219550083 2014 Astrological Almanac Ebook

2014

ASTROLOGICAL ALMANAC

Casus Belli Austin Coppock

2014 ASTROLOGICAL ALMANAC: CASUS BELLI WRITTEN by Austin Coppock. © 2014. All Rights Reserved EDITED by Jennifer Zahrt, PhD. TYPESET by Kaitlin Reeves. ILLUSTRATION of the author by Tony Mack. ISBN: 978-0-9832550-3-1

Praise Urania! Intro to Practical Astrology Lunar Living Hunting Time

4 5 10 16

2014: CASUS BELLI

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ONGOING INFLUENCES Jupiter in Cancer Saturn in Scorpio Neptune in Pisces The Uranus-Pluto Squares

24 25 27 30 34

JANUARY Ephemeris Venus RX In Capricorn RX Horoscopes Dailies

37 41 42 45 48

FEBRUARY Ephemeris Dailies MARCH Ephemeris Mars RX in Libra RX Horoscopes Dailies

Contents JUNE Ephemeris Dailies

127 131 132

JULY Ephemeris Jupiter in Leo Horoscopes Dailies

142 146 147 149 152

AUGUST Ephemeris Dailies

163 167 168

59 62 63

SEPTEMBER Ephemeris Dailies

178 182 183

73 77 78 81 84

OCTOBER Ephemeris Dailies

193 197 198

NOVEMBER Ephemeris Dailies

209 213 214

DECEMBER Ephemeris Dailies

225 229 230

About the AUTHOR

242

APRIL Ephemeris Dailies

95 99 100

MAY Ephemeris Dailies

111 115 116

Urania, forgotten Muse of Astrology! I call you, night gowned and star studded! In the slow motion passion off your nigh-eternal dance Time is revealed, the silent drum you whirl to. Your tempo Light and Darkness, Being and Nothing Give us the wisdom To see in your revolutions The clockface of human life. Rise and fall, grief and joy Ignorance and wisdom abound. We who ride the cycle entreat you! Make us privy to the unity Hidden behind separate events Show us the secret trail Through Time’s savage Garden Urania, night gowned and star studded! I ask for your hand to join you In your nigh-eternal dance.

A (Very) Brief Introduction TO PRACTICAL ASTROLOGY

Throughout the guide, you’ll find the planets mentioned several thousand times. The planets are the sources of the influence we examine with astrology. Each one corresponds with a particular energy, with a specific range of effects. The more you know about the power of each of the planets, the more this guide will reveal. In addition to planets, you’ll also see the aspects mentioned throughout the guide. Aspects are the relationships between the planets, measured by the angles they make in the sky. Aspects bring the power of two (or more) planets together, fusing them, highlighting contradictions, or bringing them into conflict. Mythologically, the aspects are the language of love, war, friendship and enmity between the planetary gods. The aspects: the conjunction, opposition, trine, square and sextile, are what weave the planet’s power into the web of energy we experience here on earth. The more familiar you are with what happens when one planet’s energies intersect with another’s, the more the information given in this guide will benefit you.

Planets: Our Little System The planets in astrology are the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.

Planets? The clever reader will note that the Sun and Moon are by no means planets, and that Pluto has been recently demoted. “Planets” in astrology refers to the original meaning of the term, the Greek word for “wanderer.” The “wanderers” are the parts of our solar

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system which move perceptibly through the sky. This differentiates points such as the Sun, Moon, Mercury, etc from the great field of stars behind them, which appear to stay fixed in our night sky. We might also substitute the term used in Vedic astrology for planet- “Graha.” “Graha” is a Sanskrit word most often translated as “grabber, or seizer.” The focus here is on what the planets do- they push and pull, repulse and attract.

Good n’ Bad Traditionally, the planets are divided into “benefic” and “malefic”- meaning those planets that do good and those that do bad, respectively. These are not moral judgments, like good and evil, but refer to those things which might cause us to call it a “good” or a “bad” day. The benefics, Venus and Jupiter, create lucky, fun, positive circumstances, while the malefics, Mars and Saturn, trigger conflict and present obstacles. Not evil. Just irritating.

The Sun (Sol): Energy The Sun’s transiting influence brings consciousness to the topics at hand. Its astrological function is very similar to its physical function- spotlighting matters, making them visible. The Sun’s energy also effects physical, mental and emotional vitality. When the Sun is in a strong position in our sky, we have confidence and energy, while when it is weak or afflicted, our energy wanes and we are prone to depression. The Sun takes one year to make its way around the zodiac. It moves through approximately 1 sign every month.

The Moon (Luna): Manifestation The Moon’s power is to make things real, to give them a body. Its swift moving influence is responsible for turning planetary configurations into real events. In this sense the lunar current acts as a sort of womb or incubator. The sign of the Moon as well as the planet it is currently aspecting contributes considerably to the general nature of a day. The Moon is the swiftest of all of the planetary bodies that astrology considers, circling the entire zodiac every 27 days. In light of the Moon’s special importance, a whole section has been devoted to it. Check out “Lunar Living” for more information on our satellite.

Mercury: Transmission Mercury affects the transmission of information from one point to another, thereby aiding or interfering with the thought process, communications, technology and travel. When Mercury is in an aspect to another planet, it tends to take on the nature of that planet, acting as a messenger conveying its energies. During its thrice yearly retrogrades, it triggers and reveals problems with communication, thought patterns,

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technology and travel. Mercury is considered neither benefic nor malefic, and moves through the zodiac in roughly one year.

Venus: Harmony Venus is concerned with people’s principal desires: love and money. Venus facilitates harmony between people, connection to luxuries and is generally the planet of good times. When Venus is in a good condition, it promotes harmony between people and greases the wheels of commerce. When Venus is afflicted, harmony between people suffers and cash flows are stifled. Venus is considered the “lesser benefic” and circles the zodiac in roughly one year.

Mars: Friction Mars is concerned with aggressive, vital energies, matters of attack and defense, conflicts, courage and hard work. Although Mars’ effect can be energizing, it touches off latent conflicts and sometimes sparks unnecessary ones. Mars is considered the “lesser malefic,” and makes its way around the zodiac roughly every 2 years.

Jupiter: Growth Jupiter is connected to growth and learning and blesses both material and spiritual endeavors. Jupiter’s energy is considered very helpful in whatever area it is found, although it influence is sometimes misleadingly positive and can breed arrogance. Jupiter is traditionally referred to as the “greater benefic,” and take 12 years to round the zodiac, occupying each sign for approximately 1 year.

Saturn: Structure Saturn rules structure, boundaries and patience. Saturn brings us obstacles and limitations both internal and external, forcing us to confront what must be done and thereby teaching the lessons of patience and discipline. Although Saturn reveals obstacles, its energy is also key to building solid foundations. Saturn is traditionally referred to as the “greater malefic” and takes 29.5 years to round the zodiac, staying in each sign for roughly 2 ½ years.

Uranus: Revolution Uranus’ energy is electric, unpredictable, brilliant and sometimes violent. It is the energy of genius, revolution, technological advancement and madness. Uranus’ shakes up our lives, forcing us to revolutionize both our internal and external circumstances. Uranus is not considered either benefic or malefic, and takes roughly 84 years to round the zodiac, staying each sign for approximately 7 years.

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Neptune: Dream Neptune’s energy is dreamy, mystical, fantastic, romantic, magical and delusional. The slow planet pulls the veil of dreams over our eyes and also yanks it away. Its influence coincides with both mystical and romantic experiences. Neptune is not considered a benefic or malefic, and takes over 160 years to round the zodiac, spending nearly 14 years in each sign.

Pluto: Transformation Pluto rules secrets, power, fate and evolution. Pluto’s influence forces transformation by stripping away appearances and exposing secrets and internal contradictions. Although not part traditional frameworks, Pluto’s influence is clearly malefic. Pluto takes about 250 years to traverse the entire zodiac, although the time it spends in each sign varies significantly, ranging from 8 to 30 years.

Aspects CONNECTING THE DOTS Aspects are the significant relationships between planets, each defined by certain geometrical angles. The 5 classical aspects each represent a different type of connection between two planets. These 5 types of aspects are divided into soft and hard aspects, describing both harmonious and tense relationships.

Conjunction: 0 Degrees A conjunction occurs when planets are in the same degree of the zodiac. When two planets are conjunct, their energies are concentrated into a single, powerful effect. It is very difficult to separate the energies of conjunct planets. The conjunction is considered neither a hard nor soft aspect.

Opposition: 180 Degrees An opposition occurs when planets are on opposite sides of the zodiac, 6 zodiac signs away. When planets are opposed, their energies tend to interfere with each other, with tension between the two the consequence. In most cases, what is required is a careful balancing of the two areas of life. The opposition is considered a hard aspect.

Trine: 120 Degrees A trine occurs when planets are 1/3 of the zodiac away from each other, 4 signs away. The trine indicates strong, harmonious relations. The two planets share and blend energy easily, forming an advantageous synthesis. The trine can, however, still

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be disadvantageous when one of the planets involved is in a harmful condition. The trine is considered a soft aspect.

Square: 90 Degrees A square occurs when one planet is a quarter circle away from another, 3 zodiac signs away. The square highlights irreconcilable differences between the planets involved, generating friction and conflict. The square is considered a hard aspect.

Sextile: 60 Degrees A sextile occurs when one planet is one sixth of a circle away from each other, or 2 signs away. The sextile indicates an opportunity for a synergy between two planets. It is a pleasant, harmonious aspect, but it is not very powerful. The sextile is considered a soft aspect.

All Together Now Throughout the daily guide, you’ll the aspects between planets denoted on the day that they occur. Let’s use an example. What is we see a day which has “Mars Conjunct Jupiter.” Now, Mars is an assertive, vital energy, while Jupiter is about growth and expansion. A conjunction signifies that the two planet’s energies are combined or fused. So what do we get when we blend vital assertion with growth and expansion? We get an energy that favors aggressive expansion, confident self-assertion, as well as a configuration that helps us learn more about what to do with our drive for accomplishment and action. A good day to start a kung fu class or do something which requires courage. If the aspect was “Mars Opposition Jupiter” we’d see the difference between the two outlined starkly. We would feel torn between asserting ourselves (Mars) and focusing on our personal growth (Jupiter). We’d have to take some time making sure our course of action was effectively balancing both of these demands.

DIY As you get to know the planets and the aspects, practice doing your own thinking about what the particular combination of influences present on a day might create. Just because you’re not a professional astrologer doesn’t mean you can’t consider the planetary influences and reach useful conclusions.

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Lunar Living Real Time The world today moves according to artificial time, invented time. In so many ways, contemporary society is divorced from the rhythm and cycles of the natural world. The oldest measure of time is the natural alternation between day and night. This primordial division of experience into light and dark is not only deeply embedded in our psyches, but in our bodies, as well. Virtually all creatures have cycles of activity synchronized with light and darkness. Apparent for anyone with a view of the sky, the Moon looks over us, growing and shrinking, waxing and waning its way through our nights. After the division between day and night, the next measure of natural time is the lunar cycle. All societies developed an appreciation for the lunar cycle at one point or another. The lunar cycle organizes the endless alternation of day and night into larger units. Indeed, the 29 day lunar cycle is the origin of the word “month,” although the months of our calendar no longer have a direct relationship to the Moon’s cycle. The lunar calendar gave us knowledge of natural cycles, for many creatures follow the ebb and flow of the lunar disc. Tides, animal behavior, plant growth and even human cognition are all affected by the phase of the Moon. Knowledge of this cycle was a tremendous first step towards understanding the structure of time, helping humankind taking steps to master the challenging environment of the physical world. After knowledge of the lunar cycle came knowledge of the solar cycle. The Sun does not so obviously wax and wane as the shining orb of the moon, but the Sun-Earth relationship can nonetheless be measured by noting the changing proportion of day and night. This knowledge is what marks out the Equinoxes and Solstices. Knowledge of the Solar Cycle enclosed the 29 day Lunar cycles into a larger, 365ish day calendar. The calendar we use today, the Gregorian calendar, is based on the Solar cycle, but it is nonetheless disconnected from the year’s natural cross- the solstices and the equinoxes. Not only that, the Gregorian calendar is completely out of touch with the lunar cycle. The measures of time that once represented lunar cycles, months, are now an arbitrary division of the solar cycle by 12 rather than an indicator of the 29 day lunar cycle. Although the modern world has learned to ignore it, the natural world still moves with the lunar cycle. Just as the tides and weather are compelled by the Moon’s cycle, the tides of the body and the weather of the mind also wax and wane. The modern human’s disconnection from the lunar cycle is an alienation from the body’s time. Astrology repairs this wound in the body/mind with its study of the lunar cycle and its effect on the human world.

The Structure of the Lunar Cycle The Lunar cycle is defined by what proportion of the Moon’s face is illuminated from

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our standpoint here on earth. It lasts approximately 29 days, a little over 4 weeks. This ratio of silvery light to darkness is determined by the angle between the Sun and Moon from our position here on earth. When the Sun and Moon share the same space in the sky, the Moon does not appear in the sky. This is the New Moon. When the Sun and Moon are on opposite sides of the Earth, the Moon’s face is fully illuminated. This is the Full Moon. The movement from New to Full is the Waxing phase of the Moon, while the movement from Full back to New is called the Waning phase of the Moon. We can meaningfully divide this cycle into 4 quarters, each representing an important phase of energy in the lunar cycle.

The New Moon - Seed The New Moon is the beginning of a lunar cycle. It is essentially a quiet, calm period. There is little energy to bring things into manifestation, but the lack of action makes it an excellent time to reflect on the last month and plan for the next. Metaphorically, it is the conjoined Sun and Moon’s monthly tryst, which gives birth to the next small cycle here on earth. There are several cultures and groups which conduct ceremonies on the New Moon to focus their intentions for the coming month, programming the DNA of the coming cycle while it is still in pre-natal form.

1st Quarter - Gathering Energy After the New Moon, the Moon begins slowly collecting illumination, growing from a finger nail into the fat and silver disk that marks the Full Moon. The first quarter of the lunar cycle lasts for the first week after the New Moon. During this time, events slowly gather steam and the energy necessary to manifest. This time is characterized by slowly growing energy. It is an excellent time to make plans, pick dates for things, and initiate changes you’d like to make this month. You’ll also begin discovering what this lunar cycle has in store for you. Listen and adjust your plans to include everything you’d like to be part of this month.

2nd Quarter- Building Momentum The second quarter of the lunar cycle begins with the half-moon. The half-moon marks the transition between the slowly building energies of the 1st quarter and the increasingly momentum driven nature of the 2nd quarter. The half-moon is a good time to check in with your intentions- are things proceeding as you planned? It is often necessary to make a few important course-corrections at the half-moon to keep things on track. The 2nd quarter is driven by the built up momentum of the 1st quarter. It is by nature a busy and industrious time. Focus on doing the work necessary to achieve your monthly intentions this week.

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Full Moon - Climax Roughly 2 weeks after the invisible New Moon comes the great silver eye- the Full Moon. The energies necessary for manifestation are at their peak during this time. They help our intentions become real. The problem inherent to the Full Moon’s wash of energies is that it becomes much easier to manifest rogue intentions and poorly thought out reactions. This is where the Full Moon’s deserved reputation for inspiring crazy behavior comes from. It is important to remember that it is not that the Full Moon promotes madness directly, but that craziness is a consequence of mishandling the powerful energies available during the Full Moon. The Full Moon is a good time to plan to bring things to fruition. Unless there are problematic planetary aspects, the Full Moon is the most fortunate and powerful point in the lunar cycle for bringing things into manifestation.

3rd Quarter - Harvest The Full Moon marks the transition into the 3rd quarter of the lunar cycle, which lasts for about a week after the Full Moon and ends with the waning half-moon. The 3rd quarter is concerned primarily with distributing the energy that was built up earlier during the waxing side of the cycle and released by the Full Moon. Here we make corrections, work out problems and generally make sure we maximize the value of what we’ve brought into being this cycle.

4th Quarter - Falling Action The border between the 3rd and 4th quarter of the lunar cycle is the half-moon, which highlights the falling energy of the cycle. As we enter the 4th quarter, we often need to consciously down shift from the flurry of active which often characterizes the time surrounding the Full Moon. The 4th quarter’s focus is on wrapping things up and reflecting on how things went in the preceding weeks. It is characterized by a growing absence of energy and increasing clarity of mind. It is a great time to finish projects, but not a good time to initiate new ones. Instead, finish what you’ve already set in motion. Hold on to your intentions and wait for the next New Moon to start new projects.

Solar and Lunar Eclipses Sometimes when the Sun and Moon conjoin for the New Moon, they line up so perfectly with the Earth that the Sun is partially or even fully eclipsed. When the Sun, Moon and Earth all line for a particularly precise Full Moon the Earth’s shadow covers the Moon, resulting in a Lunar Eclipse. Eclipses usually come in pairs, one solar and one lunar, every 6 months. Eclipses mark the lunar cycles they occur within as unusually intense and transformative ones. Eclipses preside over deep and important shifts in both our psycho-

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logical and physical lives. They pull energy away from one area of life while pushing us powerfully in a new direction. Solar eclipses preside primarily over psychological shifts, while lunar eclipses initiate changes to the physical layer of our lives. If you’re looking at month with its New and Full Moons as eclipses, even if they won’t be visible where you live, expect a more intense ride around the lunar carousel than usual. Pay special attention to the tensions in your life and make a concerted effort to work with the shifts trying to occur. In 2011, the eclipses occur in June and then at end of November and the first half of December.

The Moon and the Zodiac: Tidal Power In addition to the Moon’s phase, the sign of the zodiac that the Moon is in is important. By matching your activities and focus to the sign the Moon is in, you will find yourself working with the great currents we all live within, your sails catching the wind available.

Moon in Aries The Moon in Aries is go time. It’s a great time to work out and get work done. If you can match the high energy of this phase, you’ll find a sustaining excitement. The Aries Moon is, however, a terrible time to conduct sensitive discussions, as the go-go combative energies of the time want tasks to accomplish, not feelings to subtly navigate. You’ll be best off sticking with solo projects during the Aries Moon.

Moon in Taurus The Moon is considered to be in its Exaltation in Taurus in traditional astrology. Coming on the heels of the hectic Aries Moon, the Moon in Taurus is a great time to slow it down to a sustainable level, eat some good food and get the rest you need. Your priority during the Moon in Taurus should be evening out the work/play/eat ratio, setting a schedule that is both productive and enjoyable.

Moon in Gemini The energy of the Moon in Gemini is face-paced and often a bit scattered. It’s a great time to catch up on emails and missed calls, as well as to work on writing projects. This Moon craves mental stimulation, and playing games of one sort or another is often the solution. If you’re planning a video game binge or thinking about having people over, this is generally a good Moon to do it under.

Moon in Cancer The Moon is in its own sign in Cancer, and thus all lunar significations are enhanced. It’s an important time to address how you’ve been feeling, and limit social interactions to people with whom you’re comfortable. The problem with the Cancer Moon can be

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excessive comfort-seeking. It’s important to actually deal with the emotions that arise under the Cancer Moon rather than simply burying them under food or a variety of other compensatory measures. That said, Cancer is the best time to refuel both your emotions and your body, giving you the support you need for the rest of the cycle.

Moon in Leo The Moon in Leo is a great time to work on creative projects, perform or make a presentation. It is generally a fun couple of days. It favors the extraversion of the personality, and thus introverted types may feel a little uncomfortable during the Moon’s time in Leo. Ego issues are easily exaggerated during this Moon. People tend to take things personally, so sensitive conversations may need to wait a few days.

Moon in Virgo The Moon’s time in Virgo is great for quality control. Go over your projects and affairs, looking for ways to improve them. It’s also a good time to look for developing problems in your physical regimen as well as your bank account. The Moon’s time in Virgo is the time to identify problems and fix them. That said, It’s not necessarily the most comfortable Moon. There is a tendency for problems to emerge under this Moon, and so attempts to take it easy are often met with interruptions. Focus identifying and solving problems.

Moon in Libra The Moon in Libra is often a lazy Moon. Our needs for rest and pleasure catch up with us during Libra Moons. Not only that, but social desires make themselves known as well. The Moon in Libra is generally a good time to schedule dates and attend social events. Like Taurus, the other Venus ruled Moon, this is a good time to rebalance your work/fun/rest ratio before moving deeper into the month.

Moon in Scorpio Traditionally, the Moon is in its Fall in Scorpio. In practice, this means that its hard to feel positive things, but easy to over-react negatively. Nice! The best way to work with a Moon in Scorpio is to work on something that fascinates you. This can be a very productive Moon if you make the effort to concentrate your energies on a project. Nonetheless, this is often an emotionally unpleasant couple of days. People with addictive tendencies should avoid burying their emotions with compensatory pleasure seeking during this time.

Moon in Sagittarius The transiting Moon in Sagittarius amps energy levels with excitement and inspiration. Fast paced and imaginative activities are suggested. Infuse the grind with a bit

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of the mythic in order to keep your energy levels up. Boring things are extra boring, while exciting things are really exciting. This is a good Moon to go out looking for simulation, whether at a theater, club or lecture.

Moon in Capricorn The Moon’s detriment, it’s often difficult to find comfort during the Moon’s stay in Capricorn. Ironically, it is through embracing the work that must be done that comfort and freedom can be found. Try to take a day off during the Capricorn Moon and you’ll think about work left undone all day, but confront your tasks, and you’ll find yourself with the wild freedom of Pan at day’s end. The formula for successfully navigating the Moon’s time in Capricorn is simple: Work hard, party hard. Rinse, repeat.

Moon in Aquarius The Moon in Aquarius is a natural time for detached reflection on events. It’s good for conversation and dealing with abstract information. It’s not so good for intimate and emotional affairs. The Moon in Aquarius has a natural distance, a certain abstraction. Work with it. Think, talk, write, read, reflect.

Moon in Pisces The Moon in Pisces brings with it a flexible, immersive atmosphere. You’ll find it easy to pour yourself into activities that engage your imagination. You may find mundane tasks all the more tedious. Use the days that the Moon is in Pisces to read or write fiction, watch a movie, meditate and spend time with interesting people. Being a water sign, it’s a nice time to connect emotionally, but is inherently more reflective and introspective than the other water Moons- Cancer and Scorpio.

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Hunting Time Time is a primitive, uncivilized beast, one we’ve been trying to conquer and tame for some time. Our most cunning traps are calendars, the nets we cast into the fourth dimension. But all nets and all calendars have holes. Writing about astrology is writing about time, and decisions about what to focus on and what to let fly free are inevitable. Here is a list of the choices I’ve made in putting together this particular snare.

Defining A Day The descriptions of each day’s astrological dynamics are written with the day considered to begin with dawn, rather than the arbitrary shift at midnight. We begin each day when we wake up- just after dawn for working stiffs, or a leisurely mid day schedule for the unemployed and the lucky. Therefore the daily entries are written to coincide with the actual experience of how days begin and end, not arbitrary calendrical distinctions. Another influence on this choice is the concept of Planetary Days, one of astrology’s oldest tools, in which each day of the week is assigned a planetary influence. Planetary days do not begin at midnight, but instead when the Sun rises. By considering these factors my hope is to bring my delineations of each day in line with both ancient wisdom and lived experience.

Not All Days Are Equal Planetary influence is not distributed equally. Some days are jam-packed with action and energy, while others are relatively uneventful. In order to reflect this natural inequality, I’ve devoted more time and energy to the big days, and less space to the little ones.

Time Zones The descriptions of each day’s dynamics are written primarily for people living in North America. The time and dates noted are for central time zone (CST) and central daylight savings time (CDT) because it is between Eastern, Mountain and Pacific time zones. If you live in North or South America, you will, at most, have to convert the dates by 2 hours. Find your time zone and remember to add or subtract and hour or two when you’re looking at the times noted. If you live in another part of the world, or are visiting somewhere else, make sure to make the necessary time conversions.

To Scope or Not To Scope? Horoscopes are a point of debate among astrologers. Some astrologers point out that no one can be adequately represented without their entire chart, which includes the positions of all of the planets in a variety signs. Others point toward the fact that although horoscopes are not as accurate as assessments of an entire natal chart, they are still

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capable of accurately predicting life shifts, and well worth both writing and reading. I’ve chosen to write horoscopes about some of aspects of this year. Even so, they should be taken as a sketch. You can improve the aim of horoscopes if you know your chart. I encourage you to read horoscopes using the sign of your Sun, Moon and Ascendant. Reading from each point shades the meaning of the horoscopes accordingly. Reading from your Sun tends to be psychologically valid, while reading from the Moon is better for revealing the material and financial layers of life. Reading from the Ascendant is the most universally valid angle.

Bloat Policy The information listed for the dailies includes all classical aspects between the traditional planets, as well as Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Although the study of astrology has grown to include more aspects (the quintile, bi-quintile, etc) and other bodies (Ceres, Chiron, Eris, etc), to include all of these points and their relationships between would clutter the daily entries terribly. Astrology is a complex business. That very complexity, however, demands that we do our very best to modulate the signal-to-noise ratio. Therefore I have stuck with the classical aspects and the traditional planets, with a few exceptions. The first set of exceptions are Uranus and Neptune. These two may not be visible to the naked eye, but they are proper planets in every sense, spherical organs of our little system. Not only that, but their meanings have tested and analyzed by astrologers for quite some time. The second exception is Pluto. Pluto is not, in many senses, a proper planet. It is the nearest of a swarm of similar bodies, the Kuiper Belt objects. I have included Pluto in the ephemerides and dailies because of these Kuiper Belt Objects, Pluto is the only one whose orbit takes him inside the planetary system. In addition, astrologers have studied Pluto’s meanings for more than 80 years, while the remainder of the KBO’s have been discovered within the last 15 years. In addition to these bodies, you will also find the North and South Nodes of the Moon on the ephemerides and in the dailies. The Nodes are points of intersection between the Sun, Moon and Earth system, originally calculated in order to predict eclipses. Though not physical objects, they have been part of astrology from the very beginning, with thousands of years of literature on their effects. Even so, only conjunctions to the individual Nodes and the square to both of them are noted and interpreted in the daily sections.

The Right Use of Astrology This guide was written to inform and to empower people to make better, wiser decisions. Astrology catalogues and tracks a variety of subtle influences, but should not be confused with fate. The astrological influences mapped out in this almanac are much like the weather. Sure, you’ll get wet if you go outside when it’s raining. That doesn’t

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mean that it’s your fate to get soaked, it just means that it’s raining. While astrology may allow uncommon insight into the nature of the times, it is not contrary to common sense. Consider the influences and make sensible decisions. Wear a rain coat.

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2014 CASUS BELLI

War and peace, harmony and hatred color the horizon of 2014. The Year of the Horse will trot through placid months and run spooked across the eclipse-dark plains of others, eyes rolling wild. Maintaining our balance atop history’s unpredictable stallion will be our task, but we will not be alone. Trust and fear accompany us on this journey, and together they will expose the beating heart of our relationships. Soulful commitments and agonizing splits brew inside the year’s heavy clouds. Within seven billion beating hearts, the seeds of accord wait to be discovered, but also the case for war- the primordial Casus Belli. 2014 places a tremendous emphasis on relationships. Not just romantic relationships, but those with friends, colleagues, business partners, lovers, co-workers, parents and children. Astrologically, there are several reasons for this. One is that the first half of the year sees both Venus and Mars turn retrograde. Venus’ retrograde through Capricorn throws relationships into question, and then, once she has finished, Mars’ retrograde in Venus-ruled Libra descends with another round of queries. These retrogrades, in and of themselves, would be enough to bring war and peace to the forefront. However, another factor further complicates the matter. The North and South Nodes, the old Head and Tail of the Dragon, shift into Aries and Libra early in 2014, laying a special emphasis on the Mars- and Venus- ruled signs. The Head and Tail of the Dragon mark the signs they reside in for eclipses, and

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Yearly Overview: Casus Belli 2014 Astrological Almanac by Austin Coppock

indicate potent exchanges of energy. In Aries and Libra, they suggest a sacrifice of individual needs in order to strengthen relationships. The energy is pulled away from personal projects and lent to partnerships and alliances. This is, however, no simple transfer of priorities. The Nodes push and pull relentlessly, digging through the past to find the future. The year pushes us toward greater cooperation while unearthing every ounce of distrust. We’ll have to examine the case for war carefully before deciding for peace. Though the first half of the year presents a number of feuds, but few of these will provide the possibility of outright battle. Many of the conflicts which emerge this year will be between people who are part of the same social network, and they will require a great deal of diplomacy. Just as individuals have friends, lovers and enemies, so do nation-states. 2014 promises to be very interesting year in international politics, with plenty of soap-opera drama between nations. Alliances will be broken and new coalitions forged.

Dance of the Erotes The dance between Mars and Venus which dominates much of the year will give birth to a number of attractive and troubling offspring. In Greek mythology Ares (Mars) and Aphrodite (Venus) conducted a long lasting adulterous affair which bore many children. Between the god of war and the goddess of beauty arose graceful Harmonia, who soothed disputants, bringing concord where there is conflict. Yet the affair between Ares and Aphrodite also seeded Eris, the goddess of strife, whose delight in mischief set in motion the disastrous Trojan War. Concord and discord run rampant through much of the year, taking turns with things here on earth. Between wrathful Eris and compassionate Harmonia in temperament was winged Eros, the god of sexual love himself. Eros, who later became the chubby cupid of Renaissance art, was often subdivided into a whole cloud of fluttering spirits- the Erotes. Besides Eros himself, there were three principle Erotes: Anteros, Himeros and Pothos. Anteros was the spirit of mutual desire, love returned. Himeros, on the other hand, lusted over all he surveyed, and lorded over unreturned desires, especially sexual ones. Finally there was Pothos, the daimon of longing. Pothos gazed into the void, wishing for something to fill it. He loved what-was-not. We’ll all get to know this swarm of strange gods, for 2014 promises an abundance of roles for all of those who proceed from the union of Mars and Venus.

Grand Crosses In addition to the dramatic dance between Mars and Venus, the first half of 2014 is also host to an unusual number of Grand Crosses. “Grand Cross” is a technical term in astrology for a configuration of four or more

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bodies aligned so as to make a cross or square in the heavens from earth’s point of view. These four bodies are ideally each 90 degrees apart from each other, making the Grand Cross composed of four squares and two oppositions. Grand Crosses, being composed entirely of “hard” or frictive aspects, are generally considered to augur difficulty. Because each planet’s function is impeded by three others, the energy is frustrated, for no planet is able to perform its function easily. Metaphorically, the cross begins to spin like a generator, the polarities involved building up a tremendous charge. This energy tends to be released in out-of-control bursts, triggering chaos and crisis. Events which people do not have control over are common during these periods. The most effective strategy for weathering these astral hurricanes can be likened to the way one deals with their mundane counterparts. One strategy is, of course, to batten down the hatches and stay inside. The “bombshelter” strategy is effective, but often unfeasible, as entanglements are often unavoidable. Another is to stick to the Zen eye of the storm, avoiding the whirling extremities. In lived terms, this means not engaging with the chaotic energies, for to engage one point means to get caught in the whirling mass and taken for a ride. But to stay in the eye one must move as the storm moves, keeping pace. Due to the geometry of the zodiac, there are three species of Grand Crosses. They come in Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable varieties. In each of these configurations, a planet resides in all four signs of a given mode. Thus all of the elements are activated, but only one Mode. 2014’s cross is of the Cardinal variety, with Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn hosting the respective planets. The Cardinal signs all describe different ways to begin. A Cardinal cross, in which all four are represented, thus suggests a tremendous amount of initiating or creative energy. The difficulty is that so many processes are underway that they interfere with each other, tangling the processes they would initiate. Getting caught in a Cardinal Cross often means trying to do too much at once, or having to deal with too many processes developing simultaneously. The processes underway this year are those described by Pluto in Capricorn, Uranus in Aries, Jupiter in Cancer and Mars in Libra. The first member of the Cardinal Cross is Pluto in Capricorn, who reveals a hard portrait of things-as-they-are-and-have-been. The inexorable and pitiless tides of history become visible. In Capricorn, Pluto pushes us to accept heavy truths and to respond with deep pragmatism. Meanwhile, Uranus gathers the lightning in Aries, chafing at all limits to personal sovereignty. Uranus wreathes our inborn potential and dignity in a cackle of electricity, stirring impatience with all obstacles. While Uranus awakens us to potential, Pluto makes clear the cold limits of reality. These two bodies have been battling since 2011, stirring revolutions, protests and crackdowns, and will continue to do so for the next several years. 2014’s Cardinal Crosses are a result Jupiter and Mars’ intrusion into their titanic wrestling match. Gentle Jupiter in Cancer gazes across the sky at both of these bodies, attempting

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to nurture and protect. In Cancer, Jupiter attempts to create a greenhouse, a walled and protected garden. Yet he does so atop shifting ground, tectonics disturbed by Pluto’s inexorable push and Uranus in Aries’ bombastic calls to awaken, disrupting the slow-growth process which Jupiter attempts to seed. These three are joined by Mars, who patrols Libra from December 2013 through July 2014. In Libra, Mars tests relationships and makes people impatient for justice and foolhardy in pursuit of it. These four bodies hold a loose Grand Cross formation for the first half of 2014. Inexorable evolutionary forces, bright potentials, slow growth strategies and troubled alliances all dance together for half of the year, generating a tremendous but unstable energy.

Evaporation As he does every year, Mercury will turn retrograde three times in 2014. The messenger’s retrograde stations take place in the three waters signs, Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio. However, all of these stations are in very early degrees, and Mercury’s retreats will take him back in the Air signs for the bulk of his backward journeys. These three retrogrades (which occur in February, June and October) all have their own unique lessons, but each begins in a water sign and ends in an air sign. Somewhere in the murky depths of the mind we’ll discover charged complexes of feeling and intuition, yet it will be our work to drag them back to the shore, to dry in the cold air of reason. The theme is thus emotion transformed by the application of reason.

We Don’t Need No Water The dynamics of 2014 can be divided into two unequal portions. The first portion runs from January through July, and the second from August until December. With its Mars and Venus retrogrades and Grand Crosses, the first section of the year is considerably more complicated and volatile than the second part. The second portion of 2014 has a decidedly different character than the first. While patterns are woven by the dynamic first portion of the year, the second plays them out. Consequences, rewards and results characterize it. Things will not happen simply or limply, though. While the first half of the year held tense Grand Crosses, the second holds a number of Grand Fire Trines. While Grand Crosses are a result of planets holding the four corners of a square in our sky, a Grand Trine is formed by at least three planets forming an equilateral triangle. Due to the geometry of the zodiac, this always puts all three planets in the same element. There are thus Grand Water, Fire, Earth and Air Trines. 2014’s variety is a Grand Fire Trine. Riotous Uranus in Aries and triumphant Jupiter in Leo form two points, while the third will be filled, alternately, by Mars, Mercury, the Sun and Venus in Sagittarius. These Grand Fire Trines oversee seasons of swift moving, potentially reckless,

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action. Things do not crawl, but move quickly toward their conclusions. The strange strands of DNA woven by the first half of the year’s chaotic loom will be given flesh and blood during the swift-moving second.

Finale When 2014 comes to a close, we will have come to the end of a short period of history. Saturn, who has been in Scorpio since October 2012, will enter Sagittarius, where he will be until 2017. The years-long emphasis on subversive sex, surveillance and doom will give way to years of maniacal enthusiasm and bold moves. Great but unstable possibilities whirl about 2014. Much depends on our ability to navigate conflicting forces. We’ll be challenged to find, and hold, common ground with people we don’t generally agree with. To do this, we may need to sacrifice our more radical dreams to make way for something we can all agree on. 2013 made the world’s problems crystal clear- it is 2014’s job to negotiate the solutions.

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Ongoing Influences While the Sun, Moon, Mercury Venus and Mars speed through the zodiac, the outer planets hold court in a given sign for years at a time. The following essays on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto highlight their positions as 2014 begins. Jupiter will change signs in July, and Saturn in December, but Uranus, Neptune and Pluto will remain in the signs they occupy for years to come.

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Jupiter in Cancer CULTIVATION JUNE 25, 2013 —JULY 16, 2014

Jupiter is traditionally considered to be exalted in Cancer. The word “exalted” is key here. While Jupiter is powerful in Sagittarius and Pisces, the signs that it traditionally rules, the effects of Jupiter in those signs could hardly be called exalted. When a planet is in its rulership, it is strong— all of its significations, both positive and negative, are strengthened. When a planet is exalted, the planet has less brute strength but provides more refined results. In Jupiter’s case, the blessing is abundance, and the signs that are most strongly poised to receive it, Sagittarius and Pisces, are also the most likely to squander it. Both Sagittarius and Pisces are generous to a fault, and when the good times start rolling, they tend to expect them to continue into eternity. Cancer is different. In Cancer, Jupiter teaches the wisdom of mutual nourishing. The man feeds the land, the land feeds the man. This intimate ouroboros forms a key part of Cancer’s symbolism. Pregnancy, breasts and the womb are all a key part of the Cancer’s resonance cluster. The mother nourishes the child, which she had grown in her body. Yet the child will grow to nourish the mother, for when she is old, she will be the babe in the child’s arms. It is the cycle of reciprocal caretaking. The key with Jupiter in Cancer is always to grow slowly, and from the core. Jupiter’s primary correspondences are to the processes of growth and expansion, and the states of abundance and generosity.

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Growth is a natural consequence of abundance, in fact, growth is not possible unless there is more than enough for sustenance, the state which abundance implies. This is so even on a biological level. For an organism to grow, it needs more calories than it would to sustain its current form. This is why the caterpillar is such a chubby fellow— he’s storing the massive amount of energy he’ll need for his transformation. The virtue of generosity, also one of Jupiter’s key correspondences, also relies on the state of excess. In order to give, one must first have. In order to give without the act being a self destructive one, one must have more than enough. One of the factors that’s makes Jupiter’s time in Cancer so dignified is the crustaceous sign’s deep connection with Need. Our bodies, hearts and minds all need to be fed. They require different types of sustenance, to be sure, but each has a hunger. Any planet in Cancer becomes aware of what it needs to be nourished. If one can differentiate between legitimate needs and artificial wants, then one can acquire exactly what one needs to grow strong. A well nourished heart offers its abundance of love naturally, while a well nourished mind offers genius. Abundance is a necessary precondition for sustainable generosity.

The Oracle An excellent example of a prominent Jupiter in Cancer native is Warren Buffet, the famous investor. Known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” Buffet does not sell a “get rich quick” investing strategy. He advocates only investing in businesses you know and understand. Here we see Cancer’s boundary of familiarity, it’s comfort zone, the area which it knows by feel alone. Only deal with that which you know. Buffet also advocates long term investments. This is contrary to the majority of what is sold as “common sense” in the investment world. Forget the fashions and the short term trends. Invest in solid companies in businesses you understand. Trust and familiarity, two Cancer keywords, applied to the frenetic world of investment, produce startling returns. Not only that, but those heeding Buffet’s advice are not fair weather investors, just trying to make a quick buck off the company. They’re supporters of a business, who intend to leave their money with the company. This level of solid commitment benefits the companies tremendously, as investors like this do not freak out and jump ship at the first bad quarterly earnings report. Jupiter in Cancer plays the long game, to everyone’s benefit.

The Tao The way, then, pointed to Jupiter in Cancer is to take care of and nourish the source, and receive abundance as the source expands and grows. Nourish the mind and the mind grows. Nourish the finances and they grow. Jupiter in Cancer teaches the philosophy of the Tao, which always preaches a return to the center, and movement from the core. Strong Yang proceeds from well fed Yin.

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Saturn in Scorpio SEX AND SURVEILLANCE 2012—2015

In Scorpio, Saturn brings attention to the ways we deal with life’s most intense topics: sex, death, transformation and spirituality. Yet these most potent experiences are the ones we all hold at arm’s length. The intimacy involved in sex, death, revelation and change is something we must maintain some distance from, lest they destroy our ego. Thus we develop a disociation, a wall of fear that keeps us comfortably separated from them. Saturn’s time in Scorpio hits us with a slow moving x-ray, exposing our deeply held beliefs and fears about this cluster of experiences.

La Petit Mort The beliefs and practices which structure sexual activity are highlighted during Saturn’s time in Scorpio. Saturn in Scorpio pushes us to examine the way we have constructed our sexual practice. The idea of a constructed sexual practice may make perfect sense to some, but others will wonder what is constructed or arbitrary about what is often a simple act governed by the natural logic of interlocking parts. Yet research into the history of human sexuality reveals a surprising multiplicity of viewpoints, with the meaning of sexuality and practice diverging significantly across cultures. Even the concept of the “homosexual” or “being gay” as a permanent condition is only a little over a hundred years old in the West. The acts existed before, but they weren’t considered to define a person. This degree to which sexuality can be structured is made explicit in most religious and spiritual practices. A Catholic priest must be celibate, Taoist adepts must conserve their sexual essence, while some Tantrics co-mingle theirs with another’s in a complex ritual structure, and a magician of Austin Osman Spare’s lineage orgasms with a specific, sigilized intention.

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What is interesting about Saturn in Scorpio is that it does not push a person toward either celibacy or promiscuity. The impetus is, instead, to deeply consider what they’re doing with their sexuality, and why. Saturn in Scorpio advocates for definition and refinement of sexual theory and practice, but not in any particular direction. On a cultural level, Saturn in Scorpio concretizes codifications of sexual practice and the subcultures which spring up around these definitions.

The Book of the Dead Saturn in Scorpio also brings the individual and collective focus to how we understand and deal with death. Here we see the whole range of ideas about of what happens to the intangible portion of us when we die, as well as what to do with the very tangible portion. Thus Saturn will push many to explore what may happen next and also to consider what they might want done with what remains. There will be some controversy surrounding what is legal or moral to do with remains during Saturn’s time in the Scorpio. Saturn’s time in Scorpio has in past installments, unleashed death in unprecedented forms. Saturn’s last run through the tunnels saw AIDS come into public awareness, pushing sex and death into a more intimate relationship than we would generally prefer and leading to a change in both the meaning and the practice of sexuality.

If I Die Before I Wake In the beginning, sex and death made wild free love. Sex got pregnant and gave birth to religion, which has spent the entire time since trying to regulate the behavior of its primordial parents. Although religion has more functions, two of its most vital are the explanation and cultural structuring of sex and death, the two most immanent mysteries. Indeed, it is difficult to conceive of a way to serious rethink of sex and death without considering the spiritual consequences. Saturn in Scorpio also highlights the way that we channel and make meaning out of our spiritual experiences. Ritual is the structuring principle of religious praxis. With ritual we recreate the odd conditions of gnosis and replicate them. For Saturn’s run through Scorpio this time, Neptune will be in Pisces, amplifying the spiritual aspects of Saturn in Scorpio. Somewhere between sex, death and religion is magic, the so-called occult. Saturn’s time in Scorpio will no doubt see the growing movement of practitioners of magical religions— collectively referred to as “pagans” – intersect more openly with the public sphere. The issue of legal rights and protections as well as sparks of cultural friction will be inevitable during this period

We Have Nothing to Fear But…Witches! Our relationships with sex, death, change and spirituality are all wrought with fear on some level. The power of fear and the power to overcome fear is the key to all of

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these topics. And so Saturn in Scorpio speaks to the essence of our relationship to fear itself. On a cultural level, Saturn’s last few runs through Scorpio have witnessed paranoia on a massive level. Saturn was in Scorpio from 1924—1926. During this time the KKK was the most popular men’s organization in a America, with an estimated membership of nearly five million. The next time Saturn was in Scorpio, between 1953—1955, it presided over the height of McCarthyism and Cold War paranoia. Although the target of these festivals of fear was not witches, the witch-hunt mentality was obviously an important component of this pass of Saturn through Scorpio. Saturn was in Scorpio again between late 1982 and 1985, when the “Satanic Ritual Abuse” scare gained panic status in the United States. This crazed witch-hunt dragged thousands of people’s lives and reputations into the gutter, based on the shaky testimony of hypnotized children Based on the history, it seems unlikely that we’ll get through this pass of Saturn through Scorpio without a little witchhunting. In the US, this will likely come as a conservative reaction to the proliferation of new and alternative spiritual practices, especially those of an explicitly magical or occult nature.

Corruption In alchemy, the Scorpion is associated with the process of putrefaction, or in common parlance, rotting. Saturn’s presence in the scorpion’s sign holds our attention on the putrefied, the corrupt, the rotten. On a visible level, political corruption will be highlighted during this time. We should see a number of high profile investigations and cases during Saturn’s time in Scorpio. In the natural world, though, putrefaction is a precursor to fecundity. The compost rots only to become the best goddamn fertilizer around. Thus putrefaction is the icky first stage of transformation. The old does not simply disappear to make room for the new. No, the old must decompose until it becomes the soil that nourishes the new. This holds for personal processes of transformation as well as for socio-political ones. Change: It’s gross.

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Neptune in Pisces WHAT DREAMS MAY COME 2012—2026

In 2012 Neptune entered Pisces, considered by many to be the blue planet’s most potent phase. Neptune will be in Pisces until 2026, and is one of the defining energies of the coming decade. Though subtle, Neptune’s power is all encompassing, describing the nature of the collective dream for long periods of time. So let’s spend a second getting to know the old king of dreams in this particular guise.

Maya Shakti (( In Pisces, all of Neptune’s associations are amplified. Dreams, delusions, magic, mysticism and madness all get a boost. Yet it is important that we do not chase every manifestation of Neptune’s power, but instead seek the root. That root may be best expressed by the Sanskrit phrase “Maya Shakti” which translates, roughly, to “the power to create reality/illusion.” “Maya” actually refers to both reality and illusion, therefore the “illusion of reality.” Our reality/illusion is something we have all played a part in creating. Our wishes do not go unheard. But as tales of genii and lamps remind us, the fulfillment of wishes often comes with unintended consequences. We may long for great wealth, but when we attain it we may find that it complicates our personal relationships and interferes with our dharma in ways we did not imagine. Such is the nature of wishes, genii and lamps. For all practical intents and purposes, Neptune in Pisces puts this genii-filled lamp— this power to dream reality/illusion— in our hands, or rather minds, whether we recognize it or not. As a result, Neptune in Pisces amplifies our collective and individual ability to blow reality bubbles. Desires, wishes and fantasies coalesce in

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nacreous layers, generating little seed realities. Bubbles, however, tend to pop. Here we see Neptune’s retrograde motion through Pisces, where the snow-globe realities we’ve been incubating lose their protective coating and are exposed to the contrary conditions of the rest of reality. These periods will test our dream’s ability to become part of the collective reality and reveal the consequences of getting what we ask for. Like the story of the genie in the lamp, Neptune’s gift of Maya Shakti is both a blessing and a test. It is one thing to wish vainly, but when one’s wishes are sure to manifest, one’s wisdom (or lack thereof) is revealed starkly. Neptune’s next 13 years in Pisces places the magical lamp into the hands of humanity, lending us the possibility of bringing new dreams into existence. Let us wish and dream wisely.

Last Time Yet how does one wish, dream or do anything wisely? A good place to begin is with a review of past experience. No one living today was alive for Neptune’s previous run through Pisces (1848-1862), but a brief review of that period and comparison with the unfolding present may prove useful for navigating the mind-sea this time…

Golden Dreams Neptune entered Pisces in 1848, and accordingly, the dream of gold emerged in California, kicking off the great push West in the US. The dream of gleaming wealth was not confined to California, though. 1848— 1862 saw unprecedented discovery of precious metals in many places. Gold was found in other parts of the US, Australia and South Africa. In fact, so much gold was discovered that by the time it was excavated, it multiplied the world supply of gold by more than a 100 times. These gold strikes triggered massive waves of immigration and relocation, as huge numbers of people traveled thousands of miles for the dream of wealth. The dissolution of boundaries is at the core of Neptune’s symbolism, and the geographical boundaries the gold-seeking immigrants crossed are a quintessential example of metaphor made historical flesh. While the 1850’s saw people traveling across the world seeking gold, the twentyteens see people traveling across the world seeking dreams of their own. People have never been so free to change residences, nor so incentivized by the fickle flows of global capital. It is doubtful we’ll discover massive new stores of gold, though it would not be surprising if vast resources of another type were uncovered. It would be fitting if it were oil, as oil is the key commodity right now, just as gold was in the 1850’s. It is the resource that powers the dream of the present.

The Veil The gleaming spectre of wealth was not the only one that Neptune’s ingress summoned— spiritualism, the practice of contacting the spirits of the dead during seances, is officially dated by many to have begun in 1848, the year of Neptune’s ingress into Pisces. A true cultural phenomenon, respectable households all over the US and Europe

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were spending pleasant evenings trying to speak with the dead. The alternative spiritualist movement laid the foundation for the occult renaissance of the late nineteenth century and also seeded what was to become “New Age” thinking. During the 1850′s church attendance in new, distinctly American forms of Christianity also rose dramatically. Denominations proliferated. Many historians consider this period to be the one in which the US made the spiritual traditions it had inherited its own. Today, alternative religions and spiritualities of all colors are on the rise. Ghost shows are all over the television, with multiple networks competing to field the best spooky footage. There are Mormons running for president of the United States, the Pagans are restless and Occultism in the West is approaching a new renaissance— things appear to be on schedule. Neptune’s time in Pisces will no doubt see a variety of “alternative” spiritualities get a seat at the table of faiths, with decisive breakthroughs coming while Saturn is in Scorpio (2012—2015).

Communism, Civil Rights and Civil War The dream of a society of true justice and equality swept the world last time Neptune went though Pisces. It was during the 1850’s that the Abolitionist movement gained power in American politics. Meanwhile, in Europe, 1849 saw a wave of communist revolutions hit, with millions of people fighting for the dream of a classless society. Further East, China experienced one of the most intense civil wars ever fought—the Tai Ping Rebellion. This conflict, which began in 1851, was a wide-scale revolution that advocated the abolition of private property, the creation of a classless society and equal rights for women. Today, many of the same sentiments are beginning to percolate. 2011 saw a huge upswing in resistance to global capitalism. Although the Occupy movement includes a collection of different agendas, anti-capitalist sentiment is prominent among them. Perhaps Marx was not dead, but dreaming. Meanwhile, women’s rights are an increasingly pressing issue in many Middle Eastern nations, and while 1850s America had slavery as its social issue, now it has gay marriage.

The Matrix Neptune’s province is the generation, manifestation and dissolution of dreams. As such, Neptune has a special relationship to movies, video games and the internet – topics that have no precedent in nineteenth century history. These imaginary worlds will bloom under the auspices of Neptune in Pisces. Look for increasing immersion in artificial realities of all sorts during Neptune’s time in Pisces.

Global Hellenism Yet Neptune does not operate in a void, for while it is in Pisces, the other blue planet will interface meaningfully with the ongoing conflict between Pluto and Uranus (See

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Ongoing Influences: The Uranus-Pluto Squares). Pluto in Capricorn asks that all bow to the coercive, globalizing torrent of capital, while Uranus in Aries rages and demonstrates in an attempt to maintain freedom and independence. But Neptune plays a different role. Configured to Pluto in Capricorn by a sign-based sextile for the next twelve years, the actions of these two bodies harmonize with each other. Pluto pushes all to participate in a single global system for economic reasons, Neptune in Pisces likes this, not because its energy is about global systemization, but because the large scale reorganization of power that Pluto in Capricorn pushes is conducive to the wild mixing and blending of cultures and ideas that Neptune in Pisces facilitates. The situation at hand can be meaningfully paralleled to the Mediterranean world of 334 BCE. Alexander The Great stormed out of Macedonia, conquered Greece, Egypt, the great Persian Empire and even some of the western-most lands of India. This festival of conquest connected the Greek, Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultural spheres, which over time, led to a great ferment in virtually every art and science. This phase, called the Hellenistic period, left a high water mark for human thought that would not be reached again in the West until the Renaissance, more than a millennia and a half later. Yet what Alexander today stands poised to conquer and connect the known world? The answer is no individual, but a chariot carrying two great and terrible riders. One of these dark riders is the raw power of Capital. With the collapse of Soviet Communism and the entry of China into the global marketplace, nothing stands in the way of Capital and the systems of human organization it imposes. The other rider in this juggernaut is the Internet. Like Capital, the Internet is an irresistible global force, transforming culture, human relations, business, art and everything else it touches. Together, Capital and the Internet are the early 21st century’s Alexander, conquering and connecting. Yet these conquerors leave in their wake the seeds of a global Hellenism. Wait for it.

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The Uranus-Pluto Squares THE CENTER CANNOT HOLD 2012-2015

As 2014 begins, Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn are in the midst of a series of squares, a difficult relationship they will be in for the next several years. This friction between archetypal forces defined much of 2013 and 2013’s big news and will continue to characterize the big story until well into 2015. The backdrop of this slow conflict has a variety of manifestations, but they all proceed from the same core dynamic.

Sparks Uranus in Aries is bright, sudden, fiery, independent and idealistic. It represents the willingness to revolt and rebel in order to achieve greater individual freedom and empowerment. Pluto in Capricorn, on the other hand, is dark, slow, heavy, authoritative and pragmatic. It signifies the evolutionary challenge of adapting to difficult material circumstances. It is supremely practical and anti-idealistic to an extreme. When we compare the significations of these bodies, it is easy to see the conflicts. Uranus spurs us to seek independence and freedom, while Pluto demands submission and order. Uranus sparks idealism, and Pluto counters with necessity. Uranus adds energy, stirs things up and creates chaos; Pluto consolidates connections and builds order. Now that the clashing rocks can be plainly seen, let us now turn our minds to the sparks which leap from their friction.

Vicious Cycles The most obvious feature of the Uranus-Pluto squares will be a continuation of the

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wide-spread civil unrest. These conflicts began in early 2011 as Uranus and Pluto moved into position for their little dance. It began with the Arab Spring, but continued onward into rioting in London, massive demonstrations in Chile and China and finally the Occupy movement. Heightened levels of civil unrest in all regions of the globe will be a mainstay for the next several years. Now, riots, demonstrations and revolutions cannot fail to provoke a response from the powers that be. The backlash, which is Pluto in Capricorn’s business, involves tighter enforcement of existing laws and a curtailment of civil liberties. Which, of course, provokes more civil unrest. It’s a merry-go-round that a number of nations and their people will ride for the next several years.

Wild West No More While the main front for the Uranus-Pluto squares is the public square, it would be foolish to ignore the increasingly politicized virtual world. Not only have the major protest movements thus far made unprecedented use of networking technology, but the virtual world itself is ablaze with the same conflicts of freedom vs. law and idealism vs. necessity. Under the Uranus-Pluto squares we see the science fiction dream of cyber war start to become a geopolitical reality. On the idealistic “freedom” side, we see hacker collectives such as Anonymous and Wikileaks breaching the security systems of corporations and nations alike. States and corporations, the non-geographical nations of our day, are also working hard to learn to control and defend their virtual space. This conflict between state/corporate powers and independent, technologically empowered people will run through the entirety of the Pluto-Uranus squares (201215). The likely result will be increased attempts to police the internet and amplified resistance to the same. This tension will give birth to a slowly escalating cyber arms race as the internet’s infinite fields enter the world of geopolitical importance. William Gibson, here we come.

