Van Gogh is Whispering in Your Ear

Posted on October 7, 2013 by ohioastrology

Thinking about the upcoming square (in a couple days) between Venus in Sagittarius and Neptune in Pisces, the image that came to mind is of spending an evening with an old friend, getting a little bored, finding something to smoke or drink that takes away the ennui and spending the evening in activities you never planned and had never experienced.

That’s the Venus/Sagittarius/Neptune/Pisces portion of the image.

The aspect, the square, comes the next morning when you wake from your time in between worlds and turn over to find your friend has departed.

And you don’t mind.

You know that kind of experience doesn’t happen in the real world. You let it go, knowing that the only way it will ever occur again is if you let it go and keep the doors open in case it ever passes by again.

Post-image, I wondered who had this interesting aspect in his/her chart. Neptune, as you know my good friends, has a rather long cycle – 164 years or so. Finding a person with this aspect means ripping through the veil of time.

I happen to have a copy of “The Circle Book of Charts” lying around. If you know what that book is, you might also have Neptune in Pisces square Venus in your chart . . .

Perusing the book, I simply was looking for the appropriate time period for Neptune when it was last in Pisces. That time was the mid-1850s and, no surprise to the astrologers in the room, I happened upon many an artist or writer – including two of my favorites.

Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin

French painters Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin were born when Neptune was last in Pisces. Neither has Venus in Sagittarius, but Van Gogh had moon and Jupiter in Sagittarius while Gauguin had Venus in Gemini, which is opposite Sagittarius and also makes a square to Neptune.

Van Gogh is more well-known, I think, than Gauguin, famous not only as an artist but for having psychological problems that led him to cut off his own ear (or did he?).

Both Van Gogh and Gauguin tried to live a mid-19th century “normal” life. When Neptune is strong in the horoscope, the prevailing normal is a long hallway that stretches into infinity as you walk through it.

Van Gogh and Gauguin both found their way to Neptune through art but from different motivations.

According to the www.vggallery.com site, Van Gogh studied theology but was not able to earn a place in the religious structure. His true sympathy or empathy or compassion for others led him to give away his possessions to the peasants he painted. Van Gogh’s motivations appear genuine which corresponded to the fragile emotional state that accompanies the Pisces habit of absorbing the feelings of others.

Gauguin, in contrast, was married with five children pursuing a business life. When that life failed him, he ran away to Tahiti.

From http://www.paul-gauguin.net/biography.html:

In 1891, Gauguin, frustrated by lack of recognition at home and financially destitute, sailed to the tropics to escape European civilization and “everything that is artificial and conventional.”

Gauguin’s desire to escape the “artificial and conventional” rings of air-sign sensibility. The contrarian must know what his is opposed to and I find air is actually over-involved in the affairs, activities and affectations of their fellow men. You wear a yellow hat because your roommate swiped yours but to an air sign you’re making a Yellow-Hat Statement.

Air is the space between the energy of the thing and the idea of the thing.

Van Gogh’s Sagittarius/Pisces had thin boundaries, was psychological rice paper. Gauguin’s Gemini/Pisces was making a rational decision to flee into Neptune.

About the ear . . .

Legend has it that Van Gogh, in a fit of madness, cut off his own ear.

Art historians have never been able to leave the ear alone and recent research suggests that Gauguin might have actually cut off Van Gogh’s ear during a fight.

Van Gogh and Gauguin were friends in a volatile relationship. With every mutable sign in the zodiac in their combined charts, that’s to be expected.

Gauguin had a mutable T-square of Venus/sun in Gemini, moon in Virgo and Saturn/Neptune in Pisces.

Van Gogh had sun in cardinal Aries, but moon/Jupiter in mutable Sagittarius and Neptune/Mars/Venus in Pisces. Aries alone is a pistol. Add fiery, mutable Sagittarius into the mix and the temper is extreme. Luckily Van Gogh didn’t live in this time of traffic lights. He’d be the one behind you honking the minute the light turned green.

While Van Gogh is seen as the crazy one, Gauguin’s moon in Virgo can think itself into a ridiculous frenzy with Gemini adding additional details and Pisces contributing some irrational fears. Possibly some of Gauguin’s crazy was projected onto Van Gogh?

What fun it would be, though, to be a fly on the absinthe café wall during a meeting of these two artists, filled to excess with Neptune and Jupiter and Sagittarius and flights of imagination that could be more thrilling than any the 20th century bout of adventure tourism.

So you want to feel like van Gogh?

You’ll have your chance to feel a little “Van Gogh” this Thursday, October 10. Get your brushes and oil paints ready and leave the door open for a passing friend, carrying absinthe, who has an unusual idea for the evening.

Posted in Famous people | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Obama and Boehner: Political Marriage Counseling

Posted on October 4, 2013 by ohioastrology

Obama and Boehner’s political marriage is making the news. Looks like hot has turned cold. Original post date 7/28/2011.

ohioastrology's avatarOhio Astrology

Let’s say Barack Obama and John Boehner were a couple and came into the astrologer’s office for some marriage counseling. I imagine it would go like this:

John Boehner: We were so attracted to each other when we first met! It was like the 4th of July. Then it all changed and he became cold as ice (Scorpio sun square Leo sun).

Barack Obama: It’s not me that runs hot and cold. It’s you (Leo sun square Scorpio sun).

BO: We have different values about money which is why we argue. I like to spend money on family (Venus in Cancer) and he likes to spend money on things that impress others to earn their respect (Venus in Capricorn).

