April 28, 2021: President Biden Addresses Congress

Update April 28, 2021: Advancing the chart below to a 9:00 pm edt start-time puts President Biden's natal Mercury, planet of communication, speeches oration, and messages, squarely upon the Ascendant, raises the Sag Moon closer to the Ascendant, and plops 3Virgo14 upon the Midheaven ('4Virgo' = "A Colored Child Playing With White Children") which spotlights both health and employment matters (Virgo), plus, the racial issues implied by the degree's Sabian Symbol. Compassion will be shown!

Original post begins here:

Astrology's What? (ASC) Where? (Desc) Why? (MC) and How? (IC) Points

by Jude Cowell

April 15, 2021: As you've heard, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has invited President Joe Biden to address a pared-down Congress on April 28, 2021, the day before the end of the President's first 100 days in office and one day after the Full Moon @7Sco06. His address is not being billed as an official SOTU (State of the Union) Address since that's traditionally delivered after a full year in office, but we all know that basically, a SOTU Address it will be. Therefore, I'm labeling his speech as a "pseudo-SOTU."

Below is a speculative 8:00 pm edt DC Horoscope set for April 28, 2021 Capitol Building with an abundance of planetary factors squished upon the chart for those who may care to enlarge the image and read the study notes of a novice astrologer with a lamentable interest in the Politics as practiced in the City where she once resided:

Solar Hour (Sun = the leader), regenerative Scorpio rises (the WHAT? Point), and Sun-ruled Leo at Midheaven (The Goal or WHY? Point) provides us with basic information concerning the address. The Scorpio Ascendant (forceful 'Mars-Pluto') spotlights the "A Drowning Man Rescued" degree which I believe will be one of Mr. Biden's themes of the night involving finances and mask-wearing in order to save lives. And as you see, the "Drowning Man" (ASC) is the apex point of a YOD pattern (highlighted in green = crisis; crossroads; karmic opportunity; special task) formed with a Chiron-North Node sextile at its base. The sextile includes wealthy MIDAS conjunct Node Node in the 8th house of Corporatism, Credit, Debt, and High Finance, plus, priestly Chiron is the wounded healer, here @"11Aries" = "The President of the Country" (Joe!). Opposite the 8th is the 2nd house of the National Treasury with Nemesis Rx (an unbeatable foe) pushing into the proceedings via the separative South Node, a (neurotic) Saturnian point of 'methods that worked in the past but now do not'. I'm counting this 3rd house Saturn @13AQ02 as 'conservatives' and obstructionists such as Republican opponents who work hard to block Biden's progressive, more liberal plans as seen in the Saturn-Uranus square (2A27; highlighted in blue at the bottom of the chart).

For as you know, Saturn-Uranus is the 'old order vs new order' pair of planetary energies. Yet confounding GOP efforts against him is the fact that their old friend Joe Biden is a liberal with conservative leanings so he can be signified by 'old man' Saturn in futuristic Aquarius. Notably, an apt midpoint picture reveals plutocrats who crave power - Jupiter-Pluto - conjunct restrictive Saturn so that 'the big picture must be adjusted to meet with more convention' and 'strategy becomes necessary' (Tyl). This would apply to the Biden administration and Democratic Party as well as to the GOP. As practiced, US Politics is always a high-stakes game and curiously, the public Moon at "6Sag" = "A Game of Cricket': 'exceptional competency in crisis' (Jones).

Also in 2nd house of Money and Values is the current Solar Eclipse which perfected on December 14, 2020 @23Sag08 (Electoral College Vote day) in the difficult 4 South family of eclipses. You know 4 South's sour themes: 'strong emotions over money and/or relationships; blockages and frustrations; relationships suddenly ended; a sense of fated events beyond personal control' (paraphrasing Brady's Predictive Astrology #ad). Hopefully, the former guy's belly-aching and malicious schemes concerning his 2020 Election loss will continue to fade away or perhaps come to a screeching halt under the milder influences of the June 10, 2021 Solar Eclipse @20Gemini as it bestows the better themes of 5 North ('prophetic dreams and visions').

Someone's Mars Is Rising

Now President Biden's first natal planet to rise in this chart is his unaspected Mars @12Sco35 ("13Scorpio" = " An Inventor Inventing") which can act directly, free of interference or influence; by 9:00 pm edt, ASC = 22Sco08 along with Mr. Biden's natal Mercury (21:32), the messenger. Meanwhile, 8th house Mars @3Can20 is out-of-bounds (OOBs) of the earthly plane and off attending to who-knows-what - perhaps additional plans to undermine the Biden administration and delay improvements for the American people? Well, as you know, activist Mars when in Moon-ruled Cancer is impulsive, moody, resentful, and subject to angry outbursts, even arson. Add to this an inconjunct from Mars to the public's Moon (@5Sag12 and rising in 1st house: happy mood) and a cosmic picture forms of hotheads (Mars) who lack self-control, tend to misjudge others, and form alliances with, and allegiances to, the very people who exploit them. In general, a Moon-Mars inconjunct is an aspect of nervous irritation and emotional anxiety which describes most of us these days. Yet Mars @3Can20 conjuncts US natal Venus so cooperation is needed for best results. But that would favor Joe Biden, whine the Republicans! As would wearing masks (see the IC's Sabian Symbol conjunct the HOW? Point) and the WHY? Point with "A Chemist Conducts an Experiment" upon it suggesting vaccines created to fight against the Covid-19 contagion and President Biden's inventive plans to rescue the US economy, with a tip of his hat to FDR's New Deal programs.

