Sunday, February 26, 2006

Following shortly on the heels of her breakup with Lance Armstrong, Sheryl Crow announced that she is being treated for breast cancer. In the earlier article on the Crow/Armstrong breakup in this column we saw that Sheryl was undergoing a number of planetary events that could create difficulties for her. I have always liked Sheryl Crow's courage and drive, and love singing her music really loud while driving.

Because astrology is a study of possibilities, it is easier to look back and connect the dots than to predict the future. A difficult Saturn transit can lead to a business failure, but it can also lead to a successful venture after a few false starts. A difficult Pluto transit can show the death of a loved one, but it can also bring about a new sense of empowerment within after a series of smaller losses. I like to compare astrology to a weather report, which can predict the likelihood of a tornado, but can't tell you whether or not your house will be damaged.

The mind/body connection is becoming more accepted even in mainstream medicine, where physicians such as Christiane Northrup, a noted writer on women's issues, has said "Energy dysfunction often arises when a woman is confused about how to use both her loving (fourth chakra) and her creative (second chakra) energies optimally. The major conflict within women is that most of us still believe that in order to be loved, to receive love, and to guarantee that someone will need us, we must care for loved ones’ external physical needs.”

Sheryl Crow's birthchart reveals six planets in Aquarius - an airy, electrical sign. She dwells in the realm of ideas, and feels out of place in the realm of feelings. Her triple conjunction of Jupiter (good fortune), Sun (essential spirit) and Venus (relating to others) bestows beauty, opportunity and success, but the emotional component may be missing. Without her birth time we can't know her Moon sign, but it lies either in placid and stubborn Taurus (earth sign) or Gemini (air sign), neither of which are particularly comfortable in the emotional realm. Consequently, her emotional relationships are more likely to be idealized in the realm of thought (Aquarius) than truly lived through the heart, which is the realm of water and feeling.

This is not to say that individuals with charts like Sheryl are doomed to Cancer, but it does indicate a need for awareness of these issues, and efforts of intention to awaken the dormant feelings that may be ignored because they are less comfortable. Often people who lack water in their charts find it useful to spend time physically in water - in baths, swimming; and also to learn to pay closer attention to what they feel. Earthy people who lack water tend to become rigid in practicality rather than yield to emotions. Fiery people who lack water may be busy, busy, busy all the time to avoid emotions. And the airy people, as we see with Sheryl, will reason their way out of emotions. This is one reason why we often see migraine headaches and difficult depression with Aquarians - the emotions go right into the head and get stuck there. Consciously opening the heart and allowing it to feel completely can offset the difficulties that these challenges present.

Transiting (in the sky right now) Saturn in Leo opposed Saturn in Sheryl's chart last August, creating situations of frustration and disappointment. That event will continue and involve Sheryl's Mars (drive) and Mercury (thinking) as Saturn retrogrades back and forth over Sheryl's retrograde planets. Saturn transits can be difficult, and Sheryl is likely to experience a difficult period; however, more than any other planet Saturn also brings great rewards and this may be her most musically productive period ever, as well as her period of the greatest individual growth.

Sheryl's birthchart shows an opposition (stressful 180 degree aspect) between Chiron in Pisces and Pluto in Virgo. Aspects between the wounded healer (Chiron) and the god of transformation (Pluto) can be intensely difficult, since there is continual pressure on the individual to transform and change (Pluto) and this process typically takes place through a painful event (Chiron) that is intended to produce a healing crisis. Transiting Chiron, which is now traveling through Aquarius, began hitting Sheryl's Aquarian planets at the end of January, beginning with Saturn. (see article about the current Saturn/Chiron opposition for more information about how these planets interact). Transits of Chiron require that we walk through the fire of our pain in order to heal, and while the process can be excruciating the results are exhilarating as we free ourselves from the shackles of painful dynamics that have become calcified over the years.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:57 AM :: |

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Thursday, February 23, 2006

Will Hillary Run?

Hillary Clinton is all over the news lately as the most recognized Presidential candidate. A recent CNN/Gallup poll shows that 39% of Democrats polled said they would vote for Clinton in 2008, as opposed to 15% for John Kerry, 13% for Al Gore and 12% for John Edwards. These numbers have been consistent over the past year, and Hillary is looking like a front-runner for the Democrats. Will she run, and if she runs, will she win? Let's take a look at her chart. Note to astrologers: Hillary has given her birth time as 8:00 pm, and most published birthcharts show her with 29 deg. Gemini on the ascendant. It seems clear to me that Cancer is a more appropriate ascendant for Hillary - she is extremely family-oriented and can appear cold as many Cancer ascendant people do. Additionally, she has the moon face and low center of gravity also associated with Cancer rising. Consequently, I've used 8:15 pm as a birthtime which should be taken with a grain of salt, since her exact birthtime is not available. This of course also means that the midheaven is likely off as well.

Since her appearance on the national political stage, there was no doubting the power of Hillary Clinton. Hillary had been an overachiever from an early age: in high school she served as class president, student council and debating team member, and member of the National Honor Society. As a Republican, she worked actively for the campaign of Barry Goldwater at the age of 16 and went on to become President of the Wellesley chapter of College Republicans. Moved by the death of Martin Luther King her political views became more liberal and she joined the Democratic party. Valedictorian of her class, she graduated with honors in political science and became the first student in the history of Wellesley College to deliver the commencement address at her own graduation.

Hillary went on to obtain a law degree from Yale with a specialization in children's rights (another earmark for the Cancer ascendant which is focused on the family and nurturing). After marrying Bill Clinton and as the first female lawyer at the Rose Law firm, Hillary continued her child advocacy work on a pro bono basis.

