Pluto in Capricorn Blues

Pluto in Capricorn has a lot to do with bureaucracy, combining the concepts of control, authority and time. Since late 2008, when Pluto entered Capricorn, dealing with “red tape” and “the system” has gotten a lot more complicated. Capricornian delays seem to haunt me (and I don’t even have a heavy Saturn aspect right now).

I’ve just spent nearly an hour on the phone with my mom’s doctor’s office and health insurance provider, trying to correct her address and facilitate a referral. I feel like I’ve accomplished nothing, but I did discover that her insurance switched her to a lesser plan without contacting us!

Customer service is rarely helpful these days, especially in larger firms, and the representatives on the phone or online have very limited authority, often providing incorrect information. It’s an uphill battle dealing with companies like EmblemHealth, Verizon, Pitney Bowes (probably the worst culprit in my experience) and any number of banks and financial institutions. When I stopped at a local Chase branch to ask a simple question about my mom’s account, it also took me over half an hour. The first clerk seemed to be too insecure to commit to an answer, and the second repeatedly tried to sell me products that I didn’t want.

Management has put down rigid lines of communication and removed themselves from customer satisfaction. The supervisors that I often demand to speak with are also limited in what they can accomplish. Things just seem to take longer to get done – and I have less time to do them in. I’m often too stressed, annoyed and frustrated to even follow through on getting what I need.

It’s reminiscent of a mountain goat trudging endlessly up an escalator in order to avoid being dragged into a bottomless pit. Pluto will be in Capricorn throughout 2023. Got a good set of trudging shoes?

Venus Retrograde on Twitter

I’ve been tracking Venus retrograde on Twitter since March 1 to see how it was reflected in the news and my own life. I couldn’t have been more surprised at the number of major news stories that blatantly relate to Venus retrograde!

Venus rules women, finance and property through its connection with Taurus. But relationships, the law and the courts 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. We can consider Venus-ruled issues from a different perspective.

When I started, it took a little effort to find the news stories. Two weeks into the process, I have more Venus retrograde news items than I can research and summarize. Venus retrograde is all over the news. The Day Without a Woman protests, the impeachment of South Korea’s first female president, the Marines sharing of nude photos online, Donald Trump’s revisions of his immigration ban and Obamacare are just a few. Other top stories include a Mercedes-Benz recall, the Pope suggesting that possibility of married priests, and Michael Jackson’s ranch returning to the market.

Venus is retrograde until April 15. Follow my coverage on Twitter!

Quantum Mechanics and Astrology

I read science books from time to time, astronomy, physics, history and research topics that may relate to astrology and provide another point of view. The Cosmic Code (1982) by Dr. Heinz Pagels was one of these. Physicist Pagels wrote an accessible book about quantum mechanics, which could help explain astrology.

Einstein and others had identified a paradox called “spooky action at a distance” involving entangled atomic particles. This action is impossible according to relativity theory, but is a logical part of quantum mechanics. TechnologyReview.com describes it nicely: “Entanglement arises naturally when two particles are created at the same point and instant in space… Entangled particles can become widely separated in space. But even so, the mathematics implies that a measurement on one immediately influences the other, regardless of the distance between them.”

They are talking about particles, but the idea of being linked at the time of creation, despite distance between particles, is very resonant of distant planets continuing to have an influence on us after birth.

What was most vivid to me in Heinz Pagels book was his strong argument against action at a distance. It seemed to me that he was speaking from a bias. Much of what he’d explained about quantum mechanics made action at a distance seem logically possible. Either he couldn’t reconcile it with relativity theory or action at a distance smacked too much of metaphysics to make sense to him. But physicists have, in fact, since proven that action at a distance is real.

The most ironic thing about The Cosmic Code, though, was the ending. In it, Dr. Pagels, a mountain climber, shared a recurring dream he had about falling while climbing. He did not become upset, but poetically concluded that, “I realized that what I embody, the principle of life, cannot be destroyed… It is written into the cosmic code, the order of the universe. As I continued to fall in the dark void, embraced by the vault of the heavens, I sang to the beauty of the stars and made my peace with the darkness.”

