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Thursday, January 30, 2014

Mercury retrograde February 2014: a walk between two worlds (the Winged God flies backward)

Mercury entered its shadow period January 23, at 18 degrees of Aquarius, several weeks  before the  February retrograde, that begins on February 6. During the shadow period you will feel the mental energy start to shift. You may float between wanting to move forward with something, or just relax. If you start any long term/new projects at this time or when Mercury retrogrades look to make changes later or the project could fade out. With a retrograde Mercury the usual warnings apply: look for slowdowns, mixed or confused conversation, don't marry, have plastic surgery, or any elective surgery, buy electronics, big ticket purchases, broken equipment may occur, and look for glitches and communication problems in many areas to pop up and have to re-do and re-think. Mercury retrogrades three or four times each year, three weeks at a time, so no need to hide in the closet! But, it is important to be aware of the time we are in.

Much of the retrograde time can actually be a magical period when many situations are revealed and in some way we may revisit the past to deal with situations that are unfinished. Sometimes we can reconnect with people from our past, and often retrograde "themes" occur that deal with past situations that can be resolved. You may feel extra sensitive, or have a heightened sense of things. You may also start to become more forgetful or misunderstand what people say, or change your mind! Now is a time to reflect and re-do.

Mercury in Aquarius is an open minded type of mentality, geared more toward logical than emotional thinking, and taking bold steps forward, mentally. It is an Air sign and moves quickly and with ease and new ideas come out of the blue at times.

Mercury squared Saturn on January 24-25, and this is important because this transit will re-occur two more times during this eight week period, on February 18-19 while it is retrograde and again March 11. This may be significant is it aspects a critical point in  your chart.

January 31, Mercury enters the sign Pisces at 9:29 a.m., EST. Pisces is considerably different mental energy from Aquarius which is ruled by Saturn and Uranus.  Pisces, is the ruler of the 12th house of the zodiac, and its planetary ruler is Neptune, the planet of illusion, delusion and confusion. It is creative, sensitive, and thinking is emotional and intuitive rather than logical.

Mercury in Pisces is at its fall here, meaning the mental energy does not work as well in this sign. Sometimes thoughts can be intuitive, reflective, incorrect or depressing. On the other hand this is the sign ruling psychics and metaphysicians, artists and creative endeavors of all types, and all of these things and senses will be heightened, along with your sensitivity to others. Pisces is also about compassion, spirituality and getting in touch with others in the human race in general.

As Mercury enters Pisces it will conjunct Neptune, becoming within a degree of being exact February 5-8. Mercury/Neptune can be an extremely psychic and sensitive transit that may even seem other worldly to some. You may have vivid dreams and flights of imagination, and feel a desire to escape the ordinary world. Whether or not you do well with this transit depends on whether you are comfortable with this type of emotional based thinking and the intuitive process. As Mercury retrogrades at this degree thinking and feelings can be incorrect, hazy or negative for some.

February 12, Mercury re-enters Aquarius, and we switch back to a more logical form of thinking for the next four and a half weeks. Again, our mental world will change once again as retrograde Mercury takes us on a trip of dealing with situations and perhaps people from the past, fixing, re-doing and re-thinking our plans. Now is the time to review and reflect and take care of past issues!

February 28, Mercury enters its direct station, (Mercury goes direct) having reached its final degree of 18 Aquarius. This is the point where things, situations and plans can change again, equipment breaks, appointments still get cancelled, but within a few days we may start to move forward with plans.

Retrograde Mercury is a cycle that actually lasts much longer than 3 weeks. During this time events that are karmic in nature seemingly occur. Slowly, we will start to get back to where we were before the retrograde, but with more clarity, and with luck, more solid plans. We remain in the post shadow period of the retrograde until March 21.

Mercury re-enters Pisces for the second time March 17, switching the mental energy once again and again we can take a walk between the two world of the rational and the intuitive.

Retrograde Mercury is part of the natural cycle and flow of life. There is a time to move forward with new things and a time to reflect on the old. By following and understanding the natural order of things we can prosper and grow.

