NewsScope for December 25, 2007

The EPA's Balancing Act

Last Wednesday, the EPA denied California and 16 other states the right to set their own standards for CO2 emissions, as President Bush signed into law a national energy bill with relatively weak air quality standards. Governor Schwarzenegger – an environmentally-proactive leader since 2002 – said "It is disappointing that the federal government is standing in our way... We will continue to fight this battle."

The horoscope for the EPA (December 2, 1970; 8:00 am; Washington, DC*) describes the uneasy balance between the nation's economic and environmental agendas. With the Sun and Ascendant in broad-minded Sagittarius, Jupiter becomes the EPA's ruling planet, which is found in regenerative Scorpio. Jupiter's enthusiasm for environmental reform is substantially curbed by the opposition to Saturn  in the financially-motivated sign of Taurus.

The EPA's first administrator, William Ruckelshaus, was keenly aware of these opposing tendencies. His aim was to develop an environmental ethic among businessmen and citizens alike. However, Bush has long supported the corporate interests over the environmentalists' agenda. Nevertheless, in a landmark decision issued on April 2, 2007, the Supreme Court ruled against the Bush Administration, saying that the EPA does have the authority to regulate global-warming gases.

At the time, transiting Jupiter (justice) was exactly conjunct the EPA Ascendant, while transiting Saturn (judgment) was squaring the EPA's Jupiter-Saturn axis. Now (with the progressed Sun trine Saturn), corporate interests are favored, and Bush's energy bill has replicated the automakers' wishes. The EPA Jupiter will soon be activated (by transiting Neptune and progressed Mars), indicating that a shift toward progressive environmental strategies is coming soon.

Top Five Astro-Events for January

1. Mars opposes Pluto on January 2, setting the stage for intensely fought political battles in Iowa and New Hampshire. As a harbinger for 2008, this aspect  brings a highly antagonistic vibe between warring parties, notably, between environmental and corporate interests (since this aspect hits the EPA chart). Transportation and communication snafus can be expected.

2. The New Moon in Capricorn takes place on January 8, the same day as New Hampshire's primary. The traditional symbolism of the New Moon is about endings and new beginnings, which will certainly be true for many presidential contenders. This monthly cycle also kicks into gear a new cycle favorable to business.

3. Jupiter trine Saturn on January 21 is generally favorable for business start-ups. Financial and economic indicators should be trending upward, as Jupiter and Saturn are in practical earth signs. Moral standards become more restrictive, while for some, a concurrent alignment between Venus, Mars and Pluto indicates trouble in personal relationships due to secret affairs or romantic triangles.

4. Pluto enters Capricorn on January 25 for the first time since 1762. This important outer planet cycle brings a wave of political conservatism and control in the name of national security. Venus enters Capricorn January 24, so the first visible trend that Pluto might bring is more conservative fashions, as in darker, business-first styles.

5. Mercury turns retrograde January 28, while Mars turns direct January 30. This dual reversal indicates a sharp change in policies and strategies. Expect some political candidates to be seriously re-thinking their viability, while others are emerging with new strength. With Mercury conjunct Neptune, many will be plagued by fuzzy thinking and false or unrealistic promises.

Jamie Lynn Spears Gets Parents Talking

Last week, Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney's kid sister and star of Nickelodeon's Zoey 101, disclosed that she's three months pregnant. The developing story has become a public relations problem for the network, since the 16-year-old has been groomed as a role model for pre-teens. Now, many of her fans are disillusioned, saying that she's going bad like her sister.

Jamie Lynn was born with her Sun in bold Aries (April 4, 1991) and her Moon in confident Sagittarius. This fiery personality is modified by her Sun's close square to the epochal Uranus-Neptune conjunction in Capricorn. Although Capricorn is a conservative, corporate sign, Uranus and Neptune are highly independent and visionary placements, so that what appears to be proper behavior can conceal a loose cannon.

The dwarf planet Ceres plays an extraordinary role in her horoscope. Ceres symbolizes the mother-child relationship, and its activation often corresponds to the onset of motherhood**. Jamie Lynn's Ceres is found in Scorpio where it's strengthened by numerous aspects to other planets in her chart. Among these are the square to Saturn and opposition to Mercury, which reflect the lack of meaningful communication between mother and daughter.

Jamie Lynn's progressed Sun opposed her Ceres when she got pregnant. Now that transiting Jupiter and Pluto are sextile her natal Ceres and trine her Mercury, the awful truth comes out. The activation of her Ceres-Mercury polarity by the immensely moral combination of Jupiter and Pluto is telling a story, as mothers across the country are having "the talk" with their daughters.

* For source material and excellent background material, see http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/epa/15c.htm

** Astrologers please note that the Moon and the fifth house are not accurate indicators in predicting pregnancy, but Ceres is. For more on how this works out in the real world, see www.neptunecafe.com/ceres.html

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