Comments, questions, suggestions? Let us know what you think. Email wolfstar@neptunecafe.com
"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!"
Unless otherwise stated, all data is rated A or AA from AstroDataBank
Reader feedback
Recent NewsScope Articles
Sept. 28, 2015 - Xi and Obama agree; October's top 5 astro-events; Emissions scandal at Volkswagen.
Oct. 5, 2015 - Bernie Sanders and the Debate; the Oregon shooter; Richard Tarnas and Jupiter.
Oct. 12, 2015 - Paul Ryan, next House speaker? Bernie Sanders rectified; Matt Damon as The Martian.
Oct. 19, 2015 - Syria's proxy wars; verifying Hillary's birth time; Erin Andrews sues.
Oct. 26, 2015 - UN summit on climate change; November's top 5; Adele returns with "25".
Nov. 2, 2015 - Barack Obama's Mars Return, other celebrities' Mars Returns at 22º Virgo, Britney Spears.
Nov. 9, 2015 - Ben Carson under fire, Marco Rubio's tax plan, Supergirl star Melissa Benoist.
Nov. 16, 2015 - European Union in Crisis; Donald Trump's Iowa speech; Emma Thompson
Nov. 23, 2015 - Immigration and Saturn-Neptune; the ISIS horoscope; Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.
Nov. 30, 2015 - The insane violence configuration; Dec.'s top five; the Force Awakens the Millennials.
Dec 7, 2015 - Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik; Mark Zuckerberg's $45 billion donation.
Dec 14, 2015 - The Uranus-Eris cycle; Paul Ryan for president? Frank Sinatra centennial.
Dec 21, 2015 - UN forced into action; Martin Shkreli versus the FBI; Ronday Rousey"s UFC title.
Dec 28, 2015 - Russian economic surges; January's top 5; Daisy Ridley of The Force Awakens.
Jan. 4, 2016 - 2016 begins with Mercury retrograde; Bernie Sanders' celestial assets; Natalie Cole.
Jan.11, 2016 - The Lilith-Uranus-Pluto configuration activated; El Chapo captured; Beatlemania.
Jan. 18, 2016 - Hillary fading; Oil prices and Standard Oil; BML- paradoxical, clandestine.
Jan. 25, 2016 - Mike Bloomberg considers run; February's top five; Mike Brown and Planet 9.
Feb. 1, 2016 - Primaries begin and best astro indicators, progressed Part of Fortune; Eris Awakens.
Feb. 8, 2016 - Marco Rubio's momentum; Brazil's Zika epidemic; Steven Avery - guilty or innocent?
Feb. 15, 2016 - Volatile global stock markets, Bernie Sanders' birth time; Einstein and gravity.
Feb. 22, 2016 - Donald Trump and Mars; March's top 5 astro-events; Tim Cook vs. the FBI.
Feb. 29, 2016 - Marco Rubio, GOP's last hope? The 12th Amendment? AlphaGo v. Lee Sedol.
March 7, 2016 - The death of the GOP? the Saturn- Pluto cycle; Megyn Kelly, Fox moderator.
March 13, 2016 - Trump and Mussolini - the astro-parallels; Nancy Reagan's astrology; Marla Maples.
March 21, 2016 - Trump and the GOP convention; Election Day chaos; Mel- anie Trump, 1st Lady?
March 28, 2016 - Paul Ryan, the GOP nominee? April's top five; Bernie Sanders' celestial blessing.
April 4, 2016 - Ted Cruz aims to stop Trump; Uranus in the U.S. 6th house, Drew Barrymore and Juno.
April 11, 2016 - Panama Papers; Uranus-Eris in the presidential contest; Nyle Dimarco on DWTS.
April 18, 2016 - Hillary rising; Dilma Rousseff under fire; Modigliani - another penniless artist.
April 25, 2016 - Prince ruled by Pluto; May's top five; Shakespeare and the Stars - a paradigm buster.
May 2, 2016 - Lilith inspires Trump; Economic flashback to 1929; Audra McDonald stars in Shuffle Along.
May 9, 2016 - Why Trump, why now? To Brexit or not to Brexit; Taylor Swift - Queen of the Goddesses
May 16, 2016 - Brazil's epochal shifts; Amazon's disruptive technology; Miss Suzie Jones' longevity.