 

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Venus turns direct: Powerful days - Obsessions, drama and changes in love and money



 

Venus turns direct January 31, 2014 after a six week retrograde period in the sign Capricorn at13 degrees. Venus retrograde periods often coincide with major changes in love relationships. Some relationships end and for others, this means a period of re-thinking and working out issues that need to be resolved to move ahead. The most important part of the retrograde is generally the stationary retrograde period where Venus appears to reverse direction, and the stationary direct period which will be from January 28 until February  5. Venus officially goes direct  January 31, at 3:49 p.m,  EST. At this point further changes can yet occur. Venus will remain in its shadow period until March 4.

Venus rules women, love, beauty and money and during the next several weeks many will be dealing with one or several of these issues. Venus is conjunct Pluto, and this conjunction is opposing Jupiter. I have already written about what this transit will mean on the world stage, but this will also affect us on a personal level.

The next 10 days may be a pivotal point  if Venus, Pluto and Jupiter are aspecting a personal planet in your chart. If so, this means you have a cardinal planet-Aries, Capricorn, Libra or Cancer at 12-15 degrees or so in your personal natal chart. This can be negative or positive depending on how it is aspecting your chart, but situations may change in a powerful way over the next 10 days or so regarding love and money.

Venus conjunct Pluto at its highest can lift you up and empower and motivate you to make positive changes in your life and/or relationship. At its lowest, it can be an obsessive time full of angst, drama, jealousy and even degradation. This transit may also relate to changes in money or job situations.

Venus opposing Jupiter can relate to overindulgence in many forms that can include alcohol, substances, sex or financial matters. You may be inclined to enjoy life and take it easy rather than work hard.

Jupiter opposing Pluto can be the culmination of a long drive to achieve something on the positive side. It can however, result in taking too much for granted or the autocratic promotion of personal beliefs or you can be exposed to others with this attitude. Conflict over money can occur, or you may overreach yourself in some manner if not cautious.

And finally Venus is square Uranus in Aries and this forms a T-square setting off the Uranus-Pluto square once again, and this can be a major point in time of change. Situations are still fluid at this time, and for some major events and changes will occur and we will see situations that play out on the world stage during this period as well.  But, for whatever change that may occur in your life, it could be tested for validity when Mercury turns retrograde on February 6.

 Again, exactly how these transits play out depend on how they are aspecting your own natal chart. These are powerful days that can being major changes in your relationships and money matters. My advice is to try and harness the energy and move forward, especially with the new moon energy which will last until the next full moon on February 14.

A powerful new moon occurs on January 30 at 4:39 p.m. EST, at 10 degrees of Aquarius, and according to Richard Nolle who coined the phrase 30 years ago,  this is one of 5 Supermoons in 2014. This moon will affects the tides more so than others as it is closer to the earth, and in all ways will be more powerful. The days leading up to the new moon are the dark of the moon when there is little light reflected which is the strongest period psychically and our longings and desires may make themselves known and there can be a shift inward.

This moon trines Uranus bringing inspiration and sudden insights with it. Listen to your inner voice and perhaps you will find solutions to old problems along with new answers as the sign Aquarius is about freedom, and looking at all things in a new light.

 

 

 

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Jupiter-Pluto: will terrorism raise its ugly head?

 
As we approach months end January 2014, Jupiter opposes Pluto, becoming exact January 31-Feburary 4, and this transit remains within orb (meaning the planets aspect each other creating events) from the time of this post through April, becoming exact the third and final time April 17-24, 2014, when it becomes part of a grand cross that also involves Uranus and Mars.

Jupiter-Pluto transits generally bring to the fore individuals who have an agenda to push and believe they are right about something. They often embody a 'might makes right,' attitude.  This will inspire many people who are not terrorists to find themselves at war as well, in many areas of their life. This transit relates to obsessive or fanatical behavior and makes some unwilling to hear any other viewpoint, and anyone can encounter this type of individual in their life, or react in this manner. They may be inspired by religion or idealistic reasons, and often overlook critical facts. There are many forms of terrorism: internet bullying, domestic abuse, or bullying period, which is a form of terrorism that may not involve police or military actions except in the most extreme cases.

