Weekly Weather

Weekly Weather February 1, 2010

I know, last week WAS pretty stinky energetically. We had mini-earthquakes in our charts as Saturn and Pluto joined in a closing square while Venus and the Sun fought with Mars. Plus the Full Moon in Leo brought up issues from August 2008’s eclipse on the New Moon in Leo and last April’s opening quarter moon so you very likely ran into a situation or person from your past to remind you about where you are now. The universe wanted us to psychologically process the events in our lives and “grow” from them with the energy flying around the heavens right now. As my friend Molly said, “I think I’ve done it and figured this OUT already! Why do I have to do it AGAIN?”

So how did you do? Maybe you didn’t “grow” but did you figure out some important stuff about what you don’t like or want in your life? Did you decide what you don’t want to “do” any more? Remember, part of the energy of last week was NEGATIVE ~ meaning through the NOT WANTING to do some thing you get clear on what you DO WANT to do in your future.

I think we had to “do it again” so we are CRYSTAL CLEAR about our future. Nothing like getting dragged into the muck and mire of difficult emotions to remind you how much you didn’t like it the last 40 or so times it happened! And it does serve to get you crystal clear on why you don’t much want to keep doing it over and over and over again. Of course, Mars IS retrograde so Mars LIKES for you to do it over and over and over again while he is going backwards ~ kind of a giant Cosmic Ground Hog day. Except Bill Murray is not around to kill the Ground Hog! That said, Saturn and Pluto and the Leo Moon joined to Mars in Leo made you SO OVER it!

And we have a segue ~ Happy Ground Hog Day! Joyous Candlemas! Bright Imbolc! We are officially half way through Winter in the Northern Hemisphere while our friends in the Southern Hemisphere are halfway through their Summer. February 2^nd is when we reach the cross quarter day of Candlemas and find the Sun at 15 Aquarius ~ straddling the world axis. We are half way between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox in the North.

The holiday of Candles is a festival of the hearth and home, a celebration of the lengthening days and the early signs of spring. Celebrations involve hearth fires, special foods, divination, watching for omens, a great deal of candles and perhaps an outdoor bonfire if the weather permits. In the Jewish tradition Candlemas was when Mary was freed from her 40 days of confinement mandated by the Torah after giving birth to a boy and when Christ was presented at the temple after her ritual bath to cleanse her from giving birth.

Imbolc is the day Cailleach the hag, gathers her firewood for the rest of the winter. Legend has it that if she intends to make the winter last a good while longer, she will make sure the weather on Imbolc is bright and sunny, so she can gather plenty of firewood. Therefore, people are generally relieved if Imbolc is a day of foul weather, as it means Cailleach is asleep and winter is almost over. In the United States, we watch to see if the Ground Hog sees his shadow to know if winter will continue for another 6 weeks or be over soon when he has no shadow.

Light lots of Candles to celebrate the cross over and cross quarter energy in your life. Welcome the new energy and life that wants to emerge. Light candles to help you see your own shadow so you don’t go back into the hole discouraged or back to your old ways of doing things that no longer work for you. Remember the brighter the light, the darker the shadow! Light those candles! Dispel the darkness for the time being. Gaze into the candles fire to see your future dancing in the flames!

Our week ahead is a nice neutral week offering the opportunity to get a lot done. You will also meet some one or think of something REALLY important Tuesday and Wednesday as the Mercury joins with the North Node by declination and conjunction. The mind WANTS to change its position this week ~ give your mind and yourself permission to explore other options that are open to you and your mind. Listen to other advisors. Try what they suggest. It may not be exactly what you want but the old way isn’t what you want either. So try it out. The beginning of any consciousness comes from considering other ideas.

Back when I danced in Ballroom Competitions, my dressmaker Emilio suggested he make me a black outfit. I replied “But I don’t look good in black! It makes me look washed out!” Emmy was never one to take no for an answer, especially when he was inspired. Well, he made me a completely stunning black dress, with a floating hankerchief skirt and a bolero jacket. The top of the dress was tightly fitted, WAY low cut and showed off my significant cleavage to great advantage. The addition of a subtle ruby choker necklace and drip earrings completed the look and tied into the rhinestone trim on the bolero jacket. Emmy said, “Anne, IF the neckline is low enough, no one will notice you look washed out by black! People pay $10,000 for a set like you have. Besides, exposing flesh can never be wrong!” I wore the black dress. I danced in it. And, I DID place FIRST in the Tango! The dress? The dancing? A combo of both? As Jimmie my dance teacher said “Your top was terrific ~ firm, solid and strong while your feet were neat and perfect!” By top he meant my shoulders ~ I think?!

Venus will be in a Hammer of Thor or Fist of God with Saturn and Pluto so she’s wanting you to transform and try something brand new and exciting. Bang away at those old structures, make them collapse, shift and change. Do the Tango!

So listen to advice you wouldn’t normally take. Try it out. See what happens. Venus is in the mood to say nope but if the nope comes out of habit, routine or the way you’ve always done it, say yes instead. TRY IT! Say yes. Especially towards the end of the week! Adjust your ways! Change your structures. Try something new! Mercury is whispering in your ear to try something new and to ask for what you want.

Moon’s Day finds the Moon in Virgo and sensitive even as she has a busy day ahead of her. Mercury is also very active making the Moon touchy feely and overly sensitive. Mercury is squabbling with Jupiter and Vesta so it makes it time to reorganize and redo things around the home or office. The old way isn’t working any more. Time for a change. Mercury is very precise when he is in Capricorn. He’s talking clearly about what he wants. Jupiter is opposite Vesta today pushing for a vision of reorganizing ~ Jupiter brings expansion, especially when he is in Pisces. Vesta brings organization especially when she is in Virgo. Bed Bath and Beyond will be busy, busy! Expand your vision. Expand your concept of how it can be done. Organize your stuff and life toward the new chapter you want to add or expand. Organize procedures, processes and support things to move you toward your vision for your own future. Take that idea that you normally wouldn’t do and try it. You might come in first in the Tango!

Mars’ Day ~ Tuesday finds Moon in Libra and today VENUS is busy. She’s arguing with Saturn about how to go about doing things and what works for her and doesn’t work for her. She’s arguing with Pluto about whether she wants to transform or not (She’s voting for NOT!). However, Venus is also the handle of a Hammer of Thor or Fist of God formed by her aspect to Saturn and Pluto in square to each other. At least try the new idea on! You might look simply FABULOUS in black! Mercury dives into the North Node by declination so pay particular attention to what you hear or see or who you meet today. Get business cards and contact information. Take numbers. Give numbers. Be bold. Ask for what you want. You may decide you look fabulous in black after all or perhaps your cleavage IS what did it. At any rate, if someone asks you to Tango today, go for it! Say yes! And TANGO! Sun joins with Mercury by declination so that Tango will take you places! Things begun today turn out to move you towards your dream but you may be a bit more grandiose than the reality will actually turn out.

Mercury’s Day ~Wednesday finds Venus still in charge of the Moon and still reverberating from her dance with Saturn and Pluto. Mercury joins the North Node of Destiny and moves you forward. Follow up with who ever you met yesterday. Forward. Pay attention to whoever contacts you today too. They are here to take you to your future too. It can also be some kind of message that finds its way to you. You find papers or connect with a clue that leads you places in the future. It’s a great day to get papers out the door and off into the world. Things begun today turn out to move you towards your dream but you may be a bit more grandiose than the reality will actually turn out.

Jupiter’s Day ~ Thursday finds Venus a little stressed. She hates being so irritated with Saturn and Pluto but she doesn’t want what they want. At that same time, what she wants isn’t here. What’s a gal to do? Plan for her future and live in the moment. Know that the current energy will change. Talk about her dreams. Read about her dreams. Gather information about what you/she want to do. Research things. Moon is void in the morning east coast time and enters Scorpio for a passion extravaganza right before noon. Moon later in the day is strong and powerful as it talks to Jupiter and Pluto. While last week was pushing on you to evolve, today is when it actually happens. Give yourself over to the dream of what you want. That connection is in your heart because it is SUPPOSED to happen. Jupiter supports Venus in her desire for more and he’ll chat up Saturn and Pluto over the next few days to help her get what she wants.

Venus’ Day ~ Friday finds Jupiter and Saturn arguing. They have to make an adjustment of a physical nature. This can be a health adjustment day as they are in a Virgo type inconjunct. Dreams can be disturbing and very active. Chase dreams where you don’t get what you want. Stress energies of needing to do something but not being able to get it done. You’ll be blocked or offered a choice to partner with something that you might or might not want. Choose toward your dream. Don’t choose the non-dream even if it looks good. Or choose the non-dream with the idea that you are outta there when Mars goes direct in early March. Mercury is paying attention. He’s talking to Neptune so there is the distinct possibility that what you are being offered is a lie and not going to last. It is the expedient choice, not what either side wants. If you are hungry, take it with the idea that you don’t have to eat it every day. If you can wait, wait for a better offer.

Saturn’s Day we are still working with a Scorpio Moon with icky closing aspects. Moon is void in the afternoon so cautiously continue forward if you absolutely must but it is better to avoid if you can. Once the Moon goes into Sagittarius at 7 pm EST, we all calm down and the world is much nicer. Again a rocking night of dreams but this time the messages are what you are supposed to figure out. Notice who you hear from or what they say. Mercury is in a connecting aspect with Uranus offering an exciting challenge, idea or change. Jupiter works with Pluto so they can help Venus get what she wants and what you want. Make sure to tell people what you want tonight and tomorrow. Magic is a foot. Venus wants to work with Uranus in a creative and fun manner. Mercury warmed Uranus up so he’s particularly interested in Venus’ story and desires. Mercury is coming from a place of feeling a bit wounded or unwanted but that too is okay. He is the messenger of the Gods. Some times he delivers messages that make him uncomfortable. Such is life. Today is such a day. If the news is bad, it will actually be okay down the road a bit. Remember Mars is still retrograde.

