point of the T-square shooting energy out into the opening of the 11th house there is an overcompensation that heightens the event guaranteeing it is played out on the world stage.

Joseph Addeo
http://www.josephaddeo.com/

JOAN CRAWFORD: THE STAR WHO REFUSES TO DIE

2011-12-05T10:04:00.000-08:00

It has long been known that charts of people still respond to transits and progressions long after the person dies. This is especially true for the famous who lead very event oriented lives in full public view.

On Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 10am, Doyle New York will auction property from the estate of one of the biggest stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, Joan Crawford. This historic auction offers film memorabilia, MGM Studios contracts and correspondence, publicity stills, jewelry and a selection of luxurious fur coats and wraps. The items have descended in Ms. Crawford's family and are now being offered at auction to her fans worldwide. The items being auctioned were left to one of Ms. Crawford’s younger daughters, not Christina.

Joan Crawford’s birth information: March 23, 1903, 10:00 pm, San Antonio, Texas

Crawford has Scorpio rising with the ruler of the chart Pluto stationed at 17° Gemini in the 8th house. This is an intuitive woman used to dealing with reserves of power, a born negotiator who can be ruthless and has an inherent sense of reinventing herself after traumatic events that take her to hell and back. The phoenix rising from the ashes is a story that is not unfamiliar to Joan Crawford. She has the charismatic power of these placements and people either love or hate her. There is very little middle ground with her. She possesses that all or nothing quality of Scorpio, Pluto and the 8th house. Her career spanned 50 years and she is still a force to be reckoned with. Death has not eclipsed her fame but instead as enhanced it in an odd way as the legend refuses to let go; her mythology continually growing and morphing as time goes by.

Her Sun is at 2° Aries, posited in the 5th house and rules the Midheaven. Her identity is closely linked with her reputation, career, creative self expression and children. That Sun has been under tremendous transits over the past few years. Pluto from Capricorn has transformed her reputation, Saturn from Libra has been re-building it and Uranus in Aries is currently enlightening the public and giving us a new bird’s eye view as to who she really is. Uranus provides a more democratic assessment of her career, identity, talents and accomplishments rather than just viewing her as the monster gorgon that her eldest daughter would like us to believe. In the past year her progressed Sun has entered the 9th house which is a rebirth into the light and seeks a clearer truth and understanding of her identity after at least 30 years buried in the dark and mysterious underground of the 8th where no one knows what the real truth is.

The auction is occurring within days of a Lunar Eclipse at 18° Gemini which is conjunct her natal 8th house Pluto. It also takes place on Uranus station direct conjunct her natal Sun. Uranus rules her very tight Moon/Saturn conjunction in Aquarius. Also, her progressed Moon at 29.39 Capricorn is screaming out in that very anoretic degree way something about her reputation before entering Aquarius giving her a progressed lunar return. Progressed Mercury which rules the 8th house of death, inheritance, money having to do with estates and wills is conjunct natal Neptune at 0° Cancer on the world axis. Neptune rules her natal 5th. Transiting Mercury is retrograde which harkens to something from the past. So it is all meant to come to light right now. And let’s not forget the Solar Eclipse at 2° Sagittarius which took place on November 25 is in exact trine to her natal Sun.

This morning I just watched a video clip of an interview with Michael Hazanavicius and Berenice Bejo director and leading lady of the new hit movie The Artist which has been garnering great reviews and winning numerous awards including Best Picture from the New York Film Critics Circle. In the interview Ms. Bejo says that Joan Crawford, especially in her silent movies, when she was young, warm and full of energy was an inspiration to her when preparing for her role in the current film. Further proof that current astrological transits and progressions to Crawford’s chart are symbolic of reevaluating and resurrecting her reputation as the public is asked once again to reassess this very powerful and complicated woman. Gone, but not forgotten.

Joseph Addeo
http://www.josephaddeo.com/

Triggers to the Lunar Eclipse of June 15, 2011 by Joseph Addeo

2011-07-24T06:44:00.000-07:00

A major predictive technique in an Astrologer’s handbag is seeing how eclipse degrees hit planets in a client’s chart. Action may not occur at the time of an eclipse but the stage is set for future events usually carrying symbolism of the planet which is being affected by the eclipse (within a 3° orb). The fated event often happens within the next 6 months when the planet, and thereby the eclipse degree, is triggered by hard aspect most often by the planet Mars and the Sun (although if the outer planets are in close proximity pay attention to them as well). Mars is the action principle and the Sun is our purpose.

On July 23, 2011 singer Amy Winehouse died, her body discovered at 3:54 pm London time. Her birth info is as follows: September 14, 1983, London England, 12:00 pm (time unknown). Without doing a natal interpretation we can see by taking a cursory look at her chart that she has an abundance of planets within orb of the lunar eclipse of June 15 that took place at 24° Sagittarius.

Her natal placements are: Sun at 21° Virgo, Mercury retrograde at 23° Virgo, Neptune at 26° Sadge, in a 12:00 noon chart the Moon is at 25° Sadge, the nodes are at 20° Gemini/Sadge (she is currently receiving a reverse nodal return) and finally Venus is retrograde at 23° Leo.

On the day of her death Mars is transiting 22° Gemini in a 2° applying aspect by opposition to the eclipse degree thereby making a hard aspect to all the above mentioned planets and points in her chart. She had a very turbulent life and just seeing that she had a Sun/Mercury conjunction square Neptune and most likely the Moon conjunct Neptune I would imagine living on the practical material plane was not easy for her. Rest in peace Ms. Winehouse.

The same thing occurs in mundane astrology although in this case it is just the eclipse degree being triggered which is of main interest.

The most infamous example in recent times was 9/11. Here we had a solar eclipse on June 21, 2001 at 0° Cancer. This is the world axis which only enhances the notoriety of the event. On 9/11 the planet Mars (action, war, attack, and anger) was transiting 1° Capricorn triggering by opposition the eclipse degree.

Our most recent lunar eclipse occurred on June 15, 2011 at 24° Sagittarius. On July 22 yet again, the angry red planet Mars was at 21° of Gemini in a 3° orb of opposing the lunar eclipse: A terrorist bombing in Oslo, Norway near the prime minister’s office kills 7 and injures 15. Shortly after a man dressed in a police uniform opened fire with a rifle in a 90 minute rampage on a group of young people at a resort island 60 miles north of Oslo killing at least 85 who were there on a camp outing. Police say the two incidents are related.

Also of note, most of the United States is in the midst of a paralyzing, record breaking heat wave with some of the highest temperatures and humidity levels ever recorded. Mars was approaching 20° on July 19 and 20 as the heat wave was massively building up across the midsection of the country and expanding east. This extreme heat is set to break a bit as Mars partiles the eclipse degree by opposition at 24° Gemini on Monday, July 25. In weather prediction Mars is known to produce much heat and dryness.

So do take note of when Mars and the Sun in particular are transiting the eclipse degrees by conjunction, square and opposition as you can count on major events manifesting.

Joseph Addeo
http://www.josephaddeo.com

Sex and the Void of Course Moon by Joseph Addeo

2011-07-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

With all the outer planets in early degrees of the signs there is an unusual amount of time when the moon is void these days which makes maneuvering this cosmic maze rather tricky when trying to figure out appropriate times to take action or not. Today a client asked me, “Should I not have sex while the void is in progress?” Well, I wouldn’t go that far, and for that matter you can do anything you want on a void moon it’s just a matter of degree. As most of you know a void moon is not ideal for doing anything that requires a major decision, like courting a new business client, or for making a large purchase, like buying a new car or commencing a life altering change like a new job, obtaining a mortgage on a home or getting married. You get the idea. If you go food shopping on a void moon chances are the milk will be sour or the cashier over charges you or something inconsequential like that. The same logic applies when it comes to sex (so using whip cream during sex on a void moon just might make it curdle)!

Seriously, if the moon is void all day and you want to have sex with your spouse, partner or regular sex buddy then by all means go ahead, it will most likely be a very pleasant experience. If you’re out and meet someone for a one night stand that potentially could be fun as well. But if you want the one night stand to develop into a more meaningful relationship chances are the hook up won’t amount to anything. Sex may be great but intimacy will not develop and if it does there would be many obstacles towards achieving the desired intimacy. Let’s take it a step further. If you and your partner decide to experiment with some new sexual experience for the first time (use your imagination) then I wouldn’t recommend that either. Initiating an unexplored sexual activity is best left for when the moon is connecting by aspect to the other planets and the flow of energy is on your side otherwise you won’t benefit from the new experience in the way you would like. That’s not to say you will necessarily enjoy the new activity but trying it out on the void moon is almost a guarantee that it won’t go according to plan so why not give you and your partner every opportunity for success by waiting for the moon to be relating to the other planets so that your chances of relating succeed.

Sex is one of the greatest joys in life and as that great sexual negotiator, Joan Crawford, famously said, “I need sex for a clear complexion but I’d rather do it for love”. After all she has Scorpio rising with Mars in Libra in the 11th (that clear complexion) and Pluto in Gemini in the 8th (the passion of intimacy). So the next time when having sex on the void moon think of it as good for a clear complexion but not for furthering passion, love and romance.

Joseph Addeo
http://www.josephaddeo.com/

Schwarzenegger, Shriver, Scorpio, Secrets and Skeletons by Joseph Addeo

2011-05-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

On May 9, 2011 Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver announced their separation after 25 years of marriage. There was much speculation but most every one, the media included, seems to have believed it was a mutual parting of the ways that inevitably happens to many couples after a long and fruitful marriage. Then along comes the Scorpio full moon, long known to be one of the most emotionally volatile of the year and in the case of Arnold and Maria quite living up to its notorious reputation for releasing long hidden secrets and skeletons that have been buried deep in the recesses of the past.

The Scorpio full moon occurred this morning, May 17 at 7:09 EDT ushering in a summer eclipse season including two solar and one lunar. Shortly after I turned on the Today show to the stunning news that Arnold Schwarzenegger had fathered a child with a long term member of their household staff more than a decade ago, before taking office as the Governor of California; undoubtedly one of the main reasons for the marital split. The as of yet unidentified woman worked for the Schwarzenegger's more than 20 years and had told people that her then husband had fathered the child. Clearly she and Arnold were most likely the only two people to know about this secret and obviously kept their lips zipped. Being a household staffer for 20 years she must have held many close confidences with Maria Shriver making this shocking revelation doubly devastating to her. Talk about the sting of Scorpionic betrayal, deception and rage and the issues of trust that have been breached. That it all was revealed on the morning of the full moon almost to the minute of culmination is astrologically fascinating.

