MONTHLY SINCE 1999
ISSUE # 221
December 2017
AUTHOR’S
NOTES:
This month Neptune goes direct and Mercury retrogrades. The change of
direction of the planets changes our perspective and ideas. When a planet
retrogrades it tends to direct the energy associated with that planet more
internally. When it goes direct it brings that energy out into the world. For
those of you who study astrology you know that the Rx motion of Mercury is
difficult for travel and communications. That’s because these issues have to do
with relationships and how we interact with the outside world.
When Mercury in internalized during this
period it’s more difficult to express yourself, which makes communications
difficult, and to get to where you wish to go. It’s interesting that this
transit will also affect actual products having to do with these two areas of
life. You shouldn’t buy a new computer, cell phone, car or airplane during a
retrograde. Even a pair of sneakers could prove to be faulty, the wrong size,
squash your toes or have other problems.
When Neptune retrogrades
it makes spiritual and creative matters more difficult to express in the outside,
but easier to work within the individual. Now that it’s going direct we will be
better able to display our artistic works and discuss our spiritual goals. Religious
issues will come to the forefront, and many of us will have to face issues of
our spiritual identity and direction.
Last
month we saw the completion of Saturn in trine to Uranus in the fire signs. Now
Saturn is getting ready to enter Capricorn in December and Uranus to enter
Taurus in May 2018. These two will trine each other in these earth signs in
September 2018. This trine has been one of the supportive transits that have
held up the equity markets this past year. As it separates that support is
beginning to falter. The stocks are very overbought. Much of the market’s
recent growth has to do with the tax bill that the house just passed and the
senate will now consider. Corporations will reap HUGE rewards from this bill
and investors have been putting money into the markets in the hopes that it
will pass. If it does, the stocks should continue to climb for some time. If it
fails they will drop appreciatively. The end result of this bill is
unquestionably going to hurt the middle class and the working people of
America.
This tax bill is a Trojan horse with hidden
agendas that will suck the life out of everyone but the very rich. If it does
go through, it will temporarily look like a boost to the economy on the
surface. The stocks will go up and there will be a lot of posturing about how
these changes will “trickle down” and increase jobs, wages and the economy in
general, something that has been debunked by virtually every economist,
including those who had worked with Reagan when he pushed through his own
“trickle down” tax bill. History has taught that this is a bullshit concept. But
as the next few years go by we will all see just what this bill is – the
biggest theft in the history of humanity. The corporate tax cuts will be
permanent, while any small cuts to the individual will expire in a few years.
This bill will gut the Affordable Care Act, remove tax exemptions mostly to
“blue” states, and heavily favor the richest people in our nation. The Republicans are claiming that the cuts to
corporations will stimulate job creation, increase in wages and expansion of
the economy. The only problem is that even
an overwhelming number of CEOs have denounced this as a big lie. The largest
majority of business leaders have said just the opposite – that any gains they
receive will go back into the pockets of stock holders and corporate heads.
Almost none of them believe that these cuts will lead to any growth whatsoever.
Because
of the laws in place the huge increase to the deficit that this bill will create,
an estimated one point two TRILLION dollars will have to be addressed over the
coming years with congress legally demanding cuts to programs in order to
satisfy those laws. We all know exactly where those cuts will come from. There
will be billions taken from Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. The gutting
of these programs has been a goal of the Republican Party since their
inception. And this tax bill is the way they will circumvent conventional ways
of trying to do so. By passing this bill they will put the Democrats in congress
in a most awkward position of legally having to agree to cuts no matter how
much they won’t want to. They won’t have a choice.
SO
WHY AREN’T WE OUT IN THE STREETS PROTESTING THIS BILL? Is it that most people
simply don’t understand the economics of it? Or have we grown weary of the
struggle? THIS TAX BILL WILL CHANGE AND DAMAGE OUR NATION MORE THAN ANY OF THE
REPULSIVE IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD ALREADY. By destroying the safety
net that poor and working class people rely on, and by stripping the middle
class of its hard earned money through manipulative economics, the hope by the
right-wing is that they will simply wear down any opposition and push the
middle class against the wall taking away our ability to fight. Added to the
voter repression laws, the attack against so-called blue states, and the
ongoing pressure on a dozen fronts they believe they will be able to manipulate
the vote and keep control over the government for a long time. I know we’re all
tired of marching in the streets and waving posters with slogans. But you
simply must understand what is about to happen in America. Please do some
research on this tax bill and recognize that it is neither a tax cut, nor tax
reform. It is simply an enormous rip off.
