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MAY 12
ISRAEL AND THE MAY SOLAR ECLIPSE
The history of modern Israel is remarkably synchronised with the dual Solar Eclipses affecting the last half of the signs Taurus and Scorpio. The times when these eclipses have occurred within six months of each other provides an accurate blueprint of Jewish emigration and expansion into the New World.
In the late 19th century there was trio of solar eclipses occurring in the Taurus/Scorpio area, within less than a year. They were in effect from May 13 1882, again on November 10 1882 and finally May 6 1883. This period proved a decisive turning point in Jewish history, and the most important since the late 1490’s when the Jews were expelled from Spain. It began with a royal murder.
EXODUS FROM RUSSIA
The bombing assassination of Tsar Alexander II of Russia (not involving Jews), inspired a brutal crackdown on any individual or group considered rebellious, or a threat, to the government. This led to violent ‘pogroms’ - virtual demolition jobs on Jewish communities throughout Russia.
The May 1882 Solar Eclipse also coincided with the new Tsar Alexander III issuing the May Laws, placing greater restrictions on Jews. It inspired a massive Jewish emigration from Eastern Europe, with many headed for America.
Waves of Jewish settlers found a fresh home in the land of financial opportunity that was the USA. New York City’s Jewish population grew from eighty thousand in 1880 to over one million by 1910. However these major resettlements were also building enmity in other areas such as London, and eventually even the USA. Therefore the dream of a return to their ancient roots was fermenting.
A RETURN TO THE ROOTS
Following the November 1882 solar eclipse at 19 degrees of Scorpio, one hundred Romanian Jews purchased land near Haifa, Palestine, forming the city of Zikhron Ya'akov. They received substantial financial backing from Edmond Benjamin James de Rothschild, a member of the famed banking family, and a strong supporter of Zionism. The Rothschilds, at the time, possessed the largest private riches in the world. Edmond was to eventually spend $50 million dollars supporting Jewish settlements in Palestine.
The return to a homeland was supported by Great Britain with the eventual Balfour Declaration of 1917. The British were also concerned that mass immigration was a threat to local jobs. The new settlers saw nothing sacrilegious about working Sundays, and for lower wages. This represented a threat to British labor tradition and even the Conservative politicians in London railed against it.
THE SACRED SITES
The Taurus/Scorpio eclipses returned in November 1928 and May 1929. This period was pivotal in deteriorating relations between the Arabs and Jews. Zionist ambitions had grown. By now the Palestinians were becoming concerned regarding the temple area containing Western Wall. To the Jews the Wailing Wall was part of their religious tradition and part of the Second Temple. It was also the third holiest site in the Islamic world, the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Although there had been little trouble up until the eclipse period, an incident late in 1928 led the Arabs to believe that the Zionists planned to control this sacred shrine. This was not helped by Zionist leader Menachem Ussishkin gave a speech concluding, “Let us swear that the Jewish people will not rest and will not remain silent until its national home is built on our Mt Moriah”, referring to the same Temple Mount.
The right wing Zionists, such as the future first Israeli Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, claimed that the Temple Mount could be reclaimed within half a year. The British, then exercising a mandate over Palestine, put extra guards on the Rock. But by August 1929 hundreds of Jews marched to the wall, brandishing the Jewish flag and claiming ‘the Wall is ours’, and singing the Hatikvah, which was to become the Israeli national anthem.
The end of August saw repeated clashes beginning in Jerusalem and spreading to the other cities. The most infamous of these was the Hebron massacre, when the Arab gangs attacked the Jewish quarter killing over 60, and wounding a similar number. During a week of riots 133 Jews and 116 Arabs lost their lives. The 1928/29 eclipses had set the scene for the bitter divide of today.
The murderous events of 1929 led to a Royal Commission, which recommended a limit on Jewish immigration due to a lack of farming land. But by November 1947 (and the return of the solar eclipses to the identical degrees of 1928/29) the United Nations had agreed to partition Israel and Palestine, with similar land areas. Jerusalem was to be overseen by an international peacekeeping force. Within a week of May Taurean eclipse of 1948 the State of Israel had been declared, and all deals were off the table.
THE ECHOES OF 1929
Coinciding with the May 10 2013 Solar Eclipse – within the degree of the 1929 one – Israeli security have placed checkpoints around the same al-Aqsa mosque. Police evacuated Muslim worshipers, allowing a group of forty settlers to tour the site on one day and one hundred the next. This follows the Jerusalem’s most senior Muslim cleric Mohammed Hussein being questioned by police on suspicions of a disturbance.
As a result of this provocative action Jordan has withdrawn its ambassador from Tel Aviv and have expelled the Israeli ambassador. They claim Israel is playing with religious fire, as the roles of David and Goliath have been reversed.
May 2013 has also seen Israel bomb Syrian military installations on the outskirts of Damascus, with Syria embroiled in a catastrophic civil war. Days later the esteemed British physicist Stephen Hawking decided to boycott Israel’s Presidential Conference, as a peaceful protest against Palestinian discrimination. The planets again have designated the time frame. Something is brewing.
PAKISTAN ELECTIONS
As I write Pakistan is counting the votes from their national election, which began at 8 am Saturday May 11.
The horoscope of the Pakistan Republic, March 23 1956 @ 07.05 hours Islamabad time shows definite signs of change. The revolutionary duo of Uranus and Pluto are straddling the all important angles of the chart.
Crucial to a change of government would be former national sporting hero, and now reformist politician Imran Khan. Back in November 2011 I wrote of him, "Imran Khan, the incorruptible, is sure to be at the heart of the street level youth rebellion that sweeps Pakistan. Astrologically his moment has arrived." That link is here.
At the time Khan was attracting massive crowds as he spoke of his vision of a new Pakistan. With entrenched political corruption, crippling power outages, and financial instability it was no surprise that people were looking for change.
There are two charts given for the independence and creation of the Pakistan nation. One is the end of British governance at midnight leading into August 15 1947, and the other for a swearing in ceremony at around 9.30 am the previous day.
Both horoscopes have a 20 degree Leo Sun squaring Jupiter, the planet of law and religion. Effectively this alignment shows the potential to put the government at odds with either the justice system, or religious leaders. It also implies wasteful excess.
The timing of this election is auspicious, as it places the Sun at 20 degrees of Taurus, a challenging placement to the leadership Leo Sun. These horoscopes suggest a change of government, with the benefactors being Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan. But that's only the beginning. Both have a herculean task ahead to unify a nation beleaguered by internal factions and external interference.
May 05
THE VENEZUELAN VACCUUM
Power vacuums are treacherous political territories. Venezuela is experiencing such following the death of their charismatic leader, Hugo Chavez. Despised by the west, for his Bolivarian revolution, Chavez rose from political imprisonment in 1992, to a landslide electoral victory seven years later.
He had a connection with seven and its multiples, all related to the Saturn cycle, and was to eventually rule for fourteen years. Twenty one years after he appeared on the political scene, he departed forever, worshipped as a national hero.
His volcanic rise in popularity originally had the right wing media preposterously depicting him as a cannibal who devoured children. It was an anything goes election race in 1999. But the wide gap between the elitist rich and the impoverished illiterate poor had sown the seeds for a national revolution.
At 10.45 am on February 2 1999, as the leadership Sun joined rebellious Uranus, in the universal brotherhood sign of Aquarius, and it was ‘viva la revolution’. Hugo Chavez was sworn in as Venezuelan President. Click here to check the horoscope. He had achieved 56% of the vote, easily outstripping his opponent Salas Römer, the economist from Yale, with 39%.
As the renowned intellectual Noam Chomsky commented, Chavez was to be damaging, as in “destructive to the rich oligarchy, to U.S. power.” His strong-arm rule would thereafter polarize world opinion. But his popularity was everlasting, and he ruled until death came knocking. Like all charismatic leaders his departure has left a power vacuum in Venezuela.
HOROSCOPE OF REVOLUTION
The horoscope of Chavez’s ascension features a triple conjunction of the common collective Aquarian Sun, united with reformist Uranus and communicative Mercury. All three were hard angled to Jupiter, a planet of popularity and largesse. To the poorer classes especially, Chavez was an all-conquering hero; to the elite he was a nemesis and a dictator.
Chavez’s dislike for neo-liberalism and socialist agenda spawned his strong alliance with fellow revolutionary Fidel Castro of Cuba. Chavez maintained a dominant rule, but also channeled his country's enormous oil resources back into social projects, eliminating illiteracy and initiating greater contact with the people via the media.
His populist appeal saw his party returned to power, with an even greater majority 60% to 38%. So much so that private business interests of PDVSA (the Venezuelan oil company) orchestrated a national three-month strike. This led to a coup attempt on April 11 2002. The President of the Chamber of Commerce, Pedro Carmona, swore himself in as President, after having Chavez arrested.
Carmona dissolved the National Assembly and Constitution. It wasn’t for long. Within 48 hours Chavez had been reinstated and Carmona was headed for political oblivion. The international community had denounced the illegitimate grab for power, with Carmona’s only international supporter being George W. Bush.
Concerned for his own political stability Chavez continued to move his country away from its US investment monopoly and increasingly toward China. Before Chavez, Chinese investment stood at $500m per year, but was 15 times that by 2009, making China the second-largest trading partner.
Chavez increased government spending last year and was comfortably re-elected. But the country faces rising inflation of 20%+ and a slowing growth rate projected for 2013. All of which makes the narrow victory of Chavez’s successor Nicolas Maduro an intriguing political balancing act.
BUSMAN IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT
Nicolas Maduro was sworn in as the new President of Venezuela shortly after 2 pm local time on Friday April 19 in Caracas. Check the swearing in horoscope here. His victory with a less than two percent margin has led to calls for a recount by opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who is challenging the result in court.
Chavez had comfortably defeated Capriles in the previous election of October 2012. But the strongman’s demise has created a dangerous power vacuum. Congress meetings have erupted into all in brawls. Interventionists are sure to up the ante in the oil rich country. The revolution is reeling.
Nicolas Maduro is a strong talking Sagittarian with his Sun square revolutionary Uranus and zealous Jupiter. It’s a 'lucky break' combination that has seen him rise from bus driver to suddenly become President. But his horoscope (Nov 23 1962) does not have the powerful astrological connections, such as fortuitous Jupiter to the national Venezuelan Cancer Sun, that Chavez offered.
THE NEW REVOLUTION
The Venezuelan oil company, PVDSA, nationalized on January 1 1976, is still buying-off majority stakeholders such as ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, draining the economy. The current reforming planetary square of Uranus and Pluto is moving to impact both the Sun and Moon of the PDVSA horoscope. This threatens to restructure the company again, with possibly a new chief executive officer.
Increasing accidents within the oil and gas industries may also spark industrial unrest – there were two major disasters in 2012 occasioning over forty fatalities. The fact that Venezuela is the fifth largest oil producer on the planet encourages covert political manipulation, along with international intervention, and ongoing corruption.
Finally the horoscope of Maduro being sworn in is a hostile Sun Mars combination. Even the events of the day confirmed that. A protestor in a red suit – Mars is the red planet – grabbed the microphone, interrupting the new President’s address barely a minute into his acceptance speech. Is such an event an omen of what’s to come?
The horoscope of Venezuela, July 5 1811, even without a timed chart would seem to support a new revolution taking place. Torn between the two superpowers of China and the USA, and an increasing demand for cheap oil, the international stakes are as high as they can get.
The square of Uranus and Pluto, combining with Jupiter, impact on the Venezuelan Sun from August 2013 and increasingly so in the first quarter of 2014. These timed transits, and the fact that fateful Saturn is now progressing to the Venezuelan Sun, seem to confirm the difficulty that lies ahead for the man who would be king.
April 28
SYRIA - MIDDLE EAST – DÉJÀ VU
The upcoming Solar Eclipse of May 10, at 20 degrees of Taurus, is a game changer in the Middle East. In 1948 it accompanied the proclamation of the state of Israel. In 1967 it pre-empted the Six-Day War that forever changed the boundaries of Israel, Egypt and Syria. In May 1994 it accompanied the Palestinian Authority governance of the West Bank. Now, as the eclipse approaches, the Middle East looms into prominence via the ongoing Syrian Civil War.
THE HOROSCOPE OF SYRIA
The country of Syria proclaimed independence from French rule on September 16 1941, but did not achieve full autonomy until January 1 1944. The January 1 1944 horoscope positions the Sun at 9 degrees of Capricorn, in what is astrologically known as a Yod formation with reformative Pluto and military Mars.
The Yod, also dubbed the Finger of God, looks like a Y with the focal planet at the base. Syria’s focal point is the leadership Sun. Receiving the energies of purgative Pluto and combative Mars may well describe the history of modern Syria. Yods imply a balancing act and Syria has long been subject to strong-arm rule to keep the country in balance.
Hard line rulers often govern countries where foreign intervention has left separatist groups. Syria, centuries under the thumb of the Ottoman Turks, was subsequently subject to a further subjugation by France following WWI. More recently Syria cut diplomatic relations with both Turkey and France, as Turkey negotiated with the USA on replacing the current Syrian government, and France supported the move.
Regenerative Pluto is currently moving across the Syrian Capricorn Sun as rebellious Uranus simultaneously squares it. All this puts immense tests on the government. The combination of Uranus Pluto is one of deconstruction and building anew. The person representing the Sun now in the Syrian horoscope is President Bashar al-Assad.
BASHAR AL-ASSAD
Bashar al-Assad, was born September 11 1965 in Damascus, with no published time. His Virgo Sun is positioned together with forceful Pluto and strong willed Uranus. This is an extremely independent combination, opposing the establishment Saturn in his chart, and adding to his autonomous character.
Charlie Sheen, born barely a week before Bashar, also has his Sun positioned in a similar position to the same outer planets. While Charlie claimed to be ‘winning’ over the last couple of years, there would be plenty who thought the opposite. Bashar al-Assad may have been comfortably re-elected in May 2012, but his country was embroiled in conflict.
MARS OPPOSES THE PRESIDENT
On March 15 2011 the war planet Mars came to oppose Bashar’s Sun, Uranus and Pluto. The common manifestation of this is outbreaks of violence. The cosmobiologist Ebertin defined it as ‘the mania of destruction’. On that date protests began through Syria. They eventually expanded into outright civil war.
By January 2012 Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri expressed support for Syrian rebels. The Al-Nusra Front, an offshoot of Al-Qaeda, were responsible for car bombings and terrorist acts within Syria. The western governments were also supporting the rebels. But despite the ongoing support for these groups, al-Assad remains.
The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, has pledged a further $123 million toward the rebels in the civil war, which will take total US spending to $240 million. The US is eager to explain this is simply for food and medical supplies. But the international agenda is unfolding.
OUTSIDE INTERVENTION GROWING
Russia urges a “peaceful settlement to the crisis in Syria by means of a country-wide dialogue free of foreign interference and direction.” Israel and the US Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, now claim knowledge of the deadly sarin gas being used on Syrian rebels. In scenes reminiscent of pre Iraq invasion days, British PM David Cameron has also jumped aboard. The pressure is ratcheting up on Syria, with talks of UN weapons inspectors next on the agenda.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MAY ECLIPSE
All of this brings us to the upcoming May 10 Solar Eclipse. The Solar Eclipse will take place at 20 degrees of Taurus. The al-Assad family originally took control in Syria on November 13 1970. A horoscope for the start of their rule shows the Sun at 20 degrees of Scorpio and Saturn at 19 degrees of Taurus.
