Starcats' Astro Blast

Starcats' August Forecast & Lunar Eclipse

The Sabian Symbol for the Lunar Eclipse at 13 degrees Aquarius/Leo is:

A Human Soul Seeking Opportunities For Outward Manifestation

According to sabian symbol colleague Lynda Hill (author of "360 Degrees of Wisdom"), this visionary message is a "symbol of the desire to be heard and taken seriously." The Human Soul -- ours! -- is looking for that person who can HEAR us at the deepest cosmic level.



Whether that person is your Keen advisor, best friend, or longed-for lover or mate, this lunar eclipse highlights the need to let go of what doesn't work in favor of shaping one's inner self to be open and receptive to 1) messages of advice; 2) loving help from outside; 3) courage to exit relationships of all kind that are negative/toxic; and 4) remaining open and WILLING to LET the universe guide us to our next level of being and relating.

If you're in a working relationship now and are pleased with how it's going, dance your victory dance, because getting there wasn't easy, was it?!

The eclipse energy -- the universe doing for us what we can't do for ourselves -- and other planetary messages from the big sky are alerting us a few contentious days ahead.

August 10th we have a Moon square Venus (be careful to keep it classy and peaceful with women friends) and Mars square Saturn can signal frustration. This energy makes it hard to relax if you're on summer break. Mars in Gemini is gung ho with the message but has no patience. Saturn in Virgo is cautious and introspective. Mars wants blurt out angry words, but Saturn holds him back! That could signal a 72 hour period of feeling unsettled (August 8-11).

The week of August 17th can be explosive: Just Do It Mars squares erratic Uranus two days before the firey Leo New Moon (8/20) which is subsequently poked by Messenger Mercury in opposition to impulsive Uranus (8/21). The Moon in critical Virgo joins downer Saturn that evening. August 21st is THE one Friday in August I suggest you stay home and forget about socializing! If you push it, the whole evening could turn out to be more trouble than it was worth.

Saturday August 22 brings vibrant energy back into the social mix and a chance to lift your spirits for date night. Venus will TRINE Uranus bringing a pleasant surprise your way as the firey Leo Sun changes to earthy Virgo.

August is a month that features a lot of planetary aspects, so many of which time and space restrictions prevent me from mapping out for you here. Suffice it to say, if you thought you're we're going to have a mellow month -- think again!

The time to catch up and relax will actually be September 2009. Mercury goes retrograde on the 7th -- Labor Day! -- and regains forward footing on September 29th.

Work hard and finish up all you can in August. Don't start any new projects until Oct 1st. If your boss isn't astro-savvy and lays an egg on your desk at the beginning of September, be prepared to check, double check and re-do phases of the project.

Communicate clearly and follow-up more than you usually would to make sure all the players are on track.

Love and romance need not suffer during any topsy-turvey time so long as we take advantage of the lunar eclipse's sabian symbol advice: reach out for advice and LISTEN. Be open to the message and it's TIMING. Drop back and go on automatic pilot when the energy is challenging. Don't push for results! It's going to work out!



REMEMBER:

TIMING IS EVERYTHING! Whether our current challenges involve love relations, money or jobs, momentary setbacks need not limit our future success!

To find out what YOUR timing is for Love, Money & Career, give me a call! I'm Psychic 4U!

Warmest wishes,
Claudia Starcats
Keen.com Ext. 069048

Celebrity News: Chelsea Clinton to Wed/SJP & Hubby TWINS via Surrogate

Chelsea Clinton to Wed -- SJP & Hubby TWINS via Surrogate



Chelsea Clinton was born February 27, 1980 at 11:24 pm in Little Rock, Arkansas. She's an empathic Pisces with many horoscope cross aspects with her famous mother, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton (October 26, 1947, 8:00 pm, Chicago, IL). Hillary is a Scorpio, so both women have water sign Suns creating a lifelong empathic linkage. Scorpio's secretive depths and anxieties are soothed by compassionate boundary softening Pisces. This is a lovely, feminine mix.

Mother and daughter also share a grand fire trine (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius). It's Hillary's Saturn at 21 Leo that joins up with Chelsea's Venus (Aries) and Neptune (Sagittarius) that creates this grand configuration. Mother and daughter not only share empathically but also humorously. Fire signs are warm, vibrant and intuitive. Laughter, dramatics and vitality are but three of the super tools fire planets in a chart use to forge lasting connections.

It's no surprise that news of Chelsea's summer wedding to Marc Mezvinsky has now been made public. Or that the nuptials would be hosted by established actors Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen at their home in Martha's Vineyard this August. [Mom Hillary's Saturn in Leo attests to her ability to create prestigious links (Saturn) with famous performers (Leo)]! Venus, the planet we associate with engagements, weddings, parties and showers is currently making her transit through dynamic "what you see is what you get" Aries.

Because Chelsea's birth chart Venus is in Aries, she's in line to experience her "Venus Return." [A "Return" event is when a planet traveling the sky in current time joins up with where that same planet was positioned in our birth chart]. When a publicity planet like Venus makes a "societal" return engagement to its birth point in a famous person's chart a wedding announcement, engagement, or news of lavish parties and showers go public. Society columns, celebrity blogs, and mags such as People all seek to cash in.

Both Chelsea and the iconic Sarah Jessica Parker (who is an Aries with her Sun right on Venus!) both have Venus in this Mars-ruled sign. Hence, both women are enjoying their Venus Return cycles and are fire sign "hot" in current news cycles! [SJP, March 25, 1965, Nelsonville, OH. No birth time known.]

If Venus is the planet associated with The Law of Attraction, then Chelsea Clinton and Sarah Jessica Parker are two women who are demonstrating exactly how that works!

I just thought I'd throw this extra astro-tantalizer in the mix just to give you an idea of how revealing astrology can be:

Chelsea Clinton was born by Caesarian Section. Not a planned one, but by necessity and it was a huge surprise to Mom Hillary. (Chelsea's famous daddy, former president Bill Clinton was also born by C-Section). How does this astrologer know this (beyond the fact that it's public knowledge?) From looking at the transit motion of Uranus, the planet associated with surprise C-Sections, in birth charts.

Mom Hillary's birth Uranus is in Gemini sitting on her horoscope rising point. (She herself may have experienced "difficulties" being born with a chart set up like this one). Uranus placed on the rising shows a uniqueness of being and an unusual way of presenting oneself to the world. It also signals a life punctuated by sudden upheavals and unexpected plot twists during life. In the case of Chelsea's birth, Uranus in Hillary's chart shows the rapid onset of labor pains resulting in the need for quick surgical intervention.

Rapid surgical intervention is also shown by Chelsea's birthday Mars (which rules surgery!) showing up by chart comparison on Hillary's horoscopic 4th house cusp. The 4th cusp of the horoscope is the house associated with birth, babies, the cradle, nursing, breast milk, the family and the family name. We're looking at two planets that worked together that day to create a dramatic birth scenario for Chelsea and her mom -- Mars and Uranus. Uranus was already in play in Hillary's birth chart, but Mars was the key planet transit of that day in Chelsea's birth chart revealing the circumstances of her "arrival" -- via C-Section!



SJP, Queen of Sex and the City, also has major Venus news. She's expecting twins via a surrogate mom. She and husband Matthew Broderick are hopping with excitement! A little gossip birdie told me that the Shower Diva is setting up some shower gifts to be delivered to SJP and hubby Matthew! (I posted a blog about SJP's baby news a day or so ago).

DID YOU KNOW? Aries Sarah Jessica Parker is one of 10 children! This bright, sassy, straight shooting actress needed all that vibrant Mars ruling energy to help her stand out from her family crowd. This go-getter was already a Broadway stage star by age 13 when she won the part of ANNIE.

SJP has lots of grounding earth planets in her chart helping her steer a straight course to success and emotional stablity, including an ambitious, career oriented Capricorn Moon. (Guess what other super star has a Capricorn Moon? None other than California's Governor, Arnold Schwartznegger!)

Some general thoughts on Fire signs -- they give us the energy to quest for that ineffable something MORE.

1. Aries is the pioneering spirit needed to break the mold;
2. Leo is the flame of generosity and fame;
3. Sagittarius enlarges our understanding of truth by pushing beyond the boundaries of conventional consciousness.

Both Chelsea and SJP, with Mars ruled Venuses in their birth charts have broken new ground not only in their love lives but in their career lives as well.

