Getting Oriented in the ‘New Normal’

Editor’s note: this is the full PW members’ edition, featuring your weekly horoscopes, the Create feature, and more.

Dear Friend and Reader:

With so much going on in the news that stirs up fear, trauma and a sense of powerlessness, it’s especially gratifying and surprising when something actually goes right: on Tuesday, the citizens of Alabama voted in a special election to put Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Doug Jones into the seat vacated by current U.S. Secretary of State Jeff Sessions. The loser? Republican Roy Moore: a man who has been accused by several women of harassing them — and in some cases sexually assaulting them — when they were only teenagers and he was a District Attorney.

What does it say about us as a society that most people seemed to assume Moore would win despite the allegations, which come on top of his well-known history of racism, homophobia, misogyny and extremism?

For one, it’s a barometer of the political gaslighting spearheaded by Trump. Even though we’ve seen famous, powerful men dropping like flies from their positions of status for the last couple months, the Pussy-Grabber-in-Chief remains in office, spouting irrational tirades via Twitter as though the planet itself depends on it.

If Trump seems untouchable regarding the sexual assault accusations he faces, why wouldn’t a man he publicly endorsed (at the urging of Stephen Bannon) prove the same? Especially in a state where, up until 2003, a 14-year-old child could get married with the consent of the parents.

It would seem that, for the (slim) majority of voters who turned out on Tuesday, Trump’s endorsement and Moore’s denials of misconduct were not able to overcome Moore’s hateful politics and distasteful personal behavior. At least, not when contrasted with Jones’ track record of public service (he brought to justice members of the Ku Klux Klan accused of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombings and the deaths of four little girls back in the 1960s) and effective community outreach on real issues of concern.

Not only did this special election generate much higher voter turnout than anticipated, African-American voters in particular came out in high numbers to nudge Jones in front. Additionally, enough Republican voters followed the lead of Alabama’s senior Republican senator, Richard Shelby, to write in another Republican name — further shaving Moore’s vote tally.

Today, CNN reported that Moore is refusing to concede the race until military and provisional ballots have been counted and certified by the Alabama secretary of state. The election will be certified no earlier than Dec. 26 and no later than Jan. 3. This puts certification after Mercury has stationed direct and after both the Sun and Saturn have entered Capricorn.

Roy Moore failing to embody a centaur as he rides his horse Sassy to vote on Tuesday (many online have criticized his form and handling of the horse). Then again, maybe Moore acted as an unlikely ‘inconvenient benefic’ of sorts, heightening the awareness needed for voters to choose better? Photo by Carlo Allegri / Reuters.

Does this indicate the results will be reversed? Not necessarily. For one thing, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill has said it’s “highly unlikely” that Jones will not be certified as the winner.

Mercury may be a trickster, and reversals can occur; but plenty of other things could be reversed, instead. For example, we might see Moore back down and concede prior to certification; Trump could walk back his endorsement and claim that he never really believed Moore would win.

As unlikely as both scenarios sound — who would try to pretend they did not endorse a candidate they clearly and loudly endorsed? — we’ve been living in bizarro-world for at least a year and a half, and strange has become the new normal. (Note: as we were putting this issue together, Amy Elliott let me know that Trump has already walked back his support of Moore in a tweet. Stephen Colbert covered it in his show last night. I probably should have guessed Trump would react that quickly, but it’s just so absurd.)

As events continue to demonstrate, Uranus and Eris are still functionally conjunct in Aries: they’re not done reshaping the environment. And as Donald Trump has demonstrated, deleting your embarrassing past tweets does not erase them from public consciousness; in fact, it actually brings greater attention to them.

But perhaps most importantly, to my mind, is that this election in Alabama occurred with the Sun, Pholus and Saturn still clustered on either side of the Galactic Core, our ‘cosmic homing signal’. It is a loose cluster; but the center of our home galaxy is a large, inscrutable phenomenon powerful enough to keep our solar system (and more) slowly revolving around it across vast distances. It may be a point of orientation beyond our immediate comprehension, but that does not mean it cannot be beautifully effective when we’re willing to tune in.

Some Astrological Orientation

What does it mean to be a ‘spiritual warrior’? It’s a phrase that gets thrown around a lot in certain circles, and it often seems (or even sometimes is) meaningless. But the astrology this week and next week appears to speak to that concept in a few ways that may be key, as you make your way through everything from social and familial holiday obligations to the highly charged political and cultural conversations and events dominating the news and social media.