Centrifugal and Centripetal Forces Archetypally, Pluto in Capricorn represents a push toward centralization. Geopolitically, this manifests as a steady pressure towards greater integration of the world into a single political and economic system. All stones must participate in the new pyramid. Uranus in Aries, on the other hand, strikes for the autonomy of individual entities. It is a radically independent energy which resists all attempts curtail sovereignty. There is an essential conflict between one pull toward centralization and another toward heterogeneous autonomy. These contending forces can be seen clearly in the current state of the world. Capital attempts to lace together the entire world into one market, seeking a capitalist apotheosis. Trading relationships require laws to regulate and stabilize them. This process of globalization, currently presided over by Pluto in Capricorn, inevitably provokes resistance. Existing cultures and economies are

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disrupted and the response, overseen by Uranus in Aries, is to reduce or sever these connections in order to create distance from the power of globalization. The amount of connection between different countries and cultures is greater, on a global level, than it has ever been, and is proceeding at a breakneck pace. These changes create internal contradictions within the constituent national bodies which pull each nation inwards in order to deal with the friction. These turns inward will complicate the centralizing force of globalization during the years of Uranus’ squares to Pluto, but are unlikely to arrest or reverse it. These centripetal vs. centrifugal conflicts are playing out not only a global level, but on regional and nation levels as well. In the US, the conflict is embodied in the pre-election debates as the issue of States vs. Federal power. In the Euro-zone, it is the one currency’s pull towards greater integration vs. the individual needs of the cultures and countries involved. These issues of centralization vs. sovereignty are something we can expect to continue to see for the next several years.

Revolution and Acceptance While the effect is most visible on a geopolitical level, Uranus and Pluto’s squares also have a powerful effect on individual lives. The theme of the conflicts is very similar, but as intricate and detailed as any biography. Unlike nation-states we, as individuals, have a capacity to moderate, mediate and ultimately harmonize conflicting forces in a way that lumbering geopolitical behemoths simply cannot. The first step is recognizing that both revolt and acceptance are valid principles. What can be improved should be, while what is inevitable is best met with acceptance. Thus we must recognize where we could use some radical change and revolutionary daring, and where we could use a pragmatic acceptance of what must be. Accepting both, yet being overcome by neither, we can stage a successful revolution within the confines of what must be.

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January PRIMA MATERIA

The clay of the month is stubbornly protoplasmic, resisting attempts to mold it to the potter’s will. Though January begins, as it always does, with the Sun in heavy, pragmatic Capricorn, this year the month’s themes are considerably more complicated. There is an overabundance of planets in cardinal signs this January, and so while the yearly task of resolving to accomplish new and better things occurs as always, a number of factors threaten to destabilize, distort or merely distract from these aspirations. The problem is not a lack of energy- quite the opposite. Too many factors introduce themselves, too many directions demand attention. The configuration which signals this is a Grand Cross, and its power is to stretch us to the four quarters, making it hard to hold center and focus. The 1st, 7th, 22nd and 28th see the cross’s power peak. Another factor which sets apart this January from others is Venus’ retrograde. Venus will be retrograde until the very last day of January. Venus’ retrograde, which is dealt with in depth on page 41 (insert page number when known), problematizes relationships, making the certain feelings uncertain and lending the temporary fling a veneer of permanence. The heart travels a void between stable phases all of January, touring emotional changes both shallow and deep.

So it Begins January thus begins with Venus quite retrograde and the Cardinal Cross spinning the freshly born year around. The first several days of the month are pulled in a variety of

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directions, and many will find it difficult to begin the year with poise. Not all of this is bad, though- it may simply come from wanting to accomplish too many things at once.

Reassessment The 5th sees these issues move toward resolution, for the Sun’s opposition to Jupiter in Cancer helps us look upon bloated ambitions and recognize what parts of the plan may need to be pared down. Mercury in Capricorn’s sextile to Saturn in Scorpio, which also occurs on the 5th, is of great help in organizing the many potentials present. Soaring possibilities need be chained to the creeping speed of real change, eagle alchemically bound to the toad. A little later, on the 7th, Mercury conjoins retrograde Venus in Capricorn, bringing the mind to bear on mutating relationships and changing feelings. Mercury doesn’t make potentially confusing shifts any more pleasant, but does make them thinkable. Nonetheless, the Moon’s activation of the loose grand cross on the 7th and Mars-Jupiter square on the 8th may delay these insights.

Swipe On the 8th, Mars in Libra completes a square with Jupiter in Cancer, threatening to scorch the seeds of a better life. Contrary factors emerge here, particularly those of a social nature. Many relationships and alliances are in an uncertain place, and if the frictions are not properly diffused, positive potentials may be poisoned.

The Architecture of the Heart On January 10th, retrograde Venus sails between the Sun and our little planet. This alignment marks the center of Venus’ backward journey through Capricorn. Here, backlit by the fiery heart of the Sun, Venus purifies the emotions, burning away that which obscures the truth of our desire-nature. While Venus’ retrograde generally signifies a confusion of the passions, the Sun-Venus conjunction today offers unusual clarity. Saturn looks upon the Sun and Venus’ unions by sextile, helping to illuminate the grand architecture of relationships. Look upon the nature of your commitments, past, present and future.

Trajectory Guidance System The day after Venus’ conjunction with the Sun, January 11th, Mercury leaves solid Capricorn behind for the cloud-castles of Aquarius. In Aquarius, the messenger carries missives concerning possible futures. The mind drifts along trajectories of probability, trying to choose the best path. Some may be inspired to ponder radical departures from old roads, but such ruptures will require serious modifications to travel itineraries. Mercury will be in Aquarius, on and off, until March 17th. Shortly after entering Aquarius, Mercury makes a square to the Nodal Axis, which

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complicates plans in the days surrounding the 13th, tangling crossroads with portals into the past and future.

A Pearl Overhead The Full Moon in Cancer comes on January 15th. The Full Moon is always the monthly height of lunar power, but it is only once a year that the Moon attains maximum fullness in Cancer- the Moon’s own sign. This is a tremendously fecund Full Moon, a rich soil in which an entire year’s worth of dreams can be planted.

State of the Union On the day after the Full Moon, January 16th, retrograde Venus in Capricorn squares Mars in Libra. This configuration spotlights the friction in a variety of relationships, romantic ones in particular. Because both Venus and Mars have retrogrades during the first half of 2014, the red and green planets will square in Libra and Capricorn again in March, testifying to the amount of tending relationships will need this year. Given the various transformations underway, as well as those still to come, a few adjustments may be order.

Download Speed While Mars and Venus bicker, Mercury in Aquarius sextiles Uranus in Aries, sending new fresh ideas flashing through the aethyrs. The Uranian message Mercury carries is innovative, rebellious and independent, not suited for maintaining the status quo but excellent for plotting a new course.

Satellite View The Sun enters Aquarius on January 19th, illuminating the pale heavens. While the Sun’s time in Capricorn asked us to gaze upon earthly affairs, Sol’s time in Aquarius asks us to look skyward and imagine what might be. Futures fair and foul form in slow, cold clouds. Over the next few days, the Sun in Aquarius drifts slowly towards a square with the Nodal axis, complicating perception of these hovering futures.

The Power of Negative Thinking The Moon activates the loosening Grand Cross on the 22nd and then on the 23rd and 24th, Mercury makes a pair aspects to Mars and Saturn. The messenger’s connections to the two malefics likely oversees a burst of bad news, and misfortune regarding travel and technology. This configuration places the mind between a rock and a hard place. Overlapping pressures and foul moods may make it difficult to think and communicate clearly.

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Lightbulb Mercury flies free of besiegement on the 25th, and the focus shifts to the Sun in Aquarius’ supportive sextile to Uranus in Aries. The innovative and disruptive inspire here, strengthening the desire for change.

Opportunity Cost On January 31st, Jupiter in Cancer perfects his second opposition to Pluto in Capricorn. Hidden opportunities loom about the last days of January, lurking alongside unexpected obstacles. The core of this configuration is the juxtaposition of opportunities for growth and the hidden factors which might either enhance or impede it. Much depends on the nature of what has been concealed. The question posed by Jupiter’s opposition to Pluto is whether the improvements you’ve planned will really be sufficient to meet the challenges of the difficult present. It’s ok if you haven’t figured it out yet, as Jupiter will be back for a third and final opposition in April.

Brain Drain Meanwhile, the 31st also sees Mercury quit the abstract heights of Aquarius for a dive into Pisces’ emotionally charged waters. The mind slips towards toward submerged dreams, feeling what cannot be seen.

Hold That Pose The last day of January sees Venus station direct in Capricorn, right next to Pluto. The morning star’s resumption of direct motion comes a week after her reappearance in the sky. Although Venus will not leave Capricorn for another five weeks, she now traverses terrain she has already covered twice. The 31st begins the last leg of Venus’ journey, in which troubled connections are remade. Work on implementing new patterns in relationships and begin afresh your relationship to pleasure.

A Bucketful Jupiter’s opposition to Pluto, Mercury’s slip in Pisces and Venus’ direct station all occur the same day as the New Moon in Aquarius, which plants all of these changes solidly in the soil of the month to come. January ends on a more sedate note than it began. Lovely Venus has ceased stumbling backward, catching herself just before she conjoined Pluto. Yet Mercury’s retrograde waits in early February, ready to start the next phase of a confusing season.

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January Ephemeris

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Venus Retrograde In Capricorn HEART SHAPED BOX NOVEMBER 2013 – MARCH 2014

Venus will be in Capricorn from November 2013 until March 2014- four months. This is unusual, as Venus usually speeds through a sign in a single month. The reason is that Venus’ plans to retrograde though the goat’s sign, grinding back and forth there, digging deep into the sign’s rocky foothills. In Capricorn, Venus is in Saturn’s sign, and the passions are subject to the slow, serious planet’s influence. Passions are potent but carefully contained. On an internal level, there is a focus on the psychological structures that hold and anchor emotional energies. Thus the focus for Venus’ extended time in Capricorn are the various structures that our emotions are bound to- the contracts which hide within all relationships. Each relationship involves a series of expectations which limit and define the exchanges which occur within it. We write and sign these contracts every day, in a hundred small ways. Though often invisible, they bind us on a deep level. Venus in Capricorn also highlights the way that our emotional energy is bound to the world as a whole. Though we may not think of it as such, we have a relationship to the world, and it is as tumultuous a romance as any. We call our world fair, unfair- we love it and we hate it. We dance in union and sulk bitterly after a fight. The relationship is ongoing and profound. Yet it changes, and Venus’ retrograde through Capricorn will reveal to us the secret contract which defines it.

Three Acts Venus will be in Capricorn from November 2013 until March 2014. This time, over four months, can be meaningfully divided into three sections.

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Pattern Recognition Venus’ journey begins with her as the evening star, arising every night after the Sun has set in the west. On November 20th, 2013 she entered the degrees she is fated to retrace. This period, sometimes called the “shadow” of the coming retrograde, sees everyday patterns of feeling become more and more transparent. As if through the floor of a glass-bottomed boat, we’ll see strange creatures swimming the murky depths below. Business-as-usual begins to fray as strange passions rise. Important questions rise slowly to the surface, but their answers will be months in the making.

Unbound The second portion of Venus’ journey is the point at which the planet assumes retrograde motion, December 21st, 2013. This period sees the patterns eroded during the shadow temporarily abandoned. Emotional energy drifts free of its normal constraints here. Energies retreat from manacles, seeking a more primordial, liberated state. The binding Devil XV of the Tarot jumps off the black cube of matter and is revealed as none other than chaotic Pan himself, reveling in the World-as-playground. The passions dance free from commitment and structure, retreating to their source. Profound insights occur as the secrets of the heart are laid bare. Yet there are also many mistakes to be made. It is a wonderful to explore new options, to entertain ambiguities and temporarily forget boundaries, yet this phase cannot last. Nor can the actions taken here fail to affect the surface of life, where form and function hold sway. This escape into the primordial is like a vacation, a withdrawal that provides perspective. It is necessary, but temporary. It is during this time that Venus disappears completely from the sky, arising as neither the morning nor the evening star. She is, for a few weeks, the underworld star, and her light serves to illuminate the secret recesses of the heart. Deep confusion and fear are hidden here. The renewal which takes place here is thus often terrifying, as it involves unprocessed feelings. Yet it is both necessary and life giving. The answers hide in the dark places.

Recommitment Ceremony The third major phase occurs when Venus stations direct, which will be January 31st, 2014. Venus’ direct station occurs right next Pluto, dragging the passion’s next incarnation directly into the transformative but deeply pragmatic evolutionary current the dwarf planet’s been broadcasting for the last few years. It is a call to tie our passions to those structures necessary to endure this bit of hard road. Fall in love with the evolutionary process, and all of the struggle and mutation it entails- threat of extinction and all. This final leg of the journey sees Venus arise again in the East as the Morning Star and travel the same degrees of the zodiac for a third and final time. Here the passions remember their desire to be bound- to hold and be held. This phase must inevitably

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be a contemplation of bonds, of possible arrangements to invigorate, to send life’s blood pumping through them. Here the hovering ghost of Eros looks over the lifeless body it deserted and inspects it before assenting to animate it once again. We bind ourselves afresh to our commitments. But bondage freely chosen is a joy, the piece of finity we’ve chosen to feel. During this period we come slowly back to the surface again and try to implement the insights we came to during the middle portion of our journey. Done with distancing ourselves from patterns, we come back to them, ready to reinhabit the body of desire once again. Venus exits this final phase on March 3rd, 2014.

Issues This particular Venus retrograde is likely to bring up a certain range of subjects.

Girl Power One issue that is often prominent during Venus’ time in Capricorn is women in leadership roles. Historically, this period abounds with stories detailing the pressures, sacrifices and experience of women in these roles. In addition, Venus’ retrogrades often coincide with the entry of women into the halls of power. The last time Venus went retrograde in Capricorn, the first quarter of 2006, England gained a new Queen-to-be. Prince Charles announced that he would wed Camilla, and the world almost cared. Meanwhile, Japan debated whether female succession in the Imperial family was legitimate. During the previous retrograde of Venus through Capricorn, in 1998, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became the president of Liberia, making her the first female head of state in Africa.

B+D Another issue which characterizes Venus’ time in Capricorn is the way that hierarchy and power affect relationships. Though often hidden, these latticeworks and their dynamics are key component of many relationships. The relationship between the boss and the employee takes on a certain shape because of these constraints, as does that between the teacher and the student. As a case in point, it was during Venus’ retrograde in Capricorn in 1998 that the media caught wind of Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinski. The limits imposed by power will be tested and transgressed during Venus’ time in Capricorn.

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Venus in Capricorn RX Horoscopes Aries Venus’ retrograde through Capricorn asks you to review the emotional commitments in your professional sphere. It may be that you’ve failed to devote enough energy to this part of your life. Conversely, you might discover that you’re so overcommitted that you have no love left for any other part of life. Professional relationships also come into this configuration’s spotlight. Success rarely comes without assistance. Take a step back from the structure of your alliances and ask yourself whether you’ve invested your trust prudently.

Taurus Venus’ time in Capricorn highlights the structure of your long term goals, and the energy you’ve anchored to them. You’re likely to consider the long term viability of relationships. Are your connections helping you get to where you need to go, or are you being held back? Venus’ retrograde also asks you to step back from these patterns and consider what goals you can really tie yourself to. Heartsblood is precious, and you have only so much to give. What future stories will write in that most valuable of ink? Take the time you need to answer this question.

Gemini Venus’ time in Capricorn highlights the structure of exchanges between yourself and others. As Venus drops lower and lower on the western horizon, she gets closer and closer to the flows of time, money and energy passing between yourself and other people. A change is coming here, and a small reckoning. Have you been giving yourself away? Or perhaps you’ve received more than you realize. A pair of scales wobble toward clarity. They aren’t digital, though, and will tilt one way and then another for months before an accurate measurement is reached. In the meantime, inspect the agreements with patience. You might feel cheated, but thievery is far less common than misunderstanding, as it is easy to mismanage the subtleties of exchange.

Cancer Venus’ time in Capricorn highlights the structure of your relationships with those close to you, especially romantic partners. Be ready for a series of x-rays to reveal the skeleton of those relationships. Cutting through the surface, the deep patterns become clear, bones revealed. The challenge might be to step up your level of commitment, or it may involve

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becoming aware of a long-standing negative pattern and extricating yourself from it. Venus’ retrograde through Capricorn contains a number of potent moments- the potential to change the trajectory of your romantic life is there, floating somewhere in a sea of unbound heart’s blood.

Leo Venus’ time in Capricorn asks how much emotional energy you’re frittering away worrying. It might not seem like a huge amounts- just one little worry at a time. Weighed together, though, those 10,001 frets are considerable. You’re donating blood to nothing. However, it’s not about ignoring the little things. Those bills do need to be paid, and you really should exercise more often. The point is not letting that energy stagnate. Do immediately and without hesitation. Take care of problems as they arise. If you can’t, think strategically about how you can put yourself in a position to fix them. Don’t waste time fretting. Venus’ work here is sealing up emotional leakages.

Virgo Venus’ time in Capricorn asks you explore the way you’ve been structuring your playtime. What have you been doing with your creative energy? Are you happy with what this has produced? Are you having the fun you want to be having? Are you creating what you want to be creating? Or are you throwing yourself at pleasures which have gone stale and projects which no longer inspire you? Venus’ time in Capricorn will provide you with a months-long inspection of exactly how you’re allocating your energy and what you’re getting out of it.

Libra Venus’ time in Capricorn highlights your living space and the relationships you have with the people that share it. Is your home a fortress of harmony, or has it become a den of discord? Consider the structure of the relationships between the people, and the way you’re contributing to the group dynamic. On a psychological level, the question is how to reconcile needs for security and harmony. People are prone to put up with quite a bit, as long as there’s a guarantee that they’re going to be fed and sheltered. Consider what you’re putting up with, and why.

Scorpio Venus’ time in Capricorn highlights your regularly scheduled commitments. Your day to day could probably use a number of adjustments. Though it may seem contrary, a little more organization in your schedule can actually free up an enormous amount of time and energy. Events in your significant relationships are likely to make the need for these modifications clear.

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Sagittarius Venus’ time in Capricorn spotlights the flow of monies into and out of your life. There’s a structure, a pattern to that income and outflow that’s most likely in need of revisitation. Venus’ retrograde through Capricorn is also quite likely to bring up possessive feelings in your relationships. Thinking of yourself as property may seem like an absurd turn off, yet every romantic wants to “give themselves” to someone else. The human heart is strange, and you should be prepared to ponder the contradiction.

Capricorn Venus’ time in Capricorn highlights who you are, how you feel about that person, and what it is you really want. What’s coming is a truly significant re-shuffling of your emotional energies. It may not be entirely pleasant, and you certainly won’t be comfortable with it the whole time, because it’s going to involve taking apart pieces of your identity. Don’t fret overmuch- you’ll get to put everything back together, but the middle part may be a bit disconcerting.

Aquarius Venus’ time in Capricorn is likely to stir up all sorts of strangely conservative feelings. A security you once found boring may become the epitome of seduction- stability, a lover whose charms you have no defense against. Though you may be temporarily seduced by Mayberry visions, the real task is to integrate these odd feelings with your eccentric trajectory through life.

Pisces Venus’ time in Capricorn asks you to look upon the social tapestry you’ve woven. Where do you fit in the fabric of various groups and hierarchies? Whose threads overlap your own? Do you belong there, or are you supposed to be part of another picture entirely? Your reputation may be subject to change at this time, and groups that you’re a member of are likely to be the site for the changes in social position. Some friendships may also be tested and refined by this configuration.

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January Dailies Wednesday, January 1st 2014 begins with the Sun’s conjunction to Pluto in Capricorn. The Sun’s annual alignment with dark Pluto intensifies desires for New Year’s transformations, but also magnifies the leaden weight of the status quo. Being sick of the way things are is great kindling for making an important change. It’s like using trash to start a fire. But if you intend on enduring past the point where that fire has burnt low, you’ll need discipline, and there’s no discipline without structure. Look at building new habits like you would construct a house- start with the foundations. The Moon in Capricorn’s sextile with Saturn in Scorpio in the evening provides this species of regimented ambiance for those who would make use of it. Late night, the Moon moves in to a conjunction with a retrograde Venus, bringing a mixture of feelings to the surface. Moon in Capricorn Sun Conjunct Pluto: Jan 01 12:56 PM Moon Sextile Saturn: Jan 01 8:05 PM Moon Conjunct Venus: Jan 02 5:13 AM New Year’s Day

Thursday, January 2nd Divergent energies compete for attention today. The emotional distance provided by Thursday’s Aquarius Moon will be helpful for dealing with the irritating square between Mars in Libra and the Sun in Capricorn today. Meanwhile, taciturn Mercury in Capricorn opposes optimistic Jupiter in Cancer, turning skeptical minds toward the positive possibilities. There are probably too many pulls in too many directions today to make any big decisions, though. Work on processing the various factors in play. Moon in Capricorn Moon Enters Aquarius: Jan 02 11:04 AM Sun Square Mars: Jan 02 6:13 PM Moon Square Nodes (North Bending): Jan 02 7:14 PM Moon Sextile Uranus: Jan 02 12:48 AM Mercury Opposition Jupiter: Jan 03 1:10 AM

Friday, January 3rd Friday begins just as the Moon in Aquarius’ trine to Mars in Libra perfects, starting the day with a small bang of energy and/or irritation. There are few exact aspects Friday, save the Moon’s evening square to Saturn, which lies heavy across it. Obligations and delays weigh down the day while odd emotions surface unexpectedly. Come Sun down, though, the Moon clears her square with Saturn and goes void of course, offering a less pressurized evening. Moon in Aquarius Moon Trine Mars: Jan 03 7:15 AM 48

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Moon Square Saturn: Jan 03 7:48 PM

Saturday, January 4th Saturday begins with the Moon void-of-course in Aquarius, on the way to nowhere in particular. Early in the day, though Luna enters Pisces and sets the course for a mellow conjunction with blue Neptune. This brief layover on the isle of escapism may come as a welcome a distraction from the preceding week’s tensions. It may not be a distraction so much as a consideration of positive possibilities. Despite the irritations and obstacles which the last week’s events have made clear, there are real opportunities hovering about the New Year Late night Luna conjoins tiny Chiron and sextiles dark Pluto, coaxing fears to the surface. You can drink the damage into submission or make it a therapeutic evening. Or, better yet, both- every time you successfully locate a childhood trauma, take a shot! Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Aquarius enters Pisces: Jan 04 11:02 AM Conjunct Neptune: Jan 04 4:28 PM Sextile Pluto: Jan 05 5:58 AM

Sunday, January 5th Sunday is lit with a ray of hope, for the Sun in stony, real Capricorn opposes Jupiter in supportive, juicy Cancer today. The Moon in Pisces carries the light from the Sun to Jupiter, creating a bridge between pragmatism and optimism, effort and opportunity. Mercury in strategic Capricorn reinforces this with his sextile to Saturn in Scorpio today, providing a structured, patient ambiance perfect for planning. Here is the power to chain earth-bound plans to soaring dreams. Moon in Pisces Moon Sextile Sun: Jan 05 12:34 PM Moon Trine Jupiter: Jan 05 12:46 PM Sun Opposite Jupiter: Jan 05 3:11 PM Moon Sextile Mercury Jan 05 9:14 PM Moon Trine Saturn: Jan 05 9:53 PM Mercury Sextile Saturn: Jan 06 2:50 AM Moon Sextile Venus: Jan 06 3:49 AM

Monday, January 6th Monday begins swimming in no particular direction, it’s energy led by a void-of-course Moon in Pisces. Mid-day, however, Luna enters Aries, beginning a slow burn which builds, unabated, throughout the rest of the day. Some surprises may appear over the second half of Monday, for the Moon’s sole aspect is her application toward a late night conjunction with chaotic Uranus in Aries. Moon in Pisces Moon Enters Aries: Jan 06 1:48 PM Moon Conjunct Uranus: Jan 07 5:25 AM Epiphany (Christian)

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Tuesday, January 7th A tense Tuesday sees a chaotic Grand Cross spin through it. It begins with the Moon between the electric rays of Uranus and dread beams of Pluto, starting a number of people’s day on an uncomfortable note. What chaffed upon waking may bloom into real irritation as the Moon moves towards an afternoon opposition with passive aggressive Mars in Libra. The Moon-Mars opposition coincides closely with Mercury’s afternoon conjunction with retrograde Venus in Capricorn. Confusing feelings find a voice here, though the trigger for such words may be the day’s irritations. Nonetheless, the busy Moon aspects Jupiter shortly thereafter, soothing inflamed tissues and offering perspective on tangled situations. Evening falls, and the Moon in Aries squares the Sun in Capricorn, guaranteeing that later a half Moon will rise to send glittering rays across the complexities in play. In the dark of night, consider what adjustments your fiendish master plans might need if they are to come to fruition. Moon in Aries Moon Square Pluto: Jan 07 10:18 AM Moon Opposes Mars: Jan 07 3:55 PM Mercury Conjunct Venus: Jan 07 4:00 PM Moon Square Jupiter: Jan 07 4:56 PM Moon Square Sun: Jan 07 7:41 PM Begin Second Quarter of the Lunar Cycle Orthodox Christmas Day (Orthodox Christian)

Wednesday, January 8th The day begins with the Moon in Aries’ square to a retrograde Venus in Capricorn, marking the morning with another round of sorting through ambivalent feelings, though some order may be developing. The Moon continues on to a square with Mercury in Capricorn, carrying the light from the passions to the intellect, and providing an opportunity to put things back into place after yesterday’s disruptions. Meanwhile, Mars in Libra squares Jupiter in Cancer today, pointing toward the conflicts which you’ll need to negotiate in order to preserve the opportunities in play. Come sundown, the Moon exits excitable Aries and enters grounded Taurus. The evening is blurred pleasantly by the sextile between Luna and Neptune, which develops until late night. The anesthesia wears off in the wee hours, though, when the Moon conjoins the Tail of the Dragon. Moon in Aries Moon Square Venus: Jan 08 7:23 AM Moon Square Mercury: Jan 08 10:27 AM Mars Square Jupiter: Jan 08 2:35 PM Moon Enters Taurus: Jan 08 8:25 PM Moon Sextile Neptune: Jan 09 2:59 AM Moon Conjunct South Node: Jan 09 5:29 AM

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Thursday, January 9th Thursday sees the solid Moon in Taurus lend the week a stability which has been otherwise lacking. The evening is particularly nice, as it is padded by a sextile between the Moon in Taurus and Jupiter in Cancer. Eat some good food, seek comfort and recharge. Moon in Taurus Moon Trine Pluto: Jan 09 6:27 PM Moon Sextile Jupiter: Jan 09 12:51 AM

Friday, January 10th Friday begins with a harmonious, grounded trine between the Moon in Taurus and the Sun in Capricorn, but the accord between the lights is complicated by their mutual configuration to Saturn in Scorpio. There is work yet to be done, standards to be met, and obligations to fulfill. Retrograde Venus in Capricorn also participates in today’s gestalt. Venus glides invisibly between the Sun and the Earth today, marking the halfway point of her retrograde- the inferior conjunction, a pivotal point in a process which has been ongoing for weeks. The heart’s hidden structures come into view and complex dynamics sparkle with momentary clarity. Here the process of separating the desire nature from its objects ends and the slow process of re-coagulation begins. The pattern by which things will come together, inside and out, emerges. Moon in Taurus Moon Trine Sun Jan 10 11:36 AM Moon Opposite Saturn Jan 10 1:07 PM Venus Sextile Saturn: Jan 11 4:43 AM Moon Trine Mercury: Jan 11 5:02 AM Sun Conjunction Venus Jan 11 5:24 AM Moon Enters Gemini: Jan 11 6:28 AM

Saturday, January 11th Saturday begins in a bit of fugue due to the Moon’s square to Neptune, but mid-day erupts with a burst of thoughts and communications, for just as the Moon departs Neptune, Mercury enters swift Aquarius. The messenger leaves behind Capricorn’s plodding plans for the sharp light of Aquarius, which illuminates affairs from unorthodox angles. Conversations and calculations speed through the day, born aloft by the mercurial Moon in Gemini. The night holds Luna’s sextile with Uranus in Aries, keeping the mental energy level high. Moon in Gemini Sun Sextile Saturn: Jan 11 7:38 AM Moon Square Neptune: Jan 11 1:26 PM Mercury Enters Aquarius: Jan 11 3:34 PM Moon Sextile Uranus: Jan 12 12:02 AM

Sunday, January 12th Sunday sees the waxing Moon continue through Gemini. There is a mental buzz about

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the day, a communicative vigor reinforced by the Moon’s afternoon trine to Mars in Libra. Consider how your plans for the month are developing, and put in the extra effort to keep all of the pieces connected. After the trine with Mars, the Moon goes void-of-course, leaving the rest of the day without any definite direction. If its’ been a high speed weekend, then consider a low key evening. Moon in Gemini Moon Trine Mars: Jan 12 3:33 PM Moon Void Thereafter

Monday, January 13th Monday begins with the final, frayed hours of the Moon’s time in Gemini, leaving much of the day without direction. However, late in the day, Luna slips into Cancer, suffusing the atmosphere with a thick, subtle energy which sensitizes the emotions and charges the body. The Moon rises just after sunset, appearing fat and nearly full in the East. An immense but mellow energy, that of a lake, of the trigram Tui, suffuses the evening, courtesy of the Moon’s night trine to Neptune in Pisces. On these slow waves flit both ideas and anxieties. They are like fire flies above a lake- watch them, but do not pursue them. Moon in Gemini Moon Enters Cancer: Jan 13 6:24 PM Moon Trine Neptune: Jan 13 11:41 PM Mercury Squares The Nodal Axis (North Bending): Jan 14 3:13 AM

Tuesday, January 14th The Moon, ready to overflow with potency, makes a slew of aspects today, setting January’s Grand Cross spinning again. Disruptions, pressures, opportunities and subtle conflicts are all stirred into one unstable concoction by Luna’s swift movement. There are high and low points alike. It would be wise to deal with the situations that arise one at a time, and reserve judgment until later. Moon in Cancer Moon Square Uranus: Jan 14 12:26 PM Moon Opposite Pluto: Jan 14 6:08 PM Moon Conjunct Jupiter: Jan 14 11:06 PM Moon Square Mars: Jan 15 6:02 AM The Prophet’s Birthday (Muslim) Makarsankranti (Hindu)

Wednesday, January 15th Wednesday starts with the Moon’s opposition to retrograde Venus in Capricorn, bringing the potent lunar energy to bear on the passions’ ongoing mutation. Some stray feelings and insights are thus likely to arise during the morning hours. Relationships are in flux, and it may be difficult to know what agreements to make in order to deal with tensions present. The Moon moves on to form a mid-day trine with Saturn in Scorpio, gather-

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ing the energies and events of the last 24 hours into a sort of order. Finally, evening comes and the Moon rises at the point of maximum fullness. The silvered beams fall with palpable weight upon ambitions and fears alike. Under this light plans for new and better futures coalesce. Moon in Cancer Moon Opposite Venus: Jan 15 8:16 AM Moon Trine Saturn: Jan 15 1:58 PM Full Moon: Jan 15 10:52 PM (Begin Third Quarter of the Lunar Month) Moon Enters Leo: Jan 16 6:59 AM

Thursday, January 16th Thursday begins with retrograde Venus in Capricorn’s square to Mars in Libra. Fueled by the dramatic Moon in Leo, the relationship adjustments necessitated by the VenusMars square may make it difficult to deal with situations in the nuanced, diplomatic way this period demands. Despite the potentially unsettling developments in relationships, there are a number of striking insights hovering in the evening air. Supported by the Moon, Mercury in Aquarius’ sextile to Uranus in Aries electrifies the mind and sends unorthodox ideas sizzling through it. Tune in. Moon in Leo Venus Squares Mars: Jan 16 11:13 AM Moon Square Nodal Axis (South Bending) Jan 16 2:22 PM Mercury Sextile Uranus: Jan 16 12:24 AM Moon Trine Uranus: Jan 16 1:08 AM Moon Opposite Mercury: Jan 16 1:15 AM

Friday, January 17th Friday begins on a somewhat irritable note, poised to re-inflame yesterday’s dramas. The evening is particularly ill omened, for the Moon is besieged, caught between the rays of Mars and Saturn. It is a poor night to chase euphoria- reschedule for another time. Moon in Leo Moon Sextile Mars: Jan 17 8:32 PM Moon Square Saturn: Jan 18 2:50 AM

Saturday, January 18th The Moon prowls Leo aimlessly for much of the day, keeping egos inflamed byt pushing things in no particular direction. Come evening, Luna enters Virgo and immediately begins applying to an opposition with Neptune which she will complete deep within the night. Under this configuration, the efficacy of chemical alterations to consciousness is increased. Unwind, have a drink. Have two. But stop short of excess. Moon in Leo Moon Enters Virgo: Jan 18 7:22 PM Moon Opposite Neptune: Jan 19 2:53 AM

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Sunday, January 19th A down-to-earth Sunday sees the Sun roll through the sky overhead without much fanfare. Just as our star sinks below the horizon, though, it makes an invisible shift into Aquarius, leaving the real politick world of Capricorn behind for another year. The Sun’s yearly journey through Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 20) diffuses the solar light across the cold spectrum of possibility and probability. The weight of futures foul and fair hangs in the mentally active air. The present loses definition easily as utopias and dystopias bloom and wilt in the mind’s eye. It is a natural time to consider where both you and the world are headed. The clouds overhead tonight, though, twist into auspicious omens as the Moon makes a pleasing sextile to exalted Jupiter in Cancer. Look for the positive and you’ll see it. Moon in Virgo Moon Trine Pluto: Jan 19 7:08 PM Sun Enters Aquarius: Jan 19 9:51 PM Moon Sextile Jupiter: Jan 19 10:25 PM Moon Trine Venus: Jan 20 3:40 AM

Monday, January 20th The Sun rises for the first time this year in Aquarius, lending Monday an energy distinct from the weeks which preceded it. Regardless the futures which float through your mind, the Moon’s mid-day sextile to Saturn in Scorpio suggests that there is still work to be done in the present. After aspecting Saturn during the afternoon, Luna goes void, making no particular aspect and auguring no specific course for the rest of the day. The Moon sneaks into Libra just before dawn. Moon in Virgo Moon Sextile Saturn: Jan 20 2:53 PM Moon Enters Libra: Jan 21 6:40 AM Martin Luther King Day (United States)

Tuesday, January 21st Tuesday begins with the Sun in Aquarius and Moon in Libra in a lovely trine, starting the day off with a bit of harmony. Ideas and conversations pepper the day, though when night falls the Moon closes in on an opposition with Uranus in Aries, setting the stage for disruptions both irritating and revelatory. The late night sees the Moon walking the uncomfortable degrees between Uranus and Pluto, seeding disturbed dreams. Slaves and masters dance, each becoming the other as the song changes. Moon in Libra Moon Trine Sun: Jan 21 9:37 AM Moon Opposite Uranus: Jan 22 12:18 AM Moon Square Pluto: Jan 22 5:48 AM

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Wednesday, January 22nd The Sun in early Aquarius is today beset by both the Head and Tail of Dragon, both sides pulling with an equal power. These tugs stretch out big questions, creating a subtle tension. Do not speed toward answers, but allow the process the time it needs. Meanwhile, the morning sees the Moon travel between the rays of Jupiter in Cancer and Venus in Capricorn, starting off the day on a pleasant note, which as the afternoon lengthens, becomes increasingly rich with ideas and conversation. The evening, however, hits a sour note, for the Moon’s conjunction with Mars in Libra yields irritation and disturbance. Moon in Libra Moon Square Jupiter: Jan 22 8:17 AM Moon Square Venus: Jan 22 12:03 PM Sun Square The Nodal Axis (North Bending): Jan 22 4:47 PM Moon Trine Mercury: Jan 22 5:59 PM Moon Conjunct Mars: Jan 22 9:47 PM

Thursday, January 23rd Thursday begins with Moon still scorched by last night’s conjunction with Mars, but with little else in mind. Come afternoon, though, Luna strolls into Scorpio, where she cradles the Head of the Dragon in her arms. This is a voracious combination, stimulating hungers deep and strong. Thursday evening is best spent hunting satisfaction, or conversely- making a heroic, ascetic stand against it. Moon in Libra Moon Enters Scorpio: Jan 23 3:42 PM Moon Conjunct North Node: Jan 23 8:53 PM Moon Trine Neptune: Jan 23 10:53 PM Moon Square Sun: Jan 23 11:15 PM Begin Fourth Quarter of the Lunar Month

Friday, January 24th Friday begins with Mercury’s trine to Mars, which sees red words slash through the day. Irritation creeps into people’s voices while the mind struggles with inflammation. Mercury spends the entire day moving between Mars to Saturn, and little benefit is likely to come from discussions. Stay away from sensitive topics. The reactive Moon in Scorpio supports the cantankerous mood for the first part of the day, but softens in the afternoon as it aspects comforting Jupiter and then pleasing Venus. Though the afternoon is well aspected enough, Mercury’s double affliction endures throughout the day and well into the night, seeding disagreement and rancor. If in doubt, keep it to yourself. Moon in Scorpio Mercury Trine Mars: Jan 24 8:57 AM Moon Sextile Pluto: Jan 24 1:40 PM Moon Trine Jupiter: Jan 24 3:20 PM Moon Sextile Venus: Jan 24 6:05 PM Mercury Square Saturn: Jan 25 5:56 AM

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Saturday, January 25th Saturday begins with the Moon conjunct Saturn and squared Mercury, continuing yesterday’s unpleasant mental wavelength. As the day rolls on onward, though, there is little planetary action. A bored, pleasure-hungry Moon in Scorpio winds through the last degrees of Scorpio, advocating indulgence. Come sundown, the heavily waning Moon enters Sagittarius and makes a tired gallop toward a late night square with Neptune, seeding a desire for distraction and fantasy as well as providing a small measure of confusion. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Scorpio Conjunct Saturn: Jan 25 7:36 AM Square Mercury: Jan 25 7:49 AM Enters Sagittarius: Jan 25 9:10 PM Square Neptune: Jan 26 3:57 AM

Sunday, January 26th Sunday begins with the waning Moon in Sagittarius’ supportive sextile with the Sun in Aquarius, lending the morning a faint halo of peace. Luna moves on to make a trine with Uranus in Aries mid-day, sending a little lightning through a bright but potentially tired day. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Sextile Sun: Jan 26 8:17 AM Moon Trine Uranus: Jan 26 12:53 PM

Monday, January 27th Monday begins with the Moon’s sextile to Mars, starting things out on a spunky note. Thereafter, Luna approaches an afternoon sextile with Mercury in Aquarius, supporting mental endeavours. Though there may be short spurts of activity, there is little energy about the day. Hustle and finish up what remains to be done this lunar cycle during the day, for the Moon’s evening plans involve a shift into Capricorn and then a soporific sextile with Neptune. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Sagittarius Sextile Mars: Jan 27 9:47 AM Sextile Mercury: Jan 27 4:00 PM Enters Capricorn: Jan 27 11:01 PM Sextile Neptune: Jan 28 5:32 AM

Tuesday, January 28th The Moon makes a dramatic series of aspects today, highlighting the mixture of opportunity and chaos that has been present throughout the month. The day includes the Moon’s conjunction to Pluto and square to Uranus, dropping in some potentially disruptive and uncomfortable notes, but the evening has a more melodious score There is much to reflect on here. Fortunately, the Sun’s sextile to Uranus today offers the opportunity for just that. Look again upon the same thing, but see differently. Moon in Capricorn 56

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Moon Square Uranus: Jan 28 1:59 PM Moon Conjunct Pluto: Jan 28 6:34 PM Moon Opposition Jupiter: Jan 28 7:04 PM Moon Conjunct Venus: Jan 28 8:57 PM Sun Sextile Uranus: Jan 29 2:33 AM

Wednesday, January 29th Wednesday begins with the waning Moon in nearly simultaneous aspects with Mars and Saturn. This potentially unpleasant configuration may trigger frustrations, but what it calls for is discipline and industry. Stay focused and, if you can, work through the annoyances. After what may be a difficult morning, the irritations likely subside into the background. Come night, the Moon floats into abstract Aquarius in pursuit of the Sun. No Moon rises Wednesday night. Let your mind unwind beneath the darkened sky- a quiet review of the last month’s happenings is in order. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Capricorn Sextile Saturn: Jan 29 10:41 AM Square Mars: Jan 29 10:45 AM Enters Aquarius: Jan 29 10:33 PM Square Nodal Axis (North Bending) Jan 30 2:04 AM

Thursday, January 30th Thursday begins with the Moon in Aquarius’ tingly sextile with Uranus in Aries. Shortly thereafter, Luna finds her way back into the Sun’s arms, ending one lunar month and beginning the next. The beginning of a new lunar month brings up much to consider. One of the larger factors is Jupiter’s opposition to Pluto. The two oppose perfectly today, the second of three oppositions they intend to make. The pairing highlights the relationship between opportunity and necessity. Ponder long the difference between what is possible and what is useful. Moon in Aquarius Moon Sextile Uranus: Jan 30 1:16 PM New Moon: Jan 30 3:38 PM Begin First Quarter of the Lunar Month Jupiter Opposite Pluto: Jan 31 3:16 AM

Friday, January 31st Friday begins with Mercury’s slip into Pisces. Bidding adieu to the satellite view he enjoyed in Aquarius, the messenger dives into the deep waters of space. Mercury is considered to be enfeebled in Pisces, where communicating clearly and making informed decisions become the stuff of epic poetry. Which is, of course, the form you’ll be forced to write your grocery lists in for the next several weeks. Not long after Mercury trades his winged hat for beer goggles, the Moon hits a bumpy pair of aspects to Saturn and then Mars, which may make for a rough morn-

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ing. These aspects quickly fade from view, though, replaced by the spectacle of Venus’ direct station in Capricorn. Retrograde since December 21st, the lady of the heavens pauses and spins on her heel today, resuming forward motion. At her signal, affairs of the heart and matters of the wallet leave behind the ambivalence and confusion which marked the last six weeks. This is a point to move forward from- the passions have settled on a framework they are content to settle into, a “heart-shaped box” of appropriate size and dimensions. Moon in Aquarius Mercury Enters Pisces: Jan 31 8:33 AM Moon Square Saturn: Jan 31 9:57 AM Moon Trine Mars: Jan 31 10:47 AM Venus Stations Direct: Jan 31 2:49 PM Chinese New Year

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February MUTATIS MUTANDIS

Much of February is overseen by the Sun’s time in Aquarius. While the water-bearer does her best to pour the mana earthward, a number of factors complicate February. In the water-bearer’s bucket is a strange, slightly irradiated brew of confusion, inspiration and difficulty. Two factors complicate February. The first is Mercury’s retrograde, which spans almost the entirety of the month. The messenger lords over serious changes to our thinking, as many will see their intellectual framework altered over the course of the month to incorporate both deeply personal and strangely spiritual insights. The second factor which encloses February is the t-square between Jupiter in Cancer, Uranus in Aries, and Pluto in Capricorn. This tense configuration mutates opportunities, destabilizing some and super-sizing others.

Telephone Game As the first week of February drifts by, the tension surrounding Mercury’s upcoming retrograde grows and the lost phones, botched plans and general confusion mount. On the 6th, Mercury actually assumes retrograde motion and disappears from the nightsky shortly thereafter. Mercury’s retrograde begins in the murky depths of Pisces, but the messenger’s journey will pull him out of the brackish waters and back into the cold, dry air of Aquarius. Metaphorically, this retrograde is a plunge into turbulent emotional and spiritual territory, followed by a retreat to more logical terrain. Mercury will be retrograde until the very last day of the month, February 28th.

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Coming Ashore Spending a little less than a week in Pisces’ psychedelic seas, Mercury will re-enter Aquarius on February 11th, dragging emotional and spiritual matters to shore. It is here that the rest of Mercury’s retrograde journey will occur, letting the feelings and intuitions which have emerged change the way we think and communicate. Undrinkable sea water, when dried, yields life-giving salt.

When The Going Gets Tough… Just as Mercury struggles free of Pisces, the Sun enters a rough patch of sky. Sol spends the 11th – 14th between a tough square with pitiless Saturn in Scorpio and a trine with passive aggressive Mars in Libra. Besieged between malefics, the Sun has a difficult time providing light, levity and balance to these days. Many will find their commitments wavering and their spirit sinking under this configuration. The Full Moon in Leo on the 14th comes at the end of this span of trying days. Questions abound here about whether to abandon troubled situations or rally and push on. This tension flits about the silver light, but decisions should wait until Mercury’s conjunction with the Sun the next day.

From On High The day after the Full Moon, February 15th, sees Mercury conjoin the Sun in Aquarius, shining a piercing beam of clarity down upon an agitated earth. This moment, the mid-point of Mercury’s retrograde, cuts through the mental detritus of the surrounding days, revealing exactly what we need to let go of, and what can be salvaged.

The Head and Tail of the Dragon In Scorpio and Taurus since the summer of 2012, the Head and Tail of the Dragon change signs on February 17th. The Head, or North Node, enters diplomatic Libra, and the Tail, or South Node, enters Aries. In these signs the Nodes will busy themselves shifting energy from individual pursuits and towards consensus until 2015. Though they shift today, the changes they augur may not be obvious until April’s dramatic set of eclipses.

Sploosh The Sun changes signs on the 18th of February, abandoning the abstract concerns of Aquarius for the psychologically and spiritually rich waters of Pisces. The Sun’s time in Pisces highlights the way we mediate between the concrete and invisible sides of life, bringing into question the contradictions between the two. While the Sun plunges into mellow but deep Pisces, still-retrograde Mercury in Aquarius squares Saturn in Scorpio. This configuration clogs a number of pathways, drawing attention to the deep structural factors underlying the problems with com-

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munication and cogitation which this retrograde has raised.

Blur The next several days are softened by the Sun’s approach to spacey Neptune in Pisces, which is precise on February 23rd. The Sun’s conjunction with distant Neptune makes it easy to modify your consciousness, though not all modifications are improvements. The spirit-world, the blurry outlines of a bender and the digital architecture of artificial realities are all more easily accessed during this brief span of days. Gates open as boundaries blur.

Commitment Ceremony While the Sun and Neptune open strange gateways, Venus in Capricorn closes in on her third sextile with Saturn in Scorpio, revisiting this season’s concerns about relationship structure and the solidity of commitments to the surface. The Venus-Saturn sextile, which occurs on the 24th, reveals ill-fated relationships while sanctifying wisely refurbished unions.

Mutation On February 25th, Jupiter in Cancer squares Uranus in Aries exactly. On this day, and those surrounding it, new opportunities may manifest, but so are radical alterations to projects already underway. Growth spurts, disruptions and mutations abound here. This is only the second of three squares Jupiter will make to Uranus. Take in what this aspect reveals and incorporate it into your plans. You’ll have until the third and final square in April to make good on the wild promise of this configuration.

One Good Turn… The last day of the month is stocked with a few hopeful turns. The 28th holds Mercury’s station direct and return to visibility, which brings an end to the often-inconvenient retrograde portion of the messenger’s cycle. Questions are replaced steadily by answers. Further bolstering this positive turn is the Sun in Pisces’ abundant trine with Jupiter in Cancer on the 28th. This configuration smiles upon our successes and illuminates what positive potentials the future still holds. This moment is sanctified by the New Moon in Pisces on the 28th, which captures Jupiter’s positive, abundant energy and seals it inside the seed of the coming lunar cycle. We’ll need the uplifting energy, for the shadows of Mars and Saturn’s upcoming retrograde stations both darken the last day of February.

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February Ephemeris

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February Dailies Saturday, February 1st The gentle Moon in Pisces waxes toward a fine, mutually received, trine with Jupiter in Cancer for much of the day, providing a nurturing and optimistic atmosphere. During the afternoon, the Moon aspects Pluto, revealing transformative possibilities. Later, Luna aspects newly direct Venus in Capricorn, highlighting the pleasure to be found in fully committing oneself to what matters. Yet commitment is always a sacrifice, and the price of what will not be hovers in the air, as well. Moon in Pisces Moon Trine Jupiter: Feb 01 5:17 PM Moon Sextile Pluto: Feb 01 5:36 PM Moon Sextile Venus: Feb 01 7:39 PM

Sunday, February 2nd Sunday begins with a dutiful trine between the Moon in Pisces and Saturn in Scorpio, which sets an organized tone for the rest of an otherwise aimless day. Come evening, Luna enters Aries, where she will spend the next few days. Moon in Pisces Moon Trine Saturn: Feb 02 10:39 AM Moon Enters Aries: Feb 02 10:59 PM Groundhog Day (United States) Imbolc (Wiccan, Neo-Pagan)

Monday, February 3rd Monday begins with the lead up to the Moon’s monthly conjunction to Uranus in Aries, beginning the work week on an energetic note. Today the Moon activates February’s T-Square between Uranus, Pluto and Jupiter, lighting up revolutionary possibilities and spinning up shit storms. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Aries Conjunct Uranus: Feb 03 3:19 PM Square Jupiter: Feb 03 7:28 PM Square Pluto: Feb 03 8:17 PM Square Venus: Feb 03 8:56 PM Sextile Sun: Feb 04 1:37 AM

Tuesday, February 4th Tuesday sees the Moon in Aries move into an opposition with Mars in Libra. As with most oppositions between the Moon and Mars, there is an itchiness here, a tendency for emotional and physical inflammation. Yet there is also a more subtle undercurrent, and what gets brought up in passing may have deeper roots than could be suspected, for Mars is slowing down, preparing for his retrograde station in not so many weeks. Keep an eye on the issues raised and the reactions evoked by today and you may see

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the silhouette of a key you’ll need in the near future. Late night, the Moon plods into stable Taurus, and her wee hours conjunction with the Dragon’s Tail may colour dreams with both loss and liberation. Moon in Aries Moon Opposite Mars: Feb 04 5:14 PM Moon Enters Taurus: Feb 05 3:52 AM Moon Conjunct South Node (Cauda Draconis): Feb 05 6:46 AM Vasant Panchami (Hindu)

Wednesday, February 5th Wednesday begins with the Moon activating Mercury and Neptune’s dreamy, confusing conjunction. Schedules and clocks melt, their oozy remains dripping into sticky, mildly psychotropic pools on the floor. While concentration may be in short supply and things may not necessarily run on time, there is a silver lining to today’s configuration. Exalted Jupiter in Cancer makes a healing trine to Chiron in Pisces, soothing wounds and massaging scars. This is an excellent day for integrative work, be it spiritual, psychological or bodily. Moon in Taurus Moon Sextile Mercury: Feb 05 9:43 AM Moon Sextile Neptune: Feb 05 11:53 AM Moon Sextile Jupiter: Feb 06 1:38 AM Jupiter Trine Chiron: Feb 06 1:51 AM

Thursday, February 6th Mercury stations retrograde today, throwing it into reverse whilst conjunct Neptune in Pisces. What has emerged from the depths may be confusing, but it is saturated with information. It may take awhile to land this fish, but over the coming weeks’ we’ll reel the truth in from its abyssal home and expose it to the cold, winter light of reason. While Mercury turns away from the indulgent fantasies that Neptune provides, the Moon in Taurus spends much of the day in opposition to Saturn, advocating hard truths over soft dreams. Moon in Taurus Moon Square Sun: Feb 06 1:25 PM Begin Second Quarter of the Lunar Month Moon Opposition Saturn: Feb 06 10:52 PM Mercury Stations Retrograde: Feb 06 3:44 PM

Friday, February 7th Friday begins slow, but the pace, as well as the level of ambient confusion, picks up with the Moon’s mid-day entrance into Gemini. The rest of the daylight is defined by the crossed wires and potential mishaps suggested by the Moon’s square to a retrograde Mercury. All standard Mercury retrograde warnings apply here- double check your plans, back up your data, and think carefully before committing to any new projects. Moon in Taurus Moon Enters Gemini: Feb 07 12:46 PM 64

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Moon Square Mercury: Feb 07 7:02 PM

Saturday, February 8th Though still subject to retrograde mishaps, there is a certain level of harmony present today. Day breaks while Luna makes an electric sextile with Uranus, and the day proceeds onward under a certain equilibrium between the Sun and Moon. Things may not go as planned, but they are likely headed somewhere interesting There is a strong mental current today- ideas are wont to work their way out of hidden spaces. Make room for them. Moon in Gemini Moon Sextile Uranus: Feb 08 7:58 AM Moon Trine Sun: Feb 09 5:45 AM Parinirvana (Buddhist)

Sunday, February 9th A Grand Air Trine today between the Sun in Aquarius, Moon in Gemini and Mars in Libra suggests an abundance of mental energy, yet these winds are intemperate, disturbed. There are nails aloft in the breeze, and offense may be given or taken unintentionally. A little extra effort taken to retain one’s equilibrium may well be the difference between stimulation and irritation. Late night, the Moon forsakes hyperactive Gemini for comforting Cancer, dispersing the nervous charge which hovered over the weekend. During the wee hours, Luna activates retrograde Mercury, making the dark hours before dawn an ideal time to reflect on appropriate renovations. Moon in Gemini Moon Trine Mars: Feb 09 3:09 PM Moon Enters Cancer: Feb 10 12:33 AM Moon Trine Mercury: Feb 10 4:57 AM

Monday, February 10th Monday starts off with the Moon’s mellow trine to Neptune, whose seamless flow characterizes the first half of the day. As evening approaches, though, the atmosphere intensifies. Monday night is chock full of aspects, for the Moon crosses February’s intense T-square. It begins with the evening square to Uranus in Aries, a disruptive and inconvenient aspect, but then moves on to the sweet retreat of a conjunction with Jupiter in Cancer. This is followed by Luna’s opposition to Pluto, an oppressive aspect which highlights all of the fears conjured by the vision of the world-as-it-is. Moon in Cancer Moon Trine Neptune: Feb 10 9:45 AM Moon Square Uranus: Feb 10 8:27 PM Moon Conjunct Jupiter: Feb 10 11:27 PM Moon Opposition Pluto: Feb 11 2:04 AM

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Tuesday, February 11th Tuesday begins with the Moon in Cancer’s opposition to Venus in Capricorn, asking us to get comfortable with where we’ve decided to invest our emotional energies. New arrangements and relationships may be tested here. We may find ourselves unsatisfied or desirous of more than we currently have. With the Sun in Aquarius square Saturn in Scorpio all day, there is an air of frustration and potential depression hovering overhead. People may feel like quitting, abandoning commitments they feel bind them too tightly. As evening falls, the Moon in Cancer moves on to a trine with Saturn in Scorpio, which asks that we consider our emotional responsibilities, and consider the cost of living up to our obligations. Late night sees the Moon trapped between the rays of Saturn and Mars, a most unfortunate but brief configuration. Moon in Cancer Moon Opposition Venus: Feb 11 8:20 AM Sun Square Saturn: Feb 11 1:56 PM Moon Trine Saturn: Feb 11 11:10 PM Moon Square Mars: Feb 12 4:51 AM

Wednesday, February 12th There is a level of general harshness over the next few days, for as the Sun travels between the rays of Saturn and Mars frustrations accumulate easily. The Moon starts the day in Cancer, but by mid-day enters dramatic Leo, where she will spend the next several days. Come evening, Mercury leaves Pisces, retrograding back into Aquarius. Emotional issues are dragged into the cold air of reason, exposing the thinking behind the feeling. Moon in Cancer Moon Enters Leo: Feb 12 1:14 PM Moon Square Nodal Axis (South Bending): Feb 12 3:07 PM Mercury Re-Enters Aquarius: Feb 12 9:26 PM

Thursday, February 13th A charge builds today as the Moon approaches fullness in Leo while the Sun lies besieged between malefics in Aquarius. There is a tension here that some may find unbearable. Endurance is certainly likely to be tested. The very full Leo Moon shines a cinematic light on personal affairs, and it may be easy to get caught up in the dramatic quality of life. Take a deep breath, and don’t let your mind fall prey to these distortions. Moon in Leo Moon Trine Uranus: Feb 13 9:17 AM

Friday, February 14th A tough Full Moon hovers over Valentine’s day this year. The morning is characterized by the Moon’s square to Saturn, a suppressive influence often accompanied with frustration and low spirits.

