Jon Husted: Ohio’s Other Jet Senator

Posted on June 28, 2025 by ohioastrology

Ohio’s senators (both Republicans) are Bernardo (Bernie) Moreno and Jon Husted. Husted, like Moreno, was not born in Ohio but in “the state up north” as Michigan is called in Columbus, Ohio which is Ohio State University Buckeye football team territory. This is noted for any Ohio nativists.

Moreno, born in Colombia, is unlike Puerto Rican Bernardo of West Side Story in that he is accepted by the Jets, the white males born in the city in a gang called the Jets. The movie Bernardo was not (he had to form his own gang, the Sharks).

Moreno was born a Shark but is a Jet.

Is Husted a Jet or a Shark?

From his background, Husted was born a Jet. Abandoned by his father and mother unable to care for him (according to Wikipedia), Husted was adopted quickly and grew up in Michigan. He appears to have had a happy childhood.

Husted’s sun is in Virgo and moon in either the late degrees of Aries or early degrees of Taurus. Statistically there’s more chance of Taurus but with a talent in sports (football), the competitive and assertive Aries is quite likely.

Husted was born six months after Moreno so generationally they are very similar. What are the personality similarities and differences?

Perfectionism and Purity

Moreno has sun in Aquarius (fixed air) and Husted sun in Virgo (mutable earth). Both signs are perfectionist – Aquarius due to the fixed air nature which has mentally constructed the “perfect” and “ideal” solution. Virgo, in contrast, is perfectionist because it’s afraid of criticism. Virgo’s internal critic is enough, usually, to fulfill any critical feedback.

Both men were born in the generation of Uranus and Pluto conjunct in Virgo. When first learning astrology, someone told me that this was the generation that would “clean up the planet.” Being part of that generation, I felt proud.

These many years later with both world and astrological experience, I understand the various ways an energy can manifest. Yes, there are many of Virgo energy – personal or generational – who are trying to clean up the planet.

Yet Virgo is an anxious sign so rather than cleaning up a planet, many of the Uranus/Pluto in Virgo generation are excessively fearful of germs. Until the pandemic, excessive worry about illness was considered hypochondria. Post pandemic, hypochondria appears to be encouraged by the pharmaceutical industry. Advertising pharmaceuticals might have been created by this generation; if nothing else, this generation accepts this advertising as a norm.

Virgo is interested in purity of health and environment and ideal in its approach. Neither Moreno nor Husted is showing much interest in “cleaning up the planet.” Moreno and Husted’s generational Virgo purity appears to relate more to people and culture. Cleaning up the culture is something that occurred more than once in the 20th century in political movements for a perfect race or eradication of foreign cultural input.

Is that purity or simply Virgo anxiety?

If I eat that candy, what will happen to my health? If those other people become the majority, what will happen to my life?

In addition to health, Virgo’s concerns are work, diet, and pets. Husted with five (of ten) planets in Virgo is most likely both a health purist and workaholic. This is the person who has a donut at the staff meeting then must plan to run an extra five miles later to burn it off. Virgo and the Uranus/Pluto in Virgo generation love all the new technology that tracks donut by donut.

Virgo and Pisces

Every sign is part of a polarity. For Virgo, the other pole is Pisces. Here are some Virgo/Pisces polarities (Virgo on left as it’s left brain and Pisces on right as it’s right brain):

  • Detailed/imaginative
  • Analysis/synthesis
  • Trees/forest
  • Structured/unstructured
  • Disciplined/relaxed
  • Clouds as weather/clouds as rocket ships, bunny rabbits, and soft pillows

The personal planets of Mercury (communication) and Venus (pleasure) are in Virgo for Husted, Pisces for Moreno. Husted is more prone to focus on detail, compile details, and present comprehensive analysis of his points of view in communicating. That’s also a great pleasure, getting things done, paying the bills, working out, and then feeling satisfaction that all the chores are complete.

Moreno, in contrast, is more emotional and imaginative when providing “facts” and details. Pisces communication is more prone to explain how something feels than what it is. Moreno and Husted probably have a few challenges when working together as Moreno talks about possibility (living on Mars when we can’t live on earth) and Husted wants to see step-by-step how we are going to colonize Mars and in what year (and will there be places to exercise?).

This polarity creates a different generational experience for each senator. For Husted, his “Virgo-ness” is enhanced by the Uranus/Pluto in Virgo aspect. That’s why the Virgos of my generation are a bit unpredictable – one day it’s raw kale, the next day a 10-mile run, and the next day a bottle of antihistamines.

For Moreno, in contrast, his Pisces energy – his Saturn is in Pisces as well – is opposing this generational aspect indicating a troubled youth, one where the home life wasn’t stable, a challenge to authority (aided by moon in Aries) and sometimes rash behavior based on emotions and need to assert self.

Jupiter and Saturn

Jupiter and Saturn both changed signs between Moreno’s and Husted’s birthdays. Moreno has Jupiter in Cancer, the sign of its exaltation. Husted, in Leo. Moreno has Saturn in Pisces; Husted, in Aries.

While Moreno’s early life may have had challenges, Jupiter in Cancer (trine a generational Neptune in Scorpio) provides an outlet – also within family. Possibly a beloved grandparent helped Moreno through tough times (Pisces energy suggests relating to older generations).

Husted’s Jupiter creates more ego and pride in the family and social environment. While pride is there, Husted’s Saturn in Aries suggests a bit of restraint on full and deep pride. Pride comes from the environment (I was raised in a good neighborhood with good schools) but Saturn puts the breaks on it by suggesting that if it weren’t for that neighborhood and parents, he might not be good enough (remember, Virgo needs to be perfect).

Moreno’s Saturn in Pisces carries with it a general sense of being separate from the whole, the whole of humanity, the whole of the universe. It’s not a small hole to fill even as moon in Aries achieves, achieves, achieves.

And that Mars!

And then there’s Mars, ruler of Aries and self-directed action (including all forms of competition, sport and general fighting). For both men, Mars is in Scorpio (as is natal Neptune).

