Catching What Shakes Out of the Ethers

Dear Friend and Reader:

Today and tomorrow are busy days astrologically. The combination of events involved suggests that tracking your inner emotional and mental landscape (or monologue) is equally important as keeping tabs on what is going on around you personally and culturally -- perhaps even more so; though the moments when external and internal intersect could also be key. Here are the main events:

No. 2 from Group IV of "the ten biggest ones"; tempera on paper over canvas by Hilma af Klint (1862-1944). Her “Paintings for the Temple” relate to inner processes as conveyed in meditation via spiritual entities.

Mars has just left Aquarius after a long sojourn in that sign -- about six months, thanks to its retrograde, not counting a few weeks in Capricorn this summer. It finally dove into Pisces at 5:21 pm EST (22:20:42 UTC) today. About eight hours before Mars made its move, we got the first quarter Moon (Aquarius Moon to Scorpio Sun, late in their signs).

Tomorrow, Venus stations direct in Libra after its own month-and-a-half or so of retrograde motion, most of which was in Scorpio. Venus makes its apparent pivot at 5:51 am EST (10:50:58 UTC). About 15 hours later, Mercury stations retrograde in Sagittarius at 8:33 pm EST (1:33:06 UTC Saturday).

That's a lot to have happening all at once with the so-called personal planets: the bodies that represent such attributes as our motivation, physical activity and sex drive (Mars); our emotions, receptivity and intimate relationships (Venus); and our thought processes, communication and communication technology (Mercury). And although the monthly cycles of the Moon (emotions and subconscious) are perhaps less striking, the sense of moving into gear that can accompany the first quarter is certainly coloring the background.

As a result of all this, it would seem that the first order of business for the next few days is simply to stay tuned in -- to your experiences, to your responses to others, to any little insights or pieces of information that come your way, to any urges or tugs of intuition, to the sensation that you're finally answering a question you've been grappling with a while, and to the arrival of new questions. Standard protocol for Mercury stationing is to notice when your attention to the task at hand has lapsed so you can refocus; but with all that's going on, it could be just as enlightening to note what other thought your mind was occupied with at that moment.

What does it have to tell you? How do you feel about it? Is it something you want to move toward, something you're trying to figure out, or more like a distraction or escape?

Minor planets in the cardinal signs within two degrees or so of Venus when it stations direct; from serennu.com.

Since Eric described the overall environment these events represent in the Monday Morning horoscopes and essay and in the November monthly horoscopes, I'm going to touch on just a few other specific ideas related to the current astrology.

One is that Mars is making a square to Jupiter in Sagittarius, exact on Tuesday. Mars-Jupiter squares can be useful aspects for furthering new or future projects; in Pisces and Sagittarius, however -- both signs traditionally ruled by Jupiter -- it's also worth knowing when 'more' might be 'too much'. Mars in Pisces can get a little touchy and thin-skinned about criticism, so it's helpful to be very clear with yourself about what's really driving you forward or holding you back.

Mars in Pisces also looks like a conduit for linking physical activity to artistic expression. And while it's in a trine to Ceres in Scorpio, there may be enhanced sympathetic response to a sexual partner in particularly (and mutually) nourishing ways. What feeds you sexually could feel very 'spiritual' or transformative now.

Venus stationing direct in Libra suggests to me the idea of 'emotional IQ' -- that you may find yours enhanced, or that it would be beneficial to stay in close awareness of it. With Venus changing apparent direction in a quincunx to Juno in Taurus and opposite Eris in Aries, I see an indication that answers, insights or a sense of understanding in relationships needs to come from within and then brought to those interactions -- rather than trying to work from the outside in.

Mercury stations retrograde in an interesting conjunction to the Great Attractor (a deep-space phenomenon in mid-Sagittarius) and a square to Neptune in Pisces. This looks like a reminder to beware getting sucked into highly polarized thinking and debate, and also to check the clarity of your thinking and your honesty -- especially when it comes to what you believe to be true without checking your facts.

