Six Degrees of Astrological Separation

Posted on March 2, 2014 by ohioastrology

If we’re all six degrees separated from Kevin Bacon, people have been wondering, are we also six degrees separated from him astrologically?

It’s a question trending on the Internet right now. People are up at night wondering.

Really.

Since there are only 12 signs in the zodiac representing 12 energies, chances are you are just like actor Kevin Bacon in some way.

What you need to remember is that there are ten planets (includes Pluto and moon) in 12 signs in 12 houses and that’s where we differ from Bacon.

Bacon, for example, may get up in the morning and eat breakfast, as you do. He may, however, choose to eat raw Ramen noodles whereas you eat leftover pizza.

See?

People all over the world get up and eat breakfast, just like you and Kevin Bacon.

It’s refreshing to learn how much we are alike on this large planet. We can stop fighting now.

The First Degree

Actor Kevin Bacon has sun in warm, loving Cancer and moon (and Mars) in aggressive, competitive Aries. That’s a bit of a conflict as Cancer wants a stable emotional environment and Aries keeps upsetting the apple cart.

Saturn in Sagittarius and Mercury/Uranus in Leo create a grand fire trine which clearly brings this Cancer out of his shell. Bacon has five of the ten planets in fire.

In fact, Bacon’s Cancer sun has few watery playmates in the chart with only Neptune in Scorpio.

Poor sun.

I wonder how much Bacon’s sun tries to put out the raging fire in the rest of his personality.

But how does this relate to the rest of us?

Second Degree

Actress Angelina Jolie, like Bacon, has moon in Aries.

Like Bacon, for Jolie life is too slow, drivers too cautious, red lights too long and people talk too slow for this fast-moving, fast-acting, impulsive moon sign.

Aries moon is a bit neurotic for this reason, acting a bit like a moon in a water sign. Aries wants to jump out of its skin, do everything, be everything – now.

And, by the way, Aries moon is competing with you. Did you just self-scan your groceries at the supermarket? That Aries behind you will do it faster! You didn’t know it, because you were already in your car driving away, but they beat you.

Unlike Bacon, Jolie’s Saturn is in Cancer suggesting that home is a place of limitation, a place she doesn’t feel she truly belongs. Saturn in Cancer is looking for comfort, for belonging which the Aries moon threatens because, again, Aries moon is knocking over the apple cart all the time.

Third Degree

Actor Leonardo Dicaprio also has Saturn in Cancer. But he has a bit of water to help out that Saturn with Mercury, Mars, sun and Venus in Scorpio. He’s also got Jupiter in Pisces.

His moon is in Libra tucked between Pluto and Uranus.

Yikes! I hadn’t realized what an intense boy our Leo is. Girls, if you do hook up with him, remember that he’s extremely possessive and controlling. You might do better to love him on screen while sitting in the theater where there’s a bit of air to breathe.

Dicaprio’s Neptune in Sagittarius brings an attraction to things far and foreign. It’s trine Pluto in Libra so these unusual partnerships are what transforms Dicaprio from controlling to cooperative.

Controlling or not, Mars and Venus in Scorpio suggests many a girl won’t mind being stuck at home with Dicaprio’s eagle eye upon their every move.

Good luck girls.

Fourth Degree

Actress Shailene Woodley also has Mars in Scorpio. Like Dicaprio, she’s got some controlling aspects with Pluto conjunct that Mars and sun in Scorpio.

She’s born of the generation with Uranus and Neptune in Capricorn. As current transiting Pluto begins its transformation of all this generation was born into, this group will have a lot of work to do to clean up the mess of broken structures left by their recent ancestors.

Woodley has moon in super-sensitive Pisces which seems, to my eyes, to make her an incredible actress who shared the spotlight with George Clooney in The Descendants as leading lady. As an aside, Ohio Astrology would like to present her with an award for that role. Very well done.

Woodley’s Venus in Libra is the area that provides some relief to her serious chart in the form of fun and frivolous pleasures with loving company.

Woodley is not one to make friends easily but if you are her friend, it is for life. She would even risk her life for those she loves.

Jupiter in Virgo is opposite moon in Pisces suggesting health interest if not health concerns. The Astrotheme chart has no time of birth so we don’t know where this is in her chart or if it is truly opposed by degree.

Fifth Degree

Actor Will Smith also has Jupiter in Virgo. Smith was born during the Pluto/Uranus conjunction in Virgo so has those two planets mixed up with the benevolent Jupiter. He also has Mars in Virgo but in the early degrees of the sign and not involved in the Jupiter/Pluto/Uranus conjunction.

Smith’s sun is in Libra (with Mercury and Venus) with moon (and far away Neptune) in Scorpio.

The Astrotheme chart places most of Smith’s planet’s beneath the ascendant suggesting a more personal, less public, life. Saturn at the top of the chart in Aries suggests lack of confidence while the Leo rising is throwing its mane back to impress the world around with its strength and ferociousness.

Smith seems a truly shy person who probably performs only when there is a crowd. If we catch him at home cleaning or balancing the checkbook (four planets in Virgo in the 2nd house) or writing sad poetry (Libra and Scorpio energy), we’d see a man without façade.

I can imagine one of those pictures now, of Smith hunched over a ledger, the electric bill in his hand, reading glasses on, caught unawares, looking like an average Joe paying the bills.

Four planets in Virgo suggest a worrying nature and health concerns, possibly stemming from that very nature. Smith may be a pill popper but one who pops only mega doses of vitamins. I can also see the “average Joe” Smith at the health food store looking at nutrition labels.

There is probably excessive concern with diet and exercise.

Sixth Degree

Like Smith, this blogger is born during the Pluto/Uranus conjunction in Virgo. This is the generation that brought us hand sanitizer and made “organic” a household word.

We have now connected our astrological separation from Kevin Bacon.

What’s even more eerie about this connection is how much this writer likes bacon and eggs.

The universe is unfathomable!

Posted in Actors | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Neptune in Pisces: Escape and Enablement

Posted on March 1, 2014 by ohioastrology

There’s an interesting commercial on substance abuse. It shows a daughter being egged on by her mother to have a party as mom says she’ll supply the beer. We learn from the commercial that even if mom is buying, it’s still wrong. We learn mom is enabling bad behavior and also mom has some issues herself.

This is a very powerful message because it says mom can’t always be trusted. And while that’s true, what do you do if mom is buying the beer? What do you do if your friends like it and you don’t?

I see some painful situations here that need more than a commercial to solve.

Bringing these messages into the image portals such as television is probably courtesy of Chiron in Pisces and the generation born under it who is also trying to stop bullying and other issues of victimization.

This is also an interesting message as Neptune transits Pisces, Neptune being the natural ruler of Pisces. It’s time to talk about such Piscean life situations such as ecstasy and escape, the feelings we generate ourselves and those we pick up from others, saving and rescuing, influence through image, faith and belief and, as some Buddhists term it, idiot compassion.

Neptune takes about 15 years to make it through a sign so we’ve got a little time to work this out.

Escape Routes and Enablement

Pisces and Neptune when overwhelmed with reality are known, more than other signs, to escape. Escape comes through fantasy, imagination, drugs (legal and non-legal) and alcohol.

Everyone escapes now and then. What is a vacation but an escape? Who doesn’t need a bit of rejuvenation that comes from a short break with one’s life?

Escape goes bad when it’s done regularly. Like drugs, escape can be difficult to try “just once” as some escapes latch onto parts of your brain that turn them from escapes to compulsions.

Water Escape

Although Neptune traveling through a water sign and our current transiting grand trine (Neptune in Pisces, Jupiter in Cancer and Saturn in Scorpio) are focused on water escape, escape can come through any of the elements.

Escape through water (drinking) is a very common one as it is half food item half intoxicant and has existed for millennia.

Water escape comes through merging and dissolution of boundaries and can also include things like film and music where you lose a sense of self. For two hours of a movie in a theater, you are a superhero saving princesses or a princess being saved by a superhero.

The lights hurt when you walk outside.

Water enablement also exists through the culturification (is this not a word?) of intoxicants. In the TV commercial mentioned above, mom says it’s okay to have a little beer at the party. What’s a party without alcohol?

