Originally published on the now defunct Dope Magazine in Spring 2019

As an astrologer one of my favorite nerdy pastimes is to match up historical events with their astrology to see what stands out and what’s relevant to happenings in the world right now. It’s a fun rabbit hole to fall into and usually reveals startling parallels that only an astrology chart can reveal. 

In honor of 4/20 I thought it fitting to take an astrological rewind on the history of cannabis in the United States and its potential as we enter an uncertain social and environmental future.

It’s a wonder that hemp and cannabis isn’t a larger industry in the modern day. Aside from the current wave of legalization for recreational use and a rise in CBD oils being used to help treat depression, acne and even help ease pain in cancer patients, the hemp plant is still massively under utilized. A quick perusal through history brought me back to the “good ole” 1930s with Uranus in Taurus restructuring money, values and pleasure seeking activities in society. 

In my last piece I explored some of the historical highlights of Uranus in Taurus, but I didn’t have the opportunity to explore how this astrological occurrence is connected to cannabis and why we’re seeing a resurgence of in our culture today. 

Reefer Madness & The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937

Prior to 1937, cannabis products were legally enjoyed in the U.S. so long as they had been prescribed, properly labeled and purchased from a pharmacy or drugstore. But around 1936 a little film called “Tell Your Children” also known as Reefer Madness was financed by a church group and released as a propaganda film to warn against the corrupting dangers of marijuana on the youth of the nation. The following year the Marijuana Tax Act was passed with the intent of taxing farmers for cultivating hemp fiber, while also taxing doctors for prescribing cannabis and taxing pharmacists for selling it in their stores. This all despite the fact that American Medical Association  was strongly opposed to that act, asking instead that the plant be added to the Harrison Narcotics Act, which regulated the use of opium and cocoa as well as their derivatives.

The Money Grab

Although not official, some speculate that the attacks against the hemp industry in the 1930s were the concerted efforts and machinations of a few wealthy men. Names like Andrew Mellon, Randolph Hearst and the Du Point Family all have been floated as potential conspirators against the production of hemp and its fibers because they may have believed it posed too much of a threat to timber pulp, the main fiber source used in the newspaper industry of the day. Fast forward a few years and it was discovered that those competition fears were mainly unfounded as paper made with hemp as the main raw material was found to be lacking in quality when compared to timber pulp. But what was done was done. 

The Wonder Plant with Tremendous Potential

Popular Mechanics Magazine (1938) dubbed hemp “The New Billion Dollar Crop: It can be used to produce 25,000 products ranging from dynamite to cellophane.”

I can’t attest to that 25,000 number being correct,  but the list below, while being by no means exhaustive, aims to show that hemp has an extremely diverse product potential. Hemp can be used to make textiles like: rope, nets, carpets, canvas, paper, cardboard and filters. Building materials like: insulation, fiberboards, fiberglass substitutes, cement, stucco and mortar. It can also be used to produce oil paints, fuel, and solvents, personal hygiene products like soaps, shampoos, lotions and cosmetics. Its fibers can be found in diapers, fine fabrics, denim, and all sorts of apparel like handbags, shoes and more. So why isn’t the hemp industry more celebrated today? With the production and cultivation of just one plant, multiple industries have the means to increase their wealth and help stimulate the economy through job creation and the supply and demand for the products made at likely an affordable and accessible price. 

From a medical standpoint everything from the seeds, the oils and flowers can be used to treat a multitude of health conditions. 

As an acupuncturist and herbalist I can tell you that we use the seeds also called Huo Ma Ren in pinyin to nourish the fluids in the body and help unblock the intestines for constipation especially in the elderly. In practice we’re finding more creative uses for CBD oils to help our patients find less addictive relief for their conditions.

The Lasting Toll of the Drug War

So why keep this miracle plant down for over 80 years? What are the next steps for hemp and cannabis as we enter this new Uranus in Taurus cycle with more wisdom from the past to guide us? One step would be to acknowledge the victims of the drug wars created by cannabis being demonized. One of the very first victims was a young Mexican-American by the name of Moses Baca, who was busted for having a quarter ounce of weed in his dresser drawer. Since then the majority of drug arrests have been for possession of small amounts of marijuana.The majority of those arrested and jailed are people of color who are painted as lazy, dangerous, amoral criminals who pose a threat to a happy society. According to the ACLU marijuana arrests account for half of all drug arrests with a significant racial bias where Black people are nearly 4 times as likely to be arrested than Whites. Generations have been impacted by having so many of their members behind bars and having their future limited due to their record. 

