Joan Porte – Page 21

Free Solstice Call

What is going on in the universe during the first quarter of 2016 and how can you utilize these energies? Find out on my 2015 Winter Solstice call.

How can you use the Saturn square Neptune? What is Pluto demanding you clear and change? Find out what these and other planetary placements will interact with your chart this winter.

The call will take place on December 17, 2015 at 730 PM Eastern. Call 712 432 1500 and use access code 187842#. As always, I will provide a free transit chart for anyone who wants to follow along with their chart.

If you can’t make the call but would like an audio copy just let me know and I will send it out.

The call is free but if you wish to make a donation you can send to [email protected] via PayPal. Thanks.

A Little Less Guilt on Thanksgiving: Flourless, Sugarless Chocolate Cake

If you plan to jam potatoes and stuffing in your face on Thanksgiving, you can still end your feast with the taste of chocolate sans the flour and sugar. The chocolate is so rich and delicious that you really don’t miss the less healthy aspects of this cake.

Makes one 8-inch round cake

6 oz. semi sweet baking chocolate (I use ones that are at least 80 percent cocoa)

½ cup butter – you can use coconut oil

¼ cup cocoa powder

3 eggs

1/2 cup honey

Optional Berry Topping
Combine 12 ounces of your favorite frozen berries, ¼ cup of water and 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook about 10 minutes until they are soft. Cool and blend until smooth in blender.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F, and grease an 8 inch pan with cooking spray or butter.

In a double boiler, melt the chocolate. Remove from the heat and then stir in the butter or coconut oil until melted and mixed well with the chocolate. Stir in the rest of ingredients until the batter is smooth. There should be no clumps.

Bake 20 minutes or until the center just bounces back to the touch. Cool on a wire rack and serve at room temperature.

You can serve with berry topping and/or whipped cream. (Blend up real heavy cream in the blender don’t use the canned stuff.)

This and more recipes can be found in my cookbook, “Signs of the Tines: The Ultimate Astrological Cookbook” – available at B&N online and Amazon and joanporte.com

Thanksgiving Full Moon

We will be able to go to “grannies house” for Thanksgiving this year by the light of the full Moon. While it will be at its peak on November 25, one day before Thanksgiving, she will still be bright on Thanksgiving.

If you are one who takes a walk after the big meal, look in the sky and she might be visible still even during the day. In fact, being active might be the right prescription for this day both spiritually and physically.

This is a Gemini Moon because the opposing Sun is in Sagittarius, this is the Astrological axis of information. Both Gemini and Sagittarius love to exchange knowledge. Gemini is proud of his ability to know a little about a lot and Sagittarius just loves knowing – and telling you what they know! This can make for some interesting Thanksgiving discussions, to say the least.

This Moon will occur a direct Saturn square Neptune (see my post two weeks ago for more information on this.) This is a clash of the authority and known social attitudes (Saturn) and dreamy, spiritual wandering (Neptune.) This is what we used to call a perfect clash of the generation gap; the established versus the young dreamer. As I said, this could be an interesting Thanksgiving around the dinner table!

Saturn Square Neptune What to Expect

On November 26, Saturn and Neptune will perform the first of three squares. The next will be June 17, 2016 and the final one on September 10, 2016.

Saturn is in Sagittarius and Neptune is in Pisces so you can call this the clash of the searchers. Sagittarius is searching, growth, spiritual and philosophical growth. When structured and orderly Capricorn is in the constellation of Sagittarius it is a tight squeeze. It is as though Capricorn is trying to reign in the boundlessness of Sag. However, this is a great time to codify our lessons. By that I mean, take the areas close to Sagittarius, such as, higher education, publishing, broadcasting, travel, spiritual and philosophical study, and make a plan of action to further your knowledge in each. Don’t think of it as Capricorn choking that Sagittarian enthusiasm but a way to hone in on making those dreams a reality.

