NCGR Sacramento Area Chapter

Today on June 14th (Flag Day) Saturn is exactly squared to Uranus. Uranus wins! as always. This is the second exact square for this pair this year, and there will be a third in December. Did you feel it when the Moon arrived at 13 Leo to match the 13 Aquarius Saturn and the 13 Taurus Uranus? If you put the American flag out today, good on you! But don't forget to fly your freak flag too. Mr. Saturn will always try to keep the status quo, and Mr. Uranus will always try to make it fly. Keep on keeping on! Three hip-hoorays for the icy blue tilting planet! Jewelry is found on etsy, but it is currently sold out.

Here's a shot by NASA photographer Bill Ingles taken this morning at our nation's Capitol. As said, our United States government and country was touched by this eclipse, and how wonderful it was that it could also be seen from our Capitol. Now we just need to figure out what it means. For those who are really into ritual, this evening at 6:10pm PDT Mercury will be cazimi with the Sun, and Mercury is definitely a part of this eclipse event. Cazimi means "in the heart of the Sun" but in this case, Mercury will be exact in longitude with the Sun, but not in declination.

JUNE 10 ECLIPSE!! Do you have a 19 degree Gemini planet, or at 2 degrees either side of that? ...because it is being highlighted in 3 days. It is close enough to call it "bananas" for the natal Mars of the United States. Mars in Gemini in strong aspect to Neptune for our country is probably suggestive of the chatter box, and a creative one at that, and we do love our newsie news. The eclipse itself is of the annular sort (with a wide band of Sunlight), and most likely will be... clouded out in the northern regions of our world. BUT, since Mercury is also retrograde in Gemini and not too far from the North Lunar Node, all things airy will be under scrutiny for a bit, and perhaps made topsy turvy in the money market according to the financial astrologers. Like mail delivery? Zoom-ability? Well, we can always invite our neighbor to our patio for a cuppa and some conversation! #ncgrsacramento See more

Hello to all our astrological friends! We are approaching the middle of Gemini in a month of eclipses. On June 5th at lunch time (around 12:40pm) see if you can feel the Lunar nodal axis on the Midheaven in the Sacramento area, lately coming to that point with the Sun. It is a social collecting force, like facebook. In Gemini, it is often connected to the news, the front page headlines. As a word of caution to us all, we might try and keep the energy free of angry disputes, f...ocusing on resolutions and points of common interest and agreement, since on June 5th Mars will be exact in its opposition to Pluto with the Moon in Aries in a T square to them. As the weather heats up so will our rash reactions. For those who are interested in the esoteric and perhaps practice some form of meditation, the fixed stars Aldebaran and Antares, which are the guardians of the two "gates of heaven" are currently aligned with the Lunar Nodes. Incorporating them into any meditation could bring cosmic results. Let us know! If you know little of those stars, there are amazing essays online on their connection to these two portals in our universe. See more

We have been bombarded with ECLIPSE season posts and news blasts, but for anyone with 5 Gemini-Sagittarius in their chart, it's never too much! An angle or a planet in someone's chart within two degrees of the eclipse (the closer the better!) will have a spotlight brought to that area of life. President Biden is one such person, having all of his angles in his chart involved with the two eclipses coming up, the Lunar eclipse on May 26, and the Solar eclipse on June 10. His se...lf-presentation and his role as President will be receiving big spotlights in the next few months. Watch and see what you think. The "effects" of eclipses can last for a while. If you have a planet within 2 degrees of this eclipse, or you know someone or know of a celebrity who will, please feel free to share it here with your astrological friends! And do be sure to step outside your house at 4 am on the 26th to see the beautiful deep red Moon, and bathe in her soft mother rays! Check out the Mars passing by under your feet! Happy eclipse! See more

