AUG. / SEPT.

2020 — 3
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 Letter from the Editor

Dear Readers:

As I write this letter, the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has just surpassed
Eileen Mello 100,000 and the #BlackLivesMatter movement is in the national spotlight as
Editor never before. Please know that TMA’s hearts and minds are with each of you
during this profound turning point for our nation and the world. We extend our
heartfelt condolences for the unique losses everyone has endured as the world
around us staggers. We also recognize that you have given us a considerable op-
portunity to continue performing meaningful work on your behalf. Thank you.
Because we understand that our world has been shaken like a souvenir
snow globe, we have brought you empowering feature articles. Leading finan-
cial astrologer Christeen Skinner offers expert advice so that you may more
skillfully navigate the market volatility. The formidable Bill Meridian also joins
us for a global view with special emphasis on the world-point axis and the De-
cember 2020 Jupiter–Saturn conjunction. In “The Astrology of Epidemics and
Pandemics,” European astrologer Ema Kurent highlights the major aspects of
Neptune–Pluto and Neptune–Saturn in longitude, declination, and latitude and
what they portend for our future.
Speaking of — we can all feel that this current time, marked by the con-
junction of Saturn–Pluto, is fraught with peril and fear; that our individual and
collective rebirthing processes will be long and arduous. We’ve sustained “pro-
longed exposure” to the unenviable traits of the so-called great malefics. Yet,
there is good fortune to be mined if we are willing to embrace the challenges
of the times.
Thus, I invite you to consider the benefits of employing a richer, more nu-
anced perspective of these powerful archetypes. Wonder Bright, TMA’s new
columnist, presents “Traditional Astrology in a Modern Practice: Working with
the Malefics” — a humorous, thought-provoking take on Mars and Saturn that
will certainly broaden your outlook.
From my vantage point, Saturn and Pluto are not (only) the harbingers of
this bleak moment, but also the stalwart friends guiding us through the transition
so that we can reach our greatest potential. Perhaps if we embrace a more holis-
tic approach to all the planets — regardless of their malefic or benefic characteri-
zations — we will find ourselves closer to the sustainable future we envision.
Our hope at TMA is that you find a few quiet moments to decompress by
immersing yourself in the expert astrology presented here. I suggest a nice cup
of tea to accompany the delightful dialogue between Wynne Jordan and es-
teemed author and professor Sue Tompkins.
In other news, since joining The Mountain Astrologer team last Decem-
ber, I have exchanged greetings with dozens of our lovely readers. (We are
also pleased that this will be the third issue reaching former Dell Horoscope
subscribers!) Thank you for your encouragement, your feedback, and for
your community. Astrology is one of the great blessings of life, and regard-
less of our individual differences, we find commonality within our pursuit of
its mystical wisdom.
Happy reading and ciao for now.

AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 5

 Contents
THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER } AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2020 } ISSUE 212

21 } Astrology of Epidemics and Pandemics

by Ema Kurent
40 }
In this history-rich piece, Ema Kurent goes beyond
zodiacal degree (longitude) to present a case that the rarer
measurements of declination and celestial latitude offer a
clear outline for predicting future epidemics and pandemics.
A Conversation with Sue Tompkins
by Wynne Jordan
Jordan delivers an engaging interview with celebrated U.K.
astrologer Sue Tompkins, a distinguished professor and
international best-selling author of Aspects in Astrology and
The Contemporary Astrologer’s Handbook.

29 } The Pluto Killer and

His Hunt for Planet Nine
46 }
by Deborah McMahon
McMahon weaves a captivating story about Professor Mike
Brown — the astronomer who discovered Eris and “demoted”
Pluto — and poses important questions about astrology’s
response to our burgeoning outer solar system.
Financial Trends
August and September 2020
by Christeen Skinner
We have all been impacted by 2020’s “Great Financial
Reset.” That’s why TMA asked preeminent financial
astrologer Christeen Skinner to identify potential trends
for the next three months, including a stocks
investment overview.

36 } Looking Beyond the Horoscope:

Incorporating Synchronicity into our
Interpretations
52 } Global Scan
by Bill Meridian
by Ray Grasse Upon reader request, we have brought you an article
In this thought-provoking read, Grasse illustrates how from acclaimed mundane astrologer Bill Meridian
the language of synchronicity and specific instances of featuring special emphasis on the phenomena
“meaningful coincidence” can augment our understanding energizing the 0° Cancer–Capricorn axis.
of individual horoscopes.
Student Section Forecasts ®

9 Charts in the News 57 Horoscopes for the

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AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 7

 Dear TMA: Editors’ Response:
The article, “The Eastern Window: Thanks for writing us with your
Adam Schiff’s Peanut Butter Sandwich,” thoughts. We always appreciate receiv-
in the April/May 2020 issue of The ing reader feedback. The magazine’s
Mountain Astrologer, presents many role is to be a resource and to provide
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However, this is misleading as it does munity. The opinions and philosophies
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Ms. Farrow totally disregards the Mars– essarily a reflection of those held by the
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Ascendant. The Mars–Neptune aspect is we scrupulously fact check and do our
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8 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER

 Charts in the News
with commentary by Elisabeth Grace
Jacinda Ardern Compliments of:
Astrologer Linda Kaye
Natal Chart 916-730-6805
Jul 26 1980, Sat
12:00 pm NZT -12:00
Hamilton, New Zealand
37°S47' 175°E17'
Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern, July 26, 1980; birth time
Geocentric
Tropical unknown (noon NZT used); Hamilton, New Zealand (37°S47',
Placidus
Mean Node 175°E17'); source: AstroDatabank (https://www.astro.com).
As I write this column on May 27, New Zealand’s prime min-
27° ƒ 04'
ister has plenty to smile about. From today’s news: “New Zealand
07' 05° Discharges Last COVID-19 Patient; No New Cases in Five Days.”1
23°
„ ¸ º ƒ 10'
Under Jacinda “Jaz” Ardern’s formidable leadership, her country’s
É 03° 15°
20° „ ƒ
triumph over COVID-19 has been one of the rare, bright stories in
46'
½ „
56'
09' 44'
» 12° this global catastrophe.
10°
… ¾ …
27'
Œ
10 9 ‚
22°
‚ Like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lucille Ball, and Napoleon, Ardern
23° 05'
28° … 57'
is a Leo (see Chart 1, at left), driven by an enterprising Capricorn
¼ 08° 28' 11 8

† Á 19° 45' † Moon. It’s notable that her Leo Sun is unaspected (or “feral”), sug-
† 10'
gesting that in her earlier years she may have felt like a misfit,
12 7
14°
Chart 1: 54' Ý 17° Â
14° even though she needed to march to the beat of her own drum.2
‡ Ý Leo Sun with Capricorn Moon combines the energy of ego
37' 30'ΠJacinda Ardern 37'
¿ 21° ‡ 1 6
recognition with a need for practical executive action, as in “no
Ü fooling around.”3 We saw her no-nonsense executive authority in
Œ
2 5 March of 2019, just one week after a lone gunman killed 51 peo-
12° 15' 46'
ˆ 3 4 ple in two Christchurch mosques. Assault weapons were banned.
ˆ 20° Œ ‹
57' À 10' 56' 28° Boom. Just like that. With her Mercury square Pluto, we can ap-
Š
‰
10° 20° preciate how her mindset (Mercury) could be perceived as forceful or
05° ¶ Ê 07'
extreme. With her Mars in Libra, we can see her need to assert herself
‰ 10' 23°
Š as a warrior — for peace. Toss her Capricorn Moon into the mix and
27° ‰ 04' we have a wide t-square, supporting her need to make things happen
— in words and in deeds.
All charts use Placidus houses One year later, on March 14, her response to COVID-19 was
and the Mean Node. equally strict and effective. “We must fight by going hard and by go-
ing early,” she stated.4 This tough-as-nails social expression reflects
her Venus–Saturn square, though Neptune’s opposition to Venus (all
three form another t-square) adds idealism and empathy. New Zea-
land’s lockdown may have been the strictest in the world, but Ardern
made two exceptions quite clear: The Easter Bunny and the Tooth
Fairy were absolutely, positively “essential workers.” Her compassion-
ate handling of the crisis won hearts around the world.5
Ardern’s Leo North Node is squared by Uranus, which makes
a modern psychological astrologer wonder how Ardern’s indepen-
dence may have been usurped in her early home life, likely by a
maternal influence. How will a need for freedom to be her unique
With Ardern’s self play out in her relationships? Ardern is the third woman to be-
Mercury square Pluto, come New Zealand’s prime minister — that’s not unique — though
at age 37, she was the youngest. She was also unmarried and preg-
we can appreciate how nant, becoming only the second elected world leader to give birth
her mindset (Mercury) while in office (the first was former Pakistani Prime Minister Bena-
zir Bhutto; Ardern’s daughter happened to be born on Bhutto’s
could be perceived as birthday). She became engaged to partner Clark Gayford last year
but has no plans to set a wedding date — at least not until after the
forceful or extreme. September election.6 Perhaps she’s still feeling the need for indepen-
dence suggested by the past three squares to her Sun from transiting
Uranus between May 2019 and February 2020.

AUG. / SEPT. 2020 9

 Charts in the News Without a confirmed birth time, our forecasting abilities are limited.
New Zealand astrologer Graham Ibell has proposed a rectified birth time
of 1:59 p.m., giving Ardern a 19° Sagittarius Ascendant, with natal
Neptune–Venus almost exactly on the Ascendant–Descendent axis,
squared by natal Saturn. Neptune conjunct a Sagittarius Ascendant cer-
tainly could reflect her dazzling projection of optimism, tempered by the
gravitas of Saturn’s square.
What do you think? What we can see with certainty in the short-term
future is that Solar Arc (SA) Jupiter conjoins Pluto in late October, and
this is in effect now through the rest of the year. This suggests a continu-
Compliments of:
Little Richard
Natal Chart
Dec 5 1932, Mon
ing expansion of power and resources for Prime Minister Ardern.
Astrologer Linda Kaye
916-730-6805
2:50 pm EST +5:00
Macon, GA
32°N50'26'' 083°W37'57''
Geocentric Richard Wayne Penniman (aka “Little Richard”), December 5,
Tropical
Placidus 1932; 2:50 p.m. EST; Macon, GA (32°N50', 83°W38'); C: accuracy in
Mean Node
question; statement made by mother in biography.
Dominant patterns in early May included transiting Venus square
16° ‰ 50'
Neptune, transiting Sun sextile Neptune, as well as trines between transit-
57' 24°
11°
Š ¾ ˆ 10' ing Mercury and Jupiter–Pluto. Stories of magic, music, and rose-colored
01° fantasies, along with boundary-pushing thinking, were sure to make news.
Š ¸ In eleven years of blogging about the astonishing synchronicity of plan-
21'
19' 13° º 29°
ˆ 10° etary patterns and the headlines, I’ve noticed that even the obituar-
‹ É 29' ˆ ‡
ies reflect current patterns. “Little Richard, flamboyant rocker who
10 9
14° 12° 48' 33'
‹ Œ
¶ 24° 17'Œ 11 8
fused gospel fervor and R&B sexuality, dies at 87”7 was published
‹
00'
on May 9, with a Sagittarius Moon activating his Mercury–Neptune
10° »
50' ‡
27° ¿ 19° Ü
12 7
27° square. Coincidence or conspiracy?
Ü
40'Œ
Chart 2: † “Little Richard” Penniman was a Sagittarius, driven by an im-
01'
1
Little Richard 6
01' pressionable Pisces Moon. (See Chart 2, at left.) This combination
suggests an immersion in matters of the higher mind, e.g., phi-
12'Π33'
25°
Ý
2 5
Œ
17'
…
21° losophy and religion — the bigger and more beautiful, the better!
29° Â 10' …12° ½ 21' “Bigger” is reflected by his Jupiter–Moon opposition; Jupiter needs
45' …
… 10° Ê …
3 4
Ý to expand whatever it touches.
Sir Thomas 33' Moore Œ
09° À 14° Compliments of:
Astrologer Linda Kaye
Natal Chart 06' ¼ 916-730-6805 Mars–Neptune–South Node in the 5th house can be a powerful and
Apr 30 1920, Fri
ƒ
12:00 pm BST -1:00
Keighley, England 23°
charismatic performer in all areas of creative expression. It’s supported
53°N52' 001°W54'
Geocentric
Tropical
24°
‚ 10' Á „
57'
by a sextile from Venus in Scorpio, adding depth and substance to the
11°
Placidus
Mean Node
Virgo Mars–Neptune’s need for sublimely perfect action. Mars–Neptune
16° ƒ 50'
squares the boundary-pushing needs of Sun–Mercury in Sagittarius. Mars
in hard aspect to Sun–Mercury is a statement of high energy. Neptune in
22° Ü 53'
42'
Ý
21°
hard aspect to Sun–Mercury could reflect mystery, glamour, illusion, un-
‚ ¸ » º Â ‹ 58' certainty, and/or idealism.
03° Ê
22°16°08°
16°09°
Ü Ü Ü Little Richard made it on to the Billboard charts in the fall of 1955.
Ý Ý
00' 47' 32' 04'19' The song was “Tutti Frutti,” and Billboard called it “a cleverly styled
25' 29°
ƒ Á
Œ
¿ Š novelty with nonsense words.”8 Oh, dear Billboard. With transiting
05° 10 9 05°
13° ƒ
59' 00'
‹ 53' Neptune opposing Little Richard’s Ascendant and all the other Nep-
tune patterns in his natal chart, “Tutti Frutti’s” nonsensical lyrics were
11 8

deliberately unclear. The song was about “raucous sex,”9 with pre-
À 08° „ 46' 12 7
cise details a matter of debate,10 as was Little Richard’s sexuality. At
13°
½ 09° „ 09'
Chart 3: 13°
„ Captain Š one point, he referred to himself as “omnisexual,” attracted to men
13'
1 Sir Tomas Moore 6
13'

29° …
Œ
51'
2 5
25'
Little Richard made it on to the
04°
Billboard charts in the fall of 1955. The
3 4
„ ¾ ‰
53' Œ Œ 13°
55' 00'

song was “Tutti Frutti,” and Billboard

33'
† ‡
†
09° 16°
27°
21°
… 58' ¶ ¼ É
03°
ˆ
42'
called it “a cleverly styled novelty with
‡
22° † 53'
nonsense words.”

10 THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER STUDENT SECTION

and women; at another point, he denounced homosexuality as
“unnatural.”11
It’s fascinating to see how much of Little Richard’s life ex-
perience reflected Neptunian themes. His father sold bootleg
whiskey. He sang in gospel churches. He abandoned his rock
and roll career in 1957, becoming an ordained minister and
traveling evangelist. “For the rest of his life,” says the New
York Times, “he was torn between the gravity of the pulpit
and the pull of the stage.” In the 1970s, he battled drugs and
alcohol and became a Bible salesman.12
Add the mask of a pioneering Aries Ascendant, ruled by
that bedazzled Mars. Consider that Uranus and Pluto square
the Midheaven and Ascendant, respectively. Uranus in hard
aspect to an angle suggests disruption and innovation; Pluto
in hard aspect to the angles suggests an irresistible force, for
better or worse. Little Richard will always be remembered
as a “founding father of rock and roll whose fervent shrieks,
flamboyant garb, and joyful, gender-bending persona embod-
ied the spirit and sound of that new art form.”13
Captain Sir Thomas Moore, April 30, 1920; birth time
unknown (noon BST used); Keighley, West Riding, York-
shire, England (31°N07', 81°W33'); source: Wikipedia.
The endearing story of World War II veteran Captain
Tom was another bright light in the news. Some weeks be-
fore his 100th birthday, he launched a fundraising drive as a
show of gratitude for the care he’s received from the most ex-
cellent National Health Service in the U.K. Vowing to walk
100 laps around his English garden, he figured he’d raise a
thousand pounds. By April 19, he’d raised over 29 million.14
One month later, his efforts had generated nearly 40 million
and a knighthood.15 Where in the horoscope do we see this
aptly-timed resource-generating potential?
Captain Tom has an empire-building earthy Taurus
Sun in a supercharged square to a grandly philanthropic
Jupiter–Neptune conjunction in Leo. (See Chart 3, previous
page.) That conjunction is being activated by the rainmaker
potential of a square from transiting Uranus, which is also
presenting his Taurus Sun with an opportunity to express his
individuality without compromise. His Venus (who, what, and
how he needs to love) at 22° Aries was squared in March by
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto. With natal Venus in Aries,
we surmise that Captain Tom loves a good challenge or cru-
sade! Note that he has the midpoint picture Venus=Jupiter/
Pluto,16 suggesting potent creativity and flair.
His Mars (how he needs to execute a plan) is in Libra
(like Jacinda Ardern’s). At 27° Libra, his Mars is squared in
2020 by three of those four transiting planets (all except
Pluto). Jupiter was within 1° to 3° of an exact square to
Mars throughout April, and it stationed retrograde within min-
utes of exactitute in mid May. Less than a week later, he was
awarded his knighthood. Perhaps he will be able to meet Her
Majesty the Queen in person in early December, when the
Mars–Jupiter square is exact.
Without a birth time, we can’t determine the transits to
his Libra Moon, other than it is out of the range of squares
from Saturn and Pluto (and by now, Jupiter, too). Still, it must
be extremely fulfilling to his people-pleasing Libra Moon to
be so popular at this time. A Solar Arc between his Sun and
the North and South Nodes — exact in October — suggests
strong potential for public recognition. His knighthood is just
one of many honors he’s received, including promotion and
birthday cards from over 150,000 fans.17
What do you have scheduled in your horoscope on your
100th solar return?
References and Notes
(All URLs were accessed in June 2020.)
1. https://www.ibtimes.com/coronavirus-update-new-zealand-discharges-last-
covid-19-patient-no-new-cases-5-days-2983698
2. Wikipedia notes that Ardern was raised in a Mormon household; she has
since become an agnostic.
3. Noel Tyl, Synthesis and Counseling in Astrology, Llewellyn, 1994, p. 87.
4. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/2020/04/what-new-zealand-
did-right-in-battling-coronavirus/#close
5. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/04/06/tooth-fairy-
easter-bunny-are-essential-workers-new-zealands-jacinda-ardern-confirms/
6. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid
=12304788
7. https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2020-05-09/little-richard-dead
8. https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9374829/billboard-
little-richard-tutti-frutti-review-1955
9. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/09/arts/music/little-richard-dead.
html
10. https://www.shmoop.com/tutti-frutti-little-richard/lyrics.html
11. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/little-richard-
dead-48505/
12. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/09/arts/music/little-richard-
dead.html
13. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/little-
richard-dead-48505/
14. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-veteran/
captain-tom-99-to-help-open-hospital-after-raising-29-million-idUSKBN
2200PI?il=0
15. https://people.com/human-interest/capt-tom-moore-gets-knighthood/
16. Venus is making a square aspect exactly in between (at the midpoint of)
Jupiter and Pluto. Venus is the focal point; Jupiter/Pluto is the midpoint.
Taken together, Venus=Jupiter/Pluto is the midpoint picture. Translation (as
Don McBroom explains in his helpful book, Midpoints, Llewellyn, 2007,
p. 32): Captain Tom’s Venus accomplishes its social, relationship, and aes-
thetic needs through all that is symbolized by Jupiter (expansion, confidence,
optimism) and Pluto (power, resources). When any planet is the focal point
of a Jupiter/Pluto midpoint, we see potential for personal success.
17. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/04/30/capt-toms-
100th-birthday-15000-cards-promotion-fundraiser-worth-39-million/
© 2020 Elisabeth Grace – all rights reserved
Elisabeth Grace, ISAR-CAP, earned her B.A. in Philosophy from
Wellesley College. She is a consulting (modern psychological) astrologer,
an STA-certified horary practitioner, and she is a highest-honors graduate
of Noel Tyl’s master’s course. Freelancing at WNBC and CNBC inspired
her must-read forecast on the astonishing synchronicity of headlines and
planetary patterns — get it delivered to your e-mail or book a consultation
at: http://www.elisabethgrace.com
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 11

Dim All The Lights
SOME MUSINGS ON SATURN–PLUTO,
THE MOST FEARED COMBINATION IN ASTROLOGY
by Frank C. Clifford
S
ome of us shudder when we think of Saturn transits …
or panic when Pluto inches towards a major area of our
chart. Both planets have dark, fearsome reputations,
and this year we’ve seen how their conjunction in Capricorn
in mid January coincided with the start of a prolonged period
in many societies of personal and economic hardship (Saturn)
amid an atmosphere of fear (Saturn), suspicion, and panic
(Pluto). We’ve witnessed an enforced (Pluto) pause (Saturn) to
everyday life — a lockdown (a great Saturn–Pluto word) with
much of the world “temporarily closed for renovation.”
With the pair conjunct this year, it’s the start of a new
era that will culminate in 2036–7 when they oppose each
other and end with the next conjunction in Pisces in 2053–4.
The 22 months around the conjunction (from February 2019
to November 2020) have also been the most extreme time
of Pluto’s sojourn (January 2008 to November 2024) in
Capricorn.
Much has been written by mundane astrologers on the
current planetary climate and its connection to previous
Saturn–Pluto cycles and international events, but in this article,
I’d like to focus more on the energies of these two planets.
We astrologers are taught that Saturn is the planet
associated with (among many other things) responsibilities,
commitments, structures, boundaries, limits, delays, law and
order, and society in general. Pluto has dominion over the
major social issues and taboos that dominate an era or gen-
eration, as well as anything seismic encountered in the life
that feels humbling, non-negotiable, or irreversible. Whereas
Saturn is linked to fear, finality, and mortality, Pluto is more
about terror (i.e., extreme fear) and what happens after
something or someone in our life has died. Pluto symbolises
the aftermath of an event, and the processes of rebirth, re-
juvenation, and reinvention. With Saturn, the road ends.
But with Pluto, the terrain has changed irrevocably — we
couldn’t have avoided it, and now there’s no turning back.
In a birth chart, the combination of Saturn–Pluto sug-
gests issues around control, power, authority, and respect.
At best, it represents expertise, self-mastery, and power ac-
cumulated over time and experience — surviving life’s trials
and tribulations and rites of passage (Saturn). Ideally, surviv-
ing and thriving. Or “coming into your own personal power,”
as the self-help books promise. With Saturn–Pluto, we are re-
12 THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER STUDENT SECTION
BW
minded of the quote attributed to Gloria Steinem: “Power can
be taken, but not given. The process of the taking is empow-
erment in itself.” 1 And of course, this takes time and maturity
(the Saturn process).
Keywords can provide a springboard for astrological
learning and synthesis, and Saturn–Pluto suggests privacy, en-
durance, indefatigability, fortress-like defences, deep personal
reserve, and deep reserves in general. Here are some phrases
and ideas that communicate the message of Saturn and Pluto:
• Foundations of power; reinforcement of power
• Demolition and reconstruction of structures/society
• Compulsion to control
• Mistrust of power bases; paranoia about “The System”
(imposed authority)
• Terror of responsibility; extreme caution; sabotaging
authority
• Fear of power/annihilation/persecution; impotence
• Transforming personal and collective authority
• Profound life lessons around self-control and self-mastery
• Powerfully committed to the transformation of the self
We’re all witnessing Saturn–Pluto in 2020, but what if
we have an aspect between these two planets in our natal
chart, too? What’s fascinating is that if we were born under
a planetary combination (particularly one involving the social
and outer planets), we are automatically connected to peri-
ods in the future when these two planets aspect one another.
This has been labelled a “recurrence” or “resonant” transit.
For instance, if we’re born under the Jupiter–Saturn con-
junction that happens every 20 years, we will find that major
chapters of our life will begin, shift gears, or end when these
two planets aspect each other during our lifetime.
Using roughly a 5° orb from the first to final hit, here’s
a list of dates when Saturn and Pluto were in aspect (con-
junction, square, opposition) with one another. (See Table,
following page.) The conjunction represents the merging of
the planetary principles and the start of a new cycle; the
square shows challenges to existing structures and obstacles
necessary to move things forward; while the opposition (the
aspect of relationship) brings the awareness/negotiation of
others’ Saturn–Pluto needs/behaviours into the mix.
Table: Saturn–Pluto Aspect Dates her doctor (Neptune was also conjunct the Ascendant by Solar
Arc direction). (Charts not shown.) While Solar Arc Mars was
Key Saturn–Pluto Dates Aspect conjunct her Virgo Sun, and Solar Arc Chiron conjunct Mars,
October 1946 – June 1948 conjunction Brennan checked in to the Betty Ford Center in late August
February 1955 – November 1956 square 1984 to break the addiction stranglehold. (Some years later,
she fought cancer and also broke her leg falling off stage.)
March 1965 – March 1966 opposition
True to her challenging chart and her ability to survive all
July 1973 – April 1975 square that had been thrown her way, Brennan said in 1999: “I’m
January 1982 – October 1983 conjunction here, aren’t I? What else can they do to me? … Some of us
April 1992 – February 1994 square just have to learn it the hard way.”4
June 2001 – April 2003 opposition
It’s apt astrologically that Eileen Brennan’s accident
occurred in part because the boulevard she crossed that
September 2009 – July 2011 square
night had been darkened by a temporary power outage.
February 2019 – November 2020 conjunction Saturn–Pluto can dim the lights and prompt major introspec-
May 2028 – May 2029 square tion and a reevaluation of our passage. The planetary pairing
“forces” us to pause and reflect on our “living karma”: how
These recurrence/resonant transits can coincide with im- our intentions and actions affect the world around us, our very
pactful times in our life even if the combination doesn’t make perceptions of this world, and our role in it. In Saturn–Pluto
an aspect to our natal chart. But when the new pairing locks style, we can either remain imprisoned by the conditioning
into a sensitive part of our horoscope by degree, it can sug- and habits we’ve created, or we can deconstruct these and re-
gest a time that is significant and deeply personal to us. build our path. But it often takes a demolition of these edifices
Here’s an example of a dramatic event InnerinWheel
the life of the — and numerous inconsequential things — that noOuter longer
Wheel
actress Eileen Brennan, but please do not deduce
Eileen that all ex-
Brennan serve us to prompt such searing self-examination and recon-
Transits
Female Chart struction. Brennan told the Los Angeles Times, Oct 27Event Chart
amples of Saturn–Pluto are anywhere near Sep 3as catastrophic.
1932, Sat 1982, Wed
Brennan was born with a grand cross involving Saturn and
9:12 am +8:00 11:00 pm PDT +7:00
Hollywood, California Venice, California
Pluto (see Chart, inner wheel, below right), tied in with the
34°N05'54'' 118°W19'33'' Everyone hits bottom in their own way. Mine came
33°N59'27'' 118°W27'33''
combustible, provocative, or accident-prone planets Mars and
Geocentric through my accident, which led to my pill addic-Geocentric
Tropical Tropical
Uranus (shared by legendary singer Patsy Equal
Cline, born five days tion, which led to my birth. I say ‘birth’ rather than Equal
later). Brassy and perky, Brennan achieved True
fameNodeby lending True Node
her comedic genius and distinctive, smoky voice to a series 27° ƒ 04'
of supporting roles (The Last Picture Show, The Sting, 04' 27°
and Private Benjamin) of characters who were world- „ ‚ 04'
27°
weary, caustic, gruff, or deeply sardonic.
On the evening of October 27, 1982, in
Venice, California,2 she waved goodbye after
dinner to her Benjamin co-star Goldie Hawn, 04' »Á¼ 27°
crossed the street, and was run down by a … º 25°22°19° Ý
driver. Her legs were snapped, her nose, 27° ½ 22° ƒƒƒ 04'
À
jaw, and bones in her face broken (Sat- ¸10°07°05°… „53' 07'56'24'

urn). At the time, Saturn and Pluto were Ê17° ……50'05' 28°
Â
… 06'57' 10 9 Ý
conjunct at 26–27° Libra, both within a 40'
11 8 Œ
degree of her Ascendant and square to
her natal Saturn. (See Chart, at right.) 27° ¶ 19°† 45' 12 7 27°
It was a non-negotiable, Pluto-type †
¾ 26°† 18'
Ü
trauma enforced upon her that necessi- 04'
Á 27°† 10' 1 6
Œ52' Ü22°
¿ 04'
tated a reconstruction (Saturn–Pluto) of
2 5
her body and life. 16' 06'
‡ 3 4
Brennan fought her injuries with 17° ‹
rage. “Anger is a powerful emotion. It
½ 17°

04'
Œ
47' É
increased my determination not to go 27° ˆ ‰ 04'
03°
under.”3 Healing took a long time, and she ‡ ¿ 28°
‹
became addicted to the pills prescribed by 04' 59' ¾ 27°
ˆ
24°

À
Chart: Bi-wheel. 27° 04'
Inner wheel and house cusps: Eileen Brennan
ˆ 04' 27°
Š
Compliments of:
Outer wheel: Accident by Vehicle Astrologer Linda Kaye 27° ‰ 04' continued on p. 20
916-730-6805

AUG. / SEPT. 2020 13

 Astro-Assistance
by Moon Zlotnick

Please feel free to ask Moon for Sometimes a 1st-house Saturn can
astrological perspective (moonrabbit be associated with a difficult childhood
astrology@gmail.com) by sending or early life events forcing you to grow
your question, along with your birth up very quickly, leaving you with an in- The nature of Mars
date, place, an accurate time of birth,
and its source (birth certificate, etc.).
ternalized sense of responsibility for
everything and everyone. With a Cap-
is to act, while Venus
Astrology can help to bring a fresh ricorn Ascendant and Saturn rising, prefers to wait and
point of view but doesn’t replace lis- you can feel like nothing comes easy;
tening to yourself or a professional. rather it has to be earned. Often, there
receive. Sometimes
Q: I’ve had other astrologers tell
is a perfectionistic overtone to both of the square between
these energies, and you can be your
me that Pluto is pretty strong in own worst critic. Focusing exclusively the two leads
my chart, and that’s why I haven’t
gotten what I desire. My Pluto is in
on external goals and achievements can
create frustration because getting where
to acting too soon,
Virgo, but I don’t know what that you’re going always feels like it takes or waiting
really means for me. Can you help? too long. Both of these planetary en-
— “A” ergies are associated with a traditional, too long to act.
conservative, and conventional ap-
A: I see why you’ve gotten the feedback proach to life.
joy and happiness through working with
about having a strong Pluto. (See Chart
Chart 1 In contrast, your Sun and Moon Astrologer Compliments of:
Natal Chart children
916-730-6805 or in the arts. Your Leo Sun is
Linda Kaye
1, below right.) You have Pluto Aug in 19
Virgo
4:37 pm PDT +7:00(how you express your outer and inner
1960, Fri
conjunct Uranus, the most unconven-
conjunct your late-degree Leo Sun, but
Inglewood,
self) are both in Leo, a playful, spon-
California
33°N57'42'' 118°W21'08'' tional, non-traditional of all the planets.
it is an out-of-sign conjunction,Tropical
which
Geocentric
taneous, and creative energy, which So, on the one hand you’re a natural
gives it a slightly different, lessMean
potent
Koch
sometimes leads people to find great
Node
rule breaker, a person who questions
meaning than if it were a same-sign
authority and who is born to live “out-
conjunction. That, along with five plan-
26° † 06' side” the norms, but on the other hand
ets in Pluto’s house (8th), may be part
00' 14° the equally strong Capricorn side of
of why you experience frustration, but ‡ À … 09'
19° your nature wants to fit in. This causes
first I want to address some other is- 06° É
» internal conflict.
sues of not getting what you desire, ‡ 16°
… 12°
Á
38' 05° ¸ You loosely have a “bucket” chart
which is something that comes 01' 26' …
… 26° ¿ 06°
ˆ Œ 58'34' „
„ with nine planets filling the signs
from looking at the entire chart. 10 9
57' „
21° º 22'
12° 46' „15° between your Moon in Leo
You have Capricorn rising ¶
11 8 50'
00° and your Saturn in Capricorn,
with Saturn, the ruling planet 09'
„
½ 23°ˆ while the tenth planet, Mars
of Capricorn, in its own sign 46'Œ
12 7 — the planet of desire —
— or at home — in your 1st 06°
Chart 1: 06°

house conjunct the Ascen- ‰ ƒ is off by itself in Gemini

46' ¾ 12° ‰ 23' Œ “A” 46' creating the “handle” of your
dant. This connects your role 1 6
bucket. This position makes
in daily life with a triple dose
Mars extremely important
of Saturn-like energies. Sat- 2 5 29'
‚ in your chart. Mars is the
urn and Capricorn are both 06° Œ 11° 01'
Š 57' 3 4
¼ ‚ planet of how we both know
associated with the need to be Š Œ
22' 29° 26' 12° and achieve what we want in
productive, to work hard, and of- ‹
 life. Your Mars in Gemini squares
ten will present obstacles in daily 16°
Ê Pluto, Venus, and your North Node
life as ways to teach you about pa- 14° 00'
‹ 09' Ý — all in Virgo. Mars is different from
tience, endurance, and taking small 19°
20
strategic steps to achieve goals. 26° Ü 06'
Charts use Koch houses and the Mean Node.

14 THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER STUDENT SECTION

every other planet in your chart since
it’s the only planet in an air sign.
While your Ascendant is in practical
earth, and your Sun and Moon are in
creative fire, your Mars is in mental and
changeable air. Gemini is known for
having many different interests, getting
bored quite easily, and struggling with
focus. Mars sits right on the cusp (using
Koch houses) between the 5th and
6th house, adding an extra layer of
complexity, attracting your interests to
both creative endeavors (5th house), as
well as health and service (6th house).
Weighing more heavily on you is
the square between Mars — your “de-
sire” nature — and Pluto, the archetype
of the Underworld. Pluto spent around
14 years in Virgo, making it a genera-
tional influence in your chart, while the
square with Mars is more deeply per-
sonal. Squares create internal struggles,
so when Mars moves to take an ac-
tion or set something in motion, Pluto
will take that energy and push it under-
ground where it first must be examined
in great detail (Virgo) for every flaw and
possible problem. Pluto in any sign or
house looks into things very deeply in
order to not experience a loss of control, to work together. In most conjunctions
and simultaneously can often experience
Chart 2
a feeling of being overwhelmedJan
Natal Chart
or pow-
11 1936, Sat
2:35 am PST +8:00
erless. You can find yourself hesitating
Portland, Oregon
over small decisions and then distracting
Geocentric
45°N31'25'' 122°W40'30''
Tropical
yourself (Gemini) by going off Mean
in aNode
Koch
new
direction. Or you can start something,
only to lose steam after a short while.
The additional squares between
Mars and Venus and the North Node
add extra layers to the complexity
of getting what you want. The
nature of Mars is to act, while
Venus prefers to wait and re- † 10
15°
ceive. Sometimes the square
between the two leads to
acting too soon, or waiting
too long to act. The square 11°
between Mars and the ‡ Ý outer life change.
57' Æ
nodes suggests other life-
times where fulfilling your
desires has been part of
your soul’s lesson. 08°
ˆ » 13°
All hope is not lost!
There’s a configuration in your
chart that comes to your aid —
Pluto, the North Node, and Venus
are all in Virgo trine your Capricorn
Ascendant and Saturn. By using the
Virgo makes grounded, down-to-earth
plans, so that Leo can get attention,
be creative, and make life fun. With
Pluto in any five planets in your 8th house, doing
conjunction to research, solving mysteries, studying
psychology, the occult, or what’s hid-
the Sun will give den can be a place for you to shine.
you a strong will, Pluto in any conjunction to the Sun
will give you a strong will, deep-seated
deep-seated resourcefulness, and a powerful and
active underworld or unconscious. Be-
resourcefulness, cause Chiron in Aquarius opposes your
and a powerful and Sun, Uranus, and Pluto and is associ-
ated with healing wounds (oppositions
active underworld or most often represent an externalized
part of life), seeing a healer or psycho-
unconscious. therapist could help you find some
helpful resolutions to these issues.
Virgo energies of discernment and dis- Q: As a Capricorn I have always
crimination to break down precisely enjoyed my work. Now at 84 years
what you want, you can then take small I would love to find something
manageable steps to achieving those challenging, helpful, and enjoyable
goals (Capricorn), and over time you to do. My health is excellent at
would see yourself making progress. this time. My background was as a
Pluto is also involved with your flight attendant, licensed practical
Sun by conjunction, but here again you nurse (LPN), divorce mediator, and
must combine the differing energies of realtor. Is it too late for me to find
Leo and Virgo by finding ways for them something worthwhile for myself?
I feel I have let too many years
where the planets are in the same sign, Compliments go byof: since retiring. I like volun-
Astrologer Linda Kaye
they can find ways to support each teering; however, it needs to be a
916-730-6805
other. In your chart Leo always wants challenge. Do you feel this is too
to be center stage and shine, while
much to ask at this time?
Virgo empties the trash and does the — “B”
dishes. They can work together when
B: Congratulations on your good health
23° „ 30'
and desire to find a worthwhile en-
37' 08°
… ¶ ƒ deavor. You are currently experiencing
19° Á 48'
À 21°
26°
Ê your Uranus return. (See Chart 2, at
16° „
… 05'
ƒ 12° left.) At the same time, transiting Ura-
25' ƒ
53' 38' Œ 22' 08° nus is squaring your Mercury while
Œ Œ
9 Â ‚ also transiting your Descendant,
11° 26'
11 8 39'
‚ and Saturn–Pluto are conjunct
Œ
your Sun opposing Pluto. These
important, major life transits
12 7
Chart 2: 11° often indicate both inner and
“B”
14° ‡ 52'
57'
1 6 32' Ý
01°
Uranus returns to its natal
¿ position every 84 years, making
20' 2 5 it a once-in-a-lifetime experience
ˆ
09° ˆ48' 53' that can push you toward greater
3 4
Œ Ü authenticity and a clearer sense of
26' ½ 22' 15°
‰
‰
02'
51' 32' 52' self. Transits of Uranus often stimu-
‹
12°
20°
Š Š
06°
late new ideas and interests, a desire
08° ɸ 07° 27° 37' to experience something different, and
‰ 48' º ¼ ¾ 19°‹
continued on p. 64
23° Š 30'

AUG. / SEPT. 2020 15

 The Eastern Window
by Penny Farrow

Editor’s Note: Cross ventilation similar way, the astrological effects of hol poisoning after a long battle with
produces a breath of fresh air. It is eclipses on a native or a society can drug and alcohol addictions.
desirable in a house and even in a be gleaned from this myth. Why are the effects of the nodes in
magazine! In this spirit, we are featur- Though dramatic eclipses visible this chart so dramatic? Not only is the
ing a series of short articles designed at the time of birth are obviously quite Rahu–Ketu axis across the 1st–7th house
to make some of the basic building rare, every chart contains, and must axis, Rahu is debilitated and Ketu is ex-
blocks and ideas of Vedic astrology contend with, Rahu and Ketu. Their alted, which exaggerates their effects.
more accessible to all. We anticipate DNA brings themes implicit in the cre- All of the grahas (planets) except for the
that opening the Eastern Window can ation myth into the individual’s destiny Moon are “in the belly of the snake,”
clarify the complementarity between pattern. There are endless permutations a pattern known as Kala Sarpa Yoga
great astrological traditions. and outcomes that Rahu and Ketu can
create in the ecosystem we call a chart.
The Power of Illusion (or is it the Let’s look at a few themes that Rahu
Illusion of Power?): Rahu, Ketu, and Ketu bring forward, or color, in the
and the Wizard of Oz horoscopes of two famous natives.
Eclipse — a most spectacular,
terrifying, hoodwinking, conjuring, Amy Winehouse
phantasmal, astronomical event. The Not only are Rahu and Ketu strad-
disappearance of the Sun, the bloody- dling the 1st–7th house axis (see Chart
ing of the Moon. Reality or illusion? If 1, below), Amy was actually born in a
what you see is what you get, it is both. Ketu dasha (planetary period) and Rahu
The eclipse spectacle shows great in- bhukti (sub-period).4 (See Table 1, be-
vention and innovation, an extensive low right.) The encircling “embrace” of
range of possible presentations, inten- the dragon seemed inevitable — a com-
sity, charisma, and a radically altered pelling portrait of destiny and karma. 9LPVKRWWDUL'DVKDV
view of the cosmos. Amy’s incredible talent was 6WDUW'DWH
  $JH 'DVKDV
And the illusionists? Those ambi- evident from the beginning as was her     .H 5D
tious tricksters, Rahu and Ketu. They     .H -S
maladjustment to societal norms. Un-     .H 6D
have no substance, are shadowy out- fortunately, she became a member     .H 0H
    9H 9H
siders; but yet, there is power in the of the infamous 27 club, a group of     9H 6X
confusion they wreak, in the manipula- young celebrities who passed away at     9H 0R
    9H 0D
tion and misconceptions. Yes, illusion 27 years old; Amy succumbed to alco-     9H 5D
is potent, and the purveyors can whip 5DVKL'*HQHUDO     9H -S
    9H 6D
up the masses, disguise reality, and be-
come “Oz, the Great and Powerful.”
$V ƒ   
  
 9H
 9H
0H
.H
The creation story of Rahu, 5D ƒ   
  
 6X
 6X
6X
0R
3LV $UL 7DX *HP
Ketu, and the Churning of the Ocean1     6X 0D
    6X 5D
conveys these characteristics. Myths 0D ƒ     6X -S
embody important realities and even     6X 6D

astronomical principles, enabling Chart 1: 9H ƒ     6X 0H

    6X .H
$TX Amy &DQ
wisdom to be passed down through     6X 9H

generations. For example, a lovely Winehouse 6X ƒ   

  
 0R
 0R
0R
0D
TED Talk2 speaks to a stunning link 0H ƒ   
  
 0R
 0R
5D
-S
between the Moon’s affinity for Rohini &DS /HR     0R 6D
    0R 0H
(one of his 27 wives) and the frequency
with which Rohini (the Sanskrit name .H ƒ   QRZ  0R .H

0Rƒ -S ƒ 6Dƒ

    0R 9H
    0R 6X
for the fixed star Aldebaran) is occulted     0D 0D
(covered) by the Moon. Rohini is the 6DJ 6FR /LEU 9LUJ     0D 5D
marking star for the nakshatra (lunar South Indian charts, Lahiri ayanamsha, Table 1: Amy Winehouse’s
constellation) that bears its name.3 In a and the Mean Node Vimshottari Dasha–Bhuktis

16 THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER STUDENT SECTION

(black cobra yoga).5 The lord of the lagna
(Ascendant) is Venus, which is power-
ful because it is retrograde, but heavily
afflicted by its yuti (association) with de-
bilitated Mars and the drishti (aspect) by
exalted Saturn. It is also in the naksha-
tra of Ashlesha, whose deity is Sarpa
(the snake). Venus is in the very last de-
gree (29°35') of the water rashi (sign)
of Cancer — a perilous no-man’s land
between the junction of water and fire
rashis, where grahas are vulnerable.
Amy’s pattern is particularly intense,
manifesting in her physical appearance,
her voice, and persona. She was hyp-
notic, fascinating, compelling, utterly
innovative, and iconic. Her influence
pervades the pop scene to this day and
is especially notable in superstars like
Lady Gaga.
L. Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard (LRH), Dianetics,
and the Church of Scientology also
epitomize these nodal themes. While
supporters portray him as a pioneer,
nuclear physicist, philosopher, world
traveler, and writer — most of the
world, including many governments,
saw his movement as a powerful and
lucrative cult that gave him uncanny
power over his minions. The orga-
nization, it is said, seduced followers
with the vision of rehabilitating their
omnipotent and perfect self through
techniques and devices invented by
LRH. So, it is not surprising that his
biographies have titles like: L. Ron
Hubbard: Messiah or Madman?
5DVKL'*HQHUDO
6D ƒ
9H ƒ 5D ƒ
3LV $UL 7DX *HP
6X ƒ
0H ƒ Chart 2:
He transformed himself from a Hubbard’s lagna lord is an exalted
writer of very idiosyncratic science fiction Mars in the 3rd bhava (house) with no
into a guru, conferring upon the faith- influence on it other than a tight rela-
ful his spiritual scriptures, the Red and tionship with debilitated Saturn sitting
Green volumes (a collection of his writ- with Rahu in the 6th bhava. Both
ings, tapes, etc.). Control was absolute, the 3rd and the 6th bhavas welcome
and the organization raked in millions in malefics and provide the native with in-
what has been described as a mafia-like creased courage and even brashness,
global racket — complete with intimi- especially when the malefics are in
dation, lawsuits against any opposers, exaggerated states like exaltation and
corruption, smoke and mirrors, and lies. debilitation. Indeed, it was in May 1950
Eventually, he had to spend his during his Mars–Rahu dasha–bhukti
life at sea to avoid “all the people after period (see Table 2, below left) that
him.”6 After eight years, he went into he published Dianetics: The Mod-
hiding in numerous places, moving on ern Science of Mental Health, which
when his whereabouts were disclosed. launched the movement that would later
His last years (he died in 1986 at age morph into the Church of Scientology.8
74) were spent in a motorhome on a Jupiter, as the 2nd-house lord of speech,
ranch, continuing to write and run the is in the 12th house in the Rahu–Ketu
church,7 which has carried on unabated axis and aspected by that debilitated
to the present time. Saturn. This can be seen as a signature
The chart of LRH is fascinating. for deceptive speech bundled in skillful
(See Chart 2, below left.) Let’s start spiritual wrappings.
with the Scorpio lagna — a rising rashi Though his last ten-plus years were
that is well known for power, secrets, during his Jupiter dasha, he spent the
magic, and something unsettling. The bulk of his life in the Rahu dasha, ful-
rising nakshatra of Jyeshtha furthers filling his destiny as the unstable genius
the narrative, as the mighty Indra is the who would unleash one of the most
deity who becomes drunk with power. controversial, grandiose, out-of-the-
A talisman is the symbol for this nak- mainstream movements in modern his-
shatra, intimating divine protection tory. It is a life that perfectly reflects
provided by powerful unseen forces. Rahu’s insatiable desire for power and
9LPVKRWWDUL'DVKDV
immortality. L. Ron Hubbard — the
6WDUW'DWH
  $JH 'DVKDV
Wizard of Oz!
    0R 5D
    0R -S
    0R 6D Chart Data and Sources
    0R 0H (in order of appearance)
    0R .H
    0R 9H Amy Winehouse, September 14, 1983; 10:25
    0R 6X p.m. GDT; Enfield, England (51°N40', 0°W05');
    0D 0D
    0D 5D A: from memory; Frank Clifford quotes Margaret
    0D -S Zelinski who obtained the data from Winehouse’s
    0D 6D mother via a mutual friend of theirs.
  
