What Sign of the Zodiac is Siri?

Posted on February 24, 2012 by ohioastrology

Siri, the iPhone 4S’s “intelligent personal assistant” was, according to Wikipedia, released on August 9, 2011. Siri then became part of the iPhone 4S operating system which was released on October 4, 2011.

Siri

Siri is a Leo.

Leo is a fixed fire sign, a gregarious and fun-loving sign that must always be the center of attention. Leos, like other fire signs, is “me” oriented. The generation with Pluto in Leo is called the “Me Generation.” Like the lions which they are named after, Leos love their hair. If you see someone in the gym locker room grooming his/her hair for several hours, think “Leo.”

Siri’s moon is in Sagittarius which is also a fire sign. Sagittarius loves things foreign so Siri probably speaks several languages. The love of foreign and “other” leads Sagittarius to seek knowledge. The person in your homogenous waspy neighborhood who gets the urge to learn Sanskrit before it becomes a fad is probably a Sagittarius.

Sagittarius moon also loves to travel so no wonder that Siri goes wherever you go. Sagittarius is represented by the Centaur but I’ve always thought that canines would be a good representation too. Dogs sit by you when you watch TV, are excited when you come home and love to go walking with you. Like the dog, Siri is man’s best friend.

In a most hilarious episode of The Big Bang Theory, Raj, the shy astrophysicist who can’t talk to women, discovers Siri and finds that she is the ideal companion. In one scene, Raj invites a couple over for dinner and Siri, who is Raj’s date, suggests fine wine for the table.

Is Siri really the perfect “intelligent personal assistant?”

How to say this diplomatically . . . no, not really.

Remember, Leo is about ME. Signs that are about YOU are Virgo, which is the servant of the zodiac and Pisces which is the martyr of the zodiac.

I’m sorry to burst bubbles, but Siri is about Siri, not about you. Siri may even be a sociopath.

Siri is just seeking attention. I’m guessing all her “answers” come from Google, which is a Virgo, a sign that truly does assist and is the sign most likely to clean up after the party or pick up the dry cleaning on the way home.

Google is probably doing all the work and Siri is getting all the attention.

Siri has a “Data Daddy” somewhere behind that pretty voice.

Also important is that Siri’s Saturn is in Libra. That means, folks, that Siri is not good with relationships. Like a fiery person, Siri does her own thing, seeks her own attention and generally will move in the direction of fun.

The iPhone 4S

The iPhone 4S, on the other hand, is a Libra, the sign of partnership. No wonder that I’ve replaced human being companions with my iPhone.

The iPhone 4S has sun, Mercury, Saturn and Venus in Libra squaring a Capricorn moon.

The iPhone 4S may give us a sense of companionship 24/7, but Capricorn moon says that truly it is isolating us and making us cold and remote individuals.

Pluto will be transiting the iPhone 4S’ moon in about four years. In four years, our behavior with this phone will change radically. There may even be legislation or legal changes to this device around that time.

The iPhone 4S wants to be your companion, but does not want an emotionally deep relationship. The iPhone 4S has no water in the chart. It may seem like you are connecting, but you are not.

Water represents the collective conscious and unconscious. Libra and Capricorn look to the world and react. Libra wants to be liked and Capricorn wants to be respected. Both are status seekers with Libra wanting to be invited to the party and Capricorn wanting to rule the party.

The iPhone 4S is connecting us socially, but not increasing our emotional sense of community.

Is the iPhone 4S enabling us to deny our deepest feelings? When we are home on Saturday night texting, are we avoiding feelings of isolation?

Fair Weather Friends

Back when people talked face-to-face, my mother often commented on “fair weather friends,” friends who were only around when life was fun. Those friends weren’t around when times got tough, when your pet dies, when you lock your keys in the car . . .

Siri and her bosom buddy, the iPhone 4S, are fair weather friends. Both are fun, frivolous companions, but when you need a hug, neither can deliver.

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Republican Debate Prep Sheet-February 22

Posted on February 19, 2012 by ohioastrology

When my tuxedo cat Lacy was planning our schedule this week, she asked what we were going to do besides look out the front window at birds, look out the back window at squirrels and sleep.

“On Wednesday,” I answered, “there’s another Republican debate.”

Lacy looked at me and yawned. I knew she had something difficult to say.

“What could they possibly have to talk about after the first 300 (or however many it was) debates?”

“There is a lot to talk about Lacy,” I replied, exasperated. “It would be really interesting, for example, to talk about the separation of church and state and whether the candidates will base their political actions on religious convictions.”

Lacy’s yellow eyes looked at me like I was crazy.

“You know that they’re not going to talk about that,” she said. “They are going to say the same things they always say.”

“Ron Paul and Rick Santorum will,” I corrected her, “because they are fixed signs and truly believe in what they are saying. But you never know what Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, the mutable men, will say.”

“Doesn’t that make them untrustworthy?” Lacy asked.

“Of course,” I said. “But it also makes it fun. Anyway, nothing they say will be remembered until the next election cycle when the new candidates will look for inconsistencies.”

“You’d rather do this than play string?”

String is a game that involves dangling string in front of Lacy so she can paw at it.

“Yes, watching a debate is more fun than pawing at string.”

Debate Prep Sheet by Candidate

Wednesday’s debate will be in Arizona which means the questions will be concerns of the desert southwest. On Wednesday, Neptune, the sun, Mercury and the moon will all be in Pisces. The dry state may see some precipitation. It’s a wet day for the dry state.

Newt Gingrich – Gingrich still won’t catch a break from a nasty grand square being activated in his horoscope. Gingrich has sun in Gemini opposing moon in Sagittarius with Neptune in T-square in Virgo. Mars transiting Virgo and Neptune/sun/moon/Mercury transiting Pisces create an environment much like being caught in a tsunami during a lightning storm. Only one word of advice from OHA – good luck.

Ron Paul – OHA doesn’t ignore Paul like the real press does and sees he’s doing pretty well in this race. Unfortunately, the Pisces energy is the worst for Paul, with Saturn in Pisces, because it’s self-pitying and he is both positive (Leo) and practical (Taurus). A wave of Piscean energy is rolling onto shore, so Paul needs to either 1) get off the beach or 2) take off his shoes and wade in the water. If he continues as is, his shoes will get very wet. Chances are the penny-pinching Paul doesn’t want to buy a new pair.