Objects in the mutable signs within one degree of Mercury when it stations retrograde; from serennu.com.

If there seems to be a discrepancy between what you (or another person) is trying to say and what actually comes out of your mouth, what can you trace that to? Are you trying to avoid confrontation? Do you mean to be kind but trip up on your honesty (the inadvertently backhanded compliment)? Did you forget to check some details or the reality of a situation before you started speaking?

As always, the usual Mercury retrograde hygiene applies (try to avoid unnecessary spending, back up your computer, re-read your emails before you hit 'send', pick up the phone and call if digital communication heads off the rails, focus and be patient while driving, and so on).

Mercury stations direct on Dec. 6, after backtracking into late Scorpio.

Yet, no matter how funky daily life gets personally, and no matter how chaotic the political and social environment is, your inner emotional barometer is important to track. That and being able to connect the dots between how you get from one thought to another should aid your ability to steer through the coming days and weeks -- along with whatever shakes out of the ethers and into your consciousness in the next couple days.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

Last Call for Combined Discount on 2019-2020 Annual

Dear Friend and Reader:

As you may know from scanning the astrology websites, 2020 promises to be quite a year -- and 2019 is preparation for those events. They include the Saturn-Pluto conjunction and the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction -- two world-changing aspects in one year.

The 2019-2020 annual reading is called INTELLIGENCE. That's the one thing we need to make it through the global crisis, and for many, their individual crisis. It's the one thing we need to make the most of our lives.

I'm getting ready to record and write the 21st annual edition of Planet Waves. I will be setting aside all but the most essential other work to write and record what amounts to an astrological radio serial and an astrological adventure novel.

In that edition, I'll be looking at the astrology up to the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction of Dec. 21, 2020. In this edition I am returning to the format of audio and written, which I have not done for a couple of years.

For the first time that I know of, I'm planning to have the audio format, called RESET 2019, ready by Dec. 31, in time for New Year's Day listening. Then the written portion, looking at 2019 and 2020, will be out some time in February.

Tonight is the last call for the combined 2019-2020 annual edition, including both years at one price, which is now $111. The audio readings include original music by Vision Quest.

Soon, I will be splitting the two projects, and offering each separately for $99 or combined for $144. Individual sign sales for each year will begin at $44. So tonight's offer is a significant discount on what promises to be a beautiful, helpful and reassuring astrology resource.

You may also place your order by phone, by calling (845) 481-5616.

This will be my 21st annual edition, coming at the end of the 20th year of Planet Waves. If you're curious about past annual editions, you may visit them here. (Scroll down and you will see the list of years.)

Thank you for being a Planet Waves customer, and for trusting me as your astrologer.

With love,

PS -- If you upgrade to a Backstage Pass, you will be eligible for a special discount on the INTELLIGENCE annual edition. Write to us, or call (845) 481-5616 and we can upgrade you by phone. It may take us 24-48 hours to get back to you, but we will. Be sure to state your phone number twice.

Planet Waves FM Season Finale Scorpio, the Elections & Big Astrology

Dear Friend and Listener:

This week’s edition of Planet Waves FM [play here] is the season finale. I’ll be taking regular editions off for two or three weeks -- though I will be back on Thanksgiving morning with a musically-focused holiday special.

This week's edition surveys the sky, considering Jupiter in Sagittarius, Venus direct, Mercury retrograde and Mars entering Pisces.

I give a roundup of election news, including a bunch of exciting local stories in a segment researched by Amanda Painter, and consider the ethics of asking someone you might work with out on a date.

Planet Waves FM is sponsored by you -- your contributions, one-time or monthly, make this program possible. If you’re interested in being a major donor -- sponsoring a special project, a category of expense, or a staff member, please give me a ring at (845) 481-5616.

Thank you for tuning in. I’ll catch you on Thanksgiving.

