Amazon.com is pushing the old (2002) version of Foreseeing the Future: Evangeline Adams and Astrology in America and only brings up the new version in digital. (They must have some in stock that they’re discounting.)
If you’re interested in the 2019 update, please use this link, and be sure to order the cover featured here.
Over 200 years after her death, Jane Austen’s popularity continues to soar. Her numerous book spin-offs include plays, film adaptations, soft-core porn sequels and even things like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. With Neptune rising in her horoscope, it appears that everyone can see something different in Austen.
Neptune conjoining the Ascendant in Virgo in Jane’s chart makes her work multi-layered. Her books give us her personal impressions and are true-to-life reflections of daily concerns that strike a chord with readers, perhaps because there is usually some romanticism and often the suggestion of happy endings. But typical of Neptune, we don’t even know what she looked like!
Austen may not always be what she appears, especially as Neptune squares her 4th house Sun in Sagittarius. Commentators have seen her as a conservative, a house-mouse and a feminist (she never married and while tied to her family, she produced great novels). Her Mercury in Sag. in the 3rd attests to her need to write, and it opposes Uranus in the 9th house, giving her an independent outlook. Jupiter in Gemini in the 9th shows her education and the ability to publish, especially as it trines her Moon and Saturn straddling the 2nd house cusp. This aspect is probably part of what has continued to keep her books popular with readers, as Saturn can bring longevity. (While she sold some work during her lifetime, Jane did not make much money at it.) Venus in Scorpio indicates her deep feelings.
The Moon in Libra conjoining Saturn gives Austen a consistent interest in relationships, which were both persistent (especially those with women) and limited (she quickly broke off an engagement). The Moon and Saturn also square Mars in Capricorn in her 4th house, suggesting responsibilities and obligations to the home and family. Her life had limitations. Saturn squaring Pluto in Capricorn shows her pragmatic and realistic side. The Sag. and Capricorn planets combine to make her work both humorous and ironic.
With Pluto trining the writer’s Ascendant in 2020 and returning to its natal place in 2021, the recycling of her brand will probably continue. Hopefully some of it will get to the heart of what makes Jane Austen special.
Jane Austen was born on December 3, 1775 at around 11:45 pm in Steventon, Hampshire, England, according to a letter from her father – see Astrodatabank.
Helena Kelly’s feminist analysis, Jane Austen, Secret Radical, deconstructs Austen’s life and work and provides an encyclopedic look at the history and culture of the time.
I’m thrilled and flattered to see Ken Irving’s review of the update of my book Foreseeing the Future in the May 2019 issue of Horoscope Guide magazine. He says, 
“Karen Christino’s revised edition of the outstanding Evangeline Adams biography Foreseeing the Future may be the same story, but it covers Adams’ life in more depth than the first edition, so Christino has taken her original, unique history of an American astrologer, and made it much, much better. If you already have the original on your shelf, get the revised edition. If you have never come across the original, buy this newer edition. Karen Christino is a wonderful writer, and this is a wonderful book to read.”
For more on the book and links to order, click here.
New York’s Commissioner of Health and Mayor de Blasio just ordered mandatory vaccinations for all people in four zip codes in Williamsburg, Brooklyn who haven’t demonstrated immunity to the measles. It seems like NYC is caving in to its 9th house Neptune, exaggerating people’s fear as well as their reliance on modern science and medicine. It highlights the fact that in almost all broadcast media, science and medicine are universally judged to be both “good” and “right.”
One might understand ordering unvaccinated children to stay home from school, as they also did in Rockland County (though the order was struck down by a judge). I don’t like to court controversy, and frankly I’m not sure what I’d do if I had kids.
This is a disease that 60 years ago was considered “not particularly dangerous in the young, unless they are exposed to a severe drought of cold air. In old age it is much more dangerous and deaths from it are not infrequent.” (World Scope Encyclopedia, 1958) Adults can certainly make up their own minds. In my parents’ day, measles was considered an expected disease that many experienced in childhood (it shouldn’t be confused with Rubella or German measles, which may be dangerous to unborn children).
