Weekly NewsScope for April 17, 2006

Arizona Senator John McCain was busy last week hosting town hall meetings in New Hampshire, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio and Florida - all the early primary states leading to the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. Meanwhile, New York Senator Hillary Clinton has amassed a huge campaign chest of $19 million in her re-election bid - enough to carry over to the Democratic nomination.

Though neither frontrunner has confirmed they are actually aiming for president, both have the essential planetary dynamics of elected presidents. The most apparent natal placement is Mars in Leo, which they both have. As explained in my book Political Astrology*, of the 42 candidates who have become president of the United States, a statistically improbable ten have Mars in Leo. Ten of 42 is way off the bell-shaped curve of expectation, and can only be explained by reference to the U.S. national horoscope.

Of the many national horoscopes proposed by astrologers, only the Scorpio Rising chart (July 4, 1776; 2:21 pm) with Leo at the Midheaven, explains this anomaly. It's also the only national horoscope that explains why the country has had more Scorpio (five) and Aquarius (five) presidents than any other Sun Sign, since these fixed signs are on the critical angles. Adherents to the Gemini and Sagittarius Rising national horoscopes can't explain why we've had so few Gemini (two) and Sagittarius (three) presidents.

Ms. Clinton's Sun in Scorpio is obviously a definite plus, but her Pisces Moon is strong negative. Since George Washington's time, no candidate has ever been elected who was born with Moon in Pisces. McCain's Moon exactly conjunct the U.S. Pluto (the nation's ruling planet) is a big plus, with six elected presidents sharing this sign position, and Abraham Lincoln and Bobby Kennedy having the same degree in Capricorn.

In response to the recent article on the Saturn-Neptune opposition, a NewsScope reader asks about the astrology behind the mass protests appearing across the world. Students and union workers gathered in France, Latinos in the U.S., and in Taiwan, Haiti, and Belarus over disputed elections. "It makes sense that Saturn would be involved, ... how does Neptune fit in?"

Saturn just turned direct and is still 15 deg. from opposing Neptune. However, Chiron (outsiders) in Aquarius (equal rights) has been opposing Saturn in Leo (imperial government), and this is undoubtedly a factor. Another astro-event corresponding to these mass protests is the Pluto station while conjunct the Galactic Center in late April. Pluto refers to the masses, or the power of the collective as it acts through certain individuals.

If we consider the Galactic Center to be a command post for humanity's cultural, political and technological evolution, then its activation precipitates movement against the status quo at a variety of levels. In the scientific realm, as Pluto approached the GC in mid-March, astronomers reported a unique, double helix nebula** near the Galactic Center, upsetting traditional views of normal cosmological phenomena.

"We see two intertwining strands wrapped around each other as in a DNA molecule," says the leading astronomer. As we collectively move toward a new paradigm about the nature of life, we realize that the analogy between a DNA-shaped nebula and human DNA is an actual fractal pattern of our organic, holistic universe. We are all connected through unsuspected dimensions, and those who feel left out or ignored have recently been empowered by Pluto to protest.

A NewsScope reader wonders how Gene Pitney died. Most Americans know about the crooner as a teenage idol in the early sixties, notably, from hits like "Town Without Pity", and "Only Love Can Break a Heart". However, he continued on his successful career path in Europe, and died while on tour April 5 of unknown, but apparently natural causes.

Gene Pitney was born with his objective Aquarius Sun (February 17, 1940; Hartford, CT; time unknown, but not 1941 as is commonly reported). His enduring professional life was facilitated by his Sun sextile a Mars-Saturn conjunction, which in turn was compulsively propelled by a square to Pluto. Mars-Saturn-Pluto can experience and feel much pain, which he expressed through his romantic lyrics.

Pitney's interest in love and romance can be seen in his Venus-Juno conjunction. Venus (love) and Juno (commitment) can bring a long-term loving relationship if favorably aspected to other planets. In this case, his Venus-Juno is conjunct Jupiter and trine Pluto, which promised not only a lengthy, successful partnership (he married his childhood sweetheart Lynne in 1966), but also a loving fan base.

However, Venus-Jupiter aspects tend to have poor eating habits, with a penchant for sweets. According to his official autopsy, he died of "hardening of the arteries", which took place the day Saturn turned direct while squaring his progressed Sun-Saturn conjunction. He was just pushing himself too hard. The suddenness of his passing can be seen in transiting Uranus conjunct his Mercury, indicating the physical cause may have been an aneurism or stroke.

** See NewsScope January 30, 2006 for more on the GC. For a photo and astronomical explanation of the double helix, see www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?RelNum=6903

Many thanks to Australian astrologer Russell Neill for bringing the double-helix story to my attention.