MONTHLY SINCE 1999
ISSUE # 99
LIVING BY STARLIGHT
AN ASTROLOGICAL NEWSLETTER
AUTHOR’S
NOTES:
We are beginning this month
with a Solar Eclipse, a potentially
ominous sign. With our economy sitting on a precipice and our national image
already in the gorge we are at a terribly important crossroad. The Saturn Neptune opposition is being
felt rather strongly. Inflation numbers are up, recession fears are mounting
and the stock market is showing its cracks. As the markets take more hits the
false sense of security most Americans live under will falter. The markets are
moved by psychology more than fundamentals, and in an era of fear that will mean
more than all the number crunching. I have been warning of a housing collapse
for years. Once Saturn left Cancer and
entered Leo the foundation in the housing market was removed and the
foolishly greedy tactics used by the mortgage companies was brought out into
the light.
We are facing a most intense
power struggle in this country. The 2008 election will have an enormous effect
on our collective psyche. Certainly the Iraq War will be in the forefront of
discussion, but it pales compared to the real dangers facing America. With the
middle class being raped and abused by a system gone madly out of control there
simply has to be a breaking point. Millions of Americans own houses that are
worth less than their mortgages. Credit card debt and the draconian methods
used by the creditors to keep the middle class under their control threaten to
drown our nation in uncollectible liability. Health insurance is out of the
question for tens of millions. The underbelly is decaying and the very rich
will not be able to stand firmly on our backs for much longer. Yurtle the
Turtle is about to sneeze.
Because of the magnitude of
our national wealth it is more difficult to see trouble coming. Yet there are
areas of this country that are already deeply in recession. I have a number of
clients and friends who live in Michigan, and the decay of the automobile
industry has taken its toll on the entire economy of that state. People are
moving out in alarming numbers. Where will they go to find jobs on par with the
ones they have lost? What community in this country is stable enough to take in
a huge number of displaced people? The victims of Katrina are still looking for
homes.
The New York papers are full
of stories about what they call the surprising
increase in the number of homeless in and around this city. Surprising?
Only if your head is up your ass. Thousand and thousands of New Yorkers have
been evicted during the past decade. Private detectives are investigating
tenants in Stuyvesant Town and other communities so the landlords can begin
eviction proceedings. Entire buildings are being emptied by the courts at the
requests of single families abusing the concept of eminent domain. Individuals
are being allowed to purchase 30 or more low-income rent-stabilized units so
they can gut the buildings and make a single family home. Many of these
displaced tenants have lived in these apartments for 30 years or more. Where
does this mayor and his lapdog city council think these people will go? When
you have lived your entire life in one area you really don’t have much of a
choice, unless you have family that is willing to take you in. You stay in that
area where you know people and hope you can survive. Sometimes you wind up
living on the street.
The city is continuing with
its plan to bring the garbage transit station back to East 91st
Street into a totally residential area with two parks. For 24 hours a day they
plan to truck garbage across 72nd Street and up York Avenue for 20
blocks. This will bring bugs, mice and rats the size of cats. The smell and
spillage will be overwhelming. It will destroy a pristine and wonderful
neighborhood. And why? Because they refuse to build this thing in a
commercially zoned area where rich, politically connected landlords might build
in the future. In other words: screw those middle class people who have spent
their life savings investing in a condo that will lose half its value. And the
hell with those rent-stabilized tenants who have struggled to survive in this
city despite the odds. We don’t want you here.
One of the main problems
seems to be a total lack of reality. The people in power only see the top soil,
never the roots. If there isn’t a balancing, and soon, the problems will become
insurmountable. The civil courts have become a terrible joke where due process
is unheard of. Creditors are allowed to hound their debtors with illegal and
immoral tactics. Process servers who make up names they claim to have served and
perjure themselves on a daily basis are the norm. Judges who ignore these
illegalities and side with the creditors are the overwhelming majority. Your
Republican congress has made it impossible to bankrupt many liabilities, and
there are millions of Americans who will simply never be out of debt. The
interest they owe will continue to increase and they will never be able to pay
off the principle. What do you think will happen if there is a real recession?
NEW MOON:
This month’s
New Moon falls on Sunday March 18th at 10:43 P.M. EST at 28 degrees Pisces
07 minutes and it is a Solar Eclipse. Things may not work out as you had planned this
coming month. But that doesn’t mean that things will not go well. Sometimes the
eclipses will bring you surprises and a redirection of energy. If you can just
have faith (Pisces’ domain) things will work out in a positive way. But if you
insist on being stubborn and unbending you may experience the negative
potential of this eclipse, which is to do just that; eclipse or block out your
light so you can’t see the way. With faith you can walk in the darkness.
Without it all the candles in the world won’t light your path.
THE SUN
SQUARES PLUTO:
On Monday
March 19th at 6:13 P.M. EST and you can expect people to be compulsive. Be
careful it will be easy to get obsessive about something or someone. Because
this comes on Monday following that eclipse, this could be a very bad day for
the financial markets. Often the first major aspect following a New Moon will
show the energy of that lunar cycle, at least until the Full Moon. Look out for
power struggles and try to avoid underhanded tactics; they won’t work to your
advantage.
