Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Geo W Bush gives his State of the Union address tonight, a good opportunity to take a look at what the year ahead has in store for our Prez-dent. (To learn more about Bush's astrological dynamics review his profile here.)

In the 2004-2005 period Bush went through his second Saturn return, the time when transiting Saturn "returns" to the same degree as Saturn in a person's birthchart. The first Saturn return occurs at age 28-30 and represents the time in our life when we are forced to leave behind the trappings of childhood and transition into adulthood. The second Saturn return, at age 57-60, forces us to examine what we have done with our life and brings us face to face with our mortality.

For someone like Bush who is impulsive and self-centered, the Saturn return can be a very difficult process as it brings us face to face with our failures and our disappointments. Bush's Saturn return was followed by a transit of Saturn over his ascendant or rising sign (Me vs. The Other), his Mercury (thought and communication) and Pluto, which will continue through the summer. This included a square of Saturn to his Midheaven, or career point indicating conflict and career disruption. The stress on Bush has been noticeable, and during the Saturn return period there were press reports of Bush breaking down and beginning to drink again.

Saturn's hit on Bush's ascendant began in September 2005 as Katrina hit the US, challenging (Saturn) the way others viewed him (ascendant) and exposing the relationships that he had built within the White House and the cronyism that resulted (ascendant/descendant). Saturn's influence on Bush will continue throughout the summer.

Meanwhile, transiting Uranus (rebelliousness) begins a swipe at Bush's Mars (aggressive instinct), increasing his tendency to lash out at others when he is under attack. This influence will continue through September 2006 and is a matter of great concern since we have a similar leader in Iran who is also known for his bellicose rhetoric. The combination of Saturn's tendency to suppress and hamper our energy with the urge of Uranus to break free and rebel against the status quo will be a difficult combination for our prez.

There is one supremely harmonious transit taking place now for Bush, which is Pluto (transformation and power) trine his Midheaven (career point). The harmonious influence of Pluto helps us to shed old patterns that no longer serve us and to grow into a new sense of empowerment. He also has a number of harmonious Jupiter transits which will help to expand his sense of confidence and renew his optimism. However, his relationships will be tested and he may experience more than one betrayal in March or next summer as Chiron (the wounded healer) crosses his ascendant and opens up old wounds.

George Bush is not really suited to the presidency - he is touchy and arrogant, and lacks the solid sense of Self required to be able to lead despite personal traumas. My one hope for the next two years is that the long trine of Pluto to Bush's Midheaven (career point) over the next year will help him to transform (Pluto) his leadership skills (Midheaven) in a way that will truly begin to serve the country instead of his arrogance and that of his cronies.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:39 AM :: |

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Monday, January 30, 2006

Could this be Howard Dean's year?

My sister Jill is often doubted by our family, but darned if she doesn't always turn out to be right. She supported Howard Dean, or HoDee as she likes to call him, in the last election whereas I fell for the smear campaign waged by both the Republicans and his own Democratic party that painted him a lunatic. Dean doesn't look much like a lunatic these days - he was the one of very few Dems in the primaries that stood out against the war, and he is the only Democrat these days who has a consistent and strong message.

Howard Dean has a Scorpio Sun, accounting for his intensity and passion. Scorpios don't do anything halfway, and they are the most emotionally courageous of all the signs. They don't shrink from what must be done, yet they can be somewhat manipulative as well. But Dean's Cancer ascendant (rising sign), while still emotional, softens the Scorpio edge and gives him the need to nurture others, and Chiron (the wounded healer) conjuncts his Sun, a placement commonly found in teh charts of healers of all types, including medical professionals such as Dean.

With Mercury (communication) also in intense Scorpio and in conflict (square) with Pluto, indicating intensity and a bit of compulsion, he is known for his blunt tongue and often finds his foot in his mouth. However, his Gemini moon desires to communicate and be understood, and rather than fall back in failure he continues to come out and speak for the Democratic party. Saturn (isolation) squares his Sun (spirit), a placement which is very difficult for the young person and often causes shyness and insecurity. However, difficult Saturn placements teach strength and create stability that usually can be seen after the age of 40. This Saturn/Sun square does make Dean a bit of a loner, not a bad thing in today's political climate of cronyism and corruption.

Mars in Dean's chart falls in freedom-loving Sagittarius, showing he loves adventure and travel, and it trines Pluto, giving him a great deal of personal (Mars) power (Pluto) and the ability to achieve his desires. Mars does oppose rebellious Uranus so he will never really follow the rules of others.

Over the past year Pluto has been transiting Dean's Mars, a time of intense energy that has infused him with a strong sense of mission and power. He has also had a number of Jupiter (expansion and opportunity) transits (Jupiter is in Scorpio now and is setting off his Scorpio planets) that have given him a sense of good fortune. Certainly he has been exhibiting a new confidence, appearing on talk shows and standing strong in the face of talking points and lies. A series of Uranus (radical change) transits to his ascendant and his moon have been transforming both his personal and professional relationships. Possibly he has let go of advisers from the past and created a new network. This next year Jupiter will make a stressful aspect to Pluto in his chart, indicating a tendency towards self-aggrandizement and impatience. If handled properly, though, this transit can bring even more opportunities to expand (Jupiter) his personal power and influence (Pluto).

What about 2008? The 2007-2008 period is looking very good for Dean, with multiple harmonious transits of Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn. I'm going to be watching him carefully, and hope that you will too.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:26 AM :: |

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Sunday, January 29, 2006

Planetary Cycles for February

The latest edition of Skywatch, a monthly report on current planetary cycles, is now posted at my website.

These planetary cycles and the energy climates they create are also reviewed on this blog for the most up-to-date planetary weather report!

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 9:25 AM :: |

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Saturday, January 28, 2006

New Moon tomorrow

"The moon for all her light and grace has never learned to know her place...."
from Robert Frost's poem, Two Leading Lights
art by Deanna Hartman

The New Moon occurs on January 29 at 9:15 am EST. The Sun and Moon will be conjunct in Aquarius, as part of a powerful collection of five planets in Aquarius within 13 degrees that also includes Chiron (the wounded healer), Mercury (communication issues) and Neptune (mystery and transcendence). Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius, is known as the "higher octave" of Mercury because it opens us up to a higher level of knowledge and understanding with briliant flashes of insight. For this reason Aquarius is associated with invention and technological breakthroughs, as well as the more psychological traits of eccentricity and uniqueness.

With such a strong Aquarian influence we may find ourselves opening to fields of knowledge yet not understand where this knowledge is coming from. We may find our nervous system accelerating to a point where it becomes uncomfortable for some of us, particularly if we are more grounded and cautious by nature. The New Moon will be opposed by Saturn, which will help to anchor some of this energy and ground it into the practical realm, but if you find yourself experiencing discomfort during this powerful time you may want to engage in grounding activities such as physical exercise and walks in nature.

New Moons are times of regeneration, of new beginnings. When the New Moon is in Aquarius, there is a call to awaken a part of ourselves that has been dormant and to reach for our highest aspirations.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:30 AM :: |

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Thursday, January 26, 2006

Evangeline Lilly & Dominic Monaghan engaged

Kate, played by Evangeline Lilly, is one of my favorite characters on Lost, the fabulous ABC-TV program. Aside from her obvious beauty, she has a lovely androgynous quality that combines toughness with a sweet vulnerability. In my article The Astrology of Lost Kate is represented as a Gemini, with Charlie (Dominic Monaghan's character) as a Pisces. I was curious to see not only how their relationship worked, but also wondered how closely their actual birthcharts reflect their character's personas and took a look at their charts.

Evangeline Lilly is Leo, and her Sun is conjunct Mercury (Gemini's ruler) which adds the Gemini flavor to her personality that we have seen. Dominic Monaghan is a Sagittarius, and her Sun is conjunct Neptune (Pisces' ruler), adding that misty Piscean flavor. Obviously on a television program we only get a view of the actor's persona and rarely see behind the surface at their real personality. That is why astrology can be so much fun!

