Spring brings action

If it has felt like slogging through a bog in trying to move life forward these recent winter months, you can soon look forward to a change of energy. Mid-March will find us ready to put plans in action and take up new causes. This slack time is useful for review. From this, we learn what needs changing. In a time when the economy is so uncertain, we become more creative and inventive.

The first half of the month will work better if you tune in to your gut instincts and be attentive to the subtle things going on around you. Socially, it is a great time for connections, networking, and sharing insights on how to get by in tough times. In fact, this is a great time to collaborate with others. Be sure to keep your communications as clear and too the point as possible. This is a time when there can be confusion because we don’t articulate precisely what we mean. Watch out for vague commitments. Substance may be lacking. This will improve after the New Moon on March 15. Real promises can be taken seriously from the 17^th to 20^th.

Spring arrives on March 20, setting the stage for releasing the growing pulse in the undercurrent of society. Government is becoming increasingly a stupid game among the governing crowd to see who can create the biggest mess and not take responsibility for a country in distress. I might even suggest some potentially sinister activities being planned behind the scenes. Heaven forbid.

On the national level, there is a powerful force working to contain and control. President Obama is using Executive Orders to move presidential powers beyond the logjam of Congress. We do not hear about these things on the evening news. (You can learn about it on the internet, however.) There is a very slow transit coming on to the USA Moon, which represents the people of the nation that is likely to contribute to increased disillusionment, increased anxiety and fear, as well as an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. How do we combat massive collective depression? By working to support each other within the community and sharing information on ways to work together for our own security at the local level.

This time last year, I was expecting something like the Tea Party movement. I am surprised at who actually became the key players. Sarah Palin is becoming a major flag bearer for the movement. She is serving as an icon authority for the creation of delusion, disinformation, and inflammation of negative feelings. She speaks the language of fear and anger. There is a growing faction of opposition building up toward a crescendo in August. The energy of revolution is rising.

The last days of March are the turning point relative to the eclipses of December. The energies will support completion of projects and final tweaks before presentation. The Full Moon, March 29, will feel like a release of pressure. Solutions to problems will surface as we move into April. In the tradition of spring-cleaning, the first week of April will be a perfect time for things to come to the surface, whether that’s information or lost items.

International Flags in Unity

Ancient traditional astrology was primarily for the benefit of a nation or land and the king was representative of the nation. Today we recognize that the President is the representative of the nation and his personal horoscope has a direct bearing on the events of the collective members of the nation. President Obama will have his 48^th birthday on August 4. His natal horoscope has prominent statements of leadership and influence. The Solar Eclipse on July 22 made contact to Obama’s horoscope that will emphasize his magnanimous spirit and his orientation to peace making. Eclipse influences generally show marked evidence for 3 to 6 months. Eclipses can bring unpredictable events that expose something. Sometimes it is exciting and positive and sometimes it is disturbing and challenging. Other times nothing really comes of it.

President Obama’s personal horoscope has some potent contacts to the USA horoscope that give a focus to the tasks that he takes on in his Presidency. He has the sense of right action that is taking on the restructuring of the proper boundaries of the Presidential power. He is challenged to bring out the hidden aspects of abuse of power and bring things into right alignment. As no other President before him, Obama is addressing the subtle social beliefs that are embedded in the legal system from Police to Lawmakers. The eclipse was near Obama’s natal Jupiter, planet of judgment and expansiveness. It was also near the planet Pluto in the USA chart. This brings attention to Obama’s pressing attention on the economy and the power figures of commerce in the United States that are also affecting international relationships.

Obama has been out in the world traveling and meeting with important heads of state from all over the world. The most important issues are global warming, nuclear weapons, and balancing the economy. President Obama is going far forward in taking the lead in addressing major world issues and trying very hard to improve international relationships and the world’s attitude towards our country. He has taken historic steps to begin to work with China, who happens to be carrying much of the USA debt at this time.

President Obama has some positive contacts to the horoscope of China that helps him mediate with Chinese leaders and is likely to improve connections over former relations with our country. China has just had a major planetary return, a cycle point of readjustment. It influences generational groups and this may give way to better communications and collaboration between nations. With Obama’s influence, China may be primed for joining the movement to stop global warming and improve the atmosphere by participating in new manufacturing and transportation practices.

