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Apr 30, 2009

Justice Souter leaving SCOTUS - list of his writings

Will we miss him once he's gone?

Justice David Souter is finally having his way and getting out of Washington, and Cornell University Law School's list of Souter's writings - from concurrences to dissents and those in between - contains a bevy of the justice's work which includes my personal favorite - his dissent in the George W. Bush v. Albert Gore Jr fiasco of Dec 12, 2000.

Bad times, but already historical.

Justice Souter's Wiki bio details his low-tech lifestyle: no emailing, no cell phone, no answering machine, and no TV. Ahhh....me time!

His favorite past-time seems to be rock climbing so I'm expecting some major Capricorn (mountain goat) action to turn up in his natal chart...just a minute, I'll go calculate it now and be right back with a few astrological notes...

Okay, it's 1:28 am edt and I'm back with Justice David Souter's birth data: Sept 17, 1939, Boston, Massachusetts, time unknown, so I'm looking at a Sun-conjunct-MC chart (fame and importance)...Moon is in Scorpio the entire 24-hour period.

Sun 23Vir53; Moon 20Sco50; Mercury 19Vir36; Venus 27Vir05; Mars 27Cap52; Jupiter 5Ari06 Rx; Saturn 00Tau16 Rx; Uranus 21Tau48 Rx; Neptune 23Vir06 (conj Sun); Pluto 2Leo26; Chiron 18Can38; NN 29Lib46.

Mercury is final dispositor and strong in its own hardworking sign of Virgo, the critic.

Sun conj Neptune stands out rather brazenly although in the Sun-conj-MC chart, it's a separating aspect. The closest applying aspect to natal Sun in the chart is Sun trine Mars (3A59 - lots of energy available for rock and mountain climbing.)

Sun conj Neptune is an interesting aspect whether applying (conscious) or separating (unconscious) so let's consider that for now...it's too late to type out all the facets of this intriguing chart but I'll do what I can!

Naturally, veiling Neptune presents some sort of obfuscation of the individuality when so near the Sun which is one's core being, adult self, and the goal of the hero's journey that is Life. All aspects to natal Sun affect one's basic selfhood, the nature of the will power, and the way in which it is used. It has a Piscean flavor - the fish you can never quite get your mitts on (my mother had Sun conj Neptune and she used Neptune's creative talents well but she did like to be mysterious sometimes.)

The astrological Sun represents unfolding power in our lives and it intrigues me that Justice Souter's Sun (ego) reached as high as the Supreme Court of the US with nebulous, often undermining Neptune along for the ride. Usually we expect one with a 'weak' Sun to stay in their own little pond, but this particular fish had bigger oceans to navigate and support from elsewhere in the chart.

Sun-conj-Neptune people are off in worlds of their own and here there are supporting chart factors indicating separation tendencies, isolationism, and an ability to do concentrated work to the exclusion of all external conditions.

Desires and emotions seem to originate from a Higher Source with this conjunction; power potential is expressed by an ability to merge emotionally with the universal life force. This ability is supported by other chart factors.

Yes, the desire and ambition for self-importance are subtle but lurking; yet working on behalf of humanity is a possibility as well.

A mystical inclination may be evident yet his well-educated and developed mind has 'made the man' for he is a Rhodes Scholar and Harvard graduate (magna cum laude/Phi Beta Kappa) in Philosophy who wrote his senior thesis on Oliver Wendell Holmes, the great juricist.

And where is his Capricorn goat?

Mars 27Cap53 (conj US natal Pluto, btw) trine Sun as mentioned; also trine Venus, square Saturn, trine Neptune, and opposing Pluto. Mars squares the Nodal axis which can cause problems in public settings or with the public; Mars opposite Pluto gives a life test concerning the right use of power for actions will have far-reaching consequences; it shows a tendency to want to remake and rule other people so serving on the Supreme Court bench was a good way to express this powerful opposition, an aspect which can attract violence and/or crime, too.

(Justice Souter was a victim of a mugging, if memory serves, in 2004 - see Wiki bio - but that's DC for you - I saw a mugging out my living room window one afternoon, on Kalorama Road, just off Connecticut Ave.)

