Astrology of the Day – Jupiter sextile Pluto - Tuesday 16th January 2018

Moon sextile Jupiter - Forgiveness shown

The Moon continues it's path through the sign of Capricorn and we keep the rather down to earth feel of the past day and a half. Capricorn likes structure and you will be planning and working out how to make every task you have go as efficiently as possible. There is a lot of self criticism associated with this sign and this contributes to the lack of emotion as well as Capricorn being hard on themselves, and we may feel a little emotionally repressed today.

Now to start off today, Jupiter forms a sextile to Pluto. This aspect allows us to change something to gain some power and control back into our lives, be it through our beliefs, something we learn, our attitudes or something connected to the way we do things. This aspect can also be one where we show generosity in order to get some favour back in the long run. Following on from this, the Moon connects with Pluto and at the same time it makes a sextile back to Jupiter and so we get emotionally involved with this process of doing something to improve our situation. There will be an intense desire to expand what we have and luck might just be on our side today to achieve whatever we need to make things better for ourselves. If people have done us wrong in the past, we will be able to show forgiveness in order to bury the hatchet with them. It's a good day to some someone a hug, and tell them that all is forgotten and things are gonna be alright.

The Moon has one more aspect to go today as it makes one more sextile aspect to Mars, an assertive connection that allows us to express our emotions freely and without any hindrance. Here is a desire to get things moving in our lives, although there is also a hastiness and enthusiasm about us that might see us having less patience than normal.

Now Mars is sitting on a fixed star today and tomorrow, the star Agena in the constellation of Centaurus, the centaur. This is a star of teaching and healing, and our actions today will be centred around the ordinary things that we do. Anything we do to help others without making a great big fuss of things will be really appreciated, and as I said earlier, our deeds may be reciprocated at a later date. We may be able to set an example to friends or colleagues that they will able to follow and this implies a sense of responsibility over our actions that is the very watchword of Saturn in the sign of Capricorn. What we do and achieve now could set the scene for days and weeks to come, and help to get others to trust us and our judgement in the future.

Astrology of the Day – Moon in Capricorn - Monday 15th January 2018

Moon conjunct Saturn - Targets, targets targets...

The Moon is in Capricorn now and joining a log jam of five other planets all in the same sign, therefore we have a lot of earthy energy to deal with. Any planet in Capricorn takes on a more reserved and more serious tone, and yet Capricorn does also have a very quirky and weird sense of humour that emerges. There can be a lack of confidence with this sign and this contributes to the inhibited side of this sign. As a result our emotions will be held back a bit throughout the day.
This will be especially the case first thing as the Moon makes a conjunction with Saturn. We will have a need to be super organised and keep everything very much in perspective this morning. The Moon and Saturn together bring an emotional toughness that can serve us well in any difficult situations that we may find ourselves in. Even if you do need help you won't want to ask for assistance out of an unwillingness to show any fragility.

With Saturn is Mercury and the next conjunction the Moon makes will be with the quicksilver planet. Now there will be a need to communicate and seek information, but again in a business like way, like the company executive who has responsibility on our shoulders. We find a need to set targets, organising other and plan our approach to everything. We could be rather direct and and possibly a little harsh in the way we approach things and speak to people, especially as Saturn is close by too and there is a danger that we might we be a little too safe or conservative in our ideas and decisions today?

Later on in the day, the Sun completes an easy looking sextile to Chiron and we can find healing energy to make any difficult situations seem that that little easier to cope with. By taking a different path and through learning from the past we can conquer things that previously thwarted us. This aspect is nicely complemented by an imaginative and compassionate sextile from the Moon to Neptune. There is a good balance between the earthy Moon and the watery Neptune in Pisces, and through it we can show lasting love and caring to others. Little sacrifices that we make this evening will be greatly appreciated.

Astrology of the Day – Sun square Uranus - Sunday 14th January 2018

Sun square Uranus - Lightening storm

The Moon remains in the sign of Sagittarius for the most of this day. This is a free and easy day ahead of us, and one where our friendships will be just as important, if not more so than our relationships. Sagittarius experiences the highs and lows of life more than any other sign, and as a result this may be a day of fluctuating emotions.

All of the aspects today between the planet will focus on two of them, Uranus and Chiron, the rebel and the maverick of the heavens and so this will be not only be a day of doing things in a very unique and different manner but also you may either upset some people with your actions, or bring some healing into your life or to others. Now the first of these connections will see Venus the planet of love and values forming a sextile to Chiron. This is a powerful connection because healing can be given through the love that you show and give out and the values that you can extend to someone else. Venus is in the sign of Capricorn now and down to earth attitudes can be the best way of connecting with people. Good old fashioned caring and compassion can be very effective now. The Moon then makes a trine to Uranus, and we can concentrate on updating something. There is a cool electric vibe from this trine that allows us to spark things and ideas into life. Again with the Capricorn bias in the sky above us, whatever updates we need will work best if we enhance what we already have rather than throw away what is there, and start completely from scratch.

There are two more aspects to come on this day of change. The first sees the Moon make a square to Chiron on the back of the Venus sextile. For a brief while we may be caught in an upsetting situation or feel uncertain of what is correct. Events going on around us may make us feel on edge or emotionally irritable. Pretty much at the same time, the Sun is forming a square to Uranus. This aspect only adds the the tension this evening, and we may feel very unstable or in need of a change. There might be a lot of stress and worry surrounding us, as if an electrical storm is heading our way, and we are going to be engulfed in a chaotic situation. Let it happen. If we stubbornly stand in the way of the inevitable, then we won't be able to move forwards in the future, so grab on tight, protect yourself and let the storm blow itself out as later on the Moon will move into stable Capricorn, the winds of change will die down, and normality will resume.

Astrology of the Day – Moon in Sagittarius - Friday 12th January 2018

Mars conjunct Unukalhai - Illness on the rise

The Moon begins in the sign of Scorpio for the first few hours of this day before swiftly moving into Sagittarius. This will lighten the mood of what I sensed as being a very heavy atmosphere. The Moon in Sagittarius is much more optimistic and light in nature, there is much enthusiasm and a desire to learn too. This is the sign of the higher mind, and we will have lofty ideals to live up to now. The Moon in Sagittarius can be a little too honest for it's own good, but there is an honesty in one's intentions, even if one's actions under this Moon might be a little questionable. You could bracket this sign under the heading “lovable rogue” and I think that would sum things up quite well.

Now normally I would go on to explain the aspects that the Moon makes, but uniquely for the first time in three months since I began writing these daily posts there are none, save the Moon making a couple of very insignificant semi sextile (30 degree) aspects to Mercury and Saturn. None of the other planets make conjunctions either and so we have a day of Astrological suspense, almost like the calm before the storm.

Mars is now moving onto the main star in the constellation of Serpens, Unukalhai, meaning the neck of the snake. This star has a difficult reputation and is especially connected to matters of illness, and a lack of will power and energy. Now we have to remember that Mars is linked to Jupiter by a conjunction and this just adds to Mars' potency to push things ahead. Now it so happens in the UK news late today that the headline refers to a flu epidemic on the way with hospitals reporting cases up 50%. With these two stars connecting with Unukalhai, you can guarantee that those figures will rise still more in the next couple of days. This combination reduces our energies and increases our susceptibility for accidents, upsets and illness, so eat well, protect yourself as much as possible, and look after yourselves.

