posted January 29, 2014 10:05 AM            

Handsome, my pirate cat, died on January 6, 2014, here at home with me, Max and Remoh, his four legged cat companions in attendance. My student Erin pointed out it was Three Kings Day. As the Three Kings were actually astrologers who followed the Star (a stellium of stars clustered together marking the birth of a King~ yes it REALLY happened that way!) to find the Christ Child, it seemed appropriate that an astrologer’s cat depart that day.

Handsome arrived as a geriatric rescue cat on Halloween 2007 ~ another great day ~ cross quarter Samhain and All Saints Day when the veils between the living and dead are the thinnest. Handsome had quite a number of fans which I found out when I posted his death notice on Facebook. Many people commented about his howling during important moments in their readings or during the radio show.

We’ve been adjusting to the changes ~ not the least of which was Handsome sitting by my side as cat wing man while I wrote the Weekly Weather column at the bright red desk. I would pet Handsome when I thought about what to write or whenever he nudged me. It seems Handsome may have been an astrologer as well as a Pirate by trade, skill and craft as we literally wrote those columns together over many, many late Sunday nights. It seems incredibly weird to be sitting here writing the column alone. We appreciate all the love, prayers and support from each of you. We miss Handsome dearly.

After Handsome died, the next day, my father’s wife lost her balance and fell backward on Dad as she was changing a smoke detector battery. They both fell to the ground with Dad breaking Peggy’s fall. It did a number to their 84 and 82 year old bodies. It looks like Dad will be moving into either assisted living or a nursing home as he is currently bedridden. I caught a wicked cold. My aunt, Dad’s sister, had hip replacement surgery. Quite a few people in my life ~ favorite clients, students, friends and family members ~ were having difficult passages, accidents or deaths in THEIR worlds so the phone calls and emails kept on coming.

Plus, I had booked a heavy schedule of speaking engagements, workshops, trainings and classes which were wonderful, joyous and busy-busy-busy in addition to all the other things going on to take advantage of Venus in Capricorn spending several months in my 11th house of Astrology!! And there were clients to see, and bills to pay… why it sounds like a Harry Chapin Song…

Do appreciate and spend time with the ones you love. When it gets right down to it, love is all we have. We never know how long we’ll have with those we love. I do love writing this column and sharing the beautiful gift of astrology with each of you. So thank you for your patience, support and kindness these past few weeks.

Handsome on the bright red desk.
The Week’s Planetary Highlights

Sun in Aquarius meets the Cross Quarter holiday, Candlemas, or as it is known here in the States “Ground Hog Day”. We wait for a large fat rodent to emerge and tell us of the future based on his shadow. We ARE halfway through winter so some good cheer must be felt! Sun’s major aspect is a closing sextile to Uranus, taking us back to March 28, 2013 when they met up and started a creative cycle which results in something now. Bit of a “I didn’t know that” kind of week but nothing too major in terms of ego development.

Mercury is in his shadow, approaching his upcoming retrograde. He has two connections with the nodes of Fate so watch for major inspiration or crystal clarity on ideas or pay attention to who you meet and what your learn about on Wednesday and Sunday. Mercury enters Pisces on Friday January 31, making communications much less clear. Change your words, change your mind, and thus change your life.
http://www.wimp.com/powerwords/

Venus in Capricorn is stationing and turning direct on Friday January 31. Time to finish up the connections with others from your past that preoccupied so much of your time and energy the last 40 days. We’ll feel her stop most of the week and part of next week. Wrap up the last bits of financial changes or adjustments. Do the financial adjustments to the various and sundry bills in your life. She ALMOST (but not quite) joins with Pluto as she opposes Jupiter bringing an overdoing energy to all things relationship or financially based. Step back from your credit cards and other financial instruments. Take profits. Think WE-WE-WE not ME-ME-ME! Focus on how Venus works for you. Her station degree is 13:33 Capricorn

Jupiter opposes Pluto on Friday January 31. The start of the current cycle at the initial conjunction took place on December 11, 2007 at 28:23 Sagittarius. This is the second of three oppositions. The first was August 7, 2013 and the third will be on April 20, 2014. We are seeing what we’ve created, the fruits of our labor so to speak.Tweak and adjust your cycle of abundance and creativity that runs until 2020 when the next conjunction of Jupiter and Pluto takes place.

Saturn is quiet this week. He 22 ½ so events from that year of your life can be up and dancing in your life. Full steam ahead on every commitment you can make. No worries if they will be revised or changed after March 2, 2014. Say yes to your life!

