August 2, 2016: UK astrologer Steve Judd discusses today's (or tonight's in the UK) New Moon in Leo, its connection to the ongoing Saturn-Neptune square, and the entrance of transit Mars into Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius which will hopefully be more forthcoming in the truth department than Mars in intense, secretive Scorpio has been.
And tomorrow Steve hopes to have a look at the nomination of Hillary Clinton which promises to include interesting perspectives coming from abroad--especially since Mars @00Sag+ conjoins the natal Jupiter of Hillary Clinton and suggests her already improving poll numbers since the DNC!
Chiron retrogrades, Mars turned direct last evening (June 29th 7:38 pm EDT but won't pass shadow degree until August 22--conjunct Antares again), and more July 2016 cosmic news from Steve Judd:
April 27, 2016: master astrologer Steve Judd reports from the UK on the current condition of the planets including Mercury's upcoming retrograde on April 28 @23Taurus, what it means to have Mercury Rx in the natal chart, and the abundance of retrograde energies in the Cosmos:
March 19, 2016: here's a freshly posted video from Bermuda by master astrologer Steve Judd concerning the current Venus-Neptune conjunction. Steve also touches on Spring Equinox 2016 which in the Eastern Time Zone perfects Sunday March 20, 2016 at 12:30 am; Venus conjoins Neptune in Pisces on March 20th at 1:45 pm EDT:
In Politics and Business, the Venus-Neptune pair provides potentials for an inflated treasury which may be used to manipulate growth, scandals involving the National Treasury, appeals to the ideals of the people (during Campaign 2016), wealth that is derived from the fossil fuel industry, misstatements about internal resources (Trump's tax returns?), monetary fraud, subversives gaining access to finances, spies infiltrating financial branches, and/or art deception (Munkasey). To these I would add the Vatican for its adoration of Mary as feminine goddess, prayers directed at statuary, and graven images.
The current debate over replacing Alexander Hamilton's portrait on the 10-dollar bill vs Andrew Jackson's portrait on the 20-dollar bill with a woman's image may also come under the influence of Venus-Neptune which often includes flattering photographs.
Mercury-Mars signatures are always favored around Stars Over Washington for their political connotations, propensity toward debate (preferably of issues, not personalities), and strong opinions (which may or may not be expressed). Mercury square Mars and more are well addressed here by astrologer Steve Judd along with information on the March 9, 2016 Solar Eclipse:
Here is expert astrologer Steve Judd giving us a Mercury retrograde 2016 view from Britain:
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A brief bio and a view of the natal horoscope of British PM David Cameron (of the tin ear!) shows his Sun @15Libra, Moon @6Leo, and Ascendant @1Libra, as Steve mentions. Interesting that Mr. Cameron has a Scorpio Mercury squaring Jupiter--one planet ruling communications and thinking processes while Jupiter plays many roles, one of which can be 'the politician'. A Mercury-Jupiter square denotes discrepancy between beliefs (Jupiter = how we relate to others) and the truth (Mercury) along with a tendency to be impulsive in judgments, decisions made before having all the facts (and thus being misinformed), questioning then changing answers that are inconvenient, and possibly being a pathological liar. Sounds like this square is quite useful in Politics. Especially the kind practiced today where decisions are not made--orders are taken from hidden bosses and 'special interests'.
Note that transit Mercury (Rx until Jan 25, 2016 at 4:50 pm est) conjoins power-mad Pluto in Capricorn twice more (until next year) on Jan 22 and Jan 30.
As for David Cameron, in the Harveys' Sun Sign-Moon Sign, there are two Images for Integration that may apply to PM Cameron based on his Sun Libra-Moon Leo personality blend. As you know, this describes the Sun (adult; conscious), Moon (child; unconscious) traits when they blend and work together:
"A performance of The importance of Being Earnest...A political idealist is crowned leader by adoring fans."
A play written by Oscar Wilde as an Image indicates that Wilde was also born under a Sun Libra-Moon Leo combination. As for 'adoring fans', I'm not so certain PM Cameron has retained them.
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.
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:
Here is a revealing assessment of the planetary energies of 2016 candidate Donald Trump provided by astrologer Steve Judd from across the pond and it sounds as if Steve 'has Donald's number' as they say, including how the Trump campaign will proceed!
Wonder if Mr. Trump realizes that his inartful critique of Carly Fiorina's 'face' not being suitable to be seen in the White House as president can perhaps more easily be applied to his own mug? Maybe this supports one of the things Steve Judd says--that Trump doesn't realize how he appears to others with his Leo Mars rising, Sun square Jupiter, and Mercury square Neptune.
Not everyone was born with planets, angles, or nodes in Mercury-ruled Virgo, but we all have the discriminating, purifying, scientific sign located somewhere in our natal horoscopes. Here's astrologer Steve Judd giving an overview of August 2015 for the sign of Virgo, the Virgin (and the sign of Washington DC!), including the July 25th Retrograde Station of Venus @00Virgo46 (Direct Station Sep 6th @14Leo23), and transit Jupiter entering Virgo on or about August 12, 2015:
