Tag Archives: Monsanto Watch

The Queer Frontier

Dear Friend and Reader:

I had a great time listening to the arguments surrounding both same-sex marriage and the Defense of Marriage Act (or DOMA) last week before the U.S. Supreme Court. It was like the “personal is political” World Series, hearing some of the most intimate human topics being debated in what is arguably the most powerful court in the world.

Planet Waves
Photo by Eric Francis – Blue Studio / New York.

I loved hearing some of the justices make truly illuminating points and hearing others squirm around having to discuss something they wished they didn’t have to deal with. You might say that was sex, or the idea of gay sex — or you might say that was progress.

They’re all closely related. The essence of the discussion was: is sex actually a moral issue? We’re told it is so often, and we’re so thoroughly conditioned to treat it like it is, that I think many people would rather discover their kid playing with explosives than walk in on them playing doctor.

Treating sex as a moral issue has a long history, though looked at another way, it is the story of history. This has its origins in religion, which predates our modern concept of law or government. Yet the two are closely related. The purpose of both is less about an orderly society, a trustworthy economy or meeting the needs of the people, and more about social control.

There was that stunning moment during the DOMA arguments when Justice Elena Kagan quoted the House of Representatives report on why it passed the law. In that report, we discover that Congress, under the stewardship of serial polygamist Newt Gingrich, felt that marriage needed to be defended in order to “honor a collective moral judgment” reflecting “moral disapproval of homosexuality.”

Rep. Henry Hyde, then chairman of the House Judiciary Committee where DOMA was brewed and fermented, said at the time that “most people do not approve of homosexual conduct … and they express their disapprobation through the law.” And now that law, or rather the whole tendency to place moral judgment on normal social behavior, is up for question.

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Photo by Eric Francis – Blue Studio / New York.

We don’t know what the Supreme Court is going to do with these cases, though we know that there is a discussion happening on the highest level of government. For many reasons, that’s truly encouraging. What was once deeply hidden, denied and treated with disgust and rage is now household conversation, in a sense, sanctified by the blessing of the court.

Yet that could only happen were there some movement on the deepest level of the psyche. Which brings me to the astrology involved.

We’re in the midst of a generational event — the Uranus-Pluto square. This is the latest step in a cycle that turned over in the mid-1960s; that was the Uranus-Pluto conjunction. To some extent we all utter the words “The Sixties” with some reverence — it was a profound, tragic, sometimes beautiful, often wrenching time in history. A force for change had been let loose, and that was described by the Uranus-Pluto conjunction.

Now we are at the first quarter phase of that cycle — the square. The force of evolution and that of revolution are meeting at a 90-degree angle, which technically spans from 2012-2015, but which in retrospect will have a story arc that goes from around 2008 through around 2020. We’re now in the peak of the astrology.

But with the exceptions of some uprisings in 2011 — prior to the exact square, and which either did not persist, or which ended badly — we’re not seeing demonstrations in the streets, or a social uprising. But what we are seeing are these developments in our concept of relationship; and that is a development in our concept of what a person is. Plenty of that concept is related to sex.

Many, many centuries of “disapprobation” directed at homosexuality in particular have left a compounded injury in our collective and individual psyches. One way that manifests is as homophobia, by which I mean anything from subtle annoyance to deep, abiding disgust. When you combine that with the natural primate tendency toward same-sex relating, the result can be a lot of chaos and pain, or a society that often seems to be unraveling.

Looked at one way the Uranus-Pluto square is about some kind of upheaval, change or progress in society. Looked at another way, it’s an introspective process that each person is experiencing individually. That, I believe, is where the real progress is happening.

I would offer a perspective on the spiritual significance of embracing the whole notion of ‘homosexual’. Primal sex is sex with oneself. Very nearly everyone masturbates, which I’ve observed is a kind of core level of sexuality. It’s not about reproduction. It’s about the pleasure of existence or perhaps the mere fact of it, it involves feelings related to the self, from the self, in a reflexive way — and it’s true blue homo.

Planet Waves
Photo by Eric Francis – Blue Studio / New York.

The sex we have with ourselves is a form of gay sex; it is a same-sex experience. That, I believe, is one reason for the fuss over masturbation that has persisted more than 400 years (it can actually be historically traced to the early 1700s). There are other reasons; one is that sex alone with oneself has a way of opening up the full potential of fantasy, which does not always follow the fantasy that starts with a bridal shower.

I used to think that a sexual revolution would happen after AIDS was cured. It’s not really cured but it’s not what it used to be. Yet as time and my writing portfolio have collected, I’ve reconsidered. In my view, we don’t need a sexual revolution. We need conscious sexual evolution, which means many people individuating and living lives of authenticity, transparency and awareness (the opposite of hypocrisy). Sexual evolution is about being real.

The core of sexual evolution is that you are an independent person and so is everyone else. Then you do what you want to do in an ethical way. Part of that ethical way involves honoring independence and sexual choices, and understanding that nearly all of us exist on a continuum with each of our lovers, as they do with us — there are (for nearly everyone) those who ‘came before’ and those who will ‘come after’.

That leaves plenty of room for deep exchange, safe containers for family, and longterm or even lifelong commitment.

Now that monogamous lesbians and male homosexuals and the things they do are on the way to acceptance in society, it’s time to open the discussion that sexuality exists on a three-dimensional continuum (not the Kinsey scale), and that every person has a different sexual orientation with every different person we encounter. I guess that makes us a different kind of queer with everyone and anyone.

My sense is that Uranus-Pluto has nudged us out to the Queer Frontier. Yes, many pioneers have been here for a while; I am talking about the preponderance of momentum in our society, social movement that has the ability to carry many with it.

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Photo by Eric Francis – Blue Studio / New York.

Here are some ideas about who deserves full inclusion in our ongoing conversation of what is possible rather than what is moral.

People who are open and positive about sex. There are many; those who are willing to speak up are a rare breed. They’re the people who admit the whole thing, stating who they are, who they like and what they do. They are the people who can carry on a conversation and create the spaces where nothing is taboo.

Self-sexuals, which includes everyone part of the time, and many people much of the time. Many people otherwise engaged sexually have their best sex with themselves. This includes people who choose to be sexual exclusively with themselves; if we were to hear from them we would find out there are a lot more than we thought.

My sense is that this is where the real change — claiming pleasure and releasing guilt and shame — will start or may have already started. I understand conscious self-sexuality to be an easily accessible, pleasurable, socially interesting path to sexual healing.

I have noticed that many people are reluctant to speak up and claim this. I am doing my best to set a different trend. (I may hold the World Internet Record for mentions of masturbation in my articles, as of today, I get 6,060 Google returns on the topic). I know there are a LOT more people who have something to say — who I have yet to hear from (happily anticipating your emails).

People who choose themselves as a sex partner, whether ‘one on one’ or in the context of other sexual relationships, have the right to not feel shame about this, and we need to educate one another how to do this.

I took a little surf of my 6,060 Google hits a few minutes ago and found this quote, apropos of self-sexuality that I wrote a few years back:

“I would propose that masturbation is about a lot more than masturbation — and that’s the reason it’s still considered so taboo by many people, and in many places. First, I would say that masturbation holds the key to all sexuality. It’s a kind of proto-sexuality, the core of the matter of what it means to be sexual. I mean this in an existential sense. Masturbation is the most elemental form of sexuality, requiring only awareness and a body. Whatever we experience when we go there is what we bring into our sexual encounters with others — whether we recognize it or not. Many factors contribute to obscuring this simple fact.”

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Photo by Eric Francis – Blue Studio / New York.

Polyamory and nontraditional forms of relationships, which includes most people some of the time and nearly all people at some point. The awareness that some people actually admit to this is starting to increase, though at the moment polyamory seems to be wanting for idea-based leadership and coordination, in the midst of its biggest PR boon ever. The press has never been better and we’re not really taking the opportunity to build on it. I would remind polyamorous leaders that it was two sci-fi writers who got your movement going; you might want to give out book lists at your mixers, and have writing workshops at your conferences.

Single people. Not poly. Not mono. Not cheating. Not ‘asexual’. Single — those whose primary partner is ‘perself’ to use a Marge Piercy word (from Woman on the Edge of Time) for ‘him or herself’. Many people are single because that’s what’s available, and a good few are because they want to be that way.

Single people are discriminated against structurally by everything from the tax code to the dentist office application to you name it. The tax break for married couples is stunningly discriminatory, literally paying some people to have one specific kind of relationship. Single people are often considered a threat to the sanctity of coupled people. I could go on and on. Check out a blog called Onely.org for more info. Note, I would recommend to the Single’s Rights Movement that it could help matters by being more open and honest about masturbation.

Bisexuals and gender fluid people whose identity is not fixed and committed like registering with a political party. The official queer movements still have a hard time with this, no matter how many letters they add to their collection. I am speaking about people in harmony with their diversity of potentials, desires, choices and options for how they can feel and express themselves. When we look carefully at this and at ourselves we will find out that many, many more people fit this description than the previously existing political parties ‘allow’. Gender and sexual orientation are indeed fluid. The sex organs secrete liquid, which is designed to mix with others, in case we need a biological metaphor.

Asexual and non-practicing (apparently there is such a thing as asexual, with 1% of the population reporting this). Having no sexual feelings or not wanting to act on them is as queer as anything else in a world where sex is considered normal. From what I have read in my inbox, they feel left out when the conversation turns to sex and relating. They would do well to find one another and talk about who they are and what they do. There are many reasons for this choice, and we need to consider it as valid as any other.

That is the whole point. We all have a right to choose who we are and what we want. The ability to do this, I believe, needs to be about ability and volition rather than about privilege. The core idea is consent: the freedom to say yes or no, to yourself and to others; the freedom to decide who you are today.

Lovingly,

 

Planet Waves

Invocation of Spring: Your 2013 spring sex and love astrology reading is now available for purchase. The eclipses approaching this season are on the sensual, passionate Taurus-Scorpio axis. Beltane (the Pagan holiday celebrating fertility and sexual union in early May, at the peak of spring) is right around the corner.

Your 12-sign reading includes an introduction plus a 40-minute audio reading for each sign. Listen to your Sun, Moon and rising sign for added depth as you start tuning up your sex and love vibrations. Consider these audio readings a kind of a road map for your relationships — and some inspiration. Order instant access for $24.95 here.

 

Planet Waves

Quite the Aries New Moon

The sky is currently building toward the Aries New Moon. Astrologers don’t usually describe the New Moon as a building process — usually it’s more like closure, resolution and completion. Yet this is an unusual New Moon, with the sensation of something building to a point of release, much more like a Full Moon.

Planet Waves
Chart section showing planets in Aries at the New Moon April 10, plus Mercury at the top in Pisces, safely out of its echo phase. Uranus is in early Aries; the Sun and Moon are conjunct at 20+ Aries, with Eris, Mars and Venus nearby within about three degrees. Glyph legend.

It’s exact at 5:35 am EDT on Wednesday, April 10. Several smaller but meaningful events lead up to this, though it’s worth noting that we have this landmark on the immediate horizon. It’s actually a grand conjunction involving five planets, which are the Moon and Sun (as with any New Moon), the new planet Eris, and then Venus and Mars.

Additionally, Uranus is a longterm visitor in Aries, and while it’s slightly off to the side of this New Moon, it’s close enough to add energy, a creative factor and a hint that there’s a lack of predictability involved in the events that develop.

Yet that is also described by the presence of Eris in the middle of the five-planet alignment. Eris, a Pluto-like planet with a much longer orbit than Pluto, is serving as a kind of threshold — between the familiar and the unfamiliar. That can include your familiar concept of yourself and the one you don’t know so well; it can include your familiar concept of relationships and the one that perhaps you are being drawn into as if by gravity.

Between what I’m calling the ‘familiar state’ and the ‘unfamiliar state’ is a kind of threshold. You might say that threshold is a direct encounter with the unknown, and the fact that there even is an unknown. (One of the first things denial denies is the fact that there’s anything else.)

While you take the ride of this New Moon, remember that on the deepest level it’s about an encounter with your evolving self, and your relationship to that self — which sets the tone of every other relationship. Eris can add the element of chaos. I would note that there are two kinds: toxic and fertile. I suggest a bit of meditating on the difference between them. Toxic chaos is self-serving. Fertile chaos inspires creativity, and can be a release from the entanglements of the past.

Between now and Wednesday, several other things happen. One is that on Saturday, the Mercury shadow phase ends; the Mercury retrograde we experienced in February and March is fully resolved at this point. Mercury enters new territory for the first time in many weeks, and is getting ready to enter Aries on April 13.

The next day (this Sunday) is the exact Venus-Mars conjunction in Aries. This is an interesting conjunction because we have Venus and Mars in a sign that is ruled by Mars. That seems like a competitive situation of some kind — those are usually pointless. Who is competing for what? That’s the question to ask, if things ever get testy. The more competitive person is most likely to lose the game that THEY are playing, so if you want to win the game you’re playing, I suggest you avoid competitive people and find the cooperative ones.

They are most likely to be the ones who know what to do with a mystery, with the unknown, and who are comfortable making changes.

 

Planet Waves

Gun Control Progress: State by State

Congress may have failed to move forward Dianne Feinstein’s assault weapons ban a couple of weeks ago, but lawmakers in individual states are proving better able to make progress in the face of the NRA’s big-money lobbying. Connecticut — where the horrific Newtown school massacre occurred this winter — is the latest state with one of the strictest gun-control laws in the U.S.

The measure, which Gov. Dannel Malloy was expected to sign into law Thursday, requires universal background checks for all gun sales, increases gun registration, expands the state’s ban on assault weapons, and bans any new sales of magazines with more than 10 bullets.

A little further south, Maryland is likely to follow suit. That state’s House of Delegates approved a bill on Wednesday that includes the fingerprinting of gun buyers and banning assault weapons and magazines with more than 10 bullets. The measure now returns to the state Senate, which passed a similar version of the bill last month.

In related news, the Center for American Progress has released a new report showing that states with the nation’s most lax gun laws also suffer the nation’s worst rates of gun violence. Eight of the states with the most gun violence were among the 25 with the weakest gun laws. Indicators included gun homicides and suicides, gun deaths of children, and fatal shootings of law enforcement officers.

Colorado, another state that has recently passed stricter gun regulations in the aftermath of gun violence, hosted President Obama this week.

“I believe there doesn’t have to be a conflict in reconciling these realities,” said Obama on Wednesday, as part of his efforts to get a gun control law passed in Washington. “There doesn’t have to be a conflict between protecting our citizens and protecting our Second Amendment rights. Aurora is very much a purple city. It’s got a majority Republican city council; a majority of its state legislators are Democrat. But they came together understanding that out of this tragedy there had to be something that made sense.”

It sounds great — but Obama still needs to confront members of his own party standing in the way. That leaves it up to individual states, although Connecticut has a lot to lose if it pisses off the gun industry.

At least three major gun manufacturers call Connecticut home, and they’re threatening to leave. The small New England state can’t afford to lose the thousands of jobs represented by those companies. Yet it seems leaders there have chosen that possibility over losing more children to gun violence.

 

Planet Waves

Arkansas State Attorney General to Investigate ExxonMobil Oil Spill

In the aftermath of last week’s spill of up to 5,000 barrels of crude oil in Mayflower, Arkansas, state attorney general Dustin McDaniel announced he will look into the causes and impacts of the spill from the ExxonMobil Pegasus pipeline.

The pipeline spewed oil onto lawns, roadways and wildlife, and almost into nearby Lake Conway. No one was hurt, but the spill led authorities to evacuate more than 20 homes.

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A river of tar sands crude flows through a Mayflower, Arkansas, subdivision. Photo by evacuated Mayflower resident Warren Andrews via the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

“There are many questions and concerns remaining as to the long-term impacts, environmental or otherwise, from this spill,” McDaniel wrote to ExxonMobil executives Tuesday. He asked ExxonMobil to preserve records pending his investigation.

Also on Tuesday, federal pipeline safety officials issued a corrective action order to ExxonMobil. The cause of the rupture is still unknown, but the corrective order states ExxonMobil reversed the system flow of the pipeline in 2006, and that a change in direction of flow can affect the hydraulic and stress demands on the pipeline.

The company cannot restart the failed segment of the pipeline until officials are satisfied that it is safe.
A longstanding cause for concern has been that the Pegasus pipeline is located in an area that drains into the main source of drinking water for hundreds of thousands of customers. A Central Arkansas Water official said the water system plans to formally request that ExxonMobil move it out of that region.

The spill in Arkansas comes as the Obama administration prepares to issue a decision on whether to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. That controversial project would expand the transport of Canadian tar sands oil on a massive scale; the Pegasus pipeline was carrying western Canadian Wabasca Heavy crude at the time of the leak.

“It’s almost as if nature was trying to send a message that it might be best to just leave this stuff underground in Canada, where it’s been safely for the last few million years, instead of trucking it, piping it, training it hither and yon across the countryside,” said Bill McKibben, co-founder and director of 350.org, on Democracy Now! this week.

 

Planet Waves

Who’s Responsible for the Monsanto Protection Act Anyway?

Food activists are looking askance at the White House, after Obama last week signed the “Monsanto Protection Act” into law, as it rode on the back of the larger spending bill that is keeping the federal government in business. The rider says the government must allow the planting of genetically modified crops even if courts rule they pose health risks.

Because it was passed as a rider and not as its own legislation, it expires in six months, and the food justice movement is already gearing up for a fight if it comes up again.

One mystery is who introduced the bill in the first place. Republican Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, Monsanto’s home state, was one of its biggest supporters. Blunt reportedly crafted the bill’s language with Monsanto’s help, according to Democracy Now!

Democrat Jon Tester of Montana, the Senate’s only active farmer (and an organic farmer, at that), would sure like to find out. He opposed the rider, saying the provision would undermine judicial oversight and hurt family farmers. Tester said last month in Senate hearings that the source of the bill is unknown.

“I don’t know who authored this provision,” he said. “Maybe someone in Washington knows, but no one is willing to put their name to it. And that’s a shame.”

He’s not the only one who wants to hold someone accountable. One activist group, Peaceteam, is “demanding a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee to determine who is responsible for putting it in there, and to demand their immediate resignation, regardless of party affiliation, so that this kind of anonymous graft can never happen again,” it said in an email.

You can add your voice by visiting the Monsanto Reckless Release Action page here.

 

Planet Waves

Nuclear Saber Rattling on the Korean Peninsula

North Korea and the United States have once again traded escalating rhetoric and tactics in the past few weeks in the wake of a vote on tighter UN sanctions on North Korea and joint war games by the U.S and South Korea. While most of the language and tactics are similar to years past, there is always the possibility that the smoke here could turn to fire.

The latest round of bravado seems rooted in a UN Security Council vote for stricter sanctions on South Korea after a third nuclear detonation in February. This was the first such test conducted under new leader Kim Jong-un and in direct defiance of China, South Korea’s biggest backer. China responded in March by joining the other 14 Security Council voting nations in these tighter economic sanctions.

North Korea then threatened to end the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War and has since threatened nuclear attack on South Korea, Japan and United States territories and mainland. The expression of threats has so far escalated up to late Wednesday night with North Korea stating that they were cleared to engage in an attack on the U.S. using “lighter and diversified nuclear” weapons.

This all happens amidst the backdrop of joint military exercises by the United States and South Korea. The U.S. has flown stealth bombers plus B-2 and B-52 bombers over the Korean Peninsula, and has deployed war ships to the region.

While many experts and analysts agree that a nuclear attack from the north is unlikely, there are tactical moves on the part of both nations that could easily escalate the crisis.  So far though, South Korea and the U.S. have been following a typical, although volatile, script.

 

Planet Waves

Ready or not, someone may be coming out

Are National Football League players and their fans ready for an openly gay player? Quite a few vocal supporters think so and appear to be preparing for just that. The bigger question may be, will this be harder for the players or fans?

A CBS News report followed by an announcement from the players union indicates that a player is preparing to come out in the next few months with the intention of continuing his football career.  This would be a landmark event in the world of professional sports. It’s one of the remaining popular national institutions that has remained on the sidelines of sexual orientation / gender identification equality issues.

NFL Players Association president Domonique Foxworth explained that the union, in conjunction with outside organizations, has had meetings to educate players for the “inevitability” and “unavoidable” circumstances of a player coming out. He believes that the time is ripe for a player to take this step and that there are more gay players in the league, so if one comes out, others may follow.

Meanwhile, CBS News sports correspondent Mike Freeman indicated that despite negative, homophobic comments made by two current NFL players (Chris Culliver and Chris Clemons, both in response to questions about having a gay teammate in the locker room), the player in question is more concerned with the reactions of fans than of his teammates.

Minnesota Viking punter Chris Kluwe, ambassador for the group Athlete Ally that works to end homophobia in sports, agrees with that assertion. Kluwe suggests that the fundamental principles of “don’t be a distraction” and “team first,” drilled into NFL players’ psyches, may become a source of strength for the openly gay player and the team. The enormous amount of media scrutiny and fan attention is what could keep the issue contentious.

 

Planet Waves

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews: Truthers Are Nuts, Too

In Wednesday night’s edition of Hardball on MSNBC, Chris Matthews gave a rundown of paranoid political theories circulating among the American population, including how many people think that Barack Obama is the antichrist, how many people think that the country is run by reptilians (evil ETs disguised as humans), how many are sure that Obama wasn’t born in the United States and so on. Most of these are right-wing conspiracies.

Then he said that there are some loonies on the left as well — such as the people who believe that George W. Bush took down the World Trade Center “with a plunger” (meaning a detonation device). He described these people as fringe elements, despite the fact that a 2006 Zogby poll revealed that “less than half of the American public trusts the official 9/11 story or believes the attacks were adequately investigated.”

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Larry Silverstein, owner of WTC 7, said in a PBS interview that he told the Fire Department that, ‘”The smartest thing to do is pull it.” Screen shot from PBS.

That means more than half of American adults do not trust the official story — now that the fog of war in Afghanistan and Iraq is starting to clear. Matthews asked incredulously what motive Bush and Co. might have had to knock the buildings down and make it look like the work of terrorists, answering his own question — hypothetically, to start those wars — but pretending that was a ridiculous theory.

Besides being prejudiced, the problem with Matthews’s objections is that they are ignorant of many basic facts.

After 11 years of dissecting how exactly two massive towers could crumble from airplane strikes without the help of explosives, attention has focused on the building that crumbled without being hit by an airplane — WTC 7 or the Salomon Brothers Building. I covered this in the Planet Waves article History, Turning on a Phrase. This article covers the astrology, the science and the psychology of the event.

Oddly not investigated in the official 9/11 report, WTC 7 collapsed onto its footprint at near free-fall speed at 5:20 pm on Sept. 11, 2001. There were numerous reports of a police radio countdown, witness testimony reveals the area was evacuated prior to the collapse, and the building had sustained only minor damage.

Office fires are cited as the usual reason that WTC 7 collapsed, despite the landlord, Larry Silverstein, admitting on PBS that he told the Fire Department that “the smartest thing to do is pull it.” That phrase is a term from the demolition industry, which “pulls” buildings (formerly with a crane, now with explosives).

Yet the real issue with Matthews’s characterization of the 9/11 issue is science. How can a skyscraper collapse at anything near free-fall speed with all that mass between the top of the building and the ground? Maybe he doesn’t know that 1,500 professional engineers and architects have agreed that from a scientific standpoint, the official explanation is impossible. There is evidence of explosives. That’s not their opinion; it’s based on the calculations of the engineers who design this kind of skyscraper, and whose job it is to make sure it stands up. You can visit the website and explore a diversity of videos there.

Of course, paraphrasing Einstein, proving that WTC 7’s spontaneous collapse violated the laws of physics would require the calculations of only one engineer, though just in case, we have a few more.

 

Planet Waves

Planet Waves

“The piglet squid would seem to suggest that evolution’s medications are working. Possibly a little too well.” And if you think this critter is weird, you should see what evolution comes up with when it’s having a really bad day. (There are lots of things science doesn’t fully understand about squid, including why their eyes are so complex.) Photo: Sierraclub.org via WTF, evolution?

Um, Are You Sure About That One, Evolution?

If you think you have a hard time staying motivated, upbeat and creatively juiced on the job, imagine trying to do so for 3.8 billion years! Chances are, you’d have as many ‘misses’ as ‘hits’ on your project resume. Maybe you’d occasionally confuse a really weird idea for pure genius. Perhaps spite and self-pity might get the better of you, after eons of being made fun of for some of your more experimental work. Sometimes the solutions you come up with to ‘fix’ your ‘mistakes’ might strike others as, um, less than obvious or logical. And let’s face it: almost everyone has done something stupid while drunk at least once in their lives.

This seems to be the basic idea behind the hilarious nature blog, WTF, evolution? Created by Mara Grunbaum, an editor for Scholastic Science World and a science writer for other publications, the blog imagines evolution as a sentient being who just seems to be winging it sometimes. The conversations with evolution are the best — revealing a rather sensitive soul whose feelings are easily hurt when people laugh at its favorite creations.

It’s okay, evolution — we know how you feel. Surely somebody out there appreciates you.

 

Planet Waves

Aries New Moon, North Korea, Elisa Novick on Tour

Thank you to my listeners for participating in our spring membership drive. As promised, I’ll leave the $49 for one year membership offer available through the end of the week for those who have not yet signed up.

Planet Waves

In this week’s edition, I cover the current astrology: last quarter Moon, Jupiter square Chiron, Mercury conjunct Borasisi (here is the article I reference, With Love from Borasisi). I also speak for a few moments about Elisa Novick’s European tour — here is that itinerary, which takes her through London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam over the next few weeks.

In the second half of the program, I check out the situation in North Korea, and take a new look at a chart called The Nuclear Axis. North Korea shows up as a wannabe nuclear country, though it may have a significant role in how we resolve the nuclear dilemma. Here is the best chart we have for this elusive country.

I reference my earlier interview with Karl Grossman, who gives a detailed history of nuclear power and nuclear bombs. Here is the link to that interview, which is in two parts, and is worth listening to (and worth playing for students of any age, who will benefit from knowing this history).

 

Planet Waves

Your Monthly Horoscopes — and our Publishing Schedule Notes

The April monthly extended horoscopes were published Friday, March 22. Inner Space for March was published Tuesday, Feb. 26; there will be no Inner Space for April due to scheduling issues. We published the Moonshine horoscopes for the Libra Full Moon on Tuesday, March 26. Moonshine for the Aries New Moon will publish on Tuesday, April 9. Note that the longer monthly horoscope is being incorporated into the Friday issue after the Sun has entered a new sign; a new Inner Space is generally emailed on the following Tuesday.

 

Planet Waves


Weekly Horoscope for Friday, April 5, 2013 #944 | By Genevieve Hathaway
 

This week, Genevieve is standing in for the weekly horoscope. I will be back next Friday with your weekly horoscopes. — Eric Francis.)

Aries (March 20-April 19)

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You’ve spent the past month doing a lot of work behind the scenes and below the layers of your psyche, shifting and moving material out of the way that no longer serves you. This process of de-cluttering the corners of your mental and emotional space has clarified who you are. Sharing this side of yourself may feel deeply personal — that’s a good indicator that you are showing the authentic you. As you share with others the ‘you’ no one knows, remember that how people react is independent of your inherent value. Presenting yourself unfiltered will challenge those around you to do the same. Some people may find this difficult to match, but enough people will follow your lead and answer with their own authenticity. — by Genevieve Hathaway

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Planet Waves

Attention all Aries: Your 2013 Birthday Reading is ready — just in time for the Aries New Moon on April 10. Your sign is loaded with planets right now, making this New Moon the ultimate in cosmic reset buttons for you to get your solar year started Aries-style. If you have already ordered, you may now access using the login and password you received when you placed your order. If you have not yet ordered, what are you waiting for? You’re an Aries — the zodiac’s initiator! This birthday reading includes two 40-minute segments of astrology, plus a tarot spread using the Voyager Tarot by James Wanless. You may purchase instant access to this affordably priced reading here.

Taurus (April 19- May 20)

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You are working through a question regarding desire. More specifically, what do you want and what desires bring a sense of deeper meaning for you? This may come with the feeling of an expansiveness that makes the answer hard to pinpoint, like trying to determine where a voice came from as the sound echoes through a large cavern. The discernment you are looking for is available to make some decisions regarding what you want. It involves a slight stretch in belief: that you can create in your life what it is that you want. I suggest trusting your intuition as you follow a feeling that is pointing you toward some important answers. You will make contact both with a greater sense of focus regarding what you want, and the large amount of resources at your disposal to bring what you want into your life. — by Genevieve Hathaway

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Gemini (May 20- June 21)

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You are reworking an idea around ‘relationship’ and what it means to you. At the moment, you have a strong drive to be fully authentic and present in all you do. This energy can come with the feeling of pushing a round peg into a square hole. I suggest you first get clear on what a relationship that supports you as an individual would look like, then carefully and thoughtfully convey this idea to a close partner. For relationship structures to fit you, they need to give you room to be you — with all your idiosyncrasies, beliefs, dreams and curiosity — as you give the same to close partners. As you express your desire to make changes to a relationship, hold space open for a close partner to do the same. In reworking relationship dynamics, I propose you consider applying two things you know well: your curiosity and an open sense of experimentation. — by Genevieve Hathaway

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Cancer (June 21- July 22)

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Your astrology highlights a busy career angle, with a number of seemingly rapid changes lately. A door you thought would open has seemed a bit stuck. I suggest you view change less as a derailment of where you want to go, and more as an opportunity to pause and examine what you want and what that would look like manifested in your life. Desire is the starting place of any path — it informs how you move, the intention you apply, and the actions taken. How that desire manifests can often come down to your vision. You have quite a few options available at the moment, and as you work through whether you want to try the previous path or create a new one, I suggest working with the attitude that it’s always a good thing to have options. At your disposal are the resources to re-open an old door or begin a new path; the key is to proceed with a vision that is aligned with your authentic self. — by Genevieve Hathaway

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Leo (July 22- Aug. 23)

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — A recent financial investment is challenging an old concept around resources, particularly financial resources. What you are discovering is that money is not just useful in making more money or sitting in a bank account. How you use your resources has a distinctly service-oriented component. It’s not just about writing a check, but rather knowing what your investment is creating — as well as who is impacted by it. Think of this approach as a socially aware allocation of your resources. I’m not referring to giving away all your financial wealth. Instead, notice the power your financial investments and donations have in making a difference in your community. You’re in a position to make a big impact in many lives; it will take less of an investment than you may think — though it will take targeting the right groups and people for the greatest results. — by Genevieve Hathaway

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Virgo (Aug. 23- Sep. 22)

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — A current agreement requires something you know well — attention to the details. I suggest taking extra care to shape, craft and fine-tune an agreement before acting on the contract or arrangement. The energy at the moment is pushing for action; in this climate you could move too quickly and miss an important piece of information. Slowing down the process enough to notice the intricacies will give you a chance to fully understand the entire landscape you are working in. Take it slowly enough to collect all the details, then double check those details and facts. You possess enough creativity and ingenuity to come up with an arrangement that is beneficial to all involved. Trust that you are able to make a good decision involving a particularly tricky part of the negotiation. — by Genevieve Hathaway

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Libra (Sep. 22 - Oct. 23)

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You are negotiating your way through a somewhat complex relationship situation. This may feel like navigating a maze blindfolded. I suggest using your intuition to feel your way through the situation. As you would use your hands to feel along the walls of the maze and build a mental image of what’s around you, tap into your intuitive body to collect information that can move you through partnership dynamics. What you are making contact with has more to do with material you’re working through internally than an actual relationship problem or difficulty. As you work through this material I suggest you not project your internal state and struggles on a partnership; instead, involve the person in an open dialogue about what you are working through. Holding the space open for yourself to heal and another person to walk this journey with you will also strengthen an existing partnership. — by Genevieve Hathaway

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Scorpio (Oct. 23- Nov. 22)

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Your work life is in a moment of rapid change that may come with the sensation of someone hitting the fast-forward button on the scene changeover in a theatrical production. One structure has rapidly replaced another. Events are occurring quickly, which may make you feel off kilter. I suggest you not get distracted by any seeming disorientation around your work routine and its evolving structure. You tend to like to maintain control in all aspects of your life, but at the moment you are being called to move with the changes rather than trying to steer them. A creative opportunity is presenting itself, allowing you to work with these changes in a way that lets you expand farther into your workspace. It’s about creating a work structure that facilitates your creativity flourishing. Start with an openness to try new structures and then allow inspiration to guide you.
— by Genevieve Hathaway

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 22)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — For you, a healthy component of emotional and spiritual balance is enjoying sexual fantasies. They allow you to explore many of your sexual needs that may be logistically challenging to experience directly in day-to-day life. Currently your fantasies are quite vibrant, being stoked by some hot and passionate astrology. Your core essence of self and your energetic sexual self are merging and mixing, stirring up a particularly rich fantasy life that is spilling over into your physical sexual experiences. Take the time to mentally and emotionally explore these fantasies. As you do this you will make contact with an important aspect of yourself, learning more about what makes you unique — and also tapping your well of creativity. The more sexually honest you are, the deeper you will be able to push into yourself, bringing you a stronger sense of feeling good about who you are as a whole being. — by Genevieve Hathaway

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 20)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — A home is not only about the house, yard, trees, grass, shrubs and neighborhood where you live; it’s also about a sense of grounded security coming from it being ‘yours’. You can think of this as the place where you can be fully yourself, expanding into a space that is all your own. At the moment, you are working with a calling to redecorate or make changes to your home, which in essence help you further claim this space as yours. An opportunity will arise to make a few important changes to your surroundings, going a long way in helping to make the living space and surrounding environment resonate within you on a deeper level. As you consider the adjustments you make to your home, I propose you approach your living space as an extension of your inner world by focusing on increasing the nurturing nature of the space. This may be as simple as rearranging the furniture or sweeping — or as involved as taking out a wall.
— by Genevieve Hathaway

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Aquarius (Jan. 20- Feb. 19)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — We tend to think of our thought processes as part of our conscious self; something we have control over. Yet, how often does a thought enter your mind and then you mentally correct yourself or have an internal debate with yourself over that thought? How often does this internal dialogue seem to go on for far too long, reaching surprising levels of complexity? Lately many of your mental processes are coming up for review — these are the thoughts you seem to have before you have a chance to think them. These mental patterns contain many of the themes you inherited from your parents, which have been passed down for many generations. You have the tool of perspective at your disposal to see the patterns for what they are and make changes. You can see your thought patterns laid out, not only their structure, but also where in your family they came from. As you work to restructure how you think, I suggest requiring that all mental patterns must support your sense of feeling good about your existence. — by Genevieve Hathaway

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Pisces (Feb. 19- March 20)

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — You’ve recently been through some potent and meaningful astrology in your sign, bringing you into contact with both the complexity of who you are and any blockages to your ability to exist fully as your whole self. You’ve been learning what you can and cannot do, and who you can and cannot be. During Mercury’s recent retrograde in Pisces, important information came out that is now up for examination. Think of this process as being like washing clothes on an old-fashioned washing board. You lather, scrub, rinse and repeat. Through each scrub against the washing board a new layer of denial is peeled away. As you hang up each freshly scrubbed concept about who you are, you’ll be able to inspect it thoroughly without layers of issues getting in the way. In this process of examination, notice the connection between these concepts of ‘you’ and your sense of self-worth. The first step to reconciling these ideas is drawing a line between the two. — by Genevieve Hathaway

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two product

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A Fire in Aries; Be Cool, Don’t Just Act Cool

Dear Friend and Reader:

With the recent equinox, the sky continues tipping from water sign Pisces into fire sign Aries. The spring season began in the Northern Hemisphere Wednesday, with the Sun joining Mars and Uranus in Aries. This is the beginning of the astrological year — the metaphorical clock resets to midnight.

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Nautilus stairway at the old 59 Rivoli artists’ squat, in downtown Paris. Photo by Eric Francis.

This is being followed close on its heels by an unusual Full Moon on Wednesday, March 27 at 5:27 am EDT. The Full Moon is a Moon-Sun opposition stretched across Aries and Libra. The Moon is on its own in Libra, though it’s meeting the Sun, which is conjunct Venus, Mars and Uranus.

This setup is a reminder not to let yourself get knocked off balance by your environment, or by people you perceive as overpowering you in some way. Your environment (which means people and circumstances) is offering you options, and to a real extent it’s showing you a reflection of yourself (illustrated by the Full Moon reflecting all those planets).

It’s worth recapping that Mercury stationed direct last Sunday afternoon (March 17), ending a three-week retrograde phase. That retrograde is still working itself out, and it will be for about two more weeks as Mercury re-traces the degrees where it was just retrograde (this is sometimes called the second shadow phase, or second echo phase).

Some people are more sensitive to these Mercury retrogrades than others, whether psychologically, emotionally or through experiencing those odd events like computer crashes, lost keys and missing envelopes. There were a lot of planets in Pisces during this retrograde; that gives some people the feeling of emotional resonance and others the feeling that they’re drowning. Mercury will remain in Pisces until April 13, when it joins the rapidly developing Aries grouping.

Speaking of: Venus was the most recent planet to move from Pisces to Aries. Venus is happy in Pisces (the two have a natural affinity) and it needs more love than it’s often willing to offer in Aries (the sign of Mars, so there can be some tension). It’s a prickly spot for Venus, but with the promise of a conjunction with Mars in early April, there may be some fiery action in the sex department at that time. Do your best to find the balance between going after what (or rather who) you want, receiving what is offered by a partner (or someone who is not one yet, but whom you’re interested in), and remembering to be extra-conscious of the other person’s experience (known as empathy) — and what you can offer them in return.

