Stars Over Washington and "An Unsealed Letter"

By Jude Cowell

May 15, 2020: Lots going on today in US Politics and in other parts of the world but here's a departure for Stars Over Washington: a publish of its Founding Horoscope as you see, below. For one thing, the 15th year of SO'W culminates on October 16, 2020 and a decision must be made as to whether SO'W should be shuttered rather than entering a 16th year of my fusses about how I don't appreciate 'what they've done with the place', the place being my former city of residence, Washington DC. I dissent because I care and believe that at least a few of my Revolutionary War ancestors would approve of my dissents about the disastrous route greedy and weak Washington politicians have taken our Ship of State, not to mention the foreign influences America's Founders dreaded and warned against. For these reasons, SO'W has always offered freebie content, for it's a labor of love for America, my only nag in the race!

Now the following horoscope is set for First Post timestamped 3:30 am edt on October 16, 2005 (6:30 am pdt) with the Sabian Symbol for its Ascendant (What?) @30 Leo = "An Unsealed Letter." Well, yes, it's always been that: a letter to my friends for anyone to read (such is blogging!) and with Regulus rising. At its Base or Foundation ('IC') is "27 Scorpio" = "A Military Band on the March" which tells you that the Bush-Cheney regime of that era and the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, invasions, occupations, and destruction were the basis that impelled me to begin Stars Over Washington. As you see, at Midheaven ('MC') the Why? Point, is fixed star Algol with her rage and fury implications. And let's not mention how these chart angles mimic those of Donald Trump, plus, other contacts to his natal placements may be found for those who care to look:

Read SO'W's First Post if you wish.

So! Did I check planetary positions in order to adjust the chart before I published at 3:30 am? Nope, only afterwards. As you see, not as many of my usual scribbled notes are penned upon the chart but a few factors are added for your convenience, dear reader. And as always, your on-topic comments are welcomed but freeloaders beware: all ads will be deleted, not published. TY! Jude

May 15, 2020 11:16 am edt Raleigh NC USA

December 2020 Solar Eclipse a wild card for Trump

By Jude Cowell

May 13, 2020: As you know, any solar or lunar eclipse may act as a 'wild card' or 'cosmic blink' that disrupts events, lives, and/or circumstances much as quirky planet Uranus can do, and karmic changes of direction are typical results. Uncovering secrets, inconvenient facts, and/or scandals may also occur around the time of an eclipse - or earlier, later, or never - also much as Uranus can do. Of course, eclipse effects depend on where in one's horoscope an eclipse falls with outcomes usually manifesting within the house (department of life) along with any aspects made by an eclipse to our natal placements.

So checking cosmic happenings for December 2020, we find that Trump's natal (Total) Lunar Eclipse @23Sag04 will be 'eclipsed' (conjoined) by the 4 South Solar Eclipse of December 14, 2020 which suggests, among other things, the potential for some sort of culmination or completion--probably in his relationships (Sun-Moon). Synchronistically, we should also note that the 4 South Eclipse in December will 'eclipse' his Inauguration 2017's Saturn, planet of responsibility, accountability, reliability, integrity, and realism - and his natal Moon and South Node.

That's a boat load of karma coming for Donald Trump but let's not gloat just yet. Things could turn out peachy for him given all the foreign and domestic aid he receives, plus, where Trump goes so goes America. Because We The People are players in this cosmic card game, too. And although karmic progress is always a possibility around eclipse time, positive traits of the eclipse sign must be the objectives to express. In the case of Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius, the primary themes are truth seeking and upholding moral and ethical principles. Well, we know this doesn't pertain to con man Trump (who may still be around in December 2020!) so let's add here the negative possibilities for a solar eclipse in Sagittarius which will relate to society in general along with Trump, his Republican enablers, donors, comrades, and supporters:

Negative Connotations of a Sagittarius Solar Eclipse: moral principles may be incorrect which results in misplaced idealism or misguided beliefs so that karmic endeavors are ineffective and can magnify problems rather than solve them. Indulging in exaggeration misses the mark or falls short of objectives while false optimism causes karmic conditions to be underestimated and thus ineffectively or wrongly dealt with, neglected, or ignored. Therefore, true progress will be lacking, illusory, or temporary at best.

