NewsScope for March 31, 2008
By Wolfstar
Iraq's Crisis of Authority
Last week, President Bush termed the resurgence of violence in Baghdad and around the oil port of Basra a "defining moment in the history if Iraq", as U.S. forces launched air strikes to help out the al-Maliki government's policing efforts. The widely-televised military confrontations abruptly ended the relative calm in Iraq which had been attributed to the surge of American forces.
NewsScope's Top Five Astro-events for March and April include several references to increased military action – most notably, the Aries Ingress on March 20, which features the Aries Sun square Mars and Pluto. In April, transiting Uranus square the U.S. Mars is a huge red flag, indicating that the current situation in Iraq is just beginning. A look at the Iraq War chart (March 20, 2003; 5:35 am; Baghdad) further clarifies the pending trouble.
The U.S. forces jumped into the fray last Friday, as the transiting Sun-Mars square perfectly aligned with the war chart's natal Mars at 9º Capricorn. More seriously, transiting Uranus is squaring the Pluto-Saturn opposition that is the defining polarity of this chart. Saturn-Pluto represents the restructuring of power in Iraq, so that major hits to this angular axis can upset the status quo, and redefine the balance of power.
The resurgent trouble is bound to intensify and last through the summer, as transiting Uranus advances from the current square to Pluto to its critical retrograde station on June 26 while squaring natal Saturn. Simultaneously, transiting Pluto returns to square this chart's Sun in July. These indicators point to a crisis of authority, as al-Maliki's tenuous hold on power will be seriously threatened, most likely by radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army.
Hillary Clinton's Midheaven
NewsScope has long used 8:00 am as the birth time for Hillary Clinton, but as of this week, the time used will be 8:02 am (October 26, 1947; Park Ridge, IL). While the difference may seem slight, it does significantly alter the location of her Midheaven, which changes from 4º23' Virgo to 4º55' Virgo. An unsubstantiated source for 8:02 am has been reported in astrodatabank*.
Over the next several months, Hillary's horoscope shows great strength as well as some severe challenges. Her Mars in Leo is particularly active, as it receives three major aspects (T Pluto, P2 Mercury, and P2 Jupiter). Mars represents her sense of mission, her competitive spirit, and her natural leadership qualities. Jupiter's influence adds a good-natured, spirited adventurism, while the progressed Mercury and transiting Pluto aspects are more relentless and confrontational.
When using an 8:00 am birth time, the progressed Sun forms a trine to her 4º23' Virgo Midheaven in March 2009, which was previously used as a major indicator for her election and inauguration. Changing Hillary's Midheaven to 4º55' Virgo means that her progressed Sun won't form the empowering trine to her Midheaven until October 2009, which may very well be out of range as a success indicator.
On the plus side, transiting Uranus is forming a long-term trine to her Mercury and Scorpio Ascendant. This aspect is in effect right through August and the Democratic National Convention, after which Neptune takes over. Hillary has not done well under previous Neptune transits. Still, I'm not predicting she will lose. All three candidates have strong charts with strong challenges, and this race has too many variables to measure astrologically.
Read Additional NewsScope Articles on Hillary Clinton's Astrology
- Hillary Clinton's Strategy
- Comparison of Hillary and Barack Obama's Astrology Chart
- Study the Barack Obama Astrology Chart article
The Revolutionary Dalai Lama
Amidst the growing conflict in Tibet and its adjacent provinces, journalists are flocking to Dharmsala, India to get the latest views from the Dalai Lama**, where he heads Tibet's government in exile. He's recently quoted as saying that China's policy of resettling ethnic Hans in Tibet amounts to "cultural genocide", although he supports the Olympics in Beijing, and does not seek Tibet's independence from China.
As the Dalai Lama Astrology Chart, shows his Cancer Ascendant (July 6, 1935; 4:38 am; Takster, Tibet) is currently being activated by transiting Mars in Cancer, an astro-event that happens once every two years. This relatively minor transit brings a brief phase of assertiveness, but this time, it's packed with revolutionary potential, since transiting Uranus is simultaneously nearing his Midheaven and his prominent Vesta.
Vesta, the asteroid associated with devotion and sacred work, is in mystical, faith-oriented Pisces. Vesta's conjunction with the Midheaven makes it the most elevated placement in his chart, and defines the Dalai Lama's role in life as a spiritual leader. Transiting Uranus will be conjunct natal Vesta on April 6, the same day that transiting Mars is conjunct his Sun. This promises to be an eventful week....
Transiting Uranus goes on to conjoin the Dalai Lama's Midheaven in early May, and will hover in this degree area right though the Olympics in August. April 24 looks like a particularly telling moment, since transiting Mars and Jupiter oppose each other while astride his karmic lunar node axis (plus T Sun conjunct Uranus). One might expect a fateful meeting with Chinese leaders then, or a similar historical encounter.
* According to astrodatabank: "Alice Mason called on January 16, 2003 to report that she had talked to the Clinton Democratic Office in NY and was told by a helpful associate (who wished to remain nameless) that Hillary Clinton was born at a recorded 8:02 AM."
Read Past Articles Related to the Dalai Lama's Horoscope
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