Weekly NewsScope for May 5, 2008

From the Feedback Dept: "Do you still think HRC will win the nomination for the DEMs and do you see Jeremiah Wright as the 'secret enemy' who will undo Barack Obama?" Frankly, I no longer have a feeling of inevitability about Hillary's nomination since I underestimated the strength of Obama's progressed Jupiter* and since I've rectified Hillary's birth time to 8:02 am.

Still, as you say and many pundits have observed, the tide is once again turning in Hillary's favor. Transiting Uranus is still a full degree away from opposing Obama's natal Mars and is forming a quincunx to his progressed Mercury and Mars in his 12th house of secret enemies. If Obama is already having problems with people he thought he could trust, imagine what will happen as this transit becomes more exact.

Currently, transiting Jupiter in Capricorn happens to be exactly trine Obama's natal Mars, giving him the courage and presence of mind to denounce Reverend Wright. Jupiter will turn retrograde on May 9, and then backs away from this favorable celestial support. As Jupiter wanes as a protective influence, transiting Uranus gets ever closer to the opposition to his Mars. This spells trouble for his campaign.

Obama's secret enemies may come in a variety of forms, with Jeremiah Wright only the first manifestation. Included in this symbolism would be the behind-the-scenes fight for superdelegates, which will heat up as his progressed Mercury-Mars conjunction becomes exact. Also, he will need to be careful about what he says, since any scent of misdirected anger or hastily spoken words (Mercury-Mars) could bring on his own self-undoing. I expect this fight to go to the Democratic Convention in late August.

1. Neptune enters Pisces on February 3, where it remains through 2024. This long-term phase will likely correspond to the reigning but desperate influence of the oil industry. Expect visions of wealth and spiritual enlightenment, a resurgence in socialism, gold rushes or the equivalent, and immense suffering felt by billions of disenfranchised global citizens.

2. Pluto sextile the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant (exact in February, June and October) is a major influence all year, and describes the American government as the Plutonian element of the Uranus-Pluto cycle. This suggests direct attacks from radical political factions both domestically and abroad, and wherever the U.S. has vested interests.

3. Saturn in Libra squares the U.S. Pluto (in March and September), and then conjoins the U.S. Ascendant in October. Saturn's square to the U.S. Pluto comes from the 12th house where direct action is less than effective. As Saturn enters Scorpio, it forms a quincunx to Uranus, likewise challenging the government's control over radical elements.

4. Uranus squares Pluto twice in 2012 (June 24 and September 19), and is this year's signature theme. The revolutionary, breakthrough developments associated with Uranus in Aries challenge the conservative, nationalistic vibe of Pluto in Capricorn. The clash of these celestial powers resonates with the end of the Mayan calendar, and will likely bring profound political, social, and economic changes.

5. Mercury turns retrograde on November 6, which is election day. This spells trouble for counting votes, especially since Mercury squares Neptune and Chiron in Pisces, which will likely bring much confusion, deception, and hurt feelings. Whatever difficulties are brewing for that date should be expressed ahead of time, as transiting Mars opposes the U.S. Mars three days earlier.

Disney executives were up in arms when they learned about Miley Cyrus' Vanity Fair photos taken by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz. The 15-year-old star of Hannah Montana appears naked, as she holds up a satin bed sheet. At first, Miley thought the photos were artistic. "It wasn't in a skanky way." But when the controversy exploded, she apologized and said she was embarrassed.

Miley Cyrus was born with her Sun in bubbly Sagittarius (November 23, 1992; Franklin, TN; time unknown) and her Venus in reliable Capricorn – just like another famous Disney starlet, Britney Spears. Like Britney, Miley's Venus is cosmically amplified by close aspects to outer planets: her Venus conjunct Uranus and Neptune gives her an electrical aura that charms and entertains, especially on film.

Disney executives are excited by her abundant energy as they market her talent through records, a forthcoming memoir, a Hannah Montana film, and a new clothing line. Miley's Mars in Cancer trines her Moon, Mercury and Pluto in Scorpio, which energizes these planets, giving her the stamina to promote these endless Disney products as she becomes the wealthiest teenager in the universe.

Miley's Moon in Scorpio conjunct Pluto reflects what Disney calls her "stage presence"; it's an emotional depth that taps into the powers of the soul. With her prominent Capricorn planets, Miley is easily controlled by Disney executives to follow their corporate plan. However, the Moon-Pluto in Scorpio carries an irresistible fascination with sexual power, which will only grow stronger as she matures.

* For further discussion of his P2 Jupiter, see NewsScope, February 18, 2008. For discussion of his "secret enemies", see NewsScope, April 7, 2008. Or visit www.neptunecafe.com and click on the Campaign Chronicles. My full-length article on the three presidential candidates will appear in the August issue of Dell Horoscope.