Summer solstice in western and Chinese astrology

Summer solstice, the Sun's ingress into the sign Cancer, came on June 21 at 11:52 AM GMD. This brings the Sun into a grand cross with Mars, Pluto and Uranus in Libra, Capricorn, and Aries, respectively. The grand cross will register through later June and earlier July, but its effects will continue to be felt through the summer; it means increased tension in the world. It could bring violent weather and seismic activity as well as more political turmoil. The world is discontent.

In this chart we see the Moon at 21 degrees Aries, separating from conjunction with Uranus and applying to square with Jupiter. This says that changes coming up will be sudden, and wasteful.

The Sun's first aspect is a trine to Neptune. This is like sugar coating on the poison shown by the grand cross in formation. Considering the surprises shown by the Moon's conjunction with Uranus, this says that we may be in the dark, or unprepared for what may be coming.

Mercury is retrograde. This says that we can expect changes of mind and reversals of decisions that may work both favorably and unfavorably, depending on circumstances, and that may contribute to the trend of wastefulness shown by the Moon's square with Jupiter.

The solstice chart in the UK, and the EU has the Sun in the 10th house with Mars in the 2nd, Pluto in the 4th, and Uranus and the Moon in the 8th. This adversely affects economic conditions and, with Mercury retrograde in the 10th house, shows difficulties in the Government, and disgrace to public officials, with dangers of a coming defeat of the current Government. Mars afflicted in the 2nd house warns of trouble coming up. It shows possible losses in the stock market, great expenditures, and waste of public money.

The solstice chart in Washington DC has the Moon and Uranus in the 10th house showing sudden developments in the Government. Uranus rules the 8th house. It suggest an unexpected death in the Government, or upper circle. The Moon conjunct Uranus and square Jupiter show the Government unpopular. It also shows scandals in Government circles, and an eminent woman suffering some degree of disgrace.
Jupiter, whether afflicted or not, in the 1st house protects the people against whatever untoward conditions there may be. So, this is probably a fairly good time for the people in general in the sense of business, health, and work. Still, Mars in the 4th house opposite Uranus in the 10th shows sharp political fighting coming up.

In Chinese astrology, the signs for the year, month, day, and hour of the solstice are Wood Horse, Metal Horse, Water Pig, and Wood Rabbit, respectively. This is a fairly dynamic configuration. There are 4 Woods, 3 Fires, 2 Earths, 1 Metal, and 2 Waters. The predominance of Wood and Fire make it very active. The energy of this period up to Chinese fall season, beginning August 8, is very lively. The yin-yang count shows 7 yins to 4 yangs. The energy trends to yin, meaning it it is easier to finish what has been begun than start something new. The vital element of this chart is Earth, meaning it is best to bring everything into balance and harmony. Be practical.

Reduced to an I Ching hexagram the solstice gives us hexagram 56, line 3. Hexagram 56 is The Traveler. It is lucky for people born in the year, month, day, or hour of the Monkey. It is good for career development, and tells of riches coming. The Traveler, however, symbolizes flourishing followed by withering. It signifies impermanence.
Line 3 warns not to get into arguments unless you want to be rejected by the person, or the people you depend on. The advice is to adapt your self to your circumstances. If you are offensive and follow the wrong course you will suffer bad consequences. This holds true for individuals as well as for Governments.

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Balance in Chinese astrology and fengshui

Dynamic balance is the key to good health and good fortune. When balance is broken for a long time illness and bad luck come. When illness develops we can correct the imbalance, and return to normal health.

There are two systems in Chinese astrology that address this question directly: Bazi, and 9 Star. In Bazi (ba tze) we have a calculation that gives us what is called the vital element. The vital element is what your life depends on. Your vital element determines the best orientation for your bed, and how you sit; it also gives you the best colors to wear for supporting your health; and it describes your best climate and season. Knowing how to work with your vital element can help you get over illnesses and extend your life.

In Chinese astrology, whenever your vital element comes up in long cyclical progressions, as well as in years, months, and seasons, your life goes better. When it is absent, and you start to have troubles, the situation can be mitigated by adjusting your environmental conditions, and by using the right colors.

