August 30, 2004

Republican Convention Meets in NYC

The geopolitical center of gravity shifts to New York City this week as the Republicans gather to rally supporters and re-elect George W. Bush. Security is extremely tight, with an army of some 20,000 police mobilized to protect the Manhattan area around Madison Square Garden. Meanwhile, an estimated 250,000 protestors are angling to be heard, with the danger of a confrontation a likely scenario.

The modern incarnation of New York City was administratively created by pulling together the surrounding boroughs on January 1, 1898 at the stroke of midnight. Jupiter Rising in this horoscope points to the Big Apple's native enthusiasm. Jupiter's trine to Pluto in the communication's sign of Gemini describes the Big Money flowing in and out, especially through ninth house businesses of publishing and mass media.

Pluto's placement is complicated by several hard aspects to other planets, so that major disasters are closely tied to major activation of Pluto. The Crash of ‘29 for example, took place as the progressed Sun was exactly trine to Pluto, showing the peak of prosperity. The infamous 9/11 tragedy occurred as transiting Saturn was conjunct NYC's Pluto and progressed Mars was exactly (to-the-minute) squaring Pluto.

Although no really huge transits or progressions are currently hitting NYC's Pluto, the swifter moving Mars is making a square to Pluto. This connection activates another more worrisome alignment: the progressed chart shows angry conflict with the progressed Moon and Mars being precisely conjunct. With these planetary indicators lighting up NYC, polite and peaceful demonstrations are not a likely outcome.

Al-Sistani Brings Peace

On the verge of a dramatic showdown between American troops and Shiite insurgents, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani brokered a promising peace agreement. Al-Sistani made a surprising return from an emergency surgical operation in London to lead a march of thousands of Iraqi citizens into Najaf where he convinced the radical cleric Muqtada Sadr and his Mahdi Army to lay down their weapons.

Al-Sistani was probably* born on August 4, 1930 (Mashhad, Iran; time unknown), when his Leo Sun was trine Uranus in Aries and the Moon in Sagittarius. This Fire Grand Trine provides a fount of creativity, originality, and leadership. These planets harmoniously linked bestow the kind of progressive imagination and inventiveness shared by Thomas Jefferson, who had a similar Fire Grand Trine.

Transiting Neptune is currently opposing Al-Sistani's Sun giving some astrological evidence of a weakened or problematic heart condition (Leo rules the heart). At the same time, this transit can enshroud him with a kind of mysticism or celebrity status. On the day he returned frm London, transiting Sun was conjunct his Neptune, presenting a brief doubled influence that transformed him into a national hero.

Jupiter, the planet of enthusiasm and new opportunities, was also helpful. Last Thursday when the agreement took place, transiting Jupiter was exactly conjunct Al-Sistani's Venus, the planet of peace and cooperation. This coming week presents a challenge to the revered Ayatollah's new status as Iraq's elder statesman when transiting Mars squares his own Mars on Wednesday. This is when his authority in Najaf and Iraq is directly challenged.

Nicky Hilton's Surprise Wedding