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Major Gemini-Sagitarrian Activitiy TODAY!

The question of today is where is Gemini at 27 degrees in your chart?  Let me explain.
Every year at this time, the Sun passes over the Galactic Center – the rotational point of Milky Way. The Center is at 27 degrees Sagittarius – so 27 degrees into the constellation of Sagittarius is the center of the Milky Way.  (The Sun is at 25 degrees Sagittarius now and will be fully at 27 degrees on Thursday.)


Today we are going to experience a full Moon – (when the Sun and Moon are opposing one another in the sky. The Moon is “full” because it is far away from the Sun and its natural light flows uninhibited.  That full Moon is in Gemini at 27 degrees. 

Gemini and Sagittarius share an astrological axis. Gemini is the ruler of our thoughts, the way we communicate. Sagittarius is where we go out into the world and explore to hone our truth and expand our knowledge. Both deal with expressing ourselves. 
This is a perfect Moon placement to expand our perceptions, explore our beliefs, and examine how our mental tapes are running. From now until the Solstice on Saturday, we should be tuning into those energies to help clear out our mental cobwebs, finding, and expressing our truth! 
To help this new mental energy flow even better we finally have Uranus (rebellious, new energy) out of retrograde. It is at station direct – meaning it is sort of appearing to stand still in the sky but it is not heading backwards. Use Uranus – set that goal to be honest with your thoughts and honest with others.

So back to my first question – where is Gemini at 27 degrees in your chart. That is the area where this activation vibrates most for you. For me it is in 9th house – the house of Sagittarius, which happens to be my North Node. Wow, I have no excuse not to pursue and live my truth now. I had better get to work!

The Affordable Care Act

I have had several friends ask me about the horoscope of the Affordable Care Act. The past few months have been a little scary for those of us who believe that one should not go broke because of illness. There was the bad roll out and then the piling on of the radical Right and a clueless media that just loves a dramatic story even if the facts get in the way of their ratings.
I cast a chart for the time President Obama signed the bill into law because that is in essence its “birth.” 
There are many things about this chart I find interesting, even ironic but two of the big items that jump out at me are the 10thand 6th houses.
First, Pallas Athena, the warrior goddess who was also the patron of hospitals and healing (a woman for all occasions I say) is retrograded in the 6th house –the house of health. Note to President Obama, do NOT sign a health care law under this planetary alignment! A retrograde means the energies of that planet are going backwards. So it was almost as if all of Pallas’ good intentions would be thwarted… or at least harder to reach fruition.
In the 10th house, the house of government and the “social consciousness” we have quite a collection of planets.  I can’t take my eyes off the conjunction of Uranus and the Sun. Uranus is rebellious energy – quick starts and stops – just off the charts energy. On the other end of the 10th, we have a Chiron and Neptune conjunction. Neptune is all about lofty spiritual ideals that have a heck of a hard time dealing with the realities of day-to-day living. Chiron is a deep wound issue and in the 10th represents our fears about society accepting us. Both of these bodies are in Aquarius, ruled by that rebel Uranus. Nothing is easy about these placements.
What gives me hope of long-term success is Jupiter, in the sign of Pisces – of compassion and caring for all, shooting up like an arrow in the middle of these conjunctions. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, hope, and understanding – of finding our philosophical truth. America is the last “first-world” country to offer universal health care – the time for us expanding into the rest of civilized society is overdue and helped by Jupiter.
Jupiter will carry the day for the ACA in the long term but the value of this act remains hidden until long into the future.

P.S. If you are into irony take a look at retrograded Saturn (the symbol of the old way – the task master – the people who say you must do things like they always have been done) opposing the Sun/Uranus conjunction. To me it looks like the Right trying to lasso the rebellious, change energy of Sun/Uranus to prevent it from working into society. However, I guess that is what they have been trying to do for five years now!

