"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 2017 can be found in the Menu. Back copies dating from 2009 through 2015 are at
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Recent NewsScopes
Jan. 1, 2018 - Trump’s 2018 prospects; Protests break out in Iran; Gordon Ramsay, Celebrity Chef.
Jan. 8, 2018 - Trump’s 12th House Pluto; Saturn Opposite the U.S. Venus; Wolff’s “Fire and Fury”
Jan. 15, 2018 - Astro-Anatomy of a Comment; Total Super Blue Moon Eclipse; Stormy Daniels
Jan. 22, 2018 - Saturn opposes the U.S. Venus; Laurence Fink Touts CEO responsibility; Tom Petty
Jan.29, 2018 - Fake News and the Uranus-Neptune Cycle; Top 5 Astro-Evenys for Feb; Wynn Takes a Hit
Feb. 5, 2018 - Rosenstein, FBI Deputy Director under Fire; Millennials Embrace Astrology; The NYSE
Feb. 12, 2018 - Rachel Brand Heads for Walmart; The Pentagon; Kim Yo Jong’s Historic Visit
Feb. 19, 2018 - Mueller’s Indictment of Russian Meddlers; The Nov. election; Melania Trump’s Juno
Feb. 26, 2018 - March for our Lives; March’s Top Five Astro-Events; The NRA’s Saturn Return
March 5, 2018 - Washington Chaos Going Global; “Trade Wars are Good”; Hope Hicks’ White House Diary
March 12, 2018 - Trump’s Chart in Pyongyang; Stormy Daniels Sues Trump; Oprah Winfrey in 2020?
March 19, 2018 - Stormy Daniels’ Birth Time; Trump and Black Moon Lilith; Stephen Hawking is Smiling.
March 26, 2018 - China Counter-Attacks in Growing Trade War; Top 5 Astro-Events for April; John Bolton
April 2, 2018 - Health Care Industry; Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream; the astrology of Royal Weddings
April 9, 2018 - The NYSE and Trade War; Mark Zuckerberg goes to DC; Kate Hudson’s Love Life
April 23, 2018 - Kim Jong Un, Peacemaker; Michael Avenetti, Stormy’s attorney; Allison Mack arrested.
April 30, 2018 - Trump’s High-Risk Style; May’s Top Five AstroEvents; Paris Hilton’s Online Fame
May 7, 2018 - Trump’s New Lawyer, Rudy Giuliani; NASA’s Mars Mission; Cheryl Burke’s Venus-Pluto.
May 14, 2018 - Strong and Proud, Israel at Seventy; Viktor Vekselberg; Hawaii’s Kilauea and asteroid Pele
May 21, 2018 - Trump’s 2018 Solar Return; Michael Avenatti Update; Meghan Markle's Part of Fortune.
May 28, 2018 - Kim Jong Un Makes Nice; June's Top 5 Astro-Events; Meghan Markle and the Great Mother
June 4, 2018 - Mars Rx in Aquarius; SpaceX Becomes Profitable; Roseanne Barr’s 12th House Mars
June 11, 2018 - Saturn-Pluto Culture Wars; Ambas-sador Dennis Rodman; Spade and Bourdain
June 18, 2018 - Trump on the Offensive; July 12 Solar Eclipse; Cristiano Ronaldo, the best soccer player
June 25, 2018 - Immigration Crisis; China Imposes $50b Tariffs; Atul Gawande, Healing the Health System
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July 2, 2018 - Mexico has a new President; July’s Top Five; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Upset Victory.
July 9, 2018 - The Trump-Putin Summit; Jefferson and Adams Validate the U.S. Horoscope; Mr. Rogers.
July 16, 2018 - Louise Hay, th Queen of the New Age, how thoughts become reality with Mercury-Chiron.
July 23, 2018 - The Lunar Eclipse as Mercury Rx; Roe v. Wade Re-Visited; Maria Butina, the Kremlin link
July 30, 2018 - Astro-Event #6: the Uranus Station; August’s Top Five Astro-Events; Tech Takes a Dive
Aug. 06, 2018 - Neptune Conjoining the U.S. Prog. Sun; Hemingway’s Over-Active Mars.