Evangeline Lilly was apparently married in 2003 when the Lost program began shooting, and separated from her husband during the last two years as her relationships with Dominic Monaghan intensified. Evi's chart reveals her to be rather similar to her Lost character - she has an unaspected Mars in Gemini, adding to her mercurial qualities. Mars in Gemini doesn't like to be pinned down to anything; Gemini needs a variety of experiences - the "experience guzzler" as described by my friend Steve Forrest. When Mars makes no major aspects to other planets in a chart, it shows someone who is more comfortable operating independently than in tandemn with others. Evi has four planets in Leo, including Jupiter, Sun, Mercury and Venus, so she is very playful with a great love for life. Leo loves sports as well, and pursuits of physical prowess. Evangeline's chart also shows Uranus (independence, autonomy) in stressful aspect to her Sun/Jupiter conjunction, indicating that she has a fierce desire for independence and does not like to be tied down. Her chart is predominantly fire and air which provides inspiration and energy in a fairly combustible combination, and lacks the earth and water which would ground her and give her a practicality which she lacks. She also has Mercury retrograde in her chart, which can make it more difficult to communicate with others.

Dominic Monaghan (who also played a hobbit in the Lord of the Rings trilogy) also has a fair amount of fire and freedom in his chart: he's a triple Sagittarius, with Sun, Neptune and Mars all in Sag. Sagittarians are famous for their need for the freedom required to stay on a perpetual quest for meaning in life. However, Dom is more grounded in his nature than Evi is - his chart shows Mercury and Venus both in responsible Capricorn, showing that he is a detailed and goal-oriented (Capricorn) thinker (Mercury) and committed (Capricorn) in his relationships (Venus). Saturn also makes a trine (harmonious) aspect to his Sagittarian planets, giving him a strong sense of achievement and grounding his naturally fiery nature. Additionally, Saturn is retrograde in his chart, showing someone who can be overly self-critical and excessively responsible. Chiron (wounded healer) in his chart is in conflict with Venus, showing that relationships in his life have caused him pain that necessitates healing and personal growth.

The overall impression that comes from these charts is that Evangeline is truly a free spirit and may have difficulty committing to personal relationships, whereas Dominic has what the Jungians call a "puer/senex" dilemma. In the Puer/Senex dilemma, there is a conflict between the senex, or old man (Capricorn and Saturn) --a part of ourselves that internalizes responsibility and lives within the limitations of daily life -- and the puer, or young man--(in this case, Sagittarius) the part that wants to be free of those responsibilities and live a charmed and unlimited life.

Most of us have some conflict or another within us, and often we manage these conflicts by internalizing one side of the conflict and projecting the other. So with the Puer/Senex conflict, we may be the responsible one who is jealous of the free spirit partner, or we may be the one always fleeing in a relationship with someone who is more committed than we are. Commonly, we switch roles from one relationship to the next, but either way the relationship won't function well until we internalize BOTH ends of the conflict that lies within us, and learn to play both roles ourselves.

Comparing the charts of the two, there is obviously a lot of fiery attraction with Dominic's Mars trine Evangeline's Leo stellium, and there are a number of positive Jupiter contacts between their chart that indicate good fortune and a general feeling of well-being between them. There are also several Uranus contacts that show lots of excitement and a powerful attraction that is nearly instantaneous. However, Dominic's Saturn (responsibility) is square to Evangeline's Uranus (freedom), showing that she is likely to feel constrained by him. For someone with her intense need for freedom, this could be difficult unless they are able to communicate their needs with each other and allow their differences to blossom within the relationship.

Evi has probably had a rough time over the past few months with the Grand Cross planets of this winter rolling over her Sun and Saturn in the process of retrograding to come back across her Sun later this year. During transits of Saturn we naturally seek stability and security, and it's not surprising to hear an engagement announcement during times like this. For Dominic, Neptune is transiting Saturn in his chart, a time when we sometimes question (Neptune) the structures that we've built in our life (Saturn) and desire something more real.

The key to their relationship will be keeping it fresh and exciting, honoring each other's differences and avoiding the tendency to slip into habits that breed boredom. I certainly wish them all the best!

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 12:30 PM :: |

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Wednesday, January 25, 2006

The Death of Chris Penn

Being a participant in sibling rivalry in my own family, I found myself thinking immediately of suicide when I heard of Chris Penn's death yesterday. Sean Penn is one of the noted actors of a generation and Michael Penn has received a fair amount of press as a musician, yet in researching Chris Penn's life for this article I could find very little information on him other than news of his death in a Santa Monica apartment. No mansion, no wife. The little information that I could find appeared to suggest that he was single and had never married, and evidently his short tenure on Law and Order ended last year. I find myself wondering, what was Chris Penn really like, and how did he die? The latest press reports tell of "natural" causes, but what is a natural cause of death at age 43? I had to find out more about Chris's life, and to wonder if he was stifled in the shadow of the brilliant light surrounding his brothers Sean and Michael.

Looking at his birthchart, I discovered that Chris was a Libra, the sign of balance and relationships. Libra is the peacemaker, the one who often sacrifices himself in order to achieve harmony in the relationships around him. Libras typically yearn to be in partnership with another, there is a strong desire to be married, to have a best friend, a one-on-one relationship in ones personal and business lives. His Moon, however, was in Aries, the sign ruled by Mars, showing us that in order to feel truly safe and secure emotionally (Moon) he had a strong need to express his own self and manifest his own will and desires (Aries). The tension between the desire to please others (Libra) and the need to put himself first (Aries) can be a difficult one and requires a great deal of awareness to balance.

Chris was born when the Uranus/Pluto conjunction of 1965 was exact within one minute. This was an incredibly powerful planetary event that fused the revolutionary fervor of Uranus with the upheaval and transformational urge of Pluto, and fostered the cultural revolution of the 1960s. Those who were born at this time carry that intensity within them and many have had a very difficult time coping with life. In Chris Penn's chart the Uranus/Pluto conjunction opposed both Saturn and Chiron, both of which were retrograde. Saturn represents discipline, hard work and creates limitations for us that cause us to work harder and ultimately gain success. Saturn retrograde reveals an individual who was extremely self-critical, and combined with the wounding/healing of Chiron, also retrograde, this is a very difficult placement. Those psychic wounds are continually being exposed for healing, which is Chiron's job, but Saturn's negative self-talk makes that healing extremely difficult.

This conjunction of Saturn and Chiron were trine (harmonious aspect) to Neptune in Chris's chart, facilitating his acting ability as Neptune brings creativity as well as a yearning for a connection with the spiritual side of life.

Chris would have had a very difficult time during 2004 and 2005 when transiting Pluto challenged the Uranus/Pluto oppositision to Saturn/Chiron, setting off all of his issues around failure (Saturn)/wounding (Chiron)/lack of power (Pluto)/need to break out and achieve a level of freedom (Uranus). However, his current planetary cycles seem relatively benign, including a large number of transits by Jupiter. We often see transits of Jupiter in a death chart, since Jupiter can free us from situations that are keeping us from achieving our dreams. Seeing this many Jupiter transits at the time of death brings to mind a sense of release, of liberation from a painful life. Chris Penn's progressed Moon was conjunct his natal Sun and opposing his natal Moon over the two-day period preceding his death, suggesting an emotional (moon) catalyst of some sort.

Life and death are rarely truly what we imagine them to be. I'll be updating this analysis as more details become available.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 11:10 AM :: |

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Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Will Jupiter/Neptune bring another stock market bubble?

Jupiter and Neptune have begun a battle which will continue until the end of March, at which point they will briefly separate and come together again in September. The cycle that we are currently in is similar to the period of "irrational exuberance" just before the stock market bubble popped in the first quarter of the year 2000. The conflict between Jupiter and Neptune in their square aspect creates an environment of optimism (Jupiter) that is largely based on fantasy (Neptune), and a sense of overconfidence (Jupiter) in one's ability to transcend the boundaries that ordinary diligence requires (Neptune).

In astrological symbolism, Jupiter represents expansion, opportunity, optimism, and a sense of faith that life has meaning. Neptune as we have seen in other articles here, represents the blurring of ordinary reality for the purpose of exposing a greater sense of mystery and opening us up to higher realms of awareness.

The geometric angles that the planets make to each other describe the way they work together. If the planets are in "harmonious" aspect (the 60 degree sextiles and the 120 degree trines), the planets work well together and help each other to accomplish the goals of both planets. If the planets are in "challenging" aspect (the 90 degree square and the 180 degree opposition), the planets are in conflict with each other and we tend to see the negative or shadow manifestations of those planets. Hence, even though Jupiter is generally a positive influence we are likely to see its shadow side over the next few months.

