The Celestial Wheel Vedic Commentary World societal, economic and political forecasting since 2002   September 1-- 30 , 2006     Doug Riemer VedicPredictiveAstrology.com  vedic@esedona.net  (928) 203-4347  Back to: The Celestial Wheel Archives

September 26

New Celestial Wheel Codes

     From time to time it's necessary to issue new codes to access subscriber-only Celestial Wheel pages -- when Sitemeter shows more visits to a Commentary page than there are subscribers.  Yours are: username waxing and password moon.  Please have Windows save these codes and also write them down.  Also, if you wish to share Celestial Wheel information with others, please refer them to the Celestial Wheel Samples page of the main website, where there's always a current sample of each of a Commentary and an In-depth Celestial Wheel.

New Encrypted Forms

     To reduce fraud, Mastercard/VISA requires AVS -- Address Verification Service.  This means the credit/debit card's billing address is requested.  Accordingly, the encrypted forms on the main website --  www.VedicPredictiveAstrology.com -- for The Celestial Wheel, Personal Consultations and Business Consultations, have been updated to conform to that requirement.  For subscribers, when you renew, the link to this updated encrypted form will be included in your renewal invitation.  Similarly, should you have personal or business services offered on the website, you'll be asked to complete those revised encrypted forms as well.  While every effort is made to limit personal information, fraud protection is a necessary control mechanism.  In this regard, the Mastercard/VISA privacy policy is included as a link next to each encrypted form on the website.

The Eclipse Season Has Ended

     With the September 22 solar eclipse, this fall's eclipse season has ended, although some final eclipse effects -- both those that block and those that reveal) must actualize over the next week or so.  After being attacked last week by the leaders of Iraq, Venezuela and Pakistan, and finally by Bill Clinton, it seems G.W. Bush was hit hard.  The September 24 Celestial Wheel (below) discussed his chart, noting that he changed Dasa planets to Mercury/Mercury/Ketu on September 16, which line-up continues until November 7.  The September 24 prediction was that this would make Bush easily irritated mentality and cause him to lose his mental balance and fall into angry moods.  The attacks against him were not anticipated, though it was also stated that, Mercury Dasa for Bush can only bring loss.  This mental derangement must be the reason Bush hasn't responded to his critics -- he is likely not even capable of doing so without losing his composure.  This is also a precursor to the challenges and criticisms Bush must take, but be unable to deal with, right up to the November 7 general election date.  It's good news, unless you're a Republican.

Osama Bin Laden

     Although there's been no further news of Bin Laden's demise, it's interesting to share one aspect of that report, exactly on the solar eclipse day.  I was so intent on finding out whether the typhoid report were true, and when the information would be released, I missed the obvious.  Thank you to subscriber S.J from New Mexico, who wrote, Whether/not he has died, the public may not know for some time; however, your predictions seem right on target from the standpoint of the timing of Bin Laden media reports.

Neat Sedona Metaphysical Website

     The Celestial Wheel doesn't interact with other websites, this one is exceptional.  The Conscious Media Network is produced in Sedona and packs a true wealth of metaphysical information, professionally presented.  The homepage features dozens of videos by authors and others on metaphysical topics, many of whom reside here.  Note: you'll need to install a simple "plug in" to view the videos, but that process is safe and easy.

Oil Price Dropping Further

     The price of oil has dropped below $60 per barrel, a 1/4 decrease from the record peak of $78.40 a month ago.  See Opec considers drop in output.  This Financial Times (FT.com) article states, The oil price fall over the past month has been accompanied by investor selling in oil and other commodity markets, mainly on concerns that economic growth in the US is slowing.   That the price of oil affects producers as well is also explained in the article,

     Still, there is the almost certain, and although also certainly unprovable, manipulation of gasoline prices by the oil companies in advance of the November 7 election (See the August 20, Celestial Wheel).  It's in their interests promote a Republican victory to protect the massive tax breaks passed by the Congress.  Too, there are plenty of other Second Gilded Age policies, regulations and laws favoring big oil that the public simply doesn't know about.  This must be an additional weight in dropping oil prices.