Aug. 13, 2018 - Trump Declares Economic War on Turkey; Women Politicians Trending Up; Omarosa
Aug. 20, 2018 - Mercury in Trump’s 12th House; The Trump Taj Mahal; Brennan: “Trump is Drunk on Power”
Aug. 27, 2018 - Trump’s Midheaven Eclipsed; Mike Pence, Waiting in the Wings; September’s Top Five
Sept. 03, 2018 - Election Day Astrology; SA-PL and Neo-Nazis on the Rise;
Pope Francis Under Fire
Sept. 10, 2018 - Crazytown, USA; Canopy Growth, Weed Stocks Soaring; Jocelyn Bell Burnell recognized.
Sept. 17, 2018 - The Astrology of U.S. Disasters; Hurricane Florence; Willie Nelson Gets Political
Sept. 24, 2018 - Echoes of Anita Hill; October’s Top Five Astro-Events; Chris Hedges on Totalitarian Capitalism
Oct. 01, 2018 - Senator Flake Moved by Venus; Brett Kavanaugh’s Mercury-Neptune; Elon Musk's tweets
Oct. 08, 2018 - The #MeToo Movement advances; October’s Astro-Event #6; Is it Art? The Banksy Effect
Oct. 15, 2018 - Jamal Khashoggi’s Silence is Deafening; Market Sell-Off; Two Stars are Re-Born
Oct. 22, 2018 - Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman; Post-Election Developments; Elizabeth Warren in 2020
Oct. 29, 2018 - Mars in the U.S. 4th House; Top Five for November; Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s Next President
Nov. 5, 2018 - Mueller’s Mercury-Uranus Config; The Migrant Caravan; Gwyneth Paltrow and Madame Ovary
Nov. 12, 2018 - Matthew Whitaker’s App't; Florida Re-Count; Somalian Ilhan Omar Elected to Congress.
Nov. 19, 2018 - California’s Uranus Return; To Brexit or Not to Brexit; The 2020 Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction
Nov. 26, 2018 - Top 5 Astro-Events for Dec; Trump fights for the Wall; Nancy Pelosi Fights for Leadership
Dec.03, 2018 - Mercury Direct Energizes Mueller; George H. W. Bush, the 41st President; Barbara Bush,
Dec.10, 2018 - Echoes from the Watergate; NYSE Update; Ariana Grande’s Generational Influence
Dec. 17, 2018 - Top Five for Trump in 2019; Chief Mick Mulvaney; Loesser's "Baby, It’s Cold Outside”
Dec. 24, 2018 - The Jan. 5 Solar Eclipse Lilith Derails the Markets; Trump Signs Farm Bill, legalizes hemp.
Dec. 31, 2018 - January’s Top Five; Mitch McConnell, GOP Leader; Joe Biden, the Leading Dem. candidate.
re: Bush - In a published biography of GHWB, he actually had a long time affair with a widow --I believe the couple had been friends of both George and Barbara, and after the husband died 41 had a long ‘relationship’ with the widow. Barbara was aware of the affair, published in well regarded biography —name escapes me at the moment. The important point is that George and Barbara stayed together and supported each other until the end. Also, the biography implied that the relationship was well known but kept quiet in high Republican circles.
re: Bush - Your birth time of 10:30am is INCORRECT for Bush, SR. Isaac Starkman, official rectifier for ASTRODATABANK using 52 events has rectified his time of birth to 11:31:18 AM, Ascendant 8Virgo30, with Mercury, ruler 1st and 10th conjunct his MH. There’s a reason why Starkman is Astrodatabank’s official rectifier. Please submit another article with the correct birth time.
A. I'm using the time and chart provided by ADB and Starkman is not mentioned at all in the source notes, although 11:38 am is mentioned as a possible time. See for yourself: astro- databank/Bush,George_H._W.
If what you're looking for is not listed
on the page, try using this:
Recent NewsScopes
Jan. 7, 2019 - Trump Threatens lengthy; China’s Slowdown; Merc. Rx on Election Day 2020.
