JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 2: GOOD ARIES MOON

MOON IN ARIES: After being VOID OF COURSE all afternoon from 12:36pm on Tuesday, the Moon enters Mars-ruled Aries at 4:47pm EST and remains until 11:50am on Thursday, February 2. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Trine Saturn in Sagittarius. This Cardinal Fire sign combined with this Last Aspect would ignite any warrior/adventurer into action. Qualities of courage, leadership. aggression and continuous forward movement describe this astrological moment. Athletics and long-distance journeys are also highlighted. Sag brings even more fire power to this time so spirits are high and passionate projects prevail. Be aware of Aries' impulsive nature and make sure you slow down enough to really think your situation through. Also make sure you have a safe practical container and support system in place before you leap - Saturn should support you. All Fire signs reflect a strong Will which, if allowed to run wild, can be pretty arrogant. Make sure you''re listening to what others need. Actions initiated along these themes will tend to have GOOD resolutions. Find your courage now and do what it takes (with a higher-than-Trump moral standard, that is...) to produce the results! You don't have to be a guy to have chutzpah - we all know by now this is the time for Wild Women Warriors!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PytwFpIcy3E

 SCENE FOR THE DAY:  The Finest Hours, 2016; Director: Craig Gillespie. Chris Pine and Casey Affleck are Aries warriors to the max in this completely compelling film! Based on the true story from Chatham, Cape Cod, Massachusettes, Pine's character - the meek and indomitable Coast Guard petty officer Bernie Webber - is ordered to take a small craft out on a stormy night to rescue crew from a distressed tanker. Just about everyone agrees it's a no-win situation but Bernie follows orders and goes for it. The Last Aspect indicator should tell you how the story ends, but the narrative, the acting and the visuals - the details of how film unfolds - are what drama is all about. Bernie's character, is particularly strong. He is an unlikely hero, transforming from a conservative, rule-following, really nice guy to a 'not-on-my-watch', courageous leader who refuses to give up and turn back. Bernie may be a guy but he's got a really big compassionate and inclusive feminine side!

JANUARY 29-31: EXCELLENT PISCES MOON!

MOON IN PISCES from 11:10am EST on Sunday, January 29 until Tuesday, January 31 at 12:36pm. The Moon is VOID OF COURSE all morning before it enters Pisces. Important practical actions initiated during the V/C Moon period tend not to work out as planned. It's better to use this time for inner/creative work and imagining future actions. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Conjunct Venus in Pisces. The Mutable Water sign Pisces, ruled by Neptune, reflects the principle of The Urge to Merge, The Cosmic Sea of the Collective Unconsciousness. Boundaries and clear definitions dissolve. The up-side is a sense of Unity and Collective Compassionate Love. The Imagination reigns in its myriad forms including Music, Art, Poetry and Dance. The not-so-up-side can be experienced as confusion, deception, illusion, intrusion and victim consciousness - boundary issues. If you consciously invoke the former, you're less likely to encounter the latter. Your choice. The Last Aspect gives us the two symbolic Feminine light bodies - the Moon and Venus - in alignment now, in a potential state of sublime Collective Love. Remember, Neptune is considered the higher octave of Venus. Use this sacred time to tap into your creative stream of consciousness and begin a project in service to the cause of Humanity. It's a powerfully receptive time to transcend boundaries of logic and reason to access transcendent meaning through dreams, meditation and Art. Action initiated during this Moon period will tend to have EXCELLENT resolutions!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR7WbmwhEFE

SCENE FOR THE DAY: Seraphine, 2008, French/Belgium; Director: Martin Provost. This cinematic treasure recounts the true story of  Seraphine de Senlis who, while her profession is a cleaning woman, is nocturnally driven by Mother Mary to paint her visions. While her spiritual life is rich and united with the Divine, her only real relationships in the human and material world are with the German art critic who discovers her and Mother Nature, which often provides the natural pigments for her paint. This is the story of the wounded Feminine who, though an outcast and victim in her daily life, finds transcendence through her work. Here's a link for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygIMIOFxfdQ

JANUARY 28: THE CHINESE NEW YEAR OF THE ROOSTER

YEAR OF THE ROOSTER: While traditionally, it reflects the qualities of Courage, Responsibility and Punctuality, another name for Rooster, often used in fairytales, is THE CHANTICLEER: Clear Voice or Clear Song. I became aware of this word through reading Dane Rudyar's book on Sabian Symbols, channeled images for each degree of the zodiac.* Rudyar's interpretation of this image for 23 Libra is, "The Chanticleer's Voice Heralds Sunrise: A creative and joyous response to life processes. The Cock that crow's as the first coloring of dawn appears at the eastern horizon is a beautiful symbol of the ability, demonstrated by all pioneers and cosmically attuned individuals, to give voice to what is as yet unmanifested, but is on the way to manifestation. At the ego level, chanticleer may feel that he makes the sun rise; but someday he will learn through painful experiences that to create is only to reveal what essentially is. It is the vivid recognition of the as-yet-unknown in the known. We might also use the expression 'The Wake-Up Call' for the Chanticleer."

The synchronicity of symbols is evident when we consider the events of this New Year of 2017. We are being called to task in response to the last gasp of the fading patriarchal paradigm in which we have been living. And we are responding with an resounding resurgence of passionate self and collective assertion: We Are Here and We Won't Take It Anymore! The Double-Speak, The Loss of Appreciation for Soul and Beauty, The Immunity to Compassion and Equality. We have been Woken Up and we are remembering our Voice. Symbols are powerful: A Cock is waking us up!

I was thinking that in the 60's our collective voice was constellated by the War in Viet Nam. Fifty years later we are seemingly moved to action by the absurdity of a cartoon character president (or as Jane Fonda called him Predator-In-Chief), identifying this singular person as the source of our problems. Yet, he is merely the mouthpiece of the force that elected him. [He may not have won the popular vote but we can't deny that our Collective Will also created the Electoral College, not yet caught up to the frailties of that system.] His voice is the voice of small values: they appear to stem from a severely subjective, defensive and outmoded perspective. These values are based on survival of the fittest, when the fittest allows a blatant disregard for fairness, honesty and integrity. It is the ideology of Empire. It is the repressed Fear of the Bully. It is the drive to build a wall of protection against the flooding tide of evolution which is unfolding towards The Feminine Archetype of inclusiveness, diversity, compassion and equality. This is The New FITTEST. Persephone Unbound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CxcnB16Tyk

SCENE FOR THE ROOSTER NEW YEAR: Black Orpheus, 1959, Brazil, France, Italy; Director: Marcel Camus. Just as the Rooster awakens us to the new day, these children believe that when Orpheus plays his guitar he makes the sun rise. When he's gone, these beautiful Brazilian babes dutifully take up the task. Someone's gotta do it! If you've never seen this classic cinematic re-telling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, set in Rio de Janeiro during Carnival, you're in for a real treat! Here'as a link to the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWIwTOtvbSk&list=PLiDyexyP_xje_5qizltx14R9s1G7fA2sP

GREAT NEW AQUARIUS MOON!

NEW MOON IN AQUARIUS, The Water Bearer, from 3:37am EST on Friday, January 27 until Sunday, January 29 at  0:52am. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Sextile Saturn in Sagittarius. This New Moon, exact at 7:07pm today at 8 Aquarius, is a GREAT time to begin a new, forward thinking, unusual project. When the Sun Conjuncts the Moon, a new cycle begins and the metaphor reflects outward to the theme of New Beginnings. The Full Moon two weeks before symbolized the culmination of projects, especially ones begun at the previous New Moon. These are the endless waxing and waning rhythms of Light and Life forces. Follow them in your daily life and you are in sync with the Nature and the universe.  As Neo-Platonic philosoher Plotinus writes in the Aeneids: "...Everything breathes together." The fields of Science and Technology and Higher Consciousness activities are highlighted with this Moon period. While Uranus is Aquarias' 'modern' ruler, Saturn is considered its traditional ruler (before Uranus was discovered in 1781) and is still symbolically relevant. Indeed, if you have a strong Aquarian presence in your chart (Sun, Moon or Ascendant) your nature may be described as either a Uranian or Saturnian type of Aquarian - or a combination of both. The opportunity now is to marry what still works from the traditional old forms (Saturn) with new perspectives and technology (Uranus). Saturn's archetype of grounding and practicality is available to the new ventures initiated at this time. Wise elders may bring some Saturnian gravitas to your inventive ideas which affords them even more credibility. Using computers and other electronic devices should benefit your work now. Actions initiated during this period will tend to have GREAT results! Remember, the most optimum expression of the Fixed Mental Air sign Aquarius is an Enlightenment or Eureka! moment. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vIyfzbPCqY&index=1&list=RD_vIyfzbPCqY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFdJza0AbeA