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The Moon’s moment of perfect fullness occurs late in the afternoon. The Sun in Aquarius impels us to leave behind what is not up to our ideals, while the fiery Moon in Leo urges that we fight for what we believe in, courage our sword and shield. Saturn looks upon both lights by square, pointing toward the necessity for prudence and patience, no matter how unbearable. It is a tense, even volatile evening, yet many of the frustrations which have brewed over the past week become clear beneath the Moon’s silver beams. Late night, the Moon moves into Virgo, grounding the energy and evaporating some of the ambient drama. Moon in Leo Moon Square Saturn: Feb 14 11:39 AM Full Moon in Leo: Feb 14 5:53 PM Begin Third Quarter of the Lunar Month Moon Trine Mars: Feb 14 6:01 PM Sun Trine Mars: Feb 14 8:04 PM Moon Opposite Mercury: Feb 14 9:12 PM Moon Enters Virgo: Feb 14 1:23 AM

Saturday, February 15th Though it begins with a fuzzy Moon-Neptune opposition, there is clarity to be found today. Saturday sees Mercury find the precise place between the Sun and the Earththe midpoint of the swift planet’s retrograde. A ray of light pierces a confusing time, making it easier to understand the essence of the changes unfolding. The grounded, organized Moon in Virgo aids in this task, more so for the sextile to benefic Jupiter she spends most of the day in. Late night holds Mercury’s trine to Mars in Libra, which further helps shine a light on those factors which have challenged the equilibrium of the last several days. Make adjustments as necessary, but be aware that those issues signified by Mars are unlikely to be solved simply. Moon in Virgo Moon Opposite Neptune: Feb 15 10:47 AM Sun Conjunct Mercury: Feb 15 2:21 PM Moon Sextile Jupiter: Feb 15 11:09 PM Mercury Trine Mars: Feb 16 2:19 AM Moon Trine Pluto: Feb 16 2:40 AM Nirvana Day (Buddhist)

Sunday, February 16th Sunday begins with the Moon in Virgo applying to a fine trine with Venus in Capricorn, making the morning hours fit for a bit of indulgence. As the Sun ticks across the sky and afternoon lengthens, Luna moves into a sextile with Saturn in Scorpio, highlighting what work needs to take place and providing the opportunity to get organized for the week to come. Come night, the Moon completes her aspect with Saturn and goes void until her Monday ingress into Libra. Moon in Virgo Moon Trine Venus: Feb 16 1:07 PM

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Moon Sextile Saturn: Feb 16 11:04 PM Magha Puja Day (Buddhist)

Monday, February 17th The work week begins with the void Moon in Virgo sailing aimlessly through the sky, but mid-day she enters Libra, where she will be for the next several days. Other than the Moon’s ingress, there is little planetary action. Today is best spent re-establishing equilibrium- solidifying and balancing your mental/emotional framework in accord with recent insights. Moon in Virgo Moon Enters Libra: Feb 17 12:20 PM President’s Day (United States)

Tuesday, February 18th Tuesday begins with a Grand Cross between Jupiter, Uranus, Pluto and the Moon, starting off things on a frenzied note. Before the Sun has risen high in the morning sky, it slips invisibly into Pisces, where it will be for the next month. The Sun’s time in Pisces sees it shine rays into the undersea depths of the mind, illuminating mythic leviathans. This strange light penetrates both the depths of the psyche and the lofty heights of the imaginable cosmos simultaneously. Questions of meaning arise. Meanwhile, the Head and Tail of the Dragon- the Moon’s nodes, change signs today, shifting into Aries and Libra, where they will oversee the next 18 months of eclipses. Short and long term changes cluster today, which may make the day difficult to keep up with. Retrograde Mercury’s square to Saturn in Scorpio, which is active all day, highlights this, and make it difficult to stay on schedule, or even on topic. Moon in Libra Moon Opposite Uranus: Feb 18 7:58 AM Moon Square Jupiter: Feb 18 9:15 AM North Node Enters Libra: Feb 18 9:18 AM Sun Enters Pisces: Feb 18 11:59 AM Moon Square Pluto: Feb 18 1:01 PM Mercury Square Saturn: Feb 19 1:11 AM Moon Square Venus: Feb 19 1:42 AM

Wednesday, February 19th Wednesday begins with a trine between the Moon in Libra and still-retrograde Mercury in Aquarius, providing questions and answers in equal measure. As the Sun rises high in the sky, the focus shifts to the Moon’s conjunction with Mars and the North Node in Libra. Tempers may flare here, threatening relationships and testing diplomatic skills. The states and events which emerge under Luna’s conjunction with Mars are likely to foreshadow the qualities of Mars’ soon-approaching retrograde. Shortly thereafter, the Moon slips into moody Scorpio, where she will be for the

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next few days. Luna makes a late-night trine to the newly enthroned Sun in Pisces, offering some insight into the passions roused by today’s events. Late, in the wee hours, the Moon completes a trine to blue Neptune, blurring the night. Moon In Libra Moon Trine Mercury: Feb 19 8:11 AM Moon Conjunct Mars: Feb 19 3:50 PM Moon Conjunct North Node (Caput Draconis): Feb 19 9:27 PM Moon Enters Scorpio: Feb 19 9:30 PM Moon Trine Sun: Feb 20 12:21 AM Moon Trine Neptune: Feb 20 6:38 AM

Thursday, February 20th The Moon wanes through Scorpio today, elevated by a mid-afternoon trine with exalted Jupiter in Cancer. It is easy to immerse oneself in activities today. A little bit of focus can turn into a several hour trance. Find and follow the Tao in whatever activity fortune presents. Moon In Scorpio Moon Trine Jupiter: Feb 20 5:27 PM

Friday, February 21st Friday begins with the Moon in Scorpio’s square to a still-retrograde Mercury in Aquarius, highlighting the emotional aspects of recent renovations. Nearly simultaneously, the Moon sextiles Venus in Capricorn, lending the morning a pleasant quality. Yet shortly thereafter the Moon proceeds on to a hard conjunction with pitiless Saturn, which makes for an emotionally cramped afternoon. Evening falls and the Moon pulls away from Saturn, but toward nothing else. Late night, the Moon leaves Scorpio’s burrow behind for the flat plains of Sagittarius. Though the planets promise some relief in inebriation, there is nothing particularly joy inducing to recommend this Friday night. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Scorpio Square Mercury: Feb 21 11:55 AM Sextile Venus: Feb 21 11:59 AM Conjunct Saturn: Feb 22 12:05 AM Enters Sagittarius: Feb 22 12:06 AM

Saturday, February 22nd Saturday begins with the Sagittarius Moon’s square to the Sun and Neptune in Pisces. There is confusion here, but it may be of the pleasant variety. The Sun’s pending conjunction with Neptune brings a fog bank rolling in, and invites us to stare into it until we hallucinate. Carefully orchestrated plans may be difficult to execute. Saturday is best left open for meandering. The evening sees the excitable Sagittarius Moon complete a trine with stimulating Uranus in Aries, setting alight what fuel is left in the last quarter of the lunar month. Moon In Sagittarius

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Moon Square Sun: Feb 22 11:11 AM Begin Fourth Quarter of the Lunar Month Moon Square Neptune: Feb 22 12:59 PM Moon Trine Uranus: Feb 22 10:23 PM

Sunday, February 23rd Sunday begins with the Sun’s conjunction to Neptune in Pisces. This conjunctio will give rise to mystical feelings in some, preside over hangovers for others, and merely provide confusion for still others. Not long after the Sun-Neptune conjunction, the Moon in Sagittarius makes a mid-day sextile with Mercury in Aquarius. Though there may be some mental fog hanging over the day from the Sun-Neptune conjunction, this is nevertheless a good day to address some of the issues exposed by Mercury’s retrograde. The solutions have likely begun to emerge, and the time for implementation is likely near at hand. While the day begins with the Moon’s aspect to an almost-direct Mercury, it ends with Luna in aspect to an almost-retrograde Mars. Yesterday’s problems fade while tomorrow’s work their way to the surface. Moon in Sagittarius Sun Conjunct Neptune: Feb 23 12:10 PM Moon Trine Mercury: Feb 23 2:01 PM Moon Sextile Mars: Feb 24 3:21 AM

Monday, February 24th The Sun rises on Monday not long before the Moon’s ingress into stony Capricorn, which provides a practical but low-energy baseline. The first half of the day is softened by the Moon’s sextile to Neptune in Pisces and then warmed by an afternoon sextile with the gently shining Sun in Pisces. Evening holds Venus in Capricorn’s sextile to Saturn in Scorpio, which, although perhaps not overflowing with joy, helps organize the passions and affections, and clarify those frameworks and agreements through which good relationships are formed and maintained. The evening and night sees the Moon cross the Uranus-Pluto-Jupiter T-square, bringing the mind to bear on how to adapt strategies for growth to the requirements of a volatile time. Moon in Capricorn Moon Enters Capricorn: Feb 24 7:45 AM Moon Sextile Neptune: Feb 24 4:17 PM Moon Sextile Sun: Feb 24 6:20 PM Venus Sextile Saturn: Feb 24 10:48 PM Moon Square Uranus: Feb 25 1:12 AM Moon Opposite Jupiter: Feb 25 1:20 AM Moon Conjunct Pluto: Feb 25 5:16 AM

Tuesday, February 25th A tired Capricorn Moon wanes over Friday, yet there is an electricity hiding in the

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slow moving heavens. Jupiter in Cancer squares Uranus in Aries today, the second in a series of the three. This configuration sees retrograde Jupiter, busy re-considering strategies for expansion, meet in council with radical Uranus, who suggests the bold, the revolutionary, and the pattern-breaking. Having scrutinized the obstacles in your path, the question, then, is: how you can move around them, or better yet- through them? Real growth always presses against the limitations imposed by existing structures. Though the Jupiter-Uranus square is the big story today, the evening also sees the Moon aspect Venus and then Mars, lighting up relationship dynamics in flux. Moon in Capricorn Pluto Sextile Chiron: Feb 25 4:28 PM Moon Sextile Saturn: Feb 25 10:05 PM Moon Conjunct Venus: Feb 25 11:15 PM Jupiter Square Uranus: Feb 26 1:29 AM Moon Square Mars: Feb 26 4:49 AM

Wednesday, February 26th Wednesday begins with the Moon’s ingress into Aquarius around daybreak. The Moon in Aquarius then pursues a stimulating sextile with Uranus which it does not complete until late night, leaving the day open to those of events just passed as well as those still on their way. Mercury’s direct station, only a few days out, colors much of the day, rendering insights and understandings in rational form. Moon in Capricorn Moon Enters Aquarius: Feb 26 8:53 AM Moon Sextile Uranus: Feb 27 1:53 AM

Thursday, February 27th Thursday sees the very waning Moon in Aquarius conjoin an almost-direct Mercury mid-day, highlighting the improvements made and insights gleamed over the last three weeks. The afternoon and evening have a less joyful quality, though, for the Moon spends their entirety in an oppressive square with Saturn in Scorpio. Obligations press here, and delays are not unlikely. The late night sees Luna move from Saturn to Mars. Caught between the malefics, this is considered a particularly inauspicious configuration. Moon in Aquarius Moon Conjunct Mercury: Feb 27 2:01 PM Moon Square Saturn: Feb 27 10:12 PM Moon Trine Mars: Feb 28 4:55 AM Maha Shivaratri (Hindu)

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Sun in Pisces’ trine with bountiful Jupiter in Cancer, an optimistic configuration through which the best possible outcomes can be seen. Late night, the Moon finds the Sun again in Pisces, and the lunar month begins anew. Though the preceding lunar month’s challenges are now beginning to dissipate, the month to come is due to fire off a fusillade of new issues, as Mars, Saturn and Jupiter will all station in the next week of the coming cycle. Beautiful possibilities and intimidating challenges mingle and merge beneath a Moon-less sky. Moon in Aquarius Mercury Stations Direct: Feb 28 8:01 AM Moon Enters Pisces: Feb 28 8:53 AM Moon Conjunct Neptune: Feb 28 5:17 PM Sun Trine Jupiter: Feb 28 10:05 PM Moon Trine Jupiter: Mar 1 1:46 AM New Moon in Pisces: Mar 01 2:02 AM

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March CROSSING THE SEA

March begins and ends on challenging notes, but the majority of the month’s song is relatively serene. Beginning with his station on the first, Mars spends the entire month of March retrograde. People often find their energy levels inconsistent during Mars’ retrograde. Motivation for daily tasks wanes while seemingly small irritations cause unwelcome power surges. There is an important exception, though. People born during one of Mars’ retrogrades often navigate these periods unusually well. Although Mars will be retrograde for the entirety of the month, most of March is pleasant enough. The month’s end, however, sees things heat up again in preparation for a chaotic April. It is not our swim through the month’s waters which is difficult, but our entry into and exit from them.

The Dastardly Duo The first two days of March are subject to a pair of brutal planetary stations. On the first day of the month, Mars stations retrograde at 26 Libra. The red planet’s station troubles internal and external balances aplenty, calling into question alliances and relationships already rocked by January’s Venus retrograde. Mars begins retrograde motion on the first, with plans to back it up until May 19th, when he stations direct at 10 Libra. For more on Mars’ retreat, consult “Mars Retrograde in Libra: Charm Offensive.”

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The second day of the month holds a station from the other malefic- Saturn. Saturn stations retrograde on March 2nd at 23 Scorpio. Unlike Mars, Saturn’s retrograde is a yearly phenomenon, and although the station itself may be a bit heavy, it is not as disruptive as Mars’ retreat. Saturn’s retrogrades are akin to tidal motion, as they account for almost a third of every year. During this phase, we are asked to inspect the architecture of our lives. Reviewing your constructions, and consider improvements. With both malefics stationing within a day of each other, March does indeed come “in like a lion.”

In The Balance Shortly after calling for a strategic retreat, unbalanced Mars in Libra makes an irritating square to Venus in Capricorn on March 4th. This configuration brings up issues in relationships and puts erotic partners at odds. Although it was only a few months ago that Venus’ retrograde raised questions and wreaked havoc on relationships, it is already time already for another round of adjustments. Shortly after this bit of friction, Venus leaves the haunted halls of Castle Capricorn for the first time since November of 2014. The morning star strides into Aquarius on March 5th, ready to try something, anything, new. Venus will be in experimental Aquarius until April 6th.

Miracle Grow The scales slide further toward the positive on the 6th when Jupiter, retrograde since November 7th 2013, stations direct. While Mars and Saturn’s retrograde stations were declarations of hardship, Jupiter’s states that it is time, once again, to begin growing anew and expanding afresh. This is a positive uptick which dignifies the remainder of the month.

Bonds A few days after Jupiter stations direct, the subject turns once again to Saturn, now retrograde, in Scorpio. Mercury in Aquarius squares Saturn on the 10th, bringing fundamental organizational frameworks into view once again. This is actually Mercury’s third square to Saturn in the last month, and should be accompanied by more answers than questions. On the 13th, the Sun in Pisces completes a trine with Saturn in Scorpio, bringing the heart of things into a relatively harmonious relationship with the various obligations we’ve made. This aspect helps us see our commitments clearly enough to call them into question and generate meaningful critiques. Consider those situations which have suffered from an insufficient commitment of time and energy, as well those to which you’ve bound yourself too tightly. Shortly thereafter, on the 16th, the Moon lines up on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, marking the Full Moon in Virgo. The Full Moon illuminates

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the relationship between facts and fantasies, contrasting dreams with realities they leave behind.

Don’t Drown the Messenger Shortly after the Full Moon in Virgo juxtaposes worlds, the messenger takes a plunge, joining the Sun in the cosmic horror/comedy/tragedy/love story that is Pisces. Although wonderful for the imagination and inspiring of a certain lyrical sense, Mercury’s time in Pisces is not terribly auspicious for the matters that the swift planet is considered to rule. Keep an eye on your communications, travels and digital devices, as there is a tendency for such pathways to get clogged during Mercury’s time in the oceanic sign. Mercury will be in Pisces until April 5th.

Light and Night On the March 19th, the Sun crosses the boundary of Pisces and Aries, heralding the Equinox, the day when the forces of light and darkness stand, evenly matched, at the border between the seasons. The Sun emerges into Aries ready to quicken the heart of being once again. There is a fundamental power to the Sun in Aries, yet it is a raw, primitive potency. There is strength and truth here, but it is marked with a surprising vulnerability. As the Sun’s time in Mars-ruled Aries this year is entirely contained by the red planet’s retrograde, there is a greater emphasis on this vulnerability. Confronted with a set of unfamiliar tools and strange situations, the warrior is less sure, more prone to lose morale. Sol’s raw time in Aries lasts until April 20th, when his gleaming chariot rolls into Taurus.

Dissolve Soggy Mercury in Pisces meets with Neptune on the 22nd, forcing an awkward conjunction between the thinking mind and the deep subconscious. Although a few poems and fairy tales may come out of this conjunction, the connection between these two spheres disadvantages Mercury significantly, plunging the mind during the surrounding days into an ocean where transcendence, alcoholism and great works of art all seem of roughly equivalent value. After Mercury’s conjunction to dreamy Neptune, the messenger moves on to a fine trine with Jupiter in Cancer. Although the trine with Jupiter will not fix the problems which Mercury in Pisces has with plain and clear language, the depths which the messenger plumbs are likely to yield a harvest of deep wisdom, as well as a number of very optimistic communications.

The Lady in the Tower Venus is besieged on the 29th, a princess pinned by the two malefics- Mars and Saturn. Though it only lasts a few days, this configuration is particularly troubling precisely

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because it comes at a time when accord is already in short supply. An unbalanced mood, like bad air, pervades the days. Agreements and alliances will be tested here, though many will endure.

A Glowing Coal Following Venus’ rough treatment comes the New Moon in Aries on March 30th, which ends one lunar cycle and begins another anew. This particular lunation occurs at the precipice of the Sun’s conjunction with Uranus, which signals Sol’s entry into a rather destabilizing T-square between Uranus, Pluto and Jupiter. Opportunities, pressure and disruption are all promised in abundance over the coming cycle. If you are going to revolt against the way things are, declare a revolution for something, not merely against. Protest and rejection are not enough on either a personal or a collective level. Although much of March is amiable enough, the month ends as it began- volatile.

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March Ephemeris

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Mars Retrograde in Libra CHARM OFFENSIVE DECEMBER 2013 – JULY 2014

Mars is due to spend a truly unreasonable amount of time in Libra in 2014. The red planet enters Libra in December, 2013 and will not leave until July 2014. Mars usually stays in a sign for a mere month and a half, but due to his retrogradation, he’ll jostle the scales for nearly eight and a half months. Mars is not considered to be well placed in Libra. In fact, he is traditionally considered to be in his “detriment” there. The planet has less dignity in Libra than in any other sign of the zodiac. In Taurus, the other detriment of Mars, the planet is considered to at least have triplicity or trigonal rulership, and the same can be said of Cancer. “Detriment” is one of the negative dignities in astrology, meaning that the planet in such a condition is greatly impeded from expression. The conditions of the sign are contrary to the will of the planet, and from this contradiction a stagnation emerges. Libra is the proper domicile of Venus, whose power is to join and reconcile. If one gazes at the Scales long enough, visions of diplomatic cocktails parties, first dates and courtrooms emerge. In Libra, relationships are assessed and brought to a state of greater balance. The planet Mars was named for the ravenous god of war, and rightly so. His field of power is populated with wolves and soldiers, great generals and fierce fires. The game of attack and defense, hunter and prey take place here. One attempts to defend against, destroy or devour the Other. It is a far cry from the movement toward reconciliation and harmony that Libra represents. Thus as Mars travels Libra, we confront a situation wherein the forge-hot God of War strides uncomfortably into a polite Libran soiree. He looks here and there

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for actionable objectives, missions upon which to focus his potent energies and foes to engage and decimate. Yet his rough demeanor offends the other party goers, and before long he is isolated, relegated to brooding by the hors de ovre table. Mars’ journey through Libra will see the red planet learn to make do in this awkward situation. After some time Mars will learns the rules of the game and apply himself to the task of bringing sword and shield to bear on the art of diplomacy and peace making. He is delighted to learn that there are in fact thrusts and parries, battle formations and counter-strategies. In fact, at their essence these games share a common root, for as Sun Tzu said, “All warfare is based on deception,” and much the same can be said of seduction. Sturdy Mars begins to categorize the other attendees, dividing them into allies, neutrals and enemies. He realizes now that the rules of this war are to never admit that one is at war, or that any of the party goers harbor any hostile intentions whatsoever. The deception which plays a role in military affairs is the very heart of these games. He learns to take others territory through charm, to defend himself by the pose of innocence. “There are rules of engagement in this war,” he smiles, “and I have become their master.” Yet between these realizations and victories, there will be upsets. We, like Mars, may grow tired of the hate hidden beneath pleasant smiles and the malice disguised in passive aggressive remarks. At times, we may long for the truthful brutality of war, the honest trajectory of spears seeking heart’s blood. Practiced imperfectly, diplomacy yields only a mounting list of small injusticescold wars iced over with chill politics. There may come some moments when we, like Mars, declare war on passive aggression, abandoning all pretense. In our personal lives, as well as our collective one, peace sometimes requires the threat of real conflict. Lessons on the inter-relations between the conjoined arts of love and war line the corridor of sky Mars travels for much of 2014.

Retrograde Cycle Mars retrograde cycle can be meaningfully sub-divided until three sections. The first begins when Mars enters the degrees he will retrograde through, December 25th, 2013. The second is the period of actual retrograde motion, March 1st, until the direct station, May 19th. The third is the span of time which it takes Mars to get back to the degree of his initial retrograde station, which takes us all the way to July 22nd.

Shadow War The first of these begins when Mars enters the degrees which he will later retrograde through. These degrees and the events that they contain are complicated, and this period is thus called the “shadow,” for the future presses uncertainly on what occurs here.

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Mars enters Libra on December 7th, and then strides into the shadow on December 25 . During the shadow period we begin a slow detachment from our understanding of power. Intimations of new games emerge, as well as a growing sense that we are unready to play them. People often experience increasingly erratic spikes and dips in their energy levels. The reasons for action become uncertain, and levels of activity begin to waver drunkenly. People, especially those who express themselves in a masculine manner, experience strange insecurities. Their own patterns seem not good enough, and their confidence wanes. This continues throughout the shadow, becoming more and more intense as Mars’ approaches his actual retrograde station on March 1st. th

Retreat! The second phase begins with Mars’ retrograde station on March 1st. Mars’ retrograde phase sees the frameworks for harnessing and directing personal power dissolve, cold steel melted back down into molten iron. Martial energies retreat from the surface, seeking the invisible heart of power, the principle behind action. The gods of war throw down their weapons in disgust, and seek monastic retreats. We are left without arms or armor. During this time, many people, especially particularly active people, may find themselves adrift, unable to settle on or achieve the goals that often come so easily. Though it may be difficult, the best strategy during this time is often not to push action, but to drift and observe, learning the landscape of the new arena as it slowly takes shape. The battlefield forming here is a cocktail party, full of friends, allies, enemies and diplomats from cold-warring countries.

Multilateral Approach Mars direct station on May 19th signals the beginning of the third and final phase of this cycle. Insights coagulate into actionable objectives. Energies rise back to the surface, ready to mobilize the various game-pieces once again. Still, the strategies are untried, the moves still unfamiliar. Alliances which have survived the bardo of the red planet’s retrogradation emerged strengthened, as do the new patterns of cooperation forged by Mars’ backward motion. Mars exits the boundaries of his retrograde cycle on July 22nd.

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Mars in Libra RX Horoscopes Aries Mars’ eight month odyssey through Libra will test your diplomatic skills sorely. The issues likely to arise are unlikely to be solved by a straight forward approach. In fact, a direct angle may make things worsen things, making you seem like the aggressor when the truth is something quite different. You’ll be introduced to a type of strength you’re not likely thoroughly versed in: soft power. Although Mars’ time in Libra will affect relationships, generally, it is more than likely to show prominently in your erotic partnerships. Prepare for some intense adjustments in existing dynamics and maintain a healthy skepticism of new prospects during the period when Mars is actually retrograde, from March until mid-May.

Taurus Mars’ retrograde journey through Libra is likely to highlight your relationships with co-workers. Passive aggressive dynamics may develop around the workplace, and if you’re in a management position, you may find you have a hard time motivating people to get things done. Conflict management skills are key here. On a personal level, Mars’ time in Libra is likely to draw your attention to the little duties you’ve been too tired or lazy to attend to. Remember to pay those bills and exercise those limbs. Potential health problems which you’ve been ignoring may pipe up during this period- give your body the attention it needs.

Gemini Mars’ time in Libra highlights how you’re mobilizing your creative energy. Is it being wasted on vain love affairs? Squandered amidst fruitless quests for pleasure? Mars’ extended time in Libra is all about mobilizing these energies toward the creative and pleasing outcomes you desire. Instead of beating yourself up for not being more disciplined, learn to lead yourself with pleasure. Hang a carrot in front of your face. Mars’ time in Libra may also indicate difficulties with children. The above-mentioned lessons in motivation may also be appropriate strategies for parents.

Cancer Mars’ time in Libra sees the red planet wind through your living situation, as well as your family history. Passive aggressive dynamics are likely to develop during this period. Domestic peace and familial truces are likely to be tested, the fault lines in relationships revealed. Both of these situations will likely call upon what diplomatic skills you have. It won’t be as simple as setting aside your own feelings to work for group harmony,

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though. Your feelings are part of that group, and if you conceal their truth, you’ll just end up full of resentment.

Leo During its extended stay in Libra, Mars marches through your regularly scheduled programming, creating a number of nuisances during your daily life. You may have to march amidst small circles of passive aggression. All of this goes double for the internet. Practice the virtue of restraint, and don’t give the haters anything to latch on to. You may find that during Mars’ retrograde you just don’t have the energy to deal with daily bullshit. You may be afflicted by general lack of motivation. The secret is finding a way to stay balanced while navigating the indignity of daily slings and arrows.

Virgo Mars’ time in Libra sees the red planet burn its way through your material accumulations. Mars’ march may well coincide with a long slow burn through savings if you’re not careful. Loose purse strings in combination with a few inconvenient surprises can make quite an impact. Libra is the sign of the scales, and thus the principle of balance. Although often discussed as a philosophical principle, one’s balance is also what remains after expenses are subtracted from income. Maintaining this balance is as necessary as emotional balance, and often serves to reinforce it.

Libra The red planet will be your companion for more than half of 2014. You’ll find your courtier’s smile and bladed fan are the perfect weapon and shield for the social games people are likely to play during Mars’ time in Libra. Yet you may find yourself growing bored with the subterfuge and networks of passive aggressive people. You’ll tire of taking people’s shit and pretending, and may end up telling some people to fuck off good and proper. A little less time worrying about what other people think will be liberating. This independence will probably wear well on you, but don’t take it too far.

Scorpio Mars’ time in Libra is set to push for a quiet confrontation with those weaknesses which stem from a lack of balance in your life. Equilibrium invalidates the intensity and intimacy you likely crave. This is the soft spot Mars is due to highlight over those eight long months. Your battle will likely be a silent one, waged against your own cravings and desires. The red planet’s time in Libra rouses and arms your devils with a variety of desires. You may feel drawn toward relationships with people and substances you know won’t end well.

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Sagittarius Mars’ time in Libra suggests a number of trying social situations. The red planet has plans to work his way through your network of peers, friends and contacts, stirring up quiet aggressions and testing your diplomatic abilities. If a friend goes AWOL during Mars’ retrograde, respond with all of the patience you can muster.

Capricorn Mars’ time in Libra highlights your professional aspirations. It may not be what you know, but rather who you know, and how well you deal with them, that determines the outcome of professional matters during the red planet’s time in the sign of the scales. During Mars’ period of retrograde motion, take care to watch out for passive aggressive behavior from co-workers, and keep an eye on the same for yourself. You may find yourself expressing your frustrations in small ways, undermining yourself and those around you.

Aquarius Mars’ red beams focus on your long term plans during the crimson planet’s extended sojourn through Libra. Unexpected troubles may arise in the midst of your big plans, accompanied by challenges to the way you see the world. You may feel tempted to fight these obstacles, but those small battles may serve to further impede your progress. If every small detour deters you, though, it is unlikely you will arrive. What is key is that you find the way to proceed in a balanced manner towards your ultimate destination. Keep your eye on the prize, no matter how the necessary methods change or whether the landscape shifts.

Pisces Mars’ time in Libra focuses on the sensitive network of exchanges between you and the other people in your life. The fairness of these transactions will inevitably come into question. You may feel like a victim or be accused of being unfair yourself. It’s important, though, that you push past whatever superficial reading the scales offer in search of a more substantial truth. Consider your relationships and the time, money and energy that passes between you and connected entities. If you have debts, pay them. If others owe you, it may be more difficult. What you recoup may instead be a refinement of when and who to trust.

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March Dailies Saturday, March 1st Mars stations retrograde today in Libra. Misdirected aggression, unstable energy levels and needless conflicts are common during Mars’ retrograde stations. Do your best to avoid getting drawn into fruitless confrontations, and to remain sovereign over your own passions. Mars’ retrograde journey is an intense one, and brings naked aggression and forgotten anger to the surface so that they can be dealt with consciously. It is important to own the thoughts and feelings which arise, but it is also important not to act on them blindly. This plume of martial energy is especially likely to disrupt relationships, as the red planet stations in a tight square to Venus, who has only recently emerged from her own descent into the underworld. Moon in Pisces Mars Station Retrograde: Mar 01 2014 10:24 AM Moon Trine Saturn: Mar 01 2014 10:40 PM Moon Sextile Venus: Mar 02 2014 5:09 AM

Sunday, March 2nd Day breaks and the Moon slips into volatile, Mars-ruled Aries, just in time for Saturn’s station retrograde in Scorpio. While Mars’ station yesterday was inflammatory, Saturn’s is sobering and cold. Chill, leaden rays illuminate the skeleton of life, bathing structural issues in clear light. The renovations and alterations necessary here are not the stuff of quick fixes, but laborious foundational adjustments that may take nearly half a year. Meanwhile, in the foreground, Venus in Capricorn squares retrograde Mars in Libra, problematizing personal, professional and political relationships alike. As if there were not enough in the air already, the Moon also makes a late night pass over the Uranus-Pluto-Jupiter T-square, diffusing just a little more chaos into the atmosphere. Moon in Pisces Moon Enters Aries: Mar 02 2014 9:44 AM Saturn Stationary Retrograde: Mar 02 2014 10:20 AM Venus Square Mars: Mar 02 2014 2:02 PM Moon Square Jupiter: Mar 03 2014 3:19 AM Moon Conjunct Uranus: Mar 03 2014 3:55 AM

Monday, March 3rd Monday dawns with the Moon in Aries’ square to Pluto, which is followed shortly by the Sun’s sextile to the small, dark body. This configuration guides the Sun’s rays into underworld pits. There is an opportunity here for deep reflection on both the hidden and visible forces currently at work. The potential for meaningful consideration is enhanced by the Moon’s afternoon sextile with Mercury in Aquarius, which offers a

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much needed capacity for detachment. Meanwhile, somewhere behind the Sun hovers tiny Chiron, whose influence pulls the sunlight toward old wounds, complexes of vulnerability bandaged with anxiety. This is a good day to focus on addressing what keeps you from becoming whole. Therapies for the mind, body and spirit are all recommended. Moon in Aries Moon Square Pluto: Mar 03 2014 7:51 AM Sun Sextile Pluto: Mar 03 2014 1:15 PM Moon Sextile Mercury: Mar 03 2014 5:27 PM Sun Conjunct Chiron: Mar 03 2014 7:25 PM

Tuesday, March 4th Tuesday starts on a difficult series of notes. The first is struck by the Moon in Aries’ opposition to retrograde Mars in Libra, unleashing a confused torrent of martial energy earthward. Shortly thereafter Luna moves to square Venus in Capricorn, further stirring the passions before conjoining the destructive but ultimately liberating Tail of the Dragon. There is little to recommend this first section of Tuesday. Fortunately, by mid-day, the Moon strides into stabilizing Taurus, banking what fires were set earlier. Venus today returns to the very degree she turned retrograde in December of 2013, marking her last day in the shadow of her now complete retrograde cycle. Reflections on the emotional changes of the last four months are in order. Yet as Venus returns to this degree, she finds it beset by an invisible set of pushes and pulls- the Nodal axis has shifted so that the Head and Tail of the Dragon are perpendicular to her, marking her exit from the degrees of her retrograde with confusion. Moon in Aries Moon Opposite Mars: Mar 04 2014 8:50 AM Moon Square Venus: Mar 04 2014 11:35 AM Moon Conjunct South Node (Cauda Draconis): Mar 04 2014 11:51 AM Moon Enters Taurus: Mar 04 2014 1:15 PM Venus Square North Node: Mar 04 2014 3:44 PM Moon Sextile Neptune: Mar 04 2014 10:56 PM Mardi Gras (United States Regional)

Wednesday, March 5th Wednesday is easier than many of the days which preceded it. Daybreak comes with the solid Moon in Taurus’ sextile with exalted Jupiter in Cancer, a fine combination, made finer by the fact that Jupiter is in the midst of stationing direct after long months retrograde. The big planet will resume forward movement late Wednesday night. Mid-day, after months of emotional bondage and domination, Venus finally leaves Capricorn. Venus’ entry into Aquarius brings with it a lighter and more abstract tone. The beauty of the unconventional is clear here, as is the aesthetic quality of the intellect. Venus will be in Aquarius until April 5th. Moon in Taurus Moon Sextile Jupiter: Mar 05 2014 8:09 AM Venus Enters Aquarius: Mar 05 2014 3:02 PM

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Moon Square Mercury: Mar 06 2014 1:22 AM Jupiter Stations Direct: Mar 06 2014 4:43 AM Ash Wednesday (Christian)

Thursday, March 6th Thursday begins with the Moon in Taurus’ emotionally cramped opposition to Saturn in Scorpio. This can be a sluggish, burdensome aspect, but a positive kick from Jupiter’s direct station last night radiates throughout Thursday, offsetting some of the passing unpleasantness Saturn has in store. As night falls, the waxing Moon slips into Gemini, picking up the pace and brightening the tone with a stimulating trine to eccentric Venus in Aquarius. The late night slides into fuzzier territory, as the Moon closes in on her square to Neptune. Thoughts, fantasies and fears intermingle awkwardly here. Drop the precision planning, have a cocktail, and call it a night. Moon in Taurus Moon Opposite Saturn: Mar 06 2014 7:59 AM Moon Enters Gemini: Mar 06 2014 8:38 PM Moon Trine Venus: Mar 06 2014 10:48 PM

Friday, March 7th The talkative Moon in Gemini zips overhead today seeding conversations and considerations. An afternoon sextile to Uranus offers the opportunity to see things from a new angle, to challenge existing patterns. As the Sun sets, a half Moon rises, marking our entrance into the second quarter of the lunar month. Sit down and consider how things are unfolding, and what adjustments you need to make in order to keep them on track. Moon in Gemini Moon Square Neptune: Mar 07 2014 7:15 AM Moon Sextile Uranus: Mar 07 2014 4:00 PM Moon Square Sun: Mar 08 2014 5:30 AM Begin Second Quarter of the Lunar Month

Saturday, March 8th A mentally active Saturday begins with the manic Moon in Gemini’s trine to Mercury in Aquarius. This communicative aspect is excellent for all of those activities which require the use of language. Sit and write for a spell, be it in English or HTML. After the Moon completes her mid-day trine to Mercury, she moves on to trine retrograde Mars. Here angry thoughts may creep into your mindstream, inflaming ideas and adding an incendiary quality to words. If such irritations intrude on you, follow the fire to its fuel- the blaze of annoyance disguises the spark which started the conflagration. Moon in Gemini Moon Trine Mercury: Mar 08 2014 12:20 PM Moon Trine Mars: Mar 08 2014 11:55 PM Daylight Savings Time begins in the USA

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Sunday, March 9th Sunday begins with the Moon’s dawn move into gentle Cancer. With Luna applying to a trine with Neptune in Pisces for most of the daylight hours, the atmosphere is more mellow and laid back than in preceding days. The evening is characterized by the Moon’s conjunction to comforting Jupiter in Cancer, a fine omen for a pleasant night. Moon in Gemini Moon Enters Cancer: Mar 09 2014 6:35 AM Moon Trine Neptune: Mar 09 2014 5:47 PM Moon Conjunct Jupiter: Mar 10 2014 3:37 AM

Monday, March 10th Monday begins with the Moon in Cancer’s square to Uranus in Aries and subsequent opposition to Pluto in Capricorn, beginning things on an unsteady note. What small chaos is born of the morning quickly yields to order, though, for the primary aspect today is Mercury in Aquarius’ square to Saturn in Scorpio. With Saturn in the dominant position, this is a day for the imposition of order on plans and projects. Though the Mercury-Saturn square can feel a little oppressive, there is a certain flow about the day, a harmony generated by the braided gold and silver threads of the trined Sun and Moon. Moon in Cancer Moon Square Uranus: Mar 10 2014 5:05 AM Moon Opposite Pluto: Mar 10 2014 9:17 AM Mercury Square Saturn: Mar 10 2014 11:13 PM Moon Trine Sun: Mar 11 2014 12:11 AM

Tuesday, March 11th Tuesday begins the Moon in Cancer’s trine with Saturn in Scorpio, offering the opportunity to blend structure and flow- the Tao of discipline. The Moon’s mid-day square to retrograde Mars in Libra threatens that flow, though it is up to you to move with clear power through what irritations present themselves. After this the Moon moves into a square with the nodal axis, offering a potentially confusing set of pulls in opposing directions. After navigating Rahu and Ketu, Luna enters bright Leo during the early evening, where she will spend the rest of the night chasing an opposition to Venus. Moon in Cancer Moon Trine Saturn: Mar 11 2014 5:29 AM Moon Square Mars: Mar 11 2014 12:49 PM Moon Square Nodal Axis (South Bending): Mar 11 2014 5:19 PM Moon Enters Leo: Mar 11 2014 7:09 PM

Wednesday, March 12th Wednesday begins with the Moon in Leo’s opposition to Venus in Aquarius, highlighting unfulfilled, or awkwardly fulfilled, desires. The Leo Moon which rolls through the heavens today radiates a relatively fun, upbeat vibe, in contrast to the zoned in,

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disciplined quality that the Sun’s applying trine to Saturn in Scorpio emanates. Luna makes her way into an evening trine with Uranus in Aries, which adds a disruptive note. The desire to remove your nose from the grindstone may be overwhelming here- and hopefully feasible. The night is not unlike the day, with the desire for fun conflicting with the need to make good on obligations. Moon in Leo Moon Opposite Venus: Mar 12 2014 6:56 AM Moon Trine Uranus: Mar 12 2014 6:01 PM

Thursday, March 13th Thursday has a serious quality, as both the Sun in Pisces and the Moon in Leo aspect somber Saturn in Scorpio today. The Sun makes a trine with Saturn during the afternoon, harmonizing intention and efficacy, while the Moon’s square with the slow planet puts moods at odds with the work to be done. Come evening, the focus shifts towards the Moon’s opposition with Mercury in Aquarius and sextile with retrograde Mars in Libra. Reflections on identity and uncertainty about relationships swarm the late night aethyrs. Moon in Leo Sun Trine Saturn: Mar 13 2014 2:15 PM Moon Square Saturn: Mar 13 2014 5:49 PM Moon Opposite Mercury: Mar 13 2014 11:25 PM Moon Sextile Mars: Mar 14 2014 12:23 AM

Friday, March 14th Luna slips into grounded, analytical Virgo early Friday morning while Mercury completes his trine with a retrograde Mars. Uncertain relationships and misplaced anger appear before the mind’s eye, to either be reflected upon or identified with. There is much for the mind to gnaw upon today. The Moon’s afternoon opposition with Neptune in Pisces promises a tendency to float toward unquiet reverie. Fortunately, the evening and night see Luna pass into a sextile with benefic Jupiter in Cancer, swaddling the night hours and protecting them from the day’s irritations. Have yourself a nice time. Moon in Leo Moon Enters Virgo: Mar 14 2014 7:15 AM Mercury Trine Mars: Mar 14 2014 9:15 AM Moon Opposition Mercury: Mar 14 2014 6:39 PM Moon Sextile Jupiter: Mar 15 2014 4:03 AM

Saturday, March 15th Saturday begins with the Moon in Virgo’s morning trine to dark Pluto, opening a road to deep contemplation. There is little action afoot during the day, but come evening, a fat Moon rises, thick silver light misting out of it and oozing across the landscape. There is a serious quality about this Full Moon, as Saturn’s leaden rays are inextricably intertwined with the Sun’s gold and the Moon’s silver. The question, the tension,

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in play here, is that between the dream and its manifestation, the spiritual and the material. For a fantasy to become anything more, it must seep into progressively dense layers of being until it has become manifest- “real.” Daring dreams require discipline. Moon in Virgo Moon Trine Pluto: Mar 15 2014 9:30 AM Moon Sextile Saturn: Mar 16 2014 4:32 AM

Sunday, March 16th The thick aethyrs of the Full Moon continue throughout the morning hours, stretching the night’s reflections into daylight. Yet the Sun’s sharp rays burn through the lingering lunar intensity, dispersing it as the day goes onward. Around sunset, the Moon leaves Virgo’s reality-fields behind, entering interpersonal Libra. The Moon which rises tonight is charged, but pleasant enough. Moon in Virgo Full Moon: Mar 16 2014 10:06 AM Moon Enters Libra: Mar 16 2014 5:45 PM Purim (Jewish)

Monday, March 17th Monday sees the Moon make a plethora of intense aspects, triggering a temporary Grand Cross between Uranus, Pluto, Jupiter and the Moon herself. This configuration stirs the aethyrs, setting things spinning into motion today. Although potentially chaotic, there are plenty of cash, prizes and lesser enlightenments swirling about the afternoon hours. In the midst of this cross, Mercury leaves abstract Aquarius and takes the plunge into fish-eyed Pisces. Mercury is considered to have a difficult time in Pisces, problematizing communications, travel and technology- not unlike a Mercury retrograde. While the mental wavelengths may not be ideal for editing grammar or being on time, they are conducive to works of poetry and imagination. Moon in Libra Moon Square Jupiter: Mar 17 2014 2:00 PM Moon Trine Venus: Mar 17 2014 2:16 PM Mercury Enters Pisces: Mar 17 2014 3:22 PM Moon Opposite Uranus: Mar 17 2014 3:50 PM Moon Square Pluto: Mar 17 2014 7:11 PM St. Patrick’s Day (United States) Holi (Hindu)

Tuesday, March 18th Tuesday is subject to uneven energy levels, with both intemperate heat and utter laziness taking their turns. Venus in Aquarius completes her sextile to Uranus in Aries mid-day, offering an opportunity to cut through old emotional patterns, as well as triggering both positive and negative outbursts. Meanwhile, the Moon spends all of the daylight hours on her way toward a con-

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junction with retrograde Mars in Libra, sparking over-sized emotional reactions and kindling conflicts. Do your best to keep your cool. Reflect on the unsteady passions at work in the world right now- it’s not just you. Moon in Libra Venus Sextile Uranus: Mar 18 2014 11:59 AM Moon Conjunct Mars: Mar 18 2014 6:07 PM Moon Conjunct the North Node: Mar 18 2014 11:28 PM Moon Enters Scorpio: Mar 19 2014 2:10 AM

Wednesday, March 19th Planets in water signs dominate the day. Some may feel this as a comfy flow, while others may find their fire extinguished. The day begins with the Moon in Scorpio’s trine to Mercury in Pisces, sending some dreams floating across the surface of the waking mind. The day continues in a trance as the Moon moves into a mid-day trine with anaesthetic Neptune, while the afternoon and evening are lorded over by Luna’s aspect to expansive, protective Jupiter in Cancer. A comfortable, intimate event would be well scheduled tonight. Moon in Scorpio Moon Trine Mercury: Mar 19 2014 5:38 AM Moon Trine Neptune: Mar 19 2014 1:07 PM Moon Trine Jupiter: Mar 19 2014 9:56 PM Moon Square Venus: Mar 20 2014 2:20 AM Moon Sextile Pluto: Mar 20 2014 2:46 AM

Thursday, March 20th Shortly after its rise, the Sun blazes into Aries, marking the Equinox, the day when the forces of night and light are equal in their dominion of time. The Sun’s time in Aries exalts the raw desire to be and to do. The stuff of self sparks and burns, illuminating and affecting all around it. The Sun will be in Aries until April 19th. Though the Equinox is cause for revelry, Thursday may not be the night most fit, for the Moon in moody Scorpio spends the evening conjunct serious Saturn, dampening joy for many. Moon in Scorpio Sun Enters Aries: Mar 20 2014 9:56 AM Moon Conjunct Saturn: Mar 20 2014 8:09 PM Equinox Ostara (Wiccan, Neo-Pagan)

Friday, March 21st The Moon enters Sagittarius early on Friday and from there makes a trine with the Sun in Aries, drawing an inspiring line of fire across the morning sky. The motivating configuration of the heavens departs by the afternoon, though, leaving us with the Moon’s square to Mercury in Pisces, wherein enthusiasm is likely to triumph over data. Luna moves on to a square with Neptune during the early evening, triggering

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escapist desires- a not inappropriate motivation for Friday night. The skies are right to chase a good time deep into the darkness. Moon in Scorpio Moon Enters Sagittarius: Mar 21 2014 8:35 AM Moon Trine Sun: Mar 21 2014 10:24 AM Moon Square Mercury: Mar 21 2014 5:27 PM Moon Square Neptune: Mar 21 2014 7:17 PM Moon Trine Uranus: Mar 22 2014 5:31 AM

Saturday, March 22nd A pleasant but potentially blurry day. The Moon in Sagittarius makes a fun sextile with Venus in Aquarius mid-day, just before Mercury conjoins Neptune in Pisces. The Mercury-Neptune conjunction brings the land of dreams and the world of words into uncomfortable union. Altered states of consciousness are recommended; making important life decisions is not. The evening sees the Moon chase a sextile with retrograde Mars, rousing unbanked fires. With Mercury conjunct Neptune, there is a dearth of verbal boundaries here that may allow for rare conversations. On the contrary, this night will also see words better unspoken leak out. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Sextile Venus: Mar 22 2014 12:01 PM Mercury Conjunct Neptune: Mar 22 2014 1:14 PM Moon Sextile Mars: Mar 23 2014 3:37 AM

Sunday, March 23rd The Moon enters Capricorn mid-day, grounding out an enthusiastic weekend. Luna winds into an evening square with the Sun in Aries, marking our entry into the fourth quarter of the lunar month. Look toward wrapping up ongoing projects in the next week. The night holds a pleasant, pain-killing sextile between Neptune in the Moon, which eases us into a low-energy evening. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Sagittarius Enters Capricorn: Mar 23 2014 1:01 PM Square Sun: Mar 23 2014 6:44 PM Sextile Neptune: Mar 23 2014 11:25 PM Sextile Mercury: Mar 24 2014 2:53 AM

Monday, March 24th The Moon in Capricorn crosses the T-Square between Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto today, spinning things up again. The angle on the T-square this time is from Capricorn, and there is therefore a focus on the brutally pragmatic elements of radical plans and glorious possibilities. Consider the manual labor and practical compromises needed to make revolutionary adaptations work.

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Though unlikely to impact the schedules of those who labor during day hours, the late-late night conceals the Moon’s travels between the degrees of Saturn and Mars- a nasty stretch of road. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Capricorn Opposite Jupiter: Mar 24 2014 7:41 AM Square Uranus: Mar 24 2014 9:24 AM Conjunct Pluto: Mar 24 2014 11:55 AM Sextile Saturn: Mar 25 2014 3:45 AM

Tuesday, March 25th Tuesday begins on an irritable note, but whatever inflammations rose with the Sun soon subside. The day rolls across stony ground until the afternoon, when the Moon enters Aquarius and begins applying to a pleasant sextile with the Sun, lending the second half of the day a low energy harmony. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

In Capricorn Square Mars: Mar 25 2014 5:31 AM Square Nodal Axis (North Bending): Mar 25 2014 1:16 PM Enters Aquarius: Mar 25 2014 3:38 PM Sextile Sun: Mar 26 2014 12:53 AM

Wednesday, March 26th This rather pleasant day begins with Mercury in Pisces’ trine to Jupiter, which offers visions of possibilities fulfilled and dreams rewarded. There is a positive tone to communications today, although some of the hopes given strength here may well prove vain. The general good nature of the day is additionally supported by the fact that the Moon spends much of the day closing in on a conjunction with Venus in Aquarius. Moon in Aquarius Mercury Trine Jupiter: Mar 26 2014 6:09 AM Moon Sextile Uranus: Mar 26 2014 11:40 AM Moon Conjunct Venus: Mar 27 2014 12:52 AM

Thursday, March 27th Thursday morning begins on a harsh note, with the Moon between the rays of Saturn and Mars. Though Luna escapes from the malefics swiftly enough, darker brushstrokes paint the day. After a hopeful trine with Jupiter yesterday, Mercury today sextiles Pluto, straddling both sides of the pending Jupiter-Pluto opposition, which reveals the tension between opportunities and obstacles. While yesterday was devoted to possibilities, today sees greater focus on impediments. Somewhere between the two is a useful model of things as they are. As you consider the state of things, be wary that you do not let hope and fear distort your thinking, as useless dramatization hangs in the air. The point of these configurations is to help harmonize your expectations and viewpoint with both the positive and negative aspects of the present- don’t censor one in favor of the other. Moon in Aquarius

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Moon Square Saturn: Mar 27 2014 5:21 AM Moon Trine Mars: Mar 27 2014 6:13 AM Moon Enters Pisces: Mar 27 2014 5:10 PM Mercury Sextile Pluto: Mar 27 2014 10:31 PM Moon Conjunct Neptune: Mar 28 2014 3:27 AM

Friday, March 28th Friday’s subject is the same as the preceding days- the Jupiter-Pluto opposition. The Moon begins the day with a very pleasant trine to Jupiter, which she completes midday, and then moves on to sextile Pluto in the afternoon. She finishes with an early evening conjunction with Mercury, activating further reflections on opportunities and obstacles, rewards and risks. It is worth noting that as the Moon slides across Mercury, the messenger himself is conjoined tiny Chiron. There may be an old wound, a small but comfortable fear, blocking the reconciliation of the forces in play, clogging the channels through which dreams become flesh. Moon in Pisces Moon Trine Jupiter: Mar 28 2014 11:42 AM Moon Sextile Pluto: Mar 28 2014 3:26 PM Moon Conjunct Mercury: Mar 28 2014 5:20 PM Mercury Conjunction Chiron: Mar 28 2014 10:08 PM

Saturday, March 29th Saturday begins on a slow note, the waning Moon in Pisces making a gentle aspect to somber Saturn in Scorpio. Mid-day, however, hosts the completion of Venus in Aquarius’ trine to retrograde Mars in Libra. This aspect marks an important point in Mars’ retrograde path. The question of whether to abandon relationships altogether or work to stabilize them hovers in the air. Yet Venus is not alone with Mars- Saturn’s rays intrude, an unwelcome third party. Though the relationship issues raised today are certainly important to deal with, there is a lot of negative energy at play here, and you may have to diffuse some situations before wise judgments can arise. Come evening, the Moon enters Aries. Busy preparing for tomorrow’s New Moon, no silver crescent rises to grace the night sky. Moon in Pisces Moon Trine Saturn: Mar 29 2014 6:45 AM Venus Trine Mars: Mar 29 2014 12:04 PM Venus Square Saturn: Mar 29 2014 2:13 PM Moon Enters Aries: Mar 29 2014 6:54 PM

Sunday, March 30th The New Moon takes place in the middle of Sunday, resetting the Lunar cycle for a maniacally intense month-to-come. Sunday itself sees the invisible Moon activate the Jupiter-Uranus-Pluto T-square immediately, providing a good example of the vital but discordant energies we’ll wrestle with over the coming weeks. Moon in Aries

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New Moon in Aries: Mar 30 2014 11:47 AM Moon Square Jupiter: Mar 30 2014 2:09 PM Moon Conjunct Uranus: Mar 30 2014 3:45 PM Moon Square Pluto: Mar 30 2014 5:46 PM

Monday, March 31st Monday begins with the Moon in Aries’ opposition to retrograde Mars in Libra. As Luna eyeballs the red planet, questions emerge- when should you stand and fight? When is compromise the more courageous option? Difficult questions drift through the heated aethyrs. The Moon’s mid-day trine to Venus in Aquarius cools things down a little bit. The evening sees the Moon conjoin the South Node, which may bring more difficult feelings near the surface. Later in the evening, the Moon strides into solid Taurus, grounding out some of the more volatile currents in play. March ends with the Sun’s exact square to Jupiter, which marks Sol’s entrance into a miraculous and volatile T-square. Moon in Aries Moon Opposite Mars: Mar 31 2014 8:24 AM Moon Sextile Venus: Mar 31 2014 1:09 PM Moon Conjunct South Node (Cauda Draconis): Mar 31 2014 7:31 PM Moon Enters Taurus: Mar 31 2014 10:24 PM Sun Square Jupiter: Apr 01 2014 12:39 AM Cesar Chavez Day (United States Regional) Hindi New Year (Hindu)

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April THE IMPERFECT STORM

A wild set of storms washes over April as the lights flip on and off. A Grand Cross between Uranus, Pluto, Jupiter and Mars dominates the month’s configurations, lording over tense, transformative moments, as well as fair amount of chaos. While this potent configuration spins through the skies, the Moon and then Sun go dark in a pair of eclipse on the 14th and 29th. Nonetheless, April is also laced with some spectacularly sweet moments, courtesy of Venus’s time exalted in Pisces. Many of the dynamics which have been building all year reach a crescendo during April, yielding a cascade of insights, breakthroughs and crises.

