Expanding SCOTUS Could Save Democracy - Why Won’t Biden Risk It? - clip

Let's Save Democracy in America!

Expanding the Supreme Court could dilute the bizarro reich-wing 'handmaiden' leanings of a largely Catholic SCOTUS whose decisions of late have lost the Court credibility among a majority of We the People. Adjusting the size of The Bench has been done before and is warranted now. Here's recent commentary concerning the issue from progressive broadcaster and author Thom Hartmann:

Then for a little cosmic input, a previous post displays the SCOTUS 1790 horoscope (first session), and here from July 2nd just past is SCOTUS decisions: Law and Domination, a post concerning the successful power grab by the US Supreme Court via their February 24, 1803 decision famously known as Marbury v Madison (1803 horoscope shown), a decision which shoved the unelected branch of the US government above the US Congress and far above The Will of The People in what should be our democratic Republic.

So with the weekend upon us, here's a famous quote that's been in the sidebar of SO'W for years. It's from Justice Louis D. Brandeis was born in Louisville, Kentucky on November 13, 1856 with Sun in Scorpio and Moon in Gemini, and served on The Bench from 1916 to 1939:

"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both."

And we don't have both.

We have a rapidly expanding American Oligarchy ruled by economic royalists--unless a majority of US voters wise up and Vote Blue every chance they (we!) get. So to close, here's a brief video of FDR assessing "economic royalists" during his June 27, 1936 DNC speech with the June 27th Sun conjunct his natal Moon in the protective sign of Cancer.

Enjoy!

July 2023 Trump: a YOD of crisis spotlights his Mars in Leo

Another Look at Trump's Mars Return 2023

by Jude Cowell

At the end of June just past, we discussed the July 4th Mars Return 2023 of Donald Trump (chart shown, above). The incomplete YOD of crisis pointing toward his natal Mars @27Leo on that day has moved closer to exactitude so here are a few additional notes on a YOD pattern (crisis or crossroads) with an apex Mars; note that such a pattern when ready to be expressed can also indicate a karmic opportunity for progress, but what are the chances with a vengeful grudge-holder like Trump?

At its base: Neptune sextile Pluto (awakening of the masses to spiritual or karmic forces) inconjunct Mars (motivation, action, energy; in Trump's case: aggression, egoism, zealotry): When ready to express but ill-managed, apex Mars here suggests potentials for displaced anger, aiming his hostility at inapropriate targets. An acute crisis situation induces the need for self-sufficient actions. Severing past ties and rapid adaptation are necessary in order to proceed along a new path, but mismanagement can result in fateful consequences due to (Trump's) rash, disruptive actions. As we see, his vengeful actions and insults these days are only making things worse for him in the legal realms.

So perhaps this is where Trump's rising Mars with royal Regulus comes in with the star's traditional caution: success if revenge is avoided; if not, all that has been gained will be taken away.

Then to complicate matters for our country, Mars @27Leo inconjuncts US 1776 Pluto (27Cap33) which denotes die-hard competitors who cannot accept defeat, even when wrong, and dogmatism is part of the picture. Thwarting them triggers violence, and this is a permanent condition since it's Trump's natal Mars--which also happens to oppose (target) US 1776 Moon (We the People) in late Aquarius in our July 4, 1776 late afternoon chart/s (DoI). The violence by and on behalf of Trump ("American carnage" promised and delivered) we've seen and experienced across the country, so no more need be said.

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.

Should Ivanka & Jared Face Justice for Profiting from Their WH Position - Thom Hartmann clip

Here's a recent segment from the Thom Hartmann Show concerning the lucrative White House activities of Ivanka and Jared:

As you know, the golden couple of nepotism were both born in 1981 as can be seen in their 'noon' natal horoscopes. 1981 was the year of a Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction--a three-fer, actually--from 4 to 10 degrees of Libra (the first on December 31, 1980) which landed upon the natal 2nd house Neptune of Donald Trump thereby forming a midpoint picture of potentials, any, all, or none of which may apply.

Transit Jupiter-Saturn = DJT natal Neptune:

"Tendency to begrudge other people's good fortune; feeling abandoned; hard work without success; damage to a building through dampness, water, gas, or major force" {such as war} (R. Ebertin); "ideas for a more perfect society; dreams about changes needed in life or business; added needs to avoid change even when needed; disillusionment about the relative pace of progress" (M. Munkasey); "not knowing which "master" to follow; bewilderment" (N. Tyl). Later in the 1980s, those-in-the-know say that Donald decided to follow Russia.

