Whose Revolution, Anyway? Dear Friend and Reader: This week as the Sun passed through the Jupiter-Uranus-Pluto T-square, the world moved and shook and many collective events contributed to the ongoing reshaping of society. We experienced a surge of the astrology that is shaping our time in history, defining the turning point we are coming through.
I've been describing how April 2014 represents the peak of 2012-era astrology. This will arrive as a series of events of which this week's aspect pattern was but one. Each of these events represents a crux point that will include decisions, changes in your environment, rearrangements of relationships and potentially some forces that seem outside of your control. Focus on your environment, your options and your power of decision. Decision, the power of choice, is the mechanism of freedom. Awareness of choice will make the difference between experiencing the developments of April's astrology (or any astrology) as a function of fate or of free will. The backdrop of the astrology is a T-square pattern involving Jupiter in Cancer, Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn. The pattern is now aligned to about two degrees. As you've read over the past couple of weeks, Mars retrograde in Libra is entering the pattern and will reach an exact alignment to the other three planets, completing a grand cross on April 23. Here is what happened over the past few days. On Tuesday, April 1, the Sun in Aries made a square (90-degree aspect) to Jupiter in Cancer. On Wednesday, April 2, the Sun made a conjunction to Uranus in Aries. Then on Thursday, April 3, the Sun made a square to Pluto in Capricorn. Each of these alone is a significant event; that they happened within hours of one another multiplies that exponentially. [See charts for Ft. Hood and Supreme Court ruling side by side.] When I say "the Sun" I really mean "the Sun and the Earth," since the Sun does not actually orbit or change longitude; the Earth is doing the orbiting, and yet the Sun's longitude is what appears to change in the astrology chart. So, said another way, the Earth has passed through the Jupiter-Uranus-Pluto configuration, in alignment with the Sun. (That, in turn, aligned with the United States' natal Sun in Cancer in the chart for July 4, 1776.) And it felt that way. News this week was dominated by a series of major earthquakes in Chile (and other notable seismic activity in the United States, including a rare quake warning issued in Los Angeles). American politics had a huge shakeup, in the form of Wednesday morning's Supreme Court decision allowing unlimited spending by wealthy people on political campaigns. Then later on Wednesday afternoon, as the Sun separated from Uranus and applied to Pluto, there was a second mass shooting at Fort Hood in Texas, killing four and injuring an additional 16 people -- the latest example of The War Comes Home. The shooter was a soldier who had served in Iraq, was being treated for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and who then killed himself. If he was being treated for depression, I would like to know what mood-altering drugs he was on.
From an astrological standpoint, what is interesting is that all of these events happened with the Sun within one degree of Uranus, which most astrologers would read as 'expect the unexpected'. Earthquakes always come out of nowhere; mass shootings seem to, though we have indeed come to expect them. Meanwhile, I had no idea the lawsuit that was decided Wednesday was even in the works. Obviously people who observe the Supreme Court more closely than I do knew about this, but I think it took most of us by surprise. I would like to take a moment and describe some of the implications of the Supreme Court decision, on the case McCutcheon and the Republican National Committee v. the Federal Elections Commission. In 2010, the Supreme Court determined that corporations have the same free speech rights as people, and free speech was defined as the right to spend unlimited money on elections. The court ruled that corporations, including unions, can donate unlimited amounts of money to political action committees (PACs or super PACs), which can then spend that money on advertising to influence campaigns. As former MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann explained it in this chilling special comment on Jan. 21, 2010, "In short, there are now no checks on the ability of corporations or unions or other giant aggregations of power to decide our elections. None. They can spend all the money they want, and if they can spend all the money they want, they will, sooner or later, implant the legislators of their choice from president to head of the visiting nurse service." Wednesday, the court ruled that based on the same principle -- money as an expression of free speech rights -- the Federal Elections Commission has no right to cap the total spending on political campaigns by flesh and blood individuals. There is still a per-candidate limit, but there's a loophole big enough to drive a campaign bus through. This ruling only increases the influence of money in politics, which is causing endless problems as it is.