Both the leadership Sun and authoritative Saturn will feel the changeover effects of the upcoming eclipse. Recall too only weeks after the 1967 eclipse, also at 20 degrees of Taurus, Syria suffered heavy territorial losses in the Six-Day War with Israel.
The al-Assad rulership chart is also experiencing its own Uranus opposition, a time of increased rebellion and often the overthrow of the status quo. Back in 2011 the Libyan Gaddafi government was overthrown at its Uranus opposition. The same fate looks likely in the case of al-Assad.
Finally Bashar al-Assad’s own horoscope has warlike Mars progressing now to square fateful Pluto by June, and thereafter his own Sun.
Bashar did not expect to become the President. The change in succession occurred in 1994 when his elder brother Bassel was killed instantly in a collision, whilst driving his Mercedes during a fog. The eclipse that year again was at 20 degrees of Taurus.
This area of Taurus is crucial for fateful changes to the al-Assad family. The year 2000, and union of Jupiter and Saturn at 23 degrees of Taurus, saw the death of Hafez al-Assad, the father of Bashar, barely a week after the conjunction.
April 21
MARS MADNESS
What a week of Mars madness. By the 15th the fiery Aries Sun had come to join it’s ruler Mars; the planet war, weapons and tempests. From then the headlines reflected the heavens.
From Monday bombings across Iraq killed over fifty, and wounded hundreds more on the eve of national elections. Simultaneously the Boston Marathon was thrown into chaos with a terrorist bombing taking three lives, maiming many others, and capturing world headlines.
Tuesday a 7.8 deadly earthquake struck the border of Iran and Pakistan, near Mashkel, at 3.44 p.m. Iran time, taking over 35 lives, flattening villages and injuring hundreds. Then Wednesday evening by 7.50 p.m. the town of West, near Waco in Texas was evacuated following a fertilizer factory exploding into flames right on the Sun setting with Mars. Twelve people died and over one hundred and fifty were treated.
LOCAL WARZONE
By Thursday Watertown Massachusetts resembled a war zone. It was a swarm of SWAT teams, armored cars and weaponry, as the manhunt for the Boston bombers escalated after a gun battle with officers. Two hundred rounds of ammunition were exchanged.
The shootout left one policeman and one bombing suspect dead. Meantime in Ya’an China, another lethal earthquake claimed at least one hundred lives, and injured hundreds more. The Sun Mars was on overload. By 8.42 pm Friday the second Boston bombing suspect was captured and on his way to hospital.
Friday did not give very promising astrological conditions to be sworn in for a new Presidential term. But that’s exactly what Nicolas Maduro was experiencing as the new leader of Venezuela. His inauguration speech was cut short by a protestor grabbing the microphone before being hauled away by security guards. Where do we start with all of this?
THE CYCLIC PATTERNS OF FATE
Why has Mars impacted so on the USA this April? Part of the answer lies in their annual history. It began from the first shots of military combat fought at Concord and Lexington that began the Revolutionary War on April 19 1775. The stellar pattern set that day placed the Sun in the final critical degree of Aries, squaring destructive Pluto and in trine (120 degree angle) to combative Mars.
The Baltimore Riots of April 19 1861 culminated in an even more deadly prolonged Civil War, that accounted for more lives than all of the combined battles in US history. The Sun departing Aries has left a trail of tragedies since, including the recent Boston bombings and the fertilizer explosion at West, near Waco in Texas.
1906 April
18 San Francisco earthquake – 3000 deaths
1947 April 16 Texas City Explosion – worst industrial accident 600
deaths
1961 April 16 Bay of Pigs failure – 118 killed – 1202 captured
1983 April 18 Beirut US Embassy bombed – 63 deaths
1993 April 19 Branch Davidian Compound torched Waco Texas – 51 deaths
1995 April 19 Oklahoma City Bombing - 168 deaths
1999 April 20 Columbine High shootings – 21 killed
2007 April 16 Virginia Tech Massacre – 33 killed
2010 April 20 Deepwater Horizon drill explodes – 11 killed, major
ecological disaster.
The astrological explanation of the recurring similarities lies in the Sun moving through the late degrees of Aries and thereby squaring the planet of death – Pluto – in the July 4 1776 horoscope of the USA.
The same Pluto is hard angled, via a semisquare, to the Ascendant of the USA making it even more sensitive. Indeed when Pluto was transiting over the Ascendant of the USA, and thereby semi-squaring itself, the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001 occurred.
The end of Aries, start of Taurus is also incidental in the swearing in of US Presidents. Those who have been sworn in when Venus occupied this position included William Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley and Warren Harding – all who died in office.
April 19 – 22 in 2014 is significant. The US horoscope will field a Grand Cross featuring Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto all closely aligned on its Cancerian Sun.
This marks a time of great developmental crisis, for the government and the nation. On the global scene there are several hotspots that tie in with this Grand Cross and the USA horoscope for that time, being Venezuela, Hawaii, Indonesia and Central Africa.
THE BOSTON BOMBING
April 15 2013 at 2.50 pm, as exhausted runners completed the course of the celebrated Boston marathon, two terrorist explosions discharged simultaneously. Around 174 people were injured, with three fatalities and others permanently maimed. The city went into shutdown, and a nation into shock. The explosions were timed for the peak period of the marathon.
It was a race began in ideal conditions following a 26 second moment of silence in memory of the victims of Sandy Hook. A mile was dedicated to each one of those lost. A marker with the green colors of Sandy Hook splashed on it stood near the finish line. The horoscope of the Boston bombing is here.
Besides the obvious connection of the Sun and Mars combination to acts of violence, the most obvious factor is the nefarious Neptune setting in Pisces. Neptune is in the longitude of the auspicious Formalhaut, a combination described by the authoritative Vivian Robson as 'secret enemies, or violent death through secret enemies'.
The other fixed star area highlighted in this horoscope is the Midheaven in the famed Pleiades, not far from the most evil star of the heavens in the binary Algol - the Gorgon's head. Cross culturally this star seems to have the same feared reputation. Both the covert Neptune and the Pleiades connection may throw confusion around the ensuing investigation.
THE TSARNAEV BROTHERS
The first alleged terrorist killed during his capture was Tamerlan Tsarnaev, of Chechnyan heritage and born October 21 1986 in the Caucusus region of Russia – no time available. He arrived in the USA in 2002.
Tamerlan has a powerful Mars Pluto square in his horoscope, and was an accomplished heavyweight amateur boxer, hoping to represent the USA. The violent square of fighter Mars to explosive Pluto is an aspect evident in the horoscope of martial arts expert Bruce Lee and the legendary Muhammad Ali.
Tamerlan’s late Libran Sun was receiving an opposition from both the Sun and Mars during the period covering the bombings and his death in custody. Also his progressed Sun had moved to square progressing Mars across the last year and still current.
In addition he experienced the November Solar Eclipse right on this progressed Scorpio Sun. Events around that time could have certainly changed his worldview. Tamerlans’s horoscope, and the repetitive Mars aspects, are consistent with one being either the perpetrator, and/or on the receiving end of violence.
His younger brother’s horoscope, of July 22 1993, does not immediately show the same aggression, although no time is yet available. His Sun is near the semisquare of Mars, which may account for his competitive wrestling.
The horoscope of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev also places the Sun at the end of Cancer, meaning that it would receive the recent Sun Mars energy as a challenging square. It also shows one who may be highly influenced by others, especially those of a radical nature via a Uranus and Neptune opposition to his Mercury.
THE FIRST BOSTON MARATHON
According to the Boston Globe of April 1897 the first Boston Marathon was run on Monday April 19 along narrow and dusty roads. The runners lined up at 12.15 pm and set off at exactly 12.19 pm from Metcalf’s Mill, Ashland.
The winner, New York’s J.J. McDermott finished the 25-mile race lapping Irvingon St Oval in a time of 2 hours 55 minutes and 10 seconds. At the time of this explosion Saturn was at the base of the birthchart of the initial Boston Marathon, and Mars on the Sun. See biwheel of the first marathon with the bombing here
THE USA HOROSCOPE
The first published USA horoscope was that of July 4 1776 @ 17.10 hours. Regardless of the time, this chart has two volatile points, which are often activated during acts of violence.
They are the insurgent Mars Uranus midpoint of 15 degrees of Gemini and the explosive Mars Pluto midpoint of 9 degrees of Aries. At the time of the Boston Marathon dual bombings transiting Jupiter was at the Mars/Uranus and transiting Uranus was at the Mars/Pluto.
The horoscope of the USA also has its own leadership Sun progressed to a testing square with the unpredictable Uranus. This is being played out via a bitterly divided Congress and a nation at odds with itself.
The progressed horoscope of the USA is shown here with the horoscope of the Boston bombing. The volatile Sun Mars currently in Aries the warrior, opposes the progressed USA Moon, being the public. The angles of each chart are superimposed upon each other.
APRIL 14
THATCHER AND THE SATURN EFFECT
To the astronomer, Saturn is the most beautiful of planets. It’s surrounding concentric rings paint a path like the Moon circling the earth. Saturn has a mysterious time connection with our own Moon. Just as each New Moon takes twenty-nine days to appear, each Saturn orbit takes twenty-nine years to play out. But in astrological tradition its beauty is belied by its actual experience.
Examine the descriptive keywords of Saturn. You will find terms like dour, rigid, judgmental, controlling and containing. To the ancients it was distant and cold. Saturn attributes were endurance, hard work and tenacity. Unlike its fellow gas giant, jolly and generous Jupiter, Saturn was seen as mean spirited; like the wagging finger of an external authority figure.
The upside of Saturn’s austere discipline was self-sufficiency and maturity. Working through the tests of Saturn could impart a tough outer skin against the winter winds of fate, which so often accompanied its presence.
Saturn defined former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. She was born October 13 1925 at 9 am in Grantham, with Saturn rising in the uncompromising sign of Scorpio. She departed as Saturn returned to the same place.
The polarized reaction surrounding Thatcher’s death has unearthed many Scorpio demons. The divisive years of “Thatcherism” resurrected at her death. Glowing tributes to the ‘grand lady’ were contrasted by burning embers of ‘ding dong the witch is dead’.
Thatcher undertook a Scorpionic purge of public utilities, amidst sweeping changes to taxation and private industry. They were changes that supporters say saved the nation and detractors claim sold it out. In most cases of such polarity, a truth lies somewhere in between.
SCORPIO AND PURGATIVE CHANGE
Margaret Thatcher initially achieved world fame as the first female Prime Minister of Great Britain. But her 11 year and 209 day tenure also marked her as one of the most important. Her Saturn Scorpio Ascendant indicated how she dawned on others. The Ascendant also outlined her own window to the world. Click here for her horoscope.
True to Scorpio she saw life as a battle - preconditioned to purgative change. Proper to Saturn, she would take the conservative side. Change was aimed at strengthening the status quo, and maintaining established traditions.
During the period that Saturn moved through the self-directed eastern hemisphere of her horoscope, people could not miss seeing her Saturnian face. But it was Thatcher’s equally public Moon that supported her rise.
Thatcher’s Leo Moon was conjunct the fixed star Regulus, one of the four great Watchers of the East, regarded by the Persians as a ‘royal star’. The famed British astrologer of the 17th century, William Lilly, wrote “The fixed stars give great gifts, and elevate even from poverty to an extreme height of fortune, the seven planets do not do so.”
Winston Churchill was also born with his Moon with Regulus. Both leaders rate at the top of the polls for influential UK Prime Ministers.
THE CENTRAL MARTIAL PATTERN
The central aspect pattern in Margaret Thatcher’s horoscope is a motivating T-Square with assertive Mars at the apex of an opposition between righteous Jupiter and controlling Pluto.
This marked her as a fighter, and was the essential astrological indictor of her nickname – the Iron Lady. Mars is not only the planet of combat and war, but also iron and steel. Thatcher’s enemy was increasing socialism – and she was extreme in her dismantling of social benefits. It started with free school milk, and ended with public utilities.
Thatcher’s conviction for privatization led to selling electricity, gas and water to private investors, going to war with powerful unions, and aligning with her US counterpart Ronald Reagan on financial deregulation.
Her industrial polices remodeled the British press, with accommodating Rupert Murdoch a key player. His 1981 acquirement of the Sunday Times was sanctioned without the scrutiny of regulators, after a clandestine meeting with Thatcher at the media mogul’s request on January 4 of the same year..
Initially Thatcher’s social cuts, coupled with massive job culling, led to the ugly 1981 British riots. Unemployment soared under her restructures, rising from 5% when she assumed office to above 12% by mid-1984. It had fallen back to 7% by 1990, the year of her resignation.
Her antagonistic Mars, Jupiter Pluto led her to admonish US President George Bush that 1990 was ‘no time to get wobbly’ regarding invading Iraq before the first Gulf War.
In 1982 Thatcher gave the green light for Great Britain to enter a war over the disputed Falklands Islands, off the coast of Argentina. This is supported by her own astromap showing her dominant Mars and authoritative Sun rising across the Falklands at the time of her birth. Click here for the astromap.
Argentina laid claim to the nearby islands invading the Falklands on April 2 1982. Three days later Thatcher launched Great Britain’s counter offensive. The war was over by June 14 with a resounding British victory.
As so often happens with politicians, Thatcher’s decisive wartime role buoyed her popularity with the public. The lady, whose popularity had slipped to a devastating 20% a year after her election, completely wiped the floor with her opposition at the Jun 9 general election of 1983.
MIXING PROGRESSIONS AND TRANSITS
Thatcher’s career follows her progressed horoscope. By the May 4 1979, with fighter Mars progressed to her Ascendant and joining the planet of accountability - Saturn – she had become Prime Minster. But typical to the Mars Saturn union, the road ahead would be littered with cobblestones. With saturnine perseverance she took the fight to the opposition, prepared to wait it out.
In this same time period Pluto, the planet of the powerful plutocracy, was moving across her Libran Sun. It was to totally transform Thatcher, as well as the country she governed. Saturn and Pluto are planets of unremitting effort to reform a structure. Both are also connected to control and in the case of Pluto, destroying or dismantling, in order to build anew.
Thatcher’s zeal for deregulation paralleled Reagan’s on the other side of the Atlantic. Together they are seen as champions of the right, pivotal in the political breakdown of the Soviet Union, and ending the Cold War. Predictably the same deregulation eventually paved the way for the fiscal free for all and banking corruption, that led to the global economic meltdown.
SATURN RETURN = MINER’S STRIKE AND IRA BOMB
At Margaret Thatcher’s first Saturn return of 1954, she qualified as a barrister, specializing in taxation law, and at the dawn of her political calling. As Saturn moved through her career defining tenth house she attained the highest political office in the land. By 1982, when Thatcher committed her country to war, the planet of Saturn was moving across her Libran Sun. It proved to be one of her defining moments.
At her second Saturn return; a day short of her birthday; she was lucky to escape an IRA assassin’s bomb set for the Conservatives conference at Brighton. The explosion, timed for 2.54 a.m. October 12 1984, killed five others, and injured thirty-four. This same year witnessed a protracted miner’s strike. As the nightly news showed bloody clashes with police, Thatcher described the strikers as ‘the enemy within’, whilst union bosses likened her to a ruthless dictator.
THE END OF CONTROL
Austerity has its limits – and taxation changes generally mark revolutions – a lesson the British learnt in 1215, and were reminded of in 1776. Thatcher’s discovery moment was when Saturn came to square her Sun. She lost support within her own party over an unpopular Poll Tax. Even the ever side saddle riding Murdoch media could not save her bacon on that one.