Breaking the monopoly and stranglehold of Apple, Google, Facebook and Amazon – The companies who hijacked the internet...

This post is going to sound rather hypocritical, then again how on earth do I get the message out. The world has been secretly hijacked and the domination continues day on day – let me explain.

I am an Astrology blogger and writer and to get my message out to the world I naturally have a website. All entrepreneurs, business people, writers and companies these days have to have one to survive and thrive. It is almost a given. We have computers, we advertise via the internet. It's been a free service ever since the inventor Tim Berners Lee invented the world wide web. Now we in the West we totally rely on it. We do shopping on it, get information on it, get our news on it, speak to each other on it, control our homes on it such as our heating and gadgets, receive messages, pay our bills, make appointments, even deal with our governments on it. Governments are reliant on the internet too, we apply for Government benefits and pay our taxes via the internet. The internet can influence elections and how our representatives are elected. The worrying thing is that just 4 companies are starting to totally dominate the internet – Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon. Who has control in this world? Do governments over their people, or do these internet companies control us and the world administrations? One other question - what are these companies going to do now that they have such a hold and firm grip over all of our lives?

I'll give you an example of what I mean by this. My old website got a virus, and as a result, the search engines of Google stopped listing my site. Now I rather rely on people reading my work to gain custom, the internet is very much part of my shop window, and yet if nobody is reading what I am writing, then nobody will be able to order Astrology reports from me. In a desperate attempt to get things moving again, I had to completely relaunch my website. In doing this, yes I was cleaning up a big mess, but it dropped me to Ground Zero in regards to Google. Starting from the bottom of the mountain is an absolute pain in the neck on the internet, and Google makes it damn hard these days for anyone to re-establishment themselves. Notice what I am saying here, Google is controlling my agenda. They control my destiny in their hands, plus they are so secretive that they never let on exactly what exact criteria is needed to get back to the top of that mountain again. It's like trying to climb Mount Everest without the correct climbing gear, protective clothing and a team of Sherpas to carry your stuff - almost impossible.

Without Google to index my website, I have had to resort to using Social Media to get my word out to the world. Who dominates that? Facebook. I have a Facebook page and I post my work on there. I write a daily post about the “Astrology of the Day” and post it on a Facebook page that has over 2000 followers on it. Great, at least some people are going to see my work, I thought. Nope!! My post last night according to Facebook's statistics reached 20 people, only 20 individuals and I have 2000 official followers. Yes just 20 people, even thought I posted the article at 21.00 hrs UK time, just in time for most of America as they packed up work and were likely to go onto their mobile phones, tablets and laptops. You see Facebook controls what posts we see on our Newsfeed. I've heard this story from countless people that their posts don't reach their followers that they have, as Facebook is restricting the direct access. Yes you can go onto your “Pages” tab and check out individually what people are doing, but most people are lazy and have 50 or more pages that they follow, therefore anyone these days with a page are stuck in the backwaters not getting any direct readership. What Facebook want by restricting direct access is trying to get you to pay for advertising. On a mobile phone you have to go through about 4 different menus and edit your preferences just to find the pages you want to view. It's damn crooked, and Facebook knows this, but it's their site, and they again are controlling us.

Now Google through You Tube, Facebook through Facebook Live, Amazon through Amazon Prime and Apple through their technical devices and iTunes platforms are starting to buy up chunks of the media, films, live TV sports etc etc. Amazon is buying up commercial companies and undercutting normal shops and retailers with rock bottom prices. These new talk to the internet devices such as “Amazon Echo” promoted by Amazon are in our homes, giving an easy way to shop online without going to a traditional store, plus they may be listening in to everything we say in our own private spaces. Facebook swallows up any potential rival social media site so that they can control that side of our lives, remember Instagram is a Facebook company these days. All of us somewhere have an Apple product, either and iPhone, iPad or Apple Mac laptop. Talk about Big Brother invading our lives, and we normal people and governments alike around the world are allowing these companies to do this. It's frightening.

I am an Astrologer and there is a little planet called Pluto that rules power, control and big business and in Greek mythology Pluto was known as the Lord of the Underworld. It's an underground, secret, powerful, influence that we don't realise is there on the surface where we live. It is now in the sign of Capricorn, the sign associated with running things, administration and governments. Pluto on entering a sign destroys what is there and replaces it with a new updated version. Pluto entered Capricorn in October 2008 just as the worldwide financial crash occurred. It will exit Capricorn in 2023. In 2008, the internet was still developing, and in just under 10 years we have all become totally reliant on it to such an extent that the American election I believe was decided through social media and the internet. The American President uses it to put out his own message to the world. Is he controlling the agenda, or is the internet controlling him? What on earth will the picture look like in another 5 years time once Pluto has done it's job? How much more control will these internet firms have over us? It's a sobering thought that Facebook probably has more of a hold over our lives than the supposed most powerful man on the Globe.

There is one other really worrying thing that concerns me. Once these internet monopolies control everything, will they force us to pay for access? Will Google start charging for every search? Will Facebook force us to pay for group access? Will Amazon start to raise prices once they have destroyed the competition as we buy everything from them from books to groceries, to tech to media to medicines, to furniture and clothing? Will these companies hold Governments to ransom? Trust me, the money sloshing around in the bank accounts of Facebook and Amazon could already fund the GDP of a medium sized nation.

In this post, posted on Facebook and indexed by Google I know that you will think it is hypocritical of me to writing these things when I am using the very platforms to send out the words that I have written. What I am saying is the these companies have a moral obligation to the citizens of the world to assist us, but not control us. There is a fine line, and I fear greed and the corporate system that is consumed by profit and growth may tip that social obligation that is so needed completely off their agenda.

I am not a revolutionary, I am not against the internet, I’m not against technological change. The internet is an amazing tool , but I fear that the very vehicle that has made this world so much more integrated and introduced so much diversity and knowledge into our lives is starting to implode into itself. It has to develop responsibly and I fear things are getting totally out of hand, and nobody is questioning what is actually going on.

You know, the 7 deadly sins are all ruled in Astrology by that little planet Pluto, and they are being instrumental in us all sleepwalking into a dangerous future, where our lives, and I mean everyone's lives from the street cleaners of Los Angeles to the President in Washington, are being held on a string by Mark Zukerberg of Facebook, Jeff Besoz of Amazon, Tim Cook of Apple and Sundar Pichai of Google. This needs to stop, the people of the world need to sit up and take notice, before our world and the way it is run is changed forever...

If you agree with me, please, please share this post whichever way you can. The world has to sit up and take notice.

Astrology of the Day – Mercury in Capricorn - Thursday 11th January 2018

Mercury - Now in Capricorn

The Moon stays in the sign of Scorpio all day again today, and the same intensity of purpose that we had yesterday stays with us today. The Scorpio Moon is deeply emotional and it makes us totally committed to anything that we are doing or interested in. There is also a loyalty to this sign and we will stick by those who support us through thick and thin.