Jan. 14, 2019 - Gov't Shut downs; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Social Media Star; Aquarius Beckoning
Jan. 21, 2019 - Michael Cohen Timeline, with his 15º Cap.Ascendant; Lauren Sanchez, the Other Woman
Jan.28, 2019 - Roger Stone, the Dirty Trickster; Feb.sTop 5 Astro-Events; Tom Brady’s Swan Song
Feb. 4, 2019 - Kamala Harris in 2020; Russia under Pluto spell; Evan Rachel Wood’s Bout with PTSD
Feb. 11, 2019 - AOC’s Green New Deal; Ceres: Co-sponsor; Virginia’s Black Moon Lilith Problem
Feb. 18, 2019 - The U.S. Pluto Return; The 2020 Saturn-Pluto Conjunction; The 2020 Election
Feb. 25, 2019 - March's Top 5 Astro-Events; Nicolas Maduro, Ven.Dictator; Zion Williamson's shoe
March 04, 2019 - Allen Weisselberg, Trump’s CFO; Jupiter-Saturn in Aquarius; The U.S. Pluto Return, 2
March 11, 2019 - Ilhan Omar and Eris; Trump’s Progressed Moon; Kane Tanaka, Oldest Person
re: AOC birth time - Here is an article with the birth time for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,
from the NCGR Newsletter: <snip> “Before we get to the astrology, a shout-out to Anne Ortelee and her student, Arthur Lipp-Bonewits, for contacting AOC's office and getting her birth time. She was born October 13, 1989, 11:50 a.m., in Bronx, New York.”
A. That’s great! Thanks for the data. We’ll have an update on her chart soon.
Re: Buttigieg - Like many, I just read the WP article on this young man from South Bend,
Indiana: Pete Buttigieg. What say the stars? I'm hoping they're more than hopeful. Thanks for your Monday morning enlightenment.
re: Pelosi - What do you think of the fight between Godzilla/ Pelosi and Trump/ KingKong...how do these two find a wayout of this standoff... not really asking about the government shutdown(yes part of it) but more how these two tough peopleever get out of the mud and move things forward and even work together inthe future as it is still awhile till the next election in 2020.... concerning.Look forward to your thoughts
A. As I noted when I looked at Pelosi's chart a few weeks ago, his Mars squares her Mars. It's a classic ego conflict being played out on the national stage... But another look or perhaps deeper look is in order.
re: Pelosi - I was looking for some glimmer of hope over time concerning the Pelosi-Trump standoff and I feel sadly this could be ...the long wait. Thanks for all you do with the great articles... really love them!
re: Gov’t Shutdown - The shutdown in 1995 presaged the fall of Newt Gingrich well before Clinton. Newt was out of the House speakership in late 1998, and out of the House in Jan 1999, all due to his own behaviors. He even took out the next speaker before he ever started, also because of affairs. Clinton, however, did finish his term. And even had positive polling approval after the impeachment.
re: Pelosi - If Trump is ousted, and Pence with him, the leadership will fall to the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. Does she have the "right stuff" to connect with the US chart to become President?
Thanks for your thoughts. Always enjoy your Monday morning insights.
re: Ms. Wood - I meant to write the minute I read your article on Ms. Wood. It gave me goosebumps to read it: what she experienced, the astrology correlated with it. Thank you for the work you do, the world is a richer place because of it.
re: Trump/Russia - Trump acts like Putin’s puppy. Russia’s destiny drives Trump. I’m not suggesting/don’t know that Trump is knowingly a Russian agent – but he is undoubtedly a Russian tool – Putin’s useful idiot. Where’s that weak spot in Trump’s synastry?
Thinking out loud: It would make an utterly unforgettable historic study if you could now use that Russian chart to show the connections between Russia’s “big transits/progressions’ and Trump’s pro-Russian decisions. If you could “front run” that analysis before Mueller publishes his report - and send it ahead of time to your contacts @ the NYTimes, Washington Post et al… well. That might be the best astrological prediction/analysis ever. Certainly for this century. And I think you’d be the right person to do this. The moment is now.
A. Thx for the suggestion. I've tried contacting both the NYTimes and WaPo in the past, and a few other reputable papers. They're of one mind in thinking that astrology is for entertainment purposes only, and they won't consider a more serious piece. In any case, the explanation for the Trump-Russia connection would be beyond mainstream readers' comprehension.
re: rapper - Have you profiled Chance the Rapper (Chancellor Jonathan Bennett, born April 16, 1993 per Wikipedia) yet on Neptune Cafe? He’s such a talented rapper but also a social justice warrior. He donated $1M to the Chicago school system and started a Twitter campaign to stop gun violence for 48 hours. His father worked for the Obama administration and some have called on Chance to enter politics. Do you see anything in his chart to indicate how he will grow in political stature and what role he might take? Thanks so much for giving me something to look forward to reading every week! I so appreciate you!
re: candidates - Thanks for printing Ms. Harris' and Ms. Woods' time of birth. About the Kamala Harris article, you wrote: "Most significantly, her Gemini Ascendant conjoins the North Node at 25º Gemini, which is the only link she has to the U.S. Moon at 25º Aquarius." IMO, most astrologers would say her Saturn at 28+ AQ is conjunct the US Moon at 25+ AQ. Your insights into people, nations and events are always valued. Thank you.
