This is part one of a 6 part Astrology forecast for 2008. I will be posting a new section each day until it is complete.
One of the great hallmarks for 2008 is that VENUS (ruler of Taurus and Libra) travels with company for a great deal of the year. We also have a series of planetary stelliums (when 3 or more planets bunch together). The Stelliums concentrate energy in certain areas and represent people joining forces with others and building or creating teams. This is very good news for people who have been on their own. Venus is usually a part of these concentrations of energy through 2008 which means that the concentrations are focused heavily on the use of money, movable wealth, resources, art, beauty and basic fundamental values. For this reason I am calling 2008 the year of GREATER VALUES. The real, deep meaning of Venus is that she is our own inner compass - those values which guide us forward in life, often called the conscience. Each of us has this inner compass, and this year her influence is crystallized, increased and made clear. To learn more about the compass that is Venus stay tuned to this Blog, where I will be releasing a CD called - “The Rest of the Secret” and will go into great detail about this principle, how it works - and most importantly how to use it in 2008.
As 2008 starts we find ourselves under the influence of Retrograde Mars & Saturn. Together these two retrogrades manage to sap the energy and vitality right out of most of our lives, not to mention leaving us all to wrestle with a few horrible flu outbreaks. Other areas affected by these two include business slowing down to a screeching halt, conflict and subversive aggressive action, and intense emotional battles. This is a very challenging time for Cancers, Capricorns, Virgo’s and Gemini’s in particular. Thankfully the Pluto - Mars opposition peaks on Jan 2 and we will be free of it’s influence by the 6th. But, still PLEASE BE CAREFUL ON THE ROADS tonight - this is a very dangerous aspect.
Mars Enters Shadow Sept 16 at 24′ Gemini
Station Rx Nov 15 at 12′ Cancer.
Mars Station Direct Jan 31 08 at 24′ Gemini
Leaves Shadow April 4 08 at 12′ Cancer
Saturn Retrogrades in Virgo at 9′ Dec 19th
SD on May 3 08 at 1′7″ Virgo
Leaves Shadow in Mid August
Eclipse’s this year: The Feb 7 Solar Eclipse is likely to bring sudden and embarrassing information to light about business leaders, companies or unethical political practices. These events are the types that cause resignations, corporate collapse and/or a serious loss of funding. Expect more banking trouble to emerge related to the sub-prime Real Estate collapse. But don’t expect the Banks to collapse, the government always bails out Banks and big business - it is the individual who is left holding the bag. Other areas that may be effected include public infrastructures like politics and public services like utilities, hospitals, police, railroads, transportation, etc.
The Feb 21 Lunar Eclipse could see the revelation of secret and hidden activities by authority figures and agencies such as the military, the government, white house, public servants, clergy and religious organizations.
Solar Eclipse: 7 Feb 2008 17Aqu44 - conjunct Chiron, Neptune and Rx Mercury
Lunar Eclipse: 21 Feb 2008 01Vir52 - Moon Conjunct Saturn both opposed to Sun
Late January through mid February; a line up of planets together in Aquarius focuses a great deal of attention on the needs of humanity and draws groups of people together around shared goals, values, hopes and dreams. This is something that I like to call divine community and more and more of us will be drawn to those we resonate with deeply. All of us will be feeling the need to draw closer to our teams and those we love and care about to create a spiritual community. Humanitarian goals, causes and plans will be well served by the groups we can involve ourselves with and the networks that we create. I consider 2008 to be the ‘Year of the Network’ meaning that our power, strength and safety will be largely a measure of the strength of the community network that we have. Soul families draw close and new ones are likely to connect during this time. The air signs: Aquarius, Gemini and Libra will feel called forward to speak their minds and express ideals in crystallized powerful ways. A time for clarity of purpose and group leadership. Powerful leaders can emerge now, especially those who speak a profound vision of the future. The biggest downside here is the temptation to squander this energy on gossip and distraction rather than meaningful progress.
Also in Late Jan early Feb Venus hangs out with Jupiter for about 2 weeks in Capricorn, essentially carrying on excessively bringing bright optimism, enthusiasm, luxuries and opportunities to many people who have waited and struggled for a very long time. Some of whom may suddenly find themselves flopped right into the lap of luxury with almost no warning! This aspect skims through Capricorn’s lives, but makes lasting changes for Pisces, Sagittarius, Taurus and Libra.
If you’d like to hang out with the world of Astrologers, check out the United Astrology Conference, Scheduled for Mid-May of 2008. This is a great way to learn new techniques or just get started in your Astrology studies. You will be exposed to many schools of thought and tools used in Astrology.
