Studies In Astrology

AKA my notes on The Astrology Podcast’s July Forecast, hosted by Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock.

This month starts out highly unstable with a Mars-Uranus conjunction and Mercury retrograde, bringing delays and miscommunications from the start. Later on newly-ingressed Jupiter in Leo will oppose Pluto in Aquarius, bringing up questions of power and control. This is part of a larger outer planet pattern: Uranus (♊) trines Pluto (♒) for the first time, while Neptune in Aries further lends our dreams towards technological and military innovations. At the end of the month, Mercury finishes up retrograde, clearing some of the air, while the Sun in Leo approaches an auspicious conjunction to Jupiter. However, a lingering Venus-Mars square in the background works against our attempts at harmony and reuinification. It’s a temporary calm before the stormy eclipse season in August and Venus entering the sign of her upcoming retrograde.

June Recap: The Venus-Jupiter conjunction affirms many things, including Cancer rising Elon Musk becoming the first trillionaire…though he soon lost this status as Venus left Cancer and Mercury walked back events in that sign by stationing retrograde. In happier news, this alignment did give us a notable celebrity marriage with Dua Lipa, and Tom Holland confirming that he and Zendaya have been married for awhile. In entertainment, Nintendo announced a remake of Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, making Jupiter-Venus bring nostalgia assocations: similar events are the launch of the Hallmark station under one in 2001, and the release of the first Zelda game was under Venus-Jupiter in Pisces. We also saw Boston being drunk dry (excess/Jupiter in a water sign) by Scottish fans especially during the World Cup.

The impending Mars-Uranus conjunction has already begun to destabilize things, notably the pair of earthquakes in Venezuela. So far about 1500 people are known to have died and 3000 injured, but these numbers are expected to change as search and rescue efforts are still underway. This was a recurrence transit for the start of Venezuela’s revolution in 1810, indicating that this natural disaster will likely have strong political ramifications going forward. On June 26, Lebanon signed an agreement with the US and Israel with great protest from the Lebanese people, another country whose current government was founded under a Mars-Uranus conjunction. We also saw, on the day of Mars’s ingress into Gemini, the Iranian ministry’s social media making an announcement about the necessity of developming nuclear weapons. The US bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki with nuclear weapons under a Mars-Uranus conjunction in Gemini, and our hosts have predicted that this aspect will produce major developments in nuclear technology.

Author’s note: the Mars-Uranus conjunction/Mercury rx has also aligned with massive heat waves in India, with high fatalities as extreme weather surpasses limits of human survivability. In a most basic sense, the heat and sudden intensity are Mars-Uranus significations, and in the connecting sign of Gemini, ruled by a slowing Mercury, the lack of electrical infrastrucutre and access to air conditioning for most of the population are key problems for this issue.

July Forecast: Mars-Uranus dominates much of the month, ruled by a retrograde Mercury whose common snafus have bigger implications than usual. There is a “basket” pattern of outer planets all concentrated in one hemisphere of a chart that have a mix of trines, oppositions, and sextiles to each other.

July 4th - Mars conjunct Uranus

After the exact conjunction, Mars will continue to be copresent with Uranus for the rest of the month. Around these conjunctions we see sudden, violent, explosive events, and it’s especially relevant to the United States as this aspect goes exact on the day it celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding. Aside from the founding of the US, Mars-Uranus in Gemini also aligned with the Civil War and the US entering World War II.

The aspect is within a 3 degree orb from June 29th to July 8th, but the 10-degree range is one to watch out for here too.

This aspect is very volatile, bringing sudden, unprecedented disruptions and ruptures. The last time it was exact was summer of 2024, where within the same week we saw an assassination attempt on Trump, his acquittal and nomination for president, and Biden dropping out to endorse Kamala Harris. The other hard aspects between Mars and Uranus recently have coincided with developments in the US-Israel war on Iran (as well as Israeli aggression in Palestine). This aspect also presides over rebellions, revolutions, and liberation struggles, including those in Cuba, Venezuela, and Lebanon.

July 6th - Sun square Saturn

July 7th - Neptune stations retrograde This puts an exclamation mark on the Saturn-Neptune conjunction we experienced back in February-March, bringing up isses of confusion around authorities.

July 9th - Venus enters Virgo This transit through the sign of her fall includes an encounter with the South Node and a square to Mars, bringing a bit of a damper on the otherwise peaceful lull we get towards the end of the month.

July 12th - Sun conjunct retrograde Mercury

Typical Mercury retrograde keywords include Internet glitches, miscommunications, having to review or re-do tasks, especially paperwork and logistics. It rules the Mars-Uranus conjunction in Gemini, tying these stories more closely together. We don’t want the “little oopsies” of Mercury retrograde having the power to set off the overwhelming nuclear force of Mars-Uranus, but that’s the image we have here.

