World News
By Jenni Dean Harte
Mars in Virgo - Sniper Attacks
Jupiter opposed Neptune - UK Exam System
Estelle Morris, Minister of Education in England
Pluto in Sag and Saturn in Gemini
The 2002 Autumnal Equinox brought anything but harmony despite the Sun’s entry into Libra. Mars in Virgo square Pluto in Sag, a nasty aspect by any reckoning, has been reaping carnage everywhere and the entire month of October was filled with news of violence, explosions and bombings—and not just in Bali, sniper attacks in the Washington DC/Maryland area and even a few earthquakes in England. By the time Mars entered Libra in mid-October, Venus was already retrograde in vengeful Scorpio and their mutual reception triggered further evil activities by malcontents the world over. These two planets will be sticking close to each other right into early 2003 when Venus finally leaves Scorpio and begins to pull away from sulky, grudge-bearing Mars still strong in Scorpio. As they both enter argumentative Sag in January, no doubt long-held resentments (hmm, that word again) will take—or keep—centre stage well into the New Year.
The Autumnal Equinox chart shows Mars in Virgo working towards perfection, masterminding plots and plans but it also turned painfully petty. And, unfortunately, in the 12th house (London), Mars is resentful and its square to Pluto in idealistic Sagittarius brought out the worst of these qualities. The sniper in the Washington DC/Maryland area in the US, for instance, is apparently a great marksman but his sneaky, despicable attacks have killed 10 innocent people and injured at least 3 others. Since the sniper—who say’s he/she’s God!—began the killing spree, Mars has moved into Libra and, as mentioned above, is in mutual reception with Rx Venus in Scorpio. While there has been no expressed motive for these cowardly attacks, one could easily speculate that he/she’s after revenge and—as he/she’s said—no one is safe, including children. All the news on 23 October announced that schools in the target areas would stay closed and children are being kept at home. Late Note: On 24 October an Islamic man has been arrested and taken in for questioning—here’s hoping the culprit has been found.
Meanwhile, students in the UK are experiencing troubles of their own. Jupiter opposed Neptune in September and the UK examinations system, for all intents and purposes, went tits up. In fact, the exam system was such a mess it might as well have gone up in flames (er, maybe it did! Jupiter is in Leo) for all the good it did graduating students who lost places in their first choice of university due to ‘marking down’ of grades. Legal action is being considered by students and their parents and further down the chain of command on the board of examiners, many minor officials are appalled. Heads will roll, but this year’s students are the real sacrificial lambs many of whom will be forced into taking an unexpected (and completely unplanned) gap year. Mercury Rx (in Libra—It’s not fair!) forced the board of examiners to re-grade countless papers, but too late—as is the nature of Rx Mercury—this won’t help those students who have missed out this year.
Estelle Morris, Minister of Education in England during the exams debacle resigned on 24 October (no doubt jumped before she was pushed) but she didn’t stand a chance. The transits alone are unbelievable, Sun hit her Mars, Saturn stationed Rx to go back over her Sun Mercury conjunction at 24 and 26 Gemini, Mars coming up fast on her Saturn, Mercury exactly conjunct her Neptune, Uranus conjunct her North Node and Rx Scorpio Venus exactly opposing her Jupiter—now that’s pressure. She’ll be back in the news, so many heavy planets are involved (don’t even want to see her progressions) and somebody’s gotta take the blame…she’ll be right in the firing line, ex-minister or not. Sad, innit? Estelle Morris: 17 June 1952, Manchester? Data: Gerard’s Collection of MP’s.
Not so incidentally, the Full Moon on 21 October promised revelation (London chart) with Jupiter on the MC exactly trine Pluto. But Neptune in the 3rd exactly trine Mercury/Mars in the 11th the next person to head the education system won’t be much of a friend to Estelle as they take up the poisoned chalice. Saturn in Gemini in the 8th, trine Sun in Libra in the 12th, doesn’t look very straight-ahead.
Of course, Pluto in Sag and Saturn in Gemini (post-opposition) are also implicated in this rolling programme of educational aggro. Despite government’s supposed desire to see more students enrolled in higher education, it seems they just can’t get it right. (Remember, the UK has Gemini and Sag in the 3rd and 9th). UK: 1 Jan 1801, 0.00 (UT), Westminster, 51 N 30, 00 W 07.
