MANIFESTATION OF PLUTO: NEWTOWN

photo credit

Eric Francis has posted the noon birth chart of Adam Lanza, the twenty year old who gunned down twenty-six people last week, and there, at the November 13, 2012 solar eclipse degree of 21°57 Scorpio is Adam's natal Pluto at 22°6 Scorpio. As the late Robert Blaschke has said: solar eclipses are malefic. The eclipse stimulated Adam’s Pluto (natally trine Mars and sextile a partile conjunction of Uranus and Neptune), and last week when transiting Mars cast a sextile to the eclipse degree and the transiting North Node, he grabbed his weapons. In addition, transiting Uranus was conjunct natal Mercury at the North Bending of the natal nodes, trine transiting Mercury, when something in his brain, snapped. Given the involvement of transiting Neptune, psychotropic drugs may have been involved.

click to enlarge

            It is important to remember that the speed of the nodes is extremely variable. Their movement slows as an eclipse approaches and they can remain in a single degree for two months. For example, at the November 13^th eclipse, the transiting North Node was at 26°3 Scorpio, and it stood at this degree throughout October and November. In early December, the node entered 25° degrees, and by January it will be at 24°. By then it will have picked up speed and will cover 8° by April. At this time, it will slow again in advance of the May 10, 2013 solar eclipse at 19° Taurus. Because of this variable speed, any planet near an eclipse degree can be doubly activated. The planet is first thrown into crisis by the eclipse, and then stimulated for a prolonged length of time by the transiting node. For Adam, with the transiting North Node conjoined (3° degrees) his eclipse-activated natal Pluto, what he expressed outwardly was the archetypal energy of the dark planet.

What a sad statement of our society that this troubled twenty year-old youth felt so disconnected from others that this was his answer to whatever was disturbing him. If Pluto symbolizes the personal unconscious, that part of our psyche that is irrational, cruel, heartless, resentful, and raging, which ‘normal’ people manage to lock up and safely contain, well his materialized and broke free last Friday morning. The carnage was from Pluto, unleashed in the outer world. 

HILLARY AND THE VENUS-NORTH NODE CONJUNCTION

photo credit

Last week, Venus conjoined the North Node and two powerful women made news. The first was Hillary Clinton, preparing to end her term as Secretary of State amidst wild speculation she will run in 2016 for president. According to a Bloomberg National Poll published the day of the conjunction, 70% of Americans have a ‘mostly or favorable view of Clinton.’ Since Venus symbolizes a woman, the North Node indicates physical manifestation, and Scorpio represents power, that a powerful woman would make news was not too startling.

            But why Hillary?

The transiting conjunction provides no context, which is only obtained through the interactions of the transits with the natal chart. So, I was surprised to see the transiting North Node and Venus conjunct the natal South Node. Hillary was having a half-nodal return, a time when the North and South nodes exchange notes about the manifest and unmanifest realms. Since the transits activate the nativity, with the South Node stimulated, I was expecting some manner of loss. Typically, no matter how spiritual the South Node may be, its activation almost always coincides with suffering or loss. Yet, what was expressed here was high standing and professional accolades. This was doubly puzzling since the transiting North Node was square natal Saturn at the transiting South Bending, further suggesting some outward loss for Saturn (standing, authority). Nonetheless, here she was, practically being elected president four years in advance (transiting Venus-North Node trine natal Moon). I interpreted the meaning of the natal South Node as service; she is sacrificing herself for the country.

click to enlarge

            However, yesterday, news surfaced that at the ‘beginning of the week’ (likely Monday or Tuesday, December 10-11), Clinton picked up a stomach virus, became severely dehydrated, fainted and suffered a concussion. As a result she would be unable to testify on the Hill this week about the Benghazi attacks. On Monday December 10, 2012, transiting Venus was at 23°27 Scorpio, in partile conjunction with her natal South Node (applying 7'), conjunct the Ascendant, natal Mercury, progressed Chiron, and square natal Saturn. Here was an unhappy loss (Venus conjunct the natal South Node) from a manifest (North Node) head (first house) wound (Chiron) that negatively affected her health (Venus ruling the 6^th), left her unconscious (natal Mercury in the 12^th) and unable to fulfill her professional duties (Saturn at the transiting South Bending).