Via Lois Rodden Schwarzenegger’s birth info is: July 30, 1947, 4:10 am, Graz, Austria.

Lo and behold, the full moon occurs in Arnold’s 5th house conjunct the south node: The Bastard Child is revealed! The nodal axis in Taurus/Scorpio reveals a very karmic and fated event from his sexual past indicating a secret romance and child. Surely money is involved. Progressed Jupiter conjuncts this degree adding to the overwhelming and excessive quality of the whole story as well as the Zeus like behavior of Arnold planting his seed wherever he deems fit. The less desirable, philandering qualities of this god with which Arnold identifies must be accounted for. Natally he also has Chiron in Scorpio in the 5th house squaring his Leo Sun which I’m sure has prayed on his mind all these years about the secret child and romance. Now, with the secret revealed, the chronic pain of these deeds to himself and others forces him to live with this for the rest of his life.

Transiting Saturn in his 4th house conjuncts Neptune indicating an end to his dream life as the foundations of his home and family are dissolving from the sold ground on which they seemingly were built. The upcoming solar eclipse at 11° Gemini occurs in the 12th house of hidden secrets and the lunar eclipse at 24° Sagittarius opposes his natal Uranus in the 12th at 24° Gemini (closely conjunct natal Mars at 20° Gemini). Uranus rules his natal 8th house. So do you think there will be more shocking news to be revealed? You can count on it. And will Arnold be up for the fight – Mars ensures that as well although in the 12th house Mars is unconscious and heavily shamed once he is revealed for his uncontrolled behavior.

The 2nd solar eclipse this summer on July 1 is at 9° Cancer, once again in Arnold’s 12th house and this one squares 4th house Neptune tightly. Again highlighting the dissolve of his home and family as well as his reputation since Pisces rules the midheaven.

But even bigger than all the above is what is happening to progressed Uranus. Remember this is the planet that resides in the 12th, is being hit by the upcoming eclipses both by house and degree and rules the 8th. Uranus is stationing retrograde all year at 26° 10’ of Gemini and turns retrograde on March 1, 2012. In mythology Uranus imprisoned many of his children in Tartarus. Gaia, possessed by a mother’s rage, then persuaded one of those children, Saturn/Cronus, to rise up and castrate him with a sickle. The seed from the dying sky god spilled forth producing the terrifying goddesses of vengeance called the Furies, but it also gave birth to Aphrodite/Venus, the goddess of love.

I haven’t even begun to delve into Maria Shriver’s chart which is astounding for the current astrological bombardment. Just let it be said that she has 26° Taurus rising, is a Scorpio with Saturn at 22° of Scorpio, natal Uranus conjunct the IC opposing Chiron conjunct the MC along with a packed 6th house (which represents the hidden secrets of her husband) and many other significators that I won’t go into right now. It will be most enlightening to see how this myth plays out with Arnold, Maria and all the others involved as Uranus is so prominently aroused in his chart. Hasta la vista, Baby!

Joseph Addeo
http://www.josephaddeo.com/

2011-04-28T22:18:00.001-07:00

OH, WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE!
The Astrology of Julie Taymor & “Spiderman”
by
John Marchesella

The colossal brouhaha about Julie Taymor’s colossal production of “Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark” as a Broadway musical with overtones of Greek theatre and myth is a colossal example of astrology at work. But perhaps colossal is the only way a double Sagittarius would have it!

Taymor’s birth info is: December 15, 1952, 10:06 a.m. EST, Boston, MA. (Readers are encouraged to refer to the horoscope for this article). Her MC is 1 Sag 45 and the ASC is 10 AQ 20.

In case, you missed the real life drama, Julie Taymor is a theatre and film director and designer, known for her unique style and innovative techniques in stage wizardry, certainly in keeping with her ASC, Venus and Mars in Aquarius. Her career has been prolific, but her most popular works to date are the Broadway musical, “The Lion King,” and the biopic of Frida Kahlo, “Frida.”

For years, she’s been working with musician, Bono, to bring “Spiderman” to the musical stage. Finally, on November 28, 2010, the show previewed with some disastrous results. Actors were injured by the complicated and failure-to-launch sets, and word of mouth was dreadful.

The most expensive show ever produced on Broadway became the show with the longest preview period, so long, in fact, that critics got tired of waiting to see it. So, they broke with theatre tradition and reviewed it without invitation. And scathing were the reviews!

Ironically, the show’s attendance and gross weekly profits also broke records, largely due to an audience who wanted to see how bad it really was, how failed the scenery was, and if they would catch a performance when another actor gets injured!

Taymor was fired, and the show is being entirely reworked for a “definite” opening night on June 15, 2011, just after a station of Saturn and on a Lunar Eclipse, that falls, by the way, on Taymor’s Sun. Talk about fated events! However, until April 17th, Taymor’s original version continued to rake in the dough, and it became known as “the director’s cut.”

Here are some of the highlights that describe the fiasco.

1. Taymor’s Progressed Mercury is leaving Aquarius. SURPRISE! Note the importance of natal Mercury on the MC, indicating the natal potential for career, reputation and profile.

2. Her Progressed ASC is forming a Yod with the natal Sun and the Neptune-Saturn. Excuse me, but who’s running the show? The finger of God, I’d say!

3. Simultaneously, her Progressed ASC is in square aspect to natal Pluto, so we all know which one of God’s fingers that is!

4. Shortly after that first preview and lasting for much of the winter, transiting Saturn stationed in square aspect to natal Uranus, the ruler of the chart in the 6th house of work and innovative techniques. Her signature was blocked. Actors fell and scenery literally did not move.

5. Transiting Pluto is on her ASC/MC for months, so her professional reputation is in the toilet…but stay tuned for the resurrection that Pluto brings. After a long while of no say, Pluto often allows us the last word in power struggles.

6. Transiting Uranus left her first house at the time of her firing. It was big news too because it is on the World Axis. Interesting that Uranus entered the first house when “Lion King” opened on Broadway and it was the cat’s meow, even winning her several Tony awards. Always note the parallels when planets enter a house and leave the house.

All of these are good and clear indications of Taymor’s plight in these last few months. However, the astrological handwriting was on the wall, way back on October 20, 2005, when, as reported by The New York Times, contracts were signed between the producers and creators to go forward with the project. From the look of things back then, they could have used an electional astrologer to pick a better date!

1. Transiting Mars was retrograde, obviously, not a promising time to move forward on a new career project. But perhaps this indicates a RE-working of the show is in good order.

2. Transiting Saturn was exactly to the minute on her 7th house cusp of partnerships, obviously, not an indication of promising partnerships.

3. Transiting Neptune conjoined her North Node in Aquarius in the first house, perhaps overestimating her way with inventive techniques and group collaborations.

4. Transiting Pluto was in the early days of conjoining her Sun, much more a time of endings rather than beginnings, especially if you want to do a project about spiders!

5. Just a few days prior to this signing, a Lunar Eclipse at 24 Aries 13 formed a Kite, in Grand Trine with the natal Sun and Pluto, but opposed to Neptune and Saturn. Perhaps this offered some confidence to an already very confident person to proceed, despite the red flags of the aforementioned transits.

The more significant indications of moving forward, despite such foreboding transits, were some very encouraging progressions.

1. Her Progressed Sun was in the early days of conjoining natal Mars, offering courage to take on a huge task.

2. Her Progressed Venus was in a trine with her natal Moon and in a sextile with her natal Venus, offering a sense of well being in the undertaking.

This is a very good example of the interaction of progressions and transits. The positive progressions put her in the mood, so to speak, to take on the difficulties that were represented by the transits. If her progressions were more worrisome, perhaps she would have thought twice about the project; and if the transits at the time of the signing were more favorable, perhaps the task would have been easier.

But let us not judge her choices. After all, we have yet to see the final production and the full repercussions of her actions. We only offer this information as a lesson in the dynamics of astrology.

John Marchesella can be reached via his website, www.astrojohn.com

Royal Nuptials and the Void of Course Moon

2011-04-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

The much anticipated royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton occurs on April 29, 2011. According to all news reports the ceremony is to commence at 11:00 am in London and finish by 12:15 pm. Had they consulted the royal astrologer they would have been told that the moon is void during the entire ceremony; not a propitious sign for this or any marriage. In fact she remains void until 6:33 pm. Starting a major life event on a void moon signifies that nothing comes of the event. Might I suggest that nothing will come of this fairy tale romance and perhaps it will fizzle out in some way?

The chart for this marriage shows 12° Leo rising. Not a bad rising sign since after all this is a royal wedding. The ruler of the chart is the Sun in Taurus in the 10th house. Taurus is a sign of stability, security, money and the 10th house symbolizes status, recognition and an event that is in full public view by the world at large. There is a stellium in Aries including Venus, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Uranus with Saturn exalted in Libra opposing all those planets as a singleton forming the handle of a bucket chart. I think that’s actually rather good since Aries/Libra are the relationship signs. The 9th / 3rd house emphasis shows the media attention to the event plus the extravagance and world interest. Saturn gives seriousness of purpose and grounds all that impulsive Martian energy to be more balanced. Such a strong Saturn suggests communication between these two people is of utmost importance. The Jupiter/Mars conjunction at the midheaven occurs as the ceremony begins and by 12:15 the Sun conjoins the midheaven. Pretty nice huh?

But the major concern here is the void of course moon at 26° 45’ Pisces in conjunction to Uranus – ouch! The moon is about bonds, feelings, home, family and attachment. Pisces is a romantic sign yet also a blind one and Luna in the balsamic phase of an out of sign conjunction to Uranus only adds to the blindness of the entire event. By solar arc the moon enters Aries in September 2014. Perhaps this shall be a wake up call ending the romantic period of the relationship and when the Moon conjuncts Uranus by solar arc in the spring of 2017 dare I suggest divorce? Uranus rules the 7th and 8th. The Moon rules the 12th house further emphasizing feelings of imprisonment, blindness and sacrifice. But, if I were to put a positive spin on all this Uranus, Moon, 12th house and Pisces energy perhaps they will be a romantic couple who use their power for helping the under privileged through their devotion to humanitarian and global causes. As British Royalty in the age of Aquarius these charitable deeds will definitely be part of their duty and responsibility but let’s check up on them as that solar arc perfects in 2017. And if that’s not enough, by 2018 solar arc Uranus will be on Venus while solar arc Mercury is on Mars.