Pisces rules Neptune and when Neptune is transiting its home constellation, spiritual awareness is at its height. Those of us attuned to spirituality feel the pull Neptune calling us to reach further heights. Of course, because Neptune has an element of illusion about it, this is also a prime time for spiritual hucksters. (We have seen a lot of that lately on the national scene.)

This square is the clash of the spiritual titans. Because a square is difficult aspect, it will bring up issues of spiritual inadequacy, even sadness, depression because our spiritual beliefs that once buoyed us seem less solid. Think of this as a time of freeing your mind from old dogmas which may be as useless as the ancient shoes in the back of your closet. Through the pain and doubt of a square comes growth.

On a larger scale, look for these squares to shift religious beliefs nationwide. While I personally hope this means people (read the politicians) keep their beliefs to themselves, free will can dictate that we inch ever closer to being a more theocratic nation.

The Astrology of Political Action

Asked recently if there is a way to find someone’s propensity for political action in a chart, I had to admit I didn’t really know the answer. Being a Scorpio Sun, a loving the hunt, I started to research the topic and find some interesting information.

While the basics of someone being a leader appears in the number of Cardinal, leadership signs, and placements to the 10^th house of career or sixth house of work. With politics, there is more nuance, however. A recent study of more than 400 charts had some interesting results. People with the asteroid Pallas Athena in a positive aspect to the personal planets, (Sun, Moon, Mercury, and Venus) indicated a leaning towards more peaceful political inclinations and liberalism. Pallas shows how we take up the cause for others – where we battle for the underdog. However, if Pallas was in disharmony to benefic Jupiter and in more harmony with more authoritarian Saturn, the person was more inclined to harder right, strict conservative movements.

Venus, because of her association with money, indicates how wealth influences our vote. A Venus well aspected to our rising sign or second house (the house of resources) shows someone more inclined toward free market candidates. However, with Venus closer to Neptune (a planet big on compassion) the person is more likely to vote left on economic issues.

A stronger Saturn (the stern time keeper and task master) makes a person more right in their beliefs while a stronger Uranus (the free thinker) makes one inclined to more left wing ideas.

No matter your proclivities, the important thing to do today and every Election Day is — yes! VOTE!

We normally get 37 percent of the voting population out on non-presidential years and that is a horrible number.

Pork Cubes with Quick Mole

A yummy Halloween dish for you…

Serves 4

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 small white onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

¼ teaspoon of ground coriander

1 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

2 pounds pork cubes

1- 7 ounce can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

3 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa

4 tablespoons tomato paste

½ cup chicken broth

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Heat the oil in an oven proof medium sauté pan over medium heat and then add the onion. Sauté for about 5 minutes, until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and sauté and another minute. Remove the onions and garlic to bowl off the heat.

Sauté the pork cubes (about a minute on each side.) You may have to add a drop more oil. Return the onion mixture to the pan and then add the rest of the ingredients. Stir well and then place the pan in the oven.

Sorry, We Don’t Know the Time of Birth of Ben Carson but…..

I can tell you that he was born 10 days after and about 1500 miles away from NCIS star Mark Harmon! (What a difference a few days and miles makes!)

This chart is NOT totally correct because we do not know his time of birth. However, I put that stellium (more than five planets in one house) in his sixth house since he is a doctor. That would make his rising sign Pisces and they are not known for their firm connection at all times to physical reality. Pisces’ ruler, Neptune is in his 8th house, if this time is a good guess on my part. This is the house of our connection to the “other side.” Those things he is saying that make sane people shake their heads in astonishment, are rooted deep in his subconscious. Unlike Trump, who says things to be seen and acknowledge (Leo rising with Mars on the first cusp), Carson really believes this stuff!

We do know that is Moon is in Taurus giving him a good deal of tenacity and a joy for the “good things of life.” Taureans are the epicures of the zodiac.

With his South Node in Virgo, he has come from lives of hard work and service to someone or something. Virgos are the worker bees of the zodiac. One thing I know – this man won’t just go away quietly. He has too much stubborn energy in that Virgo/Taurus combination. They are both Earth signs and both have a good deal of nose to the grindstone – get it done energy.