Sun’s Day finds Moon in glorious Sagittarius and happy to boot. Again with the dreams or the unusual communications that mean things on multiple layers. Pay attention to the embedded messages as well as the overt message. Therapists do this all the time. They notice what you say when you arrive. Then they watch how it unfolds. Then they see how the arrival telegraphs the underlying story and they make the connects. They listen for the embedded message in the story. So someone talks to you about not being able to commit, THEY are not feeling able to commit. Embedded messages are actually very cool once you start looking for them and decoding them. Mercury is bustling today with all sorts of messages and communications. Sun starts to form his Hammer of Thor with Saturn and Pluto which runs over the next few days as the universe helps you get clear on what YOU want for your ego and soul’s path and development. You might have to leave behind some of your old rules, your family’s rules, or your mom’s rules too. It is okay. You have your own rules that you want to follow. Give yourself permission to at least consider it! Venus understands her soul’s wound on a new level. If it isn’t kind don’t say it. The wound doesn’t need you pouring salt into it.

Mundane: China is mad at us again.

Last November, when we had part 1 of Saturn square Pluto, China spoke harshly to Barack Obama about our debt problem. As the largest creditor and major country holding our national debt, China took the approach of Mom or Dad having a talking to the young, irresponsible one, us in the USA, who ran up the credit card bill and can‘t afford to pay it. Now, on the SECOND square, China is mad at us for our Military’s decision to sell arms and military equipment to Taiwan. Not good!

As the cardinal cross approaches this June, you might consider making sure your assets are in conservative cash, gold, land, or other safe positions. Preserve your principle. We can anticipate a second financial collapse that is deeper and longer than the one averted in the fall of 2008. The financial markets swooned a bit on the second square of Pluto and Saturn this last week. When we add Uranus and Jupiter into that the early part of June in cardinal, fire and explosive Aries, watch out world! Additionally, Neptune is going to start to separate from Chiron in February allowing us to see how deeply wounded the American People are financially. As Jupiter continues to pull away from the Gang of Three, the optimistic “bubble” of their energy will pop like the dot coms did in 2000. Get your principle in safe things.

Reader Mail

Irene wrote: I'm an avid reader of yours who appreciates and has learned a great deal from your site - thank you. I was surprised today by the vehemence with which you 'went after' a reader (I think her name was Zenaida) --particularly after writing at length about not criticizing the porkchops, etc.

We've had a disagreement or two via email in the past, and to be honest, your response to Zenaida was somewhat of a revelation to me, in that the aggression in it (do you think it's possible it might even have contained a tinge of nastiness?) far 'outweighed' her critique of your column. It does make me curious about how you handle criticism more generally, and it made me hope that it's something you're open to exploring. You offer so much to so many people, and your response to Zenaida, which struck me as somewhat petty and at times downright mean, was -- well --unbecoming. I wish I could write to her directly to say that it's obvious her concern for the Haitian people is genuine.

And thanks again for sharing your knowledge.

Anne answers: Ah the evolving psychological wisdom of the closing Saturn Pluto square! Instead of arguing with Irene, I decided to simply post Irene’s email so she could let Zenaida know her feelings.

Zenaida, if I offended you with my response, I certainly did not intend to. If I did offend you, please accept my most sincere apology. Tonal quality is not available in blog posts. My response apparently sounded much nicer in my head than it read to Irene who thought I was aggressive, nasty, petty, down right mean, unbecoming and vehement in my response. Whew! I CAN DO BETTER! We Virgo gals always look to improve!

As the purpose of my column is to 1) teach astrology, 2) help people figure out how to use the energy flying around in the heavens and 3) generate astrology readings for my practice, I certainly did not intend to “go after” a reader. That would be rather counter productive on my part.

And to another reader ears, my response seemed fine. Go figure.

Cathy wrote: Dear Anne,

Today I was finishing reading your Ephemeris one day late, and I noticed the Reader Email .

Since I did not agree with her point of view, I asked myself why I have never written.

Many of the emails I have seen are questions for you or objections to what you have said.

I do not recall a bona fide complimentary one, so I would like to offer mine.

I read your column every week, as do many I know.

I read it, I answer the questions you pose, in writing or in my thoughts, I often buy or reference the books you suggest, or other experts you quote.

I use it to improve my knowledge of the vast and ancient subject of astrology, to improve my life, to enlighten my thinking, to answer questions puzzling me.

I do this because your Ephemeris is the product of a vastly learned and experienced woman and astrologer.

I do this because reading you is like listening to a Sunday sermon.

A minister preaches to enlighten his/her congregation about the meanings of God’s Word, theology, and the Christian life.

In doing so, he or she may tell stories, reference books, quote politics, but the sermon always ends with an exhortation to take the ancient and spiritual truths and make yourself and your world better.

You do the same thing, using astrology as your ‘source’.

You did not invent astrology, you studied it, are credentialed in it, practice it, and teach it.

You are a certified expert, period.

I occasionally read the writings of other astrologers.

Some are pithy, some are trendy, some are bon mots for those who want a five minute astro fix.

You are not in the same business as they are.

Your columns are meant to teach, enlighten, guide, help, heal.

But, they do much more!

They are entertaining, erudite, fun and provocative.

You use your own experiences, those of others, literature, music, poetry, scripture, and stories to ‘Teach” the astrological points you are making.

You are not blogging Anne Ortelee’s personal POV.

You are not the Atlantic Monthly, People magazine, or an OP Ed commentator.

You are an astrologer, who answers to no Board of Directiors or Deacons, Editorial Board or subscription readership.

You offer your service free of charge, and an extremely generous service it is.

Like most Senior Professionals, you are in it as a Calling, and for the Love of the Game.

Of course, no one writes with an entirely transparent point of view.

You are obviously not a Sarah Palin Republican.

You don’t approve of the larceny on Wall Street.

But those opinions are a very small part of your weekly work, and they never stray from your teaching points about what the Astrological Lessons of the week are there to teach us.

The writer today complained you were less than concerned with world events by featuring Conan/ Leno and not Haiti in your last weeks column.

I couldn’t agree less.

You used, as always, the Conan/Leno battle as an allegory for your teaching points.

You put Haiti in an entirely different level, which, of course, it is.

In your answer to your reader you explained your personal bias over the voyeurism of the News Media in regard to Haiti.

You have every right to talk about what you wish.

As I said, it is YOUR COLUMN, you are NOT People Magazine or CNN and your objective is not the same.

I thank your for your wisdom and your generosity in sharing it with the world.

Anne answers: Ah shucks. Thanks Cathy! I must say I am blushing! And there, I did it, I posted a bona fide complimentary letter! Saturn Pluto square evolving again! I hadn’t noticed I only posted the critical emails. We Virgo gals do focus on the criticism! Forward to another Ground Hog Day!

Copyright © 2010 A.C. Ortelee

Full Moon January 30, 2010 1:18 am EST

Full Moon January 29, 2010 10:18 pm PST

10:15 Leo Moon and Aquarius Sun.

The Full Moon ripens the Eclipse New Moon from the summer of 2008 using a see-saw pattern and a strong Mars placement with the Moon in Leo. See-saw charts are what they sound like, up one minute, down the next. See-saws bring a back and forth, up and down type of energy that encourages us to push off with our feet to ride up and then to hang on tight while the downward energy of the balancing part of the see-saw ride takes place.

Think back to what was going on in your life in August 2008. Do you see how much has changed in the Leo area of your life? Do you see the see-saw energy operating in your life now asking how you feel about the choices you made? The choices from 2008 are coming to fruition now, ripening before you like juicy fruit on the tree of your life. And maybe, if you don’t like so much what you have ripening in your life, you can find someone to trade with or take a different approach under the light of the Full Moon. Of course, if you DO like it, forward full steam ahead as the Full Moon encourages you to achieve perhaps a bit more balance in your life with the up and down energy of the see-saw.

Back in the summer of 2008, the encouragement from the universe was to do what you loved, to follow that beloved Leo energy, the stellium of Leo stars in the sky, towards spending time on the things you loved to do. Did you? Have you spent your life on the things you love to do? Have you invested your energy and life wisely? Or have you frittered your days, weeks and energy away doing things that no longer bring you joy?

It has been a bit of a see-saw in the world lately with the energy of the cosmos wanting us to change and grow into the people our charts promise we can be or become when we follow our dreams. Our charts hold the map and describes the path our soul said it wanted to experience while on earth this time around.

The Sun and Venus are opposite the Moon and Mars, creating an opportunity for us to see clearly our emotional desires and how they drive us using the detached manner of Venus and Sun in Aquarius. Sun and Venus in Aquarius ask us to look at the story of our heart’s dream and nurturing requirements to see if it STILL serves us. Sun and Venus in Aquarius bring the energy of the 11^th house of our dreams, hopes and wishes to bear in this lunation. Our vision will be independent, inventive, tolerant, progressive, logical, humane, and unorthodox. We‘ll find we have progressive ideas and our thinking might veer a bit into being unconventional, unusual or eccentric. All part of the energy of the Full Moon that wants us to be taken a bit by surprise and help reform the world.

Venus is triggering the August 5 eclipse from LAST summer, 2009, making the thoughts of what you wanted then seen a bit clearer under the light of the Full Moon this month. And the eclipse fromt then is ‘triggered’ by Venus and the lights on this Moon ~ events from August can be back up and running in your life. Know that you know better NOW what you want than you knew back then. Again, we live and grow.

Compromise is part of living. As Mars is retrograde, the compromises we are asked to make are not going to “stick” or “stay”. So make a compromise, but reserve the right to reevaluate the compromises made in March when Mars goes direct or in early June when Mars leaves Leo.

Mars and Pluto are in a bi-quintile aspect talking and coming up with a great or brilliant way to accomplish what you said your goals or dreams were. Follow that dream or bright idea, even if it seems a bit out of reach or wild and crazy. It is a wild and crazy kind of moon.

