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This FB page is maintained by Michael O'Reilly and features posts from his weekly NewsScope blog. Join in the discussion!

Astrology at its Best
NEPTUNECAFE·SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 2018·

Ready to go beyond Sun Sign astrology? Delving into the archetypal, symbolic language of the planets can be quite an eye opener to people who think astrology begins and ends with Sun Signs. I’ve been a passionate astrology student for several decades, and enjoy sharing how the planets reflect what’s happening in our personal lives and geopolitically. I’ve been writing the weekly NewsScope column since 1997, and also wrote regularly for the major astrology magazines, notably Dell Horoscope. The posts that appear here are only a small part of what appears weekly. You can find more astro-commentaries here: NewsScope and at my website, NeptuneCafe.com

Tools: As a professional astrologer for the last twenty-five years, I've found a number of useful, holistic techniques for chart interpretation, gleaned from my library of over 600 astrology texts. The book reviews I wrote for Dell Horoscope magazine are now collected in an eBook, called The Ultimate Book of Astrology Books. Check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DSSCLP4

You can email me at [email protected]
Michael (Wolfstar) O’Reilly

10/25/2026

November’s Top Five Astro-Events

1. Juno conjoins Pluto on the 5th, adding intensity to any committed relationship, especially from the 1st through 8th. That could be a plus or minus depending on how you and yours are faring.

2. Mercury in Scorpio turns direct on the 13th. For the previous three weeks, Mercury’s apparent backward motion in this emotionally deep sign may have brought an unusual phase of obsessive, pessimistic, or suspicious thinking — and of course, difficulty in making and tallying votes.

3. Venus at 22º Libra turns direct on the 13th. Since Mercury and Venus are stationing direct on the same day, this marks a definitive turning point for many in their personal and professional lives.

4. The Full Moon in Gemini at 9:53 am (EST) on the 24th conjoins Uranus, bringing exciting, unpredictable events into our lives. This Full Moon is exceptional since it activates the epochal trine of Uranus and Pluto and brings peak emotional developments into play.

5. Uranus in Gemini trines Pluto in Aquarius on the 29th, but this outer planet harmony gains in strength throughout the month. The exact degree of these two is 3º31’ of their respective signs, marking a key point in personal charts under super-transformational changes.

The above are brief intros to this week’s NewsScope. Read the rest here: https://neptunecafe.com/NewsScope

10/18/2026

BML Pushes for Women’s Equal Rights

Following up on last week’s look at how No Kings Day corresponds to the activation of the US Mercury, a reader asks, “I’m curious where Black Moon Lilith might be in the US chart…. How does it show the rise of the sovereign feminine in a deeply patriarchal authoritarian context?”

In the Scorpio Rising US horoscope, BML is located at 19º27’ Virgo. BML squares Mars, putting this feminine archetype under great pressure from the men who traditionally ruled families, society, and government. And with the Sun square Saturn, the institutionalized patriarchal system wasn't easy to overcome. However, major transits and progressions involving the US BML have indeed fueled significant developments in the women’s rights movements.

The first women’s rights convention in the United States was held on July 19-20, 1848 in Seneca Falls, NY. At this time Lilith had progressed 8º from its natal position to 27º29’ Virgo where it formed an exact trine to the US Pluto at 27º33’ Capricorn (orb: 0º04’). Pluto, as the nation’s ruling planet, was harmoniously linking to Lilith, with her primary agenda of being treated as an equal.

Following decades of protests, women didn’t constitutionally get the right to vote until Congress passed the 19th Amendment in 1920. The process took several years to unfold and began as progressed Mars moved into a conjunction with natal Lilith. When the US entered World War I in 1917, progressed Mars was at 18º Virgo. Women joined the labor force to replace men serving in the military. The women’s rights organizations argued that their sacrifices earned them the right to vote, and they began picketing the White House that year.

In 1918 and 1919, with the support of President Wilson, the House and Senate grappled with passing the 19th Amendment. It finally passed both houses by June 4, 1919 when the US progressed Mars was at 19º21’ Virgo — only 0º06’ from conjoining natal Lilith. Also, transiting Pluto at 5º33’ Cancer was squaring progressed Lilith at 5º24’ Libra (orb: 0º09’). The Amendment went to the states for approval, which was finally achieved when Tennessee ratified it on August 18, 1920, as transiting Pluto at 8º Cancer was perfectly trine the US Scorpio Ascendant. The nation was successfully transformed.

