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News and Announcements

March 18, 2024

Get the Skinny on Aries Ingress 2024!

This year really started out with a bang for me and the Dwarf Planets, so much so that I've neglected to update this News section! What happened is, late last year I got together with UK astrologer Lianne McCafferty, with whom I had been corresponding all through 2023 after I read a great article she wrote on Haumea in late 2022 for the NCGR Geocosmic Journal. We began talking on zoom, which led us to consider turning one of our conversations into a podcast. So last November we had this zoom discussion on current topics of interest, one of which was, how could we better explain to astrologers and those interested in astrology, how important these fascinating Dwarf Planets are? Lianne expertly edited this into a podcast and released it January 5, 2024: Dwarf Planets: Go on....Dive in! We broadcast the link on our respective web pages, on Facebook, and for once in a blue moon, I even posted on Twit..., er, I mean on X (you know, X marks the spot where Twitter died).

Then a really cool thing happened. My mom Vicki turned 90 years old on January 14, so a few months earlier I decided to visit her to celebrate her milestone birthday and spend a week in England. When I told Lianne about coming over, she kindly offered to take the train down to where I was staying and have lunch with me. It was so fantastic to meet Lianne in person, and even better, we got to discuss making a second podcast that Lianne suggested we time for the 2024 Aries Ingress (coming soon, as in Tomorrow!). This time we would cover all the hot topics on everyone's minds: the upcoming U.S. presidential election (Biden vs Trump, again!?), King Charles's health, the Ukraine-Putin war, the Israeli-Hamas war, China's obsession with Taiwan, and U.S. reproductive rights (another thing in serious turmoil). This second podcast is now released, see Aries Ingress 2024: Trans-Neptunian Dwarf Planet Special. Another special feature is, I offer a little primer on nearly all the largest Dwarf Planets, showing their orbital position and how all the big guys actually cluster together in rings! I recommend you watch the video on YouTube and view the description (e.g., not on X, as you don't see the description there), as Lianne has noted the times in the video where each topic begins, allowing you to watch exactly what you want, when you want.

Please post any comments, suggestions, beefs, or whatever is on your mind, in the YouTube comments. We will be reading and responding as we can! To those who have posted, we thank you!


February 24, 2024

Quaoar outdoes Haumea by sporting TWO Rings

Perhaps you didn't even know that Haumea has a ring, discovered in 2017. (Apparently, if you don't want your secret ring to be seen, don't step in front of a stellar occulation.) Then last year, I reported ONE ring discovered around Quaoar. Now today I found Quaoar actually has two albeit distant rings.

What's next? I'm rooting for the James Webb Space Telescope to spot McDonald arches on Makemake's north pole.

Gotta love these weird and wonderful Dwarf Planets!


September 8, 2023

Speaking at Astrological Society of Princeton, October 8, 2023 (2:00p ET / 11:00a PT) via Zoom on Eris, Pluto's Antidote and Guide to a Friendlier Future

The Astrological Society of Princeton, NJ, Inc. (ASP), has invited me to present my "Eris, Pluto's Antidote..." talk that will open their 2023-2024 speaker season. It's an honor to speak to such a prestigious group.

Talk Description: With Eris as big as Pluto, she has the savvy and gumption to resolve deep-seated, egocentric life and relationship issues. Either as Connector or Deflector, Eris tests one's social cred. Using chart examples of the famous (good, bad, and ugly), you'll see why your charts need Eris!

You must register in advance to attend this lecture; cost is $5 for A.S.P. members/students, and $20 for non-A.S.P. members. See meeting details and register via PayPal button. Once registered, you will be sent the zoom link on the day before the meeting.

The Astrological Society of Princeton, founded in 1972, provides opportunities for the advancement of astrology by means of regular meetings, lectures, classes, and publications, and often have nationally and internationally-known speakers. I joined this group in April so I could not only attend a lecture by John Townley and listen to the replay of a lecture by Rob Hand that I sadly could not see live, but also to access their incredible archive of recordings and videos (free for members!) that they have amassed over the years.


September 8, 2023

UPDATE, 9/23/23: The Coincidence Café participatory zoom program which I cohosted, is now available for free replay on YouTube at Signs, Symbols and Patterns of Synchronicity.

Original Post: The Coincidence Project hosts monthly participatory meetings for people interested in Synchronicities or Meaningful Coincidences, and these zoom get-togethers are called Coincidence Cafés. On September 16, 2023, co-hosts Sue Kientz and Aeon Karris (author of Synchronicity, Unlock Your Divine Destiny) will present a program entitled Signs, Symbols and Patterns of Synchronicity. Moderated by Juliet Trail, Executive Director of The Coincidence Project, the 90-minute engagement presents the following: "Repeated patterns can be a wonderful window into meaningful coincidences, helping us answer a question, resolve a dilemma, or move forward in our lives. Signs and symbols are all around us. Our hosts will share stories of how signs and symbols yielded meaningful patterns, and how they use synchronicity to navigate their lives and to teach others. Attendees will have opportunities in small groups to share their own experiences, stories and reflections."

The Coincidence Project hosts Coincidence Café online via Zoom each month on the third Saturday, from 11am-12:30 pm Eastern Time (US), and has participants from all over the world. The Coincidence Café explores topics relating to meaningful coincidence, synchronicity and serendipity with new hosts each month. They make time during each session to share personal stories together in small groups, inspired by the topic of the month. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.


August 27, 2023

Talk Recording from Sue Kientz's Eris Lecture to NCGR-SF on May 20, 2023, available for $25

The San Francisco chapter of the National Council for Geocosmic Research, Inc., recorded my May 2023 talk to their group on Eris, and it's now available here for sale: Next Stop to Illumination: Eris, Pluto's Antidote and Guide to a Friendlier Future. If you've missed this lecture, first delivered at the Astrological Association's 2022 Conference last fall, and most recently reprised at NCGR-LA's August 2023 meetup, about dwarf planet Eris discovered in 2005 and virtually a twin in size to Pluto — this is your chance to see what has now become my most popular dwarf planet presentation!

Talk Description: With Eris as big as Pluto, she has the savvy and gumption to resolve deep-seated, egocentric life and relationship issues. Either as Connector or Deflector, Eris tests one's social cred. Using chart examples of the famous (good, bad, and ugly), you'll see why your charts need Eris!

The lecture is professionally recorded by Sun Recording Service and costs $25. Many thanks to Steve Pincus for all his efforts and care in making my Eris talk into such a superb video.


August 2, 2023

Speaking at NCGR-LA Meetup, August 16, 2023 (7:30-9:30p) via Zoom on Eris, Pluto's Antidote and Guide to a Friendlier Future

The Los Angeles chapter of the National Council for Geocosmic Research, Inc., has invited me to present my latest talk on Eris, the dwarf planet discovered in 2005 that is virtually a twin in size to Pluto — and so just as important, obviously! I'm really pleased to be talking at NCGR-LA again, this coming August 16, 2023, starting at 7:30 p.m. PDT. My last planned talk was waylaid by the pandemic in 2020, and after all, this is my home chapter, being the nearest one to Pasadena, CA, where I live. Here are the details:

Talk Description: With Eris as big as Pluto, she has the savvy and gumption to resolve deep-seated, egocentric life and relationship issues. Either as Connector or Deflector, Eris tests one's social cred. Using chart examples of the famous (good, bad, and ugly), you'll see why your charts need Eris!

To attend, buy your Eventbrite tickets ($10 for NCGR members; $15 for non-members) at Eventbrite: Eris, Pluto's Antidote and Guide to a Friendlier Future with Sue Kientz. Hope to see you there!


April 19, 2023

UPDATE, June 10, 2023: Talk Rescheduled - Sedna Ingress into Gemini via zoom, hosted by the Astrology Alliance, will be held one week later, on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at 7 p.m., $10 fee

Talk Description: We will examine the handful of Sedna ingresses into astrological signs since Julius Caesar was speared in the Roman senate, specifically its entrance into Capricorn (23 BCE), Aquarius (1049), Pisces (1629), Aries (1864), Taurus (1965) and Gemini (enters one week earlier), to see how patient, suffering yet determined Sedna handled past transitions, and what that reveals about the imminent change. Sedna is speeding up, if you notice, and the meaning of that will also be addressed. All this will tell us what to expect of powerful Sedna until it enters Cancer in 2065. We also will briefly glance at the Gemini ingresses of modern and dwarf planets Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Orcus, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris, for comparison.

Contact Jan at Astrology Alliance for $10 payment instructions to obtain Zoom link.


February 8, 2023

BREAKING NEWS: Quaoar has a ring!

Dwarf planet Quaoar, sixth largest in the Kuiper Belt, is reported by the European Space Agency as sporting a ring, they announced today (note the article uses European date style and looks like "August 2, 2023" but it's today's date). When my boyfriend emailed me the link, my first reaction was, that's LeBron James's crown! LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, aka "King James," just last night passed former Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in most points scored ever by an NBA player. It's a record that stood for nearly 39 years, achieved by Kareem in April 1984. So at last night's Laker game, newscasters made much about LeBron being "crowned," especially as his nickname is King James. In More Plutos, I showed that Quaoar is prominent in the birth charts of sports figures, and transits or secondary progression of Quaoar to personal planets can come at great milestones in their career. So hearing the Quaoar news, I checked LeBron's chart as I knew he had an early Capricorn Sun, and Quaoar is in early Capricorn. Bingo!! Transiting Quaoar (8 Cap 3) is conjunct his Sun (9 Cap 22) at this historic sports achievement!