The Poll Tax incited riots in London with hundreds of thousands of protestors in London. It was typical of the civil unrest that marked her tenure. With limiting Saturn completing an ongoing stationary square to her birth Sun and now facing increasing pressure from her own ‘enemy from within’ – her own party - she resigned from leadership. Transforming Pluto had landed on her Scorpio Ascendant.
By 2002-3 as her progressed Ascendant moved in opposition to mortal Pluto Margaret Thatcher, suffered a series of small strokes. On advice, she cancelled all future speaking engagements. Her life partner and constant supporter Dennis died of pancreatic cancer. The following year her US ally Ronald Reagan also passed away. By then Margaret Thatcher had developed ongoing dementia.
Saturn has now returned to her Scorpio Ascendant and her birth position. At 11.28 p.m. April 7 2013 (according to the Sun newspaper) Margaret Thatcher died of a stroke. At 00.52 BST April 8 her passing was announced to a mixed response, split along political lines. Wednesday’s funeral will occur as the Sun and war planet Mars come together in combative Aries.
The legacy of public protests is likely to be re-enacted; albeit on a much smaller scale. In death, as in life, she remains a divisive, but also defining, figure. Ironically, the Guardian claims her greatest beneficiary, Rupert Murdoch, will not be in attendance. An important board meeting has taken precedence.
April 7
A NEW KIND OF GLOBAL WARMING
It’s a long way back to April 1208, and the Great Fire of Hangzhou. That year on April 5 the Sun Venus and Mars were positioned in the fire sign of Aries, almost identical to the upcoming New Moon of April 10. Ten days later the Chinese capital of Hangzhou burned for four days and nights, and destroyed over fifty eight thousand homes.
Hangzhou, is one of the Seven Ancient Capitals of China, lying at the delta of the mighty Yangtze River. It’s an industrial centre of nine million people, who have tripled their GDP over the last decade. These days they’re worried about a different kind of fire. The spontaneous self-combustion of border allies North Korea, and embers simmering from neighboring Japan.
China is deploying troops to the North Korean Border. The pugnacious posturing of youthful North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, against the military might of the USA, and neighboring South Korea, is threatening the peninsula.
While Jong-un has his finger on the nuclear trigger, the latter play their annual inflammatory war games. And from the April 10 New Moon, North Korea have said they cannot guarantee the security of foreign diplomats. But no-one is taking it too serious - as far as moving goes.
BIGGER FISH TO FRY
Last week I wrote about the larger implications of this New Moon conjunct provocative Mars. It was igniting critical zodiacal degrees, sensitized back on August 1 1894 when war between Japan and China was officially declared. The New Moon of April 10 2013 will represent the Mars return of that conflict. Mars is the planet of war.
The First Japanese-Sino War was fought principally for control over Korea and its seaports. Japan had opened trading with the west, after four US warships captained by US Commodore Matthew C. Perry steamed into Tokyo bay.
Back then g unboat diplomacy instituted free trade agreements. It certainly transformed Japan, who rapidly became a military power modelled on western lines. Japan then set their eyes on Korea, who had chosen to remain isolated and resisted foreign trade and culture.
By July 23 1894 Japanese troops had seized the Korean Emperor in Seoul and installed their own government. They also repealed all Korean-Sino agreements and officially declared war on China by August 1.
Japan then descended upon Pyongyang – now the North Korean capital. By September 16 1894, they captured the city. Resistance – as they say – was useless. Forever since, Korea has been a divided country with foreign intervention prevalent.
JAPAN’S INCREASING NATIONALITY
The established horoscope for Japan is that of the Meiji Constitution of February 11 1889. It has proved effective for crucial historical moments from the bombing of Hiroshima to the Sendai tsunami, despite the actual constitution now being replaced. But it was this original agreement that gave birth to constitutional government in the Land of the Rising Sun.
In this year’s World Predictions 2013 I wrote this about Japan. “The Meiji horoscope looks volatile for 2013, as the progressed Sun comes right upon the progressed Mars and progressed Mars also squares itself. This is strong from early March this year, with the progressed aspects becoming exact from early 2014.
Mars is the lord of war and the military. These signals suggest a greater concentration on security issues. Expect a more militarized Japan, with belligerent North Korea on the doorstep, and a rapidly expanding China."
Newly elected Japanese PM, Shinzo Abe, “stated that he considers relations with China as the biggest challenge for 21st century Japan. He intends advancing military ties with the USA, and is even contemplating a return to nuclear power.
Japan’s Sep 11 2012 nationalization of the disputed Diaoyu (or Senkaku) Islands, also claimed as sovereign territory by China and Taiwan, has created a critical schism between the juggernauts of Asian economy. Riots ensued in Shanghai and diplomatic barbs, extending to rumors of war, have circulated since.
Japan have held regional dominance in Asia since victory in the first Japanese-Sino War, fought from August 1 1894-April 17 1895. They reinforced this during the Second Sino-Japanese war beginning 11 pm on July 7 1937. That dominance all began to change markedly when China’s economy surpassed Japan’s, becoming the world’s second largest, by 2010.”
KOREA - A STRATEGIC BATTLEGROUND
Apart from the early Roman Empire, Britain in the 19th century and the US in the 20th, China has been the powerhouse financial nation, for most of the last two thousand years. Now the fiscal compass appears to be turning back in the oriental direction.
The weakening of the Japanese economy, the strengthening of China, and the uncertainty of the USA are all playing a backdrop to the Korean nuclear crisis. That’s why the April 10 New Moon on the Mars of the first Sino-Japanese war is so significant. It’s a prelude of what is to come.
China has moved troops to the North Korean border. They along with the US, South Korea and Japan are on alert. War, regime collapse or even intense political instability could lead to a refugee problem for China.
Following the April 10 New Moon, a lunar eclipse occurs on April 25. This eclipse will highlight the Mars of the North Korean national horoscope being September 9 1948 – time unknown at Pyongyang.
Military maneuvering has already begun. Last year the US stationed permanent troops on Australian shores for the first time since WWII. One anomaly here - there is no war - Australia is not under attack. What are we preparing for?
The astrological correspondences continue. The May 10 2013 Solar Eclipse of 20 degrees Taurus will oppose the Mars degree of the Second Sino-Japanese War, begun July 7 1937.
Lastly the astromap of the New Moon of April 10 shows the Sun, Moon and Mars setting across Japan, not far from South Korea. Click here for the astromap. They paint an appropriate picture of the mood descending upon the entire area.
Whether or not a shot is fired, the backdrop is being laid. The planets are illustrating how cycles repeat, and with them how history repeats. They also beg the question, ‘so what have we learned during the interim?’
Part of that answer is that we have learnt how to build bigger and more powerful weapons – nuclear ones. The learning bit comes in not deploying them. Over in the Middle East they're working on the same. But with the western press focus on North Korea - it is certainly, let's say, 'slipping under the radar'.
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
As a point of interest, if you're born under a cardinal sign - Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn - the events of this year may have a connection with 1981, 1985, or 2009, as in recurring themes in a similar area of your life. Check that and more in the weekly horoscopes below.
And for market watchers Venus and Mars is a signature of increased fluctuation. That may apply from the start of the week as the conjunction is now current. The New Moon will highlight this on the 10th.
Historically a New Moon on Venus Mars conjunction of August 25 also timed the top of 1987 - a dramatic year of market correction. Has the Dow reached its limit? This week should answer that one.
March 31
THE ASTROLOGY OF NORTH KOREA
Will he or won’t he – press the button. Is Kim Jong-un, the youthful leader of North Korea the new Dr Evil? It may seem comical - whiteboard photos of a battle plan with US targets for publication around the world. Is it a smokescreen for something else? Best to look at the history of a once proud nation, and hope that Kim has a good Saturn return.
The history of the Korean peninsula remarkably ties in with significant planetary cycles – and is still doing so today. The Neptune Pluto cycle of empires covers 493 years, and has a fascinating correlation with Korean dynasties. It’s a case of three conjunctions of the distant planets – and three dynasties rising.
The Tang Dynasty, a golden period of Oriental literature and poetry came to an end in 906 AD within a year of the Neptune Pluto conjunction. The Goryeo Dynasty ruled for centuries until the next meeting of Neptune and Pluto of 1392 uniting the three kingdoms of Korea. The Joseon Dynasty then prevailed over the peninsula from 1392 to 1897, close to the last Neptune Pluto conjunction.
This last Neptune Pluto conjunction of the 1890’s, at 9 degrees of Gemini signaled the beginning of an occupied Korea. This specific zodiacal degree also stood out when I was researching nuclear energy and its critical developments for a series of lectures for the Sydney Astrological Research Society in the late nineties. The same degree is also crucial in the horoscope of the USA, and currently active in their progressed horoscope.
So it may be no surprise that as Jupiter has moved backward and forward across nine degrees of Gemini, and formed an uncomfortable yod to Saturn and Pluto in the process, that the nuclear issue has raised its frightening head again. And that North Korea and the USA are the protagonists.
MODERN KOREA
At the beginning of the 20th century Korea was under the colonial occupation of Imperial Japan. A national resistance movement was formed at 2 pm on March 1 1919 in Seoul. This resulted in violent suppression from the Japanese military.
The dissidents fled from the mainland and sought international assistance. A delegation of Koreans attempted to gain support for independence at the Paris peace Conference of 1919. But they were prevented from speaking by the USA and Japan.
Although lacking recognition from world powers, China was more sympathetic to Korean self-rule. They housed a refugee ‘government in exile’ formed April 13 1919 in Shanghai, named the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.
But Japan’s annexation of a divided China during the 1930’s further delayed Korean nationhood until after WWII. During this period the Allied leaders, Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin all agreed that Korean nationality should be supported.
The importance of the resistance movement astrologically is contained in the union of royal Jupiter with the power planet Pluto in the early degrees (5-6) of tribal Cancer on March 1 1919. Such degrees would be important in the development of the movement and modern history of the ultimately divided nation. Today it is a celebrated day. Keep in mind the sign of Cancer, and its early degrees which would prove pivotal to the eventual Civil War.
A NATION DIVIDED BY ALLIES
Following the fall of the Japanese Empire, the USSR and USA, suspicious allies at best, administered over a Korean peninsula divided at the 38th parallel. The populace, frustrated with constant colonialist intervention, revolted.
In the wash-up the USSR supported the North Korean Provisional People’s Committee formed by Kim II-Sung, and the US got behind Syngman Rhee, the President of the Republic of Korea from September 11 1919. And the nation remained divided at the 38th parallel.
South Korea became a nation on August 15 1948, with North Korea following on September 9 1948. From the same year Soviet troops withdrew from North Korea. As for the north, a dynastic rule has followed. The current leader, youthful Kim Jong-un is the grandson of the original leader Kim II-Sung
The fermenting opposition between capitalism and communism, that so dominated post-war politics, eventually exploded at the 38th parallel, with the luckless Koreans soon caught in their own cross fire, as the Vietnamese would be a decade later.
Who fired the first shot of the Korean Civil War is hotly debated between historians. But a pre-dawn raid between 4 and 4.30 am on June 25 1950 at Ongjin triggered the hostilities, that over three years later left two and a half million either killed or wounded.
THE HOROSCOPES OF WAR AND PEACE
The horoscope of this moment has been significant in ongoing skirmishes between the combatants. The patriot Cancer Sun is linked with the planet of independence, willful Uranus and both square protagonist Mars in divided Libra.
It’s a potent and fitting battle horoscope. The cardinal positioning sets up dates around the end of March, June, September and December each year as potential trigger points, whenever the Sun squares or opposes these Korean Civil War placements.
The predictive potential of this horoscope was revealed on June 21 1957, days before the seventh anniversary of the outbreak of civil war. Although peace had reigned for four years prior, the US informed North Korea that it intended bringing nuclear arms to the peninsula.
This move abrogated the armistice. Cruise missiles with the range of China and the Soviet Union in their sites were deployed despite concerns by the United Nations.
Again in 2010 when a solar eclipse fell right on the Sun degree of the Civil War horoscope the war sabers rattled. Three months prior on March 26 2010, as the Sun neatly squared this eclipse degree, and opposed the Mars of the original war chart, a South Korean ship was sunk by a North Korean torpedo, with the loss of 46 lives. Now, in 2013, and again at the end of March, with the Sun so positioned, headlines abound, with North Korean war propaganda front page.
ARMISTICE BUT NO PEACE TREATY
The Korean War Armistice was signed July 27 1953 at 10 am in the northern city of Panmumjon. It was a good day for peace. Diplomatic Venus, the most elevated planet in the sky, was positioned with genial Jupiter in the signatory sign of Gemini. Both were in a supportive trine to responsible Saturn in the balanced scales of Libra.
Even so the horoscope featured a retrograde Mercury, wedged closely between the Sun and war planet Mars. True to the communicative mercurial connection, the divided Korean peninsula have engaged in a war of words ever since. South Korea, although accepting the ceasefire, have never signed a peace treaty or accepted the division of the country. And foreign troops, in this case those of the USA, have never left.
THE NORTH ON A WAR FOOTING
If it weren’t so serious, the published photos of a youthful North Korean President, Kim Jong-un, with a whiteboard backdrop map of US targets would be right out of a Get Smart episode. Nobody seriously gives the game up that much before an impending strike. But ongoing war games by South Korea and the US flying stealth bombers over the peninsula, along with severe economic sanctions have riled the rebel nation. Meanwhile Russia and China are urging restraint on both sides.
Reportedly an urgent meeting of Kim Jong-un’s military council was called shortly after midnight March 29. This followed followed two US B2 bombers, executing simulated bombing raids on North Korean targets on an island off the coast of South Korea. The North has since been placed on the highest alert and the hotline between North and South Korea was cut from the 27th. Western press reports that North Korea declared a state of war with the south on March 30. What now?
THE BATTLE FOR PACIFIC SUPREMACY
Firstly everything has followed a predictable pattern. The joint military exercises from South Korea and the US always receive a hostile reaction from Pyongyang. The time is right astrologically being the end of March again. And recently Mars, the Sun and Venus and even Uranus have all squared the Sun Mars of the Korean Civil War horoscope. The progressed war chart also has its Sun opposed to progressed Jupiter, which is usually exaggeration and escalation.
Notwithstanding all of this there is an ongoing defensive reaction to the economic growth of North Korea's long time ally China. Japan is also moving toward a military outlook under the hawkish PM Shinzo Abe.
All of this suits the US current containment strategy in the China seas. At the beginning of the year in my World Predictions article I explained this and how it would impact at the end of March, and that the New Moon of April 10 could be a catalyst.
Briefly the forecast was concerned with The Wuchang Uprising or Chinese horoscope positioning Mars at 11 degrees of Gemini – a dangerous degree that Mars also occupied the day that Hiroshima was bombed. Excessive Jupiter moving across this degree and Saturn and Pluto combining to form a difficult yod is creating disturbing diplomatic waves.
The upcoming April New Moon of the 10th is also joining the Mars of the first Sino-Japan War horoscope, all of which can make April 10-15 2013 a volatile time window, in the worldly sense. But while all eyes may be on North Korea, there are bigger fish to fry in this ongoing power play.
March 24
CYPRUS is the third largest island of the Mediterranean, with a population of just over one million. It was under British administration from 1878, until an agreement on February 19 1959, between Cypriot leaders, the UK, Greece and Turkey led to a new constitution. This concord, known as the London Zurich agreement, laid the foundation for modern independent Cyprus.