Hillary Clinton became the first serious woman presidential candidate when she announced her candidacy on April 12, 2015. By this time the US progressed Lilith had advanced to 16º08’ Libra where it formed an exact sextile to the US Midheaven at 16º08’ Leo. The harmonious sextile provided the celestial pathway to this historic opportunity.

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. There’s more on the first women’s rights convention in 1848, and Kamala Harris’s run for president here: https://neptunecafe.com/NewsScope

10/11/2026

No Kings Day 4.0

Since Trump began his second term, Americans have increasingly felt that his authoritarian style goes against political norms and is even unconstitutional. Many have shown their disdain for his policies by publicly protesting, and none of these protests have been more popular than the No Kings Days. The fourth one is due this coming October 17.

Naturally, Mercury is the key astrological indicator for these peaceful protests meant to express the intensely felt message that, in essence, power belongs to the people, not a self-appointed king-like figure. In the national horoscope, Mercury is located at 24º Cancer and is intensified by its opposition to Pluto. In the Scorpio Rising chart (July 4, 1776; 2:21 pm), Pluto is the nation’s ruling planet.

The tightest natal aspect to the US Mercury is a quincunx to the Moon at 25º Aquarius. The nation’s Moon represents the people’s security needs, and in Aquarius it’s associated with their basic rights —especially the right to choose their leaders. As the No Kings coalition came together in March 2025, Uranus was at 24º Ta**us and sextile Saturn at 24º Pisces, with both making harmonious links to the US Mercury. Then the transiting Saturn-Uranus sextile advanced one degree within weeks to activate the US Moon. The people were awakening.

And now, as we approach October 17’s No Kings Day, 24º is highlighted in a surprising number of ways. Progressed Mercury will be at 24º31’ Aquarius and only 0º16’ past its quincunx to natal Mercury. It’s also applying to conjoin the natal Moon in Aquarius over the coming year. And then the progressed North Node this month is at 24º20’ Cancer — right on the US Mercury. The progressed Midheaven, which advances one degree/year, is at 24º Aries.

Considered separately, progressions indicate internal developments. They generally need transits to manifest their influence in the physical world. And this is what we have on October 17: the transiting Sun at 24º Libra spotlights these progressions for that one day. Transiting Saturn at 10º Aries is octile the US Moon, further engaging the people and deepening the enduring significance of this event. Saturn in headstrong Aries shows a willingness to take on authority, but these protests are organized around the primary principle of nonviolent action.

Although there will be thousands of marches and rallies across the country, Saturn’s influence reflects this No Kings event as emphasizing voter turnout and taking the responsibility to vote. One slogan expresses it this way: “Power belongs to the people, but only if we use it.”

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. Get the full picture here: https://neptunecafe.com/NewsScope

10/04/2026

Q. and A.

The weekly NewsScope blog has some of the most astrologically savvy readers around and their interesting questions go way beyond the entertaining Sun Sign features that pass for our metaphysical science in mainstream media. Here are a few excellent questions with extended commentaries:

Re: 27 - With the recent death of Presley Ge**er at the age of 27, I recalled the "27 Club"--other celebs who also died at this age (as well as those non-celebs unknown to us who also met their ends). Is there some astrological "thing" that happens at the 27-year mark?

A. Yes, it's the progressed Lunar Return. It happens to everyone at age 27 when the progressed Moon has gone around the zodiac one time and returns to its natal position. Check the afflictions to the natal Moon to see if the Return will be problematic. At the time of his death, his progressed Moon was at 27º43’ Aquarius and only 0º21’ from his natal Moon.

Re: Jon Ossoff - Does Jon Ossoff have a chance at being president in 2028?

A. It's a great question, but unfortunately, we have no birth time for him. Jon Ossoff, the progressive and outspoken senator from Georgia, was born on February 16, 1987 in Atlanta, Georgia. To assess a politician’s chances at winning national office, I use the Scorpio Rising national horoscope and, in particular, the connections to the US Moon at 25º Aquarius. One of the most significant trends in American politics is that all recently elected presidents have precise aspects to the U.S. Moon either natally or by progression, and often both.

