Charlene Lichtenstein

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The Starry Eye Astrologer
Hosted by Charlene Lichtenstein
Special to washingtonpost.com
Monday, Mar. 19, 2001; 7 p.m. EST

What is your horoscope? Do you want to know what the planets and heavenly bodies have aligned this year -- in your career, in romance or surprises in your daily life? Tonight at 7 p.m. EST, "Madam" Lichtenstein, will take your questions on sun signs, lunar influences and all things in the stars.

Madam Lichtenstein's skills run in the family. Her great aunt, Etta Weimar, was the famous Romanian card reader to both kings and queens. A native of New York City, Lichtenstein was educated in Europe where she pursued the study of tarot and astrology. She returned to New York in 1974 and has lived in Greenwich Village ever since, dispensing advice whether requested or not.

Lichtenstein's monthly and weekly astrology columns are carried in newspapers across the country. When not writing or working on her Web site, AccessNewAge.com/zscope, Lichtenstein offers private consultation. She is a member of the National Council of Geocosmic Research and often lectures on both astrology and tarot.

Wondering how Mercury in retrograde affects your day-to-day life? What eclipses means for you and your loved ones? How to get in touch with your rising sign?

Below is a transcript.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Charlene Lichtenstein: Welcome to Starry Eye Astrology. I’m Charlene Lichtenstein, your online celestial seer, ready to answer your questions and engage everyone in a no holds barred discussion about astrology and the new age. Check out March’s horoscope on www.AccessNewAge.com/zscope as well as articles on void of course moons and Saturn Returns.

Starbite of the week:
The Sun changes sings this week, moving from Pisces to Aries on the 21st and heralds in the Vernal Equinox when the number of hours of day equals the number of hours of night. The Equinox marks the return of spring when the days become warmer and everything comes alive after slumbering all winter. It is the triumph of life over death and begins a period of growth for the earth Aries, as the first sign of the zodiac, signals this beginning of growth. Wiccans celebrate Oestara (the Spring Equinox) with eggs, planting, bonfires and mediation. Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ and Easter eggs. For all it is a magical time with a feeling of newness, rejuvenation and hope. Start your spring cleaning now. Out with the old and in with the new!

And now let’s see what you have to say. Please remember to include as much of your birth information as possible (birthdate, time and place) for personal chart questions.

Deep South.: Hi Charlene,
I submitted a question about relocation last week and you told me to send two or three places that I might like to relocate. I have been seriously looking for a new job for about half a year. How about the Washington, D.C. metro area, Dallas, Tex., or Southern California? My birth date is 5/30/59, 4:55 a.m. in New Orleans, La. By the way, you were correct in saying that I like a work environment where I can meet new people but the harmony of the workplace is the most important issue for me. Thanks.

Charlene Lichtenstein: I ran relocation charts for you for Dallas, DC and LA and, judging on a number of factors which I will detail, I believe that the chart for LA looks most promising for you.
All three charts are somewhat similar – all have Aquarius on the midheaven which is the cusp of the house of career. Aquarius reaches out to the multitudes and is fearless in its pursuit of new things, new ideas and new people. In Dallas and LA, your sun is sitting in the first house of new beginnings which will help you realize your dreams of new directions. In the DC chart, the sun sits in the 12th house of introspection which indicates self sacrifice.
The major benefits of the LA and Dallas charts over DC is the aspect that the sun makes to the top of the chart. In LA, both your sun and mercury (thoughts and communication) are making excellent aspects to the midheaven (and therefore your career goals). I see this as giving you a greater chance of making your mark professionally. The Dallas chart also has an excellent aspect of the sun to the top of the chart but no aspect from Mercury. It is still good but the trine from Mercury in LA is slightly better.
The drawback to the LA chart is the square aspect of Neptune (foggy thinking and disillusionment) to the top of the chart from the 6th house of day to day work. I suggest that you enter any job with your eyes open lest you become disappointed. The Dallas chart does not have that annoying Neptune square so there is less chance of disillusionment.
The aspect that puts LA ahead of Dallas is that Dallas has an opposition to the top of the chart with surprising Uranus. That can mean that professional demands may cause some surprisingly stressful impact on your home and family life.
In sum, my vote goes to LA. Feedback, please.

Annandale, Va: Dear Madame Lichtenstein,

My daughter was born 20 March 1970 at 7:56 AM. She will get married on 23 June 2001. What do you see for her job wise/marriage wise and possible children? Thank you very much.