On MAY 20th at 12:38pm in Sacramento, the Sun will move into 0 degrees of GEMINI, just as Jupiter begins is cautious trek into Pisces at 0 degrees. Venus and Mercury are also in Gemini; Venus will be squaring the Moon that day and Mercury will be squaring Neptune. What we see in the news that day, and indeed, for the rest of May including the total solar eclipse on the 26th will be a challenge for us to see clearly, because the bigger picture will remain blurred, or enlarged,... exaggerated. Even if we had a crystal ball, we would still need a special vision. And that is what Jupiter is representing now, that special vision, that overall picture put together with some moderation in mind, some good common sense. Uranus will keep its role of darting over the horizon in the morning to herald the Sun, suggesting a reign of chaos to us in the news, until the Moon interferes again in early June and gives us a break. Let's all keep our heads while we sort through the daily news. We can hear Mr. Gemini man "Just the facts, ma'am, I just need the facts." This picture included is a family cat from a long time ago, one of those spooky cats who always saw things that were not there. See more

Please join us for this stay-at-home webinar as astrologer Kathy Rose shares her knowledge with us of the planet Venus in the chart, and demonstrates some of the strengths and vulnerabilities that occur in Venus dominated charts. You can preregister in advance on our website! Let's all welcome astrologer and teacher and artist Kathy Rose who coordinates and hosts the yearly Empowered Astrology Seminars, and has published many wonderful articles.

NEW MOON May 11th at 21 Taurus. A New Moon is a hidden Moon. If it is your birthday tomorrow then your Solar Return chart might look something like the one below, but probably not exactly. This lunation in California seems to be suggesting that we "stay the course", or even prepare for what may come next. So much earth and air elements here, and only a little bit of water, maybe reminding us of the upcoming fire season in California. Wind. Saturn ruling the 6th house suggests... preparation, perhaps clearing branches, dead leaves etc. The Sabian Symbol for 21 Taurus is "a dove flying over troubled waters". Some of us have received a notice from the water company already that rates for water will increase. This dove here was carved some 3000 years ago in Egypt, a land which lost its once abundant wetlands. A New Moon message will stay in effect until the Full Moon comes along at the end of May. See more

"Gather round people wherever you roam and admit that the waters around you have grown" (Bob Dylan, 1963). Art work below is by Camille Chew who says that the third quarter Moon is a time of contemplation and introspection. On Monday May 3rd, at around lunch time, the Moon will hook up with Saturn in Aquarius as it makes it's last quarter turn and heads into a new Moon in Leo. At the time of exact quarter Moon, at 12:50pm on Monday in Sacramento, Uranus will be smack on the M...idheaven. Think about that while you munch on your sandwich. Things are brewing, simmering, and getting edgy. Coming up in mid June will be Saturn making its second exact square with Uranus, and its third one in December. It's an edgy time, a break-the-old-mold time. In the mean time, the Moon keeps on keeping on, and we can hardly keep up with her. Put a star on your calendar, though, for the 26th of May when we see a blood red eclipsed Moon here in California. More on that later! Thank you to Camille Chew for sharing her art work (no copying for financial gain!). See more

Hello astrology fans! The Moon becomes full on Monday Apr 26 at 8:31pm in our Sacramento area. At that moment Venus in Taurus will be just descending on the Western horizon, perhaps suggesting that those who live around here will be quietly engaging in sensual indulgences of their choice. This "Pink Moon", so designated first by Native Americans noting certain blossoms at that time of year, is often a Scorpio Moon, sort of the opposite end of a Halloween full Moon, which we a...ll know can be quite spooky. A Super Moon, as you may know, is the happenstance of a perigee at the same time, when the Moon comes closer (but not noticeably closer) to Earth. If we are lucky, the clouds will part or be gone. Perhaps we might try just feeling it rather than looking at it. Uranus and Saturn are involved, suggesting more break-out-of-the-tensions ramifications. In Seattle Washington and Portland Oregon, Uranus will be on the Descendant rather than Venus. More break-outs there perhaps. Pink is usually a color of soft and sweet things, and Scorpio, well, not so much. Let's see what we can do about that. See more

This Thursday we are invited by social norm to participate in loving our planet Earth! Every little blessing counts. By 11am on Thursday, the Vigo Moon will be making contact by easy trine with the early Taurus Sun. It's a perfect time to plant something, even a little kiss. Venus in its own sign will be hooking up with Uranus. How intriguing! Such a mixture of kookiness and bullish women's ways. The goddess Hathor comes to mind, mother of the Sky God (which in Greek myth is Uranus)....Hathor who wears the crown of the Sun between her bullish horns. Listen to Venus on Thursday, Uranus, and tread lightly in her land.

