What Happened?

First, I want to apologize for having missed the eclipse event here at the blog as well as several forecasts. Only now, looking back and at the astrology, do I see some larger meaning–what kind of astrologer would I be if I didn’t discern patterns and interpret them? Over the course of the weekend I was prevented, one way and another, from doing what I had intended to, and it hadn’t gone on for long when I had to ask myself, ‘What is the Universe trying to tell me?’ I don’t have a definitive answer, but certain things did become clear–and one of them was that I need, for my own sake, to step away from my role on the internet, at least for a while.

On Friday the Aquarian Moon hit my Ascendant and then trined Mars in Libra–and at the same time we lost internet and cable, and they stayed out through the entire day until AM of the next day, so that through my planned time to address the eclipse I was unable to communicate (and for the rest of the weekend I had other commitments, so no time to write); I also ran into limitations at WordPress (informed I no longer have room for media storage unless I buy an upgrade), limitations at Facebook (no DMs unless I add their burdensome app to my laptop, along with the change to ‘professional’ for every account, which makes no sense, and for which they didn’t circulate my last three blog posts–not to mention that the whole site is buggy), and PayPal no longer notifies me of a sale, so that I must check repeatedly during the day so that I don’t miss filling someone’s order (and am planning to temporarily shut down the Press and look for another way to sell my books–hoping I’ll find something satisfactory before I’m done with the latest). So, an accumulation of interactions that, if I were paranoid, might spell ‘No one wants to hear from you, Julie!’ but that I think are more meant to turn my attention and energy into other directions–the theme seems to center on being prevented from sharing, at least by the current means, unless I pour resources and more energy into the present setup. The Moon also squared the Black Moon Lilith point last Friday, while conjoined my Ascendant, and spoke of things I’m ignoring or denying–and certainly, I’ve been ignoring how much I want to step away from the blog and work on both the coming Moon book and my fiction (I’ve had four short stories published, and want to place more).

The eclipse fell in my 2nd, suggesting a ‘wipeout’ in the areas of talent expression, earning, sense of Self-worth, assets; it prompts the question, ‘Where do I ‘invest’ my abilities, and what kind of payoff do I get for it?’ Eclipse Chiron trined my natal Venus, pointing out the wounds around what I consider of worth, both material and in relationships, and ushering in ways to heal those wounds–plus an invitation to add unique Chirotic abilities to the list of assets. My natal Neptune, Pluto, Mercury, Midheaven, Vertex, Part of Fortune, and Moon were also all strongly impacted by the eclipse. Sounds to me like time for a reassessment of 2nd House matters, to explore new facets of creativity, transformation, destiny, even, to create a ‘new’ public role/ career direction, and to create permanent change–that last, it’s important to note, should be done before it’s forced on me–because Pluto will be heard, its power expressed, and the aspects between eclipse energies and natal ones showed a slew of quincunxes–and their keyword is ‘adjustment’.

I’m a big fan of responding when the Universe whispers, so it doesn’t have to shout and introduce actual chaos to get my attention. So, I’ll blog here only when I feel moved to comment on astrology and current events in the sky. If you sign up for email you’ll get a notice when I post, so you don’t have to guess (provided you still want to hear what I have to say!) To those lovely and very generous Souls who have recurring donations for this blog, I send heartfelt thanks, ask you to end your donations (I’ll just feel guilty since I won’t be posting often), and want to assure you that you will receive the new Moon book free, as soon as it’s done and before it goes on sale. I appreciate your long-term support of my work, and can’t begin to tell you how much it’s meant to me.

And a very big thanks to all my readers over the years–you’ve been wonderful, kind, empathetic, clever, at times funny, and above all, you’ve helped me to better understand the human condition, and I feel privileged to have gotten to know so many of you–I see many of you as friends, and I hope you feel the same about me.