Unfortunately, the vital element calculation is very involved, and cannot be made without undertaking a detailed study of this difficult system. Learning how to calculate the vital element is one of the most important steps in studying the authentic old tradition of fengshui. Not many people grasp it correctly.

We find a fair alternative in the 9 Star system. The 9 Star system, while much simpler than Bazi, is good, and it is important in fengshui. While 9 Star doesn't reveal your vital element, it gives what is called your balancing element. This, by the way, is not widely known; it is a secret method. 9 Star works with the system of trigrams, seen above. Your balancing element works to bring your innate energy into harmonious balance; it supports your life and fortunes. The balancing element can be used to determine a good orientation for your bed, and it can give you a very good color to use.

The 9 Star system is very ancient. It is the basis of the Lo Shu compass system, an important part of the traditional Chinese fengshui compass.

The system of balancing elements, based on the 9 Star system, is fairly easy to grasp. To find your balancing element you have, first, to find your birth star number. The birth star numbers repeat cyclically every 9 years. According to Chinese method the 9 Star cycle is opposite for males and females. Given below is the basic cycle from 1990 to 1999. To find your birth star either subtract or add 9 or multiples of 9 from or to the years given, keeping in mind that the 9 Star year begins always at the beginning of Chinese spring season which almost always is February 4. So, if you were born between January 1 and February 3, you have to calculate from 1 year earlier. For example, if you were born February 1, 1970, you would calculate your birth star number from 1969. The years with their numbers for males and females are:

1990 for males is 1; for females is 5
1991 for males is 9; for females is 6
1992 for males is 8; for females is 7
1993 for males is 7; for females is 8
1994 for males is 6; for females is 9
1995 for males is 5; for females is 1
1996 for males is 4; for females is 2
1997 for males is 3; for females is 3
1998 for males is 2; for females is 4

Supposing you are a male born in 1973. 1973 + 18 = 1991. 1991 for a male is 9.
Supposing you are a female born in 1973. 1973 + 18 - 1991. 1991 for a female is 6.

The star numbers with their elements are as follows.
1 is Water.
2 is Earth.
3 is Wood.
4 is Wood,
5 is Earth.
6 is Metal.
7 is Metal.
8 is Earth.
9 is Fire.

The balancing elements for the 9 star numbers with their directions in space and colors are as follows.

The balancing element for 1 Water is 9 Fire. Its direction is South, and its color is purple.
The balancing element for 2 Earth is 6 Metal. Its direction is Northwest, and its color is white.
The balancing element for 3 Wood is 4 Wood. Its direction is Southeast, and its color is dark green.
The balancing element for 4 Wood is 3 Wood. It's direction is East, and its color is light green.
The balancing element for 5 Earth is 6 Metal for women and 7 Metal for men. The direction and color for 6 Metal is Northwest and white. The direction and color for 7 Metal is red.
The balancing element for 6 Metal is 2 Earth. Its direction is Southwest, and its color is black.
The balancing element for 7 Metal is 8 Earth. Its direction is Northeast, and its color is white.
The balancing element for 8 Earth is 7 Metal. Its direction is west, and its color is red.
The balancing element for 9 Fire is 1 Water. It's direction is North, and its color is white.

Supposing your balancing element is 3 Wood, and you are finding this to be a stressful period. You would then consider aligning your bed so your head points to the east, and you would consider using light green as a color to help balance your energy. Orientation in fengshui is always figured by what your head points toward when lying down in bed, and what is to your back when sitting in a chair. If your balancing element was 3 Wood, the best way to sit would be with your back to the East.

These are just very basic considerations in fengshui. Of course, if the space doesn't permit using these indications, and if you are a couple sleeping in the same bed, energetic bridges can be made. Fengshui as part of the Chinese astrological systems is complex.

Fengshui is the spacial projection of Chinese astrology. Imbalances that show up in your Chinese astrological chart can be adjusted and mitigated in your space. Traditionally these two always go hand in hand. To do fengshui correctly you have to know how to do Chinese astrology. This is the tradition.

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The June 13 full moon in western and Chinese astrology

The full moon came on June 13 at 00:13 AM EDT. It was at 22 degrees Sagittarius in the 10th house at Washington DC signifying changes in Government policies. The Moon is in mutual reception with her dispositor, Jupiter, in the 5th house, pointing to diplomatic affairs. We see the President changing his mind with respect to the developing conflict in Iraq, for example.