The Full Moon takes place a day before Saturn and Pluto square each other for the second closing square in Libra and Capricorn. The first closing square was November 15, 2009 and the week or so before that. The third closing square will be on August 21, 2010. Saturn in Libra wants us to partner with our dreams. Pluto in Capricorn will move earth, literally as in earthquakes, as well as move the structures and foundations in our own lives to get us to take the actions we need to take. Saturn and Pluto are difficult planets to snuggle up with ~ kind of a tough love energy of “suck it up and do it“! So suck it up and do it under the Full Moon’s energy! Take responsibility for your actions. The closing square between Saturn and Pluto is a psychological square, asking us to THINK about what we are doing and decide if that is what we REALLY want to do OR do we want to pursue a different course OR is there some third, fourth or fifth option available to us?

The Moon is perigee to Earth, meaning it is the closest it comes to us. The Moon appears exceptionally large when it is this close to earth. Perigee moons make for exceptionally high tides as well as gravitational pulls of the surface plates floating on the earth. Remember our earth has a “skin” of sorts over the molten lava inside her sphere‘s core. The skin of earth, or tectonic plates, will be exceptionally active this week and next. Full Moons that are perigee often are more emotional than other Moons as the Moon makes the tides of water and feelings in OUR bodies more high and pulls on our skin making us want to jump out of our skin or bodies and be free.

This Full Moon also finds Mars retrograde in Leo next to it so the energy wants to tug us away or back to some emotional safe place. Leo Moon’s are dramatic, idealistic, proud, ambitious, magnetic and creative. Mars joined to the Moon, retrograde, can bring some of the negative Leo qualities such as childish, overbearing, boastful, pretentious, autocratic, and proud into the mix. Be aware that Mercury’s upcoming union with the North Node can make the ideas that you have

There is a desire to profoundly SHIFT the energy and to know and to understand it on a different level that is taking place inside each of us. It is a very powerful lunation with a fast moving Moon that will make jumps of connections and leaps of intuition seem normal. Finally, Venus and Saturn are in mutual reception so they can swap places ~ Saturn can join with the Sun adding a degree of somberness to the light and a blocking energy to the Moon and Mars’ desire to go all out. You may not be able to go for what you want right this second but at least KNOW what you want.

As this is such a big Moon, with so much activity zipping around, it seemed appropriate to give you a couple of extra Sabian Images besides the Sun and Moon so I’ve included Venus and Mars too. Venus and Mars are fighting in the heavens right now ~ so what we want and what we are getting are at odds with each other. Normally Venus and Mars are good buddies but not right now. Mars is going backwards and doesn’t have his usual laissez-fair life is a banquet attitude. He’s crabby, cranky, envious and jealous as he compares himself to others and finds himself wanting. Or what perhaps better said, he compares what he has to what he thinks the other guy has.

Venus, normally quite related and affectionate, is very detached and cool in Airy Aquarius combust the Sun. Now she is seduced by good ideas and excellent conversations, and her normal turn-ons or interests are not what intrigue her now. She wants good ideas and conversations that stimulate, not a love partner that is crabby, cranky, envious and jealous.

So best to leave Venus and Mars to go to their separate rooms and focus on their own images of what is active under the lunation. They will get together again, but right now, let them be separate. It will make for easier relations.

And if you are having problems with a love partner, spouse, beloved or good friend, go to your own room and do your own thing. No arguing or saying you aren’t doing this for me or that for me. Mars is NOT in the Mood. Venus is NOT in the Mood.

Go do what YOU love and let the rest of the world be.

Lynda Hill’s interpretation of the Sabian image for the Aquarius Sun is DURING A SILENT HOUR, A MAN RECEIVES A NEW INSPIRATION WHICH MAY CHANGE HIS LIFE

Commentary: ‘During a Silent Hour, a Man Receives a New Inspiration’ shows someone taking some time out to contemplate, to meditate, or just to be by themselves. He ‘Receives a New Inspiration’: he receives a thought, an idea or an ‘Inspiration’ that is the answer to a dilemma or provides clues of how to proceed with something. This ‘New Inspiration May Change His Life’, an aspect of his life may be ‘Changed’- he’s had some deep understanding and it is likely to turn his life around.

Oracle: This Symbol shows the benefits of “getting away from it all” in order to reassess your life and goals. This ‘Silent Hour’ could be a short minute, a few hours, or a period of days, etc. What the Symbol shows is that a ‘New Inspiration’ will be received. Until now, you may have found that despite racking your brains there’s been no rational guidance available. It’s important to realize that there is often a lot of internal as well as external noise that needs to be quieted. The rational mind can be noisy and tends to interfere with the flow of the imagination or intuition. You need to slow down and open up to the messages of your inner ‘Inspiration’. By reducing the external noise, clutter and distraction, it becomes possible for the mind to focus on what is essential, rather than what may just be convenient. This Symbol shows that there is an answer coming, and it will probably change many things, or at least change what most needs to be changed. This can also imply the need for a shift of some kind, and this may have been forgotten, or neglected, because of preoccupations with social matters, or being too busy. Listen for clues: It may not be external voices that bring this ‘New Inspiration’ but the voices within. If there is difficulty blocking out the hustle and bustle of everyday life, meditation or delving into your dreams or fantasies may lead to the solution.

Keywords: Welling creative power. Inspiration = breathing in the spirit. Being driven to come to terms with one’s reality. Visionary people and events. Being reborn. Spiritual awakenings. Meditation and reflective thought. Inner intuitive awareness rising up into conscious awareness. Spending time alone, thinking. Contemplation. Reversals.

The Caution: Exclusion of others. Obsession with one’s self or objectives. Being a hermit. Hearing voices. Feeling trapped. Shooting off in all directions. Dropping things too quickly without resolution. Cutting off from life. Constantly changing directions. Regretting the past. Not moving on.

Lynda Hill’s interpretation of the Sabian Image for Venus is

TWO LOVEBIRDS SITTING ON A FENCE AND SINGING HAPPILY

Commentary: ‘Two Lovebirds Sitting on a Fence and Singing Happily’ is an image that brings to mind togetherness, friendship, happiness, love, and the rejoicing of relationship. The ‘Lovebirds’ may be singing happily, but as they are ‘Sitting on a Fence’ this could be masking a reality; perhaps they are not exactly happy; perhaps they are not so together. If, indeed, the ‘Two’ are ‘Singing Happily’, then this is cause for joy and celebration about issues relating to love, partnership, being together and the sharing of lives.

Oracle: ‘Singing’ and making statements about love out loud can bring happiness to those nearby and lift the spirits of all involved. However, this Symbol can also point to dividing lines between people, like having a ‘Fence’ of some kind between them. Although there may be superficial feelings of contentment and pleasure, this can be based on someone having a non-committed, tenuous or shaky position. To go one way or another with conviction in a relationship can invite the risk of separation, but commitment eventually needs to be chosen or rejected. How long can people sit on the ‘Fence’? The ‘Fence’ can represent actual physical divisions between people, where they can see each other, but can’t actually connect or be with each other. Is that what’s happening? Is there one ‘Lovebird’ singing happily and the other one wanting to escape? Divisions of hearts and minds can lead to sorrow. See if you can look to love and happiness, even if it takes time for people to really relax into a relationship, especially if they’ve learnt to distrust each other or relationships in general. Is there a pledging of commitment to each other? This Symbol can also indicate problems with fertility and falling pregnant. If people are always ‘On the Fence’ how can they commit to the lives of their offspring-whether the “offspring” is their young, their creative ideas, or their future.

Keywords: Faith in love. Waiting for signs. Friendship and companionship. Issues of “that’s them and this is us”. Fences, borders and barriers. Showing love for all to see. Commitment to relationship. Mating for life. The need for honest communications. Singing.

The Caution: Sitting on the fence. Complaining about relationships. Waiting to see what the other will do. Being stuck when one would rather fly off and be free. Having a fixed position. Not wanting to comply with the other. Neighborhood disputes. Noises from next door. Boasting of happiness.

Lynda Hill’s interpretation of the Sabian image for the Leo Moon is CHILDREN ON A SWING IN THE SAFETY OF A HUGE OAK TREE

Commentary: ‘Children on a Swing in the Safety of a Huge Oak Tree’ brings to mind images of ‘Children’ playing, having fun together and being protected by the big branches of the ‘Huge Oak Tree’. ‘Oak Trees’ infer enormous strength. The ‘Oak’s’ strength, the hardness and durability of the timber, and their long life give the Oak a special significance. In England, the Oak has been referred to as the “Monarch of the Forest”. Cowthorpe Oak in Yorkshire can hold 70 people in its hollow. It is said to be over 1,600 years old. The Ellerslie Oak, near Paisley, is reported to have sheltered Sir William Wallace and 300 of his men. Honour Oak, Whitchurch, Tavistock was the place where money was left in exchange for food during the cholera epidemic of 1832.

Oracle: It is easier to enjoy carefree, childlike play when one’s ‘Safety’ and care is assured. Protective environments are the places where playgrounds should be created. In this Symbol it is the very structure of the things around you or even your particular location that provides the ‘Safety’ that’s needed. By the very nature of things, safe surroundings can take care of everyone. Institutions like the Social Security system are similar to the ‘Oak Tree’. Religions and social organizations can also provide this protected environment for people. In general, it is security and protection that needs to be afforded to us for us to follow our true path. Look for the stability and strength in your situation, and expand your wishes and dreams into that protected environment. This Symbol can indicate being relieved from responsibility. This is a good time to relax into playing with others. Feel ‘Safe’ in the knowledge that everything will remain secure. Keep in touch with the innocence and openness of youthful play.

Keywords: Creativity in safe surroundings. Feeling of being protected and privileged. Social security and other forms of governmental protection. Agencies that bring food, education and basic needs to children in difficult circumstances. Children, trees, grass, swings, parks. Amusement parks. Childhood memories. Climbing trees. Spontaneous activity. Humanitarian agencies.

The Caution: Expecting others to take all the responsibility while one just plays. Children not being looked after. Disadvantaged people. Desertion by government and big business.

