THE SOOTHESAYER INTERNET

August 2006

A Brief History of Recent Time:

 It would seem, at this point in time, that our worst fears are confirmed.  Our democracy is in a significant decline as the President of the U.S. is wiring us without a warrant, breaking into our financial records, making sure that many of the laws that have been passed by the legislature are not enforced (with his determination that they are “unconstitutional”), destroying the middle class by helping to implement the outsourcing of jobs, and downsizing funds for education, healthcare, and retirement.  Now he wishes to get rid of estate taxes for multi-millionaires while increasing the biggest budget deficits of all time as the tragic black hole war in Iraq intensifies day by day.     

This month’s opposition of Saturn to Neptune will, at the very least, increase awareness of the real intentions of this administration and its multitude of failures, scandals, and dubious activities.

 As I warned in last month’s newsletter with relationship to the transit of Mars, the Middle East is melting down as Israel launched an attack on the sovereign country of Lebanon to get at the anti-Israeli terror organization, Hezbollah, that now says it will fight to the death to wipe Israel off the map. All terror groups in the Middle East are strengthening their numbers as they are adding sympathetic Arabs to their forces and further weakening the governments of the nations that have previously cooperated with U.S. interests.

 The global financial liberalization and deregulation that has been building for the past twenty years has succeeded in creating an out-of-control nightmare of credit derivatives, unregulated hedge funds, and demand for commodities that is raising the price of oil and gas, moving us into an unstoppable inflationary spiral.  The low interest rate debt-based real estate market bubble is rapidly disappearing as Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke has been forced to raise interest rates.  The stock market soared last week, believing that he will stop raising rates, even as energy inflation is starting to slow the economy and raise prices, gasoline is over $3.00 a gallon and the oil-producing Middle Eastern nations are caught up in a turmoil of war that could further skyrocket the price of oil.

 Traditionally, the Saturn/Neptune opposition has brought commodity prices down and the Cabal will work hard to get investors to sell their gold.  They will use their might to hold oil prices down.  Whatever they do, this will be temporary as opposed to the long haul.

 Coming Up

 The Economy:

 This month transiting Mars in Virgo will oppose Uranus between the 11th and the 14th and square Pluto between the 29th and the 31st, while Saturn makes its first opposition to Neptune between the 25th and the 31st.  These transits are symbolic of economic crises and extreme weather conditions that may result in a significant sell-off in financial markets between the middle of this month through November.  As global instabilities escalate, sales of assets will increase into the two September eclipses.  The powers-that-be will likely bring down the price of gold to stop people from fleeing the dollar into the precious metal.  This aspect is recession-oriented in nature and bearish for financial markets in general.  

 In addition, afflicted Mars in Virgo will stimulate the elimination of more jobs.  The largest percentage of jobs added to the economy in the past four years have been related to real estate, whose “bubble” is contracting.  Saturn’s aspect to Neptune is getting rid of illusions and fantasies, forcing people to look at the fundamental flaws in the global economy run by multinational corporate giants and banks and the price the majority of people on earth will have to pay.  The Mars/Pluto square hits the chart of the city of Washington, D.C. at the end of this month, signifying a crisis there.  The issue of undocumented immigrants pouring into the country will likely be brought up again in the fall, as will the reduction of decent jobs for Americans citizens.  Our nation’s capital is in turmoil. 

There will be a small temporary “light in the tunnel” when Jupiter goes into Sagittarius on November 25th (through Dec. 18th of 2007).  It may be that the Feds call a halt to raising interest rates at that time, giving the dying real estate market a temporary boost and promoting a more optimistic outlook.  All of you that have been following this newsletter know that I think we are entering a long and difficult economic decline starting in 2008, so that this transit is just postponing the inevitable by adding more credit/debt to the already over-leveraged economy.  The piper will eventually have to be paid.

Weather & Travel:

 The aspects of Mars would point to some severely stormy weather between the 11th and the 31st.  We are all too aware that the effects of global warming are behind record-breaking heat waves and weather extremes.  I would be cautious with regard to air travel this month.

Foreign Relations and War:

 The Saturn/Neptune opposition between now and June of 2007 is hitting the grand cross solar eclipse of August 11, 1999.  I have frequently referred to this event as being behind the explosive destabilization of the Middle East, religious fundamentalism played out as tribal warfare, and the end of the age of oil.

 The policies of our present government have succeeded in alienating just about every nation on earth.  Things will be so serious this month that there will be genuine attempts to forge ceasefires and peace agreements.  There may be some more effective efforts made in October when Venus, Mars and the Sun are in peacemaking Libra.  The war in Iraq will continue to worsen.  Recently, their prime minister requested that we add troops.  Public sentiment will be to do the opposite and Americans will simply want to exit this war altogether. 