So you may have noted that Saturn is conjunct SN, a point of separation and unconscious behavior patterns. Saturn conj SN indicates that he is personally limited due to rigid habits and ambitions which put him out of tune with prevailing cultural attitudes and trends; this creates isolationism yet positively may put him in a class all his own - an individualist with a painstaking approach to his work (as mentioned above - this concentrating talent strengthens Sun-conj-Neptune.)

Mars is exalted in Capricorn as you know, where its energies are well-controlled and most efficient. And Souter's Jupiter in the pioneering sign of Aries indicates a freedom-loving philosopher, an explorer who wants to leave the stifling city and climb or ponder at will.

Jupiter Rx is a maverick and an independent thinker who dances to his own tune - his 2009 Secondary Progressed (SP) Jupiter is Direct by progression in late Pisces which meshes well with his n Sun-Neptune conjunction; SP Mars is now 4Pis15, and in need of seclusion and privacy - and less regimentation than Capricorn afforded.

So I say, thanks for your efforts, Justice Souter, and enjoy the rest of your life. You have the ability to get along well with others, so be sure you touch base with other human beings on a regular basis...keeps the Neptunian cobwebs out.

To be cont'd...

Historian David Hume

This is merely a small shout-out post to Force on the side of the governed in case you wish to check out a few Astrology notes about a famous Scottish historian and philosopher, David Hume, from whence came my post's title.

Astrology of Obama's 'first 100 days' presser 4.29.09

As an update, I have added more Astrology notes concerning Wednesday night's 'first 100 days' presser of Pres. Obama, if you'd care to have a peek.

You may wish to scroll down just a wee bit for the after-presser update which includes YOD ('Finger of God') and Fist of God patterns which formed overhead as he spoke/answered questions from 8:01 pm until 8:59 pm edt from the East Room of the White House.

The practical Earth-Water Sun Tau-Moon Cancer blend for the press conference is quite apt so here you go...

resourceful, sensitive, caring, creative; tenacious and loyal; determined and obstinate - this blend describes a strongly protective individual, a 'mother of the world' type who can be strict, too.

(The president's natal Saturn - authority - in its own sign of Capricorn, but retrograde which doesn't make it weakened, but internalized and possibly unconscious unless and until he figures it out. That's the kind of thing Astrology is very helpful with.)

Emotional relationships and family are central, and nest-building blossoms when the right partner is found. This is a very supportive combo in partnerships (remember he characterized his attempts to reach out to his Republican friends as "genuine.")

This reliable combo prefers to do and experience things to get the 'feel' of how they work (and if they don't work, try something else?), and it always takes a diplomatic approach. 'Carrying the weight of the world on its shoulders' is a distinct possibility - and I think that's about what he's done here with the presidential cards dealt him and the mess passed on from his Republican 'friends.'

If you heard his remarks and answers, you'll know he mentioned such things as the number of teen pregnancies needing to be decreased, pro-choice/pro-life issues, families in relation to the Swine Flu outbreak, the economy, etc.

Now here are the Images for Integration for Sun Tau-Moon Cancer...

'A baker undertakes to feed an orphanage...Dr. Spock teaching mothers how to bring up their children...Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.' ('Sun Sign-Moon Sign', Charles & Suzi Harvey.)

The Sun Tau-Moon Cancer blend is shared natally by Tchaikovsky (obviously) and by David Icke, Bert Bacharach, Gabriel Faure, Sandra Dee, Robert Oppenheimer, Juan Miro, Lynn Redgrave, and Dr. Benjamin Spock, author of 'The Common Sense Book of Baby and Childcare.'

(Saturn in his own sign is nothing if not full of common sense, and Pres. Obama tends to sound that way to me more often than not. But...Oppenheimer?)

Here are a few words from New Ager David Icke:

"You can't tell people they must consume less when their children are hungry. We, the fortunate people, must consume less so they can consume more."

Sounds like a more perfect world was being 'channeled' tonight - one in which each person realizes that they really are their brother's keeper...infused with, you know, kind of a community-building spirit that recognizes and gives props to the common good wherever it finds it.

Apr 29, 2009

Arlen Specter Feb 12, 1930

Senator Arlen Specter, who formally announced his switch to the Democratic Party yesterday, Apr 28, 2009, was born in Wichita, Kansas on Feb 12, 1930, birth time unknown.

