Astrology Explored

July 10, 2008


Astrology for the week of July 11 to July 18

In the television series “Burn Notice� super efficient, super controlled top spy Michael Weston finds himself on the outside looking in when some unknown Power That Be sends out a “Burn Notice� marking Michael as “unreliable�. Excommunicated from the ranks of the professional spy, without warning or explanation, he was dumped unceremoniously into the antithesis of the war torn countries he previously operated in, party city Miami Beach. Here, stripped of money and resources and under surveillance by the FBI, Michael is left to fend for himself. Why was he “burned�? Michael plots a series of maneuvers to discover the reason and get control of the situation. The series finale and the new season teasers suggest he is being coerced into accepting an assignment he would not normally consider.

This week we are faced with our own version of “Burn Notice� as stresses and tensions rub raw the issues we can hardly fathom. The precise execution of duties and responsibilities are at odds with a stubbornly obtuse need to ignore them.

(more…)

(Hint: Play song and read at the same time!)

Mystery, intrigue and dances in the fire, or a least a little snarkiness, are the keynotes of this dramatic week as the planet of secrets, Pluto, is in tension aspect to the planet of communications, Mercury. Pluto is given an assist by Mars in Virgo, making an out of sign trine to the power broker planet. This demonstrates that the actions of others are not as straightforward as they appear. Look to the 6th, 7th and part of the 8th to punctuate these energies as the moon comes to join Mars in Virgo. This is the mark of the woman who talks nice to your face, but carps about you behind your back. What this is all about is power and control, of course, as someone may perceive you as taking away something that rightfully belongs to them. To counter this pernicious influence you must act in an above board manner as possible. Do not stoop to dirty tricks or even speak the smallest of criticisms. Why? I think Julie Demboski said it best in her recent post about this month’s aspects:

. . . we are made to feel somehow that the involved issues are petty, and that we are being unreasonable, over-reactive, even selfish for wanting to hash things out.

If you find yourself under attack, let the other person appear to be the idiot by not dignifying their remarks with a response. If someone else brings these issues to you the best reply is “That’s interesting. What do you think?�

Aries, Leo and Sagittarius—should watch a tendency to go for the jugular this week. Now that the restrictions you’ve faced in recent months have been lifted, you are battle ready and wanting to take on the world. Go easy on the rest of us mere mortals, please.

Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces—You may find yourself faced with some big expenses centering around your home. If at all possible try to get a second opinion for repairs or do some price shopping before buying big ticket items. Venus in stress aspect to Neptune points out that we may not have all the facts when it comes to these issues.

Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn—You want what you want when you want it this week. You are not even bothering to ask your friends what they think. Walk on the wild side, live a little Uranian freedom, and order that three scoop banana split with nuts and whipped cream.

Gemini, Libra and Aquarius—You are such friendly people, you have a hard time understanding why some people have to be so nasty. Don’t take it personal, friends. Protect yourself in the clinches and live your highest idea. Living well is the best revenge.

Another fun post: The Chirotic Cat

If you have a question you would like answered on these pages, send your question, birth time, birth date and birth place to starrynightastro@aol.com.

astrology, horoscopes, zodiac, weekly forecast

June 13, 2008

Astrology for the Week of June 13 through June 19

Thanks to a challenge aspect from the planet of individuality, Uranus to the Sun, all of us as feeling a little cranky and out of sorts as we want what we want regardless of how other people feel about it.

The Gemini Sun is normally light and breezy, wants to be pleasing, fun and sociable. But we’ve got a sea change going on here, and the forerunner of this change is an edgy restlessness that can manifest in shorts burst of crankiness.

Pluto, the planet of change and transformation is directly opposite the Gemini Sun and Venus. Pluto is telling us that everything is not what it seems on the surface. We need to dig deeper if we want the whole story. And what a story it is! Lies, secrets, sexpower, corruption. Everything that bubbles under the surface will keep churning this week. Those in charge seem to have the upper hand, but Pluto is retrograding into its last dip in the fire sign Sagittarius, who always promotes the truth.

