Astrology Booth Blog - your guide to our little corner of the universe

Wisconsin’s Recall Election from an Astrological Angle

2011-08-09T02:08:00.001-04:00

Two powerhouse planets are nearing an important turning point after completing about a quarter of their cycle of 115 (or so) years that began in the turbulent Sixties. Rebellious Uranus is approximately 90 degrees past plutocratic Pluto (in a relationship called a square, meaning at cross purposes). This relationship symbolizes well the current insanity in the markets (Uranus relates to volatility and Pluto to investments) and the special recall election in Wisconsin, a referendum on right wing warfare against the middle class (Uranus means “the people”) and a test of the influence of big money and power (Pluto again) to affect elections. This square was a weak 10 degrees from exact at the election in Nov. 2010 (and the population was not riled up at that point), then a stronger 8 degrees from exact the night the Wisconsin legislature shoved through its anti-union law on Feb. 25, 2011 (amidst massive demonstrations), and is a potent one degree from exact at the Aug. 9, 2011 recall election (expected to have record turnout despite efforts to make it harder to vote).

The dwarf planet Ceres was only 4 degrees from Pluto at the election in Nov. 2010 when the Republican Governor Scott Walker was elected. Ceres relates to protective agencies like the police and firefighters who are among the targets of his union-busting agenda. (Ceres also relates to commodities markets.) Nothing had been said in his campaign to indicate any problem for these groups. On August 9, 2011, Ceres is at 0 degrees Aries, the first degree of the zodiac, often associated with big news and events of far-reaching impact. This time, it’s only 4 degrees from Uranus, representing the masses, both in Aries, a sign of anger and action. As goddess of harvests, Ceres’ symbol is the sickle (picture angry masses of workers brandishing sickles – or maybe not since that sounds like Russian Communists but these are teachers and peaceful democratic middle class people). Together with Uranus, ruler of lightning and electricity, they are about to deliver a shock and make history. As the polls open for the recall election in the state’s capitol, Retrograde Mercury (the planet of communication in its phase of apparent backward motion) is rising in the chart (a position of emergence and visibility). Mercury Retrograde is perfect for a “do-over” and a step in the opposite direction.

Astrologers might argue this point, but I contend Saturn (planet of authority and elder status) represents conservatives and Jupiter (planet of open-mindedness and eternal learning) represents progressives. At the opening of the polls for the Nov. 2010 election as well as the night the anti-union law passed in Feb. 2011, Saturn was rising toward the upper reaches of the chart (gaining in power) while Jupiter was dropping lower in the chart (waning in influence). (In fact on the night the law passed, Jupiter and Saturn were 10 degrees from an exact stand-off opposite each other.) On Tuesday, August 9, 2011, as the recall election commences, the reverse is true: Jupiter is high in the sky and Saturn is low. This is another clue as to which way the wind will blow. I will be surprised if the Democrats don’t retake the state Senate. Even if it’s only “close but no cigar,” the solidarity of the middle class is sending a message to Republican governors across the nation that workers are “mad as hell and not going to take it any more.”

July 15 Full Moon – Peak of Political Power Plays?

2011-07-14T23:48:00.004-04:00

News headlines frequently mirror simultaneous astrological occurrences. Current discussions about the US economy and its global impact, raising the national debt limit, tackling the deficit and addressing the gap between revenue and spending are all associated with the planet Pluto, which rules shared finances. Things are coming to a head around the July 2011 Full Moon. Full Moons are often a marker for a peak or culmination, sometimes a completion. The Moon at 22-1/2 degrees of Capricorn is opposite (by definition) the Sun at 22-1/2 degrees Cancer. The influence of a Full Moon stretches a few degrees before and after its point of exactness.

Looking at the USA chart for July 4, 1776 (no matter what birth time you use – and astrologers debate about that!), the country’s birth position for Pluto is at 27-1/2 degrees of Capricorn, while the Mercury position is around 24 degrees of Cancer. In addition, the USA Mercury is in the apparent backward motion called Retrograde, famous for re-visiting a topic. Mercury across from Pluto shows how the country frequently has opposing views on how to handle its finances and care for its people (nurturing is related to Cancer). The current Full Moon points right to this conflict and should mean some kind of conclusion, at least for this round of discussions, though the topic will arise again and again.

Approximately half-way between the USA’s Mercury and Pluto, forming a tough pattern called a T-square with them is the USA’s Chiron. This asteroid, nicknamed the “wounded healer,” shows where difficulties arise and gives clues to resolving them. The USA Chiron in Aries points to selfishness as a sticking point. Everyone wants his slice of the American pie! The upside of Aries is being bold and fresh. New solutions are needed because what’s been tried isn’t working.

Adding a monkey wrench to the process is the very slow-moving newly discovered little planet, Eris (a troublemaker in mythology). It is now around 22 degrees of Aries, turning up the volume on arguments. At this Full Moon, the Moon and Sun are in a nearly exact T-square pattern with Eris. This Full Moon is the peak of a cycle that began at the July 1 New Moon at 9 degrees of Cancer, across from the USA birth position of Eris at 8 degrees of Capricorn, reinforcing the present Eris involvement. Eris also indicate strong, powerful (and perhaps angry) women. Will it be the women in the legislature who lead the way?

[A side note, nothing to do with economics or politics. This week’s highlights in my Janet’s Plan-its 2011 Celestial Planner says: “look for well-known women protesting as well as news about women in the military or leadership positions.” This described the July 11 entry of the woman-related dwarf planet, Ceres, into Aries, a sign associated with athletics and competitions. The USA women’s soccer team, on a roll since then, plays in the world final game July 17. Again, the news reflects the cosmic weather: “as above, so below.”]

