Transits of Mars — The “God of War”

(Mars in Taurus June 9 – July 20; Mars in Gemini July 21 through September 4.)

These days, we cannot avoid all the headlines reporting on the multiple wars between nations and civil conflicts within nations, whose ethnic, religious, and economic conflicts reveal an inability to resolve differences and share resources. If we carefully survey history, it becomes obvious that wars are all about economics – about mineral resources, farmland, water, and control of infrastructure and industries. Ethnic, religious, and racial conflicts are used to “fuel the flames”.

The Civil War in America was about the horror of the commodification of African slaves to create the world’s greatest source of cotton and tobacco, sold internationally, and making Southern white plantation owners very rich without worrying about paying workers. It was Capitalism at its very worst and an effective dehumanization of a whole class of people. Our nation was torn apart in this, our bloodiest war, and the racism and economic disparity remain with us to this day.

Today’s Wars:

America’s internal wars consist of White supremacists, oligarchs, and transnational capitalists who have, once again, crafted a nation of economic disparity and inequality. Many are suspected and known to be financing the Trump (a Gemini) campaign to both save himself from his illegal activities and hold onto his previously crafted tax breaks for the super-rich including financial and legal support for fossil fuel corporations.

Ironically, recent generations of disillusioned young people, who can’t afford to buy a house or rent an apartment because of inflation, are modern victims of the oligarch class of which Trump is a member. We cannot afford to exchange our democracy for a dictatorship as a simplistic solution to complex worldwide economic shifts, abuses of economic systems, collapsing climates, worldwide immigration, and submission to the “blame game.” Unfortunately, history has shown us that past revolutions have failed just for this reason and replaced their previous governments with dictatorships.

Battles in the Supreme Court:

The current right-leaning Court has made decisions that have reversed decades of previous decisions, moving even more sharply to the right. After reversing Roe, they recently ruled in a case from Idaho, that a woman could have an abortion, but only to save her life. In addition, They made it harder to charge the Capitol riot defendants with obstruction (although most of them are in jail for other crimes).

Most importantly, in the case Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, they seriously weakened federal regulators’ authority, reversing the 1984 decision Chevron v National Resources Defense Council (1984), now turning over regulatory decisions to the courts. If your water is seriously polluted, your land is poisoned, or other violations of law are discovered, nothing can be done by regulators about these violations until they go through the court system that, as we all know, could take multiple years to resolve. Corporations who violate the laws will love this decision. In another decision, the Court states that cities can ban homeless people from sleeping outside in cities.

The biggest and most consequential decision: Presidential Immunity

On Jul 1, in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts, but not immune from prosecution for personal acts. Cases for prosecution for personal acts will thereby go to lower courts to determine official vs. unofficial acts. As far as Trump’s affairs are concerned, there is no way any currently pending cases will be tried before the election.

Some would say, this is an “imperial court” constructing an “imperial presidency.” Others would point out that separation of powers – checks and balances – is essential for an effective democracy. The Court’s recent decisions give a lot more power to the courts, circumventing the powers of government agencies and the legislature.

On this day, the astrological configurations behind this are Mars, Uranus, and today’s transiting Moon in the highly “conservative” sign of Taurus. Saturn in Pisces and Venus in Cancer support this posture. Neptune (visionary ideals v confused indifference and escapism) in the last degree of Pisces calls forth a profound need for “the people” to wake up and strongly consider who they would elect as president and his probable use or abuse of this newly expanded power. Stay tuned!

Democrats v Republicans and the Battle for the Presidency:

The recent presidential debate highlighted a blatantly lying Donald Trump, and a bumbling and incoherent Joe Biden substantiating what many Americans have been saying in interviews; that they wish for none of the above. The planetary pictures are so conflicting, that major problems and crises have and will erupt with both candidates. Astrologers have often been wrong in trying to predict election outcomes. I did predict that Trump would win in 2016 and Biden would win in 2020. I do not feel comfortable with taking a shot at this one.

THE ISRAEL- HAMAS WAR is all about who controls strategic territories and land rights. In addition, ancient tribal and religious/ethnic hatreds going back many hundreds of years dominate the discourse. Iran, an enemy of Israel is involved. Israel and Palestine must make a deal to rebuild and forge economic alliances along with a two-state solution. The UN has already “ordered” the fighting to stop but has no power to enforce this option. I think that many wealthy Middle Eastern nations are willing to engage with both nations in this effort. Saudi Arabia has already met with the US to help formulate a two-state solution and economic support for both Israel and Palestine. I believe that, eventually, this could happen. Many think that current Prime Minister Netanyahu supports war with no end in sight to hold onto his position. Their courts have ruled that his wing conservative religious wing now has to fight in this war. Between now and September, there will likely be opposition to him within his government.

RUSSIA’S INVASION of UKRAINE has developed into the possible beginning of a world war. In the June 12, 2024 issue of The Atlantic, an article was published by Anastasia Edel, entitled “Why Russia is Happy at War.” She reports: “A centuries-long tradition of authoritarian rule and disregard for individual rights underpins Vladimir Putin’s imperial Project.” She goes on to highlight Russian history for centuries of severe autocratic rule. “A rigid autocracy since the nation emerged from Mongol rule in the 15^th Century, including seven decades of totalitarianism in the 20^th Century, Russia’s government has never had any effective separation of powers. For most of that history, the state has allowed few, if any, avenues for genuine political debate or dissent, and the judicial system has acted as a rubber stamp for its rulers’ orders.”

She goes on to report: “This subjugation to the collective embodied by the Russian state is the reason Putin could mobilize society for war so easily . . . .More than two years into the carnage, public support for the war in Ukraine is polling at an average of 75 percent.” She also points out that the Russian economy, despite sanctions, is growing and thriving (GDP grew in 2023 by 3.6%). She continues: “Dubious schemes that circumvent economic sanctions have also enabled Russia to source strategic technologies and components, including those it needs for its weaponry, and this in turn has created lucrative business opportunities for Russian entrepreneurs.” She describes how Russian autocracies historically thrived during the war and how Putin’s power will continue to dominate the nation. However, she suggests: “But if Ukraine can begin to prevail, Putin’s narrative as the grand defender of Russia will no longer hold, and regime change will become possible once more.”

World War III?

America’s security agencies are deeply concerned about our power struggles with China over Taiwan. They are the second largest economy in the world and have an enormous military presence in the Pacific and, most importantly, in the South China Sea, which they see as “theirs.” History has taught us that war often develops with the rise of nations challenging their current superpowers. The Chinese have the largest spy network in the world, working closely with Russia, a close second. Summoning scary memories of the Cuban Missile Crisis of the 1960s Russia has recently sent nuclear submarines to Cuba. Similarities to the rise of NAZI Germany, Italy, and Japan in World War II should teach us that the only possible solution/prevention to this terrible trend is the military might, power, and strength of NATO and the United States.

The Economy:

Since the “crash” of 2008 led by the crooked sub-prime bank lending institutions in real estate, huge monopoly property-holding corporations have bought up most of the residential real estate market, costing Americans more than most of them can pay for either rent or the purchase of a home. The Feds, raising interest rates, further prevents young people from getting a mortgage or a car loan, even when they make a decent salary. Corporations, post-pandemic, continue to raise product prices. This is creating a tsunami of discontent!

Many have been concerned about America’s movement toward monopolies controlling the economy, funneling the money into the accounts of the top brass (CEOs), and massive corporate buy-backs of their stock to keep the price high, and the above example highlights this growing trend. Media industries (radio and television) are becoming monopolies. To secure its dominance, Apple Computer recently initiated a share buyback of $110 billion on May 2, 2024. The DOJ is now suing Live Nation (Ticketmaster) for monopoly practices hiking ticket prices to concerts beyond the stratosphere! Banks are merging into bigger banks. Most of the food industry now is owned and controlled by 3 corporations. Oil industry mergers currently in process are Exxon, Hess, and Chevron. Boeing’s shareholders, a monopoly airplane manufacturer, recently approved a $33 million pay package for CEO Dave Calhoun, despite his overseeing huge safety problems. It is the biggest pay package ever given to a Boeing CEO. Far too many Americans are unaware of this trend. Tesla’s board approved a multi-billion dollar pay package for Elon Musk. Most consequential, they are getting away with paying little or no taxes, using offshoring and other means of avoiding local and national taxation. All this is a reminder of the so-called “Gilded Age” of the late 1800s and early 1900s, the dominance of oil and railroad monopolies, and Pres. Theodore Roosevelt’s “trust-busting” efforts. History rhymes again!

Fueling inflation, we now have one of the most costly real estate markets in modern history but, ironically, we are experiencing a plunge in the value of commercial office real estate, due mostly to people’s increasing ability to work from home. As a direct result of this, the Philadelphia-based Republic Bank ( with large real estate loans) was shut down by the FDIC to protect $6 billion in assets and $4 billion in customer deposits. Assets were handed over to Fulton Bank (branches located in NJ, PA, and NY) and will reopen as Fulton Bank. Insured by the FDIC, the cost will be about $667 Million. My solution: renovate these vacant office buildings into affordable apartments and condos. I think the Feds will keep interest rates where they are for now, fearing the consequences of raising rates – a clumsy and costly tool to reduce inflation. However, Jupiter in Gemini suggests a cooling of the economy and a small decline in inflation, so they may consider lowering interest rates.

The Dollar:

Most importantly, we cannot forget that our enormous federal debt and US citizens’ credit card debt held at higher interest rates are both navigating a dangerous passage heading toward defaults. Trump’s previous tax breaks for mega-corporations, along with public infrastructure and billions going into Ukraine and Israeli wars, funded by the government, have created the biggest government deficits in history. We are sadly aware of the massive inflation of the dollar recently, but it has been going on for decades. This is why gold and silver, as a hedge against dollar inflation, have recently climbed toward record highs.

Jupiter in Gemini will fuel investment in “communication and information” including everything related to Artificial Intelligence. It may also help airline industries which are currently suffering from inferior and dangerous construction and problems with employees. However, with Mars and Jupiter squaring Saturn the week of Aug. 12, I would suggest pulling back and being financially cautious. This is also an aspect of “accident proneness” and bad weather conditions, so be cautious while traveling.

Mercury will go retrograde Aug. 4 through Aug. 28, creating an air of uncertainty around financial markets, the coming election, and the weather. Do not sign a contract or start a new venture at this time.

Weather:

Climate emergencies will continue to gain momentum between now and the end of the year. Jupiter in Gemini was last in this sign in 2012-2013 when Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast. I would put a hold on travel and prepare to protect your resources and properties during this period.

Coming up in 2025:

The soon-to-arrive transit of Uranus in Gemini was present during the American Revolution, the Civil War, and WW II. The current transit of Mars in Gemini – July 21 through September 4, is a “preview of coming attractions”, along with Jupiter in Gemini (May 26, 2024, through June 9, 2025) that was discussed in my last newsletter. All these influences will likely fan the disparities, inequalities, and differing points of view throughout America. Political rallies and conventions will fuel these passions.

Guns:

It has recently been revealed that American guns are fueling violence in Mexico; that the USA produces guns sold all over the world, increasing profits of crime cartels, and that militarizing our borders could further enrich these cartels. We are already painfully aware of mass shootings in the US that are still accessible to criminals and the mentally ill, despite congressional attempts to regulate this industry. A great irony is the recent trial and conviction of Hunter Biden for buying a gun while addicted to drugs. Pres. Biden has worked to craft gun laws, especially restricting access to drug addicts and people with a history of mental illness. In contrast with Trump, Biden has stated he will not interfere with the legal system or pardon his son.

Gemini, the “Twins” pits brother against brother, sister against sister, party against party, religion against religion. The “key” to a more constructive Gemini presence is a system of education and communication that is clear, concise, and clearing the pathway to the truth. Recent decades have presented us with a mass media complex filled, with lies, confusion, and weapons of mass distraction. Public education has nearly eliminated courses in civics and political science so recent generations do not even know what a democracy entails. Educators all over our nation are devastated over the basic skills inferiority of our children, demonstrated by America’s youth being near the bottom in standardized tests. Many of these failing and depressed youngsters have unfettered access to guns.

The Olympics:

Something positive is on the horizon with favorable stars on July 26, the day the Olympic games in Paris begin. The Moon, Mars, and Pluto make harmonious aspects with one another and the Sun makes favorable aspects with the Moon and Mars. The Sun is opposite Pluto on the 22^nd, pointing to a possible terrorist plot that will likely be uncovered and stopped.

Science and Technology:

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”

Plato

Catastrophic Climate Change:

In the January 2024 Issue of Scientific American, an article was published entitled “Does the Anthropocene Matter?” by Princeton University’s Naomi Oreskes. The heading states: “The definition of this new geological epoch conveys the all-encompassing nature of the challenge we face.”

She delves into the history of defining this new age of human influence on the planet leading to the term “Anthropocene” and why it matters – for two reasons. “The first is that it is a way for scientists to declare – as loudly as they can while still behaving as scientists – that the shifts going on around us are no small issue. Anthropogenic climate change is far more than an ‘inconvenient truth’; it is a profound alteration in the conditions of life on Earth. In myriad ways — large and small – the past may no longer be a reliable guide to the future… When taken seriously, that means we must rethink core assumptions about how we build our economies and our infrastructures, how we travel, how we plan for global pandemics, and even how we eat.”

She closes the article with the warning: “No doubt some people will become climate refugees, either voluntarily or under duress. But the definition of the Anthropocene reminds us that the challenge we face is geological in scale. It affects the whole earth. It reminds us that as this new epoch unfolds, there won’t be anywhere to hide.”

I would recommend reading this article and seriously pondering its message.

Nuclear Fusion:

Like all of you who read my newsletters over the past six years, I believe that one of the most important breakthroughs of our age in combating climate change disasters and providing us with endless clean energy is Nuclear Fusion. Previously, this technology has been used to make the hydrogen bomb, but thankfully not yet been used in wartime. I have published and quoted multiple articles about the amazing progress that is being made, in solving problems, in multiple sites in the US and around the world.

The best article I have ever seen on this subject was posted on June 27, 2024, on ENR – Engineering News-Record entitled “Energy in Transition” Nuclear Fusion Pushes to Reach Commercial Power Plant Stage.” by Mary B. Powers, Peter Reina, Debra K. Rubin, and David Godkin. The article reports: “Nuclear fusion is a power source that can generate nearly 4 million times more energy than fossil fuel combustion and four times more per kilogram of fuel than an existing fission nuclear power plant, has no carbon emissions or major risk of nuclear waste or meltdown and offers a more secure fuel supply, says Jane Nakano, senior fellow in the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies.”

What so many people do not realize is the number of fusion companies and sites that have been developing this technology and the stunning progress that is being made. This article lists these plants along with the capital currently invested in them. We already know about ITER, the oldest chamber backed by 35 European nations, which is located in France and has suffered setbacks. This article lists:

Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Cambridge, MA – 2 billion, TAE Technologies, Foothill Ranch, Ca. $1.3 billion, Helion, Everett, WA – $60-7.6 million, First Light, Yarnton, England, UK, $588.3 million, General Fusion, Richmond, B.C. Canada – $417.9 million, Neo Fusion, Hefei, China, $216.6 million, Zap Energy, Inc., Seattle, WA – $196.6 million, Energy Singularity, Shanghai, China -= $121.1 million, and Focused Energy, Darmstadt, Germany – $97 million.

I would seriously recommend you read the whole article, which is the most comprehensive coverage of fusion progress I have ever read…
https://www.enr.com/articles/58879-nuclear-fusion-pushes-to-reach-commercial-power-plant-stage

Technologies Beyond the Horizon:

I am continually startled at how few people know or care about this, which, in my mind, truly reflects the new age of Aquarius and its myth — the Promethean “gift of fire” handed to humans — with the disapproval of the Gods who believed we “could not handle this” and severely punished Prometheus.

