I am absolutely blown away by the accuracy of your reading, and the new information I did not know is just spot on. This is the best money I have ever spent! I am so thrilled I contacted you!
"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
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
May 13, 2019 - balance from U.S. Saturn in Libra; Iran Poised for War; Presidents Impacted by Solar Eclipses
May 20, 2019 - Roe v. Wade Re-Visited; Eclipse hits Trump-Iran Conflict; Britney Spears’ 730 Evaluation
May 27, 2019 - The Trump-Pelosi Feud; June's Top Five Astro-Events; Hurricane Season and the U.S. Mars
June 3, 2019 - Trump’s 2019 Solar Return; Julian Assange; Kawli Leonard Leads the Toronto Raptors
June 10, 2019 - U.S. Pluto Return and Mars; Chinese Communist Party; Olivia Jade Hit by Saturn and Pluto
June 17, 2019 - Democratic Candidates Debate; Trump Relocated to Tehran; Eliz Warren on the Rise
June 24, 2019 - U.S. Progressed Mars Activated; July's Top 5 Astro-Events; Hopeful Pete Buttigieg
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.
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.
July 1, 2019 - Kamala Harris Hits Home Run; Pluto and the Concentration of Power; Megan Rapinoe, Soccer Star
July 8, 2019 - Int'l Climate Emergency; California Earthquakes; Cory Booker and the 2021 Inauguration
July 15, 2019 - Plutocrat Jeffrey Epstein Arrested; Trump Re-Elected? The Democratic Field Narrows
July 22, 2019 - Ilhan Omar Takes Center Stage; The Heat is On; Space Travel in the Age of Aquarius
July 29, 2019 - Russian Meddling in 2020; Top 5 Astro-Events; Boris Johnson, the UK’s New Prime Minister
Aug. 5, 2019 - Scorpio Rising, Part 2; Trump Tweet Tumbles Markets; Uranus Disrupts White Supremacy
Aug. 12, 2019 - U.S. Mars Activated; M. Williamson Touts Spiritual Renewal; Slovakia's Zuzana Čaputová
Aug. 19, 2019 - The JU-SA cnj; Hong Kong Fights for Independence; Greta Thunberg and the climate
Aug, 26, 2019 - Top 5 for September; Trump and King George III; Bolsonaro and the Amazon fires.
Sept. 2, 2019 - Madeleine Westerhout fired; Hong Kong’s chart; Alexandria Villaseñor Protest at U.N.
Sept. 9, 2019 - Biden’s Prog Mercury at a Standstill; The Eighth Harmonic; Saturn and the U.S. Gerontocracy
Sept. 16, 2019 - The Fist of God; Presidents and the U.S. Moon; LoveSac Wins over Consumers
Sept. 23, 2019 - Trump and the Ukraine; Justin Trudeau Melts under Saturn-Neptune; Brad Pitt Stars in Ad Astra.
Sept. 30, 2019 - October's top five astro-events; Elizabeth Warren on the rise; Trump's Black Moon Lilith
Oct. 7. 2019 - Trump’s Relocated Lilith; Bernie Sanders in Trouble; Greta Thunberg and U.S. Politics.
Oct. 14, 2019 - Rudy Giuliani and Lilith; Gener-ational Mental Health Trends; Simone Biles Wins
Oct. 21, 2019 - Lilith over Syria; Impeachment during Mercury Retrograde; Dismiss or Convict?
Oct. 28, 2019 - November's top 5 astro-events; Merury rx updated, brings an unusually positive phase and insights
Nov. 11, 2019 - Mercury Occults the Sun, the chart set in Washington; Bloom-berg Prepares to Run
Nov. 18, 2019 - Lessons from Watergate; Nixon and Trump Parallels; The Trump Impeachment Horoscope
Nov. 25, 2019 - Dec.’s Top Five; Trump’s Natal and Progressed Midheaven and the impeachment hearings
Dec. 2, 2019 - The unflap-pable Adam Schiff; Mike Pence waiting in the wings as impeachment proceeds.
re: NewsScope - Great work! Your columns this week are really awesome and show young astrologers how to do mundane or political astrology. You have provided us with truly stellar work. Thanks so much.
re: Scorpio - Your powerful column this morning has convinced me the US Ascendant is indeed Scorpio. I have seen your other writings on this subject and was intrigued. You have now tipped the scale. I will be defending your view on other astrology sites.
re: Scorpio - I have often mulled over your notion that the USA chart has a Scorpio Ascendant - today you made the best arguments for it. I recall, as an immigrant with a perspective from other cultures, that what struck me the most about this country is that it is one of extremes; the Americans I have met in my travels reflected both the very best and the very worst. Also, following your other arguments regarding the Revolutionary War, it was really more about taxation (without representation) than human freedom.
re: U.S. Moon - I am aware of the "most important link a candidate needs is the US Moon at 25 Aquarius." But have all the US Presidents had this in their chart? If not, who didn't, and what in their chart overrode that? Thanks for your comments this morning; disturbing as I find them.