With love,

P.S. Here are those local stories I mentioned. Thank you to Amanda Painter for compiling them:

The US just elected 9 new scientists to Congress, including an ocean expert, a nurse, and a biochemist; all 19 Black women running for judge in a Texas race won Tuesday night; a woman who fled the Taliban won the N.H. state House seat; Maine elected its first female Governor, Janet Mills; two Native American women were elected to Congress for first time; Florida just elected its first Iranian-American lawmaker to the state House; Navajo Democrats in a Utah county took the majority of county commissioner seats; a city in South Florida -- Wilton Manors -- now has an all-LGBTQ City Commission; Colorado elected its first openly gay governor; Florida restored voting rights to more than 1 million former felons; a dead brothel owner won the Nevada State Assembly seat approx. 3 weeks after his death; and finally, the U.S. House freshman class includes the most veterans in nearly a decade.

---

Messages for the Future that Is Now
By Amanda Painter

The Swedish artist Hilma af Klint is certainly not the first artist to open a channel to other dimensions of spirit as part of the creative process. But it's notable that she did so in the creation of masterful abstract paintings years before the Western abstract painting movement took off -- pre-dating the non-representational work of her European artistic contemporaries, including Wassily Kandinsky and Piet Mondrian.

Hilma af Klint belonged, with four other women, to a group that explored esoteric teachings and meditation, as well as mediumistic drawings. Eventually "The Five," as they called themselves, progressively made contact with spiritual entities they named "The High Ones." After ten years of esoteric training in this framework, af Kint "felt herself selected for the more important messages," and accepted to carry out a major commission via The High Ones: the "Paintings for the Temple," a series of 193 works produced between 1906 and 1915.

According to her biography on the Hilma af Klint Foundation's website:

Hilma af Klint had a vision that her work would contribute to influence not only the consciousness of people in general, but in its extension also society itself. However, she was convinced that her contemporaries were not ready to perceive them. She had received strict orders from the "High Ones," her spiritual leaders, not to show the paintings to anyone. Not even Rudolf Steiner could interpret Hilma af Klint’s paintings. At their first meeting in 1908, Rudolf Steiner consequently advised her to wait fifty years before exhibiting them. This is one of the reasons why Hilma af Klint never aimed at exhibiting her esoteric and abstract works during her lifetime. The works of art belonged to the future and would only then be understood by the public.

Hilma af Klint made her international debut in 1986 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; in 2013, the Museum of Modern Art in Stockholm held the largest retrospective of her work to date. Currently her paintings are being shown through April 23, 2019, at the Guggenheim Museum in New York -- the famously spiral museum which, according to this video about her put together by the Guggenheim, af Klint herself envisioned her work to be shown in.

While you may not receive your own commission from other-dimensional beings to produce a massive body of artwork tomorrow, it still might be worth keeping your feelers out for your own important, if comparatively modest, insights. With Venus stationing direct in a sign related to art, beauty and relationships, and Mercury stationing retrograde conjunct a curious deep-space phenomenon, you just never know. Listen to Vision Quest on Live Stream

Planet Waves has an in-house music ensemble, called Vision Quest. We have a 38-hour loop of our music, which you can listen to any time. Included are finished pieces, rehearsals, live concerts, drum grooves, and spoken word recordings. I consider it a kind of musical divination. Click in randomly at different times of day and see what you discover. Our Gifts to You: A Little Something Extra

Dear Friend and Reader:

It took me a long time to figure out what kind of gift to offer for new and returning subscribers. Tee shirts seemed too complicated; you need at least six sizes to get started, and not everyone wants a shirt. Tote bags are useful but kind of boring.

So I thought: journals. I love notebooks, and just about everything I write starts scribbled down on paper. I know my readers are a little old-fashioned, so this seemed like the perfect thing.

Black smaller, pink larger, embossed with the Planet Waves logo. There are a few hand painted sketchbooks left, with heavy, acid-free paper.

Then...I researched embossed journals for about six months. That's how long it took. I requested or purchased samples of the best that suppliers had, and all kinds of stuff came floating in the door. It was more challenging than I imagined to find a nice one, though finally I did.