Now the first act of the day sees Mercury switching signs into Capricorn. This affects the way we think and communicate and organisation will now be important to us. We also won't be as free and easy with our language now which will tend to take on a more serious tone. We will be more business like too in our dealings with people, taking on an air of authority about us.

The Moon initially makes a conjunction with Jupiter, an optimistic and jovial aspect that will see us being generous with praise and also being very forgiving to anyone who does us wrong. The Moon then forms a sextile to Pluto, a conjunction to Mars, a sextile to the Sun and another one to Venus, all in quick succession. There is plenty of enthusiasm for that which we do, and a desire to own our work. We won't want others to interfere in our creations and plans today, and we will be protective and just a little coy about our intentions. Our relations with those we love will be warm, caring and exciting too; these are aspects where our love lives can veer between warm and loving, to explosive and passionate.

Later on in the evening the Moon connects with Uranus and Chiron still in tandem and slowly but surely updating our lives through dealing with issues that hark back to our childhoods. The trine to Chiron and the inconjunct to Uranus allow us to heal through continuing to make little adjustments as well as cutting unnecessary things and people from our lives.

Astrology of the Day – Moon in Scorpio - Wednesday 10th January 2018

Moon in Scorpio - Diving the Depths

The Moon is in the early degrees of Scorpio on what will be quite a dark and intense day. The Scorpio Moon is quiet, secretive, guarded with with what it allows us to reveal and yet it impels us to find out as much as we can about the movements, motivations and plans of others. You see the Scorpio Moon wants us to be informed, as forewarned is forearmed, and if we know what's coming, then we can protect ourselves from what is coming. That's the ultimate goal, the need to survive.

Initially the Moon is in a close sextile to Saturn. Our emotions are steady and slightly held back in the early hours of this day and we have a good work ethic if we have things to do. This Moon linked to Saturn will always keep ultra cool in a crisis. Scorpio is never one to openly fret when trouble comes to the door, simply because Scorpio is “used” to trouble. With our emotions in check and ourselves accustomed to potential difficulty because we are “aware of what may be coming, we'll be able to cope with almost anything now.

I said this is a dark day, and that's because the Sun is still in a connection with Pluto, the ruler of Scorpio providing an echo of the Moon in Scorpio. The Sun also connects this afternoon with the former ruler of Scorpio, Mars. It was in charge of the Scorpion sign before Pluto had been discovered. The Sun making a sextile to Mars in Scorpio gives an extra “ooomph” to our day, a shot of adrenaline intravenously injected into us. Everything today seems under the level, and even if we are doing things we will be keeping our true intentions way out of view.

Finally today, the Moon forms a trine to Neptune. This is a watery trine that sees us diving beneath the surface to explore the depths beneath. Yes we are free the move around but the light seeps away into darkness much the further down we continue to go. In the inky blackness of the surroundings we as we reach the bottom, we have to exist on our instincts and wits alone, sensing what is right, what is safe or what is dangerous to us. Tonight as darkness falls, we our intuition will be our best ally, so don't take anything on face value...

Astrology of the Day – Sun, Venus and Pluto conjunction - Tuesday 9th January 2018

The Moon is in the sign of Justice - Libra. 

The Moon starts off in the sign of Libra again today, the sign of balance, justice and the rule of the law. We want things to be fair, there's a need to hear both sides of the story and to make sure that everyone who needs to be heard gets a chance to speak. Sometimes Libra sits too much on the fence, and when Mars is in this sign (it isn't at the moment) it can get a little to partisan for it's own good. Nevertheless, the sense that we need to have an even-handed approach prevails.

The Sun, Venus and Pluto all converge on this day in a stunning conjunction, At one point less than 2 seconds of a degree will separate them. Now matters of sexual relations within relationships, and more pertinently the connections between between powerful men (Sun Pluto) and women (Venus) can be fully explored, as can the manipulation and abuse of money, power and values that they can bring about. Mars the planet of positive action and Jupiter the planet of justice and the law are still involved in a sextile to these three planets, and they will be prosecuting the case. Yes, we want to see justice against any wrongdoing; this will be the rallying call. We will take down the evidence and note extenuating circumstances, but our minds and our approach will be to get to the truth, through having a fair hearing.

The Moon in it's first action of the day opposes Uranus and makes an inconjunct aspect to Chiron. Now is the time to rebel, to change the tide, the heal the emotional hurts. We need adjustments and a rather confrontational attitude to take things head on. Not only around the world, but in your life too. Is someone exploiting you, using your money, abusing your values and goodwill? Now is the time to rebel against those who are blocking the system. It's time to voice opinions and this can be done through the Moon making a sextile to Mercury that is moving in the stars of the sting of the Scorpion in the heavens. We can make constructive criticisms, and start up a debate. The need to communicate, ask searching questions, and get answers is strong and the desire to get deep and to find out the real truth only increases as the day ends, and the Moon slips surreptitiously into the all powerful, all knowing sign of Scorpio.

Oprah Winfrey, the Golden Globes and a run for the Presidency of the United States in 2020?

Oprah Winfrey

Yes, you read the title of this post correctly. Oprah for the White House? Am I crazy? Not as an Astrologer I’m not. Back in 2011 I wrote a post about Donald Trump and his ambitions for the White House, and 5 years later it came true. At the time I said he would be very tempted to go for it, and he finally pulled out at the last minute for the 2012 race, but I caught the moment and felt the temptation in his natal chart. We all know what happened in 2015 and 2016.  Now, these are interesting times for sure, and last night at the Golden Globes Awards, Oprah Winfrey became the first African American woman ever to receive the Cecil B DeMille Award for outstanding service to the entertainment world. Not only did she accept the award with grace and humility, but she also sounded a rallying cry for every woman who has suffered at the hands of powerful men, and ever so subtly indicated a desire that she personally wants to do something about it. On an astrological note, this just could be her time.

Oprah - Birth Chart

Oprah was born on 29th January 1954 at 04.30 in Kosciusco, Mississippi in the United States, the time I quote is from memory, “A” rated by Astro.com. She has a humanitarian Aquarius Sun, backed up by a free and easy Sagittarius Moon and Ascendant. Her Sun and Venus are virtually exactly conjunct, just nine minutes of a degree apart in the 2nd house of money and values. Aquarius conveys a star quality, and Oprah shines with it, kind, fun loving, sociable, sympathetic, popular yet independent and a bit detached, as all the great interviewers (and she was a great one) have to be.

This merged Sun Venus is quindecile Pluto in the 8th house, square Saturn in the 10th house of her work and widely sextile to her Moon in the 11th. These three planets tell the story of Oprah’s upbringing. Her Sun/Venus is very afflicted by Saturn and Pluto; in astrology the Sun represents the father. Here Pluto is retrograde in the 8th house, hidden away in the house of sex secrets and brutality and Saturn square the Sun shows a difficult, cruel upbringing. Oprah was the product of a short relationship, and she was brought up in poverty by a single teenage mother, she never knew her father. Oprah suffered sexual abuse as a child from members of her family, again Pluto in the hidden 8th house square to Mars in Pluto’s own sign of Scorpio represents abusive actions of a sexual nature affecting her. With Mars ruling her 4th house of the home, we know that the abuse came from those close to her in her family.