SCENES FOR THE DAY: My Cousin Vinny, 1992; Director: Jonathan Lynn. Adding some great humor to serious times, we have this classic Eureka moment: Joe Pesci's character, lawyer Vinny Gambini, while unqualified and unprepared, realizes in the first clip that he's found the evidence to acquit his nephew, played by Ralph Macchio, of serious charges. In the second clip Vinny puts his heretofore unappreciated and disgruntled girlfriend, Mona Lisa Vito, played by the brilliant Marisa Tomei, on the stand to offer her expert automotive opinion. Here, knowledge and use of technology - both automotive and photographic - is the key to success! Vinny may not have the legal experience but the Aquarian mind is highly inventive, intuitive and imaginative - and that he has in Spades!

JANUARY 24-27: GOOD CAPRICORN MOON

MOON IN SAGITTARIUS until 12:33pm EST on Tuesday, January 24 (see January 22) when it goes VOID OF COURSE until 5:45pm. Important practical actions tend not to work out as planned during V/C period. Inner Creative work and imagining future action is best for this time. MOON ENTERS CAPRICORN at 5:45pm and remains until Friday, January 27 at 2:18am.  LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Sextile Mars in Pisces. Ruled by Saturn, the ambitious grounded quality of this time is enriched by Mars' creative visionary force in Pisces. We are likely to pay attention to others' needs more than the usual Capricorn Moon because of Pisces' compassionate nature. This is a GOOD time to focus and act on the business of Artistic projects, or enter into any transactions/agreements. Relationships with business partners will tend to benefit from this time of mutual understanding. Actions initiated during this time will tend to have GOOD results. Notice that the alternative Capricorn image of the Sea Goat is chosen for this month. It is distinguished from the classic Mountain Goat by its fish-tail. With the Pisces Mars in mind, this image combines the climb out of the depths of the unconscious original waters with the ambitious goal orientation of the earthy Mountain Goat. This expanded sense of Capricorn does not experience the resistance to emotional expression that is often associated with cool Saturn. It acknowledges the entire axis of Capricorn and its opposite, Cancer - Earth and life-giving Water together. We have the opportunity this month to experience this fuller expression, as symbolized by the Last Aspect.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuNlQzK0a90

SCENE FOR THE DAY: Woman in Gold, 2015; Director: Simon Curtis. Helen Mirren plays Maria Altmann, a Jewish Holocaust survivor who's goal is the return of artwork taken from her family by the Nazis during WWII. With support from lawyer Randy Schoenberg played by Ryan Reynolds - who in this scene evokes an empathetic smile from even the Supreme Court Chief Justice - a Capricornian uphill battle ensues. The Klimt painting, Woman in Gold, is indeed returned to its rightful owner, a relatively small gesture of understanding and compassion to a single family as well as acknowledgment of horrible wrongs perpetrated on an entire culture.

