A Search for the Real Monarch of Britain (video)

Then Is Queen Elizabeth II lost? No, silly!

by Jude Cowell

Though I'm studying US Progressions for November 28, 2013, there's not much time for blogging today so here's a curious video, a 48-minute tale of Tony Robinson's search for the Real Monarch of Britain. No, I have not had a chance to view the entire presentation though of course I've previously read about the King who eliminated all those he could murder of Plantagenets from the face of the earth thus diverting into an alternate direction, the Royal Blood Line of Ascendancy to the British Throne:

Am I to guess that much of history is written by successful usurpers?

For more videos visit Forbidden Knowledge TV where knowledge isn't so forbidden after all...

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.

NSA taps the Pope's cell phone? (video)

Check out this presentation from Mark Dice:

And here's Mark Dice on the discovery of the writings of the Illuminati from which he quotes--a secret organization which he says links to the Order of Skull and Bones:

Nov 5, 2013: Venus to Saturn-ruled Capricorn until March 2014

With America's presidential office in the White house oval-shaped, and considering all the statues of feminine goddesses sprinkled about the District (plus, there she is uplifting her Illuminati torch in New York harbor), one concludes that Venus was and is very important in the pantheon of idols in our leadership's thinking and ideology.

So whatever planet Venus does in relationships, finances, or diplomacy, it pays to keep a cautious eye upon her for in Astrology Venus on the most basic level represents the attraction principle.

After a sojourn in Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius, Venus moves into Capricorn on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at 3:43 am est. Capricorn is the sign of government, law, and business where Venus must exercise more control and may hold obsolete views. Once in Cap, Venus will soon oppose America's natal Venus (3 Cancer) denoting a time when America's opinions, proposals, and reactions in the realms of relationships, diplomacy, and finances are met with disagreement and...well, opposition.

This is currently the case in many realms, as you know, from US foreign policy-- now gummed up by our government's spying on allies--to draconian drone strikes, to reforming our health care insurance and the health care system some call "the best in the world." Funny how that's a sentiment often touted by those with cadillac health care insurance paid for on the public dime, isn't it?

So when Venus is in Saturn-ruled Capricorn, maturity, constancy and faithfulness are required yet distrust, jealousy, disappointment, separation, and too much of a 'factual' manner may be in evidence instead. Plus, the Moon (ruler of US natal Venus) follows Venus into Cap on Wednesday, Nov 6th, at 4:44 pm est and they conjoin Wednesday evening at 7:22 pm est which may lift spirits a little with a pleasant contact, and/or reveal pretenses so that they may be viewed more clearly and be tactfully dispelled.

But enough! My guess is that if you've read this far you're more than ready to check out an article by expert astrologer Julie Demboski who will give you her perspective on Venus in Capricorn for the planet of love retrogrades on December 20th and will remain in Capricorn until early March 2014!

Of Phony Drug Wars and Neptune

Saturn-Neptune in America: Addicted to Wars, Both Real and Phony

by Jude Cowell

For decades in America, many people have intuited or experienced the phoniness and corruption behind our alleged 'War on Drugs' as officially declared by one Richard Nixon on June 17, 1971. PBS' Frontline provides a timeline if you should be so curious about this tool of oppression.

There are other sources on the topic, however, and here's an excerpt from one of them with its link posted underneath:

"In 1909, Walter Rathenau-" (of General Electric) "-said the following about the Committee of 300": "Three hundred men, all of whom know one another, direct the economic destiny of Europe and choose their successors from among themselves."

"For nearly a century the British East India and Dutch East India Companies gathered fortunes from their opium trade with Asia and now through the Committee of 300 they continue to wage phony drug wars around the world today."

For more info visit the Committee of 300 conspiracywiki page.

Jupiter-Neptune

If you look at a horoscope for June 17, 1971--perhaps set for noon, since it was an announcement to the public by the president--you'll see a retrograde Jupiter in Scorpio, one of the 'drug signs', conjunct Neptune Rx @1Sag03, a planet whose connection to drugs and sub-rulership of the other 'drug sign', Pisces, is well known. This pairing seems to indicate more of an expansion (Jupiter) of drugs (Neptune) rather than a restriction. Plus, Neptune's karmic Sabian Symbol for '1Sag' is: "A Grand Army of the Republic Campfire." Curious, no? Especially in light of the lucrative drug trafficking the US military (and the CIA) allegedly carried on during the Vietnam War--and since.

