Listen Now

On August 1 - 2, 2022 we have a rather explosive combination in the sky: Mars in Taurus conjunct Uranus and Rahu, otherwise known as the North Node. Uranus is the planet of sudden, erratic changes, both good and bad and Mars is the planet of action, heat and aggression. When they come together, it can definitely bring in a fire to the powder keg kind of energy. For example, sudden accidents, freak explosions or major volatility in anything Taurus rules (food, housing, security in general). With Rahu in the mix, this energy gets super charged and even more unpredictable and erratic. However, as hazardous and unstable as this aspect is, there is one saving grace: Venus. Taurus is ruled by Venus, which is currently in watery Cancer. She is also making a harmonious sextile aspect to Mars, Uranus and Rahu, which may help steady things more than if she were in a different sign or joining the Taurus party. How will this affect me? If your ascendant is in a fixed sign (Aquarius, Leo, Taurus or Scorpio) or you have any personal planets between 15 to 25 degrees of any of these signs, then I suggest you proceed with caution around this time. This doesn’t mean you need to cower under the covers, but maybe wait on that skydiving trip until the stars are a little more in your favor. Astro stats Mars, Uranus and Rahu (North Node) meeting up at around 18 degrees of Taurus on August 1 and 2, 2022 (this aspect will be felt a few days before and few days after) The explosive nature is tempered somewhat by Venus, which is currently in Cancer and making a harmonious sextile aspect to these three planets Photo by Luke Jernejcic on Unsplash This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com

In this episode, I talk about the the full moon in Capricorn on July 13, 2022 and touch on how it emotionally speaks to the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. Here are the astro stats for this full moon: Culmination of the new moon in Cancer on June 29, 2022 (you can find out more about lunar cycles here) Full moon occurs at 21 degrees 21 of Capricorn Aspects on this day include a square to Jupiter in Aries and an opposition to Mercury in Cancer More general thoughts on this particular moon is that it speaks to conflict between putting your higher ideals in action (square to Jupiter in Aries) and could negate more sentimental feelings (opposition to Mercury in Cancer) in favor of a stiff upper lip, I’ll-go-the-road-alone feeling or makes it difficult to voice your needs. A song for moon in Capricorn As I mention in the podcast, Saturn-ruled Capricorn is a difficult placement for the moon. The moon is a sensitive, emotional planet that craves connection, but its placement in Capricorn (the sign of its detriment) brings in the harshness of a cruel, lonely world that can sometimes lead to depression and feelings of isolation. However, with suffering comes maturity. People with Capricorn moon natally often have to grow up fast and may be subjected to the school of emotional hard knocks. But what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. Though often tough when you’re young, like anything Saturnian, Capricorn moon gets better with age. At its best, this placement brings maturity and strength others can depend on – from someone whose been through the emotional wringer and come out the other end. I should know, since my natal moon is in Capricorn. When I was in high school, one of my favorite songs was “I am a rock” by Simon and Garfunkel. The ultimate Capricorn moon song if there ever was one! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com

On July 5, 2022 Mars moved from Aries into Taurus and Mercury moved from Gemini into Cancer. Although it is by no means uncommon for planets to change signs – speedster Mercury usually whips through signs in about two weeks – this particular shift has created a significant change in mood that will stick around for a while. I get into more detail in my podcast, but in a nutshell, here’s what the shift reflects: Aries (fire) and Gemini (air) are both masculine, outwardly-oriented and quick-paced signs which lead to forward moving speed of action and communication Taurus (Earth) and Cancer (water) are both feminine, inward and slow signs which lead to nonverbal introspection Mars rules Aries, which gave the month of June a high energy, pedal to the metal feel. However, in Venus-ruled Taurus (the sign of Mars’ detriment), energy is much more sluggish and focus more on comfort and slow-paced (sometimes stubborn) action Mercury rules Gemini, which made June a time when communication flowed smoothly and tended towards the more chit chatty and rational. However, in moon-ruled Cancer, words (especially of the small talk variety) may be much harder to come by. This is a time when thoughts and communication take on a still-waters-run-deep vibe, where words may be harder to come by, especially surface chit chat or those that express dry, analytics ideas. My advice? Take things slower this month. Linger in bed longer if you can, and give yourself space to dream and lose yourself in images and memories you can’t quite capture in words. Astro stats Mercury will be in Cancer from July 5 until July 19 and Mars will be in Taurus from July 5 until August 20. The change in name As you may have noticed, my podcast is now called Astro WMM, although the substack link has stayed the same. So why the change in name? When I first created this newsletter/podcast, I was really excited about the era shift into the new age of air: less centralization of power, a greater focus on innovation and networks/working together rather than rampant individualism. Sounds great, right? Yeah, and maybe it will be someday. But right now, I think we’re going through some major growing pains, where many nations are still overly focused on Earth-era principles, strategies and solutions, like “who gets what” and fossil fuels. The air signs are about ideas and innovation yes, but they can also be about (over)idealism and dogmatism, and we’re definitely seeing some of that as well. Air disperses and is unreliable, a light gust one day, and a hurricane another. The Earth era may have been dull at times, but at least it was predictable. Long story short, I’m a bit burned out on the age of air these days. Astro WMM is perhaps a bit inscrutable (I’m not entirely sure what the initials stand for myself), but the name will do for now. :) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com

On May 10, 2022 Mercury will go retrograde in Gemini until June 3. As is always the case with Mercury retrograde, this period can cause snafus in communication, (particularly verbal communication since Gemini is an air sign) as well as mishaps in technology, travel and business, which are all things Mercury rules. Mercury retrograde is not a rare occurrence: in fact, it happens 3 to 4 times a year. These periods are designed to add a re- prefix to your actions. Revise, review, revisit, you name it, whatever topics come up around Mercurial topics in the house in your natal chart with Gemini on the cusp. However, I think it will be particularly valuable to pay extra special attention to the topics or issues that come up during this Mercury retrograde because Mars will be going retrograde in the same sign in early September. A much rarer occasion, Mars only goes retrograde about every two years. During this period, it can cause frustration, a feeling like things have come to a standstill or are not moving as quickly as we would like them to move – something that is always frustrating for action-oriented Mars. Mars will be retrograde in Gemini from September 10, 2022 to January 12, 2023 and in the sign of Gemini from August 24, 2022 to March 25, 2023 – over six months of heat and possibly conflict in the house in your chart with Gemini on the cusp! This period (and Mars retrograde) may particularly affect you if Gemini is on the cusp on one of your angular houses (1, 4, 7 and 10) or if you have any planets in the mutable signs (Gemini, Pisces, Sagittarius, Virgo). Another reason why I think this particular Mercury retrograde is important is because it also will retrograde back into Taurus and head towards the North Node, which will bring attention back to whatever topics got triggered during the partial solar eclipse in that sign that happened on April 30, 2022. Eclipses bring great beginnings and great endings and often bring drama in their wake, and they will be happening in the Taurus (North Node) and Scorpio (South Node) axis in your chart until late summer, 2023. Since Uranus has also been speeding things up, bringing in the new and disrupting patterns in the house in your chart with Taurus on the cusp since May, 2018 when it entered this sign, Mercury’s return to Taurus may echo new developments as well as give insight for what might be yet to come. It will particularly draw attention to anything that came up from April 26 to April 30 (the day of the eclipse). In short, your house with Gemini and Taurus on the cusp are going to be getting a big spotlight and some heat and shaking up, so keep that in mind and take notes when Mercury goes retrograde next week until the beginning of June! Here are the astro stats: April 30 – Mercury enters Gemini May 10 – Mercury stations retrograde at 4 degrees 52 of Gemini May 23 – Mercury retrogrades back into Taurus June 3 – Mercury stations direct at 26 degrees 05 of Taurus June 13 – Mercury reenters Gemini and stays in the sign until July 5 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com

