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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: economy - I am on your site every day and I keep looking for a "Financial Forecast" for 2013 as I have read several astrological articles stating that we might fall into a recession in 2013 lasting into 2015. What is your take on the future of the U.S. financial status? Thank you for sharing with the world all of your insights.
re: election - Don't forget that Florida's election returns were not fully certified until Thursday after the Tuesday election. Luckily these returns were not conclusive, but I believe this fulfilled the Mercury Retrograde motion hanging over the election night. Thanks for your honest assessment on the morning after of your predictions. I think it boils down to: Americans were not going to elect a new president when Mercury was stationary on Election Day and going retrograde. I look forward to your columns every week.
re:election - I've been reading your newscopes about the election and have to say that you did a very good job of describing how that election was going to go and what the end result would be. In your newscope today a reader suggests you eat humble pie....I disagree.
re: election - You had me completely prepared/depressed about Romney's election as President. Thank you for helping me be so happy today. I keep remembering how you called the 2008 election, and predicted really good things for Hillary and Bill Clinton after the election. That's part of the reason I've trusted you so much. So the next question is: Will Obama do the same with Romney -- give him a significant cabinet post/responsibility that will effectively use Romney's managerial skills? It's something I would love to see.
A. As for Romney, yes, I missed that one, but it sure was close going down to the wire. If Hurricane Sandy hadn't shown up, or the unemployment rate was still at 8.0 percent instead of 7.9 percent, it could very well have gone the other way. Neither of these last minute, random events were visible in the candidates' charts.... Obama may ask Romney to come onboard, but I don't know if Romney would accept. It might be a very useful tactic to get some bipartisan action, and Obama does like to make a Team of Rivals.
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.
re: election - In NewsScope Q & A, you recently wrote: "If he [Romney] becomes the Commander-In-Chief, It likely won't be long before the U.S. is engaged in a major military conflict, and a potential devastating one." QUESTION: Now that Obama has been re-elected, does the above forecast still stand, or was that forecast strictly unique to Romney's chart?
A. I was definitely concerned that Romney would lead us into a major military conflict due to his progressed Mars in Aries and that his military advisers were 70 percent taken from Bush's neocons. The U.S. progressed Sun will be squaring natal Uranus next year, and that will likely present a military challenge. Hopefully, Obama's progressed Mars in Libra is better equipped diplomatically to manage that crisis.
re: election - I am so glad your prediction about Pres Obama did not come true!!! I am looking forward to your column this weekend to read what happened astrologically!!!
re: election - I'm sure you've gotten mail from many readers about the election. I'm so glad you were wrong. I was convinced Romney was going to win, very much in part because of your predictions and reasons why but also because of my own beliefs that the Republicans will do anything to steal an election and I fully expected it. Perhaps what you're seeing on Inauguration Day for Romney involves something entirely different in his life.
re: election - Just as I predicted! A Pisces Sun can no longer be elected president.
re: election - Thank you for your great column each week. I have not missed any article for several years. Even though Mitt Romney was not elected president, you are probably correct in predicting than Romney enjoys a better transit than Obama on inauguration day. Mitt Romney will have a much easier time than Obama, who will face the daunting task of the fiscal cliff.
re: election - As to the election results, I fully agree with you that the answer to who would be the winner was exceedingly difficult this time around. I voted for Obama because I am greatly concerned about climate change and Romney offered nothing but the "drill baby drill" rhetoric. I emailed you back in the summer on the possiblity that Obama might lose and that we could only hope for a miracle to change the tide. Looks like that miracle was Hurricane Sandy: Obama was in his finest presidential mode and climate change is back in the spotlight once again.
re: election - Even the best can sometimes get it wrong. It just goes to show how hard real astrology can be. Looking forward to the next newscope.
re: Neptune - You were obviously on-the-money as to Neptune playing a pivotal role in the 2012 presidential election.Superstorm Sandy’s massive devastation on the eastern seaboard may well affect an individual’s ability to get to a polling place and vote.
re: trioctile - You said in the Top Five Astro-Events Oct. 2012 that Jupiter and Saturn form a Trioctile... I was wondering if that Trioctile is the same as the Sesquisquare? Anyways... love your site... thanks.
A. yes, same thing - 165 degree aspect. And an octile is the same as a semisquare. I prefer the terms "octile" and "trioctile" because they're clearly aspects made by dividing the circle into eighths, while "sesquisquare" is such an archaic tongue-twister...
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.
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
NewsScope for November 19, 2012
By Michael Wolfstar
Mars Along the Israel-Gaza Border
Hamas, the militant organization that governs the 1.9 million Palestinians living in Gaza, had become emboldened by the election of Mohammed Morsi in Egypt, a member of Hamas’ parent organization, the Muslim Brotherhood. After a month of lobbing rockets into Israel, the IDF responded by assassinating the Hamas military chief with a pinpoint missile strike. Since then, the military conflict has escalated by leaps and bounds.