A. Thx for the feedback. I use a tight orb of less than one degree to consider whether a candidate is resonating with the US Moon as a symbol for connecting with the American people and their needs. Greater than one degree doesn't make the cut, and this guideline can separate the wannabes from the real contenders, the winning candidates. It's a definitive way of differentiating between the Scorpio Rising and Sagittarius Rising national horoscopes.
re: Pelosi - I'm increasingly believing that if another shutdown is to be averted, and/or anything gets done in DC, like holding the government together and forestalling Trump's worst foreign policy blunders, it will depend on Pelosi and McConnell achieving it through Congress. I know you've done reviews on each of them recently, but what about A) a comparison of their leadership styles, and/or B) a relationship chart for working together? Thanks as always for your insights.
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: Pluto Return - After reading a disgruntled reader's comments, I feel the need to offer my own.
I read your column every Monday, and send it along to several friends, including one who lives in France. We all appreciate the information coming through you from the configuration of the stars. I value the information you so generously pass along to us. The stars say it all and I appreciate you being the messenger. Many, many thanks and great gratitude,
re: Pluto Return – I’m not fond of the term “American Empire”, but doesn’t the 6th house refer to the military? I think I would classify that as one of the institutions that might still be conservative in the institutional sense, not wanting to be over-extended or sent out on a fool's mission, as our history has too often done. But then we always need to be vigilant for military adventurism.
A. American Empire is a useful term, though I don't often bring it up. Yes, don't forget that the US has by far the most powerful military presence in history, with a budget that outspends the next top 12 to 17 nations (depending on who's reporting), and with troops in 170 nations on our planet. Yes, let's hope the institutional framework can hold strong against the various shenanigans perpetuated by both parties....
re: Pluto Return - I respect your position as I do others who feel the same as you. I am sorry I was angry with you last week and I apologize. I had a feeling you would respond to my grumpiness through your weekly column in some fashion. This Pluto transit has been enlightening. It just makes me sad that the situation is what it is today at dinner tables all across America. Like Michael Lutin said in his various stories since 2007-2008 - it's the individual we elect in 2024
A. Thanks for your kind comments, they're much appreciated...
re: Pluto Return - Thank you, once again for an informative morning read. Question: Is there any other candidate with as strong an astrological standing as Trump for the 2020 election; someone whose basket would deserve all the opposition's eggs? Also, regarding Pluto's return: Although we cannot see from past US "returns" what would have manifested with this event, are there instances in other countries/governments that may give us an idea of how this may be reflected in the US's future? You wrote "But major Pluto transits can bring horrific catastrophes, sending the nation back to its core values for the re-birth phase. What form will this Plutonian collapse take?" Could this be a new Revolution--the rise of the proletariat (pitch forks) against the wealthy? Or would the catastrophes be more physical than philosophical?
NewsScope for March 18, 2019
By Michael O’Reilly
The Saturn-Pluto Conjunction Stimulates Big Oil
U.S. oil executives are exuberantly upbeat about their prospects, as they expressed last week at the annual energy conference in Houston. Cost-saving new technologies, rising prices, and growing global demand promise to make the U.S. the new leader in oil exports by 2023, surpassing Russia. All this was made possible by discoveries in the Permian Basin and Congress lifting the ban on oil exports.
The U.S. horoscope clearly shows these developments, especially when we associate Neptune with oil. The so-called “energy sector” evokes Mars, the energy planet, which squares Neptune in the national chart. The door to U.S. prominence in the global market was opened on December 16, 2015 when Congress lifted the ban. At the time, transiting Jupiter was at 22º Virgo, precisely conjunct the U.S. Neptune. Opportunities awaited.
The trend has picked up since 2015 with transiting Neptune conjunct the U.S. progressed Sun. This astro-event first came into effect in early 2016 when Trump became the GOP’s nominee. With the progressed Sun and transiting Neptune advancing at similar rates, this aspect repeated many times, allowing the president to promote Big Oil in many ways, not the least of which has been the opening of the Atlantic Coast to offshore drilling.