And to cap it all, knowing that Kareem achieved this feat originally on April 5, 1984, had me thinking. With LeBron born 12/30/1984, that means he was born 9 months after the record he just broke! LeBron was CONCEIVED around the time of Kareem's dizzying record! No one expected anyone would ever achieve more points than Kareem did — they couldn't CONCEIVE that would happen. But at just that time, LeBron WAS physically conceived! How cool is that?

Thanks to NCGR e-News editor Rita Chabot, who got my excited e-mail about Quaoar and LeBron James late in her publication cycle and was able to fit me into the very next issue. See the article with its illustrative chart archived in my Published Articles section.


September 8, 2022

UPDATE: Zoom talk REscheduled on Triangulating Predictions: Are Key Players/Entities On Board for that date? for January 12, 2023, 7 p.m., $10 fee

In January, I will speak via zoom to the Astrology Alliance, a group originally founded by the late, great astrologer Charlene Whitaker here in Los Angeles.

Talk Description: Will relate how to make a prediction by triangulating several charts of interested parties/entities. For examples, will show how quarterback and team owners' charts helped me pick seven Super Bowl winners in a row (yes, Tom Brady will be covered). Also used USA chart, past presidents of US, and Trump natal and inaugural to predict the start of Trump's (first) Impeachment (Sept 22-23, 2019); I published articles about the target date and rationale for the date, beginning in August 2018. Some notes on Queen Elizabeth II's passing will also be shared.

Contact Jan at Astrology Alliance for $10 payment instructions to obtain Zoom link.


September 8, 2022

Speaking at Astrological Association Conference 2022 via live Zoom lecture on Eris, Pluto's Antidote and Guide to a Friendlier Future

On September 23-25, 2022, totally on Zoom, is the (UK) Astrological Association 3-day conference. Some incredible people are scheduled to be there. I attended one in England eight years ago, really fantastic. This year I am honored to be speaking on Sunday morning (Sept 25), delivering a zoom talk on Eris.

Talk Description: With Eris as big as Pluto, she has the savvy and gumption to resolve deep-seated, egocentric life and relationship issues. Either as Connector or Deflector, Eris tests one's social cred. Using chart examples of the famous (good, bad, and ugly), you'll see why your charts need Eris.

My speaking time will be very early where I am (U.S. west coast, 5:45 a.m. PT), but hopefully you can join me. All speaker videos will be available to conference attendees after the conference, is my understanding. To see it live, you can buy a three-day, two-day, or one-day conference pass. Get more info at Astrological Association Conference 2022. See below for some discounts that may still be available:

  • Get a £50 discount if you book for either a two- or three-day conference: just use code AAD50 at the checkout; visit Astrological Association 2022 conference to view programs and sign up.
  • The Astrological Association is offering ISAR members a £75 discount if you book for a two-day or three-day conference; enter the code ISAR75 at checkout. Offer valid until 19th September 2022; visit Astrological Association 2022 conference to view talk descriptions and sign up.
  • The Astrological Association is offering three full scholarships to Mayo Astrology School students wishing to attend their online conference, 23-25 September 2022. This is almost £300 each. Details here.


June 6, 2022

Orbit Refinements by Astronomers required More Plutos Chapter Update

A few years ago, I was preparing a powerpoint for a presentations on the Dwarf Planets, and while creating a diagram for how the main bodies were arranged in the Kuiper Belt, I was mortified to see that the orbital periods for Makemake, Haumea, Ixion and others had changed! Believe it or not, Wikipedia has become the authoritative resource for this key information, as well as for the ever changing size estimates that fluctuate with these additional observations that happen from time to time, but it does not clearly tell you when or why such information as orbital length needed editing. My first fear was vandalism, but eventually I saw this information in other places, so I became convinced the information had changed. I wondered how this might impact the dwarfs' degree/minute zodiac positions, and if my calculations of their resonances in my "Even More Plutos" chapters was now wrong.

I checked the Solar Fire Swiss Ephemeris longfiles and found that for these dwarfs, the "Last modified" date was later than I had in my SwissEph file tree, further confirmation of this being an official change. After downloading the new files and then immediately going to some charts from ancient times, I was able to breathe again, since the differences overall were not huge. Ixion displayed the most difference, by about 1½ degrees over 2000 years. The others were even less, e.g., Makemake was off by only a ½ degree.

In order to offer the best data to those who already own a copy of More Plutos, I've updated the majority of the "Even More Plutos" chapter on resonances, which can be read or downloaded at Updates to Dwarf Planet Orbit Lengths. An article on this issue also appeared in the June 7 issue of NCGR eNews, Doing Historical Research with Dwarf Planets?, with more detailed instructions on how you, too, can update your Solar Fire files to have up-to-date degree/minute positions for the Dwarf Planets (or main-belt asteroids, which if you depend on, you should check to see if their longfiles show a more recently-dated longfile than you currently have).

Lastly, in the new softcover More Plutos now on sale on Amazon, I have made those updates to the text, so anyone who buys my book just recently back in print, will have the latest information in their book.


May 17, 2022

More Plutos is BACK in PAPERBACK!

It's been a few years since my book's publisher went out of business, but frankly they were stealing their author's royalties in the years before that, and even before they quit completely, I noticed the Amazon page never had my physical book available (the e-book has been continuously for sale), so perhaps the More Pluto paperback has been out of print since 2018.

However, those days are OVER, as I finally engaged Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) support people to help me republish my book, even as I feared there would be snafus and roadblocks of all sorts, like did I need a new ISBN barcode, or did I need to take Dog Ear Publishing off the spine? (Or could I change their name to Dog Shit Publishing? Well, I didn't ask that but I thought it!) Weeks of back and forth have now resulted in unexpected success, since as of this past Saturday, May 14, 2022, More Plutos is back in paperback, via Amazon! Nevertheless, I was still a bit skeptical hearing this news, as I wondered how the book would look. More Plutos was very nicely printed in 2015, I will give those bastards that compliment — good paper, crisp printing and dark ink, entire book trim straight and true. So I ordered some author copies, and they arrived tonight, and they are beautiful! Amazon print-on-demand, which will print my book in nearly every country (Japan and Australia excepted, as I have a full-color interior with very colorful images and color stylings, and KDP in those countries doesn't have interior color printing), does an absolutely fantastic job. It all went so fast, too! I made my last corrections on Friday (the 13th) afternoon; they gave approval and had me live on Amazon at 8:42 a.m. PT Saturday, May 14; I ordered two copies later that day; and here they are in my hands, Tuesday, May 17. That's blazing fast for good quality printing, which the last page says was performed in South Carolina. And going the Amazon route meant I spent $0 getting republished.

So aspiring authors, write your book! Do it in Word and then create a PDF. Then sign in (via your Amazon account) at Kindle Direct Publishing and you will be live so fast your head will spin!


April 23, 2022

More Plutos receives amazing review by noted financial astrologer Christeen Skinner in NCGR Research Journal 2022, "Syzygy"

Last January I got an e-mail from Christeen Skinner (website: CityScopes London Ltd.), who has been a big More Plutos fan (and lover of the Dwarf Planets, especially Haumea), telling me that she had written a More Plutos book review in NCGR's "Syzygy" issue. When the online version came out, I was truly humbled to see her praise me and my book in such glowing terms. Who gets another book review seven years after publication? That's what made it such a surprise. While I still have the More Plutos e-book available on Amazon, the paperback has been out of print for awhile, as Dog Ear Publishing went belly-up around two years ago. Christeen's review has inspired me to somehow figure out how to get Amazon to make my paperback print-on-demand. I have a few Dog Ear copies at home that I sell personalized on occasion, but that supply is running low. Hoping to get the paperback available very soon. Meanwhile, it puzzles me that there is no secondary market, either on Amazon or eBay, of people selling used copies. Does everyone like More Plutos this much?


November 21, 2021

How to View Dwarf Planets in your Astrology Software

Every so often I run into astrologers who would like to check out the dwarf planets but they don't know how to to add them to their astrology software program. I've written on this topic a while back in this News column, and eventually the instructions ended up in an NCGR e-News issue, Adding Dwarf Planets to Astro Gold and Solar Fire. You're limited with the Astro Gold phone app to just adding Eris and Sedna, and while you have the ability to add more than that to Solar Fire, the latter program costs a lot more. While I personally think Solar Fire is absolutely worth buying, if you're just starting out, you might not want to invest a lot of money just to do some experimentation. And for that, you can use the free accounts available on Astrodienst.