  
 0D
 0D
0H
.H
  
  
 0D
 0D
9H
6X
L. Ron Hubbard, March 13, 1911; 2:01 a.m.
    0D 0R CST; Tilden, NE, USA (42°N03', 97°W50');
    5D 5D A: from memory; Sy Scholfield quotes from
  
  
 5D
 5D
-S
6D
Bare-Faced Messiah: The True Story of L. Ron
  
  
 5D
 5D
0H
.H
Hubbard by Russell Miller, Silvertail, 2015, p. 17.

$TX &DQ     5D 9H

L. Ron     5D 6X References and Notes
Hubbard 0R ƒ   
  
 5D
 5D
0R
0D 1. Penny Farrow, “Enter the Dragon: The Story
0Dƒ   
  
 -S
 -S
-S
6D
of Rahu and Ketu,” in The Mountain Astrologer,
June/July 2020, p. 16.
&DS /HR     -S 0H

$V ƒ -S ƒ
    -S .H 2. Raj Vedam, “TEDx Talks: Of Ancient Star-Gazers
    -S 9H and Story-Spinners,” https://www.youtube.com/
    -S 6X
.Hƒ   
  
 -S
 -S
0R
0D
watch?v=Jq__DXtfeXw (accessed May 15, 2020).
6DJ 6FR /LEU 9LUJ 3. Farrow, “Meet the Fascinating Wives of the
Moon,” in TMA, Dec. 2018/Jan. 2019, p. 18.
Table 2: L. Ron Hubbard’s
Vimshottari Dashas–Bhuktis continued on p. 62

AUG. / SEPT. 2020 17

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 Dim All The Lights
continued from p. 13
‘rebirth’ because I feel born new. I reestablished a
spiritual connection that is lost when you are taking
any kind of drug. Strangely enough I wouldn’t have
missed my accident. It just knocks me out to say
that, but I mean it.5
“We get addicted to dull the pain of life,” she said in an
interview with the Ladies Home Journal.6 “But once we
accept that life is tough and painful, we can move on and
grow and evolve.” Perhaps life doesn’t get easier; we sim-
ply grow into ways of managing it better. And that’s another
Saturn–Pluto lesson.
Sometimes Saturn–Pluto (to the natal chart or in the
current planetary climate of 2020) coincides with events
that humble us or strip things back to the bare essentials —
leaving us little comfort or reassurance. These events can
remove an anchor in our life and force us to face stark re-
alities, but there is always the invitation to self-heal through
the chaos surrounding us, and to become conscious of and
respect the foremost treasures we have in our life: our life
spark, talents, and relationships to others and the cosmos.
Chart Data and Source
Eileen Brennan, September 3, 1932; 9:12 a.m. PST; Los Angeles, Cal-
ifornia, USA (34°N03', 118°W15'); AA: birth certificate obtained by FCC;
copy on file.
References
(All URLs were accessed in June 2020.)
1. https://womenyoushouldknow.net/empowering-quotes-gloria-steinem/
2. 11:00 p.m. PDT is the speculative time used for the accident.
3. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/07/31/eileen-brennan-private-
benjamin-goldie-hawn_n_3681208.html
4. https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-eileen-brennan-
20130731-story.html
5. https://people.com/archive/out-of-her-horrid-accident-and-the-drug-addiction-
that-followed-eileen-brennan-finds-a-prescription-for-life-vol-23-no-16/
6. See note 3.
© 2020 Frank C. Clifford – all rights reserved
Frank Clifford is the author of The Solar Arc Handbook (2018)
as well as Getting to the Heart of Your Chart and Palmistry 4 Today.
Frank’s new online school (teaching astrology, tarot, and palm-
istry) and many free articles and videos can be found at http://
www.londonschoolofastrology.com

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20 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER

 THE ASTROLOGY OF
EPIDEMICS AND
PANDEMICS
by Ema Kurent
T
he first question that an astrologer asks in reference
to a contagious disease is: What is its planetary ruler,
or significator? Whereas traditional astrologers may
choose Saturn (illness and death in general) or Mars (infec-
tious disease causing inflammation and fever), my experience
is that contagious diseases and epidemics are more accurately
ruled by Neptune. There are two reasons for this: chemistry
and (lack of) containment.
First, Neptune rules chemistry and poisons, as well as ev-
erything that is subtle but hurtful or detrimental to our bodies.
Take alcohol or drugs, for example, two classical Neptunian
entities. They change the chemistry of our bodies and make us
feel “unreal,” nauseous, or sick. Many medicinal drugs create
in us a feeling of being well, when in reality we are not: Aspirin
will make a headache go away, but the cause for the headache
will still exist. Viruses invade our bodies before we are even
aware of it and weaken us substantially. They are seemingly in-
visible, so small that they can be seen only under a microscope,
though they can be deadly because they reproduce wildly and
meddle with our bodily chemistry. They have this typical Nep-
tunian trait of pulling down bodily defenses, and our immune
systems have to put up a fight when faced with the threat
of their invasion. Diminutive but strong, invisible but highly
contagious, and fatal — that is all very Neptunian.
Second, Neptune rules everything that cannot be con-
tained or is very difficult to contain (like gasses); everything that
spills over the top; everything that is a threat simply because it
cannot be controlled. Viruses are such entities — the most in-
determinate form of life, yet all the more dangerous because of
their sheer determination to reproduce and invade our bodies.
Transits and progressions of Neptune tend to cause people to
feel weak, tired, or lethargic. Doctors usually can’t find a rea-
son for their condition, and when Neptune moves away, these
people start to feel good again. Thus, Neptune takes away
physical strength for reasons difficult to discern. However, ex-
tremely contagious diseases are another possible expression,
in which case, we see a widespread, invisible attack of a quasi-
alive organism (virus) deplete, dissolve, and obliterate human
immune defenses. An apt signature, indeed.
Based on my reckoning that viruses and epidemics fall un-
der Neptune, I have examined the planet’s transits according
to three measurements: longitude, declination, and latitude.
Because not all epidemics could be accounted for by Neptune
transits, I added total and annular solar eclipses, also checking
them against their aspects with Neptune. My results revealed
the importance of less commonly used aspects like parallels of
declination and latitude, which I’ll cover in detail below.
According to my research, all the worst epidemics and
pandemics in recorded history have manifested in times of
Neptune–Pluto or Neptune–Saturn major aspects in longitude,
declination, or latitude; or the involvement of Neptune and ei-
ther of the two pairs of planets during a major eclipse. Often,
the trigger can be Neptune’s arrival at a critical degree: on the
equator, the ecliptic, a station, or the degree of its maximum
declination. The involvement of Pluto more often escalates
an epidemic into a pandemic. Epidemics also tend to develop
into pandemics in the years of minor and major lunar stand-
stills (discussed in detail below), and during those months
when the lunar maximum declination is 23.5°. While these
lunar phenomena indicate extremes of all kinds (from nat-
ural disasters and mass suffering to major breakthroughs in
science), in this article I demonstrate how they relate to out-
breaks of epidemics and pandemics. I will mainly focus on
declination and celestial latitude only — measurements that
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 21
Epidemics / Pandemics
are less widely known but no less powerful than the more fa-
miliar measurement of celestial longitude (zodiacal degrees).
Declination and Celestial Latitude
Declination is a measurement in the equatorial system
whereby we measure the distance of a celestial body above
or below the equator (or north and south of it) in degrees,
minutes, and seconds of arc. Latitude (or celestial latitude)
is a measurement in the ecliptic system whereby we measure
the distance of a celestial body above or below the ecliptic
(or north and south of the Sun’s annual, imaginary path) in
degrees, minutes, and seconds of arc. The only aspects that
we use with both measurements are referred to as paral-
lels of declination and parallels of latitude or their opposite,
known as contraparallels. I have come to the conclusion that
a viable orb for a parallel of declination is 1°, and for a paral-
lel of latitude it should be 20 arc minutes, not more. This is
because the apparent distances between celestial bodies in lat-
itude are tiny; all the planets except Pluto stay relatively close
to the ecliptic at all times. Venus can reach just beyond 8° of
northern or southern latitude; the Moon has a steady cycle of
fluctuating between a bit over 5° to the north or south; Pluto
can go as far as 18°, whereas all the other planets — espe-
cially those from Jupiter onwards — will always stay closer.
The terms major and minor lunar standstills refer to
the declination cycle of the Moon. During its monthly cy-
cle, the Moon reaches its maximum declination twice, once
to the north and once to the south (of the equator). This
maximum declination varies between 18.1° and 28.7° (N
Female patient with bubonic plague in Karachi, India. Wellcome Trust (CC BY 4.0)
22 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
The force of any planet on the
ecliptic is tripled, and the slower
the planet, the longer its effect.
or S). Due to the precession of the plane of the lunar orbit,
its monthly maximum gradually increases and decreases,
with the whole cycle taking 18.6 years. Starting at 18.1°,
the Moon’s maximum declination will gradually increase for
9.3 consecutive years, reaching the maximum of 28.7°, and
then decrease back to 18.1° through the next 9.3 years.
The periods (lasting approximately a year) when the Moon’s
maximum monthly declination is about 18° are called minor
lunar standstills, and when its maximum monthly declination
is 28.5° these periods are called major lunar standstills. The
measurement 23.5° lies between both values and is critical
because it is the degree of the Sun’s maximum declination
(reached twice a year at the solstices).
Let us now look at some of the historical epidemics/pan-
demics beginning with the bubonic plague, to see how these
astrological factors present themselves.
Ecliptic Crossings
In my research, I uncovered a correspondence between
Neptune crossing the ecliptic and outbreaks of an epidemic/
pandemic nature. The force of any planet on the ecliptic
is tripled, and the slower the planet, the longer its effect.
Due to its slow motion, Neptune crosses the ecliptic every
82 years (approximately). Starting from 1345, the year just
before the devastation of the bubonic plague, the next cross-
ings occurred in 1426, 1509, 1590, 1674, 1755, 1838,
1920, and 2003. (See Figure 1, following page.) Bear in
mind that with celestial latitude, the orb of influence is 20 arc
minutes, which amounts to 10 years in Neptune’s case, so
every Neptune ecliptic crossing spans 10 years.
1345 (1340–50) N/S: Bubonic plague or the “black
death” officially broke out in 1346 and lasted until 1353. (See
Figure 2, following page.) It reached mainland Europe in
1348 and killed between 75 and 200 million people — up to
half of the population of Eurasia — over the next four years. In
1346, Neptune moved 4' of arc. During the seven years that
the plague made its killing march, Neptune moved about half
a degree to the south. Before developing into a pandemic, the
illness took some time to spread, and it was probably there a
year or two before 1346. This was also the year of a minor
lunar standstill.
1426 (1421–31) S/N: Sources are scarce on this period.
“The 1420s brought an epidemic of something like influenza,
and the 1420s and 1430s saw six more outbreaks of plague,”
writes Gilbertus Anglicus in his book Healing and Society in
Medieval England.1
Figure 1: The path of Neptune in celestial latitude over 800 years (1300–2100)

Figure 2: The path of Neptune in celestial latitude over 200 years (1300–1500)

1509 (1504–14) N/S: 1510 marked the year of the first
chronicled pandemic. Medical historians describe it as in-
fluenza. It emerged as an acute respiratory disease in Asia
before spreading through North Africa and Europe. Vast
swaths of people were affected although the mortality rate
was only 1%.
1674 (1669–79) N/S: Between 1663–79, there were sev-
eral major outbreaks of plague in Europe. Whereas timing
is a bit off for the Great Plague of London (1665–66) which
claimed about 100,000 lives, plague took another 152,000
lives in France, Spain, Malta, Austria, and the Netherlands
within the said time span.

1590 (1586–96) S/N: From 1592 to 1593, London ex- 1755 (1750–60) S/N: By the mid 18th century, small-
perienced its last major plague outbreak of the 16th century. pox was a major epidemic worldwide. In 18th-century Eu-
At least 21,000 people died of plague within the city and in rope, smallpox was a leading cause of death, killing an
the surrounding parishes. estimated 400,000 Europeans each year. The British used

AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 23

Epidemics / Pandemics
smallpox as a biological warfare agent at the Siege of Fort
Pitt during the French and Indian Wars (1754–63) against
France and its Native American allies.
1838 (1833–43) N/S: The 1837 Great Plains smallpox
epidemic spanned 1836 through 1840 but reached its height
after the spring of 1837 when an American steamboat car-
ried infected people and supplies into the Missouri Valley.
More than 17,000 Indigenous people died along the Missouri
River alone, with some bands becoming nearly extinct.
1920 (1915–25) S/N: Between 1915–26 — precisely
within the range of the Neptune ecliptic crossing — a pecu-
liar epidemic was spreading across the world, affecting nearly
5 million people, a third of whom died in the acute stages.
The disease — now close to extinct — was called Encepha-
litis lethargica, also known as “sleeping sickness.” Many of
those who survived never returned to their pre-existing “alive-
ness.” In his book Awakenings, Oliver Sacks writes:
They would be conscious and aware — yet not fully
awake; they would sit motionless and speechless
all day in their chairs, totally lacking energy, impe-
tus, initiative, motive, appetite, affect, or desire; they
registered what went on about them without active
attention, and with profound indifference. They nei-
ther conveyed nor felt the feeling of life; they were as
insubstantial as ghosts, and as passive as zombies.2
Sounds like a doubly Neptunian pandemic!
Three more pandemics raged during this time span.
From 1918–20, the Spanish flu pandemic claimed between
17 and 100 million lives. From 1915–22, typhus infected
20–30 million, causing several million deaths worldwide —
around three million lives in Russia alone. Finally, on a lesser
scale, the 1916 poliomyelitis (polio) epidemic in the United
States claimed over 7,000 lives.
2003 (1998–2008) N/S: An opioid epidemic began in
the U.S. in the late 1990s, when these drugs were increas-
Figure 3: A triple parallel of declination between Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto in 1917–18, synchronous with the outbreak of Spanish Flu
24 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
ingly prescribed for pain management, resulting in a rise in
overall opioid use throughout subsequent years. From 1999
to 2017, more than 399,000 people died from drug over-
doses that involved prescription and illicit opioids.
SARS (2002–04): The latest 2003 Neptune ecliptic cross-
ing synchronized with the outbreak of a deadly coronavirus
epidemic, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The
outbreak was first identified in China in November 2002.
Over 8,000 people from 29 different countries and terri-
tories were infected, and at least 774 died worldwide. The
World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease con-
tained in July 2003; however, several SARS cases were
reported until May 2004.
Parallels of Declination
The Spanish Flu (1918–20)
Now, this is the big one! Several astrological signatures
worked synchronously to combine into a true “pandemic
bomb”! From January 1918 to the end of 1920, over a quar-
ter of the world’s population (500 million people at the time)
became infected with the Spanish flu. This unusually deadly
strain of influenza caused at least 17 million and perhaps up-
wards of 100 million deaths, making it one of the deadliest
pandemics to ever strike humanity.
Three major astrological factors come into prominence:
Neptune crossing the ecliptic, the Moon’s declination max-
imum equaling 23.5°, and Neptune being in a rare parallel
declination with Pluto and Saturn. (See Figure 3, below.)
First, when the pandemic started at the beginning of 1918,
Neptune was only 0°08' minutes away from the ecliptic.
In 1920, Neptune finally crossed the ecliptic from south to
north. Considering the orb of 20' in 1918 (and even 1917),
the Neptunian energy was already strongly present in Earth’s
biosphere. Second, in 1918, the Moon’s monthly declination
maximum was 23.5° — a strong indicator of extremes and
things getting out of control.
Third, Neptune was in a parallel of declination with Pluto
and Saturn, which became exact in the second half of 1917
and during the first months of 1918 when the epidemic of-
ficially started. A triple parallel between those three planets
is an extremely rare celestial event. Since the year 1000, it
has only occurred in 1127, 1809, 1863, and 1918, and it will
not happen again until 2212! (By a “triple parallel,” I mean
the three planets actually crossing each other’s path, as viewed
from Earth, in the course of six months.) The 1863 configu-
ration carried extreme power because the three planets also
conjoined the sensitive celestial plane of the equator. In the
midst of the American Civil War (1861–65), the fourth cholera
pandemic started (1863), claiming about 600,000 lives until
its dissipation in 1875.
But let us return to the Spanish flu. Its beginnings stem
in late 1917 when military pathologists reported the onset of
a new disease with high mortality that they later recognized
as the flu. This concurs with the triple parallel of declina-
tion between Neptune, Pluto, and Saturn that formed for the
first time in the second half of 1917 and repeated — in an
even more condensed and therefore stronger form — in
the first half of 1918.
All the slow-moving planets, however, show their great-
est strength not only when they cross the ecliptic (or the
equator), but also when they reach their upper and lower
maxima; in other words, when they are at a southern or
northern “standstill.”
Standstills and Equator Crossings
It appears that whenever a slow-moving planet reaches
its northern or southern maximum in declination, or when
it crosses the equator as discussed above, it creates excep-
tionally strong vibrations, just like its station (as measured
in longitude), only more powerful. Of course, both maxima
are of longer duration — because a planet then seems to
“stand still” — with Neptune, this takes approximately five
years. Figure 4 (below) shows Neptune’s path over 500
years and the epidemics/pandemics that broke out at any
of its sensitive phases (both maxima and equator crossings).
The last maximum (southern) was reached in 1981 when the
HIV/AIDS crisis began.
For a list of all the epidemics/pandemics in chronological
order, see Table 1, at right; the year listed in the first place
Figure 4: The path of Neptune in declination from 1500–2000
Table 1: Epidemics/Pandemics during Neptune’s Sensitive Phases
over 500 years
Year Epidemics/Pandemics
1535 A major plague outbreak in Europe
1576–80 The second Cocoliztli epidemic
1616–20 The New England epidemic — a term given to an epidemic
of unknown cause that killed between 30–90% of the
population in southern New England
1656 The Naples Plague that nearly eradicated the population
of Naples, Italy
1698 Probably the first exposure of Cherokees to smallpox;
during the course of that year, a smallpox epidemic mea-
surably diminished their population.
1739 The Great Plague of 1738 was an outbreak of the bubonic
plague between 1738–40 that affected areas in the
modern nations of Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, Serbia,
Croatia, and Austria. The epidemic likely killed over
50,000 people.
1775–82 The North American smallpox epidemic devastated the
New World of the Western Hemisphere.
1816 The first cholera pandemic (1817–24) began near the
city of Calcutta and spread throughout Southeast Asia to
the Middle East, Eastern Africa, and the Mediterranean
coast, claiming 100,000 lives.
1863–75 The fourth cholera pandemic began in the Bengal region
in 1863 and claimed around 600,000 lives until its dissi-
pation in 1875.
1899 The sixth cholera pandemic began in India, where it
–1923 killed more than 800,000 people before spreading to the
Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe, and Russia.
1943 While World War II raged and millions of people were
dying via warfare, many also succumbed to various epi-
demics that ravaged war-stricken populations. One of the
most notable was the 1943 typhus and malaria epidemic in
Egypt and the Mediterranean.
1981 The onset of HIV/AIDS, an infectious disease that has so
far caused an estimated 32 million deaths worldwide and
is considered an ongoing pandemic.
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 25
Epidemics / Pandemics
refers to the exact year of Neptune reaching any of the sensi-
tive degrees.
Lunar Maximum Monthly Declination (23.5°)
The Cocoliztli Epidemics (1545–48 and 1576–80)
Present-day Mexico experienced an incalculable loss of
life during what became known as the Cocoliztli epidemic
in the 16th century. A series of mysterious illnesses collec-
tively called Cocoliztli caused high fevers and bleeding, and
exacted a death toll of 12–15 million, or 80% of the popula-
tion, during the worst outbreak (1545–48). The next major
outbreak, between 1576–80, claimed 2–2.5 million lives
(50% of the population).3
In the second half of 1545, the Moon’s maximum
monthly declination was 23.5°. (See Figure 5, below.)
The same signature is operative at other major pandemic
16th-century Cocoliztli epidemic. LocalMX
Figure 5: Lunar declination cycle between 1540–55
26 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
outbreaks, like Spanish flu (1918) and COVID-19 (2020).
Because those lunar extremes (minor and major standstills
and the 23.5° maxima) happen every 4.5–5 years, other
signatures are needed to confirm the danger of a major epi-
demic, but they will almost invariably be linked to Neptune.
Around 1545, nearly all eclipses were in a major aspect
with Neptune!
When the second Cocoliztli epidemic broke out in 1576,
Neptune was reaching its maximum declination north — a
strong signature.
Parallels of Latitude
Persian Plague (1772–73)
Russian Plague (1770–72)
This period was packed with epidemics! In 1772, the
worst pandemic of the 18th century began when bubonic
plague struck the Persian Empire, claiming nearly 2 mil-
lion lives. Besides the Persian Plague, the Russian Plague
of 1770–72 claimed between 52,000 and 100,000 lives in
Moscow alone, and epidemics of both measles and smallpox
struck North America in the early 1770s.
Look at the latitude graph (see Figure 6, following
page). It depicts the paths of Pluto, Neptune, and Saturn,
When the second Cocoliztli
epidemic broke out in 1576,
Neptune was reaching its
maximum declination north
— a strong signature.
covering the entire span of the 18th century. Parallels of
latitude are extremely delicate aspects because everything
happens within a relatively narrow band; one degree of arc
is an incredible amount in the vast space! The triple paral-
lel between Pluto, Neptune, and Saturn started to form in
1769 and dissipated in 1773, in tandem with the several
epidemics occurring during that period.
Great Plague of London (1665–66)
The plague started in April 1665 and spread rapidly
through the hot summer months. By the time the plague
ended, about 100,000 people, including 15% of the popula-
tion of London, had died. The main signature was Neptune
in a parallel of latitude with Saturn (1665). Another strong
signature was the Moon’s maximum monthly declination of
23.5° during the first half of 1666.
Asian Flu (1957–58)
In 1957, a global influenza pandemic, eventually
known as the Asian flu, broke out in Guizhou, China, kill-
ing anywhere from 1–2 million people worldwide by the
time it dissipated in 1958. The culprit was an influenza A
virus subtype H2N2. The main astrological signature was a
parallel of latitude between Saturn and Neptune, exact in
1957–58 (see Figure 7, below). The total solar eclipse of
October 23, 1957 conjoined Neptune, while the solar annu-
lar eclipse on April 19, 1958 opposed it.
COVID-19 (2019–ongoing)
In December 2019, I predicted a new epidemic for 2020
based on Neptune being in parallel celestial latitude with Pluto
(see Figure 8, following page), and anticipating the Moon’s
maximum monthly declination of 23.5° during the first half of

Figure 6: A triple parallel of latitude between Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto in 1769–73, synchronous with the outbreak of several epidemics

Figure 7: The paths of Neptune and Saturn in celestial latitude 1940–70

AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 27

Epidemics / Pandemics
2020 (becoming exact in March).4 I hypothesized that it would
break out in the fall; however, I should have known better —
after all, my research has shown that in parallels of latitude,
the orb of influence is 20' of arc! As it happens, the disease
broke out around the New Year when the distance between
Neptune and Pluto — the two planets indicative of the onset
of an epidemic — was pretty much exactly 20'!
That said, my initial hypothesis was not far off: The first
death in Wuhan was reported on January 11, but later in-
vestigations had revealed that the disease probably started
around the third week of November 2019. The official date
of the outbreak is now December 1, 2019, and within a
month of the first death, with the number of confirmed cases
and deaths exponentially rising, WHO declared a COVID-19
pandemic.
The prospects? At the end of November 2019 when the
disease (supposedly) started, Neptune was stationing direct;
at the time of this writing (end of April 2020), it is still direct
Bear in mind that the parallel
between Neptune and Pluto is still
forming — that is, the aspect is
applying, not separating — and this
is worrisome.
but will turn retrograde at the end of June 2020. This could
coincide with a major COVID-19 remission, but we must
bear in mind that the parallel between Neptune and Pluto is
still forming — that is, the aspect is applying, not separat-
ing — and this is worrisome. In the fall, the pandemic could
escalate anew, or resurge in areas where it was previously
suppressed, or even “relocate” to areas where it would have
caused only minor trouble until that point. Another possibility
is a new virus, a new epidemic.
continued on p. 65

Figure 8: The parallel of Neptune and Pluto in celestial latitude, exact in October 2020

Last train of Wuhan metro before authorities lock down the city for the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak
China News Service / (CC BY 3.0)

28 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER

 THE PLUTO KILLER and
HIS HUNT FOR PLANET NINE
by Deborah McMahon
“D
addy, do you know how you can get people to
stop hating you?”1 Ten-year-old Lilah had been
thinking about the strong reactions many peo-
ple had to her father’s work and had a solution to offer him.
Mike Brown, a professor at the prestigious Caltech Univer-
sity, had been a central figure in the 2006 debate that saw
the International Astronomical Union (IAU) reclassify Pluto as
a dwarf planet, reducing our solar system to only eight full-
sized planets. He was well used to the acrimony his name
evoked amongst supporters of Pluto, and it’s fair to say he
even played into the animosity — Brown’s Twitter handle is @
plutokiller and he wrote a book called How I Killed Pluto and
Why It Had It Coming. These are the hallmarks of a resilient
man ... or at least one who has the courage of his convictions!
“Gosh no, I don’t. How should I do that?”2 Lilah was of-
fering him a path to redemption he probably didn’t think was
needed, but Brown was happy to play along. “You should go
find a new planet and then people wouldn’t hate you any-
more,” she expanded. Brown laughed and explained to his
young daughter that there were no new planets to be found.
The theory of relativity had long ago put paid to the
hunt for Vulcan, a hypothesised small planet thought to be
orbiting close to the Sun. Einstein’s theory adequately ac-
counted for the irregularities of Mercury’s orbit, which were
initially thought to indicate the presence of a nearby unde-
tected planet. And the flyby of Uranus and Neptune by space
probe Voyager 2 in the 1980s gave us precise measures of
their mass. From this, more accurate modelling of the so-
lar system’s combined gravitational effects was made, which
showed there was no mysterious ninth planet pulling on the
orbits of the known eight.
It was 2014 when Lilah made her suggestion — little
did Brown know at the time, in only a few years, he was to
have a radical change of heart. He and his research partner,
Konstantin Batygin, would find gravitational evidence of an
undiscovered planet, orbiting far out in the distant reaches of
the Kuiper belt — that region out past Neptune, filled with
thousands of tiny icy bodies, including Pluto. They would ob-
serve that distant Kuiper belt objects have their orbits aligned
in particular directions, indicating the presence of a large
gravity well. And after extensive mathematical modelling, the
pair would conclude the disturbances could only be caused
by the presence of a sizeable planet orbiting so far out that it
didn’t even perturb the orbit of Neptune.
So, in 2016 “Pluto Killer” would metamorphose into
“Planet Hunter,” as Brown came to dedicate the majority of
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 29
The Pluto Killer
his allotted telescope time to the search for Planet Nine. Be-
fore we delve deeper into this rumoured planet, we have the
brief history of our outer solar system discovery to explore first.
Discovering the Outer Solar System
The improvement of new technology and a lucky hap-
penstance led to the discovery of Uranus in 1781. William
Herschel had constructed his own reflecting telescope and
was conducting a routine survey of the fixed stars when
he came across a wanderer. (The word planet comes from
the (Greek) asteres planetai, meaning wandering star. Ini-
tially, using only the naked eye, our planets could only be
discerned against the backdrop of fixed stars because they
moved — in all other respects, they looked just like stars.)
Herschel returned to his fuzzy object a couple of nights
after his initial sighting. Enough time had passed for him to
recognise that it had moved — causing him to conclude it
must be a comet. But it didn’t have all the typical features,
and after a couple of months a remarkable suggestion was
made — Herschel’s find was actually a planet.
Uranus was the first “new” planet to be discovered since
antiquity. Until then, Saturn had been the limit of our solar
system, wandering at the very edge of the visible sky. With
the discovery of Uranus, our established order was disrupted
In 2016 “Pluto Killer” would
metamorphose into “Planet Hunter,”
as Brown came to dedicate the
majority of his allotted telescope
time to the search for Planet Nine.
and our minds were opened to a broader concept of space
and possibilities. (Here we can observe the astrological sig-
nifications of both Saturn and Uranus — limit and structure
versus disruption, breakthrough, and technology.)
A fervour broke out amongst astronomers. It had long
been recognised that our planets were neatly distributed at
calculable distances from the Sun, fitting the Titius-Bode law.
Uranus had been found orbiting at just the right distance to
miraculously slip into the end of the pattern. But there was
one obvious gap — according to the law there ought to be
a planet circling in between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Planet-hunting astronomers turned their sights on this part
of the sky, and by 1801, Ceres was discovered. Pallas, Juno,
and Vesta were soon to follow, and by 1807, our solar sys-
tem was thought to consist of eleven planets.
However, these trans-Martian objects soon lost their
planetary classification after the rapid discovery of many more
objects in this same region, starting from 1845. Instead,
they were classified as “asteroids.” Perhaps this move was
30 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
also in recognition that the new finds were all significantly
smaller than the six traditional planets, plus Uranus — smaller
by many magnitudes!
By the early 1850s the term “asteroid belt” was being
used to describe that part of our solar system. There was no
planet-sized object to be found there. It’s now agreed that the
tremendous gravitational effect of Jupiter prevented a planet
from ever forming there out of the early solar system debris.
At around the same time, Uranus had nearly completed
one full orbit since its discovery. Together with precovery3
information, there was now enough data for astronomers to de-
tect irregularities in its path that couldn’t be entirely explained
by Newton’s law of universal gravitation. The perturbations
could be explained by the presence of another, as yet undiscov-
ered, large planet whose gravity was pulling on Uranus.
In 1846, astronomer and mathematician Urbain Le
Verrier calculated the position of Neptune, which was fa-
mously found within an hour’s observation and at less than one
degree from its predicted position. An ice giant of an eighth
planet had been discovered, but its position orbiting far out in
the solar system broke the Titius-Bode law. Yet this was of little
practical consequence — the accuracy of Le Verrier’s predic-
tion was impressive, and suddenly, orbital perturbations were
the next hot trail for astronomers to follow.
They quickly started chasing that red herring of the inner
solar system — the rumoured Vulcan. Perturbations of Mer-
cury’s orbit indicated something was afoot, and because the
predicted planet was thought to be orbiting close to the Sun,
Vulcan was believed to be elusive, hidden by the brilliant solar
light. Several mistaken claims of discovery were made, and
faith in Vulcan’s existence persisted until Einstein’s theory of
relativity became widely accepted.
In the outer solar system, however, the scent was still
warm. Only a few years prior to the publishing of Einstein’s
radical new theory, Percival Lowell postulated there was an-
other large planet orbiting out past Neptune. By 1905, the
hunt for Planet X had begun, and continued on and off for
25 years, until after Lowell’s death. Incidentally, there’s noth-
ing mysterious or foreshadowing about the “X” in Planet X
— Lowell had used a letter label for all of his predictions.
When it came to finding the trans-Neptunian, he had already
used letters A through W. X was just the next cab off the
rank, so to speak.
Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh, who
had been hired by Lowell Observatory to continue the hunt
for Planet X. It was found within 6° of Lowell’s prediction,
and so at the time it unequivocally earned the classification of
planet. After all, Lowell had calculated it to be equivalent to
6.6 Earth masses — that’s massive.
As we learned more about Pluto and our solar system, we
came to understand that our ninth planet was in fact, very, very
tiny. To give a sense of scale, Pluto is smaller than Earth’s own
Moon and has only about a fifth of its mass (being composed
mainly of ice). That’s about 30 times less massive than our
smallest planet, Mercury. What Tombaugh had discovered was
in fact the first, and largest, of the Kuiper belt objects.
In many respects, the Kuiper belt is analogous to the as-
teroid belt. The gravitational effect of nearby Neptune had

BW
When the discovery of Eris was
announced in 2005, it was
introduced to the astronomical
community as the tenth planet by
none other than Mike Brown.
made it impossible for a planetary-sized body to ever coalesce
there from the thousands of orbiting fragments. Instead of be-
ing rocky, like asteroids, the Kuiper belt bodies are comprised
mainly of ice, and they wander a little further away from the
ecliptic, occupying more of a donut region of space rather
than orbiting in a narrow band or belt. A further develop-
ment of telescope technology helped us discover the second
of the Kuiper belt objects in 1992 (second after Pluto). Then,
over the next 25 years, a few thousand more were identified.
When the discovery of Eris was announced in 2005, it
was believed to be larger than Pluto and was introduced to
the astronomical community as the tenth planet by none
other than Mike Brown. If Pluto was a planet, and Eris was
larger than Pluto, Eris must be a planet, right? The logic
didn’t sit well with Brown, and he soon joined the voices call-
ing for a redefining of what a planet is, even if it was to rob
him of the honour of being a discoverer of a new world.
The following year, Pluto lost its classification as a planet,
and joined the ranks of Eris and Ceres as the first of a new
category of solar system objects — the dwarf planets.4 We
were once again back to having only eight full-sized planets in
our solar system.
What’s in a Name?
When it comes to our understanding of the classical
planets, astrologers have essentially received a legacy from
another mode of consciousness, according to archetypal as-
trologer Richard Tarnas.5 He observes that Mercury, Venus,
Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn were named by the ancients at a
time when humanity lived in a state of spiritually permeable
consciousness and with a more intimate connection to the
mythic realm. The association of a planet with a deity (and
therefore its mythology) didn’t just come about through an
Dr. Michael Brown, co-discoverer of the new dwarf planet Eris, answers questions from
the audience regarding the demotion of Pluto from planet to dwarf planet by the Inter-
national Astronomical Union in August 2006. Waifer X (CC BY 2.0).
accumulation of data, but included a global gestalt that was
recognised across cultures and that tapped into deeper, uni-
versal archetypes.
As astrologers, we have relied upon this connection be-
tween name, myth, and astrological meaning. Now here’s
a question that begs asking: Does the mythology associated
with a celestial body, because of the name given to it by a
modern-day astronomer, automatically reveal its astrological
meaning? When Uranus was discovered the Enlightenment was
already upon us. This elevated reason as the primary source
of knowledge, and other means of accessing wisdom were dis-
missed as superstition or, worse still, as the work of charlatans.
It was German astronomer Johann Bode who first sug-
gested the name Uranus.6 He arrived at the choice through
a reasoned patrilineal extension of the Roman gods, after
whom our classical planets were named. If Mercury and Mars
were fathered by Jupiter, and Jupiter was fathered by Saturn,
then the next planet out ought to be named for Saturn’s fa-
ther, Caelus. But we already had a constellation Caelus, and
astronomical convention required the names of celestial bod-
ies to be unique in order to avoid any confusion. Fortunately,
the classical era encompassed the cultures of both ancient
Rome and Greece, and so Bode looked to the equivalent
Greek god, Ouranus, as the name for our seventh planet.
Given the happenstance from which Uranus gained its
name, we might wonder if Tarnas is correct to counsel cau-
tion. He suggests the naming of the outer planets may or
may not be relevant to the actual meanings of those planets
in astrological terms. He suggests we ought to take our time
in grasping and discerning those meanings. For example, the
mythology of the Greek primal sky god does have something
to do with astronomy and the cosmos and relates in some
small degree to our astrological Uranus.
However, we also understand Uranus to be about re-
bellion, creativity, technology, the impulse for freedom, and
Does the mythology associated
with a celestial body, because of the
name given to it by a modern-day
astronomer, automatically reveal its
astrological meaning?
unexpected lightning-like shifts of consciousness or insight.
Tarnas advocates that these other meanings of Uranus have
more to do with the mythology of Prometheus. Prometheus
is the rebel Titan god who defied his own kind, stealing fire
from the gods to give to humanity and thereby bringing us
the means to develop all of our arts and sciences.
Le Verrier, who so precisely predicted the position of
our eighth planet, claimed the right to name it and chose
Neptune after the Roman sea god. He wanted a name that
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 31
The Pluto Killer
acknowledged its bright blue appearance and also to stay
within the Greco-Roman pantheon of gods. In this, we can
observe some appropriate connection with the ocean, liq-
uids, the fluid nature of things, or perhaps even the flow of
consciousness.
Yet, as Tarnas observes, this tempestuous, somewhat
mean-spirited god is also very unlike the qualities of the
Neptune we know astrologically, which include universal
compassion, mystical states of unity, or high inspiration. In-
stead, he suggests there are more relevant connections to be
explored with the deities of the Indian pantheon, such as the
blue-complexioned Vishnu who dreams the universe into
reality or the associated qualities of Brahman or Maya.7
The now-demoted Pluto was named by the Lowell Ob-
servatory after receiving a suggestion from eleven-year-old
Venetia Burney.8 She knew her classical mythology and
noticed that our growing solar system included the siblings
Jupiter and Neptune, but lacked their brother Pluto. Not a
The mythic stories, from both
classical and multicultural sources,
ought not be overlooked if we want
to access deeper veins of
archetypal meaning.
lot is published about the reasons behind the Observatory’s
recommendation of the name to the IAU. Maybe it’s be-
cause the God of the Underworld is an appropriate choice
for this most distant world. Or perhaps it was in honour of
Percival Lowell, whose initials are the first two letters of Pluto
and can be deciphered in one of its planetary glyphs.
Again, Tarnas suggests the deities of other cultures may
offer us greater access to the Plutonian archetype — for
example, Kali, the Hindu goddess of death, time, and dooms-
day. She is often associated with sexuality, violence, and is
also considered a fierce mother figure. Or perhaps the myth
of Pele, the goddess of volcanoes and fire and the creator of
the Hawaiian Islands, can provide us with an additional way of
accessing archetypal Pluto. She is known for her power, pas-
sion, jealousy, and capriciousness, and is poetically called
Ka wahine ʻai honua — the woman who devours the land.
The mythic stories of goddesses, from both classical and
multicultural sources, ought not be overlooked if we want to
access deeper veins of archetypal meaning. In relation to as-
trological Pluto, for example, Tarnas notes its association with
the coming together of creative and destructive forces, and
observes that whenever this occurs, the feminine is always
close by. He states that the peaceful womb-state is destroyed
during the birthing process, as an illustration of the principle.9
During active labour, the once cloistered, nurturing womb
32 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
transforms into a contractive, expulsive experience for the
new life being born.
Perhaps astrology’s response to the growing outer solar
system is to remain open to the possibility that the archetypal
meanings can speak to us through multiple mythologies.
And that perhaps we ought not to unquestioningly accept
the names given to planets by astronomers as our sole access
point to astrological wisdom.
Discord, Thy Name Is Eris
When Mike Brown was searching the Kuiper belt look-
ing for an object that could rival Pluto in size, he had a special
name kept in reserve for it. He had wanted to redress the gen-
der balance in planetary names and also retain the “X” for
the apocryphal Planet X beyond Neptune. As soon as he
became sure that his new object was real, he affectionately
nicknamed it Xena, after the lead character in the TV series
Xena: Warrior Princess — a fantasy adventure screened in
the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Brown’s new find had upset the planetary apple cart, and
so for a year it had to continue with only a nickname, whilst
the controversy over just what constitutes a planet played out.
When the verdict came in, Xena was excluded from the ranks
of full-sized planets, and it had taken Pluto down with it! Hav-
ing gained a classification, Xena could finally get a real name.
The TV series that inspired its nickname may have been a
spin-off of the series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys,
but it was still a degree too far removed from Greco-Roman
mythology. Brown wanted the legitimacy of the classical pan-
theon for his dwarf planet.
Trouble was, all the major gods’ and goddesses’ names
were already taken by the many thousands of asteroids that
were discovered since the 1800s. Eventually, after many false
hopes, one of Brown’s team wrote a small computer pro-
gramme to cross-check the asteroids against all the names
of the Greek and Roman gods, to see what — if anything —
was left. Brown was unimpressed with the results, describing
the options as obscure demigods of long-forgotten activities
or minor protectors of long-gone professions. There was only
one name that grabbed his attention, and later when reflect-
ing in his autobiography, it had him sounding more like a
mystical astrologer than a science-grounded astronomer.
“I wondered … whether or not there was some sort of
cosmic force governing the stars and planets and even the
dwarf planets after all. Maybe there was some sort of fate
that had kept this name free until now, the perfect time for it
to be unveiled.”10 Brown named his dwarf planet Eris, after
There was only one name that
grabbed his attention, which had
him sounding more like a
mystical astrologer than a
science-grounded astronomer.
the Greek goddess of discord and strife, which seemed so blessed one whenever it is activated by transit, progression, or
appropriate to the initial chaos its discovery had brought to annual profection.12 With this Gemini stellium, it appears that
astronomers and astrologers alike. Brown has found himself well suited to his professorial role
The most famous mythic story of Eris has her excluded seeking out the new and novel in the cosmos and communicat-
from the celebrations of the wedding of Peleus to the sea ing his findings to academia and the interested public.
nymph Thetis. Eris turns up anyway and wreaks havoc. She Squaring his Gemini planets is Saturn in his 6th house,
tosses the Apple of Discord — a golden apple with the inscrip- suggesting an ability to apply a systematic, disciplined, mature
tion “To the Fairest One” — amongst the guests. Immediately approach to his work. Opposing Saturn and squaring Brown’s
it caused the goddesses there to quarrel and compete. Gemini planets are Mars, Pluto, Uranus, and the Moon in the
Zeus appointed the hapless Paris of Troy to adjudicate, other Mercury-ruled sign of Virgo. These eight planets acting
and he chose Aphrodite as the apple’s recipient, because of together form a dynamic t-square that urges change. Here we
her promise that he would have the love of the most beauti- can see the potential to challenge and transform traditional
ful woman in the world in exchange — Helen. Unfortunately, structures, even if it comes at the cost of some acrimony or
the beautiful Helen was married to Menelaus of Sparta and with some hidden opposition. Whatever is challenged, it’s
so Paris had to steal her away. (According to some accounts likely to be delivered with discernment, fine analysis, and a
she fell in love with him and left willingly.) It was the attempts sense of service.
of Menelaus to reclaim his wife that began the Trojan War. That sounds about right for a man who, in his account
of Pluto’s demotion, passionately lectured on the importance
The Planet Hunter of classifications because, if they’re correct, they can lead
Mike Brown was born on June 5, 1965, in Huntsville, science to asking useful questions about reality. Speaking of
Alabama, in the United States. (See Chart, below.) He re- Pluto, we can see the dwarf planet is making a partile square
ports he’s not 100% certain of his birth time, saying it’s to Brown’s nodal axis, which spans across Gemini and Sag-
probably 2:30 p.m.11 (Every good scientist notes the reliabil- ittarius. From this we might wonder if Brown feels destined
ity of their data!) That gives him a Libra Ascendant, ruled by to clean up outmoded models of our solar system, breaking
a Gemini Venus in the 9th house, indicating a love of growth them down in order to bring through the new.
through exploration. A chart ruler located in the 9th house The partile waning square between Jupiter and Uranus in
orients the native to either quite literal explorations of distant his chart speaks to a crisis-inducing reorientation and a focus
lands or to more abstract explorations, such as the pursuit of on truth. With Jupiter’s association with expansion, and Ura-
higher education or an interest in philosophy or beliefs. nus signifying breakthroughs and technologies, it’s interesting
Michael E. Brown Gemini Sun is also in the 9th house in Compliments of:
Brown’s
Natal Chart Whole
Astrologer Linda Kaye
916-730-6805
to see that Brown grew up in the shadow of the United States
Sign houses,
Jun 5 1965, Sat
2:30 pm CST +6:00 along with the Sun’s dispositor, Mercury, which is Space & Rocket Centre in Huntsville, Alabama. His father, an
Huntsville, Alabama
strengthened
34°N43'49'' by having essential dignity in its sign of rulership.
086°W35'10'' engineer at International Business Machines (IBM), had moved
Geocentric
And having both Venus and Jupiter also here makes this part of
Tropical there in order to work on the giant Saturn rocket which
Whole Signs
hisNode
True chart a fortunate experience in his life — and a potentially launched the first astronauts to the Moon, giving humankind
its first foothold in space.
00° ƒ 00'
It’s also interesting that Brown has chosen a career for
00' 00° himself expanding our knowledge of the solar system, using
„ »¸É ‚ 00' advanced telescope technologies and computer programming
00° Ì 29°14°13°
½º
23° ‚ ‚ ‚ 10°07° to discern the movement of tiny specks of distant light amongst
ƒ 22' 56'49' ‚ ‚
11'
a myriad of others. Brown’s Sun is positioned only a degree
00' 07' 41' 00°
Œ
ahead of the Moon’s North Node in his chart. The conjunction
… 10 9 Ý
00° 00' between the Sun and the North Node indicates that he was
¶ 06° 11 8 born into a powerful period between solar and lunar eclipses,
¿ 10°…… 26' signifying beginnings and endings. The total solar eclipse of
Á 13° … 42'
50'
June 1965 occurred only six days prior to his birth, conjunct
Chart:
12 7
00° ¼ 19° … 29' 00°
both Jupiter and the fixed Royal Star of Aldebaran. This star
† Astronomer Ü
can portend great inspiration and success and can bring high
00'
1 Mike Brown 6
00'
48' ‹
16° honours (that could be lost to quarrels).
51' ¾
20°† Given this, it’s curious how often Jupiter narrates the
Ë 2 5
course of Brown’s life. His doctoral thesis was a study of vol-
00° Œ 00'
55' 3 4 canic activity on one of Jupiter’s Moons, and his memoir is full
‡ ‡ ‹
00' 17° Œ 00° of personal moments bookmarked by observations of Jupiter
49'
À ˆ coming together with other planets in the night sky. In his au-
13° tobiography, he shares the moment the planets became real
00° 00'
ˆ 00' Ê Š to him, after spending months at the age of 15 watching Jupi-
00°
00° ‰ 00'
ter come together in a conjunction with Saturn. It dawned on
him then that the planets are not just distant concepts; rather,
Whole Sign houses and the True Node they are bright points of light that move among the stars. His

AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 33

 The Pluto Killer
reminiscences about the significance of this moment of awak-
ening are surprising coming from a man of modern science.
“It’s impossible to know, but it’s always hard not to feel that
in some ways, for me at least, perhaps the earliest astrologers
were right: Perhaps my fate actually was determined by the
positions of the planets at the moment of my birth.”13
Profiling Planet Nine
We know a little already about Brown’s hypothesised
planet. Based on the modelling he and Batygin have developed,
it’s thought to be around the equivalent of five Earth masses
(see Table, below), orbiting at an average distance of about
500 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun.14 Saturn, which was
once thought to be the very limit of the solar system, is located
at about ten AUs from the Sun. Uranus and Neptune were dis-
covered at about 20 and 30 AUs, respectively. With Planet
Nine orbiting out around 500 AUs, it is way out!
Its orbital path is inclined by about 20° compared to
the plane of the solar system, and its path is highly elliptical.
It may come within 300 AUs at its closest approach to the
Sun and stretch out as far as 650 AUs at the most remote
reaches of its orbit. It’s believed to take 10,000 years to make
one complete orbit around the zodiac; meaning on average,
Elnath
Pleiades
A swath of sky between the
constellations of Orion and Taurus
is where Brown and Batygin are
currently training their telescopes
in hopes of finding Planet Nine.
Planet Nine will spend about 28 years transiting a single
degree of the ecliptic or over 800 years travelling through a
single zodiacal sign.
If found, this planet will be like no other in astrology —
the orbit of Uranus lasts for a person’s lifespan, Neptune
doubles this, and Pluto in a sign is said to be the marker of
generations. Planet Nine will be the marker of something
akin to epochs. But because of the eccentricity of its orbit,
there will be parts of the ecliptic which Planet Nine will tran-
sit through swiftly (relatively speaking) and other parts where
it will linger for a much longer period of time.
A swath of sky between the constellations of Orion and
Taurus is where Brown and Batygin are currently training
their telescopes in hopes of finding their predicted planet.
(See Figure, at left.) This location, when translated to
ecliptic longitude, relates to the sign of Gemini in the tropical
zodiac. Wouldn’t it be fitting, if Brown is ever proven correct,
for Planet Nine to be discovered within that sign so significant
in his personal chart?

