November 10, 2003

Pluto Pushes forward $401 Billion for Defense

Last Friday the House gave an overwhelming, bipartisan "thumbs up" to the Pentagon in a milestone bill that included $401 billion for fiscal year 2004 to transform and modernize the military. The bill repeals restrictions against building low-yield nuclear devices and exempts the Pentagon from the Endangered Species Act, while offering increased benefits to veterans and the troops stationed abroad.

The key astrological signature for this event is transiting Pluto opposite the U.S. Mars. In 2004 Pluto will make three oppositions, due on January 24, May 27 and November 23. The exact dates aren't as important as the process, which lasts throughout 2004 and is well underway now. Pluto's long-term intensification of America's martial energy describes a nation at war.

The nature of the aspect connecting Pluto to Mars, the opposition, also describes a powerful polarization of rival factions. A poll out last week reflects how this polarization is already shaping up. The gap between Republicans and Democrats in a wide range of domestic and foreign policy issues is now wider than at any point over the last two decades.

The nature of the Pluto-Mars combination describes a fundamental trend that sets the tone for the entire year, and can be characterized as increased violence, anger, and religious fanaticism. Americans as a whole, no matter how divided internally, are now seen by others as being arrogant empire builders. As several military strategists noted last week, Islamic extremists are finding new recruits faster than the special forces can hunt them down.

Voyager 1 Enters Interstellar Space

Astronomers reported last week that Voyager 1, the NASA spacecraft that has been traveling through the outer planets for the last 25 years, has reached the final frontier, the edge of our solar system. Although Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, were designed to last only five years, the two kept chugging along, and are now expected to continue sending back signals through 2020.

Voyager 1 was launched from Cape Canaveral on September 5, 1977 at 8:56 am. A horoscope set for this moment describes its historic journey. Pluto, the planet of decay and regeneration, is rising and well aspected. In November 1980 during a powerful Jupiter-Saturn conjunction right on its Ascendant, a gravitational slingshot sent Voyager deeper into space, giving it a renewed mission passed its scheduled demise.

Neptune is one of the most prominent planets in this chart by virtue of its opposition of the Moon and square to the Sun. Neptune is a mystical, otherworldly kind of vibration, and since Neptune is located in the third house of communications, it describes Voyager as a kind of "message in a bottle". Voyager carries a gold-plated disc with greetings in 55 languages to any extra-terrestrials who happen to come across it.

Regarding the current polarization trend fostered by transiting Pluto opposite the U.S. Mars, Voyager offers a different perspective. Pluto is after all in the explorative, questing sign of Sagittarius, bravely seeking contact with extra-terrestrials who could represent the significant "other". Now as transiting Jupiter is conjunct the Voyager Sun, the primary message, "Hello from the Children of Planet Earth", optimistically enters the next dimension.

David Letterman becomes a Father

Late Night TV host David Letterman became a father last week for the first time at age 56. He married his long time girlfriend Regina Lasko in a secret ceremony a month or so ago in time for the new arrival. Very little is known about Lasko, but Letterman proudly announced that "there is now tangible evidence that I have had sex."

David Letterman was born with the steamroller combination of the Sun in Aries and Moon in Capricorn (April 12, 1947; 6:00 pm; Indianapolis). The strong, ego energy of fiery Aries is given cool ambition with steadfast earthy Capricorn. His Aries Sun is in the seventh house of "others", so that he shines when he can bounce off celebrity guests, or banter with bandleader Paul Schaeffer.

The traditional planets provide some indication for having his first child so late in life. Transiting Saturn in the family sign of Cancer is rising toward his Midheaven, giving increased importance to the clan. Also, the fifth house of children is governed by Uranus (since Aquarius is on the cusp), and at the moment transiting Pluto is forming an exact opposition to Uranus.

The parenting asteroid Ceres shows the clearest astrological reason for becoming a father now. Transiting Ceres is in Cancer, and right on his Midheaven. While this cycle happens about once every four years, it's emphasized now because simultaneously Ceres by secondary progression is conjunct Letterman's Sun, an astro-event that happens only once in his life. Ceres to the Sun shows that Letterman is identifying with fatherhood, and even named his son after his own father who died at age 57.
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