December 18, 2015 Ed Schultz reports:
Astrological comments on America, on Washington DC, and on the politicians who infest them...with a gentle sprinkling of world events
Dec 18, 2015
Sanders Campaign has Big Day of Endorsements (w Nina Turner) - clip
Dec 16, 2015
Christmas Day 2015 Full Moon and a "Double" Ancestor Horoscope
On December 25, 2015 a Full Moon perfects at 6:11:27 am EST @3Can19 conjunct US natal Venus. As US History and the Cosmos would have it, this lunar position is the Syzygy Moon degree (last lunation prior to birth) of an ancestor of mine--a "double" ancestor thanks to his having two wives each with offspring who descend to my paternal and maternal side--because he was born Christmas Day 1776. Here's a noon chart for my "double" 4th-great-grandfather David Barnett (birth hour unknown) who was born in Christiansburg, Virginia and this "double" circumstance, I suppose, makes me my own cousin:
The KITE I'm not actually counting since his birth time is set specualtively for 'noon' but there is an Air Grand Trine pattern between Uranus, Mars, and Venus which denotes one who prefers a mental ivory tower, may have been somewhat detached or aloof, was charismatic, popular, idealistic, attracted friends and cooperation, and was a talented communicator (Tierney.) Of course, the protective nature of a Grand Trine was present. Success is indicated by a Locomotive shape with revolutionary Uranus as lead engine (and this is, of course, near America's natal Uranus degree.) Highlighted in yellow is David's Pre-Natal Eclipse Series, the 13 North which manifested on August 14, 1776 with the completed signing of the Declaration of Independence occurring on August 2--within two weeks of the eclipse ('breaking of an existing bond which leads to joint achievement'--paraphrasing B. Brady.)
Another curiosity of the 1776 and 2015 charts is that the December 25, 2015 Full Moon horoscope shows Jupiter and North Node near one another in transit (22Vir56 and 25Vir35--in 9th house in the Washington DC chart) and on David Barnett's day of birth Jupiter was exalted in Cancer (22:12 Rx) with North Node (NN) @27Can15 nearby--obviously Jupiter an dPluto were inprocess of opposing one another, a time of contest of wills and dealing with issues of power, control, and money. We already discussed the three times that Jupiter and North Node conjoin in 2016 and the possibilities. Additionally, Mercury in Capricorn and Mars in Libra are square one another in both charts (1776 vs 2015) though at different degrees; this square denotes creativity but also judgmentalism.
Now if you enlarge the chart you'll see David's Pluto-South-Node conjunction which I've marked as "Revolutionary times" for the pair denote war, violence, and massive disruptions in society. This is America's natal Pluto position, of course, but the SN is closer to Pluto here than in our natal chart with SN in Aquarius (July 1776.)
And in spite of all the current 'wars and rumors of war' going on and threatening to ramp up into global revolution, we must look to Spring 2019 to find another transiting Pluto-SN conjunction of the power planet of sabotage, spies, and death and the South Node of the Moon, aka, the tail of the dragon.
Dec 15, 2015
Caller: Fox News has Won! - Thom Hartmann clip
There are 40-somethings I personally know who totally depend on FOX News for their information and opinions. Yet I've heard that the median age of the FOX News audience is 69! Here's a brief call to Thom Hartmann's program on the same topic:
12.15.15 GOP debate in Las Vegas: 5 Plutos Rising
A Republican Las Vegas Debate with Pluto Rising in Leo and Virgo
by Jude Cowell
The fifth and last of 2015, tonight's Republican debate in Las Vegas, Nevada should be interesting if you're in the mood for campaign promises on a national stage and perhaps some entertaining political fireworks which the networks and pundits are longing for. CNN and Facebook will host; follow the link for more details.
Astrologically it seems curious to me that in the natal charts of five candidates: Trump, Carson, Bush, Cruz, and Rubio--all have their natal Plutos rising or just risen as the show begins! Pluto's power principle is of course a major part of Politics and the stealthy one's manipulation tendencies are vital for propaganda purposes, publicity included. Pluto in dramatic Leo naturally expects to rule by force while Pluto in Virgo possesses zealous and fanatical tendencies for whatever is acquired. It's generational as Baby Boomers Meet...whatever you call Cruz and Rubio's 1970s generation...X?