We are entering a phase with a lot of Aries happening, and empathy really is the name of the game.

Now, as for why the planets in Aries are big news. As you may know, there is currently a generational aspect happening — Uranus in Aries square Pluto in Capricorn. These are two slow-moving points that are meeting in a major aspect for the first time since 1965-66. What we think of as the Sixties was mainly the combination of three major factors: a conjunction of Uranus and Pluto; Chiron in Pisces; and Neptune in Scorpio.

Planet Waves
Brooklyn’s beloved Cyclone roller coaster, the oldest, meanest, fastest (and safest) wood and steel contraption in the business. It occupies one city block in Coney Island. Photo by Eric Francis.

We now have the first Uranus-Pluto (major) aspect happening since the Sixties. Chiron is back in Pisces. And Neptune is in a water sign. Let’s stick to Uranus and Pluto. They are early in cardinal signs — Aries and Capricorn. Their square aspect is a five-year (or more) project, of which we’re now in the middle. These longterm aspects heat up when other planets get involved, and now a lot of other planets are about to jump into the mix.

Friday, Mars makes a conjunction to Uranus. Soon after on March 26, it’ll make a square to Pluto. That’s going to add a lot of energy to what is already a high-potency alignment, which is lurking just below the surface, waiting for something to come along and do just that. This tells a story in natal charts. In my old series Born in the Sixties, I describe how aspect patterns of certain birth charts emphasize the astrology of that era, and certain ones play it down. Anyone born under the current astrology is going to have Uranus-Pluto emphasized for their whole lives because there are so many planets involved, just as certain people born in the 1960s do.

At the same time, the Sun will move through Aries, form a conjunction to Uranus on March 28 and a square to Pluto on March 31. Venus will do the same thing (on the same days as the Sun — the Sun and Venus are moving in tandem right now), and then Mercury will do the same next month (April 20 and 21). So, over and over again, inner planets — the ones we feel and see — will be making conjunctions to Uranus and squares to Pluto.

This is a series of events that can change the world, and can also wake us up to how much the world has changed before our eyes in just a few years. The thing is, we may see what seems like a ew years’ worth of changes in a matter of weeks. It’s impossible to predict what this will bring, though there is likely to be some ‘personal is political’ effect in the world. When astrology like this heats up, many people get the urge to participate.

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Fire spinning in Krakow, Poland. Photo by Eric Francis.

For some, it’s like you spent four years studying in the library, then the spring of your senior year, protests break out on campus and you want to participate — and you may feel like it’s too late. If you experience something like this, remember that social movements are not a thing, they are about people. So go outside, and meet the people who are involved. Do your part to make what you’re witnessing into something that is personal and immediate. In many ways this is the story of our our whole era in history. We have the opportunity to take chances on what is happening now — or to let the era slip by.

And while the Uranus-Pluto square, the defining aspect of our time in history, seems to last for a while, it will go by faster than you think. Now is your moment to dare; now is your moment to make a difference, in your own life and that of the larger culture.

As for the personal being personal: do your best to stay cool and keep your head through this astrology. This is the time to be cool, not just act cool or ‘play it cool’. Cool means reflective, aware and clear. It means being aware of time and timing, and knowing when you’re ready to make your move. There will be moments when passion is called for — you will know them when you’re in them. Even then, make sure you’re aware of your emotional temperature at all times.

Mars and Uranus, which are conjunct today, describe a clash between personal and community interests — therefore, orient yourself on cooperation and don’t try too hard to stand out. Be real, be yourself, and notice (and feel) what’s going on around you. Do your best to be part of what you say you belong to. Offer yourself a little more generously than you think you need to, or are being asked to.

Everyone will feel better.

Lovingly,

Planet Waves

This is a 12-sign audio report about relationships and sex. Each of the signs gets half an hour of attention — half the length of a long podcast. You can listen to your Sun, Moon or rising sign, and those of people you care about. Visit this link to pre-order.

Planet Waves

Lunations of April Rock the World

New and Full Moons this April are potent astrological events that will continue the fiery theme that has been brewing through late March. One by one, planets have been transitioning from Pisces to Aries, tipping the feeling and experience of the astrology from water to fire. The New and Full Moons of April also bring us into the first of two eclipse seasons in 2013.

Let’s start with the Aries New Moon. That takes place April 10. For this event, there are six planets in Aries, five of them concentrated into a narrow band of sky with the new planet Eris at the center. You could call this the Eris New Moon. We’ll have a ‘proving moment’ for Eris (discovered in 2005, named in 2006), when we get another example of how this planet works. Sometimes a New Moon close to a newly discovered planet will bring a revelation about what that planet is here to show us.

Aries New Moon conjunct Eris

Let’s run through what’s in Aries as of the New Moon on the 10th. Uranus is in there, about to make its third of seven squares to Pluto (that happens on May 20).

Planet Waves

Then, we have that grouping of five planets right around Eris — the Sun and Moon to one side, and Venus and Mars to the other side.

Eris is the sensation of ‘all chaos, all the time’. It’s the times we live in. I trace this back to the Sixties, though it’s been ramping up exponentially year by year since then. Eris describes a state of global chaos as well as a personal sense of being overwhelmed. It’s also about the persistent question ‘who am I?’ Yet one is fortunate to be in a position to ask that; typically, it’s experienced as confusion. And there is plenty of that going around lately.

Young people in particular have little in the way of structure they can hold onto, and if they do, they are also witnesses to a world that seems to be falling apart day by day.

The twin conjunctions on either side of Eris seem to represent two possible states of relating. To one side is the Sun and the Moon — an image of mother and father, or a traditional concept of relationship. To the other side is a conjunction of Venus and Mars, which is at least a meeting between two peers. However, in this equation Venus is in Mars’s sign — it’s out of character. And while Mars rules Aries, it’s not always feeling so confident there.

This describes many modern relationships where men and women are out of character, or where people of the same sex are sorting out gender roles. So it’s a little of the old and the new, side by side — with a kind of chaos membrane between them. In reality, human relationships have more in common than social activists would like us to think. We are all people, alive at the same time, participating in the same society, doing our best to meet our emotional needs and offer what we can to others.

Scorpio Full Moon – Partial Eclipse

The Aries New Moon is followed by the Scorpio Full Moon of April 25. The Sun ingresses Taurus on April 19, and soon after is followed by the Full Moon. Planets will be ingressing Taurus through the month, and by the time of the Full Moon, Mars, the Sun, Pallas Athene, Venus and the South Node will be collected there.

Planet Waves

The Scorpio Full Moon has two different feeling tones. One is indicated by the concentration of personal planets in Taurus — including Venus and Mars. That has a passionate feeling to it; a desire for physicality and connection.

The Sun is conjunct Mars, which lends passion and drive, as well as a need to express energy physically. I think this will be meaningful to honor, despite the possible distractions. That is the whole point of focusing passion — to be able to keep your focus sufficiently to power through the noise, static and obstructions of the world.

Taurus also has a mental quality that evades the very physicality that it represents. It can be lost in fantasy or lost in an idea of how things should be, or should have been. The mental quality of this event is hinted at by Venus conjunct asteroid Pallas Athene. Pallas was the goddess born directly from her daddy’s head, in a full suit of armor, ready for action. That seems to color her whole delineation — the notion of nonsexual birth, from dad, seemingly as the product of his mind. Just imagine her bursting out with her helmet and spear.

Pallas therefore has a distinctly mental quality. We have an image of getting lost in one’s head, doing too much to plot strategy or striving to impress others with one’s intelligence. Pallas has a theme of daddy-pleasing, something we do more of than we think. In many ways the world is a story of daddy worship, from fussing over the pope to thinking the president runs the country to adherence by nearly everyone to patriarchal ways of organizing society — even though we know there are alternatives.

For this event, Mars is opposite the Moon. And the Moon is conjunct Saturn. These two aspects lend a reflective, heavy and at times frustrating quality. Fortunately this chart is an eclipse, and that’s suggesting a theme of letting go of that which is frustrating. It may be necessary to take things from the mental level to the emotional level in order to work this out. It’s not always obvious when your mind is tied up that your real situation is emotional in nature, which could imply physical — emotions tend to be closer to the body than is the mind.

This eclipse is the first of three. It’s followed two weeks later by an annular eclipse of the Sun in Taurus. That happens May 9, in the season of Beltane. And then May 24-25, there is another lunar eclipse on the Sagittraius-Gemini axis. I’ll have more about those charts a little closer to the events.

 

Planet Waves

House of Representatives Needs Better Drugs

The House of Representatives Thursday approved a group of measures that would keep the government running through September, but which preserved the ‘sequestration’ of federal money designed to starve all the programs that Republicans don’t like. That is not a partisan statement — this was the third version of the Paul Ryan budget, the same Paul Ryan who lost the election last November.

Planet Waves
I beg you, please. Michele Bachmann pleads for the repeal ofObamacare. Screen shot from C-Span.

The bill “underfunds key elements of the president’s health care law, as the administration builds up health insurance purchasing exchanges. And it makes permanent four formerly temporary gun-rights provisions just as Senate Democrats prepare a final push on gun control legislation,” the New York Times reported Thursday.

[Meanwhile, the Senate this week failed to pass a ban on assault weapons; Democratic leadership withdrew the measure, saying it didn’t have the votes to carry.]

The Republican budget law passed by the House Thursday is supposedly designed to balance the budget, but Ryan himself two weeks ago admitted that his budget was more of a philosophical statement. Still, that didn’t stop the House from approving it. It has not gone to the Senate, and it would never pass there, so the House vote is a kind of token gesture.

“We want to balance the budget. They don’t,” Ryan said Thursday. “We want to restrain spending. They want to spend more. We offer modernization, reform, growth and opportunity,” he continued. “They want to cling to the status quo, more taxing, more spending, more borrowing.”

What you have here is a longterm issue — the national debt — being treated like an immediate problem. It would be like waking up one day realizing that you’re $150,000 in debt and need to pay it off all at once, rather than just paying your mortgage on time.

Ryan’s proposal depends on repealing the Affordable Care Act to balance the budget,
which this week the Republicans tried to do for the 34th time. Michele Bachmann, the wannabe presidential candidate, introduced yet another law to repeal the ACA, saying, “That’s why we’re here because we’re saying let’s repeal this failure before it literally kills women, kills children, kills senior citizens. Let’s not do that. Let’s love people, let’s care about people. Let’s repeal it now while we can.”

Don’t miss the video of Bachmann’s diatribe on the House floor Thursday. It’s really worth 33 seconds of your time.

 

Planet Waves

Assault Weapons: Losses and Wins

Unsurprisingly, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein’s proposed ban on assault weapons was too tough a sell for NRA-cowed Democrats in the U.S. Congress. Had it already been part of the gun-control package moving forward (which is undefined at this time, but could include universal background checks), it would have taken 60 votes to remove it.

At least, that was Feinstein’s argument; that voting it out of a package would be harder to do than passing the entire package in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut massacre late last year. Senate majority leader Harry Reid saw things differently, explaining to reporters that the necessary votes just weren’t there.

“I’ve worked 40 years on these issues — guns. I’ve seen so much violence,” a shaken and frustrated Feinstein told reporters Tuesday. In 1978, while working as the San Francisco County supervisor, Feinstein found the body of Harvey Milk after he and Mayor George Moscone were shot by Dan White. In 1994, following a mass shooting at a San Francisco high-rise, she successfully pushed for the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. That ban expired in 2004.

Meanwhile in Colorado, home of last summer’s movie theater shooting rampage in Aurora, there is more gun-related success and sadness. Earlier this week, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed legislation enacting gun control laws with some actual teeth. Ammunition magazines will be limited to 15 rounds (not exactly paltry); background checks will be expanded; domestic abusers must surrender their guns; and online concealed-carry permits will be banned.

Almost as if to prove some kind of point, on the eve of the gun law signing ceremony an unknown assailant shot and killed Tom Clements, the head of Colorado’s prison system. Clements had answered the doorbell; police there do not believe the shooting was random. No shit.

 

Planet Waves

UPDATE: Monsanto Protection Act Moves to Obama’s Desk

Food Democracy Now! announced late Thursday that Congress passed the Continuing Resolution spending bill, HR 933, that contains the dangerous Monsanto Protection Act (Section 735) we reported on last Friday. Section 735 strips the important concept of “judicial review” from our courts and allows GMO crops to be planted while appeals to stop them are still being heard.

The bill now moves to President Obama for his signature. If you want to stop the bill from becoming law, here’s a petition to the president.

Grocers Say No to GMO Frankensalmon

Retail grocers representing some 2,000 individual stores and food chains, today said they would not carry AquaBounty Technologies’ GMO salmon, regardless of the FDA’s future decision on its approval. This is the first organized grocer boycott of the genetically engineered [GE or GMO] salmon.

Planet Waves
What kind of salmon is this, real or Frankensalmon? We can’t tell from the outside but it makes a big difference. Photo: Wikipedia.

Retail chains including Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Whole Foods and regional chains Marsh Supermarkets (with stores in Indiana and Ohio) and PCC Natural Markets in Washington state, plus co-ops in Minnesota, New York, California, and Kansas have joined the “Campaign for Genetically Engineered (GE)- Free Seafood.”

“GE fish only advances if there is a market to buy it. Today’s announcement of a huge number of seafood retailers stating their refusal to buy the fish shows that FDA approval won’t be the last word on this important debate about what consumers want their future fish to be,” said George Leonard, a scientist with Ocean Conservancy who testified before Congress on the GMO salmon.

Concerns include whether the salmon is safe to eat and potential escapes from the farms where they are raised. The offspring of wild salmon that crossbreed with them could be exposed to unknown genetic consequences, harming the species and contaminating them as a food supply.

The Campaign for Genetically Engineered-Free Seafood is being led by consumer and environmental groups, including Friends of the Earth, Center for Food Safety, Food and Water Watch, and Consumers Union.

No other genetically engineered fish is on the market, but according to the Center for Food Safety “at least 35 other species of GE fish are currently being developed around the world, including trout, catfish, tilapia, striped bass, flounder, and many species of salmon.”

 

Planet Waves

War on Iran Delayed Til 2014

In a rather ambiguous announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that it will probably take Iran about a year to manufacture a nuclear weapon, if they decide to do so. President Obama — making his first trip to Israel as president of the United States — seemed to concur that this was enough time to wait before taking military action against Iran, saying:

“We prefer to resolve this diplomatically. And there’s still time to do so. Iran’s leaders must understand, however, that they have to meet their international obligations. And meanwhile, the international community will continue to increase the pressure on the Iranian government. The United States will continue to consult closely with Israel on next steps. And I will repeat: All options are on the table.”

It’s a nice little mitzvah for Israel right before Passover, what with Obama citing an “unbreakable bond” with the country and vowing to extend billions of dollars in annual U.S. aid. The two men displayed a friendly, avuncular joking relationship during the press conference, and Chuck Todd of MSNBC got in four questions when he’s only allowed one. Clearly these world leaders were feeling pleased with themselves.

But if you read between the lines, it sounds rather like Netanyahu and Obama have agreed to delay war on Iran until at least 2014. And, glaringly, Obama has made no mention of the illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land.

Obama is now touring the West Bank for talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. We’ll see if he notices the new tent camp aimed at stopping the expansion of West Bank settlement that a group of activists erected ahead of his visit. Said Palestinian lawmaker Mustafa Barghouthi, “It is [Obama’s] duty to see the Israeli apartheid system and the system of segregation that his ancestors suffered from.”

It remains to be seen whether Israeli forces will raid the camp now, or after Obama leaves.

 

Planet Waves

Small Cause, Big Effect?

The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant said Wednesday it believed a rat was the cause of an extended blackout that disabled the plant’s cooling system this week — a disturbing reminder of how very little it can take to bring on catastrophe.

Tokyo Electric Power Company’s engineers found the charred body of a rat inside a faulty switchboard. They believed it had short-circuited the switchboard, perhaps by chewing on the wires.

The power failure began Monday, cutting off the flow of cooling water to four pools used to store more than 8,800 nuclear fuel rods. All of the affected pools were expected to be cooled by Wednesday, according to a New York Times article.

Last week Fukushima and the people of Japan (indeed, people around the world) marked the two-year anniversary of a triple meltdown at the plant in March 2011 after a huge earthquake and tsunami knocked out cooling systems.

“The spent fuel pools have been a particular source of concern because they contain far more radioactive material than the three reactor cores that melted down two years ago, forcing the evacuation of 160,000 people,” the article said.

 

Planet Waves

Planet Waves
Part of “Modern Movement,” the latest installment in museum security guard Todd Balthazor’s comic strip, “It Is What It Is.” Todd is a security guard at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.

When Life Imitates Art Imitating Life…

A recent New York Times feature on the secret lives of museum security guards introduced one Todd Balthazor to the world beyond Minneapolis: art school grad, cartoonist, on-the-job yoga practitioner and cultural satirist.

“I’m stretching all the time,” said Balthazor. “You have to do that, or else you are going to stiffen up. We have some elderly workers, and they just walk like trees.”

He also keeps his sense of humor and his drawing skills limber by drawing the cartoon It Is What It Is, based on his encounters working at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Walker features the strip on its blog about twice per month. Hopefully that’s more often than Balthazor has to resort to memorizing museum visitors’ outfits and holding his breath to stay mentally sharp, surrounded by people ‘photo bombing’ major artworks for their hipster Facebook profiles.

 

Planet Waves

Equinox, Iraq War and the Founder of Monsanto

In this week’s edition, I cover the chart for the Aries equinox and the forthcoming aspect Mars conjunct Uranus in Aries. Then I look at two anniversary charts — the beginning of the Iraq war 10 years ago today, and the death of John F. Queeny, the founder of Monsanto, 80 years ago Tuesday.

In the Iraq war discussion, I mention how this scam grew out of a bigger fraud, which was the Sept. 11, 2001 incident; here’s a recent article from the member archives studying that event.

I also mention an International Astrology Day celebration hosted by Kepler College, the only college in the U.S. devoted to astrology.

 

Planet Waves

Your Monthly Horoscopes — and our Publishing Schedule Notes

The March monthly extended horoscopes were published Friday, Feb. 22. Inner Space for March was published Tuesday, Feb. 26. We published the Moonshine Horoscope for the Pisces New Moon on Tuesday, March 5th. Note that the longer monthly horoscope is being incorporated into the Friday issue after the Sun has entered a new sign; a new Inner Space is still emailed on the following Tuesday. The Moonshine horoscopes for the Libra Full Moon will be published Tuesday, March 26. Your April Monthly Horoscope is below in this issue.

 

Planet Waves Monthly Horoscope for April 2013 by Eric Francis
(standing in for weekly horoscope #943)

Early Aries Birthdays (and Early Aries Rising)

Aries

You have more change in your chart than a bootblack has coins in his pocket, but what will it take to make lasting progress? Remember that change comes from you, not from anyone else and not as a magical factor of any relationship. The planets hold incredible promise at the same time they make it difficult to know what you want. Current aspects suggest it would be good for you to pause and decide what is right for you, before you make any spontaneous decisions. True, that’s not very Aries, whose motto is often leap before you look, think or know you’re leaping. Sometimes that works for you — but you have so much energy and leverage right now, it would be wise to use your considerable human intelligence. Set an agenda for yourself, which you take one step at a time. No matter what, the planets are promising you an exciting year ahead, with many surprises. You don’t need to invent excitement — it’s coming your way. Note to Aries readers: your birthday reading will be ready next week. Please check your email for an announcement when it’s available.

Aries (March 20-April 19)

Aries (March 20-April 19) — I suggest that you not get ahead of yourself. You may feel that there’s nothing you cannot accomplish, but certain recent events may also demonstrate that there’s no guarantee that impulsive decisions actually work out to your benefit. When life is moving unusually fast, and when there are so many unpredictable factors that it seems impossible to use logic and scheduling to solve your problems, you may be tempted to throw all organization to the wind. This is the time to pause and ask yourself what it really is that you’re doing, and why. Have you thought this through? Well, it’s not too late, though you may have to slow down and take the pulse on a relationship or partnership that seems to have taken on a life of its own. The astrology is suggesting that the most challenging thing is listening. That includes you listening to others, and them listening to you. Yes, it seems elementary that such a basic level of exchange could be missing in a situation so significant in your life, though I suggest you check this carefully and make sure that you and those close to you are truly willing to hear one another out. Doing so will not threaten anyone’s existence, importance or role. What a sincere (and extra-length) exchange of feelings or ideas will do is to re-incorporate the human element into this endeavor, before you encounter challenges that depend entirely on that one very thing. In a word, that would be trust.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Taurus (April 19- May 20)

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You may want to put on a logical face and take a reasonable approach, though it seems to be passion that’s driving you and direct physical experience that you’re seeking. It’s as if there is a storm blowing inside of you, and the wind, thunder and rain want to escape from you any way they can. You don’t have to let this out all at once; it would be helpful if you could actually tune into what you’re feeling, and consider what some of its possible sources are. Astrologically, here is how it looks: It’s as if you’ve been living a fictional version of your identity, and the real thing is starting to rise up in rebellion against the facade. This involves the roles you’ve been given, or assigned to yourself, such as with your family and in your relationships. By one reading of the chart, there’s a lot to say about the ways in which you’ve tried to impress your father with what a good person you are. The real you has no such political motives. Your relationships don’t need to be based on any kind of a purity standard, but rather on what is mutually good for those involved. If you find yourself seeking someone’s approval, that’s the time to go to a new level of maturity. You would be wise to consider the influence and impact of your relationships on the community that surrounds you. If you’re inclined to say, “what relationships?” or “what community?” then please look more closely.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Gemini (May 20- June 21)

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Focus on getting along with people — especially if you want things to go smoothly at work, and especially if you want to accomplish the great things that you feel destined to do. I would interject with a question: do you consider yourself to be in a position of leadership? Is it possible that you are, but are in denial about that fact? Leadership has formal manifestations, such as they call you the ‘team leader’ or the CEO. And it has informal manifestations (such as being the one who does the dishes in the break room, facilitates communication among those who might not ordinarily get along, or sets a good example in other ways). Now, your leadership role may lean toward the informal, which would actually be easier. You are in a position to blend your concept of rebellious with everyone else’s concept of what works. Said another way, you’re the one who may have the kind of weird idea that turns out to be the perfect solution to the riddle everyone has been staring cross-eyed at for six months. You are in the perfect position to reconcile both sides of the equation (such as practicality and innovation; doing what is legal and understanding what the law does not cover; getting the right result for the money that’s available). From the look of your chart, I would describe you as the master of resolving the unsolvable paradox. Just remember — many people love to be stuck. Know who they are and don’t waste any time banging your head against them.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Cancer (June 21- July 22)

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Get clear on what you want to accomplish. Your goals may have changed recently, and they’ve certainly changed since you last made big changes in your life. By big I mean really big — the kind you thought you could never make. At this stage in your life, you’re likely to have a whole new vision, though you may be living under the results of the prior vision. The difference now is that you have something to lose, and some of that is worthwhile and serves you well. Keep your mind on the continuity factor, at the same time ensuring that you’re not a slave to the past. Be sensitive to what works and what does not work in your life. Be aware of what you want and what you do not want. One thing is clear: this is a time in your life when you’re ready to have more responsibility than you’ve ever had, and when you’re ready for it. Part of the benefit of living with a sense of duty is that it’s compelling you to assert yourself. That, in turn, is compelling you to know yourself well enough to take authority and get the results that need to be gotten. Remember, we live in a world where few people want to take responsibility for anything outside what immediately impacts them. That’s why the planet is in the state it’s in. You have a different path in life. It may be more challenging, but it’s a lot more meaningful.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Leo (July 22- Aug. 23)

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — The age-old traditions of superficial, self-centered and boring won’t work for you this month. They never did, but they are currently at an all-time low ebb. Therefore, you can plan on events that take you deeper, that involve you with others, and that are genuinely interesting. As you do, you may encounter the temptation to distract yourself with appearances, glamor and the desire to ‘be known’ for something. I suggest you succumb to nothing of the kind. Do what you do for its inherent value, rather than some secondary result. This leaves you plenty of room to focus on excellence, and to remember that a meaningful attribute of your karma is to focus groups of people into conscious coordination. As you do this, one thing to be aware of is anyone who does not want things to work. Some people on the planet have a not-so-funny way of reacting negatively when energy starts to focus in their proximity. They can be jealous when people succeed, seemingly not needing them. The first thing to do with anyone exhibiting this kind of attitude is to notice, and notice soon. There are a few ways to handle this kind of value; one is to include the person and keep him or her busy. Help them feel needed. Or, you can find a constructive use for their competitive spirit. Ask everyone involved what they need and what their expectations are. When you get your answer, set goals and make adjustments.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Virgo (Aug. 23- Sep. 22)

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You have learned a lot about how other people perceive you, and you’ve learned just as much about how you perceive them. Have you got the message that it’s all just perception? One thing that’s clear is that being able to perceive from multiple viewpoints is better than perceiving from just one. A moving point of view is at least a reminder how tenuous the senses and one’s opinions can be. Yet you’re always better at least paying attention, and being sensitive to the perspectives of people close to you. You’re likely to have many occasions this month to use what you’ve learned all through this year. You’re also likely to forget what you learned, so I suggest you pause and think carefully if a relationship situation, financial deal or some matter involving any form of shared resources heats up. You’re likely to perceive those involved as being impetuous and self-centered, and you may be right. But to get past that, you will need the information that you’ve learned and the strength that it gives you. True, it’s a subtle form of strength, but knowledge is indeed power. If someone is asserting their will on you, or playing a kind of hardball competitive game, you’ve really got two choices. One is to go blow for blow. The other is to use your mind, study and understand the situation in a whole way, and begin negotiating. You have the ability to turn the whole scenario not just in your favor but also into a situation where everyone comes out ahead.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Libra (Sep. 22 - Oct. 23)

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — What can you do to place yourself onto some solid emotional ground? You have to live with the situation you’re in, at least for a while; this is not one you can easily evade, run from, or redesign to suit your fancy. And why would you want to? There are so many ways you’re benefiting, and you both understand and want the power of commitment. It would be healthy to account for the ways that you contribute to any emotional situation in your life. Indeed, I suggest you list yourself as a direct co-creator in any and all of your relationships. I know that there’s a way they seem to be thrust at you. I know you don’t understand how or why some things happen. However, taking a passive approach is only going to accentuate that feeling. The more you step up, the more you will feel like you’re able to influence your various life situations. I am not suggesting that you try to take control. I am not suggesting (as you may be tempted to do) that tit-for-tat or “an eye for an eye” is an appropriate response, even when you’re treated unfairly. I am saying claim your space, stand in your responsibility and be true to yourself and to those with whom you’re journeying. That might include asking for what you need, expressing gratitude to those who have helped you or having a dialog about how to improve circumstances for everyone.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Scorpio (Oct. 23- Nov. 22)

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Recent events may have left you feeling heavy or uncertain about existence. I often wonder how anyone manages to be optimistic or positive, given the prevailing state of the world. Still, your chart is urging you to make sure that others know you care about them. Having faith in your ability to help will strengthen your faith in humanity. The other thing I suggest you do is remember that your creative spirit is alive and flourishing. By this I mean you are feeling passionate about your desire to engage fully with life, and whatever has been happening has had the effect of guiding you to do so with greater strength. I suggest that you make your choices for how to invest your mind, your senses and your hands based on what you want now — not what you wanted in the past. Be aware of a tendency to live in your memories, or to gravitate toward the feeling of nostalgia. A little of that may serve you, but not much more. There is so much that the present moment is offering you that it never has offered before. If you can look beyond your ‘latent past impressions’ of everything around you, you’ll see that this is a perfectly unique moment of existence for which you are ready and, I suspect, willing. Many people on this planet struggle with one thing only, which is letting go of the past. With a little courage, there’s no need to fight.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 22)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — As a Sagittarius, you have a reputation for being one of the most daring signs of the zodiac. I would say from my experience as an astrologer, that’s more packaging than product — except for now. By now, I mean in recent years, and I especially mean now as in this month. Every possible factor is encouraging you to be bold and do what you would not normally dare to do. Start with what you want to do the most, and which is available to you. Could this be as simple as calling up someone you like and letting them know that? Could it be taking up someone’s offer for an adventure, romantic or otherwise? Going down the list of possible reasons you might hesitate, one of them shows up as ‘something in your past’ that you’re afraid might come out. This feeling might be so subtle you haven’t given it a name, though if you’re feeling like you cannot bring yourself to do something and you don’t know why, you will benefit from investigating invisible influences. For example, do you feel like you have a commitment to someone (from the past) which is preventing you from being fully in the present? Is there some lingering unresolved matter, potentially involving a sexual relationship, that is weighing on your conscience? You may think that this is some kind of permanent installation in your psyche; I assure you that if you want to be free in the moment, you actually can resolve it and move on.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 20)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — You may not know where to focus your energy, or where the main issue is. Your perception of what you’re working on may keep changing, evading your understanding. Yet you know there has to be an energy source when you’re feeling so much, and to such extremes. First off, I suggest you investigate your environment for any factor that aggravates or even annoys you. This may be a challenge if you feel like someone has coated every surface in your house with hot pepper oil, or like there’s a high-voltage quantum wave machine down in your basement. There will however be certain factors that you can identify and address. I also suggest you experiment with removing two or three foods that are not serving you (or anyone). To give one example, high fructose corn syrup is an irritant, a toxin and it burns too hot for your current constitution (which at the moment is dominated by fire sign Aries). Your chart suggests that food or some ingredient in what you eat may be related to anything that currently troubles you. Deeper in, however, I would propose that there’s some kind of emotional matter that’s influencing your self-image. Are you feeling like you’re getting old? Do you feel like others don’t take life as seriously as you do? Is the memory of some authority figure weighing on your spirit? Self-image is a complicated issue to work on. In the end, how you see yourself comes down to a choice.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Aquarius (Jan. 20- Feb. 19)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You seem to be struggling with some persistent doubt about yourself, which may work out to be a positive thing. I say that because if you’re grappling with an issue, you’re less likely to be in denial about it — and denial was very likely how you addressed it in the past. Now you have another challenge: framing any issue in a way that actually has the potential for progress. If you’ve described something the same way for a while and you’re not getting results, I suggest you take a different approach. For example, if you’re asking ‘how do I solve this problem’ and that’s not working, maybe ask, ‘why do I need this problem?’ Then once you address the need, the situation will change. Speaking of needs, this would be a great time to learn how to express yours. That may involve finding language; it may involve deciding it’s OK to speak up; it may involve facing the fear of rejection from someone close to you if you dare to write yourself into the story. Actually this has a lot to do with relationships, and what you were told your role was supposed to be. That relates to what you expect (and were told to expect) others would do for you, and be for you. Reality is always different from theory, especially where the BS that we’re fed about relationships is concerned.
Commitment does not mean commitment to another person, but rather a shared devotion to a higher principle than oneself.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Planet Waves

Hello Pisces! So many planets in Pisces means this is a brilliant moment for you, and your 2013 birthday reading looks at this astrology carefully. Chiron, the planet of healing, Neptune, planet of inspiration, and Mercury retrograde are all included. You now have the ability to develop a gift for business and financial success, if you focus your creative talents and work cooperatively with others — and I explain how to do that effectively. This reading is two 40-minute sessions of astrology, a tarot reading and an extended written description of your astrological sign. I’ve also included access to last year’s reading so you can review the past 12 months and check my accuracy. Here is a link to that affordably priced reading — which is like an extended, personal meditation on your life. You will love it — promise.

Pisces (Feb. 19- March 20)

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — It’s not all about money, though you don’t need someone to tell you that. What you do need is someone to remind you that money is a legitimate pursuit, if connected to what you consider to be a worthwhile goal. I suggest you work with that equation, and make sure that your values about money and how it is attained are clear. You have what you need to break new ground in this area of your life; you no longer need any form of the idea that money is somehow unspiritual, uncreative or evil. It is a form of highly versatile energy that can be converted into anything. Yet confidence around money has many precursors, one of which is your sense of your own presence in the world. That is likely to be running strong right now, though you may also feel unstable if you focus too much on that sensation. This is a kind of paradox that many people face on the way to tapping their strength — there’s a lot of vulnerability involved; there is a risk involved; there is the possibility of failure. You might get to a point where you’re absolutely confident of what is important to you, and then that’s scrambled by one thing you learn, or one experience.
Yet you may notice that one thing is consistent beneath the surface, which I would describe as initiative. You have a pioneering spirit, and there are few times in your life, if any, when it’s been stronger than it is today. Lead on.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

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What Would St. Francis Do?

Planet Waves

Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, the environment and one of the two patrons of Italy (with Catherine of Siena). Roman Catholic churches often hold animal blessings on his feast day of October 4.

 

Dear Friend and Reader:

Just as the fathers of the Roman Catholic Church were getting ready to elect a new pope, The Independent, a respected U.K. newspaper, reported that the Vatican had purchased a €23 million ($30 million) share of a Roman apartment block that houses the Europa Multiclub, reputed to be Europe’s most famous gay sauna.

The newspaper published an article Monday stating that the Vatican had purchased the property in 2008, including the club and 19 Vatican apartments, many of which house priests. One of the church’s top cardinals, Ivan Dias, head of the Congregation for Evangelization of Peoples, lives in a 12-room apartment “yards from the ground floor entrance to the steamy flesh pot,” the newspaper said. Dias voted in Wednesday’s papal election.

Planet Waves
Screen shot from the homepage of the Europa Multiclub, a famous gay bathhouse in Rome, located on property that is part of Vatican City and shared with many priests and a top cardinal. Press reports this week revealed that the Vatican purchased the property in 2008.

It’s as if the church has denied sex so vocally and for so long, the association is now impossible to miss. From what I’m learning about the Catholic leadership’s philosophy of sex, male homosexuality is considered so dangerous because it’s an allegedly impossible temptation to resist. I guess that idea would extend all the way to the Vatican’s real estate investment team.

Visiting the club’s website, I learned that EMC is connected to “the largest gay Italian organization, working to uphold the civil rights of homosexuals, in particular their right to demonstrate their personal identity. We stand up against every form of racism and prejudice. EMC pays particular attention in advising members on both their physical and mental health. We also distribute information about sexual health. At EMC we want you to be yourself and respect others.”

The Independent mused over whether Cardinal Dias, the church’s chief of recruitment, “has popped downstairs to give spiritual guidance to the clients of the Europa Multiclub, given his belief that gays and lesbians can be cured of their ‘unnatural tendencies’ through the ‘sacrament of penance’.”

Or maybe he just visits his neighbors to collect the rent, then stays for a smoothie, steam bath and massage once in a while.
What’s funnier, the investment is a tax write-off for the Vatican. “There was further embarrassment for the Holy See when the press observed that thanks to generous tax breaks it received from the last Berlusconi government, the church will have avoided hefty payments to the Italian state,” The Independent reported. “The properties are recognized as part of the Holy City.”

As I sit here, I am trying to fit this into my concept of the universe. If I were writing this in a fiction story, I would be rather pleased with myself for coming up with something so ironic. But this is not irony; irony is a literary device. This is the universe talking. And what the universe is saying is that there’s a fabulous gay bathhouse right on Vatican property.

Meanwhile, Catholics and many other people have been scrubbing the Internet to find out what the new pope is about. Will he be the person who brings healing to the church? Will he be able to deal with the labyrinth of corruption, sexual scandal and financial scandal that the church has become? Will he hang out at the Europa Multiclub?

Planet Waves
Brotherly Love: Pope John Paul II receives then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aries, at the Vatican on Feb. 21, 2001. Bergoglio is now the first-ever Pope Francis. Vatican pool photo / ANSA / Landov.

What does it mean that the church now has a South American pope, the first from the New World and the first Jesuit? The Jesuits are often believed to be the more intellectual, philosophical faction of Catholicism, but are also known as the Pope’s Marines, who will obey under any circumstances. Is Pope Francis a sign of the New Age, or the New World Order? Does it mean anything that he’s named himself after one of the most venerated saints, Francis of Assisi?

Was he complicit in a state-sponsored terrorist war against Argentinian civilians in the 1970s, in which 22,000 people were ‘disappeared’?

Before we go too far with these questions, I would caution against putting faith in any one person to guide the church out of its millennia-long self-made disaster, or at all. I’m leery of anyone being the ‘spiritual leader’ to more than a billion people, regardless of the ideology involved. Said in modern terms, this is called giving away one’s power. And, once you support the pope, you support whatever the pope supports or is complicit in; that collective karma becomes your personal karma.

I feel the same way about political leaders. We invest far too much energy into how the president might make a difference, and not nearly enough into how we might do so. Then most people blame politicians for the world’s problems.

Refresher: Jesus Cliff Notes

The Roman Catholic Church claims to be based on the teachings of Jesus. The essence of the teachings of Jesus is that God is found within ourselves. That was his single most significant theological and perhaps metaphysical contribution: that what became known as the Holy Spirit is within everyone. That’s another way to say that Jesus taught that God speaks to anyone who will listen, not just to the pope.

Planet Waves
Depiction of Jesus as a carpenter.

From what I have read, Jesus taught a form of charity that did not involve stockpiling tons of gold. From what we know of him, he valued peace and respect for humanity that did not involve making deals with fascists, getting tax breaks from slimy politicians, waging crusades or raising massive armies to go to war with people of other religions.

