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A sun sign column (by a pro)

Mary’s note: Some of you know my sister, Kate Plumb. She is an experienced, well-trained astrologer who has recently started writing a sun sign column for her local newspaper, The Independent in Sag Harbor, N.Y. I think she is doing a very nice job and thought it would be fun to include her column along with some notes about how she does it, i.e., a method for how a serious and thoughtful astrologer can write an informative and easy-to-read column for the public.

Firstly, she is using whole-sign houses, which places 0° of the sign as the first-house cusp, and the signs follow around in their natural order. She looks at the traditional ruler of the sign to see if it is making any major aspects or changing direction within the week. She also considers where in the lunation cycle we are, with strong note of New and Full Moons. The lunations are placed in their solar houses from the Ascendant for each sign (i.e., the New Moon in Cancer is in the 7th house for all sun sign Capricorns, in the 5th house for sun sign Pisces, the 12th for Leo, etc.). The same is true for stationing planets, i.e., Mercury going direct in Gemini is in the 4th house for sun sign Pisces, in the 10th for Virgo, etc. Although this sounds simplistic, it is a method that continues to show accurate and surprising results.

That’s the basic approach. Kate adds quite a bit of nuance, including weaving a hint of mundane astrology into the mix.

When reading Kate’s column (and teasing out more of her method), please note that the week under consideration takes into account the paper’s publishing schedule — the week starts on Wednesday, Mercury’s day.

Have fun, enjoy yourselves. Thank you, Kate. (She was happy for me to write about her method — no secrets revealed.)

Week of Wednesday the 2nd of July – Tuesday the 8th of July
by Kate Plumb

Read your rising sign too if you know it…

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20) With the New Moon last Friday in your fourth house of home, father, and real estate matters and Mercury’s station to move ahead last night in your third house of siblings, neighbors, and mental activity, the focus this week is close to home. Mars, your ruler, is finally picking up speed in your relationship sector. Issues that first arose in January might begin to have some resolution. You have been going back and forth long enough. Listen to your heart.

Taurus (Apr 20-May 21) Your ruler Venus is in Gemini this week and is very busy interacting with many planets: Jupiter and Pluto on Thursday the 3rd, and Uranus and Saturn on Monday the 7th. First you are giving yourself away to excess, coupled with power struggles and perhaps jealousy; then a sudden spark appears coupled with the necessity of adjusting to reality. Gemini is a light-hearted sign; stay buoyant and use the situations encountered as material for your next creative project.

Gemini (May 21-Jun 21) Your ruler Mercury is now slowly beginning to move ahead as of yesterday. Mercury takes this backward sojourn to sift the wheat from the chaff. If you have used the time wisely by not pushing the new perceptions, concepts, and mental images into reality, you can begin to now. As Plato said, thoughts create our reality. It takes awhile to figure out what thoughts or ideas are worthwhile to put into action. Use the New Moon from Friday in your 2nd house of income and talents to begin forging ahead. One of these ideas might make you some money.

Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22) If you were born this week you are/will be in the hot seat, as the Sun encounters Pluto on the 4th and Uranus and Saturn on the 8th. If your life purpose is symbolized by the Sun, then encountering the gods Pluto and Uranus will put you on a life-altering course that they dictate — we only respond. The U.S. birthday is this week and it does not bode well for the next year being tranquil, but instead filled with power struggles. The dire circumstances on the global front do not manifest in the same way as they do in our personal lives, but the year for you will be very different at the end than the beginning.

Leo (Jul 22-Aug 23) Your ruler the Sun is meeting some larger-than-life planets this week and sudden eruptions are possible. The Full Moon, when things come to a head, is not until next week, but because your ruler is involved this week expect to experience some bumps. It is all for evolutionary progress, which is not something that gets talked about over the water cooler; however, it may be that that is the whole purpose -— to confirm the importance of that which we cannot see.