Hillary Clinton's birthchart shows a strong personality: She has four planets in intense Scorpio, including her Sun, Chiron, Venus and Mercury. Scorpio is an intensely emotional sign that imposes a passion on everything the individual does or feels. Scorpios are never superficial or dilletantes - they bury themselves in virtually everything they encounter. Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, the god of the underworld, death and transformation, and Scorpios have no fear of the underworld of the emotional realm. Hillary's Sun makes no aspect to any other planet, showing an individual who can find it difficult to make real connections with others. On the other hand, this can make it easier for one's light (Sun) to shine without the need for support from others.

Chiron (wounded healer) is conjunct Venus in Hillary's chart, linking the painful wounds of Chiron to the ability to relate to others and attract relationships that Venus represents. Chiron in tandem with Venus indicates an early psychic wounding in her sense of attractiveness and desirability and a tendency to continue to attract experiences that mirror this until the wound enters the conscious arena and can be healed. Certainly we can see this in her relationship with Bill Clinton as it has played out on the public stage. However, Jupiter in Hillary's chart is in Sagittarius, indicating a general faith and optimism (Sagittarius) that is the basis of her world view (Jupiter).

Mercury (communication) is retrograde in Hillary's chart and it is squared by Saturn, showing a difficulty (Saturn) in expressing herself (Mercury) in a way that is clear and understood by others. Mercury retrograde people tend to process information in a way that is more internalized than the general population, and often find themselves misunderstood. This has been a problem for her on the political stage, and requires a great deal of planning and preparation before making public speeches.

Hillary has a powerhouse conjunction of Mars, Pluto and Saturn all in Leo, and possibly (if the birthtime is close) in the third house of communication. This helps her to overcome the difficulties inherent in the retrograde Mercury, and harnesses the power of Mars (warrior energy), Pluto (transformation and personal power) and Saturn (discipline and hard work). And all in the sign of Leo, the sign that celebrates life and requires admiration in order to survive. Leo is the sign of nobility and royalty, and a concentration in this sign often brings about a desire to gain recognition for one's essential being - not, as with Capricorn, for one's achievements. It's no wonder Hillary has been an overachiever all of her life!

So what's coming up for Mrs. Clinton? Later this year she will go through her second Saturn return - a time around age 60 when Saturn returns to it's place in our birthchart. The first Saturn return occurs around age 28-30, and marks the period where we leave childhood and transition into adulthood. The second Saturn return historically marked the exit from working life into retirement and seniority, although with cultural changes that is less true. Today the second Saturn return causes us to challenge the life we have built for ourselves and question whether there is really meaning in our life. Often the second Saturn return brings a sense of tragedy if we feel we have wasted our life. Saturn is the reality checker, and our success in this transit depends on how well we have done our work. Because Hillary's Saturn is square her Mercury, the Saturn return will challenge her mental functioning as well, and the period from September '06 through July of '07 could be difficult for her. It could also bring great success if she stays focused on her goals, as she typically does so well.

2007 will also bring a square of transiting Chiron to Chiron in Hillary's chart, a transit that can bring great healing or great pain. Occasionally we see illness during these periods if the inner difficulties are not successfully managed. At the same time, though, expansive Jupiter will be bringing opportunities and opening doorways that could make this an exhilarating time of transformation for her.

Astrologers will be keeping an eye on Hillary as the months roll on toward the election. Regardless of what she decides, she will be someone to watch.

Labels: Hillary Clinton, Political figures

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:28 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Synchronicity and Astrology

In magickal legend, the mage Hermes Trismegistus is a fusion of the Greek/Roman god of communication (Hermes/Mercury) was fused with the Egyptian god of wisdom (Thoth) who gave to Egypt not only their laws and alphabet, but also the spells used in the pyramid chambers and the astrological traditions. Hermes Trismegistus is credited with the famous "as above, so below" that describes the synchronicity of astrology:

It is true, certain, and without falsehood, that whatever is below is like that which is above; and that which is above is like that which is below: to accomplish the one wonderful work.

It was twentieth century psychologist Karl Jung who in 1952 first developed the concept of synchronicity, an explanation of events that defy the normal laws of causality. Also termed "meaningful coincidence," there is no rational way to explain these occurrences and they appear to be the manifestations of an "acausal connecting principle. " (More on Jung and synchronicity can be found in this fascinating article.) Jung's fascination with synchronicity led him to explore astrology in greater depth. In a letter to Sigmund Freud, he wrote "I dare say that we shall one day discover in astrology a good deal of knowledge that has been intuitively projected into the heavens."

Jung describes the synchronicity of astrology: "The positions of the heavens at a particular moment in time, by reflecting the qualities of that moment, also reflect the qualities of anything born at that moment. [...] One does not cause the other; they are synchronous, and mirror each other."

I have been fascinated with astrology since my teens. When I first encountered the signs and symbols of the zodiac and planets I felt an intimate familiarity that surprised me. When later I began to study seriously the astrological craft, it was like a new world had opened up: a kaleidoscope of imagery and symbols that continues to unfold with new meaning, offering new wisdom and understanding. The magic really began to happen, though, when I started doing readings for strangers and especially readings that were done over the phone. In phone readings I step out on a tightrope with only the astrological symbolism and my own intuition to guide me. Through the magic of synchronicity, the signs and symbols began to dance and tell an amazing story of an individual life in a way that is meaningful and true and leaves me with awareness of an underlying universal principle that connects all things with intention and draws us in a neverending spiral towards transformation and growth.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:28 AM :: |

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Wednesday, February 22, 2006

The Astrology of Brokeback Mountain

Please refrain from making the obvious scatalogical jokes when reading about Uranus, especially in this context! Astrologers pronounce this planet "Your-ah-nus" in order to avoid this type of thing. :)

The success of Brokeback Mountain is nothing less than a phenomenon. Who would have thought a movie about two gay cowboys would sweep all of the awards shows? The answer may lie in the currently ongoing square between Jupiter and Neptune and the trine of Jupiter to Uranus. Jupiter represents expansion, opportunity, and the expression of shared beliefs such as theology and philosophy. Uranus instigates a break from conventional and mundane reality, representing innovation, radical change, and unusual behavior and beliefs such as astrology and homosexuality. Neptune rules things that are hidden, obscured. It also rules creativity and a yearning to transcend ordinary mundale reality.

