Horoscope for the Week of September 25, 2023 - Sun Enters Libra

The Sun enters lovely Libra spreading beauty and joy into different parts of our lives. Manifest your best and see where it takes you.

Here is my favorite book on astrology and a "must" for anyone interested in learning more: Secrets from a Stargazer's Notebook: Making Astrology Work for You and here's a guide to the best books available this month. This column is (c) 2023 MADAM LICHTENSTEIN, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Madam Lichtenstein is the author of the best selling astrology book “HerScopes ” now in its 12th printing and available as an eBook.

ARIES   (MARCH 21 - APRIL 20)

Finding the balance in your life will take some careful thinking and diplomatic action, Aries. And you are ready for it as your ability to ascertain and better understand relationship dynamics reaches a high note. Go forward and make your actions count in new ways. Your path to personal glory is paved with the help of others. 

TAURUS (APRIL 21-MAY 21)

Reaching the best and most robust health solutions are at hand, Taurus. The past few months may have been more stressful than usual. If so, it is time to seeking relief. See how your goal for added strength and calm rejuvenation can manifest more easily. Know too that you benefit from sage advice and careful examination.

GEMINI   (MAY 22 - JUNE 21)

This is your opportunity to create beauty around you, Gemini. That can take the form of an art project but it can also manifest in gathering people together and creating stronger emotional connections. Find ways to enhance your surroundings through your charm and charisma. There are rewards beyond any expectations.

CANCER   (JUNE 22 - JULY 23)

Harmony is achieved with a little imagination, Cancer. Any stress points, especially with family, can be smoothed over and even possibly solved for the long term. It will take your best diplomatic abilities and careful balance of interests. It may seem daunting at times but I know that you are capable of it and up for it. Success!

LEO   (JULY 24 - AUGUST 23)

Prepare for this moment, Leo. This is your chance to state your case in any important matter and make inroads into your argument. Your secret sauce is your ability to perceive what others want to hear within the context of what you want to happen. It’s a gift that should not be wasted. Stir up your charm and see what happens.

VIRGO   (AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23)

What do you really value in this world, Virgo? At this time you may be weighing many enticing options. But your thoughts are coming into focus and you soon realize what is really worth fighting for in your life. If money is part of the equation, find ways to accumulate it while also enjoying a bit of its joyous and fun impact.

LIBRA   (SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 23)

You shine around others, Libra, and attract anyone you set your mind to attract. Spread yourself around town and in new social circles. Your charisma is at a high and your ability to gather important people to hear your thoughts is successful. So find your voice and see who you can influence. The time for action is right now.

SCORPIO   (OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22)

Whatever has been holding you back is now out of your way, Scorpio. Hidden obstacles or barriers seem to vanish. That leaves you with an open path to do what you need to do to find greater harmony and balance in your life. Consider charitable efforts and wellness techniques like meditation to help lead to a new level of happiness.

SAGITTARIUS   (NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 22)

Large groups or clubs can provide you with not only greater influence but also greater knowledge. Expand your base, Sagittarius, and see who you can meet. Socializing with very different types of interest groups sparks your innate curiosity and could lead to new philosophies. Who knows where this can all lead?

CAPRICORN   (DECEMBER 23 - JANUARY 20)

Your long term goals may be in need of a reassessment, Capricorn. Happily, you are up to the task. Use the next few weeks to review where you are and where you want to go, especially when it comes to your career. There could be new opportunities available to you if you remain balanced and use a bit of diplomacy in your efforts.

AQUARIUS   (JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19)

Get out of your rut, Aquarius, and see what the world has to offer you. You find ways of re-energizing your life with new interests, fascinating company and out-of-the-box discoveries. You might even consider a spur of the moment vacation or course of study. Life can be exciting if you now put in a bit of thought and effort.

PISCES   (FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20)

Emotion can run high for you now, Pisces. But that is because you have to capacity to love deeply and loyally. Give yourself time to find the right person – one who can give you everything that you need and deserve. Maybe that is your current love match. Maybe, if you are searching, there someone is waiting outside your door.

(c) 2023 MADAM LICHTENSTEIN, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only. @thestarryeye Find astrology readings on tinyurl.com/TheStarryEye and a great sun sign book at tinyurl.com/Herscopes

Colors For the Day You Were Born

I have heard that in Thailand, the day of your birth has a very specific color. To improve your luck through the year, you should wear your "birth color" on your birthday every year. The King was born on a Monday and the entire country, as a sign of respect and love, will be wearing yellow shirts on his birthday.

Here are the days and their colors for handy reference:

Sunday - Red

Monday - Yellow

Tuesday - Pink

Wednesday - Green

Thursday - Orange

Friday - Blue

Saturday - Purple

Horoscope for the Week of September 18, 2023 - Mercury Redirects

Mercury redirects and clears up any foggy communication. Thank goodness! Now we not only say what we mean but also mean what we say.

