Monday 18th March 2024
Betelgeuse the 'Next Supernova' Exploding Star is acting strangely again. Its brightness has dipped by 0.5 magnitude since late January. Is Betelgeuse about to explode? It's not likely to happen now, but we do know it will definitely explode as a supernova sometime in the next 100,000 years. In the lifetime of stars, that's really soon, but for astronomers, it's a hugely exciting prospect because a supernova hasn't been observed going off in our Milky Way galaxy since the 17th century. One day Betelgeuse will explode as a Type IIP supernova, becoming exceptionally bright and leaving behind a neutron star. As it does, it could shine as bright as a full moon for a few months before effectively disappearing to the naked eye. Although it may be visible during the day, it would be a stunning sight at night. However, for that, Betelgeuse would have to 'go supernova' between December and April. If the red supergiant star is about to explode, let's hope it happens soon, before it sinks beneath the post-sunset horizon and into the sun's glare. Betelgeuse has zodiac coordinates of 29 Gemini.
A state of emergency has been declared in southern Iceland after another volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula - the fourth since December. The powerful and fast lava flows began late on Saturday, but flows have been slow and steady since Sunday morning, the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) said. The lunar eclipse on March 25th is square Iceland's Pluto.
As expected, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to win a fifth term by a landslide of 87%, according to a Russian exit poll About 74 protesters have been arrested in Russian cities on the final day of a vote set to confirm Vladimir Putin in office. Long queues formed outside polling stations heeding a call to gather in protest issued by the widow of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Navalny, who died suddenly last month at a penal colony above the Arctic Circle, was one of Putin's most outspoken critics. Others are in exile or jailed. With the re-election of the 71-year-old Russian president seen as inevitable, the first two days of the vote saw dozens of incidents of vandalism at polling stations. The Total Solar Eclipse on April 8th is opposite Putin's natal Saturn conjunct Neptune. (History will without doubt regard him as a war criminal).
Another 'accused criminal' Donald Trump told a rally in Ohio on Saturday that November's presidential election will be the 'most important date in US history', painting his campaign for the White House as a turning point for the country. Days after securing his position as the presumptive Republican nominee, the former president also warned of a 'bloodbath' if he is not elected. The lunar eclipse on March 25th is conjunct his 2nd house Neptune. The Total Solar Eclipse on April 9th is opposite his 2nd house Jupiter. (Little hints here of inflated self worth.)
00.03 Mercury at 14 Aries waning decile Uranus at 20 Taurus
01.36 Venus at 8 Pisces waxing decile Pluto at 2 Aquarius
02.00 Jupiter at 14 Taurus waxing bi-septile Pluto at 2 Aquarius
The current 13 year synodic cycle of Jupiter and Pluto, symbolising 'power plays' started on Nov 12th 2020 in Capricorn. At that time we witnessed a worldwide rampant and escalating covid-19 virus, the appearance of vaccines and the US president refusing to concede electoral defeat. Today's waxing bi-septile aspect is the last hit of 3, dates July 18th 2023, Oct 31st 2023 and March 18th 2024. It gives elements of ' creative will shaping the character of the future power-plays. Substantial ramifications of power structures will surface on the world stage. Watch closely. The cycle reached it first quarter square phase in May 2023, climaxes with the opposition across Leo/Aquarius in July 2026 and ends in Feb 2033 in Aquarius. The Jupiter Pluto cycle represents 'big time power shifts'.
05.03 Mercury at 15 Aries waning semi-sextile Jupiter at 15 Taurus
08.30 The first quarter Moon, gaining very high altitudes in northern hemisphere skies, (due to the Lunar Standstill-see below), at 12 Cancer waxing trine Saturn at 12 Pisces
12.38 Venus at 8 Pisces waning quintile Uranus at 20 Taurus
13.25 The Moon at 15 Cancer waxing sextile Jupiter at 15 Taurus
14.30 The Moon at 15 Cancer waxing square Mercury at 15 Aries
17.39 The Moon at 17 Cancer waxing square the lunar node at 17 Aries (high northerly lunar declination)
21.35 The Sun at 29 Pisces waning septile Uranus at 20 Taurus
STATE OF THE SKY:-
The Sun today is at 28 degrees Pisces. Venus, Saturn and Neptune are also in Pisces, (Saturn and Neptune apply in a 'test of faith' conjunction, exact Feb 2026 at 1 degree Aries). There are 2 days to the Vernal Equinox. Mars and Pluto are in Aquarius. Jupiter and Uranus are in Taurus, they apply in 'consciousness raising' conjunction, exact April 24th 2024 at 22 degrees Taurus. We are now in a new eclipse season. The next Full Moon on March 25th is a Penumbral lunar Eclipse at 5 degrees Libra.
All the planets are currently direct in motion.