Humans have used the gift of fire for thousands of years to preserve life, and now our heated-up planet suggests burning fossil fuels could lead us to extinction. This would lead us to a larger question: Can we handle AI, space travel, bio-genetic engineering, and nuclear weapons among the many inventions being currently developed? Was Mary Shelly correct in assuming (in the 18^th Century), that rapid human development of the sciences and technologies will create “the Frankenstein Monster”?

Final Thoughts:

“In order to change an existing paradigm, you do not struggle to try and change the problematic model. You create a new model and make the old one obsolete.

Buckminster Fuller

The ancient myths surrounding the planets and constellations tell us stories about ourselves – the pitfalls and dangers, and the grand victories and achievements. As our societies and sciences evolve, we in the astrological community are constantly reinterpreting these myths as discoveries are made. What is alarming is that so many people are still caught in the ancient webs of fear, hate, greed, and a willingness to resort to mindless killing. It would seem our discoveries and inventions challenge us to create a proper, peaceful, and greater human society – an evolutionary leap in consciousness.

Beyond a new model of computing (AI), a new electric vehicle, a new telescope viewing the universe, and a new rocket to the Moon – there needs to be a new human – governed by intelligence, compassion, empathy, and a willingness to rid ourselves of personal narrow, selfish, and even violent motivations in exchange for a vision of a greater good – healing of old wounds. Out of all this could emerge a new human with a wondrous presence — making the old one forever obsolete.

The time has come.

Blessings,

Linda

Important Points of Reference for Astrologers:

New Moon July 5 at 14 degrees Cancer (conjunct the Sun in the chart of the USA) square the Lunar Nodes; Full Moon at 29 degrees Capricorn July 21 conjunct Pluto and sextile Neptune; New Moon Aug. 4 at 12 degrees Leo sextile Jupiter just as Mercury goes retrograde on this date until it goes direct Aug. 28; Mercury in Cancer is trine Neptune July 2, goes into Leo July 2, is sextile Jupiter July 8, is square Uranus July 21 and is inconjunct Neptune July 25; Mars is Taurus is conjunct Uranus July 15, is sextile Neptune July 25, goes into Gemini July 21 trine Pluto, is trine the North Node Aug. 1, is conjunct Jupiter Aug.14, and is square Saturn Aug. 15; Venus goes into Leo July 11, is sextile Jupiter July 21, is square Uranus Aug. 1 and is inconjunct Neptune Aug. 4; Jupiter in Gemini is square Saturn Aug. 15; Venus in Virgo is both square Jupiter and opposition Saturn Aug. 19.

Sagittarius (Jupiter) versus Capricorn (Saturn)
The Optimist meets the Pessimist:

In the calendar year, there are perhaps no two signs, side by side that disagree more than optimistic, expansive Sagittarius and pessimistic, structured Capricorn. As the Sun transits Sagittarius, it is no accident that bright, hopeful holidays present themselves to humanity – such as Hanukkah which celebrates victory, and Christmas which celebrates the birth of salvation and universal love. Festivals of light, elaborate decorations, and exchange of gifts – all put aside human animosities, and promise hope for the future, even as the cold hostile winter looms ahead. Sagittarius happily travels to family celebrations while at the Winter Solstice, Capricorn issues a general “travelers advisory.”

In an ideal reality, we need both of these signs. Sagittarius lends hope that we will complete big projects and be able to solve big problems, while Capricorn reminds us we need to get tightly organized watch the budget, and put the “right” people in charge. Jupiter needs to keep moving while Saturn stays put. In a sense, hope for the future confronts fears from the past and brings us into the present, so we have to decide – where do we go from here?

What happens to the trajectory of humanity in this period in which one age is ending and another is beginning comprises a very delicate and fragile “tipping point.” Past cycles similar to this one resulted in massive environmental catastrophes, terrible wars, economic failures, and the collapse of empires that once “ruled” the world. Winston Churchill paraphrased other wise men when he pointed out that if we do not understand history, we are doomed to repeat it.

The great Irish poet William Butler Yeats interpreted history as a “gyre” or spiral that moves upward, repeating old cycles, but expanding our understanding of them – a ladder to conscious evolution. This time of year reminds us of our limitations, but lights up the Winter skies with a multitude of lights, celebrating hope for the future – a rebirth – a victory over the forces of darkness – a humanity that will awaken to whatever needs to be done to “deliver us from evil” – saving each other and our threatened planet – and reaching upward to what has seemed a cold and uncaring universe into a “peace that passes understanding.”

The Economy:

Jay Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve, in his ongoing attempt to bring down inflation, has indicated he would likely raise interest rates again and Wall Street usually acts like they are being targeted and runs for the hills. This is because corporations piled up debts by buying back their own stock and have to pay it down at higher interest rates. The hardest hit is the public at large, which is carrying so much greater debt than before, largely because of inflation and higher interest rates, that they are running up unsustainable bills on their credit cards.

FTX, the crypto exchange has crashed and gone bankrupt. This has been a creation that has had essentially no regulation and the “coins” have no intrinsic consistent value or backing. I do not think Bitcoin will go away, but governments will have to get involved, as, among other things, this medium of exchange is being used by international drug lords and human traffickers, with no effective oversight.

Elon Musk, who bought Twitter and has fired huge numbers of his employees and contractors, is disliked by them and is “losing his luster” in general, as the stock continues to fall, along with “META” or Facebook whose shares are shrinking as well. Musk has announced that Kanye and Trump, who have been barred from Twitter due to their “hate” speech, are allowed to have their accounts restored. All this is related to the Mars retrograde in Gemini (communications) and square Neptune (confusion) that will be in effect until March of next year. It is my contention that social media is losing its magic as multiple revelations of its misuse have surfaced. We all believe in “freedom of speech” but are asking serious questions concerning young people committing suicide as a result of tweets, and extreme political groups with “dark sites” that encourage violence. Previously laws that were on the books that news media had to be held accountable, to tell the truth, were abolished back in 1987. Eventually, we will get it right, but until then, stocks in these companies will likely fall.

In November, there was an excellent article in the New York Times by Anan Giriaharos entitled “Billionaires made a strong case for abolishing themselves.” He cited Musk’s chaos and layoffs at Twitter, Bezos announcing he is “giving away” most of his fortune while massive layoffs are taking place at Amazon, and Donald Trump’s attempt to smash our nation’s institutions and attempt to overthrow the government. This is an article worth reading.

Rumors are that we will have a long hard recession. I am of the opinion that we will have a less harsh recession as we go into next year. Real estate markets will still be struggling until June of 2023 when Jupiter goes into Taurus and is sextile Saturn. Oil inflation will likely fall by then, but, in spite of Pres. Biden’s release of oil from the strategic reserve is certainly with us now. Global oil prices as a result of OPEC reducing its flow, giant oil companies raising their prices, and the war between Ukraine and Russia have all expanded the inflationary spiral. Russia is still making big money with oil price inflation, selling their hydrocarbons to nations (China and India) that have not embargoed them. I think that Russia and Ukraine will make a deal next year as this war has been a disaster for both nations. Recent meetings between the US, China, and India would suggest all the greater powers want this war to end. In March of 2023, Saturn will go into Pisces, and oil prices will start to move down.

A major problem that is hardly being discussed in the media is food price inflation. With hurricanes and flooding in Florida, rising temperatures, droughts, fires, and disappearing water resources in the Southwest, and the Mississippi River at the lowest levels in recorded history, crops and food sources are greatly reduced.

Mercury is going retrograde from Dec. 28 through Jan. 18. Avoid signing important documents or making hasty decisions during this time. Economic trends will likely reverse themselves in this period.

Politics:

As I reported last month in this newsletter, the mid-term elections did not come out as expected or as the polls projected. I predicted serious storms (hurricanes in Florida and blizzards in the North). I also predicted we would not know the outcomes until much later in the month. Most of the time, mid-terms produce a “wave” of wins for the opposite party of the President. This time, as I projected, the Democrats did better than expected and we have a near “stalemate” in both houses which means very little legislation will be passed. Republicans, who won the House by a very small margin, wish to waste their time by focusing on Hunter Biden and impeaching the President, rather than passing meaningful legislation that would address the economy. Ironically, this will protect us from “extremes” in either direction. In next month’s newsletter, I will elaborate on the very serious critical aspects coming up between January and March 2023.

Following hundreds of mass shootings in America, Biden wants to pass a ban on military-grade assault weapons, which legislation has little to no chance of passing. The availability of firearms coupled with a broken mental health system, added to generations of young men whose lives have been damaged all add up to the kind of blind rage that leads people into mindlessly shooting people in shopping malls, schools, and parking lots all over our nation. Our political and economic power systems seem to have no inclination to address this.

In Brazil, Lula’s victory over extreme right-wing Bolsenaro lends hope to a possible trend reversal that has put dictators into power over the past decade.

In Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu is back as head of state. Surrounded by perpetual enemies, this nation is on constant military alert and “conservatives” tend to maintain their control there.

In Iran, the new revolution to abolish the Islamic State is ongoing and will likely continue through March of 2023.

In China, even though they have the strictest shutdowns to protect themselves, COVD is making a new surge in many of the major cities. This, and the economic problems they currently have, temporarily softens their relationship with the US.

Science and Technology:

On Nov. 6^th, Newsweek reported in its Tech and Science section: Gigantic, 70-foot Nuclear Fusion Gun Could Change the World.” They go on to report: “The Big Friendly Gun (BFG) is a prototype for what UK- based nuclear fusion company, First Light Fusion, hopes will be the future of energy production. The giant steel gun works by firing a high-velocity piston, compressing hydrogen gas as it moves, and entering a cone segment that crushes the gas to a tiny point before it bursts through a metal seal. This shoots a projectile at 4.3 miles per second into a vacuum chamber where it strikes a nuclear fusion fuel target, temporarily producing the conditions in which nuclei can fuse together. First Light Fusion says it was commissioned, designed, and built for 1.1 million pounds (1.27 million US dollars) over the course of 10 months. There’s nothing else like it in the world.”

Last month, Global Data reported: “While some assume hydrogen engines to be lost,
China bets big. China, despite being one of the world’s largest makers and markets for electric vehicles (Evs) is actively exploring alternative energy technologies for automobiles to meet its sustainability goals, including hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2 ICEs) for commercial vehicles.”

Last month, it was reported in Financial Times “Many governments and policymakers are now putting their faith in hydrogen to help them achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 – believing that the way it is produced and deployed can be transformed. If they are right, hydrogen could play an essential role in decarbonizing manufacturing and displacing fossil fuels in transport and power generation.”

Last month the Artemis rocket to survey the moon launched – a joint effort from Space X and NASA. This is a preliminary effort that will involve putting humans on the moon once again, possibly in 2024.

In the December Issue of Scientific American, an article entitled “Overdose of Inequality” by Melba Newsome was published. They report: “The face of the opioid epidemic has changed from white and middle class to black and brown people. They are dying because of biases in medical treatment.” They go on to say: “In 2019 the overall drug overdose death rate among Black people exceeded that of whites for the first time: 36.8 versus 31.6 per 100,000. And with the addition of fentanyl, the synthetic opioid that’s 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine, Black men older than 55 who survived for decades with heroin addiction are dying at rates four times greater than people of other ages in that age group.” The article points out that black people have less income, less access to treatment resources, and are treated with racial bias. There are two crises that loom here. One is that we have the most terrifying epidemic of drug addiction and overdose deaths in our entire population, in history. Secondly, we have an income inequality gap, the largest in modern history. Thirdly, once again, people of color are under-served and under-treated.

In the Dec. Issue of Scientific American, an article is published entitled “A New Era for Astronomy”, which highlights how the James Webb Space Telescope of transforming our view of the universe.

They report: “The first photos from the James Webb telescope (JWST went out to the world on July 12, 2022. and they are stunners. The clarity and level of detail are unprecedented. Seeing the telescopes of some familiar objects – from the oft-photographed Carina Nebula to the planet Neptune – feels like putting on new glasses with a stronger prescription. Only the first batches of JWST photos have been released so far, but each image has created a stir, suggesting that in the coming years the telescope’s pictures will infiltrate the public’s subconscious just as thoroughly as Hubble’s.”

On Nov. 19, in Yahoo News, an article was posted by David Ave entitled: “New Vaccine Breakthrough could finally bring COVID to its Knees.” They report: “Lots of current vaccines target the spike protein but none of them specifically target the spine helix.. . . . .” Whereas many regions of the spike protein tend to change a lot as the virus mutates, the spine helix doesn’t. So a vaccine that binds the spine helix in SARS-CoV-2 should hold up for a long time. And it should also work on all the other coronaviruses that also include the spine helix.” This new vaccine should be available soon.

Final Thoughts:

As this holiday season unfolds, the old saying – “It is darkest before the dawn.” seems so appropriate to our times. Pluto, currently in Capricorn, – the bringer of death and rebirth – goes into Aquarius next year, and retrogrades back into Capricorn until November of 2024, when it fully embraces its transit in Aquarius. By 2025, Neptune will go into Aries and Uranus goes into Gemini – all of these planets in harmony with one another. This ushers in the Aquarian Age and the world is seen through an entirely new lens – lighting the way to a better life on earth.

Capricorn is the sign of “consequences”. We are all seeing the evils, losses, and mistakes play out in front of us – all the consequences of selfishness, greed, and the dominance of bad leaders in both public and private sectors of our societies. We are tired. We are fed up. We are ready for a time of compassion, of big solutions, of new leadership, composed of a society of humans that takes responsibility for what it has done. Maybe the promise of victory over the darkness, of all-encompassing love, will become part of our real experience, as we work with persistence to finally comprehend an unavoidable truth. We are all in this together.

May you enjoy your holiday – immersed in the love of cherished family and friends.

Linda

Important Points of Reference for Astrologers:

Full Moon at 16 degrees Gemini conjunct Mars (retrograde) Dec. 8; New Moon at 1 degree Capricorn square Jupiter in Aries Dec. 23; Jupiter back into Aries Dec. 21; Mercury in Sagittarius is square Neptune Dc. 1; Venus in Sagittarius is sextile Saturn in Aquarius Dec. 2 and is square Neptune Dec. 4 Mercury in Capricorn is trine the North Node Dec. 15 and is trine Uranus Dec. 17, is sextile Neptune Dec. 24, and goes retrograde Dec. 28 (until Jan. 18, 2023); Venus in Capricorn is trine the North Node Dec. 19, is trine Uranus Dec. 22 (Solstice) and conjunct Pluto Dec. 31; Saturn is semisextile Neptune Dec. Dec. 28 (through Jan. 6th, 2023).

“Life either kills you or makes you a better man.”
Mark Twain

The Sign of Scorpio and its ruler, Pluto, currently transiting Capricorn
The Lunar Eclipse conjunct Uranus:

Amid all the turmoil, upheaval, and crises in our lives, it would seem that we are being dealt blows to our comfort and survival that lie beyond our ability to comprehend. Populations are fleeing their nations of origin due to war and climate catastrophes making it impossible to live in the only places they have called home for generations.

Global political and economic structures are failing us because people in positions of power have failed us. Economists who really care about “all the people”, climate scientists, and intellectuals have warned us for decades, outlining exactly what would lie ahead for us if we did nothing. Essentially, nothing is what we did. The transit of Pluto in Capricorn that has returned to the Natal Pluto in the chart of the US, warned of the disestablishment of the establishment” and, ironically, at the same time, world leadership has often consisted of “old men” and often reflected a desire to return to old-time religious and social norms.

It is interesting that US scientists have just successfully hit and diverted an asteroid with technology that would give us a defense against an extinction event that destroyed the dinosaurs more than 60 million years ago. It is ironic that human-engineered greenhouse gasses burned and deposited in the earth’s atmosphere, are now threatening us with our own possible extinction.

We are having a mid-term election here in the US on the exact date of a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse conjunct Uranus (upheaval) and square Saturn (order), which suggests weather extremes, earthquakes, and technological breakdowns. Energy price spikes are causing massive inflation not been seen since the 1970s (the last time Mid-East oil price inflation spiked was caused by the revolution in Iran). The cancellation of Roe v Wade by the Supreme Court has raised the specter of women’s rights over their reproductive decisions. The wave of crime that has swept the nation is complex and is due to widespread poverty and homelessness, severe mental health issues, easy access to military-grade assault weapons, and ineffective gun laws. Since it is widely expected the Republicans will be the winners, the Democrats may do better than expected. In general, we can expect the unexpected.

