Astrological Black Friday: Target or Walmart?

Posted on November 24, 2013 by ohioastrology

According to the National Retail Federation, in 2012 holiday sales represented 19.2% of total retail industry sales. That means about one month of the calendar year carries about a fifth of the year’s total retail industry sales.

Let’s be thankful for the holidays. What would our economy do with them?

Two of the top US retailers are Walmart with $329 billion in sales last year and Target with $72 billion in sales last year.

Which will have the better deals this year, Target or Walmart?

Let’s see what the stars say.

Scorpio – Taurus Axis

Walmart has sun in Scorpio while Target has sun in Taurus, the sign opposite Scorpio. Both are concerned with money. Taurus is my money (earned by me) and Scorpio is others’ money or shared money.

However, both stores have a Scorpio-Taurus opposition in the horoscope with Walmart having sun in Scorpio opposite Saturn in Taurus. Target has sun in Taurus opposite Neptune in Scorpio.

That means, my friends, that the current transit of Saturn in Scorpio is rough on both retailers. Saturn contracts with in the case of both retailers means contraction of money.

For Target it means money owed through loans or fines coming due. Conjunct natal Neptune and squaring natal Saturn (in Aquarius), it also suggests some previously hidden or secretive pact or agreement that will come to light. The Aquarius portion makes me think it involves something owed to employees.

For Walmart, transiting Saturn is conjunct an already parsimonious sun / Saturn opposition. Walmart’s already narrow margins may become even slimmer. By Black Friday 2014, Walmart will be facing what Target is facing this year in terms of loans due or hidden agreements called up.

Walmart and Target are the same type of business and must employ the same types of maneuvers. The similarities in their charts and the Neptune factor make me wonder what things we will learn about each in the coming year.

Transiting Uranus in Aries and Mars in Virgo

Transiting Uranus in Aries is conjunct Target’s natal moon/Mars conjunction in Aries. There may be more mayhem than usual this Black Friday with aggression looming out of control.

Transiting Mars in Virgo will be conjunct Target’s Pluto in Virgo. There will also be a lot of bickering about prices.

Walmart has a natal T-square of Mars (in Capricorn), moon (in Cancer) and Uranus/Venus/Jupiter/Mercury (in Libra). Uranus in Aries forms a transiting grand cross which makes Walmart a place for the whole family. Aries is you, Libra you partner, Capricorn you dad and Cancer you mum.

The grand cross in cardinal suggests Walmart will stock products for all types of people at all times.

Target, in contrast, will create pandemonium for a few items.

Transiting Jupiter in Cancer and Neptune in Pisces

Jupiter in Cancer is conjunct Walmart’s moon in Cancer. Possibly they will offer food and beverage on Black Friday as young ones might leave cookies for Santa Claus.

For Target, Jupiter was recently forming a grand water trine with natal Jupiter (in Pisces) and Neptune (in Scorpio). All that Jupiter and Neptune gives Target a warm and fuzzy glow of good will. Target will most likely sell more alcohol than Walmart.

Possibly Target will create a new, proprietary brand of eggnog that will take the edge out of getting underwear as a gift.

Neptune also plays well in Walmart’s chart at the moment. At two degrees, it’s easing the tension of the sun/Saturn opposition by offering something to charity or other cause.

Venus and moon

Target has natal Venus in Gemini (the twins) which explains why they often make you buy two of something to get a deal. Walmart has Venus in Libra (and three other planets) so they are not making that demand on us lest we get angry which makes Libra uncomfortable.

Transiting Venus in Capricorn is conjunct Walmart’s Mars in Capricorn which suggests that people are focused on practical details and not hype and glamour. Walmart will provide the bang for the buck without unnecessary foreplay.

The moon will be in Libra on Black Friday passing Walmart’s four planets in Libra. This bodes well for Walmart as it attracts females and crowds.

Where should you shop on Black Friday?

If we were going by astrology alone, I would suggest visiting Target first for those Uranus-in-Aries deals and to experience some Black Friday mayhem. If you’re out on Black Friday you want a little mayhem, right?

After that bit of fun, I’d suggest heading to Walmart who has narrowed their margins which means better deals for you, the consumer. They may also be offering some goodies to keep you awake. It wouldn’t surprise me, too, if they turned a blind eye to the flask inside your jacket.

With a cardinal grand cross formed by transiting Aries, Walmart has something for everyone. Transiting Venus in Capricorn says folks are interested in penny-pinching, not packaging, which speaks more to Walmart than Target.

To support the economy, it’s kind to shop at both retailers. Moon in Libra (where it will be on Black Friday) is certainly about fairness. And often Libra has a difficult time choosing – so why not visit both?

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Kathleen Sebelius’ Astrological Wellness Check

Posted on November 16, 2013 by ohioastrology

With the Affordable Care Act rollout marred by website malfunctions, lack of enrollment and unfulfilled promises on existing coverage, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, must be getting a headache.

It’s a good time for Sebelius to have an astrological wellness check.

Pain in the neck

My first glance at Sebelius’ chart produced the thought, “President Obama likes his women strong.”

Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Janet Yellen and Sebelius all have very strong personalities. Strong is certainly a useful trait if you are going to be in a government role; all the better to be strong when the nation is angry about your health care insurance system.

Sebelius’ strength comes from sun in fixed earth Taurus and four planets in fixed fire Leo (Pluto, Saturn, moon and Mars). While too much strength can turn one rigid, Sebelius has some nice offsetting planets in mutable signs (Jupiter in Sagittarius and Mercury/Uranus in Gemini) and cardinal signs (Venus in Cancer and Neptune in Cancer).

The sign Taurus, in which Sebelius’ sun is placed, rules the neck and throat. Sebelius may simply be having the clichéd pain the neck.