The cazimi (exact conjunction to the Sun) usually marks a turning point in the retrograde, and things start to feel like they’re moving forward. This is the eye of the storm, and we have a moment of clarity, knowing that the end of this struggle is in sight.

July 14th - New Moon in Cancer

At late 21 degrees of Cancer, this lunation is still feeling the effects of the declining Mars-Uranus conjunction, as well as those of a Venus-Uranus square the previous day. Mercury has been retrograding in this sign, where Jupiter had been boosting us for half the year, prompting even more reflection and rethinking of this area of our charts. As the end of a lunar cycle, New Moons represent endings of certain arcs.

July 15th - Uranus sexile Neptune

July 18th - Uranus trine Pluto One of a host of outer planet alignments around 4 degrees of their respective signs midmonth, this particular trine will likely herald new developments in Aquarius Pluto technologies, especially advanced applications of computers. Disruptive Uranus and tectonic Pluto are getting along swimmingly; it’s up to us to interpret the results.

July 19th - Mars sextiles Saturn (not pictured) Saturn can help stabilize Mars after the instability of his Uranian encounters. Chris has a good feeling about this aspect because there is reception: Saturn is in Mars’s sign of Aries. A little bit of restraint and foresight is welcome amid all this wind.

July 20th - Jupiter trine Neptune, Jupiter opposite Pluto Jupiter pursues the truth and encourages new things to grow, while Pluto manipulates information and has power works in the shadows. The last Jupiter-Pluto opposition saw billionarie Jeff Bezos buy the Washington post–a wealthy and powerful man expanding his influence–as well as Mussolini doing away with the last of Italy’s democratic checks in the 1920s. We can see these prominent figures in power, but also the machinations of Pluto just behind him. Jupiter will go from a strong place of exaltation to a peregrine (neither dignified nor debilitated) sign, giving him less power to overcome Pluto.

Jupiter in Leo can be a positive aspect for Leo risings and bring good to that sector of our charts, but we’ll have challenges from eclipses and other developments later on (in addition to Pluto). In personal charts especially these challenges can often be overcome, but unlike the trek through Cancer, there are some obstacles to overcome. A Jupiter-Pluto opposition in these two signs hasn’t occurred since the founding of the US Treasury, and this may mean a change in the strength of the dollar and its status as a world currency.

The Jupiter-Neptune trine is a more positive aspect, and we can see Jupiter affirming our Neptunian imaginings and aspirations. It supports our creative growth. Themes around religion, beliefs, ideals, and faith are likely to come up around this time. Maybe this dream will come true…! Though a more negative manifestation to watch out for is cults.

July 21st - Jupiter sextile Uranus This is another positive aspect of the month, with Gemini Uranus lending a strong technical bent. On an individual level, Jupiter helps us grow in a way that expresse ourselves, and Uranus prompts us to differentiate ourselves from others, so it’s a great time to let your freak flag fly. There’s a strong liberatory connotation, in contrast to the preceding Pluto aspect.

July 22nd - Sun enters Leo

July 23rd - Mercury stations direct This station sets up Mercury (16♋) to receive a square from Saturn (14♈), but the aspect doesn’t go exact, and the next day Venus (16♍) swoops in with a sextile, showing us slowness and difficulties that are nonetheless surmountable. This retrograde feels like it’s going to end more negatively than it actually does.

July 25th - Neptune sextile Pluto

July 26th - Saturn stations retrograde, North Node enters Aquarius This Saturn station also reactivates the earlier Saturn-Neptune conjunction, as well as a general check-in for our Saturn in Aries experiences–particularly those of us having Saturn returns (😥). The North Node entering Aquarius (and the South Leo) means the eclipses will begin shifting to the Leo/Aquarius axis while the Virgo/Pisces axis wraps up: in August we get our first Leo eclipse.

July 27th - Sun opposite Pluto This will shine a light on Jupiter-Pluto themes discussed earler for a single day. This may be externalized as tension, conflict, and themes of manipulation or control arise in interpersonal situations. The Sun is following Jupiter’s path across aspecting outer planets, further activating these themes.

July 28th - Venus square Mars (not pictured) Mars (20♊) is in the superior position (earlier in the zodiac), giving him the advantage in setting the terms in tensions with Venus (20♍). In the news this often shows up as scandals around sex and gender inequities. We can also see forces of unification conflict with those of division, treaties, decisions to break up relationships and alliances, and creative friction.

July 29th - Sun conjunct Jupiter, Full Moon in Aquarius The Jupiter cazimi in Leo is very auspicious–not only is Jupiter’s benficence magnified, but both bodies are now separating from their oppositions to Pluto and we are firmly coming out of it. For this reason, Chris and Leisa chose the most auspicious elecitonal chart to be a sunrise chart on the 29th, at about 6:5AM local time. This does bake in Pluto conjunct the Full Moon tightly in the 7th house, but the outer planet activity is in decline by now, so Jupiter rising is your best bet.