The horoscope however, is extremely challenging. It comprises a Grand Cross, positioning the leadership Pisces Sun and Mercury, in opposition to power player Pluto. All square aggressive Mars and extremist Jupiter. This combination would exacerbate violence over religious and cultural differences, and also place Cyprus at the mercy of foreign powers. The signatories had inadvertently given the island state the most inauspicious of birthcharts.
DIVISIVE HISTORY
Following independence, wars broke out between the majority Greek Cypriots and their northern Turkish counterparts. Military coups and violence, along with offshore interventionist activities has been a mainstay of the Cypriot political landscape. Today the island is at the center of an international banking crisis, which threatens banks worldwide, and is problematic for the EEC.
As a result of the capitalist crisis in the global economic meltdown, and the exposure of Cypriot banks, the country faces bankruptcy. Cyprus banks are closed. Their parliament has so far rejected the tough guidelines of a financial rescue package from the EU and IMF. The terms of this package sent shivers around the banking world. Depositors would be taxed 6.75% for amounts under one hundred thousand euros, and 9.9 % for savings above.
This goes against all the accepted methods of fighting economic meltdown. Freezing bank withdrawals and imposing a tax on deposits will destroy public confidence in the banking system. Potential bank runs across Europe would spell a disaster even greater than the original meltdown. The effect on social order would be catastrophic.
CYPRUS AND THE EEU
Cyprus joined the EEU from midnight May 1 2004. This horoscope has the meltdown planet of Pluto moving across its Capricorn Ascendant, and rebellious Uranus squaring the same. This reformatory combination is known for destroying something, before replacing the structure anew. Even if Cyprus were to remain in the EEU, the conditions of its membership would be vastly different. Pluto would mean relinquishing even more control.
Agitation is rising. Confrontational Mars will square eruptive Pluto by Tuesday the 27th, when Cyprus banks are due to open again. On the following day value planet Venus will unite with the Sun, and both square unpredictable Uranus. This is when sparks should fly. Not only for Cyprus, but we would have to look at markets and banking worldwide. Like the straw and the camel - a butterfly flaps its wings in Nicosia – but the ripples travel around the world.
ELLEN DEGENERES IN OZ
Ellen DeGeneres was born at 3.30 am January 26 1958 in Metairie, Louisiana. Click here for horoscope. She is one of the most successful media personalities in the world. The popular comedian, talk show host and actress has emceed both the Emmy and Academy awards. Her top rating ‘Ellen’ daytime show is syndicated across the globe.
She is also widely known for ‘coming out’ on her sexuality on the Oprah Winfrey show in February of 1997. This occurred during the full exposure energies of her progressed Full Moon. She later married her Australian actress partner Portia de Rossi, on August 16 2008. Ellen is now in her New Moon phase, favoring fresh initiatives and groundbreaking moves.
AUSTRALIAN
CONNECTION
Ellen has an Australian connection, starting with her birth on Australia
Day. European government came to Australia with the First Settlement of
5.23 am January 26 1788. Ellen is now touring the Land of Oz, and is the
second major US talk host to head to the great southland, following Oprah
Winfrey in May 2011.
Oprah also has an astrological connection to Australia. Her birthday also falls close to Australia Day, Oprah’s being January 29 1954.
Both Ellen and Oprah are Aquarians with their socially aware Sun placement locked in with popular Venus, and making them well loved personalities worldwide. Ellen’s Sun Venus is square to jovial Jupiter and imaginative Neptune, befitting her acting and comedic career. Ellen’s Venus is also opposite Uranus, which often signals a more unconventional choice of partner. Oprah has her Sun Venus squaring the reality brick of Saturn. This locks in with her difficult upbringing and more serious demeanor.
ASTROMAPPING
But the connection with Australia extends way past the Aquarian birthdays of the country and the personalities. It has to do with the technique of astromapping, whereby planets at one's birth are examined for their strength across the globe. It’s one reason why people are successful in certain places, and yet feel blocked or restricted in others.
When Oprah was born her popular Sun Venus combination was close to directly above the east coast of Australia. When she visited in May 2011 her pleasure loving progressed Venus was rising around Alice Springs in the dead center of the country. Jupiter was also rising, slightly eastward of that. Oprah would have identified with the raw spirituality of Ayers Rock and the outback scenery in the area known as the Dead Heart.
Ellen DeGeneres has an even more powerful astromapping connection to Australia. At birth her Sun and Venus were setting across both Melbourne and the Victorian - South Australian border towns, with Uranus rising around Canberra. Currently her progressed Venus is setting across Canberra, the Snowy Mountains and south coast of NSW. Click here for her AstroMap
Ellen may well be quite serious when she excitedly said to her fans, “I love this country, I’m moving here.” Her Venus and Sun connection, setting in the right location, proves it is no astrological accident that she also married an Australian, who was born in the Victorian countryside.
LABOR PAINS
Each quarter I author a column entitled ‘Eye In The Sky’ for the Federation of Australian Astrologers magazine. The March edition, written in mid February, addressed the Australian political scene and the governing Labor Party, plus its ongoing leadership speculation. My own take was that the former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd did not have the current aspects to reclaim the leadership, essentially a poisoned chalice. Rudd has restrictive Saturn currently on his popularity planet of Venus.
I also pointed to the fact that Bill Shorten, who has strong ambitions for leadership, will be experiencing the upcoming May Solar Eclipse on his birth Sun. Shorten was born May 12 1967, and eclipses constitute fresh beginnings and directional changes. Consistent with this is the fact that Shorten’s political career began nineteen years ago when the eclipse degrees are a repeat of the current year.
Bill Shorten’s horoscope is an excellent match for the Labor Caucus horoscope of May 8 1901 at 11 am in Melbourne. Shorten’s Taurean Sun locks in with the Sun Venus of the Labor Party chart. With the eclipse also affecting this chart, his chance would seem to be coming. Shorten is waiting the moment – so watch for key May developments.
Another key player in the Labor musical chairs game will be the Foreign Minister Bob Carr. The former NSW Premier has already rolled the Prime Minister within the party over her unqualified support for Israel. Carr reminded Gillard that numbers count in Caucus, and not to put Australia offside with the rest of the world on the issue of Palestinian autonomy. As an influential powerbroker of the Labor right, Carr has yet to lay his cards fully on the table.
This week, with Carr safely out of the country, and aware of Shorten’s ambitions, the Gillard camp, tried to bait arch-enemy Kevin Rudd into another losing challenge. It would make the perfect end to the parliamentary break, and put an end to leadership speculation.
SIMPLE SIMON'S TERRIBLE TIMING
They had successfully done this a year ago, using Simon Crean as the spokesperson. Again the sacrifical Crean was brought to the fore. Crean, born February 26 1949 at 7 am in Melbourne, has a Sun Mercury connection hidden in the covert twelfth house. He is a behind the scenes operator. Crean also has a Balsamic Moon, adding to his hidden persona.
With newsworthy Mercury stationing on his birth Sun, Simon became front-page news as the mercurial spokesman calling for a leadership challenge. He was also revealing his Piscean duality of the two fish swimming in different directions. To make the unbelievable look genuine Crean, a constant Gillard supporter, was now offerring to be Kevin Rudd's Deputy PM. All the time Crean knew this was an impossibility, and just part of his smokescreen operation.
Rudd woke to the plot and refused to take the bait. The resultant debacle has left Labor decimated, with key personnel handing their resignation to PM Julia Gillard. Politics aside the absolute winner is political opponent, and Liberal leader, Tony Abbott. With the Australian horoscope showing all the appropriate signals of leadership change, Abbott was handed another political advantage on a platter.
March 17
POPES AND THE PISCES CONNECTION
Christianity,
from the very beginning, adopted the symbol of the fish, assuring its
Piscean astrological connection. It even dates back to the Three Wise
Men honoring the birth of Christ. According to Johannes Kepler, the star
of Bethlehem was a triple conjunction of the two largest planets in the
solar system, imperial Jupiter and traditional Saturn, in mystical Pisces,
near the fixed star Epsilon Piscium.
A birthdate collection of 56 Popes from the 13th century onwards confirms
a Piscean Sun preference at double the expected frequency. So with a cluster
of planets gathering in the sign of the fish during the first quarter
of 2013 - plus the Vatican City horoscope experiencing a ‘shock
factor’ Uranus return - something was bound to give in the world
of Christianity. Piscean planetary clusters have a history of doing that.
EVERY VISIBLE PLANET ALIGNS IN PISCES
During February of 1524 every visible planet and the Sun were amazingly clustered within 15 degrees in the sign of Pisces – and even the undiscovered Neptune (the modern Piscean ruler) was here. Granada, the first European city in mainland America was formed that year. Christianity was beginning a continental shift from Europe to the Americas. The same year Giovanni Verrazano discovered the East Coast of the USA, including New York.
The 1520’s saw invading conquistador Hernan Cortez end Montezuma’s Aztec Kingdom. The cultural genocide that followed, and the Spanish subjugation of the New World spread Catholicism throughout Mexico and also South America. The same time frame fuelled Martin Luther’s Protestant Reformation, and the Peasant’s Revolt of Germany.
The rebellious English monarch, King Henry VIII, and his multiple marriages was also laying the foundations for an entirely new denomination. This exceedingly rare Piscean stellium coincided with the major transformation of Christianity.
BIZARRE STORY OF POPE FORMOSUS
In March 7 878 AD, a New Moon in Pisces was joined by Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Neptune, directly opposite a Jupiter and Uranus combination. That year the church repealed the excommunication of a popular Cardinal, the Bishop of Portus. He had been accused of trying to overthrow the reigning Pope John VIII.
Legend has it that the Bishop had to swear never to return to Rome, but fate didn’t follow the ecclesiastical script. The Bishop of Portus instead became Pope Formosus on October 6 891. Political intrigue followed. Aware of the threat that the Roman Emperor Guido and his family, represented to the papal states, Formosus encouraged and supported the invading armies of Arnulf of Carinthia.
Arnulf eventually triumphed, and Formosus crowned him as the new Emperor in St Peter’s Basilica in 896. But strangely both died within months of each other that very same year. Then Formosus’ successor, Boniface VI, mysteriously died after only fifteen days as Pope, and this chain of fatalities led to the most macabre trial in papal history.
Politically motivated by the family of the former Emperor Guido and overseered by the succeeding Pope Stephen VI, a bitter enemy of Formosus, the ex Pope was summonsed literally from the grave.
CADAVER IN THE COURTROOM
The cadaver of Pope Formosus was exhumed and clad in papal vestments to face courtroom charges against the church and state, with a deacon for representation. His previous acts and ordinances were annulled. The three fingers he had used in consecration were removed. His body was then placed in a non-descript grave and eventually thrown into the River Tiber.
The objective of Formosa’s condemnation – damnatio memoria - was an Ancient Roman process designed to remove him entirely from the pages of history. It succeeded in doing the opposite. Formosus’ body washed up on the banks of the river, where it was reputed to perform miracles.
A public uprising against his inquisitors then led to the imprisonment and eventual strangulation of Pope Stephen VI. Formosus was reinterred with full honours in St Peter's Basilica. Revenge from the grave perhaps? Thus concluded the Cadaver Synod episode, one of the weirdest chapters of Catholic history.
THE NEW PISCEAN AGE
The New Moon
of March 11 2013 saw the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Neptune in
Pisces. Although not as significant as the former examples, it was still
an impressive cluster. Add to this the horoscope of the Vatican City was
due for its Uranus return in 2013. The stage was set for significant administrative
changes affecting Christianity.
Vatican City, the administrative home of the Catholic Church, is a tiny
landlocked sovereign state, with a population of just 800, It was politically
created via the Lateran Treaty, and implemented from 11 am June 7 1929.
With 2013 being the year of the shock factor Uranus return for Vatican
City, it was always going to be a surprise. The bombshell began when Pope
benedict announced his resignation effective from 8 pm February 28.
At 19.06 hours on March 13 2013 white smoke blew from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel, announcing the election of the new and 266th Pope. As it did Uranus was closely setting in Rome. Typical of Uranus it was to be a bolt from the blue outsider. The favored few had been Ghana’s Peter Turkson, Italy’s Angelo Scola, Tarcisio Bertone or Canada’s Marc Ouellet, who was rumored to have finished second in the count.
At Moonset of 20.13 the new Pope was publicly revealed as Argentina’s Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. According to AstroDatabank he was born December 17 1936 @ 2100 hours in Buenos Aires, Argentina - for horoscope click here.
The new Pope has taken the title of Francis the First, and is the first from the Latin Americas. The Piscean connection has fulfilled a fate promised 489 years prior when every visible planet landed in the sign of Christianity and the religion initially spread to the New World.
ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI
St Francis of Assisi was a the son of a wealthy cloth merchant, who dedicated his life to the Lord, after hearing a sermon based on Matthew Chapter 10 Verse 9 advising ‘Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts’. Thereafter St Francis assumed a life of virtual poverty as a street preacher. An early story depicts him following a beggar and gifting him all his goods, only to be subsequently scolded by his father.
According to a contemporary, Jordan of Giano, on February 24 1209 St Francis renounced his goods and embarked on his mission. By his own wishes he was never ordained as a priest but became the founder of the Franciscan Order. St Francis was the first recorded individual to receive the stigmata – or wounds of Christ. Today he is celebrated as the Patron Saint of animals and the environment.
Is there a deeper message in the naming of the first Pope Francis? In a world dictated to by economic rationalization, and rampant materialism the natural environment and its species are rapidly disappearing. Will Pope Francis play a role in increasing environmental awareness to save the Living Planet? Will he provide a spiritual sanctuary from the capitalistic corruption that has crippled Europe?
In his own words “We live in the most unequal part of the world, which has grown the most yet reduced misery the least. The unjust distribution of goods persists, creating a situation of social sin that cries out to Heaven and limits the possibilities of a fuller life for so many of our brothers.”
Such hopes can be pie in the sky ideas when concerned with such a hierarchal institution as the Catholic Church. They too have been accused of the same monopolies. But sometimes there is an ethereal message behind names and symbols that speaks to the world at large through cryptic subliminal clues. The legend of St Francis has a poignant message that rings even truer today.
March 10
VENEZUELA
Venezuela lies on the northern coast of South America. It’s a country of close on thirty million people, colonized by the Spanish in 1522, and the first of the Latin countries to declare independence from Spain on July 5 1811. Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves and second largest natural gas assets. Its importance to world energy supply is critical.
The independence horoscope shows a patriotic Cancerian Sun with the Moon in the opposing sign of Capricorn. Political crisis, coups and dictatorships have littered the national history, when outer planets have highlighted this Cancer Capricorn axis. In 1989, as Saturn and Neptune together opposed the Venezuelan Sun, riots led to the death of 3,000 people.
The rebellious Capricorn Uranus to Cancer Sun opposition of 1991 featured further instability leading to the eventual impeachment of President Carlos Andrés Pérez in 1993. Twenty years earlier Perez had nationalized the oil industry, which brought his country a financial bonanza.
ENTER HUGO CHAVEZ
One of the men who plotted Perez’s downfall was Hugo Chavez. Chavez was born July 28 1954, in Sinamaica at sometime between 3 and 5 am, according to AstroDatabank. His proud and fixed Leo Sun squares the more controlling Saturn in calculating Scorpio. Chavez has implemented sweeping political reforms for Venezuela, in what he termed his socialist Bolivarian Revolution.