And as we know, for Donald Trump appearances are everything.

For more eclipse details see Rose Lineman's excellent booklet on Eclipses published in 1992 by the AFA.

So if you enlarge the image and read my scribbled notes, here's the 4 South Solar Eclipse Horoscope of December 14, 2020 set for Washington DC and snugged around the Inauguration 2017 Horoscope which shows the eclipse of 2017 Saturn in the financial 8th house and 2020 Mars conjunct 2017 Uranus (nontraditional or radical methods and/or danger of explosion in the 12th house of Politics, Large Institutions, Behind-the-Scenes, and Karma--yet another Trump hissy fit?):

Adding 2017 Saturn to December's 4 South eclipse energies, on a negative level we find people such as free loaders, deadbeats, and those who prefer to shirk responsibility while casting blame on others. Meanwhile, their hard-to-break personal habits interfere with what could be karmic progress along with a failure to take problems and obligations seriously. Related is the fact that Trump was born with a Moon-Saturn inconjunct showing an undercurrent of guilt and nit-pickiness in his emotional reactions to others (exs: reporters! Democrats like Schiff, Schumer, Pelosi!) as he continually projects blame upon anyone but himself for deeply emotional and neurotic reasons. And as we've learned in excruciating detail, his is a personality completely unsuitable for the Office of President of the United States of America.

So tell me: what cosmic card do you think Trump will draw in December 2020?

May 12, 2020: SCOTUS Oral Arguments w Astro-Notes

May 12, 2020: At 10:00 am edt this morning the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) is scheduled to begin oral arguments (made public by telephone) concerning the release of Trump documents such as his income tax returns. No time to print and publish the 10:00 am horoscope for you but there are three factors worth mentioning if only because for me, they stand out in relation to current conditions and events.

Of interest is what's rising at 10:00 am edt and that would be 20Cancer54 conjunct fixed star Castor--along with the first eclipse of 2020--the significant January 10 2020 Lunar Eclipse (DC horoscope shown, plus the Solar Eclipse @4Cap06 which influences today's SCOTUS session).

Comparing this morning's horoscope with that of SCOTUS First Session (February 1, 1790 NYC--I use 9:00 am LMT) we see an eye-popping transit of today's Neptune @20Pisces conjunct SCOTUS Saturn, revealing a time when structures and traditions are being eroded or are disintegrating due to current conditions. Of course, this could refer to the contagion sweeping the Earth inspiring SCOTUS' use of technological methods to make their deliberations public. But considering previous and current undermining assaults upon America's traditions, structures, and systems by Trump and his comrades, I think Neptune to Saturn indicates deeper problems, don't you? This is supported by the fact that at 10:00 am edt today, Trump's natal Neptune @5Libra simpers upon the IC (Foundation) of today's chart. Deception will turn up in his tweets, as always, with Neptune-IC denoting his urge to undermine the proceedings.

Opposite the IC at Midheaven ('MC"), the Goal Point of any horoscope, is a disruptive, even violent midpoint--Mars-Uranus. By ricochet this creates a midpoint picture of potentials: Mars-Uranus = DJT Neptune: 'cunning and deceit; desire to harm others; a person with bad intentions; rage; raving madness' (Ebertin). Note that Trump will be live tweeting his thoughts and insults so you may wish to visit his Twitter feed today and check out his mood!

Now with Mars-Uranus conjunct MC, let's dare add the potentials of this picture: 'drastic measures', even 'violence' and/or 'putting a pistol to someone's head', according to Ebertin. Plus, there's a distinct possibility that someone will be abandoning resistance and/or experiencing a weakening of strength as mourning continues to wash over our land and the entire globe.

To this tragic picture of gloom and bereavement, a majority of Americans may have to add the refusal of Supreme Court Justices to uphold the rule of law when it comes to Donald Trump, unless by the end of June they deliver We the People their decisions which show they recognize evil when they confront it and will thereby retain (at least some of) the Court's integrity by exhibiting the strength to stand up against the underworld criminal network now operating out of the White House.

Related: US Judicial System hit by the June 2020 Lunar Eclipse.