Air Escape

Air escape comes through socializing, partnering and talking.

All of these escapes are from physical aloneness. Today’s enhanced phone capabilities are bringing communication 24 hours a day from a number of communication channels.

The talking never stops. There are no holy days.

For me, a manifestation of air sign escape is marketing. Data is so prevalent today (due to technology but also our willingness to continuously provide data) that ads and coupons are geared particularly and exclusively to our habits.

Maybe in a fit of emotion I eat a whole Sara Lee cheesecake (and I swear I’ve never done this) and post this information on a social media site. Now I receive offers and pictures of Sara Lee cheesecakes. I don’t receive offers for quinoa or split pea soup or frozen hash browns. These products cease to exist.

Is this not enablement?

This also occurs in the realm of news. No longer is the news “news” but information feeds based on my interests. How do I receive relevant information outside of my interests? How do I know the polluted water is coming downstream?

Fire Escape

Fire rules the spirit so escape can take the form of daring activities, sports, romance or simply creating dramas in the environment.

Romance, of course, is fun, but when you’re married, romance outside of the home is often frowned upon. The constant need for romantic conquest is a type of escape. Sex as escape, in contrast, is more in the realm of water and escape through merging.

Enablement of fire escape also comes, I think, in the form of media specifically tailored to my desires that comes through sports, gambling, online gaming and film.

In the Star Trek episode The Cage, the captain and a stranded female on an alien planet find themselves suddenly in the midst of their own desires and fantasies. Their desires become the external reality and they are like actors.

The captain longed for the green pastures of home and suddenly finds himself there, in the flesh. His stranded female falls right into her part but the captain knows it’s not real and refuses to participate.

Who could resist an entire universe created from our own desire?

Earth Escape

Earth rules practical affairs, responsibilities and material goods.

Earth sign escapes can include working too much, shopping too much or taking on too much responsibility.

The workaholic is a typical earth sign escape artist. The workaholic is noticeable (if you work with him or her) but escape through excessive responsibility less so.

The person taking on too much responsibility is escaping fire, or the life of the spirit. Separation anxiety for earth comes when there is no work to be done and the day is an empty slate. Earth sign anxiety may also come from worrying about finances and security.

How do you enable earth?

Keeping people in a cycle of debt is a form of earthly enablement as allows for material possessions beyond one’s means that must be protected by continued work and asset accumulation.

By enabling earth, companies make more money in which to enable earth in a continued (and endless?) cycle.

Neptune in Pisces

Neptune will be in water-sign Pisces until about 2025. Prior to this transit, Neptune was in air-sign Aquarius from 1998-2011, in earth-sign Capricorn from 1984-1998 and fire-sign Sagittarius from 1971-1984.

I’m expecting Neptune in Pisces to bring increased consumption and culturification of alcohol. As this occurs, the now nascent Uranus/Pluto in Virgo generation will have Neptune opposing this natal conjunction. I can imagine strong debates about whether alcohol consumption is good or bad for health.

Prohibition in the US occurred during Neptune in Leo and was repealed as Neptune entered Virgo. Uranus was in Aquarius, Pisces and Aries during Prohibition while Pluto was in Cancer.

In 1933 when Prohibition was repealed, Neptune was in Virgo and Pluto in Cancer. Now Neptune is in Virgo’s opposite Pisces and Pluto is in Cancer’s opposite Capricorn. Uranus was in Aries then and is in Aries now.

The debate in the US begun in 1920 and ended in 1933 may pick up again, especially as we legalize other non-prescribed drugs such as marijuana.

Posted in Planets and signs | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Deposed Rulers in the News: Yanukovych, Morsi & Maduro

Posted on February 23, 2014 by ohioastrology

If you’ve been keeping up on your astrological news these past couple years, you’re well aware of the friction between ruler of the skies Uranus and ruler of the underworld Pluto.

Astrological Uranus transiting cardinal fire sign Aries has been squaring Pluto transiting cardinal earth sign Capricorn. These two planets are far-out in space so have spent a long time already in this duel.

Uranus is lightening which brings sudden, intense but fleeting illumination. In the sign of Aries the lightening is not only pointing you to that which is in the dark, but is setting it on fire. If you don’t notice the fire in the corner, there’s not much else Uranus can do for you.

Pluto is an earthquake which shakes your foundations. This is the scariest of the shifts in consciousness because when the ground moves, there is nowhere to run. In the sign of Capricorn the earthquake is tumbling structures such as banking, politics, education and anything corporate (which in the US is just about everything).

Aries energy is about personal self and Capricorn energy is about social self. These are two sides of the cardinal square. The other two sides are Cancer which is family and belonging and Libra which is about partnership and balance.

Guess what?

Every so often in this five-year friction between Uranus and Pluto (which is sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker), other planets decide to get involved.

Today the expansive Jupiter and aggressive Mars are involved. For the next five months, Jupiter is transiting Cancer and Mars is transiting Libra.

In July, those two planets will change signs. In July, today will feel eons away.

Jupiter is expansive which is good in your wallet but not in your waistline. You wallet and waistline are in close proximity and that is the challenge Jupiter brings. In Cancer, Jupiter brings family and a sense of belonging in tight emotional groups. Cancer is a water sign so we are also seeing lots of rain and possibly tears although this can’t be confirmed. (Jupiter is also part of a grand water trine with Saturn and Neptune – Jupiter is clearly busy).

Mars is the warrior. Does this very common movie, book and video game theme need any more explanation? Mars is assertion of self. Hey, I’m here. Hey it’s me. In Libra, this self-focused energy is directed toward partnerships and, as the scales would suggest, balance and fairness. That confuses Mars which is struggling for territory and can make that energy tied up inside as it tries to be nice and fair. Mars isn’t mean, it simply must move forward and, sorry, if that is your territory.

This grand square of Pluto, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars is creating a wee bit of social uprising across the world and a few men at the top can explain to you better what a grand cross feels like. Those men are Ukraine’s Viktor Yanukovych, Egypt’s Mohamed Morsi and Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro.

Viktor Yanukovych

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is currently deposed, having been impeached yesterday.

How does Yanukovych’s horoscope (using the Astrotheme horoscope) fit into the grand square?

Yanukovych has three planets in Cancer (Uranus, Mercury and sun) and two in Libra (Mars and Neptune).

Yanukovych has moon in Taurus square Pluto in Leo. Moon/Pluto aspects are the mark of a politician for me, indicating a compulsive need to control the environment as a result of early psychic or physical assault.

Taurus, like Libra, is ruled by Venus which rules pleasure. Taurus is the more physical, sensual aspect while Libra focuses on others and romance.

In November 2013, when the trouble began for Yanukovych, Jupiter had passed his sun. It then went retrograde (apparent backward motion) and is now tucked between his Uranus and Mercury.

Mars is returning to its natal position next to Neptune which gives one a mystical and physical beauty that is appealing to others which also goes by the name charm.

Pluto, using the Astrotheme chart, is transiting the 4th house of family (which is what Cancer is about) and Uranus is transiting the 7th house (which is what Libra is about). Jupiter is transiting Yanukovych’s 10th house (which is what Capricorn is about).

In other words, the cardinal grand square is hitting Yanukovych’s natal cardinal planets and affecting the cardinal houses. Yanukovych has a square in his horoscope between Cancer and Libra. Transiting Pluto and Uranus are creating the grand square.

First, we know that protestors like to protest on public SQUARES (as opposed to parks or baseball diamonds) so the tension built into the square is physically manifested both for Yanukovych and his environment.

Yanukovych’s personal earthquake is in the house of personal emotions. Don’t think he’s not ready to crumble both materially and emotionally. His personal enlightenment is from the house of partnerships so a fire is being lit not only on his public relationships but on his personal relationships.

The water and tears are coming from his career, as we’re well aware. Yanukovych is crying for Ukraine.

And lastly, Yanukovych’s aggressive Mars is directed, again, toward partnerships. The anger which Mars in Libra doesn’t express well is going toward those Yanukovych loves most. Natal Neptune in Libra conjunct Mars denies that his expression toward family and partners is anything but nice. Also, Mars and Neptune in the 1st house indicate extreme suggestibility by those he is attracted to.

