Pisces, the Ocean and Your Feet

Posted on June 17, 2012 by ohioastrology

I just spent some time by the sea. Large bodies of water are known to soothe the soul, if songs and poems are to be trusted.

But what I wonder is whether it’s the soul that’s being soothed or simply our feet?

Toes in the sand

For many of us, our feet and toes spend their lives in cramped shoes. If at the office all of your colleagues were to take their shoes off at once, the staff would recoil in smell and the view of sweaty, ugly, wrinkled and abused feet.

At the beach, our toes and feet are free! They are soothed in sand and cleansed in water. Going barefoot on the beach is like going naked – a sensuous and divine pleasure.

As I crossed a Florida street barefoot, the inner demon of my childhood nurse neighbor rang in my inner ear – there are so many germs on the ground!

I don’t care, my feet said, we want freedom! We never want to wear shoes again!

At the beach, everyone’s feet are beautiful. The repulsion feet can cause in daily life is eradicated at the beach.

Pisces rules the feet

It’s interesting that Pisces rules the feet. Pisces is a water sign that wants to merge with all-that-is, or anyone who happens to be in the room.

If Pisces wants to merge with all-that-is, why does it rule the feet which ground and support us?

The feet take much abuse, as does Pisces. The feet sacrifice comfort for fashion (as does Pisces). The feet become smelly and dirty through the day’s work and then become a zone of avoidance.

Pisces, like the feet, gets dirty easily from the world. That’s why Pisces must spend time alone, or by the sea, to cleanse the energies that come with worldly contact.

Imagination is one way for Pisces to cleanse. Imagination is dipping into the “dark sea of awareness” (Carlos Castaneda term).

Today it is common for women to have pedicures. When did pedicures become so common? I recall the day when only a few had manicures, let alone pedicures.

Possibly the Uranus in Pisces transit (2003-2011) said, “Wake up, your feet need attention.”

With Neptune now transiting Pisces, I’m guessing pedicures will soon be covered in health care.

Pisces is ruled by Neptune, god of the sea

Pisces is ruled by Neptune, the god of the sea. Water is a non-countable noun. We don’t say three or four waters because no piece of water is individual.

Pisces, like a drop of water, merges into the ocean. You can’t pin down a drop of water, and neither a Pisces.

Some people fear water. There are others who fear heights (air). Fire is scary, too. But does anyone fear dirt (earth)?

Water, while essential for life, can drown you if there is too much. So can your watery friends (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces).

Water carved the Grand Canyon so don’t underestimate the power of your water signs friends, who seem so meek at times (Cancer and Pisces anyway). Drop by drop they are carving away at you.

Chicken Soup for the feet?

I wonder if some of the lure of beach life comes from the fairies in our feet. The feet are far from our ears so maybe we don’t hear their cry, “Pay attention to me!”

This site shows how foot reflexology is linked to relaxation.

Maybe it’s the massaging of the feet that relaxes us at the beach and the sound of waves breaking on the shore and the sun shining on our lotioned limbs are just added benefits.

Another added benefit of beach vacationing are the ubiquitous adult beverages. Fermented beverages are also in the realm of Pisces.

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

Sheldon Adelson: Control is in the Eye of the Beholder

Posted on June 14, 2012 by ohioastrology

What sign is Sheldon Adelson, a donor to Republican presidential candidates who’s willing to contribute up to $100 million?

Adelson is sun in Leo and moon in Capricorn or Aquarius.

Adelson is quoted in Forbes saying this:

“What scares me is the continuation of the socialist-style economy we’ve been experiencing for almost four years. That scares me because the redistribution of wealth is the path to more socialism, and to more of the government controlling people’s lives. What scares me is the lack of accountability that people would prefer to experience, just let the government take care of everything and I’ll go fish or I won’t work, etc. U.S. domestic politics is very important to me because I see that the things that made this country great are now being relegated into duplicating that which is making other countries less great. … I’m afraid of the trend where more and more people have the tendency to want to be given instead of wanting to give. People are less willing to share. There are fewer philanthropists being grown and there are greater expectations of the government. I believe that people will come to their senses and not extend the current Administration’s quest to socialize this country. It won’t be a socialist democracy because it won’t be a democracy.”

Adelson fears “more of the government controlling people’s lives.”

Control

Adelson, like many, fears extensive government control. With an estimated net worth of $24.9 billion, he doesn’t need to worry. He can buy his own island somewhere.

Many fear extensive government control, on both sides of the political fence. Different people fear different types of government control.

What some also fear is one individual buying an election.

One way not to be controlled is to do the controlling.

Leo is a strong, proud sign that is generous and loving. It’s a sign that loves to be center of attention. Adelson’s moon might be in Capricorn or Aquarius but I’m going to vote for Capricorn.

So that government doesn’t have too much control, Adelson is willing to personally fund a candidate who will, then, be in his control.

Oh, so Capricorn.

The Self-Made Man

The self-made man image has the flavor of Capricorn. Capricorn works very hard for the things it has, whether a poor or rich Capricorn. Because Capricorn works hard and often has to shift for itself, it can be resentful of others who are perceived not to be working as hard.

Those that scrimp and save for their children or for some long-term goal are invoking the God Saturn which bears responsibility. Saturn rules Capricorn.

Because Capricorn “works hard for the money” (Donna Summer was a Capricorn – who would sing about work in a disco song but a Capricorn?), it usually holds the money close.

Adelson’s Leo sun, however, is generous. Adelson is probably the type that brings out the fancy wine for his guests but drinks two-buck Chuck at his own dinner table.