Lynda Hill’s interpretation of the Sabian image for Leo Mars is EARLY MORNING DEW SALUTES THE SUNLIGHT

Commentary: ‘Early Morning Dew Salutes the Sunlight’ gives the feeling of freshness in the air as the sun comes up in the ‘Morning’. The warmth of the Sun is yet to create the vibrancy of the new day, but the promise is there. This is a time of limbo, when the stillness and the darkness of night are washed away as the day progresses into light and activity. However, this Symbol can signify a time known as the “Dark Night of the Soul”. St. John of the Cross used this term to describe the experience of mystics who feel depressed and isolated, from the world and even from God. This was often prior to the attainment of mystical transcendence – when the ‘Sunlight’ breaks through and a healing takes place. This is a time of freshness where the “air” (the newly awakened mind) is crisp and the “ground” (the refreshed and renewed body) readies itself for a new round of activity. The birds are stirring and there is a buzzing in the air, as all creatures start moving about.

Oracle: There are times in our life when we wonder if we can persevere to the end of some ordeal. After a cold and difficult time, you may now be close to the end of your troubles and sensing that the resolution to your problems is imminent. The reward of relief may prove to be transitory, so enjoy it before you move on with the activity of the new day. You may still have some of the same issues to face, but now there is probably more insight into what changes and shifts in attitude can be made. Awakening energies are signaling new beginnings. Taking your shoes off and walking on the grass in the early morning is said to be very good for the soul.

Keywords: Refreshment after periods of “the long night of the soul”. Dawn meditations bringing new starts and new inspiration. Dew. Water dripping from trees. The dawning of a new day and the relief that it can bring. Changing of the guard. Natural progression. Inheritances. Exhalted feelings of release.

The Caution: Not letting go of difficult situations. Persisting with problems that may have been solved. Feeling that the worst is going to happen, even though things are lightening up. Being afraid of the night. Staying up all night, being upset or unable to sleep. Gloominess. Staying in bed well into the day.

Lynda Hill’s interpretation of the Sabian Symbols appears with her permission. Check her work out at http://www.sabiansymbols.typepad.com or http://www.sabiansymbols.com

Copyright © 2010 A. C. Ortelee

Weekly Weather January 25, 2010

Kind of stressful and ambivalent week ahead of us ~ news we don’t much want to hear, things we don’t want to face, and situations we are not in the mood to deal with. That said, your job is to get clear on what you DO want by running into, working with and dealing with what you DON’T want. It is amazing how clarifying what you don’t want can actually be!

So you’ll be clarified like butter is after it melts!

Butter becomes clear by gently heating it and removing the impurities. You will be heated this week by Mars in warm fire Leo talking to Sun, Venus, Mercury, Pluto and Uranus. You get clear on what you want with Mars warming those planets up ~ either by aggravating or heating them up. The planets will help you get clear by asking you to explain what you want in greater and clearer detail to Mars.

Remember Mars is STILL RETROGRADE so he’ll bring you and your Sun stuff you don’t much want but …. But Mars gave it to you! Mars got it for you! But you don’t want it! But it isn’t what you asked for! But it has flaws! But it ain’t your dream! But. But. But. It is a But week.

Try And instead of But to get Mars to go back out and get you what you want.

Right now Mars is NOT in the mood ~ kind of like when your mother cooked dinner after a hard day in her world and you walked in the kitchen, asked what was for dinner and said “BUT I don’t WANT pork chops! BUT I hate pork chops! Why do we have to have PORK CHOPS!!!” Your mother glares over the top of her eyeglasses at you. She rattles the spatula in the frying pan, flips the pork chop.

Mom has had it. (Mars has had it too.) Mom says, reasonably pleasantly considering that she brought you into this world and would like to take you out of her world right about now, “Look, this is NOT a restaurant! We are having pork chops!” (Mars says “Jeeze You are SO FUSSY!!! I got it for you! Take it! Here!” )

If you were smart, you’d stop wailing about the pork chops or whatever Mars brought you right about then. However, YOU’VE had a bad day too so you continue with “BUT I HATE PORK CHOPS!!!! You probably cooked peas with the PORK CHOPS too! BUT I HATE PEAS almost more than I hate PORK CHOPS!” You wail about what Mars brought you too!

It kind of devolves from there.

You get the idea.

And, it doesn’t have to devolve!

You have a couple of choices besides continuing on and on about the pork chops and peas or whatever Mars brought you. You know that into each life some pork chops must come.

Try And instead of But.

Honey instead of Vinegar.

Peanut butter and jelly is a decent substitute dinner when the disliked pork chops are on the menu.

Mercury is very, very active ~ moving forward talking to just about everyone in the sky in crabby and cranky ways. He’s in an oppositional mood this week as he moves through Capricorn. There are a type of aspects called declinations. Mercury is talking to quite a few planets by contraparallel ~ pushing back or not liking what they say. Or they are not liking what Mercury is saying to them. Mercury is still in his shadow so he’s also wrapping up the story from December.

If you hear things you don’t like this week, think about them. Mars is still retrograde so working to change what they said is probably not in your best interest. That said, knowing what they are thinking IS useful. Similar to arguing with your mother about hating pork chops a few minutes before dinner is going to be served, is not productive, arguing this week is not productive. Take the information received and move forward with it. Know what YOU want. Or know what you DON’T want. Either way, THAT process is clarifying. Arguing about Pork chops is not a good use of your time or energy. Plus you are going to irritate who ever you argue with. Why waste time like that?

Finally Saturn and Pluto square each other for the second time this week. These two boys don’t much like each other. Back to the analogy of a Boy Named Sue from a few months ago when they met up for the first time. Pluto is Saturn’s child and never got over being eaten by his father in the same way a Boy Named Sue never got over his father naming him Sue and leaving town.

Now Saturn is retrograde so the authorities are in retreat and fleeing from the power of an angry or power grabbing Pluto. Aside from being a lovely planetary setup for another major earthquake at the end of the week, we need to understand that power kicks back and takes over in the face of too much cooperation or nicey-nicey lets all be getting along. See the mundane section for more on this reversal energy in our society.

In YOUR life, Saturn’s closing square to Pluto wants you to look at and psychologically process the dynamic of how you work with power (or don’t) as well as how you are an authority (or aren’t) in your own life. Time to grow up. Be responsible. Own your power and understand how your actions caused the current results in your life. Claim your results. Take charge. Figure out how the current situation in your life came to be. You will be working with it until August 21 so you might as well snuggle up with it this week and get to know it as best you can.

Monday Moon in Gemini offers us choices that are hard as Mercury in Capricorn argues with Mars in Leo. Clarify the butter! As words heat up, make sure to clarify that you are actually hearing what you are hearing. It might not be what they actually meant to say. Double and triple check. We have to adjust, adjust, adjust. Venus has a bad hair day as a sudden reversal makes her completely crazed. Life is a bit chaotic and not organized to her liking. Venus needs to take a more freed up approach to the situation which she is NOT up for. But that actually will be a good thing if you can get her to try it and do it. She’s needing a bit of change. Like new shampoo makes your hair shiny and bright, time to try a new approach with the goddess of love.

Tuesday. Mercury isn’t hearing happy talk from Venus even as he suggests to Uranus a solution that they all will like. One summer in my summer share house, there was a very neurotic woman who had a ½ share. Mid-summer, she came to the house and spent the entire weekend up in her room, crying. Her two friends would hurry up the stairs and hurry down the stairs, looking worried, whispering between themselves. They delivered food to her room. When I inquired, after the second day of closed doors and in-room food delivery, what exactly the problem was, I was told it was a bad haircut. A beautiful beach weekend at a lovely share house right on the Great South Bay where a beach hat would completely cover whatever damage had been done to her hair by the errant cutter was completely lost in tears and sorrow. And her two friends suffered too as they had to listen to the sorrows of a bad haircut and deliver food to their inconsolable friend. Take a different strategic approach. Hair grows out. Eventually.

Wednesday Venus now SHOUTS at Mars. When she finally appeared, packed and ready to leave the summer house to catch the ferry on Sunday with her hair covered by a cap, one of the guys in the house commented that her hair did not look that bad to him. She shouted at him. She threw the pile of New York Times sections at him. She burst into tears. Of course, if she hadn’t spent the entire weekend in her room crying about her hair, he never would have NOTICED she’d had it cut. Be careful about provoking the situation from yesterday today with errant comments. People tend to overreact and shout a bit. Lots of emotions flying around. Avoid arguments over pork chops too. People are creatures of patterns and habits. What is the “tell” that told you NOT to go there? You KNEW you were pushing the line…. Be careful. Watch who you meet today. They can be quite important in your life in the months ahead. Make sure to get their contact information.

Thursday or Jupiter’s day finds the jolly giant a bit frustrated by his silly argument with Mercury yesterday as the tension starts to build of Saturn’s square to Pluto. Vesta offers a great idea about how to change the patterns and get what she wants. Mars has an aspect of brilliance to Pluto so while the idea is great it might not be the best time to work on it. Pluto is trine to Vesta and encouraging her to move forward to her next challenge and vision of how her home and hearth can change. It is a good day for renovations and shifts in how things are going to be done. Sun fights with Uranus about stupid stuff, suggesting you watch out to not have a fight for the sake of fighting ~ such as complaining about the Pork chops right before they are served. Not a good idea. Moon in Cancer is quite productive provided it moves the energy from arguing about Pork Chops to quirky creative solutions.

Friday or Venus’ Day finds Mercury having ANOTHER argument with Uranus. He’s just not letting up on complaining about the pork chops and peas! Or the bad haircut! Sun opposes Mars so he might just throw his plate or the New York Times sections across the room! Remember there is an underlying tension building of the upcoming Saturn Pluto square that is part of the extreme frustration energy felt today. Mars is sick and tired of NOT getting what he wants! Sun is sick and tired of Mars complaining all the time. Not a fun day.

Saturn’s day brings a full moon in Leo. Read the full moon report on this site for more information on how to work with the energy. Mercury argues about Pork chops today as well as all sorts of things that irritate him. Total waste of time. But when you are in the mood to argue….. Well you know what happens. Redirect that energy toward the idea of what you want. Disappointment breeds the desire to change things. So get busy thinking about how you would change things if you could. You’ll be able to change them in March when Mars goes direct. Things begun today dissolve in dreams.

