Weekly Political and Entertainment NewsScope

by WolfStar

Don't see the information you searched for? Please visit the WolfStar Archives.

April 25, 2005

Benedict XVI, the Transitional Pope

Last week the global village received Benedict XVI with mixed reviews, as a paradoxical image emerged. On the one hand, he is an intellectual giant with unyielding conservative views, and on the other, a softer, even shy man who instinctively avoids confrontation. His brother, Georg Ratzinger, worries about the new Pope's health, and the burden of leading the world's one billion Catholics.

Pope Benedict XVI was born with Jupiter Rising (April 16, 1927; 4:15 am; Marktl, Germany) in the faith-oriented sign of Pisces. The Sun trines transcendent Neptune in Leo, and also Ceres and the Midheaven in philosophical Sagittarius, giving his horoscope an extraordinary abundance of religious/spiritual markers. Also, he has Saturn in Sagittarius and the ninth house, which indicates an ambition to be a religious or moral authority.

Regarding the contrary impressions of Benedict XVI, Pisces Rising and the strong Neptune influence are characteristic of one who avoids conflict. Yet the Pope also has a high-strung Mercury-Uranus conjunction which squares Mars in vocal Gemini. This combination can be excessively critical and is prone to being impatient, abrupt, or tactless. More importantly, this complex of planets fosters great mental and physical stress.

As described three weeks ago*, transiting Pluto is heading toward the Vatican Saturn, which indicated that an older, more transitional Pope was expected. This Pluto transit hits Benedict XVI's Mercury-Uranus-Mars complex at exactly the same time (2007-2008), which will aggravate any underlying health problems. Factor in that the Pope's progressed Sun will be conjunct his natal Pluto in 3 ∏ years, and the astrologer can only conclude that he will either die or retire in a few years.

John Molony, the Path Not Taken

Famed Australian historian and author John Molony published his autobiography last year, a poetic tale that covers the years of hardship during the 1930s Depression and ends with his becoming ordained as a Catholic priest in 1951. Australians know that he subsequently left the priesthood, married and had four children. He remains active in several humanitarian causes, including Catholic Action and the Indo-Chinese Refugee Association.

John Molony was born an assertive Aries with Neptune Rising (April 15, 1927; 3:00 pm; Melbourne, AU**). Like the new Pope who was born the next day, Molony has several powerful religious/spiritual markers in his horoscope. And like Benedict XVI, Molony is known as an intellectual giant, reflected in the identical Mercury-Uranus conjunction square Mars in Gemini.

Molony's Saturn in Sagittarius carries the same ambition to be a moral authority, but in this case, Saturn is located in the fourth house of the home. Saturn here is forever seeking a secure, welcoming home base. According to his autobiography, he went to great lengths to find a place to call home, but the harsh conditions of the Depression forced him out of his heartland.

He had hoped to find a home and career in the Catholic Church, and visited the Vatican during his Catholic studies. Saturn in Sagittarius carries the responsibility of seeking the truth, but he didn't find it in Rome. He felt disillusioned over the mean-spiritedness and power games, and like an unwelcome foreigner. During his first Saturn Return, he made the conscious decision to leave the priesthood, and embark upon a new path.

Paula Abdul, Under Saturn's Spell

Last week American Idol judge Paula Abdul explained that her silly, erratic behavior was not the result of drug addiction, but due to a chronic neurological disorder. In a separate incident, a former Idol contestant claimed he had an affair with judge Paula. Just last month she was sentenced to two years probation after pleading no contest to a hit-and-run accident. What's going on?

Paula Abdul was born with her Sun in multi-talented Gemini (June 19, 1962; 2:32 pm; Los Angeles), and her Moon in ambitious Capricorn. This Moon dominates her chart since it sits on one of the four angles, the fourth house cusp. She has Libra Rising, the sign most associated with projecting a "nice" personality, and a trait underscored by the Moon's natural instinct to comfort others.

Venus, her chart's ruling planet, resides in the tenth house of career. Venus here describes her professional success in the arts, most notably as a dancer, musician, and actress. Venus opposes Saturn, which astrologically defines her role as a judge. Venus also squares Neptune, and this is where the allegations of drugs and secret affairs crop up.

Over the last two months transiting Saturn has been crossing her Midheaven, the point of public reputation. At the same time Saturn has been opposing her natal Moon, and was exact last week. Saturn to the Moon and Midheaven describes a time of emotional challenges involving her public standing. Paula can expect the next wave of challenges to arrive when Saturn enters Leo and conjoins her Venus in August.

* See NewsScope's April 4, 2005 column

** According to his autobiography Luthor's Pine. For more info and a picture of the author, visit this site.
An extensive review of his autobiography can be found here.

Online classes and personal readings are available. Visit http://neptunecafe.homestead.com/classes.html or http://neptunecafe.homestead.com/reading.html for more information.

Reader feedback is welcome. Email: [email protected].