The sun is currently in Aries, its sign of exaltation. An exalted planet is one that is celebrated and treated like an honored guest for its qualities. To understand what this means, imagine an actor from a popular TV series suddenly showing up in your town. People would get excited, rush up and ask for autographs or selfie shots, how great that so-and-so came to our town!Therefore, the sun in Aries boosts solar principles, such as vitality, charisma, self-confidence, visibility and fame. Like the sun itself, strongly solar people shine bright and draw people to them. They are naturally born leaders who can stand in the spotlight, exuding satisfaction and sovereignty. Great energy to harness and keep on tap, especially in days where it’s increasingly important to stand out from the crowd. Luckily, you can do just that with this Sun in Aries election.Sun in Aries electionOn Wednesday, March 30, 2022, there is a great exalted sun election that you can use for a variety of solar purposes, such as:Gaining honors and recognitionIncreasing your visibility, e.g. by growing your online presenceCome across as charismatic, in charge and capableEffectively boost your (self-)promotionEnhance your vitality and self-confidenceThe chartThis Sun in Aries electional chart is timed for March 30, 2022 at 1:03 p.m. for my location in Berlin, Germany and can be used anywhere in the European Union.Strong in the its sign of exaltation, the Sun is directly on the MC (Mid-heaven), which speaks to gaining recognition, visibility and popularity in your career or the public eye. In any electional chart, the moon is extremely important because it acts as the intermediary between the celestial realm and the material plane. Without the support of the moon, the election is ultimately ineffective. The moon here is in Pisces in the 9th house and applying to a conjunction with Jupiter, which greatly boosts the good fortune of this election.Although this chart could be used for many things that fit the aspects I described in the bullet points above, it would be especially auspicious for success in higher learning purposes, for example, to increase your chance of acceptance for a study program, gaining recognition in a spiritual field or publishing (all 9th house matters).However, one thing is worth mentioning here: In this chart, Mercury is in Aries and also combust (=within eight degrees of the Sun). Since this planet is also directly on the MC, this may result in your gaining a reputation as a person who directly speaks their mind, albeit sometimes to the point of being blunt and brusque and/or blurting things out without thinking first. Great if you’re trying to promote your new maverick podcast, but less ideal in other situations. If you would prefer to avoid this energy, then I suggest using this chart instead:This chart is also in the hour of the Sun with the Sun in Aries in the 10th, so you still get the benefits of the solar qualities previously mentioned. However, with Neptune and Jupiter on the MC, your image will gain a glamorous, positive allure.If you need to relocate the chart, here are the times to use (if you’re location is missing from the list, just ask and I’ll look it up for you :) ) As is always the case with electional charts, it might not work everywhere and/or will change the date and time depending on your location:EuropeCentral European Standard Time: March 30, 2022 at 13:03 p.m. (Sun on MC), 12:12 p.m. (Neptune/Jupiter on MC)Greenwich Mean Time (UK): March 30, 2022 at 12:53 p.m. (Sun on MC), 12:08 p.m. (Neptune/Jupiter on MC)USA/CanadaEastern Time Zone: March 30, 2022 at 12:53 p.m. (Sun on MC), 12:08 p.m. (Neptune/Jupiter on MC). The moon is conjunct Jupiter here, but it hasn’t separated yet, so the election should still work.Central Time Zone: Unfortunately this chart doesn’t work because the moon has passed Jupiter.Mountain Time Zone: Unfortunately this chart doesn’t work because the moon has passed Jupiter.Pacific Time Zone: Unfortunately this chart doesn’t work because the moon has passed Jupiter.Hong KongMarch 30, 2022 at 12:23 p.m. (Sun on MC), 11:29 a.m. (Neptune/Jupiter on MC).How to use an electional chartI wrote this text which gives you more details about electional astrology, so check it out if you don’t know what this is or would like to know more.In a nutshell, you need to do some sort of concrete action at the time of the election to set the ball in motion. This could be something like:Naming and saving a word document you plan to use later.Signing up for a class/course.Sending an e-mail or making a phone call.Creating a website or social media account linked to your intention.You don’t have to do much more than that at this stage, just make the first move. Whatever you initiate at this moment will hold the energy of the election, allowing you to benefit from it in the long run.How to use this chart magicallyThis chart is very potent and can also be used for astrological magic. For this, you create either a petition or a talisman, which allows you to harness this energy for future use. To do so, you need to perform a ritual as described in the Picatrix, a 10th century book on astrological magic.Here’s how to do so (n.b. some of this is my own way of doing things combined with what it says in the Picatrix, which is fairly barebones):Shortly before the election, light a candle and some incense or plant material that corresponds to the Sun, such as rosemary, orange/citrus in general, basil, cinnamon, St. John’s Wort, or frankincense.Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Imagine your body being surrounded by the color gold. Breath. Now imagine gold is coming up through the ground and coating your bones. Once all your bones have been covered, imagine the bright, warm sum floating above your head. Now imagine his symbol in your heart. It looks like this.*Open your eyes and recite the Orphic hymn to the Sun, which is below:Hear, golden Titan, whose eternal eye With matchless sight illumines all the sky. Native, unwearied in diffusing light, And to all eyes the object of delight: Lord of the Seasons, beaming light from far, Sonorous, dancing in thy four-yok'd car. With thy right hand the source of morning light, And with thy left the father of the night. Agile and vig'rous, venerable Sun, Fiery and bright around the heav'ns you run, Foe to the wicked, but the good man's guide, O'er all his steps propitious you preside. With various-sounding golden lyre 'tis thine To fill the world with harmony divine. Father of ages, guide of prosp'rous deeds, The world's commander, borne by lucid steeds. Immortal Jove, flute-playing, bearing light, Source of existence, pure and fiery bright; Bearer of fruit, almighty lord of years, Agile and warm, whom ev'ry power reveres. Bright eye, that round the world incessant flies, Doom'd with fair fulgid rays to set and rise; Dispensing justice, lover of the stream, The world's great master, and o'er all supreme. Faithful defender, and the eye of right, Of steeds the ruler, and of life the light: With sounding whip four fiery steeds you guide, When in the glittering car of day you ride, Propitious on these mystic labours shine, And bless thy suppliants with a life divine.Now it’s time to create the talisman or petition. To do so, either imagine the following (for a petition), draw it on a piece of paper imbued with Solar herbs (list above) or carve/scratch it on a garnet, ruby, carnelian, amber, gold or brass, all of which have a Solar nature.The image you need to use for the drawing/carving:A man standing as though wanting to salute, holding in his left hand a round shield and under his feet the image of a dragon. You also need to add the seal of the Sun, which looks like this:If you’re not much of an artist, don’t worry (I can’t draw at all). It’s totally fine if you just draw stick figures and a wonky looking dragon. It’s the intention behind creating the image that matters, not the aesthetic results.Once you’ve finished your drawing or carving, pull the talisman or paper through the incense smoke several times and state your intention, e.g. Please help me, John Doe, to get a promotion, get accepted to Harvard, gain more visibility and followers for my Instagram account, increase my self-confidence, regain my vitality.You can be as specific or general as you want, but make sure what you’re asking is something the Sun can actually deliver according to his nature. Once you’ve finished, you can lay the talisman/paper down next to the candle and leave it there at least until the incense has burned down.Please note:The timing for the ritual from start to finish is crucial. Here are the windows you can use for each of the time zones listed above (in a few cases, the times are slightly earlier to leave room for the beginning of the ritual):EuropeCentral European Standard Time: March 30, 2022 from 12:08 p.m. to 1:08 p.m.Greenwich Mean Time (UK): March 30, 2022 at 12:03 a.m. to 13:03USA/CanadaEastern Time Zone: March 30, 2022 from 11:59 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Hong KongMarch 30, 2022 from 11:28 a.m. to 12:28 p.m.Luckily the length is good for these elections, so you should have plenty of time. Remember, the earlier you start, the more you’ll have the softer, dreamy Jupiter/Neptune influence. A few final thoughtsI’ve been practicing astrological magic for around three years now and I’ve had some really great results. What I especially like about it is that it is strict and particular in that you have to wait for a great election like this one for it to work, and you have to use materials that correspond to the Sun and an image as specified in the Picatrix, but other than that, the rituals are fairly simple and straightforward.That said, your ritual in of itself can be an artistic act, and I have noticed that when I put in more effort, I sometimes get stronger results. Some ideas in this case would be to:Create a small altar for the Sun using e.g. the Sun’s magic square, seal, and the other symbols you can find here. Again, you could simply print this sheet out, draw it on a yellow, red or gold (the Sun’s colors) or etch on glass, whatever. It’s totally up to you.Dress in yellow, red or gold and perhaps add some rosemary sprigs to

