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"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
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
Reader feedback
re: Monsanto - Senator Tester has proposed an amendment that would delete the Monsanto rider.
Concerned readers can call the White House @ (202) 456-1111. Live people actually answer this line. Of course, people can also email the White House and call and email their representatives in the House and Senate.
re: drought - I read your blog regularly religiously as it is informative and educating. I live in heartland and I remember your writing last summer that it will be very difficult and those transits will remain in effect till this late this summer also due to lilith. Would you please be kind enough to refresh this prediction if possible because last year's drought here was extremely unbearable and it was extremely disheartening to farmers. So if time permits would you again enlighten us with your astrological thinking about heat and drought in heartland of America.
re: astro-detective - It would be interesting to see the Travis Alexander natal horoscope and the horoscope for the day he was killed on June 4, 2008.
re: Amanda Knox - I really enjoyed your new page about the Amanda Knox case--excellent work! I do have a question, though--at the very end, you suggest that the hard work for Amanda started when Uranus retrograded right square her Saturn and pr Saturn, but still minutes away. I've often wondered about these spare minutes--Saturn retrograded just minutes before conjuncting my Neptune a few months back (actually, looking at the chart now, it was 1 degree 14 mins...)
My tendency is to say there is no actual effect if there is not actual connection, and well, minutes are still minutes. But it sounds like you feel differently--if so, within how many minutes, or even degrees do you feel a transiting aspect must be to actually create an effect in a retrograde like this? What's your experience with this? The Knox case certainly seems proof. A. Every case is different, but a natal planet doesn't operate in isolation. Consider the progressed planets, and faster moving transits, like the Sun or Mars, or even the Moon, to carry the connection from the transit to the natal planet. This is known as the "translation of the light" in traditional astrology.
In Amanda's case, transiting Uranus turned retrograde while only 0º03’ from her progressed Saturn. The closeness of that station in itself suggests major life events unfolding. That's pretty much as close to a direct hit as one can get.re: Zendaya - I always enjoy your weekly column. I'm wondering if a birthtime of about 11:15 AM might be right for Zendaya Coleman? This puts that sensual Moon right on an angle, creates a Fixed Grand Cross, and highlights the existing Kite Grand Earth Trine... Plus Lilith right next to the MC.
A. Hmmm... maybe so. It's an interesting concept that Disney girls have a prominent Lilith. I did a quick check and noticed that Britney Spears has her Sagittarius Sun conjunct Lilith and Annette Funicello has Lilith conjunct her Cancer Ascendant.
Pope Francis - What do you think about his Sun in the 266 zodiac degree and being Pope 266?
Here is the Sabian Symbol: 26º Sagittarius (266): A Flag-Bearer In A Battle. Keyword: Nobility.
A. Marvelous synchronicity! I don't know what it means though....
Global Warming - Hi, I clicked several times on 'Science' but was told that it was in error. I'd like to read the article.
A. I apologize about the broken link. It was to an L.A. Times article explaining the Science article in plain English. Here it is again: climate-warming
re: Pope Francis - I wanted to point out that there are THREE St. Francis's: St. Francis de Sales being the third. HIS life's work also coincides with Francis I's ideas, I think: From Wikipedia: Francis de Sales, (21 August 1567 – 28 December 1622) was a Bishop of Geneva and is honored as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. He became noted for his deep faith and his gentle approach to the religious divisions in his land resulting from the Protestant Reformation.
Keep up the good work, tho I am really sick and tired of the ongoing power and influence that the forces that hold back our moving forthrightly into the New Age, are still so much in control, as your recent comments said... :-(re: NeptuneCafe - Just wanted to say that I'm really impressed with this site. I've studied astrology since I was little ( a long time ago) and for the last 6 years or so, intensively, with Noel Tyl.