Saturn-Neptune

In Astrology we might say that Governmental Saturn = Real and Controlling, Fraudulent Neptune = Secret and Phony. And this difficult planetary pair's influence goes back to our nation's founding with its invisible/shadow (Neptune) laws/government (Saturn) vibes that have only become more pronounced in recent years as global governance promoters peek out from the shadows into the camera's bright glare.

If such conspiratorial drug trafficking allegations are true--and we're not just being paranoid--no wonder the phony, corrupt "War on Drugs" prohibition with New York's draconian Rockefeller Drug Laws and other statutes that ignore the health issues underlying drug use keep grinding on and purposefully creating in the US a massive prison population and the broken families that go with it.

10.31.13: Senator-elect Cory Booker sworn in w his Venus rising

At noon today, Senator-elect Cory Booker was sworn in and now joins the hallowed lions' den within the US Capitol Building. Assuming the ceremony and oath proceeded on schedule, we find that 2Cap26 is rising on the Ascendant at the Capitol Building (10.31.13) with Venus @25Sag21 rising in 12th house of Politics and Karma, and powerful Pluto @9Cap25 rising in the 1st house of Self.

This gives a 'fascinating, attractive personality' vibe to his tenure (Venus-Pluto = ASC) and makes Saturn the chart-ruler directing the event and his term. Saturn @13Sco32 is in 10th house of Public Status/Career and makes no major applying aspects though the societal pair of planets, Saturn and Jupiter, as in a lovely trine (6A54) from Jupiter's 7th house position 20Can26 (a critical degree).

With no application, Saturn's sign, degree, and house position become more prominent. Yet Saturn is not part of a rather massive YOD pattern with its base an 8th house Mars @9Vir32 sextiling Sun (8Sco23--conjunct President Obama's natal Neptune today and his alleged falsehoods in the news), North Node @7Sco45, and Mercury Rx @11Sco06--not great for taking Mercurial oaths. So will there be a flub? Or is Mercury Rx related to Booker's taking over for deceased Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, as in, a second oath taken for the same senate seat? Well, this is a Balsamic phase of the Moon period so taking over for another who can't carry on is denoted already and a retrograde Mercury seems to be supporting this.

Now the apex of the YOD (special task, crisis, turning point) is planet Uranus Rx @9Ari27 in 3rd house of Communications. As apex planet in a YOD, Uranus behaves as a catalyst, an extraordinary person with acute intellectual capacity who disrupts by making sweeping changes.

And we all know that the US Congress needs all the sweeping (and dusting and cleaning) it can get, so Welcome, Senator Booker, to Capitol Hill Antics Theater! May your 'special task' be successfully performed on behalf of the American people. I hope you brought a large broom.

As for Senator Booker's natal chart (April 27, 1969, Washington DC, 'noon'), his first natal planet to rise today at noon is Venus @10Ari35 with the magic wand of Uranus catalyzing it which indicates new or unusual alliances being formed and interactions with others that are difficult to predict. The swearing-in Moon today @1Lib59 conjoins Mr. Booker's natal Uranus @00Lib33 Rx (which conjoins his natal South Node, and both conjoin America's natal Midheaven, and if his natal Moon in Virgo is on or near 9Vir+, transit Mars @9Vir32 conjoins it denoting a quicker pace to life and emotions that are close to the surface.

A Cosmic Link: Obamacare and the GOP's natal Neptune

An Astrology Link Between Obamacare and the Republican Party

by Jude Cowell

First, here is a link to a post concerning the March 23, 2010 horoscope of the President Signing the Health Insurance Reform, or, ACA, or Obamacare, if you prefer. What's nifty for astrologers is that the moment of signing the bill into law is on record as 11:55 am edt. My post focuses on transiting Neptune (illusion, deception, inspiration) conjoining US natal Moon (We the People) at that unstable time, plus, the signing of the law occurred with the Moon out-of-bounds (OOBs) of the earthly plane so the public was feeling emotionally insecure, uncertain, and unattached to the event--out of the loop were we especially since health insurance companies basically authored the bill that became law.

