January 2019: Opening of the 116th Congress

December 13, 2018: For the congress-curious reader Ballotpedia provides 2019 congressional information such as members' salaries, Committee details, and more.

Last I heard, the 116th Congress of the United States is scheduled to open on January 3, 2019, probably at 12:00 noon ET, Capitol Building, Washington DC. Of course, swearings-in of new members will be a first order of business--and the Moon in Sagittarius denotes outsiders, or someone different in the House! And amazingly, these new members have lowered the average age of Congress by a decade and many of them are ladies (Moon).

A Little Astrology: January 3, 2019 noon est Capitol Hill

If this date and hour are accurate, some interesting midpoint pictures appear at that particular moment, some that involve the Midheaven ('MC'), Point of Aspirations, Goals, and Public Status as it passes over the Capitol Building. This chart works symbolically even if the opening hour changes so let's consider a few chart factors for this date which has quite often been the opening date of Congress--I know, because it's my birth date and as a child it seemed that Congress opened every year as 'a gift' for little Capricorn me. Silly, of course, but no one told me differently so I persisted with the illusion! For it seemed a small and private honor then but that was before Congress members broke the public trust they had had with the American people back then and began neglecting their constitutional duties. Now we see the hot mess that has brought to America.

Yet hope must forever spring! So let us consider some prominent chart factors and their potential expressions for January 3, 2019 at the semi-speculative hour of 12:00 pm ET Capitol Building Washington DC with a few basic chart details penned messily upon the chart, plus, some natal placements of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (in blue) and Donald Trump (in lavender pink):

Rising is 18Aries14, appropriate for a new undertaking, plus, 19Aries is the Exaltation of the Sun degree (but also the Fall of Saturn degree--Devore). This places the natal Jupiter of Speaker Pelosi on the Ascendant--opposing the natal Jupiter of Donald Trump on Descendant. Financial quarrels rising! yet Jupiter also relates to Politics, ideals, and plans for expansion. And note that Venus in Scorpio leads a BOWL shape of all the planets which suggests to me that Venus represents Nancy Pelosi whose natal Mars is opposed by this Venus (see chart notes in blue, bottom left). It's a 'battle of the sexes' continued for you know what Speaker Pelosi said about Trump's manhood after their dust-up in the Oval Office over funding for his border wall and his threat of a possible "Trump Shutdown"!

Now Aries rising makes testy Mars the chart-ruler and therefore the ruler of the 116th Congress. Meanwhile, activist Mars @1Ari45, just past the Aries Point ('AP') of Fame and Recognition, has risen and is in the 12th house of Politics and Large Institutions such as the US Congress; can Back Room deals be far behind? No doubt some have already been proposed and accepted. Or perhaps 12th house Mars, a leader and trailblazer, (with guru Chiron @28Pis11--a mentor?) will act as a Secret Enemy of the behind-the-scenes 12th house variety. After all, The Leader, the Sun @13Cap01 is in 10th house near the MC (10Cap07) but surrounded by enemies--or are they henchmen? For restrictive Saturn @11Cap41 and powerful manipulator Pluto @20Cap41 (at critical degree) form a trio with the Capricorn Sun (also at critical degree) and we might wish to consider the trio's potentials within a midpoint picture--fading but still somewhat in effect due to the weightiness of karmic Saturn and karmic Pluto along with the solar importance of the day. Plus, the Sun's position in Capricorn marks the annual opposition to US natal Sun @13Cancer when plans and goals of the nation should be reassessed and altered if necessary in order to reach goals.

Saturn-Pluto = Sun: sparing no pains in one's work; renunciation; privation; physical toil and over-exertion; physical separation. A closer midpoint picture exists at noon as well--Sun-MC = Saturn: the necessity to make grave or difficult decisions; reserve; a negative outlook (economic, I suspect, along with Everything Trump, plus, big donor/corporate interests interference). But another thing about the 2019 Sun: it conjoins asteroid Icarus who in hubris flew too close to the Sun in an escape attempt so that his wings melted. As you know, Icarus refused to listen to his papa (Saturn)! Yet does this Capricorn Sun surrounded by legal-eagle planet Saturn (Mr. Mueller?) and hidden-power Pluto (foreign and/or wealthy manipulators--saboteurs or assassins) actually represent on another level Donald Trump who is also an Icarus figure? Will he escape indictment and/or impeachment? (See today's CNN news about Trump's Friends Flipping on Him.)

Or does the Icarus archetype signify congress members whose wings are singed by standing too close to Trump (Republicans) or who will somehow stand in Big T's way as the congressional session continues (Democrats)? Perhaps all of the above? Not knowing as I type if the Mueller Report will have been released by January 3, 2019 and possibly sent to the House--or partially revealed to the public--these questions are impossible to answer with any certainty, at least by yours truly. Plus, Trump's tax returns by federal law can be demanded by the chair of the Ways and Means Committee without approval by the Senate, as House Democrats have promised - yet Astrology can't tell us everything.