Re: Venus Retrograde - This Venus Retrograde transit has just inched past the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant and is stationing. It will travel back into the 12th house, hopefully, to reveal more national secrets. In the meantime, Neptune is squaring the US natal Venus for some potentially big losses. This feels like it could be really big! Thoughts?

A. My main concern involves Black Moon Lilith quincunx Uranus, which becomes exact a few days before Election Day. Lilith in Capricorn brings out the worst in authorities and the quincunx to Uranus might therefore bring some unexpected or non-traditional challenges to routine voting. Unless cooler heads prevail, this Lilith-Uranus astro-event puts some potentially unconstitutional interference into play.

The above are excerpts from the answers. Get the full picture here: https://neptunecafe.com/NewsScope

09/27/2026

October’s Top Five Astro-Events

1. Venus turns retrograde on the 3rd at 8º Scorpio. The next 40 days mark an important phase when relationship dynamics come up for review. Unresolved issues will likely surface and need to be worked out for any existing compatibility to continue. This Venus cycle is particularly relevant in national politics since Venus reverses course while conjunct the US Scorpio Ascendant. Financial scandals are likely to surface, especially since transiting Neptune is simultaneously squaring the US Venus.

2. Mars opposes Pluto on the 3rd, but this high-powered confrontational dynamic is in effect from the 1st through 4th. Those with prominent placements at 2º to 4º of the fixed signs are especially prone to highly stressful developments that need immediate action.

3. The New Moon in Libra takes place on the 10th at 11:50 am (EDT). On the day of this New Moon, Venus retrograde squares Mars in Leo, suggesting any ongoing romantic partnership has some sexual insecurities or difficulties to manage. And since the New Moon squares Ceres in Cancer, another possible issue is how family affairs support or undermine personal romances.

4. Mercury turns retrograde in Scorpio on the 24th. Because it slows down while heading into this retrograde station and then gradually picking up speed going backwards, Mercury spends a full week at 20º Scorpio. Anyone with their Sun, Moon, Ascendant or other prominent placements at 20º of any sign will be thinking deeply about concurrent shifts and changes.

5. Black Moon Lilith forms an edgy quincunx to Uranus in Gemini on the 27th, and this stressful duo is a significant influence from the 21st into early November. This inherent conflict may cause one to re-evaluate the work environment and whether the actions required are worth the effort. Beware of authority figures’ lies and deceptions to achieve their goals.

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. Get the full picture for each astro-event here: https://neptunecafe.com/NewsScope

09/20/2026

Hygeia, Mitch McConnell, and Health Care

Hygeia is the third largest asteroid and considered a “dwarf planet” by astronomers since it’s massive enough to be spherical, like Pluto and Ceres. Hygeia’s natal aspects — no matter what house she’s in — may show the inclination toward specific health matters. If Hygeia is much afflicted, then chronic health issues may plague the individual. And the contrary is also true: a well-aspected Hygeia can indicate good health and a long life.

Mitch McConnell has been in the news for some time regarding his health. He was born with Hygeia at 28º06’ Ta**us, plus or minus 0º05’ since Hygeia was advancing 0º10’ on that day. Hygeia’s closest aspect is the conjunction with Uranus, which indicates a tendency toward sudden or unexpected health developments.

His Hygeia is supported by a trine to Neptune, perhaps showing his reliance on pharmaceuticals to maintain his health. And his Hygeia is in an out-of-sign square to his Pisces Sun. As a leading politician, Hygeia gives him a keen interest in shaping health legislation. Generally, he’s voted against or blocked measures mandating employee sick leave. These bills have regularly come up over the past 20 years as his progressed Saturn conjoined natal Hygeia.

Until last week, McConnell has been out of sight following a fall on June 14 and subsequent case of pneumonia. Hygeia was under major stress that day by two major transits. Transiting Saturn was at 13º17’ Aries and octile (semisquare) natal Hygeia with an orb of only 0º11’. McConnell’s progressed Hygeia at that time was located at 19º54’ Gemini where it was hit by a trioctile (135º aspect) from transiting Pluto at 5º10’ Aquarius. That aspect was also unusually tight with an orb of 0º16’.

McConnell’s current health issue has likely been apparent to his doctors for at least the past four years: that’s when his progressed Hygeia was exactly octile natal Pluto at 4º Leo. During his summer absence, transiting Pluto was opposing his natal Pluto and will continue to oppress his progressed Hygeia through 2027. Transiting Saturn returns to octile natal Hygeia in late February 2027. These transits don’t paint a pretty picture.