Joseph Addeo
http://www.josephaddeo.com/

Joan Crawford, Kate Winslet and Mildred Pierce

2011-04-02T15:48:00.000-07:00

James M. Cain’s depression era novel, Mildred Pierce, first filmed by Michael Curtiz as a 1945 Warner Bros. film noir has been adapted by Todd Haynes as an HBO mini series debuting Sunday, March 27, 2011. This time around Kate Winslet stars in the title role originated by Joan Crawford in the 1945 version which earned her an Academy Award.

Joan Crawford is an actress of mythic proportions and Kate Winslet is an extremely talented actress quickly racking up awards and having a career that rivals Joan Crawford in her prime. Both are considered fiercely ambitious, resilient and determined with almost super human work ethics. I thought it would be interesting as a lesson in synastry to see what these two have in common and what may draw Winslet to invite comparison to Crawford. In essence these two actresses are now forming a relationship via the character of Mildred Pierce.

Crawford’s birth information: March 23, 1903, 10:00 pm, San Antonio, Texas. Told by Crawford herself to astrologer Nelle Sliter.
Winslet’s birth information: October 5, 1975, 7:15 am, Reading, England. This is the time of birth found everywhere I’ve looked and although not verified, I’m going with it.

Crawford is an Aries with the Sun in the 5th house and Winslet is a Libra (in fact Winslet is a triple Libra) with the Sun and Moon in the 1st house indicating a very aggressive, Aries type of Libra. Winslet’s creative inspiration may be in direct contrast to Crawford’s, while retaining a commonality which is indicative of opposite signs. Winslet would be driven to balance her interpretation and offer an alternative choice by creating from another direction and showing a different side to the character.

A mini series format provides ample opportunity to flesh out the character in contrast to a 2 hour film condensation of the novel more in tune to Crawford’s direct Aries approach. The creativity of the Sun sign opposition indicates the actresses mirror each other in some way and most definitely fans and critics will take sides. Winslet, being smart and diplomatic in true Libra fashion, would respect, appreciate and admire Crawford yet stay detached, balanced and aware of her own individuality and not be swallowed up by the powerful presence of Crawford’s legend.

Their Saturn’s are in aspect by opposition again giving perspective and awareness regarding their work and reputation as well as pointing up their differences and similarities. There are other interesting aspects between the charts; yet, the most karmic interaction, indicating an unconscious link for channeling energy between the two actresses, would be the nodal connection. This is where we see astrology at work in a very mysterious way and what buttons are being pushed. Winslet’s Sun, Moon, Pluto, Ascendant and Mercury conjunct Crawford’s North Node and Mars. This is an enormous vortex of energy funneled between them. Crawford’s North Node in Libra is bringing out the best of what Winslet’s planets have to offer. In essence she is getting Crawford’s approval, encouragement, support, caring and inspiration from the grave. Likewise Winslet’s nodal axis sits on Crawford’s ascendant/descendant further emphasizing the karmic nature of this contact. There is a give and take and hopefully a healthy debate in discussing the relationship both these actresses have with each other and their interpretation of the character of Mildred Pierce. Some mysterious force throughout time and history links them.

Transiting Saturn all over Winslet’s Libra stellium on the Ascendant indicates career endings and beginnings while opposite Crawford’s Sun suggests a re-assessment of Crawford’s past creative achievements. Transiting Pluto has been squaring Crawford’s Sun for several years (and currently squaring natal Mars, her chart ruler) doing a mighty job of resurrecting her past and transforming her legacy that had been decimated by Mommie Dearest. Her identity has come up for re-examination and purging and in typical Scorpio rising fashion we see “the phoenix rising from the ashes”. No less than 4 new biographies on Crawford have surfaced in less than 2 years. Read this great article written in the January 3, 2011 edition of New Yorker by esteemed film critic David Denby as he tries to put Crawford’s career and reputation in perspective:

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2011/01/03/110103crat_atlarge_denby

And let’s not forget transiting Uranus has just entered Aries conjuncting Crawford’s Sun helping to give a 180° shift in perspective to her talent, creativity and legacy (Sun rules the 10th). Uranus needs a few years yet to revolutionize Winslet’s career but its ingress into Aries may herald a new beginning for her in terms of roles and direction. After all this is a major return to television after having appeared exclusively in films since her debut in 1994’s Heavenly Creatures. We should keep an eye on Winslet’s career in 2013 as Uranus and Pluto form a very tight transiting t-square to her natal Sun.

The original Mildred Pierce premiered on 9/24/45 showing a stellium of Sun, Neptune, Jupiter and Chiron in Libra and the HBO series premieres on 3/27/11 with a stellium of the Sun, Uranus, Jupiter and Mercury in Aries; the signs so heavily represented by Crawford and Winslet. Recent transits by Saturn, Pluto and Uranus have activated and continue to activate the cardinal signs.

Joseph Addeo
http://www.josephaddeo.com/

Death of a Star: Elizabeth Taylor

2011-03-23T12:57:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning to the sad news that Elizabeth Taylor, one of the last of the great old-time Hollywood stars had died. It truly is the end of an era befitting of Uranus entering Aries the sign of new beginnings after having been in Pisces (Taylor’s Sun sign) the sign of endings.

We all know planets don’t kill people yet it is fascinating to track the energy surrounding death as represented by transits and progressions. Famous people encapsulate entire generations and we project so much on to them. Let’s see what was going on with Elizabeth Taylor.

While the most common chart used for her is Sag rising, I prefer the Libra rising chart as taught to me by John Marchesella. I think it works better and John is usually right. Someone else can use the Sag rising chart for further exploration.

Birth Information: February 27, 1932, 7:56 pm, London, England.
Ascendant: 3° 43’ Libra.
MidHeaven: 4° 50’ Cancer

Transits
She died on the Saturn-Jupiter opposition in Aries/Libra. Saturn in the first house indicates endings to her physical body and Jupiter in the 7th representing a long journey. Saturn is in an approaching semi-square to her natal moon in Scorpio while Jupiter is in a separating sesquisquare. Jupiter today is triggering the SE from 1/4/11 of 13.39 Capricorn which took place in Taylor’s natal 4th house conjunct her part of fortune and semi-square the moon. Was there something fortunate about this death? Perhaps an easy passing from the womb to the tomb which is a term applied to the 4th house. Both transiting planets are in aspect to natal Venus, her chart ruler, (Saturn opposes and Jupiter conjuncts) again indicating an ending and a long journey pertaining to her physical body.

As mentioned earlier, Uranus is on the world axis at 0° Aries, the birth sign of her natal Uranus and sesquisquare Jupiter.

Neptune and Chiron are conjunct Mars (ruler of the 8th house of death), just zapping all energy, vitality and life out of her.

Pluto is at the IC closely opposing progressed Venus.

The natal nodal axis in health houses and signs at 27° Virgo/Pisces (she had chronic bad health all her life) were in 2° orb to the Lunar Eclipse of 12/21/10 at 29.20 Gemini. That eclipse degree having just been triggered by transiting Sun.

And while I don’t put much stock in the transiting moon it is interesting to note that on the day of death she transits in the deadly sign of Scorpio, Taylor’s natal moon position.

Progressions:
Moon has recently come over the Ascendant, a time of endings and beginnings.

Progressed Sun opposes Moon. This could be a letting go of old habits and ways of living in order to accept new opportunities

The progressed ascendant is 28.28 Scorpio; two degrees past the natal moon. This may be a good indication to rectify the birth to a slightly earlier time.

Venus trines the Sun – a rather pleasant, and loving progression to be found in a death. She was after all surrounded by all her children

Mercury (co-ruler of the 9th house of long journeys) in the 8th squaring Saturn.

And most telling of all, Progressed Neptune, ruler of her Pisces planets, the north node and the 6th house of health turned direct on November 6, 2010. A change in direction for the ultimate connection to the eternal and mystical One from which we all come from.

On a personal note today is Joan Crawford’s birthday. Two of the greatest stars to ever come out of the Hollywood firmament are now forever linked in birth and death to March 23rd. MGM once boasted that it had “More Stars than there are in Heaven”. Well, that is certainly true now.

Joseph Addeo
http://www.josephaddeo.com/

2011-03-04T22:16:00.000-08:00

THE SHINE ON SHEEN

Charlie’s Solar Arcs

by John Marchesella

In the last few drops of Uranus in Pisces, Charlie Sheen is having his own personal mid-East revolution. And truth be told, who’s not?

A quick glance at his chart shows the media blitz on his crisis as Bad Boy as well as the wannabee Good Father as represented by the most recent Lunar Eclipse on his Jupiter in Gemini and the transiting square from Uranus. That makes for an awful lot of press coverage!

Progressed Mercury, all-important as the ruler of his natal chart as well as the media god, is leaving the conjunction with warring Mars! Progressed Mars and Venus are leaving the square to the natal Sun too. All of these significators in addition to his natal Gemini Ascendant explain the duality of the crisis at work and in love.

Although these indications are certainly potent enough to symbolize his predicament, they don’t seem so potent as to indicate such a relentless stir of drama. So, where might the culprit be? The oft-overlooked 45 degree Solar Arc, which turns every natal position into a hard aspect, making for a tremendous release of energy and creating THE turning point in each individual life. Or, as Bill Clinton said, “The moment when I realized I had more yesterday’s than tomorrow’s.”

It’s a sure-shot tool for accurate forecasting and it’s one that happens for each of us in our mid-40’s, making for the peak experience in the mid-life crisis, amidst the swirl of so many other generational transits and progressions.

The first rule of predictive astrology, however, is to understand the natal potential. And as for Sheen’s natal potential for addiction problems and this life crisis, well, pick something: Saturn in Pisces as the handle of a bucket chart, (plus it is the only retrograde planet which gives it more singled-out attention), the Sun’s configuration with Saturn, Uranus and Pluto has it serve as a sort of channel for such powerful forces, Mars in Scorpio widely conjoined with Neptune, the Moon on the 8^th house cusp and its placement in the indulgent Sagittarius and opposite the excessive Jupiter.