Jupiter in aspect with Uranus brings about a break (Uranus) from conventional morality (Jupiter), an expansive (Jupiter) sense of freedom (Uranus) to follow one's own destiny and path. Film is a powerful medium that enables the process through which Uranus brings about an eruption into consciousness of a new way of thinking or cultural identity. AstroNoetics has a fascinating (and long) article connecting Uranus with film.

"When the creative fire of Uranus is ignited societally, cultures take a gigantic advance in novelty, breaking new ground in sciences, the arts, mores and freedoms. However, even though the creativity of the genie may be summoned with benign intent, the unstable and mutable creative fire of the genie—and thus of Uranus—may turn against culture but can never be "put back into the lamp."

The success of Brokeback Mountain is likely to bring about a mini-cultural revolution that is powerful but bloodless. The fact that Jupiter and Uranus form a trine, which is a harmonious aspect, shows that the transformation will be smooth and relatively painless; an alteration of consciousness that occurs without major difficulty. The first trine in the most recent Jupiter/Uranus cycle coincided with the advance buzz prior to the release of Brokeback Mountain in early December. The second hit of this cycle will occur in May, with the final sweep in late August/early September.

The recent square of Jupiter with Neptune that began in December and continues through the summer has seen a clash (square) between those that which to release (Jupiter) that which has been secret or hidden (Neptune) and those that don't. The wiretapping scandal in the Bush administration has fallen under that heading, as is the confusion (Neptune) over whether Iran really has nuclear weapons or this is just aggressive rhetoric (Jupiter). The next square in the Jupiter/Neptune cycle coincides with the Academy Awards show in early March.

The themes of Brokeback Mountain go beyond a "homosexual lifestyle" as termed by the religious Right - it calls for a world where one's personal life belongs only to that individual and those they love, and where governmental regulation stays out of the bedroom and in the boardroom where it belongs instead of the reverse.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:21 AM :: |

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Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Happy Birthday Pisces!!

Somehow over the weekend I missed the fact that the Sun entered Pisces on Sunday!

Pisces is the most watery of the water signs, and the last of the twelve zodiac signs. Like a drop of water falling into a river that ultimately flows into the deepest ocean, Pisces seeks to merge into an experience of something greater and more divine, an experience that is beyond this world.

Like Aquarius, Pisces has two rulers which gives it's nature a greater complexity. Neptune is known as the "modern ruler" of Pisces. Before Neptune was discovered, Jupiter ruled Pisces and is therefore called its "ancient ruler." Jupiter expands and Neptune submerges, and the nature of Pisces is a combination of the two. Pisces is the chameleon, the shape shifter. There is incredible creativity bestowed by Pisces and other strong Neptune influences, along with a desire to fully experience the divine as we seek to dissolve the boundaries of conventional and ordinary reality. This creativity can sometimes take the form of daydreaming and an easy fall into dramas of illusion.

Pisces is a "mutable" sign, lending flexibility and adapatibility to the personality. Without the inclusion of more fiery influences in the personality, Pisces can suppress one's physical vitality and drive. The extreme empathy of the Piscean personality offers psychic ability, but can also make it difficult to distinguish between one's own feelings and those of others.

The ultimate quest of Pisces is to transcend the shackles of ordinary reality and experience the divine while keeping two feet firmly planted on Planet Earth. Please bear in mind that an individual's astrological makeup is far more than their Sun sign, and that the Pisces influence is shared not only by those with a Pisces Sun but also among those with other planets in Pisces or strong Neptune connections in their chart.

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

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Saturday, February 18, 2006

Remembering Kurt Cobain on his birthday...

Kurt Cobain would have been 39 on Monday, February 27 2006. I am a little old for the Nirvana scene, but I was captivated by the song "Smells Like Teen Spirit. " This haunting song became the anthem of the Uranus/Pluto conjunction generation (1964 through 1968). This generation has also been termed "Generation X" : the generation "who wanted to hop off the merry-go-round of status, money, and social climbing that so often frames modern existence." Douglas Coupland, Generation X: Tales of an Accelerated Culture.

The period from 1964 through 1968 when Uranus and Pluto were conjunct in Virgo was marked by cultural revolution. Uranus is the revolutionary - the force that seeks to break up old patterns and create a new way. Pluto is Shiva - the force of destruction and regeneration. During the 1960s we saw the feminist revolution, where women learned to play a completely new role with and without families. We saw the "free love" revolution, where new contraceptives meant that intimate relationships could take place more easily without the ties of marriage. We saw the civil rights revolution, where through civil unrest and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 people of African descent gained new rights and a level of "black power" unseen in this country's history. We saw the "flower power" revolution, where demonstrations for peace forced the ultimate end to the Vietnam war.

The dawning of the Age of Aquarius as immortalized in the musical "Hair" was short-lived, however; by 1969 the deaths of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy Jr. had brought despair on the country, and the Manson murders cast a pall on the glamor of the hippie lifestyle. The Woodstock festival in August of that year marked the end of the peace and love era and was followed shortly by the Rolling Stones concert at Altamont Speedway which was one of the most violent days in rock history, with four fans being brutally murdered.

