Shuttle Atlantis launches 2.7.08 2:45 pm est

After 2 months of delay, the shuttle Atlantis has been launched today from Cape Canaveral, FL at 2:45 pm est as scheduled.

With deception and espionage smeared all over the chart of this long-awaited mission--ostensibly to take Europe's science lab, Columbus, to join the Internatioanl Space Station (a surveillance command satellite if there ever was one) today's launch may be considered a jolly accomplishment by some, another link in the spying chain to others.

Asteroid Icarus 5AQ54 is conj US natal South Node which is at "Medina" degree and if you're a consiracy theorist as myself, you'll recognize the degree as Islam's Neptune Return on 9/11/01. This was Neptune's position when Mohammed entered Medina, thus the name of the 6-7 AQ degree area. Icarus has unfortunate connections with assassination but let's not go there.

With Mercury (air flight) being Rx and conj Chiron 16AQ00, there may be disrupted communications at the least, and I hope that's their only trouble, difficult as that would be for such a flight...launched within hours after a Solar Eclipse.

Suffice it to say, there is much Neptunian action in this chart...secretive Neptune of subterfuge and veils, plus, there's Pluto of the invisible helmet--spying and sabotage are his specialities. Pluto is still on the World Point of 00Cap22.

Neptune 21AQ26 is conj three midpoints which give these pictures (Tyl; Ebertin):

Sun/Moon = Neptune: deceptions; illusions; the undermining of associations.

Moon/Mercury = Neptune: falsehood; exposure to lies and calumny; wrong notions and whims.

Mercury/NN = Neptune: an interrupted contact; confusion about how to fit into the group.

Now I don't wish difficulty upon such projects (overly ambitious as they may be) yet I admit to not believing that they're only what they are purported to be. Honorable science experiments? Pshaw.

Now there is one lovely midpoint pic which may indicate a safe mission--

Jupiter/Mc = Mercury: large scale projects and ventures; a wealth of thoughts; far reaching thoughts; successful plans. (A direct Mercury would be more helpful here.)

At 2:45 pm est, asteroid Pallas (keyword: strategy) crossed the top of the chart, the Midheaven (Mc)--the Goal/Aspiration Point of the launch. Opposite at the Ic at that moment (Ic = the Foundation or Basis of the matter) lurks America's natal Neptune. Idealistic Neptune more often brings dissolution, confusion, insecurity--and veiling.

Asteroid Atlantis is at a critical 29th degree: 29Libra31 in 5th house of risk-taking. Well, space travel of any sort is just that, isn't it?

Uranus 16Pis59 is connected to space travel, science, and technology, and has just crossed Mc near Fixed Star, Ahernar, "risk of rapid endings" yet Achernar may also bring success. We've recently seen Uranus' disruptive ability with internet cables cut under the sea (Pisces) and I'd been wondering for some time where that would occur...more of that disruption may be forthcoming.

At 2:45 pm, 5Can54 is rising along with US natal Jupiter at the "6Can" degree--"Gamebirds feathering their nests."

Wish my intuition said otherwise, but the International Space Station is overhead to pluck out the feathers of the masses for lining those royal nests--and for reporting back to our Orwellian controllers with state-of-the-art spy technology.

Chart-ruler Moon 26AQ38 makes an applying conj to tr North Node--today is the US' Moon Return--with tr NN about to conjunct natal Moon. There will probably be quite a bit of publicity about this mission...but not in a negative way, I hope.

Today's Ceres ("security" in a national chart) is at 14Tau34, the degree of the Inaugural ASC each Jan 20, DC, noon = the office of the president.

The next and only other applying aspect made by today's launch Moon is a helpful and enabling sextile to...sneaky Pluto. See what I mean?

Spotlight on Mercury: Hillary Clinton

Here you see the most often used natal chart for Senator Hillary Clinton, Oct 26, 1947 8:00 pm CST, Chicago, IL, rated DD for dirty data as her birth time is unverified.

This is why I've not published or written much on her before. And I do think that one of the possible charts (for 8:02 am) makes a lot of sense because it gives this lifelong politician an ASC of 22Sco07, Mercury-SN rising, with Venus, Chiron, and Sun 2Sco19 in 12th house.

12th house Suns are quite prevalent for politicians including George Bush--it's a secretive placement good for deals behind-the-scenes with the true character well-hidden. At 8:02 am natal Moon would remain in Pisces although earlier--22Pis51, and the Mc/Ic axis you see here would flip--MC becomes Virgo rather than Pisces. (Senator Barack Obama's natal Chiron is 5Pis+.)

But my current purpose is to take a peek at natal Mercury, planet of thinking processes and communicating styles--a very important planet for anyone but esp for a politician who may be propagandizing at us ad nauseum from the proverbial bully pulpit. And birth time won't affect Mercury factors mentioned below...

Some general notes on Mercury in Scorpio:

Mercury in Scorpio gives an intuitive mind capable of deep insights, and perceptions which allow critical examination of human motivations. Things may be seen accurately but not necessarily in a charitable fashion.

Mincing words to spare others feelings must be learned for it does not come naturally to a Scorpio Mercury--if Clinton can't say what she really feels, she'd rather remain silent. This can be similar to a Mercury-Pluto conj (a la George Bush) which gives cruel speech and a talent for catapultin' the propaganda.

Many plans--'planning' is also a function of Mercury--are carried out in secret and communication occurs only with a definite purpose toward what she is trying to accomplish.

