July 8, 2002
Saturn Shapes U.S. Forces
Last Monday several dozen civilian men, women, and children were killed
during a U.S. airstrike near an Afghan village thought to harbor Al Qaeda
militants. Apparently, rifles were fired into the air during a wedding
ceremony which an Air Force gunship took for an enemy attack. Afghan
President Karzai demanded that strong measures be taken to avoid such
incidents in the future.
Astrologically, this tragic event took place as transiting Saturn was exactly
conjunct the U.S. Mars, the natural ruler of military affairs. Saturn's
transit always brings important consequences, and the backlash from the
slaughter of 40 innocent people has fueled anti-American resentment in the
Arab world, and corroded domestic support for the war.
As described last week, transiting Saturn to the U.S. Mars refers to the
strategic deployment of U.S. military forces and weaponry. A Pentagon report
was leaked last week detailing the Bush Administration's intentions for an
air, land and sea-based attack on Iraq to topple President Saddam Hussein.
The document reveals a step-by-step blueprint that the Pentagon describes as
a "war plan."
Since the U.S. Mars is located in the eighth house of corporate activities,
transiting Saturn here has led to major developments in America's
transportation and communications companies, not the least of which is the
ongoing financial scandal involving WorldCom. On the exact day that Saturn
conjoined the U.S. Mars (July 1), TRW* finally agreed to be bought out by
Northrop Grumman for $7.8 billion. The deal will create the world's second
largest defense contractor behind Lockheed Martin.
Iraq in George W's Solar Return
President Bush escaped the Washington political circus last weekend to spend
his birthday at his parent's home in Kennebunkport, Maine. His first
adventure featured a spin in his father's speedboat, though the former
President Bush was at the wheel rather than the current President Bush. The
image of George W's father at the helm resonates astrologically with the
current President's Solar Return.
The Solar Return is a favorite forecasting tool used by astrologers and can
describe important developments over the coming year. The SR (July 5, 2002;
8:12 pm; Kennebunkport) is set for the moment the Sun returns to its exact
location in the natal chart. Angular planets are the most important, and in
this chart the Sun (symbolizing the Presidential authority) is right on the
Descendant, the point referring to open enemies and partnerships.
The closest aspect to the Sun modifies and adds meaning to the
interpretation, which in this case is a square from Ceres, the asteroid
signifying the parent-child relationship. Ceres is in militant Aries, and
quite naturally represents his father. This influence is corroborated by
looking at George senior's horoscope, which currently features transiting
Saturn conjunct his tenth house Sun.
This transit makes him a venerated authority figure in his son's eyes. His
father's influence is further demonstrated since in his own horoscope Ceres
is in the seventh house of partners, and now being activated by transiting
Neptune. From all this, the astrologer can say that the father's military
agenda in Iraq has become the son's agenda.
Ted Williams, The Greatest Hitter Ever
Ted Williams, the man many baseball fans regard as the greatest hitter to
have ever played the game, died last Friday. Virtually every newspaper in the
nation sang his praises, recounting his batting exploits and military
experiences during World War II and the Korean War. Had he not missed five
seasons in the prime of his life, he may well have broken Babe Ruth's career
home run record.
What astrologically accounts for Ted Williams' status as baseball's greatest
hitter? He was born an analytical Virgo (August 30, 1918; 12:20 pm; San
Diego, CA), giving him the mental focus to studying hitting as no one had
done before. His Sun is physically enhanced by a close sextile to a strong
and effective Mars in Scorpio on one side and further empowered by another
close sextile to willful Pluto on the other.
Mars and Pluto in turn are trine to each other, a combination bestowing great
courage, physical intensity, and invisible powers of the soul. Even with
these awesome natal placements, Ted Williams needed some connection to the
national horoscope to make it on the national scene. His Mars happens to be
exactly conjunct the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant, infusing him with the archetypal
status of an American hero.
Ted Williams' last day as a professional baseball player was September 28,
1960. At the relatively ancient age of 42 he hit his 521st homer at his last
at bat, a spectacular feat that secured his place in history. At the time
transiting Pluto was exactly conjunct his Sun, and transiting Sun was exactly
squaring his Pluto. What an exit!
* For perspective on this huge merger, see http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/arms/updates/022602.html
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