Here is my favorite book on astrology and a "must" for anyone interested in learning more: Secrets from a Stargazer's Notebook: Making Astrology Work for You and here's a guide to the best books available this month. This column is (c) 2023 MADAM LICHTENSTEIN, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Madam Lichtenstein is the author of the best selling astrology book “HerScopes ” now in its 12th printing and available as an eBook.

ARIES   (MARCH 21 - APRIL 20)

Whatever group project you have been working on with colleagues seems to go a bit smoother, Aries. It seems like someone has flipped a switch and now everyone is on the same page and working in tandem. That is good news! Your next step is to move the process along with some degree of speed. In other words, finally finish it.

TAURUS (APRIL 21-MAY 21)

If you’ve been experiencing creative blockage, expect a burst of great new ideas, Taurus. There will be times when you are asked to join in a festive event or artistic group project. And you feel in top form to do so. Your ability to ease into relaxing pastimes and get what you need from them should be mined immediately.

GEMINI   (MAY 22 - JUNE 21)

Find ways of improving your domestic surroundings, Gemini. Suddenly any home improvement project is able to get off the ground and move in a positive direction. No more confusing directions. No more missed appointments with helpers. Your ideas take shape and can be implemented successfully. Make your home your own.

CANCER   (JUNE 22 - JULY 23)

Not only are you communicating more effectively, you are able to ramp up your best diplomatic skills that convince anyone of anything. This is heady stuff, Cancer. Use this considerable ability to move your best ideas forward and create a new paradigm for your future success. Today the neighborhood, tomorrow the world!

LEO   (JULY 24 - AUGUST 23)

Whatever has been on your list of must haves, it looks like you must have it now, Leo. You value many things but some may have felt out of your grasp. Communications are clearing and you are able to state exactly what you need and can get others to understand and activate. Think now of your ultimate end game and go for it.

VIRGO   (AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23)

Whoever you want to meet and whatever first impression you want to give, you do it, Virgo. There are important projects waiting for you to complete. You have the uncanny ability to assess the motivations of others and find ways to magnify your best attributes. Put it to good use and expand your social circle into a globe.

LIBRA   (SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 23)

Read the fine print in any legal document. You can ascertain the true value of the deal as your mind is especially sharp. You can also cut away any pretense or trick that others may try to pull. Ask questions, Libra. You are able to do it in such a diplomatic and knowledgeable way that others will respect you and respond.

SCORPIO   (OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22)

Scorpios have personality plus as their ability to reach out and connect with people is on a high note. Find ways to make new friends and get more involved in interesting group activities. You find yourself in leadership and policy making roles where you can showcase your talents and win more admirers. Thinking politics???

SAGITTARIUS   (NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 22)

Professional matters take on a more important role in your life, Sagittarius. Focus on the path forward as it becomes clearer and clearer. That means that whatever you have to do and whoever you have to meet should be started as soon as possible. Plans for the future cannot be put on hold. There is only up and up for you.

CAPRICORN   (DECEMBER 23 - JANUARY 20)

If you are ready to travel, this is the time to do it, Capricorn. Anything out of the usual energizes you and gives you great joy. You have the mental acuity to plan the perfect escape and include all of the finer details that make any adventure perfect. Plan it and do it while you are so focused and the planetary energy is right.

AQUARIUS   (JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19)

Whatever you need to do to delve into any sensitive and intense subject, do it, Aquarius. Your ability to ascertain what is going on under the surface gives you added insight. The most important thing is to listen to your heart. It leads you to the right conclusions that prove valuable in any deep and loving relationship.

PISCES   (FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20)

Certain partnerships expand and become more important in your life, Pisces. Use your communication skills to get to the essentials in a relationship and find ways to make the connection even stronger. It is also a good time to explore new liaisons and strengthen your personal network. This goes for both business and pleasure.

(c) 2023 MADAM LICHTENSTEIN, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only. @thestarryeye Find astrology readings on tinyurl.com/TheStarryEye and a great sun sign book at tinyurl.com/Herscopes

Is Artifical Intelligence Going to Replace Astrologers?

The New York Times recently wrote an article on a new machine in a store in NYC that uses AI to construct astrological predictions.

In my opinion (and since I have asked ChatGPT to write a horoscope to see how it would do), the result was a horoscope that lacked verve, passion or emotion. Sort of like eating a dry piece of cardboard on a bun compared to a juicy hamburger. 

AI could replace those astrologers who do not write or express themselves well and do not offer great and detailed insights into one's chart. Personally, I am not concerned and welcome the possible competition, as poor as it may be.