Pointing the way for the disenchanted? I moved house last year—like lots of folks did following the Jupiter Saturn conjunction in Taurus—and have been involved in various building work ever since. Ever tried to organise a schedule with builders?, you’ll be aware that the experienced ones—the ones most in demand—are working flat out and it’s harder and harder to arrange a schedule of works they can keep to…there just aren’t enough of them to go around. Why aren’t youngsters being encouraged to go into the trades? Not everyone needs a university degree but everyone needs somewhere to live. Homes need repairs, maintenance and updating and this is a forever scenario but skilled plumbers, electricians and carpenters are getting rarer than hen’s teeth—ergo, you can’t get them when you need them. When you do get them, they can’t work a full day, let along a full week…they have to run off to one of their other jobs. Where are the new chippies, brickies and sparkies? There’s money to be made here but it’s lying on the table.
Pardon me Mr Blair, but if you really want young people to be employable and self sufficient why aren’t you aggressively promoting training for the kind of practical skills this country so obviously needs? I’m baffled…can it be true that all young people want to go into IT or management? Gimme a break, no—gimme a chippie who can finish the work around here.
Schoolgirl
Milly Dowler, who lived in my neighbourhood, vanished on her way home
from school on the day of the Vernal Equinox , gone…without a trace and
for the next 6 months, despite a huge police investigation, her whereabouts
remained a mystery. I predicted, not long after I was interviewed by police
(all residents on her homeward route were interviewed several times),
was that she would probably be found around the Autumnal Equinox, and
so she was. On the day of the Full Moon 21 September, just hours before
the Sun entered Libra, a body found in Hampshire was positively identified
as Milly’s. At the time of her disappearance transiting Pluto opposed
her natal Mercury and transiting Chiron was exactly conjunct her Neptune.
Transiting Saturn at 10 Gemini formed the focal point in a yod which picked
up her natal Moon Pluto conjunction in Scorpio as well as her natal Neptune
(and transiting Chiron). September’s Full Moon squared transiting Saturn
on the day she was discovered—exactly opposite her Uranus Saturn conjunction
at 29 Sag, forming a grand mutable square. At the same time, transiting
Chiron, just turned direct, opposed her natal Sun and transiting Pluto
was exactly opposite her natal Venus, with transiting Venus in Scorpio
exactly conjunct Milly’s Moon Pluto conjunction. Police say they will
find her killer, the last mystery to solve. Milly Dowler: 25 June 1988,
no time, probably Kingston, Surrey. (Right) Milly missing: 21 March
2002, Walton-on-Thames 51 N 42, 00 W 25. Milly’s body found: 20 Sept 2002,
Fleet, Hampshire 51 N 16, 00 W 50.
The New Moon on 6 October fell on a Sunday so naturally the papers provided lots of timely stories as Venus reared her pretty head in an article in the Sunday Times, promptly fulfilling her unhappy reputation in Scorpio ruling the New Moon. The article, entitled When Wives Become the Enemy. It seems soldiers (Mars in Libra—in mutual reception with Venus!) trained to be world-class killers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina returned this summer from missions to Afghanistan and began killing their wives. It’s not just the training, say those in the know, the anti-malaria drug Lariam, routinely prescribed to US troops in Afghanistan may be a factor. Canadian troops with the UN in Somalia had a name for the day the drug was administered—Psycho Tuesday! Needless to say, the chart for the New Moon reveals all. The new Moon at 13 Libra 02 was unaspected by any other personal planets—relationships without a lifeline—but Mercury and Mars (the fighting men) both squared Saturn. As for Venus, she didn’t talk to personal planets either. In fact she squared Jupiter in look at me Leo (bigtime), was sesquisquare Saturn (how uncomfortable). But if a drug was involved, where’s Neptune, ah…trine the New Moon, opposing Jupiter and sesquisquare military Mars. Ft Bragg, North Carolina: 35 N 09, 79 W 00.