Taurus squares Leo, which rules the heart, so a little indigestion might also be occurring. Taurus and Leo are sensual and indulgent so possibly the indigestion is due to specific food choices. This is part of the natal horoscope and not a passing transit.

Sebelius’ natal Venus in Cancer was recently opposed by transiting Pluto in Capricorn. Cancer rules the stomach so the digestion may have changed during that time. As Pluto passes, hopefully too, have any stomach issues.

But those are minor to the transit that began in mid October 2013 – transiting Saturn in Scorpio began its square to Sebelius’ stellium in Leo.

Open enrollment in the Affordable Care Act began October 1, 2013 but was delayed due to the government shutdown until October 21. What a coincidence.

Convalescence

Convalescence, the gradual recovery of health and strength after illness (www.dictionary.com), is a word you don’t hear much these days. Is it simply modern pharmaceuticals bring us back to health more quickly? Or is it that we truly can’t afford to recovery from illness gradually due to pressures of work and paycheck?

Sebelius’ convalescence from the current maelstrom will take about 15 months.

Saturn began its square to Sebelius’ Pluto in mid October. It will continue to square Saturn, the moon and Mars finishing its tour in January 2015. Because Saturn is far away from earth, it will appear to go backwards then forwards during that time.

If Sebelius is hoping for a Rip Van Winkle situation, she should take a nap now and wake up in January 2015.

From now until mid July 2014, times will be tough as transiting Saturn in Scorpio squares Sebelius’ Leo planets and opposes her sun. That formation is called a T-square. A T-square is friction, like being the pickle in the middle or the potato chip inside a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

When Jupiter enters Leo in July next year, Sebelius will begin to fight back, gaining strength. Leo is a strong, proud sign and retreating with tail between the legs is not energizing. Later we will hear her roar.

Leo does nothing if not bounce back. And bounce back Sebelius will do next summer.

We have two distinct six-month periods. One is October 2013 to July 2014 when the situation will get worse. Then in July 2014, a renewed sense of strength returns and the next six months are an energetic tackling of the situation.

By January 2015, Sebelius will be ready for a well-earned vacation to a relaxing spot. She will have won, although won what, I’m not sure.

Those fighting with Sebelius must remember that Taurus has the self-control to restrain from hitting you over the head. Leo doesn’t have natural restraint but Sebelius’ Saturn and Pluto in that sign provide discipline from external sources.

When she has to restrain herself no longer, her foes will have a taste of a Taurus temper and Leo fire. Since it will be summer when this happens, we can consider it a little bit of sunburn. Play outside in the sun too long without protection and these things happen.

It’s good timing for Sebelius because next summer she’ll be 66. According to the Social Security website, those born in 1948 are able to retire at age 66 with full benefits.

I have a feeling she will opt for retirement – a retirement which relieves her neck of its pain.

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Where is Julia Roberts?

Posted on November 11, 2013 by ohioastrology

This thought occurred to me this morning: Where is Julia Roberts?

There was a day when every movie, every talk show contained Ms. Roberts. I’m dating myself, I know. Some younger person may be filling this role during the holiday movie season.

Julia, we miss you. Where are you?

Private Scorpio

Scorpios, in case you are not aware, are private. Some would consider this sign secretive even. It seems a challenge to be a private person and a Hollywood star. To be a star you must have attention but to maintain privacy you must be discreet.

On the flip side, Scorpios make keen detectives due to their ability to see under the surface of others’ motivations. Scorpios might be private, then, because they understand better than others what lies beneath; they understand the “beneath” better than those standing on it.

Scorpios seem to be afraid you will see their beneath and do not always understand that you are okay with their beneath and that you aren’t looking anyway. Maybe you’re just thinking of having a light lunch with pleasant conversation.

Scorpio and Leo

Using the Astrotheme horoscope, Roberts has sun, Mercury and Neptune in Scorpio with a moon in Leo which squares Scorpio.

First thing to note with Scorpio and Leo – both are fixed signs and very strong and dignified. If Roberts wants her privacy, she will get it.

The second thing to note is the square means private Scorpio duels (square is a friction) with ebullient and attention-loving Leo.

When Roberts doesn’t want her privacy, she gets that too.

If Roberts controls the on/off switch for attention with the media, then she’s as close as you can get to a mythological god in this world. That’s quite powerful.

Virgo and Capricorn

In addition to her fixed signs, Roberts has four planets in Virgo (Jupiter, Venus, Pluto and Uranus) and Mars in Capricorn.

Mars in Capricorn is a strong, get-what-you-want, placement, adding more resolve to an already fiercely strong personality.

Virgo, on the other hand, is a more sensitive earth sign. It’s strongly attached to work and health and is prone to worry and nervous exhaustion.

This energy combined brings to mind the workaholic who knows he/she should relax but is constitutionally incapable of doing so.

Saturn in Aries

And lastly we have Saturn in Aries, the only planet above the horizon. Roberts, then, is truly an introvert, preferring life in private. Although she’s strong as iron, when she pops her head out she fears it being shot at. She’s a little more worried about what you think than she lets on.

Saturn in the 9th with sun, Mercury and Neptune in the 4th suggests she doesn’t roam much and prefers the warm comforts of home and family to the thrill of a different physical location.

Natal Saturn square natal Mars in Capricorn suggesting that when times are tough, work is the outlet and the cure.

Where’s Julia?

Julia is probably at home enjoying simple home life. Saturn is currently transiting Scorpio which is creating tensions in the home life regarding finances or someone seeking distance where Roberts is seeking more closeness.

It will probably be a year before this situation passes and her emotions are ready for a breath of fresh air.

Uranus is currently transiting Aries and is igniting that lone, above the horizon Saturn. Someone may be pushing Roberts back out into public when she’s not willing or ready.

