Mars in 2016 - Steve Judd video

2016: Mars in Scorpio and Sagittarius

In 2016, year of the US presidential campaign and election in November, warrior planet Mars performs a 6-month retrograde period beginning in mid-April, just as he reaches pugnacious, belligerent Antares (9Sag), and the action planet's period of inverted energies lasts way too long for anyone's comfort. Frustration, irritation, and aggression are Martian themes, as you know, and many secrets will be leaked or coughed up during the year along with lies revealed. This may be of interest to 2016 candidate Donald Trump with his Mars rising natal chart though other candidates will be affected as well. For example:

At the end of February, early March 2016, Mars crosses President Obama's natal Midheaven (MC), the Career and Public Status point, and he will be very busy with political projects and self-promotion (which includes promotion of Democratic Party concerns and candidates). it can also denote a time of danger, tension, haste, and/or anger for him in relation to such themes in the public sector. In early June MArs conjoins his MC again and at the end of June MArs stations Direct. Inaugural Moon (We the People) in 2009 is involved as well when Mars conjoins the 29 Scorpio position (30Sco = "A Halloween Jester" degree.) In Politics, this symbol always reminds me of the famous 'October Surprise' perpetrated by the Reagan campaign against Democrat Jimmy Carter in days of yore.

And when testy Mars moves within range of an opposition to President Obama's 3 Gemini Moon more irritation, anger, and potential danger will be evident at the White House (his Moon is in his 4th house of Home). Caution and moderation are advised for him, his family members, and for us, the American people as part of his political family. These Mars-to-Moon periods will occur during March and August 2016.

A hint of better news is that transit Mars will be moving direct after having left his shadow (9Sag where he stationed Rx in April) in August prior to Election Day November 8, 2016 though Mars will be at a critical 29th degree in governmental Capricorn. Rounding up we have '30Cap' = "A Secret Business Conference...OPPORTUNITY...positive expression: a gift for clever planning and successful administration in every area of life; negative (shadow/unconscious) expression: rampant selfishness and rank exploitation of others." Wonder if activist Mars will allow it to remain secret? And will their be explosive events when Mars meets Pluto @15Cap in October?

For more details concerning energetic Mars in 2016, check out this very informative presentation by Steve Judd:

A related video by Steve Judd is Neptune in 2016 which includes the difficult Saturn-Neptune square, a phase of their cycle which began in 1989 in the degree range of 10--12 Capricorn.

Please note that this post was prepared without reference to the 'wild card' interruptions of Solar and Lunar Eclipses which also tend to reveal secrets and lies. Here's a list of eclipses through year 2022 where you'll see the two Solar Eclipses of 2016--on March 9 @19Pisces (Total and in the 18 South Series) and September 1, 2016 @9Virgo in the 19 North Series. Obviously the 19 North eclipse acts as the Pre-Natal Eclipse of both Election Day 2016 and Inauguration Day 2017 so 19N themes will influence both events and outcomes. Plus, if you wish, type 'Eclipses' into the sidebar of SO'W for several more entries concerning these solar and lunar 'cosmic blinks' in relation to our nation's past, present, and future.

'30Sco' and '30Cap' symbols from The Sabian Symbols in Astrology, by Marc Edmund Jones.

Neptune in 2016: Steve Judd - video

In 7 minutes, astrologer Steve Judd gives us an overview of Neptune in Pisces through 2016 and into 2017 which necessarily includes the difficult Saturn-Neptune square from Sagittarius to Pisces:

Happy New Year! Capricorn New Moon AND Mercury Rx: Barbara Goldsmith

Here is an informative New Year 2016 report from Barbara Goldsmith featuring the Capricorn New Moon of January 9, 2016 @19Cap13 (8:31 pm EST). This new cycle of activity imprints its energies upon the year and though it perfects beyond transiting Pluto @15Cap, the planet of power, transformation, sabotage, and wealth is within a 5-degree orb and adding intensity to the New Moon phase which culminates or fulfills in the Full Moon of January 24th @3Leo29 (conjoining President Obama's natal Mercury.)

Also, on January 5th, Mercury's Rx Station @1Aquarius conjoins the 2009 Inauguration Mercury which you'll remember was retrograde and President Obama's Oath of Office had to be re-taken thanks to Justice Roberts' flub (which may have been intentional.) And on January 7th, Jupiter, planet of Money and Politics, retrogrades @23Virgo--conjunct US natal Neptune, an intensified period of fanaticism, paranoia, pretense, and illusion. If a scheme sounds too good to be true, it is.

As you may have noticed, President Bill 'Comeback Kid' Clinton is back in the news cycle thanks to Republican opponents of 2016 candidate Hillary and 1993 is echoed since the January 9th New Moon degree conjoins 1993's three-fer conjunctions of Enlightenment-Age of Reason-New World Order planets Uranus and Neptune so in 2016 we may expect a 'peculiar turn of events' to play out such as during November 2011 into 2012 with the 'Sequestration' scam. Will these odd energies affect the November 2016 Election? My vote is Yes. They're generational and thus affect the Collective on deep levels.

A date to watch for is April 18, 2016 when Pluto's Rx Station occurs @17Cap29 in the Uranus-Neptune vicinity with its vibes of 'the big picture demands a certain course of action, little option to do otherwise' demand (Tyl). Also note that warrior Mars turns Rx one day prior on April 17th @8Sag54, too close to warlike Antares for my taste or comfort.

But that's only Politics! A New Year celebration is upon us so instead, let Barbara inform you on a more personal level and finish her 2016 presentation with a lovely violin serenade:

David Cochrane on Capricorn: Witness Consciousness - video

Tonight is December 26, 2015 and the current year will soon become a relic of the past!

