The Chronicles of Plutonia

Pluto Transit

Pluto in Capricorn is now transiting my 8th house, trine my natal 4th house Moon in Virgo. I’m already faced with the necessity to move, as well as deal with a lot of emotional baggage within my family as well as externally among friends and associates. I can say that so far, I’ve done a fair amount of crying. The moments before my menstrual cycle are much more emotionally stressful and physically draining than they used to be.

I’m also considering doing astrological readings. Since I’ll be examining my own inner world for much of this Pluto transit–and for the upcoming Neptune/Moon opposition–it would probably serve me and others well by examining everything. I like finding patterns, probing into deep, dark corners, and talking about what it all means.

Interview with Author and Cosmopolitan Astrologer, Hazel Dixon-Cooper (and FREE book giveaway!)

[tweetmeme] On the brink of a lovely new moon in Libra, I’m pleased to be able to host one of my favorite authors on the subject of astrology, Hazel Dixon-Cooper. Her latest book, Work on a Rotten Day, is available on Amazon.com and one lucky reader and commenter on my blog will receive a FREE copy!

SignOn2Nine: Astrologers usually have a heads-up on the effects of the upcoming planetary configurations. Did you plan this Work on a Rotten Day blog tour during the current Jupiter/Uranus conjunction due to its surprisingly lucky, unexpectedly opportunistic vibe?

Hazel Dixon-Cooper: Yes. My natal Sun is 27º Pisces and this conjuction occurs not only in my sign but so close to exact that it’s wildly exciting.

SignOn2Nine: Where does this conjunction fall in your own chart?

Hazel Dixon-Cooper: The 11th House. Lucky encounters with new people and groups, new doors opening, breaking new ground. Uranus is also Trine my natal Jupiter, which is at 27º Scorpio in the 6th House, another strongly positive aspect. However, even when the stars indicate the possibility of good things, we still have to make the effort to look for opportunities and make the most of them.

SignOn2Nine: I noticed on facebook that you have a Pisces birthday (March 18). How much do you own/disown your “dustbin of the zodiac,” Pisces rotten day-ness?

Hazel Dixon-Cooper: I love my Pisces rotten-day-ness!

SignOn2Nine: Since you’re near the Aries cusp, do you aspire to be one instead?

Hazel Dixon-Cooper: Nope. I’m not close enough to the cusp to have any Aries traits. In fact, I have very little Fire in my chart which means it takes a lot to push me from friendly dolphin into Jaws mode. I would like to have more of the Ram’s ballsy courage.

SignOn2Nine: Do you get along with Virgos, your polar opposite?

Hazel Dixon-Cooper: Some of my closest friends are Virgos or have Virgo Moons. We get along fine because we’ve learned to appreciate our polar opposite ways of thinking…and know when to kick each other’s butts.

SignOn2Nine: I’ve read Stella Hyde’s Darkside Zodiac in Love and Darkside Zodiac at Work. They’re good but mimic the theme of your books, as I was attracted to hers after reading yours. In fact, I believe your Rotten Day series started in 2002 before her Darkside Zodiac series in 2004.

Hazel Dixon-Cooper: That’s correct. Her series was the first of many dark-side focused books to appear after the success of Born on a Rotten Day and Love on a Rotten Day. I was flattered to see that happen.

SignOn2Nine: How does your book, Work on a Rotten Day, compare to Darkside Zodiac at Work?

Hazel Dixon-Cooper: Work on a Rotten Day shows you how to handle yourself around the various nutty characters for and with whom you work. Although it points out your own bad behaviors and shoot-yourself-in-the-foot traits, it offers specific advice in a positive way on how to recognize and change them.

SignOn2Nine: Would you challenge Stella Hyde to a Pisces/Cancer, water sign astro-duel? (Apparently, Hyde is a Cancer: http://booklightinc.net/redwheelweiser/author.html?au=182).

Hazel Dixon-Cooper: “I don’t duel,” said the non-confrontational Fish.

SignOn2Nine: On the subject of work and the 6th house, what routines do you adhere to when writing your books?

Hazel Dixon-Cooper: Routines? You’re talking to a procrastinating Pisces. The good news about my 6th House is my Scorpio Jupiter. That makes me somewhat of a workalcoholic and more focused. However, I’ve had to learn to 1) operate from my Virgo opposition to stay organized, 2) overcome my Neptune-bestowed tendency to fantasize that I can write a million words by sundown of deadline day, and 3) balance work and play. We all deal with this on some level. For me it’s still a daily struggle.