Happy Birthday Pope Francis

I never thought I would be typing, speaking, or in any way conveying this sentiment but I love this new Pope! This man who is telling Christians to worry about the poor, do not worry if your fellow Man loves men not women and to basically get back to the “fundamentals” of the teachings of the Church is shaking the world. More importantly, he is scaring those who have co-opted Christianity to mean – hate the poor, or anyone who is in any way different from you but war is a great thing!
With his birthday coming up soon I just had to look at this mavericks chart.
The Pope was born Dec 17, 1936 at 9:00 PM in Buenos Aires, Argentina and even a quick glance at his chart shows how sincere he is about his message of brotherhood and compassion.
His North Node, his current life karmic identification is in Sagittarius – that is the sign of expansion – of reaching out to all to find and understand their beliefs.  Sagittarius is by nature encompassing. However, look at the planets surrounding his North Node. Jupiter, the ruler of Sagittarius is on the North Node, intensifying that energy. In addition, he has his Sun, his inner light if you will, with Jupiter – another intensifying placement.
If this weren’t enough Ceres, the planet were we get and give nurturing is next to Jupiter and on the other side of this stellium is Pallas Athena the warrior goodness, who indicates in Astrology, where we take up the cause for the underdog. All of these planets are in his sixth house – the house of day-to-day work.  This is his life’s work – to bring the Sagittarian expansionism – the desire to know and understand what makes everyone tick and to care and nurture everyone. His life’s goal was to find work in which he could nurture, care for and understand all people.
His Venus Moon conjunction in the seventh in Aquarius is interesting because it indicates either someone who is gay or someone who really doesn’t give a hoot who people sleep with. In any case, it shows a very open view toward sexuality.

This has not been an easy path – he has many enemies – Pluto retrograded in the first house, Uranus retrograded in the 10th and Saturn in the eighth. I would caution him never to let his guard down or his security for that matter. There are people who do not like “change” even when it is a return to the true roots of the organization. 

Pluto, Forgotten Women of History and Great Holiday Recipes Too!

HI!

Check out two sites today for some fun listening and reading. First, I am excited to report that we have a new podcast up on Web Talk Radio which is dedicated to my favorite planet Pluto and features a interview with the always-interesting MCV Egan. She talks about her fascinating book, “Bridge of Deaths” and how she is resolving this 70 year old mystery utilizing past life regressions among other modalities!

Listen to MCV and find out why I love Pluto at
http://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/2013/12/09/astrological-cook-producing-change-with-pluto/

Remember you can get downloads on your RSS feed by going to
http://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/category/podcasts/fun-food-pets-and-travel/astrological-cook/feed/

If you love History then you jump over to MCV’s blog “Is History the Agreed Upon Lie” and see my 7 part series on The Forgotten Women of History.”  – Remember there are 7 entries – check out all 7 women.

http://ishistorytheagreeduponlie.blogspot.com/2013/12/forgotten-women-of-history-hetty-green.html

Happy Holidays – remember there is still time to order a copy of “Signs of the Tines: The Ultimate Astrological Cookbook” for a unique gift! www.signsofthetines.com

PS! The recipe I talk about this week is my Sausage and Sage Stuffing (or Dressing) but below is a great egg and breadcrumb recipe my Mom always made.

Jean Garofalo Porte’s Egg and Bread Stuffing
Serves 6 -8
Note:  Mom had a bin full of stale bread and when full she would toast the bread and then grate it into breadcrumbs on the hand-grater that I still have. I sort of do the same although I don’t eat the amount of bread that we did back then. However, I grind up the toasted bread in the food processor – sorry Mom, time moves on as does technology!
1-tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 medium stalks celery, diced
5 large eggs
4 cups breadcrumbs
½ cup Italian flat-leaf parsley, minced
1-teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced
½ cup – to 1-cup chicken stock.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a small sauté pan. Add the onion, celery, and sauté about 5 minutes until they are getting soft. (IF you are making turkey and want to dice up the giblets and add now – do so – they add great flavor.) Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Beat the eggs in a large mixing bowl then add the breadcrumbs, parsley, salt, pepper, and thyme. Combine well. Add the onion, celery mixture and enough chicken stock so it is moist but not falling apart.  You want this to be almost cake like – not crumbly like other stuffing.
NOTE: If you have drippings from a chicken or turkey or are smart enough to save them from past meals add about 1 tablespoon of drippings now.
Turn the mixture into a greased 2 quart baking pan and bake for 30 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.

Mom would stuff this into a veal shoulder and serve with a brown gravy but it will work for any stuffing need. 