Also notable are the Sabian Symbols for the North Node ("12Gemini" = "A Black Slave Girl Demands Her Rights From Her Mistress" - will he mention America's killer cop trials? And perhaps reparations?). Then there's orating Mercury @"21Taurus" = "Moving Finger Points to Significant Passages in a Book", possibly a reference to the Bible, or to the secret book all presidents are said to follow. Or, it's simply an echo of the YOD pattern noted, above. Thing is, orating Mercury in Taurus opposes Mr. Biden's natal Mercury in Scorpio, a perfect cosmic picture of the disagreements and diverse opinions his pseudo-SOTU 2021 will activate, or aggravate.

Now in closing, we may wish to consider the cosmic weather of the evening via its Sun Taurus-Moon Sagittarius pairing, an Earth-Fire blend of conscious and unconscious energies ruled by the popular Venus-Jupiter combination. This 'dynamic duo' wants to make a contribution to the world via a stable economy and suggests common sense, inventiveness, and doing things on a grand scale which may refer to President Biden's visionary plans which must be large enough to make a difference in spite of opponents who, by harming Joe Biden, also harm the American people.

Well, there are many more factors of interest in this speculative horoscope of Biden's pseudo-SOTU Address 2021 so check them out if you wish. And if inspired, leave an on-topic comment! jc

(For more details see Sun Sign Moon Sign by Charles and Suzi Harvey #ad)

Solar Eclipse April 2022 and the Marseillaise Trio

Beware: The Mars-Jupiter-Neptune Trio from 1792 Soon Repeats

by Jude Cowell

For astrologers, key dates in the History of the French Revolution reveal intriguing planetary alignments with the Marseillaise Trio of Mars, Jupiter, and Nepune prominent and coming to represent extreme violence such as stormings, breaches, and mob riots against established authority. Note that when the Storming of the Tuileries palace occurred on August 10, 1792, the planetary Trio was aligned in late Libra, sign of balance and justice, as the populace demanded an end to the French monarchy of King Louis XVI and proceeded to dethrone the king. Follow the link, above, for more details concerning the events.

But why mention this historically significant planetary alignment now?

Because a heads-up may be in order for unfortunately, the Marseillaise Trio will form in 'marching order' once again and can be seen in the Horoscope of the April 30, 2022 Solar Eclipse in the 6 North Saros Series (shown below) and ranging from 23Pisces to 1 Aries with globally significant Aries Point included, one of the four Cardinal World Points of manifestation. Here, Venus is among the Trio which will tighten on May 18, 2022 when Mars and Neptune conjunct @24Pis59:35 and Jupiter inches slightly into Aries (1:22).

Initial 6 North Eclipse of May 15, 0850 (28Taurus) Repeats on April 30, 2022

May 15th, the 'Ides of May', is a significant date in history and marks the Roman Festival of Mercury, aka, Mercuralia, when merchants honored Mercury and prayed for profit and the ability to continue cheating customers. And as you know, messenger god Mercury is called Hermes in Greek mythology and is well known for her/his commerce, trading, communication, teaching, tricksterism, thieving, and other talents and skills. Interestingly, Mercury rules both the Ascendant and Midheaven of the April 30, 2022 eclipse chart and @00Gem48, conjuncts Alcyone with its keyphrase, 'something to cry about'. Or, perhaps Mercury conjunct Alcyone will simply bring rain a bunch!

April-May 2022 Solar and Lunar Eclipses

So yesterday when we discussed some prominent Karmic Planets That Block President Biden's Plans into 2022 I hadn't yet thought much about the first Solar Eclipse of 2022 occurring April 30th @10Taurus28 in the 6 North Saros Series and what changes and disruptions its 'wild card' Uranian energies could bring to the White House and to the US government. Adding to this is erratic Uranus @14Tau32, the degree of America's Inaugural Ascendant every four years and spotlighting fixed star Menkar with its 'victim of the unconscious' implications and link to Jonah and The Whale (saying what must be said, as presidents with bully pulpits do).

Since 6 North themes involve 'relationships to authority figures' and 'taking control and responsibility' we must, however reluctantly, consider the April 30, 2022 Solar Eclipse (DC horoscope, below), plus, the accompanying May 16, 2022 Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio (not shown - and perfects within a day of May 15th depending on your location and time zone). As you know, accompanying Lunar Eclipses reveal clues concerning societal reactions to their related Solar Eclipses (these across the Taurus-Scorpio axis). And as you see, the Solar Eclipse's 3rd cusp @25Sco36 (when set for DC) points toward the May 16, 2022 Lunar Eclipse which may actually signify the Full Moon referred to in the Symbol for the Venus-Jupiter Conjunction @28Pisces (6th house; wealthy people) - which in turn relates to the symbol for the Solar Eclipse itself ("11Taurus") via the concept of Gardening Under the Full Moon, at the culmination stage of plans seeded at the previous New Moon.

Note: Sabian Symbols supply additional information for those who use them and several are penned upon the chart.

