re: astrology rising - Actually, I don't "believe" in Astrology! I tell people: "It is not a Religion. It is not something to 'believe' in." It is simply Plane Geometry -- the study of repetitive geometrical patterns. Particular patterns will repeat themselves, often with the same results. That is where we, Astrologers, get our predictions from.
re: America's plutocracy - I'm struck by the sudden blockbuster best seller "Capital in the 21st Century" by Thomas Piketty. As an exposition of our current economic situation and trending direction, could this book be major force for change?
re: Susan Miller - Interesting to see Susan's chart. I used to work for her, and have met her in person as well a couple of times. Yes, she is one of the hardest working astrologers out there. She told me that she has a keen interest in how words work together, and she had very definite views of how to craft a sentence. For example, she also said to never use 'ing' in a sentence
re: Susan Miller - It's really incredible that this nice woman Mrs. Miller sells such a crappy version of astrology work. The way Gemini Ascendants are able to reach multitudes is really astonishing. They don't see any contradiction in what they say and do, God bless them ...
re: Wal-Mart - Thanks so much for all you do. I especially enjoyed the Wal-Mart story. Wal-Mart is a major contemporary symbol of the US psychic landscape, at least for the common people of the US. I note the perfect conjunction between Wal-Mart's natal Mars and the USA's natal Pluto (and ruling planet). What do you think of that?
A. Yes, that's a major connection. The U.S. Pluto, the nation's ruling planet, describes the power of corporate America, and Wal-Mart is a major manifestation of that, a corporate warrior, if you will.
re: America's plutocracy - I especially love your last line in the "Rise of America's Plutocracy" post. Yes, that and more. At least a few of us have noticed... It looks like the April 15 "Blood Moon" will be one degree off of both my Sun in Aries, and Moon in Libra. I'm thinking about staying "under the covers," but that doesn't seem to be what your advice is.
re: America's plutocracy - It's turning out more Brave New World than 1984 in some ways... I am constantly shocked by how much pharma my American friends ingest... and it's happening here too in the UK. The only thing that has put the brakes on it is the NHS, and that's not for a good reason, but simply because the government is cheapskate.... Yes -- Pluto is winning the Uranus-Pluto square at the moment...
re: Russia - I like the chart you have for Russia on Neptune Cafe website! I am going to use it for a talk I am giving in September for a local astrology group and will give you credit for the chart. Keep up your great work!
A. Thanks... The source for this data is from Charles Harvey's Anima Mundi and my correspondent in Moscow, astrologer Boris Izraitel. Campion notes this chart as one of many possibilities.
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 outer planets, Pope Francis, Seacrest 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"
April 15, 2013 - politicians make progress, CitiGroup returns to profitablity, Guan Liantang at the Masters.
April 22, 2013 - The Sun-Mars-Pluto dynamic; terrorist Tameran Tsarnaev; Bieber and Selena Gomez.
April 29, 2013 - Syria's crosses "red line", May's Top five astro-events, and Gwyneth Paltrow 's beauty.
May 6, 2013 - The U.S. progressed Moon cycle, Venus and GNH, Warren Buffett on prosperity.
May 13, 2013 - Hillary Clinton as a GOP target; Bangladesh's garment industry, the Great Gatsby.
May 20, 2013 - Jupiter and Big Government, Jupiter and market tops, Jupiter and Angelina Jolie's life.
May 27, 2013 - The UR-PL square, the astrology of Tornado Alley, Kellie Pickler's breakthru dance.
June 3, 2013 - Obama's dilemma, June's top five, super-athlete Rich Roll was a couch potato.
June 10, 2013 - Black Moon Lilith news items, NSA's chart, Sweden's Princess Madeleine weds.
June 17, 2013 - Lilith in the Age of Aquarius, Edward Snowden - traitor or hero?, Superman - Man of Steel
June 24, 2013 - The Water Grand Trine, Edward Snowden update, the Queen Anne's Revenge
July 1, 2013 - The astrology of gold prices, July's top five astro-events, and Paula Deen's fall from grace.
"Thank you very much, you answered all of my questions and offered me great insight into my life and any future issues as well as potential issues that may arise. Your reading was phenomenal!"