May 23, 2016 - Hillary v. Trump - who will win? the astrology of Flight MS108; Mars in the night sky.
May 30, 2016 - Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party, June's top 5 and the Uranus-Eris conjunction.
June 6, 2016 - Hillary's new strategy; pain, fentanyl and Paul Janssen; Muhammad Ali, the Greatest.
June 13, 2016 - Hillary v.s Trump, Part 2; "Dump Trump" fueled by Mars; Christina Grimmie in FL.
June 20, 2016 - Orlando's confluence at 23º, Neptune, the decider? Meryl Streep and Elizabeth Warren.
June 27, 2016 - Brexit and globalization; July's top five; Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish independence.
July 4, 2016 - Bill Clinton - what was he thinking? Nepal's new ally, China; Scarlett Johansson.
July 11, 2016 - Racial tensions intensify; the 2017 Inauguration horoscope; Olivia De Havilland.
July 18, 2016 - Eris as "the Other"; Uranus and Eris de-stabilize Turkey; Trump's VP choice Mike Pence.
July 25, 2016 - Roger Ailes and the Mercury-Eris connection, August's top five; Hillary's VP Tim Kaine.
NewsScope has been published continually since 1997. Back copies dating from 2009 through 2015 can be found at NewsScope archives.
For NewsScope blogs dating from October 25, 1999 through March 31, 2009, visit StarIQ/NewsScope.
re: Prince - If you haven't thought to do it, can you do a little tribute to Prince for Monday's column? Love him, would love to know more about his chart.
re: U.S. Gemini Rising chart - It would seem that this coming New Moon of June 5th~6th (along with its mid-degrees Mutable Grand Cross) might be telling then, whether or not the 9* Gemini Asc. chart may be the true chart.
A. And how will it do that? Perhaps you could make a forecast that will be unique to Gemini Rising and not apparent in Scorpio Rising or other US charts. If you say what will happen ahead of time, your chart makes sense. After there fact is not persuasive.
For example, I recently forecast workers strikes when T Uranus entered the US 6th house and conjoined Chiron while opposing Juno. The 6th house is associated with work, and Uranus brings strikes. Last week's strike by Verizon workers was the largest in five years. It's a straightforward interpretation using basic astrology principles. And it only works when Scorpio is Rising. Making accurate forecasts says more about a chart than any backward or retro look.
Of course you realize that the Gemini Rising chart was created by renowned astrologer Luke Broughton in 1861 based on the fact that it was a revolution, and the practice of the time was to put the planet associated with revolution on the Ascendant. In 1861, Uranus was known but not in 1776.
re: Tesla - I have been a fan of your blog; read every very Early Monday morning religiously. Would you kindly comment on Tesla motors; it hardly produces a couple of cars but wallstreet treats them like king while Ford, which produces millions of cars, sells for $15/share. why??
re: Mars retrograde - You mention in your March 28th piece that stationary Mars opposes the U.S. Uranus. I would have noted that it is exact to the minute of arc! I consider exactitude to be important in predictive work.
re: Election Day chaos - About placements on Nov 8: you would know but let me repeat. Neptune in its own sign on South node (let go of the past or confusion about past) and North node sign Virgo ruler Mercury at 23 Scorpio, dispositors Mars and Pluto. Mars last degree of Capricorn and Pluto 15 Capricorn connecting to Aries Point.
In my opinion, the real agenda is a new constitution and electoral system. Neptune South Node – can help dissolve attachment to past forms. North node Virgo, get to work on the details of new systems. Centralised power is alright if add in the necessary checks and balances.
re: Trump - I really enjoyed--if that's the right word--the May 2nd issue. The Lilith in Astro*Carto*Graphy for Trump is particularly unsettling. You may want to emphasize in future NewsScopes that in many ways the President's chart becomes the US chart during his/her term of office. Also, thanks for your piece on Audra McDonald, she is a wonderfully talented singer and actor who is far too under appreciated.
re: Clinton - If memory serves, Geo. W. Bush's Saturn was on his 1st house cusp, headed south, when he ran the second time and won. Of course, his second term is memorable for a host of bad reasons. Campaigns are battles. Governing is a war. It's possible Hillary wins the battle but struggles with the war, yes?