July/December 2020: Pluto opposes Trump natal Saturn

May 10, 2020: Today I'm publishing a DC Horoscope showing transit Pluto @23Cap48 (in transit 4th house, highlighted in red) opposing for the third (and final) of three times Trump's natal Saturn (@23Can48 in his natal 11th house; highlighted in green). Pluto's first opposition to his natal Saturn occurred on February 12, 2020, the second on July 12, 2020. Obviously the events of February 2020 were problematic for Mr. Don't Blame Me as he attempted to downplay and dismiss the coronavirus/Covid-19 contagion, while July 12th and December 20th events and conditions in the real world remain to be seen and experienced.

Meanwhile, We Have the Investigative Lens of Astrology

Needless to say, powerful, wealthy, stealthy Pluto opposing the planet of authority, realism, and accountability - karmic Saturn - identifies a period full of power plays and challenges to his and our government's authority and control. These conditions and circumstances have become more intense in 2020 for Trump and thus for our nation as we see from the late Capricorn line-up of planets which will more of less culminate with the December 21, 2020 Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction in Airy Aquarius.

So 2020 Pluto's opposition to the authority, authenticity, maturity, and sense of reality (Saturn) of Trump includes his management (Saturn) of current crisis conditions which are cosmically imprinted upon current and future events by the Great Conjunction of Saturn and Pluto (January 12, 2020 @23Capricorn--conjunct Trump's natal Vertex of fate encounters) - and opposing his cold Saturn in the watery, subjective, tribal sign of Cancer. As you know, their conjunction started a new 33-to-38-year cycle of all that the karmic duo influences or relates to, and it timed the ending of their last cycle which began on November 8, 1982 @27Lib36 under Mr. Reagan--his harmful 'Reaganomic$' springs to mind).

So in the DC Horoscope below, I've noted (lower right corner) the T-Square formed by the Saturn-Pluto opposition squaring transit Mars (in 7th house @22Ari39: Aries, the warrior planet's favorite sign) denoting potentials for 'the necessity to fight for one's existence, brutality', and/or 'assaults' of some kind (Ebertin). To this midpoint picture Noel Tyl adds: 'fighting battles to keep life going; enormous undercurrent of frustration'; and/or 'a gun with a cork in its barrel'. And since American 'goes' wherever Trump goes, this picture also relates to society in as a whole and to males in general, plus, to warriors, activists, fire-starters, and malcontents.

DC Horoscope: December 20, 2020 Transit Pluto Opposes Trump natal Saturn (#3 of 3); exact at 1:24:24 am est: Hour of an Out-Of-Bounds Mercury; chart-ruler Venus Tilts a BOWL:

As you can see, rising is 14Lib48, the exact position of US natal Saturn (July 4, 1776) and conjunct the natal Chiron of Donald Trump who has wounded our Saturnian form of government in every way he and his enablers can devise. So this charts timing allows the midpoint of the speculation/inflation pair of Trump, Jupiter-Neptune in Libra (also 'political conflicts'--Ebertin) to rise as well, a picture of crooks and swindlers for Trump who is both the wound, the wounded, and the one who wounds (Chiron). From America's exalted-in-Libra Saturn wedged between Trump's Jupiter-Neptune (see notes, lower left) we continue to experience potentials of 'a combination of real with unreal in activities, disappointments, discontent, consequences that issue from false hopes', and 'a feeling of being abandoned by luck' (Ebertin).

Plus, America's Saturnian representatives such as lawmakers, lawyers, judges (SCOTUS), DOJ, those in charge, experts, hard workers including miners, government workers, and the seniors among us, both wise and foolish, are implicated as early concerns rising in this chart. And obviously, the US Congress is on the cosmic menu, as it always is under the destructive influences of Trump.

Well, there are several more chart factors worth mentioning but I shall end with the primary reason this horoscope is being published today: to show transit Pluto opposing Trump's natal Saturn #3 of #3 so that we may consider the opposing Sabian Symbols of Pluto ("24Capricorn") and Trump's Saturn ("24Cancer") across the security/ambition axis. As with all degrees directly opposite one another, any degree serves as the Illumination Point of its opposite.