Void Moons in the Week Ahead: When the Moon is Void, it is wise to avoid making important decisions as they tend to be unrealistic, and subject to false starts, errors or unexpected hassles. Avoid being concerned with things beyond your spiritual center. It is time for subjective, spiritual and non-materialistic concerns. Kick back, let life flow and center yourself. Connect into your essential oneness with the Universal Forces.

Moon goes void sextile to Mercury on Jan 27, 2014 at 05:03:01 pm EST and enters Capricorn on Jan 28, 2014 at 00:05:22 am EST. Moon is void Monday night.

Moon goes void square to Mars on Jan 29, 2014 at 11:48:09 am EST and enters Aquarius on Jan 29, 2014 at 11:34:08 pm EST. Moon is void most of Wednesday

Moon goes void Trine to Mars on Jan 31, 2014 at 11:45:48 am EST and enters Pisces on Jan 31, 2014 at 10:45:38 pm EST. Moon is void most of Friday.

Moon goes void trine to Saturn on Feb 2, 2014 at 11:35:33 am EST and enters Aries on Feb 2 2014 at 11:55:40 pm EST., Moon is void most of Sunday.

Our week ahead features quite a few things to pay attention to! We have a New Moon which begins the Chinese New Year. There is more about the New Moon below.

Tension builds as two planetary brothers face off in the sky overhead, peaking on Friday. Jupiter opposes Pluto for the second of three oppositions this year. Oppositions help us see things clearly. The planet of abundance and expansion facing off with the planet of power over, death and evolution. Their argument this week presents an interesting opportunity for each of us to look at where we are feeling the need to grow versus die.

We don’t often face this kind of energy or choice: Grow versus Die. Expand versus Evolve. Luck versus Control. Freedom versus Power. Once every 13 years, Pluto and Jupiter have it out with each other. This week, they have part two of an argument that began last summer around August 7, 2013. The initial issue and story began when they joined up on December 11, 2007. Now, Jupiter and Pluto have to make a decision about what they want to do going forward. As Venus is retrograde and inserted herself into their argument, we can anticipate a love or financial element to the choice faced.

In any face off or oppositional situation in the week ahead you can be Jupiter, Pluto or Venus. You can switch between different roles all week long. Figure out who you are. Figure out who the other guy or gal is. Relationships are how we learn our lessons here on Planet Earth. We are each our own little constellation of a solar system traveling around, bringing our natal chart to bear on the other people we meet. They bring their natal chart to us and impact our solar system with their planets. The week ahead is a strong one for getting clear on what needs to happen and why. Stand true in your heart to find the right approach to take in each situation you encounter.

As Jupiter and Pluto face off, Mercury changes signs on Friday and Venus stations to turn direct. Expect the Friday and probably the rest of the weekend to hold life changing events for you. Mercury’s entry into the watery realm of Pisces indicates there could be some serious emotional undertow or currents swirling around that carry you in a new direction.

Sunday is Candlemas or the Cross-quarter day as well as Ground Hog Day. The Sun is half way through the Winter season in the Northern Hemisphere and half way through the Summer seaon in the Southern Hemisphere. Take time on Sunday morning to work some Candlemagic around releasing. Moon in Pisces trines Saturn asking each of us to understand the role of endings in our life. As we sit at the turning point of the season, the heavens invite us to reflect on our journey of life.

Remember we are in a 7 year ~ inspiring us to be spiritual, intelligent, thinking, seeking Truth (with a capital T!) and looking at the underlying, hidden secrets. Nothing is as it seems. Reality will be hidden. Illusions obscure. If we reach, quietly, into our truth center, we can hear our heart and know what is true for us. That is the most important thing. What is true for you? What is true for your heart?

There may be no clear answers ~ ambiguous and abstract ideas invite us to move forward.

Once we understand the SOURCE of the choices, we are free to make different choices or re-affirm that the choices that we have made are the things we still want.

Remember nothing is exactly as it seems ~ reality is obscured by illusions. But what illusions they are! They are the dreams and illusions of our life! What can you imagine your life to be? Jupiter is sooooo active this week inviting each of us to take action and push off in pursuit of our dream. Or maybe to walk away from a dream that no longer feeds our soul. And that is as it should be.