Looking ahead, the major events we’re building toward are all clustered together next week: the Sagittarius New Moon on Monday, Dec. 18; Saturn entering Capricorn on Dec. 19; the winter solstice (marked by the Sun entering Capricorn, and signaling the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere) on Dec. 21; and then finally, on Friday Dec. 22, Mercury stations direct in Sagittarius. (Eric detailed all of these events and more in this week’s Monday Astrology Diary.)

Milky Way viewed at the coast; photo by Michael Matti under CC 2.0.

Those events make for a busy astrological week next week, right at the time when the long nights, short days and colder weather urge us to find some stillness, some quiet and some introspection. That can be hard to come by this time of year anyway, due to our cultural focus on celebrating this season’s holidays with gatherings, gift-giving and myriad themed entertainments.

Yet, for those who lack family nearby or lack a solid support network, and especially if you deal with other challenging factors (such as a lack of funds, an unexpected crisis, mental illness, addiction, or traumatic memories of past holidays), this time of year becomes especially challenging. If that describes you at all, and if nature’s seasonal suggestion of quiet or solo introspection is depressing or anxiety producing, I hope you’ll reach out to someone who can help. Local crisis hotlines and other support services are only a quick Google search and phone call away if you’re in need.

If, however, you’re doing okay overall, being a ‘spiritual warrior’ might mean going out of your way to assist someone in need. A kind word and listening for a few minutes can go a long way. Yet there’s some specific astrology that relates to this theme, also.

Tomorrow (Friday), retrograde Mercury makes a conjunction to Venus in Sagittarius, and those planets together make a trine aspect to Ceres in Leo. You might find yourself discussing what it means to nourish your feminine side, as well as what it means to be a female spiritual warrior who leads from the heart. What might that look like these days? Where can you see the connections and patterns — the unity — between seemingly unrelated facets of your experience, and bring forth something new from that synthesis?

The two cards I pulled Tuesday night from the Sustain Yourself oracle deck, by James Wanless, as I contemplated the astrology for this essay. I was only trying to pull one, but somehow this pair spoke vividly to the themes I was already teasing out while looking at the aspects. I’ll post the cards’ full descriptions on the Planet Waves blog posting of this issue.

If you find yourself articulating your love or affection for someone, notice the feeling of natural abundance it comes from, and that it generates. That self-generative aspect of love (especially in the sense of agape) feeds one’s self as much as it feeds the other.

Also tomorrow, the Sagittarius Sun makes a square to Chiron in Pisces. With Chiron named after a centaur known for healing, and Sagittarius represented by a centaur (and associated with philosophy and religion), we seem to get another image of the ‘spiritual warrior’ idea. Yet squares are about taking action; in this case, taking action to heal some facet of consciousness, perhaps spurred by crisis or wounding.

Consider for a moment our collective ‘masculine side’ along with your own inner masculine side (Western astrology describes everyone having a ‘feminine’ side and a ‘masculine’ side, regardless of your gender, sex or sexual orientation). There’s a lot of talk about ‘toxic masculinity’, and we’re seeing it in the abuses of male power being brought to light. How did it come to be that way? What is the nature of that injury, and what might healing it look like? You could think of being a ‘spiritual warrior’ as addressing your own healing process, and fiercely holding space for others to do the same.

We’re in a moment when the ways in which men and women relate to each other are coming under new scrutiny. We need a new model. The asteroid Juno often describes relationship needs and types of partners; on Saturday, Juno leaves Capricorn and enters Aquarius.

Aquarius has two rulers: Saturn (traditional) and Uranus (modern). There’s a question suggested here: Will you use this shift in energy to concretize and crystallize unmet relationship needs, or will you use it to revolutionize the collective relationship dialogue?

There’s plenty to ponder as we approach the Sagittarius New Moon, Saturn ingressing Capricorn, and the solstice next week. All of those events represent a new beginning of some kind, turning the corner in a specific phase of a cycle. The cycles involved (lunar, seasonal, Saturnal) are interlocking in a unique way — one that would appear to carry a message from deep space, thanks to the Galactic Core. My sense is that we’re being asked to hear something about orienting our lives on being humane to each other; on tending to our own healing and recovering a sense of purpose — and being willing to stand up for others willing to do the same.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. You might have heard the news that the FCC, led by Chairman Ajit Pai, voted along party lines today to repeal the Title Two Net Neutrality protections that had been enacted by Pres. Obama to regulate the internet like the public utility it has become, thus ensuring an open internet for all users. The ACLU is petitioning Congress to use the Congressional Review Act to reverse the FCC’s hasty and misguided move, which was designed to reward massive telecomm corporations. You can read a little more about it and sign the petition here — and then call your Congresspeople to keep the pressure on.