Next week, Mercury in Pisces will conjunct Jupiter and Neptune, a transit I’m calling “A time to dream – with a word of caution.” In traditional astrology, Mercury is said to be in its sign of detriment and fall in Pisces – a sign traditionally ruled by Jupiter – which makes it the most challenging placement for this planet. Mercury is the intellect, curiosity, communication, that which seeks to understand the world through analysis and rational thinking. It is a planet that loves memorization and lists. The planet of youth, it can signify the schooling we receive as children and adolescents. Jupiter, on the other hand, is expansion, buoyant optimism, that which seeks to understand the world with intuition, faith and big picture thinking. While Mercury lives for details and the specific, Jupiter prefers the general and universal. He stands for higher truth and higher education and that which is innately known. Mercury seeks to measure, categorize, analyze, and place knowledge into boxes, which is not the type of activities Pisces supports. When Mercury is in Pisces, the intellect can become overwhelmed with the oceanic vastness of Jupiter’s expansiveness, which can lead to issues with communication, among other things. However, this placement is great for dreams, music and poetry, for understanding and communicating that which is beyond words. For example, the poets Maya Angelou and Amanda Gorman both have Mercury in Pisces in their natal chart. Although they illustrate the power of this placement in their work, they also both struggled with communication issues as children. The Mercury transits ahead Here are the stats: Mercury ingresses into Pisces on March 9/10, 2022 Mercury conjuncts Jupiter on March 20/21, 2022 Mercury conjuncts Neptune on March 23, 2022 What these transits are great for Since this is a whole lot of Jupiterian energy, let’s talk about the positive sides first: These transits will enhance your ability to slip into the world of dreams, write otherworldly poetry, compose songs that speak to the soul and have mystical and spiritual experience that are beyond anything you’ve ever experienced before. This is perhaps especially true when Mercury meets up with Neptune, which is the dissolver of boundaries. The motto for the week should therefore be mehr Hingabe, which is German for more surrender, giving yourself over to the poetic power of this energy . Photo by Fernando Jorge on Unsplash Bathe more often, go to the spa, spend a week by the sea. Mediate, focus on your spiritual practice and allow your thoughts to wander. If you surrender to the positive sides of this energy, it could be truly mind blowing. What you need to watch out for Now let’s move on to the negative sides of these transits, and there definitely are some to keep in mind. In general, when Mercury is in Pisces you may find yourself more forgetful and scattered, and more at a loss for words than usual, and these transits will heighten such tendencies. Therefore, this week it will likely be harder to complete and concentrate on mundane or super-detailed/analytical tasks. These combinations are great for reaching higher plains and grasping philosophical truths, but they aren’t so great for day-to-day stuff, like finishing a boring report at work, remembering to do your taxes or running errands. These transits are very much about turning off the logical, rational mind, which can be positive, but it also holds an inherent danger. Next week, more than ever, you have to be extra mindful of misinformation, especially anything that seems too good to be true. Jupiter has a tendency to gloss over (sometimes important) details in favor of wearing those rose-colored glasses and Neptune is also the planet of illusion, which means these transits combination can definitely lead to unclear or even delusional thinking. Although this combination is fantastic for spiritual experience, it also could make people more susceptible to falling into cults, so if you come into contact with a person, group or philosophy at this time that insists you have to turn off your mind and abandon any type of critical thinking, run the other way. Faith can be a beautiful thing, but it should never be blind faith that forbids you to question things. What these transits mean for you To find out what kinds of topics these transits might bring up for you, take a look at the house in your chart with Pisces on the cusp. In general, this transit might leave you feeling disoriented and ungrounded and at a loss for words at times, which may be especially challenging if you are more of a left-brained, logical person. If this is the case, try to let go and just enjoy the dreamy Pisces wave for the time being without losing your head in the process. On March 26/27, Mercury will move into Aries, a sign where it is much more assertive, blunt, quick and to the point. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com

On March 11, 2022 Venus will enter into what is called besiegement in traditional astrology. Besiegement means “hemmed up or surrounded by hostile forces,” and in this case the hostile forces are the traditional malefic planets Mars and Saturn. Venus is the planet of harmony, relating, bringing things together and keeping the peace, all of which will be difficult to do when she finds herself besieged. The dance of Venus and Mars In this episode, I talked about Venus entering the underworld when she conjuncted Pluto on December 11. This aspect happened again on December 25, when she was retrograde. The third and final meet up with Pluto happened on March 3, when Mars also crashed onto the scene. All three planets entered into an exact conjunction on this day at around 28 degrees of Capricorn. Although what comes up for you during this period may echo those Venus Pluto aspects on December 11 and 25, Mars – which is extremely strong at 28 degrees of Capricorn, which is both its sign and degree of exaltation – starts steering things in a different direction. As I mentioned above, Venus harmonizes, mediates and brings things and people together, while Mars causes strife, cuts and tears tears things apart. And they will be “dancing” together in the same degrees for a while, first in Capricorn starting on March 3, then in Aquarius on March 6, where they remain tightly conjunct until around March 11. Its rare for these two planets to stay so closely together for this long. In some ways it is a positive aspect because Venus can help temper Mars and hopefully prevent some of his worst sides – such as hostility, aggression and violence – from spiralling out of control. However, this is by no means a pleasant job for Venus – and Venus prefers enjoying herself. And alas, things get worse for her when she enters into besiegement. Venus between a rock and a hard place On the 10/11 of March, Venus enters into besiegement, a condition that is well described by the saying “between a rock and a hard place.” Poor Venus just wants everyone to get along and restore a sense of balance, but she has volatile Mars at her back and grim Saturn before her. Saturn is strong here because he is in a sign he traditionally rules (Aquarius) and is also the dispositor of both Venus and Mars, which definitely means he has the upper hand. Photo by Khashayar Kouchpeydeh on Unsplash Venus stuck between these two is a bit like someone caught between balancing the demands, negations and inflexibility of a boss (Saturn) and the angry impatience of other people on their team who want to charge ahead (Mars). A frustrating place to be, to say the least, and one that she doesn’t have much power to mollify or resolve. As is always the case, this energy will be showing up on the collective as well as our personal lives. For a better idea how it might play out in your own life, check out the house in your chart with Aquarius on the cusp. If you do feel stuck and frustrated, wait for March 19 when Venus makes a square to Uranus in Taurus, as this might bring in a Eureka moment that helps you gain better insight about how to proceed. Venus headed towards oceanic glory This besiegement, and the frustration and powerlessness it brings in the realms of peace, harmony and relationships, will start to ease after March 28, when Venus conjuncts Saturn and is no longer sandwiched between these planets. Things will get even better when she moves into the watery depths of Pisces, her sign of exaltation, in April – so stay tuned! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com

On March 2, 2022 we will have a new moon in Pisces which will culminate in a full moon in Virgo on 17/18, 2022, depending on where you live in the world. As I wrote in this post, a new moon is always the time when seeds are planted, which bear their fruits at the full moon roughly two weeks later. The new moon is brought to you by Jupiter As I’ve mentioned many times here at Age of Air, we have been dealing with a whole lot of Saturn for years now – or at least since 2020, and doesn’t the carefree feeling of the years prior to 2020 almost feel like a dream at this point? This Saturnian vibe was also amped up in January, when both Venus and Mercury went retrograde in the Saturnian sign of Capricorn, which brought up echoes from the early days of the pandemic, since they were very much tied to this particular sign. February continued the Saturn party by bringing us plenty of Aquarius, a sign Saturn traditionally rules. Although Saturn is at his best and most constructive in Aquarius – the only sign where he’s even stronger is Libra, the sign of his exaltation – Saturnian energy, by its very nature, is heavy, somber and slow. That one’s of the reasons it’s great that Jupiter finally gets his chance to come to the fore. While Saturn stands for things like careful structures, caution, shrewd thinking, discipline, limitations, blocks and restrictions and that which needs time to develop, Jupiter stands for things like blessings, good luck, higher knowledge, grace and wealth both spiritual and material. Jupiter moved into Pisces on December 29, 2021. Strong in Pisces, a sign he traditionally rules, he’s finally in a position to help us out and bring expansion, optimism and good fortune back into our lives, daring us to dream big. Saturn continued to take the center stage during the first two months of 2022, but this March lunar cycle is the welcome entrance of Jupiter and, ultimately, a renewed sense of hope for the future. Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash The lunar cycle astro stats Whatever aspects are in the sky during a new moon/full moon help paint a picture of what each lunar cycle has to offer. For the new moon on March 2, the stats are as follows: Sun conjunct Moon (New Moon) at 12 degree 07 of Pisces Sun in Pisces sextile Uranus in Taurus Mercury conjunct Saturn in Aquarius Moon conjunct Jupiter in Pisces The seeds this new moon plants are an openness to change and thinking outside the box (Sun sextile Uranus) and the potential for a growing sense of optimism and grace (Moon conjunct Jupiter), particularly that which is focused inward and/or spiritual in nature. However, there is still a somber tone here that calls us to keep our thoughts on serious matters and continue to consider the importance of long-term thinking (Mercury conjunct Saturn). For the full moon on March 17/18, the important aspects are: Sun in Pisces in opposition to the Moon in Virgo at 27 degrees 40 Moon in opposition to Jupiter in Pisces (this happens over 12 hours before the full moon, but it is still important in my opinion) Moon in opposition to Neptune in Pisces My thoughts on this full moon is that it really speaks to the tension between the universal and the particular. Jupiter is very much about big picture thinking and the power of belief, while Neptune is about dissolving borders and boundaries in both a positive sense (e.g. dreams, glamor and creativity) and a negative sense (e.g. addiction, delusion, and even madness). On the other hand, Mercury-ruled Virgo is all about details, in-depth analysis and research and making sure you always dot your “I”s and cross your “t”s. Personally, I’m glad this balance is baked into this full moon because it helps keep the Jupiter/Neptune oceanic boundlessness in check: Dare to dream and surrender to spiritual pursuits, yes, but make sure you still keep your feet on the ground is how I’d sum up this particular lunar cycle. This is especially an important lesson to keep in mind when Jupiter and Neptune meet up in a conjunction next month As always, this lunar cycle will have an impact both collectively and personally, although how much it actually affects you will depend on where the new moon and full moon fall in your natal chart. Since the new moon will be directly conjunct my ascendant ruler and the full moon will be in my first house, I will be personally quite tied into this particular lunar cycle, and will let you know if anything interesting comes up for me. Please feel free to share your own thoughts and experiences as well! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com