There is nothing in the teachings of Jesus that could vaguely be construed to endorse the burning of herbalists, midwives or women who allegedly ‘gave’ a man an erection (these were among the definitions of witch as it was used during the Inquisition).

Above all we know that Jesus abhorred hypocrisy. One of his most famous quotes, as passed on by the church itself, is “Let he who has no sin cast the first stone.” When we consider the problems with the church, we need to look at how it has persisted in being the very antithesis of the simple teachings of Jesus.

There’s a problem, though: most people don’t know the difference between God and religion. Indeed, that distinction has been conflated by religion itself, to create confusion. And a great many people who go to church do so because the church has convinced them they’ll go to hell if they do not. The church is loaded with piety, but also thrives on superstitious mystical terror that it controls with the whole concept of absolution — from a definition of sin that it created.

Pope Francis Election Chart

At 7:06 pm Wednesday, white smoke appeared from the famous chimney from which the cardinals send their signals to the world. The chart reveals that a lot is about to happen, and potentially at a surprising pace with strange turns in the story. It offers us a few interesting puzzles to put together, and tells tales of intrigue that are suitable for the situation we’re describing.

The thing that leaps out about this chart is that Uranus is on the 7th house cusp. You can see it lurking right on the western horizon — that blue H on the right side of the chart, above the horizontal line. (That’s the 7th cusp and the western horizon — a highly sensitive zone in the chart representing relationships and the environment.) Uranus is about rapid changes and developments. It’s associated with breakthroughs, inventions, discoveries and revolutions, though mainly it says expect the unexpected. And here, it’s sitting on one of the chart’s most sensitive angles.

Planet Waves
White smoke emerges from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at 7:06 pm Wednesday.

Uranus can bring a shock to the known order of things. It does not fit the image of a party-line conservative taking office. There may have been some kind of coup involved, or there may be one brewing.

Nearly all the commentary I read suggested the church would be looking for a younger, more dynamic leader to recreate its image and take it through its time of crisis. What the cardinals chose was the guy who lost to Ratzinger in 2005, who is now 76 years old. He has lived all of his adult life with just one lung.

Another giant factor: the Sun is square Ceres, which can represent a colossal struggle over nurturing and resources — though this aspect plays directly into the political intrigue that I’m about to describe. On the most basic level, though, Ceres is about mothers and daughters and the struggles of all women. Big Mr. Sun has to encounter this emotional level of reality, and the church’s treatment of women will be an unavoidable factor during this phase of church history. I’ll return to this aspect later in the article.

In the background is the fact that Mercury is about to station direct on Sunday. This election happened in the last few days of Mercury retrograde in Pisces. That fact alone suggests that something is lurking in the wings, about to come out into the open. Mercury changing directions often comes with the experience of the truth coming out.

Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo. One way to understand the meaning of a planet in a chart is to look where you find the signs it’s connected with. In a chart, signs are associated with houses, which are the most practical level of astrology. The houses describe the topic area and often the physical location of events indicated in the chart. If you know your rising sign, you know the sign associated with your 1st house, so you have a sense of how important the connection between a sign and a house is. It works that way for all the houses.

In this chart, Gemini rules the 9th house. By that I mean that the 9th house cusp intersects the sign Gemini. (Look for the Gemini symbol along the outermost wheel and that is where the 9th house begins.) The 9th house is where we find information about the church and its leaders, according to every old astrology book ever written and most new ones.

Planet Waves
Chart for the election of Pope Francis. See glyph legend here.

Jupiter is up there, who seems to give us a picture of the new pope himself, the presumed benefactor who has two distinct sides (a Gemini factor). Mercury rules Gemini, so Mercury and Jupiter work as one system. They occupy one another’s signs (Jupiter is the traditional ruler of Pisces).

Mercury is about to station direct, carrying a lot of information with it — the information that’s about to come out. Could this also mean that the church itself is about to move forward in its thinking? A number of factors suggest so, but this is not described as a gentle or voluntary process.

There is one other sign ruled by Mercury, which is Virgo — and Virgo rules the 12th house of this particular chart. The 12th is the house (in nearly any chart) where we find what is hidden, concealed or denied.

Using a selection of 25 planets and points, we find nothing occupying Virgo; we must look directly to Mercury.
Mercury about to station direct suggests that plenty is about to emerge. It may seem exaggerated, or too wild to be true (Mercury square Jupiter) though the chances are, it will all be true, and there’s plenty more we won’t find out about because it will be concealed by fog. Still, what we do learn and witness will be impressive.

Mercury is in the 6th house of healing. Once it stations direct, it will make a conjunction to Chiron, also associated with healing — and major turning points and dramatic moments of clarity. It looks like there is some kind of purge that occurs, even if it’s unintentional. It’s as if someone or something spills the beans, and some unusual version of the truth keeps coming out.

One of the most interesting points in this chart is the Moon. The Moon is a significant point in every chart, however it carries some extra influence here for a few reasons — one being that Cancer is on the midheaven of this chart. The midheaven is the 10th house cusp, and that is the house that deals with the affairs of state. The Moon describes the pope as a political leader rather than as a spiritual leader. Based on a deal made with Mussolini in the buildup to World War II, the Vatican was given status as a “city-state,” that is, as the world’s smallest independent country. The pope serves as its king. What happens with the 10th house and with the Moon describes what happens to the new pope in his specific role as king.

Planet Waves
Western quadrant of chart for the election of the pope. Notice the blue H on the right, above the dark horizontal line. That’s the horizon line; the blue H is Uranus (the H stands for its discoverer, Herschel). This is one of the most prominent planets in the chart — and it’s about disruption. Retrograde Mercury is the green glyph toward the bottom of the pack. The little Rx means retrograde.

We find the Moon in Aries. It’s exactly conjunct a centaur planet that’s not shown in the chart — Pelion. It’s also square a centaur not shown in the chart, Crantor. And it’s also square an important asteroid — the fifth ever discovered, Astraea, which is associated with justice. So the Moon is surrounded by this group of points. Pelion was not a centaur in mythology, but rather is the mountain in Greece where the centaurs are said to have made their home base.

You could look at this a few ways. One is that the church needs to return to its core values, its spiritual home. To me it looks more like the pope is presiding over an extremely unruly bunch of underbosses in what is called the curia, or Vatican bureaucracy, who look like a nest of centaurs. This is Italy we are talking about. It is known for what I shall politely call its own special style of leadership and governance.

Crantor is one discovery I was unfamiliar with, so I called my friend Philip Sedgwick, a kind of divining oracle at delineating newly discovered planets. [You can sign up for his witty free newsletter from his website.]

“Crantor has a Scorpio/Cancer vibe,” he said in a phone call Thursday. “It’s about fostering and nurturing but if one does not participate in the nurturing, what happens to them is that they can get thrown under the bus. It’s coercive, with the feeling of ‘you’re with us or you’re against us’. Are you part of the home team, or the bad team?”

Let’s take a second look at the Sun square Ceres. During our conversation, Sedgwick said he was reading a book about Ceres, which presents her as a far more complex archetype than we usually think. Ceres is like the guardian of boundaries — “she who stands between and she who bears the laws between.” She is a kind of mediator. There’s also the theme of sexual purity (which he said in this context really means fidelity to one partner or a ‘one-man woman’). And it relates to that space where the spirits of the dead are exposed to the light of the living — which immediately reminded me of the sexual abuse victims over the centuries looking for justice and recourse.

“This aspect is about the nature of the conflicts that the pope has to deal with, such as the lines that might need to be crossed,” Sedgwick said. Those lines include whose toes he would have to step on in order to get control — and the possibility that this might be impossible.

This pope has a significant political problem on his hands. But it gets more interesting than this. In this chart, there is a conjunction in Aries — the asteroid Pallas Athene is closely conjunct the famous Pluto-like planet Eris. Pallas is about law and politics; Eris follows no rules whatsoever, and when she breaks the rules, it’s by stealth and subterfuge.

Planet Waves
St. Francis receiving the stigmata, as painted by Rubens, displayed in Ghent.

This is yet another image of the Vatican in political chaos — and soon the Moon, ruler of the 10th house of executive power and pope-as-king, goes over that conjunction. Eris can be about sabotage or revenge that could come “in the form of someone who didn’t get elected dropping something almost unbearable onto the new pope’s lap,” Sedgwick proposed.

When the Moon reaches Pallas/Eris, it also makes a trine to a familiar centaur called Pholus — the small cause with the big effect; the runaway reaction. This describes a scenario where once things get going they are not going to stop, or a situation that’s about to run out of control.

Speaking of Pholus, I will point out one thing from the natal chart of the new Pope Francis. He has a conjunction of Mercury and Pholus in Capricorn. Soon, transiting Pluto will go over that conjunction — which is similar to what is currently happening to Rupert Murdoch.

The only reason I am reluctant to say this is because it could sound like wishful thinking. But this chart looks like the Vatican is about to become a paparazzi wet dream. It looks like the House that St. Peter built could become the new News Corp. They had better resist the urge to hire a top-shelf publicity agency and instead start telling the truth — because someone is watching, someone whose name has been called this week.

Now, as for that name. Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose to be the first of 266 popes to name himself after St. Francis of Assisi. (This is the first time the name Francis has been used by any pope.) When approached sincerely, St. Francis gets results. He also speaks his mind. When the tourist trade got a little too busy in his hometown, there was an earthquake, which cooled things down.

One of the most venerated saints, Francis is a big one to live up to. For one thing, he was friendly to critters and women. That is pretty special here on Earth. He is the Roman Catholic’s patron saint of the environment and of animals. He’s one of the patron saints of Italy. He preached to the birds. He had a super cool girlfriend, Santa Ciara (St. Claire). (The story of their relationship is told in the film Brother Sun, Sister Moon.)

St. Francis was not an ordained priest. After giving up the wealth he inherited from his father, he became a friar who spent most of his time out in the world. He told his followers that they should remain itinerant, that is, that they should stay on the road, and not settle down into a monastery.

Planet Waves
Swiss Guard are ready for action as the cardinals enter the Vatican. St. Francis would probably dress them in something a little simpler. Photo by Andrew Medichini.

What would St. Francis do if he became pope? Well, he wouldn’t want to be pope — he didn’t want to be the leader of his own order, and refused to do so. However, if he had the job, he would probably start by liquidating all the Vatican gold, and draining its bank accounts, and feeding the poor. It would make no sense to him for the church to have vast wealth stashed in vaults and accounts while people are starving.

He would put the Vatican into humbler digs, so it could reduce its carbon footprint. The Vatican would use its status as a country to become a leading voice for ecological responsibility and warding off global warming. He would get rid of those ridiculous red outfits and have church leaders in more down-to-earth, practical and cheaper clothes. Dogs, cats and bunny rabbits would be running wild in the halls of the papal offices. There would be a pigeon coop on every roof. The Vatican would look like one of those Jehovah’s Witness paintings where all the animals are living in peace and harmony with humans. The Vatican cafeteria would become vegetarian.

There would be no 12-room apartments for cardinals (those would go to sheep, goats and llamas), nor would there be housekeepers or butlers. Everything would be scaled down to humble proportions. St. Francis would probably tell most of the curia to put on their walking shoes and get out among the people. He would not tolerate anyone in vestments doing harm to children.

Most of all, he would have faith that the mess of the Roman Catholic Church could be cleaned up, along with the considerable damage that the church has done to the people of the world. Said he, “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

Lovingly,

Additional Research: Dale O’Brien, Amanda Painter, Susan Scheck and Len Wallick. Photo research by Sarah Bissonnette-Adler.

Planet WavesThis is a 12-sign audio report about relationships and sex. Each of the signs gets half an hour of attention — half the length of a long podcast. You can listen to your Sun, Moon or rising sign, and those of people you care about. Visit this link to pre-order.

 

Planet Waves

Mercury Stations Direct; Vernal Equinox

The Sun is nearing the end of its run through Pisces, and as this happens, Mercury is about to station direct in Pisces. Mercury stations direct Sunday, March 17 at 4:02:54 pm EDT. Said another way, we’re now in the storm phase of Mercury retrograde, the days immediately surrounding when Mercury changes directions. This is not the time to be pushing major decisions or plans ahead — it’s the time to ease back for a little while, and see what thoughts, ideas and reflections manifest.

Events can seem to evolve (or reverse) their meaning over the next few days; concealed information can come to the surface. This is the time to be mindful of factors that you may not have considered.

Planet Waves
Chart for Mercury stationing direct, using whole-sign houses. One of the key factors in this chart is the spread between Pisces and Aries. You can see that on the left side of the chart — the planets immediately above the horizontal line are in Pisces, and the ones below are in Aries. The main emphasis on Pisces is Mercury going direct in a conjunction to Neptune. The main emphasis on Aries is Mars walking up to a conjunction with Uranus. If you find this intriguing, I recommend a good old article called How to Cross an Ocean; How to Light a Fire. The article comes with extended forecasts for 2011, in case you want to research that charming year.

In general, here’s the scenario: planets are now placed in Pisces and Aries, which is providing some tension between leaping ahead and taking things slowly. Mercury is still retrograde in Pisces, and that’s emphasizing the ‘take it slow’ thing for a few days more.

Let’s take the moves in chronological order. Earlier this week, we had the Pisces New Moon. Some have described this as a deeply introspective New Moon — that’s the nature of Pisces, especially at the dark of the Moon. That was also the last day of the full-on Pisces cluster, as by Tuesday, the Moon and Mars had moved on to Aries. (Mars will be in Aries until April 20. It moves into Taurus in a conjunction with the Sun.)

As mentioned, on Sunday, Mercury stations direct in Pisces. This ends the three-week Mercury retrograde that began Feb. 23. Mercury changes directions while in a conjunction with Neptune in Pisces. This is an intuitive, very unusual Mercury station due to the conjunction to slow-moving Neptune.

Another highlight is that at the moment of the Mercury station (the change in directions), the Moon is in Gemini, conjunct Jupiter (the traditional ruler of Pisces). This offers additional emphasis on Pisces, though from another angle. The theme here is the relationship between mind and intuition; between reason and creative process. Note, the Mercury-Neptune conjunction is directly connected to the Moon-Jupiter conjunction. This is a potent chart, and what you do Monday can have plenty of leverage.

The Sun enters Aries at 7:02 am Wednesday, March 20. That’s the vernal equinox, the long-awaited beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and the center of this week in the Sun’s cycle when day and night are of equal length. This is a meaningful tipping point in the year, a time to gather momentum and move forward confidently with your plans.

One last aspect. Mars makes a conjunction to Uranus in Aries on Friday, March 22. This is an aspect to watch with some caution, as it has a militant quality to it. Mars-Uranus can be accident prone. Remember that as the week develops. This is not the week to do things like balance on top of a ladder, stroll around on the roof or wear slippers while standing on top of a wet pile of hay bails. This is the week to drive the speed limit and to use substances with respect and awareness.

After so much Pisces and Mercury retrograde, it may be tempting to spark up the solid rocket boosters, though in all sincerity, I do not recommend this. I will risk being accused of being too cautious and remind us that there really are moments when prudence is the greater part of valor.

I will cover this in next week’s Planet Waves FM, and we’ll keep an eye on it in Daily Astrology as well.

 

Planet Waves

Military-Grade Injustice for U.S. Sexual Assaults

What happens when 19,000 members of the U.S. armed forces are sexually assaulted by their fellow soldiers in a single year? Apparently not much.

On Wednesday, military officials appeared before a Senate panel to face questions about the failure to halt the epidemic-level numbers of sexual assault in their ranks. Out of approximately 19,000 rapes and sexual assaults in the 2011 fiscal year (occurring to both men and women), fewer than one in 10 of the perpetrators in reported attacks have been held accountable in any way.

“I am extremely disturbed, based on the last round of question and answer, that each of you believes that the convening authority is what maintains discipline and order within your ranks,” said New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the panel’s chair. “If that is your view, I don’t know how you can say that having 19,000 sexual assaults and rapes a year is discipline and order. I appreciate the work you are doing, I honestly do. But it’s not enough. And if you think you are achieving discipline and order with your current convening authority framework, I am sorry to say you are wrong.”

Senator Richard Blumenthal suggested Pentagon lawyers treat the problem as just as much of a threat as improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan and Iraq, saying, “This problem is the equivalent of an IED in every unit of the armed forces. It is the equivalent of an immensely destructive force.”

Of course, we are talking about men who have been trained to kill — itself an immensely destructive force when cultivated in a human being.

 

Planet Waves

Whole Foods Agrees to Label GMO — Slowly

Consumers this week gained some major ground in truth in labeling regarding GMOs — which may really come in handy if biotech lobbyists succeed in stripping away federal and judicial oversight over GMO-crop safety.

Last Friday, Whole Foods bowed to longstanding consumer pressure and became the first retailer in the United States to require labeling of all genetically modified foods sold in its stores. The labeling requirements announced by Whole Foods will include its 339 stores in the United States and Canada, and be in full effect by 2018.

Planet Waves

Gary Hirshberg, chairman of Just Label It, a campaign for a federal requirement to label foods containing GM ingredients, hailed the move as a “game changer.”

“We’ve had some pretty big developments in labeling this year,” Hirshberg said, adding that 22 states now have some sort of pending labeling legislation. “Now, one of the fastest-growing, most successful retailers in the country is throwing down the gauntlet.”

Yet some watchdog organizations are not satisfied that Whole Foods is doing enough.

“We ask that Whole Foods step up its timetable for GMO labeling, to coincide with the July 2015 deadline prescribed by I-522, the citizens’ initiative for GMO labeling in Washington State. We also call on Whole Foods to stop selling products that contain GMOs under the misleading ‘natural’ label, and to require any product in its store called ‘natural’ be GMO-free,” said Ronnie Cummins, national director of Organic Consumers Association.

Such pressure to go the extra mile for consumers is understandable, given the tactics employed by the biotech industry to circumvent protections for them on the federal level.

Planet Waves
Andy Bichelbaum of the Yes Men leads a musical outburst during a 2009 takeover of a Whole Foods Market in NYC. Photo by Eric.

Monday, the biotech rider (Sec. 735) dubbed the “Monsanto Protection Act” by Food Democracy Now!, a grassroots organization promoting sustainable agriculture, was slipped into the Senate Continuing Resolution spending legislation that was voted on Thursday night.

If passed, it would force the USDA to allow continued planting of any GMO crop under court review instead of halting it until the court settled the appeal, as has been done up till now.

This provision “would create a precedent-setting limitation on judicial review” and is a “dangerous assault on fundamental federal and judicial safeguards,” according to legal experts cited by Food Democracy Now!

Several food safety organizations began petitions to senators earlier in the week to stop approval of the rider. Whether they listened to their constituents remains to be seen.

 

Planet Waves

Two Years After Fukushima

This past Monday, March 11, marked the two-year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that resulted in fires and reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant — events coinciding with Uranus leaving Pisces and entering Aries (more Planet Waves coverage here).

It was the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl and combined with the earthquake and tsunami, killed more than 20,000 people initially, and left at least 50,000 homeless. Some 315,000 were forced to flee the radiation spewing from the plant, which washed into the Pacific Ocean and was carried by atmospheric currents across North America and Europe.

Japan halted nearly all its nuclear-related projects immediately following the disaster. But two years later, two of Fukushima’s existing reactors are operational again and construction has resumed on the Oma nuclear power plant despite the majority of Japanese citizens desiring an end to nuclear power in Japan.

Thousands protested in Japan over the weekend in honor of the anniversary. Among their concerns is that there have not been sufficient health surveys since the disaster.

Inadvertently emphasizing that point, the World Health Organization (WHO) just released a controversial statement saying they expect to see no noticeable increases in cancer rates for the overall population, but somewhat elevated rates for particular sub-groups. Japanese officials have criticized the announcement, claiming that it will unnecessarily upset residents of the still-contaminated area.

At the other end of the spectrum, a symposium of physicians in New York decried the WHO’s report for relying on estimates of radioactive emissions rather than actual readings, and for glossing over key issues — such as not taking into account the effect of eating food contaminated with radiation over a child’s lifetime.

“As a physician, I abhor what they’ve done,” remarked Helen Caldicott, whose Helen Caldicott Foundation co-sponsored the symposium with Physicians for Social Responsibility.

Thousands of people observed the anniversary with a moment of silence. But that might be the only silence we can afford when it comes to nuclear power, even just on the impossible question of what to do with the waste – not to mention all the other ‘Fukushimas waiting to happen’ around the world.

 

Planet Waves

Planet Waves

Comet PANSTARRS and the newly waxing crescent Moon earlier this week, viewed in Asheville, North Carolina. Photo: copyright Gary P Caton; used with permission.

Comet PANSTARRS Is Waiting For You — But Not For Long

If you have clear skies at twilight and you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you may be able to see a comet paired with the crescent Moon this weekend. If you have a decent pair of binoculars or small telescope, you can get an even better look. And if you own a good camera, you might be able to create some one-of-a-kind astro-art of your own.

We only get to see comets with the naked eye every five to ten years (though amazingly, we’ll get two in 2013), so the emergence of comet 2011 L4 PANSTARRS is a rare — if fickle — treat. Discovered only in June 2011, the comet was named after the telescopic survey that discovered it: “Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System,” located in Hawaii. For months it was only visible in the Southern Hemisphere, but as it continues through the inner solar system, the other half of the world gets its chance.

You have only a small window of time to see PANSTARRS (right at twilight) and it sits low on the horizon, requiring an unobstructed view to the west. By the end of the month, it will be hard to see even with a telescope. So if you are blessed with clear skies now, get outside and make them count.

 

Planet Waves

The Pisces Papacy

In this week’s edition, I sort out the rapidly changing Pisces sky, as well as look at the chart for the secrecy agreement taken by the College of Cardinals. The Roman Catholic Church elected its next benevolent dictator
just before Mercury stations direct. And Mercury is prominent in the chart of the cardinals taking their vow of secrecy. This is quite a chart — wait till you hear about it.

Here are two of the links mentioned in the podcast: the Golden Age of Gaia article; the Richard Sipe article on the book Just Love.

 

Planet Waves

Your Monthly Horoscopes — and our Publishing Schedule Notes

The March monthly extended horoscopes were published Friday, Feb. 22. Inner Space for March was published Tuesday, Feb. 26. Note that the longer monthly horoscope is being incorporated into the Friday issue after the Sun has entered a new sign; a new Inner Space is still emailed on the following Tuesday. We published the Moonshine Horoscope for the Pisces New Moon on Tuesday, March 5th. We’re still sorting out what we’ll be sending you Tuesday, March 19, but we will definitely have the April Monthly Horoscope to you on Friday, March 22, after the Sun enters Aries.

 

Planet Waves

Late Pisces Birthdays

Aquarius (Jan. 20- Feb. 19)

If you have a Pisces birthday in the neighborhood, this year is a turning point in how you make decisions. You are learning to trust your intuition. You are also learning that while your intellect cannot see around all corners, it’s worth respecting and paying attention to it. This is a time when you may learn that “all is not what it seems,” and have that be a positive message. The prevailing Pisces theme of the inner relationship is developed in this week’s charts — that is, how your relationship to yourself is the basis of all other relationships. I say this because Virgo is the sign that represents partners for you, and its ruler, Mercury, is in your own sign. This is another way of saying, be close to yourself and that will invite others close to you. People think they are craving relationships and on one level that is true. Many people are figuring out that what they want just as much, or more, is to not be alienated from themselves. You have the capacity to express this and set the example, and to weave an energy field around yourself where it’s safe for others to be who they are. And that is likely to draw them closer to you, facilitating a space for authentic intimacy that’s based on inner harmony. — By Eric Francis.

Hello Pisces and Pisces rising — your birthday reading is ready to go. It’s two sessions of astrology covering all of the current wild astrology in your sign, a tarot reading and an extended sign description, plus charts and photos of the spread. All this is yours for just $19.95, money-back guarantee if you don’t love it.

Weekly Horoscope for Friday, March 15, 2013 #942 | By Genevieve Hathaway

Note to Readers: This week, Genevieve is standing in for the weekly horoscope. I will be back in a week with your extended monthly forecast. — Eric Francis.

 

Aries (March 20-April 19)

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Recently, your 12th house has been a very busy place with many planets moving through, including your ruler Mars. This may have come with the feeling of a piece of yourself being just out of reach, or you may not have felt like you were firing on all cylinders. Now, as both the Sun and Mars ingress your sign, you’re coming into contact with this part of yourself that has been hard to access. Pushing up from within you is a renewed sense of your potential to accomplish your goals and take action on your vision. You are getting clear on something you’ve wanted that in the past seemed unattainable, yet will all of a sudden appear possible. In this moment of clarity move forward and take action with intention. The key to manifesting what you want is belief that it can be done. I suggest you not let anyone convince you otherwise. — by Genevieve Hathaway.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Taurus (April 19- May 20)

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Much has been shifting behind the scenes regarding your network of colleagues and important relationships. Something involving who you allow into this circle of important people was previously in your blind spot or hard to see — it is now visible to you. You are getting clear on your previous patterns of selecting your network: where those habits came from and whether that process of selection is serving you now. Your astrology at the moment indicates your network is more than just a collection of people who have been in your life for a long time. Rather, it’s a support system of your choosing. When weighing who to keep in your network, who to let go of, and who to add, I propose considering the influence each person has on how you feel about who you are. Do they support your sense of self-esteem? Ultimately, it’s not the number of people in your network that bring the greatest support; rather, it’s the quality of those relationships. — by Genevieve Hathaway.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Gemini (May 20- June 21)

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Over the past few weeks you’ve been through a reassessment of your career: a re-evaluation that was more about what you are most called to do and to give back to the world, rather than simply earning a paycheck. Often our society pushes the idea that what brings us passion and meaning and what we do to put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads are two different things. You are now formulating an idea of how to integrate the two, developing a concept of what you do for work as an extension of your deepest self. You may be feeling a lot of pressure to make some quick adjustments to your career. I suggest pausing to lay out a plan of the steps you wish to take; this will help you move with focused intention. A few strategic steps will move you further than large sweeping changes. — by Genevieve Hathaway.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Cancer (June 21- July 22)

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You are navigating an internal breakthrough that at times has come with the sensation of something peeling apart inside you. I suggest not getting distracted by any feeling of discomfort during this process. Any guilt, shame or fear you experience is a big neon arrow pointing you to take that fork in the road and explore where the material came from. What you are working through is the influence religious ideas and philosophies have on you, particularly on your attitudes and emotional patterns. The astrology at the moment indicates information coming in from your mother’s life and the influence religion had on her. Look at her life and then continue on up the maternal line. Even simple questions will get you quite far. A good starting point is asking what everyone in the family knew, but no one talked about. — by Genevieve Hathaway.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Leo (July 22- Aug. 23)

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Your agreements lately have required some extra negotiating. At times this has felt frustrating, like the negotiations were stuck on the same unresolved issue. In fact, you and the other party were fine-tuning the details like a woodworker dedicatedly and repeatedly sanding and reworking the legs of a strong table. The repeated refinishing actually enhances the solid structure of the table, which can carry a heavy load for a long time. A strong foundation provides a lasting quality. As Mercury stations direct next week, new information will help you finalize the agreement you’ve been working on. Proceed with patience as you reassess where you’ve been with the contract and the moves necessary to complete the final steps. Ultimately, the work you are putting into the agreement is building commitment and understanding between both parties that will be of tremendous benefit to all involved. — by Genevieve Hathaway.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Virgo (Aug. 23- Sep. 22)

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — The area of your chart involving relationships is located in Pisces. This implies that satisfying relationships for you include flexibility, creativity and great emotional depth. At the moment, you are looking to receive more of these traits from a close partner. I suggest starting with an honest conversation with yourself about your most important relationship needs, and which needs truly must be met for you to be happy. As you get clear on the importance of these needs in a partnership it will be easier to communicate them to a partner and easier to draw the metaphorical line in the sand if they aren’t met. In any conversations, I would recommend sticking to larger ideas rather than nitpicking the details. Hold space for a partner to do the same. What is on offer is a restructuring that helps you build partnerships in line with your most authentic desires. — by Genevieve Hathaway.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Libra (Sep. 22 - Oct. 23)

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Your current astrology is highlighting the importance of nurturing and caring for your soul and spiritual side as essential to maintaining a healthy body, mind and emotional state. Think of this in terms of something you know very well — balance. If one aspect is left undernourished then the other areas aren’t as strong. Lately, Mercury has being doing the backstroke through the area of your chart that’s focused on health, helping you discover connections between feeding and caring for your inner self and how you feel on a daily basis. The next question is what do you do with this new information? As Mercury changes direction and begins to move forward, continue to devote equal time to taking care of all aspects of you — mind, body, emotions and soul. An abundance of physical energy and strong health is available to you. — by Genevieve Hathaway.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Scorpio (Oct. 23- Nov. 22)

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Pressure is building as you push against what seems like an internal impasse regarding your creativity and the joy you take in that inner spark. Something is shaking loose from within you, a realization about situations early in childhood that affected how you connect with your creativity. You have plenty of resources in your art and pleasure angle, but at the moment you are re-evaluating your basic approach to how you value and nourish your creative self. There is a sense in your chart of a no-going-back moment, like the facade gets stripped away and you can no longer pretend to be something that you are not. I suggest you take the plunge and show everyone the ‘real’ you. What for you may feel like a vulnerable position will actually be seen by those around you as strength. — by Genevieve Hathaway.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 22)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — The area of your chart involving art, daring and sex is about to get a dose of energy and passion. Think of it as an active volcano pushing forth streams of hot, molten lava — it’s intense, fierce and beautiful. Over the next few weeks as Mars, the Sun and Venus all join Uranus and Eris in Aries, I suggest carving out extra time for the projects you feel most passionate about. Channel your renewed sense of daring and vision into what your inner compass points to as your strongest calling. You have enough stretch in one aspect of a project to take a few big leaps and risks. Focus and intent will help you remain grounded, channeling the large amount of energy that is at your disposal. You are coming into contact with your potential in a tangible and real form. — by Genevieve Hathaway.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 20)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Often our mental patterns are influenced at an early age by our family’s dynamics and their mental habits. You’ve recently been revisiting how your family influenced how you think of and respond to your experiences. Connect the dots on how a key habit affected you, then take the step to acknowledge that you can change that pattern. As you make contact with this new understanding, it may come with the feeling that much of what you believed is unraveling. If it feels like you are losing control, I suggest you move with the flow. You are in fact letting go of a number of illusions that no longer serve you. You are in a potent moment of being able to harness the power of your mind to shape how you experience existence. Ultimately, how you think is one of the areas of life you do have complete control over. — by Genevieve Hathaway.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Aquarius (Jan. 20- Feb. 19)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Self-esteem has continued to be a theme in your life for some time now. If there is any aspect of yourself to spend the time on to get right, this is it. How you feel about being ‘you’ is your greatest resource and essential to shaping your outer world. At times this exploration of your concept of self-esteem has come with plenty of deeply personal and emotional energy as you tapped into a piece of yourself that is raw and real. Over the next week, a realization will shift your perspective on your self-worth even further. Think of it as an illusion dissolving to reveal a new way to access a stronger sense of self-esteem. It’s like you find an unlocked door that you didn’t know existed, which takes you directly to your inner core of being. I suggest you make this re-orientation on your feeling of self-esteem one of your top priorities. You are at the very end of what has been a long, yet ultimately rewarding process. The work you are doing is building an inner strength that will carry you for a very long time. — by Genevieve Hathaway.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Planet Waves

Hello Pisces! So many planets in Pisces means this is a brilliant moment for you, and your 2013 birthday reading looks at this astrology carefully. Chiron, the planet of healing, Neptune, planet of inspiration, and Mercury retrograde are all included. You now have the ability to develop a gift for business and financial success, if you focus your creative talents and work cooperatively with others — and I explain how to do that effectively. This reading is two 40-minute sessions of astrology, a tarot reading and an extended written description of your astrological sign. I’ve also included access to last year’s reading so you can review the past 12 months and check my accuracy. Here is a link to that affordably priced reading — which is like an extended, personal meditation on your life. You will love it — promise.

Pisces (Feb. 19- March 20)

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — With all the high-powered astrology in Pisces lately, your internal world at times may have felt like a major international airport during peak hours — one busy, almost hectic place. So much was shifting and moving through, you didn’t necessarily have time to take stock of all of the changes. What you are experiencing is making contact with your sense of being solid in the world. You are making contact with ‘you’. Some old, deep barriers have been breaking down, putting you in touch with part of your emotional and psychic body that you haven’t reached in a few lifetimes. To feel solid you first need to know what a solid ‘you’ looks like — hold it in your hands and feel the edges, smooth surfaces, fine details and blemishes. As you come to know these new sides of yourself, it will pave the way for you to consistently feel like you’ve arrived in an existence with space held open for you. — by Genevieve Hathaway.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

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Hugo Chavez: A Voice From Long Ago

Dear Friend and Reader:

Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela, died this week. A towering figure on the global scene, many are grieving his loss and yet I just heard one American commentator say she hoped he was burning in hell. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper got in some trouble when he offered his condolences to the people of Venezuela but not the Chavez family.

That was intended as an insult, because (in the words of many American journalists) Chavez was a ‘leftist’, a slur for someone who has some authority yet who is not a conservative, Neocon, Republican, stock market trader or banker. This is a long story, as is that of Chavez, and a little background may help put things into context.

For more than 40 years (starting after World War II), the United States and the USSR waged what was called a Cold War, that is, a prolonged military and political standoff that cost the U.S. alone nearly $8 trillion before interest (inflation adjusted to 2012 dollars). That was merely the financial cost, to which we must add the emotional damage, careers destroyed and opportunities lost — and the impact of rigging the planet with atomic bombs on which we are all currently sitting. In theory, we were arming ourselves against an equally armed enemy. What we were really doing was trying to wage war against an idea.

That idea was communism. It’s difficult for people in today’s world to understand the power that concept had, particularly to instill fear. If you want a taste, look at some footage of the McCarthy hearings, and consider the paranoia that led to them. There was allegedly a commie waiting around every corner, hiding in trash bins or working in the Congressional mailroom, waiting to bring the United States to its knees or at least threaten our way of life. Many were waiting around actively preparing for the USSR to bomb us. In 1987, Sting released a song with the line, “I hope the Russians love their children too.”

Planet Waves
Anti-communist fear mongering.

Communism was considered so evil, if it was not addressed, all the countries of the world would eventually fall to the menace one by one, like dominoes lined up on a table. It became the perfect (and permanent) excuse for the U.S. government to go after anyone who it did not like, who dared to stand up to it, or who was in some way inconvenient.

Accordingly, the U.S. waged wars in Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Chile and many other countries, many of them proxy battles in the Cold War. Countless millions of people were killed, injured or displaced. Many were sickened or killed by radioactive contamination from atomic bomb manufacturing.

Meanwhile, there were numerous attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro or to start wars with Cuba, which I covered in a recent article on the Kennedy assassination.

The notion of a ‘commie’ did not mean communist in the politically pure sense of the word. It was a kind of slur that pertained to anything or anyone that might make American-styled imperial capitalism look bad. Any other idea, such as that of a government taking care of a country’s poor people, became the cause for a frantic reaction, as it still is today. American conservatives still gag when someone says the word ‘socialist’, unless they are accusing Pres. Obama of being one.

To give one particularly horrid example, through the late 1970s and into the 1980s, the U.S. waged a covert war against Nicaragua, bombing schools and farming cooperatives, burning homes and raping and executing civilians, all in an attempt to turn people against the Sandinista government. It did not take much for a small country to incur American wrath, and pay a heavy price.

The Cold War seems to be a thing of the past, but in case anyone hasn’t noticed, there’s still an endless stream of paranoia about communism and socialism coming out of FOX News and other allegedly conservative ‘news’ outlets. Our current president is continually accused by college-educated people of being one or both of these things, though they would benefit from looking the words up in a dictionary.

Planet Waves
‘Contra’ militants training in Honduras for U.S.-backed terrorism against Nicaraguans. They were funded by illegal arms trades with Iran, orchestrated by the Reagan-Bush administration, that became the Iran-Contra scandal.

And to this day Americans are still banned from going to Cuba, as if they might become a commie from rum, cigars and hot Latinas. The U.S. still has its zero tolerance policy against dissent by small nations, particularly anywhere near its own borders.

When we think of Hugo Chavez, that’s the context we must see him in, if we want any understanding of who he is: someone who was willing to stand up to American threats, manipulation and the possibility of assassination, attack or coup. This is not some idle possibility: you really do risk your life when you go against the Gringos.

Chavez, who died Tuesday after a two-year struggle with cancer, described himself as a socialist, but aligned himself with Castro, placing himself on the certified list of enemies of the United States. He was willing to be a lightning rod. That of course was his political brand — to confront, to stand up to his enemies, and to make himself an enemy when necessary.

While we’re on the topic of cancer, I will make one point: we are too casual about this disease, which afflicts nearly half the population. Every day, we consume hormonal toxins, radiation and many other carcinogens that our food, air and water are laced with.

We don’t need the ‘cure for cancer’ — we need to learn how to prevent it, and this is mostly about the choices we make on an hour-to-hour basis. You have a right to be angry about cancer, but not if you smoke, and not if you eat every bite of food out of plastic and/or the microwave oven.

Natal Chart of Chavez

Chavez died at the time of his second Saturn return, at age 58. In any life this is going to be a key transitional moment; for him, it was his exit from this plane of existence.