On the personal level, the grand cross is telling Yanukovych to act with courage. His chart is not courageous – it’s too geared toward comfort – even though political position can suggest to the world that you have cajones.

Jupiter in Cancer, however, may provide Yanukovych a place he can call home where he feels more connection. Those he previously called family are not coming, but in the end, that may be what Yanukovych’s personal horoscope is suggesting is best.

Mohamed Morsi

Egypt’s former president Mohamed Morsi, like Yanukovych, is currently deposed and in prison standing trial for espionage.

When first looking at Morsi’s horoscope a couple years ago, I found an August 20 birthdate. Astrotheme’s horoscope has his birthday as August 8.

August puts sun in Leo. August 8 has moon in Libra while August 20 has moon in Aries. Jupiter is in Aries in both charts while Uranus is in Cancer. Mars would be in Cancer August 8 and in Leo August 20.

The mark of a politician is there with Pluto conjunct the sun in Leo.

Morsi is made of stronger stuff than Yanukovych with fire in the chart and Pluto involved. This deposed ruler is fighting for both his physical and political life as he’s in prison and on trial.

Remember that the Plutonian phoenix rises from the ashes and looking at Morsi’s chart(s) a couple years ago and now, I still feel he’s going to make it through this in some way. He may not be president, but he may remain walking the earth in some other role.

Morsi, like Yanukovych, has a few pieces of this grand square in his horoscope. He has the Cancer (Uranus and Mars), the Aries (Jupiter and maybe moon) and the Libra (Neptune and maybe moon).

Also like Yanukovych, transiting Pluto in Capricorn is a missing piece. But, hey, if you’re going to rule a country you’re going to meet the god of the underworld at some point.

Because it is transiting Capricorn, Pluto has arrived for all politicians.

None of the charts I found for Morsi, for either August 8 or August 20, have time of birth.

So we don’t know where in Morsi’s chart his personal earthquake is occurring. Since he sits in prison at this moment accused of espionage, we can hazard a guess at the 12th house which is the house of confinement.

Morsi’s expansion is coming to his natal Uranus while his natal Jupiter is getting a visit from Uranus. Morsi’s enlightenment regards family and how much they have helped/hurt him. Possibly there are feelings of betrayal from a family member.

The aggressive Mars is opposing aggressive Jupiter in Aries which enlarges the sense of self, especially as it trines the sun and Pluto. This transiting Mars is conjunct Neptune telling Morsi he’d better act nice, at least until July.

The moon is also involved in this whether in Aries or Libra.

Don’t think Morsi is moping in prison. Somehow he is being energized in his sense of mission. He’s got the Pluto self-control to reign in his fire energies.

In July when Jupiter moves into Leo and Mars into Virgo, Morsi may be back on the public stage. Mars will then be transiting his Mercury so expect to hear a lot at that time from (or about) Morsi.

Nicolas Maduro

Unlike Yanukovych and Morsi, at this moment Maduro is still President of Venezuela. Wait, let me Google it and double check. Ok, I think this is still true.

With Uranus involved, you never know.

Using the Astrotheme horoscope, Maduro has Mercury and sun in Sagittarius with moon in Libra. That moon in Libra is the only cardinal sign in his horoscope.

Natal Uranus and Pluto are in Virgo and Pluto makes a wide square to sun, the mark of a politician. But it’s not as strong as in Yanukovych’s or Morsi’s horoscope.

Natal Mars in Leo is too wide to trine the sun, but adds the strength of fire to Maduro’s chart. In my own study of Latin American leader charts, there’s a liking for fire in a president.

Where does revolution land in Maduro’s horoscope?

Using the Astrotheme chart, Maduro’s earthquake has just moved from the house of others’ money to the 9th house of long-distance travel. Maduro is trying to take a long plane trip to Washington DC but might find himself vacationing elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Maduro’s enlightenment has just moved from the house of groups into the 12th house of confinement and hidden enemies. Uranus opposes the moon in the 6th house of health and work, a placement that suggests mental instability (Neptune is also in the 6th but in Scorpio).

Mars is transiting that 6th house so personal self is dependent upon another, and another may also be in the form of substance. With moon and Neptune in the 6th, Maduro may be taking medicine for mental and/or emotional issues.

Maduro’s expansion is occurring in the 3rd house of siblings, neighbors and learning. This opposes the 9th house of travel and often when you travel, you have to learn a new language, understand the menu and tune into the vibes of the culture around you.

The 3rd/9th house axis involves perception, learning, travel, neighbors and siblings. Maduro is undergoing a transformation regarding his basic perception of the world.

Transiting Uranus also forms a wide fire trine in Maduro’s chart with sun in Sagittarius and Mars in Leo. In July when Jupiter enters Leo, the fire will increase.

Fire fights and like water knows no boundaries. I’m wondering if the fighting Maduro would turn aggression on himself in times of struggle or confinement. Like Morsi, Maduro won’t go down without a fight. But Maduro’s chart suggests no matter how bloody his face, he will continue to rise for the next punch even if self-destructive.

Transiting Saturn (in Scorpio) is in Maduro’s house of health and moving into the 7th. In a year it will be moving toward his natal Mercury and sun. Saturn contracts which Sagittarius dislikes intensely.

Fire must learn discipline to be effective and Maduro is getting a strong lesson in this. With moon and Neptune in the natal 6th, discipline may always seem like a bad traffic cop and Maduro may overreact by setting himself on fire.

Perceptual changes are the most difficult because it suggests that you may have been living in delusion or that everything you think and know must be discarded for a new way of thinking – much easier said than done.

Posted in Politicians - Not Ohio | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Hugh Grant’s Fecundity

Posted on February 16, 2014 by ohioastrology

According to People magazine (January 17, 2014 print issue), actor Hugh Grant is the father of three children, one born late 2011, one born September 2012 and one born February 2013.

September 2012 and February 2013 are five months apart so, obviously, have two different mothers. A source listed in the People magazine article as a “loyal friend” says “I can’t imagine any man wanting to get two women pregnant at the same time.”

Our loyal friend hasn’t kept up with the news or history. In this Psychology Today article The Wide World of Polygamy, the author writes that “Plural marriage is surprisingly common, and popular, elsewhere.”

The elsewhere means not the “northern and western nations of Europe” referenced by a US court in 1878 when writing against polygamy.

Let’s allow our northern and western European sensibilities (and by extension US sensibilities) to relax (it may take medically prescribed marijuana to do so) and think about the situation without the idea of one man one woman.

Ah, I can feel my headache disperse, my ideas surrounding marriage falling like leaves off an autumn tree, flowing freely in the wind to land at the base of my neighbor’s garage. He can sweep them up, if at all.

It’s a simple feeling of freedom, for a moment, to release all one’s ideas about a situation.

Hugh Grant’s Fecundity

When letting go of all my thoughts on marriage, what remains is that Grant is quite fecund.

Fecundity isn’t a word we use much these days as love, marriage and childbearing being under the rule of a generation born with Uranus conjunct Pluto in Virgo. This generation believes in plans and schedules and there is nothing in life not under this energy.

Fecundity has probably lost its appeal in northern and western nations of Europe as people live longer and most babies survive. Producing many babies isn’t necessary to replace children lost through the trials of a harsh existence.

According to The World Bank site, the highest world fertility rate is 7.6 (Niger) and the lowest 1.0 (Macao). The United Kingdom is at 2.0 so Grant is 50 percent higher than average for his locale.

Grant is fecund.

What aspects produced this fecundity?

Using the Astrotheme horoscope, Grant has Virgo rising with moon in Taurus. Grant has a widely-aspected earth trine with Pluto (and sun and Mercury) in Virgo, Saturn in Capricorn and moon in Taurus.

Earth trines love earth things – the taste, touch and smell – of our physical existence (although Virgo is often allergic to a great portion of this stuff).

Grant’s fecundity began late 2010, early 2011 when Pluto was in the early degrees of Capricorn and conjunct his natal Saturn in Capricorn. Transiting Pluto was trine natal Pluto and natal moon.