As of today, the New York City Department of Health reports that there are “285 confirmed cases of measles in Brooklyn and Queens since October.” 228 of them were in Williamsburg, the neighborhood that now has the mandated vaccinations. That’s about 38 cases a month for six months. Not really an epidemic.
Measles comes and goes and has never been completely eradicated. Yet if you listen to our scientifically-minded officials, we’re in a state of emergency. Neptune is leading them to a place of hysteria. We are not talking about Typhoid Mary here!
As astrologers, we know that science generally attacks our beliefs. They are now going further. My objection to the Court Order has to do with the general reliance our society has on western medicine. While we have to admit that they can be helpful at times, my own experience, as well as those of my family and many friends, is that doctors over-test, over-treat and over-prescribe. These things often weaken the body further. And of course the system is in a shambles. I wish I could find a medical doctor who could get to know you and give you sound advice. In my experience, they have always been few and far between. They, too, are squeezed by the insurance companies and are also earning a lot less than they used to.
Any evening news will routinely report on the latest scientific developments and breakthroughs. Most of them relate to pharmaceuticals. What they don’t tell you is that most of these are in very early preliminary trials. And if you pay attention, you’ll notice that they usually exhibit an extremely strong bias toward science. I have yet to read or hear – except in a few special interest publications or independent websites – any opposing views. Isn’t there room for disagreement?
The Saturn and Pluto stations this month conjoin the City’s 4th house Mercury in March, suggesting paranoia and control, and the Nodes are involved in that pattern too. Jupiter is stationing near the midpoint of The City’s Venus-Mars conjunction in Sagittarius, and opposite its Neptune in the 9th: an over-reaction.
It’s such a common movie and TV plot: a person is at a crossroads and they don’t know what to do. Should they marry X? Go to school? Change jobs? There’s a lot of drama before the protagonist makes the right (or wrong!) decision. It often leaves me thinking that, if they’d just go to an astrologer, things would be a lot easier.
Astrology can answer so many questions of life, perhaps especially those 
related to the angular houses of self-expression, relationships, career, home and family. A horoscope is like a map or compass showing your life’s pattern. While it can’t provide specifics, it can often tell us more about all of the following:
The areas of life and types of experiences that should come easily to us;
Where challenges could occur, with suggestions to overcome them;
How to best develop your talents;
What to expect from partners, superiors, lovers and friends;
How uncontrollable events may impact on you and how to best address them (things from the outside world, culture or society);
Where your greatest opportunities could appear and when to expect them;
If it’s better to get married now, later or never;
How to maximize your assets;
How to overcome your liabilities;
The types of career that you could succeed in and what to expect along the way;
If a problem is temporary or long-term, when and how it may be resolved;
And much more! In fact, for every area of life, there’s probably an astrologer who can give you more insight.
The Kitchn followed my suggestions for gifts for Aquarius and Pisces — cute ideas!
My mother’s old friend Dot died recently. They had met in a metaphysical group in the 60s and stayed in touch over many decades, sharing a love of astrology and mystical subjects.
Dot had the Sun conjunct Venus in the 7th house. Her obituary, lovingly written by her family, captured her warm, supportive and outgoing personality with reminiscences and beautiful photos. But the tribute had a major flaw – it completely ignored her great passions: astrology and the occult. Dot was psychic, she could sometimes communicate with those on the other side, and while she never practiced astrology professionally, she studied horoscopes throughout her busy life. Yet she was described primarily as “the consummate homemaker and mother.”
What happened? Why wasn’t the full person described? I think it’s more than simple sexism, and suspect that one of her children wrote the obituary, someone who didn’t understand or approve of their mother’s spirituality and metaphysical leanings. Perhaps it was simply an embarrassment to them. Or maybe they considered astrology and the occult to be things one didn’t talk about in public.
Dot was always completely open about her beliefs. Her Jupiter, ruler of her Sagittarius 9th and 10th houses, showed her dynamic faith and public profile, and was strengthened by its angular placement in her 7th house. But it was also squared by Pluto in Cancer in her 5th house of children. So her kids could be at odds with her expansive and idealistic Jupiter side. Her Moon conjunct Mercury in Scorpio in the 8th house closely trined her Pisces Ascendant, making her dedicated to those closest to her. But she was also driven to explore the mysteries of life. There can often be hidden elements to both Pisces and the 8th house. But the Moon in Scorpio rules her 5th house and is placed in the 8th, showing that her children wanted it kept secret. (Interestingly, Dot’s one out-of-body experience happened when she was pregnant.)