What do we do when Moon is Void of Course? We free ourselves, of course! Saturday April 17, after Moon conjuncts to Mars while we are still sleeping, Moon releases herself from all obligations and looses herself in her own imagination until 3:25 pm when she moves into the sign of Cancer. The suggestion is we do the same. The song "Take a Giant Step" comes to mind, written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, and sung best by Taj Mahal. Take a cue, and be a little silly if you want, no one will hold it against you! But do remember to sign up for the webinar with David Perloff. David would love to see you there!

As the Sun goes down in the West on Sunday April 11, the Moon will go down exactly at the same time, at 7:30pm. They are at 22 degrees Aries (and 25 minutes), and when they are in that particular situation we call it the "New Moon". It is a hidden Moon, because it is with the Sun. Romantic literature says they are mating, and so it is a private time. Not sure how that lends to the idea of making new plans for ourselves. Perhaps it is more of a liminal time and space, an in-between place, where we open up ourselves to influences that have been waiting nearby and nudging us to move along. We'll let those two soul mates have time for themselves. Just for awhile. Good night Sun, good night Moon. Don't cause any earthquakes!

Friday April 9th, just as the Sun rises in Sacramento, Moon magic combines with Neptune as they both closely square to Mars in Gemini on the edge of the third house of the chart. It is the perfect time to practice some astrological magic, either to gain more confidence in your current charisma, or to ask for guidance on how to connect with others more intuitively through conversation. Set your intentions tonight, and they will magically cooperate with the planetary energy in the morning! Best wishes for success!

The November newsletter is here! Check your inbox or go to ncgrsacramento.org to sign up for our email. The November free webinar will feature Alexandra Karacostas speaking on relationships and our manner of relating as revealed through astrology. Join us!

Mercury has had quite a week! It was famously stationed direct on November 3, the day of the United States election. But, the friction in communication and travel was also affected by the last major phase in the Mercury - Saturn synodic cycle which began January 12, 2020. Synodic cycles begin with the conjunction of two planets. While the planets travel through the zodiac, they will experience phases. The most familiar synodic cycle is the lunar cycle. The squares are often n...oticeable. The first square between Mercury and Saturn this cycle was on April 28, when some countries were reopening and allowing people to travel in their local community. The next square occurred September 23rd when Saturn was retrograde, when cities were regularly experiencing protests and travel restrictions due to COVID. But wait, there was more! On November 1, with Mercury retrograde, we felt the struggle between serious restriction and the need to communicate and move. After Mercury turned direct on November 3rd, it was ready to move along on its merry way, but no. Once again, the great timekeeper, Saturn, will give the little planet one more time out on November 6th. So, take some time to think seriously and then, you can get a little freedom and have some time to think about the holiday travel and season’s greeting to come during the next few months. This Mercury - Saturn synodic cycle does end and a new one begins January 12, 2021. Stay in the loop with the NCGR newsletter! Sign up at ncgrsacramento.org. #MercurySquareSaturn #NCGRSacramento See more