One of the primary planetary links between the ACA horoscope and that of the Republican Party (July 6, 1854 5:00 pm LMT Jackson, MI) is the ACA's 10th house Jupiter @15Pis18 conjoining the Party's natal 4th house Neptune (15Pis52 Rx), a time when illusion, deception, and pretense are the order of the day. A loss of touch with reality is indicated along with fanaticism and paranoia, typical of the years when Neptune floats through its own watery sign of Pisces, even without a Jupiter-to-Neptune transit.

And of course an inflation/conflation theme is often active whenever Jupiter and Neptune are linked together and we certainly see this tendency as the GOP spends much of their time and energy--and taxpayers' dimes--attempting to inflate any issue they can into a scandal that, they hope, will entangle the Obama administration and thereby 'justify' Republican cries for repealing Obamacare and, if their dream (Jupiter-Neptune) comes true, for impeachment of a president who dares to govern while Democrat.

Does any of this sound like some Republicans you know?

~:~

If you're wondering when the Republican Party will experience its first-ever Neptune Return to 15Pis52, it will be a three-fer (lots of Neptunian lessons to learn--if the Party remains in existence)--and the Return dates are:

1. May 18, 2018; 2. August 7, 2018 (Rx); 3. February 27, 2019. The Return/s will 'freshen up' any aspects or other planetary and angular relationships their natal Neptune had at the Party's founding.

A Monetary Echo from Adams' 1787 Letter to Jefferson?

Of Money Lenders, French Debt, and All the Domestic Debt

by Jude Cowell

Sometimes when I find an interesting date in history upon which an event occurred, I like to calculate a horoscope for it to spot check what was being reflected between the Earth and the Cosmos for, As Above, So Below. In lieu of an event's exact hour, noon is usually used, or perhaps midnight or sunrise.

One such event is a letter from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson dated August 25, 1787, sent from Grovenor Square, London. The following is probably the most famous excerpt from this particular missive which is part of a discussion between them concerning such financial topics as "Money Lenders", "the French Debt", and "the Domestic Debt of the Unites States" which "might be transferred to Holland," writes Mr. Adams to Mr. Jefferson. Wonder if Adams' insights may be worth considering in light of our current predicament?

"All the Perplexities, Confusions and Distresses in America arise not from defects in their Constitutions or Confederation, not from a want of Honour or Virtue, So much as from downright Ignorance of the Nature of Coin, Credit and Circulation."

And yes, the sentiment has been expressed by others and in various ways. But this is correspondence between two of our Founding Rosicrucian-Freemason-Illuminatists so what planetary transits or links may have been influencing their discussion via America's natal planets (July 4, 1776) as Adams mentions these monetary topics?

August 25, 1787 London, England noon: Sun 2Vir07 at Midheaven (1Vir38), Moon 24Cap16 in 3rd house of Communications; transiting South Node of the Moon, a separative point, conjoins US natal Venus (money, evaluations) in early Cancer along with our national Jupiter @5Can56; both tr Mars and tr Jupiter are in Gemini and in 8th house of Debt and Credit (at noon) with Jupiter expanding the plans of our national Mars (energy, action, motivation, males) so we know that growth and development are on the menu and that male relationships are favored within fortunate working conditions.

At noon, it's a Mercury Hour, a good time to sit right down and pen someone a letter and with Mercury @25Leo18 and Rx in 9th house of Foreign Lands, we see that this letter is but one of a series on themes that have been discussed before (Rx.) Pluto Rx and Saturn Rx are in Aquarius which marks 1787 as an era of scientific advancement; Mars @19Gem26 shows the date to be within the waning days of an American Mars Return as a new 2-year cycle of activity is in preparation and will begin soon.

As you know, a YOD is a crisis pattern of special tasks and turning points and one is formed here between Mercury, Jupiter, and the Moon which denotes lively women in the environment--perhaps older ladies (Cap)--and many lively exchanges of thought--here, between Adams and Jefferson for the rift in their relationship had yet to occur.

The letter's Pre-Natal Eclipse Series is the initial Total Solar Eclipse (June 15, 1787) in the 5 New South Saros Series and indicates that 'good news, long term benefits, and peak experiences' were enjoyed (Brady.)