Yesterday, as what some would say was a long overdue formal announcement of the moderate Republican's party re-affiliation (Specter was a Dem in his earlier days) transiting Jupiter 23AQ37 was conjunct his natal Sun 23AQ21 (using a Sun-conj-MC chart set for 12:43:42 pm CST) and his natal Venus 24AQ49.

This gives Sen. Specter a self-satisfied Sun-Venus conj natally which indicates one who loves to be loved and liked, and will adjust his personality to assure this. It's a self-dramatizing combination which can have a pompous air due to thinking that his mere presence is enough to merit everyone's attention.

Jupiter-to-Sun signifies a culmination of something begun 12 years before (Jupiter's orbit appr 12 years long) and those who know more of the senator's career and life than I do may know what this refers to - I do know from his Wiki bio that he ended his stint as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Jan 3, 1997 (which may not qualify since it was an ending in itself.)

Jupiter's expansive tendencies to one's ego (Sun) indicates that whatever was begun 12 years ago must now move to a higher level (not NWO plans, I hope) or come to an end. Recognition and honor come along easily with this Jupiter transit but it's better not to get carried away with one's own self-importance now....perhaps an impossible task for a politician, especially one born with a Sun-Venus conjunction!

Jupiter to natal Venus shows an increased desire for luxury, and that there's been an establishment of an important alliance - with Pres. Obama is the obvious guess especially since the president is said to have promised Sen. Specter that he will campaign on his behalf in Pennsylvania in 2010.

Also yesterday, the transiting midpoint of the speculation pair, Jupiter/Neptune 24AQ55 is sitting upon the senator's natal Sun and Venus so we have two pictures...any, all, or none may apply...

Jupiter/Neptune = Venus: optimism in relationship.

Jup/Nep = Sun: trying to capture the essence of things; following a dream (not a NWO dream, I hope); feeling the spirit; potentially misguided states (not PA, I hope); speculation (better political chances as a Dem?); irresponsibility; deceiving or being deceived. (Tyl; Ebertin.)

More current transits include:

natal Mercury 27Cap18 (conj US natal Pluto - in fact, Specter was born in 1930, the year of Pluto's discovery, so his natal degree is the Discovery degree of Pluto - his 17Can52 Rx); tr Sun 8Tau30 at noon is snugged between his NN 5Tau44 and Chiron 9Tau54 indicating something fated and with a wounding quality about his party affiliation switch. Perhaps he dealt a long-coming (North Node) wound (Chiron) to the R Party and may have been feeling wounded (under appreciated) himself.

So here's a midpoint picture in effect for some months now...

Tr Nep/Pluto = n Mercury: communications are other than they appear; deception as a strategy; loss of centering; nervous weakness; many plans incapable of realisation; thinking and acting while under strange influences.

(I noticed that Elizabeth on The View this morning mentioned plaintively that Sen. Specter had said a month ago that he would remain Republican. So much for a politician's promises, eh? Maybe a diss to his pompousness occurred!)

US natal Pluto now has tr Pluto/Chiron midpoint conjunct it and tr Neptune/Pluto midpoint is there as well...Nep/Plu being the signature of the Robber Baron class, Plu/Chiron being plutocrats who oppress with disenfranchisement, fascism, totalitarianism, corporatism, racism, the ruthless list goes on.

Another of yesterday's links with Sen. Specter's natal chart is Mars 4AQ40 being triggered by tr NN...a time when meetings are held to get the job done.

Well, Sen. Specter is a fighter, we know that, so his switch of loyalties - assuming he's not operating as a Trojan horse against the D Party - should be interesting to watch and will perhaps help his prospects in his next re-election battle.

But I have yet to forget Specter's role on the Warren Commission and its whitewashing of the true culprits in the assassination of Pres. John F. Kennedy, when a major coup of our government was successfully enjoined.

And saboteur Pluto, with Neptune's obfuscating help, continues bedeviling and undermining America today.

Apr 28, 2009

Swine Flu and the GOP; president's presser 4-29-09

By now you've run across some quirky statements from Republicans on the outbreak of Swine Flu and its pandemic possibilities. Why, even Rush Limbaugh is manufacturing what he hopes are GOP-saving theories on this public health issue that requires more thought for the common good than he or other neocon rightwingers can hold within their self-serving peabrains for more than two seconds running.