Note: why am I adding only the negative expressions of the Symbols? Because politics.

2020 Pluto "24Capricorn": "A Woman Entering a Convent"; negative/shadow side expression: "abject surrender to weakness"; natal Saturn "24Cancer": "A Woman and Two Men on a Bit of Sunlit Land Facing South" (Mar-a-Lago?); negative/shadow side expression: "a devastating sense of ineptitude and estrangement from reality" (Jones).

Now if any reader of this post thinks this doesn't sound just like Donald Trump and the current "leadership" America finds herself struggling with under mismanager Trump's hazardous tutelage, we shall simply have to disagree! jc

~:~

Is this post too fussy for you? Improve its tone by adding an insightful on-topic comment or two of your own! But as always--any and all ads will be rejected. jc

Horoscope: DOJ Progressed Full Moon August 2020

May 8, 2020: Below is a dual image of the Department of Justice ('DOJ') dedication ceremony horoscope accurately timed by the Masonic dedication ceremony presided over by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, elected hour set for 3:00 pm est on October 25, 1934 (lower left chart). Upper right is the 1934 dedication horoscope progressed (day for a year) to the moment of the DOJ Progressed ('SP') Full Moon @28Can39 opposing DOJ SP Sun @28Cap39. As you know, this is the Cancer-Capricorn security-ambition/home vs career polarity.

Now if it's true that an SP Full Moon of person or entity represents how far such person or entity can reach into the world, then symbolically August 2020 is it for the US Justice Department. Not that the DOJ will cease to exist but that its influence and power in society will peak then begin to fade from here on out. Of course, much depends on whether the imperatives and objectives of the previous SP New Moon (exact March 15, 2006 @13Cap57 opposing US natal Sun, the leader--then representing George W. Bush) have been successfully fulfilled. If not, the culminating SP Full Moon marks an end of those efforts and a decision or plan to adopt a new direction and new objectives.

In 2006, perhaps the related event that stands out is the Bush administration's controversial, unprecedented sudden dismissal of 7 US attorneys perpetrated on December 7, 2006. Personally I remember how shocking and disorienting this was for our country and for the department itself. And it's possible that with corrupt Attorney General William Barr now protecting corrupt Donald Trump, more sudden dismissals of US attorneys (and other separative, disruptive activities) are on Barr's DOJ agenda in 2020, the year cosmically imprinted upon by the symbolic SP Full Moon of the DOJ across the Cancer-Capricorn axis. Of course, calls for Barr to step down are being more or less ignored by these men with bad intentions against our nation so we'll have to see how that goes.

A difference is that at the 2006 SP New Moon, SP Neptune in Virgo represented 'high level intellectuals and planners who acted as a supportive resource' for the DOJ, thanks to their beneficial trine relationship. Obviously, such support is sorely needed now and many have stepped forward already, some calling for Barr to step down, as noted. See DOJ Alumni Call for AG Barr to resign. Thing is, the SP New Moon horoscope shows SP Neptune Rx at SP IC (undermining), Uranus-Neptune = ASC (anxiety) = US natal Jupiter (rejuvenation!). Plus, there are unfortunate signs of underworld connections (SP Venus-Pluto opposition) which is what we notice as we watch Trump, Barr, and their comrades in action - plundering the resources of the USA and undermining our systems and institutions such as the DOJ, legal system, and Congress. Meanwhile, transit Pluto in Capricorn helps with their plan for structural collapse - as do the continuing influences of the 2018 Tower Eclipse.

(For more details see Current Conditions and The Tower Eclipse.)

Yet hope springs eternal! So maybe August 2020 or thereabouts will miraculously bring Bill Barr's resignation and thus a more traditional path for the DOJ which could qualify as a 'new direction' compared with the off-kilter trail of stones figurehead Trump has embarked us upon. And/or a Trump resignation would happily cause dancing in the streets, now wouldn't it?

However, other than America's return to a more traditional path, (and I don't care to type it but) the events and projects that began around the destabilizing time of the DOJ's SP New Moon in late 2006 into 2007 seem to be successfully culminating in or about August 2020 as timed by the department's SP Full Moon perfecting under the purview of AG Bill Barr on behalf of con man Donald Trump - and their idea of a 'new direction' is so far proving to be a tragic course for the disenfranchised American people, a course leading to the tyranny of plutocracy, monarchy, dictatorship.