JB: I believe you should buy the best that’s out there (Venus in Capricorn, moon and Neptune in Libra), that’s all. I’m not trying to impress anyone (moon in Libra…

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Posted in Politicians - Not Ohio | Leave a comment

The “Flo” of Time

Posted on October 2, 2013 by ohioastrology

As the saying goes, history repeats itself. This is especially true in television. As time passes, I notice TV characters returning with ancient problems dressed in modern clothes.

Take 2 Broke Girls. Are they not Laverne & Shirley without the brewery (now a diner)?

If I had the time, I would calculate how many television shows center on the authority figures including cops, criminals, lawyers and doctors. I’m guessing it’s a very large percent of what’s been created.

Why are we not bored with our repeating characters?

If we watch the same characters, the same roles, over and over, is this not our modern mythology?

When there was no television, the images were painted on walls and sculpted from stone and marble. Today’s mythology is digital.

Flo

As the world of television turns, a recent rise from the grave of forgotten TV characters is Flo.

The 21st century Flo (Stephanie Courtney) sells Progressive Auto Insurance (picture from Facebook, a purveyor of faces).

Flo progressive

The 20th century Flo (Polly Holliday) was a waitress on the show Alice known for her spunky attitude, love of men and angry retort “Kiss my grits” (picture from http://www.screeninsults.com).

Flo alice

What do the Flos have in common?

Both century’s Flos are spirited, red lipped with upwardly trending hair. Both wear a uniform, a name badge and are your energetic and lovable Working Girl. In this life they are Working Girl but in another time or place, say ancient Greece, they could have been Helen of Troy (or, more appropriately, Flo of Troy).

Astrologically, our Flos are defined by a pinch Mars/Aries, and a dash of Aquarius/Uranus. They are a little offbeat (Aquarius) and a little mouthy about it (Aries).

Progressive Flo has sun conjunct Venus in Aquarius. Venus on your sun is indicative of beauty (as viewed by others). Aquarian beauty is a rare combination of classic and unique. Aquarius is electric so Progressive Flo probably generates energy around her that attracts others who wonder what she’s about.

Waitress Flo has both Uranus and Venus in Taurus. Venus and Uranus in the same sign suggests uniqueness or differentness in regard to beauty and pleasure; in Taurus, it’s a physical, sensual uniqueness. This Flo is probably physically more adventuresome than Progressive Flo because Aquarius is not as comfortable with physical contact as is Taurus. Also, Waitress Flo has sun in warm and cuddly Cancer.

Progressive Flo has Mars in Aries (and could have moon in Aries) while Waitress Flo has moon in Aries. Aries is sassy, bossy and dominant. Aries is here, Aries is now. Both Flos take over the screen. Wasn’t there another waitress in the show Alice? What was her name? I’m reading on IMDB that the actress who played Alice (what was her name?) was upset by Flo taking all the attention in the show.

Progressive Flo has made a successful career out of three-minute commercials – quite impressive. How much market share is due to Flo?

Who’s more popular, Flo or Progressive?

What happens if Flo leaves and goes to another insurance company? Or a bank?

Or a TV show?

Kiss My Grits, Progressive

With Aries and Aquarius in the chart, there is a tendency to rebel. So I wonder if either Flo has Progressive car insurance. It wouldn’t surprise me if Progressive Flo deliberately got, say, State Farm Insurance just to prove independence.

Waitress Flo lasted four television years. Progressive Flo is going on five years (Wikipedia says her first commercial was in 2008).

Uranus is currently transiting Aries which is conjunct Progressive Flo’s Mars in Aries. Uranus is sudden and Aries is impulsive and a host of world uprisings attest to the emotions that can erupt during this transit. Uranus represents the seven-year itch of urban lore.

Progressive Flo may soon be telling her sponsor to kiss her grits.

Posted in Actors | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mutable signs dissolving in a glass of Neptune

Posted on September 28, 2013 by ohioastrology

No surprise that while walking in the park this morning, I had some astrological thoughts. Astrology is like a novel with no ending, where the characters continue to develop and transform until they are lifted from the story like chess pieces removed from a game but where new pieces are added.

There’s no beginning and no end.

Quite creative, isn’t it?

Today’s thoughts began with Virgo and ended, for the moment, at the mutable signs in general. Virgo is the mutable earth sign.

What does that mean?

There are four elements (fire, earth, air and water) and three modes (cardinal, fixed and mutable). Four times three equals the 12 signs of the zodiac. Your sign has an element and mode.

The elements and modes interact in geometric relationships that are, truly, any angle you want to measure. Astrological talk involves some of the more common angles – trines, sextiles, squares and oppositions.

When you understand element and mode, the relationships are really quite easy to find. Signs of a similar mode are either in square or opposition. Earth and water are compatible and create trines, sextiles and oppositions. Fire and air are compatible and form trines, sextiles and oppositions.

The opposition comes from a sign of the same mode, but compatible element. That opposition is really a polarity – you have a lot in common with those who seem opposite.

Opposites attract, right?

The modes

The modes are cardinal, fixed and mutable. Cardinal signs begin things, fixed signs create permanency and mutable signs change things.

If the world was run by cardinal signs we’d have a lot of projects started, but not many finished, with a basement full of boxes containing craft ideas found in a hundred magazine subscriptions.

If the world was run by fixed signs we’d have meatloaf for dinner every Tuesday (which sounds good to me) and other regularities that we’d do because we do them, because they were established at an indefinite time in the past.

If the world was run by mutable signs we’d make plans, change them, turn around, think of something more interesting and then find it was time for bed (if mutable signs do go to bed).

