December 2006

What a year this has been. We are coming to realizations about ourselves as a nation, and most of us are wondering how we ever came to this; involved in a civil war in Iraq that threatens to

destabilize the entire region where most of the world’s oil is located, witnessing criminal behavior on the part of our elected officials, watching helplessly as the middle class is becoming a threatened species with education, healthcare, and retirement becoming so outlandishly expensive, only the wealthiest families will benefit from these things we thought were part of America’s success story.

Global warming is getting worse, threatening to destabilize the world’s climate, as plants and animals are going extinct at a pace not seen since the dinosaurs left the earth. We are being reminded on the media every day of the genocidal massacres in Darfur and in other African nations. The people in so many countries are not only not benefiting from so called “globalization”, they are losing rights to their properties, aquifers, and ability to grow their food as transnational corporations buy the rights to these things from governments whose pockets they so generously line with cash.

In spite of all this, we are witnessing the rise of people who are inventing new non-fossil fuel technologies that could solve our energy and environmental crises within a very few years. The environmental movement that has been tragically marginalized for so many years is emerging again with the release of Al Gore’s movie: “An Inconvenient Truth”.

Breakthroughs are being made in medicine, especially in the treatment and prevention of cancer. I frequently remember my history professor in college reminding us that the tide of history is rarely changed by the majority. It is usually a powerful, passionately committed minority of people who ultimately change their destiny and ours. I am carefully and hopefully watching some of these distinguished people begin to rise in these challenging times.

The Economy:

The first week of this month both Mars and Mercury in Scorpio are square Saturn in Leo, releasing more bad news about oil prices, the cost of the war, and the housing market. By December 9th, these planets, along with Venus and Jupiter gather in the more optimistic sign of Sagittarius moving us in a very bullish direction through the first week of January.

Dec. 15th and Dec. 22nd, Mercury and then Mars are square Uranus, releasing troubling news around the airline industries. I think as Mars moves to conjunct Pluto in the late degrees of Sagittarius in January (between Jan. 8th and the 14th) there will likely be a sell-off in financial markets. As negative as I feel about the global laissez-faire, roulette-wheel economy and its propensity to dash itself on the rocks in a few years, I feel that there will be a “frothy” bull market in the Spring of ‘ 07. I correctly predicted the rise in gold in November. I still think the “cabal” will exercise as much control as possible to keep gold tapped down since the Saturn/Neptune opposition is back between February and June. This opposition first hit in August of ’06, symbolizing downward momentum in the prices of gold and oil. These efforts will be temporary. By the end of 2007, gold prices will be moving strongly upward. As the giant oil fields of the Middle East reach maturity and many oil nations are either hostile to the U.S.A. or experiencing serious instabilities in their governance, the price of oil will continue to rise.

The pressure to find other sources of energy is now so intense that the spirit of invention will be rising. I recommend the book “Natural Capitalism, Creating the Next Industrial Revolution” by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins, and L. Hunter Lovins (published in 1999), Little, Brown and Company. Amory Lovins is a pioneer in alternative energy, the environment, and social and economic systems that would support a sustainable and much more economically opportune way of life.

The War and Global Politics:

Pres. Bush, having been strongly disliked by most other countries around the world for the past five years, is now strongly disliked by Americans. The nation spoke to this when they elected a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress. He got us into the worst possible scenario in Iraq, and that is: we are damned if we’re in and damned if we are out! Saturn is in Leo until the end of August of 2007. When it goes into Virgo in September, we may have some kind of exit strategy. This month, the “Baker Commission” will release its recommendations. We absolutely must engage other Middle Eastern nations in the effort to end this war and stabilize this nation. We could station concentrations of troops only around the oil production infrastructure, and recommend a Federalist style government including different religions and ethnics within their own states. With Jupiter now in Sagittarius, this may become possible. All this reduces the probability of our going to war with Iran. Jupiter is trine the Sun in Iran’s chart, giving them more power and visibility, even though this is a terror-sponsoring nation.

Starting this month, Israel may be making some changes in its leadership and its strategies. The coming year would be a good time for the U.S. to re-engage itself in diplomatic efforts with the Israelis and the Palestinians. Jupiter’s position lends badly needed help to their natal chart that has been sorely afflicted by Neptune and Saturn for some time.

Mexico’s chart is highlighted this month through January. A large percentage of their population believes the recent presidential election was rigged, they are fed up with transnational corporations empowered by NAFTA and the ensuing increased poverty and unemployment throughout their country. The crisis in the U.S.A. with illegal immigration across the Mexican border is escalating. Mars in Sagittarius is conjunct Pluto at 27 degrees on January 13th signifying important events around this time.

Venezuela’s chart is also activated in this same time period. Pres. Hugo Chavaz has been a lightening rod of controversy and takes delight in his friendship with Fidel Castro. The first week of December, Castro’s health may reach a crisis point and the fate of Cuba hangs in the balance. Venezuela has tapped a new and important oil field within their region, so Chavaz is riding high at this time.

Throughout Central and South America, there may be movements to overthrow their old rulers and elect more populist, leftist leaders. Our historic interventions to shore up whatever leaders support our industries in these nations, often leading to the impoverishment and even mass killings of the natives has been a blot on our history. Pluto in the late degrees of Sagittarius is stimulating this part of the world toward significant change.

Travel & Weather:

I would issue travel advisories between Dec 4th and the 5th, the 15th through the 16th, and the 22nd. Bad weather may be a factor in travel glitches and delays. With so many planets in the traveling sign of Sagittarius, expect heavy air and highway traffic throughout the month.

Final Thoughts:

As the holidays are upon us and Jewish and Christian festivals of songs and lights surround us wherever we go, it is easy to be distracted into wondering if the Dow will rise because of eager consumers, we have the latest electronic gadget, or we can get our shopping done in time.

Most of us, however, are truly fed up with jaded materialistic Christmases, followed by a kind of hollow depression afterwards. Deep inside, there is a longing for an authentic meaning to our lives, brought to us by great religious avatars of long ago in a spirit of blinding love. As the Sun reaches the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, we remember its death and rebirth. We remember that hope dies and is reborn, that faith is lost and rediscovered, that we are, even in the darkest of nights, never really lost.

May the spirit of giving dispel our differences, elevate our hearts, and bring us all together as humanity, once again, finds itself.

Linda
Linda Schurman

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Sagittarius – The Archer

November 23 – December 21

Capricorn – The Sea Goat

December 22 – January 20