Pluto is currently transiting Capricorn in Roberts’ house of work and health. Again, energy is directed toward work but it’s a feeling of force or pressure from outside rather than a joyful return.

Neptune is transiting the 8th house opposite four natal planets in the 2nd in Virgo. This suggests again the dissolving of an emotional and financial situation.

Dissolving is a word I now attach to Neptune. Dissolving might sound better than “break” or “tear” or “rip,” but creates change all the same. It’s the change of fog into rain or rain into fog and sometimes is even more challenging than Uranus sudden or Pluto revolution changes because there’s nothing to hang onto, no clear line of “here” and “there.”

Fuzzy, dissolving lines would not feel comfortable for a strong, fixed sign individual. Fixed signs love and fixed signs hate, but are never on the fence. Another responding with wishy-washy, unclear or capricious emotions is difficult for a person not confused about her emotions.

If Roberts is being pressed to return to work, those pressing probably do have her best interests at heart. Mars in Capricorn in the 6th is a love of work and creates the goals that form focus and keep the emotions from overwhelming the personality.

With Neptune in Scorpio in the 4th, home is where Roberts’ heart is. Yet when the heart is struggling, it might be a time for Mars in Capricorn “work out.”

As they say, the heart is a muscle and needs its exercise.

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12 Shades of Lying

Posted on November 2, 2013 by ohioastrology

We all lie — we just do it differently, under different circumstances and for different reasons.

Long ago when being lied to by a friend, I looked through my available charts for “liars” and discovered that for me, Mercury in a water sign or Mercury in hard aspect to Neptune creates what I consider a liar.

I put “liar” in quotes because one person’s reality is another’s lie.

The earth signs in the room will heartily disagree. I’ve got a lot of earth, I get it. There’s a desk right here in front of me, I can touch it. I can say I am at my desk writing and that is no “lie.”

It’s when I ask for reaction to the desk that reality takes on 12 shades of Mercury, the planet of communication.

Is my desk big or small? To you it’s small because you have a big oak desk at work in your large, senior executive office. To a student sharing a crowded dorm room, my desk may be a large amount of personal space in which to do work.

Is my desk big or small?

And what color is it? We are familiar with color being processed differently by different people. Is the desk black or steel gray or gray?

Like color, we process reality differently.

Then we move onto the value judgments. This is the point in reality where we know we’re different and use this difference to form identity.

Do you like the desk?

I like the desk because it was easy to assemble. I don’t like the desk because it’s too wobbly. A blue desk would work much better with this carpet. I would never have such a cheap desk in my study. If the desk were cleaned off, it would look better.

And so on.

Perception

Mercury, then, is not simply about communication but about perception. We know that we perceive color differently and I suspect we process all of our other senses differently as well – sound, smell, taste and touch.

For the Buddhists, “object of thought” is also a sense, which is quite fascinating.

It’s been interesting to me that we have more audio and video data than ever before yet we can still see the same moving, live picture and come to different conclusions. It creates a plethora of interesting television shows but the underlying concept – we perceive and interpret differently – is fascinating.

If we look at the same object and see differently, imagine the intricacies of a complex situation.

What is real then?

Tell me Lies

This American Life has an interesting broadcast on liars. One of the conclusions drawn from the several stories is that what are called “pathological liars” are intuiting what you want to hear and providing it. So the listeners are hearing stories that please them from “I love you” to “I know this famous person” to “You will get the money.”

Who doesn’t want to know someone who knows George Clooney? Or have George Clooney say “I love you?” Or have George Clooney lend you money?

What I find interesting about that is that it ties to my own perception of lying which involves Mercury in a water sign or in hard aspect to Neptune. In those aspects, Mercury is perceiving and communication through the emotions. When I ask about the desk, I get an emotional response.

Crafting a story about how I know Clooney takes imagination, but “selling” the story takes some guts so next in line for my own liar’s club are fire signs.

But fire signs don’t “lie” as much as exaggerate. Sure, you went on a date last night. But was it really with George Clooney or a guy named Clive Gorney?

Storytelling, a wonderful but moribund vocation, is best done by a mixture of water and fire. Water and fire can make you feel the ghost in the room, laugh at situations that otherwise make you cry and make you see life in bright colors and those around you as living, breathing bursts of energy.

Air signs are also lively communicators as they constantly are scoping out the environment for something on which to rest their bored eyes. I personally don’t find air signs to be liars although some, like Gemini, might have this reputation. I simply see air as filled with information of a varied and often conflicting nature which they communicate as the impulse arises.

Often in the same sentence, air contradicts itself. But I don’t find air spinning information as much as conveying it. Air signs are not lying as much as communicating their confused thoughts.

Earth can be dull, literal communicators which I don’t associate with lying. However, in my search of earth sign liars, earth sign lying is through earth sign concerns – money and property. Earth lies, I believe, by omission and promises of financial gain. Earth signs may put forth empirically-oriented truth, but just not all the parts you need in order to make an informed decision.

12 Shades of Lying

Let’s look at the 12 shades of lying from those in the news. Many subjects are political because this is where lies are exposed most frequently. In looking for liars, I had to search on liars, forgers, imposters and conmen (where are the conwomen?).

I looked at sun sign exclusively since it takes a long time and many unpaid hours to look through Mercury signs and Neptune aspects.

Also, in my search I had to find those who were caught in lies. Many may be considered liars but not tried and hung in public for that offense. Disagreeing with others doesn’t make them a liar and cheating on a lover or spouse is simply too common.

In the sun sign realm, I found a lot of fire and earth. I’m guessing the reason is that earth and fire are more likely to make it to public office and thereby more frequently available for lie-catching. In other words, if I had the total number of Leos in public office I could then divide the Leo liars against the Leo politicians to get a percent and do that for the other signs as well. That would even things out, but, alas, I do not possess that data.