Although this Full Moon is not an eclipse, it is the culmination of a cycle that began with a Solar Eclipse - and a rare type at that. It began a totally new Saros Cycle, which is a series of 72 related eclipses occurring every 18 years over a period of 1300 years. They spiral around the earth’s surface, each a third of the world’s circumference beyond the one before it. The cycle begins with partial eclipses near one pole that become total when occurring closer to the equator, then receding to partial eclipses as they approach the end of the cycle at the opposite pole. This entire new cycle will carry the flavor of the current astrological tides as a subtext to the evolving energies of future related eclipses.

The key feature at the July 1 eclipse was a pattern as formidable as a T-square and similar to it, with the empty spot across from the middle planet filled in to form a Grand Cross. Three heavy-duty slow planets are traveling in a T-square. They were roughly in this relationship a year ago, when many astrologers expected a market crash and economic downturn at the end of July 2010. It didn’t happen then, but we’re back to a tension level and situation where it’s threatened again. Uranus (famous for unpredictability and rebelliousness) and the financial planet, Pluto, are slowly heading for their exact stand-off, a friction-producing 90-degree square in 2012. (More on that in future blogs!) Meanwhile Saturn (planet of responsible maturity) is moving through Libra (and the empty spot of the USA T-square) creating a T-square that’s strong for several more weeks. The eclipse Sun and Moon filled in the empty spot of that T-square, at 9 degrees of Cancer (exactly 90 degrees from the USA Eris).

Saturn is a planet of karma, bringing rewards (or punishment) for behavior. It’s also the planet signaling definitions and regulations. Uranus rules the masses and humanitarian leanings. Pluto, like its name implies, is associated with plutocracy, control by those with assets and power. Here we have an indication of the conflicting interests between the masses and the ruling classes, what the media calls class warfare. The Cancer Moon and Sun indicate the caring role the government, as representatives of the people, plays for the collective. This is the time for that role to be defined.

One of the obstacles to finding common ground between the warring parties is the Republican party’s refusal to even consider any form of tax increase to bridge the revenue-spending gap. Almost to a man (or woman), Republicans in Congress have signed an anti-tax pledge foisted on them by someone who wields more influence than most elected officials: Grover Norquist. As head of a group called Americans for Tax Reform, he can dole out or withhold campaign contributions from the moneyed minority and corporations who stand to benefit from low taxes on them. Basically they are pledging allegiance to their contributors rather than their nation and constituents. Mr. Norquist’s Sun at 26 degrees of Libra forms a Grand Cross with the USA Mercury-Chiron-Pluto T-square. He stymies balancing the USA budget. Without ever increasing taxes, this can only be done at the (literal) expense of the vast majority of the non-rich. So we’ll see how America defines itself. Is it still a nation of majority rule?

The degrees in question show up in the charts of other key players in the debate: House Majority Leader, Rep. Eric Cantor (R, VA), Lunar Nodes at 22 Cancer/Capricorn; John Boehner, Speaker of the House (R, OH), Jupiter 27 Capricorn; Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader (R, NV), Saturn at 25 Aries; Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader (D, CA), North Node at 21 Libra; Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, Lunar Nodes at 25 Capricorn/Cancer, Uranus at 22 Cancer, Mars and Neptune at 25 Libra; and both President Barack Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (born 2 weeks after Obama) with Saturn at 25 Capricorn. Will Rand Paul (R, KY) call for a filibuster in the Senate? Probably not. He has no planets in the 22-27 degree range of the pertinent signs.

The debt ceiling date of August 2 is the day Mercury begins another backward jaunt. The US has been dumb before. Will going into default by failure to quit bickering be the latest and greatest mistake? Doesn’t look likely. Fortunately, the degree range for this retrograde doesn’t poke at the zodiacal trouble spots for the US economy. But you can’t bank on that.

Potent Planetary Combination Brings Big News

2011-05-06T09:51:00.001-04:00

A rare and formidable team-up of three powerful planets, called a triple conjunction, occurred over a three-day period from April 29 to May 1 (May 2 in Europe and east of there). I wrote about it in my Janet’s Plan-its 2011 astrological calendar and then anxiously awaited what would transpire then that would pack a punch. The deadly devastating tornado outbreaks in southeastern USA just days before that time didn’t really match the associations of the planets involved, but the demise of our nation’s biggest enemy on May 1-2 sure did! And in a way, even the Royal wedding on April 29 fit the bill.

Jupiter spends about a year in a sign, usually. This year, it speeds through the zodiac’s first sign, Aries (famous for quickness), in record time from late January to early June (after a brief foray into Aries 6/6 - 9/9 last year). It spent much of 2010 buddied up with wildcard Uranus zigzagging the border between the first and last degrees of the zodiac circle. This is the point the Sun traverses each year at the vernal equinox, ending winter and rebirthing toward the summer solstice. Get the feeling of the close of one era and the start of another? As the biggest planet in our solar system, Jupiter expands or exaggerates whatever it contacts. Uranus is the planet of revolution and the populace at large. So Jupiter was revved up to spur large protests, which began as soon as it entered Aries (a sign of impatience and anger) the second time on January 22. It didn’t take long for the Egyptian President Mubarak to succumb to the rising tide of change, resigning on Feb. 11 after just 18 days of huge demonstrations.

The grand finale of Uranus in the last sign of Pisces came March 11 when the earthquake and resulting tsunami hit Japan. I had correctly predicted “ocean-related news” and “suffering of the masses” then but I hadn’t anticipated anything like the ensuing fires, explosions and meltdowns in the nuclear reactors that added awful insult to the horrendous injury immediately upon as Uranus’s entry into Aries. It should have been easy enough to guess: Uranus is the planet related to electricity, explosions and surprises, including catastrophes, while Aries signifies fire.

