Weekly Forecast 7.16.24: Uranus, Mars, and Violence
The planet of rage was always going to have a generative role in 2024. The fun lies in seeing what he generates.
What is happening?!
I normally do a weekly review on Friday morning, wherein I look back at the mundane and political landscape of the previous week on a global scale and dissect any possible connections to the astrology I discussed on Monday prior. For whatever reason, possibly my irritating summer cold and possibly a heavy workload of in-person readings, I was a day behind schedule last week. Sometimes these things happen, and then I look back and find a synchronicity I can point to and say, “So THAT’S why I was delaying.” Sometimes not. Part of my procrastination last week might have been down to the relative stasis that we found ourselves experiencing from July 8th through July 12th; every conversation and headline making noise was just a deeper dive on the previous week’s most central event, the U.S. Presidential debate and it’s subsequent fallout.
It isn’t so much that nothing happened - Venus could still be felt in various headlines, from continued violence in Palestine and Ukraine that targeted women and children to some truly Orwellian fuckery on the part of state government in Arkansas. There were simply louder and flashier conversations subsuming the Venusian action, and contentious pockets of public discourse grew loud enough to become news stories in and of themselves. A political and journalistic meltdown over the U.S. President’s debate skills, or lack thereof, continued to dominate much of the collective concern in the global West, and his youthfulness, or lack thereof, has taken precedence over any other metric by which we measure the hooligans who call themselves statesman. Oh, and we are all being roasted alive.
I’ve been anxious and rattled long before this week; the conjunction of Mars and Uranus in Taurus that perfected on Monday is explosive and powerful. Even cranky, cynical astrologers are white knuckling daily life as I write this, watching the planets of rage and revolution join forces, wondering what kind of fallout we’ll experience. Ever more anxiety inducing is the fact that aspects with outer planets can influence us for a long time. They spend several years in one sign! We aren’t just watching this week for craziness; we’re watching the rest of the year and beyond, at least until Uranus hops an ingress to Gemini in 2025.
Aaaaaand then on Saturday, July 13th, Mars came through with the first down payment on his promise. The American people know this story so well that you could pull any one of us off the street to report it succinctly; a disaffected young man with a high powered weapon that he acquired through legal means shot people at a mass gathering. It has become part of our daily life, a catechism, almost, to read such a headline, shrug, and move on, so numb have we become to gun violence and mass murder. Unfortunately, the disaffected young man shot a former president, and now all kinds of people are poorly quoting Shakespeare and eager to let loose the inbred poodles of war.
This is not going to be a super balanced, thoughtful week, and even people who think astrology is total, utter bullshit can understand that. Conspiracy theories are flying around like shitty Boeing jets and people seem to fall into a few different boarding groups; the bummed, the enraged, the exhausted, and the utterly, blissfully unaware (I tried trading my ticket from the enraged boarding group to the utterly unaware one, but the lady at the Nietzchian help desk of existential crisis said it would be a $1000 upgrade that required a full brain reboot, and who has that kind of money in this economy?)
So, here we are - Mars is rage, Uranus is upheaval, and we’re watching them work together in the sky to beam chaos onto Earth. Gaza feels it. America feels it. Sudan feels it. Governments feel it. The boiling ocean feels it. The struggling, working class and poverty class feel it more acutely than most. Sometimes the best thing to do in these instances is stay as safe as possible, observe…and endure.
Why would this affect me?
Well, do you have a pulse? This kind of astrology affects us all on some level, as last weekend’s events should underscore. It is the severity of the effect that waxes and wanes based off personal natal charts and circumstances - people with troubled Mars aspects in their charts may fall closer to the shrapnel nexus than those of us with heavier Jupiter or Venus aspects, and anybody with a fixed sign in the big three of their chart (rising, sun, and moon) will definitely take notice.
Mars is Ares, who probably came to life as a bloodthirsty Thracian deity to whom acolytes would sacrifice one of their kin as a way to satiate his lust for violence. Mythologically he was hot-headed, hard-bodied, and kind of an idiot - the ultimate brawny warrior who was good for combat and little else.
