NewsScope for March 3, 2009

A New Era of Responsibility
 
President Obama's televised speech before Congress last Tuesday was roundly hailed for capturing the mood of the nation and setting a broad agenda for fixing the economic crisis. Then on Thursday he released the new budget, which will set a progressive course for America, including a start toward universal health care and addressing climate change. On Friday, Obama detailed a plan for getting the troops out of Iraq.
 
At the center of all this multi-tasking is Obama's Moon in Gemini. Previously, the U.S. has had four presidents with Gemini Moons, and none of them stand out for their excellence. "Do nothing" Calvin Coolidge was the most recent, and in 1841 William Henry Harrison gave such a long-winded inauguration speech on a bitterly cold day that he died of pneumonia a month later.
 
Obama's Moon squares Pluto, giving it emotional depth. And it also squares Chiron in Pisces, which adds empathy. The trine to Jupiter and Saturn gives Obama broad vision and a keen sense of community responsibility. Last Tuesday, the New Moon in Pisces was precisely opposite his Pluto, the ruler of his Midheaven and point of honor. The activation of his Pluto was reflected in numerous pundits commenting that he "possessed the moment."
 
Also last week transiting Jupiter opposed Obama's Sun, offering him the opportunity to make his huge budget proposals and the sweeping progressive agenda. Transiting Uranus is heading into an opposition with Obama's Mars, ensuring that he will face stiff opposition to his plans. Many corporate lobbyists are clamoring to fight this budget. The most dynamic configuration takes place when the Sun and Uranus are conjunct on March 12 while opposing Obama's Mars.
 
AIG, The Center of the Financial Galaxy
 
This week AIG (American International Group) will announce the largest quarterly loss in history—about $60 billion. Since September 16 when AIG's sterling credit rating was cut, the U.S. government has pumped $185 billion into the insurance company, arguing that it's just too big to fail. U.S. taxpayers, through their government, now own 80% of AIG, which currently trades at pennies per share.
 
AIG was founded on December 19, 1919 (Shanghai, China, noon*) when the Sun was in late Sagittarius and conjunct the Galactic Center. In 1949, following China's communist revolution, AIG relocated to New York. Over the last two years, a renegade investment branch leveraged the company's fortunes by insuring toxic assets, the securities built around the mortgage loans. During this time, transiting Pluto was conjunct the AIG Sun.
 
AIG's horoscope features some extremely dynamic squares, which naturally pushed it into becoming the 12th largest corporation in the world by 2007. A T-square made from Pluto squaring Mars on one side and Chiron on the other describes the intense ambition and drive to succeed. A close square between Venus and Neptune reveals a deceptive tendency to hide the true risks.
 
Transiting Pluto is just now entering AIG's T-square. Pluto is currently squaring AIG's Chiron revealing the depth of its wounds. Concurrently, the ongoing Saturn-Uranus opposition hits AIG's Sun, further weakening it. AIG's future prospects look grim, and its complete integration with global institutions marks it as the troubled center, capable of sucking the entire financial system into a black hole of debt.
 
Hugh Jackman, Triple Threat
 
A NewsScope reader, citing Hugh Jackman's recent string of successes, wants to know "what's happening in his chart?" As People magazine noted when they named him 2009's Sexiest Man Alive, "he's a triple threat: a star who can sign, dance, and wield a weapon." Jackman's played comic book heroes, romantic leads, and most recently, hosted the Oscars and co-starred with Nicole Kidman in Australia.
 
Hugh Jackman was born with his Sun in Libra (October 12, 1968; Sydney, Australia; time unknown) opposite Saturn, an ambitious combination that has the challenge of finding fame through independent action (Saturn in Aries) while partnering with others (Libra Sun). His Gemini Moon harmonizes the tension in this polarity through its natural social skills and ability to play a wide variety of roles.
 
Jackman's Venus (the ruler of his Sun sign) is conjunct Juno and Neptune in sexy Scorpio, adding to his charisma. With both relationship planets quincunx to serious, cautious Saturn, he's become one of the few Hollywood actors with a long-term marriage (since 1996). He's also co-starred in four films with Halle Berry (August 14, 1966; 11:59 am; Cleveland, OH), whose Leo Sun and Taurus Ascendant neatly align with Jackman's Venus-Juno.
 
Jupiter-Uranus combinations are often involved when a celebrity suddenly hits The Big Time. In Jackman's case, his progressed Jupiter has arrived at a conjunction with his natal Uranus, giving him an electrical aura that excites and fascinates fans around the world. With his cool persona and philanthropic interests, I imagine he has Aquarius Rising, making Uranus the ruler of his chart. The many planets transiting through Aquarius now further elevate his status.
 

*Source: "Fallen Giant" by Ron Shelp, Al Ehrbar. For an overview of AIG and its extensive holdings, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_International_Group.

For more on the astrology of the business world, see www.neptunecafe.com/business.html.

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