February 23, 2004
Presidential Race 2004, Update
As anticipated in last week's column, the New Moon conjunct Uranus brought some fast-paced and unexpected political developments. Howard Dean folded his tent, but John Edwards gained momentum against the Kerry juggernaut. Then, just as Democrats' hopes were rising, Ralph Nader tossed his hat into the fray.
Astrodatabank.com reports that John Kerry's birth time has been adjusted slightly to 8:03 am.* This puts his Sun very close to the Sagittarius Ascendant, and Juno (the partnership asteroid) in the second house of money where it forms a powerful trine to his Midheaven. He married the wealthy heiress Teresa Heinz (October 5, 1938) on May 26, 1995 when his progressed Ascendant was conjunct Juno.
Ralph Nader was born with his Sun and Mars in the self-sacrificing sign of Pisces (February 27, 1934; 4:52 am; Winstead, CT). With Jupiter square Pluto and opposite Uranus, he is willing to go to extremes for the causes he believes in. His Leo Moon sits on top of the U.S. Midheaven, giving him a prominent voice in American politics, and putting him in the position of being a king-maker.
If John Edwards' speculative birth time is correct (7:02 am), then he has 12 degrees Cancer Rising, which is exactly where Ceres is now turning direct. Ceres here promises new financial support - don't count him out yet. Bush is the clearest benefactor of Nader's decision to run. Although Bush has some very difficult Saturn transits, his progressed Venus and Jupiter trine to the U.S. Moon bring him plenty of money, popularity, and just plain luck.
Power Plays in Global Media
Last week AT&T Wireless agreed to be bought by Cingular Wireless for a cool $41 billion. The combined company, once approved by the FCC, will become the largest cell phone owner in the United States. Meanwhile, Disney CEO Michael Eisner said "no thanks" to a hostile buy out bid from cable giant ComCast. Financial analysts agreed that the telecommunications industry is ripe for more mergers and acquisitions.
Astrologically, the power plays for the U.S. communications businesses can be seen in the transit of Pluto opposite the U.S. Mars, which is found in the communications sign of Gemini. In the Scorpio Rising U.S. horoscope, Mars is located in the eighth house of corporations. Pluto first opposed the U.S. Mars in late January, and will remain in this predatory zone through 2005.
Michael Eisner (March 7, 1942) was born with Mars in Gemini, giving his professional career a celestial advantage in a world dominated by communications and transportation networks. He's been in the spotlight over the last week since the New Moon-Uranus combo squared his Mars. Transiting Pluto (by opposing his progressed Jupiter) will keep him under pressure for the next two years.
One of his main rivals is Roy Disney (January 10, 1930), the last family member still active in the company. Disney's many Capricorn planets suggest his interest in preserving the traditional Disney business. With his Sun exactly opposite Pluto, Roy Disney is often embroiled in intense conflicts with others. Watch the fireworks when transiting Saturn turns direct while opposing his Mars during the company's annual meeting on March 3.
Jim Caviezel, The Journeys of the Soul
The entertainment media is all abuzz about Jim Caviezel's weird experiences while portraying Jesus in Mel Gibson's controversial film Passion of the Christ. The Catholic actor claims all he wants is to play comedy, but with films like The Count of Monte Cristo and Frequency behind him, he's captured an intense, brooding persona that harkens back to fifties screen legend Montgomery Clift.
Jim Caviezel was born with his Sun in artistic Libra (October 23, 1968; Mount Vernon, WA; time unknown), along with four planets in service-oriented Virgo. The Virgo placements include a religious Jupiter-Pluto conjunction and a hardworking, devoted Mars in Virgo. Caviezel turned down three previous roles to play Jesus, and only accepted Gibson's offer when he was assured it would be realistic.
Film critics have compared Caviezel to Montgomery Clift (October 17, 1920; 2:30 am; Omaha, NB). The two actors share a remarkable number of planetary placements which only begins with their Suns both in Libra. Perhaps it's no coincidence that Caviezel's breakthrough role was playing Private Witt in The Thin Red Line, a character based on Clift's Private Prewitt in the Oscar-winning From Here To Eternity.
Their strongest connection is Caviezel's Mars exactly conjunct Clift's Virgo Ascendant. Clift's Ascendant describes his physical image, and with Caviezel's Mars there, it's as if Caviezel is animating that presence. Clift died suddenly in 1966 of a heart attack, only two years before Caviezel was born. In the eternity of our consciousness, who's to say where the individual goes after crossing the thin line separating life and death?
* The 8:03 am time works very well when comparing his personal history to major transits and progressions. For example, notice how prominent Juno is when he married for the first time to Julia Thorne on May 22, 1970.
T UR 4LI51, cnj MC
P2 MA tri MC 4GE55
P2 VE sxt MC 4SG34
P2 Juno tri MO in 7th -22
P3 Juno squ MC 6CN36
P3 MC squ SA in 7th
Or, when he married Teresa Heinz on May 26, 1995
T SA squ SA in 7th
P3 Juno cnj MC 4LI59
P2 AS cnj Juno
Kerry declared his candidacy on Sep 2 2003
T PL cnj AS, Su and opp MO
P2 MC opp MA, sxt Juno
P3 SU opp JU
P3 JU sxt JU, chart ruler
P3 Vesta cnj Juno, tri UR, MC
P3 SU opp UR