By the time Uranus strode into Aries March 11 to settle in for a seven-year stay, unrest across the Middle East was well underway. On April Fool’s Day (in some US time zones; April 2nd in the east), Mars stormed into the sign it “rules” (a term denoting a strong association between a planet and a sign) for a five-week visit. By the end of the month, it would pass Jupiter, which had by then caught up to the newest planet, slow Eris, named for Mars’s bitchy sister and thought to represent strife. This is the triple conjunction I had circled on my calendar and worried that some tragedy would ensue. Historically it’s been affiliated with war and turmoil, though not exclusively. For instance, at its last occurrence (in January 1940), it coincided with the first demonstration of FM radio to the FCC (Jupiter rules all forms of long distance communication and Mars relates to newness). But a Mars-Jupiter combo can spell a big conflict or attack, and blended with Eris, it certainly looked like trouble, at least for someone. As we came closer to May Day, I began to wonder if the big news would involve taking out Ghadafi. But a different prey was being sniffed down. By the weekend, the Mars’ relation to leadership and decisiveness showed itself as what’s been called a “gutsy decision” on the part of President Obama in ordering the attack on Osama bin Laden.

The exact moment his death has not been disclosed but it’s safe to say that the final hours of the decision-making do align with the Moon’s quick passage over the triple conjunction midday on Sunday, May 1. By the time of the mission that night, the Moon (which moves about a degree every two hours) was about three degrees past Eris, Jupiter and Mars. As the heavenly body that moves fastest around the zodiac, the Moon is the ultimate timer for events and showed its thrust once again.

When I think of all the disasters I had worried about prior to this big planetary line-up, I am grateful that the main manifestation was the culmination of a decade-long manhunt. BUT – and this is a big but – it remains to be seen if Eris’s association with chaos will bring unintended and unwanted repercussions in the future. A time to keep your eye on will be around May 9, when Mercury and Venus, currently traveling closely together, pass Eris (forming another triple conjunction, though a less volatile one) at the same degree of the May Day weekend triple conjunction. Mercury signals news. Venus is generally peaceful and benign. Considering they’re in Aries, there could be aggression in an attempt at balance (which Venus also rules). Already we’re seeing adversarial discussions domestically about the potential role of “enhanced interrogation” in obtaining the information to track down bin Laden and heated political disagreements about whether to release the photographic evidence of the deed. Did I mention that Jupiter is related to philosophy and politics?

Another key astrological feature present at the time of the bin Laden operation was a precise Mercury-Neptune connection, indicative of hidden information and clandestine activities, as well as the “treasure trove” of al Qaeda data procured in the process. (Nearby Venus, the planet related to worth and assets, hints that there will be much of value here.)

As the weekend commenced, all the world watched the royal wedding in London between Prince William, likely a future king, and the regal commoner, Kate Middleton. Though I wouldn’t have pegged the date as particularly auspicious astrologically on its own, it turns out to be quite good for their charts, fortunately. When combining their individual birth charts into a blended chart (called a composite), we find that Venus, the love planet, was visiting exactly at their Sun degree, the key indicator for them as a couple. At the moment they were declared “husband and wife” (11:20 AM), the Mercury-Venus combination (literally meaning “words of love and marriage”) straddled the exact top of the chart, the point indicating status, thus their status changed with the pronouncement. In the wedding chart’s top sector, related to public standing and reputation, was the Mars-Jupiter-Eris trio, representing the enormity (Jupiter) of the event, which represented a new era (Mars) for British royalty welcoming a strong non-royal woman (Eris) into their ranks. Kate, now titled the Duchess of Cambridge, really does embody the best side of Eris and in her chart, we see Eris at the eastern horizon, the area showing one’s persona and individuality.

Between these two important news events, the Mars-Jupiter-Eris conjunction turned out not to be so bad after all – well, except for al Qaeda.

The May 2011 episode of my astrology show, Looking Up, discusses these topics further. It should be available in the archive for viewing by May 13 or shortly thereafter.

March Forth

2011-03-04T16:08:00.002-05:00

March Fourth – the only day of the year that is a command: “march forth.” I remember this from a riddle book from my youth. Each year, I like to celebrate this day with a step forward toward a goal. In 2011, we’re lucky to have a New Moon on March Fourth as an impetus to pursue our dreams. The New Moon in Pisces is time for a new vision of where you want to head in the coming astrological year (which begins on the first day of Aries at the spring equinox). This is a good time to listen to your inner voice as well as your guides from other realms to form ideas for your future.

There is a very strong dose of Pisces at this New Moon (exact at 3:47 pm EST) thanks to five planets and a major asteroid in the signs of the fishes. Like the cold-blooded animal symbolizing this sign, we take on the temperature of the waters through which we swim at this time of year, sponging up the emotions and vibrations of those close to us. Remember that as you take a look at the school you're swimming in.

With so many heavenly bodies in one sign, you might guess that there are some important pair-ups but other than the Sun and Moon sharing the same degree (which happens by definition at any New Moon), oddly there are no other duos. (Perhaps it's more like many voices of a choir joining in the same song.) There is however a lot of action from the midpoints between planets, though, and they act a lot like teams. For instance, the Sun and Moon are halfway between Mercury and Mars, which brings enlivened speech, even angry words. The luminaries are also midway between Neptune and Uranus, blending their weird other-worldly energies. This is the last New Moon during the seven-year exchange of their rulerships, called a mutual reception, and thus the end of an important era.

Uranus rules Aquarius and has been traveling through Pisces since 2003, which is ruled by Neptune. Meanwhile Neptune has been hanging out in Aquarius since 1998, picking up Uranian vibes. The interplay brings religious revolutions or at least unrest among the pious, and has also brought a lot of advances in technology, especially in the medical and communications fields. A strong belief in freedom has helped fuel the recent riots in the Middle East along with the protests in our Mid-west. Mars traveling close to the Sun, in Aquarius last month and now in Pisces, has added to people's impatience to see change and freedom.

