NewsScope for August 30, 2005

Pat Robertson and Hugo Chavez

Why does Pat Robertson hate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez so much? A week ago the Christian televangelist called for the assassination of Chavez, but after a tremendous media backlash, Robertson apologized by week's end. As the leader of the oil-rich nation of Venezuela, Chavez plays a key role on the world stage, but due to his pro-Castro stance, Robertson likened him to Saddam Hussein.

Considering the popular Sun sign comparisons, Robertson (March 22, 1930) and Chavez (July 28, 1954) should be best buddies. After all, Robertson's Aries Sun is almost exactly trine Chavez's Leo Sun. But as anyone who has looked at an actual horoscope knows, many factors need to be considered when investigating astrological compatibility. Still, their charts are relatively harmonious when placed side-by-side.

Astrologers are beginning to understand the importance of the lunar nodes in synastry (chart comparison). The lunar node axis, made up of a North Node and South Node in exact opposition, describes a karmic path, from the habitual past (South Node) to the higher or more evolved self (North Node). One person's Lunar Nodes aligned with another's natal planets indicate strong karmic ties.

Chavez has Saturn at 3º Scorpio, almost exactly conjunct Robertson's South Node at 4º Scorpio. Chavez's Saturn describes his sense of authority, which Robertson feels as being oppressive. Coincidentally, Robertson's Saturn, at 11º Capricorn, is conjunct Chavez's North Node at 13º Capricorn. Astrologically, their mutual Saturn-Lunar Node connections describe a long-term battle for dominance. In terms of past life experiences, one might conjecture that these two have previously fought life-and-death struggles to achieve ultimate authority status.

First Flight's Part of Misfortune

Last Tuesday a Peruvian commercial airliner tried to make an emergency landing during a storm, and split in two upon impact, killing 31 passengers. Four other major air disasters and numerous minor mishaps made August the deadliest month since May 2002. Mundane astrologers* cite the current stressful planetary transits, but why did these lead to air accidents and not train accidents, or even earthquakes?

The horoscope for the Wright brothers' First Flight on December 17, 1903 (10:35 am; Kitty Hawk, NC*) provides a celestial roadmap for tracking all flight-related events, including tragic accidents. This chart features several dynamic configurations which, when activated by major transits and progressions, can lead to a series of airline disasters. Notice that the Part of Fortune is sandwiched between Mars and Saturn in the Twelfth House, so that it becomes the Part of Misfortune.

The Mars-Saturn conjunction sextiles the Midheaven, and both of these quincunx (150º) Neptune, forming a fateful Yod. This volatile pattern has been under duress all month as transiting Saturn in Leo opposes the Twelfth House Mars-Saturn. At the same time the progressed Ascendant is precisely quincunx Saturn, giving a double accident-prone whammy.

The advantage of Political Astrology—that is, using a radical (birth) horoscope to plot events—is that it also allows projections into the future. Transiting Saturn completes its opposition to natal Saturn on September 6, so more accidents are on the horizon. Over the coming year, transiting Pluto will be conjunct the First Flight Sun, another troublesome indicator. However, this one is more likely referring to the pending bankruptcy of the weaker airline companies.

Geena Davis, The First Woman President

On September 27 actress Geena Davis, of Thelma and Louise fame, debuts as America's first woman president in ABC's new drama Commander-in-Chief. Considering that Hillary Clinton may be running for the office in 2008, this TV show floats the idea of a woman president in the real world.

The multi-talented Geena Davis was born with her Sun in independent, socially-active Aquarius (January 21, 1956; 12:06 am; Wareham, Massachusetts), a position that is powerfully underscored by an opposition to Uranus. This combination describes her as an independent thinker, and a determined advocate of equal rights for women. The Aquarian-Uranian vibe tends to be experimental, inventive, and ahead of the times.

Davis' Sun is conjunct the asteroid Pallas, which is associated with political and business savvy. Pallas women are generally capable of doing anything a man can do, as they have the intelligence, initiative, and social skills to advance in a man's world. Venus, the ruler of her chart, is exalted in Pisces, and favorably Neptune rising, bestowing her with natural beauty, and an early career as a model.

Her Mars-Saturn conjunction trine Uranus has built-in sports ability, but it remained dormant until she began filming A League of Their Own. Davis went on to develop her archery skill, and competed in the 2000 Olympics. Strong Mars-Saturn aspects such as this give tremendous self-control, and an innate leadership ability. Davis seems to be the perfect actress to fulfill the new TV show's ambitions. As the executive director said, "If we don't consider women for high office, we knock out 50 percent of our greatness."

*NewsScope archives have several articles on this First Flight chart, including August 20, 2002, and December 9, 2003. Charles Carter invented Political Astrology in 1951 to improve on the mundane astrologers' vision by working with radical horoscopes, as described in my book Political Astrology. For more info on the difference between mundane and political astrology, see http://neptunecafe.homestead.com/wolfstar.html

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