As the month rolls on, and the Scorpio planets sextile Pluto and trine Neptune, we will sort out the returns and know who actually won. However, the issues of inflation, the Ukraine war, the economy, and global weather disasters continue to loom heavily on the horizon. The question is: Will we elect people who can really help? Will our fragile democracy survive?

Scorpio is a sign of death and rebirth. Old corrupt systems must fail, and, in the process, we are compelled to descend into the “underworld” to clean up the debris. In a sense, Pluto and Scorpio are societal “plumbers”, who go down into the darkest portion of the psyche, come face to face with the demons, and cleanse the soul. Out of all this, rise multiple new forms of life that climb up out of the ground into the light.

All of us have had Pluto experiences within the context of our lives. We have lost jobs, fortunes, and the lives of people closest to us. I can testify, from my personal experiences, that things we thought we could never give up, ironically, often turn out to be the very baggage that has obstructed our growth. Their absence makes room for a new life – a better life – a resurrection into a light of understanding we never knew existed.

The economy:

Last month’s Mars/Neptune square with ups and downs continues this month and still haunts Wall Street. Jupiter is briefly back in Pisces (oil and chemicals) until Dec. 20^th. Oil prices will continue to climb, continuing the dreaded cycle of inflation, mainly due to OPEC’s decision, led by Saudi Arabia, to tighten the flow. What is currently needed is for Pres. Biden and his energy secretary to call a meeting with American energy corporations and develop a policy to effectively assist US oil and gas production, without which, our economy would collapse. The Saudis need to know they have made a mistake since we could halt shipping them arms. These same oil companies resent Biden and the Democrats for making life difficult for them in the past in that they have favored and subsidized clean alternative energies. He has his work cut out for him as he turns 80 years old this month.

The truth is that all the current green energies presently known and used barely provide 15% of our energy needs. A lot of fossil fuel is burned to manufacture electric cars, solar panels, and windmills. In reality, we need both at this particular time, until nuclear fusion and the perfect battery are developed and ready to use, which, in my opinion, will not be until 2026. We are currently between a “rock and a hard place.”

Most of us know how the macroeconomy is controlled and influenced by giant banks. Reuters announced on Oct. 17: Goldman Sachs is planning a major reorganization to combine its biggest businesses into 3 divisions with its investment banking and trading businesses being merged into a single unit.” They have also announced they are pulling back on “retail banking.”The power of this bank to influence the markets cannot be exaggerated.

In a broader context, we are headed toward leaving the past version of a global economy that gave us “cheap” products and low labor costs. Since China is now under the control of a Mao-style military Communist dictatorship, the US is moving away from linking our economy with theirs. Instead, our governance is moving toward a more localized economy where we make things here in the US in which products cost more, but jobs and wages are increased and infrastructure is upgraded. The new “chips” plants that are going up in New York, Ohio, and Arizona are moving us in this direction.

The biggest “secret” is that we have supplies of fresh water here in the regions close to the Great Lakes. Micron has made a historic commitment to build a giant chip plant in Clay, New York looking to create about 50,00 new jobs. This region looks promising located in the Global North near the Great Lakes. A huge crisis surrounds a historic drought that has caused the receding of the Mississippi River that transports and waters the bread basket of this nation. The Western (especially Southwestern US) is in a great heat wave and historic drought that has created giant forest fires and they have exhausted their underground aquifers. Water will be a big determinant of our survival and prosperity in the future. I would look to invest in hydrology corporations and technologies.

Weather:

High winds and serious storms loom over the horizon this month, along with unexpected cold temperatures originating in the Northern US. Bad weather could impact the elections as well. Conditions will improve toward the end of the month. I predicted extremely high winds and storms last month and it was announced that the Nakia fire in the state of Washington has exploded amid powerful winds and has grown to over 2000 acres, forcing thousands to evacuate.

China:

Xi Jinping has assured his place indefinitely as dictator in a now totally totalitarian state. He is likely to claim sovereignty over Taiwan sooner rather than later. He will expand his military capabilities. We need to remember, however, that he turns 70 years old next year. He will run into problems in 2024 when Saturn is square his Sun. The Chinese economy has seriously declined as the West moves to limit trade with them, and the US and Europe are developing their own technology factories. The problem is that China and its “pal” Russia have the largest deposits of minerals and “rare earths” that are absolutely necessary for our modern technologies. We need to “walk a tightrope” in our relations with this government since neither of us wants a nuclear war. In 2025, Pluto goes into Aquarius and begins a transit over the Moon and Ascendant of China, changing everything – its leadership and form of governance. They may have another revolution.

Russia:

The NATO nations have hurt the Russian economy, but not as much as expected since their oil and gas are all too necessary for global consumption. As we provide more weapons to Ukraine, Russia will continue blowing up infrastructure around this nation. These actions will likely intensify this month. However, they are losing this war, conscripting mercenaries and soldiers who often defect and who really do not want to fight the war. Reports are that Putin is “losing it.” The solution is some kind of a “deal” and hopes that Putin eventually loses his absolute power over this nation. He just turned 70 years old in October.

The UK:

This nation has been in a downward spiral since BREXIT. Their only real economy is the banking and finance industries. A new prime minister has been elected: Rishi Sunak after the two previous others have failed miserably. He comes from an Indian heritage and is the first “person of color” to occupy this position. His background arises out of the upper echelons of education and finance (his Sun is in financial Taurus) and his wife is the daughter of an Indian billionaire. The Queen has recently died. The British are in a crisis for their political and economic relevance in the world.

Science and Technology:

For decades, we have been mesmerized by the accomplishments and possibilities of AI (Artificial Intellegence). In the Oct. issue of Scientific American, there is an article entitled “Artificial Confidence” by Gary Marcus, which suggests: “Even the newest, buzziest systems of artificial general intelligence are stymied by the same old problems.” He points out: “Although deep learning has advanced the ability of machines to recognize patterns in data, it has three major flaws. The patterns that it learns are, ironically, superficial, not conceptual; the results it creates are hard to interpret; and the results are difficult to use in the context of other processes, such as memory and reasoning.” We need to revisit the current capabilities of AI and remember that computing serves humanity; not the other way around.

Another article in this same issue entitled “Testing Nukes” reports: “The National Ignition Facility is designed to ensure that the US arsenal will work.” In case of a nuclear war, in the most dreary of circumstances, “The Target Chamber of the National Ignition Facility houses a minuscule pellet of plutonium or other materials. Lasers hit the target from all sides, precipitating a fusion reaction. Such experiments enable researchers to researchers to gauge the performance of the US nuclear arsenal.” This would lend credence to the old axiom that the best offense is a good defense.

Posted on Space News, an article by Francis Reddy reports: “An unusually bright and long-lasting pulse of high energy radiation swept over the earth on October 16, captivating astronomers around the world.” It will be interesting to know what the implications are for life on earth.

Posted on Science Alert, Oct. 16, David Nield reports: “Quantum Entanglement has now been directly observed at the Macroscopic Scale” Called by Albert Einstein “spooky action at a distance”, it is the binding together of two particles or objects, even though they may be far apart. Their respective properties are linked in a way that is not possible in the rules of classic physics. They report: “In a 2021 study, quantum entanglement was directly observed and recorded at the macroscopic scale – a scale much bigger than the subatomic particles normally associated with entanglement.” They go on to say: “All the necessary measurements were recorded rather than inferred, and the entanglement was generated in a deterministic non-random way.” The philosophy encompassing the study of astrology suggests that all units/ particles in the universe are linked with one another in ways we have not fully understood. Entanglement leads us in a direction that would, in part, explain our observations. I find these discoveries exciting, leading us further into the Aquarian Age of scientific discoveries and breakthroughs.

In the November Issue of “Scientific American, a headline article was published entitled “The Coming Collapse.” by Douglas Fox. It reports: “Two expeditions to Antarctica’s Thwaites Ice Shelf have revealed that it could splinter apart in less than a decade – allowing a vast glacier behind it to slide into the sea.” It is suggested that this would push up sea levels around the planet, flooding coastal cities worldwide.

On the Oct. 17 post of The Register, it was announced that: “The US Dept. of Energy is handing out more fusion power funding, this time doling out $47 million to 38 projects that are exploring the feasibility of tokamak reactors.” This lends optimism to the ongoing research and development in this field that promises to eventually be the “Holy Grail” of mass production of energy with no pollution. There have been private funding from some billionaires toward this effort as well, which I have been reporting in this newsletter.

It has been recently reported that the drug used to treat alcohol and drug addiction, Naltrexone, shows promise in treating Long COVID. It has also been effective in treating chronic fatigue syndrome. More studies lie ahead.

Recently, evidence has been published that the rise in neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Autism, and ALS, could be caused by environmental toxins – air pollution, pesticides, microplastics, and “forever” chemicals. This kind of research has been ongoing for over 60 years. Most of us have suspected these connections, but little has been done since the power of chemical companies has been supreme, preventing real and meaningful environmental legislation.

Final Thoughts:

In an era of mind-numbing change, including many religions becoming even more tribal and fanatical, scientific advancements becoming increasingly more difficult to understand, let alone embrace, and ancient cultural divides emerging to separate us — it would seem there is a deficit of inspiration and high hopes for envisioning a great future that we could embrace together as a species. Our young people, feeling hopeless, are often escaping into drugs, violence, suicide, or simply cynicism that our institutions are so corrupt that they are beyond repair.

If we look at the span of history over thousands of years at the collapses of ancient empires, we see that this has happened before. The question we need to ask is: Will we simply decay and collapse like the empires before us, or will we reinvent ourselves, leaving behind the ancient plagues, wars, and invasions that characterized other great civilizations?

Because I study astrology, I have the advantage of knowing that the planetary transits into new and hopeful signs lie ahead. Pluto begins its transit into Aquarius in 2023 and I will discuss the new transits in future newsletters. These patterns would offer hope for the emergence of a new age, one in which we can invent our way out of the climate catastrophes, pandemics, wars, and institutional failures that have haunted the past. We need to respect scientists and their explorations. Our future is literally in their hands. Society must incorporate this intelligence into our political and social discourse. We can no longer afford to worship cult leaders who ask us to throw away our brains and embrace fear and hate.

Personally, I love the old Star Trek series that embraces intelligence, technology, and great teams working together, who respect each other’s individual talents and points of view. This could suggest that the model of the Star Ship Enterprise presents us with a very exciting and inspiring future, exploring the universe. Beam me up, Scottie!

Let’s get going!

Linda

Important Points of Reference for Astrologers:

Full Moon Lunar Eclipse conjunct Uranus, conjunct Mercury and square Saturn on Nov. 8; New Moon at one degree Sagittarius Nov. 3; Mars retrograde in Gemini is square Neptune Nov. 14 – Nov. 20 and is trine Saturn Nov. 27; Venus hits the South Node Nov. 2, is square Saturn Nov. 6, trine Neptune Nov. 10 and is sextile Pluto Nov. 13 and is trine Jupiter Nov. 14, and is sextile Saturn on Nov. 30; Mercury hits the South Node Nov. 6, is opposition Uranus Nov. 8, is square Saturn Nov. 9, is trine Neptune Nov. `12, is sextile Pluto Nov. 14 is trine Jupiter Nov. 16 and is sextile Saturn and trine Mars on Nov. 29.

“Nothing exists for itself alone, but only in relation to other forms of life.”
Charles Darwin

The constellation of Libra, ruled by the planet Venus, is depicted as a blindfolded woman holding the scales of justice. The notion of “the rule of law” applying to all people, regardless of their economic or political status, had been examined for centuries and eventually led to the American experiment with the idea of Democracy and the notion of equal opportunity for all.

Libra is the sign of “relationships”, whether they be interpersonal or in connection to the natural world itself. The famous Statue of Liberty with a torch in one hand and a book in the other, erected in New York Harbor with the inscription: “Give me your tired, your poor…” was a gift to us from our historic ally, France, who fought a revolution to empower “the people”, whose efforts at democracy initially failed and eventually succeeded in creating a democratic government.

In the horoscope of the US (July 4, 1776), Saturn, the planet symbolizing order and authority, is placed in the sign of Libra and is square (in conflict) with the Sun, Jupiter, and Venus in Cancer. Cancer is concerned with tribal and ethnic protections, the family unit as the basis of civilization, and religious authority. The separation of church and state is explicitly outlined in our constitution and, thus, we have avoided the “religious wars” that have historically plagued other nations – until now. With the Supreme Court (Libra) having recently abolished the protection of women’s reproductive rights previously accorded by Roe v Wade, we are now plunged into a nationwide civil and political conflict over abortion rights challenged by a version of “fundamentalist” Christianity which the Republican Party has enlisted into its ranks since the late 1980s.

The terrible history this nation has as a result of a “slave economy” led us into a great and bloody Civil War in the mid-1860s. Even though the union remained intact and slavery was officially abolished, people of color have been murdered, marginalized, and frequently excluded from the nation’s prosperity. We have fought for equal rights in the 20^th and 21^st Centuries and have, still, a long way to go until the blindfolded woman holding the scales of justice, is presiding over all the people.

On a more personal level, people with Libra prominent in their charts are often caught in a dilemma. The question for them is – what is fair and just; what is best for me as opposed to my partners and friends; how can I keep my individuality and also look after the needs of the society in which I live? They are frequently highly intelligent and can support arguments for both sides of a question. Thus, Libras struggle with making a decision in either direction, and the “wheels of justice” move slowly. Prominent historic people with their sun in Libra include Eleanor Roosevelt and Pres. Jimmy Carter, and with their Ascendant in Libra include Pres. Harry Truman, Pres. John F. Kennedy, and Pres. Bill Clinton. Presently, Vice President Kamala Harris, formerly Attorney General of California, has her sun in Libra. All of these people have wrestled with protecting the rights of each “individual” vs. giving assistance to the people-at-large.

Libras are often “idealists” who eventually come down to earth when confronted with the complexities of the law and politics. I have seen Libras who are guards in the prison system, detectives in local law enforcement, lawyers who could be either prosecuting or defense attorneys, and politicians with special charisma (Venus) who attract voters to their promises of fairness and justice. Vladimir Putin is a Libra, who, when he initially came into power in Russia, “charmed” the West into thinking he would be cooperative. All the time, he was resenting the collapse of the Soviet Union and waiting to restore its dominance in Eastern Europe. Now, he has initiated a terrible invasion and war with Ukraine that he is losing.

Another and most important Libra issue is human-created climate catastrophe, disrupting the balance of nature itself, and threatening the extinction of life on our planet. This theme tops everything else and big solutions are the only solutions. As you all know, I believe the successful implementation of nuclear fusion and the “perfect” battery will be great breakthroughs in technology that will start us on the path to the restoration of life on earth.

What now?

We are at a crossroads in America with many people have lost faith in the government, the rule of law, the “ideal” of Democracy, and any connection they may have personally with many of the politicians currently in power. I have written three books and hundreds of newsletters warning about the cycle of Pluto in Capricorn and Neptune in Pisces we are currently experiencing. For the past several decades, a billionaire class has taken over this nation; financing elections, dominating banking and finance, destroying workers’ wages and rights, getting massive tax breaks, and buying out the media. My forecast was a “disestablishment of the establishment.” The question looms: Which establishment are we disestablishing?

This nation has virtually ignored the warnings of leading climate and environmental scientists that have universally predicted the devastation of the natural world we are now witnessing. With the planetary pictures pointing the way, combined with this information, I have warned of the catastrophes that are upon us now, for more than 20 years, in 3 books, interviews on the radio, and ongoing newsletters. Politicians have been “for sale” for many years to oil and gas corporations for whom maintaining their dominant wealth has been more important than the survival of humanity!