Let’s take a look at the natal chart of Hugo Chavez and see what it tells us about who he was. If you’re an astrology student or even if you’re curious about your own chart, the steps I take to unfold the chart are applicable to other nativities. Note, this is not a complete reading — I can only cover some salient points.

Planet Waves
Rectified chart for Hugo Chavez with Gemini rising. He also has many planets in Cancer and the Sun in Leo. He knew himself well and had an extremely strong presence in the world. The sign Cancer means he was a natural caregiver to others, and Jupiter suggests he brought in a vast inheritance from previous lives.

The first issue with any natal chart is the time of birth. It always matters. There are tools available for when an accurate time is not available; we will use some of them here.

It’s better to time it accurately to the minute, though that’s not always possible. This is a somewhat complicated story with Chavez, though I’ve seen a lot worse. The date of July 28, 1954 is verified, as is the place of birth, Sabaneta.

We know he’s a Leo Sun — everything about him says that, such as his regal posture; his charm; his natural leadership skills; his generosity. I believe that Leo is primarily about service, in the sense of noblesse oblige.

Most sources put his time of birth between 3 am and 5 am, which was stated by his mother, who did not remember the exact time. That time spread might seem useful; it’s not a terribly wide range. However, where he was born, the ascendant (that is, the rising sign) changed from Gemini to Cancer at about 3:30 am.
That fact is actually helpful, as rising signs have very different presentations in the world. Also, when the rising sign changes, the planet that rules the ascendant changes. In this case, the ascendant ruler is either the Moon or Mercury. We can ask: which planet does this person resemble more? That’s a pretty easy call: think about it. Mama Moon, or Trickster Mercury?

A time of 5:08 am is used widely in South America, from what I have read — which would give him late Cancer rising. My take is that Chavez had Gemini rising, mainly because of his oratory skills, his dependency on spoken language and his knack for using the media. He was persuasive, at times he had a sharp tongue, he was great with clever speech and had a love of making long television broadcasts. Those are not the traits of Cancer rising, if Gemini is an option.

It’s said he valued his privacy (who does not), though he had plenty else in Cancer to support that, as we will see. But that dominant trait of the ascendant — the person you see and know in the world — to me was clearly Gemini.

Chavez was a warrior who could use language as a weapon. That requires being extremely clever. After his failed coup attempt in 1992, he was able to leverage his whole political future, and that of Venezuela, on one television appearance after his surrender to the government. Some have said that he succeeded based on the use of two words in that address — for now. Here is the quote:

Planet Waves
Her glasses say, “I am Chavez.”

“Comrades: unfortunately, for now, the objectives we had set for ourselves were not achieved in the capital city. That is, those of us here in Caracas did not seize power. Where you are, you have performed very well, but now is the time for reflection. New opportunities will arise and the country has to head definitively toward a better future.”

An astrologer in Caracas named Carlos Dum has done extensive research on the chart of Chavez, and rectified the time to 3:25 am. Dum told me Thursday that this is the same time adopted by the National Federation of Astrologers (FEVA).

This gives Chavez 28+ degrees Gemini rising. We have seen that degree often over the past few years. It shows up in many, many charts for global-scale events, including the Sept. 11, 2001 incident, the 2004 Indonesian earthquake and tsunami, Wikileaks, the Fukushima earthquake and meltdowns, and Japan itself. I started calling this the Atlantis Degree, and then discovered that in the chart for the Titanic, asteroid Atlantis was occupying that degree. It seems that 28+ Gemini is making a comment on many of the most important issues of the times we’re living in.

I am going with the 3:25 am chart in part because it’s been carefully worked out by astrologers whose work I trust. Yet mainly I am clear that he had Gemini rising, and because the presence of that degree
— 28+ Gemini — connects him to something much larger than himself.

[Note to astrology students: I’ve just put more than 500 words, about a quarter of this article, into the discussion of his birth time and the degree rising; that’s how important it is. That is the answer to the frequently asked question, “Does the birth time really matter?” You can read more in my recent article on the Roe v. Wade decision by the Supreme Court.]

The Other Side of Gemini Rising

There are always two distinct sides to anything with Gemini. As well, where we have Gemini in our own chart will reveal where there are most likely to be two somewhat opposite or contradictory sides to the story. Many signs illustrate dualism (indeed, nearly all of them) but experience rather than astrology books demonstrates that nothing has two sides to it quite like Gemini.

Planet Waves
Hugo Chavez welcomes linguist and political commentator Noam Chomsky at Miraflores Palace in Caracas on Aug. 24, 2009.

Chavez was a populist, who is said to have helped lift his country out of poverty. He was willing to use its incredible oil wealth for the benefit of the people (it has more proven oil reserves than any other country). He’s famous in the United States for selling cheap home heating oil to the Citizens’ Energy program, which delivered oil to needy Americans at greatly reduced prices.

He was also accused of being a threat to democracy by one of his heroes and best friends among Western nations, MIT professor and political historian Noam Chomsky.

In a 2011 interview pertaining to an allegedly corrupt judge who Chavez wanted to put in jail for 30 years, Chomsky accused Chavez of amassing too much power and of making an “assault” on Venezuela’s democracy.

“Concentration of executive power, unless it’s very temporary and for specific circumstances, such as fighting World War II, is an assault on democracy. You can debate whether [Venezuela’s] circumstances require it: internal circumstances and the external threat of attack, that’s a legitimate debate. But my own judgment in that debate is that it does not.”

So, who was he, deeper down? We need to remember that there are always contradictions in the lives of world leaders. They all must do things that contradict their ideals, their values and their stated goals. Here, we have one glaring example of that.

Cancer Stellium on the South Node

If we want to find out who Chavez was, we get a clue a little deeper into his chart — in what looks like the 1st house but which is also just as much the 2nd house. I say that because Cancer is the second sign from his rising sign, and using an old rule called ‘whole sign houses’, the entire sign Cancer can serve as his 2nd house — which reveals his true values.

For those studying these methods, whole sign houses and traditional houses don’t contradict one another. Using both at the same time deepens the story and provides other potential interpretations.

Planet Waves
Eastern section of Chavez’ chart, showing 28+ Gemini rising, as well as his groupings in Cancer and Leo.

Here is that section of the chart; this is part of the eastern sector. You can clearly see that 28+ Gemini is rising, but this is followed by a great many planets and points in Cancer. This includes Mercury, the ruler of that Gemini ascendant.

Take a look at the grouping of planets right below the horizontal line, beginning with the Moon, then proceeding downward in order, Jupiter, the South Node, Mercury, the Part of Fortune and Uranus. The really striking thing about this are the four planets clustered at 14+ and 15+ degrees — all crammed into one half of a degree.

Right at the center of that cluster is the South Node. That’s a marker of a point in the lunar orbit and it’s also a hint at where the next eclipse will be. In practical terms, the South Node says, “There is a connection to the past.” If phrased as a question, it is, “What is the past connection?” or “How far back does this go?”

For those who doubt that the South Node is a reference to the past, consider the many ways that Chavez was an anachronism — how he represented values that are out of the usual time sequence, and to some, constituted a threat seemingly from the past.

The planets around the South Node (sometimes called Ketu or the Dragon’s Tail, depending on your tradition) give some clues. They indicate what you’re bringing with you from the past, including
(and especially) from past lifetimes. These include Jupiter, which means he was bringing in considerable knowledge and experience from the past. We know this is probably a good thing because the Moon and Jupiter are both very strong in Cancer. They served as a kind of anchor for him, that is, a powerful point of attraction to who he was, what he knew and what he had to offer.

That’s how he saw himself and it’s how many, many people perceived him: as someone with a great gift who was here to help. His chart says he understands abundance (both of material things and of knowledge), and the ways that it’s relevant in this world. Mainly, one must do something with it in order for it to be relevant.

The Moon in its sign of rulership (Cancer) is right there. That can also indicate a past connection, as well as public contact. Of all the points in astrology, the Moon is one of the most helpful at connecting a person to the public. Of itself, it can represent the public. Then there is Mercury, which rules his Gemini ascendant, and which gives a communication gift. Said simply, he had a lot of knowledge, he knew how to use it intuitively in public forums, and he was able to express himself both intellectually (Mercury-Gemini connection) and emotionally as nurturing and assisting others (Moon-Cancer connection).

Planet Waves
Hugo Chavez.

In my view, Hugo Chavez came a long way to be where we picked up his story. He brought in a vast gift, what you might think of as a full spiritual bank account. He was also authentic in his desire and motivation to care for people. He shows up as a true nurturer.

The thing about having The South Node in the 2nd house is that it puts the North Node in the 8th house — where one must encounter the values of others, often in a confrontational way. The North Node is in Capricorn and the 8th house, where he is encountering capitalism: institutionalized money and power for its own sake.

Another perspective of what he was fighting shows up as Mars retrograde in Sagittarius: what in this chart looks like the infidel — the person of false faith or of misguided faith.

My take is that these things are what wore him down. It’s truly difficult having so many enemies, at the same time as having so much responsibility — and a social vision. Imagine the stress on any world leader who dares to do something different, going against the current of so much that is so wrong.

I have not studied the chart carefully enough to tell you whether he was killed. I believe that it’s possible. It’s certainly historically precedented, and within the realm of possibility. I have read that Chavez attributes his illness to his brief imprisonment in 1992.

Chavez had Chiron in the 8th house. He lived on the edge, very close to the line between life and death. He may not have been fearless, but he knew how to rise above his fears, something we could all use as a model. This is called courage.

Chavez was also not afraid to be exactly who he was, though from the look of his chart, he had a lot of experience; it’s fair to say that he had little choice in the matter.

Lovingly,

PS, If you’re on Facebook (we know that some of you despise the thing) would you please ‘like’ the new Planet Waves company page? There are excellent discussions, frequent news updates and generally a fun experience of microblogging.

 

Planet Waves

Pisces New Moon: Envisioning Yourself

Monday is the Pisces New Moon. This is the last New Moon of the astrological cycle of the year; Pisces is the last sign and the New Moon is a kind of concluding event. As the Moon moves through Aquarius today and Saturday, you might have that sensation of one phase drawing to a conclusion and another beginning. This won’t necessarily be a dramatic change, but more like the moment that the tide turns.

Pisces is a full house at the moment. Currently its occupants include Mercury, which stations direct on March 17, as well as Venus, the Sun, Mars, Chiron and Neptune. There are a number of minor planets present as well, which I covered in a blog post earlier in the week.

Planet Waves
Pisces New Moon set for Kingston, NY. See glyph legend here.

Focusing on the minor points that aspect the New Moon, there is a lot going on; there are 14 points in the mutable signs, within just two degrees of this event. The closest is a conjunction of asteroid Arachne and centaur Pholus in Sagittarius, which the New Moon squares. That is, the New Moon is exactly 90 degrees from this conjunction. The conjunction points to a mystery factor, a source of energy that is about to be released.

This could feel a few different ways: one is like things are about to go out of control. The mutable signs work a little like that — there can be a long buildup, apparently without results, and then suddenly the battery discharges. However, that can come with the sensation that something is about to happen, like a static charge building up.

The energy source is Pholus and the mystery source is Arachne; as well, Arachne suggests that there is a network involved, that is, what is developing can spread its energy around. Asteroid Pandora is right there as well; that’s also hinting at the fear that things could run wild.

This may not feel like the kind of thing you have control over, but you do have influence. The main influence you have is to keep your awareness on, rather than being lulled back to sleep.

Note that Mars is about to change signs from Pisces to Aries. At the time of the New Moon, it’s in a conjunction with asteroid Photographica. Not all the asteroids have such literal manifestations as Photo, but perhaps apropos of the concept it represents, this particular asteroid is ridiculously literal. When you add Mars to it, there’s an assertive, active visioning process. You can play with putting the concepts together in a sentence: photograph of desire, photo of what you want, how you perceive your image, and what you want your image to be.

Making this especially interesting is that the conjunction is in the last degree of Pisces, that is, the last degree of the zodiac. This is the one that has the Sabian symbol about the boy who sees the profile of an old man in a mountain, and takes that as a model or as an ideal; as he grows up his face gradually takes the shape of the profile.

The message is about having a model, a mentor or an ideal to which you aspire. There are two clear signs that this is about a visual approach, partly at least: Photographica and that Sabian symbol about the boy and the mountain.

Exemplars are important for growth. We don’t need to imitate them exactly, but rather know which of their attributes we want to adopt. It’s also critical that you notice the examples that you don’t want — and choose consciously not to be like them. Work both sides of the process: being aware of what you don’t want, and then place a little more emphasis on what you decide you do want, and who embodies those qualities.

Then, find them in yourself, and bring them into being.

 

Planet Waves

This Week in the Anti-Sixties

Political events this week have shown us clearly why we each need to stay actively invested and informed when our government clamps down on basic civil and human rights. This clamping down is nothing new, though many progressives thought it was simply a relic of the Bush administration; unfortunately that era has influenced the Obama administration, the Supreme Court and many state governments in insidious ways.

At the top of the list this week has been the ongoing question of potential domestic use of drone strikes on American citizens, as raised by Republican senator Rand Paul and evasively countered by Attorney General Eric Holder during the delayed confirmation (finalized Thursday) of new CIA director John Brennan.

Paul has been persistent in asking the Justice Department to state conclusively whether the government’s drone program could target Americans on U.S. soil. In a written response to Paul, Holder said such a strike would only be possible in an “extraordinary circumstance,” such as an attack on the scale of Pearl Harbor or 9/11. For Paul, this was not enough, calling Holder’s response “more than frightening.”

In a bizarre twist, typical Republican obstructionist techniques intended to block anything Obama does actually landed on the side of protecting civil liberties. Senator Paul held up Senate proceedings for more than 12 hours on Wednesday with a filibuster against the confirmation of CIA nominee John Brennan, on the basis of Brennan’s defense of the use of drones overseas at his confirmation hearing weeks ago. Under George W. Bush, Brennan served as deputy executive director of the CIA and director of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center.

“I will speak until I can no longer speak,” said Paul as he filibustered. “I will speak as long as it takes, until the alarm is sounded from coast to coast that our Constitution is important, that your rights to trial by jury are precious, that no American should be killed by a drone on American soil without first being charged with a crime, without first being found to be guilty by a court.”

Planet Waves
2005 postage stamp commemorating the Voting Rights Act, featuring a photo by Bruce Davidson.

Senators from both sides of the aisle joined Paul in calling for the White House to release additional legal memos on the assassination program. Also on Wednesday, Holder pledged that Obama will soon explain the legal rationale underpinning targeted assassinations. This followed an announcement by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on Tuesday that the Obama administration had agreed to provide the Senate Intelligence Committee access to all opinions authored by the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel regarding the targeted killing of suspected terrorists.

Paul fell about 12 hours short of Strom Thurmond’s filibuster record of 24 hours, which was set while attempting to block the Civil Rights Act in 1957. Meanwhile conservative justices on the Supreme Court bench are circling around a related civil rights provision, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, like sharks that smell blood.

Shelby County, Alabama, is arguing that the preclearance requirement of the Voting Rights Act has outlived its usefulness. The preclearance requirement mandates that certain counties in mostly Southern states with strong histories of racial discrimination against voters receive federal approval before enacting any election-related changes.

Justice Antonin Scalia called the act a “perpetuation of racial entitlement.” The Supreme Court’s four liberal justices seem to agree with Congress that more progress needs to be made before freeing states from the special federal monitoring.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in particular, has refuted Scalia, noting that this is about a basic, fundamental right, not racial entitlement. Sotomayor addressed Shelby County, noting that as recently as 2008 it was found by the Justice Department to be discriminating on the basis of race, by attempting to eliminate one of the only black districts in a city in the county — and therefore have no standing to make their claim.

Questioning by Scalia and other conservative justices coincides with the 48th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” — the March 7, 1965, crackdown on civil rights marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, that ultimately led to the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

That was not the only setback for 1960s-era civil rights milestones this week. In what amounts to yet another attack on Roe v. Wade, Arkansas’ state General Assembly voted to override Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe’s veto of a measure banning abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy. Twelve weeks is the earliest at which an abdominal ultrasound can detect a fetal heartbeat. The measure is the harshest anti-abortion law in the country.

Federal law gives a woman double the Arkansas limit — up to 24 weeks of pregnancy — to legally have an abortion. This gives reproductive rights advocates a foothold for overturning the law before it is enacted later this year, which is expected. Also encouraging is that on Wednesday a federal judge struck down a 2011 Idaho law banning most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

“It is believed to be the first time a federal court has declared such measures unconstitutional, likely setting a precedent for challenges to similar measures nationwide,” reported Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman. But given the continual attempts to restrict access to reproductive health services for women, this is no time to get complacent or fail to speak up.

“Eighty-eight percent of abortions are performed in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, making it easy to lull the public into thinking this is no big deal. It’s simple enough for moderates to convince themselves that women who have abortions later in their pregnancies do so because they’re fickle, foolish, or lazy,” writes Amanda Marcotte at Slate. But in actuality, most later-term abortions are performed on teens who are unaware of pregnancy symptoms and have had poor or nonexistent sex education, and women who have to travel far or cannot afford the procedure.

We’re living in the “anti-Sixties” thanks to the Uranus-Pluto square, and evolution won’t happen without each of us agreeing to stand up, speak out and step forward — for women of all ages, voters of all races and those who might be targets by drone aircraft, whether on American soil or abroad.

 

Planet Waves

South American Courts Hand Monsanto a Mixed Bag (of Beans)

As Monsanto finalized the purchase Wednesday of an Israeli biotech company, some South American countries are saying “not so fast” to its aggressive business practices.

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Rosetta Green Ltd., based in Rehovot, Israel, develops improved plant traits using RNA technology. In other words, it identifies unique genes in major crops such as soybeans, corn and cotton and genetically engineers them “to guide key processes” in their growth, according to a Monsanto press release.

On the other side of the world, in South America, Monsanto’s genetic engineering is not so easily tolerated. Many South American farmers have a close relationship to the land and see modern technology conflicting with their traditional farming practices.

Late last month, an Argentinean court blocked construction of a corn seed-drying plant in the central province of Cordoba. Provincial Labor Court judges based their suspension on potential “environmental risks,” after local residents held protest marches against the plant.

Then in Brazil, the world’s second-largest soybean exporter and a major market for Monsanto, the Supreme Court of Justice ruled against the company in a patent-extension case for its Roundup Ready soybean seeds. Monsanto was seeking to extend the Brazilian patent on the technology to 2014.

Finally, a Paraguayan court disregarded the wishes of soybean farmers who oppose Monsanto’s bid to extend another soybean patent in their country. A judge rejected their request for emergency action again Monsanto. Paraguay is the world’s fourth-largest soybean exporter; 95% of the beans produced there are Roundup Ready.

 

Planet Waves

New York Cautious on Fracking Without Further Study

In a striking move aimed at buying some time to study hydraulic fracturing (or fracking), New York’s state Assembly voted on Wednesday for a two-year suspension on any action that would allow the controversial method of drilling for natural gas.

The moratorium still has to pass the state Senate, where its fate is less certain. If passed and signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, this will in theory delay final decisions on fracking in New York until May of 2015.

Planet Waves
Fracking doesn’t even look healthy — and the above-ground view isn’t the worst of it. Below ground, the injected mix of toxic, carcinogenic chemicals can destroy the water supply for entire communities. This photo is from an article in the New York Law Journal, describing the mess fracking creates for homeowners.

The two-year suspension would allow the Cuomo administration time to examine state, federal, university and private studies, including the Geisinger study — a Pennsylvania health review that will compare data on residents pre- and post-fracking in their communities.

Fracking is a process of injecting chemically treated water at high pressure into shale formations to release trapped natural gas. The gas industry says the practice is ‘safe’; environmental groups point to contaminated ground water — sometimes to the point of being flammable when coming out of a faucet — as a primary reason why the practice should be banned.

About 750 chemicals can be used in the fracking process. More than 650 of those are toxic or carcinogenic, according to a report filed with the U.S. House of Representatives in April 2011.

“Safeguarding the health of the public and our invaluable natural resources remains the Assembly’s priority,” said Assemblyman Robert Sweeney, chairman of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee and the sponsor of the bill. He added, “A greater danger lies in haste than in the deliberate safeguarding of our clean air and water, our health and the health of the generations to come.”

If passed by the New York senate, the bill would give time for a comprehensive review of fracking, independent of energy industry pressure, and the state’s Department of Environmental Protection would not be able to issue any fracking permits. Under the bill, a SUNY school of public health would also complete its own health impact assessment of the practice.

If you live in New York and would like to encourage your senator to vote for the two-year fracking moratorium, contact information is available here.

 

Planet Waves

A Portrait of the Internet, Three Ways

The Internet is vast and a little mysterious — yet if you were able to see the whole thing it might be easier to comprehend. A new free app is out that can give you that picture, showing 3-D maps of the Internet from three different perspectives — not exactly a “series of tubes” getting clogged when Mercury is retrograde.

Planet Waves
Image of the Internet by Peer 1.

Map of the Internet, from Peer 1 Hosting, an Internet hosting company, shows the physical location of the Internet’s 22,000 nodes, or communication hubs, on the planet. Users can spin the globe around or zoom in to find these locations.

The network view shows the nodes’ interconnections and places individual nodes near other nodes they’re closely connected with, forming a jellyfish-like structure. Users can click and search individual nodes for more information about them.

The third view shows the Internet’s make-up over time, from 1994 to the present and predicts how it will look in 2020. A timeline shows important events in the Internet’s history.

The app can be used with iPhone, iPad and Android devices — even while Mercury is retrograde.

 

Planet Waves

Who Needs Emoticons With Punctuation Like This?

While it seems most people are experiencing the current Mercury retrograde in Pisces as a creative inward journey, communication gaffes are still a hallmark of this thrice-yearly astrological phase. Mercury is, after all, nicknamed “The Trickster.”

Just in the nick of time, the website College Humor has created a special set of eight alternative punctuation marks that will surely make it easier to be understood accurately in the digital age. Even without a retrograde Mercury, the tone-deafness of email has gotten just about everyone in trouble at one time or another. But punctuation like the “I’m Not Angry” Mark, the Superellipsis, the Sinceriod and the truly inspired Morgan Freemark are sure to help — and you can actually download a useable set of the new punctuation.

 

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Pisces Kaleidoscope and Elisa Novick’s World Tour

This week I take you deeper into our ocean of Pisces, our rare moment. I also introduce the world tour of one of our resident spiritual teachers at Planet Waves, Elisa Novick. Here is the schedule of her travels to Paris, London and Amsterdam.

 

Planet Waves

Your Monthly Horoscopes — and our Publishing Schedule Notes

The March monthly extended horoscopes were published Friday, Feb. 22. Inner Space for March was published Tuesday, Feb. 26. Note that the longer monthly horoscope is being incorporated into the Friday issue after the Sun has entered a new sign; a new Inner Space is still emailed on the following Tuesday. We published the Moonshine Horoscope for the Pisces New Moon on Tuesday, March 5th.

 

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Pisces Birthdays: Envision Yourself

If you have a birthday anywhere in the neighborhood of Monday’s New Moon in Pisces, this is a time to envision your life. I mean this literally: describe to yourself, draw, sketch or photograph (or all of the above) what you want to be, and who you want to become. I recognize that you would be doing this in a time when the world is in a state of chaos and confusion, and when there seem to be ever-increasing demands on our time and resources. That’s exactly what I’m proposing this visioning exercise will help you work around. Yes, there is a lot going on and yes, there are aggressive forces churning up the world around us and often, within us. Don’t let this get in the way of your vision for yourself. It may take a little extra effort or ‘suspension of disbelief’ to see yourself the way you want. Take the time. Invest the creativity. Take the risk and do this in a tangible way. This will help you clarify your objectives, desires and goals, and give you a hint at how flexible existence can be when you open to the possibilities.

Hello Pisces and Pisces rising — your birthday reading is ready to go. It’s two sessions of astrology covering all of the current wild astrology in your sign, a tarot reading and an extended sign description, plus charts and photos of the spread. All this is yours for just $19.95, money-back guarantee if you don’t love it.


Weekly Horoscope for Friday, March 8, 2013 #941 | By Eric Francis
 

Aries (March 20-April 19)

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Over the weekend, I suggest you pull out old photo albums or online galleries and study photographs of yourself. Study how your image has changed, and how your self-image has evolved over time. Try to identify the relationship between how you feel, what you look like and what you’re trying to project. Really focus on this carefully and reflectively. We are under a rare combination of astrological factors that may indeed never happen again in our lifetimes, which suggest that photographs and your relationship to them are an unusually powerful force for healing and also for creativity. If you have a friend you trust or are good with self-portraits, take photos of yourself that are designed to be the person you want to become. Create the image as if it’s something you’re going to grow into (this is true of nearly all good portraits — they can offer a glimpse of the future). Photography has never been easier or more available and affordable; right now it has the power to change your life, in the best possible ways.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Taurus (April 19- May 20)

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — It’s time to loosen up your perspective and your perception. You know all the times you were seeing the world in black and white, and then it turned out that you could see in many colors? That’s where you are at right now. Yes, the spectrum of possibilities, of personalities, of what is simply interesting rather than being a moral issue, is more than most people think they can handle. However, your own sense of potential is directly linked to what you’re able to perceive and be at peace with in the world around you. The more you embrace what is so, without any need to judge it, the more you will expand into who you are and what you’re becoming. Most notions of right vs. wrong make no sense at all, and to some extent, we’re all carrying around the residue of moralism. If you take even one step toward freedom, you’re likely to feel like an anarchist. That’s not really true; that sensation is just an indication of how wound up you were in the past, and how much you’re letting go of today.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Gemini (May 20- June 21)

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Mercury is about to change directions in the angle of your chart associated with your career, your reputation and your sense of responsibility. Take nothing for granted over the coming week. Use the approach of doing as little as possible, in terms of staking out new ground, trying to move up or claim new territory. This is the time to watch, and observe carefully what you see. Things are not as they might seem at first look, and your role is likely to be considerably different from what you now imagine it is or might become. When you get new, possibly long-sought-after information, pause rather than act on it. Timing is everything. Therefore, all the information you obtain needs to be considered in terms of when it is relevant, and for how long. Just remember, it’s unlikely to be right now. There’s likely to be a built-in delay, and you need to keep that in mind. Even if you determine that something must be acted on ‘right now’, you will likely have an hour or a day. Therefore, take your time — in the literal sense of that expression.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Cancer (June 21- July 22)

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Monday’s New Moon in Pisces is designed to open up the horizons of your life, which will begin with feeling the sensation of potential. I cannot emphasize this point enough: potential starts with the feeling that something is possible. It’s not about the plan that will get you there; it’s not a reasoning process. It’s an emotional experience that feels like you have space to open up, expand and be something different and more interesting than you are. From that feeling, you can then move into a more creative mode, and then into some planning. Yet through this process, the most significant element is being aware of what you want, and tuning into the feeling that you can create it. That is what your current astrology is about. There does appear to be a secret that you’re keeping from yourself, though rather than trying to root it out, I suggest you listen, observe and notice when it bubbles to the surface. When it does, say hello, be friendly and establish a relationship to what you discover.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Leo (July 22- Aug. 23)

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — If you’re negotiating an arrangement with someone right now, take it slow. This is true for emotional, sexual or financial situations. This is what you might think of as a developing story; viewpoints and positions are changing, and information is gradually emerging. At the moment, you’re not on a journey with a destination, but rather one that pauses in interesting places. Rather than being about fixed patterns, your relationships and the agreements that support them are continually evolving. I would remind you that part of the developing story is about how you respond to information that emerges from behind the scenes. Some of what comes out you will have known all along. Some you would never have guessed. All of it will prove to be useful, and there are a good few discoveries on the way that will prove to be essential. Just don’t get ahead of what you know; pause and allow the next revelation to come to the surface.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Virgo (Aug. 23- Sep. 22)

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You may not know where you stand with a relationship for a few weeks. Remember though that the information you’re waiting for is coming from you, not from someone else. You may think you’re waiting to figure out what they want, or what is happening with the relationship. What you really want to know is how you feel and where you stand. Don’t assume you know that today, because your opinion could change several times between now and when the Sun leaves your opposite sign Pisces on March 20. And even then, you may still feel like you’re standing on a shifting foundation. If you keep coming back to the same feeling and the same basic analysis day after day, that’s something to take careful note of. That said, you’re likely to make a series of discoveries, particularly around the time Mercury changes directions on the 17th, which will very likely serve to shift or evolve your point of view. Remember that the new information is likely to obviate old information and therefore, your prior point of view. Keep your files current.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Libra (Sep. 22 - Oct. 23)

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You may see the possibility of two different paths ahead of you, though it looks like they have a lot more in common, and can be supportive of one another. Said differently, this is not a case of either/or, but rather one of integration, and organizing your life so that the various elements work in a state of synergy. You can stop thinking of your life as existing in parts or in pieces and shift your perspective to the sensation of being a whole person, expressing yourself many different ways. If you find something that does not seem to support the larger whole, ask yourself how you can bring it into the mix. You, your existence and your environment are all far more flexible than you have given them credit for being. The way to make the best use of your abundant opportunities is to stretch yourself into them; experiment like you would mixing colors, combining words and pictures, music and sculpture. Remember, this is about you; there is no ‘it’.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Scorpio (Oct. 23- Nov. 22)

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — All sex is an experiment. When it ceases to be so, the life, the vital force, has gone from the experience. Where the conversation begins, pleasure is soon to follow, and that is the way to tap the astounding depth, diversity and richness of sexual potential. Start by revealing yourself, or asking someone else to. Describe what you’ve done, what you want, or what you’re feeling. You can also express yourself in words and pictures, though I suggest that you stay as close to direct, relational experience as you want — there will be plenty of time to reflect. Your chart is hinting at a secret desire that you have not been quite up to admitting to yourself, much less expressing to someone else. Now may be just the right time to make contact with that desire, and step into full awareness and embrace it. Yes, you may feel a little awkward, especially if you ask yourself, “Is this who I really am?” This is a question to hang out with for a while, rather than answer immediately.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 22)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — People in your family were not, and are not, saints; it’s unlikely that many of the saints were saints. Therefore, you don’t need to hold yourself to any moral or ethical standard except what is right for you. When the contents of the subconscious are examined, we discover all kinds of rules, expectations, contradictions and double standards. It’s enough to drive anyone insane, and in fact we all verge on that insanity when it comes down to the expectations that family lays on us as children and even as adults. That is a complex issue; the thing to remember now is, don’t deceive yourself by attempting to hold yourself to anyone’s standard for moral purity. You want what you want, you like what you like. It’s up to you to discern whether your conduct hurts anyone. It’s also up to you to deal with people who tend to ‘get hurt’ by your basic choices some way other than pruning yourself back. Anyway — the whole ‘getting hurt’ game is worth careful analysis. It’s not what it seems.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 20)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Are you ready to let go of jealousy? Are you ready to let go of the need to have power over others? By others, I mean the people close to you, and those you’re aware of in your environment. Jealousy and its cousins, such as envy and guilt, only serve to keep everyone bound up in a state of frustration and limited potential. You seem to be feeling the craving to unravel all of that, and to set free your mind and your feelings. You can do this, if you remember that pleasure is the opposite of power. Those are essentially the choices you have, which you can think of as existing along a spectrum of experience. From where you stand now, here is what’s possible: that no idea is threatening; that no experience of another person is threatening; that no fear is necessary in relationships. You would be surprised how these emotions are not the ‘bottom line’ we often experience them as, but rather emotional habits that you can release by decisions, and in the end, simply by loving more.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Planet Waves

Note to Aquarius and Aquarius rising readers: Your birthday reading is ready. I cover entirely new territory from what I did in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition. I review the ways in which Aquarius itself has been changing and evolving. I describe your process of discovering your sense of mission; of opening up your inner life; and relationships based on creative exploration first and ‘commitment’ second. It’s two sessions of astrology plus tarot, with an extended description of your sign — and access to last year’s reading so that you can verify my accuracy. You can get instant access here.

Aquarius (Jan. 20- Feb. 19)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Among the most significant decisions you can ever make are the ones about what is the most meaningful to you, which are a reflection of yourself. Right now you are making some profound decisions about what you want, what is possible, what you believe and what you deserve. You can safely think of this as the very core of growth or evolution. There seems to be one critical point that you’re struggling with, one belief that has the power to throw your whole life out of alignment. If not for that one thing, you would have the freedom to be fully present in your own life. I will offer a few words from A Course in Miracles that I’ve quoted a number of times, and which seem relevant to you in this moment of your journey. “Every decision you make stems from what you think you are, and represents the value that you put upon yourself. Believe that little can content you, and by limiting yourself you will not be satisfied. For your function is not little, and it is only by finding your function and fulfilling it that you can escape from littleness.” Or translated into two words: Be Bold.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Planet Waves

Hello Pisces! So many planets in Pisces means this is a brilliant moment for you, and your 2013 birthday reading looks at this astrology carefully. Chiron, the planet of healing, Neptune, planet of inspiration, and Mercury retrograde are all included. You now have the ability to develop a gift for business and financial success, if you focus your creative talents and work cooperatively with others — and I explain how to do that effectively. This reading is two 40-minute sessions of astrology, a tarot reading and an extended written description of your astrological sign. I’ve also included access to last year’s reading so you can review the past 12 months and check my accuracy. Here is a link to that affordably priced reading — which is like an extended, personal meditation on your life. You will love it — promise.

Pisces (Feb. 19- March 20)

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — I suggest you not occupy your mind with why people do what they do, or think the way they think. It’s a good way to get caught in the very darkness you would be trying to figure out. When you see a mystery that is perplexing, just let it be a mystery. The thing you really want to understand are your own motives and your own goals. Most of the time you’re not a “the ends justify the means” kind of person, however, the choices you make this week may seem to lean in that direction. Once you know what you want and why you want it, you’re likely to become aware of the fact that there is a way to make it happen, if only you have the courage or motivation to make it so. If you determine that something is questionably ethical, then the thing to do is to question the ethics, and remember that any real question has an answer. Your ability to pause and reflect on the nature of your options and the actual impact of your choices is your most important boundary.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

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Mercury Retrograde, Full Moon and Biophilia

Dear Friend and Reader:

The sky is focused on Pisces these days, with some significant natural features in the landscape approaching. As a reminder, this is no ordinary Pisces time — currently the Sun, Mercury, Mars, Chiron and Neptune are collected there. And Venus is on the way.

It does happen from time to time that quick-moving inner planets collect in Pisces or any other sign; what we now have is a mix of inner planets and two slow-movers — those would be Chiron and Neptune. These are still relatively recent arrivals, and as the sensory, visceral, emotional inner planets move through Pisces, they accentuate the slow-movers’ presence.

Planet Waves
Clearly Jupiter, which rules the sign
Pisces, was invented by a Pisces. Here, the Great Red Spot and other features in the planet’s southern hemisphere are revealed by Voyager 1. Contrary to popular belief, Jupiter is actually denser than Saturn.

You could say this is a moment of recognizing when the ordinary has a touch of the cosmic to it, the multidimensional, the unusual. There is so much happening in Pisces that you may feel a little overwhelmed by the emotional bath, the psychic input and how absorbent you are. When in doubt, take a hot Epsom salt (or sea salt) bath.

Saturday, Mercury turns to retrograde motion in Pisces. Mercury retrogrades happen three times a year, and they occupy a span of about three weeks or about eight weeks, depending on how you measure (I tend to take the long measure for most purposes).

This particular one is suggesting strongly to allow information to come to the surface before you make major decisions or take action. It is organized in many layers, and there will be a long series of revelations over the next six weeks or so.

This is the first of three Mercury retrogrades in the water signs this year.
I covered these in an earlier article called Water Sign Theater. The fact that all three retrogrades of Mercury happen in water signs is just one aspect of the emphasis on water in the charts for 2013, the Year of the Water Snake. This seems designed to teach us something about bringing our thoughts into harmony with our feelings, and to learn how to distinguish them.

Most people need to learn how to do both: to harmonize and to differentiate. It’s rare that intellect and instinct align; it is often that emotions cloud over the process of reason. In these seasons, and particularly over the next few weeks, we get to sort that out.

Mercury then turns direct on March 17, a few days before equinox, though the retrograde process will still be working itself out until April 6, when Mercury leaves the degrees where it was previously retrograde and enters new territory.

Virgo Full Moon is Monday

We also are sailing into a Full Moon on Monday, Feb. 25. This is the Virgo Full Moon, with the Sun in Pisces and the Moon in Virgo (at the Full Moon, the Moon and the Sun are always in opposite signs; that’s why it’s the Full Moon). This one is loaded — the Moon and Sun are both square Jupiter, the ruler of Pisces.

Planet Waves
Chart section for the Virgo Full Moon (full chart here) showing planets in Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces and Aries. The Moon is exactly opposite the Sun. Notice Mercury about to retrograde into a conjunction with Mars, and Venus about to change signs. See glyph legend here.

That’s a lot of collected energy, looking for a place to go. It may manifest as the sense that I have to do something; I have to put this energy somewhere. Given the many factors involved, the key will be to consciously devote that energy to some constructive, creative and life-affirming purpose. It will be easy to slip, such as to emphasize something that does not help you.

One thing to be aware of is that retrograde Mercury is about to form a conjunction to Mars. Mars-Mercury is ‘fast thinking’ and ‘pointed words’ — and the retrograde cautions a careful check-in before letting the arrow fly.