According to the New York Times this bill will
give about one BILLION dollars to the Trump family. I’m not a constitutional
expert, but that just can’t be legal and it certainly isn’t moral. This
administration has torn apart our system of government as well as our status in
world events. Until Trump is out of the White House we are all living under a
cloud of misuse, corruption and the threat of collapse of the already fragile
middle class that is primarily responsible for holding this country together. Lord
protect me from my government, for I can protect myself from my enemies.
NEW
MOON:
The
New Moon falls on Saturday November 18th at 6:42 A.M. EST at 26
degrees Scorpio 19 minutes, and it is a Void of Course New Moon. Scorpio is most interested in deep rooted
changes. It rules the concept of death and rebirth, and has much to do with the
rejuvenation process we all experience throughout our lives. Scorpio energy
feels things on a very intense and deeply personal level. With the Sun, Venus
and Jupiter in this sign now as well as this New Moon there will be a strong
desire to uproot any hidden agendas and expose what’s under the surface. We
will all be experiencing life on a deep and unconscious level. Scorpio and its
ruler, Pluto rule the elimination of waste in the body and the society, and
most likely we will see more secrets being revealed and the uncovering of the
true nature of events, not just what’s exposed through social media. In your
personal life you need to be prepared for anything that requires reworking or
put onto a new path. And expect some things to show their toxicity requiring a
cleansing. This is a small harbinger of what we can expect during the period of
2019-23 as America goes through its Pluto return, and we experience Jupiter,
Mars, Saturn and Pluto all conjunct our nation’s natal Pluto.
Because this New Moon falls so late in this
sign it turns Void of Course right after the conjunct to the Sun. This occurs
periodically for several months in a row when the New Moons happen so late in
the cycle. On a personal level don’t expect things to work out as you had
planned this month. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have success or that
everything will unravel. It only means that we should keep an open mind and not
be too stubborn or set in our opinion. Void moons are unattached to any planet
through Polemic aspects, and so the energy is somewhat unfocused. It isn’t
aimed in a particular direction, and requires a looser approach. If you use
this energy properly and allow for the sudden and unexpected changes that may
occur, you will avoid most difficulties. But if you’re too rigid and unbending
you may find your plans unable to come to fruition. Use this energy to clean
out your closet so you can move forward into the next phase of your life.
MARS
SQUARES PLUTO:
On
Sunday November 19th at 7:11 A.M. EST this intense and potentially dangerous
transits completes. This is a day or so when caution is called for. Remember,
aspects are most powerful as they are applying, and wane in their influence as
they separate. So for a day or so leading up to this square you should be
careful in your interactions with others. These are the two rulers of Scorpio,
and since we are currently enmeshed in that sign’s energy with Venus, Jupiter,
the Sun and the New Moon all traveling there, this square may be very effective
at forcing some issues to the surface and exposing what’s been hidden
underneath. It may come out as explosive or deeply vengeful actions, so please
be careful.
VENUS
SEXTILES PLUTO:
On
Tuesday November 21st at 6:26 A.M. EST we will continue to seek to uncover what is
hidden. Venus is currently traveling through Pluto-ruled Scorpio so this
sextile will have more intensity than usual. It is a chance to view
relationship issues in a deep and honest fashion. Sextiles are easy to work
with if you do so in a proactive manner. You should use the energy of Scorpio
and Pluto to make changes before they are forced upon you. Venus has rulership
over money, in a general sense, while Pluto rules the resources we share with
other, so this sextile may also show
us areas in our joint financial matters that are shaky and should be viewed
with care. If, as I believe, we are heading towards a correction in the
markets, it will become more obvious.
