Ron Paul on Freedom, Sherry Wolf on Paul

Dueling articles? Two articles from Information Clearing House:


What Does Freedom Really Mean?

By Ron Paul

Few Americans understand that all government action is inherently coercive. If nothing else, government action requires taxes. If taxes were freely paid, they wouldn't be called taxes, they'd be called donations. If we intend to use the word freedom in an honest way, we should have the simple integrity to give it real meaning: Freedom is living without government coercion. So when a politician talks about freedom for this group or that, ask yourself whether he is advocating more government action or less.

What Does Freedom Really Mean?


The Freedom To Starve: Why the Left Should Reject Ron Paul

By Sherry Wolf

"POLITICS, LIKE nature, abhors a vacuum," goes the revamped aphorism. Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul's surprising stature among a small but vocal layer of antiwar activists and leftist bloggers appears to bear this out.

Why the Left Should Reject Ron Paul


"The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war."

"Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties, or his possessions." James Madison 1751-1836 American Statesman, 4th President of the US


"It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured." Tacitus


"Characteristics of a popular politician: a horrible voice, bad breeding, and a vulgar manner." Aristophanes 456-386 BC, Greek Dramatist

"A man should never be ashamed to own that he has been in the wrong, which is but saying...that he is wiser today than yesterday." Jonathan Swift 1667-1745 Irish Cleric, Essayest, Author, Satirist


"Virtue has a veil, vice a mask." Victor Hugo


Ah, yes...the Solar Eclipse at the Unmasking degree cometh...Feb 7, 2008 at "18AQ": "A man unmasked" in the 10 North Series, opposite the degree of Venus on 9/11/01. Perhaps we'll find out who Venus represented on that grim day.

10N: strong emphasis on communications (campaign rhetoric?), and frustrating or inhibiting events occur concerning news, paperwork, or a young person; time to take things easy due to drained feelings of tiredness; best to work through difficulties one at a time (Brady's Predictive Astrology.)

my year of blogging dangerously

Blogging in 2007 has brought everything from electronic tagging to frisky hackers to a few of my favorite posts. Not favorites because of my writing or lack thereof, but because of the subjects themselves blended with Astrology's ability to look under the hood.

In no particular order, here's my Top Seven List ranging from Political Astrology to a snarlyrhyme about a certain politician whose deeds bring cries for Impeachment upon his bald pate:

Spotlight on Mercury: John Edwards (has link to Spotlight on Mercury: Barack Obama--hope to add candidates to this Mercury series in the next week or so, schedule willing.)

Sept 11 2007 Solar Eclipse chart with details--special for its date and Sun's degree from 9/11.

Eugene Debs still speaks convincingly (Debs' life and times remind me of the old film on TV yesterday, Meet John Doe (1941) where Gary Cooper's character begins as the pawn of the Hearst-esque robber baron media and ends by giving them what-for. Yay. Now where's my 2007 John Doe Club?)

America's Winter Solstice 2007 (this post-with-chart is good until Dec 2008--a year's shelf life--and has the Winter Solstice 2006 chart along with a link to Dec 11's Great Conjunction of Jupiter conjunct Pluto post.)

America's 2007 Solar Return (details and comments with link to chart's image published on one of my Gather Pages.)

Using the Moon in Electional Astrology (published at Jude's Threshold--not about political elections but about choosing propitious times to begin things.)


And then-n-n? a few snarlyrhymes were written this year and my fave might have to be Ode to Cheney for its impeachy flavor.


News, whatever that means: my favorite info sources in 2007--again in no particular order--continue to be:

NPR, The August Review, and Huffington Post, with fave political blog: George Washington's Blog for quite obvious reasons (contains much 9/11 info.)

So as 2007 closes up its tattered suitcase, my hope for 2008 is that people like Mike Gravel, with his refreshing honesty, will find themselves ruling the roost in Washington. I know...fat chance, as the pocket lining of Capitol Hill's fatcats continues apace, America's commerical and residential real estate goes to the highest foreign bidder, and the imperialist empire's military industrial complex bankrupts America down to her last penny.