I was also quite surprised by the number of sun sign Virgos (which like Gemini is ruled by Mercury) in the news for lying including James Frey, Stephen Glass, Robert Packwood and Jonathan Aitken.

The two sun signs I had the most difficulty finding were Scorpio and Aquarius, the two signs that made it into my list of most intelligent. Are these two signs also the most honest? Or are they simply too smart to be caught in lies while in the spotlight?

FIRE SIGN LYING (exaggeration to protect image or something previously stated)

Aries (cardinal) – Al Gore

Leo (fixed) – William Bennett / Bill Clinton

Sagittarius (mutable) – Ferdinand Waldo Demara

WATER SIGN LYING (emotional response and desire to connect based on your needs)

Cancer (cardinal) – Christophe Rocancourt

Scorpio (fixed) – still looking for good example

Pisces (mutable) – Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter / Michael Romanoff

AIR SIGN LYING (too many conflicting ideas and bored with mono-anything)

Libra (cardinal) – Han van Meegeren

Aquarius (fixed) – still looking for good example

Gemini (mutable) – John Edwards

EARTH SIGN LYING (leave out the relevant facts, especially in regards to money or control)

Capricorn (cardinal) – Richard Nixon

Taurus – (fixed) – Bernard Madoff / Frank Abagnale / Mark Whitacre / David Hampton

Virgo (mutable) – Lance Armstrong

Charles Ponzi

In looking for liars, I happened upon Charles Ponzi whose behavior coined the concept “Ponzi Scheme.”

Charles Ponzi was a sun sign Pisces but had four planets in Taurus and moon in Leo. Ponzi became a wealthy man, albeit temporarily, through lying that contained water, fire and earth elements.

Water created the connection to others. Fire created the enthusiasm. Earth created the physical desire for wealth.

In the Wikipedia entry, Ponzi’s early background is described as difficult to construct “owing to his propensity to fabricate and embellish facts.”

The Amazon.com review of “Ponzi’s Scheme” goes like this:

You’ve heard of the scheme. Now comes the man behind it. In Mitchell Zuckoff’s exhilarating book, the first nonfiction account of Charles Ponzi, we meet the charismatic rogue who launched the most famous and extraordinary scam in the annals of American finance.

It was a time when anything seemed possible–instant wealth, glittering fame, fabulous luxury–and for a run of magical weeks in the spring and summer of 1920, Charles Ponzi made it all come true. Promising to double investors’ money in three months, the dapper, charming Ponzi raised the “rob Peter to pay Paul” scam to an art form and raked in millions at his office in downtown Boston. Ponzi’s Scheme is the amazing true story of the irresistible scoundrel who launched the most successful scheme of financial alchemy in modern history–and uttered the first roar of the Roaring Twenties.

Ponzi may have been a charlatan, but he was also a wonderfully likable man. His intentions were noble, his manners impeccable, his sales pitch enchanting. Born to a genteel Italian family, he immigrated to the United States with big dreams but no money. Only after he became hopelessly enamored of a stenographer named Rose Gnecco and persuaded her to marry him did Ponzi light on the means to make his dreams come true. His true motive was not greed but love.

With rich narrative skill, Mitchell Zuckoff conjures up the feverish atmosphere of Boston during the weeks when Ponzi’s bubble grew bigger and bigger. At the peak of his success, Ponzi was taking in more than $2 million a week. And then his house of cards came crashing down–thanks in large part to the relentless investigative reporting of Richard Grozier’s Boston Post.

In Zuckoff’s hands, Ponzi is no mere swindler; instead he is appealing and magnetic, a colorful and poignant figure, someone who struggled his whole life to attain great wealth and who sincerely believed–to the very end–that he could have made good on his investment promises if only he’d had enough time. Ponzi is a classic American tale of immigrant life and the dream of success, and the unexpectedly moving story of a man who–for a fleeting, illusory moment–attained it all.

Let’s analyze astrologically some of the words in the review:

  • Charismatic rogue – Pisces sun with Venus conjunct / Leo moon square Neptune in Taurus. Possibly this conjunction or Neptune was on the ascendant, but we can’t know without time of birth.
  • Irresistible scoundrel – Venus conjunct sun in Pisces – who can resist either Venus or Pisces? Venus is exalted in Pisces.
  • Charlatan – Uranus opposite sun/Venus in Pisces creates extreme unpredictability.
  • Wonderfully likeable man – Pisces and Leo – who doesn’t like to have fun with someone who won’t judge you, regardless of what you do? Anything goes with these two in combination.
  • Big dreams but no money – Leo moon is the big dreams – Saturn in Taurus is the no money.
  • Launched the most successful scheme of financial alchemy – moon in Leo square four planets in Taurus – the urge to finance his Leo moon fantasies was strong.
  • Noble intentions – moon in Leo, Neptune/Jupiter conjunction.
  • Manners impeccable – Venus conjunct sun.
  • Hopelessly enamored – Leo (enamored) and Pisces (hopeless).

Back to Ponzi’s Saturn in Taurus – I find a “poverty mentality” with this placement. Ponzi was clearly poor but with this placement I suspect that his family and surroundings were intimidated by wealth around them. Others in the area or family may have flaunted their wealth. Wealth was most likely held up to Ponzi as the highest goal in life.

Ponzi’s Mars in Cancer is a bit of a lone wolf by aspect but indicates that ultimately Ponzi wanted to belong. If Ponzi’s Italian family and village had embraced him, he may never have involved himself in other countries and other people’s money.

Ponzi served several jail sentences suggesting his Taurus or Pisces energy may have been placed in the 12th house of the horoscope, the house that rules involuntary confinement. He died in Brazil in the financial state into which he was born.