Additional Chart Notes include but are not limited to:

Sun-to-Pluto and Moon-to-Pluto implications in the SP Full Moon horoscope: one reveals power needs and a need to grasp control, plus, new perspectives being revealed (Sun), the other suggesting zeal and intense self-application (Moon). Also in the 1934 chart is the DOJ's Saturn Stationing in Aquarius (in 12th house of Politics, Large Institutions, Self-Undoing, Karma) conjoining health asteroid Hygeia which to me may symbolize our current crisis conditions in which health issues (Hygeia) are used by authorities (Saturn) to stop the functioning (Saturn) of society - all very Saturnian and karmic.

At SP Midheaven ('MC') is the radical Uranus-North-Node midpoint suggesting teamwork that pays off (as it often does) in career efforts (MC); the SP Uranus-Pluto midpoint conjuncts DOJ 1934 Moon denoting enforced changes upon the populace. That the SP Full Moon chart shows SP Neptune at IC depicts the current instability at the foundation of the DOJ; and penned on the chart is SP Mars = SP Jupiter-Neptune, the speculation-inflation-grand-scheme duo suggesting that someone has laid plans without prospect of coming to fruition but who has an urge for great achievements. Hopefully, 'spoiled plans' and 'stymied achievements' describe the corrupt mob-like activities of Barr, Trump, and comrades, both foreign and domestic. Meanwhile, Trump's natal Jupiter @18Libra conjoins SP Full Moon Mars so we find him playing at the POTUS role via feigned and staged performances. But you already know this, don't you?

Transiting Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn

Highlighted in green (left middle), you see the current heavyweight trio of transiting Jupiter-Pluto-Saturn (18 to 27 Capricorn) all retrograde and forming a midpoint picture of 'total reversal of plans, extreme changes and reforms, ideas transformed into reality', and/or 'restriction'. Restriction in August tallies with the themes of the 4 North 2020 Summer Solstice Eclipse under which the DOJ SP Full Moon will become exact. 'Misjudgment of strength or the situation', plus, 'events that block' and 'separation and illusion' are also themes of 4 North solar eclipses (Brady).

Finally, a note about a prominent, angular (chart not shown) August 20, 2020 transit (2:36:31 pm edt Washington DC) and that's an exact opposition between Moon (20Virgo) and Neptune (20Pisces) which reveals deceitful practices and those who scheme underhandedly against their opponents. Perhaps this relates on a deep level to the fact that the SP Full Moon's MC (@14Pisces29) sports the SP Uranus-North-Node midpoint (teamwork, as noted) but also the natal Neptune of the Republican Party (1854) with their nebulous Neptune's Sabian Symbol: "A Woman in FOX Fur." Teamwork!

~:~

Are you simmering with on-topic observations? Then you're invited to leave them in a comment, and share this post if you dare or care! jc

Trump's Mercury-Neptune: Actors and Liars

Tragically, Where Trump Goes, So Goes America

May 6, 2020: Some readers of Stars Over Washington are familiar with the many fusses posted here by yours truly concerning the (s)election in 2016 of a presidential contender born under the auspices of a deceitful, cunning, sneaky, error-prone, refuses-to-listen Mercury-Neptune square - by name, one Donald Trump. But if you, dear reader, are not familiar, for you I shall add again that we could have had a lady president born with a studious, sober, rational Mercury-Saturn square but forces both domestic and foreign worked against our country to undermine her, promote him - and thus to plunder and sabotage America.

So here we are in 2020 still mired within Trump's fantasy world of dread and horror for us, vast profits and undeserved status for him. Appearances are everything to Trump The Superficial (for as you know, the emperor has no clothes except for the 'empty suit' he wears while playing the role of POTUS on TV) and I believe that the following quote from Reinhold Ebertin's The Combination of Stellar Influences speaks in part of the tale of our woe made worse by the charade of his White House (p)residency:

The Combination of Mercury-Neptune

"Sociological Correspondence: Actors, deceitful people, liars."

Footnote: "Under Sociological Correspondence of Mercury/Neptune one should add "so-called saints," i.e., people who are found under this combination sometimes appear in every way perfect, they appear to have no faults until one day it is discovered they are almost the reverse of what they appeared to be. This is sometimes the case with actors who have to wear a mask which is not in accord with their personality, or in the case of diplomats who play a part in the course of their work and say something different from what they think. In these cases this describes the work they do."

So although this mere reality TV host fancies himself a great thespian (and some of his fans are determined to remain fooled by his act) you'll recognize the saintly "appears in every way perfect" and "appear to have no faults" descriptions as one of the many fantasies Trump tries to foist upon the public with his absurd claim that he "never makes mistakes" which mocks all reality and helps to make him - and the United States of America - laughing stocks upon the world stage.

~:~

Basically, Mercury = thought processes, the mind, ideas, communications, trickery; Neptune = lies, fraud, deceit, corruption, erosion, sabotage, mistakes, errors, misjudgments, misconceptions, failure, loss, disappointment, dreams, ideals, inspiration.

Image above: 'Neptune Ascends', pencil on paper.

A List of Planets' Meanings in Political Astrology

Here's an updated list with the meanings of planets in Political Astrology, a branch of Mundane Astrology. Now these are the meanings that I tend to use; no doubt others could add more or subtract a few:

Sun: supreme authority such as US President ('POTUS'), Prime Minister, Chancellor, CEO, leadership. (Solar eclipses hitting a Mundane Sun may denote the death or displacement of a head of state, national character and identity, major events, disruption or a turning point for government in the eclipse year and suggesting a new direction.)

Moon: the populace, We The People (USA), the popular mood, national security needs, basic necessities, women's issues, health, agriculture, nurturing, our daily rounds, the general emotional weather and/or societal trends.

Mercury: news media and the press, blogs and bloggers, oration-speeches/speakers-writers, messages, communications, and announcements, spreading of propaganda, negotiations, contracts, treaties and pacts, changes, votes-voters-ballots, literature, information, intell, spies, all schooling up to higher educational levels (Jupiter), the post office, thinking and planning, opinion polls, transportation (air+), sales, commerce, trade. As usual, young people in general, students and teachers are included where applicable, plus, medical research and doctors may also be represented by Mercury.

Venus: females, evaluations, smaller amounts of money, currency, relationships, partnerships, unions, diplomacy or diplomatic gestures, perspective; if afflicted: disease, arrogance, vengeance, defeat in war, anger, envy, possessiveness, and/or jealousy.

Mars: males between ages 25--35 or so, military and police forces, violence, criminals, war, industrial concerns, arsonists, sports figures, fighters, aggressors and combatants no matter the gender; combined with Uranus, Mars may cause explosions, terrorism, attacks, gun violence, operations; with Neptune, treachery, misguided motivations and/or actions, divisive elements in society, activists, protests or strikes (participants thereof), the fog of war, infections and epidemics.

Jupiter: clergy, churches, and religion, gurus, lawyers and judges, law and legal systems, higher education, prosperity, hope, breaking of boundaries, publishing, banking-bankers and the Fed, insurance; credit, corporations and CEOs, the upper classes; ministers of state, public relations and promoters, philanthropic institutions, especially if associated with Neptune, plus, Jupiter and Neptune = speculators, wastrels, spendthrifts, inflation, bubbles, grandiose schemers and planners, people who make promises they can't keep (ex: politicians).

Saturn: government, the system, The Establish, status quo, stability, institutions and bureaucracy, civil servants, conservatism, infrastructure, austerity, restriction or retraction, law and lawmakers (ex: US Congress), management, control, repression/suppression, accountability, loss, karma; with Jupiter, Saturn is associated with financial and business cycles (contraction vs expansion) and other cycles in society including in Politics; with Uranus, Saturn signifies the Middle East, especially Palestine and Israel; and/or old order vs new order; with Neptune Saturn = poor, sick, or depressed people, illness or disease, movements such as Socialism, social safety net programs, charities, those who suffer, undermining circumstances, difficulties or illness with causes difficult to diagnose.

