July 26, 2004

September 11 Commission Report

The 9/11 Report became an instant bestseller last week, topping the ranks at both Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble with sales hitting some 150,000 copies on Thursday, the day of its release. Meanwhile, Congress is taking the Report's suggestions seriously enough to schedule a rare summer session to discuss its findings, and especially the lead proposal to completely overhaul U.S. intelligence agencies.

From an astrological perspective, the Report arrives as Saturn is forming the first of three inconjunctions (or quincunxes, the 150 degree aspect) with Pluto, reflecting the call for transformation of intelligence services. Saturn-Pluto combinations are generally known for their tendency to re-structure situations, tear apart what's not working in order to build something more effective. This Saturn-Pluto cycle lasts through May of 2005.

Saturn-Pluto combinations are also known for their ferocious turf battles, a bureaucratic struggle for survival and dominance. The 9/11 Commission suggested creating a cabinet level post to oversee all agencies, including the CIA, DIA, NSC, and Homeland Security. Each of these agencies will fight to maintain its own sovereignty.

The CIA horoscope (September 26, 1947; 10:10 am; Washington DC) features a tenacious Saturn-Pluto conjunction at its Midheaven, which resonates with the current Saturn-Pluto astro-event. The Report emerged as transiting Neptune was forming an exact to-the-minute opposition to the CIA Pluto, putting its hold on power (Pluto) under a veil of uncertainty (Neptune). However, the CIA knows how to navigate through the perils of Saturn-Pluto, and has already countered with its own proposal: elevate the CIA Director to the Cabinet post.

Boston Takes Center Stage

Boston becomes the political center of the world this week as the Democratic National Convention celebrates its acclaim for the Kerry-Edwards ticket. The gala affair is the first political nominating convention since the September 11 terrorist event, and security is extremely tight, with the FBI locking down a huge area of downtown Boston, and spending some $100 million on a variety of security measures.

Boston itself has a horoscope, which is set for the founding of the city on September 17, 1630 (set for noon, Boston*). With its Sun in modest Virgo and Jupiter in faith-oriented Pisces, this chart describes the city's Puritanical roots. The Sun is given radical support with a conjunction to Uranus and a trine to Pluto, empowering Boston as a city with an important destiny.

Boston has a close Mars-Pluto aspect, giving it a fighter's instincts. This first became evident on April 19, 1775 when "the shot heard around the world" kicked of the Colonies war for independence. At the time, transiting Mars and Pluto opposed each other, as they formed a square to Boston's Pluto. Also, transiting Jupiter was conjunct Boston's Pluto, showing that the Bostonians believed in what they were fighting for.

Boston's chart now shows the current elevated state of excitement and media attention with mutual Jupiter-Uranus interchanges. Transiting Jupiter is conjunct Boston's Uranus, and at the same time transiting Uranus is conjunct the Boston Jupiter. The real danger is that transiting Mars is squaring Boston's Pluto, and is in effect during the entire week.

Lance Armstrong's Inspiration