The one thing when she was young that everyone noted about Oprah was her confidence in speaking and performing. Obviously when we look for communication, we look to Mercury. Oprah’s Mercury really is the centre of her chart in the wide conjunction to Sun/Venus, every other planet on the chart in some way feeds into this conjunction sitting in the house of earning money. There is a trine to Jupiter in chatty Gemini – here is curiosity in the purist form, needing to know everything, asking questions and a general interest all kind of media. Jupiter is in the 6th house of every day work and service so there is an easy going and optimistic style to the way that she communicates through her work that has had wide appeal, and that has influenced hundreds of copycat shows all around the world.

The Moon in Sagittarius is widely conjunct to Mars ruling that fourth house I mentioned earlier, so she will be proud of her Afro American roots and protective of her own family, her nation and heritage. With the Moon in her 11th house Oprah will have many female friends, is always out for a good time, and with that Mars in her 11th house she will be seen as a team leader or someone who paves a way for the collective. There is a sharp side to her emotions, and when she is emotionally hurt, she will go on the attack.

Pluto makes an opposition with Mercury giving Oprah a forensic mind, delving into the depths to find out the truth in any situation; she is a natural investigator and a powerful speaker able to influence people with the force of her own convictions, however she will rarely if ever reveal her own motives or weaknesses. Neptune is also trine to Mercury in the second house, it is in a imaginative mood, and often people with this placing will make money through creative pursuits and here is an idealism about the use of money to help through caring and compassion. With the Sun/Venus/Mercury in social, humanitarian Aquarius and Uranus in the Cancerian ruled 7th house, there is huge interest in other people, in family and community – she is a giver and not a taker. Oprah has probably been the most generous black American woman ever, her charity foundations contributing $80 million and counting to various causes.



If you look to her Nodal axis there is one other very interesting connection. Her North Node is very closely conjunct to Chiron, the planet of wounding and healing and a maverick influence affecting her. This axis is connected to one's mother, and in the speech Oprah made, she indicated that her mother had been subject to abuse, totally vindicating this position of her being “wounded” by the treatment she faced. Oprah's role is as a healer, and also as someone who can act as a vehicle for change. One other point to note too. Oprah’s Mercury Pluto opposition mirrors the US Ascendant/Descendant axis, there is a direct link between the way she communicates and calls for transformation, and the American psyche. Her Aquarian Sun squares this axis and it is conjunct to the US natal Mars – she was born to communicate with the US people and for them to respond favourably to her in a positive manner – this is the position of a commander in chief. Her Saturn is conjunct to the US natal Saturn/Mercury conjunction – this lady commands authority!!



Now if someone who connects with the US natal chart so readily indicates that they want to step up to the plate and take on the establishment, we should sit up and take notice. The speech last night was mesmerising and incredibly powerful, and for Oprah it was the beginning of a brand new cycle in her life. You see Oprah has a late Sagittarian Ascendant on the 29th degree of knowing, she is wise beyond her years, and Saturn over Christmas time passed over this point, entering into her Ascendant house, and a new beginning for her, and giving her added authority. Last night, Mercury the planet of communication was conjunct to her Ascendant too as well as her Saturn. She spoke with gravitas, and as the unofficial leader of the “#metoo” women's movement that is growing in stature, lead by the women of Hollywood who have the influence and the voice to stand up for the millions of oppressed women who can never defend themselves. It was a bold and electrifying speech that Oprah gave, unafraid, a rallying cry of immense significance and one that rang out loud and clear. Transiting Jupiter and Mars in her 11th house of friends, (she was in the company of colleagues and friends) made a square to her 2nd house Mercury in the house of values, and a trine to the rebel planet Uranus which rules that house. That message has spread around the world, and lit a fire with speculation starting to build that she might be harbouring a run in 2020 for the Presidency. If this was the moment for her to throw her hat “unofficially” in the ring then it was an auspicious one, as remember, her natal Mercury connects to the US Ascendant. Her thoughts and values are America's values.

Even more significantly Mars and Jupiter yesterday made sextiles to the Sun, Venus and Pluto, and they in turn are making a powerful square to her Midheaven at 17 degrees Libra. Pluto in the past weeks has been activating a change in her professional and public outlook. Pluto is power, control and inevitable change and there is a shift now as Pluto activates her point of career. More power might be coming her way. Pluto is starting to and will be opposing her natal Uranus in the coming year, the planet linked directly to her as an Aquarian, sitting in her house of relationships and open enemies. He message to take on and radically change values, will certainly gain opposition, but it is one that will gather support of the collective too. Pluto and Uranus are very powerful agents of change, and if she mobilises people behind her then she can move mountains linked to this message. Look back at her natal chart, and to that Sun Venus conjunction in the house of values closely square to Saturn, the planet of administration sitting in the 10th house of career. Isn't that an interesting aspect now in the light of her Golden Globes speech?



As she made this speech, it is worth looking at her Progressed chart, at it is stunning in it's significance. Her progressed Ascendant has now reached 16.01 degrees Pisces, and her Progressed Mercury had reached 16.01 degrees Pisces. A perfect and exact fit for the moment in a setting surrounded by the great and the good of the film and TV world (ruled by Pisces and Neptune). On this progressed chart, Mercury rules the 4th house of the nation, and the 7th house of open enemies – we all know who it was aimed at. Her progressed Jupiter, the planet of expansion and optimism is at her Progressed IC, activating all four angles of this progressed chart – this is the moment that she starts to open out on her personal ambitions for herself (Ascendant), her nation and roots (IC), her work and career (MC) and to those who oppose her (Descendant). Her progressed Moon is now also closing on a conjunction with her progressed Sun in her first house, starting to square her progressed Uranus and Nodal axis. I see this as an emotional pull to start acting in a more rebellious manner. She wants to see change, she realises she is the one individual who can fulfil it, and this picture only confirms this.



Later on this year, there is a Solar eclipse at 20 degrees Cancer that will hit this progressed Uranus and South Node on 13th July 2018. Transiting Pluto at that moment, the planet of power will be 0.01 degrees from a direct hit to her progressed North Node, her point of destiny. This eclipse also makes a square to her  her progressed Moon, indicating a shift in her personally (1st house) that is coming as well as her individual talents (5th house). Neptune will be on her progressed Ascendant and Mercury at this moment too, highlighting her as a person, and what she says. Neptune is compassionate and self sacrificing and I wonder if she will make a sacrifice now in service to her nation (Mercury ruling progressed 4th house)? This is the first of a series of Cancerian eclipses for the US Cancerian nation born on 4th July (even though I use the Stolte rising chart which highlights the Articles of the Confederation signed when the Sun was in Scorpio).



So do the transits of this eclipse back things up? Yes they do. The eclipse lands in Oprah's 7th house conjunct to her natal Uranus ruling that 2nd house of values and money and square to her Midheaven. This eclipse is going to propel her career in a new direction. I think this will be a very significant moment for Oprah, as transiting Mars will be on her Sun. She will go on the attack, the eclipse will be trine to her natal Mars, giving her impetus and drive for the future and remember Mars rules her home life her nation, and women's issues too. Natal Mercury will be at the midpoint between her natal Jupiter (her chart ruler in her house of work) and her Midheaven, the point of career. Whatever she says now will be important for her future goals and expansion. Transiting Uranus is for the next year going to be trine to her Sagittarian Ascendant from that 4th house of the nation. Trust me, this is a lady who is not going to let this moment lie, there will be a fierce desire in her for radical change in women's issues and how America deals with them. If there is a moment when she starts to seriously running for office, keep an eye on and around this date, and what she does.