Uranus is a new planet, a revolutionary body named for the sky god who birthed the Titans and began this whole celestial soap opera, so he has no problem tearing it all down again in order to build version 2.0. Mars loves violence and swords, Uranus loves electricity and telling the establishment to go fuck itself (my main piece of advice this week is to stay away from power lines, grids, and any setting that plays on people’s aggression. Boxing matches, hockey, et. al. are invigorating games during sleepier moments of the cosmos, but they can turn deadly this week.) These two completely imbalanced assholes met up on Monday in Taurus and they won’t separate fully until Saturday - which is when yet another grab bag of astrological fuckery will plop down in our laps and ask us to reckon with the world we’ve made. Wheeeeeee!
When do I have to deal with this?
MON 7.15 THRU THURS 7.18 - Everything is Trying to Kill Us Days
Mars in Taurus Qualities: Violent, Taciturn, Hedonistic, Stubborn, Weirdly Conventional, and Cutting
Uranus in Taurus Qualities: Improvement-minded, Sensual, Aesthetic Updates, Ambitious, Extreme, Radical, Aloof
These two planets are the cosmic personification of bulldozing an old, beloved park in order to plant a new, modern garden - every moment until the final unveiling of beauty will suck complete ass. It takes too long, there are months spent looking at ugly dirt mounds and oily machinery, and it’s easy to forget why we wanted to rip everything up and make such a mess in the first place. This conjunction is chaos, personified.
Don’t take any unnecessary risks, minimize the amount of knives and other sharp objects in your vicinity, and put off any contract signing or surgery if possible. Expect arguments, bat shit insanity, and outrage if you venture online, and be intentional if you choose to do so. Remember, too, that transitions do not last forever and the chaos will come to an end.
THURS 7.18 THRU SAT 7.20 - Glass Half Full Days
Sun in Cancer Qualities: Domestic, Caring, Protective, Emotional, Prioritizes Security
Uranus in Taurus Qualities: See Above
The sun and Uranus form a sextile on Thursday, immediately following the king-hell-psycho-shit of Monday’s conjunction. This will raise spirits and show us new ways of dealing with the stickiness of our current moment, as sextiles are harmonious, Venusian astrological aspects. It may be that we are connecting with new and exciting people or groups, or we could be discovering unique qualities in old friends that were previously hidden; whatever the case, we can find comfort and optimism in connection and outreach. Give a bitch a phone call, already.
SAT 7.20 THRU SUN 7.21 - Fuck if I Know, All Bets are Off Days
Mars in Gemini Qualities: Cutting Conversation, Words as Weapons, Extreme Vocalizations, Boredom-Averse
Moon in Capricorn Qualities: Detail-oriented, Disciplined, Studious, Repressive, Painfully Honest
Mercury in Leo Qualities: Brash, Stubborn, Seductive Conversationalist, Loud, Persuasive, Charismatic, “Too Much”
Venus in Leo Qualities: Attractive, Attention-seeking, Stubborn, Ego-centric, Greedy, Charismatic
Pluto in Aquarius Qualities: Difficult truths, Far-thinking, Aloof, Stern, Implacable, Shocking
Jupiter in Gemini Qualities: Friendly, Talkative, Expansive, Indecisive, Amplifying, Lucky Social Connections
((Takes deep breath)) This weekend is some kind of transitional apex, or delineation between past and future. Mars will leave Taurus for Gemini once he’s wrung as much destruction from his Taurus trip as possible, which means disagreements will become louder, words more cutting, and more people will be involved as we move through Leo season. A rare, second full moon in Capricorn will be facing off with a plethora of aspects early Sunday morning, and the lunar energy of The Sea Goat will be shining a light on all of the areas/habits of our lives where we need to quit screwing around and focus. Needless to say, expect irritating feedback.
