"The natal chart is like a seed and progressions are the unfolding in time of that into the plant it is to become. Transits, are like a daily weather report. In political astrology, these three factors have to be taken into account!"
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NewsScope has been published continually since 1997. Links to NewsScope articles from September 2015 through December 2020 can be found in the Menu. Back copies dating from 2009 through 2015 are at
For NewsScope blogs dating from October 25, 1999 through March 31, 2009, visit StarIQ/NewsScope.
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Recent NewsScopes
Jan. 6, 2020 - Iranian general Qasam Suleimani; Pluto and Global Warming; the U.S. Pluto Return
Jan. 13, 2020 - Iran’s Horoscope Under Stress; The U.S. Pluto Return and the balance of power
Jan. 20, 2020 - Senate Impeachment Trial Officially Begins; The U.S. Pluto Return and Capitalism
Jan. 27, 2020 - The Duke and Duchess of Sussex break protocol; Top Five Astro-Events for February
re: 20-year cycle - Thank you for your insightful NewsScope column. I am not aware of anything else quite like it. Regarding the 20-year American Presidential cycle, I noticed that George W. Bush, elected in 2000, did not die in office. However, during a critical astrological time period of this administration, when I expected the pattern to play out, former President Reagan passed away instead. Sort of a deferred prophecy. Keep up the good work!
re: Trump – You wrote "...the bottom line is that Trump’s days in office are coming to a close just before or, more likely, soon after this Solar Eclipse." This would make Trump's running mate President. Does Pence's chart reflect that? Or will another rabbit be pulled out of the hat? As always, thanks for sharing your passion and gift for interpretations.
re: crash - It has been a previlage to visit every Monday Morning early in the hours every week and has been nothing but an educational experience to read and read to digest what you write; I have to say at my old age your blog and your writings are GOD SENT and exceptionally great to read and learn from.
With that said, as every where now a days you read this coming Capricon stellium of outer planets that is going to happen in 2020 and it is going to crash financial markets and going into recession due to Saturn combining with Jupiter and so on; I realize that we are in the Biggest Bubble created by central banks around the world and it will burst some time. Will you please kindly write on this if and whenever you have to time to do it to see what is your take on economy and financial markets.
re: gender - Apart from whether or not the VP's inclinations extend beyond the normative male-female monogamy, are there astrological signals that may indicate different sexual or gender tendencies in any one particular chart? And with the prominence now of not only homosexuality but also all forms of gender non-conformity and fluidity, as well as transgender, coming to the fore, what are the broader astrological themes that show this cultural/generational change?
And does this tie into the #metoo movement, which calls down the male power privilege with respect to sexual exploitation?
re: astrology - It’s fascinating that astrology, something our present civilization views as fundamental to an individual’s character, is ignored by deeper analysis. Love your column. It’s my first thing to read on Mondays.
re: NewsScope - As always with many many many thanks for your kindness and keeping us interested in Astrology and writings.
re: Pluto Return - Thanks for all you write. Ever since you said Hillary would not be President (in spite of my most fervent wishes and all those polls saying she was ahead) I totally trust your political assessments. Your column on the Pluto return is sobering to be sure. But there is another strain of conservatism that might need to be recognized. That of the government institutions, and the press, which are still doing their jobs, for the most part. One thing for sure, the American Empire (not that I really love that term) is going into eclipse, if not by being outstripped by the likes of China, India, or Europe, but because we haven't gotten our own house in order, and have let our worst characteristics run amok.
re: Bitcoin - There seem to be multiple charts for "Bitcoin". Bitcoin has been around long enough now to see a pattern in its valuation: dramatic price drops of 70%, followed by dramatic price increases, followed by drops, etc. Is there a Bitcoin chart that fits this valuation pattern? Is Bitcoin set to become the first international non-state medium of exchange? Thanks for your interesting site.
A. I have written about bitcoin's chart in the distant past (see bitcoin), but it's certainly worth another look.
re: Trump - Your piece on Uranus transits to the US ascendant: It does point to radical change but not a great sign if you were the one currently in power, yes? And does Trump's chart ever show signs of incarceration? He'll likely skate any federal charges, but it seems NY jails are ready and open for his business...
re: Trump - Doesn't transiting North Node conjunct Trump's natal Sun in 2020 weigh heavily in favor of his re-election?
A. It certainly helps, as does transiting Saturn, Pluto, and Jupiter trine his MC. Note that by definition, the Lunar Nodes are aligned with the eclipsed planet. However, many other factors should be considered, especially how his opponent's chart looks. Basing any forecast or prediction on one indicator is a sure way to miss the boat. Favorable transits can be totally over-ruled by hard progressions, for example.
re: Trump - Anticipating Trump's visit to the UK, Theresa May's people were warned not to schedule meetings lasting longer than 30 minutes "because of problems with his concentration span.’. Officials were told that, when a meeting exceeds that time limit, Trump just just checks out and 'starts doodling’. There's also been a lot of speculation about his drug use--- Aderall in particular. In addition, hundreds of mental health professionals expressed their concerns, issuing an analysis and a warning to all of us. Plus, his increasingly bizarre behavior indicates major problems.