     Doubtless, this gyrating oil price will help some nations, but roller coaster pricing must also be a destabilizing influence on the global economy.  And, since the oil price drop has been precipitous, it would not hold -- roller coasters operate by making the cars to go down and up repeatedly.  Of course, Mideast issues is a key factor here, and as suggested in previous Celestial Wheels, there is a culmination of some sort in the coming months.  See the A Deeper Karmic Current section in the September 22 Commentary (below).  Yet, this culmination could be favorable or disastrous, and the nature of the karmas affecting the countries of that region is not yet clear.  Keep in mind that Saudi Arabia is a major concern, for that country is now running is unfavorable Jupiter Dasa -- and Jupiter is wealth.

The U.S. Economy

     For the U.S., an economic slowdown is inevitable, for three major and interlocking reasons reasons.  First, as discussed in the September 5 Celestial Wheel (below), this is a Second Gilded Age effect -- the greatest transfer of wealth among economic groups in history.  As the middle class sustains our capitalist economy by sheer force purchasing dollars, its continuing economic decline (as Second Gilded Age wealth shifts to corporations and the rich) must harm the total economy. 

     Second, the hot real estate market continues to slide, as reported in yesterday's corporate owned Washington Post, Prices of Existing Homes Fell in Aug.  Although this article continues a trend of optimistic reporting, foreign media see the situation differently -- that this economic engine, which has driven the U.S. economic recovery alter 9-11, is not headed for a soft landing, but rather for a crash.  For example, a German news program on Link TV this past weekend expressed serious concern that the U.S. real estate bubbling actually rapidly bursting.  Since the middle class has been the source of home purchasers, real estate market weakness further stresses already tightly budgeted families.

     Third, home construction, materials suppliers, financing and other real estate related businesses get washed out in a real estate downturn, and these have employed the many of the millions of workers which has pumped up the economy.  If the downturn is quick, deep and ranges across the country, it will be a gathering snowball of economic loss.

     Further, as the U.S. is the world's greatest importer, a slowdown in America will harm foreign exporters, especially those in the Far East, which could precipitate a global recession that will dampen U.S. exports. 

     Thereby, falling oil prices are not just an illusion, but they won't save the real estate market and thereby cannot rescue the economy.

The U.S. Chart's Economic Prospects

     The U.S. chart confirms this economic downturn, for when all four of the major planets shift signs this fall, they will move into positions negative for prosperity.  The September 5 Celestial Wheel (below), discussed this topic, inserted below, together with the U.S. chart, for this is truly important information for subscribers to know,

     Below is more detail on these transiting planets' sign positions.

     Even though Jupiter's wealth loss is definitive, perhaps the critical sign change is worldly Rahu.  This head-of-a-dragon eclipse point shifts out of the fourth house of property, where it has inflated real estate prices for the last eighteen months, into the third house of desires.  There, it will eclipse the Moon, which is the planetary symbol for the home -- real estate.   Additionally, Rahu will aspect Saturn, which combination creates victims in the ninth house of wealth.  Interestingly, this is Leo, ruled by the Sun, and thereby an indicator of government leadership.

     Future Celestial Wheels will analyze this U.S. chart further to identify when these new house/sign positions for these four dominant planets will hit the economy and/or the nation's leadership.

{*Note: For those of you who are astrologers (Vedic or Western), the famous and brilliant Richard Houck wrote the definitive text on this topic, called Digital Astrology, and it has been an invaluable tool to me in evaluating planets in birthcharts and in transits.  Richard's most famous book is Astrology of death.  Sadly, we became friends as cancer took over his body, and Richard left this incarnation several years ago.}

September 22

Eclipses Are Revealing

     In an eclipse, the light of the Sun (and to a lesser degree, the Moon) is blocked, causing the the sky to darken.  This astronomical quality gives rise to the negative astrological meaning.  However, when the sky turns dark, it's also true that the stars shine.  Thus, eclipses not only block, but by unveiling the stars, they unveil, or reveal.

