The self-destruction of John Edwards

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Lynn Hayes

by Lynn Hayes. Please note that the URL of this blog has changed and update your bookmarks.

Here in North Carolina where I live, the trial of John Edwards has all of the fascination of the OJ Simpson Trial but without the blood. This story has all of the classic ingredients of a Southern Gothic novel: an arrogant politician, a long-suffering wife dying of cancer, a mistress into “new agey” things like astrology and crystals and a reported $9,000 a month allowance.

John Edwards (see chart) is driven both by a sincere desire to help people and a fierce ambition combined with a brilliant intellect. But with four planets in Gemini, he has difficulty focusing. Gemini of course is the sign of the twins, the sign of communication. Gemini has a thirst for experience, an intense curiosity and a desire to digest as much information as possible. Gemini is the jack of all trades and extremely versatile; they are chameleons who can change their skins frequently and in fact they usually dislike becoming overly involved in one particular project.

Edwards was an extremely successful trial lawyer for 20 years, representing families and children before entering politics after the death of his son in 1996. Edwards’ progressed Sun, which delineates our evolving sense of Self, moved into Leo around that same time. Leo is the sign of the Ego, and the transition of the progressed sun from Cancer (where it had been for 30 years, being focused on family issues and the family business) into Leo, where one’s own expression in the world becomes the primary matter, was the perfect fuel to feed Edwards’s ambition.

The four planets in Gemini in the chart of John Edwards are the Sun, Mars and a conjunction of the Moon to Mercury. This is a powerful Geminian influence that is the fulcrum of his chart. Mars in Gemini shows that he is driven (Mars) to experience a variety of things and to learn (Gemini), but also that his physical energy (Mars) can be scattered and unfocused (Gemini). Moon in Gemini shows an emotional need (Moon) for variety and a dislike of convention (Gemini). There is also a need to talk and communicate one’s feelings and this can lead to an intellectualization (Gemini) of the feelings (Moon). Jupiter in Gemini suggests success (Jupiter) will come through communication (Gemini) but also that the Gemini tendency to multitask and seek variety becomes expanded (Jupiter).

Most importantly, the conjunction of Jupiter to the Moon indicates an individual who is on a mission (Jupiter). There is an expanded (Jupiter) sense of compassion and nurturing (Moon) and an inner sense of righteousness in one’s path. Jupiter is the King of the Gods after all, and can often bring the kind of self-righteousness we have seen with religious and political leaders whose Suns are connected to Jupiter.

Rising in Edward’s chart is the nurturing sign of Cancer and Mercury (thought process) is in that sign as well, showing that he is very concerned with taking care of others. Cancer is a “cardinal,” or active sign so the nurturing that it provides is very action-oriented: feeding the poor, organizing groups of social conscience. Cancer is also driven by love of family and very protective of their loved ones. It is no wonder that Edwards’s trial practice focused on families. With Mercury in Cancer his thinking process (Mercury) is colored by the emotional sensitivity of Cancer which gives him a strong sensitivity to the needs of others. However, he is likely to be somewhat moody and make important decisions based on the feeling of the day.

I don’t think there’s any doubt that the Edwards family was an important force in Edwards’s life. The fact that he had an affair doesn’t negate the powerful influence that Elizabeth Edwards had on John Edwards and his career. The ability to take on a variety of roles without feeling one has jeopardized one aspect of one’s life for another is a hallmark of the Geminian duality. There is often an amorality to this sign of which I myself, with Gemini rising, am well aware. Gemini is free from judgment, and assembles a different set of rules for different situations.

A challenging T-square in the chart of John Edwards may help to explain what drove him relentlessly towards the Presidency. Saturn and Neptune are conjunct in his chart in the fourth house, a configuration that combines the desire of Saturn to create form and achieve success with the urge of Neptune to dissolve form and withdraw into the world of spirit. There is a deep inner conflict here that is made stronger by the fact that both planets are retrograde and therefore operate a a more internal level. When Saturn is retrograde in a birthchart it also shows an individual who is self-critical and feels a lack of self-worth on a deep level. Ultimately the goal of this conjunction is to successfully unite the energy of the two planets by giving form to our dreams and ideals rather than dividing in conflict between these two directions. Uranus squares Saturn and Neptune as it does in the charts of many babyboomers, indicating a conflict with authority figures and conventional society (Saturn/Uranus) and between one’s ideals (Neptune) and the reality of change (Uranus).