Amidst this turmoil a generation of children were born, and Kurt Cobain became its unwilling spokesman (view chart here). A beautiful, sensitive wisp of a being, Kurt was born with the Uranus/Pluto conjunction exactly on his ascendant or rising sign, demonstrating that he carried the archetype of that cultural revolution as a part of his persona (ascendant). Uranus on the ascendant doesn't quite fit anywhere, and Pluto brings constant endings and change and this combination certainly marked Kurt's life. His parents divorced early, and he was shuttled back and forth between two regenerated families in which he never felt he belonged. Kurt was a quadruple Pisces, with Sun, Mercury, Chiron and Saturn in that watery sign. Pisces is the fish - swimming along the path of least resistance and seeking to merge in the cosmic ocean. In addition, Kurt had a Grand Trine in water between Saturn and Chiron, which were exactly conjunct in his chart, Neptune in Scorpio and Jupiter in Cancer. All this water bestowed enormous creativity and sensitivity, but also made it difficult for him to establish an identity of his own.

Kurt had five planets in retrograde motion, which is relatively rare (occurring in only 5% of all birthcharts according to one study). Natal retrograde planets operate on a more internal level, and five retrogrades can make it difficult for the individual to establish any perspective of an objective reality.

Kurt's Uranus/Pluto conjunction was part of a larger and complex astrological system. Saturn was conjunct Chiron in his chart (see article below on Saturn/Chiron today) - a placement that can create health problems as Saturn puts pressure on us to face our emotional wounds (Chiron) so that they can be healed. Kurt had chronic bronchitis and stomach distress and some say narcolepsy. He also suffered from bipolar disorder as well - all were likely rooted in an energetic imbalance shown by the Saturn/Chiron conjunction which was exactly opposite (180 degrees) his Uranus/Pluto conjunction. The fact that these conjunctions were sitting on "angles" (ascendant/descendant) in his chart make them even more pronounced. The pressure of these planets operating against each other created enough energy to propel Kurt into a cascade of creativity and success, but unfortunately he did not have the tools to manage the energy imbalance that led to his heroin addiction and ultimately to his demise.

Kurt was riddled with conflicts - he wanted to be in a relationship but longed for his freedom. He worked hard for success but then felt it ruined his music. He see-sawed between the two poles of his oppositions without ever really coming to terms and a sense of balance.

Kurt's transits in the months leading up to his death on April 5, 1994 show a large number of Jupiter transits. Jupiter transits typically bring a heightened sense of well-being and opportunity, and often a feeling of liberation. In the weeks before his death, however, Saturn (restriction and depression) made an approach to a conjunction with his Sun (life spirit) that may have caused him to feel there was no way out but death. Kurt overdosed on champagne and rohypnol that March, ending up in rehab from which he later escaped and days later he was found dead.

Although I was not a Nirvana fan, I am struck to tears by the tragedy of this brilliant life that for lack of understanding of the conflicting drives within him was unable to realize his true and amazing potential.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:22 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Storms on Saturn and cultural conflict

A reader brought to my attention a new storm on the planet Saturn and asked whether these storms have astrological implications. This new storm circles the entire planet, and is unleashing lightning bolts more than 1000 times stronger than those found on earth. In doing a bit of research, I discovered that the last significant storm activity on Saturn occurred between July and December of 1994 so I set about to find astrological and histroical correlations between these two events.

In July of 1994, Saturn was traveling retrograde through the sign of Pisces and nearing a stressful aspect (opposition to Chiron), a similar aspect to our position today (see past article on Saturn/Chiron). In addition, Saturn was beginning to "station" (when its motion appears from earth's perspective to slow down to a crawl) before turning direct. When a planet is in retrograde motion and slows down before turning direct and moving forward again, the intensity of its influence tends to increase.

Historically, the summer of 1994 leading up to the first storm saw the beginnings of the Rwandan genocide and the murder of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman and the subsequent murder investigation, both episodes that forced long suppressed racial issues into public consciousness. This is a hallmark of Saturn/Chiron contacts: the forcing (Saturn) of long-supressed wounds (Chiron) into consciousness so that they can be healed if we choose to face this difficult process.

The first known episode of the Saturn storms coincided with the collision of the Shoemaker-Levy comet with the planet Jupiter, an event of amazing astrological synchronicity in itself since such a collision is Plutonic in nature (Pluto rules destruction and transformation). Jupiter was in Scorpio at the time, the sign ruled by Pluto, and was exactly conjunct Pluto at the time of the collision. Astrologically this connection between Jupiter and Pluto represented a death and transformation (Pluto) in the way we approach issues of faith, religion, and matters of prosperity.

September 1994 also marked the end of the Cold War between Russia and China, a peace treaty between Jordan and Israel, and the signing of the assault weapons ban in the US. It also brought the refusal of Saddam Hussein to cooperate with weapons inspectors. Arguably, this last event planted the root of the political situation in which we find ourselves today.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 11:57 AM :: |

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Thursday, February 16, 2006

More talk with Mars entering Gemini tomorrow

Mars has been traveling through Taurus since July of last year - a long time for fast moving Mars and the longest time Mars has traveled through Taurus since 1974. Mars turns retrograde only once every two years or so, and since Mars entered Taurus we saw two Mars retrograde periods where actions result more from internal stimuli and tend to be more hidden and less easily understood.

Taurus is a fixed earth sign: stubborn and placid and rooted in solid values and beliefs. Mars represents raw drive and aggression, and its journey through Taurus has in many ways made it difficult to move forward, and with Mars in Taurus we have seen opinions and ideas become more entrenched and less fluid.

