"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
Feb. 03, 2020- Impeachment Backlash makes Election Day Pivot Point; Lilith Enters China’s Third House
Feb. 10, 2020 - Voting Tallies Don’t Add Up; Pluto Opposite the U.S. Mercury and the power of persuasion
Feb. 17, 2020 - Democratic field narrows; Book Reviewer Chris Lorenz is NeptuneCafe's astrologer
Feb. 24, 2020 - Bloomberg woos superdelegates at a divided DNC convention; March's top 5 astro-events.
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: Klobuchar - Have you looked at Amy Klobuchar? She not only has her natal Venus at 26 Taurus, the same as Al Gore who won the 2000 popular vote, her Neptune is conjunct the U.S. ascendant. And her progressed Mars is moving close to 26 Taurus.
Re: Bloomberg - I found a reading you did on Mike Bloomberg back in November. Any updates?
Re: Bloomberg - I love reading your weekly column. Have you looked into Michael Bloomberg's chart for 2020? His Sun is 25 degrees Aquarius, and Uranus at 26 degrees Taurus. What effect might this have if he wins the nomination. None of the other Democrats seem to have the "proper" 25 degree alignments.
Re: Bernie - It would be very informative if you could do an analysis of the day Bernie suffered his first heart attack, and how you think he will fare in the next few years.
A. I wrote about Bernie’s health just after his heart attack. See https://www.neptunecafe.com/nsc100719.html
Re: Book Reviews - Great weekly posts! I am ALL in for a book on the best books. In my humble opinion it would not be complete if Liz Greene and the others are not included :) Thank you for you dedication.
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Re: Book Reviews - I'd recommend an e-book format in addition to, or instead of, a paper book. The e-book will be less limiting in terms of page length and offers other advantages such as the reader can change the font size, and it is easily deliverable to remote locations (such as other countries). I'd like to see you head each section with the top five books. Then list the books in whatever order you think is right.
A. Thanks for your suggestions. I’m leaning the way you describe…
Re: Dell Horoscope - Nooooooooo!!! The worst thing about aging is seeing all my support fade away. My doctors retiring, my vets dying, and so on. How can I survive without Horoscope, which I've read SO long, at least since the '70s. What shall I do?
Re: Book Reviews - My condolences on your life's path change. Is Dell going digital? Would you still be able to contribute to online issues? Or perhaps a different
e-zine? I know the astrology community will greatly miss your reviews and insights.
A. Dell tried going digital, but it didn’t take. It’s folding.
Re: Book Reviews - Since you are in the process of reorganizing a lot of material (to put it mildly!), I hope you can consider republishing your own book via Amazon Kindle.
About your previous book, Political Astrology, I saw a used hardbound copy once on sale at Amazon for more than $1,000 – probably so highly priced because it was the only copy anywhere. And I’m pretty sure that you personally didn’t get a penny of whatever the book brought its owner. Also saddened that the knowledge contained in that book is being lost because copies have become unavailable.
A. Yes, the price for used and new copies of Political Astrology have been all over the map, but generally extraordinarily over-priced. For the current rates, see amazon.com/Political-Astrology.
For those who are interested, I have a few copies available at a reasonable price. Email me at wolfstar3@aol.com to discuss further.
Re: Book Reviews - Thank you for all those reviews, the way you write and for not glorifying every book. Can't The Mountain Astrologer just carry you over?
A. TMA has a good reviewer in Mary Plumb.
NewsScope for March 2, 2020
By Michael O’Reilly
Stock Markets Plunge Amidst Coronavirus Threat
The Dow had its worst one-day point drop in history on Thursday, and the rest of the week was just as grim for Asian and European markets. The crash was largely blamed on the coronavirus panic, with an estimated $5 trillion in lost value for the week. Looking at the NYSE chart, the underlying dynamics for this scenario are clear, and indeed were forecast some two years ago in this blog.
The main culprit is progressed Mars conjunct the NYSE Descendant, which is exact now. Two years ago, as this aspect fell within 1 1/2º, Trump began a trade war with China. At the time, the markets began to get jittery due to the uncertain outcome of the negotiations and the rising threat of hefty tariffs. As I wrote in April 2018, progressed Mars entering the 7th house of “others” symbolically represents “this incipient trade war with China.”