Well, thanks for moseying down memory lane with me, Lone Reader, and wishing a Happy New Year to waylaid America and to the rest of the disappointed World


This blog written, as always, in honor of and hope for:

A speculative birth chart for Jesus: Apr 17, 6 BC

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe me not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? John 3:12

Pictured here is the chart I use as the natal chart of Jesus of Nazareth, based on the date that Jupiter (royalty) arose as the Morning Star and was occulted by the Moon in Aries, sign of Israel and Palestine. Thanks to calendar changes being slightly off, we have "6 BC" instead of the year zero.

Since we know that Jesus was born during the reign of Herod the Great (is he Jupiter in this chart being occulted by the Moon?), the year we call "6 BC" contained this rare occultation, "7 BC" is known to be when a Great Jupiter-Saturn conjunction occurred in Pisces--and since lambs are born in the Spring, not mid-winter--it's one reason I use this chart.

Moon and Jupiter conjoined at 12:08:22 pm in 9th house (Bethlehem) yet this Jupiter rising chart is the one I prefer with asteroid, Morya at MC (the Goal or Objective) and Morya having connection with death, and fate or destiny.

And as you see, there is a YOD pattern (Finger of God: special task or purpose; crisis) pointing to the rising Moon, Ascendant (Jesus Himself if we accept this chart as His birth chart), and by extension, pointing to Jupiter as well.

But can modern day midpoint pictures possibly apply to an event from such ancient days?

Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were there although not within people's consciousness, of course. Accordingly, our modern perspectives are naturally different--and time should bring insight, don't you think?

Click to enlarge the chart for a few scribbled notes, but I'll type in the midpoint pictures for the YOD (including Jupiter which certainly seems to apply to the situation.) The combo of Neptune-Pluto = unseen forces; the supernatural; other realms:

Neptune-Pluto = Moon: supernatural experiences; strange states of soul experiences; anxiety about being appreciated (well-founded!);

Neptune-Pluto = ASC: surrounded by an air of mysticism (a halo?!); placed in a peculiar environment (what a major culture shock--from heaven to earth!);

Neptune-Pluto = Jupiter: religiousness; in love with life; "Thank God"; universal love; love of humanity (I'll say!); high degree of perception; a peace-loving disposition.

Mercury trine Pluto creates a Grand Trine of sorts with MC; Mercury-Pluto = powerful words that persuade; creating or demanding new perspectives...

Mercury-Pluto = MC: great perception of any situation; leadership (why King Herod was so worried--sucky, cruel leaders should be); coping ability; keen powers of judgment; foresight.

Sun and Moon were in Balsamic phase of the prophet--a phase of partings and endings. His death was a sad parting, and He brought an end to the Age of Aries as well. People born during the Balsamic phase of the Moon (prior to a New Moon) are future-oriented folk who often arrive when something or someone is ending.

Progressive, futuristic, and rebellious Uranus is in sacrificial Pisces, sign of the Mystic, and love-filled Venus is also in Pisces, sign of her exaltation (universal love.) Jesus certainly disrupted things but from motives of pure Love, the Foundation of the Universe.

The birth of Christ marked the beginning of the Age of Pisces, sign of the Fish and the secret sign of Christianity in Roman times (used today) as the Age of Aries, the Ram, symbol of Israel and Palestine, passed away--Old Testament times into the New Testament era. On one level, His birth, life, and crucifixion on Earth symbolize death of the ego so that Man can be liberated and born again in Spirit (if he so chooses.)

The Magi, Persian astronomers/astrologers (probably from Babylonia), shared the Aramaic language with the Jews and so they knew of the Prophecy of the Messiah and would have been well able to predict His birth in time to make the journey to the Land of Judah while following the Star of Bethlehem.

The Star of Bethlehem has been thought to be the triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn during the year 7 BC: in May, September, and October. This occurred in Pisces, and it is my belief that the Magi realized the significance of this Great Conjunction in Pisces--a King of Kings to be born in the East--and made their preparations for the journey to find the Babe...and to honor Him with gifts of gold (for a king), frankincense (for divinity), and myrrh (for death and healing.)

I write this post with the wonderful aroma of frankincense surrounding me. Try it if you haven't--it's lovely.

The unusual occurrence of Jupiter as Morning Star in Aries being occulted by the Moon--in April (Spring, when lambs are born, not Dec 25, a date chosen by the Catholic Church in Rome to coincide with the pagan Saturnalia festival and thus bringing goddess worhip into the fold bwo the church's elevation of Mary) is possibly the Star followed by the Magi.

My own thought is that the Great Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction/s may have been the Star itself, with the Moon-Jupiter-Morning Star phenomena as a timing device for the birth of the Prince of Peace.

