Horoscope: Summer Solstice 2013 in Political Astrology

Summer Solstice June 21, 2013: Mars-Pluto and the Jackass

by Jude Cowell

Please click horoscope image to enlarge:

Summer Solstice 2013: Sun to World Point 00Can00:00 @1:04 am edt Washington DC; Hour of evaluating Venus (@22Can06 conjunct Mercury 22:01 in 5th house); chart-ruler Jupiter with sub-ruler Neptune, the speculator pair, are actors within a Water Grand Trine (6A09--see bottom left of chart); secretive Neptune @5Pis19 in its own unconscious 12th house of Politics, Karma, and Large Institutions such as prisons (closing of Gitmo?) and hospitals (vets, Obamacare?) precisely conjoins President Obama's natal 1st house Chiron Rx @5Pis19. Their precise conjunction has a fated reap-what's-sown quality and denotes strong psychic energies being unconsciously expressed by the president concerning 12th house matters.

Compassion, aid, and/or propaganda (the media; the masses; surveillance) may also be indicated by this placement of Neptune.

Now as you know, Water Grand Trines have a protective imperative and all such planetary patterns indicate closed circuits of energy. Guarding against stagnation and inertia is problematic with all Grand Trines and especially so when more than one appears as here: there are two if we count the ASC with Moon, Mercury-Venus, and Sun-Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune.) The quality of Water seeks peace, tranquility, and safety and many of us will tend to retreat into our private worlds if and when we can. Naturally domestic issues will be high on our lists of concerns as well.

Additionally, the two Grand Trines, made more complex by Jupiter still in Airy Gemini while the Sun has entered Watery Cancer, signifies America's current debilitating conditions and we have only to glance toward Capitol Hill ideologues and bigots to remember that this is what we're experiencing across the nation due to what I termed here in 2012 as "Jackassian Politics." I was surprised last evening to hear MSNBC's Chris Hayes on his program All In using the description of jackassery behavior for certain Republican-Tea Partiers. But we can't be the only ones who've noticed!

Mr. Hayes on Republicans Behaving Badly as they attempt to break the Senate:

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Now if you listen to the full broadcast of All In, Chris also discusses the Jackassery Politics as practiced by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel who is closing 50 schools in the city while using taxpayer millions to build--wait for it--a sports stadium. Jackassery abounds everywhere we look!

Now back to Summer Solstice 2013:

Rising is 27Pis31 along with two midpoints: 1. Uranus-NN denoting radical political groups and reformers; 2. the forceful Mars-Pluto midpoint which gives dangerous and ruthless tones to the chart and to the hot summer season. Also, Mars-Pluto opposes US progressed Neptune which adds potentials for disasters caused by water, oil, or gas, causing secret harm to others, and use of cunning and deceit--you know: Washington and state politicians behaving badly.

Now that 8th house Moon (We the People) @27Sco52 nears the Inaugural 2009 Moon (29Sco45) and conjoins here President Obama's natal MC (Aspirations; The Goal) which hopefully indicates his efforts to bring relief and improved conditions (such as infrastructure investments which would solve more than one problem) yet we find Jupiter @28Gem53 conjunct IC (Foundation of the Matter) and '28Gem' is a degree of BANKRUPTCY in Sabian Symbols. Can our economy hang on until America's next Jupiter Return (5Can56) on July 22, 2013? Will nation-building investments or roads and bridges finally arrive in the nick of time to create jobs and increase our safety?

Perhaps! For we know that debt, credit, shared resources, and Big Business are on top of our national agenda this summer with the Solstice North Node of Future Direction posited in Scorpio and in Watery Scorpio's natural 8th house--plus, Scorpio's Mars-Pluto influences rule the Solstice ASC in Washington, as noted above. Building bridges would be a great use of this forceful energy. More war and drone strikes? Not so much.

Well, there are many more chart factors to consider but I don't want to ruin your fun (check out that Scorpionic Saturn Rx just barely in 7th house and the critical 20Cap degree on 11th cusp!) so I'll close by detailing the midpoint pictures formed in T-Squares between Sun, Jupiter, MC, and the ASC in the Summer Solstice 2013 horoscope:

Sun-MC = ASC: personal relations or associations (Ebertin); needing to be forthright and honest about how your accomplishments and contributions can help others (Munkasey.)

Jupiter-MC = ASC: pleasant contacts that support one's personal success (Ebertin); a need to absorb life's lessons; needing to understand the motives and intentions of others; reminders that one must work with others (Munkasey.)