The slow-moving outer planets are said to make more of an impact on the collective than on individuals’ personal lives. Yet we know that the macro affects the micro and sometimes vice versa, as in the case of a person who touches the masses deeply like a Martin Luther King, Jr. (Chances are that such a person has the outer planets configured in an important way in his/her chart.) So we look to the sign and interplanetary connections of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto for indications of what we’re experiencing as a people. When outer planets change signs, the zeitgeist shifts, old fads fade away and new trends develop. In 2011-2012, two of these three planets enter new signs for long stays and fresh imprints on the collective mind and behavior.

Uranus stepped briefly into Aries in 2010 and settles in to this active fire sign on March 11. As I wrote for the 2011 Janet’s Plan-its Celestial Planner, “this is the planet of unpredictability, rapid evolution (even revolution) and technology. As it shifts into the sign related to conflict and weaponry, there may be new high-tech armaments unveiled or rebels who strike a blow. Aries is also the sign for sports and anything competitive, so this could manifest in a safer way, such as an invention of a type of exercise equipment or a craze of a new popular computer game. There’s likely to be unrest or anxiety among groups of people and on an individual level. Personally, this is the starting gun for turning over a big new leaf and reinventing yourself to be more authentic or true to your originality. You’ll have to work to stifle spontaneous outbursts if you have chronic anger issues or a strong temper, and patience will be challenging to achieve.”

Jupiter, a mid-range planet affecting both the greater populace and individuals in about an equal strength, hung out with Uranus for most of 2010, expanding its influence, and this year will speed ahead of the slower planet. It’s already in Aries, and its presence there correlates with international volatility and a willingness on the part of people to fight for freedom or what they perceive to be their rights. In the next couple of months, quick-moving Mars and the Sun will also be in Aries, so don’t expect tempers to cool off any time soon.

For now, it’s time to bid farewell to Uranus’s visit to Pisces and the special energetic interchange that has been in place for its entire visit there. This mixture of planets each in the sign that the other rules has brought a lot of wet ‘n’ wild weather, intense hurricanes, ice storms and flooding, as well as a shift in the jet stream responsible for lots of snow in the southern US this winter. These are the most “unreal” signs and planets, so this interaction can bring out the kooks or seem to make sane people act crazy. Together, they signaled a time to gain a deeper understanding of unseen (microscopic, ethereal, psychic) forces. Their humanitarian and charitable combination solidified our interconnectedness and sense of belonging to a global village, whether that was responding to a tsunami or the many strong and devastating earthquakes of late. As the planet of belief (Neptune) and the planet of knowledge (Uranus) swapped influences, competition increased between religion and science for power in politics (controversies about global warming and education about evolution).

The Uranus-Neptune mutual reception opened technology to the masses more. We now watch TV shows on our computers and glamorize everyday people through the (totally unreal) “reality” shows. We have seen the rise of You Tube, where anyone can be a star (of sorts), and Facebook with cyber-relationships between people who are not friends in the traditional sense and may never meet in the brick-and-mortar world. Though we may not have noticed it a lot (and this will probably catch up with us), during this time the air has become more polluted with chemicals (such as those dispersed in chemtrails) and the water more infused with drugs (discarded pharmaceuticals).

Both Uranus and Aquarius relate to revolution and rebellion, while both Neptune and Pisces are associated with oppression and suffering. At the tail end of this mutual reception, we’re seeing waves of uprising that are not likely to be finished before the mutual reception ends when Uranus enters Aries and will continue with the strong warrior energy of that Mars-ruled sign. You can take this as a symbol of the greater freedom to express your own individuality that you may want to fight for in the coming weeks, months or years.

Meanwhile, on a more mellow note (which we could surely use now), I want to share with you a poem I wrote March 13, 1981 (and which is posted on my website) about Pisces.

SWIMMING (In The Sea of Life)
by Janet Booth

Neptune, wizened old man of the sea,
Do you see you are connected to me?
A1ma Mater's the ocean--we're of the same school
Chasing our tails, Playing The Fool.
Through seasonal cycles, both up- and down-stream
Like lemmings, we follow the call of The Dream.
Reflective of spirit, we circle around,
Learning to swim only to drown
Only to rise again up to the sky,
To turn into raindrops and down again fly.

Re-ASSigning the Signs

2011-01-15T13:00:00.002-05:00

When has an astronomer ever written a horoscope? So why would you want to believe one about your sign?!?

When an astronomer states that the zodiac signs as we have known them are incorrect, astrologers must respond! This view is based on the sidereal (star-based) zodiac, which is the literal measurement of the Sun against the backdrop of the constellations along the path of its annual apparent journey. The astronomer is right that we have known a long time about the change in the calendar dates related to the movement of the Sun through the zodiac stars. What this astronomer does not mention is the more common, though more abstract, method of measuring the movement of the Sun through the zodiac constellations based on the seasons. This is known as the tropical zodiac (think Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and how these are the signs of the solstices, at the extremes of the earth’s tilt). In referring to the slow wobble of the earth, he is acknowledging the "precession of the equinox." This phenomenon accounts for the changing of the Great Ages and how we are currently entering the Age of Aquarius. Simply put, the location among the stars where the Sun appears at the spring equinox continually precedes the prior year's starting point. The backward shift amounts to one degree (of the circle's 360 degrees) every 72 years, taking approximately 26,000 years to go around the whole zodiac. When neatly measuring the twelve signs as thirty-degree sectors in relation to the spring equinox, no one is changing signs. This is a convenient protocol and maintains a lot of merit in interpreting personality traits and conditions associated with the signs. To adopt the perspective of Minnesota astronomer Parke Kunkle, the dates he lists need to be altered every 72 years to be accurate. (Years are always 365-1/4 days long and days are 24 hours; pretty consistent). Aligning with the seasons, variation is minimal, just a quarter of a day per year due to the man-made insertion of Leap Year. So if you assign the signs to periods of the year, you can use the seasonal system and enjoy your sign as you have always thought it to be OR if you want to go backwards, follow this guy. And if you want to know your REAL horoscope, find out your real birth time and learn your “rising sign” (the sign coming up over the eastern horizon at your birth). That is the sign for which you should read astrological forecasts. It lines the signs up with the departments of your life according to the order considered by astrologers in writing horoscopes. If you must change signs, find out your rising sign and adopt it.