JANUARY 22-24: CHALLENGING SAGITTARIUS MOON

MOON IN SAGITTARIUS from 5:45am EST on Sunday, January 22 to Tuesday, January 24 at 12:33pm. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Square Mars in Pisces. While the Sag Moon is driven to action and adventure, the Square to Mars Last Aspect is likely to get us into trouble now. Circumstances will tend to provoke anger and emotional upset even with the most broadminded Jupiter-ruled Sag Moon. Perhaps our grand philosophical ideals are met with undermining doubt or not enough energy to carry them through, and our balloon is popped. We are likely to need grounding with these Mutable signs, more practical containers to hold our imaginings. The individual spirit is met with resistance from the collective will. Perhaps its best to keep our ideas to ourselves for awhile until the energy clears! Actions initiated during this period tend to eventually have CHALLENGING results. 

SCENE FOR THE DAY: The Man Who Knew Infinity, 2015; Director: Matt Brown. Based on the true story of Srinivasa Ramanujan, the brilliant Indian mathematician, we see here that ideas which elude logical proof aren't necessarily wrong. They just don't fit the paradigm in which they are attempting to exist. Doubt from the Cambridge University collective undermines Ramanujan's intuitive work, his life force and soon his will to survive. Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons star as student and mentor. While it's hard to tell who plays which role, it's easy to say both are excellent performances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP0lUqNAw3k&list=PLDB8hi2DWp3OkHbVgprMKodDUsMvIFsr-&index=2

JANUARY 19-21: GOOD SCORPIO MOON

MOON IS VOID OF COURSE Thursday, January 19 until 5:09pm EST. Use this V/C day for inner work and creative endeavors or imagining future actions. Important practical actions/projects initiated now tend not to work out as planned or desired. At 5:09pm MOON ENTERS SCORPIO until Saturday, January 21 at 8:42pm. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Trine Mars in Pisces. Ruled by Pluto, this Fixed Water sign reflects a GOOD time for deep sea diving into psyche's sea. We have energy and Will which is fluid enough to 'feel into' our unconsciousness bringing forth new perspectives and healing for ourselves and others. Mars is the traditional ruler of Scorpio (before Pluto was discovered in 1930) so the Last Aspect is strong. Therefore, we're more likely to experience the serpent's wisdom as well as the transformative and re-birthing power of the phoenix than the sting of the scorpion at this time. Resources and personal power should be available for projects - particularly artistic endeavors and healing -  that are initiated at this time. Remember that, whatever it is, it is not yours to control and to come up for air! Actions in general initiated at this time will tend to have GOOD results. NOTE: SUN ENTERS AQUARIUS at 4:24pm on Thursday, January 19.
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYs0C3li3Zk

SCENE FOR THE DAY: Resurrection, 1980; Director: Daniel Petrie. This remarkable scene reflects the transformational healing power of Scorpio, especially given the support of a Trine to Mars. Ellen Burstyn is Edna, a hands-on healer who with her will and receptivity, works with a woman to release her from a crippling affliction. Powerful cinema.

JANUARY 17-19: GOOD LIBRA DAYS

MOON IN LIBRA from 6:19am EST on Tuesday January 17 until Thursday January 19 at 3:55am. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Sextile Saturn in Sagittarius. Ruled by Venus, this Cardinal Air sign reflects, among other things, Relationships, Equality, Justice, Balance and Beauty. With the Last Aspect sextile Saturn we are likely to notice a grounding, seriousness, practicality or structure to our relationships at this time. We may embark on a relationship with an older person. We may find a Master whose life experience guides us. Whatever form this partnership or artistic endeavor takes there will tend to be opportunities available to us as a result of it. Given that we are working with Saturn's archetype, there may be some testing involved. Even so, actions initiated along this theme are likely to have GOOD resolutions. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RNI9o06vqo

SCENE FOR THE DAY: Lion, 2016; Director: Garth Davis. Based on a true story, we are entranced by Saroo, a five year old Indian boy, who waits for his brother on a train platform - but his brother never returns. Saroo, played by precious Sunny Pawar, gets on an empty train in the station, falls asleep and finds himself in a new world when he awakens. This is an amazing story of beautiful relationships, particularly between the two brothers. These bonds are all tested yet wonderful opportunities arise from these trials. Dev Patel from Slumdog Millionaire and The Newsroom stars as the older Saroo. 

