January 1, 2014: New Moon, a Grand Cross, and a Bucket

Astro-Portents of New Years Day 2014: New Moon in Capricorn

by Jude Cowell

A New Year, a New Moon--sounds quite fortuitous, doesn't it?

Well, I'm looking at a New Moon horoscope set for Washington DC on New Years Day 2014 (6:14:08 am est) with 22Sag52 rising along with fixed star Ras Alhague (a Ophiuchi: 'a desire to create balance and healing' (--Brady, though Devore mentions 'perverted and depraved tastes' and 'misfortunes through women'), and powerful underworld boss Pluto @11Cap16 followed by an out-of-bounds Mercury @12Cap50 and Venus 26Cap42 Rx. It's with a full 1st house that Washington DC faces the New Moon on New Years Day, yet we may pause for prayer since warring Mars @11Lib51 conjoins MC, the Public Status/Career/Goal Point of the chart and the most visible for the world to see.

Opposite Mars near the IC (The Drain; Endings; Domestic Scene; Roots) is quirky disruptor Uranus @8Ari40 in 3rd house and feeling his anarchist oats since entering America's natal 4th house in 2010, blind zealots and Utopians represented, according to Ebertin. Is a false flag op soon to be perpetrated on US soil? Some say so.

The explosive Mars-Uranus opposition is part of a dynamic Grand Cross with the second half formed by Jupiter Rx @16Can03 (7th h) opposing the Capricorn line-up in 1st house though Jupiter's opposition is closer by degree to Mercury than to the New Moon, Pluto, or Venus. Yet the Grand Cross planets include: Mars, MC, Sun and Moon, Mercury, Uranus, and Pluto with the ongoing Uranus-Pluto Cardinal Square separating (2S35) for now, and Jupiter acting as the handle of this Bucket shaped chart.

Planets arranged into a Bucket shape denote circumstances in which energy is focused and released via the handle planet--here, Jupiter, exalted in Cancer yet weakened, or its effectiveness and benefits delayed, by its retrograde condition. This pattern indicates an uncompromising direction of effort with little or no concern for end results. It seems there is no desire to conserve resources and there are many Americans who level this charge against the pocket-lining politicians of Washington DC--those who are in breach of the public trust come to mind.

To me the New Moon in Capricorn (the Saturn-ruled sign of government, law, and business) hints that unemployment benefits may not be extended by the end of December 2013 which will give a tremendous downward tug to the US economy as well as creating more misery for Americans who have suffered losses already at the hands of an uncaring corporate government. Hopefully I am wrong about this difficult start of the New Year, but there it is.

Best case is that Jupiter as handle shows inspiration and an adaptation of allegiances to where they can create the most benefits for the American people; on the downside, Jupiter here signifies malcontents and agitators who play the Jolly One's typical roles as professor, General, explorer, guru, priest, banker, or corporate CEO.

Cardinal Grand Cross: it's complicated

The Grand Cross of squares and oppositions indicates that quick, ill-considered action may be taken since impatience abounds. Staying power to complete projects is required and the continued cooperation of others is a must (the ACA website?) Common sense helps avoid pitfalls and it will be necessary to prevent succumbing to such things as recklessness, bad timing, over-assertion, and direct confrontations with others. Though ambitious, we must exercise more self-control even while facing one obstacle after another!

Now Pluto is, I suppose, Lord of the Eclipse (0A18), while status quo Saturn @20Sco24 (11th h) disposits Sun and Moon. Jupiter Rx is ruled of the horoscope, another indicator that the money planet's Rx condition is problematic as 2014 begins. And we haven't even discussed how the January 1st planets and Capricorn New Moon are lined up opposite America's natal planets in Cancer! Or how transiting Jupiter is retrograding back to rejoin US natal Sun (the president)!

To summarize, early 2014 is a critical time of development and it looks as though war, weapons, diplomacy, possibly explosions, financial mishaps, and even earthquakes or other natural disasters are potential dishes on our nation's menu as the New Year starts so I hope both readers of Stars Over Washington stay safe, warm, and dry, and do take activated charcoal for that hang-over if you allow yourself to party too much!

~:~

New Moons Are Followed by Full Moons

As you know, New Moons begin a phase of activity and represent a seeding time which culminates or fulfills about two weeks later at the subsequent Full Moon. On January 15, 2014, a Full Moon @25Can5j8 conjoins US natal Mercury Rx with the Sun @25Cap58, near US natal Pluto Rx, thus stimulating the US Mercury-Pluto opposition of surveillance and secrets. There are no planets OOBs in the Full Moon horoscope, but Venus is Rx @18Cap23, the 'new world order' degree of POLITICAL POWER and 'smug-armed paternalism' (Jones).

1/15/14: Mars @17Lib54 rises (ASC 17Lib23) in Washington DC and spotlights US natal Mars which is Rx by progression @18Lib+ since Summer 2006 (almost a 'Progressed Mars Return') denoting our wounded vets, other militaristic concerns, potential gun violence, protesters, activists, etc. This rising Mars--prominent in the New Moon horoscope, as mentioned above--can act as a trigger for events of a Martian nature especially since a Thor's Hammer pattern is 'aimed at' delusional Neptune @3Pis39 in 5th house.

The base of the Hammer is a Mars-MC square which creates a midpoint picture giving the January 15, 2014 Full Moon 'out of the mainstream' and/or 'withdrawal as an option' vibes though lucky Jupiter @14Can04 Rx in 9th h does conjoin Sirius, the Dog Star, and is about to rejoin US natal Sun. This transit may aid the president with obstructionist Republicans concerning budgetary issues, austerity measures, nominations, and such. Jupiter to Sun shows that 'something begun 12 years ago must be ended or move up to the next level' which sounds much like the 'leave Afghanistan in 2024' substitution for leaving in 2014.

Around the time of the January 15th Full Moon, deception will be used as a strategy, as usual in Politics, and/or communications will be other than they appear (Neptune-Pluto = Mercury--Tyl) which is also very much the usual in Politics.

The Saturn-Neptune = Pluto midpoint picture remains in effect in January 2014 so the 'denial of guilt from responsible parties' continues to interfere with social progress as syndicate criminals walk free, prosper, and live to defraud us again.

More Big Bank Scandals and Manipulations

Wealthy Pluto Manipulations: There Are No Accidents

by Jude Cowell

Following perfectly the truism that eclipses tend to uncover scandals and secrets--and since the Solar Eclipse of November 3, 2013 was in the financial sign of secretive Scorpio--Rolling Stone has just published Matt Taibbi's article Chase Isn't the Only Bank in Trouble in which he informs us of a looming, worldwide Libor-like manipulation scandal about to headline the news and cause inestimable trouble for financial markets.

Or maybe not if the financial industry and the mainstream media collude for as long as possible to keep the bad news under wraps. After all, how much did you hear or read about Libor: The Crime of the Century?

And how easy is it to say that fraudulent developments and practices such as these are part of the Global Government agenda to crash the world economy so that everyone will plead for a new system to be set up--a "New World Economic Order"?

Very easy.

A current marker of trouble may include the cosmic occurrence of banker Jupiter turning retrograde tomorrow, November 7, 2013 (in an opposing dance with wealthy Pluto), at 12:03 am est on a critical degree (20Can30:39), a degree in the Zodiac between US natal Sun (13Can) and natal Mercury Rx (24Can) which indicates that financial matters are on leadership's and the people's minds along with a potential for optimism and a hopefully increasing sense of protection. Hmm. Perhaps the optimism comes from the unconscious Uranus-Neptune content of the November 3rd Solar Eclipse with its resolution-solution vibes which the world so sorely needs.

10.1.13 @12 am Jupiter Rising: US government shutdown?

Looking at a horoscope set for the Capitol Building, October 1, 2013 @12 am edt, we find rising 11Can54 which brings up US natal Sun @13Cap19 (leadership, or, the leader.) Our national Venus and Jupiter have just arisen as a partial shutdown of the US government looms--unless a deal is reached in the hours prior to midnight tonight. If nothing else, this Utopian endeavor is adding to the distrust and lack of confidence the American people have in Washington DC as a federal centralized government--just as anarchists have long planned--bwa ha ha.

And given the ongoing battles over raising the debt ceiling to pay our already-incurred bills, the deficit (which has fallen by half under President Obama--as usual for a Democratic presidency), and other sticky wickets from the GOP wishlist, we may expect that tonight's possible shutdown isn't the worst of it for the balance of 2013 into 2014 promises to be sour grapes until the presidential agenda is weakened to the breaking point and an ideological point is made.

Obviously, the Republican Tea Party is not concerned that their dramatics undermine America's influence on the world stage, nor do they care a fig for the global economy which may collapse under their bossy boots. And we know that the fate of the American middle and working classes is of no moment as long as the GOP (working on behalf of international corporatists--the Koch Brothers come to mind) have their way. Which highway the Republican way plops us upon is our little red wagons for it's 'survival of the fittest' for the little Ayn Randers among us.

As you know, it's the Rand philosophy the Teas and Rs follow which favors 'death panels' for those who are 'too weak' to deserve life. That's part of why they despise New Deal programs so deeply--they allow the ill, small, and weak to live. Now I don't like typing such things as this, but there it is.

So on October 1, 2013 at 12:00 am edt on Capitol Hill, we find an interesting Sabian Symbol in the WHAT? position: '12Can' = "A Chinese Woman Nursing a Baby with a Message...MATERIALIZATION...positive expression: a gift for bringing the more Godlike resources or superior powers of self to a point of real community service; negative (shadow side) expression: completely unreasonable demands for recognition." (Jones.) Does our creditor the Chinese government have a message for Washington DC? Will another 'brink' in the GOP's Govern By Crisis be avoided?

