Eclipse on my birthday

There is going to be a full moon and full lunar eclipse on my birthday next week. How do you think that might affect me? I am hoping for something positive!

S

I'm a bit iconoclast where it comes to eclipses ... I don't give them the weight many astrologers do. To most traditional astrologers, an eclipse is treated like the Death Card in the Tarot (or death images in dreams). It's supposed to signify a dynamic change of some kind. To me, it is just a slightly more interesting full moon aspect. The Moon just moves too quickly, the impact of a Lunar transit rarely has impact past a day or so.

However ... it does fall on your birthday and that's what we call a "solar return" chart - and that chart holds sway over the rest of your year. This is why birthday celebrations are so important - whatever happens on the birthday affects the "mood" of the rest of the year. And this year could prove to be extremely important for you.

This Moon is in Leo, in your third house, opposing a stellium of planets in your 9th house. What's a stellium? That's a whack-load of planets. A great big group of 'em. Without going into too much astrologeze ... the bottom line is you are likely to be writing or teaching some form of healing, spiritual, or metaphysical ideas this year. There is a Square to natal Neptune. That could lead to confusion, escapist urges, the temptation to escape through drugs or alcohol. You need to work harder than normal to stay grounded. Luckily you have a Solar Sextile to Saturn, that will bring you down to earth gently enough to keep at least one foot on the ground, and a Trine to Jupiter brings in some good luck. I think you could be looking at a career change. You need to push yourself into the spotlight, take a leadership role, stand on your own ideas.

It looks like you are processing a huge amount of spiritual energy this year and could use some support as you face some transformative energies.

Britney Back in the News

In my forecast for January I wrote:

Speaking of Venus, I expect another "pop-tart" flap this month. I would suggest that all the usual blonde suspects take a vacation somewhere nice and warm and remote, keep their mouths shut and stay out of the spotlight for a little while. One of them is likely to make a mistake that might end her career once and for all. Whatever happens will make a lot of money for other people, but it could be the straw that breaks her camel's back, or (ideally) finally be the real "rock bottom" she needs to get real help.

Tonight on the radio I heard that pop star Britney Spears was just taken from her home in a stretcher. CNN is reporting Spears was taken from her home on a stretcher and placed in an ambulance hours after police were called because of a child custody dispute. The radio report mentioned possible drug use related to the incident.

I did not specifically name Britney at that point, but she was in the "top three" possible suspects in my mind at the time. Also, back in October, I was asked by one of Britney Spears' fans to write about her. At the time I said:

Mars Square Neptune equals drug abuse. In her case, potentially fatal drug abuse or serious jail time (12th house Mars), if she does not find some way to reconnect with a spiritual or creative outlet. I hate to say it but right now the creative isn't working for her all that well, and fame isn't helping matters. Her only hope is a profound spiritual experience, a rock-bottom "near death" experience might be the life-saving experience she needs to wake her up. Losing custody of her kids hasn't seemed to make a profound impact, the possible loss of loved ones in other areas is featured in her transits right now. There could be a death in her family, and with what is known I truly fear for her own well-being, frankly.

I also described her lifestyle as "a really exciting wild ride filled with drug abuse, jealous rages, competition and dysfunction". I see no signs this will change. The current chart, calculated for the time police are reported to have arrived at her home, likewise speaks of drug abuse and danger to children, and the challenge for Ms. Spears is to survive what has become an almost archetypal role of the modern damsel in distress. For her trials to come through so clearly in a mundane chart says to me that she is playing a larger than life role in our culture. She symbolizes something that is wrong with our culture, just as Benazir Bhutto symbolized and played out something horribly wrong in her own field of influence. That's a huge burden for any one human being to bear, and with the weight of all that on her fragile shoulders, I only pray she and her children get the help and compassion they need right now.

Astrological Analysis: Bhutto Killed in Pakistan

Back in November, I spoke of my concern for Benazir Bhutto:

Last month I spoke of a woman in leadership coming to prominence, and of course the story of Benazir Bhutto fits nicely with the aspects I was watching then. Her potential is great, but I am afraid for her safety with the aspects I see right now. I would urge her to be more cautious than she has been in the past. The same for other women leaders who have polarizing or controversial pasts, who want to transform the world quickly or in radical ways. This is not the best time to push past people's prejudice. They will want to fight to hold on to the "old ways", and some of that push-back could be violent. I feel some of this energy could peak mid-month.

November came and went safely for Ms. Bhutto, but today, her good luck came crashing to an unfortunate end, and she was assassinated in the middle of a political rally. Looking at the astrological chart for the time of death, the Ascendant is Cancer, ruled by the Moon (a prominent woman). The Moon in Leo (arrogant leadership, feeling invulnerable) is opposed North Node, T-Squared Venus (a strong woman crossed by unfortunate events). The 12th House Mars (secret plots, war, violence) is opposed by Pluto and Jupiter (religious extremism, the potential for great violence).