"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!"
July 1, 2013 - The astrology of gold prices, July's top five astro-events, and Paula Deen's fall from grace.
July 8, 2013 - Egypt in chaos; U.S. progressed Moon cycle Part 2; Chris Meledandri,Despicable Me
July 15, 2013 - The season of accidents and disasters, Malala Yousafzai at the UN, Randy Travis's demons.
July 22, 2013 - The tech revolution, Iran's president elect Hassan Rouhani, Cory Monteith's other woman
July 29, 2013 - Brtitish succession, August's top five astro-events, Amanda Bynes' troubled Moon
Aug. 5, 2013 - Snowden's chart relocated, Facebook's stunning earnings, Simon Cowell - why so mean?
Aug. 12, 2013 - Jeff Bezos buys the Washington Post, Gov't Shutdown Looms, Major League Baseball.
Aug. 19, 2013 - Sept's top five astro-events, Gov't Shutdown Looms, Major League Baseball.
Aug. 26, 2013 - War and Aldebaran-Antares, Nasdaq halts, Bradley Manning's Sun-Saturn-Uranus.
Sept. 2, 2013 - The Middle East Mandate, Kim Jong Un executes his ex-girlfriend, Miley Cyrus twerks.
Sept. 9, 2013 - Obama pushing Syria, the Golden Age of spying, Dennis Rodman in North Korea.
Sept. 16, 2013 - Diana Nyad's epic swim; the Gates Foundation, Google co-founder Sergey Brin.
Sept. 23, 2013 - Rouhani's charm offensive; October's top five astro-events; hiccup girl Jennifer Mee.
Sept. 30, 2013 - Ted Cruz fights Obamacare, IPCC's wake-up call, Chris Hemsworth stars in Rush.
Oct. 7, 2013 - Government shutdown; The Republican Party Split; Ronn Farrow and Ol' Blue Eyes
Oct. 14, 2013 - The Pallas-Fomalhaut connection, Fomalhaut in presidents' charts, Sandra Bullock
March 3, 2014 - Ukraine's 12th house; Putin's stars; Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sirius, Grand Cross.
March 10, 2014 - Tracking Mars and Pluto; Obama's Part of Fortune; Grace Kelly and Nicole Kidman.
March 17, 2014 - Charting Flight MH370; East Turkestan separatists; Nicole Kidman, Part 2.
March 24, 2014 - The pilot of MH370; April's Top Five Astro-Events; Shailene Woodley stars in Divergent.
March 31, 2014 - Henry Waxman vs. Big Pharma; conscious uncoupling; Russell Crowe as Noah.
April 7, 2014 - The rise of America's Plutocracy; the first of four "Blood Moons"; Anja Niedringhaus.
April 14, 2014 - Russia flexes its muscles; Wal-Mart goes organic; Stephen Colbert.
April 21, 2014 - Astrology rising; "you don't believe in astrology, do you?"; Susan Miller, pop astrologer.
April 28, 2014 - The U.S. progressed Mars; May's top five; DWTS's Meryl Davis and Maks Chmerkovskiy.
May 5, 2014 - Obama relocated to Kiev, the tech sector's swoon, NBA owner Donald Sterling banned.
May 12, 2014 - Mars turns direct on May 19; Rob Ford, mayor of Crazy Town; George Clooney to marry.
May 19, 2014 - Narendra Modi, India's new Prime Minister; Hillary Clinton's double whammy; Beyonce.
May 26, 2014 - Pope Franics in the Middle East; June's top five astro-events; the Lindy Hop Revival.
Unless otherwise stated, all data is rated A or AA from AstroDataBank
re Merkel - I always read your latest column Monday mornings. With the "humanitarian trucks" mission into Ukraine, and their turnabout when Angela Merkel visits Kiev, obviously she's a key player economically speaking and as a world power. How about astrology's take on what makes her tick. Thanks a lot!
re: Iraq - I think everyone wants to know if America will get deeply entangled in Iraq again. Does the activation of Obama's Neptune make this another fuzzy, never ending, "semi" war much like Vietnam proved to be?
