Lunar Tunes Astrology

Airing Dirty Laundry in the Astrological Community

2008-03-21T10:23:00.002-04:00

This morning, I clicked on a provocatively-titled article about the Association of Young Astrologers that I saw in the Astrology Blogger Directory and was truly offended. I know the three parties whom the blogger mentions only superficially, and have had only positive experiences with them.

I am not a Hellenistic Astrologer, and I actually frequently agree with Monica's disagreement with the use of Whole Sign Houses. What bothers me is that she is both spreading malicious gossip and using her knowledge of these individual's charts as a form of character assassination -- which I find most unethical. Knowledge is power, and outlining chart patterns to only point out the "negatives" in a person's chart is egregious.

Not everyone in the astrological community is going to agree with each other, let alone get along. But there is no reason to get ugly.

Astrologers should give away their services for free?

2008-02-08T09:27:00.000-05:00

On my Seduction Central blog, I often answer reader questions, which amounts to a free mini-reading. After a reader fills out a form with their birth info and their love advice question, I send them a confirmation email, with the following text:

I have received your question for 'Seduction Central.'

The free answers I provide on this blog are a valuable service. Please support my efforts with a donation. (Please note that your donation does not guarantee an answer on the blog.)

This is then followed by PayPal instructions.

I just received an email response from one querent, who wrote,

Your response is not clear. You're asking for a donation without offering any commitment on responding to my question?

What about spreading good for the sake of good. I understand that is how true astrologers work anyway.

I cannot tell you how peeved I feel. In the early days of my blog I out-and-out asked for financial support in some of my posts, and learned that this was a potential turn-off to readers. I decided to just build traffic and hope that with enough visitors I could earn money with advertising. Although the blog is earning money, my revenue in no way compensates me for the hours of work I put into the blog.

I have developed boundaries with my blog so that I do not feel resentful for giving so much, because I derive pleasure from writing about astrology. I do not answer so many reader questions that I feel I am giving "too much."

Yet when I read, "What about spreading good for the sake of good. I understand that is how true astrologers work anyway," I feel undervalued and taken advantage of. What, are astrologers different from any other professional, such that they don't deserve to earn a living?!? I wrote back to this reader that doing "good works" and making money are not mutually exclusive endeavors. I put in many hours of study, not to mention the money I have invested in private tutoring and books and conferences, and I should just give all my wisdom away?

I think this reader subscribes to this toxic New Age belief that "spiritual workers" should not accept money for helping people. And I would not be surprised if many astrologers probably under-charge for this reason.

I don't know if it's tacky asking for a donation from someone who asked a question whose query I may never answer -- even though I make that explicit from the get-go. I figure that the few readers who do get their answer on my blog are getting free, valuable information -- and since these readers rarely offer a donation, other readers who value what I'm doing will offer some financial support so that I can continue to provide this service. I don't even give preferential treatment to readers who have offered a donation.

I'd love to hear your feedback: Do "true" astrologers only spread good for the sake of good?

Mainstream science press confuses Sidereal with Tropical astrology

2008-01-09T10:50:00.002-05:00

As if this were news.

Goodbye

2008-01-05T11:57:00.001-05:00

Dear Reader,

I have been regularly writing about every New and Full Moon for a few years now, and it's been fun. But Saturning is transiting my Ascendant and I need to focus my resources on building my Seduction Central blog, as that's where the action is.

So, I am discontinuing Lunar Tunes Astrology for the foreseeable future. If you miss me, read my other blog, schedule a consultation with me, or send me an email. (See sidebar for links and contact info.)

And if you want to read about New and Full Moons, check out MoonCircles (April Elliott Kent and Simone Butler are awesome!) or the Astrology Blogger Directory, which features the latest posts from the astroblogosphere. Every astrology blogger and her mother writes about lunations, so you won't be wanting for reading material.

~ Jeff

Cancer Full Moon - December 23, 2007

2007-12-20T14:13:00.000-05:00

I work from home, so the career/family duality is collapsed, in a way. Although I don't see colleagues on a daily basis, I have the comfort of my wife and daughter being around in the afternoons. Although there's not a whole lot of interaction, I do have someone to touch base with throughout the day. The downside is being interrupted when I'm focused on something, as well as feeling I need to do dishes after I eat lunch instead of letting them sit in the sink until nighttime ... or hoping someone else will do them.