            What of the other woman? Read on…

SUSAN RICE AND THE VENUS-NORTH NODE CONJUNCTION

photo credit

On Thursday, December 13, 2012, one day after the partile conjunction of transiting Venus and the North Node, Susan Rice withdrew her candidacy for Secretary of State amidst the political brouhaha over the Benghazi attack. In Republican circles, she has been widely criticized, particularly by Senator John McCain, for reiterating White House talking points on the Sunday morning news shows. Pundits have opined that his wrath is a response to her aggressive stance against him in the run-up to the 2008 election when she campaigned for Obama.

            As is too often the case, Susan has no recorded birth time. In these instances, a fountain of information can be gleaned from the nodes. Natally, Mercury rules the North Node, and Jupiter rules the South Node. This year, progressed Mercury will conjunct the progressed South Node, an indication of some manner of loss for Mercury. On Thursday the transiting Sun was conjunct this pair, activating the aspect. As a result of misinformation, received and delivered, she withdrew her name from consideration(Mercury ruling the North Node outwardly expressing the loss of the South Node).

click to enlarge

Meanwhile, the transiting Venus-North Node conjunction was conjunct the natal Sun. A repetition of aspects is a signal to pay attention: something important is happening. (Here the combination was between the Sun and a node). The natal Sun is square Saturn in Aquarius that was at the transiting North Bending. What appears to have materialized in Susan’s life was John McCain’s heavy hand of authority: he did not appreciate her power (or sincerely believes she has used it inappropriately – transiting Venus in detriment in Scorpio). In addition, the White House that provided the talking points, did little to support her (Saturn square Sun). Realizing her own weak position, Susan decided not to pursue a higher position of responsibility. Although the houses would shed further light on the circumstances, the nodes and the planets conjunct and square them, often supply sufficient information to tell the story.  

THE NEWTOWN MASSACRE

photo credit

The event chart of the elementary school shootings that killed twenty young children and six adults highlights the nodal axis and the South Node ruler. At 9.40 a.m., the time CNN reported the shooting began, the transiting North Node was conjunct the event MC. As I describe in my book, the angles and the nodes are astronomically – and astrologically – similar. I envision the angles and nodes as windows that allow the entrance of the astrological energy that brings aspecting planets to life. With the node and the MC together, the window is broad, and the incoming force is all the more powerful.

                                  click to enlarge

            In the event chart, Venus, the ruler of the South Node was conjunct the North Node. In Scorpio, the planet of happiness, relationship, and love, is in detriment and more likely to express negatively. Since planets conjunct the North Node manifest outwardly, and the South Node ruler is typically related to loss, sacrifice, or sorrow, this was what Venus brought to bear to a children’s school on a cold December day: heartache, sadness, and loss of love.

            Pluto, ruler of the North Node, was in a yod with Saturn and Jupiter. Pluto is currently in partile sextile to Saturn and the planets are in mutual reception; both were quincunx Jupiter, debilitated by sign and retrogradation. The configuration was activated by the Moon, which had just left the degree of the apex planet, Jupiter, and its conjunction to Pluto. I view yods as a frustrating combination of energy that has no resolution. This yod expressed in the irrational actions of a twenty-year-old with assault weapons, and helpless children and teachers with no avenue of escape. The configuration describes the outward manifestation of terror and death to innocent children in an environment under the control of authority and typically assumed to be safe.

            Mercury in detriment in Sagittarius is also significant as it is in the degree of its first station on November 6, 2012 – a degree activated by the station. Mercury was opposite the November 28^th lunar eclipse degree of 6°47 Gemini, while the debilitated Jupiter was conjunct it. A lunar eclipse denotes culmination and events that unfold quickly and have far-reaching effects.