So I'm sure I've been aware of The Neptune Cafe, but hadn't referenced it. But today, I got interested in Ceres because I noticed it was aspecting Pluto in a horary I set up and so in making a query I ran across your site. Wonderful work! A real resource for anyone wanting to learn Astrology, which I believe is really a soul endeavor. So you're doing God's work !!
re: Pluto in Leo generation - How is the Pluto in Capricorn going to affect the people who have the Uranus Pluto conjunction in Virgo? I saw the article Donna Cunningham did on the Pluto in Leo generation.
re: Reeva Steencamp - So if we knew her birth time, would it be easier to see something definitive, death-wise? You are being clear enough. But golly, these transits touch a lot of people and they don't die. Everyone born the same day as she was, for instance, didn't die when she did. You've talked, in the past, about the nodes being involved when someone dies, too.
A. Her choice to be with Oscar Pistorius creates another perspective of her life, and that's how her planets interact with his. The martial influences are overwhelming, and they exacerbate her own Mars-Juno square.
re: Monsanto - I am on your site several times a week to glean your astrological insights into current events and personalities and find your analysis very insightful. I just read an article on the Yahoo Financial page where Monsanto is suing a 75 year old grain farmer from Indiana, Vernon Bowman for $84,456. claiming he is using seeds that were developed by Monsanto and not signing the patent protection agreement which Monsanto closely guards.... The case is now going to the Supreme Court. I am wondering if you could run a chart on Monsanto and share your insights into this upcoming case.
re: Pope Benedict - I just read your column on Pope Benedict XVI's announcement from earlier this week, and thought you might enjoy a photo of lightning striking Saint Peter's Basilica within hours of Pope Benedict's declaration that he was resigning as Pope: http://www.bibleprobe.com/last10popes.htm
re: NewsScope - thank you for your weekly NewsScope. Your writings are very lucid and enjoyable.
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.
Jan. 7, 2013 - "Save us from self-inflicted wounds", Hugo Chavez's health crisis, Lilith - the comedians' muse.
Jan. 14, 2013 - Chuck Hagel, John Howard's gun control program, Paul Salopek begins his journey.
Jan. 21, 2013 - A brilliant Moon-Jupiter occultation; Natalie Wood's case re-opened; Chelsea Clinton.
Jan. 28, 2013 - Mary Jo White to head SEC, February's Top Five, Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Feb. 4, 2013 - The Dow hits 14,000, immigration reform coming up, Kevin Spacey stars in the House of Cards.
Feb.11, 2013 - CIA nominee John Brennan, Apple shifting gears, and the search for cop killer Chris Dorner.
Feb.18, 2013 - Sequester is coming, the Blade Runner and Beauty Queen, Steve Martin becomes a father.
Feb. 25, 2013 - Lilith upsets the Vatican, March's top five astro-events, racing pioneer Danica Patrick's rising star.
March 4, 2013 - Seven planets in Pisces, the Keystone XL project, Dorothy Hamill joins DWTS
March 11, 2013 - Energy independence and global warming, Kim Jong Un's Saturn return, Bernadette
March 18, 2013 - Mars activates four outer planets, Pope Francis, Ryan Sea-crest and Julianne Hough
March 25, 2013 - Pope Francis, an accurate birth chart; April's top five astro-events, Zendaya on DWTS
April 1, 2013 - The New Moon's uncharted territory, the Monsanto Protection Act, Amanda Knox's Venus
April 8, 2013 - The coming Lunar Eclipse, North Korea: serious threat?, Jay Leno leaves "The Tonight Show"
NewsScope for April 15, 2013
By Michael Wolfstar
Successful Political Deal-Making
Last week, some serious and surprising breakthroughs unfolded in Washington. The main ones: an unprecedented crack in Republican solidarity led to movement in gun control legislation, Obama offered a rollback in social security programs to edge toward a compromise budget package, and immigration reform is heading toward passage after being stymied for decades. What’s happening astrologically to account for these shifts?
This month’s Astro-Events #2 and #3 paint the astrological picture. The Saturn-Uranus quincunx was exact last Friday when, as #2 described, “the old tried-and-true methods are challenged by revolutionary impulses for dynamic change”. Then, #3 describes how the Sun-Mars conjunction: “energizes those proposing bold new initiatives… and cuts through obstacles to achieve success”. Last week’s advances were helped along by reforms within the Republican Party and emotional pleas from the families of Newtown.