The Naming of Planet Nine

TAURUS The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the author-
ity in astronomy for naming celestial bodies. Should Brown
Aldebaran
ever discover his Planet Nine, it will be his right to suggest
a name for it, but it will be the IAU that either approves
his choice or suggests a different name to be used in scien-
Betelgeuse
tific papers. As astrologers, we need not assume too quickly
that science’s adoption of a name is our access into the full ar-
ORION chetypal meaning of the new planet, though we may remain
open to that as a possibility. Brown might name his planet for
Planet Nine apparently rational reasons, but as Richard Tarnas has inti-
Search Area mated, he might also be unconsciously inspired by archetypal
motivations moving through him in an act of synchronicity.
Figure: A star chart showing the search location for the hypothesised As Brown has already observed when reflecting on his
Planet Nine naming of possible dwarf planet Sedna, “I was surprised to
discover that a good name with an interesting story behind it
Planet Nine Characteristics could lead people to have an emotional connection to an un-
Mass 5 Earths seen object in space.”15 Perhaps astrology’s challenge instead
Semi-major axis 500 AU is to marry an openness to mythological truth-finding with
Aphelion 650 AU careful observation. And because of the nature of this planet
Perihelion 300 AU
Orbital eccentricity 0.30 with its 10,000-year orbit, perhaps our response to this chal-
Orbital period 10,000 years lenge ought to include multiple generations of astrologers.
Inclination 20 degrees
Discovered Not yet References and Notes
Deborah McMahon, Astrologer

1. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cZMFyRgx4w, “Mike Brown on

Killing Pluto and Replacing It with Planet 9” (accessed June 2019).
Table: Key astronomical features of the hypothesised Planet Nine

34 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER

 The Astrological
Book of Life
2. Ibid.
3. “Precovery” is the process in astronomy where a newly discovered object
is identified in old or archived records, such as sketches and notes or photo-
graphs. An object can be captured in these records but not recognised for what
it is until after its discovery. The word stands for “pre-discovery recovery.”
4. See https://www.iau.org/public/themes/pluto/, “Pluto and the Develop-
ing Landscape of Our Solar System” (accessed July 2019).
First Copies Available Now
5. Richard Tarnas, “Cosmos and Psyche,” July 25, 2016, in The Astrol-
from The Ness of Astrology
ogy Podcast,
produced by Chris Brennan, podcast, MP3 audio, http://theastrologypodcast. and Wildflower Publishing
com/2016/07/25/richard-tarnas-on-cosmos-and-psyche/ Amherst, Massachusetts
6. Johann Bode suggested Uranus as a name for Herschel’s new planet just a
few years after its discovery, but it took nearly 70 years for it to become glob-
ally accepted. The British editors of the Nautical Almanac continued to refer
to it as Georgium Sidus until 1850 — Herschel had named it such after his
patron, King George the III of Great Britain and Ireland — a name not well
accepted outside of Britain.
This introduction to the
7. Brahman is the ultimate unifying and integration principle of the universe history of astrology takes you
in Hindu philosophy. Maya is the magical power with which the gods can from China to India, Mexico
make humans believe in what turns out to be an illusion.
to Egypt and to points all
8. See https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/transcript_pluto_naming over the ancient world.
_podcast.html, “NASA Transcript: The Girl Who Named Pluto” (accessed
July 2019). Author Timothy Ness
9. Richard Tarnas, “What Is the Relationship of Myths to the Planetary weaves mystery with non-
Archetypes?” (lecture, United Astrology Conference, New Orleans, Lou- fiction in this tale of magical
isiana, USA, 2012). characters traveling by train
10. Mike Brown, How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming, Spiegel from Milan to Rome.
& Grau, 2010, p. 237.
11. The birth time was communicated in personal correspondence from
Mike Brown.
12. Annual profection is a technique for determining which part of the chart is
www.NessofAstrology.com
likely to deliver its natal promise in any given year of a native’s life. A house,
its planetary ruler, and any natal planets located in that house are considered
active for a year, and much more sensitive to the influence of transits. The
technique comes from the Hellenistic era of astrology, so a Whole Sign house
system and traditional sign rulers are used.
13. Brown, How I Killed Pluto, p. 17.
14. The distance that the Earth is from the Sun is used as a reference for all
distances in the solar system — we call this an astronomical unit (AU).
15. Brown, How I Killed Pluto, p. 105.

© 2020 Deborah McMahon – all rights reserved

Deborah McMahon studies and writes about astrology in her free

time. She is employed as a research administrator at a New Zea-
land medical university, and also works in project support roles
on a contract basis. She publishes regularly to her Facebook page,
@deborahmcmahonastrologer, and can be messaged through that account
or e-mailed at deborahgmcmahon@gmail.com. Deborah plans to study
more, continue her writing, and build her astrology consulting practice.

AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 35

 T
hough I first became curious about astrology during
my mid teens, it was only in my early twenties that I
began seriously exploring the deeper workings and
applications of this discipline. As it so happened, it was also
the same time I was first becoming interested in C. G. Jung’s
theory of synchronicity — the concept of “meaningful co-
incidence,” whereby disparate events come together in ways
that seem to defy the normal workings of chance.
In contrast with ordinary cause-and-effect relationship,
such as we see with billiard balls interacting on a pool table,
synchronicities seem to involve “acausal” connections, where
there is no direct, obvious relationship between events other
than that of meaning. For example, you’re looking through

LOOKING
some old photographs in a family album and come across a
picture of a friend you hadn’t seen in 20 years, when sud-
denly the phone rings and it’s that very friend calling up to
say hi. That sort of thing.

BEYOND THE The more I delved into both of these subjects, the more
I began realizing how much overlap there really was between
them, not just in their theoretical foundations but their prac-

HOROSCOPE
tical applications. For example, I saw that astrology could be
viewed as a beautiful example of synchronicity writ large, in
that the patterns of our horoscope illustrate how “meaning-
ful coincidence” permeates every aspect of our lives; every

Incorporating
facet of our daily experience, from the trivial to the profound,
is embedded in a network of acausal connections and cor-
respondences that symbolically relate back to the planets,
aspects, and houses of the horoscope. In a sense, one’s entire

SYNCHRONICITY life is “synchronistic” in that everything co-incides.

into our Interpretations
On a more practical level, I also saw how specific in-
stances of “meaningful coincidence” could actually augment
our understanding of individual horoscopes. Consider the
case of my friend who said she’d just met a man she was at-
tracted to while working at the local health food store she

In a sense, one’s
entire life is “synchronistic”
in that everything co-incides.

managed. An odd thing happened during that first encounter,

she explained; literally during that first conversation while
waiting on him at the store’s front counter, a car parked out-
side the front door suddenly burst into flames, prompting the
fire department to show up and douse the flaming vehicle
with water. Not exactly the best possible omen for a new re-
lationship, I thought to myself. As it turned out, she became
romantically involved with the man, and not surprisingly, the
relationship also “went up in flames,” causing her enormous
heartache and anger in the process.
by Ray Grasse Naturally, I was intrigued by this turn of events and set
about erecting a horoscope for the exact time of that first
meeting, which she remembered by heart. Would that di-
sastrous outcome be shown in the planetary configurations

36 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER

of that day? Lo and behold, it did portend big problems for
the star-crossed lovers: in addition to a nearly exact square
between Mars and Venus, Pluto and Saturn were conjunct
right on the cusp of the 7th house, the segment of the
horoscope related to partnerships. The chart revealed a
considerable potential for passion in the relationship, but
also great potential for conflict and struggle.
Anyone with a bit of symbolic discernment could have
learned much the same thing just by looking at those omens
during that first encounter. Likewise, the more I paid atten-
tion to such events over time with friends and clients, not to
mention my own life, the more apparent it became that while
horoscopes were extremely useful tools, there are in fact many
ways of “reading“ what is happening in the world besides
what is offered strictly by horoscopes; there are actually many
sources of symbolic information in the environment than what
can be found simply in the patterns of the stars and planets.
Here’s another example. A client showed up for a
consultation, and during the course of our talk, asked my
thoughts about the outcome of a legal battle she was en-
gaged in. At the exact moment she posed that question
to me, I heard the sound of loud cheering from a soccer
competition being held in a nearby sports field. I saw in her
horoscope that Jupiter would be trining her Sun around the
time of the trial, but there were other, more challenging ener-
gies at work, too. So, which way would it go? The indicators
in the horoscope were decidedly mixed, but that background
cheering from the sports field at the moment she asked her
question gave me some confidence things would turn out
fairly well for her. As it happened, the court case was even-
tually settled in her favor — an outcome revealed as much (if
not more) by the omens in the environment during our read-
ing as by the positions of the stars.
An Ancient Way of Seeing
The notion of looking to sources other than the stars for
insight is hardly a novel idea. It’s been a staple of traditional
cultures since time immemorial, as “signs” and “symbols”
have always played a role. When a child is born, contempo-
rary astrologers generally assume the primary way to decode
the life of that child is by erecting a chart for the moment
of its birth; but for many traditional societies, it was the cus-
tom for the parents to look at what was happening in the im-
mediate environment for a “sign” related to that child’s life.
For instance, in many Native American tribes, if a deer hap-
pened to be running by at the moment a child was born, the
child might have been named “Running Deer,“ in the belief
that the deer somehow represented a living cipher into that
child’s character and destiny.
We know that the classical world has its own share of
such stories. The ancient Greek scholar Plutarch tells the
story of how Alexander the Great’s father knew of his son’s
extraordinary destiny from the various omens that attended
Alexander’s birth — and there are similar stories surround-
ing the births of other great figures from ancient times, both
East and West. In much the same vein, I’ve often asked cli-
ents whether anything unusual or noteworthy of any sort
happened around their births, as related by their parents, and
The chart revealed a considerable
potential for passion in the
relationship, but also great
potential for conflict and struggle.
the stories I have heard invariably reflected their horoscopic
patterns in intriguing, sometimes even comical ways.
Of course, some astrological purists might argue such
events won’t really tell you anything you can’t learn simply
by examining the horoscope for that same moment in time.
But I’d argue that within those environmental images — like
the deer running by at the birth of a child — we find uniquely
concise symbols for potentialities only revealed by the horo-
scope in comparatively abstract form. Yes, the horoscope
effectively reveals the deeper archetypal dynamics of a situa-
tion, but when you consider that those archetypal dynamics
can unfold in so many different ways, and on so many dif-
ferent levels of symbolism and subtlety, it becomes clear that
the very specificity of that manifest event reveals a great deal
about how those archetypes are actually unfolding. Con-
sider the example of pioneering scientist and inventor Nikola
Tesla who was born in the midst of an electrical storm. That
fact alone foreshadowed his lifelong involvement with
electricity perhaps more specifically than anything actually
indicated in his horoscope.
A Synchronistic Approach to Mundane Astrology
Much the same approach can be applied to studying de-
velopments on a more global scale, customarily the province
of mundane astrology, also described as the astrology of world
affairs. For mundane astrologers, the primary method for un-
derstanding a historic event is to simply draw up a horoscope
for the moment it occurred or to correlate cultural trends with
planetary cycles, especially those involving the slower-moving
planets. But here as well, we often find important symbols or
synchronicities constellated around these events that shed vital
light on their significance. Let’s look at a few examples.
Very early in 1979, social unrest in Iran caused the
reigning Shah, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, to flee the country
to avoid being violently deposed by an increasingly angry
populace. His departure proved to be a pivotal event, which
led not only to the infamous Iranian hostage crisis but the
ultra conservative Islamic segment of the population taking
control of the nation’s politics and cultural values for decades
to come. What’s interesting is that, within just 60 seconds
of the Shah’s plane leaving the runway, a major earthquake
shook the nation — a coincidental intersection of events that
told symbolists like myself that Iran was in for an extremely
“shaky” time ahead. And, that is exactly what happened.
Astrologically, one could have drawn up a horoscope for the
moment that plane departed, but I doubt it would have con-
veyed that sense of impending instability quite as concisely
as the earthquake.
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 37
Beyond the Horoscope
It was several months later, in the spring of 1979, that
media-watchers were treated to an unusual news story in-
volving then U.S. President Jimmy Carter. While sitting in a
small boat on a lake in Georgia, the president suddenly found
himself attacked by a wild rabbit, swimming in a seemingly
threatening way towards his boat, which he then batted away
with one of the boat’s oars. The event became a source of
humor and even ridicule in the media for weeks afterwards,
but one person I knew saw it as holding symbolic importance.
Precisely because it was so unusual, and happened to
none other than the president, an early teacher of mine,
Shelly Trimmer, predicted in writing that the U.S. could soon
find itself ”under attack” by a smaller but disproportionately
bothersome nation. Shortly thereafter we found ourselves
embroiled in the Iranian hostage crisis. Here as well, it’s con-
ceivable the hostage crisis could have been foreseen using
conventional astrological methods (although I’m unaware
of any such predictions). That it was indeed foreseen solely
through omenological symbolism speaks to the value of
non-astrological sources in helping us understand, or some-
times even predict, historical developments.
Humanity’s exploration of outer space has yielded
numerous examples of dramatic synchronicities. When Amer-
icans first landed on the Moon in 1969, astrologers promptly
drew up horoscopes for the key moments involved — the ini-
tial launch, first touchdown, Neil Armstrong’s first steps on
the lunar surface, and so on. But as I mentioned in my book
The Waking Dream (Quest Books, 1999), it’s worth con-
sidering what further insights might be had by learning that
the moment we were setting foot on the Moon’s surface, ar-
chaeologist Iris Love was uncovering the most important of
Aphrodite’s ancient temples in present-day Turkey (also note
that for the ancient Greeks, the worship of Aphrodite was al-
ways associated with the Moon); or consider that the same
weekend also witnessed Ted Kennedy’s tragic incident at
Chappaquiddick — an event replete with “lunar” symbols all
its own, from water to drinks to women. Approached sym-
bolically, if we see the Moon mission as reflecting a collective
opening to the archetypal feminine, we could read such syn-
chronicities as illuminating various aspects of our collective
relationship to the feminine — with Kennedy’s scandal reveal-
ing the more dysfunctional side of that national connection.
In my book Signs of the Times (Hampton Roads,
2002), I devoted a chapter to the extraordinary set of omens
and synchronicities that attended the explosion of the space
shuttle Challenger in January of 1986, all completely apart
from any conventional horoscopes or classic delineations.
Significant omens and synchronicities surrounded the mid air
destruction of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003, as well.
Upon its return into the Earth’s atmosphere in early Febru-
ary, of that year, the shuttle lost pressure and disintegrated
over Texas, killing the entire crew.
Significantly, this happened at a time when President
Bush and his advisors were drawing up plans for an inva-
sion of Iraq, which would get underway several weeks later
38 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
and lead ultimately to the deaths of many American soldiers
and Iraqi citizens. We were assured up front that the entire
undertaking would be swift and likely lead to few Ameri-
can casualties. That the shuttle disaster took place precisely
during the build up to the war — not to mention that it oc-
curred over that part of the country where President Bush’s
personal home was located — signaled that the Iraqi incur-
sion could be considerably less swift and more costly than
anyone imagined. Here as well, astrology might have pro-
vided some advanced insight into the war’s outcome, but that
singular tragic image spoke volumes of its own.
Another instance of the synchronistic approach to cul-
tural developments can be found in the field of UFO studies.
One way astrologers have approached this subject over the
years has been to erect horoscopes for key events or encoun-
ters described by witnesses. An alternate approach would be
to examine the various events or synchronicities constellated
around those events, or even explore the striking number of
anomalous phenomena associated throughout history with
those particular dates.
As one example, take the singular event commonly cited
as the key turning point in popular consciousness regarding
the UFO phenomenon: Kenneth Arnold’s sighting on June
24, 1947 while flying his private plane in Washington State.
Not only did the famous Roswell incident take place shortly
after, and the Maury Island incident several days before,
but June 24th is historically the date of St. John’s Day and
Midsummer Night’s Eve — a time of the year commonly asso-
ciated with strange apparitions and the proverbial ”thinning of
the veil” (recall Shakespeare’s tale about midsummer happen-
ings). That date was also associated in Elizabethan England
with fairies and the appearance of little people generally and
further associated with the legend of the Pied Piper. Connec-
tions like these not only provide historical context; they can
help illuminate some of the more out-of-the-box theories asso-
ciated with UFO studies like those pioneered by Jacques Val-
lee, for whom the answer to this mystery resides less in nuts
and bolts explanations involving metallic spaceships and “little
green men from outer space” than in humanity’s timeless en-
counter with the mythic and archetypal dimensions of reality.
I’ve long viewed movies as a rich source of symbols and
synchronicities to be mined in our understanding of his-
torical patterns. That’s particularly apparent when we see
several films on the same general theme premiering around
the same time, as if to synchronistically underscore a given
idea or archetypal dynamic in the zeitgeist. In late summer of
2006, for example, the high profile films The Illusionist and
The Prestige were released close to one another, with strik-
ingly similar stories about the interplay between reality and
illusion, truth versus falsehood. In fact, that dynamic beauti-
fully illustrated the key planetary pattern in effect at the time
— Saturn opposing Neptune — but also what had been
happening in the culture.
That’s because those same themes were percolating
through the media in various ways, such as in public debates
by prominent atheists like Sam Harris over the existence of
God and discussions about the balance between skepticism
and gullibility. In more political circles, that same period saw

The discovery of the subatomic
realm, as well as the unconscious
occurred so close to one another …
a fascinating synchronicity with
potentially enormous significance.
enormous attention focused on the problem of lies told by
our elected leaders and the challenge of distinguishing truth
from fiction in political discourse. Of course, configurations
involving Saturn and Neptune can manifest in different ways,
but the stories shared by those two films provided us with a
fairly concise window into how those energies were express-
ing themselves at that time.
Let’s look at one final example. One of the most signifi-
cant developments in the annals of science was the discovery
of the subatomic realm in 1897 by British physicist and No-
bel Laureate in Physics, Sir J. J. Thomson. More than any
other development, Thomson’s discovery of the electron led
the way to opening up the previously hidden subterranean
world of the atom and in turn, the subsequent zoo of sub-
atomic particles that we’d come to recognize, like the proton,
neutron, lepton, and quark. It was an epochal historic event,
akin to discovering a vast new world at our fingertips much
larger than the obvious, tangible one we’re normally familiar
with. How could we possibly approach its broader signifi-
cance as a historic development? The strictly astrological
approach would be to look at the planetary dynamics at work
during that period — among other things, it occurred in the
wake of the once-every-500-years conjunction of Pluto and
Neptune that climaxed several years earlier.
Another way to grasp its significance would be to carefully
scour other historic events or synchronicities from that period
to see if they might offer further clues. To my mind, the most
dramatic of those was that during this period, researchers in a
very different field were announcing the discovery of another
“vast new realm of reality”— one that was largely unknown
until then and likewise supposedly much more extensive than
our ordinary, visible one. I’m talking about the discovery of
the unconscious mind. Then, just two years later in 1899,
Sigmund Freud published a work that would become formally
associated with the discovery of the unconscious. The Inter-
pretation of Dreams suggests that our conscious experience
is only the tip of a far larger iceberg of experience that was
largely hidden from view — and that influences our surface
motivations and behaviors in profound ways.
That these two developments — the discovery of the
subatomic realm, as well as the unconscious — occurred so
close to one another struck me as a fascinating synchronicity
with potentially enormous significance. Simply put, it strongly
suggested that relatively new states of consciousness were
opening up for humans across the world — a development
that corresponded closely with what was happening astrolog-
ically during that decade with the rare alignment of Pluto and
Neptune. Consider that Neptune and Pluto are completely
invisible to the naked eye, and thus symbolize forces deep in
the human unconscious.
As a result, their coming together signaled profound
stirrings in the collective unconscious and, with them, a
host of new possibilities, such as the emergence of cin-
ema, the rise of Depth Psychology, global communications,
and even world wars, to name just four. As useful as it is
to know the astrology of that period, those twin develop-
ments heralded by Thomson and Freud provide an especially
graphic symbol for what was occurring at the time in terms
of humanity’s opening to previously hidden potentials of
consciousness.
Learning from the Symbolic Imagery of Events
This all brings me to an important point — namely, that
while the horoscope contains critical clues into the meaning
of historical developments, we shouldn’t overlook the tre-
mendous amount of symbolic information contained within
the imagery and actual forms of historic events themselves.
I can explain this with a simple analogy. Imagine if someone
asked you to interpret a dream they had the night before.
Would you set about doing that by drawing up an astrologi-
cal chart for when they had the dream? Or, would you simply
spend time reflecting on the actual imagery and action of that
dream? While the horoscope may indeed hold good clues, I
think it’s obvious that enormous insight could be had simply
by examining the symbolism of the dream itself, without nec-
essarily resorting to anything beyond the dream.
In a similar way, horoscopes can reveal much about the
inner dynamics of historical events, yet when you consider
that these same archetypal dynamics can unfold in so many
different ways, and on so many levels of subtlety, then the
specificity of those manifest events can be enormously in-
sightful as to how those archetypes are actually unfolding.
continued on p. 67
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 39

S
ue Tompkins is a registered homeopath and one
of the most experienced astrologers in the United
Kingdom. She lectures widely at home and abroad.
Her books, Aspects in Astrology (1989) and The Contem-
porary Astrologer’s Handbook (2006) are international
bestsellers. A fellow of the Faculty of Astrological Studies,
Sue has been honoured with various awards, including, in
2003, the British Astrological Association’s Charles Harvey
Award for exceptional service to astrology. Her website is
www.suetompkins.com. Sue spoke to me from her home in
North London on April 10, 2020.
Wynne Jordan: Sue, my first encounter with you was at
Oxford in 1988 at the Faculty of Astrological Studies’ sum-
mer school. It was in our little tutorial group of ten where
we convened after each lecture, and that day you were our
tutor and we were talking about Mars. We had copies of all
ten birth charts and were analyzing each other’s Mars place-
ments. I remember one woman couldn’t relate at all to her
Mars position, so I suggested to you that maybe the astrology
just didn’t work that time. You replied right away, very em-
phatically, “The chart does not lie!” My immediate thought
was, “Holy cow! This woman really trusts this stuff.”
So my first question is, how did you come to that state
of conviction? I’m wondering about the degree of confidence
that you had, and whether it was a long journey for you to
accept astrology, or did it come pretty naturally to you? Also,
can you describe for us your journey into astrology?
Sue Tompkins: I guess the conviction may have taken
some time. There are a couple background elements to my
journey. Firstly, I wasn’t that happy as a child; I was an only
child and quite introverted, and I was full of the big ques-
tions — you know, who is God, why are we here, all those
kinds of things. And I was an observer; I’ve always wanted
to know what made people tick. So I had that as a back-
40 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
A Conversation with
SUE
TOMPKINS
by Wynne Jordan
drop. Then I left school at 15 with no qualifications because
I wanted to leave home. My mother was a bit violent and
I was unhappy, and I just wanted out. I went into nursing,
and somehow around age 18 I ended up with Linda Good-
man’s Sun Signs. My best friend seemed so typical of her
sign, Gemini, that I just thought, “This is unbelievable!” I also
felt fairly typical of my Aquarius Sun. Anyway, I just got ob-
sessed with it, thinking “Well, there’s something in this,” and
I ended up being in that something in this phase for a num-
ber of years.
I had joined the British Astrological Association and got
their magazine, but it didn’t make any sense to me. I was liv-
ing in the provincial town of Stafford, and there were no books
on proper astrology. Then at age 20 I moved to Canada
and started to learn some things, how to set up a chart, etc.
In Toronto, I could buy books, and I just bought everything
I could, and I was testing it all the time. As you know your-
self, as you begin to more deeply understand the symbolism
you realize that it is absolutely jaw-dropping. It was a gradual
thing for me, a very slow apprenticeship. As soon as I realized
there was something in it, I couldn’t find out enough. I wasn’t
that surprised to discover that astrology worked, but that abso-
lute conviction you mention would have taken a while.
WJ: Did you study with the Faculty right away?
ST: No, I was vaguely teaching myself for a time, and then
when I got back to London, I joined the Mayo School. Jeff
Mayo was my first teacher and I stayed with him until the cer-
tificate, which I got at age 25. And then I sort of switched
to the Faculty — in those days the courses were all by corre-
spondence. Live classes were just beginning in London, and
Liz Greene was starting to teach at the Centre for Transper-
sonal Psychology. I just went to everything and everybody
who was around: Liz Greene, the Faculty, Charles Harvey,
John Addey. John Addey was researching at the time, so
I did student-y things with him sometimes. I never really com-
pleted a Faculty course, but I got my diploma in 1981.
The other thing is, I left school at 15, as I said, and
worked in shops and a factory. With Saturn in my 3rd house,
(see Chart, below) I had a bit of a hang-up about having no
qualifications. So, in the time I was studying for my diploma,
I went off and got a degree — in psychology, history of ideas,
counselling training. I did all that leading up to my Saturn
return, very typical of Saturn in the 3rd. I think the Saturn re-
turn starts when you’re about age 24–25; it’s like the kettle is
switched on then and comes to boiling when you’re 29.
WJ: I like that image! What about the nursing, then, did you
continue with that?
ST: No, I knew I didn’t want to be a nurse for the rest of my
life, partly because I wanted to travel and partly because, as
a young person, there were certain things about nursing I
found very difficult — scary, even. Also, even then I was al-
ways slightly interested in alternative medicine.
WJ: At what point did you realize that astrology would be a
major career path for you?
WJ: And at some point you became Director of Schools for
the Faculty.
ST: Yes, I think that was in 1985. It was a very different job
then than it is now because then we had hundreds of stu-
dents. We had four beginners’ classes in London every year
and a fifth one in Bath, and a whole diploma course as well.
All of that time — the 1980s, early ’90s — was a heyday for
astrology, because as well as those Faculty classes, all the lo-
cal authorities [the equivalent of local municipalities in the
U.S.] had classes. You could have no income and still study
astrology with somebody in a local authority, so there were
hundreds of people learning astrology at that time and, in
the London classes, certainly several hundred. All of that’s
gone now, really.
Everything goes in and out of fashion and at that time
astrology was definitely in fashion. I remember having a con-
versation with Stephen Arroyo about publishing and he said
that at one time you could walk into any publisher in Cal-
ifornia and they would take any book you wanted to write
on astrology, whereas come 2000 that wouldn’t happen.
Astrology will never die out, it’s still doing fine, but that was
a particular heyday and I was very fortunate to be part of it.

ST: Oh, not for ages. I just did it, and I did the diploma for WJ: It must have been quite exciting.
ages and ages because I was fascinated. I mean, nowadays
you get students in the first year saying, “I want to be a pro- SJ: Yes, our little team of Faculty teachers on the London
fessional astrologer.” But it wouldn’t have occurred to me, or classes was good. We had Mike Harding, Lindsay Rader-
to any of my peers either. And then, when I got my diploma, macher, Kim Farley, Christeen Skinner, Babs Kirby, and many
the Faculty was advertising for a teacher and I was given an others. There was a real sense of community. I remember
evening
Sue Tompkinsclass. I had a job at the Citizens Advice Bureau at theof:
Compliments
Astrologer Linda Kaye
when the Faculty was celebrating its 70th birthday in 2018, it
Natal Chart
time,
Jan and
30 1954, Sat I went from doing five days a week there to four,
7:05 pm GMT +0:00
916-730-6805
made a little film talking to different people about what the Fac-
thenEngland
Taplow, three, as the astrology increased. That’s what I tell grad-
51°N32' 000°W41'
ulty meant for them, and I was one of a number of people who
Tropical to do now. You couldn’t just jump in and earn a living
uates
Geocentric said it meant family. I don’t know if it’s my Uranus in Cancer
from Nodeastrology — it took a while.
Placidus
Mean in the 11th, but for about ten to 15 years, it was family.
Rating: AA

WJ: Can you tell me a bit about the Oxford summer school?
27° Ý 19'
‚ That was my first introduction to astrology in the U.K., and it
30' 22°
05°
ƒ ½ Ü 57' kind of blew me away. How did that evolve?
16°

¿
‚
ST: The first year we did it was in 1987 at Winchester, a
36'
46' 20° Œ 26° Church of England college. After we did one year there, the
„ ƒ ‹
08°
15'
Œ
10 9
02'
dean of the college cancelled it quite at the last minute; he
11 8 just didn’t want astrology there. So we had a bit of a cri-
sis, and then Jesus College at Oxford had a cancellation and
Á 24°„ 07' put us in. The joke is, the religious college at Winchester re-
Π12 7
05° Sue Tompkins 05° jected us because we were astrologers, and we went straight
… ‹ into the arms of Jesus! I taught at Jesus College every year
25' Placidus house system, 25'
1
Mean Node
6
31' Š right up until 2000. And then the summer school moved to
21°
33' Š
10°
º Brasenose, and now they’re at Exeter College.
22'
2 5 Š
10° » Back then you could only teach there if you were a Fac-
26° Œ 42'
10' ‰
¸ 46' ulty diploma holder, but they have changed that and now
3 4
… ‰ 23° Š
02'
Œ
03'
23° Â 08°
they get excellent people from around the world who aren’t
† 05' 21'
41' É Faculty graduates, in addition to the many who are. I still
‡ ˆ
26° ‡
09° 21° think it’s one of the highlights of the astrological calendar.
À 24°
Those buildings alone lift me — Jesus College dates from the
22°
† 57' ¾ ¶ ‰
30'
¼ 05°
ˆ
1500s and Exeter from the 1300s — and at Exeter you quite
27° ‡ 19'
often hear the choir rehearsing. I still teach there sometimes,

AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 41

Sue Tompkins
and I would go every year if asked. People from all over the
world attend. It’s just incredible, really.
WJ: You left the Faculty in 2000 and started your own
school, the London School of Astrology (LSA).
ST: Yes, I very much enjoyed the team aspect of the Faculty
under Lindsay Radermacher as president, and I didn’t stay for
that many years after she left — which she had to, as it was
a nine-year term only. Then the Faculty went through a bad
few years, starting around 2000, as transiting Pluto was com-
ing up to oppose its Sun in Gemini. You could ask a dozen
people from the time and they’d give you a dozen different
opinions as to why that was, but it obviously needed some
sort of restructuring. There were actually 14 of us who left
then. I left, though in hindsight I think it was a mistake to just
walk away. I did a Jeff Mayo: I left the Faculty and started my
own school. Now, almost 20 years later, the Faculty really are
a very good team again.
WJ: In starting the LSA, you got to design your own pro-
gram from the beginning. What was that like?
ST: Of course, I no longer had to teach the Faculty syllabus.
And I did want to emphasize my kind of holistic thinking,
“as above, so below” — the whole Hermetic doctrine, really.
That, for me, is what is most profound and meaningful about
astrology: its philosophical implications and what it can teach
us about the world. At the LSA, I could also teach medical as-
trology, and I didn’t have to spend so much time on subjects
like history.
WJ: And around 2004 you sold the LSA to Frank Clifford.
Any reason?
ST: I wanted to travel, I was a bit tired of running a school,
and my homeopathy was taking more time. I qualified in
homeopathy in 1997, and it’s quite a huge part of my life,
but I keep it fairly separate from my astrology. I still do
things for the Faculty when they ask, and also for Wendy
Stacey at the Mayo School. So, along with clients, I’m very
busy, actually.
WJ: You’re also teaching a weeklong residential course
in Spain.
ST: Yes, ever since I left the Faculty, I have run my own res-
idential course. For many years I held it in Glastonbury, and
then I went to France for about four years, and when that
place sold, I found this wonderful venue not far from Girona
in Spain. There are never more than 20 students, and a lot
of them come every year. Kim Farley is my partner in crime
each year and she’s a fantastic cook as well as a fantastic as-
trology teacher. Unfortunately, it may have to get cancelled
this year, because of the virus.
42 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
WJ: In terms of learning astrology, given your experience
with a number of schools, what would you say are some of
the common issues students have in learning and beginning
to practice?
ST: Of course that varies according to where students are in
their studies. One issue, in the early stages, is weighting —
assigning the appropriate weight to factors in the chart. This
means fully amplifying the major factors and not overempha-
sizing the minor ones. Giving a throwaway line on a major
factor in the chart, such as a rising planet, is just not enough!
Such material needs to be expanded and explored in depth.
Using this example of a rising planet (let’s imagine that the
conjunction is tight), how the individual has experienced
the given planet, and how they manifest it, will be a major
feature in their life and personality.
Also, I remember Liz Greene once saying at a confer-
ence that it was “tantamount to malpractice” for a consultant
astrologer not to have therapy themselves. This caused a fu-
ror at the time, but I kind of agree with her. I’ve had students
who, every time they do an interpretation, really it’s their
psyche they are talking about, not the client’s! I think projec-
tion is a major issue, and some people never get past that.
I still love teaching beginners. I love that “Oh my God!”
moment; it’s just so exciting. It’s nice to be part of that jour-
ney when somebody realizes the world is not quite what they
thought it was. Because I think the important thing about as-
trology is the fact that it works — and given that it works,
what does that say about the world we find ourselves in?
What does that say about all the more spiritual subjects?
That for me is what’s exciting about astrology. It’s not about
personality or anything particular, it’s that, “How can this
possibly work?”
WJ: Do you think we just skirt over that question?
That we don’t acknowledge enough the, in your words,
“jaw-dropping” fact that astrology works? Dennis Elwell was
very good at pointing this out, but there seems to be a real
dearth of books exploring what is behind all this.
ST: I know. That’s why I love Dennis, because he so ab-
solutely took that on — the philosophical implications of
astrology — and he was very practical as well, which I also
love. His Cosmic Loom is, in my view, one of the best books
ever written. It used to be required reading when I ran LSA.
WJ: In Aspects in Astrology (p. 64), you write: “There is
never a point at which we can say we do understand a chart
or that we have got to the bottom of ourselves; the whole
thing is an ongoing process.” Do you think, as astrologers,
there is a tendency to set impossible standards for ourselves
in how much we can understand a client?
ST: Oh yes, I do think that. I think astrologers are a bit full of
themselves, really. Because you can have a lovely conversa-
tion with somebody, and sometimes when they leave they will
look at some issue in a new way, and it’s fantastic when that
happens. You’ve done your job, so to speak. Except you have

I think astrology is about using the
exact language of the given planets,
signs, whatever. This can be hard
work, but if you can get there, you
will exactly mirror your client.
to be realistic. And I don’t know about you, but I can be walk-
ing down the road and just realize another manifestation of
something in my chart for the first time. That’s the beauty of
astrology — you can never fully get to the bottom of anything.
WJ: Well given that, and given that many people only just go
to an astrologer once, or maybe once every five years, what
can we reasonably expect of ourselves as astrologers in what
we convey to the client — and expect of the session itself?
I don’t think enough is said about the fact that you’ve got
maybe 60 or 90 or 120 minutes to say something that is rel-
evant and meaningful and helpful, given that you have a huge
amount of information and data from the chart itself. How
much can we reasonably expect to cover in a single session?
ST: I’m not sure what to say to that. It varies from client to
client, doesn’t it? I think a goal would be about meaning,
about somebody being able to look at something in their
life in a different way, from a different perspective. When
I’m teaching, I usually offer a story that goes something
like this: client comes, very unhappy with their boss, wants
to know whether they should change their job or not. And
maybe they’ve got natal Pluto in their 10th house and tran-
siting Saturn is sitting on it. Well, you can quite accurately
describe how that might feel. How I would deal with it would
be to ask, “Have you felt like that before?” Then the client
says, “Oh it’s funny you should say that, that reminds me of
my mother when I was five.” And then you can have that di-
alogue: “Well, when you were five you had no power. Now
you are faced with this new situation as if it’s the same, and
you are now being offered a new opportunity,” etc. So you
can have quite profound conversations with people —
sometimes. But you don’t always.
WJ: That’s where your counselling skills would come in, too.
ST: Yes. I do less and less “reading” the chart now; I know
where everything is, I could say something about everything
if pushed, but I do much more just letting the person talk.
I go more towards a conversation: “I’ve got a map of you,
and like any map, I can’t read all of it that well, and I haven’t
studied it that long, but I have got a map. Let’s have a chat.”
That kind of thing.
When I listen to astrologers talk astrology, I often find it
quite disappointing. I don’t think astrology has moved on that
much in my time. I suppose we each have our own astrology,
we each bring to it who we are, so one is not always going
to quite understand someone else’s astrology either. I think
astrology is so accurate, and I just want to use the accurate,
simple language of it. It can work so literally.
Occasionally, one will get a client asking, “What’s my
soul journey?” I don’t tend to answer that. It’s for each of
us to find that out, if it’s possible. One could have a con-
versation that might help an individual on their journey of
discovery. What I do know is that each of us should do our
chart. Of course we all do live out and manifest our chart all
the time, but there may be better, perhaps less self-destructive
and more conscious, ways of doing so. The astrologer’s job
may be in helping the individual to come to that higher and
more conscious purpose. I think that is a goal of practicing
astrology: to increase consciousness.
WJ: What are some of your favourite tools when you do
consultations?
ST: Just the basic chart. I do use semi-squares and sesqui-
quadrates. I hardly use trines and sextiles. The whole thing
is about what the major things in the chart are and to re-
ally extract a lot out of them and to get the language. As I
say, I think astrology is about using the exact language of
the given planets, signs, whatever. This can be hard work,
but if you can get there, you will exactly mirror your client.
If you’re talking about the Moon, you’re talking about needs
or behaviour, or whatever — you absolutely keep to the
quite precise meaning of planets, signs, houses, and aspects.
Whatever it is, just stick to the language.
WJ: A fairly scientific approach?
ST: I’d say my approach is psychological and practical, a
down-to-earthy kind of thing. You could say my astrology was
scientific because I never say something unless I’m sure it’s
true. So I say very little, actually. Conjunctions, hard aspects.
I do use the graphic ephemeris a bit. I do use secondary pro-
gressions. I don’t really use directions that much.
WJ: Solar returns?
ST: No, I don’t like them much. I think they can be mislead-
ing. It’s so easy to think that a solar return is going to provide
an instant and easy snapshot of the year in question. But it
isn’t. One has to use the natal chart in conjunction with it —
looking for planets in one chart conjuncting the angles of the
other chart, mostly. I do “play” with returns — not just solar
and lunar; Mercury, Venus, and Mars returns too — though
not for clients. They are more fun to look at in retrospect.
WJ: Looking at your own birthchart (see Chart, p. 41), the
first thing that jumps out is the strong 6th–house/Virgo
theme that is so practical. Is it fair to say that this is the sig-
nature of a very meat-and-potatoes astrologer?
ST: Yes, I am a meat-and-potatoes astrologer, even though
as a person I’m not very practical. But that’s exactly what I
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 43
Sue Tompkins
would call myself. And I’m like that about everything, really.
I don’t like too much waffle.
WJ: Meat-and-potatoes, and without much earth, interest-
ingly, except for the rising sign.
ST: Yes, I have earth on the angles, but I don’t think that
compensates. It’s just you go to the earth through what
you’ve got, so I’m obsessed with health and service.
WJ: Like you’re approaching that weaker element from an
alternative view, in a sense — shedding light on that element
from a different angle.
ST: Yes, something like that. I definitely suffer with the lack
of earth. Students always laugh at me because I always lose
something, lose the next piece of paper when I’m in the mid-
dle of a lecture.
WJ: Getting back to Aspects in Astrology: It’s still in print
after 30 years and translated into a number of languages.
What prompted you to write it in the first place?
ST: It was because when I was a student, I found interpreting
aspects very difficult. I think delineating aspects is one of the
most challenging things to learn. There was a book needed,
and I had to do the research.
WJ: Once you know aspects, you can also interpret transits,
can’t you? Since they’re essentially moving aspects.
ST: Well yes, you’re just putting planets together, really.
I mean, everything in interpretation comes down to being
able to combine planets.
WJ: Any other books on the horizon?
ST: I hope to do a medical astrology book and I have it
partially done, though I don’t know if I’ve got the energy
to finish it. I have things researched that I don’t think any-
one else has talked about. Of course, as a homeopath, I hear
about people’s health problems all the time. I can actually say
some quite simple but original things.
WJ: Well, I certainly hope you get around to it. Tell us about
your teaching in China. How did that come about?
ST: What happened in China a number of years ago is that
Western astrology became legal, and an American astrologer,
David Railey (who is very involved with ISAR) started a school
with one Felicia Jiang. The school is called Nodoor, and it’s
the oldest and largest Western school of astrology in China.
It’s huge; they’re a big organization. Since then a lot of other
schools have appeared. David asked me if I wanted to teach
online for Nodoor, perhaps because both my books have
44 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
been translated into Mandarin and Cantonese and have sold
in huge numbers in China.
I taught their core curriculum once — 63 classes over
five terms — and I’m now on the second batch of doing that.
I’ve been invited there to teach for a week or two every year
or so. Eventually, as they got to know me, they also asked
me to teach a beginner’s course in homeopathy. I’ve taught
basic first aid homeopathy a few times, and now I’ll be teach-
ing a professional course in homeopathy.
I also sometimes teach at Rod and Yvetta Chang’s school,
the Academy of Astrology, which is mostly based in Taiwan.
WJ: With your Chinese students, is there any difference in
your approach? Are they bringing a different sensibility to
their studies?
ST: I more or less do the same thing, in terms of teaching,
but this is mostly online teaching. Teaching in a live class-
room is very exciting — for students and for the teacher
too — and I don’t like teaching online as much, though I’ve
learned to manage. As far as the students go, they’re very
conscientious, and they really listen. They’re very sweet
and respectful.
I remember being in Taiwan and teaching graphic ephem-
eris; I use an Io (TCR software) printout and get students to
draw in their own planets. When I do this in the West, it takes
about an hour for the penny to drop. In Taiwan, within 15
minutes in a class of 30, they all have it, absolutely. They’re
much better at that, and they’re much more conscientious,
but many can’t think psychologically; for example, if I was
looking at someone's chart and asking about their childhood,
they would give me just a sentence.
WJ: How do they expect to use the astrology that they’re
learning?
ST: Well, a lot of them want to do it professionally.
WJ: As we speak, on Good Friday in April 2020, the world
is in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Could you com-
ment generally on the current transits?
ST: Like most of my colleagues and friends, last autumn I
was talking about the impending January 2020 Saturn–Pluto
conjunction and all the things that it is associated with:
austerity, the very hardest of economic times, feelings of
persecution from various groups of people, and, with the
two planets of death conjunct, potentially massive deaths.
I remember thinking, well, that can’t possibly happen, can
it? That austerity was what we were recovering from! I just
didn’t have a clue how this was going to manifest. Perhaps it
would be the lessons of that austerity?
I was kidding myself! It’s a very good example of astrol-
ogy: you both know and you don’t know. I absolutely didn’t.
You can kind of see the virus in the U.K. chart’s transits, and
in Boris Johnson’s too, in retrospect. I am, of course, familiar
with the Chinese chart, and I knew China was in for some-
thing huge — but I thought it was going to be an earthquake!