Charlene Lichtenstein: Congratulations!
Of course the first thing I did when you gave me the date for her wedding was to check my ephemeris (book of planetary movement) to see Mercury on that day and sure enough (!) Mercury is retrograde that day. It is absolutely no cause to worry though. My advice is to double check every detail to make sure that communications have been received. Don't be surprised if things get lost in the mail or phone calls are missed. Just be sure to be on top of things.

That being said, she has sun in pisces, mercury in pisces, venus in aries, mars in taurus. Possibly Aries rising.

The next few months should be a time of dramatic change and transformation (which I would say whether or not she was getting married) because of the Saturn/Pluto opposition in Sag particularly in how she spiritually looks at the world and her relationship to her job. Perhaps she will seek a new line of work that better meshes with her internal needs.

I can tell you more about marriage and children if you can send me her fiance's birth information.

Minneapolis, Minnesota: I recently moved here to be near my daughter. However, I am not happy in my new environment. Do you see another change in my future? If so, to what part of the country?

Charlene Lichtenstein: In order to answerr that I need not only your birth information but also some cities that you are considering. I would run a relocation chart and see where the strongest aspects are.

Chicago, Ill.: Dear Charlene,

A Saturn return question. What's your prognosis for a romantic relationship begun with someone still in their Saturn return?

He's Aries Sun, Gemini Moon, Taurus Rising, Gemini Venus, Merc. in Aries, Mars in Gem; I'm Leo Sun, Aries Moon, Leo Rising, Virgo Venus, Merc. in Leo, Mars in Gem. He's just about to turn 29.

If it helps, his 4th, 5th, and 7th houses are Cancer, Leo, and Scorpio. Mine are Scorpio, Sagitarius, and Aquarius.

Thanks!

Charlene Lichtenstein: Thanks for all of the planetary positions. It saves time!

It is not impossible for things begun during a Saturn Return to work out but remember that it is a time of great change and reappraisals. But there are no hard and fast rules and I love to be proven wrong.

There are connectors to both of your charts - both of you are firey sun signs which are honest and independent. Your Aries moon (emotions) meshes well with his Gemini moon and there must be great spark between you. You seem to be a bit more practical and sensual in love (Venus) however with Virgo while he may be flirtatious and platonic with his Gemini venus.

With his 7th house Scorpio partnerships and one to one relationships are intense. He may be more possessive than the typical Gemini venus. Your Aquarisu energy on that house is a good counterpoint.

So work it through and be patient. ANything can succeed when both people want it to succeed, Saturn Return or not.

California: You adised someone last week who was in his/her Saturn Return to not make committments to a home purchase since it is a time of questioning and uncertainty.

But if the writer were not between 27 and 30 but rather 22-25, would he/she be in a better position to make decisions about marriage, home purchases, etc.?

Should we say that someone in the saturn return phase halt all major decisions based on the premise that they are not in the best frame of mind to do so?

Confused about this.

Charlene Lichtenstein: No. Sorry for the confusion.

We talk in generalities about the Saturn Return phase. People handle it differently based on where Saturn is sitting in their own personal birth charts. And some folks have fairly easy returns.

But the energy that does manifest during the return can spark some knee jerk reactions. If the house of your dreams comes on the market, SR or not, just do your homework and cover your bases. Don't put off life - the return phase is a time of experimentation to learn more about yourself. If you stumble, you learn to pick yourslef up and try again. If you succeed, you learn what you did to make your success happen. It's an active time, not a passive time.
Does that help?

Northern Va.: .: I'm a Pisces 3/6/69 Washington, D.C. 2:30 p.m.; and was a die-hard Daddy's girl. My Dad's a Taurus 5/11/29 Houston, Tex., morning. I fell in love and married my complete equal and heart-thumpingly wonderful mate, also a Taurus 5/12/69 Champagne, Ill., morning. Shortly thereafter, my dad disowned me, citing character flaws in my spouse. The pain of losing the emotional support of my father is excruciating. What do the stars have in store for me? Will my Dad and I reconcile, and will he ever accept my hubby? We had a child last year, a beautiful Aquarius, whom my Dad also repudiates.

Charlene Lichtenstein: You know, I don't want to get into psychology here but I would say it's your dad's problem not yours.

Let's look at his chart to see if we can get a clue:
He has sun in taurus, moon in gemini, mercury in gemini, venus in aries and mars in cancer.