On the other side:

With no cardinal signs in your life you find you never try anything new. You aren’t curious about that new Albanian restaurant on the corner, afraid to try it lest you dinner be ruined (it’s meatloaf night).

With no fixed signs in your life you find you can’t ever seem to lose that weight, save for that house or change yourself in a permanent way. Your lover wants to be friends. Your job wants to make you contract.

With no mutable signs in your life you find you never relax into the moment and chase after a fast-moving cloud just to see where it will take you. You never turn down the wrong street simply because there is a beautiful sunset at the end.

Mutable as dissolving

While I’ve always considered mutable signs to be about change, today it occurred to me that they are the dissolving mode of any element.

I was thinking about Virgo being less body oriented than the other two earth signs – Taurus and Capricorn. While Taurus and Capricorn are physical, sensual and lusty, Virgo seems allergic to being in the body itself, hyper-sensitive to its surroundings.

While the order of the signs is Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, it might be better to see them as Capricorn (beginning), Taurus (middle) and Virgo (end).

This reminds me of the story of the Three Little Pigs. If you are not familiar with the story, the three little pigs each build a house. A big bad wolf comes to blow down each house – two houses get blown down and one withstands the wolf’s heady breath.

The first house is made of straw, the second stick and the permanent, un-blow-down-able house is made of bricks.

Virgo would be the straw, Capricorn the sticks and Taurus the bricks.

Straw is the least stable of material to build a house. Sticks are better but vulnerable and bricks are so solid that the world outside disappears.

Virgo would be the dissolving of the physical body, the hypersensitivity to the physical environment which the body, like the house in our Three Little Pig story, should protect.

The wolf is a dangerous bellow of air, air being ideas that threaten our edifice, our shields.

Water signs

The cardinal water sign is Cancer, the fixed is Scorpio and the mutable Pisces. The water signs deal with emotions and reactions.

The cardinal Cancer begins the spiritual union of individuals into what is commonly referred to as family. Family traditionally follows physical birthing and sometimes excludes people if the circumstances of their birthing are not deemed appropriate. Families often include those not of physical birth, a spiritual or emotional family.

The fixed sign Scorpio might be the creator of marriage and family trees. Making a spiritual union permanent is rather difficult as people often find many others attractive and sometimes like to physically interact with many people. In this 21st century AD, some still question whether monogamy is natural. Family trees make the relationships permanent and legal.

The mutable sign Pisces dissolves both family and sexual bonds and relates to humanity as a whole when they meet humanity on the local bus line. If we counted all the people that truly love us, we might be surprised the number is higher than we think and that those that are supposed to love us might not be the ones loving us the most. Pisces dissolves all structured ideas of union and is involved in unions of a type others do not even know exist.

Fire signs

The cardinal fire sign is Aries, the fixed is Leo and the mutable Sagittarius. The fire signs deal with spirit and intuition.

The cardinal Aries begins the assertion of the self – the “I,” the “me,” the identity. The US is a nation of Aries assertion which the current trends in marketing follow. I want this thing in blue right now. To fight with others is to assert self. Maybe that’s all we ever fight for?

The fixed Leo makes permanent the assertion of the self through creative efforts and children. Leo Andy Warhol’s work has lived long past the physical Andy Warhol. Those who worry that they will die without a statue being erected to their being are talking Leo. Leo also likes to be the hero, another way to embed the self’s image into another’s mind.

The mutable Sagittarius dissolves the self by contact with foreign selves, which shatter all we have learned from our culture. Sagittarius takes self-asserting to a cause and asserts on the behalf of others. Sagittarius melds into the assertion of others and often dons others’ clothes for experience, experience which challenges and changes ideas of self.

Air signs

The cardinal air sign is Libra, the fixed is Aquarius and the mutable Gemini. The air signs deal with social interaction and intellect.

The cardinal Libra begins the social interaction by mating. This is different than the Scorpio intimate merging. The self is solo and Libra (as the opposite of Aries) now finds someone to play with, discovers that sharing toys brings others into the sandbox. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery which Libra understands and probably coined. The give and take (justice) of relationship was developed by Libra.

The fixed Aquarius is interested in making permanent ideas of social interaction. This is the urban planner, the social philosopher or the leader of the community coop who knows that joining forces creates a better whole, but the joining must be defined. If the community has no guiding principle, written on paper, it will be unfair to some.

The mutable Gemini dissolves social interaction by flying where it will and following no known rules about how interaction should occur. Like the bee, Gemini flies from flower to flower feeding its intellect, its drive for information, for interaction. Gemini dissolves interaction by rejecting partner and societal ideas of interaction. Interaction is for its own sake, not so that you will take care of me when I’m old or because there is a blueprint somewhere describing how we should behave.

Neptune dissolving

Neptune is in year two or three of its 15-year transit of the mutable sign Pisces. Now that you’ve learned that elements of the same mode are in square, you know that if you are a Gemini, Virgo or Sagittarius, Neptune in Pisces will square your sun at some point in this cycle.

If you are a Pisces, Neptune will conjunct your sun. Neptune rules Pisces so it’s a double espresso of ethereal Pisces beans.

Because Neptune and Pisces carry the same energy, that dissolving feeling will affect the other mutable signs.

Gemini will be uncomfortable with the feeling nature of others as it prefers intellect. Virgo will also be uncomfortable with the feeling nature and will react to it physically through allergies and other weird illnesses. Sagittarius may find inspiration by Neptune which made lead it into experiences that are actually dishonest or delusional. Neptune will be an interesting scent from the kitchen that may lead mutable signs into some unusual situations.