Nonetheless, I put in many hours, and it's difficult not being able to sit back and relax, to just go within and be with my feelings. Instead, I'm interacting with a computer screen all day. But I don't have it so bad ... I could be working at an office, commuting two hours a day, not being be able to spend much time with my daughter before she goes to bed. I don't want to be the dad who comes home from work after the kid is fed and reads her to sleep.

We all struggle with balancing work (Capricorn) and home (Cancer). Some people would rather work more and do less puttering around the house. Others would like to spend less time at the office. This Full Moon in Cancer puts the focus on our emotional need for a home base, a feeling of security in family connections. Yet it's more difficult to achieve this now, as Jupiter has just entered Capricorn and is conjoining the Sun. The world of work is celebrated now, and for the next year we'll be taking advantage of opportunities to climb the ladder in our fields. If anything, that means spending less time with the family.

Meanwhile, retrograde Mars in Cancer conjoins the Moon. Mars, a work planet, is both moving (apparently) backwards in the sky and in the sign of his "fall." The action planet does not thrive in such an indirect sign. The crab moves sideways, while Mars (ruler of Aries) wants to charge forward. Mars is in a defensive posture, and while both conjunct the Moon and residing in Moon-ruled Cancer, he fights to protect those he loves, at the ready to keep the women and children safe.

Yet the opposition between Jupiter and Mars is the backdrop of this Full Moon. Both are in the sign of their fall, yet in each other's sign of exaltation. (If I were a traditional astrologer, I could tell you that means something!) Typically, the Mars-Jupiter aspect relates to an expansion of the Martian principle, leading us to over-act on our desires to copulate or conquer ... or that our assertive energy is fueled by higher principles to justify our actions. The opposition, though, is about relationships: someone takes on the role of Jupiter while you take on the role of Mars, or vice versa. Perhaps a business mentor (Jupiter in Capricorn) inspires you to clean up your act at home, clear up unresolved family issues that hold you back from success (Mars retro in Cancer) ... so that when Mars stations direct in late January, you'll have the drive to move ahead, with the security of knowing that you have your eggs lined up at home.

The Fine Print: The Cancer Full Moon is at 1 degree Cancer. Mars and Jupiter exactly oppose on the day after Christmas. If you have any planets or angles in the first 5 degrees of cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn), this Bud's for you.

Sagittarius New Moon - December 9, 2007

2007-12-06T09:48:00.000-05:00

I've never been one for travel. Fear-inducing Saturn is in my Ninth House of International Expeditions, opposite airline-happy Jupiter. My greatest terror has been of traveling in a country where I can't speak the language, I lose all my belongings and I end up homeless and starving in an alley, tormented by French people who throw snails at me.

However, I've more than made up for my nearly landlocked life through another Sagittarian endeavor, higher education. In fact, I ~~wasted~~ spent most of my twenties completing two masters degrees, neither of which I am using in my current career incarnation. There is just so much to learn ... plus nowadays having an advanced degree helps to get a job.

So how did I end up an astrologer, when I have degrees in both cognitive psychology and counseling psychology? I just find it more fascinating, a better model by which I can understand human behavior. Unfortunately, it has only been recently -- with the founding of Kepler College -- that astrology has been incorporated into the Ivory Tower (although it used to be taken pretty seriously before the scientific method relegated it to the New Age wastebin). Mainstream institutions are very closeminded about astrology, and I dropped out of my first PhD program because I was interested in archetypes -- which don't hold up well when you're measuring how quick a sophomore can hit a button on a computer.

Thank the Gods that I found CIIS, where I studied the art of psychotherapy in a spiritually-informed program. I even took my first astrology course there, under the title Cosmos and Psyche. I have no regrets having spent six years of my early adulthood in academic settings, although I will literally be paying for my education for the next 20-odd years.

What does my story have to do with the New Moon?

This Sunday's lunation occurs in Sagittarius, the sign that seeks to expand one's horizons, whether through travel or study. And the Sun-Moon conjunction is squared by paradigm-shattering Uranus, which is also the planet that rules astrology. During the New Moon, you may feel inspired to take on a course of study, plan a trip to Burma or promote your services. Sag is an inspiring fire sign, giving you the enthusiasm to convert others to your side or to take on the Great Books. Just be aware that any conventional course of study or travel plan will be upset by the planet of surprises and left turns. If you attempt to spread the Word, your message may come across as shocking or jarring ... or maybe you'll try to proselytize a familiar message, only to be disrupted by someone who challenges your belief system.