Ponzi, unfortunately, never transcended his Saturn in Taurus sense of lack. It’s quite sad, really, because he clearly was capable of doing so. Pisces, unfortunately, can be its own worst enemy and so is known as the sign of self-undoing. Had Ponzi built a more stable and realistic “scheme,” he might have pulled it off both for himself and his investors.

A Reality of Lies

Leo sun Napoleon Bonaparte purportedly said, “History is a set of lies agreed upon.”

I like this quote. It not only says that history is not necessarily factually correct, but it also states that what we “believe” to be history is what is agreed upon.

Reality, then, might be described as shared agreement. In that case, there are no lies.

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Black Cat Astrology

Posted on October 29, 2013 by ohioastrology

ohioastrology's avatarOhio Astrology

It’s that time again — time to explain to the black cat in your life why its image is on thousands of posters, cups, plates, hats, bags and other Halloween bibelots.

When I explained Halloween to my tuxedo cat several years ago she was offended and asked why black cats were associated with evil. To make her feel better, I reminded her that witches accompany black cats (or is it the other way around?) and the witches are all female. I wasn’t faring any better than she was.

“Are you a witch?” she asked.

“Some say yes and some say no,” I responded.

Cat Astrology

Although the sign of Leo is the lion, I don’t see cats as Leo, although they do tend to rule the household. If you argue for Leo, I won’t pick a fight.

Yet, for me, the sign of the zodiac that most describes cats is…

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Barack Obama’s nosey Gemini moon

Posted on October 27, 2013 by ohioastrology

Back in kindergarten, we played a game called telephone line. The teacher had the 30 of us sit in a circle. The first child whispered something into the ear of the person next to him/her. Then that child did the same until we got to the last person.

If you know the game, the first child says something like “I got a robot for Christmas” and the last child hears “I ate a corndog at the fair.”

What was the moral of that exercise?

I think it was to tell us not to believe gossip. The sub-context lesson was that our fellow men are unreliable deliverers of accurate information.

Think about this, my friends, as you read Facebook and Twitter.

Mercury

The astrological deliverer of information is Mercury. Mercury rules Gemini but your Mercury may be in any one of the 12 signs (but is either in your sun sign, the sign before or sign after due to Mercury being so close to the sun).

Mercury is the messenger, not the message.

So in our kindergarten telephone circle, each child is Mercury. The sign in which Mercury is placed describes how “I got a robot for Christmas” becomes “I ate a corndog at the fair.”

“I got a robot for Christmas” might have been Mercury in Sagittarius excitement. The next child, with Mercury in Virgo, probably received and delivered the message perfectly. The next child, however, with Mercury in Leo was taking a mental trip to sub-Saharan Africa to hunt lions and wasn’t paying attention. In order not to embarrass himself, he passed on a different, but colorful story based on remembering the word “Christmas” – “Santa eats corndogs at my house at Christmas.”

Understanding the message “I ate a corndog at the fair” is a Sagittarian affair, Sagittarius being the opposite of Gemini.

Sagittarius, then, has a mean task in understanding human communications and the meaning behind it. Is there truly meaning in “I ate a corndog at the fair?”

Gemini

Gemini and Virgo are both “ruled” by Mercury, but Gemini is the purest form.

Gemini is the messenger, not the message. Gemini is each of the 30 kids whispering in each other’s ears. Gemini is the Facebook and Twitter feed. Gemini is your telephone, iPhone and iPad. Gemini is the chalk-scrawled message on the sidewalk. Gemini is a post-it note on your cubicle wall. Gemini is a letter.

Those with lots of Gemini in the horoscope, then, are looking for messages.

Messages, of course, are important and are stimulation that can lead to action. Messages about danger keep us safe. Messages about what others are doing keeps us stimulated.

This Mercury-fueled need for stimulation is why the sign of Gemini makes such a good journalist. They are looking for information to whisper into your ear. A Gemini with no information to transmit is a very bored and sad Gemini.

Looking for information to transmit also brands one as nosey or a gossip.

Gossip, then, could be branded a sub-set of journalism, a type of personal-environment journalism. Work environments and family environments are two of the primary breeding grounds of personal-environment journalism.

Barack Obama’s Gemini moon

This morning while reading the BBC mobile site, the first story had a lovely picture of US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a close hand shake, hug, peck-on-the-cheek, lovey-dovey moment.

Here’s a link to the Internet site story. The picture is different.

The accompanying story, however, was about US spying on Merkel.

As an aside, pictures are pure Pisces and I love, absolutely love, how the Piscean picture does its subconscious attacking while the words can be so Gemini matter-of-fact. The picture says, “I love you” and the subsequent news story says, “I don’t trust you and I’m spying on you.”

US spying on our political friends certainly didn’t begin with the Obama administration. But a man with a moon in Gemini certainly wouldn’t turn off the tap of information on a friend or foe.

Now I’ve mentioned Mercury, but what happens when the information-gathering sign of Gemini is the moon’s sign?

The moon is our reactive, compulsive nature. The moon is where you go for comfort and is the habit you can’t control.

Obama’s Gemini is compulsive, a need to find information to transmit. As such, Gemini moon is seen as constantly changing, one day this, one day that, escaping when life is too boring. Gemini moon doesn’t sit at home. Gemini moon is not routine.

The BBC article, then, is a perfect moon in Gemini story on a moon in Gemini – the picture says one thing, the story says another about a man they are accusing of saying one thing and doing another.

1913

While writing a blog on the financial changes that occurred in the US in 1913, I realized that what really changed was not financial, but in the realm of communication. (I’m always looking for financial decisions to be based on earth-sign energy – I need to give this up.)

