Search within NeptuneCafe
Custom Search
"The natal chart is like a seed and progressions are the unfolding in time of that into the plant it is to become. Transits, are like a daily weather report. In political astrology, these three factors have to be taken into account!"
Comments, questions, suggestions? Let us know what you think. Email wolfstar@neptunecafe.com
Recent NewsScope columns
Jan 2, 2012 - Obama-Clinton in 2012?, Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Maryl Streep as the Iron Lady
Jan. 9, 2012 - Rick Sant-orum, Eris and the job market, Stephen Hawking's State of the Universe
Jan. 16, 2012 - Corporations are people, Americans Elect hold online nomination, the glamorous Marlene Dietrich
Jan. 23, 2012 - Gingrich wins in SC, the Costa Concordia disaster, Eris and Madonna: Chaos as art
Jan. 30, 2012 - Gingrich's 12th house Mars, top five astro-events for february, and the journey of OR-7
February 6, 2012 - Pluto stimulates the U.S. economy, Israel tempts fate, a UFO in the Baltic Sea
Feb.13, 2012 - Santorum and Super Tuesday, Whitney Houston slips away, Linsanity spreading
Feb. 20, 2012 - Xanax: addictive and profitable; Assad and the Lunar Eclipse; Bobby Brown
Feb. 27, 2012 - Obama's progressed Mars, Top Five Astro-events for March, will Jeb Bush save the GOP?
March 5, 2012 - Obama's Interview, the swing state Ohio, Maria Menounas - something to talk about
March 12, 2012 - Billionaire Sara Blakely, Rush Limbaugh and the feminazis, yoga teacher Kristin McGee
March 19, 2012 - the Goldman Sachs elite, journalist Chris Hedges, George Clooney arrested
March 26, 2012 - Afghan War chart, April's top five astro-events, Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence
April 9, 2012 - Ann Romney and Gender Gap, Trayvon Martin and George Zimmer-man, Matt Damon's guru
April 9, 2012 - Ann Romney and Gender Gap, Trayvon Martin and George Zimmer-
man, Matt Damon's guru
Reader feedback
re: Inauguation date - January 20 is a Sunday, so they'll be doing the oath on Monday, January 21.
A. The official private ceremony is on the 20th, a Sunday. A public ceremony will be held the following day, the 21st, as happened during Reagan's inauguration.
re: job at NeptuneCafe - Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to enquire about any job vacancies you may have within The Neptune Cafe. I would like to introduce myself to the restaurant manager to hand in my resume and discuss any vacancies. I look forward to hearing from you.
re: Adam Lanza - I enjoyed your Newscope on Adam Lanza and the connections between his chart and that of the U.S. One has to wonder, however, why Newtown, CT? Have you had a chance to look at important dates for this town?
Here's the link for Newtown's city charter which shows its founding date and dates that its charter was adopted and revised. The city was founded on October 11, 1711 which gives it a Sun of 17º Libra which would complete a T-square in Adam's chart by opposing his Venus and squaring his Uranus-Neptune conjunction. The U.S. progressed Mars at 18º Libra is conjunct Newtown's Sun.The first city charter for Newtown was adopted on October 2, 1961 (chart for noon). Its Mars-Mercury conjunction in Scorpio creates a Grand Square with Adam's Sun/Ceres/Chiron T-Square. Also, its Cancer Moon oppose Saturn in Capricorn are being squared the U.S. progressed Moon/Mars in Libra.re: NeptuneCafe - Great site, I always read the newscope column every Monday!
re: McAfee - Given his chart and the transits and progressions at the time, do you think that he may have done it?
A. He could have. I noticed that transiting Mars was squaring his Sun on the night of the murder, which is an indicator for anger and even violence. But without an accurate birth time, I won't make that judgment. The Belize government provides a safe harbor for narco-traffickers, so he very well could be right about them wanting his millions...
re: 8º Sagittarius - Thank you for your weekly Newscope. It is accurate, thought provoking, informative and thoroughly enjoyable.
I am part of an Astrology discussion group and we have been noticing the prominence of 8 degrees of Sag in several charts. The Winter Solstice chart has a Yod whose reaction point is 8 Sag in the 2nd house of the US chart. We read that degree, which, I think, is the Fixed star Han, as the degree of blindness. It seems the US is blind to 2nd house matters, such as values and money. Do you have any opinion on this subject? I value your insight.
