In the March 21st Chicago Sunday Tribune, there was a small article about volunteers who were working to save a pod of dolphins who lay beached and dying along the shore of Cape Cod.  The most interesting tidbit of information (for an astrologer) was the article said that some biologists believe that the new moon and unusually high tides could be a factor in why the "stressed and disoriented" dolphins come to land.  If the new moon affects dolphins so strongly, I wonder if it's possible that humans and other life forms might be affected by the new moon, too?  Hmmm.  I'm figuring the scientists may prove astrology before the astrologers.

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 How'd that last Mercury Retrograde (plus Pluto Retrograde, plus Mars retrograde) affect you?   My husband Rich was out in L.A. for job training under those aspects.  He set off to meet a friend for lunch.  On his map he had the whole trip all planned out.  What he didn't know was, the highway that looked like a straight shot to his desitination had a chunk blown out of it the day before when a fuel truck exploded.  The road was blocked off.  After several detours and traffic jams he made it to lunch - two hours late.  "And exactly when will Mercury go direct?" Rich asked when he called home that night.

 And of course our department's computer engineer chose Mercury retro exact to upgrade my computer.  Well, it works -- mostly.  I just couldn't connect with one of the networked systems that some of my most important work is on for about a week.
 
 

I'm writing this (slowly) on August 30, a day when Saturn is making its station at 17 degrees Taurus.  One of my clients, who calls in crisis every Saturn station, was right on schedule.  Her long tale of woe included an expensive car repair, income loss, and a total crash of her computer which contained all her business records.  No, her data was not backed up.

 I checked her chart.  The Saturn station opposed her Jupiter.  Saturn issues have no quick fixes unfortunately.  I gave her my standard Saturn station advice.  "You'll feel better in a couple of weeks."  I repeated this several times during our conversation until she assured me she would stay calm and "focus on priorities" (an important Saturn strategy).

 So I'm in the grocery store today, and I meet up with a neighbor I haven't talked to in a long time.  She speaks Saturn to me, without using astrological terms.  Her oldest son just went off for basic training to the Air Force (Saturn = loss; separation; discipline).  A close friend just died and she was grieving (Saturn = loss; feelings of depression).  And her mother had just come out of the hospital today after surgery and she was grocery shopping for her own family and her mother (Saturn = elders; responsibilities).

More Saturn observed:  I was driving down Higgins Road and saw an astrological oxymoron:  A Saturn auto with the license plate "OPTMST" (optimist).  On a day that transiting Saturn conjunct my natal Venus, I had a consultation with my eldest client, an eighty-five year old woman.

The next Saturn station is January 11, 2000 at 10 Taurus.  Make sure your data is backed up.
 

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November 1999

Quite a few clients have called and asked about Y2K and the prospects of crisis exactly on January 1, 2000.  I have to say that there's nothing astrological about that day although computer oriented situations may get stressful as we get closer to the Saturn station point on January 11 at 10 degrees Taurus.  At that point Saturn (limitation) is once again squaring transiting Uranus (ruling electronics and computers) in Aquarius.

More intriguing is the Chiron/Pluto conjunction on December 30, 1999 at 11 degrees Sagittarius.  (Run the chart for the Chicago area at 5:24 am and you will see the conjunction exactly on the ascendant).  The asteroid Chiron is symbolically connected with 'the wounded healer' and Pluto with the masses and the 'underworld.' It suggests an excellent day for meditation and healing work on both personal and global levels.  On the other hand, the thought comes to mind that religious extremists may use the "millennium" to strongly promote their own agendas, and crises in that area may be in the news.  Sagittarius is the sign of exploration, so Chiron/Pluto may bring healing discoveries and new insights into the nature of the universe from our space program.

"Deep healing and deep pain are both possible during this transit ... Perhaps a painful memory will be forced to the surface by current events, or perhaps something happens to trigger emotional pain. Either way you are required to delve within for answers and to try new methods of handling your problems. From the Solar Fire program interpretations by Astrolabe

"...  The house position of the [Chiron/Pluto] conjunction defines the nature of the transmutative force and this energy is so potent that the native's career of healing work is usually defined by that house."
Barbara Hand Clow Chiron:  Rainbow Bridge (p. 169)

12th Degree Sagittarius from Lynda Hill's Sabian Symbols as an Oracle :
"A FLAG THAT TURNS INTO AN EAGLE THAT CROWS:
This is a time when our highest ideals can be expressed proudly and as an expression of spiritual purity.  You may find that you are moved to burst forth with your higher self.  Any issue that is really worthwhile and 'centered' will be seen and heard in the clear light of day.  If negative -- assuming right only because of might or power."

The Chiron/Pluto conjunction is rare (and unobserved by previous astrologers as Chiron was discovered by astronomers in 1977).  For history buffs, check out the three previous conjunctions on July 19, 1941, June 20, 1883, and April 11, 1819.