By comparison, the 115th Congress horoscope for January 3, 2018 12:00 pm est showed evaluating Venus @11Cap56 in place of 2019 Saturn with Sun 13Cap16 (opposing US natal Sun in Cancer, did we say?) and primal Pluto @18Cap52 which activated the 1993 'New World Order' Uranus-Neptune conjunction/s with their 'the big picture must be followed, very little option to do otherwise' (Tyl) and Sabian Symbol for 18Cap: POLITICAL POWER (Jones) which implies foreign control or interference (ex: the City of London). It will interesting if tragic as 2019 proceeds to see what the idealism and plans of the progressive new members morph into as the riot act is read them by party bosses Pelosi and Schumer. If past methods hold, new members will be instructed that they will vote how they're told to vote but hopefully such strong-arming will lessen for the good of the American people who voted for a more progressive agenda than party hats have provided so far, their cotton-filled ears notwithstanding. Yet Ms. Pelosi has reportedly agreed to step down in 2022 so we'll see if the backlash against her speakership has abated for now in this generational clash.

Now with Mars as chart-ruler 'his' applying Ptolemaic aspects give clues as to how things will proceed. However, this Mars makes no applying aspects in the chart which emphasizes the warrior planet's sign and house position--Aries, his own sign, and 12th house of Politics and Karma so it looks like it's going to be an active, possibly pioneering, and secretive two years, folks, for among the new members of the 116th Congress there must be at least a few Aries-inspired ladies among them!

For more on midpoint pictures see: Ebertin's The Combination of Stellar Influences, Munkasey's Midpoints: Unleashing the Power of the Planets, and Tyl's Solar Arcs.

Related posts include: Chiron to Aries Point and America's Chiron Return.

Horoscope: Spring Equinox 2019 - Virgo Moon Rising

Image: Spring Equinox March 20, 2019 at 5:58:20 pm edt White House Washington DC; ASC 14Vir25; Moon @27Vir48 rising; MC 12Gem10 conjunct Uranus-North Node midpoint (see chart, lower right); Sun 00Ari00:00 in 7th house of Partnerships, Open Enemies, and Legal Affairs/rules 12th house of Politics, Karma, Large Institutions, and Back Room Deals. Chart and MC ruler Mercury Rx @18Pis58 conjunct Neptune = "the illusionist" (A. Oken); Mars @23Tau08 in 9th house of Philosophy and Foreign Lands soon conjoins Trump's natal MC where raging star Algol twinkles. And we should mention that Donald Trump's natal Neptune @6Libra is his 'first to rise' planet at Spring Equinox 2019 bringing along his expansive, inflationary trio of Neptune-Chiron-Jupiter of speculation and schemes.

Lower right is a Note: Speaker of the House Pelosi's Mars Return (25Taurus) occurs on or about March 25, 2019 beginning a new 2-year cycle of activity for her with the House as of January 2019 ruled by congressional Democrats. Interestingly, the Moon leads a Locomotive shape of all the planets in the chart indicating a ruthless drive toward success by an executive--is this Speaker Pelosi representing the Democrats, plus, We The People? I suspect on one level 'tis She of The Gavel. Yet the Moon's Sabian Symbol suggests otherwise: '28Virgo' = "A Bald-Headed Man Dominates a Gathering of National Figures." Trump is balding, so obviously Spring 2019 is gonna be Trump vs Pelosi for the duration of the year (Aries Ingresses symbolize entire years) with a Virgo Moon signifying practicality and methodical procedures. Also see the Sabian Symbol of the Sun ('1Aries') at the top of the horoscope - America's Great Seal is hinted at along with the Founders' pagan worship of goddess Venus.

Future Direction: 11th house North Node in Cancer (conjunct US natal Mercury Rx) denotes contacts, meetings, and encounters of a Cancerian nature which includes; business, security, family, and domestic matters along with Cancer's penchant for tribalism (ex: Trump's 'nationalism'.)

Eclipse-wise, Spring Equinox 2019's Prenatal Solar Eclipse ('PE') manifested on January 6, 2019 @15Cap25 (2 South: 'joining a new or unusual group and gaining a great deal' - Brady; perfect for new Congress members). The PE conjuncts the 5th cusp of this horoscope (15Cap51)--5th house = risk-taking, speculation, creative pursuits, children (such as the ones Trump cages and tear gases). The Equinox 2019's Syzygy Moon, a New Moon, occurs on March 6, 2019 @15Pis47 conjunct Neptune = illusions, delusions, illusions, pretense, and disguises. This may denote a new cycle of deception beginning for or by the Trump administration or the seeding (New Moon) of them. Either way we'll know more very soon by the bright light of the next Full Moon @00Lib09 (March 21st) which conjoins the natal MC of the US natal chart (5:09 pm lmt) with the Sun @00Ari09 conjunct our national IC, the Foundation of the Matter, but also The Drain and the HOW? Point. America's public status and reputation in the world should be in the spotlight more than usual around that time, such as they are thanks to asset Trump and the Kremlin. (Have you ever wondered if Melania is actually Trump's handler?)