A. All of them since FDR have has this connection, which shows the importance of media in conveying a candidate's essence. Prior to FDR, connections to Pluto dominated, which was more about connecting to the elite. I've written in depth about this, and you can read more here.
re: Beyond Meat - My hubby bought Beyond Meat stock after your report, and it’s done pretty well. Keep the stock tips coming!
re: Macron - Monday's read: Once again your insights are nothing short of amazing. I’m curious: When Le Pen was ousted by Macron, against the "stars wishes", what was the thing that pushed him into the winner's circle? Your very interesting look at past presidents and how they got to be one, reveals the "norm." But there are those who didn't fit the mold. Do they, the odd-men-out-but-in, share something?
NewsScope for December 9, 2019
By Michael O’Reilly
Pete Buttigieg and the Saturn-Pluto Conjunction
Following last week’s piece on Mike Pence, a reader notes that Pence’s sexuality is rumored to be not strictly “hetero”. She asks, “Are there astrological signals that may indicate different sexual or gender tendencies in any one particular chart?” The easy answer is “no”. For any indicator you might consider that shows a gay or lesbian orientation, the vast majority of individuals with that signature will be straight.
Having said that, the planets still tell the story. Pete Buttigieg’s horoscope (January 19, 1982; South Bend, IN; time unknown) is a good example since he was born with his Capricorn Sun conjunct Venus and both squaring Pluto. This three-planet configuration can be found in many charts, but in Buttigieg’s life it manifested as his deep struggle in coming to turns with his sexuality.
Sun-Venus people are naturally charming, friendly and peaceful. And fitting Venus’s symbolism as the love planet, they can be quite seductive and erotic. Sun-Pluto people may become quite driven by sexual instincts, but neither of these factors determines orientation. The Pluto square can go through intense internal struggles to find the true self, but this may refer to power conflicts, a professional role, or other obsessions as much as sexual orientation.
The sheer intensity of this Sun-Venus-Pluto configuration was articulated in a speech earlier this year when he said, “If you had offered me a pill to make me straight, I would have swallowed it before you had time to give me a sip of water…. There were times in my life when if you had shown me exactly what it was inside me that made me gay, I would have cut it out with a knife.”
Buttigieg finally came out as a gay man in an editorial piece for the local newspaper on June 16, 2015. Several important astro-event were in effect at the time, with the most obvious being transiting Saturn sextile his Sun. He was being practical about who he was, laying his cards on the table. Also, his progressed Black Moon Lilith was octile (semisquare) natal Venus, further activating this key three-planet configuration. In this instance, Lilith shows her willingness to go against the mainstream patriarchal standards.
The June 21, 2020 Solar Eclipse
Another reader wonders what the Solar Eclipse on June 21, 2020 at 0º Cancer will bring. For comparison, she notes that the Solar Eclipse on June 21, 2001 was also at 0º Cancer and foreshadowed the disastrous 9-11 terrorist attacks. The 2001 eclipse chart showed some strong hits to the U.S. national horoscope, such as Uranus conjunct the U.S. Moon and Neptune squaring the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant.
For the June 21, 2020 Solar Eclipse, Uranus is once again a major factor. Its location at 9º Taurus is only one degree from opposing the U.S. Ascendant, which corresponds to its recent entry into the 7th house. The last time Uranus made this passage was in 1936-37, which marked the rise of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. The enemy action will likely take a different form this time, such as hacking or meddling in the U.S. election process.
Uranus at this position also favors more radical or unusual candidates, such as Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Pete Buttigieg. Each of these has important natal and/or progressed planets aligned with 0º Cancer, and that will be a topic for future columns. The Democratic National Convention begins on July 13, so this eclipse date will mark an important transition phase for each of these candidates.
This Solar Eclipse activates the U.S. Venus in Cancer since the orb is only two degrees, as was the case in 2001. Uniquely in the Scorpio Rising chart, Venus represents potential enemy action since it’s the ruler of the 12th house of “secret enemies” (with Libra on the cusp) as well as the 7th house of “open enemies” (with Taurus on the cusp).
And with transiting Uranus conjunct the U.S. 7th house cusp, we can expect some major surprises this election season. On Election Day, transiting Uranus is precisely opposite the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant. One might not expect the process to unfold in a natural or ordinary way with this set-up.
Thanks for your comments and questions. NewsScope readers are among the most astrologically savvy in our global village!
Transiting Lilith was also a major factor and highlights another key configuration. Buttigeig’s Saturn in the partnership sign of Libra is exactly square his Lunar Node axis. In Evolutionary Astrology, this is referred to as a “missing step” and places a priority on getting the Saturn placement figured out before the North Node’s qualities can be fully experienced. Transiting Lilith at 22º Virgo was exactly trine his South Node at 22º Capricorn.
The Lunar Nodes-square-Saturn is once again in play since the January 12 Saturn-Pluto conjunction takes place at 22º Capricorn. Buttigieg’s common sense, progressive platform has made him a top contender in the presidential campaign. The Saturn-Pluto conjunction will determine if America is ready for an intelligent gay president. Problematically for Buttigieg, the Saturn-Pluto conjunction tends to be profoundly conservative in religion as well as politics.