A. Since the US progressed Mars went into the 12th house, there's little likelihood of the grand wars of yesteryear, like WW1 and WW2. Entanglements are far more likely. Another set of factors are the ambilvalent transits of Saturn square the U.S. Midheaven and Uranus trine the U.S. Midheaven. Saturn brings the grudging responsibility to the people of Iraq, while Uranus wants to be free of the whole mess. It seems to me that this current engagement with Iraq will continue through Obama's presidency, and await the next president's management.
re: Israel - You said Israel's progressed moon is at TWELVE DEGREES CAPRICORN????!!!! Isn't that where transiting Pluto is right now? geesh... Couldn't you squeak that in there somehow? It just seems noteworthy. I know how much rage I felt when my progressed Moon was conjunct transiting Pluto a few years ago.
A. Yes, you're absolutely correct. Actually, there are quite a few items I could have added to the narrative, but I try to avoid getting too much astrologese in. Anyway, I'm glad you noticed.
re: Germany - I have six different charts for the German nation--including the Weimer Republic and the Reunification. Have you worked with the German chart? What chart do you recommend?
re: Elizabeth Warren - Glad you brought up Elizabeth Warren and her possible presidential run but really, do you have to join the Anybody But Hillary Bandwagon? I have yet to understand the hostility which both right and left wing pundits seem to hold towards her. It is not a product of her political actions but seems personal and malicious. I know of no other politician who has such critical, and pointless, scrutiny of her every action. You could at least try to maintain a veneer of civility towards her.
re: Elizabeth Warren - You didn't mention how much of a damned LIAR Elizabeth Warren is and how she lied to get freebies by saying she is a Cherokee.... It has been proven that her ancestors actually helped to massacre the native americans.... i really wish you would be a little more fair and stop showing your desire for socialism to destroy the country.
re: First Trade charts -I know you have written some things about first trade charts in your NewsScope column, but they seem contradictory. For YHOO you use 9:30 AM even though Michael Munkasey's Companies Database has 9:48 AM. For FB you used 11:30 AM. For BIDU you used 11:40 AM. Do you mostly use the actual time of the trade? Why one instead of the other? Have you tried researching the issue with many stocks? The problem with making predictions with FT charts is their complexity. Not only do you have to look at the natal chart, but both the P2 and P3 charts.
A.Your observations on FT charts are on target. I've been studying these charts for at least three years, but not until I got Munkasey's database did I realize that so many FTs are not set for 9:30 am. I analyzed YHOO and wrote about before I got his database, but have been using 9:48 since then. It's a real challenge to understand how the transits and P2 and P3 charts interact, but worth the effort. When the same message appears on all three levels, you get a strong indication of a big move and the direction.
re: Hillary and Neptune - You wrote about the physically weakening influence of Hillary's upcoming Neptune transits, but isn't it the case that Americans do kinda like Neptunian leaders? Isn't it also the case that she can come across as being too tyrannical? Couldn't Neptune softening her be a benefit...make her more appealing?
A. Yes, Neptune softens, and may have other effects. A prominent Neptune may be associated with deception, poor advice from her lieutenants, misinformation, and most likely, promising more than she can keep.
re: Donald Sterling - Your evaluation of Donald Sterling is outstanding. I live here in Southern California and have been glued to the coverage of Sterling and the Clippers since the news broke. Underscoring the generational and cultural impacts of Sterling’s Pluto in Cancer era makes the analysis more meaningful. We can we can “see” Sterling through his own historical lens and thus comprehend the origins of his belief system more readily. Too many astrologers neglect the importance of this.
re: Obama relocated - Your analysis of Obama’s relocated Kiev chart coupled with what an ACG map can and cannot reveal is spot on. You’ve made a clear and convincing case as to why we need to use rely on both techniques for a more accurate assessment. This week’s column is one of your best ever.
June 2, 2014 - Pluto opp the U.S. Sun; overhauling the Vets Admin; Steve Ballmer and the Clippers.
June 9, 2014 - Mars in the danger zone; Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko; JG's "The Fault in our Stars"
June 16, 2014 - ISIS seeks world domination, Eric Cantor's defeat; Subtext in Angelina Jolie's Maleficent
June 23, 2014 - World Refugee Day, July's top five astro-events; Howard Schultz, coffee King.
