NewsScope for July 19, 2005

Did Karl Rove—President Bush's long-time political adviser—knowingly leak the name of CIA officer Valerie Plame? The political maelstrom that engulfed the White House last week centered on this legal question, with a prominent journalist going to prison, a subdued White House spokesman, and calls for a Senate investigation. The unfolding scandal may soon evolve into a criminal indictment against Rove.

Although we don't have a verified birth time for Rove (December 25, 1950; Denver, CO*), his solar chart strongly reflects his current troubles. His progressed Mars, depicting his inner warrior, is now around 21º Pisces, where it faces a relentless attack from transiting Pluto at 22º Sagittarius. Pluto has been in this degree area for over a year, which is how long he's been entangled in the battle of his career.

The ongoing tempest can be seen in Rove's Juno-Pluto square. Juno is usually identified as the marriage asteroid, but is also known as the Storm Goddess. She places a premium on loyalty, and in the political realm, this refers to expected loyalty from party members.  The square from Pluto intensifies this expectation, and betrayal is met with harsh retribution, as befits both Juno's and Pluto's ferocity.

On July 8, 2003, reporter Robert Novak phoned Rove, at which time Rove allegedly revealed Plame's identity. At the time, transiting Jupiter was exactly conjunct Rove's Pluto. Here was his opportunity (Jupiter) to get revenge (Pluto) against a betrayer's wife (Juno). Watch over the coming week, as transiting Juno activates this same dynamic, for more scandalous revelations about the connections between Valerie Plame, her husband Joseph Wilson, and Karl Rove. 

Global Warming in the Age of Pisces

At the recent G-8 summit, President Bush admitted that the earth's surface temperature is warming, but then avoided any realistic framework for managing the problem. At the same time, Hurricane Dennis roared into Florida , and this week Hurricane Emily follows. Climatologists say the flurry of hurricanes is just beginning due to the increasing ocean temperatures that create and drive hurricanes.

From an astrological perspective, the system's approach to managing global problems is an Aquarian ideal. Aquarius is associated with networking, teamwork and alliances. Advanced or progressive personalities think outside the box, which is the Aquarian ability to see how elements fit together to construct and influence the whole. As we move into the Age of Aquarius, Neptune in Aquarius helps facilitate this vision.

Saturn just entered Leo, the sign opposite Aquarius. Saturn in Leo can be imperialistic, and strive to reign over or dominate the geopolitical landscape. On the positive side, Saturn in Leo can lead others to cooperate with a shared vision that benefits all. The United States' most impressive display of this came on D-Day June 6, 1944 when transiting Mars and Pluto conjoined the U.S. North Node in Leo. 

Over the coming year transiting Saturn and Neptune will oppose each other in this Leo/Aquarius polarity. One of the critical issues facing the international community is how to deal with the powerful petroleum industry, which is associated with Neptune and its corresponding sign Pisces. With Saturn's opposition, we can expect a growing criticism of oil dependency and its relation to greenhouse gases. As long as the world depends on oil for energy, we collectively remain in the warming Age of Pisces.

J.K. Rowling's Star-Crossed Novels

J.K. Rowling appeared suddenly from a puff of smoke at the stroke of midnight. Dressed in black in the magnificent Edinburgh castle (so reminiscent of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry), Rowling began reading from the sixth installment of the record-breaking Harry Potter series to a lucky 70 children. Across the global village manic fans lined up at bookstores to get their personal copy.

J.K. Rowling was born under a lucky star (July 31, 1965; London; time unknown). Her Mercury, the planet associated with writing, is in the last degree of Leo, where it forms a conjunction to Regulus. Regulus is a first-magnitude star, and is known as the Heart of the Lion. It confers fame and wealth, and is associated with royalty, and now so is Rowling.

Planets in Gemini may also bestow writing ability, and Rowling's Jupiter there allows her to establish complex plot lines with meaningful philosophical perspectives. Her Jupiter is also empowered by a conjunction with the first magnitude star Capella, which likewise promotes fame and wealth. As Potter-mania sweeps the world, transiting Pluto is exactly opposite her star-enhanced Jupiter.

Rowling's writing path is described by her North Node in Gemini, and is fatefully shaped by a square from Uranus, the natural ruler of astrology and wizardry. Rowling's books give millions of children across the world a favorable view of astrology**, one that is thankfully devoid of Sun sign drivel. Uranus here also brings a number of surprising parallels to real world events, noting that the Hogwarts Express leaves from London 's King's Cross station—the same place as last week's terrorist bombings.

*Rove was previously profiled in NewsScope December 14, 2004.

**More info on astrology in the Harry Potter books

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