Chelsea, who just turned 29 years of age, is also experiencing another significant astrological transition moment. She's experiencing her Saturn Return! It takes Mr. Maturity 29 1/2 years to cruise through all 12 signs of the zodiac. The Dean of Wisdom is transiting the sign Virgo at present, and will meet up with Chelsea's birth Saturn when he reaches 24 degrees of the sign on September 9-10, 2009. By then it looks like Ms. Clinton will be married!

DID YOU KNOW? Lots of people get married and bump up the career ladder during their first Saturn return phase which lasts from about age 28 to 30. This Saturn life timer often corresponds to the time when a couple or single mother has her first baby.

The second Saturn Return which occurs from about age 58 to 60 corresponds with children leaving the nest, becoming a grandparent, looking forward to retirement, and reaping the rewards of wisdom and experience gained.

The third Saturn Return occurs from about age 88 to 90. This is the final stage of life where maturity and wisdom and ripeness show not only in the state of our physical bodies, but through the sum total of contributions we launched onto the tides of life. At this final stage we release our hold on things (Saturn) and prepare to drop all forms and attachments into the eternal cosmic sea while contemplating rebirth on another plane of existence.

The Saturn cycle also works hand in glove with cycles of the Moon over our entire lives. Moon and Saturn work together in an eternal cosmic rhythm wielding powerful influences upon us. Our life stories ground us and link us to each other. We then connect universally to the soul of life -- the "Anima Mundi", or world soul, of which we all are a part. We partake of the great Anima but we also breathe life force into it. Our soul cycles are unlocked and our potential released each time we fulfill another planetary lesson in our natal horoscope.

So who says talking about celebrities can't lead us to greater thoughts? Ha!

From The Boston Globe:

"Buzz is building that Chelsea Clinton will get married on Martha's Vineyard this summer. Sources on the island tell us that the former first daughter will wed Marc Mezvinsky at Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen's home in Chilmark this August. The wedding coincides with President Barack Obama's rumored vacation on the Vineyard. To prepare for the A-list affair, Danson and Steenburgen are said to be doing extensive renovations on their property. Vineyard caterer Jaime Hamlin, who helped throw one of Bill Clinton's birthday parties on the island, said there's plenty of local excitement about Chelsea's upcoming nuptials, especially among vendors who hope to get some business from the Clintons. "They haven't called me yet," Hamlin joked. "Maybe they will." The young Clinton met Mezvinsky years ago through her parents. He is the son of former Iowa congressman Edward Mezvinsky, and like Chelsea, studied at Stanford University in California."

From Huffington Post:

"LOS ANGELES — Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick will be taking on new roles: parents of twin girls.

The "Sex and the City" star and her actor-husband are expecting twins through a surrogate pregnancy, representatives for the couple said Tuesday.

Parker, 44, and Broderick, 47, "are happily anticipating the birth of their twin daughters later this summer with the generous help of a surrogate. The entire family is overjoyed," said a statement from the publicists.

The couple has a 6-year-old son, James Wilkie Broderick, and will mark their 12th wedding anniversary next month.

Details about the surrogate or her pregnancy were unavailable, the publicists said.

Parker starred in the "Sex and the City" TV series and the hit movie of the same name. Broderick's credits include the films "Glory" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and the Broadway musical "The Producers."

Claudia Dikinis/Starcats
Keen.com Ext. 069048

Venus Goes Direct Today!

VENUS GOES DIRECT!
12:24 pm PT/3:24 pm ET

The goddess of love and cosmic conduit of the Law of Attraction goes direct today. The Sabian Symbol for her turnaround is:

"A Majestic Rock Formation Resembling a Face is Idealized By a Boy Who Takes it as His Ideal of Greatness; As He Grows Up, He Begins to Look Like it. "

This symbol is best interpreted by having a look at what my colleague Sabian Symbol expert Lynda Hill had to say in her most recent newsletter:



"This is a wonderful degree of self actualization and realisation. There is little doubt that Nathanial Hawthorne's story of  "The Great Stone Face" was what inspired this Sabian Symbol. In this story, a boy, Ernest, grows up under a wonderful rock formation that resembles a face. The people in the valley where he lives are inspired by this wonderful figure who looks so grand, wise and kind.

"For generations, going back to Indian lore, the people believed that one day someone would come that looks just like that face - someone big, successful, someone to be admired and respected. Over the years, people come into the valley, people who've somehow "made it" in life and the villagers would faun over them. Ernest, as he grows up, can see through these people who come by with their big successes and egos.

"It appears he doesn't so much judge them, more that he sees through their facades. The prophecy of someone manifesting themselves to be just like The Great Stone face appears to be just an empty promise until Ernest, now grown into an older man, is seen by a visiting poet to be the embodiment of those wonderful ideals. The man has grown into those ideals through holding them close to his heart and mind."

I'm also reminded of the Oscar Wilde story, "The Picture of Dorian Gray." You remember -- the handsome man who is vain and cruel is forced to encounter his true self because a painting of him begins to take on the character of ugliness that reflects the true state of his soul.

Venus, among many other things, is aligned with the way in which we define our personal values. Our core system of beliefs is reflected in what we hold most dear and how we project that truth outward into our world. If we believe that success is predicated on the money and objects we possess, our social standing and our looks, we may be in for a rude awakening when confronting reality -- the fact that all physical things are subject to the transitory light of human existence.



Fortune rises and falls (look at where the USA economy is now/meditate on the Tarot Card "The Wheel of Fortune"). Because of the natural aging process our looks fade. Over time "things" lose their luster or are outmoded by the arrival of new fashions, fads and trends. Today's treasures become tomorrow's trash.

The love goddess shifted to retrograde on March 6, 2009. She's spent 40 days in retrograde and, like my friend and colleague astrologer Lynda Hill says, this 40 days [of Venus retrograde] is like the holy sage's wandering in the wilderness to overcome his/her flirtation with temptation.

I'm not talking about the kind of temptations centered around bingeing on peanut butter cookies or splurging on a new pair of earrings. I'm referring to the kinds of temptation that could lead us to sell out our souls for worldly goods; to compromsing our principles just to make him/her "happy"; or into manipulating circumstances dishonestly so that we can get what we desire from people, places or things.

Christ wandered for 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness and confronted his own shadow (Satan) and was victorious over the lower parts of his nature.

Noah battled floods (unconscious, unintegrated contents) for 40 days and 40 nights and saved earth's species --  the manifestation of life's diversity --  from the darker forces of human greed.

40 is also the number of days Noah's spies explored the promised land before the settlers were psychologically prepared to enter that new level of consciousness.

40 years is the time it takes for a new generation to grow, mature and step into political and personal power.

So, what was the turning point for us during our time in the wilderness when Venus walked her 40 days of retrograde? What were our encounters with Soul about? What did we confront? What did we learn? Did we regain our perspective on possessions vs. Self-possession? Meaning, if we feel lacking in any way, have we reconciled our inner selves with the truth that the completion of soul isn't "out there." It's an INSIDE JOB.

On a practical level did we take time to redo the budget, renegotiate credit, payment plans, and get our taxes done on time? Did we donate babbles and practicals to our favorite thift store? Donate to our local pet adoption center or walk for our favorite charity? Retrogrades are a time of introspection, but also a time for giving out, letting go, recycling, repurposing, reusing and rehashing!

As we step onto the threshold of re-turning to ourselves alongside Venus, have we given thought to new definitions of beauty, love, elegance, loyalty, magnificence, esthetics*, friendship, social graces, manners, money, magnetism and material manifestation? Have these concepts transformed for you in any new ways?

As we step into late spring, new energy patterns will create opportunities for us to manifest what's right, beautiful and possible. Right, because who and what our "new" is reflects our soul development. Beautiful because the universal truth is that we are magnificent right where we stand. Possible, because all things are contained in the implicate and explicate order. The ultimate outpicturing of form and substance on the earth plane reflects eternal truth and time as existing simultaneously in the universe.

We all belong and we are needed.

Take some time today to reflect on what your experiences and evaluations have led you to conclude from dates of March 6 to April 17th. Then open intuitively and watch what more is revealed from now until May 21-22. That's the time frame Venus needs to roll back over the same degrees she crossed during her retrograde phase.

By May 22, we'll be out of what astro wonks call "the shadow period" -- past 15-16 degrees of Aries. (The Goddess moves into Taurus, one of her two signs of rulership on May 5-6).