If I was her advisor, I'd tell her right now – run for the Presidency!!! Why? I'll tell you. She can get under the skin of President Trump, just like Steve Bannon and Michael Wolff has done. Her Pluto at 24 degrees Leo like theirs sits square to the President's Midheaven at 24 degrees Taurus, a perfect square. She can undermine him, brutally cut him to ribbons and remember that incisive and surgical Mercury Pluto opposition in her chart – well it squares his Midheaven. She could have the ability if so used to tear him, and his administration to bits. Her Mars in Scorpio sits at 23 Scorpio directly on his IC, opposing his Midheaven, that Mars that so passionately cares about her country and women's issues. If used correctly could be used as a dagger to skewer Trump and his public attitudes. Her Sun/Venus conjunction opposes Trump's natal Pluto in Leo, so here we have power verses kindness and compassion, a battle of wills of complete opposite agendas. Also in regards to her ambitions, her Saturn at 9 Scorpio square his natal Pluto at 10 degrees Leo, therefore in effect if they come up against each other, they would have to battle for power and control. In effect Trump can change her ambitions, and she will be critical of his power base.

Also Oprah's North Node Chiron conjunction opposes Trump's Saturn Venus conjunction, her South Node sits closely conjunct to his planet of administration and the planet ruling his MC (Taurus Midheaven). Through this combination she can seriously wound him and expose the way he runs his administration. She can also undermine his tentative hold on the Republican party (his Saturn sits in his 11th house of groups) and how he communicates (Venus rules his 3rd house of communication). Talking of communication, Oprah is the darling of the press, her Jupiter trines her natal Mercury, and she could use this to her advantage to use the oppressed media to support her in her ventures. All this is of course speculative unless she throws her hat into the ring, which I think is something that will she will seriously consider.



Now let's put a scenario in the air. Oprah, runs for the Presidency, there is no viable Democratic candidate out there at the moment and she takes the nomination. Speculation I know but hear me out on this. The Solar Eclipse before the election on 21st June 2020 is going to be at 0 degrees Cancer, on the cusp of the sign that defines the United States, the nation's state, the family and women's issues. It also lands on Oprah's Descendant, opposite to her natal Ascendant. It's almost a perfect hit, within a degree of exact. This is going to be another hugely significant moment, just before the time of the party conventions of 2020.



This eclipse over Washington D.C. is utterly fascinating. It sees Uranus, the rebel planet conjunct to the Ascendant and Saturn, the planet of administration is on the cusp of Aquarius, the sign that Uranus rules and Saturn used to rule. The eclipse sees Pluto, Jupiter and Saturn in the 10th house of administration, and the eclipse is inconjunct to Saturn. We are sensing a revolt, and a change with Uranus so close to the Ascendant. Closest to the Midheaven is Pluto conjunct Jupiter. Pluto is power and Jupiter represents diversity, perhaps ethnic diversity? Everything here tells me that a change is coming to Washington, a woman perhaps (0 degrees Cancer) eclipsing the Administration, is an ethnically diverse female Aquarian is coming to the party? Think about this picture for a minute. Does it make sense to you??

Ok, let's take things a bit further on. It's election day 2020, the 3^rd November. It's Oprah vs Trump for the White House. Hypothetically, who wins?



Well at 07.00am when the polls open in Washington DC, the Midheaven will be exactly and I mean exactly on Oprah's natal Pluto, the planet of power. Where's that influential Uranus, the planet she rules? It's square to her natal Sun/Venus ruling her Libran Midheaven, her Taurean 5th house of doing things by herself and the Leo ruled 8th of power and inevitable change. Mercury the planet of decisions will be in her elevated 10th house conjunct to her 10th house Neptune. This links her work and career, to votes cast and decisions made perhaps (Pisces rules 3rd)? Mars will be about to enter her 4th house of the home, so things connected to her family and where she lives will be important to her. Most significantly of all though, that Saturn Pluto Jupiter conjunction will be on her North Node Chiron conjunction. Whatever she is doing at this minute, destiny will be calling her. Power will be coming her way, an expansion in her life, responsibilities on her shoulders to heal, as she has always healed others.



The same for President Trump. What happens to him? Uranus is going to be square to his natal Pluto. Ouch, this planet rules the place he lives, the White House. A sudden change is on the cards? Mercury ruling votes will be square to his natal Saturn/Venus conjunction in his 11th house of parties, ruling his Midheaven (career) and individual style (Saturn rules Capricorn intercepted in his 5th house), therefore the vote doesn't seem to be going in his direction, it's at a counter point to his administration. Donald will be going through a Nodal return at this minute, and this brings to light an interesting point. Nodal returns are crossroads points one's life, as if you come to a decision point as to how your future will go. The North Node is on his Sun and Uranus, but the detrimental South Node will be on his natal Moon, thus a woman, women's issues or his own family will be dragging him down. There is a sense of a dramatic change going on here, a shift affecting him and a sudden about turn in his fortunes. This Nodal return will be acting across his 4th house/10th house axis, highlighting a division between his work and his home life, his public life and his family.

The Saturn Pluto Jupiter conjunction of 2020 is the standout aspect of many a long year and how is affecting President Trump. Well it will be opposing his natal Saturn Venus conjunction and holding judgement on what he has done in running the US for the previous 4 years. Saturn oppositions can be depressing and rather nasty, and Pluto opposed to Saturn Venus is transformational, affecting his hold on a group, the Republicans, his job (Taurus ruled MC) and his individual persona (5th house). Jupiter brings more freedom into his life and these planets also make a trine to his Midheaven. From all I can see from these aspects, they are forcing a career change on him, allowing him to release himself from the burden of administration. I'll make a prediction now based on this that President Trump even if he wants to will not serve a second term.

Now whoever goes on to take him on in November 2020 will oppose the President facing the same picture, and of course to unseat a sitting President isn't easy, and you have to have a credible and powerful candidate. The year 2016 proved that anything can happen in the world of politics, and you don't have to be a veteran politician to win the White House any more. Donald Trump ripped up the rule book and destroyed the reputation of many an Astrologer in the process. So what will 2020 bring with it? Well in the year of the great Pluto Jupiter Saturn conjunction, all the Astrologers have been predicting a power shift of incredible proportions, and any power shift begins at the top so here goes. As unlikely as it may seem right now, wouldn't it be appropriate if a black (Pluto) ethnically diverse (Jupiter) Aquarian (old ruler of Saturn) woman (0 degrees Cancer eclipse) loved universally by Americans young and old backed and to the hilt by the former first Black male President Barak Obama completely changes the rules, releases the media from the disgraceful impositions and slurs placed upon them, gives all women in the country hope, and enters the White House?

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Astrology of the Day – Sun and Venus sextile Jupiter - Monday 8th January 2018

Sand and Venus sextile Jupiter - Gifts from the Planets

The Moon is in the sign of equality and balance, Libra for the whole of the day and our motivation is to get fairness for ourselves, whatever it takes to get it. We also want to relate and find out what other people are thinking, so this is a day of listening and also asking the questions we need to ask, to get the answers we require.