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. There’s more here, including a look at Dick Van Dyke’s and Donald Trump’s Hygeia:
https://neptunecafe.com/NewsScope

09/13/2026

Nvidia, and the AI Revolution

Last week three researchers working for the AI company Anthropic said that artificial intelligence could kill off humanity within the decade. They agreed that leaders in the industry were ignoring or mishandling the threat, with one researcher quitting in protest. This latest warning comes after OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman conceded that “we underestimated the real-world cyber capabilities of our AI models.”

An astrological window into AI’s explosive growth can be seen through Nvidia’s horoscope, which is set for its IPO (initial public offering) on January 22, 1999, NYC. According to IPO data collector Michael Munkasey, the time of its First Trade was 12:15 pm, which gives it Ta**us Rising and Aquarius at the Midheaven. Nvidia is currently the world’s most valuable company with a worth of over $5 trillion. Nvidia sells 70% of all AI chips, making it by far the industry leader.

With Nvidia’s Sun in the technology sign of Aquarius and the Moon in pioneering Aries, the company was primed to bring technological advances into the computer industry. It began by developing GPU chips for the gaming industry but was prepared to expand into unseen worlds. The Sun is closely conjunct Neptune, giving the company founders the vision to see what was coming and how to develop the necessary products.

Nvidia’s chart has Uranus, the natural ruler of new technologies, prominently placed in Aquarius in the 10th house along with Venus, the ruler of the chart. Aside from the tight Sun-Neptune conjunction, the most dynamic configuration is the T-square formed by Mars in Libra opposite Saturn in Aries and both square Mercury in Capricorn. These planets with their stressful interactions push the company to break through barriers, no matter how difficult that may be.

Since the beginning of 2023 Nvidia’s growth has been nothing short of spectacular. At that time, as the AI revolution was just beginning to accelerate, it was selling for $15/share. Two major astrological portents marked Nvidia’s central role: its progressed Ceres and transiting Pluto. By conjoining the natal Ascendant, Ceres, the caretaking asteroid, is a key player in this chart. By January 2023 it had progressed nearly three degrees to 2º11’ Gemini where it formed a harmonious, beneficial trine to the elevated Sun.

Transiting Pluto was at 27º Capricorn and in the midst of its US Pluto Return. The country itself was going through a major transformation, but few people recognized it as an AI takeover. Nvidia did, and they’ve been capitalizing on it ever since. On October 29, 2025, Nvidia became the world’s first company to reach a market capitalization of $5 trillion. It was empowered by transiting Pluto entering Aquarius where it conjoined the natal Sun-Neptune conjunction.

That financial landmark was facilitated by a sextile from progressed Jupiter at 1º Aries. Nvidia will continue to benefit from progressed Jupiter’s sextile to its Aquarius Sun for the next several years. Consequently, Nvidia will continue to dominate the AI industry unless some external force pressures it to cut back.

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. Get the full picture here:
https://neptunecafe.com/NewsScope

09/06/2026

Trump’s Tertiary Progressions on Election Day

One way to look into Trump’s chart is by using tertiary progressions. Beginning astrologers generally use transits to make forecasts, while secondary progressions are a more advanced technique based on the esoteric formula that one day after birth is symbolically equivalent to one year after birth. Forecasts can be finetuned by using tertiary progressions, which equate one day after birth to one month after birth.

So tertiary progressions, abbreviated here as P3, are 12 times faster than secondary progressions. In Trump’s case, they work very well. The clearest example of this is seen in his P3 Saturn. He was born with Saturn at 23º Cancer and sextile his Midheaven, giving him a natural sense of leadership and authority. In his lifetime his P3 Saturn has advanced to 29º Leo where it conjoins his Ascendant at 29º Leo.

P3 Saturn advances slowly but it was less than one degree from his Ascendant when he was re-elected in November 2024. It reflects the strong sense of authoritarianism that he’s expressed ever since. Looking ahead to Election Day, November 3, Trump’s P3 Uranus is octile P3 Pluto at 14º Leo with an orb of 0º17’. And the P3 Ascendant, which advances one degree/month, is precisely conjunct his P3 Pluto (orb: 0º03’). This makes an especially tight and stressful configuration.