Venus's retrograde degree (15-16 Aries) Sabian Symbol is:

"Nature Spirits Are Seen At Work In The Light Of Sunset"

The true inner spirit works in concert with natural instinct and inner spirit. The soul flows into a golden sunset where dreams and reflections take comfort so that the psyche can be born anew at sunrise.

Peace and Venus's blessings to all!


*esthetics - (art) the branch of philosophy dealing with beauty and taste (emphasizing the evaluative criteria that are applied to art); "traditional aesthetics assumed the existence of universal and timeless criteria of artistic value"

*****************
REMEMBER:

TIMING IS EVERYTHING! Whether our current challenges involve love relations, money or jobs, momentary setbacks need not limit our future success!

To find out what YOUR timing is for Love, Money & Career, give me a call! I'm Psychic 4U!

Warmest wishes,
Claudia Starcats
Keen.com Ext. 069048
************

Forecast - Monday's Ode On Melancholy -- This Too Shall Pass!

Forecast - Monday's Ode On Melancholy -- This Too Shall Pass!

Today's party on Sagittarius Moon in square to "get serious, get busy" Saturn is a hard dilemma to solve, but by this evening, I suspect Saturn will get the upper hand allowing you to settle down and get focused for the rest of the week.

The mood may grow more somber as the day moves on, but unless you find magic in melancholy reading Keats's famous ode, it might be better to sooth the gentle soul tonight by curling up with a good mystery novel or watching Hugh Laurie (Gemini, June 11, 1959) on the iconic tv series HOUSE.



Laurie has the mental trickster Mercury in opposition to serious Saturn. This opposition is a key player in the well-known fact that Mr. Laurie has suffered and been treated for clinical depression several times in his life. His dramatic Leo Moon in conjunction with erratic, Uranus can make for an extravagant display of mood swings.

Both of the aforementioned aspects also inform his brilliance as an actor. The Mercury-Saturn helps him focus and lends discipline. The Moon-Uranus gives him range and the ability to suddenly shift moods bringing sudden twists and turns (depth) to his famous tv role as Dr. House.

My next door neighbor will be appearing in the season finale of HOUSE (nope, no plot spoilers from me!) and has met Mr. Laurie. He says he's one of the nicest people. He's polite, shy, warm and personable. You never know what loving treasures might be hiding inside lifelong melancholy!

If you're bitten by a bit of the blue -- snuggle up on the couch and sip hot chocolate. Remember: THIS TOO SHALL PASS!

Here's the poem, just in case you were curious:

Ode on Melancholy

by John Keats

No, no, go not to Lethe, neither twist
Wolf's-bane, tight-rooted, for its poisonous wine;
Nor suffer thy pale forehead to be kiss'd
By nightshade, ruby grape of Proserpine;
Make not your rosary of yew-berries,
Nor let the beetle, nor the death-moth be
Your mournful Psyche, nor the downy owl
A partner in your sorrow's mysteries;
For shade to shade will come too drowsily,
And drown the wakeful anguish of the soul.
But when the melancholy fit shall fall
Sudden from heaven like a weeping cloud,
That fosters the droop-headed flowers all,
And hides the green hill in an April shroud;
Then glut thy sorrow on a morning rose,
Or on the rainbow of the salt sand-wave,
Or on the wealth of globed peonies;
Or if thy mistress some rich anger shows,
Emprison her soft hand, and let her rave,
And feed deep, deep upon her peerless eyes.

She dwells with Beauty - Beauty that must die;
And Joy, whose hand is ever at his lips
Bidding adieu; and aching Pleasure nigh,
Turning to poison while the bee-mouth sips:
Ay, in the very temple of Delight
Veil'd Melancholy has her sovran shrine,
Though seen of none save him whose strenuous tongue
Can burst Joy's grape against his palate fine;
His soul shall taste the sadness of her might,
And be among her cloudy trophies hung.

*****************
REMEMBER:

TIMING IS EVERYTHING! Whether our current challenges involve love relations, money or jobs, momentary setbacks need not limit our future success!

To find out what YOUR timing is for Love, Money & Career, give me a call! I'm Psychic 4U!

Warmest wishes,
Claudia Starcats
Keen.com Ext. 069048
************

Easter Weekend Update & Extended Astro Forecast

I wanted to share with you the April 10th lunar forecast my colleague astrologer Rick Levine posted on Stariq today:

"4/10/09—The Moon enters transformational Scorpio at 5:23 am EDT, revealing magic that can unfold only in the shadows. But we are not worried now about fears that we sometimes face in the darkness because the bright Sun forms a supportive sextile with optimistic Jupiter. The light of awareness has the power to free us from the paralyzing grip of the unknown. Additionally, thoughtful Mercury's connection to Jupiter inspires our words and uplifts our spirits."

I'm quoting him entirely because he created the perfect synthesis of the Scorpio Moon's impact on us over the next couple of days. Scorpio brings depth and the urge to penetrate mysteries, but the shadow side of the Scorpian is retentive, secretive and suspicious. But Jupiter will serve to uplift, especially because the Sun (consciousness) is in good aspect to the jovial one. Light, then, will balance darkness over the next 48 hours.



Sunday's ebullient, party hearty Sagittarius Moon makes brunch, egg hunts and honey-baked ham more flavorful. Savor the day, because as we head back to the routine on Monday morning, the Moon squares "downer" Saturn. If it's true the world runs on Dunkin', better buy two cups on the way to work.

April 13 - April 17:

HEADS UP - Next week's planet messengers are misaligned and royally pissed by Wednesday when fiesty Mars meets erratic Uranus. Moon with Pluto brings suspicion as Sun combined with mind-clouding Neptune throws a veil over truth. Be careful NOT to react to what you "think" is happening until you know beyond reasonable doubt what's really going on.

Be on guard starting Tuesday (4/14) because impatient Mars is likely to jump the gun a day early. Be AWARE. Don't react regardless of who's trying to push your buttons.

Stay frosty through Friday (4/17) as the goddess of love, Venus, goes back to direct motion! Yippee! By Friday evening, clear thinking capabilities return when Mercury in earthy Taurus trines exacting Saturn in Virgo. Saturn is retrograde currently, so a bit of sobering introspection is just what the doctor ordered.

The week of April 20th looks like one packed with rewards and reconciliation after paying our dues for any spills we took the previous week. Masculine Mars meets up with Lady Venus on Tuesday 4/21! The union of male/female energies is the love wave we're going to surf all the way up to Friday 4/24's New Moon in sexy, sensual Taurus. Splurge on champagne and chocolate cake. You deserve it!

REMEMBER:

TIMING IS EVERYTHING! Whether our current challenges involve love relations, money or jobs, momentary setbacks need not limit our future success!

To find out what YOUR timing is for Love, Money & Career, give me a call! I'm Psychic 4U!

Warmest wishes,
Claudia Starcats
Keen.com Ext. 069048
************

Today's Cozy Cancer Moon

STARCATS' UPDATE April 2, 2009 - That Cozy Cancer Moon

Next Full Moon - April 9, 2009 at 20 Libra!


We're under the soothing spell of a gentle Cancer Moon in effect until Friday (4/3) at 12:32 PM PDT/3:32 PM EDT. Take advantage of the harmonizing effects of this Moon's home-centered flow to catch up on sleep, cook comfort foods like pasta and garlic bread -- yummy! -- and organize photos into your scrapbook.


Cancer is the sign of home, hearth, children, and civilization. By civilization, I really do mean the cradle of all we hold dear: home, country, traditions, family and our personal history. On the universal level, Cancer represents the cradle (baby!) of civilization and is the sign associated with the African continent, a place where archeologists (ruled by Saturn-Capricorn, the sign opposite Cancer) still find skulls and bones that point to the existence of our most remote ancestors.

We're just past the first quarter Moon (a Cancer Moon square Aries Sun) leading up to the Full Moon in the relationship sign Libra (at 20 degrees) that occurs this year on Passover, April 9.

Lunar phases are timers for the development of important events in our lives. We usually know what our month is going to be about at the time of any New Moon, at the time of our own Lunar Return (the Moon returns to our birth chart Moon every month!), and anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 days before and after a Solar or Lunar Eclipse.

Squares indicate testing phases, so the Moon in square to the Sun indicates that what was on your plate at the time of the New Moon has begun to ripen as an issue and calls for your attention.

You may be engrossed in the issue or distracted by it, depending on what's happening happening in your life. Emotional reactions, memories of similar past events, and a longing to retreat to a more comfortable life phase or special place might be caught up with whatever challenges you're facing right now.

