It's Been Nearly Two Months: Where Do I Start?

At the beginning would make sense, but too much has happened since we rang in 2011.

Hmmm.

Basically, I have been too swept up in Uranus's last gasp of Pisces to sit down and write insightful, witty posts about the state of the world, Valentine's Day, my own life, and the upcoming Oscars.

It does seem that with Jupiter now back in Aries, as it was for a good portion of 2010, the relative calm that defined Jupiter in late Pisces has ebbed. The overthrow of the Egyptian dictatorship is a good example of what happens when hordes of people, many of whom are young adults, decides that they are mad as hell and aren't going to take it anymore.

Another way of looking at it is that if Jupiter in Pisces expanded societal focus on reflection, spirituality, art, and escape, Jupiter in Aries is about expanding bodily energy, and being headstrong and brave (at least, in the beginning, which is what Aries is all about).

I predicted that 2010 would be a good year for the arts in general, and Pisces especially shines its underwater glow on movies. I am more interested in watching the Academy Awards ceremony this year than I've been in a while.

My astrological predictions: The King's Speech will win Best Picture, since the Moon and Venus will both be in Capricorn tomorrow night (I associate Great Britain with this status-seeking, class-conscious sign of authority), and Colin Firth, whose Sun and Moon are both in Earth signs, will win Best Actor. I think Michelle Williams has a good chance to win Best Actress, since her chart is also very Earthy. (I do think that Jesse Eisenberg did a good job portraying Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, but as he is a double Libra, he may get passed over in favor of the Earthier actors. However, this movie may very well pick up an award in the directing/editing categories.)

On a more personal note, as my progressed Moon entered my 9th House, a very special Sagittarius (which rules the natural 9th House) joined me in my apartment. As a classic Pluto Rising I was very worried that I'd go crazy from lack of privacy--but actually, due in part to our differing schedules, I haven't lost too much downtime.

Oh, and my "We Regeneration" article, which was included in last year's 1st International Blog-a-thon and made the top 5 of most-read articles, will be printed in the March issue of NCGR's Ingress. If you haven't already read it, you can go into my article archives; I posted it on March 5, 2010. It's gratifying that an article nearly a year old is still going strong!

Ringing in 2011 with Mercury Finally Turned Direct

Lucky me and my sweetie (a Sagittarius with Venus in Scorpio and Moon conjunct Jupiter in Cancer) barely escaped the 6th-worst blizzard in NYC history on 12/26; our original afternoon flight to Chicago was canceled, but we were put on an 11 a.m. flight. The first flakes were just beginning to fall as we boarded the plane.

Awaiting us in the Windy City was a blanket of snow from Christmas Day, but we did not have to deal with any precipitation.

I'd never been to Chicago before, and although we were only there for one evening-into-afternoon before taking the train to Deerfield to meet up with my sweetie's family, whom I'd never met before, it was a wonderful time: great hotel, delicious dinner, and the wonderful Cyrus Chestnut trio at Jazz Showcase.

I was concerned about the Mars/Saturn square, but its chief manifestation for me was low energy and a drive to write.

Back home now and ready to move forward along with Mercury. For this last post of 2010, I'd like to encourage all readers, instead of coming up with a dreary resolutions list that you will break by late January, to write down or otherwise record your big, crazy, unconventional, beautiful, mystical revolutionary dreams. Jupiter is nearly conjunct Uranus at 27 degrees of Pisces, and although the aspect is not exact till January 4, it's certainly in effect now, and with the Moon having just entered the sign of Sagittarius, its despositor is none other than Jupiter.

You may not see the fruits of your current dreams for quite some time, but by making them conscious to yourself, you will be in a much better position to take unexpected (Uranus) opportunities to expand (Jupiter) those dreams and ideals, so that by the time Jupiter and Uranus have both entered self-centered Aries, you won't just dream it--you'll be it.

Happy Holidays to Those of You Reading My Blog

Jupiter is currently perching on the cusp of my 7th House at 25 degrees of Pisces, and so everything that the planet Jupiter and the sign Pisces stand for--philosophy, values, expansion, religion, education, travel (Jupiter) and Pisces (spirituality, reatreat, psychic sensitivity, the arts) have combined and are directing my energies to...others.

Given the time of the year, at least in my neck of the woods, it would seem impossible to avoid thinking of others--but there you have it. When Jupiter turned direct at 23 Pisces right before my reading last month, I anticipated a major shift with Jupiter crossing the Descendant of my chart, but did not foretell its depth of feeling. Relationships of all kinds are taking on a deeper and more profound meaning, and I find myself even less interested than usual in small talk and shallow interactions. And I find myself increasingly grateful for the connections I have formed with others that mean a whole lot, both online and off.

Then again, my progressed Mercury (planet of communication) conjuncted my prominent Pluto this year, and my progressed Moon will conjunct my Saturn next week--so I have been quite the serious, communication-oriented cookie lately, not that anyone would have ever confused me with Holly Golightly.

Whatever religion you practice (or don't practice), you are presumably reading my blog because you are interested in astrology--one of the oldest, most mysterious and yet commonsense paths in existence.

Religion means "to rejoin." In that respect, I feel that practicing astrology has reconnected me with something vast, scary, and wonderful. It may be outside myself, but it is also within.

Rejoin, and rejoice, wherever you may be, and whomever you may be with.

PS: With Mercury still retrograde, don't sweat it if you still don't know what you're doing for New Year's. You'll figure it out on the 30th. Even if you think you know how you'll usher in 2011, be prepared for a change of plans.