Monthly Archives: February 2023

Presidential Cycles

In my book, Tecumseh’s Curse, I studied the cyclic patterns in Inauguration charts.  Since all three previous Sun-Saturn administrations “were limited in time and by circumstances,” I still think Joe Biden will be a one-term president.

Previous Sun-Saturn presidencies faced contentious issues.  Examples are Zachary Taylor (1849), Rutherford B. Hayes (1877) and JFK (1961).  In each, the country was divided as we addressed major conflicts regarding race, so I felt that “racial justice will once again feature during the 2021 administration,” which has proven to be true.

I expected previous Sun-Uranus and Sun-Pluto administrations to show similarities to 2021 as well.  These cyclic patterns indicated that “financial affairs were often highlighted, with important changes in policies and trends,” the “political parties themselves underwent change,” and “the country’s territory, alliances and antagonisms came to the forefront.”  We can already see how these influences have played out in the first half of the Biden administration with inflation, recession and rising interest rates; the changes in both parties notable in Congress; and developments involving relationships with China and Russia in particular.

I believe that planetary cycles are an extremely important forecasting tool.  They reveal the patterns of history, and how certain themes are reiterated with each new generation.  Since Joe Biden, inaugurated with the Sun conjunct Saturn, is presumed to be running for president again in 2024, I’m not sure exactly how things will play out, but time and further astrological study will tell.

Read more about my book Tecumseh’s Curse:  Indigenous Wisdom, Astrology and the Deaths of U.S. Presidents.

The Milky Way

To start her new book, The Milky Way: an Autobiography of our Galaxy, Moiya McTier reminisces about her relationship with her “celestial mom and dad” – the Sun and Moon.  As a girl in rural Pennsylvania, she felt they watched over her, and she’d speak with them regularly, sharing her news and feelings:  “I sought comfort from the Moon well into my adolescence.” 

And no, she’s not an astrologer.  She considers herself both an astrophysicist and folklorist (which is probably about as close as you can get) who found “science and myth weren’t as contradictory as they seemed on the surface.  Both are tools that we humans use to understand how we fit in with the rest of the universe.”  I suspect that McTier represents a new generation of astronomers who don’t find astrology quite as threatening, offensive or absurd as those who came before them.  In fact, she goes so far as to have the Milky Way say that “You might think they [astrologers] would annoy me but I like them; they remind me of my sufficiently awestruck ancestors.”

The marvelously organic conceit of the book is that it’s dictated by the Milky Way galaxy itself, who’s charming and pompous at the same time, as well as all-knowing, even admitting that, “consciousness is an inherent quality of the universe.”  I loved the idea that a galaxy’s black hole holds their angst and negativity.  This is a far cry from the typically materialistic astronomers we’ve come to know.

Dr. McTier mentions lots of sky myths from around the world, as the Milky Way waxes nostalgic for a time when humanity was more connected with the cosmos.  Much of the astronomical information is accessible and even entertaining due to the Milky Way’s compelling persona; but some of it was still a bit too technically involved for this astrologer’s taste (reminding me that we, too, have the same problem communicating more detailed astrological analyses to the inexperienced).

They still don’t know exactly what dark matter is, though it comprises over a third of the universe.  And there are only about 10,000 astronomers and 1,000 radio astronomers in the world.  We exponentially outnumber them, interestingly enough.  The Milky Way admits that measuring galactic distances is very derived and indirect, a thought that’s often struck me, too.  A defense of astrophysics is that “some sciences are observational in nature, not experimental,” and related critiques have regularly been leveled at astrologers by skeptics.

Often accessible, The Milky Way is a refreshing and informative journey through the history of the cosmos.  On her website, McTier says she was born in 1995, giving her the Uranus-Neptune conjunction in Capricorn signature of the times, which perhaps explains her gentler, more inclusive astronomical point of view.  It’s notable that Dr. Percy Seymour’s The Scientific Basis of Astrology and Dr. Anthony Aveni’s Conversing with the Planets were both published in 1992, when the Uranus-Neptune conjunction was already nearly exact; both seemed to open the door to broadening views of astrology.

As Moiya McTier has not yet reached her first Saturn return, I’m eager to see where the coming years take her and what other topics she’ll address in the future.

Buy The Milky Way on Amazon.com.

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Birthday Twin Tragedy

Tyre Nichols and Breonna Taylor are birthday twins – an astounding astrological fact.  They were both born on June 5, 1993, Tyre in Sacramento CA and Breonna in Grand Rapids, MI.  We don’t have birth times for either of these young people, but we can gain some insights from their noon charts.

Tyre’s mother, RowVaughn Wells said at his funeral that, “my son was sent here on an assignment from God…”  With this unique synchronicity, I think we have to agree. 

The two were born a day after a total lunar eclipse, sometimes referred to as a “Blood Moon” since the Moon appears reddish in color.  Many people were born near this date, so it certainly doesn’t imply violent outcomes for all.  But the symbolism in these cases is chilling.

Eclipses can make for eventful lives.  Lunar eclipses are full Moon charts that may bring things to light.  The lives and deaths of Breonna and Tyre both highlighted irresponsible and abusive law enforcement practices.

The Sun in Gemini conjoined the South Node, and Mercury in Cancer was Out of Bounds in declination.  Mercury also very closely conjoins the U.S. Jupiter – symbol of justice and the law.  So we can see why their legacy has made them messengers and teachers of important lessons for the U.S.

The most notable thing about the charts to me is how normal they seem.  There’s a Moon-Venus-Mars grand trine and many flowing aspects.  I don’t believe either had essential problems with authority figures, since Saturn is very well aspected.  There’s also an openness of expression in the Sun-Mercury-Jupiter T-square.

Mars in Leo gives courage and a love of life.  But its inconjunct aspects to the generational Uranus-Neptune conjunction might show the forces outside of their own control that overtook them.  And while Mars square Pluto in Scorpio gives perseverance, focus and self-sufficiency, this aspect might point to the tragic violence that they both encountered.  We’d need full horoscopes to say more.

Breonna’s mom reveals that Breonna and Tyre shared the same birthday.