The Taurus Full Moon of 2020 goes by many names. On Halloween night, look in the northeast sky to see a Halloween Full Moon. Nothing could be better to support the evening’s socially distanced festivities! It can help light the evening to keep the ghouls and goblins at bay while the candy and treats are hunted. This is traditionally the Hunter’s Moon. Under this Moon, hunter’s have a bright evening sky to find game that has been fattened during the summer growing and autumn h...arvest season. The Hunter’s Moon is always preceded by the Harvest Moon, or this year’s Aries Full Moon on October 1, 2020. Since the Full Moon on October 31, 2020 is the second Full Moon in October, it is also called a Blue Moon. When taking that look at the northeast sky Halloween night, the red planet, Mars will be about 30 north of the Moon. The Blue Moon is traveling close to the Red Planet for about one more day. This sounds like a metaphorical precursor for the election in the United States on the following Tuesday. Although the planet Uranus is not visible, it is conjunct the Full Blue Moon, so expect a few more fireworks! With the Moon in Taurus opposite the Sun in Scorpio, this is a good time to untangle personal values with collective or shared resources. Advice for a Full Moon is to release anything no longer serving you. Reflect on thoughts and goals set about two weeks ago or last April and let things go! Remember to visit the NCGR Sacramento website at ncgrsacramento.org to sign up for the November 15 webinar with astrologer Alexandra Karacostas. #TaurusFullMoon #NCGRSacramento See more

Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep This observation in Shakespeare’s plays about Henry VI certainly describes how astrologers often describe those born during a Scorpio Sun. If you must tell a secret, tell a Scorpio native! It will be safe. In agricultural societies, this is the time of the year when the harvest is nearly complete and stored. The nights are lengthening and the early dusk provides time for contemplation. The lessening of the light and quiet time ...sharpens an ability to see hidden details that are not as apparent in the business of long days. The Scorpio season is known for offering support to dig into hidden corners, whether as a detective or psychologist. The quietness of the natural world in late October and early November is also reflected in holidays. Around November 1st, pagan societies celebrated this time of the year in the shadowsthe halfway point between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. In the United States (US) we celebrate it as Halloween and the Day of the Dead. Since your natural detective is heightened, start your research about astrology with the NCGR Sacramento newsletter at ncgrsacramento.org #ScorpioSun #NCGRSacramento See more

It’s time to love one another! We are officially in the season for love. Venus is beginning its annual visit in its autumn home of Libra. In this sign, Venus emphasizes socially visible relationships, especially marriage and business partnerships. Interestingly, on October 27, both Venus and Mercury enter Libra. Venus travels directly, so enters at 0Libra. Mercury is travelling retrograde, and enters at 2959’Libra. Set your clock for 6:33 to 6:41 p.m. on October 27. Mercury... enters first at 6:33 and then Venus at 6:41. For about two weeks, these two planets will remain in fair-minded Libra. Enjoy your potential to appreciate harmony, peace, and graciousness. Know that your thoughts and words can be fair, just, and diplomatic--just edit before speaking or pressing send. To celebrate the season, join NCGR Sacramento! Visit the webpage (ncgrsacramento.org) to learn about membership, the newsletter, monthly webinars, and how to donate to support the webinars. Come on, let’s love one another! #VenusInLibra #MercuryRetrogradeInLibra #NCGRSacramento See more

This coming Sunday Oct. 25th the Sacramento chapter will host financial astrologer Marie Schoeppel for a fascinating talk on the Capricorn conjunction of Saturn and Pluto and what it means to our financial situations in the year ahead (no matter who wins the election)!! Marie is an accomplished astrologer with a degree in mathematics who has published a book on the economic situation in China as seen through astrology.You will be amazed what you can learn from her! Please go to our website to read more about this lecture and to preregister for this timely event. All are invited. A donation is very much appreciated, though not required for attendance.

Venus is very busy from October 18 through 24. This fairly busy planet is not as close to the Sun as Mercury, but is nearer than Earth. That means that it usually travels a little bit more than a degree per Earth day. Like the Earth, Venus is in aspect with all planets at least once a year. During years when retrograde, some aspects are repeated. This week Venus begins an interesting dance with several outer planets. On October 18, Venus (18Virgo) exactly opposes Neptune in ...Pisces. Neptune has not been involved in many of the major aspects this year, but in Pisces, its home, it sets a background tone for the confusion and fear concerning the Corona Virus and other recent world events. The ruler of love and money trines Jupiter (19Capricorn) on October 19, so buy a friend a lottery ticket! Should 19 be one of the numbers? Gracious and fair Venus (22Virgo) trines powerful Pluto on Wednesday, so that ticket shared with your friend could bring big money! Finally, the planet which brings beauty and aesthetics trines Saturn (25Capricorn), which rules organization and structures. So, reduce the clutter and splurge on something lovely for your home, or self! Share some of this love with NCGR Sacramento! Sign up for the October 25th webinar (ncgrsacramento.org) and consider a donation to keep these opportunities coming. #VenusVirgo2020 #NCGRSacramento See more