So besides the 'take control' energies contained within 6 North themes (see the top of the chart for the rest), the Symbols identify gardening, care, development, and cultivation as additional underlying potentials of both April/May 2022 eclipses, plus, Taurus is the sign of growth. And in a flurry of synchronicity, a cosmic time link exists between this Solar Eclipse's Syzygy Moon (the previous lunation) - also a Full Moon which perfects on April 16, 2022 @26Lib46 with its degree spotlighting the 1792 Marseillaise Trio. As you see, the April Full Moon in Libra conjuncts the 2nd cusp of the eclipse chart implying revelations concerning finances and/or values:

6 North Solar Eclipse April 30, 2022 4:27:55 pm EDT White House, Washington, DC: Hour of Jupiter (conjunct Venus--two money planets); Mutable/Earth; a Bundle shape of planets suggesting a concentration of 'take-over energies' which resonates with the themes of 6 North eclipses; quirky Uranus nearby emphasizes karmic debts and resources, and solar eclipses in the 8th house link the past, present, and future, and are particularly karmic. Manifesting in Venus-ruled Taurus, the Taurean traits of endurance and reliability are required for best results (R. Lineman) concerning events brought by the eclipse. (I suspect you know what this eclipse may refer to without my having to type it, dear reader, for I do not want to do that in case it attracts the loss or dethroning of a leader via illness or unreliability.)

Now in closing, here are three midpoint pictures an their potential expressions from the above chart: *Pluto-NN (North Node) = Neptune: 'success attained through lies and fraud; disadvantages and losses'; Mercury-Pluto = Venus = Jupiter: 'propaganda; persuasion; crooks and swindlers'; and, Mercury-Uranus = NN: 'surprising news; turns or changes; cooperation' (Ebertin).

Plus, penned on the chart, lower left, you see the only applying Ptolemaic (major) aspect made by chart-ruler/Midheaven ruler Mercury - a sextile to Venus (2A52) indicating opportunities for diplomacy and for forming alliances. My first thought? That Venus might very well signify VP Kamala Harris.

(Note: any, all, or none may apply and are subject to transits and progressions.)

*Besides the 'common destiny of a large mass of people' and 'powerful groups', Pluto-NN is the "tiger by the tail" combo!

Dear Reader: As always your on-topic comments and observations are welcome as long as you don't sign with 'Unknown' or 'Anonymous'! jc

Karmic Planets block President Biden's Plans into 2022

April 12, 2021: Photo: President Joseph R. Biden {public domain}

2021 into 2022: Cosmic Influences Affecting the White House

by Jude Cowell

Well, it isn't as if a major shift of the US government's policies and tone to a more democratic position of logic and compassion could be easy after years of Tr*mpian mismanagement, anti-constitutional actions, lawlessness, and plain old brutality. Therefore, it must be no surprise to you, dear reader, that beneficial planetary influences upon President Biden's natal planets will be partially mitigated going forward by a few difficult planetary transits from karmic planets Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Karmic because they take a long time to get where they're going and represent a build up of energies and conditions which must eventually be dealt with via the planets they aspect.

So below are prominent transits now in progress - squares, oppositions, sesquisquares - that pop out at yours truly and suggest an extended period of blockages and obstacles to President Biden's plans and goals with forces and people (planets as actors) standing in the way of his, of our, of America's path to progress and improvement. And sadly for the common good, such blockages are what we've learned to expect from radical reactionary Republicans and their wealthy authoritarian enablers.

Note that 'coming soon' transits are italicized:

Pluto sesquisquare natal Saturn (5x, twice in 2020; 3 of 5): January 23, 2021, August 13, 2021, November 27, 2021. Goals are severely criticized and secretly or indirectly undermined.

Pluto opposite natal Jupiter (3x): January 29, 2021, August 4, 2021, December 4, 2021. Difficult legal and financial battles, power issues, avoid gurus including religious ones.

Saturn opposite natal Pluto (3x): February 17, 2021, September 20, 2021, October 31, 2021. Battles for authority and control with no clear victor, larger forces attempt manipulation of events and/or people, a transformed sense of responsibility and authority.

Saturn square natal Mars (3x): April 19, 2021, June 26, 2021, January 7, 2022. Derailed plans, patient, calm persistence required, hard work, eventual success.

Neptune sesquisquare natal Pluto (3x): April 25, 2021, August 28, 2021, February 24, 2022. A confusing time when goals and objectives require reassessment for best results.

Uranus opposite natal Mars (3x): June 4, 2021 (with energetic Mars conjunct his natal Jupiter exalted in Cancer, possibly a financial indicator), November 4, 2021, March 25, 2022. Unpredictable people and events, possible danger, threatened security, unstable conditions, quarrels, rebellion or revolt.

Now naturally, these transits to natal planets activate any of their aspects in the natal horoscope. A prominent exception in President Biden's natal chart is his unaspected Mars @12Sco35 in 11th house of Groups and Associations (but depending on the house system used, very near his 12th cusp or inside the Unconscious 12th house.) Natal Mars with no contacts or influence from other natal planets can act in an unrestrained, direct manner, and a build-up of negative Mars traits (anger, aggression, willfulness, lack of control, etc) may suddenly erupt in a temper tantrum or a show of force. However, maturity helps control such Martian tendencies with Mr. Biden's Scorpio Mars suggesting the potential for taking secret or hidden actions.

