US Progressed Moon to ASC: May 30, 2008

Here you see America's Secondary Progressed chart for May 30, 2008--date of the real Memorial Day.

(Secondary Progressions describe the physical plane and I tend to abbreviate them to 'Sec.')

As you can see, Sec Moon 27Leo11 is conjunct Sec Ascendant which relates to the Self or physical body, and any time a planet or luminary (Sun or Moon) progresses to a chart's angle, change is in store.

This position also happens to be opposite US natal Moon (the People; the public) so let's see what this may indicate for the American people.

Our Progressed Moon has been in the warm-hearted sign of Leo for some time now since Sec Moon progresses appr one degree per month. This quickness is due to the fact that the natural Moon is the fastest moving body in our solar system and its orbit around the Earth creates our calendar month, as you know.

Sec Moon remains in a sign for about 2 1/2 years so we see here that we're nearing the last months of Leo, with our Sec Full Moon exact on Dec 24, 2008 at 4Vir10.

Having Sec Moon opposite natal Moon brings issues similar to those of Sec Moon to 1st house/ASC, so for briefness' sake, I'll simply list what's being emphasized here:

nuturing, food, veganism, home, homeland, domestic concerns, personal security, ecology (Earth, our home), emotions and emotional security, caretaking roles, public involvements (ex: elections; publicity; the silver screen), and identity and/or residential changes.

Sounds like locavores may come into their own!

Of course, changes and fluctuations are always where the Moon resides in a chart--natal, progressed, Returns, etc. And we know that the Moon describes the mundane ups'n'downs of our daily lives as well.

But having Sec Moon advancing from the hidden, secretive 12th house into the more visible 1st house is a big change...and to make things more interesting, the midpoint of Neptune and the North Node (NN of the Moon--a destined joining point which relates to public involvements) is sitting directly upon the ASC and 'pointing' toward the Sec Moon.

Thus we have a couple of midpoint pictures to consider:

Neptune/NN = Moon: high sensitivity; feeling ostracized; being misunderstood; a lack of community spirit or adaptability; cessation of an inner understanding with others; disappointments.

Neptune/NN = ASC: feeling uncomfortable in the presence of others; experiencing deceit; being duped; appearing strange to others; disappointments. (Tyl; Ebertin.)

Now you know that Neptune/NN contacts also relate to films as well as to deceit with the public and use of illusions in public life, political or not.

Two examples are perhaps becoming more aware of propaganda than usual within Hollywood films or in TV shows--or Photoshop pics may imply what isn't there (of course I'm thinking of Politics as I type for there would be no Hollywood without Neptune's illusions--and synchronistically, we're plopped in the midst of a political campaign of great import where Neptunian image is everything.)

Neptune is sextile NN and thus in Nodal degree (fated) and has formed a YOD pattern with US natal Moon (marked in pink at the Desc) so the above midpoint picture is doubly ephasized. YODs indicate special tasks or a crisis.

To paraphrase Frances Sakoian, in The Astroloer's Handbook, Neptune sextile NN indicates:

an ability to subtly influence public opinions, moods, and actions; riding the current of public moods and trends; evasions are used rather than direct confrontation.

Plus, connections between Neptune and NN tend toward sleeplessness, and a lack of judgment leading to wrong ideas about associations (Ebertin.) Not such a good situation with November elections upcoming, is it?

Actually this sextile in the US Sec chart has been of influence for quite a while with its confusions, deceits, and illusions--and the YOD once focused on Mercury in AQ. I posted on this pattern some time ago so I won't repeat it here.

Also rising in this Sec chart is Royal Star of Persia, Regulus, whose *keywords are: success if revenge is avoided.

Taking revenge when this Star is prominent means that all that has been gained will be lost, and if this isn't so for America since the attacks of 9/11, I'll eat my beanie cap sans mayo or mustard.