Last week’s oil summit in Texas brought the kind of unrestrained enthusiasm that we associate with hard Jupiter-Neptune aspects. And in fact, transiting Jupiter was exactly squaring the U.S. Neptune. But this irrational exuberance has major celestial backing from the powerful Saturn-Pluto conjunction in January 2020. It will be at 22º Capricorn, and exactly trine the U.S. Neptune. This indicates that Big Oil is dominating the geopolitical agenda, and will most assuredly be spending Big Bucks to support cooperative presidential candidates.
Greta’s Moon at approximately 20º Capricorn is under the rays of the current Saturn and Pluto transits. Her Moon squares Eris, the Goddess of Chaos and Discord, and so she aims to shake up the status quo to get action on climate change. These two feminine archetypes, Ceres and Eris, are awakening archetypes in the astrologer’s tool chest, and key components in the horoscope for the Saturn-Pluto conjunction in January 2020. Ceres and Eris are relatively weak, but getting stronger, and modulating the powerful Saturn-Pluto dynamic.
Greta was born with her Capricorn Sun conjunct Chiron (January 3, 2003; Stockholm, Sweden; time unknown), giving her the astrological mantle of being “the Wounded Healer”. At age 11, when transiting Pluto passed over her Sun, she developed several serious illnesses, which made her become intensely aware of survival issues. Her Sun is also within one degree of being octile Uranus, which gives her the sense of urgency and need for radical action.
Most importantly, Greta’s Sun squares Ceres, the asteroid associated with protecting Mother Earth. When Ceres progressed to square her Sun last year, she decided to skip school and sit outside the Swedish Parliament to protest. She sat there every day during school hours with the sign, “Skolstrejk för klimatet” (school strike for climate). This inspired students across the globe to take part in the protest against political inaction.
Greta Thunberg Leads Global Student Movement
While millions rely on Big Oil’s substantial dividends, the youngsters aren’t so invested. Last Friday millions of students around the world demonstrated against climate inaction. The movement was inspired by 16-year-old Greta Thunberg, who was just nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to get politicians to act more urgently. Students want a green economy within eleven years to forestall catastrophic climate change.
Development in the Permian Basin has since exploded, with the U.S. now producing 13 million barrels/day as transiting Pluto has conjoined the Capricorn Sun. Transiting Saturn is also conjoining Big Oil’s Sun, and in six weeks, will turn retrograde while making the exact conjunction (orb: 0º12’). This promises to bring momentous developments in Big Oil’s production and plans for future growth. The Saturn-Pluto conjunction in January 2020 right on Big Oil’s Capricorn Sun reflects the $trillions it’s pouring into developing new oil sources.
Big Oil’s horoscope is set for the incorporation of Standard Oil on January 10, 1870 (New York, NY; time unknown). The Capricorn Sun trines a Ceres-Jupiter-Pluto conjunction in Taurus, suggesting the vast wealth generated by Rockefeller’s monopoly. The Sun also opposes Uranus, giving the monopoly a maverick status, with its corporate status generally unregulated. That is, until May 15, 1911 when the Supreme Court ordered its divesture under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.
Standard Oil split into 34 baby giants, many of which live on today under the names ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, and Royal Dutch Shell. When Congress opened the way for the U.S. to export oil on December 16, 2015, transiting Uranus was exactly conjunct Big Oil’s Neptune, creating an exciting new opening based on new drilling technologies. The new opportunity was underscored by transiting Jupiter trine Big Oil’s Sun.
Big Oil’s Horoscope Confirms Boom
Oil is the key commodity as we collectively shift from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius. When Uranus-ruled alternative fuels replace Neptune-ruled oil, the transition is complete. Although awareness is growing of the need to rein in fossil fuel production, current trends indicate the exact opposite. ExxonMobil, for example, plans to pump 25% more oil and gas in 2025 than in 2017.*
re: Trump - After you wrote about Trump's progressed Moon moving on top of his natal Mars, I noticed Trump's recent threat, "I got the cops and the military and Bikers for Trump..." What a fascist!. When I heard that, I thought of his progressed Moon
A. Yes, that braggadocio is a clear manifestation of his martial self-promotion.
re: NewsScope – I’ve been reading NewsScope for ten years, every Monday. Can’t wait til the next issue, thanks.
