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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
Reader feedback
re: Uranus-Pluto - How long is the uranus-pluto square in effect?
A. There are seven UR-PL squares between June 2012 and March 2015. The current one is the 2nd, and is exact this month (September 2012). The effective range is 4-5 years for the collection of UR-PL squares, but for people with planets at 6-7 degrees of cardinal signs, the influence is on and off for a year, and strongest right now.
re: political bias - It would be really nice if you would admit you are right leaning. Obama will win in 2012 because the libertarians are really angry and they will probably be spoilers for Romney. But Romney has no chance as he has alienated every voting bloc but the old white duffers!
A. It's too bad people use astrology to prove their political point of view. I prefer to use astrology to determine outcomes, not validate my personal politics. My main interest here is to promote the craft of astrology. If you have any astrological reasons why my forecast is in error, please let me know.
re: NewsScope - Thanks once more for your good work, Michael. Nothing in particular about this one, I just appreciate your efforts.
Armstrong - Would you do a bit on Lance Armstrong? love, love, love your column!
re: Iran - I heard from very reliable sources that plans are on the way to attack Iran and possibly just before the election for Obama to win. Any insights on wether this would be possible for Israel and the USA to attack Iran at this time?
A. Yes, this week's Top Five Astro-Events mentions just such a conflict, although without the conspiratorial overtone... Plus, the U.S. progressed Moon-Mars conjunction is shaping up, and could very welll be an indicator for war. Since it takes place in the 12th house, a proxy war like having Israel do the work is a real possibility.
re: Vesta - Hey, did you know that both Putin and Alba have Vesta conjunct their Ascendants? neat...and a tiny bit weird...
re: Romney - I've read many times that a candidate must have a connection with the US Moon at 25 degrees Aquarius in order to be elected. I see that Obama has 3 planets/asteroids at 25 degrees of their respective signs, but I'm not seeing anything in Romney's natal chart. Am I missing something? Progressions, maybe?
A. Thanks for asking. Looks like the link to the Romney page was broken, but it's fixed now. Yes, several progressions, especially his Sun. From NeptuneCafe's Romney page: "On Election Day – November 6, 2012 – Romney’s progressed Sun will be only 0º03’ from squaring the U.S. Moon. This gives him a clear emotional connection with the American people, making him a potential winner."
Re: Biden - I wondered, just to have all sides of the matter inspected, whether or not Joe Biden's horoscope was also favorably (or unfavorably) aspected to be the next VP (re) elect. You've done Obama, and Romney, and now Ryan. I know that you have done Joe Biden's horoscope in the past, but you haven't covered it up through this coming election. He's the last one of the key players needing to be looked at for the next three months.
re: the candidates' solar returns - Have you compared Romney's and Obama's Solar Return Charts for 2012? Wouldn't this give a more accurate prediction for who will win the election than their transits on Inauguration day?
A. I don't think the technique of using Solar Returns has evolved to the point where it provides accurate, reliable information. The problem is that there is no agreement among astrologers about which location to use, whether that should be the birth place, current residence, or wherever one happens to be at the time of the return. Some astrologers also consider precession, which leaves six possible solar return charts to intepret. I may have what I think is a reliable technique, but it will only convince those who use the same technique. I recommend reading Lee Lehman's new book Classical Solar Returns for a critical look at the confusing mess the astrological community is in regarding the use of solar returns. This is why I rely on transits and secondary progressions since we have near unanimous agreement on the validity of these techniques.
re: Aurua shooting - Your piece on the USA horoscope and the Aurora massacre was excellent. Very smart. And yet another--as if we really need more--reason for adopting the Scorpio-rising chart for the US.... One other bit of news is about the Toronto mall shooting survivor--it happened in early June of this year--Jessica Ghawi was killed in Aurora. How bizarre. Of course, it's just a "coincidence." Yeah, right. I wonder what her horoscope looks like.
A. If anyone has her birth data, please send it in...
re: commodity prices - I read your posts on Newscope every Monday and follow this blog on a regular basis. You mentioned that sun and ceres conjunction in the coming year. Can I ask you when it will be exact???
A. The U.S. progressed Sun will be conjunct natal Ceres on August 7, 2013, so this connection gets stronger between now and then. The influence of this challenging connection to Ceres doesn't wane though, because the progressed Sun goes on to square Uranus, becoming exact on October 29, 2013. The price of corn, wheat, soybeans and other agricultural products may continue to rise even after that, sijnce transiting Neptune conjoins the U.S. Ceres beginning in 2015. Global warming is upon us, and the progressions and transits reflect the stress on the agricultural industry.
re: Romney win - I always respect your analyses. But honestly, this is one time I hope you're wrong, even thought I suspect you're right... Damn...
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
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.
NewsSope for September 3, 2012
By Michael Wolfstar
Medicare, A Provocative Political Football
The Republican agenda item that has the Democrats most riled up is the overhaul of Medicare. Fact-checkers did their best to clarify Paul Ryan’s remarks on the subject last week, but his bumper-sticker comment that “the greatest threat to Medicare is Obamacare” still sways voters. This coming week, several speakers at the Democratic convention will re-frame the issue, which is particularly important in several swing states, especially Florida.
Here are three important events with aspects to confirm this birth data:
Jun 5, 1993 - 1st marriage
T SU cnj P2 MO cnj P2 AS
T MA opp P2 MC
P2 SU inc JU in Libra!