The 45-degree Solar Arc is also cyclical, related to the Solar Arc of 22.5. So, if we did some research on Sheen, we might see in his early 20’s the seed planted for his current situation, which, in turn, is the preview for events of his mid-60’s. But that’s a research project for another day.

Birth data: Charlie Sheen, September 3, 1965, 10:48 PM EDT, New York, NY

John Marchesella can be reached via his website, www.astrojohn.com

SHORT STORIES by John Marchesella

2011-02-16T21:48:00.000-08:00

SHORT STORIES by John Marchesella

Less than a year ago, Saturn and Pluto were in transit to the angles of the chart of Iceland, indicating the eruption of volcanic ash. Last year’s eclipses were keyed into those transits too.

Now, these planets have inched forward to form significant aspects to the chart of Egypt, representing a dramatic eruption of another kind. And again, the recent eclipses play a role in the revolution.

According the Nicholas Campion’s “Book of World Horoscopes,” a most trusted authority on the charts of nations, Egypt’s birth data is March 14, 1922, 10:43 P.M. Cairo, 31 East 15, 30 North 30.

We find the MC of Egypt at 4 Libra 06, closely conjunct natal Saturn at 5 Libra 05 Rx, forming a T-square with Venus at 1 Aries 50 and Pluto at 7 Cancer 56 Rx. Obviously, transiting Pluto in Capricorn is having a heyday around these degrees and turning this T-square into a Grand Square, bringing underlying social tensions explosively to the surface.

Transiting Jupiter in Aries is weaving through these degrees too, perhaps adding fuel to the fires of the people of Egypt.

Also in the 10^th house of the chart of Egypt are the Moon at 14 Libra 24 and Jupiter, ruler of the chart, at 16 Libra 31 Rx, clearly affected by the recent station of Saturn. The symbolism of a station is “a grinding halt in order for things to come to a head.”

The Solar Eclipse of January 4^th was closely in square aspect to the Moon too.

We are only early in to all of these transits, and Uranus in Aries is on the horizon, also applying to that natal T-square, so there is still much to unfold and evolve.

However, while each of these planets has something to say about each part of the story in Egypt, it is a clear example of Pluto in Capricorn bringing down the systems of the Old Man that do not serve the people, any of the people of the world.

* * *

Add speaking of Pluto, but on its lighter side, I was delighted to see Mike Brown, the man who instigated the dwarfing Pluto, the promoting of Ceres, and who discovered Sedna and Eris, at New York’s Hayden Planetarium (where, yes, Pluto is long removed from the model of the solar system), on a publicity tour for his memoir, “How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming,” which I reviewed here some weeks ago. (The review can still be found on the blogspot of NCGR-New York, www.astrologynyc.org).

There are not enough compliments for him and his presentation: affable, witty, warm, article, very well humored and passionate about the Universe. And how can he not be with Libra Rising and four planets in Gemini, including Venus as the most elevated in his chart. Three of those planets, by the way, are in the infamous mutable T-square of 1965 and they sit in the 8^th house! Who else would dare to demote Pluto! But it was a joy to see an astronomer with as much love of the sky as we, astrologers, have.

His presentation focused in his discovery of Eris and his challenge to have it accepted as a planet by the International Astronomical Union, which led to the dwarfing of Pluto, et al.

Amidst quite a bit of the humor and poetic imagery he used to describe the planets, he referred to Neptune, ironically, with pity and put down. Evidently, the mysteries of its astronomical nature confound astronomers about the outer limits of Universe. Brown’s comment was, “Poor Neptune, He gets blamed for whatever can’t be explained by astronomers, but He does deserve it because actually He’s a very sneaky planet!” Methinks, Dr. Brown knows a thing or two about astrology that he’s not letting on to publicly! Or perhaps he’s just really tapping into the depths of the Collective. In any case, it’s nice to be in the back pocket of a renowned astronomer.

Brown is very generous with his knowledge, and I encourage you to visit his website, www.mikebrownsplanets.com to learn more about the process of dwarfing astronomical Pluto while still respecting the astrological Pluto.

* * *

Control freaks of the astrology community, ALERT! Have you seen the Void of Course Moon schedule for this year!

Not only because of Neptune’s ingress into Pisces, (but as Dr. Brown said, He does get blamed for things, and in this case, rightly so), but particularly when that happens, most of the planets will be in very early degrees of the signs, making for long periods of Void of Course Moons, not to mention the havoc that comes with them….unless you know how to handle the Moon’s Void.

If you look ahead in your ephemeris (and pleeeeze, new students of astrology, get some version of an ephemeris, and not just rely on your computer program), you will see weeks, such as the week of April 26th, June 27^th, July 5^th, which are mainly Void, and many other whole days scattered through the year with such long periods.

So, if you are a person, as I am, who has to have things running like a well-oiled machine, then plan your errands, appointments and to-do lists carefully and efficiently, as well as fulfilling those lists and tasks, when the Moon is NOT Void, and keep taking those yoga classes, meditations and daily routines when the Moon IS Void.

Am I advocating fear of the Void of Course Moon? Of course, not! Fear of the astrological gods is silly. But reverence for them is smart. That’s what’s meant in the wisdom of “For every season, there is a purpose under heaven.” Know the astrological season, and you’ll know your purpose.

Egypt

2011-02-13T11:00:00.001-08:00

Quite exciting times in Egypt as our friend Uranus planet of liberation, freedom, revolution, equality, fraternity, democracy and chaos is at it again. Let’s read the astrological symbolism in a simple and straightforward fashion. Uranus is at the final degrees of Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac. Pisces and the 12th house are about enslavement and prisons and the Egyptian people have been enslaved and imprisoned for quite a while. The dreams and imagination of what is possible in Pisces is being awakened by Uranus in Aries. As the planet enters the first sign of the zodiac revolution, new beginnings and a pioneering spirit are in order. Everything that has been dormant and brewing in the dark is ready to break out into a new vision. It’s the birth we all wait for in life in order to take action. Aries is a war sign and the military is taking over in the interim before democracy has a chance to unfold. The military is sending signals it will be committed to a transition to democracy. According to global news reports Egyptian Army Generals will amend the constitution to allow free elections by September.

The horoscope of modern Egypt is set for June 18, 1953 at 11:30pm Cairo. "Realizing that their time had come, the radical [army] officers engineered a second coup on 18-19 June, the culmination of which was the proclamation of the Republic at 11:30 p.m. GMT on 18 June in Cairo. . . ." Campion, "The Book of World Horoscopes" (Second Edition), p. 144.

In this chart Saturn is at 20.34 Libra. President Mubarak resigned on Friday, February 11, 2011 as transiting Saturn is at 17 Libra; Egypt’s Saturn return. President Mubarak took power on October 14, 1981 after the assassination of Anwar El Sadat when Saturn was at 13.51 Libra. This is the Saturn return of his ascendancy to power as well. For world leaders Saturn returns are either an enhancement of power and reputation or a falling from grace. Essentially what we have here beginning in 1953, is that at every Saturn return in Libra there has been changes to the government, structures, traditions and Egypt’s reputation and place in the world. Libra is a diplomatic sign so we can hope for consciousness to rule supreme in the sign of its exaltation.

Solar Eclipses are waves of new energy. The most recent one was on January 4, 2011 at 14° Capricorn. In Egypt’s 1953 birth chart this degree lies opposite its natal Uranus at 17° Cancer. In President’s Mubarak’s ascent to Presidency chart of 10/14/81 the eclipse degree squares the Saturn in that chart at 14° Libra.

Finally the current Solar Eclipse belongs to Saros Series 13 North. To quote Bernadette Brady in her book “The Eagle and the Lark” regarding this Saros Cycle: “This is an eclipse family of groups and associations. Its energy is about large, ambitious group projects. These group projects will require a separation or the breaking of a bond that already exists. The individual (country) may well experience this eclipse initially as a separation and then as joint achievement.”

This is self explanatory as it relates to the great country of Egypt.

Joseph Addeo

HOW I KILLED PLUTO And Why It Had It Coming

2011-02-03T13:01:00.000-08:00

HOW I KILLED PLUTO

And Why It Had It Coming

Mike Brown, 267 pages, Speigel & Grau, New York, 2010, $25

Reviewed by John Marchesella

God giveth and God taketh away. And Mike Brown took away our beloved Pluto as a planet, but he gave us this wonderful memoir of his time from 1999, when he had an un-scientific hunch that a tenth planet would be found beyond Pluto and he made an even more un-scientific bet on it with a colleague; to a bit passed the time when Pluto was lessened to dwarfed status, Ceres was promoted to dwarf planet, and his own discovery, Eris, was also recognized as a dwarf planet.

The author provides the inside story on the compelling news that we watched unfold in the New York Times a few years ago, when the International Astronomical Union was trying to decide on Pluto’s status according to the definition of the term, “planet,” or as Brown argues, the non-definition of “planet.” He speaks about his own inner process of giving up the glory of discovering the tenth planet, Eris, which had to go to dwarf if Pluto was going down too.

Even before his work on Eris, Brown gives the story of also discovering Quaoar and Sedna, as well as the frustrations and injustices of the politics of the solar system that IAU is.

If you are thinking this is little more than a science journal (as I did when I cracked the book open), then think again! Brown is an engaging, warm and well-humored writer with, not only an obvious passion for the skies, but also a passion for educating about the skies. He brings astronomy down to earth and shows us how the planets are all around us in our everyday lives if we just pay attention.

Most surprisingly, this turns out to be a love story. Thoroughly woven into the fabric of the astronomy is the very romantic story of meeting Diane, the woman who would become his wife, and the birth of their child, Lilah. These events in his life closely coincided with the discoveries of Sedna and Eris, respectively. In his very personal revelations of love and parenthood, Brown shows how the individual is a microcosm for the greater Universe. Here, and in his descriptions of how he chose the mythic names for his discoveries as well as for his daughter, we see that Brown is as much poet as he is scientist, and all human.