            I suspect that when the birth data of the shooter (and victims) are known, that the eclipse degree, nodes and yod will contact significant points in natal charts. Until then, the investigation continues, and a heartbreaking weekend ten days before Christmas unfolds without twenty children and six teachers who leave behind presents under joyless trees and loved ones asking ‘why’? 

THE RULERS CONNECT A THIRD TIME

Since the nodes regressed into Scorpio (North Node) and Taurus (South Node) on August 19, 2012, the rulers (Venus and Pluto) have made two contacts (see posts October 31st and November 21st). Each time there was news about the U.S. presidential election (including the attack in Benghazi), extreme weather, and conflict in the Middle East. On November 28th, an hour after the Lunar Eclipse, the two planets perfected their third aspect – a waning sextile (8° Scorpio to 8° Capricorn) and I expected these three areas would make headlines again. I was not disappointed.
        Astrologically, Venus was in detriment in Scorpio, Pluto’s sign, and separating from a conjunction with Saturn; while Mars and Pluto were in partile conjunction in Capricorn, in mutual reception with Saturn. The Lunar Eclipse at 6°46 Gemini, activated the sextile and formed a yod with the Moon at the apex. The yod is called the finger of god, and considered an aspect of fate. In my mind this is because the aspect indicates a situation that is out of your hands: you’re backed into a corner with no way out and you have to take whatever is handed to you. Here, with the apex planet in an opposition there is an outlet – the Sun in Sagittarius – suggesting a higher ground, a new tack is possible for the taking. Nonetheless, the energy remains combative and antagonistic.

                                 click to enlarge

Given this astrology, what happened during the week (I generally look within three days either side of the exact aspect). On Tuesday, November 27th, Susan Rice, the U.N. Ambassador, headed to the Hill for a private meeting with Senator McCain and other disgruntled Republican leaders about the terrorist attack in Benghazi that led to the death of the Libyan Ambassador and three other Americans. The meeting settled nothing and left Senator Lindsey Graham “more disturbed now than I was before.” It would appear a new line has been drawn in the sand between the White House and Republican adversaries.

 Two days later, on Thursday, November 29th, a day after the aspect perfected, the President had lunch with his former opponent, Mitt Romney. The men shook hands, then lunched on turkey chili and grilled chicken salad. Here was a Full Moon culmination, a bitter loss for one, a triumphant win for another. Later that same day, in New York City, at the U.N., Palestine was granted non-member observer status, an upgrade that will provide more legal avenues for Hamas to address Palestinian grievances. This rebuke to the U.S. and Israel suggests a small shift in the balance of power in the Middle East. Also, November 29th was the one month anniversary of Hurricane Sandy. Tens of thousands of people were displaced by the storm, and the extensive cleanup is ongoing. Those affected are now rebuilding, and facing the power of big insurance. People are becoming increasingly upset as promised help is slow to arrive, and insurance companies are denying payouts. This is what they do. As occurred after Hurricane Katrina, insurance companies safeguard their profit, and later raise premiums to recoup losses, with the government powerless to intervene. Here may be another reset — perhaps enough people will say no — we will not put up with this. In summary, it would appear that at the closing sextile, there was closure on some fronts. One man won a new presidential term, another man conceded defeat. In an endless conflict, one country made strides toward legitimacy. But new battle lines were drawn. What will be the fall-out from Benghazi? What will happen when insurance companies flex their might and close their checkbooks?

 There is an astrological question too. How significant are minor aspects? The semi-sextile between Venus and Pluto will occur on December 24, 2012. At this time will a thread from these themes emerge in the news once more? I will be watching closely to see if there is development along these lines. On January 17, 2013, the two nodal rulers conjunct, indicating the start of a new cycle. Is the old cycle buried and put to rest, or will old conflicts re-emerge? Watch the news the week of January 14-20 for headlines that describe the Capricorn conjunction. These themes are certain to reoccur as the nodal rulers realign and sequentially make contact during the following year – up until February 19, 2014, when the nodal axis regresses into Libra-Aries.