In good news, Venus will form a sextile with Jupiter, making us all feel attractive, charming, and in-demand. We could see unexpected gifts or financial boons head our way, and any social connections made during this aspect will be good-natured and fortuitous. At the same time, the sun will form a watery trine to Neptune, getting us closer to an important emotional goal or breakthrough.
Unfortunately, this all goes down at the same time Mercury and Uranus form a fixed square, which might cause unexpected changes or upheavals to plans. Meetings and personal conversations might also take weird, uncanny turns, forcing us to think on our feet and approach everything nimbly, as though every moment is fleeting. Finally, Mars and Pluto form an air trine on Sunday evening, ramping up our ability to process tough information and put it to effective use. Unsavory details from the past may be revealed, but there will be a sense in the air of capability and expertise - yes, the stars seem to be saying, this is a tangled ball of bullshit, but we will provide you the mental capacity to both unravel and outsmart it.
Ugh.
Cool, what does the Tarot say about this?
Monday, 7.15 brought the 10 of Wands to our shores to tell us how overwhelmed, over it, and existentially heavy everything feels AS IF WE ALREADY DIDN’T KNOW THAT YOU STUPID ASSHOLE FREAK CARD DECK.
The 5 of Cups on Tuesday, 7.16, reminds us that feeling defeated is normal and necessary, but we might spot glimmers of hope and possibility if we cut the pity party down to just a few days or so.
On Wednesday, 7.17, the 3 of Swords reversed indicates that we might be ready to synthesize our grief, rage, and disappointment into something more useful, and a companion pull of granite indicates we may hop on a wave of renewed strength and protection if we prioritize mental and physical health. So limit your doomscrolling, or hide your devices away entirely. Try taking a doom walk, drinking some doom water, or head out to a mid-week doom brunch. Change it up a little.
The Page of Pills reversed shows up on Thursday, 7.18, to caution us about immaturity and inconsistency when it comes to responsibilities. We may spend more money than we should, or over commit resources to something frivolous, possibly because this is one of the only days this week in which optimism gains a foothold and we feel like being social. Truly, with the world behaving as it is, I see no reason to rein in the spending. Drink and be merry, tomorrow we may something, something, something, fuck it.
Friday, 7.19, Death reversed and The Emperor get together to tell us to pull our heads out of our asses - did you think this would be easy? Did anyone ever tell you it would be fun? No? Then why all the complaining? The Emperor represents structure, authority, and order, which may be exactly the things that are so resistant to change. We must start interrogating the status quo, and we can’t run away at the first sign of difficulty if we want to see positive change in our lives. No one has ever said that transition is easy peasy, but almost everybody can admit that transition is necessary to avoid a slow death by stasis.
The weekend of insanity kicks off with a double pull on Saturday, 7.20 of the Ace of Rods reversed and that Mars in Scorpio bummer of a card, the 5 of Cups, again. Expect delays in creative ventures, passion projects, or travel, as well as a generally bummed attitude. Given the companion pull of amazonite, it’s possible that we receive disappointing news or correspondence, or perhaps we are the ones who deliver upsetting news. Remember that the Capricorn full moon is going to be a real wanker about critical feedback, so be prepared. On Sunday, 7.21, the 9 of Swords reversed has us facing reality, whether we want to or not. Lapis lazuli indicates that a thorough excavation of our fears, either through therapy, divination, or bitch sessions with trusted companions may ameliorate some of our negative thinking and unproductive approach, while also providing a teeny glimmer of light at the end of this fraught, dangerous tunnel.
Lagniappe
I love astrology for its ability to contextualize the present world in a broader, more mythological landscape; the gods are always above us engaging in petty squabbles, love affairs, war, and intrigue, and the idea that their bullshit trickles down is a more comforting thought than the human race being naturally murderous and depraved. What other conclusion could we come to, with only our present reality of violence, division, and loneliness to inform us? It’s no wonder ancient people saw divine intention written in the sky and separated the star clusters into Chesty War Dude, Hot Lady Psychic, Boy Spilling His Jug, and Flying Horse Friend, etc. Sharing the universe like this makes at least as much sense as anything that happens on the news, in my opinion. We have put ancient sociopaths in charge of our planet and the well-being of our race, so I don’t feel like we have much to lord over old Greeks like Ptolemy other than the fact that we now have microscopes that can see germs.