Since we have a culture that “worships” people who are rich, many people look to blame immigrants, people of color, and people of different religions and cultural frameworks. Libra would seek a balance between the interests of government supports for the people-at-large and a healthy environment for business. This means that the “rule of law” should prevail over all. At this time, we are reaching a peak challenge to Democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law itself. But ordinary people are now beginning to see the handwriting on the wall and are demanding change. Now that scientists’ predictions are manifesting all over the world, and hurricanes Fiona and Ian are ripping through first, Puerto Rico and now Florida, we are “getting the message” whether we like it or not!

I am of the opinion that the tide is turning. The insurrection of the January 6, 2021 congressional investigation is starting up again under Mercury’s direct trine Pluto (helpful). Interestingly, rebel Republican Liz Cheney, on this committee, has said she might campaign for some Democrats and, if the Republicans should nominate Trump again, she will leave the Republican Party.

Former Pres. Trump is accused of multiple crimes including confiscating classified and top secret documents from the FBI and is being sued by the State of New York for fraud. Throughout most of his life, he has relied on a “lucky” pattern in his astrological chart which is a Jupiter/Neptune conjunction in Libra in his second House of finance, sextile (supportive) to Pluto in the secret 12^th House in Leo. He has been able to “work” the system of lawyers and judges, especially since he more recently appointed so many of them when he was in office. These appointments to the Federal judiciary and the Supreme Court allow him a lot of leeways.

For decades, Trump has been an “expert” on avoiding prosecution with the use of appeals and postponements. Last month, the State of New York instituted a civil suit against Trump and all his businesses, including those of his children, for fraud. The FBI is contesting a Trump-appointed judge’s decision to postpone Trump’s confiscation of top secret documents and has named a “special master” to oversee the investigation, all of which could endanger the security of the US. It seems the Special Master is not letting Trump get away with claiming he “declassified” these documents. We have all read the headlines. However, the planets are not his “appointments.” The Mars in Gemini square Neptune this month and planets going into Scorpio through mid-November, all turn the heat up on Trump. One way or another, he will experience a lot of trouble. Since early this year, it has been my projection that the Democrats will do better than expected in the coming mid-term elections.

Interestingly, in Italy, an extremely “far right” prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has just been elected. She favors isolationism, a stop to immigration, and a stop to social liberalization — all of which have not been present since Benito Mussolini was in power in WW II.

Rebellions have exploded in the theocratic nation of Iran due to the death of a woman who died protesting having to wear a hijab, which has activated women throughout the nation. There are literally no real human rights in this nation and this is reflected in a wave of built-up anger, triggering men and women alike to protest. This transit of Mars in Gemini (there through March of 2023) will likely unseat the present government.

At the same time, the war in Ukraine will continue to take its toll on Russia and Putin may not be able to poison all the dissenters. People are rising up strongly in his own nation and are pushing him to end this conflict. Putin, in his desperation, is conscripting 300,000 more of his men into the military. He is threatening the West with the use of nuclear weapons. In response, Pres. Biden has issued a serious warning against the use of any nuclear weapon. Thousands of Russian men are fleeing the country to avoid this draft. Both India and China have expressed they do not want to support this war. Most of the world is turning against him. The current transit of Mars in Gemini is moving through his 8^th House of death, destruction, and rebirth, which, in his case, would reveal he could truly resort to nuclear war if somebody does not stop him!

The Economy:

This month presents Mars square Neptune at the end of October which would suggest the stock markets will decline further. Inflation will continue until the end of this year. This is a global problem with the price of energy, affecting the prices of everything else. Central banks everywhere are raising interest rates. Our Federal Reserve will also continue to raise interest rates and will bring on a recession in the economy in an attempt to stop the inflationary spiral. They will continue to make these moves in the economy in order to “slow it without breaking it.”

What many ordinary people do not know is that companies have fueled this bubble market for years by buying back their own stock and borrowing in order to do it. They are now in trouble with increased interest rates on their loans. Instead of investors moving into gold, the old “security play”, they are moving into the dollar which has reached highs not seen in our lifetimes. In addition, the previous craze of jumping into “SPACs” or funds with new high-risk companies is also taking a serious fall as investors get out of these placements. Crypto is also losing its luster. Recently, Jaime Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase has warned: “Crypto is a decentralized Ponzi Scheme.” Over the long term, I think it is healthy to put a stop to this casino environment on Wall Street. Meanwhile, many investors will feel the pain. This month, with Mars square Neptune, the economy is a swamp filled with fog!

Inflation in food prices is affecting everyone, but the news media is failing to report that deadly climate catastrophes are affecting food production, especially in the Global South where so much food is grown.

Gemini is among the mutable signs that signal crises with immigration. The governors of Texas and Florida have shipped busloads of immigrants to northeastern locations where there are “sanctuary cities”. These governors are being sued for violating the current immigration law. Ironically, our shortage of “essential workers” is often filled by immigrant populations. The looming issue is that both parties in Congress have failed to pass effective immigration laws for decades. Pres. Biden has announced he is proposing a new immigration reform law.

There will be “mixed signals” this month with respect to employment. Oct. 2^nd, Mercury goes direct in Virgo trine Pluto. This could help with more jobs added, and could signal the signing of agreements pertaining to the settlement of recent strikes of workers around the US.

Weather and travel:

As I have warned in previous newsletters, between now and early November, there are indicators of severe hurricanes, high winds, and floods. Last month a hurricane actually hit Alaska. Already, the historic hurricane, Ian, has hit Florida following the devastating Fiona that went through Puerto Rico and went all the way up to the coast of Canada. A severe typhoon hit the Philippines last month. Mars in Gemini is square Neptune this month would, unfortunately, forecast more of this activity ahead.

There are still problems in the travel industry with bad weather and canceled flights. These are perilous times to plan trips. I would suggest staying home.

Science and Technology:

I don’t know about you, but I have always been fascinated with the “roots of consciousness”, the human brain and neurology, the origin of genius, and various causes of mental illness and its consequences. Until we have a greater understanding of all this; how to amplify brain health and “cure” various mental diseases which seem to be growing exponentially in our civilization, there is little hope for our future.

This leads me to recommend an article in the September issue of Scientific American entitled: “Revealing the Genes that Shape the Human Brain.” They report: “Neurologist Christopher Walsh discovered genes that direct cerebral cortex development. Scientific American asked him what they reveal about intelligence, psychiatric disorders, and the nature of being human.” They chose Walsh to write the article because “Walsh, Jean-Louis Mandel, Harry Orr, and Huda Zoghbi shared the 2022 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience for their discovery of genes that underlie serious brain disorders.” They have also studied autism spectrum disorder (which seems to be rising in our societies today) and what medical genetics tell us. It is worth reading the whole article to get a sense of where neuroscience is headed, which is an area I am forecasting will accelerate in the near future, perhaps even by moving our species designation from human to “superhuman.” There are other articles on the brain in this issue.

New research on Alzheimer’s disease is taking an entirely different turn, pointing to this disorder as an autoimmune disease. This is when the human immune system cannot differentiate between bacteria and brain cells, so it creates a defense that mistakenly destroys its own brain cells. These discoveries could move treatment for this terrible widespread disease in a more effective direction. Interestingly, Biogen stock surged last month with the announcement that an experimental treatment for Alzheimer’s (named lecanemab) has succeeded in a final-phase test. This drug removed beta-amyloid plaque from the brains of patients in the early stage of the disease.

There is also breakthrough research involving the use of genetically modified herpes virus that kills cancer cells, which is now undergoing clinical trials in humans with promising results.

I am relieved that NASA postponed the Artemis rocket mission to the moon. Mercury being retrograde and afflicted, associated “leaks” that had to be repaired, in addition to the bad weather all point to bad timing.

This same issue in Scientific American has articles on the nature of Black Holes and how the completely destructive nature of a black hole may not destroy everything that goes into it! They discuss how wormholes may resolve this paradox.

Interestingly, NASA’s “Dart” mission has successfully launched a craft to deliberately collide with an asteroid. The threat of asteroid collisions with the earth is serious and this technology hopes to help us successfully divert such a catastrophe.

Posted September 22 on “Tech and Science”, they report: “The largest nuclear fusion experiment in the world, the Joint European Torus (JET) has begun a new wave of testing this month. In a statement from the UK Atomic Energy Authority, it was announced that EUROfusion researchers at JET, which is located in Oxford, England, have begun testing nuclear fusion using helium and hydrogen and then deuterium and tritium fuels.” They go on to say: “These small-scale tests at JET will help to enable ITER in France to hit the ground running once construction is complete.”

Final Thoughts:

There is no more beautiful season than the Fall accompanying the Autumnal Equinox whose painted landscapes of brilliantly colored leaves so often leaves us speechless. Here is Venus, the Goddess of love and beauty at her most lovely. However, this period precedes the coming of Scorpio and having to deal with Nature’s seeming to die, collapsing into the cold, sparse views of naked tree limbs, and life descending underground until next year’s Vernal Equinox in March.

Death defines the passing of previous forms of life that can no longer survive in a hostile environment. However, out of the ashes of the old and no longer sustainable arises new life – new species, and even more advanced and intelligent expressions of life. As climate catastrophes are becoming more powerful and more frequent, global governments are becoming less stable, and more populations are fleeing their nations of origin where they can no longer live. The old is, unquestionably, dying.

I would prefer to suggest that the accustomed ways of human life that have survived for thousands of years are no longer survivable. As all of this dies and, figuratively, goes into a dark cold underground, there is a chance of a resurrection of life, love, and hope –that flowering of a new kind of humanity will emerge in the Spring, bringing with it a new species, cleansed of the ancient destructive patterns that have haunted us for thousands of years. As the great American poet Robert Frost would remind us:

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.”

Linda

Important Points of Reference for Astrologers:

Full Moon at 16 degrees Aries conjunct Chiron, opposition Venus, Sextile Saturn, and sextile Mars on Oct. 9; New Moon at 2 degrees Scorpio is conjunct Venus on Oct. 25; Mercury goes direct in Virgo Oct. 2 and is trine Pluto on Oct. 6 just as Pluto goes direct Oct. 8; Mars in Gemini is square Neptune Oct 11; Venus in Libra is inconjunct Uranus Oct. 13, is trine Saturn Oct. 14, and is trine Mars and square Pluto Oct. 19; Mercury in Libra is opposition Jupiter Oct. 11, is inconjunct Uranus Oct. 21, is trine Saturn Oct. 22, is trine Mars Oct. 26, and is square Pluto Oct. 27.

Has critical thinking become obsolete?

As we all move through the effects of a global pandemic, climate catastrophes, inflationary prices of fuel and the Russian War against Ukraine, we have watched politicians who are frequently stalemated and a tax evading billionaire class that continues to profit at the expense of humanity-at-large. Most of us are flummoxed, bewildered, and confused. A sizable percentage of Americans think the current president and his administration can simply wave a magic wand and fix problems that have been developing and escalating under the management of both political parties for over 50 years. Solutions that make sense have been explored by only a small fraction of the population. Political rhetoric and hatemongering have obscured efforts to rescue ourselves. Those of us in the business of forecasting future events, who predicted most of these trends, are truly saddened by the many failures to address the trends and act to alleviate the headwinds.

The Ancient God, Apollo, gifted Cassandra the art of prophecy with a contingency. Nobody would believe her!

Escaping into drugs and alcohol, accompanied by overdoses, is at an all-time high. On top of all this, young men are shooting people en masse in schools, parking lots and places of worship; persons whose personal histories are filled with personal failure, poverty, and hopelessness. A large portion of the population is confused since they have not studied years of political and corporate decisions that have been made over the years, in plain sight. Consequences are playing out over the vast landscapes of America.

However, the recent bills that have been passed in Washington are encouraging. These bills include salvaging healthcare benefits in the Affordable Healthcare Act, subsidizing Veterans for injuries inflicted from burn pits, giving Medicare the right to control prescription drug prices. The gun regulation bill is limited, but the best we could expect at this time. The biggest investment in history has been made in green energy and national infrastructure, and the Chips Bill will subsidize and support bringing chip manufacturing back into the US, creating at least 40,000 jobs. Corporations will pay a 15% tax on profits that is hoped to create budged surpluses rather than deficits. The President has announced a $10,000 debt forgiveness on student loans. All of this suggests we are moving in the right direction.

How did we get here?

What we can observe playing out is the “Greed is good” philosophy, the “financialization” of the economy by the one percent into stocks, hedge funds, and real estate companies. They have succeeded in lowering wages, moving many into poverty. What has followed is an unrestrained “globalism” that led to outsourcing manufacturing abroad, a slow failure to expand and improve public education due to lack of funding, a backlash of a religious fundamentalist culture to societal liberalization, and a betrayal broadly of the mass media to hold itself to high standards of journalism. Hedge funds and corporate interests have “bought out” local radio stations and newspapers, devastating truthful reporting on events all over our nation. All this has contributed to this historic period that may be referred to as “the long emergency.” How can we, as a people, use critical thinking when the capacity itself has seemed to desert us?

Is there reason to hope?

The answer is yes! Just as very few people believed my forecasts contained within three books and multiple newsletters in years gone by, very few believe my outlook for the future now, as the slow-moving planets will be moving into new signs between 2023 and 2026. Pluto is going into Aquarius, Neptune into Aries, and Uranus into Gemini, all forming supportive aspects with one another. These new signs are optimistic in both their intrinsic meanings and their relationships to each other. We will still be unable to avoid the consequences of global climate emergencies and many millions of humans will have to migrate to areas where they can survive, often overwhelming the resources of the nations at their destinations. This cannot be reversed, but solutions, technologies, and human social evolution will likely appear within the context of modern history that only a few visionaries think are possible!

Will the curse of Cassandra still play out, or will Apollo finally reappear and say: “Now they will listen!”

The Economy:

Mercury goes retrograde on Sept. 9^th and will go direct on October 2^nd. It rides back and forth in an opposition with Jupiter, sea-sawing from optimism to pessimism and back again. Financial markets will likely take a dive under the Mars/Neptune square in mid-October. With Venus in Virgo and Mercury going direct in Virgo, both trine Pluto, healthcare companies will be in the limelight. I think new vaccines for COVID, and its variants will be coming out in early Oct. under the Mercury/Pluto trine. The Saturn/Uranus square continues through the middle of November, still tending toward pessimistic thinking by the public, even though inflation is falling.

Politics:

The FBI invasion of Trump’s compound in Florida, preceded by a request for a warrant by the Attorney General and granted by a judge, has further polarized the political climate of the nation. They got the order from a federal judge since they had evidence Trump stole or destroyed top secret documents that could threaten the security of the nation. The Jan. 6^th Congressional Investigation committee continues to uncover evidence that Trump contributed to the invasion of the Capitol. The State of Georgia investigation into Trump trying to throw the 2020 election in his favor intensifies. Trump’s chart is getting hit from so many tense planetary aspects, it is possible there may be many mental and physical health issues. Trump’s employees and sidekicks are getting convicted and going to jail.

Pres. Biden, who is not a young, glamorous figure, has accomplished so many of his and the Democrats’ goals, we have to recognize these achievements, whether or not he is personally liked or not liked. Inflation will be subsiding in many sectors of the economy. This, plus the backlash at the Supreme Court’s undoing of Roe v Wade, leads me to suspect the Democrats will do better than expected on election day. The astrology of Nov. 8^th, containing a Lunar Eclipse conjunct Uranus and square Saturn is filled with upsets, technological instabilities, bad weather, and surprises.

Weather:

My opinion is that there will be extremes in the US Sept. through Nov., especially with hurricanes likely in October and severe winter storms coming early in November. I would avoid air travel under the Mercury retrograde this month into early October.

Science and Technology:

In the August Issue of Scientific American, there is an article entitled: “Healing Waters – Compounds that sea creatures make to defend themselves could yield lifesaving medicines.” by Stephanie Stone.