Yes, that last indicator is aimed toward all our anti-government jackassian politicians who know who they are.

US natal chart w/ 'Thor's Hammer': Sun-Saturn = Moon

Sun (president) plus Saturn (Congress; SCOTUS) vs The People's Moon

by Jude Cowell

A fated planetary pattern called Thor's Hammer (aka, Fist of God) may be seen in the natal horoscope (July 4, 1776) of America between the Sun-Saturn square aiming toward US natal Moon @27AQ10 (We the People):

Some basic notes are scribbled thereupon so please click image to enlarge. You'll note our Midheaven, the WHY? Point (Goal) has 2 Libra: "The light of the sixth race transmuted to the seventh" for its Sabian Symbol. Keyword: THRESHOLD which negatively implies "a loss of reality in an infinitely regressive other-worldliness or a total lack of all practicality." (Jones.) Hmm! Sounds like a few current-day congressional anti-government obstructionists we both could name!

Sun square Saturn denotes our Founding Fathers getting their authority act together in our nation's earliest days, and the presidents' (Sun) methodical application of what's been learned (Saturn) as the decades have passed. This square also indicates the difficulties of the presidential job with its imperatives which must be accomplished in a patient one-step-at-a-time manner.

Unfortunately for the American people and the rest of the world's populations, this measured approach has come to include the establishment of a global government with the US acting as its military arm. President Obama's speech yesterday in when he seems to have redefined America's foreign policy with a much-needed if elusive end to war was inspiring if true, dangerous and cynical propaganda if false.

Here's Stephen Colbert on the president's 'repealing power' topic from last evening:

Hit by Thor's Hammer (sounds like drones strikes, doesn't it?

Of interest are the potentials for the karmic Sun-Saturn pair in Politics and Business as given by Michael Munkasey in his Midpoints: Unleashing the Power of the Planets:

Thesis: The will of the people as defined in the principle founding documents; checks and balances within enterprises as implemented by various administrations; form and definition in an enterprise.

Antithesis: unreasonable centralization of authority in one location (obviously Washington DC--jc); a leadership preoccupied with the various forms of law enforcement; older and more distanced leaders; pessimism and gloom as a center focus of policy.

And for those who use July 4, 1776 as our national founding date, what are the potentials revealed by the midpoint picture created by the Sun-Saturn-Moon pattern in America's DNA (natal horoscope)?

Sun-Saturn = Moon: self-discipline comes naturally; sensitivity to otherwise rigid frameworks; added instincts for showing caution or self-control (MM); a sense of loneliness; feeling inferior, hurt (Tyl); fear; bereavement; depression especially in relation to organic disturbances (Ebertin)--'thanks' for all the toxic contamination, pharmaceutical industry--jc

Understandably, it seems that our current fear of government has been within us from the start--first with the British crown. And our fear has been purposefully increased many times over by infiltrators through the last several decades who are determined that the American people give up on America because of the government's inefficiency and ineptitude!

Not none o'me!

Hope you all have a very safe Memorial Day weekend. Jude

'Too Hot for PBS: "Citizen Koch" trailer' (w Koch astro-notes)

Update May 24, 2013: see article Spying on Occupy Activists by Matthew Rothschild (in which we find that overbearing corporatists are not going to let US citizens get away with protesting against them and their sorriness no matter how much surveillance it takes.)

Original post begins here:

This just in from Forbidden Knowledge TV:

The Big Push is all happenin' at the state level, folks. If we've learned our lesson about neocons, endless war, and the super rich 1% who care not a fig for democracy, we've got to get with our own program and help each other out!

Here's the Wikipedia page for the Koch family. I'm sure you can sort out the two politically active siblings from there. A few astro-notes concerning them might be of interest so read on, if you wish!

Both brothers were born in Wichita, Kansas: Charles the elder on November 1, 1935 and David on May 3, 1940 with Moon either in Pisces or Aries. I'm using noon for both horoscopes in lieu of a correct birth hour, and for David, Moon in fiery Aries rather than in dreamy, compassionate Pisces. (On May 3, 1940, the transiting Moon reached Aries Point of Fame and Prominence at 8:52 am CST, and David the Libertarian has run for public office.)

Charles the elder was born with a Sun Scorpio-Moon Capricorn personality blend (Mars-Pluto; Saturn), a practical Water-Earth combination. Fanatical views both political and financial may be found within his Uranus-Pluto square (early Taurus to late Pisces, with both planets Rx and feeling their oats since 2010 via the current transiting Uranus-Pluto Cardinal Square.) Charles will be experiencing his Uranus Return around age 84, and his natal Pluto 27Can24 Rx opposes US natal Pluto 27Cap33 Rx: power v power for ultimate control.