JANUARY 14-17: VOID OF COURSE AND EXCELLENT VIRGO DAYS

MOON is in LEO until 10:17am EST on Saturday, January 14 when it goes VOID OF COURSE until 10:52pm. After self-expressing yourself up the wazoo yesterday and initiating creative projects, we have another full Void of Course day to use your imagination to prepare for your next actions. Don't expect much work to get accomplished today. Practical actions initiated during this time tend to have CHALLENGING results. Use this day to let your rational mind go and and dream your way into the numinous reality where magic happens. You may find irrational answers to confounding mysteries! 

MOON ENTERS VIRGO at 10:52pm EST on January 14 and remains until Tuesday, January 17th at 1:09am. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon in Virgo Trine Sun in Capricorn. Ruled by Mercury, this Mutable Earth sign reflects our ability for Integration. Virgo rules the 6th House, which is the last house below the horizon in Western astrology's Tropical horoscope. One of this house's qualities is to integrate all the personal work that has gone before it in the first five houses. It represents the house of daily work, health and nutritian. Virgo reflects Mercury's association with communication and mind processes by using critical thinking: ordering, analyzing, evaluating and discerning. The extreme use of this quality can have us become nit-picky and judgmental, demanding perfection in every situation. So use the opportunity of this Moon period for its most optimum result - being clear in your language, editing, cleaning and ordering your space, and discerning health issues. This is a writer's gift, to be sure! Actions initiated along these themes tend have EXCELLENT results!

SCENE FOR THE DAY: Arrival, 2016; Director: Denis Villeneuve. Linguist professor, Dr. Banks, played by a captivating Amy Adams and theoretical physicist Jeremy Renner, after many attempts at communicating with octopus-like 'heptapods' are finally able to translate the alien language. This sophisticated and complex narrative embraces innovative concepts of both linguistics and time travel enabling Banks' character to integrate human and alien communication. This film is a must see!

watch?v=PkYh9e-fvbA&index=15&list=PLVjwdZylAT2muyIgGTlWIea5XGrhQ0w0S

JANUARY 12-14: GOOD LEO MOON

MOON ENTERS LEO at 7:08pm EST on Thursday January 12 after being VOID OF COURSE ALL DAY from 6:34am. Bring a project or circumstance to completion at the Cancer Full Moon, exact at 6:34am on the 12th - something in the home...maybe involving Food! The cosmos is with you! SEE JANUARY 10 and 11 for more info. MOON REMAINS IN LEO until Saturday January 14 at 10:17am. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Trine Saturn in Sagittarius. Thursday is a mixed day. From the completion energy of the FULL MOON in the morning to a rather non-productive V/C day where it's best to go with the flow, be creative and focus on the inner life - or concentrate on planning a future action. Don't expect practical things to get accomplished. Otherwise, important practical actions initiated during this V/C period will tend to have CHALLENGING results. Wait for the Moon to enter Sun-ruled Leo, the Fixed Fire sign, in the evening to begin something important. And that something better be CREATIVE and entertaining! With the Trine to Saturn in Sag aspect, there's a lot of Fire, but it's grounded now and you can really produce results. Have a good time playing as you fully express yourself! Just be conscious of others at this time. Leo energy can be self-oriented...open your big Leo Heart and share your stage!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4Yu5TIgnTI

SCENE FOR THE DAY: Hustle and Flow, 2005; Director: Craig Brewer. Even warm-hearted pimps have dreams - and masterful Terrance Howard, as D-Jay, makes his happen! With his motley but talented crew sharing his stage he self-expresses himself all the way to jail...with a hit record in tow. If you've never seen this gritty while totally lovable early-days-of-rap-film, try it on. It's a winner! 

