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Rep. Anthony Weiner – a “District 9” Hero?
Aquarian Ellen DeGeneres:
a Kindler, Gentler, American Idol Judge
Saturn Opposite Uranus- Round III
Venus Opposes Jupiter and Neptune
SHELLEY ACKERMAN
Photo: Rich Press
Note: This Thursday evening, Sep 17th @ 7 PM, I’ll be speaking at the ASC, the Astrological Society of Connecticut on the upcoming transit of Saturn in Libra, America’s 8th Saturn Return, which is also the subject of a feature-length article I’ve written for the upcoming Dec/Jan issue of The Mountain Astrologer.
Pluto Direct-on Eighth Anniversary of 9-11
How could it be eight years? Since 2001, so much has been said, written, hypothesized and broadcast about 9-11, and how the Bush/Cheney administration either willingly or via sheer incompetence missed every warning signal. My two cents: I think that ‘they’ knew something and allowed it to happen to further whatever ‘their’ agenda was.
While the whole truth and nothing but the truth may never be known, one thing is certain: Since then, our national paranoia (a/k/a the ‘Terror Alert’ level) has never dipped below what it was before our innocence was lost on that horrible day.
Anthony Weiner
To mark the anniversary, on his HBO Show “Real Time”, Bill Maher hosted a superb show which included former counter-terrorism czar Richard Clarke, comedian Kathy Griffin (we won’t go there), and democratic congressman Anthony Weiner, of the 9th District in NY, who is evolving into a force to be reckoned with. Weiner, born on Sep 4, 1964, has the Sun, Mercury, Uranus, and Pluto in Virgo and the Moon in Leo. No birth time is available but 90% of his planets in either earth or water signs.
Not to be confused with the hit sci-fi movie “District -9”, NY’s ninth congressional district includes parts of Queens (Rockaway, Rego Park, Forest Hills, and my favorite, UTOPIA, NY) and Brooklyn (Sheepshead Bay and the Flatlands), and has been represented by Weiner since 1999. Weiner was Jon Stewart’s roommate for a brief time after they finished college.
In recent months, Weiner has put his weight behind the cause of health reform and has been extremely vocal about the single-payer option. I’m impressed with the degree to which he has stuck his neck out and has been critical of President Obama’s willingness to settle for a milder version of the reform bill, one that would not guarantee coverage for everyone.
On Friday night’s show, Maher and Weiner went at it, and attacked the health insurance industry - no holds barred - citing that THIRTY PER CENT of costs go to the insurers. Weiner said in no uncertain terms that insurance companies are NOT NEEDED, they serve no purpose, and impede the process of care for everyone.
Maher backed him up big time, and in essence said that we should “Cut out the middle-man”.
Dr. Andrew Weil
The night before, Dr. Andrew Weil guested on Larry King Live and was fantastic. When asked about his position on health reform, Dr. Weil stepped up to the plate: “In the middle of the last century, medicine got mixed up with big money. The two are fundamentally different and have no business being intertwined.” Weil went on to say that “We need more GP’s (General Practitioners) and that the federal government needs to subsidize young physicians who will become GP’s. As of now, GP’s cannot earn enough to survive.”
Click here for a clip of Dr. Weil with Larry King. Dr. Weil also recommended the immunity-boosting herb astragalus and anti-viral mushrooms for the upcoming flu season.
Saturn-Uranus Opposition Round III –
Conduct Unbecoming & Cutting Costs by Eating Right
The battle for health reform raged on this week as President Obama made an impassioned speech before Congress and the American people. He was heckled by S.C. Republican Rep Joe Wilson (b. July 31, 1947) who shouted “You lie” at the President. As Bill Maher pointed out, would this white Southerner have dared to do such a thing if the president were Caucasian? Though president graciously accepted Wilson’s (coerced) apology for his disrespectful and sickening breach of parliamentary decorum, Wilson’s behavior will not be forgotten. For the record, he has his Sun in Leo tightly conjoined Saturn and Pluto, and his Moon is in Capricorn. Authority issues, anyone?
