SCOTUS decisions: Law and Domination

by Jude Cowell

When the Supreme Court decided Marbury v. Madison on February 24, 1803 in favor of William Marbury, the legislative branch of government that we now call 'SCOTUS' (Supreme Court of the United States) flexed its muscles and established itself as being above the US Congress as the final judge of constitutionality with the power to overturn acts of Congress. The decision defined the constitutionality of the Judiciary Act of 1789 and, as the dual horoscopes show, reveal an "urge to impose one's will on others" (Sun = Pluto-NN). Intellectual domination is their thing along with "taking over leadership" (Moon-Mars = Ascendant) via Marbury v Madison.

In addition, there are other interesting planetary factors in the two horoscopes, below. Upper right is the decision's Prenatal Eclipse ('PE') in which the decision took place a mere 3 days later (3 North Saros Series, the PE Series of 9/11/01 and of the CIA), and lower left set for the speculative hour of 10:00 am LMT, a Horoscope of the Marbury v Madison decision with 21Tau14 rising, a degree notable for its appearance later in this post, plus, the Moon-Mars midpoint as mentioned, above:

Saturn: Planet of Law, Government, and Karma

Now back in a very busy 2020, we discussed how the June 13, 2020 Mars-Neptune Conjunction landed directly upon the SCOTUS 1st session's Saturn, planet of law, authority, structures, systems, control, lessons, tasks, management, consolidation, and karma. Shown is the 1st session's horoscope of February 1, 1790 with Saturn @20Pis55. So knowing that transit Saturn is now in Pisces, we see that the SCOTUS 1790 Saturn will experience a Saturn Return in early 2025. More about this in a future post.

We also see that nebulous Neptune by transit, the watery planet of erosion, dissolution, deception, inspiration, mysticism, visions, fraud, and disappointment, has spread itself all over the SCOTUS Saturn in Pisces as recently as late 2021, which indicates several possibilities such as disintegrating traditions and/or structures, authority figures (ex: justices) who are not as honest as they should be, the promotion of high ideals and ethics, or strange or misguided notions.

Now you know that we've seen many of these potentials express via "conservative" justices like Thomas and Alito who, as members of a group of Roman Catholic justices, are having a grand old time legislating from the bench. Of course, this is exactly what the Supreme Court is not meant to do but Marbury v Madison seemingly puffed up the entity's self-image to overblown ego status.

Anyway, if you're like me, when SCOTUS repealed Roe in 2022, my first thought was that the Vatican had finally had its anti-abortion way in the US despite what the majority of Americans prefer (never mind us, we just live here). If you wish, check out the Roe v Wade Overturned Horoscope (June 24, 2022) with the repeal's North Node of destiny @21Taurus--conjunct the North Node in the Vatican City State 1929 Horoscope. Seems mighty clear to me: the repeal of Roe was timed by the Vatican City's Nodal Return. A coincidence? Not to me it isn't, considering the church's long-held stance on abortion.

Plus, there's another cosmic time link in play around these issues: radical Uranus, planet of disruption, chaos, separation, and zealotry, hit the very same 21 Taurus degree on June 30, 2023, the day the most recent SCOTUS decisions were "handed down" from on-high.

So let's close this fussy post with a few potentials of the Uranus/North-Node duo quoting from Munkasey's Hegelian Dialectic form of analysis (any, all, or none may apply especially with erratic Uranus involved):

Thesis: The changes which accompany new efforts to alter the direction of events; alliances which follow revolution or unexpected changes in leadership; help from others who assist with modernization activities.

Antithesis: Revolution for the effecting of popular changes; business changes which evolve with society; treaties for modernizing facilities which benefit another more; a society that does not appreciate modernizing (sounds like regressive Republicans, so-called "conservatives," and radical magas).

Well, we may disagree on this, but in the US "conservative" justices on the SCOTUS bench have 'altered the direction of events', all right, with the hierarchy of the Vatican pulling strings from "on-high." After all, one of the many roles powerful Pluto can play is "the pope."

A related post: The Vatican II Horoscope of 1962. Note that Uranus @25Taurus is a bit beyond a Uranus Return to the 1929 chart but the way the planet lurches about, who can say, really.

Uranus-NN info: Midpoints: Unleashing the Power of the Planets, Michael Munkasey #ad.

June 13, 2020: SCOTUS Saturn under scrutiny

by Jude Cowell

June 6, 2020: Since June 2020 is a significant month for Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decisions within the coronavirus contagion time frame let's took a look at the founding Horoscope for SCOTUS (February 1, 1790 9:00 am LMT NYC is the chart I use) and an unpleasant discovery: that the June 13, 2020 Mars-Neptune Conjunction lands directly upon the natal Saturn of the highest Court in the nation. Checking other significant US charts against Mars-Neptune @20Pis56, I found no other horoscope that resonated as closely with the conjunction except for the SCOTUS horoscope (1 minute orb). This doesn't meanthat there aren't any, it means that of the ones in my files I found none and this includes the Federal City Horoscope of April 21, 1791!