A. Thanks for your letter, and I'm glad you find the Scorpio Rising chart a useful way to examine U.S. affairs. Yes, I've been discussing the Yod between Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto which aligns with 8º Sag. The Yod activates the many points in the US chart at 8º of their respective signs, including the Ascendant, Uranus, Ceres, and Eris.
As for the stars, I generally consider only those with a 1st magnitude brilliance, and I believe most astrologers who use the stars do as well. Han is therefore a weak influence, especially considering that Aldebaran and Antares are in the same degree area and are both 1st magnitude stars.
Also, I would advise against making broad generalizations about the US being blind to values and money matters, which sound more like your personal opinion than an insightful analysis based on astrological principles. In other words, when you refer to the US, who are you really talking about, the leaders (symbolized by the Sun), the people (Moon), or maybe the government bureaucracy (Saturn)? What objective statements can you make about the Solstice chart? What does it say about our future in 2013 or the next quarter?
re: Orcus - Fascinating article re: Orcus, which may have helped to explain the (to me) unexplainable, as I was so sure Romney would squeak by into office. This made me wonder if my 3 degree Virgo rising w/out planets means something insidious. Romney seemed to me to be one who often suppressed his own real feelings, so it's interesting that this may have subconsciously also translated into suppression of votes by faulty equipment. As Jung said, 'As above so below' . Also, Interesting that Assad was born on 9/11… Thanks again for fascinating stuff!
re: 2013 - I read your blog on NewsScope every Monday morning religiously. Your work has been God sent and with valuable insights into life. If time permits, would you please do year 2013 and what should we expect. As always with many many thanks.
re: Political Astrology - I have your book Political Astrology coving the years 2001-2005. Have you written another book for the years after that? I would like to order it/them if you have. What books have you written and are available to purchase? I am sure you know that I appreciate your writings.
A. No, I haven't written a book since then. I'll have to consider writing another one soon...
re: election - Love your column. I now think that the more a candidate has of 25 degree natal planets/bodies, that determines the winner rather than progressed. Obama has the most. Thus Romney lost...thank goodness for our nation's sake!
A. I'm glad you feel the Scorpio Rising chart is the best way to assess a candidate's chances.
re: election - In your anaysis of how the election would go, you kind of set aside Obama's aspects to the US chart and the Moon, and instead reached for Romney's progressed aspects, some already past, to predict him the winner. You did not mention that Obama has his progressed Mars tightly trine the US natal Moon.on Election Day! In my book, that is a far more powerful indice than asteroids, and a square from progressed planets. That same progressed Mars, squares the US Pluto, ruler of the US first house. Interesting. Okay, then.
A. Your insights about Obama's chart and its comparison to the U.S. Moon (uniquely at 25 AQ in the U.S. Scorpio Rising horoscope) may be the best interptretation of why he won. I would add that Obama's progressed Mars does indeed trine the U.S. Moon, but it's about 1/4 degree past the exact trine, which makes it a waning influence. Still, he did tout his strong resumé as Commander-in-Chief. Yes, his progressd Mars in diplomatic Libra goes on to square the U.S. Pluto in 2014, which may very well bring a marshalling of U.S. allies against a recalcitrant foe, such as Iran.
April 16, 2012 - The Chiron-Pluto Generation, Bobby Petrino's issues, and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
April 23, 2012 - The Secret Service scandal, May's top five astro-events, and the Titanic 100 years later
April 30, 2012 - China's Uranus cycle, France's next president Francois Hollande, DWTS' Katherine Jenkins
May 7, 2012 - Romney blames Obama, Michelle Obama's rectified birth chart, writer-director Joss Whedon
May 14, 2012 - Same-sex marriage, Venus and the financial markets, and Tom Gabel's transformation
May 21, 2012 - FB's IPO, Will Greece leave the Eurozone?, Wis. Governor Scott Walker's recall
May 28, 2012 - Mohamed Morsi - Egypt's next president, June's astro-events, Jupiter and the SE
June 4, 2012 - Obama or Romney? Spain's financial T-square, cyberwarfare's General James Cartwright.