Off With A Bang April begins with the Sun’s conjunction to Uranus in Aries. This conjunctio empowers the union of the self and the higher self, or ego ideal. There is tremendous impatience here for anything that stands between people and what they see as their destiny or right. This empowering conjunction sets the spirit aflame, but may temporarily blind people to the demands of matter. The heavens are swift to remind us of what compromises are necessary, though. The Sun in Aries squares Pluto in Capricorn on April 2nd. While Uranus lights up bright potentials, Pluto makes the difficulty of their achievement quite clear. Changes in both our personal worlds as well as the collective one do not occur overnight. They must be slowly but forcefully massaged into reality. Meanwhile, Mercury in Pisces completes his trine to Saturn in Scorpio on the 2nd, helping to facilitate realistic plans.

A Little Lubricant On April 5th, Venus enters Pisces, the morning star’s sign of exaltation. Although April is alive with chaotic configurations, Venus’ compassionate, graceful presence will help smooth some of its rougher edges. Venus will be in Pisces until May 2nd. 95

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Thinking Helmet A few days later, on the 7th, Mercury leaves the murky waters of Pisces behind for the bright, impatient clarity of Aries. While Mercury’s time in Pisces entailed missed calls and fuzzy judgments, the decisive nature of Mercury in Aries may be a bit too far in the opposite direction. The messenger seeds snap judgments and snappy dialogue whilst in the ram’s sign. Divisive and angry thinking may be a problem. If you do find yourself in conflict, be strategic, not merely bellicose.

Soldier’s Reverie The heart of the Mars retrograde occurs on the 8th. The Sun in Aries and red Mars in Libra stare across the earth from each other. Although this combination certainly has an incendiary quality, there is clarity here as well. This halfway point is the center of Mars’ backward journey, the point where now-armorless Mars confronts the shadow of his own power most directly. The days surrounding this opposition are laced with both insights and flare-ups.

Opium Dream A few days after retrograde Mars’ opposition to the Sun, April 11th, Venus conjoins distant, dreamy Neptune in Pisces. Together, exalted Venus and dreamy Neptune send a soothing mist to salve irritations. The virtue of beauty and the quality of compassion unite easily in the days surrounding their union. A vision of the sublime cannot “fix” difficult situations, but it can change our understanding and reception of them.

Out Go The Lights The middle of the month is packed with planetary action. On April 14th we are treated to a total lunar eclipse in Libra, which will be visible over east Australia, the Pacific, North and South America. The lunar eclipse is accompanied by tiny Pluto’s retrograde station. The station calls for us to reconsider the adaptations we’ve made to our environment over the last seven months, and begins the small body’s nearly five month retrograde phase. While the Moon goes dark and Pluto stations retrograde, Mercury lights up April’s Grand Cross. Words fly in all directions while the messenger squares Jupiter and Pluto, conjoins Uranus, and opposes Mars. The days surrounding the 14th are packed with punchy configurations, and a fair amount of chaos may ride the winds. The 14th is our entry into the bardo between eclipses. Turning points abound on this dark road.

A Touch of the Sublime A few days after Mercury clears the Grand Cross, we’re treated to a highly auspicious trine between exalted Venus in Pisces and equally exalted Jupiter in Cancer. Out of the storm come luxuries for both the body and spirit, rewards for opportunities seized and fields cultivated amidst difficult weather. 96

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While the benefics combine their power, the Sun conjoins the South Node in Aries, highlighting those fights we can lose without truly losing anything.

Thunder Over the Meadow On April 19th, the Sun’s chariot rolls out of incendiary Aries and onto the green pastures of Taurus. The Sun in Taurus casts its light onto the substance of life- animate and lifeless clay alike. The pleasures and pains enabled by embodiment are both a key part of the Sun’s journey through Taurus, which lasts until May 20th. Although Sol may have moved to a more placid backdrop, the other planets are still locked in an intense cross. Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto all make perfect aspects between the 19th- 22nd. Intensifying the drama in April’s tumultuous skies. Lightning flashes, illuminating the Grand Cross’s exciting climax. While April’s grand cross nears crescendo on the 22nd, Mercury leaves incendiary Aries for solid Taurus. In the bovine sign, Mercury balances present pleasures against future security, weighing expenditures carefully. The messenger maps Taurus’ muddy fields until May 7th.

Mandatory Time Off On April 24th, Venus in Pisces trines Saturn in Scorpio. Here we are reminded of our limits, especially emotional. Several moments in April have required a great deal of energy and if you’ve been worn down it’s a good time acknowledge that, and work on some restorative measures.

Big Thinkin’ The next day, April 25th, Mercury conjoins the Sun in Aries, hiding on the far side of our star. The superior conjunction, as it is called, suggests a surfeit of both big ideas and big worries. The day after their conjunction, April 26th, both the Sun and Mercury in Taurus sextile Neptune in Pisces. These aspects splash a little cooling water on cracked and dry concerns, moistening them with the possibility of dreams-come-true.

Dark Mirror On the 29th, we are treated to an annular solar eclipse in early Taurus, visible over parts of the south Pacific and Australia. This is the last eclipse in we’ll see in Taurus for almost a decade. In it’s dark mirror you may see reflected images of absence, who you no longer are, what you no longer have. Images of past sacrifices appear in order to say a final farewell. As they depart they leave a rich soil, a fecund prima materia. While the Sun dims to a ring of fire, Mercury in Taurus aspects both Jupiter in Cancer and Pluto in Capricorn, bringing both opportunities and their cost into clear view. Future harvests dance in the heavens’ dark mirror.

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The Calm After The Storm Not long after the ring of fire fades from the southern skies, April trudges to an end. The Grand Cross’ begins to break apart and the pair of eclipses pass quickly into memory, their power spent. While some crops were no doubt ravaged by April’s storms, its rains also quickened the strongest, and strangest, seeds. Only the next month knows what exotic blooms will emerge.

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April Ephemeris

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April Dailies Tuesday, April 1st Tuesday begins with the opiate of a Moon-Neptune sextile drifting lazily through the air, but more potent perfumes quickly overpower this mellow haze. The Sun in Aries spends the day in conjunction with electric, revolutionary Uranus in Aries, catalyzing ideals and stoking impatience for a better tomorrow. The charge built up between the Sun and Uranus is volatile, but temporarily contained by the grounded Taurus Moon. Plans are coagulating here, fire etching patterns into stone. Moon in Taurus Moon Sextile Neptune: Apr 01 9:42 AM Moon Sextile Jupiter: Apr 01 6:57 PM Sun Conjunct Uranus: Apr 02 12:08 AM April Fool’s Day

Wednesday, April 2nd Wednesday may put out some of the bright fires lit yesterday. The Moon in Taurus’s opposition to Saturn in Scorpio slows down the pace, while Mercury in Pisces’ trine to Saturn counsels patience and focuses the mind on obstacles. Meanwhile, the Sun in Aries overhead works through a square with Pluto in Capricorn, making the tension between ideals and resistance clear. Today might feel a little soul crushing, as its focus is primarily on obstacles, and the resistance of the manifest to change. Take today in context with the bright energy of yesterday. Two tellings of the same story. Moon in Taurus Moon Opposite Saturn: Apr 02 2:55 PM Mercury Trine Saturn: Apr 02 8:01 PM Moon Square Venus: Apr 02 11:47 PM Sun Square Pluto: Apr 03 2:21 AM Moon Enters Gemini: Apr 03 4:53 AM

Thursday, April 3rd Much of Thursday is charged with a nervous but directionless energy. The currents unleashed over the last several days circulate mentally, seeking refinement or expression. After the Moon in Gemini completes her disorienting square with Neptune during the evening, things straighten out a bit, returning to the status of meaningful and realistic life-changes. Moon in Gemini Moon Square Neptune: Apr 03 4:57 PM Moon Sextile Uranus: Apr 04 4:47 AM

Friday, April 4th Friday begins with a little harmony between the Sun and Moon, pulling the heart

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and mind back into right relationship. This pleasing alignment fades as the day rolls onward, replaced by a focus on retrograde Mars in Libra, who is approaching opposition with the Sun in Aries - the dead center of the red-planet’s backward journey. The heart of uncomfortable questions draws closer. Moon in Gemini Moon Sextile Sun: Apr 04 9:00 AM Moon Trine Mars: Apr 04 7:45 PM

Saturday, April 5th Saturday begins with the Moon in mental Gemini’s square to Mercury in Pisces. The desire to make sense of things is strong, but feelings disguised as thoughts infiltrate the mental wavelength, muddling things. The answer may not be found in the head, but in the heart. Venus enters Pisces today, her sign of exaltation, where she will be until May 2nd. In Pisces, Venus does a fine job building bridges and smoothing out (or ignoring) the differences between people. The Moon enters Cancer shortly after Venus’ splash, and from there makes a beautiful trine with the morning star, washing Saturday afternoon with grace. A dreamy, anaesthetic Moon-Neptune trine continues to soothe throughout the evening. Moon in Gemini Moon Square Mercury: Apr 05 7:59 AM Venus Enters Pisces: Apr 05 1:30 PM Moon Enters Cancer: Apr 05 2:40 PM Moon Trine Venus: Apr 05 2:46 PM Moon Trine Neptune: Apr 06 3:40 AM

Sunday, April 6th Sunday sees the Moon transit the massive Cardinal Cross which is forming up, setting things awhirl for better and worse. Today’s spin cycle sucks in the good, the bad, the ugly and the sublime and keeps them moving in quick succession. Either stay inside or be prepared to let the heavens set the rythym. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Cancer Conjunct Jupiter: Apr 06 2:33 PM Square Uranus: Apr 06 4:03 PM Opposite Pluto: Apr 06 5:43 PM Square Sun: Apr 07 1:31 AM Square Mars: Apr 07 5:35 AM

Monday, April 7th Having quarreled with most of the planets during yesterday’s hurricane, Luna has no aspects to make for most of Monday. However, what was set in motion is unlikely to have subsided. In the midst of the momentum, Mercury slips out of Pisces, dons his spiked German war helm and charges into Aries. In Aries, Mercury is straightforward, quick, opinionated and a bit temperamental. Words and thought processes moves

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quickly, and with less hesitation. Though a nice change from meandering Pisces, Mercury’s movement into Aries serves to add fire to already volatile time period. Moon in Cancer Mercury Enters Aries: Apr 07 8:34 AM Moon Enters Leo: Apr 08 2:50 AM

Tuesday, April 8th Tuesday begins with the dramatic Moon in Leo’s trine to Mercury in brash Aries, giving a rather loud voice to thoughts which have only been murmured for weeks. There is much to think about, as Tuesday also holds the Sun’s opposition with retrograde Mars, the crucial midpoint of the red planet’s difficult cycle. There are no other aspects today, but there really don’t need to be- Tuesday burns hot and bright enough as is. While inflammation is certainly a danger, there is a message in the flames, a white-hot ember that is the seed of the past months’ irritation. Moon in Leo Moon Trine Mercury: Apr 08 5:56 AM Sun Opposition Mars: Apr 07 8:34 AM Moon Trine Uranus: Apr 09 4:50 AM Ramanavami (Hindu)

Wednesday, April 9th Wednesday sees the hot Moon in Leo aspect both sides of the separating Sun-Mars opposition, reigniting the issues which have characterized the last several days. Hopefully today brings some level of reflection to the thoughts and events through which Spirit and Power made themselves known to each other once more. Though the day burns hot, the evening is increasingly cooled by the Moon’s square to chill Saturn. If passions have continued to burn into the night, it may well be time to dump some ice water on them. Moon in Leo Moon Sextile Mars: Apr 09 4:12 PM Moon Trine Sun: Apr 09 7:26 PM Moon Square Saturn: Apr 09 11:24 PM

Thursday, April 10th The first part of the day sees the Moon cross the hot, hard, late degrees of Leo before entering more restrained Virgo during the afternoon. Though the Virgo Moon pushes attention to concrete tasks and tiny details, there is a certain current of desire floating in the air, an itch for pleasure and ease. The itch grows stronger as night falls and evening deepens, culminating with the Moon’s late night oppositions to Venus and then Neptune in Pisces. Moon Moon Moon Moon

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in Leo Enters Virgo: Apr 10 3:07 PM Opposite Venus: Apr 11 2:52 AM Opposite Neptune: Apr 11 4:18 AM April 2014 Astrological Almanac by Austin Coppock

Friday, April 11th Friday’s configurations are an island of ease amidst the waters of a difficult month. The first part of the day sees a supportive, positive sextile between the Moon and Jupiter uplift it, while the evening holds Venus’ annual conjunction with Neptune. The conjunction occurs in the sign of Pisces, as it will for next 12 years. The tides of personal passion naturally float toward spiritualized heights and drift down to the neglected depths today. Forgiveness emerges as an unexpected possibility, and doors crack to allow in the rays of the sublime. As Leonard Cohen says, “there is a crack in everything- that’s how the light gets in.” Find it, and slip through for a spell. Or, failing that- drink too much and pass out watching television. Moon in Virgo Moon Sextile Jupiter: Apr 11 3:45 PM Moon Trine Pluto: Apr 11 5:53 PM Venus Conjunct Neptune: Apr 11 7:23 PM

Saturday, April 12th The Moon in Virgo spends the morning in a sextile with Saturn in Scorpio, providing an opportunity to bring order to an otherwise chaotic period. Though you may be tempted to spend Saturday chasing pleasure, consider instead spending some time looking over your affairs with a critical eye. The Moon enters Libra late night, the sign in which she will find Fullness. Moon in Virgo Moon Sextile Saturn: Apr 12 10:08 AM Moon in Libra: Apr 13 1:29 AM

Sunday, April 13th Much of Sunday passes as a charged lull- a pregnant calm. Yet as the Sun drops below the western horizon and the bright Moon emerges in the east, a dynamic night begins. An almost-full Moon triggers April’s Grand Cross again, sending energy spinning in all directions. There is both opportunity and disaster here, tension and flow. It is up to each to navigate the events and energies which cluster here. Moon in Libra Moon Opposition Mercury: Apr 13 11:58 PM Moon Square Jupiter: Apr 14 1:34 AM Moon Opposition Uranus: Apr 14 2:16 AM Moon Square Pluto: Apr 14 3:05 AM Palm Sunday (Christian)

Monday, April 14th The Grand Cross which spun through yesterday is pushed to more frantic speeds by the day’s planetary action. Monday begins with the Moon’s conjunction with retrograde Mars in Libra, starting things off on a dynamic but potentially frictive note. Meanwhile, Mercury squares Jupiter and conjoins Uranus, highlighting the difference between the

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speed of desire and the pace of manifestation. The tension between impatience and process is further complicated by looming economic and material truths- the province of small, dark Pluto, who stations retrograde this very day, contextualizing everything within the need to edit those adaptations we’ve struggled so hard to make. Furthermore, Monday night is host to the dramatic Lunar Eclipse in Libra- the first but not the last in the sign of the scales. The Lunar eclipse pushes us to attempt a balance we never have before, to become unprecedentedly bold in our willingness to make everything work, no matter how complicated. This is learning to juggle machetes- you’ll get cut, but you’ll learn fast. Moon in Libra Moon Conjunct Mars: Apr 14 8:56 AM Mercury Square Jupiter: Apr 14 11:31 AM Mercury Conjunct Uranus: Apr 14 4:14 PM Pluto Stations Retrograde: Apr 14 4:48 PM Mercury Square Pluto: Apr 14 9:12 PM Lunar Eclipse: Apr 15 12:45 AM Begin Third Quarter of the Lunar Month Vaisakhi/Vishu (Hindu)

Tuesday, April 15th The Moon conjoins the North Node in Libra just as the Sun rises on Tuesday, starting the day with a wish for the balance so clearly lacking right now. Not far into the morning, the Moon enters Scorpio, where she will tunnel deep into the issues raised over the last couple days. Yet Luna spends much of the day in a trine with Neptune, which may blur the sharper edges of ongoing issues for a bit. The flattering light of this configuration may be helpful, as Mercury opposes Mars today, raiseing afresh the angry energies of the red planet. Yet this is also an opportunity to conceptualize the nature of ongoing change, to find exactly the right words to bind the chaotic energies loosed upon the present. Moon in Libra Moon Conjunct North Node (Caput Draconis): Apr 15 6:20 AM Moon Enters Scorpio: Apr 15 9:17 AM Moon Trine Neptune: Apr 15 9:37 PM Mercury Opposite Mars: Apr 16 4:14 AM First Day of Passover (Jewish) Hanuman Jayanti (Hindu)

Wednesday, April 16th Wednesday begins with a mellow, pleasant trine between the Moon in Scorpio and Venus in Pisces. Shortly thereafter, Luna trines nurturing, expansive Jupiter in Cancer and sextiles Pluto in Capricorn, highlighting the friction between obstacles and opportunities, growth and the world’s harsh demands. There is more to the morning’s action than the individual aspects, though. The Moon’s position completes a rare configuration- a Kite. It’s geometry pairs the harmony of a Grand Trine and the tension of an opposition to create sufficient support

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to address otherwise difficult problems. As evening falls, the silver Moon rises with Saturn in Scorpio. There is a gravity to this pairing, a seriousness which may make it difficult to escape worries and fears. Yet the mind is also drawn to responsibilities and commitments. It is a good night to survey your works, and, if possible, bring some order to an unstable slice of time. Moon in Scorpio Moon Trine Venus: Apr 16 6:04 AM Moon Trine Jupiter: Apr 16 8:44 AM Moon Sextile Pluto: Apr 16 9:43 AM Moon Conjunct Saturn: Apr 17 12:06 AM

Thursday, April 17th Thursday begins with the Moon void in the late degrees of Scorpio. Luna emerges from her hole during the afternoon, exploding into enthusiastic Sagittarius, where she brightens the tone and picks up the energy. And there is plenty to be excited about during the evening, for as the Sun sets, Venus in Pisces completes her trine with Jupiter in Cancer, each benefic in its sign of exaltation. There is a very pleasant configuration, signifying good times and good fortune. Yet there is more to it than simple splendor, for Venus aspects not just Jupiter but opposing Pluto as well. Here Venus, the conciliator, mediates between Pluto’s seemingly cruel evolutionary demands and Jupiter’s gentle guidance. When the vein of gold appears, gleaming like the Sun in the middle of the darkness, the underworld ordeal finally makes sense. Moon in Scorpio Moon Enters Sagittarius: Apr 17 2:43 PM Venus Trine Jupiter: Apr 17 6:18 PM Venus Sextile Pluto: Apr 18 2:25 AM Moon Square Neptune: Apr 18 2:39 AM Maundy Thursday (Christian)

Friday, April 18th Friday begins with the Sun’s conjunction with the South Node in Aries, a subtle configuration which pulls to the surface aspects of the ego which no longer serve. This may be hard, for it may be hard won independence that finds itself on the chopping block. If these issues arise, do not feel compelled to make any final decisions immediately- the Sun is today merely accentuating a year and half long process which is still in it’s early stages. The afternoon sees the Moon make a trio of aspects. The first is an eclectic, rambunctious trine to Uranus in Aries, followed by a soothing, potentially anaesthetizing square to Venus in Pisces. Last is a sextile with retrograde Mars, likely to give the early evening an imbalanced level of vigor, either excessive or lacking. Moon in Sagittarius Sun Conjunct South Node (Cauda Draconis): Apr 18 5:11 AM Moon Trine Uranus: Apr 18 1:59 PM Moon Square Venus: Apr 18 3:18 PM Moon Sextile Mars: Apr 18 4:58 PM

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Good Friday (Christian)

Saturday, April 19th Saturday begins with the Moon in Sagittarius in a trine to Mercury in Aries, treating early risers and still-uppers to a little Mercurial sparkle, which gives that morning caffeine a little extra kick. There is a hot, hazy harmony hovering over the day, provided by the trinal alignment of the Sun and Moon in fire signs. Come evening, though, Luna clicks into Capricorn, driving the energy earthward. The Sun, following suit, strolls into strong Taurus, where he will spend the next month. Money, pleasure and general questions of value pop into the foreground during the Sun’s time in Taurus. These changes all occur against the background of Jupiter’s exact square with Uranus, which highlights the friction between slow growth processes and rapid, unpredictable developments. This third and final square between the two bodies is likely to make clear how well we’ve managed unexpected opportunities and mutating pathways. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Trine Mercury: Apr 19 4:46 AM Moon Trine Sun: Apr 19 6:15 PM Moon Enters Capricorn: Apr 19 6:27 PM Sun Enters Taurus: Apr 19 8:55 PM Jupiter Square Uranus: Apr 20 12:27 AM Holy Saturday (Christian)

Sunday, April 20th Though it begins with a sedate Moon-Neptune sextile, Sunday is absolutely packed with planetary action. After leaving the somniferous embrace of Neptune, the Moon in Capricorn goes on to aspect every planet in the Cardinal Cross, spinning up the energy in a potent but chaotic manner. Today sees Jupiter oppose Pluto exactly while Uranus squares the small dark, body. The opportunities, obstacles surprises and irritations which have characterized this season’s events are all placed center stage by today’s configurations. This opposition between Jupiter and Pluto is the third in a series that began back in the summer of 2013, and reveals what opportunities we’ve managed to find in unlikely places, as well as how we’ve adapted our plans for personal growth to the rigors of the world around us. Moon in Capricorn Moon Sextile Neptune: Apr 20 6:15 AM Venus Conjunct Chiron: Apr 20 10:40 AM Jupiter Opposite Pluto: Apr 20 4:24 PM Moon Square Uranus: Apr 20 5:28 PM Moon Conjunct Pluto: Apr 20 5:31 PM Moon Opposite Jupiter Apr 20 5:33 PM Moon Square Mars: Apr 20 6:55 PM Moon Trine Venus: Apr 20 10:52 PM Uranus Square Pluto: Apr 21 12:20 PM Easter (Sunday)

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Monday, April 21st Monday begins with a stabilizing sextile between the Moon in Capricorn and Saturn in Scorpio, a welcome dose of order after yesterday’s anarchic swirl. Yet the spiral of energies generated by the Cardinal Cross is unlikely to have dissipated entirely. Use the first part of Monday to restore what calm you can to affairs. The afternoon sees the Moon square Mercury in Aries, slowing thought processes down to an appropriate level. During the evening hours, the Moon enters abstract Aquarius, where she will advocate critical distance during the next several days’ events. Late night she squares the Sun in Taurus, issuing us into the fourth quarter of the lunar month. Moon in Capricorn Moon Trine Saturn: Apr 21 6:47 AM Moon Square Mercury: Apr 21 4:20 PM Moon Enters Aquarius: Apr 21 11:18 PM Moon Square Sun: Apr 22 2:51 AM Begin Fourth Quarter of the Lunar Month

Tuesday, April 22nd Tuesday begins with Mercury’s conjunction to the South Node, the invisible Dragon’s Tail, leading the mind to sacrificial fires, into which a mask of the ego must eventually be cast. Intuitions of a sacrifice yet to come color only the morning hours, though, for Tuesday sees Mars square Jupiter, oppose Uranus and move on toward his square with Pluto, setting the aethyrs ablaze today. On a mundane level, inflammation and irritation are the order of things, sparking smoldering conflicts back into life. Yet on a more internal level, Mars’ aspects today suggests a potent reconceptualization of power. Though it may not be possible to avoid entanglements with the external world, this volatile mixture of energies is best digested in a solitary manner. In the midst of this hot configuration, Mercury plods quietly into Taurus, whose pastures the planet will speed across until May 7th. In Taurus, Mercury pushes the mind toward concrete topics, with a special eye toward the income and outflow of monies. Moon in Aquarius Mercury Conjunct South Node (Cauda Draconis): Apr 22 7:34 AM Mars Square Jupiter: Apr 22 12:27 PM Moon Sextile Uranus: Apr 22 10:19 PM Moon Trine Mars: Apr 22 10:24 PM Mars Opposition Uranus: Apr 23 12:08 AM Mercury Enters Taurus: Apr 23 2:15 AM Last Day of Passover (Jewish)

Wednesday, April 23rd Wednesday begins as the last component of the Cardinal Cross clicks into place- Mars in Libra’s potentially nasty square to Pluto in Capricorn. This particular aspect highlights hidden power dynamcis and taps deep wells of anger, and may trigger disproportionate fight-or-flight responses. Yet it also unearths forgotten sources of power,

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and helps us remember the remarkable potency of the Will itself. Though this volatile current flows throughout the morning, the Moon in Aquarius’ square to Saturn in Scorpio tries desperately to keep order. Late night, the Moon slips into mellow Pisces and makes a reflective sextile with Mercury in Taurus. The mind turns toward ways to fix the volatile energies afoot. Moon in Aquarius Mars Square Pluto: Apr 23 6:38 AM Moon Square Saturn: Apr 23 9:10 AM Moon Enters Pisces: Apr 23 11:55 PM Moon Sextile Mercury: Apr 24 3:42 AM

Thursday, April 24th Thursday begins on a harmonious note, with the soft Pisces Moon making a supportive sextile to the Sun in steady Taurus. Luna continues onward toward a hypnotic conjunction with Neptune, drawing the mid-day into a trance. The spell lifts sometime during the afternoon, which slowly flows toward night. Evening sees the Moon light up the still-active opposition between Jupiter and Pluto while exalted Venus in Pisces completes her trine to hard Saturn in Scorpio, pulling the mind to reflect on obstacles and opportunities, gentle growth and harsh ordeal. Good and bad, soft and hard blur together here, taken the shape of a workable, coherent whole. Moon in Pisces Moon Sextile Sun: Apr 24 7:14 AM Moon Conjunct Neptune: Apr 24 11:50 AM Venus Trine Saturn: Apr 24 10:14 PM Moon Sextile Pluto: Apr 24 10:55 PM Moon Trine Jupiter: Apr 24 11:55 PM

Friday, April 25th Friday begins on an organized note, with the Moon in Pisces trine to Saturn in Scorpio. Fortunately, the need for order gives way to a beautiful Moon-Venus conjunction in Pisces, adding a lovely accent to the afternoon’s proceedings. Evening sees Mercury conjoin the Sun in Taurus. This event, called the superior conjunction, marks a reunion of the mind and spirit, providing some moments of remarkable clarity Friday night. There is a higher and grander perspective waiting to be found here. Moon in Pisces Moon Trine Saturn: Apr 25 11:48 AM Moon Conjunct Venus: Apr 25 1:03 PM Sun Conjunction Mercury: Apr 25 8:26 PM Moon Enters Aries: Apr 26 3:02 AM

Saturday, April 26th Saturday holds an odd combination of volatile and soporific configurations. The day

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begins with Mercury in Taurus’ sextile to Neptune in Pisces, inducing a dreamy and imaginative state of mind. This trance is supported by the Sun in Taurus’ own sextile to Neptune, which is active all day. Yet the Moon holds court in Aries today, and closes slowly in on a moody opposition to Mars. Unprocessed feelings may erupt through the mellow wavelength present. The volatility grows as night falls and the Moon runs the gauntlet of the Cardinal Cross once more, activating anger, fear, genius and hope in quick succession. Moon in Aries Mercury Sextile Neptune: Apr 26 10:26 AM Moon Opposite Mars: Apr 27 12:29 AM Moon Square Pluto: Apr 27 2:30 AM Moon Conjunct Uranus: Apr 27 3:03 AM Sun Sextile Neptune: Apr 27 3:33 AM Moon Square Jupiter: Apr 27 4:04 AM

Sunday, April 27th Sunday is strangely absent of planetary action. The Moon marches through Aries without connecting to any other body, nor do the planets themselves complete their relations. After the preceding weeks’ turbulent skies, Sunday’s lack of action may come as a relief. The one aspect that occurs today happens in the dead of night, just before tomorrow dawns. It is the conjunction of the lightless Moon to the body-less South Node, the Dragon’s Tail. Here the vision of future sacrifices hang in the pre-dawn air for just a bit and then disappear with tomorrow’s light. Moon in Aries Moon Conjunct South Node (Cauda Draconis): Apr 28 4:37 AM

Monday, April 28th Though the Sun rises Monday morning with the Moon in Aries, Luna trundles into Taurus early. There is a strange calm, an eerie lull about the day, whose only aspect is the dark Moon’s quiet, anaesthetic sextile to Neptune in Pisces. After nightfall the odd energy intensifies, and late night reaches its peak. For on the other side of the Earth, the Moon embraces the Sun so close as to darken him, temporarily robbing the Earth of light. Though it will go unseen to anyone outside of Australia, the power of the solar eclipse will be felt globally. This eclipse is the last in a series of the dark Suns and Moons that have torn through the meadows of Taurus over the last year and a half. This final, penumbral eclipse asks that people let go the last, torn corner of their security blankets, those talismans of stability which are, in fact, only filthy, stained pieces of cloth. Moon in Aries Moon in Taurus: Apr 28 7:26 AM Moon Sextile Neptune: Apr 28 8:09 PM Solar Eclipse: Apr 28 11:02 PM Yom HaShoah (Jewish)

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Tuesday, April 29th Tuesday begins with the Moon in Taurus’ conjunction with Mercury and trine to Pluto, catching the pair of planets in the midst of deep reflection. Jupiter, too, participates. As Mercury ponders opposed Jupiter and Pluto, plans for transformative growth emerge and ripen. The storm swept fields are not barren, but strangely fecundated by the natural violence done to them. Moon in Taurus Moon Conjunct Mercury: Apr 29 7:11 AM Moon Trine Pluto: Apr 29 7:44 AM Moon Sextile Jupiter: Apr 29 9:59 AM Mercury Trine Pluto: Apr 29 10:29 AM Moon Opposite Saturn: Apr 29 8:58 PM Mercury Sextile Jupiter: Apr 30 1:31 AM

Wednesday, April 30th Wednesday begins with an enjoyable sextile between the Moon in Taurus and Venus in Pisces, opening the pleasure centers and lubricating our entrance into the day. This influence presides until the afternoon, when the Moon enters Gemini, picking up the pace and pushing the energy outward. There is some mental vigor to the rest of the day, though it may be tinged with irritability. Moon in Gemini Moon Sextile Venus: Apr 30 8:58 AM Moon Enters Gemini: Apr 30 1:58 PM Beltane (Wiccan, Neo-Pagan)

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May LEVELING THE LAND

It is May’s job to make fertile what the last three months have left us with. Many of the challenges which have characterized the season so far recede into the background, providing the time and space we need to re-establish a livable rhythm. The Grand Cross pulls apart, depressurizing a variety of situations. Jupiter marches past Uranus and Pluto while Mars retreats from the tangle of rays. May also holds Mars’ long awaited direct station, which marks the end of the red planet’s irritable march backwards. Furthermore, May sees a trine between Jupiter and Saturn, which helps equilibriate the good and the bad. High hopes and terrible collide and cancel out each other out, leaving in their wake reasonable expectations. Though the planets do not complete this aspect until the 24th, it’s power hovers over the entirety of May. Though May holds the opportunity to re-establish equilibrium, that balance which can only come from confronting both the positive and the negative.

Steady She Goes May begins with Mercury in Taurus’ opposition with Saturn in Scorpio. Delays to ongoing processes are likely here as obstacles become clear. Accept what slowdowns occur and take the opportunity to gentle down to a sustainable pace. To cruise past these issues without caution is to invite disaster later on. 111

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Fire Flowers On the second, Venus leaves the sweet water of Pisces for Aries’ gasoline. In Aries, excitement burns hot and then burns out, giving the passions a more unsteady rhythm. Aphrodite’s time in Aries presides over fresh feelings, helps people appreciate the spectacle of action and presides over flare-ups of lust. The morning star will be in Aries until May 28th, when she enters Taurus.

Underworld Blooms Between the 3rd and 5th, the Sun in Taurus aspects Pluto in Capricorn and then Jupiter in Cancer, pushing us to reflect on the recent tug of war between the tiny outsider and the big planet. Opportunities seized as well as those sabotaged occupy the mind, while the fruits of such struggles begin to appear.

The Need For Speed On the 7th, Mercury’s stroll through Taurus comes to a close. The messenger speeds into Gemini, his very own sign. In Gemini, Mercury conveys messages quickly, facilitating all manner of connections and communications. Mercury will be in Gemini until May 28th, but will return to the Twins, retrograde, in mid-June. Although the messenger’s time in Gemini is generally auspicious for quick-witted activities, the first, short leg of his journey is complicated by his square with murky Neptune in Pisces, whose dreamy seas slow down the rapid-fire exchange of binaries. Neptune’s square with Mercury is active from the day of his ingress until the 10th, when it is precise. After Mercury clears his square with Neptune, things begin making sense as explanations coagulate rapidly.

Opposites Attract The 10th is the site for a few other interesting configurations, as well. The Sun in Taurus opposes a retrograde Saturn in Scorpio, slowing things down and demanding restraint. A darker mood falls on the surrounding days, counseling contemplation. Simultaneously, Venus in Aries opposes a retrograde Mars in Libra. This significant opposition lights up relationships, especially romantic ones. Conflicts and confluences both burn bright, both blessing and testing connections.

(S)words On the 12th, speedy Mercury in Gemini trines almost-direct Mars in Libra, letting loose an electric torrent of ideas. Mars’ retrograde lessons come into crisp focus as the two planets complete their trinal alignment. The power of words to cut and connect becomes clear.

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Un-Earth The middle of the month is packed with planetary action. The Full Moon in Scorpio arrives on the 14th. This hard lunation focuses its light on the difficulties of dealing with changing material situations and the emotional adjustments these require. Meanwhile, Venus in Aries squares Pluto in Capricorn, unearthing uncomfortable feelings. Sometimes when you plow the fields you turn up a skeleton or two. There are plenty of uses for old bones, but leave the landmines be.

Bonfire Though the Full Moon may shine over the grim evidence of the past, the next day sets them afire. There is a release of excitable energy as Mercury, Venus and Uranus all align, setting off a series of firecrackers in the mind and heart. It’s hard not to feel the potential to start things afresh.

Get Rich Slow Scheme Venus moves from her exciting alignment with Mercury and Uranus into a square with Jupiter in Cancer on the 18th. This is a pleasant, but potentially unsatisfying configuration, as it ignites the desire to celebrate prematurely- and breeds various excesses. Don’t be impatient with your rate of growth- good things take time.

Forward March Finally, on May 19th, after months retrograde, Mars stations direct in Libra, bringing an end to what was for many a gauntlet of confused action and self-questioning. Mars calls an end to the retreat, with plans to re-take the territory lost and re-forge the alliances troubled over the last two and half months.

Double Time On May 20th the Sun enters quick Gemini, where its light shines upon communication, cognition and travel. This year, though, the Sun’s trip through the Twins will involve a variety of detours, delays and back roads, courtesy of Mercury’s upcoming retrograde.

Between the Pillars On the 24th of May, Jupiter in Cancer trines Saturn in Scorpio, balancing out the positive and negative, the optimistic and dour. Where neither hope nor fear reign, reality is a welcome guest. Try inviting her in.

Extraction The 26th and 27th see slowing Mercury in Gemini make another sextile to Venus in Aries, just as the morning star conjoins the Tail of the Dragon. This configuration

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helps us identify those passions which have ceased to be a source of joy. Poisons of the heart rise to the surface here, ready to be purged.

Roundabout The New Moon in Gemini occurs on the 28th, ending one lunar month and beginning another. This lunation takes place in a tight square with Neptune in Pisces, whose salty waters are likely to corrode Gemini’s speedy circuitboard, promising a month of mixed messages and circumambulatory pathways. While the Sun and Moon make the month anew, both Venus and Mercury change signs. Venus abandons harsh Aries for the lush fields of Taurus. In Taurus, Venus oversees joy in luxuries great and small, lubricating the universal gears with a bit of pleasure. Venus will be in Taurus until June 23rd. Meanwhile, Mercury enters Cancer. The slowing messenger wades along the shoreline in search of message-bearing bottles. Bits of the past wash up on that beach, triggering old feelings. The messenger will soon turn retrograde in Cancer, with plans to bring those strange messages back to Gemini to be deciphered. Mercury will be in Cancer until early June.

Wind-Power The Sun in Gemini trines Mars in Libra on the 30th, sharpening tongues and sending some mental wattage through the surrounding days. Sol’s rays also serve to further illuminate the teachings of power which Mars doled out over the preceding months. As May comes to a close, much of the season’s chaos has subsided. A few blooms have emerged as well, but much still remains up in the air, riding the wind. It will take June’s Mercury retrograde to see where they’ll land.

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May Ephemeris

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May Dailies Thursday, May 1st May begins with the Moon in Gemini lighting up the departing opposition between retrograde Mars in Libra and Uranus in Aries. There is a certain volatility to this configuration- heated situations may arise. It’s energy is, on the contrary, best turned inward, for the days is likely filled with insights into the nature of personal power. Reflect on the last month’s moments of inspiration, explosions and surprises. Moon in Gemini Moon Trine Mars: May 01 11:05 AM Moon Sextile Uranus: May 01 4:32 PM

Friday, May 2nd Friday is dominated by prudent thoughts and excitable emotions. Mercury’s opposition to Saturn occurs today, pitting process oriented Mercury in Taurus against the mandatory transformations that Saturn in Scorpio holds in store. Plans are coming together, but do these plans take into account what’s really necessary? Consistency is a wonderful virtue, but repeating the same pattern in the face of diminishing returns is foolishness. If you’re feeling stuck, this is a good time to diagnose why. Meanwhile, Venus crosses the equinoctial boundary, blasting into Aries. Leaving Pisces, Venus sheds her siren costume and straps on her chain-mail panties and solidsteel bustier. In Aries, Venus stimulates rowdy passions, short-lived infatuations, an interest in kinetic aesthetics and lust aplenty. The morning star will be in Aries until June 16th. The Moon enters Cancer around midnight and immediately squares Venus in her new sign. Luna advocates for a quiet night while Venus wants to stay up raging. Moon in Gemini Mercury Opposite Saturn: May 02 5:56 PM Venus Enters Aries: May 02 6:20 PM Moon Enters Cancer: May 02 11:15 PM Moon Square Venus: May 02 11:45 PM Akshaya Tritiya (Hindu)

Saturday, May 3rd Saturday begins with the Moon in Cancer’s mellow trine to Neptune in Pisces, anaesthetizing the first part of the day. During the afternoon, however, the waxing Moon in Cancer sets course for the Cardinal Cross once again. Luna spins up some tension throughout the evening and night, though, but with the Cross loosening, it is considerably less maniacal than the preceding weeks. While the Moon pings the Grand Cross, the Sun in Taurus slides into a far-sighted trine with Pluto in Capricorn, illuminating the hard stones of the road ahead. Moon in Cancer

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Moon Trine Neptune: May 03 1:27 PM Sun Trine Pluto: May 03 5:36 PM Moon Square Mars: May 03 8:18 PM Moon Opposite Pluto: May 04 1:51 AM Moon Sextile Sun: May 04 2:34 AM Moon Square Uranus: May 04 3:23 AM

Sunday, May 4th Sunday begins with the Moon in Cancer’s benefic conjunction with Jupiter, starting off Sunday right. From there Luna moves from gentle Jupiter to solid Saturn, giving the middle of the day a practical, responsible air. Focus on fulfilling duties and organizing affairs. After the Moon completes her afternoon trine to Saturn, she chases a sextile with communicative Mercury deep into the night, lending the evening a talkative air. Moon in Cancer Moon Conjunct Jupiter: May 04 5:53 AM Moon Trine Saturn: May 04 3:43 PM Moon Sextile Mercury: May 05 1:46 AM

Monday, May 5th Monday begins with the Moon void-of-course in comfy Cancer, but before long she slips into expressive Leo. The majority of the daylight sees the Moon in a trine with Venus in rowdy, fun-loving Aries while the Sun closes in on a sextile with bountiful Jupiter, a fine pair of omens. Happy Moon in Cancer Moon Square Nodal Axis (South Bending): May 05 7:24 AM Moon Enters Leo: May 05 10:56 AM Moon Trine Venus: May 05 5:45 PM Sun Sextile Jupiter: May 06 2:53 AM Cinco de Mayo!

Tuesday, May 6th Tuesday starts off with the dramatic Moon in Leo’s sextile with a still-retrograde Mars in Libra, highlighting the lessons in personal power which have been handed out since March. From there the Moon moves into a trine with Uranus in Aries, sending some electricity and a few surprises through the afternoon hours. The evening sees a half-Moon rise, marking our entrance into the second quarter of the lunar cycle. Take a look at how things are unfolding- some adjustments may need to be made. Deep in the wee hours, Luna in Leo makes a hard square to grim Saturn, suppressing the joyful, fun-seeking Leo moon. Do something serious or go to bed. Moon in Leo Moon Sextile Mars: May 06 7:33 AM Moon Trine Uranus: May 06 3:55 PM Moon Square Sun: May 06 8:14 PM

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Begin Second Quarter of the Lunar Month Moon Square Saturn: May 07 3:50 AM Yom Ha’atzmaut (Jewish)

Wednesday, May 7th Early on Wednesday morning Mercury leaves the muddy fields of Taurus behind, racing into Gemini , whose 4G connection makes connecting the dots that much easier. Mercury is considered to rule Gemini, and the swift planet is certainly strong there. Communicating, writing, coding and travel all benefit from Mercury’s time in the binary sign. Moon in Leo Mercury Enters Gemini: May 07 7:56 AM Moon Enters Virgo: May 07 11:23 PM Moon Square Mercury: May 08 2:21 AM

Thursday, May 8th Thursday is colored by the Moon in Virgo’s opposition to Neptune in Pisces, lending the first half of the day a distractible quality. Day dreams dance and distract, though they fade as the afternoon lengthens. The night itself is slow and deep, for some of the Moon’s silver rays find themselves sucked into Pluto’s underworld vortex, highlighting the potential for both penetrating analysis, as well as obsessive worry. Moon in Virgo Moon Opposite Neptune: May 08 1:59 PM Moon Trine Pluto: May 09 2:02 AM

Friday, May 9th Friday begins with the Moon in Virgo’s uplifting sextile to Jupiter in Cancer, which deepens and enriches the morning hours. This protective bubble dissolves by mid-day, though, exposing us to the Sun in Taurus’ pending opposition to Saturn in Scorpio. Friday is a balancing act between inspiration and duty. Embrace your burdens- It is only by meeting our obligations that we become free of them. Moon in Virgo Moon Sextile Jupiter: May 09 7:42 AM Moon Trine Sun: May 09 1:14 PM Moon Sextile Saturn: May 09 3:08 PM

Saturday, May 10th Saturday is full of celestial action. The day begins with the Moon’s morning entrance into Libra, shifting the focus toward relationships and communication. Shortly thereafter, the Sun in Taurus completes its opposition to Saturn in Scorpio, highlighting duties done, as well as those yet unfinished. Venus and Mars’ opposition reinforces the Libra Moon’s focus on relationships, particularly erotic ones. The red and green

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planets stare across the sky at each other, presenting conflicting needs for personal autonomy and mutual harmony. There is much to connect here, within people as well as between them. Though Mercury stands between Mars and Venus, ready to aid in the reconciliation, Neptune’s confusing rays intrude on the swift planet’s analysis, steering thoughts subtly off course. Moon in Virgo Moon Enters Libra: May 10 10:15 AM Sun Opposite Saturn: May 10 11:27 AM Moon Trine Mercury: May 10 11:23 PM Venus Opposite Mars: May 11 2:26 AM Moon Conjunct Mars: May 11 4:17 AM Moon Opposite Venus: May 11 4:29 AM

Sunday, May 11th Sunday begins with Mercury in Gemini’s square to Neptune in Pisces. Dreams leak into communications and fantasies bleed into analysis. This is a good influence for those activities which blend the intellect and fantasy, such as games, but problematic for those activities where clear reason is needed. Meanwhile, the Moon in Libra makes aspects to Pluto, Uranus and then Jupiter. Pluto comes first, darkening the mood for a few mid-day hours. Uranus is next, bringing surprises and insights, but shortening tempers. Night holds the Moon’s aspect to Jupiter, a luxury and comfort-seeking configuration which reigns over most of the evening. Moon in Libra Mercury Square Neptune: May 11 5:35 AM Moon Square Pluto: May 11 11:36 AM Moon Opposite Uranus: May 11 1:54 PM Moon Square Jupiter: May 11 5:50 PM Mother’s Day (United States)

Monday, May 12th Monday begins with Mercury in Gemini’s trine to a still retrograde Mars in Libra. Here the messenger catches Mars as he slows in anticipation of his direct station, helping to put into words the lessons of the last several months to give voice to insights about the nature of personal strength and the power of balance. Meanwhile, the Moon in Libra conjoins the Dragon’s Head during the afternoon, placing further emphasis on the importance of balance, especially in crooked times. As the Sun falls below the horizon, the Moon slips into Scorpio and arises in the East, her face almost entirely full with reflected light. Moon in Libra Mercury Trine Mars: May 12 9:02 AM Moon Conjunct North Node (Caput Draconis): May 12 3:04 PM Moon Enters Scorpio: May 12 6:05 PM

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Tuesday, May 13th Tuesday morning’s Moon-Neptune trine smothers the first part of the day in a thick, mildly soporific fog. This astral gravy dissipates slowly as the day lengthens and Luna moves on to a more intense, focused sextile with Pluto in Capricorn. As the Sun sets, a big silver Moon rises with Saturn. The evening is awash with heavy rays, though the Moon’s late night trine with Jupiter gives these intense beams a more positive quality than they might otherwise have. Though the Moon grows progressively more full as the night progresses, it will not reach the point of perfect fullness until around noon on Wednesday, Tuesday is for all intents and purposes the night of the Full Moon. A glance outside will confirm this. Held within its silver rays is the need for stability and security juxtaposed with the constant cycle of life, death and change. We’re asked to accept the fact that though we can stabilize our situation, nothing can be immunized to change or be rendered permanent. Learn to move with the current and the winds, but in the direction of your choosing. We can only make prudent plans, and deal with the surprises along the way. Moon in Scorpio Moon Trine Neptune: May 13 7:17 AM Moon Sextile Pluto: May 13 5:55 PM Moon Trine Jupiter: May 14 12:25 AM

Wednesday, May 14th Venus in Aries squares Pluto in Capricorn on Wednesday morning. This aspect is often hard emotionally, temporarily robbing us of joy. Yet joy has not vanished, but fled to a deeper place. Though not usually pleasant, Venus’ square to Pluto can be therapeutic, and cathartic, for it pushes neglected feelings to the surface. The emotional and purgative nature of the Venus-Pluto square is in perfect harmony with the intense Full Moon in Scorpio which takes place mid-day, far beneath the horizon. Moon in Scorpio Moon Conjunct Saturn: May 14 4:57 AM Venus Square Pluto: May 14 10:49 AM Full Moon in Scorpio: May 14 12:13 PM Begin Second Quarter of the Lunar Month Moon Enters Sagittarius: May 14 10:41 PM Jupiter Trine Chiron: May 14 4:35 AM Wesak (Buddhist)

Thursday, May 15th Swift Mercury in Gemini makes a sextile to excitable Venus in Aries today, just as Venus and Uranus unite. While yesterday saw Venus square oppressive Pluto, her conjunction with Uranus provides an explosion of passions- courage, anger, joy and more. Mercury offers these emotions both a microphone and a microscope, projecting or analyzing them, according to taste. Moon in Sagittarius

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Moon Square Neptune: May 15 11:18 AM Moon Sextile Mars: May 15 2:14 PM Mercury Sextile Venus: May 15 2:59 PM Mercury Sextile Uranus: May 15 4:23 PM Venus Conjunct Uranus: May 15 4:53 PM Moon Trine Uranus: May 15 11:47 PM Moon Trine Venus: May 16 12:23 AM Moon Opposite Mercury: May 16 12:40 AM Theravada New Year (Theravada Buddhist)

Friday, May 16th After Thursday’s busy skies, there is a lull in the planetary action. The Moon gallops through Sagittarius without encountering a single planet. With Moon so very voidof-course, this is not the day to unleash your masterplan. Instead, bring something one small step closer to completion or take a day off. Somewhere in the depths of night, the Moon enters Capricorn, whose stony outcroppings Luna will climb for the next several days. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Enters Capricorn: May 17 1:11 AM

Saturday, May 17th Saturday begins with the Moon in Capricorn’s mellow sextile to Neptune in Pisces, softening the outlines of the early day. Come afternoon, Luna moves onto a square with Mars in Libra, only days before the red planet’s long awaited direction station. There may be a little friction here, but at this point, Mars has few fire left to light. For most people, there is unlikely to be more than a bit of irritability and a touch of vigor to the afternoon. Evening falls, and a metaphoric darkness accompanies the literal departure of light. The Moon conjoins Pluto late night, seeding intense reflections and fueling obsessions. Later still comes the Moon’s square to Uranus in Aries, which sends a finger of red lightning through the atmosphere, triggering rebellious and innovative thoughts. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Capricorn Sextile Neptune: May 17 1:34 PM Square Mars: May 17 4:12 PM Conjunct Pluto: May 17 11:18 PM Square Uranus: May 18 1:56 AM

Sunday, May 18th Sunday sees Venus in Aries square Jupiter in Cancer, a debaucherous configuration which rouses desire but rarely brings complete satisfaction. Though the Moon makes a moderate sextile to Saturn briefly, the majority of the day is dominated by the pleasure-seeking planets. It may be a difficult day to concentrate on work, and is probably better spent chasing a good time anyway. See if you can find the line between indulgence and overindulgence.