Then being the curious kind, I Googled 'Trump events in 1981' and found an interesting 2021 article about Trump, his casino in Atlantic City, his proposal to the FBI, and Organized Crime. What a schemer!

Sources: The Combination of Stellar Influences, R. Ebertin; Midpoints: Unleashing the Power of the Planets, M. Munkasey; Solar Arcs, N. Tyl #ad.

Trump Mars Return 2023 and America's Book of Secrets

by Jude Cowell

You know that if it's true that there has existed for centuries an America's Book of Secrets, it would contain just the sort of valuable information that Mr. Trump would want to steal along with the purloined government documents taken as he reluctantly left the White House in 2021, and possibly nabbed while he resided there rent-free at the trough of US tax-payers.

Along with nuclear secrets stolen and passed around, this disturbing potential occurred to me last year but it was only when I glanced at the orange blighter's Mars Return 2023 Horoscope that I decided to mention the possibility in this post along with his Mars Return chart for 2023, as you see, below.

Notable is the Sabian Symbol for the return chart's Vertex ('VX'), a fated point of encounter which, when its degree is rounded-up gives,

"29Virgo": "A Man Gaining Secret Knowledge From an Ancient Scroll He Is Reading."

Note that Marc Edmund Jones uses the word paper in place of scroll, and the unmarked horoscope would have the Mars Return's VX in 7th house if I had marked the chart with my notes, plus, opposite is the Anti-VX (similar to an Ascendant) conjunct Neptune Rx rising, an unstable indication which may relate to health issues for the old fella, and to mysterious or inexplicable delays; that his Mars trines North Node and Midheaven suggests the continued support Trump receives from a small percentage of a deluded public:

Aspects to his Mars include the approach of Venus (desires increase; joint efforts; material concerns), a square from Uranus (unpredictable events; rash actions; disrupted relationships), and a close inconjunct, or quincunx, from rising Neptune Rx @27Pis40 suggesting complex conditions of intrigue, theft, loss, and/or health concerns which the man "overshadowed by shadows" will be dealing with, or will continue to deal with, over the next two years as timed by his Mars Return 2023.

A Related Post: On August 8, 2022 the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago for stolen documents: for Trump it was a Lunar Return and a Venus Return day.

Social Security's Saturn Return Is Near!

August 2023: Social Security Turns 88 yo w/ a Saturn Return in 2024

by Jude Cowell

As shown in the video, below, to relieve poverty of the aged President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act on August 14, 1935 under the auspices of a 9 New South Eclipse. So first, here's an excerpt from a 2022 post that celebrated the Act's 87th birthday detailing the themes and influences of 9 New South Eclipses:

Bringing to the surface long-term worries about loved ones, health, or issues to do with paperwork or communications; this could manifest as a worrying piece of news about a loved one or responsibilities with paperwork coming home to roost; any news will have a sense of fatedness or destiny attached (paraphrasing B. Brady).

And here's FDR signing up Americans to contribute to the greatest social safety net program We the People have ever known--the one that Republicans want to take away:

The Social Security Safety Net's Planetary Pair: the Ilness Axis

That would be the Saturn-Neptune duo so a previous post of horoscopes showing the current cycle of the two planets's conjunction/s in 1989 (three times from 10--12 Capricorn), with the cycle ending and the next beginning on February 20, 2026 Conjunct the Aries Point. Obviously, the fact that the one-time Conjunction in early 2026 lands upon the primary Cardinal World Point of manifestation and global events (00Aries) grabs our attention, especially those of us who continue to use America's July 4, 1776 Horoscope with Aries Point conjunct IC, the Foundation of the Matter. Yes, Endings may be involved, too, and we should take into account what Reinhold Ebertin gives for Saturn-Neptune = the first point of Aries: Hysteria. Yes, neuroses and undermining circumstances that lead to illness are also suggested and may come with the chaos if Republicans manage to destroy our Social Security program thus tearing apart the social fabric of American society.

And yet there's a bright note in the current Saturn-Neptune horoscope (March 3, 1989) for 'higher power' Pluto @15Scorpio, the Point of Regeneration, sextiles the conjunction and indicates that a defense from victimization may be found in the law with researchers and journalists having important roles to play in the 'rescue' of Social Security.