For grins and to end on a much better note, here is Mark Harmon’s chart – we do know his birth time. Do you see how that Virgo stellium in the 11th makes him the quiet team leader type? Let me know!

For Those Growing Weary of Pluto’s Demands

We are coming up on three positive trines of Jupiter and Pluto which should help those feeling burdened by the constant demands of Pluto. This tiny dwarf planet insists that we dig deep and root out what no longer works for us no matter the pain. When big, beneficent Jupiter makes a positive aspect (a trine) on October 11 he brings positive energy and hopefulness to the grind of Pluto. Jupiter sees no limits and helps us reach goals no matter how far they seem to be from our grasp. (March 16 and June 26, 2016 are the dates for the second and third trine of Pluto and Jupiter.)

This month Mars will figure into the mix as well. Mars brings leadership energy and drive. He is where we harness or aggression to complete tasks or, if we are in shadow aspects, where we express raw anger and destructive force. This has positive aspects because it really gives us a boost to fulfill our Pluto requirements of personal change. However, those more inclined to the negative more war-like aspects of Mars will find the combination of Pluto and Jupiter as an excuse to spread boundless pain.

Let’s hope more people focus on the beneficial aspects of Mars energy and Jupiter expansiveness to accomplish your Pluto goals.

Using Saturn in Sagittarius

After a quick trip back to Scorpio, Saturn is now fully ensconced in Sagittarius where she will remain until December 19, 2017.

Although Sagittarius is the next sign over from Capricorn, the sign ruled by Saturn, they are not similar bed fellows. Sagittarius, ruled by large and expansive Jupiter, ancient god of abundance and feasting. Saturn, on the other hand, is the ruler or time, form and linear actions. Saturn says color within the lines and eat your peas and Sagittarius is pushing you out the door to break the rules and learn something new.

However, this friction can lead us to a nice balance of structured growth. In Sagittarius learn and speak our truth: we find our philosophy after searching the beliefs of others and melding them with our own. This isn’t always easy in our busy world and we often find ourselves thinking that we should have taken that course or trip, or read that book. Saturn can rein in those wishes and force us finally to make a workable plan of action.

So in the areas of higher education, publishing, broadcasting, travel and religion and spirituality, where do you need a plan? Make a list of all of things you want to do in those areas if you only had more time. Saturn, and his Greek counterpart, Kronos, rule linear time. Let him help you!

On a larger scale, Saturn’s natural domain is the 10^th house, that of government and authority figures. Belief systems are in Sagittarius domain, and under Saturn’s influence, and I think there will be a shift in religion and politics. I hope that shift is away from the continuing theocratization of our country and not the other way around! (Saturn doesn’t cause change, that is the domain of Pluto, however, it can galvanize action.)

Sagittarius has domain over higher education and Saturn could force a solution to the crises of education costs in this country. Yes, I am the external optimist.

Don’t panic – Mercury goes retrograde on September 17.

I say this every time but Mercury goes retrograde; I get a ton of emails and calls about all the horrible things that will happen. I admit that depending on where your natal Mercury is doing, you could have communication issues, computer glitches and phone blow-ups but it does not happen to all of us every time Mercury gets sleepy! If you want to know where this retrograde is in relationship to your birth chart, drop me an email at [email protected] and I will send you a free chart pointing out the dance of Mercury.

For the good news, Saturn goes direct and moves firmly into Sagittarius. A Saturn retrograde, which can bog us down with feelings of duty or give a sense of lack of joy, is much more potent than a Mercury retrograde. Yet, we worry about Mercury all of the time! This is a time to feel the energy of Sagittarius. It calls us to explore, grow and learn. Take a class or read a book in a topic that is foreign to you. Feel the release of Saturn and let Mercury go on his merry way – he will go direct soon enough – he moves that fast!