NewsScope for April 8, 2008

Obama Fights Disinformation

ith Pennsylvania's primary only one week away, several polls indicate that Barack Obama is closing in on Hillary Clinton's double-digit lead. However, the polls are contradictory: some say that Clinton is still far ahead, while at least one says Obama has a slight lead. Meanwhile, Bill Clinton has been pressuring superdelegates with the line that Obama can't beat McCain in the general election.

As described recently*, Barack Obama's horoscope (August 4, 1961; 1:06 pm; Honolulu, HI) is currently blessed by an extraordinarily well-placed progressed Jupiter. What astrologically stands in his way? Considering the challenging outer planet transits, probably the most significant is Uranus  opposing Obama's Mars, with the first of three hits coming on June 2. Transiting Uranus to Mars is a volatile, explosive energy, and anything can happen.

That makes this particular transit so potentially dangerous is that Obama's progressed (P2) Mercury and Mars are conjunct in his 12th House of Secret Enemies. This P2 Mercury-Mars conjunction becomes exact on September 29, but is a behind-the-scenes force to reckon with during the entire phase while transiting Uranus is in opposition to his natal Mars, which is between now and next March.

The P2 Mercury-Mars conjunction takes place at 22º Libra, so that as transiting Uranus opposes natal Mars at 22º Virgo, it's simultaneously forming a quincunx to the 12th house progressed conjunction. This confluence of astro-events at 22º will bring intense enemy action, and any prudent astrologer might be concerned for Obama's physical safety. Presumably, his P2 Jupiter will provide much protection, but the 12th house influences involving Mercury indicate a rising tide of disinformation.

Election Chaos in Zimbabwe

A NewsScope reader writes, "I was born in Zimbabwe and now live in South Africa. I am a beginner and have learnt an enormous amount from you. Please will you investigate Zimbabwe's chart (independence was midnight 18 April 1980)? I would love to know your take on the elections."

The British colonialists granted Zimbabwe its independence (set for the capital Harare) when Aquarius—the sign of freedom, equality and independence—was rising. However, these noble ideals are undermined, since Uranus, the ruler of Zimbabwe's horoscope, is found in the warrior sign of Scorpio where it squares Mars in Leo. The violent and erratic combination of Mars-square-Uranus accounts for much of the country's perpetual unrest and bloody conflicts.

The Sun in militant Aries represents the nation's leadership, and with the opposition to dictatorial Pluto, it's no wonder Zimbabwe has been ruled by the despot Robert Mugabe since Day One. As transiting Pluto advanced into the opposition to the natal Sun in 1982, Mugabe sent his North Korean-trained militia to massacre tens of thousands of civilians—an internationally-recognized crime against humanity.

Zimbabwe's people are represented by the Moon in Gemini, which describes the diverse tribes and multiple ethnic languages. The Moon here is under tremendous pressure from a hard aspect to natal Pluto (a trioctile, or 135º), which tends to foster intense animosity between domestic factions. As Mugabe contests last week's election results, transiting Uranus is perfectly quincunx Zimbabwe's Pluto, leading to the current state of chaos.

Mugabe (February 21, 1924) was born with his Sun at 1º Pisces. Watch as transiting Saturn turns direct on May 2 while opposing his Sun, by which time he will have to set the date for the runoff election and his inevitable downfall.

Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love

Elizabeth Gilbert's novel Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia was already a New York Times #1 Bestseller when she appeared on Oprah last October. Then sales went through the roof, as Eat, Pray, Love study groups popped up around the country. Last week, one critic openly mused about how much the author's spiritual journey was economically contrived.

Elizabeth Gilbert was born with her Sun in family-oriented Cancer (July 18, 1969; Connecticut; time unknown), so one can imagine her despair when her happy home life fell apart, as the book's story begins. However, with her Sun aspecting all three of the outer planets, her personal journey wasn't meant to fulfill the traditional American dream. Being an outer-planet-person (OPP) carries extra talents as well as responsibilities to further humanity's evolution.

With Saturn in materialistic Taurus, well sure, her quest was economically contrived. She had a book contract already signed before she set out. But notice Pluto exactly conjunct her South Node. Here is the karmic message of death and transformation. And with her Sun trine spiritual Neptune  in deep Scorpio, small wonder she fell under the spell of a mystical guru.

Gilbert's love planet Venus is in multifaceted, literary Gemini, perfectly reflecting the story's subtitle: "a meditation on love in its many forms." Gilbert's love life is complicated by her Juno (the marriage asteroid) in traditional Capricorn squaring a Jupiter-Uranus conjunction. The essence of this combination can be found in her narrative: "I'm exhausted by the cumulative consequences of a lifetime of hasty choices and chaotic passions." Paramount has signed Julia Roberts for the upcoming film.

*See NewsScope February 19, 2008. Much of this Obama piece is excerpted from an article I wrote for the August issue of Dell Horoscope magazine. For the latest in the campaign chronicles, visit www.neptunecafe.com.

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