Banker Jupiter, Deceptive Neptune, Quarreling Mars, and The Drain

Now moneybags Jupiter @18Can21 in 1st house rises as well and rules the 6th house (via Sag) and the 10th house of Public Status/The Goal with the MC @22Pis23. This places US natal Neptune precisely on the IC (The HOW? point; Endings; The Drain) @22Vir23 which happens to be President Obama's natal Mars position and I'm certain you know that US natal Neptune veils and glamorizes the motivations and actions (Mars) of the president, making his motivation for action hazy and thus difficult to identify correctly. US natal Mars in Gemini is also triggered here due to our natal and problematic Mars-Neptune square of confused motivations and foggily misguided actions.

A midpoint picture may be extracted based on the MC-Neptune-Mars trio...Mars-Neptune = shutdown MC: losing contact defensively (Tyl); discontent; hopelessness; failure; weakness (Ebertin) yet these potentials may manifest in part or not at all. I see the trio as a hint of the uncertainty of Obama supporters who fear he will again concede too much to the Republicans now or in future battles. If ever the bromide, 'give an inch, they'll take a mile' should be followed by the White House, tonight's the night. Especially since Mitt Romney's 'Repeal Obamacare' presidential campaign was rejected by a majority of voters. And many of us think too much was conceded in the ACA to insurance companies, a sentiment behind much of the negative polling 'Obamacare' receives. Change the label and polling results improve.

Curiously there's an Angular midpoint of note--Uranus-Neptune, the Enlightenment duo which relates to their 1993 conjunction/s of new world order proportions--at MC (The Goal) so we have peculiar dispositions, inner vision, impassivity, and a potential for dissolution to consider. I believe this links the current circumstances to the Solar Eclipse of November 3, 2013 @11Sco15 for it contains Uranus-Neptune content and is within the time frame of all fiscal stalemates now being fought--and Scorpio is the sign of Big Business/Corporatism with the sign's natural house being the 8th of Shared Resources, Debt, Credit, Insurance, and Transformation.

Meanwhile, 12 am tonight occurs within an energetic, contentious Hour of Mars and Mars has just had a visit from the Moon (We the People), a planetary combo denoting emotional anger on our parts and quarrels (Mars) about changes (Moon) on Capitol Hill.

Yet how will things proceed? Well, the only applying Ptolemaic aspect of chart-ruler Moon (since Luna's conjunction with Mars in the 2nd house of the National Treasury has past by 12 am--it's exact at 10:03 pm edt @21Leo18--will a shutdown be averted around or just after that hour?) is a square with Venus in 5th house of Gambling and Speculation as Washington politicians flirt and gamble with America's credit rating and the NYSE's health.

On one level, a Moon-Venus square indicates trouble with the ladies and also success delayed due to lack of cooperation. Republicans' envy of President Obama in the Oval Office (a Venus reference) shows in their constant critiques and fussiness over him. Even so, current attempts to overcome interference provide stimulating challenges to the camera-ready varmints who play-act in this performance of Washington Political Theater.

Now I don't know about you, dear reader, but I've had more than enough of Capitol Hillers' 'stimulating challenges' which keep them obsessively occupied instead of working on behalf of We the People who pay them and pay for their gold-plated health insurance. But perhaps that's part of the point in their above-mentioned agenda to undermine and decrease the size of the US government until it can be "drowned in a bath tub".

In any case, wouldn't a forceful drowning be considered murder?

Horoscope: Feb 25, 2013 Virgo Full Moon w Austerity notes

Feb 25, 2013's Full Moon Spotlights 'Austerity v Growth' Solutions

by Jude Cowell

On his blog at The Nation, John Nichols writes how Sequestration Sacrifices Jobs to Save Billionaire Tax Breaks as radicals work to impose austerity against the American people in order to redistribute wealth toward the top as their basic priority.

And I believe the Full Moon in Virgo (sign of Jobs and Work) which perfects on Monday, February 25, 2013, details among other things the 'sequestration' stand-off now occurring in Washington and relates to our delinquent Congress reassembling itself next week for business on Tuesday, if not on Monday. Here's the Full Moon horoscope with a few notes:

Full Moon @7Vir23, February 25, 2013 3:26:03 pm est Capitol Building Washington DC: Hour of Jupiter (money, growth, investment; ideology) with Jupiter @7Gem28 in 11th house of Groups and Associations (conjunct US natal Uranus 8Gem55 which usually brings social, financial, and political improvements.) Jupiter is apex in a T-Square with the Sun-Moon opposition (all three at 7 degrees = karmic, or fated--reaping what's been sown), and Pluto @11Cap03 is the Thales Point or Planet (trine Moon, sextile Sun) in 6th house of Work, Employment, Service which is meant to be a 'help' to the oppositional situation.

However, Pluto remains involved in a sextile with Saturn (another fated pairing @11/11 degr--both are 'karmic' planets) which formed the base of the crisis-laden YOD pattern (apex Jupiter Rx) in the Winter Solstice 2012 horoscope, a pattern which ably describes the social fanaticism, enforced monetary controls, and denotes 'brutal efforts to start a new order' which Saturn-Pluto want to establish (and which will send the US economy back into recession or worse, thereby undermining the second term of President Obama along with our nation; hopefully, POTUS isn't in on the billionaires' fanatical schemes.)

By the end of March (and I'm pinpointing the March 27th Full Moon for possible resolution--culmination--of these difficulties or at least, a can-kicking down the road agreement which may ease tensions a while), the difficult YOD configuration of Jupiter-Saturn-Pluto re-forms as direct Jupiter moves into orb of the pattern (beginning on March 10th.) On March 29th at 2:36:15 pm edt Capitol Building three YODs are shown which add complexity to conditions already manufactured into a cluster-fug by politicians and their wealthy backers.

As Mr. Nichols says, "America is not broke" and 'sequestration' "is the start, not the finish, of a process that undoes economic recovery and causes job losses to spike by even greater numbers." He calls out Simpson-Bowles for "promoting schemes such as 'chained CPI', the slashing of cost-of-living increases for Social Security recipients that will squeeze the buying power of seniors and people with disabilities and further impeded growth. That will cost even more jobs."

Now as you know, 'growth' and investment are concepts of Jupiter which will soon move back into the line of fire of Saturnian austerity coupled with Plutonian control of wealth and power. Austerity measures have caused severe damage overseas (see Paul Krugman's Austerity Europe) where implemented yet Simpson, Bowles, the GOP, and various 'privatizing' billionaires of international persuasion want to sock it to We the People as they exploit the current budget difficulties--most of which they purposefully created--in order to benefit the wealthy and further take over the helm of our nation. No, they have no loyalty to America or to the social safety net that has aided the American people and the US economy for decades--and perhaps they wish that austerity will hide their years-long embezzlement and other fraudulent practices.

And considering the suffering, harm, even death that their austerity plan will bring to real people, I must consider their proposals as population control measures meant to decrease our number and leave more resources for the greedy.

Now back to the horoscope you see above. Perhaps you can read my notes if you click the image to enlarge. Two factors I want to mention are the T-Square/s formed by the Full Moon and by deceitful Neptune opposing the Moon across the 2/8 axis of National Treasury (2nd H) and a full 8th H of Debt, Credit, Taxes, Shared Resources, Corporations, Transformation, and Death. Neptune is oriental (rising before the Sun = a chameleon) and the planets form midpoint pictures, any, all, or none of which may apply--and note that evaluating Venus is at a critical-crisis 29th degree conjunct 8th cusp as she nears fraudulent Neptune in Pisces:

Sun-Moon = Jupiter: pressure to change an entire value system (Venus = values--see 'accepted social norms', below); taking too many directions at once; a philosophy for coping with life; opportunities used to advantage; desires for joint endeavors, expansion, and possessions; success.

Moon-Neptune = Jupiter: grand imaginings and plans; far-reaching wishes; fantasy; enhanced ability to read people's motives and put these into a political context; compassion and sympathy (warning: a conscience and concern for the common good may be needed to feel these-jc.) (Munkasey; Tyl; Ebertin.)

We may also wish to consider the potentials for expression in Politics and Business for the Sun-Moon and Moon-Neptune pairs of energy, according to *Michael Munkasey:

Sun-Moon: Thesis: how the people's will is applied to taking the country into new or important directions; the international reputation of the country (in the crapper, thanks to Washington's Political Theater squabbles--jc); reading the attitude of the people when making national policy.

Antithesis: national will forcefully imposed by the leadership; a loss of face in international politics (GOP delays and ridiculous arguments over Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense? -jc); pessimism flows through the population or lawmakers.

Another midpoint picture may be of interest to our topic for it may create a bright spot in our dreary situation and forms a Minor Grand Trine if we don't mind counting the Ascendant (8Leo18) as a place for the expression of its energy:

Uranus-ASC = Jupiter: 'new approaches to solving social or legal problems; optimism'...or, more negatively, 'new opinions which are contrary to accepted social norms.' (Munkasey.)

'Accepted social norms' such as acting as our brother's keeper and honoring the social contract between generations the way an allegedly Christian nation ought to do?

Ascendant 8Leo18:

Well, there are many other chart factors that deserve consideration but let's close with chart-ruler Sun's applying Ptolemaic aspects to determine how matters will proceed from the February 25th Full Moon...

1. Sun square Jupiter (0A04) spotlights wheeler-dealers who are arrogant, pompous, and immoderate and need to re-order their priorities; truth is bent to accomplish goals (success-at-all-costs) but this will cause them complications later on; others are expected to accede to the demands of manipulators who want to avoid keeping promises (such as social safety net programs--plus, the ongoing Uranus-Pluto square underlies current unrest, riots, strikes, protests, and revolutions and supports the breaking of contracts in generational stand-offs.)

2. Sun sextile Pluto (3A39) may represent two groups: varmints who are uncompromising, self-reliant, and wish to control the world; totally certain of their ideals, they become impatient when expected to listen to the ideals of others, and, knowing that 'knowledge is power', they withhold details from others in order to maintain control and make it difficult for others to mount challenges to their plans; on another level, this sextile denotes leadership acting as mediator in order to reconcile opposing sides and find solutions; a desire to aid the less fortunate is evident.