June 30, 2014 - The U.S. plutocracy; Uranus in U.S. 6th house; Jurgen Klinsmann, U.S. soccer.
July 7, 2014 - Lilith on the U.S. MC; Elizabeth Warren's rising star; Kim Kardashian, #1 trendsetter.
July 21, 2014 - Global hotspots heat up, is Malaysian Airlines cursed? the Planet of the Apes.
July 28, 2014 - Three air disasters is a coincidence? August's top five; is Charlize Theron engaged?
Aug 4, 2014 - Obama's 2014 solar return; Israel's Pluto; Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gets married.
Aug 11, 2014 - Mars activates Solar Eclipse; Russia's empire memory; Diamond Dallas Page Yoga.
Aug. 18, 2014 - Missouri militarizes police, Robin Williams and Lilith; Rachael Price, jazz vocalist.
Aug 25, 2014 - The Saturn-Uranus dilemma; Sept.'s top five; Piper Kerman's "Orange is the New Black".
Sept. 1, 2014 - NATO awakens, Angela Merkel at the frontiline, Jack Ma's Alibaba is coming.
Sept. 8, 2014 - Virginia's Bob McDonnell; Joan Rivers; Brangelina's wedding, good timing?
Sept. 15, 2014 - Chiron, how much weight? Nasdaq's top ten gainers; Teddy Roosevelt on PBS.
NewsScope for September 22, 2014
By Michael Wolfstar
Alibaba, the Biggest IPO Ever
In just its first ten minutes of trading as a public company, 100 million shares of Alibaba (BABA) were bought, lifting the offering price some 35%. Alibaba is China’s largest e-commerce company, but most of its shares are owned by American investors. The first trade took place at 11:53 am, which establishes its First Trade horoscope (September 19, 2014; New York, NY).
As was demonstrated last week, 27º of any sign is a power point when it comes to successful stocks. BABA’s Ascendant at 27º Scorpio puts it in this category, especially since the Virgo Sun is sextile the Ascendant. BABA’s powerful financial position can be seen in Pluto’s placement, since it’s the ruler of the chart: Pluto is found in the 2nd house of financial assets and forms a close trine to the Midheaven.
BABA’s formidable position is also indicated by Mars near the Ascendant, where it’s enhanced by a trine to the Leo Moon. Venus, the natural ruler of money, is located in the tenth house and is supported by a sextile to Saturn. Investors know that BABA controls 80% of the Chinese e-commerce market and its profit margin is over 40%. These phenomenal numbers fit the planetary placements.
A problem can be seen in Saturn’s location in the 12th house. Saturn is associated with Alibaba’s governance, which is unusually complex and secretive. Saturn forms a square to Black Moon Lilith, representing potential complications from unseen quarters. Analysts suspect that the Chinese government could intervene in a way that undermines BABA’s corporate model. In any case, over the coming year, as BABA’s progressed Sun completes its sextile to the Ascendant, BABA should gain prestige and be a stellar performer.
October’s Top Five Astro-Events
1. Mercury turns retrograde in Scorpio on the 4th and then direct on the 25th while in Libra. Communication within personal and business relationships may become problematic for many during this three-week phase. Beware of pleasant chatting as a way of avoiding deeper issues. The 14th, 17th, and 20th are best days to negotiate and expect good results. However, any deals made during this phase may have to be re-worked later.
2. The Total Lunar Eclipse on the 8th conjoins Uranus, making it an immensely dynamic, eventful phase. Expect personal relationships to be in flux, bringing exciting, disruptive, and/or unexpected developments. This eclipse is huge on the geopolitical, financial and military fronts, especially concerning how alliances are arranged. Watch for earth changes, such as earthquakes and volcanoes. New affairs probably won’t last, or will soon need to be dramatically adjusted.
3. Venus sextiles Mars on the 20th, but the Love Goddess is especially active from the 14th through the end of the month with favorable connections to several other planets. This romantic Venus phase enhances social interactions, stimulates personal magnetism, and may bring warm-hearted, cheerful companions.