THE
SUN ENTERS SAGITTARIUS:
Also
on Tuesday November 21st at 10:05 P.M. EST we enter the mutable fire sign that will lead
us into winter. Even if it’s been feeling more and more like the season of our
discontent, we aren’t really in winter until the first day of Capricorn. This
sign is ruled by Jupiter, the philosopher of the zodiac. Sagittarius is
interested in expansion in all areas of life. Most Sags like to travel, they
are often involved in education and are often outgoing and gregarious. While
the Sun travels her there will be an underlying desire to interact socially and
look for new ways of seeing the world. The desire to learn new things is
strong, which is why travel is often associated with this sign. It’s one way
that we enlarge our perspective. Try to keep an open mind about things. This is
a mutable sign and as such is apt to change direction at any moment.
NEPTUNE
GOES DIRECT:
On
Wednesday November 22nd at 9:21 A.M. EST this most complicated and mystical planet will
turn around and begin its direct motion. This is a good aspect for those
involved in the arts, medicine and spiritual activities. While Neptune was in
retrograde these areas became more internal and many people put their efforts
into developing ideas or projects in isolation. Now that it’s reversing
direction these projects will finally be ready for the outside to view. If you’re
working in the arts and you’ve been holding onto a piece of creative work this
maybe a good time to let the world take a look. All matters of spirit will come
to the surface. While this planet has much to do with religion, its real domain
is where faith lies, no matter what form it takes, either orthodox doctrine or
spirituality.
MERCURY
TRINES URANUS:
On
Saturday November 25th at 5:55 A.M. EST this trine will speed up our thoughts and
communications. This is a positive transit so we can use it to our advantage. It’s
easier to direct this energy than if this were a conjunct, opposition or square
between these two. But it still will move things along at an accelerated rate,
so try to stay on top of what’s happening around you. Because of the recently
completed trine between Uranus and Saturn, Mercury will conjunct Saturn in a
few days and the atmosphere will change quite a bit. For a day or so as this
applies you should look for new and innovative ways of expressing yourself. Any
ideas that have been festering should be looked at in the light of day. You may
have a very exciting and original perspective.
MERCURY
CONJUNCTS SATURN:
On
Tuesday November 28th at 1:59 A.M. EST we will all feel the pressure of Saturn on
our communications. Because of Mercury’s
imminent retrograde this will return on December 6th and January 12th.
It’s a difficult day for stream of consciousness thinking or innovative
ideas. This is a day of very realistic thought with little room for frivolity.
Buckle down and get the grunt work done. Many of us will feel tired, especially
if this hits your chart. Energy will be limited so use what there is to your
best advantage. If you have an important conversation it will be all about
reality and business, so be prepared to deal with things on that level. Get to
the heart of the matter and talk it out. That’s the only way you will achieve
your desired goal. Trying to cloud the issue or distract from the real point
will not work and it may lead to an argument. People will tend to be rather
short tempered so I suggest that you avoid any situations that may lead to
disputes. Travel may be difficult and there will be delays. While this isn’t a
terribly accident-prone aspect you may encounter construction or breakdowns, so
leave extra time.
VENUS
ENTERS SAGITTARIUS:
On
Friday December 1st at 4:14 A.M. EST until December 25th
at 12:26 A.M. EST Venus enters
this expansive sign. There will be fewer ground rules in love and finances.
People will be more apt to take risks in both areas. You can expect some
serious moves in the stock markets, no matter which direction they are heading.
Sag doesn’t do things in small measure, but would rather push the envelope to
the limit. In romance I advise that you make sure you know exactly what the relationship
being offered is about. It’s easy to blow things out of proportion in this
sign, and that certainly includes love. In your personal finances you should
keep an eye on where your money is going. It’s too easy to overspend, gamble or
just lose track and wind up with shortages you could have easily prevented.
MARS
OPPOSES URANUS:
Also
on Friday December 1st at 5:04 A.M. EST this potentially explosive and dangerous
aspect will push many people into disagreements. Mars rules the ego. Uranus has
no regard for boundaries. When these two come into contact there is a good
chance of things blowing up. This could result in accidents, arguments, or even
violence, so use caution and respect this aspect. It will be felt most strongly
the night before. We may see a severely bad day or two in the markets. It may
begin today or on Monday. In any case we are in a period of potential difficulties
in the stocks and this opposition followed by the Rx Mercury, the Sun square
Neptune and the Full Moon all on Sunday represents a few days of trouble.