Checking in means considering whether you really want to communicate what you’re about to say, or whether you’re saying it because it feels good. This is about considering the consequences before you speak or publish something.

In this chart, Venus is conjunct the centaur Nessus, which has taken many conjunctions in recent weeks (the exact conjunction is Saturday, though it is still well within range Monday). This is the last of them for a while, and it may be the most potent. To me this looks like Venus encountering the fixed ideas of our society that have shaped the lives of women — including the fixed ideas that women may hold about themselves. These might be the internalized fixed ideas of participating in a society that seems to be biased against them, which suddenly manifest in some tangible, physical or emotional form.

To me this chart overall represents a situation (or many situations) that have to be dealt with; a decision that must be made. It’s a highly aware kind of squeeze point. The thing to remember is that you’re likely to have an option that you’re not noticing. If you feel cornered or like all the pressure is on you, look for the opportunity for a win-win that is lurking just off to the side of your thoughts. It’s a clever solution that utilizes existing resources, and it IS available.

The presence of Jupiter can act as a magnifying influence. That can be a distortion; the planets seem to be saying: keep your perspective. Remember to see the bigger scenario and to maintain a sense of scale and proportion.

Looking Ahead at March

Venus ingresses Pisces on Feb. 25. It makes a conjunction to Neptune on Feb. 28 and a conjunction to Chiron on March 5. Venus-Chiron, especially in Pisces, to me is about biophilia. This concept suggests that there is an instinctive bond between human beings and other living systems, which one might think is obvious — except for how most humans act, as if they are separate from nature.

Planet Waves
Coxing Kill on the Grandmother Land in Ulster County, NY. Photo by Eric Francis.

Sociologist and living systems philosopher Edward O. Wilson introduced and popularized the hypothesis in his 1984 book, Biophilia. He defines the idea as “the urge to affiliate with other forms of life.” He also describes it as “the innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike process” — the affinity for life. Venus-Chiron can also point out the ways we have denied this simple fact of existence. In other words, you might find yourself noticing the pain of separation from nature and the longing to make contact.

In Pisces, this might be a deep and full-spectrum feeling. You may experience it on the cosmic level, for example as the yearning for a feminine experience of existence or of divinity. I’ll come back to the idea of biophilia when this aspect is closer.

The Pisces New Moon is March 11. This is another very exciting chart with plenty of tension coming from Pisces planets making squares to Jupiter, the ruler of Pisces. The New Moon shifts the tension within, instead of encouraging outward projection (as the Full Moon seems to do).

In this chart all but two of the traditional seven “lights in the sky” — the planets of antiquity — are gathered in Pisces, with the exceptions being Jupiter and Saturn; and these latter two are included in the aspect structure. Many planets in the Pisces group square Jupiter and trine Saturn.

My impression is that this is a deeply introspective chart. Many factors call us inward: Mercury retrograde in Pisces being one of them; Mercury square Jupiter for another; and that retrograde Mercury in a long conjunction to Neptune. Yet there is also the feeling of going in deep and expressing something that you feel profoundly.

Planet Waves
Critter poses for a photo on the Grandmother Land in Ulster County, NY. Photo by Eric Francis.

Mars ingresses Aries on March 12, crossing the ‘personal is political’ Aries Point — the dependable conjunction of the individual and the collective. Mercury stations direct on March 17, and the Sun ingresses Aries at the vernal equinox on March 20.

The movement of Mars through Aries will be noticeable, particularly because this highly energetic planet will be making a conjunction to Uranus on March 22, followed by a square to Pluto four days later. Late March is likely to be one of those contentious times in world events, when it seems like everything is happening all at once.

As these events unfold, there remain many planets in Pisces — urging a realistic perspective on what’s happening in the world. Mercury, newly in direct motion, will be making many conjunctions and other aspects through this whole phase. And it seems to be asking the question: what have we learned from the past?

Lovingly,

PS, If you’re on Facebook (we know that some of you despise the thing) would you please ‘like’ the new Planet Waves company page? There are excellent discussions, frequent news updates and generally a fun experience of microblogging.

 

Planet Waves

Sequestration: Pholus, Eris and the Big Casino

Things are remarkably calm given that the latest game of fiscal chicken is down to its last week. On Friday, March 1, automatic budget cuts approved by Congress in 2011 take effect. This is called “sequestration.” It’s basically the next installment in the debt ceiling / credit rating hostage crisis that we have been living through. In case you’re super-duper curious, here is the New York Times FAQ on the topic.

Because Congress has not done certain things it said it would do, sequestration (which means “withholding money,” like when they lock a jury into a hotel, only different) would begin with cutting $85 billion to domestic and military programs starting one week from today.

Planet Waves
This is the chart for when the current sequestration law takes effect. The 4th house (which is really the 5th by whole sign houses) is pretty interesting — it’s like a combination of trying to get one’s financial house in order while being a compulsive gambler. Tune into Tuesday’s Planet Waves FM for more. Here is a glyph key.

That’s part of $1 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade — equivalent of about five months of federal tax revenue. Yes, that is what I said — the current fuss is over saving approximately five months’ of revenue over the next 10 years, beginning with $85 billion in cuts that take effect in March.

One reason this is stupid is because it takes effect in the middle of the year. The Times reported, “The cuts would equal roughly 5 percent of nonmilitary programs and 8 percent of defense programs. Because they would hit almost halfway through the fiscal year, the White House Office of Management and Budget estimates the true impact for the final seven months to be closer to 9 percent for nondefense programs and 13 percent for defense programs.”

Layoffs and furloughs affecting hundreds of thousands of federal employes and those of government contractors would begin immediately. That will put additional strain on federal unemployment resources as well as local assistance programs.

So, what of this game of economic suicide? You know, mixing pills, alcohol and playing with the stove during the fragile economic recovery? Since I don’t have my Nobel Prize in economics, I must resort to astrology. Here is how I would sum it up. This chart is a combination of trying to get one’s financial house in order while being a compulsive gambler.

I’ve cast the chart for midnight Friday, set for Washington, D.C. There is a lot here. I will do more in the new Planet Waves FM on Tuesday. But here are the basics. The chart has Scorpio rising. That’s good for some kinky edge play. (I wish these guys would stick to sex clubs with that stuff.)

Saturn and the North Node are in the 12th house — there is some baggage that’s being dragged along, and the suits you see on TV, looking like charming midwestern ministers, are more frightened than they are letting on.

The Moon would be void of course (technically, it is) except that it’s making aspects to three minor planets — it just opposed Eris; it is at that moment sextiling Pholus; then it squares our old friend Juno; then it trines Nessus. Then it changes signs and enters Scorpio, where a new story begins. So we have some centaur action, not shocking given the conduct of the politicians involved. And little Miss “state your needs” Juno is in the picture. Clearly, she is not doing so, but she may yet.

Mars is the ruling planet of the Scorpio ascendant, and it’s in Pisces, in the 5th whole sign house — the house of games. Venus is in Pisces, conjunct Neptune. Mercury is retrograde. Looking at this chart, I am left wondering: who profits from this gambling racket?

What is the big lie involved? Looking at that part of fortune in the 8th, this looks like a lucky day for someone.

 

Planet Waves

Monsanto and the War on Nature

The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments in the case of Monsanto v. Vernon Hugh Bowman. Bowman was originally sued for patent infringement by Monsanto.

In 1999, Bowman purchased Monsanto’s costly Roundup-resistant soybean seeds directly from the company for his first planting of the season. For using these seeds, he had to pay a “Technology Fee” and sign a “Technology Agreement” prohibiting him from saving and replanting seeds.

For his second planting — to circumvent paying the fee again — he purchased soybeans cheaply from a grain elevator, and obtained a mixture of many different types of soybeans, some of which are the genetically modified Monsanto products. Soybeans are themselves seeds, and he planted them, an action which Monsanto claimed in its lawsuit against him violated its patent.

In 2006, Monsanto investigated Bowman, and the farmer cooperated, telling Monsanto that he thought what he had done was legal. Monsanto sued him in 2007.

The case first went to a federal district court, and then to a federal appeals court. Bowman lost both times. The court awarded Monsanto $84,456.20, according to media reports. Bowman appealed and the case is before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Bowman’s lawyer, Mark Walters, argued Tuesday before the court that a patent holder “exhausts” his rights after selling the product, according to a Los Angeles Times article. Patent exhaustion means that after an initial authorized sale of a patented item, the patent owner has no more patent rights to that item.

The justices, in the discussion — not a decision — refuted that argument, saying the patent also applies to successive generations of seeds, not just the first crop.

The case is being closely watched by universities, researchers, biotech companies and software firms, who are concerned that a finding for Bowman would leave the door open to losing patent rights for their own inventions. It appears that the justices are siding with Monsanto.

So is the Obama administration. It urged the Supreme Court not to hear the case because of the implications on research regarding DNA molecules, nanotechnology and other self-replicating technologies.

Melissa Sherry, a lawyer representing the United States, said, “The exhaustion doctrine has nothing to do with this case.” Otherwise, a company’s 20-year patent protection would expire after “one and only one sale.”

And the presence of Justice Clarence Thomas on the bench doesn’t hurt Monsanto’s fortunes, either. Thomas was a high-level attorney for the company from 1976 to 1979.

Thomas was head of the company’s regulatory affairs legal counsel in 1976, when Monsanto was closely involved with Industrial Bio-Test Laboratory, a testing lab that produced fraudulent studies in support of registrations for Monsanto, certifying that chemicals that caused cancer were perfectly safe.

Despite this conflict of interest, Thomas has never recused himself from any case involving Monsanto, including those involving Agent Orange, and including this one.

— additional reporting by Carol Van Strum

 

Planet Waves

Women Making America

We would like to recommend Makers: Women Who Make America, a PBS feature premiering on Tuesday, Feb. 26 (check local listings for airtime; view the trailer at that link). The special program details how the women’s movement of the 1960s and ’70s not only shaped the U.S., but amounted to the most sweeping, world-affecting social movement in American history.

The presentation features friend of Planet Waves, sex educator Betty Dodson. This is tremendous recognition for someone who has spent her life as a sex educator, teaching women to orgasm. Others featured in the presentation include Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Judy Blume, Gloria Steinem and other household names. This is highly unusual recognition for a pro-sex and gender-queer activist, particularly to be put on par with some of the most successful women of our lifetimes.

Planet Waves
Betty Dodson, photo by Eric.

Makers also includes women who opposed the equal rights movement, such as Phyllis Schlafly — women who considered it to be an attack on motherhood and family. In fact, one of the activists notes that in waking up American women, feminists also “woke up the Moral Majority.” That backlash has worked to shape the America we’re living in today as well.

At least one daughter of an activist profiled notes that her mother never really detailed the nuances of the struggle to balance career and family. How much does ‘having it all’ (career, family, hobbies, sex) get trotted out as simply being ‘what a woman does now’ — just like getting married, having kids and baking cakes did 50 years ago?

How much do today’s young women understand what their mothers went through — and how tenuous certain advancements may be (consider the current war on women’s health care and abortion access)?

The ‘next generation’ of American women featured in the trailer point out that while they won access to the work force (beyond making great secretaries), women’s lives still are not balanced. Working a full-time job while also doing all the laundry and buying most of the groceries is not an even split of household responsibilities with a spouse. But in addition to male spouses being willing to take on more at home, women have to be willing to let them.

If you cannot catch the premiere on PBS on Sunday (or if you live outside of the U.S.), note that the DVD is for sale. If you’re part of a women’s group, lead a Girl Scout troop, teach history or women’s studies classes in high school or college, or simply have daughters or nieces, this is an incredible tool to keep the next generation moving women forward — and understanding why it matters.

 

Planet Waves

Lessons from Poly: Social Science is Catching Up

Can engaging in polyamorous relationships actually be good for you? Obviously that’s a personal question dependant on many factors, and poly is not for everyone. But social scientists engaging in new research on the topic are finding that polyamorous relationships offer some real benefits well beyond ‘sex with more people’ — including tools and approaches that can be used by those who prefer monogamy.

Planet Waves

In fact, given the way that poly situations challenge people to think more consciously about commitment, jealousy, love and communication, the recent traction poly is getting in the mainstream media could actually work to help people improve relationships of all kinds.

“People in these relationships really communicate. They communicate to death,” said Bjarne Holmes, a psychologist at Champlain College in Vermont, in a LiveScience.com article. Holmes added that people in poly situations are potentially doing many things that people in monogamous relationships could adopt. Many skills, such as how to negotiate boundaries, are completely transferable.

It might not be news to some, but this field of study is challenging traditional psychological research in such areas as how jealousy works.

“It turns out that, hey, people are not reacting with jealousy when their partner is flirting with someone else,” Holmes said of his study of jealousy in poly situations. “Good science tests theories and predictions … you need to see if it holds up even in extreme situations.”

Since the study of consensual non-monogamy in its many forms is still a fairly new field, there is not a lot of hard data, but researchers are beginning to catch up. In fact, last weekend the first International Academic Polyamory Conference was held in Berkeley, Calif. It may just be a matter of time until poly makes it big — or at least garners more respect.

 

Planet Waves

If You Cell Your Sole, Be Careful When Answering

As one British reader of Planet Waves put it, “It’s Sun in Pisces, so talk to your foot.” Pisces may rule the feet, but clearly practicality does not rule quirky U.K. design company Designworks.

Planet Waves
Designer Sean Miles of Designworks answers a call on his silver Welly. Image: video still

The BBC recently featured a video clip about their prototype shoe phones. It’s not a new idea — the late-’60s American TV show Get Smart, a spoof on the secret agent genre, featured one for protagonist Maxwell Smart. Designworks’ current rendition is fully functional, and intended to be ecological and fun (even if not terribly convenient):

“As an experiment in wearable tech, and to highlight the possibilities of recycling old mobile phones in an imaginative way, designer Sean Miles of Designworks was approached by O2 Recycling to integrate mobile phones into shoes,” according to the BBC. The wingtip Oxfords and Nike sneakers are one thing; but the stiletto phone actually looks a little dangerous — especially during a Mercury retrograde.

 

Planet Waves

In an Octopus’s Garden…

With so many planets in Pisces, it’s almost as if the world is underwater and we’re sprouting gills and fins for a brief time. Underwater photographer Jason Isley has gone one step further, creating tableaux with miniature figurines and live sea creatures in the wild.

“The entire series follows a surreal theme of humans living underwater once the planet is completely flooded and of course miniature in size! At first there is resistance from the marine creatures but once the soldiers fight back there is peace and all live in harmony.”

You can view the fun, humorous series at Jason’s Flickr stream. Be sure to check out the most recent images: a series calling attention to underwater pollution featuring miniature public works and HAZMAT crews taking on common debris left by real humans — and startling facts about the trash. (Did you know it takes a cigarette filter 15 years to decompose?)

 

Planet Waves

Planet Waves

Britt Arnesen, getting ready to take her show on the road.

Of Meteors and Religion

In this week’s edition of Planet Waves FM, I look at the symbols associated with the meteor striking Russia, the asteroid flyby, lightning striking St. Peter’s Basilica twice and the Roman earthquake — all in the aftermath of the pope’s resignation.

My main theme seems to be: what do we do with what we’ve been learning about the atrocities of the Roman Catholic church? How do we assess the damage and where do we begin the healing process?

I also go over the upcoming confluence of astrology: the Sun conjunct Neptune in Pisces, Mercury stationing retrograde in Pisces and the Virgo Full Moon square Jupiter. In true Mercury retrograde (in Pisces) fashion I have a few extra details to include — though I do cover the basic territory at the top of the program.

Our musical guest is Britt Arnesen, a recording artist originating in Alaska and now living in Montana. She is a force of nature, a magnificent singer, a talented guitar and banjo player and a great writer. Yes, Ms. Arnesen has it all, and she spent today in the recording studio working on her new CD.

You can find her on the Internet here, at her 907Britt website.

Here is her Facebook page.

One thing I neglected to do is read the meteor strike chart. That was silly; here is the rather striking chart. This whole pope deal has been all about the centaurs Pholus and Nessus.
Well, they are ALL OVER this chart — Pholus as the highest planet, and Nessus rising in a conjunction with the Sun.

Planet Waves

Meteorite strikes Siberia last Friday morning.

Planet Waves

Here is a dash-cam photo showing a time stamp just as the meteor entered the lower atmosphere. The Sun had not yet risen, even though it was 9:20 am local time. That part of Russia is in a weird time zone and is permanently on daylight savings time. So it’s six hours ahead of GMT/UTC.

 

Planet Waves

Your Monthly Horoscopes — and our Publishing Schedule Notes

The March monthly extended horoscopes are published below in this issue. The February monthly horoscope was published Friday, Jan. 25. Inner Space for February was published Tuesday, Jan. 29; the March Inner Space will be published Tuesday, Feb. 26. We published the Moonshine Horoscope for the Virgo Full Moon on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

Pisces Birthdays: Within, Without

Aquarius (Jan. 20- Feb. 19)

There are two simultaneous trends in your solar chart right now. Many factors are guiding you within, including Mercury retrograde and a diversity of planets square your ruling planet Jupiter. This is prompting some soul searching, as well as reaching within for your best ideas and the motives that connect to them. It will be the connection of these two things that keeps you ‘in gear’ and driving forward, making progress through the year. Yet the Full Moon is seeking some form of expression in the world, and the concentration of planets in your sign is making you into a kind of magnet. So there may be tension between inner and outer reality, though as I suggested rather emphatically in LISTEN, the imperative is for you to honor your introverted, introspective side — the one where you make contact with the you nobody else knows. This is the inner space where you’re in alignment with yourself and the sources of your ideas and energy. I am not suggesting that you become a recluse — indeed, getting out a bit more will be a lot of fun and more interesting than usual, since you’re more visible than usual. I am saying honor your inner self and you will feel stronger and be much happier.

Note to Pisces and Pisces rising readers: Your birthday reading will now be ready Monday, if all goes well. We are offering it for pre-sale and will tell you when it’s done.


Planet Waves Monthly Horoscope for March 2013 (standing in for Planet Waves Weekly #939) | By Eric Francis
 

Aries (March 20-April 19)

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Confidence is everything on this planet — if you want to do things, that is. I know there is wisdom in insecurity (borrowing an idea from Alan Watts), and that humility is a necessary ingredient of trust and truly being human. Yet these things must feed confidence rather than erode it. At a certain point, you must take action, and that works best from a place of faith and trust in yourself. I am not talking about swagger, but rather a hunch that you’re doing the right thing by trying, rather than knowing that there will be a perfect outcome. Making peace with the uncertain outcome is a big part of the confidence or trust that I’m describing. You have many reasons for that trust, but it’s time to go beyond any form of rationalizing or mentally establishing your validity. Connect with the feeling of substance within you. I reckon that sensation will be pretty strong, perhaps stronger than ever, if you allow yourself to tune in. Don’t distract yourself with appearances, particularly with any form of glamour. There’s an old expression — don’t let your confidence come from your feet. The place you want it to come from is your heart, and it will, if that is where you focus. Feel the fullness of your soul, the richness of your imagination and the hyper-charged sense of potential. Then get ready to take your first step on a journey that’s likely to lead you in an entirely new direction.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Taurus (April 19- May 20)

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You have more friends than you imagine, and ‘friend’ is not a word I like to use casually. I mean that many people are available to you, they are looking out for your interests, and they like and respect you. I suggest you tune into that ocean of goodwill and give yourself permission to participate in a more direct way. You also have more dreams and desires than you may imagine, though considering them may have the effect of escorting you out of what you have previously thought of as your comfort zone. The current astrology is an invitation to come out of just that zone, and to find not a fixed point of stability. You’re being invited to move, to dance, to encounter something different every time you tune into your senses. The idea ‘psychic mobility’ comes to mind. Yet you could easily be overwhelmed by the kaleidoscopic possibilities. In the midst of them all is one particularly interesting undercurrent that is drawing you into your deepest desires. All the other stuff still exists — then there is your awareness of the one idea, experience or person that you want the most. It might manifest as an attraction, a curiosity or some kind of introspective journey that does not involve an activity or another person. Yet ultimately, your life is not about ‘the world’ or your friends or your potentials — it’s about how you experience them, and choose from among them. Now that you have options, you can set priorities and have a lot of fun.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Gemini (May 20- June 21)

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — This could be one of the most interesting moments in your ‘professional life’, though you might want to drop the first word in that phrase if you want to understand it more clearly. I know that there is plenty of counseling to ‘keep your work and your life separate’ and about ‘how you should not mix business and pleasure’ and most of all to keep your work and personal relationships separate. These ideas might work for some people who are not really living, and who are not desiring a life wherein they express their true existence in their daily activities. I’ve been listening for a while and what I hear is most people yearning, craving, sometimes positively mad to spend their time doing something meaningful, creative, productive and loving. That is exactly what is calling you now. I suggest you start modestly. Do not think in terms of an end destination — that’s the old method, the one that almost always goes stagnant. As you may know, Mercury will be retrograde the first half of the month. And it will be retrograde in the house associated with your professional activities and reputation. I can sum that up briefly: you’re here to do your thing in your way — which may be different from the way you thought of in the past and certainly different from what others have expected of you. Therefore, if you feel inclined to do things differently, to follow an intuition and to go against the grain, that is the way to go.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Cancer (June 21- July 22)

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — More is going on behind the scenes than you may recognize, and you may be feeling this as anxiety, potential or a mixture of both. Your charts have a sense of mystery to them, of something that is soon to emerge — and it will, soon enough, and when it does you will be ready for the changes. I suggest you refrain from making too many plans. If you’re going to address the future, stick to a very few of the most meaningful things you want to do or create, including some travel plans around which I suggest you organize your time. Get clear where you want to go and why you want to go there, organize your ideas about time around them, and then start to put your plans into action after the Sun changes signs to Aries later in the month. A few long-distance trips you take this year can have a profound influence on your perspective. If possible, try to include one trip overseas or to a country other than where you live now. Travel is the kind of experience for which there is no substitute. Nothing can show you what a journey can: immersing yourself in a foreign culture, seeing people and places you’ve never seen before, and looking back at your life from that point of view. Meanwhile, consider the places you’ve always wanted to go, and develop your short list of potential destinations. The chances are you know exactly where you would go, if you could go anywhere.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Leo (July 22- Aug. 23)

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — You’re fully invested in what you are doing — and if not, now is the time to give yourself that freedom. This is about depth, and it’s about connecting with others who have a similar sense of mission or similar vision. You’re being invited into a collaboration or ‘conspiracy’ of some kind, and it will be most pleasurable if you bring your full attention and true willingness. Indeed, your whole life may be vibrating with this feeling right now. This is very much a matter of relationship; most of life is, though when people join for a purpose, that can be especially meaningful and beautiful. Unlike most people, you don’t need to worry about losing yourself in your relationships, at least not now; your sense of who you are is too strong for that. I would remind you how this fear can and does keep many people from doing what they feel called to do, which is the fear of ‘getting lost’ in that very thing. Make contact with when this may have influenced you in the past, when you were far less steady on your feet. Free from that anxiety, the collaboration you take part in may have a ‘it’s time to change the world’ feeling to it. Remember, that’s exactly what you’re doing, even if in subtle ways. What you believe may challenge what others believe, though I would remind you that you’re not alone in your passion. And what others may think of you is far less meaningful than what you know to be true.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Virgo (Aug. 23- Sep. 22)

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You could easily be overwhelmed by the astrology that seems to be making you the focus of attention, or drawing others to you as if you’re some kind of human attractor beam. You might feel an urge to resist or rebel against this, preferring instead to maintain your sanctity. I would encourage you to do nothing of the kind, but instead to pass through this creatively rich territory willingly, absorbing the nutrients, the experiences and the diversity of the people around you. Indulging in the pleasure of people and of life is often a matter of trust as much as it is of willingness. Many miss out on numerous one-time opportunities due to their unexamined fear, which can be mistakenly thought of as ‘not being ready’. It’s true that you often prefer to keep a lower profile and have your life be less chaotic than you think it would be were you to open yourself fully to existence. I suggest, however, that you ask yourself sincerely whether this policy has served you well. Now is the time to advance rather than retreat. It’s the time to relate, even though you always have the option of being a hermit. You may worry that some aspect of your purity will be compromised by doing this, which is exactly the point. You are creatively fertile, and some potent creative forces are willing to fertilize with you. When that happens, something new will be born — something in you and in the world.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Libra (Sep. 22 - Oct. 23)

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — You’re the one who brings people together. Though you may not recognize this, many see you in a kind of authority role. You tend to be so soft-spoken or at least careful that this fact might surprise you. Yet you’re a stabilizing force for those around you. This is a special kind of leadership. It involves respecting what is becoming known as healing process, and availability for service. This is different from being ‘self sacrificing’. Indeed it is everything but a sacrifice; mutual gift would be a better description. Yet at times this can be demanding, and it’s necessary to maintain your equilibrium. This is not the same as a perfect balance; Equilibrium is about staying in contact with who you are, even when you cannot fully express those aspects of yourself. That means staying in communication with yourself, monitoring your feelings and being aware of your own needs. I would strongly suggest you take care of yourself, by which I don’t mean long, luxurious spa treatments but rather making sure you get enough rest when possible, eat actual food and maintain your physical space. Make sure you devote some time to other interests at least every couple of days. This is all in service of something larger. You are being called upon to fulfill some truly profound aspect of your purpose, and there’s really no way to tell where it will lead you, except to say deeper into yourself. I would offer one thought, courtesy of A Course in Miracles: everyone teaches, and teaches all the time.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Scorpio (Oct. 23- Nov. 22)

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — What are you worried about? I mean what exactly? Make a list; spell it out. Nobody has to see this list. Include not just your worst nightmares but also what you might think of as personal anxiety, such as about how you’re perceived by the world. Next, what do you want to experience or create? I don’t mean accomplish — I mean dive into for its own sake, to celebrate the beauty of existence? Make a list of those things as well. Question one, which list is longer? Question two, do your fears have any connection at all to why you’re hesitating on certain, or all, of your desires? There seems to be some tension between your anxiety and your creativity, though it’s not exactly rational. The issue seems to be bound up in your self-image — what will people think of you if they know you did or wanted to do this or that really fun thing? I would go so far as to say that most of your actually debilitating fears are connected to how you think people will perceive you, if they only knew. In my philosophy of art and growth, that’s exactly where to pitch your tent — in the spot where you fear others would be most likely to look at you askance. You don’t know if they will, and if they do, it’s most likely because you’re the one who will dare. Yet here’s a clue: there really isn’t a ‘they’. This is all about you.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 22)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — To what extent are you allowing your relationships to be dictated or even influenced by your family? This includes your early childhood situation, as well as what these people seem to believe is right for you. One manifestation could be the ‘relationship for security’ equation, which might translate to the one who has money, or the nice appearance, but which has nothing to do with what you actually want. I suggest you sort out your own need for feeling safe from your need or desire to be in relationships to others. Having the right company can help you feel more grounded, though it’s better if that is not the one thing you depend on for a sense of feeling safe or belonging on the planet. Meanwhile, there is this potential matter of how you relate to the expectations of others, and what you perceive as their expectations (whether ‘positive’ or ‘negative’). This situation will summon you to awaken to emotionally-rooted values that guide your life. You may get your buttons pushed, and if you do, I suggest you stop and listen to what is coming up for you, and notice who was involved. The purpose of all this seems to be to get you to pay attention to what you really want, and to claim what is right for you. You are under no obligation to relive anyone else’s past, or your own for that matter. This can be a significant challenge, though it’s one to face boldly if you want to have happy and healthy relationships.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 20)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — I suggest you investigate the ways you may be blocking people from participating in your life. I’ll give a few potential examples. One might be alcohol. This is a substance that starts off social and has a way of ending up isolating people. Another is a sense of inferiority or not being able to stand up to the perceived power or authority of others. Another is not being able to state your needs, or feeling like for some reason you cannot do so. This, in turn, may involve suppressed anger or a self-esteem struggle. Usually we think that expressing anger or refraining from ‘bothering’ others with our needs is enhancing contact. Yet I think that an authentic exchange on the level of necessity is much better for enhancing contact. Honesty has a benefit all its own — it’s the substance of intimacy. If you state an honest need or desire and notice how someone responds, you find out where you stand with them, which is information that will benefit you. I suggest you notice when you find yourself thinking that you would rather not know where you stand with someone, which could fall under the general heading of denial. There is a way out of insecurity, emotional struggle and what is commonly called lack of self-esteem — and that begins with acknowledging what is so. When you do that, you can open up to a whole new level of contact. As someone once wrote, “only the truth is erotic.”

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Planet Waves

Note to Aquarius and Aquarius rising readers: Your birthday reading is ready. I cover entirely new territory from what I did in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition. I review the ways in which Aquarius itself has been changing and evolving. I describe your process of discovering your sense of mission; of opening up your inner life; and relationships based on creative exploration first and ‘commitment’ second. It’s two sessions of astrology plus tarot, with an extended description of your sign coming soon — and access to last year’s reading so that you can verify my accuracy. You can get instant access here.

Aquarius (Jan. 20- Feb. 19)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You’re going through a process of exploring your depths and your shadow side, all as part of a search for something within yourself. It looks almost as if you’re searching for self-respect in spite of something, some feeling or idea to the contrary. Yet is this really an approach that you have to take? At a certain point, you must accept and claim your own assets, despite any doubts about yourself that you may have. You will use what you have going for you, despite whatever you might think you lack. While this is not strictly a matter of self-esteem, a habit of doubting or even questioning yourself can in fact block your awareness of your gifts. This is really a choice of whether to focus your awareness on a sense of loss or doubt, or on the incredible wealth you have access to within yourself. If you’re not aware of that wealth, let me be the first to tell you it’s there, and it’s available. You have access to resources — creative, emotional, financial and many other kinds. Some may belong to others, some may belong to you, some are collective resources. The most precious among them is your ability to feel your worth on a planet where so much is not valued, where so much is plundered and where everything seems to be running out. Having a lot in a time of scarcity could be intimidating, you might want to check in and see if that thought form is influencing you in any way.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Planet Waves

Hello Pisces! Your 2013 birthday reading is almost ready. I plan to have it done Monday, in time for the Full Moon. We are making the report available for pre-order now. If you purchase early, we will let you know the moment it’s ready. Here is the link. Thank you! — Eric Francis

Pisces (Feb. 19- March 20)

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — You’re a magnet for attention right now, and you may have a feeling of confidence that is truly unusual for you. It’s fair to say that you have the power to create yourself into anything that you want, as long as you can envision it in some tangible form. So I suggest you practice that vision, amidst much other activity surrounding you and within yourself. Regardless of who may be drawn your way, and how strongly you may feel about others, I would encourage you to practice the yoga that your primary relationship is with yourself. This will facilitate a kind of strength and stability that will make it much easier to keep your relationships with others in context, and to actually be present for the people you care about so much. Which leads to a nice way to sum up the theme: your life right now is not about being occupied or busy or involved; your life is about being present, as much as you can, all the time, if you can. You have some truly stunning opportunities and shall we say potential that is becoming ripe and ready. When you make contact with that potential, you will unfold in ways you might have known were possible but may have never suspected were actually real. On occasion of which, I will leave you with a few words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.”

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

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Lightning Strikes the Vatican

Planet Waves

Lightning strikes the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica for the second time Monday after Pope Benedict’s resignation. This photo was taken by Rome-based photographer Alessandro di Meo, who set up his camera outside the Vatican certain that lightning would not strike a second time — but he was ready.

Dear Friend and Reader:

Monday, we learned that Joseph Ratzinger, known as Pope Benedict XVI, would be the first pontiff to resign from office since 1415, nearly three centuries before Benjamin Franklin was born. This is something that’s never happened in the modern era, and its being unprecedented — and the astrology that goes with the event, along with an asteroid flyby and a meteorite strike — seems designed to get our attention.

The last pope who resigned (technically known as abdicating, since he is a form of royalty), Gregory XII, quit as part of a plan to resolve a three-way split in the church, so he did not exactly step down voluntarily. Prior to that there was an allegedly voluntary papal resignation in 1294, and before that, we had one in 1045. This is not part of the usual three-day news cycle. In fact it’s so weird, there are no specific instructions in canon law for how a pope should actually quit if he wants to.

Planet Waves
Pope Benedict XVI reads statement that he will be resigning effective Feb. 28. Photo distributed by AP.

Ratzinger resigned one day after the New Moon in Aquarius conjunct the centaur Nessus, a minor planet which can act like a karmic boomerang, and has the key phrase, ‘the buck stops here’. Nessus is also associated with potentially inappropriate sexual contact, and situations where the ‘buck stops’ and responsibility (or in this case, the fall) is taken.

At the time he resigned, the church was starting
to be viewed by many as little more than a massive criminal syndicate, with specialties in human trafficking and financial fraud. This, from a religion that preaches sexual purity, even chastity for the unmarried, whose priests all take vows of celibacy and who allegedly live in humble poverty.

Sunday’s New Moon (which began the Chinese Year of the Snake) was also square the lunar nodes, to the exact degree. Last week I described this lunation as an eclipse-like point of no return. Two days later Mars was conjunct Chiron, an aspect we can explore to understand attributes of deeply wounded maleness and male sexuality — and the struggle with sexual desire in general.

Centaur transits can bring out the shadow side of human nature, and they’ve been stirring things up the past few weeks. Notably, the Sun-Nessus conjunction was exact Thursday.

And on Thursday, as if prompted by the astrology, the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights requested that the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague open an inquiry on behalf of the Survivors Network, accusing the pope of crimes against humanity. Their complaint said that the global Catholic Church has maintained a “long-standing and pervasive system of sexual violence” despite promises to swiftly oust predators, the UK-based Telegraph newspaper reported.

Planet Waves
Main building of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Photo: Wikimedia.

“Lawyers for the victims say rape, sexual violence and torture are considered a crime against humanity as described in the international treaty that spells out the court’s mandate,” The Telegraph said. “The complaint also accuses Vatican officials of creating policies that perpetuated the damage, constituting an attack against a civilian population.”

The Vatican is not a member nation in the International Criminal Court, meaning that the court does not have automatic jurisdiction over its officials.

Meanwhile there have been 9,000 independent proposals to the ICC for inquiries into this issue since 2002, when the court was created as the world’s only permanent war crimes tribunal, The Telegraph reported, speculating that an ICC investigation is unlikely.
This just underscores how the Vatican is accustomed to being above reproach. For millennia it’s gotten away with anything and everything. We might count as the humble first steps of progress the first resignation of a pope in six centuries.

The Pope and The Tower

Ratzinger, long an influential figure in the Vatican, was elevated to pope in 2005 after the death of John Paul II, one of the longest-serving pontiffs in church history. Ratzinger served for less than eight years. News reports have stuck to the story that 85-year-old Ratzinger quit because he was too old and frail to do his job, though advanced age hasn’t seemed to matter much in church history.

Planet Waves
La Maison Dieu or The Tower from the Jodorowsky Tarot.

The question people are asking is: what is this about? Nobody just gives up being head of state, a private bank and a massive religion (with the servants and altar boys, private jets, limitless funds and full diplomatic status) just so they can retire to a convent and write a book.

It’s true that the pope was being described as exhausted and that talk of his potential resignation goes back a year or so. Yet we all know that the church has been besieged with scandals in recent decades. The question going around is, was his resignation about the child rape scandal (over which Ratzinger is reputed to have presided during his predecessor’s reign) or was it really about the Vatican bank scandal?

Sex abuse litigation has cost the church more than $3 billion in payouts to victims in the U.S. alone, and has caused many archdioceses to file bankruptcy in recent years. Yet more than being financially costly, this scandal has repeatedly exposed the morbid, perverse goings-on inside the church. And incredibly, people still show up to Sunday mass.

The Vatican bank scandal involves money laundering, mafia involvement in the organization, anonymous accounts and what are politely described as shady transactions (likely to include things like financing anti-communist death squads). If we ever find out what this bank really does, it will be sickening (and from looking at the Vatican bank’s chart, we just might find out).

Let’s go back to when Ratzinger was elected in the spring of 2005. I was living in Paris at the time and was an astrology news reporter for London-based Cainer.com, and covered this in some detail.

At the time, I wrote of Ratzinger’s election:

If stability is what we are seeking, it’s unlikely to happen now. Much discussion has gone into Ratzinger’s choice of names (popes traditionally name themselves). The last Benedict was the Peace Pope during World War I.

But I would like to briefly mention the number: XVI, or 16, which is the number of the tarot card The Tower. This is the one where lightning hits a tower and the two people fall out. It’s also called La Maison Dieu, or House of God. It’s the number of a shakeup. Or liberation. Or release. Certainly some kind of big change. We are in for some surprises.

It is strange and unsettling that this election was concluded so close to an eclipse of the Moon, particularly in Scorpio, the sign where power is often wheeled and dealed. This is yet another sign that says some great change is imminent.

Based on what is perhaps the most traditional method of prediction (solar arc direction), there will be some big change either to the church or with this papacy within four months from now, when that late Aries Sun becomes a Taurus Sun. That would be in August.

Somebody please remember I said that.

Well, I didn’t remember until I re-read the article. Then I checked the Wikipedia timeline of the church sex abuse scandal. In August 2005, Ratzinger was personally accused in a lawsuit of conspiring to cover up the molestation of three boys in Texas by Juan Carlos Patino-Arango in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

Ratzinger sought and obtained immunity from prosecution as a head of state. The Department of State agreed to “recognize and allow the immunity of Pope Benedict XVI from this suit,” something that would not have happened without the consent of then-President Bush.