After all, Uranus is in Pisces. Sagittarius governs world religions, major schools of philosophy, higher education ... the Big Ideas. Sag trades in theories and opinions and belief systems, whereas Pisces chucks it all out the window and goes for direct experience of the Divine. What good are ideas, if they hold you back from connecting directly with the Source? You can talk and write about God, or you can just surrender to Him or Her.

Which would you choose?

The Fine Print: This New Moon falls at 17 Sagittarius, and will impact natives with planets or angles between 15 and 20 degrees of the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces).

Gemini Full Moon: November 24, 2007

2007-11-21T13:09:00.000-05:00

A few days after Thanksgiving, we are trying to remember what we are grateful for. The abundant meals, the large families, the sense of bounty in our lives ... we forgot all this on Friday when we went shopping. And on Saturday, we're focused once again on the minutiae of the Olsen twins' health and love lives.

The Gemini Full Moon features the stressful opposition between the Sagittarius Sun and the Gemini Moon. It is a culmination point, when information comes to light. However, do not trust the news during this lunation. Gemini's ruling planet, Mercury, is in Scorpio in an exact (partile) square to Neptune. Mercury-Neptune is the aspect of deception and lies, confusion and delusion. Poetic language may be nothing more than a veil covering over the ugly truth. And with Mercury in Scorpio, how can the information that's been exhumed be anything but dark and dirty? The gossip pages will likely offer "suggested" evidence regarding a celebutante's or politician's sexual proclivities, accompanied by the Neptunian spin of his or her publicist, denying the facts without actually stating that nothing happened.

The Fine Print: The Full Moon is at 1 degree 55 minutes Gemini. Mercury is at 19 Scorpio. The Full Moon will mostly impact natives with personal planets in the first few degrees of mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces).

Scorpio New Moon - November 9, 2007

2007-11-07T16:54:00.000-05:00

In my part of town, the colors of the leaves are transforming from green to brilliant reds, oranges and yellows. This beautiful display suggests the illumination right before death, like an old light bulb that brightens before it goes out. When you are on the death bed, you may have a sense of clarity that previously eluded you (provided you're not on too much morphine). The urge to forgive and make amends creates an opening in the heart that makes way for a clean departure.

The imminent death of a parent unites siblings who may have accumulated resentments, keeping each other at a distance for years. Bitterness and anger are held tightly, like a toddler refusing to part with a toy. Hopefully, brothers and sisters rise above their differences to care for their parent.

Anger cannot be swept under the rug, though. It is healthy to bring it out into the open, rather than express it indirectly through passive-aggression and sideways maneuvers. When everyone's cards are out on the table, miracles can happen. The blinding white surprise of forgiveness graces all, and love reigns supreme.

Or at least that's how it would go in an ideal world. Maybe the kids just fight over the inheritance after the old fart passes on, everyone feeling shortchanged after all the sacrifices they made. "Surely I deserve more than my sister, after all, I let dad live in my basement! I knew she was his favorite! It's so unfair!"

It's really up to you to decide which direction you want to take. Will you let the death of a loved one transform you, give you the opportunity to rise to the occasion and be selfless, or will you continue to live in scarcity consciousness, fighting over assets that will be meaningless when it's your turn to meet your maker?

The Fine Print: The New Moon occurs at 17 Scorpio, in a Grand Water Trine with Mars in Cancer and Uranus in Pisces. This lunation also squares Neptune in Aquarius. If you have personal planets or angles in the second decan (10-19 degrees) of water signs, this process outlined above may go smoothly for you. If you have personal planets in the same degree areas in Taurus, Leo or Aquarius, not so easy for you.

Taurus Full Moon - October 26, 2007

2007-10-24T11:37:00.000-04:00

This Full Moon is the apex of an Arrowhead, otherwise known as Thor's Hammer or a Quadriform. Venus in Virgo is square Jupiter in Sagittarius, and both planets sesquiquadrate the Moon in Taurus. A square is a 90-degree aspect and a sesquiquadrate is a 135-degree aspect, all "hard" or stressful aspects.

Venus square Jupiter has the quality of Taurean overload. All things Venus -- Taurus' ruling planet -- are expanded and exaggerated by Jupiter. It is the planetary combination of over-indulgence and over-spending. Granted, Venus in Virgo will be cautious about what she eats, and will question if she really needs another purse, since the one she has contains compartments for her cosmetics, supplements, car keys, change purse, first aid kit, lip balm, Blackberry ....

