Periodically, we have time for review established in the natural flow of life. Sometimes we arrive into these phases with strong intention that we are moving ahead on projects when suddenly we are forced to stop and clean up old business.

Let me use the decision-making struggle represented by Congress as an example of current energy playing out. Just as they return from their summer recess, Mercury, planet of ideas, communication, and commerce, has turned in its tracks for a three-week review period. This retrograde period over-laps with the Mercury retrograde period of September-October 2008. That means there will be a need to go back to last year’s problems.

If you remember, this is the time that the banks began to fail and Congress rushed to create the first “bail out” bill. From that point on through 2009, everything has hinged on those decisions. We can mostly agree that there have been some poor choices made by our legislators this year.

At this time, the polarized attitudes have heads down and horns locked. This month some dramatic astrological features are starting to mount toward even greater events to come in another year. We have the standoff of the old standard guard that protects the current backroom business model between corporations and lawmakers, versus the younger, tech-savvy entrepreneurial “green-conscious” revolutionaries, who want health care for all and a clean environment. The twists of language in the messages will be interesting over the next two weeks. We can expect high drama for mid-month as we go into the dark phase of the moon.

Bringing the context back down to the personal level, we will all be facing some kind of push-pull situation in our own lives. It is helpful to know that one underlying feature to these times is the need to let go of old out-dated ways of being and reinvent ourselves. This will be evident in how relationships go over this time. The review is applicable to the general workings of our lives, how we communicate and interrelate on all levels. We can learn something in the process that will help to move us ahead. It is okay to hold on serious decisions right now.

If you feel like you keep butting heads, look for a point of compromise. This is the half of the month for gathering in, not pushing forward. There is just a lot of polarized energy. As we get toward the new moon, Sep. 18, we will be better prepared to make clearer choices. Mercury is retrograde until the 29^th, so we cannot rely on commitments made before then. Consider that you may not have all the information to make an informed decision. If you can wait, DO.

The Autumn Equinox is September 22. This seasonal marker suggests that the last quarter of the year will generate serious political discussions that will likely stall any meaningful action that will serve the people in general. The growing financial distress in the country is fueling a revolution. At the community level, we will see the rise of inventive new ways for people to help each other through hard times.

When Sarah Palin recently quit her position as Governor of Alaska, I chuckled when I read headlines that “her future was unclear.” Palin has been receiving the triple conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune over her own Aquarian planets. Neptune tends to make the path ahead very unclear. Jupiter combined can bring out a glamorized illusion, contribute to promote a false appearance, and exaggerate everything. Chiron can give one a sense of “true purpose”, but is also relative to hurt feelings and emotional wounding. Her planets involved are the Sun, Mars and Saturn. This is her drive to make her place. The process is not fully complete, so we can expect more Sarah sightings and false claims in the coming weeks of August, with more to come clear into December.

Sarah is now (August 8, 2009) ranting that the Obama Health Care plan is pushing a “Death Plan.” She called the plan, “Just plain evil.” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32340009/ns/politics-white_house/

She did an interview holding her Down syndrome baby, facing lights and cameras, to claim that the government is going to decide who is worthy to live. Quite dramatic.

I have wondered a lot about Sarah Palin, who has five planets in Aquarius (a sign of humanitarianism) but seems incredibly lacking in honesty and integrity. The down and dirty truth here is that Sarah lacks true compassion for her fellow humans. She has a strong militaristic elitist orientation. I could go on about her natal horoscope, in simple terms, though Sarah is very much a person who will do what she thinks she has to do to get what she wants. Her militaristic ideals include lenient gun laws.

In contrast, Sarah Palin is also easily influenced by outside authorities, when there is a similar alignment in worldview. This is how she is so quickly rising to public notice and gaining some influence in the hard-right Republican favor. It is quite natural for her to be the spokes person for fear mongering that follows the party script. Rush Limbaugh and Sarah are joining forces with ExxonMobil to obstruct legislation on global warming. Obviously, the two are ready agents for the large corporate interests against the interests of a better life for the masses.