Jul 26, 2001 - hospitalized
T NE cnj P2 CE
T (Juno, JU, NN) cnj BML
T BML cnj P2 MC
T SA opp MA!
T UR inc PL on 6th
Apr 30, 2011 - gives birth to twins
T SA opp P2 VE!
P2 CE oct ME !
P2 MA inc AS -04
LBJ signed Medicare into law on July 30, 1965 (3:12 pm*; Washington, D.C.) during that era’s epochal Uranus-Pluto conjunction, which is prominently placed near this chart’s Midheaven. The radical nature of the program can be seen in the Moon’s conjunction with Uranus-Pluto, and all three squaring the Lunar Node axis. The cluster of planets in Virgo hints not only at health issues, but also the primary proponent of the bill, the Virgo president.
The main reason Medicare has become a political football is that our era’s Uranus-Pluto square is demanding radical, fundamental change and resonates with Medicare’s Uranus-Pluto conjunction. Medicare’s Virgo Midheaven and Leo Sun are in the same degree zone as transiting Uranus and Pluto. Last week, when Ryan attacked Obamacare, the transiting Sun-Chiron opposition perfectly aligned with the Medicare Midheaven.
The confusion and uncertainty surrounding Medicare can be seen in the prominence of Neptune. The Medicare Mars, which co-rules the Scorpio Ascendant, has progressed to an exact conjunction with natal Neptune. Transiting Neptune is squaring Ryan’s Sagittarius Ascendant, which gives much credence to critics’ charges that he’s distorting the facts. In early 2013, Medicare’s progressed Mercury (the ruler of the Midheaven, its fate), will conjoin the Uranus-Pluto conjunction, suggesting that a significant re-writing of the landmark legislation is coming up.
* Source: glifos.lbjf.org/Medicare_Hyperlinked.pdf
Eastwooding
For many viewers, the highlight of the GOP convention was the mystery guest who appeared just before Romney late Thursday night. Veteran actor, director and part-time politician Clint Eastwood came on stage with an empty chair, which he used as a prop to sarcastically address President Obama. The off-color shtick quickly became a social media target, generating many pro and con comments.
The event chart (August 30, 2012; 10:00 pm; Tampa, FL) took place during a Moon-Neptune conjunction in Pisces, which resonates with Eastwood’s rambling, unscripted remarks. Although Romney smiled backstage before the most important speech of his life, aides described Eastwood’s remarks as “strange”, weird” and “theater of the absurd”. It may remind astrologers of the old adage that “someone is always fooled under a Moon-Neptune aspect.”
One of the closest aspects in the event chart is Mercury square Black Moon Lilith. Mercury is in Leo, where it communicates dramatically while picking up the repressed rage suggested by BML. In Eastwood’s horoscope (May 31, 1930; 5:35 pm; San Francisco, CA), this Mercury conjoined his Midheaven, his point of honor, while BML was in his 7th house of enemies. Mercury’s placement became powerful since Eastwood’s progressed Sun is in the same location, right on his Midheaven.
Natally, Eastwood’s Gemini Sun is trine Black Moon Lilith, showing how his brand of politics is about getting even, expressing anger, and being completely independent of tightly controlled conventions. Black Moon Lilith is an invisible point in the
Moon’s orbit, which Eastwood addressed as an invisible Obama sitting in his chair prop. The practice is now known as “Eastwooding”, as discontented Americans across the country rage against empty chairs.
Mariah Carey, Triumphant
Now that Mariah Carey is confirmed as a judge on American Idol, astrology fans will want to look into her horoscope. The problem is that the data is uncertain*, with Rolling Stone magazine reporting a birth time of 7:27 am on March 27, 1970 (Long Island, NY). Other reputable sources give her birth year as 1969. The chart that works in practice combines these sources: 7:27 am, March 27, 1969.
Mariah’s Sun in loud, brassy Aries is tempered by a soft and sensitive Cancer Moon. A Venus-Saturn conjunction describes the hard work she puts into fashioning a sexy, alluring appearance, a combination that dominates her chart since Venus and Saturn rule her Taurus Ascendant and Capricorn Midheaven. In the 12th house, these planets reflect all the behind-the-scenes drama in the diva’s lifestyle, evidenced in her film Glitter, the tabloids, and the current jockeying for sidekick judges at American Idol.
Ceres in Capricorn near the Midheaven describes the strong imprint she received from her mother’s opera career. Ceres sextile Neptune, trine Pluto and Vesta near the Ascendant suggest Mariah’s unique and powerful voice that spans five octaves.
Ceres reigns triumphantly here, assisted by an energetic, fearless Aries Sun trine Mars. To date Ms. Carey has sold more than 200 million records and this year is ranked #2 on VH1’s list of the “100 Greatest Women in Music”.
September is a huge month for Mariah Carey since the transiting Uranus-Pluto square is lining up with her Sun. She just released her latest video, “Triumphant”, as transiting Uranus conjoined her Sun last week. Uranus also brought an unwelcome surprise when her longtime manager shot himself as this aspect became exact, to-the-minute, last Thursday. Come 2013, one suspects Mariah will make a good judge since transiting Saturn and Pluto are giving her progressed Mercury the voice of authority.