The drama of John Edwards has been unfolding on the national stage for the past five years, although in North Carolina we witnessed it much earlier as he finally wrested a senate seat from the Republicans only to surrender it in his first failed run for the presidency. Now he is on trial for his life and his reputation as the jury considers whether his use of campaign funds to support his mistress violated campaign finance law.

The astrology does not look good for John Edwards. His progressed Midheaven, denoting his evolving career path, made an exact square to his natal Pluto (destruction and regeneration) last year and is moving towards the same aspect to Pluto in the progressed chart. This type of planetary cycle is virtually always a harbinger of some type of major change in one’s work or home life, and usually both because they are so interconnected. It can also mean the total annhilation of one way of life, since Pluto represents endings and the destruction of an old way of life so that something new may grow in its place.

Still, Edwards’ fate may turn on a dime depending on the jury’s decision. And in the midst of the intensity of the progressed Midheaven/Pluto dynamic, Jupiter’s optimism and good fortune is smiling on Edwards with conjunction to his natal Midheaven as the jury deliberates, potentially opening doors to sympathetic supporters. However, a square from Jupiter to his ascendant (his public persona) will annoy those on the jury who consider him arrogant and condescending.

The astrological chips are up in the air and it’s impossible to predict the outcome.

Solar eclipse at the Gemini New Moon, May 20 2012

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Lynn Hayes

by Lynn Hayes Please note that the URL of this blog has changed and update your bookmarks.

This Solar Eclipse at the Gemini New Moon marks a brand new beginning and a fresh start. New Moons mark the beginning of the lunar cycle, and a New Moon at the first degree of a sign carries its own signature of a new beginning. Gemini is the sign of awakening the mind: the mental curiosity that takes us into new experiences and new ways of looking at the world.

This New Moon is an eclipse because it occurs near the Nodes of the Moon – in this case it aligns in a tight conjunction with the South Node which represents our past history and karmic ties. The Lunar Nodes give eclipses greater significance since we are confronting and clearing energies that continue to lurk from the past. While we are fostering this new beginning and creating new ideas for the future, something or someone from the past will require our attention. We can’t move forward without integrating these lessons.

Mercury, Gemini’s ruler, is conjunct Jupiter at the New Moon which enhances the mind and facilitates understanding. However, Neptune squares the lunation and the South Node which brings an element of mystery and confusion into the mix. The Gemini New Moon wants to be free like a bird to fly above the earth and collect new viewpoints, but Neptune challenges us to surrender our ideas of the way the world works and instead learn to trust our intuitive inner voice. This can create some confusion if we are unused to living a life simultaneously in our inner and outer worlds but it is exactly this experience that leads us to a deeper wisdom.

We have more Geminian energy with the retrograde turn of Venus a few days ago, and the upcoming Transit of Venus across the Sun. Venus retrograde asks us to look back and reassess what it is that we value and how those aspects of our life support us and the world around us. Gemini seeks understanding without judgment – it is a learning without discrimination or attachment. Each idea and suggestion has its own value and adds to the richly colored tapestry of life.

The challenging square from Uranus (radical revolution) to Pluto (death and regeneration) continues to oversee every smaller planetary cycle. This is not a time to hold onto the past or fear the future, because the past is crumbling away under our feet. The Gemini New Moon grants us an opportunity to gain understanding through the mental realm that can help to support us as we move into this brave new world.

The astrology of the Facebook IPO

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Lynn Hayes

by Lynn Hayes Please note that the URL of this blog has changed and update your bookmarks.

The Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Facebook stock occurs at 11 am today, May 18 2012. This is considered such a momentous offering that Mark Zuckerberg rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange today.

Venus, governing the accumulation of money and values, has just turned retrograde which often creates a reversal in the common thinking around the stock market. When Venus began to slow down in anticipation of its retrograde turn the stock market began its downward slide (other Venus retrograde periods have seen increases, so it has more to do with a change in viewpoint than a particular direction the markets take).