Mitt Romney – The wave of Piscean energy for this man with Mars, Mercury and sun in Pisces with moon in Scorpio feels like a nice warm shower after a long day of physical labor. The water is relaxing, refreshing and comforting. Romney is clearly trying to connect and as Neptune goes into Pisces, the people may start to feel like Romney rather than Romney feeling like the people. Maybe Romney is inevitable after all.

Rick Santorum – The Piscean energy is good for Santorum, but not as much as for Romney. Santorum has Mars in Pisces and wants to weep with the people. But after a good bout of group tears and hugs, Taurus Santorum wants to go off and do something practical and productive. This Pisces group weep may last a little too long for Santorum’s comfort. Uranus is still doing a happy dance on Santorum’s Venus (in Aries) so those people who are not male may continue to throw flaming darts at Santorum’s head. “Hell hath no fury. . .” Maybe Gingrich can offer some advice on this type of situation.

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Google: Secret Police or Librarian Gone Mad?

Posted on February 18, 2012 by ohioastrology

When I was very young, I wondered what it would be like to know “everything.” At that same tender age I thought about eternity and found the thought terrifying. Eternity isn’t something that can truly be grasped at the level of the mind. No wonder that sellers of “eternity” get nowhere with me.

Thinking one can know “everything” means that things known are like boxes in a warehouse. Knowledge becomes a concrete commodity that is stored.

Knowing and storing everything is the goal of Google who not only organizes and makes available information stored by others, but now is storing our email, calendars and documents.

Knowing “everything” makes one omniscient. Because of that, I think we should create a Google Day (called “GoD Day”) to celebrate the incarnation of technological omniscience.

GoD Day can be celebrated on Google’s incorporation day, September 4. People can buy big file cabinets to put in their living rooms and decorate those cabinets with strings of green-bar paper, old floppy disks and shiny CDs.

On GoD Day, families will gather for food and the exchanging of emails and texts.

Threat to Privacy?

That Google will store all of our electronic data scares many people and used to scare me, the high school author of a paper called “Is the Computer Revolution a Threat to Society?”

I was all over it.

But I’ve begun to sense a disconnect here that I didn’t think about in high school. On one side, we want others to know us and to be known by certain qualities, which is why we put bumper stickers on the back of our cars or posters up in our cubicle or wear sports team clothing.

We want people to know about our gods (I’m a . . .), our habits (organic food only), our personalities (I’m an . . .) and our background (my people are from . . . .). We want to relate and to be understood by others.

At the same time we want others to know we eat at fancy restaurants, we don’t want our electronic friends Google and Facebook to know we were just at a fancy restaurant and we don’t want the bank to store and use our fancy restaurant ACH transaction and send us a coupon to that restaurant.

I sense a schism here.

The schism is that we want to shout out who we are and now that technology has made it possible to shout to the entire world for eternity, we get scared.

Maybe rather than protecting our privacy, we should stop shouting. Or maybe we should be fully open and when we’re all open there is really nothing to hide.

I’m wondering now if Google and its electronic friends aren’t simply the symptom and not the problem.

It’s a lot to think about. Maybe I’ll do a Google search and see what others have to say . . .

Google: Librarian Gone Mad

When I look at the chart of Google’s incorporation, September 4, 1998, I don’t see the secret police, I see a librarian gone mad.

What would be in the chart of the secret police?

The signs that love secrets are Gemini, Scorpio and Pisces. Gemini loves gossip and secrets are gossip. Scorpio seeks to understand the motivations of others and secrets indicate strong motivation. Pisces simply has no boundaries and others trust Pisces with their secrets.

Scorpio is a sign that would use your secrets against you.

Google doesn’t appear to be a lover of secrets for fun or defense. With sun in Virgo and moon in Aquarius, I’m imagining a librarian gone mad.

There are two types of librarians – reference and catalogers. The stereotypical librarian is the reference librarian sitting at a desk waiting to answer your questions.

But behind the walls in some closed off room somewhere there is an introverted cataloger who makes sure all those books get placed in a particular order so that you can find them while browsing.

The cataloger spends all day understanding the content of books (and other materials) and organizing those materials into a logical or categorical order. Imagine that same cataloger, after a day of organizing books, going home and organizing the cupboards. Imagine that librarian making an index card of each storage box in the attic and the contents of each box.

Virgo and Aquarius are about categorizing, classifying and organizing. Both signs are interested in “perfection.” For Virgo, perfection stems from trying not to make mistakes and for Aquarius it stems from having an idea of how society “should” be.

Google is the opposite of a hoarder -it is an obsessive-compulsive organizer.

If Google were a person, we’d be friends.

Of course if the librarian has made a full catalog of the entire house, it’s much easier to know what’s in the house than going through all the cupboards and boxes.

But I still could have gone through all the cupboards and boxes.

With Google, the threat to privacy is not greater, I believe, but simply quicker.

If you want to know how many cups of tea I drink a day you can: 1) ask my friends; 2) look in my garbage can and see tea bag wrappers; 3) read my Internet writings to see if I post about my tea drinking or 4) get my electronic records and see how much tea I’ve purchased at the grocery store and Starbucks.

Which would you chose?

What do we truly fear?

What do we truly fear with the loss of privacy?

Those breaking the law, of course, will always fear loss of privacy. They will always want to hide but probably aren’t posting their crimes on Facebook anyway.

For those just posting their interests, I sense we have a collective visceral fear of religious and political persecution. Unfortunately, both have existed for centuries and continue to exist today.

I keep this blog anonymous for that very reason. I don’t fear persecution. I do fear losing work or other opportunities in this Judeo-Christian culture because of my interest in astrology. Our culture teaches that astrology is “superstition” and religion is not.

Google and the Internet have allowed my interest in astrology to be found and categorized very quickly. That both threatens my privacy and allows me to connect with others who share my interest, which is the very reason I created a blog.