There is a New Moon on Thursday January 30, 2014 at 10:55 Aquarius at 4:30 pm EST. The companion phase family lunations to the New Moon, where we watch for the longer evolution and development of projects begun under the New Moon is October 30, 2014, July 31, 2015 and April 29, 2016 as the Aquarius Moon opening squares Scorpio Sun, opposes Leo Sun, and closing squares Taurus Sun respectively. Track the evolution and changes in your life across this 2 ½ year period.

The New Moon features a bucket chart with Jupiter in Cancer, retrograde, and opposite the unconsummated conjunction of Pluto and retrograde Venus in Capricorn. We’ll be seeing our relationships and connects to both the outside and inside world with clear contrasts and with distinctive outlines. Two Fingers of God, which both involve the Sun and Moon, invite us to do our Aquarian best to see the big picture and look at whatever is for the greater good. Focus on ourselves is part of life. This week, we’ll be asked to pay attention and focus toward the longer term vision and what works for the community or greater good ~ rather than short term greed or personal gain. Expect a cosmic tap on your shoulder if your focus is too much about what is in it for you. That said, the blessings will flow if it is a “win-win” for everyone. So be inclusive and connected! Look for the bigger picture, the inspiration, the dream ignited and encouraged.

The New Moon inaugurates the Chinese New Year. It is the year of the Wooden Horse, emphasizing freedom, independence, movement, fire energy and adventure. Think of the energy and spirit of horses to get an idea of how the year will proceed. With earth involved ~ Wooden Horse ~ there is more stability than with other horses. We’ve moved away from riding horses or using them for transportation. Cars are only 110 years from when Ford first mass-produced them in 1904~ for the many thousands of years before 1904, horses were the primary mode for individuals to travel and connect with other locations.

The Sabian Image for the New Moon is: DURING A SILENT HOUR, A MAN RECEIVES A NEW INSPIRATION WHICH MAY CHANGE HIS LIFE

Lynda Hill’s interpretation of the Sabian Image is:

Commentary: ‘During a Silent Hour, a Man Receives a New Inspiration’ shows someone taking some time out to contemplate, to meditate, or just to be by themselves. He ‘Receives a New Inspiration’: he receives a thought, an idea or an ‘Inspiration’ that is the answer to a dilemma or provides clues of how to proceed with something. This ‘New Inspiration May Change His Life’, an aspect of his life may be ‘Changed’- he’s had some deep understanding and it is likely to turn his life around.

Oracle: This Symbol shows the benefits of “getting away from it all” in order to reassess your life and goals. This ‘Silent Hour’ could be a short minute, a few hours, or a period of days, etc. What the Symbol shows is that a ‘New Inspiration’ will be received. Until now, you may have found that despite racking your brains there’s been no rational guidance available. It’s important to realize that there is often a lot of internal as well as external noise that needs to be quieted. The rational mind can be noisy and tends to interfere with the flow of the imagination or intuition. You need to slow down and open up to the messages of your inner ‘Inspiration’. By reducing the external noise, clutter and distraction, it becomes possible for the mind to focus on what is essential, rather than what may just be convenient. This Symbol shows that there is an answer coming, and it will probably change many things, or at least change what most needs to be changed. This can also imply the need for a shift of some kind, and this may have been forgotten, or neglected, because of preoccupations with social matters, or being too busy. Listen for clues: It may not be external voices that bring this ‘New Inspiration’ but the voices within. If there is difficulty blocking out the hustle and bustle of everyday life, meditation or delving into your dreams or fantasies may lead to the solution.

Keywords: Welling creative power. Inspiration = breathing in the spirit. Being driven to come to terms with one’s reality. Visionary people and events. Being reborn. Spiritual awakenings. Meditation and reflective thought. Inner intuitive awareness rising up into conscious awareness. Spending time alone, thinking. Contemplation. Reversals.

The Caution: Exclusion of others. Obsession with one’s self or objectives. Being a hermit. Hearing voices. Feeling trapped. Shooting off in all directions. Dropping things too quickly without resolution. Cutting off from life. Constantly changing directions. Regretting the past. Not moving on.

