The seeds have long been planted for much of the tension we can expect this fall, a time of bitter harvest indeed. Foremost on people’s minds is Iraq, undoubtedly the biggest foreign policy debacle in US history. The arbitrary deadline for the Iraqi constitution set for August 15 has been repeatedly postponed. The Kurds and Shiites have now completed a preliminary constitution to be voted on in the October 15 referendum, but the Sunnis, already desperately opposed to the growing power of the Shiites, stand in opposition to much of its contents. As violent struggles erupt between warring factions within the Iraqi nation, both within the various religious and ethnic groups and between them, the country seems to be moving inevitably towards civil war. The big danger, as events spin more and more out of control, is the possibility of Iraq’s neighbors actively entering the fray in order to determine a more promising outcome for their own strategic goals. Iran is already helping the Shiites in various covert ways. There are rumors of Syria helping the Sunni insurgents. Saudi Arabia is ruled by Sunnis who do not want an increase in Shiite power in the region or any agitation among the Shiites on their own turf. And Turkey feels threatened by the possibility of an independent Kurdistan fostering rebellion among its rather large Kurdish population. In short, a full blown civil war in Iraq could very easily morph into a regional conflagration, as many of the unheeded dissenters suggested prior to the initial invasion.
The most significant planetary aspect in the Gulf War chart at present is the ongoing transit of Pluto opposite Gulf War Saturn, stretching from December 2004 through most of November 2005, and soon to be in its most deadly phase when Pluto turns direct on September 2. The natal Pluto/Saturn opposition in that chart which straddles the meridian axis describes the bitter and explosive power struggles and intensity that have only grown worse since the beginning of the war. Not only does the transit of Pluto this fall bring that natal aspect into its fullest manifestation by moving Pluto for the final time to the exact opposition with natal Saturn, but it will be powerfully triggered by a very slow moving Mars in quincunx aspect to transiting Pluto from September 12 through October 14, suggesting even greater violence and anger than are already present.
Another indication of the dangerous instability during this same period is the Gulf War progressed Moon which will oppose natal Uranus from September 20 through October 16. Moreover, it is clear that things will not be going according to George Bush’s wishes in October, when transiting Saturn will be making its first crossing of his natal Mercury from September 30 through October 14. Clearly all of these indications are related to the Iraqi constitutional referendum on October 15 and the wild spate of violence and internecine struggle that will precede it, as well as the administration’s profound concerns about the outcome.
Although events may prove slightly calmer after the referendum on the constitution, by mid-November, the extended Mars/Saturn square will bring a great deal of stress, tension, and possibly violence to the world, including Iraq, especially from November 14 through November 18, and from December 23 through December 31, 2005. And rather amazingly, just as the Mars station at 23 Taurus triggered all things Plutonian from mid- September through mid-October due to its quincunx (150 degree) aspect to transiting Pluto, the Mars station at 8 Taurus will also trigger all things Plutonian from November 25 through December 25, due to a prolonged sesquiquadrate (135 degree) aspect between these two bodies. Thus, the rather ruthless and brutal combination of Mars and Pluto seems to set the tone for most of the autumn period as a background for all else that transpires, joined by the very difficult and painful Mars/Saturn combination in November and December.
As indicated by this very destabilizing and problematic combination of planets from mid-September through December 2005, things will be going quite poorly for the administration. Beginning roughly with the October 15 referendum, both Bush and Cheney will be beleaguered and restricted by the extended Saturn station that goes through mid-December on Bush’s Pluto and opposite Cheney’s Sun. While Saturn sits on Bush’s Pluto, and remains not very far from his Mercury and Ascendant, he will find that he is not able to manipulate and control things (Pluto) in the way to which he is accustomed. Instead, he will feel bogged down, depressed, overwhelmed, and forced to face realities which until recently he was able to avoid. The Saturn transit of Bush’s Ascendant, Mercury, and Pluto covers generally from early September 2005 through early February 2006 and will return in May and June 2006. The entire nine months will be a very difficult time for him during which he will feel frustrated and greatly burdened by insurmountable difficulties. In addition, during the Saturn station from mid-October through mid-December, Cheney will find his goals thwarted and bogged down by obstacles, delays, and difficulties. Whether these configurations indicate a failure of the Iraqi constitutional referendum or simply a continuing downward spiral in the situation is not clear. But I see nothing to indicate any celebration within the administration during the critical period.
Perhaps mirroring the growing failure of our Iraq policy or perhaps manifesting any one of a number of battles from our ongoing Culture Wars or perhaps simply indulging in more of the mud-slinging character assassinations that Republicans so excel in, the 109th US Congress (1/4/05, noon, DC) can look forward to one of its most difficult seasons beginning in early September 2005. As happened last spring, Pluto will again cross natal Mercury and then natal Venus, sparking all the intense partisan self-righteousness and certitude that underlies much of the hostility. But this time, the aggressive and irritating transiting Mars station will be quincunx the natal Pluto/Mercury conjunction in the Congress chart, as well as transiting Pluto, from mid-September through mid-October 2005, and sesquiquadrate the Congress Venus and transiting Pluto from November 23 through December 2, 2005. Moreover, the natal Mars/Uranus square of the Congress chart will be intensified by the transit of Uranus to the exact square with Mars from September 24 through November 29, 2005, with special emphasis on the station throughout November. Thus, as brutal and vicious as the Gulf War will be this fall, so also will be the incredibly hostile war of words in the halls of Congress. This seems to go far beyond the John Roberts confirmation hearings, which from his chart only look difficult when Saturn crosses his Sun from September 1 through September 9. As I have already said, this Congressional battle will be the front line for our own Cultural Civil War, probably including the rising anti-war movement along with all the other well-trod points of contention. But at least for Congress, much of the belligerence will subside by Christmas.
In summary, the dramatic interplay between a slow-moving Mars and Pluto from October through December, as well as between a slow-moving Mars and Saturn in November and December, are likely to make this a harrowing and dramatic autumn and early winter. The Pluto aspects that bring power struggle and partisan intensity will play out in the Gulf War chart and the Congress chart, and the Saturn aspects that bring frustration and difficulty will play out in the Bush and Cheney charts. Highly destructive battles and turf warfare will unfold in both Baghdad and Washington, neither boding well for the Bush agenda. Having sown the seeds of divisiveness at home and recklessly created a power vacuum in Iraq, Bush will find that it will indeed be a season of bitter harvest.