JANUARY 10-12: CANCER FULL MOON

MOON ENTERS CANCER at 5:49pm EST on Tuesday January 10 after being VOID OF COURSE from 4:38pm. Moon remains in Cancer until Thursday January 12 at 6:34am. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon in Cancer Opposite Sun in Capricorn. FULL MOON EXACT at 6:34am EST on January 12 at 22 Cancer. MERCURY is still adjusting into DIRECT motion until the 11th and enters CAPRICORN on the 12th, after having retrograded back into the last few degrees of Sagittarius (the Galactic Center). This is a loaded Moon period! The Moon in its own sign is strong, which means its archetypal description is likely to be evident. Strong emotions of a past, subconscious and very personal nature will tend to climb up out of the shadows and make themselves known. Our attention will be on home and family, particularly parents, so these emotions are likely to be directed to that arena. Although, with the Last Aspect opposing the Sun in Capricorn, there's also palpable tension possible between our attachment to home life and our drive to demonstrate success in our professional work. This emotional friction at the Full Moon could drive us over the brink! Not to mention Mercury's vulnerable three days of adjusting back to forward motion after its station direct on the 8th.
We'll want to be as responsible as possible to our loved ones for any tricky feelings that need to be aired. Just remember Love is almost always beneath the conflict-of-the moment and mutual respect is always the high road...if you can take it. This is a culmination time for what's been submerged or in process, especially for projects begun at the previous Capricorn New Moon on December 29. This is the last post for cautionary advice about Mercury for awhile. Be patient just a little longer until the All Clear call is made on the 11th!  BTW, the Galactic Center reference would suggest that Mercury is now especially able to access the bigger picture - the Cosmic perspective - and speak from there!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M77mHX3YwE4

SCENE FOR THE DAY: Baby Boom, 2009; Director: Thierry Lorenzi. The classic Cancer Full Moon meltdown about the tension between home and work is made to order for Diane Keaton. Executive Amazon woman turned country bumpkin with a baby to raise sets the stage for great comedic drama. Frustration resulting from farmhouse repairs and the yearning for the simpler city life (where you don't have to worry about where your water comes from - you just turn on the faucet and it's there!) rises to its inevitable climax in this scene.  If only we could always default to the laughter this cinematic moment evokes when we reach our own peak freak outs! Ah...my kingdom for some objectivity!

JANUARY 8 - 10: VOID OF COURSE MOON - GEMINI MOON - CHALLENGING DAYS

MOON IS VOID OF COURSE ALL DAY on Sunday February 8 until 5:06pm EST when MOON ENTERS GEMINI. MOON remains in GEMINI until Tuesday January 10 at 4:38pm. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Opposite Mercury in Sagittarius. VOID OF COURSE MOON - MEETS MERCURY STATIONS DIRECT - MEETS MOON IN GEMINI OPPOSED BY ITS PLANETARY RULER. WOW.
We have three forces constellating at this time to challenge our game. You know by now the cautions for Void of Course Moon: Stay in the creative, in-between numinous place of dreams, Art and imagination. Logic and practical actions don't tend to work out. It's a better time for planning - as in imagining - future actions now. Don't expect to accomplish much on Sunday. Have a play-day!

When a planet's sign - in this case Moon in Gemini - is opposed by its natural Planetary Ruler - the planet Mercury rules Gemini - the optimum expression of its Archetypal description is likely to be undermined. So, in this case, Moon in Gemini's natural capacities for Intelligence, Communication and Travel - identifying and expressing feelings rationally, being adaptable, versatile, being on the move and multi-task oriented - are often not available to us. Instead, at this time we are likely to speak or act without thinking, fall victim to gossip, become overly critical and act impulsively. What's most important is to slow down and gain control over your communications. Try not to allow Reason to overpower your Emotions and vice versa. 
It's all about Balancing both realms. In other words: think before you speak but try not to let your overactive mind stop you from speaking. And when you do speak, notice if you're all about rationalizing your actions. Have the courage to Speak your True Feelings -  ideally without Blame and only after you've considered the situation thoroughly. Often either the big picture (Sag) is lost to the minutia (Gemini) or we can't see the forest for the trees. Look at the whole scenario. Otherwise, actions initiated during this Moon period are likely to have CHALLENGING results.