It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped. Anthony Robbins

They are never alone who are accompanied by noble thoughts. Philip Sidney

Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech. Plutarch

Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night. Edgar Allen Poe

Imagination is the outreaching of mind … the bombardment of the conscious mind with ideas, impulses, images and every sort of psychic phenomena welling up from the preconscious. It is the capacity to “dream dreams and see visions …” Rollo

My God is the friend of silence. See how nature-trees, flowers, grass-grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls. Mother Teresa

The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper. Eden Phillpots

Monday Moon’s day January 27, 2014 Moon in Sagittarius goes void sextile to Mercury at 05:03:01 pm EST making today exceptionally productive for moving forward with plans, ideas and dreams. Lots of fire, passion and flow encourage advances of all natures. Expansive energy pushes knowledge along and through. Moon sextiles both Mars and Mercury encouraging, connecting and relating with a fire fueled by ideas and partnership actions. Say yes to things today that further your dreams. Health matters have a positive outcome or spin today. Some ego or expression issues need to be adjusted physically but will turn out okay down the road. Mars opposition to Eris mid-morning makes folks a bit more irritated than normal. Watch for envy and jealousy to flare up and die down. Be strategic in your plans especially as relates to triangles with other people. Sometimes it is good to keep your own counsel on matters until you have enough information. Mercury’s trine to Vesta allows you to get a jump on your paperwork and information scattered around in various piles. Maybe you will even have your taxes filed? Chiron’s opposition to Pallas stirs up an old energy that needs to be looked at in a different manner. Change your dialogue about it. Notice how the change in words supports your new approach.

Mars Day Tuesday January 28, 2014 Moon enters Capricorn at 00:05:22 am EST and goes void square to Mars making today a great day to get rid of things you no longer need or want. Time to make some changes! Action!! Pack and go! Dreams are inspiring so make sure to write them down when you wake up especially if they include images of expansive things, weddings or partnerships. We start to feel Venus stopped at her degree so relationship desires and fears can kick up. Venus is getting fed energy by Jupiter and is soooooo close to Pluto she can feel his hot breath on her neck. Watch for triangle energy in relationships and communications this week. Open up those triangles and be conscious of power plays. You don’t have to do it the same old way. Or you might need to lean forward and push back a bit at situations that are feeling too aggressive. Take a deep breath, center and see where the truth of the matter lies. Moon in Capricorn is rolling through that loose cardinal cross setting off the big guys ~ take your own heart message seriously. Just because you have or want to open your heart, you don’t have to let in folks that don’t support your heart’s path. Discriminate a bit. Judge a bit. Discern a bit. It is YOUR path and YOUR life we are talking about here. There can be a bit of stress if folks threaten to leave or move away from you. Let them have their space too. Endings take place mid-day that need to end. All for the good even if you are not sure how it will work out. Trust the inevitable process of life and change is for the ultimate good of your being. Let go with an open heart if need be. Speak your truth too. Gently.

Wednesday Mercury’s Day January 29, 2014 Moon is in Capricorn and goes void square to Mars on at 11:48:09 am EST and enters Aquarius at 11:34:08 pm EST. Moon is productive in the morning for ending or stopping things from moving forward or taking action to get things changed. Moon is void in the afternoon and evening. Today things progress but perhaps not as smoothly as we might like. Sun’s sextile to Uranus wraps up and releases the creative story from March 28, 2013 when Sun started a new creative yearlong cycle with Uranus. You can be feeling a bit of stress as Venus, Jupiter and Pluto start to intensify. Mercury’s aspects add a bit of detached observations to the story. Mercury connects with the Nodes of Fate today so pay attention to who you meet, what you hear or learn, or ideas that come into your being. The invitation is being issued. Make sure to accept it ~ negotiate different terms later if you want to. Action feels blocked and delayed ~ and you need to take a break because it IS blocked and delayed for a good reason. Irritation inspires you this afternoon ~ part of you goes “Hmmm well if THAT is the case, then I am going to….” Step forward into what you are going to. In some cases, it might feel like a quick kick in the butt but it is designed to help motivate you. Or at least to get you to pay attention. Are you paying attention?

Thursday Jupiter’s day January 30, 2013 Moon is in Aquarius and goes void Trine to Mars making today a very productive, analytical and deal making day. Negotiate the terms and parameters with clarity and comfort. Dreams are full of romance and connections. Venus’ sextile to Juno makes relationships full of fun and connection in the morning. Sun’s clarity in Aquarius helps us see our patterns clearly and with affection. Today feels like things are moving along as the station of Venus builds with Jupiter opposite to Pluto taking place tomorrow. Watch out for triangles and power struggles. Make sure to shift the energy toward productively working together and uniting the energy rather than dividing it. Find common ground where you can agree. Mercury’s trine to Ceres reminds us of all the lessons we learned in kindergarten ~ Share. Be nice. Play fair. Things can easily slip into problems if you are not careful. The New Moon today starts a new two and a half year journey as well as inaugurating the Chinese New Year of the Wooden Horse.