A. Could be! Technically, transiting Saturn was in Bush's 12th house during the 2004 election and didn't reach his Ascendant until September 2005. But yes, it was downhill from there.
re: ACG maps - I'm a regular reader of your column, and having a question for you is an opportunity to say "thanks". My question concerns Lilith (whether oscillating or mean) and Astro*Carto*Graphy* maps. I've been consulting astrodienst's A*C*G* map service for years, but I've never seen an option to add bodies beyond the normal range of bodies and the north node, such as asteroids or Lilith. I'd really like to run a map for myself with Lilith (or the Liliths) included; possibly also to include the "big four" Goddess asteroids. What software or service did you use to obtain Donald Trump's Lilith lines?
A. I used the Solar Maps function in SolarFire to generate those maps. You can also get Lilith and the asteroids on ACG maps using Halloran's AstrolDeluxe software.
re: Trump - What software program told you that Lilith is angular on Donald Trump's IC when his chart is relocated to California?
A. My apologies, I made an error on this. What I was looking at was Trump’s progressed A*C*G* map, and on this one the progressed Lilith-IC runs just off the coast of California. I blame Mercury retrograde for this error.
re: Brazil - Sorry, but Nicholas Campion is right! A lot of Brazilian astrologers don´t even know secondary progressions. It´s incredible, but they work only with natal charts and transits! Accuracy, precision, systematization are not the strong points of Brazilian astrologers. They create a lot of fantasies that they call “interpretations”, with no connection with professional practices. And, I don´t guess why, they created a fallacious notion that Brazilian ascendant is in Aquarius! Brazilian mentality and inclinations have nothing to do with Aquarius and all to do with Pisces! This is the carnival paradise! After the carnival, it´s the end of the world, but no problem…Let´s wait for the next year carnival party! Do you follow me? Also, another point, I don´t see any reason to use LMT. Why not BZT +3?
A. Unfortunately, most "astrologers" are not using progressions yet. One doesn't have to be from Brazil to miss out on this valuable technique. To clarify Campion's position, independence was proclained somewhere between 4 and 5 pm LMT. He personally doesn't advocate 4:47 pm but states that many Brazilian astrologers do.
I'm sticking with 4:20 pm. Last week I was researching Petrobras to do a piece on it. President Vargas signed the act that created Petrobras on October 3, 1953 when transiting Pluto was at 24º Leo, precisely opposite the 4:20 pm Aquarius Ascendant. No such connection is evident with the 4:47 pm time.
As for the fantasy-oriented carnival, does not Neptune conjunct Brazil's ruling planet (Uranus) convey this? About LMT, time zones were established in 1884, so any time used before then had no systematic reference point except what the local clocks indicated.
re: Brazil - The progressed Sun+Mars on natal Pluto is a powerful combination never seen before. It seems that a transformation of the Brazil State is coming, or even a military action (due to Mars).
In the 80s there was much discussion about Brazil's Ascendent between astrologers. Through rectification the Aquarius rising became more habitual, though some still prefer the Pisces rising one. The Fixed signs are important when one studies historical events, especially 20º-24º Scorpio. The Discovery of Brazil chart in 1500 and Republic Proclamation in 1889 have important points in those signs and degrees.
Every time Saturn enters Scorpio there's some sort of political crisis in the country. In June 2013 we had massive protests in the streets (something unusual for Brazilians). Since then the country has been in turmoil, and every day the situation just worsens.
Most Brazilian astrologers use a Scorpio MC due to several military coups in Brazil's history and 2 deaths of presidents (one of them killed himself while in office). The most popular times are between 16:08 and 16:20, with Aquarius ascending.
re: Eris - Pertaining to the current Uranus/Eris conjunction, I've been wondering how this would affect me and decided to comment as it may provide insight to others going through a similar transit.
Transiting Uranus and Eris are currently making a conjunction to my natal third house Sun/Mercury conjunction, and squaring my ascendant. (Sun 23º50 Aries, Asc 24º20 Capricorn). I've been wondering how having Eris in the mix would manifest, and haven't been able to find much online to prepare. So far, what's been happening is that I've had to become a very goal-oriented, vocal, warrior advocate for my elderly mother in our broken healthcare system. Lately it seems that I am quite effective at it; it's like something powerful comes over me when I'm fighting for my mother's well-being, and all involved do as I say, and I've stopped caring what they think of me. I wonder if this is Eris' influence.