Forgotten Women of History Harriett Ann Jacobs

I am so pleased to be given the opportunity to guest blog on “Is History the Agreed Upon Lie?” Check out the blog and MCV Egan’s great book, “The Bridge of Deaths.”  Today Harriett Ann Jacobs!


http://ishistorytheagreeduponlie.blogspot.com/2013/12/forgotten-women-of-history-by-joan.html


Harriett Ann Jacobs

Today we turn our astrological radar on another largely forgotten African American hero, Harriett Ann Jacobs. She was born into slavery in Edentown, North Carolina on Feb 11, 1813 to an owner who sexually abused her for years. When she turned fourteen, he built her a cabin away from the main house so that his wife would not learn of his abuse. In a desperate attempt at freedom, she took a white lover, Samuel Sawyer, who despite being a lawyer was unable to free her from the abusive Dr. James Norcom. Norcom created a convoluted “ownership” contract that kept Harriett and the two children she had with Sawyer his property.
In 1835, unable to stand the abuse any longer, she escaped and for seven years lived in a nine by seven foot, rodent infested crawl space in her grandmother’s shack where she was able to only catch glimpses of and hear her children occasionally. This is a horrible situation for any mother and made doubly so for Jacobs born with her Moon in Cancer, the sign of the mother nurturer.  (Sawyer eventually bought his own children from Norcom but never freed them.)
When she finally made her way to freedom and Philadelphia, she became involved in the Anti-Slavery Reading Room and other abolitionist programs. However, following the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act, Harriett shuttled between Boston and New York, often in hiding, until a friend officially bought her freedom for $300.
That demand for freedom despite all odds and at all costs is a quality of Ms. Jacobs’ South Node in Aquarius. (For a full explanation of the North and South Node, roles in an astrological chart see my previous entry on Ida Wells.) Coming from past lives as a freedom loving Aquarian the horrors of slavery were exceptional hard for her to bear. Freedom for Aquarians is as precious as air.
Upon learning that Harriet Beecher Stowe might use her story in a book Harriet’s Aquarius energy again demanded freedom. This time it was the freedom to write her own book. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl opened the eyes of many of Northern churchwoman to the ravages of slavery on a “woman’s chastity” and made the world aware of what few spoke about for generations – slave rape. During and after the Civil War she aided the adoption of children orphaned by slavery and worked with slave–refugee groups using her celebrity to raise money.
By writing her own book and telling her own story, Ms. Jacobs was using the talents of her South Node – her relentless quest for freedom – in service to her North Node – the sign opposite Aquarius, Leo. Leo demands attention. She had the inner strength to know that no one could tell her story as well as she, not even the revered Ms. Stowe
As a slave and then a run-away Ms. Jacobs never had a meal fit for a Leo, the King of the Zodiac. Had I the chance to cook for her from my book, ‘Signs of the Tines: The Ultimate Astrological Cookbook” I would chose a dish a designated for Leo, my Lobster Ravioli with Mushrooms and Sage Cream Sauce.” I only hope that somewhere in her later years she tasted something that luxurious. It would have suited her well.

Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday we have it all.

 Give the most unique gifts under the Sun and never have to leave the comfort of your home.

For the cook who has everything – give a signed copy of “Signs of the Tines: The Ultimate Astrological Cookbook.” Just order a copy from the website, www.signsofthetines.com and drop me an email at [email protected] and tell me how you want it personalized and who to send it to and your shopping is done!

If you are in the mood for a gift basket then why not an Astrological Gift Basket? You will get a wonderful basket from C and C Unique Gift baskets that is tailored to the recipients birth chart. AND they will receive a printed copy of their birth chart as well as a thumb drive with an audio analysis done by yours truly!

To order visit http://www.candcgiftbaskets.com/category_23.asp.

Want a gift for yourself? Take advantage of our December special. ANYONE who wants a 2014 yearly analysis chart to prepare for the new year – – can take advantage of our special. Order your birth chart under “birthday special” and save $5.

Have a wonderful holiday season!!

Thanks for all of your support this year.

Joan

President Kennedy

Today on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy, I felt it was appropriate to look at his birth chart. For all of his faults, he was a leader who told us that public service was a great thing – not that government was bad, He told us that we could reach great goals not that we don’t want to pay taxes. He told us that we all had to contribute to the country, not just grab all we want for ourselves and damn the other guy, especially if he is poor or “different.” That is what we lost 50 years ago today and we yearn for it again. He made us feel good about America and united us toward common goals. Yes, he was a flawed man but a charismatic leader who makes us reach for the stars is something all nations crave.