AKA my notes on The Astrology Podcast’s June Forecast, hosted by Chris Brennan and Leisa Schaim. Calendar designed by Paula Belluomini and timeline graphics by Madeline Coates at honeycomb.co.

The month starts out with a Venus-Jupiter conjunction in Cancer, though when she enters Leo her opposition to Pluto will bring up themes of power and control. Mercury will gear up for a retrograde as Mars nears a conjunction to Uranus. Jupiter enters Leo for the next year, putting him in opposition to Pluto as well. Mercury retrogrades right before a conjunction with Jupiter, effectively delaying a benefit for us. I’ll put the news recap at the end this month since the video came out late, but it does have some astrological community news at the very end!

June Forecast

June 1st - Mercury enters Cancer This activates the energy already going on in Cancer with Venus and Jupiter.

June 3rd - Mercury square Neptune With Mercury (4♋) squaring Neptune (4♈), this was a day of confusing communications. After leaving their domicile, Mercury is operating on a more emotional level, and Neptune makes things more Impressionistic than exact. This can be good for artistic expression and reactivates the Saturn-Neptune conjunction, which is not yet at 10 degrees of separation.

June 8th - Auspicious Election (not pictued)

One of the best charts of this year, it takes place around 3:30PM local time, which should give you Libra rising. The Ascendant ruler Venus is in the 10th house and applying to a conjunction with Jupiter, making this a good chart for work and career, public image, aspirations, dealing with superiors. The 10th house ruler, the Moon, is in Pisces and applying to a trine with Jupiter and Venus with mututal reception. Thus even though the exact conjunction is the next day, the Moon placement on June 8th is extremely positive. The downside is Mars in the 8th house, meaning this isn’t the greatest chart for debts, taxes, and shared resources. Mercury is also squaring Saturn, so there is some possible hampering of communications, but in a day chart they should be surmountable.

Note: this entire day is a very good day because of the Moon in Pisces being extra helpful to Venus-Jupiter, though any time around the conjunction is fortuitous.

June 9th - Venus conjunct Jupiter

Going exact at 25 Cancer, this is the most fortuitous aspect of the year (note: Jupiter is exalted in Cancer). It confirms relationships, brings peace, and offers empathy and understanding to us. This is more freed up from malefic influences than last year and we can find ourselves caring for others or being cared for, enjoying the good things in life for awhile, and generally availing ourselves of life-affirming energies. This is a particularly good aspect for proposals and marriages, and is also the last round of Jupiter cleaning up the mess from Mars’s retrograde in Cancer from 2024-25. The World Cup is also happening just after this, bringing good vibes for the event.

June 10th - Mercury square Saturn

June 13th - Venus enters Leo This sets her on a path of opposing Pluto, though this is a blessing through the Leo sector of our charts generally and will hearken back to events from August-September of last year.

June 14th - New Moon in Gemini

Venus is approaching an opposition to Pluto in the background, and the lunation’s ruler Mercury is slowing down in preparation for a retrograde, so some of our efforts begun around this time will have to be redone a couple times. Mercury seems to be heading towards a conjunction to Jupiter, but isn’t able to fully complete it, so we may get a bit of a fakeout or see something positive put on hold for awhile.

June 17th - Venus opposite Pluto This aspect brings underworld themes, power struggles, and trying to bring love and creativity in the face of war (Mars is squaring them by sign as well). In relationships this can be obsession or having a hard time letting someone go after a separation. This may also manifest as the Leo area of your chart needing growth and creativity, while the Aquarius house needs to be dug up from the depths, with both needing your attention at the same time. We may also see individuals trying to shine among the collective.

Once Jupiter joins her in Leo, though, we’ll have a period of positive and affirming energies going through our charts in this third quarter of the year. Leo is more of a mixed bag later on, but for now things look pretty good!

June 21st - Sun enters Cancer This solstice will be especially bright as the Sun activates some of the previous positive energies in our charts and it could be a good time for family reunions and parties, though we’re gearing up for some complications ahead.

June 25th - Sun square Neptune There may be some confusion and lack of clarity around this time.

June 28th - Mars enters Gemini

This ingress immediately ramps up for a conjunction with Uranus (03♊), though Mars did get a weak sextile from Jupiter before this ingres. Something lightly held back the worst impulses of this conjunction while it was out-of-sign, but the harsher things will get louder at the end of the month here. The US was founded under not only Uranus in Gemini, but specifically under a Mars-Uranus conjunction–the Civil war started under a conjunction and ended under a copresence, and dropped the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki under this aspect as well. We have four of this aspect coming up over the past few years. General significations are uprisings and revolts, military and/or technological innovations (the trine to Pluto in Aquarius is good for disruptive technologies), as well as radical liberation. In personal charts this can help us think quickly and innovate with new ideas, but not necessarily lasting ones.s

Particularly striking is that this aspect goes exact on July 4th, baking it into the U.S. solar return chart for the year. There’s a strong element of surprise here: squares coincided with military attacks, and the last conjunction coincided with Trump dodging an assassination attempt and Biden dropping out of the presidential race.Venezuela, Cuba, Lebanon, and Taiwan also have strong Mars-Uranus signatures.