For an insight into the Ascendant-Pluto conjunction, astrologer Robert Hand’s book Planetary Transits offers this description: “Often a tremendous power drive will surface as you suddenly want to take control of everything around you…. You are not content to be subject to an outside power or to anyone else’s will…. Strange drives may emerge that seem to take over your life.” This last comment is especially on target since his P3 Ascendant-Pluto conjunction is unfolding in his 12th house.

The retrograde Mercury transit activates this P3 configuration on November 1 and 2. Whatever schemes he’s got in mind to foil the electorate may become apparent a day or two before Election Day. It’s noteworthy that transiting Jupiter is heading into a conjunction with his Mars, which may indicate a dramatic escalation of the Iran conflict. Political observers also speculate that he may seize ballots in swing states, citing Chinese interference. Who knows what else he may try?

And between now and then his P3 Mercury turns retrograde at 17º Gemini where it conjoins his natal 10th house Uranus. Under this influence his statements, political decisions, and mental stability become increasingly erratic.

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. Get the full picture here:
https://neptunecafe.com/NewsScope

08/30/2026

September’s Top Five Astro-Events

1. Saturn squares Ceres on the 18th, linking their current placements in Aries and Cancer in challenging ways. This aspect is in effect from the 14th through 20th and most readily influences how you take care of yourself and those around you, especially family members.

2. Jupiter is trioctile Neptune on the 22nd, and an influential combination from the 18th through 26th. Jupiter in Leo linked to Neptune in Aries can bring some exalted feelings about self and/or someone else, like a celebrity, politician, or acquaintance who has done something extraordinary.

3. Uranus in Gemini turns retrograde on the 10th, an unusually volatile astro-event since Mars in Cancer simultaneously forms an octile to Uranus (exact on the 12th). This makes the 9th through 12th a highly volatile phase when anything could happen.

4. Juno turns direct in Capricorn on the 16th while squaring Eris. Juno’s slowing motion into this retrograde station matches Eris’s naturally slow motion, making their square a high value astro-event all month.

5. The Full Moon on the 26th conjoins Neptune in Aries, a dreamy, hazy, potentially deceptive phase lasting several days before and after the actual astro-event. The only true choice at this time is the one that comes from your intuition, from your inner knowing.

The above are brief excerpts from this week’s NewsScope. Get the full picture here:
https://neptunecafe.com/NewsScope

08/23/2026

Neptune’s Cycle and Tecumseh’s Curse

Until Ronald Reagan’s term in office, Tecumseh’s Curse has brought the death of every president elected in a year that ends in zero, which is every twenty years. William Henry Harrison died in 1841 and was the first to fall because he led the military expedition against Tecumseh and his confederation of Indian tribes. Tecumseh was killed in the 1813 Battle of Thames and the surviving brother placed a curse on “The Great White Fathers.”

Since Reagan (elected in 1980), George W. Bush (2000), and Joe Biden (2020) all survived their terms, historians have dismissed Tecumseh’s Curse as an urban legend based on coincidence. However, when one investigates these historic patterns with astrology, it begins to make sense and remains an ongoing danger. The caveat is that the pattern only becomes apparent when using the Scorpio Rising US chart, set for 2:21 pm on July 4, 1776.

The natal potential is shown in a unique 8th harmonic configuration centered on the Mars-Neptune square. Mars is located in the 8th house of death and is fatefully octile (semisquare) to the North Node, located at 7º Leo. This North Node is, in turn, square the Ascendant at 8º Scorpio. Neptune is octile the North Node-Ascendant square, creating a tight bridge of stressful interactions.

Reagan didn’t die in office but he was shot and seriously wounded in 1981. And then he had life-threatening surgery on July 13, 1985 when transiting Neptune was at 1º Capricorn and precisely tri-octile the US Midheaven. George W. Bush was nearly killed on May 10, 2005 when a live hand gr***de was thrown at him during a public event. At the time, transiting Neptune was at 17º Aquarius and opposite the US Midheaven (+1º).

Neptune’s 8th harmonic aspects to the US Midheaven are a little slower than the twenty-year cycle of Tecumseh’s Curse. So Biden missed this weird pattern, but Trump is right in the middle of it. Trump has been under this Neptune cycle since he took office in January 2025. Transiting Neptune turns direct this coming December at 1º Aries — tightly tri-octile the US Midheaven. Will he survive?

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. Get the full picture here: https://neptunecafe.com/NewsScope

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