Another significant aspect is a Yod, the finger of God, pointing to Jupiter in Capricorn and supported by Mars in Leo on one side and Venus in Gemini on another. Mars and Venus call for information and action. Those that lead are called upon to lay down the rule of law. We are not quite sure what we are seeking, because the planets of illusions is opposite the planet of action.

If you want answers to your questions you are going to have to look under a rock. Do not be surprised at what slithers out.

For the Upcoming Week–

Aries–Its just like you to suspect the worst of a loved one. One of Aries nasty little secrets is the little green monster, jealousy, that lives in a corner of your heart. Maybe your sweetheart isn’t as forthcoming as you like, or it seems that he or she has just a few too many “friendsâ€? but the real reason is that you are upset is that aren’t getting the attention you want. Don’t blow your cool, or do something stupid to make a point. You’ll only look foolish when the truth comes out.

Taurus–Though you should feel lucky, (and get lucky too) the fact is that you are feeling a little out of sorts as the unexpected seems to ping your comfortable existence. Maybe you just aren’t seeing the issues, clearly, Taurus, or trying to gloss over an old emotional wound.
Come the end of the week, you just might realize you need to do some work on these issues to clear them up, once and for all.

Gemini–It feels like that now is the best time, when you have the energy, and fired up with the ideas, to push ahead your latest plan. Maybe its Mercury Retrograde, or your Sun’s inconjunct, but you can’t seem to make a decision that sticks. Maybe it is better to wait until next week to do anything news. In the meantime, visit the dusty cob webbed places of your mind where some vital piece of information is waiting to be dusted off and used. Clean your attic for maximum effect.

Cancer–Over the weekend you can get close to your beloved, though you might not get as much romance as you desire. A little steam doesn’t hurts when you are twisting the sheets, Cancer, so I wouldn’t complain if I were you. During the midweek you can find yourself in power struggles with those in charge if you aren’t careful. This definitely the best time to keep you head down low.

Leo–Zoom, zoom, zoom. These are your watchwords as you leap tall building from a single bound. Must I warn you to be careful in motion? As invincible as you feel, you are not indestructible. This is an excellent time to tackle those projects you’ve been dreading, since you have plenty of energy and the stars aren’t going to let you start anything new.
Write letters.

Virgo–Communications seem stifled as you can’t seem to get your point across. Oh, they hear you perfectly well, Virgo, but why work as hard as you want them too when the Sun is shining and the beach calls their name. You can however, make points in the bedroom with someone close to home. That’s not so bad, is it?

Libra–Though you have the urge to get out and about, short day trips might be more pleasing than one extended vacation fraught with frustrations and delays. Though the urge to escape the confines of home and hearth are a little pressing, what is pressing as well is your finances as you find you really must take care of some overdue home repairs. Shop for the best estimate and wait until after the nineteenth to contract the work, if you can.

Scorpio-You might suffer a moment’s pause as you realize that your thinking has been a little off track. Acting out no only did not get you the attention you were looking for, the blowback is a bit severe as well. Scorpio, you are far too dazzled by your own intensity to see that other people rarely percieve the world in the way you do. As you wonder where you have gone wrong consider that the will power you use to fuel your personality is not self esteem itself.

Sagittarius–As the evil specter of financial instability looms ahead, a decision is reached that can affect your future. You’ve got the will power and drive to overcome your circumstances, but first you need to put the brakes on your over the top spending habits. Then you must decide to take Door Number One or Door Number Two. Don’t blow it by expecting too much from either one of them.

Capricorn–Things could be better, but they could be worse as well. Perhaps you should just settle for what you have for once and not worry about what hasn’t happened. Sometimes the better part of valor is standing pat with the hand you hold, instead of trusting to the luck of the draw. Why do I say this? You might need your cash for some expenses next month, so don’t pull out you Neiman Marcus card this week.

Aquarius–As much as you think that all the wonderful things you do should get you further than it has, it isn’t working out that way. It doesn’t do much good to protest either, because no one wants to hear it. Tough it out a little longer for the rewards you expect to reap.