The shadow side of Jupiter involves over-expansion of ego and self, so we tend to see self-righteousness, reckless overconfidence and extravagance, and a failure to take advantage of opportunities that are presented to us. The shadow side of Neptune involves the sinking into illusion and confusion, where we may be more likely to be deceived by others or by ourselves, or over-romanticize a situation.

Because Jupiter deals with issues of abundance and prosperity, it is often prominent in the ups and downs of the stock market. Jupiter is currently passing through Scorpio, which rules the stock market (other people's money), so it is not surprising that since Jupiter entered Scorpio last October the stock market has been going up (Jupiter rules expansion), reaching 11,000 for the first time.

Back in 1999, stocks were rising during the dot com boom, and Fed chief Alan Greenspan warned of "irrational exuberance" in the market. This period coincided with a square of Jupiter to Neptune which began in the summer of 1999 and ended when Saturn (discipline and limitation) conjuncted Jupiter in the spring of 2000, when the stock market bubble burst, followed by the devastation in the dot com sector.

Saturn and Jupiter first drew swords in December, and re-enter the battle in June. Watch for the markets to crash somewhat at that time as Saturn's stern demand for reality thinking bursts the bubbles of fantasy. But I predict the real crash will come in September as the clash between Jupiter's optimism, Neptune's fantasy and Saturn's lessons come to a head. It will be useful to start watching over the summer for signs of expansion without sound fundamentals, and pull out of investments that appear unwise at that time.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 11:10 AM :: |

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Sunday, January 22, 2006

Sun entered Aquarius yesterday

Aquarius is an air sign, dealing with the realm of the intellect. Aquarius is the "dryest" of the air signs, with the least amount of connection to the water element of emotions, so it is interesting that the symbol for Aquarius is the Water Bearer, who manipulates the emotional realms but remains dry and detached. Aquarius is primarily concerned with nothing less than the ultimate expression of the human destiny.

Aquarians (and this includes not only those with Sun in Aquarius but also those with other strong Aquarian influences in their chart) are the idealist of the zodiac - the brilliant thinkers who dance to the beat of their own drum. Aquarius is a fixed sign and can be stubborn and slow to change their mind, but they are also brilliantly intelligent and prone to blinding flashes of insight and innovative ideas. Hence they are the inventors, the wizards of technology, and the Utopian idealists.

This idealistic tendency of Aquarians can become somewhat problematic in personal relationships, where we don't often see the highest expression of the human soul. Relationships can be messy and emotional, and Aquarius isn't comfortable in those realms. Independent and loving freedom, they desire fairness and equality in all of their relationships and may find it easier to be friends than lovers.

With their love of humanity and ideals of human interaction, Aquarians can be impersonal and detached. They tend to be uncomfortable with strong emotions and may be prone to health problems such as migraine headaches from repressing emotions within themselves. They dislike following society's rules and conventions, but are fair and loyal and relentlessly true to their own code of conduct. There is not a more interesting person in the world than an Aquarius, nor a better friend!

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 5:35 PM :: |

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Saturday, January 21, 2006

Osama bin Laden - Out of Hiding?

painting by Werner Horvath.

The recent release of an audiotape supposedly from Osama bin Laden brings up many interesting issues and ties in perfectly to the current planetary configuration with Mars opposing Jupiter, both squared by Neptune. Mars, the aggressive urge, is being expanded and aggrandized by Jupiter resulting in aggressive behavior and rhetoric across the globe. Neptune creates a veil of mystery and illusion, perfectly mirroring the disappearance of bin Laden, who threatens an increase (Jupiter) of attacks (Mars) from his hidden and undisclosed location (Neptune).

bin Laden is such an elusive character that even his birthdate is unknown, a source of much frustration among astrologers and rendering suspect any attempt at chart interpretation. The Interpol website gives a date of March 10, 1957, and this is the date most commonly used. However, it has been postulated (see discussion on the Astrodatabank website) that this date results from an incorrect transcription of the 3rd month 10th day from the Islamic calendar to ours. The mystery and illusion that surrounds bin Laden makes him the perfect representative for Neptune, especially as it ties into this configuration with Mars and Jupiter and its proponent for religious (Jupiter) warfare (Mars).

The very issue of his existence is shrouded in mystery. Is he really alive? Many sources reported him dead after the fight at Tora Bora, but then he resurfaced in a videotape in 2004. A journalist reported January 9 that bin Laden died in Iran in December. A terrorism expert in Australia reported that an Indian intelligence officer claimed bin Laden died in April of last year. If he is still alive, why has he not made a videotape? In the days of his full power before September 11, his frequent videotaped appearances created the impression of a man whose ego required constant public expression. And why has Zawahiri produced most of the tapes lately?

The role of Neptune in astrology is to create a yearning within us for an experience of what we often call the "divine." This is not a religious experience, or a dogmatic philosophy - those fall under the realm of Jupiter. Neptune is the mystic - the gnostic who seeks to "know" and to have a true experience. Neptune is also the artist, the musician, the creative impulse that comes from both within and outside of ourselves. Neptune cycles such as the one we are currently in with Mars and Jupiter create confusion and illusion, but they also impel us in the midst of that confusion to seek an experience of something more real and more true than our day to day reality.

It's unlikely that this mystery will be solved any time soon.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:54 AM :: |

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Wednesday, January 18, 2006

The awakening of beauty

Photo from Andrea's Photo Blog.

I thought the quote below was perfectly appropriate as we continue our journey of Venus in retrograde motion (until February 3). Venus rules our sense of beauty as well as our ability to relate to others, and when retrograde we tend to RE-visit and RE-place some of our old ideas on how we relate and what we find to be beautiful. We also RE-examine our RE-lationship to our possessions and values, and we may RE-encounter people from our past with a new perspective.

Many astrologers warn that large purchases such as buying a home or investments (personal resources are ruled by Venus) when Venus is retrograde lead to disaster, but I haven't seen that to necessarily be true. After all the stock market in the US and abroad continues to climb (except for Japan which had a strong correction yesterday), prices of gold continue to increase. Venus retrograde seeks to call our attention to that which we value, including our own resources as well as our relationships.

" Seeing beauty in a flower could awaken humans, however briefly, to the beauty that is an essential part of their own innermost being, their true nature. The first recognition of beauty was one of the most significant events in the evolution of human consciousness. The feelings of joy and love are intrinsically connected to that recognition. Without our fully realizing it, flowers become for us an expression in form of that which is most high, most sacred, and ultimately formless within ourselves. Flowers, more fleeting, more ethereal, and more delicate than the plants out of which they emerged, would become like messengers from another realm, like a bridge between the world of physical forms and the formless. They not only had a scent that was delicate and pleasing to humans, but also brought a fragrance from the realm of spirit.

from Eckart Tolle's new book A New Earth ~ Awakening to Your Life's Purpose ~

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 11:41 PM :: |

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Over the past week or so we've seen the effects of warrior Mars opposing confident Jupiter as aggressive rhetoric (Mars) becomes more and more amplified (Jupiter) across the globe. Today Neptune joins the conflict between Mars and Jupiter, obscuring and confusing the conflicts. These three planets are locked in what we call a "T-square," where Mars opposes (180 degrees) Jupiter, and Neptune square (90 degrees) both Mars and Jupiter. The opposition and square are challenging aspects, where each planet tries to inhibit the action of the other creating a buildup of tension that eventually erupts in major conflict. In the individual personality this can lead to tremendous personal growth if handled properly. In global situations there is rarely the awareness of the need for conscious evolution, and we often end up with tragic results as "might makes right" and the more powerful entity achieves domination.

The aggressive rhetoric produced by the conflict between Mars and Jupiter over the pat few weeks has been mostly philosophical, since Jupiter rules philosophy and theology and (hu)man's search for meaning in life. With the addition of Neptune into the mix, the battlefield becomes foggy and it becomes less clear who is on which side of the conflict, like a duststorm in the middle of a battle in the desert. Neptune challenges us to dissolve our reality and understand what lies beyond this mundane reality, and when it is in challenging aspect to other planets like it is now, it tends to confuse the issues and create illusion. On the other hand, Mars works hard to pierce those illusions using force. We are certainly seeing this in the US with the Abramoff scandal where governmental agencies are working hard to obscure (Neptune) their involvement, and other forces are struggling to reveal them (Mars).