THE SUN
ENTERS ARIES:
On Tuesday
March 20th at 8:08 P.M. EST the Sun crosses the Aires point and spring begins.
Happy New Year everybody! This is the day I celebrate as the only real and true
beginning. It is the day of balance, of equals. A day when all things are
possible; a blank chalk board. Let’s write something nice on it this year. We
will all be a little more assertive and wish to move things forward. Pisces is
a nice sign, but not all that active. Now we are in the cardinal fire sign and
things will begin to move.
MARS
OPPOSES SATURN:
On Thursday
March 22nd at 3:33 P.M. EST this unpleasantness comes along to dampen out
spirits. Well, don’t let it get you down. This aspect favors hard work and
discipline, so you might as well get that stuff out of the way. Communication
may be difficult. I wouldn’t plan a party or first date. The energy won’t be
there and it will be a dud. Just wait until tomorrow when Mars sextiles
Jupiter, a completely different energy.
MARS
SEXTILES JUPITER:
On Friday
March 23rd at 12:01 P.M. EST this more positive aspect completes and now is the
time for a party. (woo hoo!) Optimism is in the air and it will be easier to
talk. People will be a bit friendlier. This transit is good for all physical
activity and you should get out and do something.
MARS
CONJUNCTS NEPTUNE:
On Sunday
March 25th at 1:40 P.M. EST this strange coupling comes along. Be careful of
alcohol and all drugs. The tendency towards over-indulging is strong, and there
could be a negative reaction to any substance. There might be a problem with
prescription or over the counter medicines. Deception is common when these two
get together, so don’t believe everything you hear. Lethargy and laziness are also
possible. But on the positive side if you are able to let go of your ego this
can be a very spiritual day.
VENUS
SEXTILES URANUS:
On Saturday
March 31st at 4:23 A.M. EST the planet of love and stuff makes a positive
aspect to Uranus and we will all be looking for the unusual and exciting. It is
easy to be bored under this aspect. Try to plan something different or
adventurous, especially in love.
PLUTO
RETROGRADES:
Also on
Saturday March 31st at 6:44 P.M. EST the mini-me planet starts
traveling backwards. Hidden agendas are Pluto’s domain, and when it retrogrades
lots of stuff gets buried. Interestingly enough, secrets come out at this time
as well. It’s as though we are so busy hiding new stuff that the old garbage
floats to the surface. This is a good time to get in touch with your inner
feelings. Psychotherapy, astrology or other self-awareness techniques can be
quite successful now. Let’s see what surprises the world has for us. I’m
looking particularly closely at Washington D.C., the whispering capital of the
world.
MERCURY
CONJUNCTS URANUS:
On Sunday
April 1st at 2:31 P.M. EST this jittery and over-active transits completes.
This is the kind of aspect under which those secrets we discussed above could
begin to leak. In your personal life you should be careful now. Things will be
moving quickly and there could be mistakes or accidents. Nervousness is a
common effect of this transit, and if it hits your chart it will stimulate you
greatly. Mercury has a lot to do with bond trading, so this could be a radical
day in that market.
VENUS
SQUARES SATURN:
On Monday
April 2nd at 3:02 A.M. EST Grumpy old Saturn is laying heavily upon gentle
sweet promiscuous Venus. This is not a day to plan a party, romantic encounter
or other social event. It would be a good day to go shopping if you are on a
tight budget. People won’t be too peppy, so don’t push it.
FULL MOON:
This month’s
lunar peak occurs on Monday April 2nd at 1:15 P.M. EST at 12 degrees
Libra 35 minutes. The Libra Full Moon often brings out the tension in relationships. If
you feel some pressure today in your relationship you should either avoid each
other or be prepared to hash it out. Libra is a passive-aggressive energy. Most
Libras I know almost always get what they want without direct confrontation.
And you usually don’t even realize how they did it until it’s too late. As with
all Full Moons use caution and be prepared for the unexpected.
MERCURY
SQUARES JUPITER:
On Wednesday
April 4th at 3:17 A.M. EST and people will tend to blow things out of
proportion. Don’t believe everything you hear. Double check your work today.
There is a tendency towards sloppiness. Also be careful not to act arrogantly.
You will only run into others who feel the same way and an otherwise optimistic
and peppy transit could become aggressive.
VENUS
SQUARES NEPTUNE:
Also on
Wednesday April 4th at 2:17 p.m. EST this bewildering transit
completes. Be careful of alcohol and drugs of all sorts. Love may be very
confusing so make sure you see the other person clearly. Be careful of your
money. It is easy to spend it without realizing where it went. There could be a
general sense of laziness in the air. Hey, maybe it’s just spring.
JUPITER
RETROGRADES:
On Thursday
April 5th at 9:24 P.M. EST the planet of growth and optimism begins moving
backwards. The expansion now will take place inside us more than on the world’s
stage. This doesn’t mean that you can’t see growth in your projects. In fact,
it is a good time to complete things that you have been working on for a while.