Mars enters Gemini on Friday February 17 at 4:45 pm EST. Gemini is a mutable and highly verbal sign associated with matters of communication and experience. Gemini is able to try on different ideas and costumes in order to learn more about the ideas of others. Mars will remain in Gemini only until mid-April but hopefully we will be able to benefit from the much-needed lubrication that it potentially can bring to the difficult negotiations in the current global arena: with Iran, in the US Congress, in Israel.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:48 PM :: |

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Tuesday, February 14, 2006

What happened to Paul Hackett?

Most people don't know much about Paul Hackett, but he was beginning to look like a rising star in the Democratic party. An Iraq war and Marine Corps veteran, he ran for Congress in a special 2005 election and was narrowly defeated by Jean Schmidt amidst widespread reports of election fraud. Still, Hackett garnered 48 percent of the vote in an overwhelmingly Republican district and decided to run in the 2006 election.

Suddenly today he announced that he is withdrawing from the Senate race and possibly from politics altogether, evidently because of machinations from behind the scenes by party leaders. Like Howard Dean, Hackett owed little to the Democratic party, raising most of his money and support in "netroots" campaigns over the internet. Unfortunately, Hackett's competitor Sherrod Brown evidently raised more money: with $2.4 million in his coffers to Hackett's $700,000. Like Howard Dean, the party leaders felt Hackett couldn't be controlled and withdrew their support in favor of a more "winnable" candidate. We saw what happened in 2004 with John Kerry, but history is doomed to repeat itself.

Paul Hackett IS a bit of a loose cannon - he is brash, outspoken, and has an appeal that reaches across party affiliations due to his support of gun rights and his military background. His life has been filled with change: After receiving his law degree from Cleveland State University and a stint in the Journalism department of American University, he was admitted to the Bar in 1988. Shortly thereafter he enlisted in the Marine Corps, where he saw active duty between 1989 and 1992, followed by a stint in the Marine Corps Reserves. He opened his law office in 1994 and served on the city council of Milford Ohio from 1995 until 1998 when he retired to spend more time with his family. In 2004 he volunteered for active duty in Iraq, returning in 2005 when he immediately entered the race for the Congressional seat. He lost, but his spectacular showing in an overwhelmingly Republican district made him an attractive candidate for the 2006 election until Sherrod Brown entered the primary with a $2 million war chest.

Paul Hackett (view chart) , like Alito and Delay, profiled elsewhere in this blog, is an Aries, with both Sun and Venus falling in that fiery sign. Aries is ruled by Mars, the god of war, and is concerned with primacy and aggression. Aries is the warrior - somewhat self-centered and blunt, but also courageous and full of life. However, Mars in Hackett's chart falls in Pisces, the watery sign of compassion, escapism and intuition that seeks to flow through life rather than confront challenges. Pisces does not like aggression, and it is therefore a challenging place for Mars to be - particularly for an Aries male. His Mercury, showing the way he thinks and processes information, is also in Pisces indicating that although he is creative and intuitive, he may have difficulty facing reality.

This sets up a conflict in Hackett's nature between the need of the Aries Sun to assert his primacy and the tendency of his Pisces Mars and Mercury to want to escape the challenge and seek a more comfortable way of life. In fact, Hackett has four planets in Pisces making the Pisces influence very powerful in his chart that ultimately overpowers the fire of his Aries Sun and Venus. This is evident in his life story thus far: periods of warfare and challenge alternating with a retreat into a more peaceful life. However, Saturn (discipline and stability) is in harmonious aspect to his Sun which helps to stabilize him and keep him from vacillating in destructive ways.

Hackett's chart shows an exact opposition between Chiron (the wounded healer archetype) and Pluto (the archetype of transformation, death and rebirth) - this is a powerful system that applies continuous pressure on the individual to face painful issues (Chiron) in order to heal and transform himself (Pluto) in an ongoing process of personal evolution. The planet Uranus has been transiting this Chiron/Pluto in Hackett's chart since March of last year, hitting again in August/September in time for the congressional election, and hitting now again for the final time. Transits of Uranus bring radical change into our lives, inspiring us to try new things and recreate ourselves in a totally new way.

Hackett has been experiencing a series of Jupiter (abundance and opportunity) transits since December, and this indicates that his release from the campaign may turn out to be beneficial and lift a burden from him. Transiting Saturn (testing and disappointments) began a stressful opposition to Saturn in Hackett's chart in November of last year, showing that he has been under a great deal of stress. This will remain in effect until next summer,and Saturn is also making a harmonious aspect (Trine) to Hackett's Sun. The combination of a difficult and harmonious transit of Saturn combined with the liberation of the Jupiter influences will serve to build internal strength and stamina, and this could be a time when Hackett finds himself a solid direction and life plan.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 5:55 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Happy Valentine's Day!

The history of Valentine's Day is a fascinating one. In its zeal to replace the beloved pagan gods with Christian saints, the historical truths were often stretched in order to create the appropriate qualities to be worshiped in the stead of the old gods. A variety of legends have survived concerning the origin of St. Valentine, but most agree that he was executed some time in the 3rd century C.E. It's difficult to fathom what in these legends constituted saintly behavior, but Valentinius was promoted to the rank of Saint in the 5th century C.E. by Pope Gelasius I just in time to replace the pagan festivals of mid-February.

Some sources say that Pope Gelasius I wanted a holy day to replace Lupercalia, the celebration for the god Lupercus, the god of fertility, but others deny any such connection. It is more likely that Valentine's Day replaces the festival of Februa, also known as Juno Februa, mother of Mars and the patroness of marriage and fertility. Legends of these two festivals have been combined in the histories, and februa has been defined as the instruments of purification used by young men in the Lupercalia festival. However, this may have been early disinformation by the patriarchal church to minimize the power of the goddess Juno whose passion was not appreciated by the early Roman Church.