Friday Venus’ Day January 31, 2014 Moon is in Aquarius and goes void Trine to Mars at 11:45:48 am EST and enters Pisces at 10:45:38 pm EST. Moon is void during the afternoon and early evening. The trine to Mars makes the New Moon particularly productive in accomplishing things. Today is a very busy and bustling day. Jupiter opposes Pluto, number two of three, for a face off in the heavens that ends, resolves, punctuates a 13 year story. Venus stationing and turning direct into a Morning Star increases her aggression, passion and drive. She wants what she wants when she wants it. Arriving before the Sun and heralding his eminence, she clears up and cleans up the space before he arrives. What will the Sun want!? Actually, Venus is also kind of curled up next to Pluto so she’s learning from the King’s enforcer what power is all about. Watch for power trips, power plays and power grabs. The opposition from Pluto and Venus to Jupiter can push the energy into a different place if you send it higher. It can work for the transformation of spirit and soul. Words can easily wound today. Be careful what you say to others. Mercury enters Pisces, preparing for his upcoming retrograde in Aquarius and Pisces ~ feelings and confusion in communications. Back up your computers ~ this retrograde is going to be a wild one….

Saturday Saturn’s day February 1, 2014 Moon is in Pisces and goes void trine to Saturn making the next few days productive and profitable while emotional and flowing with ideas and feelings. Today has lovely aspects for getting emotional projects or ideal and dreams accomplished. Juno’s aspect to Ceres says that partner’s desire for silence and alone time struggles with other people’s need for nurturing or connection. Try and accommodate both the need for private time and the goal of connection. Mercury’s union with Neptune suggests that you can work productively on your dream! Spend time making your dream come true today. If that feels a bit impossible for a quiet Saturday in February, spend time connecting to your inner wisdom to get a bit of clarity about what went on this week.

Sunday Sun’s day February 2, 2014 Moon goes void trine to Saturn at 11:35:33 am EST and enters Aries at 11:55:40 pm EST. Moon is void most of the day on Sunday but has lovely aspects for getting things accomplished. Candlemas marks the cross-quarter day ~ we are half way through winter on our way to spring. Mercury’s easy aspect to the Nodes of Destiny asks you to go with the flow and pay attention to who you meet. Connections, communications and ideas are profound and very helpful for your future. Take contact information! You can decide to end a situation later today ~ on some level it is time and you know it is the right thing to do. It is a productive day for accomplishing tasks, even with the void moon in the middle of the day!
Anne’s Four Radio Shows and Two Recommended Shows Recap: Listen in to the podcasts via ITunes or by the website links.

Anne’s Weekly Weather: A big week awaits us including a New Moon, the beginngin of the Chinese year of the Wood Horse, Venus stationing and turning direct, Mercury, in his retrograde shadow entering Pisces and Jupiter opposing stationing Venus joined to Pluto.

Scorpios Talking: Michael was on a very wonderful roll about how to work with the energy when you don’t know what to do…

The Mary Anne Show: Even though it was a holiday, Martin Luther King Day, Anne and Mary worked! And laughed. And loved. Life is short!

Access Astrology: We talked about the energy and took a call from a listener.

Venus Unplugged: Llorraine Neithardt with Venus lessons for all!! For Jungians, dreamers, poets and visionaries this podcast helps with your individuation.

CG Jung Speaks! The SHADOW is continued this week! Kendrick Norris, Ph.D. reads excerpts from Jung. Working on individuating? Listen in!

Our lives are full of relationships! I taught my very first webinar on Sunday January 19th for ISAR. My topic was “Planets as People”. I explored how to determine if a person was in your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime and how to recognize them. You can purchase the MP4 of the webinar from ISAR. Look for the “Astrology World 2013 and 2014” link to find my webinar recording. To purchase: http://www.isarastrology.com/etapestry

Anne will be teaching, with Access Astrology, a Chart Reading A to Z Weekend Workshop on February 7, 8 and 9, 2014 in NYC. Discounted Rates through Jan 31, 2014 is $220. Full Rate is $250. Register for the Workshop at: http://www.eventzilla.net/web/event?eventid=2139006705

Anne will be speaking on “Tertiary Progressions” at The Great Lakes Astrology Conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan on April 11 to 13, 2014. Limited in-person consultations are available in Michigan. To register: http://greatlakesastrology.com/

Lynda Hill’s Sabian Symbol work appears with her permission. Check her out at sabiansymbols.com.

Copyright© 2014 A.C. Ortelee