JUPITER
TRINES NEPTUNE:
On
Saturday December 2nd at 9:22 P.M. EST this aspect completes for the first of three
passes. It will return in May & August, and its influence will be felt all
year. The trines allow us to easily use the combination of planetary energies
in a proactive manner. Jupiter is the ancient ruler of Pisces and Neptune is
the modern ruler, and there is an affinity between these two heavenly bodies.
They are both concerned with spiritual matters, though they go about it in much
different ways. For the most part, Jupiter works through the material plane, while
Neptune’s domain is the ethereal. When they are working well together it’s
easier to connect the two spheres of consciousness and to understand how they function
and to use the energy in a directed and focused way. Neptune also rules music,
movies, photography and much of the artistic world, and with Jupiter’s ability
to expand whatever it comes in contact with this will be a very useful transit
for those working in the creative fields. Try to break down existing barriers
in your art and seek new ways of expression. We will also see some new concepts
in religious or spiritual matters.
MERCURY
RETROGRADES:
On
Sunday December 3rd at 2:34 A.M. EST until December 22nd
at 8:51 P.M. EDT the fun begins
again! Because Mercury will be retrograding in Sagittarius it will be in this
sign for a long time. This is a nice place for Mercury as it can bring optimism
and enthusiasm to many issues and ideas. But there is a tendency to overdo
things when Sagittarius is involved, and you may find people talking a lot and
more than willing to unveil some secrets or things that perhaps would be better
off left unsaid. There will be a lot of activity and socializing. It’s a good
placement for it for the holidays because of its outgoing energy. But as with
Mercury in retrograde in any of the signs there are certain warnings that
should be heeded. Because many of us will be traveling this month we can expect
some extra difficulties and delays. Whenever Mercury has been in Rx during the
holiday season we have seen the mess it can create. Accidents,
miscommunication, overcrowding, and other travel problems may be rampant. Leave
lots of time to make your connections, and try to book your flight, train trip
or rental car for a day that isn’t normally overwhelmed by holiday travelers. Because
the shopping season is under this influence you may not want to purchase cell
phones, computers, tablets, scooters, cars or any other toys involved in
communication or travel. But many of us will do just that. Make sure the
warranty is in the box. You may have to make use of it once Mercury goes
direct.
THE
SUN SQUARES NEPTUNE:
Also
on Sunday December 3rd at 6:44 A.M. EST this difficult and confusing transit will
complete. Things may not be what they appear and you would be wise to second
guess what you’re being told. This is a low energy few days when you may not
have your usual strength and direction. If you’re feeling tired up should just
rest. Your power will return soon. And if you feel out of sorts or misdirected
use caution. Because the Gemini Full Moon follows this square in a few hours,
and Mercury has just gone into retrograde, this may be a day of serious
problems in travel and communication. This square will add confusion and
misunderstandings to the already problematic atmosphere that the Rx Mercury has
most likely already started. And with the Mercury-ruled Full Moon in Gemini
this is a day to pay attention to your surroundings and sidestep any
unimportant situations.
FULL
MOON:
This
month’s lunar peak occurs on Sunday December 3rd at 10:47 A.M. EST
at 11 degrees Gemini 40 minutes.
This should be an exciting few days. Mercury is beginning its backward motion
now and the Sun square Neptune will add a level of mysticism to all that we do.
The Gemini Full Moon is all about communication and relationships. Travel may
be very difficult this week, and it’s important that you double check all plans
and make sure you know exactly where you’re heading. Your conversations will be
intense and forceful, but it may not be easy to fully understand what’s being
said. Don’t be afraid to question things. But don’t get into useless arguments
or you could find that you are spinning your wheels to no end. It’s better to
wait until this energy passes to engage in any discussion that requires a clear
and systematic approach.
With this buildup of difficult transits all
hitting today I wouldn’t be surprised by some event occurring. Of course by now
we’ve become somewhat complacent about world events and almost expect something
on a regular basis. I hope I’m wrong, but something involving transportation
looks very possible. Also, this coming week may be very bad for the equity
markets.
