Happy Venus Day, bbs! Though we’re done with the Venus Retrograde series for now, there’s always more to say about our girl Venus. I think something that’s often overlooked about her is that like Mars, she’s a god of war. Venus Retrograde throws us back into relationships, creative projects and connections from the past, but it also takes us back into battle. With both writers and actors on strike, Starbucks unionizing at a rapid pace, and the Teamsters encouraging Amazon workers and threatening their own walk out, this is about to be a Hot Labor Summer. I put my real nerd hat on and did some analysis of the strike charts for both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA. Let’s get into it.
As of midnight PT on July 14, SAG-AGTRA has joined the WGA on the picket lines. AMPTP—the organization that represents film and tv execs in negotiations with industry trade unions—hasn’t come to the table with a satisfactory offer for either union. Both actors and writers are striking for fair contracts that represent the major changes in the industry due to streaming platforms and AI. While only the WGA was on strike, some productions could continue, but with the actors on strike, this brings Hollywood to a complete halt for the first time since 1960.
Because everything has a chart, we can look at the chart of the moment that the writers went on strike—I talked through the chart back in May on this episode of the pod starting around 9:55.
The WGA Strike began on May 2, 2023 at midnight PT. This chart has a Capricorn rising ruled by Saturn in Pisces in the 3rd house, the part of the chart which represents communication, writing, skills and daily schedules. One of the writers’ biggest concerns in the contract negotiations was unfair labor practices including producers hiring only understaffed “mini rooms” rather than full teams. The writers are tired and have no time (Saturn in the 3rd).
Another major issues for writers is preventing AI from replacing their labor. As the strike began, Pluto was stationing retrograde in Aquarius. Pluto is power. Pluto magnifies. Pluto shows where abuses of power come as no surprise. From 2023 to 2025, Pluto is changing signs between Capricorn and Aquarius. While Pluto has been in Capricorn (since 2008), we’ve seen wealth, natural resources and bureaucratic power both taken advantage of and taken to extremes. Aquarius on the other hand is an air sign. So as Pluto enters Aquarius for the next 20 years, these Plutonian extremes will be more about information and technology. Since Pluto entered Aquarius in late March we’ve seen the sudden rapid innovation and expansion of AI that—to the average person—seemingly came out of nowhere. This is the Pluto effect: sudden and all-consuming. As Pluto stationed retrograde, the exploitation of it all was made obvious to the collective.
Another key part of the strike chart is Mercury—the planet that represents writers. When the strike was called, Mercury was retrograde in Taurus. Though Mercury retrograde is known for bringing delays and technical errors, the strike was actually called during a breakthrough point of the cycle when Mercury was cazimi, or in the heart of the Sun. This as an “a-ha!” moment. Though progress might be slow, the intentions are clear. Mercury and the Sun are also in the part of Taurus associated with the idea of Material Success, hopefully signifying that after a long slow process, there will be a satisfying result. Another notable thing about Mercury cazimi is that it brings Mercury (the planet of writers) and the Sun (the planet of performers) together. The writers and the actors are meant to join forces this time.
Mercury cazimis happen several times per year both when Mercury is retrograde and when the communication planet is moving direct. The next Mercury cazimi of this year occurred on June 30 at 9º Cancer - the degree of the WGA strike chart’s descendant or relationship point. The descendant represents partnerships and contracts in a chart, and it also represents one’s adversaries. It’s definitely a place of negotiation. June 30 was meant to bring another breakthrough moment, and I thought it might be the day that the Writers would finally get back to the table with AMPTP. But it turned out that it was the day the WGA gained a partner on their mission. June 30 was the day SAG-AFTRA’s contract with AMPTP expired and their journey toward a strike began.
SAG initially extended the deadline for their contract to July 12 at midnight. With actors waiting out the negotiations, some execs from AMPTP spoke out in blatant, cartoon villain-esque fashion, bragging about their plans to “break the WGA.” One executive told Deadline, “The endgame is to allow things to drag on until union members start losing their apartments and losing their houses.” So cavalier. Pure evil! Why put that on the record? Well, in the 10 weeks since the WGA Strike began, Pluto has retrograded back into Capricorn, and is settling the unfinished business around corporate corruption. The execs were arrogant but Pluto is here to reveal their decay. SAG didn’t go for their deal and on July 13, the guild announced they would join the WGA on strike at midnight.