Monday, the day of the pope’s resignation, lightning struck the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica not once but twice, symbolism that could not be lost on even the most literal-minded person.

The Resignation Chart

The Vatican on its website listed the time of the resignation announcement as “just before noon” on Monday, Feb. 11. Most astrologers cast the chart as noon. I requested assistance from my readers and was sent by Maura Bright a photo of Ratzinger making his statement, with an aide sitting beside him. The aide’s wristwatch is visible, showing a time of just before 11:45 am; I have gone with 11:42 am. I know this section gets into technical astrology but I’ve done my best to make it easy to follow. Give it a try. Here is a glyph key if you need it.

Planet Waves
Chart for the announcement that the pope would be resigning. This chart is focused on the 1st and 10th houses. See full size chart here. You may also download all the charts I’ve used for this article.

Here is the chart, which we could informally title, “OMFG.” Generally the houses with the most impact are the 1st and the 10th. The 1st is to the left side of the chart (also called the ascendant) and the 10th is on top, to the left side of the dark line. Notice the concentrations of planets in both.

The 10th is particularly telling; it’s the house of high office (all the way to the top) and executive power, suggesting that there is some movement here on the global level. Remember that in the scheme of things, the pope is a relatively minor player, someone with more privileges than actual power. But many people place their loyalty in him, in effect enabling all of his crimes with their complicity and direct donation of spiritual commitment.

There are many people above his head; many forces to which he is answerable, and we see them show up in the 10th house.
At the top of the chart is the Sun-Nessus conjunction (the yellow circle and the light blue N). This tells us that we really do have a Nessus event on our hands, one in many ways like any other (most of which involve rape and molestation, who holds responsibility and how we heal from these things). The 10th tells us that this is a chart about power.

In addition to Sun-Nessus, two details really stand out. One is that there is a (verging on unbelievable) quadruple conjunction at the moment of the announcement: Mars, Moon, Chiron and Mercury, all clustered in Pisces. Look how close those four planets are (please see detail for a closer look). Neptune is right there — but try as it may, it cannot fog this one over.

I’ve already described the Mars-Chiron conjunction, exact to a fraction of a degree in this chart, as about wounded male sexuality; the Moon, a kind of pointer, is located exactly between those two planets, saying this is the thing to focus on now.

Planet Waves
In this chart, you can see the Sun (in gold) conjunct Nessus (in light blue). You can also see the Moon, the gray crescent, in the narrow space between Mars (in red) and Chiron (orange key). It’s also close to Mercury in green. On the far right is Venus, who seems to represent the pope.

The Moon then moves on to make a conjunction to Mercury — which rules the chart’s ascendant and therefore the question itself. We don’t need to look far to see that this is about sexual impropriety and in truth profound sickness, reaching up to the highest levels of power. It shows up all over the chart — but particularly right in the 10th house of executive authority.

The other detail is that Venus is lurking just inside the 9th house, as if hiding from public view (you can see it just to the right of the dark line). This to me looks like the pope himself avoiding personal culpability. Venus is square Saturn; this is the end of the line for him, but he manages to escape, mainly because he is the pope. This helps explain why he was made pope — he had to be, as a strategic move so that he could take the fall.

Looking at the ascendant of this chart, we see Jupiter rising — all those planets in Pisces are square Jupiter, the ruler of Pisces. This chart describes a state of siege and even terror so palpably that the Vatican must be in a total shambles right now.

The asteroid Vesta is also rising — indicating that the overriding theme is that of a sacrifice. In a sense, the pope was offered as sacrifice in hope that the reputation of the church itself might survive. However, it’s reasonable to expect that there will be additional revelations that come as part of this shakeup.

Let’s take a look at one other chart (well, two, since they go together). The first is Ratzinger’s natal chart. I’ve included a section since we really don’t need the whole thing.

Planet Waves
Detail of Ratzinger’s natal chart showing Pholus in the 10th house in the last degree of Sagittarius. It’s green, with the number 29 next to it. See full chart here.

He has the centaur Pholus as his most elevated planet, right on the 10th house. This is an odd position for a CEO but not for this particular pope, because Pholus is about the runaway reaction (or the small cause with a big effect). This kind of placement is seen in the charts of mass shootings. The indication is that he is involved in the uncontrolled abuse of power.

He may even be a perpetrator himself, or at least seems to have some kind of sexual self-control issue, or doubts about his own ambiguity; his natal Mars in Gemini is exactly opposite that Pholus.

Pholus is in the last degree of Sagittarius, way out on the edge of that sign, where it’s even less stable than it might ordinarily be. It’s a central driving force in his psyche, fueled or aggravated by that opposition from Mars. It represents a central force operating within his psyche.

On Nov. 16, a film premiered in the United States called Mea Maxima Culpa. The film, which I have not yet seen (it runs Friday night on HBO East, when I plan to watch it), is about the sexual abuse of hundreds of deaf children by a Roman Catholic priest in Milwaukee.

In an article about the film, The Guardian reported this week, “Despite taking their claims all the way to the Vatican in their quest for justice, they were consistently rebuffed. Benedict XVI, in his earlier capacity as Cardinal Ratzinger, was responsible for ordering all reports of sex abuse to be channelled through his office at the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith, which he ran from 2001 to 2005.”

On the very day that this film premiered, Mars was in the last degree of Sagittarius. It hit Ratzinger’s natal Pholus llike an explosive concussion. Once Pholus is activated, things can go out of control quickly (as we saw in the chart for Rupert Murdoch). This seems to have been the point where he could not sustain any more pressure, and had to be moved out of the way to deflect the attention and prevent more wide-scale damage.

Planet Waves
Chart section for the opening of Mea Maxima Culpa. Here you can see Mars in the last degree of Sagittarius (in red, next to the crescent Moon). On that day it aligned directly with Pholus in Ratzinger’s chart. See full chart here.

My sense is that he was not just involved in the coverup of the child rape scandal; he was its engineer.

Now, when you start to read about the Vatican bank scandal, it’s a pretty compelling factor. The matter is huge, and it’s ugly. We have another example of 100 pounds of shit stuffed into a 10-pound bag. The chart for his resignation includes the possibility that this whole thing is about money. If you’re an astrologer or astrology student, study the rulers of the 2nd and 8th houses of the resignation chart and you will see that a lot of money is at stake.

As Der Spiegel reported last July when an Italian investigation into the bank deepened, “In the past, every time Italian prosecutors have stepped in and confidential documents have found their way to light, the secretive ways of the Vatican bank have always ended up damaging the Church’s prestige. For more than 40 years,the [Vatican Bank], founded in 1942, has been regularly embroiled in scandals, including bribery money for political parties, mafia money-laundering and, repeatedly, anonymous accounts.”

While it’s tempting to some to consider the bank scandal the real issue, mainly because so much in church assets are involved, there is a direct relationship between the church’s sexual hypocrisy and the fortune that it has.

From Darkness to Light: A Choice

The Roman Catholic church built its fortunes on sexual repression, which evolved into sexual abuse. In the eyes of the Catholics, pleasure is the only real sin, which generates the guilt that is the selling point to come to church and get absolution.

For many people, the hornier they are, the more they need the church to “save” them from the sin of pleasure. This was a clever move — we are all created by sex, and our bodies and emotions naturally radiate with sexual feelings. The Catholics co-opted this basic fact of existence and made the very experience that creates humans the allegedly most sinful thing there is.

Planet Waves
Religion always plays a divide and conquer game between ‘divine’ experience and human experience. That ultimately means nature and one’s body, which are considered the seat of sin and evil, as opposed to ‘god’, who has no body and is therefore pure.

This position, along with the church’s misogyny, has its origins in Judaism (you don’t need to read far into the Book of Genesis to find out that Adam and Eve are embarrassed about sex and don fig leaves to hide their private parts from God). But the Catholics made it their whole business, and it then slipped into all other post-Reformation Christian faiths.

In Planet Waves FM this week, I said that the Church makes its money from child trafficking and pedophile sex rings. This is not as shocking as it seems. The pedophile sex rings exist — that’s what the “sex abuse scandal” is about.

Then, the same people who are perpetrators, co-conspirators and enablers preach the doctrine of sin, and people come to church and pay for absolution. The Catholic dogma — described by Martin Luther and many others — is that you throw your money in the basket and you are absolved of your alleged sins.

Then the perps, co-conspirators and enablers go back to preaching the gospel of purity, sin and redemption, and collect money from those who show up feeling guilty for being alive. Then these “ministers” perpetrate, conspire and enable.

The whole operation is funded by their sexual hypocrisy. You could say they get away with it by vast sums of money, diplomatic immunity, lawyers, etc. — but they really get away with it by preying on people’s fear of going to hell.

This is sexual abuse on the metaphysical level: it deals with the nature and origin of existence, shaming the feeling of life itself. This is an attack that goes beyond any one Christian sect or denomination and spreads into the whole population. Now that we can (once again) see this hypocrisy for what it is, we have a question — how and where do we begin the healing process?

Planet Waves
Thanks to religion, many people spend their lives obsessed with sin and their lost innocence. Image from Post Secret.

I asked one of my teachers, Elisa Novick, for her take on what was happening. Her work often involves helping people set themselves free from traumas and other issues inflicted by religion.

She had already received a message from the Mystical Traveler, one you might call a close relative of the Cosmic Christ, whose role is to assist with soul evolution. I will quote the message here, in part.

“The papacy was established in order to give the result wanted, handing the control through any and all means to the established few and their overlords (handlers if you will). He [Ratzinger] was most out there and took the fall for many, but he wins in the end by still being revered, putting a lock hold on those who hold him in high esteem despite the reports.

“They are programmed to feel he is something special and they are something worse, lowlier, the lowliest, and that gives over their wills and their hearts and their reproductive systems to birth in the ugly things from out of the ‘steaming pits’ of the hell worlds. This gives rise to a coarse and unthoughtful world in which there is no will power to stand up, stand out, for all is proscribed.”

The message continues, with regard to Ratzinger’s resignation:

“Is it getting better because of this injury to their pride?

“It may break through some of the slumber, but it will take a long time, of swindling and worse stories, more interest, more kickback from the conservative forces. All planned to keep us in darkness, yet doomed to fail with the weight of their own dark/heaviness.

“In this world all who go toward the Light will come to avoid such influences and those desiring to fail will gravitate toward these dying institutions like weevils to rotting straw. You are blessed to know that there is a world beyond this and that the Light exists. Give it a place, a conduit to come into this world and lighten the darkness.”

Lovingly,

PS, If you’re on Facebook (we know that some of you despise the thing) would you please ‘like’ the new Planet Waves company page? There are excellent discussions, frequent news updates and generally a fun experience of microblogging.

PPS, for those curious about solar arc direction, referenced in the above quote from my article on Cainer.com, this is a form of a progression that slows time down to 1/365th of real time, in this case of the Sun’s movement. Therefore it took the very late Aries Sun four months to enter Taurus — by solar arc direction. I will cover this in a future issue on progressions, which I’ve been wanting to write for a long time. If you have striking chart examples, please send them my way. Thank you!

 

Planet Waves

Planet Waves

Meteorite passes over Russia early Friday morning. The shockwave broke numerous windows, injuring 500 people — four of them seriously. See photo gallery here.

Busy Sky: Meteorite, Asteroid and Sun Enters Pisces

The sky is a busy place right now. Early Friday morning, an approximately 7,000-ton meteorite entered the atmosphere 900 miles east of Moscow, injuring more than 1,000 people, most of them from broken glass, according to news reports. [Do not miss this astonishing video.] It’s extremely rare that meteorites hurt people, and to my knowledge no human has ever been struck by one in recorded history (at least until now). Miraculously, nobody was killed in Friday’s incident. Most of the meteors you see streaking across the sky are the size of a grain of sand, or smaller.

This happened within a day of an asteroid, 2012 DA14, passing by the Earth at the hair’s breadth distance of 17,200 miles (the two incidents may be related). That’s a fraction of the Earth-Moon distance and is considered by astronomers to be an extremely close brush. Any asteroid that comes within 31 million miles is considered a near-Earth asteroid. This one is 1,800 times closer than that. It’s probably a stray fragment of a larger body. Most asteroids orbit between Mars and Jupiter. Many others orbit with Jupiter.

Planet Waves
Meteorites actually hitting where people are is extremely rare. Above, meteorite dealer Ray Meyer stands beside a red Chevy Malibu struck on Oct. 9, 1992. The car was owned by 18-year-old Michelle Knapp, who sold the car for 25 times the $400 she paid for it when buying it from her grandmother. Photo courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

“Thirty years ago, we would not have been able to find the thing,” said Michael Busch, a planetary astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Socorro, N.M., quoted by The Washington Post. But it may happen every decade or two, he said.

It’s not known for sure whether the meteorite that hit near Moscow and the asteroid
are related. Many people have been asking for my interpretation of what this close brush means. Since we don’t know the position in longitude, it’s impossible to place in a chart. However, it suggests at least two things: one is some kind of a close call. The second is something that emphasizes our current moment in history.

In the most ordinary terms, it’s a kind of memory anchor to have something like this happen, so make sure you connect it to any interesting, poignant or unusual events or passages in your life right now. And in the spirit of investigation, let’s see what develops over the next few days.

The Sun enters Pisces Monday, joining four planets that are already there — Neptune, Chiron, Mars and Mercury. That’s a lot of Pisces — more than we’ve ever had in recent years. Making things interesting is that the Sun changes signs in a conjunction with the asteroid Eros, which is about matters of the heart — both emotional and biological.

Pisces is the sign of the imagination, of creativity and of a deep kind of faith that’s not available through religion, a book or a workshop. Pisces is the faith that you’re born with, and as such, it can represent the crisis of faith, of finding your passion and of making contact with your creativity.

Eros in an exact conjunction with the Sun as its Pisces journey begins is saying that creative power comes from the heart, which may be close to what people think of when they say ‘soul’ — another Pisces element.

Neptune is right there, which is accentuating the same story. The difference between these two planets is that Neptune can act invisibly, in the background, until something brings its influence into focus.

Chiron’s longterm presence in Pisces is accentuating the quest for your true passion, your deepest creativity and your faith both in yourself and something larger than yourself. Chiron is always looking for that connection point between micro and macro, between the element and the whole system; Chiron is always reading for the holistic level of existence.

Over the next few weeks or so, the Sun will make many aspects — conjunctions to Neptune and Chiron, as well as aspects to Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn. This will provide a concentrated sequence of opportunities — actual opportunities, though you will need to tune into that Pisces level of awareness: noticing inspiration, feeling your creative impulse, opening your inner eyes and seeing your vision.

 

Planet Waves

Republicans Block Republican Defense Secretary Nominee

Republican senators celebrated Pres. Obama’s call for bipartisanship by blocking his choice for secretary of defense, former Republican senator Chuck Hagel. This is another case of Republicans blocking Republican people and ideas, as long as Obama wants them.

The Senate used its procedure called cloture to insist that Hagel have 60 votes for approval, when the Constitution calls for a simple majority vote to approve cabinet appointees. It’s the first time in Senate history that a president’s nominee for defense secretary has been blocked. The 58 to 40 vote was almost along party lines; four Republican senators defected and supported their former colleague.

But John McCain and Lindsay Graham led the charge against Hagel, preventing an actual vote on the nomination for the duration of a 10-day Senate recess. This is preventing Leon Panetta, the current defense secretary, from wrapping up work and passing the reins to his successor.

“Mr. Hagel, a former Republican senator from Nebraska and decorated Vietnam War veteran, had earlier appeared to have at least the 60 votes required to break a Republican filibuster,” The New York Times reported. “But [John] McCain and other Republicans who had said they might oppose Mr. Hagel but would not back a filibuster said they would not support ending debate until they received more detailed answers to questions about the administration’s response to the attack on the American diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.”

They are implying that somehow Hagel helped the attackers, but nobody is saying how. At press time, Republicans were getting ready to claim Hagel was born in Africa, was a communist socialist Muslim, and had a secret plan to double taxes in order to destroy the country.

Obama Calls for Minimum Wage Increase

Pres. Obama called for an increase in the federal minimum wage in his State of the Union Address Monday night. This hasn’t increased since 2006, when it was raised from $7.25 an hour from $5.15. Had the minimum wage kept pace with inflation, it would be about $15 per hour today. Speaker of the House John Boehner voted against it.

Planet Waves
Pres. Obama has proposed that wage slaves get a little more than the boss thinks they deserve.

“We know our economy is stronger when we reward an honest day’s work with honest wages,” Obama said. “But today, a full-time worker making the minimum wage earns $14,500 a year.” Think about that for a second. It’s reasonable to wonder how they pay their iPhone bills on those wages.

He continued, “Even with the tax relief we’ve put in place, a family with two kids that earns the minimum wage still lives below the poverty line. That’s wrong. That’s why, since the last time this Congress raised the minimum wage, nineteen states have chosen to bump theirs even higher.”

“Tonight, let’s declare that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty, and raise the federal minimum wage to $9.00 an hour. This single step would raise the incomes of millions of working families. It could mean the difference between groceries or the food bank; rent or eviction; scraping by or finally getting ahead.”

The proposal would see the federal floor on hourly wages reach $9 in stages by the end of 2015. Tying the minimum wage to inflation would allow it to rise along with the cost of living. If enacted, the measure would boost the wages of about 15 million low-income workers, the White House estimated. The $9 minimum wage would be the highest in more than three decades, accounting for inflation, but still lower than the peaks reached in the 1960s and 1970s.

 

Planet Waves

Independent Growers Challenge Monsanto’s Global Seed Supply Chokehold

A just-published report from the Center for Food Safety and Save our Seeds has quantified the precarious state of our global seed supply, due in large part to seed patent control by Monsanto and other companies.

The report, Seed Giants vs. U.S. Farmers, examined patent control’s far-reaching consequences. As of last month Monsanto, claiming seed patent infringement, had filed 144 lawsuits involving 410 farmers and 56 small farm businesses in at least 27 different states, according to the report.

Planet Waves

Furthermore, consolidation of global seed supply leaves only three corporations in control of 53% of the global commercial seed market. This has driven seed prices upward, increasing the cost of planting. Between 1995 and 2011, the average cost to plant one acre of soybeans has risen 325%; for cotton, prices spiked 516% and corn seed prices are up by 259%, the report said.

Lastly, there’s been a sharp drop in seed diversity, according to the report. Eighty-six percent of corn, 88% of cotton, and 93% of soybeans farmed in the U.S. are now genetically engineered varieties.

Alarm over the loss of seed diversity has given rise to a grass-roots movement to save and share so-called “heirloom seeds” by small farmers and homeowners.

“Corporations did not create seeds and many are challenging the existing patent system that allows private companies to assert ownership over a resource that is vital to survival, and that, historically, has been in the public domain,” said Debbie Barker, program director for Save Our Seeds and senior writer for the report.

One such challenger of Big Agriculture is Vernon Hugh Bowman, a 75-year-old Indiana soybean farmer who supports the right of farmers to plant saved seeds. Next week, he will appear against Monsanto in the Supreme Court case Bowman v. Monsanto Co.

“I really don’t consider [the case] as David and Goliath. I don’t think of it in those terms. I think of it in terms of right and wrong,” Bowman explained in a teleconference launching the report.

The entire report can be downloaded here.

 

Planet Waves

Wildlife Refuges or Killing Fields?

Did you know that 300 out of 556 national wildlife refuges across the U.S. allow killing in the name of public recreation? This information has come to light as a result of a heated public comment period over plans for the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Boynton Beach, Florida to become the first taxpayer-funded national wildlife refuge in the country to allow the killing of alligators for ‘sport’.

In the case of the Loxahatchee refuge, 3,345 comments from around the world (including 69 countries) flooded the reserve’s offices, condemning the proposal; a total of 64 individuals — mainly hunters and hunting groups — sent comments supporting the plan. Hunting may have its place in the world, but does it have a place in federally maintained wildlife refuges? ‘Refuge’ implies a certain level of protection. And what about the safety of families and scout troops walking and camping in these areas?

“How is killing wildlife for sport in a wildlife refuge acceptable?” asked Frank Cerabino in his column for the Palm Beach Post. “It’s not like you allow a small number of violent ex-husbands into battered women’s shelters to beat up a sustainable quota of the women there…”

Indeed. The legal killing of such species as wood ducks and bobcats in wildlife reserves has been allowed since former president Bill Clinton signed the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 into law. That act made hunting a ‘public priority use’ on refuges. The NRA played a key role in getting that language included, taking advantage of its success in helping Republicans take control of both houses of Congress in the November 1994 midterm elections — just two months after Clinton had signed the ban on assault weapons.

To receive notice of when and where you can submit comments on the final hunt plan, email Pam Martens at SaveGeorge2013@aol.com.

 

Planet Waves

North Korean Nuclear Test Gets Leaders’ Attention

According to international monitors, North Korea conducted its third-ever nuclear test on Tuesday, in defiance of U.N. orders. The underground explosion was roughly twice as large as North Korea’s last nuclear test in 2009, and seemed to be centered in the same location where tests were conducted then and in 2006.

Following a U.N. Security Council resolution that tightened sanctions in response to a rocket launch by North Korea two months ago, the country’s leaders had vowed to conduct rocket launches and a U.S.-aimed nuclear test — citing U.S. hostility and the recent staging of war games in the Korean Peninsula.

The U.N. Security Council has voted to “strongly condemn” North Korea for the nuclear test, voting unanimously to censure the North Korean government with punitive measures.

“North Korea has been saying for years they would like to have a peace agreement to formally end the [Korean] war, and they would like to have negotiations directly with the United States,” said Tim Shorrock, an independent journalist who has covered Korea for more than 30 years, to Democracy Now! Shorrock cites direct negotiations and talks by the U.S as key to getting North Korea to stop its nuclear and missile programs. The question is, who will talk to the U.S. government to get it to stop its own?

 

Planet Waves

Expanded Violence Against Women Act Passes Senate

Earlier this week the U.S. Senate voted to expand the Violence Against Women Act. The landmark legislation, in its expanded form, would grant domestic violence protections to 30 million undocumented immigrants, LGBT people and Native American women.

Predictably, 22 Republicans voted against the measure, which now goes to the House — where Republicans have proposed narrower protections. Last month, the House failed to bring up for a vote the Senate’s 2012 reauthorization of VAWA, though its earlier provisions remain in effect.

Same-Sex Military Benefits Expanded

The Pentagon announced this week that members of the U.S. armed forces in same-sex relationships will receive full access to base facilities and groups, as well as joint assignments, in a new expansion of benefits. A number of benefits are still being denied, however. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell may have been repealed Sept. 20, 2011, but the Defense of Marriage Act still prevents full spousal benefits in same-sex military partnerships.

Until DOMA is fully repealed, those benefits will remain out of reach. In 2011 the Obama administration determined Section 3 of DOMA to be unconstitutional, stating that although it would continue to enforce the law, it would no longer defend it in court. Section 3 of DOMA “codifies the non-recognition of same-sex marriages for all federal purposes, including insurance benefits for government employees, Social Security survivors’ benefits, immigration, and the filing of joint tax returns,” according to Wikipedia.

Arizona Planned Parenthood Stays Funded

Meanwhile a federal judge has overturned an Arizona law that barred any organization providing abortions from receiving public funds. The law effectively prevented Planned Parenthood from receiving funding that would allow it to extend reproductive health care to Medicare recipients. Judge Neil Wake determined the ban was an unlawful restriction on the ability of such patients to choose their medical options.

 

Planet Waves

Planet Waves

Photographs by Christopher Jonassen.

Pan or Planet?

Is that Earth’s Moon on the left — perhaps the rarely seen dark side? And is that Jupiter’s moon Europa on the right?

Actually, no — those are two of the surprisingly beautiful photographs of frying pan bottoms taken by Norwegian photographer Christopher Jonassen. The pan bottoms are unexpectedly varied in style, color, patina and pattern — just like the various bodies orbiting our Sun. Kind of gives new meaning to the axiom, “As above, so below,” doesn’t it?

 

Planet Waves

Pope Meets the Centaurs

Pope Benedict XVI this week became the first person to resign the papacy in nearly 600 years. This happened during a week of centaur conjunctions (covered in detail in Tuesday’s edition of Daily Astrology), which tend to bring shadow material to light. Benedict was directly implicated in the child rape coverup that has been shaking the church for more than 20 years, and which turns out to date to the 1950s, so this was an appropriate time for him to quit.

This is a complicated chart, reaching into the highest affairs of government and corporate power, and may speak to something much larger; some are proposing that the child rape version of the story is a coverup for another story — a money laundering scandal in the Vatican bank.

I ran across the work of a writer named Kevin Annett, who explained this position. I thought I would check his theories against the chart and they do seem to hold water, if not holy water. In astrology, the themes of power, sex and money are related through the 2nd and 8th houses, and it turns out that this chart is all about those houses — with other implications taking it to the top of the world management team. The chart for the resignation announcement is below; here is a zip file of all the charts I’ve used.

I also reference my coverage of Ratzinger’s election as pope in 2005 — I covered that at the time for Jonathan Cainer’s website in an article called “Pope Signals.”

Our musical guest is Sinead O’Connor; I play a live recording of a song called Whomsoever Dwells, which you can watch on her website here, or purchase the full compilation.

 

Planet Waves

Your Monthly Horoscopes — and our Publishing Schedule Notes

The March monthly extended horoscopes will be published on Friday, Feb. 22. The February monthly horoscope was published Friday, Jan. 25. Inner Space for February was published Tuesday, Jan. 29. We published the Moonshine Horoscope for the Aquarius New Moon on Tuesday, Feb. 5. Please note that Moonshine horoscopes by Genevieve will now occur twice per month, for each Full and New Moon. I recommend reviewing the monthly horoscope at the end of the month. Also note that the longer monthly horoscope is being incorporated into the Friday issue after the Sun has entered a new sign; a new Inner Space is still emailed on the following Tuesday.

 

Planet Waves

Pisces Birthdays: A Moment of Confidence

Hello Pisces! The Sun is about to enter your sign, which will add a source of heat, light and energy to what is already a once-in-a-lifetime scene in your chart. Well, once if you were born after the 1960s; this may be the second time if you were born in or before the ’60s, though in any event this is a rare and spectacular moment of potential for you.

Aquarius (Jan. 20- Feb. 19)

The message is one of confidence and trust. Have faith in your talent, your drive and your creativity. Mostly, have faith in yourself. You may hear many different opinions; you may have doubts from time to time. Yet if there was ever a moment when you could set your fears aside and proceed forward in the way you know you’re called to do, now is the time.

This year will bring many points of contact with others, their ideas and their enterprises. You have your options open, though I suggest that you keep your main focus on what you know to be your primary mission. You won’t have to think long to remember what this is, but I will remind you of one thing.

What you thought was difficult, impossible or out of reach in the past is now accessible, available and eminently possible. Remember that at every step, and have faith in it. Note to Pisces and Pisces rising: I will have your 2013 birthday report next week. Watch this space or your inbox for more information.


Weekly Horoscope for Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 #938 | By Eric Francis
 

Aries (March 20-April 19)

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You may feel like the world is alive with experience and intrigue, but it’s all going on in some secret room that you don’t have access to. The thing is, you do have access, though it’s unlikely to be through the front entrance or the box office. This is more like being given a backstage pass and let in through the side door. Anyway, the real theater is in your mind, and you will access it by going to those places you cannot go with ordinary consciousness. The action is focused in Pisces, which almost always represents the inner reality (as opposed to Aries, which usually represents the outer reality). Therefore, use those paths which are likely to take you inside: creative exploration (rather than social contact) in nearly any form will do that, such as music, painting, photography or writing. The idea is to do a lot of something that draws you into yourself rather than out of yourself (a distinction not described often enough). Spend time alone. Get past the restless feeling to the sensation of entering an inner space. Notice where you are and how you feel.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Taurus (April 19- May 20)

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You seem to be in a lean moment, described more accurately by fulfilling your responsibilities than by pleasure seeking, though that’s likely to shift as the Sun ingresses Pisces Monday. The responsibility piece is still there; you’re in a kind of leadership training program now. Whether we’re talking business or pleasure, you need a social emphasis on what you’re doing — working with groups, finding social experiences that are driven by a purpose in which you can participate, and other spontaneous forms of collaboration. The thing to remember is that whatever you’re doing, you’re not doing it alone. You will have strength in the power of groups, as long as you remember who you are. You don’t need to rebel or assert yourself in any unusual way, just remember who you are (and what you want) as you take part in experiences with others. This is not always easy and for some people that remembering is persistently difficult. What you’re experiencing now is part of the learning process — that is, learning about yourself.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Gemini (May 20- June 21)

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Mercury is moving into position to be retrograde, in an angle of your chart that addresses your career. There are also other planets gathering here, putting your personal emphasis on your sense of mission. Your task now is to sort out fantasy from reality. Living in a fantasy is different than having a vision and taking incremental steps to get there. Your chart shows both potentials at the moment, so I suggest that step one is to distinguish fantasy from vision. Yes, they are related, through the imagination. Many architectural masterpieces have started as sketches on napkins. You might say that it’s the sketch that turns something from a fantasy to a vision — the distillation, the act of making an idea tangible, and taking actual steps toward materializing it. There are two currents in your astrology that seem to be pulling you in opposite directions: reconsidering what you’ve thought of in the past, and wanting to push ahead and do something interesting and vital right now. You will need to proceed patiently for the next six weeks, though I would propose one thing — the review and the new vision are closely related and will enhance rather than invalidate one another.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Cancer (June 21- July 22)

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Your solar chart is likely to be calling you far and wide right now — to distant places, bigger plans and better ideas. There’s also a deep impulse to learn, about yourself and about the world. You may have the sense that there’s no limit to what you can accomplish, or where you can travel or who you can meet. And finally, the truly extraordinary activity now unfolding in Pisces is summoning you deep into your sense of yourself and your presence not just in the world, but within yourself. I think that all of the seemingly big stuff, such as ideas for travel, and all that you want to create, will flow more easily if you focus on your sense of presence. I mean this in the physical and emotional sense of you actually being here, on the planet, right now. That sensation ought to be pretty accessible at the moment, the feeling that your mind and soul are seated in a body, and that your body occupies actual space and time. You can get anywhere from here — as long as you start right where you are, and that’s what I’m suggesting that you do.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Leo (July 22- Aug. 23)

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — From the look of your solar chart, this is one of the most interesting sexual moments you’ve experienced in a long time. And, in case anyone hasn’t noticed, erotic feelings and experiences lead to intimacy. You now have the opportunity to go deep, and to have a real exchange with someone (or ones) who mean a lot to you. Yet there’s an aspect of this to be aware of, which is the odd way that love brings up anything unlike itself. If I were to design a class in sex education, which is really about preparation for relationships, I might even start with this theme. The basic message would be: when you go deep, you will find the things that are buried deeply within you. Whoever you are with is likely to have some similar experience. We need to be aware that this will happen, and be prepared for it. Deep, passionate experiences change us irrevocably, and we need to be prepared for that change within ourselves, as well as with the people we share with. The relationship agreements we make need to accommodate that fact, and they can, if we create them consciously.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Virgo (Aug. 23- Sep. 22)

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — You’re in one of the most interesting times for relationships that you’ve been in for a long time, though I have a suggestion: make sure you drop the capital R from that word, and maybe leave the ‘ship’ behind. Your life is now about relating, a verb, an action, which means making contact with others, and exploring that contact. I know that many, many people are on the hunt for the soulmate and/or the life partner and/or the perfect match as a thing or an endpoint. I suggest you let that go, if it describes you in any way — and relate to everyone more or less the same way, as you. I know this is not easy for anyone, like the guy who once stood up at a workshop given by one of my teachers who said, “I tried being myself, but it was too hard, so I went back to the old way.” But that was a while ago; we have all evolved, and I would add one point. It’s going to be easier for you to be yourself than anything else. It’s more fun. And there is no going back to the old way.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Libra (Sep. 22 - Oct. 23)

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — I suggest you not obsess over your health. This is also not the time to be ‘in balance’. It is the time to immerse yourself in whatever you’re passionate about and to bring passion into whatever you’re doing. The distinction between creativity, work and play no longer exists, at least not at the moment. There are no ‘special’ activities — your whole existence is being infused with an unusual, truly brilliant vitality and sense of potential. You can pour love, energy and creativity into everything you touch, everything you do, and this potency is enhanced by being applied to everything. That said, if you have some preference for what you want, something you’ve been trying to create for a long time, you have the opportunity to do that now. The key is to follow your curiosity and then invest yourself in what you’re doing. If you work a day job, then make sure you can explore in some open-ended span of time, such as when you’re free to stay up all night, take a nap and keep going. Anyway, work is more of a variable than you may think right now.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Scorpio (Oct. 23- Nov. 22)

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Scorpio is the sign with the reputation for sex, though as I’ve probably written before, one of the ways you get there is because Pisces is so strong in your chart. And Pisces is really, really hot right now — with the potential result for your imagination to run wild, and allowing yourself to openly crave the kinds of experiences that you want. Remember, all sex isn’t equal. One lover is not like another. I see your current energy state as suggesting that you focus on creating what you want. This may take some planning in our less-than-spontaneous world — creating experiences requires intimacy and trust. Remember to give any new experience more than one try — make up your mind if you like something after three experiences. And there’s one other thing: It’ll help a lot if you open up to the magnificent diversity of what makes you and other people feel good. There are many, many more possibilities than you’ve considered, and you now possess a kind of psychic and empathic mobility to help you explore these possibilities with an open heart and an open mind.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 22)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Waves of energy coming through Pisces, about to be joined by the Sun, are giving you the opportunity to see many things about yourself that are usually invisible. It’s as if some deep inner container is being opened and you’re experiencing the full spectrum of your emotions, including the ones that may frighten you; your craving for vulnerability, which also may be a little scary; your need for contact in a secure environment (which I am here to validate for you). Now as for getting these needs/desires met — they will involve taking a risk. You may feel that risk is like jumping off of a cliff. It’s actually more like slipping into a hot tub that’s just a little too warm for your comfort — at first. The heat will call you into the presence of your physical body, which is where you’re safest in the midst of a profound emotional healing/awakening of the kind you’re having now. To facilitate this, I suggest you design times and spaces where you know you’ll be free from interruption — by phones, kids, critters and anyone not part of your particular experience.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Planet Waves

Note to Capricorn and Capricorn rising readers: Your birthday reading is ready. It’s a whole new thing, separate from LISTEN, covering different subject matter. It includes two sessions of astrology, a tarot reading, an extended description of your astrological sign, the charts and spreads used in the creation of the work, as well as access to last year’s reading so you can check for accuracy. You can order that here.

Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 20)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — You need to focus. Your emotions may be overwhelming you, so the first thing I suggest you do is go for some high ground. That could be as simple as an idea or a song — anything to help you focus your mind. If you’re so inclined, this is the time to write, and by that I mean THE time to use writing as a process to help get clear what you’re thinking and feeling. If you’re familiar with a process called morning pages, I would recommend doing that — writing three pages every morning, freestyle writing, without reading them for a few months. Just write for the sake of moving your thoughts along, and giving them some tangible form on paper. As you write, notice what you hear yourself saying. Make a note of your dreams, and how you feel upon awakening. This will help you step out of that ‘too much happening’ feeling, and help you restore some clarity. Right behind any confusion you may be feeling is a wealth of passion and commitment, and I think you’ll be very happy to tap some of that for yourself.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Aquarius (Jan. 20- Feb. 19)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — This may be one of the most intense times in your life. And yet you may feel curiously like you’re left out. That’s just a feeling — you are most certainly the central figure in what is happening, and the sense of being left out is really about many areas of your psyche opening up and becoming available — and you have not quite claimed those spaces as yourself. Said another way, your interior mindspace is expanding, and you’re realizing how much of who you are is unexplored territory, much of it long left vacant or uninhabited: hence, the sensation that you’re ‘not there.’ Walking into these spaces is not like walking into a hotel room; it’s more like an empty, unfinished loft space, which will seem empty at first. Go in, and claim a corner of the space. Hang out long enough to get some sense of where you are, and ask yourself not just why you’re there, but what you want to do with the space. You don’t have to invite anyone in — you cannot, really, at this stage. As you tune into your surroundings, you’ll get over the awkward feeling — and you’ll likely discover that the space is anything but empty.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

Planet Waves

Note to Aquarius and Aquarius rising readers: Your birthday reading is ready. I cover entirely new territory from what I did in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition. I review the ways in which Aquarius itself has been changing and evolving. I describe your process of discovering your sense of mission; of opening up your inner life; and relationships based on creative exploration first and ‘commitment’ second. It’s two sessions of astrology plus tarot, with an extended description of your sign coming soon — and access to last year’s reading so that you can verify my accuracy. You can get instant access here.