In a piece entitled “A Clear Responsibility”, The NY Times gave the president a glowing review for his address with some points worth reading and mulling over. And in another excellent NYT op-ed, Big Food vs. Big Insurance, we are reminded of how we have contributed to this massive problem with our super-sized Cancerian appetite for sugar, carbs, fats, fast food, and lots of it
And in case you still can’t get it, or can’t explain it to your “Tea Party” or “Death Panel” friends who are clueless, check out this adorable quick video (sent by my pal Monty Renov), the ABC’s of Single Payer Health Care, so easy a caveman can understand it (and a four year old)!
Ellen DeGeneres
A Kinder, Gentler, American Idol Judge
I swear, I never watch the show and have no interest in American Idol, it just rubs me the wrong way. But I was thrilled to hear that Ellen DeGeneres will join American Idol as a judge. It is not in her to be cruel and I think that this is a hopeful sign about the progress and the ‘spiritual evolution’ of the American masses. Like Oprah, Ellen is an Aquarius with Sagittarius rising. She has Saturn rising in the first house (good for comics and great for judgment), and Virgo on the midheaven. Transiting Saturn in Virgo will station at 27 degrees on her MC next Spring. Saturn to the top of one’s chart usually delivers the goods.
Toxic Waters, USA
While thousands protest the very health care reform bill that will help them for years to come, the masses are silent about the water they drink and need to survive. Check out the NY Times’ big presentation on how Big Business/Waters- Polluters are let off the hook. It’s problem everywhere in the USA and the series of articles are astounding.
Chart: Saturn Opposite Uranus
Click for larger view
The Planets This Week: Times are Eastern
Sept 10: Moon in Taurus V/C @ 3:17 am, enters Gemini @ 12:17 pm
Sept 11: Venus opposite Jupiter @ 3:54 am,
Pluto Stationary Direct @ 12:55 pm
Sept 12: Moon V/C @ 7:50 am, enters Cancer @ 4:20 pm
Sept 14: Moon V/C @ 9:57 am, enters Leo @ 9:57 pm
Sept 15: Saturn opposite Uranus @ 8:50 am,
Venus opposite Neptune @ 5:37 pm
Sept 16: Moon V/C @ 12:11 pm, enters Virgo @ 7:56 pm
*Moon v/c = ‘void of course’, Best for spiritual not earthly pursuits
Bonus: 2009 Astro Crib Sheet
Mercury begins 09 @ 0˚Aquarius07’ & ends 2009 @ 19˚Capricorn29’ Rx
Mercury Retrogrades 2009:
Jan 11-Feb 1, May 6-30, Sept 6-29, & Dec 26-Jan 15, 2010
Venus begins 2009 @ 27˚Aquarius48’ and ends 2009 @ 7˚Capricorn13’
Venus Retrograde: March 6-April 17, 2009
Mars begins 2009 @ 3˚Capricorn57’ and ends 2009 @ 18˚Leo54’ (Retro)
Mars turns retrograde on December 20th (thru March 10, 2010)
Jupiter begins 2009 @ 29˚Capricorn02’ and ends 2009 @ 26˚Aquarius15’
Jupiter enters Aquarius on January 5, 2009
Jupiter Retrograde: June 15-Oct 13, 2009
Saturn begins 2009 @ 21˚Virgo46’ Retrograde and ends 2009 @ 4˚Libra30’
Saturn Retrograde: Dec 31, 2008-May 16, 2009
Saturn enters Libra on Oct 29, 2009 (will retrograde back into Virgo in 2010)
Uranus begins 2009 @ 19˚Pisces15’ and ends @ 23˚Pisces05’
Uranus Retrograde: July 1-December 1, 2009
Neptune begins 2009 @ 22˚Aquarius27’ and ends 2009 @ 24˚Aquarius34’
Neptune Retrograde: May 28-November 4, 2009
Pluto begins 2009 @ 1˚Capricorn16’ and ends 2009 @ 3˚Capricorn17’
Pluto Retrograde: April 4-September 11, 2009
Note: This week is about the Pluto standstill, Venus’ opposition to Jupiter & Neptune, and the 3rd of five oppositions between traditional Saturn and revolutionary Uranus, Seek resolutions from balancing opposing truths. Here’s how this dramatic planetary line-plays out for your Sun-sign, and if you know your rising sign, read that one too!
ARIES: You’re in a good place to resolve several nagging work and health issues once and for all by being open to the reasons why you’ve been stuck. You may be surprised at how easy it is to get out from under whatever it is that has paralyzed you. Same is true for career; what was true yesterday is just plain over. Good Riddance, and rejoice in moving forward. Free yourself, damn it, this will be a blast!
