Forecast for Saturday and Sunday, February 13 and 14, 2016

Saturday 13 February 2016

\Considering Prerogatives/

Moon in Taurus   ***

I like the setup for Valentine's Day (tomorrow) this time better than in recent years. I don't think most will be disappointed, whatever develops. 

There could be weakness or indecision today, but that allows you to get your bearings afresh and confide in the Higher Power you know you need as your partner and ally.

There is a desire to be roving about and enjoying life's inducements in fresh scenes. While doing that you are conscious of your prerogatives, of what you can do to persuade anyone to track along in the path you wish.

Enterprise is good. You may be mapping out financial gains or a business model. You have greater chances of success with that in the coming two months than in the past two. You are conscious of how much this chosen avenue to success differs from others' avenues. That could make you humble at times, then vain if you get overconfident, but these attitudes should be stabilizing into quiet assurance soon.

A gruff sort of retirement into your own interests could dominate at times, when you mind your own business and expect others to do the same. At those times you are making up your mind about important matters and seem to be at a crossroads--you have been unsure of alternatives, but now they are getting clearer to you. Voila! There could be social pleasures, but probably more of them tomorrow.

{Saturday} /Considering Prerogatives\

Cosmic Piper

Sunday 14 February 2016

\Horizon Open and Inviting/

Moon in Taurus   ****

I risk four stars because lunar aspects are mostly good, Luna forming a grand trine with the two benefics Jupiter and Venus while today is the first day of a new Bright Hermetic Epoch! (It goes on until April 14.) Wherever Cupid's arrows fall, they should be thrilling rather than painful.

New experiences and sensations evoke both romance and a touch of danger. It is your prerogative to choose what you prefer within the gaming gamble of amorous exploration. Something in your background gives you a feeling of authority or privilege. 

You may note an enterprising tendency in others and yourself. "I'm up for it!" is the feeling. You know you need to enlist natural forces and conditions to gain what you desire. You can manipulate complexities efficiently without worrying about them overmuch. That can be one realizable goal of this beginning Bright Hermetic Epoch.

There is definition of your goals, and of the means to them, and an ever clearer map in your mind of the paths to follow in detail. You could either direct a business or teach others, with knowledge and precision. At the same time there is romance. Something you recall from your past, ancestry, or youth could be a signal of your heart's needs and its approach to fulfillment. 

A preponderance of planets in earth signs, plus Mars's strong position in Scorpio, show that it is possible to cut out from life's materials the patterns and realities you hope for. There is freshness and adventure in this, permitting novel experience and possibly travel. 

{Sunday} /Horizon Open and Inviting\

Cosmic Piper

Forecast for Friday 12 February 2016

Friday 12 February 2016

^Worthy Ambition Curtailing Vanity^

Moon in Aries   ***

There can be elasticity and expansiveness, yet superficiality. You care about someone you would like to bring home with you, no matter how silly at times that lovable being may seem. 

People are trying to look into the future, and what they see they find impossible to convey to anyone else. Carelessness and pleasure may seem to deplete character or worthy ambition. 

A sensuous and worldly individual, who likes what she or he sees in the mirror, could bring downfall to herself, himself, or you. You have duties, you must remind yourself. They seem boring, yet deviation from them could bring serious penalty. 

It is important to believe in yourself and to make your merit felt in the world. You may seem to be giving more than you receive. Some may underestimate what you are doing. Dabbling in vanities may seem blameworthy but it could be necessary, if a temporary stage, for someone finding himself or herself gradually. 

{Friday} ^Worthy Ambition Curtailing Vanity^

Cosmic Piper

P. S.  I realize that some of the statements above may seem contradictory. They express both sides of a conundrum or dilemma, most likely, and it is up to you to find the right middle path--or perhaps you need to reject something firmly. Life does not have to be humorless or colorless, but sometimes giving up something trivial allows better and happier developments. 

Forecast for Thursday 11 February 2016

Thursday 11 February 2016

^Marvel Comics Characters^

Moon in Aries   ***

Aries does not seem a usually happy position for the moon, but in individuals born with that asterism it gives a freshness and honesty which can be refreshing. One of them is Bernie Sanders and while enjoying a sweet Seattle sunset a friend sent me his horoscope with the supposedly exact birth-time, Scorpio rising, and today the moon in Aries reflects the moon in that sign in his natus. There it is conjoined with Mars, and now in the sky with Uranus. This is Bernie's fighting spirit and his appeal to youth who see him as a Marvel Comics figure taking on the bad guys. He has Venus in Libra. The original Bonnie (of the infamous bank-robbing couple) was Libra and the original Clyde Aries. Bernie the bank-robber reflects their charts in some strange way. His Saturn in Taurus the sign of bankers and the 7th house the sign of open enemies shows his position vis-a-vis "Wall Street" his favorite open enemy. Astrology is utterly amazing and often delightful. Bernie's Mars-Moon conjunction in Aries is in the fifth house, that of children or young people and he is a sort of Pied Piper for them. Wonderful.