SignOn2Nine: As a teenager, I was a regular reader of Cosmo Bedside Astrology long before I began to study astrology in my mid-20s. I also used to steal the little Bedside Astrology booklets from Cosmopolitan magazine, obviously to read them by my bedside. How do you feel about that?

Hazel Dixon-Cooper: You were the victim of your larcenous Gemini ascendant. Thank your lucky stars that your double-Virgo-ness put the brakes on your career of crime early.

SignOn2Nine: Do you favor the Placidus or Equal house system? Why?

Hazel Dixon-Cooper: Placidus. It’s what I learned because most Western astrologers used it at that time and it’s still the most popular today. I think it adds more nuance to the natal chart.

SignOn2Nine: Who are your top 5 music artists?

Hazel Dixon-Cooper: That’s difficult. I love music and have favorites from classical to punk. These are among my favorites.

1. Norah Jones
2. Van Morrison
3. Eric Clapton
4. R. Carlos Nakai
5. Rhianna

SignOn2Nine: What advice would you give to someone looking to become a professional astrologer?

Hazel Dixon-Cooper:

Read. There are many good astrology books for beginners. One that I recommend often is The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need by Joanne Martine Woolfolk. It’s a classic in basic astrology and written for the lay person or novice student.

Study chart interpretation. Practice on yourself, friends, and family. It’s easy to get a free chart and mini-interpretation from the Internet. I’d recommend doing that before investing in a software program. Anyone can buy a software program and spit out a computerized report. To be a good astrologer, you have to understand what you’re seeing. You also have to have a feel for people. Listen to what they say. See them for the individual being they are. Astrology is so multi-layered, and so is every person.

Investigate free lessons online. Many popular astrology websites have free lessons that can help the beginner not only to learn, but to decide whether he or she is serious about the profession before investing time and money in a formal program.

SignOn2Nine: Is there any professional or educational training that you would recommend?

Hazel Dixon-Cooper:

The American Federation of Astrologers, of which I’m a member, offers different levels of professional certification through a correspondence course. Details are at: www.astrologers.com

The International Academy of Astrology offers an online professional training course. Details at: www.astrocollege.com

Thank you, Autumn, for having me here today. I enjoyed it!

SignOn2Nine: Thank you, Hazel! I’m still reeling in the excitement of having the opportunity to interview you and am so excited to read your latest book. I will add it to my Rotten Day collection.

Readers, don’t forget, one of you will WIN A COPY of Hazel Dixon-Cooper’s new book, Work on a Rotten Day. All you have to do is leave a comment (please keep it related to astrology) and I will pick my favorite response to get a free copy of the book. Happy New Moon!!!

PA Political Astrology: Lancaster County Democratic Women’s Association Honors Janice Stork (D-Scorpio)

(Middle, at the podium) Janice Stork, a Scorpio, the first female Mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who served from 1990-1998.

[tweetmeme]This afternoon, I had the pleasure of attending my first “Breaking the Glass Ceiling” luncheon hosted by the Lancaster County Democratic Women’s Association (LCDWA). The LCDWA, headed by Sue Stoltzfus (Scorpio), presented the first annual Catherine Baker Knoll (a fellow Virgo, yeah!) Award to Janice C. Stork (Scorpio), who served as Mayor of the City of Lancaster, PA from 1990-1998. (Just a quick note: Catherine Baker Knoll shares a September 3rd Virgo birthdate with Joe Hoeffel, who is getting my vote for the next Governor of PA!) Janice currently has a one-line Wikipedia entry, as of today, but Tracey Lynn Arriola, Secretary of the Lancaster County Democratic Committee (LCDC) and member of the LCDWA, is working to change that. The luncheon had a great turnout at The Press Room of over 50 people, which included many male and female local officials such as Bruce Beardsley, Chair of LCDC; Craig Lehman, Lancaster County Commissioner; Nelson Polite, Lancaster City Council; and State Rep. Mike Sturla (Aquarius), among others for the males, as well as Lois Herr (Capricorn), candidate for PA Congress (16th District); Pat Brogan, Lancaster Mayor’s Office; Susan Rutt, PA Federation of Democratic Women; and Pat Coller, Lancaster City Council, among others for the females.

I cast a chart for the CBK Luncheon and thought the Cancer Ascendant was quite a nice indicator for honoring females in politics, considering the Moon rules Cancer and is symbolic of women, political favor, nurturing and emotions, and the public. The Moon in Aquarius is separating from a recent conjunction with Neptune and Chiron in the 9th house of the higher mind, philosophy, and freedom. (See chart below.) Check out my tweetphotos of the event here and my Picasa Web Album here.

I almost didn’t make it to the lunch, however, because last night, my beloved 1991 Buick Riviera—that I just poured money into, repairing the fuel pump and rear windshield—finally blew its transmission. How fitting a time for my car to give out as transiting retrograde Saturn (ruler of delays and restrictions) passes over my natal Mercury (ruler of communication and transportation), while transiting Mars (ruler of action and aggression) goes stationary direct on the cusp of my 3rd house of communication and transportation. ¡Que Lastima! Thankfully, I got a ride from my brother and was able to meet up with my new found LCDC and LCDWA friends, Sue Stoltzfus, Martine Elianor, Janet Spleen, Kathy Rammer, and Renee Martin, and I met a few new ones as well. In case you missed it, you can read how I met these wonderful women at DemFest and the LCDC Convention.

PA Political Astrology: Lancaster County Democratic Committee Goes Joe!

[tweetmeme]Well, well, well … after attending demfest via twitter hashtag, then tweeting up afterwards with one of Cocalico’s finest, I was finally able to attend Saturday’s Lancaster County Democratic Committee endorsement convention. Woot-woot! Click here for the twitter hashtag roundup: http://twubs.com/lcdc.

I got a ride with Sue (@susan1030) and a few of the Cocalico Democrats. We arrived at the Lancaster Host Resort and I checked-in on foursquare at 8:07am. (See chart cast for this time below.) It was then that I met Lancaster County Commissioner, Craig Lehman, and put my name on Joe Sestak’s petition for PA Senate. I even took one to get more signatures, so if you are a Lancaster, PA resident, are registered to vote, and haven’t yet signed a petition for Benedict Arlen DisreSpecter, come sign my petition for Joe Sestak! Then, I signed Sue Stoltzfus’s petition for PA State Committee, as well as 5 other petitions for Lancaster Committee people. I was introduced to Renee Martin at the Jack Wagner for Governor table, then I grabbed some coffee and finally got to meet Martine (@politicslovr) who was working the Lois Herr for Congress table. Lois Herr is a Capricorn, running against Libra, Joe the Pitts of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment to the Affordable Healthcare for America Act. After Martine and I chatted, I looked on my UberTwitter and saw that Beth Becker (@spedwybabs) had arrived and was looking for me. The funny thing was that as I told Martine that Beth was looking for me, she said, “Oh, Beth is right over there.” Beth was within 10 feet of where I was, haha! So, we got a picture together and proceeded to tweet away about how the convention was progressing.

Eventually, everyone settled into their seats as Bruce Beardsley, the Lancaster County Chairman called the meeting to order and gave the introductory remarks. We then broke out into workshop sessions, of which I attended the “Computer Sampler” with Ken Ralph, Common Ground newsletter editor. After the first session, I moseyed over to the Joe Hoeffel for PA Governor table, signed his petition, and then met Jena Grosser (@jena_grosser) who I had been following on twitter since DemFest 2010. The second breakout session I attended was “How Not To Do It Yourself,” led by Ken Ralph and Sally Lyall.

Lunch was a blast, where I met Sonya and Sandy Duncan of Columbia Borough, and sat with my committee person and district leader, Bill Sheaffer, as well as the LCDC office manager, Tracey Lynn Arriola. It was also during the lunch break that the candidates for PA Governor showed up: Dan Onorato the Aquarius came by our table first, then Jonathan Saidel the Gemini (Lt Gov), and finally Joe Hoeffel the Virgo. I got a picture with Joe but am waiting to get it from Bill’s camera. You’d better believe it will be on my facebook and twitter! I’ve been a fan and supporter of Joe Hoeffel since I met him at the Ambler R5 train station when he ran for Congress in 1998. I was a Sophomore at Temple University and rode the SEPTA from Ambler to Philly 5 days a week and was impressed to see Joe out on the tracks, greeting the commuters. Then, in 2005, he agreed to read my poem, Closet Rebel (email me if you’d like to read it), that I wrote for the Montgomery County Wissahickon Democrats, “Thank You” party for volunteers. To top it all off, Joe is also a Virgo, born on September 3rd, my astrology sign as well. We Virgo’s are awesome. Organized, hard-working, virtuous, practical, and down-to-earth.

You can bet I was sooooo totally stoked when Joe not only lit the room on FYRE with his speech but then clinched the endorsement for PA Governor from the Lancaster Democrats. Hell yea! Then, Joe Sestak the Capricorn shows up in his green military jacket and takes the floor. He didn’t speak from the podium like the other candidates—he stood with the people and walked up and down the aisle speaking to us with passion and conviction. (He did the same at the Chester County Dems meeting. See YouTube video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozJF9z0tXLQ) I must admit, I almost cried. The only candidate that didn’t show, was of course, Arlen DisreSpecter. And guess what, he got NO LOVE from Lancaster County. Joe Sestak received the endorsement. And although Gemini Jonathan Saidel didn’t get endorsed by the Lancaster Dems, I got a chance to talk with him and to hear him speak. He’s already been endorsed by the state committee and many other county committees. Doris Smith-Ribner (no birth date known yet) is great as well—in fact, she’s amazing. I wish I had known who she was prior to Saturday’s convention but I have time to learn more and hope she stays on the scene for a while.

All in all, I had a great time at the convention—I even got to be “mic runner” for all the committee nominations. I shook a lot of hands and actually remembered to hand out business cards. I should probably thank the recent new moon at 26 degrees Aquarius, that was conjunct my MC, the angle for career and reputation, for the public exposure I had this weekend. I cast a chart for the actual convention below. The time was set for when I arrived, a little after 8am, which was the time the convention was scheduled to begin. I like the Aries ascendant that had our group fired up but also in good spirits—note the chart ruler, Mars in the 5th house of recreation. The north node is in close conjunction with the 11th house of groups and associations, and power-monger Pluto is sitting very high in the chart near the MC, in the sign of Capricorn, ruled by Saturn. The moon in Taurus was set in the 2nd house of values, its home position as Taurus rules the 2nd house, and it was nice to hear Chairman Beardsley touch on Democratic values during his opening speech, mentioning how there are now over 100,000 registered Dems in Lancaster Co, 50 state offices are held by Lancaster officials, the PA State Democratic organization used Lancaster’s strategy as a template for the state, that power flows upward from the districts to the state level, and that we must keep in mind that for the primary we are running and competing against friends and allies. I’m optimistic that that Saturn in Libra on the cusp of the 7th helped to forge some fortunate alliances and partnerships for this year’s election cycle. More to come! Go Dems in 2010!

Friendly Astrology: Siobhan, The Aries Ram, Yes She Can!

Siobhan, The Fierce. She just might cut you.

[tweetmeme]If I could choose a lioness to debate with and tear the heads off of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Rush Limbaugh, or Sarah Palin, I’d send Siobhan. No nonsense. No pleasantries. No “aw, shucks” about it. The first time Siobhan and I spoke, we held an hour-long phone conversation, and found common ground talking shit on a mutual acquaintance. (It was warranted.) We also share a Virgo Moon, Saturn, and North Node connection, by way of conjunction. When we were teenagers, we used to sit on the corner in our small town and take turns tearing apart people who walked down the street. (They had it coming.) When we were old enough to drink, you’d better believe we had a ball honing in on the frailties of our fellow bar patrons at the Keswick Tavern. As adults, we have gone our separate ways in accordance with the natural evolution of all relationships in the progression of time. Though, as our relationship as friends has evolved, our intellectual sensibilities remain consistent, which has always been the foundation of our friendship. (We were both in our school’s “Enrichment” program due to high IQ testing.)

I’m not going to tell Siobhan’s life story here; though with her Ascendant (ASC) in the critical 29th degree of Scorpio and natal Jupiter at the critical 29th degree of Cancer, you’d be intrigued by the story. I’m merely going to highlight the potential that I see in her chart. Perhaps, one day, you will hear her story in her own words. I say this because her natal chart displays the Moon, North Node, and Saturn at the pinnacle of her chart: The Midheaven (MC). The MC is one of the important angles in astrology, which symbolizes one’s reputation, career, and status in society. Siobhan needed a while to decide exactly what her role in society should be, but she is certainly headed in the right direction after recently graduating, Magna Cum Laude from Temple University (my alma mater), with a BS in Political Science.

Siobhan’s mind has always been an asset, whether she wanted to publicly acknowledge it or not during her teenage, high school rebellion. Her natal Mercury in Pisces sits conjunct natal Mars in Aries, also forming a trine to natal Uranus and natal Jupiter, in addition to a square with natal Neptune. These aspects show a highly energetic, eccentric, and unconventional mind and intuitive, intellectual acuity. Mercury also rules her MC in Virgo, which, to me, is evidence of her predilection towards public life. She initially aspired to be an actress (note the 1st house Neptune). Though, it looks like her recent Saturn Return and its current transit through her natal 10th house of career has now set her sights on something more concrete: Politics.

It is also relevant to add here that Siobhan’s younger brother, Daniel, is an Iraq war veteran and is currently a military police officer in our Nation’s Capitol, Washington DC. She is also planning to relocate there within the next few months. Please note the transiting Uranus in her natal 4th house of home, which is also conjunct her natal Mercury. The winds of change are blowing for my dear companion, as her progressed MC is sitting conjunct her natal Pluto, indicating a rebirth in how she presents herself to the world. Our paths once crossed in 7th grade and our lives have led us on different paths. Perhaps, Saturn, the North Node, and the MC/IC axis will further validate our alliance in future, given Siobhan’s political aspirations and my current activities. We have a shared past in Montgomery County, PA, but life is leading Siobhan to Washington and myself to straddle work and life between Philadelphia and Lancaster, PA. Time will tell how it all plays out. Vive La Femme!

(See Natal Chart below with accurate birth time.) Siobhan, let me know if you want further clarification.

PA Political Astrology: Tweeting up after DemFest 2010

[tweetmeme]Today I had the pleasure of tweeting up with Sue Stoltzfus of the Lancaster County Democrats after we crossed paths on twitter yesterday during DemFest. (See also: PA Political Astrology: DemFest 2010 and Social Media and the Pennsylvania Young Democrats hashtag “Twub.”) Sue is the President of the Lancaster County Dem Women, a club that I had wanted to become a part of for some time. We had a wonderful conversation at Isaac’s Restaurant & Deli, which I added as my first, Newbie check-in point on foursquare. I was delighted to discover that we both share an interest not only in politics but also in social media. We have since connected on facebook and LinkedIn, and were brainstorming like crazy on new ideas for community and county engagement. When I left our meeting, I felt as though I was finally connected to my new town after leaving Montgomery County in late 2007.

Astrology isn’t confined to the birth of people; it can also be applied to the birth of relationships. Now, naturally, as a Virgo/Libra cusp, I can get carried away with casting an event chart whenever I meet a new guy (see also: Astrologers in Love). But, when I returned home, I couldn’t wait to cast an event chart for my first political tweetup. And wouldn’t you know, the event chart house positions for my tweetup today are almost identical to my natal chart! I’ve seen this configuration before when I cast the event chart for the first day at my current job (that I love, by the way). It’s also interesting that Susan is an October 30th Scorpio, which puts her Sun in my natal and event chart 6th House (near the Vertex, a point of fated connections) – the house of service, everyday routine, and work. Looks like I’ve made an auspicious connection and I’m eager to get started. Yay technology! (See today’s tweetup chart below.)

MA Political Astrology: Martha Coakley (D-Cancer) vs Scott Brown (R-Virgo) for late Sen. Ted Kennedy Seat

[tweetmeme]First, I want to start by sending a positive energy wave to the late Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Pisces). You are missed and I hope your good work will never be forgotten.

Now, for the nitty-gritty question: Who will be voted to succeed his place in the Massachusetts Senate special election that takes place tomorrow, Tuesday, January 19, 2010? Well, I’ll tell you something— I’m not a fan of “predicting” things with astrology because I believe in free will as much as I believe in the planets—but when I looked at the charts of Martha Coakley (born July 14, 1953, Cancer) and Scott Brown (born September 12, 1959, Virgo), I couldn’t help but notice Brown’s chart is stronger at this point in time.

Now, for one thing, as superficial as it sounds, this guy, Scott Brown, is good looking, not to mention he posed nude in Cosmopolitan. (Um, Neptune, anyone?) I can admit to being superficial and in politics you have to take into account that many voters are very superficial when it comes to choosing their candidates. It’s sad but it’s true. Looking at Brown’s Progressed/Natal chart (below), my first glance is focused on the Sun, Venus, Neptune, and also the Moon but not so much because I don’t have an accuarate time of birth. Instantly, I see Neptune, the planet of glamour, smoke and mirrors, escape, Savior-syndrome, and all the delusion and salvation that it conjures up in humanity. Not only are Brown’s progressed Mars and Sun conjunct his natal Neptune, but also transiting Neptune is in a wide opposition to his natal Venus. The Venus/Neptune aspect also exists as a sextile in his natal chart. Transiting Jupiter is also in almost exact opposition to his natal Venus and progressed Venus in a separating conjunction to his natal Sun. Another Venusian indicator is transiting Saturn currently in Libra (and the sign of its exaltation) conjunct his natal north node. In short, these transits can be seen as “favorable” in astrology especially in regards to popularity, which is a superficial and fickle thing but it gets people elected.

A quick note on Brown’s Moon, a planet that is a strong indicator of popularity. It can be anywhere between 18 degrees Capricorn and 1 degree Aquarius with his 9/12/59 birthdate. Why is this important? Well, currently the transiting north node is at 21 degrees Capricorn and if he also has a Moon/Node connection, in addition to the Saturn North Node transit I mentioned earlier, he’s got favorable planetary timing on his side. The North Node in astrology is almost always a positive auspice to be hoped for in times such as these. Also, his estimated progressed Moon is lurking around in a conjunction with his natal Jupiter, another good indicator of likability and positive public opinion.

Moving on to Martha Coakley’s chart, I see no such indication of the “Wow-Factor”—something that is desperately needed in a special election. Besides having a natal Venus/Jupiter conjunction, natal Sun/Mars/Uranus conjunction, and likely Moon/Pluto conjunction (no birth time-no exact accuracy on Moon position), I don’t see any current transits or progressions that are strong enough to combat the favorable activity in Scott Brown’s chart. Whereas Brown had a double-whammy of North Node activity, Coakley has a double-whammy of the South Node: 1) transiting her natal Sun/Mars/Uranus conjunction and; 2) natal South Node in a wide conjunction with progressed Venus conjunct natal retrograde Mercury. In astrology, the South Node is less-known for granting material success; however, it represents ease, spiritual gifts, and pitfalls in some instances. In Coakley’s case, it looks like complacency set in. It was said that Coakley did not do the things needed to win this election—for example, she did not get out and knock on doors, speak with voters, and get her face in front of people. What did Brown do? He got endorsed by Doug Flutie and Curt Schilling, two prominent sports figures in Massachusetts. What can I say? Even her chart looks a little boring (below). I hope the Massachusetts Democrats prove me wrong and go out and vote blue, otherwise, Mr. Glamour-and-no-substance may just get elected into a seat once held by our Last Lion, Ted Kennedy.

Sarah Palin (R-Aquarius): A FOX-Y Failure in the Fog of Neptune

[tweetmeme]Ah, Siobhan, if it hadn’t been for your timely facebook reminder of this travesty, I would have went to bed without posting. So, FOX News has finally acquired its finest ASSet to date by bringing Sarah Palin into the fetid warmth of lies within its ignorant embrace. And why not? Why wouldn’t the Elephantine, Grand Ol’ Party of No say “Hell Yes”—no, wait—”HEAVEN Yes” to Sarah Palin? To be honest, I had the fleeting inclination to consider John McCain for the Presidency (because he’s a fellow Virgo…superficial, I know) but that decision went straight to the Pagan den of HELL to rot with Hades and Persephone when, along came Sarah Palin (Aquarius). She proved to be a disgrace to the modern American professional woman. Instead of presenting herself as an intelligent, cultured, and respectable leader in American politics, Sarah Palin damaged the likelihood of a woman winning a spot in the Executive Office.

Let’s look at a brief list of prominent female figures: Hillary Clinton (Scorpio), Nancy Pelosi (Aries), and Condoleezza Rice (Scorpio)— all very accomplished with outstanding academic and/or professional backgrounds. When they are seen in public, they exude confidence, refinement, and mental acuity, even more so than many of their male colleagues. Whether or not this is an accurate or authentic representation of who they really are, it fits in with the current standard of what is expected of our Nation’s leaders. Now, let’s look at another brief list of prominent female figures: Britney Spears (Sagittarius), Paris Hilton (Aquarius), Lindsay Lohan (Cancer)—all known for their pretty faces, perfect bodies, and entertaining lifestyles but could never be taken seriously enough to be considered for any kind of respectable position in society, let alone political office. What does this comparison serve to illustrate? That we have been conditioned to believe that smart, respectable women are conservative in appearance with less than extraordinary physical features, while unintelligent and scandalous women are outlandish and scantily clad in appearance with impeccable physical features. We have few examples of both intelligence and beauty integrated into a prominent female figure who is also taken seriously and believed to be on the same mental, physical, or political level as a man with the same qualities.

Sarah Palin has a favorable mix of physical attractiveness and conservative appearance. While the Presidential campaign exposed the truth of her less than spectacular educational background, she could have played her role as Vice-Presidential candidate a bit smarter…literally. I don’t mean to downplay the accomplishment of her election to the Governor’s office in the state of Alaska, as well as holding the office of the Mayor as well—both positions would require a wide array of skills, acumen, and intelligence. However, those attributes were not what she presented to the American public and International audiences. Instead, she came across as a stereotypical backwoods hick, “hot” chick in a suit, ignorant of the world around her, and worse…a woman who can’t rear her own family properly.

The issues of femininity, gender roles, professionalism, and public opinion are age-old and ever-changing. There are some that will argue in favor of Sarah Palin either because they believe it was the fault of the McCain campaign and the Republican Party for even thinking of choosing someone who was clearly unqualified for the job. There are others who would say that she was unfairly targeted because of her looks and that someone else may not have been subjected to the same probing questions, invasions of privacy, and snap judgments that she had to endure. On the other hand, appropriate public appearance and favorable public opinion are vital factors in politics. Being a hypocrite is only bad if one is actually caught being a hypocrite; otherwise, for the most part, it is of the utmost importance to maintain an ideal image, by any means, if one wants to remain in office and stay employed in the world of governmental affairs. It is even more important for women to play their public and professional cards very wisely, as there is still a long road ahead in order to compete and thrive in the public space with their male counterparts. Had Sarah Palin taken her role as a groundbreaking female political figure a bit more seriously, she could have been another addition to the small but growing list of exemplary women for younger generations to model themselves after for future success. Instead, we are left to wonder if perhaps a woman just isn’t quite ready to take on the role as President just yet.

Looking at Palin’s chart (born February 11, 1964, per Wikipedia), the most obvious influence she’s been under over last few months has been transiting Jupiter, Neptune, and Chiron conjunct her natal Sun, Mars, Saturn conjunction. This triple conjunction of the natal Sun, Mars, and Saturn is also squared by her natal Neptune. Additionally, her progressed Venus is in wide opposition to her natal Neptune. What does all this mean? Well, she’s under one hell of a Neptune, god-like aura, “It was God’s plan,” make-me-a-celebrity, delusional transit. The qualities associated with Neptune can soar to the heights of the beautiful, ethereal, sublime, and spiritual. Neptune can also fall under the guise of false prophets, drug addicts, liars, and cheats. It seems as though Palin’s sudden rise to fame and constant life in the spotlight triggered her narcissistic streak to the Nth degree. Designer clothes, $100,00 speaker fees, the “God’s plan” assertion all stink of Neptune’s influence. Not to mention, good old larger-than-life Jupiter is lending to the extremes in her feelings of “specialness.” Well, Sarah Palin better buy a pair of those new Reebok Easytone sneakers to build up her gluteal muscles so that she has some padding as she falls down on her dumb ass when the transit finally passes. (See chart below. Default 6am birth time used- actual birth time unknown or unverified.)

PA Political Astrology: Narrowing down the candidates for Governor (Part 1)

[tweetmeme]The race for PA Governor has taken a slight turn during this lovely Mercury Retrograde (ending this Friday, January 15, 2010), in that Jim Gerlach (R-Pisces) has decided to withdraw and, instead, run for re-election in the 6th Congressional District. This leaves only two GOP candidates left—Tom Corbett and Sam Rohrer—both Leo Suns (though Corbett is on the Leo-Virgo cusp). The Democrats, however, still have four candidates (that I’m aware of) in the mix: Joe Hoeffel (Virgo), Dan Onorato (Aquarius), Jack Wagner (Capricorn), and Tom Knox (unknown- if you know his birthdate, please share it). Fortunately for me, I can avoid experiencing the Democratic, decision paralysis that comes with more than two options—if you know me personally, then you know who my choice for Governor has always been and will be when I walk into the booth, then out of the booth, and on with my blue-blooded life. However, for the sake of the science of astrology—which has no “favorites”—I will remain relatively objective-ish and save my opinion for twitter, facebook, and casual conversation. 🙂 I’ll hold off on breaking down the natal charts of the Democratic candidates until after the field has quieted down. I wish them all luck in raising money and bolstering confidence and name recognition amongst the voters for the Primary—plus, I’d like to see some Lt. Governor action so I can have a clearer picture of what’s in store.

I will say that it’s almost obvious who the Republican candidate will be: Tom Corbett (Leo), Attorney General. I mean, come on, he has the name recognition and is the Republican poster boy leading the charge of investigating corruption in the PA House of Representatives. He’s probably investigating you right now. (Damn, I may have just been targeted…) He squatted and claimed the domain name “www.attorneygeneral.gov” before anyone else did and is very interested in technology. (I only know this because I watched him being interviewed on PCN TV a few months ago and this is what he said.) Plus, he’s got a bit of the Jimmy Johnson thing going on. So, unless some miraculous manipulator gets him to withdraw from the race in order to continue his post as Attorney General on a Legislative witch hunt, it will be Corbett who faces the “chosen one” on the Democratic side of the ballot.

When looking at political candidates, I always look at the Moon and Venus first because those two planets deal with popularity and finances—two very crucial components for getting elected. Because I don’t have a birth time for Corbett’s natal chart, I’m using 6am. (This is a standard that I use as a default when I want to see how the planets are relating to one another.) I can only estimate the position of his natal Moon since it moves so quickly in the course of 24 hours (approx 13 degrees per day). At 6am it was at 5 degrees Leo, however, it can range between 2 to 15 degrees Leo on his recorded birth date of August 22, 1949, per Project Vote Smart. If it’s in the early degrees of Leo, his nata; Moon is favorably aspected by natal Venus (usually a good thing) and also the progressed Moon is conjunct the progressed Sun- forming a Progressed New Moon (also viewed as favorable). However, if his natal Moon is more toward the mid-degrees of Leo, it forms a tight conjunction with Pluto (a very powerful planet for good or ill) and also would be forming a favorable aspect to progressed Venus.  Additionally, transiting Pluto is forming a T-square with his natal Venus and natal Uranus, an indicator of dramatic and unexpected changes to finances and popularity, or females in one’s life. Any way I look at it, he’s got a strong chart, which can be seen by his current station in PA politics.

What is interesting is transiting Saturn is conjunct his natal Venus, which is also involved in the T-square with Uranus and Pluto. Saturn always adds an element of restriction, and when involved with Venus it can signal monetary restriction. However, that may not be a big deal because of his apparent lack of need for campaigning  (See header: Tom Corbett’s Free Campaign). On the other hand, Corbett has been accused of targeting Democrats over Republicans for investigation, most recently in the case of Senator Jane Orie. Time will unravel all the exciting details—his natal Sun is being supported by the energy of progressed Mars (even though the rest of us are experiencing the Mars retrograde), though opposed by the Jupiter, Neptune, Chiron conjunction. Also, the transiting north node is passing over his natal Jupiter. His chart (below) is nothing to scoff at but stay tuned…

An astrologer is born: How it all began

In the summer of 2003, I was wandering about the shops of Main Street in New Hope, PA when I came upon a store with a neon pentagram in the window. It was one of those “bottom-floor” stores, in which you had to descend a small flight of stairs to get to the entrance. Curious and eager to explore the “mysteries” inside, I explored the bookshelves— past titles of Wiccan Magic and Spells galore. I was about to walk out when I saw a book titled, The Complete Book of Astrology. When I removed it from the shelf, I opened the book to the exact page that marked the beginning of the description of Virgo (my sun sign). It was on this day that I began my investigation into the science of astrology. Yes, science, as in “knowledge, as of facts or principles; knowledge gained by systematic study.” There are those that would scoff, ridicule, and (in some parts of the country) burn me at the stake for such a statement. However, astrology is a valid and reliable system of knowledge that reveals an accurate picture of individual human psychology and societal patterns.

A popular argument against astrology is that it is so general anyone can write a horoscope for any sign from which any reader will glean whatever truth they want from its generalizations and vagaries. This argument is usually supported by citing examples of the horoscope columns found in tabloids or pop culture magazines. Dear Abby’s advice is held in higher esteem than “Anastasia the Astrogazer” or any number of quacks that make a quick buck from writing the dailies. Another argument I’ve heard comes from people who read about their sun sign (solely based on the day they were born) and complain that the description is way off the mark. An even better argument is in the case of two people who share the same birthday and they are nothing alike. The hardcore skeptics of astrology always bring up the case of twins: those born within minutes or hours of each other and live totally different lives.

Many people fail to realize that astrology is more than just your sun sign— that is, the sign and degree the sun occupied at the moment of birth. For example, the sun was at 26 degrees Virgo when I was born; therefore, common knowledge would label me “Virgo.” However, upon further examination, you would also discover that the zodiac sign on the horizon at 10:54pm EST on September 19th, 1979 in Norristown, PA, was Gemini at 18 degrees. Furthermore, the Moon was at 12 degrees Virgo, the planet Mercury at 2 degrees Libra, the planet Venus at 3 degrees Libra, and the planet Mars at 27 degrees Cancer. Astrologers who cast detailed horoscopes will note not only the placement of planets in the sky but also the aspects made between them, in order to give a more accurate reflection of the energies these positions might imply. In the case of two individuals having the same birth date, the difference of an hour can change not only the rising sign at the moment of birth but also the house positions which give each horoscope its distinct “flavor.” And let’s not forget free will—the various internal and external factors and the responses to those factors that influence each human being which contribute to his or her outlook on life. It is important to note that astrological counsel has been sought throughout the ages by royalty, political figures, and the church, as a means to gain and maintain power. The Italian renaissance is rife with evidence of consultations and readings from astrologers such as Ptolemy, Marsilio Ficino, Cornelius Agrippa, and William Lilly. The foundations of American government and the planning and construction of the Capitol city of Washington, DC are steeped in astrological significance. There is compelling evidence that our founding fathers waited until certain planets occupied a certain degree in the sky before scheduling any important ceremonies related to the birth of the United States.