Astrologers will be glad to know, on occasion, he makes a brief mention of us in his book in no derogatory way! He speaks of our rapid use of newly discovered planetary bodies in our horoscopes, but more philosophically, he states early in his story about his love of the skies, “It’s impossible to know, but it’s always hard not to feel that in some way, for me at least, perhaps the early astrologers were right: Perhaps my fate actually was determined by the positions of the planets at the moment of my birth.”

Back in the day of his trials and tribulations with the IAU when Eris was still known as Xena, I had an e-mail exchange with Brown, regarding his birth data. With his permission, I used it in article about his chart. It is repeated here for your information: June 5, 1965, 2:35 P.M., Huntsville, AL.

Snowiest January EVER!

2011-01-27T07:25:00.000-08:00

It’s official. New York City had its snowiest January on record EVER breaking the old record from 1925! Another huge snow storm arrived with a one-two punch on Wednesday, January 26 dumping a total of 19” of snow in Central Park and elsewhere in the northeast with comparable totals – twice the amount the National Weather Service forecast. Why is this happening now? Well, the culprit is Saturn, Saturn and Saturn! The weather people didn’t predict this one right because they are not familiar with our wise old friend Saturn. They were all saying it would only bring 6 to 10 inches of snow and that it would hit quickly and be out of here. On a Saturn station storms stall and slow down. Again, as in the blizzard of Christmas 2010 we had high winds, thunder snow and lightning. The morning of the 26th found the city blanketed with 4” of snow when all predictions said it would be a light dusting early in the day with intensification overnight. Well, the first part of the storm lingered and was much stronger than predicted followed by the second, more intense, wallop overnight which once again crippled the northeast. Nothing is easy on a Saturn station. Think of words like serious, crippling, stalled, stuck, station, struggle, delay, challenge, work, slow down and paralysis. Yes, Saturn is living up to its reputation of bringing people and places to their knees. This storm happened on Mercury’s day while Mercury was at 17° Capricorn ruled by Saturn stationing retrograde in its exaltation sign of Libra at 17° not far off from squaring the solar eclipse degree of January 4 at 14° Capricorn. Now as Saturn retrogrades for the remainder of the winter closer and closer to the eclipse degree I can only foresee a cold, bleak, bitter and frigid winter continuing. Plan ahead!

Joseph Addeo
http://www.josephaddeo.com/

Astrologer Finds 13th Month in Julian Calendar!!

2011-01-17T17:24:00.000-08:00

Amidst all the flap about a thirteenth zodiac sign, Regis K. Downlander, an astrologer, amateur astronomer, and hotel clerk in a suburb of Indianapolis, has discovered a thirteenth month in the Julian year.

“I was working the night shift,” said Mr. Downlander, “and I was just kind of doodling around with a calendar and a calculator, and all of a sudden there it was right in front of me.”

Mr. Downlander sent his findings to to NASA, where astrophysicist Jon Finer had to admit that the astrologer was correct in his calculations. “It’s quite a gaffe for the scientific community,” Dr. Finer said, “First, that little girl finds a supernova, and now this... we really have to get on the ball!”

Although the actual calculations are quite complex, Mr. Downlander explained it in layman’s terms. “You see, there are twelve months in the year, but 365 days, so that means that five days are left over. Then, seven of the months have 31 days, meaning that there are an extra seven days - that makes twelve extra days. Now, we all know days are longer in the summer than the winter, and if you add up the total number of hours, it totals 18 additional days. Bingo! An extra month!”

What to call the new month has been a concern in the scientific community all day. “Since the months September through December are essentially numbered (September means seventh, October means eighth, etc. - Ed), it makes sense to add on another one, but no one seems to know what the Latin word is for ‘eleven,’” said Dr. Finer.

“We thought about adding a number on the front end, before seven (September), but Christian groups were up in arms at the thought of a month named ‘Sextember.’”

Where to place the extra month has also been the cause of considerable debate. Both Major League Baseball and the National Football League have already begun petitioning congress to bring the month into their respective seasons, thereby lengthening them. It appears likely at this point that the powerful National Retailer's Association will demand that the extra month be placed between November and December, thus lengthening the holiday retail season.

People on the street are baffled about all the new changes. “A new zodiac sign, a new month, the world’s going crazy!” said one pedestrian, adding that his employer had warned that no matter how many months there are, there would still be only one week of vacation.

Armand Diaz

Armand@Integralastrology.net

Uranus in Aries

2011-01-15T08:12:00.000-08:00

Uranus is winding up its sojourn through Pisces. We’ve had 7 years to awaken our dreams and hidden talents; a chance to break through the haze and mist and find some clarity with which to think about the future. What are your future plans and how can you progress to make your dreams come true? That time is just around the corner as Uranus bursts into the cardinal, fire sign Aries on March 13. It’s time to put into action all that you’ve been dreaming about for the past 7 years. Make new beginnings by facing and conquering fear on your own terms otherwise Uranus has the tendency to breakdown structures in life that are badly outdated without any concern for your feelings. So why not become aware and be somewhat conscious of the roller coaster ride. You’ve had a glimpse of what the new beginnings might be back in June, July and early August 2010 when Uranus just touched 0 degrees Aries. The past few months this powerhouse planet retrograded back into Pisces asking for one more refinement of what it is you want to change. Jupiter conjunct Uranus in the last degrees of Pisces lends confidence to make that leap of faith we all so badly need to make change in our lives. Divorce yourself from the past, learn from it and move forward into new territory. We may not be able to totally eradicate fear but awareness promotes a healthy detachment from it and an eventual love of the new birth and child we create.

Joseph Addeo

"The Ingress" Winter 2010: Neptune in Pisces

2011-01-06T12:05:00.000-08:00

Our winter newsletter ("The Ingress") is focused on the topic of NEPTUNE IN PISCES and includes articles by six local astrologers:

In his article "Surrendering to the Vast Innerworld", Rafael Nasser looks back at Neptune’s origins, and then imagines what life will be like in 2026, when it's all over. You can read his article online here: http://www.astrologynyc.org/ncgr-articles.html

Ann Barone also shared her wisdom on Neptune in the article "The Duality of Neptune in Pisces" based on her many experiences with the planet's double-bodied effects.

Monty Renov provided a detailed analysis of the Neptune Ingress, especially in terms of how it relates to the chart of the USA. His article was called "As Neptune Waits in the Wings".

Donna McGarry contributed again to our newsletter, discussing how Neptune in Pisces might affect our media watching habits. Her article "Falling Down the Tubes with Neptune" plays particular emphasis on the rise of reality TV and how this entertainment trend might develop.

John Marchesella wrote a tribute to Pat Morimondo, a longtime NCGR-NYC member who recently passed away and was noted for her contributions to astrological research and for her classic book The Neptune Effect.

Finally, Pattie Canova delved once more into the rich imagery of the Tarot to bring us new perspectives on Neptune and Pisces in her article "To Sleep, Perchance to Dream...".

If you are a New York chapter member of NCGR, you should have already received your newsletter in the mail (find out about membership here: http://astrologynyc.org/ncgr-membership.html)

If you are not a member, you can purchase individual issues of "The Ingress" for $5.00 each or a yearly subscription for $20.00. Contact editor@astrologynyc.org for more information.

Stephen Fleming
Editor, The Ingress

East Coast Holiday Blizzard 2010

2010-12-27T02:20:00.000-08:00

This is an easy one everyone. There is a solar eclipse on January 4, 2011 at 14° Capricorn. As those who study astrology know, major events often happen on the days of the eclipses. Other predictive techniques have to do with planetary triggers to the eclipse degree by hard aspect, particularly the planets Mars, the Sun and the Nodes. As the storm raged its way up the coast on December 26, 27 and 28 Mars was at 14° Capricorn, the sign of its exaltation, triggering the upcoming solar eclipse. While Mars can be considered the biggest culprit to triggering the blizzard also heightening and magnifying the rage of this storm, accompanied by extremely high winds, thunder and lightning, rare for a winter snow storm, are the conjunctions of Jupiter and Uranus at 26° Pisces and Neptune and Chiron at 27° Aquarius. The temperature is predicted to get up to 50° for New Years Day but let’s see what further occurs on January 4 on the day of the eclipse. Lest we forget, Saturn is also hovering near the eclipse degree squaring it at 16° Libra another major factor figuring in the intensity of this storm. Saturn rules the cold winter signs of Capricorn and Aquarius and is sojourning in the sign of its exaltation. And finally, last but not least, we are in midst of a Mercury retrograde which does no one any favors for helping to make commuting by air, rail or car easy! All these factors coming together have helped to make this a storm for the record books. For those who love snow – ENJOY!

Joseph Addeo

Earthquake off the Coast of Southampton, NY

2010-12-01T08:57:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 10:45 am 80 miles southeast of Southampton, NY, 4.1 miles deep in the Atlantic Ocean – New York experienced its biggest earthquake in 18 years. Now in the grand scheme of things this 3.9 magnitude quake was barely noticed but I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the chart. 3° Aquarius rises in the chart and Uranus the chart ruler is in the 2nd house. Uranus is the planet of shocks, breaks, unexpected events and it rules earthquakes. It is placed in the very grounded and secure Taurean 2nd house associated with the land and the earth. Often we see an angular Uranus in a disastrous earthquake as is the case of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake which is conjunct the MC and the San Francisco earthquake of 1989 when Uranus was the highest planet in the chart in the 10th. In both those charts Uranus is placed in the earth sign Capricorn. Something about the symbolism of the New York quake is more hidden with Uranus being tucked away deep in the succedent 2nd house. Another interesting fact is that Mercury at 29° Sagittarius is triggering the upcoming lunar eclipse on December 21 at 29° Gemini. Mercury rules small things (this was a rather small quake) and it is placed in the succedent 11th house which is associated with Uranus and the sign Aquarius. Let’s see what occurs when Mars transits 29° Sagittarius on 12/7/10, Jupiter transits 29° Pisces on 1/19/11 just two weeks after a solar eclipse in the earth sign of Capricorn and Uranus transits 29° Pisces on 2/28/11. Chances are nothing will happen but it is noteworthy to observe and track.