This first speaks to the drive for physical union – you know, sex. When women make news in politics it’s usually due to sex – their own gender or that they had sex with a powerful man outside of that powerful man’s marriage.

Scorpio is fixed water and is emotionally intense and can go to obsession. Neither man likes to be humiliated (who does, right?) but both will take it very deeply and never forget. Revenge is an extreme form of retribution which Scorpio is known for when there is no balancing factor on obsession. And with Neptune in Scorpio, both men can imagine more than was intended. Moreno is particularly prone to seeing much that was never intended.

Ohio’s Jets

Ohio’s two Republican senators are Jets, the dominant power group that today is trying to purify the culture by removing or threatening to remove immigrants, offering white foreign nationals rights to immigrate to the US, politically persecuting women not tied to males, politically persecuting the opposing party, and pardoning males (primarily white) trying to overthrow the government.

For Husted, it’s a type of Virgo-ness, the obsessive-compulsive desire to put everything in order. Order is good, we all want to support four-way stops, the legal system, and quality control for our food supply. Virgo extreme then takes us to the polarity of excessive emotion and undefined fears.

For Moreno, he may be playing a risky game. He’s not native Jet and may have to sit on a very uncomfortable fence of Virgo/Pisces – make things “perfect” or feel for humanity? He may want to remember that Pisces as last sign of the zodiac is also often the target of scapegoating.

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Bernardo Moreno: Jet or Shark?

Posted on June 15, 2025 by ohioastrology

Bernardo Moreno – Bernie Moreno to Ohioans – was born in Bogota, Colombia. Moreno is an immigrant. He is also a United States Republican Senator for Ohio.

Bernardo was also the name of the Puerto Rican leader of the Sharks in the 1957 Broadway play and then 1961 (and 2021 adaptation) movie West Side Story. Unlike Moreno, Bernardo of the story was not an immigrant, Puerto Rico being a part (colony) of the United States.

If you’re not familiar with West Side Story or its historic and greatly-modeled precedent Romeo and Juliet, Bernardo of the story moves from San Juan, Puerto Rico to New York City and is attacked day one (he says in the movie) by the Jets, the white guy gang that wants to rule the dilapidated, depressed, and desolate playgrounds of the “west side” of New York. That side, we see from the panoramic at the beginning of the movie, isn’t the glamour of “the” New York City. It’s the place where the poor and destitute struggle for useless territory.

The Romeo and Juliet tribe-crossed characters are Bernardo’s sister and a former Jet. Bernardo is Tybalt (according to a search-it’s been a long time since I’ve seen the Shakespeare version).

Bernardo Moreno – called “Bernie” just like Bernie Sanders – gives a more, how shall we say it – non-Hispanic sense of the name, at least to those not familiar with Hispanic nicknames.

Is Moreno, then, a Jet or a Shark?

Play it cool, boy, real cool

Moreno has sun in Aquarius, the fixed air sign that is cool and detached by nature. It’s more comfortable with ideas than feelings. Pluto is currently transiting this sign so Aquarians are now at the forefront of our evolutionary changes.

In Aquarius, Pluto will destroy, transform, and evolve group consciousness, group ideals. When Uranus and Neptune were in Aquarius (1990s-early 2000s), we destroyed such things as landline phones, clocks with hands, paper newspapers, privacy, and consensus understanding of reality (with help from Neptune in Pisces where every image is real to our brains). We replaced these things with digital life: most business interactions are now forced into digital; social media is assumed and not participating creates pressure from social groups.

Fixed signs are as described: fixated and often obsessed. In Aquarius, the fixation is ideas and group ideals – sometimes called fads – where some last and some don’t. Aquarius is also considered rebellious – think Rosa Parks. The rebelliousness against one or primary group consciousness results lands Aquarians into an opposite or different group consciousness. For Rosa Parks, it was the Civil Rights Movement.

For Moreno, it lands him with the Jets although he’s a natural member of the Sharks. But not all sharks are the same. In our American cultural mix, there are the Cuban Sharks who came legally because we didn’t like the authoritarian strongman Fidel Castro (today I wonder why). There are Mexican Sharks who are a mixture of legal statuses. And then there are all the Central and South Americans who like Mexicans are a mixture and many experiencing the results of cultural disruption aided by US presidents during the 20th century. The actual Spanish don’t seem to have a cultural identity here.

Fitting in is a part of everyone’s life. Our personalities may or may not align with the culture in which we were born. That creates challenges for some, comfort for others. Fitting in can make us comfortable and fearful of change. Not fitting in is a drive that moves culture forward.

There are many ways to describe the current cultural split of the United States: Democrat/Republican, north/south, east/west, wealth/poverty, and privilege/marginalized. Another might be the “fitting in” versus the “not fitting in” which is a combination of all of the other splits.

Astrologically, we are all unique and there is no “fitting in” or trying to get everyone to “fit in.” There is no superior race because any race can be any horoscope.

Aries moon

Why did Moreno side with the Jets?

With moon in cardinal fire Aries, Moreno is highly competitive, self-directed, and courageous. Ruled by God-of-War Mars, Aries is interested in self, not so concerned about others. Moon is reaction so while an Aquarius sun can think very broadly and far into the future, Aries wants what it wants NOW. Like the cardinal signs in general, it can be self-centered.

The path to power today is to go with the Jets – siding with the Sharks is a bit up and down. Minorities rise and fall like the stock market in this country while the Jet (upper class white male) class tends to consistently and continually rise in wealth and power. It’s difficult to see privilege unless it’s taken away so the non-successful white male will resist this, but remember that the January 6, 2021 stormers of the Capitol Building were mostly white male and all were pardoned. This would never have occurred with males of other cultural stock.

The other Moreno

The sun and moon are major aspects of our personalities: the sun is conscious self and moon reactive self. We see this in ourselves and others clearly.

Outside of the sun and moon, Moreno’s chart contains quite a bit of water – emotion. Mercury, Venus and Saturn are in mutable water Pisces (the watery-est of the water), Jupiter in cardinal water Cancer and Mars and Neptune in fixed water Scorpio. Six of the ten “planets” in the chart are in water. Chiron, not amongst the ten, is also in water (Pisces).