3. Sun trine Saturn (4A04) indicates leadership (Sun) which finds acceptance of responsibility (Saturn) for others to be easy, and knowing how to take advantage of opportunity is inherently understood (doing things 'the right way at the right time') which results in reasonably defined goals meeting with success.

~:~

*Midpoints: Unleashing the Power of the Planets, Munkasey.

Note: as Venus nears conjunction with Neptune in veiling Pisces, some mention of the pair's influence in Politics and Business may be worth our attention since it relates to potentials for an inflated treasury as a way to manipulate growth, those who gain wealth from oil, gas, and/or chemicals, exaggerated or misstated resources (ex: 'America is broke," says the GOP), scandals over deceptive practices or the misuse of the treasury, spies in the financial system (hackers? turncoats?), monetary fraud, and/or subversives who wish to gain access to finances (ex: those who would 'privatize' Social Security funds, dissolve even more pension funds and other savings programs, and establish austerity over the people in order to channel wealth upwards.

Here are a few recent posts concerning similar topics for March 2013:

Sequester Fester and Jupiter's Path, Horoscope: Mars to Aries Point March 12, 2013, March 2013: December 2012 YOD re-forms w apex Jupiter, and Horoscope: Spring Equinox 2013.

March 2013: Dec 2012 YOD re-forms with apex Jupiter

March 2013 a Minefield of Crisis or Opportunity?

by Jude Cowell

On March 1, 2013, the sequestration cuts (aka, seizure of funds) is to take place as I suspect certain political and other actors meant for it to do all along. The military budget cuts are touted by many in the media and on Capitol Hill as a dire situation which will make our nation "less safe" while the Republican Party has its gleeful knives out, for at last! the social safety net programs put in place by FDR and LBJ (both Democratic presidents, of course) will finally be decimated if 'all goes well' for the sour puss GOP.

Sequestration relates back to the 'Super Committee' whose deadline for coming up with intelligent cuts and changes to the US budget failed to take shape by November 23, 2011 and so we have automatic 'sequestration' (austerity's handmaiden) to look forward to in March 2013 as domestic and military spending are reduced in an unprecedented fashion. Apparently Capitol Hill's wastrel ways, thievery, embezzlement, and heisting of our national treasury along with Wall Street and real estate fraud and lack of income tax payments due to unemployed or underemployed Americans have all take huge bites out of government coffers.

So as you know, the half-Republican, half-Democrat 'Super Committee' was marked by a 14 North Solar Eclipse @2Sag37 on November 25, 2011 with its 'a peculiar turn of events' and 'an acute time of confusion/unexpected happenings in finance' themes (Brady.)

Jupiter: the Banker, Republican, Judge, Guru, and/or Investor

When discussing larger amounts of money and the concepts of investment and growth, we look to planet Jupiter which turned Rx on Oct 4, 2012 @16Gem22, Stationed Direct @6Gem19 on January 30, 2013, and will move past his shadow (Rx) degree the third week of April 2013 as he heads for Cancer (good!) You may remember that Mr. Moneybags was involved as the apex (focal) planet in a disturbing YOD pattern along with the Saturn-Pluto sextile in the Winter Solstice 2012 horoscope.

Well, thanks to Jupiter's retrogradation period into 2013, the problematic YOD (special task, crisis, critical turning point, spiritual opportunity, etc) faded but now we find it re-constellating due to Jupiter's forward movement and the fact that conservative Saturn and wealthy manipulator Pluto remain in sextile (Scorpio to Capricorn.)

March 10, 2013: a Symbolic 'First Moment' Horoscope

The horoscope you see below (if you're on-site!) is set for March 10, 2013 on Capitol Hill at the first minute that one side of the YOD pattern re-forms--the Jupiter-Pluto inconjunct (150 degrees)--with Jupiter reaching 8Gem48 (2A29.) This also means that the recurring Jupiter-to-US-natal-Uranus (8Gem55) transit is in force so the YOD with Saturn-Pluto at its base has two planets to pressurize just as in the Winter Solstice 2012 horoscope though Saturn and Pluto have advanced to 11th degrees. Another difference, of course, is that March 2013 will be a busy month in Washington and Jupiter is now direct and can trigger the 2012 YOD into action.

Horoscope: March 10, 2013 3:32 pm edt Capitol Building Washington DC

Hour Venus (15Pis53) posited within a full 8th house of Debt, Credit, Shared Finances, Corporations, Legacies, etc. Venus is exalted in Pisces due to her sympathetic nature being brought out on a Higher Plane and she inspires creativity yet over-indulgence and extravagance with money may also be noted.

Chart-ruler (ASC 7Leo43 conjunct US natal NN) is the Sun @20Pis23, also in 8th house as are Neptune, Moon, and Chiron, all in mystical Pisces. However, 8th cusp = 28AQ58 which makes Saturn and Uranus determinates of such a busy if confused or deceptive 8th house of Corporate and other Finances and ties in the YOD energies thanks to Saturn in Scorpio.

Click the image to enlarge for America's natal planets are penned around the outside of the chart--as you see, US natal Moon is just over into 7th house, and Mars 28Pis52 and radical Uranus 7Ari27 are in 9th house of Foreign Lands; both 7th and 9th houses have legal implications and of course, the 8th house does as well through wills, business contracts, pacts and treaties.

Well, let's not over-analyze what is merely a symbolic chart that I thought you might appreciate viewing because our primary concern is the re-constellation of the Winter Solstice 2012 YOD pattern between Jupiter-Saturn-Pluto and US natal Uranus. Midpoint pictures ensue and I list them again here (any, all, or none may apply):

Saturn-Pluto = Jupiter: religious and social fanaticism (Ebertin): trouble with authority; adopting the austere; trying to save what's left (Tyl.)

Saturn-Pluto = natal Uranus: decisions made under difficult circumstances; sudden acts of violence (Ebertin); brutal efforts to start a new order; an attack, regardless of potential losses (Tyl); (like sudden sequester cuts? other? jc.)

Enough to Worry About?

So besides Spring Equinox 2013 (Aries Ingress) on March 20th, the horoscope of which also contains the YOD, during the last week of March 2013, transit Jupiter will move closer in orb to perfecting the YOD configuration (11Gem29 on March 29th.) This naturally places tr Jupiter on US natal Descendant (Sibly chart) of Partnerships and Open Enemies, and the Saturn-Pluto midpoint on America's natal Ascendant, a picture which encapsulates much of the financial and social potentials for loss, cruelty, hardship, and melancholy under which our 'lurching from crisis to crisis' government has been play-acting against us as benefit cuts threaten those who can ill afford them and a re-recession looms over our heads.

The picture also details the suffering and grief the American people are sustaining through Congress' haphazard way of governing and our nation's loss of public status as the GOP embarrasses itself one more time and 'attacks regardless of potential losses'.

Yes, everyone wants to blame Tea Party congress members and their billionaire backers for gumming up Congress with obstructionist tactics against a Democratic president yet I must blame them all (save two or three Democrats and perhaps an Independent or two.) The Republican Party could do better if it wanted to, imho, and this isn't the first time they've behaved like royal jacka*ses to force their old timey agenda and implement their long term dream of ripping apart our social fabric.

So! You may wish to set up charts if you haven't to check out the Moon-Saturn conjunction @10Sco17 (2:12 pm edt--our clocks move ahead one hour on March 10 @ 2:00 am) on March 29th @ 2:12 pm edt for Luna conjunctions work well as a timing device. In fact, the last days of March show two, three, even four YODs of crisis/turning points forming if you'd care to have a peek at what's coming at us. Things won't be easy even if 'lawmakers' were behaving aboveboard!

~:~

Blog Note: a Spring Equinox 2013 Horoscope set for Washington DC will be published on this blog as soon as my hitch finds a faster get-along. Thanks for reading! jc

Sequester Fester and Jupiter's Path

In America's Scorpio Rising natal horoscope, ably championed as our natal chart by Michael O'Reilly, the 8th house of Debt, Credit, Insurance, Legacies, Shared Resources of all sorts, Corporations, Star Chambers and Hidden Councils, Transformation, and Death will have a money-laden, ideology driven, politically savvy visitor until approximately mid-August 2013.

As you see in the Scorpio Rising chart just below, The Jolly Giant is knocking at its cuspal door of 7 Gemini 42 as I type and performed a Direct Station on January 30, 2013 @6Gem19. The planet of generosity and investment has gone by many names but we know him as Jupiter. While in our national 8th house, Jupiter will visit the planets posited therein: Uranus 8Gem54, Mars 21Gem17, Venus 2Can57, and then, natal Jupiter @5Can54 which times our nation's (12-year) Jupiter Return.

USA July 4, 1776 2:22 pm LMT Philadelphia, PA; Hour of Jupiter; chart-ruler Mars in 8th house with sub-ruler Pluto Rx in 3rd H; 4th H Moon of We the People in 4th H of Domestic Scene, Home, and now--since the Bush-Cheney regime--of the Germanic 'Homeland Security'. The Sun-Jupiter conjunction gives us a Jupiterian optimism and sense of expansion and adventure. And boundary issues. And American exceptionalism inflation.

ASC 8Sco47 is conjoined by President Obama's natal Neptune at the same degree, and our natal Neptune @22Vir25 in 11th H veils the president's natal Mars, planet of war and weapons, and making his actions and motivations difficult if not impossible for We the People to know or completely understand. However, popularity, charisma, and glamor are constellated by Mars-Neptune however unstable its influence may turn out to be.

And of course, our national misguided Mars-Neptune square continues its bedevilment. Outside the natal horoscope you see the February 10th New Moon @21AQ43, so placed that you may observe transiting Jupiter poised at the 8th H cusp. Here are brief descriptions of the upcoming hits by Jupiter to natal 8th H planets. The first has occurred recently due to Jupiter's Rx period which began in early October 2012 @16Gem22:

Jupiter to Uranus = situations and opportunities broaden, training and travel are emphasized, and lifestyle choices, freedom, politics, and finances are areas which may see improvement.