Good news is that protective Jupiter in his own sign of Sagittarius is in the 4th house of Domestic Scene, Real Estate, and Mining which happily is ruled via Sag by moneybags Jupiter, the financier, politician, guru, broadcaster, and The General. Between February 20th and 23rd, transit Jupiter passes over Trump's natal South-Node-Moon conjunction (20-22Sag), a real mixture of both positive and negative feelings (Moon) for him (will he relocate back to NYC? it's a transit of 'conflicts of interest' plus, 'happiness' - and he misses his penthouse so!). Yet if we look below the surface, we find the Hopi Blue Star of Prophecy, Ras Alhague waiting patiently for expression--apparently through mouthpiece Donald Trump. For more details on this star, see Donald Trump's natal Moon and the Sapphire Star.

Now as you see, unpredictable Uranus @00Tau41 (a degree of violence--Devore; and Hitler's natal Sun degree) is in the corporate 8th house of Shared Finances, Credit/Debt/Insurance, Death, Transformation, and the Occult, and is unaspected which emphasizes the detached, isolated quality of astrological Uranus, the chaos-creator (and Trump's guiding planet). Disruptions, shocks, or upsets may occur. And when unmodulated by aspects from other planets, quirky Uranus's energies are difficult for any individual to handle and denotes one who acts independently of outside influences, is restless, nervous, and discontent. There may be spurts or flashes of genius (positively or negatively) in the house (area of life) where Uranus is located. Then with Venus in detached Aquarius, Uranus has something to say about finances (8th house) of such things as the military, police, and civil services (6th house), and about perspective (Venus). Even health issues could be in the Uranian barrel (6th house) especially since the Venus-Uranus pair when acting negatively tends to indicate extravagance and waste. One is reminded of the sad state of America's Veterans Administration along with the EPA and every other government department suffering underneath the hefty Trump.

Yes, there are a many other chart factors worth mentioning here but I shall keep to my aim that this be a post, not a book, and shall leave them for you, dear reader, to admire. However, of special interest is the 5th house Saturn-Pluto conjunction which perfects @22Cap46 on January 12, 2020 - conjunct the natal Vertex of Donald J. Trump. Yet in this 2019 Equinox horoscope, Pluto @22Cap51 already conjoins Trump's Vertex, a point in Astrology of 'fated encounters' or 'appointments with fate'. This may suggest a meeting between Trump and one of his idolized dictators or it could suggest a cosmic picture of something even more sinister, something that's been brewing for a long time in that karmic reap what's been sown sort of way.

For there is one thing everyone in the Universe agrees on: the piper must always be paid!

Please enlarge the image to read my study notes if you wish and you'll spy some of Mr. Trump's natal placements penned around the chart and highlighted in a lovely lavender pink shade.

A Related Post: on February 18th Chiron again conjoins the Aries Point, America's natal IC Point of Home, Roots, and Endings, and which is, of course, the degree of the Spring Equinox Sun.

Chiron to Aries Point 2019 and America's Chiron Return

Image: tri-wheel of three Chiron to Aries Point transits 2018--2019: April 17, 2018, September 25, 2018, and February 18, 2019.

In a previous post titled Chiron to Aries Point 2018-2019, you'll find quite a few general details concerning centaur Chiron, the Wounded Healer and priest, plus, notes on Chiron in Mars-ruled Aries which happens to be America's natal placement of Chiron @20Ari08 in our national 4th house of Roots, Foundation, and Endings, July 4, 1776.

Upcoming in the New Year is the third of three conjunctions of Chiron to AP on February 18, 2019 (shown in tri-wheel, outer chart), and with the US natal IC @00Ari47 (in the US chart I prefer: July 4, 1776 5:09 pm LMT Philadelphia, PA), this transit which occurs approximately every 50 years to a Cardinal World Point of Manifestation marks the introduction or entrance of Chiron into America's 4th house of Domestic Scene and Homeland, and casts a glance toward our nation's eventual Chiron Return which will perfect three times, due to Chiron's retrogradation: on April 20, 2024, November 8, 2024 (Rx), and February 18, 2025. (More on this in a future post.)

Rounding up, the Sabian Symbol for US Chiron @21Aries = "A Pugilist Entering The Ring" as we did in 1775/76 and beyond; and with US Chiron in Aries we often express the 'sacred warrior' archetype of the Seeker on a Quest identified as "pioneers, trailblazers, and/or mavericks" charting an independent course, seeking our national identity, and endeavoring to lead the world into the future (R. Nolle). As a nation we have traditionally held high the ideal that America fights for what is right, tarnished though that principled position has become with the less noble "might is right" attitude of expansionism, greed, and lust for ever-increasing power and military conquests.

Yet America's 1776 chart contains a helpful Mars-Chiron sextile which Richard Nolle points out, "indicates one whose strongest energies are channeled into the social/aesthetic sphere as a crucible of the Quest for self-transcendence."

So as America's Chiron Return period of 2024/25 nears we may expect such principles to express within the Collective Mind once again in similar fashion to the events, personalities, and Quest of 1776 at the founding of our nation rising up as 'one among the many.' For after all, the 4th house is one of the Watery Psychological Houses (4/8/12--Cancer-Scorpio-Pisces) and relates to what is needed in order to feel that we are psychologically 'at home' with our inherent sense of identity, formerly wounded, but finally able to face our nation's inner pugilist and throw off the bonds of oppression.

