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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 geo

politically. 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

Readings: For those interested in personal readings, these are generally based on outer planet transits and secondary progressions. Topics may cover romantic relationships, psychological or spiritual issues, career, health, relocation, parent-child relations, and personal finances. Our interaction will include as much astrologese as you're comfortable with, though activated natal dynamics are generally discussed. Format: I’ve tried a variety of formats over the years, and the current process begins with your email request. After you’ve sent me your exact birth data and we’ve settled the fee, I’ll need some brief background info on yourself (to put the planets in context), and the issues you’re interested in discussing. Then I’ll study your chart for 2-3 days (schedule allowing) and report back with a list of talking points. We can continue by discussing these itemized details of your chart, plus the current and projected conditions. This may be done as a conversation through email (where you’ll have the written record), over the phone, or via Zoom or Skype. For more info on personal consultations, such as cost, rectification, and testimonials, visit https://www.neptunecafe.com/readings

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

05/31/2026

Saturn Pressures Trump and the US Sun

Recent polls indicate that over half of Americans doubt whether Trump has the physical and mental health needed to function as president. As the natural ruler of the aging process, Saturn is the key planet to monitor, especially when it makes challenging transits to the natal horoscope. And as it turns out, this is exactly what is shaping up over the next several months.

Due to its retrograde cycle, transiting Saturn will be spending an unusual amount of time at 13º and 14º Aries. It’s beginning to slow down now and will come to a full stop at 14º Aries on July 26. Then it retrogrades backwards until it turns direct at 8º Aries on December 10. This passage puts transiting Saturn at 13º and 14º Aries from June through the first week of September. At these degrees, Saturn hits critical placements in both the US national chart and Trump’s personal chart.

The key placements in Trump’s chart that are under Saturn’s influence over the next several months are his progressed Mercury at 28º Leo and his natal Ascendant at 29º Leo. Transiting Saturn forms the trioctile (135º aspect) to these two now and through early September. Mercury is associated with his mental state, how he communicates, and how he processes information. These essential functions become severely tested under transiting Saturn’s pressure.

While the trioctile aspect is not easy to spot, transiting Saturn’s aspects to the US national chart are immediately evident. As the nation undergoes its 250th anniversary, transiting Saturn squares the US Sun at 13º Cancer and opposes the US Saturn at 14º Libra. The US’s Sun-Saturn square represents the country’s leadership (Sun) and the institutions (Saturn) that get the president elected along with the corresponding political structure.

Transiting Saturn squaring the US Sun in June and September might be directly associated with Trump’s standing in office, perhaps related to his declining mental or physical health. His standing is becoming further weakened by growing disappointment from Republican senators and congressmen, and even Fox News. Saturn’s first eventful square to the US Sun is exact on June 13, just one day before Trump’s 80th birthday and the massive No Kings 4.0 protest.

Saturn’s retrograde station on July 26 is another high-value turning point since it’s only 0º11’ from trioctile to Trump’s Leo Ascendant. And it’s exactly opposite the US Saturn (orb: 0º04’), likely marking an historic transition date for Trump and the nation.

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

05/24/2026

June’s Top Five Astro-Events

2. New Moon in Gemini arrives on the 14th (10:55 pm EDT). The pervasive vibe during the few days leading up to this New Moon is one of restlessness, feeling a need for travel, and talking or texting with someone who actually listens and understands. Those under the influence of this New Moon will feel comfortable multitasking but may get bored quickly. Venus in Leo is particularly well placed at this time, which suggests that romantic interests are heightened and meeting new people can evolve into a longer-term friendship or relationship. This New Moon is especially important in the geopolitical realm since Saturn is at 13º Aries where it squares the US Sun at 13º Cancer. With the concurrent Lilith-Pluto astro-event in play, US leadership comes under intense scrutiny for corruption and other hidden or unconstitutional activities. Saturn suggests a weeding out process of unfit authority figures.

The above is an excerpt from this week's NewsScope. You can read about the rest of June's top astro-events here:
https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

05/17/2026

AI Booms with Uranus in Gemini

A widely recognized cycle in American political astrology is the correspondence of Uranus in Gemini with major wars. Uranus’s 84-year cycle has regularly and violently brought us the Revolutionary War in the 1770s, the Civil War beginning in 1861, and World War II in the 1940s. A concurrent pattern of technological revolution is also evident when Uranus is in Gemini, especially concerning Gemini’s associated fields of communication and transportation.

Advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are re-shaping our world as corporations invest $billions in research. Depending on how AI is developed and deployed, some will benefit while others will lose out. This week, META (formerly known as Facebook, Inc.) will begin one of the largest workforce cuts of the year by laying off 8,000 employees in a restructuring plan that relies more on AI. In the past two weeks, three other high-tech firms have announced similar plans.

AI is revolutionary, for sure, and its roots can be traced back to the previous Uranus in Gemini cycle. That’s when Alan Turing introduced a thinking machine which was the model for the modern computer. His background in codebreaking during World War II led to his invention of electromagnetic machines that could decipher the Nazis’ secret messages. He’s also credited with introducing the core ideas of AI in 1947 when he proposed that computers could learn from experience and alter their own instructions.

In 1860, one Uranus cycle before the Turing machine changed the world, the internal combustion engine was invented. That eventually brought the necessity for huge amounts of oil and gas to fuel the various machines that ran on this engine, and the consequent global oil monopolies that continue to run our political and financial world. Railroad networks for the first time linked major cities, uniting the nation’s peoples as never before. But then, they also exposed the extreme cultural diversity that fueled the Civil War.

In the 1770s, when Uranus was previously in Gemini, the invention of the steam engine and electric telegraph made similar revolutionary changes in how Americans connect with each other. These highlighted the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and allowed the thirteen colonies to compete with the British empire. This ultimately transformed the US into the world’s largest and most influential economic power.

Yes, the Uranus in Gemini cycle marks major wars in American history, but also major technological revolutions. Bernie Sanders, who was born in 1941 with Saturn conjunct Uranus in Gemini, urges caution. He views AI as “the most consequential technology in the history of humanity.” His Saturn is advocating careful consideration of AI’s implications for society, democracy, and the economy.

There's more in this week's NewsScope, which you can fdin here:
https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

05/10/2026

Trump, Leo XIV, and 27º Capricorn

In today’s world — militarily, economically, and politically dominated by the US — the most powerful point in the zodiac is 27º Capricorn. This is the location of the US Pluto, which becomes the nation’s ruling planet in the July 4, 1776 Scorpio Rising chart. Pluto in Capricorn represents the power structure and its administration. Major transits, progressions, and natal placements in tight aspect to this Pluto bring the leading people and events that create historic changes.

Trump’s war on Iran is an ideal example. It was initiated on February 28 when transiting Uranus was at 27º Ta**us and only three degrees past his Ta**us Midheaven. He gave the “go ahead” the day before when transiting Mars was at 27º Aquarius and exactly squaring transiting Uranus. These two created an explosive, violent T-square with Trump’s progressed Mercury, which was at 27º Leo and less than one degree past his natal Mars at 26º Leo.

Although Trump may not know why he started this “skirmish,” the confluence of planets at 27º at that time makes it seem inevitable, especially considering the doubled Mars factor. Of course, the tighter the orbs to the US Pluto, the more immediate and intense the action. The US Pluto is at 27º33’ and transiting Uranus at that time was at 27º41’, making an orb of only 0º08’. Trump’s progressed Mercury was at 27º26’ Leo, or only 0º07’ from being quincunx to the US Pluto.

The selection of Pope Leo XIV one year ago provides a calculated counterpoint to Trump’s geopolitical influence. Born as Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago on September 14, 1955 (time unknown), the first American pope has only one placement at 27º of any sign: his Pluto is located at 27º Leo. Being a power point, it’s small wonder that he named himself Leo when the cardinals appointed him.

US nationality had traditionally been considered a drawback for any papal candidate due to the widespread unease of enhancing US geopolitical power. However, Prevost had long voiced a political worldview that ran in strong contrast to Trump’s. Natally, his Ceres — the nurturing, caregiving asteroid — is located at 11º Capricorn. It forms a tight trine to his Mars at 11º Virgo, suggesting that his active interest in serving within the Catholic organization is strongly shaped by kindness and consideration of others.