Sun’s day is flat out difficult, depressing, powerful and illuminating at the same time. The Saturn Pluto square perfects and asks us to psychologically evolve and grow up. We need to understand why the situations in our life exist. We have to pay the piper or face the consequences. We have to be responsible. Tis time for us to stand for our own truths, values, dreams and desires. Mercury is arguing with Neptune so we can feel MIGHTY emotional and teary with this energy ~ elevated or depressed but not “normal”. Moon in Virgo gives a do-be quality to the day where we can be rather hard on ourselves with aspects that imply we will be separating from what we start today with a profound element of change. Mercury asks us to work with the patterns in our lives to understand at a deeper level what is happening ~ do you see how you attracted the situation you are in to help you move through your life? Venus works with the feminine creative nurturing energy ~ it can be a great day for getting pregnant if you are trying to make a baby! Love creates today ~ so love the changes, challenges and shifts in your life. Desire them into being. Mars has a stressful aspect with Uranus so be careful of accidents and crashes. People are very preoccupied and not paying adequate attention. Double check and triple check before pulling out on the highway or parking lot. Lots of accidents.

Mundane:

Mars retrograde brought a number of reversals or departures last week besides Conan O‘Brien: Massachusetts voted Republican for Kennedy‘s Democratic seat putting the Health Care bill and Obama’s agenda in jeopardy, Air America went bankrupt, and the Supremes said it was a-okay for corporations and special interest groups to spend mass quantities of money right before an election, effectively gutting the McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill. Mars is retrograde so we can expect these situations to reverse or start to revise when he goes direct on March 10. I would be much more depressed if Mars was direct!

Gotta love Mars retrograde in LEO, the sign of cats big and small.

From the Internet: Cairo: Archaeologists have unearthed a 2,000-year-old temple that may have been dedicated to the ancient Egyptian cat goddess, Bastet, the Supreme Council of Antiquities said Tuesday.

The ruins of the Ptolemaic-era temple were discovered by Egyptian archaeologists in the heart of the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great in the 4th century B.C.

The city was the seat of the Greek-speaking Ptolemaic Dynasty, which ruled over Egypt for 300 years until the suicide of Queen Cleopatra. The statement said the temple was thought to belong to Queen Berenice, wife of King Ptolemy III who ruled Egypt in the 3rd century B.C. Mohammed Abdel-Maqsood, the Egyptian archaeologist who led the excavation team, said the discovery may be the first trace of the long-sought location of Alexandria's royal quarter.

The large number of statues depicting Bastet found in the ruins, he said, suggested that this may be the first Ptolemaic-era temple dedicated to the cat goddess to be discovered in Alexandria. This would indicate that the worship of the ancient Egyptian cat-goddess continued during the later, Greek-influenced, Ptolemaic period, he said.

Modern Alexandria was built squarely on top of the ruins of the classical-era city and many of its great temples, palaces and libraries remain undiscovered. The temple was found in the Kom el-Dekkah neighborhood near the city's main train station and home to a Roman-era amphitheater and well preserved mosaics.

Reader Mail:

Zenaida wrote: I have been a follower of your column for a long time and today it is the first time that you disappoint me. I can't believe that you dedicate so much space to talk about the Leno-O'Brien issue witch is so shallow and unimportant and only a few passing words to Haiti in the moment that humans beings are going thru so much suffering; missing the opportunity to expand on the incredible spiritual lesson we can all learn from this. With all due respect, I would like to hear from you on this subject.

Anne answers: Sorry to have disappointed you, Zenaida. I have a Pisces Moon which makes writing about the extreme suffering in Haiti very difficult for me. And, I don’t happen to believe our voyeuristically witnessing suffering expands our spiritual lessons nor does it let us learn things other than suffering and horrible things occur to people. Death via earthquakes and the resulting suffering are unpleasant, difficult and painful to watch. To my mind, the coverage is an extreme example of rubberneck syndrome where we slow down on the thruway to look at a crash and have our emotional reaction safely in our own car. I know myself when I hook into a suffering story it often reflects something I am trying to learn about myself and understand. It reflects a deeper level of my chart’s work. As you were disappointed with me and wrote, I would guess the Haiti story ties into your chart on a deeper level. You are working on clearing something or getting conscious of something.

Don’t so quickly dismiss the Leno-O’Brien story as shallow and unimportant. It is the other side of what people are dealing with in the world and a bit easier to wrap that Pisces Moon of mine around. Mars is retrograde. We are facing choices in our lives in which we want to be aware of where the envy is driving us to make a bad choice or a choice that is out of ego rather than clear consciousness.

People are either having EARTHQUAKES in their chart ~ and suffering enormously ~ like the folks in Haiti. Emotional, Psychological, Spiritual or Physical earthquakes ~ as Saturn stations and moves to square Pluto at the end of the month as the eclipse brought things to light.

Or people are experiencing ENVY and having to make CHOICES that need to be made from a clean space rather than an emotional space (like Conan didn‘t.)

Or perhaps a combination of both ~ Earthquake and Envy. Conan probably would describe what happened to him as an earthquake in his career. And certainly the 200 employees and their families that uprooted their lives, changed the children‘s schools, sold their homes and moved to California to work for him had an earthquake as they lost their jobs in a difficult economy.

Remember Zenaida, the outer stories we watch in the collective are reflections of the planetary energy we can all tap into. The people with EARTHQUAKES taking place in their chart right now are simply trying to survive the quake and find in their lives the equivalent of water and food. They are sitting in dark rooms with their blinds closed deciding whether to live or die. Their arms and lives are frozen right now as they are trapped in difficult places through the earthquake that took place in their life of an extreme loss of an emotional, spiritual, physical or psychological nature JUST LIKE the people we are watching in Haiti. My bet is the earthquake people are NOT reading my column right now.

The folks who are reading my column are watching Haiti on TV and writing a check or three as they navigate the difficult Mars retrograde energy which the Leno-O’Brien story is the illustrative example. To them, I can make a difference. Be careful. Be conscious. Don’t react out of ego. Take a long term view as the Uranus-Saturn aspect is not over yet!

Hope that helps!

Copyright © 2010 A. C. Ortelee

Weekly Weather January 18, 2010

Well last week was certainly rather wild and wooly! Earthquakes! Fights! Excitement! Secrets revealed! Drama! Explosions! So what broke free in YOUR life and shifted dramatically? Could you feel the energy moving?

All that energy was the eclipse on the North Node of Destiny, Mercury going direct on Pluto and square to Saturn as Saturn stationed to go retrograde and Jupiter entered Pisces.

Now we enter a period of retreat as a part of us moves forward. Mars is still going backwards in Leo until March 10 and now Saturn has joined him in reverse mode. Saturn is going to go back into late Virgo, where he was at the beginning of October of 2009. We are going to gather up the pieces of the story from back then to finish them up this spring. Once we get all that restructured we zoom ahead into the Cardinal Cross in June and July.

The Cardinal Cross will be part two of the economic collapse prior to the needed restructuring promised by Pluto in Capricorn. It will be similar to when Pluto entered Scorpio and we had the huge AIDS bloom where it felt like everyone was dying or when Pluto entered Sagittarius and it seemed every Catholic parish had a pedophile priest who molested children.

Now we will have the sense that every bank and corporate structure is unstable or cracking. Or perhaps our government will crack or appear unstable. Capricorn rules corporations, banks, governments and big business. Your job between now and the end of May is to evaluate your financial holdings and take the needed steps to PRESERVE your capital. Put your capital in safe, non-risky investments that you can point to such as real estate, cash or gold. Find a place where you can let your principle hang out and be safe/preserved. Do NOT go venturing back into the stock market unless you completely know what you are doing. When the economic collapse happens, it will be quite quick and take a big drop very, very fast.

Our week ahead is reasonably quiet after last week. Sun and Venus enter Aquarius and leave grumpy, cold, earth bound Capricorn behind for the vision, objective view and flight of Aquarius. Sun and Venus also talk to Saturn in a lovely conversation about their respective values. It is a week for you to focus on YOUR values. What DO you value? What is the dream you want to partner with? Get a bit clearer on the processes and procedures you need to take to move toward it as you finish up reorganizing while Mercury journeys through his Capricorn shadow until early February.

Monday is a holiday in the USA when we celebrate the life of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. A minister and profound speaker, his speech “I have a dream” applies to us in our changing circumstances. Think about the changes taking place in your life. What is your vision for them. What is your dream? Read Reverend King’s words and apply them to your life: I have a dream today! I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together." This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning: My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

Venus enters Aquarius ~ raise your vision and sights higher ~ to the mountain. To the concept of freedom in your life. Venus is particularly active today and asks us to describe our heart and soul’s desire. Moon in Pisces has lovely closing aspects making today and tomorrow lovely days to focus on your hopes and get things out the door that support those dreams of yours. Venus enters Aquarius ~ raise your vision and sights higher ~ to the mountain. To the concept of freedom in your life. Venus is particularly active today and asks us to describe our heart and soul’s desire. Moon in Pisces has lovely closing aspects making today and tomorrow lovely days to focus on your hopes and get things out the door that support those dreams of yours.

Tuesday Moon in Pisces has no aspects but still is basking in the productive energy of yesterday. Mars is in the mood to fight with the strategy that seemed so, SO perfect the other day. It can be an envy day as Mercury focuses on his union with Saturn and can find himself wanting or needing a bit of support and doesn’t receive it. So Mercury gets mad or jealous or envious ~ remember he IS the god who stole his big brother Apollo’s cows (covetousness is a deadly sin!), then lied about it and tried to cover it up. It is a great day to clear things up around the house or office as the shift of energy of the Sun from Earth to Air supports the energetic exchange. Or perhaps it is time to clear your space energetically and invoke into your life what your fondest hopes and dreams are.

