July 2004

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Linda Schurman
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updated 8/13/2007
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Insights:

The horoscope for the U.S.A. Constitution, (Sep. 17, 1787) was challenged last month by the Supreme Court decisions to move the Jose Padillo case to a lower court and to allow the other litigants challenging their arrests and detainments without counsel under the Patriot Act, the right to legal counsel and trial. However, they ruled without specifying just how the legal counsel and trials would take place. I guess that is up to Attorney General Ashcroft and his pals to figure out!

At this time, transiting Neptune is conjunct the Pluto in the Constitution chart. Transiting Pluto is moving toward a square with the Sun and an opposition to Jupiter. These aspects, continuing throughout 2005, may be the greatest challenges to our constitutional system of government and our rights to due process and a fair trial since we first became a nation. Neptune tends to confuse issues, and often disguises dubious hidden motives. Pluto threatens destruction of the very foundation of whatever entity it contacts.

Keep in mind that one of the greatest powers a President of the U.S.A. has is to appoint Justices to the Supreme Court and other Federal Judges. The Congress has the right of approval, and is currently controlled by the Republicans. The current Court is controlled by Conservatives. This is one of the many reasons we need to vote very carefully in November. At the present time, it seems any one of us could be "detained", accused of being involved with terrorists, and held indefinitely, with no rules about being officially accused of anything, our right to a lawyer or a trial. This is very very scary!

I seem to have heard something growing up in America about "liberty and justice for all". Is this concept becoming a distant memory?

The Economy:

Although the stock market may take a hit during the first week, this month looks like a "Summer Rally", except for the Mars opposition to Neptune on the 16^th (scandal/deception). This period is especially good for technological stocks and investments related to the entertainment industry. Gold and precious metals that have been controlled downward recently, may rise this month, especially between the 16^th and the 24^th.

Take your profits this month. Starting around the middle of August through the end of September, there may be a significant sell off in the market, especially in the tech sector that looks so good this month.

Another sector that will look better this month are the employment figures. It will seem that unemployment is decreasing, even though much of the workforce continues to be "outsourced" to overseas cheap labor. What will surprise people is that starting the middle of August through late September, there will be a startlingly large number of corporate layoffs and downsizing.

There has been a concerted attempt to control oil inflation recently that is doomed to fluctuate out of control. We are decidedly in an oil and gas inflation era now. This will escalate into an energy Armageddon that will hit the world around 2010 if we do not make a gigantic effort to switch to solar, windmill and fuel cell technologies immediately.

In recent months, China and Japan have been engaged in a diplomatic battle over access to the giant oil fields in Siberia. The Japanese are dependant entirely on foreign oil, and are lobbying Russia for a 2300-mile pipeline from Siberia to coastal Japan. Fast-growing China, how the world’s second largest oil user after the U.S.A. sees Russian oil as vital for its own "energy security" and is pushing for a 1400 mile pipeline south to Daqing. The rivalry between these two nations is escalating. I have stated in past newsletters that China’s chart and Russia’s chart get hit by the great cardinal T-square in 2010 possibly taking them into an oil war!

As long as the present administration is in Washington, the probability of our moving away from fossil fuels is somewhere between remote and impossible. It is up to each and every one of us to promote the new renewable technologies.

Weather and Travel:

Starting around July 5^th, the weather in most regions will be warmer and dryer. The transit of Mars in Leo will increase the probability of serious wildfires in the Western U.S.A. that will extend into August. Good traveling time is between the 17^th and the 24^th.

I do not like travel in the 16^th or the 25^th.

Venus just went direct in Gemini and is in the sign until August 7^th. In spite of the constant anxiety about terrorists, people will be in the mood to travel and any vacation at all is a mood enhancer!

Politics and International Events:

The so-called turnover of power to the Iraqis is dubious, at best. Although we hope for the best from Prime Minister Allawi, we have a long arduous journey to a cohesive and united Iraq, let alone one that is run by democratic principles.

With Mars in Leo opposing Neptune in Aquarius in the new moon chart this month, confusion will be rampant. This configuration highlights problems in nations throughout the Mideast, especially Israel. The recent decisions by the Sharon administration concerning Palestinian territory will, once again, run into trouble. The Saudi Arabian government is struggling from within, and their astrological chart will get hit heavily by Saturn in the Fall.

Another chart to get hit by the Neptune/Mars is No. Korea. We have recently made them an offer of energy availability in return for their nuclear disarmament. There will be deception and confusion around this issue at this time.

Interestingly, both the charts of the full moon July 2^nd and the new moon, July 17^th set for Washington, D.C. resemble the chart of Pres. Bush. He is heavily under fire this month, but will tend to be quite aggressive and continue to raise copious amounts of cash for his campaign. He needs to "beef up" his security between now and September.

Senator Kerry will likely become more outgoing this month and should make a good impression at the Democratic Convention. Mars in Leo harmonizes with his chart and energizes his campaign, which has been overly low-key in the past couple of months.

He will announce his running-mate, whose chart I will evaluate next month when we know who he (she) is.

Final Thoughts:

As we get ready for vacations and backyard barbeques, celebrating the birth of our country on the 4^th, and get together with our families and friends, let’s not be afraid to express ourselves about the profound issues we have before us this year. We need to get our concerns out in the open and share our ideas with each other whether we agree or not. It is healthy to look at differing points of view and have to defend our beliefs. Whatever gets our thought process activated has to be a good thing!

At the same time, one of the best weapons against anger and anxiety is a sense of humor. The old saying: "Life is too serious to be taken seriously", is appropriate to the times in which we are living. The longer I live, the more life seems like "the theater of the absurd". Who said any of this has to make any sense?

Stay tuned!

Linda

Linda L. Schurman

What Next?
A Survival Guide to the 21st Century

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following are five links that, over time, offer excellent insights into the financial crises we need to understand

Jim Sinclair

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