Yet to me, the most interesting natal aspect is his Saturn-Pluto sextile which has, and can at some point, become the base of a YOD pattern by transit or progression whenever a planet reaches the apex degrees of 7 - 10 Capricorn (YODs can time a crisis, karmic opportunity, or special task). On its own, a Saturn-Pluto sextile indicates one who insists upon having detailed information before making decisions, is a good organizer, defends against victimization, and often deals with issues of power and control (A. Epstein). Plus, a fortunate objective of the sextile for our difficult societal conditions is a desire to refine or reform authoritarian forms of government, a massive effort which seems to be underway!

And if we wish to include one fortunate transit that can mitigate any or all of the above influences, it has to be transit Saturn trine Biden's natal Saturn which puts him easily in touch with like-minded people, forms a measure of stability to his governing methods, and provides for a balanced approach due to the wisdom he's gained from past mistakes and experiences. This beneficial trine has and will occur three times in 2021: in March, August, and December.

More about Neptune's Influence: Scandal or Inspiration?

Now prior to Election 2020, many observations were expressed online about the fact that transit Neptune in Pisces was knocking on the natal 4th house door of Joe Bidenandnd dire predictions were suggested. The final of three exact conjunctions to his Pisces IC occurred on February 19, 2021 so the karmic planet of undermining, dissolution, erosion, deception, theft, and loss is now floating within Biden's 4th house of Domestic Scene, one of the Psychological houses. And of course, with Astrology being all about polarities, Neptune's nebulous energies can boomerang into his 10th house of Career and Public Status as well suggesting how his opponents are searching for old or new scandals to exploit against him and the Democrats. However, Neptune transiting 4th house indicates circumstances that require flexibility, adaptability, inspired thoughts and actions, and, in this particular case, represents the presence of secret service agents within Mr. Biden's environment. My guess is that Joe Biden's natal Uranus trine Neptune provides him with the ability to side-step influences from lower or degrading forces by correctly handling higher levels of consciousness, utilizing a natural talent for seeing through illusion and dishonesty, and identify a man with highly developed intuition which can raise our society to a higher plane.

For another consideration see the Biden-Harris Confirmed January 7, 2021 Horoscope - with Nemesis rising.

Joseph Biden's natal horoscope.

A Closing Note: As you see, these transits to Joe Biden's natal planets give us only a basic look at the cosmic weather affecting him and thus the country (2021 into 2022) so factor in transits to Mr. Biden's progressed planets, his planetary returns, and so forth, for a fuller picture of the period, both positive and negative.

Zealotry and the Civil War's Progressed Full Moon

In America Neptunian Rebels Are Rising Again

by Jude Cowell

April 9, 2021: With today being the 156th anniversary of General Robert E. Lee's Surrender at Appomattox Court House, here's a view of the Civil War Horoscope (lower left), plus the war's Secondary Progressed Full Moon ('SP') which perfected on December 14, 2020 @26Pis05. Some amazing synchronicities were, or are, in effect, what I tend to call 'cosmic time links' involving 1861 Neptune in Pisces (with deceptive, deluded Neptune progressed in December 2020 to the very public Aries Point), and the Electoral College Vote count on that very day. As you see, at the start of the war (April 12, 1861 4:30 am LMT) Neptune was rising along with Scheat, star of misfortune and murder, plus, a midpoint picture between Mercury-Neptune = ASC reveals potentials for 'overreaction to others' and exploitation' (Tyl). A veil of Neptunian deception and misconception was cast over the proceedings, and emotions were played upon in 1861, a description of many of our 2021 conditions as well.

Now outside the foundational 4th house of the upper right horoscope (SP Full Moon @26Pis05) I've notated the December 14, 2020 Solar Eclipse @23Sag08 in the difficult 4 South Saros Series - the influences in which the world continues to stew (until late May or early June 2021, when the next Solar Eclipse in Gemini begins to influence societal conditions and events, and our dreams become prophetic). Thing is, the December 14, 2020 Eclipse is a time link for current seditionist activities for it manifested on the very day of the Electoral College Vote, the count for which violent insurrectionists on January 6th temporarily interrupted the work of the US Congress as it fulfilled its constitutional duty of certifying the vote count for President Joe Biden - aka, the former guy's infamous, deceitful "stop the steal" ploy which led to violence and death. And as you know, the grifter's big lie about Election 2020's outcome is the basis for the false narratives and shady laws being perpetrated in state legislatures such as in my home state of Georgia where 'white supremacy' somehow retains a base of radical reactionaries who are often signified in horoscopes by Utopian zealot and radical, disruptive politician, Uranus.

Uranus and Neptune

Now looking ahead, one interesting, or perhaps predictive, feature is that the Civil War will experience a three-fer Neptune Return/s on March 28, 2025, October 24, 2025, and January 24, 2026 - all 're-conjunct' 1861 Scheat, and as you see, at a critical 29th degree of shady Pisces (see the blue box on the left). Another thing is transit Uranus, America's planet of rebellion, conflict, and potential for violence, now traveling through Venus-ruled Taurus ('the bull'), has already caused trouble including from its Mars-Uranus Conjunction (6Tau44) on Inauguration Day 2021. Fortunately, the ceremony and Oaths of Office were uninterrupted by sore losers - because the capital city was prepared and snugly fenced in.