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 21) The week starts out with the Moon in your sign, which happens once a month for 2 -1/2 days. It is always a time of empowerment, when you feel an urge to express yourself. As your ruler just went forward last night, you are emerging from a place of inner reflection (since around Memorial Day) and are now ready to put thoughts into action. Focus on your hopes and wishes, what would be for your highest good. If you deserve a raise or promotion, ask for it. All systems are go in your career now.

Libra (Sep 21-Oct 21) Venus, the goddess of love, beauty, affections, and values, is busy this week. As Mars is still in your sign too, this can make for a very lively time. The North Node is also in your sign, so have faith that whatever is happening in your career, on the home front, in relationships and self-image is for your growth. The focus has to be with what you need, contrary to the way you like to operate — focusing on the other person. Allow what you think is fair to prevail.

Scorpio (Oct 21-Nov 22) Saturn is stuck in the middle degrees of Scorpio all month. This is the place that is the most resistant to change. Saturn sitting there will make you deal with that which you are most attached to. Scorpios develop through tumultuous crisis. You are made of sterner stuff. This station of Saturn means you are on the downward slope of the 2-1/2 year passage of the “Grim Reaper” in your sign. There will be fireworks this week, but the outcome towards the end of the week will leave you feeling stable, although with more responsibility.

Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21) Venus and Jupiter form a pleasant aspect as the week begins, so overindulgence is a possibility. You are known to expand both the pleasant and the unpleasant, or the pleasant so that it becomes the unpleasant. You are finishing up a year with your ruler Jupiter in your 8th house of money that is shared with other people (marriage or business partners), everything to do with finances and investments, creation of wills, debts, bank loans, inheritances, taxes and dealings with the government, business matters, and issues related to the dying. It also speaks to the manner of your death and your level of interest in metaphysics, the afterlife, and in the psychological processes that we undergo with a therapist. The last time this happened was July 2001 – August 2002. Affairs in these departments should have increased in the positive way should your natal Jupiter be in a good state, and less so if not. Look back on the year and on the previous time for clarification. You are the sign of wisdom.

Capricorn (Dec 21-Jan 21) The New Moon being in Cancer sets your 7th house as the focus this week and this month. Last week brought a new beginning with the New Moon, and that will culminate next week with the Full Moon. There are fireworks this week, as the Sun sets off the Uranus-Pluto square that has been igniting the planet since the Tunisian fruit vendor, Mohammed Bouazizi, lit himself on fire in December 2010. All areas of your life will have been altered by the time the aspect fades next March. This week is intense regarding partnerships, especially for those born on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of January (of any year).

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb 20) Your two planetary rulers, Saturn and Uranus are making a moderately difficult aspect all month. They get to within minutes of each other but never form an exact aspect, each changing course mid month. When aspects become exact there is resolution, and a new cycle can begin. But that is not the case here. There is no solution just attempted adjustments between conservative and liberal, staying the course or moving ahead, consolidation and progressive. Some of you have the more conservative side strong, some the more progressive. Notice the tension Saturday afternoon and Monday night.

Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 21) The New Moon in your 5th house of pleasures and children makes the month a potentially happy one; graduation parties and vacations come to mind. We are midway to the Full Moon next week when matters come to a head. This week begins with clarification coming in your home and relationship affairs, as Mercury is moving slowly forward as of last night. Matters clear up when that happens; things do not stay confusing forever, unless it is you who are making it that way.

Bio: Kate Plumb, “cycles scientist,” is a certified NCGR counseling astrologer who teaches monthly at Joshua’s Place in Southampton and sees clients in her home office. She is also certified in Astro*Carto*Graphy. Website: kateplumbastrology.com. Kate can be reached at kplumb@optonline.net or (631) 725-9133.

7 Comments

  1. Thanks Brenda for taking the time to read the column and write a comment. I am glad it helps..Warmly,
    Kate

    • Thanks tracy for reading, it was fun & I thought would be informative..

  2. Thanks Mary for responding

  3. Thanks Mary for responding to Tracy for me

  4. I am not sure where you’re getting your information, but good topic.
    I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more.
    Thanks for fantastic information I was looking for this information for my mission.


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