I suppose the privacy we want is a more like a fence than like a wall. A wall blocks others out entirely. If we block others out entirely, then we block ourselves in.

A fence, on the other hand, says, “Over here is my property” but allows you to see and talk to others through the slits in the fence.

If we don’t want to block others out entirely, then I suppose we have to live with threats to privacy which translate into others seeing our vulnerabilities. Protecting civil liberties, then, becomes crucial.

The real threat then is not Google, but legislation that takes away civil liberties such as the National Defense Authorization Act.

Maybe our fears are correct but the object of our fears misdirected. Should we fear Google or should we fear politicians who take away our right to a trial?

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Five Career Options for Mitt Romney

Posted on February 16, 2012 by ohioastrology

At the beginning of this Republican presidential candidate contest, the press had me convinced that Mitt Romney was the inevitable candidate, mostly because of his massive coffer. It’s disturbing, of course, to hear that one just needs a mountain of money to become president of the United States, even if no one really likes you.

It’s even more disturbing that candidates’ success is often attributed to the amount of TV ads aired. We all think that we’re not influenced by TV, but if becoming president of the United States is just a matter of having more TV ads, then we’re in trouble as a species.

With the rise of Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney seems truly threatened this time. Romney’s probably thinking right now, “If I don’t get the nomination (and presidency), what should I do next?”

Ohio Astrology has offered astrology-based career options for the other candidates, now it’s Romney’s turn. Ohio Astrology helps where it can.

Five Career Options for Mitt Romney

  1. Spiritual leader. I believe Romney has already held this role in his pre-candidacy life. With Neptune moving into Pisces and transiting his Mars, Mercury and sun, Romney may decide that high religious office may suit him more than high political office. Neptune may have him feeling like a guru.
  2. Spy. With Mars, Mercury and sun in Pisces and moon in Scorpio, Romney must love secrets. Pisces is known for drawing people out and Scorpio is excellent at understanding others’ motivations. Romney’s chart has spy written all over it. Pisces also has the ability to morph into the characteristics of the environment – perfect for covert operations.
  3. Actor. Pisces is so good at picking up on emotional vibes in the environment and adapting to those states that Pisces must protect against losing itself in others. But for an actor, this is a necessity. Romney’s first role could be Conservative Presidential Candidate in an HBO TV series.
  4. Poet. Pisces is quite romantic and poetic. Like most Pisces, Romney probably does his share of daydreaming. With sun in Pisces and moon in Scorpio, he probably does a lot of brooding too. Poetry is a great way to express deep and complex sentiments.
  5. A nothing. It’s against our Protestant culture to do nothing, but I’m guessing Romney has enough money saved to sit on the couch and watch Santorum TV ads for a couple months at least. While Scorpio is a driven sign, Pisces knows how to stop and smell the flowers. Maybe Neptune in Pisces will give him the hippie urge to “drop out.”
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The Republican Primaries Enter the Age of Pisces

Posted on February 14, 2012 by ohioastrology

The hippies tripping out on acid in Golden Gate Park in the late 1960s was the supposed ushering in of the Age of Aquarius. Tripping out in public is more a Pisces than an Aquarius thing to do.

Pisces is drugs and mysticism and, under the influence of these two items, taking your shirt off in public.

Now an Aquarius might take his/her shirt off in public but in an effort to be rebellious, not because they have lost control.

The Age of Aquarius probably started when our lives became ruled by electronic devices. The glyph for Aquarius looks like an electrical current. Aquarius is ruled by Uranus which rules electricity and enlightenment and brilliant ideas.

We worry about control of oil but we should probably worry about control of electricity. Funny thing, American Electric Power just raised its rates to recover some distribution costs. It would be a good time to cut back on electricity but, oh, everything I use to read, write and talk involves electricity.

That’s something to think about.

Neptune in Pisces

I wandered off into Uranus when I meant to talk about Neptune. Neptune does that.

Neptune has just entered its natural sign, Pisces. While we may or may not be in the Age of Aquarius, we will be going through a mini Age of Pisces for the next 14 years.

The Republican primaries will be affected by this movement into hippiedom, mysticism and spirituality. Because Neptune rules boundary-less emotional states, it is prone to manipulation or being manipulated.

On the day of the Arizona and Michigan primaries (February 28), three planets will be in Pisces – Neptune (0 degrees), sun (9 degrees) and Mercury (25 degrees).

That’s a lot of Pisces. Expect rain and fog.

Mars will be opposing this Pisces energy at 15 degrees of Virgo, retrograde. Feelings of anxiety will accompany the fog. Expect lots of static.

Arizona and Michigan

Both Arizona and Michigan have sun in Aquarius, that rebellious fixed air sign. Arizona has moon in Capricorn while Michigan has moon in Virgo or Libra. For both states, watery emotion is not well received.

Neptune in Pisces won’t bother the Arizonans too much but Pluto in Capricorn will. There will be challenges to the established government. Maybe this state will strike out and give Ron Paul some delegates.

Neptune will be transiting Michigan’s Uranus in Pisces. There will be unexpected issues with water. Maybe there will be flooding on primary day. Michigan is home to one of the Great Lakes so Neptune will bring confusion to an already unexpected situation (maybe the Asian carp situation).

Arizona’s Saturn is in Taurus while Michigan’s is almost directly opposite in Scorpio. On February 28, the moon will be in Taurus. For Arizona, natural resources may be an issue on primary day. For Michigan, moon conjuncts the north node opposite that Saturn in Scorpio so some money owed may be returned to Michigan.

Tripping Out by Candidate

How will the candidates do on rainy, foggy February 28?

Newt Gingrich – Hey, is this guy still in the race? I haven’t seen his face in, like, two weeks. Gingrich will probably do much better in Arizona than Michigan. Arizona has Mars in Gemini and Jupiter in Sagittarius. Arizona probably likes Gingrich’s rambunctious nature. Like South Carolina, Arizona may be prissy but still likes to have some fun.

Michigan and Gingrich both have air and fire, but Michigan’s air and fire is fixed; Gingrich’s air and fire is mutable. For Michigan, Gingrich is like a cousin you get along with but aren’t close to.