My delight in his campaign does not mean I agree with him on everything or would necessarily support him for President. I am waiting and watching the unparalleled democratic process. I feel he is really a needed remedy to the American political process at this point (and maybe even Trump is one although that seems to be in the form of some pathology surfacing in order to be expunged). Well, mentioning Trump gets everyone going, so: His chart has Leo rising with Mars there in the first house. That is indeed a brass band (Trump-et). He says what he thinks: Mars acts first and thinks afterward, especially in Leo where he has utter and supreme confidence. He has the bright yellow hair and red baseball cap, the yellow being Leo and the red Mars. He is a caricature of himself. Uranus in high focus means he jumps into things with cocksureness. The sun in Gemini can at worst be the con artist we really know him to be, who says what makes no sense in a way which makes it almost believable because one wants somehow to believe in it even though one knows it is pure hokum. So much for that particular Marvel creation. 

Pathologies are indeed coming to the surface. Two of my closest neighbors have mental-emotional problems, and both of them have had intense disturbing episodes in the past three weeks and both are now in hospitals. Both were shouting and talking in loud tones to invisible enemies, and I prayed and pray for them but don't know what else to do. They are symptoms of something going on at a deep level. I could trot out the aspects: Mars square the sun in fixed signs, with Mars in Scorpio the sign of crisis; Saturn square Neptune, often drug problems (and prescribed psychological drugs can also be the problem); Jupiter retrograde in Virgo sign of health, suggesting a return to former therapies.

There are also many helpful aspects. Some individuals are awakening to methods of financial or business success despite the stock market's horrid fluctuations and downturns (Capricorn planets trine Jupiter in Virgo, Mars in Scorpio a money sign sextile Jupiter on one side and Venus on the other). But we must not forget we remain in a Dark Hermetic Epoch until the 14th. This colors everything. It makes things slower. Chewing gum on the floor. Of course that can be a good challenge to keep us alert and trying. 

{Thursday} ^Marvel Comics Characters^

Cosmic Piper

Forecast for Wednesday 10 February 2016

Wednesday 10 February 2016

~Conciliation~

Moon in Pisces   

|Karmically difficult or sobering third| of this week continues   ** | (until early Thursday)

As a political semi-junkie, I spent perhaps too much time reading about the New Hampshire Primary tonight, and listening to the speeches of the candidates afterward. Or maybe I just care about the direction of the country. I am happy that John Kasich came in second among the Republicans, for I consider him the most Presidential of them and the sanest and most impressive and perhaps the most honest and basically "good." At least that is the way I feel when I hear him speak. Here is a link to one of his "Town Meetings" in New Hampshire. I find it quite impressive, although I am not a Republican and probably disagree with him about a lot. He has a good and interesting horoscope and might make a wonderful chief executive--at least for those who lean to the right or the center politically. 

Ever the optimist, I think Wednesday will be quite good. The |difficult third| plus the long-continuing Dark Hermetic Epoch are with us but we should have had enough experience with them to know how to finesse them. Or not! Luna's opposition with Jupiter and square with Saturn suggest religious or spiritual disagreements. Yet we should have learned by now how to conciliate with those who take a different viewpoint. Always there can be new challenges--but I believe Luna's good aspects with Mars, Venus, and Mercury will make things smoother; maybe even quite happy at certain moments. Peaceable conversation or communication could be favored. 

{Wednesday} ~Conciliation~

Cosmic Piper

Forecast for Tuesday 9 February 2016

Tuesday 9 February 2016

~A True Leader?~

Moon in Pisces

|Karmically difficult or sobering third| of this week all day (until Thursday)  ** |

An aviator from above ponders the brilliant sunlight on the

Trees and the human potentials in the scene. Within it a

Man thousands look to for guidance draws aside curtains 

From a statue an admirer has built from recycled waste.

A monkish man with long hair and a flowing 

Robe sees the strength of the coming leader, but is 

Too reserved to be his John the Baptist. A farm 

Laborer lauds the man he wants to trust. 

A drinking gambler wonders what it means.

The sun illumines the trees of the forest. The man striding

Through exudes an aura of strength, honesty, foresight. 

Could he be the leader all hope for, whose invisible

Coat of arms heralds royalty? Is he daring enough? 