This T-square will remain in effect for the next week or so as Mars moves out of range, but the effect of the Jupiter/Neptune square will continue. Jupiter and Neptune in stressful aspects can both be unrealistic and deluded - Jupiter with its tendency towards overconfidence, and Neptune with its veil of illusion. Over the next two weeks watch for lots of confusion and unsustainable ideals swirling about. These aspects will affect most personally those with planets in the fixed signs of Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio and Taurus.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:20 AM :: |

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Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Congratulations George Clooney!

I was glad to see George Clooney won the Golden Globe for best supporting actor for his work in Syriana, a film that boldly exposes the corruption in the oil industry. After a period that he calls "his worst year," it's good to know that his luck has turned, something I predicted in my earlier profile in this very column.

George is said to be thinking about settling down and finding his perfect mate, but that won't be easy for him. Venus in his chart is in Aries, showing he craves freedom and independence in relationships, and his Venus is unaspected (meaning it makes no aspects to other planets in his chart). With an unaspected Venus it can be difficult (but not impossible!!) for him to forge the deep connections required for commited relationships. A man with Venus in Aries likes a woman is is strong and independent yet very womanly, because men with Aries planets tend to need to be the strong one in relationships. And of course she must understand his need for work that drives him with nose-to-the-grindstone Saturn in Capricorn that opposes Mars in his chart, relentlessly driving him towards success.

Still, beginning next year George will have a transit cycle of Jupiter (abundance and opportunity) to Venus, and perhaps he will get his wish. Until then, George, keep up the excellent work!

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:19 AM :: |

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Sunday, January 15, 2006

Who is this guy that's running Iran????

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is no mere radical fundamentalist - he is extremely well-educated with a master's degree in engineering and a Ph.D. in traffic transportation planning. In 1975 he ranked 130th in the nationwide university entrance exams. Prior to being elected president, he was Mayor of Tehran where he reversed many of the reforms instituted by the previous more moderate administration. He was elected President as the protege of Ayatollah Khamenei, Supreme Leader (constitutionally elected religious leader) of Iran.

Ahmadinejad is a populist president, with a goal of using Iran's oil money to help the poor in his country. During his campaign he spoke out openly against both the United States and the United Nations, and since his election has created a furor with his openly aggressive stance towards Israel which includes denying the holocaust. In addition, he has forged new and stronger relations with Russia and is increasingly aggressive about what he terms the right of Iran to possess nuclear weapons.

Astrologically, Ahmadinejad's birthchart has Sun in Scorpio, the sign of passionate emotional intensity and secrecy, and it is conjunct Neptune, making him an extremely emotional individual. He has a strong spirituality (Sun/Neptune) that is concerned with issues of power and domination (Scorpio). With Pluto (Scorpio's ruler) in conflict with Saturn in his chart, he is obsessed (Pluto) with success and achievement (Saturn) and has a very strong will. This aspect in a birthchart can indicate either a strong motivation for success or a built-in fear of failure.

Chiron in his chart is square the Sun, revealing possible health problems as the result of an inability to truly establish one's own sense of self. I suspect that Ahmahdinejad tends to burn himself into a frenzy and has no real sense of who he is. Transiting Saturn (limitation, depression) is currently setting off that square and we may see him experience health problems as the result of exhaustion over the next few months.

Saturn (rigidity) in Ahmahdinejad's chart is in Sagittarius (theology), which often indicates someone with an exceptionally strict moral code. His Mars (aggression) falls in Pisces, which can often play the victim. Chances are he subjugated (Pisces) his own desires (Mars) and has a bit of a martyr complex, and Mars in his chart is widely opposite Jupiter, indicating a person who is arrogant and aggressively (Mars) promulgates their own philosophy and religion (Jupiter).

Pluto (power and death/rebirth) has been in square (90 degrees) with the conjunction of Jupiter and Venus in his chart. When Pluto squares (conflicts with) Jupiter, there is a misuse of power (Pluto) for a religious goal (Jupiter), or destruction (Pluto) that takes place as a result of those religious ideals (Jupiter). This cycle came to a head from November 2005-February 2006 and will remain in effect throughout the end of the year. Pluto's goal is no less than destruction and rebirth - it's symbol is the Phoenix that rises out of the ashes.

Comparing Ahmahdinejad's chart with that of GW Bush is an interesting exercise. Mars in each of their chart opposes Mars in that of the other, meaning the god of war within them that causes them to feel aggression and rebellion sets of the god of war in the other. An example of how this work is when two bullies meet in the schoolyard - one pushes the other, and the other responds in kind. The conflict escalates until one is on the ground. GWB's Saturn is in square to Ahmahdinejad's Mercury, showing that GWB doesn't listen (Mercury) to Ahmahdinejad and Ahmahdinejad feels that GWB is overcritical (Saturn) of him. More difficult, Uranus in GWB's chart is in square to Ahmahdinejad's Mars/Jupiter opposition, resulting in a constant irritation between them.

Nancy Waterman is a "mundane" astrologer, dealing with the charts of countries and events. She has an interesting take on the future of Iran here.

It's quite likely that Ahmahdinejad's power will grow over the next year with multiple transits of Jupiter (good fortune and opportunity). It will be interesting to learn more about him as the details of his life make themselves known.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:44 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- What is compatibility in relationships?

We have been duped by Hollywood and our own sense of incompleteness into believing that somewhere there is one perfect person who is our "other half," someone who is our perfect complement and will make us feel whole again.

This fantasy is problematic for several reasons. As any of us who have been in dysfunctional relationships knows, two incomplete people coming together do not form one perfect whole. The goal is to become complete in oneself, to learn and grow and evolve into a fully actualized being. In order for that to happen we often need certain experiences which will teach us and put us in touch with various aspects of ourselves. Some of us do this through our work, some through family, some through romantic relationships.

Compatibility is rarely a factor in attraction, because it doesn't create that attractive spark. We are more likely to be attracted to mates who stimulate us because they are different, who open doorways into worlds that are new to us. Perfect compatibility is boring - it's sitting on the sofa watching tv for the rest of our lives. Few of us are really looking for this kind of relationship.

The arena(s) in which we will do most of our soul growth is/are indicated in the natal astrological chart. A soulmate relationship generally begins with a feeling of fatedness and kinship, which signifies that there will be contact on a soul level. This does not necessarily mean that marriage and a lifetime of perfect harmony will follow, but rather than this relationship will provide lessons and growth experiences for you. It is not unusual for this kind of relationship to fall away once the lessons have been learned so that the individual can move on to the next level.

Compatibility analysis using astrological symbolism can identify areas of tension and ease between two people, and identify areas of compatibility and the source of challenges that the couple are likely to encounter. It can also offer solutions to aid in resolving longstanding conflicts. But the real question for me is not "are these two compatible?" Instead my question is: Does this relationship aid both individuals in their growth and can they have a good time along the way?

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:38 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Saturday, January 14, 2006

Full moon today is a "Wolf Moon"

As earlier noted, today's full moon is a powerhouse and it's influence is likely to extend for several days. With Mars (god of war) in a strong conflict with both Jupiter (god of gods) and Neptune (illusion and confusion), we have already seen an increase in conflicts and tensions across the globe that seem to have no outlet.

January's full moon is known by Native American traditions as the "Wolf Moon." Art at Aquarian Soul has this interesting article:

Traditionally January has been esconced between the cold and deep snows of midwinter, for the Native American Indian especially those of the Lakota,Nakota and Dakota Nation this was a time that the wolf packs howled hungrily outside their villages. I can almost imagine myself walking in the snowy mountains like a scene out of the movie Windwalker, then huddling inside the tipi for warmth. The wolf has always been a legendary symbol throughout history whether it be the she-wolf that suckled Romulus and Remus so they would survive to found the Roman Empire. Or cultures that tell of Fenrir, in Norse mythology, a monstrous wolf that refused to be tethered. Besides more known references like Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse, there were the "Wolf Warriors" known as Dacians. Dacians tribes (Eaos was the Phrygian word for "wolf") tribes who were an amalgamation of Thracian tribes from the eastern confines of the Greco-Roman world. This lunation has a ravenous, instinctive quality that can manifest in many ways.