Naturally, everyone knows that realistic Saturn in Mundane Astrology is associated with law, attorneys, judges, courts, legal systems, lawmakers, government, business, and such along with the status quo and The Establishment. Time, tradition, standards, regulations, structures, limits, restriction, authority, authenticity, accountability, consolidation, seniors, managers, isolation, concentration, hard work, failure, and loss also come under karmic Saturn's rather wide umbrella. Yet in watery Pisces, solid Saturn can have a difficult time since his placement there reveals a karmic planet in a karmic sign so obviously the correct channeling of Saturnine energies can make or break an institution or an individual. For as you know, Saturn demands much but will (eventually!) reward those who follow his precepts in a responsible way. And with America's natal Saturn (1776) in Libra where Saturn is exalted (expresses best), we've come to expect that SCOTUS will carry out its traditional duties in the most admirable way possible - not always a realistic expectation, but it is always to be hoped, even in these trying times.

So with the June 13, 2020 Mars-Neptune Conjunction coming its way, the 1790 Horoscope of SCOTUS is pictured below with the Mars-Neptune Conjunction Horoscope snugged around it in bi-wheel form. The Mars-Neptune-to-Saturn transit is highlighted in green and red while the Moon (red) simultaneously conjoins SCOTUS' natal Venus, as you can see:

Yes, too many scribbles are squished upon the chart/s (mea culpa!) but hopefully you can enlarge the image to read them if you wish. Upper right contains a few of the potentials of the midpoint picture Mars-Neptune = Saturn but I'll also type them here for you: unfortunate consequences due to a weak will; being taken advantage of; perseverance; instability - and there's a bit more that couldn't be squished in such as: misdirected energy; feelings of inferiority; lasting weakness or illness; blocking of anger toward people who avoid reality (by intimidation, threats, blackmail?); frustrations encountered when punishing those who deceive others; pessimism over arguments received from clerics; reticence; a sense of futility. And to 'perseverance' add, in spite of fear.

(Tyl; Ebertin: Munkasey).

Confusion, deceit, and/or some type of paralyzed activity may also be notable around the time of the blending of these energies particularly since America's problematic Mars-Neptune square may be involved with the Court's cases, people, and/or decisions. That's US natal Neptune @22Vir23 conjunct Descendant and US natal Mars in 3rd house near the Sun-Chiron conjunction which suggests a focus on dealing with moral and ethical principles and receiving acclaim for it.

Meanwhile, transit Mars to natal Saturn suggests careful planning, organization, and perhaps some type of delay, while transit Neptune to natal Saturn suggests potentials for either idealistic or misguided authority figures, eroding traditions or systems, and/or a new approach to handling authority.

In addition, the astrological archetype for Justice, asteroid Astraea, is found on June 18th conjunct the SCOTUS Mars-Jupiter Conjunction in late Leo - and therefore conjunct the natal Mars of Donald Trump (Mars = action, energy, motivation). For SCOTUS' natal Astraea look to mid-Capricorn and the 1790 chart's 11th cusp.

Neglected notes not penned on the June 18, 2020 chart include: Hour: Sun; Sun-Moon: 3rd quarter +273:35 = crisis in consciousness: and hidden manipulator Pluto Rx in Capricorn leads a BOWL shape of the planets, and he's bossily tilted toward success no matter the cost.

Now the Mars-Neptune Conjunction perfects on a Saturday (Saturn's day!) but note that on the SCOTUS calendar Opinion Issuance Days in June (Mondays) include June 15th, a mere two days after the Conjunction so we'll see what transpires and which cases and topics the Justices address. And if they appear to be acting independently of outside influences.

Horoscopes: SCOTUS and Minerva 1789 and 1790

Head of Minerva Elihu Vedder [Public domain]

On September 24, 1789, George Washington signed the Judiciary Act in order to set up the US Supreme Court, aka, SCOTUS. The Court's first session was held in New York City on February 1, 1790 with John Jay presiding as Chief Justice, plus, associate justices John Rutledge, William Cushing, John Blair, Robert Harrison, and James Wilson (6 in total). SCOTUS was established as the ultimate arbiter of the laws of the United States particularly those dealing with constitutionality and we find the institution of the Supreme Court ensconced and empowered within Article 3 of the US Constitution.