Inside the skin of Moreno, he may very well be a Shark – maybe one day he will emotionally connect with his people on a political level.

Saturn in the same sign (but technically out of orb) with Venus and Mercury (and Chiron) indicates an extremely sensitive nature, psychic wounds easily created. Love doesn’t meet the need for a very deep connection that is a challenge with Aquarius sun acting detached and Aries moon chasing the newest war.

In the end, aren’t we all motivated by love? And we do very crazy things for love as this Manson cult follower and murderer Patricia Krenwinkel describes in her parole hearing:

It is countless how many lives were shattered by the path of destruction that I was a part of, and it all comes from just a simple thing as just wanting to be loved,” she [Krenwinkel] told the New York Times in 2014.

The Pisces and Aries energy – in combination with generational Pluto/Uranus in mutable earth Virgo, there’s a neurotic cast to the personality. Aquarius wants to be rational and then the rest of the chart gangs up together to create overwhelming emotion. I’m imagining a man who acts “cool” then blows up to those closest who are both surprised and confused – what the heck is he upset about and where did that come from?

Moreno’s Mars and Neptune in Scorpio never forget a slight or act of disloyalty, regardless of whether his Aquarius sun pretends to be all rational and fair about it.

Neptune in Aries

Transiting Neptune just entered Aries which creates a halo of spirituality around things Aries: self-identity, self-determination, self-aggrandizement, and self-defense.

We’re already seeing a rise in negative Aries – war and contention. Positive Aries is responding with demonstrations celebrating self and asking one megalomaniacal self not to see himself as the ruler of the world.

For Moreno, this Neptune can be either side of the Aries halo – the gang-like control of the neighborhood or a collective connection based on shared culture – American culture which by nature is a mixture of the cultures of the world.

With natal Jupiter in Cancer, Moreno probably has a loving family. Maybe as Moreno sides with the gang ruling the basketball courts and graveled remains of destroyed buildings, Moreno can ask: “What would my abuela (grandmother) think? Which is more important: community or competition?”

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Saturn in Aries: Discipline Me!

Posted on May 25, 2025 by ohioastrology

When Neptune entered Aries in March of this year (2025), it provided inspiration to Aries: the first sign of the zodiac, the sign of self, beginnings and initiation. Neptune glamorizes what it touches so Aries felt as though anything was possible with drive and initiative. So many dreams, so little time!

Now comes Saturn, the planet of contraction. It entered Aries this yesterday and met up with Neptune to put the brakes on too much idealism, too much “self,” too little understanding of the “other.” Saturn in Aries is considered detriment; Saturn prefers the opposite sign of Libra so that fairness and a balance of self/others is achieved.

What happens when Aries drive meets Saturn restriction?

Aries gets frustrated and angry.

Ruled by Mars, the glyph for Aries is the glyph for male: the circle with arrow projecting outward. Aries angry will project outward which can cause arguments. Mars is the God of War for this reason. Historically men, armies, and countries went to war to eject people from land. War takes; it doesn’t give.

Hanging people for their religious views isn’t really in the realm of Aries but with Neptune hanging around in Aries, zealotry is added to a naturally competitive sign. Religion and violence have been historical bedfellows, and the combination is so challenging because neither bargaining nor reason can be employed. I’m on a mission of something heighted whether it’s to save humanity or reclaim a land or fight for a community.

Aries fighting for a cause beyond the self is unstoppable because this sign does not have embedded fear. Moon in Aries especially will not back down even if the face of overwhelming odds. That can be a very good thing that leads others to overcome unfairness and obstacles.

Saturn in Aquarius, Pisces, and Aries: Lockdown to Breakout

Lockdown:

When Saturn entered Aquarius in 2020, the governments of the world agreed on a common mandate: lockdown. The lockdown, or restriction of social interaction, was due to an illness crossing the globe.

Aquarius is the 11th sign of the zodiac ruling social groups, social consciousness and social movements. Social interaction was contracted by Saturn.

When Saturn entered Pisces – the 12th and last sign of the zodiac- in 2023, the emotional effects of lockdown became apparent with rise in emotional, mental, and spiritual illnesses. Physically distant from others, we become emotionally and spiritually disconnected. Isolation combined with Neptune’s transit in Pisces dissolved shared reality. Mutable consensus reality is a tactic of negative forces which helps separate humans from each other benefitting only a few.

How does one feel a part of the whole, a part of community and life on Earth, when we can’t agree that the sky is blue?

Existential crises are not just for philosophers. Today if a political figure states the moon is made of cheese, it must be debated which both angers and isolates all sides of the Cheese-or-Rock debate. All that is achieved is separation.

Breakout:

Saturn now in Aries will retrograde into Pisces before staying in Aries in 2026. During this time, we may have a very unstable set of “selves” trying to break out of the existential isolation into a new self, one aligned with true feelings, beliefs, and purpose.

Aries is the beginning: we’re beginning a collective new sense of self. Self wants to have an identity. Self wants to be noticed. Self wants to be number one. Self is the center of our stories.

Saturn doesn’t promote self, it promotes discipline. Discipline of self is key to making it through this transit without causing wars both personal and collective.

Any successful person – from corporate executive to athlete to artist – knows that discipline is essential to success. The Genius Myth where one comes out of the womb and writes operas or leads masses to enlightenment doesn’t truly exist (but we can argue it of course).

The movie Amadeus was highly influential as you still hear some talk about greatness versus “mediocrity.” That’s Aries and Capricorn (ruled by Saturn) – I can’t be a painter unless my work looks like Leonardo da Vinci. This is negative Saturn in Aries, competition as a demotivator rather than a motivator. It’s low self-esteem that prevents us from growing in the unique way we each are programmed to grow.

Aries like the other fire signs (Leo and Sagittarius) is meant to be positive. Positive doesn’t mean putting a positive slant on a negative situation; positive means the deep belief that one is the directing one’s own life. Aries is about self-dominion – being the captain of one’s own ship, being the driver on one’s road trip through life – and feeling good about it.