THE NODES AND PREDICTING THE 2012 ELECTION OUTCOME

Now that the election is over, hindsight enables astrologers who predicted the election outcome, an opportunity to analyze the accuracy of their technique. I first looked at the election in the fall of 2011, when I was writing the chapter on President Obama for my book. At the time, the front running Republican was uncertain, but it seemed to me as if all fingers were pointing at Mitt Romney, and so, I looked at both their charts to see what nodal aspects they would experience come election day.

            History is always a good guide and since both men had lost big elections, it was instructive to check this out too (these charts aren’t shown here, but they’re in my book on pages 242 and 258). In 2000, Obama lost his primary bid to become the Democratic nominee for Illinois in the U.S. Congress. The transiting nodes were at 1° Leo, aligned with his natal Mercury-Jupiter opposition. Given natal Jupiter (ruling the 11^th) at the South Node, this expressed as the loss of a dream. Romney lost his election to become Senator of Massachusetts in 1994, eighteen years ago (think one nodal cycle). At the time, the transiting North Node was at 15° Scorpio square natal Pluto at the South Bending. While there were other confirming aspects in play, this described a loss of power.

click to enlarge

            Fast forward to 2012, with the transiting nodes at 26° Scorpio-Taurus. For Obama, they aligned with his Mc-Ic axis, with the North Node at the top of the chart. This was square the natal North Node at the transiting North Bending, signaling a time of professional culmination. It would not be an easy fight. The transiting North Node was square natal Uranus (and the natal North Node) at the South Bending, denoting a drain of energy for the president (Uranus rules the Ascendant). [It is important to see this distinction: the transiting North Node is at the North Bending of the natal North Node; the natal North Node is at the South Bending of the transiting North Node.] 

   Transiting Neptune, now fully engaged in Pisces, had separated from its conjunction with the natal South Node, an aspect that had coincided with a sustained period of financial infighting over the country’s dismal economy (Neptune rules the 2^nd house of money, and, in a leader’s nativity, personal aspects often translate into public concerns). With this aspect over, and with assistance from natal Saturn and progressed Jupiter, energized through a sextile/trine to the transiting nodes, Obama emerged victorious.

            For Romney, the transiting North Node was conjunct his natal Moon-Jupiter conjunction, a position that would auger well, except for the fact that Jupiter rules Romney’s 7^th house, which represents his opponent—this transit appears to have helped the president. The transiting South Node was in the 12^th house conjunct the progressed Sun and progressed Mercury in Taurus, and Romney was suffering from gaffes and a perception of entitlement he projected onto less fortunate others. The aspect expressed as a fall from grace and loss of personal standing (Mercury ruling the Ascendant, and the Sun ruling the self). Transiting Neptune in Pisces made a square to Romney’s natal nodal axis, such that the planet of delusion and confusion was aligned at the South Bending, and the negative traits of the planet manifest. With the South-Bending Neptune trine transiting Saturn, Romney felt he would win. It was not to be. Transiting Saturn was square progressed Saturn and the progressed Sun, and quincunx the progressed North Node and natal Ascendant, and there was bitter disappointment that made for a difficult finish at the end of a six year long campaign. 

click to enlarge

           What was my prediction about the election?  Writing in 2011, I concluded that: "Given these aspects, Obama looks strong, despite a jaded and disheartened public (p. 248)." In regards to Romney: "Although the current polls have Romney winning over Obama in a two-way race (statistically they are even), when considering the progressions and transits on election day, Obama appears stronger than Romney. As transpired eighteen years previously, if Romney is running in this race, he will likely lose. (p. 262)." 

ELECTION DAY’S MERCURY RETROGRADE

With the presidential election now over, astrologers have been weighing in on the meaning of Mercury going retrograde on election day. Since a similar astrological event occurred in the 2000 election, some thought there would be a similar result – the verdict would be delayed. This did not occur and at 11.14 pm on November 6, NBC declared the winner.