As for a thirteenth sign, yes for years we have also known that a constellation Ophiuchus in the neighborhood of Libra and Scorpio intersects the path of the Sun (and other planets). This is true no matter which way you measure the zodiac. But in both zodiac systems, there are four seasons, each associated with three signs. Although astronomers (who in general have no love for astrologers) might like to stick a new sign into the nice, neat twelve-sign system (which would throw astrologers for a loop), do not hold your breath for any astrologers, sidereal or tropical, to rush to embrace Ophiuchus as a sign and assign it a ruling planet and affiliated behavior and associations. The system is not broken. We do not need to fix it.

Jupiter in Pisces

2010-02-15T13:57:00.009-05:00

No Mercy for our Four-Legged Friends!?

Jupiter rules horses. Just think of Sagittarius (the sign ruled by Jupiter), which is half man and half horse. Both Jupiter and Sagittarius relate to optimism, generosity, expansion, law, foreigners and international conditions, higher principles, higher education, long distance travel, and all forms of long distance communication (including all forms of the media and the internet). Before the discovery of Neptune in the mid-1800s, Pisces was ruled by Jupiter. Thus there is an ancient link between the big gassy planet and the sign of the fishes. Jupiter spends about a year in each sign, usually bringing attention to the areas associated with that sign.

So, you’d think that Jupiter entering Pisces would bring good times for whatever Jupiter rules. Not so for America’s wild horses! The US government is conducting illegal and immoral wild horse stampedes, leading to slaughter and contributing toward their extinction. What a hideous reminder that Pisces is also a sign of suffering, the downtrodden, martyrdom and victimization as well as secrets and deception. Though this horrendous practice has been going on for years, it’s been getting a little more mainstream press recently since Jupiter’s entry into Pisces.

Here is what I said in my 2010 Janet’s Plan-its Celestial Planner:

Jan. 17, 2010 Jupiter enters Pisces [until 6/5; again 9/9 - 1/22/11] Jupiter speeds through Pisces the first half of 2010, returning to this sign for the last third of the year. The time has come to act on our beliefs in big ways and to expand our spirituality. A sense of generosity prevails and we want to help our fellow inhabitants of planet earth. Creativity in the arts is likely to soar and perhaps there will be new developments in music. Many people may notice an increase in their psychic receptivity and feel a greater empathy for those in hardship. If we’re lucky, international relations will soften. On the other hand, there could be more deception between nations.

I had seen one story on tv news about illegal stampedes conducted from helicopters before my friend, Maureen VanDerStad, an astrologer and horsewoman from Connecticut, called me, distraught about the situation. She told me how at a recent round up, they literally ran the feet off a young foal – he was stampeded with the herd over volcanic lava beds and then had a 4-hour trailer ride to the temporary holding facility. Two of his hooves fell off during the trailer ride and at the facility he was unloaded and shot. Another horse died in the trailer and another died shortly after arrival. They are not allowing the public to witness any more of the round ups at the present location.

She can tell the story better than I can, so here is what she wrote me:

Horse and man have been intrinsically connected since the beginning. The wild horse has always been the symbol of freedom. America would not exist today if not for the help of the wild horses. We built our country on the backs of these horses. They moved our loads, carried soldiers into battle and bridged the gap of a vast country. The vastness still exists but suddenly there is no room for the wild horse.

At this time there is an unprecedented rush by the government to remove the wild horses from their rightful homes on the public lands that were mandated to them by Congress in 1971. In addition to rounding them up by use of cruel and illegal helicopter driven stampedes over frozen terrain and dangerous territory, they are also reducing the herd numbers by means of castration of stallions and birth control for mares. They are “managing” what remains of the heritage horse herds to the point that they are not genetically viable and will become extinct in a short amount of time.

The government is conducting secret round-ups of the free horses and bringing them to join the 34,000 other horses who have been captured over the past five years and now live in small pens in the Midwest in holding facilities at a cost of over $100,000 per day. All this is in violation of the Free Roaming Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971. At present there are more wild horses in holding facilities in the Mid West than are free on the range. The government violates it own laws saying it is “for their own good.” The only gain that is evident is the gain for private business interests who develop the land that the government seizes from the wild horses and the public - at the tax payer’s expense to the tune of many millions of dollars. The government removes the horses from their own mandated land saying the land cannot support them and then gives double the amount of grazing rights to cattle ranchers, which is also in direct violation of the law enacted to protect them from this very thing.

The slaughter of horses is illegal in the US but even the “protected” horses cannot escape it. The government agency, the Bureau of Land Management (who is entrusted with protecting them) actively pursues buyers known as “kill buyers.” Horse meat is a very lucrative business and many numbers of wild horses captured are unaccounted for. On any given day in the west, semi trailer trucks loaded with horses cross borders into Mexico or Canada. The government creates new laws for itself to enable this to happen. Hundreds of previously closed slaughter plants are scrambling to reopen and legislature is on the table to bring horse slaughter back - against the will of the people. The vultures are circling for the newly captured horses. A very sad note is that present slaughter houses are equipped to deal with only cows and our iconic American mustangs suffer unspeakable horrors being “processed” through a system not suited for them.