I see Regulus as relating to the old saw, the bigger they are, they harder they fall, for the higher one climbs and the more success one achieves, the more Regulus expects noble actions of us...and revenge is perhaps the basest action of all.

But taking pride in the small things of life may help offset some of the problems that are created by mishandling the energy and gifts of this important Star, so perhaps the American people may be allowed to focus on their domestic needs, family, nurturing, etc (and turn vegan?!)...and thus mitigate some of the damage our 'leaders' have perpetrated toward their selfish ends to the exclusion of our needs.

So will the upcoming shift to a new Oval Office occupant bring change of identity for our country along with more presidential focus on our security and other real needs? Will more people lose their homes as Washington's massive amounts of deceit continue to bedevil and undermine us?

A change of identity is certainly on the way as our Sec Moon enters further into 1st house territory. My prayer is that improvements will accompany it.


* Brady's Fixed Stars.

UPDATE 8:30 pm: You'll find more details on this chart including Capulus at Midheaven and the Sun Pisces-Moon Leo blend here.

VP search: political musings for the week

Summer is upon us, it's Memorial Day weekend, and I've been blurbing and musing on 2008's presidential candidates and the required search for a VP candidate to share the ticket: VP search: too many senators has a few points I've been pondering this week concerning senatorial egos, piggish governors, Obama's Israel shout-out, and Hillary's crystal ball for June horrors, among other things.

Last here on May 21, the two-tiered interweb (thanks, TV's Craig Ferguson!) is continuing to be problematic for it seems I'm allowed into this blog on alternate days at best, or every three or four days more annoyingly and my 'real world' schedule must often take precedence over creaky page-loading.

But I love my Stars Over Washington blog, so please don't think I diss if I'm absent awhile, okay? Blogging has become quite a struggle on Turtle Lane.

And sometimes my blog on WordPress navigates more easily, so you may find me there instead. If you follow the above link you'll also find articles on the natal charts of TV's Craig Ferguson, chanteuse Amy Winehouse, and master artist Edgar Degas sprinkled amongst the politics.

That's because Jude's Threshold is meant to be a hodge podge of Art, Astrology, and Politics...a veritable tapestry of creativity and societal concerns stretched upon a loom of Astrology.

Perhaps it's a good mix, but as you know, the clunker in the happy blend is none other than Politics, that system of organized hatreds which ruins most of what it touches while lying to our collective face in order to cover its fallibility and pocket-lining.

We could put it down to human nature, but these critters, vermin, and crooks imagine themselves to be above the rest of us on the evolutionary ladder along with their elite societal status...because they confuse wealth of money with wealth of character.

And Scripture says it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. So that settles that, doesn't it?

Now this reminds me of the Sabian Symbol for "25Leo"..."A large camel crossing the desert"...ADEQUACY...

pos: uncompromising persistence and uncomplaining self-expenditure in any course to be followed;

neg/unconscious/shadow side: ruthlessness in an unintelligent self-interest.


But what would Washington be without its unintelligent self-interest?

(The Sabian Symbols in Astrology, Dr. Mark Edmund Jones.)

Hillary hearts the NWO

Dost Thou Harken to Hillary? is a just-published post at Jude's Threshold which comes as close to summing up my political laments for America's sake as any I have previously written.

Some of my blab is based on misgivings about a Hillary Clinton presidency which are laid out, in large measure, by an article in The Nation from Oct-Nov, 2007. You've probably read it, but if not, here's its link:

Hillary's Mystery Money Men which concerns Harken chairman Alan Quasha who "helped make Bush" and now lurks within the Clinton camp.

If you're planning to vote for a global elitist (and that's all we have available), you may as well meet some of their shadowy financial backers skulking behind the scenes and tinkering with America.

Space Station flybys or watch the movie!

Space Weather News for 18 May 18, 2008


ISS MARATHON: The 2008 "ISS Marathon" gets underway this week when the International Space Station spends three days (May 21-23) in almost-constant sunlight. Sky watchers in Europe and North America can see the bright spaceship gliding overhead two to four times each night.