Adelson is the type that knows when to pay the check and when not to. While Adelson would hand Romney a check for $100 million, he may not lend Romney $10 to tip the valet.

Love of Beauty

For a Leo, Adelson is probably extremely picky. He has Neptune, Venus and Jupiter in Virgo. He notices if the napkins aren’t folded correctly. This is one who sees the beauty in the smallest detail.

Adelson could make nice origami – it takes detail and has a mathematical type of beauty.

Virgo is the sign of work. Capricorn, in contrast, is about career and reputation.

Virgo is also interested in food and health, so there is some fear of germs here but also the ability to craft beautiful meals.

If you are cleaning Adelson’s hotel room, you’d better get it right. He wants the firm pillow, not the soft one. Clean towels are a must. And remove that sticky piece of soap from the sink.

Mars in Libra adds to a love of beauty and art. A way to make Adelson uncomfortable is to put him in a messy room with ugly paintings on the wall.

Love of beauty extends to art, literature, dance, music or any other form of creativity.

Saturn in Aquarius

Adelson’s Saturn in Aquarius is opposite his Leo sun. Adelson most likely had a strong father who instilled in his son a sense of duty, honor and responsibility.

If Adelson’s moon is in Aquarius, it probably isn’t conjunct Saturn, but lends more energy to the idea of Capricorn influence on the moon.

Saturn opposing the sun is an external control. In the Leo-Aquarius axis, it’s an external group that says one shouldn’t take center stage all the time, as Leos love to do. Saturn in Aquarius says “the group won’t like you if . . .”

Is it fear of group control that makes Adelson so fearful of government control that he would spend $100 million to host his own president?

Neptune in Pisces

As Neptune currently transits Pisces, it will be opposing Adelson’s natal Neptune in Virgo. This is a generational aspect so in your 80s, you’ll have a Neptune opposition (and a Uranus return).

For Adelson’s generation, Neptune in Pisces will feel like chaos. Neptune in Pisces is in its own sign whereas Neptune in Virgo is in its opposite sign.

Adelson’s generation paid attention to detail and kept their register receipts. The Neptune in Pisces brings undifferentiated spirituality and emotional giving of the sort that doesn’t keep a balance register. Pisces is about sacrifice.

Control is in the eye of the beholder

Like beauty, control is in the eye of the beholder.

One person’s economic stimulus is another’s socialistic control. One person’s deeply held religious beliefs are another person’s psychological prison.

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Republican Veep Fight Club: Rand Paul

Posted on June 11, 2012 by ohioastrology

Former Republican Presidential nominee Rick Santorum pointed out one Sunday in what seems like eons ago that opponent Ron Paul was openly attacking him, Gingrich and anyone else who took the lead over Mitt Romney but never Romney himself.

Good eye, Rick. (I miss you, Rick! This election is no fun without you.)

Maybe Libertarian and grandfatherly Ron Paul does actually know how to play politics and isn’t just running to get rid of the Federal Reserve, bring home all the troops and buy all our natural resources, jeans, plastic gadgets, cars, pencils, furniture, clothes and computers at a fair and equitable price once we became just another country on the globe.

Possibly Ron Paul does have that fatherly instinct to do whatever it takes to protect his own?

Rand Paul

Rand Paul is the son of Ron Paul and is currently senator from Kentucky. His name has been tossed around in news as a potential Veep candidate for Romney.

Paul has sun in Capricorn and moon in Gemini. Capricorn ambition and Gemini ability for duplicity make me think someone with this combination devised the phrase, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.”

Rand’s motivations are driven by practicality. Being a practical girl myself I completely understand the need to combine ideals with actual steps that lead to those ideals. I mention this only because Paul followers (of both junior and senior) might be surprised if one day Paul “takes one for the team” or engages in some realpolitiking.

Anyone who enters politics, to me, is playing the game. Does one join a baseball team and then not hit the ball? Does one go to a golf course without bringing the irons?

So if you enter politics, you probably want a little power and control.

Politics itself is a Capricorn endeavor. Capricorns probably made up politics and the rules of every other game on the planet. Capricorns become the banker when you play Monopoly. They are the spokesperson during the office team building session when you have to describe why you drew a porcupine on a house to represent the company’s culture.

Capricorn is in charge, always.

Gemini is a little different. Anyone out there in cyberland who’s read a few OHA blogs has read my comments about how Gemini is generally unsuccessful in US politics.

Gemini adapts and changes. Gemini is in constant flux (as is the universe, to some).

The American voting public does not value this quality; Americans value in a President qualities of a fixed temperament (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) – firm, unwavering beliefs, longevity in purpose (aka loyalty) and strength of forbearance.

If I wanted to hire someone who gets things done, Paul would be on the list. I bet he can work deals like no other.

There are a couple other Capricorn/Gemini combinations I’ve looked at in this blog. Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine has sun in Capricorn and moon in Gemini and Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana, is Gemini sun and Capricorn moon.

All three men are the type to take on difficult situations because none is swayed by emotion. They can mete out the punishment or make tough decisions.

Those are good qualities in a political leader so don’t expect emotional awareness or emotional depth from these guys. They are movers and shakers, not artists and social workers.

Inner Planets in Paul’s Chart

Paul’s Mars is in Leo and Venus in Sagittarius, so he can build enthusiasm in social settings. That Mars in Leo may even give you a big hug, but it may not feel as warm as you’d like.

Jupiter in Pisces is a nice placement that gives some emotional depth to Paul. His religious beliefs are expansive and compassionate. His actions, however, might not always sync up to those beliefs.