Wednesday Mercury has a brilliant idea that he needs to take immediate action on, even if it involves going back on a previously negotiated deal. As long as it isn’t signed, it isn’t final. You can always change your mind. And today you might just want to change your mind. Chiron has a healing fifth harmonic this evening around 7 pm east coast time. Make sure to answer the phone or check your email as you may be pleasantly surprised about. Moon in Aries in the afternoon is impatient and ready to rock and roll.

Thursday Moon in Aries is incredibly productive as it takes action in support of its dream. Mars will be talking about how much he’s done to support the process and how hard he’s worked. And he HAS worked hard ~ VERY hard! But no one much cares. It is time for him and you to move along to the next project or process. The closing aspects speak to the Moon’s deepest and most profound dreams ~ let her have her head and support. Mars is supportive of the feminine energy ~ women say yes today so make sure to ask them for what you want. Women want to partner with others, create, and relate. There can be a competitive energy today too~ not envy but it may feel a bit like it. Think of it as a recognition and repetition of the desire for deep merging. Nothing like thinking you are losing something to get you focused on the fact that you actually DO want it and don‘t want to lose it. Ambivalent energy is NOT in the room.

Friday Venus trines Saturn so she is serious and focused on what she wants. Moon is in Aries in the morning until 2:47 pm EST when she goes void until 11:39 pm EST. Again, it is a kick butt and get stuff out the door. Women are a bit less cooperative than yesterday but if you explain WHY you want them to do things, they will adjust and give you a “yes”. Again a great day to get things out the door before the void moon. The afternoon is terrific for focused dreaming.

Saturn’s day finds Taurus moon quite busy as he talks to just about every planet in the sky. She has difficult closing aspects so watch what you wish for or ask for on this one ~ you may just get it. And NOT want it once you get it!

Sunday Sun trines Saturn offering productive energy bright and early in the morning. Sun also wants to clear out the home space so this is a very productive day for tackling that closet or cleaning/organizing project that you’ve been postponing for a time now. Dreams are troubled last night and if you hit the couch for a bit today. Taurus Moon is a natural couch potato and would like nothing better than to settle in for a day and relate. The end of the day can have anger and road rage come out of nowhere. Be careful driving as the energy is volatile. Also be QUIET and keep your not so kind comments to yourself. The words spoken today dig deep and strong into the soul of the person who hears them. Be CAREFUL as the words have an element of reverberation or resonance that goes far deeper into the listener’s being than you realize when you are saying the words. Double check that they heard what you said by asking them to repeat it. You’d be surprised HOW much and often people DON’T actually hear what you say.

Mundane Astrology::

Haiti : According to Nicholas Campion’s Book of World Horoscopes: “After being colonized by Spain, Haiti was ceded to France in 1697. Pressure for independence first came from escaped slaves. On 14 August 1791, a slave rebellion began that was to lead to independence for the whole state. Full de jure independence was gained on January 1, 1804 when the Act of Independence was signed at Gonaives.” A quick examination of the chart finds Saturn at 3 Libra 27, the degree of last week‘s transiting Saturn station, Mars at 3 Capricorn 33 receiving the impact of transiting Pluto, transiting Mars retrograde at 15 Leo in the country’s South Node of Loss and transiting Neptune/Chiron square to 25 Scorpio 06 Neptune. The progressions and solar arcs further illuminate the difficult energy from the transiting planets to the natal chart.

NBC’s Late Night Wars ~ Looks like a WHOLE lot of Envy going on! Jay Leno (April 28, 1950, 2:03 am, New Rochelle, NY) and Conan O’Brien (April 18, 1963) continue to be in the news with Conan refusing to move back ½ hour and keep the Tonight Show.

I was kind of stunned by the level of glee, ENVY and malice exhibited by various talk show hosts all of whom are clearly opinionated about the matter. Whether it was David Letterman imitating Jay Leno’s voice and his “SVU of Jay Leno” clip or Craig Ferguson talking about what goes on at the Late Night Talk Show Hosts Dormitory at night or Conan O’Brien telling America’s children “You can grow up to be anything you want unless Jay Leno wants that job.”

Conan O’Brian CLEARLY doesn’t have an astrologer on his staff! The darn Aries is giving up and LEAVING before the transits are over! Bone head move on his part! His proud (and envious) Mars in Leo is telling his exalted Aries Sun to walk out. However, Conan’s Mars in Leo BEATS Jay’s Virgo Mars retrograde EVERY DAY IF he stays in the game! Plus Conan is leaving under Mars retrograde AND Mercury retrograde AND Saturn stationing retrograde. No, no, NO! Don’t go! Stay and fight with that exalted Sun of yours!

Conan signed his contract in 2004 ~ 6 years ago. According to his own statement, he’s been fantasizing about what he’d do with the Tonight Show for the last 6 years as he waited in the wings. However, Conan actually took over the show as Saturn was starting to square the Saturn in the chart when he signed the contract. And he’s lasted about 6 months ~ see my Pinball Approach to Astrology on this site! When we get to the 7^th year, like NOW, the universe gives you a test and says “Are you ACTUALLY up for your dream?” We astrologers call it the crisis of having to take action square! Transiting Saturn’s opening square to Conan’s contract signing Saturn says IF you really want the show Conan,, you are going to have to fight for it. Yet, Conan is giving up without a fight!.

And we wonder why America is going down the tubes! What kind of example is Conan for the Children of America walking away without landing a punch or two? What is he showing the precious demographic of 19 to 49 year olds?

Conan is taking the money and leaving ~ which is a fine alternative if that is what he really wants. However, IF as he says, he HAS fantasized his ENTIRE life about being the Tonight Show Host, you’d think Conan would fight a bit harder for his dream to come true or for it to last longer than a brief few months! His entire chart is saying “Fight! Fight! Don’t give up! Fight!” And, yet he is walking out. Ego is a hard thing to control. Ego combined with Envy even worse. Envy can make you do self sabotaging things.

If Conan were my client, I would tell him to sit tight and smile widely. Take the ½ hour time shift for the time being. Let NBC save face and fix the Leno mess they’ve made. Conan should KEEP HIS JOB ~ the HOSTING JOB OF THE TONIGHT SHOW ~ which he TECHNICALLY HAS and NEVER LOST! At least TRY the change until the transits clear up in late June/ early July when we know what is actually going on!

We still have two more Saturn / Uranus oppositions ~ end of April and end of July for the Young Vital Turk to take over from the Older Tired Guy. Mars going direct in Leo will cross over that critical degree of 15 around May 7 to 9^th. Another potentially hot date is March 10, when the currently retrograde Leo Mars stations and starts to move forward again. We also have a Saturn Pluto square at the end of January and mid-August.

Jay Leno’s chart has some major and rather nasty health aspects coming up as well as life altering progressions. Conan leaves now burning and bombing all the bridges he built during his career at NBC as he rides off into the sunset with his millions.

Jay retires/leaves between end of January 2010 and the end of September 2010 when transiting Saturn in Libra dives into his south node in the 8^th house of endings as it sets off his progressed fallen Mars in Libra on the edge of the South Node. Jay is a TAURUS so Libra and Venus changes are VERY important for him. Jay also has a number of progressions changing signs for the next 30 years, including his Venus in Taurus and Ascendant in Taurus both heading into Gemini.

Who is the next NBC comedian up at bat for the Tonight Show Host slot!? In House? An NBC sitcom star? Some one from Saturday Night Live? Some one from Kansas or Nebraska who appeals to middle America? Outside talent brought it? It sure ain’t going to be Conan coming back!

American Idol: Simon Cowell and Simon Fuller are starting to take the gloves off. Again the green eyed monster of ENVY seems to be rolling around in that story. Gotta love the Mars in Leo retrograde.

Copyright © 2010 A. C. Ortelee

New Moon Eclipse

January 15, 2010 2:11 am EST

Jaunary 14, 2010 11:11 pm PST

25:01 Capricorn Sun and Moon

It is a vibrant and life altering eclipse taking place on the Capricorn New Moon on January 15, 2010. It will take awhile for us to process all the changes that take place under this eclipse but we can anticipate major adjustments in our life.

According to Bernadette Brady’s book, The Eagle and the Lark, a Textbook of Predictive Astrology, this eclipse time invokes “Opportunities to accept greater responsibilities can come suddenly into the person’s life. These new commitments will most likely come as a result of another individual being unable to carry on. Although the events which herald these opportunities may be difficult, the outcomes in terms of harmony or self-esteem are good.” The companion eclipse from the summer which is wrapping up now was “This family of eclipses is concerned with the needs to make sudden reforms. Old ideas or methods will fail and new systems are required to deal with the events brought by the eclipse. As a consequence, the person will need to think of new ways of handling the issues. Any blocks could be violently or tragically removed.”

If you think back to January 1991, the lunation from then has a similar story in the same place in your chart, 25 of the Cardinal signs. The energy echoes across time and space to encourage you to look at the next chapter in the cycle.

The Sun, Moon and Venus are all clustered next to the North Node of destiny indicating whatever changes come into your life, they are actually for your greater good AND you can profit from them or come to love them. Mercury stations a few hours AFTER the eclipse, square to Saturn and just past Pluto, so the news might be difficult or hurtful but again, for your greater good.

There is a sense that you have to take ACTION on an eclipse. They create a sense of urgency. You feel that there isn’t enough time and that you have to do something right this minute. If it is a life altering situation, take action. If however, you can WAIT until next week when the swirl of emotions settle down and you can see clearly, it is best to wait and take action with a clearer head.

We still have Mars in Leo going retrograde so ENVY is up and about and dancing in the aisles singing loudly and out of tune. Envy is part of the eclipse story ~ your own envy or some one else’s envy directed at you. Notice it. Name it. Act the way you want to if Envy is coming at you ~ don’t duck or let it sap your life force. Try to NOT be driven by Envy if you are feeling the green eyed monster lurking in your being, whispering in your ear. Envy does NOT give good advice! My mother used to caution not cutting one’s nose off to spite one’s face ~ which I never particularly understood as a phrase until reading an article on a starlet in this week’s People magazine who had enormous amounts of plastic surgery at the ripe old age of 23 and plans to have even more. Hers was definitely an instance of literally cutting her nose off and spiting her face because she was looking sideways at the competition rather than focusing on her own gifts and talents. Focus on what YOU want, not what the other guy or gal wants.