We also have Saturn getting ready to change direction in late June. That is over a month away, but Saturn has already slowed down and will travel only a degree or so before it turns direct on June 25th. Saturn is the planet that provides us with a reality check. It does not suffer fools gladly, nor does it reward excessive optimism and speculation.

There is plenty of optimism floating around because the Sun has just conjoined Jupiter, the planet of optimism and good fortune. Astrologer Grace Morris suggested that timing the IPO to begin after 10:45 am would put the Sun/Jupiter conjunction in the 10th house (representing the public exchange). But Jupiter is not always as beneficent as it may appear. Jupiter can cause us to become complacent and overreach, especially since Leo is rising on the ascendant of the IPO chart. The Leo ascendant is perfect for the kind of bigger than life event this IPO has become. And the Moon in Taurus right at the Midheaven, the peak of the chart, favors activities of finance and securities.

Still, the planetary energy is ripe for disillusionment with Neptune, the planet of hopes and dreams, in a challenging square to the Nodes of the Moon which point the direction to our fate. This is a combination of factors that can be quite treacherous in an electional chart for a new business venture.

I am not a financial adviser! But if I were, I would probably stay clear of the Facebook IPO.

Disclaimer: I am not a financial adviser and this post represents merely my comments based on the astrology of the IPO. It should not be construed as financial advice of any kind.

European elections and political musings

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Lynn Hayes

The phrase “May you live in interesting times” has often been identified as a “Chinese curse,” although Wikipedia debunks that notion. But the viewpoint that interesting times could be a curse supports the idea that change, for most people, is difficult.

We are living in very interesting times indeed, and heading into times that will be even more interesting as Uranus in Aries faces off against Pluto in Capricorn in June. If you’re new here you’ll be reading a great deal more about this aspect and I hope to be putting up a major article on the subject this week. Capricorn represents the established structures of power, and Aries represents the urge for self-determination. Pluto is the planet of annhilation and transformation, so while it travels through Capricorn (through 2023) there is sure to be dramatic change in political structures around the world.

That began last weekend with elections in Europe as the established order lost power in many nations and splinter groups (Uranus represents the oddball fringe elements of society among other things) gained a footing in the governmental bodies of these nations.

Capricorn can be a sign of hardship, and austerity programs throughout Europe have attempted to get a handle on the rising debt that we saw increase during Pluto’s reign in Sagittarius (the sign of expansion and optimism).

The most unnerving sign of the upcoming Uranus/Pluto square was the rise of the ultra-right wing neo-Nazi party in Greece known as Golden Dawn. Uranus in Aries represents the revolution (Uranus) of the individual (Aries). This is a symbol of anarchy and ultimate liberation, and as it continues to face off against the power structures (Pluto in Capricorn) over the next three years the entire global political landscape will change.

Even Osama bin Laden worried about splinter groups undermining his control over Al Qaeda, reflecting the growing resistance to any kind of larger and more powerful political structure by radical (Uranus) individualistic (Aries) groups (Uranus entered Aries in 2010). The Tea Party wing of the Republican party is a symbol of this kind of radical force, as is the Occupy movement in the US.

The square formation between Uranus and Pluto began last year when the two planets aligned within a degree, but the first exact square comes in June. Watch these pages for more Uranus/Pluto news, and you may want to catch up with this article to get a historical perspective.

A few words about the May 5th Supermoon

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Lynn Hayes

Image found on Facebook with no attribution

by Lynn Hayes If you missed yesterday’s post on the Full Moon you can read it here.

The May Full Moon occurs as the Moon is at what’s called perigee, its closest proximity to Earth. When the Moon is near the Earth it appears larger than life, and astrologer Richard Nolle coined the term “Supermoon” because of the powerful impact the Supermoon often has on the earth. As Richard explains it (and has done since 1979), the Supermoon occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth are lined up in a particularly tight formation. Richard has noted correspondences between the Supermoons (which occur at least four times a year) and earthquakes and tidal forces.