–jd

Notes on Personal Eclipse Effects

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Think of an eclipse as a specific energy matrix that comes along and, no matter what else is happening in your chart at the moment, POW! this energy pattern is superimposed like a lightning strike. If an eclipse makes close contact to a natal planet or point, it’s important you read this as a Universal energy (the eclipse) affecting personal ones, meaning the shape the eclipse energy takes in your life will be highly unique, in terms of your experience and your response. The nature of the contacted natal energy becomes vital in understanding how the event will play out. For example, if it contacts the Moon, you may not be consciously aware of what’s happening, or with something like Saturn, the effects may come from interaction with authorities, or some form of external oppression, or some real-world event or consequences. In any case, we don’t want to miss the energy wave we can ride in our destined direction, even as we must proceed with caution in terms of what changes we institute; changes can be not just long lasting, but irrevocable, so choices should be examined to the point of tedium before we commit.

Don’t forget: an eclipse is just a New or Full Moon where, from our point of view here on Earth, it seems one body occults another, but that appears so only because the bodies (Earth, Sun, Moon) are aligned. In a Solar eclipse the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking our view of the Sun (we’re in the Moon’s shadow), and in a Lunar eclipse, Earth comes between the Moon and Sun, throwing our shadow on the Moon. Now back to the astrology of it.

An eclipse to a natal body doesn’t seem to energize/ set into motion the natal planet and its aspects in their natal manifestations, as we might normally expect, at least, not strongly; instead it seems to bring to life Archetypal and/ or Mythological energies of the body in question. It’s like the legends and stories for which the entity is known or named come to life in some form. This seems to be true for all the planets and for the commonly watched asteroids (Chiron, Pallas, Vesta, Juno), but the impact is less direct on points in the chart (the Nodes, the Midheaven, the Ascendant, the Part of Fortune, and so on), as they don’t seem to be as responsive to the ‘lighting up’ to which the planets, lights, and asteroids are sensitive. Keep a very tight orb when looking for eclipse effects. I typically use a 1 degree maximum either side of the eclipse degree and minute in determining aspects to natal placements, with these important exceptions: contact to the Ascendant, Sun, Moon, or chart ruler, to which I allow a 2 degree orb.

A few observed effects from previous eclipses: falling on the natal Moon an eclipse ushers in a period of extreme sensitivity, and sometimes confusion and mystery–it seems as if ‘the details’ are just unobtainable, or that they are as changeable as the Moon itself. To the natal Sun, look for major change in how others perceive you, and/ or in how you perceive yourself–there might also be a surge in personal confidence, a kind of ‘Apollo Effect,’ and a possible protective effect in situations where you might otherwise expect physical injury or in changes to the body or life situation that normally would strike at the Self-concept. When an eclipse hits Mercury the Trickster may rear its head in all manner of chaos or disguises–brace for disruption and, with openness to input, illumination. Venus conveys an aura of protection, a certain grace to move through difficulties–watch closely how the values, relationships, and what you ‘love’ changes between the hit by the eclipse and the next eclipse set six months after–and sometimes contact to Venus brings a ‘Midas Touch,’ while Mars seems to trigger situations that, while not exactly negative, require the mustering of the Self-defense mechanisms and the pushing forward of the Will, generally for positive results if one can avoid a loss of temper.

Jupiter seems to bring opportunity, though this can have positive or negative consequences, depending on the personal capacity for Self-discipline and the ability to discern true possibilities from hype; the sudden ‘opening up’ of one’s world or opportunities can be enlivening or threatening, and can send the life careening off its previous course. With Saturn one may face the usual unexplained restriction to efforts, and the slowing down of that which seemed to be proceeding well, even a sudden graying of the hair or physical deterioration, a clear manifestation of Saturn as time’s representative, though some will see the manifestation of a long-held and worked for goal.

Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto all seem to bring varying degrees of upset, uncertainty, and upheaval (not necessarily negative) to associated circumstances, particularly to the house where the natal planet is posited, or to affairs of the House it rules. I can only guess that this is generally disruptive simply because so few of us have a solid, conscious handle on the majority of these heavier energies, though Neptune can usher in, until the next eclipse set, a period of extraordinary creativity for those so inclined, Uranus can bring enhanced capacities to the functioning of the Higher Mind, and Pluto can signal a re-birth, phoenix-like, from the ashes. With Chiron, a period of personal crisis centered on the wound, or on manifesting the gift is promised–a life changing choice may be presented between contact and the next eclipse set. With Vesta, crisis in sexuality or in commitment of some kind (such as to the family, within a sexual relationship, or to a particular domestic role), also usually forcing a choice, while with Pallas the effects I’ve seen have been relatively mild and similar to the calling forth of strength that we observe with Mars activation. Ceres often requires a ‘letting go,’ and possibly an appropriate period of mourning after, while Juno may bring crisis in marriage or with the mate, centered on fidelity and/ or the sharing of power within the relationship, or Juno configured with an eclipse can bring tremendous Self-empowerment, a loss of same, or possibly a power balance showdown with the partner. To the Ascendant or Midheaven: unavoidable change change change! Not necessarily under your control, and not necessarily something we have a choice about.

Don’t neglect the Houses these contacted natal bodies rule in interpreting the eclipse effects for yourself; they can be vital clues as to what part of your life may be affected.

Commentary on the eclipse will follow.

The Daily Brief: 5 September 2025 Spiritual Alchemy

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Watercolor painting by Edith A. Ibbs c1905
‘Alchemy – Mercury and Sulfur Personified’ {{PD}}

In the run up to the Total Lunar Eclipse we see the Moon in Aquarius trine Mars in Libra, around noon PDT, offering a release for all that building emotional tension, holding all the more potential for upset and outburst as it’s carried in the unconscious (Moon) and translated through the mind (the Air placements), with likely forms being anger easily expressed (the Trine) to partners, those with whom we cooperate, through our Art, and to our ‘audience’ (Libra).

At the same time there’s a config with the Moon as apex to a Finger of God, with base of South Node in Virgo and Jupiter in Cancer. This speaks of the past as trigger, likely through criticism given or received, or in a past incident where accountability was demanded, coupled with a (possibly lost) opportunity or clash with public sentiment that has created the ‘cooler’ emotional vibe we see with the Aquarius Moon (that coolness of feeling a way to avoid hurt). So, the response to recall of that past trauma is to retreat to the intellect, in effect denying the emotional reality, both past and now. We see this spelled out with the noon time PDT square of the Moon to the Black Moon Lilith point, showing how what we’ve ignored, denied, buried, or what just plain enrages us brings emotional conflict (the square) that we must acknowledge and deal with. The past holds the roots of this, but the need to handle it is right now.

The impulse might be to assign blame, either with those in the past or with those who stir up this sore point in the present, but the more useful interpretation (or maybe the more diplomatic one that the presence of Libra offers, which will keep us from doing something we regret) would be to see the surfacing of this past incident tied to present reactions as a chance to purge bad feeling about ourselves that we’ve carried for far too long. How to accomplish this? Be honest with yourself, but also be kind; there’s only so much regret we can generate before it becomes a waste of energy–and we can put to work what we’ve learned from the experience in the present upset, turning it in a direction that we won’t later regret, and thereby, with the help of spiritual alchemy, erase the burden of the past, as well.

Please check past posts for explanations of some of the other influences current in effect.

The Daily Word Image is making a new friend. How often do you do this? As adults it seems as if our obligations, commitments, and everyday tasks prevent us from having much interaction, much less actually engaging in enjoyable ways. Some of us let a competitive attitude spoil potential relationships, while some find it hard to get past the anxiety interaction can bring, but we’ve got to remember how much having friends can bring into our lives. It’s another past feeling we can access at this time, how it felt to be among friends when we were children, accepted and loved, enjoying rewarding communal experiences; know that sense of fulfillment isn’t gone, it’s just dormant, waiting for you to nurture it by opening up and making a connection.