With 2016 approaching stealthily it's Capricorn Season so here is expert astrologer David Cochrane discussing the Witness Consciousness of Saturn-ruled Capricorn folk and the sign's other core traits. I've always heard that the entire sign of the Goat is a labyrinth and it's quite typical for a Cappy to be described as an enigma and difficult to understand--you can't mold a Capricorn, some like to say.

And of course, Saturn is the traditional ruler of Astrology as you know with both Capricorn and Aquarius coming under the Lesson Bringer's influence.

Well, this presentation is first of a series and perhaps David can clear up some of the confusion concerning this ancient sign and archetype as 2016 begins with Capricorn birthdays all around!

run time: 32 minutes or so.

2016 Politics: Jupiter-North Node conjoin in Virgo

Money Planet Jupiter and the North Node Connect Three Times in 2016

by Jude Cowell

Having discovered an excellent article by Nina Gryphon concerning 2016's Jupiter-North Node conjunction in Virgo I recommend it highly for a good overview is provided of several areas some of which involve the Federal Reserve. Nina relates the conjunction/s in 2016 to the ending and beginning of a new fiscal era as it did in 1979 when the Fed changed its policy and a period of fluctuating rates and instability occurred. For as you know, Jupiter inflates, the North Node (NN) of the Moon is a Jupiterian point of encounter, contact, association, and direction and Mercury-ruled Virgo is a detail-oriented, discriminating Earth sign closely linked to the very creation of Washington DC.

But what areas are implicated by the Jupiter-NN combination in Politics?

As an actor, Jupiter can play many roles, four of which are politician, banker, guru (mentor, priest), and The General. All of these realms are subject to influence from the Jupiter-NN conjunction/s of 2016. And with 2016 an election year, we naturally think of the 2016 Campaign which is focused on the Republican and Democratic Conventions in July 2016, and the November 8, 2016 Presidential Election with Jupiter often used to signify one of America's two political parties. Which one? Which ever one is acting the Santa Claus role as the other party acts out the austere Grinch role. You know which is which these days based on their behaviors, right? So if I must, I'll gingerly reward the Jupiter-NN title to the Democratic Party for 2016. Actually the Jupiter-Saturn pair of energies is the 'checks and balances' duo, the way the US government is meant to work and be conducted but you know how that's been going lately--under constant threat of paralysis and shutdown thanks to anti-government types aiming for a 'new order' to replace the old order of 1776.

So as Nina Gryphon points out in her article, exact conjunctions of Jupiter and NN in 2016 occur on January 23, January 28, and June 20 @22Virgo in January and again in August--conjunct US natal Neptune @22Virgo making 2016 a year of fanaticism, paranoia, illusions, scandals, big dreams, promotion and pretense--quite descriptive of Campaign 2016. By June 20, transit Jupiter, after turning Direct in May, will reach 15Vir42, then conjoin US natal Neptune again in late July-early August 2016 suggesting that the themes will color the entire year and political campaign, and will necessarily involve the presidency of Barack Obama due to its inflated, fantasy-ridden Jupiter-Neptune imprint in 2009 via their three conjunctions through his first year in office, a major conjunction which conjoined US natal Moon (We the People). Obamacare and Wall Street are implicated as well.

And in Politics, the 'fortunate contacts' Jupiter-NN duo keys potentials in 2016 regarding: legal consequences of treaties (ex: TPP), legal opinions of religious leaders, and/or imports that disrupt trade or business (ex: TPP?). The interference in legal matters by religious leaders may be excessive, closed legal societies may be involved or turn up in the news, and/or our legal system will continue to be hampered and bound by erroneous decisions concerning the status of groups ('corporations are people'?) or parties (which hints at candidates illegally coordinating their campaigns and promotions with groups they shouldn't.)

Expansion of contacts through networking is a given along with successful meetings, and work/job related (Virgo) summits, conferences, and/or seminars which may be held in abundance and be successful as well. Political primaries and caucuses are on the 2016 menu, plus, The Broadcaster is one of Jupiter's roles and since North Node relates to contact with the public, we also think of Summer 2016 which threatens the American public with two political nominating conferences so it will be nearly impossible to escape hearing all about it. Too fast or far expansion is also a possibility for it may lead to future collapse so that would be a caution for anyone this applies to--the traditional caution of 'too much too soon' comes to mind.

During 2016 we must also consider that transiting NN (the head of the dragon) also meets with US natal Neptune (22Virgo) in 2016 and this combination may supply Neptunian glamour and/or falsehoods to our contacts but also such potentials as: a lack of community spirit or teamwork, bad judgment, disappointments in relationships or alliances, strange conduct, plus, it may widen the possibilities for anti-social behavior. Unfortunately, Neptune-NN also suggests scandals via foreign concerns, and spies and/or terrorists entering the country which of course points to the acceptance or non-acceptance of Syrian refugees and to America's ongoing arguments over Washington's neglect of adequate border control.

To close, let's add Ebertin's more pleasant descriptions of the Jupiter-NN combination of energies for he supplies more social and agreeable flavors such as: good fellowship, harmonious relationships, and good fortune in finding a partner (though anti-social conduct cannot be ruled out.) Another curious flavor comes from the 19th century and I wonder if you've ever heard of it: the Odyle force, sometimes referred to as the 'Od force' which sounds oddly quaint these days, doesn't it?

Well, why not check it out some brief details at Secret Moon Art? And here is a view of my Od Collage created in 2009 in honor of the 19th century's 'scientific' notion of the existence of an Odyle force:

Blog Note: in planning stages is my annual post displaying the Spring Equinox 2016 and Summer Solstice 2016 horoscopes set for Washington DC so please check back when you can, or Follow or Subscribe as you may. Thanks!