The ISS is as bright as Venus or Jupiter, so even people in light-polluted cities can see it. Please use our new and improved simple Satellite Tracker to find out when to look:

SpaceWeather flybys

SPACE STATION MOVIE: Today's edition of spaceweather.com features a must-see movie of the International Space Station flying over Germany on May 12. Although it looks like footage from a satellite or high-powered telescope, the movie was made by an amateur astronomer using a backyard 5-inch refractor.

As a result of ongoing construction (every shuttle flight in recent months has added a new piece to the ISS), the space station is now a wide and easy target for amateur-class telescopes.

Catch the show at SpaceWeather.com

Senator Ted Kennedy

Looking at the natal chart of Ted Kennedy and the 911 call for medical aid on May 17 (8:19 am edt from Cape Cod, Massachusetts) we see that the elder statesman's natal planets have been under some stress of late with more to come.

"Seizures" have replaced "possible stroke" as a cause of his emergency hospitalization and more tests will be done to determine the reason for his distress. But who is the primary planetary culprit here?

Having 23Leo40 on his 8th cusp of transformations and death, we might expect heart problems (Leo) to be in the picture, if not now, perhaps later on. Senator Kennedy turned 76 years old on his birthday (Feb 22, 1932, 3:58 am est) and his past years of indulgent drinking habits may be contributing to his weakness now.

We see this tendency toward over-indulgent drug (alcohol) use with a very close Moon-Neptune conjunction in 8th house.

This conjunction (Moon 6Vir25) and Neptune (6:44) has transiting Saturn (restriction, blockage, old age) in the neighborhood of the 8th house, a transit which I must file within SO'W's 'uh-oh department' and which portends chronic illness, depression, soul sickness, and/or feelings of frustration or paralysis.

With natal Mars 27AQ50, Mercury 28AQ49, and Sun 2Pis32 opposite, Saturn is bringing many lessons of restriction for Senator Kennedy and has been opposing these Aquarian planets for some time now--plus, Mercury is his 6th house (health, work, service) ruler and relates to the nervous system.

Mars rules his 3rd house, also indicated in health issues bwo thinking and mental state so with Mars 4Leo09 (8:19 am yesterday), the planet of aggravation is headed for natal Jupiter, planet of excess which is posited near 8th cusp at 15Leo44.

It's true that about 30 years ago, Saturn was bedeviling this area of his natal chart as well, but he was 30 years younger. So as Saturn opposes natal Sun (vitality) we find that overwork and stress may bring serious health problems--and Saturn to natal Moon is a time of feeling old, tired, and possibly depressed over one's organic conditions.

Saturn transits tend to uncover structural weaknesses wherever they exist and it seems that at age 76, they are. Plus, diabetes cannot be ruled out as a cause for his troubles (re-think over-consumption of alcoholic beverages while ye may, my children!)

Saturn to Moon (physical body; emotions) is a time when emotional turmoil increases one's vulnerability to illness which is expressed most often through the digestive system--and as mentioned, Kennedy's Moon-Neptune conj is in Virgo, sign of health, most esp the bowel area.

Then there's Mercury, 6th house ruler, 18Gem14 and soon to turn Rx at 26Gem31 within his 6th house, recross 6th cusp, and enter again during the first week of July. It's common for Mercury to 6th house transits to included visits to, or consultations with, medical advisors. This possibility is strengthened by Kennedy's 6th house being ruled by Mercury.

At the time of the 911 call, Moon 28Lib40 (Libra rules kidneys and lungs) was moving into a square with natal Saturn in 1st house (physical body; self) which is ruled by Saturn due to his natal ASC 10Cap49, giving that the above mentioned Saturn transits more clout.
Transiting Moon is only a timer, of course, but part of this picture as it describes the daily round of life.