At the same time, transiting Neptune in the last degrees of Aquarius was opposing natal Uranus in Leo. Transiting Jupiter and Uranus, in the last degrees of Pisces, were opposing Grant’s sun/Mercury in Virgo, which, by the way, is the 12th (hidden) house.

At the same time all this is going on, transiting Saturn in Libra was conjunct natal Venus in Libra.

Traditionally, fecundity is related to the 5th house which rules romance and children. Unless the Astrotheme chart is incorrect, there’s only a little of that going on here with transiting Neptune in the 5th just making its way to the 6th (house of health).

With the strong Saturn/Capricorn overtones to Grant’s fatherhood, his fecundity relates to the need to settle down and have permanence. Transiting Saturn on the pleasure-loving Venus in Libra says it’s time to make that love affair a permanent relationship.

The Uranus influences bring the suddenness and possibly even the feeling of accident but I think the true desire is for propagation. Uranus simply allowed it to happen.

Transiting Pluto on Saturn in Capricorn also suggests that self-reliance is being tested , as are the very knees and skeletal structures themselves. This transit may have also provided a health scare in those body parts. Currently transiting Neptune in Pisces is in the 6th house of health opposing natal Pluto which may bring unusual health problems into the open.

At the same time, currently transiting Saturn on Neptune provides the existential angst that asks, “Why am I here and what has it all meant?”

A health scare or existential angst can both drive an individual closer to family; and, if there is no family, the desire to create one. These aspects can also point toward spirituality and religion.

While our western sensibility news stories portray Grant as the rake-like character he portrayed in Bridget Jones’ Diary, our astrological sensibilities suggest Grant is experiencing a strong desire to continue his lineage which may be driven, as it often is in middle-age, by the feeling of mortality (Capricorn). Mortality may be felt through health scares or simply existential questions of meaning.

12th House Sun

It’s odd to find a 12th house sun person in the spotlight. Possibly that Venus in Libra in the first house attracted the attention and the sun and her Virgo friends came along.

Café Astrology says this about a 12th house sun:

You have a tendency to be introspective and need some space and seclusion in order to pull up your strength. You may avoid the spotlight, and if you do find yourself in a public role, you tend to hide your true self behind that role! Because your will is directed inwards, you need to find a path for yourself that allows you to “get away from it all” at least some of the time. Honor your need to be alone with yourself, but avoid over-identifying with your inner world to the point that you truly feel alone in a crowd. You shine when you serve others in some way. Your compassion sets you apart from others, but try to work with it rather than let your compassion work against you by reinforcing your own sense of loneliness.

Yet Grant’s natal Mars in Gemini opposing Jupiter in Sagittarius squares the Virgo sun and creates a fear and boredom of routine and desire for fast-paced, constantly-changing stimulation.

How does one manage the need for a constantly-changing environment and the need for intense privacy?

This is Grant’s struggle.

The Present and Beyond

Now that transiting Pluto is passing over Grant’s natal Saturn in Capricorn in the 4th house of home and family, it’s time for Grant to re-structure that personal life.

Saturn in that house suggests the early home life didn’t have structure or form so Grant has to learn to do this on his own.

Transiting Jupiter in Cancer opposed this last year and now is breaking free from opposition in the 10th house of career. The 10th house is also one’s reputation and I suspect Grant will move forward on the image of a dad, a true image, not a public-relations-inspired image.

When Jupiter moves into Leo mid summer, Grant may bask in fatherhood in the middle of the park for all to see. Leo is proud of its children and expresses love of them openly.

Transiting Mars in Libra is going back and forth (as it will spend six months in Libra rather than the normal two months) over Grant’s Venus creating a relationship that is on-again, off-again until about the same time that Jupiter moves into Leo.

In July of this year, Grant will probably make some relationship changes.

Transiting Saturn is in Grant’s 3rd house and for about three more years will be in the 3rd and 4th houses which will keep Grant close to home (both willingly and unwillingly). After that time, Grant will have worked out that new groove of fatherhood.

Posted in Actors | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ohio Astrology Recommends Moving Valentine’s Day to August 14

Posted on February 14, 2014 by ohioastrology

This year’s Valentine’s Day brings us a full-moon in Leo, so we’re half way there. Fraternal love, erotic love – what’s the difference?

ohioastrology's avatarOhio Astrology

It’s interesting to compare the characteristics of holidays and the characteristics of the sign in which they reside.

Major Holidays

Easter (late March, early April) is in the sign of Aries, the first sign of the zodiac representing beginnings. Easter, in fact, is a moving holiday that clearly follows the patterns in the sky for its date.

St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) is in the sign of emotional, watery Pisces. Green is the color of the heart chakra and represents emotional openness. Is it a wonder that this holiday is celebrated with alcohol?

Memorial Day (last Monday in May) is in the sign of Gemini, which is the sign of communication, short travels, neighbors and siblings. This holiday doesn’t seem to have a lot to do with Gemini. But I’m not sure what sign would work well for remembering the deceased of war.

Labor Day (first Monday in September) is…

View original post 482 more words

Posted in Holidays | 1 Comment

Justin Bieber’s Changing Reality

Posted on February 10, 2014 by ohioastrology

There should be a rule in the cosmos that you can’t have an intense Neptune transit until you are at least 80 years old and experienced in enough in life events to handle it.

Why?

Do you remember how TV shows in the 1950s and 1960s surrounded beautiful female leads with a hazy glow? Like in Star Trek whenever Captain Kirk fell for a woman we knew it right away – there’s that hazy glow. Religious paintings also show saints with that same hazy glow, called a halo, around their heads.

But you’re not supposed to see the hazy glow around everything.

Neptune brings the hazy glow. It’s alluring, appealing and intoxicating. Under Neptune transits, you may even see a hazy glow around something that might not truly have one – like a trash can or letter from the IRS.

That’s the good and bad of Neptune.

Neptune brings sublime awe or consuming delusion. Or both.

And when you’re strongly influenced by Neptune, others may see a hazy glow around your head too. Inside that bubble of affection you may wonder, “Why do they love me so much?”

Ah, Neptune can be complicated. That’s the problem with having a halo that you can’t remove.

Justin Bieber

Right this very moment singer Justin Bieber is experiencing a Neptune transit of his Saturn and sun – it’s tucked in between creating a hazy glow between the self and boundaries to the self.

In other words, there are no boundaries.

Saturn in Pisces isn’t so good at this but Venus in Pisces doesn’t want it anyway. Natal Venus is also in Pisces but transiting Neptune won’t go there for a few years.

Bieber’s moon is in Libra, another sign with limited boundaries as Libra is focused almost exclusively on forming relationships. Libra’s sense of self is developed in reaction to the relationships it forms.

Where can we find boundaries in Bieber’s horoscope?

Do Jupiter and Pluto in Scorpio create boundaries? Since Scorpio is interested in intimate and intense emotional encounters, that’s not the place to find the fence that makes good neighbors. If the Astrotheme chart is correct, Bieber also has a Scorpio rising.

Oh, there’s some Capricorn which loves, loves boundaries. But the planets in Capricorn are boundary-less Neptune and sudden-enlightenment Uranus. Also, transiting Pluto is heading that way . . .

That leaves Bieber’s Mercury and Mars in fixed air Aquarius to do all the work in creating not only boundaries but an individual sense of self. When Bieber is rebellious is when he is strongest.

Now rebellion doesn’t mean drinking and driving – that’s the Neptune forgetting that the hazy glow masks the hard pavement and trees which may come crashing into the glow.

Neptune likes intoxication and is drawn to drink and drugs.

Saturn is currently transiting Scorpio and will be crossing Bieber’s ascendant in late fall. It will cross Powerful Pluto at that time. Saturn and Pluto together is a very intense, powerful, enraged pairing.

Bieber’s combination of gentle Libra and Pisces energy combined with the transit of Saturn on Pluto is like a dove carrying a nuclear bomb. I’m suspecting that Bieber has a very strong load of pent-up anger and rage and will be quite intense. The problem with this kind of rage is that it often consumes the host.