In a recent news story Astrology was called a science by the Supreme Court. This was related to a case between a famous Indian Astrologer and a medical Doctor. Astrology was given the upper hand, due to the accuracy of the predictions involved. As I always say, it’s not the tool that matters, in this case is Astrology. It is the skill with which that tool is used.
This Astrologer was looking at the dangers of the Christmas week as coming
from the EXACT opposition of the Retrograde Mars to Pluto - which is never
a pretty thing. This has resulted in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
Even more to the point - this Assassination happened with the Retrograde
Mars at the very edge of Cancer; Cancer rules women and violence towards
them. Ex Prime Minister Bhutto is a woman of remarkable power. Mars
opposed to Pluto is all about power and power struggles in the most violent
expression.
THIS IS A GATEWAY: we are currently in a gateway of struggle around
women and female power. It is NOW time for the oppression of women to
finally be overthrown. Not an easy process and one that will bring forth many
horrific acts for us all to witness in order for them to be cleansed and released.
We will see much more public news about women, power and violence in
March and April of ‘08 when Mars travels back through Cancer for the 3rd time.
Nostradamus has long been read for his predictions on the future. The Hebrew in the Bible is also often used to find hidden codes and information buried there, this is called Gematria.
I found a video interpreting these ‘codes’ for the year 2008. The video is a bit dry to to listen to, but the information is very useful and worthwhile. Here is the link:
I found this blog post about the Age of Aquarius and it has a lot of good points in it.
For my own 2 cents on this: The Age of Aquarius itself doesn’t just start on one given day. It takes years to cross over the cusp from Pisces to Aquarius. RIGHT NOW we are on that cusp. We have been since the 60’s. It’s a pretty safe bet that right around the time that the Mayan Calendar Ends (2012) is when we leave the cusp and fully enter the NEW AGE.
But the real test lies in the coming 4-5 years: Pluto moves into Capricorn (for a 15 year stay) where he will break down old systems and governments. Saturn Squares Pluto in about 2 years: creating upheaval and radical change in all of our service industries (goodbye social services, goodbye health care). Not to mention even more philosophical conflict among people and governments.
New things never come easily. It takes resistance to work out the kinks, this is what history teaches us. But the real hope lies with those who are already building a better tomorrow. The economists are predicting that we are at the very beginning of a huge economic growth cycle being called the ECO-BOOM (destined to make the .com boom look tiny).
Thanks to Saturn in Virgo, we will have the fortitude and hard work necessary to really make it stick. Saturn in Virgo will also mean that Generation X will be working hard to put all of this Eco-Boom stuff into real action. This is because the entire X gen has Pluto and Uranus in Virgo - soon to be crossed by Saturn. If you are a Gen X-er, get ready to be pulled off the bench and into the ‘game’ big time.
It’s true that men will always be men and women will always be women.  My dear friend e-mailed me this hilarious message, and I wish I knew who wrote it so that I could credit them for it. But it gave me a laugh, and I hope it does for you too. Nine words women use…
1.) Fine : This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
 2.) Five Minutes : If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3.) Nothing : This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
 4.) Go Ahead : This is a dare, not permission. Don’t Do It!
 5.) Loud Sigh : This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)
6.) That’s Okay : This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man. That’s okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7.) Thanks : A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say you’re welcome.
 8.) Whatever : Is a women’s way of saying F*** YOU!
9.) Don’t worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking ‘What’s wrong?’ For the woman’s response refer to #3.
Send this to the men you know, to warn them about arguments they can avoid if they remember the terminology.
Send this to all the women you know to give them a good laugh, cause they know it’s true.
Today is the winter solstice - the shortest, coldest day of the year. This is the day that has forever been used for ‘bringing in the light‘ ceremonies. These ceremonies serve to spiritually ask the light to return, since if it were to keep on getting smaller and colder, it wouldn’t be long before we were all human popsicles.
The day is short, not just because the Earth is far from the Sun but also because we are tilted away from the Sun. This is important because whenever a planet is over the North pole - it is cold. The opposite is true when it is over the South pole - then it is hot.
The story of Santa Clause is the story of the darkest coldest most Saturn day of the year being warmed up and lighted up by the Jolly Generous Fat Man (Jupiter). It is the metaphor for the returning of the light. We humans need this story, we need to believe that the light and the warmth will return. We need to believe that the light will crowd out the darkness, and it always does.
So light a candle and light the one that lives in your own soul. This is the day of the year that is ultimately about the Goodness of heart, spirit and generosity overcoming dark, bitter mean corners, sometimes called the Grinch. The best remedy for the Grinch is hearty laughter.
  Click to Play
You’re a mean one, Mr.Grinch.
You really are a heel.
You’re as cuddly as a cactus,
You’re as charming as an eel. Mr.Grinch.
