Unidentified hackers attacked the Internet's most successful corporations last week by flooding their web sites with one gigabyte per second of phony data requests. During the same week, economists trumpeted the longest bull market in the nation's history, declaring that the end is nowhere in sight.

Astrologically, these two events are both reflective of the 84-year Uranus cycle, now at a spectacular turning point due to the triple conjunction of Uranus, the February 5 solar eclipse, and the U.S. Fourth House cusp. (Editor’s note: WolfStar uses a Scorpio rising U.S. chart.) One Uranus cycle ago, the U.S. economy was also reaching historical upward momentum during the mass production of technological innovations and the material for World War I. Simultaneously, anarchy and anti-capitalist sentiments prevailed in many cities, bringing unprecedented numbers of riots and bombings.

Uranus is often associated with war in the U.S. horoscope (the first and second Uranus Returns coincided with the Civil War and D-Day), since it's aligned with Antares, the brilliant star associated with military affairs. Media commentators have characterized these web hackers as teenage vandals, but according to the historical precedent as revealed by the Uranus cycle, we are in the opening stages of cyber warfare.

President Clinton, Pentagon top brass, the FBI and corporate moguls are huddling together this Tuesday to discuss their options. Meanwhile, financial astrologers are eyeing May's dynamic planetary configuration between Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus with the suspicion that this will bring a major correction, if not collapse, of the raging bull. While inflation, consumer confidence and the normal institutional indicators are all looking rosy, Uranus (and Internet hackers) do not operate within normal limitations.

Britain Dismantles Home-Rule Government

Last Friday, Britain dismantled Northern Ireland's home-rule government, citing the IRA's refusal to scrap its hidden weapons. The IRA is one of four parties participating in the recently created coalition government designed to end centuries of strife between Protestants and Catholics.

The British national horoscope can be set for the Norman conquest in 1066 when antagonistic principalities were unified under the Kingdom of England. The chart is set for the coronation of William the Conqueror on Christmas Day, 1066 at noon. Although this horoscope is nearly one thousand years old, it remains an effective lens for observing modern political developments in British affairs.

Last Friday's developments concerning hidden weaponry parallel the astrological meaning of Mars (weapons) in the Twelfth House (hidden affairs). Home-rule suspension occurred as transiting Mars was exactly conjunct the British Twelfth House Moon. Also last week, Mars transiting through the Twelfth House brought in a hijacked Afghan airplane and hostage crisis; the potentially lethal situation was successfully defused through intense negotiations and anti-terrorist tactics.

At 4:41 am on Friday, an explosion ripped through the British-owned Barclay's Bank in Manhattan's upscale Wall Street district. While U.S. media reported no IRA involvement, the horoscope drawn up for this moment features Capricorn rising at the precise degree of the Sun in the British horoscope. With revolutionary Uranus now entering the U.S. Fourth House, American security may be jeopardized by the conflict over Northern Ireland.

Tiger Woods “Imagineers” an Eagle

Last Monday at Pebble Beach, golfing fans assumed that Tiger Woods’ string of victories was over at five. Woods was in the sand and five shots behind with only a few holes to play in the tournament. But then, a spectacular 97-yard eagle began a stunning catch-up and ultimately, his sixth victory in a row.

Tiger Woods was born with athletic Mars as the most elevated planet in his horoscope (on December 30, 1975; 10:50 pm; Long Beach, California). Not only is this Mars near his career point (the Midheaven), but it's also fortified with several links to other skill-inducing planets. His Mars trines Pluto, giving him resourcefulness, endurance and a tremendous desire to win. Additional aspects to the Moon, Neptune, Saturn, Juno and Jupiter add the other qualities that produce a sports champion.

Woods' Mars-Neptune opposition may hold the key to his success. Neptune confers visionary qualities, and when matched with athletic Mars, the individual may accomplish reality-defying feats through the process of “imagineering.” When imagineering, one sees through the inner eye the entire external action unfold in perfect harmony—a kind of zen-like oneness with the imagined objective.

At the moment of Woods' eagle, transiting Pluto, the planet of empowerment, was exactly, to-the-minute conjunct his Neptune. Although Woods' streak ended Sunday at the Buick Open, he is favored to win again and again in 2000 since transiting Uranus and his progressed Ascendant are forming a lucky, protective grand trine with his heroic Mars. Editor's Note: To read more about Tiger Woods, see What Makes Tiger Tick? by Courtney Roberts Conrad.