Uranus: revolution, revolt, riots, protests, or strikes,reactive politics and politicians, progressive or radical movements, disruptive reforms, riots, counter-cultures; physical power such as electrical and nuclear, new technology, innovation; genius or sudden insight; the future; novelties; erratic persons; Uranus is also The Witness, The Awakener, the sky god; with Neptune: The 'Enlightened Ones' determined to establish a New Order to replace the Old, aka, a 'new world order' or the long-planned 'one world government'.

Neptune: the urge to merge, the Divine Source, the arts, glamour, the media, the masses, hope, idealism, covert actions, saboteurs, secrets, spying or other networks, secrets and leaks, socialism; hospitals, charitable institutions; the Navy or Marines. If afflicted: fraud, crime, scandal, deception, illusions, falsehoods, internet scams; undermining circumstances and those who cause them, brewing and alcohol, drugs; chemicals, oil, gas, water, footwear, oceans; with Pluto, Neptune = the Robber Baron class of the 1800s, resource plunderers, Organized Crime, mobsterism, the mafia.

Pluto: financial and/or political power, factions, oligarchies, Plutocracy, big business, nuclear energy, mines and tunnels, the Dragon Guarding the Riches; if afflicted: the criminal underworld, death, catastrophe, dictators, thieves and spies; Global Crime Syndicate/s; criminal detectives, spies, surveillance, hidden power/s behind 'the throne', The Pope, assassins, saboteurs, secretive men in invisible cloaks of power, death, transformation, regeneration, the occult and other hidden things and people.

Note that besides Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto can be karmic, too!

Got more political potentials to add to this list? Then leave your on-topic comment with this post! jc

Current Conditions and The Tower Solar Eclipse

Societies on the Edge as 'Cosmic Blink'/'Wild Card' Eclipses Run in the Background

by Jude Cowell

As you know, not all solar eclipses bring negative themes to events but all can disrupt society and our lives in a manner similar to the erratic planet of rebellion, Uranus--even those containing positive themes. Naturally, other planetary factors are always involved as well and are part of every eclipse picture and influence. Typically we may look at historical events during the year that a particular eclipse occurs for clues about its potential influences and the change of direction that often ensues in some area of our lives.

Current Karmic Conditions of Contagion, Collapse, and Traumatic Transformation

In a previous SO'W post we discussed The Tower Solar Eclipse which perfected @18Leo41 on August 11, 2018 in the 2 New North Saros Series. By degree The Tower Eclipse of 2018 activated the August 11, 1999 'King of Alarm' Eclipse of Nostradamus fame, one of the signposts that announced the coming of the New Millennium, when the 'winds of war and strife' were set loose upon the Earth. If you wish, follow the link for a view of the August 2018 2 New North Solar Eclipse Horoscope which is set for Washington DC. For as you may already be aware, 2 New North themes mimic Tarot card #16 pictured, above, and involve 'complete collapse of lifestyles and plans', 'loss', and 'rebuilding starts after the dust has cleared' (Brady). Does this describe America's and the world's current condition?

For comparison, an example of a 2 New North Solar Eclipse is the one that manifested in 1964 (@17 Cancer) as the Prenatal Eclipse ('PE') of the ill-considered, deceitful, racketeering Vietnam War. Loss of lives and lifestyles in Vietnam and for the US and its alliances, plus, loss of funds from America's National Treasury are merely some of its 'collapsing' effects. But of course, war profiteers made out like the bandits they always are, no matter the costs to others.

Then for 'traumatic transformation' we have the current influences of the December 26, 2019 Solar Eclipse @4Cap06 in the 3 South Saros Series which is the one we're mired in at the moment with its effects lasting at least until (two weeks before) the next solar eclipse at Summer Solstice 2020.

So this is my fuss for this evening: that a re-consideration of The Tower Solar Eclipse of 2018 in light of current collapsing conditions seems appropriate to me, if not to you, so I'm adding the above link to my previous post in case a reader wishes to check out the August 11, 2018 Horoscope.

