Please note: This weekly column will resume by September 5, and the missed week's column will appear in the archives. Sorry for the inconvenience!
August 19, 2002
Airline Industry Takes a Nosedive
A week ago U.S. Airways filed for bankruptcy, initiating a flurry of gloomy
developments within the airline business. On Tuesday the world's largest
passenger airline company, American Airlines, unveiled a restructuring plan
that will cut jobs and flights. Then United Airlines said it will have to
file for bankruptcy too, probably in the fall.
The First Flight horoscope, set for when the Wright brothers first flew their
experimental plane on December 17, 1903 (10:35 am; Kitty Hawk, NC), provides
an astrological window into the airline industry. With Aquarius Rising,* and
the Sun conjunct Uranus, the airline industry is highly Aquarian in nature.
The hub system, the centrally located cities used to move passengers from
national routes to local destinations, is the networking approach favored by
Aquarius.
Transiting Saturn is now opposing this Sun-Uranus duo, bringing the harsh
economic realities to the entire industry. Saturn here symbolizes the need to
consolidate, cut back, and tighten up. This chart also shows the problem:
during the economic bubble as transiting Pluto was conjunct the enthusiastic
Sagittarius Moon, the industries gave over-generous concessions to their
union workers, and bought too many new planes.
Now Pluto is squaring Jupiter, and forcing a financial reevaluation of the
over-optimistic plans. The news is not all bad, however. Smaller, no-frills
airlines like Southwest and JetBlue are now very profitable, and represent
the best business strategy moving forward. Watch as transiting Pluto opposes
the First Flight Pluto during 2003 and 2004 for an industry wide shake-up.
Only the strongest will survive.
Israel Puts Palestinian Leader on Trial
Widely regarded as the second most popular Palestinian leader behind Yasser
Arafat, Marwan Barghouti was arrested by Israeli forces on April 15 and
charged with orchestrating terrorist attacks. Last Wednesday his trial began
in Tel Aviv where he vigorously defended himself, shouting "I will keep
fighting on till I get my freedom."
Marwan Barghouti was born with a Sun-Venus conjunction in Gemini (June 5,
1960; Ramallah; time unknown), giving him great personal charisma, and a love
of speaking. The Moon in Libra adds charm and a highly social personality,
and gives credence to his statements that he is very interested in peaceful
co-existence with Israel. While his Libra Moon naturally seeks harmonious
relations, it is deeply challenged by an opposition to Mars and a square from
Saturn.
Mars and Saturn in turn square each other in a highly charged combination
sometimes referred to as the "steamroller." Mars and Saturn are each strongly
placed in their own signs (Aries and Capricorn), and in this configuration
can be extremely forceful and domineering. Mars and Saturn here indicate that
Barghouti may indeed have participated in the terrorist network.
Barghouti's trial begins as transiting Pluto is turning direct while opposing
his Sun. Pluto brings the individual into the attention of the global
community, and the proceedings will likely become a high stakes media event
pitting the righteousness of the Palestinian cause versus the righteousness
of the Israeli cause. The next hearing is scheduled for September 5 as
transiting Mars is conjunct Barghouti's own Pluto, guaranteeing a robust, if
not vociferous defense.
Lisa Marie Presley and Nicholas Cage
Actor Nicholas Cage entered America's royal family on August 10 when he and
Lisa Marie Presley secretly married in a Hawaii. The couple then surfaced at
Graceland for the 25th anniversary of her father's death, as Lisa Marie
briefly took the stage during a nostalgic Elvis concert. "You made me. I love
you," she sang. "You're still lovely. You were lovely then."
Lisa Marie Presley was born with her Sun in quirky Aquarius (February 1,
1968; 5:01 pm; Memphis, TN), and her Moon in misty-eyed Pisces. An
outstanding feature of her horoscope is the fortunate placement of Jupiter in
her second house of money. This Jupiter has favorable aspects to the
Midheaven, Venus, and Ceres, and through the unexpected success of Graceland
has made her a very wealthy woman.
While many observers have noticed the keen resemblance of Lisa Marie to her
father, astrologers will notice the strong planetary parallels between
Nicholas Cage and Elvis Presley. Nicholas Cage (January 7, 1964) and Elvis
(January 8, 1935) have their Suns in nearly the same degree of Capricorn, and
with Capricorn's ruling planet Saturn both located in late Aquarius; Cage was
born exactly one Saturn cycle after Elvis.
Relationships don't come easy for either of these stars. Lisa Marie's love
life is tested by her celebrity status and all the attending expectations.
This message is astrologically encoded with her Venus placed in Capricorn and
square Saturn. Likewise, Nicholas has a Venus-Saturn conjunction. Both have
had difficult previous marriages, and the two will have their hands full
trying to balance love and success.
* note that last week's Sun-Mars conjunction occurred exactly opposite the
Aquarius Ascendant, and acted as the timer for the industry-wide
announcements.
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