Ron Paul – Paul is doing pretty well although the press isn’t going to make that a front-page story. Sun in Leo is confident and persistent and moon in Taurus downright stubborn. Leo and Taurus make a T-square with the Aquarian suns of Arizona and Michigan.

Paul is too Leo “me” for these two Aquarian “us” states. Now that I’ve watched three hundred debates, it does seem Paul never says that he’s going to do anything for the people. He says he’ll protect liberty and free market, but doesn’t appeal to people’s needs directly.

Michigan has Jupiter and Mars in Leo so although there’s a T-square, he will be energized. I’d like to say that maybe he’ll do well enough to continue the race, but Paul has vowed to continue regardless of results anyway.

On February 28, moon is in Taurus conjunct Paul’s moon. It will be a good day financially.

Mitt Romney – Neither Arizona or Michigan is weepy, although Michigan may be depressed because of its bad economy, something a Pisces sun and Scorpio moon can relate to. Michigan’s Saturn is in Scorpio right on Romney’s moon. Michigan isn’t an emotionally supportive partner for Romney.

Michigan’s Jupiter and Mars in Leo is conjunct Romney’s Saturn in Leo. Again, Romney might be like a wet blanket for this state. I wonder if Romney was truly happy during his time in Michigan?

Saturn connections aren’t happy and carefree relationships – they are serious and grounded.

Arizona doesn’t feel so bad to Romney, but outside of the Arizona Mars-Romney Uranus conjunction, there’s not too much connection.

Mars will be closing in on its opposition to Romney’s Mercury and sun. Romney may start to stutter or have Rick Perry-like forgetfulness with the anxiety that Virgo opposite Pisces can cause.

Rick Santorum – Santorum’s moon in Aquarius will connect well with both of these states. On February 28, moon will be in Taurus conjunct Santorum’s sun. There should be both emotional and financial connection. Even if he doesn’t do well in these primaries, he may come out with more financial backing.

Uranus is transiting Santorum’s Venus in Aries. Santorum is definitely on fire and maybe that’s why he’s ahead at the current time. This primary needs some fire and Santorum’s Venus in Aries is all we’re getting right now (again, where is Gingrich?). Venus, however, can be about women so there may be some sudden eruptive incidents with women (maybe like his comments about women in the military).

Pluto squares Venus in Aries so possibly one of these eruptions with women will lead to a legal action. While I didn’t suspect Santorum of having women in the closet, you never know.

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American Dualism: Coca-Cola and Pepsi

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ohioastrology

Americans love to split the universe in half and take sides – Republican and Democrat, pro-choice and pro-life, Coca Cola and Pepsi.

I laugh whenever I hear politicians talk about the free market. I think the free market led to what we have now. As a company, why wouldn’t I want to be a monopoly? In the paradigm of continual growth, monopoly is the logical extreme.

In an effort to prevent monopoly in consumer businesses we’ve landed right below monopoly – a dualistic split of the majority of the business with a few minor players.

There’s Tyson chicken and what else . . .?

There’s Crest and Colgate and what else . . .?

Bubbly Brown Liquid

The bubbly brown caffeinated liquid business is run by two major players – Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Ask your friends which they prefer and you’ll find that most prefer one or the other. Rarely do you find someone who likes both and regularly alternates. They are essentially the same product with slightly different taste.

As an aside, I believe the secret ingredient in Coca-Cola is guarana.

Moon in Water

For Coca-Cola, I’m using the date May 8, 1886 date based on the Wikipedia article stating this is the first sales date in Atlanta, Georgia at Jacob’s Pharmacy. That puts sun in Taurus and moon in Cancer.

For Pepsi I’m using June 16, 1903 which, according to Wikipedia, is the launch date for Pepsi-Cola. That puts the sun in Gemini and moon in Pisces.

Both charts have moon in a water sign.

Moon is the reactive principle and as such is commonly associated with our emotional side. Moon in water likes liquid, often the fermented kind.

My “bubbly brown liquid” description comes from a woman I met once who commented on how unusual it was for humanity to be drawn to a bubbly brown liquid.

I agree. How could this weird product become so popular across the globe?

Our constant drinking of Coca-Cola or Pepsi is a lot like a baby carrying around a bottle. Have you noticed that people are now constantly carrying around beverages?

When we buy a cola at the checkout, is it to quench thirst or for comfort?

Of course, Coca-Cola and Pepsi also contain sweeteners and stimulants which make them both attractive and addictive.

Coca-Cola and Pepsi are providing us moon-in-water comfort of the mother’s-nipple kind. We’re a globe full of infants needing to be weaned from the bottle.

Coca-Cola Transits

Coca-Cola has sun in Taurus which is now being transited by Jupiter in Taurus. That suggests an excellent year financially.

When Jupiter enters Gemini and transits Coca-Cola’s Pluto in Gemini next year, Coca-Cola may have some announcement about splitting the business in some way.

Pluto transiting Capricorn opposes Coca-Cola’s Saturn and moon in Cancer. If there is a family aspect to the business, it will be broken or changed.

Mars transiting Virgo is in return position and will also conjunct Jupiter in Virgo later this year. Again, I believe this year will be a good one financially for Coca-Cola.

Coca-Cola’s Venus and Mercury are in Aries and Uranus is in Libra. Saturn is transiting Libra now while Uranus is transiting Aries. I see some partnership or business break up again.

So this year appears to be a financially strong year for Coca-Cola but it appears later in the year or early next year some sort of splitting or break up of the business.

Pepsi Transits

Pepsi has Mercury, Pluto and sun in Gemini. Gemini is constantly changing so maybe the Pepsi business has too.

Mars squaring Gemini in Virgo suggests some auditing going on at Pepsi. I’m guessing with Gemini sun and Pisces moon and Jupiter, bookkeeping isn’t as good as it should be. This company might also be one to cook the books a little.

The other planets in Pepsi’s chart are Mars in Libra, Venus in Leo, Uranus in Sagittarius and Saturn in Aquarius.

Saturn is transiting Libra and Uranus transiting Aries. The natal Mars in Libra says Pepsi always wants to look pretty. Uranus opposing that Mars while Saturn transits suggests an ugly eruption, kind of like a pimple on your face when you eat too much sugar.