At the full moon, we also see a T-Square involving Mars, Pluto, and Uranus in the 8th, 11th, and 2nd houses, respectively, pointing to the on-going difficult financial issues in this country affecting business and banking. The full moon may bring a minor temporary correction to real estate prices.

We also see Venus exactly opposite Saturn, Venus in the 3rd house and Saturn in the 9th, in a sense obstructing international commerce, communications, and trade, and pointing to some blackout of news. This aspect also does not favor travel.

The planets in the chart of the full moon are widely scattered. This diffuses energy, and makes it difficult to focus on any one area other than those hinted above.

In Chinese astrology, the signs for the year, month, day, and hour of the new moon are Wood Horse, Metal Horse, Wood Rabbit, and Fire Rat, respectively. The balance of elements is 4 Fires, 2 Earths, 1 Metal, 1 Water, and 3 Woods. It is extremely active, and not concentrated; the energy expands. The yin-yang balance is 7 yin and 3 yang. Nothing innovative is favored at this time, but it favors ending what was already begun, and releasing what is useless.

Boiled down to a I Ching hexagram, it gives us hexagram 49, line 3. Hexagram 49 is Revolution. It favors the signs Tiger and Rabbit. It suggests a break coming after a period of bad luck. The road is opening. It is favorable to reform the old. If you persevere, disappointment will disappear.
Unfortunately this hexagram is not good for summer, so the energy is not strong enough, and you will have to exert yourself. If you have bad habits, attempts to change them may lead to frustration. Consider carefully what changes you want to make.
Line 3 says starting now is bad luck. You need to think it over and over. When talk has gone around three times, you may start and people will believe you. Changes cannot happen unless others agree with you. Work for the support of others first.

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A Chinese astrological portrait of Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928 at 2:10 PM. The Chinese astrological signatures of the year, month, day, and hour of her birth are Earth Dragon, Wood Rabbit, Wood Dog, and Metal Sheep, respectively. Her birth stars are 6 Metal, 2 Earth, and 9 Fire. This, in a nutshell, shows a proud, independent, rather eccentric, and highly complex personality.

The chart has a predominance of Wood element, which expressed itself in Maya Angelou's writing, Wood being the element of writers, musicians, and painters. She had 4 yin Wood, and 1 yang Wood, showing that she was full of plans and designs, and forever coming up with new ideas.

Born in a yang year, on a yang day, but with a yin/yang balance of 4 yangs to 10 yins, we can see how complex Maya Angelou was, and how she was the type to take up an already existing cause and fly with it. She is a powerful voice for the intellectual and artistic movement that was already flourishing at the time of her birth.

Maya Angelou's chart style is characterized by what is called the competitive deity. Competitive deity says that she started out at a disadvantage, receiving less than she deserved, but that through her self-confidence, extroversion, independence, pride, individualism, and sheer will power she cut out an independent career for herself. She was adventurous, and hated all kinds of constraints.

The chart has a configuration called knife blade. What this means is that she had a pronounced eccentric streak in her, and could become very impatient and irritable. She obviously had a lot of experience from which she learned, as seen from the richness of her wisdom. The knife blade shows up in the area of her career. It means that she was totally unique, and would react against any negative criticism coming against her from anyone; she was totally self-assertive. Knife blade came out in the cyclic period starting at age 17 and running to her mid 30s. It was in this time that she cut through and made herself known. It appears in her later teens that she went through a very challenging time; she even changed her name.

The element balance in her chart is 6 Wood, 2 Fire, 4 Earth, 2 Metal, and 1 Water. The predominance of Wood and Fire show her to have been extremely lively, a romantic soul, loving to shine out.
Because of the particular balance of elements in this chart, we also find that Metal was her vital element. Metal being vital, we also see that Maya Angelou loved to be challenged. She loved to stand up and confront the world with her vision. Being born on a day of Wood element, with Wood predominant, she was a romantic thinker, and a visionary.