You’re a bad banana
With a greasy black peel.
You’re a monster, Mr.Grinch.
Your heart’s an empty hole.
Your brain is full of spiders,
You’ve got garlic in your soul. Mr.Grinch.
I wouldn’t touch you, with a
thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole.
You’re a vile one, Mr.Grinch.
You have termites in your smile.
You have all the tender sweetness
Of a seasick crocodile. Mr.Grinch.
Given the choice between the two of you
I’d take the seasick crocodile.
You’re a foul one, Mr.Grinch.
You’re a nasty, wasty skunk.
Your heart is full of unwashed socks
Your soul is full of gunk. Mr.Grinch.
The three words that best describe you,
are, and I quote: “Stink. Stank. Stunk.”
You’re a rotter, Mr. Grinch.
You’re the king of sinful sots.
Your heart’s a dead tomato splot
With moldy purple spots, Mr.Grinch.
Your soul is an apalling dump heap
overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment
of deplorable rubbish imaginable,
Mangled up in tangled up knots.
You nauseate me, Mr.Grinch.
With a nauseaus super-naus.
You’re a crooked jerky jockey
And you drive a crooked horse. Mr. Grinch.
You’re a three decker saurkraut and toadstool sandwich
With arsenic sauce.
Apparently we CAN all get along, at least in a Seattle parish offering an Astrology course. The course is appropriately called, “They Followed a Star: Astrology and Christianity as Allies on the Journey”
In direct conflict to this we have the National Catholic Register telling people not to “Hope in Astrology.” According to the Register, when Jesus was born he re-arranged the orbits of the stars in the sky, ending Astrology right then and there. Funny though, I can’t remember that from either my school lessons OR from the Bible. And when I look in the sky all stars seem to be in the right place. Apparently the religious powers that be can’t agree on anything. Isn’t that why wars get started?
But this TRULY EXCELLENT story about the Wise Men Astrologers, the Magi explains the deep soul-level connection between Astrology and all the major religions and why the war of terror is really a long and horrible misrepresentation of the teachings of Christ, Mohamed, Judaism and Astrology.
My good friend and much respected Astrologer Claire France Perez recently posted this story on her newsletter:
Saturn: In The Pocket of the Prez
The president’s pockets have more significant things in them than the pockets of ordinary folks. In the chart of a powerful leader, the 2nd house is for more than ordinary “cash and carry” valuables.
What would the Mars in the 2nd of a leadership chart represent?
A powerful leader’s pocket is where his “second in command” can be signified, where he has various men and women “in his pocket,” to use the old expression.
When the Abu Graib horrors were released, the president had then Uranus opposing his 2nd house Mars, and the demand for Rumsfeld’s resignation was loud and unchanging. That’s when GW named himself, “The Decider.”
It was Rumsfeld’s close call in May ‘03, and we know from history that after the Democratic win of ‘06, he was on his last leg.
Saturn in Virgo will make a retrograde in a few weeks, on December 20. Saturn has been at the 8th degree of Virgo for a while now, and will continue past the date of the retrograde. This is called a “stationary” movement (no movement at all!).
The degree of the GWB Mars in the presidential 2nd house is just one more degree: Nine degrees of Virgo. Mark the spot with a big, red “X.” A difference of one degree is still significant. As astrologer Aura Wright says, “It’ll be a close call.”
What close call?
When Saturn makes any move to aspect Mars we have two enemy camps converging, two different and conflicting agendas to watch. Remember the old cartoons’ depiction of cat/dog fight?? They spun around in their fight scene, more like a ball of yarn turned tornado, with stars flying off of it. Similarly, Saturn and Mars will never see “eye to eye.”
Saturn will continue backward through the Zodiac to the first degree of this Mercury-ruled sign and commit finally to “going forward,” in April, only returning to the 9th degree (on the Presidential Pocket Mars) in the second week of August.
A swan song?
Similarly, we are on the last legs of another redisposition for the powerful “second-in-command,” VEEP Cheney. But, it’s a close call. The WH will lose its VEEP; but perhaps not completely, not until April 1st, when a transition will conclude. More on this when I write about the current Mars in Cancer retrograde.
Another Saturn moment to watch:
GWB’s birthday when Mars will conjoin Saturn for at least a week, around July 4th 2008.
Many thanks to astrologers Antoine Garth, Le Baraquel, Satisfied Dog, and Aura for enlightening conversations which inform this item.
This Australian paper posted a story about American’s believing in pretty much everything. And yes, those statistics do make it seem like we are pretty broadminded. All those different people believing different things all in one country without us tearing ourselves apart (not yet anyway). What on Earth is the world coming to!