MERCURY
Fast moving 'evening star' Mercury entered Aries March 10th.
Mercury's retrograde phase occurs whilst he resides in Aries this year, resulting in a lengthy 66 day residence from March 10th to May 15th. Mercury in Aries represents a universal mentality that is quick to learn, quick to decide, witty, direct, candid and enthusiastic. The retrograde phase results in Mercury being conjunct Chiron 3 times during this period. Words can wound and words can heal at these times.
Mercury currently an evening star enters his shadow today March 18th. He is conjunct Chiron on March 20th at 18 Aries. Mercury turns retrograde on April 1st at 27 Aries. He is at Inferior Conjunction with the Sun on April 11th at 23 Aries, a seed moment, a New Mercury and the start of a new chapter in the story. Then as a morning star Mercury is conjunct Chiron a 2nd time at 18 Aries on April 15th. Mercury is overtaken by Venus on April 19th at 18 Aries, hopefully a merry meet. Mercury stations direct on April 25th at 16 Aries just 2 days after the Full Moon. Mercury is conjunct Chiron a final time on May 7th at 21 Aries. Mercury leaves his shadow on May 13th and finally leaves Aries for Taurus on May 15th. The following weeks will see inflammable communications.
Mercury retrograde periods this year.
April 1 to April 25, 2024
August 5 to August 28, 2024
November 25 to December 15, 2024
VENUS
Morning star Venus entered Pisces 11th March joining Saturn and Neptune in this sign. She swims through this sign in a very brief and favourable 26 days. Venus is conjunct Saturn at 12 degrees Pisces on March 21st, adding a feeling of 'love wisdom' to the vernal equinox. Venus sextiles Jupiter on March 24th, with love's bounty. Venus sextiles Uranus on March 28th, with love's surprise. Venus is conjunct Neptune at 28 Pisces on April 3rd, with love's mystery. Venus leaves Pisces for Aries on April 5th.
Venus' next retrograde period is from 2nd March to 14th April 2025 in Aries and Pisces.
MARS
Mars entered Aquarius on Feb 13th. Mars leaves Aquarius for Pisces on 22nd March. This is an eventful residence.
Mars is next retrograde from Dec 6th 2024 to Feb 24th 2025 being at opposition to the Sun at 26 degrees Cancer on Jan 16th 2025.
JUPITER
Jupiter is now direct in Taurus. Jupiter in Taurus boosts our awareness of establishing ourselves and building upon what we have and hold. It fosters stability, security and provision. The year long residence is a time during which we can establish and ground ourselves, building on what we have. Clear goals, robust plans and tangible results are the qualities of this placement. Jupiter is conjunct Uranus on April 21st 2024 at 22 degrees Taurus. This is the highlight of the year long residence and has a nurturing, productive and consciousness raising quality, a good one. Jupiter sextiles Neptune on March 23rd 2024. This is a very creative and artistic vibration. Jupiter leaves Taurus for the sign Gemini on May 25th 2024, opening up a new flow of information and communication, residing there for a year. He then makes a momentous 'air trine' with Pluto on June 2nd, one of the optimistic hallmarks of 2024. He makes the first of 3 'tackling problems head on' squares to Saturn on Aug 19th. Jupiter then turns retrograde on Oct 9th at 21 degrees Gemini.
SATURN
Saturn is direct in Pisces. Saturn in Pisces is all about endings, karma, suffering, forgiveness, massacre, peace protests, ocean and sea-going matters, mathematical discovery, imaginative art forms, renunciation and 'moving on' (as this is the last sign in the zodiac, symbolic of a chapter reaching completion). When Saturn, planet of structure and boundaries, moves through this dreamy and transcendent zodiac sign, it evokes the creation of 'distancing from the past and an embrace with what the future holds'. Things can get weird at times. The three-year Saturn in Pisces cycle, which lasts until February 14, 2026, (minus the interval 25/5/25 to 1/9/25) will morph the tangible into the virtual.
Mars is conjunct Saturn at 15 Pisces on April 10th 2024, 2 days after the great American Total Solar eclipse. Jupiter in Gemini, squares Saturn on Aug 19th 2024 and on 24th Dec 2024, (also a 3rd time in June 2025 when Saturn has entered Aries), challenging times when 'growth' manifests with compassion a little thin on the ground. Saturn in Pisces sextiles Uranus in Taurus on April 4th 2025, a positive vibration of solid progress and invention. Saturn is conjunct the mean lunar node at 27 Pisces on April 23rd 2025.
URANUS
Uranus the planet of inspiration and revolution is direct in Taurus, the sign of enduring institution and banking. Uranus remains in Taurus from 2019 for 7 years. Massive changes in the world of finance, currency, resource and ownership are taking place. The last time Uranus resided in Taurus was between 1934 and 1941 and before that 1850 to 1859 the time of the Industrial Revolution.