For more details see Richard Nolle's Chiron: The New Planet in Your Horoscope, the Key to Your Quest and The Sabian Symbols in Astrology by Dr. Marc Edmund Jones. If a modern version of the symbols is preferred I recommend Lynda Hill's excellent 360 Degrees of Wisdom.

And did you happen to notice that The Great American Eclipse of August 21, 2017 @29Leo 'eclipsed' Chiron's natal Saturn @29Leo which is the same position of one of our Founding Fathers' natal Saturn?! In other words, the Discovery of Chiron basically timed a posthumous Saturn Return for...guess who?

DC Horoscope: Manafort Trial September 17, 2018

Update August 28, 2018: the September 17th trial of Paul Manafort will proceed as scheduled with jury selection, however, opening statements are postponed for one week until September 24th.

Original post begins here:

Uncertain of the precise hour the trial of Paul Manafort opens on September 17, 2018 in a Washington DC courtroom, the following horoscope is set for '8:00 am edt' and as you see, the Midheaven ('MC'), or Goal Point, at the top of the chart @8Can34 shows the natal Mercury of Donald Trump crossing over it at that moment. Fixed star Alhena is there as well with its theme, to have a mission. Might the mission have anything to do with Trump's chatty if duplicitous Mercury? More likely with Mr. Manafort's knowledge of the Mercurial Trump's 2016 campaign.

See Paul Manafort trial in DC to take 3 weeks, probe Ukraine lobbying world. And here's a previous post showing the 1991 independence horoscope of Ukraine if you're curious.

September 17, 2018 The Cosmic Curtain Rises in Judge Jackson's Courtroom

Rising at 8:00 am is 7Lib32 which makes Venus chart-ruler yet she makes no applying aspects at all to clue us in on how things will proceed. Or does she? With no application of the chart-ruler, we must depend on Venus' sign, degree, house placement (2nd h of Money, Values, Possessions), and house ruler-ship to tell the tale. Here, with Venus in brooding Scorpio, sign of corporations, money, big business, and betrayal, we find the Sabian Symbol for Venus' degree instructive: '6Scorpio' = "A Gold Rush"...AMBITION with its negative expression of "a lack of practical discrimination and an irresistible desire for easy money." (Jones). Considering the allegations against unregistered 'foreign lobbyist' and money launderer, Mr. Manafort, this seems clear enough, right? Plus, Venus also rules the corporate 8th house of Finance, Shared Resources, Credit, and Debt via Taurus, the luxury-loving sign of Paul Manafort's natal Moon. Yes, luxury, comfort, money, and possessions are his reigning needs (Moon).

Then there's Mr. Trump's natal Cancerian Mercury at Goal Point--Mercury, planet of communications (ex: tweets), commerce, trade, theft, deals and negotiations--in Cancer, sign of patriotism, shrewd business ability, and self-protection, so we may expect Paul Manafort's knowledge of Mr. Trump's words, plans, deals, and 'patriotism' to be part of the legal proceedings if Trump's name comes up at all. Possibly it will in relation to the events, contacts, and negotiations which took place at RNC 2016 as foreign actors lurked about:

Please enlarge the image to read my scribbles for not all chart factors will be mentioned in this text; besides, the trial date could possibly be changed again or the proceedings could begin at noon or later--at noon, Scorpio rises which would emphasize Mars conjunct POTUS Sun, square Uranus (0A26; danger; explosions, and Mars, here out-of-bounds (OOBs), soon to be conjoined by the transiting South Node of the Moon, aka, The Tail of the Dragon (as will the POTUS Sun 00AQ48, a separative and karmic Saturnian condition--see Tail of the Dragon Smacks POTUS Sun!) in late October 2018. Popularity with the public is not promised by this transit.

So as you see, 8:00 am edt is an Hour of Saturn, perfect for legalities and for holding the innocent-until-proven-guilty to account. Upper right of the chart I penned the ASC 7Lib32 to show that Trump's natal Neptune (5:50 Rx) is rising, then Manafort's natal Neptune (13:52 Rx) about to rise. The Sun-Mercury midpoint (business people) of this chart sits upon America's natal Neptune (23Virgo) which provides a cosmic picture of swindlers and crooks (Ebertin). Homegrown ones, I guess. Anyway, at the Foundation (IC) of the chart, the Moon at a Cardinal World Point) pairs with Saturn conjoins asteroid Orpheus so cue the violins for the emotional heaviness that pervades. Yet the Moon-Saturn duo can also denote ambition and strategy especially here in Capricorn.

This is a first quarter Moon phase (crisis in action) but what really catches my eye is the Locomotive shape of the planets (ruthless success) led by little Mercury @21Virgo--conjunct fixed star Denebola (to go against society). Mercury is oriental (rises just before the Sun) and in the 12th house of Politics, Karma, Self-Undoing, Secret Enemies, and Backroom Deals. And of course, Sun in 12th house denotes unconscious arrogance and with Mercury oriental it's predictably a 'cross the Ts dot the Is' sort of day.