Innovating the Future

 As we stand on the precipice of the future, Astrology teaches us to look back and take notes on where we’ve been and how our past decision and actions have impacted us down the road. Uranus in Taurus wants us to celebrate the goodness and the bounty of the Earth. Mother Nature provides but humanity is tasked with being the good shepherd of the land. As we face the numerous crises caused by our own greed and gluttony, here’s an opportunity to choose differently and help tell a new story around hemp that can make future generations proud of our ability to change for the better. By using hemp to build homes, refresh crops, create jobs and heal the sick maybe we can help save the world. By making sure that the most vulnerable amongst us stand a chance instead of wasting away in prison, perhaps we’ll see just how beautiful and abundant society can be. 

When you spark up this 4/20 set an intention to see that new world grow into existence in our lifetime.

Originally published on the now defunct Dope Magazine Winter 2019 

While it may seem like the social and political unrest that seems to be sweeping the U.S. and other parts of the world is a random occurrence, students of astrology think otherwise. Beyond the writing of horoscopes and looking at the psychology of an individual via the natal chart, astrology is an art that can give insight into just about anything, given a time, a date and a location to work with. Whether it be political elections, revolutions, weather patterns, financial trends or even health issues, astrology can help to map out what’s going on here in the present, but it allows us to also look back in time or forward into the future for hints and clues as to how things may unfold in the present. 

In the world of entertainment it appear that some unseen force has kicked open the closet door where all the skeletons have been hiding (and in some cases not hiding at all) for everyone to see. With the rise of the #MeToo movement in recent years focusing on how people with money, power and influence have been using their privilege to abuse others for their own pleasure, the timing is almost too perfect for this kind of examination of Hollywood.

Now this isn’t just a trend in the entertainment world, it’s happening in literally every corner of our society, and while there are many astrological reasons why this may be the case, I’d like to focus on the planet I think has the biggest influence at the moment, Pluto. 

Even with astronomers demoting Pluto from being recognized as the ninth planet in our solar system to being a dwarf planet, modern astrologers have not felt the same. Despite its distance and small size, we recognize its ability to shape events and even people here on earth. Modeled after the Hades, the God of the Underworld, Pluto as a planet is seen as of awesome power, triggering change and transformation usually by bringing what was in the dark into the light. Pluto is expert at helping us dig into our subconscious minds and release any of the repressed urges that may be residing there. He is the planet of Death and Rebirth, destruction, annihilation and elimination that eventually gives way to regeneration.  On a social scale Pluto is directly linked to the mass of humanity as well as mass media and giant conglomerates.

In mythos, Pluto was the God who kidnapped Persephone, the goddess of spring, from her mother Ceres, goddess of agriculture, after her father Zeus made a deal with the Underworld Lord with neither the knowledge or consent from either women. Thus began the seasons, where for the months that Persephone was whisked away to the underworld to be the bride of Hades became autumn and winter, and when she was returned to her mother on Earth she helped spring and summer flourish. Perhaps if we rescue ourselves from our created underworld, we too can have our version of spring.

So why all the upheaval now? And why are certain prominent people being called out for their actions while others are not? For one, the U.S. is going through what we call a Pluto Return, meaning that Pluto is returning to the position and degree that it was at the birth of that nation in 1776. In this case Pluto is in the sign of Capricorn and in the House of Money, Values and Self Worth. So after 246 years of wielding power, this nation gets to evaluate how responsible it’s been with its use of power to either annihilate and destroy for the sake of money or to transform and uplift for the better, using its significant resources to do so. A casual perusal through the pages of history will probably give us a fairly good idea as to how we’ve done as a nation, and why with Pluto’s Return starting back in 2008 began with the stock market collapse and we’ve been attempting to sort things out ever since, while also getting an eyeful of all the darker more sinister bits that have been hiding in different parts of our greater society including the entertainment business. 

Yeah, there’s just something about sexual abuse and sex trafficking that seems to be all the rage in the music and film business these days. Perhaps it’s because sex, drugs and rock and roll all go together, or that people will do just about anything to have their name in lights. What’s particularly interesting about the current wave of high profile musicians, directors, executives and others who have been called out for abuse of power is that quite a few of them have prominent Pluto in their natal chart, meaning that in this lifetime they are learning how to use power and have dealt with power being used for and against them. Keep in mind that Pluto doesn’t always have to be a negative force, people with personal planets tied to this planet are often able to rise to great heights due in part to their need to control their talents until they can dominate the field that they’re in. Some prominent Plutonians include Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, Mahatma Gandhi, Michael Jackson and Beyonce Knowles just to name a few

In the news as of late there are a few Plutonians who are facing some measure of scrutiny for their alleged misuse of power including Harvey Weinstein, Les Moonves, Bryan Singer and of course Capricorn Sun singer, Robert Kelly. 

Using astrology one can see that this is likely the beginning of a very difficult time for R.Kelly and many of the men listed above. The Eclipses alongside Saturn and Pluto’s movement through the sign of Capricorn will be setting limits and even possible incarceration to individuals who have abused their authority.