Joseph Addeo

Prince William's Engagement to Kate Middleton

2010-11-17T13:54:00.000-08:00

Prince William was born on June 21, 1982 at 9:03 pm in London England. He is a 0° Cancer Sun born on the world axis. More importantly there was a solar eclipse that day at 29.47 of Gemini. Being born on a Solar Eclipse is a symbol of royalty. There is a sense of destiny about such a birth. A special kind of person is being incarnated and coming in on a new wave of energy. On Tuesday, November 16 the announcement was made of Prince William’s engagement to Kate Middleton. Interesting to note that Venus is stationing direct at 28° Libra, the sign of engagement and while Venus was retrograde mostly through Scorpio the engagement was kept secret and buried. This is noteworthy in itself but what is even more fascinating is the upcoming Lunar Eclipse on December 21, 2010 at 29.21 of Gemini. This is essentially the same degree of the Solar Eclipse on which he was born. The engagement is announced on the incoming energy of the lunar eclipse bringing to light the upcoming year and marriage plans. Lunar eclipses have a Libra feel to them since the Sun and Moon are 180° apart from each other. It will be a year of emotional fulfillment, fruition and an increased desire to relate as there is a need to integrate two facets of ourselves. Things come to light as opposed to solar eclipse symbolism of new beginnings and being a bit in the dark. He is fulfilling the promise, hope and destiny of his birth as a royal prince. The world axis symbolism ensures this will be played out on a public stage in a grand scale. I love astrology!

Joseph Addeo

a three-hour tour

2010-11-11T07:01:00.000-08:00

Hours after the Neptune station on Sunday morning, the Carnival cruise ship Splendor set sail out of San Diego for a cruise of the Mexican Riviera. All was going fine until Monday morning at 6 a.m. local time, when a fire in the engine room left the ship stranded without power.

Without any power - how Neptunian - the ship listed and rolled with the waves, increasing sea sickness on board. Passengers had to eat "safe" (canned, and so on) rations, and had no phone or internet services. Two tug boats are towing the ship back to San Diego, and they are expected to arrive on Thursday afternoon.

Armand Diaz

Clarence Thomas and Eclipses

2010-10-19T20:20:00.000-07:00

On July 1, 1991 Clarence Thomas was nominated to the United States Supreme Court by President George Herbert Walker Bush. There was an eclipse that month at 19 degrees of Cancer, just around the area of Justice Thomas' Descendant (and if the birth time is a bit off it might be spot on.) See his chart below.

Having the eclipse so close to his 7th house cusp, or Descendant, suggested an important life event regarding his relationships.

His nomination became a huge media event when a former employee, Anita Hill, came forward with allegations that Mr. Thomas sexually harassed her on several occasions, which he denied. He was confirmed and took his oath of office on October 23, 1991.

There was an eclipse at the same 19 degrees of Cancer on July 11, 2010, and just three months later we have a very interesting twist to what seemed to be a closed story: Virginia Thomas, wife of Clarence Thomas, placed a phone call to Anita Hill asking that she apologize for what she put Justice Thomas through all those years ago. See the story HERE.

It's very interesting to watch the eclipse periods since they relate to each other from year to year.

Think back to July 1991 and the months that followed and see how those themes are tying into your life now and since this past July 2010.

Click the horoscope to enlarge it:

Lawrence Grecco

"The Ingress" Autumn 2010: Astrology and Location

2010-09-29T16:01:00.000-07:00

Our autumn newsletter ("The Ingress") is focused on the topic of ASTROLOGY AND LOCATION and includes articles by four local astrologers:

The classic book on this topic is "The Psychology of Astro*carto*graphy" by Jim Lewis and Kenneth Irving. Ken is a member of the NY Chapter of NCGR and kindly contributed an excerpt from the book (which is being reissued this fall) called "Winds of Neptune, Fires of Mars". You can read his article online here: http://www.astrologynyc.org/ncgr-articles.html

John Marchesella also wrote "Exercises in Relocation Astrology", presenting some classic relocation cases and emphasizing the importance of relocated angles.

Kathleen Goodyear contributed "Local Space and Astromapping: A Fresh Look" in which she explains about local space lines and the Azimuthal houses they set up depending on your location.

Finally, Lawrence Grecco presented a Zen argument against relocating for your birthday in "Stay Put on Your Birthday."

If you are a New York chapter member of NCGR, you should have already received your newsletter in the mail (find out about membership here: http://astrologynyc.org/ncgr-membership.html)

If you are not a member, you can purchase individual issues of "The Ingress" for $5.00 each or a yearly subscription for $20.00. Contact editor@astrologynyc.org for more information.

Stephen Fleming
Editor, The Ingress

Pluto in Capricorn Opposing Cancer

2010-09-28T16:45:00.000-07:00

Pluto in Capricorn. We all have seen the destruction, rot, decay and hopefully eventual transformation and resurrection of the structures and traditions of our society as we’ve come to know it. But Pluto also has a great effect on the opposite sign of Cancer. If Capricorn is what is out in the open, public and fully visible and Cancer is the sign of home, family, feelings and what goes on behind closed doors in private then Pluto in Capricorn is exposing and revealing all the crazy, obsessive compulsive behavior of what goes on in our family and private lives when no one is looking. And it will bring all this to the public consciousness in a very visible way as witnessed by the spate of “reality shows”. Look at what is being revealed in shows like the Housewives of Jersey, Atlanta, OC, NYC (pick a city), Jersey Shore, the Kardashians and any number of others that deal with family life. We have to face all the bulls**t of what goes on behind the scenes. These shows are mind boggling in the portrayal of the sick, narcissistic, bitter, vengeful and melodramatic behavior of its cast but don’t we all secretly love and relish the over the top antics of these people because we all have it to some degree or another with our own family and if we don’t then we love projecting it on others. Watching these shows is like watching a car crash on a highway: the blood and guts are disgusting but mesmerizing and it’s difficult to look away. And with Venus getting ready to station retrograde in Scorpio on October 8 she will definitely unleash her fury and bring out the bitch in all of us. Why not enjoy the ride and allow yourself to lose some control because if you don’t the past will only come back to bite you in the ass!

By Joseph Addeo

Rocket's red glare

2010-08-21T16:12:00.000-07:00

Two stories in the last day have gotten my attention, as Mercury retrogrades and the sun opposed Neptune.

First, there was the Rocket, Roger Clemens. Yesterday he was indicted for lying to Congress about his use of performance-enhancing drugs during his February, 2008 testimony.

Clemens, a Leo, seems to pretty well represent the haughty arrogance that can be the negative side of the sign. Leo is ruled by the sun, which yesterday opposed Neptune (drugs) in Aquarius (the people, congress). It all fits together so very well, astrologically.

Interestingly, it turns out to be none other than Clemens’ good friend, Andy Pettitte, who provided the key piece of evidence. According to one congressional member, neither Clemens nor his then-trainer were “articulate” enough by themselves to warrant an indictment.

Then there is the disturbing story of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who was accused of rape and molestation in Sweden. Assange has said that the accusation is a “dirty trick” in retribution for his site’s publication of Afghan war papers, something that greatly angered the Pentagon.

Dirty tricks are certainly a possibility with the sun opposite Neptune, to say nothing of today's Saturn-Pluto square - which asks the question "who's in charge here."

The charges were dropped less than a day after they were issued. It may be a long time before we learn the truth about this, although with Neptune involved the story may drag on for a while and then just fade away... ala Swine Flu.

Post by Armand Diaz

Uranus and Television

2010-08-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

An outer planet leaving one sign and entering a new one heralds a turning point; usually endings in the sign the planet is leaving and beginnings in the sign of its entry. Uranus rules television, right! The hit TV show while this planet was in Aquarius from 1995 to 2004 was FRIENDS. Friends is a prominent keyword most associated with the sign of Aquarius. It is interesting to note that the breakout star from that show is Jennifer Aniston, herself a charming Aquarian. The sign after Aquarius is Pisces which rules music and idols.

Think of the mythological association of this sign to Dionysus being worshipped like a rock star. So the big hit TV show from roughly 2004 till now has been AMERICAN IDOL which captures all the glamour, imagination, musical themes and idolatry of Pisces. As Uranus entered Aries there were major changes to the cast of this show with Paula Abdul leaving then Simon Cowell. Uranus seemed to be saying it’s over for AMERICAN IDOL and we need a new beginning as he hurls himself into Aries. So they introduced Ellen Degeneres as a judge and that turned out not to be a good move. After all she’s an Aquarius and her democratic touch of showing equality and impartiality to all the contestants is not what that show requires. Currently with Uranus retrograding out of Aries back into Pisces they will again re-tool Idol. Ellen is gone and there’s talk about Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, Justin Timberlake or even Elton John as possible replacements to rejuvenate the show. I wouldn’t go with Mr. John if they’re looking to capture a younger audience!

Let’s see what happens imminently as Uranus retrogrades back into Pisces. Possibly the show will have a surge in last minute popularity as Uranus rallies in the last degrees of Pisces but I’m sure it will be short lived. AMERICAN IDOL has had its day and with Uranus’ entry into Aries for good in March 2011 there will be a new show to dominate the ratings as represented by the sign Aries. Will war shows make a comeback? Something with violence, blood and guts. It will definitely be something pioneering, with a vision and full of bravery and valor.

I just took a glance at where Uranus was placed during the reign of I LOVE LUCY in the 1950s. Where else but in Cancer the sign of domesticity and the home and this show was the template for all home based, situation comedies to come thereafter. And by the way, Lucy had Cancer rising!

Joseph Addeo

"The Ingress" Summer 2010: Uranus in Aries

2010-07-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

Our summer newsletter ("The Ingress") covers Uranus in Aries with articles by four local astrologers:

"Uranus in Aries: A Who's Who, What's What and That Was the Week that Was" by John Marchsella talks about many notable people who were born with Uranus in Aries, such as Cesar Chavez, Elizabeth Taylor and Neil Armstrong.

"Uranus in Aries: Time for a Change" by Anne Ortelee talks about the transits of Uranus through the houses and what this coming period could mean for you. Read the full article here!

"The Enlightened Warrior: Uranus in Aries" by Antot Masuka talks about Uranus in tropical and sidereal Aries, covering the mundane aspects and offering a wealth of predictions on the economy and politics.

"The Foolish Emperor" by Stephen Fleming looks at the Tarot cards associated with Uranus and Aries (The Fool and The Emperor), and offers some predictions based on this imagery.