Changes began with a fresh Constitution approved on December 15, with 72% of the popular vote and effective from December 20 1999. Chavez was inaugurated as President at 10.45 am February 2 1999 in Caracas. This swearing in horoscope features the leadership Sun and oratory Mercury united with the rebellious Uranus, in the universal brotherhood sign of Aquarius.
The progressed inauguration horoscope reached New Moon stage by the last presidential elections of October 2012, suggesting a leadership change. With over 80% of Venezuelans turning out to install him as an easy victor it could only be a change that came unexpected, and within his own party.
SURVIVING THE INTERVENTIONIST COUP
Chavez, an avowed socialist, was himself victim of a capitalist coup attempt on April 11 2002, when senior management of the oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (PVDA), backed by the privately owned media tried to derail his government. A right wing cabal installed Pedro Carmona, President of the Chamber of Commerce, sworn in at 17.51 hours on April 12.
The US immediately endorsed the new leader, whilst all of Venezuela’s Latin neighbors voiced their apprehension at the removal of a democratically elected head of state. But the puppet leader had his fleeting authority dissolved within two days. Chavez was reinstated at 4.35 am April 14. People power returned Chavez to presidency. Carmona later resurfaced, perhaps not so surprisingly, in Miami, Florida.
Historically, the ten-year period is an important one for Chavez. He originally failed in a 1992 coup, was the victim of a temporary one in 2002 and in 2012 comfortably won re-election, only to have to hand it over to his deputy, Nicolas Maduro, through illness. As Chavez recovers from major surgery his progressed Moon moves through the health conscious sign of Virgo. It is now in the closing balsamic phase, suggesting a release and moving on, or that he will step down for a successor.
(Recall this text is taken from the article World Predictions 2013)
REVOLUTIONARY TRANSITS
If Venezuela were to lose a charismatic leader like Chavez it would create a power vacuum in the resource rich country. Their national horoscope is fielding powerful revolutionary transits, initially from unstable Uranus from the middle of the year. The following year, 2014, they see the full weight of the transformative Uranus Pluto square impacting on the Venezuelan leadership Sun.
The ramifications are obvious. The USA remains Venezuela’s main oil customer, although China will match that by 2015. The US has also placed a weapons sales ban on Venezuela, which has seen the country now purchase fighter jets from China, along with allowing Chinese investment in transport infrastructure such as railways.
China’s increasing trade with Venezuela has seen the two countries launch a second communications satellite in November 2012. China has supplied a massive $42.5 billion loan, charging 6 percent interest, or half the international rate. Venezuela pays back in oil. Even though China did not import a barrel of oil prior to 1999, the growing industrial giant will soon become Venezuela’s main trading partner.
All of this makes Venezuela, and it’s politicians the ham in the sandwich of a bigger global battle – one for worldly economic supremacy between two economic superpowers. The stakes are high for more political double-dealing behind the scenes, where the only losers are usually the people.
ECHOES OF SIMON BOLIVAR
Hugo Chavez died of cancer at 4.25 pm March 5 and his service was held from 11 am Friday March 8. The line-up to view his body stretched over a mile and a half. Chavez will be embalmed and put on permanent display. What gave him such charismatic appeal to his fellow countrymen? The astrological match up between the national horoscope and the leader is inescapable.
The horoscope of Venezuelan Independence dates to July 5 1811 - still celebrated as a national holiday. The Sun is positioned at 12 degrees of Cancer, traditionally a tribal and patriotic sign. Chavez, born July 28 1954 has his optimistic Jupiter at 14 degrees of Cancer, and his Moon in the same position.
This overlay of Chavez’s expansive Jupiter on the Venezuelan national Sun gives the populace great faith in the leader. Also the swapping of his homeland Cancer Moon with the national Cancer Sun is a perfect marriage interchange. Carl Jung was the first to notice the constant swapping of the Sun and Moon positions in his own study of married couples.
Franklin Roosevelt is revered as one of America’s greatest leaders, steering the country through the depths of the Great Depression and WWII. Roosevelt had his Aquarian Sun in the sign of the USA’s Moon, and his Cancer Moon was aligned with the US Cancer Sun. The matching of an individual horoscope with their country, company or family is an astrological eye-opener of compatibility.
Lastly Chavez’s Leo Sun, Cancer Mercury and Virgo Venus were each conjunct the same Sun, Mercury and Venus of his idol Simon Bolivar – the Venezuelan military hero revered as the Liberator. It is possibly no coincidence that Chavez viewed himself as playing a similar role. Living his fate perhaps?
The future of Venezuela, the world’s greatest oil resource, is no doubt subject to interventionist instability from the superpowers. Unstable Uranus squaring the national Sun along with the opposition of manipulative power player Pluto presents a challenge of cathartic change.
Hopefully the Venezuelan people can take charge of these revolutionary energies to better their own fate. Simon Bolivar would have it no other way.
March 3
THE FIRST CASUALTY OF WAR
It’s an oft quoted line that the first casualty of war is the truth. When propaganda assumes command, enemies are demonized, and any form of dissent branded cowardly or unpatriotic. The winners write the history, the patriots get the medals, and the truth is often buried with the victims. But sometimes the truth leaks out. Heaven help the informant when it does.
Bradley Manning was born December 17 1987 in Crescent, Oklahoma. He is a Sagittarian. The name Sagittarii stems from the Roman gladiatorial days, when the bowman on horseback were a regular feature of military battalions on distant missions.
Sagittarians are also characteristically described as ‘straight-shooters’, who cannot help but tell it like it is. Moderation and sensitivity can be left behind in the Sagittarian’s righteous duty to get it all out there. Bradley Manning was excessively true to his Sagittarian Sun.
THE REBELLIOUS INFORMANT
Manning, a US intelligence analyst in Iraq, disclosed top-secret military files and videos to the whistleblower organization ‘Wikileaks’. On February 28 2013 he faced a military court for acting in contravention to the Espionage Act. His defense was a typical thruth bearing Sagittarian line, “I did it to make the world a better place’.
However, Manning’s Sun is linked closely to rebellious Uranus, and also bonded to realist Saturn, and Mercury the town crier. This Mercury Uranus connection would have impelled him to think outside the square, and also interested Manning in IT.
His newsmaking Mercury also supplied the curiosity to gather data, and the reporter's desire to share it around. That combination was to lead him into the covert world of espionage and media leaks, that would set world diplomacy on its collective backside.
Manning’s horoscope is tightly bunched, suggesting a strong focused personality. However one planet stands separate from the rest. Jupiter – the planet of justice and judicial concerns. Now, as he fronts the military tribunal, Manning’s progressed Sun is appropriately square – that’s a tough test - to his Jupiter.
THE VERY PUBLIC PRIVATE
On April 5 2010, Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, released a Manning supplied video of a US helicopter firing on a journalist, and two other Reuters employees. They were carrying cameras that the pilots mistook for grenade launchers. The day that Assange played that disturbing video, reporter Mercury trined mass media Pluto and the public Moon, astrologically ensuring that it would go viral.
By July 25 The Guardian, New York Times and Der Spiegel had picked up on Manning's leaks publishing the ‘Afghan War’ logs. Thousands of cables were now in public circulation, revealing the nefarious world of diplomatic double-dealing. As a result, some overseas postings had to be hastily changed.
But by the time the mainstream press had got hold of the Wikileaks files US conservatives were calling for the assassination of Assange, and Private Bradley Manning was under military lock and key.
Manning was arrested May 26 2010 whilst still on duty in Iraq. How a private could obtain such a mountain of classified material may defy belief, and cast doubt on the system overall. He has become the catalyst of a security reform. But ultimately it was Manning’s desperate alienation that brought him, and the files, undone.
SOMETHING BEGINNING WITH B
On May 22 2010 the judgmental planet of Saturn was squaring Manning’s tight Sun, Mercury, Saturn and Uranus combination. Additionally the surprise packet Uranus was squaring the same. This has a very separative and alienating effect.
Manning, already feeling estranged by his homosexuality, and exposed to constant rednecks (as he called them), was reaching out. But his new contact would land him in a military prison.
At 12.15 pm on May 22 2010, acting under the identity of badass, he posted an online chat that asked, “hypothetical question: if you had free reign over classified networks for long periods of time ... say, 8–9 months ... and you saw incredible things, awful things ... things that belonged in the public domain, and not on some server stored in a dark room in Washington DC ... what would you do?”
FOR WHOM THE WHISTLE BLOWS
Manning’s prolonged incarceration - last week he had spent 1,000 days in custody - and the conditions he has endured, have received worldwide coverage. He has become a catalyst of the individual against the system.
Such is typical of the current mundane square of insurrectionist Uranus against monopolizing Pluto. This planetary aspect is synonymous with uprisings against the dominant controlling forces.
Uranus Pluto has accompanied the Arab Spring. Manning too has been credited as a catalyst. His leaks on Tunisian corruption came only days before the successful uprising that soon spread across other Middle East autocracies.
The system paints Manning, along with whistleblowers like Julian Assange, as dangerous enemies of the state – enablers of the enemy. Their supporters view the system as corrupt and the revelations as confirming their suspicions. Manning is inadvertently one of the many martyrs who embody the ongoing Uranus-Pluto aspect.
MANNING AND THE USA
The horoscope of the USA – July 4 1776 @ 17.10 hours in Philadelphia – places military Mars in duplicitous Gemini and squaring nebulous Neptune. The US Mars to Neptune is an outstanding description of the award winning documentary ‘The Fog Of War’. No coincidence then that Manning’s Sagittarian planetary placements all oppose the US Mars, and square its covert Neptune.
The future for him is reliant on his challenging progressed Sun squaring Jupiter. This is exaggerated by a further Jupiter opposition transit in June. It’s typical court marshall stuff, but there may be some surprise relief by 2015 when the wild card Uranus also meets Manning’s Jupiter.
THE CURIOUS NAZI CONNECTION
Bradley Manning’s
birth Mars has an important distant connection , far beyond our solar
system. It falls directly across the ecliptic fixed star of Zuben Elgenubi,
one of constructive social reform. Another military man who had his Mars
on this important star degree was General Erich Hoepner.
Hoepner was a leading German commander of tank warfare, in charge of the
Fourth Panzer on the Russian front. He was dismissed by Hitler for a tactical
retreat in the face of overwhelming opposittion. Hoepner was publicly
humiliated and stripped of his decorations and pension.
Hoepner, an enemy of Hitler, became a conspirator, and leading member of the Nazi Resistance. He believed Hitler would ruin Germany, and plotted the Feuher's downfall. Hoepner was eventually arrested by the Gestapo, trialled and hung. Today there is a Berlin plaque in the General's honour.
Manning was also demoted prior to turning conspirator. Disheartened by his own 'fog of war' he worked to expose the system. Manning will not hang like Hoepner. He will hope that the rebellious Uranus Pluto square gives him distant relief come 2015.
FEB 24
Last week I examined the horoscopes of Reeva Steenkamp and Oscar Pistorius, showing what a volatile combination their relationship charts presented. The link for the full article is here.
I also referred to the soli-lunar eclipse cycle repeating from 1994, when revered athlete and media icon, O.J. Simpson, was charged with killing his beautiful blonde wife Nicole Brown Simpson. The implication being that history often repeats when linked to celestial cycles.
MARS - LORD OF WAR AND TEMPESTS
Astrologically the Pistorius/Steenkamp and Simpson/Nicole-Brown horoscopes reveal a common thread. Both had a hook up between the planet of violence, Mars, and the respective partner’s Suns. The Sun signifies the life force and Mars is assertion and quite often aggression.
For O.J. and Nicole click here
In O.J. and Nicole’s case, the Sun position of each was near to the Mars position of the other. This can imply physical attraction, but such a doubling up on both horoscopes would certainly be considered a potentially dangerous combination. That was born out as O.J. and Nicole Simpson had a history of domestic violence leading to eventual divorce, years before her murder.
For
Oscar and Reeva click here
The synastry of Oscar and Reeva shows his Mars opposing her Sun, and also
his own Sun squaring hers. Such could potentially make for an extremely
challenging relationship where sparks would fly. Note
Oscar already has his own intense Scorpio Sun square to Mars, suggesting
aggressive competitive tendencies.
But also Oscar’s Moon, the emotional barometer of the horoscope, was joined to Reeva’s Mars. Again we have a multiple hook ups with Mars between the two horoscopes. Note that this doesn’t implicitly guarantee the negative implications, but astrologically it would be judged to increase their likelihood.
Oscar's Sun is also positioned at the very end of Scorpio on the longitude of the fixed star Toliman. Ebertin's deterministic Fixed Star book writes of this 'Relationships to female persons often seem spoiled, or an existing relationship is stricken by exceptional circumstances'.
CELEBRITY LAWYERS
In both cases no expense is spared on celebrity lawyers and public relations players. Names and sponsorships hang on reputation. Pistorius has employed a crack PR team to counter media rumor like that of Steenkamp receiving a late night mobile text, which fuelled an enraged killing for example.
O.J. had influential media friends and agents. The Kardashian family can thank Simpson for enduring fame, as father Robert was his best friend, advisor immediately after the murder, and one of the trial lawyers.
BUMBLING INVESTIGATORS
In the Pistorius case, already doubts have been cast on the integrity of the primary investigators. Lead detective Hilton Botha is facing charges of attempted murder after firing at a minibus, and has been removed from the investigation. Additionally the Pistorius defense team has claimed that they have uncovered a bullet strangely missed by police.
In the 1994 O.J. trial it was LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman, whose previous racist comments were used to cast doubt on crucial evidence. Eventually his denials of racism constituted perjury. None of which sat too well with a jury comprising nine blacks, two whites and one Hispanic.
Simpson’s defense also claimed a bloodied glove was planted at the star's residence by Fuhrman's team, after entering without a search warrant. Despite impressive DNA evidence the LAPD proved a boon for the defense. Are we seeing signs of the same?
THE ONE BIG DIFFERENCE
The plainly obvious difference in the two cases is that Oscar Pistorius admits to having shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp. Of that there can be no doubt. The charge of premeditated murder is what hangs in the balance.
There is no equivalent to a crime of passion under South African law. And the shooting happened in a country with a high crime rate and gun ownership, where the middle class live behind security fences, with armed guards. Also, due to past apartheid, a sole judge - not jury - will adjudicate.
There is also an important difference in the two horoscopes of Simpson and Pistorius at the trial dates. O.J. did not have the difficult aspects that would have accompanied a conviction, which had to wait years.
I particularly remember this when judging the outcome and thinking that he would get off, despite what appeared damning DNA evidence. Simpson was later convicted in a civil court and ordered to pay damages to the victim’s families.
In the case of Oscar Pistorius, set down for June 4, the judgmental Saturn will be crossing his Venus. It will remain stationary there during June and July, in the same position it was when he first dated Reeva in November of 2012. Critical Saturn is moving through Scorpio and Oscar has three planets and the Sun in this intense sign.
Also mid year Oscar has progressed Mars meeting judicial Jupiter. It is appropriate for what really is his greatest contest yet. Saturn would identify with his depressed state of mind, and also facing up to responsibility. To the ancients Saturn was also the planet of ‘truth’. We hope this time that it delivers for everyone concerned.
MARKET WATCH
Apart from 2009, during the low of the global meltdown, the Dow Jones has performed well in the early part of the year. It has been around the late April period that the index has plumetted sharply.
In 2010 it opened the year around 10600 and climbed to 11200 before correcting. In 2011 it jumped from approximately 11,600 to 12800, and 2012 showed a consistent rise from 12300 to 13200.
Even in the crisis days of 2009 the Dow reversed its downward spiral to climb back rapidly from the recession low of just above 6600, and soared almost 2000 points – a 25% gain - within six weeks to begin the May. That annual pattern is one reason that technical analysts have been investing early.
But from 2.34 p.m. Wednesday Feb the 20th, until 2.30 pm the next day the Dow plummeted 1.25% from 14014 to 13841, a fall of 173 points. It then began a recovery that has brought it back around the 14000 by closing time Friday. What would time such a fluctuation that lasted almost precisely 24 hours?
Each day due to the earth’s diurnal rotation on its own axis the location of New York will come to the degree of Pluto. That time was occurring at 2.34 and 2.30 pm on the days in question.
Pluto will generally time the big movements – remember it was Pluto’s entry into corporate Capricorn in 2008 that synched with the great recession. But although the Midheaven moves over Pluto once a day it was not the main player, it simply timed the effect of other planetary players.
On the day in question the Sun in vacillating Pisces also came to join with Neptune. This aspect of the Sun joining Neptune would be in play for a full twenty-four hours. Neptune is a planet also concerned with confusion, rumor and/or panic reaction. Additionally the Moon was nearing a square to Uranus the planet of the unexpected change. All happened simultaneously for the market to swing in unison with the celestial clockwork.
FEB 17
HISTORY REPEATS
The Metonic Cycle dictates that every nineteen years New and Full Moons, plus related eclipses, occur in practically the same zodiacal degrees. And sometimes as solar and lunar patterns repeat, so does history in a strange peculiar manner.
Reeva Steenkamp had the world at her feet, or so it seemed. On Valentine’s Day she Tweeted, “What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow???” Reeva was an intelligent and beautiful twenty nine year old – a law graduate and para-legal awaiting her admission to the Bar. She was also an high profile model, and the face of Avon cosmetics in South Africa.
Steenkamp was about to debut in the TV series ‘Tropika Island of Treasure 5’, which had recently been filmed on location in Jamaica. And she was in a relationship with the most famous athlete in South Africa – the Blade Runner - Oscar Pistorius. That’s where she was last seen alive - entering his apartment block Wednesday evening February 13 2013. At approximately 3.20 am on Valentine's Day she was shot and killed by Pistorius.
What happened from then is now the subject of a murder trial. It could become more controversial than the sensational O. J. Simpson affair. Eerily that happened one eclipse cycle ago. Steenkamp was shot four times in the pre-dawn hours of Valentine’s Day. Police have charged her boyfriend, Pistorius, with murder.
REEVA STEENKAMP
Reeva was born August 19 1983 in Cape Town. Her Leo Sun is trine to Neptune, the planet of image, glamour and photography. The planet equated to law – Jupiter – lies in an achieving square to her Sun and strongly placed in its own sign of Sagittarius.
Relationship planet, Venus, is also square to the more atypical and distinctive Uranus. She would have admired independence and difference in character.
Her assertive Mars, also in expressive Leo, formed an accommodating trine angle to judicial Jupiter and strong-minded Uranus. This would have promoted an expansive and optimistic outlook, and willingness for travel and adventure.
The Mars can also indicate male figures in the female horoscope. Reeva’s father was a successful horse trainer, evidenced by competitive Mars nicely aligned with winning Jupiter in its own sign of Sagittarius the centaur, in her chart.
From 2012 Reeva’s progressed Sun had reached newsmaker Mercury. She would be written about - a media figure greatly involved in communication and mastering fresh skills. Progressed Jupiter had moved to square her Venus, boosting her social life and commercial opportunities. It also brought new love.
On a more intense note Pluto had solar arced to be squaring her birth Sun. But it did so as the transiting Pluto also formed a testing sesquisquare to the same birth Sun. And these were more precise by February 2013.
PLUTO SUN - WATCH THE POWER
Pluto to Sun aspects can often indicate a battle of wills. The Sun is one’s self-expression and sense of inner identity. Pluto is the planet of deep cathartic transformation. Often powerful and/or domineering people enter one’s life during Pluto transits. There can be control issues involved, or hidden undercurrents, which evoke more intense and potent emotions and reactions.
Pluto, as the planet of the ‘underworld’ (also life and death), is linked with crime and control figures, including police. The best advice when undergoing Pluto developments is to acknowledge the depth of personal transformation, without necessarily sacrificing your will to another.
Be aware of those who play a controlling role, or attempt to coerce or manipulate. In short, discover your own sense of power even if prompted by extreme circumstances or people.
On the morning that Reeva was shot, the transiting Sun in Aquarius, was directly opposing her own. The Sun in direct opposition to itself, especially in light of the double Pluto aspects, would aggravate the prospect of a battle of wills.
Authorities like Ebertin have referred to this planetary combination, in its most negative application, as a ‘danger to the life’ or “separation by force majeure’. Naturally this potential would heavily rely upon environmental factors.
In the days before her death, Reeva’s Venus was opposed by Mars, and was also fielding a Neptune opposition. Neptune to Venus aspects are frequently connected to the romantic revelry of love.
Lost in love is an apt and illusory Neptune phrase. It’s a planet that can accompany misunderstandings, or loss through misplaced trust. Mars opposing Venus, simultaneously occurring here, can involve arguments, sexual tension or competition.
The overall picture is one of a lady encountering powerful and strong willed individuals, but also making major changes to her own life in the process. She may be achieving great success, and associating with very influential people, but there is an over-riding tension in her life. All that was manifest for her.
The dark side is one of control and extreme behaviour, and a less discriminating nature, attached to the romantic Neptune Venus opposition complicated by optimistic Jupiter simultaneously squaring both, and an aggressive Mars.
BLADE RUNNER
Oscar Pistorius is living the worst days of his life. The supreme South African athlete, a national hero, is facing a life behind bars after police alleged he murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp with a 9mm pistol. She was shot four times, including through the hand as she tried to defend herself in his luxury apartment.
Oscar Pistorius was born November 22 1986 right on the cusp of Scorpio and Sagittarius. Scorpio is the dominating sign in his horoscope as Mercury the planet of mind is closely joined to penetrating Pluto and Venus – all in the sign of the scorpion.
Mercury to Pluto would endow him with immense mental focus, with an obsessive and penetrating mind. Venus to Pluto describes strong sensuality and a great depth of passion.
The Pistorius bio exhibits all the concentrated focus of his Scorpio stellium. Nothing was done by half measure. He physically embodied the Scorpionic principle of ‘the phoenix rising from the ashes’. Having both legs amputated at eleven months, Pistorius rebuilt himself into one of the world’s elite athletes via an indomitable spirit and a pair of prosthetic legs.
MARS THE COMPETITOR
Mars is the planet of competition. It appears way beyond chance factor in those who succeed in the sporting arena, or via battlefield heroics. Pistorius had his Sun in a testing and purposeful square to Mars. He was an extreme competitor and risk taker. His story of turning adversity to advantage made him a legend in his own country and a hero to others around the world.
He fought, not only his opponents, but also the authorities who barred him from competing with full bodied athletes citing a possible unfair advantage. His competitive nature was such that he took the officials to court – won - and became the first amputee to compete at a Summer Olympics in London 2012. He carried the national flag.
UNBELIEVABLE
When the story of the tragic shooting hit the headlines it was assumed that Pistorius was firing in self-defence. Surely this murder was a tragic accident? South Africa has a high crime rate and he never denied sleeping with a gun nearby. But investigating police were quick to douse that, and he now faces the most severe charge applicable – that of premeditated murder.
Stories now filter regarding officers previously attending his residence concerning events of a ‘domestic’ nature, or of neighbours hearing screaming and shouting prior to the shooting. Police have opposed bail, as a tearful Pistorius fronted court at 11.28 am local time, charged with murdering his girlfriend.
Currently his progressed Mars is joined to progressed Jupiter in Pisces, his solar arc Mars is hard angled to extreme Pluto and on the day of the killing the transiting Sun was activating his Sun Mars square. Mars is the planet of weapons and war.
In comparing the charts of the couple, Pistorius’ Mars was in direct opposition to Reeva Steenkamp’s Sun, and his own Sun squared hers. They are the ingredients of a challenging and fiery relationship.
The coming weeks will shed even greater light when hopefully rumour gives way to fact. And it will occur, coincidentally, as the eclipse cycle returns to the place it occupied nineteen years before. Back then a beautiful blonde named Nicole Simpson was found murdered in her home, and her former husband - champion athlete and national icon O. J. Simpson was the main suspect.
Feb 10
THE QUICKENING
The New Moon of February 10 2013, at 22 degrees of Aquarius, is in a challenging semisquare to shock planet – Uranus. It will also bring several of the inner planets into a testing aspect with the outers, always a time of heightened change and unrest. Value planet Venus, also in Aquarius, will square restrictive Saturn and commercial Mercury and impulsive Mars will also square excessive Jupiter.
Look for this initially in increased volatility of the markets and financial world. This New Moon will also fall on the position of Uranus of the Great Fire of London and the September 11 New York attacks. And you thought it was simply the start of the Chinese Year of the Water Snake? But China will be certainly more in the news – as will their neighbor Japan.
CHINA V JAPAN
The February New Moon highlights affairs involving the ‘land of the rising sun’. It falls close to the date of their first emperor - February 11 660 BC. The current horoscope of Japan, dated for their Meiji Constitution, is also February 11, 1889. In 2013, the progressed Sun of this chart joins the progressed Mars and progressed Mars also squares itself. And Mars is the lord of war and the military.
Japan has ramped up the battle talk with arch economic rivals China over the disputed Diaoyu (or Senkaku) Islands. Last week the dangerous cat and mouse play escalated with the scrambling of war jets. Japan is claiming that a Chinese warship beamed radar at a Japanese destroyer. But this rhetoric is clearly more over trade, and a changing balance of power, than minuscule islands.
As Sony and Nissan lament lowered profits, the Chinese economy is surging again. Meanwhile, the US and its allies, are working to counter the growing Chinese economic and military clout in the Asian Pacific. This all comes with the backdrop of North Korea planning a fresh nuclear test.
Politically Japan is becoming aggressively right wing under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He considers relations with China as Japan’s biggest challenge for the 21st century. Abe wants to further military ties with the USA, and is contemplating a return to nuclear power. I deal with this in more detail in World Predictions 2013.
The current New Moon positioning is adding fuel to the fire between now and the May Solar Eclipse. Perhaps not by coincidence the April New Moon will fall on a similar degree of the largest explosion ever recorded.
Uranus, the lord of disorder, has already been at work. At 1.12 am February 6 2013 Universal Time, an undersea earthquake rating 8 on the Richter scale, shook the Pacific peace of the Santa Cruz Islands. Earthquakes suit the fiery Uranian potential. We may be entering into an unstable few months regarding increased seismic activity.
FIRE MOUNTAIN
At 1 pm August 26 1883 erratic Uranus was directly above the volcanic island of Krakatoa, whilst fiery red Mars, the planet of tempests, was setting in the west. The Fire Mountain’s three volcanic peaks simultaneously exploded shooting a pillar of ash and smoke thirty kilometers into the skies. More was to come.
The next day's big bang, at 10.02 a.m. local time, was heard as far away as Western Australia. This final eruption produced waves of up three times the size of the 2004 Indonesian tsunami. They traveled halfway around the world. The volcanic clouds of Krakatoa lowered global temperature by 1.2 Celsius for the following year.
In 1927 the
volcano produced a new island on the same spot, eerily known as 'son of
Krakatoa'. It rose to sea level in 1928 and has now attained a height
of 200 meters. Late in 2011 this volcano was on high alert status.
But even Krakatoa pales in comparison to Tambora, a large stratovolcano
lying some 300 kilometers behind the Sunda Trench. On April 10-11 1815
after six days of discharge Tambora literally blew its top. This was the
largest eruption in recorded history.
Volcanic ash littered the stratosphere, blocking the sunlight. In North America and parts of Europe the following year was known as the 'year without a summer'. Tambora effectively lowered global temperatures by up to 3 degrees Celsius.
ANALYSING EARTHQUAKES
At the beginning of 2005 I conducted a study of the largest earthquakes of the twentieth century, along with cataclysmic explosions such as Tambora and Krakatoa. They had to rate at 8.5 magnitude or above. The results of those finding were published in the International Society of Astrological Research journal. A link for that article is here, but here’s a brief summary.
A notable feature was a bundling of the majority of the planets banding within one half of the zodiac. The Indonesian tsunami of December 26 2004, the third largest earthquake ever recorded, and the more recent Japanese undersea rupture and tsunami continued to match this pattern. It was also an observable feature of Tambora and Krakatoa.
Another consideration was investigating declination. That simply measures whether a planet, or the Moon, is north or south of the equator. This returned a positive result.
In twelve of the fourteen major examples the Moon was north of the equator at the time of a major upheaval. Conversely Saturn was south of it, ten out of fourteen times. The control groups in these samples are small and beg further research. But celestial clusters did seem to coincide with terrestrial busters.
The SuperMoon theory too has many adherents. Simply put, that’s when the Moon comes closest to earth at the time of a New or Full Moon, markedly increasing the gravitational pulls on the earth’s tectonic plates.
The Japanese tsunami occurred between two SuperMoons and the Indonesian tsunami came exactly on a Full Moon preceding a SuperMoon. This may certainly be a contributory factor.
UP AHEAD
Although we don’t have a SuperMoon until May 25, and then have two following in June 23 and July 22, the current New Moon is reasonably close to earth. The Moon is in northerly declination and Saturn is in south. Also the planets are reasonably clustered.
As mentioned earlier, last week a magnitude 8 earthquake struck near the Santa Cruz area of the Solomon Islands. Usually we only get one of those biggies in a year, so let’s hope it’s the last. But Uranus is the planet of sudden surprise, and the conditions are ripe.
FEB 03
THE LOST WEEKEND
At 12.59 p.m. on January 30 before the National Press Club the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the date of the next federal election – Saturday, September 14. The announcement came just four days after Australia Day.
The last time a Prime Minister called an election around Australia Day was Paul Keating back in 1996. Keating made his announcement that morning and was subsequently trounced at the polls. Here is a reminder of what I wrote about Australia Day and the government’s prospects in my World Predictions article 2013, published one month ago now on this site.
“On Australia Day of 2013, the reformative planet of Pluto will transit across the Australian Federation Sun (January 01 1901 @ 13.36 AEST Sydney) at 10 degrees of Capricorn, something it repeats both in the July and October before the year is out. Pluto’s last hard aspects to the Sun have resulted in changes to the national leadership.
In 1923, as Pluto opposed the Federation Sun, Prime Minister Billy Hughes resigned when the Country Party refused to govern in coalition with him. In 1975, as Pluto squared the Capricorn Sun, the then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, was sensationally dismissed from office by the Governor General.
It is not only transformative Pluto that moves across the Sun, but also ‘surprise packet’ Uranus squares it in late April and again October, along with an opposition from Jupiter in early August. On the basis of these transits, and the certainty of a federal election before November 30 2013, a change to the position of Prime Minister would seem highly likely.”
So let's take a closer look.....do we have to? Or you can just head for your sun sign.
JULIA GILLARD
Julia Gillard was born September 29 1961 at around midday in Barry Wales. Click here for her horoscope. On Saturday September 14 2013, the Prime Minister will have shock factor Uranus opposing and reformatory Pluto squaring her birth Sun simultaneously.
The combination of Uranus and Pluto refer to revolution and the collapse of an old order. Clearly they are not a recipe for maintaining the status quo, instead they replace it, with ruthless speed. On that evidence Gillard will be gone.
Proceeding to her secondary progressions, the secondary progressed Sun will be within the degree of squaring Uranus – further evidence of an abrupt repositioning.
Additionally, the North Node which is actually a measure of the eclipse energies, will be conjunct her progressed Sun. And Saturn will also be conjunct her Mars, suggesting self-assertion and activities being blocked or stifled at the given time.
If you were counseling a client with such configurations the language would be around discovering new ways of self-expression, being willing to explore more flexible options, and riding the rapids of changing circumstance. Clearly this would also embody the principle of investigating new career options.
Julia Gillard attained the position of Prime Minister in her own right, as the planet of responsibility moved to join her Libran birth Sun in mid-September of 2010. Ironically, the same planet will be moving over the birth Sun of her political nemesis Tony Abbott, in February, March and again October of 2013.
TONY ABBOTT
Tony Abbott, was born November 4 1957 at 4 am in London England. Click here for his chart. Abbott’s remorseless Scorpio Sun squares willful Uranus, making him a wild card politician with a focused ambition. His fiery Aries Moon means both the ‘lights’ are Mars ruled, indicating his aggressive macho demeanor.
In the World Predictions 2013 from the start of the year I wrote of Abbott
“Although he frequently ranks below Gillard in polling, his party regularly places higher. Abbott however, with his unrestrained Sun Uranus square, is viewed as an obstructionist. The transit of Saturn is advising him to adopt a more measured, conservative and controlled approach in order to attain the responsible PM post.”
Abbott will be aiming to be the first ever Scorpio Prime Minister of Australia. The overwhelming favored sign has been Virgo, with three times the average. Andrew Fisher, James Scullin, Joseph Lyons, Ben Chifley, John Gorton and Kevin Rudd were all born under the earth sign Virgo. Australia has never had a Gemini, Scorpio, or Aquarius leader.
The prolific earth element has also provided three Capricorns - the first PM Edmond Barton, plus John Curtin and Paul Keating. The lone Taurean has been Malcolm Fraser. This leaning to earth is due to the Australian Federation horoscope of January 1 1901 @ 1.36 pm Sydney having a Capricorn Sun conjunct Saturn and widely trining a Taurean Moon. Click here for chart.
Interestingly Tony Abbott’s progressed Sun is now in Capricorn. By the election date Abbott’s progressed Sun will have reached the Australian Saturn. Add to that the power and money planet of Pluto that is currently transiting with his progressed Sun. As Pluto is the co-ruler of the Scorpio sign, it may well pave the way for our first Scorpio Prime Minister.
Note that this is an objective astrological analysis, and I have little faith in either of these representatives. Unfortunately for Australian voters they are left with a no-win choice between the most unpopular political leaders statistically in the history of federal politics.
JAN 27
ASTRO-MYSTERY
It had all the earmarks of an astrological thriller. A star is found dead, floating at sea - nearby a beached dinghy called a zodiac. A witness on a luxury yacht named ‘The Capricorn’ claims to have heard cries of ‘help me I’m drowning’ hours before. The cause of death is recorded as accidental, but thirty years later, on the Saturn return of the original incident, the case is re-opened.
Saturn is the planet of hard brick reality fact. The stunning ringed gas giant has forever been likened to the unforgiving judge. Ancient Babylonian tablets depicted omens such as, ‘when Saturn is with the Moon men will tell the truth’. But what is Saturn revealing?
DEATH STAR
At 7.44 on the morning of November 29 1981 the bruised body of film star Natalie Wood was found floating a mile off Santa Catalina Island, California. Wood had almost double the legal driving amount of alcohol in her blood, along with a painkiller and motion sickness pill. Her mysterious death was attributed to accidental drowning and hypothermia.
Two weeks before the 30th anniversary of her death, as judgmental Saturn completed a full cycle of the heavens the case was reopened. This was largely due to the efforts of Marti Rulli co-author of a controversial book ‘Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour ’. Rulli, claims the original investigation was incomplete, and features new information.
Co-author Dennis Davern, the skipper of the boat that Natalie Wood was on that fateful night, has admitted withholding vital facts from the initial investigation. Davern claimed an argument had broken out between Wood’s husband Robert Wagner and actor Christopher Walken. After Wood went to bed he heard the fight continuing in her cabin, including sounds of a physical struggle.
THE MISSING WITNESS
Holidaying about fifty meters away on a boyfriend’s luxury yacht was stockbroker Marilyn Wayne. She claims she heard clear cries of, ‘help me I’m drowning’ shortly after 11 pm the previous night also coming from the direction of Wagner’s moored boat.
Marilyn considered diving in, but the blackness of the rainy night, the low water temperature and a warning that it might be a dangerous option held her back. Instead they switched on their beam light and called harbor patrol, receiving no answer. She claims she called the sheriff’s office and was informed a helicopter would be sent. It never came.
Marilyn Wayne claims to have never been interviewed by police, although they beg to differ. She has issued a statement to the effect that the lead case Detective, Duane Rasure, publicly called her “someone seeking my name in the media”. Robert Wagner has also revealed in his own book how he’d broken a champagne bottle in anger just before Wood went missing. New evidence is providing a clearer picture.
Saturn is nothing if not thorough. One hundred people have so far been interveiwed. However, Wagner and his family have refused to submit to interrogation. Instead an attorney’s statement reads, "After 30 years, neither Mr. Wagner nor his daughters have any new information to add to this latest investigation, which was unfortunately prompted by those seeking to exploit and sensationalize the 30th anniversary of the death of his wife and their mother,"
ONE DRUNKEN NIGHT
The initial report describes the entire party as drinking at a restaurant from 4 pm on the afternoon of the November 28 1981. By the time the party left the bar for their yacht at approximately 22.15 all were intoxicated. So drunk that the restaurant manager had called harbor patrol to ensure that they safely piloted the dinghy back to their yacht ‘The Splendour ’ anchored offshore.
The drinking continued on the yacht and, according to Wagner, Wood was noticed missing around midnight. The normally attached dinghy had also been untied and was missing. They presumed she had either gone ashore or to another yacht. But by 1.30 a.m., and no return, Wagner called Ismuth employees to look for Wood. This call was verified by another boat owner.
Wagner and Davern kept drinking, but Walken was fast asleep during all of this. The theory of Wood’s death was that she had slipped while trying to tie up the loose dinghy that had been banging against the boat, and possibly keeping her awake. But mystery surrounded the time that Wagner had taken to inform authorities, especially in the knowledge that Wood could not swim. Also her body had multiple bruises, which were initially put down to the ‘accident’. What do the planets say?
NATALIE WOOD
According to AstroDatabank, Natalie Wood was born July 20 1938 at 11.16 am in San Francisco. With the vast majority of planets uppermost in her achievement-orientated horoscope, she was a child star pushed by an ambitious mother. Click here for Wood's horoscope.
Her horoscope shows a temperamental combination of her expressive Sun with fiery Mars and volcanic Pluto. All square her Taurean Moon in her house of marriage, unveiling potential tests and challenges within relationships.
On the weekend that she died the planet Jupiter, which can exaggerate things, was opposing Wood’s relationship Moon, and squaring her explosive Sun, Mars and Pluto. Additionally concentrated Pluto was conjunct progressed Venus. These are clear signs of relationship issues bubbling to the surface.
Natalie Wood also had Saturn in her marriage house, and at the time of death was experiencing her Saturn opposition. This was her second marriage to Wagner, who she’d originally dated as an eighteen year old. As Saturn and Pluto are slow moving planets and Pluto was heading to square her Sun, the relationship issues may have been ongoing for months prior.
There is further evidence for this with Mars, the planet of accidents and aggression progressing to semisquare her Ascendant, being her physical body. On the night of her disappearance transiting Mars was also moving over her Neptune, a planet associated with liquids and the sea. What of husband Robert Wagner’s horoscope?
ROBERT WAGNER
According to AstroDatabank, Robert Wagner was born February 10 1930 at 01.45 am in Detroit, Michigan. Neptune is the highest planet in Wagner’s horoscope hovering around the Midheaven at birth. Click here for Wagner's horoscope.
Neptune does imply a mystery, and is the planet of imagery, which makes it ideal for actors. Wagner also has his Aquarian Sun joined to Venus, the planet of the arts, beauty and attraction. Known originally as the ‘Brylcream Kid’ he has always appeared surrounded by glamour.
A feature of Wagner’s horoscope is his eighth house Cancer Moon. The Moon represents females and emotional response. It is opposing karmic Saturn and in square to unpredictable Uranus. This challenging T-Square has been re-activated by cathartic Pluto moving across his Saturn and opposing his Moon from 2011 when the case was reopened. Pluto is digging up the past. With the wild card planet Uranus now also squaring the Moon, it is all coming out in a rapid and uncontrolled manner.
Wagner’s Moon is also in a challenging formation with his own Sun/Venus and Ascendant known as Thor’s Hammer. The Moon is really the crux of his horoscope. During 1990 when Uranus last impacted strongly on his Moon he married long term friend and supportive partner, Jill St John. But what of November 1981?
WAGNER’S CHALLENGING CHART
At the time of Wood's death Wagner had obsessive Pluto transiting in opposition to his progressed Venus and squaring his birth Mercury. This is also indicative of extreme jealousy and tensions in their partnership life. Wagner’s progressed Sun was squaring progressed Saturn and had just moved through progressed Uranus. Normally such aspects accompany a split so it is possible that there had been serious ongoing issues.
In November 1981 Wagner’s emotional Moon had just completed an opposition to itself and was nearing somber Saturn. While all of this might be expected with the loss of a loved one, it also reinforces the question of just what was happening in the relationship in the months prior to the tragedy.
I also looked at the composite horoscope of Wagner and Wood – a combination of their planetary positions. This reveals the combative Mars, and the water and alcohol planet Neptune both transiting to a difficult formation with the Sun and Mercury in November 1981. Miscommunication, accidents, arguments or violence would be common to this.
Additionally Jupiter is opposing Mars, which would exaggerate any dissension. And this horoscope also shows the surprise factor Uranus crossing Venus.
BACK TO THE FUTURE
Robert Wagner is the one potential witness who has closed the door on the whole affair. He does not wish to add to the current investigation. Yet Saturn returns are known for putting an end to matters once and for all. That was certainly the case in the ongoing controversy of the death of baby Azaria Chamberlain in Australia. It also should be for the Natalie Wood mystery.
Saturn will return to Wagner’s horoscope moving across his Ascendant early in 2014. At the same time Neptune, currently opposing itself, will also oppose his Midheaven. Could it be that within the first four months of 2014 that the case of Natalie Wood is finally closed, once and for all? Yes - even Natalie’s horoscope supports that conclusion.
JAN
20
THE US INAUGURATION HOROSOPE
MOON AND MARS
Last year I wrote about the Moon with Mars on Presidential swearing in day and you can find further details via this link and by scrolling to the September 23 comment section.
On Sunday March 4 1849 a celebrated General known as ‘Old Rough and Ready’ of Episcopalian faith, reportedly refused to take the US Presidential oath on a Sunday. The ceremony was instead scheduled for noon Monday March 5. But it adversely changed the astrological implications.
Monday, the 5th, was a far more difficult day. At noon it pitted the Moon in almost exact opposition to Mars. President Zachary Taylor lasted barely over a year in office. His is but one of the many difficult or shortened tenures, that have accompanied the Moon in a hard aspect with the red planet on inauguration day.
Moon square Mars was also a feature of the founding fathers, George Washington’s first term and Thomas Jefferson’s second. Washington's government acrimoniously split into two factions over the proposal of a national bank, and Jefferson lost support during a second term beset by continual economic woes.
President William Harrison was sworn in with Moon square Mars. He gave the longest inauguration speech on record, which ultimately led to the shortest ever Presidency.
Presidents Garfield, McKinley, Harding and Kennedy did not even complete their terms of office, whilst James Buchanan’s was rated as one of the worst tenures of all. Bill Clinton had Moon square Mars for his second term and ended up facing impeachment.
This year the official US Presidential inauguration falls due on Sunday January 20 – but the public inauguration will be held on Monday the 21st.
Legally Barack Obama takes office for a second term at noon Sunday on January 20 2013. He is expected to be officially sworn in at that time. If all goes to plan Obama does so under an exact Moon square Mars aspect.
The Moon Mars square for 2013 Inauguration horoscope was the primary reason I wrote last year that this was the election that the winner could turn out to be the loser.
I hope that’s wrong and that the next day Monday public swearing in chart turns out to be the over-riding one. Otherwise the Moon being the public and Mars being adversarial, have given this square aspect an abysmal track record. On past evidence this does not bode well for Obama's second term.
ARMSTRONG'S ALTERED REALITY
Lance Armstrong was a legend. Motivational speakers quoted his story as a prime example of one individual turning tragedy into triumph. He was one of the world's most famous and rewarded competitors, with an untouchable cycling record and incredible heart resting rate of 32 beats per minute.
Who hadn’t heard of how Lance had bravely battled, and beat, testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs, abdomen and brain? Given only a 40% chance of survival he had dedicated himself to finding out more about the cancer, and set up a cancer research foundation.
Lance Armstrong, a champion triathlete from youth, returned to the world of cycling bigger and better than ever, winning the arduous Tour De France an unmatchable seven times. He was hailed as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
But for much of the time the shadow of drug use haunted his persona. Now the Armstrong myth has been unveiled as the biggest drug deception in sporting history. As Neptune, the planet of illusion enters dreamy and often-deceptive Pisces, the issue of drugs worldwide will become a hot topic.
When Neptune – the planet connected to chemicals, pharmaceuticals and body-mind altering substances last entered Pisces in 1846, the use of drugs increased markedly. It started with general anesthetics for surgical procedures, first administered the same year.
LANCE ARMSTRONG
Lance Armstrong, born September 18 1971 in Plano Texas, is a Virgo, with both the Sun and Moon in the same sign. He was born under a Balsamic Moon soon to be a New Moon. Generally those born with the Moon and Sun close together have a much more subjective outlook. Objectivity is a learned rather than inherent characteristic.
Lance was also born with his Sun joined to the obsessive focus of Pluto. All of this guarantees a single-minded intensity. Pluto is the deity of death and rebirth. Pluto, equivalent of the Greek Hades, was the lord of the hidden underworld. Lance faced the ultimate death and resurrection trip. As might be expected, being a champion athlete, Lance’s concentrated Sun and Pluto were both in a hard aspect (sesquisquare) to competitive Mars.
NEPTUNE & THE MYTH
Lances’s own Sagittarian Neptune was conjunct the expansive and optimistic Jupiter, with both opposed to the reality planet of Saturn. On October 2, 1996 as Neptune solar-arced square to his birth Sun Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer. The Neptune influence would also account for his chemotherapy, as well as the debilitating illness. Solar arcing Mars was then in a testing square to restrictive Saturn.
It was from here that the Armstrong myth was born. But it may also be no coincidence that as Neptune entered Pisces his drug escapades became more openly revealed. By then transiting Neptune began a challenging square to Armstrong's birth Neptune, and also Saturn, leading to the ultimate expose of the degree of Armstrong’s cheating.
Armstrong was using human growth hormones, erythropoietin (EPO), testosterone, plus having blood transfusions and cortisone injections on his way to his seven consecutive Tour de France wins. Eventually teammates with a conscience testified against him. Finally in 2012 US Anti Doping Agency said Armstrong had indulged in "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen".
