Trouble in the Middle East

President Bush talked with Palestinian leader Arafat on the phone last
Thursday, urging him to give newly-elected Ariel Sharon a chance to fulfill
his promise to pursue peace. Still, most analysts agree that the situation
looks difficult, with Palestinian and Israeli extremists already arming for
war.

The astrological portents look equally ominous. The immediate trouble, the
likelihood of escalating violence, can be seen in the transit of the war
planet Mars, which enters Sagittarius on February 14. Due to its periodic
retrograde cycle, Mars remains in Sagittarius through early September. This
becomes a zodiacal trouble-zone since slow-moving, zealous Pluto is already
in Sagittarius and under long-term pressure from both Jupiter and Saturn.

The three-planet Mars-Jupiter-Pluto alignment kicks in this week beginning
with the Mars-Jupiter opposition, exact on February 18. The week leading up
to this astro-event will likely be filled with the kinds of defiant acts
characterized by fighting (Mars) for a cause (Jupiter). Mars then goes on to
conjoin Pluto on March 18, so that this coming month encloses a phase of
explosive, religious extremism.

Saturn enters Gemini on April 20 and moves into a lengthy opposition phase
with Pluto over the following year. The stressful combination of Saturn and
Pluto is a major war indicator in Israel's history: the Suez Canal crisis
(July 26, 1956), the Yom Kippur War (October 6, 1973), and the Sharon-led
invasion of Lebanon (massacre on September 16-17, 1982) were all initiated
under this pairing. Mars turns direct on July 19 in the midst of Saturn and
Pluto's first opposition, and represents a primary catalyst for the
underlying tension.

Aries Sharon and Israel

The general the Palestinians hate the most was elected Israel's Prime
Minister last Tuesday. Ariel Sharon said that no further negotiations would
be possible until the violence ended. On Friday a car bomb exploded in west
Jerusalem and coincided with notes from Palestinian extremists that Sharon
has his answer.

Ariel Sharon was born with a militant Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in Aries
near his Aries Ascendant (on February 27, 1928; Yehud, Israel; 7:30 am EET*).
Mars, his ruling planet, is conjunct the asteroid Pallas which confers
strategy and political astuteness to his climb for control and authority (in
Capricorn). The Mars-Pallas conjunction is further modulated by a close
aspect to Neptune, which turns him into a religious warrior.

Sharon's Saturn is found in his ninth house of religion, a placement often
signifying one who finds personal authority through organized religion. This
Saturn is empowered by the conjunction to the lunar node axis, and comes
alive this year by the above-mentioned Saturn-Pluto alignment.

Sharon came to power as transiting Saturn turned direct on Israel's Taurus
Sun. From this indicator the Israelis are looking for someone to control the
violence, which Barak was unable to accomplish through his peace initiative.
However, Israel's horoscope (May 14, 1948; 4:37 pm; Tel Aviv) is under the
dangerous influence of Mars** now which is just another indicator that
terrorism, escalating violence, and even regional war is coming soon.

Tom Cruise Files for Divorce

After ten years of marriage Tom Cruise filed for divorce from Nicole Kidman
last Wednesday, citing "difficulties inherent in divergent careers." The
Hollywood rumor mill further speculated that Cruise's devotion to Scientology
and Kidman's Catholic roots was a divisive factor in how to bring up their
two adopted children.

Tom Cruise was born (July 3, 1962; Syracuse, NY; time unknown) with strong
parenting instincts shown by his family-oriented Cancer Sun conjunct the
parenting asteroid Ceres. His ability or willingness to play out the family
man is severely limited by a close Mars-Uranus square which tends to rebel
against any kind of traditional standard or limitation. This same aspect
allows him to convincingly portray action heroes in his movies.

Tom Cruise was born on the same day that Algeria became a nation, and like
Algeria he's torn by a religious civil war. The Sun forms a Grand Trine with
the two religious planets, Jupiter and Neptune. Neptune also squares Saturn
which guarantees that his beliefs will be challenged by circumstances, in
this case, Nicole Kidman's Catholicism.

Nicole Kidman was born a dualistic Gemini (June 20, 1967; Honolulu, HI; time
unknown). Her Saturn in Aries forms a Fire Grand Trine with Venus and the
Moon, bestowing her grace and star power equaling her partner's. Saturn in
Aries must learn how to fight to gain respect and personal dignity, but since
it forms an exact square to Cruise's Sun, it grew into oppressive authority.

Kidman reportedly was surprised by the divorce. Uranus, often referred to as
the divorce planet, has been opposite her Venus since the two separated last
December, and was put into resolute action when triggered by the Full Moon
last week.

* Time is speculative and based on a quote from his mother that he was born
one hour past sunrise (Yehud: 32N02 34E23).
** Israel's progressed Mars squares Uranus, now only one-half degree from
exact.
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