Saturn in general doesn’t bring feelings of joy to astrologers. Yet, we seem to need – in this country at least – a bit of Saturn-in-Aries discipline of self. Sure, let’s argue about whether the moon is made of cheese but for the purpose of understanding rather than creating a faux-debate where one insists the moon is cheese simply to win an Aries-driven competition.

And if the moon is truly made of cheese, we can all share in an moon-sized quesadilla.

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J.D. Vance’s Squares

Posted on March 7, 2025 by ohioastrology

There are many dangerous jobs in the world. The traditional ones that come to mind are firefighter, police officer, construction worker, high-rise window washers, emergency medical professions, and of course soldiers.

One I’d add today is Vice President of the United States. Back in 2021 when the current president was voted out of office, his followers wanted to lynch the vice president. Vice President is a dangerous job today.

Reading Byzantine history, I’m always amazed not just with the speed of power transfer during those times but that anyone would want the job of leader. If your predecessor lasted two days, why would you want to try?

Vance can probably explain it.

J.D. Vance’s Squares

Using the Astrotheme horoscope for JD Vance, the current Vice President of the United States, the sun and Venus are in fixed fire Leo and Saturn and Mars are in fixed water Scorpio. And that’s a square.

Squares create tension. Often successful people have a square or two as that’s like the friction that creates movement. Many creative people have had the “discomfort” of a square or opposition in the horoscope that led to creativity.

Transiting Uranus is in the last degrees of the fixed earth sign Taurus – that creates a transiting T-square. And now Pluto has entered fixed air sign Aquarius creating a grand cross (not by orb but still relevant to this astrologer).

That’s a lot of tension going on for Vance, which is understandable since much of that tension is being shared with the entire country and much of the world.

Square by square

Scorpio-Leo

In all seriousness, Vance’s conjunction of Saturn/Mars in Scorpio is something that would give medieval astrologers pause. Saturn and Mars are “not good bedfellows” as an astrologer or two has noted (Liz Greene maybe?).

Why?

Saturn is contraction (or control) and Mars is assertiveness (or aggression). In Scorpio, which is the water element, the fixed nature makes every slight feel like a gashing knife wound and the emotional response is strong and can be vengeful. So it can be mean and even violent.

Vance’s moon is in balance-oriented and pleasure-loving Libra but is conjunct Pluto which rules Scorpio. This is another marker of need for emotional control both of self and others. Libra is an air sign so not comfortable with emotion and when encountering negative emotions often disassociates.

If sun in Leo and moon in Libra were free to express without the other planets, Vance would be a more jovial, lighthearted individual. That might be a spiritual goal for his incarnation on earth, but it will be a challenge, especially when surrounding himself with the Pluto-type individuals of earth who form the appropriately termed “plutocracy.”

Transiting Squares

Transiting Uranus has been in Taurus, the fixed earth sign, since 2018 soon to pass to mutable air sign Gemini.

Uranus adds the unexpected in the realms of body, money, assets, property and values. This is the transit of the pandemic and changes to supply chain, body and medicine. For Vance, it would have also created issues with virility and intimacy opposing his Scorpio planets and squaring his Leo planets. Vance’s natal sun/Venus in Leo and moon in Libra are romance junkie placements, but squares create blockages to romance and intimacy due to control issues and emotional sensitivity that block sexual expression. These may have resulted in physical issues as well.

Now Pluto has entered fixed air Aquarius for a 20-year haul. This is the fourth of the fixed signs creating a grand cross (very wide and to other astrologers not in orb). Aquarius is opposite Leo being group consciousness in contrast to personal consciousness. Vance will be learning a lot about group consciousness, and it will appear to be as conflict, as oppositions feel like open enemies.

However, the oppositions – which are polarities – contain variations of an energy. While Vance may be seeking office for personal (Leo) reasons, by supporting political groups and agendas, he’s moving into the Aquarius side of the polarity. Through desire to express self and receive recognition for self, he may be abdicating personal expression to the group.

Likewise on the Aquarius side, often shared group ideals can turn into following the crowd. Aquarius likes to be rebellious which can be in relation to perceived unfairness (like Rosa Parks not giving up a bus seat) or a reaction to other group ideals (if everyone is wearing their hair long, wearing it short). One manifestation is productive; one is not.

And if squares weren’t enough

And if squares weren’t enough, when Uranus moves into Gemini in the summer, it will opposite Vance’s natal Uranus. Unexpected behavior of the Gemini sort which is more short-term, local, and personal will create unexpected behavior in Vance of the Sagittarius sort which is more long-term, distant, and philosophical. Vance may simply find ways to “escape,” as Sagittarius likes heightened experience, not the day-to-day stuff like paying bills and making dinner.

This summer Vance may take a long vacation.

It’s easy enough to read the news and know that Vance’s life is going to be tense for the near future, at least the next four years.

What astrology tries to understand is the motivation behind it all. Vance’s horoscope with four fixed signs and Pluto conjunct moon creates a “battle of wills” type of personality. If you say up, I say down. Small disagreements become major conflicts. Mountains out of molehills. That sort of thing.

Beneath it all is the Venus influence – Venus in romantic Leo and moon in Venus-ruled Libra. There’s a playful, joyous person in Vance, an insecure one who just wants to be loved. In the end, we all just want to be loved, right? It’s the boy who had a teddy bear too long and was the subject of ridicule and vowed never to be laughed at again.

Vance hanging with the tough guys relying on his background of control and violence probably isn’t the road to joy and pleasure. The path appears dangerous.

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Next Day Delivery: Freedom

Posted on March 4, 2025 by ohioastrology

Upon returning home, my cat said he wanted to order something next-day delivery. Here we go again, I thought. Watching television creates unrealistic expectations for both humans and felines.

My cat probably thinks the scratching post advertised on the commercial is better than the two by the window. The food advertised, of course, always looks delicious when we’re hungry and waiting for humans to provide food. And the toys – the toys! – are absolutely as exciting as advertised but, unfortunately, for only a day or two.

“What now?” I asked cynically.

“I want to get some freedom,” he replied.

Freedom?