Metal element came up very strongly in Maya Angelou's life in her 40s, and 50s. This shows that she was at the peak of her vitality in those years. Metal began to wane in her 60s and 70s. Her 50s was a pivotal cycle in her life. There was a lot of Metal and Fire in it. She had to have made some bold moves in those years. But, even if Metal was waning past 60, there was a large cycle, starting at age 52 and running through the rest of her life, in which there was sufficient Metal to keep her vitally active to the end, and which contributed to her continuing rise to fame. It also appears that she was very generous toward others especially in her later years. It also appears that she became quite wealthy.

Metal in Maya Angelou's chart also represents marriage. Marriage, in Chinese astrology, doesn't necessarily mean a formal, legal affair, but it does mean a union of souls, as in love. There being two Metals in the natal chart, it is certain that there were at least two significant others. The period of 30 to 40 shows a time of many pleasures. Also, because Metal grew very strong from age 40 and remained present through to the end of her life, it is probable that there were a number of loves through all these years, the ten year cycle of 60 to 70 being of particular interest, as the star of romance showed up then. Love, to say the least, was vital to Maya Angelou's life and creative work.

Water was the weakest element of Maya Angelou's chart. The cycle of 80 to 90 had Fire and Earth. Water is killed by Earth, and is exhausted by Fire. The three shars, or killing signs, in Maya Angelou's chart were Snake, Horse, and Sheep. Snake year was 2013, Horse year is 2014. This year, the year of Wood Horse, generated too much Fire for her. Fire kills Metal. So, this year Maya Angelou's vital element gave out, and she passed away. Horse also signifies the life stage of death for Maya Angelou. Horse years had have always been low ebb for her. Had she held out beyond this year, she could have lived to 90, 91. Age 90 brings up total Fire; it would have ended her life. Had she wanted to prolong her life, following the rules of fengshui, she would at least have to have moved to a cool, dry climate where she would live quietly for some time, something she would probably not have cared to do except she could have written some more works.

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The new moon in Gemini as seen in western and Chinese astrology

The new moon comes on May 28 at 7:41 PM GMD. It is at 7 degrees Gemini in conjunction with the star Aldebaran, denoting great energy, gains through business, and high material honors, but danger of quarrels that could undo what good this may bring. The new moon is in the 6th lunar mansion, called Athaia, good for establishing all kinds of foundations. Despite whatever untoward indications there are Athaia offers protection.

The dispositor of the new moon, Mercury, is at 29 degrees Gemini giving a very impatient air to the configuration; he is at the end of his tether at 29 degrees. Mercury is also exactly sextile Venus at 29 degrees Aries saying "carpe diem." Don't hesitate where there is opportunity. Opportunities will be fleeting.

The new moon is trine Mars at 9 degrees Libra adding positive force and encouraging us to put our best foot forward and enter new territory, start new enterprises, accept challenges, take a stand, have the courage of our convictions, accepting aid from allies, and taking no chances that lead to danger. This aspect ushers in a period of personal success for you if you have any significant planet at or near 7 degrees Gemini, Leo, Libra, Aquarius, or Aries.

The new moon is exactly square Neptune at 7 degrees Pisces, warning of deceptions, confusions, fraud, and losses through unscrupulous persons or agencies.

Looking at the new moon in the UK and in the EU we see it in the 7th house. Mars is in the 10th, and Neptune is in the 3rd. Mars is involved in a T-square with Pluto and Uranus adding tension. What this says is that international relations in the UK and EU are at a new juncture. There is considerable tension in it. Mars in the 10th house is an evil position. Opposite Uranus in the 5th house, it shows diplomatic tensions. Square Pluto in the 2nd house, it concerns financial complications and losses. Trine the new moon, it encourages positive, constructive action.

Looking at the new moon in the US we see it in the 9th house trine Mars in the 1st and square Neptune in the 6th. This is challenging for international trade relations. Mars in the 1st house is square Pluto in the 4th and opposite Uranus in the 7th suggesting turmoil among the people and troubled international relations. Mars in the 1st house warns of strikes, angry demonstrations, fires, and a spike in crime. People will tend to be aggressive. Mercury is in the 10th house conjunct the mid-heaven, both being at 29 degrees Gemini exactly square the Ascendant at 29 degrees Virgo denoting disgrace to public officials and scandals in high places. Mercury rules the 10th house; it involves the President whose mood will be understandably irritable. Jupiter in the 10th house, however, protects him.