Everything had to be right: the paper, the lines, and how the book feels in your hands.

However, the one I selected was being discontinued. I ordered as many as we could reasonably afford. We now have two main options: small black ones, and larger pink ones (these are new).

Together, they are the approximate color of Good & Plenty candy. I am one of these people who loves anything pink (sweatshirts, nail polish, headbands, a hot pink Squier guitar that I gave to Zosha a few years ago). We also have a few hand-painted notebooks left, which are acid-free sketchbooks.

You can get an embossed notebook with any monthly, quarterly or yearly membership to Planet Waves. If, by the way, there's a calling for hand-painted ones, I will make one more-or-less to your preferences (for those who sign up for a full-year Backstage Pass).

Continue reading this letter here.

Monthly Horoscopes and Publishing Schedule Notes

We published your extended monthly horoscopes for November on Thursday, Nov. 8. Your extended monthly horoscopes for October were published on Thursday, Oct. 11. Please note: we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope after the Sun has entered a new sign.      Aries (March 20-April 19) -- You've gained enormously in wisdom over the past few months, making discoveries about how your individuality mixes with the world beyond in its various manifestations. Now you're preparing to take that knowledge into the deeper recesses of your mind, which is prompting a longterm reconsideration of your entire philosophy, and of what holds meaning for you. Likewise, you'll probably want to review your aspirations and spiritual beliefs during the next several seasons, gradually forging a path that primarily upholds what you know to be true, and enshrines your right to self-determination. If there was ever a time when you could compromise your integrity or core principles, that can be safely consigned to the past. Get your full reading by Eric here.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- An essential component of embracing change, especially within oneself, involves embracing mystery and complexity, and apparent paradox. This can include confronting your own shadow material, or deep-seated emotions; which means being open to new information about who you are and what you might need or want, and not suppressing or denying any of it. If you've been prone to mistaken conceptions regarding any of those points, you'll have the chance to deconstruct them, and gently rebuild a self-understanding that integrates all of you. Be careful of apparently simple answers to anything you're puzzling over. This is likely to be a signal that you have somewhat more to discover before reaching a conclusion. Get your full reading by Eric here.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- Jupiter is now in your opposite sign, Sagittarius, where it will reside until December 2019. This is your sphere of interpersonal relationships, and it's also where your ruler Mercury is about to station retrograde. If your previous partnerships have been subject to any kind of pattern -- if you're consistently meeting the same kind of person, for example, or similar habits tend to form when you're with someone -- now is your chance to analyze the causes and, if necessary, break the mold. Jupiter's influence may pique your interest in a different type of partner, or encourage you to experiment with new venues or hobbies. What you learn in forthcoming weeks could be considerably useful in helping you loosen any self-imposed restrictions. Get your full reading by Eric here.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- The concept of altruistic service sometimes gets mistaken for a martyr complex, or false humility, or mendacity. Yet in its highest form, shorn of pretensions or pointless self-flagellation, it gives a fundamental sense of purpose to daily life in a way nothing else can quite parallel. This need not be mutually exclusive from the pursuit of your calling; if anything, the two would encourage and support one another. What it might help you to consider is whether you're choosing goals, and methods of reaching for them, that are really worthy of you; how far you truly identify with your aims; and whether you need to rearrange certain aspects of your world, so as to make it easier to devote time and resources to what's most important to you. Get your full reading by Eric here.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- Jupiter's yearlong visit to your zone of creativity, self-expression and fun should herald a new sense of freedom and the ability for you to engage in play, including play with a purpose. You might want to develop some new skills, or immerse yourself in your art form of choice. Be aware that any activities that might be seen as unconventional can attract the ire of the staid and the boring, though don't let that hinder you. If you face pressures of that kind from bosses or other parent-like figures, perhaps consider finding a more congenial environment in which to explore your interests, or meet the challenge head-on if you wish to. At any rate, your time is your own; no-one can prevent you from being yourself.Get your full reading by Eric here.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- During the months ahead, you could experience changes in your relationship to your past, roots or family. You've possibly already noticed this beginning, and may have some idea as to where you wish to focus any re-evaluation process. Mercury retrograde should help with this, bringing certain facts into the spotlight. Look closely at any event or action that seems to resonate with phenomena from your early life, or from interactions with parents; notice what you're thinking and especially what you're feeling. Also, your concept of home might be altering or expanding; perhaps you'll be fired with an urge to see more of the world, or resettle elsewhere. After all, home is a relative term; it could refer to a specific address, or the planet. Get your full reading by Eric here.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- Is your current environment exciting enough? Do you feel sufficiently stimulated in your work, or in your interests? If the answer to either of those questions is anything other than a resounding 'yes', this may be your year to do something about that. You've likely already caught a glimpse of a new perspective on your capabilities; if you've previously underestimated them, chances are you're much less inclined to do that, and quite right, too. Once this series of inner planet retrogrades is finally over, why not take up a class, or a new hobby? You might also visit some places you've never been to, or spend time with different people, especially if you've gotten into a habit of doing the same things week after week. Live your life. Get your full reading by Eric here.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) -- You could see a surge in productivity over the next several months, with Mars and Jupiter working together to unleash your creative powers. You may find you're able to turn ideas into a concrete reality with surprising speed. What this will perhaps require from you more than anything else is self-belief. In part, this means being willing to devote yourself to your ambitions regardless of how others might react, and regardless of any desire you may have to gain approval. If nothing else, this exercise will help you to value yourself and the gifts you bring to the world; though the more actively you work on supporting your self-worth and independence, the more your inventive mind can manifest satisfying results. Get your full reading by Eric here.