The Vatican conclave was being held just a few months after Trump was elected, by which time ICE had become a major domestic force. As the conclave considered the candidates to replace Pope Francis, transiting Saturn had arrived at 27º Pisces. This happened to be sextile Prevost’s progressed Ceres at 27º Capricorn, which was exactly conjunct the US Pluto. This made natural and precise interconnections between the Vatican, the US, and Cardinal Prevost.

On May 8, 2025, the white smoke went up at 8:07 pm Rome time (CEST), signaling that a new pope had been elected. At the time, transiting Ceres at 27º Pisces had joined transiting Saturn, suggesting an official (Saturn) pick of an empathetic soul (Ceres in Pisces). More pointedly, transiting Mercury was at 27º Aries where it formed an aggressive square to the US Pluto. Pope Leo XIV became the chosen counterpoint to Trump’s geopolitical shenanigans.

Pope Leo has consistently expressed criticism of armed conflict and the treatment of immigrants in the US, especially in facilities operated by ICE. Shortly after the Iran war started, Pope Leo obliquely criticized Trump by posting on the social media platform X that a “delusion of omnipotence” was fueling the war. At the time, transiting Mars was at 27º Pisces.

Trump responded on X on April 12: “Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy." Then the pope responded, "I have no fear of the Trump administration." And this past week, with Trump’s progressed Moon at 27º Scorpio squaring his progressed Mercury, he reconsidered his harsh words to the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion baptized Catholics. He sent his Catholic emissary Marco Rubio to Rome to mend fences.

05/03/2026

Stephen Colbert’s Ending and New Beginning

Stephen Colbert will likely be a major news item over the coming three weeks as he heads into the final episode of CBS’s The Late Show on May 21. The backstory here is that CBS was bought by Paramount which was sued for $20 billion by the Trump administration over a 60 Minutes segment that favored Kamala Harris. Paramount settled the lawsuit for a mere $16 million on condition that Colbert be fired.

As described last year* when Colbert’s firing was first announced, his birth time is set for 10:02 pm which gives him 16º Sagittarius Rising and 5º Libra at the Midheaven. The Midheaven, as naturally associated with his professional standing, is under major activation now as his long-standing job as late-night comedian comes to an end.

The primary indicator is transiting Saturn. The Saturn cycle is a well known, predictable cycle among astrology enthusiasts. Professional peaks arrive when transiting Saturn is near the Midheaven, while professional endings and new beginnings correspond to Saturn’s arrival at the nadir, the 4th house cusp. Over the past year, transiting Saturn has gone back and forth across his 4th house cusp as it opposed his Midheaven.

However, he’s not going out without major national attention and an unknown number of proposals for his next gig. This is evident with transiting Pluto’s station at 5º Aquarius, which forms a very favorable trine to his Midheaven. And then this coming September, transiting Uranus reaches 5º Gemini and turns retrograde, also making a rare exact trine to his Midheaven.

In fact, transiting Uranus and Pluto trine each other over the next two years while simultaneously trine his Libra Midheaven. This makes an auspicious Air Grand Trine, suggesting he will be doing a lot more with his comedic talents than co-authoring a film sequel to The Lord of the Rings. Uranus and Pluto, as outer planets, keep one interacting with the collective in some way.

Colbert doesn’t openly criticize Paramount’s executives since he’s thankful for the 21 years he’s spent with CBS. He says he’s looking forward to regrouping from the grueling fast pace of producing a nightly show. However, the tension between him and Trump is evident when viewing recent developments in his horoscope.

The 7th house represents “other people” which can be partners or open enemies. Colbert has his Moon in that house at 24º Gemini, which happens to be closely conjunct Trump’s Gemini Sun. Then note the importance of Venus, which gains significance by being the ruler of his Ta**us Sun and Libra Midheaven. Natally, Venus is also in the 7th house, but by secondary progression it’s been retrograding through Gemini.

That all changed in October 2022 when his progressed Venus stopped at 20º Gemini and began slowly moving forward. Normally, we think of Venus as a beneficial placement, but in the 7th house, and due to its proximity to Trump’s Sun-Uranus conjunction, it readily symbolizes Trump as a target for his jokes.

Colbert was born with Black Moon Lilith at 13º Sagittarius and only three degrees from conjoining his Ascendant. This Lilith is what gives Colbert the comedian’s edge of referring to hidden or dark truths without actually voicing them. The reference makes us squirm uncomfortably until we recognize the irony, the hypocrisy, and laugh to release the tension.