In Chinese astrology, this is the month of Metal Horse. The year is Wood Horse. Horse clashes with Horse, and Metal clashes with Wood. This month is one of high energy with sharply clashing energies. The first day of the month is Metal Rat. Metal Rat is at maximum clash with Metal Horse and Wood Horse. It points to violent events in the world.

The energy of Metal Horse in Wood Horse year encourages great activity. Much like the indications of Mars, it warns not to take chances leading to danger, but encourages taking positive action. Horse favors Tiger, Dog, and Sheep. It gets along with Rabbit, Dragon, and Snake, and it challenges Rat, Ox, Horse, Monkey, Rooster, and Pig. Where there are challenges there are opportunities.

Reduced to an I Ching hexagram, the new moon at Washington DC gives us hexagram 52, line 2. Hexagram 51 is Thunder. It is a good hexagram, especially for summer season, which we are already in, according to the Chinese calendar. Thunder is an image of shock and movement. Line 2 tells us that new ideas will bring new conditions if we act. It also says that evil is at hand, and that while there may be losses you will later regain what was lost.

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The 4/29/14 solar eclipse as seen in Chinese astrology

The solar eclipse on April 29 at 8 degrees Taurus comes at a time of sharp cosmic tension due to a grand cardinal cross involving the planets Uranus, Jupiter, Mars and Pluto in Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, respectively. The eclipse is visible over Antarctica, Indonesia and Australia. It presages crises with forced changes in the world over the coming months; also increasing seismic activity and storms. This eclipse presages trouble in business and trade, and destruction to corn and other food crops as well. There is growing tension between west and east. Western sanctions against Russia would be a very bad sign if they happened.

As seen in Chinese astrology we are in the year of Wood Horse; and the eclipse, being a new moon, marks the month of Earth Snake. Earth Snake, in itself, is a violent combination. The combination is called Knife Blade. In the earth it indicates violent events like earthquakes and storms. In the human world it indicates bad-tempered, arrogant people being angry and reactive. In the political and business spheres we will see insane behavior increasing over the coming months.

Earth Snake and Wood Horse combine to generate strong Earth and Fire. It is hot and dry. We will see great heat developing the coming months that will cause disastrous storms especially in the Indian ocean and western Pacific.

Looking at this from another angle, Earth Snake is a combination that produces Wood. And Wood Horse is a combination that produces Metal. Metal kills Wood. The sign of the year clashes with the sign of the month. This clash forces change. The Earth in Earth Snake also combines with the Horse of the year to produce opportunities for prosperity through all this discord. This means that this is a time for aggressive opportunists. Crisis brings opportunity. The force generated by this eclipse is very dynamic and should be used intelligently.

To see how this eclipse moon interacts with you personally you want to have your own western and/or Chinese astrological chart drawn up and read. But, generally speaking, Earth Snake interacts most favorably with Ox and Rooster, more or less favorably with Rabbit, Dragon, Horse, Sheep, and Dog, and it clashes with Rat, Tiger, Monkey and Pig, and, because Earth Snake is a knife blade combination, it clashes with Snake. Knife blade means no tolerance. Be careful of getting into fights.

The year, month, day and hour of the eclipse, according to the Chinese calendar, when reduced to an I Ching hexagram gives us hexagram 21, line 6. Hexagram 21 is called Biting Through. It is am omen of disaster. It advises making sacrifices to get rid of evil spirits and bad influences. In other words, it means let go of bad attitudes and behaviors now. Worry will dissipate; happiness will come. The hexagram also speaks of criminals thrown in jail.
The 6th line of this hexagram warns of the danger of being deaf to counsel. It gives the image of someone's neck being locked in an instrument of torture and unable to hear. It means bad luck for the heedless and arrogant. Incorrigibility brings bad luck.

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The spring quarter as seen in astrology

Today, April, 1, 2014 an 8.2 earthquake hit Chile. We find the Sun coming to exact conjunction Uranus at 12 degrees Aries. That conjunction will be exact at 3:09 AM on April 2. The conjunction of Sun and Uranus is particularly violent, as it puts the Part of Catastrophe (Asc. + Uranus - Sun) on the Ascendant everywhere in the world. What this means is that early April brings violent events, not only earthquakes but dangers of accidents and so on. This phenomenon is part of a development that leads up to the cardinal grand cross in the third week of April. The grand cross is at 13 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn involving Uranus, Jupiter, Mars and Pluto, respectively. 13 degrees of cardinal signs is a critical degree. It means a crisis in the world. Being cardinal, it also means out front action. As noted in an earlier article, in the political sphere, this does involve Russia, Putin, NATO, and Ukraine. The Chinese astrological predictions made for this year also pointed out violence in Ukraine and the east in general.