Historical note: 1935 is the year the swastika became the official flag of Germany, and the Gallup Poll was introduced in the US.

Natal Mars @2Cap+ directs his energies and actions most efficiently and Jupiter in corporate Scorpio speaks for itself given his extreme wealth. Disruptive if restricted, Charles is actually something of a worrywart and this is born out by his Pre-Natal Solar Eclipse Series, 9 New South, with its theme of 'long term worries over loved ones or communications, or, chickens coming home to roost in relation to paperwork' (Brady.) You may remember this PE the last time it occurred on September 11, 2007, and if I had time, I'd search for what ruthless Mr. C. Koch was up to in 2007 because the info might be quite elucidating.

Public crusader Charles Koch has two apt 'Images for Integration' as given by Charles & Suzi Harvey (Sun Sign-Moon Sign): "A general leads his troops to victory...A film director plans each shot to maximize its emotional impact."

And I can't resist adding three quotes from three people who share his Sun Sco-Moon Cap blend for they might illuminate his character a bit:

"Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash." Gen. George Patton.

"Puritanism...helps us enjoy our misery while we are inflicting it on others." Marcel Ophuls.

"He was like a cock who thought the sun had risen to hear him crow." George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans.)

Now let's peek at David using the Venus-Mars, bulldozing Earth-Fire combo of Sun Taurus-Moon Aries. Charismatic and stubborn, this blend denotes one who has unswerving belief in himself--he's a go-getter who aims for what he wants without hesitation. Taking charge in all cooperative ventures is a talent (for those who like that sort of riding-roughshod method); domination and power are his goals. David is quite a pioneer, a trait supported by his adventurous Jupiter in Mars-ruled Aries (as is his natal Mercury.)

Yet curiously, with Saturn in Taurus, he is actually rather cautious with money, plus, he was born during a harsh Saturn-Pluto square with Pluto in very early Leo (powerful ego.)

Historical note: 1940 saw The Blitz (bombing of London and other cities), Winston Churchill became Britain's PM, and in the US Franklin Roosevelt was elected for the third time.

Now the PE for David Koch is the 14 South which last manifested on May 20, 2012 @00Gem20 (conjunct fixed star Alcyone of the Pleiades, key phrase: something to cry about; 14S's theme has a compulsively manipulative Mercury-Pluto flavor and denotes 'an obsessive idea is finally accepted' vibe (Brady.)

Perhaps you'll agree that one of the Sun Tau-Moon Aries "Images for Integration" may apply closely to the strong personality of the super rich and politically active Mr. D. Koch:

"A pirate's chest full of gold is discovered, which adds to the already vast empire of Genghis Khan." (Harvey.)

And there's only one descriptive quote from a fellow Sun Tau-Moon Aries personality that I care to type for you in this post so let's close with it since for me, it sums up a certain type of character now financially dominating US politics from the shadows--democracy and We the People be da*ned:

"Power takes as ingratitude the writhings of its victims." Rabindranath Tagore.

Yes. It certainly does.

"The Toxic Assault on Our children" (Bill Moyers video)

Of Lunar Needs, Poisonings, and Plutocracy

by Jude Cowell

On Saturday May 25, 2013, a global March Against Monsanto is scheduled and a *Lunar Eclipse will occur @4Sag08. As you know, the astrological Moon in Mundane or Political Astrology signifies The People or The Public while retaining its 'nurturance, food and food supplies, sustenance, reigning need' implications.

As one of the primary actors in America's ongoing saga of loading our children (and ourselves--I was fogged with DDT every summer as a kid--for mosquito control) with toxic chemicals, many of which are banned in Europe, Monsanto has had a major hand in the nefarious chemical poisoning of mankind, a situation now being spotlighted as contaminating Neptune floats through its own foggy sign of Pisces.

The *Lunar Eclipse of March 25, 2013 perfects at 12:25 am edt and is squared (blocked) by Neptune in Pisces rising in 1st house of Physical Body; asteroid Ceres, associated with grains, food supplies, and security needs, is @18Can07 (between America's natal Sun and Mercury Rx); in the US natal chart, Ceres is posited in contaminated Pisces conjunct our national Pluto-Chiron midpoint, the Plutocracy Pair.

For more astro-notes and a peek at the Lunar Eclipse horoscope set for Washington DC, please click here.

Does a Presidential "pall" show in Inauguration 2013's Horoscope?

