Hello From Boston
NCGR Conference “Planetary Revolution” Wows Beantown
Jupiter Presides Over Virgo Full Moon, Mercury Enters Pisces

SHELLEY ACKERMAN
Photo: Rich Press

Astrologers Meet-Up in Boston for NCGR “Planetary Revolution” Conference

While the much of northeast got socked with yet another one to two feet of snow, hundreds of astrologers and astrology aficionados braved the elements and managed to make it to the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts for the NCGR’s first national gathering since 2007.

Founded in March 1971, the National Council for Geocosmic Research celebrated its 39th anniversary and began its 40th year this month and both the State House of Representatives of Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Cambridge’s Mayor’s office welcomed and honored us with congratulatory proclamations.

At the opening ceremony on Thursday evening February 25th, NCGR Chairwoman, astrologer, computer whiz and Cape Cod resident Madalyn Hillis-Dineen, played off of the Boston/American Revolution theme and the upcoming “revolutionary” planetary pictures (which promise to manifest this Spring and throughout much of 2010), by presenting the audience of stargazers with “An Astrologer’s Bill of Rights”:

We the people, have the right….

1. To keep calling Pluto a planet.
2. When lecturing or writing a book, to only include those charts that illustrate the points we want to make and ignore the ones that don’t.
3. To hold conferences under bad aspects and think that if we somehow name the conference using the keywords for those energies, it will somehow make it better.
4. To ignore the advice for ourselves that we'd give to clients.
5. To believe that the house system and techniques we personally use are superior to all others.
6. To get married on a void-of-course Moon or start a business or blog or publish a book when Mercury is retrograde.
7. To NOT get married on a void of course moon or start a business or blog or publish a book when Mercury is retrograde.
8. To categorize people as a type, sign or energy, as much as we damn well like.
9. To dress any way we want.... including like a normal person.
10. We have the RIGHT to be WRONG.

Big names in the astrological world including Steven Forrest, Rob Hand, Demetra George, Michael Lutin, Tad Mann, Rick Tarnas, Grace Morris, Ray Merriman, Eric Francis, and Gloria Star and many other well-known speakers are here to share insights and to help attendees navigate the choppy and transformative waters of 2010-2012. I particularly enjoyed Christopher Renstrom’s presentation on “Christianity and Astrology in Colonial America”. The two subjects were followed with equal reverence back then.

Cambridge Hyatt

How’s the Weather?

ARIES: As Mercury Neptune conjoin in your communal 11th house, a gathering of friends may inspire you and touch your heart in a way that it hasn’t been touched in ages. Be open to the experience and the healing that may come as a result but don’t lose your sense of reason or agree to anything in writing, The Full Moon in your 6th house of day-to-day routine is a good thing too: Whatever changes occur at work, be assured that they are for the best. Same is true for anything that needs tending on the health front. Your guardian angel is working overtime – but you must do your part.

TAURUS: An idealistic vision for what can be in the future is all the talk in your career-house and while there are more intangibles than you’d like, the good will is there. The Sun/Jupiter alignment in your communal 11th house bodes well for fertile team-work. Don’t press for the hammering out of details just yet, there’s time to nail that part of the program later on. In the meantime, build on the fluidity of communication and go with the flow- literally.

GEMINI: The alignment of your versatile, talkative, and highly distracted ruler, Mercury, with dreamy Neptune in your 9th house of philosophy and foreign and legal affairs, heightens your sense of longing for a quick diversion overseas, but that dream must be deferred for a little while at least, while you focus on the opportunities for career success in the here and now. The blessing of a Sun/Jupiter conjunction in your professional 10th house comes but once every 12 years. What did you shoot for in 1998 that didn’t quite happen? Go for it now- you may get very lucky.

CANCER: As Mercury and Neptune conjoin in your 8th house, the BS department at your bank or investment firm is alive and well and operating at full-throttle, so while they’re busy covering their backs, who’s looking out for YOU? Not that there is necessarily an intention to pull the wool over your eyes, but even so, remain vigilant and take nothing at face value. The Sun and Jupiter in your philosophical 9th house will renew your faith in the good, and may inspire you to travel or to plan a trip to a spot that will nourish your soul. Go for it.

LEO: Mercury and Neptune in 7th house of partners indicates that a spouse or BFF doesn’t really mean to be dishonest, nor are they necessarily hallucinating, but if something isn’t sounding quite right, by all means, gently press the issue until that old ring of truth returns to the room. And while you’re at it, be honest with yourself: Could be that you’ve made it tough for the party in question to speak openly, and if so, why is that so? The Sun/Jupiter alignment in your 8th house of sex and shared resources could provide the blissful healing you’ve been drooling for. Sigh.

VIRGO: While the hook-up of your ruler, Mercury, with spacey Neptune in your 6th house of health and work could indicate a bit of confusion and miscommunication in the workplace, we must not overlook the inspiring and creative possibilities inherent this weekend. The same is true for the Sun/Jupiter alignment in your 7th house of partnership: Don’t be too quick to burst a loved-one’s balloon, though they may not be fully grounded in what’s going on, you both will benefit from the “lift”. Adjustments to the hard-core reality can and will be made later on.

LIBRA: In the mood for some deliciously seductive sweet talk? Well darling, Mercury and Neptune in your 5th house of l’amour could deliver the goods, but do be protective of your heart, the party in question may provide a great weekend but only time will tell if he (or she) is in it for the long haul The romantic energy however, does spill over into your work life, and there may be a dream job that appears as an apparition at first, but it really could- at long lat- be your ship coming in Lord, how you’ve earned it!

SCORPIO: Promises made by family members or potential contractors in your home may sound too good to be true, so wait a spell for additional facts to come in. The Sun and Jupiter in your 5th house says “let the good times roll” You’re due for an excursion and this one will definitely be fun. Can it be love? Maybe ;-). The best news though, is that your team at work is about to morph into one that is more supportive and productive.

SAGITTARIUS: A neighbor or sibling may not be telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth, but it could because they simply don’t know all of the facts just yet. Be patient as more info will come in. The lovely combo of Jupiter and Neptune in your 4th house bodes very well for some family time. Invite the gang over and/or respond affirmatively to their overture. This can be a weekend of phenomenal healing for all of you.

CAPRICORN: Though not as concrete as you would like it to be, the Mercury/Neptune alignment in your 2nd house of tangible income yields the germ of an idea that could lead to something. Don’t knock it- this kind of inspired thought goes a long way. The same is true for the positive communication energy brought by the Sun/Jupiter combo in your chatty and neighborhood-y 3rd house. Good will abounds and the ‘fertile’ quality lends itself for the planting of seeds which will sprout. Question authority on this Full Moon, and use discernment when dealing with clerics and legal folk.

AQUARIUS: “Speak low when you speak love” are the lyrics of one of the more enchanting Kurt Weill songs, and the Mercury/Neptune combo in your sign certainly sets the stage for your eloquence and a rapt and appreciative audience, but the real blessing this week comes by way of the Sun/Jupiter/ alignment and the Full Moon in your money/shared resources axis. There could be a dream-come-true real estate deal, or a settlement you’ve been waiting on. Either way, something you’ve been hoping for (money and partnership-wise) should come to fruition.

PISCES: The blend of Mercury and Neptune in your 12th house may bring a memory or two of not being leveled with in the past, but that “ouch” is there to remind you of what happens when we’re too gullible. Don’t let it diminish you, but take it as a lesson. This weekend brings that once in every 12 year alignment of Jupiter on your Sun- this is your moment for super-sensitivity and super-stardom. Dress for success and step into your glory. Just be sure to wear water-proof mascara.