All this is heightened now because Mercury Stations and Turns Direct on Sunday, the 8th at 4:43am EST and the three days that follow are the last three days of the most vulnerable time of the entire Mercury Retrograde period. Stay conscious. Up your Reality Check game. Check and double check the accuracy of communications, the viability of vehicles and times/places of schedules. Actions are likely to be delayed or confused in some way. It is advised not to enter into important agreements, sign important documents or make expensive purchases or investments. Be Patient and Wait till the energy releases - generally speaking, around the 11th.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kn2e-bIlmE

SCENE FOR THE DAY: Stranger Things, 2016; Netflix, Created by the Duffer Brothers. Communications that defy logic yet eventually - after eight episodes and many creative delays - produce the desired result...in addition to great challenges, impulsive action and danger to Gemini youths...would most definitely describe this Netflix series. Ultimately, the characters use their individual and collaborative intelligence balanced with expressed high emotions to finally win the day. In this scene, high-strung Wynona Ryder imaginatively strings high alphabetized Christmas lights for the purpose of communicating with her missing son...it's the Best! A mix of The Goonies, ET and 80's horror flics, this year's captivating sci-fi monster mash is surprisingly endearing.

JANUARY 6-7: ARIES, TAURUS MOONS - CAUTIONARY GOOD DAYS

MOON REMAINS IN ARIES until 1:41pm EST on Friday January 6th, when it goes VOID OF COURSE. See January 4 for Aries info. At 3:18pm the MOON ENTERS TAURUS where it remains until Saturday January 7th at 9:23pm. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon in Taurus Trine Sun in Capricorn. Ruled by Venus, this Fixed Earth sign is the Master Builder. It is a time to honor Venus by using your personal resources to create something that is physically Beautiful to the eye and Sensuous to the touch. Capricorn is also an Earth sign so this Moon period supports being practical, disciplined and grounded in our work giving us the ability to produce results. If the Capricorn Sun doesn't crank you up for initiating some ambitious endeavor, slower Taurus may reflect your desire to kick back with your honey and the cushy comforts of home, couch and big screen movies which, because it's the weekend, just might be what you need. Taurus represents what we Value most in this world, so it has become known as the Money sign - more earthly practical than aesthetic, perhaps.  In any case, we may focus on finances and purchases which would be perfect if Mercury weren't turning Direct on the 8th. Because of this transition time - the three days before and three days after - I'd caution against any buying or selling of expensive or important items. These cautions are in effect through January 10th. For long-term important projects, actions initiated during this time will tend to not work out as planned or be delayed. Wait until the 11th to act. If you can avoid being weighed down by this earthy time, you should feel very accomplished in short-term projects now.

FYI: The Electoral Votes are Formally Counted this Friday on January 6th.
"The Congress meets in joint session to count the electoral votes...The Vice President, as President of the Senate, presides over the count and announces the results of the Electoral College vote. The President of the Senate then declares which persons, if any, have been elected President and Vice President of the United States...If any objections to the Electoral College vote are made, they must be submitted in writing and be signed by at least one member of the House and one Senator. If objections are presented, the House and Senate withdraw to their respective chambers to consider their merits under procedures set out in federal law." See Electoral Schedule for complete schedule.

TRUMP NOTE: Given Mercury's most vulnerable period is from January 5-10, which reflects a period of great uncertainty and a tendency for delay or reversal, it is a very tricky time for this announcement to be made. Also, remember Trump's natal chart has been under great stress with transiting Saturn conjunct his Moon Opposite Sun/North Node/Uranus. Circumstances tend to create tension, depression and emotional shut-down, particularly involving the women in his life. The opposition to the Sun reflects rejection or testing of his goals, sense of self and his North Node destiny. (We must also note a contradiction to these detrimental indicators: Jupiter is currently on the Ascendant and Saturn is at the Midheaven of his Secondary Progressed Chart - which are very positive indications for success. It will be educational to witness which indicators rule the day.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwwKkpZk7bo

SCENE FOR THE DAY: The Notebook, 2004; Director: Nick Cassavetes. With the intention 'build it and she will come' Noah, the Taurean Master Builder, tries to sell the house he renovated for Allie. He just can't do it. Reason after reason get in the way. He procrastinates - Mercury retro. We know it's just not a good idea. He knows too. It just doesn't happen. Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gossling: Moon Trine Sun. The Feminine in harmony with The Masculine...Grounded. Capricorn initiates the building, determined to reach his goal. Taurus makes it last. 