New Features Added:
Understanding Key Life Transits of Saturn, Chiron and Uranus

Dear Friend and Reader:

The Art of Becoming is your 2018 annual reading. This is my 20th time at the rodeo! And that’s a good thing, because to write about the transits of the coming year will take experience. If you’re new to the discussion of this project, I’ve linked a letter in the last paragraph.

Eric Francis.

I’ve added three new features to The Art of Becoming, for those who pre-order all 12 signs: videos that cover Chiron in Aries, and Aries Chiron returns; Uranus in Taurus, and Uranus oppositions; and Saturn in Capricorn, including those two Saturn return groups (first and second). These cover many age groups and sub-generations.

These videos are included if you pre-order all 12 signs. Then they will be spun off as separate products. They will not be included with post-publication orders, or single-sign orders. Each will be offered separately for $37.37 each.

I’ve wanted to do transit readings like this for years! One distinction about my astrological career is that rather than predicting transits, I’ve been listening to my clients tell me the stories of their transits for more than two decades.

The current pre-order price is $99, which includes written readings for all 12 signs, plus the Saturn, Chiron and Uranus video presentations. Those will be published before the written readings, by the way.

Delivery is expected in January. That’s the time estimate, based on 20 years’ experience doing this project. If you’re curious to read more about The Art of Becoming, here’s a detailed letter describing how I do the readings and what they contain.

And if you have not read your 2017 reading, you may do so here at no charge.

Sign up today. The next price increase will be soon!

Thank you for trusting me as your astrologer, and for participating in Planet Waves.

With love,

A Modern-Day Centaur Story

By Amanda Painter

We’re approaching the Sagittarius New Moon, which is the conjunction of the Sun and Moon, and which is exact at 1:30 am EST (6:30 UTC) on Monday, Dec. 18. It’s a pretty special New Moon, as it’s exactly conjunct the Galactic Core. Culturally, it feels as though this New Moon is coming at a time particularly ripe for transformation in a new direction.

With so much of the astrological action taking place in Sagittarius — a sign symbolized by a centaur (half-man, half-horse) aiming an arrow toward the heavens — what could be more appropriate than a fictional short story about a woman who undergoes a process to transform into a horse?

I discovered this story, titled “Horse,” last month as part of the Nov. 10, 2017, broadcast of This American Life, read by actors Grace Gummer and Geraldine Hughes. The piece is being published in the story collection The Wrong Heaven by Amy Bonnaffons.

In “Horse,” the female protagonist describes the contrasting transformations she and her roommate attempt: one wants to become a mother; the other craves the freedom she imagines would come with becoming a horse — something which, in the world of the story, has recently become scientifically possible and commercially available. Since the transition is not instantaneous, the protagonist spends some time partly a woman, and partly a horse — and attempts to bridge her two conflicting sets of urges, wondering if she’ll get stuck as a hybrid.

I don’t know whether it’s the placement of my natal Sagittarius Moon, or that this story is engagingly written and hits some of the buttons that get pushed simply by being a woman at this time in history, but I think Bonnaffons gets at something compelling here. (Hopefully, since the program’s airing, her editors caught the one major gaffe she’s made: horses do not have cloven hooves.) It would seem that below the surface, women might harbor a much stronger animal instinct than our culture would have us believe. Perhaps it’s past time to own that.

This week on Planet Waves FM
In the Nature of Vesta Conjunct Jupiter

Dear Friend of Planet Waves:

First, thank you for your continued response to our membership drive for Planet Waves, and our sponsorship drive for Planet Waves FM.

This week’s program [play episode here] is a tour of the waterfront of the current feminist movement, the political environment and relationships between women and men. In the end, I address the question: what is sexual healing? What would relationships that are not based on ownership and control look like?

Heather Fae Speaker in her incarnation as a Vestal Virgin. Photo: Book of Blue / Blue Studio, New York.