The conflict between Sagittarian going-all-out and Virgoan health concerns -- combined with the amplified desire to experience pleasure, regardless of how one goes about doing it -- must be resolved by the Moon in Taurus. This is patently unfair, because obviously the Moon will side with Venus. The planet of pleasure rules Taurus, and both the Moon and Venus are in earth signs. Yet, the fire of Jupiter in Sag is part of this configuration, and cannot be ignored.

Part of the problem is that Jupiter in Sag can be moralistic, or downright judgmental. Can you enjoy a glass of dessert wine and a bowl of ice cream if you feel that such indulgence disconnects you from God? It really depends on your conception of Higher Power. Some gods don't want us to experience sensual pleasure, and others want us to revel in the joy of being in a physical body. It's up to you to decide which god -- if any -- you want to worship.

Maybe the key is to moderately indulge in foreign foods (Virgo/Taurus/Sag) or go on an adventurous nature hike while snacking on fruits and nuts. Go ahead and do what feels good ... but as they say in the alcohol ads, do it "responsibly."

The Fine Print: The Full Moon is at 2 Taurus. Venus is in the last few minutes of 15 Virgo. Jupiter is at 18 Sagittarius. Oh yeah, there's also a Scorpio Sun in there somewhere. As well as some soft aspects to Mars in Cancer and Saturn in Virgo. You figure it out.

Jupiter square Uranus and the Revolutionization of the Music Industry

2007-10-22T10:20:00.001-04:00

Record sales are plummeting, as more and more consumers download music for free or buy individual songs for 99 cents instead of purchasing full albums. Chalk it up to the mutual reception between Uranus in Pisces and Neptune in Aquarius -- technological advances like peer-to-peer networks (Napster) enabled us to get our songs from many other internet users, instead of from a single authoritative source. And the RIAA responded by suing college students and grandmothers for stealing music.

Recently, a few mega-successful artists have thrown some kinks into the recording industry's business model. This month, Radiohead is offering their new album for download on a "pay what you like" model. You can get their music free, pay $18.98 ... whatever you wish. Also, Madonna -- after completing her current contract -- will work exclusively with a concert promoter, foregoing a record company completely. Many musicians recognize that the real money to be earned is from concert tickets and merchandise, not the actual recordings of their music, so some of them are choosing just to give their songs away.

It is no surprise, then, that these radical shifts in the music industry coincide with the 90-degree angle ("square") that expansive Jupiter and revolutionary Uranus are making for the third and final time in the mutable signs of Sagittarius and Pisces. Uranus seeks to break the rules and upset the status quo. This outer planet also relates to technological breakthroughs and the belief that all people should have equal access to cultural products. Jupiter expands this principle and revels in its success.

The signs in which these planets are currently residing speaks to the issues going on now. Pisces governs musicians and their creations. Sagittarius, which is ruled by Jupiter, relates to marketing, publishing, promoting ... all the responsibilities which have been traditionally taken on by the recording industry. The artist makes the music, and the companies sell albums -- by selling the public on the image of the artist. So during this Jupiter-Uranus square, Uranus is disrupting Jupiter, shaking up the way songs are shared with an artist's fans.

As Pluto enters Capricorn, we can expect a breakdown in the corporation, accompanied by said companies trying to maintain as much power as they can. They are making money off the artists, and don't want to give up a business model that is crumbling underneath their feet. It's now easier for major artists to connect directly with their fans, and emerging musicians are better able to find audiences through avenues such as MySpace and niche blogs. It is only a matter of time before the moguls find they are obsolete.

Stupid friggin' Mercury retrograde

2007-10-16T09:57:00.001-04:00

As we become a more technologically-dependent society, do retrograde cycles isolate us more from our fellow human beings?

We now connect more with people outside of our local community, via personal computers, cell phones, Blackberrys and Treos. When these devices go down during Mercury's backwards turn, we're cut off from sources of social support, not to mention news, gossip and essential information like passwords, checking registers and phone numbers. (God forbid we actually call someone on the phone instead of texting them!)

I'm only writing this because my stupid friggin' Palm won't Hotsync today, and I'm not getting my Salon.com and NYTimes fix that I usually read over AvantGo. Do I actually have to buy a newspaper? Or read movie reviews on my laptop during breakfast! What an inconvenience!