Paul Manafort's natal Mercury at Aries Point (00:04) is in process of being visited by transit Chiron (the wounded healer, the wound, the blind spot) suggesting him as a conduit of some sort for sending messages. Then his natal Venus @7Ari42 is setting for the vengeful-when-scorned planet sits precisely on the Descendant at 8:00 am--with his natal Mars @8Ari21. With this pair, are love affairs or other liaisons indicated? Or merely irritability, exaggeration, and possibly a lack of tact? (Ebertin).

Now striding across the chart is a Grand Cross if we allow the Nodal axis to take part. Otherwise, it's a double T-Square between the Venus-Uranus opposition that points toward Mars @1AQ28--and US POTUS Sun (in 2017, Sun @00AQ48 = Trump) on one end, and Venus-Uranus = North NOde on the other. Quick responses and intense feelings are suggested. Plus, someone is 'ready to go' and 'proud' (POTUS Sun). Of course, another picture is shown--Mars-NN = Uranus which denotes potentials for upsets and sudden experiences, but also for active cooperation. Then Venus opposite Uranus adds collaboration to the Mars-Nodal picture. But surely not the flipping of Paul Manafort! Probably just the legal teams involved in the investigations and the trial.

And naturally, there's a notation at the bottom of the horoscope with saboteur and wealth-hoarder Pluto @18Cap48 Rx again intensifying the 1993 Uranus-Neptune conjunction/s (18Cap) which forms a midpoint picture of 'the big picture must be followed; very little option to do otherwise' (Tyl). Sounds like an offer someone can't refuse. The Sabian Symbol for this degree describes POLITICAL POWER and, negatively, 'strong-armed paternalism' at its 'best' (by which I mean worst) and here in 4th house, the Basis of the whole shebang.

And we mustn't neglect to mention the Jupiter-Pluto sextile (plutocrats; big wheeler-dealers--2nd h of Money, 4th h of Real Estate) which forms a temporary YOD (crisis; turning point) with Trump's natal Uranus-NN-Sun trio which is marked in orange in the 8th house. As a midpoint picture, this suggests Mr. Trump's tendencies for quick exploitation of every situation, far-reaching associations, possible adjustment to new circumstances, fanatical striving for improvement, and political activities (Ebertin). As a YOD the pattern can act as a timer for major adjustments which must be made so that a complete change of direction is facilitated. If the energies are poorly handled, results will be negative for Mr. Trump.

Well, there are many more cosmic clues in the chart and in later charts of the day but since I try to avoid typing too much about a horoscope for which I have no exact hour, I'll leave you with this spotty analysis until and unless the hour the trial begins is discovered causing the different house cusps to change to a large extent so that any of the portents mentioned in today's post don't hold. Or if there's a delay in the court calendar.

The Prenatal Eclipse of the MLK Assassination

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMartin_Luther_King_Jr_NYWTS.jpg

The tragic and cruel Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr on April 4, 1968 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee 'killed the man but not The Dream'. Here is a link to his I Have a Dream speech delivered on August 28, 1963 during the March on Washington For Jobs and Freedom--for Civil and Economic Rights of African-Americans. Obviously, the power elite of DC and elsewhere did not appreciate Dr. King's rising popularity and that of his causes which threatened their leadership and promised to elevate opposition to the Vietnam War and combine it with the Civil Rights Movement.

Resident of the Oval Office in April 1968 (until Nixon was elected) was Lyndon Baines Johnson who some assert was behind the JFK assassination and if so, LBJ would have had no compunction about ordering the death of MLK (and RFK), would he? Now as an American, I loathe mentioning such possibilities but there it is. Besides, most everyone knows that Lyndon Johnson was a ruthless politician who vehemently hated the Kennedys. And of course, Robert Kennedy was also shot in 1968 on June 5th, and died the next day. Related video: History is proving that LBJ killed Kennedy.

6 North: the Prenatal Solar Eclipse of the MLK and RFK Assassinations

As you know, 'cosmic blinks'--eclipses--are known as 'wild cards' of the Universe for they tend to express erratic and disruptive Uranian energies in table-turning, change-of-direction ways. The operative Solar Eclipse which manifested on March 28, 1968 @8Aries can be credited with these murderous political crimes via eclipse themes which may not seem particularly ruthless until we consider the real world events that took place under 6 North's background influence, plus, the political vibes of the era which, then as now, do not include the sharing of power and control. And in 1968, the last vibes of the rebellious, daring Uranus-Pluto conjunction/s of the mid-1960s remained in force though waning. Also Uranus-Pluto is the 'collapse of the old order, construction of the new' pair of generational planets (Ebertin) and 'success at any cost' implications included the removal of all obstacles to that success. We may also wish to note that the 1968 eclipse @8Aries conjoined and thus triggered the natal Sun-Mars midpoint of Dr. King while opposing his difficult Saturn-Pluto midpoint in Libra. Sun-Mars = vitality, vigor, activity; Saturn-Pluto = cruelty and violence.

Themes of 6 North: relationship to authority figures, the need to take control and responsibility, accepting commitments due to another person's illness or unreliability (Brady). So if we extend themes of 'illness' and 'unreliability' to matters of death and the need to 'take control' of the US (or, remove control from Reverend King and a potential President Robert Kennedy) someone chose to give the American people the assassinations of MLK and RFK.

