NewsScope for April 23, 2002

Mars in Gemini Sparks Debate

Last week a flurry of transportation-related incidents gave evidence that Mars transiting through Gemini is going to be troublesome. An Amtrak train derailed near Crescent City, Florida, killing six and injuring 159 people, and on the same day a pilot smashed into a skyscraper in Milan, Italy. Then a U.S. pilot accidentally dropped a 500-pound bomb on Canadian soldiers training in Afghanistan, and commercial airplanes crashed in China and Colombia.

Mars entered Gemini on April 13 and will exit on May 28. This periodic passage through the sign of transportation and communications is exceptionally important in personal and geopolitical events since it activates the ongoing Saturn-Pluto opposition. All the religious, political, corporate and military confrontations that Saturn opposite Pluto has fostered come to a climactic showdown now that Mars has entered Gemini.

Those with personal planets in the middle degrees of Gemini and Sagittarius will be especially moved to make major changes in their lives. The same might be true for those with planets in the middle of Virgo and Pisces. Under this Mars passage most everyone can expect transportation delays, accidents and other travel snafus. Communications get quarrelsome, major life decisions must be made and mental anguish is likely.

On the geopolitical front, Mars in talkative Gemini is bringing several important conferences that will shape the future. The Roman Catholic cardinals will discuss predator priests with the Pope. President Bush meets with Arab dignitaries to discuss his preferential treatment of Ariel Sharon. Mars may also bring some significant airplane disasters or terrorist acts along the world's transportation arteries.

Bush Cabinet Divided

The transit of Mars through Gemini has special significance in President Bush's horoscope over the coming week since it squares his own Mars. The President's popularity peaked above 80 percent before the Middle East crisis flared. The so-called Bush doctrine ("Either you're with us or you're against us") worked well in Afghanistan and against Al Qaeda terrorists, but not so well for the entrenched hostilities between Israelis and Palestinians.

Bush's Mars represents his drive to establish military control over the world's terrorist networks, but when transiting Mars squares his Mars, political opponents or trying circumstances will likely challenge him. On April 25 (Thursday) Bush is scheduled to meet Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, the sponsor of the Arab League plan to begin negotiations with Israel.

Bush's Mars squares Colin Powell's Mars, reflecting the divergent Middle East policies. Powell is unique in the Bush cabinet for favoring a more even-handed approach between the Israelis and Palestinians. Earlier in the week, when transiting Mars opposed Colin Powell's Mars, his whirlwind Middle East shuttle diplomacy tour was widely criticized as a dismal failure. Now that transiting Mars is squaring Bush's Mars, Bush's open favoritism for Ariel Sharon is underscoring the policy debate.

The relatively rapid movement of Mars takes place within the slower (and therefore more powerful) transit of Neptune. Transiting Neptune is opposing Bush's powerful Mercury-Pluto conjunction. Neptune tends to dilute, confuse and obscure issues, while the Mercury-Pluto influence is single-minded. Bush's fixation with terrorism is being diluted by the difficult events in the Middle East. What to do?

Martha Stewart, Media Mogul

Author Christopher Bryon is running into a few obstacles in getting publicity for his biography critical of media mogul Martha Stewart. The tabloid magazine Globe recently ran a cover story based on the book, but the 2000 Kmart stores (which feature Martha products) pulled the magazine from its shelves. Likewise a New York NPR station rejected the books' sponsors as an underwriter since Martha is a substantial supporter of the station.

Martha Stewart was born an imperious Leo (August 3, 1941; 1:33 pm; Jersey City, NJ) with her Sun favorably aspecting energetic Mars and expansive Jupiter. These planets enhance Martha's Leo nature, giving her a keen ability to plan and organize on a large scale. As a Leo, she knows how to create the best effects, notably in designing and creative projects.

Martha's Venus is strongly placed in the Tenth House of career. Venus here describes her businesses built around products and crafts aimed at beautifying the home and enhancing daily living. Venus is in detail-oriented Virgo, a sign that is also related to craftsmanship and proper behavior. Martha's model for modern living is based on this Venus in Virgo, and expresses the proper lifestyle for the upwardly mobile professionals.

At the moment transiting Neptune is opposing her Sun, reflecting how her reputation is being somewhat tarnished by this new biography. Also, transiting Saturn  and Pluto are aligning with her Eighth House Jupiter, which is restructuring her corporate connections. Watch around the end of August for the biggest upheaval as transiting Pluto turns direct exactly opposite her Jupiter.