A Uranian Surprise?

And with America's 'totem planet', Uranus @28Can04, we see a transit in play whereby America's natal Pluto Rx @27Cap33 is opposed by rebellious genius Uranus which implies that a clash between younger (Uranus) and older (Pluto) generations is in effect and concerns how resources should be handled; also, established sources of political power are disrupted or eliminated entirely thanks to the catalyzing tendencies of The Awakener, Uranus.

With Uranus in Aries now squaring Pluto in Capricorn (off and on until 2015), perhaps that last paragraph resounds a bit through the centuries and reflects Washington's current Capitol Hill antics which they continue to play act for us rather than seriously engaging in the governing we expected.

Curiously, the day's Sun Vir-Moon Cap (Mercury-Saturn) blend is shared natally by financier J.P. Morgan, Sr., and last manifested on November 23, 2003 @1Sag14.

Will Mercury Direct time the ACA website repair?

Since speedy Mercury, planet of communications and messages and intricately linked to websites, choices, contracts, and transport of information, turns Direct @2Sco29 on November 10, 2013, we may expect shortly thereafter that a breakthrough may occur and be announced concerning the fix of the ACA (Obamacare) website. Or should we?

Well, perhaps not since Mercury must pass its Retrograde Station 'shadow' degree (18Sco23) of October 21, 2013--which it does during the last week of November 2013--before Mercurial things can successfully move quickly forward. After clearing that Zodiacal speed bump, then a speeding up in the sign-up process online should be forthcoming around that date. Of course, on planet Earth, everything is part of a process which doesn't exclude some improvements to be apparent once Mercury performs its Direct Station on November 10th.

Using Marc Edmund Jones' book The Sabian Symbols in Astrology, let's look at the Sabian Symbols for the current Mercury Rx-Direct cycles' Station degrees and their negative expressions; I will include the karmic degrees prior as well as the Illumination Points, the opposite degrees--my own comments are in parentheses:

Oct 21, 2013 Mercury Rx Station @18Sco23...karmic symbol for '18Sco' = "A Woods Rich in Autumn Coloring"...negative/shadow side: 'a perverse delight in permitting worthwhile things to go to seed' (okay, GOP-Tea Party congressmen, that'd be you.)

'19Sco' = "A Parrot Listening and Then Talking"...neg: 'idle mimicry and self-gratifying pretense'. (Cruz's Green Eggs and Ham fake filibuster?)

Illumination Points are '18Tau' = "A Woman Holding a Bag Out of a Window"...neg: 'dissatisfaction with things as they are and complete ineptness in handling them' (GOP sore losers?)

'19Tau' = "A Newly Formed Continent"...neg: a genius for futile turmoil and persistent upset' (govern by crisis much? All their drama and mimicry are for changing America fundamentally under our noses and keeping the public busy focusing on our pet issues.)

Mercury Direct Station November 10, 2013, karmic degree is '1Sco' = "A Sight-Seeing Bus"...neg: 'a genius for avoiding any and every actual expenditure of self.'

'2Sco' = "A Broken Bottle and Spilled Perfume"...neg: witless dissipation of every resource of self and society' (this is the degree of the modern spawning of the New World Order's natal Sun from October 24, 1993 as timed by the 3rd of 3 conjunctions between Uranus and Neptune @'18Cap' = 'POLITICAL POWER'...neg: 'smug or strong-armed paternalism' (transvaginal probe much?)

Illumination Points for Mercury's Direct Station are '1Tau' and '2Tau':

'1Tau' = "A Clear Mountain Stream"...neg: 'a tendency to waste the potentialities of being by aimless self-ramifications' (how much did Cruz's fake filibuster cost taxpayers? And how much for over 40 House voting attempts to 'defund Obamacare' when they could instead be legislating on behalf of the American people?)

'2Tau' = "An Electrical Storm"...neg: 'unreasoning timidity in all self-expression' (and I think of planet Uranus when I think of electricity and storms with Uranus now in Mars-ruled Aries which points toward what Reinhold Ebertin describes as 'fanatics, Utopians, blind zealots, reformers', among other things.