Below is a dual-chart image of both September 24, 1789 (lower left) and SCOTUS' first-session February 1, 1790 (upper right). Highlighted in green on both horoscopes are heavy-weights Saturn 'the judge' and Pluto 'the power behind the throne' (possibly the Pope!). Both timings are speculative--1789 is set for noon LMT and 1790 is set for 9:00 am LMT; both are located in New York City (as they should be based on historical events) and a few asteroids and midpoints are sprinkled around the charts.

Astrological Minerva Provides Big Answers and Solves Problems

Significant is that in the 1789 chart, asteroid Minerva conjoins Pluto Rx @17AQ07 (with planet Pluto undiscovered until 1930 and, in both charts, out-of-bounds of the earthly plane). Therefore, Pluto, planet of psychology and hidden control (among other things) operates unconsciously, if at all, upon people and events of the era but certainly in a behind-the-scenes or invisible capacity. Perhaps Pluto's relationship as the higher octave planet of astrological Mars sneaks into play and in the 1789 chart, Mars @24Can32 not only leads a Locomotive shape of planets denoting a high-powered executive determined on success (George W., I think), but Mars also conjoins US natal Mercury Rx (July 4, 1776) which denotes a time when ideas become reality, thinking is energized and enthusiastic, and activities are vigorously undertaken. However, challenges may be encountered and impatience and/or disagreements may temporarily interfere with carefully planned endeavors, plus, political activities and opinions are indicated by Mercury-Mars contacts.

Clues to Minerva's influence in September 1789 are shown by Pluto's sign and condition. In Aquarius, Pluto signifies a strong communal sense, a wealth of plans, and an urge to reform; life advancement comes with the help of other people (Ebertin). Since the timing of both charts is speculative let's leave out Pluto's 2nd-house position and emphasize Pluto's condition as shown by aspects from other planets to Pluto: a sextile from the Sag Moon was within orb for the afternoon suggesting an ability to 'unclutter' issues; Sun sesqui-square Pluto is a complex aspect which implies a square-within-square relationship identifying leadership ambitious for power and a strong will imposed upon others; Mercury trine Pluto suggests an ability to get at the root of issues and good powers of concentration; Jupiter opposite Pluto provides ambition, an urge to acquire wealth and power, a tendency toward dogmatism, and an autocratic attitude that feels it must reform the morality and standards of others. All rise!

Of course, the Neptune-Pluto trine, active during both years and beyond, is generational and identifies a period when mysticism, the occult, clairvoyance, and strong intuition featured for those in tune with such energies but considering our topic, let's say that the trine relates to reformers who work for improved societal conditions and gain the power and social positions to do so. You know--like Supreme Court justices do.

Then in the 1790 chart, Minerva conjoins lawmaker and judge Saturn in Pisces, a modest, reserved placement for the taskmaster planet whose hard, concentrated work in seclusion is somber, serious, and may never receive much if any recognition. (This applies to law clerks as well). A struggle with opponents is also indicated by Saturn in Pisces (Ebertin) and the planet's rising position with Minerva is significant if 9:00 am happens to be the hour, or near the hour, that the first court session opened. Obviously, answers and solutions within the biggest picture were on the institution's Saturnian agenda that day and this remains the case.

Now let's take a look at Saturn's condition in the 1790 chart via planetary aspects: with the Moon square Saturn aspect within orb, we find austere attitudes and support for the above 'somber work in seclusion' indication; Venus sesqui-square Saturn denotes stiff formalities and ceremonial events (probably done with Masonic flair behind closed doors--many of the Founders and their contemporaries were a bunch of goddess worshipers, you know--see goddess Columbia's statue atop the Capitol Building, for one example!); Mars trine Saturn provides ambition, an authoritative mindset, capabilities for shouldering heavy responsibilities, taking purposeful actions, working hard and long, and acting shrewdly when it comes to politics.

Finally, a Saturn-North Node trine suggests careful, conservative justices who followed the moral, social, and business codes of their day--and the trine favors conservative politicians and our first justices who studied the issues before them without favor and delivered well-considered, fair decisions.

Well, congratulations to both readers of this post who managed to get this far as I'm certain few will! In closing I'll add that we might wish to say that knowledgeable Minerva on her path from September 1789 to February 1790 may be said to have "translated light" in a symbolic sense and carried her rays from Pluto to Saturn, and to me this says that the Supreme Court of Saturnian justices was intended to act as a beacon of Minerva's brilliance on behalf of The People of the United States of America. That SCOTUS is now corrupted by two illegitimate justices and the lax morality of the current White House administration marks yet another tragic turn in America's destiny and sullies all SCOTUS decisions forward unless and until Supreme Court integrity is reestablished.