NewsScope for August 8, 2006

International Force into Lebanese Buffer Zone

An emergency French-American resolution was sent to the UN Security Council over the weekend which aims to end the Israeli-Hezbollah fighting. The envisioned framework calls for an international force to police the Israel-Lebanon border once hostilities have ceased. As Tony Blair explained it, the agreement also seeks "to put the government of Lebanon fully and properly in control of the whole of Lebanon ...".

As described in NewsScope August 1, the emergency summit involving world leaders took place as the Sun and Saturn were conjunct in Leo. And as also described, since the Sun-Saturn is opposed by Neptune, the orderly plan faces the problem of widespread chaos, as neither Israel nor Hezbollah is inclined to disengage from the military theater of their own volition. 

More to the point, Mars is not in a good place to end hostilities. Mars in Virgo will oppose Uranus and square Pluto over the next three weeks, plus will make hard aspects to vital natal points in the key players' national charts. Lebanon (November 22, 1943; 8:58 pm; Beirut), for example, has natal Mars, Saturn, and Uranus all in Gemini where they are being squared by transiting Mars this month.

With Aries on its Midheaven, Lebanon 's sitting government is ruled by Mars. However, Mars is much afflicted by its square to Chiron and the conjunction with Saturn. Mars under Saturn's pressure has great difficulty in expressing its assertiveness in a healthy way (see Mel Gibson below). Lebanon's poorly placed Mars is reflected in its ill maintained army, which will need billions in international aid to bolster itself and protect its borders. 

Altered Oceans in the Age of Aquarius

A NewsScope reader wonders what the astrology is behind the Los Angeles Times five-part series on ocean pollution*. "If you read it, you'll see that agribusiness, oil, and sewage are behind the pollution," she writes. Astrologically, there's no national chart that reveals the extent of the problem since the runoff from industrial society is local everywhere and is not restrained by any national borders.

As a global problem, the solution requires a global approach. A few astrologers (Charles Harvey and Ray Grasse come to mind) tell us that the issue is a sign of the emerging Age of Aquarius, and that any consideration of the Age of Aquarius must also take into account its polar opposite, Leo. Leo represents the sovereign rights of individuals to be monarchs of their realms, whereas Aquarius works with systems to address common problems, as in democracies.

In the Age of Aquarius, finding solutions means recognizing that irresponsible actions taken by many individual entities can add up to a huge collective problem. This month, transiting Saturn and Neptune oppose each other in the signs of Leo and Aquarius, offering a unique celestial window for viewing the Age of Aquarius zeitgeist. Neptune is the natural ruler of the seas, and in Aquarius, carries the mythological ideal, the transcendent message of the Age of Aquarius.

Saturn in Leo represents the rights of individual corporations to run their businesses as they see fit. The LA Times series reflects this Saturn-Neptune polarity, but ultimately we'll need an effective global government to oversee and enforce environmental regulations. This won't happen until Pluto works its way through Capricorn (the sign of government), and those born with Neptune in Aquarius reach political maturity.

Mel Gibson's Demons

A week after Mel Gibson was pulled over for driving 87 mph in a 45-mph zone, the stories and editorials over his arrest were still making front page news. Gibson's drunken, angry comments that Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world drew harsh criticism from around the world. As soon as he sobered up, he apologized and blamed his alcoholism.

Mel Gibson** was born with his Sun in disciplined, tight-lipped Capricorn (January 3, 1956; 4:45 pm; Peekskill, NY), and his Moon in charming, well-mannered Libra. Ordinarily, with these placements, the astrologer wouldn't suspect such unseemly behavior from Hollywood 's wealthiest actor (worth some $850 million at last count). But for those who look beyond the Sun and Moon signs, the planets tell another story.

As an action hero, Gibson's Mars is the most important planet. Mars is found in intense Scorpio and square Pluto, a double influence that can get obsessed with power and strength. This combination can lead to all kinds of taboo obsessions, which are only tamed through a strongly placed Saturn. In Gibson's case, Saturn is conjunct his Mars, which disciplines and controls these wilder impulses.

Gibson's Mercury tells another tale. It's placed in restrained Capricorn, but is buffeted about by hard aspects to all three of the outer planets. From this network of influences, Gibson probably hears voices. In his most creative, centered mode, these voices can be inspirational. Under stress from alcohol, he may question his own sanity, or suffer from delusions. Gibson's demons broke through his carefully-crafted shell as his progressed Ascendant was exactly (to-the-minute) square his Mars.

*See the LA Times series

**For more on Mel Gibson, see NewsScope January 27, 2004.

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