            In hindsight, the meaning of the retrograde can be gleaned from each candidate’s chart and the house of Mercury’s travel. Moving direct, the messenger entered his shadow on October 18, 2012 at 18° Scorpio. This was two days after the second presidential debate that solidified Romney’s momentum  and highlighted Obama’s questionable handling of the Benghazi attack. As Mercury traversed Scorpio, it was moving through Obama’s 9^th house of foreign affairs as he faced questions about the killing of the American Ambassador and three others on September  11, 2012. For Romney, Mercury was moving through the 6th house and he was hammering home his theme of fiscal responsibility, getting rid or Obamacare, and enacting policies that would bring new jobs. The race was tightening. 

            On October 29^th, Mercury left Scorpio and entered Sagittarius, bringing a change of agenda. For the president, Libya was off the front burner and Hurricane Sandy was in the news. In Jupiter’s hopeful sign, Romney’s pollsters were running fanciful numbers that showed their candidate winning in a landslide.

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

            Election day came, and with it Mercury’s station. For Obama, the station occurred in his 10^th house and he won. Days later, as Mercury re-entered his 9^th house of foreign affairs he would once again face questions on Benghazi and whether he covered-up the truth in order to win re-election. For Romney, the station of Mercury occurred in his 7^th house, the house not only of marriage partners, but anyone with whom we have a close relationship with. This would include supporters, who came out in jubilant numbers, expecting a win. But Mercury in Sagittarius is in detriment, and for the Romney camp this symbolized inaccurate beliefs that he had the numbers to win. So certain was he of victory he had no concession speech; when the results rolled in he was ‘shell-shocked.’ In the following days, as Mercury retraced its steps in Scorpio, the truth emerged: Romney’s pollsters had made optimistic and erroneous estimates that had no basis in fact. The mainstream polls they called biased, turned out to be correct.

THE NODAL RULERS IN ACTION

In the October 31^st blog “The Rulers Conflict” I made three predictions based on recurring aspects between Pluto and Venus, the current nodal rulers. On November 3^rd, the two planets would perfect the first hard aspect since the nodal sign ingress, and based on what happened on the two previous dates of contact, I thought that the election, a hurricane, and Israel, would be in the news.

            Of course, with the presidential election on Nov 6^th, that was hardly an insightful prediction. What was interesting was the Republican thread at each contact. With the quincunx, the GOP was asking questions about the killing of the American Ambassador in Libya; with the trine, Romney received a bounce after his stellar first debate. On November 3rd, in the waxing days of campaigning, he and his team foresaw a decisive win, which was not to be.

image credit:

            There was hurricane activity around the quincunx and the trine, but superstorm Sandy, blowing ashore on October 30^th, landed before the square. However, on November 3^rd, weather forecasters were warning about a coming bad winter storm, bringing high winds, bitter cold and deep snow – which arrived on November 7 and 8^th, adding further injury to an already devastated region.

            In regards to Israel and Hamas, which now stand on the brink of war, the first signs of trouble occurred on the trine, which followed in the wake of Obama’s perceived UN snub of President Netanyahu occurring on the quincunx. The current conflict can be traced to November 10^th, when Israel and Hamas began firing rockets at each other. The delay, a week from November 3^rd when the square formed, suggests  that one side gave careful thought about what was to come (it is still unclear to me who fired first). With Venus set to sextile Pluto on November 29^th, there is an opportunity for peace.

            On December 24^th, Venus and Pluto will semi-sextile each other, and I would expect more news from the Middle East, more Republican soul-searching, and more bad weather. On January 16, 2013, Venus and Pluto will conjunct, bringing to a close one set of themes, and initiating another. Pay close attention to what happens during the conjunction, for that will set the stage for coming events that will transpire with the ensuing Venus-Pluto aspects over the course of the year, up to the next conjunction. 

