"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.
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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
March 18, 2019 - Saturn-Pluto and Big Oil; Big Oil’s Horoscope; Greta Thunberg Leads Global Movement
March 25, 2019 - Pluto on the South Node; April’s Top Five; Anthony William, Medical Medium celery juice
April 1, 2019 - Adam Schiff Leads Trump Investigation; Boeing’s 737 MAX 8; Jussie Smollett’s Hoax
April 8, 2019 - Joe Biden’s Touchy-Feely Problem; U.S. Scorpio Rising; Mackenzie Bezos, 4th Richest Woman
April 15, 2019 - U.S. Merc and Taxes; Saturn and Pluto Oppose Trump’s Venus-Saturn; Name That Planet!
April 22, 2019 - Trump and the Mueller Report; The U.S. Pluto Return, Part 3; Bernie Sanders leading the pack.
April 28, 2019 - Top Five Astro-Events for May; The U.S. Pluto Return, Part 4: parallels to the 1930s
May 6, 2019 - 2020 Election Results? Beyond Meat Skyrockets; James Holzhauer’s on Jeopardy
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?
re: Mueller report - What happened with Mueller's investigation. Nothing on Trump. Seems like much ado about nothing--except for the dudes who went to jail.
A. Stay tuned! Watch as Pluto turns retrograde while oposing Trump's Saturn. Also, Eris is now at 23º44' Aries, exactly squaring Trump's Saturn (orb: 0º04').
re: pages - This is probably nothing but I feel I should mention it , I have this site in a bookmark on my phone and for some reason when I access Neptune cafe it has Not Secure next to the name, this has just started showing up , it doesn’t happen to anything else I go to, was wondering if something is happening with the site...or what ???
A. It's because Google deems my site not mobile friendly. Fixing it would mean re-designing dozens of pages and I don't have the time to do that. Not to worry that it's being hacked though. Thanks for the feedback.
re: candidates - Of all the announced Democratic candidates for president this Swalwell has the most connections to that 25 degree Aquarius moon you reference often in regards to electability. He has Mars 25 degrees Sag, Uranus 25 degrees Scorpio and his moon for noon shows 28 Aquarius so if born earlier in day may actually be right on 25 degrees!
re: UK - There is so much going on right now in the news!! Maybe you already predicted it, but do you think the U.K. will have another referendum? If Brexit happens, the ensuing recession would spread to Europe like a cancer. It’s been funded and supported by the far right and Putin. Putin, of course, wants to restore Russia in its formal glory as a superpower to rival the US, and do do that, he needs to split and divide the West. Ergo, he supports Brexit. Trump wants a hotel in Moscow, and he is willing to do anything to make that happen, no matter what the cost.
re: Trump - Have you predicted yet whether Trump would finish out his presidency? With the Mueller report completed when Mercury is retrograde, would that hinder his case and be good for Trump? Or does the retrograde in this instance signify uncovering of secrets?
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.
* See noeltyl.com/discussion
NewsScope for May 13, 2019
By Michael Wolfstar
Checks and Balances from the U.S. Saturn in Libra
Last week House Democrats issued subpoenas for Trump’s tax returns, which Trump has vowed to fight. This development comes after previous subpoenas and holding Attorney General Barr in contempt of Congress. Trump has declared “Executive Privilege” to protect himself, while Congress is expressing its constitutional right to oversee the Executive branch. According to Pelosi, Trump is daring the House to impeach him.
Presidents Impacted by Solar Eclipses
One of the most fascinating astrological indicators and predictors of epic changes are Solar Eclipses. When they align with a prominent natal placement, they can bring tremendous success, or the contrary, catastrophic collapse. Many astrologers anticipated Trump’s fall from power when the August 21, 2017 Solar Eclipse landed right on his Leo Ascendant. Others saw it as an empowerment. Predictions fell neatly along political bias.