If Bieber had more fire energy, he might be able to express what’s coming in a healthy manner, like through sports or some other angry artistic expression. Unfortunately both Pisces and Libra are reluctant to express anger or make others angry through fear of losing love and thereby falling into traps of victim, scapegoat or savior.

Unfortunately, Neptune for Bieber brought fame and fame means experiencing this in the public space. Turning public figures into scapegoats or saviors is quite common and Bieber may fall prey to these reactions.

Neptune also brings love and spirituality so it’s possible that after the storm there will be calm. As transiting Neptune heads towards Bieber’s Venus in a few years, an all encompassing love may take over his life.

Robert Hand on Neptune transit of Saturn

Robert Hand says in Planets in Transit that transiting Neptune conjunct Saturn represents one’s concept of reality changing through dissolution of existing concepts.

An excerpt:

Under this transit, you will discover that in many ways your view of the world isn’t at all correct. This may occur though a serious of obvious disappointments, or it may take place more subtly through an increasing sense of anxiety that has no obvious cause. Fear and loss of self-confidence are two of the most difficult effects of this transit. You may suddenly become afraid for almost no reason at all, and you may fear things that are not at all threatening to others. It is as if you were becoming disoriented.

Saturn rules the structure we give to our universe, the way we see and experience the world. Neptune reveals higher aspects of the universe, including the fact that it has many possible realities, of which ours is only one. When Neptune shows you this, reality becomes very confusing, and you become lost in a sea of infinite possibilities in which everything is true but nothing is true. This is the “dark night of the soul” referred by mystics, the period of confusion that precedes the understanding that you can live with a reality that is different from what you had thought. At the highest level this transit can be a prelude to enlightenment, understanding the true nature of the “illusion” we call reality.

It seems like you need to have spent a lot of time on earth to experience all that.

Neptune transits through a sign can take up to 15 years so it can take that long to dissolve and re-build a world view.

Posted in Musicians | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

February 9 Uniqueness

Posted on February 9, 2014 by ohioastrology

Let’s have a little Aquarian fun, boys and girls. At the Sunday dinner table this evening let’s tell mom and dad that we’ve figured out what we’d like to do in life – tell them you want to live a wandering ascetic life devoted to music, poetry and philosophy.

Are they fully supportive? Or are they a little worried about your ability to pay the rent and have health insurance?

Now you’ve just experienced a little of what it’s like to be a fixed air Aquarius. If you’re born in the sign of Aquarius (end of January through mid-February), you’re probably used to having this type of reaction from mom and dad as well as the moms and dads of the entire planet.

If you’re a fiery Sagittarius, you probably also enjoyed this experience as Sagittarius seeks experience. Check off the bucket list “Know what it feels like to be an Aquarius.” The other two fire signs (Aries and Leo) would have also enjoyed stirring the pot a little for amusement and attention.

If you’re one of the three earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn), you may have had a difficult time convincing mom and dad you were serious, but if you did, you may have been surprised by their reaction. If they were unsupportive, you would have learned exactly how much that college degree means to them. If they were supportive, you may have experienced fear of living a wandering life as you have so many plans and wondered how you’d store your stuff.

If you’re one of the other two air signs (Gemini, Libra), you would have enjoyed the experience as though it were a science experiment and then spent time wondering if truly you did want to lead a wandering ascetic life devoted to music, poetry and philosophy. That would be a big change from yesterday’s life plans to be a . . .

As for the water signs, Pisces may be asking if there is truly any other life to lead while Scorpio and Cancer have a little more attachment to the emotional parts of life on earth. A wandering life has precious little attachment and water likes to relate. A rolling stone gathers no moss and water signs and moss are simpatico as both enjoy a moist environment.

More about Aquarius

Café Astrology says this about Aquarius:

One of the standout characteristics of those born under the Sun Sign of Aquarius is their unwillingness to follow the beaten track. With advancement and progress on their minds, there can be an irreverence to old and outdated ways of thinking and doing things.

Many Aquarians aim to free themselves of personal and social conditioning. Although open to change in theory, Aquarians can be surprisingly stubborn. Their idealism runs strong, but they can be very fixed in their opinions.

Often a bit aloof and even standoffish, Aquarians nonetheless are usually well-liked. They are curious and observant, and tolerant in a broad sense. Prejudice and bias is offensive to the typical Aquarius.

Aquarians are generally very clever, witty, and intellectual. They value progress and frankness. It’s difficult to throw Aquarians for a loop—they’re generally on top of things.

There is a bit of reformer in Aquarius. They’ll try to get you to see through superficiality, and encourage you to be open and forthright. “Be true to yourself” and “Don’t follow the crowd” are mottos we easily associate with this sign.

Aquarians need space and value personal freedom. Any attempt to box them in will likely fail. They’ll happily return the favor; and they will treat people from all walks of life as equals. Equality and fairness are hallmarks of the sign. If you’re quirky and “different”, all the better.

Ali Sher Navai

If life as an Aquarius is challenging in the 21st century, imagine it in the 15th century. (Since Aquarius is also associated with futuristic thinking and genius, probably no century is easy).

February 9 is the birthday of Ali Sher Navai a 15th century polymath and considered the founder of early Turkic literature. Aquarian Navai had a day job during the 15th century Timurid Empire, living in what is today Afghanistan.

To be born on February 9 in the 15th century meant that the sun was in 29 degrees of Aquarius. Today this same date is about 19 degrees of Aquarius. The shift is due to precession of the earth’s axis.

While Navai appears to have traversed the worlds of earth, air, water and fire equally well, his chart suggests that his domain was primarily air with sun and Mars (in Aquarius), moon (in Libra) and Uranus (in Gemini) in air signs.

In addition, Navai had Mercury, Jupiter and Venus in the mystic and empathetic water sign of Pisces. Navai’s The Language of the Birds is, according to the translators, “a story about the hard journey to Sufi enlightenment.”

Navai’s Neptune in Virgo and Mercury in Pisces are in what’s called mutual reception so work for Navai must have taken on a spiritual significance.

With Saturn in Taurus, material concerns did play a role in his life. What I find with Saturn in Taurus is a sense of material want even in the midst of wealth. There is a sense that others have something you do not. Combined with Neptune in Virgo, this thinker, poet and mystic probably elevated a dreary work-life into a heighted sense of meaning.

Providing for material needs often does suck up one’s time and artistic endeavor often needs empty space, chance encounters and unusual situations that don’t occur in the middle of routine. Somehow Navai managed to balance the daily world with the creative world as he was a prolific writer. Maybe that was possible in the 15th century when there was no rush hour?

Aquarius in its highest, non-rebellious, nature is a humanitarian.

Know all humankind: Amity with the world is a great blessing. Enmity the greatest curse.

Alisher Nava’i (from introduction to The Language of the Birds)

Alice Walker

In the 21st century it is possible to earn one’s keep entirely through artistic achievement. Another February 9 birthday is writer Alice Walker.

Walker’s chart is composed primarily of air and fire with a touch of earth and no water. Astro.com gives her a Sagittarius rising.

Having a Sagittarius rising, Aquarius sun and moon/Jupiter conjunct in Leo provides a very energetic, headstrong personality that has no problems with challenging the norms. In other words, the unique and rebellious Aquarius has brought a troop of equally unique and rebellious friends.

Moon in fiery Leo loves attention and Jupiter adds even more drama to a naturally dramatic and engaging personality. However, moon in Leo is opposite sun in airy Aquarius so Walker is by turns passionately involved and emotionally detached.

Lack of water indicates lack of emotional connection. That might seem odd for a writer but that’s simply the difference between air-sign connection and water-sign connection. Air is mental and water is emotional. Air connects through language and ideas. Water connects through shared emotional experience.

Walker also has Uranus, Mars and Saturn in air sign Gemini. She probably is air-sign moody and changeable, but that is not the same as water sign emotional. For example, a person filled with air energy may feel the need, for no particular reason, to sleep on the couch rather than the bed tonight. Our water energies are put on full alert for emotional rejection of highest order. Your air-sign partner doesn’t get it. He/she simply wants to sleep on the couch — this has nothing to do with you.

In the world of elements, I find the changeability of air is often confused for the emotionalism of water.