Update Monday Oct 28, 2013: all weekend I heard TV pundits mention the end of November as when the ACA website should be in working order. Good old Astrology! jc

April 2014: a Cardinal Grand Cross and a US Lunar Return

Casting a Cosmic Spotlight on April 23, 2014 and We the People

by Jude Cowell

First, here's astrologer Michael Lennox speaking about the Cardinal Square which becomes a Cardinal Cross at times as other planets join in and involving the socially and politically riotous Uranus-Pluto square now in progress until 2015. The video was posted in late August 2013 and contains some general information on the conflicting energies inherent within this cosmic planetary pattern of heavy-weights:

Actually, today I've been looking at US Lunar Returns for 2014 and particularly focusing for now on our nation's Lunar Return for April 23, 2014 which perfects at 10:08:07 pm edt, White House (using US natal Moon @27AQ10 on July 4, 1776 5:10 pm LMT Philadelphia, PA.) I have relocated the Return charts for the White House and am using the Moon as a timing device for our spotlight.

As you know, through aspects and other chart factors, a Lunar Return provides details for a particular month including the tempo of life, mundane concerns, minor phases of experience, and changing or fluctuating circumstances (as well as for the timing of events.)

And while it's most useful to read a Lunar Return chart in relation to the current Solar Return, that is beyond the scope of today's post. However, here's a link to my brief analysis of US Solar Return 2013 from July past and you'll note that, as always, the Moon disposits US natal Sun and that in 2013, Cancer sits upon the IC/4th house of the Solar Return 2013 chart, both of which give prominence to US Lunar Returns for the period (July 2013--July 2014), especially since chart angles are points of energy manifestation. Naturally, a prominent IC points to the Domestic Scene and Security Matters. Thus, years 2013 and 2014 are cosmically linked as are the Moon (We the People) and Sun (leader) in Mundane charts.

13 x 4 = a Whopping Cardinal Grand Cross

America's April 23, 2014 Lunar Return chart shows a Cardinal Grand Cross pattern involving Mars Rx @13Lib23 in Return 10th house (conjunct US natal Saturn) and opposing Uranus @13Ari41 (4th h.) Jupiter @13Can58 (conjunct US natal Sun) is in Return 8th h opposite Pluto @13Cap33 Rx in Return 2nd h of the National Treasury so wealthy underworld boss, Pluto, continues his 'power struggle' opposition to US natal Sun (leadership.) Notably these planets are all at 13 degrees, a number which some people are superstitious about and 13 does, of course, carry meaning within Freemasonry and other secretive systems of thought, some which many of our Founding Fathers were members of in their day.

See: Properties of the Number 13.

A Cardinal Grand Cross is a very active configuration indicating that the actors (planets) involved are energetically 'on the move' and behaving very assertively. The four squares agitate the already impatient quality of the pattern and may inspire poorly planned actions as the charged up energies keep things tense and pressurized.

Meanwhile, the oppositions in Cardinal mode show that cooperation is much needed for ultimate success though finding willing assistance is difficult. Cultivating sociability might help matters but in Washington, that's not likely these days (unless one has a dog!) Bad timing, recklessness, and direct confrontations are more likely along with being accident-prone since impulsive hothead Mars is in the picture along with Uranus, planet of sudden shocks. Together, the Mars-Uranus duo has an explosive quality which may be catalyzed into action.

Even so, there is strong ambition to achieve and to best the competition herein, and if Mars can be tamped down enough so that careful consideration and forethought are employed rather than premature action, much may be achieved with a dynamic Cardinal Grand Cross--unless headstrong temperaments impatiently prevail. Yes, I may be describing Ted Cruz here and a need for the GOP to take control if they can against a grenade-tosser so determined to take center-stage in spite of any and all losses.

So all in all, from April into May 2014, we may expect a continuation of confrontations and stand-offs, a frenetic tempo, and major obstacles that block many people's objectives. Is that any different than Washington DC circa 2013? Maybe not but if things are worse, I suspect the American people will be even more disapproving of our off-the-mark, ideologue politicians than current polls indicate.

Plus, We the People becoming fed up en masse with the US government is precisely what global government promoters of the 'new world order' persuasion want. After all, they go to a lot of trouble and expense to engineer the chaos from which they'll pretend to 'save' us.