But, on the world stage this transit relates to terrorism, terrorist activities, and the thoughts of war or military actions, often for idealistic or even politically based reasons. (politics are always based on ideology, after all).

Add to this mix Venus, as she conjuncts Pluto at 13 degrees of Capricorn, January 28-Febuary 6 and you add to the scheme of things the possibility of females being either the victim or the perpetrator of crimes and terrorism, as I have published in other newsletters and have spoken about on radio. Pluto-Venus is typically associated with violence toward women or even rape.

At the time of this post authorities are searching for 'black widow,' terrorists,' or women who have been recruited to commit terrorist actions during the Olympics in early February that take place in Russia. According to news reports on January 22, a senior militant leader was killed during a gun battle with Russian security forces as they hunted three Muslim women dubbed “black widows.”.

Astrologer Nicholas Champion relates Jupiter-Pluto to the rise of international terrorism and the development of both political and plutocratic power in the world. The last time this transit occurred July-August of 2013, the US and other Western Countries found themselves at odds over Syria, and the proposed destruction of its vast cache of chemical weapons, and the US considered an air strike.

US embassies were closed across the Mideast as well during this period. January 21, the BBC reported the discovery of at least 11,000 bodies of victims tortured to death and starved by Syria's regime. There will no doubt be more to be reported over this gross act of crimes against humanity.

This transit falls on the Sun in the US natal chart, so the US will be affected by the Jupiter-Pluto configuration. In mundane astrology, the Sun in the US chart represents the President. As the natal Sun lies in the 7th house (Sibley chart) there may be challenges from those considered enemies of the United States. Jupiter conjunct the Sun may provide some measure of protection.

In the other US chart sometimes used (Gemini rising) Pluto is opposing the Sun from the 8th house of death, and international finance. There may also be some swings in the financial markets during this period, and women's health and reproductive issues may  be in focus again. Astrologer Nicholas Champion states this transit also has to do with patterns in economic cycles. In all likelihood this will manifest as a situation/crisis that involves the nation's debt limit.

 

The winter Olympics are held February 7-23 in Sochi, Russia. Looking at Russia's natal chart Pluto (and Venus through 2-12) are within 1 degree of being conjunct Uranus in the 5th house which rules games, pleasures, entertainment, sports, theatres, young people, social functions and high society.  Jupiter is opposing Pluto-Uranus(and transiting Venus) in the natal chart. It is not a question of if the Olympics are safe from terrorist activities: they are not. It is rather a question of can a terrorist activity be prevented from happening during the Olympics. Again, women figure into this configuration.

 In Russia's chart Saturn is conjunct natal Venus-Pluto at 22 degrees of Scorpio in the 4th house-the homeland. Saturn-Pluto is a dark, stealthy and ruthless energy, but can also represent a tight if not repressive security force.

Mercury goes retrograde on February 6, at 3 degrees of Pisces, conjunct Neptune and this will be a confusing transit and period. It opposes the moon in Russia's chart showing a restless, if not agitated population and a focus on women. Events may be unclear at this time as well as communication. This is likely to be a confusing and disorienting few days as the Olympics begin, and a critical first week. Other critical days are February 11, and the days before and after the full moon on February 14.

This cycle will bring an emergence of terrorist related activities or the results of such activities, just as it brought a near attack on Syria by the US in summer of 2013. Attempted terrorist activities are not limited to the winter Olympics. This will be a test of intelligence and security forces, and no doubt a time of high stress that will not complete until after the grand cross in April.

 

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on Wednesday sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) warning that the country would likely exhaust the extraordinary measures used to stay beneath the debt limit by late February. In a previous letter to Boehner, Lew had projected the deadline might not be hit until early March.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Emotions over the top: Cancer full moon and the cardinal square

January's full moon falls January 15,  at 11:52 p.m. EST. This full moon is in the sign Cancer, the ruler of the 4th house of home and family, and Cancer is the most sensitive of signs, as well as the most emotional.