Overall, this is also the time of new beginnings. The seeds of new thing, including positive developments in our lives, may be planted now. We may feel a greater need for freedom and innovation in the Gemini parts of our charts, and Mars pours gasoline all over that spark. Mars can also add greater speed and energy to areas of our chart where we are trying to innovate. We can become versatile and think quickly, but we have to be careful not to get too scattered around this time. Something comes out of left field and it can be invigorating, but we may also want to try and not act too impulsive.

June 29th - Mercury stations retrograde, Full Moon in Capricorn

The lunation heightens the energy that’s already going on, as it squares Saturn just like the last one.

June 30th - Jupiter enters Leo This begins a one-year transit through Leo, and he’ll have a loose, sign-based conjunction to Venus as she finishes her transit of the sign. We have some growth and confirmation of good things going on, though Jupiter is now approaching an opposition to Pluto that we’ll really be feeling in July. We will want to show off and expand, though Pluto makes us want to dig into deep places or control information and resources.

Jupiter-Pluto can also bring up themes of wealth and justice, including one of the biggest US fast food worker strike in 2015, which was part of securing a right to unionize, and corporate mergers being blocked.

May News Recap:

The relative size of the sun and some planets. Elements of astronomy. 1900.

AKA my notes on The Astrology Podcast’s May forecast, hosted by Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock.

Themes this month: We open with a peace-shattering Mars-Jupiter square on May 4th, accompanied by a Pluto station on the 6th that will involve power dynamics and hidden information coming to light. We have a difficult Mars-Pluto square on the 26th, but it’s followed up by one of the most positive aspects of the year, a Venus-Jupiter conjunction in Cancer.

April News Recap:  We had a rare quadruple conjunction between Mercury, Mars, Neptune, and Saturn, hitting the gas and brakes at the same. Our hosts predicted escalation and violent words, which we saw early on when Trump threatend to wipe out the entire Iranian civilization as the war escalates. He backtracked enough to broker a fragile peace deal, which was set to expire near the Mars-Saturn conjunction on April 19th. Vance went directly to Iran to negotiate around the 11th-12th Venus-Jupiter sextile–they were largely unproductive but peace was attempted after something insane, an object lesson in benefic sextiles. Trump encated the naval counter-blockade of Iranian ports as the Mars-Saturn conjunction built up, culminating in the US attacking and boarding an Iranian ship on the day of the conjunction. Saturn-Neptune conjunctions have indicated some of the longest naval blockades in history, including during the Korean War and Napoleonic Wars. A planet between two malefics is traditionally called “beseiged,” and in this case we can see transportation choked by a literal seige. As a result countries around the world are experiencing oil shortages and gas prices rising, as well as fertilizer shortages set to cause massive agricultural shortages in the months to come. This is the very tip of the iceberg with ramifications of events that have already happened. Chris also goes into the relationship of Neptune-Saturn and oil, a summary of his recent video on the subject (click link at top of post if you’re interested). There is now a clear financial incentive for alternative energy sources.

On April 25th Uranus entered Gemini for the next 7-8 years, which began exactly with the attempted assassination at the White House correspondents’ dinner. As an omen for what this transit has in store for the US & its presidents, it’s a dramatic one. The Mars-Saturn-Neptune conjunction also prompted discussions of whether or not it was a false flag.

Mars-Saturn-Neptune also saw some religious controversies in the Twittersphere and the emergence of AI-generated videos being used for political propaganda (our hosts only talk about Iran here, but there is also an entity called “Generative AI for Good” being used by the US and UN–this technology is widespread regardless of political alliances). Dark stories affecting women and sexuality have surfaced with Saturn-Neptune as well, especially around men drugging their partners and continued interest in the Epstein files.

In technology, Mars has intensified the Saturn-Neptune critiques of AI and specifically OpenAI, including articles about the technology being more limited than advertised and an unsuccesful attempt to throw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman’s house. The AI investment bubble probably will pop soon with added economic ramifications. Meanwhile, Pluto in Aquarius marks the Pluto return of the United States, and the recent overturn of the voting rights act has re-legalized racist gerrymandering in the country.

May Forecast

May 1st - Full Moon in Scorpio

Mars rules this Full Moon and is still heading towards a square to Jupiter, although the Moon applying to a trine with Jupiter offers some support in remediating damage.

May 2nd - Venus enters Taurus

May 4th - Mars square Jupiter

Mars square Jupiter gives us drive to move quickly, though the pace may not be sustainable. The Moon will also trine Mars from Sagittarius this day, really shedding some light on it. Mars has the upper hand as he is overcoming Jupiter, but we can also see some positive outcomes in persona lives, especially around finally being able to take decisive action after previous obstacles.