Neptune will dissolve energy patterns that have exceeded their limits of a fixed and rigid nature.

Some like that dissolving feeling, some don’t. Dissolving is simply one way to change. There are others, like the rug being pulled out from under you or a house falling on your head.

Maybe it will be a relief, like the old Alka Seltzer commercial:

“Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is.”

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

Black Cat Astrology

Posted on September 24, 2013 by ohioastrology

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 Aquarius, which is opposite of Leo. A salient characteristic of Aquarius is aloofness which some see as a salient characteristic of cats as well.

Cats also seem to have the ability to convene with spirits and ghosts, entities in the ethereal sphere where the finely-tuned Aquarian nervous system appears to reside as the corporeal Aquarian in front of you tunes out.

Whiskers on cats are like antennas, conduits of radio impulses, very Uranian (Uranus rules Aquarius).

Cats can be very affectionate but most seem to have an on-off switch, much like Aquarius. Cats also don’t drool with expression, like another common house pet that is allowed to accompany its owner to the park (correction: cats do drool 9/17/2022). Aquarians are rarely caught drooling with expression.

If your cat does something embarrassing, it maintains a detached dignity, much like Aquarius.

Cats march to the beat of a different drummer, much like Aquarius.

Cats are bored by humdrum conversation, much like Aquarius. Baby talk is for dogs.

Bastet

The ancient Egyptians worshiped cats (as they should) and even have a god or two with feline characteristics. The most clearly cat-like (versus lion-like) god is Bastet. From my research this evening on the Internet and in books, I’m still a little confused about what energy this Bastet actually represents.

Bastet, sources agree, was daughter of the sun god. Like the authors of “Ancient Egypt,” many sources say she had both “gentle and fierce aspects.”

But what did she rule?

According to Encyclopedia Mythica, Bastet was one of the “Eyes of Ra” who would lay waste to enemies of Egypt. Anyone who lives with a feline is aware of their ability to stare enemies into submission. This is an appropriate duty for a cat god.

Other sources say Bastet ruled home and pregnancy. Per-Bast.org adds protection to the list.

Per “Ancient Egypt,” in the fifth century BC, Greek historian Herodotus happened upon the Bastet Festival at her cult center of Bubastis and described lots of singing and wine drinking (parties haven’t changed for millennia, have they?). Unfortunately, this doesn’t tell us much about Bastet’s role in the pantheon of gods.

This Bastet is very mysterious, just like your house cat, who is staring at you now and thinking . . .?

Scorpio

Somewhere in Europe in the Middle Ages (circa 600-1600) black cats (and cats in general) lost their revered status and became symbols of bad luck and witchcraft.

In the Middle Ages, it seems, the folks in Europe began associating negative or frightening experiences with the color black. In the West, the color of mourning is black (in China and India it is white). From a centuries-distant view, it’s almost like a collective depression which projected onto black stuff, including cats.

Today the black cat is associated with Halloween, a holiday that occurs at the very beginning of the sign of Scorpio.

Scorpio is the fixed water sign associated with intense feelings, power, intimacy, shared resources and death. No wonder the Day of the Dead (November 1) also occurs in Scorpio.

Today on NPR I heard an interview with Stephen King and he compared your first positive experience with horror (“you liked it”) with your first experience of sex. That comment describes very well Scorpio energy.

Because you like Stephen King doesn’t mean you’re evil. Horror, like other intense emotions, is cathartic. Horror stories help us purge negative energy.

Explaining it all to your cat

So how do you explain all this to your black cat?

“You were once revered but during a collective slump in spirit a heap of collective negativity was cast your way . . .”

While the adoption papers indicate my black cat was born in the sign of Scorpio, she seems much more like a Cancer to me – chatty, snuggly and sweet.

I decided to change my Halloween story for her.

“Black cats used to represent evil, but now represent the mysterious forces of the universe,” I explained to her this year.

I added that times have changed and we’re no longer in the Middle Ages.

“So people also don’t fear powerful women flying through the air?” she asked.

“Of course not.”

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

“Al Pacino!”

Posted on September 22, 2013 by ohioastrology

Last night, I dreamed of Al Pacino, that he was at our family house and my family liked him because, like Pacino, we have Italian blood. It was a little odd because I’m not really a Pacino fan – don’t dislike him but he’s not one of those actors who’s movies I must see just to look at him (like, say, George Clooney).

Then when reading the news this morning I noticed Pacino is up for an Emmy tonight. Then later I came across one of his movies on DVD.

You know the rule – three times a sighting in one day and you must blog on the subject.

It could be that Pacino’s image bored its way into my subconscious after seeing “Saturday Night Fever” earlier this summer. My first viewing of it in 30 years, I’d forgotten much of the movie including the scene where our main character, played by John Travolta, has a poster (do they still make posters?) of Pacino on his wall. Travolta looks at the poster and yells, “Al Pacino.”

“Al Pacino!”

Al Pacino

Not having Pacino’s horoscope in my database, I swung over to Astrotheme. The first thing I noticed is that Pacino was born just nine days after my late mother.

Hmm.

Now it’s all making sense. My family is Italian, Pacino is Italian, capisce?

Maybe like Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, the Italians should have Six Degrees of Al Pacino. I haven’t traced it yet, but maybe, quite possibly, Pacino is a relative.

I’d better work on my lasagna recipe before he comes for dinner.

According to the Astrotheme horoscope, Pacino has sun in Taurus conjunct Saturn, Leo rising and moon in Sagittarius.

Pacino’s sun and Saturn are square the Leo rising.

