July 22, 2002
Crisis of Confidence on Wall Street
Last Friday the Dow took a 390-point dive, capping of a dismal week of
corporate accounting and earnings woes. For the week overall investors lost a
staggering $750 billion as the major markets reached lows not seen since 1998
and 1997. The market slump has jolted people's worlds, as capitalism itself
is being broadly questioned.
From an astrological perspective, such deep questioning of essential core
values is what the planet Pluto is all about. Pluto's slow orbit of 248 years
means that when it hits a critical degree or area, the intense
transformations it engenders tend to take an excruciatingly long time before
the process is completed. Pluto has been transiting through the U.S. second
house since 1997 (using the Scorpio Rising US horoscope, set for 2:21 pm;
July 4, 1776; Philadelphia).
The second house refers to values, both financial and metaphysical. Pluto's
passage here begins with a breakdown phase, leading to severe loss of
personal income. Ultimately, new attitudes toward property and material
possessions must be developed. Over the last two years Pluto's breakdown
phase was activated by Saturn's opposition from the eighth house of corporate
affairs.
While Pluto has never before been in the U.S. second house, Saturn visits
there regularly, every 30 years. Saturn's passage likewise has corresponded
to severe financial downturns, including the crashes of 1929 and 1987. As
mentioned last week, the market is probably hitting a short-term bottom now
since transiting Jupiter is opposed the U.S. Pluto. Still, in the long term,
Pluto's presence in the second house remains a potent force. Pluto here
insists on a collective attitude adjustment about our overly materialistic
society.
Jupiter Enters Leo
On August 1 expansive Jupiter enters Leo, marking the beginning of a one-year
passage through the sign associated with royalty, celebrities, and heroes.
Jupiter in Leo highlights whatever shines brightly, and carries great
dignity, magnificence, and splendor. When Jupiter enters Leo, confidence
returns, and new superstars emerge to lead others along a quest for a better
and more beautiful world.
As Jupiter forms challenging aspects to other planets, the path to success is
challenged by other views, other interests. Jupiter advances rapidly to form
an opposition to Neptune in Aquarius, which happens to be exact on the
ominous date of September 11. The Jupiter-Neptune polarity highlights the
Aquarius-Leo axis, and by extension, the critical problems of the New Age,
the Age of Aquarius.
In astrologer Ray Grasse's exciting new book Signs of the Times, the Age of
Aquarius is described as a polarity between Leo and Aquarius. Leo honors the
individual, and boosts the king or dictator, the Hollywood star, or the CEO.
Aquarius works for a systems approach, which in the global village means
building democracies, alliances, networks, and social equality.
Neptune in Aquarius is hopelessly idealistic for its cause, whatever that
might be. Jupiter in Leo is ready to pursue the hero's path in whatever form
is available. This axis when active frequently corresponds to Middle East
turmoil, as the democratic society of Israel confronts the autocratic
societies of its Arab neighbors. In the U.S. this polarity is particularly
relevant as it shapes up during the election season. CEOs, movie stars, and
Senators can become heroes or scapegoats overnight.
Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob
Tomb Raider star Angelina Jolie and her husband of two years Billy Bob
Thornton are going their separate ways, having reached the point of
"irreconcilable differences." In an interview with US magazine, Jolie says
she hasn't seen Billy Bob since June 3, the day before her birthday when he
left her alone with their recently adopted son to tour with his band.
Angelina Jolie was born with beautiful Venus Rising in the domestic sign of
Cancer (June 4, 1975; 9:09 am; Los Angeles, CA*), a placement that gives
great love for home and family relations. However, this Venus is exactly
square Uranus, promising that her relationships tend to be unreliable because
whatever is new and unusual holds more attraction than the tried and true.
Billy Bob Thornton (August 4, 1955; Hot Springs, AZ; time unknown) has six
planets in creative Leo, all squaring Saturn which gives a constant need to
prove himself. The easy-going Sun-Jupiter conjunction can relax for a while,
but with a tight Mars-Saturn square, the underlying irritation to accomplish
something really big is always present.
Billy Bob's Venus is conjunct Uranus, giving him the same need for highly
stimulating and even bizarre relationships as Angelina. Then his Uranus is
perfectly aligned with her Venus-Ascendant. These Venus-Uranus links created
a spontaneous love affair, characterized by bizarre love rituals and plenty
of exciting Hollywood gossip. However, they split* just as suddenly as they
bonded, exactly as transiting Uranus hit his Uranus and her Ascendant-Venus.
* Also as transiting Saturn was exactly conjunct her Juno, the marriage
asteroid. See NewsScope June 18, 2001 for more on Ms. Jolie.
Online classes and personal readings are available. Visit
http://neptunecafe.homestead.com/classes.html or
http://neptunecafe.homestead.com/reading.html for more information.
Reader feedback is welcome. Email: [email protected].
WolfStar Archives