Examples of the SuperMoon connection with major storms and seismic events abound: the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, the largest volcanic event in the second half of the 20th Century, took place on June 15, 1991 (within three days of a SuperMoon); the October 6, 1948 Richter 7.3 earthquake that struck Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and took 110,000 lives, one of the deadliest earthquakes on record (again within three days of a SuperMoon, allowing for time zones); and the September 8, 1900 hurricane and tidal surge that struck Galveston, Texas on the day of a SuperMoon, which killed more people (8,000 dead) than any other Atlantic hurricane on record and remains the deadliest natural disaster yet to strike the United States. I’m just scratching the surface here, citing only a few historic instances in the past hundred years or so. Look a little deeper, and you’ll run across literally hundreds more greater and lesser seismic and meteorological disturbances, from Hurricane Andrew in 1992 to the 1989 World Series (Loma Prieta) earthquake – just to name a couple contemporary notable examples.

More recently, there was the February 28, 2010 SuperMoon, which well illustrates the storm and seismic potential associated with this alignment. As described in my 2010 World Forecast Highlights, the geocosmic shock window associated with the February 28 SuperMoon ran “from February 25 through March 3,” signaling a “newsworthy upsurge in moderate-to-severe seismic activity (including magnitude 5+ earthquakes and volcanic eruptions), plus strong storms with damaging winds and heavy precipitation; along with extreme high tides.” My forecast described the alignment as “global in scope by definition,” but with “special risk zones” including “west-central South America.” If you donÂ’t remember it, Google the freakish combination of a monster megathrust 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Chile, a Pacific tsunami, the “snow hurricane” in the Northeastern US, and hurricane-force killer winds in France – all happening at once on February 27.

If the Supermoon can have such a powerful effect on the Earth, we can see where it may also have a powerful effect on our psyches. Not everyone experiences lunar events the same way. Our astrological charts describe how sensitive we are to different forces: those of us with a great deal of water, especially Cancer, are more sensitive to the Moon. Those of us with strong Mercury and Uranian influences are more sensitive to electrical forces. We are all different, which is why there is no way to make predictions that will be effective for everyone.

Since the Full Moon opens wide the curtains to the emotional world, the Supermoon does so with even more force. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself wide open, free of the usual protective coating with which you usually shroud yourself. We are in the Scorpio realm in this Supermoon, and can find our true power (one of the lessons of Scorpio) only in letting go of any superficiality that doesn’t serve us in our True Purpose. Of course we are balancing this against the Taurean Sun, which grounds us to the Earth and helps us to find the peace and serenity that recharges and infuses us with a deep inner strength.

The effect of any Full Moon generally lasts for a few days after the event. Allow this lunar energy to open the heart deeply and find that balance between the inner realm and the outer world that gives us our true humanity.

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Scorpio Full Moon: May 5, 2012

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Lynn Hayes

In the Full Moon is in Scorpio nothing is superficial – this Full Moon is all about delving deep into the Mysteries where the Truth lies unexposed in its raw and most real form. The astrological Moon represents our emotions and feelings – it shows where we retreat to when we are under stress and our instinctive reactions that are unencumbered by any sense of what others expect.

Scorpio is a water sign and therefore involved with the emotional realm. But Scorpio’s traditional ruler is Mars – a fire planet. The emotion of Scorpio is nothing like the “go with the flow” emotional adaptability of Pisces, or the deeply sensitive and easily wounded nature of Cancer. Scorpio is passionate and intense and can be aggressive in its need to defend and protect. Scorpio’s modern ruler is Pluto, the planet of transformation and the ultimate Truth of Life and Death, which drives that need for intensity into a powerhouse of release and reconstruction.

In the Scorpio Full Moon the lunar instinct turns towards the fire of emotion in order to find our inner passions and face our emotions with courage and awareness. However, the Sun is opposite the Moon in Taurus, seeking peace and serenity in the midst of that Scorpionic emotional fire. The Full Moon, like any opposition, requires balance. The Scorpio Moon is in its ascendancy and is the stronger of the two during this lunar event, but the Taurus Sun is whispering to us, encouraging us to stay rooted into the Earth while we allow the fire of our passions and enthusiasm to engulf us in the flames of transcendence.