{Tuesday} ~A True Leader?~

Cosmic Piper

Forecast for Monday 8 February 2016

Monday 8 February 2016

}Unique Conviction{

Moon in Aquarius   ***

New Moon of Aquarius occurs at 4:40a PT | 7:40a ET | 12:40p UT   

/moon goes void-of-course at that moment (until very early Tuesday)   ** /

We enter the Chinese Year of the Monkey today. The new year in their calendar always begins at the New Moon of Aquarius. Then we have both the New Hampshire Primary and Fat Tuesday of Mardi Gras on the 9th. 

This is the final week of the Dark Hermetic Epoch. I am tired of wailing about it, and you are probably tired of hearing me do so, but it does seem really intense to me this time, as if everything I try to do keeps getting delayed "for repairs" as it were. Let us stretch our patience for another week and hope that by Valentine's Day things will get easier. Today's v-of-c all day requires even more patience and a willingness to "take it light" when things seem complex or trending backward. 

The girl would like to help the butterfly to fly,

For its right wing is quite smaller than its left. 

Her grandma wisely says it would be smart to

Let the creature find its own prerogative. 

The flying creatures visiting them cock their heads,

Listen, and one, the parrot, speaks. His words are

Quite conventional. The dove who soars down from the

Housetop mimics Parrot's colorful vanity,

Then espouses a deeper message of conviction. 

The sun comes out, and signs of springtime growth

Greet the girl and grandma, while the butterfly 

Uniquely tries, fluttering up to a budding tree.

{Monday}  {Unique Conviction}

Cosmic Piper

Weekend of February 6-7; and Fortnight of February 1-14: Fresh Version

Weekend of February 6-7; and Fortnight of February 1-14: Fresh Version

Saturday 6 February 2016

Moon in Capricorn-Aquarius   ***

/moon goes void-of-course at 7:55a PT | 10:55a ET | 3:55p UT   ** /

until it enters Aquarius at 10:00p PT | 1:00a(Su) ET | 6:00a(Su) UT   ***

You probably know how to work with the void-of-course periods by now. Take it light; remain calm; don't try anything dangerous; do essentials; but let yourself relax, experience, ponder in unusual ways to regain poise. 

Sunday 7 February 2016

Moon in Aquarius   ***

Luna is winding down to her conjunction with Sol, which is the New Moon, on Monday morning. It should be an easygoing Superbowl day. The moon squares Mars, a bit of excitement and energy, not necessarily conflict except in the game; while in good aspect to both Saturn and Uranus. Friendliness can prevail under such configurations. 

The rest of the report is pertinent to the weekend also, of course.

I don't know about you but I have been having a slew of problems in the past few weeks and they show little sign of letting up. There are too many to list--today it was computer problems, although I overcame them, but with much waiting, and at one point my computer started making loud noises it has never made before and I had to shut it down by a method not recommended. It seems all right now but that was frightening. Last night I tried to print out one of the astrological charts I use for these forecasts and the printer didn't work--it needed a new ink cartridge. I put it in and it still didn't work and gave me the message that the new cartridge was damaged. So today I had to call the company that sold it and ask for a replacement. That is just the beginning of the issues. Fortunately I feel I am beginning to catch up slightly.

So what do we find in the heavens to explain this? How do we blame the planets? One gets tired of that game after a while. The critics of astrology are right that one can always find something bad as well as something good in the aspects, and therefore one can always justify one's belief in their relevance. But that is a much too superficial viewpoint. The more one delves into it the more one sees real meaning in the details. It's as if someone said "Oh, football, that's just a bunch of jocks running around a field of grass and throwing a ball." Obviously this person does not understand the subtleties, or even the structure, of the game. It's the same with astrology. But Monday-morning quarterbacking is just as hard with horoscopes as with football games. 

I have not been giving enough attention, apparently, to the sun's square with Mars, exact now, for several days and for several days to come. This is challenging. Then there is the triple square of Pluto, Venus and Mercury with Uranus. It is tense and causes us to sense that things are "not right" unless we stretch ourselves to cope with them. The stretching is good for us, hence the value of the aspects in the cosmic purposeful scheme of things, but we don't always want to do it.

And, lurking behind all of this, we must not forget that we are still in the Dark Hermetic Epoch. I find that people don't tend to believe in this, or keep forgetting it. They know about Mercury Retrograde but the longer-lasting Epochs are unreal to them. Yet they are very real. It is hard to accept that one has a whole two-month period of difficulties--but that is a fact, as I discovered more than 25 years ago. Then two months of the Bright Epoch. I called them Epochs because they seem to last forever, and the Dark one seems the longest! It is like walking on a floor covered in chewing gum. And so all the aspects, such as the squares just mentioned, seem harder to deal with at these times than they do in the Bright Epochs. The next one of those begins February 14, Valentine's Day, a week from this Sunday's Superbowl. 