Research has been ongoing for decades to find cures for human diseases in ocean organisms. The article reports: “By 1990 PharmaMar had isolated a compound from the A.albicans specimen that was active against both cancer and virus cultures. PharmaMar pursued the cancer angle because cancer drugs tend to be more profitable than antivirals. After decades of research and testing, in 2018 Australia approved plitidepsin as a treatment for multiple myeloma. When the COVID pandemic hit, company scientists quickly proved that plitidepsin was effective against SARS-Co-2 in both laboratory cultures and mice, and it outperformed competing antivirals in preclinical, head-to-head trials. In 2020 PharmaMar launched a phase 1-2 clinical trial for hospitalized COVD patients that concluded in 2021. The results were dramatic 74 percent of the patients with moderate disease recovered fully within a week of their first dose. The phase 3 trial is due to finish by December.”

It would be worth your time to read the whole article which is very encouraging for medical breakthroughs.

As you all know who read this newsletter, I am hopeful that Nuclear Fusion, the “Holy Grail” of energy will manifest in time for us to save the earth’s climate and enjoy infinite amounts of energy to sustain and expand our technology. Recently, news was released that “ignition” was attained last year at California’s Livermore Laboratories Fusion site. Even though it lasted only a few seconds, progress is moving rapidly toward sustained ignition.

Other Nations:

I think that the Mars in Gemini and Venus and Mercury in Virgo will likely activate tensions in No. Korea’s astrological chart, especially under the Full Moon of Sept. 10^th. They may threaten to launch another nuclear weapon. COVID has taken a terrible toll in this nation, whose people are already in the edge of starvation.

The war in Ukraine will take some new “turns” this month through the end of the year. Russia will find itself increasingly depleted of both military weapons and willingness of their people to be conscripted into the conflict. Putin may feel pushed to escalate the conflict, committing even worse atrocities. They will eventually have to make a deal.

Things are stirring up in China. Xi Jinping’s policies have angered his people, who are “under his thumb” and experiencing far more suppression since relations between China and the US are worsening over the status of Taiwan. Their debt is enormous, their economy is suffering, climate extremes are increasing, and there may be other people waiting in the wings to compete with him for power.

Final Thoughts:

“Time present and time past

Are both perhaps present in time future,

And time future contained in time past.

If all time is eternally present

All time is unredeemable.”

From “Burnt Norton” by T. S. Eliot

As a student of astrology for nearly half of my lifetime, I am continually surveying cycles and chains of events as they occur within what we experience as “time”. Observed as unfolding within the motions of the earth, the moon and the sun, we create clocks and calendars and place our multitude of experiences – scheduled and unscheduled – within these contexts. However, we also have been told by Dr. Albert Einstein and his descendants that time “slows down” the closer we travel toward the speed of light.

This is the way we make sense of “change”, which is an inevitable and ongoing process we all see and feel throughout our lives and even afterward! I see life as part of a magnificent, eternally moving cosmos and to which we are connected – even out of which we were created. This suggest that the multi-verse may be consciousness itself, creating and destroying and recreating out of itself. We may be of this very substance and among the very few creatures that are open to this possibility.

I speculate. If this is so, we have the power to summon an awareness greater than times gone by and change the past as well as the future, by deciding to do so in the present. This would lead me to believe that we can solve seemingly unsolvable problems, no matter how large they loom in our lives.

As we observe through the Hubble and the James Webb telescopes, we are looking at the wondrous universe as it was billions of years ago as we have to wait for light to travel here for us to see. Our capability to actually experience this through the technologies we have invented within a very small segment of “time” leads me to have hope for the future of human life and the human experience.

We must never give up, give in, or capitulate to the darker recesses of our psyche. The continuum will continue. The potential is endless.

Let’s get going!

Blessings,

Linda

Important Points of reference for astrologers:

Full Moon at 17 degrees Pisces sextile Uranus Oct. 10; New Moon at 2 degrees Libra opposition Jupiter Oct. 25; Mercury goes retrograde in Libra opposite Jupiter on Sep. 8th and goes direct trine Pluto Oct. 2^nd; Venus goes into Virgo Sept. 5, is square Mars and is trine the No. Node Sept. 16, is inconjunct Saturn Sept. 21, is trine Uranus Sept. 21, is opposition Neptune Sept. 3, and is trine Pluto Sept. 25; Mars in Gemini is trine Saturn Sept. 27.

War of the Words

Important Notes: Mars goes into Gemini Aug. 20^th, is positioned at its closest orbit to the Earth, retrogrades Oct. 30^th square Neptune, goes direct Jan. 12^th inconjunct Mercury, is square Neptune again March 14, and all the way through the sign through March 23, 2023. Twice, it hits the US Uranus and its Mars (square Neptune).

MARS is the traditional God of War, Sports, the Military, surgery, and weaponry. The sign of Gemini itself governs all forms of communication from public speaking, teaching, writing, and news on the radio, television, social media, and sites on the internet. This particular transit hits the horoscope of the USA (July 4, 1776) activating and “wounding” this nation, coming during a cycle which severely tests the purpose and unity of the country itself, recently having faced its Pluto return, Neptune opposite its Neptune, and Saturn that will go over its Moon in Feb. 2023.

Previous important transits in Gemini have appeared during the Civil War, WWII, and the infamous 9/11. Not only are we engaged in a European war with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, but we are, arguably, at war with ourselves. Still, amid a historic pandemic and its economic consequences, we are having to face the truth about global climate instabilities, the continued massive use of hydrocarbons, and attempting to improve the endangered relationships with nations like Iran, China, Russia, and No. Korea, Central and So. America, and the toxic soup of the regions in the Middle East. All the while needing and being dependent upon oil and gas, we are seeing a massive speeding up of climate catastrophes all over the world due to our unrestrained use of fossil fuels. This could be referred to as the “great oxymoron.”

While we need clear and cohesive policies to address these issues, we are at “war with ourselves”; unable to have an intelligent debate between political parties and pass legislation based on compromises “across the aisle”. With the square to Neptune, we are experiencing desiccation, disunion, confusion, and descent into religious fanaticism that has moved into the interpretation of the law itself. Author Margaret Atwood is stating that she had no idea that so much of her book “The Handmaid’s Tale” would be playing out in America. The founders’ decision to separate church and state has been thrown aside with the ending of the protection of women’s reproductive rights in Roe v Wade, forcing young women throughout the nation into a territory strewn with catastrophic decisions. However, recently the FDA approved the sale of over-the-counter birth control pills. Chemical abortion pills are already available and can be mail ordered, but are running into problems with certain states “outlawing” them. Some states are scrambling to make the procedure accessible to women coming in from other regions.

Immigration, another hot issue, is a hot mess. After “haunting” multiple presidents’ terms of office over decades, Congress has been unable to pass new laws that would define how people may come into the country from abroad and under what circumstances. Instead, a noticeably vocal percentage of the population simply declares their “hatred” of immigrants, demonizing and blaming each other for the problem. Meanwhile, because of economic and government collapses, and climate catastrophes, historic numbers of suffering people are fleeing their nations of origin to come here. We now have one of the worst track records in the world when it comes to violent public shootings that seem mindless and insane. Our social and economic structures (controlled by a billionaire class and giant banks) have been failing for decades and it is all “showing up” now.

The COVID pandemic is still alive and well as it spreads widely with each new variant. Now, Monkey Pox is spreading in the US. Recently, cases of the dreaded Marburg Virus (related to Ebola) are appearing in Africa. The transit of Neptune in Pisces symbolizes the spread of contagious diseases globally. This transit will not come to an end until the period between 2025 and 2026. Extremely hot temperatures are plaguing the Southern and Western US, Spain, France, Italy, and the UK and are the causal factor behind record-breaking wildfires. Eventually, as the polar glaciers melt, humans will be forced to migrate into the Global North.

Interestingly, former Pres. Donald Trump is a Gemini (under investigation from the Jan. 6^th Committee for instigating the overthrow of the government), and so is the Prime Minister of the UK (who just resigned his office) and the Prime Minister of China (who is torn between threatened economic interests with the West, banks going under, and wishes to defy the US by a take over of Taiwan). It is not a “leap” in thinking to suggest that they are all in serious trouble.

In January of 2023, Mars will go direct in Gemini on the US. Uranus, inconjunct transiting Mercury that goes direct Jan. 18^th. Saturn will transit the Moon of the US in Feb. This would suggest a major crisis in the life of the US president.

The Mars transit in Gemini will continue from Aug. 20^th through March 23^rd, 2023. I will continue to discuss this in ongoing newsletters.

Politics and the Economy:

Pres. Biden, under the highly stressful August transit of Mars in Taurus and the Uranus/Saturn Square, is taking hits from all sides. He has “inherited” a multitude of crises. His party criticizes him for not doing enough after the destruction of Roe v Wade, even though he cannot legally do very much without Congress, which is deadlocked and will not presently pass a law enforcing women’s reproductive rights. Oil price hikes and ensuing inflation, over which he has little or no control are also hurting him. Inflation, which is the dreaded consequence of the global pandemic, supply chain limitations, and the Russia/Ukraine war is hitting the US but is hitting the rest of the industrialized world even more severely. His “build back better” bill has been nixed by Democratic Sen. Joe Mansion who sees the bill as being inflationary. He may be able to get a rescue package for health care along with a few remnants of a greatly reduced bill.

The war in Ukraine has Europe and people here in the US supporting Biden’s decision to help Ukraine, which is taking its toll on global oil and gas prices. He is “caught” between a series of “rocks and hard places”. Having sworn to not do business with Saudi Arabia he is now doing business with Saudi Arabia to attempt to control oil prices and protect Israel. Israel, whose chart is under the current transit of Saturn in Aquarius square Uranus in Taurus is hit by Mars this month, is embroiled in its struggle to govern itself, and is dealing with the disappearance of the water in the region… Global oil and gas companies and the wealthy barons who control them (including Vladimir Putin) continue to profit while the earth floods and burns. A deal was recently struck at the UN with Russia allowing Ukrainian wheat to be exported. More “deals” connected with this war lie ahead.

The wild and crazy fluctuations in financial markets will continue this month. With higher interest rates a factor, housing sales have declined. People will be “confused” as to whether we are in a recession or not. Prices of gas will continue to fluctuate, giving people some relief at the plump. Airlines will continue to suffer from a lack of staffing and cancellations of flights. Congress needs to pass the “Chip” legislation to encourage Intel and others to bring chip manufacturing back into the US and separate us from dependency on China and Taiwan where most chips are made. Congress is “off” this month.

Recently, I have been surprised by the dramatic rise in the value of the dollar and the extreme fall in the price of gold, in a time of massive inflation. In an article entitled: “Paper Gold Price Manipulation – Rigged to Fail” by Matthew Piepenburg, posted on July 11, 2022, he reports: “Despite thousands of daily long contracts (i.e. buy orders) in the OTC forward contract markets, if just 7-8 banks wish to use massive leverage to short any metal, they can effectively fix the gold price via artificial manipulation of derivatives contracts, to which only a small number of banks have access. He goes on to report how this is currently happening on a chart from the US, Comptroller of the Currency that – “clearly reveals the extreme extent by which just a handful of highly pocketed (and central bank supported) banks like JP Morgan and Citi can use extreme turns of derivative-based leverage to short (i.e. keep a permanent boot to the neck of) the paper gold price.” If this is not blatant manipulation of a commodity, then I do not know what is. It is worth it to read the whole article with accompanying graphs that prove this is exactly what is going on.

What Next:

The Democrats are famous for infighting and often lack cohesiveness to win elections. The Republicans are now split into two parties – Trump voters and traditional Conservatives. My prediction – elections in the Fall will be decided by registered “Independents”. I believe that the Democrats will do better than currently expected.

On November 8th, the Mid-term election is scheduled with a Lunar Eclipse conjunct Uranus and opposed Venus and Mercury and all square Saturn. These astrological signatures are so unstable that it is likely we will see seriously bad weather with severe storms, breakdowns in electrical and internet service, violence at the polls, and delays in knowing who won or lost. The Sabian degree description where the eclipse takes place at 16 degrees of Taurus in the book: The Zodiac by Degrees by Martin Goldsmith is “Sword-wielding crusaders battle the Saracens to secure a bridge into enemy territory.”

This does not sound like peace, progress, and cooperation to me.

We will have to try to survive, make important decisions at the polls, and know that opportunities to correct our course and invent our way out of the multiple crises that are upon us, will begin to reveal themselves next year.

Science and Technology:

In the July issue of Scientific American, an article was published entitled: “Mental Illness and Dementia”. The article points to an extensive study from New Zealand, which looked at health records of 1.7 million New Zealanders born between 1928 and 1967 covering 30 years ending in mid-2018. “It found that those with a diagnosed mental disorder – such as anxiety disorders, depression, or bipolar disorder – had four times the rate of ultimately developing dementia compared with people without such a diagnosis. For those with psychosis such as schizophrenia, it was six times the rate. Among people who developed dementia, those with a psychiatric disorder were affected by 5.6 years earlier, on average.” They go on to report: “In 2020, the British-based Lancet Commission on dementia prevention estimated that four in ten cases could be prevented or delayed if society did a better job of addressing 12 modifiable risk factors, including such psychosocial contributors as depression, poor social support, and low education level.” They go on to suggest: “In an ideal world, Langa and other researchers say, efforts to prevent dementia would begin in childhood with strong investments in education and the inculcation of healthy habits.” with varying causes. Similar personality disorders are emerging in the young men who are involved in the mass public shootings that are currently plaguing us. Parental support, excellent schools, and good dietary and exercise programs are known to help our society in a multitude of ways. The enormous inequality in wealth and failure to finance public programs is a tragedy we are now being forced to confront. Let us hope we get the message.

As all of you know who have been reading my newsletters, I am reporting constantly on the progress in nuclear fusion – the Holy Grail of Energy that will eventually eliminate the use of hydrocarbons and, possibly, save the world from climate catastrophe. Progress continues to be made both in the production of the fusion reaction and in solving the problems that have emerged. The standouts are Commonwealth Systems in Cambridge, MA, Helion in Seattle WA., and TAE and Livermore, both in California. I will report more on this as new articles are posted.

We are now looking at pictures from the James Web satellite observatory that reveals the cosmos millions of years ago. We are seeing multiple universes that are violent, massively destructive, massively creative, and absolutely amazing to human eyes. All this stretches our psyches and imaginations beyond anything we have ever seen before., Beam me up, Scottie!

Final Thoughts:

What lies ahead for the future of life on earth depends upon a “humanity” that needs to look at itself and determine what is “hard-wired” into its nature – and what can be changed to both grasp and conquer the challenges that lie before us. So many people say to me that “human nature never changes”. If this is true, we will simply continue to make selfish, dark decisions, until we go extinct, and take most life on earth with us.

In my opinion, we need to move away from characterizing ourselves like goods coming off an assembly line – seeing our lives in a highly mechanized environment – losing sight of inventive and creative forces within us that can and often do bring about significant changes in direction.

Astrology suggests our personal connection to a wider, even infinite universe, out of which we were all created. It suggests constant movement and change – just as we move around the Sun and our solar system moves through the constellations. The technological inventions we have created in just the past 200 years boggle the mind! It is the primal, emotion-charged nature of ourselves that, often unconsciously, takes over – the “predator-prey” world of survival in the wilderness. This simply will not cut it today in a world of great complexity that requires a new intelligence.

We could actually wake up and see that we are not alone. Wondrous people are here among us – smart, inventive people who are capable of cooperation, listening to each other’s perceptions, holding hands, and bringing hearts together to co-create a new world beyond any we have ever known before.

This is called “teamwork”. It is called “friendship”. It will be the calling card for the Age of “Aquarius“.

Blessings,

Linda

Important Points of Reference for Astrologers:

Full Moon at 19 degrees Aquarius square Uranus Aug. 12; New Moon at 4 degrees Virgo square Mars Aug. 27; Mars in Taurus will square Saturn Aug. 7 and will trine Pluto Aug. 14; Venus in Cancer will trine Neptune Aug. 7 and will Oppose Pluto Aug. 8; Venus goes into Leo Aug. 11, will trine Jupiter Aug. 17, will square Uranus Aug. 26 and will oppose Saturn Aug. 31; Mercury goes into Virgo Aug. 4, will trine the North Node Aug. 15, will trine Uranus Aug. 16, will inconjunct Saturn Aug. 18, and will trine Pluto Aug. 20; Mars goes into Gemini Aug. 20 and will go back and forth direct, retrograde and direct) in this sign until March 23, 2023.