Pisces–As the month gets ready to segue into the sign of Cancer, you are starting to think about homey things and homey ideas. However, it just isn’t the best time to tear out the kitchen in hopes that hubby will get the inspiration to do a little redecorating. You can however, generate a little enthusiasm with a little cuddling and thensome. Try that before you spring the BIG IDEA.

If you have a question you would like this astrologer answer on these pages, send it to starrynightastro@aol.com along with your birthday, birth place and birth time. No names will be published.

astrology, zodiac, horoscopes, weekly forecast

May 16, 2008

Week of May 16 to May 22

We don’t have to always look to the stars for certain signs and portents. We have concrete signs that we are over stimulated by media overload and the frenetic pace of American living. Here are a few:

Newspaper circulation declines 2% each year.

viewing is down with no measurable reason.

While some people like to point to internet use for these declines its is clear that people are not looking for news content or information about the world in general. A look at the top five internet activities shows MySpace usage at the top with 11%, followed by Yahoo (8.5%) msn.com (3.7%), Ebay (3.7%) and google (2.1%). Yep, we only want to know,what we want to know, because here is another sign we are on information overload:

(more…)

April 25, 2008

This upcoming week many of us have the narcotic of a Grand Trine in Earth signs to soothe our anxieties. The harmonies of Venus entering the sign of Taurus, Pluto in Capricorn and Saturn in Virgo form an embracing zone of comfort that lures us into thinking that maybe, just maybe, everything is OK after all. This the week that first of the “economic stimulus checks� were to be released to the public, and no doubt when this happens we are going to hear the hoopla in the media.

Add to this atmosphere a persistent quincunx between Mars in Capricorn and Neptune in Aquarius. Mars is our survival instincts and in the sign of Capricorn, Mars is urged to play the game, make conservative moves and watch the political implications of the actions of the other players. Its not the best position for rough and tumble Mars, but it manages to make do, unless it is involved in an inconjunct. With Neptune in nervous Aquarius, this stress aspect leaves nothing but fuzzy thinking and confusion in its wake. Rather than deal with the mind bending possibilities of sorting the real from the unreal we just may sink into the comforts of Venus in Taurus.

(more…)

April 18, 2008

Astrology for the Week of April 18 throught April 24

Perhaps the most frustrating thing about how things have been going lately, (the mortgage crisis, the economy in recession, a never ending war, the rising cost of everything, paying more and getting less), is that we have been spinning our wheels, not coming up with any solutions. Oh, sure, the president got his economic stimulus package passed, but for many of us that money is already spent before we get it. We are staring four dollar a gallon gas in the face, food costs have seen the largest inflationary rise in 17 years, people are losing their homes because they can’t afford to keep them and the job market is absolutely stagnant. Well, I have some good news for you.

The Sun will shortly go into the sign of Taurus, forming a Grand Trine between the power broker planet Pluto and responsible Saturn in Virgo. The planet of communications, Mercury enters Taurus just before the Sun does. Mercury in this sign lends a practical bent to the thinking processes, looking at what is real now, instead of what could be. Finally, instead of waiting for things to get better, we are going to come up with some practical plans to work on the problems plaguing us. This is the time to marshall our resources and push for real solutions.

This Grand Trine is such a stable configuration that this is the absolutely perfect time to make new plans, take on new opportunities and the world, especially for the Earth and Water Signs, Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.

The fly in the ointment is that persistent Mars/Jupiter opposition that is stirring up all kinds of issues between work and family. If you don’t work you can’t support your family and if you don’t spend time with your family, there isn’t much point to working. Economic stresses and strains haven’t helped either, with more pressure put on people trying to balance necessities of life against the realities of keeping a family happy. Balance is the keyword here, where you just are going to have to accept there are no perfect solutions to these questions.

Many of us are going to be working harder, but with a purpose and a clearer vision of how we are going to achieve our goals. Maybe now we can get something done.