On October 16, 2020, at 12:31 p.m. we have the year’s closest and largest New Moon. This October New Moon comes only about 4 hours before the moon reaches lunar perigee: the moon’s closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit, which makes it a Supermoon. The New Moon is always a time to set intentions for the lunar cycle. Each New Moon is a gift from the universe to initiate or take action on something new. In Libra, set the intentions for your relationships, social life, love... life, and business partnerships. You could potentially meet new people or start new relationships. With the Sun and Moon at 2353’ Libra, they are opposed a retrograde Mars in Aries and square Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto in Capricorn. These aspects provide a backdrop for potential for tension, a continuation similar themes in 2020. Do try to avoid situations which could result in anger, resentment, frustration, and the abuse of power and authority. Set an intention today to sign up for the NCGR Sacramento newsletter at ncgrsacramento.org. You can get resources to navigate these times and make some new friends through the virtual gatherings. #LibraNewMoon #NCGRSacramento See more

The last Mercury retrograde of the year heralds the final weeks of the U.S. election campaign. It begins on Tuesday, October 13 at 11Scorpio and ends Tuesday, November 3 at 25Libra. Mercury will station direct on Election Day 2020. Since Mercury rules communication, technology, travel, and contracts allow extra time for travel, communication, reading contracts, and your election ballot. This period is famous for awkward email exchanges, regretful contracts, the internet cut...ting out when you need it most, and travel delays. Double check your email before pressing send and prepare your map before you hit the road. Keep your cellphone and laptop charged. Certainly sign up to have your election ballot tracked at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov. Whenever a planet goes retrograde, we have an opportunity to review and redo the areas of our life it rules. So use the time to redo any past communication errors. To learn about the potential impact of the election on the economy, register for the NCGR Sacramento webinar at ncgrsacramento.org. Financial and political astrologer, Marie Schoeppel will present her astrological forecast for current trends in the U.S. #MercuryRetrograde #NCGRSacramento See more

Stormy Weather: Mercury seemed to be reasonably quiet in LIbra during most of September, where it can influence civility in communication. In Scorpio since September 27, words can become truthful, but that can hurt! Now, it is time to batten down the hatches, because Mercury enters a period called its Storm on October 7 when it slows down to move less than 40’ per day to prepare to station retrograde. The retrograde period for Mercury is one of the most widely discussed astro...logy topics. Because Mercury is near the Sun and its orbit much smaller than Earth’s, it seems to move backwards several times a year. Astrologers measure the impact of this with several phases, the shadow period, Storm, and retrograde. The shadow period (September 23 - November 19) marks the path that Mercury will retrace during the retrograde. Although Mercury is beginning to slow in the shadow, the impact is often not noticed. The slowing during the Storm is a little bit more annoying from Earth’s perspective, because that little planet should be fast! On the same day that Mercury enters its Storm, it opposes Uranus at 1:55 p.m. Lightning strikes! Try to stay calm if you hear unexpected news. Remember, the Storm will pass, and if you stay away from electrical towers the lightning may find someone else to strike!. For navigation and weather reports, sign up for the NCGR newsletter. #MercuryStorm #NCGRSacramento See more