Saturn in Gemini suggests insecurity over language. This also should not come as a surprise as we often select careers where we overcome our own insecurities.

Mercury and Venus in Capricorn suggest maturity and seriousness with a desire for respect. As transiting Pluto is soon to cross over Venus, Walker may find a new social group or lifestyle. In a few years when it crosses over Mercury, she may find a new writing style or role in communicating. If she’s not a professor now, she may be at that time.

When transiting Jupiter enters Leo next summer, she may receive some additional awards or honors. In January 2015, transiting Saturn will cross her ascendant adding energy to the thought that she may change aspects of her personality to take on a role in a position of authority.

Travis Tritt

Now let’s move on to another February 9 birthday – this time for musician Travis Tritt.

Tritt has sun in Aquarius with Saturn conjunct. He has moon in Virgo tucked in between Uranus and Pluto.

Like Walker, Tritt has Mercury and Venus in earthy Capricorn. He has Jupiter in watery Pisces and Mars in fiery Leo. The Astro.com chart provides a Cancer rising.

My first thought upon seeing this chart was “nervousness and anxiety.” While you might say Walker’s Aquarius sun brought some friends with similar energy, Travis’ Aquarian sun brought a bunch of people who are telling him what to do all the time.

Aquarius hates that.

Saturn on the sun suggests authority who keeps whispering in his Aquarius ear how things should be done. In life that often is a father, teacher or other authority figure.

Moon in Virgo is mentally active 100 percent of the time and Uranus and Pluto sitting on either side are egging this on. Uranus and Pluto won’t let this man relax. This placement indicates excessive worry and nervous exhaustion. Tritt definitely needs a discipline like yoga that promote mental calmness.

Tritt’s artistic expression might be born of this very need to fuel excessive mental energy into something creative. I’m guessing sleep is difficult to achieve and I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a man who wakes in the middle of the night with music in his head.

If he does have a Cancer rising as the Astro.com chart suggests, then Tritt is also extremely shy. Performing might be the only time he comes out of his emotional and mental armor.

While Tritt has the same need to be his own person as other Aquarians, his chart provides more conflict with going it alone or bucking the norm. Neptune in Scorpio keeps telling him that emotional connection won’t happen if he’s too different. Mars in Leo tells him that expression demands he do his own thing. Sun-Neptune-Mars forms what is called a T-square.

Transiting Jupiter in Cancer is crossing Tritt’s ascendant which provides a happy home life and lots of warm and comforting food. Jupiter also brings abundance so weight gain is also suggested.

As Jupiter moves into Leo next summer, Tritt will be energized to come out of the warm comforts of home to socialize. Maybe there’s a tour coming?

Transiting Saturn is in Tritt’s 4th house transiting natal Neptune. Again, there is a reluctance to leave home life due to strong feelings coming from that area of life. Possibly even some new family members? A family situation that needs extra attention?

Transiting Pluto in crossing natal Venus in the house of work (6th). Transiting Uranus is at the midheaven and will soon move into the 10th. This suggests hard work for a new career or endeavor. Sounds, again, like a tour with a different twist than past tours.

Zhang Ziyi

In the world of film, February 9 brings us actress Zhang Ziyi.

Zhang has Mars, Mercury and sun all in Aquarius. Mercury and sun are in a nice, tight trine to Pluto in Libra. Moon is inconjunct that sun/Pluto trine in home-oriented Cancer. Zhang has a great need for independence but seeks an equally independent partner. The moon in Cancer has a strong need for home, family and the familiar. Likely these conflicting needs create the desire to create one’s own unique family and circle of friends.

Neptune in Sagittarius creates an attraction to the new, unique and foreign. There is also a love of travel here, travel being the equivalent of a high.

Saturn in Virgo combined with Aquarian energy creates a strong need for perfection and belief one is never perfect enough. Saturn square Neptune also is a little bit of a drag on Neptune as Neptune wants to soar into the sky and Virgo worries about the anchor (while the Aquarius sun has already signed up for a new experience).

Uranus in Scorpio is also in square to the sun suggesting that Zhang is prone to strong sexual attraction to emotional types that hinder her freedom. At the same time moon in Cancer sort of likes that someone is obsessed with me . . .you get the idea.

Transiting Saturn in Scorpio is probably triggering this very problem right now. Uranus is also very sudden and the desire to connect or break free is very strong right now. Air Aquarius is meant to live in the world of ideals not the world of emotional obsession.

By late 2015 and into 2016, Zhang will be sorting out the need for interesting and unique experiences and how to have those experiences without becoming entrapped in others emotional needs.

Transiting Jupiter in Cancer crossed Zhang’s moon making her more emotional than usual. Maybe a little bit of pregnancy going on? A few more tears than usual? More connection to her mother?

When Jupiter enters Leo next summer, the emotional upheavals will turn into more personal expression with a little love and attention thrown in. Children, again, come to mind.

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to our unique Aquarian friends.

In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.

Alice Walker

Posted in Actors, Authors / Filmmakers, Musicians, Planets and signs | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Extreme Elements

Posted on January 27, 2014 by ohioastrology

Where you live, have you noticed extra precipitation lately? A little extra rain, perhaps? Tidal waves, maybe? Lots of snow? An extra layer of ice?

Welcome to the astrological world of the grand water trine. When Jupiter entered cardinal Cancer last summer (end of June 2013), it created a triangle in the skies with Saturn in fixed Scorpio and Neptune in mutable Pisces.

Each element (fire, earth, air and water) has three signs one in each mode – cardinal, fixed and mutable. Four elements times three modes equal the twelve signs of the zodiac. When all three signs of an element are represented by a planet passing by, it is called a grand trine.

Because the planets are constantly in motion, the trine (or triangle) sometimes is exact, sometimes not. Back in August 2013, the grand water trine was pretty tight with Mars (in Cancer) adding some extra water to an ocean eroding the shores.

Very grand.

Funny thing, in a year from now, Saturn will have moved into fiery mutable Sagittarius, Leo will have spent the first half of a twelve-month passage in fiery fixed Leo and Uranus will continue its travels through fiery cardinal Aries.

In a year, the water trine will lend way to a fire trine.

The fire trine will never be as triangular as the water trine was, but fire, like water, knows no boundaries.

In a year, the ice laden north may be saying, “Remember the arctic temperatures we had last January? I can’t believe it’s 70 degrees this January.”

Extreme Elements

Too many planets in one element (or sign) can create the extremes of the element. Extremes test us. The extreme winter we are experiencing here in Ohio, for example, is a great test of one’s car.

If your car has anything weak or close to breaking, you will learn about it during the Ohio winter. Winter is a test of your vehicle, its ability to warm up and move along, to keep going, to keep the wipers wiping allowing a view of the road ahead.

Winter is also a test of your ability to stay indoors and not go mad.

This year’s extreme winter is an extreme test of one’s ability to deal with the element of water – emotions, connections, imagination, fantasy, spirituality and belief. Staying indoors means staying close to ourselves which can be the most extreme test for many a person, especially those with lots of fire and air in the chart.

When the cold turns to warm in July 2014, the water emotion will burst into flame of expression so we might see a little mayhem in July and August.

People tend to riot when it’s hot, not when it’s cold. Although cold is unpleasant, it might be seen as protective in that way. Then again, there are riots in cold Kiev this winter. Nevermind. Uranus in Aries riots when the need arises.

In January 2015, when the fire trine begins, Mercury, Venus and Mars will all be in the air sign of Aquarius. Air feeds fire you know. It’s going to be a very expressive time for humanity as Aquarius rules the people.

Fire and air suggests the wet and icy of today will be the dry and hot of tomorrow. And in the literal sense, there may be more fires.

Today’s test is water and tomorrow’s test is fire.

Felix Baumgartner

Testing through extremes brings to mind extreme sports. This article lists a few reasons for extreme sports including “a need for achievement, identity and personal development” and “a need to define life’s purpose.”

This article also introduced me to Felix Baumgartner who “jumped 24 miles above the earth.”

What’s in this guy’s chart?

There are no trines, no extreme elements here. Baumgartner was born when the sun was moving from Aries to Taurus. Most horoscopes online stick to the noon estimate which puts the sun in Taurus, including the Astrotheme chart.

