Planet Waves FM with Eric Francis

Tonight's edition begins with a discussion of the penumbral lunar eclipse in Pisces that the high priestesses, the shamans and the astrologers say is supposed to happen Friday afternoon. The eclipse is also square Mars and Pholus — it's a high-energy event, one of a cluster of developments happening within a short time.

In this edition, I look at Jupiter's ingress into Libra, which takes place Friday morning. This sign-change takes us to a new phase of astrology, with Jupiter entering a more open energy field, and playing counterweight to Uranus and Eris in Aries. I also look at the charts of Phyllis Schlafly and the incredible Freddie Mercury, who would have turned 70 yesterday.

Tonight Planet Waves FM dives into the vortex of feminine by way of a total eclipse in Virgo. In a spontaneous manifestation of symbolism, Florence Welch appeared as if to fulfill this archetype and describe it to us vividly in astrology and the music of Florence + the Machine.

Tonight we pay tribute to The Tragically Hip, whose presumed final concert was watched by 11 million Canadians on Saturday night. The streets of towns and cities were deserted, the Olympics were abandoned and eyes and ears focused on Kingston, Ontario, where the band ended its tour. I also have lots and lots about Virgo, including from Alice Bailey, and more on Tantra.

Tonight's program is focused on the astrology of the next eight days or so, taking us through the Full Moon and into the Mars-Saturn-Neptune configuration that peaks around Aug. 22-25. This is astrology that requires special handling, perspective and a touch of detachment.

In tonight's edition of Planet Waves FM, I read the natal and progressed charts of Hillary Rodham Clinton. I cover the current astrology, including a solid introduction to Chiron, on the way to describing the Jupiter-Chiron opposition that happens later this week (and is in full effect right now). My musical guest is Jerry Garcia, who died 21 years ago today (his 74th birthday would have been Aug. 1).

Tonight's program leads up to a discussion of Donald Trump as the embodiment of the Kali archetype. Yes, he's a half-baked, weak and tweaky version of Kali, but no less attempting (and potentially succeeding at) embodying the destructive force of the cosmos. Many spiritual traditions have documented this phenomenon, from Hinduism to Tantra to the work of Carlos Castaneda. My musical guest is Kate Bush

In tonight's edition of Planet Waves FM, I look at the current astrology — Ceres in Taurus and Vesta in Cancer; and then open up the astrology of August, covering the Mars ingress into Sagittarius, Mars conjunct Saturn, the Leo New Moon and Jupiter opposite Chiron. This is a juicy astrology discussion, with lots about Ceres, Vesta and Chiron. I then talk about why I got out of politics as a full-time vocation in the spring of 1986.

In tonight's astrology-rich program, I start with the Republican National Convention now developing in Cleveland. I morph this into coverage of tonight's Capricorn Full Moon, pretty much the perfect astrology for an off-the-rails, off-the-charts political convention. I then look at a series of medium-range aspects and events. My musical guest is Wilco.

What we're seeing and feeling in the world is related to Mars (still barely advancing in longitude, after the long retrograde) hanging out in a seemingly endless aspect to Uranus-Eris. It's shaking the world and driving the message: wake up and pay attention. Tonight's edition comes with two classic songs from what most people call Bob Dylan's protest era; I call it his journalism era.

In tonight's program, I look at the new environment in the days and weeks after Mars has stationed direct. There's a grand trine in the sky — planets in all of the water signs. I also look at the United States Sibly chart, the most widely-used horoscope for the United States. Finally, I look at the Juno mission to Jupiter, which arrived Monday night to not enough fanfare.

In this first Planet Waves FM of the season, I offer a dramatic interpretation of the wild headlines that are flying past our news feeds: The United States Senate approving assault weapons for domestic terrorists, billionaire Donald Trump's campaign is broke, top cops in Oakland and New York City busted, the Stairway to Heaven lawsuit and the "Brexit" vote — the U.K.'s referendum on quitting the European Union.

Violence serves a purpose, which is to help people forge identity. It's not the only way, but it's the one most often chosen. In this case, most of what we have is virtual violence, since I doubt anyone reading this was at the scene. It's all a media event, transmitted digitally. What is the impact of this? In tonight's edition of Planet Waves FM, I look at these issues carefully. I investigate at the astrology of the purported shooter, and of the event, and where the two meet.

Tonight's edition of Planet Waves FM opens up Uranus-Eris conjunction as a commentary about our disembodied lives on the Internet. I explain how 20 years of nonstop proliferation of online life have turned the world into the astral plane, where we struggle to make sense of existence and of our bodies; where there's no longer any sense of reality.

Saturday the Gemini New Moon takes shape, amidst a rare grand cross aspect. Jupiter in Virgo, Saturn in Sagittarius, Neptune in Pisces and the New Moon plus Venus in Gemini align all around us. I take these placements one at a time and describe how they relate to one another. I describe the mental quality of this pattern, and what it might provoke — and what options are available.