September 18, 2000
Presidential Debates Scheduled
Last Thursday George W. Bush ended the debate about the debates by agreeing
to the schedule sponsored by the Federal Election Commission. The first
debate will be held on October 3 in Boston, followed by two more on October
11 and October 17. Political observers agree that these debates will likely
determine the election as the undecided independent voters will make up their
minds.
Astrologically, October 3 is the most competitive since the dominating
planetary configuration at the time is a highly antagonistic Mars-Pluto
square. For the past few months Jupiter and Pluto have been opposing each
other, establishing a background campaign vibration centered on morality and
high finances. On October 3 the relatively faster moving Mars enters this
geometric picture, perfectly squaring Pluto on the evening of the debate.
George W. Bush, now trailing in the polls, will be pushing the hardest to
score points against his adversary. Transiting Mars, the trigger planet, is
in critical Virgo, and at the same natal location as Bush's own Mars. Still,
a secondary planetary influence is also coloring the atmospherics: the Libra
Sun is trine Jupiter, creating a feeling of civility, diplomacy, and even
friendliness. But don't be fooled; the Mars-Pluto-Jupiter vibe is cut-throat
politics.
At the same time, Mercury and Venus are in early Scorpio, right on the
Ascendant of the national horoscope. Mercury, the communications planet,
making his appearance here is a natural symbol for the debate. Venus, the
goddess of love and beauty, indicates that for many Americans the televised
event is to see which candidate looks the best.
Ritalin-maker Charged with Conspiracy
Class action lawsuits were filed in California and New Jersey last week
against Novartis Pharmaceuticals, the maker of the widely prescribed Ritalin
for hyperactive children. The lawsuits contend that the company conspired
with the American Psychiatric Association to over-diagnose ADHD (attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder), an illness unknown before 1987.
This drug-related event occurred under the cosmic influence of the Full Moon,
often a time of the month when events reach climactic developments. The Full
Moon took place in the signs of Virgo and Pisces, and exactly lined up with
the U.S. Neptune, the natural ruler of drugs.
Meanwhile, transiting Ceres has just entered Scorpio and is nearing a square
with Neptune. This astrological process can be likened to a dialogue between
these two: Ceres, governing the parent-child relationship, meets with
Neptune, the ruler of drugs. Parents may be wondering if their kids are
really ill with ADHD, or if they're just amped up on television and other
frenzied media.
Ritalin is chemically most similar to cocaine and amphetamines. Its action is
to speed up an already fast mental process, and has the curious, immediate
effect of calming the child down. Watch this week as Ceres approaches the
square to Neptune for other major news stories concerning drugs and youth.
Gloria Steinem Gets Married
Radical feminist Gloria Steinem, abandoning a social convention she once
regarded as a feudal property contract, surprised everyone on September 3 by
taking her marriage vows. A longtime friend deadpanned that evidently Steinem
had finally found romance and financial security. "Those are the reasons you
get married, right?"
Gloria Steinem was born a feisty, independent Aries (March 25, 1934; 10:00
pm; Toledo, OH) with her Moon in dramatic, confident Leo. This fire
combination is energized by Mars, which is conjunct her Sun and trine her
Moon, adding tremendous personal courage, physical vitality, and strident
ambition. Pluto is the ruler of her horoscope, and placed in the ninth house
of publishing describes her career as a successful freelance writer and
co-founder of Ms. Magazine.
Steinem's Venus-Saturn conjunction at the foundation of her chart reflects
her family roots in the feminist movement. While in college she discovered
that her mother's mother was a suffragette who helped win women's right to
vote. Her own mother was a talented columnist, but had to give up her career
to raise a family. This Venus-Saturn conjunction is in Aquarius, the sign of
reformers, humanitarians, and thinkers.
All four of the asteroids are prominently placed in Steinem's horoscope,
including three directly aspecting her Sun. The asteroids can be seen as the
awakening feminine principles in modern society, and Steinem's lifelong task
has been to express and embody these energies. Her Sun squares the committed
relationship asteroid, Juno, which is placed in structured Capricorn. After
years of criticizing marriage, she has finally integrated this principle into
her life, but on her own terms.
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