Of course, Saturn–Pluto happened big time, and speaking in
April, it is clear that it is going to get much, much worse.
WJ: You never know exactly how things are going to manifest,
do you? I remember Dennis Elwell writing about the actual
event being the last thing that gets fixed in. You’ve got the cur-
rents coming, the transits, but we potentially have some kind
of influence in determining how things might actually show up.
ST: Well yes, absolutely. With this virus, people’s lungs are
affected, and lungs are like the trees in the human body, if
you consider the body as a microcosm of the world; they
even look like trees. We’ve had all these clues about trees —
you know, forests getting burned down in the Amazon and
the bush fires in Australia. Pluto can always be associated
with fires: taboo fires, fires that shouldn’t happen.
We are experiencing the ingress of Saturn in Aquarius
big time with social distancing. How are we going to learn to
be close to people again, I wonder? So, Saturn in Aquarius
could be defined as “the lessons of friendship,” and not just
between individuals but between countries as well.
The actual virus is Neptune in Pisces, which is manifest-
ing in many ways as hybridisation — for example, hybrid cars,
and even hybrid animals. Because of climate change, many
species are interbreeding. For instance, grizzly bears mating
with polar bears (grolars or pizzlies). Boundaries between
things are lost. The coronavirus is an example of this, a virus
in a wild animal (bats?) jumping to humans — arguably be-
cause of a lack of respect from humans towards wild animals
and the natural world generally. And with Uranus in Taurus,
big changes in the way we shop. With the virus and lockdown,
department stores are dying and there’s a huge rise in online
shopping. It has also brought a large surge in veganism, as
one might predict. There’s also been an unexpected increase
in bread making, baking, and proper cooking.
WJ: Yes, people haven’t been able to buy yeast for three weeks
here because everyone is suddenly interested in baking bread!
ST: It’s amazing, isn’t it? Maybe this will change everyone’s
relationship with food. Let’s hope we see more compassion-
ate and sustainable farming practices come out of the virus:
farming and eating and shopping habits that are better for
the planet. In various ways, the virus and the resultant lock-
down can be viewed as nature fighting back. There’s virtually
no air travel, few cars on the road, less pollution, and so on
— all being very good here for wildflowers and birds, etc.
Humans might not like it, but it’s great for nature. Personally,
I applaud that; I am out at six every morning walking the
dog and hearing the birds!
If these times have taught us anything as astrologers,
though, it is that we have to consider all the cycles together.
I was daft to write about Uranus in Taurus in isolation.1
WJ: My final question, Sue: In terms of the state of astrology
today, do you feel hopeful about its future?
ST: I’m not massively optimistic, but neither am I pessimis-
tic. Astrology will go on, it will never die; if it was going to,
it would have by now. Schools like the Faculty and the ma-
jor U.S. schools will go on. Astrology will obviously shift in
different ways, partly because of the online world, which just
shifts everything, and because young people are much more
open to a lot of different things. Astrology goes in waves
around the globe, just like everything goes through fashions,
but it will continue.
WJ: Sue, I really, really appreciate you doing this. It’s been
wonderful talking with you.
ST: Actually, I think it’s very sweet of you, Wynne, to want
to do this.
Chart Data
Sue Tompkins, January 30, 1954; 7:05 p.m. GMT, Taplow, England
(51°N32', 00°W41'); AA: parents.
Reference
1. Sue Tompkins, “Uranus in Taurus,” The Mountain Astrologer, April/May
2018, pp. 25-29.
© 2020 Wynne Jordan – all rights reserved
Wynne Jordan, MA, D.F.Astrol.S., practices astrology in Nova Scotia,
Canada and teaches Religious Studies at Saint Mary’s University in Hali-
fax. Her e-mail address is: wynne@bellaliant.net
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 45
 FINANCIAL TRENDS
AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2020
by Christeen Skinner
Author’s Note: To make an astro-financial forecast,
financial astrologers consider the distribution of the planets
around the Sun (both geocentrically and heliocentrically).
S
ince the start of 2020, indices have made dramatic
falls. Older traders and investors have seen this type of
market behaviour before and know that there is even-
tual recovery. In relatively recent times, one of the most
dramatic days of trading occurred on August 16, 1974, when
the Dow Jones Index fell by over 45%. It took 418 weeks to
make full recovery and 15 weeks after this date before the
final low of that period. Whilst the planetary alignments be-
tween August 1974 and August 2020 are very different, it
August 17 is a Monday and could
yet prove to be one of the most
significant trading days of this
two-month period.
is likely that the anniversary of the events in 1974 will be
acknowledged and that echoes and reverberations of that
earlier drama will be felt.
History never repeats exactly — though it is more than
a little interesting that Uranus reaches retrograde station
on August 15 and that the Sun and Mars reach their trine
on August 16 whilst there is a Sun–Mercury conjunction on
August 17. Sun–Mercury conjunctions often mark crucial
turning points, though not across all markets. When boosted
by other aspects, as in this instance, and taking into account
the sign involved (Leo), there can be significant price move-
ment in certain sectors: in this case, probably grains.
August 17 is a Monday and could yet prove to be one of
the most important trading days of this two-month period;
a fitting anniversary to the 1974 low, though I doubt that it
will mark the low from which history eventually marks re-
covery. The alignments and connections of the planets for
the remainder of 2020 — often described as planetary pic-
46 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
tures — suggest difficult days ahead. As forecasted by many
financial astrologers, 2020 is proving to be the year of the
“Great Financial Reset.”
The many indicators leading to this designation can be
found amongst the solar eclipse on December 26, 2019: The
presence of the Sun, Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto in
Capricorn gave rise to speculation that governments and
corporations would be challenged as never before. Financial
astrologers have long been of the opinion that until Pluto com-
pletes its transit of Capricorn in 2024, echoes of the Global
Financial Crash of 2008 would be heard. The concentra-
tion of planets in Capricorn in January 2020 did not suggest
an exact repeat of the global crisis, but the high probability
of reevaluation and reset. Cracks and fissures in the market-
place were also apparent from the lunar eclipse on January 10,
and the recent eclipse on June 21, 2020 suggested a potential
for events that would shake the world; the social and economic
consequences would be without precedent.
Though much of the blame for market turmoil since
March has been laid at the door of the pandemic,1 many
traders were already of the opinion that a correction was long
overdue. In analyzing market trends, several cycles have to be
considered, not least of which is the Saturn–Uranus cycle that
comes to its heliocentric last quarter phase2 on October 19,
2021 at 12° Aquarius–Taurus, and the Chiron–Pluto cycle,
which will be in contra-parallel latitude3 in April 2022. We
are likely to experience considerable trader panic between
now and then. Young traders will surely find this daunting,
The recent eclipse on June 21,
2020 suggested a potential for
events that would shake the
world; the social and economic
consequences would be
without precedent.
as they will have insufficient experience on which to draw.
Many will be alarmed and, in this state, prone to decisions
and moves they will later regret.
Whilst 2020 opened with planetary emphasis in Capri-
corn, it concludes with the Jupiter–Saturn conjunction. The
latter is super special: For the last 240 years, the conjunctions
were all in earth signs with the exception of the penultimate
of the series in 1981, which was in the air-sign Libra. The
coming conjunction at 0° Aquarius in December 2020 is the
first in the air series and coincides with the winter solstice.
Between these two events, there was the June solar
eclipse at 0° Cancer — a powerful degree because it is a sol-
stice point. Along with 0° Aries, 0° Libra, and 0° Capricorn,
it is considered to be a point on the World Axis.
The Venus Factor
We have 120 years of Dow Jones Index data. Inspec-
tion of this data reveals clearly that gains are most often
made when Venus is transiting Gemini. However, an analy-
sis of those years when Venus is retrograde in Gemini tells a
slightly different story. It is not at all uncommon for the Dow
Jones (and many other indices) to turn negative as Venus ret-
rogrades. There is an eight-year pattern to these retrogrades,
and it is wise for astro-investors and traders to review previ-
ous Venus in Gemini retrogrades — 2012, 2004, 1996, etc.
During the most recent example in 2012, the Dow Jones
Index fell sharply at the retrograde station and began recov-
ery at the direct station. This was followed by several weeks of
volatility. The situation in 2004 was slightly different, although
the dates of the retrograde and direct stations were also highly
significant. As was expected, the index fell at the retrograde,
but then rose only to fall markedly again at the direct station.
Once more, this was followed by several weeks of volatility. In
both 1996 and 1988, similar patterns show a change of trend
at either station. This being the case, the period under review
(August–September) will likely be volatile.
Venus’s Cancer ingress on Saturday, August 7, is likely
to be extremely important in 2020, as it will then be on the
degree of the June eclipse — again emphasizing the World
Axis. On February 16, Mars accented this same axis at 0°
Capricorn, drawing attention to the June eclipse when Mars
joined Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto in earth-sign Capricorn.
As I forecasted, the price of gold rose to almost $1,700.4
We might reasonably expect indications of another rise in
gold prices in the trading week beginning Monday, August
10, when the Moon moves through the earth-sign Taurus —
joining Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto — in the earth-sign Capri-
corn, while Jupiter moves into parallel aspect (both planets
at the same degree of declination) with Pluto. Another in-
dicator of a rise occurs on August 24 when the Sun and
Mercury — both then in Virgo — once again accent earth
signs and the human need to hold tangible treasures.
Full Moons
August opens with a Full Moon on Monday the 3rd at
11° Aquarius. (See Chart, p. 79.) When Saturn reaches
this degree in December 2021, it will be exactly — as
viewed from Earth — square to Uranus at 11° Taurus. Sat-
urn and Uranus first form this aspect on February 16, 2021
at 7° Aquarius and Taurus, respectively, and in June 2021
at 13° of those signs before making their final square at 11°
in December 2021. When these two planets have been in so-
called hard aspect in the past, markets have fallen. Activity
around this Full Moon should hint at what is yet to come.
It has also been noted that phases of the Saturn–Uranus
cycle correlate with developments in cryptocurrencies. It is
entirely possible that a new global cryptocurrency will be
It is entirely possible that a new
global cryptocurrency will be
announced in the coming months
and that intimation of this
development will come in this first
week of August.
announced in the coming months and that intimation of
this development will come in this first week of August. In
any event, Mercury (with asteroid Vesta in close conjunction)
makes a partile opposition to Saturn at this Full Moon, whilst
Mars is positioned at 19° of a cardinal sign (a common place-
ment for days of market drama), most likely exaggerating a
negative trend.5
The next Full Moon is on September 2 in Pisces. (See
Chart, p. 85.) This time it is Venus’s turn to oppose Sat-
urn whilst the Sun trines Uranus. This lunation also suggests
instability and is, arguably, only trade-worthy for the most
experienced of investors.
The Mars Effect
You might reasonably expect that indices would rise when
Mars moves through fiery Aries. In fact, analyses of Mars tran-
sits through Aries during the 120 years of Dow Jones data
indicate that prices tend to hold steady, but that is unlikely to
be the case this year! (‘Steady’ is an unlikely word to be used
for any month of 2020.) If we review another index, the last
70 years of data from the SPX (S&P 500 Index) shows it has
not fared well during the months of August and September,
with least growth as the Sun moves through Virgo.
The Sun’s Virgo ingress on August 22 is just hours af-
ter the Moon reaches perigee (its closest distance to Earth)
and within days of Mars reaching a first quarter square to
Saturn. If the Sun in Virgo signals downturn, then the per-
igee Moon is likely to bring exaggerated reaction from traders
who may then allow the markets to fall until at least the
Mars–Saturn square on August 24. There is little astrological
evidence to suggest that this August or September will witness
growth in either the Dow or S&P.
Furthermore, Mars turns retrograde in its own sign of
Aries on September 9 — exactly six months from a market
low on March 9. Retrograde Mars occurs every couple of
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 47
Financial Trends
The Venus–Vesta conjunction
years. Since the global crisis of 2008, each Mars retrograde
station has marked the start of a downturn usually lasting apparent in the chart for the
about two weeks. In 2020, a downturn might only last until
Jupiter’s direct station on Saturday, September 12. Recovery
September 2020 equinox is exact
is then possible but may not last much beyond the equinox on Coca-Cola’s Midheaven and
on September 22. Though another low should be antici-
pated, the final low of the present crisis, and from which comes just hours after its
history eventually records recovery, might not be reached Venus return.
even in the last quarter of 2020 — testing the nerves of
many investors.
The Venus–Vesta conjunction apparent in the chart for
The chart for the Sun’s Libra ingress (see p. 91) is often
the September 2020 equinox is exact on the Midheaven and
used to identify potential trends for the next three months.
comes just hours after Coca-Cola’s Venus return. Many may
With Neptune still in contra-parallel to Chiron, it is proba-
feel that the time is right to buy into this stock, confident that
ble that the coronavirus will cast a long shadow. Set for Wall
Coca-Cola may then be one of the first stocks to show signs
Street, this horoscope has the Moon in Sagittarius in the 2nd
of recovery when indices eventually bring their move to the
house, suggesting a turbulent last quarter of 2020. Venus and
positive.
Vesta are conjoined within four minutes and in quincunx to
However, Jupiter and Pluto are within a degree of exact
Neptune, accenting the potential for investors to be drawn to
quincunx in the Coca-Cola first trade chart (see Chart 1, be-
the allure of precious metals or new cryptocurrencies where
low left), indicating the high probability of these shares being
value is not always discernible. If you are tempted into either
sensitive to the current Jupiter–Pluto cycle. These two plan-
area, be sure to obtain advice from an experienced trader.
ets have conjoined twice already in 2020 and will do so again
on November 12. A few days later, on November 18 and just
Stocks Investment Overview
after Mars stations direct (November 13), Mercury arrives at
Finally, we take a quick view of four stocks which might
Coca-Cola’s Ascendant (10° Scorpio). When major aspects
form part of your retirement income portfolio and which are
cluster around an important planetary station, Mercury often
likely to make business news headlines in August and Sep-
acts as the trigger for eventfulness and change of stock price
tember. (Note: All stock data and sources in this article
direction. In this instance, the stock should be ‘in the news’
canCola
Coca be (KO)
found in Bill Meridian’s book Planetary Stock Trad-of:
Compliments Johnson and Johnson Compliments of:
Astrologer Linda Kaye andChartlikely recommended as a ‘buy.’ Transiting Neptune is Kaye
Astrologer Linda
ing —
Natal Chart
III,
Sep 26 1924, Fri Cycles Research, 2002.) 916-730-6805 Natal
Sep 25 1944, Mon
916-730-6805
10:00 am EDT +4:00 within
10:00 am EWT degree of natal Uranus, whilst Saturn will have
a +4:00 6
Wall Street, New York Wall Street, New York
40°N42' 074°W01' stationed
40°N42' 074°W01' retrograde to square itself in May, returning to
Coca-Cola Company® (KO) First Trade, September
Geocentric Geocentric
Tropical this aspect early in 2021: factors likely to suppress the price.
Tropical
26, 1924; 10:00 a.m. EST; Wall Street, New York, NY,
Placidus
True Node
Placidus
True Node
USA (40°N42', 74°W00').

18° „ 38' 17° „ 48'

21' 12° 33' 12°
… ¶ÉÀ» ƒ 53' … à Á É ƒ 05'
º½ 03°
21° 20°
º 04°22°21°17° Á 09°
15° … „ „ „ 13°
 14°13° … „
25° ¾
23° … … ƒ
¸ …
50'28' 38' 58' ƒ ¸ … 09' 22'
47'
04' ƒ
10°
20' 03° 22' Œ 29' 09° 37' À 02° 56'
06' 05'
08°
† †
‚ † 03° †
11' 10 9 † 22' 10 9 ¿ ‚
18° 18' 17° 55' 13° 36'
11 8
¼ 17° 11 8 06'
‚
† Œ
59'
» 26°†
¾ 01°‡ 21' 42'

Chart 1: Chart 2:
12 7 12 7
10° 10° 09° 09°
‡ Coca-Cola Ý ‡ Johnson and Ý
15'
1 Company 6
15' 36'
1 Johnson 6
36'

43' 2 5 2 5
ˆ Œ
09° 13° Œ 20' 08° 37' 37'
ˆ ½
3 4 3 4 Ü
Œ
58'
‹
Ü ˆ 19'
05° Ü
18' Œ Œ 58' 18° 36' ‰ 17°
07' 28'26' ‹
29° 03° 04' ò
Š Š Š 18° ò ¶ ‰
25°
21°22°25° ¿
12° 21' Charts use 12° Ê 33'
‰ 53' Ãʼ 21°
‹
Placidus houses and
‰ 05' 20°
‹
18° Š 38' 17° Š 48'
the True Node.

48 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER

 In the last 30 years, the share price has gone from less urn makes its way to the IC and the lunar North Node moves
than $2 to $60 — the steepest rise beginning in February through Gemini, while also passing natal 8th-house Uranus.
2019 ($46) to January 2020 ($57). In April, the stock fell to Since JNJ’s Uranus in Gemini squares natal 10th-house Mer-
$48. There may be more shocks and surprises to come with cury in Virgo, commercial shocks seem likely. Bearing in mind
the approaching Saturn–Uranus square at 11° of the fixed that this also coincides with transiting Neptune applying to
signs Aquarius and Taurus on December 24, 2021, accent- the opposition to natal Chiron, it may be that even if JNJ
ing the Descendant axis (10° Taurus). finds and manufactures a vaccine against COVID-19, that
Though KO has long been a hold in terms of retirement they are required to almost give it away, and that rewards to
income stocks, we should note that with Saturn moving to- investors are therefore minimal — at least in 2021.
ward the chart’s IC (18° Aquarius), returns for the next few
years may be disappointing. Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) First Trade, December 2,
1929; 10:00 a.m. EST; Wall Street, New York, NY, USA
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) First Trade, September (40°N42', 74°W00').
25, 1944; 10:00 a.m. EST; Wall Street, New York, NY, In January 2018, Caterpillar’s share price reached $170.
USA (40°N42', 74°W00'). The price declined from the lunar eclipse on the last day
The chart for Johnson & Johnson (see Chart 2, previ- of that month, hitting a low of $90 in March 2020 as mar-
ous page), whose first trade came 20 years after Coca-Cola’s kets tumbled. Recovery in April 2020 was fast, so that by the
(KO) first trade, has a near identical Ascendant and Mid- middle of that month the price was touching $130.
heaven. As with KO, transiting Uranus is headed toward the In the first trade chart, transiting Uranus stations on
Descendant whilst transiting Saturn will come to the IC in August 15 and conjoins Chiron — exactly to the minute
2022. The South Node in this chart is at 25° Capricorn. The — in the 3rd house (see Chart 3, below). Though Chiron
conjunctions of Jupiter and Pluto in 2020 occur
Inner Wheelat or close is often associated with healing, when business matters Outerare
Wheel
to this degree. The share price went aboveCaterpillar, Inc
$148 following Uranus
concerned, it seems to be the planetoid of Retrograde
new practices Station
that
Natal Chart Natal Chart
the Saturn–Pluto conjunction (22°) on January 12.
Dec 2 1929, Mon are driven by an awareness of stagnancy and corresponding
Aug 15 2020, Sat
However, along with many other share 10:00prices,
am EST it +5:00
fell fol- 10:26:28 (Uranus)
growth opportunities in a specific area. Shocking am EDT +4:00
wall street, new york wall street, new york
lowing the Moon’s opposition to this degree
40°N42'a 074°W01'
few days later news could yet affect the share price. 40°N42' 074°W01'
Geocentric Geocentric
(February 7). Recovery began at the spring equinox, and by
Tropical Tropical
the first of the three Jupiter–Pluto conjunctions
Placidus (April 5, June Placidus
True Node True Node
30, and November 12), it was well underway. Demand for
JNJ products and services increased as the fight to conquer 14° ‡ 24'
COVID-19 gained momentum. Johnson & Johnson was 09' 14°
well positioned to ‘fight.’ ˆ × † 48'
07° 13°
Throughout 2017, transiting Pluto squared ‡
natal Mars at 17°59' Capricorn. In 2017, the 14'

share price rose $30 between the start and

close of the year as investors recognized 34'
» Ê 04°
that JNJ’s intensive research was likely ˆ ¸ 24° 12° …
to bring reward. Jupiter arrived at this 27°
Ê27° ¼ ‡ ‡ × 17'
º 10° ˆ 23°¸
09°
08' 00' 00°
same degree on February 21, 2020 as ˆ 44' 12° ˆ Œ „
21° º
†
markets generally were falling. JNJ
Œ ¶ ˆ 09'58' 37'
12'

¾ 00°25°ˆ 47' 46' 10 9

03°
À 03' „ „
bucked this overall trend, as once ‰ 16' 11 8 …
15° Ã
34'

48' „01° Ã
again and this time, investors rec- 54' „
20° 12 7 20°
ognized JNJ’s contribution to the ½ 18°‰ 39'Œ
COVID-19 global research initiative. ‰ Œ16' ƒ19°
Á ƒ
The first trade chart shows the Sun 01'
Á 23°‰ 02'50'ŒŒ 1 6 01'
(2° Libra) conjunct Neptune (3° Li- ¾ 26°‰ 2 5
01'

31'
ƒ08°
¶
bra). Transiting Saturn trines both in ƒ07°
early 2021 — and yes, this does suggest
Š Œ
52' Œ
32'
3 4 Œ
30' Œ44'
»
Ü ŒŒ ‚ ‚27°
consolidation of gains as 2020 gives way 00° Ü 41'
É 34'
00'
07° 11°
to 2021. Yet Pluto moves to square na- 04° ò¿ ÝÝ
Œ
15' ½
tal Venus (ruler of the 7th house) as Sat- ‹ 20°
‹ 10°12°
‚
17'
À
Œ
56' ÂÉ 27°
Ü 50' Œ
08° 30' Œ
41'
Ü Ü
Chart 3: Bi-wheel. Â 23°
24°
Ý
10°
Ü 48' ¼ ò
14° 09'
Inner wheel and house cusps: Caterpillar Inc.
¿ 07°
‚
Outer wheel: Uranus Retrograde Station, August 15,of:2020,
Compliments
Astrologer Linda Kaye 14° Ý 24'
10:26 a.m. EDT 916-730-6805

AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 49

Financial Trends high of February 14, when the share price reached $190,
was a few days before the exact trine between transiting
Mars and transiting Uranus. The aspect was effectively ac-
Of course, it is quite wrong to base a forecast on just one tivated a few days before exactitude on February 14 when
transit. Yet, it coincides with the transiting Sun’s conjunc- Mars reached an exact square to natal Mercury.
tion with transiting Mercury — 23° and 21° Leo, respectively The Full Moon on August 3 is at 11° Aquarius and
— at a right angle to Venus’s natal position at 24° Scorpio in aligned with the Midheaven of this chart, whilst Uranus is at
the 10th house. (Recall that Sun–Mercury conjunctions can near exact square to it. It is reasonable to expect this to be
mark significant market changes.) These aspects take place a salutary and perhaps shocking moment for these shares.
within weeks of the solar eclipse (June 21 at 0° Cancer) that Certainly we should anticipate strong movement that day.
opposes Saturn’s natal position. This is no ordinary Saturn Nor will this be the end of the story, as 11° of the fixed
position but part of a t-square involving Eris (0° Aries) and as- signs has been accented beginning with the lunar eclipse on
teroid Poseidon (0° Libra). The t-square becomes a cardinal January 31, 2018. Since then, Mercury (11° Scorpio in No-
cross, by transit, when any planet or eclipse passes 0° Can- vember 2019), Venus (10° Scorpio in October 2018), and
cer. Perhaps, as Venus comes to 0° Cancer on August 7, Mars (9° Aquarius in June 2018) have each stationed within
there will be news that marks the start of considerable vola- 3° and therefore closely in orb to this axis. Mercury will sta-
tility in the share price. tion at 11° Scorpio in October 2020.
Considering that Caterpillar has just concluded its Pluto Perhaps most importantly, Saturn and Uranus arrive at
half return (natal Pluto at 19° Cancer), and with Neptune their last quarter phase with these two planets in 2021.7 The
now in trine to this position, it may be that there is a decision aspect occurs three times, owing to retrogrades, with the
made for a planned overhaul or restructuring of the business. last of these aspects taking place respectively at 11° Aquarius
and Taurus on December 24, 2021. By listening carefully to
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) First Trade, March the business news at this August Full Moon, we may receive
13, 1986; 9:30 a.m. EST; Wall Street, New York, NY, hints of what is likely to transpire in the first quarter of 2021
USA (40°N42', 74°W00'). and alter our investment strategy in response.
Microsoft’s first trade took place with the Sun at 22° Pi-
sces (see Chart 4, below), in exact square to a Mars–Uranus References and Notes
conjunction at 22° Sagittarius. In June 2020, this chart was 1. I forecasted the pandemic based on my in-depth analysis and taking into
affected by Venus’s direct station at 5° Gemini exact on the consideration the contra-parallel aspect between Neptune and Chiron (exact
Ascendant. From this we may gather a sensitivity to the natal in April 2020). My work suggested that volatility in the marketplace would
Mars–Uranus partile conjunction and the natal Mercury–Venus begin mid February and that a notable date would be March 9: the anniver-
Microsoft First Trade Compliments of:
sary of significant lows for the Dow Jones Index in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018,
conjunction
Natal Chart given that Mercury is the chart ruler. Astrologer Linda Kaye
916-730-6805
Mar 13 1986, Thu and 2019. I suspected that the price of gold would rise starting February 17
9:30 am Analysis
EST +5:00 bears this out: It is not uncommon for a share
Wall Street, New York but would then fall by March 21, as was the case.
price
40°N42' to rise
074°W01'
Geocentric in the days leading into an exact aspect, with de-
2. Like the Sun and Moon, each pairing of planets has a cycle that begins
cline often occurring as soon as the aspect has passed. We
Tropical
Placidus with a conjunction, goes through a first quarter phase when the two planets
True Node
cannot trade on this information alone. For example, the are 90° apart, then reach opposition, and finally, last quarter phase before
the cycle starts again at the next conjunction.
11° Š 57' 3. A contra-parallel aspect takes place when two planets are equidistant from
44' 19° the ecliptic, with one at north declination and the other an equal distance
‹ Ã ‰ 35' to the south.
10°
½ 25°
04° 4. Christeen Skinner, Navigating the Financial Universe, Ibis Press, 2020.
¸ ‹
Š
This forecast was first given at the Astrological Association of Great Britain
º 22° 59'
06'
29°
39'
» 28° ‹ À conference in June 2018.
Ü ò 05° ‹ 43' 05° ˆ
20° 15° Ü
43' 10 9
‰ 5. I explored this in depth in my book Exploring the Financial Universe
Œ
¶ 27° Ü41'32' 11 8
38'
22°
¼ 05' (Nicolas-Hays, Incorporated, 2016), where I showed that at every major mar-
22° ¿
ˆ
Ý É 00°Ý 10'
Ü 22' ket drama in the 20th century, 19° of the cardinal signs was accented.
21'Œ 17' ˆ
6. Ibid.
12
Chart 4: 7
05°
40' ˆ 09° ¾ 05° 7. Saturn makes an exact waning square to Uranus on December 24, 2021.
‚ Microsoft ˆ
53' Â 09° ‚ 39' Corporation 53'
1 6
Œ03'
© 2020 Christeen Skinner – all rights reserved
Œ21' ‡ 07°
‡
00°
Á ‡
2 5
Ê Christeen Skinner D.F.Astrol S., FRSA, is Director of Cityscopes
29° 39' London, which specialises in future-casting. She is a Trustee of the Ura-
3 4
‚ † nia Trust and a Director of the Alexandria I-base Library project. She has
05' 20°
spoken at many major conferences and is author of Exploring the Finan-
cial Universe, The Beginner’s Guide to Financial Astrology, and Navigating
the Financial Universe. In 2019, she was honoured with the prestigious
19° 44'
ƒ 35' … Charles Harvey Award for services to astrology. Christeen is a Fellow of
10°
the Royal Society of Arts. For more on her work, please visit Christeen’s
11° „ 57'
website at: http://www.financialuniverse.co.uk

50 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER

 A Missive
from Mercury!
It is an age-old truth that laughter is the
best medicine. Thus, we appeal to YOU,
dear reader.
Are you (or your sibling, neighbor, or [former] Uber-
driver) blessed with the gift of gab? Do you have a zesty
cartoon, sassy meme, or other chortle to lighten the
pages of our fair magazine?

If so, we want to hear from you!

beach
on a topless
Geminis Please send your original humor pieces to
editorial@mountainastrologer.com.

We give enthusiastic thanks to the ever-friendly God

of Communication for delivering much-needed humor
and assisting us in traversing 2020’s personal and col-
lective heavens and hells!

American Federation of Astrologers

• Astrological Certification
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AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 51

 GLOBAL SCAN
August & September 2020
by Bill Meridian
Author’s Note: Welcome to the Global Scan. Mundane
astrology can be seen as a two-step process. First, one
looks at the longer-term configurations that are in effect.
The second step is to determine which natal charts and
areas are affected.
From the first perspective, 2020 is rich with major
planetary activity:
• Six eclipses, including a solar eclipse on a
world-point axis — 0° Cancer.
• A Saturn–Pluto conjunction on January 12 at
22°46' Capricorn — on one of the zodiac’s
power points.1
• A Jupiter–Saturn conjunction at the winter solstice
while the Sun is on the 0° Capricorn world point.
This is quite a series of developments. I think that the
most important phenomena are those that energize the 0°
Cancer–Capricorn world-point axis. The June 20th solar
eclipse occurred at 0° Cancer on the summer solstice, while the
Sun will be located on the opposite axis at 0° Capricorn — the
winter solstice — during the Jupiter–Saturn conjunction. This
tells us that both the 0° Cancer–Capricorn axis, as well as the
0° Aries–Libra axis, will be energized. In addition to 0° cardinal,
15° of fixed signs is also lit up (the world points).
The world points concept requires some explanation.
These degrees (0° cardinal and 15° fixed) were determined
to be important by Alfred Witte and the Hamburg School of
Astrology. Witte contributed the 90° dial, the concept of the
Planets located at the
world point degrees find expression
in the world more easily than
planets that are not.
52 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
planetary picture, and eight hypothetical planets to astrol-
ogy.2 Planets located at these degrees find expression in the
world more easily than planets that are not. So, if a person
has Mercury at one of these points (an ideal configuration for
a writer), their ideas will find their way into the media quite
readily. One example is the horoscope of Hillary Clinton.3
(Chart not shown.) Her Moon, Ascendant–Descendant, Juno,
and Mars–Pluto conjunction are either within a degree of the
world points by conjunction or are 45° away as in the case of
the latter two planets.4 Hillary Clinton is one of the few peo-
ple on the planet known simply by her first name.
Another powerful example occurred on December 11,
2008, when Mercury (29° Sagittarius) was conjunct Pluto (0°
Capricorn) and news of Bernie Madoff’s arrest for running a
Ponzi scheme broke.5
And an example of an event that certainly affected the
entire world is 9/11. On that day, Mars (1°26' Capricorn)
activated the prior June 21, 2001 solar eclipse point
(0°10' Cancer).
The Jupiter–Saturn Conjunction:
December 21, 2020
Jupiter–Saturn conjunctions are believed to be
descriptive of the forthcoming 20 years. In my book, Plan-
etary Economic Forecasting, I outlined evidence that a
Jupiter–Saturn conjunction chart only ruled the period leading
into the opposition, and that the opposition chart has more
relevance over the next decade. The December 21, 2020
Jupiter–Saturn conjunction is unique because it occurs on the
winter solstice with the Sun at 0° Capricorn (see Chart, fol-
lowing page). (We must go back to 471 C.E. and 233 C.E. to
find conjunction charts with the Sun at 0° cardinal.) The 0°
Capricorn solar position was already energized by an oppo-
sition from the June 2020 solar eclipse.
In addition, the horoscope for the Jupiter–Saturn
conjunction is essentially the chart for the winter solstice,
making it doubly important. We can safely say that 0°
Cancer–Capricorn will remain energized into 2021. Any-
one with planets in these degrees, such as Hillary, may be
motivated to play an important part on the world stage.
 There is an important Uranian planetary picture in this (This requires an explanation from the government!) There
chart too: Neptune=Apollon/Vulcanus.6 The interpretation is a supply and a demand for money. Issuance of too much
taken directly from the book Rules for Planetary Pictures is money over and above the demand will reduce the price of
“epidemic, infection, inflation, destruction of prosperity, great each individual unit of currency, as it would with any prod-
deterioration, spread of corruption.”7 (Note that the first two uct. The value of each dollar decreases; the value of goods
words describe the current pandemic.) As a rule of thumb, does not increase. The clearest manifestation of such inflation
solar eclipses begin to have an effect about 90 days prior to was the real estate boom and crash in 2007–09. Therefore,
their occurrence, although I have seen many cases of eclipses the Jupiter–Saturn horoscope is telling us that there is greater
heating up the zodiac well before the 90-day period. asset inflation on the horizon. The only question is where will
However, I know of no study that has explored when the the excess credit go? My projection is that much of it will flow
effect of Jupiter–Saturn conjunctions begin. I think a year is a into commodities such as precious metals and real estate.
There is more to this chart than I can touch upon here.
Expect breakthroughs in technology. The Jupiter–Saturn con-
junction equals the Uranus/Pluto midpoint on a 90° dial.
The Apollon/Vulcanus=Neptune Uranus and Pluto symbolize sudden changes in financial posi-
planetary picture symbolizes tion, so we are likely in for periodic crises such as the dot-com
bust in 2000 and the 2020 market crash. Expect many new
inflation of currency. breakthrough, disruptive technologies. The Jupiter–Saturn
conjunction falls within the first degree (0°28') of Aquarius,
the sign that is ruled by Uranus, and is only 4° from the
reasonable time period in which the energy of the December asteroid Pallas — the goddess of wisdom. Pallas and the
2020 conjunction chart dissipates and the effect of the new conjunction are squaring Uranus in Taurus and Apollon in
cycle manifests. In addition, keep in mind that the June Scorpio. Pallas’s connection to Apollon by square signifies fu-
eclipse opposed the Sun in the Jupiter–Saturn solstice ture technology that can generate widespread wisdom and the
horoscope. This likely ignited the Jupiter–Saturn chart and development of problem-solving tools. It may symbolize the
epidemic planetary picture early on. I do not think this “Internet of things” — a term used to describe all of the smart
means that we will have 20 years of pandemics, but it will technologies that connect to the Internet. Gartner Group has
likely influence our lives into 2040 when the next Jupiter– estimated that by 2020, there will be over 20 billion8 such
Saturn conjunction occurs. Just as 9/11 had its impact, gadgets (Pallas) connected (Apollon) to the net. Expect great
2020 Jupiter Saturn Conjunction
there
Natal Chartwill be greater concern over health and cleanliness.
Compliments of:
Astrologer Linda Kaye advances in artificial intelligence and in quantum computing.
916-730-6805
Dec 21 2020, Mon
11:14 amTurning
EST +5:00 to economics, the Apollon/Vulcanus=Neptune
I also predict that astrology will enjoy greater acceptance:
New York, New York
planetary
40°N42'51'' picture also symbolizes inflation of currency. This
074°W00'23'' The conjunction is in Aquarius, the sign that connects to as-
Geocentric
is indeed
Tropical true as of this writing in May 2020. The Federal trology. Additionally, Uranus opposes Apollon; both rule
Koch
Reserve
True Node Bank has issued an excess of money and credit. astrology — the science of the future — in the Uranian sys-
tem. There is much more to review, and some of the energies
of the conjunction chart are difficult. One such aspect is the
20° ˆ 58'
12' 25°
Mars–Pluto square from 23° Aries to 24° Capricorn, respec-
‰ Ê ‡ 31' tively. Curiously, the 2040 Jupiter–Saturn conjunction
12° º¸ 19°
»
01°00° ˆ
07°
Á ‰ ‰
52'
ˆ
½ 23° 07'15' 29'
36'
¾ 00° ‰
Œ Ô 22°
Š Ä 00° Š28'51' 10 9 ‡
04° †
08° 04° Š 16' 10'
Š 28'
28' 11 8

Chart 1:
13°
12 Jupiter–Saturn 7
13°
‹ Conjunction …
07' À 18° ‹ 18' Dec. 21, 2020 07'
‹ 48' 1 6
¶ 26° 11:14 a.m. EST,
New York, NY
10' 2 5 Œ
Ü Œ 06'
22° 23° 57' „ 36'
Ü ¼ 02°
Ý 3 4
06° Ö „
10' Œ 08°
¿ 52'
‚
19°
25° 12'
Ý 31' É 12°
ƒ
20° ‚ 58'

Koch houses and True Node

AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 53

Global Scan
horoscope will also have the Mars–Pluto square. There is a
potential for violent loss of human life in both charts. We will
look more closely at this in future columns.
The Hot Spots
Note: All national horoscope data is from Nicholas Cam-
pion’s The Book of World Horoscopes, The Wessex Astrolo-
ger, 2004, unless otherwise stated.
India (August 15, 1947) and Pakistan (same date) are
two nations that were separated and granted independence
during the last Saturn–Pluto conjunction in 1947. They have
fought four wars largely over control of Kashmir. (And India
went to war with China once in 1962.) Both countries had
the June solar eclipse on natal Mars and conjunct Uranus and
Vesta. This grouping can be described as a sudden clash over
vested interests or turf. The turf is Kashmir. Further, the re-
gion of Kashmir was established on the June 13, 1984 lunar
eclipse.9 Resolving a political dispute by partitioning an area
on the day of an eclipse is not advisable because matters
commenced on such days rarely work out as planned. The
simmering contention over this region proves that point.
Pluto’s transit over 22°21' Sagittarius — the last decanate
of Sagittarius — coincided with a power struggle between
India and Pakistan over Kashmir.
The upcoming December solar eclipse at 23° Sagittarius
will be on Kashmir’s Moon and opposite its Sun. Eclipses be-
gin to have an effect about 90 days in advance, so this crisis is
due to start brewing. Add to this mix the fact that the Astro*
Carto*Graphy® (ACG) map of the September 9 Mars station
Resolving a political dispute by
partitioning an area on the day of
an eclipse is not advisable because
matters commenced on such days
rarely work out as planned.
will be on the Midheaven line along the western border of
the country, increasing tension near that line of demarcation.
Likewise, the June solar eclipse path runs through this region
— a planetary powder keg that is likely to create a crisis be-
fore year end!
China’s chart was singled out in early 2019 as difficult
because Pluto transited over its natal Jupiter five times. I ex-
pected economic stress there that would affect the globe just
as Pluto transiting over natal Jupiter sent New York City into
bankruptcy in the early 1970s. (I never thought of a pan-
demic.) Note that the June solar eclipse path shadows China,
keeping this country in the spotlight through 2020. The good
54 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
Note that the June solar eclipse
path shadows China, keeping this
country in the spotlight
through 2020.
news is that the Pluto transits will end in September and Oc-
tober, and the stress in China is due to lessen.
References and Notes
1. The zodiac power points are the heliocentric nodes of the planets. The helio-
centric north node of Saturn is 23°50' Capricorn, and the helio south node
of Pluto is at 20°34' Capricorn, so this part of the zodiac has a harsh flavor.
2. The Uranian System, or the Hamburg School of Astrology, was founded
in Hamburg, Germany and motivated by the research and teachings of Alfred
Witte. The term “Hamburg School” was conceived in 1923 at the Second
German Astrological Congress in Leipzig, Germany. I have been employ-
ing the Uranian techniques in mundane forecasting for more than 30 years.
3. October 26, 1947; 8:00 p.m., Chicago, Illinois, USA (41°N51', 87°W39').
The time for Hillary’s birth was received directly from Joyce Levine during
a conversation. I have used it for 30 years and forecast her loss in the 2016
election based upon the directed Midheaven.
4. I use an orb of 1–1.5°.
5. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madoff_investment_scandal, “Madoff
investment scandal,” (accessed May 15, 2020).
6. Apollon and Vulcanus are hypothetical planets that were developed
by Alfred Witte and Friederich Sieggren. The Neptune=Apollon/Vulcanus
planetary picture symbolizes epidemics and widespread fraud.
7. Hans Niggeman, Rules for Planetary Pictures, self-published, 1939.
8. See https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2017-02-07-
gartner-says-8-billion-connected-things-will-be-in-use-in-2017-up-31-percent-
from-2016 (accessed May 15, 2020).
9. Note that Kashmir is listed as Khalistan in Campion’s The Book of World
Horoscopes, p. 177.
© 2020 Bill Meridian – all rights reserved
Bill Meridian has been in the investment and astrology fields since
1972 and specializes in mundane and financial astrology. He studied
core-energetic therapy with Dr. John Pierrakos. He is a member of the
Kenos Circle, a Vienna-based futurist society. He has authored four books.
In 2002 and in 2016, he was ranked the number one stock market timer
in the U.S. by Timer Digest. He wrote the mundane column for Dell Horo-
scope from 1990 through 2020. In April 2020, he was elected to the board
of the new Foundation for the Study of Cycles. E-mail: bill@cyclesresearch.
com; website: http://billmeridan.com
 The FirsT sTep-by-sTep TuTorial
Evaluating Astro*Carto*Graphy® Maps
by Elliot Jay Tanzer
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“Though I fell in love with a
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Then I look at their ACG Map and, as
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It’s All About the Measurements
The missing ingredient in most ACG
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Had the advising astrologer known how
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but without any of those burdensome
Saturnian undercurrents.
Key to Accurate Map Evaluations
Though Jim Lewis’ original 1976 ACG
Manual has excellent planetary-line
interpretations, Jim later realized that his
original suggested measurement of 250
miles was too narrow, and needed to be
expanded. Unfortunately, Jim died before
revising his ACG Manual. In this Step by
Step Guide I provide this much needed key
to accurate ACG Map evaluations as later
taught by Jim in his Certification Course.
ACG Maps location, then use feng shui to
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You Will Learn:
P How to convert hundreds of miles into
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PHow to go beyond the superficial, overly
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a book.” Instead, you will learn to think of
the planets as personality types, attitudes,
and as ‘filters’ through which you see the
world, and the world sees you.
P How the quality of your relationships
will change, for better or worse, on
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P How to determine what health problems
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are likely to emerge early in life, rather than
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PMany case histories, color illustrations,
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PIn addition to my 45 years as
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Teacher of meditation
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since 1973. Member ISAR,
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To learn more about
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AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 55