I am hoping that the weekend will give some relief and so am writing this now so I can have a rest.

Fortnight of February 1 (Monday) through 14 (Sunday), 2016:  Second Version of Forecast

}Inching Toward Prerogative{

This time we shall use the Sabian Symbols of Elsie Wheeler and Marc Edmund Jones rather than the older symbols of Charubel we used last week. We are at the midpoint of this period, almost, or shall be at the New Moon on Monday February 8.

We begin with "An animal trainer," which has been with us for a while because both Jupiter and our moon's North Node (called Rahu or the Dragon's Head by Indian astrologers) have been hovering in that area of the zodiac. I feel it as a daily need to keep up with hatha yoga. It is also a need to stick to a diet I know to be good for me. We are training the animals of our own bodies. This represents an underlying interest in maintaining good health, for it is in the sign Virgo. 

"A girl surreptitiously bathing in the nude" might seem more interesting! But if this bath is successfully surreptitious, neither we nor anyone are peeking at her nude body. She wants to be alone with herself and the glory of her incarnation in flesh. So do we all at times. A bath or shower can be more than physical refreshment; it gives wings to the spirit. Pluto at that degree is square Uranus, so it appears we do not always feel we have the freedom to treat ourselves to this luxury. We need to resist endless interruptions to spend precious time alone in the bath or the swimming pool. This could indicate a desire for more privacy than is easily obtainable. At a deeper level this can be release into or immersion in soul-refreshment, trusting in the goodness of the cosmos as manifested or womanifested in our bodies--mirrors of the soul and spirit. 

"A jockey" continues the "training" theme. The keyword, Practice, suggests we need to keep trying at whatever we want to accomplish, despite the harsh aspects mentioned above. In fact, the sun's square with Mars can give just the push we need to keep striving toward perfection in areas we care about, whether mental or physical, artistic or mechanical. 

"An empty hammock" is a peculiar one. Does it mean that someone is refusing to take a break in a hammock, because it is empty? Or does it mean that someone is looking at an empty hammock and about to fall into it? It could be either. Yet Dr. Jones gave as his keyword for the symbol Rumination. That suggests that someone is in the hammock, ruminating. Yet, in fact, the hammock is empty! He postulates "a maximum potential for inner reorientation and outer readjustment." That sounds right, and seems to me what is happening for many of us--as it always does in a Dark Epoch, just as we are always reoriented during our daily sleep-time. The Dark Hermetic Epoch is a longer sleep-time of two months, as it were, which can be observed if one looks at these periods from afar. Keeping a solid record of one's past and one's experiences would prove this. 

Saturn is at the degree of "The ground hog looking for its shadow," the keyword Reassurance. This fits with my attempts to understand signals I need to carry on with both astrology and life per se. I would guess that in your case you also have been, and are, trying to get a handle on how to proceed in some areas. You keep changing your viewpoint or wondering if you have the right formula, format, or agenda. Success seems within reach, but this is not certain. So there are continuous attempts to get reassurance. Perhaps we shall find more complete assurance when the Bright Hermetic Epoch begins on the 14th, which happens to be the final day of this lunar fortnight. It is something to hope for. Meanwhile, "Just me and my shadow." 

Jupiter's degree happens to be the most pleasing, perhaps: "A royal coat of arms,' with the keyword Prerogative. Certainly that must be one of the most welcome words in the language! It is something like privilege, though oriented more toward choice: One has the right to make a choice, to choose what one wants. Of course if we mix this up with politics, we could go awry, interpreting it as the right of some to exploit or lord it over others. No, such arrogance is on the way out, despite its mini-flowering in someone such as Donald Trump. Rather the prerogative in question is that of every man and every woman to become, be, and manifest something she or he wants to manifest within the overall concordance, harmony and satisfaction of the human race as a whole. Each one bears her or his own "royal coat of arms," not conflicting with that of any other. 

{Fortnight of February 1-14, 2016}  {Inching Toward Prerogative}

Cosmic Piper

Friday 5 February 2016

\Genteel Purification/

Moon in Capricorn   ***

Let us hope that Luna's conjunction with Venus and sextile with Mars, highlighting their sextile to each other, will bring us some fulfilment, even an unusual awakening to love. The rather lugubrious comment on human attractions in the quatrains below need not be what we experience, although it might be a warning. Some think Capricorn represents the Devil and some see it as a disguise for Pan. It calls us to discriminate between the seductively harmful and the subtly or lustily charming. We can do that because all these planets are in good aspect with Jupiter in Virgo, sign of purity. 