Dr. Heinz Pagels fell to his death while mountain climbing in Aspen on July 24, 1988. Though he probably wouldn’t have accepted it, I believe he foresaw his own demise. No surprise, as he had a stellium of the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Jupiter all in the often psychic, transcendental water sign of Pisces. This also explains his emotional bias in his thoughts in the action at a distance paradox.

Heinz Pagels was born on February 19, 1939 in New York City.

The Cosmic Code at Amazon.com: The Cosmic Code: Quantum Physics as the Language of Nature (Dover Books on Physics)

Big T-square Time

My life has felt chaotic lately and people around me seem to be having the same experience. The wild and woolly T-square of Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto certainly has something to do with it, and Mars in Aries will activate the pattern (while conjoining Uranus) from mid-February through the 1st week of March. Jupiter opposes Uranus exactly at the same time and goes on to square Pluto in early April. Eclipses on February 10 and 26 only heighten the charged astrological atmosphere. Mars, Jupiter and Uranus are also close in declination, further accentuating their connection.

The last gasp of the long-term Uranus-Pluto square has been bumped up a few notches with the addition of Jupiter and Mars. This creates an unsettled feeling, leading to fast-moving events, sudden developments that are then drawn out, people over-reacting, or the necessity to think and act quickly.

Only thing is, while Pluto trined my Moon last month, the rest of these planets aren’t particularly close to hitting anything in my chart. It doesn’t matter. With so many planets involved, this T-square is out there and we’ll all experience it one way or another: directly, through those close to us, or through events in the environment that touch our lives. Those whose horoscopes are more closely hit by these planets will experience much more dynamic change in their lives.

New York City and Uranus

In January, New York City announced wireless access on all subway platforms, and the new Second Avenue subway line opened. These sound like Uranian innovations, and transiting Uranus is beginning to heat up the City’s Moon, closely conjoining it from April 2017 through early 2018. What can we expect? Let’s see what happened last time.

Uranus previously conjoined the NYC Moon at 26 Aries 40 from mid-1933 to early 1934. Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, a Republican supporter of FDR’s New Deal, was elected on a reform ticket as the City finally broke away from the Tammany Hall political machine. This seems appropriate since Uranus conjoining the Moon suggests a definitive turning point and new ways of doing things. Similarly, Federal Prohibition was repealed on 12/5/33 and the corruption that accompanied it also began to be driven out of the City.

The Moon also relates to the home and property, as well as larger-scale projects for entities like cities. There were important developments in housing and transportation in ’33-’34. Public works projects were begun, such as Knickerbocker Village, the first Federally funded apartment complex for low to middle income people. The Uranian principles of modernization, reorganization, circulation and electrification combined as NYC transit also expanded at that time; additional subway lines to Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens were opened.

Looking ahead, it appears that developments in transportation will continue. There’s also been some progress made in affordable housing recently (see this New York Times article). Uranus’ influence suggests that innovative programs might continue to help. Mayor Bill deBlasio has made affordable housing a priority of his administration. He is up for re-election in November of 2017.

Uranus is often unpredictable. As we approach its exact conjunctions with the NYC Moon, other surprising innovations should develop.

Greater New York came into being on January 1, 1898 at 12:01 AM.

NCGR Geocosmic Review

Scott Silverman spun an essay on Evangeline Adams, and 1920s astrology and mysteries from his review of my book, The Precious Pachyderm, in the Winter issue of NCGR’s Geocosmic Journal. (This is a great issue edited by Leigh Westin, and includes articles by Bill Meridian, Christeen Skinner, David Perloff and Meira Epstein, among many others.)

“Christino’s mystery novel is engaging, well plotted and paced, with dialogue that feels true to the time. I didn’t stumble across a single anachronistic historical detail, although, non-spoiler alert, EA does stumble across her fair share of shady operators, elephant aficionados and hard boiled detectives. After all, it’s a mystery.

High society matrons, condescending cops, delightful dog-walkers, and enigmatic emissaries of eastern mysticism are all present and accounted for as compelling secondary characters.”

More about The Precious Pachyderm here

Buy Kindle version — The Precious Pachyderm (An Evangeline Adams Mystery Book 1)
Buy print version — The Precious Pachyderm (An Evangeline Adams Mystery) (Volume 1)

Horoscope Guide Review

Ken Irving wrote an upbeat and positive review of my book The Precious Pachyderm: An Evangeline Adams Mystery in the March, 2017 issue of Horoscope Guide (see below). (The magazine also includes Jackie Sleven’s forecast, Tomorrow’s News and an article on Venus retrograde.)