56 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
 HOROSCOPES
FOR THE TWELVE SIGNS
August and September 2020
ARIES
As August kicks off, many forms
of support come under review. You
get jolted by a curveball in your per-
sonal finances that threatens to
thwart — or even throttle — your
recreational plans. Then, the Aquar-
ius Full Moon puts the spotlight
on your audience, your friends,
and your networks of association. You typically have no
problems expressing yourself, in fact it’s where you shine.
Others weigh in on your output now, and some even pro-
vide you with crucial feedback, should you be open to hear-
ing it. As The Beatles put it, “the love you take is equal to
the love you make.”
Mid month, your message gets amplified, causing more
potential shock waves. Authenticity is key. You eschew
anything that does not resonate with your core purpose.
As you adopt an increasingly coherent rhythm, acknowl-
edge that others around you need time to adjust. Your
lightning-quick reflexes can be scary for people who take
longer to process change.
In late August, the minutiae of routine grabs your full at-
tention. You find momentum in modifying your daily habits to
suit your new needs. On September 1, the Pisces Full Moon
shines light on your blind spots, so be alert. If you exercise vig-
ilance, what you learn suggests some lucrative ramifications for
your work life. Your ruling planet, Mars, turns retrograde on
September 9 (until mid November). Use this time to recalibrate
yourself, applying wisdom from any challenges you’ve faced
thus far. A weathered vine produces the most complex fruits.
Toward the end of September, your shadow diplomat
emerges. A stymied professional situation suddenly gains
new traction. However, you are asked to put yourself in
someone else’s shoes. Loathe as you may be to do so, you
stand to benefit from briefly stepping outside your comfort
zone, to anticipate your opponent’s next moves. The best
defense is a good offense.
by Jenn Zahrt
TAURUS
You erupt into ebullience,
sending ripples into your domes-
tic sphere as August begins. The
wave of excitement stems from
your newfound devil-may-care
attitude. The typical routes of
feathering your nest no lon-
ger adhere; you must innovate
and inject a bit of worldly ambition into a space normally
reserved for rest and recuperation. The longer you hold
out on blending these worlds, the more the lure of status in-
tensifies. A graceful solution is found through tacit, effective
nudges to those in your immediate environment. Your words
carry soft power. Use it.
That said, keep on alert around September 9, when
Mars goes retrograde in your 12th house of hidden enemies
until mid November. You’ll want to watch for people who ex-
press loyalty to your face and act otherwise when they think
you aren’t looking. This is a classic moment to discover who
stands faithfully by your side and who has less noble inten-
tions. Gird your loins, and look out for what is normally hid-
den from view.
Possible frenemies aside, September is also an excellent
month to make sure you are not inciting discord through
any actions of your own. The 12th house also represents
self-undoing. Misdirected anger could catch you off guard.
With Uranus moving through your 1st house of Self, your
reliable steady nature gives way to your newfound capac-
ity to flip the table on end and be alarmingly spontaneous.
You may even surprise yourself. Examine and defend your
boundaries with care.
The month of September ends with a re-evaluation of
your values. Dreams of distant shores and possible futures
finally get some foothold in reality, with tangible action
items you can put to work. Your usual suspicion of hurdles is
proven true as you attempt to gather speed. Stay the course
and you will witness the world unfold before you.
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 57
 GEMINI
Connections in your social net-
works blossom anew this August.
However, some boundaries be-
tween you and others blur, and
the lack of clarity results in a pos-
sible nebulous friction with certain
friends and colleagues. You may
spend a greater part of the month
sorting out what belongs to whom in terms of tasks or
trinkets.by Deborah
Issues arisingMcMahon
now may stem from incidents that
took place in late May or early June, and, if so, hopefully
they will find resolution. If you act blindly, you may run
the risk of getting in your own way. Turn your attention
toward your innermost private sphere, try to relax, and
let your mind wander. Downtime gives you reprieve to
regroup and face the world with a fresh perspective.
The Leo New Moon on August 18 encourages you to
refresh your relationship to your local environs. If quaran-
tines are still in place, you may need to operate through
virtual networks, yet the focus will remain heavy on the lo-
cal, and not necessarily the global. The subsequent ingress
of the Sun into Virgo doubles down on your focus on your
immediate home life and nest. A desire to spruce up your
pad takes hold, with some surprising results. Beware of
outspending yourself in pursuit of the goal.
The Pisces Full Moon at the start of September signals
some ripe fruit in your professional sphere. A longstanding
58 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
situation comes to a head, or its full development. By then
you should know where everything stands. You can make in-
formed choices from that point forward. Mars, the planet of
decisive action, turns retrograde in your 11th house of aspi-
rations. Activate your innate powers of oscillation to review
your hopes and dreams. Resist any urgency to act; taking
time to reflect will serve you more than proceeding without
truly inquiring whether you actually buy in to the plan. Keep
your cards close to your chest.
CANCER
You stand in the midst of a
labyrinth with seemingly impen-
etrable borders. You exert major
efforts to ferret your way out of
the maze, only to run up against
a new bend ahead. If you narrow
your focus from the outer lim-
its to your inner self, you will be able to get clear on how to
move forward. You cannot control the direction of the road
ahead, but you can control your actions on it. As a Cancer,
your expert skill lies in finding unconventional (read: side-
ways) approaches to problems most people tackle head on.
Trust your instincts. If you feel you need to move, answer that
impulse. Do not wait for consensus or approval. You are ulti-
mately in command, even if the situation seems to trap you.
Your financial picture comes under increased scrutiny
with the Leo New Moon on August 18. You may feel an
eagerness to spend rather than save. If savings are paramount,
try to meditate on whether this new widget or experience is
worth the cost. You could be trying to buy self-esteem through
the expenditure, and if that’s the case, perhaps you can work
on the direct issue, and leave your money in the bank. Some-
times what you own ends up owning you.
When the Sun enters Virgo in mid August, you find
solace in your chosen cohort, whether that is a group of
friends or people you know through an extracurricular activ-
ity. You do not need to get too up close and personal. You
simply need to be reminded of who is out there, and who
has your back.
On September 9, Mars turns retrograde in your 10th
house of vocation, enabling you to combat any mission drift.
Probe whether your actions match your own set of goals or
if you are living out someone else’s script. Consider severing
ties with anything that deviates from your core mission. If you
are not clear what your mission is, this retrograde is the per-
fect time to craft a fresh one.
LEO
At the start of August, a sud-
den shift in status confronts you.
Your central relationships may ex-
perience some temporary confusion
as you adjust to this turn of events.
A significant person in your life may
dig in their heels to establish bal-
ance, and their recalcitrance carries
more aftershocks for you. By mid August, with the New
Moon in your sign conjunct Mercury, you should be back on
track, bestowing generous affection simply just because. Even
so, you still may not be able to help yourself from speaking
up about some strangeness in your professional sphere.
On August 22, as the Sun enters Virgo, you turn your
attention to nurturing and ensuring that you and those
around you are well cared for. Unbeknownst to you, a be-
nevolent figure, possibly female, works alongside you to
ensure that your plans stay both spicy and effective. And yet,
you may find a hole burning in your pocket. Make sure you
keep your receipts.
By the beginning of September, enmeshments sur-
face with the Pisces Full Moon. In your efforts to sustain
your personal ecosystem, you may have overlooked a crit-
ical gap. Someone is either not involved enough or too
involved. In order to shore up any rifts, put some effort into
analyzing the small, repetitive tasks that build up into larger
patterns of behavior. You may thus nip some stressors in
the bud. If you have spent too many resources on a proj-
ect that appears to be heading nowhere, stop chasing bad
money with good time. Cutting your losses may hurt, but it
can also help you.
The equinox on September 22 highlights your acquain-
tances and your responsibilities to your local scene. You
are in demand, and this activates your charisma something
fierce. Even with social distancing perhaps still in play, you
finesse your way to measured glory while meeting your im-
mediate needs.
VIRGO
Overlooked sources of support
seek to make themselves known.
While you busy yourself with more
overt streams of income and as-
sistance, smaller, hidden sources
emerge. Before diving in to accept
any offers, ask yourself whether
you need them, or if they might
cause more trouble than they’re worth. The Leo New Moon
illuminates facets of the bigger picture that you have not in-
tegrated. You may choose to keep looking the other way, or
face the momentary discomfort to integrate them.
As the Sun enters your sign on August 22, you turn
your gaze to yourself. It is your birthday month, after all.
What transpires now carries implications for the next so-
lar year. Note any omens that appear around your birthday;
they carry potent messages for you. You can channel your
desires into some serious fun — emphasis on serious. With
the stellium of planets in Capricorn (Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto)
still in your 5th house of diversion and play, you treat recre-
ation like a job. Good thing you tend to excel at any job you
agree to take on. In this instance, going forth and conquer-
ing carries many pleasurable benefits.
Speaking of which, commitments to others are high-
lighted during the Pisces Full Moon on September 1. Press
pause on your own desires, and inquire into the Other.
Are your partners (in romance, or even in business) satis-
fied with the status quo? If not, what needs to change? As
Mars turns retrograde in your 8th house of joint ventures
from September 9 into mid November, you may discover
that expected rules of engagement take an unexpected
course. Prepare yourself by agreeing to any terms before-
hand, so you are well equipped to handle any turbulence
that may arise from this momentary disruption. Ultimately,
everything happens in the conversation. For best results,
be the instigator.
LIBRA
In August you may find
yourself in the proverbial eye of
a social storm. It seems nearly
everyone you know is coming to
you for counsel and sharing their
perspectives on some tough sit-
uations. You gain multidimensional awareness and have to
guard your tongue, lest anyone find out something that they
should not be privy to. Social harmony rests on the balance
of scales. Answer the call to action and enjoy being the piv-
otal player this month.
As the Sun enters Virgo, you find out who has been
acting with best intentions and who hasn’t. Keep your head
above the fray and simply take notes. With the cards finally
revealing themselves, tune in to what you truly value and re-
invest in key relationships.
As September begins, a domestic situation may block
you from doing desired work. If quarantines are still in
place, try to at least jot down a plan so that when you get
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 59
some leeway, you can jump straight to it. By the end of the
month, you’ll be able to flex your professional muscles with
the freedom you need.
Mars enters apparent backwards motion on September
9, marking a time for you to reconfigure partnerships. Re-
set the terms of any agreements. Hesitation will only let the
water keep boiling, so before things get too hot, craft a plan
for peace while bracing yourself for battle. The Other may
not be as willing as you are by nature to make compromises.
Now is not the time to play coy. Ensure your needs get
met. A true compromise requires sacrifice and reward for
both sides.
The equinox — the ingress of the Sun into your sign
— amplifies your sense of self, which in some cases can be
intimately tied to those you admire and emulate. Remember
that the mix of influences in your life is unique to you. Revel
in your capacity to celebrate others, and allow them to re-
turn the favor!
SCORPIO
You walk a tightrope between
your home and professional life
this August. Answering the call of
duty in either place creates a ten-
sion that tugs you in the opposite
direction. You may feel powerless
to speak your mind, letting your
opinions fester while your nose
hits the grindstone. With the Leo New Moon mid month,
relief appears as contacts, domestic and foreign, emerge
and entertain you out of any doldrums. Your labors will not
go unheeded as long as you lay your weapons to the side
and, hard as it may be, let any grudges go. Resentment will
actively block the recognition you seek. This New Moon car-
ries the promise of accolades, if you diligently put yourself
in position to receive them. The month rounds itself out
with sweet intensity.
The Pisces Full Moon on the first day of September em-
phasizes the axis of the love you make and the love you take
— the 5th and 11th houses, respectively. You have an open
invitation to get your hands dirty and make a longstanding
creative pursuit come alive. Unleash your genius and see
what bounces back.
That said, when Mars, your traditional ruling planet,
enters apparent backward motion on September 9, you
may feel at once compelled to indulge in overwork since
your efforts to advance seem to go nowhere. Rather than
tire yourself, consider things from a higher vantage point.
Ask what your aims are and whether this mode of working
will actually get you there. You may discover more efficient
means to achieve the goal. Along with that, habits and health
are two sides of a coin. By streamlining your approach, you
also cultivate well-being.
When the Sun ingresses into Libra, a desire for retreat
becomes hard to ignore. The astrological month before your
birthday is always a good time to lay low and reflect. Grab
provisions for your cave and nest up.
60 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
SAGITTARIUS
The month of August tickles
your spirit of play, and you cavort
as much as possible in your pre-
ferred areas of avocation. Travel
may still be restricted, or you may
already be away, unable to return
home. The Aquarius Full Moon on
August 3 weds you to places both
near and far, with a clear inabil-
ity to be both places at once. Thankfully the mind can always
wander, and you can use technology to bridge any barriers,
if an actual trip isn’t possible. New chances to get your pass-
port stamped could open by the Leo New Moon on August
18. Even if travel is altogether not for you, a series of tan-
talizing intellectual delights parades across your screen this
month, altering your perceptions of reality and expanding
your horizons in delicious ways.
As the Sun moves into Virgo on August 22, your diver-
sions drop away, and you return with all seriousness to your
vocational calling. The Pisces Full Moon throws light onto your
foundations as you aim your arrows to new heights. Reminding
yourself of your roots allows you to properly preen your wings.
On September 12, your ruling planet, Jupiter, turns di-
rect after a long summer treading old ground in Capricorn.
Momentum picks up even as some hard edges of reality rub
up against your usual enthusiasm. Turn the challenge into an
adventure and allow any adversity to reawaken your inner
fire. Heroes who have it easy are hardly celebrated. Tough
battles won command the most attention.
By September 29, right when some of your ideas
begin to take hold, you could face a dilemma around fi-
nancing. Tuck away some extra bounty for this rainy day,
which hits when Saturn in your 2nd house of resources pits
itself squarely against Mars. Your future self will be glad
that you thought ahead. Jupiter in austere Capricorn helps
you to achieve this uncharacteristic feat.
CAPRICORN
Slow and steady wins the race.
August carries a constant and yet
comforting tune that suits your need for
a reliable rhythm. However, a product
of your creation — a child or an inven-
tion, perhaps? — arrives at loggerheads
with the legacy you’ve been crafting.
Rather than cover up and hide, if you soften your gaze and re-
alize that this wild hare situation stems directly from your own
ingenuity, you can integrate the message and widen the scope
of possibility for how others appreciate you and your work.
The impasse presents an opportunity to rebrand.
The Sun’s ingress into Virgo ushers in a month-long fo-
cus on recreation and higher aspirations. Now that the world
knows a bit more about your zany side, let your inner in-
ventor loose. Your mind expands and your hands set about
realizing these visions. The Pisces Full Moon on September
1 presents you with a chance to reveal some of what you’ve
been working on to people in your immediate vicinity. Take
their critiques to heart and try to apply their input to your
next iterations.
On September 9 the planet of discord, Mars, backs up
in your domestic sphere until mid November. True rest will
be elusive as you manage all sorts of reconstruction in your
home. Barring actual renovations, something in your private
world begs for change. Another arena may be calling you:
your deep past. Consider finding out more about your ances-
tors and your heritage. Treasure comes to those who seek.
The equinox plants you firmly back in your director’s chair
after a seemingly interminable hiatus. Watch out for a possible
land mine on September 29. Retrograde Mars in Aries squares
off with newly direct Saturn. Once you finally get in gear to
make progress, you could encounter a major irritation. Use this
to your benefit: Plan your work and work your plan!
AQUARIUS
You are center stage, for once.
The Aquarius Full Moon at the start
of August suggests that a significant
partner may need to take a back
seat while you reset your course
and deal with any domestic shock-
waves stemming from Uranus transiting your 4th house. Your
concern with the wellbeing of the collective dims momentarily
as you focus on your immediate needs and those of your cho-
sen or biological family. By mid month, the Leo New Moon
has you back to prioritizing others, or, rather, they prioritize
themselves around you.
A fortunate brainstorm befalls you toward the end of
August. Before you get too carried away by the incredible
insights, make sure they stand up to the test of reality. By Au-
gust 31, a test run could reveal any faults in the plan.
On September 9, as Mars makes a turnabout in your
communication sector, you may find some extra fire in your
speech. Remember, a well-functioning Mars always fights for
something and not against it. Before pressing send, or seal-
ing that envelope, give the text a once-over to make sure you
are promoting a mission and not acting defensively. The im-
pulse to set everything ablaze may be difficult to resist. This
influence lasts into mid November.
The Virgo New Moon on September 17 activates your
8th house of joint ventures and unknowable knowledge. If
you are engaged in a research project, September is an ex-
cellent month to get to the bottom of a question that has
been stirring your imagination for some time. That said, the
month could also be taken up with going over any debts or
gaps in joint ventures. Or both!
By the end of September, your traditional ruler, Saturn,
finally goes direct, tipping your Aquarian jug so the wa-
ter starts to flow. The Sun also moves into your visionary
9th house, bringing some needed levity as autumn begins.
Breathe and let your ideas run rampant!
PISCES
August unfurls with you unearthing
long-forgotten relics in your inner attic.
It takes extra energy to face things you
normally prefer to leave out of sight.
A small dose of attention coupled with
an injection of imagination can set
you free of previously unconscious burdens. The resulting
liberation recharges your capacity to withstand mundane
chores; by mid month, the stale world of routine morphs into
a site for iterative expansion.
One-on-one connections also start to take up major
bandwidth in mid August. A special person in your life could
team up with your circle of friends, creating a tight-knit so-
cial scene. This may have you feeling left out, so make sure to
chime in and participate. Communication clears up the fog.
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 61
Horoscopes Eastern Window
The Full Moon in your sign at the start of September fur- continued from p. 17
ther stimulates your social connections: a quirky acquaintance,
perhaps a neighbor, appears out of the woodwork to your aid, 4. Farrow, “Cosmic Duets: Enthralling Harmonies or Yowling Cats,” in TMA,
June/July 2018, p. 18
just as friends who normally help come up short. Sometimes,
you have to accept assistance where it is given and how, and 5. The Kala Sarpa Yoga is a pattern where all the remaining seven grahas are
between Rahu and Ketu. There are variant formations, and some patterns
free yourself from expected sources or methods.
that are not exact can be described as “Kala Sarpa Yoga-like.”
This message gets emphasized on September 9, as Mars
6. Russell Miller, Bare-faced Messiah: The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard,
turns up the heat in your 2nd house, going retrograde un- M. Joseph, 1987, p. 11.
til mid November. The 2nd house concerns all systems that
7. Mark Brown, “Creston provided quiet retreat for controversial church
support you, financial as well as dietary. Consider what truly leader,” in The County Telegram-Tribune, January 30, 1986, pp. 1A/5A.
nourishes you and pursue that. Interestingly, your profes- 8. Jon Atack, A Piece of Blue Sky: Scientology, Dianetics and L. Ron Hub-
sional world also adopts new systems to sustain you. bard Exposed, Lyle Stuart, 1990, p. 107.
The Virgo New Moon mid month hands the mic to signif-
icant others again, and by the end of the month, a group you © 2020 Penny Farrow – all rights reserved
are involved in finally gets back into gear after a summer-long
hiatus. However, you may find that your own needs have
Penny Farrow has an M.S. degree from Cornell University and has had
shifted enough that you question whether you belong. If you an extensive career as a teacher, researcher, and businesswoman. She has
brace yourself for a momentary impasse, you could reset the been involved in the Vedic tradition since 1971. She has studied Jyoti-
vibe and establish a fruitful compromise for all involved. sha intensively since 1991, primarily under the personal tutelage of Hart
deFouw, and taught Jyotisha and Sanskrit at Vedic Vidya Institute in San
Rafael, California for eight years. She now resides in Florida, practic-
© 2020 Jenn Zahrt – all rights reserved
ing and teaching Jyotisha and Sanskrit full time, including a new online
option. Telephone: (415) 497-2014; e-mail: info@vedicchart.com; website:
Jenn Zahrt, PhD, is an author, publisher, and teacher of cultural astron- http://www.vedicchart.com
omy and astrology who has been practicing astrology since 1998. She
researches the many forms of astrology emergent across human cultures
past and present, with a special focus on early 20th-century German cul-
ture. She is the founder of Revelore Press, creative director of Sophia
Centre Press, and The Catapult Zone online learning community. She has
taught and lectured domestically and internationally (Canada, the UK,
Germany). Jenn specializes in a mix of traditional and modern techniques
and locational astrology. She is currently based out of Seattle, WA. You
can find her online at www.celestialspark.com

62 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER

 The Elegant Mandala MODERN DAY
of You  
MYSTERY SCHOOL
Many cultures believe the mandala to represent Hermetic Tradition
different aspects of the universe – “as above, so
below” – a visual meditation guide of geometric
patterns that lead towards the center. The Astrological for more information call 505 247-1338 or
birth chart, or you as mandala, is a pathway towards email churchoflight@light.org
your center of self-understanding and how you relate
to the world you live in.
I offer life overview with transit interpretations where
we examine the major sectors of life; relationship, OFFERING
home, life-passion and work. Interpreting charts since
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AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 63

 Astro-Assistance
continued from p. 15
move us outside the boundaries of our comfort zone. In
light of that, I don’t think you would be happy going back
to anything you’ve already done, but you might think of us-
ing this coming year to explore new and exciting options.
Without the coronavirus, these planets would be very favor-
able for volunteer opportunities, but given the unknown tra-
jectory of the COVID-19 pandemic, your options may be
more limited.
The more difficult side to Uranus transits can be deal-
ing with life’s unpredictability, which is more true than ever
now, for you and everyone. It’s hard to know what to expect
during the coming months, and how to plan for the future.
Uranus teaches us to practice detachment and stay in the
present moment as much as possible. If we can find peace in
each moment, we can endure anything. Because of Uranus’s
transit through your 6th house, you may be having a harder
time finding a good daily routine, but you could also feel a
lot of freedom to try alternatives to the habits you’ve estab-
lished. Capricorns tend to need structure, order, and plans,
but Aries on the cusp of the 6th house suggests you peri-
odically get bored with repetition. Transiting Uranus making
Capricorns tend to need
structure, order, and plans, but
Aries on the cusp of the 6th house
suggests you periodically
get bored with repetition.
a square to Mercury in Aquarius in your 3rd house suggests
an openness to new ideas and original ways of thinking about
health, habits, and even work. As Uranus moves to within 1°
of your 7th house — starting in July 2020 and lasting until
February 2022 — you will be drawn into unconventional re-
lationships and possibly activities that bring you more out into
the public. You can expect that your close personal relation-
ships will be changing in unforeseen ways during this same
period of time due to the unpredictable nature of Uranus.
Pluto opposing Pluto is also a once-in-a-lifetime tran-
sit and harkens back to when Pluto squared your natal Pluto
in 1982–83. Whatever deep-seated changes you realized
then are now coming to a point of being externalized in your
life. These Pluto transits create a desire to unfetter ourselves
from old, unfinished business, along with raising profound
questions about our life purpose. This is additionally true for
you since Pluto is just finishing a three-year transit to your
Sun, your sense of self and life purpose. Over the last three
years, you may have been pulled inward, looking at past re-
64 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
grets, frustrations, and areas of your life where you felt invis-
ible or unempowered. Pluto takes us to the hidden depths of
our psyche in order to cast off what no longer serves us and
make way for something new. In concert with Uranus, you
are at a turning point in your life, indicating changes in your
thinking, identity, and sense of purpose.
Natally, Pluto in Cancer in the 9th house is opposing
your Sun in Capricorn in the 3rd and rules your Scorpio As-
cendant. Along with work and productivity giving you a sense
of purpose, you want to be involved in changing the status
quo, whether in a one-on-one situation or something larger,
either with your neighborhood or in the field of education
because of the emphasis on the 3rd and 9th houses. Both
Capricorn and Pluto are extremely resourceful and strategic,
so I think you have two ways of moving forward. One would
be to find a new field of study, something that would speak
to your elevated Leo Moon so close to the Midheaven. Some-
times it’s hard for pragmatic Capricorn and internal Scorpio
to accept the artsy, fun-loving, and playful side of Leo, the
side that loves performance and being visible. Yet, your Moon
opposes Mars in Aquarius, suggesting an innovative and orig-
inal capacity for action and even leadership. Have you ever
tried volunteering at an arts organization or doing theater
improvisation?
The other path would be to use your long work history,
mostly working with people, and find a volunteer organiza-
tion where your administrative skills (Capricorn) and abilities
to see and solve problems (Scorpio) could be put to use. The
asteroid Ceres in Scorpio is rising, and this suggests an inter-
est in agriculture, the land, possibly including finding solutions
to food deserts, feeding the hungry, or working with families
and children. Ceres sextiles both your North Node in Capri-
corn and your Neptune in Virgo, adding a note of grounded,
practical ability that works in harmony with the Scorpio
capacity to find hidden solutions to systemic problems.
In January and February 2021, both Jupiter, an indi-
cation of growth and opportunity, along with Saturn, the
capacity to bring things down to earth, will transit over
your natal 3rd-house Mercury. Because Mercury has to do
with not only our thinking but also our ability to share our
thoughts with others, February seems like an opportune
month for you to get excited, do some networking, and
begin something new.
Chart Data are confidential, but the sources of both charts are birth certificates.
© 2020 Moon Zlotnick – all rights reserved
Moon Zlotnick began practicing astrology in 1975 and received for-
mal training in 1979 with Zipporah Dobyns through her Los Ange-
les school CCRS. Since then, Moon has worked with clients full-time,
taught astrology to beginners and seasoned students alike, and partic-
ipated on the boards of ProSig, OPA, and STARS. She has been certi-
fied through OPA and currently leads Peer Group Trainings. Her book,
Looking to the Stars — a hybrid of astrology and memoir — will soon
be published. Website: https://astrologybymoonrabbit.com
 Epidemics / Pandemics
continued from p. 28

Looking over the next 50 years, let us see when another

major epidemic/pandemic could take place. (See Table 2,
below.) We must bear in mind, of course, that nearly every
year, minor, localized epidemics happen; however, I am not
referring to those. My aim is to point to periods that are likely
to bring about a major, or novel — and therefore dangerous
— epidemic/pandemic.
The intensity of the planetary contacts listed below var-
ies. My research suggests that we could be in for another

Parallels of latitude are extremely

delicate aspects because
everything happens within a
relatively narrow band; one degree References
of arc is an incredible amount in (Wikipedia was consulted for much of the historical pandemic information
in this article. All URLs were accessed in May 2020.)
the vast space! 1. Gilbertus Anglicus, Compendium Medicinae Gilbertus, reprinted in Heal-
ing and Society in Medieval England, University of Wisconsin Press, 1991,
p. xxv.
pandemic in 2025–26 (possibly starting in late 2024) and 2. Oliver Sacks, Awakenings, Duckworth & Co., 1973, p. 14.
between 2061–65. The other periods will almost certainly 3. John Harrington and Thomas C. Frohlich, “Worst Outbreaks of All Time,”
bring a major epidemic, but it would not likely develop into a 24/7 Wall St., https://247wallst.com/special-report/2020/01/31/worst-
pandemic. outbreaks-of-all-time/4/ (accessed May 14, 2020).
4. Ema Kurent, “The 2020 Forecast,” https://www.emakurent.com/en/
2019/12/31/2020/; Ema Kurent, “COVID-19 and Possible Future Pandem-
Future Projections
ics,” https://www.emakurent.com/en/2020/03/12/covid-19-and-possible-
The future is uncertain, they say, but astrology gives us future-pandemics/
invaluable tools to research the cosmic laws and predict the
possibilities and probabilities — even when it comes to the
© 2020 Ema Kurent – all rights reserved
most elusive of all planets, Neptune. Hopefully this article has
helped the reader to better understand its subtle workings and
Ema Kurent (DFAstrolS, QHP, CMA, ISAR CAP), from Slove-
to prepare for what it might bring in the future. (Adding, of
nia, is a professional astrological consultant, teacher, writer, researcher,
course, that I am so happy that the future is actually almost and publisher. She specializes in traditional and predictive astrology
never completely certain!) and is an avid researcher of declinations and eclipses. She runs Astro-
logical Academy Stella (ISAR affiliated) and has authored the books
Table 2: Related upcoming planetary events Sonce in Luna (The Sun and the Moon, 2008), Lunin vodnik (Moon Guide,
a yearly publication since 2005), Horarna astrologija (2015), Horary
Dates Relevant Astrological Factors Astrology (2019), and nine student textbooks. She has lectured in
Slovenia, England, Poland, USA, South Africa, India, and Serbia.
2022 Neptune–Saturn parallel of latitude

Neptune equator crossing and a parallel of declination

with Saturn (in 2026); could start already in 2025 due to
2025–
a “Neptunian” total lunar eclipse, and Neptune entering
2026
Aries; this epidemic/pandemic could involve a novel virus
or even the use of a virus as a weapon (biological war)

2031 Neptune–Saturn parallel of latitude

2037–38 Neptune–Saturn parallel of declination

2052–53 Neptune–Saturn parallel of latitude

2061–63 Neptune–Saturn parallel of declination in 2061–63, plus

or ’65 a Neptune/Pluto square forming between 2061–65

AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 65

 SoftStar Muse
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR ASTROLOGY SOFTWARE
by Hank Friedman
Author’s Note: Underlined words in the article are links to
graphics that you can see at: https://www.soulhealing.com/
tma.htm
Astrodatabank Research
by Alois Treindl
https://www.astro.com/adb-search
$11/year for full access
free partial access
It was a big loss to astrologers when the phenomenal
astrological research program AstroDatabank became ob-
solete. Fortunately, Alois Treindl revived it and created the
AstroDatabank (ADB) chart collection site (which is con-
tinually updated). Now he is providing astrologers with a
research tool for astrology: the powerful Astrodatabank
Research web page.
Since Astrodatabank Research is web-based, it can be
visited via any computer, tablet, or even smartphone, and it
provides an exceptional set of search capabilities for Modern
and Traditional Western astrologers.
On its main screen you can select the population of
charts to search, choosing gender, accuracy of birth time, the
house system, and aspect orbs specified individually for each
aspect (e.g., 8° orb for conjunctions and 1° orb for parallels,
etc.). You can use just the ADB data or your own data (that
you’ve saved to their website) or both.
You can confine births to a particular range of dates, use
the True or Mean Node, allow or disallow Out-of-Sign aspects
and Intercepted Signs as House Rulers, and decide between
the day or day/night Pars Fortunae and Traditional or Mod-
ern sign rulerships (or use both).
And like the original AstroDatabank software, you can
also specify only people who fall into particular categories,
such as Body, Mind, and Personality Traits (e.g., appearance,
fiery personality, etc.); Diagnoses, Family themes (including
childhood issues), Lifestyle, Passions, Personal, Vocation, No-
table, and Mundane. For example, you could constrain the
search to only Oscar winners, or alcoholics, or philanthropists,
or baseball players. These research capabilities are priceless!
The bottom half of the web page lets you set what
points to use, including the planets, angles, the North Node,
66 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
Lilith, Pars Fortunae, and any of the four major asteroids,
as well as the dispositor of any planet or angle and the
ruler of any house.
I think the designers of the page were brilliant in provid-
ing the option to select several points and then use the All
Objects function to choose whether you require all of the ob-
jects to meet your search criteria or any two or three (or up
to ten) objects. That’s incredibly helpful when you want to
find, for example, the athletes who have at least four points
in the fixed signs. And the supplied placements include sign
and degree ranges (e.g., between 10° Aries and 20° Taurus),
Retrograde or Stationary, the four major dignities, the signs,
the elements, the qualities (cardinal, fixed, and/or mutable),
the houses, and houses and signs ruled by specific planets.
You can also search for major, minor, or declination aspects
between two or more points.
And because the entire database is pre-computed (all
positional calculations have already been done), searches
are lightning fast.
The search results web page displays a summary of your
search conditions and a concise listing or expanded listing of
those who met your criteria. The expanded listing can show
some biographical material and/or the categories that each
person fits in. There are also two icons that you can click on:
The Links icon takes you to the AstroDatabank page for that
person, complete with birth data, biography, relationships,
events, source notes, categories, and a small chart. Clicking
on the other icon, which looks like the Sun glyph, takes you
to a larger chart for the person. You can save the chart as a
PDF file, and choose your default chart settings.
Astrologers are given many options on the Extended
Chart Selection screen. You can pick from dozens of chart
wheel styles (including sky maps), many house systems, Tropi-
cal/Sidereal/Draconic Zodiacs, and Geocentric/Heliocentric/
topocentric reference frames, and you can add many other
points and objects (e.g., the Vertex, prenatal eclipses, Fixed
Stars, transplutonian bodies, etc.). There are also several Tra-
ditional Astrology options, including showing decans, terms,
and Zodiacal Releasing.
Astrodatabank Research is a truly valuable tool for all
astrologers. Its range of functions, versatility, and data set
are unparalleled, and these enable astrologers to learn, test
their theories, and deepen their understanding of astrology.
Thank you, Alois, for giving this to us.
Weblog News
The latest articles in my online blog at https://www.
soulhealing.com/softstar.htm include my new tutorials “The
Meaning of the Modes in astrology” and “Levels of Analysis
— How to approach a Vedic chart,” updates of two major
articles, my shelter-in-place astrology software sale, A Gigan-
tic Magnetic Bubble around Uranus, and more.
© 2020 Hank Friedman – all rights reserved
Hank Friedman is a professional Vedic and Western astrologer, author,
and teacher. Visit his http://www.soulhealing.com website for astrology
software guidance and his http://www.learnastrologyfree.com website for
more than 150 free in-depth astrology tutorials. You may contact him
at stars@soulhealing.com for help in choosing the right astrology soft-
ware for your needs.
Image source: The zodiac man. Watercolour painting by a
Persian artist. Credit: Wellcome Collection.
Beyond the Horoscope
continued from p. 39
For instance, take the blockbuster movie The Joker, which
came out during the exact peak of a Pluto station in early
October 2019, when that planet’s influence was especially
strong. The film’s story exemplifies Plutonian themes to a
remarkable degree, with its tale of buried secrets and old
It’s tempting to believe
astrology is somehow sufficient
unto itself, requiring no other
methods or systems to
enhance its efficacy.
wounds coming to light. Of course, there are many ways Pluto
energies can manifest — an archaeological discovery, volcanic
eruption, hazardous toxic spill, political power struggle, acts of
mob violence, and so on. However, the film gave expression
to one manifestation which seemed particularly active at that
time, and which I also saw reflected in the lives of friends and
clients, in terms of buried secrets and old wounds coming to
light for them, too. As I said at the outset, within the manifest
event for a given horoscopic moment, we find a uniquely con-
cise symbol for potentialities that are only abstractly suggested
by the chart. As a result, instead of using the chart to explain
the event, it can be useful sometimes to work “backward” by
using the event to better understand the chart!
Conclusion
It’s tempting to believe astrology is somehow sufficient
unto itself, requiring no other methods or systems to enhance
its efficacy. I’m reminded of the astrologer I once knew who
— when asked whether she thought studying subjects like psy-
chology, the I-Ching, palmistry, or Tarot might help her own
astrological practice — replied, ”There’s no need. Astrology
covers all the bases.” Well, not really. In this essay, I’ve tried to
show that knowing different symbolic systems can provide us
with different perspectives into a given situation not available
through any one system. Understanding the language of syn-
chronicity and “meaningful coincidences” offers us one such
avenue and should rightly be part of any truly holistic approach
to astrology, whether we’re focused more on personal inter-
pretations or on world events unfolding across the global stage.
© 2020 Ray Grasse – all rights reserved
Ray Grasse is associate editor of The Mountain Astrologer and author
of several books, including The Waking Dream, An Infinity of Gods,
Under a Sacred Sky, Signs of the Times, and Urban Mystic. His website
is www.raygrasse.com
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 67
TMA’s AstroSoftware Marketplace

68 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER

 TRADITIONAL ASTROLOGY
IN A MODERN PRACTICE
WORKING WITH THE MALEFICS
by Wonder Bright
T
raditional astrology is rife with phrases the modern
mind finds objectionable. After a century’s worth of
neuroscience and psychological advances, terms like
“bad houses,” “detriment,” and “malefic” seem out-of-step at
best. Many people quite naturally find such phrases unneces-
sarily dark and demoralizing, and it’s certainly reasonable to
ask how such terms could ever be considered useful, let alone
helpful inside the sort of counseling practice modern astrolo-
gers tend to adopt. At the heart of it, the fatalistic nature of
traditional astrology conflicts with modern belief in free will
and progress. So why are so many people turning to ancient
methods to describe modern lives?
If I had been at a different point in my life when I first
learned these phrases, I might have balked at them too. But
when I first encountered them, I was reeling from a terri-
ble breakup and wasn’t in an especially optimistic frame of
mind. Instead, I was listening to Johnny Cash’s cover of Nine
Inch Nail’s “Hurt” on repeat, rewatching Buffy the Vampire
Slayer (season five twice) and making some epically awful
rebound dating choices. I may have resented the new astro-
logical techniques I had for describing the way my romantic
life was consistently in the toilet, but it was beyond me to
deny the power of the truths they indicated.
It would be fair to say that I steeped myself in dark pre-
dictions the same way I listened to Johnny Cash’s cover of
“Hurt.” Everything was on repeat. I wasn’t trying to recover
from the breakup as much as soak myself in it. My poor
mother got so sick of me complaining about my 7th house
that she started heading me off at the pass with comments
like, “Doesn’t your chart say anything about when you’ll be
happy again?” Or, pressing her luck, “Isn’t there more to life
than astrology?”
LOL, Mom. As if.
Fortunately, my therapist had more latitude for my
dark navel gazing. She took advantage of my sudden and
overwhelming need to identify the ways my romantic pattern-
ing was destructive but never rushed me through the process.
Slowly, over time, she helped me pull apart the pattern my
chart described and get to where it was rooted in my actual
life. With her, I learned to observe what Rob Hand calls the
“reality game” and to scry the world lying just below the sur-
face of my story about it. All along, the traditional techniques
that dictated the focus of my chart pulled our conversation
forward and me with it.
As my abject grief faded, I began chafing at the framing
of a system developed before a queer feminist woman like my-
self would ever have been allowed near it. But I never got over
the relief of techniques that named my grief without telling me
to transcend or transform it. I never got over the experience
of being in a dark place and being given words for it. In those
techniques, the struggles of my life came into sharp focus, and
I could no longer paper over them. Once I stopped resisting
the darker difficulties of my life, I could begin working with the
actual material of my soul. I could stop trying to be something
I wasn’t and become more of what I actually was. Accept-
ing what I was took longer than learning the techniques, but
it wouldn’t have happened without them. Modern astrology
promised me wisdom and revelation, but never actually de-
livered it. Not like this. How could it, when it lacked the teeth
to describe the dragons I had to fight to achieve it?
Still, a question began to plague me. We have many
more tools to use against those dragons than the ancients
who first identified them. How could I use traditional tech-
niques to understand and describe the human condition in the
21st century?
I’ve spent 16 years asking that question and my obses-
sion remains unabated. The contradiction between fatalistic
traditional techniques and my incurably optimistic modern
mind has taken me on a journey that has been unexpected
and confronting, but ultimately illuminating. It’s time now to
share what I’ve discovered, and this column will be devoted
to doing just that. In each installment we will dive into the
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 69
Traditional Astrology
thorny thicket where traditional techniques and modern un-
derstanding meet, with the intention of pushing forward into
the new territories I’ve come to believe are promised.
In this piece we will look at two of the biggest dragons of
traditional astrology: the malefics Mars and Saturn. We will
parse out the ways in which their ancient significations still
carry weight in the modern age, and what advantages mod-
ern thinking might give us in terms of helping our clients and
ourselves deal with difficult circumstances.
The Essential Boundaries Described
by the Malefics
One of the great advantages of traditional astrology is that
it is based on observational astronomy. This grants a coher-
ence in the techniques that always relates what we see in the
skies to what we experience on the ground. We won’t be cov-
ering those ancient astronomical models here; however, it’s
important to understand this relational dynamic. We will use
it as a measuring stick to guide us when it comes to thinking
about the traditional techniques, knowing what we know, now
that we have seen beyond the realm of Earth. While a helio-
centric model will be used in the following discussion, it should
not be understood to supersede ancient teachings, which
rightly placed earthly concerns at the center of our cosmos.
When you put the seven traditional planets in order, with
the Sun at the center and Saturn at the edge, you can see
that the malefics, namely Mars and Saturn, define bound-
aries in our solar system. Saturn, the “greater malefic,”
describes the most obvious boundary, as it is the farthest
visible planet to the naked eye (apparently, Uranus is tech-
nically visible for those of us with very keen eyesight, but
no ancient ever recorded it). Mars, “the lesser malefic,”
All along, the traditional techniques
that dictated the focus of my chart
pulled our conversation forward
and me with it.
also describes a boundary, as it is the first planet beyond the
orbit of Earth, and is therefore the planet between us and
the rest of the known universe. Mars can be either a sentry/
keeping guard, or an explorer/seeking farther afield. Either
way, the Red Planet occupies a liminal range between what is
ours and what lies beyond. This distinction would have been
lost on ancient astrologers, as they commonly believed Earth
to be at the center of the solar system. It is fascinating to
note that the significations that fell to Mars inside the ancient
schema might still be reflected within the contemporary one.
So what is the significance of a malefic as a bound-
ary planet, and how can we understand the importance of
boundaries through describing the planets in this way? This
70 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
is where a modern understanding of trauma and its impact
on our brains becomes so important, because from a modern
point of view, creating and maintaining healthy boundar-
ies is a vital component of creating happiness. People who
have had their boundaries crossed from early ages often have
a lot of work to do before they are able to set and maintain
healthy separations between themselves and others.
Mars describes personal boundaries, the boundaries that
reflect the sect of the Moon1 and the world of emotions, the
body, and our desire nature. Demetra George describes Mars
as the planet signifying our ability to act on what we desire.
As we mature into adults ourselves,
we need to learn to become the
authority, in addition to developing
healthy relationships to authority
figures in our lives.
Difficulties described in a chart as related to Mars, therefore,
have to do with where our own desires are either ignored and
trespassed, or where we are the one ignoring other people’s
personal boundaries and trespassing them in order to get our
own desires met. While a therapist might not describe such
activities as “evil” to their clients, they would certainly be at
pains to dissuade them from habits formed around such cir-
cumstances and behaviors.
Saturn, in turn, describes boundaries we encounter in our
external worlds, the worlds of the sect of the Sun (see note
one), the public worlds in which we want to shine and make
a mark. As the farthest visible planet from Earth, Saturn de-
scribes where we end and the rest of the universe begins, and
hence where we meet the ultimate boundary and the limits of
our authority. As children, of course, the limits of our author-
ity lie in that of the adults around us, so Saturn in a chart will
always describe the circumstances within which authority was
delivered to us as children, as well as how we continue to
experience authority figures in our lives as we grow into adult-
hood. However, as we mature into adults ourselves, we need
to learn to become the authority, in addition to developing
healthy relationships to authority figures in our lives.
Our ability to exercise authority rather than living in re-
action to it is a hallmark of maturing to adulthood. The way
that Saturn is configured in a chart describes the difficulties or
ease someone might face along that journey. Saturn’s job in
anyone’s chart is to grant them access to their own authority,
even when — and maybe especially when — that access is
thwarted by those who seek to block it.
It may seem that working with clients on issues around
their boundaries, whether they are being trespassed or tres-
passing, is a loaded subject even before one begins throwing
around words like “malefic.” Yet, something interesting occurs
when we use the terms to describe both what the ancients saw
and how we might think of such things these days. A client
who was sexually abused doesn’t need to be told how malefic
their stars are; they already know. However, when we describe
the basic astronomy in support of the malefics as boundar-
ies, people gain immediate access to the impact in their lives
in ways that remove the onus of guilt and grant them a con-
text from which they might begin to exert more agency.
It is beyond the scope of this column to dive in to how
an astrologer might use this framing in practice, and it’s rec-
ommended that without a counseling pedigree we do not
probe into client histories. Hopefully, I have provided enough
material to provoke interest in exploring the ways that tra-
ditional systems are complementary to modern thinking. In
future installments I will explore how sect, at its core, power-
fully frames the impact of being mortal, a condition that the
modern mind stubbornly persists in denying. I will also look
at how this ancient technique, which on the one hand seems
to inscribe the binary, simultaneously gives us the tools to
describe gradient within it, providing much needed nuance
to the discussion. I will also speak on what the “bad houses”
teach us about the fundamental struggle of being human and
much, much more.
We are living through a time unprecedented in the mod-
ern era, a moment when humanity is collectively reeling from
the dawning revelation that we are extremely vulnerable to
circumstances well beyond our control. This “revelation” was
never news to the ancients. Traditional methods describe the
impact mortality has on mortals better than modern meth-
ods, thus they could prove helpful to us in terms of facing
our new realities. The questions we might be asking ourselves
now have less to do with changing our fates and more to do
with how we might learn to live with them. Applying the an-
cient methods to modern understanding is incredibly useful
for that. I look forward to sharing with you the things I’ve dis-
covered in the past 16 years of looking at this topic in depth.
I hope you’ll join me on the journey.
Note
1. Sect is a Hellenistic technique that makes distinctions in a chart based on
whether someone is born by day or night and will be discussed in more detail
in future installments of this column.
© 2020 Wonder Bright – all rights reserved
Wonder Bright is an astrologer living in Portland, Oregon. She works
with her clients to help them use whatever sliver of free will they pos-
sess to embrace their fates and step more fully into their lives. She uses
traditional techniques to arrive at wholly modern conclusions, and this
column is devoted to describing how. For more, you can find her at www.
starsofwonder.com.
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 71

