NewsScope for November 4, 2008

Barack Obama's ACG Map
 
With Uranus, Pluto, and Mars found in his Seventh House of Relationships, Barack Obama will inevitably come across some powerful personalities over the next four years—assuming he takes office in January. In traditional astrology, these three planets are known as "malefics", and they tend to bring problems and conflict in whatever house they're located. The Seventh is the house of partners as well as open enemies.
 
Using the technique of Astro*Carto*Graphy (ACG), Obama's three Seventh House planets can be projected onto the global map, where they can pinpoint potential hotspots. As it happens, most of the usual suspects fall under the umbrella of Obama's ACG Uranus, Pluto, and Mars lines. His Pluto is at the Midheaven in North Korea, and his Pluto Ascendant line runs parallel to what was formerly known as the Iron Curtain in Eastern Europe.
 
In the all-important Middle East, Obama's Mars Ascendant line runs north-south right on the Iraq-Iran border. This line gets activated immediately, since transiting Uranus is opposing Obama's Mars. Consequently, this area will be at the top of his foreign policy agenda. This Mars line runs north into Russia, and passes not far from Moscow, so one might also expect trouble from the Russian bear.
 
Currently, Obama has a progressed Mercury-Mars conjunction. This found expression in the campaign as giving and receiving sharp verbal attacks. When projecting this progressed Mercury-Mars conjunction onto the global map, it's on the Ascendant in Israel (but blocked by a square to Saturn). Another progression shaping up is a Venus-Uranus conjunction, which will be exact in July 2009. On the world map, this conjunction passes right through the middle of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
 
Does the United States have Scorpio Rising?
 
Most of the reader feedback to this column's use of the Scorpio Rising U.S. horoscope (July 4, 1776; 2:21 pm; Philadelphia, PA) has been complimentary and encouraging. Perhaps it's the tension surrounding the political campaign, but recently I've been getting some downright hostile email because of my use of this horoscope. Primarily, I use the Scorpio Rising chart because it works in the real world.
 
For example, in item #1 of the October Top Five Astro-Events (see NewsScope 9/27/08), I wrote "when Mars squares the U.S. Midheaven on the 27th, expect a major incident of violence in the news." What happened then was that Jennifer Hudson's* mother, brother, and nephew were killed—a disturbing event that made headline news across the nation. When planets are angular, they have immediate, dramatic impact.
 
Mars makes a hard hit to the U.S. Midheaven about every six months, but is generally not too violent. This one was unusual because transiting Chiron was simultaneously on the IC (opposite the Midheaven). Two planets squaring each other and hitting the angles are bound to be eventful. Those who use a Gemini or Sagittarius Ascendant wouldn't see this Mars-Chiron square as particularly significant.
 
The current economic crisis has been anticipated in this column for the last two years, since transiting Pluto is heading into an opposition to the U.S. Venus in the Eighth House of Credit. Likewise, the housing bubble ended in 2006 when transiting Saturn and Neptune opposed each other while aligned with the U.S. Midheaven. A stunning bull market commenced in July 2006 when Jupiter turned direct on the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant. Using basic astrological principles, anyone who works with the Scorpio Rising chart could see these events coming.
 
Clint Eastwood Directs Angelina Jolie in Changeling
 
In the beginning of Changeling, Angelina Jolie's character is strong enough to take care of herself and her boy, but doesn't have the will to take on the corrupt patriarchal system. Directed by Clint Eastwood, Changeling is a somber film meant as a feminist protest drama, as Jolie overcomes the Los Angeles police department, a shady psychiatrist, and other collaborators with male chauvinist attitudes.
 
Gemini Clint Eastwood was born with Scorpio Rising (May 31, 1930; 5:35 pm; San Francisco, CA), a sign that is constantly wary of who is an enemy and who is a friend. With Pluto, the ruler of his chart, trine his Ascendant, Eastwood is a man who knows how to use power. Mars, the co-ruler of his chart, is prominently placed in Aries, giving him the courage, strength, and boldness to attack whenever it's necessary.
 
With Mars trine a conjunction of his Midheaven and Neptune (the natural ruler of film), Clint Eastwood has made a stellar career out of playing the archetypal tough guy, the anti-hero roles that are the antithesis of today's awakening feminism. While Eastwood's Mars is easily expressed, his Venus—representing his anima or feminine side—is in Cancer where it's oppressed by an opposition to patriarchal Saturn.
 
Over the last year, his progressed Venus squared its natal place, awakening this archetype to the point of compelling him to direct a movie about it. His alter ego for this feminine expression is Angelina Jolie (June 4, 1975; 9:09 am; Los Angeles, CA), who also has the Sun in Gemini, Venus in Cancer, and Mars in Aries, and who is also interested in the emerging power of women in a patriarchal society.

*Jennifer Hudson was previously profiled in the December 19, 2006 NewsScope column. Note that the transiting Saturn-Uranus opposition was right on her Virgo Sun.

For more on the U.S. Scorpio Rising horoscope, geopolitical astrology, and celebrity profiles, visit www.neptunecafe.com.

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