The Sun Enters Leo, Jupiter Stations Retrograde;
Saturn Opposes Uranus (Round 5)
Mercury Enters Virgo
The Return of Mad Men
Qué Sherrod Sherrod

SHELLEY ACKERMAN
Photo: Rich Press

When She was Just a little Girl…

One wonders if as a child, Shirley Miller Sherrod had a sense that she would be the catalyst for public awareness when the public needed it most.

A modern day Rosa Parks of sorts, US Dept of Agriculture employee, Shirley Sherrod held her head high and kept cool while catching the fallout from a framing by one right wing pundit and Tea-Party participant named Andrew Breitbart. Breitbart, it seems, edited a speech by Sherrod into fragments that made it appear that she was espousing anti-white views at an NAACP fundraiser in March 2009. The edited video blew through the Internet like wildfire and within days Sherrod was vilified and asked to resign. When her entire speech was viewed, it was clear that she was not at all a racist and that USDA chief Tom Vilsack, the White House, and numerous pundits did not do their journalistic due diligence and review Sherrod’s speech before condemning her. Before it was all over, Tom Vilsack, Fox’ Bill O’Reilly, and President Obama publicly apologized to this noble woman and have offered Sherrod another position at the Dept. of Agriculture. The moral of the story: Fox News and all news outlets are on notice that they must take a remedial course in Journalism 101 and never again jump on a YouTube sound bite and present it as gospel.

Shirley Sherrod is a Scorpio, born on November 20, 1947, weeks after Hillary Clinton. (She shares her 11/20 birthday with VP Joe Biden, the late Senator Robert Byrd, and the late Robert F. Kennedy). If she was born before 6 or 7 PM, her Moon is in Aquarius, if after, it’s Pisces. . She’s got Pluto, Saturn, and Mars in Leo, and that combined with her Scorpio Sun describes one very resourceful woman. My sense is that a lot of good will come of this painful sequence. At least more of the public will now know to not take anything at face value so quickly and reporters will sit up a little straighter, at least for a while.

The Return of Mad Men: Season 4

Okay I admit it, I’m an addict.

I can’t recall when I’ve been more involved with a television show than I am now, and I am not alone. Mad Men has captured the collective’s need for review of the past 50 years and its legions of fans are chomping at the bit for the debut of Season 4 this Sunday night (July 25) on AMC. The show’s creator, Cancerian Matthew Weiner who was born on June 29, 1965, is a sensitive, humane, creative genius who is deeply attuned to who we are (and were in the early 1960’s) and how far we’ve come individually and collectively in just five decades. He deftly weaves history (the election of JFK, First Lady Jackie Kennedy in her Feb 14, 1962 televised tour of the White House, the death of Marilyn Monroe, JFK’s assassination) into the story line which pulls no punches as it reminds us of the blatant racism, sexism, anti-semitism, and homophobia that was so prevalent and accepted as the norm back then. When Weiner was born, Saturn in Pisces opposed the Uranus/Pluto conjunction in Virgo. His chart embodies the cultural revolution of the mid-1960’s. Now, during the height of Mad Men’s popularity, Saturn is once again opposite Uranus (structures breaking down) and the opening “square” (90 degree aspect) between Uranus and Pluto is underway. Funny how these aspects come to fruition and bring the topic(s) originally introduced when they were last in play to their next level of development.

To dismiss my fascination with the show as a nostalgic identification with nine year old Sally Draper (played phenomenally well by award-winning Scorpio actress Keirnan Shipka, b. Nov 10, 1999) whose character is the same age that as I was when those 1963 events occurred, would be too obvious, though I’m sure it figures in a little. But it goes deeper than that. Maybe there’s a healing taking place as I watch the tortured adults (Don and Betty) with no coping skills and no self-understanding, struggle to make a go of it as a couple and as parents. Maybe watching this show allows me to forgive more of my own parents’ inadequacies.

ARIES: Since May 27th, Jupiter in your sign has pumped you up big time - super-sizing both your aura and your field of influence. But nothing can expand unchecked forever- least of all you. And though the big planet turns retrograde for the next four months, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the ebullient feeling you’ve coasted on will vanish all together - it won’t. As a matter of fact, the retro phase starts with a fabulous send-off (the Sun in Leo in your fun-loving 5th house eggs you on) indicating that through November all and any self-reflection will reward you in spades.

TAURUS: The Summer Leo Sun always grounds you (in a good way) and seduces you into feathering your nest with whatever spare change you have on hand. Along those lines, the alliance from the Sun to Jupiter in your 12th house of hidden goodies encourages a literal and metaphorical treasure hunt. You may wish to look through your attic and/or visit ancestry.com to see who you may be related to. Mercury in your speculative 5th house for the next 10 weeks presents an opportunity to clear up any misunderstandings with your kids or a romantic interest. Take your creative impulses seriously and act on them.