Astrology News
by Gloria Star
Astrologers Become Socially Distant
As the focus of our lives over the past few months has
been “all COVID-19 all the time,” the world of astrology has
also been significantly impacted. One of the most notable
manifestations has involved the much-beloved astrology con-
ference. Whether or not you enjoy gathering with other astrol-
ogers and like-minded individuals, those meetings have now
been halted in the wake of stay-at-home lockdown orders.
From meetings and classes hosted by local groups or organiza-
tions to larger regional and international conferences, leaders
in the astrological community have been scrambling to main-
tain connections while revising schedules, venues, and options
for these events. You’ll see some of these influences as you
peruse the Astrology Conference Calendar in this column.
Astrology classes and full courses of study have been
available online for years. For example, the International
Academy of Astrology (IAA) has successfully hosted sev-
eral international conferences utilizing webinar-type formats.
However, the huge, dynamic gatherings like International
Study for Astrological Research (ISAR) or United Astrology
Conference (UAC) have not yet been available as a 100% vir-
tual experience — until now. As you know, astrologers are
unique, with their particular viewpoints bringing almost any
subject into a different focus. There’s a lovely brilliance dis-
played by this diverse body of individuals, and being together
can be truly life-changing. For the next several months at
least, these events are curtailed. Many are taking on the chal-
lenge to utilize the wonders of our current technology to meet
via webinar and other connections like Zoom. While sharing
and learning via digital screens might be an excellent oppor-
tunity, it’s a completely different experience from sitting
together in person.
Plus, the marvelous trade shows and marketplaces
mounted at conferences provide an opportunity for show-
casing new books, software, and creative, metaphysical
merchandise. Those who rely on conventions to market their
goods will be limited for a while, although online shopping
is likely to be featured at the larger virtual summits. Some
form of social distancing may become the new normal, quite
possibly well into the future. While the large-scale astrology
conference and pop-up markets have been evolving over the
past decade, COVID-19 has accelerated changes.
72 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
If you have astrology news or
events of interest to the astrological
community that you would like to
share with TMA readers, please send
the information directly to:
Gloria Star, P.O. Box 311,
Clinton, CT 06413
or: Gloria@GloriaStar.com
At the time I am writing this column, Northwest Astro-
logical Conference (NORWAC) will be initiating its first-ever
all-digital conference in Seattle, Wasthington. The Astrolog-
ical Association of Great Britain (AAGB) has just announced
that it will go online for its June 2020 conference, utilizing
webinar format for the entire event. Details are available on
their website (see below listing). We send our best wishes as
this grand experiment gets underway.
The ISAR Conference, slated to take place in Westmin-
ster, Colorado, will soon be announcing their decision about
whether or not to hold it, postpone, or cancel. They intend
to make that decision by July 25. By the time this issue of
TMA goes to press, they will have learned about govern-
mental guidelines regarding an assembly of that size. ISAR
announced in April 2020 that they will not attempt an online
conference at this time.
The future of UAC 2022 also hangs in the balance and
will be powerfully influenced by the alterations from our cur-
rent experiments as we reframe the possibilities of gathering
and sharing with one another. We astrologers are an adaptable
and visionary breed. We have a grand opportunity to reinvent
the ways we will continue to share knowledge and be part of
the evolution for the new practice and profession of astrology.
Share Your Thoughts
I’ve heard from many of our TMA readers concerned
about these changes. I would like to invite you to share your
thoughts or experiences until we once again have access to
more opportunities to be together personally.
Have you attended a conference that was reset in a digital
format? Did you find this to be a positive experience? What
did you like or dislike? How do you think the loss of opportu-
nity to gather in large groups might impact astrology?
Please send your comments regarding any of these new
directions to me via e-mail at: Gloria@GloriaStar.com, and I’ll
share a summary with TMA readers in a future installment of
“Astrology News.” Thank you!
In Brief
Thanks to TMA reader, M. Murphy, for sending along an
interesting article about the links between medieval astrology
and epidemiology. Appearing in The Conversation (https://
the conversation.com/before-epidemiologists-began-modelling
-disease-it-was-the-job-of-astrologers-137895), author Mi-
chelle Pfeffer presents a fascinating tale of astrology’s place
in human history related to global events, like pandemics.
Astrology Conference Calendar 2020
(updated May 2020)
June 26–28: The 52nd Annual Conference of the
Astrological Association of Great Britain, Wyboston Lakes,
Bedfordshire, U.K. will be held virtually.
FOR INFO: https://www.astrologicalassociation.com
July 9–13: Great Lakes Astrology Conference: Renewing
Our Faith, Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S. will be held virtually.
FOR INFO: https://www.greatlakesastrology.com
July 11–12 (postponed): 18th Annual Sophia Centre
Conference, “Stories of the Sky,” Lampater, Wales, U.K.
is postponed until 2021.
FOR INFO: http://sophia-project.net/conferences/
conference2020/index.php
August 21–28 (canceled): Faculty of Astrological Studies
Summer School, Exeter College, Oxford, U.K. A message from
the organizers: “In order to maintain the connectivity of the
unique community spirit that Summer School engenders, we will
be offering an alternative event online, The Summer Gather-
ing, which will take place over the weekend of 21–23 August.”
FOR INFO: https://www.astrology.org.uk/summer-school
September 10–14: ISAR 2020 Conference: Reimagining
the Future, Westminster, Colorado, U.S. A determination
will be made on July 25 about the status of the event.
FOR INFO: https://www.isar2020.org
October 2–4: Northern Stars Astrology Conference, Hali-
fax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
FOR INFO: https://northern-stars.CA
November 6–8: Breaking Down the Borders: IAA Confer-
ence. Online only!
FOR INFO: https://astrologyconference.org
November 19–23: Sedona Vedic Astrology Conference,
Sedona, Arizona, U.S.
FOR INFO: https://sedonavedicastrology.com or con-
tact Dennis Harness at: +1 (928) 282-6595 or
dennis@dennisharness.com.
December 14–19: Institute of Vedic Culture 30th Interna-
tional Astrology Conference: Building Bridges Between East
and West, Kolkata, India.
FOR INFO: http://ivcconference.com
Save the Date:
September 2021: Canadian Astrology Conference. Details
to be announced.
© 2020 Gloria Star – all rights reserved
Gloria Star is a professional astrologer, author, and teacher. You can learn
more about her and her services at http://www.GloriaStar.com
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 73
 Sky Watch
August & September 2020
by Julene Louis
T
hroughout August and September, Mars is visible
nearly all night long. Jupiter and Saturn are visible in
the evening and set before dawn. Venus is visible
in the morning. At the beginning of August, Mercury is also
visible in the morning. In September, Mercury becomes an
evening planet that travels very low to the horizon, making it
difficult to locate. One of the brightest meteor showers, the
Perseids, peaks in August.
The Morning Sky
At the beginning of August, Venus rises shortly after
3:00 a.m. in the ENE in the constellation Taurus. (All times
are in Local Daylight Time, unless otherwise noted.) On the
morning of August 3, Venus will be below Zeta Tauri, the
star marking the lower horn of the Bull.
Mercury rises in the ENE around 5:00 a.m. in the space
between the constellations Gemini and Cancer. On the
morning of August 5, Mercury will be below Castor and Pol-
lux, the stars marking the heads of the Twins. Mercury travels
quickly toward superior conjunction with the Sun and moves
about 2° per day through the constellation Cancer. This
causes the planet to rise about ten minutes earlier each day.
By August 11, Mercury rises around 6:00 a.m. and will no
longer be visible in the morning sky.
Venus continues to grace the morning sky with her
presence and enters the constellation Gemini as Mercury dis-
appears from view. On August 15, locate Venus below the
Moon and between Tejat and Alhena, the stars marking
the feet of the Twins. At the end of August and beginning of
September, Venus rises around 3:15 a.m.
On September 9, Venus passes below Castor and Pollux
at about twice the distance from them as the stars are from
each other. The ecliptic climbs steeply out of the eastern hori-
zon in the morning at this time of year, and Venus will be in
the space between the constellations Gemini and Cancer.
On the morning of September 13, Venus can be located
below the Moon. The following morning, Venus will be to the
right (west) of the Moon. On September 30, Venus rises in
74 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
the ENE around 4:15 a.m. and can be located slightly above
and to the right of Regulus, the star marking the heart of
Leo the Lion.
The Evening Sky
As sunset darkens the sky on August 1, locate the Moon
in the southeast. Jupiter will pop into view above the
Moon, followed by Saturn to the left (east) of the Moon.
The following evening, the Moon will be below and to the
east of both planets. Jupiter is traveling through the later
(eastern) portion of the constellation Sagittarius, and Saturn
is between the stars marking Sagittarius and Capricorn. Ju-
piter will be visible until it sets around 4:30 a.m., followed by
Saturn around 5:00 a.m.
At the beginning of August, Mars rises around 11:45
p.m. amid the dim stars of the constellation Pisces, and can
be located high in the southern sky at dawn. On August 9,
locate Mars slightly to the left of the Moon. The following
night, Mars will be above and to the right (west) of the Moon.
On August 28, Jupiter will once again pop into view
above the Moon as sunset darkens the sky — this time, in the
SSE. Saturn will be to their left. The following evening, both
planets will be to the right of the Moon. At the end of August
and beginning of September, Jupiter sets around 2:30 a.m.,
and Saturn sets around 3:00 a.m.
Mars rises around 10:15 p.m. at the end of August and
beginning of September, and can be located in the SSW at
dawn. On the evening of September 5, the Moon passes in
front of Mars, blocking the planet from view. The midpoint
of the Moon’s occultation of Mars occurs around 11:45
p.m. Eastern Time and 10:45 p.m. Central Time. An oc-
culted Mars will rise for those in the Mountain and Pacific
time zones.
Mercury becomes an evening planet in mid September.
However, at this time of year, the ecliptic lies very low to the
western horizon at night. Mercury will not gain much height
above the horizon as it increases its distance eastward from
the Sun. Mercury will set around 8:00 p.m., with the ending
 Calendar of Celestial Events August 2020
Aug. 3 at 8:00 a.m. EDT:
Mars at perihelion1
Aug. 6 at 12:00 a.m. EDT:
Mercury at perihelion
Aug. 9 at 9:51 a.m. EDT:
Moon at apogee2 (404,658 km / 251,443 mi)
Aug. 11–12 (night):
Perseid meteor shower peaks
(parent comet: 109P/Swift-Tuttle)
Aug. 12 at 9:00 p.m. EDT:
Venus at greatest western elongation (45.8°)
Aug. 17 at 11:07 a.m. EDT:
Mercury at superior conjunction
(direct, Sun between Mercury & Earth)
Aug 21. at 6:59 a.m. EDT:
Moon at perigee3 (363,513 km / 225,877 mi)
light of sunset still upon the horizon. This will make Mercury
almost impossible to locate. If you want to try, find Spica, the
bright alpha star of Virgo. Mercury will pass close to this star.
If Spica does not appear through the sunset in your location,
then neither will Mercury.
It will be easier to start locating Spica at the beginning of
September, when the star is slightly higher above the west-
ern horizon after sunset than it will be later in the month
when joined by Mercury. To get your bearings, the very
bright star in the west will be Arcturus of the constellation
Boötes. Spica will be along the horizon below and to the left
(east) of Arcturus. Note how Spica appears a bit lower to the
horizon each night as September progresses. On the eve-
ning of September 21, Mercury will seem to touch the right
(west) side of Spica. On September 22, Mercury will appear
at the upper left edge of Spica. Both Mercury and Spica set
around 7:45 p.m. amid the residual glow of the setting Sun
on these evenings. Both objects will be difficult to locate at
this time. If you spot only one object, it will likely be Mercury,
since the planet will be a bit brighter than the star on those
dates. Spica has a bluish tint, and Mercury appears yellow in
comparison.
The Moon joins Jupiter and Saturn once again at the
end of September. On the 24th, the Moon will be below and
to the right of Jupiter. On the 25th, the Moon will be below
and to the left of Saturn.
At the end of September, Jupiter and Saturn become vis-
ible in the south at sunset; Jupiter sets around 12:15 a.m.,
followed by Saturn around 12:45 a.m. Mars rises around
10:00 p.m. and is visible in the west at dawn.
September 2020
Sept. 6 at 2:31 a.m. EDT:
Moon at apogee (405,606 km / 252,032 mi)
Sept. 9 at 6:22 p.m. EDT:
Mars stations retrograde
Sept. 12 at 8:40 p.m. EDT:
Jupiter stations direct
Sept. 18 at 9:44 a.m. EDT:
Moon at perigee (359,081 km / 223,123 mi)
Sept. 18 at 11:00 p.m. EDT:
Mercury at aphelion4
Sept. 22 at 9:30 a.m. EDT:
autumnal equinox
(Sun at 0° south declination)
1. Perihelion is a planet’s closest distance to Sun.
2. Apogee is the Moon’s farthest distance from Earth.
3. Perigee is the Moon’s closest distance to Earth.
4. Aphelion is a planet’s farthest distance from Sun.
Perseid Meteor Shower
The Perseids are active from July 17 through August 26.
This is a fun shower to observe, because it provides a lot of
bright meteors that quickly streak across the sky at 37 miles
per second. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the shower
is near the head of Perseus. Perseus rises in the north around
sunset and is highest in the eastern sky around dawn. Thus,
these meteors are visible all night long, with greater numbers
occurring in the last few hours before sunrise.
This shower peaks on night of August 11–12, when 50
to 75 meteors are expected per hour. On the peak night,
the Last Quarter Moon rises shortly after midnight. For most
showers, this would considerably deplete the number of visi-
ble meteors. However, the Perseids are bright enough that
many will shine through the moonlight. Sometimes a few
Perseids appear after sunrise because they are so bright and
the radiant is so high.
For visual aids that help you to locate the planets, visit
“The Mountain Astrologer Sky Maps” tab at Julene’s web-
site: http://julenelouis.com
© 2020 Julene Louis – all rights reserved
Julene Louis, ISAR-CAP, Jyotish Visharada-CVA, is a co-founder of
the Sky Astrology Conference (http://skyastrologyconference.com) and a
full-time consulting and teaching astrologer. She lectures at conferences and
local groups throughout North America. Julene is available for consultation,
group lectures, and tutoring toward CVA Jyotish Visharada certification.
She can be reached via her website or e-mail: julene.louis@gmail.com
AUG. / SEPT. 2020 — 75
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ses 00 06 Ingresses Void Times Ingresses Lunar Phases Ingresses Times Phases
19 29 16 48 05 D 36 12 25 09 08 32 05 27 28 07 17 11 F 241825 4335 05 25 10 37 24 5819 01 D 3354 22
12 2536 09 08 05 05 08 28 07 17 24 25 36 10 24 1
19 Day
58 29Time
12 D 01 32 18 33 20Day 25 Time
09 10 01 06 34 28 06Last 17
12
Aspect
Sa 241925 Day Day
4134
27 08 10Time
Time 22 0119
D 16 14 3243 Day
22 Time
58 2536 09 09 35 06 14 28 06 17
Last Aspect Day Time
J 31 2 Q f 3 z
K K
30 45 1 4:56 AM V 24 d 25 342 10 23 1
28 300011
E20 56 25 PM12 00
4 548:31
E 4:58 AM
01 57 52 25 06 11 30 07 40 28 03 17 7:00 AM b Su24 y
G2025 53932517:45218:59 AM
10PM 18
21 3519 22 12:36 AM
35 5:22 AM
13 13 25 07 11 04 07 21 28 04 17 24 25 33 10 22 1
21 55 20 08 E 51 07 15 K 51 42 225 11:11 12 58 08 4 472:46
01 AM 28PM00 17 cSM 24
14 Ec2125 638311711 10
04 AM0919
E 20
9:45 11LaE28451922
28 B
125 35
9:3403AM12 32 08 3 28 2:3428PM 01 17S 24 c y 25 10 31 10 20 1
D 7 8:20 AM F 13 53 24 54 14 24 09 54 27 55 17 7:21 AM 49 27 9:26 AM
F22
53 49 22 59 26 00 L 15 Tu 24c2225 362946 18 10 49 18 0419 25 2759 22 2434 56 13 59 09 35 27 57 17 25 1730 10
4 7:28 PM 7 5:54 AM ` T G 18 7:41 PM A
~ 40 3
26 35E 8:22 PM 6 4:45 AM Q 24
d AM 1
11:0019
23 1952 206:29 F 34 23
07 PM 15 00 05 24 44 15 49 11 01 27 50 17 16 W25f 22
2325 3528 1:30
16 03
PM
10 16
F 17 4419 10B F2539 22
31 2433 47 15 25 10 42 27 52 17 25 25 28 10 17 1

.
A 7 6:05 AM 9 T 25 a 6
I 8:44 AM
33 36 16 49 11 8 49
S f
25 233802 27 46 17 25 25 24
F24 22 22 AM29 56
50 538:44 G
00 02 44 24 33 17 13 12 09 27 44 17 12:50 PM b Th26 H2425273327487:401810:58
10AM 07 AM
15 0519 22 58 12:47 PM 1:55 AM
17 19 24 27 10 16 1

aug
25 49 27 07 G 37 10 15 B11 53 924 6:28 18 36 1312 1612:55
21 PM 27 AM37 17 SF 27f2525 322622 03
18 10 G 11
14 5719 10
CG2246 22
40 82433
9:2824PM18 12 1211 57 4:4827
AM 39 17 V 26 d 25 26 10 14 1
26
s 48 04 22 45 35 00 H
C17 021224 6:46 19 58 14 24 27 29 Stations
11 AM
14 4:19 AM VSa28d2625 30Solar
17
19 25
58 18
Eclipses
10 12 0719
21 25D2054 22 02112432
8:2314AM19 34 14 27PM32 17
13 0412:04 T 27 d 25 Solar Eclipses
25 10 13 1
46 42 07 H 45 09
27 Day 15 D08 59 24 03 21 18 15 32 27 21 17 20 Su 292725 Day
2924 10Time
03 11 1319
H 24 10 H1850 22
39 2432 05 20 15 27 17 25 Day Time11 1
10
Time 14 4:36 PM Day 36 Time
R 30f 25 23 10 09 19 17 22 E 13 31 3:33 PM 55 12 23 S d 29 24
28 1545 22 22 27 51 29 41 11 23 58 22 37 1616 404:59 27PM11 17 21 M 28 18 25 24 22 15 203:1027PM 14 17
16 25 10 1
7:26 AM d 28
} 32b 25 9 2210:22
15 PM ~ None
12 29 ~29 06 00 14 30 23 ~ No
10
29 44 04 06 I 48 42 13 E
I 50 151623 10:38
56 PM
23 54 1718 4810:3927 PM01 17 QTu
22 29 26 57 02 10 I 40
07 0319 F15
09 I 45 2215 2331
05 6:3756PM23 32 17 17 2811:41
27AM04 17 S 32 f 25 22 10 08 1
e
00 G 42 48 20 45 50 27 F 35 371923 1:21
55AM25 10 18 57 26 50 17
20 8:37 PM SWy 34f0025G1325Lunar
23 21 12:40
40 16 10 AM44
06 0819 23G1337 22 17 2331
16 6:5555PM24 48 18 19 372:2926PM 53 17R 34 d 25 Lunar22 10 06 1
01 41 33 04 J 19 49 J
10 G 23 55 26 24 20 05 26 38 17 f y 36f0125292421255:1100Eclipses
10AM 24
04 4119 Eclipses
58 45
21 2:15 AM 24
TTh
J 07H1206 22
J 39 2330 55 y 26
19 6:32 PM 03 19 45 26 42 17 V ` 36 25 21 10 04 1
02 40 20 17 32 49 24 02 22 23 55 27 37 2122 149:19 26PM26 17 25 F 380225 2320 Day
11 13 10Time02 3119
43 20I1015 22 39 2330 55 } 27
21 6:13 PM
16 20 54 26 30 17 38 25 Day 21 10 Time03 1
03 39 08 00 K 27 48
H
06 49 302323 3:16
K 52AM28 48 2224 2311:2726 PM13 17 VSa41f0325 212059 26 10 43 00 2619 21 7:32 PM
26 ~ 03 K09
None ~07 22
16 2330 53 28 28 22 23 035:3126PM 17 17S 40 d 25 20 10 01 ~ No1
04 37 59 13 07 50 19 I 23 092523 5:49
47AM29 58 23 32 25 59 17 SSu44d0425 202049 09
27 09 K 27
58 3219 J 3423 2329
15 0744 22 11:16
49 PM29 38 2326 123:3626
L H 27 5:00 AM AM 03 17 T 43 b 25 20 09 59 1
05 36 51 25 35 43 01 J 2723 10:36 01 05 24 41 25 44 17
TM 46d0525 192040y 21 09 58 57 4219 28K0610 22
45 39 AM 26 2329
50
28 H
42AM00 45 24 21 25 49 17
06 35 45 07 L 53 43 13 K 59 34 23 29 02 10 2529 5012:30 25 PM29 17
13 6:08
28 7:17 AM V 46 d 25 20 09 57 1
29 5:36 PM 29 Tu490625 1820 34 04 09 L 19
55 2219 10L L0426 22
23 2329 32 01
28 3:34 PM
51 25 30 25 34 17 48 25 20 09 55 1
07 34 40 20 03 33 26 05 51 23 16 03 13 27 00 25 14 17 30 W530725 1720 29 16 09 31 53 2619 22 0234 22 43 2329 20 02 55 26 40 25 18 17 52 25 20 y 09 53 1
08 33 38 02 A 06 36 08 A 05 56 23 03 04 14 28 10 24 58 171 Th560825 1620 26 28 09 36 51 2119 04 A 0136 22
29 2329 07 03 27 49 25 MEAN
56GREENWICH 02 17TIME 55 25 20 09 51 1
PACIFIC TIME

ary Data Lunar Ingresses & Void Moons Phases & Eclipses
Planetary Data Lunar Ingresses & Void Moons Phases & Ecli
es Ingresses Void Times Ingresses Lunar Phases Ingresses Void Times Lunar Phases
Day Time Day Time Last Aspect DayDay Time
Time Day Time Last Aspect Day Time
K 29 5:36 PM 31 9:56 PM V d z L 12
G 5 12:45 PM b G 5 17:4510:22 PM
PM K 1030 12:36 AM 1 4:56 AM V d 2 5:22 AM
E L 1 2:34 AM 3 7:34 AM S c 10 2:26 AM a
L 18 C1079:34 AM
3 S c 10
6 12:21 AM c E 6 7:21 AM 2:34 PM 9:26 AM
A 3 5 Q d ~
A 25 F3 008:22 PM
G 22 6:30 AM
1:22 PM 9:45 PM ` G 22 171:304:00 AM 6 4:45 AM Q d 17 11:00 AM
t.
B PM
H 6 1:44 AM 8 5:47 AM S f 23 6:55 PM a
B 01 J6 298:44 AM 8 S f 24
27 12:40 AM b H 12:47 PM 1:55 AM
C 8 2:28 PM 10 9:48 PM V d 27 7:40 AM C 8 9:28 PM 11 4:48 AM V d
sep

s D 11 1:23 AM 13 5:04 AM T d Solar Eclipses D 11 8:23 AM

Stations 13 12:04 PM T d Solar Eclipses
Day Time Day Time
Day Time E 13 8:33 AM S d Day Time E 13 3:33 PM
15 8:10 AM 15 3:10 PM S d
9 3:22 PM F 15 11:37 AM
d}f
S 9 10:22 PM~ NoneF~ ~ No
17 4:41 AM 15 6:37 PM 17 11:41 AM S f
12 5:40 PM G e y d 13 12:40 AM
17 11:55 AM 19 7:29 AM R G 17 6:55 PM R d
28 10:11 PM f y ` 29Lunar Eclipses 19 2:29 PM Lunar Eclipses
H 19 11:32 AM V 5:11 AM H 19 6:32 PM
21 11:13 AM Day Time 21 6:13 PM V `
I Day Time
21 12:32 PM S d I 21 7:32 PM
23 10:31 AM ~ None ~ 23 5:31 PM S d
J 23 4:16 PM J ~ No
25 8:36 PM T b 23 11:16 PM T b
K 26 3:36 AM
25 11:08 PM V d K 26 6:08 AM
28 12:17 AM 28 7:17 AM V d
L 28 8:34 AM V f L 28 3:34 PM
30 10:30 AM
A 30 7:47 PM
PACIFIC TIME GREENWICH MEAN TIME

PHASES OF THE MOON (START-POINTS)

Pacific Time
FL
DS
LQ
BL
NW
CR
FQ
GB

FL
DS
LQ
BL
NW
CR
FQ
GB

NW=New CR=Crescent FQ=First Quarter GB=Gibbous FL=Full DS=Disseminating LQ=Last Quarter BL=Balsamic
76
 Forecast Calendar
August and September 2020
by Pam Younghans
All times given are in Pacific Daylight Time.
For Eastern Time, add 3 hours; Central Time, add 2 hours; Mountain Time, add 1 hour;
Greenwich Mean Time, add 7 hours.
Overview for August and September
No matter our hemisphere of residence — whether we’re enjoy-
ing the warmth of the summer sun on bare skin or are bundled up to
protect ourselves from a cold winter’s wind — the heat is on high in
August. Throughout the month, Pluto hovers within one degree of the
Jupiter/Saturn midpoint, intensifying current social, economic, and
political unrest. While some are determined to maintain order, the
upheaval cannot be contained. Pluto was also at the Jupiter/Saturn
midpoint in late February/early March of this year, when the COVID-19
crisis began to peak; we will no doubt see a clear link between issues
that arose then and developments in August.
As the curtain rises on the month, the Moon is in heavy-handed
Capricorn, setting up emotionally complex conjunctions with Jupiter
and Pluto on August 1 and with Saturn on August 2. Although an ob-
jective perspective would be helpful now, we’re not adept at dealing
with problems without becoming defensive; Mercury is in sensitive
Cancer and forming oppositions to dominating Pluto on August 1
and oppressive Saturn on August 3. Concurrently, three potentially
seismic planetary events occur: The Leo Sun exactly squares revolu-
tionary Uranus in Taurus on August 2; the progressive Aquarius Full
Moon on August 3 (11°45' Aquarius–Leo) is also tightly square Uranus;
and feisty Mars is precisely square Jupiter (19°44' Aries–Capricorn)
on August 4. Whatever occurs, we’ll likely be dealing with the after-
effects for several weeks, since Mars is already in its pre-retrograde
shadow phase, anticipating its biennial retrograde period beginning
on September 9.
Adding to the unpredictability of the first half of August, all of
this planetary activity is staged against the backdrop of concentrated
Uranian energies, as the sideways-spinning planet stations retrograde
on August 15 (10°41' Taurus). At the time of its station, Uranus is con-
junct the fixed star Achird, which Roderick Kidston calls “one of the true
power stars, ablaze with the shakti of the Divine Mother.” (Kidston,
The Magic of the Stars: How the Stars of Astrology Enrich Your Life,
2017, p. 87) This star adds another level of power, drama, and pas-
sion to the potential upheaval for which Uranus is already famous.
Volatility throughout the third week of August is also heightened due
to the conjunction between warrior Mars and vengeful dwarf planet
Eris (24°29' Aries) on August 17, when both are tightly square the
Saturn/Pluto midpoint (24°51' Capricorn).
But there are consequences to any overtly defiant actions. Mars
has its performance review when it squares disciplinarian Saturn the
following week, on August 24. This is not a short-term reprimand;
Mars continues to be frustrated by Saturn’s authoritative stance for
several weeks, since the two planets remain within three degrees of
being exactly square until early October.
Tensions at the end of August are further elevated by retrograde
Pluto’s return to the exact degree of January’s Saturn–Pluto conjunc-
tion (22°46' Capricorn) on August 29. The seeds of structural decay
that were planted on January 12 experience a growth spurt, creat-
ing more cracks and crevices in political and societal infrastructures
worldwide. Pluto activates this sensitive degree one more time on
November 7, just four days after Election Day in the United States.
Jupiter completes its four-month retrograde phase when it sta-
tions direct at 17°24' Capricorn on September 12. Conscious use of
this retrograde time has strengthened our faith and brought us deeper
insights into what we truly believe, so our faith is more capable of
sustaining us in challenging times. Idealistic visions can become even
stronger in mid September when the Giant Planet stations within
one degree of the fixed star Rukbat, which is known for enhancing
“strength of mind, the width and depth of the powers of perception,
and the ability to communicate all this.” (Kidston, The Magic of the
Stars, pp. 420–421)
The last week of September may be particularly pivotal, due to
Saturn’s station direct on September 28, less than 24 hours before the
second Mars–Saturn square perfects on September 29. Throughout
August and September, Saturn has been like the lid on the Martian
pressure cooker, trying to contain the steam being created inside.
That pressure is extreme with Saturn stationing within only a few
arc minutes of being exactly square Mars.
Also of note is that Saturn is within one degree of the fiery
fixed star Terebellum at the time of its station at 25°20' Capricorn.
This alignment brings that star’s qualities of passion, drama, and
determination into focus. Terebellum’s intensity can be channeled
productively through devotion to a cause, as it did in the dedicated
lives of humanitarian Albert Schweitzer and civil rights activist Martin
Luther King, Jr., both of whom have natal Sun conjunct Terebellum.
With Terebellum acting as the midwife for Saturn’s return to forward
motion, and with the Mars–Saturn square tension soon easing, we
are encouraged to rise above oppressive circumstances and renew
our dedication to achieving our higher aspirations.
Saturday, August 1 – Sunday, August 2: If we are not careful, words
could cut like a knife on Saturday. The first day of August is book-
ended by challenging aspects to communicator Mercury, currently
in sensitive Cancer: An early-morning opposition (180°) between the
Messenger Planet and Pluto in authoritative Capricorn (3:52 a.m.)
puts everyone on the defensive, and Mercury’s square (90°) to dis-
gruntled Eris at 8:39 p.m. (24°32' Cancer–Aries) fans any sparks of
discord into full flame. Further tension is provided in the afternoon as
the Capricorn Moon previews the effects of Tuesday’s Mars–Jupiter
square: When individuals express frustration or anger (Moon–Mars
square, 2:23 p.m.), authority figures respond by tightening controls
(Moon–Jupiter conjunction, 4:57 p.m.). Those in power seem even
more dictatorial later tonight when Luna conjoins Pluto (10:57 p.m.).
Rebellion against restraint follows quickly, with the Sun square
Uranus at 4:18 a.m. on Sunday (10°37' Leo–Taurus). A cautious
Moon–Saturn conjunction at 7:00 a.m. slows the pace momentarily
but may simply indicate a short withdrawal to re-strategize. Alliances
are far from stable with a Venus–Uranus semi-square (45°) also in
effect, leading some to take action based on the belief that it’s “ev-
eryone for themselves.” That stance is further supported when Luna
enters individualistic Aquarius at 11:11 a.m. Tonight’s meeting of
Mercury and dedicated Vesta in Cancer may help us to strengthen
our bonds with our loved ones.
77
 TMA FORECAST CALENDAR
Monday, August 3 – Wednesday, August 5: Unexpected and Sunday, August 9 – Tuesday, August 11: We might stumble if we try to get
potentially stressful twists and turns are possible on Monday, as the out of bed too quickly on Sunday morning, with an abrasive Moon–Pluto
Sun and Moon form a tight t-square with Uranus at the time of the square (4:38 a.m.) in effect. There’s another crisis of confidence awaiting,
Full Moon (8:58 a.m.). And yet, with a pessimistic Mercury–Saturn as Luna then moves on to square Saturn at 12:50 p.m. But the medics are
opposition (27°37' Cancer–Capricorn) also in effect, we may feel nearby, ready to apply salve to wounded egos with Mercury trine healer
anxious about moving beyond old boundaries, or fearful of reper- Chiron, exact at 11:02 a.m. (9°05' Leo–Aries). Unfortunately, some may
cussions if we verbalize our feelings. Frustrations are on the rise prefer to play the victim rather than focus on creative solutions, as Mer-
this evening, since tomorrow’s Mars–Jupiter square is building in cury is also quincunx sacrificial Ceres in Pisces (4:16 p.m.). The Moon enters
strength. The desire for self-determination is magnified by this as- Taurus at 6:28 p.m., encouraging us to spend the evening quietly, allowing
pect, but since Jupiter is in authoritative Capricorn, those who hold our senses to relax and our pulses to slow down.
higher-level positions are calling all the shots.
Tuesday starts off with a resounding thud as the Mars–Jupiter
square (19°44' Aries–Capricorn) perfects at 6:06 a.m. The harder
we push for what we want, the bigger the obstacles seem to grow
in response. We may feel some temporary easing of tension this Geocentric Aspects,
afternoon, thanks to a supportive trine (120°) between the Aquarius Ingresses, and Stations
Moon and Venus in Gemini (2:46 p.m.), but we can’t shake the un- Pacific Daylight
derlying suspicion that our expectations are not going to be fully
satisfied, since Venus is exactly quincunx (150°) demanding Saturn
just 20 minutes later. This evening sees two planetary shifts, helping
us to leave behind the tension of the day: Luna enters soothing Pisces
at 7:28 p.m., and fleet-footed Mercury begins its short two-week
passage through playful Leo an hour later.
Relationships seem to be on a more positive track on
Wednesday with Venus conjunct the (True) North Node at 9:05
a.m. (28°13' Gemini). We realize that communication is key and
are willing to listen as well as share. But conversations may be cut
short; Saturn’s opposition to dedicated Vesta at 10:47 a.m. (27°29'
Capricorn–Cancer) suggests that we’ll feel a push–pull between the
call of career and the commitment to home and family. The Pisces
Moon begs us to reconsider our priorities this afternoon, opening
our hearts through a conjunction with caring Ceres (3:13 p.m.) and
inspiring more authentic choices through a sextile (60°) to rebel-
lious Uranus (4:01 p.m.).

Thursday, August 6 – Saturday, August 8: Luna continues to softly

guide us on Thursday, pleased to be helping us become more
heart-centered. The Pisces Moon sextiles Jupiter (9:21 a.m.) and
conjoins Neptune (11:12 a.m.) to further enhance our sense of
connection with others and with the cosmos. An empowering
Moon–Pluto sextile this afternoon (4:38 p.m.) provides us with an
opportunity to use compassion in more intentional ways.
Relationships could be out of sync early Friday morning when
the reclusive Pisces Moon and expressive Venus in Gemini square off
at 5:54 a.m., just before both of these planets change signs. The two
are still at odds after Luna enters energizing Aries at 6:05 a.m., and
Venus enters sensitive Cancer at 8:21 a.m., but the Moon’s rapid mo-
tion eases the tension after a few hours. The primary influence of the
day, a foggy Mercury–Neptune sesquiquadrate (135°), exact at 3:30
p.m., adds another layer of misty confusion to any conversations or
plans. We’re better able to convey our feelings around dinnertime
with the help of a communicative Moon–Mercury trine (5:13 p.m.).
We’ll have to rely on the Aries Moon to motivate us on Sat-
urday, given very little planetary activity on the schedule. The first
lunar aspect doesn’t perfect until late afternoon, when a fiery trine
to the Sun inspires us to take a quick jog or find another outlet
for our sudden burst of energy. But we’ll need to be careful not
to overextend ourselves this evening, as Luna squares expansive
Jupiter at 8:45 p.m.

78
 Aquarius Full Moon — August 3
by Diana McMahon Collis
The lunations charts in this issue are all set on the is desperately at stake. Such groups have been urgently try-
natural wheel with 0° Aries rising. ing to awaken less concerned segments of the public, and
may now deliver fresh lightning bolts that disrupt everyday
Whatever is set in motion around a New Moon de- activities. In terms of how we personally experience Uranus
velops and comes under the spotlight with the following in Taurus, this could range from being the person calling
Full Moon. The Moon has passed through several phases out the message from the top of a commuter train, to be-
of a cycle from 0° to 180° where it has now reached a ing the recipient of the journalist’s story about it, which
crisis point, with the original New Moon issue somehow re- perhaps disrupts a cosy mealtime with the dramatic scene
flected back at us. This Full Moon in Aquarius conveys both fleeting by on the news.
a sense of social responsibility and the need for a breather, We ought not ignore Saturn’s involvement, though.
according to its co-dispositing planets, Saturn and Uranus. With Saturn retrograde, clear boundaries may not be
The former is duty bound and keen on establishing rules strong enough, or so stringent as to be suffocating, since
and borders, with the latter more inclined towards breaking there is often no happy medium with a retrograde planet
rules and making a bid for freedom. acting “out of sorts.” Saturn in Capricorn forms an apply-
This lunation also forms a t-square to Uranus in Tau- ing conjunction with Pluto, which is conjunct separating
rus, giving Uranus the edge, if not the upper hand. The Jupiter. Far from being merely grouped together, these
apex planet in a t-square tends to add a compulsive energy, retrogradations show haphazard “comings and goings,”
which can work to drive a situation forward — for better indicating how affiliations and developments may be
or worse. Like it or not, Uranus is playing a big, disruptive changing. A project that had expansion or distance asso-
role, which may seem slightly ironic given that the planet ciated with it could need reining in. Many relationships are
is in Taurus, with its associations of being peaceful until subject to U-turns.
pushed too far. We now have the potential transition from Notably, all three of these planets — Saturn, Jupiter,
placid grazer to raging bull, where the animal has been Aquac-FM 820-1 and Pluto — are retrograde. So, although a review and ad-
Natal Chart
tively provoked. Depending on which side of this scenarioAug 3 2020, Monjustment may be necessary by all involved, an overall plan
8:58 am PDT +7:00
we sit — metaphorically speaking — it could be thatFresno, we CA need not be lost forever. However, some characters may
36°N44'52'' 119°W46'17''
suddenly experience some sort of imminent backlash; or
Geocentric disappear and changes may merit a serious rethink based
that we act out ourselves, turning to face an aggressor Tropical
and
0° Aries
on new values.
preparing to charge. True Node

With outer planets, we are not always so directly in- 00° ‰ 00'
volved, but we see some fallout around us. So, alternatively, Š
00'
Ä Ê
00°
ˆ 00'
½
¾Á 19°15° 28°
there may just be a bit of weird energy around, with ran- 00°
dom events that unsettle us. We are encouraged to 27°
23° ‰ ˆ
¶ ‰ ‰
embrace the unexpected, because there’s nothing else ‰
17'50' 44' 28'
00' 11° 38' ŒŒ Œ 00°
we can really do. Whatever happens, this t-square Š ŒŒ
‹ 45' ‡
occurs in fixed signs, which makes a particular fate 00°
10 9
00'
feel fixed, or at least gives it a “long-term” quality. 11 8
That said, note that Uranus will turn to apparent Æ 10°‹ ‘
‘
36'Œ
’
’ á 15° Å
retrograde motion on August 15, so whatever this 57' †
weird force may be, and however it presents, it very
À 20° ‹ 31'
Œ
12 ‘‘ 7
00° 00°
well could turn out to be simply “of the moment” Ü ‘
–– à
à –
†
— something temporary, with a peculiar appropri- 00' 12' Œ ’ 00'
ateness about it. With Taurus emphasised, it will  09° ÜÜ 22' 1 6
á
almost certainly be related to security issues, and may ¼ 19° 12'
21°Ü 32'Œ
tie in with concerns about money, possessions, and Ù 24°Ü 2
‘
5