What’s up with Saturn conjunct Mercury in Aquarius? Although moon in Gemini can talk up a storm, Paul may have some anxiety about speaking in public, to the public. He feels insecure in this way.

Current Transits

Venus is in Gemini soon to be followed by Jupiter. Conjunct Paul’s moon in Gemini will make him as popular as Cinderella at the ball. Hopefully he won’t lose a slipper on the way out the door.

This summer will be Party Time (not tea time) for Paul, a fun, good time. Paul is probably enjoying life right now, as much as a Capricorn can. I think Jupiter’s next three transits (Gemini-Cancer-Leo) will all feel pretty good to Paul.

It’s a good time to expand the family, if there is a desire.

Saturn enters Scorpio on October 5, 2012. In about a year it will be conjunct Paul’s Neptune. Neptune is an outer planet so an entire generation will be experiencing this transit.

As a generation, they will experience some mild depression, probably because they are reaching that age (50) when you start to assess your life and realize you have only so many years left in the workplace or public sphere.

I expect Saturn in Scorpio to bring contraction of credit so there may also be financial difficulties for this generation in particular.

Economies go up and down but if you’re closer to retirement age and it goes down, it’s simply bad luck.

While a contraction of credit and economy might be bad for 20-somethings who can’t find a job, they have 47 years to recover.

Ohio Astrology Assessment

OHA gives Paul 6 stars out of 10.

Romney is a Pisces sun and Scorpio moon, which are water signs and emotional. Regardless of Romney’s reputation as a clear-thinking businessman, he is sensitive.

Paul is not so sensitive. While that might provide a nice balance, I just can’t see these two working as a team.

If they paired up, it would be like the Woody Allen – Mia Farrow relationship – together but living apart from each other across Central Park.

Paul’s Mars in Leo conjuncts Romney’s Saturn/Pluto in Leo suggesting that Paul will be more popular which will set off control issues with Romney (watch your hair, Rand!).

Paul’s Jupiter in Pisces conjuncts Romney’s Mars and Mercury. Paul will project to Romney a sense of shared compassion. However, Paul’s Saturn conjunct Romney’s Venus suggests Paul doesn’t really like Romney’s crowd.

The good news is that Paul doesn’t appear to want Romney’s money, as some other candidates do.

Paul is self-reliant which may be something that watery Romney will not appreciate. Water signs are like border collies trying to nose everyone into a huddle. Paul is definitely independent and will not be huddled unless willing.

Romney – Paul isn’t a bad combination, just not a particularly compatible combination. It’s kind of like butternut squash soup and tacos – both are yummy, but would you eat them together?

Posted in Politicians - Republican Veep Candidates | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

If you don’t want 17 Diversity Specialists in the school system, what sign should you be?

Posted on June 10, 2012 by ohioastrology

On today’s “This Week with George Stephanopolous,” just moments ago, panelist Ann Coulter made a comment about funding of schools leading to “17 diversity specialists” – or something similar to this statement. I’m waiting for it to hit the Internet to get the exact quote if this isn’t correct.

My initial search for the quote produced several other Coulter comments against diversity.

What sign does one need to be to be anti-diversity?

Not Sagittarius

Much to my surprise, Coulter’s chart has Venus, Mercury, sun, Mars and possibly moon in Sagittarius.

From her hyper-spastic panel presence and clear need for Xanax, I could believe this woman has five planets in the mutable fire sign.

The planet that rules Sagittarius, Jupiter, is in Aquarius.

Coulter does have a splash of water (Neptune in Scorpio) and a handful of earth (Uranus and Pluto in Virgo, Saturn in Capricorn).

If you asked me which sign is most in love with foreign and differentness, I would say Sagittarius. The planet that rules Sagittarius is in the group-ideal sign of Aquarius in Coulter’s chart. Aquarius is zany and marches to the beat of a different drummer.

So why is a raging Sagittarius raging against diversity?

Diversity for me, not for you

I’m suspecting that Coulter loves diversity, which is defined by Dictionary.com as “Difference. Variety. A point of difference.”

Coulter’s argumentative nature, I suspect, is probably motivated by this very trait – “I want to be different.”

If everyone is promoting diversity, I’ll be diverse by being against diversity. That’s what I think Coulter is doing.

It works for the shows, but I find it irritating – especially because Sagittarius’ love of diversity is one of my favorite things about Sagittarius.

Sagittarius seeks different and foreign the way cats seek a sun beam. Sagittarius is the xenophile who travels to a foreign country and comes back wearing the native dress to both awaken and piss off the people of its own culture.

Sagittarius like its opposite Gemini seeks experience. Sagittarius, I often find, will seek an experience that makes it foreign wherever it is. If my last vacation took me to the country where people have one leg, I might spend a month with one leg in a cast when I return home to see what it’s like.

Seeing what it’s like is not in the way of Cancer which wants to feel the experience. Sagittarius wants to champion and fight for the experience. Cancer would help people with one leg cross the street; Sagittarius would start a petition for appropriate facilities in the university for those with one leg.

Aquarius is like Sagittarius in this way in that it has devised the Perfect Society and Perfect Rules for dealing with a society that contains both one-legged and two-legged people (with room for any other variation).

Could Coulter have moon in Capricorn?

Coulter might have moon in Capricorn, which is less promotional of diversity simply because Capricorn honors the status quo, tradition and things that were done in the 17th century (or earlier).

Capricorn is an emotionally reserved sign which is not emotionally in tune with others. Coulter could be against diversity simply because she can’t emotionally understand an existence beyond her own experience.