In 1913 we were in the process of developing radio and telephone communication. Back to that kindergarten room – what changed in 1913 is that we gathered in the room. Prior to that, we lived on farms far away from each other and could not whisper in each other’s ears.

Radio and telephone made the circle possible so now the message could move.

The current digital communication revolution (ruled by air sign Aquarius) simply makes it all more immediate and broad. With Facebook and Twitter, I now get to hear each one of those children’s whispered messages.

Does that help or hurt our communications? Now we know Johnny got a robot for Christmas, Susie went to the fair and Bobby likes corndogs.

Some complain that hearing the minute-by-minute mundane activities of another’s life is overwhelming. Yet which of us has given up putting our ear out for the whisper?

Today’s ability to listen in on European rulers such as Merkel has given Gemini moon Obama his compulsive drug of choice – information and gossip.

If one of the media outlets decided to put a few Merkel mobile phone transcripts out there, would you be interested to hear what they contain?

Since the creation of radio and telephone, we’ve become both informed about what we need to know and also more nosey about our neighbors.

Many are asking Obama to stop being nosey. But how can we ask our President to stop the need for constant information about his surroundings when we all do the same each day?

Posted in Politicians - Not Ohio | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Janet Yellen – Goddess of Money

Posted on October 26, 2013 by ohioastrology

Money is an interesting idea. It’s an idea, by the way, not a thing – at least not in the US right now.

The US money supply is created in the same way that “instant water” is created. Just add water. Money is created by adding money.

What’s enjoyable about the idea of money, to me, is that it demonstrates in a spiritual way how ideas support our shared existence. In Carlos Castenada terms, we’re sharing the same dream, in this case a dream of money. And that dream creates our highways and houses and moves corn from Iowa to just about every food product you eat (corn syrup).

Fascinating.

The entity that creates money in the US is called the Federal Reserve. The person who heads that entity is called the Chairman. We may be choosing a new title, by the way, as the person currently nominated to head the Federal Reserve is not a man.

So if you are the head of the Federal Reserve, you get to create money. That’s very powerful. If we were in Ancient Greece, we might call the head of the Federal Reserve the “God of Money.”

But we don’t believe in myths, right?

Janet Yellen

Call me an earth sign – an earth sign with second house sun (which rules assets, property and one’s own money) – because I still think of money in an old-fashioned, literal way.

It goes like this. If I have $100 and spend $105, I have no money. Yet this idea became VERY old-fashioned during the last decade. My second house sun, however, continues to whisper in my ear that one day we must pay the piper with things that we can see, hear, taste, touch and smell.

So when I look at the charts of those involved in finance, I’m always searching wistfully for that Taurus moon, the grand earth trine, that hovering Saturn, that rational Aquarius . . .

In bankers what I find is the competitive Aries and Mars.

I don’t find a strong Aries or Mars presence in Janet Yellen, the current nominee for head of the Federal Reserve. But she definitely is powerful.

Without time of birth, we know that Yellen has almost all air and fire in her horoscope. The moon is either in hyper-rational Aquarius or imaginative Pisces.

Yellen is a dramatic, regal and beauty-seeking mix of Leo and Libra. Yellen has four planets in Leo (Saturn, Mercury, Pluto and sun) and four planets in Libra (Mars, Venus, Neptune and Jupiter).

Uranus is in Gemini and moon either in Aquarius or Pisces.

There is no earth.

I would love to know Yellen’s time of birth for rising sign.

My second house sun is once again disappointed that the head of the money is not what you’d call frugal and has no earth-sign grounding. Leo and Libra combined are exquisitely elegant. My second-house sun wouldn’t mind being invited over for dinner however . . .

Yellen likes her personal self and all surroundings to be beautiful, balanced and inspiring. Your problems do not exist simply because problems are ugly. Pretend that your life and its problems were an indie flick or colorfully illustrated in a comic book.

That’s what Yellen does.

If you work for Yellen as an interior decorator, gardener or personal shopper (which I’m guessing she has), you have both the nightmare and dream job. It’s a nightmare because you never get it quite right. It’s a dream job because you get to spend time in lavish surroundings. Yellen will not send you to the thrift store and will not ask you to buy her new wallpaper at Walmart.

The combination of Saturn, Mercury, Pluto and sun all in Leo adds a controlling element to a sign that, sure, is strong and self-centered, but isn’t normally manipulative. Add a dose of Saturn and Pluto, however, and you’d better be sharing Yellen’s dramatic and exaggerated view of the situation or you’re out. “Follow or get out of the way” is the thought here. Yellen is leading.

Don’t track mud into Yellen’s world, literally or figuratively. Negative, ugly, depressing, toxic and limiting ideas are all out.

Now with a Pisces moon, this all gets worse. With an Aquarius moon, Yellen will have self-control and you may not know this is what’s going on.

The first clue you’ve brought an ugly or unseemly situation to light is that you will be left out of the next invite. In public, however, you will be treated with the same regal bearing that is bestowed on others.

Saturn conjunct Mercury in Leo brings the ideal public speaker – confident, exuberant, clear and optimistic yet authoritative.

Leo and Libra energy combined is also quite romantic. This is a combination that is in love with love. Is there some poetry in that old cabinet drawer?

I’m sure there are more than a few love letters tucked beneath lingerie purchased in Paris.

If I were an evil astrologer (and I swear I’m not), I would suggest to those dealing with Yellen to make all contacts appear as courtship with Yellen as the object of affection. Don’t hesitate to flatter her appearance or style. Rational, but somewhat purple, prose is in order.

The Goddess of Money

The Federal Reserve is more than a bank which must balance its books. As the creator of money that is the world’s reserve currency, the Chair of the Federal Reserve is a very powerful individual on this planet right now.