The positive build-in to the Full Moon of April 9th is that Venus (currently retrograde) is the ruler of that lunation. Seven days after that Venus-ruled full Moon, the love goddess goes from retrograde to direct motion! April 17th -- a Friday, the day associated with Venus! -- will be a great day to celebrate!

The New Moon of Aprl 24 is also a Venus ruled lunation in the money and opulent living sign of Taurus! If you have any trouble visualizing how cattle can symbolize money and opulent living, think of the Merrill Lynch iconic bull statue on Wall Street. [Issues of fraud and politics aren't any reflection on cattle!] Also, for centuries, the number of livestock owned by a tribe or family was a measure of their wealth. We find that today in non-industrial societies across the planet.

So there we are! We have two good news events set for April 2009: Two lunations (Full and New Moons) both ruled by Venus. The first lunation of April 9 is ruled by Venus retrograde. Venus turns direct one week later. The New Moon of April 24 is ruled by Venus in direct motion.

Venus in direct motion means all things associated with the planet can now start working in our favor. Money, relationships, social connections and relationships between women and female family members balance and harmonize. Showers and parties are best planned after April 17th. Men, if you're proposing this month, buy the ring and pop the question AFTER April 17th. That way she's sure to love your ring selection and quickly say YES!

For women who hope to become pregnant, the New Moon of April 24th in the fertile sign of Taurus is a good date to try if your cycle matches up to that New Moon starting 10 or so days before the 24th. No promises there! I'm not a fertility doctor, but I do know the love goddess and her sister Moon!

REMEMBER:

TIMING IS EVERYTHING! Whether our current challenges involve love relations, money or jobs, momentary setbacks need not limit our future success!

To find out what YOUR timing is for Love, Money & Career, give me a call! I'm Psychic 4U!



Warmest wishes,
Claudia Starcats
Keen.com Ext. 069048
************

More On Venus!

Venus is set to go DIRECT on Friday, April 17th. Celebrate by setting some time aside that Friday evening to meet up with friends or that special someone for wine or drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and laughter!



Venus is about conviviality and the accoutrement that goes with enjoying opulent social events. If you can't afford Don Perigon, so what? Go for style! Dress wearing your best and gather friends at an urban chic watering hole. Go during happy hour and stick with the house wine and finger foods. But, ladies, DON'T skimp on that long-lasting lipstick! The best brands for that ultra bang for your buck are Cover Girl Outlast, Max Factor Lipfinity and Revlon ColorStay. They're all under $15.00. Skip a couple of Starbucks and you've got your Venus-Goes-Direct present-to-self! [No, I'm not paid to sell these products. I use them!]

Between now and April 17th (another 18 days), we'll be finishing up some old business with female friends, mothers, sisters and female bosses, as well as reviewing and renewing love connections with that special "Other." If the road has been rocky, it comes with the territory when the love goddess is turned back on herself.

Tempers are short when Aphrodite feels slighted, so top models, idols, singers and pop stars alike aren't performing as well as they could. The frustration at not "sticking the landing" if you're job hunting can raise blood pressure and your ire.

The negative energy is going to ease up and ease off as soon as Venus gets her mojo back in mid-April! Our job right now is to hold the line. This is the time to affirm gratitude for what we have and take care to manage our assets well.

Venus Retro (& Recession) Ideas for Fun & (Almost) Free



Re-do your budget - look for ways to save

Rearrange your furniture - give your house/apartment a new look

Re-purpose decorations and knick knacks to make it "different"

Trade decorations around with friends so that you all can get a new "look" in your homes for free

Shop the Dollar Store and Goodwill, etc., for inexpensive glassware, plates and flower vases for use at pot luck parties

Trade clothes with friends for new wardrobe looks at zero price

If you just got laid off, organize a PINK SLIP party at your local pub and network, network, network

Check your local recycler paper for goods and services needed at discount prices

Give things you no longer need away. Clear clutter so the "new" can flow into your "empty" spaces
 
Find a friend to shop and cook with. Get together, make casseroles and divide them between the two of you. You'll save a dine healthily

The Goddess always finds a way and she finds her way creatively and always with style.

Relationships can benefit from make-overs too during Venus retrograde too. Sometimes the make-over is a break-up that leads to a reconciliation later. Problems get solved. Old ideas are let go so that the relationship can be reborn on a cleaner, clearer level.

Sometimes old lovers come back into our lives. They want to finish the unfinished with us in a gentle way or want to reconnect on a new basis. It could resolve into an affectionate friendship or if sparks are really flying, that old lover may be ready for commitment at long last. If someone you're hoping for has been more distant during Venus retrograde, there isn't much you can do but wait until Venus goes into direct motion. People can quite literally "turn around" their point of view and behavior when the social and relational planet Venus changes direction.

Hang in there! We're going to make it!



REMEMBER:

TIMING IS EVERYTHING! Whether our current challenges involve love relations, money or jobs, momentary setbacks need not limit our future success!

To find out what YOUR timing is for Love, Money & Career, give me a call! I'm Psychic 4U!

Warmest wishes,
Claudia Starcats
Keen.com Ext. 069048
************

STARCATS FULL MOON UPDATE March 10, 2009

AS ABOVE, SO BELOW STARCATS' UPDATE FULL MOON -- March 10, 2008 Today's Full Moon is at 20 Virgo 39

Next New Moon - March 26, 2009 at 6 Aries

ANNOUNCEMENTS: My Current Schedule: Everyday of the week except Saturday. Extended evening hours YES if you use Keen's ARRANGE A CALL feature. Book an appointment w/me in the late afternoon for your evening session. DISCOUNTS: I've lowered my rates by $0.50 a minute (to $3.49) to help everybody out due to the USA's financial crisis. I'll try to keep my rates down for as long as I can. If you no longer wish to receive my newsletters, please let me know and I'll take you off my mailing list.

Full Moon Sabian Symbols: Moon: 20-21 deg Virgo A Girls' Basketball Team Sun: 20-21 deg Pisces Under The Watchful And Kind Eye Of A Chinese Servant, A Girl Fondles A Little White Lamb As you can see from the sabian symbols above, this lunation is about teamwork and protection. It's how we support each other and maintain a safe haven where we find time for peaceful contemplations.

THE FULL MOON:

The Moon will combine forces with Saturn while the Sun aligns with Uranus. This full moon sets off a key planetary alignment that is as influential in our lives as are this year's eclipses -- It's the Saturn-Uranus opposition. This cosmic tug of war does battle until July 26, 2010, and makes long-term progress more difficult. Notice I said "more difficult. NOT impossible.

RADICAL URANUS AND STODGY SATURN:

Saturn and Uranus first aligned in perfect opposition on November 4, 2009 -- the presidential election. The second (of 5 perfect oppositions) took place on February 5, 2009.* On the world stage, we're witnessing the planetary struggle over change, risk, innovation (Uranus) as against "more of the same" -- Saturn.

AS ABOVE, SO BELOW:

"The concept . . . in The Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus, in the words "That which is Below corresponds to that which is Above, and that which is Above, corresponds to that which is Below, to accomplish the miracles of the One Thing"[19]. In accordance with the various levels of reality: physical, mental, and spiritual, this relates that what happens on any level happens on every other. . . . [41]." (From Wikipedia) I cited the above as a way of linking together the ideas that what we see "out there" is happening inside us, and vice versa. Whatever the planets above reveal through their alignment is mirrored through events, activities and manifestations below -- here on the earth plane. Our lives are a direct reflection of all that's taking place right now in the Universe. The people, places and things in our lives are an outpicturing of the way we view ourselves and how we participate in our larger communities.

[Note -- if you are experiencing grave personal hardship, what I just said is not to be construed as finger pointing. There are outer planet alignments in play right now that usher in harsh events that are out of our control. These manifestations are considered to be "collective" or more universal in nature.]

OKAY, BACK TO THE FULL MOON!

This Full Moon across the Virgo/Pisces axis brings into high focus the need for a deep personal review of where we need to challenge ourselves on the level of change at the risk of upsetting either our own fear-based resistance or the displeasure of others who may NOT have our best interests at heart. The Saturn Uranus struggle will be accentuated by the security-based Moon aligning with stalwart Saturn. The way Moon-Saturn expresses itself, particularly in perfection oriented Virgo, is a combination of melancholy, nitpicking, dissatisfaction, criticism, overeating or undereating, and intestinal disorders.