I begin with a discussion of this article, which chronicles events between now and Saturn’s ingress into Capricorn. There are many, including today’s conjunction of Vesta and Jupiter (which sets the theme of the program), Mercury conjunct the Sun, Mercury conjunct Venus, and the Sagittarius New Moon conjunct the Galactic Core. That leads to the winter solstice followed by Mercury stationing direct on Dec. 22.

Saturn is being welcomed home into Capricorn with fanfare suitable for an epic fantasy novel, though I reckon that this will be a grounding experience, putting us in contact with actual reality. The world is going insane, and Saturn in Capricorn may represent a missing piece of our sanity.

We might remember that Saturn represents accountability and Capricorn represents government. The antics we’re witnessing will soon change their color and tone.

In the second segment, I read from some of the letters we received this week in reply to our query about personal experiences of the #MeToo movement. We hear about workplace meetings, community meetings, discussions with husbands, discussions among friends; we hear some optimism and some grave concerns. Note, we’re processing these responses into a publication that I reckon will be ready by sometime this weekend.

In the third segment, I offer some of my own thoughts about sexual values under patriarchy, in times when all sex might be construed to have a victim, where the boundary lines and definitions of consent are blurred, and where “the political as personal” is having a chilling effect on social relationships.

Finally, in the last segment, I offer my ideas about sexual healing, describing some of the workshop processes I’ve facilitated, and my own tantric path. I give real-life ideas for how to engage these processes, and why one might do them. I describe the basic methods of processes for individuals, couples and groups, and account for some of the feelings that might come up along the way.

Planet Waves FM is part of the Pacifica Radio Network, published without profit by Chiron Return, Inc. We’re sponsored by your contributions, and by our sole corporate contributor, Planet Waves, Inc.

Thank you for tuning in.

Lovingly,

Monthly Horoscopes and Publishing Schedule Notes

Your extended monthly horoscopes for December were published on Wednesday, Nov. 22. We published your extended monthly horoscopes for November on Thursday, Oct. 26. Please note: we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope on the first Friday after the Sun has entered a new sign.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Don’t be surprised if the new Saturn-in-Capricorn era commences for you with a burst of creativity and inspiration. It’s possible this may involve an idea already conceived within your depths, which you are now presented with an opportunity to make manifest. This process over the next couple of years is likely significant in terms of your personal development; so trust yourself, and (saving the necessary precautions attending Mercury retrograde) don’t hold back. — by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — After an extended period of self-reflection and internal transformation, it would seem you’re about to embark on a spiritual mission with a more outward focus. You might not feel quite ready for this, or there may be a certain risk that you fear. Yet you’re also gradually becoming aware of how important this opportunity could be, and that this is indeed the season. I suggest that for now you simply go along with the current. You’re made of far sterner stuff than you often give yourself credit for. – By Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — A sudden alteration in a partnership, or a charged interaction with someone, may precipitate an extended look at the way you respond to certain situations, and how you view yourself and others. You may already be aware of how we sometimes project our own traits onto the people around us. Likewise, we tend to seek solutions in the external world, when the real key lies somewhere within us. Someplace in your life, a mirror is now being held up to you. Take courage and gaze deeply. – By Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Saturn entering your relationship house may afford this area of your life some added stability. It might not look that way, initially: it’s likely that you’ll first need to alter your perspective in some way, potentially tackling a belief that’s been long-held. As is often said on Planet Waves, relationships really need a job: the connections we share are at their best if everyone involved is growing as a result. You may need to select with care the people with whom you choose to spend time. – By Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Just now you appear to be on the threshold of a rare, precious and powerful creative moment. What makes this so unusual is that, almost as soon as the inspiration comes, you’ll probably have the means to begin making it into something concrete and lasting. Seeing the whole project through will likely require a good deal of hard work and persistence. That should be easy enough for you, as long as you’re patient with yourself and place the emphasis on quality over speed. – By Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Saturn entering your realm of creativity is likely to help you transform your artistic endeavors and raise your game to another level entirely. Yet just now you’re dealing with a specific challenge — from the remnants of former days — that has recently been haunting you. This almost certainly has to happen before you can proceed to the meat and potatoes, and it has to do with reclaiming your self-confidence sufficiently to be of one mind. Somewhere within you is an understanding of your true capability. Seek it out. – By Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Something about your experience of family life or of your past is probably going to change in a profound way over the next few years, especially in terms of how it usually plays out in the present moment. You’ll likely be throwing off a habit or two that no longer serves you. What eventually replaces it is up to you. You might consider steering in the direction of real self-acceptance. It’s time you embrace who you are with all your desires and dreams, and kick out any imposed shame. – By Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — With Saturn in your third house, you seem poised to learn gradually to become more vocal about who you are and what you really desire. This would begin with you: that is, admitting your feelings to yourself; then with a partner, or someone you can trust to hold space for you. Then you might widen the circle. Eventually you will hopefully feel confident enough to display your full self openly, in whatever medium you choose. Be gentle with yourself throughout. – By Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Get instant access when you order your Sagittarius Birthday Reading by Eric.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — As we’ve all experienced, when you open a pressurized container, the gas or liquid inside rushes to come out. It’s an apt metaphor for a decidedly common human trait: cause a person to feel trapped in some way, or forbidden to do a specific thing, and the desire to break the bonds becomes a powerful drive. Saturn finally leaving your sign Tuesday night is likely to feel like a momentous release. You’ll want some time to play in the open air before getting down to business: namely, being yourself with bells on. – By Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