I'm finding it entertaining (in that demented way) that the fact that the Republican National Committee was a plaintiff is being left out of the discussion, not even mentioned (that I have seen yet) on TV, including by some miracle on left-leaning MSNBC. The plaintiff is usually described as "an Alabama businessman." Yet this case could not have happened without the resources and motivation of the RNC to drive it forward. It is a Republican idea to have unlimited money in elections be the law of the land. In writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts professed, "There is no more basic right in our democracy than to participate in the election of our political leaders." I would say there is no more cynical statement he could make. Notice that he did not say "no more basic right than to vote." That's because there is no guaranteed right to vote -- it is not, for example, in the Bill of Rights. It is an implied right, subject to no guarantees, many exceptions, and with no consistency between the states (except for voting age) and under constant attack. Every day we live, assaults on voting grow more aggressive; state legislatures have passed (and continue to adopt) countless laws requiring voter ID (equivalent of a poll tax, or pay-to-vote scheme), limiting voting hours and locations (including blocking Sunday voting, a tradition among African-American churches), purging the voter rolls and many other dirty tricks -- all of them waged by Republicans who know that limiting voter turnout helps their chances of getting elected. Justice Stephen Breyer, writing a lengthy dissent that he read from the bench, said that the court's ruling "eviscerates our nation's campaign finance laws, leaving a remnant incapable of dealing with the grave problems of democratic legitimacy that those laws were intended to resolve." In the majority decision, Chief Justice Roberts said that the only "compelling governmental interest" in this case was preventing corruption or the appearance of corruption -- which he defined narrowly as a direct quid pro quo arrangement -- that is, bribery.
One last point. Chief Justice Roberts seems to salute the flag and Article One of the Bill of Rights (the First Amendment) when he says, "Money in politics may at times seem repugnant to some, but so too does much of what the First Amendment so vigorously protects." He cites Nazi rallies and flag burning as examples. He does not mention that protesters are routinely arrested at demonstrations for no reason, funneled into "kettles" where they will get sprayed and arrested, kept in cages known as "Free Speech Areas" outside national political events, spied on and otherwise have their right to dissent chilled to the point of being frozen. Yes, we are a great nation because we allow flag burning and Nazi rallies, but that is a ruse if we gas protesters and violently arrest reporters who are doing their jobs. It's a ruse if the "right" to influence elections belongs solely to the wealthy and the largest business interests. As Keith Olbermann said of Citizens' United in his special comment, parsing the logic of the people who won the case, the reasoning being used is, "As a function of the First Amendment, you must allow for the raping and pillaging of the First Amendment by people who can buy the First Amendment." Granting rich people and corporations the right to buy millions of votes is not free speech. It's fascism, using the purest definition of the word -- the merging of state and corporate interests -- and it's time we understand that. We know from history that Uranus-Pluto aspects like we are experiencing right now are revolutionary events. But as I have asked before, whose revolution? If we want this to be our revolution, we need to commit to that. I don't believe we need a revolution in the streets, throwing pavement stones at riot police. The revolution needs to begin with commitment to the truth, by which I mean commitment to real understanding.
The revolution we need right now is one of passionate awareness, curiosity and the drive to gather and use knowledge. Gather and use, not just sit around all day and read and click. There is a need for personal involvement and for leadership on the most basic community level. Even if it's unpopular to push your friends, relatives and associates into awareness and action, that cannot stop you. When you look at the world, and at your life, and you consider the future that you want for the next generations -- be they your children and grandchildren or those of your friends or those of distant posterity -- ask yourself if you're ready to give up. And if you're not ready to give up, that means it's time to commit. Yes, that means embarking on many steep learning curves and setting out on an uncertain course. There is a need, particularly in American society, to go beyond the superficial, beyond appearances and to give up our precious naivete about how the world works. And that can be painful. Part of what people struggle with, or use as an excuse, is that they care and nobody else seems to. So what can they do alone? That is obviously not true. As the old saying goes, don't mourn, organize. Lovingly,   Aunt Josie Forever Today would be the 110th birthday of my godmother, Josephine Nicastro Sharp, known to everyone as Aunt Josie. She was born in Sicily on April 4, 1904. Though the place is uncertain, I received an astonishing astrological confirmation that I was in the right place when I put my feet on the ground in Piazza Armerina, Sicily, one day in 1996.