NEPTUNE
Neptune is now direct in Pisces. He has been in this sign since 2011. Neptune in Pisces is symbolic of the greatest watery immersion in the deepest subliminal and spiritual ocean. Neptune is in its own sign of Pisces, a transit that only occurs every 165 years. Neptune rules Pisces and also rules the deepest realms of the subconscious mind. The oceanic vibration of love is flowing with a deeper and higher frequency. Our human mission is to flow with it. Art, music and science are enhanced with the progress of this residence. Neptune enters Aries on March 30th 2025.
PLUTO
Pluto made his first foray into Aquarius (March 23rd 2023 to June 11th 2023). Pluto re-entered Aquarius a 2nd time on January 21st 2024. After hovering for a while around the cusp of Aquarius, Pluto will settle into the sign from Nov 19th 2024 till the year 2043. There will be gigantic changes brought about by this 20 year residence. The life we have known will be transformed. There will be a manifestation of the full potential of technology, a new revolution is ahead of us. We had a taste of this future (note all the fuss about AI earlier in 2023).
Pluto in Aquarius 2023 to 2044.
Dates:-
March 23rd 2023 to June 11th 2023
January 21st 2024 to September 1st 2024
November 19th 2024 to March 9th 2043
September 1st 2043 to January 19th 2044
Pluto was last in Aquarius from 1777 to 1798.
He entered Capricorn on Jan 26th 2008
Uranus in Gemini will air trine Pluto from 2026 to 2028. This is the most exciting time ahead, astrologically speaking.
Saturn in Aries will sextile Pluto in 2026 and square Pluto 3 times during 2028-2029.
Saturn in Gemini will air trine Pluto once in 2031 and oppose Pluto from Leo three times during 2035-2037 .
Saturn in Libra will trine Pluto once in 2041.
Jupiter will conjunct Pluto just once at 15 degrees Aquarius on April 2nd 2033.
Jupiter will oppose Pluto once on July 20th 2026 and then three times in the period 2038-2039.
There will be an Annular eclipse of the Sun on Jan 26th 2028 within a degree of Pluto at 6 degrees Aquarius.
There will be a Total Lunar Eclipse on Aug 7th 2036 at 15 degrees Aquarius just 4 degrees from Pluto.
UPCOMING ECLIPSES
The next eclipse is on Monday (morning GMT) March 25th 2024 and is a Penumbral lunar Eclipse at 5 Libra with greatest eclipse at 07.13 GMT. This is a very deep penumbral eclipse fully observable from the Americas and visible as the Moon sets from the UK and Western Europe. The eclipsed Moon is trine Pluto.
April 8th 2024. The American Total Solar Eclipse at 19 Aries.
Sept 18th 2024. A small partial lunar eclipse at 26 Pisces, observable from the UK. 02.44 GMT
Oct 2nd 2024. Annular solar eclipse at 10 Libra, visible from the southern tip of south America, 18.45 GMT
Friday March 14th 2025. A Total Lunar Eclipse at 24 Virgo, visible at Moonset over the UK. 06.59 GMT
March 29th 2025. A Partial Solar Eclipse at 9 Aries, visible from the UK. 10.47 GMT
Sunday Sept 7th 2025. A Total Lunar Eclipse at 15 Pisces, visible at Moonrise UK. 18.12 GMT
Sept 21st 2025. A partial Solar Eclipse at 29 Virgo visible from the far southern Pacific. 19.42 GMT
Feb 17th 2026. An Annular Solar Eclipse in Aquarius visible from Antartica.
March 2nd-3rd 2026. A Total Lunar Eclipse visible from the Pacific, North West America and North East Asia.
Aug 12th 2026. A Total Solar Eclipse visible from Europe. (The Spanish Eclipse).
Aug 28th-29th A Partial Lunar Eclipse in Pisces visible from Europe, Africa and America.
THE LUNAR STANDSTILL.
The Lunar Node is in Aries. We are in a Major Lunar Standstill. This is a period lasting for three years within the 18.6 year lunar nodal cycle. The last major lunar standstill centred on June 2006, and this new one centres in January 2025. During the next 3 years we will observe extreme northerly and southerly lunar rising and setting points on the local horizon when the Moon is in tropical Gemini/Cancer or Sagittarius/Capricorn. A 'standstill Full Moon' occurs on the day of the Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice, June 21st 2024.
OUTER PLANET ingresses
Over the next 2 years all 3 outer planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto will enter new signs. Pluto enters Aquarius 2023-2024. Neptune enters Aries and Uranus enters Gemini 2025-2026. This mass modulation from negative to positive energy, earth to air, water to fire, will inaugurate significant changes and accelerate 21st century evolution. We can however expect 'difficult transitions' with such an intense modulation of energy, not without danger.