Hundreds of thousands of acres of land mysteriously are missing from deeds as herd management areas are “reassigned.” Public lands are being taken and silently sold off to private interests.

Wild horse herds live in an incredibly beautiful family/band structure. Their social order is highly developed and the bonds they share are magnetic. The suffering of the tearing apart of family units is enormous. They call agonizingly to each other at their separation and many succumb just from the stress of separation.

I cannot help but think of Gregg Bradden’s theory of fractal time and the patterns of history repeating itself and presenting us with the opportunity to make a better choice and ultimately saving ourselves from destruction. In the many complex layers of this situation lie all the atrocities of man in human existence happening again in one giant tableau played out with our lifelong partner, the horse. With the wild horses as our partners in building America, how poignant that at this critical juncture in our history, they are showing us all the things that are really wrong in the present state of our country.

For more information, visit American Herd Blog They have a great chronology of occurrences, as well as dates of law violations. If you wish to join the letter writing campaign or for more details, please see The Cloud Foundation for talking points and details, or visit Wild Horse Preservation Campaign for further information or to sign a petition.

So if you’re a Jupiterian, Piscean, Sagittarian or even an Aquarian protesting, freedom-loving type, speak up on behalf of innocent creatures who have no voice. If you are in the district of one of the members of the Congressional Subcommittee that oversees the Bureau of Land Management (see below), please contact him or her directly. Otherwise, contact the Subcommittee Chairman, Raul M. Grijalva, Arizona:
http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=58

Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
1333 Longworth House Office Building
(202) 226-7736 Fax: (202) 226-2301
Raúl M. Grijalva, Arizona, Chairman

Members:
Rob Bishop, Utah, Ranking Republican Member
Dale E. Kildee, Michigan
Neil Abercrombie, Hawaii
Grace F. Napolitano, California
Rush D. Holt, New Jersey
Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Guam
Dan Boren, Oklahoma
Martin Heinrich, New Mexico
Peter A. DeFazio, Oregon
Maurice D. Hinchey, New York
Donna M. Christensen, Virgin Islands
Diana DeGette, Colorado
Ron Kind, Wisconsin
Lois Capps, California
Jay Inslee, Washington
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, South Dakota
John P. Sarbanes, Maryland
Carol Shea-Porter, New Hampshire
Niki Tsongas, Massachusetts
Pedro R. Pierluisi, Puerto Rico
Nick J. Rahall, II, West Virginia (ex officio)
Don Young, Alaska
Elton Gallegly, California
John J. Duncan, Jr., Tennessee
Jeff Flake, Arizona
Henry E. Brown, Jr., South Carolina
Louie Gohmert, Texas
Bill Shuster, Pennsylvania
Robert J. Wittman, Virginia
Paul C. Broun, Georgia
Mike Coffman, Colorado
Cynthia M. Lummis, Wyoming
Tom McClintock, California
Doc Hastings, Washington (ex officio)

(Isn't it something that the major states where the horse travesty is being perpetrated - Nevada and Montana - are not even represented in this Subcommittee!)

The NEW Part of the New Year

2010-01-09T11:55:00.002-05:00

RESOLUTIONS STRONGER AFTER MID-MONTH

Yes, Mercury Retrograde has been wreaking havoc with the new year thus far. So much whako stuff in the news prompted MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow to admit on her show Thursday, January 7 that she’s starting to become a believer. Of course, I emailed her right away to share my article on Mercury Retrograde!

Relief is in sight! Mercury Retrograde ends January 15 at 11:53 am (EST), just a few hours after the New Moon at 2:12 am (EST). It takes a few days for Mercury to get rolling in forward motion again, but at least we’ll know the worst of the crazy mix-ups are behind us and the rest is clean up. The New Moon is a very powerful one, an Eclipse, bringing a strong push to go in a better direction. New Year’s Resolutions will have a better chance for success if you make them (or re-affirm them) following this New Moon and Mercury’s return to Direct motion.

Here’s an excerpt from my Janet’s Plan-its 2010 Celestial Planner about this Eclipse [with additional notations in brackets]:

An ordinary New Moon signals a time for new activities. A Solar Eclipse New Moon marks a period for major undertakings. If the degree where it occurs [25 Capricorn] touches your chart, you’re in for a big event in your life. The influences featured at a Solar Eclipse are felt strongly over the coming four weeks (the lunar cycle that the eclipse begins) and to a lesser degree until the next Solar Eclipse, in this case on July 11, 2010. The Sun and Moon are conjunct to Venus at this eclipse, highlighting the importance of finances and relationships. Because they are in Capricorn, commitment and contracts are key issues, as are boundaries and budgets, all of which are made more important by the current mutual reception between Venus and Saturn [meaning they’re in the signs each other rules, sharing their energies back and forth]. The Sun, Moon and Venus are semisextile Neptune, which weakens the glue that binds people unless the bonds are spiritual or helping in nature, and might indicate a drain on bank accounts. The Capricorn threesome is sextile Uranus, leaning us away from the conformity that Capricorn favors, making us want breathing room in relationships. Uranus and Neptune aren’t exactly semisextile, but close to it [exact April 13 – a time around which some people will have inspired visions or unusual dreams, and most of us will be more psychically attuned than ordinarily] and their mutual reception continues [since 2003, ending in 2011]. These five heavenly bodies are interwoven in a mostly positive blend of fantasy and reality about love or money matters. This eclipse occurs near the North Node, giving us a boost to work toward achieving positive Capricorn qualities like ambition, accountability and proficiency.

If many of these terms are foreign to you, you can just focus on the English interpretations. Or to understand the astrology better, see my Astrologer’s Apprentice Cheat Sheet, which is a free download from my website. This is a great, compact tool to have handy when reading about astrology. You can also do some studying in my free Study Booth.