Sun in alignment with Uranus is bound to be impatient, restless, mentally charged, impulsive, quick-witted, and dreamy (Sun in watery Pisces). Keep in mind that Uranus is in mutual reception with dissolving Neptune, so brilliant thoughts can slip away in the blink of an eye. Hence, the need to focus more closely on multi-tasking and details so that mistakes aren't made.

What is mutual reception? "M-R" is when two planets are in each other's signs of rulership trading communications back and forth: Uranus rules Aquarius and is presently in Pisces. Neptune rules Pisces and is presently in Aquarius. Think of "M-R" as an episode of "Trading Spaces!" Mi Casa Es Tu Casa, and vice versa. The planets in each other's signs are considered as exalted guests. The two help each other get in and out of trouble with fluent ease.

When we place what I said above into the context of today's Full Moon, We're being handed a spoonful of medicine without the sugar to help it go down. It's an alchemical mix of outer planet overdose laced with the core identity planets: Sun and Moon.**

CONTROL? WHAT CONTROL?

This Full Moon is bound to accentuate how we cope with things we have little control over. Whether it's a relationship run amok or tense encounter with friend or boss, the "how" of navigating this lunation begins with hitting the PAUSE button! Remember to breathe. If you're in doubt as to what action to take -- don't do anything. Defer decisions until the way forward is made clear. You'll know when that is, because you've always known and you know what happens when you don't listen to your inner voice. There's no sense in repeating old behavior expecting a different result (Saturn). Wait until the light of inner truth (Uranus) shows you an intelligent way forward.

THE GOOD NEWS

CHANGE comes by the time we make it to the NEW MOON of March 26, 2009. This lunation joins Venus retrograde at 6 ARIES signaling reunions, making up after breaking up as well as the reharmonizing of relationships with family and friends.

1. Sun will join up with Venus on March 27 -- "He" (the Sun) reconnects with "She" (Venus Retrograde).

2. Mercury joins up with Venus on March 28th. Mercury to Venus: sweet talk, words of love, harmony in communications, invitations to dates and parties, the coming of peace after a time of separation.

3. Moon sextiles (sextiles bring opportunities) Venus retrograde and Sun aligns with Mercury on March 30th. Here we find soulful Luna in talkative Gemini providing a soft backdrop for "Him" (Sun) so that he feels comfortable chatting you up!

I may have taken the long way around talking about today's Full Moon, but I wanted to make a larger point: No matter what it looks like or feels like today, before March is out it's going to take a turn for the better. So hang in there!

REMEMBER: TIMING IS EVERYTHING and our job is to make ourselves ready to receive outworkings and gifts at the appointed time. It's not in our control. HOW it's going to happen is none of our business. Our job is to STAND and BELIEVE. Let Go and Let the Universe!

Whether our current challenges involve love relations, money or jobs, momentary setbacks need not limit our future success! To find out what YOUR timing is for Love, Money & Career, give me a call! I'm Psychic 4U!

Warmest wishes,
Claudia Starcats Ext. 069048

 Footnotes: *The 5 Saturn-Uranus Oppositions November 4, 2008 February 5, 2009 September 15, 2009 April 26, 2010 July 26, 2010 **The Sun and Moon in a horoscope are not referred to as planets by Astro Wonks. We call them "The Lights."

Starcats UPDATE - How to Handle Venus Retrograde in Restless Aries!

STARCATS' UPDATE -- March 6, 2008 Venus Retrograde in Aries

Next Full Moon - Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 21 Virgo

ANNOUNCEMENTS: My Current Schedule: Everyday of the week except Saturday.

Extended evening hours YES if you use Keen's ARRANGE A CALL feature. Book an appointment w/me in the late afternoon for your evening session.

DISCOUNTS: I've lowered my rates by $0.50 a minute (to $3.49) to help everybody out due to the USA's financial crisis. I'll try to keep my rates down for as long as I can.

If you no longer wish to receive my newsletters, please let me know and I'll take you off my mailing list.

---

Venus of "What's in your wallet?" turned retrograde today at 12:17 pm ET/9:17 am PT.

The persona known as Fortuna and ruler of femmes, fashion, jewelry, lovers and cash, will now backtrack from 15+ Aries to 29 Pisces by April 17 then retrace her steps to 15-16 Aries up to May 22nd, when she leaves the degrees astrology wonks call "shadow."

To understand how Venus operates when she's retrograde in your life, 1) 1) locate Venus in your own chart (sign and house; and 2) look to what house cusps contain Venus's signs (Taurus/Libra) in your birth chart. This should give you a basic idea of what to expect over the next 6 weeks.

If stargazing isn't your cup of cosmic tea, meditate on the Empress and Justice cards in the Tarot deck. These two cards give us two faces of Venus. Taurus (Empress) is associated with all things that pleasure the senses: aromatherapy candles, cosmetics, perfumes, jewelry, massage, love making, socializing, bridal, bachelorette and baby showers, engagement and wedding announcements, beauty shops, clothiers, and more!

Libra (Justice card) is concerned with how relationships work, the marriage contract, relationship commitment -- longevity because Saturn of "things that last long" is exalted (works especially well) when in Libra -- and even if not placed there, has a special relationship with the sign. Partnerships of all kinds are associated with Libra and all contracts and agreements, whether oral or written, share a link with even-handed Libra.

This brings me to Venus's current placement in Aries, the sign opposite Libra, one of her two rulership signs. When a planet is in a sign opposite the one it rules, this is what astro wonks call "detriment." Venus in one of her two signs of detriment (she rules Taurus, so Scorpio is her other sign of detriment), means: She can't work as well as she normally does. She's hampered, challenged or handicapped in some way until she moves out of Aries and enters Taurus (June 6, 2009).

Does this mean everything is going to a misery? NO! But there are a few things we're going to need to suck up and deal with in order to come out of Venus retrograde feeling okay.

1. Venus in Aries is an uncomfortable place for the Goddess because she's moving through Mars's sign of rulership. Venus in Aries has a tendency to want to start doing Mars's job. I don't mean that women should sit on pillows and be fluffy at the expense of dynamic achievement in the marketplace. What I DO mean is that Venus -- in connection with romantic issues -- needs to re-member that VENUS'S JOB IS TO ATTRACT. That's her job. That's what Venus does.

VENUS IS THE LAW OF ATTRACTION and every woman who's spent a day at the beauty parlor preparing for a big date knows exactly what I'm talking about. Every person who has burned candles to support their affirmations of abundance, "I want to attract more wealth", knows exactly what I'm talking about.

Venus in Aries, because of impatience (an Aries trait!) attempts to wrestle people, places, things and circumstances into the form wanted without regard for consequences. The result: THE PROJECT BACKFIRES!

The lesson? If S/He isn't cooperating (Libra) with what you want -- are you being too aggressive? Demanding? Are you putting expectations and -- yeah -- selfish desire ahead of Venus's natural graciousness and respect for another's values? Time? Life situation? Inner process?

These are all important considerations for getting a handle on how to navigate Venus retrograde in Aries.

Anxiety, anger, frustration, and dramatic outbursts at not getting what we want when we want it are signs that we are out of balance (Venus as ruler of balancing Libra). Once we know that retrograde Venus in Aries, needs to practice patience, chant LET GO, LET THE UNIVERSE and stop trying to do Mars's job, we can redirect all that burning energy from frustration to eventual fruition.

SABIAN SYMBOL for Venus at 15-16 Aries:

Nature Spirits Are Seen At Work In The Light Of Sunset

The image of nature spirits at work matches up with the side of Venus she enacts when in the sign Taurus. From this sabian symbol we take clues of how to assuage our fears and tamp down our tempers. All things associated with the sensual are our remedies: spa days, massages, aromatherapy, candle rituals, incense, dressing better, using body lotions, redoing the bedroom, getting out the fancier sheets and using the better table linens, dabbing on a favorite perfume even if you're just going for a walk, and:

going over that checkbook to find ways to balance the budget; cutback on needless expenditures (by using what we already have on hand for the rituals described above), deciding how to pay down credit card debt, budgeting cash-in-wallet by brown bagging lunch to the office, waiting until Venus goes direct before getting a new hair-do (trims are okay), no botox or plastic surgery, no new clothes expenditures unless you're just replacing commonly used items such as wallets, the obligatory black shoes, another pair of gray slacks.