Financial astrologers generally use May 17, 1792 for the establishment of the American stock markets, but various birth times are used. However, 10:10 am is fairly common, and with this recent development coinciding with progressed Mars precisely conjunct the Descendant, it’s clearly validated. Since progressed Mars has approached this angular activation, the threat still comes from China, but has morphed from a trade war to an uncontainable, lethal virus.
Meanwhile, other phenomenally bullish indicators have also been in play. The main bullish configuration is a progressed Vesta-Jupiter conjunction at 23º Scorpio, which is dramatically empowered by aspects to the natal Mercury-Pluto square, and progressed Uranus – all at 23º of their respective signs. And now, after the U.S. markets have reached breath-taking heights, they have that much further to fall as progressed Mars becomes angular.
As for the global markets, the Saturn-Pluto conjunction is the main indicator for a major de-construction of the markets, along with Uranus de-stabilizing financial security in Taurus. Then, the underlying cause, a possible pandemic, can be seen in the coming Aries Ingress and New Moon charts, which are only five days apart. Both feature the Sun in Aries conjunct Black Moon Lilith and Chiron in early Aries. The New Moon on March 24 shows this most clearly.
Chiron is traditionally associated with health issues, and its conjunction with Black Moon Lilith in Aries reflects the aggressive form of an unknown threat. The New Moon lands right on this conjunction, suggesting that the extreme market volatility is an ongoing issue over the following month. Uranus conjunct Venus near the Midheaven of the NYSE chart confirms this forecast.
These four New Moon placements (Sun, Moon, Chiron, and Lilith) are all modified by a Venus-Ceres square in Taurus and Aquarius. Venus-Ceres is a highly social combination, but being challenged by exact octiles (semi-squares) to the harsh New Moon puts pressure on social interactions. Ceres in Aquarius is especially significant since it’s conjunct the New Moon’s Aquarius Ascendant for the chart set in Washington. One might presume that taking care of oneself means as little public exposure as possible.
Pope Francis has a Cold
A relatively small item in the news may develop into a much bigger story over the next few months: Pope Francis has a cold. If you read the New York Post (owned by sensationalist Rupert Murdoch), the insinuation is that he has caught the coronavirus. The story as presented was that he became sick just after he expressed his support for those suffering from coronavirus.
Pope Francis was born with his Sagittarius Sun sextile Mars in Libra (December 17, 1936; 9 pm; Buenos Aires, Argentina), an energetic combination that believes in peace and harmony, and acts toward promoting cooperation as best he can. His Sun conjoins the North Node, a celestial signal of leadership. His Sun is also in the 6th house, which is primarily concerned with work and health.
Vesta conjoins his Cancer Ascendant. For most people, Vesta here is a sign of a workaholic, and with his Sun and several other placements in the 6th house, the daily work routine becomes the central focus in life. For those with a strong sense of faith, Vesta represents the need to follow a sacred path, as a devotee to a higher truth. In this sense, the “work” is his religion.
Pope Francis’ Sun also opposes Chiron in Gemini, which suggests his health issues. Gemini rules the lungs, and as a child, one of his lungs was removed. The coronavirus attacks the respiratory system, and with only one lung, Pope Francis becomes vulnerable to this potential threat. He may indeed have only a cold, but even this development becomes a concern considering his age and his iconic role as the wounded healer.
What makes his current health profile potentially serious is his progressed Sun now at 20º Pisces and exactly squaring natal Chiron. The progressed Sun represents his vitality and, squaring Chiron, it could bring a serious challenge to his well-being. Progressed aspects like this become major life events when activated by an outer planet transit, and this is exactly what’s shaping up over the coming months.
Neptune, associated with infections and sensitivity to environmental toxins and other external influences, is now at 18º Pisces. It turns retrograde in June at 20º Pisces – right on Pope Francis’s progressed Sun. Neptune-to-the-Sun (natal or progressed) tends to weaken the vitality. Many people retire under this influence or feel the need to take an extended vacation. Because Neptune moves so slowly, it will be at 20º Pisces from April through August.