The chart of SAG’s strike is firey. This chart has an Aries rising ruled by Mars in Virgo in the 6th house, the house of labor, service and activism where Mars finds his joy. If this chart was a person, they would definitely be in a labor union. Unlike the WGA Strike chart which showed the union was in it for the long haul but also worn down, the SAG strike chart shows a base that is fired up and ready to go. Mars is heading into an opposition with Saturn in Pisces (which goes exact on the 20th), an aspect that brings tension and roadblocks but also a lot of progress if one can be flexible while putting up a fight. I’m also struck by Pluto in Capricorn taking a prominent position at the very top of this chart. Exposing corporate greed is a huge part of this plan. SAG President Fran Drescher gave a speech last night rallying her base and eviscerating studio execs that had the vibes of a Bernie Sanders rally in 2016—“What are we doing? Moving around furniture on the Titanic??? It’s crazy!”
Jupiter is also at 11º Taurus in the chart of the SAG strike, the same exact degree as the Sun and Mercury in the WGA strike chart. Jupiter is the planet of hope, abundance and relief. SAG has arrived to bring the WGA a much needed morale boost. With this that Material Success part of Taurus is invoked again. This part of Taurus (the second decan) is associated with the 6 of Pentacles in the tarot which depicts charity and generosity.
Hot Labor Summer is definitely here, and with Venus about to go retrograde in Leo we have actors aka stars aka the literal sun fighting to reconfigure labor practices. Not just for themselves but for all of the workers. SAG-AFTRA voted to authorize a strike on June 5, the day that Venus entered Leo. I suspect seeing luminaries on the picket line will be a constant throughout the Venus retrograde (July 22 - September 3), and possibly until Venus finally leaves Leo in early October.
I think this thread by Joshua Hill sums up the situation well: “Let me tell you, a summer of A-list celebes demonstrating solidarity and talking about unions and strikes, plus over 300,00 Teamsters shutting down UPS, is exactly what this country needs.” I read this yesterday and all I could think is that’s Venus Retrograde in Leo .
So what’s next for these strikes? The WGA Strike chart shows a long, slow process. The moon was at 0º of Libra when that strike began showing that it was the beginning of a very long journey. The moon’s next aspect is a square with Mars that doesn’t go exact for 19 units of predictive time, in this case probably 19 weeks. My hunch is that conversations with the studio might not begin until the first weeks of September which is also when we’ll be in the midst of our next Mercury retrograde which will be in Virgo, a sign where Mercury is flexible and articulates well.
It’s also been implied that studio execs are ready to wear the unions down to get what they want. “Not Halloween precisely, but late October, for sure, is the intention,” a producer told Deadline from one of last week’s ghoulish profiles. The WGA Strike began in the midst of the spring’s eclipse season, and October is when we’ll back in Eclipse season again. October 14th is our first eclipse in Libra, and then on October 20th, there is yet another Mercury cazimi. This one falls on the Midheaven of the WGA Strike chart. The Midheaven represents executives and hierarchies, the powers that be, so hopefully that cazimi brings resolve with the execs.
Dates to Watch for the WGA & SAG Strikes:
7/28 - Mercury conjoins Venus in Leo - signs of solidarity
8/13 - Venus retrograde cazimi - possible breakthrough on the SAG side of strike
9/3 - Venus retrograde concludes - possible resolve in SAG strike?
9/6 - Mercury retrograde cazimi in Virgo - WGA headway/bargaining
10/20 - Mercury cazimi at 26º Libra - possible resolve in WGA Strike?
This upcoming week has some wild astrology. It’s going to be a crucial one for revealing abuses of power both on a collective level and our individual lives. It’s going to be a time when we really notice where we’ve pushed our limits and gone to extremes. The New Moon in Cancer on the 17th seems sweet, and it is. But it’s a fresh start that can’t escape the past. What’s decaying can’t stay and what’s fated can’t be avoided. It’s the perfect time to get behind a cause you really believe in. It’s time to clear up some unfinished business.
I’ll be keeping my eyes on all the labor news throughout the summer and sharing more astro analysis so watch for updates.
Enjoy your weekend! In solidarity xoxo