Saturn is a planet that gets a bad rap in astrology. Sure, he’s the planet that rules things like restrictions, suffering, old age and even death itself – in other words, the stuff none of us really like to face. However, Saturn also stands for positive things, like discipline, mastery, commitment, those things that age well and stand the test of time.Saturnian energy is what allows us to put our nose to the grindstone and do the hard work and and spend the time necessary to truly master a subject. Discipline and structure may not always make for fun times, but they are most definitely an important part of life, and they are what Saturn provides. Whenever I think about what Saturn can teach in a positive sense, I always inevitably think about the “wax on, wax off” scene in the Karate Kid. If you’re not a GenXer like me and you’ve never seen this movie, here’s a little summary:The new kid in town, Daniel, is getting bullied and beat up by some macho karate boys (if I remember right, they also steal his BMX, a mortal sin in the 80s if there ever was one!). To defend himself, he wants to learn karate himself and starts learning with Mr. Miyagi, a Japanese gardener. Before they start in on the lessons, Mr. Miyagi has Daniel wax all of his old cars in a “wax on, wax off” circular motion, then he has him sand the floors, paint the house and paint the fence. After a few days of doing this, Daniel starts to get pissed off. His shoulder hurts, this is no fun and what does it have to do with karate anyway?Here’s is Mr. Miyagi’s answer.To me, this is the beauty of Saturn. It’s not about cutting corners or instant success, it’s about committing to the long-haul, about taking the time to build up something strong and solid, not a rushed, fly by night plan that falls apart in the end. Some of the work is unpleasant, tedious or boring, like practicing scales if you’re a musician, but it pays off in the end. This weekend, we get a chance to tap into and harness this positive side of Saturn and bring it into our lives in a more direct way. Here’s what you need to know.Saturn in Aquarius electionOn Sunday, February 20, 2022 (or Saturday, February 19 depending on your location), there is a great Saturn election that you can use for a variety of Saturnian purposes, such as:Making long-term commitmentsGaining respect and masteryCreating new, lasting structures in your lifeImproving discipline and enduranceWorking on building something in a slow, steady and effective mannerAnything involving buildings or real estate, which is something Saturn rulesAgain, this is not the energy to use for overnight results, but rather those types of pursuits where you need and are willing to put in the hard work (a very Saturnian principle!) to elevate your status and authority in the long run.The chartThis Saturn in Aquarius electional chart is timed for February 20, 2022 at 11:13 a.m. for my location in Berlin, Germany and can be used anywhere in the European Union. Strong in the sign it traditionally rules, Saturn is directly on the MC (Mid-heaven), which speaks to slowly and steadily gaining in authority in your career or the public eye. The moon is in the 5th house in Libra and is applying to a harmonious trine to Saturn. In any electional chart, the moon is extremely important because it acts as the intermediary between the celestial realm and the material plane. Without the support of the moon, the election is ineffective. Since Libra is the sign of Saturn’s exaltation and the aspect is applying (i.e. the moon is heading toward completing a trine with Saturn), this chart has the juice to harness this positive Saturnian energy in the ways I described above.Although this chart could be used for many things that fit the aspects I described in the bullet points above, I especially like it for committing to a creative or literary pursuit (a mix of the 5th house and Mercury in the 9th), which is how I’ll be using it.If you need to relocate the chart, here are the times to use (if you’re location is missing from the list, just ask and I’ll look it up for you :) ) As is always the case with electional charts, it might not work everywhere and/or will change the date and time depending on your location:EuropeCentral European Standard Time: February 20, 2022 at 11:13 a.m.Greenwich Mean Time (UK): February 20, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.USA/CanadaEastern Time Zone: Unfortunately, this chart doesn’t work as well in this time zone, because the moon is out of orb. The election may still work, but it won’t be as potent. If you’d still like to give it a try, you need to do it one day earlier on February 19 at 11:18 a.m.Central Time Zone: February 19 at 11:10 a.m. Mountain Time Zone: February 19 at 11:21 a.m.Pacific Time Zone: February 19 at 11:25 a.m.How to use an electional chartI wrote this text which gives you more details about electional astrology, so check it out if you don’t know what this is or would like to know more.In a nutshell, you need to do some sort of concrete action at the time of the election to set the ball in motion. This could be something like:Naming and saving a word document you plan to use later.Signing up for a class.Sending an e-mail or making a phone call.Creating a website linked to your intention.You don’t have to do much more than that at this stage, just make the first move. Whatever you initiate at this moment will hold the energy of the election, allowing you to benefit from it in the long run.How to use this chart magicallyThis chart is very potent and can also be used for astrological magic. For this, you create either a petition or a talisman, which allows you to harness this energy for future use. To do so, you need to perform a ritual as described in the Picatrix, a 10th century book on astrological magic.Here’s how to do so (n.b. some of this is my own way of doing things combined with what it says in the Picatrix, which is fairly barebones):Shortly before the election, light a candle and some incense or plant material that corresponds to Saturn, such as poppy, pine, storax, fern, cumin, hemp or frankincense. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Imagine your body being surrounded by the color black. Breath. Now imagine lead is coming up through the ground and coating your bones. Once all your bones have been covered, imagine the planet Saturn floating above your head. Now imagine his symbol in your heart. It looks like this.*Open your eyes and recite the Orphic hymn to Saturn, which is below:ETHERIAL father, mighty Titan, hear, Great fire of Gods and men, whom all revere: Endu'd with various council, pure and strong, To whom perfection and decrease belong. Consum'd by thee all forms that hourly die, By thee restor'd, their former place supply; The world immense in everlasting chains, Strong and ineffable thy pow'r contains Father of vast eternity, divine, O mighty Saturn, various speech is thine: Blossom of earth and of the starry skies, Husband of Rhea, and Prometheus wife. Obstetric Nature, venerable root, From which the various forms of being shoot; No parts peculiar can thy pow'r enclose, Diffus'd thro' all, from which the world arose, O, best of beings, of a subtle mind, Propitious hear to holy pray'rs inclin'd; The sacred rites benevolent attend, And grant a blameless life, a blessed end.Now it’s time to create the talisman or petition. To do so, either imagine the following (for a petition), draw it on a piece of paper imbued with Saturnian herbs (list above) or carve/scratch it on onyx, jet, dark lapis lazuli, blue sapphire, black leather or bone, all of which have a Saturnian nature.The image you need to use for the drawing/carving:A man standing on a dragon holding a scythe in his right hand and a spear in his left, dressed in black or tawny clothes. You also need to add the seal of Saturn, which looks like this:If you’re not much of an artist, don’t worry (I can’t draw at all). It’s totally fine if you just draw stick figures and a wonky looking dragon. It’s the intention behind creating the image that matters, not the aesthetic results.Once you’ve finished your drawing or carving, pull the talisman or paper through the incense smoke several times and state your intention, e.g. Please help me, John Doe, to have more discipline (in my creative pursuits, studies, etc.), to gain the mastery needed to write my novel, to gain in authority, etc.You can be as specific or general as you want, but make sure what you’re asking is something Saturn can actually deliver according to his nature. In other words, don’t ask for help with your love life or overnight success as an influencer and so forth, because Saturn has very little to do with love (except perhaps commitment) and his energy is slow and methodical, more the somber master or elder statesman rather than the early shooting star. Once you’ve finished, you can lay the talisman/paper down next to the candle and leave it there at least until the incense has burned down.Please note:The timing for the ritual from start to finish is crucial. Here are the windows you can use for each of the time zones listed above (in a few cases, the times are slightly earlier to leave room for the beginning of the ritual):EuropeCentral European Standard Time: February 20, 2022 from 11:06 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.Greenwich Mean Time (UK): February 20, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. to 11:17USA/CanadaEastern Time Zone: February 19 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:18 a.m. (not as strong and more suitable to a paper talisman).Central Time Zone: February 19 from 10:50 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.Mountain Time Zone: February 19 from 11:05 to 11:21 a.m.Pacific Time Zone: February 19 from 11:10 a.m. to 11:25 a.m.If you end up going over a little bit, it’s not the end of the world, but you should definitely have the basic carving or drawing finished before this time.A few final thoughtsI’ve been practicing astrological magic for around three years now and I’ve had some really great results. What I especially like about it is that it is strict and particular in that you have to wait for a great election like this one for it to work, and you have to use materials that correspond to Saturn and an image as specified in the Picatrix, but other than that, the rituals are fair