The change of direction on the Supreme Court is only one shift that we are undergoing that will change this planet permanently: Political situations in Iran, China, Russia, Ukraine, all are symbolic of the beginnings of a shift in power that we will see over the next 10 years. The key to managing any change cycle is to become more fully integrated human beings, and this Full Moon offers a matrix for that to take place.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:11 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Friday, January 13, 2006

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt - out of the closet with baby in tow

Now that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have announced they are having a baby, I suppose it's safe to assume they are a couple. My earlier profile of Brad on his birthday shows that Brad has been going through some challenging "midlife crisis transits" that have created lots of disruption in his life. Now let's see what's up with Ms. Jolie.

Angelina Jolie is one of the most fascinating women of our time. Aside from her natural beauty which is spectacular, she has a powerful presence and a passion that causes her to throw herself into everything she does. She also has the actor's ability to lose her own identity in a role and that seems to have spilled over into her personal life as well. While she was married to Billy Bob Thornton she reportedly checked herself into an institution because she was so in love she thought she was losing her mind. Over the past few years Angelina has morphed from a punk girl who engages in self-mutilation to a sleek and sophisticated UN representative who has snagged Brad Pitt. What makes her tick?

Angelina's Gemini Sun and Mercury gives her an ability and desire that is common among Geminis to try on different lifestyles like they were sets of clothing. Gemini is a mutable (changeable) air sign that is concerned primarily with the mental realm. The sign of the twins, there are often two personalities in the Gemini individual - one dark and one light. Geminis often switch between the dark and light side so quickly that you don't see it coming. The challenge for Gemini is to integrate the dark and light sides so that they function more as a whole, but often this takes a lifetime to accomplish.

She has four planets in the Warrior sign of Aries: Mars (ruler of Aries), Moon (emotional nature), Jupiter (our search for meaning and opportunity in life) and Chiron (the wounded healer). This tremendous Aries influence gives her the passion for which she is famous: she is a fiery woman who can't be tamed. It's not easy for a woman to bear the sword of the Warrior, and it can be a challenge for men who are not supremely confident.

Because Geminis are so fond of trying on different personas, bisexuality is not uncommon among them and Angelina is known for having pursued relationships with women. With her warrior energy that may have been easier than trying to coddle the male ego as well. Angelina's chart is mostly fire and water, although she does have Venus in Cancer, the sign of nurturing and motherhood (hence her passion for children). The earth element is not represented in her chart which normally indicates someone who is not well grounded and who is not what we call a "physical" person.

Angelina has retrograde Pluto (god of the underworld, intensity and passion) in her third house of mental stimulation, a placement that often brings a fascination with death. In addition, Pluto in her chart opposes (180 degrees) her conjunction of Mars/Moon/Jupiter, giving her that powerful smoldering sexual charisma for which she is known.

Brad and Angelina are totally different astrologically - each offers the other what is lacking in their own chart. Brad Pitt is a Sagittarius and has Jupiter in Aries which conjoins Jupiter in Angelina's chart, giving them a sense of opportunity and fortune when they are together. However, Brad has a stellium of planets in responsible earthy Capricorn which can feel heavy and burdensome and Angelina's fire provides stimulation and excitement. All that earthy Capricorn helps to ground Angelina and gives her a sense of security that she lacks in her own chart. However, all of Angelina's Aries planets square (conflict with) Brad's Capricorn planets, creating an environment that is passionate and exciting but could ultimately be destructive. Mars represents our drive and desire and gives a clue to sexual compatibility. Angelina's Mars is in Aries, which is all fire energy and no body--Brad's Mars is in Capricorn which is all body and no fire. Their Mars are exactly square (conflict with) each other, which creates a very dynamic sexual attraction but doesn't hold up over time without a great deal of effort and communication.

The saying "opposites attract" is true in astrology, but we often see that although opposites attract initially, it is difficult to sustain that attraction over time. Quite often in relationships we are attracted to traits in others that we lack, but that isn't always effective in long term relationships. Angelina has Mercury in Gemini, which is flighty and doesn't like to be tied down and Brad has Mercury in Capricorn, which is practical and very disciplined. This could lead to communication (Mercury) issues along the way.

The way that each individual's planets interact with the planets of the other provides lots of interesting information when analyzing relationships. For example, Angelina's Saturn (limitation and restriction) in Cancer, which squares (conflicts with) the Aries planets in her own chart, also conflicts with the Capricorn planets in Brad's chart, causing Brad to feel restricted and limited by Angelina.

What does the future look like for Brad and Angie? We saw in Brad's profile that he is undergoing some significant cycles of change and disruption. Angelina is in a more harmonious cycle, but starting in April Uranus will square her Sun, beginning a period of an intense desire for autonomy and freedom (Uranus). Angelina's strong Aries influence gives her a fierce independence naturally, and this cycle will exacerbate it and make her even less interested in settling down into a conventional family arrangement.

Brad and Angelina have a rocky road this year, and only hard work, lots of counseling and a strong commitment will carry them through.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:57 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Powerful Full Moon coming up!

And all the night's magic seems to whisper and hush. And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush.
-- Van Morrison, "Moondance"

Full Moons occur when the solar conscious principle of the Sun opposes the instinctive lunar principle of the Moon. For thousands of years, humans have been mystified by full moons, attributing to them great power. Although there are studies on both sides of the aisle, there are several scientific studies demonstrating an increased murder rate at the full moon. Hospital workers tell us that more babies are born during the full moon. Police say that they get more family violence calls.

The tension of the Grand Cross of December is moving away, but several of the planets involved are still caught in the dance. Mars (aggression, warfare) is moving away from a square to Saturn (discipline, leadership) and into an opposition with Jupiter (philosophy, overconfidence). (for more information on this powerful configuration you may want to read some of these articles). Difficult Mars/Jupiter aspects tend to create an atmosphere of arrogance and self-righteousness as Jupiter's confidence creates a tension with the aggressive Mars energies. Watch for bombastic talk from people in the news, and in our personal lives we may find ourselves drawn into arguments over philosophy and religion as Mars approaches the exact opposition with Jupiter on January 14th.

Misty Neptune is drawn into this game as well and begins to confuse the issues. Neptune encourages self-sacrifice and martyrdom, and this could be a time where suicide attacks increase as the urge for martyrdom collides with religious arrogance, culminating on January 16 when Mars squares Neptune exactly and Jupiter is within one degree. In the middle of this falls the Full Moon in Cancer on January 14 at 4:47 am EST, personalizing the tension of the Mars/Neptune/Jupiter configuration. With the Moon in nurturing Cancer opposing the Capricorn Sun, there may be some tension between home life (Cancer) and career motivations (Capricorn). Cancer longs to stay close to home, and Capricorn works hard for public recognition.

This Full Moon makes no aspect to the other planets, showing that it will have a powerful effect this month, unhampered by other influences. Because Cancer is ruled by the Moon itself, this is likely to be a time of emotional flux, moodiness, and challenging dynamics in the home. Taking extra care to nourish and nurture family members during this time will help to bring out the best of this time.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:45 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Alito's personality is unveiled

Now that the hearings have begun, we're starting to see more about how Alito really works. Alito is an Aries male, and to really understand an Aries male from the inside check out this poem sent by a poster here, Michael J. Farrand. It really captures the essence of the Warrior archetype. My earlier post named Alito the "Cautious Warrior" and this is proving to be true. Although we don't have Alito's birth time which would give us his rising sign/ascendant which describes the mask that he wears to the world, quotes like this give us a good indication:

"He's mild-mannered without the bombast of Scalia," said Elliot Mincberg, legal director of People for the American Way. "For that reason he's more dangerous."

Outside the Beltway quotes an article in The New Republic by Andrew Siegel, former clerk for Justice Stevens:

If you are a fan of the justices who fought throughout the Rehnquist years to pull the Supreme Court to the right, Alito is a home run--a strong and consistent conservative with the skill to craft opinions that make radical results appear inevitable and the ability to build trusting professional relationships across ideological lines. If, on the other hand, you are a committed opponent of the Scalia-Thomas-Rehnquist agenda who has been carefully evaluating O'Connor's potential replacements with concern for the Court's future direction, Alito might be the most dangerous possible nominee.