May 5th - Mercury square Pluto

May 6th - Pluto stations retrograde

Pluto’s station here emphasizes the Pluto in Aquarius themes we’ve been seeing, especially regarding technological innovations with Uranus in Gemini further electrifying events. Mercury’s involvement directs our thoughts towards Aquarius Pluto’s power dynamics in wider society–this transit especially connotes investigative journalism and disclosure of hidden information. In personal charts, this station may draw our attention towards something very intensely. This is also the US Pluto return.

May 10th - Sun-Jupiter sextile (not pictured) From 20 Taurus to 20 Cancer, this will be a little breath of relief to smooth over some aspects of our struggles.

May 12th - Venus square Neptune (not pictured) This is a good time to think about the value of escapism. It’s a nice respite to take a break and romanticize things, but we also want to make sure we’re still on solid ground.

May 14th - Sun conjunct Mercury

May 16th - New Moon in Taurus

This is a huge turning point that evenly divides the month for us as all the planets are about to change signs nearly every day for the next week.

May 17th - Mercury enters Gemini This is the first time Mercury has conjoined Uranus in Gemini, with the Sun joining soon after.

May 18th - Mars enters Taurus, Venus enters Cancer Venus will sextile Mars right after they ingress, bringing some peace and harmony to our conflicts and spice to our relationships. For Mars, this is the first Taurus transit in years that Uranus hasn’t been there. Instead of the usual powder keg, we may see a slower, more stagnant pace to the Mars conflicts implicated. However, this also moves him away from Saturn, so we may still feel a sense of motion as we get to know Mars in Taurus again.

May 20th - Sun enters Gemini

May 22nd - Uranus conjunct Sun This begins a new synodic cycle for Uranus in this sign, with fast-moving Mercury still close enough to influence things. It’s a great time to come up with new ideas and shake off old, stale ones. Chris compares the vibe to meeting up with a friend at a coffee shop and chatting all afternoon hopped up on strong coffee…stimulating!

May 26th - Mars square Pluto

Mars-Pluto aspects often see overreactions, as Pluto can magnify Mars’s warlike tendencies towards total annihilation in world conflicts. In personal traits this can manifest much more postiively, though, such as digging deep for energy reserves that help you survive a difficult situation. Last year’s Mars oppostion to Pluto showed the death of the Pope and ensuing large, stately funeral.

May 28th - Venus square Saturn The reality of situations we were enjoying earlier will become apparent. We want to go play outside, but first we need to take care of Saturnian responsibilities. You have to fill out a lot of paperwork before a marriage is finalized. Overall, however, we’re starting to move towards a much more positive time of the year as Venus approaches Jupiter.

May 31st - Full Moon in Sagittarius

This Moon is ruled by exalted Cancer Jupiter, who is approaching a conjunction with Venus. The Moon is tightly conjunct Antares (a super bright red star) while the Sun conjoins Aldeberan, two royal stars adding power to events. Royal stars denote importance of events that happen around this time and the next few weeks.

Meanwhile the Venus-Jupiter conjunction is starting to grow in intensity at the end of the month, giving gracious affirmation to our endeavors in the time to come.

Earth and Moon l Artemis Ⅱ

AKA my notes on The Astrology Podcast's April forecast, hosted by Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock.

News Recap: Just after the last forecast episode was released, the US-Israeli war on Iran began in earnest with an attack on a girls’ school and assasination of Iran’s late supreme leader right on the Mars-Uranus square (Saturn-Neptune conjunctions, lunar eclipses in Virgo, and previous Mars-Uranus squares have all weighed in on past US-Iran conflicts). All 3 leaders involved were born under eclipses (with Iran’s current leader born shortly before one as well), so the lunar eclipse in Virgo is a big factor here too. Fall/detriment, retrograde Pisces Mercury was in bad shape with a conjunction of Mars, and indeed the channels of travel and communication stopped via waterway due to war: Iran closed the strait of Hormuz, effectively freezing the global oil trade, in response to US attacks. Uranus going into Gemini means the US will probably be involved in a big, long war; previous Uranus in Gemini periods were its founding war, its civil war, and its entry into World War II. Unfortunately the upcoming Mars-Uranus conjunction in Gemini in July indicates that this is the beginning of a longer story involving further escalation. Fertilizer and food supplies are also affected worldwide as well.

In other interational news, the US oil blockade on Cuba has caused a significant humanitarian crisis, and Donald Trump has been threatening to take over the country. Cuba celebrates its current state’s founding in 1953, under a Saturn-Neptune conjunction, a 36-year-long cycle repeating now. Austin points out Saturn-Neptune conjunctions coincide with communist literature and revolutions generally, and also that Mars-Saturn-Neptune in conjunction heralded the near-destruction of Port Royal in the 18th century during “World War 0”, possibly indicating a Caribbean or maritime city experiencing significant damage by fire.