A Solar Eclipse in the 6 North Saros Series last manifested on April 19, 2004 @30Aries and will next occur on April 30, 2022 @10Taurus. The initial 6 North eclipse perfected on May 15, 850 (OS) @27Tau55. The only Great Conjunction to perfect in 2022 is between the bubbly duo of speculation and schemes Jupiter and Neptune on April 12, 2022 @23Pis59--Pisces, the sign ruled by boundary-breaking Jupiter and co-ruled by nebulous, undermining, eroding Neptune. Which reminds me--in April 1968, transit Neptune conjoined US natal Pluto in Capricorn, a planetary timer of erosion of power and the rise of a public figure with a religious message.

Now if you wish a view, here's the MLK Assassination Horoscope of April 4, 1968 6:08 pm CST Memphis, TN which I posted to SO'W along with a few chart details upon the occasion of the 45th anniversary of his death in 2013. Please note that a source I used back then gave '6:08 pm' but today's sources give '6:01 pm' though the planets remain in the same houses either way. And as you'll see, transit Chiron (the wound, the wounded healer; the priest or reverend) was at the Aries Point (00:25) which, 50 years hence, will again be the case for the Centaur 3 times upcoming on April 17, 2018, September 25, 2018, and February 18, 2019.

You may also wish to to see Dr. King's natal horoscope (January 15, 1929 12:00 pm cst Atlanta, Georgia RR: A) and his natal Chiron in Taurus, sign of the neck and the location of the bullet that cruelly pierced him.

March 6, 2018: Mercury to Aries Point w Stars

Horoscope Image: March 6, 2018 2:34:25 am est White House Washington DC; Cardinal Water strong; Hour of Mercury in 'its' 3rd house of Communications; chart-ruler Saturn @7Cap41 and rising with Facies (ruthlessness or the victim); Mercury and Venus conjunct Scheat (misfortune; intellect), Sun conjunct Achernar (risk of rapid endings; crisis) and remains near masking, disguising, deceptive Neptune, North Node @14Leo31 8th house points toward Dubhe (loving but forceful); Mars conjoins the prophetic Hopi 'Blue Star' Ras Alhague and the Moon-SN conjunction of Donald Trump; and the Scorpio Jupiter in 11th house inflates starry Agena (the pain of learning).

In 2nd house you see the current Solar Eclipse of February 15, 2018 (27AQ07) in the 1 South Saros Series (flooded with ideas or options--Brady) where karmic progress can be made, and the last lunation, the Syzygy Moon @11Vir22 in the corporate 8th house as is the North Node of future direction. As you see in the horoscope, the planets form a BOWL shape with the fluctuating Moon @9Sco51 in 10th house leading the planetary throng; quirky radical Uranus @26Ari09 and asteroid of grieving mothers, Niobe, conjoin the Ending or Foundation Point of the chart, the IC. Pluto at a critical degree (20Capricorn) and rising behind Saturn, both karmic planets set to meet in Great Conjunction on January 12, 2020 @23Capricorn.

Three midpoint pictures are penned on the chart; any, all, or none may apply:

Lower left, Mars-Saturn = ASC; upper right, Mars-Pluto = Saturn; mid-right, Mars-MC = Jupiter. Now planet Mars rules the Cardinal Aries Point, as you know, and planet Mars @23Sag23 rises in 12th house of Politics, Karma, and Self-Undoing after conjoining Mr. Trump's Moon and South Node conjunction and describing the anger, quarrels, and separations recently surrounding Mr. Trump.

Also of note is Chiron to Aries Point which first becomes exact April 17, 2018, again September 25, 2018, and third/last on February 18, 2019.

A Changeable Moon Fighting for Survival in Scorpio

The double Water blend of Sun Pisces-Moon Scorpio suggests a period of emotional and psychological insights and intuition, deep and complex feelings, and mental clarity for those who can transcend their personal prejudices; courage in the face of adversity may be in evidence along with the tendency to manipulate others in order to increase one's power and advantage while using scathing criticism and a fighting spirit in the process.

Sun Pisces-Moon Scorpio blend is shared natally by author John Steinbeck who perhaps puts the day's energies into context saying, "It is the nature of a man as he grows older...to protest against change, particularly change for the better."

'30Pisces' = "The Great Stone Face"..."DISCERNMENT...destiny is character."

'1Aries' = "A Woman Rises Out of the Water, a Seal Is Embracing Her"..."REALIZATION...the self cannot separate itself from its own private obsessions." (The Sabian Symbols in Astrology, Marc Edmund Jones.

Manafort Trial Reset for September 17, 2018

By DonkeyHotey (Paul Manafort - Caricature) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Of Kingpins and Squealers

by Jude Cowell

March 1, 2018: since yesterday, word is that the Paul Manafort trial has been reset for Monday September 17, 2018. It had been scheduled for March 15, 2018, a date of cosmic occurrences such as a seed-planting New Moon @24Taurus36--conjunct the natal Midheaven of Donald Trump, and the day transit Uranus enters Taurus, sign of The Bull, though the disruptive planet of chaos will back into Aries once again in November 2018 and re-enter Venus-ruled Taurus for good in March 2019.