For the Upcoming Week:

Aries–You’ve been graced by the planet of love and beauty conjuncting your Sun for the past couple weeks and now, well you are paying the price. Too much focus on your own pleasures is causing significant tension in your personal and business affairs. This is not the time to party. Focus on what needs to get done instead of what you want to do.

Taurus–You’ve got a very interesting year ahead as you shoulder more responsibilities to further personal goals. This is the time you take on a new job, start your own business, make your mark on the world. You are so sure of your vision that you are even willing to take on the powers that be to get what you want. A word of caution here, don’t be surprised if not everyone has the same faith as you in the outcome of your endeavors.

Gemini–The Universe has been patently ignoring you Gemini, and that simply won’t do. So what’s a Twin to do? Throw yourself into some creative project to stave off boredom, Gem, and wait while the world resets. Even the Moon in Libra on the eighteenth won’t bring as much fun as it should, as other people are crankier than usual. What a drag!

Cancer–You want your sweetie to do one thing. Pay more attention to you! Please be more understanding as your partner is thrashing through some important career issues. Do what you do best. Be supportive. At the end of the week, be calm in the face of the unexpected. It won’t last long.

Leo–You are feeling locked out of the executive washroom and the locker room. What gives? Think of it this way. Fire signs like you are the salesmen of the zodiac. But Marketing rarely talks with Accounting, and this week the accountants rule the world. Scary, isn’t it.

Virgo–Working hard is almost as salutary as a good work out. There is plenty to keep you busy, and for once, the Universe applauds your efforts. Steady the shifting emotions of the people in your life with an encouraging word. It would be most appreciated.

Libra–Your sense of harmony is disturbed this week by people who are pushing you into too many different directions. You have to work, and the phone rings with a crisis at home. You just settle down to your dinner, and work calls you with an emergency. In the middle of all this you don’t get a minute to yourself. How frustrating! Hang tough, because things will be like this for you for next couple weeks.

Scorpio–Opportunities exist for you to make some powerful plays to get what you want. You do need to be careful avoid doing anything you don’t normally do. Unexpected actions will not get you where you want to go. Go easy with money, as it is bound to get a little tighter.

Sagittarius–Money stresses can kick up minor health problems. You need to rethink this area in your life and reign in your expenses. A new strategy is called for as the same old ways of doing things will not work anymore. Have faith. It is your stock in trade anyway, Sagittarius.

Capricorn–The only thing you are worrying about, Capricorn, is when the other shoe is going to drop. Things are going so well for you, you wonder if it can possibly last. Would it do any good to tell you to stop worrying. Probably not.

Aquarius—All sorts of new issues crop out of left field. At least you didn’t see them coming. Look, my friend, you’ve been wrapped up in a Neptunian fog, thanks to Neptune sitting on your Sun, you haven’t seen anything coming. Work, dream, create. The Universe will have to take care of itself.

Pisces–As it turns out, some of your creative ideas have some practical applications. Now is the time to put them into motion. Your very presence calms emotionally distraught people. Lend your shoulder to cry on. You are so very good at that!

If you have a question you would like me answer on these pages, send it to starrynightastro@aol.com along with your birthday, birth place and birth time. No names will be published.

astrology, zodiac, horoscopes, weekly forecast

My calls and e-mails have centered mostly around one theme of late. “What the heck is going on? Everything is falling apart!� “Falling apart� is a Plutonian theme, and here Pluto in the sky is in challenge aspect to the planet of communications, Mercury. The planet of action, Mars, has moved out of tension aspect to Pluto, so it appears we are experiencing the aftershock of the Plutonian/Mars opposition. The worst is over, at least for present. But Jupiter is also in challenge aspect to the Aries sun, running a charge of Arian energy through our charts. Aries, ruled by Mars, is the area of life in which we experience trouble. If you have your chart, you should check out the sector that Aries by planet or house cusp and see if that is the area which is driving your anxieties. If you don’t have a chart, you can go to www.astrodienst.com and run one up or call your local astrologer.