It’s an interesting chart. It’s filled with air and fire, including Mars and Venus conjunct in Gemini, but then has that solid, steady Taurus sun with the restrictive, cautious Saturn hanging about tethering it to the ground with iron shackles.

Then there’s Uranus, also in Taurus, saying “break down the house you built with your own hands.”

Sagittarius moon is gregarious and reckless with no less than one bad habit. Sagittarius and Taurus combined seeks both physically-stimulating and mind-altering sensations.

Pot-laced brownies were probably invented by a Sagittarius moon seeking enlightenment with a Taurus sun seeking a really hearty dessert item.

What other combination would think to combine mommy’s after-school treat with a psychotropic ingredient?

Saturn conjunct sun suggests Pacino is cautious before jumping off of cliffs. It also suggests a strong father figure who probably said things like, “Become an actor? Are you nuts?”

Luckily for us and Pacino, Sagittarius moon listens to no one but the sirens of the sea, the echo of the moon and the whisper of a lover. Sometimes those whispers take us into dark corners.

The Emmys and Beyond

Tonight Pacino is up for an Emmy for his portrayal of Phil Spector, of both music and murder fame.

Will he win?

Tonight’s moon in Taurus sandwiched between his sun and Uranus bodes well for an Emmy win. Also Mars in Leo is in his first house which brings a lot of energy and attention.

Transiting Jupiter in Cancer is in Pacino’s 12th house of hidden matters. The hidden matters involve family. Transiting Saturn and Venus are in Scorpio, opposite Pacino’s Taurus planets and in the 4th house of . . . family.

There are some family concerns bothering Pacino right now, including issues of finances (Scorpio) and past (12th house). Transiting Neptune in his 8th house of finances confirms money issues of a dubious sort.

Since Pacino has Pluto in the natal 12th house, there are some major issues with authority figures of his early environment, again, most likely an overly strong and dominant father.

Taking a glance at Pacino’s Wikipedia entry, it seems that he had difficult relationships with both parents. If he wins tonight, I’m guessing he will thank a family member. If he does, we’ll know who that Saturn/Pluto character is.

With the transiting moon near his natal Uranus, I’m guessing that Pacino will have some surprises for us tonight whether he wins or not. Transiting Mercury in Libra is conjunct his north node in the 3rd house of communications and opposite Jupiter in Aries (natal Mercury is also in Aries but in the early degrees – think of his yelling in Dog Day Afternoon).

Pacino has something to say and I think we’re in for some surprises from him tonight.

Capisce?

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The Accidental Mars, Jupiter and Uranus

Posted on September 15, 2013 by ohioastrology

Nicole Kidman and I have something in common. Before you write to OHA, you’ll need to know that it’s not height, looks or money that we have in common.

What we do have in common is a recent bike accident event.

Kidman and I are only six months apart in age, so will have similar outer planet placements. That means, dear readers, that if you are Kidman’s age, you might want to be a little bit careful right now.

On last week’s Cosmic Conference Radio show, astrologer Mark Metheny pointed out that those of Kidman’s age, with Uranus and Pluto conjunct in Virgo, often have accidents when the sun is in Virgo (end of August to mid September).

Uranus – now that’s what I associate with accidents.

And there are a few accidents showing up in the news involving bikes, trains, buses, amusement park rides and other moving vehicles. But they involve more than 40-50 year olds.

Looking at my own accident, I noticed that Mars was exactly conjunct my Jupiter. Kidman’s accident, where a biking paparazzi ran into her, also occurred with Mars conjunct her Jupiter, which didn’t occur for a couple weeks after mine due to her Jupiter being in a different sign (Leo) than my own (Cancer).

Mars conjunct Jupiter – let’s discuss.

Mars and Jupiter

Let’s start at the beginning -mythology. Today’s source is Encyclopedia Mythica.

Mars is best known as the god of war, but Encyclopedia Mythica notes that he was the “god of spring, growth in nature, and fertility, and the protector of cattle.” Originally Mars was an earth god.

Prior to his war god-ship, Mars was the god of death. That role seems to have been usurped by mythical Pluto. Pluto as a planet wasn’t discovered until 1930. Today Pluto has been demoted from planethood by astronomers, but not astrologers. That’s because astrologers know you shouldn’t upset Pluto . . .

Mars was the son of Jupiter and Juno. Juno appears to have been a special protector and counselor of the state while her hubby, Jupiter, was head honcho of the gods, the “supreme god of the Roman pantheon.”

Mars and Jupiter traveling arm-in-arm ought to bestow upon one an abundance of energy.

This abundance of energy might be the root cause of the accident problem. Does the god of war worry about stubbing his toe? Does the supreme god worry about catching a cold while climbing to his seat on the top of the mountain?

What’s called bravado takes a lot of Mars and Jupiter energy. Because of that bravado, websites and Robert Hand’s “Planets in Transit” are telling me, accidents can result through lack of perceived risk.

Mars and Jupiter together are too much, too extreme in the element in which they are placed. That element might go into the overbearing portion of its nature.

What comes to mind is Ricky Gervais’ character in The Office when he’s at the office party and begins to tell a joke involving the queen’s family and body parts. The minute he begins telling the joke, you know he should stop.

In Gervais’ version of The Office, I often feel the embarrassment the character is too delusional to feel. I want to yell “stop.” It’s a Mars conjunct Jupiter feeling.

Gervais has Mars conjunct Uranus in Leo. Gervais’ “accidents” are of the Leo, center-of-attention, proud kind. His Jupiter is opposite in Aquarius, but not in an opposing degree. Still, Jupiter is across the pond from his Mars and Uranus and combined with these two planets, makes for someone who says things that make you go “stop.”