On the personal level, the month of August is a time of taking account of where we stand and where we want to be. This last month of summer is when we see the greatest returns on our efforts for the year. The strongest theme for this month seems to be analysis and review. We will see early evidence of the change of seasons and inwardly, we begin to assess what we need to make it through the winter. By midmonth, there will be tension over the dynamic between self-desire and the needs of the group. For many people, across generational groups, the urge for change, for a new way is rattling around inside. It is timely to do more letting go than acquisition. It is timely to review goals and to let go of unrealistic dreams. It is important to make realignments that are cooperative, workable, and mutually beneficial for all that are connected and impacted by your decisions. One of the most optimistic energies of this year focuses on cooperative groups and a larger pool of shared resources. We have the opportunity to expand this idea from home, to neighborhood, to greater community. The last surge of summer energy will be the most powerful if used for social activities that bring larger communities together.

2009 happy new year

The New Year begins with several new cycles that give us different levels of changes to take advantage of, and initiate our own new beginnings. 2008 was a dramatic year in many respects. We had the theater of politics with new performing artists capturing our attention in a way that hasn’t happened for decades. The satire of the real politicians was almost as amusing first hand, as it was replayed by SNL. The collapse of the general marketplace is serious drama, with more layers coming. We will be letting go of more expanded habits and curbing our spending appetites in the coming early months of 2009.

The Winter Solstice is an important new cycle each year that sets the tone of many things. This year is especially potent for major renovations in foundational structures of business and economy, of systems and departments of governments, and down to personal patterns of responsibility and personal security. Where we have expanded beyond the solid boundary of black ink on the ledger, we will find ourselves in precarious territory. The forced purging of excess can also bring out interesting lessons and innovations. America is preparing to make major revaluing in all major areas of life. Our society is in need of major psychological review.

On the personal and local level, as individuals we will benefit from becoming more involved and acquainted to the people of our closest community. The time is passing for the level of anonymity that has become so common, especially in urban areas. Country people are much better at knowing their neighbors and creating communal support systems. When jobs are lacking, homes are foreclosed and businesses are failing, it becomes a blight in whole communities. To work for stronger local economies, we will need to pull together and not let each other fall to the gobbling corporate giants that will otherwise get the best of us for pennies on the dollar. New concepts of local people helping local people are the answers to these possibilities. 2009 will stimulate community brainstorming rather than hopelessness.

The Wall Street bailout is an example of the last gasp of the old guard trying to save themselves, but not the people. The plan happened under the last Mercury retrograde period. Mercury retraces its path from January 11 to February 2. This is a period of review and not one of clear-minded new decisions. The financial issues will loom large all year because of the wasteful decision to give the banks funds without oversight. There will be a lot of time and talk given to undoing the decisions of last October. The new administration comes into office knee deep in old business that demands reevaluation.

The end of January and early February is excited by eclipses, which tend to bring out themes of change. The focus relative to the United States chart is on resources and debts. The high potential is that the new government goes right to the task of revitalizing the American workforce with jobs of new technologies and future oriented training centers. At the same time, Americans are swamped with high interest debt. The sacrifice should come from the big banks that are holding back the real help that is needed for the lower income masses. Tax changes and debt forgiveness programs could help the country as much as the CEO’s giving their last five years of gravy back to the people. (Wishful thinking is going to get us through these times.)

Barack Obama will take his oath of office with his own important cycles taking him to great heights in the eyes of the world. While his new administration settles in, the team spirit will be a growing positive influence on everyone’s sense of future goals. The first steps will be to unify the cabinet and Congress. The Mercury cycle will key in to bringing disclosures from many areas of government business as leftovers from the outgoing managers. The news could be very interesting over the coming weeks.

The influence of the Lunar eclipse February 9 will likely give us relief to save people from losing their homes by working out new debt programs, and relief from piling interest and fees from credit card companies. The potential for people to see benefit from such changes could be as early as the end of February. It is also possible at that time to see the innovation of individuals come out with community plans and cooperatives to support each other locally. The themes of the cycles initiating 2009 focus on the group and the good of all. Many hands working together build harmonious futures.

Revolutionary Energies

What an amazing time this is! There are strong, revolutionary energies at work now. On Election Day, two slow moving planets meet in opposition to each other, marking a cycle of 43-45 years. Their last such meeting was 1965, a very volatile period of American history. By Thanksgiving, another important astrological event occurs that calls out our pre-Constitution history. Over the next 18 months, these three planets will move into a pattern that connects them in a powerful energetic alignment that will focus on collective, global events. These planets will trigger monumental changes as they enter what is called the Cardinal Climax. November 2008 is the “kick-off” to the whole party.

