This part of my web-site gives you an in-look at the current astrological events. I have tried to make it as readable and useful to astrologers and non-astrologers alike but this may not always be achievable. If you do come across some terms that you do not understand, you should be able to find a definition in the SCIENCE BIT. And, of course, you can always e-mail me directly with your queries and comments.

February 23rd 2001

THE JUPITER-PLUTO EFFECT

In TALKING COSMIC I discuss at length the prevailing Jupiter/Pluto opposition so I don't want to repeat myself ad nauseam here. However, much of what is happening in regard to the money markets, global events and political developments is a reflection of this powerful planetary two-some. So a brief resume of the properties of Jupiter (whose keyword is EXPANSION) and Pluto (whose keyword is TRANSFORMATION) might not go amiss.
We might also pop into the pot as far as planetary keywords go, corruption, scandal and devastation.

Basically the Jupiter-Pluto opposition wields a boom-bust theme. So, if you were a gambler back in August of last year, you had a choice of placing a bet on the economy's scaling ever more heady heights or that the bubble would burst.

Likewise, back in August you might have considered that a political scandal of ferocious proportions would erupt and that certain factions would hold organizations, individuals, even countries to ransom.

All of these scenarios have already been acted out in various parts of the globe and there is clearly more to come. Indeed, you can read about many of them in my COSMIC ARCHIVE. And while last week's Jupiter's influence alone might have generated good will and good news, because of its anchorage to Pluto, it stirred up all the sediment at the bottom of the global and political glass again.

So, back went the US and the UK to give Saddam and Iraq another seeing to.

So, OPEC announced that it may well 'tighten the spigot' on the oil supply again, sparking fears of a return to last autumn's petrol crisis.

And then we have the Clintons, cash and pardons for votes, pardons for cash and votes, outrageous nepotism and the Spy who came out of cold storage.

.

Last week I thought Jupiter's optimistic aura might well replace Saturn's depressing influence, however, what happened instead was that Jupiter inflated the gloom.

Not only did the US market gallop southwards but it became apparent that the unacceptable face of inflation per se had returned- a factor obvious in the retail figures for the last quarter.

And poor Turkey - the currency had to be devalued, much to the alarm of the rest of the world's economy watchers. Imagine: 900,000 Turkish lira to the dollar!

Time Magazine's front cover (February 26th issue) displayed a small photograph of a somewhat bewildered or bemused (depending on your persuasion) Bill Clinton above which was written: The Incredible Shrinking Ex-President. The lead article made the point that while most ex-Presidents disappear with polite haste the moment the new President enters the White House, Bill Clinton has done quite the reverse.

The scandals that peppered his presidency continue on unabated. So much so that even with Iraq and the tax debate George W Bush is lucky to make it to the front page of the New York Times.

As Time Magazine put it 'Smelly pardons, expensive gifts, deluxe offices - is this any way for a former President to behave?

Pluto and Jupiter love to expose crimes and misdemeanours and the higher the places in which corruption is to be found and the further someone of power and influene can fall the better. And since this aspect will prevail until late May, we are in for a few more months of gob-smacking exposes and scandals.

I shall take a look at Bill and Hillary's charts in my next COSMIC UPDATE but suffice to say they both reveal a talent for manipulation.

Quite the most sensational news of the week was the outing of the FBI agent, Robert Phillip Hanssen.

Pluto, as Lord of the Underworld, has a close association in astrology with crime, detection and espionage. So, it is quite fitting that an individual who may have done more than any other spy to damage US interests should be outed at this time.

I also found it deeply interesting that Hanssen's epithet was rumoured to be 'The Mortician' or 'Dr. Death'. (If I can track down his birth data in order to erect a chart, I will, because I would expect to find a dominant Pluto in his chart. I would also expect to see the Jupiter-Pluto transit triggering a key part of his horoscope at this time.

We now leave Jupiter behind and start to pick up on Pluto.

On Saturday (3rd) the moon in Gemini will oppose Pluto (6.46am GMT) thereby triggering the sun-Pluto 'square' that will be exact on the 5th (at 6.12pm GMT).

This is a tough aspect and one that will tend to bring hidden facts to the surface - and bring to the boil suppressed feelings and tensions.

I doubt that the news on economic, political and international front will be light and frothy between now and the end of week beginning 5th March. Retaliation, retribution and extreme tactics will be the flavour of the next ten days and this is a likely to be felt in our own personal lives as it is 'out there' on the world's stage.

AND THE GOOD STUFF?

As I often say, any astrological principle has a negative and positive effect so the good that can come out of the current Pluto/Jupiter scene centres on breakthroughs of the scientific and technological kind. New understandings can be born out of conflict, light can emerge from the darkness and truth and beauty can triumph over evil so we should also expect some developments along these lines during this same time period.