TAURUS: Though you resist change like nobody’s business, your core belief system is about to be unearthed and morphed to serve you better. Don’t think of this ‘shift’ as a betrayal of what you have held dear, but as a healthy revision of a growth spurt based on years of experience. Many have said that God has grown (and matured) through the ages too. If you’re an atheist, your assumptions about how things work will change as you appreciate the idiosyncrasies of others. A little ‘creative visualization’ re: making your dream home a reality, brings it in.
GEMINI: The two year cycle of Saturn opposite Uranus is at the half-way mark, and it underscores the need for rebalancing your home-life and professional persona. The complacency that you’ve been able to get away with in the past has stopped working for you, and you are being forced to handle things differently. This doesn’t have to be drudgery. As a matter of fact, it’s your sense of joy and excitement about what happens when we lose control and surrender to the forces that will carry you through to the next lily pad.
CANCER: Behold as an immoveable force turns into an immoveable feast! Well, maybe not literally, but you can look forward to the joys of a partner, BFF, spouse, or adversary as they start singing a different tune, one that is music to your ears. Be patient and grateful, and resist the temptation to bring up the un-pleasantries of the recent past. You’re more likely to get what you want by letting bygones be bygones.
LEO: There is no denying that you’ve put in a tremendous amount of effort to improve your lot in life and that you’ve been served and have eaten more humble pie than you’ve ordered from the ‘menu’. Pluto retrograde in your 6th house of work and service has been difficult, but take comfort in knowing that your plight is not personal and that what you’ve had to endure will -once you‘ve fully processed the past five months, be of tremendous value to others. In contrast, Venus in your sign opposite Jupiter and Neptune (this week) opens the floodgates to let the good times roll.
VIRGO: One way or another, your attitude about partnership and being in close cooperation with an ‘other’ will change, and for the better. So whether you’ve given too much, too little, or have just not been flexible enough when needed, your “M.O.” will change in the weeks ahead, as will your relationship to your own creative process, and that’s all there is to it. Be open to a variety of new options for your creative fulfillment.
LIBRA: The news you’ve been waiting on regarding your living situation is about to come in. And whether you’re happy with the verdict or not, you will know what you must do in the weeks ahead to insure your personal and professional effectiveness this Fall. Act and ye shall receive. Some fabulous fun times are ahead but make sure they are not enjoyed at the expense of your pressing work load. Now is not the time to slack off.
SCORPIO: Your ruler, Pluto, is taking a stand in your 3rd house of communication and though silence is golden, you too will have to take a stand and go on record sooner or later. For the next two weeks (through the end of September) do some research and clarify your thoughts. Come October, the floor will be yours. A romantic or creative interest may inspire you to change the way you see yourself and behave in a group setting. Your new ‘identity’ has been a long time coming.
SAGITTARIUS: That miserable stuck energy in your house of finance is about to move forward and providing you have done your due diligence and have calculated which risks are healthy and which ones are too dangerous, your world is about to change. Congratulations and go forward with wisdom and courage. The actual ‘move’ may take some more time, but at least your mind will be made up and you now know where you’re headed.
CAPRICORN: Many people have been waiting on you since May to make up your mind and reveal where you stand so that they can plan for their future. It’s not always easy being in charge, nor is it simple to be and feel so responsible for others. But the universe never gives us more than we can handle. As you move mind, body, and soul to the next level of wisdom, be open to new ways of transporting and expressing yourself and master a technological device (cell phone, blackberry or whatever) to allow you to be more efficient. Time is always of the essence.
AQUARIUS: Though innovative and a vanguard of what’s to come LONG before anyone else has an inkling, you’ve been stuck on a financial problem that involves the sustenance of others. The struggle has been about how to balance generosity with practicality. As you zero in on a solution, know that as long as you check in with your heart first, you can’t make the wrong decision.
PISCES: For the past five months, it’s been difficult to get your ‘group’ on board with an agreement that everyone is happy about. So whether this involves a contract, work, a co-op board, or just gathering up the various factions of your life so that you can all live and work together in peace and in harmony, things are about to go forward. Take a deep breath and be patient. Mercury retrograde through September 30th just means that whatever is decided will be off to a slow start.