So lower left beside the 1861 chart, you see listed a midpoint picture with transit Uranus at apex which in part describes recent, current, and probably future events, as you may agree: fanaticism and the urge to fight. Add in the energies of SP Mars conjunct SP Sun-Jupiter and we have a portion of the zealotry, aggression, and warrior spirit (Mars) that helps fuel the miguided, anti-societal efforts and attacks of seditionist rebels as they proudly march under authoritarian symbols of neo-nazism.

And my suspicion is that these rowdy miscreants are being 'inspired' to act on behalf of the former guy by the reigning crop of crooks and swindlers and can be seen in the SP midpoint picture: Sun-Mercury opposite - you guessed it - SP Neptune Rx @00Ari20, conjunct the SP 8th cusp.

Astrology of the Voting Rights Act of 1965

On August 6, 1965 the Voting Rights Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson ('LBJ'), came into effect so considering all the recent and current turmoil surrounding the suppression of voting rights in the US through Republican efforts to hobble voting rights as much as possible, a look at the 12:00 am horoscope of August 6, 1965 with a few current transits could be descriptive of forces that oppose the Act's provisions. Plus as you know, on June 25, 2013, SCOTUS delivered a 5-to-4 decision 'gutting' key provisions in the Act via Shelby County vs Holder. (That's Alabama, of course.) Yet 2013 was a Jupiter Return year for the Act! Perhaps this timed a change of beliefs, I suppose, at least for Chief Justice John Roberts and his fellow 'color blind' justices who decided the wrong way as if racism in the US was a thing of the past. Absurd!

Now you'll note among various contacts in the chart below, that the Act ('VRA') is in process as I type of a Nodal Return (cooperation; meetings), the May 26, 2021 Lunar Eclipse @5Sag25 eclipses the Voting Right Act's Moon (5Sag43 at 12:00 am edt so basically an eclipsed Lunar Return), the 5 North Solar Eclipse of June 10, 2021 falls snugly between 1965 and 2021 North Node in Gemini (NN conjunct Midas), and note that 1965 Jupiter @23Gem25 conjuncted US natal Mars, suggesting a fortunate period for taking action. Then as you know, 5 North themes = 'prophetic dreams and visions from the unconscious' (Brady) and 'wild card' eclipses usually offer society a major change of direction, plus, perhaps some interesting (or inconvenient) information may come to light. We shall see!

As usual, many factors are penned upon the chart which I hope you can read if you wish!

Now to me, multiple transits stand out which relate to the loss, erosion, weakening, or disintegration of the VRA's power, structure, and/or traditions to which I would include provisions in the law itself particularly since we know this has already occurred and may continue. You may spy more, but the earliest planetary contact I see in recent years (into 2023) is #3 of 3 hits by transit Neptune opposing 1965 Uranus (#3 exact February 18, 2018).

Then there are: transit Neptune opposing 1965 Pluto #3 of 3 (exact February 1, 2019), transit Neptune conjunct 1965 Saturn #5 of 5 (December 16, 2019), and soon transit Uranus in Taurus will oppose 1965 Neptune in Scorpio 3 times on: June 19, 2022, November 1, 2022, and April 9, 2023.

That's a lot of undermining energy with karmic implications, isn't it? And as you see, most of these influences have been 'under' the Republican administration of the 'former guy' but hopefully, the 'current guy' ("J'Biden") will manage to protect voting rights in America despite any ongoing attempts by the GOP to further skew the playing field in the 2022 Midterms and beyond for most folks agree that Republican policies, if revealed, can never win an election.

For a peek at the natal horoscope of LBJ go here where you can see that 1965 Midas @24Tau54 sits upon LBJ's natal Midheaven (conjunct passionate, enraged Algol!), assuming that President Johnson's birth data is accurate. Well, he did have a temper, or so I've always heard.

Finally, as always, leave your on-topic comments with this post if you dare, and please note that Google has updated Blogspot to the point that SO'W no longer shows up in Searches as before so your Shares of my posts are even more appreciated than before! Jude

Fearful Predictions of 2012 and December 2012's YOD

Was the Winter Solstice 2012 YOD Predictive of America's Future?

by Jude Cowell

Deliriously predictive was Year 2012 with the Mayan Calendar "end of the world" theory perhaps the leader of the pack for it received the most eyeballs in news cycles across the globe.

At the time, a post on the NASA website weighed in with rational views concerning 2012 topics, fears, and various cataclysmic predictions such as the "Jupiter Effect", but although book sales must have been stellar back in the day, no cataclysm materialized 'thanks' to beneficent Jupiter or any other planet. The book, authored by two scientists, one an editor of the journal Science, made earthquake predictions based on the "Grand Alignment" of 1982 including solar cycle theories of the day, and made various predictions such as faultlines ripped open and the destruction of Los Angeles.

Well, here's a handy website with a list of 2012 fears, paranoia, and the theories that assailed us (and gripped some of us!) during the era, most of which involved 'end of the world' paranoia and fanaticism, plus, Planet X (Nibiru), UFOs, Nostradamus predictions, and other irrationalities, some of which continue to lurk within the Collective Unconscious of American society: see 2012 Predictions about the End of the World.

