Weekly Political and Entertainment NewsScope

by WolfStar

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January 23, 2006

New Horizons Goes to Pluto

After several delays, the world's fastest rocket finally lifted off from Cape Canaveral on January 19 at precisely 2:00 pm, beginning a nine-year voyage to Pluto. The name of the satellite – New Horizons – is entirely appropriate to Pluto's current passage through Sagittarius, the sign that urges us to expand our horizons. How will the world change over the next decade?

One way to find out is to track Pluto's astrological themes during the same interval. Although many planetary cycles are shaping our collective reality, Pluto is exceptionally important as the ruler of the United States' horoscope with Scorpio Rising. The current situation features Pluto in the U.S. second house of money, where it brings the imminent possibility of financial panic.

Next, Pluto heads toward 27º Sagittarius, a degree renowned for being the location of the Galactic Center, and the possible location of an over-riding intelligence for our spaceship Earth. Major outer planet conjunctions and oppositions to the Galactic Center bring profound changes meant to make the diverse peoples, religions, and nationalities more integrated. With Pluto, this most likely means through forced confrontations associated with nuclear weapons.

Pluto enters Capricorn in 2008, another pivotal year for human evolution. Over the next 17 years of Pluto in Capricorn, the world powers will be edging toward the construction of a practical, global government. By the time New Horizons reaches Pluto in 2015, this powerful little planet will be opposing the U.S. Sun and squaring the U.S. Saturn. This momentous transit challenges American leadership (Sun) and government structures (Saturn) to integrate their sovereignty with the rest of the world.

The Astrology of Baghdad

According to astrologer Benson Bobrick*, the cultural, intellectual, and administrative center of early Islam was Baghdad. The capital was pre-selected by the ruling caliph who laid the first brick at precisely 2:40 pm local time on July 31, 762 AD, as recommended by his astrologers. Eventually, the center of the Islamic empire shifted to Cairo, but Baghdad's horoscope remains a viable, fascinating map.

Baghdad's chart features Jupiter Rising in Sagittarius, where the planet of religion is said to be "dignified". Jupiter is strengthened by a trine to the Sun, which is dignified in its sign, Leo. However, the caliph thought it was OK to have Mars in the seventh house of enemies, opposing Jupiter. While Baghdad flourished in religion and higher learning (Sun trine Jupiter), it was periodically attacked by military empires (Mars in seventh).

Major outer planet transits and progressions mark Baghdad's historical development, including the American pre-emptive strike on March 20, 2003. At the time Saturn had progressed to an exact opposition to Jupiter (orb 0º02') while transiting Jupiter was conjunct Baghdad's Sun and exactly trine Jupiter on the Ascendant. Transiting Pluto squared the Midheaven.

Now transiting Saturn is in Leo near Baghdad's Sun, challenging Iraq's capital to come up with an acceptable leader. The former leader Saddam Hussein was captured on December 15, 2003, as transiting Neptune opposed Baghdad's Sun. Last month, Saddam was put on trial as transiting Saturn was conjunct Baghdad's Sun, and also as elections were held to forge a reliable government. Saturn returns to this degree zone during the first week of July, by which time we might judge if Iraq can move forward with confidence.

Item: George Clooney and Teri Hatcher

Two of Hollywood's brightest stars have been spotted hanging out together, sparking rumors of their romance. George Clooney, who won a Golden Globe Award for best supporting actor in Syriana, is staying quiet about his date with Teri Hatcher, whose TV show Desperate Housewives won for best comedy. "If I went on a date with George Clooney," she said, "I would not be talking about it."

George Clooney (May 6, 1961; 2:58 am; Lexington, KY) and Teri Hatcher (December 8, 1964; Sunnyvale, CA; time unknown) have some strong planetary connections between their charts, especially involving the love planet Venus. Her Venus in Scorpio opposes his Taurus Sun and squares his Uranus, while his Venus in Aries trines her Sagittarius Sun and is inconjunct (150º) her Uranus.

The mutual Venus-Sun aspects represent a strong compatibility factor, bringing plenty of affection, shared pleasures, and friendliness. The mutual Venus-Uranus links are often seen in spontaneous affairs, and can be associated with "love-at-first-sight". The couple comes together quickly, but unless Saturn or other more stabilizing factors are also present, the flame burns out quickly.

Last week George and Teri became star-crossed when transiting Jupiter opposed his Sun and conjoined her Venus, bringing them the opportunity to come together following the Golden Globe Awards. Will anything come of it? Naturally, they're both super-cautious now, since Venus is retrograde. Transiting Venus turns direct on February 3 while trine his Sun and trine her Mars – a very promising time for new love.

* In his recently published, deeply-researched book The Fated Sky, see page 74.

** The most recent NewsScope article on Clooney is November 7, 2005, and for Hatcher, see November 2, 2004.

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