The Mercury rx conjunct Mars also saw the unveiling of a new design for the dime, where the eagle is no longer holding an olive branch along with arrows–no peace, only war. Mercury stationing direct near Mars also saw the closing of the Metaverse, and the day of the Sun-Saturn conjunction, also OpenAI closing its Sora video generator: technologies have reached their zenith but have now hit a wall and are cut and ceasing. What will sharp Mars pop along with the AI bubble, and what has Saturn’s blessing to stick around?

In astrology community news, Mercury rx in Pisces also saw the closure of Astro-Seek due to to malicious usage. Additionally, Lee Lehman passed away, credited with revitalizing horary astrology as part of the larger traditional revival in the US, was out as gay in the 80s, and I remember her as the author of The Essential Dignities, the first rigorous astrology book I read. Chris did an episode on horary with her back in the pre-video days of his show, episode 116.

April Forecast: This month we’ll have a huge stellium in Aries; by the time of the New Moon midmonth we’ll have the Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Saturn and Neptune. The Mars-Saturn conjunction looms over much of the month: hitting the brakes and gas simultaneously is not just unproductive, it’s also a great way to damage a car. On the personal level this can be frustrating but productive, but on the societal level this can bode ill: during the height of COVID these contacts saw the emergence of new variants, and is also associated with pressed military service and countries introducing conscription

April 1st - Full Moon in Libra The month immediately begins on a Full Moon in Libra, with Mercury (14♓) sextile upiter (15♋), attempting to clean up some of the mess of the retrograde.

April 3rd - Venus square Pluto Venus square Pluto brings up questions of power dynamics in relationships as well as paranoia threatening trust. The Moon in Scorpio hitting Pluto lights things up for this day.

April 5th - Sun square Jupiter This should release a bit of the tension from the Pluto transit. Both the Sun (15♈) and Jupiter (15♋) are exalted, and since they already work well together, this is a great time to see a potential way forward through some of our challenges. We’re being lifted up and elevated–the first week of the month definitely has the best astrological weather.

April 9th - Mars enters Aries

This really begins the buildup to the Mars-Saturn conjunction on the 19th, with Mars the engine being stronger than Saturn the breaks. We’re being pulled forward before we’re ready, with maximum internal contradiction. This also puts Mars in close range of a conjunction with Neptune (see below).

While there’s some expansion in the Taurus-Cancer areas of our charts, the Aries area will be getting some intensity and pressure.

April 12th - Venus sextile Jupiter (not pictured) One of the few planets not in Aries this month, once she clears the square with Pluto at the beginning of Taurus she’ll be headed towards helpful sextile with Jupiter (16♋), easing over some Cancer & Taurus areas for us. We can squeeze in some good things before all the Mars & Saturn stuff later.

April 13th - Mars conjunct Neptune

Combative Mars and illusory Neptune give us “the fog of war,” where military action is taking place on the wrong target. In personal lives we may take out our frustrations on the wrong people, or have our imaginations lead the way with loaded firearms in hand. Modern astrologers associate Neptune with deception, but Valens (c. 300 CE) associates Saturn with lying and liars, so having Mars contact both of them this month means we should take much care in the Aries parts of our charts. Mars-Neptune also indicates religious warriors and romanticizing violence, as well as the popping of bubbles. (A/N: In personal charts I could see this working out as illusions being aggressively shattered–something lacking tact but ultimately helpful for shaking us out of it.) We have a get-up-and-go attitude, but we’re confused about where to direct it.

April 14th - Mercury enters Aries This puts Mercury in position to get involved with the Mars-Saturn-Neptune business in Aries, discussed more under the Mars conjunction.

April 16th - Mercury conjunct Neptune

This completes the height of our Aries stellium with 6 planets; additionally, Mercury will eventually join Saturn and Neptune at the exact degree of 7 Aries. We’ll see the recurrence of other events that occurred under Aries stellia, like with Capricorn in January. One key difference is that these planets are all visible (right before dawn): not only can we observe this, but it means the effects will be very loud and visible in the Aries sectors of our charts. Communications are confused and disruptive with Mercury and Neptune involved, with this week being the most intense of the Aries stellium tensions.

April 17th - New Moon Aries April

19th - Mars conjunct Saturn, Sun enters Taurus After this conjunction Mars will be moving out of the most intense range of the conjunction’s issues. The pressure will begin to slowly release by the 23rd.

April 20th - Mercury conjunct Neptune, Mercury conjunct Mars Mercury joins Mars-Saturn-Neptune, and here’s the roundup of Mercury-Mars conjunctions over the past few months:

We also had five Mercury-Mars conjunctions in a row from 1978-79, as well as around the 1930s Great Depression and 2008 recession, so it’s safe to say the reduction in trade will have adverse effects on the world market. Mercury traditionally amplifies the nature of planets around them.