However, one horror that did occur in 2012 was the tragic Sandy Hook School Shootings of December 14, 2012. A case could be made for its timing as a watershed, or at least a brutal, event pointing toward future school and other mass shootings in the US although there were other murders committed before it. Meanwhile, the focus of this post is too narrow to include gun control issues yet in hindsight, and considering recent violent events and the fact that YODs act as timing devices and may also relate to health concerns, perhaps the Winter Solstice 2012 Horoscope with its Saturn-Pluto-Jupiter YOD does have something to say about the increase in violence and fanaticism which has driven the US into 2021 and beyond with a shout-out to those violent types (Saturn-Pluto) who had no tolerance for President-while-black Barack Obama. These days, those who favor a race war in US streets remain disgruntled with their rage simmering for they prefer the days of the Confederate Constitution! (Horoscope shown, see Mars and Pluto in intolerant Taurus with 2021's Uranus transiting between them: cruelty and violence.)

So as you see in the 2012 chart, expansive Jupiter, apex planet of the 2012 YOD along with US natal Uranus, is in the 6th house of Health and Service which includes Police, Military, and Civil Service, while mundane Jupiter plays roles such as the politician, the General, the corporatist, the banker, the guru, the thespian, the propaganda-promoter and the broadcaster (potentials are penned on the chart, highlighted in blue; both Mars 'the shootist' and the Anti-Vertex conjunct US natal Pluto @27Capricorn with karmic implications). Note that when Jupiter is activated as apex planet of a YOD pattern and he mishandles his opportunities, perilous or catastrophic conditions and events can result:

Now as you may remember, in Year 2012 the 2007/2008 financial crisis continued and remained a focus during the second term of Barack Obama (Saturn-Pluto loss points toward moneybags Jupiter--transit Jupiter to US Uranus: success with group causes). In fact, the Prenatal Solar Eclipse ('PE') of Winter Solstice 2012 @22Scorpio was also the PE of Inauguration 2013 (15 North = 'joy through commitment'--Brady) with solar eclipses in Scorpio always providing society with opportunities to make karmic progress while seeing down to the roots of our problems (aka, true or original causes). If memory serves, a sense of karmic progress was evident then via the election/s of Mr. Obama but as you know, klansmen and other regressive reactionaries were not content with such a societal shift. Thereby, Tr*mp's 'birtherism' propaganda was invented for future campaign use.

January 2021 Catastrophe: Executive Branch Attacks Legislative Branch

So my suspicion now in April 2021, is that you, the dearest of readers, already realize which NRA-loving political party in the US can better be described as 'radical reactionaries' who cling to the past, obsess over their dogmatic views, are enemies of all social progress, despise democracy, consider themselves superior because of skin color and stubbornly retain supremacist attitudes against "the other," and are ruthlessly determined to take control of the US government - as seen before our very eyes on January 6, 2021 when a 'MAGA Mob' of seditionists attempted to coup the US Congress in order to keep a corrupt, malcontent grifter in control of the White House.

US Mars Return: early April 2021

April 6, 2021: No matter which of multiple US Horoscopes I check, our US Mars Return (19 - 23 Gemini) occurs this very week. And with each Mars Return to natal degree perfecting within a day or two of one another, the same applying aspects in each horoscope are formed by Mars: square Neptune in Pisces, then trine Jupiter in Aquarius.

Of course, the first aspect echoes America's 1776 Mars-Neptune square which emphasizes its potentials and suggests our current pandemic conditions, among other things. According to Alan Oken, the energies within a Mars-Neptune square are "quite difficult to handle" and are often "self-destructive" as well as "cruel." Apparently "strange" impulses may be entertained and need controlling, and of course, if you've read SO'W before you may remember that I often give this square "misdirected or confused motivations" and "fog of war" labels.

Additionally, missed targets are suggested as well as a welcomed potential for inspired actions. Yet naturally when Neptune is involved so is the Collective Unconscious (the primary reason the square's energies are 'difficult to handle'); meanwhile, Oken gives the Mars-Neptune square the title, The Obessive Impulse." Plus, we know that US Mars in Mercury-ruled Gemini can be restless, quarrelsome, ready for action, versatile, duplicitous, witty, sharply critical, and have a tendency to scatter its energies - and Mars is the planet of energy as our Mars Return begins a new two-year cycle of activity. So for the next two years (approximately), US natal Mars will carry the energies of the square to Neptune in Pisces (as opposed to our 1776 square to Neptune in Virgo, a Neptune-opposing-Neptune transit - a time of racial and religious persecution, and a generational clash of ideals vs ideals. Then to these difficulties we must add the Mars-Neptune tendency toward contagion and infection for we deal with them every day. Double Neptune influences with our national Mars suggests a deep need for prayer and/or meditation concerning our actions and motivations on a personal level as well as in government.

Then on a brighter note, we have the Mars-Jupiter trine suggesting a parallel period of improvement when risk-taking is likely to pay off and many areas of life receive favorable outcomes including the political, legal, and social realms. Even civil government can prosper under a Mars-Jupiter trine and most Americans are more than ready for major improvements as fortunate decisions are made by capable organizers. Yet propaganda remains a problem under Mars-Jupiter vibes even as successful solutions are found. Current sore-loser activities of a violent nature along with the tendency to blame the wrong culprits may be ascribed to Mars-Neptune blockages and frustrations of the square.