Here are instructions for getting a free account on Astrodienst, and then adding some dwarf planets as "Additional Objects" to the charts:

  1. Go to https://www.astro.com, click "My Astro" in upper right, and click "Create a free registered user profile"
  2. Enter the required data and click OK
  3. Once signed in, Click "My Astro" again and select "Stored Astro Data"
  4. Click "Add new Astro data" and enter some chart data (like your own birth data) and click Continue button.
  5. Click "Extended Chart Selection" (second item under "Horoscope Chart Drawings")
  6. Once at "Extended Chart Selection" page, scroll down to "Additional Objects" section. (Note you can only add 11 extra objects total.)
    1. On the left, you'll see a scrollable list of objects with "multiple selection possible" at the top.
    2. Scroll down the list and, holding down the Ctrl key, click "Eris" and "Sedna" and any other object you want to add. (Holding down Ctrl allows you to select more than one object in the list; if using a Mac, press the Cmd key)
    3. Once finished with the pick list, on the right, you'll see a manual input box called "Manual Entry." Here you enter the numerical designators of other Dwarf Planets (not on the pick list) that you want to add to your wheel, e.g.,
      • 136472 — Makemake
      • 136108 — Haumea
      • 225088 — Gonggong (almost as big as Makemake and Haumea)
      This input box wants these numbers separated by commas, so for example to just add Makemake and Haumea, copy and paste the following into that box:
      136472,136108
      You can look up the numerical designators of any dwarf planet by googling its name. For example, google "Salacia dwarf planet" and you will see the 6-digit number right in the title of its Wikipedia entry. The same is true for Varda, Varuna, Quaoar, etc. Just remember, you can only add 11 additional objects (unfortunately).

  7. Once done with those additions, click the button "Click here to show the chart" — you might have to scroll up to see it or it could appear on a band at the bottom.
  8. You'll now see your free Astrodienst chart with your chosen dwarf planets in the wheel.


July 29, 2021

The Real Reason Book 2 Is Late

The "Next Book" is really coming, just not yet. I find I still have research to do! And meanwhile I'm still writing for NCGR eNews, new article coming next week (August 3, I believe). For the book, I am making sure I have all my ducks in a row as I plan to talk about the atomic level of life, the cellular level, OUR level (human society), Sol's society (called the Solar System), and the Galaxy systems (Supermassive Black Hole Sagittarius-A* holding the Milky Way together, AND holding a larger system together, Milky Way and its Dwarf Galaxies — dwarf galaxies you say? why does that sound familiar — AND holding the even larger "Local Group" of galaxies together along with its companion the Andromeda Galaxy, and her dwarf galaxies, and Triangulum and his dwarf galaxies). That's right, our Black Hole Sgr A* is one heck of a celestial anchor!

So I've gotten all these great books that are popping up all over. Seems I can't walk that I stumble over an interesting book, wherever I happen to look. Here's the list:

History of Life

  • A Series of Fortunate Events (2020), by Sean B. Carroll. This guy was the author of a great book I read in 2019, Endless Forms Most Beautiful. In this book, he talks a lot about "chance" and the making of the Earth, Life, and Us. I agree that there's chance involved in life, but not the totally chaotic and meaningless change Carroll suggests. I would argue that Life develops like a huge being (some call this Gaia), and like the components of this being (the individuals), has an integrity in itself, like individuals have a similar integrity or logic of behavior. He also mentions specific events that he feels are just "chance," ones which I've seen the charts of, and I can't wait to publish something somewhere and totally dismantle his thesis, astrologically.
  • The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life (2018), by David Quammen. This is the latest overview of what we know about the beginning of the cell, the beginning of species, the development of both, and it's fascinating stuff. Written to be accessible to a general reader.
  • What is Life? Five Great Ideas in Biology (2020), by Paul Nurse. This Nobel Prize winner has written this little focused book on the most important biological discoveries of our time. Very straightforward and written with heart. He also has personal stories to relate.
  • The Way of the Cell: Molecules, Organisms, and the Order of Life (2001), by Franklin M. Harold. This guy apparently is legendary for being able to explain complicated science. He leaves in the actual names of things, which can be overwhelming because scientists dream up some really cryptic names, but it's like riding a bull, I imagine: just... hold... on! I am hanging in there. But it's incredible what I'm learning. Do you know that each of our cells is a living, separate entity?? And they communicate with each other, but could live separate from us? I'm agog.
  • In Search of Cell History: The Evolution of Life's Building Blocks (2014), by Franklin M Harold. Yes, I bought the set! This is slightly different in focus, dealing with how we found out all that we know. Again, I'm hanging in there.
  • The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy: What Animals on Earth Reveal About Aliens — and Ourselves (2020), by Arik Kerschenbaum. Imaginative book that looks at the body plans that Life on Earth has generated, and based on them, speculates on what we might expect WHEN we run into alien life. So you get a real understanding on how life developed in the last half-billion years, and a window into what E.T. might be like.
  • Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, and Shape Our Future (2020), by Merlin Sheldrake. This guy really likes fungi. But his book was illuminating, as I had previously learned a lot about how Bacteria affects each of us personally, in some books I've read a few years ago, but I never considered the fungus! It is CREEPY, but what I want to know is, what is the fungus personality? So often we see people who remind us of animals and even plants, so are there people who resemble fungi, bacteria, even viruses? E-mail me if you get some ideas or examples: sue@moreplutos.com

Perspectives on History of Society

  • Ultrasociety: How 10,000 years of war made humans the greatest cooperators on earth (2016), by Peter Turchin. Boy was this a book I had to have! My Eris interpretation is all about community and cooperation (and in negative aspect, discrimination and anti-social behavior), so this was an exciting read, even as he apparently was self-published and the quality of the paper, type, and cover was really poor. But the book was great! I hope he gets a real publisher someday. I'd buy his book again.
  • Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence (2014, 2015), by Karen Armstrong. This book has been visible on my bookshelf for years in our family room, as I had started it and never finished it. But you know why? Because I needed to read it NOW! This was a perfect book to read before Ultrasociety and as I was rereading Why Did Europe Conquer the World? All these books kept pointing to the awful, bloody conflict that has taken place over many millenia, but this has resulted in incredible achievements and, in recent decades, relative peace. Was not the wrap up I expected. I've been a big fan of Armstrong and have read her History of God, Battle for God, and a few others. When does she get time to go to the grocery store??
  • Why Did Europe Conquer The World? (2015), by Philip T. Hoffman. I met this guy, as I was scoping out our local bookstore in summer 2015, to see how the "local author" book signing went, as a month later, I was going to be one of the local authors speaking and signing. Hoffman was also a Caltech professor, so I ended up buying his book, and I am so glad I did. He is an economics professor, so his take was on the economic impact of all the war that inflicted itself on Europe over the centuries. I read this back when I bought it, but I had to reread it again because it seemed related to these other books that looked at war and how it has benefited society in a strange way.
  • But What If We're Wrong: Thinking About the Present as if it were the Past (2016), by Chuck Klosterman. This is another one I'm rereading, to remind myself his amazing thesis. Here's the good news for astrologers: If you are completely unrespected and unknown, you have a better shot of being remembered in 500 years than famous people lauded today like Michael Jordan or Mother Teresa.
  • The Enlightenment: The Pursuit of Happiness, 1680-1790 (2021), by Ritchie Robertson. I'm only on page 163 of this 984 page bowling ball of a book, but it's a delightful read. The title attracted me in two respects: (1) Makemake and Haumea were conjunct or in orb of conjunction, during this whole period! and (2) I have an idea that people make choices based on what seems "right." That's not necessarily choosing "happiness" but I wanted to see what Robertson had to offer. Lots and lots and LOTS of detail, let me tell you.

Black Holes, Big Bang, Heat Death

  • The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) (2020), by Katie Mack. I bought this book to make sure Katie was as oddly taken up with destruction of the universe as I suspected, as I was including her in my NCGR Dwarf Planet Issue article as an example of a Haumea personality (she has Sun trine Haumea). Oh boy, she is Haumea, and with the trine, she considers this eventual end of everything, "fun!" I heard of her in a Quanta Magazine e-mail newsletter I get every Friday. Best latest science stories delivered weekly.
  • The Black Hole Book (2015), by Alex Miller. Since I've been writing a lot about our Black Hole, Sgr-A* (pron. Sagittarius A-star), I wanted to know what my fellow astrologer, NCGR eNews contributor, and personal friend Alex had to say about Black Holes. He examines every one on or near the ecliptic, a massive (supermassive?) feat. Since some astrologers not only use our sun but stars in examining charts, some will doubtless also want to use other black holes. There's a research project to anyone who could determine their distinct identities.

Just for Fun/to Decompress

  • Effin' Birds: A field guide to identification (2019), by Aaron Reynolds. For those who have looked at a bird dead in the eye and wondered, what is it thinking? Spoiler alert: You will be SHOCKED! Author says his mother-in-law doesn't believe one could make a living writing such a book. Delightfully weird. Not since Flattened Fauna have I had such fun reading insanity in print. Also some birds are definitely mis-identified, but who cares. By the way, I was running into a Vroman's to get the Fungi book, and saw this one as I ran out, and had to have it. Total time in bookstore: <2 minutes.