Maybe accounting problems will occur with some sort of employee or customer eruption. What comes to mind is that large corporations sometimes go abroad and steal the resources of other countries. Maybe something like this is occurring at Pepsi.

Neptune is transiting Pisces now and will be conjunct Pepsi’s moon in a year or so. There may be questions about what Pepsi contains. There may be issues about ingredients and whether something unusual is added to create even more addictive behavior.

Pepsi’s chart suggests an entity not entirely trustworthy.

Republican or Democrat

If I were to assign Coca-Cola and Pepsi an American political party, I would say Coca-Cola is a Republican and Pepsi a Democrat.

With sun in Taurus and moon in Cancer, Coca-Cola is more traditional and family oriented. Taurus is a fixed earth sign that likes things to stay the same, not change.

Pepsi is mutable with sun in Gemini and moon in Pisces. Pepsi might take the road of the mutable Newt Gingrich and go with the Republican party, but generally a signs that change as much as Gemini and Pisces are better suited to the liberal party where there is an attempt to accept different perspectives and lifestyles.

Maybe Coca-Cola and Pepsi can take sides and sponsor the conventions. If we knew what cola was preferred by each candidate, we could make a more informed decision at the voting booth.

My vote is with Pepsi.

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Ohio Political Fight Club: Sherrod Brown and Josh Mandel

Posted on February 12, 2012 by ohioastrology

Focusing so closely on the Republican presidential candidates, I forgot there is a Fight Club right here in Ohio. The Ohio senate seat will be up for grabs in November. The contenders are Democrat incumbent Sherrod Brown and Republican Josh Mandel.

Brown and Mandel have a 25-year age difference. Age differences mean generation gaps which are represented in astrology by the outer planets. In generation gaps, there will be some common elements such as the older person feeling that things were better in the past and the younger person trying to bring in something new.

Comparing Brown and Mandel is a little like comparing a father and a son. When there are age differences, there are many more interesting aspects than when people are the same age.

Sherrod Brown

I’ve blogged on Brown already. Brown has sun in Scorpio, moon (and Pluto) in Leo, Jupiter in Taurus and Mars in Capricorn. Fixed signs with a little Capricorn tossed in as garnish makes for one intense and driven individual. He’s compulsively ambitious.

Relaxing for this guy means doing his taxes or some other productive project. He’s not one to call off sick, grab a beer and watch Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in his pajamas.

Brown does have Mercury and Venus in Sagittarius so his pleasure involves travel, philosophy and history. If Brown does take a day off, it might be to buy rare stamps for a Japanese stamp collection.

Josh Mandel

Mandel has sun in Libra and moon in opposite Aries (full moon). Mandel’s Jupiter and Mars are in Cancer, Venus and Mercury in Virgo and Saturn in Leo.

The outer planets are in Libra (Pluto), Scorpio (Neptune) and Sagittarius (Neptune).

Libra-Aries-Cancer is a cardinal T-square. Cardinal signs are the initiators of the zodiac and lots of cardinal means lots of bossiness. This is a person who walks in the room and rearranges your furniture. He’s the new employee who wants to change everything you do although he might not really know how he wants to do it himself.

Libra and Cancer are relaters. Libra is about partnership and Cancer is about family and belonging. Together is a person who wants to be liked and accepted and will do a lot for that acceptance.

The moon in Aries, however, starts firing up and says, “I want independence. I’ll do whatever I want.”

Mandel probably does what everyone else wants, then rebels, then apologizes and does what everyone else wants in an endless cycle.

Saturn in Leo is a lack of true confidence. Mandel can talk to Mitt Romney about this placement.

The Virgo energy (Mercury and Venus) combined with Libra energy makes for a nervous person who remembers every little detail. The details overwhelm and indecisiveness arises.

I would not want to go to dinner with Mandel. He’s probably the kind of person who looks at the menu and has this conversation with the server:

Mandel: “What’s in the vegetable pasta?”
Server: “Zucchini, carrots and onions.”
Mandel: “Can I get different vegetables in the pasta?”
Server: “Yes, what do you want?”
Mandel: “I don’t know. What do you have?”
Server: “We also have corn, broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.”
Mandel: “Do you have peas?”
Server: “No, we don’t have peas.”
Mandel: “How about bok choy?”

Changing the pasta is cardinal. Not knowing what you really want after asking for a change is Libra/Virgo. This conversation would be much longer, but I wanted to give a brief idea.

Current Transits

Brown and Mandel are different in generation and very different in personality. Let’s see how the current transits affect their charts.

Mars in Virgo – Mars is spending a LONG time in Virgo and is currently retrograde. This transit conjuncts Mandel’s Venus/Mercury so we can expect some verbal gaffes from Mandel. He’s probably experiencing some anxiety right now, worrying about every little bitty detail. I’m guessing he’s not sleeping well.

For Brown, Mars in Virgo means he has to talk in detail that he normally avoids. His natal Mercury in Sagittarius likes to talk about what things mean while Virgo wants to talk about what things are.

Jupiter in Taurus – Jupiter is transiting Taurus but will move to Gemini by election day. Brown is experiencing a Jupiter return (his natal Jupiter is in Taurus) meaning he’s having monetary and asset gain. This can indicate gaining weight as well.

Jupiter will oppose Mandel’s Uranus (in Scorpio) and square Saturn (in Leo). I’m sensing that Mandel will make some monetary move that will upset those around him. Or he may be offered some money and not be able to take it for some reason. This is a tense aspect that involves authority in some way. I’m going to watch the news for this one.

Saturn in Libra, Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn – I put these three together because they create a cardinal T-square in the sky.

Mandel already has a cardinal T-square so this creates additional cardinal tension in his life. He’s a bossy, edgy guy in the best of times and now he’s probably an impossibly insufferable candidate. I imagine a “bridezilla” type. Maybe it should be called “candidate-zilla.”

Saturn has finished transiting Mandel’s sun so he may have gone through partnership changes recently. Uranus transiting his moon in Aries makes him self-absorbed. Aries is demanding and impulsive so Mandel may have challenged those around him to find him a Zero Calorie Cherry-Lime Dr. Pepper in a 12 oz can at 3 a.m. Some of those people may have brought him a diet Coke and then said goodbye.