If you are a New York chapter member of NCGR, you should have already received your newsletter in the mail (find out about membership here: http://astrologynyc.org/ncgr-membership.html)

If you are not a member, you can purchase individual issues of "The Ingress" for $5.00 each or a yearly subscription for $20.00. Contact editor@astrologynyc.org for more information.

Summer Solstice: Times Square mass yoga

2010-06-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

New Yorkers take part in a free mass yoga session organised to coincide with the summer solstice. Different techniques were taught throughout the day

Annual Spring Education Conference

2010-06-06T16:18:00.000-07:00

Our Annual Spring Education Conference (held yesterday at F.I.T. in NYC) was a great success. Karen Hamaker-Zondag's topic was Rhythms of Love: The Astrology of Relationships

When do things happen in a relationship, what is actually happening, and why does it happen? How do our relationships change as we change as individuals? The answers are in our transits, secondary progressions and psychological projections in the natal horoscope, in synastry and in the composite chart. And there is much more about love and relationships than just Venus and the 7th house. We will also look at the hidden factors of the 12th house in relationships. Examples include romantic love, familial relationships and friendships.

The NCGR-NYC Board of Directors thanks all of our Associate Members who helped everything to run so smoothly. Your efforts are very much appreciated.

Ingress of Uranus into Aries - Then and Now

2010-05-28T05:46:00.001-07:00

Uranus just entered Aries for the first time since April 1, 1927 (it also went retrograde back into PIsces from November 1927-January 14 1928)

Here's what happened around the time of the last ingress:

April 1927

-Bureau of Prohibition was founded (April 1)

-first female officers are hired in Dresden (April 1)

-Bell Telephone Co. transmits an image of Herbert Hoover, which becomes the first successful long distance demonstration of television (April 7)

-Pope Benedict XVI (the current pope) is born (April 16)

-The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 affects 700,000 people and is the greatest national disaster in U.S. history at the time (April 22)

Here is what was happening during the months just before and after the 1927 ingress:

-The first transatlantic telephone call is made from New York City to London (Jaunary 7)

-The Big Bang Theory was proposed by Georges LeMaitre

-The Jazz Singer is released. It is the first feature-length film with synchronized dialogue sequences--heralding the rise of the "talkies" and the end of the silent film era. (October 6)

So far here is what we've seen around the time of the current ingress of Uranus into Aries (May 27, 2010):

-Pope Benedict XVI is under scrutiny around his handling of sex abuse cases within the Catholic Church

-Volcanic ash from an active volcano in Iceland disrupts air travel across Europe (April 14)

-Crude oil begins to gush out of a broken pipe 5,000 feet beneath the ocean surface in the Gulf (April 20)

-Scientists announce that they have created a functional synthetic genome (May 20)

-Congress begins the process of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell which would allow gay and lesbian service people to serve openly in the military (May 27, 2010)

-Apple's iPad makes it international debut (May 28, 2010)

-the first cell phone with video conferencing is announced (June 7, 2010)

HOW STORMY JUPITER LOST A RING AROUND THE PLANET

2010-05-25T21:47:00.000-07:00

You've probably heard of the rings of Saturn, but you may not know about the rings of Jupiter.

One of them seems to be missing.

Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, a giant ball of gas and liquid about 500 million miles from the sun, usually shows off two dark, slightly reddish bands, or stripes -- one in the northern hemisphere, one in the southern.

The southern one has disappeared.

It was there last year, but when Jupiter came out from behind the sun on its yearly orbit, it was gone.

Before you short stocks and buy gold for the approaching apocalypse, relax. This happens occasionally, although nobody is sure why.

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"The last time it happened was 1973," said Eric Vandernoot, the Astronomy and Physics Lab coordinator at Florida Atlantic University. "This is why Jupiter is my favorite planet. It's a constantly changing system, and it's wonderful to watch. You can see the changes occur on any given night."

Vandernoot points out that next year, on March 17, Jupiter's orbit will come its closest to the sun, but he doesn't think that's why the band has disappeared.

The most likely reason? The cooling of gases on the planet's surface.

But that's just a guess, too.

Jupiter is not a solid mass, although it has a core that's about four times the size of Earth. Surrounding that is a thick sea of liquid metallic hydrogen and then a lot of gas, which is what we see.

The gases, which include sulphur and phosphorus, form the belts that are created by 350-mph winds fueled by Jupiter's rapid rotation. The belts, or stripes, are probably a function of the gases heating and cooling.

"We think it's a hurricane that's been lasting 350 years on the planet, and there's nothing to slow it down, like, say, tall buildings. Or Florida," Vandernoot said.

"Everybody oohs and aahs about Saturn and the rings. But in fact Saturn is so pale, you don't get to see much. But Jupiter, you can see the moons, you can see the shadow of the moons move over the planet. It's not a static picture in a textbook, it's real."

And if you can wait a few months, Jupiter will be closest to Earth on Sept. 24, which is when you'll get the best view of it.

Without one of its stripes.

~ scott_eyman@pbpost.com

So, don't live in fear of September 24th...Just be aware of it!

John Marchesella

Hubble catches planet being devoured by its star

2010-05-24T21:56:00.001-07:00

Read about it HERE

Little Orphan Annie Goes to the Poor House

2010-05-23T17:12:00.000-07:00

It was announced by the Chicago Tribune on May 13th that the cartoon column, "Little Orphan Annie," will be coming to an end on June 13, 2010. Talk about Pluto in Capricorn ending our American institutions!

The column began on August 5, 1924, with a Sun-Neptune conjunction in Leo in trine to Jupiter in Sagittarius. That just about sums up the story of this poor little rich girl as well as a long and mighty run for the cartoon strip.

The current Saturn-Pluto square, not to mention the upcoming Lunar Eclipse at 4 Capricorn, is doing a number to little Annie's natal Venus at 4 Cancer. Furthermore, transiting Saturn is in the balsamic phase to natal Saturn, indicating a time of closure.

Interesting that "Annie" came to Broadway's musical stage on April, 1977, when a transiting square between Saturn and Uranus was aspecting her Sun, and transiting Pluto was in square to her natal Pluto along with a Solar Eclipse in Libra....just going to show that even cartoon characters have their transits!

By the way, Andrea McArdle, the actress who portrayed Annie in the musical, who was born on November 5, 1963, also has a Sun-Neptune conjunction, but in Scorpio, in exact square to little Annie's aspect. The actress also has Jupiter in Aries, which closely forms a Grand Trine with Annie's fire planets. 'Guess it goes to show actors and their characters (even fictitious ones) have their synastry too!

Well, in the coming year, Uranus will transit that natal Venus in a square, so let's see what re-awakening lies ahead for little Annie. Maybe a revival of the Broadway musical in 2011? If so, you heard it here first!

John Marchesella

Would you like to swing on a star, carry moonbeams home in a jar...

2010-05-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

Today’s Jupiter-Saturn opposition will no doubt go unnoticed in popular culture. But even among astrologers, this isn’t the Big Doin’s it used to be.

Back before the discovery of the outer planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, Jupiter and Saturn were the two furthest planets anyone knew about, and their 20 year cycle was watched closely for the social and political changes it heralded.

Now that we have Saturn in opposition to Uranus, who is about to square Pluto, the cycle of Jupiter and Saturn might seem as exciting as Pacman is to today’s video games. But this cycle might catch our attention a bit more if we recognized some of it’s more concrete manifestations.

Because it is a 20 year cycle and has been falling on the decade line for some time, it has also contributed to the sense that the 60s were different from the 70s... or the 20s were different from the 30s. Social trends have seemed to hinge right on the “0” years for some time (although that is obviously very complex).

The latest cycle began on May 28, 2000. That was right around the time the Dot Com bubble burst and the high-rolling 90s came to an end. We all put out our cigars and put away our top hats, recognizing we might not be such investment geniuses after all.

The Euro was introduced around this time. Actually, the Euro became an electronic currency on January 1, 1999, at the closing semi-sextile of the cycle, and paper currency was introduced on January 1, 2002, at the opening semi-sextile. Thus, the midpoint in time of these two Euro landmarks was the 2000 conjunction.

For most of the past decade, the Euro has been gaining on the dollar as the international reserve currency. The history of the Euro is interesting, and extends back at least to the formation of the European Common Market, although it was really first put into motion in 1992. Germany, whose Deutsche Mark was a strong currency in its own right, pushed for the Euro after reunification of East and West Germany made economic ties seem more appealing.

Now, at the opposition, or peak of the cycle, the Euro is in crisis. The PIGS (Portugal, Greece, Spain... and no one seems sure... Ireland, Italy? Lots of “I” countries are in trouble) are pulling down the value of the currency, which dropped to 2004 levels on the news of the economic crisis in Greece (the Euro is still strong against the dollar compared with it’s rate at introduction).

As we work through this peak in the Jupiter-Saturn cycle through March of 2011, we are likely to see the Euro severely tested as an international currency. Clearly, the honeymoon period (and it was a rough one, all in all) is over. Jupiter and Saturn represent inflation and recession, respectively, and at present everyone is concerned about these two economic scenarios.

There are other social manifestations of Jupiter-Saturn, and these may get more airplay than economics as the opposition moves from Virgo-Pisces to Libra-Aries for the next two rounds. Still, the Aries energy (supported by Uranus and the remaining Saturn-Uranus opposition) may have some countries questioning their participation in the Euro.

Armand Diaz

Memorial Day Boxing Match: Saturn vs. Uranus, Neptune & Pluto!