April 23rd - Venus conjunct Uranus This conjunction occurs right before both planets move into Gemini. In personal charts this can bring new interpersonal and creative endeavors. This will summarize what the Uranus in Taurus story has been for us over the past 7 years.

April 24th - Venus enters Gemini

April 25th - Uranus enters Gemini

Uranus enteres Gemini for good this time, until May 22nd, 2033. This kicks off four conjunctions with Mars: July 4 of this year, and June of 2028, 2030, and 2032. For our personal charts, we got a preview of what this transit is about between July 7th and November 7th of last year, when Uranus first dipped into Gemini. This is a disruptive, innovated energy with radical, sudden change over the next 7 years in the Gemini houses of our charts. While this is foreboding for the US chart, this can be very productive and bring insights we’ve never considered in our personal charts. In some ways Uranus in Taurus was more difficult to deal with in a fixed sign, versus mutable, airy Gemini lends itself easily to Uranus’s experimentation and push for freedom.

Austin also connects the history of philosphical liberalism (that is, that individual rights should be paramount in politics) and liberal democracy is connected to Uranus in Gemini periods. Our hosts hope this indicates a renewal of freedoms after a period of difficulty like the Civil War; I’m more skeptical about the existing political system being “restored” to some ideal, but freedom generally is a keyword nonetheless.

April 26th - Mercury square Jupiter This alignment will be a good time to clear things up a little in our personal charts, with Jupiter expanding communication.

AKA my notes on The Astrology Podcast's March forecast, hosted by Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock.

February News Recap: On January 30th we saw the release of many more Epstein files alongside the Saturn-Neptune cojunction. Austin points out the pileup of combust Mars-Mercury-Venus on Pluto--as soon as Mercury was visible, these stories came to light. Additionally, Pluto was in Aquarius during the French Revolution. Saturn-Neptune transits will continue to weigh in on this story over the next few years.

In happier news, we had Bad Bunny's halftime show where he celebrated Puerto Rican culture and called attention to issues, and Chris found that Saturn-Neptune conjunctions also align with moments in Puerto Rican history (especially regarding the US). In 1917, Puerto Ricans became US citizens (a/n: so they could be drafted), in 1952 the Constitution codifying was ratified, in 1989 political parties formally requested self-determination from the United States.

The Aquarius eclipse in late February highlighted Pluto in Aquarius stories, including the emergence of AI automaton OpenClaw & its CEO getting hired by OpenAI. We also have AI companies & data centers causing massive computer parts shortages by buying up everything that was meant for the consumer market–Saturn in Neptune reminds us all too well that “illusory” and “post-industrial” developments need real materials and systems to continue existing. Pluto in Aquarius activated by the eclipse also showed us a renewal of UFO/aliens stories, where Obama’s comments on a podcast led people to call for the release of any US government investigations into the matter. This was also on the Saturn-Neptune conjunction and the reality of such theories are in question, especially with Obama claiming to have misspoken.

On the Aquarius eclipse we also saw the passing of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, who also ran for president on Saturn-Neptune conjunctions. In a less honorable prominent figure eclipse story, Prince Andrew was arrested in connection with the Epstein files; the House of Windsor seems to have Saturn-Neptune connections with its image as well.

Mexico also has important Saturn-Neptune signatures: breaking from Spain under that aspect in 1810, the Mexican-American war under that of 1846, and creating its constiution under the 1917 conjunction, and most recently with government forces killing a major cartel figure.

The US has also begun an oil blockade of Cuba following the invasion of Venezuela and is pressuring other countries to stop trade as well, causing a major energy & humanitarian crisis on the already-beseiged island.

There have also been strong astrological signals around Iran (note that this episode was recorded on February 26th). The February 17th eclipse coincided with negotiations between the US and Iran, and the Mars-Uranus square right after the release of this episode saw the first attack of full-on war with the US & Israel bombing a girls’ school. Our hosts also talk about the Saturn-Neptune conjunction being a repetition of the US-UK-backed coup in 1953, and that of 1989 connecting with the current* leader’s rise to power (*a/n: and this conjunction saw his assassination a few days after this episode was recorded). Eclipses were in Aquarius and Virgo during the time of the Iranian Revolution of the 1970s, and Mars-Uranus contacts in recent years, which went exact again on the 28th, have manifested as military actions between Iran and Israel/USA.

March Forecast We enter March under the shadow of many February alignments, at the height of eclipse season about to peak on March 3rd and on the heels of a Mars-Uranus square on February 27th. The Saturn-Neptune conjunction on February 20th is also very much at play as we begin the month.