During the period of the grand cross we have two eclipses, a lunar and a solar eclipse. The lunar eclipse is the more important. The lunar eclipse, on April 15, is fully visible over the Pacific Ocean; most of North America, especially the west coast; Central America; and the west coast of South America. This focuses on the center and eastern side of the Ring of Fire. We may anticipate earth quakes and volcanic activity to develop up to and beyond this lunar eclipse.
The path of the solar eclipse, of April 29, travels from South Africa, through the southern Indian Ocean, and Antarctica to the east coast of Australia. It is partially visible in Indonesia and in all of Australia. Indonesia is prone to seismic and volcanic activity.

The two eclipses occuring during the cardinal grand cross carry its tensions in the world theater for several months. In other words, the tensions building up in the world in April will take a long time to resolve in the collective sphere.

Looking at the vernal equinox chart of March 20, we see the grand cross just beginning to form. At the vernal equinox it is a fairly tight T-square involving Uranus, Jupiter and Pluto. So, the tensions felt worldwide were already in formation. Other interesting aspects in the vernal equinox chart include Mercury in conjunction with Neptune, bringing no small degree of confusion into the world. Lots of misinformation has been floating about, for example, the mysterious disappearance of the airplane, not to mention all the reports around the situation in the Ukraine. Another noteworthy aspect in the vernal equinox chart is the Moon square to Venus and in conjunction with Saturn in Scorpio. It shows unfavorable, secretive and complex diplomatic activities. 13 degrees cardinal is the key degree to note in the matter of Russia and NATO. At the vernal equinox Pluto was at 13 degrees Capricorn. When Pluto arrives at 14 degrees Capricorn we need to watch what develops in Berlin and in Rome. Italy is unstable.

Looking at the new moon chart of March 30 we see the new moon in conjunction with Uranus telling us to be aware of the dangers of sudden violence. In the chart made for Washington DC this conjunction of Moon, Sun and Uranus is in the 9th house in Aries. This may point to an air crash, violent storms, and increased seismic activity, especially when the Moon is in Taurus. The Moon is in Taurus on April 1, 2, and 3.

The lunar eclipse on April 15 is at 25 degrees Libra. A lunar eclipse in the 3rd decanate of Libra is traditionally considered to signal the death of a renowned man; we will wait to find out who that is. The eclipse chart also shows Mercury involved in the grand cross of Uranus, Jupiter, Mars and Pluto. Mercury is in conjunction with Uranus. The most positive side of this is that it encourages brilliant break through thinking. On the other hand, it tells of critical arguing and fighting. Whichever way you slice it, the world is in a crisis, and this eclipse is showing it up. The effects of the lunar eclipse will last three months, in other words, into the summer.

Looking further out at the new moon of May 28 we see the planetary configuration becoming diffused. The tension is beginning to let up. But, we see, in the Washington DC chart 29 degrees Virgo rising, Mercury at 29 degrees Gemini square the Ascendant, and Venus at 29 degrees Aries. 29 degrees any sign is a weeping matter and it says that someone, or everyone is at the end of their patience. Mercury rules the chart, and the 10th house of the chart, and is in the 10th house. The people in great number are fed up with the President, and the President is at the end of his tether. The incumbent party is also at the end of its tether. Everybody is at wits end. Please avoid unnecessary arguments. This is confirmed by Mars in the 1st house square Pluto and opposite Uranus. Mars is trine the new moon. Mars afflicted, in the first house says that the people are angry and aggressive. The new moon of May 28 is in the 9th house pointing to international trade and diplomatic relations.

All in all, the world looks tumultuous this spring; the world is in crisis. The earth is also turbulent. We can expect more earth quakes and volcanic activity.

For people whose natal charts have planets at 12, 13, and 14 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and/or Capricorn, most especially 13 degrees, April will be challenging and transformative. Break off what cannot work, and embrace what can and will.

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