Trump Mercury Return 2023: Continual Indiscretion

Shown: Trump Mercury Return (8Can51) Horoscope of June 30, 2023 set for Bedminster, New Jersey; a new annual cycle of Mercurial matters and interests begins and includes Mercury ruling his natal 2nd and 11th houses:

As you see, for this post I've had to resort to a hand-drawn horoscope but after this evening, fresh ink cartridges are scheduled to arrive at my door and we can proceed as usual. Please enlarge or print the image to read my astro-notes penned on if need be. Notes include the rounded-up Sabian Symbol for the fellow's natal Mercury "9 Cancer": "A Tiny Nude Miss Reaching in the Water for a Fish" (Jones). Now yes, there is a low-charactered interpretation of this word picture for this particular Mars in Leo bounder, but I'll leave it for you, dear reader, to consider its implications, if you care to. But let's add Jones' negative expression for "9 Cancer": "continual indiscretion."

An additional note: Herr Trump's next Mars Return occurs on July 4, 2023, which times a new cycle of activity for the orange blighter. More on this is planned for a later post. And view his natal horoscope if you must.

Now it's also significant is that every year or so when transit Mercury returns to its natal degree in Trump's chart, it repeats the Mercury-square-Neptune that he was born under with its lack of discrimination, misperceptions, lack of objectivity, and the lies and fantasies he can't stop spouting and hiding behind. The man cannot or will not follow instructions (even those laid down by judges--at his peril!), misunderstandings and disbelief occur, wrong conclusions are drawn, he questions facts with instincts that differ from reality, selective hearing or tone-deafness, and leaks and scandals occur. For him such confusing, deceptive conditions are operative all the time, of course, but his yearly Mercury Return spotlights them in some way or another - and he's off to the races, spinning tales for the gullible, passing around gossip, promoting $chemes, and mouthing insults.

Of course, mundane Mercury (the trickster and communicator) can also act as a trader, or perhaps more of a traitor in this case - certainly a documents thief. So for a few interesting details concerning propagandist Trump's Mercury in Cancer check out a previous post which provides enlightenment via Carelli's Degrees.

And so with agent orange's 2023 Return Mercury in Return 6th house of Health, Work, Service, and Daily Rounds -- and Return Sun (vitality) posited in 6th h, too -- these are the areas of interest and engagement for him over the next year along with his natal 2nd and 11th house concerns which include finances and group endeavors. Plus, we can expect that a medical check-up is on his calendar, as it should be at his advanced age.

Then when we look to the Return Ascendant with 12th house Pluto rising at a critical 29th degree along with the Hera archetype (the legal wife; keeping accounts), we find legal eagle Saturn rising and Rx in 1st house, an inauspicious determinant for his Mercurial year since Saturn rules the return chart and its retrograde condition hints at Trump's usual delay tactic in legal matters. However, there are potentials for a variety of negative outcomes due to karmic Saturn hitting his natal Moon-MC and Neptune-Pluto midpoints such as: 'pessimism; collapse' or breakdown, 'separation; bereavement', and "untenable objectives" (R. Ebertin). Now I'm not wishing, just reading a horoscope here. Disagree and read the chart as you wish!

Then naturally with speedy little Mercury, travel is usually prominent as well via short trips, but for Trump, a journey across the ocean (Mercury in watery Cancer) is possible. After all, he retains possession of his passport, if memory serves.

2023: Two Return Aspects to Trump's Mercury

Then with Return Jupiter (@9Tau17 in Return 3rd house) sextile his Mercury, business opportunities may appear here or abroad, and his (tiresome) publishing efforts could expand. Meanwhile Saturn (@7Pis03 Rx and rising, as noted) suggests legal or other stabilizing help from an established network or system, and commerce is favored. Plus, as previously discussed, Saturn in Pisces suggests "struggling with opponents" (R. Ebertin) so Campaign 2024 is involved with orator Mercury's conditions and indications from now until his next Mercury Return on June 21, 2024 with Return Mars @9Taurus in place of this chart's Jupiter. Obviously, his 2024 Mercury Return will directly affect Election 2024 next November, assuming that Trump is active in election matters next year.

Meanwhile, you'll notice in the chart, above, that at Midheaven ('MC'), the WHY?-Career-Public-Status Point is Cupido Rx which indicates the continued involvement of organizations such as, The Network, The Family (his family, and/or the power-mad 'religious' group), The Mafia, The Criminal Syndicate/s, and/or simply anti-democratic Corporatism.

And speaking of planetary returns, a prominent return for us all has to be the 28-to-30-year Saturn Return for even a controlling person like ole man Trump cannot continue to ignore dealing with the demands of authoritative Saturn forever, with issues and lessons such as the accountability which he now faces because legal eagle planet Saturn has finally caught up with him.

References: The Sabian Symbols in Astrology, Marc Edmund Jones; and, The 360 Degrees of The Zodiac, Adriano Carelli. #ad