March 2nd - Mars enters Pisces

March 3rd - Lunar Eclipse in Virgo

This lunar eclipse in Virgo is the companion to a Virgo solar eclipse back in September, tying in events from this time. Mars, hot off the volatile square with Uranus, has just entered Pisces and opposes the Moon/conjoins the Sun–the last Mars opposite eclipse was in the fall of 2023. This full lunar eclipse will be visible as a bloodsoaked moon across much of North America and Asia, the last of which corresponded with the US bombing Yemen.

We have another eclipse in Virgo next year, meaning this month’s eclipse is not the conclusion but the continuation of the current series.

The Moon’s next aspect after this eclipse will be a sextile to Jupiter (15♋) with reception, providing small amelioration to our difficulties, but her ruler Mercury is retrograde in Pisces and she applies to an opposition with this confused planet immediately after. Eclipses always signify the rise and fall of prominent people: notable deaths and downfalls as well as the sudden rise of previously obscure people.

March 6th - Venus enters Aries

Venus has been copresent with Mercury during the start of this retrograde, but without her softening influence our miscommunications may worsen, especially as our backwards traveller approaches a conjunction with Mars at their direct station. Thus this retrograde will likely show us what things are no longer working for us by the end; with the direct station happening on the South Node, our introspections end with us deciding to leave what is no longer serving us. Because this Mercury retrograde is so tied into the eclipse, we may find deeper revelations and greater consequences than the usual Mercury rx period.

Additionally, from a technical perspective Mercury is in very difficult place: in fall and detriment by sign, retrograde, combust, copresent/conjunct eclipse points, ruling an eclipse, and copresent Mars–so Mercurial matters were be especially impeded during this time. We’ll start being able to craft and see a way forward more clearly when the retrograde ends on March 20th, but it won’t look particularly easy. Pay attention to which house(s) of your natal chart this hits.

Austin brings up a consideration from Indian astrology that a retrograde planet in fall or exile actually goes a little bit better than a dignified or peregrine one, where things may be so bad they’re good.

March 7th - Sun conjunct retrograde Mercury, Venus conjunct Neptune

This will activate the Saturn-Neptune conjunction that peaks on the 7th-8th. Relationships become ambiguous: “Am I trapped in Saturn’s walls or floating through Neptune’s dreamland?” During the buildup to this conjunction, every planet would hit Saturn and then Neptune, punctuating our rules with confusion, but post-conjunction every planet will aspect illusory Neptune and then solid Saturn. Thus Venus will lead the charge in clearing out the ambiguity these two giants bring.

March 8th - Venus conjunct Saturn

March 10th - Jupiter stations direct This also brings us to a week out from eclipses, AKA the end of eclipse season, at the same time as our benefic moving forward and resolving issues in the Cancer areas of our charts. It’s an unambiguously good moment for Jupiter and all Jupiter things (a/n: Jupiter is exalted in this sign), bringing positive resolutions in areas of our lives.

March 15th - Retrograde Mercury conjunct Mars Be careful on this day, as both anger and confusion abound. We may be confused about where the insults come from, especially since we’re near an eclipse point. If you must act in anger, make sure you’re pointed in the right direction and reacting proportionately, as collateral targets may result in new conflicts.

March 18th - New Moon in Pisces

This first lunation free of an eclipse takes place the same time as a Venus (15♈) - Jupiter (15♋) square. Things have been calming down for about a week as we exit eclipse season, and the benefics in contact are poised to help smooth things over. The eclipse points aren’t closely configured to the lights (28♓), and overall the sign of Pisces is finally returning to normalcy. The Sun & Moon also sextile Uranus (28♉), bringing a comfortable level of unexpected zest to things.

March 20th - Sun enters Aries, Mercury stations direct

March 22nd - Sun conjunct Neptune This marks the beginning of a few days where the Sun traverses ground between Neptune & Pisces, highlighting these themes once again. This is also the first of 13 or 14 conjunctions the Sun will hit with Neptune shortly after the equinox every year for the duration of the latter’s trip through Aries. This is a great window into what the Neptune Aries background is for us in the next decade; note what house it falls in your natal chart.

March 22nd - Mars trine Jupiter (not pictured) Mars is being received by Jupiter as a planet in his sign, adding an air of reconciliation to Martial matters, such as negotiations opening between enemy countries and passengers on a plane stopping an attempted shoe bomber. The current government of Iran was also created during a Mars-Jupiter trine, so a hopefully peaceful development in the current war is likely. Also notable was January 2019’s then-longest government shutdown in US history, and February 2003, when Colin Powell lied to the UN about weapons of mass destruction to justify invading Iraq. Jupiter gives support to planets even when they don’t deserve it, so giving causus belli to military actions is unfortunately also in line.

In our personal lives, Mars-Jupiter trines are good for taking actions and expending energy in a productive way. Thus the most auspicious election for the month is around March 21st at 1:00PM local time (see video for more details). Generally Mars-Jupiter indicates winners–sometimes who we want, sometimes not.

March 25th - Sun conjunct Saturn

March 28th - Saturn sextile Pluto