Yesterday's Solar Eclipsed Unveiled The Report Of Osama Bin Laden's Death

     Yesterday solar eclipse may have been as impactive as forecasted in the August 27 In-depth Celestial Wheel, #67 The September Eclipse Season & Osama Bin Laden.  There, a prediction was made for Osama Bin Laden's demise.  This morning, the media is abuzz with a French report from yesterday that Bin Laden recently died of typhoid.  See: the Washington Post, France Looks Into Bin Laden Death Report and Reuters stating that, France's Defense Ministry said on Saturday a secret service report saying al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had died could not be confirmed but said it would launch an inquiry into the leak of secret documents.

     That In-depth Celestial Wheel also suggested a linkage to Bin Laden's second in command, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, who has been a teacher to him.  This relates to al-Zawahiri also being Bin Laden's personal physician was unable to save him, the remoteness of the area where the alleged illness occurred would have made any medical treatment impossible.

The Bin Laden Link To G.W. Bush

     Another intriguing aspect of this report of Bin Laden's death relates to the September 14 Celestial Wheel Commentary about G.W. Bush, (below on this Commentary page),

     If the above is true, October 6 would have been the date for Bush to release this information -- his October Surprise to gain credibility for himself and his party in vanquishing the great terrorism leader, just a month before the November 7 general election.

     Another piece of this karmic puzzle is also in the September 14 Celestial Wheel Commentary, describing Bush's Mercury cycle, Already deceptive, deceived and destructive in this chart, Mercury Dasa for Bush can only bring loss.  The report of Bin Laden's death from typhoid takes the wind out of Bush's sails in two ways.  First, Bush can't claim his efforts brought Bin Laden down, and second, Bush can't use it as a carefully timed October Surprise.  Without this bombshell, the Democrat's opportunity for gaining control of Congress is assured, pushing Bush out of the game.

{Note: The In-depth eclipse forecast and the September 14 Commentary are both posted on the main website -- available to the public -- on the Celestial Wheel Samples page.  Please refer your friends and acquaintances to that web page}

A Deeper Karmic Current

     Finally, note that both Bush and Bin Laden's charts are Cancer rising.  This means that Mercury is very destructive in ruling the malefic third house of impulse and twelfth house of loss and final liberation.  Also, both men are running destructive Mercury in their planetary cycles:  for Bush, Mercury is his main cycle planet and for Bin Laden, Mercury is his subcycle.*  The suggestion here is that, with the two major protagonists in the war on terror out of action (one dead and the other sidelined), the culmination of ancient Mideast karmas described in the June 28, 2004 In-depth Forecast series,  The Timeless Mideast Bottleneck -- Ancient Karmas, may be at hand.  In this regard, the August 14 Celestial Wheel summarized that five -part forecast in stating,

     Another suggestion inevitably follows -- that because Mercury brought down Bin Laden and disempowers Bush, this planet of communications is the key to resolving the Timeless Mideast Bottleneck.  That is, only by communicating will resolution be achieved.

{*Note:  The #67 The September Eclipse Season & Osama Bin Laden  forecast erred in reciting his planetary cycles as Jupiter/Ketu.  This has been corrected.  This mistake resulted from looking at the planetary cycles for 2008.}

Another Eclipsed Public Figure

     There's yet another eclipse effect referenced in the #67 The September Eclipse Season & Osama Bin Laden relating to Bin Laden.  Bill Clinton was included in a listing of five public figures who are/were also eclipsed, although, there's not enough planetary karma in the eclipse proximity to the affected planet, together with the chart's Dasas, to indicate catastrophe.  Today, MyWay.com reports in, Clinton faults Bush for inaction on bin Laden,

     As Bill Clinton's success is founded in his tremendously communications ability, which largely rests in upon his powerfully disposed Mercury, it's quite amazing Clinton would finally confront Bush on the solar eclipse -- the very date Bush's and Bin Laden's badly afflicted Mercurys take them out of their violent game.  With Clinton's Ascendant (self) close to the eclipse point, its blocking effect would naturally upset him.  Besides, for Clinton too, the solar eclipse was both a blocking and revealing influence.  The latter, in this case, showed him that he was being unfairly accused.