HURRICANE SANDY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ECLIPSE POINT

The late-season hurricane formed in the Caribbean in the last full week of October. It skirted the Florida coast on Thursday night, with the eye 200 miles out to sea. I live near the ocean and the wind was whipping, shaking trees and rattling windows. Friday night, I headed for the beach and gawked at the 10-20 foot waves. By now the hurricane was well to the north, but still out to sea, and yet to make its leftward turn. The weekend passed and the storm slowly chugged on as residents in the most populated region of the country prepared to hunker down. 
                 The eye hit landfall at about 8.00 pm on Monday October 28, at Atlantic City, NJ. Twenty hours later, the damage has been incalculable. Currently, thirty-three people are dead, over seven million are without power, and the estimated economic loss is $20 billion.  With a wind span of over 1000 miles, the hurricane merged with two other cold weather systems, and has been called the storm of the century.

click to enlarge

            What was happening astrologically? Even non-astrologers were fearful of the effect of the full moon on the height of high tide. In New Jersey, the eye came ashore two hours after the lunation, and one hour before high tide. Levees were breached and the flooding was massive. Neptune, the planet symbolizing the ocean and massive quantities of water, is retrograde at 0°24 Pisces, strong in its own sign. It is in its degree of station, essentially standing still and exerting an influence much stronger than usual. Mercury, the planet symbolizing wind, is also about to station. At 0°37 Sagittarius, Mercury is in detriment and within minutes of exact square to Neptune. More importantly, both planets are in hard aspect to the solar eclipse of May 20, 2012 at 0°20 Gemini. Mercury is opposite the eclipse point, while Neptune is square it. Eclipse degrees are sensitive and remain sensitized over time; when they are aspected, large scale events happen.

            In addition, in declination, Mercury at 23S09 was on its way out-of-bounds. Planets outside the defining limits of the ecliptic, are, according to Paul F. Newman, extreme, wild and magnified. And there, out-of-bounds, Mercury would find Mars (23S46), adding energy and fuel to an already potent mix. Also in declination, Pluto, the planet of death and destruction was parallel the North Node, and the dark planet manifest outwardly on the physical plane. At the time of the event (and perhaps timing it), Jupiter, retrograde and in detriment, was on the event Ascendant opposite Mars in Jupiter’s sign, on the Descendant, which expressed as extreme vitality and energy that was without balance, temperance or moderation.

            Having lived through at least six major storms since living in Florida, I feel for those with without electricity or water and with damaged houses and flooding. This isn’t an anomaly though. As New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said, ‘We get the storm of the century every two years.’ Climate change has brought extreme weather.  And yet, not one word during this whole ugly presidential campaign about global warming, or an ocean that is 5-9° warmer than normal. 

THE RULERS CONFLICT

While astrologers are primed to watch for lunations, we seldom notice when the nodal rulers are in hard aspect with each other. Typically, this times a significant event, especially when the aspect touches a point in a natal chart.

On the last day of August, the nodal axis ingressed into Scorpio-Taurus, making Pluto the ruler of the North Node and Venus the ruler of the South Node. In the U.S. chart, Pluto is in the first house affecting the people, whereas fast-moving Venus rules the 10^th and the country’s leader. The nodal rules have been in contact twice since the nodal ingress at a degree impacting the U.S. Jupiter, ruler of the Sibly chart. Typically, a theme (or themes) emerge at the time of each contact. We can use the information from one contact to derive projections about upcoming contacts.

On September 12, 2012, Venus was at 6° Leo quincunx a stationing Pluto at 6° Capricorn, placing the two nodal rulers in a contact of frustration. In the U.S., Obama denied snubbing Netanyahu at the U.N.; in Libya, the U.S. Ambassador and three other Americans were murdered; and in the Atlantic, what would become hurricane Nadine (which lasted 21 days and was one of the top five longest-lived storms in history) was named a tropical storm.

click to enlarge

Nearly one month later, on October 9, 2012, the second contact between the rulers formed, with Venus at 7° Virgo trine Pluto at 7° Capricorn. Around this time, Israel conducted a military strike against the Palestinians, killing one, wounding nine, and damaging a mosque and a water tower. In response, Palestinians fired rockets, but caused no damage. In U.S. politics, five days after the first presidential debate, Romney began to rise in the polls. In the Atlantic, tropical storm Patty formed, which would soon become a hurricane.