Jupiter to Mars = physical tasks and competitions go easier and are expected to succeed; good fortune through relationships with males may be evident but laziness will not suffice; expansion of US forces into Africa is already underway and may be increased; sequester cuts may be avoided for the US military (Mars) as resources for troops, weapons, and new battles are actually increased, not retracted (Jupiter.) Soon Jupiter also squares natal Neptune in Virgo, a confusing time of illusion and deception when we should avoid those promoting a "big picture."

Jupiter to Venus = overindulgence, extravagance, and luxury are on the menu (along with caviar? yuck!); some will see success with writing, publishing, the arts; avoid laziness and over-estimations, and don't take anything for granted since relationships may come along that promise more than can or will be delivered! As ruler of natal 7th H of Partnerships and the 12th H of Politics, Self-Undoing, and Karma, this may be a trickier time than usual for US diplomatic matters and for finances. But perhaps money for embassy security will be beefed up by Congress which previously had voted large cuts in recent years.

Jupiter to Jupiter = US Jupiter Return which is supposed to be a time of rewards, confidence, and expansion; commerce should improve along with finances and the National Treasury (2nd H with Jupiter ruling) if negative forces--and people--do not interfere.

And just on the other side of the 9th H cusp lies US natal Sun (leadership) @13Can12 so Jupiter's hit denotes some sort of culmination of something begun 12 years prior. This obviously goes back to the WTC attacks on 9/11/01 so unless much needed improvements and investments occurred while tr Jupiter conjoined our 8th H planets, we may find ourselves up against a tide of similar challenges once again especially with tr Pluto (here @10Cap39 and about to enter natal 3rd H of Communications) and tr Jupiter moving into opposition.

Their opposition relates to the 13-year cycle of Jupiter-Pluto conjunctions, the last one beginning on December 11, 2007 @28Sag24, day of a Fed meeting so we must look to the Federal Reserve Bank for clues concerning this transit with social values being questioned and plans for growth being challenged. Of course, 2007 was the year that structural abnormalities within our financial and housing markets began to be impossible to hide--and Wall Street criminals are still playing their casino games and risking further collapse of the US and global economies in 2013!

Whether America's Jupiter Return on July 22, 2013 will be a successful reward cycle for the US economy depends greatly upon what the political varmints in Washington DC decide to do during the upcoming stalemates they will replay over the next few months. As you know, the Super Congress' (Super Committee) came to no good result in November 2011 other than to force a 'sequester' plan to perpetrate meat-cleaver cuts which, if enacted on March 1 (or ever), will decimate both the domestic and military budgets of the US. Some say that's what the secretive power elite intended all along--it's just that skittish Americans must be handled differently than Europeans.

Now if you remember, the 'Super Congress Eclipse' (as I termed it) on November 25, 2011 @2Sag37 (in 1st house of our Scorpio Rising natal chart) has a 'peculiar turn of events' theme with 'unexpected happenings in finance' and it heralded 'an acute time of confusion in relationships' (Brady's Predictive Astrology.) This 14 North eclipse occurred a mere two days after the Super Congress' recommendations deadline (Nov 23) and is within the allowed two weeks for describing that moment and their sneaky actions only too well.

So the best the congressional committee denizens could do in November 2011 (and since they take orders from unknown entities on such matters) was to set up the sequester to fester until 2013 when I suspect a way will be found by Congress to nix the majority of military budget cuts while, if they can, making harmful budget cuts that will collapse this nation through domestic spending for those who can ill afford to do worse financially than they already do. The suffering has been seen within European nations where austerity measures have been taken and austerity promoters may force them upon the American people after all--by way of automatic 'sequestration', it seems.

Yet the dramatic last-minute 'fiscal cliff' deal postponed the sequestration implementation date from January to March 1st and here's how sequestration would work as our political thespians pretend that--sigh!--massive cuts seem very likely happen. Are they telling us they have no say in such matters? Then tell us what shadowy entity does, oh neutered Congress!

Thomas Jefferson on "the spirit of this country" (and Jupiter Stations Direct)

"The spirit of this country is totally adverse to a large military force."

So Thomas Jefferson informed us. But that was way before the Pentagon's 'military industrial complex' and the CIA began dictating where our National Treasury and human resources were spent. And that's where the spirit and soul of America were sacrificed on a devilish altar of conquest, war profiteering, and revenge. Seems to me that neocon war hawks have made a chump of Mr. Jefferson and the rest of us along with him.

Blog Note: now I can't imagine why my article on Thomas Jefferson's natal horoscope is so all-intriguing as to make it this blog's most-viewed post ever (obviously it's due to the elusive Mystic of Monticello and not to my incomplete analysis!), but if you haven't read about our 3rd president and the Yod pattern in his birth chart, you may wish to do so by clicking here.

And speaking of our soul-staining US military and America's compromised spirit, here's Glenn Greenwald's Obama's Non-Closing of Gitmo and US Government Irony. America's 'fog of war' Mars-Neptune square from 1776 just keeps on fooling us with its misdirected energy-confused motivations vibes, doesn't it? To be fooled one must first fool oneself.

Plus, our nation's Geminian Mars turned Rx (inward) by progression as of Summer 2006 is providing many problems at home through drought, arrests and an exploding prison population, protests and police action against protesters, gun violence upticks (ex: Chicago), gun legislation proposals causing conflict and "debate" on Capitol Hill today, parents against children-children against parents, and other aggression-related conditions and events.

Then when we consider America's Secondary Progressed Moon of December 2008 @4Vir10 along with our SP Mars Rx, it becomes clear--even to the big spenders in Washington--that our nation must now withdraw many of our tentacles (military bases) across the globe or at least decrease them in size because the SP Full Moon indicates that our country has extended her reach right up to the limit as far as the wider world is concerned. And of course, 'Dec 2008' times Financial Crisis 2008 (aka, the Great Bush-Cheney Heist as I call it.) Yes, our Atlas Days have ended and frankly, the overly fatigued American people are due a rest.

Besides, investing in America is a great way to proceed and since this very day Jupiter Stations Direct @6Gem19 and will soon hit US natal Uranus again (denoting financial and political improvements), perhaps projects and finances will begin to move forward in tandem with the Great Benefic's zodiacal path, as long as GOP ('Grand' = Jupiter!) members don't completely throttle into unconsciousness any improvements that need be made and should be made.

And who knows? With Jupiter's freedom of movement maybe the next financial conflicts on Capitol Hill on March 1 and May 19 will go better than in 2011! Well, at least this Jupiterian can hope, can't she?

12.28.12 POTUS calls 'fiscal cliff' meeting w Jupiter Rx rising

12.28.12 WH 'Fiscal Cliff' Meeting: YODs of Crisis w Jupiter Rx Rising

by Jude Cowell

A peek at today's horoscope of the 'fiscal cliff' meeting between President Obama, the four House leaders, and VP Biden shows 11Gem21 rising with Jupiter Rx @8Gem05, conjunct US natal Uranus 8Gem55. As previously noted, Jupiter to natal Uranus tends to be a time when financial and political matters go smoothly but Jupiter's weakened Rx condition creates delays and glitches as banker Jupiter has crossed and recrossed our national Uranus, planet of change and disruption.

Called for 3:00 pm est, an Hour of the Moon (fluctuations, changes, instability, publicity--a PR exercise?), the YOD of recent and future days is now joined by the Sun @7Cap30 approaching Pluto @9Cap12 which adds complexity (and hopefully leadership) to the crisis-ridden stalemate and gives an additional midpoint picture with positive potential to consider:

Sun-Saturn = Jupiter: break up of a relatonship or value system for eventual recovery and gain; the cloud with the silver lining. (Tyl.)

Does this support a happy resolution based on today's meeting? Not so fast! For among other factors, chart-ruler Mercury @25Sag46 ('26Sag' = "A Flag-Bearer in Battle") is out-of-bounds of the Earthly plane and up to who knows what, is deposited by Jupiter in Gemini (a 'friendly' mutual reception) which is Rx, and makes no applying aspects at all...only a lonely separating semi-square with Saturn in business-oriented Scorpio, in the 6th house of Preparation.

There is, however, a high-flying KITE pattern of potential success with its tail the recently Full Moon (at 5:21 am est today), now @11Can55, in 2nd house of the National Treasury, though one must use Chiron @5Pis54 to complete the KITE pattern--Neptune is slightly out of orb. (This Chiron is at President Obama's natal 1st house Chiron degree, 5:19.) As the tail wagging the KITE, the Moon's Sabian Symbol seems appropriate to mention since US debt and credit are at issue: '12Can' = "A Chinese Woman Nursing a Baby with a Message." Hmmm...no comment.

As mentioned above, the Sun (leader) approaches wealthy puppetmaster Pluto when the president may receive an extra boost of power to get matters settled though I'm not certain the deal will be completely to the liking of those who re-elected him--those who still, unlike the radical Utopians who've taken over the Republican Party, believe that government retains a responsible and accountable role in our lives.

And though I hope today's meeting will bring solutions, it isn't very promising with Mercury's condition and lack of applying aspects for Mercury rules meetings, agreements, and deals.

So I shall emphasize again the importance of Jupiter's Direct Station of January 30, 2013 @6Gem19, and of its subsequent forward movement into April, then late June, when financial matters may also move forward along with the Great Benefic.

For more on astrological Jupiter, see recent posts on this blog.

Coming soon: horoscope of the 113th Congress. Stay tuned!