Pisces (Feb. 19- March 20)

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Planets are collecting in Pisces — as of this writing, Neptune, Chiron, Mars and Mercury, plus some lesser-known ones such as the beautifully Piscean Borasisi (a planet about the power of belief, located a bit beyond Pluto). Now the Sun is about to arrive, and this will feel like the lights suddenly coming on, both in your mind and on the stage where you’re standing. The simplest way to describe this is: this is your moment. This is one of the most magnificent opportunities you’ve ever had to create your life. Therefore: know what you want, and act on it now. Meanwhile, do your best to let go of commitments that are not working for you, drop anything and anyone that wastes your time, and focus your emotional resources on what you want to create. Over the next few days, you may find yourself in circumstances and situations where you are making contact with people. I would point out that due to the presence of Mars, you can afford to be soft-spoken and understated. But you must be clear, direct and honest — and let love guide you: love for yourself, for what you do, for the world, for humanity. Then, with persistence and efficiency, put your plan into action.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

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Backstreets of the Psyche

Dear Friend and Reader:

Sunday’s Aquarius New Moon is the next event highlighting a centaur planet — there have been several the past few weeks. Many others are on the way over the next week or so, and from what I can tell, many people are feeling something but they don’t know what.

Planet Waves
Someone walking in the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem at night. Guillaume Paumier / Wikimedia Commons.

The edginess, the sense of a critical personal turning point, the feeling of material coming up for healing — all of these are on the centaur wavelength.

You may be noticing a need to address the things you or others typically avoid; subjects you’ve tried to work through many times may be coming up for attention yet again.

White there is a tendency to pathologize or have negative associations with these planets, they often manifest as extra depth, passion or intensity. The common sensation is a kind of edgy unfamiliarity to the territory — great for creative expression, if you can focus.
Centaur awareness can be a little overwhelming — it can seem like there’s so much to do, you’ll never get it done. But if you set your intentions and devote yourself, eventually you will.

The moment you notice you want to take action or make a change is the time to start, or to re-dedicate yourself, to something you’ve wanted to do for a long time, or have been delayed in doing. This New Moon is like a crossroads and for many reasons, what you set into action now has a good chance of gaining momentum. I would however offer one caution: If you’re feeling any negative impact from this astrology, do your best not to identify with your sense of loss or of being hurt. Identify rather with the healer, the creator, the initiator. Shifting from one side of the equation to the other may be that simple.

Before I describe the astrology in more detail, here’s some background on the centaurs: what makes them centaurs is that they’re small bodies in our solar system that cross the orbits of the major planets. Think of these strange orbits where the centaurs lead us as back alleys of the psyche, slipping between the more familiar avenues. Anyone who has traveled outside the United States knows that when you leave the main boulevards, that’s where you find the truly interesting places and people — tucked in amongst the shadows.

For example, Chiron weaves inside the orbit of Saturn, and extends almost out to Uranus. As such it helps us negotiate between stability and change, between the old and the new. Pholus at its closest comes closer to the Sun than Saturn, and at its most distant goes beyond Pluto. Nessus at its closest comes closer to the Sun than Uranus, and at its most distant goes well past Neptune. These second two centaurs have a way of bringing what is usually invisible into plain view.

Centaurs take astrology deeper than the level of personality, into the realm of the soul. Chiron was the first in this group, discovered orbiting our Sun in 1977. It became associated with the healing process, raising awareness and what some call ‘human potential’. Note that since its discovery, there has been a proliferation of hands-on healing, a healthy food movement and other forms of holistic thinking. Many astrologers still don’t use Chiron, though the entire field has been advanced by those who write about it. It is largely thanks to Chiron that astrology is now even vaguely considered to be among the healing arts.

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Side alley, Mykonos, Greece. Photo by Eric Francis.

The second-discovered centaur was Pholus, in 1992. This brought in the themes of multigenerational experiences, the ‘small cause with the big effect’, and the runaway reaction. Pholus addresses alcohol and addiction as well. The third was Nessus, discovered in 1993, which deals with the cycles of karma and the place where one person takes responsibility for something wrong that has gone on for a long time. Nessus covers potentially inappropriate sexual contact, its legacy and what to do about these things.

Once you enter centaur territory, you leave the astrological tourists to their personality-level sightseeing and encounter the strange, compelling, at times necessary spaces of the mind. They live in the zones in the psyche where we carry ancestral, karmic and early-life issues.

There can be material present with overlapping themes — power and sex, injuries that result from a mix of intent, ignorance and neglect, or struggles that involve both social pressures and self-esteem. Centaurs can embody persistently difficult aspects of our lives; they can represent places where you put the most emphasis, and as a result, often concentrate awareness, talent and a sense of purpose — even though you might feel like you’ve made the least progress in those areas.

When using centaur planets, you reach the deeper levels of injury, struggle and therefore potential healing. It takes courage to go there, unless of course you discover you have no choice, which is right about where we are now. Part of the reason for that is because smaller, faster-moving planets such as the Sun and Mars are making contact with centaurs, which brings them into focus.

There’s a reason these planets are not especially popular in astrology, and why you’re not reading about them in most (or any) other places. Once the centaurs go into the chart, it’s easy for the astrologer to get in over his or her head. However, there are currently transits developing involving all three of the first centaurs, Chiron, Nessus and Pholus. In this article I’ll cover Chiron and Nessus and leave Pholus for another time.

Many Nessus Events in Early 2013

Nessus takes a bit over 121 years to go around the Sun, so it’s a slow mover, and for now it’s in Aquarius (where it’s been since around 2005). If you recall, two weeks ago Mars was conjunct Nessus, and last weekend Mercury was conjunct Nessus. We covered this in a series of subscriber editions and blog posts, and several editions of Planet Waves FM, if you want to go back and research what was happening with these events.

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An old street in Yangmei, a traditional town located on the Yong River in Nanning, Guangxi, China. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Sunday at 2:20 am EST, there is an unusual New Moon in Aquarius. The Sun and Moon are close to Nessus for this event, which is the first salient point. The New Moon is also square the lunar nodes — those things that point to the eclipses. The square means that we’re halfway between the eclipses of last (Northern Hemisphere) autumn and the ones of spring.

One image of the square to the nodes is seeing something that’s so obvious, it’s usually invisible. Another is a kind of spiritual toll booth through which you have to pass in order to get where you’re going. These properties also give the New Moon the feeling of an eclipse — a point of no return. This one may feel like a tipping point.

Given that it’s in Aquarius, it may involve the ways in which you respond to social pressure, including that of your family, your friends, the company you work for or any version of the public with which your life intersects.

Aquarius holds the often-challenging tension between conformity and individuality, though typically that tension is resolved by going along with the crowd. Nessus in Aquarius is presenting an ongoing point of crisis, as we figure out how dangerous it is to think along with the mob. It may work as a self-serving way of life for a while, but ultimately it contaminates everything. However, to care about this, you would need to access the part of yourself that’s not strictly self-serving.

The extent to which personal interest can cause problems for everyone was described in a new article in Rolling Stone by Matt Taibbi. He was reviewing a new book on the scandals of the bank bailouts, and how the Washington mentality led to a state of total corruption.

He wrote, “It’s a bizarre, almost tribal mentality that rules our capital city — a kind of groupthink that makes extreme myopia and a willingness to ignore the tribe’s ostensible connection to the people who elected them a condition for social advancement within.” In other words, to succeed, it’s necessary to show your bosses and colleagues that in order to fit in, you’re willing to betray the public you were elected or appointed to serve.

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The bottom of Rue Mouffetard, set in one of the oldest neighborhoods of Paris. Photo by Eric Francis.

“Most normal people don’t get to see what that place is like, because most of the rearview-mirror accounts of that world are written by people who somewhere along the line became infected by the Beltway disease,” Taibbi continued. “Only a few true outsiders make it out alive, and only a few of those write books.” In other words, the situation is so bad and the brainwashing so thorough that we don’t even hear about it.

To some extent, we all must confront this. It’s the individual surrendering power to the group, and the group taking power over everyone else. If you want an explanation for how the Nazis or Monsanto have influenced so many people, now you have a model. And if you’re looking to break free from this, you may have some distinct opportunities; you’ve been having them for a while.

There are three more Nessus events coming up — the Moon exactly conjunct Nessus on Sunday, the Sun exactly conjunct Nessus on Feb. 14, and then Venus conjunct Nessus on Feb. 22.

Conjunctions to Chiron

Chiron, the first centaur, is in early Pisces. This is providing both a spiritual crisis (in the style of Pisces) and a point of grounding (in the spirit of Chiron). Chiron in Pisces is a time to focus your inner orientation. Pisces is a reminder to balance the extroversion and activity of daily life with respect for your inner space, and your inner source of strength.

Our lives are usually so other-centered, activity-focused and socially involved that it’s possible to forget that you have an inner life. Many people have not even discovered this fact, or have momentarily but are afraid to return. Chiron in Pisces is presenting a constant, dependable call to look and feel within. It’s a reminder to have some solitary time every day if possible, and to honor your creative process.

Planet Waves
An old street with arches, near Agiou Fanouriou street, in Rhodes, Greece. Photo: Wikimedia.

If you don’t have one — if there is not something you can dependably do that helps you focus inwardly, process your experience and create something new — I suggest you find something that suits you.

As planets pass through late Aquarius, they enter Pisces, so each of these bodies that makes a conjunction to Nessus is now about to make one to Chiron. Neptune is also in the neighborhood, which is adding a mix of inspiration and denial. Chiron’s role is to focus inspiration into action and the denial into awareness.

At the moment of Sunday’s New Moon, Mercury and Mars are both very close to Chiron, as this triple conjunction comes into focus. One peak is on Monday, Feb. 11, when the Moon passes through early Pisces. Then Mars makes its exact conjunction to Chiron on Tuesday. When inner planets such as Mars and Mercury make contact with something more distant or subtle like Chiron, the result can bring whatever Chiron represents out of the background and into the forefront.

On the most basic level, this astrology is going to stir up emotional material; these are deep-feeling days, and depending on how they influence your chart, you will be called to pay attention to your actual needs rather than immediate gratification.

To some, this will feel like a spiritual crisis: that is, something relating to existence itself. Because Mars is involved, this can be a struggle to figure out what you want. You might be experiencing some movement related to your sexuality, as Mars-Chiron can indicate this potential. The question will likely surround your relationship to your desire nature.

While this is happening, Mercury conjunct Chiron implies seeing your relationship to your self-doubt. Mercury to Chiron can be the feeling of ‘knowing but not knowing’ or ‘being certain but not really sure’. This really is about your relationship to your intuition, your instincts and how they influence your mind. Pisces is calling you to focus inwardly for long enough to know what is really true for you. The message is to identify with your feelings and your body as much as your ‘self-image’ and your thoughts. In fact this group of Chiron aspects may present a serious challenge to your whole concept of ‘self-image’.

The questions being raised by these aspects take you beyond the ordinary and the familiar — as will the answers and the solutions. Remember that; and remember that the energy, love and focus that you invest now are worth more, because they will reach a deeper place within you.

Lovingly,

PS, If you’re on Facebook (we know that some of you despise the thing) would you please ‘like’ the new Planet Waves company page? There are excellent discussions, frequent news updates and generally a fun experience of microblogging.

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Valentine’s Day Gift Offer from Planet Waves

It’s just shy of a week from Valentine’s Day. You may have noticed that Planet Waves doesn’t do this holiday in a traditional way, but we like to acknowledge and affirm any chance we have to spread love. So, in honor of the upcoming holiday, we’d like to extend a special offer for you to share Planet Waves with the people you love. We’ll be sending a separate email about this soon, but for a limited time you can give a year membership to Eric’s weekly and monthly astrology for only $49. Or you can order a three month gift membership for only $19.95.

 

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Your Weekend Almanac

At the time of this publishing, the Moon is in late Capricorn. It enters Aquarius at 2:16 pm EST today (Friday) and then conjoins the Sun at 2:20 am EST Sunday for the Aquarius New Moon.

Planet Waves
Chart section for the Aquarius New Moon conjunct Nessus (aqua ‘N’), with Venus in early Aquarius. Also shown: Neptune, Mars, Mercury and Chiron, all in Pisces. See glyph key here.

The Moon’s conjunction to Nessus is exact shortly after the New Moon at 8:27 am EST Sunday; the Sun’s conjunction to Nessus is exact at 1:12 am EST on Feb. 14 (Valentine’s Day).

The Moon enters Pisces at 4:19 pm EST Sunday, setting an intuitive, compassionate, creative tone for the end of the weekend and the beginning of the workweek. The Moon will conjoin Neptune, Mars, Chiron and Mercury fairly quickly once it enters Pisces, emphasizing many of the themes discussed in the article above as it slowly begins waxing again.

Mercury will conjoin Chiron in Pisces at 9:53 am EST on Sunday, Feb. 10. Mars does the same at 11:52 am EST on Tuesday, Feb. 12. (Mercury and Mars form a conjunction to each other in Pisces today at 12:57 pm EST.)

Also notable this weekend and beginning the week is Mercury’s square to Jupiter in Gemini at 7:07 am EST on Saturday, Feb. 9. This could equal an active mind trying to think in too many directions at once. Chiron will assist in keeping focus, though it’s likely to be most effective if you stay aware of your inner world rather than getting caught up in external distractions (especially where money is involved).

Mars will square Jupiter at 3:12 am EST on Sunday, Feb. 10. Again, external ambitions will benefit from keeping close tabs on inner desires. What do you really want, and is what you’re doing to get it actually helping or is your assertiveness crossing the line into aggressiveness?

Finally, Venus squares Saturn at 1:42 am EST Monday, Feb. 11. Watch out for selfish urges in money, love and sex. The goddess of love is a little cool and aloof in Aquarius right now, and Saturn is digging out the muck that’s been clogging up deep, erotic Scorpio. If you want a hand with Saturn’s digging, you won’t get it by keeping all the shovels to yourself. Give love to receive love — whether to another, or to yourself.

 

Planet Waves

Must We Keep Droning On?

NBC News this week published a secret Justice Department memo outlining the Obama administration’s legal rationale for assassinating U.S. citizens overseas, as well as who may take authority in making those decisions and the use of drone aircraft. The news could significantly shape the debates over Obama’s foreign policy as the confirmations process for his incoming cabinet unfolds.

“The report, by Michael Isikoff of NBC News, reveals that the Obama administration believes that high-level administration officials — not just the president — may order the killing of ‘senior operational leaders’ of al Qaeda or an associated force even without evidence they are actively plotting against the U.S.,” writes Sam Stein in a Huffington Post story.

“A lawful killing in self-defense is not an assassination,” states the Justice Department white paper quoted by Isikoff. That’s a broad definition of “self defense.” If you suspect your neighbor across the street of owning a gun, is it “self defense” for you to shoot him when he step out to get the morning paper, just to make sure he doesn’t shoot you at some point in the future?

This mindset was echoed by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney after he was asked about the U.S. assassination program:

“We have acknowledged, the United States, that sometimes we use remotely piloted aircraft to conduct targeted strikes against specific al-Qaeda terrorists in order to prevent attacks on the United States and to save American lives. We conduct those strikes because they are necessary to mitigate ongoing actual threats, to stop plots, prevent future attacks, and, again, save American lives. These strikes are legal, they are ethical, and they are wise.”

Legal, ethical and wise? What would the International Criminal Court have to say about that?

In related news, The New York Times reported that the United States has a secret drone base inside Saudi Arabia, first used by the CIA in 2011 to kill the Muslim cleric and U.S. citizen Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen. Democracy Now! noted that the report came just two days before the Senate confirmation hearing of John Brennan as CIA director. As CIA station chief in Saudi Arabia, Brennan reportedly worked closely with the Saudis to get the drone base approved.

Finally, some good news: Charlottesville, Virginia, has become the first U.S. city to formally pass an anti-drone resolution. The resolution, though mainly symbolic, “calls on the United States Congress and the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia to adopt legislation prohibiting information obtained from the domestic use of drones from being introduced into a Federal or State court,” among other provisions.

Advocates for the resolution know that it has no real ‘teeth’ — but the idea is to inspire enough other municipalities and states to do the same until a critical mass is reached that might actually carry political weight. That can’t happen too soon.

Need it Saturday? Have it Mailed in a Box

In what the LA Times has described as death “by 1000 cuts, and a GOP stab in the back,” the United States Postal Service has decided to stop Saturday mail delivery — although packages and Priority and Express mail will still be delivered. The change is scheduled to go into effect in August. The move will reportedly save $2 billion annually.

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‘Back when I was your age…’ Running pony logo used by the U.S. Post Office Department before the creation of the USPS.

While many people have stopped mailing checks and writing ‘real’ letters, and UPS and FedEx have taken a share of time-sensitive shipping, technology and competition are not the biggest culprits.

That dubious honor goes to Republicans in Congress who, in 2006, passed a bill requiring the Postal Service to fully fund future retiree health benefits for the next 75 years. And it had to happen within a 10-year period.

Under the guise of making the USPS run ‘like a good capitalist business’, Congress intentionally saddled it with a fiscal mandate no business could sustain.

“With all those unionized employees working for a quasi-governmental operation that competes with private sector enterprises, the Postal Service is an affront to those who hate government, hate unions and hate to think that there is anything that government can do better than the private sector,” writes David Horsey.

Luckily, there are still many U.S. citizens living in rural areas — no one but the USPS wants to serve them. Unfortunately, cutting six-day delivery — one of the Postal Service’s advantages — may only be another nail in the coffin. And even in many rural areas, Post Office hours have been cut in half (leaving employees without benefits) or ended entirely — leaving rural delivery contracted out to private carriers, and making package-sending an 80-mile round trip for residents.

Path to Citizenship or Gridlock?

Despite the fact that a Quinnipiac University poll released on Thursday found that 56 percent of voters think undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay in the United States and eventually apply for citizenship, and despite the so-called Republican Senate’s “gang of eight” supporting a path to citizenship to be part of the immigration reform being hammered out right now, some lead Republicans are determined to block the path.

Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho), considered one of the more pro-reform Republicans in the House, warned on Thursday that he won’t vote for a way for undocumented immigrants to gain citizenship, and neither will his fellow House Republicans. But not all are being so hard-headed.

“We have to remember the 11 million people who are here are people,” said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) to reporters on Wednesday. Issa supports the “gang of eight” framework.

 

Planet Waves

Asking for Time Off? Play the Climate Card

Work less, play more — what could be better? Turns out, it’s not only better for us, it’s better for the environment, according to a new study released Monday.

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These horses have the right idea. Photo: 4028mdk09/Wikimedia Commons.

The study’s findings hinge mostly on the actions of the developing world — where most labor growth will occur in this century. If it adopts the “European” work model — working shorter hours and taking more vacation — instead of the “American” model, with its longer hours and shorter vacations, there could be a real reduction in global warming.

The “European” model could prevent as much as half of the expected global temperature rise by 2100, according to the Center for Economic Policy and Research, a liberal think tank in Washington, D.C. The reduction is attributed to lower carbon emissions.

As for the United States, “we can get a similar amount of work done as productivity and technology improve,” said economist David Rosnick, author of the study. “It’s something we have to decide as a country — there are economic models in which individuals get to decide their hours and are still similarly productive as they are now.”

However, he pointed out that the analysis is flawed: the study didn’t take into account the rise in telecommuting, or what a person does with all those free hours. Driving or flying to a vacation spot will still use carbon. But maybe if we’re less stressed out by work on a regular basis, the need to ‘get away’ will be less strong — and we can focus our extra personal energy into living in better harmony with the Earth.

 

Planet Waves

What to Wear on Valentine’s Day

If you dare to wear your heart on your sleeve, soon there’ll be a dress to match: the “Intimacy 2.0.” The fabric of this dress, still in prototype stage, goes transparent when the wearer becomes sexually aroused. It is made of leather ribbons and opaque “e-foils”, which change their opacity in response to heart rate.

“Intimacy 2.0 is a fashion project exploring the relation between intimacy and technology,” said Daan Roosegaarde, the dress’s designer. “Technology is used here not merely functionally but also as a tool to create intimacy as well as privacy on a direct, personal level, which in our contemporary tech society is becoming increasingly important.”

It’s not clear how anyone interested in genuine intimacy is more likely to find it by wearing this dress — rather than, say, initiating a frank and honest conversation about their desires. And the notion of true ‘privacy’ is losing its street cred the further we get into the digital age. But Intimacy 2.0 certainly gets points for upping the vulnerability factor — anyone wearing it better be ready to admit what’s going on for them.

If it’s the “irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired” (as Robert Frost once described love) that’s triggering the dress — and not, say, nervousness at being out in public in transparent clothing — being seen without one’s usual masks might do us all some good.

 

Planet Waves

Almost Equal: British Gay Marriage Gets Closer

Lawmakers in the U.K. voted to legalize gay marriage by a wide margin on Tuesday, though the bill still has several legislative hurdles to clear before it’s a done deal, including another vote in the House of Commons and a vote in the House of Lords.

“Today is an important day. I’m a strong believer in marriage. It helps people commit to each other, and I think it’s right that gay people should be able to get married, too,” said British Prime Minister David Cameron before Tuesday’s vote. He continued, “This is, yes, about equality. But it’s also about making our society stronger. I know there are strong views on both sides of the argument; I respect that. But I think this is an important step forward for our country.”

Whether or not marriage makes society stronger is up for grabs — though it certainly keeps certain industries healthy, from gown designers and wedding planners to divorce lawyers. (Although, interestingly, the British divorce rate has dropped over the last couple years.)

And the idea that marriage “helps people commit to each other” is questionable, at best; there’s a difference between being ‘devoted’ versus being ‘comfortable’ or ‘stuck’, though surely some people do find strength in their marriage vows to continue growing together through challenges as a couple. Either way, allowing people of all genders and orientations the option for their union to be legally recognized is a step toward social parity – especially in the areas of health and health care costs.

 

Planet Waves

Monsanto Ordered to Clean Up Dioxin Mess

A state judge has approved a $93 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit brought against Monsanto by thousands of residents of Nitro, West Virginia, and surrounding areas. The lawsuit accused Monsanto of dioxin contamination stemming from a 1949 incident at its former chemical plant in Nitro.

The settlement, however, is a pittance compared to the company’s profits. And Monsanto seems to have followed a strategy that has worked well for it in the past: keep litigating until the people suing them eventually die. That’s a useful strategy, given the life-shortening properties of Monsanto products and byproducts.

What became known as the “Nitro incident” involved a runaway reaction in a pressurized vessel used to make the Vietnam-era defoliant Agent Orange. The explosion caused a massive release of dioxin into the plant and the surrounding environment.

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Monsanto’s chemical plant in Nitro, WV, scene of a 1949 accident that led to the discovery of dioxin. Photo: Wikimedia.

It has a special place in Monsanto history for at least three reasons: first, in the aftermath of this event, dioxin and its stunning toxicity were first discovered. Second, Monsanto conducted experiments on Nitro workers, i.e., humans, in an attempt to understand its toxicity.

Last, three fraudulent retrospective studies were done by scientists controlled by Monsanto, which planted into the scientific literature the notion that dioxin is less toxic than industry previously thought. Those studies, which came out between 1978 and 1984, have never been withdrawn from the scientific record as flawed, even though this has been established by the courts and the EPA. These studies have appeared in such journals as Environmental Science Research and The Journal of the American Medical Association.

After the 1949 explosion, not only did dioxin contaminate fish in the area’s Kanawha River, but the lawsuit also alleged that contaminated dust “was carried by prevailing winds over the town of Nitro, surrounding communities and the plaintiffs’ homes and businesses.”

The approval by Circuit Judge Derek Swope makes the plaintiffs eligible for medical monitoring and property cleanup.

Dioxin, a chemical byproduct of the production of defoliant Agent Orange, has been linked to hormone disruption, immune system damage, birth defects, learning disabilities, endometriosis, infertility and suppressed immune functions. It’s the most potent cancer promoter known to science. Dioxin builds up in tissue over time, so even small amounts can lead to dangerous (and what are called cascading) effects.

Last February, Monsanto agreed to a 30-year medical monitoring program as part of the settlement, with a primary fund of $21 million for initial testing and up to $63 million more, depending on what levels of dioxin are found in residents, according to a local newspaper.

Monsanto also agreed to spend $9 million cleaning 4,500 homes in the area to rid them of dioxin-contaminated dust, notably, 63 years after the original incident. From observing many dioxin situations, though, it’s highly unlikely that “contaminated dust” can be removed from a structure.

The residents retain their right to future personal injury lawsuits if they develop illnesses that can be traced back to dioxin contamination, for as long as they’re on the planet to sue — and assuming they have a few decades and the money they would need to fight.

“These settlements allow the citizens of Nitro and the surrounding area to turn the page on this chapter of their history,” Swope wrote, gushing with optimism. “These settlements are in the public interest because a potentially hazardous situation can be addressed.”

To read more about the Nitro incident and its aftermath, read this article by Eric.

 

Planet Waves

It’s All in the Timing — and the DNA: King Richard’s Remains

After months of investigating a skeleton excavated in central England and testing its DNA, archeologists at the University of Leicester have confirmed that remains found in August are in fact those of King Richard III, “beyond reasonable doubt.” The results will undoubtedly get a peer review, but in the meantime history buffs and Shakespearean scholars face reconsidering how the last Plantagenet king of England, killed in the Battle of Bosworth Field, has been portrayed for over 500 years.

Archeologists had already matched up the curvature of the skeleton’s spine to Richard III’s scoliosis, and the wounds (some to the head, likely fatal, plus several “humiliation injuries” incurred after death) fit written descriptions of the body’s mistreatment before being laid to rest. The skeleton was discovered in what had once been Leicester’s Greyfriars friary, the exact location of the grave having been lost after centuries of demolition and rebuilding on the site.

Perhaps most arresting is that scientists were within a generation of never being able to confirm the skeleton’s identity. The two people used for the DNA testing — Canadian cabinetmaker Michael Ibsen, who is a direct descendant of Richard III’s sister, Anne of York, and another who wishes to remain anonymous — are both the last of their family lines.

On Monday, researchers announced that the remains would be reinterred in Leicester Cathedral, the closest church to the original gravesite. The memorial service will likely be held early next year.

Supporters of the fabled king, including the Richard III Society, hope the discovery will prompt scholars to reconsider the way he has been portrayed.

“Shakespeare paints a picture of Richard as a scheming, plotting villain always aiming for the throne, but if that was the case, why didn’t he kill the king?” asks historian John Ashdown Hill, author of The Last Days of Richard III. “That would have been the easiest way, but he served his brother loyally for over 20 years.”

Richard III might have offered his kingdom for a horse in his last moments on the battlefield; had his skeleton not been found for another 20 years, archeologists would have been offering the same for a single strand of hair to match it to — and facing many winters of discontent.

 

Planet Waves

Interview on the Centaurs with Melanie Reinhart

Melanie Reinhart is my guest in this week’s edition of Planet Waves FM. We cover Nessus in Aquarius, the discovery of the centaurs and the healing messages of these planets. We will be talking about the centaur planets and in particular Nessus in Aquarius, which has been big news the past few weeks. This is a breakthrough discussion on the understanding of the centaurs.

Planet Waves

Melanie is the author of Chiron and the Healing Journey, the most comprehensive book on Chiron, as well as Saturn, Chiron and the Centaurs: To the Edge and Beyond and Incarnation: The Four Angles and the Moon’s Nodes. She is a leading figure in contemporary astrology, and people travel from around the world to attend her classes and seminars. She’s a good friend of mine and has offered many interviews.

Chiron and the Healing Journey is now available as an eBook for kindle and other formats. Melanie is offering Planet Waves a substantial discount. Entering the coupon MM28X will give readers a 30% discount. The coupon is valid until the next Full Moon (Feb. 25).

Here is that movie Melanie references, featuring many centaurs — Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.
I also mention an article about Gabrielle Giffords and Jared Loughner.

 

Planet Waves

Your Monthly Horoscopes — and our Publishing Schedule Notes

The February monthly horoscope was published Friday, Jan. 25. Inner Space for February was published Tuesday, Jan. 29. We published the Moonshine Horoscope for the Aquarius New Moon on Tuesday, Feb. 5. Please note that Moonshine horoscopes by Genevieve will now occur twice per month, for each Full and New Moon. I recommend reviewing the monthly horoscope at the end of the month. Please note that the longer monthly horoscope is being incorporated into the Friday issue after the Sun has entered a new sign; a new Inner Space is still emailed on the following Tuesday.

 

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Weekly Horoscope for Friday, Feb. 8, 2013 #937 | By Eric Francis

Aquarius Birthdays This Week

If you have a birthday anywhere in the vicinity, you know this is a tipping-point moment for you, a point of no return. You may be reconsidering very nearly everything — including the direction of your life and where you want to go from here. Do not be distracted by any dark or fearful ideas you may have about yourself.

Aquarius (Jan. 20- Feb. 19)

They are not actually you, and their deeper source is more like ancestral baggage than it is some active experience or behavior. Access your passion and your desire for beauty in all its forms and you will provide yourself with a new basis for living, a new point of contact with yourself and the experience of authentic meaning. You are, in truth, being drawn to a much larger idea of who you are, and being invited to participate in the world in much deeper ways than you ever have before.

I recognize from your charts that you may have your moments of doubt and insecurity — just like children, just like the greatest artists, just like everyone. They may manifest in a form that seems larger than life, though that’s merely a reflection of your true creative power. Go past the doubt; go beyond needing a reason not to doubt, and simply dare to be who you are.

Note to Aquarius and Aquarius rising readers: Your 2013 birthday reading is ready. In every way this is different from your LISTEN reading (there is always so much to comment on in the astrology). It’s priced to be affordable — $19.95 for an hour of astrology and a tarot reading. Get instant access here.

Aries (March 20-April 19)

Aries (March 20-April 19) — In the cosmic scheme, your sign is the one designed to be about assertion and action. With Mars currently in Pisces, life may not be presenting you with clear direction; you seem to be lacking a tangible sense of where you are at the moment. This is an invitation inward. Yes, there are other influences that are heightening your desire for social contact, though I suggest you ask yourself whether these are offering you what you want, or presenting a distraction or worse, a source of needless drama. You may have the sense that you’ll find someone you want, someone you’ve been looking for, ‘out there somewhere’, though I suggest you question that theory at least long enough to see whether the one you’re looking for isn’t right inside you. One other point to consider this week: this is a time of completions rather than of beginnings. Yes, there’s a New Moon coming up — which you could say initiates a time of closure and resolution that extends from now until your birthday.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Taurus (April 19- May 20)

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You may be wondering how you’re going to handle all this responsibility; your astrology answers that in two words: organization and cooperation. The first word implies the second — an organization is a cooperative enterprise. If you feel like you’re pushing against something immovable, it will help if you invoke the collective mind and develop new ideas. This may not be straightforward, and you will need to be in a coordinating role. What you need to be doing is keeping track of all of the ideas and variables surrounding a particular seemingly intractable situation, and see the whole picture in composite rather than fixating on any small piece of it. From there, it will become clear that certain ideas are more useful than others. Make sure you evaluate the impact of every option. The law of unintended consequences is in full force and effect. Therefore, you need to think in multiple dimensions and anticipate the problems that any potential solution might create — and change course sooner rather than later.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Gemini (May 20- June 21)

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Many factors are trying to call your attention to the ways in which it’s time to take control of your life. This is not going to be instantaneous, nor should it take ‘forever’. While you may be inclined to think you want to get your career in order, the matter at hand is much larger. This is about taking back authority over all of your affairs, though to do that, you will need to see the places where you’ve given up that authority, or had it taken from you — beginning with your parents. Along the way, you may vacillate between thinking you’re a force to be reckoned with and fearing that you have no power whatsoever. Both are distortions. You tend to think in absolutes; in this instance, seeing shades of gray and different hues of color will help you. I suggest you plan for a rethinking process as you make each decision. You will not be arriving at final destinations; stop first and see where you are and how it feels to be there. Then decide what to do next.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Cancer (June 21- July 22)

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — There are those days when we seem to live in a world of the self-centered and superficial. It’s frustrating if you’re one of those people who practices self-awareness, because a little goes a long way, though it comes at a cost. And what cost would that be? Well, self-awareness is the antidote for hypocrisy, and not being a hypocrite puts one at a voluntary disadvantage. Anyway, for the moment, you will be encountering some people who cannot see past their own self-interest, and it will help immensely if you recognize them for who they are. You should have the information you need to sort this out fairly quickly after you meet someone. You then will have the option to forget what you discovered, or put the information to work. If someone is not interested in anyone or anything besides themselves, as evidenced primarily by their actions, then you cannot logically expect them to be of any help to you. This is not an accident; it’s a way of life, and I’m here to tell you that you have a different agenda.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Leo (July 22- Aug. 23)

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — This weekend’s New Moon is encouraging you to see the widest possible picture; to think systemically. I suggest you do this as you solve every seemingly small, separate problem. Look up from what you’re doing and consider the total circumstance — the human as well as the technical; the psychological as well as the emotional. If you are noticing a world in crisis, it’s about the lack of faith in love, and the expectation of betrayal. The people around you need more emotional contact, though they may seem to be indicating otherwise. That contact doesn’t need to drain you, though there are several distinct stresses on your energy at the moment. Contact is just that — it starts with hello; with a basic acknowledgment of existence. It includes being somewhat consistent, even a bit persistent, making sure that others know that you care and that you have their best interests at heart. They may not seem appreciative, though I assure you that they are.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Virgo (Aug. 23- Sep. 22)

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Certain relationship situations seem to be at a boiling point, and you may feel like people are transgressing your boundaries left, right and center. It’s up to you, therefore, to be the gatekeeper in your own life. The challenge here is about your emotional investment in those who might cross some line that you may not have clearly articulated. To speak up may feel like you’re betraying someone. This is a form of codependency not often called what it is, mainly because it’s considered normal behavior. It may be normal but it’s not helpful, particularly to you. I suggest that you get clear with yourself about what you want and don’t want. Then make sure that others know your position before they act on some other assumption. The key is before, not after, so I suggest that — though it might seem difficult — you get your situation sorted out. As for the betrayal piece, it’s not true — it’s a holdover from another era of your life. The only person you have to worry about betraying is yourself.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Libra (Sep. 22 - Oct. 23)

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — In our society at our time in history, there is no aspect of sex that’s not touched or compromised by the abuse of trust or power. This is one reason why sexual situations typically become so complicated so fast. We can find ourselves involved with abuse survivors; we might find ourselves involved with perpetrators. Yet one of the core hypocrisies is that most of the time, we tend to see ourselves as neither. You can safely assume you’re somewhere in the system because you grew up in the midst of all of this. The typical way to deal with this situation is to ignore it, but you’re at the point where that’s no longer possible. The thing you may be feeling is that to confront this web of psychological and sexual intrigue, you have to take a chance — and if so, I would agree with that. All progress requires taking a chance. In this case, the chance is akin to H.G. Wells’ metaphor of how the one-eyed man in the land of the blind is considered crazy — because he can tell light from dark and night from day. It’s worth the risk.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Scorpio (Oct. 23- Nov. 22)

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Often the most interesting aspects of people can be found in the places they’ve been hurt. This is true whether they’ve dealt with the injury or not; it’s more convenient for everyone if they have. Hey, it’s more convenient for everyone if you have as well, and apropos of Scorpio, the question of the moment is where some aspect of ‘sexual’ intersects with some aspect of ‘spiritual’. Or more accurately, you’ll find it in the place where sexual has been ripped apart from spiritual. There is more in this split than you may recognize, since it’s actually about severing you from your creative power. It’s also about whether you have an inherent respect for life. Sex is not something to be consumed, tolerated or used as a bargaining chip. It’s the creative core of existence — and how you feel about sex is exactly how you feel about life. Therefore, I suggest you consider carefully how you feel about sex and why. This includes what you say and do not say, and why; what you do and don’t do, and why.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 22)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Sagittarius has one of the coolest and grooviest reputations of all the signs, though secretly, I believe this is one of the most reserved and even conservative signs of the zodiac. Part of this is how you tend to think — in fixed patterns and abstract ways rather than the tangible and the concrete. And those patterns and abstractions can easily get hung up on themselves. Every now and then you reach a point where you simply have to flex your mind in new directions. You might have to make a decision you’ve been avoiding until the last possible moment. You might have to face some unpleasant fact and then deal with it — and when these times come, you can be bold and decisive. That’s about where you are today. Sunday’s New Moon will help you go even deeper — you can address what we could call a systemic issue, some quality of how you tend to think all the time that you may not have given a name to yet. Now, it’s likely to be visible and in clear focus, to the point of being obvious.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Planet Waves

Note to Capricorn and Capricorn rising readers: Your birthday reading is ready. It’s a whole new thing, separate from LISTEN, covering different subject matter. It includes two sessions of astrology, a tarot reading, an extended description of your astrological sign, the charts and spreads used in the creation of the work, as well as access to last year’s reading so you can check for accuracy. You can order that here.

Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 20)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — For both of the Saturn-ruled signs (yours and Aquarius), self-esteem is the issue of the season, though there are subtle shades of distinction in how that will manifest. For you, there seems to be a titanic struggle to let go of an idea about yourself that is not true, and which is not working to further the course of your life. You need to know what that idea is, so you can change your mind about it. It’s likely to be something that you’ve always taken for granted, and which was supported, or implanted, by the people who were around you when you were much younger. There is some element of what you had to say or do in order to have their approval, which may have included going along with things that violated your conscience. You’ve reached the place in your growth where you cannot persist in thinking or doing anything that goes against your ethics, and that seems to be the focus of the moment — and it may feel like a kind of squeeze point.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Aquarius (Jan. 20- Feb. 19)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Have your persistent self-doubt and self-questioning actually gotten you anywhere? They may have, though not as far as you think, and even if so, whatever purpose it had now seems to be served. Get used to the idea that self-improvement doesn’t necessarily improve you. What does? Let’s see — it looks like your passion for beauty is both helpful and in full bloom right now. Beauty might come in any form of art or music, talents I would be surprised if you would hear any astrologer ascribe to your sign. However, we both know you deeply value them, though you may not have come as far as counting yourself in. I suggest you do that. There are spiritual and psychological approaches to growth and healing, and if you ask me most of them are getting pretty old. And then there is the creative approach, which is always new, and which is designed to get your whole brain thinking, feeling and growing.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Planet Waves

Note to Aquarius and Aquarius rising readers: Your birthday reading is ready. I cover entirely new territory from what I did in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition. I review the ways in which Aquarius itself has been changing and evolving. I describe your process of discovering your sense of mission; of opening up your inner life; and relationships based on creative exploration first and ‘commitment’ second. It’s two sessions of astrology plus tarot, with an extended description of your sign coming soon — and access to last year’s reading so that you can verify my accuracy. You can get instant access here.