The woods, rich in autumnal fulfillment, harbor and nurture a

Man lying in a hammock sick. He has not exercised for years

And has become apathetic. Musical instruments lie upon wreaths of

Flowers nearby. He plays bleakly; his friend plays to heal him.

A spacious hall looks like an Egyptian chamber of mystery, with

Hieroglyphs and images painted on its walls. At the center a tripod

Rests, issuing flames of fire. The more one stares the more

One is transported to heavenly spheres, light-rings of omniscience.

The man resting in the woods dreams of a woman he knew, or barely

Knew, before he saw her vanity and shamefulness. 

Did she give him fulfillment, or a romp with something pointless?

He drags himself to the chamber's tripod of purification.

{Friday}  /Genteel Purification\

Cosmic Piper

Forecast for Thursday 4 February 2016

Thursday 4 February 2016

^Patient Discovery^

Moon in Sagittarius

|Karmically difficult or sobering third| of this week continues  ** |

/moon goes void-of-course at 2:05a PT | 5:05a ET | 10:05a UT   * / |

until it enters Capricorn at 4:45p PT | 7:45p ET | 0:45a(F) UT  ** |

|Difficult third| ends at 7:23p PT | 10:23p ET | 3:23a(F) UT   ***

Most of the day has the moon void-of-course while we are in the |difficult third| of this week. That is a signal to be calm and peaceful while trying to circumvent the agitation or excessive worry which could arise from untoward events, suspicions, or negative feelings. Ordinary routines are probably best rather than any questionable departure from them. As you can see from the above, things should get less confusing in the evening. 

The woman looks up from nursing her baby to see rings of light

In the sky. What mean they for the child's future? He has

No visible father. Occult help nucleates

Her two-member family's force for sky-driven kismet.

The ship bears them to a destiny-laden destination;

They have missions to fulfill, help to give; but the sea

Is rough, the passage severe.  Soft clouds, cumulous,

Appear on the horizon. Mollient confidence returns. 

On land at last she walks toward where? She sees a spade

Protruding from the soil, puts the baby down, digs a little.

Strange secrets are buried. Rings in the sky lighten

Into glory. She has discovered something momentous.

{Thursday} ^Patient Discovery^

Cosmic Piper

Forecast for Wednesday 3 February 2016

Wednesday 3 February 2016

^Recovering and Carrying On^

Moon in Sagittarius

|Karmically challenging or sobering third| of this week continues all day (until late Thursday evening)   **

This is late. I ought not to use the planets as an excuse--that is one temptation within astrology which made it somewhat odious to many religious and strait-laced ethical people over the centuries. "I can't do this because Saturn is squaring my Mars" or some other excuse. It is true that a misapplication of astrology can be a character flaw if it is used to excuse one's own failings. 

Still, we see what we see, and often during the |karmically difficult or sobering third| of each week we do fail at various things, or the odds against success seem much higher. That means we either have to try harder, or accept defeat gracefully. I for one find that knowing about these periods helps enormously. I envision a time when people gathering at the water cooler during a break will chat like this: "That square of the moon and Saturn is disrupting everything I've been trying to do" and so on. And then, try again.

That time is not yet and you can consider yourself blessed for being able to read Cosmic Piper before the general public has a clue about what is going on.

I felt ill this morning. As I write, the conjunction of moon and Saturn is nearly exact--no, I just looked, it is exact at this very minute! And I am actually feeling a little better, partly because I know about it. But before that I had a pretty terrible morning, feeling annoyed with various things and knowing I had brought some of it on myself by overeating and overdrinking the night before. Then an odd thing happened: For the first time ever my coffeemaker produced a pot of coffee which was only lukewarm! I was worried that it was a goner, but then the second cup was nice and hot. Strange, but Saturn from ancient times has been considered to be the planet of cold. It was today for my coffeemaker. Very peculiar. 

So I took a nice warm bath and that went well, I am happy to say. And I prayed and chanted a mantra in my mind and that really really helped.

We need to hold on to our spiritual foundations at these times. If you have not found a mantra or prayer which really works for you, I encourage you to do that.

It's also a day when the presidential candidates are probably not feeling very "up" about their campaigns. One, Ron Paul, dropped out today just before the Luna-Saturn conjunction and I am sorry to see him go. We need a strong anti-war candidate, and he was it. (I am getting to be almost an isolationist when it comes to wars in the Muslim world. We need to protect our own, and that is all.) 

Neither the Clinton nor the Sanders campaigns can be happy over the virtual tie that confronted them Monday in Iowa. Of course, they carry on. Of course Donald Trump is not pleased, and Ted Cruz knows his prospects in New Hampshire are somewhat dim. 