As we've seen from his chart, Alito's mild manner belies a fiery individual with passionate views. However, Mercury conjuncts his Aries Sun, giving him a mercurial quality that is somewhat slippery. He has the ability to slip in and out of intellectual situations, and we have seen this in the hearings in his ability to speak eloquently and yet not answer the question posed. On the other hand, he does have the ability, frequently exercised, to dissent from the majority and think for himself.

An interesting side effect of Alito's confirmation will be a solid Catholic majority on the Supreme Court. Since the Catholic Church will be undergoing some radical changes over the next 20 years (when Pluto heads into Capricorn), this will be an interesting situation.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:25 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

End of the road for Tom Delay

And not a minute too soon, most might suggest.

Although Delay insisted he was not a part of the Abramoff investigation, connections between them are flying around. Crooks and Liars has some interesting video showing their mutual admiration society.

So what do the planets say about Tom Delay? (Check out the original profile here.) Last year transiting Mars (aggression, individuality) made a challenging aspect to Pluto (power issues) in Delay's chart. Mars/Pluto cycles deal with matters of power, domination aggression, and with the challenging aspects there tends to be power conflicts and eruptions that can end associations and positions of power. That cycle completed in Decemer, but at the same time transiting Saturn (restriction, disappointment) hit Delay's Pluto (personal power, obsessions) first in November, and completing this cycle in July. Saturn/Pluto events can be very destabilizing, as with Pluto we come face to face with the god of the underworld and have to answer for our behavior.

Beginning in December Jupiter (abundance, opportunity) began a harmonious cycle with Venus, initiating a fortunate period for his interactions with others which could assist him. However, at the same time Jupiter began a challenging cycle (square - 90 degrees) with Pluto. During the challenging cycles we tend to get the worst manifestations of the planetary energies, and the Jupiter/Pluto squares create a reckless combination of Jupiter's bravado and Pluto's compulsions.

Beginning in March, transiting Chiron will make a square to Delay's natal Chiron. Chiron is the wounded healer, and when it makes a challenging aspect to Chiron in our natal charts it can bring about a very challenging period where any buried painful emotions can come to the surface. Ideally, we navigate this transit by becoming more aware of emotions from which we have been hiding, but frequently people don't want to deal with these things and continue trying to hide, in which case illness and disease is likely to erupt. This is a similar transit to the one that Ariel Sharon is currently experiencing. Delay has a history of alcohol abuse, and we are likely to see this increase over the next few months.

All in all, the next year is a difficult one for Delay and I predict we will see him fade from public view.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 1:36 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- UPDATE! Stephanie Miller corrected fan letter

Thanks Stephanie Miller for giving me your accurate birth date and time, and I've updated my fan letter here.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 3:53 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Cheney's heart condition

(This picture really says it all, doesn't it??)

In my earlier article about Darth Cheney I outlined Cheney's first heart attack at the age of 36 when Chiron (the wounded healer) transited his natal Saturn/Sun square. The past month has been a particularly stressful time astrologically for Cheney since the Grand Cross of December/January (see other articles on the Grand Cross) crosses right over this system in his natal chart. During the last week of December transiting Mars squared transiting Saturn directly impacting Cheney's Sun, which represents his Spirit and his life force.

Transiting Chiron will begin to square Cheney's Jupiter in early March of this year. Jupiter in his chart is conjunct Saturn, and both Jupiter and Saturn form a square aspect (90 degrees) to Cheney's Sun. Consequently, when any of these natal planets are hit by a currently transiting planet it affects the whole system. (I hope this isn't getting too technical!!) This cycle will remain in effect for Cheney throughout the year and into 2007 and is very likely to create serious health problems for him, including probable heart attacks.

Cheney has been headed down this road for years, and it's unlikely that he will make the kind of major turnaround in his consciousness that would be required to reverse this trend.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:10 AM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Alito's hearings begin

I wish I could say that Alito's planets are telling me that justice will be done and he will not be confirmed. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

As I wrote earlier, Alito is a cautious warrior with an Aries Sun and Mercury, ruled by the god of War, combined with cautious and detailed Mars in Virgo. A look at planetary cycles affecting him right now (including harmonious aspects to the North and South Nodes of the Moon which represent our future and past respectively) show someone whose future destiny is being harmoniously affected. In addition, transiting Jupiter (opportunity) makes a harmonious aspect to Alito's Saturn (hard work and insecurity) through September, giving him a confidence that he often lacks (see the earlier article) and opening doors of opportunity for increased success. And Pluto (god of transformation) makes a harmonious transit to Alito's Venus (relationships, creative ventures) throughout the year, fostering camaraderie with others and facilitating the support of his colleagues and others. Pluto/Venus transits tend to make us more attractive to others than we otherwise would be and gives us a magnetic attraction that we may otherwise lack.

He does have some challenging transits going on that could affect the process: Transiting Jupiter squares his natal Pluto beginning this week. Challenging aspects between Jupiter and Pluto bring out the worst of both, and we tend to see a reckless overconfidence and aggrandized (Jupiter) sense of one's own power (Pluto) during these transits. However, throughout February Alito's transits from Mars, which are faster moving and often predict events for short time periods, are harmonious and I don't see him making any serious missteps that could impact the nomination.

If the hearings drag on into March Alito begins to have some challenging Mars transits that could bring out a great deal of confrontation and have a negative impact on the process. However, the overall picture for him is pretty rosy and I'm afraid that could indicate his likely confirmation.

Forewarned is forearmed, and the progressive community would do well to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best, and plan alternative strategies to deal with a Supreme Court that shifts dramatically to the right.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:03 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Monday, January 09, 2006

Comparing Nixon to Bush

When George Bush first took office in 2000, no one would have ever have thought to compare him to Richard Nixon. The affable dope that is George Bush seemed as far from the deviant miscreant that Nixon was as you could possibly get. However, comparisons between the two are becoming easier and easier to draw. Today is the anniversary of Nixon's birth, making today the logical day to explore the differences and similarities between them.

The birthchart of Richard Nixon shows a man who was intensely goal-oriented and introverted, with a stellium (3 planets) in Capricorn (the achiever) in the 4th house of the interior world. Nixon's Mars (aggressive instinct) is on the true cusp between Sagittarius and Capricorn, making him more of a Capricorn Mars which has great determination and force (Mars) of will (Capricorn). That Mars is opposed by Pluto indicating that he was constantly being forced to adapt and change (Pluto), usually against his will (Mars). With an Aquarius moon showing a tendency to be detached (Aquarius) emotionally (Moon), he didn't really care much whether or not people liked him. For him it was all about the work.

Many people (from John Dean to Hunter Thompson) are now saying that Bush makes Nixon looks like a liberal president. Nixon inherited a war and tried to win it; Bush created a war that is unwinnable. Nixon was obsessed with secrecy and presidential power; Bush took an American tragedy and manipulated it to attain that same level of secrecy. Nixon signed the National Environmental Policy Act for clean air and water, and Bush decimated it.

George Bush has the birthchart of the frat boy that he is. His Cancer sun gives him an emotional sensitivity that has little support in the rest of his chart, making him peevish and pouty. His Sun is squared (90 degree angle) by a tight conjunction of Chiron/Moon/Jupiter in Libra. His Leo ascendant and stellium in the first house (with Mercury, Pluto and Venus) makes him the life of the party - the jovial seeker of attention that wants to be celebrated (Leo) for his endeavors. The Moon/Jupiter in Libra shows someone who wants to be liked, and who knows how to bring out in others the desired effect. Chiron conjunct the moon shows early psychological wounding (Chiron) by the mother (Moon) which is certainly not hard to imagine. And the Moon/Jupiter in square to the Sun indicates someone who tends toward arrogance and overconfidence. Bush's chart lacks oppositions (planets in 180 degree angles to each other), which tend to give one a sense of perspective. Without oppositions he tends to lack the ability to see any view other than his own.

This combination of planetary influences makes Bush the perfect foil for the puppetmasters who have manipulated him with delusions of grandeur in order to accomplish their greater schemes. Where Nixon was the architect of his own demise, Bush will be the fall guy for the corruption of others.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:18 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Sunday, January 08, 2006

Stephanie Miller: An astrological fan letter (UPDATED!)