The first square between the nodal rulers will occur on Saturday November 3^rd. Given previous history, I would expect the news to feature: Israel, the presidential election, and hurricanes. Specifically, I expect war mongering from the far-right eager to show support for Israel.  I am beginning to suspect that the meaning of the impending Mercury station will be a delay of the election: the vote and/or final tally will not take place on November 6^th as scheduled. Finally, a hurricane will be front-page news: another storm could be forming, or alternatively, Hurricane Sandy could endure far longer than expected. In summary, the rulers of the nodes are drivers of events, and when they are active, stuff happens.

THE FULL MOON AND THE BENDINGS

Long before Hurricane Sandy burst out of the Caribbean heading for the U.S. Capitol eight days before the presidential election, the November Full Moon promised a significant event. Why? Regardless of what time you use for the U.S. nativity, the natal lunar nodes are at 6° Leo (É) and 6° Aquarius (Ê). The Full Moon at 6°46 Taurus-Scorpio was then oriented square the nodes at the bendings. Simply, planets conjunct or square the nodes, manifest. The Sun at the North Bending portends outwardly apparent action from our leader, and the Moon at the South Bending signals loss or sacrifice for the general population. In addition, the transiting North Node at 26° Scorpio is trine natal Mercury, sextile natal Neptune, and sextile natal Pluto, suggesting destructive (Pluto) wind (Mercury) and chaotic water (Neptune).  The Sibly Moon at 27° Aquarius is at the North Bending of the transiting nodes (a double-whammy) and a strong indication of an outer event affecting the people.

click to enlarge

For some time, the group president has been desperate for a website. Since I know nothing about website development, and actually paid someone to do my own, naturally I volunteered (ah, the delusion of the transiting Sun approaching to conjunct natal Neptune). All right, I was infused with the recent confidence of creating a blog and figured I could do it. Despite the quincunx between transiting Uranus and natal Neptune, I did! On the day of the Full Moon, the website went public. It’s too soon to see the response, but I had fun (natal Neptune in the 5^th). I would love to hear others' experiences of this lunation. 

ROMNEY'S RESOUNDING DEBATE

            In his first presidential debate, challenger Mitt Romney dazzled voters with an inspiring and hopeful performance. Down in the polls, for weeks pundits claimed the election hinged on the debates. Could Romney pull himself out of the grave he had dug? He could. He emerged triumphant and resurrected.

THE PRESIDENT'S DEBATE DEBACLE

       By all accounts, in the first debate of the endless 2012 presidential election season, the president performed abysmally. The competent campaigner and talented orator fell flat – stunning disappointed supporters and giving room for a rise in fortune of his challenger.

WELCOME

for photo source:click here

Welcome to Nodes in the News, my personal blog focused on the lunar nodes as they relate to current events. I’m always looking at charts, testing my interpretation of the nodes and the bendings, and thought I would post my observations on how I see the nodes expressing in a horoscope. I spent four years researching the nodes that culminated in my book, When Worlds Collide: Another look at the Lunar Nodes. I believe, for reasons I outline, that we have been interpreting the nodes incorrectly. Since astrology is an empirical science, when the nodes are activated, we can observe what happens and from this draw conclusions about their influence. My method of delineation is different from the standard interpretation and is summarized on my website. You can also use the keywords on the right side of the blog as a guide. My goal for this blog is to enhance familiarity with a new nodal interpretation. To this end, I will keep my focus on the nodes and not delineate an entire chart. I will keep my comments short and to the point and post frequently, but not verbosely. I invite you to open your mind and explore with me the full range of meaning of the lunar nodes as they express outwardly in current events. I welcome your feedback and hope you're not a by-standing observer like me.