Where I find these books and other ideas

  • Weekly Issues of The New Yorker. No, I don't need the Entertainment listings in New York, but recently I read a fantastic article about Alice Neel, for example, who is a portrait artist long passed, but now having an incredible retrospective show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. From the article's description of her, her life, and some direct quotes, I strongly suspected what her prominent Dwarf Planets were, and I was correct! An article will soon appear on her. Also, several of the books here I only learned about via the New Yorker's "Briefly Noted" book review column. One downer, a subscription is not cheap.


March 16, 2021

New Book Eating My Brain

I don't mean that literally, but between the pandemic, and lockdowns, and still working my day job (at home, thankfully), and all the related stresses, it has been hard to get much done on the fabled Second Book. Nevertheless, progress is being made, even if it's simply exhausting any other procrastinating activities like reorganizing the entire garage, which was really a nice thing to finish. Recently I was tapped to submit an article (or two!) to an upcoming "special issue" on Dwarf Planets, produced by NCGR and scheduled to be out in a few months, so that has helped refocus my efforts.

Also, if you check out the Articles section and scroll to bottom, you'll notice that I'm again submitting to NCGR's eNews. I post those here since once the eNews e-mail goes out, those issues fall into the ether; NCGR does not archive them. That would have been a plus if I made a real hare-brain prediction about when the pandemic might give us a break, which I did in eNews last May. For the last few months, I was really worried about saying that around "May 1, 2021" (based on the USA secondary progressed chart), we should be tasting some freedom at last, but in just the last few weeks, May 1 is looking pretty darn good. Vaccination efforts are speeding up, and President Biden wants most people vaccinated by the end of that month. So to the woman astrologer on Facebook who raked me over the coals for not using the 5:10 p.m. July 4, 1776, USA Chart in my book, I admit you were right, that's the time to use. The May prediction was based on the 5:10 p.m. chart.

Occasionally someone who has bought More Plutos sends me a message, which is nice to receive and hear what you think about the book. Thanks for your encouragement, as I sorely need it to finish the much more ambitious Next Book, which aims to speak to non-astrologers as well as astrologers, a big lift. Until that happens, any other writing, here or on Facebook, may be spotty at best. Thanks for understanding until then.


July 11, 2020

Second Article on Dwarf Planets and Tarnas' Cosmos from Astrological Journal out of embargo and online

At last I can share the article published in the Astrological Journal in its May/June 2020 issue, Finding Copernicus and astrology's vindication in the sky. While studying Tarnas's epochs as explained in his 2006 book, and contemplating Tarnas's prediction of an imminent "New Cosmology," I wondered if the time when Copernicus came up with his paradigm-shifting theory that put the sun in the center of the "Universe," could hold important clues for finding when this "New Cosmology" might emerge, when Astrology could manifest such a powerful paradigm shift. This article recounts how I followed through on that idea, and the amazing result, in short: you need Dwarf Planets to see Copernicus's revelation! And promising conditions are forming — again, with Dwarfs playing major roles — that mirror a related historical mega-milestone, suggesting Astrology's redemption is not terribly far off at all.

Also in the online version, I restored two timeline images which had to be cut from the print version. You get all three "Dwarf Planets plus Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto" Timelines in the online PDF, from the time of Copernicus through Galileo, Newton's age, and the entire 21st Century. Boom, there it is!


June 9, 2020

First Article on Dwarf Planets and Tarnas' Cosmos from Astrological Journal now online

I am now permitted to share with you my article published in the Astrological Journal in its March/April 2020 issue, Expanding the eras of Tarnas' cosmos with Eris, Makemake and Haumea. In just a few more weeks, the second article will be able to be released here online, also regarding Richart Tarnas's epochs and the Dwarf Planets. That will be on July 1, 2020, so see you back here then!

All my articles on Dwarf Planets that have been published in various journals, magazines, e-newsletters, and websites, are now available on one page at Published Articles, which also includes several NCGR eNews articles I've been writing every two weeks for the last few months. Hope you enjoy!


April 21, 2020

Second Article on Dwarf Planets and Tarnas' Cosmos Debuts in Astrological Journal

My second article on how the largest Dwarf Planets fit into Richard Tarnas's "New Cosmos" eras has now appeared in the UK-based Astrological Journal, published (online and hard copy) by the Astrological Association. As mentioned in the announcement of the first article's appearance, on May 1, I'll be able to post the PDF of the first article here on this website. Stay tuned!

The May-June issue is all about COVID-19, and really packed with great articles that you will want to read. In this second installment of my look into Tarnas's outer planet epochs, I include timelines of Sedna along with Eris, Makemake, and Haumea, so you can see how their major aspects compare with and involve Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. All the heavy hitters are there, in one view! Unfortunately, two of my three Dwarf Planet timeline graphics did not make the cut due to space considerations, so below I am providing all three timelines for the public's reference:

Considering the time of upheaval we are now experiencing all over the world, I believe students of Astrology need to closely study the 21st Century Dwarf Planet Epochs that did not make it into my AA Journal article.

To remind all, when the AA Journal initially publishes an issue, the articles are only available to current subscribers. If you get a membership, you can access ALL of the online journals, going back to the mid-1950s. Online issues are searchable, too, which is invaluable if you are researching a topic like Dwarf Planets, and want to see what has already been said, so as to cite others' ideas. That said, you can also buy a single copy via their website, once the issue is mailed. See Astrological Assn.: Membership and Subscriptions to inquire about obtaining total access (via membership) or single hard copies of this exceptional publication.


February 19, 2020

Two Articles on Dwarf Planets and Tarnas' Cosmos Appearing in Astrological Journal

After some admittedly ambitious reading from last summer, I spent the ensuing autumn writing two articles on how the largest Dwarf Planets fit into Richard Tarnas's "New Cosmos" eras, which he delineated in his masterful book Cosmos and Psyche. The articles were accepted by the Astrological Journal, which is published (online and hard copy) by the Astrological Association in the United Kingdom. Was I thrilled! And now the first article is out:

screen capture of AAJ article Expanding the Eras of Tarnas' Cosmos

This first piece introduces the largest Dwarfs, Eris, Makemake, and Haumea, and shows how they enhance Tarnas' original epochs, which mostly focus on Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Merging the newer Dwarfs with the three Modern planets also reveals new epochs of importance. The second piece, coming in the May-June issue, emerged from the work done on the first, as I began to ask, when is Tarnas' "new cosmos" most likely to appear? And I found the answer by looking for the last large paradigm shift, brought on by Copernicus' revelation of the heliocentric model. What an exciting "detective" story that became, as readers will see come May.

Unfortunately for the general public, these articles are only available to those who pay for a subscription to the AA Journal, but after each article's embargo, I will post a PDF on the More Plutos website. That said, if you get a membership, you can access ALL of the online journals, going back to the mid-1950s, so it's a great deal. The online issues are searchable, too, e.g., search "Kientz" and you see I've been in the AA Journal five times since 2014. The hard copy is being mailed out soon, but you can also buy a single copy via their website, once the issue is mailed. See Astrological Assn.: Membership and Subscriptions to inquire about obtaining total access (via membership) or single hard copies of their truly prestigious journal.


August 16, 2019

My Summer Reading (and Research) List

This summer has been extremely busy as I try to pull everything together for the next book, tentatively called Time DNA. It's not been easy as Saturn is retrograding to station opposite my Sun (ugh), but perhaps as a way to make lemonade out of that, I am getting serious about this effort! What has held me up the last few months has been running into several amazing books that look to influence and inform my new book. Here are a few that have really spun my head around (in a good way!):

  • Cosmos and Psyche by Richard Tarnas. I thought I was ready to write in July, and then this book happened. Dr. Tarnas has done everything I thought I would have to do: explain why astrology could in fact be quite useful and viable today, despite its tarnished reputation with the "highly educated"; then explain how it works; then show reasonably accessible examples from history. He did it all, so beautifully, thoroughly, and with a clarity I can only aspire to, except he left something for me - he wrote this in 2006, before anyone knew anything about the Dwarf Planets. His methodology for defining eras, using 15-degree approaches and separations to the major aspects (conjunction, square, opposition), works exceptionally well to see the eras defined by Dwarfs, e.g., Pluto and Haumea conjunctions that have transformed the world beginning most recently in 1517, with the last exact instance being 1955. But what if they don't separate more than 15 degrees? You get an exceptionally long era that actually fits to describe that historical epoch quite neatly! I am so glad to have found this book, and I have fellow astrologer and friend Aliza Rood to thank! But this huge volume needs a second reading, which I'm doing now.
  • How Nature Works by Per Bak. This was another major event in recent months, stumbling onto Per Bak's work in Self-Organized Criticality. His research unearthed what he suspected could be a "theory of Life" that had some hallmarks I observe in Astrology: catastrophes (a negative word, but to cover both the positive and negative, I call these "milestones") and fractal patterns (like the secondary progression pattern that I showed in More Plutos to be a fractal of the transit pattern). His simple sandbox model has a time element that I feel I can use in my own argument regarding Astrology.
  • Endless Forms Most Beautiful, The New Science of Evo Devo, by Sean B. Carroll. So why I am reading about evolution? Because I want to know how it works, how on earth the embryo carries on the very complex timing of building a living creature. This can be a metaphor for how people develop their lives, or it could be even more. This is a fascinating book and written for general readers. Frankly I read this book last summer, but I am rereading parts of it now. I want to know this book backwards and forwards.
  • Medicine from Cave Dwellers to Millenials, by Jonathan L. Stolz. The most valuable comparison astrologers should look to in their quest to be taken seriously, is the profession of medicine. This exhaustive history recounts just how terrible doctors were, for millenia, even as the occasional brilliant, heroic physician incrementally improved the craft, often amid ridicule and disbelief. Since antiquity, drugs were nearly always useless and, except for handling obvious injuries, doctors did not understand why people got sick or how to cure them. These hapless practitioners were tolerated as somewhat useful because no matter what they did, a good percentage of people just got better due to the body's natural healing properties. So what happened? Microorganisms. Once viruses and bacteria were discovered, and their role in illness identified in the 19th century, this made doctors the rock stars of today. Why would knowing this assist Astrology's reputation? Just like doctors needed the discovery of miniscule gerrms, astrologers needed the discoveries of invisible entities to complete their own vital toolkit, the solar system. We have needed Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto (only spotted with telescopes), no one disputes. But they are not enough. The Dwarf Planets are the super-microorganisms that eluded us until this century. I read this book so I could pointedly make this argument. Again, I'm cheating by including this book here, as I first read it last December, but I keep picking it up and rereading a few pages every so often, to boost my spirits.
  • Quanta Magazine, an online science news site that has a weekly newsletter. They turned me on to Per Bak! And they always have thought provoking articles on the latest in science, written for the not-really-a-geek person.
  • The Elements by Theodore Gray. This is a physically beautiful book, with a great sense of humor to boot. When your brain begins to fry from all the dense and serious reading above, it helps to soothe the senses, looking at the fascinating elements. Also I like that Gray gives you the electron orbits and number of protons in each nucleus. Who knows, maybe I can find a valuable correlation somewhere!
At the beginning of the summer, I really flayed myself that I couldn't get started on a decent draft. But after all that has happened, I now see that seeming delay was for the best. I needed this help, and am blessed to have these books appear along my path.


June 5, 2019

image of Chinese red-headed dragon god Gonggong2007 OR10 and Moon officially named Gonggong and Xiangliu

UPDATE, February 20, 2020: It's official! The Minor Planet Center of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has published the circular approving Gonggong as the name for 2007 OR10 and also names its moon, Xiangliu. The IAU circular of February 5, 2020 (see pg. 1065) reads:
       (225088) Gonggong = 2007 OR10
Discovered 2007 July 17 by M.E. Schwamb, M.E. Brown and D. Rabinowitz at Palomar. Gonggong is a Chinese water god with red hair and a serpent-like tail. He is known for creating chaos, causing flooding, and tilting the Earth; he is often depicted with the head of a human and the body of a snake. Gonggong is often attended by his minister, Xiangliu, a nine-headed poisonous snake monster for whom the satellite is named.

Below, original Facebook post from June 5, 2019
Someone changed the Wikipedia page for 2007 OR10 to say that its unofficial name is GONGGONG. This seemed to mean it's the winner of the voting conducted by discoverers Mike Brown, Meg Schwamb, and David Rabinowitz last month. However, an unsourced note on Wikipedia (and not done by Mike Brown himself) can be posted by anyone, and nowhere could I find any news that this name was chosen and submitted to the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

image of OR10/Gonggong orbit But since I work at Caltech and even in the same building as Mike Brown, I knew I could get to the bottom of this. But would he be in? Would he be busy? It's his birthday today for crying out loud! Anyway I happened to be on my way to a meeting and I had to pass his office - and there he was. Not on the phone or busy whatsoever. Biwheel of Mike Brown natal and Gonggong NewsSo I asked him, is this note on Wikipedia true? He paused a second and like exhaled a deep breath saying "YES it is!" I think he didn't want to tell me but he didn't want to lie. But it all depends on whether the IAU approves the name.

Happy Birthday, Mike Brown! On a day of floods all over, you give us a human headed red serpent who creates destructive floods? I have (wince) GONGGONG rising. No matter its name, this very large Dwarf Planet will still represent sensitivity, as in traits of compassion (good) or OVERsensitivity (challenging), as I detailed in OR10's chapter in More Plutos in 2015. So maybe with such a strong emotional effect, a god of floods is appropriate.

THANKS to Martina Erskine for posting the note about the Wikipedia change on the Steve Tuffill Astro Discussion Facebook Group this morning.


May 16, 2019

How to Add New Dwarf Planets into Solar Fire

You know what I really, really hate? When I see there's a big Dwarf Planet candidate that I haven't looked at, and I put it in some charts and damn if it doesn't seem useful and/or provocative. This happened recently when I was looking at the Wikipedia list maintained by Mike Brown, specifically the table Likeliest Dwarf Planets. I had been ignoring 2002 MS4, but for some reason I was shocked to see it is really big, like Orcus-, Sedna-, and Ceres-sized: 960km diameter. The darn thing is (as of June 2019) the largest unnamed body in our solar system! I felt I should check that out, which I did via astro.com's free chart-making service, but soon I wanted to see it in secondary progression, which meant I needed to get it to show up in Solar Fire on my PC.

I requested and got the 6,000 year file (3000BC-3000AD) for 2002 MS4 from Astrodienst. That means this file, "s307261.se1" is now available to everyone, here: http://www.astro.com/ftp/swisseph/ephe/longfiles/ast307/ but maybe you don't know what to do with it, to get it into your Solar Fire program. So I'll tell you.

Once you save "s307261.se1" (click on it when you open the above URL, and it will save to your Downloads folder), you can add it to your Solar Fire (instruction for SF8 and SF9, on PC):

  1. In Windows Explorer (right-click your Start button and choose "Windows Explorer"), go to C:/Program Files (x86)/Common Files/Esoteric Technologies/SwissEph
  2. Create a directory in SwissEph called "ast307" (click "New Folder" in Windows Explorer once clicked into SwissEph, then name it "ast307")
    • If you're following these instructions to add some other asteroid or TNO, the trick to knowing how to name the folder is to name it "ast" followed by the numbers before the last 3 of the numeric name. If you were adding something numbered "401422", create empty folder "ast401" to house the file you download from astro.com.
  3. Drag the astro.com file from your Download folder into new folder "ast307" (or copy and paste)
  4. Open Solar Fire and go to Chart Options > User-Defined Points
  5. Click "Edit" to modify the file you are using for User-Defined points
  6. Next dialog box, be sure "Asteroid" radio button selected and click "Select File" button
  7. Next dialog box, click "Edit" to whatever file you've been using
  8. Next dialog box, make sure radio of "Swiss Ephemeris" is selected and click "Refresh List" button below it
  9. After a moment you should see "2002 MS4" appear on the Available Asteroids list
  10. Click "2002 MS4" to make it move to the left list "Selected Asteroids"
  11. Click Save
  12. Next box, click "Select"
  13. Next box, click "2002 MS4" under Available points on right, then click "Add" button below. Your new Dwarf Planet will appear on the left list, "Selected Points."
  14. Below the Selected Points list, you can edit how MS4 will be shown on screen. You can change its font color, maybe have it just read "MS."
  15. When done editing, click "Save"
  16. Next screen, click "Select"
  17. And (finally) you can open a chart and see your new Dwarf Planet in Solar Fire. You can progress, do anything you'd do with other planets.
Whew, I know, a lot of work! But Dwarf Planets are really worth it. Try some today! At least try to add Makemake and Haumea, if you are new to Dwarf Planets. When I get a really good handle on 2002 MS4, I'll add it to this website's Meet the Dwarfs section with some keywords.


March 30, 2019

Talk: How Astrology Patterns Appear to be Fractals and Other Discoveries made courtesy of the New (LARGE) Dwarf Planets

I will be speaking at the Friends in Astrology Meetup in a few weeks. Come on out to talk to professional and beginner astrologers during dinner, and then hear the talk about how the Dwarfs have and will do wondrous things!

  • When: April 17, 2019 (dinner 6:30p, talk 7:30p)
  • Where: Denny's restaurant, Sepulveda and Burbank Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA
  • Talk Description: Introduces the most weighty 21st century trans-Neptunian discoveries, Eris, Makemake, Haumea, and Sedna, and how their use adds "pixels to the picture," giving us a higher resolution view of nativities, events, sec. progression, and transits. In turn, we can see why secondary progression works (it's a "child" pattern of its "parent," the transit pattern, i.e., a fractal), how Astrology's fractal structure is in line with all the fractals found in space (and gives us that long-sought theoretical basis for our profession), how this improves progression so much one can progress/observe/predict milestone and death charts forward AND back, which leads us to see just how well connected everyone on Earth really is.
  • Admission: $5/person. Eating dinner not required.


August 30, 2018

MORE PLUTOS Given a 5/5-Rated Review by NumerologySign.com

Very honored and pleased to add another great review of More Plutos to the MP home page. Christine Hirlehey of NumerologySign.com posted this More Plutos by Sue Kientz Book Review just recently. Thanks so much, Christine!


