Monthly Archives: April 2017

Saturn and NYC Transit

New York City’s Penn Station experienced two train derailments in less than two weeks – a New Jersey Transit slow-speed derailment on April 3 and an Amtrak partial derailment on 3/24/17. In addition, there was a Long Island Railroad service train derailment on 2/8, and a LIRR morning commuter train crashed into Atlantic Terminal on 1/4. What’s going on?

The horoscope for Greater New York has Venus conjunct Mars in Sagittarius in its 3rd house of transportation, which trines the Moon in the 7th in Aries. These planets in fire signs show the importance of transit to New York and the many different railroad, bus and subway systems that speed through the City each day.Penn Station delays

But with Saturn in Sagittarius stationing near both Venus and Mars this month, transit has been snarled. Saturn takes its time, and may create delays. As it stationed, Saturn remained less than a degree and a half from conjoining Mars. This is one of those aspects that tends to have a definitive effect. It can cause damages, equipment failure and human error. On the plus side, new ferry service from Queens and Brooklyn to Manhattan begins this spring.

New York experienced its Saturn return, also in the 3rd house, in late 2015. The new Hudson River tunnel plan and Penn Station train hall on Eighth Avenue both appear to be stalled. This is the nature of Saturn, which can bring growing pains. When the 3rd house aspects are finished late this year, hopefully plans will be adjusted or solidified. Governors Cuomo and Christie have asked for a review of Penn Station’s infrastructure.

In the meantime, on Good Friday, 4/15, over a thousand New Jersey Transit commuters were trapped in an overheated train for several hours due to a power problem, and frightened crowds surged as a police Taser went off in Penn Station (Mercury retrograde aggravating the situation). Saturn backs away from NYC’s Venus and Mars in April, but will return to complete the aspects in December of 2017. Be cautious. And as the MTA often advises, allow additional travel time.

Greater New York was created on January 1, 1898 at 12:01 AM, New York, NY.

Venus Retrograde in the News II

Venus retrograde ends its six-week trek soon, and I’m looking back on its reflection in the news. I’ve tracked Venus retrograde on Twitter since March 1 and continue to be amazed at the number of major news stories obviously linked to Venus retrograde! Veus Botticelli

Venus rules women, finance and property through its connection with Taurus. Relationships, the law and court decisions are also ruled by Venus through its connection with Libra. And Venus is also a general ruler of the arts, luxury goods, contentment and well-being. The retrograde phenomenon suggests re-evaluation, revision and reversal.

Some major, ongoing stories were related to legislation and its review, including the discussions and appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, various developments in the ongoing Trump campaign-Russia investigations and immigration restrictions, reversal of North Carolina’s transgender bathroom law, and a Planned Parenthood vote in the Senate. Many of these issues addressed the Venusian concept of fairness.

Women continued to be highlighted in the news, with the first female leader of Hong Kong appointed, Angela Merkel’s meeting with President Trump and Theresa May’s beginning the Brexit process. Also featured were the Women’s USA Hockey Team’s threatened boycott and the US Gymnastics sex abuse Congressional hearings. In entertainment, retro-inspired Broadway shows included War Paint about women cosmetics entrepreneurs, a revival of Sunset Boulevard with Glenn Close, and Bette Midler in Hello, Dolly!

An ongoing business story was the continued closing of retail brick-and-mortar stores like Sear’s, Macy’s, Kmart and even Ralph Lauren. Home prices have been rising across the country due to a lack of inventory.

It’s always challenging to separate out astrological influences, but this Venus Retrograde was amazingly clear! Venus will be retrograde until April 15. Follow my coverage on Twitter!

Understanding Arcturus

My article, Understanding Arcturus: the Gateway to Higher Realms, appears in the April-June issue of Venture Inward. My research into the psychic Edgar Cayce’s readings on this star was illuminating and surprising. Arcturus002

Cayce’s reports that Arcturus is a gateway to higher levels of consciousness and other dimensions are reiterated in many ways. The challenge in coming to an astrological interpretation based on Cayce’s material is that we are stuck here on three-dimensional Earth!

Below is an excerpt from my article. (Venture Inward magazine is available through membership in the A.R.E.)

Edgar Cayce mentioned the Star Arcturus in more than 30 of his psychic readings, beginning in 1928. New Age enthusiasts have championed Arcturus as a “gateway” to higher realms of consciousness that can have a profound effect on people’s lives. But what is Arcturus really all about? Why is it important? We have only to turn to the readings themselves to learn the answers to these questions.

In understanding Arcturus, it’s important to consider the readings’ repeated descriptions of the soul’s dwelling in other planetary spheres between earthly incarnations. Cayce in his trance state often spoke about astrology, and Cayce’s readings asserted that astrological aspects provide tendencies or inclinations only – the will or personal determination may surpass them. But the readings added a further dimension – the influence of the individual’s environment, including previous incarnations on the earth, as well as planetary sojourns. A planet’s theme may be accentuated in a person’s consciousness due to the fact that the soul had a past experience – an incarnation or sojourn – in that planetary sphere. (Reading 5733-3 gives a good overview of these concepts.)

Arcturus is a star and well outside of our planetary system, yet it somehow functions as a center for our sun and planets. As Cayce said in a reading,

Arcturus is that junction between the spheres of activity as related to cosmic force, and is that about which this particular environ or sphere of activity rotates… (263-15)

(To read about membership in Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E. or download an earlier issue of Venture Inward maggazine, click here.)