Notes on the Dereliction of Dharma

Dear Friend and Reader:

As Mercury works its way retrograde in Scorpio, it's exciting to see the impeachment of Donald Trump gain momentum. I am not saying this as a partisan of any political party. If someone robbed a bank, committed fraud or assaulted someone, I would not be asking what political party they belonged to.

	A symbol of the eightfold path, this wheel is an intricate representation of the Dharmachakra, or very early Buddhist eight-spoked wheel. In Sanskrit, Dharma means "acting as if to whole the world together." Photo by Shamik Chakravorty.

The current Mercury retrograde began in a conjunction to Pallas Athene, the asteroid of law and politics. The station-retrograde was just one week ago, the day the House of Representatives voted on the impeachment proceedings. Notably, these give Trump more due process rights than either Nixon or Clinton had.

From the standpoint of observing the nexus of politics and astrology, the synchronicity of Mercury retrograde, the conjunction to Pallas, in Scorpio, on the day the process was formalized, is just remarkable. Usually things that occur on or around the retrograde have an unexpected outcome. They can become mired in delays, but there are both chutes and ladders in this game.

Often there is some reversal. Most people believe the impeachment will fail to remove Trump from office, as the Senate is controlled by Republicans. Nearly half of their conference would have to go along with removal to get the 67 needed votes. That's a long shot, but public opinion will have an influence, either way. The "reversal" could be that this thing actually works.

Remember that in the background is the Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn, which might translate to, "Everything is changing." By that I mean from the ground up, as Capricorn, the sign of family, tradition, corporations and governments, represents the foundations we stand on. And remember that this is happening as the immediate warm-up to the Pluto return of the United States.

Sometimes the System Works

After a lifetime of experience in the political realm (I took a serious interest from around age nine, and co-wrote my first full-on political campaign when I was 19, for Jane F. McAlevey), I have seen the failings of our system and I have seen the ways it can work.

	James T. Foley U.S. Courthouse in Albany, New York, headquarters of the Northern District of New York. It was designed in 1931 and built in 1933-1934 as part of the New Deal. This is where I went to file my lawsuit against the State University of New York.

Success does not always favor the rich and the powerful. When I was 29, with no money and a good case, I brought a federal lawsuit against the State of New York for interfering with my journalism. Against all odds, the state admitted it was wrong and paid me a settlement. That's an exciting story, preserved for history in The New York Times.

I've seen the system fail miserably as well: courts and agencies rigged or stacked; righteous, hard-won victories overturned in a corrupt appellate process; attorneys with backroom connections prevailing over those who have been injured; and politics having a way of hollowing out the judicial system.

With the impeachment process, the factor nobody is looking at or discussing on the news are the financial and corporate interests that control the Democrats. That, at least, is part of the American system, whether it works for the people or not. The business of America is business. They don't openly declare this allegiance. Were we to analyze this a bit, we would see why certain candidates come to the forefront and others do not; we would see why some are crushed and others get onto the ballot.

Courting (and Feeding) the Dark Side

The Republicans are tapping into something much darker, and I think deeper, which is a level of festering discontent, alienation and rage that is disturbing to witness and feel. Anyone with spiritual training is familiar with the dangers of drawing power from the dark side, however you may describe that. It could be some form of a "deal with the devil," the Faustian bargain, getting the Mafia to do you a favor, the genie offering you three wishes, or whatever.

	It's not usually this simple. Tapping into the dark side is done on the emotional level, usually as an "easy way out" or path of least resistance. Many people feel the world is stacked against them, so it does not matter if they cheat. Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway.

It can take some sublime forms, the most commonplace of which is figuring out the power of lying. Once someone figures out how easy it is to lie, and how much power it affords, their life can be a done deal.

In Trump's case, the power he is tapping into is fury, which is the essence of the dark side. This rage has many sources and causes; it both feeds and is fed by deception, but there is more. Those factors include the disembodying effect of the internet magnifying the feeling of powerlessness. This makes it seem to feel good to lash out at someone or something.

This rage is currently taking many forms, which extend throughout the political spectrum. I want to say this again. Wherever you see some heavy political investment, you're likely to see both rage and deception. Please don't fool yourself. This factor is ubiquitous. Anger and lying always justify one another. They are usually part of the same thought process and emotional cycle.

In the presidential scenario, Trump is the figure, and the raging people are the ground. The figure is almost always a distraction. The energy and movement are coming from the wider environment, where many, many people feel cheated, lonely and horny. Note that much of this frustration gets projected into gender rage.