Karma's Mysterious Ways

     In closing, it must be kept in mind that karma actualizes in its own mysterious ways, disallowing absolutely accurate Vedic interpretations and consequent perfect predictions.  Yet, there appears to be such a confluence of factors relating to this report of Bin Laden's death, there must be some potent karma associated with it.  For example, even if the report turns out to be false, it could, by itself, initiate a reexamination of the entire war on terror concept and stimulate a movement toward peace.

     So, let's wait and see what happens.

Digital Recording

     I've finally added the software necessary to download client audio consultations by phone and in person directly to my computer hard drive.  The audio file is then burned a CD, which is mailed to the client with his/her post consultation packet.  The planetary mantras are similarly copied and mailed.  This is a long overdue improvement, for many folks no longer even have an audio tape player.  (Thank you subscriber K.Z for technical guidance.)  This is part of a continuing technology program, which is expensive and time consuming, but also necessary to best serve the market.

September 14

The Hunt For Bin Laden

     The September 10 Washington Post posted an article with the somewhat misleading title, Bin Laden Trail 'Stone Cold."  While the article recites the U.S., has not gotten a credible lead in more than two years, it goes on to state that, But in the last three months, following a request from President Bush to "flood the zone," the CIA has sharply increased the number of intelligence officers and assets devoted to the pursuit of bin Laden.  Which is the more important and newsworthy statement?

     This new push to find Bin Laden dovetails with the Bush administration's push to promote its war on terror in advance of the midterm elections -- for that is the only area it retains some influence.  In this regard, the September 12 Washington Post's article, President Tries to Win Over a War-Weary Nation, explains that his speech on 9-11, was the culmination of two weeks of efforts (in five major speeches) to rally the nation behind his policies and presidency by summoning the memory of September 11, 2001.  That G.W. Bush focused on Bin Laden in his arguments was demonstrated by NPR reporting he used Bin Laden's name thirteen times in one speech.

{Note:  Bush's new war on terror propaganda push began exactly when transit Mars collided with transit Ketu August 29 - 31 stimulating seething anger, as per the September 5 Celestial Wheel, below.}

     These facts give some weight to the August 27 In-depth Celestial Wheel, #67 The September Eclipse Season & Osama Bin Laden, predicting Bin Laden to be personally endangered from mid September through November.  A neighbor or Al Quaedi member would compromise his location.   

     It makes sense G.W. Bush would initiate a new early summer effort to find Bin Laden, and three months later bring Bin Laden front and center in his war on terror speeches.  Keep in mind too that Rumsfeld and Cheney have joined Bush in this effort.  However, a natural question is whether Bush has new secret information about Bin Laden enabling his capture just before the elections, or is he merely giving this his best shot -- for it's his only shot? 

     The following section discusses Bush's secrets as an avenue to guesstimate whether he does indeed know where Bin Laden is hiding.

Bush's Secrets

     This destructive house also symbolizes death, destruction and hidden transgressions.  Thereby, Bush's secrets involve these areas.

     Yet another Saturnian influence is its conjunction with Mercury, the planet of communications.  Because Saturn is also focus, blocking and immovable, it gives a narrow locus to his positions and brings stubbornness, suspicion and deception, including self deception.   Adding that Saturn aspects the perceptional public Moon (Mercury and the Moon are the two planets of the mind), Bush has excellent self promotion skills to compliment his narrow positions but is doubly stubborn.  When Saturn influences both the Moon and Mercury, the mind is fixed, sometimes fixated -- which also accurately describes Bush's view on Islamic terrorists and Sadam Hussein, his friends, religious beliefs...

     These planetary karmas (both lifelong and cyclical in his Dasas and transits) confirm Bush's secretive and deceptive behavior, suggesting that indeed, the U.S. may already have targeted, or even captured, Bin Laden.  Provocatively, the gathering stellium (grouping of four or more planets) in Bush's third house of desires, suggests a victory over enemies, and on October 6 both this stellium and his planetary cycles (Dasas) match up to stimulate that karma.  Keep in mind that the September 22 solar eclipse exactly on Bin Laden's Jupiter creates karma that can actualize weeks before, or after the actual eclipse date.