Jupiter and Saturn Principles and Faith:

Jupiter represents the generous side of God (His staff), while Saturn represents God's disciplinarian side (His rod.) On one level, we may relate "Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me..." directly to the natural law of Jupiter (expansion) and Saturn (restriction) being the fly-wheel of the universe--the tension between them keeping the planets in their courses. Yin-yang, positive-negative...a constant comfort to me and I hope to you as well!

It's been a treat to give earthly halls of power--politics--the slip as I contemplate the heavenly things of true value. If you came to Stars Over Washington today expecting politics as usual, I assert that Stars are all around us, and the Star of Bethlehem, still shining brightly, may lead us yet to the golden stardust within each of us, and to greater truths than those generally found lurking about in the halls of our nation's capital--Saturnian Capitol Hill.

Is your North Node in Taurus?

Some of us, this reluctant astrologer included, were born with a Taurean North Node, so if your NN is in Taurus, have I got a blog for you:

North Node Astrology is written by Jungian astrologer, Elizabeth Spring, and has great info on NN in Taurus as well as on others. South Node details are, of course, included so take a peek if you haven't found Elizabeth's blog before this moment!

As previously stated here, I see heredity and ancestry where many others see past lives which means that to me, SN issues come through the generations of my ancestry...which includes family shadows and family myths. It's the unfinished business of our ancestors and we may feel compelled to 'tidy up' in our lifetimes.

Yet I find Elizabeth's writing on the Nodal Axis illuminating and useful all the same and you will, too.

In fact, many astrologers consider the NN to be the most important point in the natal chart, and much about one's life mission may be gleaned from NN, SN, and Sun positions when taken together.

And with the recent move from Pisces into Aquarius of the transiting NN, our collective path has now switched from the victim-savior/pragmatist-mystic axis of Pisces into the Aquarian humanitarian-egoist influence where it will remain through the 2008 campaign, and will reach 9AQ20 by Inauguration Day 2009.

This tells us that America will be experiencing her Nodal Half-Return (NN to SN, SN to NN) in April 2009 (True Node) which is a time of separation in relationships and associations--at least in those that are not strong enough to withstand the separative influence of the Saturnian SN.

If associations do withstand the Half-Return they are strengthened in some way, but since Bush & Co already have the US virtually standing alone in the world, keep your eye peeled for April 2009 and thereafter.

Therefore, 9Leo20 puts tr SN conjunct the natal Mercuries of George Bush and the GOP (which are conj at 9Leo+, along with Al Gonzales' Mercury) on Jan 20, 2009 and is part of the reason why I must wonder if a Republican will be ensconced once again in the White House come Jan 20, 2009 (surely not a Bush again.)

But more more on that another day...we're in for a long siege, dear voters.

Mars and Dec 23's Full Moon

Space Weather News for Dec 23, 2007:

MOON AND MARS: Please don't miss this: At sunset on Sunday, Dec 23, the full Moon and Mars will rise in the east less than two degrees apart. So close together, the two brightest objects in the evening sky look absolutely dynamite. The display will be visible all night long, even from brightly lit cities, and requires no telescope to enjoy.

URSID UPDATE: Observers in Europe report a modest outburst of Ursid meteors last night. The intensity and timing of the flurry is in good accord with predictions that Earth would run into a stream of dust from Comet 8P/Tuttle on Dec 22.

Now that the meteor shower is over, attention turns to the comet itself. After a 13.6 year absence, 8P/Tuttle is once again traveling through the inner solar system. At closest approach to Earth on Jan 1 and 2, 2008, the comet will brighten to 5th or 6th magnitude--a fine target for backyard telescopes and digital cameras.

Visit SpaceWeather.com for sky maps, photos and more information.#


Astronomically this sounds lovely, but astrologically speaking--not so much with testy Mars, god of war, in the security-minded Cancer-Capricorn mix.

See previous post Full Moon in Cancer Dec 23, 2007 for more details.


Here's a Rhymery Alert:

A political limerick has just been perpetrated on the subject of campaign "debates" at Lim's Limericks, if you're game.

NH paper: don't vote for Romney

The New Hampshire paper, The Concord Monitor, has an editorial Romney should not be the next president for although he "looks" like him, he shouldn't be him.

