NewsScope for August 13, 2002

Martha Stewart and the Art of Insider Trading

Home fashion guru Martha Stewart came under intense pressure last week to explain how she managed to sell her 4000 shares of ImClone stock the day before the FDA rejected its experimental cancer-treating drug. As her friend, the CEO of ImClone, faced new charges of bank fraud and insider trading, a congressional committee investigating the matter is preparing to subpoena Stewart if she isn't more forthcoming.

A peek into Stewart's horoscope (August 3, 1941; 1:33 pm; Jersey City, NJ) reveals how shaky her corporate empire is right now, especially the conditions surrounding her personal finances as described by the Second House. Astrologers can judge the financial picture by weighing planets in it, their aspects and the house ruler.

In Stewart's case, her Second House contains a Ceres-Moon conjunction, generally a very favorable combination. However, these two are squared by Neptune, the planet associated with nebulous, secretive affairs. On December 27, 2001 her Ceres-Moon-Neptune configuration was under powerful activation,* an astrological indicator that she was indeed privy to insider information.

With Scorpio Rising, Martha Stewart's situation closely mirrors conditions for the entire country, since the U.S. also has Scorpio Rising. (Editor's note: WolfStar uses a Scorpio Rising chart for the United States.) She personifies some of the financial upheavals that can happen when transiting Pluto goes through the Second House. Jupiter, the ruler of her Second House, is located in the Eighth House of corporate finances. As described four months ago, her biggest challenge will occur as Pluto turns direct on August 26, exactly opposite her Jupiter.

Colombia's Uribe Takes on the FARC

Colombia's new President Alvaro Uribe was inaugurated last Wednesday as several mortar explosions landed around him, killing 19 people and wounding at least 40. The unruffled President vowed to press ahead with his plans to equip one million citizens with radios to report on rebel activity. Colombia has been in a civil war for the last 30 years with insurgents fighting for control of the cocaine market.

Alvaro Uribe was born July 4, 1952 (Medellin, Colombia; time unknown) with his Sun conjunct radical Uranus. This Sun-Uranus influence marks Colombia's new leader as a sharp turn from the previous leadership and its policies of trying to peacefully negotiate with the rebel group FARC.

Uribe is expected to get tough with FARC, and with his Mars in Scorpio he has the will to do it. His Mars squares Mercury in Leo, and these two are closely aligned with the U.S. Scorpio Rising horoscope, further indicating his alliance with U.S. interests. During his visit to the U.S. two months ago, Uribe secured additional military and financial support to fight cocaine trafficking and to protect oil pipelines.

Uribe's Sun is locked in a tense configuration with Saturn and Chiron, a highly dynamic blend that can bring great personal tragedy, but also much ambition and responsibility. Uribe's father was assassinated by the same rebels he's fighting now. His Chiron Return becomes exact in December when his personal vendetta with FARC should reach a dramatic turning point.

The Tiger and the Nanny

Although golfing great Tiger Woods never talks about his private life, he confessed last week that Swedish model Erin Nordegren is his new love. The two met a year ago when she was living in Jupiter, Florida helping golfer and fellow Swede Jesper Parnevik take care of his four children. And now the PGA gossipteers want to know if she can play the traditional adoring wife/fan.

Tiger Woods was born a serious Capricorn (December 30, 1975; 10:50 pm; Cypress, CA) with athletic Mars near his Midheaven, the career point. Woods' ability to focus on his game is legendary, and can be attributed to the strength of his Mars with its very favorable trine to Pluto and sextile to Jupiter. Also, Virgo Rising confers technical mastery and a devotion to the task at hand.

Woods' love planet Venus is conjunct Elin Nordegren's Uranus, often a sign of love at first sight. She (January 1, 1980; Stockholm; time unknown) has Venus in free-spirited Aquarius, a placement which makes a Grand Trine with his Mars-Pluto, and naturally qualifies the two as a "super couple." However, this relationship is not all smooth sailing.

Her Mars squares his Mars, indicating that their career demands will keep them apart much of the time, and that they may often have strong differences over shared plans. Her Mars operates from within his Twelfth House of hidden influences, undermining his ability to focus on the game. Perhaps this is why he unexpectedly fared so poorly in the British Open, cutting short his goal of winning the coveted Grand Slam.

*by the progressed Ascendant, applying to conjunct Ceres. Resonating with her Ceres-Neptune square, transiting Ceres and Neptune were conjunct and opposing her Sun.

Online classes and personal readings are available from Michael WolfStar.