The above suggestions are some of the many I've collected and used myself and advised clients of for many, many years now.

The bottom line? Dont make Venus -- or any other planet for that matter -- do a job that is not in line with it's nature. Venus is not Mars. By the same token, Mars (now in Aquarius) is not Venus either -- so while thinking about what "he" may not be showing you right now -- anything warm, soft and fuzzy maybe? That's not Mars's job -- especially when transiting intellectually detached Aquarius!

When Mercury and Mars move into watery Pisces in the next few days, a lot is going to shift for guys. They're suddenly going to get in touch with a lot of feelings that were much easier to set aside during the march through Aquarius. The element change of Mercury-Mars from air to water will help ameliorate firey Venus's frustration. What happens when you mix water with fire? Steam! We'll have everything from tempests in a teapot to long soaks in the hot tub!

REMEMBER:

TIMING IS EVERYTHING and our job is to make ourselves ready to receive outworkings and gifts at the appointed time. The HOW it's going to happen isn't our business. Our business is to STAND and BELIEVE. Nothing gets released through clenched fists. Once we really accept that The Universe is on our side and KNOWS when we're ready to receive, all anxiety and doubt fall away.

Whether our current hopes are centered on love, or we're facing money or job challenges, this difficult time in the USA's economy need not limit our future success.

Remember: God (The Universe) Is Not Broke!

---

To find out what YOUR timing is for Love, Money & Career, give me a call! I'm Psychic 4U!

Warmest wishes,
Claudia Starcats
Ext. 069048

Eclipses, The Pre-Natal Solar Eclipse And Captain Sully

Eclipses, The Pre-Natal Solar Eclipse And Captain Sully

(and god help me with this Mercury Retrograde!)

If you didn't get a chance to catch me live last night on Storm Cestavani's radio show, we talked about eclipses, and paid special attention to one's pre-natal Solar Eclipse.

As Storm mentioned at the top of the hour, we haven't had 6 eclipses in one year since 1941. I forgot to mention on air a couple of interesting eclipse factoids:

In 1935 there were 5 solar eclipses but only two lunar ones. That is so exceptional that it only happens once every 300 years.

In 1951 there were two solar eclipses but no lunar ones. That was also an exceptional eclipse year.

Here's a perfect example of how a Pre-Natal eclipse and the lunar nodes played a vital role in public life.

Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III

January 23, 1951, 12:00 PM (no time known) CST+6:00, Denison, Texas

Captain Sully's pre-natal solar eclipse took place on September 12, 1950 at 19 Virgo. As you can see from Sully's birth chart, The good captain was born with a number of planets in the degree of his lunar nodes and in the exact degree of his pre-natal solar eclipse.

Sully's North Node is 19 Pisces, the degree transiting Uranus (ruler of aircraft and aviation). Transiting Saturn, now retrograde opposes Uranus from Virgo and will do so a total of 5 times between now and 2010.

2009-2010 Saturn-Uranus Oppositions:

Nov 4, 2008
Feb 5, 2009
Sept 15, 2009
Apr 26, 2010
Jul 26, 2010

Sully's Venus (19 Aquarius), Pluto (19 Leo), Neptune (19 Libra) are all in the degree of his natal lunar nodes and the degree of his pre-natal solar eclipse. As you can see, Sully's pre-natal solar eclipse was set off via our current planetary transits to his natal lunar nodes.

U.S. Airways Flight 1549 Take-off

January 15, 2009, 3:24 pm, Flushing, NY, 8 Cancer Ascendant

Pilots and pundits remarked again and again that no pilot had ever successfully ditched an aircraft and certainly no pilot had ever been ever to ditch on water. What in the Take-Off chart can we find that helps us identify why Sully was successful?

First, the Ascendant at 8 Cancer is closely aligned with the USA's (1776 chart) natal Sun at 13 Cancer which is conjoined to the luckiest of fixed stars, Sirius. The Moon at 28 Virgo is void of course. This is a key to Sully's success. First, it shows that the flight itself would come to no avail. Nothing would come of it (a flight that wouldn't make it to it's destination) but also anything that might occur to the craft itself would "come to no avail." Void of course moons often signal "nothing comes of the matter. No consequences."

Next, Uranus (ruler of pilots, aviation and aircraft) at 19 Pisces is aligned with Sully's future oriented North Node. His Natal Venus at 19 Aquarius (Uranus ruled) is aligned with the Take-off flight's Chiron. Chiron may signify wounds, but the base of the word Chiros means "hands." Chiron transiting Aquarius signals a steady "hand" as well as a healing one. Remember that Captain Sully walked his entire aircraft twice to make sure all passengers were off the plane before he disembarked. Sully's lunar nodes, aligned along the service axis of Virgo/Pisces was supercharged by virtue of his pre-natal eclipse being activated by current planetary transits.

The Take-off chart's Jupiter (the benevolent one of the planetary gods) at 2 Aquarius, is conjoined to Sully's birth sun. Sully has an out-of-sign conjunction to safety and security Vesta (29 Capricorn). Jupiter's conjunction to his sun and close proximity to Vesta provided that stroke of luck Sully needed to align with his keen nano-second decision-making skills. It helps when you're a qualified member of MENSA by the time you hit the age of 12! See Sully's bio

It bears mentioned that the preceding Full Moon of January 10 (21 Capricorn 02) held a crucial mid-point secret. The distance between the Sun and Neptune (22 Aquarius) was 6 Aquarius -- the degree of our upcoming Solar Eclipse (January 26, 2009). Pluto's (life and death issues) ascending node in the Full Moon chart (yes, planets also have nodes) was 20 Cancer conjunct the Full Moon and in opposition to the Sun. FM Mercury at 7 Aquarius sits on the midpoint of Sun-Neptune and reiterates the upcoming Solar Eclipse degree of January 26.

Sully has what I call a natal T-square of brilliance in his birth chart. He's got Mercury in opposition to Uranus and both planets square Saturn exalted in the mental balance sign Libra. The focal point or outflow point for energy caught in the T-square is Saturn. Quick thinking (Mercury-Uranus) is tempered and disciplined (Saturn) judicially (Libra) so that decisions made can have the best outcome.

Of course, Sully's Mars conjunction Jupiter shows what a hot dog pilot he was in the AirForce. Placed in the sign of Pisces and in the degree of the Lunar Nodes (9 Aquarius/Leo) of the Flight 1459 chart point to Sully's years of service (Pisces/Virgo) in the military (Mars-Jupiter conjunction) paid off. All 150 passengers and members of the crew aboard Sully's flight survived the ditch into the Hudson. We all benefitted from Sully's act of brillance, bravery and service at a time when our nation needed to cheer and feel proud again.

What a wonderful way to step into Barack Obama's inauguration as our 44th president 5 days later.

But he had swear his oath twice!

And that's my subject for another column. -- Starcats, January 23, 2009

Reminder:

Our first eclipse is a Solar one at 6 degrees 30 minutes Aquarius set for January 26, 2009 at 2:59 AM, Washington, DC. It's the first supercharged lunation (all eclipses are lunations, but not all lunations are eclipses) of Barack Obama's presidency.

Sully-Flight 1459 Timeline

Courtesy of Newsday.com

January 17, 2009

US Airways Flight 1549 was scheduled to take off at 2:45 p.m. on Thursday. It pushed back from the gate at 3:03 p.m. and took off at 3:24. Seven minutes later, the jetliner crash-landed into the Hudson.

What follows is a timeline of the event, and a sampling of NYPD and FDNY calls that track the emergency response.

3:24 p.m.: Takeoff from LaGuardia.

3:25: Pilot reports bird strike five to six miles from airport, declares an emergency and asks to return to airport.

3:28: Just north of the George Washington Bridge, jet's altitude is 2,000 feet and speed is 232 mph.

3:29: First of what officials call 120 911 calls reporting crash in the Hudson.

3:31: Jet drops from radar, apparently has landed in water.

3:32: NYPD Emergency

Service officers, on patrol in midtown Manhattan, board Circle Line at Hudson River and 42nd Street to go out to crash site.

3:35: FDNY receives reports of plane in the water. ... Also receives multiple calls in the Bronx reporting a plane with engine fire.

3:36: FDNY Rescue 1 to their Manhattan base: "Urgent! Plane in the water with people out. We're launching our boat!"

3:37: FDNY Battalion 9: "Have all units respond to the Intrepid. That's where Rescue 1 is."