The explosion of violence began during the Solar Eclipse on November 14, which happened to be exactly conjunct Israel’s Chiron. In Israel’s horoscope* (May 14, 1948; 4:37 pm; Tel Aviv), Chiron is located in Scorpio where it opposes the Taurus Sun. Chiron also squares Mars in Israel’s 10th house, giving it and the nation a distinctly martial flavor. This Chiron carries a venomous sting which strikes swiftly and with no warning.
With Scorpio Rising, Pluto becomes the ruler of Israel’s chart. Natally, it’s marked for trouble since it squares the Lunar Node axis. Pluto’s hard aspects to the Lunar Nodes often correspond to disasters which can be triggered by progressions or outer planet transits. Over the next two years, Israel’s chart is becoming dangerously illuminated, since by secondary progression, Pluto is advancing to the exact square to the Lunar Nodes.
When Pluto is involved, small incidents can quickly become massive catastrophes. Things get blown out of proportion as the underlying intensity of the participants on both sides knows no bounds. In the short term, transiting Mars just entered Capricorn, and will be squaring Uranus and then conjoining Pluto over the next ten days. This is an explosive combination no matter where one lives, but is likely to be extremely volatile along the Israel-Gaza border.
Saturn and Obama’s Neptune
A reader notes that “Obama’s chart seems heavily debilitated by transiting Saturn hitting his ‘Achilles heel’ in Scorpio – the coup de grace being the conjunction to natal Neptune in late December. Thirty years ago, Obama’s father was killed in an accident just prior to Saturn’s entry into Scorpio, ushering in a period of soul-searching and regret…. What do you foresee for this imminent transit?”
Obama’s Neptune is arguably the most prominent planet in his chart due to its network of aspects, its status as the most elevated planet, and its precise conjunction with the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant. Located in the 9th house of faith, higher education and foreign affairs, Neptune here infuses Obama with an idealism and conviction that he’s being guided by spiritual forces. When Saturn enters his 9th house and conjoins Neptune, all these matters get tested.
Indeed, the last time Saturn was in his 9th house and conjoining his Neptune, Obama was in college. And due to his father’s death, he went through a process of questioning his beliefs and path in life. Now that his presidential role is set, Saturn’s passage through the 9th house will likely bring foreign affairs into focus. Neptune also rules Obama’s 2nd house of money, so transiting Saturn here corresponds to managing the fiscal cliff.
Obama’s Neptune helps to harmonize his Chiron-Pluto opposition, since it’s trine one and sextile the other. The Chiron-Pluto polarity in his 1st and 7th house represents the “us versus them” mentality that so often characterizes political debate. Obama feels he has a mandate to redistribute the tax burden, an ideal that achieved substance with his re-election. Watch around December 20 when transiting Saturn is conjunct his Neptune to see how well he can maintain this position.
Panic Buying of Twinkies
Last Friday, Hostess Brands announced that they were going out of business. Nostalgia for their iconic Twinkies drove many consumers to their favorite grocer to stock up, but supplies were dwindling fast. Hostess once ranked as the number one U.S. wholesale baker, but as American diets shifted to more health-conscious food, business began to fade. Still, Hostess made 500 million Twinkies annually.
The Twinkie* was invented on April 6, 1930 by a Hostess baker (Chicago; time unknown) when the Sun was in pioneering Aries and conjunct innovative Uranus. Venus, the natural ruler of sugar, is strongly placed in its own sign Taurus, and sweetened by an alluring trine to Neptune (and corn syrup). The Sun’s closest aspect is the square to addictive, mood-altering Pluto in Cancer. The Sun also squares Saturn which suggests the heavy dose of preservatives that have made the Twinkie an urban legend for its long-lasting shelf life.
On November 27, 1978, Dan White was convicted of manslaughter rather than murder of the San Francisco mayor due to the notorious “Twinkie Defense”. His lawyer argued that he had become addicted to junk food which made him unaccountable for his actions. At the time, transiting Pluto was squaring natal Pluto and opposing the natal Sun, underscoring the self-destructive behavior associated with a Twinkies habit.
Currently, transiting Neptune is opposing natal Neptune, leading to many rumors of demise. Also transiting Pluto is heading into Twinkies’ Saturn in Capricorn. The keyword most often linked to the Saturn-Pluto contact is “re-structuring”, which fits with Hostess Brands declaring bankruptcy. In 2013, when the transiting Uranus-Pluto square aligns with Twinkies’ Saturn-Uranus square, the “golden sponge cake with creamy filling” will most likely find a new corporate owner.
* Ingredients:
Enriched wheat flour, sugar, corn syrup, niacin, water, high fructose corn syrup, vegetable and/or animal shortening – containing one or more of partially hydrogenated soybean, cottonseed and canola oil, and beef fat, dextrose, whole eggs, modified corn starch, cellulose gum, whey, leavenings (sodium acid pyrophosphate, baking soda, monocalcium phosphate), salt, cornstarch, corn flour, corn syrup, solids, mono and diglycerides, soy lecithin, polysorbate 60, dextrin, calcium caseinate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, wheat gluten, calcium sulphate, natural and artificial flavors, caramel color, yellow No. 5, red #40.
* For Israel's chart and previous profiles, see these articles:
