Whole Astrology

 n New Moon Scorpio 7 degrees October 30, 2016 As we prepare to celebrate Halloween, the Scorpio New Moon brings us passion and power, not to mention a bit of spookiness. The Sun, Moon, and Mercury join the asteroid Juno in the sign of the Scorpion/Eagle/Dove. We could be dealing with stubborn wills, especially from women at this time. And we're still marching through the season of Cardinals with Jupiter pulling into a wide T-Cross with Uranus (and Ceres) and Pluto/Mars. Again, Mars and Pluto (just like with the Aries New Moon), provide the apex for this T-Cross and the Sign of Cancer provides the outlet even though we don't have any planets in Cancer at this time. This means that political and other battles heat up as people clash wills and ideologies. We want to label everything and everyone while passing on generalizations off as facts, especially with Saturn in Sagittarius. We also see a lot of control and manipulation of information in the form of censorship. Thi

I'm updating this Libra post from October 2015. This year, Jupiter transits in Libra (transit ends in October of 2017). And in October, Mercury transits in Libra from the 8th until the 24th so communication will have a balanced approach with an eye on justice. Watch out for Mars transiting in Capricorn, especially around the 16th of October when it couples with Pluto. The Libra New Moon on September 30 brings harmony and a warm feeling in most relationships. However, the Aries Full Moon on October 16, tells a different story and is more eruptive and volatile. All and all Libra, you have an active autumn with T-Crosses occurring once again in the Cardinal Signs (Libra, Aries, and Capricorn). Look for dramatic and subtle changes happening in the areas where Libra, Aries, and Capricorn are on the cusps of your Natal houses. Just like the previous autumn/spring, Libras, it's time to stop playing nice for the sake of other people liking you. It's time to stop putting oth

I'm thankful for the relaxing Libra New Moon that falls on September 30 since the Aries Full Moon which lands (like a thud) on October 16, 2016, reminds me of a raging dragon. It's a fiery beast that could easily get out of control as it will be a challenge to contain the Cardinal Energy that erupts around the Full Moon. First, let's look at what an Aries Full Moon in itself represents. The Sign Aries represents spring, new beginnings, starting fresh, green sprouts, children, and our child self. Aries want to play in a competitive way and they need to come first. The negative side of Aries is rash behavior, people throwing tantrums, the terrible twos, fevers, tempers, fire starters, police action, youth riots, and selfishness. But on the other hand, some Aries are courageous and have the energy of Archangel Micahel. Some Aries come in the form of emergency response workers, others as pioneers and others as fools for love. People with a lot of fire element in their c

For intermediate astrology students and astrology professionals. In part two in the fascinating astrological gaze at French Pianist Helene Grimaud, we delve into the Capricorn years which span from 1988 to 1990 when Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune transited in Capricorn and formed a Triple Conjunction in Helene's Natal First House. She was between 18 and 20 years of age, while just emerging onto the symphonic concert stage. Quotes from Wild Harmonies (A Life of Music and Wolves) by Helene Grimaud, Riverhead Books, New York, 2006. We'll be looking at several charts ranging from July 1988 when Neptune moved into Capricorn and crossed Grimaud's Ascendant (Uranus and Saturn were in the last degrees of Sagittarius) to August 7, 1989 when Uranus, Saturn and Neptune had all transited into Grimaud's First House in Capricorn. Her Ascendant is at 4 degrees Capricorn. Since I'm also a musician (five years older than Helene) and have my Capricorn Ascendant at 6 degrees

The last thought that comes into our minds while we sit in a concert hall watching a virtuoso pianist are wolves. Unless we are watching a production of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf. Yet, even the late Canadian pianist Glenn Gould sported a love for animals.  I once read that he dreamed of buying an island to house unwanted animals. And he was a vegetarian. So why was so I delightfully surprised when I learned that French pianist Helene Grimaud founded a wolf conservation center in New York? Originally, I pitched an article on Grimaud to Mountain Astrologer and the editor rejected my pitch. So I stuffed my research notes and charts into a folder and tried to forget about it. Only I found my research compelling enough to revisit it during this Mercury Retrograde (Virgo which rules details and research, along with Scorpio). And Grimaud just happens to have her Jupiter in Libra along with her Natal Venus, Uranus, and Moon. So it will be interesting to see what 'refinement&

I heard about the Standing Rock Protests which are Native American tribes gathering to fight the building of the oil (tar sands) pipeline across the United States near the Missouri River. I'm posting this video here because it is directly related to the Pisces Lunar Eclipse coming up on September 16, 2016. Watch this one heat up. Hopefully, Jupiter in Libra brings social justice and environmental justice. I am, for the record, against this pipeline and I promote alternative energy and sustainable lifestyles. The Saturn-Neptune Square plays a role here too. I see the Native American people represented by Sagittarius and with Saturn in Sagittarius are placing restrictions on the oil pipeline and the fossil fuels industries. Neptune rules oil and fossil fuels. This should get real interesting.

photo by Patricia Herlevi If I hadn't grabbed my Planetary Guide I would not have noticed the Libra New Moon that falls on September 30, 2016. For some people this new moon falls on October 1st (it all depends where you are in the world). I will say that as an astrologer I am having a challenging time keeping up with the planets this year. Every year grows more challenging than the previous one. The moons alone keep me on my toes, but fortunately, this Libra New Moon is tame in comparison to what we have experienced earlier this year. So let's take a glance at the chart for the Libra New Moon for 2016. And for whatever reason I see Louise Hay in my mind's eye since she represents the quintessential Libra to me. She's also the Queen of Affirmations which gives us an indication of the energies of this new moon. Before I get started with the chart, let's remember that Jupiter has moved into Libra by the time of this new moon. That means the moon will connec

I'm sitting here feeling the effects of the Virgo Solar Eclipse while I write the post for the Pisces Lunar Eclipse for September 16, 2016. I just returned to Bellingham from a holiday in Seattle and I just moved into a house (after searching for a permanent home for 12 months).  The Saturn-Neptune Square and Mercury retrograde expressed itself through disorientation and confusion while I tried to make myself across a city I once knew for 21 years. Oh, how times have changed! And that's what we can expect from this upcoming Lunar Eclipse in Pisces--a dissolution of matter, experiences, and a feeling of times changing forever. Now you see it, now you don't has been the biggest message of the Saturn Neptune Square which we have experienced during this year. I keep mentioning the Season of Mutables too and I can't emphasize the importance of the transformation these transits bring us. Now, I felt incredibly sad as I traveled around Seattle and wondered where my old