GEMINI: Each and every year when the Sun enters warm and fiery Leo your chatty and sibling-centric 3rd house comes alive, you’re in your element, and it’s your time to shine. But there’s work to be done too, and if you’ve been out of balance and remain in that state, the next 10 weeks may be rougher than they need to be: Your ruler, mercury, enters your 4th house of family affairs. Careful and consistently clear conversations must take place to clear up the residue of misunderstandings that have accumulated over the past several years. Additionally, stop avoiding paperwork and begin purging what you no longer need. Make it a goal to have it all done by mid September.

CANCER: There’s quite the potential conflict brewing between a boss and/or a parent and a partner, but it doesn’t have to escalate into an all out war. In this scenario, it’s the partner (or spouse) who is unable to be as up-front as they should be. But don’t let them undermine a good thing and don’t get sucked into their moodiness. Leo month is always good for $$ and the positive aspect between the Sun and Jupiter could spell success. Mercury in your 3rd house begins a 10 week process of clearing up all confusion between yourself and your siblings and neighbors.

LEO: While the rest of the zodiac is betwixt and between and totally out of sorts, you’re probably better than you’ve been in ages. The Sun’s entrance in your sign always adds luster and gives energy, but this week, the standstill of Jupiter in your 9th house of recognition is quite favorable. So delay going into vacation mode, and be responsive to what comes. Mercury in your 2nd house of income for the next 10 weeks certainly will clear up a plethora of loose ends so that you can re-brand yourself and charge accordingly for your stellar work.

VIRGO: The standstill of expansive Jupiter in your intense 8th house of other people’s money and shared resources suggests that something that has been in the works for months (even years) is in its final round. Don’t let a power-hungry romantic interest or a possessive child of yours tell you what to do with your own money. This is tricky- because intimacy and money are deeply intertwined. But we all need to maintain health boundaries even with those closest to us. During the next ten weeks your ruler, Mercury, will be in your sign. You may begin the sequence singing one song and end singing another. It’s your prerogative.

LIBRA: The Sun’s auspicious entrance into fiery Leo and your 11th house of community could not be more welcomed. And the thrilling aspect it makes to Jupiter in your house of partnership (and relationship prospects) is a boon to your social life. But the nearly 10 week transit (forward, backward, and forward) of Mercury in analytical Virgo in your 12th house of hidden affairs (and historical screw-ups) tells quite a different story. You may be more pre-occupied than usual and distracted. This extended period of a dialogue with numero uno is fine as long as you don’t over-extend yourself. Honor your legitimate need for more privacy.

SCORPIO: The Leo Sun lights you up and empowers you in the eyes of the world. If you think about it, historically haven’t some of your best professional moves and career opportunities taken place in late July- August?

SAGITTARIUS: Every year for four months out of the year, your benevolent and magnanimous ruling planet, Jupiter, goes into reverse mode. This year, the July 27 reverse motion begins in Aries (and your frolicking 5th house of romance and good times) and will soon slide back into Pisces. Do not force anything on the 27th and stay out of harm’s way. Planetary stations (standstills) direct us to stop and breathe. If you’ve been working on a creative project you may need to step back for perspective. The same is true professionally: Mercury, in analytical Virgo through Oct. 3rd, will require review of a career move that needs further study and fine tuning. Take your time and don’t rush to judgment.

CAPRICORN: Unexpectedly, a family member or someone who feels like family gets you out of a jam. You may learn that your home is worth more than you previously thought and a change in your property’s status seems possible. This could mean refinancing, renovating, or moving, but it’s all good. Mercury’s entrance into your 9th house of legal affairs and beliefs begins and for the next 10 weeks focusing on a court-related matter and/or a publishing project will bear fruit. It just may be bumpy and take longer than expected, but you’ll be pleased with the final outcome.

AQUARIUS: Though the Sun’s entrance into your socially committed 7th house of usually ushers in a month of one compelling engagement after another, but you may not be in the mood for such fan fare as you have other fish to fry: Mercury (planet of thought and communication) enters your transformational 8th house of “deep thoughts” and like your Libra counterpart, (also an air sign) you may be more focused on the inner you and address some profoundly personal content. During the next 10 weeks, give yourself permission to shy away from anything superficial.

PISCES: The retreat of Jupiter in your 2nd house of finances from now through November doesn’t spell “curtains” in that department. The opposite is more likely. But do be encouraged to pull in the reigns and watch your spending. Where can you cut back without it being too uncomfortable? Mercury enters your 7th house of partnership where it will be (to and fro) through October 3. During this time, the universe will insist that you refine your listening skills. And if single, be an attentive friend who strives to clear all misunderstandings in real time. Be meticulous with all contracts.