June 11, 2012 - Part Two of Who will win - Obama or Romney? A deeper look at each candidate's chart
June 18, 2012 - Pluto and the billionaries; Putin and the patriarchs, and the NBA finals with Kevin Durant
June 25, 2012 - The Vatican's protector of predator priests, July's top five, Larry Ellison buys Lanai
July 2, 2012 - Roberts and Obamacare, European leaders reach accord, Katie Holmes files for divorce
July 9, 2012 - Michelle Obama and Ann Romney on Election day, Henry Higgs and the UR-PL cycle
July 16, 2012 - Ceres and commodity prices, Condi Rice rumors, Woody Guthrie, dustbowl troubadour
July 23, 2012 - Black Moon Lilith Rising, James Holmes' split personality, celebrity CEO Marissa Mayer
July 30, 2012 - Romney's gaffe at the Olympics, August's top five events, Kristen Stewart's love life
Aug 6, 2012 - The Dawn Mission, Oscar Pistolius the blade runner, and James Holme's timed chart
Aug 13, 2012 - Paul Ryan wins the Veepstakes, the U.S. progressed Moon-Mars,Angelina wedding day
Aug 20, 2012 - The activated Uranus-Pluto, Russia's Black Moon, Jessica Alba's busy life.
Aug 27, 2012 - Romney's victory and the fiscal cliff, September's top five, Lance Armstrong's career dives.
Sept. 3, 2012 - The clash over Medicare, Clint East-wood talks with a chair, Mariah Carey's horoscope.
Sept. 10, 2012 - the astrology of QE3, Black Moon in Israel's chart, Leann Rimes and Patsy Cline
Sept. 17, 2012 - Chaos in the Middle East and Peace Day; women doing well; Kate Middleton's dilemma
Sept. 24, 2012 - Romney's 47 percent video, October's top five astro-events, Lindsay Lohan's attitude
Oct. 1, 2012 - Special Black Moon Lilith Issue, Romney's progressed Lilith; Iran's Lilith; Lilith celebrity profiles.
Oct. 8, 2012 - candidates' progressions, Turkey's Grand Cross, Miguel Cabrera wins Triple Crown.
Oct. 15, 2012 - Ohio, the bellwether state to win; Malala Yousafzai, freedom fighter; Ben Affleck's Argo...
Oct. 22, 2012 - Cyber Pearl Harbor, November's top five astro-events, and Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Biel
Oct. 29, 2012 - Neptune and the election, the Solar Eclipse hits Ohio's Neptune, and Queen Elizabeth II
Nov. 5, 2012 - Hurricane Sandy, the astrology of hurricanes, and Taylor Swift's philanthropy
Nov. 12, 2012 - Paula Broadwell, Election result commentaries, Spielberg's Abraham Lincoln
Nov. 19, 2012 - Mars along the Hamas-Israel border, Saturn and Obama's Neptune, Twinkies Gone?
Nov 26, 2012 - Mohamed Morsi - Egypt's new pharaoh, December's top five, Alfred Hitchcock
Dec. 3, 2012 - The fiscal cliff and the Mayan calendar, Tesla Motors, Park Jae-sang's Gangnam Style
Dec. 10, 2012 - Assad's progressed Mars, Orcus in Romney's and Assad's charts, Bill Murray as FDR
Dec. 17, 2012 - Adam Lanza - Newtown shooter, the U.S. twelfth house; John McAfee on the run
Dec. 24, 2012 - The National Rifle Association, January's Top Five Astro-Events, Suzy Favor Hamilton's double life.
Dec. 31, 2012 - Mars in key charts of 2013, India's social revolution, Matt Damon's new film Promised Land.
NewsScope for January 7, 2013
By Michael Wolfstar
“Save Us from Self-Inflicted Wounds”
Last week the punditocracy was unusually pessimistic about the political prospects for 2013 due to the imminent battle over raising the debt ceiling. The federal government officially hit the debt ceiling limit last week, but by delaying payments and taking other “extraordinary measures”, it won’t default for about two more months. The Senate chaplain expressed the issue concisely: “Save us from self-inflicted wounds.”