2010-05-17T15:51:00.000-07:00

The eclipse season which would normally begin two weeks before the lunar eclipse of June 26th gets a head start on Memorial Day weekend 2010. On Friday, May 28 Uranus enters 0° Aries coinciding with a full moon in Sagittarius, on Sunday, May 30 Saturn stations direct in the last degrees of Virgo while Pluto conjuncts the upcoming June 26th lunar eclipse degree of 4.46 Capricorn and on Monday May 31 Neptune stations retrograde in the final degrees of Aquarius. Quite a lot of activity but what does it all mean? Well we might not know right away but we should get glimpses of the stage being set. Saturn wants to keep us in line and protect our boundaries and material reality. The three outer planets could care less about Saturn’s status quo and will be looking to force us into change. Perhaps Saturn inconjunct Neptune hastens the clean up of the gulf coast oil spill or maybe we finally realize just how bad the oil leak really is and how much processing and clean up is required. Uranus, the most chaotic of the outer planets moving into the most cardinal, aggressively oriented sign of the bunch on the world axis may shock our leaders into taking action on a global level and Pluto at the eclipse degree just intensifies the fight. Jupiter joins Uranus at 0° Aries on June 6 and just makes things bigger but not necessarily better. So who wins this astrological boxing match? Well with the big three ganging up on Saturn I don’t think he stands a chance so look for more and more structures in the world collapsing, falling apart or at the very least in dire need of radical transformation in the style represented by Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Aside from the oil spill in the gulf let’s keep an eye out on volcanic eruptions and earthquakes especially in Iceland as well as further disruption in air travel. And of course global economies continue to be on a precipice. Look in what areas of life this planetary action occurs in your chart and see how what’s happening globally is mirrored personally in your own life. Issues from the collective unconscious need to be acknowledged whether we like it or not. Mother Nature is telling us to pay attention to what lies beyond our material reality as we have structured it up to this point and we must look deeper into our personal unconscious as well. Saturn is in for a long hard fight but he does enter his exaltation sign of Libra shortly so he will mightily try to balance the natural order of things. No need for doomsday fear but observe, watch and be part of the adventure.

Joseph Addeo

The Horoscope of Iceland

2010-05-17T04:13:00.000-07:00

A glance at the chart of Iceland makes obvious why we have not seen the last of volcanic ash coming from there.

According to Nicholas Campion's "The Book of World Horoscopes," the most respected book on the topic, Iceland's birth data is given as June 17, 1944, 2 P.M. (-2), Reykjavik, Iceland, 21 W 51, 64 N 51.

As for the indications of recent events....pick something!

The MC is 3 Cancer 32 and the Ascendant is 2 Libra 13 with Neptune at 1 Libra 28.

The Sun is 26 Gemini 33 and the Saturn is 29 Gemini 39.

Mars and Jupiter are in Leo at 15 13 and 22 53, respectively.

These degrees are so "hot" in the coming months, no pun intended, so let's see what happens next.

John Marchesella

Barbara Walters Announces Upcoming Surgery

2010-05-10T12:51:00.000-07:00

Earlier today Barbara Walters announced that she is having a heart valve replaced later this week.

Interestingly she has had Saturn going over her Sun (1 degree Libra) and Ascendant (4 degrees Libra)-as of November of 2009. Also Saturn squared her Moon last fall and Pluto squares her Sun and Asc this year.

In 2011 her progressed Sun will be conjunct her natal Saturn, and her progressed Saturn squares her Sun.

I imagine this will be a very trying time period for her.

Lawrence Grecco

Retrograde Mercury in Taurus: Recurring Cycle for Goldman Sachs & Global Financial Crises

2010-05-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

An inferior conjunction of retrograde Mercury and the Sun will occur this week, beginning a new 128-day synodic cycle. Taking place in the middle of the retrograde Mercury period, the Winged Messenger transitions from the Epimethean Evening Star (setting after the Sun) to the Promethean Morning Star (rising ahead of the Sun). Casting this horoscope for the nation’s capital, the rising degree is exactly conjunct President Obama’s natal Sun.

See the rest of this article HERE

2010-04-26T09:03:00.000-07:00

As soon as I heard the sad news about rock star and reality TV celebrity, Bret Michaels, having a massive brain hemorrhage, I instantly thought, "Something Mars, maybe Aries." My second thought was, "No, with all those hats and headscarves, that must be the crown of Leo!"

So, a quick jump from Wikipedia, where his birth date is given as March 15, 1963, to the ephemeris, and we see, of course, he's a Pisces with a Moon in Scorpio. Then, there it was....Mars in Leo on the day of its direct station, which emphasizes the activity of a natal planet! Furthermore, transiting Mars, of course, has been moving over the conjunction to this natal Mars in the last few months of its retrograde movement, probably setting the stage for the occurrence.

With a natal Sun-Jupiter conjunction in Pisces, Michaels must be a lucky guy, and with transiting Jupiter moving over those planets now while he is in emergency care, Providence with him. So, we wish him a healthy recovery.

John Marchesella

Saturn opposite Uranus: April 26, 2010

2010-04-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

We are approaching the 4th Saturn/Uranus opposition in the sky on April 26. It’s time to once again take stock and see how these two planets are trying to raise our consciousness. Saturn is the builder. He wants to keep structures firm and strong. He tests, depending on what house he currently transits, areas of our lives where we need to learn lessons. Some lessons are painful and others are more satisfying depending on whether you’ve been doing your homework or not. His job is to keep the status quo through effort, hard work and discipline. Uranus on the other hand asks where we need to divorce from Saturn’s confining nature and reach out and try things in an unconventional way by taking risks and breaking past the chains that Saturn so firmly wants to hold on to. Uranus wants enlightenment. So by house look at where these two giant energies are falling and see in what area of life you need to get serious by working hard and exerting effort in order to get a payoff in the material world (Saturn) and in the other area where Uranus is sojourning look towards the future and new opportunities that are calling and beckoning you to be more adventurous, free, rebellious and forward seeking. Uranus demands a break from the status quo. The secret is to combine these two diverse energies so that you don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. It is a balancing act to see where we must keep the old forms and make them stronger and where the old forms can welcome new innovative ideas that eventually make a new foundation in our life. And of course don’t forget to see what planets are being aspected by this transiting energy. One more thing, since this opposition is again at the end of the mutable signs we must be processing mentally by thinking and planning what it is we want our reality and future to be. So do your homework and trace back over the past few years beginning on 11/4/08, 2/5/09, 9/15/09 and now 4/26/10. These are the planning stages and while things have definitely been active, especially if you have planets at the late mutable degrees, the action really fires up as we approach 7/26/10; the final opposition of Saturn and Uranus at 0° Aries/Libra smack on the cardinal axis. Have fun!

Joseph Addeo

Steven Forrest: Sample Evolutionary Astrology Reading

2010-04-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

Pluto Stations Retrograde on April 6

2010-04-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

As Pluto stations retrograde it’s time to resuscitate issues that we thought have been long dead and buried. Honor the past by paying respect to those people, emotions, feelings and thoughts that get under your skin in a relentless and unconscious way. Perhaps we may view these things in a negative light but Pluto demands we get conscious about our addictions, obsessions and paranoia by transcending and transforming them into something greater, more within our conscious control rather than left in the recesses of our memory where it controls us. Or perhaps it really is time to purge and kill things off in one final death blow. It’s all about emotional processing so dive into the abyss and don’t be afraid to face the dark side and come out the other end even stronger. Expressing negativity is much healthier then suppressing it – just find trusting people and environments.

Joseph Addeo

Saturn in Libra

2010-03-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

The Spring 2010 Ingress is all about SATURN IN LIBRA with articles by John Marchesella, Faith McInerney, Elissa Serrano and Annabel Gat.

Saturn goes back into Virgo on April 7, stations on May 30 and then enters Libra completely on July 21.

In our issue, Faith McInerney talks about past expressions of Saturn in Libra, especially regarding marriage and relationships.

John Marchesella further explains the situation by examining past Saturn-in-Libra events. Read John's complete article here

Elissa Serrano shares the wisdom of Martha Graham who was a famous Saturn-in-Libra person.

And Annabel Gat discusses Saturn in Libra in the context of its current square to Pluto and the profound psychological questions it raises for people.

If you are a NY chapter member of NCGR, you should be receiving your copy in the mail any day.

If you are not a member, you can purchase a copy for $5.00. Email editor@astrologynyc.org for more information.

Pluto Problems Got You Perplexed?

2010-03-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

Here's What Helps...

Check out DONNA CUNNINGHAM'S International Astrology Day blogathon with articles by NCGR-NYC members.

"What to Tell Astrology Clients about Pluto in Capricorn" by John Marchesella

"Dealing with Transiting Pluto on the Angles" by Lawrence Grecco

See the articles HERE

It Must Be Getting Better! They Said So On TV

2010-03-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

Oh, sure. The Economy is getting better. The recession is just about over. People are starting to buy. Everything is loosening up. Even real estate is showing signs of recovery. Yes, it’s all true. This is happening
on the Planet ZORCAN maybe.

So then, a little nervous are we these days, huh? Even bordering on totally insane? Finding yourself plop into the middle of a complicated enmeshment you can’t pull out of? Feel sometimes as if you’ve made so many stupid mistakes the only way out is through the window? Although it may not seem possible at moments, you actually can straighten everything out--if you give yourself time and provided you can bear the pain of change. It’s a matter of faith and trust, followed by swift action.

Just think about your life right now. Are you or are you not making choices that will affect your future for a long time to come, even though you may feel squeezed into doing so? Collectively as a society as well, it is becoming clear that the old way doesn’t work any more. Talk about a new paradigm. This is something history will remember as a turning point in human social evolution.

As astrologers our observations are based on charts and graphs describing the movements of planets and stars, but when you think about it, listening to astrologers is no crazier than depending on the notions that economists come up with through their more-often-than-not erroneous computer models and economic projections. You simply have to have some respect for the accuracy of astrologers and how we make hypotheses and predictions.

Astrologically, never before in our lifetime have three outer planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto reached the last quadrant of the Zodiac and formed this configuration at the same period in time. So it’s a big deal. Something is over, but certainly not the end of the world. And despite the beliefs of many, there WILL be a 2013. When we see Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto squaring and opposing the United States Venus and Jupiter over the next couple of years, we know there has got to be a greater stress on the American resources and the value of the dollar.

Uranus at the end of the Zodiac? Think Good Friday (the first one) around noon and you’ll get the picture.

We have to be hip to what planets are doing, how they will affect mood and attitude, what is likely to happen to the economy and real estate and stock. Most important, however, we need to figure out what’s happening for ourselves individually as well, how to regroup, recoup and reinvent ourselves even during a period when we may think all hope is lost.
It isn’t.
And ever new beginning has to follow an ending. And every dawn has to follow night.
So stay tuned.
Michael Lutin

Welcome

2010-03-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the NCGR New York City Chapter's new blog where you will find innovative articles by some of our top astrologers about the major astrological transits and cycles and how they are effecting our world and our individual lives.

We welcome your comments on these postings so that we can have an ongoing dialogue between all of our members.

With Appreciation,

Eileen McCabe
President of NCGR's New York Chapter