Uranus

Uranus, the god of the skies, is the planet I associate with accidents. Mythical Uranus was castrated by his son Cronus (Saturn). Cronus was later overthrown by his own children.

Uranus in pure form feels accidental in that it is sudden. Mars accidents, by contrast, happen when you are being aggressive. If you are tailing a slow driver and the driver hits the breaks, you have some blame.

Mars is also athletic and accidents will occur in the lives of athletes who must stretch physical boundaries.

Uranus, on the other hand, is the seemingly random series of events that leads to unusual situations, which can include accidents. Unlike Mars and Jupiter, Uranus often has put you in the path of an accident for a reason.

Roger O. Thornhill (ROT) in the Hitchcock thriller “North by Northwest” has a Uranus experience. He waves his hand for the waiter and suddenly is involved in a spy chase across the US. Notice his initials are ROT which suggests Uranus unusual and sudden events pull us out of ruts or rots.

Uranus is pulling you, the stuck pebble in the stream, down stream, with the flow, to the source (it’s the end and beginning).

Accidents and Phoenix Rising

Back in the late 1980s as I began exploring astrology and other “new age” topics, I happened upon Mary Summer Rain’s “Phoenix Rising” which makes predictions for the future.

Predictions, of course, are as common as economic forecasts or your mother telling you to wear a jacket because it’s cold – uninteresting information that is easy to ignore.

Yet as life has unfolded for me, I have picked up this book throughout the years. I have picked it up again at the beginning of August as I watched another train accident (prior to my own Mars conjunct Jupiter aspect).

If I understand the work correctly, Phoenix Rising is transformational energy manifesting which corresponds to but is not the cause of many earth changes. The timing of those changes is not revealed, but I’m guessing we’re closing in upon it.

In addition to the very common prediction of natural disasters, there are predictions of a housing market collapse, strikes and strange accidents.

The book is written in dialogue form with author Mary Summer Rain talking to her Indian mentor No Eyes.

In location 738 of the Kindle version, No Eyes, who is not a native English speaker by the way, says, “Trains not safe! Many bad, bad accidents with trains gonna go on.”

Mary then asks about out all forms of transportation from planes, to bikes, to walking. No Eyes suggests all will be bad. With no means of transportation available Mary asks why all forms of transportation are so dangerous.

The answer lies in what No Eyes calls Earth Watchers who have “always favorably interfered with accidents . . .”

So why then can’t we earthlings simply pay more attention to prevent our own accidents?

Mary recollects the answer her teacher provided in the past – accidents occur because of the gross unawareness in man’s conscious mind. We earthlings, according to the book, are being made aware of how careless we’ve been all along.

“People too busy for time,” No Eyes says when Mary suggests we can simply be more careful. “They in much hurry all times. People no make important time for aware stuff. They too lazy for that.”

From experience, I can tell you that when you have an accident, you will have more time for “aware stuff” than you would like.

I think it’s that time.

Astrologically, I think it’s the Mars/Jupiter that creates personal accidents due to unawareness and sense of thrill, exuberance or simply feeling in control because you’ve taken this risk in the past. Uranus causes trans-personal accidents and incidents that set you, and others, on a new path.

The Phoenix Rising backdrop of our larger, global accident-prone state seems to be the Pluto (in Capricorn)/Uranus (in Aries) square. Pluto and Uranus are powerful gods teaching important lessons. The friction of entire nations is palpable. Accidents are the Greek Chorus singing at the back of the stage.

Nicole Kidman

So what can you or I or Nicole Kidman do?

In addition to simply being more careful, we’ll have to consult our individual guides for higher answers.

From an astrological point of view, Kidman must maintain her conscious vigilance through the end of October. Mars will be in Leo until that time. The biker might be back.

Mars in Leo for Kidman activates a natal grand fire trine – Jupiter/Venus in Leo, moon in Sagittarius and Saturn in Aries. Fire is not known for caution.

Grand fire is just what it sounds like – a raging inferno of energy. That’s fine stuff for an actress but can cause difficulty at home. Remember your mom and dad telling you not to play with matches?

Saturn is transiting Scorpio right now and is soon to square Kidman’s Venus in Leo. If Kidman is trying to have another baby, she may be unsuccessful. Hopefully the bike accident didn’t interfere with anything of that nature.

Using the Astrotheme horoscope for Kidman, Jupiter transiting Cancer is in her ninth house of travel. In Cancer, far away places are “home” but I’m wondering if Kidman isn’t having some major homesickness right now.

The articles state Kidman bounced back quickly from her bike hit, even put her heels back on. Fire signs do that – bounce back, dust themselves off and start all over again.

But Kidman might still want to have any injuries checked out.

At our age, you must.

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The Abbott of Australia

Posted on September 8, 2013 by ohioastrology

[links removed because of Facebook’s fight with Australia]

A Scorpio sun coupled with an Aries moon makes for an extremely competitive, lusty and self-absorbed individual. It’s the perfect blend of serious intensity and irrational passion that’s the basic ingredient of a religious or political zealot.

Let me introduce Australia’s new Prime Minister elect, Tony Abbott.

Abbott’s first order of business, I’m reading, is to clamp down on refugees.

So what percent of Australia’s population, then, is returning to England?

Abbott has both Saturn and Venus in the sign of the traveler and foreigner – Sagittarius. Saturn in Sagittarius suggests Abbott’s early upbringing did not contain a wide-lens world view. But that Venus in the same sign makes me wonder if there wasn’t a little love affair with someone exotically foreign, someone off limits.