The venus in aries is interesting in this context - it is very demanding in love. It wants to call the shots and boss the course. If it can't get its way, it pouts and sits out. I don't have your dad's birthtime but if I did, I could see if this demanding venus is making any hard aspects in his chart and against your or your husband's chart. Aries are pretty stubborn and proud and he probably won't come around of his own accord, but it can be swayed if given the appearance of a victory.

If this pain is too difficult and you wnat to give it one last try, you may want to plan a birthday treat for him. Something with food that may be nostalgic for him (maybe cook him a special dinner at your house) to satisfy his Taurus sun and cancer mars.

Let me know if you decide to do this and how it goes. WHatever the outcome, you have to live your life so enjoy your wonderful husband and child.

Silver Spring, Md.: Please give me a sneak preview of what I'm about to encounter in the rest of 2001. What will be the highlighted spots and the problem spots? I was born 03/14/69 around 10:30 AM in Asia, last time when someone used a computer to calculate my chart using geographical and local time differentials, it included these features: Sun in Pisces, Moon in Aquarius - Ascendant in Taurus, Venus in the Twelfth House - Moon in the Ninth House - Sun in the Eleventh House - Venus in the Twelfth House - Saturn in the Twelfth House. Hope the fragmented info can be of help. Thank you and lots of good luck to you! (Yeah, as if my wishing can change your... natal chart!)

Ascendant in Taurus, Venus in the Twelfth House - Moon in the Ninth House - Sun in the Eleventh House - Venus in the Twelfth House - Saturn in the Twelfth House

Charlene Lichtenstein: Thanks for the chart information - it does save time.

And an aside - wishing won't change your chart but knowing some of the aspect hitting your chart can help you guide around the rough spots - astrology is not fate, only a roadmap to help you navigate around life's potholes.

The next year can bring you some changes as the opposition between Saturn and Pluto aspect your Pisces sun in your house of friends and personal missions in life. You may change your life direction or meet a new circle of friends who may change your perspective on what you value.

Friends are naturally very important to you (sun in the 11th house) and the transits may be unsettling. But they can also be refreshing since they will open you up to new and exciting opportunities.

Iowa: Someone wrote to you last week about how long we can expect Cheney's stay as VP. Can you fill us in on what you found out by reading his chart. Thanks.

Charlene Lichtenstein: I've had a heck of a time trying to find his birth information. Can anyone out there help me locate it? I would love to ahve apeek at his chart!

NYC: I was born March 13, 1977 at 2:13 or 2:14 am (my mom can't remember which!). Having just celebrated my birthday, and looking forward to some big events (getting married, applying to law school), I was wondering what the future holds for me. My fiance was born on May 13, 1974 at 6:04 pm.
Thanks!

Charlene Lichtenstein: Happy birthday!
You have sun in pisces, mercury in pisces, venus in aries and mars in aquarius. Possibly Capricorn rising.

Communication is very important to you (Sun and Mercury in pisces in you 3rd house of communication) and this year may see some changes in how you communication and how you learn new things. You have a deep love of home and family (venus in aries in the 4th house) which is wonderfully aspected all through the year with transforming Pluto in Sagittarius transiting your chart.

Adding to that is Jupiter transiting your hosue of work - expect expansion here but maybe too much at one time - it will get caught up in that Jupiter/Pluto opposition through the year. Big changes in your job and how you perceive the spiritual side of you. You will have to make compromises here.
Hope that helps.

Dear Madame Lichtenstein: Could you please diagnose for someone who was born outside of the U.S?

Thanks a lot

Charlene Lichtenstein: I can but I would need the birth information.

Washington, D.C.: How much does astrology affect career choices? I am in the communications field but its not taking off as fast as I thought. My birthdate is 5/5/77 at 7:14pm, Arlington, Va.

Charlene Lichtenstein: Astrology can give you some ideas as to what will make you most fulfilled in a career. So let's see your chart:

You have sun in taurus, moon in sag, mercury in taurus, venus in aries and mars in aries. Possibly Sag rising which places virgo on the cusp of your tenth hosue of career.

I would say that you would be happiest in a career where you felt of service, where you could work the details and make things more efficient. You also don't mind rolling up your sleeves and getting into the nitty gritty of things.

Yet with that mars in pioneering aries, you would have to be able to make your own decisions and work independently. SOmeone breathing down your neck is not going to be pleasant for you.