Mars will square Venus over the next few days and this relates to trouble between the sexes. It could involve sex, money, selfishness or disagreements that can be major or minor depending on your situation. It could also increase your interest in sex, or the opposite sex, and if you meet someone it could be based on the physical, or they could be attracted to you for this reason! With the moon being in the most emotional of signs things can get blown out of proportion in many respects, and emotions can go over the top.

The moon will set off the Uranus-Pluto square and if this is aspecting an important planet in your chart major events can occur involving the home, relationship endings, and other important areas, depending on what is aspected for you personally.

Planets involved are Mars (men, action), Uranus (change, unexpected events, freedom), Pluto (power struggles, transformation, bullies, sex), Venus(women, money, love) and Saturn (structures) to name just a few.

The moon opposes the Sun, intensifying emotions, but trines Saturn, giving us a certain amount of ability to remain calm and get a grip on our emotions.

For some this will be a nice, pleasant full moon, especially water signs. It may be a little harder for the Fire signs who may not be comfortable with all the emotional energy.

The more time that goes on however, the more I believe, if you want to be happy, you will! But, you must make that decision personally, not to allow disruptive energy to disrupt you.  If its drama you want, you can find that as well with little problem on this moon.
 
To contact Leslie for a personal reading contact@lesliehale-astrology.com

 

 

 

Sunday, January 12, 2014


Mercury entered Aquarius Saturday, January 11th at 4:35 p.m EST. Mercurial energy will start to shift now and the stellium (stellium=at least 3 planets in the same sign) of 4 planets in Capricorn will start to shift as well, allowing new and lighter energy to flow.

 

Capricorn is the sign of winter, and this sign is ruled by Saturn, the sign of structure, hard work and with this many planets in the sign it can have as austere feeling. Of course, it all really depends on how your personal chart aspects planets in Capricorn.

 

Expect mental energy to change along with the way we write, speak and communicate with others, and those toward us.

 

Those born with Mercury in Aquarius are generally considered intelligent and drawn to science, metaphysics, and high tech activities. They are able to look at all sides of the picture and are generally not emotional thinkers, and able to mentally detach from ideas and situations more easily than some.

 

Aquarius is an Air sign and considered quirky, eccentric, and open. Your mind needs the time and room to explore new ideas with this sign and you may explore new concepts and ways of looking at problems. Aquarius rules the higher octave of the mental process and is ruled by both Saturn and Uranus. You may want and expect more mental freedom and the time to be yourself.


Mercury remains in this sign until February 1, when it enters Pisces. February 6, Mercury retrogrades, and goes back into Aquarius on February 14, where it will remain until March 17. As Mercury retrogrades back through this sign some of the ideas we have had, or even acted upon will change during the retrograde Mercury period in this sign February 14-28, and we may have to re-think or re-trace our steps once again. The final conclusion of all of this will come as Mercury moves through Aquarius the second time, direct, the second two weeks of March! This will be the actual time to implement new ideas. Do it before this period and things will likely change or not be permanent.

 

N.J Governor Chris Christie: A ride downhill is faster than up


New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is facing perhaps the toughest battle of his political career because of a scandal conducted by his aides to cause traffic jams in Fort Lee (the Mayor there did not support Christie in his last election), where several people are alleged to have died because emergency help could not get through. The lawmaker is facing a probe into those actions and if it is discovered he knew of his aides actions, he could be impeached or face criminal charges. Emails have been found implicating Christie's Deputy Chief of Staff and a Port Authority official and a major abuse of power investigation begs the question; did Governor Christie know or condone the situation that deliberately caused the traffic problems.

Christie was born September 6, 1962 a practical Virgo with his Sun, Pluto and Mercury in this sign, and his Mars falls at 8 degrees of Cancer. He is considered a down to earth guy, overall.

If I had to sum up in one word, or rather two words what is happening in his chart right now, those words would be Uranus-Pluto! Uranus-Pluto is part of a grand cross that currently exists in his chart.  A grand cross is a configuration that looks like an X. There are two 180 degree opposition and four 90 degree squares. A grand cross can bring major lifetimes change in an individual's chart. The planets involved in Christie's chart are Mars(action), Mercury (communication and the media), Uranus (sudden-unexpected) and Pluto (power struggles/transformation).