Do Current Washington Scandals Show in Inauguration 2013's Horoscope?

by Jude Cowell

On May 15, 2013, Peter Baker of the New York Times published Onset of Woes Casts Pall Over Obama's Policy Aspirations a headline in which astrologers can easily find mention of Inauguration 2013's Midheaven (MC = The Goal) if they so desire.

Then today, the Washington Post's Dan Balz published Obama's Trust in Government Deficit so we find that MSM and other media types are jumping en masse onto the Doubt Obama bandwagon. One supposes it sells or clicks for their bottom lines or for whatever Down with Government ideologies anyone may hold as they and their hidden backers work to weaken America toward easier take-over.

Now as you remember, President Obama's second term officially began at noon on Sunday January 20, 2013 but the public swearing-in was held on Monday January 21, 2013 due to the tradition of avoiding Sunday sacredness (my personal belief is in the Seventh Day Sabbath so it would make little difference to my ilk if the ceremony had been held on a 'Sun'-day, the first day of the week as you see on your calendar--but his first term ended and a new one began at noon of January 20th with the primary difference between the two horoscopes being Moon in Taurus on the 20th, Moon in Gemini approaching Jupiter Rx in Gemini on the 21st; President Obama's natal Moon is in his 4th house @3Gem21.)

So here's a another look at the Inauguration Horoscope of January 20, 2013:

For astro-notes on the chart, see my previous post Inauguration 2013 Horoscopes (both charts shown) though of course no one knew then what scandals would occur--or which events would be blown out of proportion. ("Worse than Watergate"?, cry Republicans. Really? Well, I resided in Washington DC during Nixon's Watergate scandal and I don't believe you or your politically driven 'outrage'.)

In the horoscope above, I point your attention to its 1st house South Node of the Moon and my reading of it in the linked post. SN in 1st house is not a good portent and describes early-on difficulties for the president's second term. In part, a rising SN denotes the separations I mention in the post, plus, bad timing with one's endeavors along with limiting conditions. In a word, the Republican plan of obstructionism.

For as Tamara Keith of NPR reports concerning 'Heritage Action': Conservative Advice To GOP: Don't Legislate, Focus on Scandals in an attempt to ensure that the president's agenda will be stymied and obstructed during his second term--leaving the American people to suffer as collateral damage, as usual.

How I wish Election 2014 results for all obstructionist-Ayn-Randers in Congress with their lousy children-starving, survival-of-the-fittest Shrink Government agenda would find them tossed out with their dirty bathwater!

On-topic: Food Stamp Cuts Spark Bible Debate (Matthew 25.)

Next-Up from the Cosmos: the May 25, 2013 Lunar Eclipse @4Sag08 which spotlights Election Day 2012's Mercury Station Retrograde (Mercury = voting)...uh-oh!

Also available on this blog: May 2013 White House Scandals and Mars-Neptune Concerns starring Mars (motivation, action, energy, males, police and military) and Neptune (scandal, deception, illusion, delusion, the media, the masses, The Divine.)

May 2013 Scandals Infuse Tea Party with new steam

Bubbling on the Hob: Reheat and Serve

by Jude Cowell

Perhaps current scandals and pseudo-scandals now plaguing the White House will keep boiling long enough to add steam to the near-deflated Tea Party movement, perhaps not. But for now we may as well pass the buttered scones and jam for we know Republicans won't let a good scalding cup go cold when there's a chance to further undermine the presidency of Barack Obama.

Here you'll find, if you please, some basic information on the history of the Tea Party movement which seems to have begun with blogger and Seattle mom Keli Carender (aka, Liberty Belle) and her organization of a "Porkulus Protest", plus, the rant by Rick Santelli on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on February 19, 2009. Was his supposedly off-the-cuff remarks inspired by corporate bank rollers who then backed 'grassroots' Tea Party rallies?

Yes, for the president and his Fail-Obama Republican opponents, February 2009 was a very busy month and the first full month of the president's first term. Here's a ramble down memory lane with President Obama signing the Stimulus Bill on February 17, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The horoscope I have is set for Denver when the Sun 29AQ15 conjoined Midheaven (The Goal Point) with Mars and Jupiter conjunct @10AQ08/11 and US natal Mars in Gemini rising (12:13:54 pm MST):

At 12:13:54 pm MST, there formed a 'Fist of God' planetary pattern (aka, Thor's Hammer) between austere Saturn @19Vir50 Rx in 4th house squaring the Ascendant @22Gem56 and pointing toward the Mars-Jupiter conjunction and the North Node @9AQ07.