employment. The Aquarian focus also underlines fair- 00° ò 38' 00'
Ý 3 4 45'
ness. From a societal perspective, this could indicate a Ý 10° „ …
move towards equalization between socioeconomic
00' ¿ Œ 35'
14' 11° 00°
26' 28' ƒ
classes, with ordinary people securing more rights ‚ ‚
ƒ
27° ¸
26°
ú 00'
26°28°
typically reserved for the privileged. 00°
The strong Uranus/Aquarius signature in the t-square ‚ 00' »É 00°
„
signals a concern with global and environmental issues, 00° ƒ 00'
such as climate change — and the activities of related
groups, such as “Extinction Rebellion,” who have felt a August 3, 2020 — 8:58 a.m. PDT
need to point out how the ongoing security of planet Earth August 3, 2020 — 3:58 p.m. GMT
79
 Aug 4 2020 8:31p º ß „ 00°„00' Þ 00°„00' Þ
Aug 4 2020 9:48p Å ˜ Æ 16°†21' Þ 10°‹21' Œ
Aug 4 2020 10:56p ¸ “ É 13°„16' Þ 28°‚16' Œ
Aug 5 2020 9:05a » ß É 28°‚13' Þ 28°‚13' Œ
TMA FORECAST CALENDAR Aug 5 2020 10:47a ¾ à à 27°‰29' Œ 27°ƒ29' Þ
Aug 6 2020 0:30a ¼ • À 20°Ü28' Þ 20°‹28' Œ
An impatient Mercury–Uranus square (10°40' Leo–Taurus) Aug 6 2020fluctuates
Our mood 3:03aon Sunday.
à §The ÆCancer +21°14' -21°14' at
Moon trines Neptune
Aug 6 2020
at 5:51 a.m. on Monday kicks us into high gear before we even daybreak (5:30 a.m.) 4:42a
to ease us ¸ ˜ À
into the day, but14°„27'
it’s hardÞ 20°‹27' Œ
to hear the dulcet
Aug 6 2020 4:42p à • É 28°ƒ02' Þ 28°‚02' Œ
know what direction to take. Surprises and perhaps some “Aha!” tonesAug
of an6 oboe
2020 above the
7:32p clash of
¸ – Äcymbals and a trumpet
15°„03' Þ blare; a nervous
15°‰03' Œ
moments continue throughout the day, reaching another high point Mercury–Pluto
Aug 6 2020 quincunx at 6:38ºa.m.˜(23°01'
10:22p Æ Leo–Capricorn)
04°„01' Þ fills our minds
10°‹01' Œ
late afternoon, when the Moon reactivates the day’s themes by with Aug
discomforting
7 2020 fears,
8:21a and an » impulsive
ß ƒ Sun–Mars
00°ƒ00' trineÞ at 7:01 a.m.
00°ƒ00' Þ
conjoining Uranus (4:06 p.m.) and squaring Mercury (6:13 p.m.). (24°09'
AugLeo–Aries)
7 2020 sends us charging
10:29a º —outÅthe door 05°„01'to slay
Þ the 17°†01'
dragon, tooÞ
Emotions flip-flop throughout the evening, with an overly dramatic keyedAug
up to stop for breakfast.
7 2020 3:30p Luna
º soon ” À climbs05°„26'
on boardÞthe overreaction
20°‹26' Œ
Sun–Jupiter quincunx also in effect, exact at 11:34 p.m. (19°03' train,Aug 8 2020
as she opposes2:52a
passionate º Pluto¦ (10:24
» +19°49'
a.m.), +19°49'
squares touchy Mars
Aug 9 2020 9:44a ¸ ’ Å 17°„32' Þ 17°†32' Þ
Leo–Capricorn). (12:33 p.m.), and then opposes demanding Saturn (4:59 p.m.). Meanwhile,
Aug 9 2020 11:02a º á  09°„05' Þ 09°Ü05' Œ
The Taurus Moon finds a few moments of longed-for seren- Mercury has more challenges
Aug 9 2020 3:10p
to»deal›with,
¿
being sesquiquadrate
02°ƒ06' Þ
Chiron in
10°Ý40' Þ
ity early Tuesday morning, feeling stabilized by a trine to Jupiter Aug 9 2020 4:16p º – Æ 09°„31' Þ 09°‹31' Œ
in Capricorn at 8:53 a.m. But the Last Quarter phase of the Moon Aug 9 2020 5:03p Æ “ ò 09°‹31' Œ 24°Ü31' Œ
begins at 9:44 a.m., challenging us to be more spontaneous. There’s Aug 9 2020 8:07p ¼ § À +04°49' -04°49'
a subtle relaxation of tension as the morning unfolds, thanks to Aug 9 2020 Geocentric
11:02p ¾ § Ã Aspects-20°58', +20°58'
Luna’s sextile to soothing Neptune at 11:33 a.m. By late afternoon, Aug 10 2020 5:51a º ‘ ¿ 10°„40' Þ 10°Ý40' Þ
I ngresses
Aug 10 2020 11:34p ¸ – ½
, and S tations
19°„03' Þ 19°‰03' Œ
an empowering Moon–Pluto trine (5:04 p.m.) enables us to feel a
Pacific
Aug Daylight
11 2020 1:53a ¸ › É 19°„08' Þ 27°‚43' Œ
stronger sense of purpose. Aug 11 2020 4:14a Ã ß „ 00°„00' Þ 00°„00' Þ
Aug 11 2020 5:44a º “ É 12°„42' Þ 27°‚42' Œ
Wednesday, August 12 – Friday, August 14: The Moon steps into Aug 11 2020 9:52a É SÞ 27°‚42' Þ
sociable Gemini at 6:46 a.m. on Wednesday morning, in search Aug 11 2020 10:41p º – Ä 14°„09' Þ 14°‰09' Œ
of interesting conversation — but with no lunar aspects on the Aug 12 2020 0:43a º ˜ À 14°„20' Þ 20°‹20' Œ
agenda, Luna must find company in a good book today. Our atten- Aug 12 2020 2:41a ¸ ˜ Ä 20°„08' Þ 14°‰08' Œ
tion span is not primed for heavy reading, however, since a dreamy Jan
Aug23 122019
2020 7:32a ¸ – À 20°„19' Þ Solar
20°‹19'FireŒv8.1.2
Aug 12 2020 9:46a  • Æ 09°Ü00' Œ 09°‹00' Œ
Sun–Neptune quincunx is also in effect at 7:32 a.m. As the day Sco
Aug FM 419-4 -3:42p
12 2020 Natal Chart » — ¼ 04°ƒ57' Þ 22°Ü57' Þ
progresses, the influence of a volatile square between Mars and Aug 12 2020 4:49p ¸ ¦ ¿ +14°35' +14°35'
Pluto (23°05' Aries–Capricorn) gains momentum. Perfecting just Date
Aug 12 2020 Time 8:47p P1
¾ Asp — P2
 Pos1
26°‰59' Œ Pos2
08°Ü59' Œ
after midnight tonight (12:13 a.m. on Thursday), this aspect peels Aug 12 2020 10:22p ½ ¦ Á -22°29' -22°29'
Geocentric Aspects ,
back another layer of the power struggle between individual rights Aug 13 2020 0:13a ¼ ‘ Á 23°Ü05' Þ 23°‰05' Œ
and the force of authority. Aug 13 2020 I11:13pngresses ½ ,‘and Å S tations
18°‰46' Œ 18°†46' Þ
It’s a quiet day astrologically on Thursday, but we could be far Aug 14 2020 4:28a º – ½ 18°„45' Þ 18°‰45' Œ
Pacific Daylight
Aug 14 2020 5:32a º ’ Å 18°„51' Þ 18°†51' Þ
from relaxed, since last night’s clash between Mars and Pluto is still
Aug 14 2020 6:14a » — ò 06°ƒ30' Þ 24°Ü30' Œ
resounding in our ears. We may finally feel a bit more interactive Aug 14 2020 8:41a º ¦ Ä +16°42' +16°42'
around dinnertime, when the Moon sextiles Mercury (5:34 p.m.). Aug 14 2020 9:25a º › É 19°„10' Þ 27°‚45' Þ
Later, though, the square between Jupiter and wifely Juno (18°46' Aug 14 2020 12:26p É SŒ 27°‚45' Œ
Capricorn–Libra) aggravates discord between partners, and a con- Aug 14 2020 12:40p ¼ “ Æ 23°Ü35' Þ 08°‹35' Œ
fusing square between the Gemini Moon and Neptune (10:17 p.m.) Aug 14 2020 4:09p º ˜ Ä 19°„45' Þ 13°‰45' Œ
might send us to bed without having cleared the air. Aug 14 2020 10:13p º – À 20°„16' Þ 20°‹16' Œ
Aug 15 2020 3:12a ¸ – Á 23°„02' Þ 23°‰02' Œ
Mercury sits at the apex of a yod configuration with Jupiter
Aug 15 2020 7:26a ¿ SŒ 10°Ý41' Œ
and Neptune on Friday, inspiring us to seek the higher meanings Aug 16 2020 1:00a ¸ ”  23°„54' Þ 08°Ü54' Œ
of events, but not providing the focus needed to actually arrange Aug 16 2020 1:53a » á Æ 08°ƒ16' Þ 08°‹16' Œ
the puzzle pieces into a recognizable image. A semi-square be- Aug 16 2020 6:38a º – Á 23°„01' Þ 23°‰01' Œ
tween assertive Mars and compassionate Ceres (12:40 p.m.) adds Aug 16 2020 7:01a ¸ á ¼ 24°„09' Þ 24°Ü09' Þ
to our discomfort, since we’re not sure how to best navigate the Aug 16 2020 7:03a à ˜ Æ 02°„13' Þ 08°‹13' Œ
conflict between personal needs and family obligations. Perhaps Aug 16 2020 3:31p ¸ á ò 24°„29' Þ 24°Ü29' Œ
Aug 16 2020 4:48p ¸ ˜ ½ 24°„32' Þ 18°‰32' Œ
the Moon’s ingress into sensitive Cancer at 4:36 p.m. can help us
Aug 16 2020 4:58p » ‘  08°ƒ53' Þ 08°Ü53' Œ
start to empathize with the emotional concerns of others. However, Aug 16 2020 5:02p º ”  23°„53' Þ 08°Ü53' Œ
a Sun–Pluto quincunx that perfects early tomorrow morning (3:12 Aug 16 2020 5:05p º “ » 23°„53' Þ 08°ƒ53' Þ
a.m. on Saturday) leaves us feeling unappreciated tonight, in spite Aug 16 2020 10:28p º á ¼ 24°„21' Þ 24°Ü21' Þ
of a loved one’s best intentions. Aug 17 2020 0:10a º á ò 24°„29' Þ 24°Ü29' Œ
Aug 17 2020 0:29a º ˜ ½ 24°„31' Þ 18°‰31' Œ
Saturday, August 15 – Sunday, August 16: The planet Uranus stations Aug 17 2020 0:58a Á ¦ Æ -22°30' -22°30'
retrograde (10°41' Taurus) at 7:26 a.m. on Saturday, its unpredict- Aug 17 2020 8:07a ¸ ß º 25°„09' Þ 25°„09' Þ
Aug 17 2020 9:21a ½ ¦ Æ -22°32' -22°32'
able energies running through our lives like a crack streaking across Aug 17 2020 9:39a ¼ ß ò 24°Ü29' Þ 24°Ü29' Œ
a plate glass window. The Cancer Moon does its best to help us Aug 17 2020 10:29a Á “ Æ 22°‰59' Œ 07°‹59' Œ
feel comforted and safe through its conjunction with loving Venus Aug 17 2020 3:19p º ¦ ¿ +14°35' +14°35'
(6:28 a.m.) and its trine to sympathetic Ceres (8:11 a.m.). Even the Aug 18 2020 2:16a º – ¾ 26°„40' Þ 26°‰40' Œ
Moon–Chiron square at 9:06 a.m. has our emotional healing in its Aug 18 2020 12:01p º ’ É 27°„29' Þ 27°‚29' Œ
sights, although usually it must first expose the wound to the air. Aug 18 2020 12:27p » ’ ¿ 10°ƒ41' Þ 10°Ý41' Œ
The last aspect of the day, Luna’s sextile to Uranus at 12:19 p.m., Aug 18 2020 8:48p ¸ – ¾ 26°„37' Þ 26°‰37' Œ
Aug 18 2020 8:50p º ” Ä 28°„13' Þ 13°‰13' Œ
encourages us to trust the process of change that is under way.
Aug 18 2020 10:57p À – Å 20°‹10' Œ 20°†10' Þ
80 Aug 19 2020 3:57a º › Å 28°„48' Þ 20°†13' Þ
Aug 19 2020 5:50a º ˜ Á 28°„57' Þ 22°‰57' Œ
Aug 19 2020 2:08p ¸ ’ É 27°„19' Þ 27°‚19' Œ
Aug 19 2020 6:29p º ß … 00°…00' Þ 00°…00' Þ
 Aug 15 2020 7:26a ¿ SŒ 10°Ý41' Œ
Aug 16 2020 1:00a ¸ ”  23°„54' Þ 08°Ü54' Œ
Aug 16 2020 1:53a » á Æ 08°ƒ16' Þ 08°‹16' Œ
Aug 16 2020 6:38a º – Á 23°„01' Þ 23°‰01' Œ
Aug 16 2020 7:01a ¸ á ¼ 24°„09' Þ 24°Ü09' Þ
Aug 16 2020 7:03a à ˜ Æ 02°„13' Þ 08°‹13' Œ
Aug 16 2020 3:31p ¸ á ò 24°„29' Þ 24°Ü29' Œ
Aries at 5:02 p.m. and semi-square Venus in Cancer a few minutes later. Mother Ceres in Pisces, some or all of the forces gathered today
Aug 16 2020 4:48p ¸ ˜ ½ 24°„32' Þ 18°‰32' Œ
This means, of
Aug 16 2020 4:58pcourse, that Venus
» ‘ Â is square Chiron
08°ƒ53' Þ(8°53' Cancer–Aries),
08°Ü53' Œ so may be protesting in support of the environment or against the lack
everyone is feeling
Aug 16 2020 somewhat
5:02p º insecure
” Â and23°„53'
hypersensitive.
Þ Luna enters
08°Ü53' Œ Leo of sustainable food supplies. An unsettling Moon–Uranus square at
at 10:38
Aug p.m., taking
16 2020 5:05poff her
º apron
“ and» donning
23°„53'a clown’s
Þ nose to lighten
08°ƒ53' Þ 5:02 p.m. adds yet another layer of restlessness to a very compli-
the
Augmood before10:28p
16 2020 bedtime.º á ¼ 24°„21' Þ 24°Ü21' Þ cated day. We could also be experiencing a sense of futility, given
Aug 17 2020 0:10a º á ò 24°„29' Þ 24°Ü29' Œ the effects of a Mercury–Saturn quincunx building throughout the
Monday, August0:29a
Aug 17 2020 17 – Wednesday,
º ˜ ½ August 19: There’s
24°„31' Þ no 18°‰31'
holdingŒback evening (exact at 2:16 a.m. on Tuesday).
Aug 17 2020 0:58a Á ¦ Æ -22°30' -22°30'
the tide on Monday morning; a Sun–Mercury conjunction in Leo at 8:07
Aug 17 2020 8:07a ¸ ß º 25°„09' Þ 25°„09' Þ
A Venus–Uranus sextile (10°41' Cancer–Taurus) perfects at
a.m. inspires passionate speech,
Aug 17 2020 9:21a ½ ¦ Æ
and a Mars–Eris
-22°32'
conjunction at 9:39 a.m.
-22°32' 12:27 p.m. on Tuesday, opening the door to support from unex-
(24°29' Aries) could
Aug 17 2020 9:39a spark a full-blown
¼ ß ò riot. With Pluto
24°Ü29' Þ semi-square
24°Ü29' ŒEarth pected sources. The Leo Moon is also energized through a trine to
Aug 17 2020 10:29a Á “ Æ 22°‰59' Œ 07°‹59' Œ Mars (4:52 p.m.) that encourages creative action, in preparation for
Aug 17 2020 3:19p º ¦ ¿ +14°35' +14°35' the New Moon that peaks at 7:41 p.m. (26°35' Leo). Still, despite our
Aug 18 2020 2:16a º – ¾ 26°„40' Þ 26°‰40' Œ hopes for a carefree new beginning, the Sun, Moon, and Mercury
Aug 18 2020 12:01p Geocentricº ’ É Aspects
27°„29' , Þ 27°‚29' Œ are all tightly quincunx Saturn at the lunation, suggesting that this
Aug 18 2020 I12:27p
ngresses » ,’ and ¿ S tations
10°ƒ41' Þ 10°Ý41' Œ
new lunar cycle will call us to be mature adults and to rethink our
Aug 18 2020 8:48p ¸ – ¾ 26°„37' Þ 26°‰37' Œ
Pacific
Aug Daylight
18 2020 8:50p º ” Ä 28°„13' Þ 13°‰13' Œ childish ways. Conversations about current events carry on late into
Aug 18 2020 10:57p À – Å 20°‹10' Œ 20°†10' Þ the evening, due to a Moon–Mercury conjunction at 10:39 p.m.
Aug 19 2020 3:57a º › Å 28°„48' Þ 20°†13' Þ Eager to make a difference, Luna dons practical orthopedic
Aug 19 2020 5:50a º ˜ Á 28°„57' Þ 22°‰57' Œ shoes on Wednesday, having entered serviceable Virgo overnight
Aug 19 2020 2:08p ¸ ’ É 27°„19' Þ 27°‚19' Œ (1:21 a.m.). As a Moon–Ceres opposition nears perfection at 1:45
Aug 19 2020 6:29p º ß … 00°…00' Þ 00°…00' Þ p.m., we struggle with the urge to rescue those who are in need,
Aug 20 2020 8:18a ¸ ” Ä 28°„03' Þ 13°‰03' Œ
while knowing that each person can only save themselves. Early
Aug 20 2020 7:56p » à Ä 13°ƒ00' Þ 13°‰00' Œ
Aug 21 2020 1:14a º ˜ ¾ 02°…30' Þ 26°‰30' Œ
this evening, Mercury helps us to further analyze the situation with
Aug 21 2020 4:21a º ˜  02°…45' Þ 08°Ü45' Œ its ingress into Virgo (6:29 p.m.), and practical solutions suddenly
Aug 21 2020 5:54a ¸ ˜ Á 28°„55' Þ 22°‰55' Œ appear as Luna trines Uranus (6:53 p.m.). Later on, an emotionally
Aug 21 2020 9:44a º ” ½ 03°…11' Þ 18°‰11' Œ stabilizing Moon–Venus sextile (9:05 p.m.) offers us a soothing cup
Aug 21 2020 4:20p ¸ ¦ º +11°42' +11°42' of chamomile tea to prepare us for sleep.
Aug 21 2020 10:49p ¸ › Å 29°„36' Þ 21°†01' Þ
Aug 22 2020 0:01a ¼ ¦ Â +06°02' +06°02' Thursday, August 20 – Saturday, August 22: We’re inspired to do
Aug 22 2020 6:03a º • Ã 04°…49' Þ 04°„49' Þ
Aug 22 2020 6:36a » ¦ Ã +20°02' +20°02'
necessary tasks Thursday morning with a practical but hopeful
Aug 22 2020 8:44a ¸ ß … 00°…00' Þ 00°…00' Þ Moon–Jupiter trine in effect at 7:14 a.m. But the Virgo Moon soon
Aug 22 2020 8:04p À ” à 20°‹04' Œ 05°„04' Þ opposes Neptune (10:16 a.m.), leaving us wondering if our humble
Aug 23 2020 1:15a º “ Å 06°…20' Þ 21°†20' Þ efforts will really make a difference. We may feel more empowered
Aug 23 2020 6:12a º à Æ 06°…44' Þ 06°‹44' Œ this afternoon when the Moon–Pluto trine is in effect (2:48 p.m.) and
Aug23
Jan 232019
2020 10:36a º › » 07°…05' Þ 15°ƒ39'
Solar FireÞv8.1.2 again this evening when Luna trines Saturn (8:37 p.m.).
Page 25 Underlying
Aug 23 2020 8:36p º ” Á 07°…52' Þ 22°‰52' Œ all of our efforts today, an opposition between sensitive Venus in
Aug FM
Sco 23 2020
419-4 -9:49p Å ” Æ
Natal Chart 21°†35' Þ 06°‹35' Œ
Aug 24 2020 6:35a º –  08°…39' Þ 08°Ü39' Œ
Cancer and strategic Pallas Athene in Capricorn requires us to find
Aug
Date24 2020 8:30a Time º Asp
P1 — P2 É 08°…48' Þ
Pos1 26°‚48' Œ
Pos2 a better balance between taking care of business and attending to
Aug 24 2020 11:19a ¼ ‘ ¾ 26°Ü19' Þ 26°‰19' Œ our personal needs.
Aug 24 2020 4:49p º ” ò 09°…27' Þ 24°Ü27' Œ Speeches go overlong and orators are reluctant to relinquish
Aug 24 2020 6:06p ¸ ˜ ¾ 02°…18' Þ 26°‰18' Œ the spotlight on Friday, with Mercury in theatrical Leo sesquiquad-
Aug 25 2020 2:09a ¸ ˜  02°…37' Þ 08°Ü37' Œ rate Jupiter (9:44 a.m.). The only other aspect of note today is an
Aug 25 2020 5:52a Æ § É -23°23' +23°23' opposition between the Libra Moon and Chiron in Aries (4:28 p.m.)
Aug 25 2020 6:12a ¿ ¦ Ä +14°34' +14°34'
that threatens to expose fragile egos.
Aug 25 2020 8:17a º á ¿ 10°…38' Þ 10°Ý38' Œ
Aug 25 2020 9:53a ¸ ” ½ 02°…56' Þ 17°‰56' Œ The need for harmony works to our detriment when Luna
Aug 25 2020 10:44a É SÞ 26°‚47' Þ squares Jupiter on Saturday morning (7:46 a.m.); decisions we
Aug 25 2020 12:36p à – Æ 06°„14' Þ 06°‹14' Œ make under this influence may come back to haunt us. Once
Aug 25 2020 3:25p » à ½ 17°ƒ55' Þ 17°‰55' Œ the Sun enters analytical Virgo an hour later, we find it easier to
Aug 25 2020 4:11p º ” ¾ 11°…15' Þ 26°‰15' Œ see situations realistically, but we’ll need to be wary of fatalism.
Aug 25 2020 8:48p º ” ¼ 11°…36' Þ 26°Ü36' Þ Our efforts to maintain emotional balance may prove futile this
Aug 26 2020 8:59a º á Ä 12°…32' Þ 12°‰32' Œ
afternoon and evening, as the Libra Moon squares demanding
Aug 26 2020 7:55p ¼ ’ É 26°Ü47' Þ 26°‚47' Þ
Aug 27 2020 4:56a É SŒ 26°‚47' Œ
Pluto at 3:34 p.m., opposes forceful Mars at 8:36 p.m., and squares
Aug 27 2020 2:12p » á À 19°ƒ57' Þ 19°‹57' Œ oppressive Saturn at 9:19 p.m.
Aug 27 2020 3:33p Å ¦ ò -01°25' -01°25'
Aug 28 2020 0:15a Á ‘ Å 22°‰48' Œ 22°†48' Þ Sunday, August 23 – Monday, August 24: Objective Mercury in Virgo
Aug 28 2020 5:07a ¸ à Æ 05°…38' Þ 05°‹38' Œ has problems picking up on subtle messages from loved ones when
Aug 28 2020 5:53a » ” Æ 20°ƒ38' Þ 05°‹38' Œ the Messenger Planet opposes intuitive Ceres (6°44' Virgo–Pisces)
Aug 28 2020 6:34a ¼ › Æ 27°Ü03' Þ 05°‹37' Œ on Sunday morning at 6:12 a.m. However, with the Moon now in
Aug 28 2020 12:33p º ¦ ¼ +06°28' +06°28'
Aug 28 2020 4:46p ¸ “ » 06°…06' Þ 21°ƒ06' Þ
truth-seeking Scorpio, there is support for greater intimacy in our
Aug 29 2020 4:56a º ¦ Â +05°57' +05°57' relationships, especially this afternoon when Luna trines Ceres (2:20
Aug 29 2020 6:27a º á ½ 17°…44' Þ 17°‰44' Œ 81
Aug 29 2020 3:45p º ˜ ò 18°…25' Þ 24°Ü25' Œ
Aug 30 2020 2:42a » — ¿ 22°ƒ36' Þ 10°Ý36' Œ
Aug 30 2020 6:30a » à Á 22°ƒ46' Þ 22°‰46' Œ
 TMA FORECAST CALENDAR
p.m.) and sextiles Mercury (3:42 p.m.). Verbal debates intensify during Luna is given clear orders for the day when she meets with Pluto before
the evening hours, however, with a Mercury–Pluto sesquiquadrate dawn (4:12 a.m.) on Saturday. The Moon’s rendezvous with Saturn (10:19
in effect (perfecting at 8:36 p.m.), and emotions become erratic due a.m.) is also on the agenda, keeping us on task throughout the morning.
to Luna’s opposition to Uranus at exactly 9:00 p.m. But a cautiously optimistic Mercury–Jupiter trine (17°44' Virgo–Capricorn)
We are easily frustrated on Monday, the day that Mars and isJan
the23
strongest
2019 influence of the day, advancing our hopesSolar that solutions
Fire v8.1.2
Saturn are precisely square (26°19' Aries–Capricorn) at 11:19 a.m. to our problems will be found and that reason will ultimately prevail. Tem-
An early-morning Mercury–Chiron quincunx further complicates pers
Scocould flare briefly
FM 419-4 - Natalduring
Chartthe noon hour, due to a Moon–Mars square
any attempts to find a meeting of the minds. From Luna’s vantage at 12:30 p.m. But by the time of Luna’s ingress into Aquarius (5:36 p.m.),
point in Scorpio, she does her best to provide a cushion for any Datemore than ready
we’re Time to takeP1 a break
Asp P2fromPos1
the burdens ofPos2
responsibility.
falls; a Moon–Venus trine (6:52 a.m.) helps us to trust that friends Aug 24 2020 11:19a ¼ ‘ ¾ 26°Ü19' Þ 26°‰19' Œ
Aug 24 2020 4:49p º ” ò 09°…27' Þ 24°Ü27' Œ
will be there to support us, and a Moon–Jupiter sextile (9:21 a.m.) Sunday,
Aug 24August
2020 30 – Monday,
6:06p ¸ August
˜ ¾31: Relationships
02°…18' Þ and finances
26°‰18' Œ are
offers faint hope that all will be well. The trail of harmonious lunar under pressure
Aug 25 2020 during
2:09athe last
¸ two˜ days of August.
02°…37'The Þ heat is already
08°Ü37' Œ on
aspects continues after lunch, with a trine to Neptune (12:47 p.m.) high
AugSunday
25 2020morning,
5:52a when Venus
Æ §in protective
É Cancer opposes
-23°23' Pluto (6:30
+23°23'
that helps us to let go of lingering resentments, a sextile to Pluto a.m.),
Aug raising
25 2020 walls6:12a
of defensiveness
¿ ¦ and Ä sparking resentment+14°34'
+14°34' and distrust.
(5:36 p.m.) that increases our capacity for emotional honesty, and The
AugVirgo Sun is also
25 2020 8:17ain hardºaspect
á to¿Pluto10°…38'
today; aÞsesquiquadrate
10°Ý38' Œthat
a sextile to Saturn (11:27 p.m.) that provides some much-needed Aug 25at2020
perfects 9:53a
9:52 a.m. ¸ ante
raises the ” on ½any power
02°…56' Þ
struggles17°‰56' Œ
that are under
emotional stability. Aug 25 2020 10:44a É SÞ 26°‚47' Þ
way. With a Mercury–Neptune opposition also in effect (exact at 11:43 a.m.),
Aug 25 2020 12:36p à – Æ 06°„14' Þ 06°‹14' Œ
weAug
may25feel confused about»
2020 3:25p
whatàroad ½
to take, unsure which
17°ƒ55' Þ
one will lead
17°‰55' Œ
Tuesday, August 25 – Thursday, August 27: The skies seem a bit toAug
the 25
best2020
solution. But
4:11p the Aquarius
º ” ¾ Moon, already
11°…15' Þ naturally primed
26°‰15' Œ for
brighter on Tuesday morning, now that the Moon is in optimistic change,
Aug 25inspires
2020 us to take aºleap”of faith
8:48p ¼ when it squares
11°…36' Þ Uranus atÞ1:32
26°Ü36'
Sagittarius. New ideas may help us to resolve current problems, with p.m.
AugTonight,
26 2020 the influence
8:59a ofºa Sun–Chiron
á Ä quincunx 12°…32' (exact
Þ at 1:54 a.m.
12°‰32' Œ on
Mercury in practical Virgo trine inventive Uranus in Taurus (8:17 a.m.), Monday)
Aug 26 weighs
2020 heavily,
7:55p reviving
¼ ’ old insecurities
É thatÞ
26°Ü47' remain to be healed.
26°‚47' Þ
but a Sun–Jupiter sesquiquadrate at 9:53 a.m. and a Venus–Jupiter Aug 27 2020 4:56a É SŒ 26°‚47' Œ
opposition at 3:25 p.m. (17°55' Cancer–Capricorn) could cause us Aug 27 2020 2:12p » á À 19°ƒ57' Þ 19°‹57' Œ
Aug 27 2020 3:33p Å ¦ ò -01°25' -01°25'
to overestimate our abilities. A big “Caution” sign in the road slows
Aug 28 2020 0:15a Á ‘ Å 22°‰48' Œ 22°†48' Þ
us down this afternoon, with a pessimistic Mercury–Saturn sesqui- Aug 28 2020 5:07a ¸ à Æ 05°…38' Þ 05°‹38' Œ
quadrate in effect (exact at 4:11 p.m.). We’ll need to guard against a Aug 28 2020 5:53aG eocentric » ” Æ A20°ƒ38' spects Þ, 05°‹38' Œ
tendency to project our disappointments onto others this evening, Aug 28 2020 6:34a Ingresses¼ › , and Æ Stations
27°Ü03' Þ 05°‹37' Œ
as Mercury also sesquiquadrates Mars at 8:48 p.m. Aug 28 2020Daylight
Pacific 12:33p º ¦ ¼ +06°28' +06°28'
Our thoughts are pragmatic but also inspired on Wednesday. Aug 28 2020 4:46p ¸ “ » 06°…06' Þ 21°ƒ06' Þ
Mercury trines wise Pallas Athene at 8:59 a.m. (12°32' Aug 29 2020 4:56a º ¦ Â +05°57' +05°57'
Aug 29 2020 6:27a º á ½ 17°…44' Þ 17°‰44' Œ
Virgo–Capricorn), a liaison that encourages clear communication
Aug 29 2020 3:45p º ˜ ò 18°…25' Þ 24°Ü25' Œ
and solution-oriented thinking. With Pallas currently retrograde, Aug 30 2020 2:42a » — ¿ 22°ƒ36' Þ 10°Ý36' Œ
the ideas that come forward now may have their seeds in the past. Aug 30 2020 6:30a » à Á 22°ƒ46' Þ 22°‰46' Œ
An idealistic Moon–Neptune square at 4:43 p.m. sets us adrift this Aug 30 2020 9:25a º § À +05°01' -05°01'
afternoon, since we are more than ready to forget the problems Aug 30 2020 9:52a ¸ ” Á 07°…46' Þ 22°‰46' Œ
we’ve been toiling over lately. Aug 30 2020 11:43a º à À 19°…52' Þ 19°‹52' Œ
We’re ready for new adventures on Thursday morning, with the Aug 30 2020 2:25p  á à 08°Ü25' Œ 08°„25' Þ
Aug 31 2020 1:54a ¸ –  08°…24' Þ 08°Ü24' Œ
Sagittarius Moon trine Mars at 5:00 a.m. Even though Luna enters
Aug 31 2020 4:33a ¸ — É 08°…31' Þ 26°‚31' Œ
businesslike Capricorn at 10:36 a.m., we’re more likely to daydream Aug 31 2020 4:58a » ‘ Å 23°ƒ45' Þ 23°†45' Þ
than focus on tangible goals today; a romantic Venus–Neptune trine Aug 31 2020 10:47a º ˜ ¼ 21°…32' Þ 27°Ü32' Þ
(19°57' Cancer–Pisces) is the main planetary event, inspiring us to Aug 31 2020 11:54a ¸ • Ã 08°…48' Þ 08°„48' Þ
follow our hearts wherever they might lead us. Tonight’s earthy Aug 31 2020 1:03p ¸ “ Å 08°…51' Þ 23°†51' Þ
Sun–Moon trine (8:09 p.m.) connects us with the “real world” once Aug 31 2020 7:35p » ‘ ò 24°ƒ24' Þ 24°Ü24' Œ
again, but with the feeling that it just might be possible to have our
cake and eat it, too. Sep 1 2020 2:33a ¸ ” ò 09°…24' Þ 24°Ü24' Œ
Sep 1 2020 3:41a º á Á 22°…44' Þ 22°‰44' Œ
Sep 2 2020 2:14a º • Å 24°…19' Þ 24°†19' Þ
Friday, August 28 – Saturday, August 29: We’re concerned about Sep 2 2020 3:12a º – ò 24°…23' Þ 24°Ü23' Œ
how to balance work duties with the needs of home and family on Sep 2 2020 5:17a » à ¾ 25°ƒ54' Þ 25°‰54' Œ
Friday morning, with the Sun in opposition to domestic Ceres at 5:07 Sep 2 2020 5:30a º “ Ã 24°…33' Þ 09°„33' Þ
a.m. (5°38' Virgo–Pisces). Making things even more complicated, Ve- Sep 2 2020 7:08a ¸ á ¿ 10°…33' Þ 10°Ý33' Œ
nus is also in sesquiquadrate aspect to Ceres, so loved ones outside Sep 2 2020 7:31a Å à ò 24°†23' Þ 24°Ü23' Œ
the family circle are calling for our attention, too. The semi-square Sep 2 2020 9:25a » • É 26°ƒ05' Þ 26°‚05' Œ
Sep 2 2020 3:21p ¸ ” ¾ 10°…53' Þ 25°‰53' Œ
between the Sun and Venus perfects at 4:46 p.m., reinforcing this
Sep 2 2020 7:42p º ” ¿ 25°…33' Þ 10°Ý33' Œ
dilemma of being pulled in several different directions. We begin to Sep 3 2020 0:22a º á ¾ 25°…52' Þ 25°‰52' Œ
feel more centered as day turns to night, with the Capricorn Moon Sep 3 2020 1:23a º ‘ É 25°…56' Þ 25°‚56' Œ
trine sensible Mercury (5:05 p.m.) and conjunct tolerant Jupiter (6:56 Sep 3 2020 3:41a º § Å +02°08' -02°08'
p.m.). A relaxing late-night Moon–Neptune sextile (10:55 p.m.) helps Sep 3 2020 11:12a ¾ – É 25°‰51' Œ 25°‚51' Œ
to ease us into dreamtime. Sep 4 2020 0:14a ¸ á Ä 12°…13' Þ 12°‰13' Œ
Sep 4 2020 1:26a º § ò +01°26' -01°26'
Sep 4 2020 2:12a » ‘ ¼ 27°ƒ55' Þ 27°Ü55' Þ
82 Sep 4 2020 6:05a » ˜ Æ 28°ƒ05' Þ 04°‹05' Œ
Sep 4 2020 6:15a º – ¼ 27°…55' Þ 27°Ü55' Þ
Sep 4 2020 11:30a ¿ ‘ à 10°Ý31' Œ 10°„31' Þ
 Leo New Moon — August 18–19
by Diana McMahon Collis

Uranus’s move to retrograde motion (appearing to Venus is in a separating sextile and Jupiter a wide sep-
travel backwards against other planets in “direct” motion) on arating trine from Uranus (a jot beyond the typical 6° orb).
August 15 may have put any rebellious, revolutionary spirit Social and also career moves seem to be towards wider
that some people had started to embrace on the backburner. horizons and broader affiliations. With Venus in Cancer,
To be fair, there are mixed opinions amongst astrologers as some of our stronger family connections may be somewhat
to how planets in retrograde operate. Personally, I find it weakened, difficult, or even lost. But Jupiter, the planet of
helpful to clarify the precise quality of any particular retro- hope, represents a stronger link with the world at large,
grade with a tarot consultation — and have found a parallel perhaps getting involved in a global mission, digging deeper
with the Hanged Man (card XII of the Major Arcana — or into a spiritual practice, or finding a greater sense of mean-
“major secrets” of the tarot). This tends to signify backing ing to life.
off from a situation, pausing and reflecting, usually because The Leo Moon also trines Mars in Aries, providing the
it simply doesn’t make sense to try to plough on ahead. The impetus to get things going. The two signs linked together
task at hand probably requires more thought, or someone can bring out a bossy side, yet maybe that is what is needed
has acted in a way that makes us feel unsafe to proceed. — clear leadership and vision. With planets in fire signs,
With strong, outer-planet representations, we often face sit- someone is lighting a fire, is “on fire” with a passion or
uations that are out of our hands, where external control is project, or is in a relationship with sparky momentum!
the greater force. All of this and more may apply under the The Moon, disposited by the Sun in Leo, still retains
current lunation. It could even be that something previously some creative power, providing opportunities for improve-
offered is now retracted, due to unexpected developments. ments or embellishments. This favourable context may
With all the outermost planets retrograde (i.e., Ura- relate to knowing someone special, or to realising more of
nus, Neptune, and Pluto), along with Jupiter and Saturn,
Leo NM 820-2 one’s own, personal talents. Perhaps we simply become
Natal Chart
we may face decidedly personal issues that require reflec-
Aug 18 2020, Tue more comfy in our own skin and more in tune with our
7:41:20 pm PDT +7:00
tion and regrouping more than ever before. With Uranus Fresno, CA own tastes — especially if we have forgotten how to fully
36°N44'52'' 119°W46'17''
in Taurus, our sense of security has likely been rocked and
Geocentric consider our own needs and desires.
Tropical
we are feeling destabilized at all levels. In our interactions
0° Aries
with others, there could be quick, strong reactionsTrue which
Node

we (and even they) subsequently wonder about. There could 00° ‰ 00'

be temporary confusion as we try to come to terms with a 00' 00°

Š ½ Ä Ê ˆ 00'
world so different than we expected. 00° Á
¾ 18°13° 27°
The Leo New Moon embraces the dignity of the 26°
22° ‰ ˆ
‰ ‰
Sun in that sign, and is conjunct Mercury, planet of ‰
58'22'13' 26'
00' 38' ŒŒ Œ 00°
thought. However, Mercury is effectively combust ŒŒ
‹ 10 9 ‡
— with little power — so close to the Sun. Practi- 00° 00'
cal considerations possibly take precedence over Æ 07° 11 8

whatever provides a sense of decorum or pro- ‹ ‘‘ 20° Å

42'Œ 08' †
priety. We may have to fill in the gaps and deal
À 20° ‹ 10'Œ 12 ‘‘ á – 7
with the consequences of necessary but difficult 00° á – á 00°
actions. We can remember that people likely had Ü – à à †
a good and principled rationale behind their ac- 00'
08° Ü 49'
Π00'
tions, but choices were limited. Â Ü 56' 1 6

The New Moon’s Mercury conjunction has Ù 22° 29'Œ

24°Ü 54'
á

a decidedly friendly face. Someone may soon be ò 24°Ü 2

’
’ ’ 5 07'
Œ
issuing party invitations in whatever social format 00° ¼ 41' 35' „28°
35' „
00'
„ 26° º …
Ý 3 4
gatherings are possible! There is a certain warmth Ý 10° 19' 26° ¸ 00°
that follows Leo around, drawing people in as to a
00' ¿ Œ „
26' 59' 03° ¶
sunny park on a sunny summer’s day. The fixity of ‚ ƒ
Ã
27° 10°
the sign also points towards more definite plans than 00° 00'
may have been possible before. We may be at the stage of ‚ 00' É » 00°
„
following something through, after the seed idea, or pick- 00° ƒ 00'
ing up where we left off, from quite a while ago. With Leo,
there can be a matter of pride in managing to complete a August 18, 2020 — 7:41 p.m. PDT
mission, after all! August 19, 2020 — 2:41 a.m. GMT

83
 Aug 27 2020 3:33p Å ¦ ò -01°25' -01°25'
Aug 28 2020 0:15a Á ‘ Å 22°‰48' Œ 22°†48' Þ
Aug 28 2020 5:07a ¸ à Æ 05°…38' Þ 05°‹38' Œ
Aug 28 2020 5:53a » ” Æ 20°ƒ38' Þ 05°‹38' Œ
TMA FORECAST CALENDAR Aug 28 2020 6:34a
Aug 28 2020 12:33p º ¦ ¼
¼ › Æ 27°Ü03' Þ
+06°28'
05°‹37' Œ
+06°28'
Aug 28 2020 4:46p ¸ “ » 06°…06' Þ 21°ƒ06' Þ
Still feeling off-balance from yesterday’s opposition to Pluto, ifyingAug
our29need
2020for autonomy.
4:56a ºWith¦Mercury
 quincunx
+05°57' Mars at 6:15 a.m.
+05°57'
Venus in Cancer is again in the hot seat on Monday, sitting at the (27°55'
AugVirgo–Aries),
29 2020 6:27a it’s difficult
º toáexpress
½ ourselves
17°…44' Þ without resorting
17°‰44' Œ
apex of a cardinal t-square with fair-minded Juno in Libra and Aug 29 2020
to criticism, but the 3:45p
Mercury–Venusº ˜sextileò at18°…25'
1:31 p.m.Þshould24°Ü25'
help usŒto
Aug 30 2020 2:42a » — ¿ 22°ƒ36' Þ 10°Ý36' Œ
discontented Eris in Aries. The action starts early, since the exact untangle the lines of communication. We’re not entirely out of the woods,
Aug 30 2020 6:30a » à Á 22°ƒ46' Þ 22°‰46' Œ
Venus–Juno square at 4:58 a.m. (23°45' Cancer–Libra) reveals however;
Aug 30the2020
Sun is 9:25a
sesquiquadrate
º §Mars Àtonight (6:54 p.m.), -05°01'
+05°01' reviving the
how well our emotional and mental needs are being met in close irritation we2020
Aug 30 were feeling
9:52a earlier¸ in ”the day.
Á 07°…46' Þ 22°‰46' Œ
partnerships. The Venus–Eris square perfects at the other end Reactions
Aug 30 2020 are extreme
11:43a onº Saturday
à Àmorning due toÞthe Aries
19°…52' Moon’s
19°‹52' Œ
of the day (7:35 p.m.), activating our inner warrior in response squareAugto30
Pluto
2020at 10:55
2:25pa.m. We  haveá aÃbetter08°Ü25'
chance ofŒseeing both sides
08°„25' Þ
to perceived slights. Taken as a whole, this t-square shows us of the issue
Aug once Mercury
31 2020 1:54a makes ¸ ingress
– Âinto08°…24'
Libra at 12:46
Þ p.m. Dinner-
08°Ü24' Œ
where we may go to extremes in our relationships — whether we timeAug 31be
could 2020 4:33a
uncomfortable, ¸ — É
if a Moon–Saturn 08°…31'
squareÞ (5:10 26°‚31' Œ
p.m.) makes
Aug 31 2020 4:58a » ‘ Å 23°ƒ45' Þ 23°†45' Þ
over-accommodate, or are too self-focused, or are afraid to be us feel like a child who has been told to sit quietly and not interrupt the
Aug 31 2020 10:47a º ˜ ¼ 21°…32' Þ 27°Ü32' Þ
vulnerable. A slight shift of mood is possible this evening, around adults.
AugBut
31 by the time
2020 of Luna’s
11:54a ¸ rendezvous
• Ã with MarsÞat 9:45
08°…48' p.m., the
08°„48' Þ
the time of an energizing Moon–Mars sextile (9:56 p.m.) that helps restraints have eased,
Aug 31 2020 1:03p and we are
¸ “ Åmore free to express
08°…51' Þ ourselves openly.
23°†51' Þ
us to know and express our true needs. Aug 31 2020 7:35p » ‘ ò 24°ƒ24' Þ 24°Ü24' Œ
Sunday, September 6 – Tuesday, September 8: The sunrise seems more
Tuesday, September 1 – Wednesday, September 2: We feel more cer- precious Sunday,2:33a
Sep 1on2020 as the Moon
¸ has
” entered
ò nature-loving
09°…24' Þ Taurus over-
24°Ü24' Œ
tain of our plans when we awaken on Tuesday, thanks to the lingering nightSep 1 2020
— and 3:41a
yet, with º ináimpatient
Venus now Á 22°…44' Þ reflection
Leo, quiet 22°‰44' Œ
is not
Sep 2 2020
effects of a pragmatic Mercury–Pluto trine (22°44' Virgo–Capricorn) enough to fully satisfy2:14a
us. A playº
date• Å
in the park24°…19' Þ
with friends 24°†19' Þ
might be a good
Sep 2 2020 3:12a º – ò 24°…23' Þ 24°Ü23' Œ
that perfected at 3:41 a.m. The Moon, now in selfless Pisces, finds activity
Septhis morning,5:17a
2 2020 but Saturn’s
» square
à ¾to fair-minded
25°ƒ54' ÞJuno25°‰54'
at 4:24 p.m.
Œ
an ally in sympathetic Ceres when the two meet for tea at 11:40 (25°44'
SepCapricorn–Libra)
2 2020 5:30amakesºit hard
“ for Ãpartners to find
24°…33' Þ agreement
09°„33'later
Þ
a.m. This friendly support bolsters Luna’s radiance, enabling her to in the day.
Sep The evening
2 2020 7:08ahours bring
¸ á surprises,
¿ since Luna
10°…33' Þhas 10°Ý33'
her monthly
Œ
shine all the more brightly tonight; the lunar cycle reaches its Full rendezvous with eccentric
Sep 2 2020 7:31a UranusÅ atà11:01ò p.m. 24°†23' Þ 24°Ü23' Œ
Moon climax at 10:21 p.m. Sep 2 2020 9:25a » • É 26°ƒ05' Þ 26°‚05' Œ
Our outlook on Wednesday morning depends on which door Sep 2 2020 3:21p ¸ ” ¾ 10°…53' Þ 25°‰53' Œ
we choose to open. Behind door number one is a responsible Sep 2 2020 7:42p º ” ¿ 25°…33' Þ 10°Ý33' Œ
Sep 3 2020 0:22a º á ¾ 25°…52' Þ 25°‰52' Œ
Venus–Saturn opposition at 5:17 a.m. (25°54' Cancer–Capricorn)
that tests our ability to be both sensitive and strong. If we open
Sep 3 2020 Geocentric
1:23a º ‘ É A spects
25°…56' ,Þ 25°‚56' Œ
Sep 3 2020 3:41a º § Å +02°08' -02°08'
door number two, we are greeted by the enlivening energies of a Sep 3 2020
I ngresses
11:12a ¾ – É
, and S tations
25°‰51' Œ 25°‚51' Œ
Sun–Uranus trine at 7:08 a.m. (10°33' Virgo–Taurus) that inspires SepP4 2020Daylight
acific 0:14a ¸ á Ä 12°…13' Þ 12°‰13' Œ
us to leave behind anything that feels too limiting. But later in the Sep 4 2020 1:26a º § ò +01°26' -01°26'
day, a Sun–Saturn sesquiquadrate (3:21 p.m.) dampens our en- Sep23
Jan 4 2020
2019 2:12a » ‘ ¼ 27°ƒ55' Þ 27°Ü55'
Solar FireÞv8.1.2
thusiasm, sapping our energy. As a welcome break from reality, Sep 4 2020 6:05a » ˜ Æ 28°ƒ05' Þ 04°‹05' Œ
Sep FM
Sco 4 2020
419-4 -6:15a º – ¼
Natal Chart 27°…55' Þ 27°Ü55' Þ
the Moon–Neptune alignment in Pisces at 5:10 p.m. encourages a
Sep 4 2020 11:30a ¿ ‘ à 10°Ý31' Œ 10°„31' Þ
fantasy or two — or perhaps a moment of divine inspiration. Our Sep 4 2020
Date 1:31p
Time º Asp
P1 ’ P2
» 28°…25' Þ
Pos1 28°ƒ25' Þ
Pos2
thoughts are unsettled tonight with a Mercury–Uranus sesquiquad- Sep 4 2020 1:55p ¸ ¦ ¼ +06°45' +06°45'
rate in effect at 7:42 p.m. We feel ready to step into a new world, Sep 4 2020 4:12p à “ É 10°„36' Þ 25°‚36' Œ
and yet we’re uncertain how that reinvented reality will function. Sep 4 2020 6:54p ¸ ” ¼ 12°…58' Þ 27°Ü58' Þ
A reassuring Mercury–Saturn trine (25°52' Virgo–Capricorn), which Sep 5 2020 3:00a » ¦ Ã +18°48' +18°48'
perfects just after midnight (12:22 a.m. on Thursday), helps us begin Sep 5 2020 4:53a ¿ “ É 10°Ý30' Œ 25°‚30' Œ
Sep 5 2020 12:46p º ß † 00°†00' Þ 00°†00' Þ
to put the pieces together.
Sep 5 2020 4:48p Å á É 25°†26' Þ 25°‚26' Œ
Sep 5 2020 6:06p Ä SÞ 12°‰12' Þ
Thursday, September 3 – Saturday, September 5: An early- Sep 6 2020 0:21a » ß „ 00°„00' Þ 00°„00' Þ
morning sextile between the Pisces Moon and Saturn in Capricorn Sep 6 2020 9:05a Ä › Æ 12°‰12' Þ 03°‹38' Œ
on Thursday (5:11 a.m.) establishes a creative link between the Sep 6 2020 12:22p À ˜ Å 19°‹41' Œ 25°†41' Þ
imagination and the will to manifest. However, with Luna also in Sep 6 2020 4:24p ¾ ‘ Å 25°‰44' Œ 25°†44' Þ
opposition to Mercury in Virgo (5:58 a.m.), we’re unsure how to Sep 7 2020 3:08a ¸ ¦ Â +05°48' +05°48'
turn our mystical visions into tangible reality. A Moon–Venus trine Sep 7 2020 2:14p º › Ã 03°†17' Þ 11°„51' Þ
Sep 7 2020 3:32p º – Æ 03°†22' Þ 03°‹22' Œ
is next on the docket (7:34 a.m.), indicating that a loved one can Sep 7 2020 10:31p º ¦ ò -01°27' -01°27'
provide the caring support we need to ease us into the day. Luna, Sep 8 2020 8:11a º ˜ ¿ 04°†27' Þ 10°Ý27' Œ
wandering void of course for the next six hours, finally moves into Sep 8 2020 11:15a à – Ä 12°„13' Þ 12°‰13' Þ
forthright Aries at 1:22 p.m., inspiring us to take action toward ful- Sep 8 2020 8:51p » – Æ 03°„06' Þ 03°‹06' Œ
filling our dreams. A trine between the Virgo Sun and strategic Pallas Sep 8 2020 10:25p ¸ § À +05°08' -05°08'
Athene in Capricorn, which perfects just after midnight (12:14 a.m. Sep 9 2020 9:03a ¸ á ½ 17°…25' Þ 17°‰25' Œ
on Friday), is our strongest influence tonight, providing a practical Sep 9 2020 3:22p ¼ SŒ 28°Ü08' Œ
Sep 9 2020 8:37p Æ › ò 02°‹54' Œ 24°Ü20' Œ
approach to current dilemmas.
Sep 9 2020 9:02p º ¦ Å -02°52' -02°52'
It’s a battle of archetypes on Friday morning, when Venus in Sep 10 2020 4:52a » ” À 04°„35' Þ 19°‹35' Œ
feminine Cancer squares Mars in masculine Aries (2:12 a.m.). We Sep 10 2020 7:37a ¸ ˜ ò 18°…20' Þ 24°Ü20' Œ
may find ourselves in conflict with a loved one, or we may struggle Sep 10 2020 3:23p º à  07°†59' Þ 07°Ü59' Œ
internally with how to satisfy our nurturing instinct while still grat- Sep 11 2020 2:05a º ˜ Æ 08°†39' Þ 02°‹39' Œ
Sep 11 2020 1:25p ¸ à À 19°…32' Þ 19°‹32' Œ
84 Sep 11 2020 1:30p À ˜ à 19°‹32' Œ 13°„32' Þ
Sep 11 2020 2:44p ¸ § º +04°07' -04°07'
Sep 12 2020 5:34a º – ¿ 10°†22' Þ 10°Ý22' Œ
Sep 12 2020 9:30a ½ “ Æ 17°‰24' Þ 02°‹24' Œ
 Pisces Full Moon — September 1–2
by Diana McMahon Collis