Now, Limbaugh has a huge influence over the thinking process of a large segment of the population. His horoscope has some strong contacts to the USA horoscope (Sibley). He has rational practicality mixed with a certain level of human compassion that Sarah completely lacks. Limbaugh has a way of reaching out to people that can feel personal and connected. I am truly not a fan, but by comparison, I can see that Limbaugh has a solid niche’ because of the way he can bring his personality out to reach people. Like Sarah, he has a knack for stirring up anger and frustration in the American people he talks to daily. They are both good at stoking the fire with fabrications that take every issue over the edge.

One point that I want to make about the American people as represented by the Moon in the national horoscope is that there is little support to the intelligence of the people. The people in general are disconnected from the overall process of running the country. We are essentially the taxable masses, with very little voice, except through acting out. The lax voter attitude is so strong among the lower economic levels of society that it takes something big to fight about before the American citizens really get involved. If you tell convincing lies to the less educated, and more emotionally and religiously fervent, they will believe them. This is the target audience of the campaign against health care reform.

This is going to be an interesting month of August. Just to challenge my own statement above, let’s watch what is uncovered about the town hall meetings that are being disrupted by “disgruntled citizens.” Rachel Maddow, of MSNBC, interviewed Tim Phillips, pres. of Americans For Prosperity on Friday, August 7. Rachel calls attention to Phillips and his groups as the instigators of these disruptive groups at town hall meetings to block serious discussion of the issues. It is quite eye opening to see that what is being played as concerned citizens participating in the political process is really, as Rachel said, “a sophisticated, well-funded program to promote the intentions of their clients.” Phillips said it was a good way to dramatize the issues using “real people.”

Seriously, there is so much Neptunian energy going on right now we can only see it for what it is….a movie. (A political horror movie.)

This week President Obama signed the new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law.

The President was out on the road to emphasize his care and concern for the American workingclass. It is unusual for a President to set up such a public signing of a bill. He signed the bill in front of a large crowd in Denver, Colorado to emphasize the potential stimulus for new green energy businesses.

I thought it was like a pep-rally with all the Colorado politicians in attendance. The young businessman who introduced the President is far more representative of the American workingman than Joe the Plumber. Blake Jones, president of Namaste’ Solar Company is the face of clean energy business that is going to help regenerate the economy. Namaste’ has grownsteadily and quickly over the last three years, starting with 3 employees and growing to 55.Jones said that this bill would allow is company to start to grow again and to make new jobs.

What does astrology offer in understanding this event?

The astrological signature of this event is the exact joining of the planets Mars and Jupiter. Mars is the planet of action and deeds. It represents what we do and how we do it. Jupiter is the planet of expansion and opportunity, and it rules legislation. It is the great benefic. Together the two planets have a regular cycle of interaction every two years. They represent enthusiasm and growth.

Mars is the faster trigger and will act like a go between as it moves ahead to meet up with Neptune by March 8. What is important about that is that Jupiter and Neptune are in the close of their 14-year cycle. The new cycle begins on May 27. The Jupiter-Neptune cycle represents the growth of new social, economic and cultural belief systems. Sometimes we see new spiritual movements rise up in society. The pair also help create peaceful relationships internationally.

Their last cycle began in January of 1997 in the sign Capricorn, which represents Capitalism. So, we have seen the growth of the housing bubble, the international level of financial investments, and imperialism related to continued focus on fossil fuels, like oil raise to super inflation. This all came to a sharp fall as soon as Pluto first entered Capricorn in January of 2008. During the summer, it seemed the financiers could fake an improvement, while Pluto backed up into Sagittarius for a few months. They were still saving their own butts with the first bailout. As Pluto entered Capricorn to stay on Nov. 26, 08, we have witnessed the complete collapse of that inflationary cycle.

Mars triggering Jupiter as the President signs this bill to revitalize America, it is setting the pace of the next 14 year cycle of Jupiter and Neptune. This time they meet in Aquarius, which is the sign of groups, humanity as one family, and it is a sign of information and connectivity at a very fast pace. We can expect the continued development of new businesses of fuels based on natural energies, like wind and sun. With that will also be new forms of transportation and broadening connectivity.