Thing is, it isn't only their Plutos appearing tonight it's natal Pluto's condition in each chart so, with my blogging time brief today, I've taken a tiny peek to see what baggage their Plutos bring along. In chronological order of birth:
Donald Trump (June 14, 1946) was born in the Pluto in Leo generation as was Jeb Bush. Trump's natal Pluto @10Leo 'leads the pack' by degree (though it's his quirky 10th house Uranus that leads actually his natal planets in a Bowl shape making him a wild card candidate who tends to disruptively say out loud what others won't say.) His Pluto is unaspected, however, so his power principle knows no interference, thank you, and this we've seen during his campaign. It is apex in a midpoint picture which we've also seen and it's a difficult one: Mars-Saturn (the death axis) = Pluto: the need to take control; forcing an issue; strong anger (Tyl); brutality (Ebertin.) Sound familiar?
Ben Carson (September 18, 1951) has natal Pluto @20Leo conjunct his Mars @19Leo, a major indicator of surgery or the surgeon that he was. As a pair they also describe one who makes excessive efforts to achieve goals. Unconscious anger, manipulation, and taking 'controlled action' (as in surgery) are denoted. Carson's natal Pluto conjoins his natal Psyche with both Pluto and the archetype involved in Psychology or Psychiatry. (That's Psyche, not 'psycho'.) His Mars and Pluto are apex of a midpoint: Sun-Uranus = Mars: combativeness; rash action. And with Pluto the independnt pair of Sun and Uranus give a strong drive for power (Tyl.) (
Jeb Bush (February 11, 1953) as stated was born with a Leonine Pluto opposing natal Sun in Aquarius,a natal Sun within range of US natal Moon (uh oh--this can be a presidential indicator.) Sun-Pluto people crave power and control and usually have ways of attaining this (Poppy Bush has been Jeb's ticket.)
Ted Cruz (December 22, 1970) is one of two with Pluto in Virgo conjoining his natal Sisyphus--and you know how determined that manifests. A descriptive midpoint picture involves the power planet--Sun-Pluto = Saturn @16Tau08 Rx ('17Tau' is the "swords vs torches" degree we discussed previously...... and this adds potentials for his wild tendencies to be blocked (ex: no, Ted, you cannot shut down the US government a second time and waste millions of taxpayer dollars) and restraining one's fanatical tendencies (Munkasey.) Note that this midpoint picture between Sun-Pluto-Saturn is formed by a Fist of God pattern, aka, Thor's Hammer.
The last candidate I'm considering here is Marco Rubio (May 28, 1971) with Pluto in Virgo and a Thor's Hammer pattern between Venus-Mars and Pluto which gives him potentials for passion, envy, and stealth. Using sex for power is also indicated though I know of no scandals of that nature, so far, only his financial troubles denoted by his Jupiter-Neptune conjunction in Sagittarius. (Mr. Cruz has the Jupiter-Neptune 'grand spirit' with over-promising and wastrel issues as well though his Jupiter is in corporate Scorpio, not Sag--both have Neptune @1Sag+). And perhaps Rubio's 'passion' is intensified by the asteroid conjunct his natal Pluto for it's sexy, glamorous Lilith who should feel right at home tonight as Senator Rubio debates his opponents in Sin City!
Dec 13, 2015
Horoscope: RNC 2016 Full Moon 27Cap40
A Brief Peek at RNC 2016 Through an Astrological Lens
by Jude Cowell
Assuming that the Republican National Convention of 2016 is held as planned from July 18--21 in Cleveland, Ohio, here is the horoscope of the Full Moon that will perfect on July 19 at 6:56:32 pm EDT in that city, during that political convention and noting that Full Moons can affect events in unexpected ways as significantly as 'wild card' eclipses:
As you see the Hour is Mercurial and chart-ruler Jupiter @19Vir57 is in his own 9th house of Ideology, Philosophy, and Foreign Affairs but makes no major applying aspects to other planets--unless you wish to count an opposition to Chiron @25Pis01 Rx in the 3rd house of Communications. Chiron in Pisces represents mentors and gurus so perhaps this is significant considering how bought off most politicians are. And expansive Jupiter is a quite corporatist himself (as as Republicans) and can signify several other roles in society such as politician, banker, religious leader, broadcaster, and/or The General.
