Venus (source: pexels.com) Venus stations and turns retrograde today. "Café Astrology" describes the event as follows: "Venus in Scorpio stations and turns retrograde today and will continue in retrograde motion until November 13th. Until October 25th, Venus transits Scorpio and then retreats into Libra on that date for the remainder of the retrograde. This Venus retrograde cycle can bring us back to unresolved matters, particularly those related to relationships, finances, wants and needs, and values.

Inflation will probably not slow to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target until 2028, New York Fed President John Williams predicted.

I'm right back to where I was eight years ago when I first published this post. The more things change, the more they stay the same . . .

Now a $15bn industry, astrology is more mainstream in the US than ever. But its practitioners are still debating: who gets to have authority on the celestial bodies?

I published this post last year when Mercury entered my twelfth house. This year, just the sun is transiting that part of my chart while Mercury and Venus are traveling through my first house. Nevertheless, I'm feeling quite "anonymous" again, and eager to escape into my own little world. I suppose that's why blogging has been a chore for me over the last several days.

This post from last year reminds me that I need to make an appointment for my annual physical. It also reminds me that I'm doing just fine without making a lot of money. I might as well enjoy my mostly stress-free life as I inch toward a debt-free future, right?

Saturday's upcoming full moon is in a similar place to this full moon I wrote about back in 2023. However, this time it's not unafflicted as it will occur just eight minutes away from forming a square to my natal moon. I have a feeling that I will have a rough time at my retail job since I'm working with a couple of grouchy Cancer natives who like to point fingers at anyone and everyone when things don't go their way.

Jet Trail (source: pexels.com) I found myself staring at jet trails yesterday, wondering if I'll ever go on another Vegas vacation. When I was still working at my full-time job, I used to do that all the time. Knowing that I was going to be getting away a couple of times a year was the only thing that kept me going.

Contacts (source: pexels.com) Transiting Jupiter forms a sextile with my ascendant today. This aspect will recur again in the middle of March next year due to Jupiter's upcoming retrograde cycle. What's even more interesting is that the planet will station at exactly 17° Leo. For about two months of 2027, I'll be feeling this alignment acutely. "Astrodienst" has the following to say about the uncommon transit:

Economies thrown into renewed turmoil as AI debt, Iran war and soaring government bond yields fuel alarm

Boss (source: pexels.com) Mars enters my tenth house tomorrow where it will remain for about eight weeks. After that time, the red planet's upcoming retrograde cycle will bring it back to that part of my chart from mid-February until the middle of June. I already feel as if I am being handed a little more responsibility at both of my jobs.

The con artist in chief’s latest scam.

The last week has been interesting for me. The Virgo new moon in my eleventh house arrived, and I thought that I'd be eager to get off on the right foot during this auspicious astrological phase. Yet I was strangely unambitious last week. I can attribute that to the sun's annual opposition to my natal Chiron. It highlights my vulnerabilities, and I spend a few days questioning everything I've ever done.

Right on schedule, the sun made it's opposition to my natal Chiron yesterday, and it's had me out of sorts. I'm thankful that I saw it coming, and I'm even more thankful that I didn't do anything stupid to deal with the vulnerability I feel when this aspect recurs. Once again, it's time to get back to being my old, condescending self . . .

In a guest column, the Western Standard publisher explains why he’s voting to Leave

Investing.com -- The European Union and Canada are preparing to outline a broad strategic alliance aimed at deepening economic, defense, and trade ties, according to a report from Bloomberg. The effor...

Train (source: pexels.com) "Full Steam Ahead" is the title of my daily horoscope on astro.com. The passage describes Mars' imminent sextile to my natal Pluto. It reads as follows: "At this time you may have to strive very hard to get anywhere but if so, your goals when you do reach them will be more permanent and far reaching. If you are unclear about what you are doing in some area, this is a good time to look inside yourself to find out what you really want to do.

Wet Blanket (source: pexels.com) I published a post a couple of days ago where I declared that I was going to try to take care of myself this weekend by hiding away in my dark basement as often as possible. The reason for that was the sun's annual opposition to my natal Saturn occurring on the heels of Mars' opposition to my natal sun.

Caution (source: pexels.com) I've had a lot to do over the past few weeks. I've picked up extra work at both of my jobs, and I've been happy to do that. However, working too much has begun to catch up with me. I'm burnt out. Anyway, transiting Mars opposed my natal sun this morning, and the transiting sun opposes my natal Saturn tomorrow morning.

This post from 2018 reminded me that Venus spent four months in my first house back then, just like it's about to do again this year. The biggest difference in my chart is that Mars is on the opposite side of the sky. I do believe that I was similarly content with my circumstances at that time. Still, I'm going to take a look at what I was posting to see if I can understand a little more about how this recurring configuration of the inner planets affects my life.

I was just looking at my chart to see if anything exciting is happening next month. That's when I realized that Mars will conjoin my midheaven on September 17. The last time that happened, I was a mess (as the post above describes). Nevertheless, I did take charge of a few things in my life at that time, including my longstanding personal debt load and my dissatisfaction with my chosen career.

Hermès (source: pexels.com) I just read that my province is getting it's first Hermès boutique. That makes me happy. I'm addicted to their after-shave balms and they can be especially difficult to find in this part of the world. Anyway, my horoscope on astro.com this morning is titled "Lavish Tastes." It refers to Jupiter's impending opposition to my natal Venus.

Handshake (source: pexels.com) "Pleasant First Impressions" is the title of my daily horoscope on astro.com. The passage refers to Venus' conjunction to my ascendant, which was exact just a few hours ago. I would have used a photo of my own hands to illustrate this post if it wasn't for the fact that I was stung by a wasp yesterday and my right hand looks like a shrink-wrapped ham.

I've reblogged this post before, but it seems especially prescient again this year. Mercury is currently picking up speed, so it won't remain in my eleventh house for long, but this seasonal shift of both the sun and Mercury into my eleventh house and the sign of Virgo has me feeling like change is in the air. While I could become more sociable as a result, I won't lose any sleep if I don't.