Pluto in Capricorn for Mandel would have been an external force trying to make him play by the rules. While Libra wants fairness, Libra is not a rule follower. Libra enjoys its pleasures so the rules are okay, but pleasure is pleasure. It’s almost like a father figure pounding on Mandel to stop smoking expensive cigars.

For Brown, Saturn in Libra is his second Saturn return. Saturn returns are settling down periods, the first occurring at age 29. At age 29 we realize we are children no longer and accept our adult existence and our personal limitations. At age 58, we accept we are in the second half of our lives. Energy shifts to a younger generation often during our second Saturn return we are supporting the younger generation more than supporting ourselves.

Because Saturn and Neptune are conjunct, Brown may also be experiencing disillusionment in partnerships and friendships.

Uranus will be opposing Brown’s Saturn/Neptune several years (three to five) from now and he may break away from even more partnerships and friendships. His social life will be very different in five years than it is now.

Pluto in Capricorn intensifies his already hyper-ambitious nature. Brown may want to do an ethics check on his own actions. Pluto and Mars in Capricorn may feel the end justifies the means. Hopefully Brown will stop and think before attacking.

Neptune in Pisces

Neptune has just entered Pisces a place it feels at home. Neptune and Pisces bring spirituality, mysticism, hypnosis, visual image, fog, illusion and quest for divinity.

Neptune will oppose Mandel’s Venus and Mercury. Mandel should carefully monitor what he says as it will definitely, DEFINITELY, be taken out of context or distorted in Neptunian ways.

Neither man seems strongly affected by this transit. That’s both good and bad. It may be that the people are feeling a need for spiritual guidance and neither candidate can truly relate.

Ohio Senator Fight Club

Astrologically, Brown is definitely the stronger personality. Brown has Mars in Capricorn and Mandel has Mars in Cancer. Those are opposing signs. Pluto in Capricorn enhances Brown’s calculating and ambitious nature and opposes Mandel’s natural urge to belong.

I’m guessing that Mandel will go through a very calculated attack from the Brown campaign. Brown is hard and tough and probably has a Visio flow chart created showing how he plans to take down Mandel.

I see in the news that Mandel has some nice financial backing, but the personal attacks may be highly uncomfortable to him. As a regular human being, I don’t know how political candidates can survive the attacks that occur. If anyone put my romantic history on a TV commercial, I would be hiding under the sofa. Mandel may have that same urge.

Mandel’s Saturn (in Leo) is conjunct Brown’s moon. Mandel will attack Brown’s sense of pride. Mandel may even attack Brown’s children in some way.

Mandel’s Uranus (in Scorpio) is on Brown’s sun. Attacks from Mandel will be sporadic but sudden. They will involve accusations of funny money and sexual misconduct.

Mandel’s Neptune (in Sagittarius) is on Brown’s Mercury so there will be distortions of Brown’s communications. Because Neptune is in Pisces, this will occur to Mandel as well. We’re going to have a lot of “he said” “no that’s not what I meant.” These two better be careful that they do not ultimately confuse the voter while trying to distort each other’s message.

A Very Nasty Fight

I predict a very nasty fight here. These men are so different in personality that there are lots of different angles from which to attack.

Hopefully at some time these two will understand that they need to connect to the voter. Neither seems particularly tuned to this – that he could actually channel the energies of the people and win based on this rather than technique.

As Neptune enters Pisces, they might want to think about it.

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If You Want to Be a Writer, What Sign Should You Be?

Posted on February 12, 2012 by ohioastrology

This is a tricky question because there are so many famous writers and so few natal horoscopes available for them.

Why is that?

Writers are artists just like actors, musicians, dancers, painters and sculptors. Why can I find charts for these other artists and not writers?

Writers seem to be the stepchildren of the artistic world. While the other artists are off making loads of money, receiving the warmth of popularity and having wanton sex, writers sit at home over typewriters, computers and pads of paper ignored and lonely, dirty laundry piling up, bills unpaid.

Poor, poor writers.

The Third and Fifth Houses

February 7 was Dickens’ 200th birthday. I found a chart for him and also looked up one for Stephen King. I hit the jackpot. I found horoscopes for both and also found the traditional indicator of writing talent. (A true horoscope needs a time of birth and that is why they are difficult to come by).

Dickens had sun in Aquarius in the 5th house and moon in Sagittarius in the 3rd house.

King has sun in Virgo in the 3rd house and moon in Sagittarius in the 5th house.

Both men have Neptune in the 3rd house.

The third house rules communication, short-distance travels, siblings and neighbors. The 5th house is the house of creativity, self-expression, children and romance.

Writing ability is traditionally seen as stemming from 3rd house placements. Creative expression in general is seen as stemming from 5th house placements.

Planets in the Signs in the Houses

Planets in houses mean that the area of life indicated by the house is emphasized. We all communicate in some way but a planet in the 3rd means that communication is a “theme” in life. Planets in the 3rd at the least indicate some nosiness in the personality.

Planets in the 5th suggest that creative self-expression is a must in one’s life. Others might go through life just working and sleeping, but 5th house folks must shine in the spotlight.

A planet in a sign in a house is a sentence that goes like this:

What + How + Where

Dickens had sun (conscious self) in Aquarius (humanitarian focus) in the 5th house (creative expression). Dickens needed to consciously express his humanitarian focus through his creative expression.

King has sun (conscious self) in Virgo (discriminating mind) in the 3rd house (communications). Looking at King’s chart, I would have suspected a journalist or cookbook writer more than a horror writer.

Both Dickens and King have moon in Sagittarius which I call the “Charlie Sheen” moon and suggests a generous, fun but irresponsible and indulgent nature. Dickens had Neptune conjunct moon which is even more indulgent and out of control.

King had drug problems. I’m guessing Dickens did as well. Sagittarius is the “quest for the sublime” as one astrologer calls it. Drugs can make reality more interesting until crack in the psyche creates unbalance.