If you missed it yesterday, check out digby's explanation of the dilemma the GOPers find themselves in.

When we first heard of 'swine flu' in the 70s we weren't ready with vaccines. Now it's 2009 and we're not ready for a pandemic with vaccines (or well-staffed clinics.)

If Rush Limbaugh could manufacture vaccines he'd be useful in a crisis. As it is, what he manufactures is the usual manure and swill from the GOP playbook. Which is not only un-useful - these people don't 'believe' in the common good!

And if the GOP as it stands now had been around for and involved in the founding of America, we wouldn't have a nation or the US Constitution we now cling to.

I also want to assure anyone who thinks I'm torn up about FOX TV choosing not to carry the president's press conference tomorrow night that I would not have watched the presser on FOX anyway.

For me, the only thing the FOX channel is good for is '24' and 'Lie to Me'...and while they'll show the usual episode of 'Lie to Me' at 8:00 pm edt - apologies to the excellent Tim Roth - I'll be watching and listening to Mr. President elsewhere.

Swine Flu Update 11:55 am: Smithfield Farms facility.

Apr 27, 2009

National Debt has Facebook page!

NPR just reported that our national debt has a Facebook page and so do I but haven't used it much yet because you're not there...

pandemic flu, stim money, and political swines

The following question concerns a political trickster's grandstanding on behalf of the party but is not a trick question:

What do pandemic flu, 2009's stimulus package money, and political swines have in common?

Hint 1: his initials are KR.

Hint 2: they did it on purpose to undermine our current systems and tattered social fabric more completely - and to ratchet up the fear level among the unwashed masses.

Yes, I'll say it again: the power elite play for keeps.

Machiavelli will inspire you now

Machiavelli's ideas about the difficulties of introducing a
new order of things are part of Jeff Huber's excellent article in which he relates the 'brave new world order' to America's recent changes in perspective and prospects for world domination which by my count, aren't going very well for humankind's sake. But I suppose on a sub-human, reptilian level their plans are slithering like clockwork.

Nicolo Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy on May 11, 1469 (NS = Gregorian calendar; his birth date involves the Florentine calendar as well and his chart details have a Rodden Rating of 'B' from auto/biographical sources.)

Sun 20Tau58, Moon 2AQ50; Mercury 10Gem15; Venus 22Ari34; Mars 11 Pis59; Jupiter 27Can21; chart-ruler Saturn 4Tau56; Uranus Rx 12Lib58; Neptune Rx 7Sco44, and conjunct Pres. Obama's Neptune; Pluto Rx 6Vir01 - conj Pres. Obama's Pluto; Chiron Rx 27Cap53conj BHO's natal Saturn; NN 7AQ13; ASC 11Cap22; MC 8Sco46.

First house contains Chiron, Moon, and North Node, Mars is in 2nd house, Venus and Saturn in 3rd house, Sun in 4th, Mercury in 5th.

Jupiter is in 7th house of Partnerships and Open Enemies (he was out of favor and desperate for some years during his life), Pluto resides in 8th house, leaving Uranus and Neptune in 9th with his Neptune conjunct MC.

You may notice that the old pot-stirrer has recently had a Nodal Return in late March, 2009 a time when new associations may be made, but so far I have no reports of his turning over, sitting up, or appearing at any political events in person.

But he has had public mention (NN) in the above linked article and by my own keyboard tinklings which are now falling silent. My work here is done and Monday house cleaning activities are about to begin...

Oh! except for one thing:

Machiavelli began a new phase of activity on Oct 22, 2008 with a Secondary Progressed New Moon 9Sco47, the place in the zodiac where the transiting Saturn/Pluto midpoint (cruelty; hard labour; cold-heartedness; magicians and adepts) now resides - 9Sco12 this very day. And yes, our charts continue to be triggered long after we're gone!

Saturn/Pluto = Moon: melancholy; a tragic destiny (esp of 'a woman'); frigid feelings; renunciation; giving up giving; abstemiousness.

Saturn/Pluto = Sun: the threat of loss; enforced change; ill health; toil and over-exertion; sparing no pains in one's work; renunciation; privation; a physical separation (Nic is still dead so 'ill health' for him can't be Swine Flu. Too bad.)