Here is the NYT article. I welcome your opinion!

Is A.I. the Future of Astrology?

 

A new machine furthers a technology company’s aims at providing astrological readings using artificial intelligence. By Saam Niami who reported from Iconic Magazines, where he spoke to more than two dozen people. (He is a Taurus.)

 

The machine stood beside a deli counter, towering over cardboard boxes piled near the entrance to the Iconic Magazines store in NoLIta. It had the stature of a standing washer-dryer, with black buttons, rows of blinking lights and gauges labeled with celestial bodies — “sun,” “moon,” and the eight planets — on the front of its white facade. “It could be something from NASA,” said Tim Wiedmann, a 27-year-old student from Germany who visited the store on a Wednesday night in June.

 

While Mr. Wiedmann stood in front of the machine, its front screen directed him to “ask the stars.” Using a knob, he cycled through some 100 questions. Among them: How do I get better at my job? Should I leave New York? Should I start a cult? After choosing a question, Mr. Wiedmann entered his birth date, time and place. The screen flashed a message that read, in part: “All answers are based on astrological calculations.” The machine, using a built-in camera, took his picture. Moments later, it spat out a piece of paper containing his grainy portrait and an answer to his question.

 

“It’s like someone is in there,” said Mr. Wiedmann, who was one of many that came to use the machine that night. At times, lines started to snake through the store as people waited for a turn. A lot of visitors said they had heard about the machine on TikTok, including two 19-year-old students. “I asked for my red flags,” one of the students said of the question he chose, before the other student read the machine’s printed answer aloud.

 

She said: “Your red flags include a tendency to set high expectations and a fear of conflict. Your Jupiter and Saturn placement suggests a need for perfectionism and a fear of rejection. By avoiding conflict, you may limit your potential for growth and meaningful connections. Remember, conflict is an inherent part of intimacy. Practice it with compassion and let go of unrealistic expectations.”

 

Like most people who used the machine that night, neither he nor she initially knew that its answers were generated using artificial intelligence, including ChatGPT and GPT-3. The machine was developed by Co-Star, a technology company with a buzzy astrology app that uses A.I. to generate readings. It will be at Iconic Magazines for most of the summer and then move to Los Angeles later this year.

 

Astrologers for centuries have referred to the movement and positions of planets and other celestial bodies to inform readings and horoscopes. Co-Star follows similar methods, but its daily readings are prepared by A.I. that pulls text from a database written for the app by a team of astrologers and poets.

 

The machine, which was free to use, was created to promote Co-Star’s new in-app service, Embrace the Void, which starts at about $1. The service functions similarly to the machine: Users can ask open-ended questions that are not normally addressed in the app’s astrological readings and receive answers generated by A.I. using Co-Star’s database of prepared text.

 

Banu Guler, 35, the founder of Co-Star, named a range of aesthetic inspirations for the machine, including Soviet-era computers, devices used by NASA, photo booths and vending and washing machines. It was also influenced by the Zoltar fortunetelling machines that were once common attractions at boardwalks and arcades, she said. “The best part is you get your little reading,” Ms. Guler said of the Zoltar machines. “And then you put your reading on your fridge, or in your book, or in your journal, or it just loiters at the bottom of your bag for months, if you’re me.”

 

“Even though you know it’s garbage, it’s special garbage,” she added, flashing a smirk.

Before starting Co-Star in 2017, Ms. Guler was working in art sales. She said that back then, she taught herself how to code A.I. that could predict how certain factors, like the weather on the date of an auction, might influence the sale price of an artwork. She later drew on what she had learned about A.I. to develop Co-Star. “It was like, How can this fit into astrology?” she said. “Astrology is not a perfect science, but there’s also no perfect science, which I’m not saying in an anti-science way,” Ms. Guler added. “I don’t believe that science is perfect, and I don’t believe anything else is perfect, because humans are imperfect. And that’s cool. Like, genuinely, it’s beautiful.”

 

Vijender Sharma, an astrologer of 35 years in northern India, who specializes in Vedic astrology, said he has used software to prepare readings. He said that because astrology was informed by science, as long as A.I. was trained with the proper knowledge, he did not see any harm in using the technology.

 

Susan Miller, an astrologer in New York who has written horoscopes for decades, was more skeptical. “A.I. is exciting for things like splitting atoms,” she said, adding that she would not trust such technology in a practice that often deals with human emotions. “Machines make mistakes,” Ms. Miller said. “And the person who gets the answer may walk around with that wrong answer in their head forever.”

 

After checking out the Co-Star machine at the magazine shop, Nisarga Kadam, 23, who works in financial technology in New York, was also skeptical of its A.I.-generated answers. “It’s a bunch of trained words put together,” Ms. Kadam said. “It’s not personal.”