 

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Capricorn Birthdays 2018
How Will You Harness Saturn?

“I continue to believe that setting goals and boundaries combined with recognizing my limits, because I thought about how I could harness Saturn, has made this the most transformative time of my life. I felt a ton of Yes energy in your words, thank you!”

— Jennifer N.

Dear Friend and Reader:

Do you tend to think of Saturn as representing the parent who stands in your way and says “No”? You can avoid that disempowering feeling by making friends with Saturn. That is, by taking on the role of authority and responsibility in your own life so that you can enjoy the benefits, growth and even freedom Saturn can grant.

If you’re someone with a Capricorn Sun, rising sign or Moon, you have this opportunity on your doorstep: Saturn enters Capricorn on Dec. 19. Eric will be covering the opportunities, challenges and essential mission of Saturn in your sign for the next three years or so in your 2018 Capricorn Birthday Reading.

But that’s not all: Chiron moving into Aries and Uranus moving into your fellow earth sign Taurus will also bring important shifts to your inner landscape and to the world around you. Yet those are only the major planetary sign changes that are happening soon; Eric also homes in on the subtler astrology you’ll be navigating in the coming year.

“Your passion, deep care and love always shine through; and you have the gift of all great teachers, of making one feel that one is being personally addressed, respected and taken care of.”

— Liz Glanville

All of this is offered in a pro-quality audio-recording bundle: two segments of astrology (approximately 30 minutes each), and then a tarot reading for your year that will be ready a little later. When you pre-order your Capricorn reading, you secure the lowest price we offer: only $33 for the entire three-part reading. This price increases as we near publication, and then it increases again when it’s ready.

You get some of the clearest, most nuanced and jargon-free personal astrology available on the internet. Eric crafts these readings with the best of his life-coaching, cheerleading and problem-solving skills; the sensitivity of his therapy training; his uncanny knack to help you see challenges from a more empowering perspective; and with the kind of everyday, practical inspiration you can use immediately.

How will you harness Saturn to make the coming year one of your most dynamic to date?

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. The 2018 Capricorn Birthday Reading is distinctly different from the Capricorn written reading available in the upcoming Art of Becoming annual project. It covers your key astrology in a different format and emphasis, capitalizing on Eric’s more intuitive, improvisational skills. The Birthday Reading also makes a fantastic gift for a loved one!

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Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Chances are you already have a pretty clear understanding of how far you’ve come in the past few years, though that might have been hard to see while in the midst. Now you’re finally emerging into a new phase of existence. I don’t really need to suggest that you keep in mind what you’ve learned, because you know the lessons are too important to forget. I will only say: don’t be afraid to express the person you have become. The world needs the example of your wisdom and integrity. – By Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Having hosted Pluto in your 12th house for several years, you can be confident that Saturn is not likely to make a huge commotion when it arrives. Instead, it will probably lend some structure to what may at times have felt like a somewhat chaotic and bewildering journey. You may well feel more in control of your developmental path, which is great as long as you’re willing to carry on with the development. If you slam on the brakes, you’re liable to skid. Remember that the key is honesty, and doing what’s right. – By Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — For some time now you’ve been grappling with the question of how your actions are received in your community, especially if you’re holding yourself to the high standards you seem to maintain so effortlessly. You know that, really, the point is to continue being the best you can be, regardless of how people apparently respond. That said, you might now discover that you have, in fact, started a ripple. As it spreads outwards, it will likely gain strength and speed; and then one day, you suddenly notice the tidal wave. – By Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.