Libra New Moon - October 11, 2007

2007-10-09T15:58:00.000-04:00

Attention Newsletter Subscribers: It has been brought to my attention that I wrote in the Subject line that the New Moon was on Tuesday instead of Thursday. My bad!

Sometimes an eye for precision is required to create fairness in a relationship. You may need the assistance of carpentry level.

Of course, this attention to detail is not Libra's forte, unless she's matching colors in your living room. We need the craftsman-like skills of a Virgo.

Libra is ruled by Venus, and during this New Moon in Libra, Venus is in Virgo. Granted, the goddess of love does not feel blissful in the sign of her fall. She tends to feel self-critical (as well as other-critical!), harping on her own or her partner's flaws to help improve efficiency and create a more perfect marriage. And although she approaches lovemaking as skill-set to hone, at least she cares enough to be attentive in bed.

Unfortunately, Venus is conjunct strict Saturn during the New Moon, and She completely merges with Him on Sunday, October 14. As if being in Virgo were not enough of a challenge, she's now being whipped into shape by the Taskmaster, who demands that she shed pounds in preparation for her Long Marriage to the God of Responsibility and Commitment. Which is not such a bad thing, but boy, the hoops He makes Her jump through! It is a grueling workout, and sometimes all Venus wants to do is throw in the towel and stay an Old Maid.

However, Saturn doesn't let Her off easy, and by the time she's through, Venus knows exactly what she wants in a relationship -- no more and no less -- and isn't willing to put up with any BS along the way. So "plant your New Moon seeds in the fertile soil of love," or whatever New-Agey phrases turn you on during this Libra New Moon -- but remember what's going on in the background.

The Fine Print: The New Moon occurs at 17 Libra and will be most powerful for people with planets or angles between 15 and 20 degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn). The New Moon is semisquare Venus at 2 Virgo. Venus will conjoin Saturn at 4 Virgo, so people with planets or angles around 2 to 7 degrees of the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) will be impacted by this energy.

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2007-09-28T15:42:00.001-04:00

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Aries Full Moon - September 26, 2007

2007-09-24T09:40:00.000-04:00

Shacking up with someone has its benefits, but there comes a time when you don't want to spend every waking moment with your partner -- you want to do your own thing, even if it disturbs the equilibrium of your relationship. However, if you make too many sacrifices to please your partner, you end up feeling resentful.

During this Full Moon, the spotlight shines on your needs. It's "me" time. Meanwhile, the "we" is tugging at your sleeve, wanting to talk talk talk, when all you want is to do do do. Now is not the time to start something new, as much as to recognize how you've been neglecting your impulses to carve out your own direction in life.

Doing your own thing does not necessitate moving out or moving on. However, to maintain an independent spirit within a relationship, you have to make sure you don't neglect the needs of your partnership. There's no easy formula like, "I'll see The Jane Austen Book Club tonight with my girlfriends, and tomorrow we'll see your friend's band together." Each relationship is its own ecosystem, and you have to figure out how to maintain homeostasis. A general rule of thumb, though, is that too much time either separate or together can threaten the delicate balance.

Look to your Sun Sign (or better yet, Rising Sign) below to see in which area of life you want to charge forward -- without having to ask your boyfriend or girlfriend's permission:

Aries: The Full Moon is in your sign, so it's all about you and your appearance.
Taurus: What you need more than anything is retreat. Go to an ashram for the weekend.
Gemini: Spend time with your friends. And don't take your spouse with you!
Cancer: Just this once, it's OK to spend too much time at the office.
Leo: Run to the airport and book a flight to another continent. If you're on the cheap, read a good book.
Virgo: Start psychoanalysis, or study the occult. What a little magic can do!
Libra: Ah, there's the irony. You just can't escape your need for relationship, so don't even try!
Scorpio: Take the dog on a walk, go for a run in the park. Or go to lunch with a co-worker.
Sagittarius: Lock yourself in your studio and paint. Or go to Las Vegas for the weekend.
Capricorn: Visit Mom and Dad. You know their daughter- or son-in-law doesn't like them anyway.
Aquarius: Chat it up with the neighbors or your grocery clerk. Or just go for a solo drive.
Pisces: Stop daydreaming and start making some money! Or think about what you really value.

