September 30, 2002
The Mercury-Saturn Tempest
Last week President Bush, his National Security Adviser, and Defense Secretary asserted that Al Qaeda operatives have found refuge in Baghdad. The claim, as yet unsubstantiated by any hard evidence, would secure Bush's case for war against Iraq if a firm relationship between Osama Bin Laden's terrorist group and Saddam Hussein could be established.
Bush's revelation (as anticipated in NewsScope September 9) sets the celestial stage for the next planetary cycle. Over the coming week Mercury is slowing down in its retrograde phase, and then comes to a full stop on October 6 (at 3:27 pm EDT, 12:27 pm PDT) before beginning to move forward again. This planetary reversal is particularly important since Mercury will spend nine days in the last two degrees of Virgo while closely squaring Saturn, now hovering in the last degree of Gemini.
The Mercury-Saturn square sets the geopolitical climate, which may be characterized as intense debate, fixed opinions, and harsh judgments. While we can expect much criticism of particular policies (Mercury in critical Virgo), the most important discussion will center on Bush's war plans for Iraq. This emphasis can be seen by Saturn's current position in the U.S. horoscope*.
Central to the debate is how best to meet national security needs. At the same time that this Mercury-Saturn square unfolds, transiting Uranus is conjunct the U.S. Moon, leading to great public anxiety and nervousness (not to mention economic weakness). As described in NewsScope September 2, one possible counter-attack is germ warfare, and last week America's 280 million citizens were told to prepare for a mass inoculation against smallpox.
Prince Reza Pahlavi, Emerging from Exile
While global attention focuses on Iraq, another member nation of Bush's axis of evil, Iran, is undergoing profound internal changes that may eventually lead to a political reformation. If the moderate leadership under President Khatami fails to win approval for his reforms from the Islamic theocratic rulers, the first son of the Shah, and heir to the throne of the peacock kingdom, is ready to lead a popular uprising.
Prince Reza Pahlavi was born with a Sun-Neptune conjunction in Scorpio (October 31, 1960; 11:55 am; Tehran**), a magnetic combination giving him great vision and compassion. Since this Sun-Neptune is found at his Midheaven, his royal stature and vision offer great hope for the Iranian people. The Sun's exact sextile to Pluto further adds to his personal charisma, and potential for making far-reaching changes in Iran.
Prince Reza, the first son of the Shah of Iran, has responsible Capricorn Rising, putting Saturn, the ruler of his chart, in the twelfth house of exile. His Pisces Moon helps him personally identify with the people's plight. With Mars opposing his Saturn, he undoubtedly feels much frustration at being isolated, and is willing to fight to escape and lead his people out of oblivion.
By secondary progression, his Saturn is nearly conjunct his Ascendant, allowing him for the first time to emerge as a significant political force. He lives in a secluded, well guarded home in Virginia, not far from the home of U.S. intelligence headquarters. Note that his Sun-Neptune is right on the U.S. Scorpio Rising Ascendant, marking him as a key player in American policy toward Iran.
Affleck and J-Lo Move In
Last week Hollywood's A-List celebrity couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez rented out the entire upper floor of a ritzy Philadelphia apartment. At $17,000 a month, the stars now have a cozy retreat while they film Jersey Girl in the City of Brotherly Love. Star watchers have noticed that the two are being extra extravagant toward each other, having most recently given each other expensive sports cars.
What else would two Leos do? Ben Affleck (August 15, 1972; 2:53 am; Berkeley, CA) and Jennifer Lopez (July 24, 1970; NYC; time unknown) both have their Suns in Leo, a combination that most astrologers warn against. After all, how can two prima donnas share the limelight? Comparing their two horoscopes yields similar conclusions; her Mars squares his Scorpio Moon, and his Saturn squares her Venus.
Their track record shows that neither star is known for making serious commitments. However, by looking at their composite horoscope, a different picture appears. The composite chart is a relationship horoscope created from the midpoints for each pair of planets. In this chart, they have four planets in Leo, including a highly sensual Sun-Venus conjunction, and a dramatically expressive Mercury-Mars conjunction.
The Sun-Venus conjunction is very favorably trine to Chiron on the one hand, and sextile Uranus on the other. Though individually each is highly combustible in the relationship department, together they have an exciting, harmonious compatibility. They moved in together last week as transiting Jupiter was exactly conjunct their Sun-Venus.
* Military adventures can be equated to a combination of militant Mars and expansive Jupiter, which finds a singular expression as the Mars-Jupiter midpoint. In the U.S. Scorpio Rising horoscope the Mars/Jupiter is 28GE36, which is also the current location of transiting Saturn.
** Birth data rated AA from Datanews #98. For more biographical info see:
www.mideastnews.com/Reza0202.html
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