A. Yes, most astrologers aren't aware of Eris yet as a meaningful archetype since it was only discovered a few years ago. Sounds like you've got a handle on it though, doing what you're doing. It does have that warrior energy. Thank-you for your story.
re: Gary Johnson - Good article on Gary Johnson. I like him. He was Governor here in New Mexico. He did a good, solid job. There was no focus on legalizing drugs then. He only does that in his Presidential bids. He was a Republican back then who ran a successful business.
re: Flight MS804 - It occured to me when the Egyptian plane went down that perhaps it is somehow related to MH370. MH370 remains a mystery and it appears that no one has claimed responsibility for MS804 yet. Is this a long playing serial aviation terrorist?
NewsScope for August 1, 2016
by Michael Wolfstar
Tribalism v. Interconnectivity
as U.S. Mercury Turns Direct
After Hillary’s acceptance speech last week, Democrats framed the election process as a “love versus hate” choice. Hillary is campaigning on the slogan, “stronger together”, and emphasizes the progress made by the Obama administration. In contrast, Trump wants to “make America great again,” and he speaks viscerally to the large majority of Americans who believe the country is going in the wrong direction.
In addition, transiting Jupiter was squaring the U.S. Mars, which put his stunt on live TV and broadcast to the nation. The tightest configuration at the time was transiting Pluto conjunct his progressed Black Moon Lilith (orb: 0º02’) – a clear indicator that death was a serious possibility. What made the entire escapade possible was that his progressed Moon-Mars was perfectly sextile natal Saturn, offering sufficient experience and safety precautions to survive.
Astrologically, the two worldviews presented by the candidates can be seen in the tribal, self-protective sign of Cancer and the egalitarian, socially expansive sign of Aquarius. The U.S. horoscope, with its Sun in Cancer and Moon in Aquarius, was founded with these two principles as the nation’s dominant archetypes. Throughout its history, Americans have continually struggled to balance their tribal instincts with the ideal of the multicultural “melting pot.”
Previously in this column, we’ve looked at how the Uranus-Eris conjunction propels the “us versus them” conversation, especially since Uranus is in the midst of squaring the U.S. Mercury in Cancer. By secondary progression, Mercury is now at an exceptionally important turning point: it’s located at 20º Aquarius and about to turn direct (on September 30). For all practical purposes, it’s now at its most influential point by being at an exact standstill.
The U.S. progressed Mercury is in the 4th house of domestic affairs where it’s forming numerous aspects to other planets around the chart. One of the closest is the quincunx to natal Black Moon Lilith, which accounts for the intense and malicious commentaries, the unbridled rage, and nasty rhetoric that has pervaded the election process. However, a much closer aspect made by progressed Mercury is the fortunate trine to Juno in Libra (orb: 0º24’). Juno is known as the protector of the weak, and also as the wife -- a symbol best personified by Hillary Clinton.
Luke Aikens, Skydiver Extraordinaire
The recent Mars station in Scorpio while quincunx Uranus has brought a wave of explosive violence, and illustrates the potency of this planetary duo. In natal charts the Mars-Uranus connection brings a natural interest in dangerous, high-risk occupations and extreme sports. And the tighter the orb between the challenging Mars-Uranus aspect, the more attracted one becomes to the ultimate, death-defying, daredevil stunt.
Skydiver Luke Aikens is a case in point. He was born (November 21, 1973; Corpus Christi, TX; time unknown) with his Mars strongly placed in Aries and precisely opposite Uranus in Libra. His Moon in Libra conjoins Uranus, indicating an emotional need for the kind of radical action and adrenalin rush that comes from a skydiving jump from 25,000 feet with no parachute, and just a large net to break his fall.
He made his historic skydive last Saturday while under the influence of numerous dangerous alignments. The inspiration for his stunt arrived during the phase astrologers refer to as the “mid-life crisis” when transiting Uranus opposes its own position around the age of 42-44. Mars was all over this chart when he jumped: transiting Mars conjoined his Scorpio Sun, and he had a progressed Moon-Mars conjunction.