On January 11, 2022 Mercury will make an exact conjunction with Pluto at around 26 degrees of Capricorn and stay close to the planet for several days before and after. Since Mercury just recently finished a retrograde cycle, this is the third time it will meet up with Pluto in Capricorn. The first time was on December 30, 2021, then again on January 30 when Mercury was retrograde, and now for the third time on February 11. Mercury conjunct Pluto can be great for: delving deeply into topics investigative research facing deeply seated emotional issues exploring intense, dark or taboo subjects engaging in ancestral work Pluto intensifies whatever it touches, and and this case, it’s the intellect (Mercury). Although this can be used positively as listed above, you also need to watch out for overly obsessive thinking and paranoia with this combination. To better understand how the energy might show up in your own life, look at the house with Capricorn on the cusp and think about the dates when this aspect became exact in the past six weeks or so. What types of topics came up and what were you called to reexamine or revisit? Here are a few other ideas for how to lean into this energy in positive ways. Working with the dead One thing this particular aspect really speaks to is “working with the dead.” Capricorn is the sign of graveyards and its ruler, Saturn, is the lord of death. Pluto is literally the god of the underworld and Mercury is a psychopomp who leads newly departed souls to the afterlife, a god who can freely move between worlds. Because of this, the energy from now until around February 16 (my birthday!) when Mercury moves back into Aquarius would be great for anything from delving deeper into genealogy and family history, bringing fresh flowers to the grave of a loved one, setting up an altar to your ancestors or simply taking a stroll through a graveyard, like this lovely one near my apartment. If you’d like to go even deeper into ancestral work and healing, I highly suggest working with Daniel Foor’s book Ancestral Medicine: Rituals for Personal and Family Healing. Shamanic Journeying: How to visit the lower world As I mentioned in the podcast, my mother taught me how do shamanic journeying in my 20s and I’ve found it very useful for working on emotional, creative and spiritual topics or issues. Since its all about moving between worlds (and in this case, the “lower” or underworld), giving it a try also nicely ties in with this Mercury conjunct Pluto energy. Shamanism splits the world into three: the lower world, which is the world of ancestors and animal and other spirits the middle world, which is the spirit dimension of our world the upper world, which is the dimension of ethereal and celestial beings Today we’re going to talk about visiting the lower world, which is the one I’ve personally found the most helpful. Here’s the basics on how to get there. To visit the lower world: lie down somewhere comfortable and close your eyes. Focus on your breath and relax for a minute or two. When you’re ready, imagine a very large tree. It can be a tree you’ve seen in pictures, one you simply imagine or even that tall Elm tree in your backyard with a rope swing hanging from its branches. Walk towards the tree. Near its roots, you find a hole. Go down that hole under the ground. Once you reach the other side, enter into the new space. Perhaps you’ve found yourself in a jungle with monkeys swinging from the branches, or a desert vista with a hawk soaring high above or an ocean shore where a seal and its mother frolic in the waves. Perhaps you don’t see much of anything, just a few shadows or the feeling that you’re in a different space. That’s also ok. Take note of any animals or creatures you might see, but know that you do not need to interact with them unless you want to. Explore as long as you like. When you feel ready, go back up the hole the same way and reenter the “real” world. So that’s about it for how to enter the lower world. If you found it difficult or nothing much happened, that’s totally normal. Although some people find it more easy than other, it is something that takes practice for everyone. Another tip: If imagining a tree is not your not your cup of tea, you can imagine any other opening leading under ground, like a cellar door, stairs down to the subway or even a rabbit hole a la Alice in Wonderland. It may also be helpful to listen to drumming like this one (the fast drumming at the end means its time to go back up the hole): If you feel like sharing your experience, please feel free to do so. If you stick with it, you’ll see there are worlds upon worlds down there, in the rich and sometimes eerie place where dreams and stories come from. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com

On January 8/9, Venus Retrograde in Capricorn will be conjunct the Sun. In traditional astrology, this is called Cazimi, or being in the “heart of the Sun”. When a planet is Cazimi, it is placed in a spotlight and allowed to express what it wants before moving on to enter a new phase in its cycle. The Venus Synodic Cycle To understand what this means in a deeper way, it’s important to touch briefly on the Venus synodic cycle. In literal terms, a synodic cycle is the amount of time it takes for a planet to return to the sun as seen from Earth. In Venus’s case, this begins with what is called the “superior conjunction” when she is direct. At this time, she disappears under the sun’s beams and reemerges as the evening star, which starts a new synodic cycle. Halfway through this cycle, Venus makes what is called the “inferior conjunction” when she is retrograde. Like before, she first disappears under the sun’s beams and reemerges as the morning star. The Cazimi this weekend also marks the mid-way point in her retrograde cycle. After this point, she continues on until the next superior conjunction, when a new cycle begins. In total, each Venus synodic cycle takes 584 days. In figurative terms, synodic cycles represent the life and death of a planet and what is stands for. When Venus enters the sun’s beams before the superior conjunction (the last one happened on March 26, 2021 in Aries), she’s worn out and spent. Rejoining the sun, she is “burnt up” by his rays which is a death of sorts, but also a purification. When she reemerges as the evening star, she is Venus at her happiest: reborn, fresh, dewy eyed and young and ready to embark on a new cycle which calls us to explore new terrain around Venusian topics, like relationships, desires, beauty, sexuality, joy, women, creativity and so on. By the time she comes to the inferior conjunction, she’s already done stuff and had her experiences. Think of her as someone who’s finished school and they’re ready to start a new chapter in their lives as a mature adult, but first they have to reexamine and revisit those Venusian topics I just mentioned. Do they still want what they wanted at the beginning, or do adjustments and changes need to be made? At the end of January, Venus will reemerge as the morning star. What this means for you Since this Venus Retrograde Sun Cazimi is taking place in Capricorn, you should look at the house in your chart with this sign on the cusp to better understand what this particular aspects means for you. You can check out this post here where I go through the houses and what Venus Retrograde might mean in each one of them. If you’d like to deep dive and connect with this energy even more, you can also do the planetary attunement work I suggest here. Most likely you already know what topics are coming up for you – I know I do – but if not, this Cazimi might be a Eureka moment where things become clearer and you get a better sense for what to do and where things are headed. Even if that’s not the case, sit tight, keep on exploring whatever comes up, and get ready for Venus’ reemergence as the morning star at the end of the month. While Venus shows her more yin, harmonious qualities as the evening star, when she becomes the morning star, her energy is yang and much more assertive – a true action-oriented warrior goddess or, in more modern terms, a bad-ass girl boss. Photo by Daria Sheveleva on Unsplash This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com