Wikipedia states that Abbott had a girlfriend who became pregnant when he was 19. Was this girlfriend from a different background? A race, creed, style, color, smell or fabric that was different than the Abbott Family?

More, please. Inquiring minds must know.

Abbott has Jupiter and Mars in the passive, charming Libra. If I were an evil astrologer (and I swear I’m not), I would warn Abbott’s foes that when he is most charming is when you are in trouble. Big trouble.

Many moons ago I formed the idea that when Libra acts in control, it’s usually not but when it acts innocent, be warned that a plan is afoot. Don’t let Libra’s country bumpkin smile mislead you into thinking that he’s harmless.

All signs, remember, have their means of surviving.

Abbott’s Scorpio and Aries are instinctive survivors. They will fight you to get the last roll at the dinner table. And you will have your face pushed into the gravy just so that you are aware you have been trumped.

Instinctive intuitive powers are what make Scorpio, for me, one of the most intelligent signs of the zodiac. But that instinctive nature is also frightening because it can’t be reasoned with. When Abbott’s face is red, just stop talking. Reason has flown the coop and everyone is out to get him.

If I were an evil astrologer (as I mentioned, I’m not), I’d suggest Abbott’s closest advisors pretend to be like Abbott in personality since his personality is the best, if you get my drift. Remember what I said about reason?

The Political Landscape

Abbott has become Prime Minister as transiting Saturn is nearing a conjunction with his natal sun. Abbott clearly understands the responsibility that the role entails and is not winning under a delusional aspect.

With Scorpio, however, one wonders who is behind the scenes. Scorpio is the sign of others money, intimacy and giving a piece of ourselves away.

What did Abbott give in order to receive the Prime Minister-ship?

In exactly one year, Saturn will be conjunct Abbott’s natal Mercury in Scorpio. That will be a time to focus on what Abbott does not say rather than what he does say. During the next year, transiting Saturn will be sandwiched between Abbott’s natal sun and Mercury.

Saturn in between your sun and Mercury is like having a sore throat. You have a lot you want to say, but talking hurts.

While Saturn is contracting both Abbott’s speech and other organs ruled by Scorpio (you’ll have to look it up – this is a family blog), volatile Uranus has been bouncing on Abbott’s already volatile moon in Aries.

When Uranus began its seven-year transit of Aries, uprisings started all through the hot Middle East. Those with Aries moon, like Abbott, are having similar hot emotional uprisings.

It’s a good thing Abbott is athletic as sports are the most socially acceptable way in which to express Aries and Mars energy. Road rage, on the other hand, is considered an unacceptable means to express Mars.

Uranus today is currently trine Abbott’s Uranus in Leo. He’s full of energy. No one will have to wake this man up – he won’t oversleep. He’s too energized to sleep.

Transiting Jupiter in Cancer is trine his sun, so for the next year he will feel loved. When Jupiter enters Leo next year, Abbott will feel another influx of energy that causes edginess which fights with and incites others.

Aries loves to incite others; fairly lives for it, so if you feel Abbott is a pistol now, next year will be even more crazy.

I can’t wait.

Abbott’s Septembers look like this:

September 2013 to September 2014, ramp up, energy. Not too much opposition.

September 2014 to September 2015, wild and wacky ideas with crazy arguments.

September 2015 when Jupiter enters Virgo opposition becomes fierce. In January 2016, Abbott will have his second Saturn return and will face energy of “foreignness” and “differentness.”

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German Political Fight Club: Merkel and Steinbrück

Posted on September 2, 2013 by ohioastrology

This week’s political fight club is located in Germany where Angela Merkel, current champ and Chancellor of Germany, is fighting contender Peer Steinbrück. Last week the two met for a televised political debate.

Merkel has Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus and sun in emotional Cancer with moon in hyper-rational Aquarius.

Steinbrück has Mercury, Mars and sun in Capricorn, the sign opposite Merkel’s Cancer. His moon is either in Leo or Virgo, but I’m guessing from the descriptions of his personality and lack of Leo mane, that moon is in Virgo.

Aquarius moon or Virgo moon – which is more rational?

I’ll let the debate reign as I move on.

Looking at the last four German Chancellors, including Merkel, the moon signs have been air or Virgo. We might conclude that the Germans like their politicians served cold – rational and logical.

What’s not to love in a rational person? Whenever I meet a truly rational person, who I believe is a rarity, I run up and give them a hug.

Mother or Father

Merkel’s sun sign (Cancer) represents personal consciousness while Steinbrück’s sun sign (Capricorn) represents social consciousness.

Cancer and Capricorn are also seen as the mother-father axis respectively, although some astrologers disagree and have flipped those roles. Or maybe those roles are so flipped and flexible in our Western world that assigning motherhood and fatherhood no longer applies?

The transiting Jupiter in Cancer opposing Pluto in Capricorn will illuminate and heighten the natural opposition that occurs between these two. While Merkel is associated with austerity, by personality Steinbrück is the more austere.

Father

Steinbrück has only one planet in water – Jupiter in Scorpio – which is current being aspected by transiting Saturn in Scorpio. If there is any compassion in Steinbrück, it is currently being snuffed out by Saturn. Steinbrück will only feel compassion after he has experienced something and not a moment before.

Three planets in Capricorn, including Mars conjunct sun, make Steinbrück ambitious, shrewd and calculating. He is the quintessential executive, born to be on the top floor of the high rise looking out over the city, planning the lives of those below.