In defense of the ultra-rich

Given the enormous income gap in America these days between worker and CEO, is it possible to defend the ultra-rich?

Update 11:09 am edt: this link I nabbed from a (Twitter) tweet by Ashton Kutcher detailing the UK's rich class who are suffering as well with few exceptions. Wonder what Mr. al Fayed knew and when did he know it?

Astrology of Apr 27 - May 2, 2009 and Pres Obama's chart

Astrologer Julie Demboski has amazed me again with her astrological overview of the upcoming week, so practical yet full of insight.

Julie is calling Apr 27 - May 2 a 'connector week' as we tidy up loose ends and ready for more excitement to come. May 1 is the day she pinpoints for lots happening and notes that a Water Grand Trine forms between Pallas, Earth, and Juno.

This Grand Trine will linger until May 8 so get ready for that. Ecology, environmentalism (Earth) and women's issues may be in the news if not in our hearts with Juno, the wife, and Pallas, the daughter, in the mix.

So What If a Grand Trine is Watery?

A Grand Trine in Water indicates great creativity as the collective unconscious is 'tapped' for inspiration and insight. Pallas' patterning ability and talent for strategizing and planning should give us time and the talent to ready ourselves for what's next on the drafting table - or perhaps for putting what's on the table into action or form, whichever applies.

Water Grand Trines tend to be passive, receptive, and contain the protective power of a trine aspect (120 degr.) Grand Trines are closed circuits of energies and with a Watery quality they have a soothing and tranquil flavor to them that a world in need of respite can appreciate. Either positively or negatively - depending on motives - subtle undercurrents (Water) are intuited (more Water - possibly psychic, are we?) and understood on useful levels of awareness.

The urge to action may be saved for a later agenda, however, and it's difficult to implement plans that haven't been made.

Julie also notes Mercury on the verge of stationing Rx in early Gemini (1Gem44) within 2 degrees of conjunction with Pres. Obama's natal Moon (3Gem21 in n 4th house.) Mercury-to-Moon transits indicate a time of unexpected or sudden contacts from others or of quickly deciding to take a trip. Information (Mercury) received concerns domestic issues (Moon) including real estate matters.

Yes, the real estate market is an obvious theme for the president now since it may not be going as well as the 'green shoots' theory would have us believe (see link to Mike Whitney's article in previous post.) And Mercury does rule reporters.

So if Mercury's Rx station doesn't place these domestic issues on the president's plate for consumption, he'll be snacking on and discussing them at length very soon - the Mercury Rx and Direct stations cross and re-cross Mr. Obama's natal IC which is the cusp of the 4th house of Home and Domestic Scene (using Aug 4, 1961 7:24 pm AHST Honolulu, Hawaii, for Pres. Obama....natal IC 28Tau54, with Inaugural Moon 2009 at his Midheaven.) The president will give a major address mid-week to mark his first 100 days - with address, review or overview all Mercury-related endeavors.

4th house also concerns mining and resources that come from the earth.

Plus, Pres. Obama's place of birth may be up for yet another review (Rx = re-view; birth certificate = Mercury; IC/4th house = family background), so don't be surprised if the subject turns up again in the news within the next few weeks.

Transiting Mercury turns Direct at the very end of May, then leaves its shadow period in mid-June when Mercurial things - agreements, contracts, meetings, agendas, communications, speeches, news, reports, and commerce/trade issues - can move forward again after May's Rx bog-downs and slo-mos.

More Mercurial influence on BHO's natal IC could result in home communications equipment needing replacement or upgrading, perhaps in the White House since that is now Mr. Obama's home.

Secondary Progressions = Evolutionary Progress:

Taking a quick look at the president's Secondary Progressions, I'll venture to say that he's in protect-own-position mode at the moment and that others are not cooperating as they should.

He may tend to over-extend himself for people who don't really deserve it (Sec Venus inconj Sec Jupiter) and the word 'patsy' comes to mind as others try to take credit for his ideas - or simply discount or undermine them. Seems to me the Oval Office has been overrun by corporate types since Inauguration 2009 but maybe that's only my opinion.

All in all, the upcoming week of Apr 27 - May 2, 2009 is a time to prepare for future busy-ness, craziness, and excitement, so let's make our bases as secure as possible yet relax a wee bit when we can snag ourselves a break!