And when in Mercury-ruled Virgo, Jupiter is an excessively ambitious organizer who doesn't mind using superficial criticism to get his point across. He can possess moral values and follow ethics but materialism may take the lead. This Jupiter is no longer the lead planet in a Locomotive pattern of the high-powered executive, by the way, for this chart has the shape of a Seesaw indicating a weighing of pros vs cons approach of constant conflict which supports the possibility recently touted that the Republican Party may end up with a brokered convention (first time since 1976); (edit: it didn't). Reporters are giddy over the prospect as I type (12.13.16) and this is said to be due to...you guessed it...the popularity of Donald Trump, the guy the power elite would like to jettison from consideration, thank you very much. At least, that's the line being sold by pundits these days. Of course, Mr. Trump may not be a political candidate by July 2016 so don't fuss at me if his candidacy is moot by then! (edit: he wasn't moot and was selected to play president in order to undermine the institution and milk the cash cow dry).
So if we look at the chart (enlarge to read my notes if you wish) we find planetary patterns of interest. In turquoise (or aqua) I have marked a KITE pattern which includes the Moon and Sun, activist Mars @25Sco39 in 11th house of Groups, and Chiron already noted in 3rd house. KITEs suggest success ('high-flying') yet for that Chiron might be better replaced by a planet (you'll want to refer to other astrologers who have more recent info on Chiron, the Wounded Healer, than what I have.) All I can say is that a mentor or mentors (edit: or a Russian leader?) are aiding the GOP with their high-flying White House ambitions, financially and otherwise. Successful teamwork is denoted by Mars (ASC-MC = Mars) and of course, there's the culminating Full Moon @27Cap40 conjunct US natal Pluto (27Cap33 Rx) denoting fulfillment but also endings of relationships (see chart for themes of the PE in the 18 South Saros Series.) I usually take Pluto to represent hidden manipulators and puppet masters of the secret society persuasion but natal Pluto at can on one level, also stand for the Pentagon ('28Cap' = "A Large Aviary"). With US natal Uranus and Mars in the 6th house of Military and Police Service, a Pentagon influence on the nomination seems even more likely.
Another prominent planetary pattern (highlighted in orange) is a Cardinal Grand Cross--but only if we allow the Midheaven (MC) as the 4th point. In a case like a political convention I prefer to use the MC as the outlet for expression of the energies of the Full Moon which squares Uranus at IC and listed on the chart you see my paraphrase of Ebertin's description of Uranus in Aries: rebels, zealots, anarchists, Utopians which I have taken to mean (since 2010--transit Uranus to Aries Point = US natal IC) the tea party contrarians and anti-government shutdown artists who have infiltrated the US Congress such as the hammy Mr. Cruz. Of course, Mr. Trump may be part of the anarchy, too, given the way he has so far shaken things up--but this is significant only if he's still in the game by convention time.
So as you can tell, I'm reading the Full Moon horoscope as a representative of Republican National Convention 2016--can you blame me? The Democrats don't get a Full Moon for their 2016 convention (July 25- 28, Philadelphia, PA), only a 4th quarter Moon, the 'crisis in consciousness' phase. We'll have to discuss more about the DNC 2016 later on but for now, why not marvel at the GOP Full Moon conjunct US natal Pluto which is perhaps a signal for terrorist events that Republicans will tactically propagandize across their echo chambers in an attempt to frighten US voters into putting alleged safety over best interests by voting Republican in spite of the anti-government ideals they represent. In Campaign 2016 the Rs can't divulge what policies they really have in mind or no American would vote for them--ever!
