February 10, 2003
Mars Enters Danger Zone
The Bush administration raised the terror-risk alert from yellow to orange last week in response to increased intelligence reports that Al Qaeda is preparing to attack Americans. Attorney general John Ashcroft said terrorists might seek symbolic targets of American power, especially the transportation and energy sectors. At the same time, the world's hotspots are seething with volcanic unrest.
Astrologically, the heightened alert level across the global village corresponds to a simultaneous climax of two planetary complexes coming into their maximum voltage over this next week*. The first of these is the Jupiter-Neptune opposition on February 16, which pits the two religious planets against each other in the signs of Leo and Aquarius. Individuals or factions energized by this duo feel they are doing God's work, whether that's George W. Bush or Osama bin Laden.
The second complex involves three planets: Mars, Saturn, and Pluto. Saturn and Pluto have been opposed to each other for the last two years in the transportation and communications signs of Gemini and Sagittarius. Mars is now rapidly approaching the same degree zone occupied by Saturn and Pluto. Mars, the planet of anger, violence and war, acts as a trigger to the underlying tension provided by Saturn and Pluto.
Mars will be most dangerous on the days just before it conjoins Pluto on February 16, and continue in the "red" zone until it passes its opposition with Saturn on February 20. The entire phase makes February 14 to 20 fraught with danger for travelers. Individuals with planets in mid to late Gemini and Sagittarius need to be extra cautious.
"The Game is Over"
President Bush told Iraq that "the game is over" last week, and urged the U.N. Security Council to back a second resolution authorizing the use of military force. The resolution, written by the U.S. and its strongest ally Great Britain, will be floated after U.N. inspector Hans Blix returns from Baghdad with his report on February 14.
Looking into the U.S. horoscope** indicates that the gathering U.S. military forces around Iraq could be unleashed around the New Moon on March 3. The New Moon is favorable for night attacks where the U.S. reigns supreme, and the next one in Pisces happens to square the U.S. Uranus. The U.S. Uranus is associated with military events by its alignment with the red star Antares.
Ultimately, the final order comes from President Bush. The New Moon will oppose his natal Mars, a surefire indicator for action. Transiting Jupiter will be conjunct his Mercury near his Leo Ascendant, another flag pointing to making a big decision which would have a major impact on world events. Still, considering all this, war may yet be delayed.
Transiting Chiron is exactly squaring Bush's Moon-Chiron conjunction in Libra, signifying trouble from U.N. allies, most likely France, Russia and China. Also, Ceres, found natally in Bush's 7th house of partners, is conjunct his Midheaven and square his Saturn. This shows the powerful adversarial role that Bush allies may play in restraining his personal authority. Everything seems to hinge on the debate in the United Nations.
Phil Spector's House of Blues
Famed rock 'n' roll impresario Phil Spector was booked on murder charges last week after police found the body of actress Lana Clarkson in his mansion. Around 2:30 am Monday Spector had picked up Clarkson after she got off work from her hostess job at the House of Blues, but by 5 am a 9-1-1 call reported she had been shot. Spector will be defended by O.J. Simpson lawyer Robert Shapiro.
Phil Spector was born an ambitious Capricorn (December 25, 1940; Bronx, NY; time unknown) with his Sun favorably trine to a Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Taurus. This earth-sign combination has an instinctive understanding of financial opportunities, and magically attracts wealth and material security.
Spector was often seen packing a pistol, and would occasionally threaten his celebrity musicians in the recording studio. This wild side can be seen in his Mars in intense Scorpio opposed to rebellious Uranus. Mars-Uranus aspects in men's charts often lead to a fascination with dangerous situations, but not all Mars-Uranus men are troublemakers. In Spector's case, his mental attitude is shaped by Mercury and it's square to imaginative, fantasy-oriented Neptune.
This Mercury-Neptune aspect can be highly creative, but may also lead to delusions and isolation. Transiting Uranus formed an inconjunction (150 degree aspect) to his Neptune at the time of the shooting incident. Spector commented as long ago as 1977 about "being the rich millionaire in the mansion and then dressing up as Batman. I have to admit I did enjoy it to a certain extent. But then I began to realize it was very unhealthy."
* as described in NewsScope January 6, event #2
** Advanced astrologers will note the important progressions shaping up: P2 (secondary progressed) Moon trines P2 Mars, P2 Mercury is conjunct four key midpoints (SU/SA, NE/NN, AS/PF, MA/AS), and is being triggered by transiting Uranus. Note also that transiting Uranus was conjunct the P2 Sun during the Columbia incident, reflecting the stunning, event-oriented nature of these connections.
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].