Happy New Year! I wish you all a wonderful start into 2022 and look forward to exploring astrology, magic and tarot with you in the months to come. To kick off the year, I thought I’d post another Guess the Writer Natal Chart Guessing Game. I’m going through the chart of someone here who was “born to be famous” in many ways, but who also struggled with depression and mental illness at times. Here are the astro stats: Ascendant at 10 degree 28 of Gemini and the ascendant ruler Mercury at 18 degrees 03 Aquarius in the 9th house Ascendant directly on the fixed star Aldebaran and the Sun directly on the MC at 5 degrees 29 of Aquarius Mercury square Neptune in the 12th, which gave this person a dreamy, poetic quality to their writing, but also memory and delusional problems at times Moon in Aries at the end of the 11th house square Venus and conjunct Saturn Have fun guessing and have a great week! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com

On December 24, 2021, Christmas Eve, we will experience the third and final exact square between Saturn and Uranus. The planets made an exact square for the first time on February 7 and again on around June 12 because Saturn went retrograde. When an aspect perfects like this, the energy is intensified, but really we’ve been feeling the energy all year both in our personal lives and the collective, this tension between authoritarianism and protest, blocks and limitations and the intense urge to break them down and get things moving, the urge to stick with the tried and true and traditional as opposed to the drive for revolutionary innovation and breakthrough, those who seek to create long lasting structures that are slow to build while the other camp call for their destruction – they’d prefer chaos to the slow march of progressive Aquarian humanitarianism. This aspect has also been linked with the pandemic, and whenever it goes exact, we’ve seen major spikes in Covid cases slightly after. With Omnicron variant on the loose, perhaps its not surprising that we get the final square on a day when people are more likely to gather in larger groups. In 2022, the square between Saturn and Uranus stays close, but it never goes exact again, which suggests we will see at least a slight easing up of that which it signifies. Jupiter is also finally moving out of a Saturn-ruled sign into Pisces, a sign that it rules, on December 30, which should bring some extra bubbles to your champagne and a renewed sense of optimism we haven’t felt in far too long. To finish off the year, as well as say goodbye to this aspect, or at least to the intensity when it goes exact, I thought I’d write another little poem, so here goes. Saturn square Uranus: the poem! Stalwart Saturn, rigid and unyielding, whose word is law. Each vertebra in in his spine a decree: Let it be so! We will build it over time. But Uranus? Uranus is the shock you get from a metal doorknob when you shuffle your feet across a carpeted room, a sudden jolt that cannot be ignored, the tip of a lightening bolt plummeting from the heavens to strike and sear the ground. Saturn square Uranus is a horde of rebels besieging unexpectedly the castle of a tyrant so cold he swallowed his own children whole. What the rebels seek is liberty and freedom. Or: Saturn square Uranus is the elder statesman, slow in speech and gait, an architect who would build good things at a snail’s pace, solid structures designed to endure. But an angry mob seeks to beat down his door. Will they burn down the house with everyone inside, including themselves? Yes. In their eyes, what is must be destroyed. Or: Saturn square Uranus is a frenzied pressure, the desire to break down walls, both internal and external, and finally start moving forward, our bodies sore from constant constraint. It’s the authoritarian father, lecturing from behind the Christmas ham: Life is thus, and therefore. Wise? Perhaps. But also unwilling to compromise. But Uranus is there too, his mohawk magnificently blue, ready to upend the table and light his farts on fire – if you dare him to do. The Astrology of 2022 If you’d like a sneak peek into the astrology of 2022, I highly suggest this video put out by the Astrology Podcast. As I mentioned in my podcast, it’s a good idea to split the video up into section rather than take in all at once. You can also find an audio-only version on Spotify or other streaming services. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com

On December 18/19 we will have a full moon in Gemini which I’ve dubbed “a friendly farewell and an optimistic hello.” I’ve chosen this name because, at 28 degrees of Aquarius, Jupiter is making a lovely trine to both the sun and the moon. A trine is a flowing, harmonious aspect, and Jupiter is the planet that stands for optimism, vision, seeing a way forward, expansion and growth. With this trine, Jupiter is saying a friendly hello, as if to remind us he’s about to leave Saturn’s icy lair and move back into his own sumptuous castle by the sea when he ingresses into Pisces, a sign he traditionally rules, on December 30, 2021. A word on Saturn and Jupiter Saturn features very prominently in my chart, so Saturnian energy in both its negative and more positive forms is something I’m well acquainted with. But Jupiter also has his say: my ascendant ruler is in a Jupiter-ruled sign and Jupiter himself is conjunct my sun. Perhaps because of this balance within me, I tend to attract people who are either very Saturnian or very Jupiterian. What I love about Saturnian people is their shrewdness and incredible b******t detector. These people take commitments seriously, frown on flakiness and don’t balk at hardwork or that which requires discipline. However, they also tend to be pessimistic, true glass is half full people who dwell on the negative or impossible, which at times seems like nearly everything. What I love about Jupiterian people is their optimistic vision. These are people who live to be inspired and inspiring and love the excitement of a new possibility. Sure, ugliness exists in the world, but so does beauty and deep spiritual connection, which they prefer to focus on. However, they tend to sometimes be blindly optimistic, either having too much faith that something will just work out even if its clearly not very realistic (a Saturn word) that it will. Although naturally exuberant, these glass half full people also have a tendency to sometimes err on the side of foolish, rose colored glasses thinking. In my circle of friends, I try to keep those with a distinct leaning in one way or another separate from each other, because when they do come together, the comments inevitably come in later: So and so is nice, but they seem naively optimisitic. Can anyone really be that upbeat all the time? (Saturnian person about a Jupiterian person) I like so and so, but they seem like a bit of a negative Nancy. Are they depressed? (Jupiterian person about a Saturnian person) Thinking about these people makes me realize how uncomfortable things have been the last two years for Jupiter – he’s been in a Saturn-ruled sign since December 3, 2019 – as well as what he stands for. Jupiter is in his fall in Saturn-ruled Capricorn, which means Jupiterian principles like optimism, growth, expansion, helpful solutions, etc. were out of commission for nearly all of 2020 at a time when Pluto conjunct Saturn was busy amping up intensifying Saturn’s more challenging significations: fear, limitations, restrictions, death. On December 20, 2020, Jupiter left Capricorn and ingressed into Saturn-ruled Aquarius, ushering in the Age of Air one day later. Although still bunking with Saturn, Jupiter is in better shape in Aquarius and can get on board with Aquarian virtues, like humanitarianism and helping build positive new structures and public works. But Jupiter is most definitely hankering to move on into Pisces, and his gain in strength will surely benefit us, not to mention create a greater balance once more between Saturnian seriousness and severity and Jupiterian buoyancy and hope – a welcome change for sure. The Lunar Nodes This full moon also signifies a somewhat premature farewell to the lunar nodes in Gemini and Sagittarius. The nodes have been on the Gemini-Sag axis since May 2020, which means the eclipse cycles have been happening in the houses in your chart with these signs on the cusps during this time. Eclipses signify upheavals, changes as well as endings and new beginnings in the areas of your life signified by the Gemini and Sag-ruled houses for the past year and a half. The nodes will move on to Taurus-Scorpio on January 19, 2022 and stay in those signs until July 17, 2023. Since we had our final eclipse on this axis on December 4 (asolar eclipse in Sagittarius), with this Gemini moon as the final culmination in the lunar cycle, the nodes also take a bow. Full Moon in Gemini: Suggested Ritual In many magical traditions, the moon plays a central role. We track her as she waxes and wanes, using her power and cycles for manifestation. New moons are when we set intentions, waxing moons are for growth, waning moons for ridding ourselves of things. However, there is one widespread misconception: full moons are not actually an ideal time to manifest new things into your life with magic. When a moon is full, it has peaked and reached its culmination. Brimming with light, its energy can go no further, it can only recede. That said, full moons are definitely still powerful moments and a great time for meditation, among other things. For this Gemini new moon, I therefore suggest the following ritual: During this full moon – possibly during the hour of the moon if possible – find a quiet place to meditate Light a candle and some lunar incense, such as eucalyptus, camphor, iris or violet Close your eyes and imagine your body filling up with the moon’s silvery light Visualize Jupiter, a friendly, rotund figure and feel the promising buoyancy and optimism he brings into this full moon. Still cloaked in the ashen, threadbare gown of Saturn, his lavish sea green robe, encrusted with shells and jewels, is near. Soon he will move into Pisces and wear it once more, bringing us the abundance of the oceans. Breathe and allow yourself to dream and harbor hope, a feeling far too long in short supply. If you like, simply stay with Jupiter or you can move on and visualize the changes that have occurred in your life regarding the houses in your chart with Gemini and Sag on the cusp. Honor that which has faded away, celebrate that which has entered and hold an open heart for the changes yet to come, even those that might be difficult. Breathe and sit with the energy as long as you like. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com