Both King and Dickens have Neptune in the 3rd house so both are daydreamers. Dickens’ placement was in Sagittarius so he must have longed for travel and adventure. King’s Neptune is in Libra so there is a romantic nature. I’m guessing King has some lovely poetry somewhere that is very different than his work produced with Virgo critical discrimination. King probably has some erotica out there too.

Different Types of Writers

There are different types of writers – journalists, novel writers, poets, political commentators, sports writers, etc. The planet(s) in the 3rd house can indicate the type of writing developed:

Sun – the Writer (capital W) who is known for writing
Mercury – the journalist
Venus – the poet
Mars – the political or sports writer
Jupiter – the philosopher
Saturn – the law or rule book writer
Uranus – the technical writer
Pluto – the erotic or taboo subject writer

Moon and Neptune in the 3rd

You’ve noticed that I left out two planets – moon and Neptune. These two planets in the 3rd seem to be the Writer as stereotype – the imaginative novel writer who sits in dirty clothes pumping out writing but too shy to appear in public.

King has Neptune in the 3rd, Dickens both moon and Neptune in the 3rd.

Why do these two planets drive one to writing?

The moon is the reactive principle. It’s where we go in reaction to life’s events. When trying to explain astrology, I always ask people what they do when they’ve had a bad day. Do you go out with friends? Watch a movie? Or do you hide under a blanket?

Moon in the 3rd retreats into communication. Your friend with the nose a book all the time probably has moon in the 3rd (especially in an earth or water sign).

Neptune is similar to the moon in some ways. While moon is reaction, Neptune is escape from the hum-drum world. Neptune seeks the divine.

Seeking the divine through communication may also send someone to the calligraphy pen to write some poetry. William Blake comes to mind as someone who would have Neptune in the 3rd.

Consulting Astrotheme, the chart for William Blake shows Neptune in the 1st with sun in the 5th. I don’t know if that time of birth is accurate or rectified (estimating time of birth based on observed personality and life events). If the chart is rectified, someone else agrees that Blake is under the influence of Neptune.

If you want to be a writer . . .

Writers appear to have planets in the 3rd house. The stereotypical novel writer has moon or Neptune in the 3rd.

Planets in the 3rd indicate writing ability and the 5th house is where we show it to others. There are lots and lots of writers out there who show their work to no one or just a few loved ones. Placements in the 5th house alone might not make one a writer.

If you want to start a writing career, transits to the 3rd house are a good time to do this.

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Republican Fight Club: Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum

Posted on February 10, 2012 by ohioastrology

Congratulations to Rick Santorum for winning the Missouri primary and Colorado and Minnesota caucuses on the same day. And, Rick, thank you.

Thank you for several reasons:

1. It would be really boring if in February we knew the candidate, especially if that candidate was Mitt Romney. Watching him transmogrify based on every criticism is already tedious.
2. It’s nice to think that you can’t buy a presidency although that still may happen. Although I don’t agree with your ideas, you seem sincere and appear to be having success based on your personality and ideas.
3. I think you are better looking than Romney. I’d prefer to see you on TV for the next eight months over Romney. I like your Roman profile, senatorial stance and stentorian bearing.

Fight Club: Romney and Santorum

The fight continues. This time Santorum is up for his second bout of “not Romney.” What will the fight be like?

Mitt Romney is a Pisces sun and Scorpio moon. Romney also has three other planets in water (Mars and Mercury in Pisces and Jupiter in Scorpio).

Romney has already given indication of how he fights with water energy – TV ads. Until his bout with Newt Gingrich at the last debate, you might call Romney passive-aggressive. Someone clearly coached him on dumping the passive part.

Pisces can be passive and Pisces is ruled by Neptune which rules images. Neptune is both spiritual and manipulative. Pisces never fights directly. Neither does Romney.

Another Piscean trait we’re seeing in Romney is that with every criticism, he becomes a different person. While fighting Gingrich, he became Gingrich by attacking verbally. After Santorum’s three-state takeaway on Tuesday I saw Romney on TV telling homespun homilies about his dad. Romney is trying on Santorum’s Pennsylvania Po’ Boy act.

Who is Romney?

Pisces greatest strength is ability to empathize. Romney is using that trait in an effort to connect to the voter. If someone else has found a way into the hearts of Republicans, Romney moves into that pattern.

Rick Santorum has a Taurus sun and Aquarius moon, both fixed signs. Santorum has that fixed sign ability to stay on message and remain doggedly persistent. Fixed signs are determined and have forbearance.

Fixed signs are also stubborn and unable to alter method in response to external stimulus. At this point, the trait has served Santorum well. He could have listened to everyone and dropped out. But he stuck around. He will probably continue to stick around.

Santorum’s fixed sign nature is showing in that he has not altered his message (I don’t think, anyway) during this campaign. He’s just waited, patiently, for the campaign topics to relate to his message. By golly, after his win, the issues have matched his message (gay marriage, contraception, religious freedom). Imagine that.

The challenge for fixed signs is that sometimes you do have to change course. Fixed signs are like the Titanic that is just too big and bulky to skirt around that iceberg.

In the Mud

From now until Super Tuesday (March 6), I there is a great chance of mud in this campaign. As the mutable water sign (Romney) fights the fixed earth sign (Santorum), here’s what we might see.

Politically, the attacks tend to be in this order: 1) women, 2) money and 3) political associates.

Women

Romney and Santorum appear to have been good boys as no women have emerged thus far. But with Romney’s moon in Scorpio, it’s difficult not to imagine that there’s some hanky-panky in his past. Mars will be on Romney’s moon next September. I’m thinking if there is a women in Romney’s closet, it’s the Democrats who will set her free.

Scorpio moon likes both intensity and taboo. If Romney has a sex scandal, it should be a delightfully interesting one.

Santorum’s moon in Aquarius suggests that in his spare time he’d rather design a new lint trap for the dryer than chase skirts. If he has chased some skirts, they are probably not blonde babes but someone like the hospital administrator who was able to explain how a catheter worked.

Santorum’s a guy, there might be a chick. But he may also be the nerd he appears to be.

Wait, I missed the Pluto in Capricorn transit squaring his Venus in Aries. Women are striking back against his comments on women. Maybe there’s no “woman” but a bunch of women who don’t like him (rather than sexual partners). With Pluto in Capricorn, this could involve legal action.