We had a long discussion about “freedom” as a right, not something you buy. Freedom is a concept, I explained, that allows you to do what you want within the limits of the law and other rational agreements. Freedom, I clarified, doesn’t mean you can do anything you want.

“But you do anything you want,” the cat accused.

“It’s my house,” I explained. “So, yes, I have the freedom to choose what we eat for dinner. But outside the house, it’s very different.”

“So you don’t have freedom either?” the cat asked. “Outside you’re like me, dependent on humans?”

“Yes.”

Pluto in Aquarius – Transformation of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

The United States was “born” during the Age of Enlightenment (also called the Age of Reason) but was a few years short of being “born” with Pluto in Aquarius, the sign of humanity, group consciousness, technology and reason. The French Revolution and its slogan of “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” occurred a bit later when Pluto had made its transit into Aquarius.

In 1776, Pluto was still at 27 degrees of traditional, rule-following, authoritarian Capricorn. We were close to Aquarius, but not quite there. Likewise, with freedom we’ve never “quite been there.”

In 2023 – 2024 the US had its Pluto return, turning 248 years old! While we like to celebrate ages that end in zero, like 250, for astrologers, the planetary cycles are more meaningful. We have gone an evolutionary round of what it means to be authority.

Yet early 2025 has brought more, not less, of negative Capricorn – misuse of authority, fear as control, using others, and lack of imaginative and empathetic thinking.

There’s a positive Capricorn which is where other countries respect our mature, dependable, and rule-following nature. This is the Capricorn that attracts people from all over the world – stability and structure. Knowing the paycheck will clear, knowing there is a choice of work, knowing the stores will have food on the shelves, that there is fresh water – some do not experience this in their parts of the world.

What will the next 248 years bring?

While this evolutionary cycle seems to be starting out like Europe in 1776, Pluto forces transformation. Possibly this swing back into Capricorn – into 1776 – is the tension needed to spring us forward past fear and control into new ways of sharing community, country, and planet – the Age of Aquarius.

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Uranus in Gemini: Keep Breathing

Posted on February 26, 2025 by ohioastrology

In Asia many years ago, I sought an acupuncturist for a minor physical problem. As was his standard, he provided a full medical assessment and recommended diet. Until recently, I remembered only one of the medical diagnoses and most of the diet recommendations. While I had some treatment from this acupuncturist, I left the country soon after meeting him.

This summer through a series of unrelated events I came upon a journal that documented that visit. A great shock awaited me – all those medical diagnoses came to pass in the subsequent three decades in ways I hadn’t recognized while they were occurring. Only in hindsight do I see it.

And, older now, I found my way to the diet – including avoiding milk – all through accidental trial and error.

While this is certainly a testament to the superiority of traditional Asian medicine, I see how I couldn’t respond to the information because I wasn’t sick. Aside from the minor problem that led me there, none of the information related to an existing physical symptom.

Let’s say I was able to stay longer and understood the accuracy of the information, I might be different now but were I to say to a Western doctor that an acupuncturist cured me before I was ill, the logical allopathic mind might have believed it was genetics or coincidence.

The lesson here is that I couldn’t be warned about something I couldn’t see, taste, hear, smell or feel. But it was occurring, was real.

And this helps me understand why today as humanity we ignore the warnings we receive.

A lifetime of warnings

All my life there have been dire warnings of future catastrophe from both religious and secular sources: the end of “the world”; great earthquakes; diminishing fresh water supplies; polluted air and food; global warming; Year 2000 (everyone has forgotten this non-event); World War [insert number]; alien takeover; global pandemics and, economic meltdown.

Possibly we ignore warnings because many of us get our first warnings through religion, which can be the direst. Consider the promises and threats of religion are never experienced IN LIFE. Like my medical diagnoses, I’ll ignore something I do not experience.

And, of course, there are false warnings, like Year 2000. While it was a ridiculous non-event it did describe something very, very important – we are run by our technology, not running it. It was a warning of a longer, deeper pattern.

Uranus in Gemini

Uranus, the planet of sudden change – shock depending on how we respond – is moving from Taurus to Gemini in July. Uranus ultimately provides clarity and if we pursue it, enlightenment. But shock can be the result if, say, we’ve ignored the fact our spouse seems to work late hours at the office and claims to fall asleep at the desk. It’s only shock to learn that’s not true if we ignored our intuition and feelings as it occurred.

In Taurus our shocks, clarity, and enlightenment occurred in the realm of body, assets, property, and values. Taurus rules the neck and thyroid area. Americans learned about supply chain amidst disappearing household items such as toilet paper. We learned how much is used in the office versus the home. We learned where it came from, why it’s not overproduced and stored, and profit margins associated with storage of large items. We also learned about new medical technology in the body.

In Gemini our shocks, clarity, and enlightenment will occur in the realm of communication, socialization, siblings, immediate environment, journalism, and education. Physically it’s body parts of a Gemini “twin” nature – hands, lungs, ears – which relate to communication.

In the US, there is no longer consensus information – even something appearing factual like the number of people at an event is debated as though it were an opinion. Much of this can be attributed to Neptune in Pisces which has dissolved shared reality. Neptune will be moving too soon, into Aries, so folks will come out of the fog of information war.

When the fog lifts, Gemini will provide to us individually and communally some shocks of information – what is, what was, what might be.

Gemini lungs, breathing and communication

After our Uranus in Taurus experiments with the body, I do wonder if Uranus in Gemini will reveal how medical experimentation has impacted our lungs and breathing.

Buddhism informs that “breath is life.” That’s both physical and metaphysical. When we have trauma, we hold our breath which creates a blockage – psychologists know all about this and help try to remove the block.

In the book The End of Stress as We Know It, author Bruce McEwen describes how “stress protects under acute conditions, but when activated chronically it can cause damage and accelerate disease.” Stress activated chronically is “allostatic load.”

The book also describes how a medical researcher in the 1930s found that when people were stressed and ill, the symptoms were similar. Sickness itself is a “general adaptive syndrome.” Wellness practitioners call this “dis-ease.”

