NewsScope for January 1, 2007
Saddam Hanged for Crimes Against Humanity
Saddam Hussein, the military dictator who held Iraq together through three decades of brutality and war, was discreetly hanged shortly before sunrise on December 30, just hours before a major religious holiday began. Iraqi refugees in the United States were jubilant, as were most Shiites and Kurds in Iraq. Some of Saddam's minority Sunni followers promised revenge.
Several astrologers have pointed out that transiting Pluto was exactly conjunct the Galactic Center (to the minute) at the time of the hanging. This alignment alone reflects the historic importance of Saddam's hanging on global justice and humanity's collective evolution. Also, this momentous event shows up on all horoscopes related to the current turmoil in Iraq, and of course, in Saddam's own chart (April 28, 1937; 8:06 am*; Tikrit, Iraq).
With a Gemini Ascendant, Saddam's ruling planet is Mercury. Mercury is located in the twelfth house – the house of sabotage, secrecy, and imprisonment. Saddam came to power through sabotage, ruled through his secret police and manic plotting, and ultimately met his end after three years of imprisonment. Transiting Saturn was square his Mercury when his last legal appeal was denied only five days earlier.
Since Chiron is conjunct his Ascendant, this planet becomes co-ruler of Saddam's horoscope. Transiting Chiron was squaring his Sun when he was hanged, and transiting Pluto opposed his Chiron when American troops captured him on December 13, 2003. During his trial, transiting Pluto entered his seventh house, as his accusers charged and tried him for crimes against humanity. He met his end as transiting Pluto was exactly quincunx (150 degrees) his natal Pluto.
* For more on Saddam's chart, see NewsScope December 5, 2005; December 16, 2003; April 1, 2003.
Gerald Ford, The Accidental President
When Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned on October 10, 1973, Nixon consulted senior Republicans about a replacement. Their unanimous choice was Gerald Ford, the House Minority leader for the previous eight years. Ford was selected for his normalcy and fairness, qualities sorely needed at the helm during the scandalous Watergate years. Astrologically, what would indicate this sudden and unexpected promotion?
Gerald Ford was born with a Sun-Neptune conjunction in Cancer (July 14, 1913; 12:43 am; Omaha, NB), which naturally attunes him to the political undercurrents of the times. The Sun-Neptune individual has a strong sense of being guided by higher forces, and can often identify with the "Savior" archetype. Ford's accidental presidency saved the nation from a major constitutional crisis and unprecedented moral decay.
With steady, traditional Taurus Rising, Ford's ruling planet becomes Venus. His tenth house of career holds Uranus, the planet of unexpected developments. Since his chart ruler, Venus, is harmoniously trine Uranus, Ford can personally benefit from crises. Ford's strong connections to the U.S. horoscope primed him for his role as a politician who serves the nation: his Mercury (symbolizing service) is conjunct the U.S. Midheaven, while his Midheaven is aligned with the U.S. Mercury.
The celestial handwriting was on the wall when Ford replaced Nixon on August 9, 1974. At the time, transiting Uranus was exactly squaring his Midheaven (and the nation's Mercury). The transiting Sun was exactly conjunct his Mercury (and the nation's Midheaven). Then, Chiron*, known as the "wounded healer", was also squaring his Midheaven, giving him the astrological confirmation of being a healer.
James Brown, The Godfather of Soul
December 20th's New Moon conjunct Pluto brought a number of dramatic endings to the world stage, including the passing of the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. Pluto symbolizes those with absolute power, such as tyrants and kings. Curiously, Gerald Ford's birth name was Leslie King, while James Brown put the funk in rock and roll under the King Records label.
James Brown was born with a Sun-Venus conjunction in earthy, feel-good Taurus (May 3, 1933; Barnwell, SC; time unknown). His Sun-Venus formed a lucky, auspicious trine to Jupiter, which eventually brought him plenty of celebrity and wealth. However, his Sun-Venus was severely challenged by a close square from Saturn, and Brown had to learn how to succeed in life through trial and error, through the school of hard knocks.
Brown's Mercury is found in headstrong Aries, and is given an eccentric, off-beat vibe by its conjunction with Uranus. Mercury also squares Pluto and opposes Juno, the marriage asteroid. This dynamic T-square gives Brown a strong independent streak, which at its best is pioneering, strong-willed, and strategy-oriented. Mercury under these aspects can bring learning disabilities, and most astonishingly, James Brown never learned to read music.
At its worst, this Mercury can lead to obsessive behavior, and fill the marriage (Juno) with all kinds of legal complications (Mercury-Pluto). Brown's four marriages created problems for him right to the end. He died on Christmas day as he was experiencing a Juno Return. Like Gerald Ford, Brown's chart had strong connections to the U.S. horoscope. The most important is his Saturn, which at 16 degrees Aquarius, sits right on the U.S. foundation, the symbol of the American soul.
** Advanced astrologers will note that Ford was appointed Vice President when his progressed Ascendant was at 13 degrees Cancer – conjunct the U.S. Sun. When Nixon resigned, transiting Saturn was at 13 degrees Cancer, activating Ford's progressed Ascendant and trine his natal Chiron. Also, his progressed Neptune was exactly, to-the-minute conjunct the U.S. Pluto, the nation's ruling planet.
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