Whatever the origins of February, Valentine's Day is a good time to remember those you love: family, friends, husband, wifes AND lovers.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:16 AM :: |

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Monday, February 13, 2006

This is not Darth Cheney's week

photo courtesy of huffingtonpost.com

Cheney's technique for dealing with the press is "never explain, never apologize" but the press is calling on Cheney to come clean about his shooting of his hunting partner over the weekend. This embarrasing episode comes on the heels of his potentially being named by ex-aide Scooter Libby as the instigator for the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame.

Cheney is such a fascinating character (see the earlier profile in this column) - filled with potential to be a powerful voice of good, his greed and lust for power has twisted him into a caricature, an archetype of evil in our time. He has also been riddled with heart disease, suffering his first heart attack at the age of 36.

Cheney's latest troubles coincide with Sunday's Full Moon (we typically find the effects of the Full Moon beginning around 3 days before the actual lunation event, and extending about three days beyond it). The Full Moon occurs when the solar conscious principle opposes the lunar instinctive principle, resulting in a release of a tremendous amount of energy. This Full Moon (meaning the both the Sun and Moon) exactly squared (90 degrees) Uranus in Cheney's chart, thus precipitating for him a sudden (Uranus) change of events.

The Saturn/Chiron opposition discussed in recent articles (see below) is having a strong effect on Cheney's chart, resulting in his hospitalization in January for shortness of breath and gout. We are likely to see more health problems for the next few months, particularly now that Saturn (which is currently traveling retrograde) slows down before turning direct (moves forward) in March. Saturn transits can bring hardship that test our ability to focus on our goals, and Chiron acts by forcing us to face painful issues in our life that we have ignored. Ignoring the lessons of these gods can bring failure (Saturn) and health problems (Chiron) as unresolved issues are left to fester.

Cheney has been driven more and more into the shadows by the administration, but his legacy of secret energy policies and polical lies continue to haunt the American political landscape.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:59 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Planetary news this week

Mercury (communication) is approaching a conjunction to Uranus (inventive creativity and revolutionary thinking) which will be exact on February 14th. When these two planets interact we tend to see abrupt (Uranus) changes in opinions (Mercury), radical (Uranus) new ideas (Mercury), and sometimes revolutionary (Uranus) reactions to discussions (Mercury). Because Mercury moves quickly any effects of this conjunction will be swift and only last for a few days. In the news, we have the revelation (Uranus) the Cheney instructed Scooter Libby to talk (Mercury) to the press. Iran's president tells his people (Mercury) that they can stand alone (Uranus) and don't need world support. And new (Uranus) rumors (Mercury) emerge that the Pentagon is planning to attack Iran.

More significant is the approach of Saturn to Chiron (see earlier article). We are seeing more evidence of the healing crisis that is erupting as old and hidden wounds (Chiron) are forced into the open (Saturn) so that they can become healed. Violent riots across the globe protesting a cartoon of Muhammad, revealing the simmering anger of Islamics at being disrespected by the rest of the world. More photos of troops (this time British) abusing prisoners have come into the public eye. And the power of the Republican party is beginning to fracture (Saturn) as its abuses become known.

In the financial markets, we are still seeing the effects of the "irrational exuberance" of the Jupiter/Neptune square, especially in the emerging markets (see earlier article). In India, market watchers are worried about a runup that defies reasonable expectations. In Korea, Istanbul, and Malaysia, foreign speculation is driving up stock prices to prices that are not supported by the facts. This is looking a lot like the stock market bubble of 2000. This Jupiter/Neptune configuration will ease off in the period from May through July, but Saturn's entry into the dance is likely to force us back to reality with a strong market correction.

For Valentine's Day, though, we have Venus (goddess of love) in harmonious aspect (sextile) to the opportunity of Jupiter, making this a great day for all kinds of relationships.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:14 AM :: |

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Friday, February 10, 2006

Kanye West's Messiah Complex

You've got to admire Kanye West's cojones. In the most repressive political climate since the Puritans ran this country, West is not afraid to express his controversial (but well-researched) opinions on everything from the origin of AIDS (a man made disease placed in African communities with the polio vaccine, an idea that is gaining respectability) to the lack of caring of the Bush administration for black people after Hurricane Katrina. Now on the heels of his song "Jesus Walks" he appears as Jesus on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and has been quoted on saying that he would be a character in a modern bible because he is an inspiration to the culture and is definitely in the history books already. At the same time he is one of the most successful hip hop stars in history, with ten Grammy nominations. West began his career as a record producer and songwriter but went on to create his own records, even recording three weeks after a traffic accident through a wired jaw.

What kind of astrological forces create an individual with such confidence and tenacity? West is a Gemini, with the Sun closely conjunct Jupiter. Geminis are mercurial creatures, able to slip in and out of personas and wear different masks in different situations. They are curious and thirsty for experience. Jupiter (expansion and opportunity) closely conjuncts his Sun, giving West not only a high degree of confidence/arrogance but also a certain amount of easy luck. His Sun/Jupiter conjunction is opposed by Neptune (see this article about the current Jupiter/Neptune square), opening up his spirit to a high degree of creativity (Neptune), but also posing the danger of falling into Neptune's misty illusions. However, disciplined Saturn makes a harmonious aspect with both his Sun/Jupiter and his Neptune, providing West with a strength of character and an ability to create strategies and plans (Saturn) to achieve his goals and take advantage of his natural luck.

West was born into an affluent family and had more opportunities than many hip hop stars are born with, but he also has the ability to work hard and perfect his craft. Mars (personal drive) in his chart is in Taurus, a fixed sign that is stubborn and tenacious. This gives him an ability to persevere (Taurus) in that which he wants to achieve (Mars) that a Gemini with their need for change and stimulation would not normally possess. His Mars is opposed by radical and outspoken Uranus, giving him a quick (Uranus) temper (Mars) and his rebellious nature and tendency to speak out without fear.