Some of the illnesses traveling this winter are respiratory as they usually are – RSV, Covid, flu, pneumonia – i.e., Gemini and breathing. Gemini, breathing and lungs also relate to the ability to communicate and express our needs. Much change has occurred in these first few weeks of the 47th president (a Gemini) that are creating shocks, allostatic load, and feelings of powerlessness – this will affect the lungs.

In addition to economic, social and familial disruption, we must protect our lungs and ability to both give and receive valid, meaningful information. Disinformation and the dissolving of trusted information is physically as well as mentally damaging.

Uranus in Gemini will take your breath away

“Taking our breath away,” seems like the very thing of a trauma response but refers to the shock of a positive, thrilling event. It’s often used to describe falling in love.

For most of my life during election time, someone will say, “It doesn’t matter who gets elected, it’s all the same.”

The “same” referred to here is a certain economic and social stability, even though not shared by all. Stores stay open, have products on shelves, the traffic lights work, the garbage is collected.

This round of Uranus in Gemini, it may not be all the same. This time may “take our breath” away both physically and spiritually through continual allostatic load.

It’s critical during this transit to keep breathing, keep communicating, keep expressing the information as we see it. It’s our experience. We chose it.

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Pluto in Capricorn Strikes Back

Posted on February 15, 2025 by ohioastrology

Toward the end of transiting Pluto in Sagittarius (1995-2008) astrologers began their predictions of Pluto in Capricorn (2008-2024). Pluto is ultimately transformation but can begin as destruction. Transformation, destruction – those are intense words. The most important thing to remember about Pluto is that when it “destroys” or “transforms” you have no choice. You accept it’s time to change or you will be changed. It’s evolution.

As an astrologer it’s always difficult to explain this complex transit as it’s like going through a black hole – you come out the other side a different person.

And how will that happen? All the many ways that humans can be transformed: physical property is destroyed; livelihood disappears; a spouse announces he/she’s is leaving; someone close dies; trust is shattered; a realization that a long, involved effort was in vain.

I had it; I lost it. Who am I now? What do I do next?

Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose . . . [lyric from Me and Bobby McGee]

On the other side of the black hole is freedom. In my country we believe we love, love, love freedom but the empty void of freedom is actually very scary physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Where will I live? How will I earn money? Will anyone ever love me again?

When we’re free we worry about filling the void.

Pluto in Capricorn

Capricorn is the sign of authority, rules, boundaries, responsibility and discipline. Naturally ruled by Saturn it is Father Time. Father is the authority; Time is the boundary. And one day we will die which is scary and when faced with thoughts of death we react in fear.

Fear is the control.

Let’s go back to 2008 when Pluto entered Capricorn. Its first evolutionary path was the material world and ideas of authority and success. Collective memory is short these days – in 2008 there was a global financial collapse due to over-leveraging (aka gambling) with mortgages. Reading about it today, governments were worried of mass protests, restless populations, and uprisings.

Why did that not happen?

The government, the Father, came in to patch things up. Money is one of our world’s greatest illusions and as magicians do with bunnies and pretty ladies, the debt was made to disappear.

A decade later we had a great pandemic, an virulent, life-threatening illness crossing the globe. Governments across the world all performed the same action – lockdown.

If there is one word to describe Pluto in Capricorn it is lockdown. And it was global.

As people were banned from labor, the government, again, stepped in and sent money. The capitalist government that warns us regularly about socialism essentially created a short-term socialist state.

Lockdown Retreat

Ironically through “lockdown” some in developed countries working in corporations had a chance to do a forced retreat and examine their lives. And many concluded there was more than work, as Americans spend more hours at work than many in developed countries, and experience was equally important.

During lockdown many purged accumulated items in the home (we can thank Uranus in Taurus for this). Work, stuff – Capricorn’s realm – was being reassessed.

And time – folks had more time. Father Time stepped aside for a moment.

Pluto in Aquarius

Aquarius, where Pluto now resides, has some similarities to Capricorn. Both signs are structured and stubborn. While Capricorn seeks roles of authority, Aquarius is fundamentally more rebellious and is stubborn only because it seeks a perfect society, a perfect group consciousness.

Capricorn snobbery is based on traditionally established hierarchies and culture. Aquarius snobbery is based on the practical exclusion of individuals who do not meet group consciousness.

Capricorn is culture. Aquarius – and I’d add Cancer – are more “cult” like having challenges with members who think or feel outside of the group consciousness.

The United States was “born” during Pluto in Aquarius and the group consciousness which is ruled both by Cancer (sun) and Aquarius (moon) is about fitting in whether to ideas of nationalism and loyalty or freedom and independence.

Freedom and independence as a cultural trait, a group consciousness – there’s an irony in this. Independence is individual so a group consciousness about individuality is a bit of an oxymoron.

And here were are.

Pluto in Capricorn Strikes Back

Astrologers are like economists trying to predict the future for both safety and enjoyment. And astrologers come in the usual flavors of doomsday prophets or la-la-land idealists.

Over time and with writing the greatest wisdom of astrology has revealed itself to me – balance and cycles. Balance (Libra) is the goal. When we are “doomsday” we push people away through fear. When we are la-la-land we often don’t have a definitive plan for improving a negative situation.

As America relaxed during the pandemic from a life of constant over-work, it appears some Pluto-in-Capricorn sorts didn’t like it. Yes, people can abuse any system. And, more importantly, some of us older folks are simply tired. Pre-pandemic my own feeling was that I was constantly chasing after my life. Regardless of what occurs in the corporate sphere, I will not return to that mode.

But the relaxation from corporate pressure has revealed some unpleasant facts: folks will chuck it away in a heartbeat and leaders lose control.

Pluto in Capricorn has not truly passed. In the US 2024 election the initial candidates were elderly men – we as a collective group are not ready to change guard. And now in 2025 the Capricorn backlash – ultimately about control – is upon us.

Take, for example, 78-year old Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. On February 4, 2025 he signed an Executive Order requiring return to office for state employees. Then on February 14, 2025 his choice for the newly-open Lieutenant Governor was 72-year old Ohio State University (OSU) football coach Jim Tressel.

DeWine, sun in Capricorn, moon in Gemini – is playing Father here in his characteristic both-sides-of-the-fence manner. Mandating return to office makes folks unhappy; making a popular sports figure his partner will create offsetting happiness.