Aries on the cusp of the first, Mars in the first–You have problems with your body image and how other people perceive you. Other people think you are tad full of yourself, though nothing could be further from the truth. You long for people to tell you are beautiful, then get ticked off when they don’t. Touchy.

(more…)

March 11, 2008

One of the curious oddities of the zodiac wheel is that the orientation of the compass points is opposite than what we expect. North is at the bottom of the wheel, South is at the top, East is on the left and West is on the right. It is as if we were looking at the zodiac wheel from a vantage point above the earth, looking down. Now to be sure, there is no up or down, bottom or top in space. One orientation is as good as the other as long as you are consistent. This astrologer has no references as to why we read the chart the way we do, so if another, wiser astrologer has this answer, please fire away.

In the meantime, from a spiritual astrologer’s perspective, we live our lives from the chart we select before we incarnate. Perhaps this is one reason why we read the charts the way we do. The chart reminds us that these set of circumstances are what we chose for ourselves before we came to earth. It teases out the thoughts we had about it before we dove in to materiality. Is this lesson to hard? Will I go too easy on myself in this circumstance? Is that relationship worth the pain I will experience? What do I need to do differently?

(more…)

February 29, 2008

Pluto the Lord of the Underworld has slipped into the sign of Capricorn again making a tension aspect to Mars which has slipped into the protective sign of Cancer. Expect that those in authority are going to grasp as tightly as they can to their power and they ain’t sharing. Meanwhile the every day Joe hasn’t a clue as to what’s ahead, but you can be sure that no one in authority is going to take responsibility. Like the Irish during the potato famine, the proletariat will be blamed for their own poverty.

As pretty words are being spun around our heads, it is our responsibility to take some long hard looks at the conditions we are facing. Mere belt tightening or the reliance on the rhetoric of political figureheads will not cure our conditions. This is so difficult when the Sun is in Pisces, when we put faith in our dreams rather than our actions. Here is the time when we should be looking at our situations realistically, and do what it takes to protect ourselves.

We will talk next Monday about the United States economic conditions and what’s ahead. In the meantime, trot out your bills, sharpen your pencil and make some hard choices. Consider this your heads up for the working man and woman.

Aries—You are feeling like a stranger in a strange land, lately, even reclusive, totally unlike usually sociable Aries. The Universe is giving you an impressive array of duties and responsibilities to bench press. Though you yearn to break free, what you need to break through is your own resistance to take life a bit more seriously.

(more…)

February 15, 2008

Astrology for the week of February 16 through February 21

Mercury retrograde, a series of injconjucts and a persistent Mars/Pluto opposition all contribute to a general sense of disorganization if not out right chaos. If anything this week’s aspects points to an uneasy unrest with the status quo, a shell shocked state of mind that makes it difficult to bring our thoughts into focus.

We have the Sun in late degrees of Aquarius sitting along side Neptune and Mercury, still retrograde until the end of this week. All this is opposing Saturn in Virgo in early degrees. The Aquarian need for independence is subverted by the need to attend to daily affairs. Mars in the sign of communication in tension aspect to Pluto has us clashing with each other in a war of words, “That’s another fine mess you’ve gotten us into!� we want to say.

What is the way out of our brain confusion?

Aries–You never lack courage until you actually think about what it is you are going to do. Those born in late March are faced with mounting pressures to perform and a serious overload of the things you are supposed to accomplish. Forethought, circumspection and controlled execution are not your strong suite, which is exactly the point. There is some merit in melding action with a strategic plan. Think about it.

Taurus, Capricorn and Virgo–You hardly realise how good you have things as you see the world spin out of control. You gnaw at your insecurities like a dog worries a bone. But the only thing you are wearing away is the patience of those close to you. If you can’t relax, then for the sake of those around you, work off your energy by doing something constructive, like cleaning out the basement or making a new budget. We’ll all feel better for that.

Gemini, Aquarius and Libra–You don’t mind batting around a few words to make your point, but you are in danger of going just a little too far. Yep, your perceptions are correct, yep things are not as good as they should be, but nope, talking about it isn’t going to fix it. You are going to have to exercise some patience as things work themselves out. Your lesson is to let the Universe work its magic in its own time. Can you stand the wait? You have to.