Therefore, this brand new US Mars Return period will contain a typical blend of positive and negative conditions and events and although it's necessary to add other planetary factors for a fuller view of the period, I hope this partial picture of Life in America over the next two years may be of some use to you, dear reader, as you plan ahead.

Above Image: a View of Mars from Hubble; NASA

Happy Easter 2021: He Is Risen!

Yes, I believe! I have always believed. And on the occasion of Easter Sunday 2021, here is the masterpiece by Alexander Ivanov (1806--1852), Christ's Appearance to Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection (1834--1835):

Painting by Alexander Ivanov {Public Domain} via Wikimedia Commons

Online Gallery of Ivanov Paintings.

Spring and Summer 2021: The Path of Benefic Jupiter

The To-and-Fro of the Benefic Planet of Hope, Expansion, and Discovery

by Jude Cowell

April 1, 2021: On February 25, 2021, when we discussed the Summer Solstice 2021 Horoscope, what has happened since hadn't happened yet. You may remember the chart:

And perhaps you remember that the chart angles in the Spring Equinox 2021 Horoscope mimic those in the Summer Solstice 2021 chart shown above - with Jupiter, planet of hope and expansion, ruling The Goal or Aspiration Point ('MC') in both charts and futuristic, scientific Aquarius rising:

The Path of Jupiter 2021 into January 2022

One significance is that protective Jupiter in Aquarius rises at Spring Equinox (of influence now) which suggests the improvements we're hearing about in health conditions and in the social justice and finance departments. Even our political system seems somewhat less negative than usual, a temporary respite though it may be.

Yet I know you don't need this meager post to clue you in on current news about medical matters or concerning the multiple lawsuits (Jupiter the Judge!) being brought against bad actors, and these are just some of the events and conditions that have occurred since my February post, as noted. And as you see, by Summer Solstice in June, transit Jupiter will have moved into compassionate if secretive Pisces (as you see, strong and emphasized here at Station Retrograde) and will back into Aquarius during the last week of July 2021.

Obviously, delays, reviews, and revisions (Rx) may be expected within the areas that mundane Jupiter rules (finances, funding and budgets, politics, religion, corporatism, exploration, discovery, travel, and/or the military with Jupiter the General) until The Great Benefic turns Direct on or about October 18, 2021 @22AQ19. Naturally, it will take a while for Jupiterian things to move forward again beginning in November 2021, but things won't really speed up until Jupiter reaches and passes his Shadow Degree of 2Pis11 (where he turns Rx in June) during the second week of January 2022 - then it's on to new discoveries.

And as you know, Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius, is the traditional ruler of Pisces, and both signs are prominent this Spring and Summer along with their ruler Jolly Jupiter. Why, on the day of Spring Equinox 2021, Jupiter arose with fixed star Alpheratz (keywords: wanting freedom and movement, two things that Jupiter always insists upon!)

'Cosmic Blink' Eclipses: 'Wild Cards of the Universe' = Agents of Change

Now there are two major cosmic events of directional change possibilities that we should be aware of during Jupiter's 2021/2022 to-and-fro: the Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius on May 26, 2021 @5Sag25 and the 5 South Solar Eclipse @12Sag22 on December 4, 2021 with its potentials for 'good news, benefits, peak experiences' (Brady's Predictive Astrology #ad). Jupiterian Truth has its own ring and hopefully, we'll be hearing and appreciating more and more of it as freedom-loving Jupiter glides along his cosmic path through Spring and Summer 2021.

And so for the sake of comparison, let's close with a consideration of the midpoint pictures that involve Jupiter in the two horoscopes (seasons) shown above and their potential expressions which are not all cases of peaches'n'cream:

Spring Equinox 2021: 'inventiveness, mobility' (echoes starry Alpheratz), 'far-reaching activities, success' (Sun = Jupiter-Uranus) and 'raised hopes, powers of visualization and perception, inspiration, pretending or putting on an act' (Jupiter-Neptune = Mercury) with the Jupiter-Neptune duo also suggesting 'political conflicts', 'speculation' and bubbly 'inflation' (which stock markets can't exist without).

Summer Solstice 2021: pictures have both positive and negative qualities and include potentials for health issues, social safety net programs, government systems, and realism vs fantasy - Saturn-Neptune = Jupiter: 'expanded ideas that reality is just a vision' (Row Row Row Your Boat?), 'deceptive practices concealed by religious ceremony or implication, fortunate answers, very upset with the ways of the world, narrow-mindedness, egoism, sensitivity, easy upsets, liver or lung disease, joyous excitement, unexpected events' (Venus-Jupiter = Uranus).

And, with liver imbalance possibly involved, here I'll add the potential for moodiness.

For more midpoint picture info see: Noel Tyl, Reinhold Ebertin, and Michael Munkasey.

Horoscope: World War One that "war to end all wars" - a Great Betrayal

Lying Americans Into War a Long Tradition

by Jude Cowell

March 31, 2021: You'll recognize the quote from President Woodrow Wilson on the occasion of his deceitfully taking America into World War I: that it would be a "war to end all wars." As the world well knows, it was not that but the start of a process. And it was, however, "a ritual sacrifice" and global populations - including millions of Americans - have been sacrificed ever since, both in declared and undeclared wars, thanks to old, mostly bald war profiteers and their warmongering enablers propagandizing generations of men and women into sacrificing their lives and fortunes on behalf of corporate conquest, plunder, greed, and power. Will we ever learn?

