That I’ve been writing horoscopes and related material for a while? Sure. That I get to spend a portion of my time in consultation with actual people? That helps. The almost random appearance of certain types, that shows up frequently? OK. Patterns emerge. The most recent? Four Degrees. Drilling down on that idea? Four Degrees of Aries.

Four Degrees

There was an eclipse, the Lunar New Year — Fire Horse — started, and Saturn closely followed Neptune entering the tropical zodiac sign of Aries. Mercury is in a watery retrograde cycle, just to add an element of confusion, already prefigured with Neptune and its influence.

Horoscopes for 2-17-2026… Horoscopes for 3-3-2026…

What showed up, repeatedly in recent weeks?

Four Degrees

Perhaps a dozen years past? I had a procedure for carpal tunnel on my left hand. An in-office procedure, nip and tuck, a handful of pain pills, plus a new fishing rod/reel and an alternative mouse arrangement — trackpad, no more mouse? No more problem. Last doctor check-up, the capable PA answered a question about a sore elbow: repetitive stress injury, similar to that old carpal tunnel. Simple enough, I adjust my working position, and it goes away. Still? That sore elbow? That’s what the Saturn/Neptune, looking around and gesturing at everything, that’s what this is about and the place where this hits hardest? 4°. Four degrees. It’s that sore spot that a simple adjustment can fix.

Four Degrees

Grabbing an ephemeris, Saturn hits 4° of Aries around 3/20 moving to 5° around 3/29, rough numbers, as an approximation. Slower moving Neptune hits 4° Aries in late May, turning stationary and then backwards in July, staying in retrograde motion until December, arriving back at that 1° Aries.

The American Ephemeris for the 21st Century

Realistically, the first four degrees of Aries, and by extension, all the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) will feel its influence. Realistically, though, the sensitive points for this time is that first Four Degrees, and more pointedly, as with Saturn, it’s that first few degrees of Aries. Digging around, I found that I did post about this, a while back, about two transits. At the end of the post, there’s the long form of my (dated) assessment of Saturn conjunct the Sun, and Neptune conjunct the Sun. That applies, over this next three-four months, to the first few degrees of all cardinal signs, in varying stages, but more so? For the first Four Degrees of Aries. As noted.

Kramer Wetzel’s little book of transits

More as an aside, rather than as a hard-and-fast rule, but as a sidebar item? The fire signs, Aries, The Leo, Sagittarius? Especially the flaky Sagittarius and stalwart Leo? The Leo? The fire signs gain clarity through this as it is a trine. Aries? Good thing ya’ll like hard work.

“I did impeticos thy gratillity; for Malvolio’s nose is no whipstock.” Feste the Fool in Shakespeare’s 12th Night (II.iii.10)

cross-garter’d

At the San Pedro Playhouse, across from SACC? San Pedro park? Played for broad comedy against a sort of ragtime era, and the actors really did a good job owning, playing, and interpreting the play’s story. I’ve often considered Feste the Fool to be a rather plum role, and the actor in this one executed it nicely, hamming up the rich parts, and on stage, with a beautiful voice, singing the songs. As an added bonus, he was in formal wear, looked akin to a performance tux. Like the conductor of the orchestra, or the lead opera singer. There’s another scene, sort of depends on staging, but the Orsino character, he’s talking about heart and love with Cesario (Viola), and as he peeled out of a robe, revealing a bare chest, there was a collective gasp from the audience, his handsome, chiseled features were matched with a sculpted body. Viola, as Cesario, did the double take. Early, the more modern homoerotic nature of the relationship between Cesario and Orsio got audible smirks from the crowd. Olivia was a little over the top, but her seduction of Cesario was poignant yet truly funny, well-played. She was actually one of the best Lady Olivias I’ve seen, her and her servant, Malvolio. The actor playing Malvolio brought a touch of class, and just as much fun with an added, slightly refined version of that character. Still an obnoxious character he gets what he deserves. Never mock the Fool.

cross-garter’d

cross-garter’d

It was achingly perfect, a clear night, warm cooling to perfectly comfortable weather, a distant train whistle in the background. Oh, to live downtown again.

cross-garter’d

Orsino:

I know thee well; how dost thou, my good fellow?

Feste:

Truly, sir, the better for my foes and the worse for my friends.

Orsino:

Just the contrary: the better for thy friends.

Feste:

No, sir, the worse.

Orsino:

How can that be?

Feste:

Marry, sir, they praise me, and make an ass of me. Now my foes tell me plainly I am an ass; so that by my foes, sir, I profit in the knowledge of myself, and by my friends I am abus’d; so that, conclusions to be as kisses, if your four negatives make your two affirmatives, why then the worse for my friends and the better for my foes. Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night V.i

cross-garter’d

• Older mentions:
• Austin
• 12 Night
• Twelfth Night

cross-garter’d

There’s an amusing note, to me, unrelated to most of this nonsense. Allegedly, not fact-checked by me, the Shakespeare “coat of arms,” or family heraldry image? It had a yellow backing with black stripes, “Yellow stockings, cross-bartered,” as a nod to the popular comedy. “Non sanz droict.” (again) #shakespeare