US Political Parties in Cease-Fire Mode until January 2014

Perhaps on Thursday past you read this from Robert Reich: What to Expect During the Cease-Fire or perhaps you're simply relieved at the moment that the government shutdown has ended. To me, it seems a meager victory since the US government is now 'open' which it should have been all along. No kudos here from this Stars Over Washington blogger for congress members reaching such a pathetically low bar.

On an economic level, the 16-day shutdown cost $24 billion which has been tossed into the wind by Tea Partiers and their Republican enablers, so now we wonder how holiday retail sales quotas for 2013 will be affected with January 15 so near and February 7 lurking. However, prevalent is the haunting certainty that Republican malcontents will again use similar tricks in order to tarnish and undermine the president's political agenda while grousing over the ACA (aka, 'Obamacare'--which promises to provide health care insurance and treatment for those who desperately need it), even though a majority of the American people are heartily fatigued with their political antics and expressions of irrational will.

These frustrating conditions may be seen in the horoscope of Winter Solstice 2013 which, as did Winter Solstice 2012 with its YOD of crisis (Saturn-Pluto = Jupiter Rx), ushers in the New Year with much of Washington's deception and the breaking of the public trust on display around our new dates to fret about: January 15, 2014 and February 7, 2014.

Is the US government so fragile that a minority of brigands can shut it down and threaten economic ruin both here and globally based on misguided principles and their out-of-control egos? If so, it's because current and past congress members have set up the weakened condition along with SCOTUS' collusion and a bunch of shadowy financiers who egg all of them on.

Now that the end-of-shutdown culmination inspired by the October 18, 2013 Lunar Eclipse in Aries has occurred, cosmic events coming soon include a Solar Eclipse on November 3, 2013 and, of course, Winter Solstice 2013. Neither horoscope looks particularly comforting considering current circumstances and the Threats of January-February 2014 looming, though the 'insight and bright ideas' Scorpio Solar Eclipse @11Sco15 on November 3 may supply solutions. A money and big business sign, we may hope that Scorpio's innate ability to make positive karmic progress by taking prudent, correct action (while avoiding the sign's more negative tendencies of revenge and betrayal) may be accessed on behalf of our nation if the ruling class of Washington DC so desires.

Recommended: What Will Republicans Use as Leverage Now? and Robert Parry's The Abject Failure of Reaganomics, aka, Trickle Down Economics.

Shutdowns 1995/96 and 2013 linked by Mars-Neptune

Mars-Neptune, Government Shutdowns, and Autumn 2013 Eclipses

by Jude Cowell

On Saturday October 19, 2013, transit Mars @2Vir39 returns to its position in the 'Shutdown New Moon 1995' horoscope (Sun-Moon @10Cap33), which is called a Mars Return, and which symbolizes a new 2-year cycle of activity relating to shutdowns and stalemates. For the current government shutdown, testosterone-driven Mars, the planet of quarrels, activism, and war, is opposed by transit Neptune @2Pis44 Rx.

As you see from the 1995 New Moon degree of 10Cap33, transit Pluto now conjoins it showing changed circumstances that lead to a critical time of development (Ebertin.) A New Moon begins a cycle of activity as well, and this one on January 1, 1995 occurred 3 days prior to the swearing in of the 104th Congress, and times the cosmic beginning of the New Gingrich 'revolution'. Rounding up, the negative expression of 11 Cap's Sabian Symbol is: 'egoistic satisfaction in matching the mediocrity of others' and I'm quite certain that then as now, the American people look to the US Congress for such sorriness as that.

In fact, some say that the approval rating of Congress has now dropped to the historic low of 5% (which causes me to wonder what on earth is wrong with the 5%.)

So with tr Mars about to return to its 1995 degree on October 19th, and with the current position of nebulous, fraud-producing Neptune opposing said Mars, what's up in the Mars-Neptune department? Well, you know about America's problematic Mars-Neptune square (22Gemini SQ 22Virgo) in our national horoscope (July 4, 1776) so whenever Mars and Neptune tangle, our 'confused motivations/misguided actions' tendencies are usually on display or are triggered. (Ex: Republicans seem to have forgotten their 'defund Obamacare' campaign which was irrationally instigated by wet-behind-the-ears senator, Ted Cruz. The GOP has "moved on" from that particular losing battle and have set their sights on other budgetary targets where they'll be able to save face, they hope.)