Kanye West is just heading into his Saturn return, a period between age 28-30 when Saturn returns to its place in our birthchart and we are forced to leave our childhood behind and become adults. This period can be miserable for some and bring great success to others. I am pretty sure that we are just beginning to hear from Kanye West, and that he will be tested in the public eye over the next year as his Saturn return progresses. However, his success is also only only just beginning and he is likely to remain a major player in the music world and in the public eye for quite some time to come.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:51 AM :: |

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Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Saturn/Chiron and the World Healing Crisis

In ancient Greek mythology, Chiron was the son of the god Kronos/Saturn. Saturn desired to mate with Philyra who, with the help of Hera, changed herself into a horse to escape Saturn's advances. Saturn, however, became a horse just in time to accomplish his goal and the result was Chiron, half man and half horse. Chiron was no ordinary Centaur; he was half-divine and after having been abandoned as a baby on a mountaintop by his horrified mother he was later, according to some accounts, adopted by Apollo became a master healer and astrologer, renowned for his wisdom and became a teacher of many including Achilles.

In astrological symbolism, Chiron represents the process of healing that forces us to expose old wounds to the light of consciousness so that they can be healed. Saturn represents obstacles and responsibility and tests us, ultimately developing strength of character. The opposition of Saturn to Chiron in the planetary skies brings a global test (Saturn) to societies and individuals that are wounded and forces a "healing crisis" in order to facilitate change.

Because of the illusion of retrograde motion, planets sometimes appear to be moving backwards in the sky and therefore can aspect each other multiple times during one planetary event. When this occurs, the dynamic expressed by these planets over those multiple times increases in intensity. For example, in early 1986 Saturn approached an opposition to Chiron at the time of the crash of the Space Shuttle challenger that killed all seven astronauts aboard and terminated for a time the exploration of space. Shortly after the exact opposition one of the Chernobyl reactors explodes, causing the worst nuclear disaster in history and terminating for a time the expansion of nuclear power.

As Saturn made the second opposition to Chiron in that series, the Iran/Contra scandal was exposed causing a serious wound to the American government. As Saturn approached the third opposition to Chiron, stock markets around the world fell in the great Crash of 1987 which caused repercussions around the globe.

As we approach a new opposition of Saturn to Chiron we are seeing an eruption of crises that have long been ignored and are coming to a head now to be dealt with. The dysfunction in the US government, the division in the Islamic world between terrorist factions and peaceful groups, the fracturing of the Republican party between the true conservatives and the right wing, and currently a new challenge by evangelical groups who support protecting the environment against the right wing agenda of the current administration and their evangelical cronies who believe man's dominion over nature was intended by god. As these crises come to a head there is an opportunity for tremendous growth and evolution as we navigate the rough waters. Maintaining a long view of the situation can help us keep our perspective as things become more difficult.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:12 AM :: |

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Tuesday, February 07, 2006

The ebb and flow of the cycles of time

art from mandalas.com

As humans, we tend to think that happiness is better than sadness, that good luck is better than bad. We may avoid difficult confrontations and pursue more comfortable situations. When tragedy strikes our well-protected lives, we shout out to our god of choice: “How could you do this to me??” We believe that our birthright is the pursuit of happiness, and we spend our lives trying to protect ourselves from sorrow.

The soul, however, has a different journey. The soul travels an ancient evolutionary path that seeks wisdom and connection with the divine. Often in our desire to defend ourselves from discomfort, we erect barriers within ourselves. Often we become so effective in compartmentalizing our emotions we become cut off from our very selves, our soul and our spirit.

In astrological terms, the orbiting planets form geometric angles to each other as they travel through the solar system, and also to our birthchart planets. We call these movements “transits.” Each transiting planet has its own nature, its own personality and its own purpose—calling upon us as the ancient gods they represent to bring forth something in ourselves that has been lost. The inner planets move quickly: a transit of Venus will encourage relationships and creativity, a transit of Mars demands that we defend ourselves appropriately. Easy Jupiter transits can bring financial opportunity, or liberate us from difficult situations, whereas the challenging transits can cause reckless and risky behavior. The outer, or transpersonal planets, including Saturn which acts as the bridge between the personal planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter) and transpersonal (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto), take much longer to traverse the zodiac and therefore their effects are felt for a longer period of time.

Some periods are harmonious and bring opportunity, and some are difficult and bring challenges and pain. However, hidden in each cycle is a gift that can aid us in our evolutionary journey as individuals and as the human collective. That is what this humble blogger seeks in the articles chosen for this column.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:34 AM :: |

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Sunday, February 05, 2006

Sheryl and Lance call it quits

I am always suspicious when a couple is excessively demonstrative in public, constantly talking about how happy they are as if they have something they need to prove, even if only to themselves. And even though I'm a big Sheryl Crow fan, something about this relationship bothered me from the beginning. Then when I heard her new Wildflower CD it seemed she had changed, softened but not necessarily in a good way. So I wasn't really surprised to hear that Sheryl and Lance announced that they were splitting up.

Sheryl Crow has an extreme chart - she has a whopping 6 planets in Aquarius: Saturn/Mars/Mercury and Jupiter/Sun/Venus. Jupiter/Sun/Venus indicates a strong attractive (Venus) power that can bring success (Jupiter). Saturn/Mars/Mercury gives her a good head for business but a temper too (Mars/Mercury). Aquarius is a rational air sign, and not by itself well suited to personal relationships. (See this post on Aquarius for more details.) Her Jupiter/Sun conjunction gives her a taste for adventure and a need for freedom, but her Sun/Venus conjunction shows that she seeks to be in relationships (Venus) in order to fully express her Self.