I don't know exactly what you do in communications - do you sell? Are you in the support area? in marketing?

I sense that this will be the year that dramatic changes will loccur for you in your career, probaly due to that oft mentioned opposition between volcanic Pluto in sag (on your ascendant of new things and first impressions) and saturn and jupiter in gemini. It will square your career house.

Do your homework, talk to advisors and expect changes.

Deep South: Thanks for the relocation information. Although it looks like my best chance right now for relocation looks to be in the D.C. metro area, I will look a little harder at CA and TX. I know for a fact that moving to the metro area will involve self-sacrifice particularly in the financial area. Keep up the interesting chat!

Charlene Lichtenstein: The DC chart does not look bad either. It just seemed to me that LA and Dallas looked a little easier for you to get ahead.

Good luck to you in your professional aspirations!

Englewood, New Jersey: I was born on June 17,1956. I'm a 44 year old single female. I'd like to know if I will marry this year, and if I will buy a home. Thank you.

Charlene Lichtenstein: Are you dating someone? If you want to get married, you have to get out there and look. If I find some opportunity for you that doesn't mean that you sit back and wait for it to come to you. It means this is the time to put out the energy and make it happen!

That being said, you have sun in gemini, moon in libra, venus in cancer. If I had your time of birth, I could see what is on the cusp of your house of marriage (7th) and house of home and family (4th).

You are friendly, witty and charming (sun in gemini and moon in libra). People gravitate to you and see you as the life of the party. You have many friends. In love, you surprise people becasue you are far more sensitive than you sun and moon indicate to others. You get hurt easily in love and are actually rather fragile. You can be swept away and people who do not know the "real you in love" may get confused.

Try not to let things hurt you or get you down in love. Try to take it less personally and try to be more understanding. It may be advisable to seek someone with earth in their charts which mesh well with your sensitive Cancer venus.

Rockville, Md.: I am a Scorpio (10/31) and would like to know about my love life (am I getting married this year?) and my career (am I getting a new job soon?)
Thanks

Charlene Lichtenstein: Please send me your birth year - the planets are different each year on 10/31.

Brooklyn, New York: Good Evening Madam Lichtenstein:

I desperately need your help. I am going through such a period of career turmoil, I really don't know what to do with myself. I was born on August 12, 1975 at 1:10am in Washington DC, specifically George Washington University Hospital. Do you have any predictions for my near future? If you have any love predictions, I'd appreciate that too. Thanks!

Charlene Lichtenstein: Okay, let's see:
You have sun in leo, moon in libra, mercury in leo, venus in virgo and mars in taurus. Probably gemini rising.

Well the following houses are impacted by the oft mentioned Pluto opposition to Jupiter and Saturn through the year - (all these mutable signed folks asking questions tonight!) career, relationships, new beginnings and home and family. Pivotal points in your chart.

Expect the next year to be filled with changes and some upheavals. You may be given some exceptional opportunities to meet exceptional new people. You may fall head over heels in love with someone, at a cost of ignoring your career. Life will teach you to balance and make the most of opportunities. It won't be dull.

Washington, D.C.: Hello,
My DOB is 8/17/77 in Statesville, NC around 8:30am. I feel that I have come to some sort of crossroads pertaining to many aspects of my current life and am very unsure of my future. Could you give any insight? I enjoy the show and appreciate your time and consideration.

Charlene Lichtenstein: You have sun in leo, moon in virgo, mercury in virgo, venus in cancer and mars in gemini. Possibly virgo rising.

You have a sunny and outgoing leo personality and are very meticulous in how you communicate. When it comes to love, you love deeply and can be very sensitive and mothering.

This next year could see some dramatic changes for you especially in your long term career and your home. ANy changes will be transforming and cathartic yet may seem volcanic. You cannot go back and you don't want to.

Currently you have lucky and expansive Jupiter at the top of your chart. Career opportunities may open before you and you may accept great new responsibilities which you will handle well. Take advantage of any opportunites before APril 21st. ALso in APril, you may have the urge to travel and you will benefit from new scenery.

Go for your dreams in the next year and expect a few dramatic surprises along the way. Keep your eyes open and remain flexible.

Charlene Lichtenstein: We have run out of time! Thank you all for your wonderful questions and your great patience - I receive many more than I can answer in an hour. Please try again next Monday at 7p - March 26th.

Until next time, happy stargazing!

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