With moon in Capricorn, Coulter would still have four planets in Sagittarius and would dream of vacations in exotic ports.

No oppositions

In Coulter’s chart, there are no oppositions. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

As I mature in life, I see the need for external opposition – it reins us in. Without external controls, many of us would be eating Captain Crunch for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Luckily when we were young, we had this external control (called parents) who stopped us from doing this.

Sagittarius energy, which Coulter has in abundance, is not one for self-control and seeing any need for control. The closest to external feedback that Coulter receives is the Uranus/Pluto conjunction in Virgo which squares some of Coulter’s planets in Sagittarius.

The only control that Virgo provides to Sagittarius is to add critical detail and nervousness to a rambunctious and uncontrolled nature.

Devil’s Advocate

I suspect that Coulter could care less about diversity as an issue but is simply trying to play devil’s advocate to stir the pot.

Stirring the pot is good, in our diverse culture.

An individual with four or five planets in Sagittarius is not conservative in the non-political sense of the word. My college roommate always said that with Sagittarius in the chart, there is a bad habit somewhere . . .

Coulter’s current TV political-pundit twin is Chris Matthews, a Sagittarian sun and probably Gemini moon. He is equally combative in his style with the added benefit of a high pitched voice.

I wonder if it’s cruel and unusual punishment to put Coulter and Matthews in a room and let them argue with each other?

Like two fighting cocks, these two would argue despite themselves. They would have no real reason to fight but would probably peck each other into a bloody mess.

Or maybe Coulter and Matthews could take a trip to a foreign land and let that fighting energy soak in the stimulation of a diverse and unusual new world.

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If you want to have Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory, what sign should you be?

Posted on June 8, 2012 by ohioastrology

Taxi TV show actress Marilu Henner purportedly has a memory that can re-live events from the past in extraordinary detail and has written a book on it titled “Total Memory Makeover: Uncover Your Past, Take Charge of Your Future.”

Her extraordinary memory is referred to as “Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory” (HSAM) which has the Greek-ier name of “hyperthymesia.”

In my quick research on the subject to find more than one person with HSAM I discovered this Wikipedia entry for a Jill Price who was the research subject who spawned interest in the topic.

Husbands of the world are probably not surprised that HSAM is found strongly in two women.

Don’t all wives remember every little slight and mistake of their husbands?

Is this truly a disease or Female Gone Mad? Or something else?

Marilu Henner & Jill Price

Marilu Henner is sun in Aries, moon in Virgo and Mercury in Aries. Jill Price has sun in Capricorn and moon in Pisces or Aries and Mercury in Sagittarius.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

Virgo and Pisces are opposite signs.

Virgo is the differentiated mind and Pisces the undifferentiated mind.

Virgo lies awake at night wondering if they locked the front door, ate too many carbs today, calculated correctly cell A183 on that Excel spreadsheet and if that bump on the left side of the big toe of the right foot is a rare jungle disease (because they brushed past a co-worker today who went on a safari last summer).

Pisces lies awake at night wondering if they were too direct to the bus driver, have insomnia because of childhood issues with the father, said they were sorry for moving the neighbor’s doormat out of place and if the people at work really like him/her.

See the similarities? See the differences?

Both signs have strong memory, but for Virgo it is about detail and for Pisces it is about emotion.

Both can be extremely nervous and anxious.

As I’m writing this blog today the font looks funny. Okay, I’ve got some Virgo/Pisces energy so I did confirm that my document usually opens in Calibri 11 point and for some reason part of the document is in Ariel 10 point.

If you’re a Leo, you wonder how I noticed or why I care.

If you’re a Virgo, don’t think too much about it; I figured it out. I cut and pasted from the Internet which changed the font at the top.

Superior Memory or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

The Wikipedia article discusses how Price’s brain scans resembled those with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In fact, according to Wikipedia, she compulsively writes diary entries.

If Price does have moon in Pisces, she has her moon tied up in the generation with Uranus/Pluto in Virgo opposite Saturn in Pisces. Her Mercury in Sagittarius would then create a mutable T-square.

This was hippie time when structure (Saturn) broke down (in Pisces) and people dropped acid and made love in public.

That type of behavior probably lurks under the skin of Price while she holds it together with excessive memory.

Is the memory a defense against getting lost in daydream or emotional memory? Is she taping together a world that wants to go Pisces? The current Neptune transit of Pisces will be unpleasant for her.

When I get that $1 million grant for astrological study, this is on the list.

I couldn’t find the scoop on Henner to see how this memory affects her life. As an actress, it seems like an awesome trait to have to memorize lines. I’ve never understood how a person could remember so much (I do not have HSAM – in fact, I keep having to look up the words for the HSAM acronymn).

Henner doesn’t seem to be bothered by her HSAM. But no one asked her how many times a day she washes her hands . . .

With Aries sun and Virgo moon, she’s probably aggressive and pushy with her recollection of detail and about the smallest details of your life (“Go back upstairs and floss. I can see bread between your teeth!”).

Sheldon Cooper, a character on the Big Bang Theory, claims to have “eidetic” memory and like Henner can answer what he was doing on a particular day, any day, at almost any point in his past.

The character Sheldon Cooper is excessively brilliant as well and also demonstrates obsessive compulsive traits.

I voted for Aquarius as Sheldon’s sun sign. I could add a Virgo moon to that for his OCD, unusual habits and brilliant mind.

If you want to have Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory, what sign should you be?