Actually, the terror-touting has already begun since the Paris and San Bernadino attacks of 2015 and the tactic (which got them elected before) is paying off for the GOP in higher poll numbers if you can believe mainstream media reporting. I don't. But you can if you really want to. This is 'free' America after all.
UPDATE Jan 26, 2016: Trump, Cruz, Kasich
Well, Mr. Trump not only remains in the race, he continues to lead in various polls. Now it's Senator Ted Cruz that establishment Republicans are anxious to jettison--he, whom everyone dislikes, the flame thrower who'd like to burn Washington DC down to the ground and start over according to know-it-all Senator Green Eggs' theocratic specifications. It's tricky because both Trump and Cruz are pied pipers with plenty of supporters in the audience if not in the voting booth. But soon (Feb 1) the first primary will separate Republican candidates into plausible and implausible on a day that the Moon goes void-of-course at 7:35 pm (est) so the name of the victor will be 'baked into the cake', as political pundits like to say, before all the ballots are counted (which may take all night). Yes, Trump has an edge yet John Kasich is looking stronger as an establishment candidate and town hall audience pleaser. Can Kasich go national? His Sun Taurus-Moon Capricorn has the pragmatism and practicality needed to run corporate America but perhaps a lack of a connection to US natal Moon in Aquarius is missing unless we count his Pluto @19Leo opposing visionary Aquarius.
Still, it's curious that Kasich announced his nomination bid on July 21, 2015 with Mercury, planet of announcements, messages, plans, and deals, @26Cancer...conjunct US natal Mercury Rx, and his natal Uranus @11Cancer falls within the midst of America's Venus-Jupiter-Sun line-up. It will surprise me if these links are enough to pull off a victory for John Kasich unless the power elite who select our presidents decide he's their best bet for following the global government script.
From Wikipedia: John Kasich born May 13, 1952 McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. His birth hour seems to be unknown ('noon' Moon @15Cap30).
Colonial American History: Tour of the Newport Tower w Jim Egan - video
If you're familiar with History2's program America Unearthed with Scott Wolter you may have viewed the episode about the mysterious Newport Tower in Rhode Island. Among other things, the episode detailed some of the Tower's astronomical alignments with Sun and Moon, and a rare and magical alignment with planet Venus rising.
It's always Venus, isn't it? Even Presidential Election 2016 may be decided by the goddess planet as Evening Star! Update June 3, 2022: It was - Venus in Sagittarius = the outsider or stranger - rival party wins.
The where of the Tower we know. But the when, why, and by whom remain controversial. So America Unearthed notwithstanding, here's a realistic yet tantalizing look at the Newport Tower with Jim Egan including some early history of Rhode Island and its first governor Benedict Arnold, ancestor of America's much derided traitor of the same name, Benedict IV:
Possibly Related: America Unearthed, Three NYC Obelisks, and the Belt Stars of Orion.
Dec 12, 2015
Is This the Natal Horoscope of Senator Bernie Sanders?
Many thanks to my FB friend Sara Jayara for cluing me in to the fact that there is a possible known birth hour for Senator Bernie Sanders based on a glimpse of a natal chart done for him years ago by a girlfriend.
If fixed Scorpio is indeed rising, his rigidity of purpose concerning Scorpionic issues (corporations, big business, money including hidden funds, taxes, surveillance, etc) through the years makes sense though of course many other factors must be considered. In Astrology, rectification of a chart and time is quite a laborious task and one must know life events of the native and their timing in order to make a success of it. Since my study and blogging schedule was shortened by circumstances in 2012, rectification time is what I do not have so I'm posting my penned-upon version of said chart (September 8, 1941 12:27 pm EDT Brooklyn, NY King's County) for your consideration and for my future reference.
