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September 2005

Welcome to all those who survived the retrograde and stressed out Mercury in August!  It was a tough month of document and paperwork glitches, accidents, and freak weather conditions including Hurricane Katrina, historic in its ferocity.  Hopefully, we will start this month with a clean slate.

The Yod or “Finger of Fate”:

Jupiter in Libra is still trying hard to negotiate peace agreements and legal compromises so that people can live together without suicide bombings.  The week of the 11^th, Mars is

inconjunct both Jupiter and Pluto as they form a sextile with each other.  This is known as a “Yod” configuration.  Mars occupies the sign of Taurus that symbolizes real estate.  Jupiter occupies the sign of Libra, representing peacemaking and governance.  Pluto is in the sign of Sagittarius that is concerned with expansion, travel, religion and law. 

Iraq is grappling with the formation of a constitution that the Shia, the Sunnis and the Kurds will accept.  Since Mars is inconjunct Pluto again the week of Oct. 9^th, and for the last time on Feb. 10^th of 2006, the divisions of land controlled by each of these coalitions will be a continuing problem, even if they come to some kind of agreement under the Jupiter/Pluto sextile.    A federation of three states would be a solution if oil were not a factor, but each faction wants control over the parts of the nation that has the oil.  Whatever agreements are forged, if at all, will have to be subject to change.

Israel has turned over the territory it promised to the Palestinians, but retains control of the borders and the local economy.  Israel’s chart has its sun in Taurus.  The transit of Mars in Taurus through the middle of February, especially between December and January, will make things even tougher to contain or enforce.

The U.S.A. will be trying to figure out where the economy is going, especially whether the real estate bubble is headed toward deflation.  About 90% of the new jobs added to the economy in the past two years are associated with real estate.  (Others have been added in Homeland Security and the military.)  This would indicate that outsourcing, automation, etc.  have put a lot of money into the hands of CEOs and caused the core job market to disappear.  When the real estate buying stops, these jobs will be lost.  My take, as I have said before, is that the bubble will break in certain areas and simply slow down in others.  The real “crash” will likely occur between the end of 2007 and early 2008.  By 2010, we will not have access to enough oil to support our standard of living.

At long last, we are seeing people appear on television and in print, informing us of an energy emergency ahead that could potentially cause the termination of our civilization.  The years of “denial” are over and I am encouraged that solar, windmill, biofuel, and hydrogen, technologies are accelerating and being presented to the public as alternatives.  We do not have sufficient enough time to drag our feet!

The nomination of John Roberts to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor at the Supreme Court (Libra) will be high on the agenda and the debate will be more complicated than originally perceived.  I think it will likely go through, but not without a fight.  The real issue here is not so much Roe v Wade (which the media loves to hype).  The issue is justices ruling in favor of powerful multinational corporations (Eminent Domain) over the rights of individual citizens.  The issue is the constitutionality of the Patriot Act, removing our right to a lawyer and a trial, which John Roberts ruled was appropriate and within the law.  The biggest threat to our democracy is the government teaming up with giant corporations and financial entities, and impoverishing the people-at-large of their money and their rights!

Saturn in Leo Inconjunct Uranus in Pisces:

Saturn is hitting the Ascendant (personal self), Mercury (communication) and Pluto (crisis) of President Bush.  The inconjunction to Uranus (destabilization) in his 8^th House of crisis, death, and collective finance reflect the public’s perception that the war in Iraq was a terrible mistake, that the reasons for going to war were a series of lies, that the budget deficits are rising to unsustainable levels financing this war, and that the end is not in sight!  Cindy Sheehan continues her courageous vigil in front of the president’s ranch and his polls are falling like a rock.  Now he is presenting to Congress more inheritance tax cuts for the richest people in the nation, putting greater tax burdens on the fast disappearing middle class, and threatening our nation’s infrastructure.  So far, Congress has passed most of the legislation he has proposed, leading the nation to the verge of bankruptcy   The Democrats appear to be helpless in forming a serious opposition to his policies.   Ironically, Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a Republican, is Bush’s most articulate critic, having expressed his opposition to the war in Iraq and the giant budget deficits. Bush’s approval ratings will not improve this month, and he will definitely feel the pinch.  The Valerie Plame investigation will emerge again over the next several months to plague this administration.  Republicans who are coming up for re-election in 2006 are beginning to distance themselves from the administration.

Financial Markets:

I think the stock market will be weaker this month until the last week when it will likely head upward into October.  The Saturn in Leo inconjunct Uranus in Pisces will tend to effect markets adversely, especially the tech stocks (ruled by Uranus).  As the housing boom cools down, real estate stocks will likely be off as well.  Sept. 12^th through Oct. 8^th, Venus transits Scorpio, coinciding with increasing oil prices.  Oil inflation will affect other areas of the economy no matter how often the financial spin masters tell us it really doesn’t matter.  The “Cabal” has been at work trying to control markets since the hurricane.  They have taken gold down for the time being.  Hold your positions for a fairly dramatic rise in November.

Travel and Weather:

Between the 7^th and the 9^th, and between the 15^th and the 16^th, Mercury opposes Uranus and then squares Pluto.  These aspects would suggest storms with high winds.  I would not travel by air during these periods.  Between the 28^th and the 29^th, Mercury trines Neptune, making for better travel conditions.  The week of the 18^th through the 24^th, the “Yod” mentioned above occurs.  Watch out for storm warnings during this period.

Final Comments:

As Pluto in Sagittarius is aspected prominently this month, I feel compelled to comment on the effects of “fundamentalist” religions on the politics of our time, whether it is the Islamic theocracy in Iran, Islamic parties struggling for power in Iraq, people attacking the U.S.A. in the name of Islam, the “evangelical Christian right” in the U.S.A. promoting war and political assassination. 

When people use religion as a justification to commit acts of terror or go to war, they are treasonous to the very heart and soul of these religions.  These faiths are about living in peace, and tolerance for one another, and the codes of behavior that create an environment of respect and cooperation so that humankind may evolve out of the struggle of tribe against tribe; predator against prey. 

I have yet to understand how, here in America, Christianity has been kidnapped by people who believe only they, exclusively, will be saved from an apocalypse that is destined to destroy the “unbelievers”, when Jesus Christ embraced everyone equally, regardless of their previous religion or ethnic origin.  I find it difficult to understand these same people allying themselves with politicians who choose to go to war when their personal savior was the “Prince of Peace.”  I find it difficult to understand why they promote elected officials who are in the pockets of the wealthiest corporations and individuals when the Bible tells us “it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven”.

As far as I know, the only time Jesus showed anger was when he overthrew the money- changers in the Temple. 

We seem to be living in a time when fear and hatred top the charts, along with the other popular pastimes; greed, selfishness, and violent behavior.  Like our ancestors thousands  of years ago, we desperately need the wisdom, courage and compassion of Abraham, Jesus and Mohammed to light the way to the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies of a “peace that passeth understanding.”

Linda

Linda Schurman