Once again the sample is small, but I’m guessing some Virgo-Pisces energy is necessary, with a slant toward Virgo.

Remember this. I’m not telling you twice.

*     *     *

Addendum: Right after posting this blog, I happened upon this article about Muppet order versus chaos. That’s Virgo (order) and Pisces (chaos) spelled out for you!

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Astrological Yin and Yang – Ice Cream and Cars

Posted on June 4, 2012 by ohioastrology

MarketingProfs sent this interesting article in its daily feed on what men and women want. The research, if I understand it correctly, analyzed social media conversations where the phrase “I want [blank]” was stated.

The research then separated the objects of desire by gender.

What did they find?

Men want cars and women want ice cream.

The study does say that both men and women listed cars and ice cream (and pizza) but that the order was different by gender.

Any research study leads to methodological questions such as how men and women were identified, if the sample was large enough, if it was truly random, etc.

Scientific or not, the results are believable in the small universe of my personal existence. It also says something about what makes us (I’m guessing Americans) truly happy. Maybe we should all sit in our cars with pizza and ice cream and leave the world alone.

What I find fascinating as well is how women want a YIN experience and men want a YANG experience.

Yin is internal. Ice cream is put inside the body.

Yang is external. Cars are something we put our body in.

Women want internal pleasure and men want external pleasure.

Women want comfort and men want power.

Astrological Yin and Yang

Each sign of the zodiac is considered feminine or masculine. Yin and yang are related to feminine and masculine respectively. What I think is important about the concept of yin and yang is that it’s not about being a girl or boy. It’s about internal versus external energy patterns.

I think Jung said it best when he said that the penis is itself a phallic symbol. The symbol, or energy, is higher than the object.

Penises are yang and vaginas are yin.

Fun stuff.

The fire and air signs of the zodiac are masculine or yang. They are externally focused and social.

Take Leo energy, for example. Leo is the show-off actor. Can one be an actor without an audience?

Gemini loves to talk. What’s the point of talking if there is no one listening?

The earth and water signs of the zodiac are feminine or yin. They are internally focused and responsible, often shy and self-conscious (especially in youth).

Virgo is often concerned with diet and health, pondering every bite of food and every freckle on the body.

Pisces loves to daydream. Daydreaming is an internal dive into the magical waters of the imagination.

What sign of the zodiac are ice cream and cars?

I’ve already blogged on ice cream. I’m convinced it’s a Cancer, a water (feminine) sign concerned with comfort and belonging.

Cars I’ll give to Aries, the first sign, a masculine fire sign. Cars are about self, drive and power. Need I say more?

In our cars with the windows rolled up, I feel, we are our true selves. You make nasty faces, flip the bird and yell at drivers going 45 mph in the fast lane. But would you do that if you passed them on foot?

On the drive to work, it feels like we are all Aries.

Maybe the key to a safe drive to work is to pass out ice cream at intersections. Remember, it’s what everyone wants.

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The Astrology of Awake and Asleep

Posted on June 3, 2012 by ohioastrology

How do you feel when that alarm goes off on Monday morning?

Do you think how wonderful it is to be alive and jump out of bed to greet the new day? Or does your head hurt and make you feel sluggish? Do you wish you could go back to sleep for a few more hours? Do you dread the morning drive to work?

The alarm wakens to you three dimensional reality. In sleep you were somewhere else.

Neither state is inherently pleasant or unpleasant. You could have been having an unpleasant dream and wakened to the start of a new project that excites you. Or you could have been dreaming about winning the lottery and wake to face a long drive to underpaid work.

When we want people to “wake up,” we want them to face reality. When we say someone is “asleep” it means “not there.” When we say we have “a dream,” it usually means an aspiration.

Which planets rule awake and asleep?

Awake

In astrology, Uranus is the great awakener. Uranus awakening is like the alarm clock. It wakes you up, now, because now is the time for you to move from here to there (or there to here).

Like your alarm clock, Uranus jolts. It comes suddenly.

Uranus is the sudden meeting with a person who will be with you the rest of your life. Uranus is an accident that changes you forever. Uranus is finding the long-lost treasure in the basement one rainy Saturday. Uranus is finding the love letters to your husband from someone else . . .

What are you waking up to? You wake to reality, which is Saturn.

Many years ago a chi gong teacher told me that people are rarely in their bodies. After years of meditation, I now get it.

Uranus awakens you to reality. But what we call reality is normally colored by our thoughts and feelings.

You thought your husband was committed but discover he is not. The reality is different than the thought. The reality hurts where the thought was pleasant, in this example. It could be the other way around.

When you wake, your mind is quite clear and you construct the reality around you – I’m in bed, the alarm has gone off, I need to get up, I’m hungry.

Meditation is like that – I’m here, I’m sitting. That’s it.

The way I understand it now, meditation is the opposite of sleep. It’s not about fantasizing or longing for other places or states (such as heaven or nirvana) or losing consciousness – it’s about being here, now.

That’s it.

So why is it so hard to meditate? Why do non-meditators fear and dread sitting still for minutes (or hours or days) at a time?

Many people fear silence. We say we are so busy, but the minute we have unstructured time we try to fill it. What do we really fear?

The busy-ness we complain about is a result of our own inability to have non-busy-ness. We built the buildings, we created the fluorescent lights, we said the hours are nine to five.

Awake takes energy and sleep restores energy.

To be fully present is an energy-draining affair. While you’re sitting in that meeting, are you truly present? Or are you thinking about lunch, how much you hate your job, what you’re going to do later in the evening?

Although we’ve risen from bed, we may not be “awake.”