Numero Uno: A New Order Initiated

Below you see the historical World War One Horoscope, but first, a question: Why Was Kaiser Wilhelm Never Tried for Starting WWI? Note that today is the 116th annversary of the Kaiser's 'open door' speech delivered in Tangiers, North Africa on March 31, 1905.

As for President Wilson, he had duplicitously campaigned on a platform of keeping America out of the war! But there were massive profits to be made, as Wilson discovered (if he hadn't known before). So here's a quote by political prisoner of the era Ezra Pound from a previous SO'W post (2012) concerning these topics (post link, below):

"Here are the simple facts of the great betrayal. Wilson and House knew that they were doing something momentous. One cannot fathom men's motives and this pair probably believed in what they were up to. What they did not believe in was representative government. They believed in government by an uncontrolled oligarchy whose acts would only become apparent after an interval so long that the electorate would be forever incapable of doing anything efficient to remedy depredations." (My italics.)

Ezra Pound

St. Elizabeth's Hospital

Washington DC 1950

Are we incapable now?

Link: On the Fed, Wilson, and other Revealing Topics (interview) (Note that the video has been deleted by hands unseen.) You see, the work of author Eustace Mullins reveals too much uncomfortable truth for the sensitive political class these days!

Making the World Safe for Democracy? Seriously?

For the curious, here's a view of the A New Order: Woodrow Wilson Inauguration Horoscope of 1913 with two apt midpoint pictures indicating duplicity, unfaithfulness, deception (Neptune-NN = Saturn) and a sense of tragedy (Venus-Pluto = Saturn), with Inaugural Saturn as the planet of authority, management, and lawmaking. And to add insult to injury, here's the Scripture the Bible was opened to as Wilson took the Oath of Office upon it with Inaugural Sun in secretive, shady Pisces as it was until 1937:

Psalms 119:43--46 KJV: 'And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in Thy judgments. So shall I keep Thy law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty; for I seek Thy precepts. And I will speak of Thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.'

In closing, perhaps Woodrow Wilson's duplicity toward American principles of democracy and the American people might be partially explained by a midpoint picture imprinted upon his 1913 Oath of Office for it affected his natal Saturn, karmic planet of truth and realism: Neptune-ASC = n Saturn: 'becoming weak in bad company' (R. Ebertin). I'd say so: he hung around with Washington politicians.

Horoscope: US Slave Trade's Prenatal Solar Eclipse

Racism in America: And So It All Began

by Jude Cowell

March 28, 2021: As you know, the first African slaves were traded in America at Hampton, Virginia on August 25, 1619. Meant to supply cheap labor for the plantations of Virginia including Jamestown Colony, the introduction of enslaved, initially unskilled workers triggered the beginning of the racist issues our society continues to grapple with today - or not grapple with as the case so often is.

Tobacco was the lucrative industry of the era and displacing indentured workers of the Caucasian persuasion with slaves created conditions in early America of starvation and deep resentment of whites against folks who were forcibly transported here through no fault of their own.

A 1619 Solar Eclipse Describes Historical Conditions and Events

Below is the horoscope of the 'First Slaves Traded's Prenatal Solar Eclipse' which perfected on July 11, 1619 (Total) in the 18 South Saros Series. 18 South's themes could not be more appropriate to events: 'Endings, partings, separations' (Brady's Predictive Astrology #ad), plus, the eclipse @18Can31 conjuncts 1619 Pollux and activates the star's influences of: murder, rape, cruelty (A. Louis). And with disruptive Uranus in Cancer nearby and rising, break-ups of family units and separation of parents and children occurred and cruelly continued through the years, as you know. Plus, planet Uranus also represents change and/or change of direction as eclipses do. For America in 1619, trading slaves certainly was that.

Now in addition, all solar eclipses in the Moon-ruled sign of tribal Cancer, sign of family, home, and protection, suggests emotional extremes and karmic family ties - ties that were negated by slave traders and most Virginians who participated in the proceedings as a handy way to increase profits (moneybags Jupiter in pioneering Aries at Midheaven leads a BOWL shape of planets with a Mars-Neptune Conjunction of exploitation at IC, the Foundation of the Matter.

See lower left for the only applying aspect of chart-ruler Moon and the fear and anxiety it contains, plus, there's the dynamic Cardinal Grand Cross of direct confrontations and strong ambitions to succeed. With Jupiter at MC ('The Goal') it seems obvious that making money was the point (as if we didn't already know!).

Other interesting chart factors concerning racist and other issues are penned on the eclipse chart should you wish to enlarge the image, check them out, and leave a comment if you dare. Note two Sabian Symbols in particular: that of Venus ("12Gemini"; upper in blue) and that of 18 South's initial degree (lower right, red and blue; August 20, 1096 OS) of "4 Virgo" = "A Colored Child Playing with White Children" (Jones):

Dear Republicans: What Did You Expect? Questions from Thom Hartmann

March 26, 2021: Policies and Political Ideologies Have Real World Consequences

Here are some pithy questions aimed at Republican voters from progressive broadcaster Thom Hartmann.

And I'd also be interested to know, my Republican leaning friends: what did you expect?