Would you please consider looking into Trump's mental health?
re: 2020 - I read with some real concern your probably correct analysis that the US 2020 election will be under very real stress from continued [Russian] sabotage. Unhappily, what you also need to consider is that Bernie Sanders’ “independent Democrat” candidacy and generous fund-raising may also be part of that sabotage plan. Sanders candidacy is a classic diversionary tactic to peel off and divide the more liberal voters away from the larger Democratic candidate. Whatever his own motives – and I am not questioning these by any means – his “further left” views make him an ideal candidate for generous funding from black sources and even covertly from the Republican party itself. The Repubs will never attack Sanders; just watch.
NewsScope for February 3, 2020
By Michael O’Reilly
Impeachment Backlash
In a last minute decision, Tennessee's Senator Lamar Alexander decided to vote against hearing witnesses, ending the possibility of extending the impeachment process and getting a fair trial. Alexander’s reasoning was to let the voters remove Trump in the November election if that’s their will. Problematically, the astrological portents for Election Day look unsettling. Here are a few of the main indicators.
Black Moon Lilith Enters China’s Third House
Black Moon Lilith is tremendously under-rated by most astrologers, so here’s another look at what they’re missing. BML plays a key role in the timing of unexpected developments, especially if they seem to come out of nowhere. Uranus is also associated with unexpected or sudden changes, but these are generally the result of stressful conditions with a range of known or likely possibilities.
Four of the five outer planets are involved with major astro-events that influence the national election: transiting Pluto opposes the U.S. Mercury, transiting Uranus in Taurus opposes the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant, and the periodic, shape-shifting conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn takes place in December at 0º Aquarius. The first of these, Pluto opposite the U.S. Mercury, is in effect now and lasts through July. It intensifies what has already been apparent in recent years, that America is culturally and politically deeply polarized.
Transiting Uranus opposes the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant three times due to its retrograde cycle. However, it’s within effective orb during the entire 2020 campaign season, and represents a radical challenger to the status quo. Uranus in Taurus could manifest as any of the top Democratic candidates, but most obviously as Bernie Sanders, who has been rising in the polls.
The Uranus in Taurus candidate can be seen as someone who will upset the economic traditions, as personified by both Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Or, it could manifest as the independent billionaire, like Michael Bloomberg, who has also been rising in the polls. Uranus here does not favor the moderate Joe Biden. The second of Uranus’s three oppositions to the Scorpio Ascendant happens to occur right on Election Day.
Ideally, the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Aquarius is about recognizing how we are all interconnected. From this perspective, it’s the celestial counterpoint to the concentration of power into the hands of a few plutocrats (under Saturn-Pluto). Jupiter-Saturn in Aquarius favors the kind of all-inclusive brand of politics touted by the Democrats, while the Saturn-Pluto vibe has upheld the kind of authoritarian, nationalistic rule supported by the GOP.
Election Day itself takes place just as Mercury turns direct. This means that, for the previous three weeks while Mercury is retrograde, voter manipulation and other nefarious election scams could be unfolding. And with Uranus simultaneously opposing the U.S. Ascendant, we can expect some high-level shenanigans to be playing out.
Kobe Bryant’s death in a helicopter crash on January 26 shocked many fans. He was born with a Jupiter-Lilith conjunction in Cancer (August 23, 1978; Philadelphia, PA; time unknown), which is generally a very favorable set-up for a supportive family life. However, transiting Saturn was precisely opposite his Lilith on the day of the accident (orb: 0º00’). A karmic event is indicated by transiting Black Moon Lilith’s conjunction with his South Node.
The coronavirus outbreak in China comes during a confluence of astrological factors, not the least of which is the major activation of Black Moon Lilith. China’s natal chart shows the importance of Lilith with her conjunction to the North Node in the second house of financial assets. Lilith has many connections to the rest of the chart, which increases her importance in the overall picture.
In the coronavirus situation, Lilith’s opposition to a Ceres-Neptune conjunction is most relevant: Ceres is about food while Neptune is associated with the sea, infections, and sensitivity to toxins. The origin of the coronavirus was tracked to the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan which also sells game animals like beavers, porcupines, and snakes. Lilith also squares Jupiter in the 12th house, which can be seen as China’s benevolent or discreet government actions (in Capricorn) from behind-the-scenes.
The first cases of the coronavirus were reported in Wuhan on December 31. At the time, transiting Saturn was going through China’s 12th house and squaring natal Lilith. The Saturn-Pluto conjunction on January 12 happened to land right on China’s 12th house Jupiter. At this time, the first fatality was reported, and the Chinese government posted the genetic blueprint of the virus. International screening began with other cases reported in Thailand and Japan.
The tightening, constraining, restrictive influence of Saturn-Pluto became apparent on January 23 when China quarantined the entire city of Wuhan, a metropolitan area of 10 million people. The travel ban also took place as transiting Uranus squared China’s Aquarius Moon, which conjoins the Aquarius Ascendant. The Moon in a national chart represents the public’s security needs which includes health threats. Uranus is making its square from the third house of travel.
Looking ahead, China’s progressed Lilith is at 26º Capricorn and has recently entered the third house of travel. Transiting Saturn is currently squaring this progressed Lilith, which is leading to more travel restrictions, especially involving international flights coming from and going to China. Meanwhile, transiting Uranus (in the third house) is squaring the Moon, progressed Venus and the progressed Midheaven – all in early Aquarius – from now through mid-March. This Uranus transit describes a phase when we can expect the public health issue to accelerate.