Originally published on the now defunct Dope Magazine in Spring 2019 

Way back in the day when most of the world was still ruled by Kings and Queens, astrologers were called to help the leadership plan for the year ahead. By casting a chart for the nation they would use the movements of the heavens to give guidance about what challenges King and country could expect, like famine, floods, draughts or pestilence! They’d also make note of opportunities the crown could take advantage of due to auspicious aspects, like bountiful crops, public good mood or prosperous trade agreements. 

Much of the divination or predictive work in astrology is based on looking to the past to see what to expect in the present and future. Time is indeed a flat circle in this regard, with no beginning and no end, just series of cycling patterns. 

So, if I was a modern day court astrologer giving advice to the United States leadership about what to advocate for in the coming years I would offer them this:

2019 is an exciting year for many reasons, but chief among them is Uranus the planet of change moving into the sign of Taurus on March 6 until April 27, 2026. These two aren’t the easiest of fits energetically, because where Uranus thrives in sudden change, upheaval and release of old patterns, a fixed sign like Taurus prefers being being practical, traditional and security driven. It’s a “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” kind of sign. Still, change brings fresh air to stale beliefs and outdated ways of doing things. To get an idea of what to expect over the next 8 years we look back to the last time Uranus was in Taurus, from June 1934 to May 1942 for reference.

Rally for Radical Financial Reform

Over the next few years we can expect to see changes around Taurus-ruled issues such as: cash, banks, bankers, income and debt, spending, securities, stocks, treasuries and financiers. If not handled with urgency, the current debt of the nation and unstable trade agreements can lead to a real financial downturn for the country. The last time Uranus was in Taurus the United States was struggling with the Great Depression. We could see something similar if precautions are not taken. Advocate for financial reform with an emphasis on fixing impractical, unjust financial laws and loopholes that are eroding the stability of the nation. Interestingly enough, the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 was put into place just as Uranus crossed into Taurus to regulate the banks and has since been deregulated. This could be the time to revisit and explore the act as part of future reform. 

Also advocate for new industries to invest money. In the two natal charts used for the United States (The Declaration of Independence and the Constitutional Signing) Uranus in Taurus is encouraging changes in workers rights, labor, public health and medical services as well as transportation, communications, housing and living conditions. This would be an excellent time to introduce new ideas pertaining to unions, labor laws, high speed railways, internet & education access, housing and living conditions that improves quality of life across the nation.

Embrace the Green New Deal

Uranus approves of innovation in the face of crisis, especially when said crisis is the result of stubbornness. We’re bound to see continued increasing change and upheaval when it comes to our environment if we do not take radical action to address it. Taurus is an earth sign that governs over our physical earth, including volcanoes, food, crops, farms, cows, milk and real estate.

 Uranus on its own has an influence over lightning and wild weather so we can expect to see more intense weather patterns arise that impact our crops and even where people live due to weather related disasters. The earth tends to literally shake when Uranus is active so expect a rise in earthquakes as well.

From 1934 to 1940 the United States suffered through drought and dust storms that when mixed with the farming practices of the day resulted widespread hunger, poverty and left more than 500,000 Americans displaced and homeless as they abandoned their homes and farms in search of food, shelter and work. To cope with the varying crises that were impacting the nation, President Roosevelt implemented The New Deal, an aggressive set of federal programs directed at helping citizens get back on their feet. 

In present day it would be worth looking at the Green New Deal that has been sponsored by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey as it attempts to address the growing environmental and financial disparities that are sinking the nation deeper into debt and inequality.

Take the Rise of Authoritarian & Fascist Regimes Seriously

History has a way of repeating itself when we’re not paying attention and unfortunately the rise of fascism and political extremes is something we can trace back to the last time Uranus was in Taurus. In 1934 Hitler named himself as Fuhrer as Nazism took over Germany which led to World War II and the Holocaust.  From 1936 to 1938 Stalin began his second set of massacres in the Great Purge, followed by an additional five massacres through 1941. And in China, Mao Zedong continued his push of Communist Doctrine that eventually led to full communism in 1949. 

From an astrological point of view, the sign of Taurus correlates not only to our money, and moveable assets, but also what we value. What are the traditions and tenants that drive our lives forward. Uranus can pulls us to extremes and radicalize our value systems in such a way the we see people embracing authoritarian ideals if they believe it will provide them with Taurean benefits in the form of structure, stability and financial improvement. 

In present day we can already see the rise in far right wing propaganda, nationalism, anti semitism, islamophobia, state sanctioned violence and family separation and violence. If it’s not addressed then we may see an unfortunate and bloody repeat of this part of history. Advocate for grassroots movement, social justice reform, protests and election candidates that are fully against such governance.