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
Daily Show Full Episodes Indecision Political Humor The Daily Show on Facebook

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.

May 9 2013 Solar Eclipse themes and offerings

Thursday May 9, 2013, a Solar Eclipse in the 15 South Saros Series

by Jude Cowell

As previously covered (horoscope shown), the money sign of Taurus, with its dark side of greed, stubbornness, and intolerance, hosts a Solar Eclipse this Thursday (May 9th, or 10th, depending on your location/time zone) @19Tau31. That's Taurus the Bull, of course, which brings in Wall Street implications along with the political.

The 15S last manifested in 1995 during the presidency of Bill Clinton and happens to be the Pre-Natal Eclipse Series of former president and Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson, so its themes affected his life at various times--about every 19 years. You may remember 1995 and 1996 as when the Republicans caused a government shutdown as they're threatening to do again in 2013. The GOP's theatrical 'Contract with America' was part of the mayhem as well, after which Republican candidates lost mightily in elections (as they should have--my vote was part of the reason they lost, the borry sastards!)

15S themes: 'release of tension as a lingering situation suddenly clears but with a sense of loss or grief that's more collective or group-related than personal' (paraphrasing Brady's Predictive Astrology.)

Curiously, the Harveys give an apt Image for Integration in Sun Sign-Moon Sign for the Eclipse's earthy Sun Tau-Moon Tau blend: "A loving teacher resolves an angry dispute." The purposefully induced turmoil in our plutocrat-controlled Congress perhaps? Pshaw! Yet resolution is just what I'd love to see for a change, wouldn't you? And progress rather than fighting the same old battles would be nice, too.

Well, it will be interesting to watch Politics for which of our many situations suddenly clears by or before November and whose tension is suddenly released!

Now if you wish to leave the awkward Saturnian realm of Politics a while (and who would blame you?) you simply cannot go wrong with two of my favorite astrologers who have May Solar Eclipse offerings for us: Julie Demboski's Eclipse Effect: Seeing a Splinter of the Shadow and Dipali Desai's Tangible Delights!

~:~

For more on Politics and the corporate ownership of what used to be the US Congress, don't miss ALEC Assembles Most Wanted List and Oklahomans Say ALEC Not Okay. Allowing an entity like ALEC to write America's laws and bills is exactly what the Founders feared so they must be doing a lot of rolling-over-in-graves by now.

Plus--did you hear that Sen. Ted Cruz challenged VP Joe Biden to a gun control debate? Sounds a bit like my recent assessment of Sen. Cruz as a crusader dueling with shadows!