Perhaps the best interpretation of that eclipse was that it highlighted his Leonine personality. The Ascendant is the projected personality, and with Mars right there alongside the Ascendant, Trump triumphed as the ultimate self-promoter. More conclusive is when a Solar Eclipse hits the Midheaven or a planet nearby. The best example of this is the June 19, 1974 Solar Eclipse at 28º Gemini. That’s the exact position of Nixon’s 10th house Pluto, and he resigned two months later.
Another clear illustration comes from the July 20, 1963 Solar Eclipse at 27º Cancer. This landed right on JFK’s Midheaven and Saturn, both located at 27º Cancer. He was assassinated four months later in Dallas. Forty years earlier, the Solar Eclipse on March 17, 1923 took place at 25º Pisces. President Warren Harding died of an apparent heart attack on August 2, 1923. This eclipse was squaring three progressed planets in his 10th house (Mercury, Mars, and Venus).
In 2020 we will have two Solar Eclipses. The first one takes place on the Summer Solstice (June 20) at 0º Cancer. The second one arrives on December 14 at 23º Sagittarius. The Summer Solstice eclipse unfavorably squares Biden’s 10th house Neptune, but perhaps more favorably, conjoins Elizabeth Warren’s Sun-Uranus conjunction. The December eclipse opposes Trump’s 10th house Gemini Sun, which is decidedly unfavorable.
However, Trump broke off from the accord on May 8, 2018 when transiting Uranus conjoined progressed Mercury (documents), and both squared Jupiter in Cancer (domestic comfort). At the moment, Iran’s progressed Sun is at 20º Taurus, nearly exactly opposite natal Uranus. This alignment is creating tremendous domestic anxiety and, potentially, an explosive confrontation. Meanwhile, transiting Uranus is ominously heading toward Iran’s Chiron and Midheaven. Iran’s leaders are showing patience, and giving European signatories 60 days to subvert U.S. economic sanctions.
Iran Poised for War
Over the past week, tensions have dramatically escalated between Iran and the U.S. following the Trump administration’s increased economic sanctions and growing military presence in the region. According to Trump, the 2015 multi-nation accord that reduced its capacity to create a nuclear weapon was the “worst deal ever”. Since taking office, Trump has promised to make sure Iran never makes a nuclear bomb.
Iran’s horoscope (April 1, 1979; 3:00 pm; Tehran) is showing the stress, astrologically centered around Uranus, the planet of crisis. Iran’s natal Uranus is located in the 4th house, where it reflects the people’s revolution that overthrew the Shah. Uranus has many tight aspects to other placements, notably, the square to Black Moon Lilith on the Leo Ascendant, marking the regime as an international troublemaker.
However, through international pressure and an accommodating newly elected president, Iran signed the nuclear accord on July 14, 2015. At the time, transiting Uranus was perfectly quincunx natal Uranus (orb: 0º00’), signaling a major change in direction. Also, the progressed Sun at 16º Taurus was closely trine the North Node, celestially signaling the agreement as a positive step in its national evolution.
Astrologically, the U.S. Saturn in Libra is the natural ruler of America’s system of “checks and balances”. Its close square to the U.S. Sun (representing executive leadership) indicates an institutional framework that promotes congressional oversight over executive power. As James Madison explained in the Federalist Papers, “ambition must be made to counteract ambition.”
The condition of the progressed Sun and progressed Saturn tells us how this is working out today. Progressed Saturn is retrograde and only 0º02’ from an exact trine to natal Venus. This aspect becomes exact in April 2020, and provides exceptional support for a strong and vital economy, now in its tenth year of steady and consistent growth. The favorable economy is Trump’s ace, his calling card for getting re-elected in 2020. No matter how much he lies or corrupts the system, as long as Americans are feeling financially secure, he can win.
Over the next several months, the progressed Sun at 14º Pisces will conjoin progressed Pallas, also at 14º Pisces. In turn, both will be in a challenging quincunx (150º) to natal Saturn. One of Pallas’ primary symbols is the Scales of Justice, along with her interest in politics. Trump, as the personification of the progressed Sun, is perfectly willing to let the judicial system be the deciding factor, should the House Democrats sue Trump for contempt of Congress. The process wouldn’t be resolved before the 2020 election.
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.