This is quite an unusual day as the Moon doesn't make any aspects until late on, and the main energy that we initially experience are two sextiles from the Sun and Venus to Jupiter. These are optimistic aspects of good humour and generosity. These aspects help us to grow in confidence, and give us a great vibe and a good start to the day. There is luck here too, lots of it as Venus and Jupiter are the greater and lesser fortune in a positive aspect. You can take a chance today and all being well things should work out for you. Take into account that Jupiter is still connected to Mars from yesterday, and the Sun and Venus are closing in on Pluto and there is passion and intensity here too in abundance. Take advantage of the gifts on offer from the planets here. They don't often give presents, and when they do we have to grab them with both hands.

The Moon late on forms a triple square to Sun, Venus and Pluto and we feel a little on edge and at cross purposes to how we would like to be. There is a bit of tension in the air as the day draws to a close, and the fairness that we want and desire from a partner may be missing. We may sense that we are being controlled or subtly manipulated, and as a result we may have to compromise our values or what we would like to do, to fit in with what your partner wants. Remember that the Moon in Libra ultimately want to keep the peace, and we'd rather play along than cause a scene.

Finally, Mars makes a conjunction to the star Zuben Eschamali today and tomorrow, the more fortunate Northern scale star in the constellation of Libra today. This is a good influence for us and our actions today, so if you start something or act in a positive manner then there is a fair chance that your aims will be successfully carried out, and that you will get a good outcome. This is a socially orientated star where you can benefit from helping others out, and in the process either your reputation will rise, or you may be rewarded for your efforts.

Michael Wolff – Writing words of fire and fury

Michael Wolff - The writer of "Fire and Fury"

The current storm around Donald Trump has been caused by the release of the book “Fire and Fury” penned by author and journalist Michael Wolff, who shadowed the President Trump and his team in the first few months of the administration's term of office. Wolff rushed out the book after lawyers tried to restrict it's release, due to the criticisms aimed at the Administration and President Trump. Excerpts from the book call Trump “like a child”, the running of the administration “chaotic” and it mentions a meeting at Trump Tower between the President's son Donald Jnr and some Russians as potentially “treasonous”.

Astrology of the Day – Moon in Libra - Sunday 7th January 2018

Venus conjunct Rukbat - Keeping Relationships Strong

The Moon starts in the last few degrees of Virgo, and it's like everything comes together in the first few hours of this day. Immediately we have the Mars Jupiter conjunction now exact as we cross over into Sunday, truly a conjunction of fire and fury, and Mercury also makes an exact trine to Uranus at the same time. You can feel the crackle of messages and news, excitement and gossip, action and unexpected events circulating around the world far and wide.

There is a true feeling of networking and the need to communicate in the first few hours of this day with the Moon joining into to this picture as it makes a square to Mercury, an inconjunct aspect to Uranus and an opposition to Chiron, therefore words sent or messages delivered may be ones that bring about a curt responses, changes of plans and hurtful replies. There is scepticism in the air, an interest in past events and wounds are opening up because of information that is being made publicly available.

All this occurs before the Moon moves over into the sign of Libra, and we try and return sense of balance and equilibrium to our lives. The Moon in Libra wants to relate and see the other side of the story, to try and work out the motivations of others. We also want justice and fairness, now and in the next couple of days. The Moon immediately runs into another difficult aspect, a square to Saturn. We may be challenged by someone of seniority now, or be faced with responsibilities that we have to take on our shoulders. There is a serious feeling to the end of the day as our emotions are held back, and relations that we have with others are put under some stresses and strains.

There are two star connections today that we should also be aware of. Firstly Venus starts to come into contact with the star Rukbat in the constellation of Sagittarius. This star of stability and strength (Rukbat literally means knee) locks us in place, and allows us to a solid base to carry out all of our tasks and plans. With Venus the planet of values, love and relationships conjunct to this star, we can find some strong stable love now, and both our personal values and our relationships can be strengthened. Mercury is starting the enter the stars of the sting of Scorpio, a place of attacks, and these will be of the verbal kind, stinging criticism and words aimed at hurting others. This is a interesting combination and it suggests that no matter what nasty criticisms are thrown our direction, we can actually grow stronger and closer to the ones we love despite any negativity in the air.

Astrology of the Day – Sun and Venus conjunct Vega – Saturday 6th January 2017

Sun and Venus conjunct Vega - Playing the Lyre

The Moon is in the disciplined and workaholic sign of Virgo today and we are focused on getting things right and doing things properly. There is a hard grafting and modest air about us today, unwilling to shout about or boast about what we have done or achieved, simply because it's only what we should have done in the first place.

The Moon stars off forming and opposition to Neptune and and we are confronted by compassion and maybe someone or something that needs our love and support. The question we have to answer ourselves is if this is genuine, or a ploy to get to our hearts through subtle manipulation and deception. Remember, Neptune plays games with our minds, binding us to its real intentions, and this aspect can be an indication of the whole day.

After this difficult and testing start to the day, the energy gets much easier and the picture is quite remarkable. The Moon then enters into a mini grand trine of quite epic proportions. In quite quick succession it will make three trines to Venus, Sun and Pluto and sextiles to Jupiter and Mars who by the end of the day will be in an exact conjunction. All this energy is easy moving energy seeing the chance to move a relationship and your values (Venus) onwards and to change the very substance of it (Pluto) through optimism, applying your actions, opening yourself out to all possibilities and by taking a chance (Mars/Jupiter). All this is carried out with a sense of balance between your emotions (Moon) and and the energy that you exert (Sun). There is the chance to move a situation on a long way under this most positive set of connections.

Now today both the Sun and Venus make a conjunction on the brilliant star Vega. This star in the constellation of Lyra, the harp, played by the Greek God Orpheus the poet and prophet of the heavens, is linked to creative talents and the making of music that could charm the birds and beasts. This can be a very deceptive star but also one of beauty and imagination, and in our relationships and also linked to our values we can strike a clever deal today or use our talents to create magic and beautiful situations for others to appreciate. The question is, are we creating a vision to truly believe in, or one to deceive? That depends on how perceptive and switched on we are, and what we want to see. Much of what goes on today will be genuine, but a lot also will be fake, and our ability to discriminate between the two will be key to how successful our day will be...

Astrology of the Day – Moon in Virgo - Friday 5th January 2018

Moon in Virgo - One of the Ordinary People

The Moon starts this day in the last degrees of the sign of Leo moving void of course through the dark early hours of Friday. All the pride we showed yesterday has nowhere to go now, the crowd has drifted away, and we are left an actor on an empty stage. It's time to pack up and get back to the day job and this will happen as the Sun rises and the Moon shifts into practical, earthy Virgo.

Now we are no longer the star, we are one of the ordinary people, trudging to work, stuck in a traffic jam, trying to find a seat on an overcrowded train. We don't mind though, as being the ordinary person is exactly what the Moon in in Virgo wants to be, it doesn't want us to stand out. This is a practical position and we will want to be of service, attend to the details and do the dirty, but ever so necessary work.