The current |difficult third| goes on until late Thursday evening, but the center of it is today (Wednesday). However, just after the Luna-Saturn conjunction Luna became sextile the sun, always helpful, and that is why I am feeling much better (and incidentally the stock market has started to rise from its depressing descent this morning). (I hasten to add that this does not always happen.) 

So, we carry on with as much poise as we can summon.

{Wednesday} ^Recovering and Carrying On^

Cosmic Piper

Forecast for Tuesday 2 February 2016

Tuesday 2 February 2016

^Aspiration within Normal Limits^

Maybe I should be ashamed to admit it, but during election seasons I can become somewhat of a political junkie. I was, tonight, hanging on to everything I could coming out of the Iowa caucuses while trying to do other study. 

And now it feels like I have been sitting here staring at a screen which says "Hillary Clinton, 49.8%, Bernie Sanders, 49.6%" for two hours. And it still says that. With 99% of the vote counted. I guess some of those Iowa Democratic caucusers are at each other's throats. They must know how tight the race is--some of them must have cell phones unless that is totally forbidden. So they know they have the deciding vote and may be deadlocked. It is now 12:47 a.m. in their state. What a battle.

And here is what I wrote about it more than 24 hours before the caucuses started, in yesterday's forecast:  "It's not a bad day for an election with Luna sextile Jupiter, Scorpio to Virgo. That is interesting because on the Democratic side Hillary is Scorpio and Bernie Virgo! Maybe they will both feel they have won. Will Hillary feel the Bern or Bernie climb the Hill? I shall not predict." That is about the best prediction anyone could have made, in that we still don't know which scored slightly higher or if they may be exactly tied. 

As for Ted Cruz, the moon on Monday evening was precisely at the midpoint between his Venus and his Jupiter (the two benefic planets according to the ancients), all three in Scorpio. That could be very fortunate, and was indeed for him on Monday. I shall refrain from commenting on his horoscope at this point. 

I spent so much time listening to all the commentary, with the victory and non-victory speeches, that I am late writing this forecast for Tuesday:

Moon in Scorpio-->Sagittarius

|Karmically difficult or sobering third| of this week begins at 2:24a PT | 5:24a ET | 10:24a UT   * / |

/moon void-of-course until it enters Sagittarius at 7:51a PT | 10:51a ET | 3:51p UT   ** |

There is firmness in looking for or choosing an ideal. Some may be looking for it in one of the candidates. Others may look toward a spiritual leader. Venus is moving closer to her sextile with Mars (Capricorn to Scorpio), so there is love in the air, perhaps of a somewhat practical or sober, conservative or peaceable sort. We need our spiritual foundations, while Jupiter moves toward another square with Saturn. That may be why Cruz triumphed: People felt there was something more hefty and more reliable in him than in Trump or the other candidates. Many feel that quality in Bernie Sanders also. Hillary simulates it but one wonders sometimes which part of it is real (some no doubt) and which part is acting. I am sorry to say that and don't want to say it but often feel it when she is speaking. 

But apart from politics, let us be thoughtful, calm, wise, and selective of those in whom we place our trust and of that on which we focus. Trivial amusements are not much good on a day like this. When love happens it happens spontaneously rather than in contrived party environments.

{Tuesday}  ^Aspiration within Normal Limits^

Cosmic Piper

Fortnight of February 1 (Monday) through 14 (Sunday) 2016---and Monday forecast

Fortnight of February 1 (Monday) through 14 (Sunday) 2016---and Monday forecast

~Man Among Men? Woman Among Women?~

Fortuitously, I am writing this just as the period begins. The exact time is Sunday, January 31, 7:29p PT | 10:29p ET | 3:29a(Monday February 1) UT. It begins the half-month of the moon's dark or slender, crescent phase. This time is not "worse" than the light phase, but often even more compelling in the events which turn up during its reign. (For astrologers: I use the positions of the planets at the center of this half-month, namely, the New Moon which occurs a week from now. It is a chart for the temporal midpoint of the period.)