Please enlarge the image to view my chicken-scratch notes which hopefully can be read and perhaps we can get together later for a fuller discussion now that his natal planets can be placed in their proper houses (departments of life)--assuming that 12:27 pm is Senator Sanders' correct time of birth; a few astro-notes follow:
Of Midpoints and Other Considerations
As you know, there are many reasons why the portrait of a personality (aka, a natal horoscope or birth chart) becomes much clearer when a correct birth time is known. Progressions, Return charts, transits, and much more information can be determined accurately (which is why some politicians have sense enough to keep their correct birth data secret--you know, like Hillary does) though Solar Charts (sunrise) and Sun-at-Noon charts are helpful when necessary. One important distinction in a presidential candidate's natal chart is any links to the US natal Moon (18-28 AQ depending on which US natal chart you prefer for July 4, 1776.)
So using the chart above, I can say that besides having no planets in that degree range of Aquarius providing a direct link to the American people, Senator Sanders has no midpoints in that range of Aquarius either--only two at earlier degrees: Moon-ASC @7AQ19 (emotional link) and Mars-ASC 9AQ27 (a fighter). Perhaps this is inconsequential but 6/7AQ is America's natal South Node degree, a Saturnian point of separation, inherited talent, and unconscious behavior (with perhaps some neurosis thrown in.)
In Leo is his Pluto-Chiron conjunction of Plutocracy, oppression, and Socialism (and other -isms in royal Leo which may help explain the Scorpio-related emphasis of his political career. Ideology, philosophy, and higher education are the areas where his Pluto-Chiron energies most easily express (natal 9th house.) Plus, you see his full 10th house of Career and Public Standing expressed on Capitol Hill in the US Senate, not the usual job for very many of us.
Opposite our Moon in the 18-28 Leo range, the senator has quite a few important midpoints beginning at 21Leo and ending with 29Leo (conjunct royal star Regulus, so prominent in the natal chart of Donald Trump).
They are: Venus-Jupiter, Pluto-MC, Sun-Pluto, Saturn-ASC, Sun-Chiron, Uranus-ASC, and Pluto-NN--and all may be applied on various levels to Politics. Yet having links via opposition to the US Moon isn't as powerful an indicator in an election (most US presidents have had such a link--Barack Obama's comes through his Leo placements) as conjunctions in Aquarius would be but for those voters who prefer Bernie Sanders for president, Leo placements may become significant on November 8, 2016 along with such connections as voting North Node @10Virgo, a Jupiterian point of union and public contact, conjunct his natal Midheaven (The Goal and Aspiration Point.) Natal Sun, NN, Neptune, and Mercury @2Lib41 (conjunct US natal MC 00Libra) are wonderful placements for a senator and if his 10th house Neptune doesn't interfere come Election Day 2016, it will be because the planet of compassion supplies a spiritual link that inspires and uplifts the American people and allows the senator wide popularity with the masses.
Disclaimer!
Of course it isn't as if I believe the 2016 Election vote count will be honest! Personally I go by the "it's not the votes that count, it's who counts the votes" philosophy in American Politics. Plus, it will take a massive turn-out of Democratic voters to override the election fraud, gerrymandering antics, and other dirty tricks certain operatives have planned for Election Day for a Democrat to win the White House even though a landslide turn-out of voters may be just what helps crash our antiquated voting machines into oblivion as the old order of 1776 comes to a screeching and anarchist-engineered halt. Hopefully not.
2016 Politics: Jupiter-North Node conjoin in Virgo
Money Planet Jupiter and the North Node Connect Three Times in 2016
by Jude Cowell
Having discovered an excellent article by Nina Gryphon concerning 2016's Jupiter-North Node conjunction in Virgo I recommend it highly for a good overview is provided of several areas some of which involve the Federal Reserve. Nina relates the conjunction/s in 2016 to the ending and beginning of a new fiscal era as it did in 1979 when the Fed changed its policy and a period of fluctuating rates and instability occurred. For as you know, Jupiter inflates, the North Node (NN) of the Moon is a Jupiterian point of encounter, contact, association, and direction and Mercury-ruled Virgo is a detail-oriented, discriminating Earth sign closely linked to the very creation of Washington DC.
But what areas are implicated by the Jupiter-NN combination in Politics?