Jeff on the radio

2007-09-18T10:52:00.001-04:00

A few months ago, Z'Ka at WJFF Radio Catskill 90.5fm interviewed me on astrology for their "Making Waves" program. Last night, it was aired, and now the interview is in their archives. You can download the mp3 it from my website (13.6 MB). There are a few interviews before mine; fast-forward in your mp3 player 19 minutes to listen to her interview with me.

This is my first ever radio interview, so any honest feedback about my "delivery" would be appreciated :)

Announcing my new blog: Scorpiolicious!

2007-09-13T11:56:00.001-04:00

If you're a Scorpio, of if you find this sign irresistible, you'll want to check out Scorpiolicious. It features a weekly horoscope for Scorpios, as well as my astrological take on Scorpio celeb gossip. So far I've written about Demi Moore, Winona Ryder, Jodie Foster and Owen Wilson.

Be sure to subscribe my new blog's feed, or subscribe via email.

Virgo New Moon (Solar Eclipse) - September 11, 2007

2007-09-08T16:34:00.000-04:00

A Solar Eclipse occurs during a New Moon when the Moon's path intersects with the ecliptic, or the apparent path of the Sun from our perspective on Earth. In essence, the Moon is near-exactly between the Sun and Earth, like a game of monkey-in-the-middle. Luna blocks Sol's light for a moment, and the Sun's rationality is "eclipsed" by the Moon's unconscious, emotional drives. Virgo agrees with Apollonian logic, as this Mercury-ruled sign loves to analyze and organize. Virgo is not so comfortable with the illogical Moon. This sign is too quick to rush in and make sense of the Moon's dreamy images.

The Moon is the body, though, and health-conscious Virgo feels at home improving the vessel that contains our soul. But if you're thinking that this Virgo Solar Eclipse provides the perfect opportunity to start a new exercise regimen and eat healthy, you are sorely mistaken. In fact, any efforts you make towards spending a peaceful hour or two alphabetizing your vitamins and herbal supplements will be sabotaged by Uranus, whose sole intent is to make you take Ginkgo when you meant to ingest Guarana.

The planet of surprises and sudden turnarounds is in Pisces, opposite the Virgo New Moon. Uranus lives to disrupt, and control-freaks like Virgo are one of this planet's favorite targets, for rigidity is anathema to the principle of revolutionary ideas and unconventional acts. Yes, it is time to think about ways to improve your health and attend to workplace issues (especially now that Saturn has entered this sign), but Uranus wants you to work in a novel twist to your approaches. Don't just follow the latest diet fad or rely on tried-and-true tips on how to get along with your colleagues. Think outside the box! If you don't, Uranus will find a way to subvert your plans. An offbeat spoken-word artist will sit in the cubicle next to you, spouting inventive rhymes while you're analyzing your spreadsheet. Take a step back and imbibe the images emanating from your LCD screen. Your Excel document is nothing more than pixels which are recognized as patterns by your Virgo mind. Cells, borders, numbers ... once you see they're just dots, you're free to read the Microsoftian Illumunita on your PC, and you're a click away from Nirvana.

The Fine Print: This New Moon occurs at 18 Virgo. Natives with planets or angles between 16 and 23 degrees of mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) will feel this the most. Mars in Gemini is also involved in a T-Square with the New Moon and Uranus -- Uranus-Mars squares are notorious for impulsivity and recklessness, so wear a helmet when you ride your bicycle.

Note to Commenters: I am unlikely to respond if you include your stats and ask what this eclipse will mean for you. There are usually just too many inquiries to respond to, and I already give away enough for free. You are more than welcome to share your fears, expectations, reactions and experiences. Just be aware that I'm more likely to be engaged in comment section dialogues about the general meaning of the eclipse.

Pisces Full Moon (Lunar Eclipse) - August 28, 2007

2007-08-21T14:49:00.000-04:00

It's eclipse time, y'all! Eclipses are uber-powerful lunations, as the Moon and Sun are conjunct the Lunar Nodes, which are the points in the sky where the Moon's path intersects with the Sun's apparent path (ecliptic). (The astronomy's kinda confusing, I know!) All you really need to know is this: If a regular Full Moon makes people crazy, a Lunar Eclipse requires that twice as many looney-bin paramedics be on call than usual.

Speaking of psychosis, this Full Moon is in Pisces, the sign of crazies and mental hospitals. After all, when life gets too stressful, you either drink, do yoga, or disassociate from reality altogether. The problem is that rigid Virgo Sun, always trying to analyze and compartmentalize.

Virgo is the nurse practitioner at Bellevue, trying to ascertain whether your psychotic episode is due to mental illness or if it's just alcohol-induced. She's completing a five-page assessment while you're in la-la land, wondering how those bunnies got into the room with the cushioned walls.

The Virgo part of you creates obsessive-compulsive rituals to stave off the anxiety of Piscean boundlessness. If you check that the front door is locked -- three times -- then your home just might be safe! That is, you might be safe. But not really, because you know that you're just this close from the edge of the cliff of consensual reality, and your rigid habits only create the illusion of control.

The conventional psychiatrist will just dose you up with a nice cocktail to zombify you. However, one of those wacko transpersonal docs may prescribe surrender. Just go with the flow, man! What do those bunnies mean, anyway? Can your dreams, however cockamamie, tell you something useful about either your unconscious or God's will? Maybe insanity is just a deviation from the collective's immersion in media and material consumption! If so, then -- PLEASE -- go off the deep end! Let it all hang out!

But if you see the men in white coats, do me a favor -- RUN!

The Fine Print: This eclipse occurs at 4 Pisces, so it will have the most impact for those natives with planets or angles around 4 degrees of mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces).

Note to Commenters: I will be on vacation the week of August 27, and am unlikely to respond to your comments. So help each other out!

Leo New Moon - August 12, 2007

2007-08-09T11:37:00.000-04:00

The Saturn-Neptune opposition is still in effect until Saturn enters Virgo next month. Sure, the disillusionment juice is going bad, but we haven't thrown it out of the fridge just yet -- Saturn is slow to notice such things.

To bid Him a hearty farewell, we've got a Luna Nueva in Leo, the sign desperately awaiting his departure.

This lunation is all glitz and glamour, with the Lights tightly opposing Neptune in Aquarius. It's all image baby, and we hope to fool the audience into thinking our veneer is the real deal ... and that the Old Guy will let us get away with it.

Unfortunately, the attention we want may be out of reach. Neptune is a frail gypsy who takes our money, promises fame, and disappears out the back of the circus tent.

The only way to make this lunation work is to not make it about ourselves ... which is not easy when we're wanting to be both King and Queen. Neptune favors selflessness, and any new starts this time around will have to include a sacrifice to this otherworldly planet. This means giving instead of getting. As much our Leonine side wants to be the center of the universe, we must provide warmth to others, and put our desires to be worshipped aside.

The Fine Print: This New Moon occurs at 19 Leo. If you have personal planets or angles around this degree area in fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius), you're either the star of the show, or the understudy.

Full Moon in Aquarius - July 29, 2007

2007-07-25T09:39:00.000-04:00

As individuals, we desire recognition. We are each unique, and want to shine in our own way. However, as performers, we require an audience. Without one, we may feel we do not exist, like the narcissist who breaks down if there's no one there to reflect her image back to herself.

It is developmentally necessary to be seen when you are a child, to have your mother convey -- through her words, tone of voice and facial expressions -- that you are the most special person in the world. If you integrate this message well enough, you can survive adulthood, when, invariably, you often feel invisible or unacknowledged.

Unfortunately, few of us absorb our mother's message 100%, because mothers are imperfect (or because we've got a nasty Saturn-Moon square in our horoscopes). Those moments when we crave recognition and don't get it can lead to all manner of reactions, ranging from temper tantrums to indulgence in fantasies about being loved and adored.

Unless we feel confident in our soul purpose, we yearn for validation. And even if we know we're on the right path, it feels good to be applauded, for this reassurance keeps us going when the going gets rough.

An antidote to reactivity is to not take the lack of an appreciative audience personally. We're all pretty self-centered. I've heard numerous times that you shouldn't worry too much about how you're going to appear to others, because most people are too obsessed with themselves to notice you. In other words, we need detachment to divest ourselves from our incessant need for ego-stroking. Detachment doesn't mean "I don't care." Rather, it means having a sense of perspective, when we can observe ourselves and witness our longing for approval. From this contemplative standpoint, we can notice our inner divas but not feel compelled to meet her demands.

The Fine Print: The Moon at 6 Aquarius opposes the Sun at 6 Leo. If you have planets or angles around 6 degrees of fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius), this Full Moon will resonate in some cosmic way with your life circumstances.