     Another secret Bush holds is the worst kept in America -- he bought the neoconservative cunning rationale that terrorism, via 9-11 was used to gain control of the Mideast's oil -- in this, America's Second Gilded Age.  Doubtless, however, even that fundamental truth has faded from Bush's consciousness, replaced by a messianic zeal -- described next.

Bush's "Third Awakening"

     A topic relating well to Bush's mental qualities is explained in yet another Washington Post article, the September 13, Bush Tells Group He Sees a "Third Awakening". This is a major revelation about administration policy.  Below is an extended excerpt from this troubling, yet confirming disclosure,

{Note:  For the Vedic Astrology view on the Great Awakening, see the December 2, 2004 two part In-depth Celestial Wheel, Part I  The United States Through Its Planetary Cycles and Part II  The United States Through It's Planetary Cycles}

     This religiosity elicits from G.W. Bush having the rulers of all three spiritual houses placed in his first house of the self:  Saturn ruling the eighth of mysticism, Venus ruling the fourth of devotion and Mercury ruling the twelfth of final liberation.  (Also, Saturn is the planet of religious asceticism , and Saturn's ruling the terrible eighth house, makes this influence a cruel and destructive one.)  This is not only most unusual in a chart, but given Bush's mind, it can be understood why he is fixated upon this simplistic concept.  After all, framing the world as good and evil is not just self-deception but also a Saturnian stubborn fixation that does not allow for other societies' interpretations of good and evil, nor for an comprehension of intrinsically complex situations. 

     Here's one.  A recent program on an educational Dish TV station was a lecture by a university professor who matched up suicide bombers with nations either occupied or threatened by a foreign force.  This is one of those simple relationships that's so obvious after it's discovered.  After all, the only reason one would become a suicide bomber would be to protect ones homeland -- other challenges do not stimulate that most extreme response.  This factors into the mix a critical and fundamental fact Bush ignores, that's outside his good and evil construct -- occupying Afghanistan and Iraq stimulates suicide bombers, the most lethal and difficult to overcome quality of terrorism.  Therefore, Bush's good and evil philosophy, which engenders invasions to get rid of evil and bring good, in itself creates never-ending wars.

Bush's Mercury Cycle

     G.W. Bush entered his sixteen year Mercury Dasa May 15.  This topic was discussed several times in earlier Celestial Wheels.  Mercury is very difficult, not just because it is under Saturn's baleful influence, but also because it rules the third house of impulse and twelfth house of loss.  This makes the analytical and communicative mind prey to loss through desire.  As the twelfth is a spiritual house, that of final liberation, it brings the above discussed Third Awakening.  One can't help but wonder if Bush believes himself to be a messiah leading his country to a religious revival, even as his behavior is more akin to the so often predicted Armageddon's Anti-Christ.  There's an obvious and terrible irony here.

     Already deceptive, deceived and destructive in this chart, Mercury Dasa for Bush can only bring loss.  For example, today's Washington Post, in the article, Powell Opposes Bush Interrogation Legislation, not only reports that loyal Colin Powell has finally broken ranks with Bush.  It also states that  Bush, Cheney and Rove went to the Hill pressuring Senators and Congressmen to approve greater executive power to spy on, imprison and interrogate terrorism suspects.  Yet, out of the other side of his mouth, Bush has repeated several times in his five recent speeches, We don't torture.

     Bush's Dasa planets are Mercury/Mercury/Mercury from May 15 to September 16, at which time they change to Mercury/Mercury/Ketu until November 7.  Ketu in this chart is placed in the fifth house of creative intelligence, where it gives an easily irritated mentality, especially when criticized.  This results because Mars aspects the fifth house and Ketu.  With transit Mars conjunct transit Ketu in Bush's third house of desires, this karma is amplified.  Look for Bush to not only fail in his war mongering and power grab efforts, but to lose his mental balance and fall into angry moods during these final several weeks leading up to the November 7 election.   

