July 7, 2003

Mars Opposes Bush

Mars, the planet of war, is in Pisces now, and slowing down in its apparent motion. Mars stops on July 29 to turn retrograde, but just before it does, it will oppose President Bush's Mars in Virgo. This Mars station is so close to making an exact opposition to Bush's Mars that it remains in close opposition for an entire month, marking an unusually challenging phase for the President and his goals.

When transiting Mars opposes natal Mars, one's rivals and enemies are on the move. Last week several Democratic hopefuls sharply criticized Bush's shoot-from-the hip comment about Iraqi enemy forces: "Bring them on," he said. Richard Gephardt didn't think he was being very presidential, and he wasn't leveling with the American people about how difficult the Iraq war's aftermath would be.

Bush's top advisers are intensely divided* over several foreign policy strategies, especially regarding Africa and the necessity of more U.S. troops in Iraq. The day after the Pentagon offered a $25 million reward for Saddam Hussein, Arab TV aired a tape of Saddam urging Iraqis to resist the American occupation. The re-emergence of Saddam can be seen as Bush's most enduring enemy, and inciting continued unrest in Iraq.

Yes, Bush faces intense enemy action now, from both domestic rivals and international terrorists. Yet as the 2004 election cycles into play, Bush is already reaping vast sums for his re-election campaign. By next year his progressed Venus and Jupiter are conjunct at 25 degrees Aquarius, which is exactly conjunct the U.S. Moon. Following the logic of last week's correlation between Presidents and the U.S. Moon, this makes him the odds-on favorite.

Liberia's Bloody Diamonds

Last weekend the Pentagon dispatched a small team of military advisers to the West African nation of Liberia to assess the possibility of sending in U.S. troops. President Bush said that American troops won't participate in the international peacekeeping effort there until the Liberian President Charles Taylor departs. Taylor, who has been indicted for crimes against humanity, has promised numerous times to leave the country.

The American colony of Liberia, settled by freed American slaves, declared its independence on July 26, 1847 (Monrovia, noon). With its Sun in proud Leo, Liberia became the first independent nation in Africa. The Moon in Capricorn is closely aligned with the U.S. Sun, reflecting its people's origin, and a family-like association that continues to this day.

Liberia's Mars is placed in courageous Aries, and is given exceptional vigor and force by its conjunction to Uranus and Pluto. For the last 14 years Liberia has been torn by a devastating civil war, with the civilian population taking the brunt of the brutality. This situation can be seen astrologically by the progression of Uranus in a long-term square to Liberia's Moon.

Charles Taylor (January 28, 1948) was born with Venus prominently placed in his horoscope. Venus is exalted in Pisces, and is part of a Yod formation with Neptune and Pluto. Venus is also conjunct the political asteroid Pallas. Much of Taylor's political motivation comes from attempts to control the lucrative diamond market, which is ruled by Venus. With Mars transiting through Pisces now, watch for stories correlating Liberia's conflict with the diamond trade.

Sharon Stone and Phil Bronstein Separate

Over the weekend actress Sharon Stone and her husband, San Francisco Chronicle editor Phil Bronstein, announced that they were divorcing. The news didn't surprise most star watchers since the two have demanding professional schedules which keep them apart much of the time. Still, no reason was given for the split, giving astrologers an intriguing challenge to find out what really happened.

Sharon Stone was born with her Sun in sultry Pisces (March 10, 1958; Meadville, PA; time unknown) trine to Ceres, the parenting asteroid. NewsScope reported two weeks after they married on February 14, 1998 that the primary reason for her marriage at the time was to have children (since transiting Saturn was squaring her Ceres). After several miscarriages, they adopted a baby in 2000.

Although the Sun trine Ceres makes a natural mother, Stone has her love planet Venus under some very dynamic aspects. Primarily, her Venus opposes Uranus, an electric, exciting planetary combination discussed last week for Cameron Diaz's chart. Venus-Uranus women thrive on plenty of offbeat romantic situations, and it's not really conducive to a stable marriage.

Stone's Venus has progressed to a conjunction with her Sun. This alignment is known by astrologers for its passionately amorous vibration. Since she is already married and now divorcing, it's a good bet that Stone is having a highly romantic but secret love affair. Busy with his editorial duties in San Francisco, Bronstein is accepting this arrangement as the two claim to their separation is mutually amicable.


* As foreseen in NewsScope May 12