Boris
Becker’s Taxing Problem Poor ol’ Boris, has been plagued with serious
personal problems for the last few years when Pluto crossed his ascendant
but his latest nightmare (as transiting Chiron conjoined his Solar Arc
progressed Sun exactly)—a lawsuit involving £1million in unpaid taxes—has
finally been settled. On 24 October, as the Sun rolled into Scorpio, he
was found guilty. Boris was born in the last degree of Scorpio, Sun conjunct
Neptune at 25 Scorpio (photogenic but not very helpful with practical
affairs) and Mercury at 11 Scorpio. Oh yeah, here we go! Transiting Mars
in Libra was right on Boris’s MC, exactly opposite his natal Saturn. Boris
got lucky tho’, as Venus Rx made her way back across natal Mercury
and his progressed Solar Arc MC, the judge—a woman—decided Boris to give
him a break and instead of a prison sentence, which the prosecutor requested,
she gave him 2 years probation. For him that Mars Venus mutual reception
seems to be about the best news he’s had lately. In fact, there’s even
speculation he may get back together with his estranged wife, Barbara,
and Venus is doing her best to give him that opportunity…good luck to
them. More news when Venus goes direct and smacks into everything in Scorpio
again? Boris Becker: 22 November 1967, 8.45 (MET –1), Leimen, Germany,
49 N 25, 08 E 42, Asc 10 Sag. Note: The 20 Nov eclipse (see below) directly
hits a couple of interesting, and relevant, midpoints—Sun/Neptune at 27
Scorpio, Moon/Chiron at 27 Taurus and squares his Moon/Uranus at 27 Leo!
Interesting times for Boris & Co, eh?
New Eclipse Season: We’ve got 2 eclipses during this issue of Transit, the first is a Lunar Eclipse on 20 November followed by a Solar Eclipse on 4 December. The Lunar Eclipse at 28 Taurus/Scorpio brings hope for improved relationships, including their transformation, and—with any luck—collaboration, suggested by the grand trine in air between Mars in Libra, Saturn in Gemini and Uranus in Aquarius—and of course it’s about money! International events of recent months certainly revolved around these themes, perhaps (so sue me, I’m an optimist!) this eclipse will be the start of slowly improving conditions…a time of healing and regeneration…and new starts. At the same time, Mercury has just moved into Sagittarius—time to tell it like it is—and Venus is stationed about to turn forward at 0 Scorpio—our desires and values have been laid bare, now it’s time for her to show us. Revolutionary action is required, we just need the guts to celebrate ourselves and our differences (if only human nature was that simple).
The Solar Eclipse at 12 Sagittarius on December 4th is close to Pluto which is trine Jupiter (2nd of 3 through July 2003) and describes much the same thing. Mars and Venus in Scorpio are still discussing the exact path for renewal but whilst this is a time for action, a New Moon isn’t the best time to start, there’s a square from Venus and Mars to Neptune. Mercury (moving fast now—and who can blame him?) will enter Capricorn on 8 December, a couple of weeks before the Sun. There’s gonna be lots of talk about business and economy in the run-up to the holidays. Probably not much action until the New Year when Mercury turns back at the end of Capricorn for anxious discussion with the Sun about our ambitions—good and ill—and the way to achieve them.
House Prices Under Pressure in the UK could be the headline when the Sun makes it’s ingress into Capricorn on 22 December. In London, Mercury on the IC—completely unaspected—is sextile Mars and Venus still in tight-fisted Scorpio in the 2nd and Neptune in the 4th is trine the North Node in Gemini in the 8th. If you’re involved in a partnership with investment property (the Node was exactly on the 7th cusp during the 4 December eclipse!), be sure you’re not hanging on to a decreasing asset, don’t wait for your bubble to burst. Given Mercury’s Rx in Capricorn next January this is likely to remain a big story well into 2003.
Happy Holidays? Course, that Mars Venus conjunction in the 2nd during the Sun’s entry into Capricorn in London suggests retailers will be less than happy with their profits this holiday season. Still, Jupiter in sunny Leo trine Pluto could be jollier than many expect…way jollier—keep your budget in mind and watch your waistline. And plan extra time for travel, Mercury is exactly quincunx Saturn all day on the 25th, traffic (and road rage, and personal arguments—Jupiter in Leo is square Mars Venus) could be a real problem and even careful plans may get fouled up.
Enjoy the holiday of lights—be safe. See you in the New Year!
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