NewsScope for August 23, 2005

Cindy Sheehan, Peace Mom

Anti-war protestors camped outside Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas carried on their vigil, even as their leader, Cindy Sheehan, left for Los Angeles to visit her ailing mother. In California, Sheehan reiterated her demand that Bush explain the "noble cause" that killed her son in Iraq. Meanwhile, candlelight vigils were held in cities across the nation to support the grieving mother.

Cindy Sheehan was born with her Sun in the caring, maternal sign of Cancer (July 10, 1957; Bellflower, CA; time unknown*). Mars, the planet associated with initiative, anger, and heroic efforts, is empowered by a network of aspects to other planets, and is placed in proud, self-confident Leo. She began her protest on August 6 when the New Moon in Leo landed right on her Mars.

Ceres, the asteroid representing the mother-child relationship, is found in Gemini, exactly conjunct the U.S. Mars. Her son Casey went to Iraq and died there on April 4, 2004 as transiting Pluto opposed her Ceres. Pluto-Ceres connections often bring the loss of loved ones, and a lengthy grieving process. Pluto continues to oppose her Ceres, and the U.S. Mars, so that her personal grief is influencing the entire Iraqi war effort (Mars).

Sheehan's Chiron is also a key player, since it's located at 16º Aquarius, exactly opposite the U.S. Midheaven (and conjunct the Fourth House cusp). Chiron, associated with wounding and healing, is currently being activated by transiting Neptune. This combination projected her personal pain onto the nation's radar, creating widespread sympathy, and evermore confusion over the Pentagon's mission in Iraq.

Saturn Heading Toward Hamas' Pluto

Last week Israeli troops forcefully evicted Jewish holdouts from Gaza, as bulldozers demolished their illegal settlements. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the strategic evacuation from Gaza was the result of Palestinian sacrifices and patience. However, the rival Hamas party declared victory, saying that Israel was retreating due to their armed resistance, and that attacks would continue until all of Palestine was "liberated."

The military arm of Hamas was officially created on August 18, 1988 (noon; Gaza, Israel**) when the Sun was in imperial Leo and favorably supported by trines to a Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in religious Sagittarius. The Sun is also closely linked to Mars in militant Aries (by a tri-octile, or 135º aspect). These connections astrologically describe the central mission of Hamas, which is a religious, military movement.

Pluto rising is also closely linked to Mars, underscoring the group's unrelenting extremism. Last week Hamas leader Khaled Meshal told reporters that this was the beginning of the destruction of the Jewish state, and that "the armed struggle is the only strategy that Hamas possesses." Transiting Uranus trine Hamas' Pluto reflects the empowerment Hamas feels, and its organizational establishment in Gaza. (Editor's note: The chart shown uses a zero Aries Ascendant for an untimed birth, so Pluto does not appear to be rising.)

Meanwhile, transiting Saturn in Leo is heading into a square to the Hamas Pluto. Saturn represents the challenge of authority, which in part is coming from Abbas, who is demanding that Hamas disarm for the sake of peaceful co-existence. As the Hamas horoscope indicates, disarming will be a major problem. Saturn first squares the Hamas Pluto in October, when we will see how much authority Abbas carries.

Hunter S. Thompson Goes Out with a Blast

Last Saturday the ashes of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson were shot out of a cannon over Owl Farm, the isolated Colorado house where the author did his writing, drinking and carousing. The ceremony was attended by 150 of his closest friends, including actor Johnny Depp, who portrayed Thompson in the movie version of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Thompson was born with an intense Sun-Pluto conjunction in the homestead sign of Cancer (July 18, 1937; Louisville, KY; time unknown), a combination given an energetic boost by a trine to Mars in Scorpio. The Sun-Pluto-Mars influence over the personality gives a never-ending quest for power and life and death struggles over the social environment. The tendency toward self-destructive behavior arises when victory is denied.

This same trio of planets can be found in Hamas' chart (above), as well as in Peter Jennings' (profiled last week). While Jennings channeled his innate awareness of violence through his daily reports, Hamas and Thompson gravitated toward more personal expressions of anti-social behavior. Thompson shot himself on February 20, 2005 as transiting Saturn, Chiron and Pluto were all aspecting his Sun.

Thompson's Mercury, the natural ruler of writers, is found in Leo, where it's supported by trines to Saturn in Aries, and (most likely) his Sagittarius Moon. A Fire Grand Trine provides an endless source of creative inspiration. Now that transiting Saturn is conjunct his Mercury, his assorted letters, short stories, and an unpublished manuscript (Mercury) are being consolidated (Saturn) by his 32-year old wife, and will be published over the next few years.

*This data was found by astrologer Judy Johns, moderator for yahoo.com's Political Astrology newsgroup.

A detailed look at Ceres in combination with other planets can be found in Political Astrology, the author's just-released book. Click for an excerpt on Ceres and more info on the book.

**See NewsScope June 10, 2003 for further delineation of the Hamas horoscope.

Personal readings are available. Visit the author's website.