Ironically, Astrology enjoys more popularity and respect in Australia than it does here in the US.
Almost every day a story like this one is printed in some Newspaper or other, taking a whack at Astrology. This is an opinion piece and it’s very funny. Apparently in New Zealand people take their Horoscope literally.
But what is most amazing is that this guy claims there are no differences between all the statistical kinds of people he lists in the article. This is literally impossible. There may be no difference to someone who has no idea how to read an Astrology chart. But to someone who DOES know how, the fact is obvious: just like fingerprints, it’s impossible to have 2 charts that are the same - unless they are for people born at the exact same moment in time, at the exact same location. I am stating the obvious here, but this is literally physically impossible.
This is like someone who has no knowledge of medicine claiming that a cardiologist is no different than an orthodontist simply because they are both men!
This is a kind of logic that is taught in debate classes where students are taught not to argue a case on it’s actual merits, but to argue something completely unrelated. This strategy is used because the case CAN’T BE WON ON IT’S MERITS. It is the exact strategy that slimy lawyers use in rape cases when they argue that the bruised and bleeding girl couldn’t have been raped because of what she was wearing.
I just read this and felt that I must quote it and share it with you all because it is of URGENT importance:
“Girls and Guys, here’s a top tip for attracting a mate and ensuring you both become totally besotted - do an extreme sport together on your first date. Psychologists and human behavioural experts have long known that if, when two people meet, they engage almost immediately in an activity that gives them a huge adrenaline rush, they’ll both literally become instantly addicted to each other.” (taken from collaboratingwithfate)
This more than just a little bit interesting, and explains a lot about my past relationships that didn’t work out so well, but that’s a different story.
Ultimately it is the Astrology of that first meeting that will determine it’s success, rapturous soul-mate potential or impending heart wrenching failure. But, apparently you can kick any new romantic adventure off with adrenaline inducing, pulse pounding thrills if you go bungee jumping together, or get on a roller coaster, or go big wave surfing, etc. I DO however sincerely recommend checking for a criminal record before you get yourself emotionally welded to this new person. And, of course, make sure you get an Accurate Soul Mate Report.
“Sadly, although Jesus’ mother was revered (in imitation of so many other ‘virgin’ mother and child salvation stories before it), his wife, Mary Magdalene — a powerful teacher and force in her own right — was discredited and stripped of her authority in the very belief system that should have and would have strengthened the bond between the genders, had his teachings been followed. Yet, as most of us are aware, the feminine influence and principles which permeated so much of what Jesus taught, were significantly downplayed and in many cases, done away with altogether in favor of much less balanced edicts. This, in turn, has contributed to the gradual degradation of societal mores and, thus, the erosion of the positive relationship between the genders, and by association, our whole species.”
OK. But here’s a little more of the meat of the matter: Mars is Retrograde in Gemini all through January of 2008. This is the quintessential duality of love vs/ sex, Madonna vs/ whore. The bottom line is simple:
Jesus was married, he was married to Magdalene. It would have been weird for any young Jewish boy over 16 of the time to NOT be married. It would have been so weird that he would not have been ostracized - which Jesus was not. They even had children and Magdalen was just as powerful and dynamic as he was. It is perfectly normal and natural that a marriage should be a sexual relationship. But religion betrayed Magdalene’s real role in history and trashed her reputation - for centuries - on purpose. Here are a few books that touch on this subject: The DaVinci Code, Holy Blood Holy Grail, as well as Betrayal of the Magdelene.
In ancient Aramaic the word Virgin did not mean what it means to us today. It had nothing to do with sex and did not mean that mother Mary didn’t have sex. Virgin meant a woman who had not given birth, meaning that Jesus was her first born. It is really pretty sick that religion has pushed the idea of a virginal, mother like figure as the appropriate wife for man. THAT is incest, which is just plain disgusting. I consider religion responsible for our current state of sexual oppression, deviation and frustration.
Have I made you mad? Then do some real research and find the truth. I for one am not interested in pretending this sick situation is ok. It will only be ok once female power is once again given the respect it deserves. Only the will there be sexual satisfaction throughout the land AND PEACE ON EARTH.
In China Astrology is a lot more respected than it is here. Maybe that’s because their ancient culture has had 5,000 years to figure these things out, while America is just a baby in country age at a mere 231 years old.
This Blog post about Astrology and Feng Shui makes some great points regarding the BEST uses for Astrology. I tell my clients all the time that the BEST way to use Astrology is to pick Good dates for Marriage, starting a business, opening a bank account, dating, etc. But there are precious few Astrologers (in any country) who can use these tools effectively for clients. This is my expertise and it is called Electional Astrology. You can learn more at my Astrology Reports page or on my Astrology Readings page.