Pisces (Feb. 19- March 20)

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — This is a moment of passion, drive and clarity for you. Yet on a deeper level, it’s a moment of authentic alchemy and some truly mysterious transitions. Mars and so many other planets in your sign might be a caution not to overdo things, though I would say you would be better advised to use this moment to focus your intentions and your plans and get into action — now. You know what you need to know, including about yourself; you’ve done all the sorting out you need to do. Therefore, act on what you want. Make the changes you need, and don’t let anyone stop you. You have some unusual mojo going at the moment. I would, however, remind you of its real source — your inner life. As I emphasized extensively in your annual reading, the two fish of Pisces are the introvert and the extravert. This is a moment of contact with the world, of asserting yourself and figuring out that there is room for you here. The other side of this is honoring your interior space, the space where nobody else can really meet you. That is the real source of your inspiration and momentum. If you want the best guidance and the real facts, meet yourself there regularly.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

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Astrology on the Most Personal Level

Planet Waves

Dominick’s Café, on a rainy morning in Kingston, NY. Photo by Eric Francis.

Dear Friend and Reader:

We are again in one of those moments when the world seems to be coming unhinged — as we’ve gone through this week’s news items, it’s really impressive how much pain and struggle there is going on. That said, there seemed to be some progress on immigration reform and gun control, which if they stick, is nothing less than a miracle. Pres. Obama’s nominee for defense secretary believes we need fewer nuclear bombs. Go figure.

Meanwhile, the astrology is pointing in a distinctly personal and introspective direction. Planets that are prominent in the charts include the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars, as well as a centaur planet called Nessus. This began last weekend with the conjunction of Mars and Nessus in Aquarius, which has gone a long way to bring emotional and sexual shadow material to the surface of awareness, and instigate some real discussions.

Planet Waves
The northward-flowing Coxing Kill in midwinter, on the Grandmother Land in Ulster County, NY. Photo by Eric Francis.

The main event is Mercury making a conjunction to Nessus, which is about learning to speak the unspeakable. Nessus represents all that is denied, and Mercury represents what we think about and communicate to others. We are in an extended moment of truth, where the ice that is caked over the ability to communicate real feelings is, at least for now, beginning to thaw.

Before I get into that, let’s start with Imbolc, which is the Sun crossing the midpoint of the sign Aquarius. That’s exact Monday at 11:13 am EST. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the halfway mark of winter, midway between the Capricorn solstice and the Aries equinox. It’s one of the cross-quarter days, related to Beltane and Halloween. We get a cross-quarter day any time we’re halfway between an equinox and a solstice. They always fall when the Sun is in a fixed sign.

Imbolc is not the beginning of spring; rather, it’s winter gradually losing its hold on the environment up north as the Earth’s angle seems to draw the Sun in our direction. As with all the cross-quarter days, a diversity of holidays are gathered around the Celtic feast of Imbolc (which means “in the belly” or “in the milk,” a reference to being surrounded by darkness). The Catholics call it Candlemas, which actually preserves a link to the original intent of this holiday season — it’s about fire.

Candlemas was usurped by the Catholics from an earlier holiday (as are all Catholic holidays) celebrating the return of Persephone from the underworld, carrying a candle to help her light her way. It’s also associated with (Vesta-like) Brigit, a fire goddess. Lighting the way through the dark is the common theme of this time of year. In modern terms, it’s Groundhog Day, which preserves the early theme of weather divination. This is soon followed by candle-lit Valentine’s Day.

The constellation Aquarius overlaps with the astrological sign by the same name. It’s known to be among the oldest named configurations of stars, and stands “with his foot on the head of the great Southern fish, into whose mouth his waters pour,” according to astrologer and cultural astronomer Catherine Tennant.

Planet Waves
Modern interpretation of Aquarius, from the Thoth Tarot. This is The Star card (Trump XVII) illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris in the 1930s.

She traces the god Aquarius back to Babylon, noting that he rules over a huge area of the sky where are gathered the southern fish, the dolphin, the fish of Pisces, the mighty River Eridanus (the River of Night) and Cetus the sea monster. These ancient waters and their primal creatures were “seen as the source of life, through which the Sun passed during the rainy season.”

In the hands of Aquarius, says Tennant, is the Norma Nilotica, the stick used to measure the waters of the Nile River for the purpose of agriculture — an important indicator of agricultural success, and hence of survival.

In these same rainy days of winter, half a world away, the Celts were busy with agricultural matters of their own: doing the earliest preparations for planting in the coming spring. A feast marked the waning of winter. Germans in Europe and Indians in the New World were taking stock of how much remained of their winter rations. The ability to manage their food supply was critical to their survival through the remaining weeks of cold.

“Prophesy and purification are the recurrent and symbolic themes of the midwinter festivals,” writes Donna Henes in her book Celestially Auspicious Occasions. “The concept of prophesy is drawn from the foresight and faith that spring, in all its verdant glory, is on its predictable way, even amid the hard, white winter. Purification suggests careful preparations for its coming.”

When the Sun is crossing Aquarius, most of our time is still shrouded in darkness, and we remain, for a while, in the belly of the stars of night. We might be tempted to look to the meanings of Aquarius to help understand this fascinating convergence of holidays and themes, which involve containment (whether of fire, by the Vesta-like chevron, of water by an urn, or of humanity in the dark of night).

Yet it seems more appropriate to apply mystical and agricultural folklore back to Aquarius, reminding ourselves that its waters bring purification and moisten the land for the first growths of spring. In the long, dark nights, we’re reminded that we really are in the belly of the stars, gestated, born and living in a mysterious cosmos.

Nessus in Aquarius

All the centaurs address shadow material. Nessus is about the cycle of abuse — in particular, the moment when someone breaks the cycle. As abusive tendencies travel down the generations, there is sometimes someone who says that enough is enough, and really means it.

Melanie Reinhart gives Nessus the key phrase “the buck stops here.” I asked her this week where she got that and she said, “I heard client after client use that exact phrase when describing what was going on in their process, when Nessus seemed to be clearly a significator in the transits — transits ‘to’ or ‘from’ Nessus. I saw many miracles happen, and you know me — I wouldn’t say that lightly or in false hope.”

Planet Waves
Den Haag, probably summer 2005. Photo by Eric Francis.

I do know her and she would not — I’ve seen the same miracles happen, where people wake up and figure out what’s going on and make a decision what to do about it. Often a process of resolution takes on a life of its own, aided by our least cooperation.

Nessus brings this process into Aquarius. Nessus has been in Aquarius for a number of years, and on Saturday Mars made a conjunction to it. In a sense, it’s a struggle for collective accountability — or for an individual to hold a group accountable. Short of that, this is when one person takes responsibility no matter what anyone may think. Mars is activating the individualism rather than the conformism aspect of Aquarius, which is what it takes.

But it’s not always so easy. Mars is the planet of desire, and desire is often infused with guilt, hesitation and fear. Acting on desire is the very essence of personal volition, so when someone wants to control another person, the thing to do is to corrupt desire.

This is so pervasive we might think it’s normal: someone makes someone else feel guilty for so much as wanting something, or someone. There are many subtle forms of abuse, and most of them involve shame and humiliation. This can reach people so deeply that they feel like they have no right to make a decision, or even to consider doing so. The Mars connection is about reclaiming that privilege — the right to think and want what you want.

Along the way, though, one must encounter the resistance that groups, families, tribes and social networks can put in the way of an individual standing up for his or her right to exist. Once internalized, that resistance becomes a form of personal shadow material that can only be addressed by an individual, and that is where we seem to be now.

Planet Waves
Mariel Hemingway went public recently about the history of abuse, mental illness, alcoholism and suicide in her family. Here, she’s being interviewed by Amy Goodman on Democracy Now! You can hear some of that interview in the latest edition of Planet Waves FM.

There were two examples of this in the news this week, both deeply touching. One was former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords testifying before Congress, calling for tighter gun laws.

Barely able to speak after being shot by Jared Lee Loughner two years ago, she told her former colleagues, with her husband by her side to help keep her steady:

“Thank you for inviting me here today. This is an important conversation for our children, for our communities, for Democrats, and Republicans. Speaking is difficult but I need to say something important. Violence is a big problem. Too many children are dying — too many children. We must do something. It will be hard. But the time is now. You must act. Be bold. Be courageous. Americans are counting on you. Thank you.”

Note, Nessus is prominent in her chart, as well as that of the person who tried to assassinate her — they both have it conjunct the Sun (see article from that event here). You could say this was her moment of declaring, “The bullet stops here.” You would think that Congress would be receptive to a former colleague who survived an assassination attempt and in fact several key Republicans with A ratings from the NRA have begun to tip the scales in favor of gun control, coming out in favor of sane measures like background checks for those purchasing weapons.

And Monday, Mariel Hemingway was interviewed about her new documentary, Running from Crazy, by Amy Goodman on her program Democracy Now! She describes the multigenerational pattern of suicide, talks about the alcohol abuse and mental illness in the family, and alludes to the sexual abuse that went on as well.

Planet Waves
Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was nearly assassinated by someone using a Glock 19 with an extended magazine, testified with the help of her husband, Space Shuttle Commander Mark Kelly.

Notably, this film was released at the Sundance Film Festival just as she entered a major Nessus phase in her life — transiting Nessus square natal Nessus. This is happening to everyone born approximately from 1959 to 1962 right now.

Here’s something interesting as well — just now, news floated into my inbox that a new centaur planet has been named. It’s called Orius. It was discovered in 2009 at the Baldone Observatory in Latvia.

In mythology, Orius was killed by Heracles when he tried to steal the wine collectively owned by the centaurs, which was kept in the cave of Pholus. A lot of centaurs got killed that day, and now we know the name of one and what he tried to do.

This is a long story, but here is the upshot: it’s dangerous for an individual to try to take on collective karma. Sometimes it has to happen, but it’s better to work at the personal level — rather than taking on everything, or fixing everything, you are the place where the buck stops.

More Personal Planets Coming

Beginning today (Friday, Feb. 1), we have a new series of events. Let’s take them one at a time. Today, both Venus and Mars change signs. Within one hour of one another, Mars enters Pisces and Venus enters Aquarius (at 8:54 pm EST and 9:47 pm EST, respectively).

When Mars ingresses Pisces, it immediately moves into a conjunction with Neptune. Mars-Neptune is always an interesting, compelling mix. It can work many different ways; it has a wide range of effects, from the most creative to the most toxic. When Mars and Neptune are in any aspect, it’s necessary to exercise your best judgment — especially if the aspect is a conjunction.

Planet Waves
One of the traditions of Candlemas, dating back through many generations of prior holidays, is to put a candle in every window, assuming after you do your inventory that you have enough to get you through the rest of winter. Please be careful of the curtains. Photo by Eric Francis.

Neptune conjunctions, by the way, have the widest orb of influence; Neptune is unusually sensitive to transits and aspects. This is amplified by the whole thing happening in Pisces — notably, this is the first Mars-Neptune conjunction since Neptune entered Pisces (the first of seven in Pisces between now and 2024).

If you have some spiritual awareness, this could be very helpful with things of a more mystical nature. Your dreams might be especially interesting or intense. This is not the time to be playing with the Ouija board or inviting entities into your space. If you are going to drink alcohol, I suggest you stay home, where you have some safe containment.

It can, however, be a fantastically creative time, for art, music, poetry and visioning your life, though what you come up with may take some fact-checking or revision. You’ll need to sift for the gems among your ideas; take notes because anything involving Neptune can be volatile, fleeting or difficult to grasp.

The main event, though, seems to be Mercury making a conjunction to Nessus on Saturday. This feels like a conversation starter — a moment of going beyond being ‘real’ and instead being authentic; a moment of actual truth.

It’s almost always challenging to discuss shadow material, especially when it’s tribal — and it almost always is. So, I suggest you remind yourself that it takes courage to speak up, and to admit anything that happened to you, or that you witnessed. But Mercury conjunct Nessus in Aquarius seems like a moment of finding that courage and speaking up about what you’ve experienced.

Yes, you may feel like you’re blowing the whistle on your family, or like you’re betraying your tribe. What you may really be saying is: enough is enough.

Lovingly,

Planet Waves

To purchase the signs individually please use this link.
 

Planet Waves

Tracking the Moon Through the Weekend

The waning Moon is currently in Libra, nearing its last quarter phase on Sunday. A Libra Moon encourages a sense of emotional balance and emphasizes a desire for accord in relationships. We are heading for a New Moon conjunct Nessus and square the lunar nodes on Sunday, Feb. 10. This will be an eclipse-like event, of which we will have more coverage next week.

Planet Waves
Painting by Josephine Wall.

At the time of this publishing, however, the Moon is opposing Eris in Aries. Note whether you experience a moment of feeling as though something within you is fighting to be recognized as separate from and equal to a relationship. Do ‘self’ and ‘other’ actually have to compete in a zero-sum game, or is there room for all of you?

Later in the evening, the Libra Moon trines Mercury and Nessus in late Aquarius. This is going to bring some harmony between your emotions and your mind, and whatever Nessus-type material you’ve been working through lately (see article above, and PW FM). In other words, even if you’re dealing with difficult issues, your head, heart and gut will be sending you the same messages.

On Saturday, Feb. 2 at 7:01 am EST, the Moon ingresses Scorpio. A Scorpio Moon can feel at times deep and erotic, and at other times aggressive, moody and jealous. It immediately trines Mars, Neptune and Chiron in Pisces. You can expect your physical energy to mirror your emotions (and vice versa). If you can harness it all in some creative pursuit, especially one related to exploring or healing some aspect of your sexuality, you should get a green light.

The last quarter (waning) Moon is exact at 8:56 am EST Sunday Feb. 3. This is the Scorpio Moon square the Aquarius Sun, right in the middle of the signs, just after the Moon conjoins Saturn. Watch out for a sense of deadlock on some emotional issue within yourself. Moon-Saturn can alternately feel rather limited and negative, or else offer a sense of depth and responsibility. Since this is in a fixed sign, you may have to choose the latter very consciously if you start to notice the former.

Remember that the quarter Moon is a square, and squares mean tension that requires action to resolve it. When you see a solution present itself (whether for an external project, an inner emotional process or in a group dynamic) use it like a lever against a fulcrum to avoid camping out in any frustration or darker emotions that crop up. That is, ‘just do it’.

Finally, the Moon ingresses Sagittarius Monday, Feb. 4, at 10:45 am EST. This is a fiery, friendly, optimistic, philosophical Moon. Don’t be surprised if you feel the urge to take a new route to work or try a new restaurant for lunch on Monday and Tuesday. With this shift, we move into the Moon’s last phase before the New Moon next weekend, which heralds the Chinese/Lunar New Year — the Year of the Water Snake.

 

Planet Waves

Arkansas Moves to Ban Abortion in a Heartbeat

Arkansas is considering a so-called ‘heartbeat bill’ — effectively, a ban on abortion — that would make getting an abortion illegal after six weeks, before most women realize they are pregnant, and make a felon out of any doctor performing one.

Planet Waves

Hearing the heartbeat would require an invasive transvaginal ultrasound. If one is detected, a woman could not have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest and if the mother’s life is in danger.

According to the bill, a woman seeking an abortion would not be considered a criminal — yet doctors performing one after detecting a heartbeat would be punishable by up to six years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

The bill was introduced by Republican Sen. Jason Rapert, who believes the bill is necessary because “[w]hen there is a heartbeat there, you have a living human being,” according to a Mother Jones article.

A similar bill was introduced in Ohio in 2011 but was shot down, and a similar bill failed this week in Wyoming because it was considered too medically vague.

The Arkansas bill is believed to have a good chance of passing, as Republicans took control of the Arkansas Senate and House this year. They’ve also declared it an “emergency measure,” which would make it legal the day the Democratic governor, Mike Beebe, signs it.
He has a mixed record on abortion rights, according to pro-choice group NARAL.

It’s worth noting that this bill was approved by an Arkansas Senate committee about a week after Roe v. Wade celebrated its 40th anniversary. As mentioned in the Jan. 18 issue of Planet Waves, Roe v. Wade is the closest thing we have to an Equal Rights Amendment. We’re currently in an era of transforming gender roles that’s described by the cycles of Venus and Mars; it’s imperative to help young women understand that their authority over their own bodies — and therefore over the course of their lives — is at stake.

 

Planet Waves

Majoring in Orgasm, With a Minor in Education

Okay, it’s not actually a course of study, but the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, is offering a workshop this spring aimed at helping its female students achieve more and better orgasms, though you don’t have to be a woman to attend. “The Female Orgasm,” is open to both men and women who are part of the entire university community, and there is no age limit (many students enroll at age 17).

Planet Waves
Yes, you can actually buy one of these buttons.

“As a research institution, we study, publish and educate on a vast range of topics, including human sexuality,” explained Patricia Mattern, a university spokesperson to the online forum Campusreform.org.

Sex educators Marshall Miller and Kate Weinberg, who have conducted similar programs at many universities across the country, will be facilitating the event. They use a variety of techniques to cover everything from answering basic questions to explaining G-spot orgasms and how to have multiple climaxes.

Perhaps even more importantly, the program is set to cover such topics as how individuals can make sexual decisions that are right for themselves, regardless of relationship status; deconstructing the messages women receive about their bodies from family, the media, religion and elsewhere; and how ‘making friends with your body’ relates to being able to experience pleasure.

In Weinberg’s bio, she writes that while taking an intensive HIV/AIDS course in college, she realized how sexuality “is a thing so intimately connected to politics, religion, guilt, expectation, the ways in which we live and are allowed to live. It’s one of those things that seems to explain the world around it.” The current astrology seems to agree.

 

Planet Waves

In Response to Internet Activist’s Death, Anonymous Breaches DoJ

Members of the cyber-hacktivist group Anonymous claimed this week to have infiltrated the Justice Department’s website in retaliation for the prosecution of Aaron Swartz. Swartz is the late Internet freedom advocate who took his own life earlier this month, after undue persecution by federal prosecutors.

Planet Waves
Aaron Swartz at a Boston Wiki Meetup in 2009. Photo by Sage Ross / Wikimedia Commons.

On Saturday, Anonymous said it had breached the Justice Department’s firewall and planned to release government data in response to its treatment of Swartz, according to Democracy Now!

Swartz, who hanged himself just weeks before his trial, was facing a potential sentence of 35 years in prison for allegedly downloading millions of articles provided by the nonprofit research service JSTOR via computers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He believed that these academic articles, which are free for all U.S. university students to access, should also be freely available to scholars around the world.

Just days before Swartz’s death, a longtime friend and mentor of his received word from JSTOR that they had decided to make the articles available to all, but was not able to get the news to him in time. In fact, JSTOR themselves refused to prosecute, and in fact Swartz had lawful access to the whole database because he had a Harvard fellowship. Swartz’s friends and family claim he was the victim of what amounted to severe bullying by the federal government.

In the wake of Swartz’s suicide, federal prosecutors dropped their charges and Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California has introduced a measure in honor of Swartz that would modify the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act to omit terms of service breaches, which is what he was being prosecuted under.

Swartz — who at just 26 years old had helped to develop RSS and went on to become a co-owner of Reddit — had been instrumental in defeating the proposed SOPA and PIPA bills one year ago, in what amounted to an astonishing show of Internet activism as websites from Planet Waves to giants like Wikipedia went black — that is, shut down — in a show of solidarity.

That online action coincided with the Sun’s last day in Capricorn last year before it ingressed Aquarius, illustrating the Uranus-Pluto square in action with some seriously justice-themed astrology (also covered in this article). You can hear Swartz deliver an address on that victory and the continuing fight to protect Internet freedom here.

 

Planet Waves

Planet Waves

Introduction to Monsanto Watch. We are starting a long-planned weekly feature designed to keep an eye on Monsanto, the world’s largest purveyor of genetically modified crops and the chemicals that go with them. Most people have no idea about Monsanto’s long and sordid history — this company, started in 1901, has been trying to kill us all for a long time (read their early history here; I am in the process of assembling their astrological history).

Planet Waves
Illustration by Via Keller / Studio Psycherotica.

Above is a sample of a document from the late 1960s that describes the extent of how Monsanto polluted the whole planet with its deadly PCBs. They admitted the problem — and then determined that the “do nothing” approach (their words) would maximize profits and minimize liability exposure. This is how they do business.

During their peak of Agent Orange production in the 1960s, they dumped a staggering two pounds per day of pure dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) into a river in St. Louis.
Considered the most toxic known chemical (showing effects at the parts per trillion level), on the level of plutonium, dioxin contamination was knowingly (and therefore intentionally) present in every product released from one major Monsanto factory in the 1980s (read more in my article The Kemner Brief).

Monsanto has pelted humanity with everything from saccharin to the Copper 7 to Nutrasweet to deadly Bovine Growth Hormone. Their active ingredient for Lysol disinfectant has been shipped out soaked in dioxin, with instructions to wash your dog and your baby’s toys with it. Every time you use one of their ‘antimicrobial’ soaps containing Triclosan, you risk getting some dioxin. The company has been a death machine from the get go, and we think that the world needs to pay attention; so we are doing our bit.

Back in April 2012, a Wall Street Journal article on “Monsanto magic” tried to be positive for shareholders but still ended on this note: “As impressive as Monsanto’s technology and growth have been, no company is guaranteed to live forever.” If you follow Monsanto or come across interesting news concerning it, please send it to us at editorial@planetwaves.net. Thank you! — efc / cvs

Will Monsanto’s Aggressive Legal Strategies Be Its Undoing?

Biotech behemoth Monsanto this month reported enormous 2012 profits and its CEO, Hugh Grant, cashed in shares worth more than $3 million. Much of Monsanto’s money comes from its aggressive marketing of genetically modified agriculture products, and associated chemicals. It’s also profiting from what amounts to patent trolling — its prosecution of patent infringement lawsuits against farmers who happen to be downwind from farms that use its GMO products.

Planet Waves
Photo: organicconsumers.org.

Yet, if a current lawsuit, OSGATA et al vs. Monsanto, in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., is allowed to move forward after a dismissal by a federal judge last February, the company may find that “turnabout is fair play.”

The farmers are challenging Monsanto’s right to sue them for patent infringement. Monsanto’s strategy is to claim patent infringement occurs when winds carrying its GMO pollen from neighboring farms blow the pollen onto fields growing
non-GMO crops or organic crops. Monsanto employees test crops from these fields to verify that variants of its GMO products have sprouted, then brings lawsuits asserting the farmers are using GMO seeds without the proper licensing agreements.

Despite Congress’s enactment of the Declaratory Judgment Act, which gives a group the right to petition for protection from claims of patent infringement from a big company, federal courts have upheld Monsanto’s right to sue. The original OSGATA case was dismissed on this basis; this appeal is attempting to overturn that decision.

“The implications of the suit are momentous. If the D.C. Court of Appeals reverses the dismissal, a process of discovery will be instigated that could unveil a reservoir of information, access to which Monsanto has withheld from public knowledge — both by not disclosing it and by preventing independent research,” said Al Jazeera’s Charlotte Silver.

Attorney Dan Ravicher of the Public Patent Foundation, who is representing OSGATA, believes that if this treasure trove is opened, he can establish that Monsanto’s products are not healthy.

“An invention to poison the people is not patentable,” he said.
And that — combined with growing public pressure in the U.S. to label GMO products — may be the beginning of the end of Monsanto.

 

Planet Waves

Planet Waves

One of the many dolls created by Andy Knowlton, holding its bottle and poem, waiting to be found.

Upcycling Never Felt So Good

Andy Knowlton, an American poet and mixed-media artist living in South Korea, is bringing soul to Seoul. Called the Drunken Poets project, he crafts hand-made dolls out of discarded materials he finds on the street, adds an original poem in a bottle, and places them at random locations around the neighborhood of Itaewon. Who wouldn’t love to find these whimsical little dolls around the next corner — with a message from the heart?

 

Planet Waves

Nessus, and Mariel Hemingway

In this week’s edition of Planet Waves FM, I look at the ongoing series of aspects involving the centaur planet Nessus. The next one up is Mercury conjunct Nessus on Saturday, so this is an invitation to keep the conversation going — or to get one started.

Planet Waves

On Friday, Venus and Mars change signs, which sets up the background of the conjunction — there is a palpable shift in the energy happening.

In this edition, I play a segment of Amy Goodman’s interview with Mariel Hemingway and Barbara Kopple, talking about their new film, Running from Crazy. This is about the suicides, substance abuse and sexual abuse in the Hemingway family. Here is Mariel’s chart. Note that she is having a Nessus square and also has just had her Chiron return. I explain these transits in the program.

I also reference several articles, including Tools for the Frontier from the Daily Astrology series, an article by Amanda last week about a Nessus-like dream, and an oldie called How to Be Your Own Lover, which I read from.

Our musical guest is John Yaschur, a Planet Waves reader.

 

Planet Waves

Your Monthly Horoscopes — and our Publishing Schedule Notes

The February monthly horoscope was published Friday, Jan. 25. Inner Space for February was published Tuesday, Jan. 29. We published the January Moonshine Horoscope on Tuesday, Jan. 22. I recommend reviewing the monthly horoscope at the end of the month. Please note that the longer monthly horoscope is being incorporated into the Friday issue after the Sun has entered a new sign; a new Inner Space is still emailed on the following Tuesday.

 

Planet Waves

Weekly Horoscope for Friday, Feb. 1, 2013 #936 | By Eric Francis

Mid-Aquarius Birthdays

As the Sun reaches its peak in your sign this week, Venus ingresses your sign, reminding you of something significant: live your beliefs with the full momentum of your life. This will do two things: strengthen your faith if they turn out to be worthwhile ideas, and demonstrate that it’s time to change your mind if you figure out they don’t work. What you’re likely to discover is that your faith was well invested and that you really can push a few limits about what you will accomplish if you put that into action. There’s also something about feeling safe and how you might go about that. What the astrology says is, live as if you are safe and see how that works. Safety is a feeling, and you will have that experience by creating space for it, practicing and strengthening it in your day-to-day affairs and your relationships. Your sense of belonging on the planet is not something that’s given to you; it’s something that you must actively create, and you can. Note to Aquarius and Aquarius Rising — your birthday reading is ready. I go into entirely new territory from what I did in LISTEN, covering the ways in which Aquarius itself has been changing and evolving; discovering your sense of mission; opening up your inner life and relationships based on creative exploration. It’s two sessions of astrology plus tarot, and an extended description of your sign. Get instant access here.

Aries (March 20-April 19)

Aries (March 20-April 19) — You may find excellent company among those others think of as strange. Let yourself be guided by intuition, instinct or the angels — speak to whom you’re guided or gravitate towards. If you have to get over a little bump of fear to do that, and to make contact, all the better. In some ways this is an exercise in trust, and you really don’t have much to lose, especially in the social realm.
However, in today’s chilly version of society, it seems like nearly everyone has inflammations of social phobia, accentuated by the fear of what you might do in the event that something real actually happens. What you want is exactly, precisely, something real. As such, it may be a little strange, having that slightly alien feeling. That’s the idea. If you’re at a party, the person you want to talk to is the one with the pointy ears, the color eyes you’ve never seen, or the unusual scent.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Taurus (April 19- May 20)

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Your professional life continues to be the focus. If you’re experiencing some form of success, this is just a hint of what is possible. But you might consider how you got here: by taking chances, by challenging your own boundaries, by deciding to have the confidence to bring up supposedly taboo subject matter, and by embracing what you think of as your opposite. There’s a finesse to all of this, and for you that has a lot to do with logic. It’s also associated with being able to express yourself. If you’re articulate and you have some respect for the reasoning process, you can cover a lot of ground in territory that seemed impassable just the day before. There’s something else here as well, which is your willingness to face your challenges directly. That willingness builds confidence in you and it’s evidence of your confidence to others. What you may be discovering is that you are more cut out for leadership than you ever thought, and much of that involves being something of a pioneer on the level of ideas.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Gemini (May 20- June 21)

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You may be one of those people who is too smart to have been influenced by religion, though I would propose that you would have to be a ninja-from-birth kind of critical thinker to avoid that. If you’re having any angst at all, particularly a struggle with the past or some psychological pattern, I suggest you go digging on the history of religion in your life and in your family. Getting beyond this is not merely a matter of ‘mental override’. It’s about understanding the ways in which you were influenced by specific ideas that influenced you — including by the values of any atheists or agnostics in your history. You will be able to use logic to get you out of this, though it’s a special kind of logic in that it involves understanding the nature of how you think and why you think that way, not merely the nature of a few specific thoughts. In the end you must have conscious faith in something; it’s a matter of what, and now seems like a good time to find out.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Cancer (June 21- July 22)

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You’re starting to figure out that you must have a vision for your life, though the even better news is that you’re starting to get one. Sometimes this seems easy and sometimes it seems much more difficult. Recent developments are giving you a clue how much progress you’ve made over the past couple of years, and now you seem to be at a flashpoint. It is essential that you think in terms of what is possible, coupled with your willingness to take the steps to make it actually happen. It’s also vital that you focus on cooperation with others rather than competition — which means casting others in the role of supporter, collaborator or partner. If you allow yourself to have a bias that others are here to help you, you’re more likely to think of them that way. And there’s a pretty good chance it’s true, so you have the odds in your favor here. Keep an eye out for the person who knows how to influence others.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Leo (July 22- Aug. 23)

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — If any children or young people around you are acting strangely, look at what’s in their environment, particularly their media environment. I suggest that you pay attention to this for the foreseeable future. In many ways the whole thing seems out of control — you cannot walk into a restaurant without being pelted by five flat screen monitors. There may, however, be specific things to look for — games, websites, applications. Nearly all films coming out of Hollywood are designed to manipulate and undermine self-esteem. Then they are impregnated with violence and images of superhuman power. I don’t have kids, but if I did, with rare exceptions, I would not be taking them to the movies for the latest thriller. Don’t come down like an authoritarian, though. Instead, do a survey of the media intake of the kids. Have a clue what it is. You will have a lot more influence if you can add in positive factors: books, music, recorded books and other carefully selected materials that have a purpose besides entertainment.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Virgo (Aug. 23- Sep. 22)

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Be careful what you say, and be mindful as you interpret what you hear. Take conversations slowly, especially at work — there is significant potential for misunderstanding. It’s one of those situations where the more you analyze, the less you may actually know. Meanwhile, passions are running high in your environment, so there’s added potential for things to get weird. Therefore, take a minimalist approach. I would advise against trying to solve anything or fix anyone; this is a moment to adapt and lay low for a few days. It’s definitely not the time to take people on their word, though it’s not an especially great time to doubt them either. It’s an excellent time to put most discussions on hold, sniff around for missing information and see what comes out in the wash. Resist, evade, avoid or eschew your impulse to state your opinion anywhere but in your journal — at least till early next week. Especially at work. Meanwhile, if you’re involved in a matter of personal healing, focus on the mind level first. Don’t take the opinions of others too seriously, till you have your own facts correct.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Libra (Sep. 22 - Oct. 23)

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — People seem to be treating you with more respect these days. It’s as if they have some kind of interest in keeping you as a friend or ally, after experimenting with a diversity of other approaches to your presence. At the same time, you are starting to focus your faith in yourself, your creativity and your longterm vision for your life. The two are working together to point you in the direction of some positive outcomes — especially in relationship situations, which have been something of a tender spot for the past year or so. It’s time for you to take some new risks, and one of them is a creative orientation on your partnerships. I believe that a central question in any relationship is, what are we going to make, as opposed to what are we going to do? Making love is a good start, but I don’t think it’s enough. The idea is more like, what are we going to make with love? All that creative energy wants to go somewhere — you get to decide where.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Scorpio (Oct. 23- Nov. 22)

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — This time of year is always a point of reorientation. The Sun is now passing across the backbone of the fixed cross, which includes your sign. The Sun is at the midpoint of Aquarius, where Venus is approaching and Mercury has just been. This is a time to clean and maintain your foundations, to repair cracks and to process through the feelings that are coming up. Note, some of these feelings are ancestral — they involve people in your family much more than they actually involve you, though you’ve inherited the situation. Over the next few days, it’s essential that you not indulge any self-destructive conduct. I would keep alcohol use to an extremely modest level, and I don’t recommend doing anything that changes your mind or feelings anywhere but in the safety of your home. When you’re speaking to anyone, if you hear yourself say anything but the truth, pause and consider why you’re saying what you’re saying. Your integrity is being tested. Honor that test and you will find yourself in a new place.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 22)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Your ruling planet Jupiter stationed direct this week, which is a sign that certain wrinkles in your relationships are ironing themselves out. You may also experience a gush of subject matter coming up that was held in reserve or at bay by the retrograde, but I don’t suggest you have all the conversations at once. Give things a week to unfold on their own. There’s a lot of hot astrology coming up in your chart over the next week, and the potential for exaggerated emotional reactions is pretty high. So I suggest you focus on being observant, on listening and on noticing what you’re feeling. Your emotions are likely to be somewhat contradictory at times, so don’t expect them to make sense, or try to force them to. If you take things slowly and gently, the roots of those contradictions will make themselves known. That information will help you, though it’s essential that you not come to conclusions. Rather, be happy with observations that lead you a little deeper into your understanding of yourself.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Planet Waves

Note to Capricorn and Capricorn rising readers: Your birthday reading is ready. It’s a whole new thing, separate from LISTEN, covering different subject matter. It includes two sessions of astrology, a tarot reading, an extended description of your astrological sign, the charts and spreads used in the creation of the work, as well as access to last year’s reading so you can check for accuracy. You can order that here. If you’re a subscriber to LISTEN, check your email later today for a reduced price offer.

Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 20)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — You may be tempted to say what you don’t like, or to articulate what has hurt you — though I suggest that you keep things positive. When you notice what you don’t want, turn that into an affirmative and state what you want. I know that you have a list of things that you would rearrange if you could, and that the conduct of the human race has you confused at least half the time. The main difference between you and so many people is that you have options, and you’re starting to figure this out. This is the thing to remember: No matter what you like about the world or don’t like about it, you have the power to choose and the choices to choose among. If you’re feeling like you’re boxed in, make a list of your options. Then remind yourself that you can choose. If you have any misgivings about that, then I suggest you note that fact and see if you can figure out who you might be ‘betraying’ by making your own choices.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

Aquarius (Jan. 20- Feb. 19)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Over the next few days, Mercury will be conjunct Nessus in your birth sign. This is going to focus some ideas for you, and you may become passionate about them. Let’s start with Nessus, which I’ve been writing about frequently — just check the Planet Waves blog for deeper information about this planet associated with healing abuse and betrayal. On one level, Nessus describes the failure of ethics that we experience, so often associated with sexuality. Your chart suggests you may find yourself feeling obsessed with resolving all that has happened to you — other aspects are adding passionate drive to your experience of life, and a sense of immediacy. Actually what you’re figuring out now has been trying to get your attention for a long time. Certain fixed ideas were getting in the way: beliefs you refused to change, an attachment to your public image and the fear of being less than perfect. These are all a ruse thrown over your fear of simply admitting what is true for you. That’s the place to start. Action comes later.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

Planet Waves

Note to Aquarius and Aquarius rising readers: Your birthday reading is ready. I cover entirely new territory from what I did in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition. I review the ways in which Aquarius itself has been changing and evolving. I describe your process of discovering your sense of mission; of opening up your inner life; and relationships based on creative exploration first and ‘commitment’ second. It’s two sessions of astrology plus tarot, with an extended description of your sign coming soon — and access to last year’s reading so that you can verify my accuracy. You can get instant access here.

Pisces (Feb. 19- March 20)

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — As of Friday, Mars has arrived in your sign for the first time in two years. This is bringing your passions to a boil, which were already going at a nice simmer. Everything is likely to feel more vibrant, direct and intense. Deeper truths are likely to come flowing into your awareness. People will respond to you more strongly than they usually do — perhaps attracted, perhaps repelled. This will help you see the world in more vivid contrast. And this is your opportunity to see who and what is around you, and choose based on what you want, and what you observe to be true. You may, however, feel pushed to rush ahead; I suggest you slow down. This, I know, is challenging for someone under the influence of Mars, but the thing is, you don’t really know the environment you’re in, because Mars is conjunct Neptune. The only thing you can really trust is your imagination, and that, for purposes of creativity. In all matters relational, sexual and otherwise impassioned, look closely and listen carefully, including to yourself. Pause and think before you do anything you cannot reverse.

Order your 2013 reading from Eric Francis now, in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition of Planet Waves. As a subscriber you can still get all 12 signs for the price of three. This is a detailed written and audio reading that you will love. You can also purchase signs one at a time (including audio and written, prior to our splitting those two products).

 

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