Unlike the A*C*G* map, the relocation chart can be assessed like an ordinary horoscope, with transits and progressions telling the story. For example, when Trump opened the Miss Universe contest in Moscow on November 9, 2013, he made some of his most important contacts with the Russian oligarchy, including a friendly interchange with Putin. At the time, his progressed (relocated) Part of Fortune was exactly conjunct natal Jupiter. Currently, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over his Russian relations since transiting Neptune is exactly opposite his relocated Midheaven.
With Scorpio Rising, Pluto becomes the ruling planet in this relocated chart. Pluto, the planet associated with plutocrats, is in the 9th house of foreign affairs, which readily translates into Trump’s ties with Russian oligarchs.* The Part of Fortune conjoins the Descendant, making Moscow a place where he can benefit by forming partnerships. With his Sun and other planets occupying the 8th house of capitalism, Trump’s main interest is business.
The political asteroid Pallas holds a particularly prominent place in this chart by being exactly trine the Midheaven from the 2nd house of money. In a politician’s horoscope, Pallas often symbolizes his advisers, his campaign strategists, and policy wonks. Trump has an unusual number of advisers with close financial ties to Russia. He’s proposed recognizing Russia’s control of Crimea, which happens to be where his Pallas line is angular.
Trump Relocated to Moscow
Investigative reporters are in the midst of tracking down Trump’s curious ties to Moscow and his friendship with Putin. Many astrologers like to use A*C*G* maps to discern one’s fate at specific locations, but in Trump’s case, he has no lines running through Moscow. Relocating the natal horoscope to Moscow offers better insights into Trump’s attraction to the Russian capital.
re: US progressed Mercury - thanks for the encouraging progressed Mercury station aspecting Juno. I'm more hopeful now that Hillary will win
A. In the U.S. chart Juno and Chiron oppose each other. That means progressed Mercury is also sextile Chiron. The Juno in Libra opposite Chiron in Aries represents the candidates' emphasis on "We're in this together " vs. "I'm the only one who can fix the system." Mercury stations right around the time the debates begin, offering a forum for these polarities to play out.
re: Tim Kaine - I have followed your work for many years and especially appreciate your sharing your views on the political scene. Tim Kaine was Virginia’s lieutenant governor and then governor and I have followed his political career for some time too, as I live in Virginia.
I am delighted that Tim is Hillary’s choice for her running mate. Although I don’t know him personally, I have met him and have heard him speak a few times. He is very much who he appears to be – a really nice guy and an excellent political strategist. You would never know that his Eris is conjunct his Ascendant in Aries!
re: MO v/c - Love your articles, always so insightful. Please keep going! With that said, here's another possible article topic for you to explore: How a moon void affects the nominating process of a political convention.
The moon was void on Tuesday 3:56-8:10pm exactly the time Trump was nominated. When he and Pence formally accept the nomination tomorrow night after 6:56pm PST, the moon will be void again.
I'm seeing this as an encouraging sign for us Hillary supporters/Trump despisers. Your thoughts? Inquiring minds want to know!
A. Trump accepted the nomination at 10:20 pm when the Moon was sextile UR and square Mars... In any case, I don't buy the MO v/c thing for event charts. That's a horary technique... Don't forget that Obama took the Oath of office during a MO v/c and he got Obamacare passed.
re: Hillary's Moon - In your May 23, 2016 issue of NewsScope you wrote: "To win the American people over, a candidate must have a strong connection with the U.S. Moon at 25º Aquarius. Hillary’s Uranus at 25º Gemini fits the bill, as does Trump’s Venus at 25º Cancer. Each of these planets describes where the candidate has exceptional influence over public opinion. For Hillary, Uranus describes her drive for equal rights. Trump’s Venus suggests his vast wealth, his economic plans, and his view on women in general." And "Both candidates have Mars in Leo which, historically, American voters have overwhelmingly favored."
Why no mention that Hillary has her Moon in Pisces? As you know, no U.S. President has had their Moon there. I believe the Election will be a lot stranger than you or any other American astrologer is now thinking.
A. Hillary is well aware of the vulnerability of her Pisces Moon, which is why she didn't open up emotionally during her nomination speech, as so many pundits thought she should to overcome the trust issue. And yes, this is a strange election. If terrorism increases dramatically over the next few months, that will certainly help Trump.
