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Linda Schurman
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August 2004
Uranus in Pisces – The End of the Age of Oil (2003 – 2012)It is astounding to me that little mention is being made by the political pundits and presidential candidates that we are at the beginning of a potential energy Armageddon that could easily herald the collapse of western civilization. Geologists who study world oil supply believe that we are headed into an irreversible decline in production and that the long predicted exhaustion of oil is now at hand. Dr. Colin J. Campbell, author of the book “The Coming Oil Crises”, one of the leading authorities on hydrocarbons is now a trustee of the Oil Depletion Analysis Center, a charitable organization in London that is dedicated to researching the date and impact of the peak and decline of world oil production due to resource constraints, and raising awareness of the serious consequences. Having produced significant evidence that global oil reserves are being seriously overstated by OPEC, he believes worldwide production of conventional oil will head into permanent and irreversible decline in the 2005 to 2010 timeframe. As Saudi Arabia is threatened with a “meltdown” of its leadership, the instability and violence in Iraq grows worse each day, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains unresolved, it is a no-brainer to conclude that the black hole of Middle Eastern wars and conflicts are severely straining our resources to the breaking point. All of this would be seen through a different lens if we were not dependant (60%) in the U.S.A.) on foreign oil! Other oil producing nations such as Russia (who recently shut down Yuko, their oil corporation) and Venezuela (whose leader Hugo Chavez has destabilized the oil industry) are all hallmarks of unreliability. It is beyond belief that we are not investing big bucks in solar, windmill, and fuel cell technologies that could reduce our dependency on oil and gas by well over 50%. We could create new and prosperous businesses, stimulate employment, and, most of all, clean up the environment devastated by fossil fuels. The greenhouse warming has been so dramatic that the polar ice caps and mountain glaciers have melted, threatening the North Atlantic oscillation and the Gulf stream . These currents have acted as a “heat pump” that warms the climates of Europe and No. America allowing for lengthy growing seasons and prosperous agricultural businesses. Nobody really knows what the consequences of the stoppage of these significant ocean currents will ultimately be. Some hypothesize that No. America and Europe could enter a mini-ice age. At this time, we all know the weather and temperature extremes are setting records all over the globe. Uranus is the planet of genius, invention, and technology. We could actually invent our way out of this crisis and be better prepared for the most critical period of the 21st Century, when Pluto transits Capricorn 2008 – 2024 and squares Uranus from 2012 to 2018. Right now, transiting Saturn suggests more serious crises and upheavals in Saudi Arabia and Russia. A major discovery of natural gas has recently been discovered in the China Sea and we have sent a contingency of nuclear air carriers to that region. Recently, as I discussed in last month’s newsletter, a diplomatic war has been going on between China and Japan connected with access to Russian oil. I predict that oil prices will head toward the $50 a barrel point, possibly before the end of this year.
Mercury Retrograde!!!This particular retrograde Mercury is a tough one. Technically, it retrogrades from Aug. 10th through September 2nd, but most of us are feeling the incident now. It will oppose Uranus August 1st, August 18th and September 14th. Problems with computers, cell phones, electronic appliances and devices in general will abound. Get out your computer virus control software and pray for the best! In addition, our abilities to remember where we put our keys, why we just came into the kitchen, and where we are going will likely be diminished. No, you don’t have senile dementia or a brain disorder; just an out-of-control Mercury! Weather conditions on the above- mentioned dates will likely be stormy, windy, and unpredictable. These are not good dates for traveling in general but it is a good time to get things “fixed” or replaced, clean out drawers, closets, and filing systems, and avoid signing important documents or making long-term decisions.
The Economy & Financial Markets: Last month there was an almost undetectable rally in the stock market the last week. We are now entering a very risky investment cycle with Jupiter squaring Pluto, Mercury retrograde and afflicted and the Sun conjunct Mercury opposite Uranus around the 23rd. I would stay completely out of the market at this point. The “Cabal” will try to control the damage but would be better advised to just let the bear do its damage through the end of September. Due to oil prices, escalating healthcare costs, etc., inflation will be a factor and fear of rising interest rates will loom over the economy. In addition, with Mars going into Virgo on August 10th through September 25th, many companies will be laying off employees or outsourcing more jobs to overseas cheap labor markets. Gold did make a significant rally last month, but came down somewhat in the second half of the month. People get in and out of gold in connection with the rise and fall of the dollar, but ideally, gold should be a hedge against the underlying instability and unhealthiness of the economy. I think it will do better in September, particularly between the 10th and the 24th. However, I look for a more significant rise between November and December.
Politics and the Presidential Election: Over all, the Democratic Convention was a success showing unity within the party and increasing the credibility of Sen. Kerry. However, the planets in Virgo this month through September will stress his astrological chart putting enormous pressures on him traveling around the country (i.e. weather conditions and mechanical problems). His natal Uranus is being hit by the Mercury opposition to transiting Uranus in his 7th house of partnership. This could put undue stress on his wife Theresa and his running mate, Sen. John Edwards. They all have to watch out for what they say and how they say it. Sen. Edwards astrological chart lines up with the horoscope of the U. S. A. like they were “made for each other”. He is a Gemini Sun with Cancer rising, directly connecting with America’s “rags to riches” mythology, along with the ideal of the “common men and women” having an equal playing field. For the next two months, his chart is under a great deal of stress, but the period between October and November looks more favorable for him to get his message across as the planets, including Jupiter, march into the sign of Libra. The Republican Convention has a lot of stressful aspects, including Mercury Retrograde, and they may have trouble in New York City with the protesters. On Aug. 10th, Mercury stations to go retrograde right on Pres. Bush’s natal Mars and progressed Sun. He needs to guard against accidents, violence, disruptions and escalating problems with the war in Iraq. This is followed up by transiting Mars hitting the same area of his chart between the 23rd and the 26th. Last month, when Mercury went into Virgo headed for the opposition to Uranus, he fell off his bike! The biggest issue with regard to the election in November should be the electronic voting machines without a paper trail. This is a disgrace and profoundly undermines our democracy. A clever hacker could march into a voting station and type in whatever result he desires. Never in our history has it been so easy to commit fraud. The infamous State of Florida refuses to install a paper trail and refuses to have the election monitored by independent auditors. Congressman Rush Holt from New Jersey is currently proposing a law mandating a nationwide system of paper audits. The way you can avoid this problem is to vote by absentee paper ballot and I suggest you do so if you are in a district without a paper audit!
Final Comments: We are currently inhabiting a period in history in which our global economy and global environment are teetering toward collapse unless we step up to the plate with a willingness to look at truths that are painful to face. We need to address unprecedented deficits and debts, unfunded liabilities, the end of fossil fuels, global climate change and a war on terrorists. We can’t put band-aids on these problems and hope they will go away. We need to mobilize ourselves to invent and innovate our way out of these crises. Most of all, we must learn to think outside the “box” consisting of spin produced by the media at large. Instead, we must visualize ourselves anew in an era of cooperation rather than ruthless competition. We need to recognize that we are all inhabiting earth together, that we are our “brother’s keeper”, that we breathe the same air, drink the same water, and want a decent way of life for our children and grandchildren whether we live in sub-Saharan Africa, Iraq, Bosnia, Bolivia, or the U.S.A. We can’t afford the warring tribes model of society in an age that is marching into the Aquarian Age in which humankind will see itself as a preserver rather than a destroyer; as a peacemaker rather than a warrior; and ultimately as a healer of history’s ancient wounds whose momentum is directed toward the unifying presence of the sacredness and beauty of life.
Linda Linda L. Schurman |
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