{Note: The April 10 Celestial Wheel expressed further concern about Bush's mind, stating,  As Mercury is the nervous system, and Bush is a tightly wound fellow (which is why he must exercise two hours a day), I believe Bush will suffer a nervous breakdown sometime after May 15.  A stroke is an alternative physical ailment.  However, like Reagan's failing mind, Bush's mental restriction will also be hidden from the public.  When the breakdown occurs, and how long the secret can be held, are as yet unknown. }

     Of course, there's a contretemps here, for if Bin Laden is captured or killed, Bush will have the major win in his war on terror.  Yet even that signal success would be a Pyrrhic victory as Bush fails to rally Congress to increase his power and doesn't convince voters to keep Republican control of Congress.

     The run-up to November 7 thereby promises to be a fascinating time -- and an opportunity for America to reassert itself, to reject Bush's politics of fear for the politics of shared democratic values.

September 12, 2006

Not Much To Say

     Sometimes insight from the planetary dispositions simply doesn't come.  The past week has been one of those intervals.  Also, as predictions have been made for the September 22 solar eclipse, the fate of the neoconservatives, the Mideast karmic clash, the Bird Flu pandemic and the upcoming November 7 U.S. elections, this is a time to wait and see.

The Stellium

     Next, the Sun, Mars, and Venus shift into the next sign, Libra.  (Mercury moves more quickly ahead into Scorpio.)   This causes the stellium to reassemble there November 1.  It continues in Libra through the November 11.  Thus, its intensity will impact the entire pre and post November 7 elections.

     It is Mercury's retrograde (October 29 to November 17) that brings it back out of Scorpio into Libra on November 1 to create again a four planet Stellium.

     There's no expectation readers will follow each of these configurations.  The point is simply that there will be a long six week period stimulated by these planetary intensities, which just happens to coincide with the fall election season, culminating November 7. 

     Although four planet stelliums occur every year or so, the last time the fast moving planets (Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars and the Moon) gathered together with any of the slower moving planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu) was late April 2002 -- when the Iraq invasion occurred.  Then, however, the stellium grouping broke up in less than a month and did not recur.  Recall the invasion was a lightening success, but then the occupation began badly for lack of planning.

     The best life strategy is to acknowledge the planets are in too-tight a configuration to accomplish much and to take it easy on yourself.  There's also an element of the unexpected in this stellium, which suggests undue risks be avoided and self-protective caution used.

September 5, 2006

New Celestial Wheel Commentary Page

     Today begins a new monthly Commentary page.  For new subscribers, keep in mind that you can click the Archives link, above, to access previous months, as well as In-depth Celestial Wheels.  Too, this Archives link is placed conveniently in the Celestial Wheel masthead, which introduces all forecasting.

Mars/Ketu Conjunction

     The seething anger of last week's Mars/Ketu conjunction obviously did not bring a major violence, especially that of the predicted Israel strike into Iran.  The explanation here is a positive one, for (in Isael's chart) restrictive Saturn's influence upon the public Moon, in the tenth house of the public and government officials, appears to have forestalled that fear-driven violence.  Sometimes is good to be wrong. 

     Still, the September 23 Timesonline reports, Israeli plans for war with Iran and Syria.  So, Israel used the Mars/Ketu energy to refocus concern to these two countries, as the two biggest state sponsors of terrorism in the region, who pose a far greater danger to Israel’s existence.  With the shifting planetary energies at the end of October (see below, The Karmic Clash), Israel's attacking either or both Syria and Iran could be the trigger for a regional war, which has always been about Mideast oil.

     Too, if Osama Bin Laden is caught or killed because of the September 22 solar eclipse, the perception of a worldwide terrorism threat will change.

     Mars/Ketu did bring seething anger from G.W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumseld in the administration's latest push to exaggerate the terrorist threat -- this time by calling the terrorists fascists.  This largely backfired, however, as many perceive the G.W. Bush moving the U.S. toward fascism.  Recall that Bush is now running his poor sixteen year Mercury planetary cycle, when his communications fail and cause loss.