US Jobless to Suffer If Fiscal Deal Not Reached; Tracking Jupiter

On Fiscal Jupiter in Gemini to Cancer and the GOP's Mad Tea Party

by Jude Cowell

Perhaps you've read today's CBS News article that makes the point that jobless Americans may suffer most if Washington's fiscal impasse continues into 2013. While Fiscal Cliff: What to Expect If There's No Deal is dreadfully accurate yet it may not impress the intractable members of Congress who prefer to play craps with the US economy (again) while undermining the presidency of Barack Obama (again.)

From the past behavior of the GOP ('Grand' = Jupiter) it seems to me that keeping things unsettled while President Obama is sworn in for his second term on January 21, 2013 (after the private Oath taken on January 20th) will be just their cuppa tea, don't you think? And no one in Washington seems willing or able to stop the GOP's mad Tea Party unless having new members entering Congress somehow improves the balance and does the trick.

So What If America Fails?, say GOP Tea Partisans, Let's Stunt Our Future

Besides the austerity the manufactured crisis will force upon the American people, this financial 'power game with important consequences' will simultaneously undermine America's reputation in the world (what Summer 2011 and the 8-year Bush-Cheney fiasco didn't shred already) and has the distinct potential to crash the global economy--after which a 'new world economic order' will be set up, if conspiracy theorists are correct.

At this late date, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has piled on by asserting that the US debt limit will be reached on December 31, 2012, a month or so earlier than first expected, thus adding fuel to the flames of the self-inflicted 'fiscal cliff' embroilment. On Wednesday last, Secretary Geithner sent Congress a letter expressing as much though of course pushing mules only makes them more stubborn.

Then there's the culminating Full Moon in Cancer (conjoining US natal Venus and Jupiter in Cancer) of December 28, 2012. Click to view the Full Moon horoscope (set for DC, natch) which ends year 2012, plus, view a horoscope set for January 1, 2013 @12:00 am EST, what I call the 'Fiscal Cliff' chart.

And on a loftier level, be sure to check out the Full Moon's Sabian Symbol with master astrologer Julie Demboski.

Jupiter Enters Sign of Exaltation @00Can00 in Late June 2013

As previously mentioned, investment planet Jupiter will Station Direct on January 30, 2013 @6Gem19 and again hit US natal Uranus 8Gem55, a time when financial and political matters should be going well and new solutions may be found. Of course, the Jupiter-Uranus influence doesn't count the fly-in-ointment quality provided so cussedly by non-governing congressmembers if they are allowed to put Utopian ideology, crass power needs, and jealousy over a black president's re-election above the needs of the American people.

The Jan 30th Station Direct of expansive Jupiter with its links to ethics and ideology, marks the planet's separation from a square aspect with idealistic, sometimes deceptive Neptune so perhaps some small amount of realism may be introduced on Capitol Hill. Jupiter SQ Neptune, as you know, indicates impracticality, a lack of helpfulness, overblown promises, self-indulgence, and a tendency to 'build castles in the air' while important matters languish.

The Beneficial One will reach its Rx shadow degree (6Gem19) and move beyond it on April 25, 2013 (16Gem23) and we may hope that at least by then, a measure of governing will be seen to be done in Washington DC as important matters are resolved. Yet if global markets are allowed to languish from January to April 24, 2013, it will create yet another ditch from which we must climb.

Once Jupiter enters Cancer during the last week of June 2013, business and political matters should receive a lift though in Cancer Jupiter is particularly risk-averse. But maybe that's an improvement over the gambling tactics of the odder-every-day Republican Party members who've apparently lost their ready-for-prime-time edge!

So Thanks, self-serving, self-indulgent GOP, my family is enjoying imagined warmth from that huge lump of coal you gifted the American people for Christmas 2012. You borry sastards. May the new January 2013 members of Congress--including Elizabeth Warren (yayy!)--treat the American people with due respect and enter national public service with the serious intent of actually doing the people's business.

Happy New Year to All!

~:~

A not-to-be-missed article: Gary P. Caton's The Mercury Elemental Year 2013.

Billionaires dumping US stocks: an End -of-2012 YOD crisis?

Okay, this is the sort of news I've been hoping not to hear--that billionaires including Warren Buffet and others are 'dumping' US stocks in some of our nation's biggest corporations such as Johnson & Johnson. You may check it out at Money News if you're interested.

And even though I know that astrological Jupiter signifies large sums of money, corporations, bankers, billionaires, and such and remains retrograde until January 30, 2013, I'd hoped that the end-of-2012 YOD pattern of crisis and turning points wouldn't indicate financial calamity such as the above linked article portends--in spite of Washington's ways.

The YOD's base is the Saturn-Pluto sextile, normally a helpful sort of aspect of 60 degrees, but the two planets involved are both considered karmic, or fated (reaping what's been sown--in the case of global financial systems, corruption, fraud, and greed)--and denote a working relationship between two planetary actors that can, if warranted, bring loss and destruction. Wealthy Pluto of the Underworld is super-avaricious, you know, and wants all the treasure.

Now tell me: have you been 'hoarding resources for potential future disasters'? Then you're feeling the Saturn-Pluto pairing at work, according to astrologer Michael Munkasey in his, Midpoints: Unleashing the Power of the Planets which adds these potentials for the Saturn-Pluto duo of energies in Politics and Business:

Thesis: restraints on destructive weapons (Congress and the White House after the recent school massacre in Newtown CT? jc); turmoil in any rigid or older structures; upsets in existing checks and balances; using secret police or military agencies.

Antithesis: secret preparations for future restrictions (so-called 'fiscal cliff' negotiations? jc); lengthy consideration of methods for removal or destruction.

Well, this is some crummy way to end 2012, isn't it? Balancing the budget precariously on the backs of the working class! Why, it's as if there are radical zealots in Washington who wants the US economy to fail! Plus, President Obama said he wouldn't accept a GOP deal that would harm the needy and elderly, but will he keep his Jupiterian promise with hard-nosed Saturn-Pluto aiming in his direction? He's looking mighty wobbly with Jupiter Rx and in the Mutable (changeable) sign of Gemini.

Now you've probably already considered the midpoint picture/s created with Saturn-Pluto pointing directly at Jupiter Rx in Gemini (sign of young people and of reporters colluding and otherwise); Jupiter simultaneously conjoins US natal Uranus @8Gem55, the radical planet of rebellion, sudden change, and disruption...I'll type them for you once again; the first potential seemingly has a positive nature so we may have to put our tattered faith in it:

Saturn-Pluto = Jupiter: favorable outcomes in the use of large expenditures of resources or energies; people with leadership and the power to dispense it; opinions about how to reclaim the use of waste products for other uses.

Saturn-Pluto = US n Uranus: sudden changes or upsets in plans related to very important activities; reforms in punishment for important crimes; the erratic or uneven use of retaliatory measures (Munkasey); now we must add this: brutal efforts to start a new order; an attack, regardless of potential losses (Tyl.)

Now if you've read this grumpy blog before today you probably know that I quite regularly complain about the power elite's determination to force a 'new world order' upon the world. Even so, I don't like to think that the last potential has anything to do with restricting gun ownership in America due to the horrific nature of the attack on the Sandy Hook Elementary School. Second Amendment notwithstanding, I won't say more but if you've fallen in with the cynicism that Washington politicians and their backers have managed to instill in many Americans, you just might understand what I mean without my having to type it for it comes under the heading of Thinking the Unthinkable.

And if the 5:10 pm LMT horoscope ('Sibly' for July 4, 1776) is correct and America's natal IC (End of the Matter; The Drain) is at the Mars-ruled Aries Point (00Ari+), then weaponry and rebellion are how our nation began--and how it will, at some point, end. For as you know, it's a natural law that the end is in the beginning...are we watching it unfold before our very eyes?

12.14.12: Violence in Connecticut

12.14.12: Violent Mars Not Out-of-Bounds (But Exalted in Capricorn)

by Jude Cowell

Being a mom myself, it's too soon for me to put on an astrologer's cap and take more than a brief glance at yesterday's astrological placements for the Newtown, CT school shootings--and seeing them does not put me in a typing mood today though one can't miss that the shooter was born in 1992 during the Great Conjunction/s of Uranus and Neptune around 18 Capricorn, a degree that transit Mars has very recently passed:

Potentials for Uranus-Neptune = Mars: lack of stamina; states of lameness or paralysis; a nervous feeling of foreboding (Ebertin; Tyl.) Negative expression of'18Cap': smug or strong-armed paternalism (Jones.)

Obviously there are several heavy portents in the chart set for 9:40 am est, however, so if you wish an expert astrologer's analysis, I recommend John Townley's Newtown Slaughter: Dire Aspects for a fuller report than I can muster.

John includes the birth data of the shooter, Adam Lanza (April 22, 1992 Kingston, NH) and uses 00:00:00 pm edt in lieu of a verified birth hour, along with Lanza's current progressions and yesterday's transits which triggered his natal planets.

It saddens me to say that, besides the current influence of the November 13, 2012 Solar Eclipse in Scorpio (sign of transformation and death), the end-of-2012 YOD pattern of crisis and turning points which pressurizes retrograde Jupiter in Gemini, sign of young people, is already in the news in very negative ways--and we have yet to reach next week's much-touted, often-dreaded December 21, 2012.

And so, my heartfelt condolences go to all who are directly affected by yesterday's violence in Connecticutt, and to those in other parts of the world who are also dealing with deep personal grief caused by the violence and cruelty of others.

Explosion on Jupiter which turns Rx on Oct 4, 2012

With Jupiter now transiting the mid-degrees of Tropical Gemini and in the midst of the stars of Orion where the June 5/6, 2012 Venus Transit occurred with its 'paternalism' vibe, the Great Benefic is in the news:

Space Weather News for Sept 11, 2012

EXPLOSION ON JUPITER: Amateur astronomers are reporting a bright fireball on Jupiter--apparently the result of a small asteroid hitting the planet during the early hours of Sept 10th. As the fireball fades, attention turns to possible debris around the impact site.

Observers will be monitoring the region in the nights ahead to see what surfaces. Check SpaceWeather.com for images and updates.