Aunt Josie was my godmother in the true sense of the word, taking the place of my parents, particularly my mother, in various times of extended absence. She also helped raise my father, and was his mother's sister, so she knew something of the family influences that were at work in my life. Josie was the most interesting blend of forgiving and shrewd; faithful and worldly; loving and insisting on integrity, particularly from herself. A deeply spiritual woman, the Roman Catholic Church was her spiritual home, particularly in her relationship to Msgr. Jolly, who ran the local parish. Before being married, Josie worked scrubbing floors and then was in the typing pool of Westinghouse. She never finished high school but was highly literate and an expert secretary. Like many of her generation, she scrimped and saved and could stretch a dollar. She was a clever stock trader and made something of her modest, handmade fortune. My father said that she insisted on having a separate stock account from her husband, my uncle Howard Sharp, because their theories of trading were so different. Aunt Josie was something of a mystic, and we had many fun experiences of psychic contact, such as she standing by the phone waiting for it to ring the moment that I called. We talked for hours and in the process I learned much about life, and the past, from her and told her about my perspective from the viewpoint of someone 60 years younger. That 60-year age difference made us both green dragons (element wood) in the Chinese system of astrology. We were definitely a couple of odd birds of a feather, with more in common than really seemed possible or practical for our age difference. There were a few points on which we disagreed, such as cast iron frying pans (which she didn't think were sanitary) and chop sticks (which struck her as a bit uncivilized). We definitely agreed on chicken and rice. Aunt Josie believed in me, in my talent and in my leadership skills. When I was working my way through the ranks of the campus publishing community at SUNY Buffalo, she would regularly send me care packages, complete with her amazing oatmeal and/or oatmeal peanut butter cookies and various treats. These were always a big hit with my staff. After I graduated, I told her that I was not really into sweets and shared all the stuff she sent with my crew, a bunch of college students who devoured it voraciously. She said she understood the politics involved.
Mike Winerip wrote: "In 1989, as a graduate student here, he founded Student Leader News Service, covering the state and city university systems. It was really just Mr. Coppolino, a computer that his Aunt Josie bought him and three buddies who worked the phones in exchange for a place to sleep. They did good journalism. Mr. Coppolino was one of the few people not on the state payroll who understood the budget." On several other occasions, she made it possible for me to keep going at what I was doing. After she died in 1994 at age 90, an inheritance of 333 shares of Exxon stock funded my becoming an astrologer, laying the foundation for Planet Waves. I dread to imagine what my life would be like without her consistent love, faith and her support of my work. Astrologically, here is some information. She had the Sun, Jupiter, Mercury and Mars in Aries -- an independent woman far ahead of her times. She knew who she was and nobody could shake that. It's unclear whether she had a Scorpio Moon or a Sagittarius Moon. Her shrewdness, psychological insight and cleverness with money argue for Scorpio; her vibrant spirit that nothing seemed to sink, and her mystical bent, all argue for Sagittarius. So let's count her as both. She had Saturn in Aquarius and was always a fair judge, taking her time before making up her mind about anything. And she had a Venus-Nessus-Eris cluster conjunct my natal Sun. I would say that Aunt Josie was the early influence who was never ambiguous in how she felt about me, or treated me. There was no double edge. She was straightforward and put love first. She was consistently an adult. She understood that most of the time the world offers a dirty deal, and insisted on holding the place of faith and warm welcome for me till the present day. Research, Writing and Editing Credits: Planet Waves is produced by a team consisting of Hillary Conary, Eric Francis, Elizabeth Michaud, Amanda Painter, Susan Starr, Carol van Strum and Chad Woodward. Page assembled and coded by Anatoly Ryzhenko. Special thanks to the Fact Checkers List, which goes over each edition on Thursday night -- and to our main astrology fact-checker Alex Miller, and Amanda, who goes over all their suggestions. Our editions are also proofread and fact-checked by Jessica Keet. 