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Moon in Capricorn Moon Square Venus: May 18 6:41 AM Moon Opposite Jupiter: May 18 6:50 AM Venus Square Jupiter: May 18 8:30 AM Moon Sextile Saturn: May 18 9:25 AM Moon Square Nodal Axis (North Bending): May 18 11:42 PM Moon Trine Sun: May 19 12:02 AM Moon Enters Aquarius: May 19 2:59 AM Lag BaOmer (Jewish)

Monday, May 19th Monday is host to Mars’ long awaited direct station. After nearly three months retrograde, Mars slows, stops and starts moving forward again. Most will experience it positively, as a readiness to move forward after a period of confusion. Those with Mars natally retrograde may be less joyful, for Mars’ direct station places it out of phase with their predilections. Though Mars is now direct, he will spend the next two months crossing the degrees he retrograded through for a third and final time. Simply being ready to move forward is not the same as having completed a task. Enjoy what direction this and surrounding days offer, but prepare to implement the strategies you’ve settled on. Moon in Aquarius Moon Trine Mars: May 19 6:01 PM Mars Station Direct: May 19 6:32 PM Moon Sextile Uranus: May 20 4:03 AM

Tuesday, May 20th Tuesday begins with the Moon in Aquarius’ square to Saturn in Scorpio. Obligations weigh heavy during the morning hours, but the tone shifts mid-day. Luna sextiles Venus in Aries and then trines Mercury in Gemini, providing a fun, communicative and creative backdrop for the remainder of the afternoon. Just after it drops below the horizon, the Sun sneaks into Gemini, leaving the stony pastures of Taurus behind for another year. The Sun in Gemini’s rays split to illuminate the polarities within everything and everyone. Light and shadow spring into view, yin and yang. Complex binary structures emerge to both excite and befuddle. The Sun will be in Gemini until June 21st, the solstice. Moon in Aquarius Moon Square Saturn: May 20 11:11 AM Moon Sextile Venus: May 20 1:07 PM Moon Trine Mercury: May 20 3:21 PM Sun Enters Gemini: May 20 7:58 PM

Wednesday, May 21st As the crack of dawn opens, the Moon slips into oceanic Pisces and almost immediately makes a square to the Sun in Gemini, diffusing the mental energy and marking our entrance into the last quarter of the lunar cycle. Luna spends the majority of day

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in a dreamy conjunction with Neptune, whose combined energies dissolve, distract and entrance. Late night the tone deepens as the Moon makes a sextile to penetrating Pluto, offering the potential for intense wee hour reflections. Moon in Aquarius Moon Enters Pisces: May 21 5:20 AM Moon Square Sun: May 21 6:01 AM Begin Fourth Quarter of the Lunar Month Moon Conjunct Neptune: May 21 6:05 PM Moon Sextile Pluto: May 22 4:00 AM

Thursday, May 22nd Thursday is dominated by a Grand Water Trine between the Moon in Pisces, Jupiter in Cancer and Saturn in Scorpio. There is a flow to the day, and projects may come together in ways that seem heaven sent. Still, that flow may be a bit pokey for some folks’ taste, leaving some feeling waterlogged. Evening sees the Pisces Moon leave the Grand Water Trine behind in favor of a square to quick-footed Mercury in Gemini, which plants a multitude of ideas in the night air. Moon in Pisces Moon Trine Jupiter: May 22 1:15 PM Moon Trine Saturn: May 22 2:05 PM Moon Square Mercury: May 22 11:27 PM

Friday, May 23rd The Moon enters Aries Friday morning, picking up the pace for one last sprint through the last days of the waning lunar month. The day gathers steam with a nice Sun-Moon sextile in the afternoon, weaving a bit of general harmony through it. The evening hours are somewhat less peaceful, though, for during them Luna makes an opposition to red Mars. This energy is a bit antsy and bit irritable, but lends the evening an element of boisterous dynamism which might otherwise be lacking. Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Pisces Enters Aries: May 23 9:03 AM Sextile Sun: May 23 1:40 PM Opposite Mars: May 24 1:10 AM

Saturday, May 24th Saturday is host to an interesting mixture of influences. The day begins with Moon in Aries’ deflating square to hard Pluto in Capricorn, but is then set afire by her conjunction with electric Uranus in Aries. Evening sees the Moon square ebullient Jupiter in Cancer, adding impatience to high hopes, and perhaps overdoing it along the way. Though the Moon’s trio of aspects bespeaks a bumpy ride, today is also host to the perfection of the Jupiter-Saturn trine, a harmonizing influence. The connection between the two connects obstacles and opportunities, neutralizing imbalances of optimism and pessimism alike. This is the third and final of a series of trines between

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the two which began in 2013. Moon in Aries Moon Square Pluto: May 24 8:22 AM Jupiter Trine Saturn: May 24 10:46 AM Moon Conjunct Uranus: May 24 11:54 AM Moon Square Jupiter: May 24 6:45 PM

Sunday, May 25th Sunday begins with the Moon’s fun conjunction with Venus in Aries, which sees a bit of joy bloom during the morning hours. Yet Venus is approaching the Dragon’s Tail- the South Node of the Moon- suggesting that some of that pleasure may be more complicated than it might otherwise seem. There is a purgative quality to the passions signaled by this conjunction, one which will continue for the next several days as Venus approaches and then conjoins the South Node. Nonetheless, the Moon’s sextile to swift Mercury in Gemini and the burst of brainwaves which it activates may well obscure those emotions squirming through the shadows. Ideas and communications run hot through the mid-day, potentially blinding us to the more subtle processes in play. As the afternoon approaches, the Moon clops into steady Taurus, where she will spend the next several days. The rest of the afternoon and evening see the Moon in a lightly intoxicated trance with Neptune- fine set of parameters for a pleasant evening. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Aries Conjunct Venus: May 25 7:09 AM Sextile Mercury: May 25 8:58 AM Conjunct South Node: May 25 10:58 AM Enters Taurus: May 25 2:28 PM Sextile Neptune: May 26 4:13 AM

Monday, May 26th A steady Moon in Taurus lords over Monday, stabilizing and slowing down matters. Luna’s afternoon trine to Pluto offers some opportunity for depth and long range planning. Meanwhile, the evening sees the Moon move into a potentially worrisome opposition with Saturn in Scorpio, but those fears are likely to be allayed by the sweet late night sextile between the Moon and Jupiter in Cancer. Venus’ conjunction with the bodiless South Node in Aries also hovers over the day, seeding it with images of sacrifices yet to be made- pleasures to be released, like flower petals into an open flame. Moon in Taurus Moon Trine Pluto: May 26 2:30 PM Moon Opposite Saturn: May 27 12:57 AM Venus Conjunct South Node (Cauda Draconis): May 27 1:53 AM Moon Sextile Jupiter: May 27 2:13 AM Memorial Day (United States)

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Tuesday, May 27th A mellow Tuesday dawns on without undue interference from the heavens. No planetary aspects complete themselves today. As there is little to move things along, efforts and expectations are best reserved for another day. Come evening, the Moon shifts invisibly into Gemini in preparation for tomorrow’s New Moon. This is the dark of the Moon, and no silver rises in the sky. Moon in Taurus Moon Enters Gemini: May 27 9:49 PM Isra and Mi’raj (Muslim)

Wednesday, May 28th The skies are full today. Wednesday begins with a morning sextile between Mercury in Aries and Venus in Gemini, lubricating conversation and adding excitement to thought processes. Yet the day is undoubtedly dominated by the invisible conjunction of the Sun and Moon in the skies overhead. The New Moon in Gemini takes place at mid-day, the Twins cooperating to plant the seed for the next month. This is a strange seed indeed, for the Sun and Moon conjoin in a tight square with confusing Neptune, bringing dreams and delusions to bear on the otherwise linear and fast paced month which the New Moon in Gemini normally portends. Straight roads will curve, taking journeys in unlikely directions. The night hours conceal Venus and Mercury’s ingresses into new signs. The evening hosts Venus’ entrance into luxurious Taurus, her preferred domicile. In Taurus, Venus asks us to slow down and smell the flowers, and advocates for both earning and spending large amounts of money. Venus in Taurus looks kindly upon works of attraction and pleasure. The lady of heaven will be in Taurus until June 23rd. Late night, Mercury slips a foot into the tender tidepools of Cancer. While Mercury is in Cancer, the subject turns naturally toward emotionally engaging matters. Greater levels of discourse between family members is common. Mercury’s time in Cancer also favors conversations as a means of bonding, the exchange of secrets and the exposure of vulnerabilities. It is often difficult to discuss matters in a purely objective tone during this time, as conversations consistently veer toward people’s feelings about the matter, rather than the matter itself. It is here, in Cancer’s wellspring of comfort and annoyance, that Mercury will turn retrograde on June 8th. Moon in Gemini Mercury Sextile Venus: May 28 6:50 AM New Moon in Gemini: May 28 11:44 AM Moon Square Neptune: May 28 12:04 PM Moon Trine Mars: May 28 3:47 PM Sun Square Neptune: May 28 4:42 PM Venus Enters Taurus: May 28 6:45 PM Mercury Enters Cancer: May 29 2:15 AM Moon Sextile Uranus: May 29 3:01 AM

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Thursday, May 29th A slow Thursday follows a Wednesday loaded with planetary action. The Moon in Gemini waxes slowly and without aspect over a low energy Thursday. There is no celestial mandate written upon the skies today. Consider stepping outside of your patterns for a spell, and announce nothing tremendous, for you will find the universe is not listening. Moon in Gemini

Friday, May 30th Friday begins with the Moon’s shift into comfortable Cancer, where it will be until Saturday. Shortly after the ingress, Luna conjoins Mercury, shifting thoughts to feelings and highlighting those emotions which have gone unattended. Shortly thereafter, the Moon in Cancer sextiles Venus in Taurus, lending the mid-day a slow and luxurious quality. All the while, the Sun in Gemini makes an important trine with Mars in LIbra, spotlighting lessons learned over the last several months about the use and abuse of person power. If necessary, exercise your new understandings of the power of persuasion and diplomacy to overcome potential conflicts. Moon in Cancer Moon Enters Cancer: May 30 7:15 AM Moon Conjunct Mercury: May 30 8:51 AM Moon Sextile Venus: May 30 11:05 AM Moon Trine Neptune: May 30 10:05 PM Sun Trine Mars: May 31 1:00 AM Moon Square Mars: May 31 2:31 AM

Saturday, May 31st Saturday begins with the Cancer Moon in the teeth of an oppressive opposition to Pluto in Capricorn, following by jarring square to Uranus in Aries. As the afternoon lengthens, the focus shifts to a responsible but potentially dour trine to Saturn in Scorpio. Relief comes, as it should, late Saturday night, when the Moon makes a fine conjunction to relaxing, sanguine Jupiter in Cancer. Enjoy! Moon in Cancer Moon Opposite Pluto: May 31 8:59 AM Moon Square Uranus: May 31 1:42 PM Moon Trine Saturn: May 31 7:38 PM Moon Conjunct Jupiter: May 31 11:33 PM

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June WORDS ON THE WIND

The winds are unsteady in June, lying dead and kicking up gales at random intervals, blowing ideas back and forth. Mercury’s retrograde cycle encompasses the entirety of the month, robbing Sun’s time in Gemini of straight and swift mental power. Instead of racing forward, June moves in circles, spiraling in on a set of core truths. Furthermore, June is volatized by Mars’ final aspects to the Uranus-Pluto square. Whether this configuration, which runs from the 13th- 24th, is empowering or disastrous is a largely a function of how well we’ve understood and implemented the lessons of Mars’ retrograde. Nonetheless, Mercury’s retrograde and Mars’ final tangle bring a number of the year’s stories close to an end, preparing the way for another set of tales.

Pleasing June begins with a sextile between luxurious Venus in Taurus and gentle Neptune in Pisces on the 3rd. This configuration mellows the first days of the month with haze of pleasant indulgence. A few days later, on the 5th, the Sun in Gemini completes an invigorating sextile to Uranus in Aries, brightening the psyche with a hint of lightning.

Scrap Book Reverie Meanwhile, Mercury has slowed to a sideways crawl in Cancer. The messenger stations retrograde on June 6th. Old facts and stories float to surface, pulling memory from its hidden recesses. Mercury’s retrograde brings up a variety of emotionally charged 127

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material, making it difficult to maintain a neutral point of view. Over-reactions will be common over the coming week.

Hidden Value Just after Mercury’s retrograde, Venus in Taurus makes a trine with Pluto in Capricorn, revealing hidden feelings, making way for secret pleasures and revealing forgotten stores of value. This configuration points out how small but regular doses of luxury can serve to fortify , making the world’s demands all the more bearable.

What Dreams May Go Neptune stations retrograde on June 9th, turning back the tide of weirdness which the blue planet commands. Neptune’s retrograde phase will last for almost five months. During this time we retreat from our wildest fantasies and edit our stranger imaginations. Reign in your vision and work on manifesting what you have already dreamed.

Additional Funds Required Venus in Taurus opposes Saturn in Scorpio on June 12th. This aspect interferes with Venus’ ability to provide a smooth flow of pleasure. Opposed by Saturn she delays luxuries, and frustrates desires in the days preceding the 12th.

A Thousand Pathways While Venus and Saturn argue, the Moon reaches maximum fullness in Sagittarius. This lunation sees a thousand ideas flit about. Each lights up a path, a way forward. Yet these paths are dim, and the contradictions between them may see overwhelming. Though it may take the next two weeks, we’ll come to see that, although many of these trails diverge, just as many come back together again, joining like streams and rivers.

Final Exam The day after the Full Moon, June 13th, Mars enters the teeth of the Uranus-Pluto square one final time. This is the third time the red planet has made this harrowing journey in the last 6 months. The first time was in December, the second was during April, and now, from June 13th-24th, Mars will cross these dangerous degrees once again. Unlike the first two times that Mars crossed the Uranus-Pluto square, there should be no surprises. You’ve already been introduced to the radical balance you’re being asked to enact. This third configuration is not the presentation of a new lesson, but the test to see whether people have gotten it. Although Mars’ T-square with Uranus and Pluto lasts for almost two weeks, the most volatile periods are the 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st.

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Decoder Ring On the 16th, Mercury returns to Gemini, leaving the emotionally charged tidepools of Cancer behind. This shift drags the conundrums raised early in the month back onto land, to be inspected and dissected in the light of reason. Mercury’s return to Gemini helps dissolve the false dichotomies which have so far haunted June’s mental landscape.

Two Great Tastes Shortly after Mercury’s return to Gemini, Venus and Jupiter make a very pleasant sextile. This configuration on the 18th between dignified benefics helps insulate the surrounding days from trouble, and oversees a variety of pleasures and rewards.

Cazimi! Not long after Mercury’s return to Gemini, the messenger conjoins the Sun in the twinned sign. This configuration sees Mercury directly between the Earth and the Sun. Auspicious for Mercurial affairs, it is like the calm eye of a storm, and here there is a clarity which is otherwise lacking in June. Take full advantage of it.

The Cusp of Seasons The Sun shifts into Cancer on the 20th, marking the solstice- the point of maximum polarity between light and darkness. In Cancer, the Sun’s light shines upon tender feelings, highlighting our desire to nurture and protect those close to us. These probing beams sometimes spotlight old scar tissue, and people can be a little sensitive. The Sun will be in Cancer until July 22nd.

Double Your Pleasure Venus leaves Taurus behind on the 22nd, entering Gemini. In Gemini the morning star excites attempts to explore pleasure’s many permutations. The alphabet of desire is spelled out here, and great joy can be found in the languages of the arts. Venus in Gemini is fast and fun, but sometimes superficial. Venus skitters across the surface until July 18th, when she enters sweet Cancer.

Empowerment On the 24th, Mars in Libra makes his final opposition to Uranus in Aries, ending the cycle of empowerment and disruption which began with the red planet’s first opposition to Uranus in December of 2013. This final aspect is both the last lesson and the beginning of results. Pay attention to who passed and who failed.

Into The Woods On the 26th, the Moon finds the Sun again. The two lights conjoin in the early degrees

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of Cancer, planting the tender seed of the month to come. In the days leading up to the New Moon, power down and reflect in comfort on the cycle almost behind you. The path ahead, on the other hand, may be unclear, for as the Sun and Moon conjoin in Cancer, Jupiter squares the Nodal Axis perfectly. Though the woods may have swallowed the trail, they will disgorge a path again soon.

Comfortably Numb Over the next few days, both the Sun and Venus proceed toward aspects with Neptune in Pisces. A numbing fog descends over these days, dissolving boundaries and opiating various complaints. Sooth yourself with a fairy tale, but remember not to take comforting fictions too seriously.

All’s Well That Ends As June ends, much has been sifted and sorted. Mercury’s retrograde is almost over and Mars has made his final aspects to Uranus and Pluto. Several stories are about to come to an end, ready to be replaced by the new fairy tales hiding somewhere next month.

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June Ephemeris

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June Dailies Sunday, June 1st June begins with a pleasant but void-of-course Moon in Cancer. Luna winds her way through the comfortable last leg of Cancer without meeting another planetary body. She is, however, beset during the afternoon by a square with the Nodes, her very own north and south nodes, making these hours a bit less peaceful than they might otherwise be. Decision making may be complicated by the subtle pushes and pulls this configuration entails. Luna emerges from Cancer in the evening, entering proud Leo, where she will reside for the next several days. Here there is a change in tone as the energy reverses itself, going from inward to outward, collecting to radiant. Moon in Cancer Moon Square Nodal Axis (South Bending): Jun 01 3:34 PM Moon Enters Leo: Jun 01 6:43 PM

Monday, June 2nd Monday begins with the Moon in Leo’s square to Venus in Taurus. The desire for luxury which comes with this configuration may be inappropriately timed, as it goes off in the early morning- in concert with a variety of alarm clocks. The day proceeds onward with an increasingly martial quality as Luna moves toward an afternoon sextile with Mars in Libra. There is a small current of vigorous energy here, which if ridden properly may make for a productive Monday. The evening holds a harmonious sextile between the Sun and Moon, their gold and silver blending throughout night’s early hours. This is followed by a late night trine between the Moon in Leo and Uranus in Aries, setting off surges of energy during the wee hours. Moon in Leo Moon Square Venus: Jun 02 5:10 AM Moon Sextile Mars: Jun 02 3:17 PM Moon Sextile Sun: Jun 02 7:53 PM Moon Trine Uranus: Jun 03 2:11 AM

Tuesday, June 3rd Tuesday begins on an onerous note, with the sunny Leo Moon in a hard square with dark Saturn in Scorpio. This friction between mood and obligation slowly departs as the day progresses, leaving the rest of Tuesday neither helped nor hindered by additional influences. Moon in Leo Moon Square Saturn: Jun 03 7:43 AM

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Venus in Taurus’ sextile to Neptune in Pisces sees a pretty mist floating about the morning hours, an aesthetic trance waiting to be dreamed. Shortly thereafter, the Moon enters Virgo, pulling our eyes to details which the days’ fog may well obscure. The Moon’s first aspect is a thoughtful sextile to soon-to-be retrograde Mercury in Cancer. Double-check your thinking during this mid-day configuration- it’s a chance to fix a problem before it becomes one. The evening sees the Moon drift toward an opposition with confusing Neptune, which turns into a trine with luxurious Venus in Taurus. It is a good evening to enjoy something fantastic but physical- like a bag of pork rinds laced with high grade lysergic acid. Moon in Virgo Venus Sextile Neptune: Jun 04 6:14 AM Moon Enters Virgo: Jun 04 7:18 AM Moon Sextile Mercury: Jun 04 1:09 PM Moon Opposite Neptune: Jun 04 10:35 PM Moon Trine Venus: Jun 05 12:20 AM Shavuot (Jewish)

Thursday, June 5th Thursday begins with the Moon in Virgo’s serious trine to Pluto in Capricorn, opening the mind’s darker alleys to rays of morning light. Luna proceeds onward into a square with the Sun in Gemini, marking our entrance into the second quarter of the Lunar month and suggesting that we consider how this month’s projects are proceeding. A few adjustments may be necessary to keep things on track. As the afternoon turns into evening, there is a touch of heaviness, courtesy of the Moon’s sextile to Saturn in Scorpio. Consider it an opportunity to manage the disorder emanating from an almost-retrograde Mercury. However, as evening deepens, Luna proceeds on toward a very pleasant sextile with Jupiter in Cancer, insulating the deep night. Moon in Virgo Moon Trine Pluto: Jun 05 9:20 AM Moon Square Sun Jun 05 1:36 PM Begin Second Quarter of the Lunar Cycle Moon Sextile Saturn: Jun 05 7:40 PM Moon Sextile Jupiter: Jun 06 2:09 AM Sun Sextile Uranus: Jun 06 4:20 AM

Friday, June 6th Friday begins with a Moon void-of-course in Virgo, sailing through the sometimes unpleasant late degrees of the sign. Look to your health and the details of your affairsthere is disharmony brewing, and it is easier treated if caught early. The evening sees Luna sidle into social Libra. The stage is set for a pleasant evening, but the Moon’s late night square to Mercury promises the potential for mischief and miscommunications. Moon in Virgo

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Moon Enters Libra: Jun 06 6:59 PM Moon Square Mercury: Jun 07 1:03 AM

Saturday, June 7th Mercury stations retrograde today in the early degrees of Cancer, inducing numerous cases of indigestion. Over-reactions will be common over the next few weeks. Try to see beyond poor timing and word choice. Look instead for why people say what they say. A little forgiveness will spare you the fruitless spirals which come from reacting to another person’s reactions. Physics is incorrect- each action need not inspire an equal and opposite reaction. Fuck Newton. Moon in Libra Mercury Station Retrograde: Jun 07 4:57 AM Moon Conjunct Mars: Jun 07 4:31 PM Moon Square Pluto: Jun 07 7:49 PM Moon Opposite Uranus: Jun 08 1:08 AM Moon Trine Sun: Jun 08 4:38 AM

Sunday, June 8th Sunday begins with the Moon in Libra’s gluttonous square to Jupiter in Cancer. There is a hunger about today, a desire to fill the empty spaces, to smooth out potholes with pleasure. Meanwhile, Venus in Taurus’ trine with Pluto in Capricorn complements the day’s tendency towards debauchery, as does the waxing Moon’s late night conjunction with the ravenous Dragon’s Head. Moon in Libra Moon Square Jupiter: Jun 08 12:44 PM Venus Trine Pluto: Jun 08 6:39 PM Moon Conjunct North Node: Jun 08 10:32 PM Moon Enters Scorpio: Jun 09 3:32 AM Pentecost (Christian)

Monday, June 9th Monday begins with the Scorpio Moon’s trine to a very retrograde Mercury in Cancer. Feelings arise, breaking the surface of the mind. Many will be unpleasant, and more than a few will find they have a case of emotional indigestion. Furthermore, Neptune stations retrograde today, promising loud cries of disappointment. Though it happens every year, the blue planet’s reversal rarely fails to provoke a wave of disillusionment. During its retrograde phase, Neptune asks us to take the shears to dream-gardens which have become overgrown. Prune back fantasy in the service of future growth. Neptune will retrograde until November 15th. Moon in Scorpio Moon Trine Mercury: Jun 09 8:58 AM Neptune Station Retrograde: Jun 09 12:50 PM Moon Trine Neptune: Jun 09 5:20 PM Moon Sextile Pluto: Jun 10 2:37 AM

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Tuesday, June 10th Tuesday begins with the Moon in Scorpio’s opposition to Venus in Taurus, a pleasureseeking, but not necessarily pleasure-finding influence. Do something to sweeten your transition into daylight- a morning treat of some sort. Mid-day holds a heavy, potentially harsh conjunction of the Moon and Saturn in Scorpio, slowing things down. Yet as the afternoon lengthens, that weight is replaced by a buoyancy, for the Moon finds herself in a very pleasant trine with exalted Jupiter in Cancer for much of the evening. Moon in Scorpio Moon Opposite Venus: Jun 10 5:42 AM Moon Conjunct Saturn: Jun 10 11:25 AM Moon Trine Jupiter: Jun 10 7:18 PM

Wednesday, June 11th Wednesday begins with the almost-full Moon in Scorpio’s move into excitable Sagittarius. Enthusiasm and energy abound, though clarity and precision may be conspicuously absent. Keep an eye out for typical Mercury retrograde mistakes and miscommunications. Moon in Scorpio Moon Enters Sagittarius: Jun 11 8:18 AM Moon Square Neptune: Jun 11 9:09 PM

Thursday, June 12th Thursday hosts the Full Moon in Sagittarius, an energetic, enthusiastic lunation. Yet the big Full Moon coexists uncomfortably with Venus in Taurus’ opposition to Saturn in Scorpio, an emotionally cramped, pleasure denying aspect. The Moon rises fat and full as the Sun sets. The silver light illuminates the path ahead while Venus and Saturn explain that the way forward is not always pleasurable, but demands restraint, and sometimes suffering. Our path expects much from us. Rewards come, but not at the time of our choosing. These and other musings hang in the midnight air, twinkling sharply in the moonlight. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Sextile Mars: Jun 12 4:51 AM Moon Trine Uranus: Jun 12 10:56 AM Venus Opposite Saturn: Jun 12 9:08 PM Full Moon: Jun 12 9:10 PM Begin Third Quarter of the Lunar Cycle Guru Purnima (Hindu)

Friday, June 13th Friday the 13th begins with the Moon’s transition into cold, practical Capricorn, where she will reside for the next several days. Shortly after her ingress, Luna opposes a retrograde Mercury in Cancer seeding the middle of the day with wrong turns, communication mishaps, and unexpected insights. Though volatile energies roil just behind the veil, the evening is sedate, anaesthe-

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tized by the Moon’s sextile to Neptune to Neptune. As the wee hours approach, the aethyrs grow more and more troubled in preparation for tomorrow. Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Sagittarius Enters Capricorn: Jun 13 10:02 AM Opposite Mercury: Jun 13 12:55 PM Sextile Neptune: Jun 13 10:20 PM

Saturday, June 14th Saturday begins with a series of volatile configurations. The Moon in Capricorn presides over Mars in Libra’s square with Pluto, pressurizing power dynamics and calling anger from forgotten places. Mars’ square with Pluto today begins the red planet’s time in a T-square with Uranus and Pluto, which will last for the next several days. This time period is unstable and care should be taken not to upset fragile arrangements. Though much of the day is subject to this volatile configuration, the evening is temporarily protected from the ambient chaos by the Moon’s aspects to Venus in Taurus and Jupiter in Cancer. Moon in Capricorn Mars Square Pluto: Jun 14 5:42 AM Moon Conjunct Pluto: Jun 14 6:41 AM Moon Square Mars: Jun 14 6:43 AM Moon Square Uranus: Jun 14 11:49 AM Moon Sextile Saturn: Jun 14 2:34 PM Moon Trine Venus: Jun 14 6:18 PM Moon Opposite Jupiter: Jun 14 11:35 PM

Sunday, June 15th Sunday begins with the Moon’s short time between the Nodes. Luna is torn briefly between the Head and Tail of the Dragon during morning hours, complicating decisions. She clears them quickly enough, though, entering Aquarius mid-day. The Moon’s movement into the water-bearer’s sign pulls our attention outward, offering a more mental background to following days and pulling our attention toward abstract factors. Moon in Capricorn Moon Square Nodal Axis (North Bending): Jun 15 5:07 AM Moon Enters Aquarius: Jun 15 10:28 AM Trinity Sunday (Christian) Father’s Day (United States)

Monday, June 16th Monday is subject to a variety of unpleasant influences, as the Aquarius Moon activates the volatile Mars-Uranus opposition during the morning. There are personal breakthroughs here, along with unnecessary blow-ups. Later, the afternoon offers a chilly Moon-Square Saturn, an uncomfortable call for restraint and control. Evening sees the distant Aquarian Moon square indulgent Venus in Taurus,

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highlighting the friction between the need to withdraw and the desire for pleasure. Perhaps some time alone with a good book, or a piece of pie, is called for. Moon in Aquarius Moon Trine Mars: Jun 16 8:08 AM Moon Sextile Uranus: Jun 16 12:26 PM Moon Square Saturn: Jun 16 2:54 PM Moon Square Venus: Jun 16 11:11 PM Mercury Re-Enters Gemini: Jun 17 3:02 AM

Tuesday, June 17th Though the Mars-Uranus-Pluto T-square provides an ambient volatility, there are some sweet spots today. Tuesday begins on a thoughtful note, as silver and gold of the Moon and Sun entwined briefly in trine which helps balance out the morning hours. As mid-day approaches, the Moon moves on to a trine with retrograde Mercury, shedding light on recent misunderstandings. Meanwhile, Venus in Taurus sextiles Jupiter in Cancer. This aspect between the two benefics, each in a place of power, oversees a wave of positive energy, and abundant rewards for opportunities seized. Moon in Aquarius Moon Trine Sun: Jun 17 5:15 AM Moon Trine Mercury: Jun 17 11:09 AM Moon Enters Pisces: Jun 17 11:28 AM Venus Sextile Jupiter: Jun 18 2:15 AM Moon Conjunct Neptune: Jun 18 12:08 AM

Wednesday, June 18th Wednesday sees the Moon in Pisces aspect Pluto in Capricorn and then Saturn in Scorpio, pouring the protean energy of Pisces into the mold of ongoing responsibilities. The call of duty comes today, but gently. The evening grows increasingly lighter and more pleasant as Luna leaves Saturn behind for joyous Jupiter. During the hours preceding dawn, the Moon is trapped between the rays of benefic Venus and generous Jupiter- a rare and fortunate ménage a trois. Moon in Pisces Moon Sextile Pluto: Jun 18 8:45 AM Moon Trine Saturn: Jun 18 4:45 PM Moon Trine Jupiter: Jun 19 4:20 AM Moon Sextile Venus: Jun 19 6:18 AM

Thursday, June 19th Thursday begins with the Moon in Pisces in a square with Mercury and the Sun, just as the two lined up between the Sun and the Earth. This conjunction between Mercury and the Sun is the clear-eyed cazimi at the heart of Mercury’s retrograde phase. Clarity dawns here while answers begin to coagulate out of the ambient confusion. Moon in Pisces Moon Square Sun: Jun 19 11:41 AM

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Moon Square Mercury: Jun 19 12:08 PM Moon Enters Aries: Jun 19 2:27 PM Sun Conjunction Mercury: Jun 19 3:50 PM Corpus Christi (Christian)

Friday, June 20th Friday provides the volatile counterpoint to Thursday’s equipoise. The Moon in Aries makes a variety of incendiary aspects today, beginning with an oppressive mid-day square to Pluto in Capricorn. From there, Luna moves on to a frustrating opposition to Mars in Libra, followed by an explosive conjunction with Uranus. There is tension aplenty today, though it need not be disastrous. Take a step back if you see interactions becoming heated, and remember to bring your patience to work with you. Late Friday night, the Sun sneaks invisibly into Cancer, marking the solstice. This seasonal pivot haloes the surrounding days with an odd power, enclosing their events within a wyrd light. Moon in Aries Moon Square Pluto: Jun 20 12:44 PM Moon Opposite Mars: Jun 20 4:24 PM Moon Conjunct Uranus: Jun 20 6:55 PM Sun Enters Cancer (Solstice): Jun 21 3:50 AM

Saturday, June 21st The Sun rises today in Cancer, the sign which it will travel until July 22nd this year. The Sun in Cancer illuminates our needs for comfort, security and intimacy. It’s beams alight family and old friends and shine on our deepest emotional needs. Saturday begins with a mid-day square between the hot Moon in Aries and mellow Jupiter in Cancer. The impatient race toward utopia, missing the luxury already surrounding them. After Luna departs from Jupiter’s calming embrace, she conjoins the invisible Dragon’s Tail- her own South Node. Here the past swims just below the surface. Egoic poisons rise to the surface to be seen and disposed of. Come evening, Luna slips into steady Taurus, grounding out the ups and downs of the last few days in the terra firma of the fixed earth sign. Moon in Aries Moon Square Jupiter: Jun 21 10:15 AM Moon Conjunct South Node (Cauda Draconis): Jun 21 1:32 PM Moon Enters Taurus: Jun 21 8:04 PM Moon Sextile Sun: Jun 21 9:22 PM Solstice Midsummer (Wiccan, Neo-Pagan)

Sunday, June 22nd Sunday is grounded, but not entirely pleasantly so. Though the morning hours are shrouded in the fog of the Moon in Taurus’ sextile to Neptune in Pisces, the afternoon and evening are both subject to the weight of aspects from Pluto and then Saturn.

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Duty may call in the midst of leisure. Do something productive, if only to keep from worrying. Moon in Taurus Moon Sextile Neptune: Jun 22 9:59 AM Moon Trine Pluto: Jun 22 7:16 PM Moon Opposite Saturn: Jun 23 4:02 AM

Monday, June 23rd Monday begins with Venus’ entrance into Gemini. In the sign of the Twins, Venus pulls us to explore the full range of our desires. In binary Gemini, Venus’ wants are divided and subdivided, reaching out to touch as many possible categories. There is a curiosity to explore the full breadth of the heart’s fields. There is thus joy in both novelty and variety, as well as delight in new forms and clever combinations of pleasure. Venus will be in Gemini until July 12th. Much of Monday is blessed by the steady Moon in Taurus’ sextile to bountiful Jupiter in Cancer. This connection between planets in their exaltation is fortunate, and serves to seal off the day from uglier potentialities. Moon in Taurus Venus Enters Gemini: Jun 23 5:33 AM Moon Sextile Jupiter: Jun 23 6:50 PM Moon Enters Gemini: Jun 24 4:08 AM

Tuesday, June 24th Tuesday begins with the Moon’s conjunction to Venus in early Gemini, sending mercurial sparkles twinkling through the morning hours. These sparkles scatter and then fade quickly, though, replaced by impatient Mars’ opposition to destabilizing Uranus. This, the last of three recent oppositions between Mars and Uranus, marks the final note in a song of diplomacy and power, subtlety and force. The last six months have offered many lessons on this theme. Consider, by the last light of a waning Moon, what you have learned. Moon in Gemini Moon Conjunct Venus: Jun 24 6:28 AM Moon Square Neptune: Jun 24 6:29 PM Mars Opposition Uranus: Jun 25 1:24 AM

Wednesday, June 25th The Moon in Gemini wanes over a tired day, activating both sides of the departing Mars-Uranus opposition. What fire and insight is left surges through burnt nerves. Bring what projects you can to a close and power down for the dark of the Moon. Moon in Gemini Moon Sextile Uranus: Jun 25 11:16 AM Moon Trine Mars: Jun 25 11:32 AM

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Thursday, June 26th The day begins with the Moon’s conjunction to still-retrograde Mercury, sending a brief surge of electricity through the morning’s circuitry. Insights cackle and spark until the afternoon, when Luna slips into comfort-seeking Cancer. The day falls slowly into night, and the Moon into the Sun. The two merge, invisibly during the night hours. The New Moon in Cancer marks the end of one lunar month and the beginning of another. Compost the thousand ideas of the last several weeks, and plant the seed of the next cycle within them. This New Moon looks out on a strange configuration- huge Jupiter straddles the Head and Tail of the Dragon, squaring the Nodal axis today. Questions surround growth, the definition of wisdom, and the status of opportunities. It may not be clear whether to grasp more tightly or to let go. Moon in Gemini Moon Conjunct Mercury: Jun 26 4:59 AM Moon Enters Cancer: Jun 26 2:06 PM New Moon In Cancer: Jun 27 1:09 AM Jupiter Square Nodal Axis (South Bending): Jun 27 3:45 AM

Friday, June 27th Though Friday begins on a slow, sedate note, the afternoon and evening host a gauntlet of rough aspects. The Moon in Cancer opposes oppressive Pluto first, darkening the afternoon hours. As evening falls, the Moon enters a disruptive square with Uranus, followed shortly by aspects to Saturn in Scorpio and Mars in Libra. You may find a certain unpleasantness wheeling about Friday night, pulling plans off course. There are better evenings out there- there are worse things than having to reschedule. Moon in Cancer Moon Trine Neptune: Jun 27 4:55 AM Moon Opposite Pluto: Jun 27 2:40 PM Moon Square Uranus: Jun 27 10:18 PM Moon Trine Saturn: Jun 27 11:49 PM Moon Square Mars: Jun 28 12:19 AM

Saturday, June 28th A sedate Saturday follows an unpleasant Friday. The comfortable Moon in Cancer encapsulates much of the day in a sort of slow moving bubble. Meanwhile, the Sun in Cancer completes a trine with Neptune in Pisces, dulling the pain and inducing a variety of trance states. Luna’s evening conjunction with Jupiter makes for a fine night, but it also highlights the issues surrounding Jupiter’s square to the Nodal Axis. What to do now with what has been achieved? Where to go from here? What is forward, and what reverse? Moon in Cancer Moon Square Nodal Axis (South Bending): Jun 28 4:43 PM Moon Conjunct Jupiter: Jun 28 6:02 PM Sun Trine Neptune: Jun 29 12:22 AM Moon Enters Leo: Jun 29 1:43 AM 140

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Sunday, June 29th Venus in Gemini squares Neptune in Pisces today. The passions are easily led astray under this configuration, promising bliss but not delivering. It is an aesthetic influence, better experienced through sublime works than projected on to living people. The Moon in Leo’s evening sextile with Venus adds additional emphasis on the odd mixture of fantasy and desire that today holds. Moon in Leo Venus Square Neptune: Jun 29 12:30 PM Moon Sextile Venus: Jun 29 5:17 PM Ramadan Begins (Muslim) Puri Rath Yatra (Hindu)

Monday, June 30th Monday sees the Leo Moon trine Uranus in Aries, starting the day with a shot of red lightning. What invigoration the heavens lend to the morning is, however, quickly retracted by the afternoon, for within lit lies the fiery Moon in Leo’s square to cold Saturn in Scorpio. Though the day rises and falls, throughout it runs the smooth mental current of Mercury’s direct station. After an unusually long retrograde, Mercury resumes forward motion late tonight. Though there are still plenty yet to be worked out, Monday marks a turning point, a readiness to move forward with new understandings and fresh plans. Moon in Leo Moon Trine Uranus: Jun 30 10:39 AM Moon Square Saturn: Jun 30 11:59 AM Moon Sextile Mars: Jun 30 2:42 PM Mercury Station Direct: Jul 01 3:00 AM

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July THE BUBBLING CAULDRON

July sees many plotlines conclude while others, long gestating, wait to be born. The month is a furnace and an incubator, reducing old matters to ash and birthing new ones simultaneously. The Sun, Mercury and Venus all make T-squares with Uranus and Pluto during July, presiding over some uncomfortable moments. Yet these brief trips through the alchemical oven are all followed immediately by trines to Saturn, indicating that many of the month’s disruptions will not leave chaos in their wake, but new plans and patterns. Spikes of volatility are followed by rapid crystalization.

Out of the Frying Pan, into the Oven On the morning of the very first day of July, Mercury finally stations direct, bringing an end to June’s confusion. The next few days, however, see the sensitive Sun in Cancer oppose depressing Pluto in Capricorn on the 3rd, which darkens the tone of the surrounding days. After this, the Sun moves into a square with disruptive but empowering Uranus in Aries on 8th. This configuration bathes the mobile heart of things in the uncomfortable but transformative power Uranus and Pluto have been sending earthward for the last couple years. While the Sun edges closer to the square with Uranus, the tone becomes more exciting and empowering due to Venus in Gemini’s sextile to Uranus. On the 8th, the Sun not only aspects Uranus, but also Saturn. Although an electric climax seemed to be building, what comes is less radical but more practical than what was promised. This configuration is in line with the many events during the second half of the year which push our desire for radical change toward more concrete, pragmatic forms.

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Cross, challenging us to recognize and unite the number of disparate processes currently occurring. Here internal changes are framed by external circumstances. No matter how well insulated, we do not transform in a vacuum, but rather in the context of a dynamic world, and the changes we make to ourselves are in order to better adapt to the world(s) we reside within. Not only do our mutations find context within our environment, they also occur in relation to other people. Our lives are not lived alone, and whether friend or foe, other people figure prominently in the shape of our lives.

Tide Pooling The day after the Full Moon, Mercury re-enters Cancer, the sign in which the messenger turned retrograde last month. While Mercury’s time in Gemini made clear the difference between this and that, Mercury in Cancer seeks to find an underlying emotional unity.

Ares and Aphrodite’s Spawn Venus in Gemini moves into a trine with Mars in Libra on the 12th, overseeing a point of harmony within relationships. This is the first easy aspect between the red and green planets that has occurred this year, and indicates a point of stability after a long series of trials and challenges. It is significant that Venus’ first harmonious aspect with Mars this year occurs as the red planet completes his conjunction to the North Node of the Moon. Mars came within a few degrees of this conjunction in early March, but stationed retrograde before completing it. After a long journey back and then forward again, the red planet finally conjoins the Head of the Dragon, which makes power of balance and the importance of strong relationship abundantly clear during the surrounding days.

The Dragon’s Coils Mars’ conjunction with the Dragon’s Head is followed by the Sun’s square to the Head, as well as the Tail on the 15th. Feelings of discomfort and confusion arise as people try to reconcile themselves with the tangled personal processes underway.

In Like a Lion On the 15th, Jupiter says goodbye to Cancer and enters bold Leo. In Leo, Jupiter provides blessings of reputation, confidence and strength. Jupiter has plans to stalk the Lion’s sign until August of 2015, making him a new constant in the skies of this year.

MILF Patrol On the 18th, Venus abandons the frenetic pleasures of Gemini for those of sweet, perverse Cancer. In the Crab’s sign, Venus energizes relationships with family and old friends. Venus will be in Cancer until August 12th.

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Overlooked Irritations The same day, Mercury in Cancer trines Neptune in Pisces, mellowing the mental wavelength. It is easy for the mind to dwell upon fantasies here and to find fluency in the language of dreams. This sweet mental influence is challenged by the Sun’s square with Mars in Libra the same day. There may be a discomfort within relationships here, a difficulty with the effort required to maintain alliances. Mercury’s aspect with Neptune will soften what might otherwise become harsh words, but may also make it harder for people to pinpoint the dynamics they find disquieting.

Order and Chaos Walk into a Bar On the 20th and 21st we are treated to a pair of planetary stations. Intense, practical Saturn in Scorpio stations direct on the 20th, indicating that the four month structural inspection is over, and it is time to begin to move forward with the edited blueprints plans. Meanwhile, less than a day later, Uranus stations retrograde in Aries, calling for a temporary end to bold experiments. The eccentric planet’s five month retrograde phase asks for us to sift through the data we’ve already collected this year. Take notes and consider the viability of your mutations before plotting further changes. Uranus will be retrograde until December 21st. While Saturn and Uranus station, Mercury in Cancer opposes Pluto in Capricorn on the 21st. Here the mind is drawn to gaze upon the huge topics, such as the implacable force of history and the inevitable material requirements of incarnate existence. Obstacles and fears are easier to see at this point than solutions and possibilities, though that will change soon enough.

Coronal Mane The next day provides a sunny antidote to the gloom of those that preceded it. The Sun enters bright, bold Leo on the 22nd. Sol is strong in Leo and blesses his time there with a healing draught of solar medicine, strengthening, warming and balancing sunbathers everywhere. The Sun’s time in Leo, which runs until August 22nd, is good for performances, leadership and restorative remedies.

Hot Tub The day after the Sun’s entrance into Leo, the 23rd, sees Venus in Cancer complete her pleasing, pain-killing trine to Neptune in Pisces. Visions of beauty and moments of comfortable numbness float about the surrounding days.

Shining The good times continue as the Sun conjoins Jupiter in Leo on July 24th. This annual conjunction of the Sun and Jupiter illuminates the possibilities for internal growth

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for the next year, and provides some hints about external opportunities. The same day that the Sun conjoins Jupiter, Mercury in Cancer squares Uranus in Aries and trines Saturn in Scorpio. Old plans are disrupted and new ones form quickly in the days surrounding the 24th. Radical ideas concretize into new systems in order to embrace the potentials at hand.

Penetration On July 25th, Mars, at long last, quits Libra. The red planet strides triumphantly into Scorpio’s lair, where he takes on a fearsome potency. The indirect conflicts that characterized Mars’ time in Libra fade, soon to be replaced with open hostilities and acts of aggression. Although Mars’ time in Scorpio stirs up conflict, it also awakens the will to survive and to excel. Mars will be in Scorpio until September 13th.

Casting Copper Shortly after Mars’ descent into the scorpion’s burrow, tender Venus in Cancer begins an uncomfortable gauntlet of aspects between Uranus and Pluto, which stirs up emotional issue from the 27th until the 31st. On the 27th, Venus opposes Pluto, revealing hidden feelings and exposing secrets. Venus’ following aspect to Uranus strikes what is unearthed with lightning, making clear the necessity of change. This set of days will be hard on social interactions and may make for unsteady moods. Nonetheless, while Venus emerges from hot from the alchemical furnace, her subsequent trine with Saturn in Scorpio cools her down quickly, pulling the passions back in line with necessity.

Hear Me Roar On 31st, Mercury slips into Leo, joining the Sun and Jupiter in the radiant sign. Mercury’s time in Leo offers a megaphone to the act of self-expression, and a mirror for self-contemplation. The messenger will be in the lion’s sign until August 15th.

Oven Fresh Changes which incubated unsteadily for much of July are ready to burst forth by the time the month comes to a close. In several ways, it is only as August begins that we enter the second half of the year. What has gestated has nearly come to term.

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July Ephemeris

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Jupiter in Leo GOING NOVA JULY 2014 – AUGUST 2015

From July 16th, 2014 until August 11th, 2015, Jupiter will be in Leo. In the lion’s sign, the big planet offers opportunities to more fully enact our in-born potential. Expansions of reputation and the growth of self confidence are the rewards for this task, a fall into egotism the risk.

Core and Corona Jupiter’s work is always to expand, and in Leo, this expansion occurs in the solar sphere of our lives. Much like the actual Sun, this portion of our being has several layers. At the center is the clear, nuclear light of spirit which inhabits us. However, as that radiance moves toward the periphery, it becomes what we call identity and eventually just image. Jupiter’s time in Leo throws fuel into this great fire, triggering an expansion on all levels.

Know Thyself On a spiritual level, Jupiter in Leo catalyzes experiences of the deep self, those rays of self which direct our lives on a fundamental level. The answers to core existential questions frolic amidst these beams. As these energies speed into manifestation, they encounter and enliven the mass of ideas we have about ourselves- the identity. Jupiter’s time in Leo helps clarify the organization of the identity, helping us to build a sense of self that is in line with the 147

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fundamental will of our spirit. We are not just the history of events, we are spirits seeking to do our will as perfectly as possible. The big planet opens our eyes to the fact that we could be more than we currently are, because we are more. Jupiter in Leo strengthens the connection to our ego ideal- the self we’d like to be- and provides a vision of how to further embody it. The embrace of potential is a wonderful thing, but if we do not carry that ray further, into action, we will lose its power. The final part of the process is the embodiment and enactment of this ray of self. Many will find opportunities to increase the number of people who are aware of them. Public accolades and honors for deeds done are among the blessings which Jupiter in Leo is wont to bestow. Podiums arise and stages are set. As always, these gifts are not received equally by those here upon the earth. Those whose lives depend most on recognition and reputations, such as actors and politicians, will be happier than others for Jupiter in Leo’s gifts. Sun Stroke Jupiter is capable of good work in Leo- the planet is by no means hamstrung there. Yet the potential benefits are likely to generate a variety of toxic byproducts. The expansion of the ego to incorporate more of the qualities of the ego-ideal can lead to overidentification with gifts and virtues and a light-blindness to the weakness and vice still within one. Inflammation of the ego results in self-righteousness and self-importance. When the internal process of ego-expansion is coupled with the love of an audience or a cheering crowd, the inflammation is all the harder to prevent. If you find yourself being appreciated and praised to a degree you are unused to, take care to check excessive growth. This disease of the identity is one of the dark alleys the bright rays of Jupiter in Leo might lead us down. Another is resentment. Within the celebratory crowd there will always be someone to whom this elevation is a threat. Envy and jealousy are not uncommon human states, and it is easy to forget, when in the midst of celebration, that there is never enough crowd to elevate everyone. The wise are thus reminded to stay humble, for though excellence may have played a role, all triumph is due, in part, to fickle Fortune, for would her wheel have spun the another way, the crowd would be lifting another on their shoulders. Meanwhile, if you find yourself amongst the cheering mob, do not waste your time resenting the one praised. If you are worthy, then your day will come, though likely not on the date of your choosing. Learn to be content with your own estimation of yourself. If it is rooted in truth, others will come to see it.

Sun Bathing Jupiter’s time in Leo offers insights into the source of self, the growth of confidence and the increase of one’s power to perform. Yet those who bathe too long in their own reflected light are at high risk for cancerous ego-growth. Strength does not gather for its own sake, but to accomplish the Work.

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Jupiter in Leo Horoscopes Aries Jupiter’s time in Leo will see an expansion of the creative energy in your life, and offers a variety of ways to spend it. It can be spent in frolic with children, adventures with lovers, imbued into artistic works or wasted in excess. Invest your energy in great works, and they shall be yours. Fritter it away on excess, and you’ll find that the world is very cold when the Sun goes down.

Taurus Jupiter’s year long stroll through Leo shines golden beams on core self esteem issues. You may be prompted to look back to childhood moments which convinced you that are less than you are. Suspended in golden light, you’ll have a chance to annihilate these images, returning your lost strength to you. Externally, Jupiter’s time in Leo is also likely to bless your home. Look to how you can make your living situation a palace of life-giving energy, a place where you can be unabashedly yourself.

Gemini Jupiter’s time in Leo will swell you daily schedule and may oversee the increase of your local fame. You may find your reputation increasing within your regularly travelled circles, a favorite of those you encounter routinely. Conversely, it may be that you discover someone of great worth living right next door to you. In addition, Jupiter’s time in Leo may also boost your likely already-considerable talent for self expression.

Cancer Jupiter’s movement through Leo sees its rays sweep across bins of goodies and its light fill empty bank accounts. In Leo, Jupiter moves through your house of substance- the small sea of treats which you hoard and the currency used to obtain them. There is a natural tendency towards the purchase of luxuries here- royal regalia. You may be tempted to over-spend on visible affluence. Remember that royalty and power are sometimes best evidenced by their quiet dignity and good taste.

Leo Jupiter’s movement through your sign will likely draw praise to your works and fill you with a steady expansion of confidence. For the timid lions, this light will come as medicine. However, for those whose sense of self is already at the edge of excessive, it may act as a poison, inflaming the ego and triggering bouts of insufferable egotism.

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Virgo Jupiter’s prowl through the jungles of Leo takes the big planet into the darkened recesses of your psyche, where all of the unacknowledged needs for praise reside. You’ve likely exiled them there because they seem so very petty, but starving a lion does not make it any friendlier. Jupiter’s time in Leo this year will help you, if you so desire, to understand and accept those uncomfortable needs.

Libra Whilst in Leo, Jupiter will prowl through your list of social contacts and sing your praises aloud in public. Opportunities to expand your social sphere, as well as to improve your reputation, abound. Positions of influences within organizations open to you.

Scorpio Jupiter’s time in Leo lights up your professional life. There are opportunities for greater recognition here, as well as additional luck in gaining employment or a promotion. Beware broadcasting yourself too indiscriminately, though, for the image of your vices will be magnified as well as your virtues.

Sagittarius Jupiter’s time in Leo will oversee a pleasant time for many Sagittarians. In Leo, Jupiter offers opportunities through travel, higher education and spiritual pursuit. Furthermore, Jupiter in Leo invigorates your philosophical mind, helping you to synthesize a more functional and uplifting worldview.

Capricorn Jupiter’s time in Leo may be of less benefit to you than others. But you might, in turn, benefit from others. In Leo, Jupiter looks upon your exchanges with other people, perhaps offering you the opportunity to ride a pair of royal coat-tails. This influence is good for getting loans and borrowing power. In addition, Jupiter’s time in Leo shines a light on all of the back and forth between you and other people, making you more conscious of your exchanges and offering the opportunity to clarify and dignify them.

Aquarius Jupiter’s time in Leo sees it prowl through your intimate relationships. It may augur a good year for your partner, or perhaps a chance to improve your relationship skills. In any case, there are opportunities here to bring beneficent people into your life, teachers by profession and example.

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Pisces In Leo, Jupiter stalks the practical areas of your life, prowling through piles of dishes, unpaid bills and the plans for that workout routine you abandoned. The opportunities for improvement are not dramatic, but they solid and vital. Taking care of a thousand little things gives you the energy to do a few big things.

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July Dailies Tuesday, July 1st July begins with the Moon in late Leo, still coated in a glitter dust jacket of ideas from Mercury’s recent direct station. The sparkles twinkle through out the day. The Leo Moon burns slowly toward a mid-afternoon entrance into careful Virgo, which pulls concerns earthward. Take another look at the landscape around you- fresh ideas are waiting to be plucked from the ambient patterns. Moon in Leo Moon Enters Virgo: Jul 01 4:23 PM

Wednesday, July 2nd Wednesday begins with an opposition between the Moon in Virgo and Neptune in Pisces, which attempts to weave the fantastic and the concrete together, but most likely results in mere disorientation. Luna disentangles from Neptune swiftly, in search of her sextile with the Sun. This brief equipoise between the two lights shines pleasantly, lending the mid-day a conscientious harmony. This is followed shortly by the Moon’s square to Venus in Gemini, which suggests a craving for stimulation, a pleasure-seeking energy of uncertain direction. This cluster of energy dissolves slowly as the afternoon ages, and is replaced by an evening of more somber hue. The Moon trines Pluto during the afternoon and then moves on to a night sextile with sobering Saturn. Moon in Virgo Moon Opposite Neptune: Jul 02 7:29 AM Moon Sextile Sun: Jul 02 2:18 PM Moon Square Venus: Jul 02 2:48 PM Moon Trine Pluto: Jul 02 5:21 PM Moon Sextile Saturn: Jul 03 2:29 AM

Thursday, July 3rd A potent but unbalanced mental energy suffuses Thursday. Thoughts and communications race across the day’s nervous system, providing both stimulation and speed. Though the day may be a little manic, the evening sees the Moon sextile comforting Jupiter in Cancer, encapsulating the night hours in a soothing, benefic bubble. Nonetheless, over all this looks the Sun’s opposition to Pluto, which casts long shadows across the day, and gives the impression of motion within these veiled spaces. A look within during the evening hours may yield interesting discoveries. Moon in Virgo Moon Square Mercury: Jul 03 6:01 PM Moon Sextile Jupiter: Jul 03 11:19 PM Sun Opposite Pluto: Jul 04 3:02 AM Moon Enters Libra: Jul 04 4:39 AM

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Friday, July 4th Friday sees the Libra Moon sail unmolested through the skies. Luna encounters no planetary body Friday, leaving it free of celestial mandates. Step out of your routine, and spend a day disconnected from the patterns that define you. Moon in Libra Moon Square Pluto: Jul 05 4:43 AM American Independence Day

Saturday, July 5th Saturday begins on a pleasant note, with the Libran Moon making a fine trine to Venus in Gemini. However, as the morning ages, Luna makes her way into an opposition with disruptive Uranus, providing a potentially disorienting jolt. From there the Moon chases down an evening conjunction with red Mars, which gives the afternoon an active but itchy air. After the evening’s conjunctio between Mars and the Moon, the night moves in a more chatty, indulgent direction, as the Moon moves on to conjoin the North Node and then move into a communicative trine with Mercury in Gemini. Moon in Libra Moon Square Sun: Jul 05 6:55 AM Begin Second Quarter of the Lunar Month Moon Trine Venus: Jul 05 8:47 AM Moon Opposite Uranus: Jul 05 12:43 PM Moon Conjunct Mars: Jul 05 8:31 PM Moon Conjunct North Node: Jul 06 4:45 AM Moon Trine Mercury: Jul 06 5:48 AM

Sunday, July 6th Sunday begins with an indulgent square between the Libra Moon and Jupiter in Cancer, which calls for a gigantic greasy breakfast or, possible, the simple luxury of more sleep. Though the Moon slips into Scorpio mid-day, the ambiance doesn’t really change. There is a foggy, pleasure seeking air about the day, broken only by the random excitement generated by Venus in Gemini’s sextile to Uranus in Aries. Moon in Libra Moon Square Jupiter: Jul 06 10:25 AM Moon Enters Scorpio: Jul 06 2:29 PM Venus Sextile Uranus: Jul 06 1:48 AM Moon Trine Neptune: Jul 07 4:09 AM

Monday, July 7th Monday sees the Moon in Scorpio move into a fine trine with the Sun in Cancer, allowing subtle feelings to unfold. The price of this sensitivity is a certain level of exposure. If you can, limit your exposure to stress. As the Sun falls below the horizon, the Moon arises in conjunction hard Saturn, offering a night full with hard thoughts and heavy emotions. Feel out your limits, and operate within them. The waters have a boundary, every river a bank.

