On March 18, 2003, Uranus had just gone into Pisces and the Jupiter-Neptune 'Grand Illusion' opposition was in full swing as Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code was published. Just two days after that, the USA strike on Iraq began on March 20.

Now more than 3 years later, the war rages on and those mysterious weapons of mass destruction were never found, but the search for the holy grail continues full-steam ahead with the release of the film version of the 'are you sure what you believe about Jesus is true?' best-seller The DaVinci Code. With spectacular advance publicity, "The Code" is already the most talked about film of the 2006 Summer Movie Season.

As this highly controversial paradigm challenging epic debuts on the silver screen, it makes fine astrological sense to first place this cultural phenomenon under the heading of Pluto in late Sagittarius at the Galactic Center (in its rare mutual reception to Jupiter in Scorpio - so delectably useful for delving deep into life's mysteries) bringing this past decade of religious intensity to a thrilling climax. But what adds a special blend to the mix here, is the approaching illusion-shattering Saturn-Neptune opposition, an alignment that has been at play several times in the last century (1900, 1936-37, 1971-72) always with an interesting correlation to films and plays released and players born during those years.

In October 1900, Saturn opposed Neptune at 29 Gemini-Sagittarius just as the movie age began. Born in October of that year were Alastair Sim (who played Ebeneezer Scrooge in the definitive 1951 film version of A Christmas Carol), first lady of American Theatre, Helen Hayes, and legendary producer-director Mervyn LeRoy. Gone With the Wind* author Margaret Mitchell was born on November 8, 1900 and The Wizard of Oz was published in 1900 with Saturn opposing Neptune. The 1936-37 opposition in Virgo-Pisces brought us not only the publishing of GWTW* but such masterpiece films as Modern Times, The Charge of the Light Brigade, Grand Illusion, Poor Little Rich Girl, A Star is Born, and Camille as well as the births of Robert Redford, Albert Finney, Glenda Jackson, Mary Tyler Moore, Warren Beatty, and Sir Anthony Hopkins. Interesting that many of the aforementioned actors first made their marks in the mid 60's at their Saturn returns as the transiting Uranus/Pluto conjunction hit their natal Saturn-Neptune opposition.

The Judy Garland-James Mason remake of A Star is Born was filmed during the Saturn-Neptune conjunction of 1953.

But the 1971-72 opposition in early Gemini Sagittarius is most fascinating with the Broadway debuts of Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar bringing the marriage of religion and entertainment to new heights -or lows -depending on your taste, but certainly taking them farther then they'd been before.

Leonardo DaVinci was born (April 22 1452 @ 9:40 PM- astrodatabank) with Saturn at 13 Libra, just past a conjunction to Neptune at 0 Libra (his Saturn is conjunct US Saturn at 14 Libra), and DaVinci Code author Dan Brown was born on June 22, 1964 with Jupiter in Taurus opposite Neptune in Scorpio. His Saturn opposite Uranus/Pluto in early Virgo-Pisces is part of a mutable grand cross to the Moon in Sagittarius opposite Mars in Gemini.

The film opened on May 18, 2006 with Saturn at 5 Leo in Quindecile (165 degree aspect) to Neptune in Aquarius. Astrologer and author Noel Tyl (www.noeltyl.com) known for his exceptional work with quindeciles, said, "The quindecile between Saturn and Neptune reflects the obsession with the mystique of ancient mysteries".

Clearly we are at a time when we on planet earth should question all of what we believe to be true. Astrologer Jacob Schwartz (www.asteroids.com) is optimistic about the timing of this film, its message and its potential positive impact for astrologers and our work. "The ancient truth that the world has order, and the church's disdain for astrology could encourage people to question those who trivialize symbolism and could expose the church for its 'bi-polar' attitude towards astrology." I asked Prof. Schwartz to elaborate and he said, "The church embraces and rejects astrology depending on how its used: with a vast astrological library in the Vatican, it is interested in how astrology describes and correlates to world events but rejects its use in personal counseling. The church doesn't welcome the competition."

Hmmm.

And while this Sun-Neptune-Saturn astrologer with Mercury in Scorpio never met a conspiracy theory she didn't like, the one served up in The DaVinci Code is especially good and juicy.

So much needs to be questioned now -----

Transits this week:
Moon's Current Position:

© Shelley Ackerman, 2006.
No parts of this article may be used or reprinted without written permission from the author.