The AstroCartography chart for the death time is frightening. It places Jupiter, Mars and Pluto lines in Iran, with the Death-God Pluto directly over Tehran. Worse, the Uranus MidHeaven line (unexpected, shocking events in high profile people or leadership position) also crosses Tehran. There are two possible interpretations. It is possible this assassination was sponsored in Iran, or that Iran will be blamed for it, and there may be retaliatory assassinations in Iran as a result.

Uranus, Pluto, Mars and Jupiter are a dangerous, explosive mixture in this kind of configuration. This assassination could have repercussions that will echo around the world. It bodes ill for peace in 2008, the effects could stain the entire region under a cloud of violent bloodshed. There is a particularly high degree of danger as Pakistan is a nuclear-powered country, and the expanding chaos may put their stockpiles in jeopardy. I am loathe to predict a nuclear exchange, and I pray it is avoidable, but I would not be surprised if there were some kind of nuclear disaster in Pakistan or Iran in the next 18 months.

Mercury also plays a role in this chart, with the Mercury Rising line passing close to Atlanta (CNN headquarters), Washington DC and New York City. The same Pluto, Mars and Jupiter lines cross through the heartland of America. Clearly this news will have a huge impact in the United States as well, possibly leading to a wider spread of the war in Iraq, and a greater burden for "Middle America". The controversy may affect the US elections. I would be greatly surprised if the war in Iraq, and the broader war on terror do not spread dramatically as a result.

December 2007 Forecast

This month is all about medicine, healthcare, and wellness. Expect to hear many strange and unusual stories about the healthcare industry. There will be gender-specific angles in a flurry of stories about the different ways men and women should be treated in the art of medicine, especially where it comes to geriatrics. The truth is we do have different needs, and there is a lot of work to be done in women’s medicine in particular. Funding is being diverted from women's research, and there could be some kind of scandal revealed that could result in some high-profile individuals going to court or worse. The upside of these revelations could mean a balancing (at long last) of some long-standing inequities in modern medicine.

Another scandal in the medical field may involve a large company's medical or healthcare plans. There could be some kind of security or privacy compromise. This company most likely has large telecommunications, radio or Internet holdings. They will attempt to keep this breach secret, but the truth will hit the fan between the first and second weeks of the month.

If you are feeling confused the past few months, look to where in your life your desire for freedom is at odds with your need for freedom. Saturn and Uranus are opposing right now, giving many people fits of mutually incompatible desires. Where this will manifest depends on where these two planets hang in your transit chart. There is an opportunity around the middle of the month to use this energy for your personal benefit, especially if your "confusion of choice" happens to involve romance. You may find yourself with a lot of new choices and options, if you are prepared to move quickly on the opportunities that are coming your way.

Special Holiday Advice: If you are one of those people who volunteers to do it all, then ends up feeling resentful and unappreciated, go to Hawaii this year, and let someone else take over the family chores. Or hire a caterer to handle all the picky little details. Or just have a little less of the time-intensive goodies and preparations. You'll feel torn between your desire to impress others and the very real need to have some fun yourself. You can't be a joy to others if you feel resentful – and you folks are putting yourself in the position to feel that way by your own refusal to say "NO". Lighten up. No holiday will ever be "perfect". Let it be what it is and enjoy yourself! Santa will be happy to get by with one less rum ball or two, and everyone else will be happier if they know you are having some fun too.

Astrology Overview May 2007

This month starts off with some encouraging aspects related to work, career and finances. There will be breakthroughs in communications and technology soon that could help boost some lagging businesses. If your business or career is a bit slow, you may benefit from installing a new computer system, network, or getting some advice from a trusted friend or partner.

The big challenge right now is hidden agendas in global politics. Some frightening secrets may come to light this month that could renew and energize conflicts and terrorist attacks. Expect explosions aimed at “home, hearth and family”, the attacks will also be aimed at Western culture, its financial institutions and its freedoms.

The New Moon on May 16th takes place in Taurus, so a good deal of the emphasis this month will be on finances, creature comforts, personal security and values. The unstable political and social climate will have people reaching out for quick fixes. There will be high-profile celebrity rehab meltdowns (again), which are a metaphor for what is wrong with the rest of us.

The upside to these challenges is that they will make us all take a good, long look at what we value, what we believe, and why. When we come to the other side, it will be hard for us to relate to our old belief systems. By mid to late may, a woman in political leadership may open up some secrets that will open up a whole new can of worms involving the chaos in Africa or the Middle East. This scandal could propel her career forward and higher in a spectacular manner.