No matter what we pretend to be – whether we present ourselves as thoughtful, “religious”, humanitarian, caring about economic inequality and the dispossessed, or, concerned about our physical environment, the deepest, darkest, parts of our collective consciousness is about “survival”, which here on earth, is forever linked to power over money, land, property, possessions. Costs of filling our gas tanks, paying our mortgages, and buying our food take precedent over the concepts of sharing, altruism, and even over intelligent debate that might solve these problems. For countless decades, we have continued to be enchanted by the highly publicized romps of the billionaires. The “American Dream” is all about getting rich.

There are far too many people who feel “left out” – hopelessly confused about who they are and what their prospects are in the current “scheme of things.” Many feel they have been “bullied”, left out, threatened, pushed around, and disconnected. These people have access, in this nation, to military-grade assault weapons. The Second Amendment right to “keep and bear arms” has been interpreted to mean we cannot restrict gun ownership, in short, everyone should be able to “pack heat”. Can we all just imagine the pressures on police departments throughout the country having to deal with this? The Supreme Court just ruled that the law passed in New York State that outlawed carrying concealed weapons is unconstitutional. The recent federal law passed by Congress and signed by the President contains some regulations on buying firearms that are long overdue. However, we must remember decades of the result of “gun freedom”. The “American Nightmare” is about getting killed.

The newly “radicalized” Supreme Court just abolished the right to abortion and various methods of birth control that had been guaranteed by Roe v Wade for nearly 50 years. People need to understand that the Court’s premise was that these rights are not guaranteed by the Constitution, and need to review that the ERA amendment guaranteeing women’s right to vote, did NOT pass in the 1970s. Women’s suffrage is thus no longer protected, and all the civil rights legislation that passed in the 1960s, which is also not in the Constitution, is no longer protected. Chief Justice Roberts, a highly respected Conservative has lost his ability to “moderate” the Court’s decisions. I would suggest all of us think about this! Democrats will do better than expected in the Midterm elections in the Fall.

In Russia, it is all about claiming rights to the land and riches of Ukraine and the dreams and fantasies of Vladimir Putin, who sees himself as an ancient Tzar, who has undisputed, absolute power over a newly expanded Russian Empire. His agenda – blowing up the land, the buildings, access to markets, and totaling infrastructure. He still controls massive quantities of oil and gas reserves. He is at war. Putin did the same thing in the civil war in Syria. He supplied Assad with weapons (including poison gas) which he used to kill nearly half of the population and destroy most of the buildings and infrastructure, bringing the nation to a level of absolute devastation. The sanctions the US and NATO nations have imposed on him are not effective enough to stop him. He is still selling gas and oil to other nations at elevated prices.

We have to also understand that Israel does not officially support the US and NATO in helping Ukraine. Israel is one of the nations “falling apart” since they recently “ditched” their parliament and Prime Minister and are having elections that are questionable in their effectiveness to replace their governing bodies. I have reported many times that the Uranus in Taurus (until 2025) points to severe instability in this nation.

The Middle East as a region is in major trouble as they are running out of water. Rivers are now creeks, wells are running dry, and in Israel, the Dead Sea has receded dramatically in recent years.

What lies ahead?

The Economy:

The stock market will continue its current volatility and uncertainty. Interestingly, oil and gas corporations (the energy sector) have seen their stocks fall, even with their being the cause of the inflation in energy prices that has caused the Feds to raise interest rates, and move us toward a recession. This is only one of the many ironies in this economy. The central banks have attempted to manipulate interest rates for a long time. They have now lost control over the investors, as they flee the markets into cash. My take is that for so many years, we have created a massive “bubble” stock market based on companies buying back their stock (even borrowing to do so); people have deluded themselves by getting into so-called “spacks” that have now crashed and burned; cryptocurrencies (led by Bitcoin) who had no real value or intrinsic worth, to begin with, have fallen into the ditch; and, what happens consistently in the crash and recession cycles, the grand casino on Wall Street has been “busted.”

So many young people today have no remembrance of the 1970s when the Iranian revolution caused hydrocarbons to skyrocket in price. Then Fed Chair Paul Volker kept raising interest rates to control inflation all the way through the early 1980s. This produced a painful decade-long recession. I remember when rates were at around 16%! Eventually, we accelerated offshore oil digs, fracking for gas, and getting deeply embedded with “nice guys” like the Saudis to raise the amount of global oil production. Is this deja-vu all over again? The answer is: almost. But this period will not last that long. Oil prices will eventually move down and we will not have a decade-long recession.

Currently, with the advent of the war in Ukraine with Russia, the Europeans are being exposed to their extreme dependence on Russian oil and gas. We are “heroically” cutting off Russia from the international banking system and shipping their oil to the rest of Europe, but their leaders are already having conferences with Pres. Zelensky, as to how long this will last. Ukraine simply cannot win this war without the rest of Europe and the US getting directly involved. My take is that they will try to “make a deal” between Russia and Ukraine. The deal they negotiate is likely to offer to hand over several Ukrainian regions to Russia in return for ending the war. Putin is currently bragging about himself, Russia, and its army, and deliberately stating that “the US is no longer a world power” – that Russia is taking back its position as a great empire. Pres. Biden does not want to get into a nuclear war with Russia, and rightly so. A deal will eventually be made.

Where do we go? I have advised for some time to be in cash, gold, and income-producing real estate. Long-term investments in hydrology, rare earths, and what is lying ahead – nuclear fusion – will move you into the future. Real estate, especially builders, will suffer due to new high interest rates. You will likely have to wait to get back into this sector. If you own rental properties, you will have a fairly regular income. We are in such a volatile cycle for multiple reasons, (I will elaborate on the months ahead in coming newsletters) I would suggest that you sit tight and wait things out.

What Next?

Currently, we have moved backward historically with respect to human rights and are in a cycle I have referred to as “the Dark Night of the Soul”. We are being forced to confront the old evils, abuses of power, hatreds, and violent behaviors that have been an intrinsic part of our history for generations. Humanity is about to enter a new period in our history in which most major trends will be changing.

The slow-moving planets – in 2025 – Neptune, Pluto, and Uranus will be in new signs and will likely move us to bring back efforts to sustain democracy, while science and technology will present us with amazing inventions that have the capability of solving an array of serious problems. Whoever runs for President in 2024 will be “none of the above.” This might seem like a long time to many people, it is actually in the “blink of an eye”.

Climate and weather:

In addition to everything above, the transit of Mars in Taurus this month conjunct the North Node and Uranus on August 1^st will present a major series of severe weather events, including earthquake and volcanic activity. Hurricanes and tornadoes have taken a severe toll on Americans. Hurricane Ida from last year was actually worse than Hurricane Katrina, and millions of people who live in Louisiana have lost everything, are destitute, and living in government-donated trailers. The costs to both the government (FEMA) and families throughout the nation are immeasurable. Much of all this is due to climate change due to fossil fuel burning. We all know this by now.

The industrialized world is “caught” in a deadly conflict between “economic collapse” without fossil fuel and “climate collapse” that would destroy most life on earth!

Science and Technology:

Humanity is now “interstellar! The July Issue of Scientific American published an excellent article about the history of our journey into outer space. It now reports: “Forty-five years after their 1977 launch, the twin Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft are traveling where no Earth-made vehicle has gone before. The mission, originally intended to last just four years and fly by Jupiter and Saturn, is still going. Voyager 2 went on to visit Uranus and Neptune, and both spacecraft eventually exited the heliosphere – the region of the sun’s influence – and entered the area between stars called interstellar space. Although the voyagers are sending back information about this unexplored territory, scientists will begin turning off some of their instruments this year in hopes that the remaining devices can continue to phone home until around 2030.”

Scientific American also published an article entitled: “Climate Miseducation”, How oil and gas representatives manipulate the standards for courses and textbooks, from kindergarten to 12th grade.” by Katie Worth. This article describes the efforts of major education advocacy groups to cover the climate crisis and how the Texas Energy Council and Shell Oil worked to block this information. It is worth reading this article in its entirety to understand the scope of influence the oil companies have over the public education system.

As all of you who read my newsletter regularly know, I am an advocate for supporting the companies and sites that are working on nuclear fusion – the “Holy Grail” of limitless non-polluting energy that will eventually replace hydrocarbons, whose warming effect is creating climate catastrophes and extinguishing many species of life on earth. Lately, problems have emerged since there is very little tritium fuel to make the fusion chambers work. A recent article in the June 23, 2022 issue of “Science” point out that this is a major problem for the big chambers such as DEMO and ITER that are working to solve this shortage. However, the article reports: “Two private fusion efforts have decided to forego tritium fuel. TAE Technologies, a California startup, plans to use plain hydrogen and boron. Washington State startup Helion will fuse deuterium and helium-3, a rare helium isotope. These reactions require higher temperatures than D-T, but the companies think that’s a price worth paying to avoid tritium hassles.” It would be worthwhile to read the whole article that contains extensive information about the trials and efforts to make nuclear fusion a reality. Onward and upward!

Final Thoughts:

“This is the time of tension between dying and
birth
The place of solitude where three dreams cross
Between blue rocks
But when the voices shaken from the yew- tree
drift away
Let the other yew be shaken and reply.”

From “Ash Wednesday”, by T. S. Eliot

Humanity is experiencing a painful and vulnerable period in its history – one between the death of obsolete ancient frameworks – and the coming birth of a new consciousness of what it is to be human. Letting go of rigid hierarchies on which we depend to make decisions for us, and coming into a true “adulthood” in which we make intelligent and comprehensive decisions will not only save us from self-destruction but elevate us to a level of mutual prosperity and respect for individuality – an understanding that, in a sense, we “are each other” expressing ourselves in unique and differing ways.

Growing up is a challenging process. Many of us do not care to remember all the crazy mistakes we made – all the wrong turns we took – and even the painful but successful efforts we made to attain our goals over many years, that now often seem irrelevant. Evolution is an ongoing process, not an “arrival” at a glorious finish! I remember when a play or concert I was in and loved was over, there was a curious letdown. Performers all know about this. What sustains us is that the next time we take with us all that we have learned and keep going –we keep getting better. The human soul is a continuum. It is all an ongoing, moving, infinite process.

As we look up at the brilliant constellations in the night sky, we are reminded that the universe continues – and so will we!

Blessings,

Linda

Important Points of Reference for Astrologers:

Full Moon at 21 degrees Capricorn trine the North Node and conjunct PlutoJuly 13; New Moon at 5 degrees Leo trine Jupiter July 28; Mercury in Gemini is trine Saturn July 1, goes into Cancer July 5, is square Jupiter July 9, is inconjunct Saturn July 16, is trine Neptune July 17, and is opposition Pluto July 17; Mars goes into Taurus July 5 (through August 19), hits the North Node and is conjunct Uranus Aug. 1; Mercury goes into Leo July 19, and is trine Jupiter July 24; Venus in Gemini will trine Saturn July 12, will square Neptune July 13 and will inconjunct Pluto July 17; Jupiter goes retrograde July 28.
Uranus/Mars in Taurus conjunct the North Node
(plus the Saturn/Uranus square continuing until year’s end):

Neptune Afflicted – Our Planet Weeps:

Mother Earth and her blessed waters have given birth to nearly everything we know. It has taken multiple millions of years and multiple mass extinctions to bring forth the rich environment, teeming with so many amazing species of life, we still have not even named them all! As human beings, we have morphed into the most intelligent force of life to have ever roamed around the earth to create the most advanced civilizations ever recorded.

Who would have thought that, subsumed by blindly self absorbed appetites, we would come to devour so many life forms, engineer mines and roads that kill vast swatches of forests, create weapons of mass destruction in order to kill each other, pollute the air and water to the point of threatening all life, and leaving, in our wake, a global warming event that is moving climate catastrophes across the skies and around the surface of the planet. It has just been reported that, for the first time in known history, there are now 100 million refugees escaping their places of origin. Who would have known?

Neptune has traditionally ruled organized religions, especially those that formed during the past 2000 years encompassed by the Age of Pisces. For decades, we have witnessed the revelation of the sex abuse scandals that emerged out of the Roman Catholic Church. Last month, It was revealed that the Southern Baptist Church, the largest protestant denomination consisting of about 13 million people, covered up decades of sexual abuse, keeping secret data bases of sex offenders and suppressing this information until now. Sadly, people looking for salvation and enlightenment, who trust their clergy have fallen into a “cult mentality” and pay the terrible price of victimization. Our search for meaning and enlightenment that Neptune symbolizes requires us to take responsibility for this journey ourselves.

Last month, a “white supremacist” shot and killed 11 black people in a supermarket parking lot in Buffalo, NY. This was followed by an 18 year old man, who shot his grandmother and then, with a military grade assault rifle, shot and killed 19 children and 2 teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas — in a state that has largely removed virtually all restrictions on the private ownership of fire arms. This evokes our tragic memories of the mass school shootings in Columbine, Sandy Hook and Parkland. It has been reported that there have been 202 mass shootings in the US in 2022.

Neptune is thought by many to represent the “soul” of a life – a substance of consciousness originated by a living cosmos that travels through many formats, lifetimes, and expressions. The Buddhists illustrate this notion by breaking a clay jar filled with water, showing us that the vessel breaks but the water flows on to fill the next receptacle. Earth’s oceans contain the watery origin and continuance of life on earth, moving through shores, rivers, waterfalls, until it eventually returns to itself. It also floods, drowns, subsumes and, finally washes away what was previously thought to be “permanent”. At the same time, it sustains all biological life that, without it, would not exist as we know it. Neptune is both the known and the unknown; it is the agony of obliteration and the ecstasy of creation.

In these times, there is a perpetual question many of us ask ourselves. Why? This question may be unanswerable. What we do now know is that we are arriving at an apocalypse – a revelation – that we must find the answers we are looking for or simply perish from the earth. The prophets of all faiths through the ages have predicted this moment. Will Neptune weep with sadness or weep for joy? The next few years will answer this question.

Politics, International Relations, and the Economy:

For about the past forty years, both political parties have adopted policies favorable to “globalization”, which has enabled corporations to shut down manufacturing in the US and move it to China, India, Vietnam, Mexico, Bangladesh and many other nations where labor is cheap, there is little taxation, and there are no environmental laws. This has created a billionaire class that controls more of a percentage of wealth in the US than any time in history.

When the Soviet Union fell, the US attempted to bring capitalism into Russia, which attempt failed miserably, plunging Russia into a great depression and eventually, back into a military dictatorship led today by Vladimir Putin. The nation has since become entrenched in the global banking and financial systems due to its being an oil and gas giant. China, who looked like it was moving in a capitalistic direction for a while and developed a hugely prosperous economy has been completely taken over by a Communist dictatorship and our economic “partnership” is failing. It is currently suffering greatly by pandemic surges and their government’s harsh shutdowns of their populations. The terrible war in Ukraine is bringing to light how dependent the world is on Russian gas, oil, wheat, and rare earths and how dependent we are on China’s manufacturing and their dominance in rare earths, which are essential for our entire technological economy.

Meanwhile, because of the worldwide pandemic and supply chain crises, oil and gas inflation is running amok, driving the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates and taking us into an inevitable recession. The stock market has been dropping like a rock! We are currently “rerunning” all the hydrocarbon dependency evils we experienced in the 1970s and more!

On June 4^th, Mercury goes direct conjunct Algol, the degree of the Sun in last month’s lunar eclipse and is square transiting Saturn. The terrors of the Russia/Ukraine War will intensify and world leaders will push for some kind of resolution. Other members of NATO in addition to the US will likely be sending support to Ukraine. The violence and insanity behind mass shootings in the US will emerge again.