Readers of my calendar are invited to participate in my conference call classes to learn how to use the planner in conjunction with their personal astrological charts. Charting A Heavenly Year is offered twice this month, on Saturday January 16 and Saturday January 30, each at 10:00 am (EST). When you register for $25, you’ll receive handouts and your personal transit list. Some clients prefer an individual reading with Janet for their 2010 forecast. Either way, here’s to a great 2010 for YOU!

Winter Craziness

2009-12-22T13:04:00.003-05:00

No, you’re not crazy - though you may feel like you’re going in that direction! The planets are making it seem like everything is harder than it has to be and takes longer than you think it should (adding to the sense that time is moving faster). You don’t get as much accomplished as you hoped you would. You’re running behind. Join the club.

Mars, the go-go-go planet, just appeared to stop in its tracks and turn backwards on Dec. 20. Its normally speedy friend Mercury (nicknamed Quicksilver) is also screeching to a halt and reversing direction on Dec. 26, bringing us another round of Mercury Retrograde until Jan. 15. Under these influences, it’s no surprise so many people are impatient and frustrated, making the holidays even crazier than usual. Add in the ongoing tension between a push for progress and a reluctance to abandon the ways we’ve grown accustomed to, and there are plenty of ugly emotions to go around. You can practically slice the tension in the air.

Mars is in dramatic and fiery Leo, lending a sense of royal entitlement. No one feels like being at the back of the line and it’s easy to display displeasure. Mercury in Capricorn ordinarily helps us keep everything organized and under control. However, it’s bumping heads with that troublesome new planet out past Pluto, Eris. In mythology, she’s Mars’ bitchy sister, known for spreading chaos and discord. Mercury is in a friction-producing 90-degree relationship (square) to Eris from Dec. 22-30. So chill out. That shouldn’t be hard to do with the cold temperatures at this time of year!

Here’s a look at what to expect this winter season, excerpted from my 2010 Janet’s Plan-its Celestial Planner:

Winter 09-10 (12/21/09 - 3/20/10)
The pace of major changes over the past couple of years slows down a bit, allowing us to catch our breath and do some healing. Emotions are unusual in some way, most likely exaggerated, and better understood by discussing them, even if that isn’t easy to do. We seek concrete reasons but some things defy explanation. Try to leave anger and selfishness out of the conversation. Relationships work best when built on a platform of friendship and laced with a liberal dose of humor and sympathy. This is not the best season to begin something new. Instead, continue projects already in process. Watch your spending; money will slip through your fingers if you’re not careful.

To see my 2010 Forecast, watch my tv show, Looking Up.

The year will end with a bang! On New Year's Eve day, there's a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse - or should I say, a lunatic eclipse? The energy is pretty crazy, so be extra careful on the roads that night. Have a safe, healthy New Years!

Janet's Plan-its 2010 is Here!

2009-12-09T21:36:00.006-05:00

Celestial Greetings! The New Year is almost upon us. Be prepared with the 2010 Janet's Plan-its Celestial Planner. The new vertical format makes a great desk planner. (Most customers said they didn't hang their Janet's Plan-its on the wall anyway, so now it's more of an information book, with a paperback binding.) It still has the same great features: daily guide and ratings, weekly highlights, explanations of the planets' influences as they travel through the signs and interact with one another, write-ups about New and Full Moons and Eclipses. Be forewarned when the communication planet (Mercury) backtracks, called "Mercury Retrograde"throwing a monkey wrench into plans and projects. Know when to act, when to lay low. I explain everything in everyday English and you don't need to know any of the details of astrology. Of course, if you want to learn some, you'll be able to. And there's plenty of meat for the avid aficianado. You also might want to access a free download of the year's key details: 2010 On a Page, which is an excerpt from the calendar. You can take my conference call class that's a companion to my calendar, learning how to use the planner in conjunction with YOUR chart. Then you'll really be ready for 2010!

Stumped for Holiday Gifts?

2008-12-20T21:02:00.003-05:00

Gift selection is a breeze if you know the sign of the person you're shopping for. I put together a list of suggested presents for the zodiac signs ranging in cost from inexpensive to extravagent.

Whatever a person’s sign, a wonderful gift is my Janet’s Planets 2010 Celestial Planner. One size fits all! And check out the Gift Certificates for my services. Maybe you’d like to receive one yourself – put it on your wish list!

Good Yule and Joyous Solstice Blessings to you!

Why I love astrology

2008-11-16T23:16:00.003-05:00

The Universe is a thing of beauty beyond our imaginations. Every time I see the photographs the Hubble telescope sends back, I marvel at what Creation has wrought. If it isn't infinite, its finitude is certainly of an incomprehensible and unmeasurable magnitude. And in the midst of all this magnificence, still each of us can feel special and much more than an insignificant speck, feel connected to something so much bigger than ourselves. We haven't even scratched the surface of understanding our Universe or our place in it. Working within the confines of our solar system - our star's little corner of the Universe - we can get glimpses and inklings of its workings. That's one of the topics we explore in astrology, how the intricate and ever-changing dance of the planets around our star with us along for the ride on one of satellites, seems to indicate timing for the seasons of our lives.

Welcome! Janet Booth's Astrology Blog - Janet's Plan-its calendar author

2008-10-29T16:59:00.006-04:00

Hello, and welcome to my first blog ~

For years my aim in astrology has been to "take it to the streets." I specialize in making a complex subject easy to understand for people who have no background in the technical INs and OUTs of the study of the stars. Check back often for views from an experienced astrologer who likes to share and teach.