Steinbrück’s Saturn/Pluto conjunction suggests lack of confidence when forced to stand on personality alone. Leo is the actor and Capricorn is the businessman. Confidence for Capricorn comes from its success, not simply from its presence. This is a man who probably dreams about being in public naked and embarrassed.

Virgo moon is anxious, obsessive-compulsive and hypochondriac. Capricorn and Virgo combined make a very practical person who lies in bed and thinks about organizing the file cabinet. Steinbrück is probably an awesome chess player or player of some other game of strategy. He may fall asleep thinking about his next move in a virtual chess game.

Mother

Merkel is the emotional antenna, not an unimportant quality in politics. Her rational Aquarius moon aside, Cancer has its feelings hurt easily – even from a thought passing through in the breeze.

That rational, fixed sign moon in Aquarius has served Merkel well as she’s considered quite a toughie. While the public might disagree, astrologically compared to Steinbrück she’s practically a teddy bear. She can, at least, understand how other beings feel.

Transiting Jupiter in Cancer will probably treat Merkel well this year. She will feel a sense of belonging from her immediate environment. Her partnerships may suffer in the face of group demands. But that won’t matter too much because Cancer swims in the pool of shared group emotional experience.

If Merkel does retain her post, as the news articles suggest she might, there may be something nostalgic that she does to celebrate. Like earth signs, Cancer has its rituals but those rituals involve threads that tie people together, not empty rituals as habit.

Cancer also likes to cook so I’m imagining if Merkel wins, she will host a huge banquet of some sort.

September 22

Merkel and Steinbrück face off on September 22 as the sun leaves Virgo and enters Libra.

Twenty-nine degrees of Virgo suggests there will be some nitpicking over the results, like there will be issues about details of the election.

Whatever discrepancy occurs, it shouldn’t last long as the sun enters peace-loving Libra and moves toward both Merkel’s and Steinbrück’s natal Neptunes in Libra.

Merkel and Steinbrück will make peace, of the rational kind.

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Happy Virgo Day, I Mean Labor Day

Posted on September 1, 2013 by ohioastrology

Labor Day, a holiday “dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers,” is very well placed astrologically in the sign of Virgo as Virgo rules work and health.

Virgo is the second of the three earth signs that includes Taurus and Capricorn.

Taurus works around the yard saving its allowance in a piggy bank for a summer field trip. Virgo is your first job and the realization that more hours equals more pay (which occurs often on first jobs) and the excitement of having your own money. Capricorn looks to the workplace for a feeling of success and is employee of the month.

Earth signs love to work. Earth signs are part of the physical world in a way that eludes the other elements. Air lives in its mind; Fire in its spirit and Water in its emotions and reactions.

Only earth gets a sensual rise from the feeling of soil. Air touches the soil and thinks “I’m a farmer.” Fire touches the soil and wonders what’s growing. Water touches the soil and remembers how dad planted flowers for mom.

In “The Culture Code,” author Clotaire Rapaille informs us that the American culture code for work is “WHO YOU ARE.”

If that’s true, then Americans have turned what’s in the domain of Virgo (work) into the domain of Capricorn (social identity). The word “labor” implies work of a physically or mentally demanding nature. Women having babies are said to be “in labor.”

Since Americans have turned “work” into “career,” no matter how manual a job you apply for in the US, you are asked about your goals. I know a person who once answered the question about why she wanted the job with the response, “because I need to work.”

Wrong answer.

Answers to an American job interview must have elements of Capricorn – you must state that no matter what you are doing today, tomorrow you’d like to do something better. You must imply in some way you are constantly improving, constantly ascending the ladder, even if it’s not the ladder to the top. The ladder must go, at least, to the second floor.

If you have no Capricorn ambition, you are suspect.

By turning all work into “career,” have we set up Americans to feel loss of identity when work is no longer available?

Unemployment

If Americans identify who they are by employment, then unemployment creates both lack of money and lack of identity, double trouble.

As of July 2013, the US unemployment rate was 7.4%. I’m not sure what the base is, but Wikipedia states that is about 12 million people.

There are 12 million people in the US with no identity.

Pluto is transiting Capricorn and will return to its natal position in the chart of the US in 2022. At that time, we may be re-evaluating our identity attached to the workplace.

Health Care Day

Virgo also rules health and diet. Interestingly, in the US, health care is increasingly moving into the workplace (called “wellness”) so Labor Day might be expanded to be “Labor and Health Care Day.”

Health care appears to be an area of growth in an otherwise depressed US economy. It’s interesting to me that the US has so much health care but unless you are working for a corporation, it is out of reach.

What if, and this is just a budding idea, we merge these two Virgo entities – the workplace and the hospital – into one entity?

The workplace could be on the top levels of the building and the hospital on the lower levels. Workers no longer need to take time off to go to the doctor but can simply go at lunch hour.

At the work station, we can be hooked into health monitors so determine if our stress levels are threatening to compromise our health. If we have health screenings daily, isn’t that the best way to reduce the cost of health care?

Many daily weigh themselves or count their calories or even count how many steps were taken. If we already monitor some aspects of our health daily, why not monitor everything else?

I’m sure there’s an efficiency here that could make the US mandate that corporations provide health care a more inexpensive, seamless endeavor.

Laborless Day

Labor Day, contrary to its name, is a day of no labor, unless of course, you work in retail or health care which means you might have to work.

But the government and banks definitely get the day off.

Some of those with the day off tomorrow may engage in a Virgo endeavor – they may go to the gym for a workout. Running laps on the treadmill is not yet called a “career-out.” It’s still work, and still Virgo.

Happy Virgo Day.

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