NewsScope for April 22, 2008

Michelle Obama, Senior Adviser

Last week, with appearances on The Colbert Report and at a Pennsylvania high school, Michelle Obama showed Americans why she may be Barack's secret weapon. Alternating between humor and frankness, she kept audiences enthralled with stories about her life so far, frequently emphasizing Neptunian themes, such as America's deficit of empathy, and how we are our brothers' and sisters' keepers.

Michelle Obama was born with her Capricorn Sun conjunct Mars (January 17, 1964; Chicago, IL; time unknown), a feisty combination that gives an edgy first impression, or as some say, that she has a chip on her shoulder. However, with her Mars in egalitarian, humanitarian Aquarius, Michelle's fight is for equal rights, as much for women as blacks.

Comparing Michelle's chart to Barack's reveals a dynamic mix of supportive and challenging connections. Natally, Michelle has a wonderful Ceres-Jupiter trine in fire signs, giving her a pioneering social vision. Barack's Sun in Leo completes a Grand Trine with Michelle's Ceres-Jupiter, so that together, they form a creative, energetic, and inspirational team. His Jupiter in Aquarius conjoins her Sun-Mars, adding to their mutually supportive roles.

Michelle's Saturn is exactly quincunx Barack's Mars, and this combination can lead to antagonism and ultimatums. A well-known example is when she refused to join his presidential campaign unless he quit smoking. Her Pallas, the political strategy asteroid, is in his First House and exactly sextile his Mars. With both being activated by transiting Uranus over the next few months, we can expect that she will be playing an increasingly important role as his senior adviser.

Pope Benedict Takes on Pluto

This Wednesday (April 23), transiting Mars and Jupiter oppose each other, a celestial combination that pits aggression, sexuality, and conflict (Mars) against religion, the law, and morality (Jupiter). On the same day, Venus squares this Mars-Jupiter polarity, creating a dynamic T-square between the love planets and ethically superior Jupiter. From Texas to New York, the manifestations of this combination have been making front page news over the past week.

In what appeared to be a carefully scripted message, Pope Benedict XVI (April 16, 1927; 4:15 am; Marktl, Germany) repeatedly brought up the clergy sex abuse scandal. The Pope's religious persona can be seen in his Jupiter in Pisces, which is neatly placed on his Ascendant. Jupiter here expresses deep sympathy and religious faith as an instinctual expression of who he is.

The excitement around his visit unfolded as transiting Uranus was conjunct his Jupiter, which woke him up from his long silence on the sex scandal, as he called for a "new spring" in the divided church. The issue and how to deal with it must have festered for a long time, since transiting Pluto has been opposing his Mars at 29º Gemini over the last year.

Pope Benedict's Pluto at 13º Cancer happens to be exactly conjunct the U.S. Sun, which in the Scorpio Rising U.S. horoscope is located in the Ninth House of religion. The Pope's progressed Sun has just entered 13º Cancer, and is closing in on the conjunction with his natal Pluto over the coming eight months. Here we see his critical role in addressing the taboo subjects that Pluto obsesses over, but prefers to keep secret.

Edna Parker, The Oldest Supercentenarian

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Edna Parker of Shelbyville, Indiana is currently the oldest person in the world. She's one of 75 supercentenarians—those who have reached the age of 110. Over the weekend, she celebrated her 115th birthday with friends, well-wishers, and family, including the youngest of 13 great-great grandchildren. Edna is in good health and enjoys reciting poetry.

Edna Parker was born with a laid-back Sun-Jupiter conjunction in earthy, stable Taurus (April 20, 1893; near Shelbyville, Indiana; time unknown), and has lived her entire life within a few miles of the Morgan County farm where she was born. Her Ceres conjunct Neptune* shows an ability to nurture herself (Ceres) through a spiritual lifestyle (Neptune), or a non-stressful attitude, which scientists have identified as a prerequisite for long life.

The world's oldest supercentenarian does have stressful aspects in her chart. Mercury opposite Saturn can lead to chronic worrying, and the Taurus Sun opposite Uranus tends to hold radical or eccentric views that can alienate loved ones. No doubt, Edna's Venus in Aries trine Chiron has helped her forge long-term, healthy friendships after her husband died in 1938.

Edna became the oldest living human when the previous eldest person died on August 13, 2007. At the time, Edna's progressed Sun was exactly conjunct her Juno at 20º Leo. Although she's lived a very humble life, Juno in Leo can symbolize a respected or honored queen. That day the transiting Sun was also at 20º Leo, triggering the progression, and making her an instant celebrity, a veritable queen.

*Ceres in aspect to Jupiter and Neptune are longevity markers. See www.neptunecafe.com/ceres.html for info on other supercentenarians.

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