As an actor, Jupiter can play many roles, four of which are politician, banker, guru (mentor, priest), and The General. All of these realms are subject to influence from the Jupiter-NN conjunction/s of 2016. And with 2016 an election year, we naturally think of the 2016 Campaign which is focused on the Republican and Democratic Conventions in July 2016, and the November 8, 2016 Presidential Election with Jupiter often used to signify one of America's two political parties. Which one? Which ever one is acting the Santa Claus role as the other party acts out the austere Grinch role. You know which is which these days based on their behaviors, right? So if I must, I'll gingerly reward the Jupiter-NN title to the Democratic Party for 2016. Actually the Jupiter-Saturn pair of energies is the 'checks and balances' duo, the way the US government is meant to work and be conducted but you know how that's been going lately--under constant threat of paralysis and shutdown thanks to anti-government types aiming for a 'new order' to replace the old order of 1776.
So as Nina Gryphon points out in her article, exact conjunctions of Jupiter and NN in 2016 occur on January 23, January 28, and June 20 @22Virgo in January and again in August--conjunct US natal Neptune @22Virgo making 2016 a year of fanaticism, paranoia, illusions, scandals, big dreams, promotion and pretense--quite descriptive of Campaign 2016. By June 20, transit Jupiter, after turning Direct in May, will reach 15Vir42, then conjoin US natal Neptune again in late July-early August 2016 suggesting that the themes will color the entire year and political campaign, and will necessarily involve the presidency of Barack Obama due to its inflated, fantasy-ridden Jupiter-Neptune imprint in 2009 via their three conjunctions through his first year in office, a major conjunction which conjoined US natal Moon (We the People). Obamacare and Wall Street are implicated as well.
And in Politics, the 'fortunate contacts' Jupiter-NN duo keys potentials in 2016 regarding: legal consequences of treaties (ex: TPP), legal opinions of religious leaders, and/or imports that disrupt trade or business (ex: TPP?). The interference in legal matters by religious leaders may be excessive, closed legal societies may be involved or turn up in the news, and/or our legal system will continue to be hampered and bound by erroneous decisions concerning the status of groups ('corporations are people'?) or parties (which hints at candidates illegally coordinating their campaigns and promotions with groups they shouldn't.)
Expansion of contacts through networking is a given along with successful meetings, and work/job related (Virgo) summits, conferences, and/or seminars which may be held in abundance and be successful as well. Political primaries and caucuses are on the 2016 menu, plus, The Broadcaster is one of Jupiter's roles and since North Node relates to contact with the public, we also think of Summer 2016 which threatens the American public with two political nominating conferences so it will be nearly impossible to escape hearing all about it. Too fast or far expansion is also a possibility for it may lead to future collapse so that would be a caution for anyone this applies to--the traditional caution of 'too much too soon' comes to mind.
During 2016 we must also consider that transiting NN (the head of the dragon) also meets with US natal Neptune (22Virgo) in 2016 and this combination may supply Neptunian glamour and/or falsehoods to our contacts but also such potentials as: a lack of community spirit or teamwork, bad judgment, disappointments in relationships or alliances, strange conduct, plus, it may widen the possibilities for anti-social behavior. Unfortunately, Neptune-NN also suggests scandals via foreign concerns, and spies and/or terrorists entering the country which of course points to the acceptance or non-acceptance of Syrian refugees and to America's ongoing arguments over Washington's neglect of adequate border control.
To close, let's add Ebertin's more pleasant descriptions of the Jupiter-NN combination of energies for he supplies more social and agreeable flavors such as: good fellowship, harmonious relationships, and good fortune in finding a partner (though anti-social conduct cannot be ruled out.) Another curious flavor comes from the 19th century and I wonder if you've ever heard of it: the Odyle force, sometimes referred to as the 'Od force' which sounds oddly quaint these days, doesn't it?
Well, why not check it out some brief details at Secret Moon Art? And here is a view of my Od Collage created in 2009 in honor of the 19th century's 'scientific' notion of the existence of an Odyle force:
Blog Note: in planning stages is my annual post displaying the Spring Equinox 2016 and Summer Solstice 2016 horoscopes set for Washington DC so please check back when you can, or Follow or Subscribe as you may. Thanks!