The Daily Brief: 4 September 2025 Lunar Focus

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‘Aquatic Plants and Fish’ By Giuseppe Castiglione 18th century {{PD}}

Early AM PDT the Moon sextiles tense 29 degree Saturn, then enters Aquarius, conjoins Pluto and sextiles Neptune, at the same time trining Uranus. Sudden onset emotions take us to the brink, roiling, agitated, with potential for fueling destruction and delusion–but also a possible impetus toward creativity and transformation, IF we can avoid fearing reality itself; letting uncertainty and anxiety seep in to the mind can send us careening off on tangents of worry and blame, rather than using that as an engine for creative accomplishment and Truth-finding. You know which direction to take.

Please see previous posts for still-extant influences, particularly the Water Grand Trine.

The Daily Word Image is two big koi in a pond, swimming in opposite directions. Kind of like the Pisces symbol–apropos for the coming Total Lunar Eclipse, and certainly a dominant energy right now: we’re dealing with creative energy looking for form and expression, immersive experiences, spiritual messages passing from world to world, the sensory, the nebulous, deceptive, and illusory, perhaps leading us the wrong way but also possibly inspiring us or endowing ideas with vivid detail and the kind of realism enhancement only available through the imagination. Let it all in; remember, right now fear of what is is the stumbling block–focus instead on what things can become.

The Daily Brief: 3 September 2025 Our North Star

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‘Shepherd’s Star’ By Jules Breton 1887 {{PD}}

The energy is still found in a Finger of God with Mercury as apex to a Pluto-Neptune sextile, with Saturn at 29 tense degrees of Pisces and still conjoined Neptune; it’s a recipe that fairly shouts about how reality is a mess (deceptive, nebulous, unfathomable), and can only be sorted via a willingness to eliminate illusions and untruths once and for all–but how do we do that? The potential for shock and upheaval is still present (Merc square Uranus) but so is the ability to make hard choices and take significant action based on righteous motives and the facts as they apply to what we care about (Mars in Libra square Jupiter in Cancer). Current conditions say we find equilibrium, as well as gains that help align us with our ideal future, if we’re honest with ourselves, if we’re willing to acknowledge what we may have, to this point, ignored, denied, or buried (GT in Water with Jupiter, Black Moon Lilith, and the NN). It seems that sincere action, the kind that’s rooted in what we truly believe, is our north star right now. An eclipse is just days away, and promises to wipe the slate clean in some important areas/ ways; until then we need to address issues as if no change is coming, no rescue is on the horizon, simply because we don’t know whether our problems will be with us indefinitely, or if they’ll vanish in a moment.

The Daily Word image is a slip of paper on a restaurant table; it looks like it’s from a fortune cookie, so you think of it as bringing a message. You turn it over and it reads, “All Sales Are Final”. What is it that you looked to for reward or satisfaction, believing it was temporary, a step forward, or upward, along the way, only to find that circumstances have a resiliency and stickiness factor you never anticipated? Of course, nothing is truly forever, but it can feel like it when we’re long-term enmeshed with something that doesn’t feel like ‘us’, that we inspect and see as foreign, not representative of who we are or what we’re contributing. It might embarrass us, or make us irritable as we struggle to prove that isn’t a reflection of who we are–but we might do better to consider that it does reflect us, and our struggle is about acknowledging and accepting the parts of who we are that we don’t like–because if we don’t, we’ll find change impossible, and no space for a better something else.

The Daily Brief: 2 September 2025 A Mercurial Day

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Yellow beach umbrella in the summer sun, Photo By Molku 2008 {{PD}} Thank you, Molku!