Manifestations of the Problem

Let's look at Trump, our figurine, and then connect his actions to the background from which his power is flowing. Throughout Trump's campaign and administration, there are several particularly disturbing elements I keep noticing.

	I realize this is difficult to look at. My take is that many people wish they could be this egotistical and self-congratulatory, but cannot bring themselves to do it. So they have this person to act out for them.

One is his bald disrespect for the laws he is sworn to uphold. His comment about being able to get away with shooting someone on New York City's Fifth Ave. pretty much says it all. While it's unimaginable that a presidential candidate could declare himself above the law, it's far more disturbing that any voters would find that appealing. He threatened either to kill you, or to kill someone else.

Who, exactly? Extrajudicial killing is a basic element of a totalitarian government. If the government itself is not subject to its own laws, it can do anything -- to you or to anyone. Most people have some contempt for the law, but are not gutsy enough to violate it. Hence, Trump is their hero.

In everything he says and does, he emphasizes otherness. He began his campaign accusing Mexicans generally of rape and drug trafficking. He promised to ban Muslims from entering the country. That set the tone; there is always someone to blame. It's a little weird how the supposedly conservative value of self-reliance has become a litany of blaming everyone else for one's problems. This is part of his cult mentality: everyone outside the cult is bad, and everyone inside the cult is good. It’s easy to get thrown out.

I've watched enough of those Nuremberg-style rallies to be familiar with their various parts. A real crowd pleaser is when he points to the media section and says, "Those people are very dishonest." He gloats over this, and points his stubby fingers at the back of the room as his supporters cheer. Forget the fact that those allegedly dishonest people are his connection to the public. Forget that camera operators and political reporters do not set editorial policy. He probably does not know that most of why they are even there is in case he gets shot.

When I say that MSNBC is dishonest, what I mean is they are beholden to Merck and Exxon, and openly mock 911 truth seekers. When Trump says it, what he means is that they are waging a personal conspiracy against him and his supporters. And right now, I think it’s important that we witness the impeachment process not with disgust, doubt or contempt, but with respect. With this mentality, he stokes paranoia, which is a known psychiatric disorder.

	Gonzalo P. Curiel, a U.S. District Court Judge in California. He was born in East Chicago, Indiana, and attacked by Trump as a Mexican. Calling people “outsiders” is one of the oldest, most troubling and most persistent flaws of humanity.

Related to his being above the law, he disregards constitutional process. We are watching this in full force as he instructs his subordinates to defy congressional subpoenas. Now those subpoenas are being litigated in the federal courts. Do we expect him to honor lawful court orders? News commentators are already asking, what if he refuses to leave the White House?

Federal marshals, who might enforce his removal, are under the direction of the Attorney General, who is under the direction of the president.

The Constitution is a little like Pan in the novel Jitterbug Perfume. If people stop believing in it, it ceases to have power. The Constitution is an agreement. Yes, it is the original law. But it has its authority because we respect it. Someone I know -- an attorney, and a constitutional officer, no less -- said to me recently that the Constitution was written by a bunch of malcontent revolutionaries (and thus lacks credibility).

Actually, that is not true, and it's irrelevant. The Constitution we have was forged through compromise between many competing factors and factions. The Bill of Rights honors both conservative and liberal interests.

Trump attacks military and intelligence officers as traitors. While I am not the world's biggest fan of the military, the FBI or the CIA, I admit that they exist and are part of our federal government. Trump regularly insults and degrades his own federal officials, frequently accusing them of being disloyal.

Has anyone heard of "projection"?

From the beginnings of his campaign, Trump -- a draft dodger -- attacked John McCain, who was held and tortured for years as a POW. He attacked the parents of Capt. Humayun Khan, who in 2004 was killed in action by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

Now, in violation of federal law, he is calling for exposing the name of the CIA officer who blew the whistle in the dirty deal he tried to push Ukraine into. [Late breaking -- apparently the prince Don Jr. tweeted it this week.] And he is today attacking Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who testified last week about the Ukraine call, claiming he is a traitor.

	Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who fled Ukraine with his family at age 3. Scholar, diplomat, decorated officer in the United States Army and Harvard-educated Ukraine expert on the White House’s National Security Council, he is being attacked by Trump as a traitor.

We now know that the American ambassador to Ukraine was indirectly threatened with violence when Trump told the Ukranian president she was "bad news" and would "go through some things." Ukranian officials passed the warning on to her.