The big theme of our time is the represented by the opposition between Saturn and Uranus that has been the main topic since Election Day. The time that the President signed the bill in Denver had Uranus at the Midheaven, illustrating the unusual quality of the administrative action and calling out revolutionary changes. Saturn was on the 4th house cusp, the arena of home and family. Saturn rules real estate, construction, and most forms of structure and organization. It shows the plan to re-evaluate the mortgages of homeowners in trouble. It also illustrates the resistance of some politicians at more local levels.

There are Governors and Mayors who are saying they will not participate in the stimulus money. This is the standoff between conservatives, who hold to fear, petty and menial attitudes, and who stubbornly debate the potential value to their communities. The Moon rules the Cancer rising, and is another factor of first of all, addressing the general American economy. The Moon represents the general population and is in the arena of the workforce. In Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, suggests that ultimately the people are encouraged that this action will stimulate jobs, put people back in the mood of hope and optimism that will get the economy moving again.

There are many good links in this chart among the planets. The energetic of the chart has a foundation that will rely on cooperation between legislators, lenders, and the positive and active participation of the general workforce. Everyone must make some level of sacrifice for the plan to work.

The President has said that it will take about two weeks before the money is really on the street. This takes us right to the time the Venus, the planet of money, turns retrograde. This illustrates the re-valuing of assets. This is perfect symbolism for what is happening. This doesn’t take away my concern however that bigger issues are brewing at the main street level of society. There are deep problems in the system and they will have to disclose more details in time. It is too soon to think our problems are over.

It will be interesting to see how this all comes together through March and into April. The simple astrological fact that the workings of the planets in the current arrangement brings the bottom line to how much the resisting status quo factions try to derail the intentions of this bill. Opposition brings a butting of heads or a pull in opposite directions. We are in for a lengthy tug of war.

The deep financial crisis that all major financial institutions have been hiding in 2008 may have started when the housing bubble was gaining speed and inflation. The dramatic show in Washington with a new cast on the stage is going to be very compelling in the coming weeks. As the younger generation of the people born in the 1960’s come into power, they must be the clean-up grew for what has amounted to the greatest spending spree in the world’s history.

This generation, which Obama and Geithner belong to, was born with the qualities that will bulldoze the system and completely renovate how big business does its business. This is a groundbreaking ceremony, with Timothy Geithner cutting the ribbon.

The Saturn-Uranus opposition that is one of the main features of this time connects to the positions each held in the mid-1960’s, bringing out the revolutionary energy of those born in that time. It is an activation of a factor established in this generation.

Besides the interaction of the two planets, Pluto was with Uranus in 1964-68, during some of the most violent social demonstrations. It happens that Pluto is another important factor of current time, having just moved into the sign of Capricorn and shut down the 15-year party of greedy business practices that this crisis is exposing.

President Obama’s team has such a mixture of old and new players that the opposition struggle is right in their meeting rooms. It is interesting to listen to the media talk about not being able to tell what real change is. Uranus is the planet of change and revolution. Saturn represents the safe, well-known standards.

As Americans watch the cost of Plutocratic greed grow to astounding figures, April 15 is just around the corner. The enormous crisis is in the street, where the homeless numbers are shocking, and no one is talking about them. I foresee tax day as a potentially radical day. How are people going to buy food? Can they pay taxes too?

When the Big Bank CEO’s come back in response to limits on their PERKS, how can the unemployed families, hard hit by weather, days-into-weeks without electricity, and the Sheriff at the door with a foreclosure notice, consider meeting the April 15 deadline to file taxes?

The astrology of the day holds the potential of civil unrest, possibly exploding into a major national event. Venus, the planet of money and values, will be retrograde from March 6 to April 15. This means that the monetary system will have little to no value.

As it reaches the point of its station to turn direct, Venus contacts a fixed star named, Sheat. It is a star known for shipwrecks and great misfortune. Venus will be traveling through Aries for four months, from February 4 to June 6, except for the two weeks in mid-April when it backs into the last degree of Pisces. Venus is in a very poor condition in Aries. This factor alone suggests that there will be very little improvement in money matters, until Venus enters its own sign of Taurus, on June 7.

Tax day also has other planetary aspects that relate to civil uprising, as well as a major event relative to the US Treasury. The surprising level of information that has been rising to the surface, revealing the hidden causes of this financial event leave me to wonder what more will come out before mid-April. I do not expect the masses of Americans to be jubilant, but likely outraged. The country is on a fast train to a new period of demonstrations and demand for relief. Unfortunately, Tim Geithner may need to overpower his trainers to be true to his generation and revolutionize the financial systems of America.