Saturn is at 29 degrees of Aries which is conjunct Baumgartner’s sun whether it is in Aries or Taurus.

According to astrologer Elisabeth Grace, Baumgartner’s Uranus at 0 degrees of Libra is an “Aries point” which suggests the need for prominence.

For some astrologers, the “daredevil” is Uranus (which rules Aquarius). Uranus is definitely rebellious if not deliberately a daredevil.

I’m guessing Baumgartner’s delight in falling into and from the sky results primarily from a moon in Gemini opposition to Mars in Sagittarius. This is an aspect that can’t sit still and is intensely creative and indulgent. Mars opposing the moon in any sign is demanding. Baumgartner is demanding that you do something interesting, and do it now, or go find a hole to inhabit.

Jupiter and Pluto in Virgo create a square to the moon/Mars opposition creating increased agitation. Now, now, now. This guy must get a lot of headaches.

Now for the sun – cardinal fire Aries or fixed earth Taurus? Aries is impulsive but Baumgartner’s blog advice leads me to Taurus:

The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.

That’s some earth sign straight talk (Baumgartner has Mercury in Taurus). It’s focused on you as your problem, not something external. No ghosts, goblins, political enemies, past-life karma or germs out to get you. Just you, you, you.

Also, I think Taurus likes extreme sports because as the toughest earth sign, it needs extreme sensation to penetrate a nature that is not naturally sensitive. It’s not sensitive because it’s firmly rooted in the world unlike the rest of the zodiac that may be physically in the car but has its mind somewhere else.

Taurus also has the intensity and focus of a fixed sign to accomplish an extreme goal.

Baumgartner, then, is a combination of extreme focus (Taurus) and discipline (Saturn conjunct sun) and an inspired, agitated mind (moon-Mars-Jupiter-Pluto square). Possibly jumping from 24 miles above the earth is the only way Baumgartner has found to relax. Extreme sensation may be the only way to rid himself of agitation, the only way to focus.

There’s also a Yod (Finger of God) in the horoscope with Neptune (in Scorpio), Jupiter (in Virgo) and Saturn (Aries). Saturn is the finger.

That Saturn keeps jumping out – what’s the compulsion here?

Always Astrology.com has this to say about Saturn in Aries:

While Saturn in Aries may cause a delayed development of ambition in their life, they may end up taking on a lot of responsibility when still very young. Obstacles arise that may block progress. Having to assert themselves can cause a lot of anxiety. Anger may be an issue, although others see them as controlled and cool the majority of the time. Aries Saturn can create a sense of responsibility for oneself, though they may lack confidence. They don’t like risks, which may make them appear weak. Some may overcompensate by taking risks that seem foolhardy.

Is Baumgartner’s Finger of God giving the finger to someone who said, “No you can’t?”

We’ll have to wait for the Hollywood movie on Baumgartner’s life that develops that crucial scene of childhood that explains the desire to jump from high places.

Baumgartner has only one planet in water in the chart (Neptune in Scorpio) so this year’s water world is draining on his energies.

Come July when Jupiter enters Leo, a transiting grand fire trine will be formed with natal Saturn (in Aries) and natal Mars (in Sagittarius). Baumgartner may launch a new project at that time. By late 2016, transiting Uranus in Aries will close in on natal Saturn in Aries which will create extreme friction and frustration. Baumgartner may be stopped, restrained or challenged by external factors.

Prior to that, transiting Pluto in Capricorn and Uranus in Aries will create havoc with the natal Venus in Aries love life. Hopefully Baumgartner won’t use extreme sports to overcome frustrating romantic feelings; if he does, he may not be as focused as when he’s giving the finger to god.

Extreme Inspiration

The River Recreation website notes that 8 million people watched Baumgartner’s jump from the sky. Extreme behavior is inspiring.

Next year when the grand water trine gives way to a grand fire trine, Baumgartner may release his next inspiring act.

Will it be a leap into a fiery volcano?

Posted in Athletes | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dennis Rodman Tours

Posted on January 11, 2014 by ohioastrology

Up until the mid 20th century, there were men who called themselves explorers. These men would come up with ideas (see what’s on the other side of the Atlantic ocean), present the idea to a person or persons of means (kings, queens, aristocracy) and then make the trip bringing back goods (gold, research, pictures, tales).

In the 20th century, these explorer types had to search farther and think deeper about uncharted territory in which to impress their patrons and earn their explorer keep. Rather than searching for new continents, explorers proposed flying over the North Pole, walking to the South Pole and planting the nation’s flag or crossing the whole of Antarctica on foot.

In this beginning of the 21st century, media technology allows someone sitting at her computer drinking hot, piping tea to tour the caves of France to view prehistoric art, look at the earth from a satellite or look at some recent photos of the universe.

Or I could leave my tea and take a cruise to Antarctica.

Where is the uncharted territory of explorers?

North Korea.

Dennis Rodman’s bad is no act

Using the Astrotheme chart, I can say that I would feel perfectly safe traveling to North Korea with basketball great Dennis Rodman.

Rodman has both sun and moon in the strong fixed earth sign of Taurus. He has cardinal earth Capricorn on the ascendant with Saturn in Capricorn hanging out.

Mars in Leo, Jupiter in Aquarius and Neptune in Scorpio create a fixed square with the moon. Venus in Aries trines Uranus in Leo adding some spark and fire.

Rodman is a fiery boulder, a shooting star coming from the remains of a planet that lost its temper and blew up.

Do not make Rodman angry.

By the way, negative press on Rodman’s trips to North Korea will only fuel resistance.

Pluto is transiting Capricorn and will soon be in the Rodman’s first house. I got news for you – the challenge has just begun.

This is sort of exciting, actually. Rodman isn’t just challenging the authority of the community in which he was born. He is challenging the world community.

And he’s up for the fight.

Why North Korea?

I’m still searching for an article that has Rodman explaining in detail his interest in North Korea. I’m curious. I’m also fascinated by how many stories there are on this subject and how few actually answer the question, “Why, dude?”

This New York Times article has some information.

I’m also a little confused about whether his first trip to North Korea was in February or April.

Let’s start with February 2013. At that time, Saturn began its transit of Rodman’s natal Neptune in Scorpio which activates the fixed grand cross in his chart.

Neptune in Scorpio is depressed over lack of true connection with others and usually uses sex as a way of making that connection. Saturn crossing says it ain’t working. Rodman appears to have a drinking problem (according to Wikipedia) which is probably a depression problem. The trips to North Korea may have alleviated that depression through its newness.

At the time of Rodman’s September trip, transiting Jupiter was in trine with natal Neptune. This was the beginning of the true emotional connection.

Part of Rodman’s grand cross is Mars in Leo. Transiting Jupiter is in Cancer and will be in Leo in July 2014. Jupiter transiting Cancer is now in Rodman’s 7th house of partnership. When it enters Leo, Mars will be involved. Feelings of both home and romance are suggested.

The new articles write that Rodman feels strong emotion connection to North Korea’s leader. Jupiter in the 7th suggests that Rodman may also decide to create romance and home life in that country as well.

Transiting Neptune in Pisces is in Rodman’s natal 2nd house of finances. Neptune in the 2nd is usually accompanied by warnings about losing one’s money or assets through nebulous dealings. Ditto here.

Taurus and Capricorn don’t part with money easily but Neptune has gotten into Rodman’s wallet and Saturn has gotten into his soul so he may be quite generous with those few he can connect with emotionally.

Transiting Uranus in Aries is conjunct Rodman’s natal Venus in Aries. This represents sudden changes in love and pleasure. Uranus is a planet ruling the unusual, the unique, the eccentric. Uranus on one’s Venus also indicates relationship with an unusual person.

Again, this brings up the image that Rodman may fall in love with someone in North Korea besides the country’s leader. Both transiting Uranus and natal Venus square transiting Pluto. That love will create problems.

I’m imagining a North Korean wife (don’t know if Rodman is married now) and fighting with the US immigration service for a visa.

Rodman Tours

If a girl can go to Antarctica, why not North Korea?

