"When The Moon is in The 7th House"...So begins the classic song from The 1968 Tribal Love-Rock Musical Hair. Those very lyrics can well be applied today to New York's new Aquarian Mayor, and may also give a clue as to what New Yorkers can expect in the next 4 years. Mike Bloomberg, born on Feb 14, 1942 @ 3:40 PM in Brighton, Massachusetts, has a whopping 4 planets in Aquarius including the moon in the 7th house. What exactly does that mean, and will Mike's tenure as mayor officially usher in TheAge of Aquarius for New York?

First, a word about Aquarians: We love em. Think Oprah, Ted Koppel, Tom Brokaw, Bill Maher, Chris Rock, and Vanna White. Aquarian politicians? Even better: AbeLincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan. There are still some old timers walking around today saying that FDR "gave me a job".

What is it about Aquarians that makes them so popular? The sign Aquarius is friendly, high tech and unconventional. It rules freedom, love received, innovation, electricity, revolutions, the masses, and the truth. It stands for progress, altruism, and doesn't really care how rich, how beautiful, what gender, race, or what color you are. All Aquarians seem to be "one of the people". Mike's "open office" in city hall is very Aquarian in its sensibility. They focus on fairness and love to move society forward. Radio, TV, and The Internet, are all symbolic of the incoming Aquarian Age. But most Aquarians are quirky rebels with a "method to their madness".

Vanity Fair astrologer Michael Lutin adds: "Who else but a wild visionary Aquarius born in the dark of the moon would be crazy enough to take on New York at a moment like this and spend $70 million of his own money to do it? I worry about him later this winter and spring with Uranus closing in on him, but then I worry about everybody."

What does "Uranus closing in" foretell? Well, it's hard to say. The planet Uranus is unpredictable and always brings surprises and shocks; Astrologers often warn: With Uranus, expect the unexpected!

Astrologer Linda Joyce, author of TheDay You Were Born, agrees: "Mike Bloomberg is a man with many surprises. His gifts include unconventional ideas and the ability to make those who feel left out and or abandoned included in the mainstream."

If Aquarians are usually so popular and winning, then why does Mike seem off putting at times? Aquarians can also be cranky, and they need lots of "space". Mike has 8 out of 10 planets in "fixed" sign, meaning flexibility is not his forte and rolling with the punches does not come naturally. He is used to calling his own shots. His ability to yield at just the right moments, and to go with the flow is key to his survival and success.

Several of Mike's Aquarian planets are in the 8th house of secrets and shared resources.

So will Mike, ever the humanitarian, find untraceable ways of giving to needed institutions from his own coffers? I think yes. We will learn much later on, the full extent of his charitable involvements.

The 8th house also marks a need for control. Brooklyn based astrologer Darcy Woodall says that "Mike will be frustrated in his attempts to manage his image, and will have difficulties with a press corp that he cannot control." First indications of this could appear soon. There's celestial tension for him and New York the 3rd week in February, when there could be a real Star Wars-style battle going on with a very active Mars on both the City's and Mike's 'progressed charts'. He needs to preserve his health and do all he can to keep calm and ward off possible stress related illnesses, particularly at the beginning of April. Daily meditation and yoga is suggested, as well as some massage now and then to help him chill. Learning when and how to let go is key.
Three's a charm:
The 8th house is a 'mystical house', and natives with planets there often opt to leave no symbolic stone unturned. They do what they can to stack the deck in their favor. Why else would Mike have had himself sworn in three times?å (First at 11:18 AM on Dec 31, 2001, Second at 12:14 AM on Jan 1, 2002,and at 12:21 PM on Jan 1, 2002). In numerology, three is the principle upon which nature is built. In music, three notes make a chord, in Christianity, there's the trinity. "The three swearing in ceremonies could represent 3 phases of his term", says Linda Joyce.

Israeli born writer/astrologer Meira Epstein says the new Aquarian mayor's chart with Cancer Rising indicates sensitivity to the plight of homelessness of all races and nationalities, and sees him committed to solving that dilemma. "He will enjoy a grace period through the summer,but will be plagued with a plethora of issues to handle including the schools,and our legal system, and the safety of our transportation and border crossings. His personal life will be scrutinized in the public eye."

Are wedding bells in store for New York's most eligible bachelor? Bad timing is the astro-concensus. Astrologer Liane Thomas Wade, director of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association, says, "Bloomberg may be thinking of marriage on top of everything else on his mind these days, but he shouldn't do it this year because it would not be what he thinks it would be. In short, a disaster."

Astrologer and PhD Bob Cohen feels that "Mike's real love affair will be with the city, although the new mayor may seem aloof at times, and may even need to take some time off unexpectedly". I totally agree. There will be a love/hate/love relationship between Mike and NYC complete with break-ups and delicious reconciliations. So what else will Mike be facing?

Based on NYC's Solar Return chart, terrorists in drag could be a problem, and we will most likely see arrests of men in Burkas. Mike will need to draw upon his Aquarian inventiveness to handle touchy situations.

"His skill in diplomacy will be tested in August", says astrologer Stephen Fleming, "when problems are likely to erupt in the streets due to racial tensions triggered by international events. Mike will have to handle problems with our water systems in June." Fleming continues, "The mayor will be occupied with cleaning up the rivers, sewers, and waterways, and will have to heighten security to protect harbor traffic and The Statue of Liberty".

He may also draw upon his experience as a former US President. Yup, exploration into Mike's past lives reveals that he was in fact, James Knox Polk, the 11th President of the US. President Polk re-established the Independent Treasury in the 1840's, so if history repeats itself, Mayor Mike is just the guy to bring New York back from the financial doldrums. His recent cuts to city agencies may well be a temporary tough love move to accomplish same.

"Will his experience as a media mogul benefit NY? Astrologer Stephanie Azaria says that 'Mike's financial know how will serve the city well. The new mayor will definitely not let us down". Astrologer Lenore Canter agrees that Mike's efforts will begin to bear visible fruits as early as August of this year, when Jupiter helps him out some. "Jupiter, the planet of luck and expansion goes into Leo and there should be a slight improvement in the stock market. An exciting theatre project or art retrospective should help the travel business and bring tourists back to the restaurants and hotels toward the end of the year, but it will take another three years before we are as financially at ease as we'd like to be.

Lucky # 108:
Is there mystical significance in being the Apple's 108th Mayor ? The number 108, a multiple of the very lucky 18, meaning 'life' in Jewish. Hindu and Buddhist Monks have 108 beads on their Rosary, and for the Buddhists, 108 is the number of the Arhat- Perfected Saints. Lets hope so!

Shelley Ackerman is a New York based astrologer and frequent on air commentator. She heads the NY affiliate of the American Federation of Astrologers. Her website is www.KarmicRelief.com.