A fun spin on serious cosmic stuff! Wendell C. Perry has 40 years experience studying astrology and how it impacts personalities & relationships. He's written two books & published articles in astrology magazines. He's happy to share this website so that you, too, can have fun with astrology to help you in everyday life!
On Jan. 23 Mars began a period of retrograde motion that will last until April 13. When a planet goes retrograde it appears to move backwards in the sky. This movement is not real, of course. Mars will only appear to move backwards because of the motion of the Earth, sort of like how a car appears to move backwards as you pass it on the highway.
Even though you hear a lot of astrologers talk about Mercury retrograde, Mars retrograde motion gets a lot less press, even though it occurs with some regularity, about every two years. This is because, while a retrograde Mercury is famous for causing communication breakdown and foul ups with technology, Mars retrograde has not been strongly associated with any particular phenomena.
The real impact of Mars retrograde is felt by those unfortunate folks with natal planets either in the path of the retrograde motion at 90 degree angles to that position. They will be going through a period of increased stress. Accidents and physical injury are more likely for these people during this time and they may be prone to, or a victim of, outbursts of anger and aggression.
For example, if you were born between the 13th and the 16th of September with the Sun at around 21 or 22 degrees of Virgo, you’ve probably had a rough couple of weeks as Mars slowed at those degrees. Expect more of the same from now until the middle of February, while Mars moves backwards across those same degrees. This is also bad news for Geminis born between May 11 and 15, Sagittarians born between December 12 and 16 and Pisces folks born between March 11 and 15. Mitt Romney was born on March 12th. The last couple of weeks have not been great for him, with controversy over his income and a defeat in the South Carolina primary.
Of course, others planets and astrological factors are also impacted by this retrograde Mars. President Obama has his natal Mars at 22 degrees of Virgo. Over the past couple weeks he has had to endure negative publicity involving his wife and her relationship with his staff. He can expect more rough treatment over the next few weeks and things could get worse. A violent attack on his person is another way in which this transit could manifest itself.
If you are one of the unfortunate folks caught in this Mars retrograde trap, don’t despair. The lesson we take from astrology is that bad aspects and tough times eventually pass and are replaced by something better. Of course, they usually pass a lot more easily when we are prepared for them.
Details
Astrology Looks at the "Younger" Generation
I've recently added "Are You Ready for the Neptune in Capricorn Generation?" to the published articles on the website. In it I discuss the influence of the generation born between about 1984 and 1998. The article was published in the Oct/Nov issue of The Mountain Astrologer, but if you didn't see it there, you can read it here.
Details
Astrology and the Tea Party Movement
It’s hard to get an astrological fix on the Tea Party Movement. It includes a lot of people who are angry over a lot of different issues. But a recent book by Kate Zernike called “Boiling Mad: Inside Tea Party America” does give us basic description of the typical Tea Party activist. Polls reveal that he or she is likely to be white, financially secure and older.
This makes me think that a large proportion of Tea Party crowd are from the first wave of Baby Boomers, a generation born between about 1943 and 1956 with Pluto in Leo and Neptune in Libra. Neptune in the sign of the Scales is particularly emblematic of this Neptune in Libra generation since they seem to have divided into two camps, each complaining that the other is not playing fair.
I write about this division and its relation to the partisan politics that has become the bane of our government in my article, “The Battle of the Boomers.” I discuss how the how the right wing vs. left wing debate stems from Neptune in Libra’s vision of a world in which everything must be “fair.” Of course, the definition of what is or isn’t “fair” varieties with the observer.
What we’re witnessing with the Tea Party movement is the outrage of the right wing of the Neptune in Libra generation. With this in mind it shouldn’t be surprising that what they seem to want is a world much like the one in which they up in the fifties, when the USA was the unquestioned leader in everything and everyone was better off dead than red.
This is not to demean the power of this group. Both sides of the Neptune in Libra generation, left and right, liberal and conservative, have been a political force in the United States since the 1960s. They are a proportionately large generation and their dream of fairness is compelling. And yet, as powerful and vociferous as they may be, they are still on half of one Neptune generation. There are other voices out there. They may not be as loud or well-organized, but they will be heard.
You can read my “Battle of the Boomers” article, plus other articles on Neptune generations on this website. Just click on the “Learn more about astrology” box on the left side of the home page.
Details
The Stars Shine on Blue Ivy Carter
It’s hard to recall a celebrity baby whose birth received more attention than that of the daughter born to Jay-Z and Beyonce’. First there was the father “renting” an entire section of the hospital in order to insure the privacy of the couple. Then there was the flap over the child’s name, (Blue Ivy, which apparently is the Latin name for the daughter of Satan spelled backwards, or something like that.) Finally, the voice of the newborn was used in a song performed by her father that became an immediate hit, making Blue Ivy the youngest person ever credited on the Billboard Hot 100 list.
Of course, all this attention made me wonder what the horoscope of Blue Ivy Carter would look like. Her exact birth time has not been released but we know she was born during the evening hours of Jan. 7. I have done a speculative chart for 11PM and it is quite illuminating. Click here to see it.
What is striking about the horoscope is that we have the Moon in the 10th House close to the Midheaven. The Moon forms a grand trine with Saturn and Neptune, is opposed to Mercury and Pluto, sextile Jupiter and square Uranus. Even if this birth time is off by a couple of hours, the placement of the Moon in the 10th and all its aspects will remain. The 11PM birth time also places Uranus on her Descendant.
The Moon in the 10th House is often taken as an indicator of fame, particular when it is favorable aspected by Jupiter. Blue Ivy’s Moon is sextile to Jupiter. Movie stars and people who draw public adulation often have the Moon in a positive aspect with Neptune. Blue Ivy’s Moon is trine to Neptune. Having the Moon in the 10th square Uranus promises a sharp attack on one’s reputation from an unusual source, (such as someone saying you were named after the daughter of the devil.)
Most of us don’t start “living” our horoscope in a demonstrative way until we are at least old enough to walk and talk. Blue Ivy Carter seems to have started a bit earlier, like before she was a week old.
now until the middle of February, while Mars moves backwards across those same degrees. This is also bad news for Geminis born between May 11 and 15, Sagittarians born between December 12 and 16 and Pisces folks born between March 11 and 15. 
could manifest itself.
description of the typical Tea Party activist. Polls reveal that he or she is likely to be white, financially secure and older.