I've been wanting to profile a woman here, and there haven't been many women in the news lately. I want to cover Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein at some point, and I thought a noble first choice would be Christiane Amanpour who is just so fabulous. I also considered the annoying Rita Crosby. But then I decided it was most appropriate for my first female profile here to be Stephanie Miller.

From the first time I listened to the Stephanie Miller show I was hooked. She has an amazing way of taking depressing and frustrating news and making it funny and easy to digest. From the beginning, I looked for excuses while at work to get in my car so I could listen to the show. I scheduled appointments for afternoons so as not to miss the show. Finally, so as not to miss another show, I invested $300 in an mp3 player and purchased the podcast on the first day it was available. Evidently I am not alone, because in little more than a year the Stephanie Miller show has gained about a million listeners. From her roots in stand-up comedy she has forged a brilliant career as a liberal talk show host.

It's difficult to do birthcharts for celebrities because we are counting on the accuracy of the bio birthtimes which are notoriously inaccurate. Since writing this Stephanie sent me her accurate birth date and birth time and I have updated the details.

Steph was born with the Sun in Libra (as was your faithful blogger here). Those with a Libra Sun have the blessing and the curse of a natural ability to charm and attract others because Libra is the sign of relationship. Ruled by Venus, the mission of Librans is to achieve the fine balance of developing the individual sense of self while being in relationship to others. Mars in her chart is also in Libra, showing that she has a strong drive (Mars) to achieve harmony with others (Libra). The strong Libra influence makes her an excellent negotiator and able to easily influence others.

Stephanie's Moon is in Gemini, the sign of the natural talker making her a perfect candidate for talk radio! Those with the Moon in Gemini tend to be independent and somewhat freewheeling, they don't like to be tied down and need to be able to communicate (Mercury) their feelings (Moon).

Stephanie has Scorpio rising, giving her a boost of intensity that Libra doesn't typically demonstrate. In addition, she has Mercury conjunct Neptune, both in Scorpio, showing that she has a strong imagination (Mercury/Neptune) and a probing (Scorpio) intelligence (Mercury) that delves deep below the surface to discover what is truly going on behind the scenes.

Jupiter is conjunct Saturn in her chart, both in Capricorn. Saturn rules Capricorn, so Saturn in Capricorn finds its fullest expression in hard work, discipline, and a laser focus on building success. Jupiter in Capricorn tends to bring good fortune (Jupiter) in all earthly endeavors (Capricorn).

Steph began her broadcasting career after the death of her father, Republican representative from New York who ran as Barry Goldwater's running mate. Stephanie underwent a number of transits of Pluto and Chiron to her natal chart from 1983-1986, and it was during this period that she first was heard on the radio. Often the death of a parent can be overwhelmingly painful and fraught with complex emotions, yet out of the ashes of the pain of that death we often find ourselves transformed into individuals with greater power and effectiveness, particularly if we were overwhelmed by those parents during our earlier years.

Thank you Stephanie Miller, for being a "voice of reason in a world of treason," "the aggressive progressive," and for making me laugh because without your show, as you say, I might cry all day.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 12:02 PM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Friday, January 06, 2006

Braggadocio increases as Mars approaches Jupiter

Mars, the Warrior God, is approaching an opposition with Jupiter, the King God. Although the opposition won't be exact until next week (January 13), we are already seeing the effects.

Mars represents our personal will and desire, it shows how we express ourselves aggressively and how we go about getting what we want. Jupiter represents our highest aspirations - our search for meaning and truth. When these two guys oppose each other the result is arrogance, braggadocio, and generally obnoxious behavior and increased aggression on the battlefield as well. Both are moving closer to Neptune which always tends to confuse the issues and create scapegoats, and as the intensity grows it will be unclear what directions things are really heading.

We are already seeing a marked increase in aggressive arrogance. In the news today we see:

• Iran informing the UN that it intends to renew atomic fuel research and not showing up for a scheduled meeting with the Atomic Energy Agency;
• Increased violence in Iraq with over 130 people killed in one day, one of the deadliest days since the invasion in 2003;
• Russia's angry reaction to the rebuke by Condoleeza Rice over gas controls in the Ukraine;
• A potential uprising against the government in Syria;
• Pat Robertson's stupid remark that God smote Ariel Sharon and the angry reaction on all sides of the aisle;
• David Letterman tells off Bill O'Reilly on national television (I really love this one - see the video at One Good Move).

Watch for the general atmosphere to become more aggressive, especially leading up toward the Full Moon on January 14. I expect these issues to become more explosive which could hopefully lead eventually toward real progress being made.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 12:47 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Calling all skeptics!

Show me someone who doesn't believe that astrology works, and I'll show you someone who reads newspaper horoscopes. If I had my way I would ban those stupid things from every publication across the globe! There is simply no way that you can predict someone's future from their sun sign. The astrological makeup of each individual is very complex, and requires a great deal of analysis and synthesis to be able to draw any conclusions. So when skeptics say that people with the same sun signs are very different they are exactly right.

Although I have offered many skeptics the opportunity to have a free chart interpretation session, they have unanimously declined. However, I frequently see clients who drag in their spouse, their children or parents who don't believe in astrology, yet leave with a new appreciation for the way we have been able to delve into the complexity of their personality and behavior. The fact is, astrology has worked for thousands of years and is even more accurate now with the new tools of computer calculations.

My mission in this blog is to expose the amazing insights offered by astrological investigations to people who otherwise might just not be interested. Astrology is a gift from the gods - a map to decode the intricacies of our psyche and provide a guide to navigate the difficult waters of our lives. I am always happy to discuss any questions you may have and offer free interpretations for skeptics! Thank you for joining me on this journey.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:31 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Ariel Sharon in serious condition

Ariel Sharon has arguably been one of the most significant figures in world history over the past thirty years. (painting by W. Horvath: The Spiral of Violence) Because of the importance of Israel in world politics and the growth of international terrorism, decisions made there have had enormous global impact. Ariel Sharon has been a fierce warrior for his country, but has also been seen as a warmonger and destroyer of the Palestinian people.

Ironically, Ariel Sharon has many of the same astrological characteristics as Jack Abramoff (see article below). He has a Pisces Sun and Mercury, indicating a chameleon-like individual whom it is nearly impossible to really know. He has Mars in the late degrees of Capricorn, showing that he is intensely goal-oriented with a strong leadership drive. Mars in his chart makes a trine (harmonious aspect) to his Taurus Moon, linking the power of his emotions (Moon) to his drive for achievement (Mars). This can give a tremendous force of will to a Pisces Sun person that may otherwise be somewhat weak.

Sharon has Jupiter (faith, ideology) in Aries (the Warrior), and it is conjunct Uranus (the rebel). Both planets are in the twelfth house of the subconscious, showing that Sharon is driven by unconscious desires for war and rebellion. Additionally, he has Aries rising in his chart--his persona wears the cloak of leadership and aggression. With this much Aries in the chart, he can be perceived more as an Aries than as a typical Pisces which is much more flexible and desires to go with the flow. Sharon's fingerprints can be seen throughout the course of Israeli history as in sparking the fires that fueled the escalating conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. However, Pisces is a sign that longs for peace, that craves an experience of flow. I suspect that this side of Sharon was buried deep within himself and never allowed much if any expression in his life.

Recently Sharon seemed to have started to mellow a bit; he orchestrated the pullout from Gaza and was in the process of beginning his own more moderate political party when he had his first stroke in November. Astrologically this corresponds to a period when Chiron (the wounded healer) passed over his Mars. The study of astrology is a study of potentialities - when we look forward we can see possibilities, but when we look backwards we are able to see clearly how those potentialities took form. The purpose of Chiron in astrology is to uncover those areas where we hide from ourselves and create dissonance in our personalities which then helps to create health problems. The name "Wounded Healer" comes from Chiron's mythology (see other posts on Chiron here), but also describes the way Chiron operates in the birthchart and in our lives.