 

Anna Jonska, 26, a video director in New York, felt the opposite. Ms. Jonska said she isn’t the biggest fan of astrology and that the machine’s use of A.I. made her trust it even more. “I’d be more inclined to believe that an old lady leaning over a crystal ball is lying to me than a computer,” she said.

Horoscope for the Week of September 11, 2023 - Retrograde Jupiter with Retrograde Venus

Retrograde Venus redirects while expansive Jupiter retrogrades. What does this mean? For some, expressions of love jolt their world. For others, their love expands in unexpected ways. See how your love grows and flows.

Here is my favorite book on astrology and a "must" for anyone interested in learning more: Secrets from a Stargazer's Notebook: Making Astrology Work for You and here's a guide to the best books available this month. This column is (c) 2023 MADAM LICHTENSTEIN, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Madam Lichtenstein is the author of the best selling astrology book “HerScopes ” now in its 12th printing and available as an eBook.

ARIES   (MARCH 21 - APRIL 20)

Ever lucky Aries might find that even a small romance has a way of expanding beyond one’s control and morphing into something unexpected. Your ability to attract others is legendary. Your sense of fun can be intoxicating. Your creativity goes to new heights. See how the chemistry works when all of these are mixed together.

TAURUS (APRIL 21-MAY 21)

Wherever you are, people gather, Taurus. That means that any family reunion, for example, can grow to an almost out of control attendance level. Enjoy the popularity and see how you can maneuver with your ever increasing fan base. Maybe it’s time to revamp your home surroundings to enable more folks to enjoy at the same time.

GEMINI   (MAY 22 - JUNE 21)

Geminis are apt to unintentionally spill a few secrets. This may cause some surprising reactions from others but since you are able to say these things with such charm and charisma, it is possible that all feel good and no harm is done. Nonetheless, it is advisable for you to carefully think first before you speak, just in case.

CANCER   (JUNE 22 - JULY 23)

How can you best balance friends and money, Cancer? You may be tempted to overspend when it comes to social gatherings and helping friends in need. Be sure that any outreach is good for you. There is benefit in helping as long as you can afford it. Everyone has budgets and you are only responsible for your own.

LEO   (JULY 24 - AUGUST 23)

You can charm the masses, Leo, but it will do you more good to focus that charm on bosses. Turn your energies on your long term goals and find worthy benefactors who can really help you along. You make an excellent first impression. Use it to your best advantage by moving, grooving and schmoozing. You are the best.

VIRGO   (AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23)

Secret admirers jump out of the background, Virgo. Did you ever guess that you had so many guardian angels? The feeling of sublime-ness may lead you to take calculated risks to explore new and exotic locales. Take it one step at a time and go forward when you have great confidence that this is the right direction for you.

LIBRA   (SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 23)

Friendships may evolve into a love relationship or vice versa, Libra. The changing of roles may surprise you … or maybe not? There are some things that we feel intrinsically, within our hearts, which don’t filter to our heads. There are other things that really take us by surprise. Expect a bit of both now as the landscape shifts.

SCORPIO   (OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22)

Whatever you want to achieve in life, your level of satisfaction with such success will depend, in some part, on the strength of certain relationships. So survey the landscape of your personal life, Scorpio, and see how it intersects with your professional aspirations. This is not a time to decide but a time to explore and discover.

SAGITTARIUS   (NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 22)

Your desire for adventure will probably be offset by your need to tackle certain tasks before you set out to explore. In fact, these mundane tasks may have a surprising way of holding you back with their details and time consuming responsibilities. Take it in stride, Sagittarius, and give the world time to realign for your travel.

CAPRICORN   (DECEMBER 23 - JANUARY 20)

Fun, romance and some deep passions can be stirred. Prepare yourself, Capricorn. Love, lust and intensity ramp up and play out in a myriad of ways. Will you meet someone special at a party? Or will your creative pursuits lead to amazing revelations and renewals? Anything is possible, so keep your heart open and mind sharp.

AQUARIUS   (JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19)

Try to find the balance within family relationships, Aquarius. There will be times when balance is hard to achieve but there might also be times when surprising turns of events lead you all to a new understanding and greater closeness. You never know what can happen when a group of relatives get together. Wow and wow!

PISCES   (FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20)

Try to be super clear when talking to colleagues about any big group effort or project, Pisces. There could be some who either don’t understand or who are not particularly interested in participating although they have to. Speaking clearly, compassionately, diplomatically and kindly gets you far and gets the job done.

(c) 2023 MADAM LICHTENSTEIN, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only. @thestarryeye Find astrology readings on tinyurl.com/TheStarryEye and a great sun sign book at tinyurl.com/Herscopes