JANUARY 4-6: ARIES MOON - MERCURY TURNING

MOON ENTERS ARIES at 11:04am on Wednesday January 4 and remains here until January 6 at 1:41pm. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Trine Mercury in Sagittarius. Ruled by Mars, the Warrior Archetype goes into action now. The first sign of the zodiac, the Cardinal Fire sign, is the symbol of the spark that is the Creator. We should have the energy, will, inspiration and passion to accomplish a lot now. Just remember not to let Aries' pitfalls of willfulness, impulsiveness or anger undermine you. With both Aries and Sag in play, there's a lot of igniting going on here! Slow down, take a breath and think before you act or speak. We could have a war of wills now. Something that may have been said in the past may return to haunt you now. Or there could just be some acts of passion with successful, if delayed, results. Don't forget that Mercury is still Retrograde. January 5th begins the 3-day period before it turns Direct on the 8th. This is the trickiest time of its transition to forward movement - and by trickiest, I mean strongest, most likely to confuse, get wrong, break down, not work out. So check and double check your information, schedules, and mechanical equipment including vehicles. This would be an Excellent Moon period if not for this Mercury condition. All things considered, let's call it GOOD for immediate smaller-impact projects while it's best to not get tempted into high gear for important actions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdOF7xg5lug&t=2s

SCENE FOR THE DAY: The Birds, 1963. Director: Alfred Hitchcock. When one imagines a dramatic result from igniting a match, it's hard not to think of this classic scene from The Birds. The well-intended warning screams from several witnesses cannot be understood (retro Mercury). The final explosions call the birds, who are the real adversaries, into action. I use this scene in film class to demonstrate not only how to construct the narrative through montage editing (we never see a master shot including both the people in the restaurant and the gas station scene, only separate shots of each location edited together; we infer that the people are looking at the gas station) but also how mise-en-scene (composition of the frame) can add visual tension to the scene. Notice how the separate cuts to Tippi Hedren's character looks left, center and right as we intercut shots of her with the fire, and notice how the fire travels left on screen while she looks progressively right. Kinda cool...

 

JANUARY 2-4: PISCES MOON: CHALLENGING DAYS

MOON IN PISCES from 4:57am EST on January 2 and remains until 11:14am on January 4. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Square Mercury in Sagittarius. Ruled by Neptune, the Pisces Moon will tend to draw us toward artistic endeavors in quiet retreat. This Mutable Water sign dives deep into the unconscious - to Dream Time where we may have an opening to access what is usually inaccessible. Magic Time! The Last Aspect, though, is likely to tempt us into some kind of outward adventure that doesn't end well, and want to talk about it - maybe too much, inappropriately or it isn't well received. We may feel inwardly conflicted but perhaps we can negotiate with ourselves to take an exciting inner journey. Perhaps the best way to be with this Moon period is through music, art, meditation, yoga or dreams. Water should be involved! Since water symbolizes the emotional life, this may be an Excellent time to deal with feelings that are restricting us in some way. Try a combination of all of the above activities, and write about it! (Mercury) Otherwise, actions initiated now tend to have CHALLENGING results.

SCENE FOR THE DAY: Into the Wild, 2007; Director: Sean Penn. The theme of an adventure that doesn't end well screams out for this amazing film based on a true story, starring Emile Hirsch as Christopher McCandless. This is the American Dream of being on the road and into the wilderness in order to test ourselves - our physical strength, our beliefs and our will. Most of us have the dream but only some of us act on it. McCandless goes on a kind of Neptunian walking retreat to find out who he might be. Where he does succeed is in freeing himself from his culture's values, finding his truth and walking his talk. Penn assembles a brilliant cast and crew to re-imagine Jon Krakauer's book. And in this vibrant scene with Catherine Keener, water is most definitely involved. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3ZtaVrk9Co