By secondary progression, as Colbert stages his last monologue, Black Moon Lilith will be at 20º Sagittarius, or exactly opposite his progressed Venus. That puts his progressed Venus under immense stress, something that has been building up ever since Trump was re-elected. So Trump got him fired. But don’t be concerned about Colbert’s next performance. He’s got an Air Grand Trine to inspire and move him.

* see NewsScope: https://www.neptunecafe.com/nsc081125

04/26/2026

May’s Top Five Astro-Events

1. Ceres is very favorably sextile to Jupiter on the 2nd, making a healing, helpful duo from the 1st through 5th. Often referred to as the Great Mother, Ceres in stable, reliable Ta**us gets more supportive, nurturing, helpful, kind, and generous when linked to Jupiter.

2. Pluto at 5º Aquarius turns retrograde on the 6th. Those with their Sun, Moon, Ascendant, or other prominent placement at 4º to 6º of the fixed signs (Ta**us, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) are already feeling the deep changes brought by this retrograde station, with the transformational process lasting a year or more.

3. The New Moon in Ta**us conjoins Ceres on the 16th, putting the spotlight on the Great Mother asteroid. The New Moon with Ceres suggests a new beginning in the parent-child relationship, financial planning and implementation, a growing concern about environmental issues, and turning to healthy food to nourish body and soul.

4. Ceres octiles (semisquares) Hygeia on the 23rd, but this healthy combination can be effective from the 14th through month’s end. Saturn is also involved since Hygeia squares Saturn. Those who come under the influence of this alignment will recognize the need to make lifestyle changes to improve whatever health issue arises at this time.

5. Mars in Ta**us squares Pluto in Aquarius on the 26th, which is probably the most anger-inducing, potentially violent, and accident-prone planetary combination. The most intense phase is from the 23rd through 26th as Mercury in Gemini makes hard aspects to Mars and Pluto. Then verbal challenges may be the main instrument of expressing one’s will.

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. Get a deeper look here:
https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

04/19/2026

Transiting Pluto’s Square to Melania’s Sun

Melania Trump’s April 9 formal statement at the White House was completely out of character and caught most everyone by surprise. She just doesn’t voluntarily bring up the one scandal that her husband’s team has been obsessively trying to bury. A look at Melania’s horoscope may shed some light on what’s happening here. A 7:10 pm birth time makes good astrological sense since it puts her Sun-Saturn conjunction in Ta**us right on the 7th house cusp of partners.

This business-first combination describes her marriage as a negotiated partnership based on a mutually rewarding pre-nuptial agreement. It also describes her personal identity (Sun) as completely wrapped up in her husband’s ambition and professional role. Yet her Sun is also closely quincunx (150º) Uranus, which drives her toward complete personal freedom and independence. Her conscious ego is then faced with the responsibilities and obligations to Donald pitted against her interest in doing her own thing, in having her own lifestyle.

Currently, the lead astro-event is transiting Pluto heading into a square to Melania’s Sun in Ta**us. Before making the exact square, Pluto turns retrograde when it stations on May 5 at 5º30’ Aquarius. This is only 0º02’ from the trine to natal Uranus. Still, the orb of the square to her Sun is tight and she obviously already feels it. Transiting Pluto squaring a 7th house Sun is bound to be highly disruptive to her personal relationships — and especially to her marriage.

Pluto turns direct this coming October and then will be squaring her Sun off and on through December 2028. Quite possibly, her marriage will unravel during this interval, which lasts through the end of Donald’s term in office. Also, this transit may be projected onto her husband and mark his unraveling in office. A seventh house Sun-Saturn conjunction can play out in her partner’s life, which she then experiences vicariously.

Apparently, at the center of Melania’s discomfort is the former model, Amanda Ungaro. Stay tuned for this developing scandal….

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

04/12/2026

Trump Update on Three Fronts

Trump’s horoscope is under an unusual array of major astro-events through the end of April, any one of which could severely alter the course of his presidency. The top three concerns are the military front, his mental health, and the Epstein Files.