---

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- Your ruling planet Jupiter has returned to your sign for the first time in about 11 years, which probably feels a good deal like coming home to yourself. What has happened for you in that span of time? What have you learned, and where do you want to go next? You may already have an idea as to these points; however, make sure you have a grasp on the breadth of the possibilities; there could be many more options available to you than you currently perceive. The one place you can't go is backwards; you've experienced too much to allow the wisdom you've gained to be wasted. Also, there are others who need sorely to benefit from your fresh insights and understanding. Don't be afraid to set an example. Get your full reading by Eric here.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- What do you dream of? Who do you see yourself becoming in the next few years? You'll probably find yourself grappling with these issues in the approaching seasons. You might also notice that your intuition is somewhat enhanced, and that it's easier than usual to access the deeper realms of your mind, and your spiritual nature, as if someone is shining a light into places that were previously hidden. Take a deep breath, and go exploring. As an earth sign, it's likely that you'll always have one foot on the ground; just be careful, like Ariadne did for Theseus, to make a trail you can follow back to the surface, especially if you're not used to contacting these parts of yourself. Maintain your boundaries. Get your full reading by Eric here.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Thanks to the internet, the meaning of the word 'community' has in recent years been altered, no longer referring to a group of people necessarily within the same locale. In the months to come, you might also be revising your definition of a community, including what constitutes an ideal one for you. This would partly involve meeting and spending time with people who enhance your life, and vice versa. However, you could also think about the ways you can help improve your community, perhaps by providing a service or a gathering space for congenial minds. It's likely there's at least one area in which you have clout, expertise or a passion that you can bring to the table. Lead the way, and you'll soon see who follows. Get your full reading by Eric here.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- There would seem to be two particular things to note about Jupiter returning to Sagittarius, which is the region of your chart associated with career and ambitions. Firstly, this represents an opportunity to expand the reach and output of your working life, possibly through promotion, spreading influence or a change of focus. Consider what you'd ideally like to see take place, regardless of how likely that scenario appears, before taking steps to begin making it a reality. Secondly, you may find that your aspirations, and their fulfillment, become more closely connected to the expression of your identity on a profound level. This might feel something like discovering how all the various aspects of your life are neatly linked in a coherent pattern. Get your full reading by Eric here.