I would like to begin this week's column with a quote that greets one at the entrance to the Museum for World Peace, located in Kyoto, Japan and part of Ritsumeikan University.

"Peace and human dignity is a common aim for all people. The Kyoto Museum for World Peace was built with the hope of contributing to the realization of world peace. Through these exhibits, we hope to convey the tragic reality of war, to illustrate the efforts of those who oppose war, and to provide an understanding of the importance of establishing peace."

The field of Mundane Astrology, and in fact the study of history, is in large part an analysis of Humankind's struggles with one another, and the corresponding effect of those struggles upon various aspects of our existence. It is a study of conflicts, whereby tensions between nations escalate and recede, leaders rise and then fall, world prosperity grows and then fails.

Currently Humankind is in the midst of one of those very large geocosmic cycles that have a historical correspondence to increased tensions and war. It is known as Saturn in opposition to Pluto, and it occurs approximately every 32-37 years. Due to the retrograde factor, this aspect occurs in a series of three passages between August 2001and May 2002. However, its correspondence to difficult international conflicts can last as long as 8 months after the aspect is completed. Within this time band, Mundane Astrologers look for various triggers-shorter-term aspects that are in effect-in an effort to identify more specific times when such conflicts may be most in evidence. Last week we had one such aspect: Mars square Uranus on Wednesday. This was then followed by a New Moon on Friday, in the war sign of Aries.

In the midst of these combative signatures, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell (an Aries himself) traveled to the Mid East in an effort to bring under control the hostilities between Israel and Palestine. In spite of his presence, Palestinian suicide bombings continued to take the lives of innocent civilians, and Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon refuses to withdraw Israeli forces from Palestinian cities until it completes its "war against the Palestinian infrastructure of terror."

In response to continued escalation of violence in this region, financial equity markets in the U.S. and Japan turned down last week. And yet the value of the U.S. Dollar rose, which is not unusual in the face of international uncertainty. What is unusual is that the Dollar rose while U.S. stocks fell.

As mentioned last week, I expect the amplitude of the conflict in this region to peak now, as Mars finishes its square to Uranus. However, other conflicts in this region may soon take their place, as in early May we find transiting Mars moving into conjunction with Saturn, and in opposition to Pluto. Why do I think this?

First of all, the U.S. and its President, George W. Bush, are still under the favorable transit of Jupiter over their natal Sun (mid-Cancer). They will likely get what they want, which is success in their campaign against terrorism, which is a direct result of the terrorist attack on America back on September 11, 2001. Sharon understands this, and effectively uses the same argument to defend his actions against Palestine at this time (it too is a "war against terrorism," as he states). But does the U.S. really want out of this? I think it really wants Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, and until the U.S. succeeds in gaining cooperation from other Arab nations in the next step in its war against terrorism, it may not become overly active in bringing Sharon's actions to a halt. And so far, other Arab nations have taken a strong stand against the American initiative against Hussein, while at the same time denouncing the U.S.'s lack of further involvement in stopping the bloodshed between Israel and Palestine. Until these two points are agreed upon, it is quite possible that the violence between Palestinians and Israelis will continue, and in fact they could even escalate further (if one can imagine that) as Mars approaches Saturn in early May.

But at the same time, the U.S. is under favorable transits from Jupiter, Colin Powell is an Aries, and a New Moon just took place in Aries. This leads me to believe that agreements are being brokered along the lines of what the U.S. wants, as described above. Namely, that a cease fire between Israel and Palestine can be accomplished shortly, in return for support to the next step in the U.S.-led war against terrorism. Thus I believe the Israel-Palestine conflict will soon wind down, but another conflict will soon erupt in the Mid East. And as Mars now enters Gemini through May 28, we may once again see an increase of bombings in which forms of transportation are used as weapons (planes, automobiles, trucks). I think suicide bombings may decrease now in favor of car and airplane bombs. Once Mars leaves Gemini, and Saturn ends it opposition tom Pluto-both in the last week of May-the geocosmic picture for peace will increase. And with that, perhaps peace and human dignity can once again become a realistic aim for all peoples.

As far as financial equity markets are concerned, the coming week has fairly benign signatures in effect. One would think this would bode well for market prices in both Japan and the U.S., as well as elsewhere throughout the world. This outlook would be negated if equity prices continue to fall after Wednesday. It may mean the larger geocosmic cycles-Saturn opposed Pluto-may wreak havoc not only on the peace process, but also upon equity markets worldwide. At its worst, it could be a type of meltdown. But this is not my bias. I am more optimistic, and of the view that the Dow Jones Industrial Averages in particular are still headed for a new yearly high, and possibly a new all-time high, by this summer. I also believe the Japanese Nikkei has completed its very long-term cycle low, and prices will again head upwards. This week could provide a great clue as to whether my bias is correct or not.