Aren’t there other countries with nuclear arms pointed at the US that a girl can freely visit?

I’m reading that Rodman’s visit has sparked interest in touring North Korea. Maybe a tour company is in the works, Rodman Tours. He may have folks fighting to sit next to him on the tour bus, of course. He could charge more for that seat.

With Neptune transiting his house of finances (2nd), he Rodman may need some new ways to make money.

If Rodman doesn’t create a tour company, North Korea will probably be off the list as the new adventure. That will close the loop on earth travel and we’ll need to go to the new uncharted territory – outer space.

Posted in Athletes | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Future of Pluto

Posted on January 5, 2014 by ohioastrology

[links removed due to Facebook fight with Australia]

Pluto transforms when it passes, kind of like weather. Weather transforms seeds into food, water into ice, houses into rubble and shoreline into delta soot.

Unlike weather, Pluto takes about 20 years to pass through the neighborhood.

Pluto is currently passing through the neighborhood of government, banks, state institutions and tectonic plates. When Pluto emerges from the underworld through of steel beams and concrete, it will then pass through your group activities, social organizations and social conventions.

The passage from Capricorn to Aquarius will happen in about ten years.

I know, I know – remind you in about nine and half years. Leave me alone now while I figure out whether to keep my currency or put it into something tangible like houses or metal before the year 2023.

The interesting thing about the future is that is constantly unfolds from the seeds of today which Pluto continually nourishes using manure.

Manure, that’s what it takes.

Manure, accept it.

Manure, you make some every day.

Pluto in Aquarius

When I told an astrological buddy that I didn’t see how the transformation of our economy (if that’s what’s occurring) could finalize in a mere ten years, he intelligently pointed out how in the 1990’s the media empires appeared ready to take over the world and then, poof, they were gone.

Good point.

What interests me is how the seeds of tomorrow mixed with today’s energy transforms into what we call the future.

Air-sign Aquarius is futuristic, technological, mental, intellectual, idealistic and society-oriented. It’s society-oriented in a different way than Capricorn. Capricorn creates religions, political parties and banks. Capricorn creates structures of hierarchy and order.

Aquarius, on the other hand, creates societies based on ideals such as fraternities, sororities and communes. The structure is supported by the ideals of the entire group, not a specific portion of the group.

Before you sing “The Age of Aquarius” (which was written by Pluto in Leo folks – Leo is the opposite of Aquarius), remember that Aquarius, the water bearer, is not a water sign. This isn’t the expression of a group hug – it’s the expression of a group IDEA.

The water of the water bearers allows the flow of spirit from above to below. For the 21st century, we might re-name the water bearer into the “electricity conductor.”

The first electric power transmission line in North America, according to Wikipedia, occurred on June 3, 1889 when Neptune, Pluto, sun and Mars were in the air sign Gemini. Uranus, ruler of electricity and Aquarius, was hanging out in air-sign Libra.

Imagine today’s world without electricity.

Uranus and Neptune traveling together in Aquarius (late 1998-2003) brought us the Internet and social media. Neptune continued in Aquarius until 2011. That’s an Aquarian done deal, again, brought to you by the Pluto in Leo generation.

Now that Uranus and Neptune did their work on Aquarius, it’s Pluto’s turn. Uranus brought the ideas and Neptune made them a belief, the hydration of our mental system. Now Pluto will destroy the parts that were not meant to last as Pluto eliminates the waste of what you digest.

In other words, we’ll be shitting Capricorn while eating Aquarius.

What will remain?

Seeds of Pluto in Aquarius

Here are some things my friend and I tossed around as the seeds of Pluto in Aquarius. As Capricorn changes into Aquarius, I suspect we’ll have a “new tradition” as Pluto retains from Capricorn (traditional structure) what is strong and fibrous enough not to be destroyed.

Crowdfunding
A now dormant site defines crowdfunding as bringing together a large number of people to financially support businesses or projects. Rather than the traditional forms of business financing with large sums of money being transmitted from a small number of investors, crowdfunding allows hundreds or even thousands of contributors to fund as little as $1 to support a cause.

“Rather than traditional” is the keyword here. This suggests a movement from today (traditional) to tomorrow (the power of the cause).

Community living
In the US, the economic downturn has led to more extended family living. In the US, there is also a trend toward urban living which creates a sense of community – a community where you walk to the store and coffee shop seeing friends and family along the way. Interestingly, it’s those Pluto in Leo baby boomers again driving this trend.

I’m also wondering how the change in preschool child care from home care to daycare has shaped generations. According to a now dormant site, infant care was made available in 1980.

This census site has some historical information (Primary Child Care Arrangements of Preschoolers With Employed Mothers: Selected Years, 1985 to 2011) which shows that organized facility and non-relative care hit a peak in the mid 1990s. Those spending their preschool years in day care facilities before starting elementary school have socialized in institutions their entire lives. Their sense of community may be different from prior generations.

Transformation of gender roles
Aquarius by nature is androgynous. The “hookup” culture screams Aquarius as emotional bonding is optional, not required. While looking for statistics on homosexuality over time, most of the data I found regarded approval or disapproval of various gender issues.

It’s interesting to research a topic and find most of the data focusing on approval or disapproval. This suggests a highly-charged challenge to the social order. Aquarius would do nothing less.

The Perfect Society
An Aquarius speed bump is the need for perfection. For me, Aquarius represents the desire for the perfect society. The drive for perfection, naturally, has quite a few pitfalls. Aquarius is a fixed sign and demanding in its own way that one follows the rules, no matter how weird or unusual those rules.

I’m expecting in the next few years to see more discourses and blueprints on the “future society,” and the “perfect society” with economic and gender components carefully delineated.

Online Education
Education separate from physical buildings allows education at the remotest points of the globe. I’ve already blogged the negative reaction to the easy access to education.

The more egalitarian education becomes, the more we may see additional levels of degrees as differentiation. Possibly this will be a remnant of Pluto in Capricorn.

Current Pluto generations

In 2023, when Pluto moves into Aquarius, the last of the baby boomers will be retiring. The Pluto in Aquarius transit will be led first by natal Pluto-in-Virgo, then Pluto-in-Libra and Pluto-in-Scorpio generations.

The Pluto-in-Virgo generation (born 1957-1971) living through Pluto in Aquarius will be the most extreme of the perfect-society promoters. Many of the Pluto in Virgo folks also have Uranus in Virgo along for the ride.

Virgo rules work and health so we may see Aquarian ideals focused on these areas of life. The current Affordable Care Act in the US is creating a battle between government and corporation with the Virgo worker in the crossfire. For example, companies may choose to cut employee hours so as not to provide healthcare, an instant downgrade of one’s job.

Countries that make textiles for the richer countries are also beginning to speak up about working conditions, such as the textile workers in Bangladesh.

The Pluto-in-Libra generation (born 1971-1984) living through Pluto in Aquarius will groove with the androgyny as this generation is re-inventing partnership (Libra rules partnership).

Libra’s image is the scales, which is an object and not a person. Libra and Aquarius move to the beat of a different drummer, a drummer with a loving and unusual sidekick. Libra does not walk alone while Aquarius can alienate through rebellion.

Libra and Aquarius combined is the child who brings home the partner from a different age group, ethic group or social group upsetting the parents.

This is the generation in the US that experienced the rise of day care for preschool years as the parent(s) worked outside the home.

The Pluto-in-Scorpio generation (1984-1995) living through Pluto in Aquarius will have a difficult time merging with the perfect society. Scorpio is the fixed water sign that squares Aquarius.

Scorpio deals with issues of sex, death and regeneration. Aquarius, idealistic by nature, might find the Scorpio character a bit too emotionally intense and demand that this generation put aside emotions for the ideal.

This generation is transforming the sexual relationship, sexual politics and rape. Nothing is brushed under the rug with these folks so those that believe the society is perfect (or could ever be perfect) will face the Scorpio interrogation.

This generation experienced the daycare sex abuse hysteria and experienced the discovery and awareness of AIDS. That’s a heavy load. They will naturally challenge Aquarius when it becomes too idealistic.

Posted in Planets and signs | Tagged , , | 6 Comments