The personally powerful Yellen should be able to manage this powerful position. While she may have Mars conjunct Venus in Libra which can let down its guard in the face of charm, she does carry Pluto and Saturn near her sun. You don’t mess with Pluto and Saturn, especially together.

It may be an especially important time for the Federal Reserve as America experiences a material evolution.

In Greek mythology, Pluto is the God of Wealth. While researching whether there is a goddess of wealth, I stumbled across Eirene (Irene).

Eirene is the Goddess of Peace. She is seen in this statute holding Pluto in her arms (picture from journeyingtothegoddess.wordpress.com).

ireneplutosrec2

This mythological image is quite perfect. Yellen already holds Pluto in her arms astrologically and may soon hold the world’s Pluto in her arms.

Will she also bring peace?

Posted in Nations / States / Institutions | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

It’s a fine time to sharpen knives

Posted on October 19, 2013 by ohioastrology

If you’ve been thinking about writing a blog and are looking for a topic, may I make a suggestion?

Astrology is the perfect topic.

Why?

Every day is a new pattern.

Can you say that about the rest of your life?

For the planets to return to the exact position in which they are placed today will take a very long time. I haven’t figured out exactly how long yet, but when I do I will put it here.

And even when today’s exact pattern of solar system planets recurs, our galaxy is still rotating so the backdrop continues to change. And the earth wobbles, too, so while planets may be in the same sign, they will be a different declination (kind of like latitude in the sky).

Yet within this ever-changing spatial reality, the cycles repeat, over and over, endlessly, like the patterns on Mitla in Mexico.

Mitla Temple - Mexico 1

How’s that for a description of life?

The moon is a speedy 28 days while Pluto is a slow 248 years or so. The moon, then, would rule quickly changing events like the weather and your personal, emotional reactions.

Pluto, then, would rule slow changing events like the movement of tectonic plates, the evolution of papyrus scrolls to printing presses to iPhones and budget talks in Washington, DC . . .

Take, for example, the current transit of Mars into Virgo. It seems like just yesterday that Mars was in Virgo, that transit occurring while the Republic presidential candidates were debating each other in mid-2012 prior to the 2012 US presidential election.

Mars takes a little over two years to revolve around the sun and spending a couple months in a sign on average. In 2012, however, Mars went retrograde and spent six months in the picky, detailed, debate ruling sign of Virgo.

And here we are again, Mars in Virgo, on a different canvas than the one we had in 2012, the ever-changing canvas of the universe.

Five fun things to do while Mars is in Virgo

Astrologers are often found reading books because, back in the day, that was the only way to learn astrology unless you were lucky enough to live in some far-out place that promoted the subject, which may have involved moving to another planet.

Those of us on this planet had to trek to the weird bookstore on the end of the odd street in the old house converted to bookstore.

Books are still fun, although I have far fewer than in those old days.

So last night I picked up “The Astrologers Handbook” by Sakoian & Acker to check in on an “official” description of Mars in Virgo. The beginning reads:

Mars in the sign of Virgo gives energy and skill wherever work is concerned. As with Mars in the other earth signs, many skilled craftsmen, such as precision machinists, have Mars in this sign.

Precision machinist – does this trade still exist or has it been replaced by computers?

The description goes on to say that many surgeons also have Mars placed here. We still have surgeons — that’s for sure. With the Pluto/Uranus in Virgo generation hitting mid-life, we have an abundance of health, wellness, medicine and surgeons, all ruled by Virgo.

It’s good to know that Mars in Virgo folk still can find work in healthcare if not precision machinery.

If you find yourself bored in the next month while Mars is in Virgo, here are a few things that might help you tap the mad rush of Virgo energy that is being bestowed upon you:

  1. Sharpen knives. I’d wait until mid-next week for this one, though, because Mars is opposing transiting Neptune in Pisces. Don’t want any cuts or scrapes here. Precision is most effective when Neptune is far, far away.
  2. Pick apart the details of a political speech. Picking apart and analyzing is a Virgo thing to do. To have even more fun, make categories like: half-truths, half-lies, full-fledged lies, hyperbole, outright nonsense and stuff Mark Twain would love.
  3. Make dollhouse furniture. Building is a Taurus thing to do but building in miniature is a Virgo dream. So many details, so little room. How delightful to see intricate details on a tiny object. It brings in a little energy of Virgo’s opposite sign Pisces because looking at your dollhouse, you view your life from above (and what do you notice?).
  4. Organize the spice cabinet. Really, organize anything, from the spice cabinet to the tool box. Mars is Virgo is a time when you look forward to sitting atop a pile of “stuff” and separating it into useful and meaningful smaller piles of “stuff.”
  5. Look for a new star. Looking for a new star takes long hours and lots of patience. But Virgo can do this. What’s even more fun is that you get to name it! Imagining naming your own star, a name that will appear for millennia in astronomy books, history books and Disney films.

May Mars in Virgo be with you. Now get back to work.

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John Boehner Come Home!

Posted on October 16, 2013 by ohioastrology

Reading that the government is open for business again, I thought I’d take a look at one of the key players in the deal – House Speaker John Boehner.

Boehner is an Ohio boy and, therefore, close to the heart of OHA. Ohioans are known to care deeply for each other, to protect each other when abroad whether in Indiana or Russia.

As a fellow Ohioan, I’d like to offer Boehner the following astrological advice (for free): Take October off. Come back to Ohio, pick apples, hunt for pumpkins, break autumn gourds with your Ohio clansmen.

Here’s why: Today (surprise), Mars changed signs and is now transiting Virgo.

Mars in Virgo is passing over Boehner’s natal Mars/Saturn conjunction in Virgo. The criticism Boehner is receiving will continue for the next month, like a constant wind that is not hurricane force but strong enough in gust to keep messing up his hair, the hair he’s carefully groomed for the photo op.