AURORA ALERTS: Would you like a call when geomagnetic storms are underway? Aurora alerts are available text and voice.#

Astro-Note: On October 4, 2012 Jupiter will Station Retrograde @16Gem23 at approximately 9:18 am edt (in 8th house, Washington DC) with the Sun @11Lib43 and 3 days from shining on US natal Saturn, a time of serious circumstances and a particularly important meeting for President Obama. As you know, Oct 4 is the day after the first Obama-Romney debate in Denver, Colorado.

Plus, the Oct 4 Moon @00Gem45 reflects the prior (PE) Solar Eclipse of May 20, 2012 @00Gem20 along with the influences of the Fixed Star Alcyone 00Gem00, one of the Seven Sisters, or the Weepers. We've discussed Alcyone and the Pleiades (which figured into last night's episode of Perception!) many times so I won't repeat here except to say that Alcyone's 'something to cry about; exile; lots of rain' indications remain on our cosmic radar for October 2012. Something oceanic may also be part of the picture, or, someone who goes missing.

When Jupiter goes Rx, we may expect trouble with finances for resources are withheld or delayed and this bodes ill for debt and budget discussions on Capitol Hill (lame duck session), and since Jupiter also rules ideology, its inward-turning Rx period won't do the October debates or Election 2012 much good either especially since voting Mercury performs a Rx station on November 4 at around 6:03 pm edt. This cosmic circumstance has also been previously discussed on SO'W so repeating is unnecessary except to remind you that Mercury's Rx Station occurs opposite President Obama's natal Moon 3Gem21--and there's Jupiter gone Rx in Gemini, sign of Communications, Thinking Processes, and The News.

Not Again! Yes, Election Day 2000 also had Mercury Rx, as you remember, so astrologers are predicting a similar recount-dispute-voting-irregularity election for 2012. So am I. Tiresome, isn't it?

'Wild Card' Eclipses of November 2011 and May 2012

November 2011 and May 2012 Eclipses Spotlight Mercury/Jupiter

by Jude Cowell


The current Solar Eclipse from the 14 North Saros Series in which events are occurring manifested on November 25, 2011 at 2Sag37 ('a peculiar turn of events') and the next Solar Eclipse will occur on May 20, 2012 at 00Gem21, opposite the November 2011 eclipse.

In between the two Solar Eclipses fell a Lunar Eclipse on December 10, 2011 at 18Gem11 triggering America's natal Mars in Gemini.

You remember that the November 2011 Solar Eclipse occurred within two days of the deadline of the so-called 'Super' Committee of 12 congressional elites who came to no agreement concerning their debt reduction duties, an outcome which is to trigger automatic cuts for which no single US politician may be blamed. (They think they're so slick, don't they?!)

So we haven't heard the last of the budget reduction negotiations with the American people still being held hostage to austerity promoters who are attempting to starve the baby before tossing it out with the bathwater--and the 'baby' is a sovereign and solvent America.

That austerity measures (against those who can ill afford further reductions) used as financial 'solutions' hasn't worked in Europe seems not to trouble US conservatives--or maybe they're hoping the American people won't notice the glaring obviousness by Election Day 2012.

In fact, US economist Joseph Stiglitz says that "European austerity plans are a suicide pact" that collapses economies. Well, duh! That's a major objective of the Global Governance agenda, as I've groused here many times before--to collapse the global economy and build it back in the image of the totalitarian model they prefer (the mark of the beast?), aka, a New World Order.

(Scroll down this blog's sidebar for a video of Bush Sr announcing the inevitability of a NWO around the time of the Great Conjunction of Uranus and Neptune, the 'Enlightenment' planets. Remember Poppy's famous slogan, "a thousands points of light"? It's from his 1988 RNC speech which also contains, "Read my lips: no new taxes!" among other gems--text and video here.)

So with eclipses being the 'wild cards' of the Universe and since we're poised upon the spotlighted Gem/Sag axis as I type, the influences of sign rulers Mercury (Gem) and Jupiter (Sag) are active within the Collective until Solar Eclipse polarities switch emphasis to the Taurus/Scorpio (Venus/Mars-Pluto) axis with the Solar Eclipse of November 13, 2012 at 22Scorpio (more on that eclipse later.) Yet even then, one more Lunar Eclipse will manifest at 7Gemini on November 28, 2012 thus wrapping up our Gem/Sag lessons until year 2020.


Let's consider the Mercury/Jupiter combination of energies which now color many of the events and issues of 2012.

When Mercury (thinking processes, communications, senses, oration, etc) combines with Jupiter (expansion principle, growth, abundance, largess, faith, ideology, philosophy, relating, etc) an interesting dynamic is described as their planetary energies are combined and strengthened. Naturally, all things mercurial are increased by Jupiter's touch and a wealth of ideas often results. Common sense, the intellect, optimism, erudition (especially in retirement or solitude), plans for gorwth, and constructive thinking are on the menu, along with enthusiasm (for ill or good!)

On the negative side, over-stretching or ignoring boundaries and verbosity are possibilities along with a potential for exaggeration or over-embellishment which makes Washington's euphemism for their habit of telling lies--to misspeak--is prominent as well though it's difficult to imagine when falsehoods are not one of their favored tactics to get what they want by hook or crook. And some of them are or have been on the shady side including those who hide their fortunes in the darkened shade of palm tree tax shelters like the Cayman Islands, as Mitt Romney is now reported to do.

Perhaps the news that Rick Santorum actually won in Iowa rather than Mitt Romney is a Mercury/Jupiter case in point with Mercury relating to voting and Jupiter to numbers or tallies.

As Always, Jupiter and Saturn

As you know, austerity is the province of planet Saturn, and together, Jupiter and Saturn are known as our societal planets for their constant stand-off between Saturnian restriction and Jupiterian expansion describes one of society's greatest needs: balance between opposing forces to create stability, the yin-yang of our dualistic world.

And in Mundane Astrology (with this blog concerned with its sub-category, Political Astrology), Jupiter and Saturn may be used to signify America's two political parties (between which many people see little difference--I tend to think of them as factions of warring ideologies more than actually differing parties especially since they've made everything an Us v Them/class warfare stand-off.)

Now not every mundane astrologer agrees with me on this, but I use Jupiter to represent the Republican Party ('Grand' Old Party of the wealthy--as Harry Truman said of them at the 1948 DNC, they're the party of "special interests--always have been and always will be"), and Saturn for the Democrats (being the older of the two parties, a little dour at times, and not as flamboyantly theatrical--with a few exceptions through the years. Republicans do like to leave Dems with Saturn's accountability, don't they? Takes the heat off the GOP, they hope.)

Now if everyone in Washington played fairly and were open about their true allegiances, perhaps the balance we sorely need, so wistfully expected by America's founders through 'checks and balances' provisions, would be easier to maintain than we currently experience. However, ideological forces within and without our government are at work and have been since America's first cry and before.

Let's hope and pray that We the People will continue waking up to Washington's machinations and mummeries in time to Save Our Republic for we cannot automatically assume that national politicians will do so as they jockey for top positions within the devilish New World Order.



Further reading: Graphics: European Debt Crisis Explained.

Plus, President Obama is now within his three-fer Mars Return 2012, a two-year cycle of new activity which began for him on January 14, 2012. The recent smoke bomb tossed over the White House fence garnered the president a Martian calling card and I'm glad that he and Michelle were having dinner at a restaurant down the street and were in no danger, with 'smoke' ruled by Neptune, and Mr. Obama's natal Mars 22Vir35 sitting directly upon US natal Neptune 22:25.

Currently I'm in a wait-and-see attitude as to whether the apparent smoke bomb was thrown by Occupiers for most of them had left the scene of their White house protests by the time the bomb was thrown and everyone knows the tiresome tactic that police or other entities use to stain the integrity of peaceful protests with violence by embedding police officers to cause trouble and adulterate a protest's public support on behalf of the corporate masters who sign their paychecks.


As expressed decades ago by candidate Harry Truman, here's a good Rs v Ds example of History repeating with similar themes a la Campaign 2012:




For progressive reading and video viewing, you may wish to visit Thom Hartmann, Amy Goodman, and/or David Pakman.

And, as always, please become involved with Move To Amend Citizens United while we still have a tattered republic in dire need of saving!

GOP kittens tangled in own yarn? Their YOD says, Yes!

Republican Kittens and Jupiter the Thespian 12.22.11

by Jude Cowell

Sometimes when people try to be 'too clever by half' they end up out-doing themselves instead of the people they work so hard to best. At least, my hope is that this is the case with the current Political Theater now showing on a Capitol Hill whose hijinks threaten to mess with Christmas 2011 for millions of disappointed Americans.

So far, no wrapping is needed for we can clearly see that the American people's gift from the GOP as we enter 2012 is to be held hostage to ideological zealotry and an oath taken to what they consider a higher authority than the American people: Grover Norquist, famous for his no-tax-no-government psychosis of futurist utopianism.

Click 'Grover Norquist' to view his natal horoscope where you can see the elusive, mask-wearing Sun/Neptune conjunction which is now being restricted by transiting Saturn in late Libra and forming a midpoint picture--n Sun/Neptune = tr Saturn: having the discipline to shape reality through dreams (of drowning babies in bathwater--jc): persistence in working toward dreams and ideals; frustrations in attaining goals (Munkasey.)

Yes, the realism and accountability of Saturn more clearly identifies and calls to task Mr. Norquist's ego-based (Sun) other-worldly dreams (Neptune) of complete control (Saturn) over Washington politicians, policies, plans, and ideals (Mercury and Jupiter.)

And current planetary energies include the oily special-interest, behind-the-door devils' deals made by the head lobbyist for the Keystone XL Pipeline whose name would be...Grover Norquist.

Did you hear that Hades has frozen over? For even Republican strategist and Turdblossom Karl Rove has told the GOP to cut bait and move beyond the December 2011 tax cut stalemate. Wow.


