January 18, 2004

Pluto and the Banking Industry

Last week the international banking industry was shaken by the news that J.P. Morgan Chase will acquire Bank One for $60 billion to become the world's second largest banking company behind Citicorp. Analysts predicted it would spark a flurry of additional mergers, and some believe that the world will soon have only a handful of banks since community banks can't compete with these global behemoths.

Astrologically, the latest merger advances a trend that began when Pluto entered Sagittarius in 1996. Put against the backdrop of the U.S. Scorpio Rising horoscope (2:21 pm; July 4, 1776; Philadelphia) further explains these developments. When Pluto entered Sagittarius, it also began influencing the U.S. second house, which is traditionally associated with banking. Pluto is the planet of consolidation of power, and in the second house naturally describes the concentration of financial assets into a few hands.

In 1997-98 as Pluto officially entered the U.S. second house, several major mergers occurred, including Bank One and First Chicago, Wells Fargo and First Interstate, and Nations Bank and Bank of America. Now Pluto is opposing the U.S. Mars, reflecting how this latest banking merger is seen as an aggressive move to dominate the global banking business.

Critics believe that this kind of consolidation can make the market economy vulnerable to disastrous collapses. Note that the worst crashes of the 20th century (1929 and 1987) took place when Saturn was in late Sagittarius where it was afflicting the U.S. second house of money. Pluto remains in Sagittarius until January 2008, and between now and then we might expect a precipitous economic crash.

Iran's Struggle for Reform

More than 60 members of Iran's Parliament began a sit-in last week to protest the banning of 3,000 potential candidates from next month's election. In one of its most serious political battles in its 25-year history, the confrontation reflects the ongoing struggle between reformers who want a more open society, and the ruling conservatives who preach an Islamic vision of order and security.

Ayatollah Khomeini proclaimed Iran's current governmental structure in a radio broadcast on April 1, 1979* at 10:30 am GMT (3:00 pm IRDT). A horoscope drawn for this moment (at Tehran) shows remarkable consistency with the historical record. With imperial Leo Rising, the Sun becomes the chart's ruling planet, and is found in the ninth house of religion. The Sun, representing the nation's leadership, opposes Pluto, the planet that insists on reforms.

The Moon (symbolizing the people) is in restless, informed Gemini, but is repressed by a challenging square from authoritarian Saturn. The last time Iran experienced a serious uprising was in mid-July 2000 when transiting Pluto opposed this Moon and squared Saturn. The current showdown has a parallel astrological development (progressed Ascendant is conjunct Saturn, square Moon).

Uranus in the fourth house describes chronic, domestic turmoil. The February 20 election takes place when the New Moon is conjunct Uranus, and promises to be filled with dynamic, perhaps shocking surprises. We can expect that this is only the beginning of major upheaval since Uranus goes on to form a precise square to the Moon when it turns retrograde on June 10. The current government is in a closure phase (progressed New Moon), and must compromise and reform or give up power.

Michelle Wie at the Sony Open

With 300 yard drives and 50 foot putts, ninth grader Michelle Wie dazzled the world of professional golfers last week at the Sony Open, narrowly missing the cut. The six-foot teenager became the youngest player ever on the PGA Tour, and posted the lowest score by a female competing against the men. She finished 80th, ahead of 47 others at Hawaii's Waialae Country Club.

Michelle Wie was born with a competitive Sun-Mars conjunction (October 11, 1989; Honolulu; time unknown) in the graceful sign of Libra. Her Mars is fortified by a network of aspects to other planets in her chart, including a square to Jupiter which gives her an adventurous, bold edge, and a square to Saturn which tests her patience, maturity and her ability to learn over time.

Michelle's Mercury is also involved in an unusually dynamic network of planetary aspects. Mercury is in Libra and sextile Venus, a doubled message that conveys a keen sense of aesthetics, and which can find expression in the creative arts or fashion. Mercury is also square Uranus, giving her a knack for thinking outside the box. Without this placement, she couldn't imagineer herself through her phenomenal exploits.

Then, her Pisces Moon is part of a Water Grand Trine with Jupiter and Pluto. This fortunate configuration confers an inner sense of faith in her own abilities, and a self-contained emotional life that protects her from the external challenges. Last week transiting Saturn opposed her natal Saturn, bringing her the contest of her life, and although she didn't make the cut, everyone knows she will be back.


* This horoscope supercedes the February 1, 1979 horoscope in its accuracy. The February 1 chart might refer to an important Islamic revolution while the April 1 chart specifically describes the Islamic Republic of Iran. Readers who have decent astrology software might want to check out how well this horoscope works. Here's a look at key transits (T), secondary (P2), and tertiary progressions (P3) during a few of Iran's historical turning points:

September 23, 1980 - Iraq invades Iran

T (VE squ <MA opp CH>) cnj ASC
P2 MO squ MA
P2 MA cnj ME
P2 ME cnj MA
P3 MA cnj SU
P3 MO squ UR

June 3, 1989 - Ayatollah Khomeini dies, and the next day President Khameni is appointed new supreme leader.

T NE squ SU
P2 MC opp UR
P3 JU tri NE, squ UR
P3 UR squ AS
P3 AS opp MO
P3 MC squ NE

May 23, 1997 - Reformer Mohammad Khatami wins presidential election by a landslide with 70 percent of the vote to beat the conservative ruling elite.

T SA tri AS
T MA squ NE
P2 VE cnj MA
P2 SU squ JU
P2 MC sxt JU
P3 SU opp MO, squ SA
P3 MO opp PL
P3 AS cnj SU

July 6-13, 1999 - Student protests following closing of newspaper lead to rioting and arrests of thousands.

T PL opp MO, squ SA
P2 MA cnj SU
P2 AS opp VE, ruler MC
P3 SU squ PL
P3 Ceres cnj SU
P3 MA opp Ceres