If you wake to the alarm clock with a sense of dread at having to get up and work, you’ll feel the same way when Uranus comes to wake you up. Uranus is always moving through your chart, waking you up in various areas of your life.

If you don’t like to wake to the day, you won’t like Uranus waking you up to the same day in Blue Ray.

If Uranus in transiting your second house of finances, you may be “waking up” to what your financial history has meant.

Uranus seems to rule “awake” but is tied with Saturn reality. Waking to reality seems to be the true awakening.

Asleep

Dream states and undifferentiated consciousness are ruled by Neptune. Neptune is where we merge with all-that-is and are no longer a self.

While you dream, you actively respond to the images. Upon waking, you wonder why you reacted with such fear to a purple-headed coffee cup.

The problem with being “one” with everything is that like a leaf in the river, you will flow wherever the river is flowing.

“Going with the flow” is seen as a positive trait. But “going with the flow” in Nazi Germany clearly was a bad idea.

That is Neptune’s problem – it doesn’t color the flow, it just rules the flow itself. Individuals with too much Neptune (such as in the first house), tend to follow all leaders, follow all trends.

Fashion, then, is Neptunian (I think it was Liz Greene that presented this idea). Fashion can’t be imposed, like order. Fashion can be presented but what takes hold is organic. Organic trends aren’t logical or differentiated which is why fashion can be destructive (foot binding, waist pinching, pouring chemicals on our faces).

Sleep is clearly important in a human life. Without sleep, we can’t function in reality.

My Internet search found an article from Scientific American. The longest a person can go without sleep, they determined, is about 11 days.

Even though one can go without sleep for 11 days, we are essentially “cognitively dysfunctional.”

No sleep, no awake.

Sleep and awake are intertwined. One can’t exist without the other. Interesting.

We can’t experience three-dimensional reality (Saturn) without a dip into the waters of Neptune. Carlos Castaneda refers to all-that-is as “the dark sea of awareness.” That very description is a description of Neptune.

To Castaneda, reality is simply sharing the same dream. The dream may change over time. Today’s “dream” involves a lot of self-absorption which Castaneda believes is an energy drain.

When Neptune moves through your chart, you might feel confused in that area of your life. If Neptune is transiting your fifth house of creativity, you might find yourself creating art that arises from a deep place in yourself that even you don’t understand.

What is the relationship between awake and asleep?

Sleep feeds awake. With no sleep, there is no awake. Too much sleep, however, also leads to no awake.

Sleep brings us into the world of Neptune which provides energy. Energy allows us to be awake.

Meditation may seem a waste of time to some but energy is used simply to exist which is why it seems to result in a state called “relaxation.”

To some, meditation is self-absorption. I disagree; having thoughts about the self is self-absorption. Sitting and experiencing reality as it is results in detachment from self. If you detach from self, can you be self-absorbed?

Waking, to Castaneda, is saving energy from useless pursuits, such as worry about what others think of you. With energy, you can be awake in the dream.

Energy used inefficiently, then, allows us to be in reality only marginally while our thoughts and feelings move us to a state between awake and asleep.

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Hugh Laurie – What’s in House’s First House?

Posted on June 2, 2012 by ohioastrology

British comedian and House actor Hugh Laurie’s chart both surprised and didn’t surprise me.

Laurie is über-hyper talented. Not only is he an actor, but he is a musician, writer and athlete. I bet he also has additional hobbies in which he excels.

Sun in Gemini and moon in Leo is both versatility and energy. Gemini hates boredom and since Laurie is excellent at about 100 things, I’m sure he’s never bored.

Or maybe he is. With Gemini, there is never enough stimulation.

Moon in Leo is dramatic, self-centered, loving and expressive. If all moon in Leo people could be actors, the world would be a calmer place.

Laurie also has Venus, Mars and Uranus in Leo.

What surprises me about Laurie’s chart is that to me he appears to have a serious, reserved demeanor and his chart is almost totally extroverted. Extroverts can be shy, but reserved?

I also recall seeing a TV special on Laurie that revealed he suffers from depression.

Leos don’t often acknowledge depression when they suffer it and are one of the signs I see that engages life so depression appears to be event oriented (after a breakup, for example, rather than for no reason).

Gemini, with its dual nature, seems to contract a bi-polar type of depression rather than an existential angst. When you constantly change personality, you can become a little lost, actor or non-actor.

Oh, but wait, there is Saturn in Capricorn. I wonder where that is in Laurie’s chart? Currently Pluto is transiting Capricorn crossing over that Saturn this very minute.

Chart Rectification

To cast an accurate horoscope, one must know time of birth. I don’t know Laurie’s time of birth. But I’m going to guess that his serious demeanor and vulnerability to depression stem from Saturn in Capricorn in the first house.

That would move Mercury into Cancer (from Gemini). It would also put his sun in the region of sixth/seventh houses. I’m not so sure if that makes sense for an actor, but maybe acting is a way to overcome health issues, which are ruled by the sixth house.

Saturn in the first house I’ve found to be an extremely difficult placement. When I see this placement, usually the person has encountered serious problems at a young age, adult problems, problems that others who have more stereotypical upbringings don’t hear about until they are much older.

Saturn in the first house for an individual with Gemini sun and Leo moon would be like putting a plant in a closet or wanting to lie in the sun but having to wear heavy armor, ready for battle.

Wearing armor is a burden to the self and body. Who put on the armor?

Saturn is a father figure. Some authority or father figure created or imposed a heavy burden of responsibility.