In addition, the Moon (the public) @9Sag10 was in 6th house at that time and conjoining Royal Star Antares with its volatile theme of: obsessed with success..The People and the hot-natured Tea Party movement?

And of course Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, planet of expansion, money, investment, and expenditures and was on its way for a first Great Conjunction (of three all through 2009) with Neptune, the inflationary pair of bubbles, speculation, and spend-thriftiness. Their first conjunction perfected on May 27, 2009 conjunct US natal Moon--'little sense of reality; involved in speculation'--Ebertin.

Yet I don't recall the 2009 Stimulus Bill as creating millions of jobs as advertized and promised but I do believe it saved quite a few!

The May 25, 2013 Lunar Eclipse spotlights an important event

Wow! A Heads-Up:

As I updated my blog Woolly Mammoth Chronicles just now I ran across news of an event being held on Saturday May 25, 2013, the very day of a Lunar Eclipse!

The event is a much-needed March Against Monsanto with its Moon-related issues of nourishment, food, grain, seeds, crops, and how the leviathan company is ruining everything with genetic modification of food and patenting what isn't theirs to own in such lunar departments as Life Sustainment.

May 2013: White House Scandals and Mars-Neptune concerns

When US natal Neptune Masks a President's Mars (Motivation; Action)

by Jude Cowell

On Friday May 10, 2013, the IRS scandal was outed during the typical Washington 'Friday afternoon news dump' and on Monday May 13, 2013, the AP reporters and editors communications scandal broke from its surly bonds. And of course, the GOP's much-touted Benghazi 'scandal' is already in the wind in ways that are perhaps overblown as far as a 'White House cover-up' angle is concerned.

For astrologers there are many methods and paths which can be explored astrologically concerning White House (or CIA-Benghazi, or IRS, or AP) scandals but with my blogging time limited these days, I chose to blurb in general about a natal planetary link that's been covered and re-covered here before: President Obama's natal 7th house Mars @22Virgo34 (near n 8th cusp 25Vir54) is veiled and thus obfuscated by US natal Neptune @22Vir25. This also means that the president's natal Mars squares US natal Mars, with both contacts dulling Mr. Obama's promise of "transparency" in government.

Yes, our national Mars-Neptune square ('the fog of war') has produced a varied plethora of problems for America since our founding for the square most assuredly includes misguided and misdirected energies expended in war, conflict, and business endeavors. Neptune's oil, gas, and water concerns are also involved as blockages (square) are dealt with or removed in an aggressive fashion.

With his natal Mars shielded or hidden by US natal Neptune (the media, the masses, dreams and visions, the collective, spying, propaganda, etc) the public has endured many diatribes on what the president is really doing, what is he hiding, etc, etc, etc. With the IRS and AP scandals now afoot--and uncovered in part by the *May 9, 2013 Solar Eclipse @19Tau31 on Thursday--we now find that there are several issues of government overreach and misuse/abuse of power to probe if not exonerate. And we know the Republicans are salivating over how President Obama has sneakily--or inadvertently--added fuel to his opponent's fire against him.

It seems curious to me how government agencies seem to get particularly busy and sneaky when there's a Democrat in the White House! Or is the public simply expected to believe that any commander-in-chief is totally unaware of what certain tentacles of government are doing at various times? Perhaps. Presumably this wouldn't be the first time actions were taken without a president's consent or knowledge. But often it's to protect a president that 'lack of awareness' is used as a tactic.

A Mars-Neptune contact between horoscopes indicates that Mr. Obama's actions (Mars) are quite incomprehensible or nebulous to many (Neptune) and yes, our nation's connection to the president is rather tenuous and prospects for our 'future together' are weakened though perhaps not broken during the 8-years duration. And we've seen how defusing (Neptune) his actions (Mars) has been a constant obsession of the Republican Party (ex: this week the House takes a 37th vote to repeal Obamacare--a waste of The People's time and money, imho, but Neptune also denotes waste and loss.)

Obviously all military considerations--his promise to close Guantanamo Prison, secretive drone strikes which include US citizens, surreptitious wars, supplying arms to rebels, etc--are confused, hidden, and made more complex by the Mars-Neptune veiling going on between us. And actually, deceitful acts may be thought 'necessary' wherever Mars-Neptune links exist (surveillance of AP calls is a prime example.)

