Weekly Political and Entertainment NewsScope

by WolfStar

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October 24, 2005

All Soul's Day Lunation

On November 1 a powerful New Moon takes place, one that may have far-reaching effects across the geopolitical landscape. The Sun and Moon will be conjunct at 9º Scorpio while squaring Saturn in Leo, opposing Mars in Taurus, and squaring Neptune in Aquarius. Anyone born with their Sun or other prominent planet in the middle degree area of these fixed signs will be feeling the serious, transformative energies involved with this dynamic.

What makes this particular lunation a serious or grave matter is that it's almost exactly conjunct the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant. The nation as a whole will be influenced by important developments as the entire geopolitical landscape shifts. Also, transiting Mars and Neptune are making close aspects to the U.S. Midheaven (a square and an opposition), so that the event-oriented angles will all be activated.

When considering declinations, the picture is even more dynamic. Declinations measure the planets' positions in latitude, which is to say, how far north or south of the equator they are. When the Sun and Moon are in the same declination, they are said to be "parallel", and we get eclipses. As it happens, Neptune is in the same declination as the coming New Moon, making it an exceptionally potent connection, since parallels are much like conjunctions.

In Paul F. Newman's illuminating new book "Declination in Astrology", he explains the importance of contra-parallels, which is when two planets are equidistant north and south of the equator. This connection is akin to an opposition, and on November 1 the Moon is contra-parallel to Mars. In essence, the New Moon triggers the Mars-Neptune configuration. Expect fireworks!

The GOP Horoscope

The current brouhaha over outed CIA agent Valerie Plame has the GOP in a tizzy, with Karl Rove and Scooter Libby facing indictment. Factor in Tom DeLay's and Bill Frist's unrelated troubles, and Bush's low poll numbers, and the political astrologer must wonder what is happening to the Republican Party as a whole.

The Republican Party held its first convention on July 6, 1854* in Jackson, Michigan (time unknown, use noon). A horoscope set for this moment shows an impressive number of tight correlations with the U.S. Scorpio Rising horoscope, including the GOP Sun conjunct the U.S. Sun. Currently, one of the most significant placements is Pallas, the political strategy asteroid, which is located at 27º Capricorn, exactly conjunct the U.S. Pluto.

As the political upheaval in Washington was set off by transiting Chiron turning direct right on the U.S. Pluto (see NewsScope October 3 and 10, 2005 for the forecast), Chiron was also turning direct on the GOP Pallas. Similarly, as transiting Neptune forms a hard aspect (inconjunction) to the U.S. Sun, the GOP Sun (symbolizing its leadership) is also receiving this scandal-prone transit.

Meanwhile, transiting Saturn is conjunct the GOP Mercury, perhaps referring to a testing of its ideas and agenda. The GOP Mercury squares Pluto, reflecting the Mercury-Pluto opposition in the U.S. horoscope. Mercury-Pluto aspects are terrific spin-meisters, so as Saturn passes back and forth across this point, we can expect some great theater. Still, Neptune's long-term connection to the GOP Sun infers a prolonged crisis at the top.

James Van Praagh, Ghost Whisperer

The new CBS hit show "Ghost Whisperer" stars Jennifer Love Hewitt as a psychic who talks with dead people. The weekly stories are based on the actual experiences of medium James Van Praagh, who is executive producer and creative consultant for the TV series. As he explains it, "The dead always leave gifts behind. We just have to be open to receiving them."

"The gifts of the dead" is a direct reference to the eighth house, the house of death, inheritance, and the occult. Perhaps it comes as no surprise, then, that James Van Praagh was born (August 23, 1958; 4:18 pm; Queens, NY) with his Virgo Sun in the eighth house, along with four other planets and three asteroids. Having a packed eighth house naturally attunes one to metaphysical realities.

Van Praagh's Sun is closely conjunct Mercury and Pluto, a configuration which gives him a mental intensity, and desire to totally transform the world around him. AOL founder Steve Case was born just two days earlier, putting his Sun in the more Napoleonic sign of Leo, but carrying the same instinctive desire to transform the world as we know it. Van Praagh's more humble Virgo energies sense the subtle vibrations of visiting spirits.

Van Praagh's tenth house of career features a Jupiter-Neptune conjunction. Having these two spiritual planets together gives a synergistic emphasis on finding meaning in life through mystical experiences. At the moment, transiting Jupiter is returning to its natal position, allowing him the career opportunity of dramatizing the survival of consciousness after death.

* For more on the history and astrological developments in this chart, see http://politicalastrology.homestead.com/republicans.html

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

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