I frequently write about the affects of the Uranus-Pluto square in an individual's chart, and many of those who call are under this influence these days, and perhaps some of those reading this blog are in this group. If so, you know who you are, and this is yet another public example of how powerful the Uranus-Pluto square really is and how events are bound to occur under this influence. If you have Cardinal planets (Cancer, Capricorn, Libra or Aries) it is not a question of if your chart will be affected, it is only a matter of when.

At the time of this post (January 2014) Christie is coming under the beneficial rays of Jupiter sextiling his Sun, and over the next few months his Pluto and Mars. This planetary help goes through about April until Jupiter moves on and is no longer aspecting anything in his chart. Jupiter in a chart always bring a certain amount of protection. Venus goes direct at the end of January and this aspects his Sun as well in a favorable way.

By April 2014 he comes under the influence of Neptune and this is a woozy, confusing influence that has taken many a politician down. Neptune is the planet of illusion, delusion and confusion, lies and deception and scandal (often) in the case of a politician.

April-September 2014 will be a difficult period for Christie as Neptune forms a T-square in his chart, (another major configuration involving 3 planets). Neptune will conjunct Jupiter in his 7th house of partners, and this transit can being up confusion incidents around anyone he considers a partner-personal or professional. He may feel sorry for the wrong people, but it is not an aspect to trust! Partners may prove unreliable, untrustworthy, or impossible to deal with or may be involved in scandal, or involve him in scandal.

Neptune's T-square, conjuncts Jupiter and opposes Pluto, while squaring his moon which shows the population he governs and a lack of confidence or displeasure by the population.

We are at a disadvantage without his time of birth, therefore we do not know the degree of his moon in Sagittarius. It is possible Neptune is square his moon now, as the moon rules women and his Deputy Chief of Staff who instigated the affair is female. Using 12 noon as a birth time, his moon falls about 6 degrees placing Neptune's square to it in early spring. It's not a matter of if, only when.

Neptune begins its two year opposition to Pluto this spring, and this is a convoluted transit that is generational in nature and the native may feel discouraged, cheated, and sometimes we are surprised by the intensity of what lies in our own subconscious mind. Issues generally take many twists and turns before resolution and his issues will lie with those he considers partners. It's going to be a rough year.

For the past year and a half Neptune has been opposing Uranus from his house of partners and this transit generally ends with being disappointed by someone, and it appears this transit has played out exactly as it generally does.

It is not for me to accuse or pronounce a verdict of guilty or innocent. That is for others and political life always lends itself to those who will try.

Voters don't always have long memories though, and it's a long time before there is another Presidential election, since he is considered a contender for the Republican nomination. In terms of politics it's a century away.

 

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Mary Todd Lincoln: a paradox for all time

                                                                       

Mary Todd Lincoln was born December 13, 1818 to a wealthy planter/businessman and slave owner in Lexington, Ky, time of birth unconfirmed. Her father owned slaves but was said to actually be against the concept of slavery and politics were often discussed in the Todd household. It was here Mary developed her knowledge of the politics of the day and learned how to speak the language and participate in the many discussions revolving around the political themes of the day.

 By knowing the time of a person's birth astrologers can gauge the placement of the ascendant and the moon. Without the time, astrologers create a Sun sign chart which works well, but does not give us as much detail the time of birth would, especially if the moon changes signs that day. By looking at events that occur in a person's life astrologers can rectify a chart, and glean the time of birth according to events we know have occurred, but it is not an easy process to do so.

Mary was the third of six children and was six years old when her Mother died in childbirth. Her father subsequently re-married and had eight more children but the step Mother was said to be disliked by all of the Todd children, and Mary's life was never the same after this first trauma.

The moon was in two signs the day Mary Todd was born: Gemini into Cancer. Mary was known for being extremely emotional and this is indicative of someone with a Cancer moon and/or Cancer ascendant, Cancer being the most emotional of signs.  She was very attached to her son, Tadd who died at a young age, and after he died Mary is said to have gone into a great depression, and this was one of the major turning points in her life. She suffered many traumas in life including the death of four out of five sons, the early loss of her Mother, health issues, depression, marriage problems, spending problems, political enemies, loss of family during the Civil War and of course the murder of her husband in 1865.