Mars in Virgo is getting a paper cut on the day you must catch up on the filing.

The last time Mars was in Virgo, Republican nominee Mitt Romney lost the presidency. Boehner may want to heed that period and not make Romney-like comments about people who don’t pay taxes and such.

Mars in Virgo will make sure any snarky comments get posted to YouTube and go viral with Virgo-like organization and efficiency. Mars in Virgo is looking closely for things to find fault with. Mars in Virgo has the camera ready to roll, is taking dictation, is measuring every word against every action.

It’s actually a good time not to talk, for Boehner. If Boehner wanted to have a little fun, he could merge into the transiting Neptune in Pisces aspect (which opposes his Mars and Saturn) and offer a little poetry on the situation. It would probably be more effective than a fact-fueled diatribe about what went wrong. With Neptune in Pisces opposing any Virgo energy, the Virgo in Boehner can’t understand why people don’t get the facts.

If Mars wasn’t enough, for the next year transiting Saturn in Scorpio will begin a conjunction of Boehner’s Mercury and sun. Saturn hits the breaks on the energy it finds. It contracts and restricts. The positive side is greater discipline, wisdom and maturity.

Boehner will be sadder but wiser in the coming year.

My first glance at Boehner’s aspects made me wonder if he’s looking for another job. Probing the Internet, I saw a few articles that suggested Boehner may not run for re-election in 2014. I’m suspecting that’s true, that Boehner may look for something more fulfilling.

In November 2014, Uranus will be transiting his north node in Aries, Pluto will be transiting his Venus and Jupiter will be smack on his natal Pluto. And by January 2015, Saturn will be finished smothering his Scorpio sun moving into early Sagittarius.

What that means to me is that Boehner will find a new, powerful position in different social setting. He will not be retiring to read the classics or put all those family and travel photos into scrapbooks. The conjunction to north node Aries suggests Boehner will be more independent. If I were to guess, I’d say he’s going to run a business or large corporate entity.

Boehner will be at the helm.

But until then, Mr. Speaker, when times get tough and everyone is spitting in your face, remember that the pastoral beauty of Ohio heals the wounds of a thousand political battles. Ohio, home to rare ancient earthworks with mysterious purpose, is more fascinating than Washington DC.

There’s no place like home.

Posted in Politicians - Ohio | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Astrological Counseling with Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell

Posted on October 14, 2013 by ohioastrology

The US government is currently closed for business while the two political parties (Republican and Democrat) struggle over an appropriations bill. President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner have come to no agreement and now the Senate Majority Leader (Harry Reid) and Senate Minority Leader (Mitch McConnell) are in the spotlight to resolve the conflict.

An article in The Fix states that Reid and McConnell don’t get along.

What is the purpose of astrology if not to help bridge the gap of dualistic thinking? Astrologers world wide seek to use the ancient discipline of astrology to help those of influence and control resolve their human relationship issues.

OHA is no exception.

Reid and McConnell are carrying the empty wallet of the US on their shoulders. This empty wallet is a heavy burden because once it is filled, the bill collectors will be knocking on the doors of our nation.

Reid and McConnell

Reid has sun in Sagittarius and moon in Leo. McConnell has sun in Pisces and moon in Aries or Taurus.

With three planets and possibly the moon in accumulating earth-sign Taurus, McConnell probably has enough saved from his 71 years of living to personally fund Social Security.

Do 71-year old senators collect Social Security?

Reid is quite the opposite of McConnell with Sagittarius and Leo in the horoscope. Mars in Pisces squares sun in Sagittarius which makes Reid quite generous, quite generous indeed. Whether he actually has money or not does not inhibit his generosity.

Maybe that’s why Reid continues to work?

Do 74-year old senators collect Social Security?

This counseling is going to be tough. But both men are plenty mature enough to work through a tough-love session of Getting Along.

Here goes.

Astrological Counseling

Counseling usually takes a long time as the counseled discovers insights for him/herself. But since the bills are due on Thursday, we’ll just offer some quick advice (for free – don’t want to make the fiscal worries more intense).

Pisces

These two really should never have gotten married, but since they did they are going to have to join on a few degrees of Pisces energy.

The common ground here is a true caring for others.

Next up, Neptune, which creates fuzzy, hazy but spiritual thinking. Transiting Neptune is conjunct McConnell’s sun and T-square Reid’s sun and conjunct Mars.

Both should delegate this responsibility to others who can think more clearly right now.

The current transit of Saturn in Scorpio opposes Reid’s Uranus in Taurus and McConnell’s Mars/Saturn/Uranus in Taurus. The fear of personal finance loss is almost palpable. McConnell has much more to lose.

Personal involvement can be important, since feeling one’s own financial free fall can help feel the pain of others’ financial woes. But fear of loss does not always create the best long-term decisions.

Saturn in Scorpio squares McConnell’s Venus and Mercury in Aquarius. This square (which is part of a T-square with Taurus) makes McConnell’s impersonal speech patterns more spirited but too rigid.

Reid’s equally cool and distant Venus in Capricorn is being transited by Pluto.

In summary, while both may care, each is unable to express those feelings and instead communicate in managerial, professorial and authoritative tones. You have no inkling that there is true feeling.

Counseling Debrief

This is a tough case and counselors never should say “get divorced,” but I must. These two should take a back seat those who are not currently experiencing a major Neptune transit. Both men are soon up for natal Neptune oppositions as well, adding to the confusion.

Neptune is both a savior and a victim; as victim, often a scapegoat. Scapegoats don’t become mascots for sports teams.

Scapegoats travel solo as the group ostracizes them. The longer the scapegoat lingers, the more time the group has to avoid the problem. Scapegoats, when possible, should leave the situation.

So when do senators retire?

Posted in Politicians - Not Ohio | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment