Under the Influence for Saturday, June 27, 2026
"The universe is the messiah. The senses are gods and goddesses.” Here's the new Moon Zoom invite and an upcoming Ask The Astrologer reminder.
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MICHAEL McCLURE (1932–2020) was one of the core Beat Generation poets—though he resisted being boxed in by that label, and his work ranged well beyond it. His poetry fused biology, ecology, and mysticism. He spent decades at the California College of the Arts as a professor and remained a vital, active poet well into his 80s.
My fascination with McClure has everything to do with how his musings strived to seal up the divisions generated by life’s polarities. And the body always played a significant role in his metaphysical philosophies. I came across the following last week while cleaning out a bunch of notebooks on my computer:
“Everything is natural. The light on your fingertips is starlight. Life begins with coiling—molecules and nebulae. Cruelty, selfishness, and vanity are boring. Each self is many selves. Reason is beauty. Light and darkness are arbitrary divisions. Cleanliness is as undefinable and as natural as filth. The physiological body is pure spirit. Monotony is madness. The frontier is both outside and inside. The universe is the messiah. The senses are gods and goddesses. Where the body is—there are all things.”
Ask The Astrologer
Dabney Lawless and I are set to record a new episode of our dual cast next week. If you have an astrological quandary you’d like us to address, please post your question in the comments section to this post. The new show will be posted in the first week of July. Not all questions will be featured. Our previous show is here.
Moon Zoom Invite
Due to my chaotic schedule this month as well as the universe’s (and the US’s birthday), the next Full Moon Zoom will be held on Friday, July 3, at 1PM Pacific.
Remember, spontaneity is one of the joys of existence, especially if you prepare for it in advance. Join me for this lunar odyssey through the Sabian symbols, dreams (private and collective), and the country’s ongoing psychotic break. Maybe some Tarot, too.
To participate, the only requirement is that you’re a paid subscriber to WOODRUFF.
Space is limited.
• Paid subscribers to WOODRUFF! Join me on Friday, July 3, @ 1 PM Pacific for another lunar hangout.
• Follow this link over to Luma to register for free:
• https://luma.com/b4mvsmzv
Your Zoom invite will be emailed to you before the event starts.
See you next month.
Love,
Opening illustration by Ilonka Karasz from William Maxwell’s The Heavenly Tenants (Harpers) 1946 • Moon collage by FW, image via NASA, public domain. ©2026 by Nightcharm, Inc.
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My question is why does time seem to be going so fast? Back in the day a half hour (to use as an example) would fly by in 10 minutes in today’s world. Is it astrological in nature?
Would you talk about the different types of astrology - Hellenic, evolutionary, vedic, whole sign or whichever ones you think we should be able to distinguish between?