Nessus Moves Into Pisces; Mars-Sun oppositionNessus, the third-discovered centaur and one of the most interesting minor planets I've ever seen, has changed signs for the first time since 2005, moving from Aquarius to Pisces. I consider this big news. Nessus in Aquarius has been present in many important news charts, but moreover the feeling of this aspect has permeated society as much as any Pluto transit. The sensation of this transit as I perceive it has been the group as bully. It's also the experience of how several very smart, sensitive people can turn into a collective total asshole when you group them together. It's the sensation of how an individual has to take responsibility for their actions, but a group gets to pass the buck.
The Sun conjunct Nessus in Aquarius was the highest aspect in the chart of the pope's resignation. (I am looking at this chart for the first time in a year -- man, what a chart.) I am aware this could be described as a factor of the human condition going back nearly forever, but in the Nessus in Aquarius years it's become so obvious that the only way to miss it is if you want to. In its most positive expression, Nessus is about boldly taking responsibility; it's about being the place where the buck stops. In Aquarius, that would represent the person within who blows the whistle on a corrupt organization. It's the person in a family who goes to therapy and stops the cycle of abuse. Nessus at its best is the person who understands karma and why it's necessary to acknowledge its existence. Nessus entered Aquarius together with Chiron, the first-discovered centaur, in early 2005. Chiron was moving more slowly at the time. Both are moving further from the Sun and taking longer to move through their respective signs. Nessus will take about 20 years to move through Pisces. Since nobody alive on the planet has lived through Nessus in Pisces (it has an orbit of 122 years, so it left Pisces about a century ago), I can only read the energy of the placement, which involves some speculation as to the themes that will emerge. I think this transit will take us deeper into the era of consequences, and serve as a compelling force to deal with the consequences of what we believe or refuse to accept. Said another way, we have some help seeing the problems with what it means to live in an illusion with total commitment -- that is, to divorce oneself from the reality-based community. I would also add that Nessus in Pisces will encourage those willing to clean up their edges, tidy their boundaries, and patrol their own borders. I will have more to say about this placement as time goes on. In terms of the basic facts, Nessus will remain in Pisces moving direct till early June, when it stations retrograde; it will re-enter Aquarius in early August, station direct in early November and re-enter Pisces to stay (for 20 years) in early February 2015. Here is an ephemeris. Focus on Venus and Mars Venus will ingress Pisces this weekend (on Saturday), immediately making a conjunction to Nessus. So we may get an early clue what this transit is about. I am not sure it rises to the level of a proving moment, but we shall see. This may come with recovered memories, unusual psychic experiences and unusually deep feelings of a kind you've never experienced before, as Nessus has never been in Pisces in our lifetimes.
In other words, with the Sun shining directly on it, we will get a look at what Mars retrograde is really about. Mars is the planetary ruler of Aries, and is in its opposite sign Libra. This sounds like involvement, investment or overcommitment in a relationship or a concept of relationship. It's another version of the message of Mars retrograde that people need to be individuals who enter into partnership rather than "half people" who then complete one another; the idea that we're partially human until we conjoin and fill in the missing piece. The opposition of the Sun and Mars is still close enough to the Jupiter-Uranus-Pluto pattern to count; that is, to have a resonance effect, which may feel like an eruption of the need to be independent. That will be accentuated by the Sun conjunct Eris on Saturday, April 12, an aspect that I will come back to in greater detail next week. Sun-Eris aspects are always revealing and have inspired two Planet Waves articles in the past -- including Calling Home the Castaway Woman. (I cannot remember the second one, please let me know if you do. Aah here it is -- Dancing With Discord.) I also have a monograph on Eris, written just after it was named, called Facets and Fragments of Self. This is a free download. -- Eric Francis   "Because if he is, if you saw so much money, then he's a BANK ROBBER!" John and Brett Roberts in "Salesman." You can also see the "Kid History" videos and more at Bored Shorts TV.