Last Fortnight's symbols began with "an enormous explosion" which was not designed to be pleasing. It had correlation, from my viewpoint, with (a) the stock market's frightening fall, (b) the standoff between police or federal officers and the Oregon rancher-protesters, (c) probably innumerable incidents around the world with which I am unacquainted or noted in the news and have forgotten, and (d) a sort of shakeup in my personal life which took a lot of struggle to comprehend. Oddly enough, just before writing this, while we were in the final two hours of the old fortnight, I watched the film Incontrovertible--which shows, many times, the rapid six-second fall of the Number 7 World Trade Center building with much discussion of the "explosions" many heard which took it down--a controlled demolition, for sure, and those who are not "Truthers" have a lot of explaining to do about that.  The first symbol for the current fortnight is nicer:

"I see rings of light in the heavens; ring within ring, or zone within zone." For astrologers this is obvious. They could make a lot of progress in the study and application of their scientific art. For others is might be: Space exploration, for some, or astronomical observation and theory for others. On a more spiritual level it could be intuitive insight into the cosmic processes as they relate to humanity or to oneself. Charubel says: "He lives in a world of his own, nor will he be understood by the men of his age." Since Jupiter has good aspects, there could be strong progress in understanding things at a philosophical level.

"A man with a large pair of scales in the act of weighing." "One who will have much to do with weights and measures; he will have a liking for such employment, and will be apt in matters of detail." This explains itself. We will want to be precise in everything we do. This is backed up by the earth-sign trines of Jupiter in Virgo with Pluto, Venus and Mercury in Capricorn, and by the sextile of all of those planets with Mars in Scorpio. This is a very practical configuration. Budgeting, taxes, investments and the like could get precise and helpful attention. Tending to food, cooking, or recipes could be of the same heedful and finespun nature, or anything in one's bailiwick. 

As last fortnight, Neptune is at a degree said to be "virulent." I shall quote Charubel's rather Victorian yet prescient advice: "Beware! Do not follow the dictates of passion, nor yield to the desires of thy lower nature. If thou dost, a short and wretched life is thy lot . . . But if by virtue of a firm resolve thou art able to overcome these elemental promptings, thou wilt pass through the evil crisis, and thereby ensure a long, useful, prosperous, and happy life." I certainly feel some such change going on within my own consciousness. The symbol is a red star, moving very quickly, very bright, rising and setting; then followed by a pale golden light. Misleading passion followed by golden wisdom with accompanying good fortune. We can get there.

The next one, for Uranus, is ominous, but we need to keep a sense of proportion. "A battle-field where two contending armies are engaged in deadly conflict." I am not a military person and I am anti-war except in the very rare cases of a "just and necessary" war. I am not sure there have been any of those since World War II, unless it might have been the Korean War. So I am not happy with this symbol, but it might be a warning that we need to prevent such conflicts from happening as best we can. On the personal level, "he must be watchful over his own conduct, or he will come to grief." I find that Charubel's warnings are always appropriate, and not excessive, so this warrants some attention. If we take it on a higher level it can be the battle between the forces of light and those of darkness or evil, the energy of selfless sharing versus that of selfish aggrandizement, and so on. So the symbol is pointing out that we have to choose our side. It is interesting that it turns up the very day of the Iowa caucuses! I felt after watching the aforesaid movie that if I were voting there I would vote for the most anti-war candidate, and that would be Rand Paul, so I would have to cross over to the Republican side to caucus for him. 

We go back to the sky: "A large telescope pointing heavenwards." Charubel says this indicates someone with scientific interest or expertise; or, perhaps, a clairvoyant. Rare is the scientist gifted with clairvoyance. We need more of them. Also, he says, "a lover of sidereal studies." I guess I am going to work with my old astrology books. (I learned of one I did not know about, the Mercury Method of Chart Comparison, by Lois Rodden, at the meeting on Friday. I recommend it.) At a more universal level, this might mean that you are interested in some study which requires objectivity together with openness to fresh insight.

Finally: "This denotes what the Greek cynic, Diogenes, was looking for with his lantern. A man. Yes, a man among men. One who will spontaneously elicit the goodwill and plaudits of his fellow-men. Thousands will look up to him for light and for guidance. It is possible he may initiate a new epoch, or prove himself the founder of a new philosophy." Hmm. Could it be one of the winners of Monday's Iowa primary? Bernie? His followers will say so! It could be Hillary, but really?  It is certainly not Donald Trump, but it could be Rand Paul. Maybe even John Kasich. But I shall not indulge in politics here. This is the symbol for Jupiter's position, which is in Virgo, Bernie Sanders's sign. It may be that the symbol indicates any or all of the candidates according to the way they are viewed, so that to some this "man among men" would be Donald Trump. I think they are seriously confused. To others it could be Hillary. I wish I could believe in her but have serious trouble. But, as I said, no politics. This shall certainly be a fascinating race. And I really wish someone of the above description would win it, and the Presidency . . . 

Soon we will look at the same fortnightly chart with the Sabian symbols rather than Charubel's.