     Also, individuals did experience some trials and tribulations with Mars/Ketu.  A notable example is subscriber L.R. in Maryland, who, after having been very careful to avoid a predicted accident on a tour bus, Today, I had a close call driving and caused the other driver to follow me and give me a piece of her mind.  She was right, I was wrong, and I just avoided an accident while on my way to renew my license!  You were right!  I used caution on the 29th, 30th.

Labor Day

     Yesterday was Labor Day, and there was some media recognition that the lower and middle classes are continuing to lose ground to the rich, and even more, the super-rich..  Today's Washington Post article puts this issue into the context of the upcoming November 7 elections, 'Mortgage Moms' May Star in Midterm Vote.  These excerpts summarize the issue,

The neoconservative's rule is thereby gradually being understood as the greatest transfer of wealth among economic groups in history -- a Second Gilded age mirror to the First Gilded Age's robber barons of the 1880s.       This yesterday photo of Sedona's Subway storefront symbolizes the malaise.  The Now Hiring sign was put up two months ago.  Due to the naturally revolving door of people taking these poverty level $7.00 per hour positions, this sign will likely be a permanent fixture      The $7.00 starting rate also reveals that the gap 36% gap between the Federal $5.15 minimum wage $7.00 hourly is not enough to attract adequate staff.  Add that even doubling the minimum wage to $10.30 would still not fund life's necessities, this Now Hiring sign demonstrates that underpaying labor is a higher priority than selling product.

     Subway blatantly advertises government and business alike remain committed to undercutting the middle class and poor -- oblivious to the unfairness, ignoring the suffering, disregarding the imperative of upward mobility and a healthy middle class and, most importantly, so brazen in their greed that misses society's inevitable rebellion.

Counter-culture Response

     The Counter-culture movement, symbolized by the U.S. chart's planetary cycles (Dasas) being Moon/Ketu (March 1 to to October 1) is the karmic current driving this public unhappiness, even downright anger.  Recall in the January 31, 2006 In-depth Celestial Wheel, #65c Planetary Karmas For 2006 -- Part 3 United States Chart.

     Recall also the January 12, In-depth Celestial Wheel, #65a  Planetary Karmas For The First Half of 2006 -- Part I -- World Transit Chart.  That analysis concluded with this Summary, all of which have actualized and created a deepening crisis for everyone but the rich-- that is, the rest of us.

{Note:  Only the Bird Flue pandemic has not advanced, and this prediction was revised in the May 16, 2006 In-depth Celestial Wheel, #66 The Risk Of A Bird Flu Pandemic.}

Moving Toward The November 7 General Election

     The final campaign week will be intensely passionate, as the U.S. chart Dasas will be Moon/Venus/Venus/Mars from October 31 to November 6.  On election day, the Dasa planets will be Moon/Venus/Venus/Rahu.  Because Rahu is placed in the eighth house of calamity, it is negative for the Republicans.

     There are always many factors planetary karmas influencing the karmic weather map, and two more are worth mentioning here.  First, the August 14 Celestial Wheel included a section, The Karmic Clash, referencing both the Mideast and the U.S.,

     The Mideast, then, promises to play a role in U.S. election season politics.

     Second when these four planets change signs, they will harm the U.S. chart's wealth.  Rahu will leave the fourth house of property, taking away its intense greed, and thereby depressing the real estate market further.  Malefics Ketu and Saturn will both shift into the ninth house of wealth, bringing another economic harm.  Most definitively, wealthy Jupiter will leave the eleventh house of gains to move into the twelfth house of loss.  These sign changes occur just before the election, suggesting economic setbacks will further harm the Republicans.  Here are the transit (changing sign) dates: Jupiter October 26, Saturn October 31, Rahu and Ketu November 1, .

     Taking all of these factors together, the November 7 elections will be the downfall of the neoconservative movement.  Still, Mideast turmoil and economic concerns at home will not magically go away.  A Democratically controlled Congress can't quickly reverse years of mismanagement, especially with Bush controlling the all-important presidency.

Pluto

     Traditional Vedic Astrology does not use the outer planets, including Pluto.  Pluto having lost its planetary designation thereby doesn't impact The Celestial Wheel.