When Jupiter goes direct in August it will be a better time to present them to
the world.
MARS ENTERS
PISCES:
On Friday
April 6th at 4:51 A.M. EST the god of war enters the mutable water sign. People
may not be as aggressive on the surface, but don’t let that fool you. There is
a constant churning in the unconscious in people born with configuration. Many
of history’s greatest sea battles were fought while Mar was in a water sign.
(Makes sense, don’t you think?) Intuition will be strong this month.
THE SUN
TRINES SATURN:
On Sunday
April 8th at 7:56 A.M. EST this useful transit completes. This is a good day
for any organizational work or arduous mental tasks. Things will be orderly and
balanced. It’s also a good time to map out your plans for the future.
THE SUN
TRINES JUPITER
On Monday
April 9th at 8:07 P.M. EST this optimistic energy comes together. People will
tend to be more outgoing than usual and it will be easier to put together group
activities and projects. Look for ways to expand your perspective and don’t be
afraid of new things. The only warning is not to take on more than you would
normally handle. When this passes you won’t be able to keep up with your
promises.
MERCURY
SQUARES PLUTO:
On Tuesday
April 10th at 3:23 A.M. EST people will be compulsive and obsessive. It is the
underlying need to get to the bottom of everything that is the driving force.
Be careful not to get caught up in petty arguments. If you are feeling angry or
someone else is projecting that towards you, try to avoid the confrontation.
Neither of you will be willing to compromise and it would be wasted effort.
MERCURY
ENTERS ARIES:
Also on
Tuesday April 10th at 7:07 P.M. EST the winged god of
communication enters the first sign of the zodiac. Thoughts and communications
will be more direct and aggressive. People will be in a hurry to get things
done. Don’t get caught up in the excitement of the moment. Aries likes to start
many things, but often leaves them unfinished.
VENUS
ENTERS GEMINI:
On Wednesday
April 11th at 10:15 P.M. EST the planet the rules love and possessions enters
this chatty intellectual sign. This month you can talk someone into bed easier
than seduce them. Flirty and fickle describe this placement, so enjoy the
socializing, but don’t give your heart until Venus enters Cancer. Relationships
born with this placement will be exciting, but maybe a little unstable.
DARK OF THE
MOON:
The next New
Moon falls on Tuesday April 17th at 7:36 A.M. EST. The day or so
leading up to it will be a particularly low energy period. If you tend to be
emotional this may be a very trying time each month. I have found that people
with prominent moons or a Cancer Sun, Moon or ascendant respond to the cycles
of the moon more intensely than others. Spend
this time finishing up anything that is incomplete, don’t try to initiate new
projects on a waning moon, it just won’t work out. Once the New Moon hits you
begin new projects or attempt a new approach to an existing problem. If you
have been living in a situation or involved in a relationship that is
intolerable or has outlived its usefulness this would be the proper time to
move on with your life. If you have been working on a project that is almost
complete but you seem to lack the energy for the finality, you must push during
these low energy days to end the matter once and for all. If you don’t, when
the New Moon arrives it will bring this “dead” energy along with it and
conflict with the newer force being presented. Each month we are offered a
chance to clean house, so to speak.
Note: All
aspects are most powerful and effective as they apply. Once the transit has
completed, its force is lessened. The further it separates the weaker it
becomes.
Below is a list of times this month when the Moon is
Void of Course and neither important decisions nor purchases should be made
during these periods. The Void of Course Moon is a time when we should try to
center ourselves and deal with spiritual matters not materialistic ones. Any
decisions made on the VC Moon will not turn out the way we had expected.
The Moon is Void of Course from the time it makes
its last major aspect in a sign until it enters the next sign. For example, if
the Moon squares Mars at 27 degrees Aries and then has no more aspects until it
enters Taurus it will be Void of Course for three degrees or about 6 hours. The
aspects used are the conjunction, sextile, square, trine, and opposition.
All times are Eastern Daylight:
March 18th 11:59 P.M. - March 19th
1:42 A.M.
March 20th 11:33 P.M. – March 21st
1:15 A.M.
March 22nd 1:12 A.M. – March 23rd
2:06 A.M.
March 25th 3:57 A.M. – 5:49 A.M.
March 26th 10:36 A.M. – March 27th
1:04 P.M.
March 29th 9:23 P.M. – 11:27 P.M.
April 1st 9:37 A.M. – 11:43 A.M.
April 3rd 10:29 P.M. – April 4th
12:36 A.M.
April 5th 10:54 P.M. – April 6th 12:57
P.M.
April 8th 9:35 P.M. – 11:36 P.M.
April 11th 5:57 A.M. – 7:23 A.M.
April 13th 9:50 A.M. –11:39 A.M.
April 15th 11:02 A.M. – 12:47 P.M.
Mitchell Scott Lewis
March 2007
New York City
(212) 726-3814
Copyright 2007
All Rights Reserved