If Mercury is afflicted--and one may say that Mercury conj SN is an affliction, for it is somewhat similar to having a Mercury/Saturn conjunction, plus Mercury is actually squared by Saturn 21Leo21--there can be scheming, plotting, and ulterior motives. Well, okay--she's a politician in, of all places, Washington DC.

A Scorpio Mercury may also give much mistrust of others but makes a good researcher or detective.

Saturn square Mercury can give a tendency toward excessive worrying, mental inhibitions, and traditional thinking...aka lack of imagination. Overconcern with unimportant details may factor into the worry and there may be difficulty in gaining recognition for original ideas esp from the establishment.

This is the strict-adherence-to-law-and-order Mercury, often at all costs, and a fear of change may lurk just under the surface. Scorpio's influence gives Mercury a proneness toward jealousy and a deep fear of failure (enough to bring on crocodile tears? You betcha! And Moon in Pisces can turn on the waterworks in a flash--very helpful for a political thespian.)

In positions of authority, a Scorpio Mercury may resort to belittling the ideas of others, and trouble may come through written communications and contracts (Whitewater, anyone? Must be more where that came from or I'll eat my beanie bonnet.)

Now you see that Mercury is conjunct South Node (SN)...what of it?

South Node (of the Moon) is karmic in nature--it's where we've developed old ways of dealing with issues--appropriate at the time, but they no longer 'work'. Yet we continue to use them with lackluster results--aka neurosis. Remember her "vast right wing conspiracy"? How people laughed! (I didn't, did you?)

SN, an unconscious point in the chart, also relates to inherited talents, and with Clinton's Mars-Pluto-Saturn trio--all pointing to papa--I assume she has inherited some of her Scorpionic Mercurial traits from the paternal side, yet some must have come from mama (SN)...she got a double helping, I'd say.

Mercury conj SN indicates one whose ideas are either ahead of or behind the times. Positively this conj endows the person with mental originality--much-needed with her Mercury-Saturn square--and we've observed her sense of independence which the separative influence of SN brings. Plus, Mercury-SN often has difficulty with timing in speaking up--and sometimes isn't listened to and so becomes frustrated.

Often forced to proceed alone, it's difficult with this configuration to gain support or to get others to cooperate. Has she figured out how to do this?

If Clinton becomes president we'll all suffer mightily if she hasn't, for America's problems run deep and Washington is no longer known for cooperation unless there's a photo op involved or an earmark to scratch.

In the long run her ideas can prove to be correct if she uses the rest of her chart factors to aid this ahead-of-its-time Mercury-SN conjunction. Overhauling healthcare? Well, we'd be better off now if she had managed to have those ideas accepted then (although I believe those ideas weren't actually Hillary's, but that's okay.)

Whososever ideas she promotes, advances, or brainstorms, my sincere hope is for my only nag in the race...as ever and always, the United States of America.

Solar Eclipse Feb 7 , 2008

Space Weather News for Feb. 5, 2008

SOLAR ECLIPSE: This Thursday, Feb. 7th, the Moon will pass in front of the Sun, producing a solar eclipse over New Zealand, most of Antarctica and parts of Australia. It is not a total eclipse; the Moon will only partially cover the solar disk. Nevertheless, the event promises some beautiful moments.

For instance, the partially-eclipsed Sun will dapple the ground with crescent-shaped sunbeams. Observers in New Zealand and Australia should look in the shadows of leafy trees for this lovely phenomenon. On the barren slopes of Antarctica, scientists and explorers can produce the same effect by letting the sun shine through a spaghetti colander or a sheet of paper poked with holes.

It is dangerous to stare directly at a partial eclipse because the exposed portion of the Sun is as blindingly bright as usual. Backyard astronomers with safely-filtered solar telescopes may, however, point their optics at the Sun and watch the mountainous lunar limb glide across the sun's fiery surface. (For solar telescopes, see: coronadofilters.com)

The best views of all are reserved for an remote stretch of the Antarctic where the Moon will pass dead-center in front of the Sun without fully covering it. A thin layer of star will poke out all around the Moon producing a vivid "ring of fire" or annular eclipse.

Visit SpaceWeather.com for eclipse maps and timetables and, later this week, photos of the eclipse itself.#

Antartica??? That's where some say Atlantis will be uncovered as the ice melts...hmmm...and this is the Eclipse at the Unmasking degree... nah, couldn't be!

But there is a certain Sabian Symbol which is usually associated with America and it's "19Taurus"..."A continent arising from the ocean."

Keyword: ORIGINALITY...

pos: a revolutionary potential by which each individual is enabled to remodel the entire face of the universe;

neg/unconscious/shadow side: a genius for futile turmoil and persistent upset.

Well, if the time capsule that's supposedly hidden in Atlantis is there (with its info on how to escape the coming cataclysm), it's about to be snagged by the world's movers and shakers, and we'll only know of it when it's too late...if at all.

Even Scripture says that in the final days, the earth shall give up her treasures!

And a vote for John McCain is a vote for Bill Kristol. (Just thought I'd throw that in.)


Here's my original post on the astrology of the Eclipse with chart set for Washington DC.

Eviction: Bush's "ownership society"

Disowned By The Ownership Society

By Naomi Klein

Washington think-tanker Grover Norquist predicted that the ownership society would be Bush's greatest legacy, remembered "long after people can no longer pronounce or spell Fallujah." Yet in Bush's final State of the Union address, the once-ubiquitous phrase was conspicuously absent. And little wonder: rather than its proud father, Bush has turned out to be the ownership society's undertaker.

Information Clearing House #

He's the one who should have been evicted years ago.