Remember early on when Barack Obama was referred to as a "rock star"? That was our Mars-Neptune contact, too. Now in his second term, it's safe to say that our rock-n-roll parties have ended with what may be--if Republicans have their way--a sour taste in our collective mouth. Yet there is still hope for President Obama by way of dreamy Neptune and optimistic Jupiter that our shared mojo will return soon and not be permanently harmed. My primary concern is that where a US president goes, there goes the nation. And I wish that meant something to success-at-all-costs Republicans--sore losers since 2008/09.

And the president's natal Mars square our national Mars? A stimulating contact, of course, but it also denotes much frustration at the pace of getting things done and indicates that indecisiveness is a no-no if goals are to be reached.

Another astrological 'scandal factor' playing into current circumstances is the president's natal 9th house Neptune @8Sco36 conjoining US natal Ascendant in our Scorpio Rising chart. Although I usually use our natal Sagittarius Rising chart (the 'Sibly' chart: 5:10 pm LMT July 4, 1776), the Scorpio Rising chart may be used for Surveillance-Secret Agencies, Corporate, and even Military and Nuclear matters (Scorpio = Mars-Pluto), and of course, Scorpio Rising is always used as our natal horoscope at the brilliant Neptune Cafe.

Neptune-ASC contacts tend to be unstable and/or ethereal with **intuitive promptings galore which have made it easy for propaganda-spreading through uplifting speeches and the often-praised rhetorical talent of President Obama. Yet this contact has tied in perfectly with his personal magnetism, charisma, and the public fascination with him. Even the GOP's constant drip-drip-drip against the president shows their fascination with him, aka, obsession. And since Neptune rules paranoia (which has increased greatly as Neptune floats through its own sign of oceanic Pisces), we find extremist groups across the country dogging the president's every move and doubting (Neptune) his every motivation (Mars) including proposed gun (Mars) legislation.

Plus, in March 2010, when much of the current scandalous troubles actually began, rebellious, anarchical Uranus entered Mars-ruled Aries and crossed US natal IC (00Ari53 in the Sibly chart) signifying uprisings, riots, protests, strikes, and violent disagreements. Uranus = Aries Point has lead to one problem after another with its titanic Cardinal Square with stealthy, wealthy Pluto at the foundation of many upsets...radical progress v ancient ways, and a generational clash ensues--including within the Republican Party and its wet-behind-the-ears Tea Party members!

And of course we've discussed here before the ongoing transit of limiting, austere, conservative Saturn in Scorpio hitting the president's natal Neptune, a time when dreams-come true (won a 2nd term) and/or the grim-face-of-reality (scandals ensue) peeks into one's life. For Obama, it's now officially both implications which are active. This is also a Saturnian take-responsibility/be-accountable transit to the US Scorpios Rising chart's Ascendant (the nation, but also the CIA, FBI, IRS, etc--depending on how the Scorpio Rising horoscope is used.)

Yes, the presidential second-term curse for Obama is being touted by all news sources and pundits but is it real? Obviously, the American people (those who are paying attention!) must stumble through to the other side of current scandals and consider all sides of the issues before we can hope to understand the ultimate results of Barack Obama's presidential legacy, a task which will take several years.

My feeling is that an internationally based Wider Agenda marches on, no matter what topics the press directs our attention toward while directing us away from issues and actions that should be scrutinized, not ignored. Are the Democrats complicit in this re-direction or victims? I'd say yes to complicity, for the business of the American People--jobs creation, immigration reform, returning vets, and many other critical issues--will be forced onto Capitol Hill's back burners or tossed out entirely while the GOP enjoys its tiresome gotcha celebrations against a Democratic president, an outcome which is sadly and tragically predictable.

~:~

On the IRS scandal see: Ambiguity on Tax Rules and Disintegration of Election Law May Have Led to IRS-Tea Party Mess with ambiguity and disintegration (and scandal) being words of Neptune. Repeal Citizens United!

*If you wish, scroll the sidebar for the Search Box and type, 'Eclipses' for a list of them. My post on the May 9th Solar Eclipse (horoscope shown) may also be accessed by checking out previous posts of recent weeks. According to the May 9th eclipse, some 'tension may be suddenly released but with a sense of loss or grief that is more collective than personal' (paraphrasing Brady's Predictive Astrology.)

**Neptune-ASC as "intuitive promptings": The Astrologer's Handbook, Sakoian.

Horoscope: Lunar Eclipse @4Sag08 May 25, 2013

May 25, 2013 Lunar Eclipse Conjoins Election 2012's Mercury Station Rx

by Jude Cowell

Other than the political besieging of President Obama currently en vogue with his Republican opponents concerning Benghazi, IRS targeting of the tax status of 'Tea Party' and 'Patriot' groups, and more, it remains to be seen how or if the May 25, 2013 Lunar Eclipse @4Sag08 will affect the second term of President Barack Obama. We know the GOP will wound the president's legacy as deeply as they can and are keeping in mind Election 2016 as they stir up as much mischief as possible with Hillary Clinton their target along with the president whose White House stint they've aimed to sabotage from the start.

