NewsScope for April 15, 2008

John McCain's Health Profile
 
In 1999, when John McCain first ran for president, he released some 1500 pages of his medical records. However, this election season is another story. Last week, for the second time, he postponed their release another month, this time to May 15. While physicians say he appears to be in robust health, his reluctance to be forthcoming about his medical records is raising some eyebrows.
 
John McCain was born (August 29, 1936; 8:37 am*; Panama) with Saturn in his Sixth House of Health, a placement that is prone to chronic or enduring health problems. However, this potentially troublesome factor is offset by his vibrant Mars in Leo, which is tremendously enhanced by a trine to Jupiter. His Libra Ascendant, representing his physical body, is fortified by sextiles to Jupiter and Mars.
 
McCain underwent successful surgery for melanoma cancer on August 19, 2000. His progressed chart describes the most significant dynamics in play during his most worrisome health crisis. At the time, his progressed Venus (the ruler of his horoscope, and representing his physical body) was at 11º Sagittarius, where it was being activated by a transiting Pluto-Chiron conjunction as well as his progressed Moon.
 
Currently, McCain's progressed Venus is at 20º Sagittarius, where it squares his 6th house Saturn. This complex is currently being activated by transiting Uranus conjunct his natal Saturn, indicating that there's far more in his health records than he's willing to share. In late April, as his Chiron in informative Gemini is activated (by progressed Moon and transiting Jupiter), watch for an early accounting of his health situation.
 
Neptune and the U.S. Moon
 
Several budding astrologers wrote in to ask about the influence of transiting Neptune near the U.S. Moon, wondering what orbs are relevant. "It seems to me that dreamy Neptune is already casting a spell over the 2008 election cycle.... Obama supporters seem entranced by speeches with little concern for a solid plan of action," writes one reader.
 
This week, transiting Neptune is 1º30' from a conjunction with the U.S. Moon (at 25º28'Aquarius), which is generally too far away when considering orbs for event-oriented astrology. However, as an influence over the public mood, transiting Neptune here is undoubtedly a major factor, especially considering that Barack Obama's Sun has only one aspect to another planet, which is the square to Neptune.
 
Neptune's influence can be seen in a variety of trends and current events shaping the American zeitgeist. Most significant is the uncertainty (Neptune) over the economy, especially around the sinking real estate market (Moon). A confluence of astro-events** this week -- led by the transiting North Node's conjunction with the U.S. Moon -- brought simultaneous visits from famous religious leaders, including the Dalai Lama and Pope Benedict.
 
Neptune will make three conjunctions with the U.S. Moon, with the first in March 2009. While Neptune is often associated with unrealistic hopes and disillusionment, transiting Jupiter and Chiron will also be conjunct the U.S. Moon in 2009, offering new opportunities and healing as the next president takes office. Neptune's association with the oil and pharmaceutical industries puts alternative energy and health care on the agenda, along with fixing the ailing economy, and improving social networks.  
 
Aga Khan IV Visits the Alamodome
 
Among the global religious leaders visiting the U.S. this week is Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the spiritual head of some 25 million Ismailis, a Shia branch of Islam. The jet-setting Aga Khan, best known for mixing Islam and his extraordinary business investments in some of the world's poorest regions, arrived in north Texas for his Golden Jubilee celebration, marking 50 years of leadership.
 
The Aga Khan -- the current 49th Imam of the Ismailis -- was born when the New Moon in Sagittarius was rising (December 13, 1936; 7:16 am; Paris, France). Naturally, he shines forth with the broad-minded, trendy and philosophical traits of the Sagittarian. Traditionally, Sagittarius is associated with horses, and with competitive Mars angular in his chart (conjunct the Midheaven), this prince has a fascination for the world's fastest racehorses.
 
The Aga Khan's Sagittarius placements square Saturn in Pisces, giving him an aura of spiritual maturity at an early age. His grandfather, Aga Khan III, designated Prince Karim to become the titular leader of their people upon his death (July 11, 1957). At the time, Karim's progressed Mars was exactly (to-the-minute) square his natal Pluto, located in the Eighth House of Inheritance. The tense aspect reflects that his grandfather bypassed his own son in favor of Prince Karim.
 
This Aga Khan was born with a generous, paternalistic demeanor that can be seen in his Ceres-Jupiter conjunction in early Capricorn. He has a profound interest in the elimination of global poverty, and as transiting Pluto advances to contact his Ceres-Jupiter next year, we are likely to see much more of his philanthropic efforts: his successful business ideas in Africa offer models for fellow billionaire philanthropists Bill Gates and George Soros.
 
*This time is rectified by the author from the given time of 9:00 am.
 
**The best way to get perspective on what happens when Neptune is conjunct the U.S. Moon in 2009 is to see what happened the last time this astro-event took place, which was in the 1840s. For more on the U.S. Moon, please visit www.neptunecafe.com/Moon.html.

Advanced astrologers will note the concurrent transit of Mars in Cancer exactly conjunct the U.S. progressed Jupiter in the ninth house of religion. Also, the progressed Moon and Mercury were exactly opposite each other, and only one degree from the U.S. Moon and 0º30' from transiting Neptune when the Dalai Lama arrived last Thursday.

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