The Moon makes just one aspect today, and it fits in beautifully with the working theme, as it forms a trine to administrative Saturn. These two planets are on good terms today, they are speaking each other's language. We get on with our day in an organised and regimental fashion, building on the progress that we made at the start of the year. This is a day of hard graft and making sure that the foundations of our life are fully secure, and to this end we should succeed, if we attend properly to the responsibilities that we have.

Finally there is one last connection that is important, and this sees Mercury reconnecting with the star in the constellation of Ophiuchus, Ras Alhague. Last time this connection was made on 12th December, I mentioned that matter of health, social services and welfare of all would be prevalent issues for us to contend with, and you may find that these will be that will raise their head above the parapet once again...

Astrology of the Day – Moon in Leo – Thursday 4th January 2018

Moon in Leo - A 24 hour drama

My this is a busy day. The Moon begins in dramatic Leo and we have a need to be the star of the show, to be treated like a a hero, a king or a queen. This is dramatic energy, proud energy and emotion on display and we will be like an actor, out front and centre. This will also be a day when our pride will be everything, and we will be willing to defend it.

Lots happening today, so lets get cracking. The Moon makes three inconjunct aspects to begin the day, to Neptune, to Venus and the Sun. We are off balance, maybe a little perplexed and confused, relationships may be strained and we will be adjusting to new situations that unsettled us linked to to a partnership or friendship. We may need to sacrifice ourselves, we may be suffering in some manner or our values may be tested and we might have to adjust them.

The Moon then makes contact to the North Node, and for a brief moment, we are drawn to think about our destiny, our role in the future, what direction are we travelling in and is it the right one? Square to the Nodes are Mars and Jupiter and the Moon in squaring these planets too gives us impetus to act on our desires and to take a chance. As I said in my other post today on Facebook, this is a combination of intense adventure and the desire to move forward. Here is the action hero called in to play a leading role.

The Moon forms an inconjunct to Pluto next, and a we think about changes we must make or maybe we are forced change tack through someone who is more powerful or influential than we are. There are still three more aspects to go, as the Moon makes a trine to Mercury and another to Uranus. These are connections of communicating, networking, innovating, being sceptical, progressive and quick witted. Our brains are alive now, with ideas and thoughts, clever solutions perhaps? Finally the Moon makes an inconjunct aspect to Chiron, and we have to learn a lesson, suffer a disappointment or take a difficult situation on the chin. This my friends is a very fast moving day and one because of the Leo Moon that may be as akin to a TV drama. The script is set, and it's time to perform…

Astrology of the Day – Venus sextile Neptune – Wednesday 3rd January 2018

Neptune sextile Venus - Ballooning over Cappadocia, Turkey

As is the pattern of the planets in the skies right now, one very busy day is followed by a very mundane and quiet one and so the pattern continues on this Wednesday. The Moon begins in Cancer for the first few hours not making any aspects and therefore we should be emotionally a little empty. Maybe we want to show some love and attention, but for some reason you can't? Maybe there is no-one special in your life at the moment, or your partner or family members are unresponsive?

As we reach the morning and the Sun rises, the Moon enters the confident sign of Leo. Now we will desire more attention given to us; Leo is ever the showman, and whatever we do we will look for an audience for approval. There is enthusiasm now in abundance and optimism too. If we have any achievements we will be filled with pride and a “told you so” attitude. Of course anything that goes up must eventually come down, and that Leonine pride may be punctured by the only aspect the Moon receives today, a decidedly tricky inconjunct to severe Saturn. “No, no, you haven't achieved anything yet” will be the reply you get when you face your boss or your friend or anyone you are trying to impress. “That's not the most efficient course of action” will be the next retort, and of course Saturn is always right. The Moon in Leo can be overblown and pompous, and this aspect will knock us back to size.

The saving grace today though is the feature aspect of the day, as Venus the planet of love and beauty connects with Neptune, the planet of imagination and compassion in a lovely easy sextile. I mentioned about things going up in the air and this aspect reminds me of the most amazing ballooning experience that I had a couple of years ago. When you rise up into the clouds it is truly stunning; quiet, contemplative and you can forget all your troubles for an hour of being at peace and at one with the world. In this oasis of calm and love, we have the planet of love connected to the planet of higher love, we can create, imagine, seek ideals and truly show caring. You can rise above the petty squabbles and exist on a higher plain than those around you if you so wish. Seek out perfection and go with it, and this day can be one of beauty and amazing insight...

Astrology of the Day – Full Moon in Cancer - Tuesday 2nd January 2018

Setting a New Course at the Full Moon and Uranus direct

The Moon is in the warm homespun sign of Cancer today, and we are drawn to things we know, our family, our roots, our heritage and our nation. This is a sign of the home and whether it's entertaining friends at home, cleaning up after the New Year's celebrations, spending time at home with loved ones on the sofa watching a good movie, or cooking a meal (Cancer loves food), we will want that love of familiarity around us.

This is a most remarkable day. We begin the day moving straight into a Full Moon in Cancer. I have already looked at this from many angles in my post a few days ago, but just to paraphrase, it highlights our home life as against what we do in public and our work life and our personal security as opposed to our responsibilities, and makes us think how we can make best use of the situations that we are in. As I explained there is a risk taking attitude linked to this Full Moon, one of adventure and setting off on a journey, but one associated with pitfalls if you haven't done your homework on where you are planning to go, and packed the right things accordingly.

After the Full Moon culminates, it goes on to make three consecutive trine aspects, firstly to Mars, then to Neptune then to Jupiter. Here comes the adventure bit. The Moon trine to Mars is a signal to go, go, go!! This is a lovely energetic, enthusiastic connection, wanting to make progress, there's a will to win, ambition and high hopes. There is deep desire to do well with Mars in Scorpio, and a can do attitude from the Moon in cardinal Cancer. Next up is the trine to Neptune. This is spiritual, emotionally healing energy. There is a flood of emotion here, as if you are bursting into tears at the prospect of leaving ones we love behind, as we set off on this adventure. We may be making a sacrifice now, but it is a necessary one to make.

Finally in this string of aspects completing a grand water trine is the link to Jupiter. Here is a need to learn, to travel long distance, to experience new ideas and culture. The need to stretch yourself to the limit (Jupiter in Scorpio) or go deeper into your reserves than ever before. We desire challenging experiences now, ones that will push and test us.

Following on from this triple trine, the Moon makes an opposition to Pluto. Here is a need for transformation, to control of our own destiny, the need to survive. We have to survive!! Pluto is in Capricorn and so is Saturn now too, so we need to adjust the way we organise things, administrate our lives and others, the way we work, change our ambitions, our attitudes to authority or to senior people. We have to transform our attitude to responsibility too, and to simplify our lives. Things have got too complicated and they need to be paired down. This opposition comes minutes before the most important event of this remarkable day, as Uranus stations direct.

At this moment 14.42 GMT all the planets will be moving direct. Uranus turning gives us a signal that we must move forward, change direction, seek a new path. All the energy is travelling forwards and I urge you to do the same by seizing the moment. Whatever is blocking you, remove it. Either go a different direction, bypass the problem, eliminate it, do whatever you can to get moving forwards. Trust me you will not regret it. The planets are now all direct for over two moths, and I cannot remember a longer period when they were doing this.