MERCURY
CONJUNCTS SATURN:
On
Wednesday December 6th at 7:05 A.M. EST this harsh aspect returns. We just had this on
November 28th (see above) and this is the 2nd of three
passes. Whenever these two planets come in contact it’s a hard day for
communications. Everyone is thinking in a critical and realistic manner and
there seems to only be time to take care of the most important issues, so deal
with your most pressing matters first. Expect people to be short tempered and
limited in their perspective. Don’t expect them to be open-minded. It’s more
likely that you will face barriers in any attempt to start new projects or be
innovative in your thoughts and ideas. Mercury is currently in retrograde, so
you must use extra care when traveling today. This isn’t a very creative
aspect, but it works quite well helping you take care of business and putting
your life or your work in order. It isn’t great for starting a new book, song
or painting, but it’s a very good aspect for editing or finishing up something
you’re begun.
MERCURY
SEXTILES MARS:
Also
on Wednesday December 6th at 10:58 A.M. EST this more energetic combination will add some
much needed oomph and help us use that Mercury – Saturn energy to a positive
effect. This will not overwhelm that conjunct. It’s not as powerful. But it
will help get you off the couch and interact with others. Don’t assume you have
your usual power. This will still be a low energy day with a limit to what you
can accomplish. But because Mars is in sextile to Saturn today as well you can
get some things done if you focus your attention where it is most needed. The best
way to handle this combination is to ignore all frivolous actions and aim your
energy into those things that require completion. Don’t try to start new
projects. Clean up those that are already ongoing and put your house in order.
MARS
SEXTILES SATURN:
Also
on Wednesday December 6th at 4:21 P.M. EST this positive but limiting sextile takes
place. Mars is our energy, ego and basic life force. Saturn is the most
restrictive of planets that demands close attention and scrutiny. When these
are used well together we can get a lot done in a short period, but there are
limits to what we can do and how best to go about it. Think of this as a laser
that can be aimed at a small area. It’s quite powerful, but only over a small
range. If you try to do too much you will probably fail at most of it. But if
you choose a single objective and put all of your powers into that you have a
very good chance of success.
MARS
ENTERS SCORPIO:
On
Saturday December 9th at 4:00 A.M. EST until January 26th
2018 Mars enters one of the
signs of its rulership. This is going to be a period of intensity in many
areas. People will be digging deeply into things and won’t accept superficial
answers. Recognize just how much our action is ego fueled and try not to
confront anyone’s individuality or self-worth confrontationally. It’s better to
pick and choose your battles carefully. You’re not going to win them all, but
it’s possible to succeed in the most important ones. And that’s really what the
goal is. Mars is the god of war, and where it’s transiting at any given time is
how we will all deal with disputes and differences of opinion. Scorpio is a
fixed sign and can at times be very unbending. Don’t expect others to yield to
your will. And be prepared to have to defend your ideas and stand up for your
position.
MERCURY
TRINES URANUS:
On
Sunday December 10th at 4:30 A.M. EST this positive aspect returns. We had this on
November 25th (see above) and because of the retrograde motion of
Mercury it will return for a total of three passes. This is similar to the last
pass. It will speed up our thoughts and communications, and offer us all a
chance to grasp concepts quickly and fully. This should be used to our
advantage, and the best way to do that is to keep an open mind and not fall
into the pattern of following doctrine or relying on the tried and true. You
should be looking at issues from a new perspective and thinking in innovative and
unusual ways. Everything will be moving along at an accelerated rate, so try
not to get lost. Travel will be quite exhilarating and it may open your
consciousness to a new way of handling an old problem.
VENUS
SQUARES NEPTUNE:
Also
on Sunday December 10th at 8:48 A.M. EST this complicated square will make
relationships somewhat difficult to figure out. If you’re not sure about
someone don’t make a commitment. Any new connection that begins under this
influence needs to prove itself and show that it is based in reality. It’s easy
to get caught up in a romantic notion when Neptune is involved, and that’s fine
for the short term. But relying on that romance to continue is a fool’s
paradise. Neptune is all about illusion and misdirection, and only after this
has passed will you be able to see the situation clearly. Venus also rules
money, so be careful with yours. It’s very easy to spend freely without
realizing it and suddenly find yourself short of resources.
THE
SUN CONJUNCTS MERCURY:
On
Tuesday December 12th at 8:49 P.M. EST this common aspect completes. This occurs
several times a year and offers a day of strong opinions and a somewhat stubborn
attitude. People will be willful and compromise may be difficult. That is its
strength and its weakness. This can be a very positive aspect for communication
as long as you know exactly what your goals are. You won’t be easily swayed
from your point of view and you can express things directly and with force. But
if there is a difference of opinion it will be hard to bend. Keep that in mind
when you’re making your perspective known.