“Move over, Miss Marple! There’s a new detective in the neighborhood and her name is…Evangeline Adams. Yes, really, the famous American astrologer finds herself embroiled in a case involving a dead businessman, a valuable item gone walkabout, and herself as the prime suspect. Though Adams is not alone in trying to work out the problem of who (her two assistants do a lot of the legwork), she is thinking astrologically all the way along. In fact, given the problems to be worked out, at times we can feel a little sorry for Ms. Adams living in the era she did, as it would have been nice for her to have a PC or a smart-phone app rather than an ephemeris and a supply of pencils, pens, and horoscope blanks. No matter, as our intrepid astrologer digs in and saves the day. This fun tale is, by the way, written by the author of the definitive biography of the real-life astrologer, What Evangeline Adams Knew. Grab a copy and settle in for a good read.”

More about The Precious Pachyderm here

Buy Kindle version — The Precious Pachyderm (An Evangeline Adams Mystery Book 1)
Buy print version — The Precious Pachyderm (An Evangeline Adams Mystery) (Volume 1)

Baldwin as Trump

Alec Baldwin is the new face of Donald Trump. How do their horoscopes compare?

Baldwin has a ring of sextiles in his chart – Pluto to Jupiter to Saturn to Venus to Mercury and back to Pluto with a trine, completing the circuit. This near-Star of David pattern has given him success over the years, and Donald Trump’s Ascendant and rising Mars fall right on top of it. Most significantly, Baldwin’s Saturn conjoins Trump’s Moon and trines his Ascendant and Mars. These aspects from Saturn are classic connections that are often seen in long-term partnerships.

In addition, Baldwin’s Pluto conjoins Trump’s Ascendant and Mars, so he’s transforming him and manipulating his image (which makes Trump angry, of course!) Another telling combination is Trump’s Neptune closely conjoining Baldwin’s Moon in his 3^rd house. Donald Trump inspires him and he eerily mimics his speech patterns in his uncanny imitation.

Alec Baldwin will experience his Saturn return this year, stabilizing his career and heightening his connections with Trump. In addition, he’ll have his Jupiter return this fall, also activating his major sextile pattern and increasing his exposure. It’s a good bet that he’ll keep appearing in the role of Donald Trump.

Alec Baldwin was born on April 4, 1958 in Amityville, New York, according to Wikipedia.

Goodreads Giveaway!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Your Wedding Astrologer

by Karen Christino

Giveaway ends January 28, 2017.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

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NY’s Second Avenue Subway

What’s the horoscope of a subway look like? Manhattan’s Second Avenue subway left 57th Street and 7th Avenue for the first time at 12:01 PM on New Year’s Day, 2017, according to AM New York. The train extends service in the Upper East Side to 96th Street.

Mercury retrograde in the 9th house already provided a broken elevator at 86th Street, a locked women’s room, and a recording announcing delays from “train traffic ahead.” But as Mercury also sextiles Mars and Neptune, the ride was completed successfully.

The Moon conjoins and exactly parallel’s Venus in Aquarius in the 11th house, with both trining Jupiter in Libra. Jupiter indicates large-scale transit, and conjoins the 7th house cusp, insuring popularity. Real estate commentators expect prices in the surrounding neighborhoods to rise. As Venus rules the 2nd house of money and the Moon rules the 4th of property, their trine to Jupiter confirms this obvious assessment. The Sun in Capricorn at the Midheaven and conjoining Pluto also suggests an important business transformation.

The most dynamic configuration in the chart is a close angular T-square of Uranus rising opposite Jupiter on the Descendant, with both squaring Pluto in the 10th house. Astrologically it appears that this extension is both notable and innovative. Pluto in Capricorn’s influence echoes the fact that it’s taken over 70 years to replace the Second Avenue elevated train that was demolished in the 1940s. The MTA promises more efficient travel times for many, but it appears that there may be some significant issues to resolve before that becomes a reality.

The next planned phase will extend the line to Harlem.