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Moon in Scorpio Moon Trine Sun: Jul 07 7:26 PM Moon Conjunct Saturn: Jul 07 9:10 PM

Tuesday, July 8th The bright Moon in Scorpio presides over a moody Tuesday morning, streaked with the unsettling but exciting lightning emanating from the Sun in Cancer’s square to Uranus in Aries. As the afternoon lengthens, the Sun moves on to a trine with solid Saturn in Scorpio, grounding out the morning’s strange stimulation. Meanwhile, the Moon in Scorpio’s trine to benefic Jupiter in Cancer, helping to dignify and uplift the ambiance. As evening approaches, the Moon enters excitable Sagittarius, turning water to fire, and circles into straight lines. Moon in Scorpio Sun Square Uranus: Jul 08 11:22 AM Moon Trine Jupiter: Jul 08 5:32 PM Sun Trine Saturn: Jul 08 7:28 PM Moon Enters Sagittarius: Jul 08 8:23 PM

Wednesday, July 9th Wednesday begins with the Moon in Sagittarius’ disorienting square with Neptune. Fantasies and goals comingle uneasily during the morning hours, but fortunately this distracting combination fades out by mid-day. The Sagittarius Moon flies straight through the afternoon hours, its target a night trine with fiery Uranus in Aries. The electricity builds as evening falls. There is an experimental air about the evening- take the opportunity to break up your standard routine. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Square Neptune: Jul 09 8:53 AM Moon Trine Uranus: Jul 09 12:10 AM

Thursday, July 10th Thursday begins with the Moon in Sagittarius’ opposition to Venus in Gemini and sextile with Mars in Libra. While the Moon casts her rays upon the two, she finds them in the midst of an erotic trine. Reflections upon relationships, as well as high incidence of morning wood both characterize the morning hours. As evening approaches, Luna moves toward an opposition with speedy Mercury in Gemini, adding mercurial momentum to a talkative afternoon. Night, however, sees that speed evaporate, for the Moon rolls into taciturn Capricorn, grounding out the day’s excitable energies. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

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in Sagittarius Opposite Venus: Jul 10 6:25 AM Sextile Mars: Jul 10 10:02 AM Opposite Mercury: Jul 10 7:19 PM Enters Capricorn: Jul 10 10:22 PM July 2014 Astrological Almanac by Austin Coppock

Friday, July 11th Friday’s skies roil with a variety of potent configurations. Though the day begins with the Moon’s sedate sextile to Neptune, a shadow grows as Luna rolls slowly toward a claustrophobic afternoon conjunction with dark Pluto. As she escapes tiny Pluto, night falls, and the Full Moon rises in the east, on her way to a stimulating but potentially chaotic square with Uranus in Aries. This erratic power of the Moon’s square to Uranus is grounded later by a constructive sextile to Saturn. The Full Moon in Capricorn, which lords over the night, asks that we consider our position in our environment- are we in the right place to acquire the necessities we require and the luxuries we desire? Is a radical relocation required, or do we simply need to do a better job leveraging the advantages we already have? These questions and more hover and shine amidst the heavy moonbeams. Moon in Capricorn Moon Sextile Neptune: Jul 11 10:09 AM Moon Conjunct Pluto: Jul 11 5:47 PM Moon Square Uranus: Jul 11 12:43 AM Moon Sextile Saturn: Jul 11 1:05 AM Full Moon in Capricorn: Jul 12 6:23 AM Begin Third Quarter of Lunar Month

Saturday, July 12th Saturday begins with the Moon in Capricorn’s square to Mars in Libra. Though solid Luna might usually shake off such a passing aspect, the square occurs just as Mars conjoins the Dragon’s Head, temporarily intensifying the power of the red planet. Mars is also in the midst of a trine with Venus in Gemini today- which stirs further stirs the passions. Both erotic and angry moments are likely to ensue. As evening falls, the Moon makes a more sedate opposition to Jupiter in Cancer. Though it may leave you hungry for comfort, it should, nonetheless, mellow out the martial quality of the daylight. Not so long after night arrives, the Moon slips into abstract Aquarius, and Mercury back into considerate Cancer, where the messenger will reside until July 31st. Moon in Capricorn Moon Square Mars: Jul 12 11:41 AM Moon Square Nodal Axis (North Bending): Jul 12 12:59 PM Moon Opposite Jupiter: Jul 12 8:56 PM Moon Enters Aquarius: Jul 12 10:07 PM Mercury Enters Cancer: Jul 12 11:42 PM Venus Trine Mars: Jul 13 3:21 AM Guru Purnima (Hindu)

Sunday, July 13th The Moon in Aquarius sails high above the day, gazing down on patterns of emotional formation. Meanwhile, Mars burns bright, his passions exaggerated by conjunction with the Dragon’s Head. Seek the sweet unions your hunger demands, but remain

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bounded by the principle of balance. Evening sees the Moon make a pair of aspects to Uranus and Saturn, leaving the evening with a strange mixture of structure and spontaneity. Build the skeleton, improvise the flesh. Moon in Aquarius Mars Conjunct North Node: Jul 13 9:15 PM Moon Sextile Uranus: Jul 14 2:08 AM Moon Square Saturn: Jul 14 2:28 AM Asala (Buddhist)

Monday, July 14th Monday is host to atight Grand Air Trine between the Moon in Aquarius, Venus in Gemini and Mars in Libra, which sends thoughts spinning and words flying about. Relationships of all kinds are spotlighted here, but particularly those of an erotic nature. The evening sees Luna slide into sedate Pisces, from which she trines Mercury in Cancer, stimulating an emotional set of reflections on the meaning of all that has recently come to pass. Moon in Aquarius Moon Trine Mars: Jul 14 12:40 PM Moon Trines Venus: Jul 14 2:25 PM Moon Enters Pisces: Jul 14 9:42 PM Moon Trine Mercury: Jul 15 1:11 AM

Tuesday, July 15th Tuesday begins with the Moon’s soporific conjunction with Neptune, which wreathes the morning in daydream-inducing vapor. The visions the mist reveals grow more serious as the day continues. Evolutionary mandates and responsibilities provide for heavier oneiric fair. Meanwhile, the Sun, nearing the end of Cancer, squares the Nodal Axis, tangling with both the Head and Tail of the Dragon today. Pushes and pulls wrench the spirit back and forth, complicating decisions and making the way forward uncertain. Let today be one of duty and uncertain reverie, for the way forward is likely unclear. Moon in Pisces Moon Conjunct Neptune: Jul 15 9:28 AM Moon Sextile Pluto: Jul 15 5:08 PM Moon Trine Saturn: Jul 16 12:52 AM Sun Square Nodal Axis (South Bending): Jul 16 3:11 AM Jupiter Enters Leo: Jul 16 5:30 AM

Wednesday, July 16th Wednesday holds the Moon in Pisces’ pleasant trine with the Sun in Cancer, which braids flows of silver and gold together. United, they form a river of subtle harmony which winds throughout the day. Come evening, the Moon stomps into Aries, turning the inward out, and lighting fires

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where water just ruled. Luna lights up Jupiter almost immediately, the first planet to encounter the huge planet in its new sign- Leo. While Jupiter has, for the last year, blessed processes of cultivation in the sign of Cancer, the big planet slid invisibly into the sign of Leo last night, and plans to remain in the leonine sign for some time to come. In Leo, Jupiter expands profiles, boosts confidence, and opens the door to the mysteries of self. For every man and woman is a star- or so they say. Jupiter will be in Leo until August 11th, 2015. Moon in Pisces Moon Trine Sun: Jul 16 1:17 PM Moon Square Venus: Jul 16 7:58 PM Moon Enters Aries: Jul 16 11:09 PM Moon Trine Jupiter: Jul 16 11:27 PM

Thursday, July 17th The restless Aries Moon comes into conflict with the slow, sensitive thought processes Mercury in Cancer oversees early Thursday morning. As the day continues, the Aries Moon burns its way into a square with Pluto in Capricorn, undermining its assertive way forward. As evening falls, the Moon passes Pluto and zeroes in on a conjunction with electric Uranus, providing a perhaps ill timed burst of late night energy. Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Aries Square Mercury: Jul 17 7:32 AM Square Pluto: Jul 17 7:40 PM Conjunct Uranus: Jul 18 3:41 AM

Friday, July 18th Friday begins with Venus’ entrance into Cancer. Venus’ time in the shelled sign highlights our relationships with those closest to us. Old friends and family appear, and we are called back to inspect our inner circle. Reconsolidating core relationships is favored at this time, as is developing intimacy with new people. This trend washes people away from casual relationships, though, and there is a natural withdrawal of the passions from the foreign and unknown. Meanwhile, Mercury in Cancer completes a trine with Neptune in Pisces, providing the perfect atmosphere for intimate confessions and flights of fancy, though it may not be quite so helpful for more concrete tasks. Yet mixed with the subtle words which flood the day is Mars’ crimson flow, whose color stains both the Sun and Moon. Power dynamics play an important role here, though it may be difficult to address them directly. Late night, the Moon plods into solid Taurus, grounding out the divergent energies of the day. The late night is sweetened by the Moon’s pleasant sextile to Venus in Cancer. Moon in Aries Venus Enters Cancer: Jul 18 9:05 AM Moon Conjunct South Node: Jul 18 4:22 PM Moon Square Sun: Jul 18 9:10 PM

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Begin Fourth Quarter of the Lunar Cycle Moon Conjunct South Node: Jul 18 4:22 PM Moon Opposite Mars: Jul 18 9:20 PM Mercury Trine Neptune: Jul 19 12:35 AM Sun Square Mars: Jul 19 1:31 AM Moon Enters Taurus: Jul 19 3:46 AM Moon Sextile Venus: Jul 19 5:40 AM

Saturday, July 19th The Moon in steady Taurus spends most of the daylight on her way to a relaxing afternoon sextile with Neptune in Pisces. As the afternoon turns to evening, Luna moves into a thoughtful sextile with Mercury in Cancer, sending texts and ideas through the evening air. Finally, as evening turns into night, a more serious atmosphere envelops the earth, pulling the mind toward matters of lasting importance, and providing an excellent backdrop for deep conversation. Moon in Taurus Moon Sextile Neptune: Jul 19 4:50 PM Moon Sextile Mercury: Jul 19 6:51 PM Moon Trine Pluto: Jul 19 1:34 PM

Sunday, July 20th Sunday is home to a certain seriousness, for the Moon in Taurus opposes slow Saturn in Scorpio just as the leaden planet stations direct. Roused from his months of contrary motion, Saturn broadcasts a hard, slow wavelength, whose long wave penetrates the very bones of life. The joints grind, but it is time to begin the slow trudge forward- to begin construction again. Moon in Taurus Moon Opposite Saturn: Jul 20 10:25 AM Saturn Stations Direct: Jul 20 3:36 PM

Monday, July 21st Early Monday the Moon slips into mercurial Gemini, sending what energy the waning Moon has left through the nervous system. Mid-day Luna makes a warm, inspiring sextile to newly ingressed Jupiter in Leo. This pleasant bloom fades over the course of the afternoon, to be replaced, late in the evening, by the distracting quality of the Moon’s square with Neptune and the deep, sometimes dark trains of thought that Mercury’s opposition to Pluto inspires. Behind all of this, distant Uranus stations retrograde, beginning a five month trek backwards. In Uranus’ retrograde phase, we are called to consider the results of our various experiments and the viability of recent mutations. Collate the data and take your time coming to conclusions. Moon Moon Moon Moon 158

in Taurus Enters Gemini: Jul 21 11:38 AM Sextile Jupiter: Jul 21 1:54 PM Square Neptune: Jul 21 1:20 AM July 2014 Astrological Almanac by Austin Coppock

Uranus Stations Retrograde: Jul 21 9:54 PM Mercury Opposite Pluto: Jul 22 1:48 AM

Tuesday, July 22nd The Sun enters Leo today, shining a bold light into the heart of who we are. Astride the Lion, the Sun inspires honesty in thought and boldness in action. The Sun in Leo is generally auspicious, and shines a special light on the arts of leadership and performance. The Sun will be in Leo until August 22nd. Meditate today upon the light of the world and the light of the self, the rays revealed as well as those concealed. Moon in Gemini Sun Enters Leo: Jul 22 4:41 PM Moon Sextile Uranus: Jul 22 7:29 PM

Wednesday, July 23rd The Moon moves without event through Gemini for much of the day like a slow series of electrical pulses through old power lines. The late afternoon sees a brief surge, though, as the Moon trines Mars one last time before the red planet finally abandons Libra. The night is dominated by Venus in Cancer’s trine to Neptune in Pisces, a sweet, romantic aspect which is well suited to temporary realization of the painless dream. Sublime honeyed moments and simple respites from strife both abound tonight. These aims can be achieved by whatever means one has close at hand- alcohol, art, meditation or magic. Moon in Gemini Moon Trine Mars: Jul 23 7:53 PM Moon Enters Cancer: Jul 23 10:00 PM Venus Trine Neptune: Jul 24 6:08 AM

Thursday, July 24th Thursday is full of fine omens. The Moon trines Neptune and then conjoins Venus in Cancer, continuing last night’s pleasing configuration. This pleasure-trance inducing aspect is additionally warmed and beautifully lit by the Sun’s conjunction with Jupiter in Leo, which is perfected during the afternoon. The Sun’s yearly conjunction with Jupiter brings a spotlight to both opportunities missed and those seized over the last year, as well as those set to unfold over the next. The evening holds Mercury’s near simultaneous square to Uranus and trine Saturn, which channels both innovative and conservative influences through Mercury’s mental matrix. Odd plans may emerge fully formed here, like Athena from Zeus’ headache. Strange times call for strange ideas. Interesting potentials shine throughout the night, though their realization is uncertain. Moon in Cancer Moon Trine Neptune: Jul 24 12:02 PM Moon Conjunct Venus: Jul 24 12:44 PM

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Sun Conjunct Jupiter: Jul 24 3:43 PM Mercury Square Uranus: Jul 24 7:05 PM Mercury Trine Saturn: Jul 24 9:09 PM Moon Opposite Pluto: Jul 24 9:23 PM Lailat al-Qadr (Muslim)

Friday, July 25th Friday begins with the sensitive Moon in Cancer’s disruptive square to Uranus in Aries. This small shock is followed shortly by a stern trine to dutiful Saturn in Scorpio and a subsequent conjunction with Mercury in Cancer. The union between the Moon and Mercury stirs up a muddy suspension of thoughts and feelings. The Moon wanes her way further through the day encountering the push/pull of the Nodes of the Moon during the late afternoon hours. Nonetheless, today’s big story is Mars’ exit from Libra. Hung in the balance of the scales since December of 2013, the red planet finally departs Libra for one of its favorite signs- Scorpio. In Scorpio, the red planet is ominously strong. Here Mars stimulates the will to action and opens the floodgates to fierce rivers of vitality. This crimson current can be harnessed to powerful effect, but easily overflows its banks. Think twice about what you direct your energy toward. Mars will be in Scorpio until September 13th. Moon in Cancer Moon Square Uranus: Jul 25 6:49 AM Moon Trine Saturn: Jul 25 7:09 AM Moon Conjunct Mercury: Jul 25 8:55 AM Moon Square Nodal Axis (South Bending): Jul 25 7:39 PM Mars Enters Scorpio: Jul 25 9:24 PM

Saturday, July 26th Saturday begins with the Moon’s entrance into warm Leo, yet immediately upon entering Leo she encounters Mars in Scorpio, which lends the morning an intemperate, potentially irritating heat. Such imbalances are quickly resolved, though, by Luna’s mid-day conjunction with pleasant Jupiter in Cancer. From here the Moon rolls on to conjoin the Sun. This monthly conjunctio marks the end of the lunar cycle and the beginning of another. Consider not merely what you will do over the coming days, but who you will be. Moon in Cancer Moon Enters Leo: Jul 26 9:55 AM Moon Square Mars: Jul 26 10:29 AM Moon Conjunct Jupiter: Jul 26 2:33 PM New Moon in Leo: Jul 26 5:43 PM

Sunday, July 27th Sunday begins with a stimulating trine between the Moon in Leo and Uranus in Aries, starting the day off with just the right dose of red lightning. Despite its perky

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start, the day is a troubled. Mercury squares the North and South Nodes, presiding over complicated thoughts and uncertain plans. Meanwhile, sweet Venus in Cancer is similarly afflicted by her opposition with Pluto in Capricorn, which brings forgotten feelings to the surface and whispers to us the very secrets we once locked away. A certain level of discomfort and uncertainty may need to be tolerated. Moon in Leo Moon Trine Uranus: Jul 27 7:14 PM Mercury Square Nodal Axis (South Bending): Jul 27 11:15 PM Venus Opposite Pluto: Jul 27 1:38 AM

Monday, July 28th The Moon prowls the late degrees of Leo today, void of contact with another planet until the Sun dips beneath the horizon. Come night, Luna slips into thoughtful, grounded Virgo, where she will reside for the next several days. Late night, the Moon makes a fiery sextile with potent Mars in Scorpio, heating up the wee hours for better and worse. Moon in Leo Moon Enters Virgo: Jul 28 10:37 PM Moon Sextile Mars: Jul 29 2:01 AM

Tuesday, July 29th Tuesday begins with the Moon in Virgo’s distracting opposition to Neptune in Pisces, providing an awkward morning mixture of concrete tasks and buoyant daydreams. The fog bank disperses by mid-day, however, making way for a productive afternoon and evening. Night is more emotional, for the Moon’s rays pass over Venus in a compromising position. Though Tuesday night may pass without incident, Venus’ position, in the teeth of the Uranus-Pluto square, makes for some pressurized passions. It might be best to let off some steam now rather than later. Moon in Virgo Moon Opposite Neptune: Jul 29 12:45 PM Moon Trine Pluto: Jul 29 10:14 PM Moon Sextile Venus: Jul 30 3:25 AM Eid al-Fitr (Muslim)

Wednesday, July 30th Wednesday begins with a productive and potentially disciplined sextile between the on-task Moon in Virgo and focused Saturn in Scorpio. Though there are no further aspects today, it is a good start, and one best continued throughout the day. Make it a work day, and make it count. Moon in Virgo Moon Sextile Saturn: Jul 30 8:26 AM

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Thursday, July 31st The Moon in Virgo makes a thoughtful sextile to Mercury in Cancer on Thursday morning before slipping into social but easily flustered Libra. Not long afterward, Mercury makes a late afternoon move into loud-mouthed Leo. In the lion’s sign, Mercury’s clever words escape his mouth as a roar. Mercury’s time in Leo highlights, aids and abets self expression- whatever type or quality of self that may happen to be. It’s a good time for advertising and promotion, creative writing and, of course- lordly speeches and commands. Mercury will be in Leo until August 15th. The Moon in Libra makes a sextile to Jupiter in Leo shortly after Mercury’s ingress, giving the evening a further boost of extraversion. The outward energy may not all be good, though, for sensitive Venus in Cancer completes her square with uncompromising Uranus in Aries Thursday evening, providing an emotionally unsteady atmosphere. Fresh feelings tear through old patterns, for better and worse. Venus’ potentially cathartic aspect to Uranus is, however, followed swiftly by a trine to orderly Saturn, which pulls loosed emotional energies back under control. Conflicting needs for change and security may be experienced here. Moon in Virgo Moon Sextile Mercury: Jul 31 9:45 AM Moon Enters Libra: Jul 31 11:07 AM Mercury Enters Leo: Jul 31 5:45 PM Moon Sextile Jupiter: Jul 31 6:01 PM Venus Square Uranus: Jul 31 11:42 PM Moon Sextile Sun: Aug 01 5:13 AM Venus Trine Saturn: Aug 01 5:21 AM

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August PLEASURE AND PAIN

August hosts two configurations which promise both the best and the worst. The first of these is the conjunction of the two benefics- Venus and Jupiter. From their union honey flows. The other promises the worst- the conjunction of Mars and Saturn, the two malefics. August is thus strewn with extremes of good and bad, awesome and awful.

Strong Words August begins dramatically. Swift Mercury and jolly Jupiter conjoin in Leo, uniting reason and aspiration, mind and spirit. Beautiful potentials are illumined here, but it may take a struggle to bring them into being, for as Mercury and Jupiter conjoin in early Leo, fierce Mars in Scorpio makes a frictive square to the pair, attacking their sunny vision. It will take gonads to make real the potentials promised here. Though it does not come predigested, this unsteady mixture can be refined into a fierce commitment to personal growth and a willingness to pounce on those opportunities which present themselves. After disengaging from Mercury and Jupiter, Mars in Scorpio moves on to smooth trine with Neptune in Pisces, blending subtlety and force on the 6th. Dreams of power and the power of dreams are both apparent here.

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easy to see the person we truly are. This vision of potential is attended by both experimental, revolutionary Uranus and cold, orthodox Saturn. The 8th’s configuration is a continuation of July’s patterns, which challenged us not merely to revolt against the old, but to concretize the new. This is not a chaotic revolution, but a meaningful reform. On the 10th, the Full Moon in Aquarius brings its silver beams to bear on this matter, supercharging the question of personal and collective reform with a surfeit of lunar power.

Tan Lines The day after the Full Moon, Venus trades in her Cancerian MILF outfit in favor of Leo’s high fashion, low cut gowns. Venus’ movement into Leo sees the passions burst outward, ready to desire and be desired. This is a fun, extraverted influence, though within it people often get lost in superficialities. Venus will be in Leo until September 5th.

Mercy is for the Weak On the 14th, rough Mars in Scorpio sextiles dark Pluto in Capricorn, providing the opportunity to dredge power from hidden places. A ruthless desire for transformation may take hold of some people briefly under this influence.

From The Scholar’s Desk The day after Mars perfects his ruthless sextile with Pluto, the 15th, Mercury enters thoughtful Virgo, the messenger’s traditional exaltation. Mercury will be in Virgo only until September 1st. During the messenger’s first four days in Virgo he will oppose Neptune, which temporarily muddies the mind’s clear waters. However for the remainder of Mercury’s time in the Virgin’s sign he will be a boon to researchers, writers, and the rest of Mercury’s children. Lalalaland The 17th holds Venus’ conjunction with Jupiter in Leo. The sweet union between the benefics spreads a little honey and cream over the surrounding days, smoothing over the hard edges for a bit. On the following day, the 18th, Mercury in Virgo completes its opposition to Neptune in Pisces, blurring critical thinking skills for a bit. Though the surrounding days may be pleasant, do not be lulled to complacency, for intense configurations wait right around the corner.

Hermes Chthonios After Mercury in Virgo escapes his distracting opposition with Neptune, the mental wavelength clears up considerably, offering aid to thinkers and communicators. On the 21st, the messenger makes a brief but informative trip to the underworld, courtesy of a trine with Pluto in Capricorn. Hidden factors and secrets emerge under Mercury’s watchful gaze. 164

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Wheat and Chaff The following day, August 22nd, sees the Sun enter Virgo. Whilst in Virgo, the Sun’s beams will shine down on what has and has not been accomplished so far this season. Crucial details emerge under the quality-controlled light of the Sun in Virgo. Attention to many small matters is key to the success of a few large ones. The Sun will be in Virgo until September 22nd.

A Hard Look A few days after the Sun’s ingress into Virgo, Mercury makes a sharp pair of sextiles to nearly-conjunct Mars and Saturn. This configuration brings a number of problems to the surface. Diagnoses flood the air, as do harsh criticisms. Mars’ upcoming conjunction to Saturn portends a variety of ills, and it may be difficult to maintain the mind’s neutrality. While Mercury gazes analytically at the pending conjunction between the two malefics, Venus in Leo makes an excitatory trine with explosive Uranus in Aries. Although this configuration helps people express themselves authentically and kindles original creative work, it is also rather dramatic, making the days surrounding the 24th more emotionally reactive.

A Truly Dark Moon The New Moon in Virgo comes on the 24th, just as Mars and Saturn complete their foreboding union. This augurs a difficult lunar cycle, as the Mars-Saturn conjunction signifies a wide variety of difficulties. While a few tragedies hover about this date, tragedy will still be the exception. For most people, it will manifest as a few days of dark moods, and feelings of frustration or powerlessness. Regardless, avoid stupid risks and take special care of your health during these ill-omened days. Though one of the more difficult feats of alchemy, Mars and Saturn’s effluences can be welded into an unbreakable alloy of discipline and power. The classical virtue of industry emerges from this conjunctio.

If You Can’t Say Anything Nice On the 26th, a few days after the exact conjunction of Mars and Saturn, Venus squares the malign pair, disrupting relationships with some potentially ugly spats. Sunny Venus in Leo has a difficult time dealing with the potentially intense negativity of Mars and Saturn in Scorpio. The emotional wavelength is stressed here, and events that depend upon harmonious accord are best re-scheduled.

Bath Time A slow fog rolls in to medicate the end of the month, courtesy of the Sun in Virgo’s opposition with Neptune in Pisces. The anaesthetic mist which coats the 29th and sur-

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rounding days helps distract people from recent difficulties, and numb the suffering which accompanied it. You could use this configuration to step outside of problems and problem-solving for a bit. Distract yourself with the dramas of fictional worlds or take an astral journey to a less conflicted realm. Parting Shot The last day of August, the 31st, sees the Moon conjoin separating Mars and Saturn in Scorpio, lighting up the malefics one final time. The month ends having seen both benefics and both malefics conjoined. August’s conclusion shuts down the buffet of infernal bitterness and celestial sweetness. Though not without challenges, September promises less extreme oscillations between pleasure and pain.

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August Ephemeris

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August 2014 Astrological Almanac by Austin Coppock

August Dailies Friday, August 1st Friday’s Libra Moon strives for balance, but several factors vex the scales. The day begins with the Moon’s square to Pluto in Capricorn, which threatens to drag the day toward the negative. Later, the Moon’s late afternoon opposition with Uranus in Aries destabilizes energy levels, presenting another challenge. Meanwhile, fierce Mars in Scorpio squares sanguine Jupiter in Leo today, injecting the day boisterous, cantankerous and potentially excessive energy. The evening is somewhat milder than the day, due to the mutually received square between the Moon in Libra with Venus in Cancer. Moon in Libra Moon Square Pluto: Aug 01 10:11 AM Mars Square Jupiter: Aug 01 5:45 PM Moon Opposite Uranus: Aug 01 7:44 PM Moon Square Venus: Aug 01 9:54 PM Lughnasadh (Wiccan, Neo-Pagan) Nag Panchami (Hindu)

Saturday, August 2nd Saturday sees the Moon wobble void-of-course through the end of Libra while the Mercury conjoins Jupiter in Leo whilst simultaneously squaring red Mars in Scorpio. Thoughts, words and ideas force their way through the air, utterly aflame. Big ideas, big egos and big words. This configuration is likely to spark egoic contests. Come evening, the Moon descends into Scorpio’s tunnel, slathering the day’s already heated dynamic with gasoline. The night’s temperature burns hot- there may be some rowdy fun to have, but the stage is set for things to get out of control. Moon in Libra Moon Conjunct North Node: Aug 02 6:22 AM Mercury Conjunct Jupiter: Aug 02 2:32 PM Mercury Square Mars: Aug 02 7:00 PM Moon Enters Scorpio: Aug 02 9:54 PM Moon Square Jupiter: Aug 03 5:28 AM Moon Conjunct Mars: Aug 03 6:27 AM

Sunday, August 3rd The day begins with the Moon in Scorpio’s square to loud Mercury in Leo, starting the day on a rather vociferous note. As the day winds onward, the Moon in Scorpio moves into a square with the Sun in Leo, marking our entrance into the second quarter of the lunar month. The Moon rises half full Sunday night, conjoined hard Saturn, asking us to let go the recent heat and consider developments under the light of a cold Moon. Moon in Scorpio Moon Square Mercury: Aug 03 10:05 AM Moon Square Sun: Aug 03 7:49 PM 168

August 2014 Astrological Almanac by Austin Coppock

Begin Second Quarter of the Lunar Month Moon Conjunct Saturn: Aug 04 5:22 AM

Monday, August 4th Monday begins with a soothing trine between the Moon in Scorpio and comforting Venus in Cancer. This pleasant aspect pulls apart over the afternoon, leaving the Moon to crawl void through Scorpio’s tunnels until the wee hours of night. It is a difficult day to stay productive, for desires large and small dance and distract. Moon in Scorpio Moon Trine Venus: Aug 04 12:37 PM Moon Enters Sagittarius: Aug 05 5:12 AM

Tuesday, August 5th Tuesday begins with the jovial Moon in Sagittarius’ spirited trine with Jupiter in Leo, which brightens the morning and mid-day. The afternoon is, however, subject to a potentially disorienting square with Neptune. This influence peaks and then passes by the time the Sun sets, replaced by Luna’s creative, verbally invigorating trine with Mercury in Leo. Tuesday is haunted by Venus in Cancer’s square to the nodal axis. The passions are pulled in contradictory directions, with deep attachment alternating with the desire for ascetic withdrawal. Don’t make any lasting choices about relationships tonight. Moon in Sagittarius Venus Square Nodal Axis (South Bending): Aug 05 1:22 PM Moon Trine Jupiter: Aug 05 3:12 PM Moon Square Neptune: Aug 05 7:18 PM Moon Trine Mercury: Aug 05 2:27 AM Moon Trine Sun: Aug 06 5:27 AM Tisha B’Av (Jewish)

Wednesday, August 6th A little jolt of red lightning, courtesy of Uranus in Aries, gets Wednesday morning moving. After this initial push, though, nothing further adds to the action. As the day rolls on, it relies more on and more inertia, and by night the action decelerates to a slow burn and the Moon goes void. The heavens neither contribute nor detract. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Trine Uranus: Aug 06 9:46 AM

Thursday, August 7th The Moon enters the goaty foothills of Capricorn first thing on Thursday. The day sees the Moon make simultaneous aspects with both Neptune in Pisces and Mars in Scorpio, making the day fierce but smooth, an odd combination of dreamy and focused. Focus your trance on some great labor, your work on some small dream. Moon in Sagittarius Mars Trine Neptune: Aug 07 7:12 AM 169

August 2014 Astrological Almanac by Austin Coppock

Moon Enters Capricorn: Aug 07 8:32 AM Moon Sextile Neptune: Aug 07 7:43 PM Moon Sextile Mars: Aug 07 8:13 PM

Friday, August 8th Mercury and the Sun conjoin today in the dead center of Leo, the cross-quarter, or Lammas point. This purification of mind in the furnace of spirit would be remarkable enough on it’s own, but this alignment takes place configured to not one, but two other planetary bodies. This reunion of the intellect and spirit takes place in a near-perfect trine with Uranus in Aries, adding the eccentric planet’s red lightning to the ideas brewing here, lending them a revelatory, revolutionary quality. Yet simultaneously the Mercury-Sun conjunction also falls beneath the heavy gaze of Saturn in Scorpio. Beneath Saturn’s watchful eye, the ideal must contend with the real, and the eccentric with the expected. Moon in Capricorn Moon Square Uranus: Aug 08 11:11 AM Moon Sextile Saturn: Aug 08 12:04 PM Mercury Conjunct Sun (Superior Conjunction): Aug 08 11:21 AM Mercury Trine Uranus: Aug 08 3:13 PM Sun Trine Uranus: Aug 08 7:35 PM Moon Square Nodal Axis (North Bending): Aug 08 7:37 PM Mercury Square Saturn: Aug 08 9:49 PM Moon Opposite Venus: Aug 09 3:05 AM

Saturday, August 9th The Moon enters Aquarius early Saturday morning. Shortly thereafter, the Sun in Leo completes its square with Saturn in Scorpio, contrasting bold plans and daunting obstacles. The afternoon holds the Aquarian Moon’s opposition to Jupiter in Leo, a warm, philosophical aspect. Shortly thereafter, though, Luna moves on to a sharp, nasty square with Mars in Scorpio, which threatens to sour moods and rouse discordant passions. It is on this note that the Moon rises nearly full, though its moment as a perfect silver disc will not come until Sunday. Moon in Capricorn Moon Enters Aquarius: Aug 09 8:49 AM Sun Square Saturn: Aug 09 10:10 AM Moon Opposite Jupiter: Aug 09 5:23 PM Moon Square Mars: Aug 09 9:51 PM

Sunday, August 10th The power of the Full Moon is still building as the Sun rises. A jolt of red lightning suffuses the aethyr mid-morning, courtesy of the Moon in Aquarius’s sextile to Uranus in Aries, followed by Luna’s difficult T-square with the Sun in Leo and Saturn in Scorpio. The Full Moon in Aquarius occurs mid-day, its perfect circle of silver concealed far beneath the Earth’s surface. This syzygy illuminates us simultaneously as participants

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in and observers of the world’s drama. Meanwhile, Saturn looks hard upon both the Sun and Moon, demanding that such musings take place in reference real world pressures. Life is not merely a performance, but a command performance. Moon in Aquarius Moon Sextile Uranus: Aug 10 10:30 AM Moon Square Saturn: Aug 10 11:32 AM Full Moon in Aquarius: Aug 10 1:08 PM Begin Third Quarter of the Lunar Month Moon Opposite Mercury: Aug 10 5:11 PM Raksha-Bandhan (Hindu)

Monday, August 11th As the Sun rises Monday morning, the Moon slips into Pisces. Luna chases an anaesthetic conjunction with Neptune in Pisces throughout much of the day, inspiring trances and seeding daydreams. After the Moon completes her conjunction with spacey Neptune, she moves on to a trine with fierce Mars in Scorpio. The evening has an intense flow, rousing considerably more energy than the day preceding day. Late night, Venus sashays into Leo. Emotional energies are pushed outward to manifest in dramatic ways. There is a fun-loving, extraverted quality to Venus’ time in Leo, though it can be a bit self-indulgent. Venus will be in Leo until September 1st. Moon in Aquarius Moon Enters Pisces: Aug 11 7:56 AM Moon Conjunct Neptune: Aug 11 6:26 PM Moon Trine Mars: Aug 11 10:53 PM Moon Sextile Pluto: Aug 12 2:00 AM Venus Enters Leo: Aug 12 2:23 AM

Tuesday, August 12th Tuesday begins with the Moon in Pisces’ trine to Saturn in Scorpio, which sees obligations weigh heavy on the morning. This influence fades swiftly though, leaving Luna to wander the oceanic doldrums of Pisces unmolested by further aspects. The Moon is void-of-course for the rest of the day, the heavens neither aiding nor interfering in terrestrial plans. Moon in Pisces Moon Trine Saturn: Aug 12 11:04 AM

Wednesday, August 13th The Moon enters fiery Aries early on Wednesday morning. Shortly thereafter, we are treated to a pair of fortunate aspects. First, the Moon trines sunny Venus in Leo, then proceeds on to an auspicious afternoon trine with sanguine Jupiter in Leo. The buzz is likely to wear off some time in the evening, when the Moon makes a less-than-pleasant square with Pluto. Moon in Pisces Moon Enters Aries: Aug 13 8:05 AM Moon Trine Venus: Aug 13 10:47 AM

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Moon Trine Jupiter: Aug 13 6:27 PM Moon Square Pluto: Aug 14 2:58 AM

Thursday, August 14th Thursday begins with the Moon’s stimulating, if somewhat chaotic, conjunction with Uranus in Aries. The morning’s electric ripples reverberate throughout much of the day, though by late afternoon, you may detect a strange emptiness, for the Moon conjoins the South Node of the Moon. Here a small void sits, waiting for us to cast in what we no longer require. This small darkness quickly closes, replaced by the twined gold and silver of the Moon’s trine to the Sun in Leo, which oversees a rather intense but generally harmonious night. Moon in Aries Moon Conjunct Uranus: Aug 14 11:18 AM Moon Conjunct South Node: Aug 14 7:18 PM Moon Trine Sun: Aug 14 9:23 PM Mars Sextile Pluto: Aug 15 4:28 AM

Friday, August 15th Friday begins with the Moon in Aries’ trine to Mercury in Leo during the swift planet’s last moments in the lion’s sign. Shortly thereafter, the Moon plods into Taurus, and Mercury into Virgo, grounding the day in creature comforts and solid facts. Mercury is considered to be in his exaltation in Virgo, which augurs well for all tasks that require precision, intelligence and patience. Mercury will be in Virgo until September 1st. The latter part of the afternoon and the evening are both subject to the Moon’s aspects to Venus, Neptune and then Jupiter, a pleasing trio. Brief escapes into the heaven realms are possible- plan a quick slip into a temporary utopia. Moon in Aries Moon Trine Mercury: Aug 15 10:56 AM Moon Enters Taurus: Aug 15 11:02 AM Mercury Enters Virgo: Aug 15 11:43 AM Moon Square Venus: Aug 15 6:57 PM Moon Sextile Neptune: Aug 15 10:37 PM Moon Square Jupiter: Aug 15 11:05 PM Assumption of Mary (Christian)

Saturday, August 16th The pendulum swings swiftly. While Friday night was privy to pleasing configurations, Saturday is subject to a short gauntlet of difficulties. The Moon spends the majority of the daylight stuck between fiery Mars and ice-cold Saturn, a classic besiegement. This configuration is inauspicious, but does not last long. Moon in Taurus Moon Trine Pluto: Aug 16 7:16 AM Moon Opposite Mars: Aug 16 8:35 AM Moon Opposite Saturn: Aug 16 5:56 PM

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Sunday, August 17th Sunday begins with the half Moon’s square to the Sun in Leo, marking our entrance into the tired fourth quarter of the lunar month. The Moon trundles through the late degrees of Taurus for much of the daylight, and then enters Gemini during latter part of the afternoon. The Moon’s movement into Gemini sends a few jolts through tired neural tissue, sparking a small swarm of thoughts and conversations. Venus and Jupiter complete their union in Leo today, adding to the day’s mental charge the pleasure of conjoined benefics, a warm bloom of plasma unfolding like a rose of light. This conjunction offers nothing more, and nothing less, than a taste of the sweetness of life, temporarily separated from the sour. Celebrate, but do not plan. Moon in Taurus Moon Square Sun: Aug 17 7:31 AM Begin Fourth Quarter of the Lunar Cycle Moon Enters Gemini: Aug 17 5:41 PM Venus Conjunct Jupiter: Aug 17 12:21 AM Moon Square Mercury: Aug 18 3:09 AM Moon Square Neptune: Aug 18 6:03 A Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)

Monday, August 18th As Monday begins, the Moon in Gemini re-activates the now-departing conjunction between Venus and Jupiter in Leo, starting the day out on a very pleasant note. This charge of good cheer radiates throughout the day, a diffuse opiate. Yet there is a lack of clarity which is not solely the work of Venus and Jupiter. Instead, it is the action of normally clear-sighted Mercury in Virgo’s opposition with otherworldly, trance-inducing Neptune in Pisces, whose configuration clouds the mental wavelength. It may be difficult to concentrate on concrete matters, and problems may emerge which are strangely resistant to definition. Moon in Gemini Moon Sextile Jupiter: Aug 18 7:37 AM Moon Sextile Venus: Aug 18 8:17 AM Mercury Opposite Neptune: Aug 18 10:40 PM Moon Sextile Uranus: Aug 19 12:44 AM

Tuesday, August 19th The waning Moon in Gemini speeds across the day, stimulating conversations and stray thoughts. There is no planetary action during the day, though the evening holds the Moon’s sextile with the Sun in Leo, which provides a bit of general harmony. Late night, Luna forsakes the Twins for comfort-seeking Cancer, where she will be for the next several days. Moon in Gemini Moon Sextile Sun: Aug 19 9:54 PM Moon Enters Cancer: Aug 20 3:46 AM

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Wednesday, August 20th Wednesday begins with the comfortable Cancer Moon in a pain-killing trance with Neptune in Pisces. This cozy fog pervades the day until the mid-afternoon, when Luna’s attentions switch to her pending sextile with Mercury in Virgo, which makes the second half of the day as potentially productive as the first half wasn’t. The Moon highlights not only Mercury, but the messenger’s upcoming trine to Pluto in Capricorn. As the night deepens, thoughts come to the fore, detailed analyses of your world as-it-is-becoming. Insights into what it will require of you are here, as are fears which keep you from moving forward. Moon in Cancer Moon Trine Neptune: Aug 20 4:30 PM Moon Sextile Mercury: Aug 20 12:00 AM Moon Opposite Pluto: Aug 21 2:08 AM

Thursday, August 21st Thursday sees the Moon in Cancer make a series of difficult aspects, first to fierce Mars in Scorpio, then to disruptive Uranus in Aries and finally to Saturn in Scorpio. There is a tough, motivated and potentially industrious quality about the day, though frustrations are certainly likely. In the midst of this hard energy Mercury completes his trine to dark Pluto, making clear the effort necessary to prove oneself evolutionarily viable during these changing times. The onslaught fades as the day grows longer, with only the Moon’s square to the Nodal Axis waiting during the evening. The Nodes’ undertow complicates ruminations, but portends no disasters. Moon in Cancer Moon Trine Mars: Aug 21 9:48 AM Moon Square Uranus: Aug 21 11:55 AM Mercury Trine Pluto: Aug 21 2:20 PM Moon Trine Saturn: Aug 21 2:35 PM Moon Square Nodal Axis (South Bending): Aug 21 9:02 PM

Friday, August 22nd Friday begins with the Moon void-of-course at the end of Cancer, promising nothing in particular. During the afternoon Luna enters Leo, through whose savannahs she will wane for the next several days. Come night, the Sun sneaks unseen into the grain-fields of Virgo. The Sun’s time in Virgo illuminates the all-too-often invisible details of life, the small facts which make all the difference. Sol will be in Virgo until September 22nd. Moon in Cancer Moon Enters Leo: Aug 22 3:50 PM Sun Enters Virgo: Aug 22 11:45 PM

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Saturday, August 23rd Saturday is subject to deeply conflicted signatures. The day begins with the Moon’s auspicious conjunction with sunny Jupiter in Leo, and then prowls through positive degrees, on his way toward an evening conjunction with Venus. As the night falls, however, the Moon trines disruptive Uranus and then moves on to a potentially painful set of squares with Mars and Saturn in Scorpio. The late night is deeply inauspicious, and unsuitable for most activities. Moon in Leo Moon Conjunct Jupiter: Aug 23 8:46 AM Moon Conjunct Venus: Aug 23 9:02 PM Moon Trine Uranus: Aug 24 12:21 AM Moon Square Mars: Aug 24 1:38 AM Moon Square Saturn: Aug 24 3:25 AM

Sunday, August 24th The Moon wanes through the last day of her cycle without making a single aspect. In the background, clear-minded Mercury in Virgo sextiles fierce Mars in Scorpio, providing an opportunity to bring the mind to bear with laser-like focus. Mercury’s sextile to Mars is excellent for problem solving, but sometimes provokes unnecessary disagreements. Venus in Leo also completes an aspect today, trining explosive Uranus in Aries. Blooms of unexpected passion arise here, which may be taken to unnecessarily dramatic heights by the Moon in Leo. No Moon rises to illuminate the night, though Luna does slip, invisibly, into Virgo. Amidst the virgin’s fields, the Moon prepares for Monday morning’s New Moon. Moon in Leo Mercury Sextile Mars: Aug 25 3:46 AM Moon Enters Virgo: Aug 25 4:31 AM Venus Trine Uranus: Aug 25 4:37 AM

Monday, August 25th Monday begins with the New Moon in Virgo, ending one lunar cycle and seeding another. Meanwhile, Mercury in Virgo completes a sextile to Saturn in Scorpio. Although it may delay communications, this combination is excellent for sober and critical analysis. Meanwhile, the Mars conjoins Saturn in Scorpio- a somewhat dire omen. There is a certain ugliness which is in the air today, but is unlikely to manifest in most people’s lives. If you’re drawn into conflicts, or even a foul state of mind, make the effort to actively disengage. The latter half of the afternoon sees the Moon oppose Neptune, clouding minds and judgment for a few hours. Sunset begins another Moon-less night, full of starlight and dark reverie. Moon in Virgo Mercury Sextile Saturn: Aug 25 7:29 AM New Moon in Virgo: Aug 25 9:11 AM

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Mars Conjunct Saturn: Aug 25 2:29 PM Moon Opposite Neptune: Aug 25 5:15 PM Moon Trine Pluto: Aug 26 3:07 AM

Tuesday, August 26th Tuesday provides a rough start to the Lunar month. Boisterous Venus in Leo is doused with cold water by her square with chill Saturn in Scorpio. Venus gets pulled into the harsh, focused intensity of the Mars-Saturn conjunction, spinning out a variety of unpleasant feelings. The laborious Moon in Virgo also aspects Mars and Saturn during the afternoon, making it hard to escape from a judgmental, goal oriented mindset. Spend a couple hours at the grindstone, sharpening your nose. Not long after evening falls, the Moon conjoins thoughtful Mercury in Virgo, clarifying ongoing tasks and helping to develop plans. Moon in Virgo Venus Square Saturn: Aug 26 1:21 PM Moon Sextile Saturn: Aug 26 4:19 PM Moon Sextile Mars: Aug 26 5:37 PM Moon Conjunct Mercury: Aug 26 9:25 PM

Wednesday, August 27th Wednesday begins with Venus in Leo’s square to Mars in Scorpio, a passionate but discordant alignment. The potential for erotic moments abounds here, but dynamics can slide easily into upset. Mid-afternoon, Luna slips into Libra, carrying the focus to balancing the slowly unfolding events and energies of the lunar cycle. The day has a strong focus on relationships, and couples might find that they need to have a “talk.” Moon in Virgo Venus Square Mars: Aug 27 10:45 AM Moon Enters Libra: Aug 27 4:53 PM

Thursday, August 28th Thursday begins with a pleasant sextile between the Moon in Libra and Jupiter in Leo, warming and uplifting the first portion of the day. Come afternoon, though, the Moon moves into an unsteady T-square with Pluto and Uranus which troubles the day’s equilibrium well into the evening. Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Libra Sextile Jupiter: Aug 28 11:42 AM Square Pluto: Aug 28 3:01 PM Opposite Uranus: Aug 28 10:29 PM

Friday, August 29th Friday starts on a pleasant, if somewhat foggy note. The Moon in Libra conjoins the North Node and sextiles Venus in quick succession while the meticulous Sun in Virgo

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opposes hallucinogenic Neptune in Pisces. These are pleasant, but not necessarily productive, configurations. Come evening, there is little to impede the good times. The void-of-course Moon in Libra will not nurture complex plans to fruition, but gives what light she has to casual endeavors. Moon in Libra Moon Conjunct North Node: Aug 29 8:12 AM Sun Opposite Neptune: Aug 29 9:32 AM Moon Sextile Venus: Aug 29 10:56 AM Moon Enters Scorpio: Aug 30 3:50 AM Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu)

Saturday, August 30th The Moon in Scorpio reactivates the now-separating opposition between the Sun in Virgo and Neptune in Pisces today, bathing much of Saturday in a mildly anaesthetic fog. We wander through this impractical mist until evening falls, and the Moon makes a square with Jupiter in Leo. There may be something unsatisfying about the evening’s events, a feeling of “not-enough” which slides easily into overindulgence. Moon in Scorpio Moon Trine Neptune: Aug 30 1:40 PM Moon Sextile Sun: Aug 30 4:15 PM Moon Square Jupiter: Aug 30 8:57 PM Moon Sextile Pluto: Aug 30 11:05 PM

Sunday, August 31st Sunday has some harsh celestial weather. The Moon spends much of the day in conjunctions with Saturn and Mars in Scorpio, stirring up a variety of trouble. This condition, traditionally called “beseigement” is quite malefic,, and unsuitable for scheduling anything pleasant or constructive in nature. Consider spending the afternoon watching horror movies or playing a violent videogame. As evening falls, the Moon escapes beseigement and makes a square with Venus in Leo, introducing the sunny rays of a benefic to an otherwise ill-omened day. Moon Moon Moon Moon

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in Scorpio Conjunct Saturn: Aug 31 2:06 PM Conjunct Mars: Aug 31 8:49 PM Square Venus: Sep 01 2:12 AM

August 2014 Astrological Almanac by Austin Coppock

September BALANCING THE EQUATION

September is a reasonable month. Unlike August, no disasters or miracles loom. Instead, temperate weather graces its skies. Opportunities to return to balance abound. Make the most of September’s lack of extremes, for the month which follows promises a riotous pace.

Between Facts September begins with Mercury’s ingress into the sign of the scales, Libra. While Mercury’s time in Virgo aided us in ascertaining and analyzing the facts, the messenger’s time in Libra highlights the all-important relationships between facts. This emphasis on inter-relations helps us restabilize after August’s rather rocky conclusion.

Mining On the 3rd, the Sun fires a few beams down into the underworld, courtesy of his trine with Pluto. These illuminated mineshafts facilitate deep contemplation and may reveal a few key truths.

Girl Suit On September 5th, Venus enters Virgo, bidding farewell to the dramatic excesses of her time in Leo. In Virgo, Venus pulls the passions toward practical affairs. Here the heart is harnessed to service, and value to concrete qualities. There is an unfortunately critical edge to Venus in Virgo, though, and it is important not to focus solely on flaws. Venus will be in Virgo until September 29th.

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Follow the White Rabbit The Full Moon in Pisces arrives on September 8th to inject the gritty reality of the last two weeks with a dose of dream-time. The silver light of this full moon supports the search for meaning, enabling us to extract understandings from the dry texture of the preceding weeks. Yet not all visions which dance amidst the beams land lightly. Heavy events lend themselves to weighty realizations. Some minds, unwilling to work with the reflection of the real, may slide sideways into illusion, keeping themselves safe in dead-end dreamworlds.

Mental Balancing Act The day after the Full Moon, Mercury in Libra perfects a square to Pluto in Capricorn, teaching us how to keep mental balance whilst walking above the abyss of history.

Holographic Challenge The same day, Venus in Virgo opposes Neptune in Pisces. From this configuration issues a pleasant challenge- to find the beauty and horror of the whole in a fine mess of details, and to remember the bigger picture even while staring at a small flaw.

Thermals The next day, September 10th, Mercury in Libra completes a sextile with Jupiter in Leo, sending some good news and generally uplifting outlooks flying through the air. Over the next few days, Mercury will make his way from the sextile with positive Jupiter to an opposition with electric Uranus, churning out charged insights and new perspectives.

A Little Discipline’ll Do Ya Meanwhile, the Sun in Virgo’s sextile to Saturn in Scorpio on the 11th helps keep happy thoughts and wild ideas from floating away from reality. This aspect aids self-discipline and responsibility without the judgmental weight which so often accompanies aspects to Saturn.

Aiming Skyward On September 13th, Mars gathers his bow, grows two pairs of horselegs and heads for the wide plains of Sagittarius. This shift robs the red planet of the ruthless, relentless power it had in Scorpio. In Sagittarius, Mars has a mythic tone. It teaches the virtue of focus around a single goal, and the art of becoming what one must be to complete that quest. Mars will be in Sagittarius until October 25th.

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Buried Treasure The next day, Venus in Virgo makes a brief trine to Pluto in Capricorn, opening a portal to the underworld of relationships, in which undiscussed subjects languish and secret feelings hide. Nonetheless, this is among the gentler journeys into the shadow. Take the opportunity to inspect the secret recesses of your heart.

Atop The Dragon’s Head On September 16th Mercury conjoins the north node in Libra. This conjunction sees thoughts fly earthward, obsessing the mind with manifestation. Though there is a pull here, plans are unlikely to be ready to coagulate-…yet. Mercury will return to the Dragon’s Head not once, but twice over the coming season, ensuring that we have the time we need to weave bold schemes into being.

Sweat Equity On the 20th Venus in Virgo sextiles Saturn in Scorpio, bringing a bit of discipline to the passions. The limits of both bank accounts and patience may be exposed here. Build slowly but surely- beauty is often the product of sweat.

Firing Arrows into the Ocean Mars in Sagittarius squares Neptune in Pisces on September 21st. Actions go sideways as target acquisition systems malfunction. Dreams and delusions interfere with efficient work. People may prefer fighting imaginary monsters to tackling real problems.

Fulcrum The Equinox comes on the 22nd, delivering an equal measure of light and night. This moment of balance is triggered by the Sun’s slip into the sign of the scales. Whilst in Libra, the Sun shines upon the various areas of our life and what equilibrium we have achieved between them. A few adjustments may be called for. The Sun will be in Libra until October 22nd. While the Sun signals the beginning of the next season, tiny, ominous Pluto stations direct. Pluto’s direct station sounds a base note which reverberates through the surrounding days, waking various inevitable forces. Though some may find its music grim, the secrets of history and personal transformation hide within these dark chords. On September 23rd, just as the season begins, the Sun and Moon come together again in Libra to plot an inspiring set of plot twists.

Wildfire On the 25th, Jupiter in Leo completes an inspiring trine with Uranus in Aries. New possibilities appear in pyromantic visions. The radical growth conceived earlier in the

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year, during Jupiter’s squares to Uranus, may actually be possible now. As motivating as it may be, this is only the first of three trines between Jupiter in Uranus. Nonetheless, it is the beginning of an exciting process, and as with any beginning, it is sometimes useful to contemplate desired outcomes.

Tunnel Rat Mercury enters Scorpio on September 27th. Mercury is suspicious and intense here, a big change from sociable Libra. The sneaky planet is already slowing, for a retrograde in early October. There’s something important hiding within the early degrees of Scorpio, but once discovered we’ll have to pull it back to the cold scales of Libra for judgment. Grace On September 29th, Venus enters Libra. In diplomatic Libra, a sign she rules, Venus excels at generating harmony and connecting people. Venus will be in Libra until October 23rd. All Aboard September’s end concludes a month of temperate weather now behind us. A wild October awaits, lit by wheels of fire and darkened by a pair of eclipses.

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September Ephemeris

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September Dailies Monday, September 1st September begins with the Moon in Scorpio’s sextile with clever Mercury in Virgo, marking a conversational and potentially productive morning. Mid-day, the Moon enters Sagittarius, focusing and lifting the ambient energy. Though the Sagittarius Moon tries to generate enthusiasm, Luna spends the afternoon and evening in a square with Neptune in Pisces, whose day dreams threaten to derail the Sagittarius Moon’s attempts to fly from point A to point B. Late night, Mercury enters Libra. With the messenger in the sign of the scales, the mind is drawn toward social activities, relationships and hungry for new perspectives. There is a creative bent to the mind here, but also a certain laziness. Mercury will be Libra until September 27th. Moon in Scorpio Moon Sextile Mercury: Sep 01 10:33 AM Moon Enters Sagittarius: Sep 01 12:13 PM Moon Square Neptune: Sep 01 11:15 PM Mercury Enters Libra: Sep 02 12:37 AM Labor Day (United States)

Tuesday, September 2nd Tuesday begins with the Moon in Sagittarius’ square to the Sun in Virgo, marking our entrance into the busy second quarter of the lunar cycle. Meanwhile, Tuesday morning’s trine between the Moon in Sagittarius and Jupiter in Leo provides more than enough excitement to engage the day’s affairs. The fires lit early in the day are kept burning by Luna’s electric afternoon trine to Uranus in Aries. This loose Grand Fire Trine supplies the day with ample enthusiasm. The evening hours see the fire burn low, but not extinguished. A pleasant warmth of emotion pervades the night. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Square Sun: Sep 02 6:06 AM Begin Second Quarter of the Lunar Month Moon Trine Jupiter: Sep 02 7:04 AM Mon Trine Uranus: Sep 02 4:37 PM

Wednesday, September 3rd Wednesday sees the Moon in Sagittarius make a fun loving trine to Venus in Leo, brightening the day for a few hours. Not long afterward, however, Luna trudges into taciturn Capricorn. The Moon’s shift into serious Capricorn compliments the Sun in Virgo’s perfect trine to Pluto in Capricorn. This configuration gives the solar light a penetrating quality- perfect for finding secrets. Focus your light thoughtfully, though, as Sun-Pluto configurations open the way to fruitless wormholes as well as buried treasure. The second half of the day thus has a more serious tone. Evening

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holds a square between the Moon and Mercury in Libra, stirring a few thoughts and conversations before the night subsides into a darkened haze. Moon in Sagittarius Sun Trine Pluto: Sep 03 11:09 AM Moon Trine Venus: Sep 03 1:00 PM Moon Enters Capricorn: Sep 03 3:13 PM Moon Square Mercury: Sep 03 8:01 PM Moon Sextile Neptune: Sep 04 3:23 AM

Thursday, September 4th Thursday is dominated by the earthy intensity of the Sun-Pluto trine. The light shines deep through the opaque earth, illuminating the trajectory of concrete reality tunnels. A glance toward the future is productive here, for the network of caverns revealed are our possible paths through the material world. Come evening, the Moon squares electric Uranus in Aries, offering new angles, as well as a few surprises. As the night wears on, Luna moves into a sextile with Saturn in Scorpio, concretizing the night’s energies and reaffirming the importance of the practical. Moon in Capricorn Moon Conjunct Pluto: Sep 04 11:53 AM Moon Trine Sun: Sep 04 1:42 PM Moon Square Uranus: Sep 04 7:41 PM Moon Sextile Saturn: Sep 04 11:54 PM

Friday, September 5th Friday begins with the Moon in Capricorn’s sextile with fearsome Mars in Scorpio. The morning is thus full of potential irritations, but the energy can be quite potent if directed toward a specific goal. Mid-day, Venus leaves the savannahs of Leo behind for conscientious Virgo. Her time there will be characterized by a delight in small things and a focus on quality, not quantity. Venus is, however, considered “fallen” in Virgo, and her pass through the grain is often accompanied by amplified self-criticism as well as financial worries. Come evening, Luna abandons stony Capricorn for abstract Aquarius. The evening has a thoughtful, detached quality which lends itself well towards both conversation and rumination. Moon in Capricorn Moon Sextile Mars: Sep 05 10:04 AM Venus Enters Virgo: Sep 05 12:06 PM Moon Enters Aquarius: Sep 05 6:58 PM Moon Trine Mercury: Sep 06 4:48 AM

Saturday, September 6th Saturday sees the Moon in detached Aquarius oppose Jupiter in heart-felt Leo. Though not inauspicious, there may be some difficulty reconciling the abstract and the per-

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sonal today. Find the right balance between detachment and fun. As the afternoon lengthens, the Moon rolls closer to a sextile with Uranus in Aries, sending a jolt or two through the evening hours. As night deepens, though, the Moon squares hard Saturn in Scorpio, grounding the electricity generated earlier. This is not an ideal night for relentless pleasure seeking, as there is a seriousness which might weigh down celebratory endeavors. Late night sees the Moon pass between the rays of Saturn and Mars, a deeply inauspicious configuration. Call it an early night. Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Aquarius Opposite Jupiter: Sep 06 1:08 PM Sextile Uranus: Sep 06 8:05 PM Square Saturn: Sep 06 12:30 AM

Sunday, September 7th Sunday’s first aspect is the Moon in Aquarius’ irritating square with Mars in Scorpio. There is a contentious air about the first part of the day, one best channeled into vigorous labor of one sort or another. This inflammatory cloud hovers about the afternoon, but departs during the evening as the Moon enters mellow Pisces. The night sees the Moon oppose Venus in Virgo, which triggers the desire for something both delicious and specific. If you’re going to treat yourself, find a pleasure of unimpeachable perfection. Late night sees specificity dissolve, though, as the Moon completes a conjunction with dissolute Neptune. Moon in Aquarius Moon Square Mars: Sep 07 12:18 PM Moon Enters Pisces: Sep 07 6:46 PM Sun Opposite Chiron: Sep 07 9:43 PM Moon Opposite Venus: Sep 07 11:38 PM Moon Conjunct Neptune: Sep 08 4:08 AM Onam (Hindu)

Monday, September 8th Charged dreams drift lazily throughout Monday, anticipating the fall of the Sun beneath the horizon. The Moon rises huge and silver in the East, perfectly full not long after sunset. The Full Moon in Pisces stresses the relationship between concrete and imaginal realities. Fact and fantasy are juxtaposed and entwined, for tomorrow’s reality is naught but today’s dream. Yet the bridge between the two is narrow and crowded. Not all dreams make the crossing. This Full Moon is configured tightly with Saturn, which places additional pressure on the already narrowed channel between the two realms. Yet there is enough space to draw down the power needed to give meaning to the month’s many tasks. Herein lies the alchemy of dream and drudgery, fact and fiction. Late night sees the Moon trine Saturn and then slip into the dark space between Saturn and Mars’ rays, a deeply inauspicious configuration which continues well into Tuesday. Full Moon work should take place before this ill-omened slide. Moon in Pisces

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Moon Sextile Pluto: Sep 08 12:16 PM Full Moon in Pisces: Sep 08 8:39 PM Begin Third Quarter of the Lunar Month Moon Trine Saturn: Sep 09 12:19 AM Pitr-Paksha Begins (Hindu)

Tuesday, September 9th Harsh beams cut the morning. Tuesday begins on an unpleasant note, with the Moon caught betwen the rays of the malefics. Though the siege is broken by mid-afternoon, those hours are also host to Mercury in Libra’s square to Pluto in Capricorn, pulling thoughts and conversations toward secrets and suspicions. Come evening, the Moon enters fiery Aries, energizing the ambiance. Though Luna urges us to action, her power is contravened by Venus in Virgo’s opposition with Neptune in Pisces tonight, a pleasure-hungry, fantasy-prone influence, resulting in an evening of mixed influence. Moon in Pisces Moon Trine Mars: Sep 09 2:12 PM Mercury Square Pluto: Sep 09 5:40 PM Moon Enters Aries: Sep 09 6:33 PM Venus Opposition Neptune: Sep 10 5:50 AM Pitr-Paksha Ends (Hindu)

Wednesday, September 10th Wednesday begins with the Moon in Aries’ brief but oppressive square to Pluto in Capricorn before highlighting Mercury in Libra’s expansive sextile with Jupiter in Leo. Out of the darkness come numerous rays of hope. One has but to grasp these beams to see empowering potentials. Though visions of triumph abound, not all of them shall come to pass- potentials must be walked into being. Late night sees the Moon conjoin the Tail of the Dragon- the South Node. Herein lie shadows of the egoic sacrifice necessary to bring today’s dreams to pass. Moon in Aries Moon Square Pluto: Sep 10 12:34 PM Mercury Sextile Jupiter: Sept 10 1:36 PM Moon Trine Jupiter: Sep 10 2:24 PM Moon Opposite Mercury: Sep 10 2:29 PM Moon Conjunct Uranus: Sep 10 7:58 PM Moon Conjunct South Node (Cauda Draconis): Sep 11 2:37 AM

Thursday, September 11th The Moon sails through much of the day without incident. Meanwhile the Sun in Virgo sextiles Saturn in Scorpio, curbing yesterday’s visions of excess, reminding spirit of its limits in a material world. Come evening, the Moon wanders into mellow Taurus, presiding over a low key evening. Ground out into those pleasures life offers- relax onto the bedrock of the material for a night.