MERCURY
CONJUNCTS VENUS:
On
Friday December 15th at 9:09 A.M. EST we begin the day with a pleasant mood and an
open attitude. This isn’t a very powerful aspect, but it makes all
communications pleasurable and light-hearted. It’s a good morning for breakfast
with a friend or to talk over something that may be difficult. You can discuss
issues in an easy going fashion. But you should also realize that this
combination does not like disagreements and you could seek compromises that
aren’t realistic and not be satisfied with the results once this passes. A long
walk or a drive in the country will be very enjoyable. It’s a day to get out
and socialize.
THE
SUN TRINES URANUS:
On
Saturday December 16th at 6:27 A.M. EST this very positive energy will complete early
in the day. This is a brief time of innovative and open thoughts and actions. Uranus
wants new and original ideas and with it in trine to the Sun we should all be a
bit more in touch with that concept. This is a good morning to look over your
life and seek a new way of approaching situations that may have felt bogged
down. You may find a solution that you’ve missed in the past. Anything that
feels new and exciting will have a positive effect on you and you should get
out into the world and explore. This is a sociable energy and any interaction
with others will be pleasurable.
DARK
OF THE MOON:
The
next New Moon falls on Monday December 18th at 1:30 A.M. EST at 26
degrees Sagittarius 31 minutes. The day or two leading up to it will be a
particularly low energy period. If you tend to be emotional this may be a very
trying time each month. I have
found that people with prominent moons or a Cancer Sun, Moon or ascendant
respond to the lunar cycles more intensely than others. Spend this time finishing up anything that is incomplete, don’t try to
initiate new projects on a waning moon, it just won’t work out. Once the New
Moon hits you begin new projects or attempt a new approach to an existing
problem. If you have been living in a situation or involved in a relationship
that is intolerable or has outlived its usefulness this would be the proper
time to move on with your life. If you have been working on a project that is
almost complete but you seem to lack the energy for the finality, you must push
during these low energy days to end the matter once and for all. If you don’t,
when the New Moon arrives it will bring this “dead” energy along with it and
conflict with the newer force being presented. Each month we are offered a
chance to clean house, so to speak.
Note:
All aspects are most powerful and effective as they apply. Once the transit has
completed, its force is lessened. The further it separates the weaker it
becomes.
Below is a list of times this month when the
Moon is Void of Course and neither important decisions nor purchases should be
made during these periods. The Void of Course Moon is a time when we should try
to center ourselves and deal with spiritual matters not materialistic ones. Any
decisions made on the VC Moon will not turn out the way we had expected.
The Moon is Void of Course from the time it
makes its last major aspect in a sign until it enters the next sign. For
example, if the Moon squares Mars at 27 degrees Aries and then has no more
aspects until it enters Taurus it will be Void of Course for three degrees or
about 6 hours. The aspects used are the conjunction, sextile, square, trine,
and opposition. All times are Eastern Daylight Time:
November 18th 6:42 A.M. – 1:59 P.M.
***Moon is void 7 hours
November 20th 7:26 P.M. – November
21st 2:14 A.M. ***Moon is void 7 hours
November 23rd 5:33 A.M. – 3:14 P.M.
***Moon is void 10 hours
November 25th 9:37 P.M. – November
26th 3:04 A.M.
November 28th 7:09 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.
November 30th 1:37 P.M. – 3:38 P.M.
December 1st 8:53 P.M. – December 2nd
4:21 P.M. ***Moon is void 20 hours
December 4th 2:13 P.M. – 3:37 P.M.
December 6th 12:56 P.M. – 3:37 P.M.
December 8th 5:40 P.M. – 6:09 P.M.
December 10th 10:02 P.M. – December
11th 12:01 A.M.
December 13th 7:27 A.M. – 8:59 A.M.
December 14th 8:42 P.M. – December
15th 8:07 P.M.
December 18th 8:10 A.M. – 8:33 A.M.
December 20th 10:37 A.M. – 9:29 P.M.
***Moon is void 11 hours
December 23rd 5:13 A.M. – 9:42 A.M.
November 2017
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