On December 19, 2021, Venus will be stationing retrograde in the sign of Capricorn – she won’t be turning direct until January 30, 2022. In my last podcast and post I went through the meaning of Venus conjunct Pluto through the houses, which still applies here as well. Venus goes retrograde every 18 months, and when she does relationships are being challenged: we are asked to review what is working, what needs to be adjusted and perhaps what needs to come to an end. However, this does not just mean romantic relationships, it can also speak to how we relate to our neighborhood, our family, our ancestry and so on. The topics that might come up for you will depend on which house has Capricorn on the cusp in your natal house. To gain additional insight into how this might affect you personally, it’s also useful to think back to the last time Venus went retrograde in Capricorn (and was also quite close to Pluto), which was from December 31, 2013 to February 1, 2014. The topics and themes that came up for you at that time will help give you a preview of what might come up this time around. Pluto is very much about power and the hidden, particularly that which we fear. With Venus retrograde conjunct Pluto, I think a lot of issues will be coming up in the collective around (poisonous) power, the abuse of power and powerlessness (all Plutonian themes) and particularly how they pertain to women and sexuality (Venus) in terms of respect, or lack thereof, within structures (Capricorn). Planetary attunement ritual As I mentioned in the podcast, I’m personally locked into this Venus Pluto retrograde cycle because it will be sitting directly on top of my own natal Venus in the 5th house. I plan to channel this energy into some creative projects (the 5th house is perfect for this) as well as do planetary attunements to lean into things a bit. So what is a planetary attunement? A planetary attunement is a short ritual you do on the day and hour of a certain planet to check in and feel its energy. If that planet is doing great, the ritual will feel pleasant and easy going (unless its Mars or Saturn, in which case it will feel “good” in the way they do good). If it’s in bad shape (e.g. in the sign of its detriment or fall, getting some nasty aspect from the malefics, etc.) you’ll feel this too. Sometimes people get nervous about doing planetary attunement rituals, because they’re worried this more challenging or negative energy might affect them in a direct way, but really you’re just checking in. In my experience, you feel the energy during the ritual and a little bit afterward, but it’s not something that lingers. If you’d like to feel your way into what Venus retrograde conjunct Pluto stands for (instead of just trying to understand it intellectually), or lean into it if it’s affecting you personally, feel free to try out this little ritual. However, don’t feel like you have to. Plutonian energy is pretty intense, so if you don’t feel up to it or if you give the ritual a try and it feels overwhelming, you most definitely do not have to continue. Venus planetary attunement A Venus planetary attunement should be performed on Fridays (the day Venus rules) during the hour of Venus. Venus always rules the hour when the sun rises on her day, but if – like me– you’re not a morning person, you can choose to do the ritual on one of the other hours she rules on Friday (the afternoon one is usually between 12:30 and 3:00 depending on the time of year). To find the right time, check here. Day and hour is the most ideal choice, but if Fridays just don’t work for some reason, you could do it during Venus’ hour on another day instead. If you want to throw yourself into things even more, you could do the ritual several times a week on any day during Venus’ hour, although I’m not sure I’d suggest doing so when the energy is this intense. Once you have the right time, do the following (shout out to my teacher Austin Coppock for suggesting the first part here!): Sit down and get comfortable Light a candle and incense (for Venus, a good choice is rose, peppermint or anything that smells sweet and pleasant) Close your eyes and focus for a minute on your breath Now imagine your body is surrounded by a rich, verdant green. Breathe it in. Now imagine liquid copper is flowing up from the Earth. It enters through the soles of your feet and coats your bones, going slowly up your spine, down your arms, all the way to the top of your head. Imagine the planet Venus floating above your head. Once you’ve visualized this, imagine the symbol for Venus inside your heart. Keeping your eyes closed, breathe and sit with the energy as long as you like. At this point, I also usually recite the Orphic hymn to Venus before the final short meditation, so feel free to add that in if you’d like. During this Venus retrograde conjunct Pluto period, I plan to try reciting the poem I wrote yesterday and read in the podcast. If it resonates with you, you can do the same, but please only keep it for your own personal use: Oh Venus, fecund maiden, many splendoured queen, wrapped in furs and jewels; Now stripped bare and smeared with mud and damp in the dark. Leeches cling to your trembling limbs; they do not care that your skin is so cold to the touch. Where is the joy in a freshly formed pearl, the beauty of a laughing child, the pleasure in a stolen kiss? Gone for now, but this too shall have an end. I am with you on this journey, hand in hand, that we might face the darkness and emerge battered but not broken, our deep wounds drained of poison and cleansed, may they heal and never fester. I am with you on this journey. You are not alone. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com

On December 11, 2021 Venus will conjunct Pluto at 25 degree 19 Capricorn. Pluto intensifies whatever it touches and speaks to our sometimes darker, subconscious urges. Although it initially often brings about a sense of crisis, Pluto also rewards us with the promise of transformation. However, there is a caveat: we first have to be brave enough to embark on a journey to the underworld and face what we fear or the uncomfortable shadow that lurks insides of all of us.When Venus joins with Pluto, we are called to examine our relationships, in particular in their more obsessive, compulsive and addictive forms. Although this might speak to romantic relationships, its can also mean your relationship to money, to your family, to your body and so on. The distinction depends on which house in your natal chart is ruled by Capricorn. Other topics that might come up are examining how much you sacrifice for the sake of harmony as well as places where your desires may be out of control. It may bring up issues around beauty, women, enjoyment and sexuality, since these are all topics Venus signifies. Since Capricorn is a Saturn-ruled sign, topics around respect and commitment might also come up.To embark on a Plutonian journey can be frightening, but it also promises reward in the form of transformation and truly letting go of that which binds and possesses you but does not (or no longer) serves a healthy purpose.To help you get a preview of what might be in store for you during this Venus Pluto conjunction, as well as the Venus retrograde cycle that begins on December 19, read about your rising sign below.Capricorn RisingIf you have Capricorn rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 1st house. This house is what is called one of the angular houses and it is powerful point in the chart that represents your physical body, who you are and your life purpose and direction. When Venus and Pluto meetup here, you are asked to examine your relationship to yourself and your body. Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:How can I show up for myself with more respect and commitment? Do I treat my body right? Is my life heading in a direction that is true to me, and if not, what unhealthy patterns or behaviors are getting in the way?Aquarius RisingIf you have Aquarius rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 12th house. The 12th house speaks to the ways we undermine ourselves as well as our hidden fears, which makes this placement and difficult but powerful one. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine the ways in which you are your own worst enemy. As this is also the house of solitude, taking up or intensifying a meditation practice during this time would be very helpfulQuestions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:How can I show up for myself with more respect and commitment? How do I get in my own way and cause problems for myself?Do I have any issues with addiction or overly obsessive behavior? If so, what steps can I take and what commitments can I make to address these problems in a healthy way?Pisces RisingIf you have Pisces rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 11th house. The 12th house speaks to your friends, networks and associations within groups of people. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine these aspects of your life. Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:How can I show up for my friendship and alliances more respect and commitment? Do I have any toxic relationships in this sphere of life? If so, have I been acting as an enabler for inappropriate behavior just to keep the peace?What are my fears or obsessions in this area of life and how can I learn to face them and let them go?Aries RisingIf you have Aries rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 10th house. Like the 1st house, the 10th house is a powerful angular house that represents your career and public image as well as your mother. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine your relationships in the workplace and to your career and ambition in general or your relationship with your mother. Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:Do I have issues with respect and commitment at the workplace or my relationship with my mother, either involving others or my own actions? Do I have any toxic relationships in this sphere of life? If so, have I been acting as an enabler for inappropriate behavior just to keep the peace?What are my fears or obsessions in this area of life and how can I learn to face them and let them go?Does my career bring me joy? If not, what changes do I need to make?Taurus RisingIf you have Taurus rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 9th house. The 9th house represents our beliefs, higher learning and foreign travel. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine what you believe in as well as your relationship to people and places foreign to you. Any higher learning studies or spiritual practices are also highlighted here.Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:Do I have issues with respect and commitment at university, within a religious/spiritual group or discipline?Do I have any toxic relationships in this sphere of life? If so, have I been acting as an enabler for inappropriate behavior just to keep the peace?What are my fears or obsessions in this area of life and how can I learn to face them and let them go?Have my attitudes towards people from other countries been fear-based, negative, obsessive or sexually charged in any way? If so, how can I work on establishing healthier attitudes and let go of my prejudice or objectification?Gemini RisingIf you have Gemini rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 8th house. One of the heavier houses, the 8th house represents death, other people’s money (i.e. what we owe, our partners income or inheritance) and fear itself. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine your relationships to these types of topicsQuestions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:Do I have issues with respect and commitment concerning my spouse’s income, either on their side or mine?Do I have a toxic relationships to fear? In other words, has my “fear of fear” something I either compulsively refuse to face or obsessively dwell on?Is my fear of death overpowering? What ways could I work on a healthier relationship towards the inevitable end of life?Cancer RisingIf you have Cancer rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 7th house. Another one of the powerful angular houses in your chart, the 7th house represents your partnerships, be they your spouse or business partners as well as other people you encounter in general. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine these central relationships.Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:Do I have issues with respect and commitment concerning my spouse, business partner or other people in general, either on their side or mine?Do I have an intimate toxic or addictive relationship in my life? If so, have I been acting as an enabler for inappropriate behavior just to keep the peace?If I don’t have a romantic partner at this time, do I have any issues or compulsive patterns around choosing the wrong partner? How can I make changes to make more room for healthier choices?Leo RisingIf you have Leo rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 6th house. The 6th house represents illness and hard, usually thankless work. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine these types of topics.Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:Do I have issues with respect and commitment to your body that might be resulting in illnesses? If so, how might you transform your routines?Do I have any health issues I have been ignoring that need to be addressed?Do I have issues with responsibility and establishing healthy routines, including hard work that is not always appealing (i.e. housework, less appealing tasks at work)?Virgo RisingIf you have Virgo rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 5th house. The 5th house stands for romance, pleasure, entertainment, hobbies, children and sexuality. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine these topics in your life.Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:Do I have issues with respect and commitment concerning my children, lovers or my relationship to pleasure and enjoyment (please note that I say “lovers” here because a more established relationship would be described by the 7th house, but in the 5th we see things like love affairs or dating)?Do I have any compulsive or addictive issues around sexuality?If I don’t have any romantic interests at this time, do I have any issues or compulsive patterns around who I choose to become sexually or romantically involved with? How can I make changes to make more room for healthier choices?If I have children (especially female children), what is the state of my relationship with them? Is there anything I need to face or come to terms with?Libra RisingIf you have Libra rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 4th house. Another one of the powerful angular houses in your chart, the 4th house represents you home, ancestry and your parents in general and father in particular. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine these topics and relationships in your life.Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:Do I have issues with respect and commitment concerning my relationship with your father, parents or ancestry, either on my side o