And then there's dissolving Neptune 24AQ14, now approaching natal Mars and Mercury (and eventually natal Sun 2Pis32 but that's years away.) Neptune opposite n Mars is a time when physical efforts are undermined (Neptune) by illness which may be difficult to diagnose and may affect the head and raise a fever (Mars.)

Going back to the Moon-Neptune conj in 8th house, if we take tr Saturn, natal Neptune, and n Moon and moosh them into a midpoint picture by degree we get:

Saturn/Neptune = Moon: chronic illness or illness caused through emotional suffering.

Ebertin gives the Saturn/Neptune combo's biological correspondences as: weak, depressed, or ill people, and if we use the same mooshing method with tr Neptune, Mars, and Mercury, we see that the Senator's energy level (Mars) is being affected by the Mercury/Neptune combination, which Ebertin gives as: nerve weakness or paralysis of the nerves.

This planetary situation supports the seizure diagnosis, if that indeed is the case.

Well, being no medical astrologer, it's quite cheeky of me to attempt giving you any details at all concerning Ted Kennedy's current medical travails, but I wanted to do something...and I'm sending out warm wishes for the Senator's complete recovery and a hope that the underlying cause or causes of his distress may be quickly discovered and successfully treated.

Dec 24, 2008: day of US Progr'd Full Moon

This image is the transit chart for Dec 24, 2008, 11:45 pm est, Philadelphia, PA, which is the exact time of America's Secondary Progressed Full Moon (based on the US 'Sibly' chart, July 4, 1776 5:10 pm LMT.)

Secondary Progressed Full Moons are the end of a cycle which everyone's natal chart enjoys and which gives important info regarding relationships, goals and joint successes, and public life.

Not liking the looks of this chart am I, yet it may as well be faced with its Mars/Pluto opposition to Midheaven, *Sun/Atlantis conjunction, tr Jupiter conj US natal Pluto 27Cap33--a pair which is conj US Secondary (Sec) South Node (a point of separation, unconscious or neurotic behavior, talents, and/or past connections.)

An hour of Jupiter emphasizes the Jupiter-to-Pluto transit when resources and resourcefulness are increased as well as achievement of greater power and control unless negative factors interfere.

Evaluation and distribution of monetary assets and raw materials procede if all goes well although these assets seem to be mainly in the fatcat coffers already, if you're asking me. How greedy can plutocrats (Jupiter-Pluto) be? It's quite mindboggling, isn't it?

Dec 24's asteroid, Tisiphone (retaliation) is there with Jupiter and US n Pluto as well, and you see the 6/12 cusps are conj the Sec Full Moon's degrees...12th cusp = Sec Moon (4Vir10) and 6th cusp = Sec Sun (4Pis10.) The 6/12 house polarity with the Virgo/Pisces axis = the victim/savior axis, as you know.

So Virgoan health concerns and Piscean spiritual issues may be on the nation's front burner, along with the victimization of war and violence. And Pisces' link with Neptune brings oil and gas into the picture, as we may expect.

Quite worrisome is the pile-up at the Foundation Point of the chart--the HOW? Point, the Ic...so that warrior Mars (which is out-of-bounds and working on his own), nuclear Pluto, and the Sun (purpose, the leader in a national chart) affect the opposite point--Mc, the Goal/Aspiration/Public Status of the chart.

Mars/Pluto = Mc: ambition; self-confidence; facing overwhelming force without power; danger; dealing with might on either side of any issue; major job maneuver.

You see lesson-bringer Saturn in the karmic house of the Unconscious (12th) and readying to conj US natal Neptune in Virgo (exact 8.27.09.) Saturn to n Neptune is a disillusioning time of facing grim reality (so we have That to look forward to--within the presidential term of whomever gets the job, though why anyone would want it eludes me.)

Blogging time is brief so I'll temporarily close this post with the Sun Cap-Moon Sag details--this is an Earth-Fire combo indicating an ability to enlist others to action.