Meanwhile, for Monday:

Moon in Scorpio   < **

moon leaves the < Via Combusta at  2:07a PT | 5:07a ET | 10:07a UT   ***

/moon goes void-of-course at 4:36p PT | 7:36p ET | 0:36a(Tu) UT   ** /

It's not a bad day for an election with Luna sextile Jupiter, Scorpio to Virgo. That is interesting because on the Democratic side Hillary is Scorpio and Bernie Virgo! Maybe they will both feel they have won. Will Hillary feel the Bern or Bernie climb the Hill? I shall not predict.

I would recommend reading the above Fortnightly report and choosing the paragraph or two which makes the most sense to you as something to focus on today.

{Monday} ~Man Among Men? Woman Among Women?~

Cosmic Piper

Update for Weekend Forecast (somewhat good news)

I neglected to mention in the Weekend report that not only has the moon been in the Via Combusta since Friday afternoon, it has also been void-of-course (in late Libra) at the same time. Combined with the Dark Hermetic Epoch this is a "triple whammy" in terms of "lostness" or confusion or, at worst, despair. I am hoping we will feel somewhat better when Luna enters Scorpio, which is very soon:

Moon enters Scorpio (no longer void-of-course) Saturday evening at 7:51p PT | 10:51p ET | 3:51a(Su) UT

And so late Saturday and all of Sunday may be less depressing or disorienting than late Friday and Saturday.

Cheers!

Hugh

Trying to Pipe

Forecast for Weekend of January 30-31, 2016

Weekend of January 30-31, 2016

}Open to High Guidance{

Regular forecasts for these two days were not posted on Friday as usually. I attended a meeting of astrologers in this area at the Maggie A. Nalbandian Memorial Library in Kirkland, Washington. It took quite a while going and coming and was a long meeting-discussion. It's always good to "chew the fat" with fellow astrologers. But it left no time for me to do the regular reports.

For this weekend, I note two salient factors:  1. The moon is in the Via Combusta for the whole weekend (until sometime Monday morning--in late Libra on Saturday and early Scorpio on Sunday) and 2. We remain in the Dark Hermetic Epoch until February 14. I am feeling the combined effect of these two indications as follows:

The Via Combusta period can result in a "loss of morale" according to Marc Edmund Jones. Why? I think because we are asked for more than we can give, or required to live up to things which seem impossible, or are challenged to understand things we have never understood and require us almost to develop our brains and minds in new ways. This is disconcerting, and probably it is seldom that we are able to rise to the occasion. Of course, it is worse or more difficult during the Dark Hermetic Epoch. 

I felt this yesterday (Friday) in a big way. And it is still going on today and probably shall tomorrow (Sunday). For example, some business details I have been working on seemed hopelessly bogged down in confusion and possible loss on Friday. I see my way out of the impasse but not without minor loss, which is dispiriting. It was a great temptation to just complain or wail or shout out in anger "I don't deserve this." I tried to contain that feeling and say "God, I don't understand why I have to go through this, but if it be your will, I shall learn what I can from the experience and then carry on as best I may." 

Then at the astrology meeting, there was some of the same. Nice friendly people, and yet our ways of speaking about our astrological awareness and experience often seemed not very meaningful to one another. We narrowly escaped arguing vociferously about certain things, by being diplomatic, but there was an undercurrent of dissatisfaction, or a feeling that one was not able to get one's own viewpoint, experience or wisdom across to the others. "Loss of morale" fits it pretty well.

The other way Marc Edmund Jones describes the moon's monthly void-of-course period is "a cosmic reshuffling." This always makes sense to me at these times, and especially during a Dark Hermetic Epoch. You might say that "the rug is pulled out from under me." It feels like that often. Now what do I do? It is a sort of "lost" feeling. One might suggest that the entire "Lost" TV series of a few years ago (I wonder how many are revisiting that? I haven't) was performed and recorded during a Via Combusta period. Of course that cannot have been true literally, but symbolically.

So if you are feeling some of that this weekend, you are not alone.

What is the solution? I can only put it in terms which make sense to me and cannot guarantee that it will coincide with your viewpoint: 

Give up to the Highest. He knows best. Or She knows best if you worship the Divine Shakti or Para Prakriti known as The Mother (in the teaching of Sri Aurobindo). This does not mean being utterly passive but attempting to understand what He, She, or That is requiring of you which you have not yet been able to understand or perform. Then you can go ahead and try your best. Feeling gratitude for what you have and ways in which you have been protected, when you feel loss, or lack of protection or guidance, is very helpful. 

In Judaeo-Christian terms, here is this from Psalm 32: (From the disciple to the Lord, verse 7:) "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble."

(From the Lord to the disciple, verse 8:) "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."

Memorizing and repeating these has helped me today.

{Saturday and Sunday} {Open to High Guidance}

Cosmic Piper