VENUS AND MARS CONJUNCTION

On Sunday April 7, 2013, at 12:57 a.m., Venus and Mars formed a conjunction at 20° Aries. This was especially significant since it involved the two rulers of the nodes (considering Mars as the co-ruler of Scorpio). With Mars ruling the North Node, we could expect Martian (war, guns, protests,) events to manifest. With Venus ruling the South Node, there would also be some form of sacrifice, physical loss, or spiritual enlightenment in the Venusian realm (money, love, happiness, relationships). So, what type of Mars-Venus events have transpired?

            North Korea is preparing for war. As a new 29 year-old leader readies an unused nuclear site for missile deployment, additional U.N. sanctions are slapped on the impoverished country. Outside North Korea, countries in power are ‘walking back their rhetoric’, trying to defuse a building threat. In the natal chart, Jupiter is at 20 Sagittarius (natal Moon nearby at 15 Sagittarius) forming a partile trine with the conjunction, suggesting the country’s optimism they will benefit from this grandiose aggression.

            On Sunday, March 31, in an Elite Eight game of March Madness, college basketball player, Kevin Ware suffered a debilitating leg injury that left 6 inches of his femur sticking out of his leg. In his natal chart, Uranus and Neptune are conjunct at 18 Capricorn and natal Mars is at 19 Cancer, forming a t-square with the transiting conjunction. The day following the accident, there were questions over who would pay the medical bills and whether or not Ware would retain his scholarship the following year.

            Hillary Clinton was back in the news last week, appearing in public without her glasses and looking healthy and fit amidst much discussion of a presidential run in 2016. In her natal chart, Saturn is at 21 Leo and formed a trine to the transiting conjunction, and pundits appeared ready to hand her victory in the next presidential election. Also at this time, the transiting North Node at 17 Scorpio is conjunct her natal Venus at 16 Scorpio, and the love for her is gushing.

            President Obama took a pay cut. In his chart, 18 Aquarius is rising, and was sextile to the transiting conjunction. In sympathy with those that have been furloughed due to the sequester, Obama proactively repaid 5% of his salary to the treasury. Since by law, he is not allowed to take a pay cut, he was forced to write a check to the IRS.  The same week, enraging his base, he submitted a budget proposal that would cut both Social Security and Medicare.  

            The Keystone Pipeline has also been in the news. Last week there were three significant crude oil spills, with the largest in Arkansas, where twenty-two residents were evacuated after a significant leak. This has impacted the ongoing debate/protests about the Keystone Pipeline that will transport Canadian tar-sand oil to the refineries in Texas. Intended for export, the pipeline will create few sustainable jobs and provide little economic benefit to the U.S.  In the U.S. natal chart, Chiron is at 20 Aries, suggesting the most recent spill is a wound that has upset and is certain to galvanize activists.

 Meanwhile, the battle over new gun regulation in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook massacre rages on. Two weeks ago, it seemed the battle was lost after the Senate appeared reluctant to even hold a vote against tougher regulation, despite 91% of the population desiring more restrictions. On the popular news program 60 Minutes, the parents of the murdered children spoke out about their loss and vowed that their fight was just getting started.

            Cyprus has also made headlines after that government decided to ‘tax’ bank deposits. This act of aggression sent the country into turmoil and threatened a bank run as depositors swarmed the banks seeking to withdraw their money. On April 3rd, an agreement was reached with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) that promised new austerity for the country in return for a Euro bailout.

            These are just a few headlines in the recent news. In the next few days keep an eye out for additional developments that fulfill the Venus-Mars symbolism. The current headlines illuminate those events that are likely to reappear over the next year as these two planets realign by aspect.

THE CONJUNCTION OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH NODE RULERS

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A number of notable events occurred on the day (Wednesday January 16, 2013; 8.43 pm EST) Venus and Pluto conjoined. The conjunction brought the rulers of the lunar nodes together and marked the beginning of a year-long cycle (ending November 16, 2013). The themes that appeared this day, should arise with regularity whenever the two planets aspect each other in the coming year. What were these events? 

            Although quickly passed over by the mainstream news, I was excited to see the resurrection of the proposal for single payer health insurance in the form of a bill Democratic House members are planning to introduce in attempt to lower health care costs. Given Venus is the planet of money and Pluto the planet of death and transformation, it is an auspicious time to start talking about a reasonable cost necessary to protect health.

            On this day, a number of expatriates working in a B.P. oilfield in Algeria were kidnapped, suggesting that next year the procurement of oil from undemocratic countries may be a problem. The kidnapping itself evokes images of Persephone (Venus) being kidnapped by Hades (Pluto) as she innocently collected flowers (oil) and was transported to the underworld. True to form, the personal accounts of those who lived to tell the tale of terror, sound harrowing.

            The third thing that happened and which received much attention, was President Obama’s twenty-three point plan to enact sensible gun regulation in the wake of the Newtown massacre. The conjunction reflects the murder of innocents, with the mutual reception between Pluto and Saturn suggesting legal regulation becoming a reality. However, with Saturn set to station and move retrograde away from Pluto back in the direction from whence it came, the moment of opportunity may pass without much transformative change.

