It feels as if the planet has been perched on a precipice for months. The precariousness of the situation continues, waiting for George W. Bush to push us over the edge. Any day, it seems, the go ahead will be given to invade Iraq, topple the Saddam regime, and occupy the country. Accounts differ as to the likely results of this action, ranging from a joyful welcome to the American liberators and the installation of democracy to the incitement of civil war and an increase of world-wide terrorism. World citizens are holding their collective breath.
The larger picture astrologically for Mr. Bush is the progression of his Midheaven to his natal Uranus (19Gemini08). This progression spans the entire year from October 2002 through October 2003. It suggests a year filled with turmoil, sudden, disruptive events, and a tendency for Bush to act in a precipitous and unilateral way. Due to the opposing Pluto station at 19 Sagittarius during the first 5 months of 2003, which essentially triggers and exacerbates this volatile progression, these characteristics have taken on a far greater intensity. Thus, we are in the midst of a 5-month period of profound crisis for Bush, with events often seeming to spiral out of control, power struggles that are manipulative and coercive, and Bush rigidly intent on an obsessive goal. The increased threat of North Korean nuclear proliferation and aggression, the unyielding and relentless push for war, as well as the huge diplomatic fiasco brought on by the administration’s bullying tactics and demands at the UN, are manifestations of this ongoing Pluto/Uranus/progressed Midheaven combination.
Into the context of this larger five-month period of crisis and global power struggles, the briefer astrological indicators further define how events are unfolding. Thus, the Saturn station in late January and February, exactly semisquare Bush’s Ascendant, brought increasing frustrations and delays for the Commander-in-Chief. The often over-looked Chiron square to Bush’s natal Moon, which has lasted from February 25 through March 12, has added a painful emotional undertone to Bush’s experiences. There have likely been some feelings of abandonment and deep upset over his loss of popularity, the lack of support from former friends such as Russia’s Vladamir Putin and Mexico’s Vicente Fox, and the less-than-warm reception he has had lately from the press. This first quarter Chiron/ Moon square was experienced earlier in Bush’s life at the time of the death of his sister and the subsequent depression of his mother. It has not been a happy time for Bush, and it will be repeated in late May and early June, as well as early December 2003.
With the temporary waning of this Chiron aspect, however, we may see things moving more in Bush’s direction after March 12. This will be increasingly true after March 18, when the Saturn transit finally begins to separate from the square to Cheney’s Moon. The question to ask at this point is what can we expect during the final two months of the Pluto station, this extraordinary period of ongoing crisis, of Bush unilateralism, and of dramatic and upsetting events.
The first thing to note is that Pluto will go retrograde on March 22, once again waxing in power as it heads towards the exact opposition to Bush’s Uranus/progressed Midheaven combination, reached on May 19. This entire period is likely to be an ongoing rollercoaster for the administration. If a war with Iraq is to take place, I would put it after the 18th, and perhaps into the period between March 21 and April 5, 2003. Here we find Uranus squaring Inaugural Jupiter, a suggestion of expansion, optimism, moving forward, and aggression. Furthermore, the US progressed Moon will reach the exact conjunction to natal Mars on April 4, giving some indication of aggressive action in the US chart at the end of March and early in April. The Uranus transit squaring Inaugural Jupiter is significantly triggered during the last week in March by transits from the Node, Mercury, and Mars. With Jupiter so well aspected in the natal Inaugural chart - trine to the Sun, Neptune, and the Midheaven – I would expect events to proceed fairly easily and smoothly for the Administration during this period.
There is, however, not a great deal to indicate a war in the Iraqi chart during March, April, and May. The one aspect that stands out is the January through May 2003 transit of Pluto, opposing the Iraqi Moon, signifcator of the Iraqi people. This suggests a period when the Iraqi people feel themselves in the midst of an intense power struggle with an overwhelming and powerful foe, a time of great fear, possible terror, and sharply intensified emotions. This could describe a war and occupation, or it could describe the ongoing fear of war and the current harsh conditions that prevail. Considerably more volatile aspects emerge during the first half of 2004, suggesting at least the possibility that Gulf War II could be put off until then.
After April 5th, difficulties begin to unfold once again for the White House. The progressed US Moon moves from its conjunction with Mars to a square to Neptune – from aggression to confusion – until May 5. In addition, transiting Uranus will be quincunx the US Midheaven during the first three weeks of April, suggesting all kinds of surprises, upsets and reversals will unfold. There is a potential for a huge crisis from April 21 through May 2, perhaps sparked by the Uranus transit (sudden and unexpected), but continuing with the Mercury station at 19 to 20 Taurus, April 21 through May 1. Mercury makes its station quincunx transiting Pluto (19 Sagittarius) and therefore will be triggering the progressed Midheaven/natal Uranus/transiting Pluto configuration in Bush’s chart. This means high drama in the White House during this time: big events, crisis, and huge powerplays. And it may be that North Korea, currently an unattended festering wound, will be the source.
There are indications in the charts of Kim Jong Il and North Korea that we will see some very bold, aggressive and scary actions between mid- April and early May 2003. The potential for dangerous brinkmanship will be very powerful from both North Korea and the US, and things may continue to be quite tense through May. Some violent skirmishes are possible, though I do not see all-out war at this point.
In the North Korean chart, the progressed South Node is now within a one-degree orb of natal Mars (4Scorpio20). Thus, any major transit can activate the potential in this aspect for aggressive action, paranoid thinking, distrust, and reckless behavior. The powerful Pluto station of January through May, sitting at 19 Sagittarius, is semisquare to the North Korean Mars/progressed South Node, intensifying these qualities. This, of course, is the very same Pluto transit that is currently so active in Bush’s chart. And, as in Bush’s chart, the coming Mercury station will act as a big trigger to events during the last ten days of April and the beginning of May.
In addition, we find that Mars in Kim Jon Il’s chart is 18Taurus52. It has been receiving a quincunx from transiting Pluto during the current station from December through May, stimulating a generally aggressive and ruthless attitude. The Mercury station of late April and early May, which falls exactly on Kim’s Mars, will further intensify his potential for disruption and aggression. We can expect bold, threatening, and bellicose behavior during this time. Interestingly, because Mercury is stationary, there may be a sense of stalemate, of things being stuck in a dark and belligerent place for the period of the station, without any real movement in either direction. Although Mercury moves off of Kim’s Mars by May 3rd, Pluto remains in quincunx through May, suggesting his attempts to intimidate and his angry irritability will continue through the month.
In summary, both Iraq and North Korea will continue to be sources of growing stress for the administration over the next two months, unless Mr. Bush finds some real courage and backs off from his war with Iraq. Mr. Bush has dug himself (and us) into a hole on both fronts, leaving very little wiggle room, but lots of potential for disaster. North Korea, in particular, may soon force this administration to deviate from its ideological and fanciful script and start to face reality.