A glance at the general transits of September 17, 2018 show an excitable if not explosive and dangerous Mars-Uranus square, tr Mercury (planet of testimonies, deals, and such) @21Virgo and conjoining fixed star Denebola (to go against society; out of the mainstream), and a sobering or depressive Moon-Saturn conjunction in very early Capricorn, sign of government, law, and business. And since world events tend to occur when Cardinal World Points of Manifestation (00Ari/Lib and 00Can/Cap) are triggered, we find wounded-wounding Chiron at Aries Point on that day and conjunct difficult fixed star Scheat with its potentials for malevolence of sublime scope, imprisonment, extreme misfortune, murder, suicide (A. Louis, N. DeVore, Ebertin-Hoffmann).

Additionally, transit Jupiter, planet of expansion and increase, sits upon the disturbing degree of 19Scorpio (traditionally an 'evil degree'--Devore, who also says it's a crucial point of Ego vs Supreme Will) so Jupiter may not show the protection usually afforded especially since two malevolent stars inhabit the degree: North Scale with potentials for hasty words that cause problems, tragedy, and violence, and Serpentis (aka, Unukalhai) with vibes of tragedy, misfortune, immorality, accidents, and/or danger of poison. Wonder of Mr. Manafort should use the services of a royal taste tester?!

Also of interest is the fact that moving Mr. Manafort's trial to September places the proceedings into the more difficult August 11, 2018 Solar Eclipse Saros Series, the 2 New North, with themes of The Tower that collapses (Brady). This includes plans and lifestyles collapsing and of course, Trump Tower comes easily to mind and although a complete financial and political collapse may be indicated for America (2 New North is the PE of Midterm Elections 2018--and as a POTUS goes, so goes America). However, it's Donald Trump who is closely linked to towers, even imprinting his name on them. Now this cosmic condition may very possibly bode ill for the Trump White House and for all he has gained so far in life because he regularly tends to ignore the karmic caution of his rising star, royal Regulus: success if revenge is avoided. And if it isn't avoided, at some point all that has been gained will be taken away.

Yet if total collapse is on the kingpin-in-chief's karmic agenda, would his Libran Jupiter's motto of "it's not fair!" agree that even a self-exalted, ego-based Mr. Trump must eventually reap what he's sown?

Related Posts include: A Noon Horoscope for Robert Mueller; Paul Manafort: the Ram and the Bull; and Chiron to Aries Point (3x--and please note that on the tri-wheel horoscopes I mislabeled the first conjunction as '2019' though the horoscope shown (April 2018) is correct.

DC Horoscopes: Chiron to Aries Point 2018--2019

Chiron and the Roots of America: What Kind of Nation Are We?

by Jude Cowell

Transiting Chiron conjoins the Aries Point (AP) three times on April 17, 2018, September 25, 2018 (Rx), and February 18, 2019. Below is a tri-wheel image of the upcoming Chiron-AP conjunctions with the horoscopes set for Washington DC and basic notes penned upon the chart including each conjunction's Pre-Natal Solar Eclipse which are listed, lower left:

It seems to me that any transit to Aries Point is globally significant for multiple reasons, not the least of which because in the US natal horoscope I most often tend to use (July 4, 1776 5:09 pm LMT Philadelphia, PA--IC 00Ari47), the Foundation/Roots/Ending Point (IC) conjoins the Aries Point with 00Libra at Midheaven, two of the four Cardinal World Points of Manifestation. Therefore, Mars, god of war, rules our nation's founding and our ending through its ruler-ship of Aries. This cosmic condition unfortunately spotlights America's natal Mars-Neptune square and one assumes the Founding Fathers would not have been as proud of our national Mars in Gemini if they'd been aware of astrological Neptune's dissolving, undermining, and fraudulent influences upon our country's actions and motives (Mars). Subsequently, misguided, misdirected, off-the-mark plans and projects have abounded and usually in the realms of war and conflict.

So perhaps we should consider what wounded-wounding Chiron, priestly centaur of healing, blindspots, and the Christ archetype in Astrology, represents when in Mars-ruled Aries while remembering that Chiron orbits between inner Saturn and outer Uranus (past + future = present--be here now!, says Chiron), the planetary pair representing Israel and Palestine as well as old order vs new order--and the tension between them that is causing much turmoil across the world today.

Chiron in Aries signifies pioneers, trailblazers, and mavericks, and conjures and stimulates the Mars-Chiron 'sacred warrior' archetype into action. And since astrological Chiron is associated with our Life Quest, we must wonder what new discoveries, break-throughs, or expeditions are in store--possibly concerning America's founding or Founding Fathers (IC/4thhouse); futuristically, more space exploration is included in the Chirotic possibilities. Chiron is also linked to nuclear energy so the atomic realm may also be featured during Chiron's stay in Aries until 2027, the first year Chiron Returns to natal discovery degree (1977) of 3Tau08 in 2027--2028.

Chiron in Aries suggests head wounds (exs: concussions, depression and other mental conditions) and points toward the current mass murder climate and lack of gun control now wounding Americans physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Chiron in Aries tends to be a loner (R. Nolle) and America has always been that--with Trump's isolating policies, now more than ever. Our nation's adventurism and conquest-loving persona 'inspires' many males (US Mars Rx by progression since 2006) to take up arms against their fellow citizens within a hazy, often drug-fueled morass of misdirected targeting.