The Presidential campaign has been a good illustration of the opposition of Saturn in Virgo and Uranus in Pisces. Saturn represents tradition, authority, and the “status quo” of government and business. We often see Saturn represented as the older, “father-figure.” Saturn is moving through Virgo, the sign of details, analysis, health, and service. When Saturn entered Virgo in September 2007, the housing bubble burst. Now, the government has taken on the regulation and assessment of the financial sector, the super banks. Saturn limits and restricts, and calls for accountability. This is the Senate Hearing Committees calling failed bankers to explain their actions.

Uranus is the energy of breaking out of old restrictions and inventing new systems and techniques. In the ‘60’s, Uranus was joined with the power planet, Pluto. Then, we witnessed the overthrow of a social system that was built on a power hierarchy that disenfranchised minorities. The transformation of laws and social ideas is refreshed in our awareness now as these planets once again connect and redistribute power and wealth. Money has taken on the greatest power in the world. The shift at hand will bring our attention back to balancing our relationship with nature and humanity.

Uranus in Pisces represents the youth movement of consciousness and green living. Pisces is a sign of inclusiveness. It rules the oceans and the type of unifying things like atmosphere, breath, and the way water disperses everything it contains. Uranus is the idea of change, unexpected and unique. It always brings surprises.
In this Presidential contest, people appear to be strongly leaning toward the CHANGE candidate, but the outcome could be a shocking surprise. Consider how electrical energy can seem to come out of nowhere. A stray lightening bolt can travel miles and ricochet in wild directions. When lightening strikes water, it affects every molecule. The close of the poles in Hawaii features Neptune, planet of confusion and deception on the top of the chart, suggesting that we may have another long, vote “clarifying” process. It might be two to three weeks before the election is decided.

The New Moon, just before the election, has the influence of a face-off of rational ideas versus passionate emotions. The week before the election has the power of a steam-roller generating an undercurrent of emotional distortions. The Full Moon, a week after the election, introduces practical assessments. There will be better news on the economy after the 13th. This period will have many announcements and agreements that will move the economy forward, if a bit cautiously over the next few months.

The Sagittarius New Moon on Thanksgiving Day has a theme of hope and optimism. My projection is that Barack Obama wins the Presidency. This lunation has strong contacts to the horoscopes of both Obama and McCain, and to the Vice Presidential candidate’s charts. Senator Biden’s chart suggests he is taking on more responsibility. Sarah Palin’s chart appears to send her home to Alaska. McCain’s chart receives harsh challenge from the slow planets that create this remarkable period. Obama and his family move into the spotlight.

This New Moon hosts the movement of Pluto into the sign Capricorn, which represents corporations and large structures such as governments. Pluto represents power and transformation, as well as the power of money. Plutocrats are people with too much money, like the parachuting CEO’s of the fallen banks and insurance companies. The next 15 years will be comparable to America’s pre-Constitution struggles with England. In the next 5 years, Pluto’s influence will be affecting the US treasury and the entire global financial system. Pluto represents metamorphosis, so get ready for a new form of currency. New types of businesses and ways for people to survive the death of the old system will be the talk of coming months.

A common theme in the pair of eclipses, solar and lunar, ignites the ideals that most Americans are prideful of: freedom of speech. The eclipse pattern brings bright attention to the range of potentialities people are likely to experience should it be so that every word on phone or email, or even spoken in groups comes under threat of government ears.

By the lunar eclipse August 16, momentum will be gathering among influential journalists and progressive business leaders led by some of the dissenting political leaders. We will see this as a turning point in the presidential campaign. The high side is that people are beginning to pay more attention to the process and to the rhetoric. Strong ideals will fuel demonstrations and a new social movement is about to birth itself.

Depending on the outcomes of the political conventions, we may see activism in America like the mid-‘60’s. The high side is that there are young voices speaking with wisdom that will have more impact than the traditional political players will expect. Peace, ecology, and consciousness are becoming ‘mainstream’ again. Green is the buzzword for awareness and caring. Virtues are coming into the conversation about the future of American and of the earth. We see growing evidence of the younger generations taking their places in politics and other influential positions, such as journalist who call out for truth and fair practices in business and in government.

Women of all ages are becoming more vocal and involved. September brings an active month of the feminine crusaders and activists. They bring attention to the growing economic issues that are falling hardest on low-income mothers, and the elderly. These problems are in the spotlight at the full moon, mid-month. They do not just cry out, the women are moving toward real and just action. They lead a revolution of rejuvenation in the community supporting each other and a new economy of mutual benefit.

When times press hardest on us we rally with new ideas, goals, and inventions. Inspiration is upon us. The next great idea, the next great gatherings that bring back the heart to the center of the people in sharing is on the horizon. August and September will give us awareness of what needs doing next.