Any affair that begins before the 25th may be short-lived. Venus here may re-awaken an old flame.
4. The Solar Eclipse on the 23rd takes place in Scorpio and conjoins Venus and Pallas, a pleasant combination which may bring engaging social interactions on the personal level. The eclipse also trines Neptune, enhancing romantic and intimate affairs. Nationally, watch for huge expenditures for political candidates. Expect American diplomacy to be on the rise, and larger corporations to buy out their competition.
5. Pluto trioctiles (135º) Black Moon Lilith on the 25th, but is a major dynamic for the last two weeks of October. The link between these dark forces may indicate that sinister forces are at work behind smiling faces. Corporate predators are on the prowl. The plus side is a transformative creativity that influences the masses. Leos and those with personal planets at 10º-12º of the cardinal signs will feel this aspect the strongest.
FDR’s Blessing
Franklin Roosevelt knew from an early age that he was destined to be president. Yet as a wealthy, athletic campaigner, he was ill-prepared to help America face the two worst crises of the 20th century, the Great Depression and World War II. As the PBS series* makes clear, being struck down by polio in the prime of his life was a blessing, since it gave him empathy.
Like TR, FDR was born with an ambitious Sun-Saturn square (January 30, 1882; 8:45 pm; Hyde Park, New York) as well as an energetic Moon-Mars aspect. In FDR’s case, the Moon-Mars conjunction is located in his 10th house, and describes his strong-willed mother. In Ken Burns’ intimate tale of the Roosevelts, we see the intense rivalry unfold between FDR’s mother and his wife Eleanor, which is shown astrologically by the Moon opposite Juno.
FDR’s Aquarius Sun conjoins Venus, which is where he gets his friendly, people-pleasing tendencies. Since the Sun-Venus squares Saturn, it becomes a discipline, an ever-present grin promising that Happy Days Are Here Again. Transiting Saturn was exactly conjunct FDR’s Ascendant when his legs were suddenly rendered useless on August 10, 1921. At the same time, his progressed Sun was
at the exact midpoint of his Venus-Saturn square.
Mercury in media-savvy Aquarius trines Mars in talkative Gemini, a huge asset that manifested as Fireside Chats and friendly relations with reporters who helped him hide his handicap. Mercury also opposes Black Moon Lilith on the cusp of the secretive 12th house: he inherited the same tendency toward depression that TR had. Unlike TR, FDR faced his inner demons, which in turn helped him deal with America’s Great Depression. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”, he proclaimed in his inaugural speech.
Reader feedback
re: Teddy Roosevelt - We've been enjoying the PBS series on the Roosevelts too. Another aspect of Teddy's life that is very sad, but causes one to question the role of fate, is that he lost his first wife and mother on the same day. I have to wonder what the astrological factors behind that were. Also, did this loss have anything to do with his Uranus in the 12th house in Gemini (etc.)? This is the kind of biographical information, along with the story about him getting wounded yet surviving, that makes one wonder about the "fated" aspects in such a famous/history shaping person's life.
A. The date this coincidence happened was February 14, 1884. Transiting Saturn was in fact conjunct his 12th house Uranus at the time, suggesting the duality, difficulty and surprising nature of this loss. However, there were quite a few other major transits and progressions taking place at the same time. Especially relevant is that the preceding Solar Eclipse on October 30, 1883 took place on his Scorpio Sun and was activated by transiting Mars when his wife and mother died 3 1/2 months later.
re: Susan Miller - Gee, that's terrible--Susan Miller's fans getting angry at her for being sick. I receive 3 or 4 Astro-Newsletters. Whenever the Astrologers complain of being "stressed out," I email them telling them to "take a break!" from our receiving Newsletters--"We'll live" I tell them. Who are these people to complain about Susan?!
re: Susan Miller- That was a nice shout-out in support of Susan Miller. I've seen some of the comments on-line and they are shameful.
re: Rob Ford - We were told by the lead doctor at a news conference yesterday at 5:00 that Rob Ford has malignant liposarcoma--essentially cancer of the fat. It's metastasized to his left buttock. They'll figure out how to proceed based on how he responds to the chemo. As an astrologer, does this surprise you?