August 29, 2018

New, Improved ORCUS glyph released and now available in MORE PLUTOS font

Orcus glyphFor awhile I've not been 100% happy with the Orcus glyph I developed in April 2016, so it was time to try again, and luckily I got some better inspiration this time. Finally the glyph "says" Orcus, both figuratively and literally. "O r c" is obviously a part of the glyph, with the "head" the "O," a protective outstretched arm as the "r," and the "c" as some item or thing being protected or nurtured. The figure formed therefore represents someone concerned or obsessed with an incomplete "o", which could be a physical thing or the desire for order and perfection that Orcus individuals strive for. Whether the figure is waiting for the "c" to grow into a "o," or is aiming to fashion it to that perfect shape, is immaterial. The desire or urge to perfect is what's important. I just had to have Orcus right, for my next book to be complete (yes, my book is a "c" I'm trying to make into an "o"!)

Once again Martina Erskine was kind enough to add this new glyph to the true-type font I've offered here to download, that can be installed on PCs (Windows) and the icons selected to display as User-Defined points in Solar Fire. If you would like to use this font, shift-click this link to download the file: AsteroidSUE.ttf (name changed Nov 2019 to match internal naming). Once on your Desktop or Download folder, double-click to install. The link to this font in the April 2016 news item (below) is the same file and so also updated. And again, A big Thank You to Martina!

To configure Dwarf Planets in Solar Fire (version 8 or 9) to display in More Plutos glyphs:

  1. Open the Solar Fire program and click Chart Options > Displayed User-Defined Points
  2. Click Edit button at right
  3. I'm assuming you might need to put some or all of the Dwarf Planets into your program. If you've already got them in there, skip to step 4.
    1. Click on the radio button by Extra Point "Asteroid"
    2. Click "Select File > Transnep.ast > Edit > find your Dwarf Planet selection in "Available Asteroids"
    3. Click the desired Dwarf Planet names to move them to "Selected Asteroids"
    4. Click "Save" and then on the next screen, "Select," to return to "User-Defined Point Selection" dialog box
    5. Find the Dwarf Planets you've just mined from the Transnep.ast file, in the right column. Click the ones you want so they jump over to the left column of "Selected Points."
  4. Now, in "Selected Points" column at left, click the Dwarf Planet you want to have a More Pluto-type icon
  5. At bottom, click "Font" and find and select the font "Asteroid SUE"
  6. Choose your color/size/etc.
  7. Click the arrow ">" next to the Color button. That will open the font selection
  8. Click the glyph to associate with your Dwarf Planet (see the key I have on this natal chart of Donald Trump, who is a whopper of a Sun-Orcus authoritarian) and click "Select" button.
  9. When all Dwarf Planets have the glyphs you want, click "Save," and at the next screen, "Select."
You should be good to go!


April 27, 2018

More Plutos website moved to Amazon Web Services

In December 2016, my friend Steve Levin, who has given me web hosting for free since the mid-1990s, told me and others on his server that he would be shutting it down at last. While I duly backed up my files and started hunting for a new home for my beloved Dwarfs and their book, Steve's server remained up month after month, and I was lulled into complacency... until this website "disappeared" around April 3 of this year.

But we're back, via Amazon AWS. The only trouble is, I've lost all the news items I posted since mid-2016.

UPDATE, April 23, 2022: It only took me four years to think of it (almost to the DAY), but I restored my missing News items using the life-saving Wayback Machine!. So 2017 items are back, below. Ho hum, ok, but it's the principle of the thing...
So here are some highlights of "the lost months":
  • Working on Book Two for Non-Astrologers - Since 2016 and throughout 2017, have been assembling a general-audience book on the Dwarfs that explains how their discovery is a breakthrough moment for Astrology. So many endeavors of humankind began as misunderstood and disrespected, because so often, some portion of their operation was unknown: astronomy, medicine, continental drift, and quantum mechanics are all good examples of now respected professions that desperately needed some key information to begin working reliably or have its operation understandable. Astrology is no different. And just like DNA developed to a state where it was essential in identifying criminals, Astrology that includes Dwarf Planets will prove highly useful in identifying, for example, when certain terrorists on a watch list are most liable to act.
  • More Plutos on Facebook - As mentioned in the Plog, I have been posting brief analyses on current events and people in the news, on my More Plutos Facebook page, as well as on other Astrology Facebook sites. I also serve as an admin of the "secret" (as in hidden) Steve Tuffill's Astro Discussion Group, founded by my dear friend, the late astrologer Steve Tuffill. There I post usually the same short articles found on More Plutos Facebook. If you are on Facebook and you'd like to join this Astro discussion group, send me a request.
  • May-July 2017 - Massive undertaking having our home's floors replaced, from rugs to vinyl tile! (Why massive? We have thousands and thousands of books, for starters.)
  • July-Nov. 2017 - Recovering from having the rug literally pulled out from under us. Returned to working on my second book, slowly but surely, but slowly.
  • Nov. 2017-April 2018 - Fell ill from a simple course of antibiotics in early November, which led to relapse after relapse through the holidays and into the new year. No work on the book; could barely deal with everyday tasks. On March 30, was given a "bacterial tranplant" that seems to have stopped this awful cycle of reoccurence. Exactly a week ago, as Saturn stationed (opposite my n. Sun at 10Can22), I finally felt that maybe I was really getting better.
  • April 27 and Beyond? - Hopefully I will be finishing the book in the coming months. Did I mention how great my floors look?


July 18, 2017

Author Update

Wondering at the dearth of News here? Wonder no more. Home issues overtook my attention, appropriately enough as my progressed Moon squared my natal Moon. Beginning in March, my boyfriend Ron and I worked with several different renovation teams to completely refloor our home of 19 years. That meant OUT with the awful, ugly, "it-was-crap-when-we-moved-in" rugs, and IN with Marble and Vinyl Tile. At last the job is done and nearly all our belongings are back in place. How bad was it? Imagine having the rug pulled out from under you, in every single room, but without the magic trick of having the furniture, books, dogs, etc., being able to stay put.

Even during that crazy time, I managed to post occasional pieces on the More Plutos Facebook page, which can be accessed without having a Facebook account. So you should always check over there for articles.

Next project, however, will still keep me busy: my second book, currently untitled. For the remainder of this year, expect Dwarf Planet observations to be infrequent, either here or on Facebook. The new book will be geared to general readers and explain how many human endeavors, perhaps most notably medicine, human flight, continental drift, and space travel, spent long periods being inadequately understood and disrespected, and its adherents untrusted or, worse, considered crazy ... until small yet critical discoveries changed the game and completely vindicated these professions.

  • Medicine: needed to know about viruses/germs/bacteria;
  • Human flight: fixed wings were the key, and how air flowed over wings;
  • Continental drift: sea-floor spreading explained how huge continents could move and separate;
  • Space travel: required liquid propulsion material and computers to assist in so many ways.
Without these details, those now-honored professions or theories were incomplete, often failing or only marginally successful. And this well-worn path to achievement is typical, and thus where Astrology has languished, until now. I plan to show that the Dwarf Planets provide the essential "small" details we have needed, for completeness in results and a basis for a theory of how Astrology can possibly work.


July 17, 2017

10 Year Anniversary 2007 OR10 Discovery

Happy Discovery Day, OR10! The largest unnamed object in the Solar System, first spotted 10 years ago today, still has no name. The good news is, the general public is now welcome to propose names to the Minor Planet Center for consideration and possible acceptance (before 10 years passes, only the discoverers can name the object). The bad news is, there is no guarantee the MPC or their naming committees will act on any such suggestion. The fact is, astronomers and planetary scientists are perfectly happy to use XYZ0123 as a name, than one chosen from mythology, no matter how creative your choice and how close you follow nomenclature rules.

There are some plans, however, working behind the scenes, which may, just MAY, get 2007 OR10 a name. Stay tuned.


February 6, 2017

Key Dates in the New Trump Administration Tracked

Last fall I kept busy looking at all the indicators that Trump was headed for disaster. What else could I assume, seeing that at every key milestone and looking at the birth charts of his closest advisers, difficulty and disappointment loomed ahead. Who knew it would be getting elected that was Trump's (and the country's) Big Mistake.

So I wrote a followup to my Trump is Toast campaign series, called Mr. Trump's Wild New Year, where I listed the dates to watch in 2017. Yesterday I posted a look back of the dates passed so far, found on my More Plutos Facebook page.

Astrology shows us that you cannot avoid trouble, even if you are a billionaire and have somehow shoehorned your way into the most powerful job on Earth. Saturn cannot be bribed, and the planet of Karma is set on opposing Trump's Sun (and conj. his Moon) two more times this year. So mark your calendars with the dates provided in my article, and visit and Like/Follow More Plutos on Facebook to get further recaps and other astrological tidbits on current events.


October 21, 2016

2007 OR10 has a moon!

What is it with 2016?! First Makemake picks up a moon in April, and now The One Who Is Not Named, half a year later, coughs up a moon. Are they having a contest?! Tit for tat? Here's the announcement: Big Kuiper Object 2007 OR10 Has a Moon.

UPDATE, 27 Dec 2018: *STILL* *NO* *NAME*, for either OR10 or its Moon. SIGH.

UPDATE, 5 June 2019: OR10 and Moon NAMED Gonggong and Xiangliu


August 19, 2016

Dell Horoscopes Praises More Plutos

I've only just received a copy of this review, which appeared in Dell Horoscopes, July 2016 edition, so granted this isn't a very timely new item. I was asked by Dell Horoscopes for a review copy of my book in early January, which I was happy to send. Then in April I asked the person who had contacted me if they knew in what issue the review might appear. I didn't hear back, so I actually thought maybe my book didn't fit in with their readership, which I expected was more sun-sign oriented.

But a few days ago, someone posted a question to my More Plutos Facebook page and happened to mention he'd bought my book after reading a review of it in Dell Horoscopes. Imagine my surprise! Even better, the review was super complimentary from first to last! Thanks, Dell Horoscopes!!

Here's the review (PDF; 658K).


eLit Award, Silver badge, for book MORE PLUTOS, New Age/Mind-Body-Spirit categoryMay 26, 2016

MORE PLUTOS Wins an eLit Award!

More Plutos is now an AWARD-WINNING BOOK, since the 2016 eLit Awards were announced in late April (scroll to "New Age/Mind-Body-Spirit category). As you can see at right, More Plutos picked up the Silver medal for all eBooks submitted for consideration.

This has inspired me to submit More Plutos for other eBook and print awards, both for self-published and traditionally published books. I had no idea there were so many contests out there! We shall see how it goes.

To celebrate, I'm signing personalized copies of More Plutos bought through this website. I'll even throw in a print-out of your natal chart with Dwarfs included; more info on the home page.

Cover of eLit Award certificate eLit Award Letter eLit Award Certificate


Weeping Heart Chapter Art from MOREPLUTOS (c) Sue KientzMay 11, 2016

2007 OR10 Larger than Previously Thought (Until 2018 When They Thought Again)

UPDATE, sometime in 2018 (amending this on Feb. 20, 2020, and again on March 16, 2021). Apparently sometime in 2018, the powers that be (who have powerful telescopes) have revised Gonggong's size again, to 1230 km. Prepare for this to NOT be the last word on how big this big guy is, but since it now has a moon (Xiangliu), it may well be the last word. Observable moons help determine size. So this means that while Gonggong went from fifth-largest Dwarf Planet, to third-largest, this latest measurement puts G.G. back to fifth-largest again. Hey quit crying, G.G., you'll flood the world!

Original post: The Kepler Spacecraft has discovered that 2007 OR10 is the third-largest Dwarf Planet, edging out Makemake and Haumea. Previously it was believed to be the fifth largest. (<- haha, I say from 2021)

2007 OR10 has always been the largest unnamed body in our solar system. Co-discoverer Mike Brown of Caltech promised to name it in 2011, but still hasn't come up with a moniker he likes. Dr. Brown has pointed out that in 2017, anyone will be able to propose a name, as it will be 10 years since its discovery; after such a period, it's no longer just the purvue of the discovery team to submit a name to the Internation Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center.

The website referenced above shows 2007 OR10 as no. 3, followed by Haumea and Makemake. Usually Makemake is considered larger than Haumea, because of Haumea's football shape. Don't be surprised if the size estimates for these distant worlds change again and again. Except for Pluto, which was measured very accurately during the New Horizon's flyby in July 2015, different space telescopes produce slightly varying size measurements. That's why Eris was considered larger than Pluto for a time. Until robotic spacecraft visit 2007 OR10 and/or Makemake, we might consider them sharing the no. 3 position for now...


April 26, 2016

Makemake has a moon!

See the details at Hubble Discovers Moon Orbiting the Dwarf Planet Makemake. How thrilling! This means we will know more certainly, the size of this significant Dwarf. See the image (click for larger version) from Wikipedia; little MK2 is the bright dot just at the top, like its the angel on top of the Makemakean Christmas tree.

No name yet, but until it's chosen, what about Moonymoony?

UPDATE, 27 Dec 2018: Apparently the early estimate of 1500km is standing firm, as Makemake's size has not been updated in Wikipedia. And Mike Brown does update his Dwarfs' pages. Telling!


April 20, 2016

New Icon for Orcus (superceded by new icon, debuted Aug. 15, 2018; see above)

Orcus glyphIf only Dwarf Planet Hunter and Caltech professor Mike Brown would name his discovery "Snowwhite," formally known as 2007 OR10. Then one might simply use OR to designate Orcus in charts, without the possibility that some might mistake it for OR10. But no, "Snowwhite" (and I) are still awaiting that permanent name. Meanwhile, based on its apparent operation in charts, I developed a glyph for 2007 OR10, the "weeping heart" → OR10.

On the positive side, that frustration caused me to design my own Orcus glyph, one that represents this hefty 917-km world in a particularly Orcus-like way. To me, Orcus is Order, as well as a desire (or obsession) with Perfection. So I aimed for not just a very balanced icon, but one that meaningfully reflects the order I have found inherent in Astrology:

The three main sounds of O, C, and S are represented in the icon, in the order they are pronounced. Now flip that icon upside-down . . . The same three sounds in the same order are still presented. The icon is in effect a pallindrome, the same forwards or backwards.

Since I have found that birth charts, event charts, and basically any milestone chart for a person, can be progressed forward to see future events, and "regressed" (or progressed in reverse) to events in the past, this says to me that the Order of Time is invariant, i.e., the same backwards or forwards. This is why I designed the Orcus icon to represent the sound of the planet's name, both forward and backward.

For some more detail on Orcus, read my Spotlight on Bernie Sanders, whose birthchart shows Sun square Orcus.

Lastly, fellow astrologer Martina Erkskine was kind enough to convert my Orcus glyph, OR10 "weeping heart" icon, and others I developed, into a true-type font that can be installed on PCs (Windows) and the icons selected to display as User-Defined points in Solar Fire. If you would like to use this font, shift-click this link to download the file AsteroidSUE.ttf (UPDATE Aug 15, 2018: I've changed the Orcus glyph to one I like much better, and that newer glyph is in the font file.) Once on your Desktop or Download folder, double-click to install. When choosing that font in the pick list, look for "Asteroid SUE." In Solar Fire (8), from the UI, click Chart Options > Displayed User Defined Points Select the Dwarf Planet you want to add (usually Edit button> at right, click on Extra Point "Asteroid" > click "Select File > Transnep.ast > Edit > find your Dwarf Planet selection in "Available Asteroids" > click to move to "Selected Asteroids" > click Save Click "Select" to save your choices Now, in "Selected Points," click the Dwarf Planet you want to have an icon At bottom, make "Font" to be "Asteroid SUE" Choose your color/size/etc. Click the arrow ">" next to the Color button. That will open the font selection Click the glyph to associate with your Dwarf Planet (see the key I have at this chart) and click "Select" button. When all Dwarf Planets have the glyphs you want, click "Save" and at the next screen, "Select." You should be good to go.

Thanks, Martina!!


Feb. 25, 2016

Plog Series: There are More Presidential Candidates

Primary time is upon us; do you know the real story about each 2016 presidential candidate? Not only do you need to check out their birth charts, my Astrologer friend, you need Dwarf Planets to get to the real nitty gritty! So far I've analyzed Mario Rubio and Ted Cruz, but there's more to come....


Jan. 28, 2016

30-Year Anniversary of Challenger Disaster

Today I posted a short piece on the Challenger Disaster's chart on the More Plutos Facebook page. You don't have to be a Facebook member to read the post and view the charts, as the site is Public.

If you are an astrologer, you should consider checking out the many Facebook pages that discuss astrology. I've been spending more time myself posting and answering questions on these interesting group pages. These are either groups that want to talk about a specific aspect of astrology (like a particular planet, or asteroids only, or any Dwarf Planet), or they are general astrology discussion groups. Below is a list of a few of these communities.

Public Facebook Discussion Groups
With public Facebook groups, they are free to read but you have to join to post. Two good ones are

"Members only" or "Closed" groups
To read or post, you must first have a Facebook account. Once you do, type the group's name in the Facebook search box to locate one and then click the "Join" button.

  • General Astrology Discussion
    • Steve Tuffill's Astro Discussion Group
  • Specific Topic Discussions of Astrology
    • Eris: Eris Says "Come Join My Party"
    • Eris: Eris Followers
    • Dwarf Planets: Evolutionary Intensified People
    • Dwarf Planets, Asteroids, Centaurs: Centaurs2
    • Asteriods: Asteroid Astrology


Jan. 24, 2016

On AstrologyTruth.com: Eris, Antidote to Pluto

I've just posted a full-length article on three of the main interpretations of Dwarf Planet Eris, called " Eris, Antidote to Pluto." (UPDATE: With the passing of Steve Tuffill, owner of "AstrologyTruth.com" which unfortuately no longer exists, it was necessary to move this article here to the More Plutos website.)

In the article, I review Henry Seltzer's book The Tenth Planet: Revelations From the Astrological Eris and Laura Walker's online book-length treatment, Eris: Archetype of Shadows, discussing their Eris interpretations and how they supported their assertions. I then argue that Marina Macario in her 2010 article on Julian Assange and my own book More Plutos have Eris right, as The Other, a symbol of alientation and connectedness with Others. Why believe me? Because I also offer a few ways we might validate Eris's true meaning, once and for all.