I hope we’re moving into a time when studies like astrology will no longer be considered taboo. Dot would’ve understood, taking it in stride with good humor. But I don’t like it. Astrologers in general suffer when one of our own leaves us unacknowledged. Let’s say a prayer for all the astrologers who have passed, forgotten or unknown. And especially for Dot, whose understanding and faith were a shining light for so many during her life.
Meira Epstein presents Sefer Yetzirah, one of the oldest Jewish mystical texts, in a new, accessible and easy to read translation with commentary. Sefer Yetzirah dates from the 1st to 3rd centuries (perhaps around the time of Vettius Valens and Ptolemy), and presents a philosophical model of creation. 
This unusual text describes the creation as a world of pure forms and ideas, a time prior to Genesis’ “In the beginning there was the Word.” Numbers, letters and the elements are the only forms. The numbers are more divine (provoking astrological parallels), the letters are connected to material creation.
Epstein’s argument that the ten “Sefirot” mentioned in the text refer to planetary spheres or motions is compelling. The twelve zodiac signs and other similarities are mentioned, and Sefer Yetzirah ends with the divine covenant with Abraham, who was traditionally connected with astrology.
I’ve never read anything quite like Sefer Yetzirah before, and thankfully Meira Epstein places it in its historical and cultural context. It shares some ideas or influences with Gnosticism, neo Platonism and the Phythogoreans.
While contemporary western books are for the most part rather linear, this is a multilayered and organic work. The introductory sections, Sefir Yetzirah itself, the notes and the commentaries all naturally lead to other sections. Each section is completely different from the rest, and each illuminates the others in many ways, in the same way I understand the Talmud and Torah to be organized. Epstein guides us through this world, and as I become immersed in it, the book kept getting better as I went along, leading me to immediately start reading it once again from the beginning.
But what does Sefer Yetzirah represent? Is it derived from an oral tradition? A magical incantation, prayer or chant? The spare nature of the text itself leaves us with this question.
The entire work is about 200 pages, with the text itself taking about ½ the book and including the original Hebrew, transliteration for those with familiarity of Hebrew, and the English translation and notes.
The Appendices form about 1/3 of book and introduce us to a wide array of related topics in a compact form. One was more fascinating than the next, and they include introductions to the Merkavah mystics and their vision quest, the four-fold hermeneutic way of understanding scripture, the history of writing, the connection between numbers and letters in Gematria, the metaphysical and metaphorical meaning of names, the legend of the Golem, the Dead Sea Scrolls and much more.
If you’re interested in the ancient world, Jewish philosophy or mysticism, you’ll enjoy this engrossing book – a small treasure!
Buy Sefer Yetzirah at Amazon.com.
I’ve just finished the update of my biography of the famous American astrologer Evangeline Adams, Foreseeing the Future. The original was published in 2002, and with more information from newspaper databases and genealogy websites online, I’ve now filled in details on the people in Adams’ life and included more historical context.
I’ve found additional information confirming Evangeline’s forecasts and I also take a look at her sexuality, but basically it’s the same story. There are so many public domain photos now available online so I included a lot more pictures, too.
My main focus in this book has always been to document Adams’ forecasts and provide an objective look at what astrology can do, while also telling her life story. I leave it to readers to make up their own minds. I’m dismayed to see that Wikipedia’s entry on Adams has been edited in recent years. References to any of Evangeline’s substantiated forecasts have been removed. Any mention of my book has been deleted, replaced by skeptics’ opinions, tertiary and inaccurate sources, with no documentary evidence to support any statements made, despite supposed notes and references. I have no appetite to fight them, and hope the book continues to help people better understand how astrology and astrological forecasting work.
Updated print and digital versions are now available. Many thanks, as always, to Bruce Scofield and One Reed Publications for publishing the original.