3:40: FDNY Battalion Chief 9 to Manhattan dispatch: "Urgent! We have a commercial airliner down, have all units respond to Circle Line Piers, we have people on the wings, we have a Circle Line Boat pushing it to the pier."

3:46: FDNY division chief to Manhattan dispatch: "Urgent! I want all the Marine Units responding on this incident! At this time we have numerous people on the wings on the plane."

3:53: From a senior fire official's vehicle: "Notify Division 1 as per FDOC [the department's operations center in Brooklyn], there are ' passengers and five crew, total of 151."

4:13: FDNY Marine Battalion:

"Marine 1 and Marine 6 have lashed the plane to ensure the remaining fuel and engine do not break away."

4:20: FDNY FieldCom [a mobile communications unit]: "As per the pilot, there is no one left on the plane."

Copyright © 2009, Newsday Inc

Starcats to be on Storm's Radio Show, Eclipses, Obama & More!

Heads Up! I'll be Storm Cestavani's featured guest on his radio show Jan 22, 2009 at 11PM EST/8 PM PST.

If you haven't checked out the 100% free Air1Radio online, hie thee hence and sign up. Storm and I will be discussing the astrology of eclipses. You won't want to miss this broadcast. We're facing a year of 6 eclipses -- 2 Solar and 4 Lunar. This is a repeat of the 1990 eclipse cycle, so check out this 1990 timeline and do some thinking about where you were and what you were doing.

Aquarius Solar Eclipse, January 26th

Our first eclipse is a Solar one at 6 degrees 30 minutes Aquarius set for January 26, 2009 at 2:59 AM, Washington, DC. It's the first supercharged lunation (all eclipses are lunations, but not all lunations are eclipses) of Barack Obama's presidency.

The Eclipse rulers are Saturn (traditional ruler of Aquarius) and Uranus (modern ruler). Both planets are in orb of opposition to each other. The first of 5 perfect oppositions of the two occurred on Election night, November 4, 2008. Oppositions are starkly confrontational and the two players are aligned along Virgo/Pisces, the axis known as the serve or suffer polarity.

Obama's natal 6th house Sun (in egocentric Leo) resonates with the concept of service because of the Solar god's natal placement in the house of humility. Obama began his political career by giving service as a community organizer. Obama's natal 6th house in dramatic Leo reveals that this solar placement was bound to bring him publicity and a place on the national stage.

The Lord of the eclipse is Jupiter, the planet closest in degree to the Sun and Moon, shares the highest dignity (valuation) of the planets in the eclipse, and although occulted (eclipsed) by the Sun and Moon, technically rises east of them by two degrees at the maximum height of this celestial event.

A few quickie rules to keep in mind when evaluating eclipses. Which planet is closest in degree to an eclipse? That's your Lord. That's a special designation that goes beyond identifying the sign rulers. If Jupiter is Lord or in the degree of the eclipse nodes or tightly aspected to the eclipse, the darling gas bag expands the eclipses themes. Mars fulfilling the aforementioned criteria stimulates eclipses by virtue of his impatience, ham-fistedness and (with Mercury) big mouth. Saturn, by contrast, usually cuts short, cuts off, depresses, constricts, contracts and ends an eclipse cycle. These are just a few basic ideas to get you thinking before my big night on Storm's radio show!

Just so you know, Mars is at 22 degrees Capricorn conjoined to Mercury in the Solar Eclipse chart. Both planets are in orb of conjunction of Barack Obama's Saturn, the USA's Pluto and in opposition to the USA's natal Mercury. USA Mercury and transiting Mercury are both retrograde. So the question is: what angry reactions and debates will take place after Obama signs his very first legislation the day is he inaugurated? Since transiting Mercury is retrograde, what will he be forced to undo or revise by the time of the Lunar eclipse of February 10th at 21 Leo/Aquarius?

Mercury turned retrograde on January 11, 2009 at 7 Aquarius, which is in line with January 26th's eclipse degree. The little guy goes direct on February 1 at 21 Capricorn (The degree of the full Moon of January 10) and won't be out of its retrograde shadow degrees until February 21-22. Mercury by virture of its retrograde backtracking will make a total of three conjunctions to Obama's natal Saturn, Michele's natal Sun, the USA's natal Pluto while opposing the USA's natal Mercury along the way.

[Mercury is retrograde, and since Mercury is my natal chart's ruling planet, cut me some slack while I veer all over the place!]

I don't want to forget to bring up one of my mega-finds tucked away in the Full Moon chart (2009's first lunation) of January 10th, set for Washington, DC. The Ascendant is 26 Virgo, accentuating and introducing into our Solar year that serve or suffer Virgo/Pisces axis. Venus in her loving exaltation is in Pisces in the 6th (!!) house along with the Vertex (fated point) and Uranus of dynamic change straight from the sky god himself. The Part of Fortune is also in Pisces conjoined to the Descendant at 26 Pisces.

What really got me is that the midpoint between the Sun and Neptune (Neptune is the modern ruler of Pisces. The traditional ruler is Jupiter) is 6 Aquarius 30 -- or the degree of January 26th Solar Eclipse!

The Ascendant/Midheaven midpoint is 11 Leo 06, or conjunct Barack Obama's 6th house natal Sun in the sign of Leo.

Obama's natal Jupiter is at 0 Aquarius, the degree the Sun is always in for a presidential inauguration. In fact, Obama had his Jupiter Return (we have them every 12 years) in the days leading up the the New Year's first lunation.

Obama's natal Saturn is conjunct the New Moon's Juno -- an asteroid that is powerfully connected to personal marriage but also to important political alliances both national and international as well.

I suspect that these points of contact, now written in the Akashic Records for all time, point to the fact Obama's alliances as president will be fraught with complexities, complications, and difficulties -- his natal Saturn, Michele's Sun, and the New Moon chart's Juno sit on the USA's natal Pluto opposite it's Mercury.

Obama's alliances with Congress have already been tested as he pressed for the additional billions resting in the TARP account in order to help jump-start the economy. Whereas Republican law makers balked at handing the funds over in a (now) rare moment of fiscal concern for the country, they quickly reversed course and handed the funds to the president-elect.

What do all these planetary hits mean? Why list them? Why talk about them? Because tucked away in these charts, the earliest ones for 2009, are the clues to how Obama's first year as president are going to unfold. We the people have a huge stake in how events play out.

Eclipses and powerful lunations that make aspect to the charts of world leaders and nations have significant impact on us personally (our own horoscopes and lives resonate), on the collective body ("we the people"), and at all points where the collective lines blur and merge with the personal and vice versa.

I think our nation's leaders ignore astrology at their and our peril. America faces nothing less than the resurrecting of herself after an astonishing rapine and savage 30 years spawned by the so-called Reagan Revolution.

The time has come for 50% of the electorate to come to grips with the fact that trickle-down economics, the invisible hand of the market place and Milton Friedman/Shock Doctrine economics don't work. Old ideas and ideologies have brought us to the brink of disaster. Let's turn this Titanic around before she really does hit the iceberg. -- Starcats, January 17, 2009.

Barack H. Obama, August 4, 1961, 7:24 PM, Honolulu, Hawaii, 18 AQ Asc. AA rating. Data from BC.

2009-2010 Saturn-Uranus Oppositions:

Nov 4, 2008
Feb 5, 2009
Sept 15, 2009
Apr 26, 2010
Jul 26, 2010

Starcats' Astro Blast -- Sagittarius

Sagittarius shares duality with its polar opposite sign, Gemini. The Archer, ruled by benevolent Jupiter, is either involved with humankind's highest aspirations or chooses to align him/herself with exaggeration and excess. There are two kinds of Sagittarians. The first one is the seeker, world traveler, teacher, pilgrim, judge and preacher. The other is an overeater, drinker, prevaricator, and tyrant. Most Sagittarians lie between these two extremes. One thing about the Archer has to be clear: no Sagittarius feels completely whole unless questing for freedom of thought, word and deed. Sagittarians need a lot of room with which to move. I know a Sagittarian who slaps her foot like a merry horse when she laughs! Roving, roaming, and galloping describe ways the Archer relieves anxiety. They are searching for something. What they most crave is a big bite out of the apple of truth.

