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Archive for September, 2008

Sep 30 2008

A look at relationship astrology, or synastry

Hi Eric,

My mom subscribes to Planet Waves Astrology News so she sometimes shares them with me. I have a good grasp of astrology and I really need help understanding something about my chart as it relates to something that is happening in my life.

Pluto and its binary partner, Charon. Photo by Hubble Space Telescope.

Pluto and its binary partner, Charon, which orbit one another. Two moons are not shown - Hydra and Nix. Photo: Hubble Space Telescope/APOD.

I had a romantic relationship with a man named Dan. I have looked at his chart. There are three major, almost exact conjunctions between his chart and my chart. They are: his Mars and my Moon (4 degrees Libra and 5 degress Libra respectively), his Moon and my Venus (9 degrees Scorpio and 7 degrees Scorpio respectively), and his Venus and my Jupiter (8 degrees Leo and 9 degrees Leo respectively). Note that our Venuses square (Leo - Scorpio).

Our relationship only lasted about five months. Considering that Venus, Mars and the Moon are involved in our conjunctions, as well as the signs Libra and Scorpio, all related to relationships, I wonder about the nature of the connection between Dan and I. What happens to the connections in the charts now that we are no longer in a relationship?

Also, how is it possible for us to have such strong astrological connections but for us to not have sustained a relationship? I don’t think we will get back together but it is a remote possibility. I cannot put to rest that we have these astrological connections and yet we don’t have a connection through being in relationship. I assume it is not that often that there are these kinds of connections between charts with relationship planets and signs, but you would know more about this. Continue Reading »

3 responses so far

Sep 30 2008

Astrology Today: The Oracle for Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008

Published by Rachel under Oracle

Oracle
The Daily Oracle is a random selection from one of 10,000 Eric Francis horoscopes. The Oracle is a divination tool like tarot cards, and also can be used to research any horoscope for the past 10 years. This is just a picture of the thing (we know the text is small, we’re working on that). It is available to subscribers of Planet Waves Astrology News in all its working glory, not a static photo like the one above. This is a brilliant piece of programming combined with a full decade of Eric’s writing — when you have a question, it really works (as long as you’re sincere), and we know that you’ll love it. Sign up to discover how and why. Or enjoy one selection free here every day.

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Sep 30 2008

The Man Who Knew

AS CONGRESS FAILED TO REACH CONSENSUS on the Wall Street two-party compromise bailout bill this week, we are haunted by the words of Eliot Spitzer, New York’s former Governor and former Attorney General–also known as the “Sheriff of Wall Street” whose career was destroyed by his own doing, with quite a bit of help from some dirty tricksters. In an op-ed in the Washington Post written February 13, 2008, Spitzer wrote:

When history tells the story of the subprime lending crisis and recounts its devastating effects on the lives of so many innocent homeowners, the Bush administration will not be judged favorably. The tale is still unfolding, but when the dust settles, it will be judged as a willing accomplice to the lenders who went to any lengths in their quest for profits. So willing, in fact, that it used the power of the federal government in an unprecedented assault on state legislatures, as well as on state attorneys general and anyone else on the side of consumers.

Within one day of that appearing in print, Spitzer was in hot water, accused of soliciting prostitution after a search of his tax records revealed the funds transfers allegedly used to pay sexworkers. Eric did a weekly edition in mid-March covering the Spitzer resignation press conference. Near the end of the article, he wrote:

The 10th ruler, Mars, also rules the president of the country in question, and that 12th house Mars in Cancer bears a striking resemblance to our secretive, war-obsessed Cancerian president, George Bush. He is still lurking in the wings of the 12th house, in total denial, and at odds with all sensibility or respect for the law. All of these facts are consistent with a process which is not the investigation of a crime, but rather an attempt to target and build a case against an individual

Of all the Democratic governors to get, Spitzer probably ranked as one of the highest trophies for Alberto Gonzales’ politically-motivated Department of Justice. Too many corporate friends of the administration were threatened by Spitzer’s investigations. By the time Spitzer’s op-ed appeared in the Washington Post his former office was either arriving at the conclusions of the investigation he conducted on Wall Street, part of his purview as Attorney General, or his last official act as New York’s governor with some credibility intact before the shit hit the fan and they ruined his career. You may think it was a crime he committed, rather than politics; that nobody is really above the law. But in politics, everything is above the law, and it’s all politics.

Fe Bongolan in San Francisco

18 responses so far

Sep 30 2008

Astrology Today: The Oracle for Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008

Published by Rachel under Oracle

Oracle
The Daily Oracle is a random selection from one of 10,000 Eric Francis horoscopes. The Oracle is a divination tool like tarot cards, and also can be used to research any horoscope for the past 10 years. This is just a picture of the thing (we know the text is small, we’re working on that). It is available to subscribers of Planet Waves Astrology News in all its working glory, not a static photo like the one above. This is a brilliant piece of programming combined with a full decade of Eric’s writing — when you have a question, it really works (as long as you’re sincere), and we know that you’ll love it. Sign up to discover how and why. Or enjoy one selection free here every day.

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Sep 29 2008

Just for Fun: the Planet Waves Sex Survey

Published by Eric Francis under Sexuality

Heyoo,

I had this idea more than a year ago, and the completed survey bubbled to the surface today. I’m posting it tonight just because the world of news has become such a boring, negative place, this is at least 10 minutes of guaranteed fun. The survey is anonymous; it doesn’t ask for any contact data or collect anything from visitors except what you type in. We will, of course, post the results in this space.

Here it is…the first ever Planet Waves Sex Survey.

Eric Francis

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Sep 29 2008

The trust runs out

Published by Eric Francis under Aries Point

Dear Friend and Reader:

Just three months away from the [probable] end of the Bush administration, the trust runs out. Not a day too soon; we would have done well with this kind of national conversation about the last five or 10 things that have happened that qualified as history: you know, stuff like wars and false flag terrorist attacks and ripped off elections and the perpetual 35% approval rating.

Eric Francis

I can’t tell you whether — in the end — the $700 billion bailout plan was a good thing or a bad thing, and the discussion is not over. Was it a plan to bail out Wall Street fatcats, or for purchasing the assets of over-leveraged banks? Most people seem to be leading toward the first of those two possibilities. At least for the American people, this was very much a matter of trust; about wondering how those banks got that way; and wondering who profited from the disaster; about having been lied to so many times before.

I think that public disgust with the proposal was about feeling left out of the benefits of something they (and their children and grandchildren) were being expected to pay for. I don’t think there is anyone who hasn’t thought gee, I could use some infusion of funds for my business or some relief from these insane interest rates that I’m paying. And I think the only people not worried are those who, if you took away 95% of of their wealth, would still be able to eat well. Well, I assure you they’re worried too. Who isn’t? People who know how to grow food; people who see opportunity in the mayhem; Buddhists and scholars.

It’s interesting that even though the proposal was made by the Bush administration, it was the Republican caucus in the House of Representatives that pulled the plug. The majority of Democrats voted for it; the majority of Republicans voted against it. It’s disgusting that several Republicans cited “inappropriate” partisan comments of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the reason not to support the proposal — that is, their feelings were hurt. But as Rep. Barney Frank said, they are just covering up for not having had the votes to get the thing through. At least say you’re standing up for the American people. Jesus H. Christmas, where the fuck do they get their political strategies from? I guess all the good writers are in Hollywood or at The Onion.

George Bush meets with Bicameral and Bipartisan Members of Congress to discuss a Wall Street bailout plan.

George Bush meets with Bicameral and Bipartisan Members of Congress to discuss a Wall Street bailout plan.

I don’t know what to make of this, and I’m concerned that there is a setup in progress. The setup would be something like this: Republicans, trying to keep power, kill this proposal, leading to an “economic emergency” that in turn results in the cancellation or delay of the election, or some other endgame power-play.

Today’s astrology involved a New Moon close to the Aries Point, at 6+ Libra. The Aries Point is another way of saying anything that happens in the early degrees of a Cardinal sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn); these degrees are sensitive. The earthquake and tsunami of Dec. 26, 2004 took place the day of a Full Moon at 4+ Capricorn. The thing to remember is that, even after so much that has happened involving the Aries Point the past eight years, we’re only at the beginning of a very long spell of Aries Point adventure.

In November, Pluto enters Capricorn, squaring the point. A year later, Saturn enters Libra, opposing it. A year later, Uranus enters Aries, walking right over it…adventure. We will be living with, through and around a cardinal T-square on the Aries Point involving three of the most influential planets — astrology on a scale we haven’t seen since the mid-1960s. Yet most of that astrology took place in relatively placid, slow acting Pisces and Virgo (on the mutable cross).

Most of the forthcoming events take place on the cardinal cross, which usually has much more expressive energy. We are actually feeing the first rumblings of this as Pluto ventured into Capricorn for a few months earlier in the year, seeming to set off a knock effect. Astrology students, take note.

Eric Francis

2 responses so far

Sep 29 2008

The $700 billion bailout: What do you think?

Published by Eric Francis under Daily Astrology

Update: It looks like the bailout bill has failed the House of Representatives by a vote of 206 (yea) to 226 (nay), a difference of 11 votes. CNBC is reporting that there is no time left for members to vote. I have the vote being closed at 2:06 pm EDT — and it was the Republican caucus that killed it. So this puts the Republican administration in an interesting position, having finally been bailed out on by its own people in Congress. Bush promised last week that “this sucker could go down” (referring to the economy) and McCain has said as much — that we have to do this, or else. From what I have been hearing on the ground and reading on the Internet, the American people are not in favor of this bailout. We’ve just seen the 4th worst point drop in history for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (4.7%), and crude oil has dropped to $98, down $9. Interesting times…great comments below…please keep them coming…

Dear Friend and Reader:

Like cosmic clockwork, the announcement of Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers occurred on the Pisces Full Moon two weeks ago, and the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street was announced on the Libra New Moon exactly two weeks later (late last night). I am saving my comments for the Friday edition of Planet Waves, though I’m curious about two things — your opinions on what has happened, including whether you are a staunch supporter or opponent of the bailout; and any news you have read (mainstream, alternative or blog) that is particularly interesting.

To participate, all you need to do is register for Planet Waves (it’s free, and we don’t share your email addresses with anyone — and registering is different than subscribing!), and then let us know your answer. Many recent posts in recent weeks have had excellent discussions.

Here is one. Does anybody remember Eliot Spitzer? Take a look at this article he wrote in the Washington Post right before he got Clintoned and was banned from politics for engaging in sex.

(Here is the Planet Waves coverage of that same issue, from our subscriber archives.)

We’ve had quite a busy weekend in our astrology newsroom — many new posts below cover the Libra New Moon, Paul Newman, the Wall Street protests and a reader whose lover was taken by a BlackBerry.

Yours & truly,

Eric Francis

36 responses so far

Sep 29 2008

Astrology Ahead: Aspects for Sept. 29 through Oct. 5

Dear Friend and Reader

This week’s highlight is the New Moon, which occurred in Libra early this morning, covered in detail in this post. Libra is seeking balance and justice; Mercury retrograde is asking us to look at our relationships with others, and whether they reflect what is truly meaningful to us.

Planet Waves
The Moon, but not in the New phase.

We are all feeling the quiet sense of uncertainty that is in the air, verging on outright fear — but the one reassuring thing is that we’re all in this together. And I think that just below the fear, many people are becoming conscious of their anger.

It’s sure to be an emotion-filled week, with the occultation of Mercury the Moon on Tuesday, and Mars entering Scorpio on Friday. Challenges are sure to result in great personal reward, so it’s necessary to keep moving forward and looking back as little as possible.

All the activity in Libra and Scorpio is surely making some interesting times in personal relationships. If you’re confused, if you’re struggling, if you don’t know what you want, remember, we are all in this together. Very few people do, and many of the ones who seem like they do are faking it.

Happy New Moon, and read below for further details on the week ahead, written by Genevieve Salerno with some editing by me. The aspects were calculated by Tracy Delaney’s ephemeris at Serennu.com and by Raphael’s Ephemeris.

Yours & truly,

Eric Francis

29 Monday: New Moon in Libra at 4:12 am EDT. Sun sesquiquadrate Neptune. This is a trigger aspect, but it’s difficult to trigger Neptune. It tends to rise like flood waters that you saw coming months ahead but ignored. Sound familiar? Mercury was (and still is) opposite Eris at the moment of the New Moon. The stuff that you really want to be doing has been giving you goosebumps today. Perhaps you feel like just by imagining your fantasy, you’re tip-toeing on the edge of going crazy. That’s good! It means what you are doing is genuine. Use this feeling today to study the world around you. You are being given a rare capacity to see the projections that others are putting forth in order to get by in our world. A sense of compassion will be helpful today. If you’re going to project anything, let that be it.

30 Tuesday: Moon enters Scorpio at 12:26 pm EDT. Occultation of Mercury by the Moon. Mercury square Varuna. An occultation, like an eclipse, is when the Moon passes in front of a planet (under rare circumstances, it can involve two planets; and when something passes in front of the Sun, that is called a transit of the Sun — also extremely rare). What this means energetically is that for today, emotions are going to come right to the front of your personality. Normally we deny them and they bottle up. It might even feel like you are wearing how you feel on your forehead and what you’ll be feeling will tend to be very intense. Ethics prevents me from telling you what to do, but I can suggest that it may be in your best interest to wait until tomorrow, or the day after to share your thoughts with those closest to you, so that you can gain a little balance to offset what may be an exaggerated feeling of defensiveness. Of course, what comes out comes out. But try to be gentle. Continue Reading »

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Sep 29 2008

Coming Soon: Libra New Moon

Dear Friend and Reader:

AT THE LIBRA New Moon early Monday morning (in USA time zones), the overall emphasis of the sky remains in the sign of balance and justice, as the world seems to need these things more than ever. While Venus has changed signs and moved into Scorpio, it’s forming an exact semisextile aspect (30 degrees) to the lunation in Libra. Mercury and Mars are still in Libra with the Sun and Moon. Mercury is now retrograde (through Oct. 15). The newest member of the dwarf planet category, Haumea, is in Libra, too. Haumea is in wide conjunction with the New Moon.

2003 EL 61, now known as Haumea.

2003 EL 61, now known as Haumea.

Venus and Mars are in mutual reception, each occupying one another’s signs. Traditional astrology cautions that both are weakly placed in their signs; Venus is in its detriment in Scorpio, and Mars is in its detriment in Libra. The two planets are bound in an energy cycle that currently seems difficult to break free from. This is a fitting image of the locked-in pessimism associated with the global economic crisis currently unfolding.

The Libra New Moon is six degrees opposite the Aries Point, which you may already be familiar with. This is a degree of the zodiac that merges the personal and political spheres of life. Indeed, there can seem to be no difference as the world crashes into the living room or into your iPhone screen.

On Sept. 17, 2008, a trans-Neptunian minor planet previously known as 2003 EL61 was classified as the fifth dwarf planet in our solar system and named Haumea, after the goddess of childbirth and fertility in Hawaiian mythology. It’s interesting that we have Venus and Mars, the original planets of sex, in difficult positions, as we commemorate a New Moon conjunct a planet associated with reproduction.

In ancient times and for many today, Venus and Mars are also associated with commerce and prosperity, ruling the signs Taurus and Scorpio. Libra (the second home of Venus) fits into the picture because of its association with partnership, upon which commerce is built.

The New Moon always corresponds to a Full Moon two weeks later, and the Full Moon that’s coming arrives with enormous impact. It’s on the eve of Mercury stationing direct in Libra, but more to the point, it’s closely conjunct Eris, a planet named for the goddess of discord. The next two weeks build to some extremely unusual developments, and I say that knowing that the past few weeks have been very strange, leaving many people with an enormous feeling of uncertainty and instability. We will see the first real results of the $700 billion bailout package currently being negotiated (and allegedly finalized) at the time of the New Moon.

Sound astrological advice would be to take a wait and see approach. Conserve resources and avoid making important decisions till the many, many facts destined to emerge Oct. 14-15 make themselves known.

In this article, we’ve mentioned the dwarf planets. Here is some background information on the ongoing process of defining and naming them.

Continue Reading »

One response so far

Sep 29 2008

Astrology Today: The Oracle for Monday, Sept. 29, 2008

Published by Rachel under Oracle

Oracle
The Daily Oracle is a random selection from one of 10,000 Eric Francis horoscopes. The Oracle is a divination tool like tarot cards, and also can be used to research any horoscope for the past 10 years. This is just a picture of the thing (we know the text is small, we’re working on that). It is available to subscribers of Planet Waves Astrology News in all its working glory, not a static photo like the one above. This is a brilliant piece of programming combined with a full decade of Eric’s writing — when you have a question, it really works (as long as you’re sincere), and we know that you’ll love it. Sign up to discover how and why. Or enjoy one selection free here every day.

Respond to this post

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