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Moon in Aries Sun Sextile Saturn: Sep 11 10:03 PM Moon Enters Taurus: Sep 11 8:17 PM

Friday, September 12th Friday begins on an indulgent note, with the slow Moon in Taurus’ aspects to Neptune in Pisces and then Venus in Virgo. The day continues, stimulating hunger but not necessarily offering satisfaction, as Luna squares Jupiter in Leo, inflating some desires to extravagant levels. While much of the day is focused on pleasure and satisfaction, there is wild current of mental energy at work, courtesy of Mercury in Libra’s opposition to Uranus in Aries. Surprising communications, idealistic revelations, and mutating plans all hover about. Though pleasant enough at its beginning, the night grows less and less auspicious as the Moon chases a wee hours opposition with cold, joyless Saturn. Moon in Taurus Moon Sextile Neptune: Sep 12 6:23 AM Moon Trine Venus: Sep 12 9:14 AM Moon Trine Pluto: Sep 12 3:23 PM Moon Square Jupiter: Sep 12 6:06 PM Mercury Opposite Uranus: Sep 13 3:16 AM Moon Opposite Saturn: Sep 13 5:29 AM

Saturday, September 13th Saturday begins with the grounded harmony of the Moon in Taurus’ trine to the Sun in Virgo, exposing veins of gold and silver in the earth below. The day continues along on the pleasant, concrete note struck here. As the afternoon lengthens, Mars emerges from the scorpion’s burrow and rides out on to the wide, flat plains of Sagittarius. In Sagittarius, Mars’ power extends as far as the eye can see. Long term goals, spiritual and profane alike, benefit from the restless target acquisition system of the red planet in the archer’s sign. Beware of turning passing desires into month-long projects while Mars is in Sagittarius, as endeavors expand all-too-easily here. Late night, the Moon enters Gemini, breaking into a sprint toward opposition with bow-wielding Mars in Sagittarius. A hot flash or two may warm the late night, giving you a taste of the martial energy we’ll be living with for the next month and a half. Moon in Taurus Moon Trine Sun: Sep 13 8:36 AM Mars Enters Sagittarius: Sep 13 4:56 PM Moon Enters Gemini: Sep 14 1:30 AM Moon Opposite Mars: Sep 14 1:57 AM

Sunday, September 14th Sunday begins with Venus in Virgo’s trine to Pluto in Capricorn. Here concealed and neglected feelings step out of the shadow. The subconscious disgorges both its treasures and skeletons. The Moon’s mid-day square with Neptune in Pisces may obscure

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some of what is emerging, but the evenings’ Moon-Venus contact ensures that these feelings will indeed become thinkable. The tone warms and lightens as the Moon’s late night sextile to sunny Jupiter in Leo takes over, buoying the wee hours. Moon in Gemini Venus Trine Pluto: Sep 14 9:34 AM Moon Square Neptune: Sep 14 12:08 PM Moon Square Venus: Sep 14 9:18 PM Moon Sextile Jupiter: Sep 14 1:48 AM

Monday, September 15th The Moon in Gemini trines Mercury in Libra just as the messenger nears its conjunction to the North Node- the Head of the Dragon. This strong current of mental energy pulls ideas toward reality, and plans into action. Letters of engagement take shape. Though the Moon wanes, there are ambitious ideas afoot, begging to be given proper form. Moon in Gemini Moon Sextile Uranus: Sep 15 6:16 AM Moon Trine Mercury: Sep 15 11:56 AM Moon Square Sun: Sep 15 9:07 PM Begin Fourth Quarter of the Lunar month

Tuesday, September 16th The Moon slips out of hyperactive Gemini and into the Crab’s cool tidepools early in the day. Luna spends the near-entirety of the day in a mellow, anaesthetic trine with Neptune in Pisces, fogging attempts at productivity but aiding relaxing plans. Meanwhile, Mercury in Libra completes his conjunction with the Dragon’s Head. Ideas drop from the clouds and into reality with surprising weight, but the mind wants for more. Moon in Gemini Moon Enters Cancer: Sep 16 10:27 AM Mercury Conjunct North Node (Caput Draconis): Sep 16 12:49 PM Moon Trine Neptune: Sep 16 9:35 PM

Wednesday, September 17th Wednesday begins on a somewhat uncomfortable note, the Moon in tender Cancer opposite hard Pluto in Capricorn. The shadow, however, lifts quickly, replaced by the Cancer Moon’s sextile to Venus in Virgo, a good influence for house-keeping of both the literal and metaphorical kind. Late in the afternoon, Luna squares Uranus in Aries, launching a bit of disruptive lightning into the day’s schedule. The evening sees the Moon move into a trine with sober Saturn in Scorpio, while late night sees the aethyrs unsteady, as the Moon squares the Head and Tail of the Dragon as well as Mercury. Troubled thoughts and tangled decisions decorate the night air.

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Moon in Cancer Moon Opposite Pluto: Sep 17 8:09 AM Venus Opposite Chiron: Sep 17 1:31 PM Moon Sextile Venus: Sep 17 4:14 PM Moon Square Uranus: Sep 17 4:39 PM Moon Trine Saturn: Sep 17 12:45 AM Moon Square Nodal Axis: Sep 17 1:07 AM Moon Square Mercury: Sep 18 5:01 AM

Thursday, September 18th Thursday sees the waning Moon in Cancer make a supportive sextile with the Sun in Virgo. A faint harmony threads its way throughout the day, though it moves in no particular direction. Late night, Luna slides into Leo, warming the aethyrs. The heat increases as the night continues and the Moon chases a trine with Mars in Sagittarius. This energy boost is a boon for those who favor later hours, but a nuisance for nine-to-fivers. Moon in Cancer Moon Sextile Sun: Sep 18 1:38 PM Moon Enters Leo: Sep 18 10:10 PM Moon Trine Mars: Sep 19 5:41 AM

Friday, September 19th The warm but waning Moon in Leo presides over the day, stalking lazily toward a late night conjunction with Jupiter. A tired but celebratory quality pervades Friday, perfect for a bit of night-time revelry. Moon in Leo Moon Conjunct Jupiter: Sep 20 2:29 AM Moon Trine Uranus: Sep 20 4:55 AM

Saturday, September 20th Saturday sees the joyful Moon in Leo hit a hard square with Saturn in Scorpio, bringing duty and mood into conflict for the first part of the day. During the afternoon, though, the Moon escapes Saturn’s dire gravity and applies to a sextile with Mercury in Libra. The evening thus opens itself both to conversations and considerations. Moon in Leo Moon Square Saturn: Sep 20 1:47 PM Moon Sextile Mercury: Sep 20 11:31 PM

Sunday, September 21st The Moon enters Virgo on Sunday morning, pulling the tone earthward in time for a sextile between Venus and Saturn. Venus and Saturn’s sextile aids workers in crafts, and rewards those who recognize the limits of their affections- as well as their finances. Sunday night, however, holds a confused T-square between the Moon, Mars and Neptune. Delusions and irritations intermingle easily, making for an intoxicating and

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inflammatory brew. Moon in Leo Venus Sextile Saturn: Sep 21 8:02 AM Moon Enters Virgo: Sep 21 10:53 AM Moon Square Mars: Sep 21 10:06 PM Moon Opposite Neptune: Sep 21 10:07 PM Mars Square Neptune: Sep 21 10:38 PM

Monday, September 22nd The Sun moves into Libra today, marking the equinox. The forces of light and night hold a temporary truce, making way for the season to come. The Sun in Libra sheds pastel light on questions of balance within our lives, asking us to find harmony amongst life’s many polarities. The principles of justice and mutuality ask to be observed through the practice of diplomacy and the quality of grace. The Sun will be in Libra until October 23rd. In this space between seasons, Pluto grinds to a halt and begins moving forward after nearly half a year retrograde. The dark machinery of evolution comes alive at this moment, invisible gears and hidden engines whirring to life. The coming quarter holds challenges beyond those seen so far. Moon in Virgo Moon Trine Pluto: Sep 22 9:03 AM Pluto Stationary Direct: Sep 22 7:37 PM Sun Enters Libra: Sep 22 9:28 PM Moon Sextile Saturn: Sep 23 2:38 AM Equinox

Tuesday, September 23rd The day begins with the Moon conjoined to finicky Venus in Virgo, starting things off with a rather precise of awareness of what is- and isn’t- right. The day ambles on without any particular strength or purpose, within it a review of details attended to and those neglected over the last month. Evening falls, and the Moon saunters into Libra to join the Sun beneath the horizon. The New Moon in Libra takes place somewhere in the deep of night. This lunation is a seed, a granule of potential. Thoughts of hoped for reconciliations and respite blow about in the night air. They fall slowly, like leaves to the forest floor, fecundating the season’s plans. Moon in Virgo Moon Conjunct Venus: Sep 23 7:14 AM Moon Enters Libra: Sep 23 10:58 PM New Moon in Libra: Sep 23 1:13 AM Mabon (Wiccan, Neo-Pagan)

Wednesday, September 24th The newborn lunar cycle starts off with a bang today as the Moon lights up the Grand Fire Trine between Mars in Sagittarius, Jupiter in Leo and Uranus in Aries. Luna is

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carried by this wheel of fire and its attendant action and enthusiasm throughout the day, illuminating inspiring potentials. The month is still new, though, and it may take some time for what is seen here to get fully underway. Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Libra Sextile Mars: Sep 24 1:27 PM Sextile Jupiter: Sep 25 4:18 AM Opposite Uranus: Sep 25 4:28 AM

Thursday, September 25th Jupiter in Leo trines Uranus in Aries today. Lightning sets the self afire, illuminating our potential to become what we truly are. This blaze is not purely personal, though, for when we radiate, we communicate ourselves to others by image and example. Opportunities for publicity and self improvementcluster about this configuration. Moon in Libra Moon Conjunct North Node (Caput Draconis): Sep 25 12:39 PM Jupiter Trine Uranus: Sep 25 1:18 PM Navaratri Begins (Hindu)

Friday, September 26th The Moon conjoins Mercury in Libra just as the Sun rises Friday, prompting a variety of mental adjustments. Shortly thereafter the Moon slides into Scorpio, where it strikes a deeper and more intense chord. The rest of the day hums along on a resonant emotional wavelength. The evening sees the Moon make a mellowing trine with Neptune in Pisces before descending into less comfortable spaces late night. Moon in Libra Moon Conjunct Mercury: Sep 26 7:34 AM Moon Enters Scorpio: Sep 26 9:26 AM Moon Trine Neptune: Sep 26 7:53 PM Moon Sextile Pluto: Sep 27 6:21 AM

Saturday, September 27th The sensitive Moon in Scorpio spends the first half of the day in a square with sunny Jupiter in Leo, an awkward mixture of negative and positive. The afternoon holds Mercury’s entrance into Scorpio. In Scorpio, Mercury lends the mind a focused and intense quality, though there is a tendency to veer off into paranoid detours. Mercury will only be Scorpio until October 10th, when the retrograde messenger will re-enter Libra. The evening holds the Moon’s conjunction with somber Saturn in Scorpio, weighing upon the night. Revelry may struggle with the ambient gravity here. Moon in Scorpio Moon Square Jupiter: Sep 27 2:36 PM Mercury Enters Scorpio: Sep 27 5:43 PM Moon Conjunct Saturn: Sep 27 11:45 PM

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Sunday, September 28th The Moon crawls the late degrees of Scorpio for much of Sunday, hungry for distraction and satisfaction. The afternoon holds the potential for some delight, for the Moon makes a sextile to Venus in Virgo. Venus is, however, in difficult degrees, and attempts to find luxury may backfire. Not much later, the Moon pulls up itself from Scorpio’s catacombs, emerging into bright Sagittarius before the Sun goes down. The night air is pleasant and frisky, better suited to good times than the day which preceded it. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Scorpio Sextile Venus: Sep 28 3:28 PM Enters Sagittarius: Sep 28 5:49 PM Square Neptune: Sep 29 3:38 AM Sextile Sun: Sep 29 5:06 AM

Monday, September 29th As the work week begins, the Moon in Sagittarius sets alight the Grand Fire Trine once again. The Moon-Mars conjunction mid-day is energetic, but potentially irritating. The excitable day moves from incendiary to celebratory with Venus’ afternoon shift into Libra. Venus is strong in Libra, her traditional rulership, and sitting on the scales she facilitates harmony and arranges luxury. Venus will be in Libra until October 23rd. The evening sees the Moon trine electric Uranus and then expansive Jupiter, making for an unusually jovial Monday night. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Conjunct Mars: Sep 29 1:30 PM Venus Enters Libra: Sep 29 3:52 PM Moon Trine Uranus: Sep 29 8:46 PM Moon Trine Jupiter: Sep 29 10:28 PM

Tuesday, September 30th The Moon gallops through Sagittarius, void-of-course for much of Tuesday, neither aiding nor impeding earthly affairs. Late night, the Moon finds her way to Capricorn’s stony shore. A late night sextile to Mercury in Scorpio and square to Venus in Virgo follow shortly, seeding the night with a strange mixture of complicated thoughts and pleasant feelings. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Enters Capricorn: Sep 30 11:38 PM Moon Sextile Mercury: Oct 01 2:32 AM Moon Square Venus: Oct 01 2:48 AM Durga Puja Begins (Hindu)

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October THE SPIDER’S WORK

October is subject to a tumultuous set of influences. Big changes are ready to click into place. Mercury’s retrograde runs concurrently with a set of eclipses and a wild Grand Fire Trine. These intense configurations will send us sailing across several abysses. Yet we will not be birds, but spiders, speeding through the void with near-invisible safety cords. These crossings will weave a silken bridge, a set of subtle connections we may not have planned.

“Gaze Into The Abyss…” October begins with the Sun in Libra’s square to grim Pluto in Capricorn, which challenges our balance. Fears and secrets call from below. Whether we continue across or investigate below depends upon what beckons. Although the Sun completes its square with Pluto on the 3rd, this will not be the last challenge to our equilibrium.

Rewind On the 4th, Mercury grinds to a halt and throws it into reverse. The messenger turns back only 2 degrees deep into Scorpio’s tunnels. Here a hunger, a need, is discoveredsomething which has gone missing from previous analyses. Upon discovering this secret factor- this unknown motive- the messenger begins his retreats. This return will take Mercury back into Libra on the 10th.

Fireworks While Mercury stations, red Mars in Sagittarius makes an explosive trine with Uranus in Aries, igniting the Grand Fire Trine. Excitement and impatience emanate from this

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configuration. There is a willingness to cast caution to the wind and set the world afire. Potent fuel, but one easily misapplied in the midst of a Mercury retrograde. Warm yourself by the flames of inspiration, but give second thoughts to any spontaneous all-out assaults. The Grand Fire Trine rolls over the next several days, sparking outbursts of all varieties. On October 7th Mars in Sagittarius perfects his trine to Jupiter in Leo, signaling another round of fireworks. Simultaneously, the Sun in Libra opposes radical Uranus in Aries, turning up the temperature even further. In the midst of this dramatic configuration comes a lunar eclipse in Aries- the Moon disappearing just as she conjoins electric Uranus. The total lunar eclipse will be visible over North America, the Pacific, Australia, and east Asia. As the Moon goes dark, revolutions pause and combatants freeze for second. This lunar eclipse dredges up the many reasons to fight, but then places a question mark after each one. What conflicts are truly worth it? The good fight sometimes demands that we stay our hand, and true potency is sometimes best demonstrated by standing still. The day after the lunar eclipse, October 8th, Venus in lovely Libra completes her square to Pluto in Capricorn, casting a shadow across our joys and challenging our relationships with fear. Venus’ square to Pluto marks her passage across the teeth of the Uranus-Pluto square, demanding yet another round of calcinations and transformations. The Venus’ dance through the oven lasts until her opposition with Uranus on the 10th.

Following the Thread While Venus tries to maintain her composure during her brief tour of the underworld, a retrograde Mercury sneaks back into Libra, where he will remain for the rest of the month. This retreat drags emotional issues out of unconsciousness and into the light of reason, to be weighed, judged and eventually brought to order. Meanwhile, the Sun in Libra sextiles Jupiter in Leo on the 10th as well, making it seem possible to deal with it all equitably, even if there is naught but chaos afoot. The Sun moves on to a conjunction with the North Node in Libra on the 12th, reinforcing the importance of unity and the power of agreements.

Weaving Consensus The next day, October 13th, Venus in Libra sextiles Jupiter in Leo. Their unions sheds a faint beneficience, further advocating harmony in the midst of a wild set of configurations. The next day, the 14th, she, like the Sun a few days before her, conjoins the North Node, pointing again to the importance of relationships. While Venus conjoins the Dragon’s Head, the Sun sextiles Mars, energizing people to stand by their convictions.

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Plan B On the 16th, the Sun and Mercury conjoin, marking the clear eye of the Mercury retrograde storm. This alignment brings clarity to the busy month, exposing the core of the issues at hand. Mars looks upon this union of the spirit and mind from Sagittarius. Let your actions proceed from the clarity of the inferior conjunction. The next day, October 17th, retrograde Mercury conjoins Venus, connecting the mental and spiritual aspects of the process underway with the emotional. This conjunction generates insights into relationships and aesthetics.

A Little Friction Over the next few days, Venus makes her way into a sextile with Mars in Sagittarius, which she perfects on the 19th. This magnetic aspect sprinkles a little magic over erotic unions. Meanwhile, still-retrograde Mercury conjoins the North Node in Libra for a second time on the 19th. On the 20th, the retrograde messenger makes an inspiring sextile to Jupiter in Leo. Out of the month’s chaos of strands comes the subtle patterns of a web. Plans, though changed, are well on their way toward coagulating, drying quickly, like spider’s silk.

Gateway As the lunar month rolls towards a close, the Sun and then Venus both sneak into Scorpio. The Moon is only hours behind the pair, and when she catches up we’re treated to a partial solar eclipse in the very first degree of Scorpio. Much of North America will catch a glimpse, as will some areas of Eastern Russian. This eclipse takes place right next to the degree that Mercury stationed retrograde in early in the month. While the lunar eclipse asked that we give up our sword, this eclipse asks that we remember our needs. Although relationships and alliances are of paramount appearances, we must not lose sight of our interests. To do so is not selfish- or at least not destructively so. Strong coalitions are built on mutual interest, not self-sacrifice. Bind yourself to those points of overlap- they are the key to mutual satisfaction. Venus aligns on the other side of the Sun the day after the eclipse- the now-invisible planet’s superior conjunction. This configuration on the 24th lends further emphasis to the message which emanated from the darkened Sun the day before.

Reading the Scales On the 25th Mercury finally stations direct. With both eclipses passed and Mercury once again moving forward, it is time again to start stitching things back together, weaving the chaotic threads back into life’s tapestry. Red Mars signals his agreement, and moves into organized Capricorn the same

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day. In Capricorn, fiery Mars gains patience and strategy- qualities the crimson planet otherwise lacks. Mars is auspiciously placed in concrete Capricorn, and bodes well for works of organized might. Mars will be in Capricorn until December 4th.

A Relaxing Bath Mercury’s direct station and Mars’ ingress into Capricorn are followed by a pair of mellow trines with Neptune in Pisces. Both the Sun and Venus in Scorpio make harmonious trines with dreamy, painkilling Neptune on October 27th, which helps to dissolve some of the month’s abundant tensions.

A Vision Triumphant The last days of October see a now-direct Mercury in Libra conjoin the North Node on the 30th for a third and final time and then move on to an uplifting sextile with Jupiter in Leo on the 31st. These aspects help to restore the mind’s balance, and reinvigorate those plans which the month’s dramas disrupted.

The Pattern Woven As October comes to a close, the pattern woven by the month’s seemingly chaotic motion becomes clear. We’ll carry this latticework deep into the bowels of November to test its resilience.

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October Ephemeris

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October Dailies Wednesday, October 1st October begins with the Moon’s time in stony Capricorn briefly softened by a morning sextile to Neptune. From there, the Moon continues onward to a square with the Sun in Libra, bringing social considerations into conflict with obligations. As afternoon falls into evening, Luna moves on to a conjunction with dark Pluto, casting a shadow over much of the evening’s mood. As the night deepens, the Moon makes her way toward a square with electric Uranus in Aries, giving it a strange, sparky and potentially irritating charge. Moon in Capricorn Moon Sextile Neptune: Oct 01 8:54 AM Moon Square Sun: Oct 01 2:30 PM Begin Second Quarter of the Lunar Month Moon Conjunct Pluto: Oct 01 6:47 PM Moon Square Uranus: Oct 01 1:08 AM

Thursday, October 2nd Thursday begins with the Moon’s square to the Head and Tail of the Dragon, starting the day off on a conflicted note. The oscillation quickly passes, though, and is replaced by Luna’s sextile with hard Saturn, a disciplined configuration which sets the tone for the rest of the day. The only way to truly escape obligations is by fulfilling them. Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Capricorn Square Nodal Axis (North Bending): Oct 02 8:53 AM Sextile Saturn: Oct 02 11:15 AM Enters Aquarius: Oct 03 2:56 AM

Friday, October 3rd Friday begins with the Moon in Aquarius’ square to Mercury in Scorpio, beginning the day on a thoughtful, if somewhat negative, note. Things perk up quickly though, as Luna makes a fine trine with Venus in Libra, gilding the day with a grace it might otherwise lack. The Moon continues onward toward an evening trine with the Sun in Libra, which highlights Sol’s square with heavy Pluto in Capricorn. This configuration asks us to gaze upon the hard evolutionary mandates of the present without fear- to find balance crossing the abyss of history. Moon in Aquarius Moon Square Mercury: Oct 03 6:39 AM Moon Trine Venus: Oct 03 10:51 AM Moon Trine Sun: Oct 03 8:53 PM Moon Sextile Mars: Oct 04 2:11 AM Sun Square Pluto: Oct 04 3:05 AM Moon Sextile Uranus: Oct 04 3:16 AM Moon Opposite Jupiter: Oct 04 6:19 AM

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Navatri Ends (Hindu)

Saturday, October 4th The first portion of Saturday sees the Moon in Aquarius endure a superior square from Saturn in Scorpio, placing an onerous weight atop the morning. Meanwhile, Mercury slows to a perfect stop in Scorpio, and then begins is long journey backwards. Though Mercury stations retrograde in early Scorpio, his retrograde will take him back into Libra in less than a week. While the morning is subject to delays and the strange mixture of clarity and fogginess that Mercury’s retrograde station brings, the evening sees Mars in Sagittarius trine Uranus in Aries, sending more than a few heat-rays streaking through the night sky. With these excitatory beams raining down during Mercury’s retrograde station, more than a few bad ideas will be enacted tonight. Moon in Aquarius Moon Square Saturn: Oct 04 1:30 PM Mercury Stations Retrograde: Oct 04 12:03 PM Mars Trine Uranus: Oct 04 11:17 PM Moon Enters Pisces: Oct 05 4:23 AM Yom Kippur (Jewish) Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (Christian)

Sunday, October 5th Sunday begins with the fish-eyed Moon in Pisces’ trine to now-retrograde Mercury in Scorpio. Fears and insights are each reflected in the same strange water. The psychic soup becomes no more clear with the Moon’s mid-day conjunction to Neptune, though the fog slowly disperses as we move toward the evening. The night hours see the Moon sextile dark Pluto, offering an opportunity to reconcile ourselves with what is emerging from the shadows, while the wee hours host a potentially irritating Moon-Mars square. Moon in Pisces Moon Trine Mercury: Oct 05 8:02 AM Moon Conjunct Neptune: Oct 05 12:55 PM Moon Sextile Pluto: Oct 05 10:19 PM Moon Square Mars: Oct 06 5:35 AM Eid al-Adha (Muslim)

Monday, October 6th There is little planetary action to speak of this Monday. The Moon in Pisces makes a leaden but responsible trine to Saturn in Scorpio for much of the day, offering the opportunity to dive back into the work-week with some modicum of discipline. After the Moon completes her mid-afternoon trine Saturn, she floats through the rest of the day void-of-course, portending nothing in particular. Moon in Pisces Moon Trine Saturn: Oct 06 2:39 PM

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Moon Enters Aries: Oct 07 5:09 AM

Tuesday, October 7th Tuesday is host to a dramatic configuration. The Sun in Libra opposes electric Uranus in Aries all day, charging it with surprises, accidents and insights. The real story, though begins after night falls and the incendiary Full Moon in Aries rises. As the night hours pass, though, the Moon begins to darken, devoured by the eclipse dragon. A fiery serpent winds through the night’s aethyrs, setting much ablaze. Yet there is more to this eclipse than mere ignition. The Lunar eclipse inflames our individuality, not merely to exult in it, but to refine it. The heavens extract from us the egoic poisons which bind us, pulling the venom to the surface that we may see it. This is hard lesson, for many have fought for years to stand firm against the adversarial tide, and to let go of what was hard-won may feel like a defeat. This Lunar Eclipse is not a call to abandon yourself or your ideals, but to transmute them. Sometimes to succeed you have to let go of the need to win. Moon in Aries Sun Opposite Uranus: Oct 07 3:57 PM Moon Opposite Venus: Oct 07 9:59 PM Moon Conjunct Uranus: Oct 08 4:55 AM Lunar Eclipse: Oct 08 5:53 AM Begin Third Quarter of the Lunar Month

Wednesday, October 8th The Aries Moon begins the day by making a tight Grand Fire Trine with Mars and Jupiter, unleashing an aggressive enthusiasm during the morning hours. Mid-day, however, Venus in Libra completes her square with Pluto, bringing odd feelings to the surface and suppressing superficial pleasures. The Moon conjoins the South Node of the Moon nearly simultaneously, extracting even more potentially venomous material from hidden places. Combustible material and open flames sit perilously close today. Creating a little distance for yourself, and within your relationships, is well advised. Moon in Aries Moon Trine Mars: Oct 08 9:08 AM Moon Trine Jupiter: Oct 08 9:24 AM Venus Square Pluto: Oct 08 12:32 PM Moon Conjunct South Node (Cauda Draconis): Oct 08 12:45 PM Mars Trine Jupiter: Oct 08 3:42 PM Lakshmi Puja (Hindu)

Thursday, October 9th The Moon enters Taurus as the Sun rises Thursday morning, providing some much needed stability. Shortly thereafter, Luna moves into an opposition with retrograde Mercury in Scorpio, bringing error messages to our attention. Afterward the solid Moon in Taurus moves toward a pleasantly anaesthetizing sextile with Neptune in Pisces, mellowing the day through the mid-afternoon.

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The evening sees the Moon find her way into a trine with dark Pluto, settling a serious but insightful air about the night. Moon in Taurus Moon Enters Taurus Oct 09 6:48 AM Moon Opposite Mercury: Oct 09 8:11 AM Moon Sextile Neptune: Oct 09 3:31 PM Moon Trine Pluto: Oct 10 1:40 AM First day of Sukkot (Jewish)

Friday, October 10th Friday begins with the Moon in Taurus’ square with Jupiter in Leo. The Sun in Libra also aspects Jupiter today, though through the more favorable sextile aspect. These aspects to Jupiter indicate good events, and high spirits, though the suggestion is that expectations may still exceed reality, potentially frustrating celebratory moods. Mid-day, Mercury backslides into Libra, reframing ongoing problems. To solve the emotionally charged conundrums recently revealed, an impartial state is key. The afternoon is dominated by the Moon’s opposition to Saturn in Scorpio, which highlights the stark difference between duty and comfort. Fortunately, this heavy influence erodes as the night progresses, leaving us free to explore the combustible but electric emotional insights the opposition between Venus in Libra and Uranus in Aries provides. Moon in Taurus Moon Square Jupiter: Oct 10 12:51 PM Mercury Re-Enters Libra: Oct 10 12:25 PM Sun Sextile Jupiter: Oct 10 6:17 PM Moon Opposite Saturn: Oct 10 7:49 PM Venus Opposite Uranus: Oct 11 4:09 AM

Saturday, October 11th Saturday begins with the Moon in Taurus, but by mid-day Luna escapes into Gemini’s high winds, speeding up the mental tempo for the next couple days. Though the Moon’s entry into Gemini may spark more than a few thoughts, both mental acuity and speed are reduced by Luna’s evening square with foggy Neptune in Pisces, which muddies neural pathways and spikes logic with fantasy. Evening sees Luna escape Neptune, leaving us free to play amidst the tangled mental energies present. Moon Moon Moon Karva

in Taurus Enters Gemini: Oct 11 10:56 AM Square Neptune: Oct 11 8:07 PM Cauth (Hindu)

Sunday, October 12th An energetic Sunday begins with the Sun in Libra’s precise conjunction with the North Node of the Moon, the mythical Dragon’s Head. A mixture of purpose and ambition emanates from this conjunction, diffusing throughout the day. Meanwhile, the swift

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Moon in Gemini aspects a number of planets, providing multiple rushes of energy. Though it may be complicated by Mercury’s retrograde, today is generally auspicious, excellent for a variety of short adventures. Moon in Gemini Sun Conjunct North Node (Caput Draconis): Oct 12 10:57 AM Moon Sextile Uranus: Oct 12 1:00 PM Moon Trine Venus: Oct 12 4:35 PM Moon Sextile Jupiter: Oct 12 7:35 PM Moon Trine Sun: Oct 12 11:06 PM Moon Opposite Mars: Oct 12 12:15 AM

Monday, October 13th The speedy Moon in Gemini spends the morning on its way toward a mid-day trine with retrograde Mercury in Libra. This configuration represents an opportunity for fruitful consideration of those matters recently thrown into question. The mental static fades during the evening, when the Moon enters Cancer. Lulled by wavelike motion, the evening is mellow but pleasure-hungry, as Jupiter and Venus, the benefics, make a sweet sextile during the wee hours. While Jupiter and Venus play nice, Venus makes a conjunction with the North Node, further intensifying the night’s desires. Moon in Gemini Moon Trine Mercury: Oct 13 1:01 PM Moon Enters Cancer: Oct 13 6:31 PM Venus Conjunct North Node: Oct 14 1:39 AM Venus Sextile Jupiter: Oct 14 3:32 AM Moon Trine Neptune: Oct 14 4:22 AM

Tuesday, October 14th The Sun in Libra’s sextile to Mars in Sagittarius provides Tuesday with adequate oomph, but the Cancer Moon’s T-square with Pluto and Uranus destabilizes the second half of the day. Calls to action coexist awkwardly with a longing for comfort and withdrawal. Moon in Cancer Moon Opposite Pluto: Oct 14 4:03 PM Moon Square Uranus: Oct 14 10:07 PM Sun Sextile Mars: Oct 15 2:18 AM

Wednesday, October 15th Wednesday begins with the Moon in Cancer’s square to the Nodal Axis, subjecting the morning to a subtle push/pull which may make decisions more difficult than they ought to be. Shortly thereafter Luna completes a square to Venus in Libra, giving rise to intense desires for harmony. Though the day begins with a voracious appetite, it becomes steadily more sedate. Mid-day’s Moon-Saturn trine offers a compromise between comfort and discipline, while the Moon’s subsequent square to the Sun in Libra asks us to downshift a bit in preparation for the last quarter of the lunar month.

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The evening sees the Moon square retrograde Mercury in Libra, sending bursts of tangled information through the night aethyrs. Moon in Cancer Moon Square the Nodal Axis (South Bending): Oct 15 8:05 AM Moon Square Venus: Oct 15 8:49 AM Moon Trine Saturn: Oct 15 1:38 PM Moon Square Sun: Oct 15 2:13 PM (Begin Fourth Lunar Quarter) Moon Square Mercury: Oct 15 6:26 PM Moon Enters Leo: Oct 16 5:30 AM Last Day of Sukkot (Jewish)

Thursday, October 16th Thursday is host to Mercury’s secret meeting with the Sun in Libra, the inferior conjunction at the heart of every Mercury retrograde. This configuration, which places the Sun, Mercury and Earth in a straight line, allows for unusual clarity. The ideas and plans which swirl about in the Mercurial chaos can be seen clearly in the afternoon light. Patterns emerge here, and with patterns, reason can once again find purchase. As night falls, Mercury moves on to sextile Mars in Sagittarius, pushing what clarity emerged earlier in the day to be enacted swiftly. Plans of action begin to coagulate. Moon in Leo Mercury Conjunct Sun: Oct 16 3:39 PM Mercury Sextile Mars: Oct 16 8:48 PM Shmini Atzeret (Jewish)

Friday, October 17th A busy day begins with the Moon in Leo’s trine to electric Uranus in Aries, starting the day off with a pleasing jolt. The electricity in the air is conducted smoothly by the mid-day conjunction of Mercury and Venus in Libra, which sees heart and mind come together. With their union taking place atop the Dragon’s Head, the ideas conceived here are bound for an unusual destiny, as this conjunction will yield ambitious progeny. The afternoon has a rather celebratory air about it, strengthened by the Moon’s evening conjunction with triumphal Jupiter in Leo. The night is invigorated by a similar cocktail, though with the addition of the Moon’s square to cold Saturn. The chill of manifest reality creeps into the otherwise ecstatic buzz of the day, bringing things down to earth a bit during the wee hours. Moon in Leo Moon Trine Uranus: Oct 17 9:57 AM Mercury Conjunct Venus: Oct 17 12:55 PM Moon Conjunct Jupiter: Oct 17 7:05 PM Moon Sextile Mercury: Oct 18 1:22 AM Moon Square Saturn: Oct 18 2:33 AM Moon Sextile Venus: Oct 18 4:13 AM Moon Trine Mars: Oct 18 6:17 AM

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Saturday, October 18th Saturday begins as the Moon in Leo departs from a heated trine with Mars. Fortunately, Luna sextiles the Sun early, balancing out the morning’s contrarieties. From there, the Moon drifts void-of-course through the daylight hours, auguring nothing in particular. Luna slips into grounded Virgo just before sunset, banking the fire of the last few days. She spends the entirety of the night applying to an opposition with fog-laced Neptune, providing for a mellow, if somewhat chemically altered, evening. Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Leo Sextile Sun: Oct 18 8:09 AM Enters Virgo: Oct 18 6:07 PM Opposition Neptune: Oct 19 4:15 AM

Sunday, October 19th Sunday is subject to the practical but faint vibrations of a very waning Moon in Virgo. This is a fine configuration for a little house-keeping. Attend to the small vortices of chaos which have appeared over the last couple weeks. There is, however, another energy suffusing the day, the pleasing and erotic blend of Mars and Venus, which spend the day in a sextile. A bit of passion is not ill-placed here. Moon in Virgo Moon Trine Pluto: Oct 19 4:41 PM Venus Sextile Mars: Oct 20 12:18 AM

Monday, October 20th Monday begins with the practical Moon in Virgo’s sextile with disciplined Saturn in Scorpio. Spending the morning and mid-day strapped to grindstone will prove worthwhile. After the sextile with Saturn, the Moon spends the afternoon and evening hours chasing a square to Mars. This places the Moon between the hard rays of Saturn and Mars, a traditionally ill-omened configuration. Avoid scheduling anything important during these hours, as the probability of a poor result is heightened. Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Virgo Sextile Saturn: Oct 20 3:30 PM Square Mars: Oct 20 10:27 PM Enters Libra: Oct 21 6:09 AM

Tuesday, October 21st Tuesday begins with a still-retrograde Mercury’s conjunction with the North Node in Libra. Substantial ideas flit about. Though still unfinished, plans are coagulating, getting ready for their entrance into reality. There is a positive spin to the ideas in play, and a triumphal cast to the mind courtesy of Mercury’s sextile with confident Jupiter in Leo. The day hums along on this largely hopeful frequency, though as night deepens the Moon approaches a square with dark Pluto, throwing shadows of doubt across the face of bright futures. Moon in Libra

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Mercury Conjunct North Node: Oct 20 8:54 AM Mercury Sextile Jupiter: Oct 20 3:41 PM Moon Square Pluto: Oct 22 4:07 AM Dhan Teras (Hindu)

Wednesday, October 22nd Wednesday begins on an unsteady note, with the Moon in Libra opposite erratic Uranus in Aries. Come afternoon, though, the Moon conjoins Mercury in the sign of the scales. Though Mercury is still retrograde, he is close enough to his upcoming direct station that the Moon’s conjunction should yield more answers than questions. The evening sees Luna conjunct her own North Node and sextile celebratory Jupiter in Leo, starting off the night on a righteous and desirous note. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Libra Opposite Uranus: Oct 22 9:22 AM Conjunct Mercury: Oct 22 4:24 PM Conjunct North Node (Caput Draconis): Oct 22 7:45 PM Sextile Jupiter: Oct 22 7:47 PM

Thursday, October 23rd The Sun leaves behind the tentative balance of Libra and descends into the bowels of Scorpio early Thursday morning. In Scorpio, the Sun shines brightly on what is usually left hidden, illuminating the depths of the psyche and revealing the secrets people keep. The Sun will be in Scorpio until November 22nd. The same day, Venus leaves the equilibrium of Libra behind, plunging into Scorpio as well. Venus is considered to be in her detriment in Scorpio, temporarily putting people in a crankier place, making life less enjoyable, and tempting us to compensate with unwholesome pleasures. Nonetheless, whilst in Scorpio Venus helps to bring neglected feelings to the surface, exposing what stands in the way of intimacy. Venus will be in Scorpio until November 16th. The Moon follows suit, entering Scorpio only minutes after Venus. Luna finds the Sun here in the entryway to the scorpion’s burrow. The two conjoin so closely that Sun’s light is temporarily blotted out- a partial solar eclipse. This eclipse will be visible in parts of northern Russia and much of North America. The twinned powers of Venus and the Sun in Scorpio are sucked into the various agreements the North Node in Libra has in store. Reserves of hidden power and passion rise to meet the challenges of the day. Moon in Libra Sun Enters Scorpio: Oct 23 6:56 AM Venus Enters Scorpio: Oct 23 3:51 PM Moon Enters Scorpio: Oct 23 4:08 PM Moon Conjunct Venus: Oct 23 4:09 PM Solar Eclipse: Oct 23 4:44 PM Begin First Quarter of the Lunar Month Moon Trine Neptune: Oct 24 1:26 AM Diwali (Hindu)

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Muharram (Muslim)

Friday, October 24th Rivers of subtle power run through a day still humming from yesterday’s solar eclipse. Venus completes her conjunction to the Sun in Scorpio today, symbolically purifying the passions in the blazing heart of the Sun. This brief inflammation burns away the dross, leaving only the truth of our love and hate. Though dramatic, this is an interior process, and occurs well behind the veil of light. Though equally preoccupied with invisible processes, the night hours are more revelrous. The Moon chases a potentially excessive square with Jupiter in Leo, highlighting the friction between quiet rumination and loud rum-consumption. Moon in Scorpio Moon Sextile Pluto: Oct 24 1:12 PM Sun Conjunct Venus: Oct 25 2:30 AM Moon Square Jupiter: Oct 25 4:41 AM

Saturday, October 25th Though Saturday begins with the Moon’s potentially oppressive conjunction with Saturn in Scorpio, it is graced by Mercury’s blessed station direct. After weeks retrograde, Mercury resumes forward motion, putting a number of related processes back on track. Late in the evening, the Moon emerges from the scorpion’s burrow, striding into bright Sagittarius. Here Luna provides the night hours with a pleasant, rambunctious backdrop. The night holds one more shift, though. Just before dawn, red Mars leaves wide-ranging Sagittarius for stony Capricorn. Mars is considered to be in his exaltation in Capricorn, pushing a patient, strategic and pragmatic approach to work and conflict. It’s a fine time to put together that plan to rule the world. Mars will be in Capricorn until December 4th. Moon in Scorpio Moon Conjunct Saturn: Oct 25 11:09 AM Mercury Stations Direct: Oct 25 2:17 PM Moon Enters Sagittarius: Oct 25 11:38 PM Mars Enters Capricorn: Oct 26 5:42 AM

Sunday, October 26th Sunday begins with the Moon in Sagittarius’ square to Neptune in Pisces, fogging the early-morning hours. The mist lifts early in the day, replaced by the red lightning of Uranus in Aries. The mid-day is subject to the energetic but chaotic charge of the eccentric planet. No planetary aspects occur during the evening, but the late night is subject to a talkative sextile between the Moon and Mercury. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Square Neptune: Oct 26 8:29 AM Moon Trine Uranus: Oct 26 12:19 AM Moon Sextile Mercury: Oct 27 6:09 AM 206

October 2014 Astrological Almanac by Austin Coppock

Monday, October 27th The day begins with the Moon in Sagittarius’ pleasant, received trine with Jupiter in Leo, giving it an ambient heart-warmth. Meanwhile, Venus and the Sun in Scorpio both trine anaesthetic Neptune, injecting Monday with industrial-strength pain killers. Though perfect for dreams large and small, it may difficult to stay focused on demanding concrete tasks. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Trine Jupiter: Oct 27 11:17 AM Venus Trine Neptune: Oct 27 1:47 PM Sun Trine Neptune: Oct 28 4:48 AM Moon Enters Capricorn: Oct 28 5:00 AM

Tuesday, October 28th Tuesday begins with the Moon’s conjunction with industrious Mars in Capricorn, starting the day off on a productive note. Mid-day the Moon moves on to a more mellow sextile with Neptune in Pisces, and then a harmonious sextile with the Sun in Scorpio, followed shortly by a pleasing aspect with darkly beautiful Venus in Scorpio. The day drifts into night on the inertia of the afternoon’s aspects. Late night, however, the Moon conjoins Pluto, which casts a few ominous shadows across the aethyrs. The wee hours find the Moon travelling between Pluto and Uranus, stirring them with rough hands. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Capricorn Conjunct Mars: Oct 28 7:41 AM Sextile Neptune: Oct 28 1:34 PM Sextile Sun: Oct 28 2:15 PM Sextile Venus: Oct 28 3:58 PM Conjunct Pluto: Oct 29 12:46 AM Square Uranus: Oct 29 4:47 AM

Wednesday, October 29th Wednesday sees the Moon in Capricorn square Mercury in Libra, as well as both sides of the Nodal Axis. The price of moving forward is clear here. Implementing revised ideas will require a sacrifice- likely a compromise. The day dwells upon these issues, stretching minds on invisible racks. The evening leaves the day’s nuanced tension behind, favoring the pragmatic as the Moon in Capricorn makes a sextile with responsible Saturn in Scorpio. Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Capricorn Square Mercury: Oct 29 12:30 PM Square Nodal Axis (North Bending): Oct 29 2:15 PM Sextile Saturn: Oct 29 10:00 PM

Thursday, October 30th The Moon enters Aquarius early Thursday morning, lending the day an abstract, mentally active quality. The aethyrs are indeed alive with ideas, for a now-direct

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Mercury conjoins the North Node for a third and final time, signaling that those ideas and alliances conceived over the last month have nearly completed their gestation. The evening sees the Moon in Aquarius square the Sun in Scorpio, asking us to adjust our pace as we enter the energetic second quarter of the lunar month. The late night holds the Moon’s square with Venus in Scorpio. Unmet desires crawl the mind, threatening to hijack cognitive processes. Moon in Capricorn Moon Enters Aquarius: Oct 30 8:50 AM Mercury Conjunct North Node (Dragon’s Head): Oct 30 8:50 PM Moon Square Sun: Oct 30 9:47 PM Begin Second Quarter of the Lunar Month Moon Square Venus: Oct 31 12:33 AM

Friday, October 31st Friday begins with a few prickles of electricity, courtesy of the Moon in Aquarius’ sextile to Uranus in Aries. The neural stimulation continues throughout the day, as the Moon trines powerful Mercury in Libra. Potent communications and big ideas continue to ride the mental wavelengths. The evening, however, sees something lacking, for the Moon’s opposition with Jupiter in Leo is likely to leave a number unsatisfied. Remember to appreciate what you have, as well as what you hope for. As the night deepens, Luna proceeds on to a square with Saturn in Scorpio, whose weight may contradict celebratory plans. Moon in Aquarius Moon Sextile Uranus: Oct 31 7:56 AM Moon Trine Mercury: Oct 31 6:40 PM Moon Opposite Jupiter: Oct 31 7:29 PM Moon Square Saturn: Oct 31 1:20 AM Halloween (United States) Saimhain (Wiccan, Neo-Pagan)

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November THE SERPENT’S PATH

November drifts slowly between otherworldly reverie and hard facts, inspiration and depression. The Sun, Mercury and Venus all make conjunctions with grim Saturn in Scorpio, yet each also aspects sunny Jupiter in Leo. Mars makes a ruthless conjunction with Pluto on the 10th, yet Neptune’s direct station a few days later salves what blows landed. Harsh realities alternate with inspirational truths and ambivalent dreams. The wisdom of the serpent is paramount here. Stay close to the earth but do not forget to take in what warming rays the gleaming Sun provides.

Nocturnal Flow November begins with invisible Venus in Scorpio’s sextile with Pluto in Capricorn on the 1st, offering visions of tenebrous beauty and the opportunity for a little insight into ongoing emotional processes. Meanwhile, strategic Mars in Capricorn sextiles diffuse Neptune in Pisces, offering a mix of the subtle and strategic. Be like the waves, wearing away at objectives with steady tidal effort. The next couple days see the Sun in Scorpio wind toward a sextile with Pluto on the 3rd. The first several days of the month have a dark but mellow vibe, like sailing at night. Mysteries flit about the shore, but little disturbs the peace, with possible exception of the Moon in Aries conjunction with Uranus on the 4th.

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Terra Firma The energy builds slowly toward the Full Moon in Taurus on November 6th, when our ship lands on solid ground. This stabilizing lunation helps to resolidify what two eclipses have troubled. Remember that no matter how far your journey and no matter how radical your transformations, you can only go so far, so fast. Set a live-able pace for yourself, and you’ll have more endurance than you’d dreamed.

Private Messages On the 8th, Mercury re-enters Scorpio, the sign he turned retrograde in more than a month earlier. Mercury’s return to Scorpio’s tunnels brings the mind back to the issues which started the retrograde. Look over what has changed, and then move on to new mysteries. Meanwhile, Venus in Scorpio squares Jupiter in Leo, a celebratory but potentially excessive combination which is exact on the 9th. Remember, sometimes a little debauchery goes a long way.

Crackdown While Venus and Jupiter celebrate, Mars and Pluto plot. Mars conjoins Pluto in Capricorn on the 10th. This conjunction brings to mind ruthless truths, and makes power dynamics all-too-clear. From it issues the impetus to take control of troubling situations. The desire for control easily gets out of hand while Mars is conjoined Pluto, leading to draconian excesses. From Pluto, Mars makes his way toward a square with Uranus in Aries, which he completes on the 12th. Mars’ transit across the Uranus-Pluto square inflames ongoing tensions. While Mars tangles with Uranus and Pluto, Mercury in Scorpio trines Neptune in Pisces, leading the mind away from the difficult dynamics in play. Though it serves to blunt some of the potential interpersonal nastiness, this configuration will also serve to disguise some power-plays. Meanwhile, Venus goes from celebratory to depressed. She conjoins Saturn in Scorpio on the 12th. This conjunction acts like an x-ray, cutting through the pretty skin of relationships to reveal their bones.

It’s Not So Bad… After a difficult set of days, the Sun in Scorpio squares sunny Jupiter in Leo. This aspect on the 13th points out the positive forces at work, and keeps November’s vibe from sliding wholly into the graveyard. After this bit of contrary positivity, Neptune stations direct in Pisces, resuming forward motion for the first time since June. Opiate mists drift from the heavens as the dream engine slowly hums back to life.

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Quadruped Love Venus escapes Scorpio’s pleasure dungeons on the 16th and makes for Sagittarius. In the centaur’s sign, Venus is celebratory and excitable. Inspiration and enthusiasm rise and pleasures of spectacle abound. Venus will be Sagittarius until December 10th.

Tombstone Although Venus’ entrance into excitable Sagittarius sets the stage for celebration, we will have to wait until the Sun completes its conjunction with grim Saturn in Scorpio on the 17th. A pall of seriousness falls over the surrounding days. The rays which fall earthward test and reveal the stability of life structures. Meanwhile, the mind turns naturally towards judgment. Look hard, but condemn sparingly.

Fairy Tales and Battle Plans As the Sun escapes Saturn, Venus in Sagittarius applies to a square with recently-direct Neptune in Pisces. The Venus-Neptune square on the 19th offers a variety of distractions, many of them pleasing. Meanwhile, Mercury in Scorpio creeps toward a productive sextile with Mars in Capricorn on the 20th, seeding strategic insights and facilitating efficient problem solving. With these mild configurations the lunar month comes to a close.

Bullseye The Sun enters Sagittarius on the 21st and is immediately joined by the Moon. Together, the two conceive the possibilities of a new month. The New Moon in Sagittarius sees a glowing set of crosshairs hovering over a variety of short- and long-term goals. Remember your quests and set out in search of the epic.

Good News First Mercury in Scorpio squares Jupiter in Leo on the 22nd, pulling thoughts and communications in a positive but potentially distorted direction. What warmth is generated by Mercury’s square with sunny Jupiter disappears quickly, replaced by the pressure of the messengers’ conjunction with Saturn. Delays to plans, technological problems and communication issues cluster around the 25th, as do a small swarm of negative thoughts. The stern mindset of Mercury’s conjunction with Saturn is, however, contradicted by the excitement of Venus in Sagittarius’ trine with Uranus in Aries on the 25th and softened the pleasant illusions spawned by the Sun in Sagittarius’ square to Neptune in Pisces on the 26th.

Moving On Shortly thereafter, on the 27th, Mercury leaves the paranoid complexities of Scorpio behind for the exciting possibilities of Sagittarius. 211

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With the Sun, Venus and Mercury now in Sagittarius, the tone shifts decisively over the last few days of November from the gritty tunnels of reality to a panorama of possibilities painted in warmer colors. The last planetary aspect of November is Mercury’s square to Neptune in Pisces, which weaves daydreams into the final days of the month. Serpentine motion becomes a purposeful gallop as November comes to an end. Epic tales waver on the horizon, beckoning us toward an action-packed December.