Out of the Mouths of Babes… Sort of The beauty of children's imaginations is just how boundless they are. Narrative structure or logic? Who needs it! The laws of physics? They don't need no stinkin' laws! So when kids make up stories, the results can be trippy in the most awesomely innocent way. Now, add to that adults acting out these stories, lip-syncing to the kids' improvised dialogue, and you have some comic video gold. Enter Kid Snippets, a video series produced by Bored Shorts TV and usually featuring several of the adult siblings of the Roberts clan. In fact, it may partly be the family connection that allows the actors in these videos to capture so much of the nuance of the kids' voices in their facial expressions and body language -- that's what makes these videos so brilliant.  This week's Editon of Planet Waves FM is Sponsored by Geico This week's edition of Planet Waves FM is the April Fool's edition. It starts with a real discussion of ethics in astrology practice, then the trickster fun begins. I interview the esteemed Rev. Dr. Roberta Hand Green de Geoffrey, who channeled the Gargamel Symbols -- the latest, hottest new trend in astrology. Daniel Sternstein makes his return to the program, after rising to the top of his profession, then giving up guitar to pursue other interests.  The Gargamel Symbols shown above in the cake dish where they first appeared to the Rev. Dr. Roberta Hand Green de Geoffrey.
 Well in time for the Spring 2014 grand cross (Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Pluto) I'll be publishing a 12-sign reading focusing on intimacy and trust. The readings will focus on the influence of Mars in the grand cross as well as the lunar and solar eclipses. All of this happens in April. Each sign will get a 20- to 30-minute reading, the signs will cross-reference (each being a special point of focus), and everyone will have access to all 12 signs. I've recorded an informative and authentically interesting audio preview of the project (worth listening just to hear our original theme music). As usual we offer incentive for early purchase. The final price will be $59.95 but we are offering it through the weekend at the current pre-order price of $39.95. Get it while it's hot! A Boutique Item: Bali for Astrology and Yoga Last weekend I took a seminar and then taught an astrology class with Rebecca Gordon, one of the truly soulful members of my profession, and learned that she's arranging an astrology-yoga expedition to Bali in a few weeks (June 8-20, with Mars direct).
Here is how Rebecca describes the trip: "Here is an opportunity to experience one of the world’s greatest treasures and enjoy a luxuriously planned trip through the lesser known and pristine landscapes of the planet. Whether an adept Yogi or having never set foot on a mat, you will have the private attention to begin a practice or go deeper into the one you already have while poised over the most compelling vistas of the south seas." I suggest you make direct contact with both teachers before planning to go, ask them any questions you may have and, as a first priority, make your decision based on who they are. Once again, here is the link with full contact info and trip details.  Your Monthly Horoscopes -- and our Publishing Schedule Notes Your extended monthly horoscopes for April were published Friday, March 21. We published your extended monthly horoscopes for March Friday, Feb. 21. Moonshine horoscopes for the Aries New Moon published Tuesday, March 25. Moonshine horoscopes for the Virgo Full Moon were published Tuesday, March 11. We also published an Inner Space horoscope for April Tuesday, April 1. Please note, we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope on the first Friday after the Sun has entered a new sign.  Reader Feedback on my Recorded Readings This is an excerpt of a letter that floated into my inbox this morning. It's from someone who just experienced The Mars Effect annual readings, and apparently a few others. The Aries birthday reading is available now. See above for the special Spring Report, which will be ready late next week. -- Eric Francis "I'm highly grateful for the work you do. All of the readings I have gotten from you have touched my Soul the Core of its very essence. I just ordered a Gemini Reading for my Other Half, aka Soul Mate. We both listened to the reading together this morning and it had such a profound effect in more ways than one; with this knowledge we become closer in knowing that we have the power to create a life of abundance and purpose. I'm thankful to you for sharing your gifts with Hue Manity and yes I did say Hue Manity."  Weekly Horoscope for Friday, April 4, 2014, #993 | By Eric Francis  Are you ready for a change? The astrology of this season offers a new opening to intimacy and trust in your relationships. Pre-order your Spring Report by Eric Francis now. You'll get all twelve signs for $39.95 if you order before the readings publish -- a significant value! Curious to know more? Listen to the free audio preview.