New Moon in Cancer - July 14, 2007

2007-07-10T12:51:00.000-04:00

Family is where our lives begin, and many of us derive joy from starting our own. Yet families are also severely screwed-up. I just finished watching the last season of Alias on DVD. This show, starring Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow, was about a CIA operative whose parents were also spies. However, her mother was a "bad guy," and Sydney was constantly deceived (or had information hidden from her) by both her parents. The theme of this show is appropriate for this Cancer New Moon, because the Moon and Sun are exactly inconjunct (150-degree angle) Neptune in Aquarius. The misinformation and lies (Neptune) perpetrated along various networks (Aquarius) was intimately tied to Sydney Bristow's sense of family -- her very past (Cancer), in fact, as she was the progeny of a Russian spy who pretended she was someone else, to get close to Sydney's father, a CIA operative. (I know, it's complicated!)

What forms of deception were part of your family? Many of us grew up with a gut sense -- way below conscious awareness -- that our parents were hiding something from us. Family secrets -- a gay uncle, an alcoholic father, a sexually abused step-sister, a pedophilic great-grandfather, take your pick! -- were hidden supposedly to "protect" us, but the withdrawal of this vital information ("intelligence") left us feeling incomplete, that there was something missing, if we could only identify what that was. Once we learn about our family's past, the missing pieces come together, and we finally understand why we felt off-center.

Even though the secret was about something that didn't directly impact you, it affected you anyway. You are a part of your family, and a family is an organism, a unit by itself, of which you are a part. You cannot separate yourself from what your great-grandfather did to your grand-aunt, because these patterns are inherited. Mistakes are often passed along the generations, and it takes both consciousness and will to not repeat the "sins of the fathers." Thus, it is imperative that the veils of our family's past are pulled aside, so that, with awareness, we can choose to stop the dysfunction.

The Fine Print: This New Moon occurs at 21 degrees Cancer. This lunation will mostly impact those natives with personal planets or angles around 21 degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn).

Full Moon in Capricorn - June 30, 2007

2007-06-27T14:47:00.001-04:00

When I grew up, my dad wasn't home enough, and my mom was home too much. (No offense, Mom!) This dichotomy was all too common due to gender roles among the Baby Boomers, such that the mom didn't join the workforce until her nest was empty. Nowadays, often both parents work and leave the kid with a nanny (if they can afford one). Either way, there is a split between nurturance and breadwinning, such that it's unlikely that one individual can both succeed in the workplace and be an everpresent caretaker in the home.

Beyond this sociological conundrum, we've got this contradiction in our inner lives as well. If you devote yourself to career growth (Moon in Capricorn), do your efforts come at the expense of your feelings (Sun in Cancer)? Your task at this Full Moon is to balance productivity with self-nurturing.

With the spotlight on Capricorn, the tension is more likely to be noticed at the workplace. Maybe your boss is critical of your need to cut out early because your kid has a half-day at school. Or your work performance is suffering because you've been preoccupied with your ailing parents. Or you may go "workaholic" to avoid tensions in the home.

The Fine Print: This Full Moon is at 8 degrees Capricorn. If you have any personal planets or angles between 7 and 11 degrees of cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn), this lunation will have an effect. This Full Moon is also tied in with the Saturn-Neptune opposition by semisquare/sesquiquadrate, so the whole "manifest your dreams and bust your illusions" theme will apply to your home/work conflict.

Mercury Retrograde Mishaps

2007-06-25T10:04:00.001-04:00

This morning, I fumbled with the cordless phone and dropped it in the fish tank.

What mishaps have you had so far?

How to spend Uranus retrograde

2007-06-21T19:26:00.000-04:00

Review inventions that haven't worked to see if you can find novel ways to improve them.
Pull back from activism to see what's been working and what hasn't. Study the methods of past leaders (antiwar, civil rights, etc.) to see how you can do things differently.
Study ancient systems of astrology.
Recognize that in order to initiate a paradigm shift, or to bring Progress into the world, you need to understand those systems from which you are deviating.

Modern astrologer goes back in time

2007-06-21T18:25:00.001-04:00

I just registered for a crash course in Hellenistic astrology, and realized that my actions are congruent with Uranus retrograde: studying astrology from the distant past! One reason I am pursuing this course of study is that I am tired of reading about profections and not understanding a word. I will let you know how my studies progress.