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. On October 4, 2020, remember this familiar theme song from Cheers when Pluto stations direct at 25Capricorn. The three old friends, Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto are sitting just about where they were in March 2020. Each one is almost on the same stool, so close they can nudge each other when telling a joke to someone or about someone across the room. Then, one by one, in late April and mid-May, they all stationed re...trograde. When these planets are retrograde, which they all are about four or five months a year, the effect is different than retrograde personal planetsMercury, Venus, and Mars. Jupiter and Saturn, the transpersonal planets, are connected to our relationship in the world. Pluto, though, an outer planet, represents the collective. So, these three have been traveling very closely to the same well-worn point in the zodiac, working with all of us to explore our role in society and with Pluto effecting change collectively. By early November, they will all be within a degree or two of their positions in early March. That makes this a perfect time to take advantage of the October 25 webinar. Marie Scoeppel will talk about How the Next Presidential US Term Could Affect the US Economy. Register at ncgrsacramento.org. Until we see you at the webinar, how do you think having these three back together will affect the US election in November? #PlutoDirect #NCGRSacramento See more

The October 1 Full Moon at 0908 Aries can be seen early this morning in all its Harvest Moon glory. This moon is bright and always helpful for extending the daylight hours which have been waning since the fall equinox. The Aries Full Moon is a good time to let go of what is not working in your life. Since it is in Aries, this might be a good time to give up unneeded battles, competitions, and challenges. This is also a good time to reflect on any intentions that were set at the Virgo New Moon two weeks ago. If any of the new plans set into motion then are not working or no longer enjoyable, let them go! With all of the space in your life and peace, sign up for the October 25 NCGR Sacramento webinar at ncgrsacramento.org. #AriesFullMoon #NCGRSacramento

Saturn went direct on September 28th, 2020 at 2520 Capricorn. This is the end of it’s stay in Capricorn since it entered late December 2017. Saturn spends about two and one half years in each sign, but this year, it has been the talk of the zodiac. It has certainly kept astrologers busy! Its January conjunction with Pluto was a meeting of two symbols: power and structure. In March, Saturn moved into Aquarius, its other home. Uranus is a freedom loving sign, and Saturn staye...d there until mid-June. Interestingly, these were the months that most of us were learning to understand how to shelter-in-place. Both Jupiter and Saturn came very close to a conjunction until both turned retrograde in May. Northern hemisphere early birds were lucky because these two were visible in the early morning sky and the nearing conjunction was dazzling. Saturn moved back into Capricorn mid-June. Now that Saturn is again moving direct, it will return to Aquarius later in the year to begin its extended stay in that sign. This has been an exciting time for Saturn in its Capricorn home. Many wish for less excitement when it moves to Aquarius! Do not miss one chapter of that story! There is actually a very exciting moment in late December. Sign up for the NCGR newsletter on our website to keep up to date. #SaturnDirect #NCGRSacramento See more

Start planning ahead now for your October webinars! This next month on Sunday Oct. 25th the Sacramento chapter will host financial astrologer Marie Schoeppel for a fascinating talk on the Capricorn conjunction of Saturn and Pluto and what it means to our financial situations in the year ahead (no matter who wins the election)!! Marie is an accomplished astrologer with a published book on economics in China, and a degree in mathematics. Please go to our website to read more about her and to preregister for this timely event. A donation is very much appreciated, but not required for attendance.

Balance of Light and Dark: The Sun moves into Libra on September 22, 2020 at 6:31 a.m. This change of seasons is marked by the waning long daylight of summer. We are nearing a balancing of daylight and night. Libra’s scales represent this change of light, of seasons, and its intrinsic sense of justice, which is very timely for the events of today. Traditionally, the summer harvest has ended and we are able to enjoy the fruits of labor and the beauty of life. We can also harve...st the fruits of our efforts and intentions set earlier in the year. While the Sun is in this cardinal air sign, take the time to enjoy a respite and socialize before the darkness of the winter months. Share your ideas and reflections with others about a monumental year. Sharing with others and hearing their experience deepens what we have learned and experienced. The NCGR Sacramento social gathering last weekend was a perfect Libra event. It brought us together via a Zoom meeting to share our common interests and friendship. Sign up for the newsletter at ncgrsacramento.org to stay connected! #FallEquinox #NCGRSacramento See more