June 23, 2003

Iran's Next Revolution

As student protests spread across Iran last week, President Bush warned the theocratic government that "America stands squarely on their side, and I would urge the Iranian administration to treat them with the utmost of respect." As during the 1979 revolution that deposed the Shah, popular resentment is rising so fast that the government can't crackdown without triggering a general uprising.

The horoscope for Iran's current government is set for February 1, 1979, and is based on the return of Ayatollah Khomeini from exile as he stepped off the plane at 9:30 am in Tehran*. That this was a popular and spontaneous uprising can be seen in the Moon's fiery placement in Aries, and conjunct the Aries Ascendant. The ruler of the chart is militant Mars, which is conjunct the Sun in revolutionary Aquarius.

Transiting Neptune has been going back and forth over Iran's Sun-Mars conjunction for over a year now, and represents a leadership in disarray, confused about how to deal with the growing tide of discontent. A reform movement became listless and ineffective (Neptune). Last week when transiting Saturn entered the fourth house of domestic security, the trouble spilled out into the streets.

Political observers are not yet sure whether these student protests are leading to the next revolution. However, Saturn in the fourth house is a major stress point. Pressure should build between now and late July when Saturn squares the all-important Aries Moon. Even if this round of discontent is somehow resolved, Saturn returns to this degree area in early 2004, bringing the next wave of popular demand for meaningful reforms.

Medicare Drug Reform

The U.S. House and Senate are poised to pass an historic medicare reform bill this week, aiming largely at delivering drug benefits to the elderly. The complex 654-page bill promises to bring some $400 billion worth of assistance over the next ten years, and attempts to make a major demographic happy: in the 2000 election one out of four voters was over 60.

One of the major dynamics in the U.S. chart is a Mars-Neptune square, an aspect which explains how American activities (Mars) are often drug propelled (Neptune). From hyper-active school children, to recreational use, to the health impaired, Americans habitually find their way through life with the assistance of drugs. In the Scorpio Rising U.S. chart Mars is associated with the health profession since it rules the sixth house of health.

Located in the eighth house of insurance, Mars here refers directly to national health insurance programs. Neptune's square to this Mars shows how the pharmaceutical companies have grown to dominate the health industry, and the political landscape as well through their immense campaign contributions. The development, enactment and future implementation of this new drug program corresponds to the heavy activation of this Mars-Neptune dynamic.

The original push came from President Bush, who got serious about getting a drug reform bill through Congress last March as transiting Pluto nearly reached an opposition to the U.S. Mars before turning retrograde. Over the last month the Mars-Neptune square was again under major activation (by the progressed Moon). The reforms will probably kick in on January 1, 2004 when transiting Pluto enters the U.S. Mars-Neptune square to completely reform the entire Medicare system.

Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Twin Stars

Last week the annual Forbes top 100 celebrities list was unveiled, and featured several talented teenagers. The highest ranking of these young stars were Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen who came in at number 83. The twin actors began their career at the age of nine months, and grew up on the TV sitcom Full House. Today their multimillion dollar empire encompasses clothes, movies, videos, dolls, and practically anything that interests young girls.

The twins were born with the Sun in Gemini (June 13, 1986) and closely aspecting Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus. Mars in Capricorn gives them ambition and a strong work ethic, while the Sun's connections to Jupiter and Uranus offer the potential for sudden fame. This potential became immediately manifest since several of their natal planets perfectly align with planets in the U.S. horoscope.

Most significantly, their Sun is conjunct the U.S. Mars which in turn is conjunct the first magnitude star Capella. Astrologer Vivian Robson** describes the influence of Capella, and this can be attributed to the U.S. Mars as well as the Olsen twins: "It gives honor, wealth, eminence, renown... and makes its natives inquisitive, very fond of knowledge and particularly of novelties."

The Gemini twins formed their own marketing company in 1993 and called in Dual Star Productions. They made albums, movies, and licensed their personally designed novelties to Wal-Mart, which last year sold about $1 billion of their merchandise. Next year as transiting Pluto aligns with the U.S. Mars and the Olsens' Sun, we can expect that their personal fortunes will soar well beyond its current value of $76 million.


* Reported times range from 9:00 to 10:00 am; this time is rectified to 9:30 am. For other NewsScope articles on Iran, see February 21, 2000, and October 1, 2002

** from his book "The Fixed Stars & Constellations in Astrology"