The transits and progressions to the U.S. chart reflect an equally grim view, especially when considering the 12th house of self-undoing. Uniquely in the Scorpio Rising national horoscope, the 12th house is fully activated by two major progressions: progressed Mars -- the co-ruler of the Scorpio Ascendant -- and the progressed Moon. Progressed Mars here was triggered on September 11, 2001 and during the last two mass shootings (in Aorura and Newtown).
Progressed Mars will be in the 12th house for the next 20 years, so is a long-term influence bringing many self-inflicted wounds, crumbling infrastructure, and periodic terrorist activity. The progressed Moon here is a relatively short-term influence, lasting until June 2014. Currently, the U.S. progressed Moon is at 21º Libra. It advances at the rate of about one degree per month, and is approaching the natal Mercury-Pluto opposition.
The U.S. Mercury-Pluto is the celestial signature for intense political debate, but negatively expressed, is associated with conspiracy theories, paranoia and insanity. By March, the progressed Moon will square Mercury, and then four months later will square Pluto. So through July 2013, the U.S. Mercury-Pluto polarity is being activated from the 12th house. In personal charts, this configuration would readily be associated with mental illness. Undoubtedly, the national psyche will be deeply challenged to make constructive progress.
Hugo Chavez’s Health Crisis
According to official reports, President Hugo Chavez is being treated for a severe lung infection. Chavez has not been seen in public since his cancer surgery three weeks ago, sparking rumors of his imminent death. Venezuelan bonds rallied since foreign investors see a more business-friendly government coming, but the vice president said “The only transition taking place in Venezuela is the transition to socialism”.
Chavez was born with his Leo Sun squaring a Saturn-Lilith conjunction (July 28, 1954; 4:00 am*; Sabaneta, Venezuela), giving him a strong sense of personal authority that thrives on undermining traditional power structures. Aries at the Midheaven fits a military career, especially with Mars, the ruler of the MC, located in the 6th house of service and health. Mars trines Pluto, an aspect that generally offers immense regenerative power and safeguards health.
Although astrologers tend to avoid this subject, the Lunar Node axis is almost always activated when death arrives. Note that by secondary progression Chavez’s Mars is at 14º Capricorn where it conjoins his North Node. It also opposes his Moon-Jupiter and squares Ceres, creating a dynamic T-square that is undermining his health and will continue to do so over the next 18 months.
Simultaneously, the transiting Uranus-Pluto square enters this same degree zone in 2014, delivering a double whammy to his well-being. All this planetary activity is polarizing the political forces around Chavez. Progressed Mars and transiting Pluto in his 7th house represent the gathering of his political enemies who are posturing to replace the ailing chief. This combination is ruthless, and could spontaneously turn to violence or instigate a palace coup.
Black Moon Lilith, the Comedians’ Muse
When astrologers consider Black Moon Lilith, they generally look at her affinity with extremely violent emotions, fierce fights with patriarchal authority, and intense explorations into the unconscious mind. Lilith is often prominent in the charts of feminists, rebels, and serial killers, and is generally known for her troublemaking tendencies. Paradoxically, Lilith is also the key archetype in the most creative minds, especially comedians.
I found 36 well-known comedians or humorists in my celebrity files, and 17 of these (47%) have a Sun-Lilith aspect. Most of the rest have Lilith angular or closely aspecting the chart’s ruling planet. Perhaps the most famous humorist of all is Mark Twain, who was born with his Sagittarius Sun opposite Lilith (November 30, 1835; 4:45 am; Florida, MO) with an orb of only one degree.
Twain failed at numerous occupations until he hit his stride with the humorous story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”. He then went on to earn a lot of money from his amusing travelogs and speeches, as is natural for someone with his Sun in the 2nd house of money. But the opposition to Lilith in the 8th house of other people’s money led him into making bad investments, and to his shame, he had to declare bankruptcy.
Johnny Carson has his Libra Sun square Lilith, likewise giving the Tonight Show host a keen eye for juxtaposing odd perspectives in an amusing way. And like Mark Twain, Carson dwelled in his dark side when not in front of the cameras. The Sun-Lilith link defines comic actors as well as stand-up comedians. Consider Meg Ryan, Ginger Rogers, Peter Sellers, and Chevy Chase – all have tried dramatic film roles, but have only been successful in comedies, as defined by their Sun-Lilith aspects.