Frustration Creates Impasse! And It Shows in GOP Progressions

During the US Congress' debt ceiling-default-credit downgrade fiasco of late July-early August 2011, you may remember that a horoscope of the Republican Party's Secondary Progressions was posted to SO'W showing a crisis-riddled YOD pattern between Mercury, Jupiter, and Ascendant which has now evolved into the tangled yarn of political strategy that GOP leaders now, some say, must extricate themselves from, thanks in large part to the gridlock agenda of Tea Party members along with betrayal issues between Speak John Boehner and the 'Judas' standing behind him, Eric Cantor, if what some say is true about their rivalry.

(You may wish to check out the natal horoscope of Eric Cantor which contains a money/ideology related YOD pattern between Sun, Jupiter, and Neptune.)

Well, the 'grand ideas and plans' of Mercury/Jupiter at the base of the YOD does seem to have GOP knickers in a twist--and since I posted the above chart, their Secondary Progressed ('Sec') Ascendant--the Party itself--has reached a 29th crisis-critical degree (29Gem+) which points to the current impasse concerning the payroll tax cut extension, unemployment insurance extension, and the poison pill provisions that certain industries slipped into the bill--all of which shows symptoms of GOP ideological illness and a meeting at the crossroads at least partially described by the party's Sec YOD.

Now I agree that the US government has become an overgrown gorilla yet under the guiding hand of current ideologues, 'anti-government' turns out to be a cover for 'anti-society' as more and more Americans fall underneath the weight of politicians working against us, not for us.


Can Jupiter in Venus-Ruled Taurus Beg to Differ?

With the potential for a marred-by-politics holiday approaching, Astrology tells a brightening tale of Republican Party significator Jupiter about to Direct Station on Christmas Day 2011, in money sign Taurus (@ 00:22.) Will this forward move soon be expressed on the physical plane by a Republican change of strategy?

Looks like it! And it seems we may be able to pin our dreams for social improvement and congressional bill passing on that important turn of direction and hope that jolly Jupiter, planet of abundance, material gain, and ideology--and one of our solar system's two societal planets--will enter 2012 with a forward tilt and workable, cooperative plans for solving our nation's problems caused in large part by the severe and growing imbalance of income inequality now bedeviling the hard working American people.

So although Jupiter is the patron planet of actors and acting (and Capitol Hill politicians are more thespians than problem-solvers), it's actually We The People who deserve an abundant end-of-year holiday--from the self-destructiveness of the US Congress and its current panoply of useful idiots.


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Find similar topics (sans Astrology) through progressive reporting, interviews, and videos by DC-based broadcaster and author Thom Hartmann who plans to Occupy the Supreme Court @ noon est on January 20, 2012 in protest against SCOTUS's democracy-crushing Citizens United decision of January 2010!

Plus, political cat limericks and rhymes may be found at Lim's Limericks where I'll be publishing a new collection of verse later today concerning GOP 2012 candidates--don't miss the mild ridicule! jc

Mundane Matters: Riots, Upheaval, and Mars Square Saturn

Moments of Mundane Astrology 2011

by Jude Cowell


In an attempt to catch up with some Astrology reading online this morning, I came across Mary Plumb's excellent Moon/Mars Square Saturn post from August 2011 on her Mountain Astrologer blog which reveals the path of a busy Mars, upstart and warrior, as The Fiery One triggers riots, upheavals, violence, and enraged feelings around the globe.

Plus, in the article's footnotes, Mary notes the triggering of Summer Eclipses by god of war, Mars, which has been out-of-bounds of the earthly plane for several weeks but is now back within the fold of our planetary panoply, though at a difficult spot in the Zodiac--19Can08 this morning. Therefore, Mars will soon conjoin the Twin Stars, Castor and Pollux (20--24Cancer), with both stars possessing murderous and cruel implications on the mundane level of life, creative as they may be when linked to our natal planets.


A Major Supporting Role

Of course, the Uranus/Pluto square, close to exactitude last on August 8, 2011 (horoscope shown, set for DC), plays its supporting role in the violence as well, recalling their extreme, intense influence of riots, protests, head-knocking, and Civil Rights/Anti-War/Workers' Rights demands of the mid-1960s, time of their last Great Conjunction in mid-Virgo.

So with radical rebel Uranus and sabotaging, manipulating Pluto square (90 degrees = frustration, blockages, obstacles) one another from initiating Cardinal signs (Aries and Capricorn), they're ready for action.

This pits a Mars-ruled actor in me-first Aries against a Saturn-ruled actor in Capricorn, sign of government, law, and business--and Mars/Saturn is a difficult combination of energies with 'persistent war' and 'taking what belongs to others' connotations.

For some relief, however, the Mars/Saturn combo has an off-on/hot-cold/stop-go flow of energy and thus, of influence so we should take breaks where we can.


Rick Perry: Preacher, Prez Candidate, or Both?

Then, for Rick Perry fans (or those like me who dread his presidency if we should be so daft as to vote for one) astrologer Alex Miller over at Daykeeper Journal has published an instructive article detailing Perry's history and career--then Alex delves into the Astrology of Rick Perry's natal chart and soon identifies Perry as a Sun/Pandora personality with all the unleashing the blend suggests.

So check out the article, if you missed it, and you may find yourself joining the Be Very Afraid Camp concerning Gov. Rick Perry, presidential candidate. As if you weren't a card-carrying member already!


Plus, in June I posted briefly here on the natal planets of Rick Perry (a related video is included) which amazingly is the most-viewed post on this blog at the moment.

How crazy is that?


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Of potential interest to those in America who care about our Social Safety Net and think that Tax the Rich sounds more than logical about now--especially if it means that Granny won't have to resort to eating cat food for din din--follow the link just below. For as noted in yesterday's post on Jupiter now retrograde in greedy Taurus, it's time for Jupiterian philanthropy from the 'haves' of the world, not more draconian, Saturnian austerity to create more 'have-nots'!

Why, it's almost as if the global power elite want to collapse the world economy so that as the dust clears they can rebuild a global system in their favorite beastly image--oh wait! That is their Plan. And most of our sorry Washington politicians are their willing handmaidens! They and their careers would be tossed overboard (or x-ed out a la Castor and Pollux!)) if they didn't play along though most, I suspect, have been part of the totalitarian game from the moment they were 'read in' and found out how they supposedly would benefit.

Please visit The Other 98% and join in their actions at Town Hall meetings and elsewhere, if you care and dare!

For as Thom Hartmann says at the end of his broadcasts: 'Democracy begins when you show up--tag, you're it!

Julie Demboski on Jupiter Retro (8.30.11)

On Jupiter Retro, Personal and Transpersonal 8.30.11

What a treat! SO'W is privileged to host a teaser from Julie Demboski's article concerning Jupiter's current retrograde period and The Jolly One's subsequent backtrack through early Taurus. The entire piece appears in Julie's excellent Eclipse Newsletter (a modest subscription required) but here, for all SO'W readers, is a tantalizing excerpt with Julie's compliments and mine--thanks, Julie!

Jupiter has turned around now, heading back from whence he came; the question has been, how thoroughly will we be feeling this? And I think the answer is, unless you have one or more of a few particular ties to this planet from its current position at 10 Taurus 21, you may only gradually become aware of exactly what has been withdrawn from your sphere--in the meantime, you may have a sense of not being informed, or needing to catch up, in some important area, with trying to parse this out eventually leading to insight as to what has changed.

- Julie Demboski

For more details visit Julie Demboski's Astrology and Dog and Sunflower Press where Jupiter revelations, insightful forecasts, newsletters, and other astrological goodies await to guide you...just as Jupiter the Hierophant would wish!


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Astro-Politics intrude, but this is a Political Astrology blog, right? ;p

Mundanely speaking, will Jupiter's Rx period have any influence upon the Politics of Washington DC and effects upon the populace? You betcha! Besides, Jupiter's Direct Station will occur on a big day in our Western Calendar: December 25, 2011 which is one month after the important Solar Eclipse of November 25, 2011 @ 2Sag37 which necessarily must manifest with Jupiter Rx.

Jupiter is the mundane significator of the *GOP, money, banking and bankers, gurus, preachers, judges, lawyers, professors, generals, explorers, and idealists. Expansion, overreach, zealous beliefs, arrogance, imperialism, and egotism are possible as well.

Negative tendencies of Jupiter in money sign Taurus include self-indulgence, exploitation, and conventional beliefs (that last, not always a bad thing!)

And when will tr Jupiter reach 10Tau21 and move beyond this, his shadow degree? Not until the evening of March 17, 2012.

Astrologers Moore and Douglas add that Jupiter in earthy Taurus displays a financial philosophy which can be "summed up in the words of the millionaire who said, 'Money is like manure. Spread it around it does a lot of good, but piled in one heap it makes an awful stink.' "

All globalists, monarchists, world bankers and other corporatists of a plutonian persuasion, take for thy stinky selves a clue! For it's now time for Jupiterian philanthropy, not Saturnian austerity.


So as my friend Julie D mentions above, the August 30th Rx Station degree/minute of Jupiter is 10Tau21; its Direct Station clocks in @ 00Tau22 on Dec 25, 2011 with tr Uranus gone back to 00Ari45 (Aries Point of World Events) and again conjoining the IC (Home; Domestic Scene; Real Estate) in the US natal chart (Sibly version: July 4, 1776 5:10 pm LMT Philadelphia, PA.)

Well, Mr. Moneybags must move forward and past his shadow degree (10Tau21) before largess can be shared without strings attached and some measure of expansion may be attained or at least approached, overly negative factors notwithstanding. We'll see mostly delays, stinginess, and haltings until then.

Yes, given the deceptive political climate of Class Warfare v The People which has taken hold of Washington DC in the New Millennium, perhaps it's too optimistic of me to use the Jupiterian word "shared" considering the 'austerity for the masses but luxury and resources for us' attitude of DC politicians and those political, radical, anarchists, the Utopians (Uranus in Aries = Utopians--Ebertin) who seek to overthrow US governmental and economic systems, no matter the vast costs to you and me.