The Moon is moving slowly so the lessons from this eclipse will be deep and strong in your being. The chart cast for Washington, D.C. has a Finger of God with the Midheaven as the Apex and the Node, Sun, Moon and Venus sextile to Uranus. It advises us to take an unorthodox approach to the situation rather that reacting emotionally or not strategically. Chiron, Neptune and Jupiter are all blocking the exit point of the Finger of God, so they add fuel to the fire for the Leo Midheaven to be VERY sure it is doing what it truly WANTS to do and not acting out of Envy whispering in its ear from a 12^th house position. Mars is in the 12^th house of the Midheaven ~ you can receive BAD counsel from behind the scenes that undermines you. Focus on what YOU want not what the other person wants.

Envy can also be broken into the actual sound which has a name like “buzz” has a sound and the word for it is a name which mean word and the sound are the same thing. This was pointed out to me by someone in a phone conversation and whose name I can’t remember right now ~ I want this NEPTUNE transit to be OVER in my chart! I want my mind back!

At any rate ~envy is N V. Think N V for New Vision(s). Reframe the word envy. Or just name it and don’t duck from it when you feeling it coming at you. Or point it out when you feel it coming at you. Or own the fact that you FEEL envy and hang on to it to understand YOU want something the OTHER guy has. Nothing wrong with feeling envy ~ the problem comes when we act on it. It spills out all over and is kind of ugly acting ~ as my mother used to say ~ the green eyed monster is here!

Because Sun and Moon are with Venus on the nodes we can expect major news in the area of personal relationships ~ divorces and marriages. Sun and Moon are opposite the point of Divorce on the South Node. They are also joined to the Node of Destiny, pulling you forward on your path to the next big chapter of your life.

The eclipse is also sandwiched between Saturn stationing to go retrograde until July and Jupiter leaving Aquarius for the next 11 years. That also adds a juicy element to the story. We are going back to reverse the decisions we made in September and October of 2009 while Saturn journeys back into late Virgo over the next few months. We are also beginning our next 12 years of energy in our Pisces house as Jupiter enters Pisces and literally FLIES through him through June. Jupiter and Saturn are going to be opposite each other. Jupiter is also going to dance with Uranus in Pisces in the months ahead. The energy of the eclipse is the shot that marks that next chapter beginning, the 12 years of Jupiter moving forward, as Saturn wraps up the last bits of Virgo for the next 28 years.

As the eclipse is in Saturn’s sign, it is particularly important that you take responsibility for the decisions you make under this eclipse. You are NOT being forced to do anything. You are being asked what it is that you truly deeply want. Once you know what you truly, deeply want, you must act in accordance with that to move forward to your true path. No tricks. Just hold on to your dream and don’t let it go. No bowing to envy. No walking away. Stay and fight for what you want. Mars is still retrograde so the final outcome is NOT clear yet! Mercury’s retrograde is the confusing energy here!

So the other important take away for the eclipse is to know we DON’T KNOW HOW THE STORY IS GOING TO TURN OUT YET! Don’t give up. Don’t close the book and assume it is over. Don’t get up and leave the game because it looks like your team is losing. It is baseball ~ it doesn’t run via the clock. You can be in the bottom of the 9^th with the bases loaded and two outs and down a couple runs and STILL WIN ~ see the Mets in the World Series in 1986 Game 6 and their come from behind win over Boston. To quote from the Major League Baseball site: “Clemens pitched well, but so did Ojeda, and after nine innings the game was deadlocked, 3-3. Boston's Dave Henderson led off the 10th with a home run, and a few minutes later Wade Boggs scored on Marty Barrett's single to give the Sox a 5-3 lead.

The Curse of the Bambino, it seemed, was about to be lifted, especially when Calvin Schiraldi retired the first two Met hitters in the bottom of the 10th. But then came three straight singles, and it was 5-4. Sox manager John McNamara summoned Bob Stanley from the bullpen, and Stanley promptly threw a wild pitch that tied the game. Then, on a full count, Mookie Wilson grounded a ball right to first baseman Bill Buckner. And in a scene that will never be forgotten by Fenway faithful, the ball scooted straight through Buckner's legs while Ray Knight scored the winning run.”

So enjoy the excitement of the eclipse. Pay attention to what is coming to light under it. Know that you are going to be working with this energy until the closing eclipse energy this summer.

Lynda Hill’s interpretation of the Sabian image for the New Moon is A NATURE SPIRIT DANCING IN THE MIST OF A WATERFALL

Commentary: ‘A Nature Spirit’ is seen ‘Dancing in the Mist of a Waterfall’. The ‘Nature Spirit’ is a carefree and beautiful image of effervescence and fun. Nymphs are ‘Nature Spirits’ that live in water; they are divine manifestations of nature: of woods, groves, springs, streams, rivers, etc. The ‘Nature Spirits’ dance in the ‘Mist’ because they know to avoid the areas of heavy pressure in the ‘Waterfall’. Even though strength and power of emotional flow is in the middle of the ‘Waterfall’, it is not possible to survive under such a torrent for very long. It is not always good to assault oneself with the full brunt of pressure from life.

Oracle: This Symbol can represent feelings of emotional lightness and almost mischievous intentions. The deeper parts of feelings are sometimes ignored, or rejected, as the ‘Spirit’ flits over the surface of any troubles. ‘Nature Spirits’ should be carefree and able to express themselves as they want. Go with your feelings and don’t worry too much about social restrictions. Finding a comfortable and safe place in a situation or place may be necessary. ‘Dancing’ and going with your gut feelings can lift your spirits to new heights. Be aware, however, that some people may not take your actions seriously. If you feel like ‘Dancing’, there’s no need to worry that people might see you. Indeed, it may be a really good idea for people to see your light side, the one that can throw caution to the wind. Whilst this is, essentially, a beautiful Symbol of a “lightness of being”, there may be an element of feeling cut off from one’s body, or reality. Whatever, your worries or burdens can lift, leaving you feeling lighter and happier. Dance in ‘The Mist’, in the gentle mysteries that arise even in the midst of life’s struggles. That is the true way of the ‘Nature Spirit’; they’re not concerned with the inane problems of life!

Keywords: Effervescent spirits or escapism. Dancing in a carefree manner. Water and fun. Peter Pan characters. Mountains, mists, fog. Reveling in nature. Picking up subtle energies. Being healed because of the heightened atmosphere (altitude). Celebrations of the natural world. Waterfalls. Water spraying and dripping. Finding one’s habitat. Chinese water-torture. Water nymphs, fairies and nature spirits, devas, and angels.

The Caution: Irresponsibility, avoidance of real situations. Not taking anything seriously. Avoiding social restrictions. Flitting off. Being held down and repressed when one is longing for light relief. Feeling abused by pressure. Being subjugated by cold, icy elements, thoughts or emotions. Tricks or perceptions of the light. Fear of dark places.

Copyright © 2009 A. C. Ortelee

.

Weekly Weather January 11, 2009

Its going to be a challenging week on earth. Above our heads, we have quite a bit of cosmic activity and changes that promise that here below on earth we will be rocking and rolling. As above, so below, as without, so within! Get ready for action!

Weekly Weather January 4, 2010

We have a relatively quiet week ahead of us which will relax and start the New Year off on a positive and relatively good note. We are still in the eclipse period so profound revelations can take place but they were probably either last week or next week. This week is the quiet week, the eye in the middle, the pause before the storm.

Mercury is quite active as he proceeds backwards through the heavens in his retrograde journey. He’s talking to the Gang of Three, Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron who are beginning to separate from each other as well as chatting up Venus, Mars, Uranus, Athena, Ceres and Juno. That means you will find yourself processing information. Process. Process. Process. Or organize. Organize. Organize. Mercury is soliciting opinions from the rest of the heavens ~ but notice Saturn and Pluto are NOT in the mix. He’s not talking to them. However, he is AWARE of them as he is retrograde in Capricorn, Saturn’s sign and the current location of Pluto. Mercury will station within a degree of their upcoming second closing square. The information you gather THIS WEEK will play a large role in your life next summer.

Often Mercury retrogrades come and go with no major shifts in our lives. Not so with this Mercury retrograde. This retrograde is a HUGE indicator of major shifts as it dances with the Nodal axis and because Pluto and Saturn share the degree of Mercury’s station with their upcoming Stations. Even if you don‘t actually physically “change” your life or work under or during the Mercury retrograde, you will find the decisions made, ideas thought or projects initiated/begun will be a very large part of your life down the road apiece, after July 2010, when we finish up the patch of energetic shifts taking place over the spring. And if, like my cousin, you leave your partnership position at a huge law firm to go off with a small boutique firm specializing in the kind of law you love, you already know how powerful the Mercury retrograde is.

The key to remember is Mercury is going to be back in charge of Saturn when he backs up back into Virgo between April and July for the final clean up and organizing before fully committing to Libra‘s outward momentum. While Mercury has his eye on the future, he is also aware of how hard (or not hard) you’ve been working while Saturn was in Virgo since fall 2007.

Mercury also knows if you are actually ABLE to partner with Saturn and Pluto the way they will want and expect you to partner with them. Kind of like Santa Claus, Mercury knows if you’ve been bad or good. Are you ready? Have you gotten clear on what your next path or pursuit is? Do you understand how your past actions and choices have brought you to this turning point moment in time? Do you get how you’ve created the reality in your life right now? Do you know where you want to go now that you know where you are? Do you know what you don’t want to do any more? More importantly, do you know what you want to DO in your future as you move forward?

So this week, as Mercury chats with virtually every one else in the sky, think of it as a cosmic 360 Degree Review. When I worked at Pepsi, when you were being considered for promotion to the next major level, they gave you a 360 Degree Review. Your bosses, your peers/co-workers, your direct reports and your business liaisons in other departments all gave you a review. You were looked at from 360 Degrees to see how you were doing. Having 10 to 12 people review you, anonymously, was a rather eye opening and interesting experience.

