NewsScope for August 26, 2008

Joe Biden as Obama's Veep

One major drawback in Obama's horoscope is that he has no planets in the Tenth House, which goes against the historical record of elected presidents. A national leader needs Tenth House planets to govern, to give the impression that he's in charge. Obama's planetary emphasis is in the Seventh House, where he leads through the medium of the people he has around him.

Joe Biden (November 20, 1942; 8:30 am; Scranton, PA) fills this leadership gap since his Scorpio Sun  and Venus sit right on Obama's Scorpio Midheaven. Technically, Biden's Scorpio stellium is actually in Obama's Ninth House of foreign affairs, so this is where Biden's expertise will play out. Biden's Mars in Scorpio closely squares  Obama's Sun, so that we may expect him to be very forceful in his advice.

Biden's Seventh House of partners is dominated by Uranus on the Descendant. On December 18, 1972 Biden's wife was killed in a car accident. At the time, his progressed Mars was right on his Sagittarius Ascendant and opposing natal Uranus. Since Biden's Uranus is conjunct Obama's Moon, this is an important point to watch for any sudden changes in their relationship.

Biden's progressed Mars is now at 28º Sagittarius, and is being activated over the next two months by transiting Pluto. This assures us that he will energetically take up the role of attack dog in the presidential campaign. The Saturn-Uranus opposition on Election Day is exactly aligned with Biden's Midheaven, indicating a dramatic stimulus to his career. Factor in his progressed Moon and Midheaven positions, and he looks favored to move to the world's center stage.

Top Five Astro-Events for September

1. Pluto turns direct on September 8, the day after Jupiter turns direct. Pluto's stations often correspond to calamitous disasters somewhere on planet Earth, whether caused by humans or Mother Nature. After the 8th, Pluto makes a beeline for Capricorn, where it will remain through 2024, as it unleashes forces that transform governments, corporations, and institutions.

2. Jupiter trines Saturn  on September 8, and is exceptionally favorable for business developments and professional advancement. This aspect is a major influence all month, but is strongest from the 3rd through the 9th when the Sun aligns with Saturn and Jupiter turns direct. This phase brings an optimal time to be practical about financial matters.

3. Mercury in Libra all month leads to major discussions about relationships, alliances, and romantic triangles, since a concurrent Venus-Mars conjunction on the 11th spices everything up. Mercury's conjunction with Mars on the 9th and 22nd may lead to heated discussions and some action which will have to be re-worked after Mercury turns retrograde on the 24th.

4. Ceres opposes Chiron  on the 28th, an aspect that normally passes under the radar. However, this becomes an event-oriented combination since it's perfectly aligned with the U.S. Midheaven. All Ceres-related issues come to the foreground, including health care, abortion, food safety, and improving America's wounded image on the international stage. This pairing may be a signature for a domestic disaster.

5. Mars squares the US Pluto on September 30, but is an effective influence from the 21st through the 30th. This intensely militant and hostile vibe leads to inappropriate or disastrous operations (with Mars in the U.S. 12th House). Expect increased terrorist activity, an inability to take decisive action, and politicians doing and saying outrageous things they later regret.

Miley Cyrus: Walt Disney's Best Product

Teen phenom Miley Cyrus—star of Disney Channel's Hannah Montana—will be celebrating her 16th birthday with 5,000 of her closest friends. Tickets go on sale later this week ($250 each) for the October 6 Hollywood-styled bash at Disney Resort in southern California, with some of the proceeds to be donated to Youth Service America. "It's going to be a totally awesome party," she said.

Miley Cyrus's horoscope* has strong similarities to another Disney product, Britney Spears. The Disney formula for selecting young girls and turning them into superstars began with Annette Funicello (October 22, 1942; 10:10 pm; Utica, NY), who was personally plucked from the masses by Walt Disney himself.

Walt Disney's horoscope (December 5, 1901; 12:35 am; Chicago, IL) lives on in the form of the superstars that continue the Disney dominance over wholesome entertainment. Comparing Miley's chart to Uncle Walt's, one can see an extraordinary set of alignments. Plus, both have Sun in Sagittarius, Mercury in Scorpio, and Venus in Capricorn.

Walt's interest in promoting morally conservative but stunningly attractive young women can be seen in his female planets. He was born with Juno in Virgo, which is found right on his Virgo Ascendant, a rather prudish or modest placement, especially when it comes to marriage and partnership. Juno here is exactly trine Venus in earthy Capricorn, which adds a restrained (Capricorn) sexuality (Venus).

His Sagittarius Sun conjunct Uranus reflects the formula's bottom line: the stars must be carefree, spontaneous, and enthusiastic—which naturally contrasts with the morally constrained elements in his chart. This sets up dramatic tension which becomes an endless source of creativity for his cartoons and teen melod