If Laurie had a Saturn-less chart (not possible, talking like a Pisces moon here), he would probably be so impulsive that he couldn’t walk a straight line (moon / Uranus in Leo, sun in Gemini).

Possibly someone or something contained Laurie’s energy because without some external constraint, he might have shot off like a rocket into outer space.

Depression for Laurie, then, might be the effort needed to contain incredible amounts of energy. Sports, then, are an excellent outlet.

Current Transits

Pluto is transiting Capricorn and is conjunct Laurie’s armor, I mean Saturn, right now.

Whatever created in Laurie a sense of restraint is going to be challenged and fought with. Laurie might use this transit to take on something of great responsibility or he might finally shuck off a responsibility that he was given unfairly at an early age.

Mars is finishing its long haul through Virgo. It was conjunct Laurie’s Pluto in Virgo last year.

Lots of Pluto energy, so Laurie is probably fighting with someone.

Maybe the current ending of his show House is the result of some battle or power struggle. With Pluto in the room, I hesitate to believe it was an amicable break up.

Neptune transiting Pisces is opposing Laurie’s Pluto in Virgo. He’s learning something about unconditional love, spirituality and belonging.

Neptune and Pisces are confusing and if you accept you don’t know, it’s a lot (a very, very lot) easier.

Having to know and making a list are not supported by Neptune in Pisces which makes sure you don’t really know and makes you list blow off the counter and into the sink full of dishwater so that it’s soaked beyond recognition.

Sun in Gemini is an analytical mind so Pisces energy is extremely uncomfortable. Gemini likes stimulation and facts and prizes in the cereal box and new coffee shops. Pisces provides stimulation but you don’t always know where it’s coming from.

Why do I feel uncomfortable here? Is it the lights? The person giving me the evil eye?

Gemini is not fond of emotional vagueness. Gemini, like Virgo, needs to tack a label on everything. Vague feelings of uneasiness or spontaneous bursts of love for humanity are not easy to categorize.

Saturn will soon move from Libra to Scorpio and will conjunct Laurie’s Neptune in Scorpio. There will be confusion about the emotional aspects of relationship. As Laurie goes through the Pluto on Saturn (in Capricorn) transit, he may start opening up a little emotionally.

Emotional changes may lead to a different sense of responsibility. He may be learning that bringing home the bacon is one type of responsibility. Giving someone a flower might be all that is needed sometimes so responsibility can be a small “r” and not a capital “R” Responsibility.

What’s after House?

The word “house” represents a structure, which is more evidence for a strong Saturn.

If Laurie is leaving “house,” maybe he’ll go to one of his other placements like “heart” (Leo) or “sibling” (Gemini).

Maybe his next acting effort will have Neptune in Pisces characteristics and he will play a spiritual man.

I’m sure with his many talents, Laurie will have a new creative product soon.

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US Politics – The Rambunctious South and Melancholy North

Posted on May 30, 2012 by ohioastrology

Today I received an email that shocked me. The email announced that next Monday is a state holiday in Alabama. Next Monday, June 4, Alabama is commemorating Jefferson Davis’ birthday. If he were a Biblical character, he would be 204 years old.

Jefferson Finis Davis (born June 3, 1808) was the President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

The “other” President and the one we recognize today in textbooks (at least up north) was Abraham Lincoln (born February 12, 1809).

Both men were born in Kentucky. Some pictures of Davis, if you aren’t familiar with him, could easily be confused for pictures of Lincoln.

The Rambunctious South

Davis had Mars, sun and Mercury in air-sign Gemini with moon in air-sign Libra. That’s a lot of air and creates a social, changeable, quirky and unusual person.

Now I see why Newt Gingrich with Mercury, Uranus, Saturn and sun in Gemini does so well where Jefferson Davis is popular.

Uranus was in Gemini during the Civil War, hopping all over Davis’ Mars, sun and Mercury. Like Gingrich, he probably traveled all over, talked up a storm and said whatever came to mind.

Luckily for Davis, there was no TV or Internet so folks wouldn’t know that he promised moon colonies in Florida and log cabins in Maine. But then again, he would never have gone to Maine.

Like Gingrich, Davis was probably a persuader and charmer. Tossing around crazy ideas, like seceding from the Union, is a lot more fun than talking about how the wood panels in your log cabin are warping from the humidity.

The Melancholy North

Lincoln had sun in air-sign Aquarius and moon in earth-sign Capricorn. Lincoln’s melancholic nature isn’t just from Capricorn moon alone. He also had Mercury, Pluto and Jupiter in Pisces and Neptune conjunct Saturn in Sagittarius.

His Mars was in air-sign Libra.

The north, with dark, gray, cold, sleety, rainy, drizzly, snowy, bleak and icy winters breeds people who like serious, somber politicians.

I know Lincoln had his detractors at the time. But today we north-folk are taught to admire the man who freed the slaves in the south.

We are taught to admire his growing up in a log cabin (cold, cramped like our houses) and his reading of law books by the fire at night (poor and humble).

Mitt Romney and Barack Obama

Romney with sun in Pisces and moon in Scorpio is astrologically a creature of the cold, melancholy north. Scorpio moon loves to hold grudges curled up in a corner like a hurt animal.

Obama with sun in Leo and moon in Gemini is astrologically a creature of the sunny, spontaneous south. Leo likes people and attention like a lizard likes the sun.

Politically, because of our silly two-party system, both Romney and Obama have to swim in waters outside of their natural temperatures.

Romney and Obama are night and day.