First up is the fragile peace treaty with Iran. Transiting Uranus at 27º Ta**us was near his Midheaven and squaring his natal Mars when he gave the go-ahead for the invasion. Transiting Uranus was also exactly aligned with the US Pluto at 27º Capricorn, which is the planetary symbol for US power. Coming up on April 17 is the New Moon at 27º Aries, which forms a supportive trine to Trump’s progressed Mercury, and a hard square to the US Pluto. That alone suggests military action in one form or another.

Second is Trump’s cognitive decline. Transiting Saturn is advancing this month to activate his natal Mercury-square-Neptune. Transiting Neptune follows up over the next several years. If he has seemed completely mentally unhinged recently, this tendency only gets worse this month and through the end of his term.

Third is the never-ending saga of the Epstein Files. His natal Juno-Chiron is exactly octile (semisquare) his Ascendant at 29º Leo, which makes his relationship challenges an intrinsic part of who he is. Transiting Uranus is heading into its final square to Trump’s Leo Ascendant on April 24. This means that it will simultaneously be forming a trioctile (135º aspect) to his Juno-Chiron conjunction.

A look at the previous two squares, which took place in early July 2025 and mid-November 2025, tells us that the Epstein Files will once again be making headline news. Quite possibly, as April 24 comes around, new revelations from the Epstein Files will provoke Trump to re-ignite a distracting military conflict. This from the degenerating brain of the man with his finger on the nuclear button.

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. Get the deeper look into each of these three fronts here:
https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

04/05/2026

Pluto in Aquarius Empowers Pickleball

Since ancient times, men and women generally haven’t competed with or against each other in high-level sports. But now, in the emerging Age of Aquarius, a new sport is breaking that mold where men and women have equal standing. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the US and around the world. Pickleball athletes can play as singles, in mixed doubles, or in same gender doubles.

Pickleball has soared in popularity ever since Pluto entered Aquarius. It’s certainly not a coincidence that the most dominant player is a woman and an Aquarius. Anna Leigh Waters was born on January 26, 2007 with her Aquarius Sun conjunct Chiron, giving her an innate sense of needing to overcome weakness and vulnerability. Anna Leigh began playing professional pickleball at age 12 and is currently undefeated in women’s singles for the past two years.

Anna Leigh Waters has a boatload of placements in Aquarius. This includes a tight Mercury-Neptune conjunction at 19º Aquarius, which can readily space out and lose focus. But the ability to get into mental gear hour after hour, day after day, and year after year comes from her Mercury opposite Saturn, which does provide the self-control necessary to win the big points.

Her Aquarius Sun trines Lilith in Libra, giving her an interest in playing doubles. Her long-time men’s partner is Ben Johns, often touted as the #1 men’s player. Last week they claimed their 61st mixed doubles title together. Her partner in women’s doubles is Anna Bright, and they also won gold last week to extend their record to 105 wins with only 3 losses.

Throughout 2026 and 2027, transiting Pluto will go back and forth across her Aquarius Sun, helping her to spread the popularity of pickleball with her sheer vitality, enthusiasm, and winning ways.

ALW’s chart is rectified. For details and further narrative, read this week’s NewsScope here:
https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

03/29/2026

April’s Top Five Astro-Events

1. Pallas octiles Ceres on the 6th but is within range of being an active dynamic from the 1st through 18th. The parent-child relationship may become a primary focus of emotional and mental energy for those who come under the influence of these two dwarf planets during this interval.

2. Mars conjoins Saturn in Aries on the 19th and is made highly productive from the 14th through 21st via the ongoing sextile to Pluto in Aquarius. Those with prominent planets at 5º to 8º of the cardinal signs will most benefit from this forceful duo that finds and overcomes adversity and resistance.

3. Juno conjunct Pluto becomes exact on the 20th but is a strong influence from the 15th through 24th. This astro-event dovetails nicely with the Mars-Saturn conjunction ( #2 above) while emphasizing the role of alliances in your activities.

4. Following a six-month retrograde phase in late Ta**us, Uranus definitively enters Gemini on the 25th, where it remains until August 2032 when it enters Cancer. Political astrologers have long recognized Uranus in Gemini as marking historical turning points.

5. The New Moon in Aries takes place on the 17th (7:50 am EDT) and marks a decisive new beginning by conjoining the rowdy Chiron-Eris conjunction. At this time, astrologers will note that we have eight planets in Aries, a rare accumulation of headstrong, me-first, gung-ho energy.

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. Read the full post here:
https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

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