After Lincoln's death she found herself greatly in debt with not enough resources to pay it, and like many people today had a bad habit of living far beyond her means, and what her purse could support which proved to be a problem throughout her marriage, and even more so after her husband's death.

The moon represents our emotional life and temperament. If Mary was born between midnight and 6 a.m she has a Gemini moon opposing Neptune in her 7th house.

Moon-Neptune individuals are known to suffer from depression or lack of clarity at times, and the moon in her seventh house would signify her marriage to Abraham Lincoln, and an overall confusing or discouraging marriage situation on an emotional level in some respects.

History tells us Mary and Abe had their share of marital problems, with Mary often portrayed as flying into rages at the drop of a hat. After the death of their first son, it is reported Abe threatened to have her committed after the death of a son, but, they stayed together(divorce was not acceptable in those days) and she was his strongest political advisor and ally in his life.

Sometimes these individuals (Moon-Neptune) have an interest in the metaphysical world and Mary was known for holding séances in the White House. They (Moon/Neptune) can also have a lack of emotional objectivity or can suffer from mental disorders at times, depending on what else is in the chart.

After President Lincoln was murdered, Mary's son, Robert, had her committed, so there is a case to question if Mary had a Gemini moon opposing Neptune. At the time of her death she was said to be addicted to drugs, another indication of a Moon-Neptune.

This time of birth-6:00 a.m. could be seriously considered due to her alleged proneness to depression and delusions, but you are best known in life (and history) for cardinal planets and angular houses. Angular houses take on more importance (1, 4, 7,10 ruling the self, the home, marriage and career)  and cardinal planets take on greater importance as well, as these planets/houses tend to cause energetic reactions and changes in one's life when aspected. (Cancer, Capricorn, Aries, Libra are the cardinal signs)

Using 6: 30 p.m. as a birth time, Mary has  Jupiter in Capricorn, in her 7th house of marriage. The sign Capricorn ruled by Saturn would represent the older Saturn-like Abe Lincoln she married, so taking the above mentioned and other situations into consideration there is a stronger case for a Cancer moon and placing her time around 6:30 p.m. or so,  placing her moon in the 12th house, sometimes called the house of 'karma,' and of troubles, and Mary's life was peppered with troubles from beginning to end. Her Sun and stellium of Sagittarius planets fall in her sixth house of health-work/service to others.

Abe's moon is at 24 degrees of Capricorn, falling in her 7th house of marriage. Abe's Sun would fall in Mary's eighth house at 23 degrees of Aquarius. The 8th house rules death and the Sun represents the husband and this combination falling in her 8th house shows a husband whose accomplishments will live on past death, as well as her own accomplishments being remembered.

Using this chart we see a woman who was destined to be known for her marriage to a husband who would die.

Placing Mary's time at 6:30 p.m.  gives Mary a 16 degree Cancer ascendant and 5 degree Cancer moon. It places 3 Cardinal planets, Jupiter, Venus and Mercury in Capricorn in her 7th house (angular) house of marriage or on the cusp. Had she not married Abe Lincoln, it is likely she would have married another prominent man, which is what her chart shows.

Mary's constant tantrums and spending proved to be a source of trouble throughout her marriage to Abraham Lincoln, but her Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter in Capricorn sextiled his three planets in Pisces that included his Mercury, Pluto and Jupiter. These transits are indicative of love and tolerance. Her Uranus and Sun sextiled his 23 degree Sun in Aquarius showing a exciting connection between the two of them. They has a Mars/Venus trine indicative of attraction and romance. So, while there were problems, there was an underlying tolerance and love of each other that kept the union together.

In Lincoln's chart, his Moon at 23 degrees of Capricorn squares Mars at 25 Libra. This is indicative of many upsets in life and a wife that could cause turmoil, and at times it would show an argumentative and unhappy union. This transit also shows his death as Mars in the 8th house of death square is his moon in his 12th house of secret enemies, which John Wilkes Booth was.