In his Washington Post editorial, February 5, 2009, President Obama speaks the language of the astrology of the moment. As our country, and the world suffer the incredible crisis of values and issues illustrating the clash between the “influence industry” well represented by people like Bernard Maddof, and unfortunately, Tom Daschle, and the vanishing resources of the common people, the planets triangulate in a way that points the remedy and responsibility on to the President and his leadership.

The face of two slow outer planets, Saturn (representing the old status quo) and Uranus (representing change and revolutionary innovation) are meeting in their second of five oppositions today. (Feb. 5, 2009) The standoff between Democrats and Republicans are doing this dance in real time, arguing and resisting a bipartisan agreement on the economic recovery strategies.

In addition, Pluto (representing the elements of power and influence) that has recently moved out of the sign of exaggerated expansiveness and into the sign of responsibility, hard work, and practicality, has started the great purge of bad character in the economic world. Pluto rules volcanoes, and any energy that can be condensed to a small compact area and that can expand to infinite proportions. Plutocrats are the extremely wealthy, like Maddof and his circle. (Regular thieves go right to jail, not house arrest in penthouse luxury.) This current shakedown of financial lords is a massive, evolutionary shift in consciousness. It’s current movement in the zodiac was last played out in the events that lead to American independence from Britain.

The Seven Years War (1756 to 1776) shows the history of Pluto moving through the last of Sagittarius (expansion, Imperialism, foreign involvements), and into Capricorn. In 1762, Parliament passed the Revenue Act, which was meant to curb corruption. The public debt was similar to today, as the Industrial movement prompted extended credit. The history relative to Pluto’s movement through the same zodiacal zone it habits today is a great thing to be aware of as America faces very critical times. This is our history of taxation. Visit http://www.tax.org/Museum/1756-1776.htm for the full story and timeline.

Today, Feb. 5, the triangulation I mentioned above includes Pluto square to Venus and having their midpoint on the Sun. That is the Sun is equal distance to the other two planets. This brings the blend of energies to be expressed through the Sun. President Obama’s editorial today speaks the language as he expresses his charge to empower the nation and lawmakers to meet the crisis by leaning to the changes and innovations represented by Uranus.

The President writes:

“In recent days, there have been misguided criticisms of this plan that echo the failed theories that helped lead us into this crisis — the notion that tax cuts alone will solve all our problems; that we can meet our enormous tests with half-steps and piecemeal measures; that we can ignore fundamental challenges such as energy independence and the high cost of health care and still expect our economy and our country to thrive.

I reject these theories, and so did the American people when they went to the polls in November and voted resoundingly for change. They know that we have tried it those ways for too long. And because we have, our health-care costs still rise faster than inflation. Our dependence on foreign oil still threatens our economy and our security. Our children still study in schools that put them at a disadvantage. We’ve seen the tragic consequences when our bridges crumble and our levees fail.

Every day, our economy gets sicker — and the time for a remedy that puts Americans back to work, jump-starts our economy and invests in lasting growth is now.” [1]

The President concluded with a clear message that speaks the language of the planet of action (Mars) coming across his planets that represent is ideology (Jupiter) and thinking (Mercury):

“So we have a choice to make. We can once again let Washington’s bad habits stand in the way of progress. Or we can pull together and say that in America, our destiny isn’t written for us but by us. We can place good ideas ahead of old ideological battles, and a sense of purpose above the same narrow partisanship. We can act boldly to turn crisis into opportunity and, together, write the next great chapter in our history and meet the test of our time.” [2]

Pluto is about to spend March, April and May traveling in opposition to the Venus of the USA chart. (Sibley) This is the highly stressed time that will challenge everything to do with American values, ethics, and economic practices. It will challenge the status of the country, internationally. It will also put a great challenge on Congress to examine their own virtues behind their choices and actions in either supporting the President or working against his goals. Obama is sounding the first call to meet the challenge of radically changing times, and not get lost in holding on to the “way it has always been.”

[2] Ibid.