Pundit David Brooks, commenting on the week’s progress, joked “We were given the illusion this week that we live in a functioning democracy, where things pass, where things move ahead.” But in all honesty, tangible progress is being made on guns, immigration and budgets. Much of the credit can be given to Saturn’s transit across the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant, which forces a hard look at the nation’s most serious problems and how to move toward real solutions.
Saturn’s transit is given strong support by the long-term sextile from transiting Pluto, and the trine from transiting Chiron in Pisces. Saturn will complete this phase with its third and final passage over the U.S. Ascendant this coming September. The stressful counterpoints to this are the ongoing Uranus-Pluto square and the U.S. progressed Sun square Uranus. Economic collapse is already on many prognosticators’ radar, but Saturn’s current window of constructive progress allows the nation to take necessary precautions.
Citigroup Profitable Again
Citigroup has come a long way since the financial meltdown in late 2008. The venerable financial institution survived with the help of a huge government bailout, and they recently paid back the money borrowed while building a capital position strong enough to withstand the government’s stress tests. Although its stock price is far below its lofty 2006 level, it’s nearly doubled in the last six months.
Citigroup’s current incarnation was created by a merger with Travelers Group on October 8, 1998 (9:30 am; New York, NY) when the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Juno were in the partnership sign of Libra. The company’s inherent strength can be seen in Mars’s position: it’s prominently placed in the tenth house where it conjoins the North Node. Mars here is fortified by a trine to patient, conservative Saturn in Taurus, and given an intense competitive streak by the square to Pluto.
However, Saturn’s natural restraint is severely challenged by a square from Uranus. Citigroup developed some elaborate risk management models to take advantage of the housing boom, and suffered tremendously when the crash came.
Citigroups’ stock began falling precipitously in October 2007 as transiting Saturn conjoined natal Mars, and its plummet was fueled downwards since progressed Mars was squaring natal Pluto. The stunning price reversal was signaled by transiting Uranus exactly quincunx the natal Sun.
The bailout arrived in November 2008 when transiting Pluto entered Capricorn to form a Grand trine with the natal Mars-Saturn trine. Currently, the progressed Sun is entering an opposition to natal Saturn and transiting Saturn is heading toward the Scorpio Ascendant. This double Saturn influence suggests the company has a growing reputation for a conservative approach to its business, which has made it profitable since 2010. Still, the Uranus influence will eventually cycle back into play.
Guan Tianlang at the Masters
The same competitive edge that makes Citigroup a dominant player in the corporate world is found in Guan Tianlang’s world, which is professional golf. The 14-year-old took the sport by storm when he became the youngest player ever to compete in the Masters. Guan was born two weeks after Citigroup (October 25, 1998; Guangzhou, China; time unknown) and shares the same intensely driven Mars-Pluto square.
Guan’s Sun-Venus-Juno triple conjunction in Scorpio gives him a friendly disposition, an eagerness to get along with his colleagues, and the magnetism to be a crowd favorite. The Sun’s opposition to Saturn shows a strong family influence, especially the guidance and support of his father. On November 5, 2012 when transiting Saturn conjoined his Sun he won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, which earned him an invitation to this year’s Masters Cup.
Guan’s drives off the tee tend to be around 250 yards, consistently 50 yards less than his hero, Tiger Woods. But his short game is among the best which may be attributed to his skillful perception of the lay. Mercury in Scorpio looks deep into situations, and its trine to a visionary Pallas-Jupiter conjunction gives him an accurate sense of how to play a shot.
Like Tiger, Guan’s Moon is in adventurous Sagittarius. It’s probably in the later degrees where it picks up a trine to Saturn: the Moon trine Saturn offers the calmness and steady nerves that have so often been cited about his demeanor. Currently, Guan’s progressed Venus is trine natal Jupiter, which has brought him this immense honor. In two years, his progressed Sun will trine Jupiter, perhaps bringing him his first PGA win.