Important note: If you haven’t lived in Columbus, Ohio this sports figure pick may not have meaning for you. Columbus is a sports town – even in the 1962 film The Manchurian Candidate Frank Sinatra’s character mentions it. Picking Tressel – aged and relatively inexperienced – is a shallow and superficial appeasement.

Father Time comes to us all

While it’s a bit unsettling that Pluto in Capricorn won’t see itself out, Father Time comes to us all and a ruling class in the last decades of physical existence means that soon they will change.

The question is – will we change? Or will Pluto force change upon us?

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Do you want to be here?

Posted on February 9, 2025 by ohioastrology

When first embracing the idea of reincarnation and explaining it to a friend, he replied, “That must be very comforting.”

Comforting? Not really, when I thought about it. And I wasn’t unhappy – it was an exciting period of growth. Until being questioned, I simply hadn’t thought of it in terms of comfort and doing so made me . . . uncomfortable.

Reincarnation is associated with “past” lives but if we lived before and now, why not again? Would I want to do this again?

Starting over as an infant in whatever time and place with unknown familial and environmental conditions is a uncomfortable thought to me. It’s a crap shoot. What if I end up in a country on earth that is in the middle of a war? What if I were born a slave?

Or maybe I’ll be born in a peaceful world living a happy beach life in a perfect climate. That would be nice. That would be nice in this live, right now.

Ask your friends and family and see the reaction to being born again. I’m surprised at the reactions I’ve heard from different people of all different faiths who are not unhappy – it’s an unpleasant thought. I can’t find any research on it to have a wider view.

In contrast the thought of dying and going to one place or being in one state forever – that can provide comfort. It’s like a nightcap at the end of day – a reward. Of course, punishment is also offered up in this scenario.

If we don’t want to be born again, do we want to be here now?

The Sun and Saturn

In the horoscope, the sun is the self and manifests as all planets do through the 12 signs of the zodiac. We are meant to express that sign and manifest the situations to help us with growth personal, material, mental and spiritual.

Also in the horoscope is Saturn which Indian astrologers refer to as Lord Karma. Saturn’s placement provides insight on what types of burdens or responsibilities or guilt we brought with us to this life. We all have Saturn in the horoscope, so it becomes a planet of boundaries, limitations or discipline as we work through those karmic issues.

While those not believing in reincarnation may not be interested in the concept of karma (cause and effect), it is interesting to see how much energy the personality devotes to Saturn – it’s like the parent we are eternally trying to please.

When surveying your family and friends on whether they’d want to do this – live on earth again – think about whether they are speaking from the sun (yes) or Saturn (no or yes, if).

Examine the Saturn in your horoscope for the reason you (might) feel you don’t want to be here and the sun for the reason you ARE here.

If we are born again, imagine the actions of today creating the Saturn of tomorrow. Imagine if tomorrow we are not sending “lethal aid” to others but are the recipients of it. Uncomfortable thoughts of reincarnation can be helpful in creating responsibility today, here and now.

Puppies

Thinking about what it means to be living on a planet with millions or even billons of people who maybe don’t want to be here – that’s an uncomfortable thought but may explain the state of the earth. If we are like travelers living in hotels – some of us at fancy hotels, some of us at dirty motels, some of us in between – how do we leave our hotel rooms?

Do we care about the hotel room? Do we get attached to it?

(Fancy hotels, yes for me, for your survey)

While thinking of this blog on my walk today I passed two puppies, one a labrador – my favorite kind of dog and puppy. Lab pups are very happy to be here, very happy to walk and smell and say hello and then do all of that some more.

Yet puppies, too, have a horoscope. Pet owners know animals have “personalities” of a sort but maybe not as nuanced as humans. If animals could talk or humans couldn’t, then maybe our personalities would be more similar.

If puppies have a Saturn in their horoscope, why are they always so happy to be here?

Maybe Saturn in a puppy’s horoscope is a human, or even a human who doesn’t want to be here.

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Synchronicity Interrupted

Posted on February 1, 2025 by ohioastrology

In the days before digital, some had the experience of hearing a new word or being exposed to a new concept or new object and then seeing that word, concept, or object frequently soon after. The common question that arose was: did the exposure create the awareness of something that had been screened out or ignored or was it spiritual or psychological synchronicity where something new was being brought to our consciousness?

Here’s what AI tells me:

  • Synchronicity is a concept in psychology.
  • It’s a way of describing events that happen at the same time and appear to be related, but there’s no obvious reason why they happened together.
  • Jung believed that synchronicity was a healthy part of the mind, but it could become harmful in psychosis.
  • The word synchronicity comes from the Greek words syn, meaning “together”, and khronos, meaning “time”.

Today the devices we carry are portals that allow us to see out into the digital world but also allow the digital world see in. Those looking in do want to see all that we do and mirror something back to us in the hopes of a purchase, a vote, or a behavior change.

If today if one is exposed to a new word, concept, or object, chances are that digital will pick up the signal and magnify it back to us. In this way, if there is synchronicity, it will be drowned within the calculated and targeted information landslide that awaits our clicks.

Synchronicity is interrupted.

Neptune in Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces

Digital “happened” during Neptune’s 15-year transits of Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. In Capricorn, tech became crystallized as an industry and made money and had stocks. It was a REAL thing.

In Aquarius, the leap was greater with idealization of all technology for its own sake, for the pleasure of creating it and using it. I’m innovative and intelligent if I use it.

In Pisces, Neptune is transiting the sign it rules. In Pisces, digital became a public utility and mass emotional trigger. It also became a mask worn by many players “out there” in the cloud. The “cloud” is a Neptune/Pisces concept. It’s there but it will change form at any moment.

Neptune Hall of Mirrors

Neptune is the planet of mystery, of dissolution, of spirituality, of otherworldliness. Neptune is our connection to all that is. Sounds so nice to some – but really who wants to be a speck of dust in a vast universe? The human ego isn’t designed to seek this type of experience, yet . . .

