NewsScope for July 3, 2007

From Star Trek to the iPhone: The Communicator Revolution

Ever since Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced that the iPhone was coming, techies have been anxiously awaiting the launch date for the new product, which finally arrived last Friday. The frenzied interest in the iPhone signals that a major new product has hit the market, one that takes a quantum leap ahead of the cell phone with touch screen technology and the Mac OS X operating system.

The horoscope for the iPhone can be set for Jobs' announcement on January 9, 2007 (at 9:40 am; San Francisco). Uranus Rising in the fantasy sign of Pisces sets the tone for the excitement around the iPhone. Jupiter near the Midheaven shows how much promise the concept has, and that its popularity and success are fated. Jupiter and Uranus square each other, a celestial signature for innovation, excitement, and fame.

The iPhone has important historical roots, which can be traced back to the debut of Star Trek on September 8, 1966 (8:30 pm; New York, NY). The first episode featured a device known as the "communicator," which Martin Cooper, the inventor of the modern cell phone, credits for being his inspiration. The Star Trek chart features the Sun in Virgo  conjunct the epochal, revolutionary Uranus-Pluto conjunction.

The Star Trek Moon is at 27º in the communications sign of Gemini. The iPhone announcement and launch date both show transiting Pluto at 27º Sagittarius, pointing to the long process of product development that evolved from the original Star Trek episode. Also, transiting Uranus is exactly opposite the Star Trek Uranus-Pluto conjunction, reflecting the quantum technological growth from the 1966 seed-idea. The 23rd century has arrived. (Editor’s note: Venus in glamorous Leo conjunct Saturn opposite mythological Neptune at the June 29 launch signifies the introduction of an iconic product. However, Mercury retrograde could trigger more technical problems than expected.)

Pluto in Capricorn

A NewsScope reader wants to know "how Pluto in Capricorn will manifest for the country and in general." When considering the U.S. Scorpio Rising horoscope, Pluto's 248-year cycle* is especially significant for Americans, since it's the nation's ruling planet. The U.S. was born when Pluto was in Capricorn, and its entire history has so far unfolded within one Pluto cycle.

Pluto's passage through Capricorn covers from 2009 to 2024, with a brief foray in early 2008 amidst the presidential primaries. During this interval, we can expect geopolitical power to become increasingly concentrated in the hands of the super-rich, which in turn will express itself through governments, corporations, and military organizations. The fear of secret enemies will likely fuel a growing conservatism, equivalent to when Saturn and Pluto align.

Many governments may become oppressive under Pluto's influence, and consequently, one can expect powerful, secretive factions to rebel. Naturally, that includes terrorist groups, but ordinary citizens as well. This pattern was what caused the thirteen colonies to begin revolting in 1764 shortly after Pluto last entered Capricorn. At the time, Uranus was in Aries, which created a compelling urge for freedom and independence.

That historical lesson is especially relevant today, since Uranus will soon enter Aries and then square Pluto beginning in 2012. The Uranus-Pluto square will likely be the defining celestial signature for the Pluto in Capricorn era, bringing the Uranus-Pluto conjunction in 1965-66 (and the concurrent social, political, and military revolutions) into its next dynamic phase. Everything that was spawned in 1965-66 will take quantum leaps forward, including civil rights, paradigm-busting technologies, and the management of global ecosystems.

Crime Scene Investigation: Chris Benoit

Last Monday, famed pro wrestler Chris Benoit was found dead in his Atlanta home, near his strangled wife and 7-year-old son. Investigators have concluded that the crime scene was a double-murder-suicide, ending with Benoit hanging himself Sunday. Anabolic steroids were found at Benoit's home, leading many observers to conclude that he was experiencing " 'roid rage," a known side effect of steroid abuse.

Chris Benoit was born on May 21, 1967 (Montreal, Canada), the day when the Sun entered Gemini. However, considering Benoit's reputation for being a model wrestler (never late, like Geminis) who enforced the sport's most revered traditions, his Sun is most likely in Taurus. The Sun opposes Neptune, a key astrological clue that he abused anabolic steroids and human growth hormone during his career.

Benoit was born under the auspices of the Uranus-Pluto conjunction of the mid-1960s. Now, as transiting Uranus is opposing this conjunction, many born during this era are experiencing major upheavals in their established lifestyles. For Benoit, the additional stress of the transiting Saturn-Neptune opposition bearing down on his natal Neptune was enough to push him over the edge.

Saturn-Neptune configurations are better known for their association with depression than rage. Benoit's Mars, opposing Saturn in headstrong Aries, made him famous for his signature move, the diving head butt. But Saturn here also forms a hard aspect to Neptune (trioctile, 135º), underscoring the tendency toward depression, or simply, an inability to think clearly. With his natal Mercury-Pluto square, Benoit could easily have fallen prey to some mental obsession.

*For a look at Pluto's angular crossings in the U.S. horoscope, please visit http://neptunecafe.com/pluto.html

Visit www.neptunecafe.com for more info on the various candidates, asteroids, and celebrity profiles.

Reader feedback is welcome. Email wolfstar3@aol.com.