The American people are inconsequential 'collateral damage' as the GOP allows mottoes such as 'success at any cost' and 'might makes right' to be admirable political strategies no matter who gets hurt (as do some Democrats, not to let them off the hook.)

Opposite the eclipsed Moon is, of course, the Sun @4Gem08 on May 25th which astrologically spotlights the president's natal Moon @3Gem21 (in his natal 4th house, a Psychological house that also relates to his living quarters and domestic scene.)

Here's a view of the Lunar Eclipse horoscope for May 25, 2013 12:24:55 am edt White House Washington DC--please click to enlarge the image for a few basic astro-notes scribbled thereon:

Hour of Saturn; ASC 3AQ17 (the position of Jupiter in 10th house of the Inauguration 2009 chart); Saturn is chart-ruler with Uranus as co- or sub-ruler (they were in opposition on Election Day 2008 and for January 20, 2009, as you remember: status quo v progress---I said for Mr. Obama, status quo would win out with his natal Saturn in its own sign of Capricorn, and as you know, his continuation and ramping up of Bush policies has been well-noted by the press.)

Chart-ruler Saturn in 9th house applies to a trine of opportunity with Neptune in 1st house (0A58), a time when traditional ideas and institutions may develop a spiritual flavor, and repayment and collection of debts is on the menu; huge social responsibilities are taken on or addressed, moral standards increase in importance, and solutions may be found.

Sub-ruler Uranus and powerful Pluto remain in square aspect (0S15) with their frustrating square becoming exact once again on May 20, 2013 @11Ari14/11Cap14 (7:00 pm edt.) Will new protests, uprisings, and/or rallies break out as generations clash? Well, nebulous Neptune, planet of the masses and of the media, squares the Lunar Eclipse of May 25th thus increasing the chances of confusion, deception, and/or mass movements within the environment. And naturally Neptune's rulership of the oceans, water in general, gas and oil, secret agents, and loss through any or all of them should kept in mind.

As you see, the awareness-producing Lunar Eclipse occurs in the 10th house of Public Status when the horoscope is set for the White House (or anywhere within the District of Columbia) with the Sun in the domestic 4th house (across the 4/10 Security axis.) The preceding Solar Eclipse @19Tau31 of May 9, 2013 falls in the 3rd house near the South Node of the Moon, a separative point showing where energy is drained from current circumstances. The Jupiterian North Node, a point of encounters and future direction, and austere, business-minded Saturn @6Sco17 Rx, are in 9th house of Foreign Lands, Travel, Higher Education, and Philosophy.

Contentious activist Mars @25Tau30 is closest planet to an Angle (IC 24Tau28) and has prevalence for this reason and is in 1st house of the Inauguration 2009 chart (ASC 14Tau03); also at IC lurks a very difficult Fixed Star, *Algol--look below for themes from various sources for this ruthless star. Mars rules the 10th house of Public Status (with Pluto bwo Scorpio) and the 3rd house of Communications.

Stealthy, wealthy plutocrat, Pluto @11Cap10 Rx, planet of transformation and death, creeps about in the 12th house of Politics, Karma, Self-Undoing, and Large Institutions (such as vet hospitals), possibly with his surgery instruments in hand. Chart-co-ruler, quirky rebel Uranus @11Ari25, is posited in the 2nd house of our National Treasury and has a potential for sudden upset and disruption in financial matters. Currency evaluation or speculation may be indicated as well with 8th house ruler Mercury in 5th house conjunct Venus, planet of values, evaluations, and relationships.

In 5th house of Risk-Taking, Gambling, and Creative Pursuits (including Children) we find Venus and Mercury conjunct (19Gem05/13) along with banker, guru, professor, and General, Jupiter @22Gem43. Of course, Jupiter also relates to Politics and to whichever of our political parties wants to invest or spend money at any particular moment. Plus, this position of Jupiter is a transit to US natal Mars, a time when success in competition is possible if over-confidence and over-estimation can be avoided; male relationships are highlighted, plus, indulgence and luxurious travel may be indicated (Air Force One could become a factor or a news item at this time.)