Like many other people, I have dipped a toe into the soothing, institutional grey-blue waters of mandated therapy that always include a comfortable chair, a desk with Kleenex on it, and an unsettling focus on how your brain, and by extension your self, incompetently goes about the business of being human. I found the experience unhelpful and antithetical to any sort of healing - I have never enjoyed being interrogated by strangers, and I certainly don’t enjoy paying said strangers for the miserable opportunity. Psychiatric therapy might be useful to many people, but compared to astrology and tarot, I thought it unimaginative, circular, and one dimensional. I felt more frustrated and angry after a session than I did before, in large part because there is no narrative context provided by the medical establishment, even in formal settings; it’s just you and a random practitioner trying to figure out rage triggers and safety plans, with occasional references to the DSM or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy or a number of other completely opaque anagrams. Tarot is a rich narrative with multiple characters, possibilities, and messaging that plays with established truths of the human condition - sometimes things are awesome, sometimes things suck, and it is all part of a soul journey that takes us to the final card before we are reborn as The Fool.
When I do a tarot reading, I get to take everything horrible and exhilarating about being human and literally lay it on a table for clients, transferring their issues and questions away from their own brain and putting it onto intricate, illuminated images. In the same way that an expertly crafted story can bestow moral and spiritual understanding, tarot pulls people’s heads out of their own particular fiction and allows them to examine it as though they were an outsider. It’s fun, it’s useful, you don’t need clearance from your insurance company to get an appointment, and I let you touch crystals.
Similarly, the reason I am a Hellenistic astrologer above all else is a deep appreciation of the source material; a love of Greek gods and their dramatic tiffs sunk hooks in me around early childhood (that’s how I imagine speaking about my obsession if anyone with advanced degrees ever stumbles across my writing.) The unvarnished truth is 1) I watched Clash of the Titans very young and grew obsessed with the idea of having my very own gods blessed, animatronic owl, and 2) one of the only Choose Your Own Adventure books I had and loved, so much that it eventually dissolved in my hands, was a riff on the Hades and Persephone myth. With Persephone as my character, I remember that when I chose a wrong turn in the middle of the book I was eaten by Cerberus (not classically accurate) but when I chose the other option I married Hades and got a cool dress (more accurate, depending on the Hellenistic author.)
The planetary archetypes utilized in astrology are the same archetypes to which ancient Greeks built temples - petty, lusty Aphrodite, angry, violent Ares, and jovial, oversexed Zeus. Here, too, can a client extrapolate guidance and insight by placing their issues in a context outside of themselves, in the realms of the gods of Olympus. It’s insightful and a bit Shakespearean in the way that we can extrapolate truth by examining fiction; we see ourselves in the Big God soap opera and it brings us levity. Even tragedy can be inspiring and interesting, because we know that when the story ends, even when it ends sadly, that there will be a new story to read after that, another after that, and another after that.
I have no idea what the rest of the year or decade looks like, other than tumultuous. I don’t really deal in absolutes, and I suspect anyone who does of rank charlatanism. I appreciate the astrologers who deep dive into specific charts and days in an attempt to mystically echolocate our future, and I understand the human desire for certainty. Unfortunately, this plane isn’t designed for the certain, the definite, or the concrete; it is designed for the fleeting, the surprising, and the ephemeral. It makes more sense, to me, to track the broad, watercolor strokes of existence and collective waves that have been crashing onto our human psyche since we crawled out of the muck thousands of years back. When we back up far enough, that is the only story that matters. It mutates, it kills, it draws blood, it gives birth, it shows compassion, it shows love, and it brings death, but the story of the universe doesn't actually end. It is playing on repeat, eternally.
Visit @alectochaos on IG for the full, wordy breakdown and video of each card pull, and to get the jump on the Mon - Wed card pulls. If you are into that sort of thing.