            The following day, three additional events occurred, with two coming from the sports field. Lance Armstrong, America’s premier cyclist came clean after years of denial to using banned drugs. In his confession to Oprah he appeared uncontrite and unapologetic: he did what he had to do to win. This un-repentance seems reflective of Venus with Pluto in the sense that although he cheated, deceived and played dirty (Pluto), he did so for the best of reasons – he wanted to win and feel good about himself (Venus). It will be interesting to see what the legal response to his confession will be.

            Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te-O also made news, when it came to light that his long-time girlfriend who died from leukemia in September and was such a source of inspiration to him, was not real. He either made her up, or was the victim of a hoax. Venus with Pluto tells the tale of corrupt love, a dead woman and romance, and relational deceit.  The legal fallout from this should also be interesting, although it is unclear to me, why this is such a scandal. Perhaps at any other time, it might not have been.

            Lastly, the stock market rallied on Thursday with the news that Republicans would not hold the debt ceiling hostage and would agree to raise it without a fight in order to pay the bills the country has accrued, thus temporarily protecting the currency from further downgrade and the country’s fledgling recovery. In essence, Congress was going to play nice (Venus) in order to protect the profit of big business (Pluto) who stood to lose the most in another currency downgrade. However, the problem wasn’t put to rest forever, but for three months, when Venus and Pluto will make their first square. Expect more action on this front at that time.

            

MYSTERIOUS PLANE CRASH

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Hillary Clinton has been in the news again and was featured in the ISAR ezine (vol 720), where Marguerite dar Bogga provided links to reports that the Secretary of State was injured in a plane crash in Iran that left her ‘unconscious and bleeding profusely,’ and a Navy Seal dead. The date of the crash is unclear, but reports seem to place it on or around Friday, December 14, 2012. On this date, ABC News reported that a U.S. plane made an emergency landing in Iran. According to government officials, the Navy Seal reputedly killed in the crash, committed suicide in Afghanistan the following week, leaving behind a wife and daughter.

            Until her hospitalization, Hillary had not been seen in public since December 7.  She was said to have been ill with the stomach flu that left her dehydrated and resulted in her fainting. She hit her head, which led to the concussion that sent her to the hospital and the MRI discovery of the blood clot. She was hospitalized on December 31 and stayed three days. Her release under the spotlight of the press came on January 2. However, her release was brief and she was readmitted within the hour. Nonetheless, she returned to work on January 7^th, looking healthy and in high spirits.

            So, what happened? Unfortunately, without a timed chart, it’s hard to tell. Regardless, a noon chart set for Ahvaz, Iran, viewed in the context of her natal and progressed chart, shows interesting features. As mentioned in previous blogs, she’s undergoing a half-nodal return. The North Node is transiting her Ascendant, activating the natal South Node, Mercury and progressed Chiron (which we now know expressed as mental loss arising from a head wound). Around this time, transiting Venus, ruler of the transiting South Node, was conjunct the North Node: loss associated with the South Node ruler manifest outwardly through the channel of the North Node. Venus rules the 6^th, 7^th, and 11^th houses, so the loss affected her health, partnership (including open enemies), and hopes and dreams.

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The biggest threat to life is shown by the progressed Moon at the midpoint of progressed Saturn and Pluto, a violent midpoint that when aligned with the Moon, presents a planetary picture Ebertin considered ‘the tragic destiny of a woman.’ The transiting Sun was trine natal Saturn and transiting Mars formed a yod with the natal Moon-Saturn quincunx, suggestive of a serious accident. The possibility of the involvement of an airplane (Uranus) is reflected by the opposition of the transiting Sun to natal Uranus, and the yod formed between transiting Uranus, the natal Sun, and progressed Mars. However, this could also be interpreted as a sudden, unexpected, accidental blow to the head.

The threat to life is shown by the exact conjunction of transiting Pluto to the progressed Sun, and transiting Chiron conjunct the IC forming a grand cross with progressed Mars, transiting Jupiter, and transiting Mercury.  Extending the orb from 4° to 5° draws in transiting Neptune at the IC and natal Jupiter in the 1^st (activating the old and new rulers of the 4^th house, and the end of the matter). Taken together this complex alludes to a fundamental wound and a serious accidental injury (progressed Mars sextile transiting Saturn) that cannot be discussed, with truth hidden in a nebulous shroud.

            That’s not to say the truth won’t come out. As the transiting North Node retrogrades across Hillary’s Ascendant and conjuncts natal Mercury and the progressed South Node, and squares progressed Saturn (at the South Bending of the transiting nodes) between January 28 and February 6, there will likely be news, as Scorpio’s secrets leak out into the open, leaving the administration (Saturn) in a vulnerable position.  As for Hillary’s health, it remains at risk as long as transiting Pluto is conjunct her Sun, and the progressed Moon is conjunct Saturn (the Grim Reaper). The May solar eclipse is also threatening since it opposes natal Mercury (ruling the 8^th house) and is square Saturn, while the lunar eclipse falls on her Sun, dimming the life force. 

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.

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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 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.

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            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. 

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.

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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.