Scorpio as a rule demands our complete attention, and that will be emphasized as an opposition from Mercury to Saturn (discipline and material reality) culminates at the Full Moon and forces us to confront any areas of our psyche in which we carry a delusion that holds us back.

Meanwhile an awkward aspect between Uranus (radical behavior) and Mars (aggressive instinct) suggests an inner restlessness and urge to flee the confrontation of this Full Moon and planning for some sort of outlet for this energy is advised. Mars is also exactly square (a conflicting aspect) to the lunar nodes which represent a sense of fate and inner direction, so this Full Moon marks a sort of turning point. Perhaps a decision will be necessary, or an event will occur that will affect our lives permanently.

Those of us with an emphasis in Scorpio, or with strong Mars and Pluto aspects, will find this Full Moon exhilarating in its power. Those of us who are somewhat fearful of these influences may feel rather overwhelmed, but remember that this Full Moon is a beautiful opportunity to allow your own drive and motivation and deepest desires be known.

This Full Moon is a time of courage and raw power. Let go of the superficial – let go of any illusions of who you think you are. Be not afraid: allow your delusions and confusions to be burned away in the fire of emotion, and allow yourself to emerge from the ashes renewed and with a new understanding of who you really are. THAT is the lesson of this Scorpio Full Moon.

Lynn’s Skywatch: Planetary Illuminations for May now posted

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Lynn Hayes

Things are heating up for the Uranus/Pluto square in June! You can read the entire article here, but here is the general overview of the month to get you started. If you’re not already on my mailing list please sign up in the sidebar and you will receive not only the latest planetary news but also a simplified translation that is easy for newbies to understand.

There are two big news stories for May and a few smaller headlines. Planetary activity over the past six months or so has been relatively quiet, with very few outer planet alignments that foster intense change and transformation on a global and personal level. This, however, is about to end as the upcoming square from Uranus to Pluto becomes tighter and tighter, culminating on June 24 th. Uranus is the planet of radical change and liberation from repression, and Pluto is the planet of death and total transformation. You can see how a challenging aspect between these two planets can be quite intense and inspire global upheaval as social and cultural traditions are forced to give way to new patterns of human life.

Follow the Astrological Musings blog for more detailed articles about the square from Uranus to Pluto, but this aspect actually began last summer when the two planets came within a degree of the exact alignment, fostering revolutionary fervor and a desire for change. This summer marks the first exact aspect, and the groundwork that has been laid for the eighteen months will culminate and there is likely to be a great deal of political upheaval. How we handle this in our personal life will depend upon our own chart and the planetary aspects that we ourselves are experiencing.

The second major news story for May is the retrograde turn of Venus, the planet of beauty and relating. Venus only changes direction every eighteen months or so, unlike the outer planets which are retrograde for roughly half the year and Mercury, which retrogrades four times a year. Planetary retrograde periods serve to encourage us to complete unfinished business and to perfect half-baked processes, so they are very important and useful. But because they necessitate a backwards view they can be somewhat frustrating which is where they get their bad reputation.

When Venus is retrograde we often reacquaint ourselves with people from our past, or repair broken connections that require mending. It can be difficult to begin a new relationship when Venus is retrograde, and any kind of partnership (personal or business) that begins under this influence may have a difficult time taking root. Venus will remain retrograde through June 27 th.

What makes this particular Venus retrograde period exceptional is that it coincides with a transit of Venus over the Sun, a relatively rare event that occurs in pairs eight years apart only every 243 years. The first transit of Venus over the Sun in the current cycle occurred in June 2004, and the next one won’t occur until 2117. The coincidence of such a rare astronomical event occurring during the dreaded 2012 has given rise to much speculation about the end of the world, but these transits of Venus are not associated with devastation. Transits of Venus always occur in Gemini and Sagittarius – the signs of knowledge and understanding – and they have been associated throughout history with breakthroughs in these areas.

Venus retrogrades May 16th

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Lynn Hayes

Please note that the URL of this blog has changed and update your bookmarks.

In a summer with lots of astrological news (most notably the upcoming square of Uranus and Pluto), we normally wouldn’t pay much attention to the planet Venus which as one of the more benign planets generally has rather a soft astrological effect. In addition, because it moves so quickly even these soft effects last no longer than a day or so.

