"There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

  from Hamlet by Shakespeare

THE SOOTHESAYER INTERNET

July 2006

Recently, to my surprise, dismay and delight, it has come to my attention that The SootheSayer is getting some attention on the World Wide Web.  I am subsequently being praised, trashed, criticized and quoted and am greatly honored by it all!  Since Mercury is going retrograde on July 4th, I am taking advantage of this to RE-evaluate, RE-trace, and REview how this site has served or not served all of you, my treasured readers!

 Since my record on predicting month- to- month changes in financial markets is pretty abysmal, I will heretofore only predict what I consider to be significant shifts in direction with regard to long- term cycles.  Too often when I have seen a configuration symbolizing “bad” news, I have interpreted this as having an effect on investors.  Sure enough, the news comes out and markets seemingly unaffected by these events, either stay the same or move upward.    I have also looked at stock market “technicians” whose records for predicting are not much better than mine and it has given me pause to ponder the machinations of the giant financial manipulators, and their powers related to current “notional” derivatives contracts valued at about $284 Trillion as denominated in U.S. Dollars or Federal Reserve Notes.  (These figures were most recently published by the Bank for International Settlements).

 After the 1987 Wall Street crash, there were “plunge protection” funds created to slow or stop financial panics.  It would seem on the surface of things that, at the time, it was a noble thought.  This has evolved into more power for the already powerful central bankers and giant financial institutions.  All of this now threatens to undermine any resemblance to a free market ruled by laws.  Their powers will be tested in the period between 2008 and 2016 looming ahead of us.

 I am going to stick to the predictions and suggestions with regard to investment sectors where my track record is strong.  For the past five years, I have recommended gold, metals, oil and gas stocks, alternative sustainable energy stocks such as solar and windmill, potable water companies, and organic food markets.  These areas will have their ups and downs, but are good for the long run.  Gold and silver prices have been heavily manipulated in the past and will continue to fluctuate in the extreme, but it is my belief that faith in the dollar is unalterably diminishing due to our historically unprecedented giant federal budget deficits.

 I am also going to continue to look at the astrological charts of nations whose fates and fortunes should be of interest to all of us.  Americans have too frequently insulated themselves from other countries, and lack even a minute understanding of their cultures.  After 9/11, we should understand the price we pay for ignorance.

 In addition, from time to time, I mention a famous and influential person who I think should attract our attention.  In the April issue, I mentioned the eclipse on the moon of Bill Gates signifying an important change in his life and direction and hypothesized that he and his friend Warren Buffet would be cooking something up.  Gates has retired from Microsoft and is devoting his energy to his Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to which his pal Warren Buffet just contributed billions of dollars.  Here is an example of the richest people enriching the planet and contributing to the human race.

 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!

Global Politics:

As I have discussed in previous newsletters, the transit of both Saturn and Mars in Leo is hitting the chart of Israel and challenging the previous peace agreements with Palestine.  The kidnapping by Hamas of an Israeli soldier has propelled them to launch a full-fledged attack, and ending any hopes of peace at this time.  The Bush administration has essentially revoked any responsibility of intervening at this point.  With Pluto opposing Israel’s natal Uranus, and Mars and Saturn transiting their Moon, Pluto, Saturn and Mars, square their Sun, this is unleashing the military, and pulling the country apart since many of its citizens strongly disagree with the government’s positions.  The Saturn/Neptune opposition that is exact at the end of August lands exactly on their Saturn depressing their economy and disillusioning their citizenry.  Many people will desperately want new leadership and a change in direction that will be more likely to happen in 2007, when Jupiter transits the sign of Sagittarius.

Mars in Leo, opposing Neptune and trine Pluto this month will, once again, bring Venezuela and its president, Hugo Chavez, into the forefront.  Between now and early September, there will be challenges to this nation and its leader.

The charts of India and Pakistan are activated this month.  Pakistani ruler Musharaff is once again in danger of attempts on his life and he needs to be carefully guarded.  Conflicts in India will come to the forefront, revealing the extreme distance between rich and poor, the destruction of the farming infrastructure, and crisis due to climate change.

The problems between the U.S.A. and Iran are intensifying as are the problems Iran has internally with its leadership. 

The Economy:

On July 29th, Mercury goes direct, releasing more information with respect to the “economy of Main Street”.  Mars goes into Virgo on the 23rd,,will oppose Uranus on Aug. 13th and will be square Pluto on August 30th.  This suggests that unemployment will rise as more labor is “outsourced” or simply laid off.

 As I have said in previous newsletters, I think gold will go down again, hitting a bottom between the end of August and early September.  You may want to ride it out or sell now and buy back in at that time.

We need to look at the effect of last year’s Hurricane Katrina and recognize we may be looking at many more stormy disasters this year.  Already the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. have been hit by record-breaking floods in June.  We must ask what happens to the insurance companies who are supposed to pay for all this damage.  We need to notice what happens to local economies of state governments whose economic systems are already nearly bankrupt.  As Mercury is retrograde back into the sign of Cancer from July 11th through August 11th, we may see a repeat of heavy rains and flooding.

The Media:

The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the L.A. Times all published an expose of the Bush administration’s breaking into the financial records of U.S. citizens.  Finally, the media is starting to do its job and tell the truth about this government’s grabbing powers it does not have.  Absolutely nothing justifies this!  The terrorists already know the U.S. is tracing their financial sources.  The Bush administration is violating the rights of its own citizenry, as it did with wiretapping without a warrant.

This month, Mars in Leo (the media) and Mercury in Cancer (communication) will assist in revealing other things we should know.

The Supreme Court:

The recent decision by the Court that the Bush administration does not have the right to subject detainees at Guantanamo Bay only to military tribunals is a victory for human rights.  Only a few of the people there have even been charged with anything at all!  This is a violation of the Geneva Accord that the U.S.A. helped to forge.  Between September and October as Mars, Mercury and Venus transit the sign of Libra (justice) we will witness more significant decisions by the justices.

Final Comments:

Last month, my family and I saw the movie “An Inconvenient Truth” produced and narrated by Al Gore.  The photographs of the disappearing glaciers and the graphics of global temperature escalating prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the crisis is upon us and the consequences are dire.  Most of all, however, he points to all the historic crises we have faced, our courage in creating democracy in the first place, ending slavery, winning World War II, protecting civil rights, etc.   By switching to solar, windmill, bio-fuels, hybrid autos, we can end our addiction to fossil fuels, stimulate our economy and save the planet.  This is beyond politics, ideology, or personality.  This will determine whether human civilization and much of the life on the planet will survive.

You have heard this same message on The SootheSayer over and over again and you already know that astrological patterns are telling us the time has run out for delaying tactics.  Al Gore has done all of us a great service with his patient and careful commitment and determination to tell the truth.

The greatest danger lies in indifference, denial, and escape.  Our greatest hope lies in a collective confrontation with these truths.  It springs from the will and resolve to change the very foundation of our lives, to move in concert with nature, to evolve to the next level of life here on earth.

 Stay tuned!

Linda

Linda Schurman

Cancer – The Crab June 22 – July 22	Leo – The Lion July 23 – August 22
My emotions swing high But I do like to bake. Take care you don’t hurt me, And I’ll make chocolate cake! ©	With a glorious appearance, On my worldwide tours, I’m destined to conquer My nature and yours! ©
Original art by Alain DeShane Verse by Linda Schurman