Yet Chiron also symbolizes "wholeness, the synthetic reconciliation of thesis and antithesis" (R. Nolle--his book is linked, below). Note that Donald Trump's natal Chiron is in Libra, a relatively rare placement for The Centaur, and indicating one who is 'singled out for a special role'. His Chiron is snugged between the speculator-spendthrift-bubbly pair of Jupiter and Neptune, in his natal 2nd house of Money and Values. Now you may disagree, but to me the conflict-loving, gilt-laden man, a specialist in bullying, insults, and chaos, definitely represents wounded values!

Of course, we cannot overlook the fact that the Aries Point actually conjoins fixed star Scheat (29Pis38) which can positively express as intellectualism, or negatively express when combined with a malefic planet as potentials for misfortune, murder, suicide, or imprisonment. In other words, "malevolence of sublime scope" (A. Louis) and this may echo conditions from around the time of the Spring Equinox 2015 Solar Eclipse conjunct Scheat! This was the Pre-Natal Solar Eclipse of Trump's prez bid announcement on June 16, 2015 and we see where that's getting us.

Now using the rounded-up method for Sabian Symbols, US natal IC's degree of 00Ari47 = '1 Aries": "A Woman Has Arisen from the Sea, a Seal Is Embracing Her" which is a handy reference to America's Great Seal and the major involvement of Freemasonry in the founding of our nation. Of course, this word picture (Sabian Symbol) also points to Weishaupt's Bavarian Illuminati and its official founding and seal (May 1, 1776) so like our nation's Great Seal. And though we may not wish to know this, the symbol for '1 Aries' in Carelli's Degrees is: "An armed warrior of herculean build tilling the soil" which he notes is the Sun's degree of Germany's Third Reich. Well, America does like to play the role of adventure-prone strongman Hercules as did Herr Hitler in his day.

America's Founding as a Nation

Now here's a curious note: Chiron's orbital period is approximately 50 years (or, 49-51). Here's a brief excerpt from a previous post concerning America's natal Chiron:

US natal Chiron @21Aries = "A Pugilist Entering the Ring" and with Chiron returning to natal degree near the day of the two Founders' deaths (Jefferson and Adams both died July 4, 1826--50 years to the day after the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed), we see that two of the top 'pugilists' of our Revolutionary era had left the ring of life" and the fight for independence they once championed. Apparently, 'the ring' on one level was global geopolitics--and Washington continues to fight behind the shield of the 'sacred warrior' with our Chiron in Mars-ruled Aries.

Now with America's natal Chiron in 4th house, we know that our search for identity is the Quest. The American Revolution supplied the original answer so that now, re-connecting with our roots and honestly assessing our past are imperative if we as a nation wish to heal our current sickened condition. Environmentalism is also suggested by a 4th house Chiron as we watch corporatists and oil drillers plunder our natural resources and poison our waters, air, and soil. Have you noticed how often we hear in the media pundits uttering such questions as, Is this who America really is? Or, What kind of nation are we? Usually these questions are asked when austerity measures and other bad policies threaten the lives and health of US citizens as they do under Trump and the GOP leadership.

Yes, FDR's healing bromide, the test of our progress remains an excellent guide for measuring who and what America really is. Yet these days we're failing rather badly at defining ourselves while plutocratic "economic royalists" are doing it for us. Will we allow regressive 'Robin Hood' politicians and policies that favor the wealthy to rule the day and send American culture back to 1854? Not if Stars Over Washington can help it! For as progressive broadcaster and author Thom Hartmann often reminds us, democracy is not a spectator sport--so how will You, dear reader, answer the question, Who and What is America?

For one man's solution see How to Fix Our Political System by millennial astrologer Kevin Estes.

Now let's close with the April 17, 2018 midpoint picture that very soon will closely affect Chiron at AP: Sun-Uranus = Chiron. The Sun-Uranus combination of energies contains revealing information concerning the realms of Politics and Business, the potentials of which I quote here from Michael Munkasey's Midpoints: Unleashing the Power of the Planets for all or some of them are already in progress:

"Thesis: Political changes that shape the quality of all efforts; reforms which initiate changes to authority or power; legislation mandating major reforms in policies; revolutions which bring fundamental changes.

Antithesis: Rebellions designed solely for the removal of an existing leader; the changes which accompany upheavals; rule makers or interpreters battling decision makers; a contrary head of state with unusual habits."

Sound to you like any existing leader/s we know?

My Chiron Reading List includes: Chiron in the Natal Chart by Julie Demboski; Chiron and the Healing Journey by Melanie Reinhart; Chiron: Rainbow Bridge to the Inner and Outer Planets by Barbara Hand Clow; Chiron: Healing Body and Soul by Martin Lass; and Chiron: The New Planet in Your Horoscope, the Key to Your Quest by Richard Nolle.

Chiron was in Aries off-and-on during the years: 1918, 1919, 1926, 1927, 1968, 1969, 1976, 1977.