Cancer, Pisces and Scorpio–All this Aquarian energy has been a tremendous annoyance as people have been pushing you past your comfort level. The problem is you have no clue as to what you are supposed to be doing and your glacial pace at achieving anything is out of synch with the real world. Time to break out of the bubble, boy, and take inventory of the things that need attention.

Leo and Sagittarius–though you feel out of step with the world, you not relieved of your duty to tread in it. You are so used to dazzling the people with your pretty patter that it is a shock that it isn’t working now. Its not that you are saying anything any differently, its just that people are percieving what you say in different ways. If you push your point too hard, it won’t be heard at all. Speak softly so people will have to strain their ears to hear you.

astrology, zodiac, horoscopes, weekly forecast

January 25, 2008

Forecast for the week of January 24 through January 30

With three planets in the sign of the Waterbearer, and three planets in earth signs the symbol is one of “freedom versus worldly responsibilities�.

Pluto, Venus and Jupiter are in the sign of work and responsibility, Capricorn. Capricorn, ruled by the planet Saturn. These planets are driving us to work harder, longer, but not necessary for our benefit. So symbolic of the times we are in, when the best we can do economically is tread water, we hardly have enough time to take a shower, let alone find time for personal development.

Many people find the energies of Aquarius difficult to access, especially if they are caught in the mindset of living day to day, the daily grind, working to pay the mortgage. There is a price for this head in the sand type of living. Even the best swimmer tires, even the best of us can fall behind. If we fail to discover the spark of individuality within us, we can’t access the fire in our soul.

(more…)

January 17, 2008

Forecast for January 17 to January 24

The title bout this week is Venus in Sagittarius versus Mars in Gemini. The weapon of choice is words slung about in chilling precision. Venus is keeping company with the Master of Deception, Pluto, who is whispering in her ear, screwing up her perceptions. Pluto is kicking up all kinds of insecurities. Venus making a harmonious connection with security conscious Jupiter in Capricorn wants a commitment while Mars in Gemini isn’t committing to anything. Venus is having none of that and the words fly! While Venus is thrashing about trying to pin down the “truth” of the situation, Mars reacts badly to Venus’ accusations.

(more…)

January 11, 2008

Forecast for the week of January 11 to January 17, 2008

Pluto is in tension aspect with Mars and Uranus in tension aspect to Saturn, which we talked about this past Wednesday. Additionally, the planet of our value systems, Venus is challenged by the planet of the unpredictable, Uranus. Got a secret crush, get over it. Got to have that designer handbag, check your credit cards at the door. Got a yearning to walk on the wild side? Don’t. Uranus challenging Venus kicks up our impulses a few notches, but it doesn’t bring good judgement with it. Keep in mind, this week, what you see is not what you should get.

(more…)

December 21, 2007

The seagoat takes up residence in the house of the Sun on December 22. This is serious business for serious people as Capricorn is well aware of how serious everything is. . .seriously.

Ruled by sanquine Saturn, the planet of work and responsibility, Capricorn is all business even at play. Everything is a transaction for Capricorn. When they give you something, it is because they feel they owe it to you or they want you in their debt. They as a good at creating social debts as they are at collecting them. When a Capricorn smiles at you, remember that a crocodile smiles as it takes the first bite of their meal, which they swallow whole.

(more…)

December 14, 2007

Backpedaling Mars in Cancer roars like a lion in this week’s aspects. Forming a tension aspect by degree if not by sign in with Pluto conjuct the Sagittarian sun and Jupiter and Mercury crossing over to the sign of Capricorn, we are strung tighter than violin and whining just as much.

Though Mars in Cancer is said to be a weak position, the oppostion to Pluto in Sagittarius gives it more power than it should have. With Cancer we are concerned with all things relating to the home and our inner emotional needs. Sagittarius is concerned with everything but. This is a set up for a holiday season that it is stretched thin in the holiday cheer department because the financial circumstances of so many people are strained.

(more…)