Guantanamo Bay, Shut It Down?, California Earthquakes, Sean Penn, Ace Reporter

June 20, 2005

Guantanamo Bay, Shut It Down?

Last week the Senate held hearings on alleged abuses at Guantanamo Bay, the notorious U.S. detention camp for accused foreign terrorists. Opponents called it an "international embarrassment", while supporters say it's a necessary component of the war on terror. Meanwhile, Halliburton – Dick Cheney's former company – was awarded a $500 million contract to make upgrades to "Gitmo" through 2010.

The U.S. seized Guantanamo Bay during the Spanish-American War, and a horoscope for the raising of the flag on June 12, 1898 (noon, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba) provides insights into the present furor. The Sun is conjunct Neptune, the planet ruling the seas, scandal, and isolation. These associations reflect Guantanamo Bay's nebulous legal status, the site as a Naval Base, and the prisoner detention camp.

The Sun-Neptune is precisely conjunct the U.S. Mars, and thereby spotlights the U.S. nationalism, or as some would say, imperialism.
In Islamic nations, and across the global village, Guantanamo Bay has become a symbol for American imperialism, and a flouting of international law. These criticisms have arisen as transiting Pluto opposes the Gitmo's Sun-Neptune, a long-term situation which continues to play out through 2005.

This chart also features a Saturn-Pluto opposition, a combination that is often found during major wars and other fundamental restructuring of sovereign nations (as in "nation-building"). The 9-11 incident and subsequent war on terrorism unfolded when Saturn and Pluto opposed each other, and in the same signs as they occupied in the Spanish-American War. Transiting Uranus is now squaring the Gitmo Saturn, indicating another immediate challenge to the Base's physical and legal structure.

California Earthquakes

Californians had a case of the jitters last week when four separate earthquakes rocked the state from north to south. On Tuesday a tsunami alert was issued along the entire West Coast following a 7.2 quake near Eureka, but was later retracted. Two days later a 6.6 quake near San Bernardino inspired many Californians to begin making serious preparations for the "Big One".

Earthquake prediction is an inexact science, but when viewed from an astrological basis, some strong correlations between episodes can be seen. The most celebrated California earthquake was the San Francisco Quake of April 18, 1906 (5:12 am; San Francisco). In this chart the outer planets Uranus and Neptune oppose each other at 8º Cancer and 8º Capricorn, with both squaring Mercury at 7º Aries.

Curiously, these same planets, degree areas, and signs are found in the 7.1 earthquake that took place during the 1989 World Series (October 17, 1989; 5:04 pm; Loma Prieta, CA). The largest earthquake in recorded California history was an 8.2 magnitude that struck the Los Angeles area during the morning of January 19, 1857. Once again Saturn was at 10º Cancer, and squared the North Node axis at 10º Aries.

The astrological evidence shows that when outer planets occupy 7º to 10º of cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn), California's tectonic plates come under tremendous seismological pressure. Currently, Jupiter (the largest of the outer planets) is in this critical zone (10º Libra). Over the coming two weeks the Sun and Mars enter this degree area, potentially triggering the underlying tension. Also, Mercury, Venus, and Uranus are all at 10º degrees during the New Moon of July 6.

Sean Penn, Ace Reporter

Oscar-winner Sean Penn made a surprise visit to Iran last week, on assignment for the San Francisco Chronicle. Enacting the real-life job of a foreign journalist, Penn conducted some trenchant interviews during the Iranian presidential election. He also made headline news himself for his comments castigating student protestors for their "Death to America" chants, all while being followed around as an international film celebrity.

Sean Penn was born with his proud Leo Sun conjunct revolutionary Uranus (August 17, 1960; 3:17 pm; Burbank, CA), a combination that promotes a strong independent streak, as well as making him a charismatic star (compare Manu Ginobili's Leo Sun square Uranus). The more troublesome facets of the Sun-Uranus energy emerge since Penn's Mars squares Pluto, which attracts violence and volatile situations.

The Sun-Uranus has a more cosmopolitan or humanitarian side, but this only emerges with maturity and a stronger sense of mission. Penn is lucky to have his Sun-Uranus trine Jupiter, which enhances his star power, but also gives a keen interest in freedom of religion and speech. With his Mars-Pluto square, he's willing to face personal injury to advocate what he believes in.

At the moment, transiting Pluto is conjunct his Jupiter, empowering him with a very personal understanding of what he can do to change the world. Jupiter and transiting Pluto are in his first house of Self, so that he plays the unique role, the bridge between Iran and the U.S. Also, transiting Uranus is activating his Mars-Pluto square, giving him the courage to enter this danger zone, and at great personal risk.

Political Astrology, the book, is coming soon. See BOOK <http://neptunecafe.homestead.com/wolfstar.html> for more details.

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

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by WolfStar

June 20, 2005