 The positions of transiting Saturn, Neptune and Pluto in the chart of Israel are among the most difficult this nation has ever endured.  Between October and November, there may be major conflicts not only with its enemies on the outside, but within the nation itself.  A crisis in leadership looms ahead. (The chart used is May 14, 1948, 4:32 PM EET). 

 Between September and November, there are significant activations in the chart of Iran related to their subsidizing terror groups and holding onto their nuclear options.  Their Uranus in “nuclear” Scorpio is being activated by the Saturn/Neptune opposition.  Neither Israel nor the U.S.A. can afford to start another “theater of war” there without exhausting their resources.  (The chart used is Apr. 1, 1975, 3:00 PM, IRD).

 North Korea and its crazy threats with regard to launching missiles will likely take advantage of weaknesses in the U.S. credibility and do something foolish between now and September, since the Saturn/Neptune opposition rides over their Pluto while Neptune is inconjunct their Sun and Uranus is square their Moon.  (The chart used is Sep. 10, 1948, 12:00 PM JST). 

 In the chart of Communist Cuba (Jan. 2, 1959, 1:00 AM EST), this same opposition is hitting their Mars/Uranus square.  Pluto is headed toward a conjunction with their Saturn in 2008.  Castro’s health is failing and there will be an internal struggle as to his successor.  Weather conditions on this island nation will be severe and they may have serious problems with energy and electricity.

 The horoscopes of the nations of India and Pakistan are being hit by this aspect.  The fast growing economy of India will be slowing and the many inequities and problems that have been hidden away will come out into the open.  The leadership of both nations is in trouble. (India: Jan. 26, 1950, 10:15 AM INT, Pakistan: Mar. 23, 1956, 7:05 AM R4T).

Thanks to my readers!

 I have received many interesting comments from you, my readers, and appreciate your intelligent insights and particular viewpoints on all the important issues of the day.

 More than one person expressed a fear that Bill Gates and Warren Buffet may have a “hidden agenda” with respect to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation charity because of their financing vaccines for people in the developing nations. This may stem from lawsuits instituted against a pharmaceutical company for vaccines given to children in the 1990’s containing a Mercury derivative we know to be a neurotoxin. 

 Vaccines have saved us from epidemics of terrible killer diseases such as Polio, Smallpox, Rabies, Diphtheria, Measles, etc. that have taken the lives of millions.  The problem is not with vaccines, but the companies who manufacture them.  This stems from the lack of careful federal monitoring (especially with this administration) and the money and power in the hands of the drug companies to influence Washington policy.  These are the “bad guys”, not Bill Gates and Warren Buffet.   The most widespread disease in the world at the present time is Malaria and if a vaccine could be developed it would be a salvation for hundreds of millions of people, especially in the African nations.  It goes without saying that a vaccine for AIDS would be a Godsend! 

Final Comments:

 As an astrologer, it is my view that planetary patterns light the way to an understanding of the themes of history we are destined to confront.  Since I have been forecasting a “confrontation” with the world’s religions coming to a head in the Middle East, it would seem that my position is similar to many right-wing “Evangelical” Christians.  These people are interpreting the present events as the inevitable “Armageddon” during which good and evil will launch a final catastrophic war with one another and Christ will return to take the Christians up into Heaven, condemning all others to burn in Hell.

 This is, in my opinion, the biggest transcendental “cop-out” imaginable, since it is human selfishness, greed, hatred and the willingness to launch wars for personal gain that is behind all of this.  It is not God who is responsible, but it is human civilization that, at this time, is marching toward suicidal self-extinction.  We have a choice, every day and in every way to step up to the plate and face the issues squarely; issues the universe is presenting to us within the context of our very own history.  There will be no “elite” group of people who will be “saved” since the same challenges are before each and every one of us.  

 The age of transition is opening up before us.  Will we choose to avoid our problems or will we choose to look at the truth?  Will we choose to degrade and poison the planet or live in concert with Nature?  Will we choose to hate or to love?

Stay tuned!

Linda

Linda Schurman

Note: I welcome all your comments whether they are critical or complimentary*.  This site represents astrology as a tool for a deeper understanding of the themes and issues of our times.  This period in which we all live may be the most critical time for human civilization ever!  It is my wish that we all do our best with whatever talent we have been given, to further the survival and evolution of life on planet earth!

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Leo – The Lion July 23 – August 22	Virgo – The Virgin August 23 – Sept 22
With a glorious appearance, On my worldwide tours, I’m destined to conquer My nature and yours!	I work very hard To get everything right, My head is on pretty, My halo shines bright!

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Original art by Adam DeShane

Verse by Linda Schurman