The biggest conflict in the two charts is shown by Mary's Saturn/Pluto opposing Abe's Jupiter which reveals a money issue or differences in values concerning money, and Saturn opposing Mercury can reveal harsh words and speech between them. Her four planets in Sagittarius square his three in Pisces and this combination would bring conflicts.

Mary was born with a Venus in Capricorn and these individuals sometimes marry for money-security, or chose individuals who they believe will be successful. Mary is reported as having said many times she married Lincoln because 'she knew he would be President one day.' Lincoln is reported to have said he 'fell in love and never fell out.'

When Lincoln was assassinated in the Ford theatre the night of April 14, 1865, this places transiting Mars (ruler of guns) at 8 degrees of Cancer close to Mary's moon and ascendant opposing her 3 planets in her marriage house.

Uranus was in Gemini opposing her Neptune on this infamous date in history, square Pluto in a T-square close to the cusp of her house of marriage, and Uranus rules sudden, unexpected and explosive events, and Uranus-Pluto can be indicative of sudden violence.

The assassination of a President would be accompanied by some very heavy and intense planetary combinations. Looking at the event chart for the morning on Lincolns death at 7:22 A.M April 15, 1865, Jupiter is opposing Uranus in the last degree of Sagittarius-Gemini. The 29th degree of any planet is considered a critical degree by many astrologers. The moon was also at 19 degrees of Sagittarius and as the moon conjuncted Jupiter that day opposing Uranus, word of his death must have spread like wildfire with details being sketchy.

Mars squared Neptune that day at 8 degrees of Cancer-Aries. Mars rules guns and weapons and Mars was in the sign of the homeland. Mars-Neptune transits often indicate confusion and depression as well as discouraging circumstances, and the country went into mourning.

Mercury was next to Pluto at 14 degrees of Taurus in the 8th house of death. The Sun, which represents the President in mundane astrology was opposing Saturn from the 12th house of secret enemies, showing us a major event was destined to take place that would involve the President and government at that time.

History portrays Mary as being moody, outspoken and sometimes difficult to deal with, but this was during a time in history when ladies were not encouraged to speak their mind at all. Women with a moon in Cancer often wear their heart on their sleeve. They can be moody at as well as sensitive and loyal as she was to Lincoln. A woman as outspoken as Mary, and as emotional, might well have well been called crazy by men of the time who believed women were to be seen and not heard, much like children in that day. She could well have had a nervous breakdown at some point with the loss of 4 sons, brothers and family members, and ultimately almost everyone she ever loved, along with the financial stress she got into, which today would be called a compulsive shopping/spending disorder and she would have been able to seek counseling had it been a different time.

Mary has a stellium of 4 planets in her sixth house ruling health/work or service. These planets include the Sun, Neptune, Uranus and Mars, all in Sagittarius.

Sun-Uranus individuals often come across as erratic, changeable and sometimes even charismatic and ahead of their time. Uranus-Mars individuals can be changeable on a dime, often considered moody, in a bad mood, or they can become volatile at a moment's notice, which was something Mary was known for. They often have a hard time reigning in their energy and are usually known for their temper. Uranus is the planet of freedom and Uranus next to Mars in a chart can indicate someone who wants total freedom of action and is determined to get it. This trait would not bode well with the public in a First Lady during the 1860's. These people (Uranus-Mars) are often considered rebels by society and refuse to be told what to do, and are often seen by society as too ahead of their time or unsafe. Mary was heavily criticized during her time as First Lady to the 16th President.

Mary suffered from headaches throughout her lifetime and Mars in the sixth can indicate headaches, and as Mars lies next to Uranus the headaches could come and go suddenly which they did throughout her life. She also suffered through a carriage accident and a disastrous fall later in life that affected her health.

Mary's Mars-Uranus conjunction in her natal chart squares her Saturn, which lies in her 9th house of religion, philosophy and outlook toward the world. Those with Saturn in the 9th house can be philosophers and spiritual students in their lifetimes. Sometimes they are intellectuals and either take an interest in religion or despise it. Mary as well as Lincoln had a big interest in metaphysical matters. She stated before the assassination that she believed her husband would meet a sudden and violent end. Lincoln was known for his dreams which he shared with Mary often.

