NewsScope for February 17, 2004

New Moon on the Cusp of the Ages

The next New Moon on February 20 marks an exceptional time for geopolitical events since it takes place while conjunct Uranus in Pisces. This erratic, destabilizing New Moon at the beginning of the sign of faith and martyrdom promises to bring challenging conditions wherever people hold onto a traditional religion.

Uranus, the Awakener, stands on the cusp between the signs of Pisces and Aquarius, and thereby becomes the planetary representative of our status as a global civilization. For the last two thousand or so years, humanity has experienced the Age of Pisces, during which time Christianity, Islam and Judaism have become major world religions. (Editor's note: Astrologers have a wide range of opinions on the starting date of the Age of Aquarius.)

Now we are collectively very close to the Age of Aquarius, the age promoting democracy, social justice, scientific rationalism, and the internet. The upcoming New Moon puts a spotlight on all the issues that separate the two great Ages, and is particularly concerned with morality and ethics (Pisces) and individual freedom of expression (Uranus and Aquarius).

Recent NewsScope articles have focused on this date, and include the release of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ , and the tainted elections in Iran. The New Moon conjunct Uranus also activates Iraq's horoscope with a most dangerous alignment (square the MC), as well as Russia 's Mars. Israel 's horoscope is also under tremendous pressure.

In the U.S. a flurry of ethical questions have divided Americans, notably gay marriage, cloned embryos, the morning after pill, media control over sex and violence, and the FCC's redesigning of the internet. Individuals with prominent planets in early Pisces, Gemini, Virgo or Sagittarius will be hearing the alarm clock. Wake up to a week filled with bizarre, unexpected, and sudden developments.

A U.N. special envoy to Iraq reported last week that ethnic and religious tensions are growing along with the chance that elections—either by caucuses or by mass balloting, may have to be delayed past the June 30 deadline due to civil unrest. Meanwhile, foreign terrorists set off two lethal car bombs, and Sunni guerrillas raided a police station, dramatically escalating the national security problem.

Iraq's horoscope (August 23, 1921; 6:00 am; Baghdad) offers a celestial roadmap for deciphering the current events. Pluto's present passage through the Fourth House of domestic conditions is the most telling of the outer planet transits. When Bush launched the attack on Baghdad nearly a year ago, transiting Pluto formed a trine to Iraq's Moon from the Fourth House, an emotionally liberating influence.

However, Pluto was also inconjunct (150-degree aspect) Iraq's Venus, bringing suspicion about the occupying forces, as well as opening up ethic tensions (Venus is in the homeland sign of Cancer). Now Pluto is heading for a square to Iraq's Jupiter. Hard links between Jupiter and Pluto are frequently associated with religious extremism, and this one fosters an uncompromising attitude concerning the election process.

Pluto's position in the Fourth House points to the possibility of a religious war, a civil war between the majority Shiites and the powerful Sunnis. Pluto turns retrograde in late March very near its first square to Iraq's Jupiter, but returns several times to this degree area over the next two years. Under this scenario, a quick retreat by the occupying forces would only encourage the religious confrontation.

Jenna Morasca, All Star Survivor Quits

Swimsuit model Jenna Morasca voluntarily withdrew from the All Star Survivor game in last week's episode when she felt an overwhelming need to be with her dying mother. Jenna tearfully explained to her teammates that her first need was to be with her family. Only eight days after she returned home, her mother, Carla Morasca, lost her twelve-year battle with breast cancer.

Jenna Morasca was born with her Aquarius Sun square Uranus (February 14, 1981; Pittsburgh, PA; time unknown**), setting up a lifestyle drawn to the unconventional. Jenna's Moon is in sensitive, family-oriented Cancer, as is her Ceres, the asteroid governing the parent-child relationship. Transiting Saturn in Cancer was very near her Moon and Ceres, aggravating a chronic, family health problem.

Survivor host Jeff Probst wondered how Jenna knew her mother had taken a sudden turn for the worse. "I'm just getting a vibe, a feeling," said Jenna. Her Mercury in Pisces is highly intuitive, and with its square to Uranus is prone to sudden, disruptive hunches. During the filming of this episode last November 11, transiting Mercury was right on her natal Mercury-Uranus configuration, bringing her the urgent message.

When she won Survivor: Amazon , Jenna was branded as being selfish and provocative, labels that fit her Sun-Uranus square. But then as her teammates watched her turn into a "quivering leaf" and then withdraw from the competition, there wasn't a dry eye on the beach, as her more compassionate planets in Cancer and Pisces became evident. Over the next month transiting Neptune will be on her Venus, perhaps indicating that she will soon reappear in the game.

*For more on Uranus in Pisces, see NewsScope April 8, 2003 and November 18, 2003.

**Jenna was born only two days before Paris Hilton (see NewsScope November 18, 2003), and shares the same prominent Venus. Jenna actually models for a company called Venus Swim wear.

Personal readings are available from Michael WolfStar.