Mercury moves into Virgo on its way to Superior Conjunction with the Sun (Superior Conjunction is when Mercury meets the Sun while in direct apparent motion). Its contacts right now take the spotlight: heading out of quincunx with tense, 29 degree Saturn highlights yesterday’s mind games but promises a critical eye will be applied, as soon as the energy’s freed up–but in fact with Neptune still conjoined Saturn from Aries, and Pluto sextile, Merc becomes the apex to a Finger of God, suggesting it will all get cleared up, if we think about it. It may take the 5 or 6 days mentioned in yesterday’s post to come clear, but now we know how to do it: through careful assessment, a focus on honesty and Truth, a desire to see things as they really are. The square of Merc to Uranus introduces the only real problem, one of being shocked, surprised, or downright rebellious at what we learn. If we are withholding things from others, we shouldn’t be surprised if they withhold from us, too–that said, never underestimate the ability of what we call life to deliver something we never anticipated.

The Daily Word Image is a line of yellow parasols on a yellow beach under a glowing yellow sun. Whatever the scene, or the color yellow evokes–there’s your message for today.

The Daily Brief: 1 September 2025 (Not) Wonderland

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‘Alice in Wonderland’ By Arthur Rackham Advice from a Caterpillar 1907 {{PD}}

Saturn retrogrades back into Pisces; the effect is dizzying, nauseating, with a big helping of ‘I can’t believe we’re in this very spot again!’ Where the transiting body falls in your chart, along with any aspects it’s making, as well as the natal situation of Saturn, will all figure in to where in life and in what way you feel this. The thing is, a heavy moving back into the previous sign typically has a uh-oh! feeling that’s distinctly temporary: usually we know this as a brief backslide into what’s largely finished, a momentary and tiresome rehash. This time, though, it feels like our own individual fresh hell; maybe that’s the other energies with which it’s still in contact, whispering their worst, or the fact that it’s Saturn, which tries to plant us firmly in the material world, no blurred edges or pleasant dreams allowed.

Saturn’s still technically conjoined Neptune, but now that it’s back in Neptune’s sign everything takes on a fun house mirror quality, exacerbated by Pluto in Aquarius in sextile playing with the mind, worrying us about what the future holds and emphasizing the down side of all that’s modern, while the sextile to Uranus now shocks us with all we hadn’t noticed, before. The unreliability of our own perceptions will be the most prominent effect here; if you treat yourself as if it’s a Mercury retrograde, that is, be cautious and aware you might not be seeing things realistically (let alone not seeing them optimistically!) then you can hold off until you adjust, which will take only 5 or 6 days. Then it becomes a wait-it-out, as you deal with every little Piscean thing Saturn didn’t handle before his exit.

The Daily Word Image is a wild bird perched on a person’s finger. To me this is astonishing, that rare moment of communion with the natural world that you can’t make happen, it just does on its own. There is wonder to be had, right now, and experiences of awe and hope. Know that they’re real, and not as rare as you might think.

The Daily Brief: 31 August 2025 A Cosmic Ripple

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Northern Lights Viewed From the International Space Station, Photo By Mike Hopkins, NASA {{PD}}

Much of what’s been happening last week still holds (except for the Moon contacts), though today Luna is in Sagittarius, and early afternoon PDT the Moon quincunxes Jupiter, semi-sextiles the Black Moon Lilith point, and squares the Nodal axis. This may be the peak experience of the day, one that reverberates well into the evening (or maybe just rattles around in our brains, a thing we compulsively mull over, again and again); we may even feel it as it builds up, the anticipation of something that calls for adjustment of what we know or believe, during the course of which we may have to deal with a thing ignored, denied, buried, or that enrages us–and the way we process and deal with this will have effects on our future (and perhaps, if you accept quantum mechanics, our past, as well). This little ripple in the Cosmos may seem like nothing at the time, but go through the day aware that what you do will have a bigger impact than you can currently anticipate and you’ll do, choose, speak with care and thoughtfulness that will insure the outcome is as positive as possible.

The Daily Word Image is repeated calls from an Unknown number, where the caller doesn’t leave a message. Someone ‘has your number’, but doesn’t want you (yet) to know who they are–so who comes to mind? When you hear that phrase, ‘Someone has your number‘, how does that make you feel? Caught? Discovered? Unconcerned? Does the caller (that is, the person who sprang to mind for you) feel this gives them some sort of advantage, and if so, why do they think they need that? Is their knowledge, or are the assumptions they’re making, right? And do you need to care? Or can you ignore this, as someone trying to intimidate or manipulate you? A lot of questions, and a situation that depends entirely on whether or not you can trust those around you.