Shortly before he died, Lincoln had a well publicized dream he related to Mary and some friends. He stated, ""About ten days ago, I retired very late. I had been up waiting for important dispatches from the front. I could not have been long in bed when I fell into a slumber, for I was weary. I soon began to dream. There seemed to be a death-like stillness about me. Then I heard subdued sobs, as if a number of people were weeping. I thought I left my bed and wandered downstairs. There the silence was broken by the same pitiful sobbing, but the mourners were invisible. I went from room to room; no living person was in sight, but the same mournful sounds of distress met me as I passed along. I saw light in all the rooms; every object was familiar to me; but where were all the people who were grieving as if their hearts would break? I was puzzled and alarmed. What could be the meaning of all this? Determined to find the cause of a state of things so mysterious and so shocking, I kept on until I arrived at the East Room, which I entered. There I met with a sickening surprise. Before me was a catafalque, on which rested a corpse wrapped in funeral vestments. Around it were stationed soldiers who were acting as guards; and there was a throng of people, gazing mournfully upon the corpse, whose face was covered, others weeping pitifully. 'Who is dead in the White House?' I demanded of one of the soldiers, 'The President,' was his answer; 'he was killed by an assassin.' Then came a loud burst of grief from the crowd, which woke me from my dream. I slept no more that night; and although it was only a dream, I have been strangely annoyed by it ever since."

The 9th house also rules legal and medical events as well. Mars/Uranus square Saturn in the 9th not only would indicate medical issues with headaches, Mars-Saturn individuals often meet with a great deal of frustration in life and often feel they have been abused or suffered at the hands of others.

Mary would eventually be involved in a well publicized trial when her son had her committed for a year, 10 years after Lincoln was murdered. She was released, and never totally forgave her son. She enraged members of Congress trying to raise money to assuage her financial situation as a widow, which included an appeal to the freed slaves for money, and she had to fight long and hard to get a widows pension.

 As the wife of the 16th President of the US she was treated abysmally by those who should have lent support after Lincoln's death and no man of record stepped up to help in a time when women were not concerned for the most part with business, financial affairs or debt management.

Saturn square Uranus individuals are generally known as rebels, those who stray from what is considered safe and conventional. They may experience a great deal of upheaval in a lifetime which she suffered in all the various stages of life.

Mary was known to fly into rages and then become very emotional or melancholy. It is likely that Abe Lincoln felt a sympathy for her as he had a Saturn-Neptune conjunction in his own chart, which would make him melancholy and prone to depression as well.

At the time Mary was considered crazy by some, and the debate over her sanity remains to this day. Looking at her chart I do not believe she was insane. She may have suffered from severe depression at times or even had a nervous breakdown, but her chart shows her to be a high spirited individual with a testy personality, qualities not encouraged in women during her time.

Mary's Sun-Neptune conjunction lies next to Mars-Uranus-Saturn in the 6th house at 21-26 degrees of Sagittarius. This give her an intuitive quality and she used it throughout her life, always warning Lincoln of an assassination attempt she felt likely. She stated before the assassination that she believed Lincoln would meet a sudden and violent end. She told her step sister that her dead son Willie appeared at the foot of her bed at night and she could communicate with him.

Her Sun-Neptune was square Pluto at 24 degrees of Pisces, and this square would guarantee that much of her life would be involved in struggles, but it also gave her great determination and will power to succeed. Her Pluto in the 10th indicates a powerful husband.

She died on July 16, 1882 and the death report stated 'cerebral disease." Her last years were marked with declining health and she was confined to and died in the same house she met and married Lincoln in. After the death of Lincoln she never fully recovered and spent the last 16 years of her life drifting from place to place, often short on funds. She stated  before she died she looked forward to joining her husband in death.

"But one must not think ill of the paradox, for the paradox is the passion of thought, and the thinker without the paradox is like the lover without passion: a mediocre fellow. But the ultimate potentiation of every passion is always to will its own downfall, and so it is also the ultimate passion of the understanding to will the collision, although in one way or another the collision must become its downfall." -- Søren Kierkegaard, for example, in the Philosophical Fragments