NewsScope for June 4, 2002

Nuclear Showdown Over Kashmir

As the threat of war between India and Pakistan escalated last week, the Bush Administration urged the 60,000 Americans currently in India to leave the region. Bush is sending his top diplomatic gun, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, next week to try and ease tensions, although India's Defense Minister said the situation on the border is stable.

The potential for a nuclear showdown between India and Pakistan can be read astrologically from the Atomic Age chart (July 16, 1945; 5:29:45 am; Alamogordo, NM), which is set for the first detonation of a nuclear bomb. (Editor's note: This chart differs by one hour from the chart in the authoritative World Book of Horoscopes that mentions the debate on the correct time.) This horoscope features Uranus on the Twelfth House cusp, a possible signature for surprise attack. Projecting the Atomic Age chart onto the global map (using the technique of Astro*Carto*Graphy) puts a Uranus line precisely on the border between Pakistan and India.

Last week's exact opposition between Saturn and Pluto closely aligned with the Atomic Age Uranus. Transiting Pluto is retrograding back to an exact opposition during the first week of July, and then once it turns direct will be making a final opposition in October. The Uranus line crosses a Neptune line in Kashmir, pinpointing the most dangerous location.

This Atomic Age Neptune is now under long-term activation by progressed Jupiter. The Jupiter-Neptune combination signifies a religious dispute, and will surely increase through September as transiting Jupiter and Neptune oppose each other. Even more sobering is that the Atomic Age Midheaven, representing the global village's nuclear destiny, is nearly conjunct Mars (exact in January 2003). All these factors indicate that we are collectively entering into a far more dangerous phase than the current war on terrorism.

Sun-Saturn Alignment Brings Historic Changes

A number of significant astrological events are coming into play over the next week, with a heavy focus on June 8 and 9. Armchair astrologers will be able to correlate these planetary events with personal and collective changes.

The evening sky presents the beautiful conjunction of Venus and Jupiter, exact on Monday, but a sight to behold throughout the week. This combination of the greater and lesser benefics promises good fortune in family affairs, bringing estranged members back together, and mutual enjoyment in extended family gatherings. Some astrologers believe that a similar conjunction in 2 BC was the Star of Bethlehem.

On June 8 Mercury turns direct in Gemini. This astro-event will improve communications, allow people to think more clearly, and process information more efficiently. The recent rash of transportation accidents (railroad and airplane crashes, helicopter rescue disaster, head-on collisions, etc.) may substantially diminish once Mercury goes direct.

The Sun and Saturn will be conjunct on June 9, which follows the Sun opposite Pluto on June 6. The Sun entering the Saturn-Pluto opposition as Mercury turns direct promises well for all the conflicts brought about by this powerful dynamic. Expect important meetings to discuss the options, and to generate constructive plans to meet the challenges. Jupiter and the lunar node axis are in the same degrees as the Sun-Saturn conjunction, so June 8 and 9 should bring historical turning points.

The Anna Nicole Smith Show

Last week cable television's E! Networks unveiled a new reality show based on the every day life of Anna Nicole Smith, the former Playboy Playmate and renowned gold digger. The Anna Nicole Smith Show begins in August and features Anna going to the dentist, Anna going to get her driver's license, and Anna talking with her 16-year old son.

Anna Nicole Smith was born a fun-loving Sagittarius (November 28, 1967; Mexia, TX; time unknown*) with her Sun square Jupiter, the planet of opportunity and abundance. Jupiter is also the ruling planet of Sagittarius, giving Ms. Smith a double Jupiter influence. Jupiter's most important transits to her Sun-Jupiter combination have coincided with the major developments in her life.

Smith married the 90-year old Texas oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall on June 27, 1994 when transiting Jupiter was in Scorpio and forming a favorable sextile to her natal Jupiter. Jupiter in Scorpio is keenly aware of other people's money. On August 4, 1995 when Jupiter was exactly conjunct her Sun, her husband died, making her a potential heir to his $1.6 billion fortune.

Unfortunately, transiting Pluto also entered Sagittarius shortly after her husband died, setting up a long court battle over the estate. Finally, on March 7, 2002 she was awarded $88 million, just as Jupiter was turning direct and closely aspecting her Sun-Jupiter natal configuration. Jupiter enters Leo in August, when her reality TV show debuts. By the end of the August Jupiter forms a very favorable trine to her Sun, undoubtedly bringing her plenty of new opportunities and publicity.

*See NewsScope, September 25, 2000 for more on Ms. Smith.

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