For more on the book see my webpage.
To order the updated Foreseeing the Future for Kindle, click here. Or order the updated print version on Amazon.com.
Jupiter is called the greater benefic and Sagittarius is the sign where it’s most at home. Jupiter and Sagittarius think in broad terms and enjoy expansion. The combination also accentuates its meaning, as planet and sign share similar qualities. Jupiter/Sag. people often like to do things in a big way and may at times over-reach or go too far. Though we may feel that some have a lot of “hot air,” they tend to be naturally exuberant and positive people.
Jupiter entered Sagittarius, its own sign, on November 8, 2018, where it will remain until December 2, 2019. My father and two aunts had Jupiter in Sag., each born 12 years apart. They were all warm, optimistic and talkative people, with an openness and candor. They had lots of energy and an upbeat attitude, actively engaging with life and others. I found it easy to enjoy their company, as all of them laughed wholeheartedly and were good story-tellers. They each had strong opinions on certain topics, and although Sagittarius is a mutable sign, they were committed to their ideas and beliefs.
Though all were angular, with very different aspects and house placements, their expressions of Jupiter were varied. My dad worked in the legal system throughout his life. One aunt was bilingual and enjoyed travelling; the other had strong religious convictions. Some of the typical expressions associated with Jupiter and Sagittarius are experiences with the law, foreign cultures or philosophical beliefs.
Let’s look at some celebrity examples for a better idea of the many expressions of Jupiter in Sagittarius. Notice how many of these characters could easily fit into more than one category.
Philosophers: People committed to their beliefs, whether they’re astrologers or in touch with the metaphysical world, share Jupiter in Sagittarius. They may have insight into the cosmos or our connection with the divine: Howard Sasportas, Carroll Righter, Karl Ernst Krafft, Marc Edmund Jones, Antoine de St.-Exupery, Eckhart Tolle, William Blake, Henry David Thoreau, William Butler Yeats.
Like Laughter: It was easy to find comedians with this combination, as many of them have an irrepressible sense of humor, while also offering insight into life: Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler, Sacha Baron Cohen, Allison Janney, Damon Wayans, Ted Danson, Cameron Diaz, Tracy Ullman, Hugh Grant, Alan Alda, Bernadette Peters, Jim Henson, Billy Crystal, Kevin Kline, Richard Simmons, Phylicia Rashad.
Law and Politics: Government and the legal system are other natural outlets, as many legal experts and politicians share Jupiter in Sag: Justin Trudeau, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Michael Avenatti, Prince Charles, John McCain, George H.W. Bush, Janet Reno, Al Gore, Antonin Scalia.
Striking Voices: Jupiterians come across in a big way or may literally have an exuberant voice: Idina Menzel, Amy Winehouse, Carrie Underwood, Stella McCartney, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Andrew Lloyd Weber, David Mamet, Jackson Pollack, Maria Callas.
Wide Acclaim: People with Jupiter in Sagittarius are often attracted to other cultures and may reflect their ethnic heritage, share something from another culture or become widely known, even internationally: Sofia Coppola, Emma Thompson, Alan Turing, Yves Saint Laurent, Selena, Ricky Martin, Julia Child, Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens, Florence Griffith-Joyner.
Speak their Minds: Sagittarians have a need to enlighten and educate. They’re sincere truth-seekers, with faith in their ideals. Some celebrities with Jupiter in Sag. speak out on political or educational issues or are simply known for being outspoken themselves: Jada Pinkett Smith, Jane Lynch, Amber Rose, Ben Affleck, Simon Cowell, Truman Capote, Sarah Ferguson, Robert Redford.
Go too Far: The flaw in Sagittarius and Jupiter may be not knowing when to stop. Since they like to see the big picture and may enjoy gambling, some have ideological beliefs or what the Greeks called “hubris” – arrogance towards the gods or excessive pride. We can find both people and situations that typify this trait: Martin Shkreli, Edward Snowden, Lance Armstrong, Kim Jong-Un, statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee placed in Charlottesville, VA park (Lee also surrendered on a Jupiter in Sagittarius), Titanic sailing.