All of this could lead someone to believe Trump is the representative of a different country from the one we are living in. That is what I find most troubling. In a Sept. 29 tweet, he quoted a pastor named Robert Jeffries: "If the Democrats are successful in removing the President from office (which they will never be), it will cause a Civil War like fracture in this Nation from which our Country will never heal."

One thing I suggest is that when you see someone fanning the flames of rage, take a step back and evaluate what is going on. There is something else, as well. If you want to hold anyone else to a standard, you must hold yourself to the same principles. I think for many people, that is the stretch. Calling someone out on dishonesty requires being honest, in every sense of the word.

Fury, disgust and cynicism are much easier. Or so it seems, for a while, anyway. Ultimately, they lead nowhere. There is no political or even social solution to one's personal emotions. Rather, the political realm is excellent at harvesting anger for its own sake -- not yours. Your anger is yours to address, to work with, to heal, and to use in a refined way. Your anger, wherever it came from, is your personal property. What you do with it is your business.

Here, we are in truly spiritual territory. There are no easy answers, and blaming the wrong person, or blaming yourself, is not the answer. Most things are not the answer. I will say that it helps to not feed what enrages you, and to offer your energy to what nourishes you.

Yet for many complicated reasons, I recognize this is easier said than done. But since we are talking about dharma, I do have a suggestion -- help anyone you can, whenever you can. This means more now than ever.

With love,
INTELLIGENCE: Landmark Planet Waves Annual Edition

Dear Friend and Reader:

To put it simply, we are in the midst of some unusual astrology — and it's about to dial up rapidly.

Unusual means something different for everyone; how you experience it will depend on your preparation, your density level, and how you respond to circumstances. My role as an astrologer is to help with the preparation aspect of things. This, in turn, can influence how you respond.

For 25 years as an astrologer, my job has been to help people get through challenging transits. Earlier this year, I wrote what I consider to be my landmark annual edition, called INTELLIGENCE.

This reading is an analysis of how the Saturn-Pluto conjunction manifests for each of the signs and rising signs. It's also deeply informed by Chiron in Aries, a placement which offers profound opportunity for growth. Seen one way, INTELLIGENCE is an astrological guide to self-actualization, based on the astrology of our moment.

And it is available now.

The reading includes extended, chapter-length, book-quality readings. Each of these takes about 12 to 14 hours to prepare, plus a lifetime of experience. Part of why it takes so long is that I am writing in clear, easy to follow language, so you can actually benefit from what I am presenting.

This reading also comes with a review of 2019, in audio format.

The astrology of 2020 is so significant that I have devoted two years to covering it. At the end of the year, I will be releasing RESPECT, which is a second look at 2020. This will be in extended audio format with original music. I will get into details that I did not cover in INTELLIGENCE, including the retrogrades of Venus and Mars.

This will be followed up in early spring by RESPECT: An Aquarian Age, a reading for 2021. That will cover Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto in Aquarius for each of the signs — a must-have publication.

The Planet Waves annual edition is an enduring tradition in my life and among my clientele.

I consider it my best astrological work, designed as both an astrological reading and also as a record of the times in which we are living. All 21 prior annual editions remain published and available.

For 2020, you have several purchasing options.

INTELLIGENCE 2020 with a review of 2019 is now $122 for all 12 signs, and starts at $44 for individual signs. You will have immediate access to the finished website, the recordings and the sign readings as PDFs in both American and European formats.

RESPECT and RESPECT: An Aquarian Age are available on pre-order for $133 for all 12 signs. The final price will be $222 for all 12 signs. We will keep the $133 price through the Sun's entry into Sagittarius on Nov. 22. NOTE: Backstage Pass holders will remain at the $111 price level.

You may get both annual editions, covering three years, for $166.

Thank you for your business and for trusting me as your astrologer.

With love,

PS — You may order by phone by calling (845) 481-5616. If I am here I will answer; if not we will get back to you soon. Thank you again. Editors' Note: This week's SKY is a reprint of Amanda's lead from your Monday Morning newsletter earlier this week. Amanda is currently traveling in warmer climes, and will be back in a couple weeks. We wish her a delightful vacation.

Mars Square Pluto, Under a Scorpio Sky

As the Sun approaches the midpoint of Scorpio this week, that sign's two ruling planets come into contact. Mars (traditional ruler of Scorpio) is in Libra, making a square to Pluto (the modern ruler), which is in Capricorn. These are two powerful planets making an action-oriented aspect -- which should immediately put you on notice to pay attention.

	Red dahlia, blue vase, salt lamp; photo by Amanda Painter.

Astrologer Isabel Hickey describes Mars in Libra as "Alternately as meek as a lamb and as angry as a hornet." That gives you some insight into the extremes of expression it can take.

All planetary placements have their 'shadow' manifestations and their more constructive expressions. Yet there's something about this depiction of Mars in Libra that succinctly illustrates the potential for vacillation that sign is famous for, and takes it up a notch.

As harmony-loving and people-pleasing as Libra is known to be, there's a reason why Eric likes to call it "the human blowtorch." But it's not about anger; this is his way of describing how Libra's airy creative energy can get lit, and then burn brightly enough through what it creates to light up everyone else around.

When you add Mars -- the planet of sex drive, motivation, anger and aggression -- to Libra, that sign's dynamics get heightened. You might see intensified creativity or someone super-motivated to be kind and diplomatic; you might see the get-up-and-go of Mars hang back and chill instead; or you could witness a Molotov cocktail in human form.

Continue reading... This Week on Planet Waves FM The Mercury Retrograde Impeachment, Journeying Deep into the Heart of Scorpio, and a Little Bit of Baseball

Dear Friend and Reader:

This week's Planet Waves FM [play episode here] circles around and dives into the current retrograde of Mercury in Scorpio. Did any astrology fan in the world miss how the retrograde began just as the U.S. House of Representatives was voting on the rules for the presidential impeachment? First I discuss the retrograde from the personal angle and then expand to the political.

	Eric Francis. Photo by Jeff Bisti.

I also respond to The Guardian's utterly ridiculous article last week about how Kingston, New York, is a city preparing for the end of capitalism. That, and Trump is a very stable genius. I have my own news coverage of Kingston, in a satire piece called The Cranky Times, which I distributed on April Fool's Eve.

Tantra Studio is an experiment -- I play the last 40 minutes of the Scorpio Astrology Studio reading, The Creative Leap. Two additional samples are on the home page. Then there's an extra bit at the end -- a reading of the short story "The Thrill of the Grass," by W.P. Kinella, read by John Shea. The whole CD is fantastic, and available here.

Planet Waves FM is published by Chiron Return, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. We are an affiliate of the Pacifica Radio Network. Please consider becoming one of our monthly sponsors. If you cannot afford to, you are most welcome to share this page and tell people about Planet Waves FM. Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far.

I am open to connecting with a "major donor" who will help Chiron Return, the nonprofit that publishes the program, with seed funding to help us build our organization and increase our visibility.

Thanks for tuning in.