My fuss is that all this high drama is meant to undermine confidence in the US government of the American people--yet it doesn't do that for me but does serve to highlight my lack of confidence in the current doltish crop of Capitol Hill brigands, but not in the republican system itself. Efficient government is what I prefer, even if it means that government isn't 'smaller'. (Well, okay, so I was born with four natal planets in Capricorn, the sign of government, business, and law!)

So! Transit 2013 Neptune opposing 1995 Mars denotes a time of futile efforts (!) and debilitating factors which undermine actions; misguided ideals inspire acts of revenge and aggression while risk-taking endeavors and hostile confrontations do not work out in Mars' favor. Scandal, deception, illusion, and mistrust are on the Martian menu at this time. Headaches are difficult to diagnose yet a majority of Americans agree that it's quite simple to discern from what quarter the headaches the US Congress is giving We the People have their beginnings.

Obviously, the Mars-Neptune transit between Shutdowns 1995 and 2013 indicates that results are not conforming to what the Republican Tea Party's expected outcome was delusionally intended to be and the irrational, self-deceived energies that Neptune can supply to any situation turned out to be more prominent in the real world than Neptune's undermining of President Obama's signature legislation, the Affordable Health Care Act, at least at this time. Additionally, Neptune also signifies The Web and the ACA website's awful first week has been gummed up by Neptunian forces (are hackers involved, I wonder?) More political attacks from anti-government/small-government types will be forthcoming, I suspect, especially since they've fought against FDR's New Deal programs from the start and now consider Obamacare to be an increase in the size of government--which it is.

Well, no one should ever expect outer planets such as Neptune to provide dependable outcomes, should they?

As I type, the Senate is in session--rare for a Saturday--concerning an offer that would reopen the government and extend the debt ceiling limit so we can pay our bills and thereby avoid becoming a deadbeat nation in default.

However, uplifting the 'full faith and credit of the US government' and protecting the dollar as the global currency are quite different matters.

Yes, the Republican Tea Party has a definite 'genius for futile turmoil and persistent upset' (ruling by lurching from crisis to crisis) so the negative expression of the current Solar Eclipse degree (May 2013 @19Tau) is being demonstrated all too well by the austerity-loving political party. Perhaps this morning's Sun-Moon blend may be instructive as to the flavor of the meeting at the White House so let's check it out:

Sun Libra-Moon Capricorn (Venus-Saturn) is a purposeful, pragmatic, ambitious blend of energies with a social conscience; this blend of the 'artful manager' denotes diplomacy and an ability to work together as idealism morphs into decisive action.

This Sun-Moon blend is shared natally by activist Bobby Seale so here's an apt quote for the day from him:

"We must start coming forth with our energies...our intellects, and our abilities to see what is right and what must be done, so the suffering will stop, and the phrase 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' begins to make some human sense."

At 2:00 pm edt today, the Moon enters Aquarius and prepares for a US Lunar Return on October 14, 2013. In the Return chart, the Moon is opposed by--you guessed it--Mars in late Leo, which indicates the deep anger and resentment of the American people toward whomever each one of us considers contentious Mars to be representing in the government shutdown fiasco!

For me, Mars is the actor involved with the anarchistic Uranus-in-Aries zealots as described by Reinhold Ebertin in his book The Combination of Stellar Influences though, as always, you, dear reader, may feel free to totally disagree.

So at 2:00 pm, the Sun-Moon blend becomes Sun Lib-Moon AQ which has a curious implication to the current anarchy in Washington for it signifies those who 'build castles and a Utopia' in their minds. You'll remember that the old 'Utopia' plan is that of the Adam Weishaupt crowd of Illuminatists whose descendants remain determined to destroy civilized systems such as government, law, religion, and education. And with the November 3, 2013 Solar Eclipse soon occurring with its illuminating Uranus-Neptune content, I'd say they've done a pretty good job of it so far.

News at 12:00 pm et: John Boehner touts that an impasse has been reached in this morning's negotiations with the president. Well, our political drama queens and prima donnas must be pleased that their starring time before the cameras hasn't ended...yet.

View the horoscope of the October 18, 2013 Lunar Eclipse in Aries set for Washington DC, if you wish.