It is not ironic that his South Node, his karmic identity was in Cancer in the 9th house. Cancer is the sign of the nurturer, the one who helps his people, and the 9th house is our connection to people beyond our borders. He came from lifetimes of involvement in huge, worldly issues that he tried to manipulate to help those in his care. Cancer is the traditional sign of the mother, the nurturer. No wonder that he loved international politics – he had been doing it for quite some time. 
With his North Node in Capricorn, the sign of the authority figure – the provider in the 3rd house, the house of communications it is no wonder we still hear so many of his words. He took that role very seriously – he constructed his words as much as he created his image. He took the role of leader, communicator, and thinker very seriously. In addition, the ruler of Capricorn is Saturn that is in the 10th house, the house of politics and government. It is a fair bet that he loved being the leader. Also note his Mars and Mercury in conjunction in Venus, the sign of creativity, is in the 7th house – the house of interacting with people on personal level. Mars, an intense amount of energy, conjuncting the communication planet yielded a speaking style that still inspires. Again, the words, the power behind the words and how they affect us is so prevalent in his chart.
Speaking of leader his chart is one of cardinal energy – cardinal signs are the movers and shakers, His “anchor houses” the first, fourth, seventh and ten houses are holding cardinal energy. He wasn’t about to not take the lead. (Cancer and Capricorn, his nodal axis, are also cardinal.) Sometimes this burst forward as recklessness, over reaching but he was not one to let life go by,
In his 6th house, the house of health is the sacred wound carrier, Chiron, and Vesta, the asteroid that puts roadblocks in our path. Pisces opens his 6th so we see how hard it was for doctors to pinpoint his illnesses – Pisces is very ephemeral. 
What about his notorious womanizing? (Actually, it went well beyond that and my liberal friends who bash Newt Gingrich for his sexual faults should be careful. JFK would today be classified as a predator.) Well, let’s look at his Venus in the 8th house, the house of power, regeneration, death, and rebirth. The 8th house makes it a power conquest issue and shows how reckless he could be – he dared and tempted the fates. His Venus squares the Moon and Ceres so emotion and nurturing would not natural to him and makes a trine to his retrograded Uranus- the sign of the rebel. Any Venus-Uranus combination gets me wondering about someones sexual preferences. 

Here is something interesting too. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ Venus was also in the 8th house. Both shared a Venus in Gemini. So they shared that sense of drama and shared a love of words. This was a karmic marriage and one that will repeat itself sometime in the future.

Who was John Kennedy? He is who we need him to be and he was gone too soon. 

A Few More Retrogrades Bite the Dust…

Did you feel the shift this weekend? Besides the full Moon in Taurus we had last night, this weekend saw the movement of Neptune and the asteroid Chiron into a direct motion. They had been retrograded for a good part of 2013. Pluto led the way earlier this month and Uranus will follow next month. Then once we have Jupiter heading forward things will be smoother – once we get over the horrible Grand Cross in April – but let’s not dwell on that so close to Thanksgiving.

This will be a bumpy week emotionally as the Moon makes a quick pass through Cancer on Wednesday and Thursday squaring Uranus and then opposing Pluto along the way. Moon and Uranus interactions are a time of high and changeable emotions. It is best to stay away from “jumpy” or “high strung” people at that time. Pluto will be anything but excitable and will bring on sadness and a questioning of our emotions. The good news is the Moon never tarries! So just breath and think of the big guys going direct! We need some good energy from them for a change.

Be Creative with Wild Mushroom Soup!

This week on my podcast, “Astrological Cooking” I am happy to have as my guest, Arlene Weinstock, artist, photographer, author, and all around creative wizard. 

Arlene talks about her “loosen up” method to find your creative juices and she insists that all of us are creative. Check out the programs she offers on her website. http://www.arlenew.com/.
At the end of this week’s podcast, I give the recipe for my “Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup.”  This is a great holiday soup because it is so elegant and creamy and one that helps you express your creativity. There are so many mushrooms from which to choose. I like creminis and hen of the woods but you can try any assortment to make this dish exciting.

Check this and my other recipes in my cookbook, “Signs of the Tines: The Ultimate Astrological Cookbook,” available at www.signsofthetines.com.