From Romney's "chilling" rhetoric on doubling the US prison at Gitmo (its size, I assume he means) to his refusal to classify waterboarding as torture--or to say that the US won't use it--the Monitor's editorial team has put things in perspective at a time when New Hampshirites may be leaning toward Reaganesque hair styles, adman smoothness, and crisp dark suits.

Well, I'm glad they published this editorial which reminds everyone that the old GOP bromides of spending cuts and lower taxes won't be enough in 2008 to carry a former management consultant (whose experience consists of advising corporations on how to reinvent themselves) into the Venusian Oval Office.

"Looking presidential" and in Romney's case, "like Ronald Reagan" shouldn't be enough either. So are Americans that superficial? Some say we are, yet few citizens would disagree that America is loitering at the crossroads thanks to neocon dreams of dominating and policing the world.

Andrew Sullivan, speaking on America's torturing of prisoners, said today on The Chris Matthews Show that historically 2007 will go down as the year we realized that "America has lost its soul." Meanwhile, showing their own superficiality, most of the mainstream media keep passing the hairspray can to Edwards and on to Romney.

Restore America's moral leadership in the world? Not with Romney who seems perfectly happy with the status quo on that issue (as does Guiliani--a Bushesque braggart to watch out for if there ever was one. And his health is fine, says Rudy.)

And how Mitt Romney's repackaging of his own image has succeeded in the faith department is questionable--there must have been many intense, late-night meetings on that issue with family values appearing as the obvious rock to hide behind. As the Monitor editorial emphasizes, Romney's "turnarounds" are based on his own ambitions.

Come to think of it, Reagan used the family values card as well--I remember how his divorced status was a big issue--seems a rather quaint concern in retrospect.

Yes, New Hampshire folk have always prided themselves on being able to see through phony candidates, and in the case of Mitt Romney, I heartily agree with the Concord Monitor's conclusions on this candidate and hope you will read their editorial if you haven't already.

It seems to me the NH primary voters' decision concerning Mitt Romney should be easy as Double Fudge Pie with airy whipped cream on top.

DC's mysterious dumpster fires

Washington City Paper has an article on the series of fires in the District which seem to have begun with the unfortunate fire which detroyed the beloved Eastern Market on April 30.

April 30, 2007 was a Moon Return day for George Bush (3:43 am edt, White House) with his Moon involved in a crisis-ridden YOD--sextiling Saturn 18Leo15 (conj Venus' degree of 9/11/01.)

Their sextile pointed to the Pisces line-up of the day: NN, Uranus, and Mars. Mars with Uranus is explosive or fiery at least, and Pisces is the sign of oil and gas.

Witnessed was a 'homeless' man seen tossing fabric bits into windows, and burned out dumpsters are said to be involved as well.

His nibs' Moon Return's YOD: Moon/Saturn = NN: lack of adaptation and confidence; associations with uncommunicative or depressed people; shunning others.

Moon/Saturn = Uranus: impulsive release of inner tensions; desire to free oneself from inhibitions; nervousness; reaching for emotional freedom (Moon in Libra); exploding out of frustration.

Moon/Saturn = Mars: sense of real problems; difficulty getting off the ground except by careful, strategically planned exertion of energy; self-control to the point of torment.

Wonder if a similar 'homeless' man was around the Eisenhower Building the other day for the fire "next door" to Dick Cheney's office on the second floor? If not there are plenty of other real homeless men and women--plus uncounted un- or under-employed Americans--who might be interested in a collaboration.

Mars/NN = Uranus:upsets within a community; active cooperation; an organizing activity.

Some officials seem to he having trouble accepting the theory that the fires are part of a pattern of arson--me, not so much.

More midpoint pics from April 30 which emphasize America's natal Mc (Sibly):

Sun/Neptune = US natal Mc: emotional stress in the profession; a negative outlook; being ill, weak, or impressionable; aesthetics taking over presentation.

(Image is everything at the Capitol Hill Theater! And nevewr mind the truth.)

Mercury/Neptune = US n Mc: far-reaching plans; self-deception; a lie.

There are more factors of interest for April 30, 2007, but the yawning chickens need to roost, m'peops--it's 1:10 am!

The Moon as Timer in Electional Astrology

Jude's Treshold has been favored this evening with a new entry on nine rules for using the Moon in Electional Astrology which is a way of choosing the most propitious times to begin projects or events.

Oh--I did the favoring.