Nov. 23, 2015

Debut of the Planetary Blog = PLOG!

The new Plog has manifested itself, and it looks like a TARDIS! That's right, the first post is about the venerated British TV series Doctor Who, and called Doctor Who Turns 52. Enjoy!


Oct. 18, 2015

Recent Appearances (Slides and Audio available) and Future Plans

This past week was very busy and productive, and challenging as I just returned from a trip back east on Monday. But somehow everything happened as planned:

  • The NCGR-LA Meetup on Thursday, Oct. 15, had a packed house of 35 people at Dupar's Restaurant in Encino, wondering what a "Makemake" was, as I snuck the Exciting Dwarf into the talk on Eris and Haumea. Fellow astrologer and friend Steve Tuffill of Steve Tuffill's Astro Discussion group and many other useful astrology groups on Facebook, captured the audio of the presentation and linked it in his very much appreciated article about the Eris-Haumea talk. You can also view the Eris-Haumea talk slides here (PDF; 20MB).
  • At the Dharma Center Bookstore in Whittier, I again gave impromptu readings this past Saturday and was available to sign my book. This has become a regular and well-attended event, so expect to see a November date listed on the More Plutos home page, soon. In the 30-minute session ($30), you can get a targeted birth-chart analysis, a pressing question answered, or if you're an astrological professional, we can talk about the Dwarf Planets and why you need to use these big boys.
  • Photos from the Vroman's Bookstore event in August are STILL coming. Honestly, I have been waiting for Ron to put his More Plutos shirt back on, because I want that photo in the collection. Also I have been crazy busy, but I have not forgotten.

Other than the monthly Saturday appearance at Dharma, there are no more scheduled events coming up, but two articles are coming in the Astrological Journal, and I have submitted a third article to The Mountain Astrologer, which I hope will be accepted soon.

Coming soon to this website: a weekly or bi-weekly blog on various current events or other astrological notes of interest, which I hope to debut in November. Stay tuned!


Sept. 9, 2015

Signings, Readings, and Slide Show Coming, Oh My!

Coming up, I'm returning to the Dharma Center Bookstore in Whittier, where I presented a talk on the latest Pluto images in July, as well a review on several of the mosst important Dwarf Planets farther out from Pluto. This time I will be doing impromptu readings. You can ask a particular question (without mentioning your birth date), or you can get a short birth chart reading. Either way, you get 30 minutes of analysis/discussion for $30. That's this Saturday, Sept. 12, 1-4 p.m., at 7007 Greenleaf Ave., Suite 210 (upstairs), Whittier, CA.

Next month, I will be presenting a Slide Show on Eris and Haumea at the NCGRLA Meetup at Du-Par's Restaurant, 16120 Ventura Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91436.

The Vromans' Signing on Aug. 30 went extremely well, and photos from the event will be up soon, both here and on the More Plutos Facebook page. Another signing is in the works for sometime in November-December. Stay tuned.

For the latest events, always check the More Plutos home page.


July 21, 2015

More Plutos Gets Enthusiastic Review from Astrology News Service

It was quite a thrill to learn that the Astrology News Service website posted an extremely positive review of More Plutos. Reviewer Armand Diaz e-mailed me to let me know it was up, and that he enjoyed my book. A day does not get any better than that!


June 11, 2015

More Plutos Print Replica for Kindle, iPad

I know Kindle fans love their Kindle features, but sometimes the conversion to create that presentation really screws up the careful formatting of a book like More Plutos. So in addition to the usual Kindle and Nook e-books, I've made available a More Plutos (Print Replica) that can be nicely viewed on large tablets like the Kindle FireHD or iPad.

In the print replica, you can see compared chart diagrams side by side, whereas this nice feature is stripped from the other e-book versions. Images are clearly with the text they illustrate, and tables are larger and easier to read.

Just be sure you see "Print Replica" next to the title when ordering. And don't forget to leave an Amazon review -- I want to hear from you!


June 4, 2015

Today was a busy and gratifying day:

  • More Plutos is now available at Vromans Bookstore's website. Later this summer, I will actually have a book signing there, with some cool giveaways, so stay tuned!
  • I stopped by the Thunderbolt Spiritual Bookstore and handed out my nifty new More Plutos Bookstore Flyer giving them the low-down on the book and ordering information. Here's hoping they order a few copies! One down, hundreds more to go (most bookstores will get the flyer in the mail, of course).
  • Have finished making a number of contacts/submissions to various astrology organization's email lists and meetups, to build awareness of More Plutos.
  • The paperback version's back cover will soon have some abbreviated quotes from The Mountain Astrologer review that appeared last week. That means that the copies already sold (including 20 copies I still have) will be collector's items. Hey I can dream, can't I?
  • And I updated the website! As you can see...


May 18, 2015

When I sent in my book to be reviewed by The Mountain Astrologer just hours after the first books arrived, I expected that in a few months, I'd see the review in their gorgeous, glossy magazine. The LAST thing I expected is getting an email less than a week later, saying the review was ONLINE, in TMA's Blog! Read the wonderful review by Mary Plumb that absolutely blissed me out!


May 13, 2015

The books have arrived! Both Amazon and Barnes & Noble lists More Plutos for sale. My free paperback copies from Dog Ear Publishing arrived this afternoon. The e-book is in production. I put together a fan page on Facebook, that's now ready for promoting. Time to celebrate!!


May 1, 2015

The print preparation for More Plutos is now complete, taking a bit longer than at first estimated. Now the book is expected to appear on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other online booksellers (in both color paperback and e-book format) by mid-May. Can't wait!


March 30, 2015

More Plutos is finally at the printer, and its expected online and print release is looking like late April, perhaps as soon as three weeks away. I'm still getting used to having my life back.

By the way, a miracle happened in that Kindle now accepts PDFs instead of insisting on Word docs. This means you're no longer forced to have special fonts (like every single zodiac sign I needed to use) wiped out by the Kindlefying process. Who knew God would answer that prayer.


Nov. 30, 2014

More Plutos can now be found in the online National Council for Geocosmic Research Holiday Memberletter on page 12. Meanwhile, the third-last chapter of MORE PLUTOS is winding up today. Book release might slip into January 2015 since I may need to reformat some parts for the Kindle-type version. Apparently all the nifty zodiac symbols and such can't be included in Kindle since they convert any special fonts to their own very standard font. Ayiii!!


Oct. 31, 2014

Makemake Article Published in Astrological Journal Cover of Nov./Dec. 2014 issue of Astrological Journal

On Hallowe'en I got the best treat of my life when the mailman brought me copies of the latest Astrological Journal (Nov./Dec. 2014 issue), inside of which was lurking my Makemake article. Especially pleasing was the enlarged title image of Salvador Dali, which seems to leap out at you when you turn to my piece. How apt as Makemake is a startling, electric-shock kind of object, as the many examples in my article hopefully demonstrate.

Even more interesting and exciting personalities and events will dive bomb readers in the Makemake chapter of MORE PLUTOS, which is nearing completion.



Oct. 21, 2014

Sedna Article Accepted by The Mountain Astrologer!

My excerpted Sedna article has been accepted by The Mountain Astrologer and will appear in the next issue, Feb./March 2015, arriving at newsstands in early January. I'd throw a party but the rest of the book is calling my name, pleading to be finished!


Oct. 12, 2014

Sedna Article Resubmitted to The Mountain Astrologer

My excerpted Sedna article for Mountain Astrologer was just resubmitted to the editors at 1:05 p.m. with the revisions they requested. OK I admit it, I was angling for Moon sext. Jupiter, trine Venus, all applying, but I really was ready to submit. Really.


Sept. 10, 2014

Eris Article Now Online

My article Eris: The Discomforting Other is now available online (PDF; 8.5MB). The version printed in Astrological Journal had a typeface problem that was not discovered until the issues were mailed. I'm grateful to editor Carole Taylor for fixing these errors and allowing a PDF to be posted for readers to enjoy the piece as I intended.


Sept. 7, 2014

AA Journal thumbnail, Sept./Oct. issue

Eris Article Appears in Astrological Journal

Last Tuesday the Sept./Oct. issue of the Astrological Journal came in the mail. I was excited to see it, as it contained an excerpt of the Eris chapter from my forthcoming book MORE PLUTOS. Unfortunately, as I looked closer I found that just about every zodiac glyph printed in the text was wrong. I was sick, wondering what happened. I e-mailed journal editor Carole Taylor and learned that unbeknownst to Carole, the desktop publishing program she used had corrupted the font. Carole was more than apologetic about the situation and is preparing a corrected PDF for me to post, which she will also link to the AA Journal website.

Once this electronic version of "Eris, the Discomforting Other" arrives, I will tweet out the link and post it here and on the home page of MORE PLUTOS. While it was terribly disappointing to have such problems with the printed copy, I look forward to sharing the Eris article with everyone who cares to read it. The AA Journal isn't available online, so this snafu could potentially give my Eris research a wider audience than I thought possible! Stay tuned.


Mini home page screen capture  

July 12, 2014

New Website!

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