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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
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.
NewsScope for December 31, 2012
By Michael Wolfstar
Mars in Key 2013 Charts
In a scan of the most important geopolitical charts for 2013, a prominent Mars shows up with alarming frequency. And if one sets the charts for Washington DC, the position of Mars reflects intense domestic strife. Due to the ongoing Uranus-Pluto square, this martial situation readily translates into partisan politics, economic uncertainty, and an inability to move forward with important legislation.
President Obama’s 2013 Inauguration chart (January 20, 12 pm; Washington DC) features the Moon in Taurus near the Ascendant. This Moon naturally suggests a focus on financial security, but since it squares Mars with a very tight orb (0º35’), it’s deeply conflicted. Uranus in this chart happens to be at the exact midpoint of the Moon-Mars square, adding political extremism to the mix and unpredictable volatility.
2013 brings five eclipses, and coincidentally, two of these are within days of the year’s two Uranus-Pluto squares. The Lunar Eclipse on May 25, 2013 (12:25 am; Washington, DC) features Mars in Taurus right on the 4th house cusp. Mars here resonates with the Moon-Mars square in the Inauguration chart, and is under extreme stress by forming hard aspects to the year’s first Uranus-Pluto square (exact on May 20). Again, financial insecurity is the theme.
November 1) as well as the eclipse itself (orb: 0º04’), making Mars the reigning archetype in this chart. A ray of hope enters with this chart since Jupiter trines the Ascendant. That presents a window of opportunity to work things out before 2014 when the most important Uranus-Pluto squares of the cycle shape up as they hit the U.S. Sun.
The Solar Eclipse on November 3, 2013 (7:50 am; Washington, DC) has Mars at the Midheaven where it opposes Chiron in the 4th house. Mars here is also aspecting the year’s second Uranus-Pluto square (exact on
India’s Cultural Revolution
The world’s most populous democracy is at the beginning of a cultural revolution which is being fueled by the social networks. Since the brutal rape of a medical student on December 16, mass protests and candlelight vigils have awakened a deep vein of rage. The unidentified woman, who died last Saturday, has become a symbol for the mistreatment of women in India.
India’s horoscope (August 15, 1947; 12:00 am; New Delhi) describes a nation ruled by an aristocracy with a powerful Leo stellium around the 4th house cusp. The rigid, conservative Saturn-Pluto conjunction conjoins Venus, which alludes to a culture founded on a caste system of fixed social values. Venus is also the natural ruler of women, and its position here represents women’s submissive role in a patriarchal tradition.
Yet with Gemini Rising and Aquarius at the Midheaven, India has become galvanized by the communication revolution. On December 16, India’s ruling planet, Mercury, had progressed to conjoin natal Jupiter (orb: 0º00’), creating an opportunity for progressive change via mobile phones. Note that India’s Jupiter in reform-minded Scorpio squares the Saturn-Pluto conjunction, which supports an innate sense of morality and a strong urge to modernize ancient practices.
Uranus, the ruler of the Midheaven and the planet that inspires revolutions, is currently being activated by progressed Mars, which at 10º Leo is forming an octile (45º) to natal Uranus. This aspect becomes exact in late February, so the heat is rising. In addition, the progressed Sun is simultaneously trine Uranus, providing an astrological outlet for India’s leadership to pick up the cause and act. Black Moon Lilith – the fierce anti-patriarchal force in the chart – is also being activated now in a big way, and will continue to grow in importance over the next few years. This story is just beginning….
Matt Damon’s Promised Land
Although Matt Damon’s anti-fracking film Promised Land* opened with mixed reviews, it’s pushing the oil and gas industry into mounting a public relations campaign to counter the film’s impact. Damon shared his views on the film with environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: “We wanted to show how [fracking] tears apart local communities, subverts democracies and corrupts political leaders.”
Damon’s Sun-Uranus conjunction in Libra trines his Aquarius Ascendant (October 8, 1970; 3:22 pm; Boston, MA), a configuration that naturally flows toward progressive causes. As the film opened over the weekend, the Sun-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn squared natal Uranus, the ruler of his chart. Over the next year, transiting Uranus will be opposing his natal Uranus, putting him in the center of a hot-button issue with billions of dollars at stake.
Neptune conjunct Damon’s Midheaven suggests a film career, but Neptune is also associated with oil. Neptune’s significance is shaped by a square to Pallas in Aquarius, which adds the political dimension. Pallas in Aquarius is a keen political strategist, concerned about democratic values and community awareness. Over the past year, transiting Neptune has been squaring natal Neptune, creating a mid-life crisis concerning his professional direction.
As happens to everyone around the age of 41-42, Damon is going through simultaneous Uranus and Neptune cycles encourage him to question everything he’s done personally and professionally. He’s achieved A-list status as an entertainer, but now he’s shifting his artistic expression toward achieving social and political change. Over the next two years, his progressed Sun will conjoin his Midheaven and Neptune, pointing to an ever-increasing presence in the political arena.
* This film project was previously profiled last April.