I forecast that the Biden administration will promote an agenda favoring domestic manufacturing at home and push for higher labor and environmental standards abroad. It will also be asking for higher taxes on the billionaire class, which will be difficult, but not impossible, to implement, since they control most of the financing of political campaigns. Recently, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in a case involving the use of campaign funds to repay his personal campaign loans, dealing the latest blow to campaign finance regulations. Obviously, we are having to come to terms with our global dependency on fossil fuels with no end in sight, and putting aside environmentally favorable legislation, which, frankly, at present, is a noble but meek attempt to control global warming.

Last month, Pres. Biden announced a new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a general regulatory trade agreement, including the US, Australia, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, The Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, New Zealand and Singapore. There are differences between this agreement and the old Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiated during the Obama years, and rejected by the Trump administration. Hopefully, as more information comes out about this agreement, the old objections will be removed. We shall see.

As you all know, who have been reading this newsletter, I believe the Holy Grail which will save us from environmental extinction is the rapidly developing technology of nuclear fusion, along with the creation of the “perfect” battery. In addition to all this, the US government and the private sector, instead of being political enemies, will forge partnerships, such as the one between NASA and Space X. These are trends that will be reinforced in the future when Trump and Biden are long out of the picture.

The recent Supreme Court decision to effectively nullify Roe v Wade will energize women all over the nation to push for legislation to codify a woman’s right to choose and control her own reproductive rights. This will be a huge political clash that will extend into the Mid-term Election in November and prove what I suggested in previous newsletters that Nov. 8 election day will be highly unstable and contentious.

This leads me to what lies ahead in 2023, when Saturn goes into Pisces and Pluto goes into Aquarius. This year marks endings and beginnings of trends forging the direction of human civilization. People ask me about the 2024 election and I believe that “none of the above” will be running for President. By July of 2025, Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus will have all changed into new signs, welcoming an entirely new young generation of politicians, scientists, and humanitarians onto the world stage. Once again, I would designate the year 2026 as presenting us with a display of planetary pictures that could symbolize the solving of a multitude of problems and renew our spirits.

Science and Technology:

The Truth is Out here! Last month the Pentagon released videos of what had previously been classified information about UFOs to Congress, testifying that there was no known current technology that would explain this phenomena and, what is most important, whoever they are could be a threat to national security. This information was acknowledged to the public a couple of years ago, but this time, it is official. My take, as an astrologer, is that by 2025, when Pluto is in Aquarius, Neptune is in Aries, and Uranus is in Gemini, we will, at long last, know the truth with regard to a possible alien presence on earth. Frankly, with all the ethnic tribal and racial hatreds expressing themselves here in the US and throughout the world, the looming question will be: Can we handle this?

It was recently reported on CNN that scientists have discovered a giant ground water system under the great ice sheet in Antarctica. This is interesting in that when the ice sheet inevitably melts, the world’s oceans may rise as much as 8 feet, subsuming coastal cities throughout the world.

Also reported on CNN May 7^th, “The two largest reservoirs in California are at ‘critically low levels’ and the dry season is just beginning.” Lake Meade, the primary aquifer in Nevada and the surrounding area, is down to about 10% of where it was 40 years ago. The glaciers on the Rockies and Sierras have melted. Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and California are experiencing record heat waves resulting massive forest fires and in the greatest drought in 1200 years. Yet, Americans are still moving into these areas by the millions!

A significant medical breakthrough for human health and combating the diseases of aging has been announced. This is the science of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation. These experiments, up to now, have been limited to working on lab mice. Special microbiota have been transplanted into aging sick mice and they have recovered their health and youth! The young healthy mice, when the bad microbiota are transplanted into their gut, age and become ill. The Quadram Institute at the University of East Anglia is where this facility is being built to advance these studies in humans. The lead author of the study, Dr. Aimee Parker has reported: “We were excited to find that by changing the gut microbiota of elderly individuals, we could rescue indicators of age-association decline commonly seen in degenerative conditions of the eye and brain.”

It was reported last month that the new COVID Dominant Subvariant (BA,2.12.1) is surging and accounting for more than 50% of new cases. It was also reported that a new nasal spray vaccine is variant-proof. The pharmaceutical companies are working to develop a booster shot that will be effective against this variant.

Published on MIT News May 10, 2022, is an article entitled “MIT expands research collaboration with Commonwealth Fusion Systems to build net energy fusion machine SPARC.” They report: “The new agreement doubles Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ commitment to PSFC, enabling greater recruitment and support of students, staff, and faculty in addition to diverse research in fusion science and technology.” It would be worth your time to read this article in its entirety.

Speaking of Fusion, a post of PHYS.org was posted entitled: “Fusion Update – A New Law Unchains Fusion Energy.” This information was released by Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne. They report: “EPFL within a large European collaboration have revised one of the fundamental laws that has been foundational to plasma and fusion research for over 3 decades, even governing the design of mega projects like ITER. The update shows that we can actually safely use more hydrogen fuel in fusion reactors and therefore obtain more energy than previously thought.”

An article posted in “Machines” by Eric Tegler is titled “Could Solid-State Hydrogen Storage be a Serious Alternative to Batteries?” He writes: “Former computer-chip manufacturing engineer Paul Smith founded Plasma Kinetics in 2008. The Arizona-based startup has developed ‘solid state’ hydrogen storage, essentially transferring the gas onto a proprietary film wound in many layers inside a canister. He says the tech could challenge batteries in both efficiency and environmental friendliness.”

Last month, the first cohesive picture was taken of the giant black hole at the center of our Milky Way Galaxy, using the combined technology of observatories both in space and on earth. In Astrology language, this appears at about 27 – 28 degrees Sagittarius, near the Winter Solstice and has been associated with critical historic cyclic changes in world history. Recently, the Solstice reached this point in 2017 (not in 2012) that has been associated with the end of the Mayan 5200 year cycle. We are now able to view this black hole in all its magnitude. There is a case to be made that this marks the end of civilization as we presently know it.

Final Thoughts:

Spanning the past 20 years, I have written three books and posted hundreds of newsletters filled with insights, possibilities, and warnings about the times we now inhabit. These forecasts have been based upon an examination of planetary positions in past historic eras and how they played out for the various civilizations throughout the world, resulting in human decisions and choices we are seeing again playing out within the present historic contexts. As astrologers, we see that history, indeed, rhymes! The wars, economic crises, pandemics, cruelty and violence, seem to be surging today and played out in a mass media exposure humans have never seen before. The temptation is to fall into hopelessness and despair.

I am of the opinion that there is an entirely different choice we could make in the middle of all this. This may finally be the time for us to view all our historic evils with such clarity that we decide, en mass, to shed the fear and darkness behind all this and wake up — participate in an epiphany — see the light.

On a personal level, it has taken me decades to begin to understand the painful injuries, mistakes, stumbles in my personal past history and assume full responsibility. The ensuing realization is that so much was never only “about me” but simply interpretations of reality on life’s journey, most of which in the present, seem amazingly inconsequential. What Neptune has gifted to me is – a peace beyond ordinary understanding – a present irrelevance of so many compulsions that drove me in times gone by, to the point that they have almost, thankfully, disappeared.

All this life’s experience has helped me to uncover an amazing possible future while we move forward together in these times. As the new planetary placements begin to appear on the horizon, the constellations speak to us full of grand solutions – possibilities of scientific discoveries, inspiring art, music and poetry, and an expression of human compassion and awareness never fully known before.

Maybe, just maybe, Neptune will weep with joy!

Linda

Important Points of Reference for Astrologers:

Full Moon at 23 degrees Sagittarius sextile Saturn and Square Neptune on June 14; New Moon at 7 degrees Cancer square Jupiter on June 29; Mercury goes direct in Taurus square Saturn and trine Pluto on June 3 conjunct Algol, the degree of the Sun in May’s Solar Eclipse, goes into Gemini June 14, is sextile Jupiter June 20 and is semi-sextile Uranus June 28; Venus in Taurus is conjunct Uranus June 11, is square Saturn and sextile Neptune on June 19, is trine Pluto on June 21, goes into Gemini June 23 and is sextile Jupiter on June 20; Mars in Aries is conjunct Chiron June 24, is semi-sextile Uranus on June 17, is sextile Saturn on June 27is semi-sextile Neptune June 28 and is square Pluto on June 30, the Sun will trine Saturn and square Neptune on June 16, the Cancer Solstice on June 21 is square Jupiter.

The Sabian Degree symbolic description for the Eclipse degree of 25 Scorpio (from The Zodiac by Degrees by Martin Goldsmith):
“Before dawn, a Native American chieftain oversees the silent dismantling of an encampment of tepees.”

This significant eclipse suggests that the horrific war in Ukraine may change its “intended” course, resulting in a “silent dismantling of an encampment”. The position of the Sun in this eclipse is conjunct the dreaded fixed star, Algol, associated in ancient times with hangings and beheadings. Mercury retrograde, a “moving backwards” planetary picture, most certainly, suggests a change in course. The Ukrainians headed by courageous and charismatic Pres. Zelenskyy, have surprised Russian dictator Putin, who respects only those who are “strong” and will abuse anyone who exhibits “weakness.” Putin not only misjudged the Ukrainians, but underestimated the determination of the NATO Alliance.

Mercury, the communicator, goes direct June 2^nd exactly conjunct Algol and opposite the Eclipse degree square Saturn and trine Pluto. On Nov. 19, 2021, the nearly exact opposite eclipse took place with the Sun in Scorpio and the Moon in Taurus. These positions are extremely prominent in Pres. Biden’s birth chart and shows him to be a major player in the direction this war takes and the burden of responsibility this places upon his administration.

The horrific war implemented by Putin revives the many historic lessons presented to humanity concerning what happens when ruthless military dictators are allowed to take control of nations. In recent years, we have seen the rise of many nations electing heads of state from the “extreme right” whose philosophies include expanded nationalism, overthrowing democratic institutions, and instituting police states. In recent year, Putin’s ruthless military aid was enlisted by Syrian dictator Assad, who effectively killed off half Syria’s population and demolished its infrastructure just to maintain control. Recently, Putin’s friend, hardliner Viktor Orban won election for Prime Minister in Hungary.

The lingering global COVID Pandemic and monetary inflation fueled by rising prices for oil, are currently driving populations “mad” and they are blaming their government officials who have little or no control over this.

Democracy is in a struggle for its existence!

Fossil Fuel and the Consequences:

We are being shaken out of our slumber concerning hydrocarbons and their dominance of energy matrices throughout the world. It is widely known that the consequence of this is a global warming that is creating climate catastrophes, as glaciers are melting at the poles, extreme heat and drought along with giant forest fires are increasing, and hurricanes are increasing globally in strength and numbers. But, at this historic point, our civilization will simply fall apart without massive amounts of energy. The recent pandemic during which supply chains were severely disrupted causing out-of-control inflation, illustrates our society’s addiction to oil and gas and our tragic failure to replace them. Scorpio is a sign associated with crises, death and rebirth. This “sign” takes no prisoners as consequences play out in the world.

Sri Lanka and other developing nations are experiencing a “debt” collapse without Russian oil and wheat imports, resulting in a populist overthrow of their government. Poor nations in Africa, many of which are experiencing enormous storms and floods, depend upon Russia for wheat and will starve without it. The Europeans are “sanctioning” Russian imports of oil and gas, but are still receiving oil in their pipelines, without which they would collapse. Russia is cutting off Poland from their oil pipelines, and Poland is switching over to getting their oil from Norway. Finland and Sweden have announced they wish to join NATO and the Alliance has said they will accept them.

Some people are discussing going back to nuclear fission, whose technology uses Plutonium and Uranium – the most toxic elements known to humanity. These installations need to be placed near rivers or other aquifers to cool the rods. This endangers these waterways if and when there is a meltdown or the plant needs to be shut down. Ironically, Chernobyl, located in the Ukraine, has been occupied by the Russian army, who is now leaving due to the toxic environment still remaining from the historic meltdown. Most of us remember the catastrophe at Japan’s Fukushima’s nuclear plant installed near the ocean, when a great earthquake and tsunami took place. This is not the answer.

Throughout the world, it is becoming more and more apparent that changing climates are bringing catastrophe. The Amazon rain forests continue to be cut down. The Boreal forests in northern Canada are burning because of the melting glaciers at the North Pole and the ensuing methane fires in Siberia cannot be put out. Here in the US, forest fires in California and Northern Arizona are raging out of control. Water supplies throughout the Western US are diminishing, as the Colorado river is drying up glacier melt from the Rockies and Sierras has disappeared, and underground rivers have nearly disappeared due to overuse. There is a movement to plant trees and restore forests, but this will take time and may be too late for many regions. Oceans are rising and hurricanes are gaining in size and frequency. Island nations are disappearing.

Jupiter goes into the sign of Aries May 12. This placement actually helps the chart of the Ukraine (Dec. 1, 1991), with a trine to its Sun. More support is coming. However, even if a deal is struck, Ukraine’s infrastructures have been destroyed.

In recent years, Putin has been very unpopular with the Russian people. We have seen the rise of dissident Navalny who was poisoned and imprisoned. My take on all this is that Putin knows he becomes more popular with his people when he goes to war – an old technique used when support for a leader weakens. When effective resistance of the “enemy” asserts itself, the tide changes. Putin is a psychopath who will never “give in” until enormously powerful coalitions of nations push him to the brink. There will be attempts to make a deal, but nothing will work this month under the shadow of the Eclipse and Mercury retrograde.

Ironically, with Mars in Pisces going over Neptune on the Eclipse date, there will likely be a catastrophic flood or major weather event, all connected to fossil fuel induced global warming.

The Economy:

This month’s eclipse and Mercury retrograde makes the atmosphere very difficult for the economy. The first week has Jupiter sextile Pluto (inflation) and Mars sextile Uranus, helping certain sectors such as healthcare and real estate, However, the FED’s attempt to quell inflation by raising interest rates may backfire as the cost of borrowing goes up. Financial markets will not know where to go, especially when Mars in Pisces collides with Neptune on the 17^th. I would stay on the sidelines this month. Serious flooding will hit here in the US and in coastal regions throughout the world, effecting certain industries..

It has been recently reported that Jeff Bezos, whose worth is $160 billion is asking Congress to “bail him out” since he lost the bid for the space contract with NASA to Elon Musk. I have no problem with private/public alliances, but when the public (the taxpayers) has to subsidize the private corporations all out of proportion to the huge costs involved, we cannot call this fair and square. Right at this time, Congress is disputing whether or not to subsidize necessary medical costs for the public related to the pandemic. We have to face the fact that the billionaire class, the upper 1% who own more than 80% of this nation’s wealth, are running the show! The first week of this month, as Jupiter is sextile Pluto, we will likely see Congress pass a big funding bill.

The US Pluto Return:

This transit has been discussed in my previous newsletters. Many excellent astrologers have been publishing articles and having debates about this most important event. The theme of Pluto is “death and rebirth” and challenges us to embrace what has been “great” about the US in its history – The Constitution, The Bill of Rights, the embracing of the ideal of Democracy and/or equal rights and opportunities for all citizens. It is also about facing squarely our history that includes the genocidal massacres of native tribes, an economy based on human slavery, continued bigotry and hatreds of minority populations, and our embracing of unfettered capitalism glorifying greed and allowing a concentration of money and power in the hands of a billionaire class whose wealth is greater than any other individuals in human history. We have embraced the use of hydrocarbons to support a standard of living never seen before on earth. The consequences of this usage now threatens life throughout the globe with mass extinction.

This coming Mid-term Election on November 8^th presents a Lunar Eclipse in Taurus conjunct Uranus. The planetary pictures on this date are so disruptive, there may be serious disputes about the “validity” of the elections themselves and a wide rebellion of people-at-large. Uranus rules technology pointing to the possibility the voting machines will be hacked or may not work. These planetary pictures also suggest severe storms in this time frame. In addition, we will have to deal with a transit of Mars in Gemini beginning August 20^th and, because it will retrograde and stay in the sign until March 25^th, 2023, we could see domestic terrorism, violence, and challenges to US cohesion and power. Planets in Gemini of significance have been prominent in the Civil War, WW II, and the infamous “91l”. Gemini transits have also been associated with upheavals in China and suggests a serious populist revolution there against its tyrannical Communist dictatorship and more surges in the pandemic. This is interesting since China challenges the economic and military leadership of the US in the world today.