SATURN THE JUDGE
Saturn is the karmic judgment planet. Saturn represents the hard brick of reality. When Lance Armstrong finally came clean on the Oprah Winfrey show recorded January 2013, his Sun had progressed from its Virgo beginnings to five degrees of Scorpio, forming a difficult and adjusting inconjunct angle to his birth Saturn.
Add to that the current Saturn is moving through Scorpio and has moved across his progressed Scorpio Sun. It will regress there again mid year 2013. This time restrictive Saturn has Armstrong banned from sanctioned competition.
Astrologically it’s a case of a Sun/Mars/Pluto win at all costs concentration coupled with a single minded Sun Moon union. Right now it’s led to the loss of what he loved to do most – compete. And the unanswered question is – did he really need to do it?
And how did he get away with it for so long? Had a cheating Lance Armstrong become like a lot of banks during the global financial crisis - "too big to fail". Lance's incomplete confession leaves the real doubt of just how many others, including medical and cycling officials were implicated? Ironic that Armstrong quoted Jesus, 'The truth will set you free'. That's not exactly what we got.
January 13
HOW HIGH THE MOON
The marvelous Moon. Lou Reed it called it ‘the satellite of love’. From its name we derive the words mood, lunacy and lunatic. It’s our closest neighbor in space, and its proximity pulls the tides of our mighty oceans. There are many who believe that it does the same with the human brain, consisting of around 75% of water. Lunar legends persists in the folklore of diverse cultures right across the globe.
The Alexandrian astrologer Vettius Valens wrote in 150 AD, that the Moon represented life, body, mother and conception, as well the ‘assembly of the people’. Venerated astronomer Claudius Ptolemy, who wrote the most widely read astrological textbook of all time – ‘Tetrabiblos’ - was in full agreement.
To the gnostics your soul came from star stuff, finally descending to the sphere of the Moon, and thereby selecting the family you chose to be born into on planet earth. Your Moon primarily influenced your infancy.
But it’s not only early conditioning that is lunar stuff. The Moon for each of us returns to the position it held at birth at slightly over twenty-seven and a third years. This becomes a vital Moon year.
Are we likelier to do crazier things? It all makes for an interesting observation into the “27 Club”. That's an exclusive musicians association that too many have already been dying to join. The ending of the first cycle of the Moon has spelt the final curtain call for some of our most celebrated stars.
DEATH IS MY CALLING CARD
Amy Winehouse was the last recruit to a line-up that included sixties icons Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. Add to that Kurt Cobain, Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones and blues legend Robert Johnson and the list is imposing.
As twenty-seven is a pivotal year in terms of the emotional barometer of your horoscope – the Moon bears watching in the horoscopes of these individuals. To the astrologer there is a raw psychological significance to the antiquarian folklore of the sometimes not so nurturing Moon.
Each of is born with the Moon in a specific positioning, and relationship to the Sun, Earth and planets of the solar system. As an emotional barometer the Moon pertains to early conditioning, and emotions either unrestrained or perhaps too suppressed. Some may result in extreme compensatory behavior. These conditions may also have a tendency to resolve or implode around age twenty-seven, as the Moon returns to its birthplace.
COSMIC BLUES
Janis Joplin, born January 19 1943, @ 9.45 am in Port Arthur Texas, had a sensitive Cancer Moon in the creative fifth house of her horoscope. Click for her horoscope here.
Janis's Moon was opposite her Sun sign of Capricorn. Her Moon was square Neptune, a planet connected with flights of fancy, inspired imagination, and a downside of escapism often through recreational drugs. Joplin’s Moon was also parallel to Saturn suggesting a serious mind and the possibility of depression.
Her Moon was also quindecile to aggressive Mars in her career zone. The quindecile is an aspect aligned with obsessive-compulsive behaviour and often addictive coping mechanisms. This aspect to the Moon would imply intensified emotional needs, and the male archetype of Mars can signify impulsiveness, and perhaps even a coarse directness.
If the Moon represented the mother, Joplin’s own mother had something to say of her, "She was unhappy and unsatisfied without [receiving a lot of attention]. The normal rapport wasn't adequate." Joplin regarded herself as a misfit. In her teens her acne scarring was so bad that she required corrective surgery. Her escape was her music and the musical world that accepted her ‘difference’.
Janis shone like a true star at 60’s outdoor pop fests like Monterey and Woodstock. She knew it, saying, 'if it's really working and you've got the audience with you, it's a oneness you feel.’ Janis is famous for the quote that on stage you make love to over twenty five thousand people and then you go home alone.
As her fame grew her before the ‘assembly of the people’ her drug use increased - an inadequate coping mechanism for an itinerant life. By the return of her progressed Moon to its original birth position Janis was engaged. The night before her death she expressed anger that her fiancée was playing pool with other females in her house. What followed was her last intravenous injection of an overly potent lot of heroin. Early morning October 4 she was no more.
Her death shocked a music world, that only two weeks before had lost flamboyant Jimi Hendrix the greatest guitarist of the sixties. Hendrix’s Moon was in a difficult inconjunct with his progressed Sun, and joining his eighth house of death at his passing. Although the official cause is asphyxiation, Jimi’s death was also drug related.
MORRISON HOTEL
Jim Morrison of the Doors had one of the more difficult Moon placements at birth, squaring intense Pluto and semisquare disciplinary Saturn. He was born December 3 1943 @ 11.55 am in Melbourne Beach, Florida. Click for his horoscope here.
Jim’s itinerant military upbringing heralded four home moves by the time he was four. Although his parents did not use corporal punishment, the children were psychologically broken down and reduced to tears through excessive yelling and berating.
Morrison was highly intelligent, with a tested IQ of 149, but virtually uncontrollable, and a natural rebel. By twenty-one he had disowned his parents, and traveled to California. As the lead singer of the popular Doors, Morrison’s drinking and drug use, plus outrageous stage behavior and subsequent arrests have become legendary sixties fare.
By the time his Moon returned to its birthplace, Morrison - by then closely monitored by the FBI - had deserted his country of birth and flown to live in Paris. It was here he was allegedly found dead in a bathtub, the victim of a heart attack connected to a drug and alcohol lifestyle. He would never return home. He is now buried near the grave of Oscar Wilde in the Pere Lachaise cemetery.
Others like Amy Winehouse – Moon conjunct Neptune at birth and then returned to at death, or Kurt Cobain – Moon at the Sun Neptune midpoint at birth and hard angled Neptune at death, continued the difficult Moon patterning.
There may well be an inkling of truth in the writings of our ancient forebears that the Moon is connected with our emotional grounding, fluctuating feelings, and habitual behaviour. And that it corresponds to our feeling of home, and being at home with ourselves.
To conclude, the British Medical Association did perform an analysis on musician’s deaths and the age of twenty-seven, claiming that there was no significant pattern evident. But is it possible that this phenomena is more effective in those who achieve considerable fame before (as Vettius Valens wrote almost nineteen hundred years ago) the lunar ‘assembly of the people’?
PAKISTAN COUNTS THE TOLL
On Thursday January 10 violence tore across Pakistan in the form of coordinated bombings. At the time of writing 126 people have died as a result of the terrorism, leading into upcoming national elections. Most of the victims were minority Shia Muslims in Quetta, capital of the unstable Baluchistan province.
Astrologers use a variety of horoscopes for Pakistan, varying from 9.15 to 9.33 August 14 1947, when British Viceroy Lord Mountbatten addressed the new parliament on independence, to the official changeover of powers from midnight leading into August 15.
Pakistan now celebrate the 14th as Independence Day, although their original Prime Minister Jinnah clearly stated "August 15 is the birthday of the independent and sovereign state of Pakistan. It marks the fulfillment of the destiny of the Muslim nation which made great sacrifices in the past few years to have its homeland."
Certainly the midnight Pakistan horoscope is now highly active. The authoritative Midheaven is now solar arcing to oppose dissolving and covert Neptune. At the same time the solar arc Moon, representing the public, is in a challenging square to aggressive Mars.
Whatever chart is used, the progressing restrictive Saturn has now progressed to the leadership Sun. All of this is an enormous threat to the government of Pakistan, a country whose democratic governments have often been replaced by military juntas.
The current attacks came as the transiting Moon moved to deadly Pluto, which is also squaring Pakistan’s progressed Midheaven.
Technicalities aside the pre-election period prior to March 18, and immediately after looks increasingly volatile. Such was also the case prior to the last elections of 2008, culminating in the assassination of three time PM Benazir Bhutto.
February 10 and 11, when the Aquarian Sun opposes the Leo Pakistan Sun is another date when the authorities will feel this rising tide of rebellion. Unfortunately this looks ongoing, even immediately after elections in later March and April.
JANUARY 6
CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS
The Inauguration of the President of Venezuelan is scheduled for January 10 2013. But since December 11 last year the elected leader, Hugo Chavez, has not been seen in public. Chavez, who has had four operations for pelvic cancer since mid 2011, reportedly lies in a Cuban hospital, recovering from his latest surgery.
On October 7 2012 Chavez, who commands a charismatic following, easily disposed of his opposition, to ensure a six year term. He has governed since his original swearing in on February 2 1999, with a brief two-day hiatus in April 2002. Venezuela was among the top five economies with a GDP expansion of 5.5% over the last year, and the best performing stock market of 2012.
But if Chavez can’t make the swearing in, Venezuela is heading for a political stand-off. To quell the crisis Vice President Nicolás Maduro invoked the constitution to explain that if not sworn in before the National Assembly, the Supreme Court could enact the inauguration process at a later date.
Meanwhile,
the recently vanquished opposition circle like vultures sweating on a
new election, should Chavez's health problems prolong the problem. What
do the planets signal for Hugo Chavez and Venezuela in the short and longer
term?
VENEZUELA
Venezuela lies on the northern coast of South America. It’s a country
of close on thirty million people, colonized by the Spanish in 1522, and
the first of the Latin countries to declare independence on July 5 1811.
Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves and second largest
natural gas assets. Its importance to world energy supply is critical.
The independence horoscope shows a patriotic Cancerian Sun (virtually matching that of the USA) with the Moon in the opposing sign of Capricorn. Political crisis, coups and dictatorships have littered the national history. In 1989, as Saturn and Neptune together opposed the Venezuelan Sun, riots led to the death of 3,000 people.
The Uranus to Sun opposition of 1991 featured further instability until the eventual impeachment of President Carlos Andrés Pérez in 1993, removed by the Supreme Court, as both powerbroker Pluto and authoritative Saturn came to meet the Mars of the national horoscope. Twenty years earlier Perez had nationalized the oil industry, which provides the government and people with a financial bonanza.
HUGO CHAVEZ
One of the men who plotted Perez’s downfall was current Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Chavez was born July 28 1954, in Sinamaica, with a claimed time of 4 am via AstroDatabank.
His proud and fixed Leo Sun squares the more controlling Saturn in calculating Scorpio. Chavez has implemented sweeping political reforms in what he terms his socialist Bolivarian Revolution, beginning with a fresh Constitution approved on December 15, with 72% of the popular vote and effective from December 20 1999. As Chavez has held virtually continuous power over the country since, the 1999 swearing in horoscope is significant as a future guide.
Chavez was originally inaugurated as President at 10.45 am February 2 1999 in Caracas. This horoscope features the leadership Sun linked to oratory Mercury, and both united with the rebellious Uranus, in the universal brotherhood sign of Aquarius.
In worldy terms his administration have certainly ran their own race, and Chavez is regarded as an enemy of the mainstream capitalist society. Although he has halved the unemployment rate and reduced poverty from one in four to one in twelve, rampant inflation still dogs Venezuela. It was over 20% when he came to office and is now slightly over 30% per annum, eroding wealth and savings.
The 1999 Inauguration horoscope had progressed to New Moon stage by the presidential elections of October 2012, suggesting a future leadership change, or new order. Within two months Chavez was off to Cuba for urgent medical treatment.
Since then news concerning his condition has been sparing. On January 10 this year – the anticipated new inauguration date - the agitating warrior planet of Mars transits across the Sun/Mercury/Uranus of when Chavez came to power. The original swearing in horoscope will show further signs of impending change in April and specifically mid September 2013.
PEOPLE POWER
Chavez, an avowed socialist, was himself victim of a capitalist coup attempt on April 11 2002, when senior management of Petróleos de Venezuela (PVDA), backed by the private media tried to overthrow him. A right wing cabal installed Pedro Carmona, President of the Chamber of Commerce, sworn in at 17.51 hours on April 12.
The US immediately endorsed the new leader, whilst Venezuela’s Latin neighbors, all voiced their apprehension at the removal of a democratically elected head of state. The puppet leader was dissolved within two days, and Chavez was reinstated at 4.35 am April 14. People power returned the president. Carmona later resurfaced in Miami, Florida.
Historically, the ten-year period is an important one for Chavez. He failed in a 1992 coup, was the victim of one in 2002 and in 2012 comfortably won re-election, only to have to hand it to his deputy through illness. As he recovers from major surgery Chavez’s progressed Moon moves through the health conscious sign of Virgo. It is now in the closing balsamic phase, suggesting a release and moving on, or that he will step down for a successor.
REVOLUTIONARY TRANSITS
Venezuela losing a charismatic leader like Chavez would create a power vacuum in the resource rich country. Their national horoscope is fielding powerful revolutionary transits, initially from unstable Uranus from the middle of the year. The following year, 2014, they see the full weight of the transformative Uranus Pluto square impacting on the Venezuelan leadership Sun.
The ramifications are obvious. The USA remains Venezuela’s main oil customer, although China will match that by 2015. The US has also placed a weapons sales ban on Venezuela, which has seen the country now purchase fighter jets from China, along with allowing Chinese investment in infrastructure such as railways.
China’s increasing trade with Venezuela has seen the two countries launch a second communications satellite in November of last year. China has supplied a massive $42.5 billion loan, charging 6 percent interest, or half the international rate. Venezuela pays back in oil. Even though China did not import a barrel of oil prior to 1999; the growing industrial giant will soon become Venezuela’s main trade partner.
All of this makes Venezuela, and its politicians the ham in the sandwich of a bigger global battle – one for worldly economic supremacy between two superpowers. The stakes are high for more political double-dealing behind the scenes. If the country is to experience violent upheavals in the wake of these events it will not be without covert foreign intervention.
SCHOOL'S BACK
If you've
always wanted to learn astrology from the ground up, or are keen to resume
studies, the Sirius astrology school will be back on track during February.
Click on this
link for details.
Finally, if you're still getting that old zodiac debate throw at you have a read of this. I'll be leaving the link here for a while for the open minded, as good ammunition to direct at the more closed craniums.
Disclaimer - The information and astrological interpretations at this site are purely for recreational reading. They are not meant to replace intelligent decision making on behalf of the reader, nor assume responsibility for the reader's life choices. All website information is offered entirely free, and purely under that common understanding.
Click Monthly Horoscopes & look at the bigger picture
World Predictions the year ahead
Planetary Cycles tracking the Outer Planets and their generational significance
Articles & Predictions Analysing and forecasting world news and events
Sirius School of Astrology offers comprehensive astrological education in all facets of Astrology. Students can learn for personal improvement or attain professional qualification.
Sirius School of Astrology offers comprehensive astrological education in all facets of Astrology. Students can learn for personal improvement or attain professional qualification.
Click Monthly Horoscopes & look at the bigger picture
Planetary Cycles tracking the Outer Planets and their generational significance
Articles & Predictions Analysing and forecasting world news and events