As for financial implications of collapse, it seems to be a given. For the initial manifestation of a 2 New North Solar Eclipse perfected on June 17, 1928 @26Gem21 with money planet Jupiter @2Tau42--a degree and planet that wild card Uranus has bumped into off and on of late which suggests a period of potentials such as: careening down an unexpected path, independent education or studying in isolation, and lifestyles and/or political affiliations being emphasized and which may be under re-consideration. Perhaps at the voting booth?

Image above: The Tower #16 card from The Enchanted Tarot a personal favorite. jc

National Nurses Day 2020: Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale; reproduction; Library of Congress/Public domain

In 2020 Her Lamp Burns Brightly

May 12, 2020 is the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of the nursing profession as we know it today. Born May 12, 1820 in Florence, Italy, she served selflessly during the Crimean War (1854--1856) and became known as The Lady With the Lamp. By her constant insistence on hygienic practices such as hand washing as she cared for wounded soldiers, the war's death rate was reduced from 42% to 2%. If this isn't a lesson for our virus-ridden times, I don't know what is!

Now in the US, Monday May 4th begins the annual National Nurses Week and Wednesday May 6th is the main day of celebration. Many businesses are already engaging in discounts and give-aways to health care workers but this week many others will join the cause in tribute to our heroic nurses, first responders, and other service workers. Here's a brief Video Tribute to Nurses, practitioners of "the gentle art of caring." Actually the entire month of May 2020 will be devoted to those devoted to caring despite the danger of contagion.

Florence Nightingale: Hygeia Conjunct Isis!

We find the lady's reputation for strict hygiene and gentle health care within the Hygeia archetype combined with her goddess-like fame of the Isis archetype, both placed @12Cancer on May 12, 1820. And if we consult the Sabian Symbols we find that the positive expression of '12 Cancer' fits her well: "a gift for bringing the more Godlike resources or superior powers of self to a point of real community service"! And of course, Moon-ruled Cancer is the sign of The Mother and thus of nurturance, care, and self-sacrifice.

If you wish, have a look at Florence Nightingale's Natal Horoscope (RR:DD) and you'll see her New Moon personality, a practical double Earth blend of Sun Taurus-Moon Taurus which inspired her toward an unflappable calmness, a supportive demeanor, and a desire to change the world so strong that she could deny her own feelings and needs. And perhaps you'll agree that it's significant that her Sun @22Taurus and Moon @24Taurus conjoined Vesta, asteroid and archetype of dedicated service.

Living in the here-and-now, her double Taurus personality blend wanted to lay foundations, define things, and get down to basics. Stable and sane, Lady Nightingale was a rock of support and reliability for her patients and probably came to be treated as an Atlas figure. Consistently neglecting her own needs and typical of this blend, Florence Nightingale retreated into illness and spent the last five decades of her life as an invalid due to a fever contracted during the war. Tragedy then, tragedy now for some of our modern-day health care workers are themselves contracting the current contagion from the patients they tend and treat with dedication. You know of the tragedies so I won't list them here.

Nightingale's inherent desire for order demanded that she attempt to keep the dark side of life under control and most would admit that with such talents, she was more successful than anyone else could have been. Passing away on August 13, 1910 in London, The Lady with the Lamp fell asleep around noon and left this mortal coil at 2:30 pm LMT with Sun in Leo, Moon in health-related Scorpio, blend of a hard worker and natural leader. Tellingly, the Moon and South Node were conjunct, a lunar timing device on that day and a cosmic picture of separation from Mother. At her death, health asteroid Aesculapia @27Cap20 Rx was in process of returning to her natal Aesculapia position of 29Cap04 and, being retrograde, perhaps already had. Also at her hour of death, a midpoint picture had formed of illness and loss of health: Sun-Saturn = Pluto.

And so in 1910 the realism and practical skills of Florence Nightingale were laid to rest, may she R.I.P.

Yet now in 2020 we have major reasons to celebrate her life and achievements for they live on in the daily rounds and tasks of our nurses and other workers in hospitals across the land - and for their selfless service and care it's impossible to thank them enough.

This meager post is meant as my small tribute to every one of them and to their example, The Lady With the Lamp whose caring light continues to burn so brightly.

For more details see Sun Sign-Moon Sign by Charles and Suzi Harvey, and The Sabian Symbols in Astrology by Marc Edmund Jones.