The Daily Brief: 30 August 2025 Sharing Your Gifts

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‘The Yerres, Effect of Rain’ By Gustave Caillebotte 1895 {{PD}}

Two things: a Mars-Jupiter square, and a Mercury-Chiron trine, with the Moon entering saucy Sagittarius AM PDT. The square is Cardinal, pushing us to do, to choose, in front of the whole world, or at least our social circle, and the effect can be intimidating; we hesitate because a misstep seems as if it would be disaster, but that’s just the ‘we think everyone’s watching’ effect. In reality, everyone else is feeling the same. And with all of us worried about our own performance, we don’t have time to critique anyone else’s! Knowing that doesn’t necessarily make our own actions or choices easier, but it should take some of the pressure off; we can choose according to our own wants without fear of immediate blow-back.

The trine is the dangerous thing: it makes it far too easy to speak or think hurtfully (and that includes toward ourselves). It doesn’t help that Merc and Chiron are in Fire signs, suggesting words or thoughts might be generated in flares of temper, out of misguided anger or tension, or out of a restless need to express, contributing to the likelihood of inadvertent wounding or thoughtless offense. But, this same energy can be channeled into active planning for expression of the Chirotic talent, the unique ability, made possible by your own very particular experience and knowledge, that you have available to share with yourself and others. If you’re not acquainted with your natal Chiron, find the sign it’s in and think about the gifts you might see as having roots in that sign energy, as well as areas associated with House placement; also consider the state of that sign’s ruler in your natal chart. For instance, if you have Chiron in Pisces in the 1st, your Chirotic gifts might center on the creative, the spiritual, or on realizing the ideal, with yourself (1st House) as the conduit, and ruler Neptune in Scorpio in the 8th brings in others, who may support your endeavors, or for whom you may use your gifts in their quests around the creative or some form of Self-realization.

Please see previous posts for other effects that may still be in effect.

The Daily Word Image is a brief rain shower that doesn’t get anything wet! Is there something you’ve tried, made an effort toward, or just begun that seems like it’s not going anywhere? If you hold genuine hopes for success (as opposed to approaching it with a casual roll of the dice) then you shouldn’t give up just yet. Give it more time, more effort, share more of your psychic and emotional ‘waters’, before you turn away from it.

The Daily Brief: 29 August 2025 Putting the Past to Rest

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‘Morning, Interior’ By Maximilien Luce 1890 {{PD}}

The Scorpio Moon passes over the Black Moon Lilith point, revving up that Water Grand Trine described yesterday with even more feeling–and these emotions are likely to be in-the-moment reactions around things we thought we’d already handled, come back to haunt us. This will mostly occur internally, within our hearts and minds, but will definitely stir up things long forgotten, and serve them up with a side of regrets–or maybe it’s more like we’re reminded, from back in the day, when we were planning our future, what we’ve lost, what we’ve sacrificed, what we willingly gave up, to get to where we are right now. We may be a little surprised at what surfaces, even a little sad, but we’ll likely see the wisdom of why we chose what we chose–allowing us to put at least some of our fears that we took the wrong path, or let go of the wrong hand, to rest.

The Daily Word Image is insomnia. How do you handle those times when you can’t sleep? Do you toss and turn in bed, get up and do something, read, watch television, go over every ‘mistake’ you’ve ever made or misunderstanding that’s ever happened to you? Whatever you normally do, the next time you’re plagued with sleeplessness, do something other than what you usually do–it may shake things up, could take you out of your ‘response rut’, and you may even find yourself asking, “Am I really even sleepy?” Sometimes expectation and habit get in the way living.

Julie Demboski's ASTROLOGY

Addressing the Individual Experience Within the Universal Truth

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