For instance, my Janet's Plan-its easy-to-use astrology calendars have been popular for years with people who want the quick low-down on the celestial influences daily and weekly. Many of my customers once used Llewellyn's or Jim Maynard's astrology calendars, but prefer mine because I translate the planets' movements into English. Instead of looking at a bunch of symbols that you have to figure out, I've distilled what you need to know about each week and each day into a quick read. Of course, being the teacher I am, I also include a section that explains the connections between the planets, many of which occur in a series of three times stretched out across weeks or months due to a zigzag phenomenon called Retrograde. For more advanced aficianados of astrology, I offer some handy reference tools, like my 2008 On a Page bar chart of the planets' movements, available as a free down-load pdf.

My calendar is a great starting point for selecting the best time for an endeavor or activity, a process called "electional astrology" - which refers not to an election like we have on November 4, but electing an astrologically appropriate time. For those not versed in astrology, I can do an election for you. That's one of the many services you'll find in the Sales Booth at my website, AstrologyBooth.com. There are some cool gift certificates for my readings that you can customize - perfect for any occasion.

In the Study Booth at my website, you'll find free articles introducing you to the various building blocks of astrology, as well as my popular "Astrologer's Apprentice Cheat Sheet" (another free download pdf file), which has symbols and keywords for the most common chart components. Check out my great links and my recommended reading list. I also offer conference call classes at reasonable rates and private tutoring.

No matter what level your interest in astrology, we can "talk."

People Are Talking about Astrology

2008-10-29T09:06:00.005-04:00

PEOPLE ARE TALKING . . .

My clients give me feedback like the following:
"I appreciate the astuteness of your insights!"
G.H., Bend, OR

"Your technical skills were amazing to me, especially as I have studied astrology for 26 years, and have had my chart read by many wonderful astrologers, but you brought many new insights, via the natal and progressions and transits. Your reading felt like a laser beam of clarity, especially because you gave me so many practical (concrete) suggestions that would help me deal with the issues indicated. That is incredibly valuable - a huge gift. I also enjoyed and was comforted by your style of expression - your very charming and gentle manner of communication while dealing with some very difficult issues (that must be your Libra and Pisces energy!). Also your sense of humor helped me hear what you were saying. ... I cannot thank you enough for helping me."

After a couple's chart consultation: " ... We've been talking about our reading all week! You're very accurate - right on the nose."

Sometimes the test of time is the greatest testimonial:
"Janet, about fourteen years ago in San Francisco you did a reading for us. Part of that reading was a compatibility chart rating. You indicated that a couple who scored a 10 probably had a real strong bond and were likely to have a successful long-term relationship. Our rating at 22 was the highest you had ever seen and we certainly have that kind of connection. We just wanted to share with you that it has been twenty years now and it's just getting better!"
G&T C, Sacramento, CA

Early in my career, I met with a woman in her mid-life transition who had just taken a psychological test to determine what she would be good at for a second career. After my reading, she told me that what I'd said was almost word for word what the test had shown.
"Do you know what that tells me?" I asked her.
"That you're a good astrologer?" She replied.
"Thanks, but what I was thinking," I countered, "was that it was a very accurate test!"

A long-distance client whom I never met in person wrote:
"Your observations are very true to my personality traits - at least as I perceive them. I have listened to the tape twice, but will probably do so many more times. It has been most helpful in making me realize that I am not achieving my full potential in my career. That will be the first area I work on. Thanks again."

A client gave her friend a reading as a gift and then wrote me:
"(my friend) was thrilled. She said she's going to send her sister to see you. She was quite impressed with you. Thanks!"

A little sticky note memo, from a phone reading client:
"I enjoyed my reading. I was really amazed how you were accurate on every aspect. Thanks again. "

This postcard came from an American emigrant to Belgium:
"Oh Janet - you have a real gift. Fate is confirming everything, and I am very happy. Merci, Janet, thank you a million-fold for your part in the plan."

Another happy client wrote:
"Wow! You are awesome!!! I can really feel the heart and soul you put into your work - and am lucky to have been referred to you!"

Find out more about my services, and I hope to "meet" with you soon!

Ancient Science and Art of Astrology

2008-10-29T08:20:00.006-04:00

Welcome to the ancient - and modern - science and art of astrology!

The vast field of astrology seems to have as many facets as the universe has stars! It's not my intention to duplicate the great work being done elsewhere on the internet. I'll just be adding my thoughts and perspectives. This section will be updated with new articles - so visit again periodically.

If you're new to astrology, you'll probably want to read about the basic building blocks of charts, namely signs, planets, houses and aspects. There are a few keywords for each in my Astrologer's Apprentice Cheat Sheet (a great tool to have handy as you learn more about chart reading!) and a number of articles in my STUDY BOOTH. If you're trying to understand your chart for the first time, see Understanding a Chart.

Some good resources can be found on sites like:
astrology.about.com has a Crash Course about the "Basics"
astrologynow.com provides a number of articles on fundamentals

Whether or not you know any astrology, you can benefit from knowing what's going on with the planets, so see my forecasts in JANET'S PLAN-ITS. It will clue you in to good days, challenging days, what you can expect during a Moon Cycle. It gives you a "heads up" so you can take advantage of positive energies and try to avoid the pitfalls of difficult times.

Mary Plumb, reviewer for The Mountain Astrologer, praised my calendars as a great tool for those interested in learning about astrology.

My INFORMATION BOOTH lists two articles that are particularly helpful to the general public or newcomers to astrology:
MAKING PROGRESS - ASTROLOGICALLY (about the astrological technique called "Progressions")
YOUR PERSONAL MOON CYCLES (about your 29-year cycles of growth - this is related to Progressions, so read this after you've read MAKING PROGRESS - ASTROLOGICALLY)

And what's astrology without astronomy, too? It's fun to see what's going on in the heavens. Check out my "EYE ON THE SKY" comments.

I began my studies of astrology in 1976 and haven't been bored once in all these years. I hope your journey in the exploration of this cosmic science will be equally enjoyable.