However, every 18 months or so Venus turns retrograde and forces us to sit up and take notice to our connections with others, our style of relating, and the ways in which our relationships enrich or destroy our lives. When a planet turns retrograde it appears to move backwards from our perspective, but astrologically it retraces earlier steps and turns our attention back to the past. When Venus is retrograde we may find ourselves thinking of past loves, or hearing from an old friend. We may decide that our relationship patterns are no longer working for us and make changes.

Venus also deals with matters of beauty and aesthetics so we may decide to change our look under this influence. Our values and ability to attract prosperity also falls under the domain of Venus, so Venus retrograde periods (like other retrogrades) often indicate a shift in the financial markets.

Venus is in Gemini right now, and with Gemini highlighting communication and learning this is likely to be a retrograde period full of conversation and the desire to share our experiences and understanding with others. This is a great time for writers and anyone in the field of communication – our plans may not unfold according to our timeline because of the retrograde, but there will be opportunities to revisit areas of communication that perhaps need enhancement or perfecting.

A transit of Venus is a very rare occurrence – we will see only one pair in our lifetime. The first of the pair this time around occurred in June 2004 and the second occurs in June this year (the 6th in the Western hemisphere and the 5th in the Eastern hemisphere where it will be most visible).

(this article will be continued tomorrow)

Saturn in Libra meets Pluto in Capricorn: The Marriage Amendment

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Lynn Hayes

Here in North Carolina citizens are voting on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. I have been listening to some of the conservative talk radio shows in an attempt to find out the reasoning behind the necessity for this amendment.

It seems to me that if people are so concerned about the sanctity of marriage the first thing to be outlawed should be divorce. This is really less about marriage and more about the perceived “wrongness” of homosexuality. But since we are in a Saturn in Libra phase where the Celestial Taskmaster (Saturn) is dealing with issues of relationship and partnership (Libra), it’s no wonder that the boundaries of conventional social mores in relationships are being tested.

Saturn is the ruler of Capricorn, and both share a love for the status quo and The Way It’s Always Been. The people who are speaking out for this new constitutional amendment tell us that marriage has been between a man and a woman since the beginning of time, so why change it? (Let’s ignore for a moment the fact that marriage between people of different races was illegal in North Carolina until 1971.) This is where Pluto comes in, because Pluto is the destroyer of things that no longer serve us, and in Capricorn Pluto is knocking the heads off of all of our sacred cows.

At the same time the square of Uranus to Pluto is creating rebellion of all kinds, and even staunch conservatives are refusing to toe the party line on this and many other matters. This is a time of change, and change will be inevitable. Those who try to anchor to the shore will find their boats shredded in the tides.

There’s a reason they call them cosmic!

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Lynn Hayes

Cosmic Ray Origin still mysterious

I don’t know much about cosmic rays, but I do love it when science can’t explain everything. Cosmic Rays are a bombardment of tiny electrical particles to earth from deep space and scientists recently discovered that the supernova explosions or gamma ray bursts which formerly were thought to cause these rays to enter our atmosphere are not actually the cause, leaving us to wonder what is really going on here.

We who are working in the field of consciousness and personal evolution talk about how the energy is changing now, and about the shift in consciousness. But we never discuss where this energy creating these shifts come from – there is a general consensus that we can feel these energetic changes but not being scientists we tend not to analyze their source.

Wired News reported in 2010 that incoming cosmic rays reached a new high in 2009. Space scientist Richard Mewaldt of Caltech is quoted in the article: “It’s sort of like everything’s working in the same direction right now, to allow cosmic rays greater access to the inner solar system.” This occurred during the “solar minimum” when the sun’s energy was at its lowest, perhaps permitting more of the powerful rays to reach the earth’s atmosphere. Some speculative journalists like David WIlcock have written of a stream of new energy coming from the Galactic Center, and astrologically Pluto conjoined the Galactic Center in 2006-2007 which potentially could have opened a doorway for these forces.

For a fascinating article about planetary and consciousness changes, read this article.

Astrological Musings by Lynn Hayes

Thoughts on planetary influences that affect our inner and outer worlds