Anything to sabotage the presidency of Barack Obama.

That said, I'm not certain I completely buy that political scenario since the power elite so often seem to do whatever they meant to do in the first place, with or without the people's consent. Besides, around here, "My Democratic hands are tied by mean old Republicans" just doesn't rank as justification for inaction anymore.

And the president's soon-to-be-touted jobs creation plan better not su*k either.


*Note: some astrologers attribute Jupiter to the Democratic Party, with Saturn representing the Republicans. But with the expansive Jupiter Mantra part of the GOP's DNA, and since the dour Democratic Party is much older than the Rs' little red wagon, I'll stick with Jupiter for Rs, Saturn for Ds, at least for now. Thing is, both parties (entities) have both societal planets functioning in their horoscopes and psyches. So there's that. jc

Visible Alignment of Planets: a presaging of 2012? 5.10.11

1999, the New Millennium, 2012, and Planets All in a Row 2011

by Jude Cowell

May 10, 2011: as of today it is possible to see with the naked eye a fabulous celestial show: a line-up of Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter in the wee hours of the morning for the next few weeks.

Even quirkily inclined Uranus and shy Neptune may be viewed if environmental conditions are right and you have a decent pair of binoculars! (Do let me know here in a Comment if you spy them. Or message: judecowell at gmail dot com.)

Now some folk are relating the current line-up to the potential devastation expected in 2012 though astronomers at NASA are poo-pooing the idea. They say that no similar configuration is on the Universe's schedule for December 21, 2012, the end date of the Mayan Calendar. Yet what the date is the end of, no one really knows. Apparently planet Venus is involved and is said to have been the culprit in an earlier cosmic disaster some millions of years ago; the Sunspot Cycle is also implicated.

For further investigation on such topics as 2012, you may be interested in a website I recently discovered called Shift of the Ages along with New World Order 2012 which addresses such head-scratching topics.

Plus, there's a classic A&E program that mentions the Mayan Calendar 2012 question and is narrated by the excellent Leonard Nimoy - click for a video of Part 1, then click through for the rest, if you wish, for it remains quite watchable as Planet Earth nears 2012.

Is Fear of 2012 Really Necessary?

Personally I suspect that one-world-government types have for decades played upon and manipulated public fears (perhaps assisted by the ancient cataclysm mentioned above involving Venus which, if so, rests deep within our Collective Unconscious) for their own power-grabbing purposes. Something is coming up that they will use to justify their increased control and reordering of our lives.

Such social manipulators use Astrology, too, you know!

And their agenda was ramped up after the Biblical portents in the Book of Revelation became visible astrologically in the horoscope of the King of Terror Solar Eclipse (aka, the 'King of Alarm Eclipse', or 'The Mother of All Eclipses') which Nostradamus predicted centuries ago and which manifested on August 11, 1999. The article lines you up with the eclipse horoscope if you wish a view.

1999: A Major Shift of Cosmic Energies

The mid-degrees of the Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) are spotlighted in the August 11, 1999 chart and in Astrology have been known for ages as the Oxen Point, Lion Point, Eagle Point, and Angel Point.

So I must ask you: since the New Millennium began have we not experienced an abundance of misery and fear-mongering upon the Earth since God's angels (timed by the 1999 eclipse and predicted in Revelation) let go the four corners of 'the winds of war and strife'?

The Ultimate Dilemma

In an ultimate and eternal sense, all I can say is that everyone who ever lived, lives now, or will be born of Planet Earth has a true condition before God - what our Creator thinks of each one of us, not what we or anyone else thinks. (Mankind's ego need not apply!)

So to me, given the current climate of natural and other disasters - with more to come - it seems that the most important thing anyone could ever do in his or her life is to examine one's heart of hearts and attend to and repair His opinion - the only one that truly matters - in order to improve one's status according to The Light one has received!

NPR turns 40 today with a Uranus/Chiron opposition

Looking at the natal horoscope of NPR's first-ever broadcast of All Things Considered, it's interesting to note a few of the astro-factors shown.

Broadcaster Jupiter Rx 3Sag58 ('4Sag' = "A Little Child Learning to Walk"!) is in process of its Great Conjunction with Neptune 2Sag13 Rx in 2nd house with Neptune representing media and its masses of listeners. Let's consider - not all things - but a few of the basics in the natal horoscope set for 5:00 pm edt Washington DC on May 3, 1971. We see from the date that NPR launched in the midst of Richard Nixon's two terms and with anti-war protesters marching and being arrested on DC streets for speaking truth to power (my generation!)

The Jupiter/Neptune combo represents speculation, grand plans, and sometimes, sympathy for people at a disadvantage.

You may wish to see NPR's Wiki bio for more of its historic details.

May 3, 1971 at 5:00 pm in Washington DC saw 7Lib19 rising with Uranus 10Lib15 Rx in tow indicating NPR's newness, progressiveness, technological innovations, individualism, originality, and the ability to cope with whatever occurs.

It's an Hour of Jupiter, perfect for Jupiter's broadcasting function, and Jupiter in his natural sign, fiery Sagittarius, shows international interests in foreign lands and peoples, a liberal mindset, and a capacity to inspire people with a vision of how much better everything might be. (Self-righteousness must be guarded against.)

Chart-ruler Venus at critical degree (12Ari18 and snugged between Chiron and Mercury in 7th house of Partnerships) makes no applying aspects so its sign and house positions are important factors in how things proceeded for the then-new radio network-syndicate. Venus = '13Ari' = "A Bomb Which Failed to Explode Is Now Safely Hidden", a Sabian Symbol which speaks of having a "very deep or hallowed purpose." (M. E. Jones.)

This 'hallowed purpose' tallies with NPR's Midheaven (The Goal; Aspiration) 8Can20 which showcases Fixed Star Alhena, 'to have a mission' and which falls, of course, between US natal Jupiter '6Can' and Sun '14Can'.

Venus also rules the monied 8th H and its inhabitants, Sun and Saturn.

An 11th house Moon 29Leo59 is at a critical 29th degree as well but conjoins Fixed Star Regulus, one of the Royal Stars of Persia, keywords: 'success if revenge if avoided.' All the Royal Stars have cautions showing what flaws will cause the promised success to slip away if the particular caution is not heeded - in this case, revenge.

In 8th house of Shared Resources is natal Sun 12Tau46 which receives this evening's New Moon 12Tau30 (8:49 pm edt) indicating a new cycle of activity of some kind; hardworking Saturn 24Tau11 is in 8th H, too and shows its conservation-preservation duties in Taurus which are expressed with reliability and persistence. For managing Saturn in Taurus, financial security is very important as it tends to develop a well-balanced sense of the value of material resources.

Plus, Saturn is helpfully trined by powerful publisher Pluto 27Vir17 Rx in 12th H of Behind-the-Scenes and I wouldn't care to guess who or what group Pluto represented in 1971 relating to the beginnings of NPR. Would you? But asteroid Lilith Rx conjoins Pluto so I will add that Lilith isn't always or only the glamorous woman for its archetype also has a link to Israel.

And what of action-oriented Mars? Mars 00AQ00, a critical degree, is in 4th H of Endings and Foundations - at "An Old Adobe Mission" so there's another reference to having a mission. This degree appears every January 20th at noon in Washington DC for its our presidential Sun's degree. Mars remained in AQ from May 3 until November 6, 1971 and was stationary part of that time which greatly strengthened its Aquarian instincts and interests which spearheaded a new way of life (NPR driveway moments forthcoming?)

Mars in Aquarius shows a desire for independence to follow an unusual or unorthodox course of action with reformist tendencies; in 4th H, Mars describes some testy interchanges taking place 'at home' with efforts made toward improvements.

We may well ascribe NPR's wish to 'dot all the Is' and 'cross all the Ts' to the fact that Mercury 23Ari10 is oriental, that is, the planet that rises just before the Sun.

There's only one midpoint picture in the chart other than those formed by a multiple-planet T-Square and an Earth Grand Trine: Mars/ASC = Jupiter: harmonious teamwork; the ability to lead others; a good organiser; agreement with others on pursuit of the same objectives (that mission again); enthusiasm; harmonious public outreach.

The T-Square/s all point to MC and Alhena's mission: Chiron/Uranus = MC, Venus/Uranus = MC (getting to like someone quickly; focusing on the modernization of tastes), and Venus/ASC = MC (harmony; art and music appreciation.)

Earth Grand Trine: Mars, Saturn, and Pluto which shows the hard work it took to get up and running, but also seems to relate to the anti-war protests on the streets and the heavy-handed governmental response for brutality is indicated. Mars = protests and activism, Saturn = control and government, and Pluto = power, wealth, subversive actions, and ultimate control. Perhaps these are the forces that now regularly threaten to withdraw government funding of NPR for its 'too liberal' stance.

A 5th H North Node (NN) 19AQ55 shows NPR's path is to serve mankind and its 5th H position makes finding its unique destiny a must.

And last, the Uranus/Chiron opposition on NPR's Identity axis (ASC/DESC) is telling considering Uranus' link to radicalism and politics (yet not forgetting the excellent traits of Uranus Rising mentioned above.)

Uranus opposite Chiron shows 1971 to be a time when people were very stressed out and feeling that things were 'too much' - as in 2011. The aspect's ferociously intense energy tends to burn itself out or push NPR to great transmutative levels of awareness as it dramatizes individualism (and individualistic, freedom-loving Uranus rises.)

I shall leave it to you, dear reader and NPR listener, to decide which result NPR has achieved over the last 40 years. Happy Birthday, NPR!

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Midpoint pictures: Tyl, Ebertin, Munkasey; any, all, or none may apply; Chiron info from Barbara Hand Clow and Richard Nolle.