As a mutable fire sign, Sagittarius is filled with "shaki," which is Sanskrit for energy. The mutability of the Archer dispenses that energy quite differently from cardinal fire Aries, or fixed fire Leo. There is more angst. Sagittarius follows the depth of regenerative, probing, psychic and sometimes paranoid Scorpio. From overwhelming Pluto (Scorpio's ruler) the jump is to expansive Jupiter. Sometimes called the Santa Claus of the zodiac, Jupiter's function is more ample than the mere dispensing of boons and gifts. Jupiter's violet call is to a destiny of higher mind; higher education; long distance travel, where other cultures reveal the truth of one's own. Expansive Sagittarius must fire the Archer's arrow into the great unknown in hopes of discovering his/her place in the cosmos.

The downside of Sagittarius can manifest itself in dogmatic pride and tyranical attachment to personal beliefs. Lacking it's polar opposite's healing mirror (Mercury in Gemini) the Archer loses sight of the arrow and cannot reconnect to the reason why the probe was launched. With scientific, and often skeptical Mercury balancing Jupiter's tendency to exaggerate, the Archer can learn prudence and balance. He/she can examine beliefs in a non-threatening way, and analyze the foundation of belief systems in order to clean out what does not work.

Sagittarius belongs in wide open spaces of the mind. Restrictions on the quest make the Centaur angry and restless. Burning with the violet light of intuition and intellect, the Archer can evolve into teacher/avatar so long as he/she keeps sight of the golden arrow shot to the highest point.

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Need some fine-tuning on YOUR timing for Love, Money & Career? Give me a call on Keen. I'm here for you!

Warmest wishes,
Claudia Starcats
Ext. 069048

Find And Use Your Inner Power 11/18/08 - Starcats

In 1937, Emmet Fox, New Thought healer, wrote a book called "Find and Use Your Inner Power." I have so many books here that deal with New Thought, astrology, tarot, runes, I Ching. Jungian psychology and the like, that I forgot how simple, direct and powerful Emmet Fox's works are.

Like just about everyone we know, I think a lot about where we're going as a country. Economic concerns, global warming, war and health insurance can sometimes keep us awake at night. Emmet Fox's elegant and uncomplicated one page affirmations for all concerns now takes top place on my coffee table!

Fox's "Cafeteria" prescription for positive thought is as follows:

". . . it is not spiritual to 'put up' with inharmonious conditions. If the conditions of your life are not to your liking you must get to work on your own consciousness, and by raising that above the outer picture, cause those conditions to become something nearer to your heart's desire, and you must keep on doing this until you find your True Place."

He goes on to say that we should claim mentally what we want but don't limit it by affirming all the details. That blocks the flow and is called "outlining." Outlining blocks the creative flow of Divine Mind and thereby limits manifestation.

Our job is to claim positively what we want and/or need again and again but leave the HOW up to the universe. New Thought experts often remind us that we don't have to send detailed memos to the universe spelling out our needs. We are ONE with it, so how can the universe not know what we want? We simply need to do the inner work of raising consciousness so that we become open channels. Once we open up, the good we seek flows in without our having to stress and strain about it.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING and our job is to make ourselves ready to receive our gifts at the appointed time. The how and the when can't be forced. Once we really accept that, anxiety and upset fall away.

Whether our hopes are centered on love, money or vocation, this difficult time in our economy need not limit our future success. Let's re-member that old adage -- crisis is opportunity in disguise. Emmett Fox understood this at a soul level. He wanted us to do so too!

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To find out precisely what YOUR timing is for Love & Money & Career, be sure and give me a call! I'm here for you. And I want to be the biggest help I can possibly be. Don't hesitate to call!

Warmest wishes,
Claudia Starcats
Ext. 069048

Some thoughts about the sign Scorpio

There are three kinds of Pluto ruled Scorpios, and any person born under the sign can demonstrate all three depending on the circumstances. First is the scorpion, the one that gets so much publicity for creating "evil." That type is called the unregenerate Scorpio, a spiritual renegade hell-bent on enlisting the universe to do his/her will. Manipulation is one of Pluto's darker sides. The second type is the eagle. This type is still secretive but is able to remain much more self-controlled. The third type is the dove Scorpio, the highest path that can be fulfilled, and all Scorpios, whether they admit it or not, are groping toward that end. Scorpio has the power to heal, to regenerate, to create and to destroy. Mars, as co-ruler with Pluto, forms an atomic power base from which Scorpio will either triumph or succumb.

Pluto in mythology is god of the underworld. No one is more familiar with the underside of things than Scorpio. Carrying the burden of life, death, regeneration, metamorphosis, creation and destruction is more than humans can bear, yet Scorpio, in its purest state, supplies all the healing and regenerating powers needed to survive the many losses suffered in one lifetime. Scorpio is master of death, loss, and irrevocable change. Scorpio is also master of sex, for the mystery of sex is caught up with death -- the ultimate surrender, whether it be to the grave or to one's lover's bed. Regeneration from the root chakra to the crown chakra is Pluto and Scorpio's province. A sudden loss, falling deeply in love, mourning one's dreams are all potential stages for ultimate surrender and rebirth into a new being.

Being master of such journeys is no light responsibility and traversing the underworld can make Scorpio naturally secretive, suspicious and jealous. Victories and regenerations are hard won, and not even this Pluto ruled sign can easily forego what the heart and body desire. Yet Scorpio is called to do just this.

Scorpio's mirror is found in its polar opposite, Taurus. Venus ruled Taurus supplies Scorpio with patience, nourishment, stabilty and an eye for beauty that can open this secretive Plutonian to the joys of life in the sun. Sensuality can be joyful and light and Scorpio needs to learn more about lightness. Taurus' love of the earth and its splendors heals the Scorpionic defense mechanism that seeks to find darkness everywhere. Pluto is a harsh ruler when erasing the blackboard of life. Yet the paradox is that all things removed rebirth as something higher. Taurus' gentle hand upon the face of nature is another regenerative mirror Scorpio can gaze upon. The integration takes place at the level of forgiveness and light.

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To find out precisely what YOUR timing is for Love & Money & Career, no matter which sign you are, be sure and give me a call here on Keen. I'm here for you. And I want to be the biggest help I can possibly be. Don't hesitate to call!

Warmest wishes,
Claudia Starcats
Ext. 069048

Upcoming Full Moon of November 12 Holds Healing Promise!

Our next FULL MOON is Wednesday, November 12 at 21 Taurus 15. The Sabian Symbol for 21-22 Taurus is:

"A White Dove Flying Over Troubled Waters"

Here is peace and the promise of comfort. Notice that the White Dove doesn't calm the troubled waters but it's flight over them is a universal symbol of the spirit in flight that transcends difficulties experienced on the earth plane. Since water is the symbol of deep emotions and the unconscious, the dove's flight speaks to our ability to rise above knee-jerk emotional reactions and our capacity to find meaning or reason for why (at certain times) certain dreams, thoughts and images spontaneously occur in our minds.

As we bear witness to events taking place at this highly volatile yet exciting transitional time in history, let's not forget that the dove of spiritual communion is always flying just above us (symbolic of higher consciousness) and that we need only pause, still the inner currents (flowing emotions) and feel the spiritual air (air is associated with intellect) blowing in our faces.

Reason as well as disciplined emotions serve us well when looking ahead to how we will plot our course to success in the areas of love, career and finance. We will need to become more creative by reaching deep within as we reorder our priorities and core values.

Taurus is the sign associated with money, acquistion of pricey things, opulence, fertility and the "bull" market. Since the bull market has gone decidedly "bear," we look to another key component of Taurus's lesson in our lives -- what are our true values? That biblical injunction stating where a [wo]man's treasure is, there will his/her heart be also is one of the wisest of statements.

What we value most is a direct expression of the health of our heart -- symbolically speaking. If we place things before people or money before peace, we are not casting our vision upward to the dove who flies over the transient swirling waters reflecting our reactions to fortune/misfortune.

None of the above is a direction towards repudiating material substance for that would deny Taurus/Venus and the law of attraction! We don't want to do that! Basically, it's about proportion. It's about not putting the cart before the horse!

As I'm so fond of reminding all of us lately, Susie Orman says it best: People first, then money, then things.

Oftentimes when we cast our spiritual eyes upward to contact the dove flying over our own troubled waters, we remember the right order of things. Getting our priorities in order and our values straightened out is always the first step towards getting through any rough times we might be experiencing!
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To find out precisely what YOUR timing is for Love & Money & Career, be sure and give me a call! I'm here for you. And I want to be the biggest help I can possibly be. Don't hesitate to call!

Warmest wishes,
Claudia Starcats
Ext. 069048