Now as you know, both Lunar and Solar Eclipses tend to spotlight or uncover hidden things or secrets with the Lunar factor emphasizing an unconscious flavor to discoveries such as 'Freudian slips'--or, unfortunate leaks of information may occur. And with all that's brewing in our nation's capital these days, it remains to be seen what new secrets will be revealed as Summer 2013 nears.

Let's close with the two degree's symbols to describe the May 25th Lunar Eclipse using the rounding-up method (4:08 = 5.)

Sabian Symbols of Sun and Moon May 25, 2013--each **degree is the Illumination Point of the other:

Sun @5Gem: "A Radical Magazine" = 'TANGENCY--positive expression: personality in its highly effective capacity for putting its stamp on everything it touches; negative'/(unconscious/shadow side--jc): 'a perverse tendency to quarrel with everybody.'

Moon @5Sag: "An Old Owl Up in a Tree" = 'NORMALITY--pos: exceptional wisdom or effective self-restraint in each detail of personal accomplishment; neg: self-betraying intellectual and emotional smugness.'

Any thoughts on the May 2013 Lunar Eclipse? No? Then it feels as if I'm just typing into the wind!

*Caput Algol (Beta Perseaus; a double variable star--Medusa's Head in the Hand of Perseus; 26Tau) potentials include: violence, damage to neck and throat, decapitation, 'losing one's head', murder, horror, illness, criminality (A. Louis); harmful fires (D. Rosenberg); no important battles should begin when Algol's light is weak; disaster (Ebertin-Hoffmann); Algol with MC = mob violence, murder, tragic endings (N. DeVore.)

**4-5 Gem/Sag are considered 'nuclear degrees'--I just don't like to say so.

5Gem/5Sag from The Sabian Symbols in Astrology, Marc Edmund Jones.

So What Killed General Stonewall Jackson?

According to a surgeon's recent review of his Civil War medical records, the third most prevalent reason for death during the war was the cause of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson's demise after 'friendly fire' had felled him as he returned from scouting enemy lines on the night of May 2, 1863.

May 2, 2013 was the 150th anniversary of General Jackson's death.

If you wish, check out the natal midpoint pictures of the Civil War with the deceptive Mercury-Neptune midpoint leading the way to death, misery, and Lincoln's ruthless invasion and occupation of the South.

"The Big Benghazi Theory"-- Jon Stewart (video)

On TV yesterday I watched a goodly portion of Darrel Issa's witch-hunting Benghazi hearing. So far my favorite news report on the hearing is Jon Stewart's coverage which you see here and my favorite part of that is Mr. Stewart pointing out how Republicans and their news buddies have been working so hard to make the tragic September 11, 2012 attack/s on our embassy seem hugely worse and more cover-up-able than Tricky Dick's Watergate and Reagan's Iran-Contra scandal and cynical October Surprise mixed together!

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Big Benghazi Theory
www.thedailyshow.com
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If you're curious, here are previous astro-notes on Darrel Issa's natal Sun Scorpio-Moon Virgo personality combo with Scorpio being the sign of investigations and probes.

Mark Sanford Victorious w Jupiter to natal Mercury

A Few Astro-Notes on the Victorious Mark Sanford

by Jude Cowell

By now you're heard the quirky news that yesterday, South Carolina's former Governor Mark Sanford won back a seat on Capitol Hill besting Democratic challenger Elizabeth Colbert-Busch.

Wonder what transits now affect his natal planets which favor a victorious outcome?

Born Marshall Clement Sanford, Jr. on May 28, 1960 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Sanford's natal Sun is in Gemini (6:51--7:49) and the Moon is in Cancer (6:22--18:12 during the 24-hour period of his birth date.) He's a romantic!

Major transits to his natal planets which relate to a political aims, or in this case, a victory, include tr Jupiter @19Gemini to natal Mercury @20Gem, a time of expansive plans, tr Pluto to n Jupiter 1Cap26 Rx, a powerful and transformative influence that has now waned but has broadened his political ambitions for some time, and tr Saturn to natal Neptune @6Sco59 Rx, a period when self contemplation is necessary, selflessness and spiritual practices are focuses, and a dream may come true--or the grim face of reality stymies ambitions. Apparently his dream came true yesterday.

Plus, transit Neptune in Pisces has been opposing natal Pluto in early Virgo which supports the idea that his focus needed changing from the material to the spiritual.

Recently within orb and soon to be exact is tr Uranus approaching natal Mars @13Ari11, a perfect description of taking a new direction in life though some separations from males may be indicated. Let's hope his new position on Capitol Hill won't include his taking a wrong direction--new or otherwise.