The Full Moon in Pisces spotlights issues of belief, personal differences from those around us by acknowledg-
faith, trust, and confidence. Pisces isn’t always sure if what ing the value of holding alternative views or expressing
is sensed is real or lasting, yet it often taps into important varying levels of feeling. The positive edge of the sextile to
information, as witnessed in the emotional nature of the Uranus makes any sudden inspiration significant, particu-
sign. Water can move fast, creating sudden turbulence, pro- larly if we capture it and take action. We might suddenly
ducing rapid, or very high waves that present real dangers have our best or most profound ideas in unexpected places
in the moment, but which may be prone to change fairly and moments, such as in the shower or doing something
quickly. Suddenly, a problematic situation and apparent mundane like the ironing or washing up; or in being cre-
danger no longer exist. In a gentler setting, it takes both ative with cooking, handiwork, or crafts. Ideally, we should
rain and the Sun for a rainbow to appear; yet, if we try to then make note of our thoughts or otherwise move into
take a photograph of that beautiful stream of colour, we specific activity that supports these insights.
may find it faded or almost completely missing in the cap- Uranus retrograde means that reflection continues
tured image. The rainbow nonetheless has a strong place to be important, with a view to take tangible action later.
in the human psyche as a positive symbol. Spiritually, it has Meanwhile, we can still act to anchor reflections — mak-
been linked with the union and balance of the chakras — ing notes in a journal, or having a conversation to help
the body’s energy centres — connecting mind, body, and ideas and plans develop into something with lasting po-
spirit in a system that defines health. From this framework, tential. We can further draw on the meaningful quality of
we can notice any difficult feelings or symptoms in a par- these reflections with self-inquiry. With Uranus in Taurus,
ticular area of the body and begin to understand it at other it is a beneficial time to assess whether our plans will en-
levels and work on a healing process. dure and maintain their value. Where will our efforts be
Even in everyday life, we could say that water has Pisces
mag- FM 820-3
most worthwhile? We may have answers straight away or
Natal Chart
ical qualities; in feeding plants, it turns what was onceSepthe later — consider that “when” is perhaps less important
1 2020, Tue
10:21:30 pm PDT +7:00
tiny matter of a seed into something vital and sustaining.
Fresno, CA than the knowing that we will eventually do something
36°N44'52'' 119°W46'17''
Yet, if the general conditions for growth do not support Geocentric certain to back up our convictions.
Tropical
it, or when our plant has very specific characteristics that
0° Aries
True Node
make it sensitive to too much or too little water, it may
00° ‰ 00'
not thrive. We need to pay a lot of attention to the precise
00' 00°
state and conditions of that plant! The fluctuating energy
00°
Š
Á ½Ä Ê ˆ 00'
around water can sometimes be baffling and frustrating, ¾ 17°12° 26°
22°
and we may struggle to control how it works in our lives — 25°
‰ ‰
‰ ˆ
‰ 35'15' 11'
which extends into the further, astrological connection of 00' 43' Œ 00°
55' ŒŒ
the water element with the realm of human emotions. ŒŒ
‹ 10 9 ‡
The Full Moon is a notoriously more emotional time, 00° 00'
so we have a double whammy effect in play during Æ 04° 11 8 Å
24°
this lunation. ¶ 10° ‹ 35'Œ ’ ‘ ’
‘ 16'
†
‹ 12'
On the plus side, with Moon in Pisces, we are á ‘
À 19° ‹ 48'Œ 12 ‘‘ á á
á
á 7
‘
more in touch with our intuitive abilities; with fewer 00° á 00°
–
boundaries in place, we can cross the bridge further Ü – à à †
’ 03' … 24°
into the spiritual world. However, Pisces is also the 00'
Â Ü 24'Œ
08° Ü 20'Œ 1 – –
á ‘ 6 º 00'

empath — the person who is super-sensitive, sens- á á

ò 24° 30'
24°Ü 42'
‘ ’ 12' …
10°
ing so much at once as to often feel overwhelmed. ‘
‘ ‘ ¸
Ù 27°Ü 2
’
5
A sponge effect is in play, with feelings, atmo- Œ
00° ¼ 33' 00'
spheres, and qualities potentially creating a sense Ý 3 4
Ý 10° 25' …
of emotional, mental, and even physical overload. If 00' ¿ Œ 35'
„
00°
09°
things feel like “too much,” though, we can remember 11' ƒ
to give ourselves the permission and opportunity to take ‚ 25° Ã
26°
needed space from whatever seems overwhelming. 00° » 00'
Although the Moon is in wide aspect to dispositors ‚ 00' É 00°
„
Neptune (conjunct) and Jupiter (sextile), it is also in par- 00° ƒ 00'
tile aspect to Uranus (sextile), making that planet a clearer
source of support. This could help provide breathing space, September 1, 2020 — 10:21 p.m. PDT
via isolation, or even by just encouraging acceptance of September 2, 2020 — 5:21 a.m. GMT
85
 TMA FORECAST CALENDAR
Jan 23 2019 Solar Fire v8.1.2
An earthy trine between the Taurus Moon and the Sun in Virgo with loved ones, even allowing us to laugh at past disagreements. Eager to
on Monday morning (9:09 a.m.) enables us to feel more substantial, joinSco
in the
FMgame,
419-4 Luna enters
- Natal lively Leo at 8:33 a.m., but a Mercury–Pallas
Chart
despite continuing uncertainties and changes. This theme continues Athene square (2:24 p.m.) gives a serious tone to the afternoon, as we strug-
through the day, as Luna trines magnanimous Jupiter in Capricorn Datewhether to Time
gle with acquiesce toP1theAsp P2 Pos1
opinions Pos2our own
of others or to trust
this afternoon (1:09 p.m.) and then trines empowering Pluto late Sep 4The
wisdom. 2020 1:55p partners
gulf between ¸ ¦ ¼
can seem +06°45' wide tonight
especially +06°45'when
Sep 4 2020 4:12p à “ É 10°„36' Þ 25°‚36' Œ
tonight (11:40 p.m.). The one hitch in the day is a somewhat frus- independent
Sep 4 2020
Mars opposes
6:54p
cooperative
¸ ” ¼
Juno (28°00' Aries–Libra),
12°…58' Þ
perfecting
27°Ü58' Þ
trating quincunx between objective Mercury and empathic Ceres at 10:28
Sep 5p.m. — and3:00a
2020 even though
» a¦Moon–Venus
à alignment at+18°48'
+18°48' 11:54 p.m.
(3°22' Libra–Pisces), which makes it hard to know whether to use would
Sep normally
5 2020bring4:53a
loved ones¿together,
“ Éa feeling of distance
10°Ý30' Œ is more likely
25°‚30' Œ
reason or compassion to resolve our differences. withSep
Tuesday’s
5 2020Venus–Uranus
12:46p square
º ßalready† in00°†00'
orb. Þ 00°†00' Þ
An early-morning Moon–Saturn trine at 5:47 a.m. provides a Sep 5 2020 4:48p Å á É 25°†26' Þ 25°‚26' Œ
rhythmic pulse to ground us as we start the day on Tuesday. Luna Monday,
Sep 5September
2020 14 – Wednesday,
6:06p Ä SÞSeptember 16: The
12°‰12' Þ Leo Moon starts
is then void of course until entering Gemini at 2:28 p.m., when she Sep 6 2020 0:21a » ß „ 00°„00'
off Monday in sextile to Mercury (7:54 a.m.), improving Þ our00°„00'
capacityÞto
Sep 6 2020 9:05a Ä › Æ 12°‰12' Þ 03°‹38' Œ
trades that sense of earthy stability for open-minded curiosity. To- thinkSep
creatively.
6 2020
But the Sun’s
12:22p À ˜ Å
trine to Pluto (22°34' Virgo–Capricorn)
19°‹41' Œ 25°†41' Þ
is the
night, Venus in Leo is quincunx Ceres (exact at 8:51 p.m.); a playful mostSeppowerful
6 2020 influence
4:24p today, supporting
¾ ‘ Å a focus on
25°‰44' Œ practical concerns
25°†44' Þ
approach to relationships could fall flat, if others consider our ef- and Sep
driving tangible3:08a
7 2020 accomplishments.
¸ ¦ We  may+05°48'
be particularly+05°48'
focused on
forts to be superficial. personal
Sep 7fulfillment
2020 now, especially
2:14p º › withÃtomorrow’s
03°†17'independent-minded
Þ 11°„51' Þ
Venus–Uranus
Sep 7 2020square 3:32pstarting º
to build
– in Æeffect.
03°†22' Þ 03°‹22' Œ
Wednesday, September 9 – Friday, September 11: It’s a high-energy The7freedom-loving
Sep 2020 10:31p squareºbetween
¦ òthe Goddess
-01°27' of Love -01°27'
and the God
day on Wednesday, starting with an optimistic Sun–Jupiter trine Sep 8(10°18'
of Chaos 2020 Leo–Taurus)
8:11a º ˜ at
perfects ¿ 8:2904°†27'
a.m. onÞ 10°Ý27'
Tuesday. Œ
It’s time
Sep 8 2020 11:15a à – Ä 12°„13' Þ 12°‰13' Þ
at 9:03 a.m. (17°25' Virgo–Capricorn) that opens the door to new to give everyone in our lives the same latitude that we ourselves wish to
Sep 8 2020 8:51p » – Æ 03°„06' Þ 03°‹06' Œ
adventures. Heightened Mars energy increases our excitability, as have, so that
Sep all of us10:25p
8 2020 can feel the
¸ thrill
§ ofÀliving+05°08'
more authentically. If we’re
-05°08'
the Red Planet comes to a standstill at 28°08' Aries (3:22 p.m.). This not able
Sep to be flexible
9 2020 in this way,
9:03a ¸ theá Venus–Uranus
½ 17°…25'square
Þ can cause rifts
17°‰25' Œ
marks the beginning of Mars’s two-month retrograde phase, which Sep 9 2020 3:22p ¼ SŒ 28°Ü08' Œ
will culminate at the degree it first occupied back on July 25. Sep 9 2020 8:37p Æ › ò 02°‹54' Œ 24°Ü20' Œ
We might struggle to fully awaken on Thursday morning; Sep 9 2020 9:02p º ¦ Å -02°52' -02°52'
dreamy Neptune is activated by a sesquiquadrate to Venus (4:52 Sep 10 2020 4:52a Geocentric
» ” ÀA spects
04°„35',Þ 19°‹35' Œ
a.m.) and a square to the Moon (5:17 a.m.), two aspects that tend Ingresses
Sep 10 2020 7:37a ¸ ˜, and
ò S tations
18°…20' Þ 24°Ü20' Œ
Sep 10 2020 3:23p º à  07°†59' Þ 07°Ü59' Œ
to blur our perceptions. This lack of clarity continues for much of SepPacific
11 2020Daylight
2:05a º ˜ Æ 08°†39' Þ 02°‹39' Œ
the day, kept active by a Mercury–Chiron opposition at 3:23 p.m. Sep 11 2020 1:25p ¸ à À 19°…32' Þ 19°‹32' Œ
(7°59' Libra–Aries) that causes us to second-guess our choices. We Sep 11 2020 1:30p À ˜ à 19°‹32' Œ 13°„32' Þ
may feel a bit more focused this evening, when the Gemini Moon Sep 11 2020 2:44p ¸ § º +04°07' -04°07'
sextiles Mars at 9:48 p.m. Sep 12 2020 5:34a º – ¿ 10°†22' Þ 10°Ý22' Œ
A foggy mist drifts in from the ocean again on Friday, lasting for Sep 12 2020 9:30a ½ “ Æ 17°‰24' Þ 02°‹24' Œ
Sep 12 2020 5:40p ½ SÞ 17°‰24' Þ
most of the day. An opposition between the Virgo Sun and Neptune
Sep 13 2020 3:07a º ¦ À -05°10' -05°10'
(1:25 p.m.) makes it hard to discern between the solutions that are Sep 13 2020 4:24a » á  07°„53' Þ 07°Ü53' Œ
credible and those that are merely the product of wishful thinking. Sep 13 2020 2:24p º ‘ Ä 12°†23' Þ 12°‰23' Þ
A moody Cancer Moon further complicates our perspective in the Sep 13 2020 6:08p ¸ § Å +03°17' -03°17'
late afternoon and evening, first through a square to insecure Chi- Sep 13 2020 9:10p º § Â -05°42' +05°42'
ron in Aries (4:25 p.m.) and then a square to indecisive Mercury in Sep 13 2020 10:28p ¼ à Å 28°Ü00' Œ 28°†00' Þ
Libra (7:49 p.m.). Sep 14 2020 1:48a ¸ ˜ ¼ 21°…59' Þ 27°Ü59' Œ
Sep 14 2020 4:09p ¸ á Á 22°…34' Þ 22°‰34' Œ
Sep 14 2020 11:50p » “ É 09°„54' Þ 24°‚54' Œ
Saturday, September 12 – Sunday, September 13: We feel a bit rattled Sep 15 2020 8:29a » ‘ ¿ 10°„18' Þ 10°Ý18' Œ
on Saturday morning, although we may not fully understand why. Sep 15 2020 12:58p º § ¼ -06°49' +06°49'
Mercury is quincunx Uranus at 5:34 a.m. (10°22' Libra–Taurus), bring- Sep 15 2020 2:07p º ’ Ã 15°†14' Þ 15°„14' Þ
ing ideas in from left field that threaten to undermine our already Sep 16 2020 10:13a ¸ – ò 24°…17' Þ 24°Ü17' Œ
tentative sense of balance. The Moon–Jupiter opposition at 9:55 Sep 16 2020 1:31p º ” Æ 16°†37' Þ 01°‹37' Œ
a.m. leaves us more emotional than expected; Jupiter’s expansive Sep 16 2020 5:52p ¸ ‘ É 24°…35' Þ 24°‚35' Œ
energy has even greater impact today, as the Giant Planet comes Sep 17 2020 3:34a º ‘ ½ 17°†26' Þ 17°‰26' Þ
Sep 17 2020 5:17a à › É 15°„56' Þ 24°‚30' Œ
to a standstill and turns direct at 5:40 p.m. (17°24' Capricorn). We Sep 17 2020 9:37a » – Ä 12°„36' Þ 12°‰36' Þ
feel somewhat more secure this afternoon, with the Cancer Moon Sep 17 2020 10:00a ¸ ” ¿ 25°…15' Þ 10°Ý15' Œ
trine Neptune (1:46 p.m.) and sextile the Sun (3:45 p.m.). But to- Sep 17 2020 2:36p ¸ á ¾ 25°…26' Þ 25°‰26' Œ
night, Luna opposes Pluto (7:20 p.m.), and a sense of vulnerability Sep 18 2020 1:51a » ˜ À 13°„22' Þ 19°‹22' Œ
returns as we consider how deeply these transformative times Sep 18 2020 10:10a ¸ § ò +01°29' -01°29'
are affecting us. The Moon–Saturn opposition, which perfects just Sep 18 2020 12:41p É ’ ò 24°‚16' Œ 24°Ü16' Œ
after midnight (12:37 a.m. on Sunday), helps us to grieve the past Sep 18 2020 1:05p º – À 19°†21' Þ 19°‹21' Œ
Sep 19 2020 2:54p ¸ – ¼ 27°…24' Þ 27°Ü24' Œ
we are leaving behind.
Sep 19 2020 4:26p º § Ä -09°30' +09°30'
Once we get past a contentious Moon–Mars square early Sunday Sep 19 2020 11:05p » › É 15°„29' Þ 24°‚04' Œ
morning (5:04 a.m.), we can take advantage of the more influen- Sep 20 2020 4:19a Å ß ‡ 00°‡00' Þ 00°‡00' Þ
tial Venus–Chiron trine (7°53' Leo–Aries) that helps us to reconnect Sep 20 2020 10:21p º ‘ Á 22°†31' Þ 22°‰31' Œ

86
 Virgo New Moon — September 17
by Diana McMahon Collis

The New Moon in Virgo opens the curtain on a quietly beginnings, not endings. Neptune is retrograde, so we
entertaining, versatile drama. The over-emotionality of the may need to accept limitations around a dream, rein in a
Pisces Full Moon has given way to a cool-headed, if rather bigger plan, and focus on one or two smaller projects or
fidgety, and nervy Virgoan need for both variety and order. steps. Yet Saturn’s structure helps us, ensuring we avoid
We may be more grateful for bookshelves filled with a mix Neptunian traps like being too scattered and ethereal (os-
of useful nonfiction, fascinating and amusing novels, and cillating through many impressions but initiating nothing
inspiring poetry. We’re inclined to appreciate the order definite). The flitting, butterfly aspect of the mind alights
and variety of pharmacy shelves holding a plethora of rem- long enough to grasp sufficient, sustaining nectar to feed
edies with promises of improved health. Within the healing a more definitive course of action.
realms, we may reach for more of the adaptogenic medicines The New Moon, in tight trine to Saturn–Pluto, means
that have the ability to adjust to our state and needs. With there is every chance of concrete answers arising, provid-
the Moon disposited by Mercury, we have a touch of magic, ing us with the clarity to take definitive action that feels
along with learning and cleverness. important.
Despite all this — and despite an attention to detail and
intricate knowledge — Virgo is, nonetheless, a sign marked © 2020 Diana Collis – all rights reserved
by self-doubt. Will the story satisfy the reader? Will all the
learned systems really support the great work to be done? British writer Diana McMahon Collis studied traditional and
Will the medicine cure the problem? Will people be pleased modern astrology at the Company of Astrologers in Blooms-
with the results? bury, London, practicing professionally since 1990. In 2001, she
Anxious, nervous energy may abound during this luna- co-founded Tarot Association of the British Isles. She has a BA
Honours degree in Film, Drama, and English from Reading Uni-
tion. At an individual level, the Moon trining Saturn means
versity and has written many columns and features. She works as
that firm resolve and structure help us find the confidence to
Virgo NM 820-4
an editor and mentor in mind, body, and spirit nonfiction with
Natal Chart
try to launch plans and attempt new things. Goals benefit
Sep 17from
2020, ThuOxford-based https://jerichowriters.com; see also http://mindbliss.
4:00 am PDT +7:00
being broken down into small segments, so we merely need
Fresno, CA co.uk and https://celestialspot.blogspot.com
36°N44'52'' 119°W46'17''
to take the next step to make progress. We truly canGeocentric
trust
Tropical
life and ourselves, even if we can tend to be cynical! Mercury
0° Aries
True Node
reminds us that we all possess skills. Meditating on the image
00° ‰ 00'
of the Mercury-ruled Magician from the tarot can be useful to
00' 00°
the psyche — we can see him with all the tools on his table Ê
00°
Š
Á ½Ä ˆ 00'
at his disposal, knowing that he (and we) can use them. ¾ 17°12° 24°
This lunation finds Mercury in Libra, suggesting 22° ‰ ˆ
25°
‰ ‰
a fine, alchemical balance. We benefit from a lit- ‰
33'26'35' 31'
Œ
00' 27' 00°
tle pinch of this and that; by trusting our senses ‹ ŒŒ
‡
10 9
to find the right tastes, flavours, fragrance notes, 00° 00'
blends, and shades. Careful balance applies in
Æ 01° 11 8 29°
Å
‹ †
30' 01'
the physical world, but also in both personal and 17° º
Œ ’ ‘
professional relationships. Does our situation
á
á ‘ 27' †
À 19° ‹ 23'Œ 12 á
7
fling us out of control, causing us to scream 00° ‘ á – 00°
––
“stop!” and hold on tighter, or do we swing in Ü –– à †
harmony? We can identify where to go further, 00' Ü 42' Œ
00' … 25°
¸ 00'
 07° 16'Œ 1 – 6
00' … 25°
¶
or when to realise we are overdoing things, or Ü
haven’t thought a plan through well enough yet. ò 24° 12'
26°Ü 43'Œ
‘

This attention to balance matters under the New Ù 27°

Ü 2 5
Œ
Moon insofar as we are trying to lay the ground- 00° ¼ 15' 54' 00'
Ý 3 4 20' „
work for new plans. If we hesitate, we may miss Ý 10° „ 15° …
00' ¿ Œ 12° à 00°
the chance to do something definite and positive. 31'
»
But if we get carried away, we may put someone off. ‚
24°
So we must access some courage and feel our way, to 00° 00'
judge the best direction forward. If we do slip up, we can ‚ 00' É 00°
„
possibly still retrieve the situation because Libra usually al- 00° ƒ 00'
lows for constant rebalancing.
An opposition to Neptune makes this New Moon oddly
September 17, 2020 — 4:00 a.m. PDT
a bit more like a Full Moon. However, this period is about September 17, 2020 — 11:00 a.m. GMT
87
 TMA FORECAST CALENDAR
or even breakups. Since Venus also rules the financial world, this On Monday morning, even though the Moon is still in ardent Scorpio,
is another arena where there may be some surprises today. Luna we feel a bit more stable emotionally, with Luna sextile two planets in earth
helps to stabilize emotions when she enters Virgo at 11:37 a.m., but signs: Saturn in Capricorn (4:51 a.m.) and the Sun in Virgo (11:13 a.m.).
we’re likely at odds with family expectations this afternoon, repre- The atmosphere lightens considerably when the Moon makes ingress into
sented by an opposition between the Moon and motherly Ceres cheerful Sagittarius at 12:32 p.m. In our enthusiasm about being released
(2:35 p.m.). from the deep psychotherapeutic realms of the past couple of days, we’ll
The discomfort with an overly doting influence in our lives need to be careful not to overcompensate; a Venus–Jupiter quincunx this
continues on Wednesday. Mercury is sesquiquadrate Ceres (1:31 evening at 6:12 p.m. (17°32' Leo–Capricorn) reminds us that no one appre-
p.m.), indicating frustrations and disagreements on the home ciates being told to “lighten up.”
front. The Virgo Moon may help us to gain a more reasoned per- Even well-intentioned words are likely to aggravate us on Tuesday,
spective when it trines farsighted Jupiter at 3:54 p.m., but the with Mercury in opposition to easily offended Eris at 6:09 a.m. (24°14'
Moon–Neptune opposition at 7:04 p.m. pulls a gauzy filter down Libra–Aries). A seasonal shift occurs when the Sun enters Libra at 6:30 a.m.,
over our eyes. In the meantime, the Sun squares the lunar nodal
axis today, challenging us to move beyond old beliefs and open our
minds to new options. Debates over these issues heat up tonight,
as the influence of a Mercury–Jupiter square gains strength (exact
at 3:34 a.m. on Thursday). Jan 23 2019 Geocentric Aspects, Solar Fire v8.1.2
Ingresses, and Stations
Sco FM 419-4 - Natal Chart
Thursday, September 17 – Saturday, September 19: We’re ready Pacific Daylight
to start anew on Thursday morning, with the Virgo New Moon Date Time P1 Asp P2 Pos1 Pos2
anchoring the day at 4:00 a.m. Already providing a reliable founda- Sep 20 2020 11:40p ½ – Ã 17°‰30' Þ 17°„30' Þ
tion, this lunation is also trine Saturn, supplying us with the patience Sep 21 2020 6:12p » – ½ 17°„32' Þ 17°‰32' Þ
needed for the long road ahead. For the best outcome, we’ll need Sep 22 2020 0:34a º á É 23°†56' Þ 23°‚56' Œ
to shake off our preconceived ideas of what the “perfect future” Sep 22 2020 4:12a » ß Ã 18°„00' Þ 18°„00' Þ
Sep 22 2020 6:09a º à ò 24°†14' Þ 24°Ü14' Œ
looks like, since the Sun and Moon are also sesquiquadrate radical Sep 22 2020 6:10a Å á Æ 00°‡40' Þ 00°‹40' Œ
Uranus. Luna puts on her judge’s robes and picks up a gavel when Sep 22 2020 6:30a ¸ ß † 00°†00' Þ 00°†00' Þ
she enters Libra at 11:55 a.m., ready to mediate any disputes about Sep 22 2020 8:42p ¸ – Æ 00°†34' Þ 00°‹34' Œ
which options will best ensure success. Sep 22 2020 10:48p » — Å 18°„53' Þ 00°‡53' Þ
The primary influence on Friday is a confusing Mercury–Neptune Sep 23 2020 1:05a º ˜ À 25°†13' Þ 19°‹13' Œ
quincunx (19°21' Libra–Pisces) that perfects at 1:05 p.m. No doubt, Sep 23 2020 2:29a » ˜ Ä 19°„04' Þ 13°‰04' Þ
Mercury was already equivocating over what decisions to make; Sep 23 2020 3:37a º ‘ ¾ 25°†21' Þ 25°‰21' Œ
Sep 23 2020 5:45a » – À 19°„13' Þ 19°‹13' Œ
this aspect will make the alternatives even less clear. When the
Sep 23 2020 7:17a ¸ • Å 01°†00' Þ 01°‡00' Þ
Moon squares Jupiter this afternoon (3:36 p.m.), we’ll need to Sep 23 2020 3:44p Ä — Å 13°‰07' Þ 01°‡07' Þ
beware of choosing an option out of sheer frustration. Perhaps the Sep 24 2020 3:52a º à ¼ 26°†36' Þ 26°Ü36' Œ
Moon–Mercury conjunction at 7:08 p.m. will help us to find a solu- Sep 24 2020 6:39p » ¦ ¿ +14°22' +14°22'
tion that will please most of the people involved, but the Moon–Pluto Sep 24 2020 11:36p À – à 19°‹10' Œ 19°„10' Þ
square (11:40 p.m.) reveals dissatisfaction among the ranks, no mat- Sep 25 2020 5:55a à ˜ Ä 19°„17' Þ 13°‰17' Þ
ter what choice we finally make. Sep 25 2020 8:39a ¾ —  25°‰20' Œ 07°Ü20' Œ
Sep 25 2020 10:34p » ”  22°„19' Þ 07°Ü19' Œ
Last night’s disagreements resurface first thing on Saturday
Sep 26 2020 2:22a » – Á 22°„30' Þ 22°‰30' Œ
morning, with the Moon opposing assertive Mars in Aries at Sep 26 2020 4:19a ¸ ¦ ò -01°31' -01°31'
7:29 a.m. This combativeness is likely to last all day, thanks to a Sep 26 2020 8:34a ¸ ˜ ¿ 04°†00' Þ 10°Ý00' Œ
disagreeable Sun–Mars quincunx that perfects at 2:54 p.m. (27°24' Sep 27 2020 0:17a º § » -13°41' +13°41'
Virgo–Aries); one person’s idea of the most efficient and effec- Sep 27 2020 0:20a Æ ß Š 00°‹00' Œ 00°‹00' Þ
tive strategy may feel like an infringement on another’s individual Sep 27 2020 0:38a º á Æ 29°†59' Þ 29°Š59' Œ
rights. It’s at least easier to be honest about our feelings once the Sep 27 2020 0:40a º ß ‡ 00°‡00' Þ 00°‡00' Þ
Sep 27 2020 4:12a » ˜ ½ 23°„44' Þ 17°‰44' Þ
Moon leaves accommodating Libra and enters truth-seeking Scorpio
Sep 27 2020 4:51a » ’ É 23°„46' Þ 23°‚46' Œ
at 11:32 a.m. Sep 27 2020 1:29p » á ò 24°„11' Þ 24°Ü11' Œ
Sep 27 2020 4:04p ¸ “ Ã 05°†17' Þ 20°„17' Þ
Sunday, September 20 – Tuesday, September 22: If we’re lucky, Sep 28 2020 5:41a ¸ ˜ Æ 05°†50' Þ 29°Š50' Œ
we’ve slept through the turbulent Moon–Uranus opposition that was Sep 28 2020 7:53a º § ¿ -14°20' +14°20'
exact at 3:56 a.m. on Sunday. Even so, we may feel some residual Sep 28 2020 12:35p º — Ä 01°‡39' Þ 13°‰39' Þ
irritation when we awaken. It’s a day of deep emotions and intense Sep 28 2020 1:22p » – ¾ 25°„20' Þ 25°‰20' Œ
conversations, with the Moon in moody Scorpio and a Mercury–Pluto Sep 28 2020 6:01p » á ¼ 25°„33' Þ 25°Ü33' Œ
Sep 28 2020 10:11p ¾ SÞ 25°‰20' Þ
square in effect (22°31' Libra–Capricorn, 10:21 p.m.). We’re likely to Sep 29 2020 10:15a à — Å 21°„00' Þ 03°‡00' Þ
feel especially reactive around the time of the Moon–Venus square Sep 29 2020 1:43p ¸ à  07°†09' Þ 07°Ü09' Œ
at 1:42 p.m.; Venus in Leo does not respond well to being caged Sep 29 2020 2:49p ¼ ‘ ¾ 25°Ü20' Œ 25°‰20' Þ
or poked. There may be a slight easing of tensions when the Moon Sep 29 2020 11:05p º ß Å 03°‡11' Þ 03°‡11' Þ
sextiles Jupiter (3:52 p.m.) and trines Neptune (6:47 p.m.), but we Sep 30 2020 0:45a º — Ã 03°‡15' Þ 21°„15' Þ
should be ready to face some tough issues tonight. Sep 30 2020 6:54p º ” À 04°‡01' Þ 19°‹01' Œ

Oct 1 2020 6:38a » ˜ Á 28°„29' Þ 22°‰29' Œ

88 Oct 1 2020 2:00p À § Â -05°22' +05°22'
Oct 1 2020 7:00p » ” Ä 29°„05' Þ 14°‰05' Þ
Oct 1 2020 11:03p  ” à 07°Ü02' Œ 22°„02' Þ
welcoming either the fall or the spring, depending on your hemisphere.
The equinox chart shows a tight quincunx between the Sun and Earth
goddess Ceres (exact at 8:42 p.m.), indicating a strain on food sup-
plies or disruption in the environment for the next three months. The
Sagittarius Moon is quiet until evening, but makes up for lost time with
an exuberant trine to playful Venus at 8:34 p.m. It’s possible that we’ll
misread a loved one’s signals, however, with a Moon–Neptune square
also in effect (9:21 p.m.). And a Mercury–Saturn square that perfects
early tomorrow morning (3:37 a.m. on Wednesday) is also strong this
evening, making it difficult to converse about issues that arise, even if
we do realize the need to chat.
Wednesday, September 23 – Friday, September 25: We’re still at
a loss about how best to meet a loved one’s needs on Wednesday,
with Venus quincunx Neptune (5:45 a.m.). The Sagittarius Moon can
help to lighten the mood in the morning hours through a pleasant
sextile to Mercury in Libra (8:32 a.m.) and a spirited trine to Mars in
Aries (10:31 a.m.). We rein in our optimism when Luna enters serious
Capricorn at 4:16 p.m., setting the stage for the First Quarter Moon
(6:54 p.m.) that tests our ability to keep our balance when the pres-
sure is on. It’s another tough night for settling disagreements; battle
lines are clearly drawn, with Mercury nearing its opposition to Mars
(exact at 3:52 a.m. on Thursday).
We’re still in the clutches of the Mercury–Mars opposition (26°36'
Libra–Aries) on Thursday morning, but we’re better able to roll with
the punches, thanks to the Capricorn Moon’s trine to flexible Uranus
(10:21 a.m.). Otherwise, it’s a quiet day astrologically; Luna’s rendez-
vous with clever Pallas Athene at 4:07 p.m. is the only other significant
aspect in effect. This alignment, though a subtle influence, can help us
to see how to harness our emotional energies in strategic ways.
Self-care is a strong theme on Friday, a day that is bookended
by Chiron aspects. Saturn is in quintile (72°) aspect to the Wounded
Healer in the morning (8:39 a.m.), providing creative options for han-
dling old insecurities. Using these insights, we can plan ahead for how
to best navigate tonight’s Venus–Chiron sesquiquadrate (10:34 p.m.),
which reawakens issues of not feeling loved for who we really are. The
Capricorn Moon is quite active today, forming hard aspects to four
planets in the third decan of cardinal signs. Luna’s first encounter is
with Pluto at 9:10 a.m.; this conjunction is like an emotionally charged
board of directors meeting that focuses our attention on what needs to
be done. A sense of deep responsibility is reinforced when the Moon
conjoins Saturn at 2:27 p.m., but we may soon feel impatient with our
burdens, due to a Moon–Mars square at 4:13 p.m. Resistance carries
into the evening hours, with an argumentative Moon–Mercury square
perfecting at 8:36 p.m. We may finally feel an emotional release once
Luna enters Aquarius at 11:08 p.m., but Venus is nearing a quincunx
to Pluto (2:22 a.m. on Saturday), activating our longing for something
or someone we fear we cannot have.
Saturday, September 26 – Monday, September 28: We still feel an
underlying anxiety on Saturday; the aftereffects of last night’s jealous
Venus–Pluto quincunx linger for much of the day. The Aquarius Moon
provides a welcome emotional lift, when it trines the Sun at 6:32 a.m.,
and offers a space for healing when it sextiles Chiron at 12:55 p.m.
However, there are some uncomfortable moments at the dinner table;
a Moon–Uranus square (6:02 p.m.) triggers the urge for freedom, so
we strongly resist any attempts to limit our independence. It should
be easier to talk calmly later tonight, with Mercury trine understand-
ing Ceres in Aquarius (exact at 12:38 a.m. on Sunday).
We’re drawn to delve more deeply into tender issues on Sunday,
since Mercury has moved into therapeutic Scorpio overnight. The Moon
is appropriately disengaged for much of the day as it quietly wends its
way through objective Aquarius; Luna finally verbalizes her needs for
more space when she opposes Venus late tonight (10:06 p.m.).
The air may feel very still and even somewhat dense on Monday.
The Moon enters meditative Pisces at 8:34 a.m., setting up a trine to Mer-
cury in Scorpio (11:45 a.m.) that increases our intuitive or even psychic
awareness. Venus in Leo receives mixed messages today: While the
Goddess of Love feels invigorated by a trine to Mars at 6:01 p.m. (25°33'
Leo–Aries), her creative fire is dampened by the earlier quincunx
to Saturn (1:22 p.m.). This latter aspect is particularly strong, given that
Saturn stations direct tonight at 10:11 p.m. (25°20' Capricorn); it is un-
likely that we will feel the deep level of fulfillment that we would nor-
mally expect when a harmonious Venus–Mars aspect is in effect.
Tuesday, September 29 – Wednesday, September 30: Personal chal-
lenges demand our attention on Tuesday. As the Libra Sun opposes
Chiron in Aries (1:43 p.m.), it reveals codependent tendencies that keep
us off-balance. This opposition reminds us that healthy relationships
require us to take the time to really know and honor our own heart’s
path. At the same time, with Mars square stationary Saturn at 2:49 p.m.
(25°20' Aries–Capricorn), we are acutely aware of restrictions that limit
our individual fulfillment. The tension eases slightly this evening, as the
Pisces Moon sextiles optimistic Jupiter (7:42 p.m.) and conjoins adapt-
able Neptune (10:01 p.m.).
Moments of inspiration guide our steps on Wednesday morning,
the last day of September. A predawn lunar sextile to Pluto (4:50 a.m.)
lends power to our ideals, and a mid-morning sextile to Saturn (10:30
a.m.) encourages us to implement those visions. But it may be hard to
get much accomplished today; even though Mercury is in determined
Scorpio, its sesquiquadrate to Neptune (6:54 p.m.) disassociates our
minds from projects we may try to focus on. This ensures that we
don’t get too caught up in continuing dramas, but can be frustrating
if we’re on a deadline. Breaking through the fog, Luna exits Pisces at
7:47 p.m., leaping into Aries and helping us gather courage to face
October and beyond.
© 2020 Pam Younghans – all rights reserved
Pam Younghans is a professional astrologer, writer, and editor living in the
Pacific Northwest. She offers personal and relationship readings by phone or on
Skype. Pam also writes a weekly astrology e-forecast, the NorthPoint Journal,
offered free by subscription. Visit http://www.northpointastrology.com to learn
more about Pam’s work or to subscribe to the journal. To schedule a reading,
e-mail pam@northpointastrology.com or leave a message at (425) 445-3775.
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EPHEMERIS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020           
                      
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
  
     
         
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

                      
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
Copyright ©2009 Matrix Software
             
             

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         
             
                             
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
         

Event of Sep 22 2020 Compliments of:

Astrologer Linda Kaye
Event Chart 916-730-6805
Sep 22 2020, Tue
9:31 am EDT +4:00
Washington, DC
38°N53'42'' 077°W02'12''
Geocentric
Tropical

Libra Equinox — September 22, 2020

Porphyry
True Node

05° „ 13'
33' 03°
… ƒ 33'
03° »Ã
18°18°
„ „ É
07'03' 23°
52'
‚ 01°
† ¸ 10 9
56' ‚
Œ
01° 00° 52'
†
00' 11 8

Libra Equinox
12
September 22, 2020
7
Œ07' Ý
10° ¿
Copyright ©2009 Matrix Software
00° º 24° † 15' Copyright ©2009 Matrix Software
00°
‡ 9:31 a.m. EDT Ý
12'
Å 00° ‡ 40' Washington, D.C.
Œ58' Ü 26°
Œ14' Ü
¼ 12'
24°
1
Porphyry houses,
6
ò
True Node Œ29'
Ü
07°
38'
2 5
Œ
Â
01° ˆ Œ 15' 52'
10° 3 4 ‹
ˆ 56' Œ Ü
52' ¶ ˆ
59'33' Œ Œ
40'
19°
01°
23°
‰ ‰
31' 22' ‹ À
Ê 12°
‰ ‰ 00°
17°22°25°
03° Ľ Æ 33'
‰ 33' Á¾ 03°
‹
05° Š 13'

91
 Letters to Editor
continued from p. 8
one, would love to see them available
to subscribers. I am so enjoying all the
available digital back issues and am
hoping for eventual access to those
first ten years. Thank you for all your
amazing work!
— Steven Sprung
Editors’ Response:
Thanks so much for reaching out
to us here at TMA! In fact, we do have
the first ten years of back issues in our
California office, and we are already
underway scanning them for digital
sales. We’re so happy to hear that we
have readers interested in purchasing
them! It is a laborious process and we
expect it to take quite a few months,
but we hope to have them for sale
about the time that Saturn ingresses
into Aquarius for its long haul — near
the close of 2020.
Dear TMA:
Heart greetings to you all, with
both congratulations and condolences
for your many changes. I’m a long-time
subscriber to both Dell Horoscope and
The Mountain Astrologer. The depth
of content keeps me engaged with
TMA, and I enjoy your consistent pos-
itivity. Your writers are thoughtful with
wisdom and vision, have excellent vo-
cabulary skills, and the selection of
subjects is entertaining and complex.
Mostly, I appreciate the integrity
and love that goes into publishing
TMA. Please keep your strong women
presence, current news, and interna-
tional articles. And please continue
to enjoy what you’re doing in the best
of health and humor. May the incon-
spicuous rewards of your intent fill
you with immense joy as you stay safe
and protected.
— Sue Zipp
Dear TMA:
I am writing in response to Henry
Seltzer’s article, “New Planetary Ar-
chetypes in Western Astrology: Eris,
Haumea and Makemake,” in your recent
April/May 2020 issue of The Mountain
Astrologer. I have reservations about
92 — THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER
Seltzer’s description of Eris as “female
warrior energy.” Warriors are trained to
fight, which means hurting opponents.
Is this where Seltzer is going with his
formulation? Perhaps “activist” is a
more appropriate word than “warrior”?
Or does Seltzer really see violence as
fundamental to the Eris archetype? If
so, I will have to disagree.
I was born with Eris conjunct my
Sun and square my Moon. I will suggest
that the Eris archetype relates to acting
against injustice, which often stirs up
that tired stereotype, “discord.”
— John Schmeeckle
Dear TMA:
I was a loyal Dell customer for
years, but I have to admit, I love your
magazine layout better! I've already read
my entire issue and the articles; sections
and information were easier to see, and
it was easier to go back to previous sec-
tions to recheck information and make
comparisons! I’ve been a professional
astrologer for many moons … and I be-
lieve one always should be open to new
ideas, new methods, and new avenues,
while maintaining respect for the tried
and true. You did it all, and that was
only one issue!
I truly am impressed with your
publication and look forward to many
issues to come. Be well!
— Alison Cuff
Dear TMA:
Pluto entered Capricorn in late Jan-
uary of 2008, ushering in an era marked
by a rise in totalitarianism, increased
power and greed at the expense of the
environment, and the dredging up and
exposure of corruption from the shadow
realms. When Saturn entered Capricorn
in December of 2017, the dark side of
the patriarchy (Capricorn) and its myr-
iad of dysfunctional beliefs predicated on
dominator values began to be further
unveiled as the effects of climate change
became increasingly evident. Pluto rules
forces that appear to erupt with sudden
force but have, in actuality, been smol-
dering for some time below the surface.
In what may have been the grand finale
of Pluto’s transit through Capricorn,
the novel coronavirus erupted suddenly
and spread like wildfire throughout
the planet.
Viruses and bacteria associated
with plagues and epidemics like Ebola,
AIDS, and the Black Death seem to ap-
pear suddenly but have, in fact, existed
for centuries in animals and insects.
Environmental devastation, combined
with increased population density
and mobility, has created new path-
ways and opportunities for pathogens
to travel to humans and spread. Bats,
symbolic agents of the Dark Mother, a
feminine aspect of Pluto, are believed
by some scientists to have been the or-
igin not only of coronavirus, but also of
the related SARS virus.
Saturn (the structure of civiliza-
tion) and Pluto (transformation and
regeneration) transiting through Capri-
corn have portended the death of old
ways of thinking and being. In March
of 2020, Mars and Jupiter aligned
in a close conjunction with Pluto and
Saturn, triggering and magnifying their
influence. Saturn forces us to give up
our illusions and can bring deprivation,
restriction, and a loss of security. Mars,
together with Saturn, can increase frus-
tration as millions of people worldwide
were forced into quarantine and isola-
tion. The meeting of Jupiter and Pluto
can be viewed as a silver lining encour-
aging us to transcend outmoded belief
systems, potentially planting seeds for a
new phase in human evolution.
The advent of the coronavirus has
compelled us to grasp a stark reality,
not only of the fragility of the Earth’s
environment under the influence of hu-
man agency, but also the instability and
fragility of the complex and contrived
construct of our entire civilization. De-
spite our insistence on the superiority
and supremacy of a human-centered
world, nature reminds us that we are
not separate from our environment.
The Capricorn planetary alignment
may be a fulcrum, a turning point that
allows us to grasp the extreme contrast
of this moment in time, presenting an
opportunity to shape a new path ahead
for the human journey, one that allows
us to evolve a lifeway in balance and
harmony with nature and to restore a
deeper, more sustainable relationship
with the Earth.
— Risa Campbell
 CORRECTION
We extend our apologies to
Shawn Nygaard for publish-
ing an incorrect headshot
in the biography of his arti-
cle, “Saturn in Aquarius: The
Difference Between Us,” in the
June/July issue of The Mountain
Astrologer. The correct photo is
printed here.

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