 Are you ready for a change? The astrology of this season offers a new opening to intimacy and trust in your relationships. Pre-order your Spring Report by Eric Francis now. You'll get all twelve signs for $39.95 if you order before the readings publish -- a significant value! Curious to know more? Listen to the free audio preview.
 Are you ready for a change? The astrology of this season offers a new opening to intimacy and trust in your relationships. Pre-order your Spring Report by Eric Francis now. You'll get all twelve signs for $39.95 if you order before the readings publish -- a significant value! Curious to know more? Listen to the free audio preview.
 Are you ready for a change? The astrology of this season offers a new opening to intimacy and trust in your relationships. Pre-order your Spring Report by Eric Francis now. You'll get all twelve signs for $39.95 if you order before the readings publish -- a significant value! Curious to know more? Listen to the free audio preview.
 Are you ready for a change? The astrology of this season offers a new opening to intimacy and trust in your relationships. Pre-order your Spring Report by Eric Francis now. You'll get all twelve signs for $39.95 if you order before the readings publish -- a significant value! Curious to know more? Listen to the free audio preview.
 Are you ready for a change? The astrology of this season offers a new opening to intimacy and trust in your relationships. Pre-order your Spring Report by Eric Francis now. You'll get all twelve signs for $39.95 if you order before the readings publish -- a significant value! Curious to know more? Listen to the free audio preview.
 Are you ready for a change? The astrology of this season offers a new opening to intimacy and trust in your relationships. Pre-order your Spring Report by Eric Francis now. You'll get all twelve signs for $39.95 if you order before the readings publish -- a significant value! Curious to know more? Listen to the free audio preview.
 Are you ready for a change? The astrology of this season offers a new opening to intimacy and trust in your relationships. Pre-order your Spring Report by Eric Francis now. You'll get all twelve signs for $39.95 if you order before the readings publish -- a significant value! Curious to know more? Listen to the free audio preview.
 Are you ready for a change? The astrology of this season offers a new opening to intimacy and trust in your relationships. Pre-order your Spring Report by Eric Francis now. You'll get all twelve signs for $39.95 if you order before the readings publish -- a significant value! Curious to know more? Listen to the free audio preview.
 Are you ready for a change? The astrology of this season offers a new opening to intimacy and trust in your relationships. Pre-order your Spring Report by Eric Francis now. You'll get all twelve signs for $39.95 if you order before the readings publish -- a significant value! Curious to know more? Listen to the free audio preview.
 Are you ready for a change? The astrology of this season offers a new opening to intimacy and trust in your relationships. Pre-order your Spring Report by Eric Francis now. You'll get all twelve signs for $39.95 if you order before the readings publish -- a significant value! Curious to know more? Listen to the free audio preview.
  Are you ready for a change? The astrology of this season offers a new opening to intimacy and trust in your relationships. Pre-order your Spring Report by Eric Francis now. You'll get all twelve signs for $39.95 if you order before the readings publish -- a significant value! Curious to know more? Listen to the free audio preview.
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