Neptune is magic, Neptune is music, Neptune is when we forget ourselves. These experiences are “heightened” and when experienced create longing which sometimes leads to substances that create the effect. Meditation can get us there but that takes a long time, a sustained standoff with the ego, waiting for it to get so bored that it finally steps aside.

Here’s what AI tells me:

  • A house of mirrors is a metaphor for what’s real and what’s not, or for how our perceptions can be distorted. It can also represent how we react to what we see in life.
  • A house of mirrors can represent how our perceptions can be distorted, such as when we see ourselves as a different shape or size in a mirror.
  • A house of mirrors can represent how we react to life, such as when we believe scary reflections to be real.

Digital life has taught us (if we want to learn) much about how perception can be manipulated. The negative effects can open our awareness to a wider understanding of how perception is manipulated with or without digital involvement. Digital didn’t create it; digital merely made the process easier to target both masses and individuals.

Take Facebook – it didn’t create worry about what others think of us – it merely gave a platform for enhancing that habit. It’s even called “Face” book indicating appearances and social reputation. It’s not hiding its nature.

How much are we altering our behavior due to Facebook? How often do we appease others? How often do we avoid/lie/dissimulate compared to pre-Facebook times?

There was a time (I lived it) where you could simply not answer the phone.

Those days are long gone.

Neptune in Aries

As Neptune leaves Pisces this year, it will move into Aries, a fire sign and first sign of the zodiac associated with spring, beginnings and self-assertion.

How will digital continue to evolve in the next 15 years?

If Capricorn made it reputable and Aquarius made it fashionable and Pisces made it inscrutable, then Aries may make it assertive. We’re already half-way there to handing our sovereignty over to digital.

If digital appears to do everything we want and meet our every need in the next 15 years, consider whether this is synchronicity or actually digital telling us what to do. Like our house pets, we think we train them but under detailed examination we may find they train us.

And if after reading this blog we see astrology feeds in the panels of our social media sites, it’s not synchronicity. Astrology, though, can help us with the reflections we see in the mirrors that surround us.

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Uranus in Gemini: Opposite Day

Posted on January 26, 2025 by ohioastrology

Half a century ago in an inner-city elementary school in northern Ohio, we had playground rituals for the days of the week: Tuesday was “Ten Thousand Kisses Day,” Wednesday was “Wedding Day,” and Friday was “Flip Up Day” which meant the boys flipping up the skirts and dresses of the girls. As a girl, the rituals appeared to be created by the boys but at the time I didn’t know statistics but was also busy protecting myself, as girls learn to do.

After all these years, can’t recall the ritual assignments for Monday and Thursday. Maybe we had “ten thousand kisses” on Thursday and Tuesday was something else. Maybe the weekly rituals started on “hump day” Wednesday.

Today such rituals in America would probably result in the common extreme and dualistic response of our culture: half the school would see the behavior of the boys as needing refinement, understanding the boys learned about sexuality before their time, that yes, boys, you may marry someday and kiss the girl but ten thousand times needs to be agreed upon and the lifting of the skirt will be taught to you in high school, don’t do it now or without permission later because it’s a bad thing to do.

The other half of the school would see in the behavior traditional family values and remind the world that “boys will be boys” which isn’t said out loud anymore but appears to still hold true. It’s a fact that kisses often lead to upturned skirts. And let’s not forget that a lot of pride – male and female – is based on sexual conquest. And for elementary school kids who still don’t (or didn’t) have much interest in the opposite sex to know this also relates to parental beliefs.

I can see the headlines now!

Although it doesn’t align with the sounds of Monday and Thursday, I do recall vaguely an “Opposite Day.” Maybe Opposite Day was spontaneous. As the planet Uranus will soon transit (move into) Gemini in 2025, it’s a good time to remember this elementary school rituals and how to respond.

Uranus

Traditionally Uranus rules Aquarius, the fixed air sign. Astrology like many disciplines has undergone a more modern interpretation so you won’t find astrologers commenting that if you have Mars in the first house you may be stabbed in the head with a sword.

Half a century ago, Uranus/Aquarius was known for being rebellious which could mean upside down, opposite or backwards behavior to the norm. For example, if most folks sleep at night, Uranus/Aquarius might sleep during the day (excluding night shift behavior). If folks eat bacon and eggs for breakfast, Uranus/Aquarius might eat it for dinner and have spaghetti for breakfast which a long while back might have been seen as odd behavior. Homosexuality was also lumped into Uranus/Aquarius behavior as being different, odd or against the norm.

The opposite behaviors can be deliberate rebelliousness looking for reaction or simply the unique way of looking at the world. Maybe our Uranus/Aquarius friend was eating spaghetti for breakfast in advance of a long jog and deemed it the logical breakfast.

Uranus in Gemini

Now take this unique and rebellious energy and insert Gemini, the mutable air sign known for its mental and verbal agility, dual nature (Gemini is represented by the twins), and constant shifting. Gemini won’t let you pin it down so even if you’ve figured out the Gemini “formula” don’t let Gemini know or there will be a reactive change to keep you guessing.

With these skills, Gemini gone bad is known as the con artist, another traditional interpretation that astrologers today don’t use much. Con artistry is more prevalent than ever but as a term has been replaced by more nuanced definitions: scams, phishing, kiting, disinformation, and branding.

With Uranus in Gemini, plan to think “opposite.” When, say, a government official proclaims that they are making the community safe, understand that they may truly be asking for more violence so that we can be more “safe.”

If, say, a government official says they are making a place “great” (a vague adjective), look to see if that same government official is truly disdainful of and destructive to his own people. Can one love a country but not its people?

When business and technology owners ask us to enroll in ever more digital tools and devices for our safety and convenience, are we safer or are we now fielding more threats to our safety? Is anyone less busy than they were 20 years ago?

Here’s a joke from the late 19th or early 20th century that I read long ago but am paraphrasing as I can’t find it today. It’s a Twain-like joke if not by Twain and also very Uranus-in-Geminis:

Two men are talking about Mrs. Abbott and her two sons. The one man says, “Yeah, she’s got two sons. One went bad and is a criminal. The other isn’t a senator.”

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