On November 28 there’s an awesome election for starting a new project or endeavour with a Mars signature. This election gives you drive, willpower and helps spur you into action which is lasting, since Scorpio is a fixed sign. Mars also rules the 5th house in the chart, which is the house of pleasure and enjoyment, so whatever Mars activity you initiate at this time should also be a lot of fun for you. The technical astro details This chart is for Sunday, November 28 at 6:31 am and is timed for my timezone in Berlin, Germany (CEST). It features: Mars directly on the Ascendant at around 19 degrees of Scorpio The Moon on the MC at around 14 degrees of Virgo If you need to relocate this chart for your timezone, make sure Mars is within five degrees of the ascendant and that the Moon is between 10 to 18 degrees of Virgo (the next aspect it makes should be either a trine to Venus or a Sextile to Mars for the election to work). What to use it for This election is ideal to start any sort of task that requires physical exertion, like starting a new fitness routine or learning something like martial arts or sword fighting, if that’s your thing. It’s an especially great election if you usually struggle with working out, because the Mars in Scorpio combined with the fifth house will help give you stick-with-it power for sports that make you break a sweat, while still promising ultimate enjoyment. With its detail-oriented Virgo moon and harmonious aspect to Venus in Capricorn, this election would also be really great to starting a new creative project that has a Mars quality to it (i.e. involves exertion, intensity, fire and/or sharp, poky things). For example, you could: start a cooking class (Mars is definitely into all that heat and knives) start a metalwork project learn to glaze pottery sign up for a Capoeira course (dance AND combat, the perfect mix here!) However, the election is not ideal for starting writing projects, even Hemingway-esque projects about war Mars would dig, because Mercury (the planet of writing) is in its sign of detriment and combust, which means it’s not functioning well enough to offer enough support. How to use it To use elections, you need to make some sort of concrete action to get the ball rolling at the time of the election. For example, you could go jogging at the exact time of the election if that’s what you want to start, start melting down metal at the elected time to launch new jewelry projects or sign up for a Kung Fu course at the exact time (tip if you’re not a morning person=schedule the e-mail so that it’s sent off at the right time. That’s enough!) To find out how to use this election magically (which is what I plan to do), you can purchase Nina Gryphon’s Magical Elections PDF here. Happy enjoyable Mars-ing! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com

On November 19, 2021 we will experience a partial lunar eclipse in the sign of Taurus. In many ways, eclipses are like super charged full moons where emotions as well as any aspects built into the moon are particular heightened. These can be times of dramatic endings or dramatic beginnings, with their effects lasting around six months, which is much longer than your average moon cycle. As is always the case, not everyone will feel this eclipse equally. You are more likely to have it affect you personally if you have your rising sign or any personal planets in a fixed sign (Aquarius, Taurus, Scorpio, Leo) because this means it will fall in a powerful angular house or make close aspects. Eclipses can be times where it’s important to let go, and with this eclipse we are called to examine and let go of rage you may have been holding on to. However, be careful – and this goes for November in general – that you don’t lash out in anger or become so impatience that you do something rash you may later regret. If life isn’t moving at the speed you want it to, it’s better to take a step back and breathe. The astro energy is intense right now, but it won’t be like forever. If astrology teaches us anything, it’s that change is the only true constant. For the collective and world leaders, eclipses are often particularly important, and with this one, this will be especially true for any places traditionally ruled by Taurus or one of the other fixed signs. This lunar eclipse is also uncomfortably close to the intensely difficult fixed star Algol, which can indicate the potential for mass violence. In this case, let’s hope the astrological symbolism does not choose to manifest itself in a literal fashion…It helps that the moon is making a square to Jupiter and a sign-based trine to Venus, which rules Taurus, which are both benefic, helpful planets, so fingers crossed! Here are the astro stats for November 19th’s partial lunar eclipse: Moon at 27 degrees 47 Taurus, conjunct the fixed star Algol Moon square Jupiter and trine Pluto Moon conjunct Uranus in Taurus and in opposition to Mars and Mercury in Scorpio (these aspects will become exact the day before, but their affects will still be felt in the eclipse) Please feel free to share any eclipses insights or experiences in the comments below! Photo by Marek Okon on Unsplash This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com

Happy November everyone, and welcome to a very Mars-heavy month! Here’s my take on the new moon is Scorpio taking place on November 4. The stats are: Moon at 12 degrees 40 of Scorpio Moon conjunct Mars in Scorpio Moon square Saturn in Aquarius Moon in opposition to Uranus in Taurus Yowza, this is really a very intense start to the lunar cycle. To find out more details, give my podcast a listen – and feel free to share you experience below. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com

Today I’m talking about the Lunar Cycle for October 2021, which includes the new moon in Libra on October 6 and the full moon in Aries on October 20. Here are the astro stats for the October 6 Libra new moon: at 13 degrees 25 of Libra, conjunct Mars, Mercury retrograde, conjunct the fixed star Algorab Pluto in Capricorn stations direct on this same day The Aries full moon takes place on October 20 and is: in opposition to Mars and Libra on the fixed star Spica square Pluto in Capricorn At this point, both Saturn and Jupiter in Aquarius are direct again as is Mercury in Libra. A shout out to the astrologer Nina Gryphon who I mentioned in the podcast. As I mentioned, I will not be doing a general astrological forecast for October, but I suggest her material on YouTube as well as the ever-fabulous Astrology Podcast. For my astrological forecasts and other goodies, please follow my Instagram account age.of.air. Photo by Marcus Dall Col on Unsplash This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ageofair.substack.com