Currently Chiron is approaching a square to Chiron in Sharon's birthchart, which we call the "Chiron square." Squares are challenging aspects that create friction and conflict, and during stressful Chiron periods we are prone to emotional distress as a result of the peeling off of layers of protection that covers old wounds and painful emotions that we have hidden over the years. If left to fester, this distress can create severe health problems that worsen as we age. The Chiron square is exact on February 9 and begins a series of challenging transits throughout the month of February. I suspect that we will see Mr. Sharon's health continue deteriorate during that time.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:06 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Jack Abramoff begins to sing

One of my readers noted that I haven't posted any profiles of women, but the Abramoff story is just too delicious and frankly, the only women in the news have been Lindsay, Britney and Jessica and I am not THAT much of a gossip hound. So let's dive right into Jack Abramoff's chart and see what makes him tick. (Photo courtesy of Village Voice)

Abramoff was born with the Sun and Mercury in the watery, misty sign of Pisces. Pisces is often represented by two fish swimming in opposite directions, and individuals with a Piscean nature can be very difficult to pin down. Pisces has been called the saint and the sinner, they can manifest as the highest of the spiritual and the most confused of the street people. Like water, Pisces people often adopt the shape of the container that they find themselves in. Consequently they are like chameleons, often able to fit in anywhere because they are nearly invisible and difficult to identify.

Mars in his chart, representing his drive and describing how he achieves his goals, is in Capricorn which is the most practical of signs. Capricorn is the builder, capable of enormous focus to achieve his goals, and for whom the ends always justify the means. Like George Bush and others in power today, Mars in Abramoff's chart makes no aspects (or angles) to other planets in his chart, showing that he is a renegade, capable of operating independently and nearly completely for his own self-interest. He is not someone who will take orders from someone else, and in fact his history shows that from an early age he had strong opinions and took charge of his own destiny. He also showed a thread of ruthlessness in his early political years, saying as president of the College Republican National Committee: "It is not our job to seek peaceful coexistence with the Left. Our job is to remove them from power permanently."

Abramoff has Saturn in Sagittarius, and it too is unaspected, showing that he has not been able to achieve the discipline that Saturn often fosters. Those with Saturn in Sagittarius often tend to have rigid (Saturn) ideologies (Sagittarius) that stem from early childhood experiences. We know that Abramoff grew up in a secular Jewish home and at the age of 12 decided to passionately embrace the religion of his forefathers, saying "I made the decision that I would become religious in order to preserve the faith in our family."

A picture is developing of a guy with an ability to blend in anywhere (Pisces), who is a bit of a loose cannon (unaspected Mars), who acts alone and independently, and is guided only by his drive for achievement (Mars in Capricorn) and self-important ideology (unaspected Saturn in Sag).

Abramoff has been undergoing a couple of significant planetary transits that tell the tale of his downfall. Transiting Uranus (radical action, rebellion) passed over his natal Mercury and Sun in the summer of 2004, just as Saturn opposed his Mars. During this period he was forced to resign from the Greenberg Traurig law firm amidst investigations of his activities with the Indian casinos.

Transiting Pluto (destruction and power) hit Abramoff's natal Saturn in February of 2005, returning again at the end of December. This is a very difficult transit where the destructive urge of Pluto can threaten all that makes us secure (Saturn). For someone like Abramoff who has lacked introspection and been focused only on accumulation of wealth and power, this can be a devastating time where authority figures (Pluto) strip away any semblance of one's sense of stability (Saturn). During this same time, from April through August and then again in February of '06, Uranus has been transiting Abramoff's Sun. Abramoff was first indicted in August of 2005 for fraud charges relating to casino boats in Florida. Uranus transits can make us feel reckless and rebellious against any hint of authority, so it is not surprising that these planetary events would make someone like Abramoff pursue the ultimate rebellion of bringing down every participant in every venture which he has orchestrated over the past twenty years.

I for one am eager to see the results.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:15 AM :: |

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Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Mercury enters Capricorn today

Mercury has been traveling through the upbeat sign of Sagittarius for a month or so, and now moves into the serious sign of Capricorn. Mercury rules the mental functions, communication, small machinery and telephones, and generally the way we process information. When Mercury is in Capricorn, the sign of goals, accomplishment and leadership, information processing happens to serve a purpose. Capricorn is the sign that says "the ends justify the means," and the means is often to preserve the established social order which is also signified by Capricorn.

Over the next few weeks while Mercury is in Capricorn we are likely to see even more rationales for government malfunctions that claim to be "for the good of the country." On the positive side, Mercury in Capricorn can be good for the financial markets as there is an added note of practicality to business decisions that promote sound "bottom line" thinking.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:06 AM :: |

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Monday, January 02, 2006

Looking back at goals of years past

This morning I sat down to set my goals for the year, something I used to do New Year's Day but due to various social obligations this sacred process has now been relegated to the 2nd day of January instead.

At any rate, I have my lists of goals from every year going back to 1990, the year I was divorced, when I went through the Tony Robbins 30 day program in about 5 days and set economic and personal development goals and goals for "things." Amazingly, very few of these things that I set my sights for have not occurred.

Those that have come true: Custom built house in the country on 5 acres with a pond (just like the goal I set), 10 rental houses in good neighborhoods, cruises to islands, shopping trips every year , rewarding relationship (married 6 years now), gain more confidence, develop a positive attitude, accumulate substantial retirement and savings account.

Those I'm still working on: Mastery of french, healthier eating habits, better time management, learn to relax and let go to the flow of life.

This year I'm adding to the list: Be present in every moment to appreciate the fullness of life, even in those more difficult times when I want to be somewhere else. Take a more active role in working to change things for the better starting in my own home and branching out to family, friends, my community, my country, my planet, and... you get the idea! It's so easy to become discouraged when faced with difficulties that seem unsurmountable, but experience has taught me that hidden in the most difficult experience is a golden nugget of light, a gift of wisdom and presence that can illuminate the darkest night and begin to create the changes that we all want to see in the world.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:24 PM :: |

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Sunday, January 01, 2006

Predictions for 2006

Although as I've said before I don't believe that it's really possible to predict the future, it's fun to make a stab at it. This coming year brings some interesting planetary configurations that could have a strong impact.

The stock market. Jupiter (abundance and opportunity) is currently traveling through Scorpio, which rules the stock market and shared resources. This would normally be beneficial to the stock market, but Jupiter is coming off of a square to Saturn in mid December that may have had some influence in limiting (Saturn) growth (Jupiter) during that period (the markets were relatively flat in 2005). However, Jupiter is dancing through a square to Neptune (illusion) from now until the end of March, bringing a need for caution where investments are concerned, and the possibility of overglamorizing investment opportunities. The Jupiter/Saturn square will be in effect in June and October of this year.

Complicating matters even further, Saturn (limitation) will square misty Neptune in August-September of next year, which will challenge investors to take a close look at the wisdom of their investments. Any rose-colored glasses left on after this process could result in trouble during the final dance between Jupiter and Neptune late in September and early October.

The war: Aggression will begin to seriously heat up on multiple world stages at the end of March when Pluto turns retrograde and is opposed by Mars. Rhetorical braggadocio will materialize into more aggressive warfare, particularly between Israel and Lebanon. Civil war will continue to escalate in Iraq, but American troops will begin to come home as voices against the war become louder and stronger.

George Bush: Dissent within the US Congress will continue to heat up and Bush will lose even more power as Saturn conjuncts Mercury (communication) and Pluto (power) in his chart. In March, when Chiron (wounded healer) crosses the cusp of his seventh house of partnerships, he may finally be forced to give up his good friend Karl Rove, the architect of his presidency. By the end of April when transiting Uranus (freedom and liberation) makes a trine to his Sun, he may begin to open up to new ways of doing things and we could see some positive changes if he takes advantage of his new opportunities.

Natural disasters: 2005 was a record year for natural disasters: A record-breaking tsunami in the South Pacific, a record breaking hurricane year in the Atlantic, a devastating earthquake in Pakistan. It is difficult to make astrological connections to these events, but the retrograde turn of Neptune, god of the sea, from May through October could indeed bring another strong hurricane season. In addition, the "mutual reception" of Uranus in Pisces (ruled by Neptune) and Neptune in Aquarius (ruled by Uranus) connects these two energies of Neptune/Pisces water with Uranus/Aquarian disruption in a way that can certainly signify floods and hurricanes. However, the overall planetary climate is milder and therefore the effects should be significantly less than last year.

Happy New Year everyone!

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:00 PM :: |

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