This week, Mercury is conducting a 360 Degree Review as he chats up every other planet in the sky EXCEPT the two who are actually going to promote you or pass you over for more remedial work! Listen carefully to what you hear and think about it. Notice where you need to tweak. Notice your confident skills. Notice your not-so-confident skills. How can you brush up or improve the stuff that isn’t polished or very confident? Ask friends or mentors for help if you need it. It is a great week to build support for yourself and revise policies, procedures or chapters in your script that aren‘t working for you. Your promotion isn't until JULY but the data points are being gathered NOW!

It is the quiet before the BIG storm of the next eclipse so take advantage of it!

Monday’s Moon in Virgo has separating closing aspects of an opposition to Uranus. That makes Monday a GREAT day to separate from things you no longer want OR to begin programs that will ultimately separate you from things you no longer want like that roll of fat around your middle. Diets, quittting smoking, divorces and departures come to mind as the Moon is waning and releasing! It is a busy bustling day as Moon has easy aspects to all the Capricorn planets, Pluto, Venus, Mercury and the Sun. You’ll be able to get a great deal accomplished. Sun joins with Mercury so people will tend to think their idea is right and all other ideas are wrong. So don’t argue. Just find the agreement point. You agree on SOME thing ~ that is why you are talking to them. Focus on the agreements. Venus might want to stir a bit of disagreement but you don’t have to agree to disagree. Agree to the vision. Mars joins with Ceres by declination so it is a good time to reconnect with the nurturing energies that you’ve been wanting or craving or needing more of. Schedule them into your life NOW as the rest of the month is going to FLY by. Book the nurturing appointments so you get them loaded. Schedule the nutritionist. Buy the food to cook so you stay on your new food plan. Call the acupuncturist and massage therapist. Connect with the chiropractor.

Tuesday, Moon in Virgo continues to make it a great day to separate and leave various and sundry. Moon goes void at 12:24 pm EST for the rest of the day so the afternoon is all about recreating, visioning and dreaming the dream. Say so long and move on. Mercury joins with Venus so ideas are inspired today and perhaps a bit bigger than you thought they would be. All to the good. You go ahead and dream big. Start with tiny steps but move toward the big vision with those tiny steps. You’ll be surprised how fast it comes in when your intention is aligned with your will and your new vision. Remember Mercury rules the Moon as he goes retrograde interviewing your life about what works and what doesn’t. Think 360 Degree Life Review~ what would "they" say about you? Include those who don't like you too!

Wednesday Moon in Libra answers to Venus in Capricorn. Moon fights a bit with Saturn and Pluto upon awakening so try to remember the difficult part of your dreams. What was the discussion about between the bosses Saturn and Pluto with Mercury? The commute or early morning can be off on a bad note. No worries. The closing aspect of Moon is a trine to Jupiter so it all works out just fine. Things happen for a reason. Sometimes a “bad” result is actually a blessing in disguise. Such is the case with news that is difficult today. Vesta wants to create a partnership while Juno tells her to move on and get over it. Remember “bad” news is actually “great” news down the road. Mercury is retrograde so expect reversals. Mercury is a trickster. He has a biquintile, or fifth harmonic, to Mars, who is also retrograde. Remember how double negatives are actually a positive statement from your grammar lessons? The two negatives cancel each other out and make a positive. It is the same idea here. Double negatives are a positive ~ it looks bad but actually, truth be told, it is great. Partner with the bad news or loss to a new and brilliant result. Roll up your sleeves!

Thursday Moon in Libra fights with Venus, Sun and works with Mars so note or record your dreams upon awakening. Tell them to people. Get feedback on how to work with the images. When Jung was working on reclaiming his soul as recorded in his Red Book, he talked to virtually every creature or critter that appeared in his dreams or trance states. Your unconscious and your dreams are trying to talk to you. It might be hard to understand their imagery but notice it ~ record it. You can mine it later for the rest of the meaning. It will unwrap like an onion. Right now it wants to partner with you. It is a great day to get things written and out the door, good to sign up to partner with people or reach agreements on how to proceed. Make the adjustments that are needed to move forward. Or stop moving backwards. It might feel like the steps are all in reverse today ~ that is fine. Mars IS going backwards you know. Some times we have to go back to go forward. Watch for wounds around the home ~ it is an accident prone day. Notice the repetitive patterns in the speech. Do you see how you or they actually LIKE the outcome the way it is? Do you see how it is hard to change if you like it the way it is? What does the drama or fighting do for you? What does the envy serve? Why be less than you can be? Do you see the envy?  

Friday Moon in Scorpio has a closing square with Jupiter as the last aspect so passions are large and flowing. There can be a tendency to over do but still, on some level, you WANT to over do! Mercury struggles with the imagery and sleep tonight. Not a good sleeping night. Too much stirring around in your psyche and unconscious. Eclipses do that. Mars has a brilliant aspect to Uranus at dawn so leap out of bed, slightly wiped out by all the action in your sleep. Record the dreams. Mercury is doing that 360 Degree Review! Fights are possible as Venus argues with Mars about the most basic things. Mars, not in the mood or particularly able to fight, will retreat. Don’t push too hard. People can take offense at the weirdest things today. Watch for energy shifts and address them immediately when you feel them. Otherwise you’ll be fighting about it next week.

Saturn’s day Moon in Scorpio makes for intense energy, again following a restless and dream filled night of sleep. Note the dreams, particularly dreams where you fight or are envious or are envied by the other. Venus pushes you to change and adjust with her connection to Uranus ~ awake like a lightening bolt, you are only going to go back to the same place in the dream. Mercury fights with Chiron today ~ you have the wound you have because you are supposed to have that wound. Instead of complaining about it, denying it, or trying to avoid it ~ why don’t you learn to work with it? Try to think of it as your eye color or whether your hair is straight or curly. Your wound is part of what your soul wanted to learn in this life time. So you were wounded when you were little. It happens. The wound made you who you are today ~ both good and bad. Pull the energy to see the way that wound SERVES you and your soul. See how it helps you on your path? No worries. You are right where you are supposed to be. A bit of a mess on occasion but perfection is completely overrated. Settle into who you are. Lovely aspects today for a first or second or third date with someone you think is very fine. Show them your soul. Take a good long look at their soul too.

Sunday Moon goes into Sagittarius at 1:10 pm and has a lovely closing sextile to Jupiter. Sunday is one of those FINE days where you feel like you have all the time in the world and the sun is bright and you want to sing and be happy, happy, happy. Go for it. No it is NOT a trick of the heavens. Some days are simply wonderful. Today is wonderful AND productive so knock it out of the park. The eclipses are returning next week as well as a bunch of changes but you are in a good and productive place today so enjoy it!

Reader Mail:

Therese B wrote:

Anne answers:

Thanks Therese for sharing what you found on the internet. Envy DISAPPEARS when it is named, claimed or noted. The CURE for Envy is to see it, name it and either own it or point it out (if you can) to the person sending envy your way. Envy IS the dark side, the shadow side, of Leo! How can Leo be the King-Of-All-There-Is if there is another who has a skill or talent greater than Leo’s own? Mars, the action planet in the sign of Leo says “Look at my unique and wonderful talent” Mars in Leo, RETROGRADE, makes us look at the OTHER person’s skills and talents with a green eye. It can block us seeing our own talents and skills. Or perhaps they look at US with a green eye and do not see their own talents and skills. Either way, the CURE for ENVY is to name it and own it and get it out into the sunshine where it can be seen for what it is ~ the shadow of Leo.

The author above notes correctly that Mars retrograde is about owning our inner talents and strengthening ourselves with love and self-love. But she/he also points out the world seems to cultivate self-loathing as a marketing technique. Some times we find that self loathing through the vehicle of envy. Envy says you are not good enough compared to the other.

And Envy /Jealousy is still in the sky this week with the midpoint of the Nodes to Jupiter/ Neptune/ Chiron surrounding Pallas Athena at 8 Scorpio. Look at the patterns of jealousy and envy and get clear on them. You don’t have to ACT ON THEM. Just OWN THEM! Or NAME THEM!

Mundane:

Rush Limbaugh was hospitalized with chest pain last week while in Hawaii. DOB: January 17th 1951, Time: 7:50 Am, Place: Cape Girardeau, MO

Mr. Limbaugh is having a number of difficult health transits with the 12/31 eclipse on his Asc/ Des axis and the upcoming January 15, 2010 eclipse on his natal Sun as Mercury stations retrograde on his Sun plus the recent Mars retrograde station on his Pluto. He reported that it was “nothing major”. However, his chart seems to indicate a series of health problems over the balance of the year. Or perhaps, Mr. Limbaugh will take this as a wake up call to change his health regime and move toward a new life style using the new beginning promised by the north node eclipse in Capricorn on his Sun. He is having his Saturn return in early Libra too.

The December 31, 2009 Lunar Eclipse’s Moon was on the USA Sun/Jupiter midpoint at 10 Cancer and the Sun on NY City’s Sun at 10 Capricorn. Thus a terrorist with plastic explosive stuff in his under panties was caught before he blew up a plane landing in Detroit and no problems happened on New Year’s Eve (except for a lot of rain!) in Times Square. The Sun/Jupiter midpoint is luck.

On a sadder note, Moon on the South Node of loss was at the top of the Lunar Eclipse chart cast for Kabul, Afghanistan, with Saturn tight on the Ascendant and Pluto next to the IC as CIA officers were blown up in Afghanistan by a suicide bomber they were trying to convert as an informant. The Chief CIA officer was a Moon ~ mother of 3 ~ who was killed with a number of her colleagues. I know women are CIA officers and that many women do dangerous stuff like fight the wars for the rest of us but I must admit it shook me that a mother of three died and now will have a star on the wall at Langley.

Copyright © 2010 A.C. Ortelee All Rights Reserved