Democracy works best when the population is well educated, has honest and open debates, and whose people are willing to work together for the greater good. Instead, at this juncture, our public education system is crumbling for lack of funds, a university education is prohibitively expensive, a severely unequal economic system has evolved that has put many people into a mindless rage, our elected legislatures are highly polarized, and cultural disagreements, especially over immigration, have arisen that threaten the rule of law.

Much of the corporate media has often abandoned honest reporting of news, now that, since 1986, regulations and laws requiring “truth” have been abandoned. In addition, commercials take up more space than most primary programs. The internet has spawned social media platforms that have often become focus groups that promote vices, lies and hate. Recently, these platforms are trying to “restrict” this toxic material, but the question lies in who decides what is “in or out”. All the while this is going on, states like Florida and Texas are “banning” books in the public schools that may teach history that includes slavery and racism or may contain material referring to non traditional sexual orientations. Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has bought Twitter, ostensibly, to promote “free speech”. This brings up what our society deems “free speech” and it is a very good debate for us to have!

What lies ahead?

In 2023, this transit of Pluto will move away from the US Pluto, and go into Aquarius in 2024. Neptune goes into Aries and Uranus into Gemini, its placement in the origin chart of the US. In 2026, there is a configuration of planets forming supportive aspects with one another that are the most encouraging I have seen. My take is that the US, if it survives, will reinvent itself. My hope is that humanity will begin its march, historically, toward a higher level of knowledge, cooperation, and understanding. When Uranus goes into Gemini, it will likely make nuclear fusion applicable and put to use. The last time it went into this sign was when we created the atomic bomb (nuclear fission). This transit will likely end the age of fossil fuels.

Science and Technology:

April 4, 2022, Yahoo News “The Conversation” posted an article entitled: “Nuclear fusion hit a milestone thanks to better reactor walls – this engineering advance is building toward vectors of the future.” by Livia Caseli, Assoc. Professor of Nuclear Engineering, Zinkle Faculty Fellow, University of Tennessee, and David Donovan, Assoc. Professor of Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee.

The authors report: “Scientists at a laboratory in England have shattered the record for the amount of energy produced during a controlled, sustained fusion reaction. The production of 59 megajoules of energy over 5 seconds at the Joint European Torus – or JET – experiment in England has been called a “breakthrough” by some news outlets and caused quite a lot of excitement among physicists. But a common line regarding fusion electricity is that is always 20 years away.”

“We are a nuclear physicist and a nuclear engineer who study how to develop controlled nuclear fusion for the purpose of generating electricity. The JET result demonstrates remarkable advancements in the understanding of the physics of fusion. But just as importantly, it shows that the new materials used to construct the inner walls of the fusion reactor worked as intended. The fact that the new wall construction performed as well as it did is what separates these results from previous milestones and elevates magnetic fusion from a dream toward a reality.”

In the April 2022 edition of Scientific American, there is a most interesting article entitled “Power Up – New technique puts crumbling batteries back together.” by Sophie Bushwick. They report: “For electric cars to run as long as possible between charges, their batteries need to pack a punch. One option would be lithium-metal batteries, which have a key component made of this lightweight element. This gives them greater storage capacity than widely used lithium-ion batteries, with the same components made from graphite.” This is an article worth reading in that battery technology is the other most important component in the new clean energy revolution.

Recently, a news release in The Independent.com.uk reported: “Scientists have discovered a way to make ultra-efficient solar cells on a commercial scale using the “miracle” material perovskite.”The team working on this project consists of the City University of Hong Kong and the Imperial College of London.

Actor Matt Damon and Engineer Gary White have published a book entitled “The Worth of Water” describing solutions for the lack of available water throughout the developing world. They have an approach as described on water.org that gives private micro loans to individuals in these nations that are far less expensive than the water they would have to buy locally. People can contribute to this loan system as they would to a charity, but they eventually get their money back. This is an “enterprise” solution that is superior to relying on governments with their red tape and restrictions. This is a great example of people coming up with new and better solutions to serious problems.

Final Thoughts:

As an astrologer, I am compelled to look to the planetary pictures that are here with us now and moving into the future. Nearly everything I foresaw that seemed to me to be critically unfolding in human history has happened – the good the bad and the ugly. What is obvious is that when we look for certainty, we will never find it. Change is the one thing that always happens. The questions for all of us who call ourselves human are looming. Will we survive? Will it get worse or better? Do we actually have a hand in our collective destiny?

My opinion as I anticipate the planets moving into new constellations is that we will likely survive; it will get worse and then better; we will have a series of choices to make as our future unfolds. Scientific breakthroughs will go much faster than expected; a new generation will enter the scene with newer and greater ideas; as we venture into space, a world of light never seen before will dawn.

Do not give up. Keep your minds awake and your hearts open as the prophecies are fulfilled. Commit yourselves to being on the “side of the angels”. And they will come!

Blessings,

Linda

Important Points of Reference for Astrologers:

Full Moon Eclipse at 25 degrees Scorpio square Saturn in Aquarius and conjunct the and South Node of the Moon, trine Mars and Neptune in Pisces and sextile Pluto in Capricorn on May 16; New Moon at 9 degrees Gemini on May 30; Mercury goes retrograde in Gemini May 9 and is trine Pluto May 24; Venus goes into Aries May 3, is sextile May 24and is square Pluto May 26; Mars inn Pisces is conjunct Neptune May 17 and is sextile Pluto May 22; Jupiter goes into Aries May 11 ( goes retrograde July 27, is there until Oct. 28^th when it is back in Pisces, goes direct Nov. 23 and is back in Aries Dec. 22); Mars goes into Aries May 25 and is there until July 4.

The World in Chaos Continues:

The geopolitical, economic and environmental upheavals continue this month as Russia’s dictator, Vladimir Putin continues his war on Ukraine, effectively getting his revenge on the West for the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s. With the capture of the largest nuclear energy plant in Europe and the toxic failed nuclear plant in Chernobyl, the looming dangers become more looming. With serious afflictions to Neptune, his astrological chart shows a dangerous tendency to be out of touch with reality.

Led by the actions of the US and NATO nations, the Russian economy has, basically, crashed. The SWIFT banking system has been shut down, doors have been shut to international businesses, the ruble is worthless, and access to the global economy has been closed to the oligarchs. Putin has stashed gold bars, but there is no way to exchange them for dollars, which is still the global currency. The use of cryptocurrencies by Putin and his oligarchs is now “under surveillance”.

Russia’s historic friend, China, is very limited in terms of helping them and, basically, wants to stay out of this war. In reality, there is very little infrastructure in place geographically for Russia to ship them oil as there are no pipelines or tankers at sea. China’s currency, the yuan, is good only in China and is not used internationally. They are in an economic slowdown, are seriously in debt, and are experiencing a serious new surge in COVD, as their vaccines are far less effective than those in the West. It is in their economic interests to stay connected to the West. They are not interested in being roped into a global nuclear war.

American efforts to renew the agreement with Iran have, so far, failed. Iran continues to be an enemy of the US and a “friend” of Russia. The Saudis are silent. The inflation in energy that started before this war, continues. Europe is dependent on Russia for about 40% of its oil. However, the NATO nations are hanging together as they watch Russia slaughter Ukraine’s population and blow up their buildings and bridges. If Russia decides to use chemical weapons as they did with Assad in Syria, this will be the “last straw” and will likely bring NATO into a direct conflict with Russia. Pres. Biden’s recent speech has created some controversy by suggesting Putin should be removed from power.

Russia will conquer the land, but will not conquer Ukraine’s people. As they move in with their military might to take over all the major cities, they will have a country continuing to fight them at every turn, using up their resources (which are now very limited) and adhering them to a region that diminishes their equipment, money, and soldiers. The Ukrainians are far braver and more determined than Russia expected and will be receiving more weapons from the NATO alliance nations. Their most recent astrological chart – Dec. 1, 1991, 6:00 PM. Kiev, Ukraine, 30E31, 50N26 – would present some hopeful support starting in May,as Jupiter goes into Aries. In short, Russia will be stuck in a terrible quagmire. Many of the Russian people are against this war already and the hardships before them will make this worse. None of this will matter to the deranged Vladimir Putin.

The Supreme Court:

For the past two years, I have forecast that the Supreme Court would be very prominent and would determine much of the future of this nation. Judge Jackson has been approved, in spite of an unconscionable grilling by the Republicans. Justice Clarence Thomas, who has just been discharged from the hospital, is embroiled in a scandal in which his wife encouraged overthrowing the 2020 election. Chief Justice Roberts will increase in importance as a sane, ethical, and admirable head of the Court. More upheaval lies ahead.

The Economy:

Pres. Biden’s astrological chart shows staying power and support from the EU and NATO, since transiting Pluto (power) is sextile or in favor with his Sun and Venus in his House associated with groups and alliances. Jupiter, the planet of expansion, is in harmony with his Sun and Venus through May. However, his biggest problem is the US economy. Supply chain blockages that were plaguing us before this war started are still in effect and price gouging is a reality. Interest rates are rising. He has Saturn transiting his second House (money) that is square (in conflict with) his Mercury, Sun, and Venus through Feb. 2023. The coming Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio on May 16this a serious “hit” to his chart. In short – inflation will continue to plague global economies.

Jupiter and Neptune in Pisces obviously spells the greatest inflation is in oil and gas, but it also shows increased profits for oil and gas companies. Pres. Biden has promised Europe US shipments of liquified natural gas. The US is the biggest supplier of oil and natural gas in the world and is far more self-sufficient than it was in the last oil crisis with Iran in the 1970s. However, the world is still controlled by malignant military dictators – the worst of the worst – in many nations including Central and South America, Myanmar, and the Middle East, threatening democracies, and making us all subject to economic hardships that we cannot control. At this point in time, without fossil fuels, our economies would simply collapse.

The fact is, the whole world is paying a terrible price for its continued addiction to fossil fuels as many climates around the globe are moving quickly toward catastrophe. We cannot afford to underestimate escalating food prices as climate change is effecting crops in our farming areas.

There is a seriously troubling transit of Mars going into Gemini Aug. 20, going retrograde Oct. 30, going direct Jan. 12 in a destabilizing to Mercury (direct) and staying in the sign until March 24th, 2023. These Gemini degrees have, historically been associated with the US being forced into domestic violence and/or military conflicts.

Transiting Saturn in Aquarius will be trine (supporting) the US Mars, Saturn and Progressed Mars, holding us together. Financial markets, although fluctuating, will sustain their growth until the May 16 Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio.

Weather and Natural Events:

The Jupiter/Neptune conjunction between April 1stand April 12thopposite the US Neptune, will likely present serious floods in the major waterways here in the US. Mars in Pisces April 15ththrough May 25th will continue this trend, suggesting storms in the Eastern US, especially along coastal areas.

Last month, there was a 7.2 earthquake in Japan, near Fukushima, evoking of the memories of this catastrophe in 2011. Between April 15thand May 24th, Mars is transiting Pisces, headed toward Neptune (on May 18th). This would suggest more serious conditions like earthquakes and tsunamis off the coast of Japan.

Science and Technology:

An article posted online Feb. 25, 2020, by Loz Blain is entitled “Fusion tech is set to unlock near-limitless ultra-deep geothermal energy.” It reports: MIT spin-off Quaise says it’s going to use hijacked fusion technology to drill the deepest holes in history, unlocking clean, virtually limitless, supercritical geothermal energy that can re-power fossil-fueled power plants all over the world.” This is another hopeful energy solution coming out of MIT, their geniuses have created Commonwealth Fusion, whose developments I have been reporting in this newsletter. They go on to say: “Where there’s access to heat, there’s harvestable geothermal energy. And there’s so much heat below the Earth’s surface, according to Paul Wopskov, a senior fusion research engineer at MIT, that tapping just 0.1 percent of it could supply the entire world’s energy needs for more than 20 million years.” For those of us who feel hopeless before the historical events before us now, hope springs eternal!

Another encouraging article posted in INVERSE: “A private company just made a huge breakthrough in nuclear fusion.” “Last week, the company Tokamak Energy announced that its spherical ST 40 tokamak reactor reached the 100 million Celsius threshold for commercially viable nuclear fusion.”

I am of the opinion that the science of Hydrology (water study, investigation and management) will emerge as one of the most important areas of study in our time. As climate extremes manifest, throughout the globe creating deserts, destroying crops, and causing extremely destructive flooding in many areas, we are going to have to come up with solutions. In the April Issue of Scientific American, there is an interesting article by Jelle Hagenaar entitled “Creek Revival.” She reports from Seattle: “Stream Team, led by biologist Katherine Lynch revived Thornton Creek by rebuilding its gut – a thick layer of wet earth, rich in microbes, hidden underneath the streambed.” She reports the result “Lynch’s vision has brought salmon back to Seattle’s most degraded creek and reduced urban flooding…” It would be worthwhile to read the whole article that outlines these methodologies “creating a blueprint for enhancing biodiversity while also reducing urban flooding and drought.”

Unfortunately, I see a further surge in COVID and Flu infections, due to relaxed restrictions. Booster shots are slow in coming, as are flu vaccines since the traditional flu “season” is not here.

For many years, I have been writing about cyber security in my books and newsletters, encouraging young people majoring in computer science to go into this field. Now, we are finally “waking up” to this neglected area. Investment in companies specializing in this technology is a must.

Final Thoughts:

“No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.”
…Albert Einstein

As current events are resurrecting the most terrible events in history – genocides, wars, pandemics environmental destruction, many of us are wondering if humankind, as an intelligent species, has learned anything at all. Allowing insanely malignant tyrants to take control of nations, invade and destroy other nations, and develop weapons of mass destruction would take us to a dark place in terms of hope for a greater future.

The rate of depression, drug abuse, and suicide has, sadly, literally broken all records in the US. Many people have resorted to organized hate groups, institutional destruction, and seriously violent behavior. As far as human historical behavior is concerned, it is deja vu all over again!

I am reminded of a time when I was a kid that I was, literally, stealing chocolate cookies from the cookie jar over and over again, against my grandmother’s warnings. Finally, Grandma sat me down and announced that I was to eat all the cookies in the cupboard. She watched as I stuffed my mouth, until my stomach rebelled, but I was not allowed to stop. When I started to literally, “lose my cookies” she pointed out to me that I had to “take the consequences.” This lesson stuck with me through the decades of my life! Greed is not good!

I think that we are experiencing the consequences of selfish, shortsighted behavior that has been magnified by an unregulated global economy that benefits the upper 1%, massive burning of fossil fuels, using and abusing the labor and resources of undeveloped nations, and allowing murderous dictators to continue abusing their people, as long as we can acquire their mineral wealth. Now, we are “losing our cookies” while hundreds of million people are suffering and dying.

I see a consciousness change just beginning to emerge, just over the horizon! Are you on board?

Blessings,

Linda

Important Points of Reference for Astrologers:

New Moon in 11 degrees Aries conjunct Mercury on April 1; Full Moon at 26 degrees Libra square Pluto on April 16; New Moon Eclipse at 10 degrees Taurus sextile Mars and conjunct Uranus on April 30; Mars conjunct Saturn at 22 degrees Aquarius square the Lunar Nodes April 4; Mercury is sextile Saturn April 7; Venus in Pisces is sextile Mercury conjunct Uranus April 17; Jupiter in Pisces is conjunct Neptune (opposition the Neptune of the US) on April 12; Jupiter is sextile the Lunar Nodes April 7; Mars goes into Pisces April 15 and is in this sign until May 24; Mercury in Taurus is conjunct the North Node and is sextile Jupiter April 22 is square Saturn April 24 and is sextile Neptune April 26.