With love,

Monthly Horoscopes and Publishing Schedule Notes

Your extended monthly horoscope for November was published on Thursday, Oct. 24. We published your extended monthly horoscope for October on Thursday, Sept. 26. Please note: we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope after the Sun has entered a new sign. Aries (March 20-April 19) -- This week Mars in your 7th house forms an opposition to Eris, which potentially describes old tensions rearing their head in close relationships. This could refer to arguments you've previously had with a partner, or the influence of patterns dating from further back. Either way, it'll be useful to understand where everyone is coming from, and to focus on a resolution. That means avoiding wreaking your temper for the sake of it, even if you feel sorely aggrieved. Relationships are encounters between two individuals. Respecting that goes a long way. You also need to acknowledge anything you do feel, as opposed to pretending it's absent. Your emotions are part of you. -- By Amy Elliott Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- Vesta's ongoing retrograde through your sign suggests you may be experiencing some unusual relationships at present. This can include any connection in which the dynamic is different from what is generally expected. For example, a close friendship with a person of an older or younger generation, or one specifically devoted to a common cause. Such interactions can often be informative. Should something like this cross your path, look for the ways in which it teaches you about yourself, and what it reveals. Notice if there seems to be a pattern to these encounters, and what that might be suggesting. -- By Amy Elliott Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- As your ruler Mercury continues making its way backward through your 6th house, you may be experiencing a higher than usual incidence of minor frustrations or slip-ups. You may need to muster some extra patience to deal with these annoyances; also, don't overestimate their significance. The world isn't perfect and neither need you be. In particular, if snags are getting in the way of progress on a specific project, don't give up. Hold on -- with gritted teeth and aching fingers if you must. The more work you've put in up to this point, the more worthwhile persevering will be. A few weeks will likely see you on much firmer ground. -- By Amy Elliott Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- There are essentially two things you'll want to remember this week, as the action continues in your 5th house of art and play. The first is: notice what prevents the flow of your passion and imagination, and avoid it. The other: recognize what, where and who best encourages your creative potential and supports your desires, and spend as much time as you can in those environments. Soak in the love of life, the joyful communion with all things that makes the world so much more beautiful. Then write, paint, draw, dance -- however you prefer to express yourself, to bring a glimpse of the divine light into manifestation. Let it all come out; you can deal with editing and fine-tuning later. -- By Amy Elliott Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- Moderation is useful in most things, and that includes slowing down the pace of life when you need to. Especially in the West, we tend to do everything as if wanting to break the sound barrier, and we don't seem to be applying the brakes anytime soon. Stepping back from the bustle from time to time is refreshing and healing. It doesn't mean you have to refrain from doing anything at all, and it does add to your fuel reserves, so that when you pick up the threads again you will be all the better for taking a break. Not only that, but it sets a good example for others around you to emulate. -- By Amy Elliott Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- You may have gathered by now that Mercury has some lessons this month regarding the power and responsibility of communication. Words have consequences; we all know this, and yet social media is set up like a game, or a billion personal reality shows. This is encouraging an ever-growing carelessness in the way we interact online, which is also leaking out into the real world. In order to stand your ground against this tendency, you'll need to choose your words with care, and be meticulously truthful. Getting lost in the fracas is easy, though holding on to your most foundational ethical principles will keep you anchored. -- By Amy Elliott Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- Maintain a cool head this week when it comes to managing your finances. Pausing on major new purchases is advised pretty much ubiquitously when Mercury is retrograde, though given that it's happening in your second house of possessions and resources, you might benefit from extra prudence. Be especially wary of impulse buys, which could tempt you at this point in time. Even if you have your eye on something specific, there's generally no problem with waiting two to three weeks. In that time you could find a better variety at a lower price, anyway. If you're just looking to feel good, there are plenty of cheap ways of accomplishing that. -- By Amy Elliott

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Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) -- You are gradually becoming liberated from restrictive notions about who you are, and who you can become. Others cannot dictate your identity or character; it is for you alone to decide. And you are complex; were it possible to sum up a whole human being in one sentence, I suspect our brains would be a lot smaller, for one thing; and for another we would not alter nearly so much. Don't try to force yourself into categories that fit uncomfortably, or strip you of any one of your innate qualities. Who you are today begins with how you feel right now, what you're doing and what you want; these are the keys to self-discovery. -- By Amy Elliott Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- If you find yourself confronted with the question of what is real, a useful way to work with that is to ask, "What is real for me, in this moment?" If you consider that idea with some depth, you'll likely find that it leads to a better understanding of your emotions and why you feel them. This, in turn, will shed light on the macrocosmic world (the one outside of your mind), which after all is constantly exchanging information with the microcosm (within you). Note that some of what you need to know may be appearing through the medium of your dreams, or in sparks of intuition, so pay attention for clues. -- By Amy Elliott Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- You may find yourself stepping back somewhat from your social life just at present, as indicated by Mercury traveling backwards through that territory. It's important that you know you're free to do this if you need to. There's a lot happening, both in the world and in your sign, and occasionally your nerves could well feel overstretched. You might need to recognize in particular where this is happening through social media, and consider withdrawing a little if it helps. Checking in with friends using more old-fashioned methods could actually be a source of relief; try making a phone call or, better still, visiting in person. -- By Amy Elliott Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- With the big conjunction of Saturn and Pluto brewing in your 12th house (of all that lies behind the veil), you seem to be diving deeply into some profound philosophical questions. These may appear as a review of your current aspirations and trajectory, though in reality they almost certainly begin at a much more fundamental level. What you do is about who you are. It's as if you're peeling back layers gradually until you discover, or rediscover, the essence of you. Those layers may be partly constructed from other people's impositions and prejudices, which influence most of us rather too much, and which you can freely discard. From now on, you get to decide where you're going. -- By Amy Elliott Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Mercury retrograde has a way of ferreting out hidden information, and during this one something surprising may emerge. This could take the form of a matter that seems to be a foregone conclusion turning out to have a juicy twist. Even if you're absolutely certain on a particular subject -- if the evidence all seems to point one way, for example, or if everyone around you is convinced -- leave at least a little room for uncertainty and for new details to transpire. Allow yourself to be curious, and be prepared to question firmly held beliefs, however you arrived at them. We are all learning, every moment of our lives. -- By Amy Elliott