To complicate matters, that Sun/Venus is opposed by Uranus, the planet of individuality and rebellion. This sets up a relatively common conflict called the "freedom/closeness dilemma," where part of us wants to be close in relationships and another part of us does not. We've seen several other women in this column with similar dynamics: Angelina Jolie and Evangeline Lilly. Often people with this kind of inner conflict handle it by consistently attracting partners who are remote or unavailable.

Lance Armstrong is a miracle on the bicycle. After recovering from testicular cancer he went on to win the Tour de France seven times. A Virgo, he has four planets in that sign including Mercury and his Moon, and Pluto conjunct the Sun. Pluto deals with issues of death and rebirth, and when Pluto is so close to the Sun as it is in Lance's chart the individual often is forced to deal with these issues from a front row seat. Virgo is concerned with matters of health and healing, and can be meticulous about nutrition and exercise. Lance Armstrong is known in the sporting world for his diligence in training and technique.

Pluto also conjuncts Venus in Lance's chart, although they are "out of sign" which weakens the conjunction somewhat. Still, the force of the underworld (Pluto) strongly marks his relationships (Venus), showing that he can be intensely passionate with his loved ones. Jupiter (opportunity) and Neptune (creativity) are in harmonious relationship (sextile) to Venus in his chart, showing that he has a strong creative streak (Neptune/Venus) and that his relationships with others bring him good fortune (Jupiter/Venus).

Astrological compatibility is an interesting adventure. The textbooks would say that Lance as a Virgo and Sheryl as an Aquarius are incompatible, yet they had some strong attractive qualities between them. Each one's Mars conjuncts the other, showing strong sexual chemistry and compatibility. Each one's Saturn makes a harmonious aspect (trine) to that of the other, showing that they felt a strong commitment (Saturn) to each other and a desire to formalize (Saturn) their relationship. However, the difficulties were evident: Lance's strong Virgo need to continue to focus on his work in order to achieve the famous Virgo perfection could not accommodate Sheryl's need to continually reinvent her life (Aquarius/Uranus) and break free of the routine that Virgo craves. There is some evidence in their chart interaction that Sheryl may have overwhelmed Lance with her intensity (her Pluto conjunct his Mercury), especially since his chart predisposes him to conflicted emotions regarding that kind of Plutonic intensity. There is also some evidence that she could be deceived by him (his Mars squaring her Neptune), or that she failed to clearly see where the relationship was going.

Sheryl has been having a rough time over the past year or so. Transiting Uranus has made a pass over Pluto in Sheryl's chart, turning her world upside down and disorienting her completely. Ironically, the final pass of this transit occurred on February 3, the date the split was announced. Saturn has been testing her with an opposition to her natal Saturn, creating blocks and disappointments and keeping her from moving forward. In addition, transiting Chiron (in Aquarius) is just beginning a pass of Sheryl's Aquarian planets. However, transiting Pluto is beginning a harmonious dance with Venus in her chart, showing us that this experience will help to facilitate a powerful transformation (Pluto) in the way that she approaches relationships (Venus) in her life.

Previous interviews with Lance Armstrong show that marriage was never a strong goal for him, and the gossip mill indicates that he was the instigator of the split. His transits (including several harmonious transits of Chiron, the wounded healer archetype) marking the period before the breakup seem to indicate that he was in an evolutionary process of healing. But he also was experiencing transiting Uranus in stressful aspect to Mercury in his chart, instigating sudden changes in direction and unpredictability. Rumor has it that Lance had already broken it off with Sheryl several times during this period and perhaps they will ultimately reconcile. In order to achieve lasting happiness in a partnership, however, the individuals must realize the truth of their own direction and that of their partners.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 5:48 PM :: |

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Thursday, February 02, 2006

10th planet proves bigger than Pluto

For 5,000 years astrologers worked with the same seven planets (Mercury through Saturn - now known as the "inner planets." The discovery of Uranus in 1781, followed by Neptune in 1846 and Pluto in 1930 changed astrology forever by introducing the concept of "transpersonal" planets. Where the inner planets rule issues of personality and individuality, the outer planets rule issues of individual rights and the collective (Uranus), transcendence, mysticism and spirituality (Neptune) and death and transformation (Pluto). Chiron's discovery in 1977 added another layer of complexity to the astrological framework when it was determined to rule the process of healing.

The discovery of each planet occurred during a period of intense change. Uranus's discovery coincided with a revolutionary fervor that created the United States, arguably changing the course of the planet forever, as well as revolutions in France and Russia and the Industrial revolution. Neptune's discovery coincided with a rise of mysticism and a worldwide interest in spiritism, as well as Helena Blavatsky and the theosophical movement. Pluto was discovered four months after the crash of the stock market and its discovery was followed shortly by the birth of psychology under the guidance of Sigmund Freud, the rise of Hitler and Nazism, and the birth of the atom bomb. Chiron's discovery in 1977 coincided with the rise of alternative healing practices and the concept of the mind-body connection.

Yesterday scientists revealed that a new planet, UB313 (temporarily named "Xena"), is larger than Pluto and therefore a strong candidate to be considered the tenth planet in the solar system. Sedna and Quaoar, both recently discovered planet-like objects past Pluto, have not been accepted into "planethood" by either the scientific or astrology communities. (It should be mentioned, however, that the scientific community still is divided on the significance of Chiron whose influence has proven to be powerful for astrologers.)

What will this new planet bring to the astrological pantheon and the expanding human consciousness? Once the planet is named, astrologers will begin to delve into the symbolism that amazingly and synchronistically connects the names of the planets to their astrological function. Star IQ has an interesting article about how astrology connects with the discovery of new planets. There's little doubt that humanity is on the verge of a major shift, and perhaps this new planet will offer a clue to our new direction.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:06 AM :: |

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