Let’s see how our candidates spend their June 4. Not only is it Jefferson’s Birthday holiday in Alabama, but across the world people will commemorate the June 4 protests in China’s Tiananmen Square.

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Saturn in Scorpio for Obama and Romney

Posted on May 28, 2012 by ohioastrology

Saturn in Scorpio may bring contraction of lending, judgment in regard to sexual matters, changes in tax code, changes in inheritance law, more conscious spending of money and more sharing of financial resources in groups.

AIDS became a household word (according to Wikipedia history), just before the last transit of Saturn in Scorpio (December 1982). Because the gay community was hit hardest, I recall there being some judgment from some quarters when the illness was first discovered.

Today HIV isn’t always associated with homosexuality and the news stories seem to report on HIV without discussion of sexual preference.

The last transit of Saturn in Scorpio also brought Reagan Administration tax cuts.

Saturn enters Scorpio on October 5, 2012 and will be in Scorpio through December 2014.

How will this energy affect the presidential candidates?

Barack Obama

Saturn in Scorpio will square Obama’s Mercury and sun in Leo. The square to Mercury will technically begin before Saturn enters Scorpio while it’s in the last degrees of Libra.

Scorpio energy is a big heavy for the fun-loving, gregarious Leo. Obama also has a Gemini moon so Scorpio is the wet blanket at the party for this personality.

Wet blankets will arrive and the first stop is communication. Mercury in Leo communicates in a grandiose, exaggerated, fun and colorful way. Scorpio wants to know if the stories are true and tries to read more into the fanciful tales than exist.

Mercury in Leo tells a story about the time he ate 15 hamburgers on a dare at the family picnic. Saturn in Scorpio sends out a detective, reports that the hamburger patties were in a box of only one dozen and that Obama is seen in photographs eating hot dogs.

Obama better watch what he says these days as even fun-loving banter will be taken out of context and into the court of law.

Later Saturn in Scorpio will square Obama’s sun and Uranus which will be the least fun portion of this two-year trek. The heat will be on. Any slights, especially sexual, will be the focus of attention.

After the Mercury square will be the Neptune conjunction. Neptune in Scorpio already forms a T-square to Mercury in Leo opposing Jupiter in Aquarius which adds a couple extra hamburgers every now and again to the 15-hamburger story.

Saturn on Neptune, especially in Scorpio, can indicate depression. At the end of the Saturn in Scorpio transit, Saturn will sextile natal Saturn in Capricorn indicating Obama will be “sadder but wiser.”

Whether Obama wins the election or not, it will be a rough couple of years.

If Obama wins the election, something will dog him for a good two years.

If Obama does not win the election, it will take him two years to recover from the loss.

Mitt Romney

Romney is a watery, emotional man with Mars, Mercury and sun in Pisces and Jupiter and moon in Scorpio.

Pisces and Scorpio are already serious signs. Romney’s Saturn conjunct (wide) Pluto in Leo suggest lack of confidence and a serious nature.

If you like bitter coffee and someone offers you a dark roast, you probably say yes and enjoy it.

While I wouldn’t say Saturn in Scorpio will be “good” to Romney, he is organically able to deal with this type of energy.

First stop with transiting Saturn in Scorpio is a tight T-square with natal Saturn in Leo opposing Venus in Aquarius. This indicates some issues with the love life, especially sexual issues.

With Romney’s Jupiter/moon in Scorpio, I’ve been wondering if Saturn in Scorpio will bring any skeletons from his closet. I admit as a political junkie that it’s difficult to believe anyone with the ego to run for president hasn’t an egregiously arrogant affair from the past.

The media is digging up boring story upon boring story of Romney being a prankster and beating up kids in high school (which may make him more than less fit for the US presidency).

I’m still wondering if there aren’t any Scorpio stories that will arise – sexual escapades or kinky happenings. Hey, the guy was 19 years old during the summer of love. I’m not judging him; in fact, I hope he did have some fun.

But with Saturn in Scorpio, there will be judgment regarding sexual issues. There may be an “I didn’t inhale” moment in Romney’s future.

About a year into the transit is when Romney will be hit hardest – that is when Saturn will be conjunct his natal Pluto.

Saturn conjunct Pluto is a really unpleasant time, regardless of sign. It’s a time when it feels the world is against you (look for this type of aspect in those with a persecution complex). Everyone is angry with you, everyone is tailgating and pushing you out of the passing lane.

In the sign of Leo, Romney will struggle to maintain self-respect and pride as his personal matters are invaded (Pluto feels like invasion).

When Saturn conjuncts Jupiter and moon at the end of the two-year transit, Romney will feel emotionally spent and may simply retreat emotionally. His emotional retreat will include a financial retreat and may even indicate some financial trouble.

With Jupiter and moon in Scorpio, there is a sexual charisma. Saturn brings contraction and limitation so the old sexual and charm tricks may not be as effective.

While Saturn can be a damper to any energy, it does trine the Pisces energy. Romney is a serious individual to start so he may not feel that Saturn is cramping his style but may rise to the need for more responsibility in projecting sexual energy and in financial matters where he controls the money.

Romney may also (continue to) feel it’s more responsible to hold back money than to give money – the old “Let Detroit go bankrupt” idea.

For Romney, there are challenges in the next couple years, but overall he can handle this type of intensity. Romney can weather very big emotional storms.

If Romney wins the election, he will feel that he is not liked and have to deal with a sense of being lonely at the top.

If he does not win the election, he’ll recover from the loss somewhat quickly but his finances will be unsteady for the next couple years. He will still feel lonely, but possibly from abandonment, as though he doesn’t exist anymore.

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