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November Ephemeris

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November Dailies Saturday, November 1st November begins with the Moon in airy Aquarius, but Luna soon slips beneath the waves, entering Pisces before the Sun attains the zenith. The watery Moon draws us down into the deeps of Venus in Scorpio’s subterranean sextile with Pluto in Capricorn. This aspect taps deep veins of feeling, bringing valuable, though raw, ore to the surface. The day and night are also subject to Mars in Capricorn’s sextile with Neptune in Pisces, a configuration the Moon strongly reinforces during the evening hours. Mars’ ambition and power is vaporized here, drifting as a cloud, in which can be seen great plans and satisfying achievements. Potent dreams and strange lusts drift slowly through the night air. Moon in Aquarius Moon Enters Pisces: Nov 01 11:35 AM Venus Sextile Pluto: Nov 01 6:08 PM Mars Sextile Neptune: Nov 01 6:42 PM Moon Conjunct Neptune: Nov 01 7:45 PM Moon Sextile Mars: Nov 01 7:48 PM Moon Trine Sun: Nov 2 3:09 AM Moon Sextile Pluto: Nov 02 5:45 AM All Saints’ Day (Christian) Daylight Savings Time Ends in the USA

Sunday, November 2nd Sunday begins with the Moon in Pisces’ trine to Venus in Scorpio, starting the day off on a pleasing, though potentially debaucherous note. The bulk of the day is unperturbed by any specific planetary aspects, though the tone grows steadily more serious as it progresses. The Moon’s trine to quiet, intense Saturn in Scorpio waits in the wee hours, a solid point of potential serenity. Moon in Pisces Moon Trine Venus: Nov 02 6:55 AM Moon Trine Saturn: Nov 03 3:05 AM All Souls’ Day (Christian)

Monday, November 3rd Monday dawns with the Moon void-of-course in the dissatisfying late degrees of Pisces, but by mid-day Luna bursts into incendiary Aries, slowly but consistently picking up the pace. During the afternoon the Sun in Scorpio completes a sextile with Pluto, directing the solar light down a variety of tricky mineshafts. This bit of light for your dark gently illuminates hidden factors within and without. The evening is subject to the harsh but potent square between the Moon in Aries and Mars in Capricorn. There is eagerness and ambition to this configuration, but impatience as well. The night’s energies are best directed into kinetic or strategic

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occupations. Moon in Pisces Moon Enters Aries: Nov 03 12:53 PM Sun Sextile Pluto: Nov 03 4:50 PM Moon Square Mars: Nov 03 11:53 PM

Tuesday, November 4th Monday begins on a destabilizing note, with the Moon in Aries first squaring Pluto in Capricorn and then conjoining Uranus in Aries. Though the day steadies a bit after the Moon leaves Uranus behind, the evening holds Luna’s conjunction with the Dragon’s Tail- the South Node of the Moon. Here we are pulled to contemplate what, exactly, we must leave behind in order to move forward- in all likelihood a piece of our identity. As the night grows deeper, the spirit lifts, born aloft on the wings of the Moon’s inspiring trine to Jupiter in Leo. Moon in Aries Moon Square Pluto: Nov 04 8:09 AM Moon Conjunct Uranus: Nov 04 11:30 AM Moon Conjunct South Node (Cauda Draconis): Nov 04 9:13 PM Moon Trine Jupiter: Nov 04 12:03 AM

Wednesday, November 5th Wednesday begins with the Moon in Aries’ opposition to Mercury in Libra, seeding a variety of potentially unwelcome thoughts throughout the first part of the day. There may be some friction between action and reflection as ideas interfere with necessary activities. As the afternoon approaches, the Moon enters Taurus, slowing and steadying the pace of the day. The evening sees the Moon rise bright and nearly full, though the lunar intensity is diffused by the Moon’s sextile to trance-inducing Neptune. Meanwhile, the deeps of night hold the Moon’s industrious but perhaps inconveniently timed trine to Mars in Capricorn. Moon in Aries Moon Opposite Mercury: Nov 05 7:28 AM Moon Enters Taurus: Nov 05 3:34 PM Moon Sextile Neptune: Nov 05 11:51 PM Moon Trine Mars: Nov 06 5:41 AM

Thursday, November 6th Thursday is host to the Full Moon in Taurus, the yearly opposition of the Sun in Scorpio and Moon in Taurus. This lunation reminds us, in the midst of subterranean explorations, to appreciate the beauty of life’s many surfaces, and to remember that all processes of transformation have a speed limit. Change has a pace, and if you can find and keep up with it, you will be carried by it. Move with it, and it will move with you. Moon in Taurus Moon Trine Pluto: Nov 06 11:21 AM Full Moon: Nov 06 4:24 PM 215

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Moon Opposite Venus: Nov 06 10:33 PM Moon Square Jupiter: Nov 07 4:03 AM Kartik Poornima (Hindu)

Friday, November 7th Friday begins with the Moon’s opposition to Saturn in Scorpio, a heavy configuration which highlights life’s current discomforts- the obstacles between you and flow. This leaden note resonates throughout much of the day, though it grows fainter in the afternoon. Come evening, Luna strides into swift Gemini, quickening the night’s nerves and stirring up a small nest of thoughts. It may be difficult to perform any particularly careful analysis, though, for the Moon finds herself chasing a disorienting square to Neptune in Pisces deep into the night. Fantasies, distractions and alcohol all intrude on cognitive processes. Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Taurus Opposite Saturn: Nov 07 10:20 AM Enters Gemini: Nov 07 7:46 PM Square Neptune: Nov 08 4:25 AM

Saturday, November 8th Saturday sees Mercury enter Scorpio for the second time this year. This time, though, the messenger’s travels through the Scorpion’s tunnels will be straight and true, uncomplicated by the twisting pathways of the swift planet’s retrogradation. The day is dominated by the ingress- thoughts become penetrating, more focused and more emotionally loaded. Moon in Gemini Mercury Re-Enters Scorpio: Nov 08 5:07 PM Moon Sextile Uranus: Nov 08 7:42 PM

Sunday, November 9th Sunday sees the Moon in Gemini make a pleasant sextile with Jupiter in Leo, brightening and warming the ambiance. Venus in Scorpio also aspects Jupiter, perhaps demanding more than the generous planet can give. There is thus a tendency toward excess today, a potential conflict between expectations and abundance. Yet with standards properly adjusted, there is little ill to convict the day of. The night is lit by a void-of-course Gemini Moon, burning its way through tired nerves until the wee hours, when it sneaks into calming Cancer. Moon in Gemini Moon Sextile Jupiter: Nov 09 10:25 AM Venus Square Jupiter: Nov 09 2:40 PM Moon Enters Cancer: Nov 10 2:41 AM

Monday, November 10th

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Monday is subject to a variety of intense influences. The day begins with the Moon in Cancer, Mercury in Scorpio and Neptune in Pisces in a tight Grand Water Trine, bathing the morning in an intuitive, imaginative and revealing mist. The rest of the day is, however, host to Mars’ intense conjunction with Pluto in Capricorn, a ruthless, ambitious and potentially violent union. This red and black streaked beam strikes the Moon in Cancer, which creates a T-Square between Mars and Pluto in Capricorn and Uranus in Aries. The flames of personal transformation leap high here, as does the hellfire of political frustration. There are particularly intense and turbulent feelings afoot today. Think carefully before acting on the visions Monday brings. Moon in Cancer Moon Trine Mercury: Nov 10 7:11 AM Moon Trine Neptune: Nov 10 11:46 AM Mars Conjunct Pluto: Nov 10 5:05 PM Moon Opposite Pluto: Nov 10 12:46 AM Moon Opposite Mars: Nov 10 1:16 AM Moon Square Uranus: Nov 11 3:56 AM

Tuesday, November 11th Tuesday sees the Cancer Moon attempt to create calm while Mars sets fires. The afternoon features the Moon’s square to the Nodal Axis, complicating decisions with invisible pushes and pulls. Shortly thereafter, though, the Moon in Cancer makes a gold and silver trine with the Sun in Scorpio, creating a layer of harmony which helps to reconcile this portion of the day. The evening sees Mercury in Scorpio complete a trine with Neptune in Pisces, downloading dreamlike visions to the waking mind. Late night, the Moon trines Venus and then Saturn in Scorpio, highlighting both desires and that which obstructs or delays their satisfaction. Moon in Cancer Moon Square Nodal Axis (South Bending): Nov 11 2:46 PM Moon Trine Sun: Nov 11 3:56 PM Mercury Trine Neptune: Nov 11 9:37 PM Moon Trine Venus: Nov 11 1:40 AM Moon Trine Saturn: Nov 12 3:20 AM Veterans’ Day (United States)

Wednesday, November 12th Wednesday begins with the Moon, void-of-course, but comfy at the end of Cancer, but mid-day moves into extraverted Leo. Two planetary aspects complete themselves today. The first is Venus’ conjunction with Saturn in Scorpio. This conjunction can be rather joyless, yet it presides over key moments in relationships and agreements, concretizing some and demolishing others. It signifies a point of commitment. How serious are you? Meanwhile, Mars in Capricorn squares Uranus in Aries, an explosive combination. The air which hovers above the day has a combustible quality. Conflicts between 217

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authority and individuality are especially likely to set it ablaze. Moon in Cancer Moon Enters Leo: Nov 12 12:46 PM Venus Conjunct Saturn: Nov 12 7:01 PM Mars Square Uranus: Nov 12 7:28 PM Moon Square Mercury: Nov 13 1:59 AM

Thursday, November 13th Thursday dawns with the Moon in bright Leo. Luna spends the morning and mid-day on her way to an afternoon trine with stimulating but unpredictable Uranus in Aries. Pleasant disruptions may well occur. The evening sees the intense Sun in Scorpio square sunny Jupiter in Leo, balancing light and dark. Dark heroic archetypes float through the mind, as do tales of underworld journeys. The Sun in Scorpio’s potential negativity is tempered by the vision of glory which Jupiter presents, while Jupiter’s tendency toward excessive positivity is checked by the emotional realities which the Sun illuminates in Scorpio. Moon in Leo Moon Trine Uranus: Nov 13 3:04 PM Sun Square Jupiter: Nov 13 9:04 PM

Friday, November 14th Friday begins with the Moon in Leo’s conjunction with sunny Jupiter, generating a positive ambiance which serves to offset the negativity of recent configurations. The bright Moon in Leo squares the Sun in Scorpio next, issuing us into the fourth quarter of the lunar month. The afternoon sees the balance slide again, though, as the Moon in Leo squares cranky Saturn in Scorpio, reminding us of unfinished works and unmet responsibilities. The evening is dominated by the Moon’s square to Venus in Scorpio. There’s fun to be had here, though there is some potential for drama. Late night, Luna sneaks into Virgo, grounding out the wee hours. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Leo Conjunct Jupiter: Nov 14 8:18 AM Square Sun: Nov 14 9:16 AM Square Saturn: Nov 14 4:03 PM Square Venus: Nov 14 8:52 PM Enters Virgo: Nov 14 1:07 AM

Saturday, November 15th Saturday begins with the grounded Moon in Virgo’s opposition to oceanic Neptune in Pisces. This passing aspect sees the Virgo Moon’s precision temporarily washed away by the intoxicating cosmic wavelengths of Neptune’s direct station. Retrograde for nearly half a year, Neptune’s direct station signals the beginning of another season of rising tides. Though Neptune’s station washes the day in the waters of imagination, the evening

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has a more intellectual bent to it, courtesy of the Moon in Virgo’s sextile with sharp Mercury in Scorpio. Moon in Virgo Moon Opposite Neptune: Nov 15 10:51 AM Moon Sextile Mercury: Nov 15 11:48 PM Moon Trine Pluto: Nov 16 12:50 AM Neptune Stations Direct: Nov 16 1:06 AM

Sunday, November 16th Sunday begins with Mercury in Scorpio’s serious sextile to depth-seeking Pluto. Yet while the mind is led to wander in search of secrets, the Moon in Virgo makes a practical, industrious trine to Mars in Capricorn. Mid-day, Venus emerges from the scorpion’s burrow, striding four-legged onto the wide plains of Sagittarius. Here, Venus pushes the passions in a more extraverted direction, providing the pleasure of spectacle and revealing the joy of self-overcoming. Venus, horse-legged and wielding cupid’s bow, will roam the plains of Sagittarius until December 10th, , when she enters Capricorn. Though Venus is revelrous in Sagittarius, the pending conjunction between the Sun and heavy Saturn in Scorpio may temporarily overshadow her celebratory nature. Moon in Virgo Mercury Sextile Pluto: Nov 16 7:56 AM Moon Trine Mars: Nov 16 9:16 AM Venus Enters Sagittarius: Nov 16 1:03 PM Moon Sextile Sun: Nov 17 3:22 AM Moon Sextile Saturn: Nov 17 5:08 AM

Monday, November 17th The work week begins with the Moon void-of-course in the late degrees of Virgo. Mid-day, Luna slips into social Libra, and during the course of the afternoon makes a pleasant sextile with excitable Venus in Sagittarius. The Moon-Venus sextile stands out, a bright bloom against a generally dark day. The Sun’s conjunction with Saturn lends Monday a solemn air. Karma appears, consequences become visible. This is, nonetheless, a wonderful day to swear oaths to oneself, to make resolutions which are not easily broken. Moon in Virgo Moon Enters Libra: Nov 17 1:28 PM Moon Sextile Venus: Nov 17 4:20 PM Sun Conjunct Saturn: Nov 18 2:49 AM

Tuesday, November 18th Tuesday is subject to a variety of destabilizing planetary action. The day begins with the Moon’s oppressive square with Pluto, casting a shadow over mid-day. The afternoon, however, sees the Moon oppose explosive Uranus in Aries, sending an illuminating but chaotic current through it.

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The evening focuses on the Moon’s growing square with Mars in Capricorn. There is a friction between the socially-aware Libra Moon and cold, hard Mars. Problems may be harder to solve than they should, decisions more complicated and potentially irritating than seemingly necessary. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Libra Square Pluto: Nov 18 12:37 PM Opposition Uranus: Nov 18 3:01 PM Square Mars: Nov 18 12:26 AM conjunct North Node (Caput Draconis): Nov 19 2:14 AM

Wednesday, November 19th Wednesday begins pleasantly, with the Moon in Libra making a sextile to regal Jupiter in Leo, which warms and emboldens the morning hours. After this contact, the Moon drifts void-of-course until long after nightfall, neither adding nor subtracting from terrestrial events. Meanwhile, Mars squares the Head and Tail of the Dragon. Mars’ place between the Nodes makes it unclear what course of action is correct. Do not fear- this is a configuration which passes quickly, and there are few decisions of importance which cannot wait a few days. Late night, Luna enters Scorpio, in whose tunnels she will dwell for the next several days. Moon in Libra Moon Sextile Jupiter: Nov 19 8:20 AM Moon Enters Scorpio: Nov 19 11:28 PM Mars Square Nodal Axis (North Bending): Nov 20 5:16 AM

Thursday, November 20th Thursday begins with the Moon in Scorpio’s trine to Neptune in Pisces, which coincides closely with Venus in Sagittarius’ square with the big blue planet. Here utopias beckon and taunt. The heart longs for an Eden that never was, leading the mind down paths that exist only as long as we imagine them. The dream weighs heavy on the day, a mist so pervasive one might mistake it for air. Many of those who spend Thursday dedicated to concrete tasks will notice the day possesses a distracting, non-linear quality. Moon in Scorpio Moon Trine Neptune: Nov 20 8:26 AM Venus Square Neptune: Nov 20 8:55 AM Moon Sextile Pluto: Nov 20 9:29 PM

Friday, November 21st The Moon and Mercury in Scorpio sextile industrious Mars in Capricorn Friday morning. The mental ambiance is focused, task oriented. An engineering intelligence assists efforts to plan concrete projects. Later, the scope of the day expands, as Jupiter in Leo tries to uplift the focused but rather negative Moon in Scorpio with optimism. Whether successful or not, the tone again plunges earthward as a lightless night begins, wherein the dark Moon makes a conjunction with somber Saturn. Yet fol-

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lowing this cold conjunctio is a ray of light- the Sun enters Sagittarius. The Sun’s time in Sag spotlights the direction we’re taking our lives as well as our ability to unify the different parts of ourselves in pursuit of those goals. The Sun will ride through the strange plains of Sagittarius until the Solstice, on December 21st. Shortly after the Sun’s shift, the Moon enters Sagittarius as well, finding the Sun again after a month apart. The New Moon in Sagittarius occurs just before dawn. Magic beans appear before dreamers, promising to grow into epic quests over the coming month. Moon in Scorpio Mercury Sextile Mars: Nov 21 8:00 AM Moon Sextile Mars: Nov 21 11:59 AM Moon Conjunct Mercury: Nov 21 12:15 PM Moon Square Jupiter: Nov 21 4:16 PM Moon Conjunct Saturn: Nov 21 11:50 PM Sun Enters Sagittarius: Nov 22 3:37 AM Moon Enters Sagittarius: Nov 22 6:15 AM New Moon in Sagittarius: Nov 22 6:28 AM

Saturday, November 22nd The lunar month begins with a rather mellow Saturday. The day starts with the Sagittarius Moon in a distractible, day-dreamy square with Neptune in Pisces. Meanwhile, Mercury in Scorpio squares Jupiter in Leo, putting a desire to get to the hidden truth of things at odds with the need to uplift and celebrate what is. Though seemingly at odds, there is a hidden reception between these two points of view. Positive and negative poles create a charge, and accumulate a useful energy. From there, a still-dark Moon in Sagittarius chases a conjunction with Venus well into the evening, providing for private, low-octane pleasures. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Square Neptune: Nov 22 2:49 PM Moon Conjunct Venus: Nov 22 8:16 PM Mercury Square Jupiter: Nov 22 10:42 PM

Sunday, November 23rd Sunday sees the Moon gallop through Sagittarius on her way to a pleasing evening trine with Jupiter in Leo. There is something courageous and uplifting in the air, an ambiance which haloes the heroic qualities of the human spirit. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Trine Jupiter: Nov 23 9:16 PM

Monday, November 24th Monday begins with the Moon in the onerous late degrees of Sagittarius, but during the morning it enters the solid, if unforgiving, ground of Capricorn. Luna trudges onward from there, slowly gathering energy for plans yet to unfold. The evening begins with the stony Moon in Capricorn in a gentle sextile with

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Neptune in Pisces, smoothing some rough edges. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Enters Capricorn: Nov 24 10:30 AM Moon Sextile Neptune: Nov 24 6:44 PM

Tuesday, November 25th Tuesday begins on a rough note, with the Moon first conjoining dark Pluto in Capricorn and then squaring explosive Uranus in Aries, pinning the morning between necessity and impatience. The Moon escapes this besiegement early in the day, but must then contend with a square to the Nodal Axis, which temporarily complicates decisions. Meanwhile, Mercury completes his conjunction with Saturn in Scorpio. This configuration tests constructions, revealing flawed and strong foundations alike. Slow your pace and double check those blueprints. Moon in Capricorn Moon Conjunct Pluto: Nov 25 6:54 AM Moon Square Uranus: Nov 25 8:24 AM Moon Square Nodal Axis (North Bending): Nov 25 5:34 PM Mercury Conjunct Saturn: Nov 25 8:36 PM Moon Conjunct Mars: Nov 26 2:05 AM

Wednesday, November 26th Wednesday begins with a retread of Tuesday’s Mercury-Saturn conjunction. The Moon conjoins Saturn and then Mercury during the morning hours, summoning the blueprints which have hovered over the last several days. Sit and consider. Feel out what has been brought to your attention, like a blind man appreciating a sculpture. The Moon enters Aquarius mid-day, extricating the day from imprisonment in existing patterns. Step outside the structure of the present and walk down alternate routes. The present and past are important, but so is the future. The simultaneous Venus-Uranus sextile offers innovative pleasures, and the Moon’s evening sextile with the Sun in visionary Sagittarius throws off some ambient harmonies while smiling upon down a variety of alternative reality tunnels. Just don’t get lost. Moon in Capricorn Moon Conjunct Saturn: Nov 26 8:08 AM Moon Conjunct Mercury: Nov 26 9:30 AM Moon Enters Aquarius: Nov 27 1:22 PM Venus Sextile Uranus: Nov 26 6:22 PM Moon Sextile Sun: Nov 26 9:29 PM

Thursday, November 27th Thursday begins with a pair of aspects to Uranus in Aries and Venus in Sagittarius, reigniting the separating trine between the planetary bodies. The off beat and innovative offers unforeseen pleasures here. Step outside the limitations of your current palette. Come evening, Mercury enters Sagittarius. In Sagittarius, Mercury opens the mind to the grand and universal, or at least the symbols thereof. The price of this vision

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is nearsightedness, where it becomes easy to ignore or lose track of what’s directly in front of you. The messenger will be in Sagittarius until December 16th, when he enters Capricorn. After Mercury’s ingress, the Moon chases an opposition with Jupiter into the wee hours. A warm wind uplifts the evening, though to a less lofty altitude than might be hoped for. Moon in Aquarius Moon Sextile Uranus: Nov 27 11:00 AM Moon Sextile Venus: Nov 27 12:38 PM Mercury Enters Sagittarius: Nov 27 8:25 PM Moon Opposite Jupiter: Nov 28 3:17 AM

Friday, November 28th Friday gets started with the Moon in Aquarius’ somber square to Saturn in Scorpio, beginning the day on a serious and potentially melancholy note. Fortunately, Luna enters mellow Pisces during the afternoon. She then squares Mercury in Sagittarius, introducing enthusiastic but not terribly clear ideas into the early evening. Night sees the Moon slide slowly into a conjunction with Neptune in Pisces- a trance inducing configuration compatible with a wide variety of traditional Friday night activities. Moon in Aquarius Moon Square Saturn: Nov 28 11:15 AM Moon Enters Pisces: Nov 28 4:03 PM Moon Square Mercury: Nov 28 6:30 PM Moon Conjunct Neptune: Nov 29 12:17 AM Moon Square Sun: Nov 29 4:07 AM Being Second Quarter of the Lunar Month

Saturday, November 29th There is not much action Saturday. The Moon in Pisces makes a sextile with Pluto in Capricorn mid-day, opening the door to reflection, but dragging no one into unwanted depths. As the day rolls onward and the Sun sets, the focus shifts to the Moon’s square to restless Venus in Sagittarius. A desire for good times pervades the evening, though events may prove less exciting than some might hope. Moon in Pisces Moon Sextile Pluto: Nov 29 12:37 PM Moon Square Venus: Nov 29 8:27 PM

Sunday, November 30th Sunday sees the Moon in Pisces aspect powerful Mars in Capricorn and plotting Saturn in Scorpio over the course of the day. This configuration is excellent for serious plans and sinister schemes. Mercury in Sagittarius’ square with Neptune in Pisces, however, lends an unfocused and cartoonish quality to the mental ambiance, making it difficult to avoid veering off into pure fantasy.

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As night falls, the Moon enters bright Aries, turning up the heat, as well as the tempo. As the night deepens, ideas take on more definition, courtesy of Luna’s weehours trine to Mercury. Moon in Pisces Moon Sextile Mars: Nov 30 1:41 PM Moon Trine Saturn: Nov 30 2:48 PM Moon Enters Aries: Nov 30 7:14 PM Mercury Square Neptune: Nov 30 10:26 PM Moon Trine Mercury: Dec 01 4:17 AM First Sunday of Advent (Christian)

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December FLASH FINISH

The year races toward a nail-biting conclusion. The first half of December clips along enthusiastically, afire with excitement. Planets in fire signs pass the torch back and forth, keeping the blaze going strong until the second half of the month. The latter part of December sees the Sun, Mercury and Venus all attend the sixth and penultimate square between Uranus and Pluto, promising both disruptions and revelations. Meanwhile, on the other side of the solstice, Saturn makes an ingress into Sagittarius, turning the history book another page forward.

With Great Power The month begins with a rather explosive set of configurations. December 1st sees Mars in Capricorn and Saturn in Scorpio complete a mutual reception just as the Moon crosses the volatile Uranus-Pluto square. It’s important not to get thrown off course by the bumps in the road here. This is a potent configuration for works of strategy and force. It is, however, not “morally” bounded and on a collective level the potential for violence is quite high, kindling, in particular, friction between regimes and citizens.

Righteous Pleasure Shortly after the industrial-strength aspect between fierce Mars and stern Saturn, we’re treated to a bounteous trine between the two benefics- Venus and Jupiter. Venus in Sagittarius and Jupiter in Leo line up on the 4th to reward projects underway and inspire further glories. This stirring configuration is reinforced by the pattern-breaking trine between the Sun in Sagittarius and Uranus in Aries the same day. Spiritual and earthly potentials alike appear in the glowing flames.

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Do The Right Thing Mars leaves his mountain fortress in Capricorn on the 4th, heading for Aquarius’ frontiers. In Aquarius, the action Mars lords over is more abstract and idealistic than in Capricorn. While Mars is in Aquarius there is a focus on the power of ideas and ideals, which, though widely celebrated, are generally less effective than money and organization. The water-bearer’s bucket is chock full of good ideas. Just make sure you don’t spend the next month and half thinking instead of doing. Principles and ideas should empower, not paralyze you. Mars will be in Aquarius until January 12th. On the 5th, the day after Mars’ ingress into Aquarius, excitable Mercury in Sagittarius trines electric Uranus in Aries, sending game-changing insights earthward. This trine completes a loose Grand Fire Trine between Mercury, Uranus and Jupiter which lends the next week an excess of enthusiasm.

A Hail of Silver The Full Moon in Gemini arrives on the 7th, bringing the rising action to a manic climax. The Full Moon juxtaposes the unifying, belief-oriented Sun in Sagittarius with the multiplicitous, analytic Moon in Gemini. Also in attendance during this Full Moon is Mercury, who hides on the other side of the Sun. The superior conjunction of Mercury and the Sun sees big thoughts collecting strange radiance. These far-out ideas are given weight and substance by the heavy lunar light of the Gemini Moon. Though we’ll have to wait until Mercury emerges into evening visibility in early January to see their full manifestation, this is a key gestational moment. A thousand little ideas like a thousand birds. Their individual movements may seem chaotic, but seen as a whole, their direction is clear. A flock of arrows.

Pants Size Jupiter stations retrograde on the 8th, the day after the Full Moon, turning heel in the 23rd degree of Leo. The big planet’s retreat asks us to slow the pace of our expansion. Instead of looking for further opportunities,work on digesting the meal you’ve already been treated to. Some of the expansion we may need to double back on may be psychological. The confidence Jupiter in Leo lends us easily putrefies into mere vanity. Check your pants and make sure you’re not getting too big for your britches. Jupiter will be retrograde until April 8th.

The Satyress On the 10th, Venus enters lusty but controlled Capricorn. In Capricorn, Venus is in Saturn’s sign, and the passions are subject to the slow, serious planet’s influence. There

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is a focus on the psychological structures that hold emotional energies and the agreements between people which solidify them. This is Venus’ first return to Capricorn since her retrograde in the goat’s sign during December of 2013 and January 2014. Her time in Capricorn is therefore likely to entail a review of the relationship issues which the year began with. Consider how far you’ve come, what you’ve learned of the heart’s laws. Venus tours this remembered terrain until January 3rd, 2015, when she enters Aquarius.

Uptick The 11th- 13th see Mercury and then the Sun in Sagittarius make trines with recentlyretrograde Jupiter in Leo. Though Jupiter is now drifting slowly backwards, these are still pleasant, uplifting aspects. While the Sun and Mercury chat optimistically with Jupiter, Venus in Capricorn makes a sextile to Neptune in Pisces, which she completes on the 14th. Mellow pleasures drift lazily during the days leading up to the sextile, masking some of the intensity of what comes next.

Rumble Yet while the Sun, Mercury and Jupiter engage in a self-esteem building session, dark Pluto and uncompromising Uranus close in on another exact square, sending flickers of red lightning across volcanic astral landscapes. The pair fire another wave of transformative energies earthward, continuing the process begun in early 2011. This is the sixth exact square in the series. Only one more remains, waiting in the Spring of 2015. Though Uranus and Pluto clash precisely on the 14th, it will take the rest of the month for all of the implications to be revealed.

Down To Business On the 16th, a few days after Uranus and Pluto’s sixth clash, Mercury abandons the Technicolor belief-structures of Sagittarius for Capricorn’s mountain of facts. The messenger’s time Capricorn pushes the mind toward strategic analysis, and helps get things organized along realistic lines, but can lend thoughts and communications a depressive tone. Mercury will be in Capricorn until January 4th, 2015. Mercury spends the first several days of his time in Capricorn approaching a mellow sextile with Neptune in Pisces on the 19th, but before the end of the month he’ll brave the transfigurative intensity of the Uranus-Pluto square.

Maximum Polarity Venus conjoins Pluto and square Uranus on the 20th, the eve of the Solstice. Some will feel their heart born anew here, while others will see their hidden passions explode into visible and audible reality, the heart’s secrets spilled. It is a potent moment for relationships, and one we’ll feel brewing for days before and playing out for days

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afterward. Lessons on reconciling freedom and commitment abound. While the Sun makes its annual crossing into Capricorn on the 21st, Mars in Aquarius sextiles Uranus, just as the uncompromising outer planet stations direct at 10 Aries. Inspiration strikes and disruptions are delivered. Just don’t expect the old patterns not to fight back, especially with the planets piling into Capricorn. Whether you live in the northern hemisphere or the southern, the Solstice is moment of maximum polarity, a tension radicalized by the configurations which accompany it this year. Just hours after its annual crossing into Capricorn on the 21st, the Sun is joined by the Moon, marking the New Moon in Capricorn. The luminaries gather together the volatile energies and plant them in the soil of the month to come. Lightning rods, hubristic towers and radical blueprints will all grow from this kernel.

All The World’s A Stage On the 23rd, Saturn enters Sagittarius, beginning a new chapter. As the slow planet enters the archer’s sign, the story starts changing. New plotlines and actors arise over the next month as the stage is subtely reset. Though Saturn will make a brief retreat back to Scorpio during the 3rd quarter of 2015, the leaden planet will be in Sagittarius until the end of 2017.

Collecting Chaos On the 24th, Mercury conjoins Pluto in Capricorn and squares Uranus in Aries. Though it may steer some conversations sideways and coincide with some disruptions, Mercury’s time with Pluto and Uranus makes big changes thinkable and serious transformations navigable. The 26th sees the Sun in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces, catching the year’s last light in a net of dreams. Visions of concrete possibility hover about in the blurred light of the surrounding days. The end of 2014 vibrates with what descended upon the solstice. Enjoy the holidays’ feasts, but leave room to contemplate both what has passed and is yet to come. Another small era is about to begin.

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December Ephemeris

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December Dailies Monday, December 1st December begins on a rather interesting note. Red Mars, in his traditional degree of exaltation, sextiles Saturn in Scorpio, perfecting a mutual reception between the two planets. This combination promises bold but prudent moves, and opens a doorway to industry and strategy. For those who embody this pair of planets, all will likely go well, but woe unto those who oppose them. Conflict of this sort is, unfortunately, augured by the day. The hot Moon in Aries lights up the Uranus-Pluto square, touching off conflicts between those in power and those without it. Though the day stokes rebellious energies, decline to make any illthought out moves- Monday rewards the prudent. Moon in Aries Moon Trine Sun: Dec 01 11:32 AM Mars Sextile Saturn: Dec 01 12:59 PM Moon Square Pluto: Dec 01 4:12 PM Moon Conjunct Uranus: Dec 01 5:12 PM Moon Trine Venus: Dec 02 5:14 AM

Tuesday, December 2nd Though Tuesday has many of Monday’s inflammatory qualities, it begins on a more positive note. The Moon in Aries trines Venus in Sagittarius before dawn. Luna then spends the morning hours on her way to a trine with benefic Jupiter in Leo, protecting these hours from ill fortune and low spirits. As the day continues, though, the impatient Aries Moon edges closer to a hard square with strategic Mars in Capricorn. Questions of what constitutes effective action hang about the afternoon and evening. Late night see the fires burn lower, as the Moon leaves rash Aries for grounded Taurus. Moon in Aries Moon Trine Jupiter: Dec 02 10:17 AM Moon Square Mars: Dec 02 8:43 PM Moon Enters Taurus: Dec 02 11:16 PM

Wednesday, December 3rd Wednesday begins with the slow Taurus Moon’s sextile to mellow Neptune in Pisces. From there, Luna drifts towards an evening trine with dark Pluto, opening easy gateways into hidden realms. No other aspects come until the evening’s reflective Moon-Pluto trine. Take the time to think through the energies unleashed over the past few days. Moon in Taurus Moon Sextile Neptune: Dec 03 7:51 AM Moon Trine Pluto: Dec 03 8:48 PM

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Thursday, December 4th Thursday sees the two benefics complete a trine to one another, washing the day in general benevolence. The Venus-Jupiter trine offers rewards for a job well done and inspires further success. Speaking of inspiration, the Sun in Sagittarius spends the day in a perfect trine with Uranus in Aries. A light shines on ideals here, filling hearts with sacred fire. During the afternoon, Mars marches into Aquarius, leaving the cold power that permeates Capricorn for the ideological struggles that boil the Water-Bearer’s bucket. The power of ideas and ideals is the key point here. Mars’ red light heats words and worldviews in Aquarius, but may leave concrete issues neglected. Mars will be in Aquarius until January 12th, 2015. Though the day is light and uplifting, Thursday night is slower, for the Moon’s opposition to Saturn promises difficulties and delays. Late night sees the Moon caught between the leaden rays of Saturn in Scorpio and the heat beams of Mars in Aquarius, a temporary pocket of ill-fortune. Moon in Taurus Venus Trine Jupiter: Dec 04 1:10 PM Moon Square Jupiter: Dec 04 3:13 PM Sun Trine Uranus: Dec 04 4:29 PM Mars Enters Aquarius: Dec 04 5:56 PM Moon Opposite Saturn: Dec 05 12:47 AM Moon Enters Gemini: Dec 05 4:30 AM Moon Trine Mars: Dec 05 5:10 AM

Friday, December 5th Friday buzzes but without release during the day hours. The power comes at nightfall with the rise of the shining Full Moon, which is attended by both Uranus and Mercury. Lightning licks the luminaries, sending electric ideas speeding through the stratosphere. Though the night is full with the chattering of Mercurial spirits, it may take a few days before the messages unleashed beneath the Full Moon are fully decoded. Moon in Gemini Moon Square Neptune: Dec 05 1:22 PM Mercury Trine Uranus: Dec 05 9:43 PM Moon Sextile Uranus: Dec 06 3:30 AM Moon Opposite Mercury: Dec 06 4:18 AM Full Moon in Gemini: Dec 06 6:30 AM Begin Third Quarter of the Lunar Month

Saturday, December 6th Saturday hums with the energy of the recent Full Moon. There is no planetary action during the day, but the evening sees the Moon in Gemini sextile celebratory Jupiter in Leo and then oppose excitable Venus in Sagittarius. It’s a fine night to plan gatherings or to chase a good time. Moon in Gemini Moon Sextile Jupiter: Dec 06 9:50 PM

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Moon Opposite Venus: Dec 06 1:50 AM St. Nicholas’ Day (Christian)

Sunday, December 7th Sunday begins with the Moon’s frazzled journey through the late degrees of Gemini. Mid-day, however, Luna slips into the thick womb of Cancer. Here the ideas which descended on Friday’s moon-beams collect quietly on the nightside of consciousness, coagulating slowly. Plan something dreamy and low key for Sunday. Moon in Gemini Moon Enters Cancer: Dec 07 11:36 AM Moon Trine Neptune: Dec 07 8:54 PM Mercury Conjunct Sun (Superior Conjunction): Dec 08 3:50 AM

Monday, December 8th Monday begins on an uncomfortable note, the sensitive vibe of the Cancer Moon rocked by near-simultaneous aspects from Uranus and Pluto. Monday is also witness to Jupiter’s retrograde station. The big planet’s backward turn asks us to stop looking for new opportunities and to instead focus on those we have already seized. Bring what you have begun to completion. Jupiter’s retrograde phase lasts 4 months- until April of 2015. As evening falls, the Moon makes her way into a T-square with the Nodes, temporarily clouding the way forward. Let complicated decisions wait for another day- a clear path does not wind through Monday night. Moon in Cancer Moon Opposite Pluto: Dec 08 11:05 AM Moon Square Uranus: Dec 08 11:36 AM Jupiter Stations Retrograde: Dec 08 2:42 PM Moon Square Nodal Axis (South Bending): Dec 08 8:34 PM Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Christian)

Tuesday, December 9th Tuesday is slow and a bit serious. The Moon spends the day working through the late degrees of Cancer, on her way to a sunset trine with stoic Saturn in Scorpio. If you can find the right balance between comfort and responsibility, it will be a productive day. Come evening, the Moon trades her crab shell for Leo’s luxurious furs. Things take an outgoing and rambunctious turn late night, though the Moon’s opposition to Mars in Aquarius may bring irritations. Don’t let your opinions get the better of you. Moon in Cancer Moon Trine Saturn: Dec 09 6:15 PM Moon Enters Leo: Dec 09 Dec 09 9:16 PM Moon Opposite Mars: Dec 10 5:39 AM

Wednesday, December 10th Venus enters Capricorn early Wednesday, exchanging Cupid’s bow for a pair of goat-

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legs and some cute horns. In Capricorn, Venus focuses on emotional frameworks, the pattern of knots we tie our passions into, as well as the people we tie them to. This is the first time Venus has returned to Capricorn since the bright planet’s retrograde here almost a year ago. As such, there is an element of review to Venus’ time in Capricorn- we reflect on the relationship choices we’ve made, the commitments made. Venus will be in Capricorn until January 3rd, 2015. Other than Venus’ entrance into Capricorn, there is little action above. The Moon stalks slowly through Leo, encountering excitable Uranus by trine in the evening hours, but otherwise unoccupied. Moon in Leo Venus Enters Capricorn: Dec 10 10:41 AM Moon Trine Uranus: Dec 10 10:18 PM

Thursday, December 11th Thursday holds an enthusiasm-generating but potentially tiring Grand Fire Trine. The Moon in Leo makes a harmonious trine with the Sun in Sagittarius around mid-day. As the afternoon lengthens, Luna moves on to a communicative trine with Mercury in Sagittarius and then a jolly, confidence-inspiring conjunction with Jupiter. There is a combustible enthusiasm about the day- all that is required is a spark. Mercury in Sagittarius’ trine with Jupiter in Leo speaks to the hopeful tone of thoughts and communications today. There is much to enjoy, though the inspirational tone may obscure the reality of obstacles. Refresh your spirit and lay out a vision on Thursday, but leave the step-by-step strategy building for another time. Moon in Leo Moon Trine Sun: Dec 11 12:20 PM Moon Trine Mercury: Dec 11 4:40 PM Moon Conjunct Jupiter: Dec 11 4:21 PM Mercury Trine Jupiter: Dec 12 5:23 AM

Friday, December 12th Friday begins with the Moon in Leo’s square with harsh Saturn in Scorpio, tossing a bit of cold water on yesterday’s bright fires. Shortly thereafter, the Moon moves out of hot Leo, entering thoughtful, grounded Virgo. Luna spends the mid-day on her way toward an afternoon trine with Venus in Capricorn, inspiring appreciation for the small pleasures one’s position affords, as well as stoking desires for what is currently out of reach. The second half of the afternoon blurs as the Moon moves toward an opposition with hazy Neptune in Pisces. The pressures and pleasures of the concrete thus become unclear as night approaches, making it all the easier to forget the stress of the work week. The waning Moon lords over the night sky, slowly draining the manic energy out of the month. These hours are subject to hope, worry and reflection, yet these thoughts can be easily over-ridden by means of the most common mind-altering substancesfood, drink and distraction.

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Moon in Leo Moon Square Saturn: Dec 12 6:49 AM Moon Enters Virgo: Dec 12 9:20 AM Moon Trine Venus: Dec 12 2:51 PM Moon Opposite Neptune: Dec 12 7:28 PM

Saturday, December 13th The Moon sails across Saturday’s sky, engaging Pluto in a brief trine during the morning hours. Luna’s position in Virgo suggests that Saturday might be well spent catching up on small tasks, or getting ahead on future labors. The Sun in Sagittarius’ pending trine to Jupiter in Leo spreads a generally positive tone throughout the day, illuminating matters from a friendly angle. Night falls without much celestial influence to speak of. Late night the Moon rises half-full, marking our entrance into the falling action of the fourth quarter of the lunar month. The consequences of decisions made and ideas conceived earlier in the month hover about the night air, present but not insistent. Moon in Virgo Moon Trine Pluto: Dec 13 10:46 AM Moon Square Sun: Dec 14 6:49 AM Begin Fourth Quarter of the Lunar Cycle

Sunday, December 14th Sunday is the site of several potent configurations. The day begins with the Sun in Sagittarius’ mutually received trine with Jupiter in Leo, which spreads a sunny, optimistic light across diverse affairs. Meanwhile, Venus in Capricorn completes her sextile with Neptune in Pisces, a pleasant but potentially numbing influence. Add the Moon in Virgo’s sextile to responsible Saturn, and it is a strange mixture of influences. Strangest of all is the penetrating current that the exact square between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn send humming through the day. This lightning runs along social faultlines, illuminating the troubles of this little point in history. This crimson electricity also highlights where we are in our own, personal revolutions. Have we become ruthless autocrats, or are we in the midst of staging a well-intentioned but ineffective revolution? Time will tell, as will the decisions we make along the way. Moon in Virgo Sun Trine Jupiter: Dec 14 9:55 AM Venus Sextile Neptune: Dec 14 10:54 AM Moon Sextile Saturn: Dec 14 8:09 PM Moon Enters Libra: Dec 14 10:03 PM Uranus Square Pluto: Dec 14 11:13 PM

Monday, December 15th Monday begins with the wobbly Moon in Libra’s square to Venus in Capricorn, triggering desires for stability and security that may well go unmet. As the day moves onward, Luna trines Mars in Aquarius, lending the afternoon a rebellious air. Break-

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ing your usual routine, doing things a little bit differently, is a nice use of this aspect. Night falls, and the Moon in Libra moves into a tight T-square with Uranus and Pluto. This configuration challenges us to maintain balance amidst conflicting and volatile energies. Imagine yourself a tightrope walker, calm above, regardless of what waits below. Moon in Libra Moon Square Venus: Dec 15 10:33 AM Moon Trine Mars: Dec 15 2:55 PM Moon Opposite Uranus: Dec 15 11:05 PM Moon Square Pluto: Dec 15 11:08 PM

Tuesday, December 16th Tuesday begins with the Moon’s conjunction to the Dragon’s Head in Libra. Though the Uranus-Pluto square may have presented complications, the way forward and its necessary compromises still beckon. The Moon’s sextile to Jupiter in Leo during the afternoon and then to the Sun in Sagittarius present opportunities to regain recently lost stability. During the evening hours, Mercury slips into strategic Capricorn. The messenger’s movement into Capricorn pushes the mind toward grounded analysis, necessary after the preceding weeks’ heavy revelations and wild inspirations. Mercury’s time here helps get things organized along realistic lines, but can lend thoughts and communications a depressive tone. Mercury will be in Capricorn until January 4th, 2015. Moon in Libra Moon Conjunct North Node: Dec 16 7:23 AM Moon Sextile Jupiter: Dec 16 6:30 PM Mercury Enters Capricorn: Dec 16 9:52 PM Moon Sextile Sun: Dec 16 11:35 PM

Wednesday, December 17th Wednesday begins with the Moon’s entrance into Scorpio, where she will reside for the next several days. From here, Luna makes a morning sextile with Mercury in Capricorn, seeding strategic analyses and sending officious communications through the air. After this concrete influence, the Moon travels toward a trine with entrancing Neptune in Pisces, lending the afternoon a soothing atmosphere. Late night sees the Moon make a pleasurable sextile to Venus and then roll into an ornery and potentially sleepless square with Mars in Aquarius. Moon in Libra Moon Enters Scorpio: Dec 17 8:46 AM Moon Sextile Mercury: Dec 17 10:20 AM Moon Trine Neptune: Dec 17 6:27 PM Moon Sextile Venus: Dec 18 2:53 AM Moon Square Mars: Dec 18 4:23 AM First Day of Hannukka (Jewish)

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Thursday, December 18th The Moon burrows through Scorpio Thursday, starting the day off with a sextile to Pluto and then moving, free of aspect, throughout the rest of the day. There is a note of irritability while big feelings stir beneath the surface. Night falls, and within it the Moon in Scorpio makes a square to Jupiter in Leo. Here suspicions and criticisms mix awkwardly with high hopes and great expectations. Moon in Scorpio Moon Sextile Pluto: Dec 18 8:34 AM Moon Square Jupiter: Dec 19 2:20 AM

Friday, December 19th Friday begins on a slow and potentially frustrating note, with Moon travelling the late degrees of Scorpio, on her way to an onerous afternoon conjunction with Saturn. Shortly thereafter, Luna escapes Scorpio and enters Sagittarius. The rest of the day, and night, is characterized by aspects to diffuse Neptune. Mercury in Capricorn completes his sextile to Neptune in Pisces late night while the Moon in Sagittarius squares the distant blue planet. The night provides a soft, unfocused counterpart to the day’s drudgery. Leave your cares behind for a little bit. Moon in Scorpio Moon Conjunct Saturn: Dec 19 3:09 PM Moon Enters Sagittarius: Dec 19 3:53 PM Moon Square Neptune: Dec 20 12:52 AM Mercury Sextile Neptune: Dec 20 3:30 AM

Saturday, December 20th Saturday morning sees the Sagittarius Moon on its way to aspects to both Mars in Aquarius and Uranus in Aries. There is frenzied mental current about the day, a desire to think differently, to act differently. At the same time, Venus in Capricorn squares Uranus and conjoins Pluto. The storm roused by Uranus and Pluto’s square less than a week ago gains more strength. Lightning strikes the heart-shaped box, cracking its hard outer layer, setting fires, and freeing hidden passions. Saturday contains contradictory desires- conflicting urges for freedom and security. The ideal and the real circle each other, the heart their temporary battleground. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Sextile Mars: Dec 20 1:20 PM Moon Trine Uranus: Dec 20 1:48 PM Venus Square Uranus: Dec 20 11:08 AM Venus Conjunction Pluto: Dec 20 3:09 PM Mars Sextile Uranus: Dec 20 9:46 PM

Sunday, December 21st Sunday morning starts with the Moon in Sagittarius’ pleasing trine to Jupiter in Leo, giving the morning a little lift.

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Today sees the Sun enters Capricorn, crossing the solstitial boundary. Today is the solstice, the point of maximum polarity between light and darkness. In the north, darkness reigns triumphant while the light plots to be born again, and in the south, light reaches its heroic peak, ready to fall again to night. While light and darkness stare each other down, Uranus stations direct in Aries, bringing an end to long months of retrograde motion. Red lightnings herald Uranus’ direct station, prodding us to dare choices we hadn’t before imagined. This solstice holds the New Moon in Capricorn, the lunar month making itself anew as the season does the same. The lunar cycle seeded today asks us to take a hard look at where we’ve positioned ourselves, and suggests that firmer ground may, in fact, be available. The entire game-board is the process of shifting, and what was once advantageous may have become untenable. Moon in Sagittarius Moon Trine Jupiter: Dec 21 6:30 AM Uranus Stations Direct: Dec 21 4:45 PM Sun Enters Capricorn: Dec 21 5:02 PM Moon Enters Capricorn: Dec 21 7:24 PM New Moon in Capricorn: Dec 21 7:34 PM Moon Sextile Neptune: Dec 22 3:58 AM Solstice Yule (Wiccan, Neo-Pagan)

Monday, December 22nd Monday begins with the Moon’s conjunction to Mercury in Capricorn, collecting the charged thoughts unleashed by recently configurations. During the afternoon, Luna makes her way across the Uranus-Pluto square, re-energizing the transformative crucible which has burned hot for over a week now. Evening sees the Moon make her way into a conjunction with Venus in Capricorn, providing the opportunity to reflect on, and perhaps stabilize, the passions recently released. The Moon and Venus both square the Head and Tail of the Dragon during the wee hours, suggesting that it may be difficult to know exactly where to go from here. For those intent on filling the night with final decisions, this is troubling, but for those content to let the process continue, it is a series of questioning moments which will soon pass. Moon in Capricorn Moon Conjunct Mercury: Dec 22 9:54 AM Moon Square Uranus: Dec 22 4:15 PM Moon Conjunct Pluto: Dec 22 4:44 PM Moon Conjunct Venus: Dec 22 9:15 PM Moon Square Nodal Axis (North Bending): Dec 22 10:01 PM Venus Square Nodal Axis (North Bending): Dec 23 4:49 AM

Tuesday, December 23rd The Moon climbs the rocky foothills of late Capricorn for much of the day. Yet the very stones the goat so carefully hops between begin to metamorphisize early on Tuesday,

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for Saturn limps into Sagittarius today, leaving Scorpio for the first time since 2012. Although Saturn will return to Scorpio for a brief stint during the third quarter of 2015, the wide plains and burning skies of Sagittarius will be the leaden planet’s home until 2017. Meet the new boss… Moon in Capricorn Saturn Enters Sagittarius: Dec 23 10:33 AM Moon Enters Aquarius: Dec 23 8:52 PM Moon Sextile Saturn: Dec 23 8:56 PM

Wednesday, December 24th Wednesday’s Moon in Aquarius passes invisibly through the day’s sky, misting the land below with premonitions about the next small phase of history. Stormy thoughts crackle through the mind as Mercury in Capricorn squares Uranus in Aries and conjoins Pluto. The messenger’s passage through these volatile powers may temporarily derail thought processes and conversations, but it does so through a potent injection of energy. These downloads and headaches are a prelude to ground breaking plans and transformative programs. Moon in Aquarius Moon Sextile Uranus: Dec 24 5:25 PM Mercury Square Uranus: Dec 24 7:30 PM Moon Conjunct Mars: Dec 24 10:36 PM Mercury Conjunct Pluto: Dec 25 12:53 AM Last Day of Hanukkah (Jewish)

Thursday, December 25th The aethyrs are heavy with the charge of recent storms, and the mind works to filter the information out of the noise. Thursday begins with the Moon in Aquarius’ opposition to sunny Jupiter in Leo, placing boldness and the need to reflect at odds. As the rest of the day proceeds onward, the subconscious sorts while the waking mind tries to salvage what it needs. During the evening the Moon enters Pisces and immediately squares Saturn in Sagittarius. Saturn demands we find the meaning of all of this, and suggests we keep a smile on our face while we do it. Later, the Moon makes a late-night sextile to the Sun in Capricorn, helping those still awake to find some equilibrium between body and soul. Moon in Aquarius Moon Opposite Jupiter: Dec 25 9:12 AM Moon Enters Pisces: Dec 25 10:08 PM Moon Square Saturn: Dec 25 10:35 PM Moon Sextile Sun: Dec 26 5:49 AM Christmas (Christian)

Friday, December 26th Friday begins with the Moon’s anaesthetic conjunction with Neptune in Pisces,

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drowning the early morning in psychic mist. Luna slowly emerges from the fog over the course of the day, gliding lazily over a mélange of crystal clear and half formed perceptions. Mercury in Capricorn squares the Nodal Axis today, bringing plans to an awkward crossroads. Ideas about what needs to change squirm and shift, refusing to hold concrete form. The evening Moon’s sextile to Pluto holds some potential for depth, but clarity is another matter. Ideas and insights drift between intuition and fact in the muddy wavelengths which flow through the night. Moon in Pisces Moon Conjunct Neptune: Dec 26 6:52 AM Mercury Square Nodal Axis: Dec 26 4:19 PM Moon Sextile Pluto: Dec 26 7:47 PM Sun Sextile Neptune: Dec 26 9:10 PM Moon Sextile Mercury: Dec 27 1:07 AM Begin Kwanzaa

Saturday, December 27th The Moon in Pisces’ pleasant sextile with Venus in Capricorn begins Saturday, starting things off on a desirous note. Come mid-day, though, Luna abandons the wave-motion of Pisces for the straight red lines which Aries traces, turning up the heat and picking up the tempo throughout the day. Evening sees the Moon in Aries edge closer to a trine with Saturn in Sagittarius. The desire for a pleasant evening may turn into an epic quest, a serious mission for all involved. Moon in Pisces Moon Sextile Venus: Dec 27 9:47 AM Moon Enters Aries: Dec 28 12:38 AM Moon Trine Saturn: Dec 28 1:27 AM

Sunday, December 28th Sunday’s first bit of celestial action is the Moon in Aries’ square to the Sun in Capricorn, which marks our entrance into the more energetic second quarter of the lunar month. The daylight passes without any additional additions from above, but the night’s air is unsteady. The Moon conjoins Uranus in Aries and square Pluto in Capricorn, re-energizing the dynamic but destabilizing power that has characterized the last few weeks. Moon Moon Moon Moon Moon

in Aries Square Sun: Dec 28 12:34 PM Conjunct Uranus: Dec 28 10:21 PM Square Pluto: Dec 28 11:11 PM Conjunct South Node (Cauda Draconis): Dec 29 3:28 AM

Monday, December 29th The vigorous Aries Moon sextiles rebellious Mars in Aquarius Monday morning.

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Shortly thereafter, Luna squares strategic Mercury in Capricorn, putting patience at odds with plans. The afternoon is more pleasant, for the Moon makes a jolly trine to sunny Jupiter in Leo. As the afternoon lengthens, the Moon moves from the trine with Jupiter to a frictive square with Venus in Capricorn. There is an itch for pleasure here, but dreamt of satisfactions may be out of reach. As evening falls, the Moon goes void-of-course, auguring nothing in particular before morn. Moon in Aries Moon Sextile Mars: Dec 29 9:56 AM Moon Square Mercury: Dec 29 11:21 AM Moon Trine Jupiter: Dec 29 2:40 PM Moon Square Venus: Dec 29 6:45 PM Moon Enters Taurus: Dec 30 4:59 AM

Tuesday, December 30th A sturdy Taurus Moon lords over Tuesday, grounding the energy and offering some stability. The early afternoon sees Luna sextile Neptune in Pisces, blurring the day’s harder edges. As evening falls, the Sun in Capricorn and Moon in Taurus fall into a harmonious trine, equilibriating yin and yang, heaven and earth. Moon in Taurus Moon Sextile Neptune: Dec 30 2:29 PM Moon Trine Sun: Dec 30 9:41 PM Moon Trine Pluto: Dec 31 4:31 AM

Wednesday, December 31st The last day of the year sees the solid Taurus Moon march across the sky. As the afternoon lengthens, harmony is threatened by irritants, as just beyond the veil of day waits the Moon’s square to rebellious, stubborn Mars in Aquarius. This is followed shortly by the Moon’s square to Jupiter in Leo, whose power will either mollify or expand Mars’ inflammations. As the evening wears on, the Moon moves on to a chatty trine with Mercury in Capricorn. The night continues to improve after that, as the Moon chases an indulgent trine with Venus in Capricorn. Moon in Taurus Moon Square Mars: Dec 31 6:51 PM Moon Square Jupiter: Dec 31 8:05 PM Moon Trine Mercury: Dec 31 12:19 AM Moon Trine Venus: Jan 01 2015 6:21 AM New Year’s Eve

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Thus Ends 2014 KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY, MY FRIENDS.

About the Author AUSTIN COPPOCK

Austin Coppock is an astrologer and student of esoteric lore. He works as an astrological consultant, teacher, writer and speaker and is the current president of the AYA (Association for Young Astrologers). His approach to astrology is rooted in history and tradition, yet open to contemporary developments and concerns. Austin’s work also encompasses the critical and often ignored overlap between astrology and magical traditions, such as Hermeticism. He has written extensively on astrology, including hundreds of weekly columns, dozens of articles, and Astrological Almanacs for 2011-2014. His writing has also been featured by The Mountain Astrologer magazine and CLAVIS Journal. His forthcoming book on the decans, 36 Faces, will be published by Three Hands Press in early 2014. Website: austincoppock.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/austincoppockesoteric

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