After Uranus turns, the Moon makes an inconjunct aspect to Mercury and we may have to adjust our thoughts and our ideas. What you say or communicate may not get the response you were expecting from others. The theme of doing things for yourself and in a different manner continues as late in the day the Moon makes the first aspect to the newly direct Uranus, a square. Think logically and innovate. If you don't do it, someone else may encourage you to do so. Unusual things can happen now, tensions may be on edge a bit, as the unexpected behaviour from someone else, or an unforeseen situation, causes disruption for you. At the same time, the Moon forms it's last aspect to Chiron. A lot of healing will have gone on today. Maybe through being forced to consider new options or through encouragement. Either way we can start to put the problems of the past behind us. Be a maverick, calculate the best way to get your life on track, and go for it!! In your heart you know that it's now, or never...

Astrology of the Day – Moon in Cancer – Monday 1st January 2018

The Crab - The sign of Cancer

The Moon starts this, the first day of 2018, in the sign of Gemini again void of course for a few a hours. As we are in the first few hours of this year, our thoughts will be on connecting with all our friends and wishing them the best for the coming year, and this Moon helps us to do that. It is a Moon determined to chat and communicate and it will keep our minds active until we finally crash out.

In the morning, the scenery changes and the Moon enters it's home sign of Cancer, a sign of family, security and protection. Now our need is to keep those we love close, and to carry out those daily acts of kindness that we know that our nearest and dearest will love. We are very tied to the moods around us now, and we may pick up on emotional signals from others much more readily, thus we could be more prone to fluctuating feelings, from of ones of joy and happiness to moments of irritation and sadness, depending on the environment we find ourselves in.

On entering Cancer, the Moon makes an opposition to Saturn and immediately the responsibilities that we know we must do will fall upon our shoulders. This is an emotionally reserved aspect and we will be determined to do the right thing, to be organised and to administrate our lives in the right way. We may come under some pressure today from someone who is demanding, maybe someone older or wiser than you are.

Saturn and Venus are still in a wide but diverging conjunction as we enter 2018 and the Moon later on makes another opposition this time to Venus. Late on we may be very sensitive to what our partner or friends say and do, and we may find that we disagree with some of their ideas or suggestions. Venus in Capricorn is not very outgoing itself and doesn't want to be shown a lot of attention, and yet the Moon in Cancer is very clingy and touchy feely, and this conflict may play out that you want to show love, but your partner will tend to back away a little. Don't worry as this is just a passing phase.

Mars this day is moving onto the fixed star Zuben Elgenubi, the less fortunate star making up the Southern Scale in Libra. This will tend to frustrate us a bit, as our actions may not find favour with others over the next day or so. It's almost like whatever you do, something will prevent you from really succeeding, you won't quite get the results that you desire. If you are making new year's resolutions, then this may be a signal that you may not quite fulfil your ambitions of giving up smoking, or doing more exercise and sport. This is a star of volunteering and working for the benefit of others without making a profit yourself, so why not give up your time to your community of for those who would appreciate a visit in the new year, like an elderly neighbour who may not have been able to celebrate our passage into 2018? It's a good thing to do, and you'll feel satisfied in yourself that you've made a worthy start to the new year.

Astrology of the Day – Venus conjunct Facies – Sunday 31st December 2017

Big Ben ringing in the New Year 

We come to the last day in the year 2017 and the Moon spends this day in Gemini. Quick witted and quicksilver, this a day of keeping busy. Like a hummingbird scooting about from one flower to the next, we will act the same in switching from one task to another, we will be always on the go, never stopping for a breath. The Moon makes no less than 7 aspects during these 24 hours.

To begin with the Moon forms a square to Neptune, and emotionally we are confused and willing to sacrifice our principles for the sake of someone else. We can also use this aspect to act the victim, so as to gain a favour instead. The Moon goes on very quickly to make an inconjunct to Mars, and the actions we take either may not pay off, or may be thwarted in some manner, leaving us to get somewhat irritated. The Moon also will be making an inconjunct to Jupiter too at the same time, and we may continue to try (maybe too hard) to get things right, or to make amends for mistakes we made, but the more we do so, the more we will be digging a deeper hole for ourselves. Stop! Think!
It'll be time to take a break before you cause a total mess of things.

The Moon now goes on to form an opposition to Mercury, and a verbal disagreement may break out. These two planets are in the houses of the mind (Gemini – the human mind and Sagittarius – the higher mind) and a philosophical division may be emerging. Following on from this the Moon makes another inconjunct aspect to Pluto, and subtle manipulation can change a position. I feel mind games going on in the middle of the day with the Moon linked in at one point to all three planets (Jupiter/Mercury and Pluto) being at the point of a yod, or finger of God formation. Our emotions will be taking the toll of these connections as we are questioned, picked apart and manipulated. Of course, you could be the one dishing out the interrogation.

At the end of the day, just before the clock strikes midnight, the Moon forms two last connections before we move into 2018. They are quite appropriate. The square to Chiron hints at past hurts that we will wish to put behind us, and to do that we have to learn lessons, and take a new course. That's possible, as the Moon also makes a sextile to Uranus, which as you will know is the planet of change and progress, and is standing almost still now ready to turn direct. When it does in 2 days time we can set a new course for the year to come, to wipe away the disappointments we had and to move on with fresh hope. Opportunities are here for us to do this.

There is a fixed star connection that frames this day as Venus the planet of relationships, love and values makes acquaintance with Facies in the constellation of Sagittarius the Archer. Facies is a notorious star, indeed it is actually a nebula which in days of yore was used to test the sight of prospective archers in the military. If the candidate could see this faint nebula, it was thought he had good enough sight to become one of the most feared of opponents in war. Now like the archer who is fixed on a target, this a star of ultra focus and determination. There is a deadly side to this star, is it helps us to eliminate anything in the way of our goals, even to the extent of cruelty. Here is ruthlessness, a very direct and yet rather blunt attitude whenever we are exposed to Facies. In our lives, we may be a little too frank to a partner, and hurtful attitudes can damage a partnership in the next couple of days. The same could be said of our handling of possessions and money, and we may be so focused on the material side of things, that we may forget about the emotional side instead. You may be vengeful at any injustice that faces you, and very cut and dried in your opinions about things. Subtlety will not be our best quality today, and we may be too heavy handed for our own good. Look around the world for social situations that also get out of hand, because of a less than subtle approach.

Finally I would like to wish you all the most amazing New Year's celebrations, and I hope that you'll be following me, and my work, into 2018. I am trying to set new ground in the way that Astrology is written and presented, and it you agree and support my approach. If you do, then please, please help me achieve my ambitions to make a positive impact on the world of Astrology and beyond, by encouraging anyone you know who is interested in this amazing subject to visit my work, and to find out how the planets and stars truly shape our lives.

Iran Protests – Illustrating the effects of Uranus preparing to turn direct.

The city of Yadz in Iran

On my summary of the upcoming New Moon on 1st/2nd January I mentioned that the planet of disruption, protest and revolution Uranus was getting ready to turn direct on the same day that the Full Moon hit, and to expect changes in direction over value systems. Well, right on cue there are protests starting to gather in Iran and yes, Uranus is directly involved.