Money

The money axis in the horoscope involves the 2nd and 8th houses which are ruled by Taurus and Scorpio, respectively. Taurus is “my” money and Scorpio is “your” money. In addition to sex, Scorpio also rules taxes.

Jupiter will be transiting Taurus until mid-June. This is very good news for Santorum who has sun in Taurus. Jupiter transiting is traditionally seen as a lucky or benevolent time. In Taurus it says more money, more assets, more food, more stuff.

Santorum will probably gain some weight during the next few months.

Even if Santorum doesn’t win the nomination, he will probably become rich in some way. Taurus is “my” money the expansive assets will probably originate in some way from his own assets.

This same Jupiter transit opposes Romney’s Scorpio moon. Whereas Santorum will be getting money, Romney may have to dish it out.

Attacks to Santorum could be about his investments. Attacks to Romney could be about payoffs and unusual transfers of money.

I love financial scandal because it’s like a puzzle. Can’t wait.

Political Associates

The last form of attack is about who the nominees hang out with. Those may be the people they’re having sex with or trading money with, but this last attack is ultimately about character.

Santorum with moon in Aquarius probably is involved with some unusual groups. With that Taurus sun, he may even be giving them money or sharing assets with a group. The attacks to Santorum will be about sharing money with a group.

Romney, we know, is a Mormon, which is considered by some to be a tight-knit group. Romney’s sun in Pisces and moon in Scorpio suggest someone without solid boundaries. In fact, it’s someone with no boundaries. Attacks to Romney may be about that lack of boundary or attacks may be through those groups to Romney.

Attack Styles

Santorum’s chart verifies what we see on TV – that his attack style is earthy direct. It’s both good and bad to lay all your cards on the table.

Romney’s style is to hide the cards under the table. I continue to suspect unseemly connections and manipulations with this man. I also suspect that his true motivations will only be known in some book published long after Romney’s time in the sun.

Santorum’s earth and air is aloof. It lives in the world of ideas and sensation. Romney’s water is emotional and sensitive. It lives underground in the world of feeling.

A Santorum earth attack is a brick to the head. A Romney water attack is to unleash natural gas.

Which is worse?

We’ll see on March 6.

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Nevada Wants Your Money and More

Posted on February 4, 2012 by ohioastrology

Today is primary voting day for Nevada. A look at Nevada’s horoscope, by admittance to the Union, shows it to be a Scorpio sun and Scorpio moon state. Scorpio is ruled by Pluto. Pluto is Nevada’s chart is opposite the sun, in Taurus.

Scorpio is a fixed water sign known for its intensity and it rules the 8th house of sex, relationships, death and taxes.

Fun stuff.

Sun and moon in Scorpio with Pluto opposite says this is one intense state. While it’s known for its glamour city Las Vegas, Nevada clearly wants more than gambling proceeds. I’m guessing that Nevada is also a tax haven of some sort.

Housing nuclear waste might be represented by the Pluto in Taurus opposition to Scorpio. I’ve never truly understood if prostitution is legal anywhere in this state. If so, Nevada is saying, I’ll make money in those ways others say is bad.

That’s Scorpio. I’ll go into the murky waters others avoid.

Pluto in Taurus also suggests upheavals in property or physical state. I don’t know if Nevada is prone to earthquakes but from this aspect I’m guessing that it is.

Pluto opposite sun and moon is, frankly, bad news. While Pluto can be called transformation, Pluto opposite sun and moon is invasion, an invasion like rape.

For all that intensity, there is quite a bit of air and fire to offset this fixed sign opposition. Mars and Uranus are in Gemini, Saturn in Libra, Jupiter and Venus are in Sagittarius and Neptune is in Aries.

Currently Uranus is transiting that Neptune in Aries. I’m guessing that due to Nevada’s strong Scorpionic traits, it’s been a behind-the-scenes manipulator. With Uranus transiting Neptune, some of the mechanics of what is going on will emerge. The emergence will be sudden and with much fire and emotional eruption.

This is the state that hosts “Burning Man” once a year. This event can accurately represent the state as a whole.

Republican Candidates

Mitt Romney is expected to take this state as easily as a highway gunman takes a virginal damsel. The reason, I hear, is that Nevada is a Mormon state.

This is a good indication of what Scorpio can bring – politics, religion, gang, the mob. All are involved in power.

Romney has moon in Scorpio so fits right in. I suspect that in Nevada there is much more going on behind the scenes than simple Mormon brotherhood. With Scorpio and Taurus energy, there are probably money and property exchanges involved.

Newt Gingrich with his Gemini-Sagittarius personality does appeal to the air in Nevada’s chart. You might say he’s the Las Vegas in Nevada’s chart, but Gingrich must remember that Las Vegas brings more than fun to Nevada – it brings bucket loads of money.

Fun is fun, money is money. Nevada is about the money and the power it brings. Gingrich is really not about money.

Rick Santorum will find that Nevada’s an intense water sign. You are an intense earth-air fixed combination. Scorpio makes a T-square in your horoscope.

Santorum likes intensity, but must have a plan, a blueprint. Scorpio intensity is about politic maneuvering; Aquarius intensity is about the idea itself.

For Santorum, Nevada is too emotional, focusing its passion on personal revenge rather than idealistic heights. It’s like going on a date with someone and then having them stalk you.

Ron Paul, like Santorum, has a fixed sun (in Leo) and fixed moon (in Taurus). Nevada’s Scorpio energy also creates a T-square in his chart.

As with Santorum, Scorpio is too intense for Paul.

Leo is open hearted; Scorpio is hurt easily.

Taurus enjoys simple physical pleasures; Scorpio likes intense, emotionally threatening invasion.

Leo is romance; Scorpio is S&M.

Way different.

Viva Las Vegas

I’m not a fan of Las Vegas since I’m a stingy Capricorn who doesn’t like to give my money away for nothing but the sensation of manic highs and lows. All I see in the lights of the strip are vacuums sucking at my wallet.

I know, I know, I’m no fun. But deep down, Nevada is no fun either. Be careful.

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