December 21, 2003

Qaddafi Renounces WMD

In a surprise announcement late last week Libya's president-for-life Muammar Qaddafi admitted that he was trying to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and now says he will begin dismantling the programs under international inspection. Under Qaddafi's leadership, Libya has been a junior partner in the so-called "axis of evil", but is now edging back toward respectability.

Colonel Qaddafi's seized power on September 3, 1969 (6:30 am; Tripoli), and a horoscope drawn for this moment provides the astrological lens through which to view these developments. Qaddafi is often described as "mercurial", and the description is strongly echoed in this chart with Mercury (the ruler of the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, and Midheaven) conjunct religious Jupiter, and given an eccentric twist with the conjunction to Uranus.

A major turning point occurred in Qaddafi's tenure on December 21, 1988 when Pan Am Flight 103 was blown up by a terrorist bomb, killing 270 people. At the time, a triple outer planet conjunction in Capricorn formed a square to Libya's Mercury, triggering global outrage at Qaddafi's assistance to international terrorism. Since then, Qaddafi has cooperated with investigators and paid off the victims' families.

A key dynamic in this chart is Mars square Pluto, which emphasizes the use and respect of absolute military power. The secret diplomacy began in mid-March when transiting Pluto was conjunct Libya's Mars. Undoubtedly, the American invasion of Iraq painted a clear picture for Qaddafi. This current deal arrives only days after Saddam was arrested, and transiting Pluto has returned to Libya's natal Mars, totally transforming Libya's weapons program.

Lord of the Rings, Cinematic Holy War

The fantasy epic "Lord of the Rings" is one of the best known and most loved books of the twentieth century, and now the movie version is breaking box office records. The final part of the trilogy, "The Return of the King", is being touted as a favorite for the Oscars as best film of 2003. What can account for this story's overwhelming success?

The genius behind the story, author J.R.R. Tolkien, was born a patriarchal Capricorn (January 3, 1892; 10:00 pm*; Bloemfontein, South Africa). Capricorns have an innate belief in a structured, orderly society, and in Tolkien's case, with his Sun closely aligned with the U.K. Sun, this belief translated into a deep attachment to empire, and in particular, the British empire.

With his Sun sextile to Jupiter in faith-oriented Pisces, Tolkien's life path incorporated a "good versus evil" philosophy. His Sun is also sextile to Mars in Scorpio, giving him the will power to fight for what he believed in. Tolkien's traumatic experiences in World War I, and the writing of Lord of the Rings during World War II shaped his storyline. The faerie story of Middle Earth depicted the deathly struggles he witnessed, but made it much easier to distinguish between good and evil.

The first part of Tolkien's trilogy debuted on December 14, 2001 only three months after the 9-11 incident. The Saturn-Pluto opposition of that time squared his Jupiter, framing a real life holy war against the cinematic escape of a fantasy holy war. As the Lord of the Rings unfolds simultaneously with the war on evil terrorism, viewers emotionally participate in the building of a good empire.

George Clooney, Single Again

"Ocean's Eleven" star George Clooney split from girlfriend Krista Allen last week, as the Hollywood buzz gleefully announced that the handsome actor was single once again. The two have been together since they met during his directorial debut of "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" in the summer of ‘02, and were most recently seen at the October premiere of his comedy "Intolerable Cruelty."

George Clooney was born a stable Taurus (May 6, 1961; 2:58 am; Lexington, KY), but his ability to maintain a long term relationship is undermined by his Sun's opposition to flaky Neptune. A Moon-Saturn conjunction is also driven toward having a stable partnership, but the opposition to Mars creates too much friction for the easy-going Taurus.

Juno, the marriage asteroid, sits right on Clooney's Pisces Ascendant. This position is highly favorable for marriage, and gives one a desire to meet life with a partner at the side. However, this indicator is also undermined by an opposition to Pluto, which can foster tremendous power struggles between partners. Early harsh experiences can create psychological barriers to forming commitments.

Krista Allen (April 5, 1972; Ventura, CA; time unknown) has Venus in early Gemini where it receives a favorable sextile from Clooney's heroic Mars in Leo. This combination is very auspicious for romance, yet when it came to cementing the ties, Clooney bowed out. Ths occurs as transiting Juno and Pluto are conjunct right on his Midheaven, reflecting the internal dynamic expressed in real time.


* This time, according to astrodatabank, is rectified from an approximate time. Advanced astrologers will note the strong connections between the 9-11 event chart and Tolkien's natal horoscope. For more parallels between the political reality and Tolkien's fantasy, see http://www.opendemocracy.net/debates/article-1-67-1645.jsp