Earth-Fire blends are aka "the bulldozer" and may be described as volcanic molten lava which eventually forms new, fertile land.

Earth-Fire can deal with molten metal like a blacksmith (or a 'Vulcan'?) or as an engineer who shapes raw materials into serviceable tools (such as weaponry? see 'Jupiter to Pluto' above), plus, there's a dictatorial attitude and a certitude about beliefs which we've unfortunately seen in Washington before with ginned up pretexts for going to war...

Sun Cap-Moon Sag:

zealousness, practical idealism, and faith in values; alternately austere and humorous; hard-headed businessperson + visionary social reformer; high standards; charismatic and capable; forceful and powerful; ability to grasp facts and hold onto the vision; must 'get it right'; explorative; moody and impatient under too many demands; verbosity and pomposity; intellectual pretensions; energy may be wasted in a nervous seeking of new pastures; fixations on narrow views that are rigidly moralistic.

Images for Integration:

A bank clerk plans a world cruise...In his spare time, a High Court judge takes up the serious hobby of gambling at horse races. (Sun Sign-Moon Sign, Chas & Suzi Harvey.)

to be cont'd...


note: scroll just below to see the chart of America's Secondary Full Moon and for more details please visit:

Jude's Threshold where you'll find an entry dedicated to the subject on my sidebar list of Pages. You'll also find a new Page there...'Wedding Day Astrology: John and Elizabeth Edwards.'


* Atlantis can be a stand-in for America, the Atlantic Ocean, the myth of Atlantis, NASA's shuttle, but the asteroid has these keywords: where we feel doomed; abuse of power.

America's Progressed Full Moon in Virgo

Here you see America's Secondary Progressed Chart for Dec 24, 2008, the moment of her Progressed Full Moon (based on 'Sibly' natal chart, July 4, 1776, 5:10 pm LMT.)

Transits for that date and the moment of the Full Moon are written around the outside of the chart along with a few other details, plus you'll find more info here:

US Progressed Full Moon if you wish. I will be adding details there concerning the Hard Rectangle pattern you see in the chart as time and tech gremlins allow.

As you notice, the end of this cycle comes upon Christmas Eve 2008 and between the Nov 4 elections and Inauguration Day 2009.

Letterman on Hillary's debt

Frisky Dave Letterman just said that with Hillary's campaign being $20 million in debt, "now, when Hillary gets that call at 3 am, it'll be a collection agency."

Good one, Dave.

And I'd add that since it may be a company she holds stock in, isn't it like calling yourself?

Justice Earl Warren on social progress vs socialism

Many people consider the things which government does for them to be social progress, but they consider the things government does for others to be socialism.

That describes current attitudes perfectly, doesn't it?

Still I must be aware the beam in my own eye while complaining over the mote in yours! (a beam being a board of wood and a mote being a mere speck.)

Justice Earl Warren was born with Sun in compassionate Pisces and Moon in nurturing (if self-protective) Cancer...a blending of fish and crab...how oceanic!

are all political jokes mean?

Because this one seems about right to me:

Presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain were flying to a convention.

Barack looked at Hillary, chuckled and said, "You know, I could throw a $1,000 bill out of the window right now and make somebody very happy."

Hillary shrugged her shoulders and replied, "I could throw ten $100 bills out of the window and make ten people very happy."

John added, "That being the case, I could throw one hundred $10 bills out of the window and make a hundred people very happy."

Hearing their exchange, the pilot rolled his eyes and said to his
co-pilot, "I could throw all 3 of them out of the window and make 156 million people very happy."


(note to John: $10 ain't gonna do it.)#

Well, spending today with my local phone service provider has yielded what should be some progress in the blogging department...you can't blog if you can't connect, so hopefully things will improve around Stars Over Washington!

Now if only it were that simple for we-the-people to get Washington politicians to improve.