August 15
While this geography information may be of only casual interest to most, there's a Vedic Astrology lesson here. Hurricanes are well known for being unpredictable, but Charley was remarkable for its fast speed over twenty miles per hour (three times what is typical) and its astonishing quick turn to the east. I'm not acquainted with weather forecasting Vedic techniques, but violent Mars must play a role here. With mental Mercury confusingly retrograde and backing close to Mars, Hurricane Charley moved like a pinball in the antique game machine at Gasparilla Island's singular restaurant, The Pink Elephant. Similarly, world events and individual experiences are impelled by Mercury/Mars over-stimulated and angry yet muddled thinking. Back in the seventies, The Pink Elephant featured stuffed Tarpon on the walls, native seafood and lusciously tangy key lime drinks. Residents and visitors are likely taking solace and nourishment today at The Pink Elephant, giving the rational suggestion to take it easy during this irrational time.
August 14 I stated in the August 10 Celestial wheel that, Mercury will have retrograded back to conjoin Mars August 16 through 18. At that time, the Sun will have also transited into Leo, and the fast moving Moon will also be in Leo. Expect some fireworks in government during this period, as all the government indicators -- Leo and the Sun -- will be activated. On August 11, I spoke to the second part of this planetary intensity, You can see that Saturn is at the edge of this constellation. It is now at twenty-seven degrees, and will leave Gemini September 5. Saturn withholds its worst restrictions for the very end of its 2 1/2 year transit through each sign. So, expect economic, military and political setbacks during this interval.
out of Leo July 27 into Virgo will move the planet of fortune and wisdom away from this concentrated malefic barrage, Jupiter will be too weak at the edge of the sign to be of any compensatory help. Also, from August 27 to September 5, restrictive Saturn will be finishing its transit out of Gemini, continuing to impose its iron will in the most karmically destructive way. I also discussed this situation in the July 26 Forecast, #54 The Political Conventions. These next few weeks until September 5 promise to bring-to-a-boil challenges (in all areas of endeavor and throughout the globe) that have been simmering in the karmic pot. Because President Bush and his cronies are largely responsibility for creating this miasma, they must bear its consequences in public rejection. By September 5, the karmic carpenters will have will have finished nailing down the lid on the neoconservative's sarcophagus. Individually, we must all be affected, in one way or another. Even if our charts are otherwise auspicious, escalating gas prices alone must alert us to the pervasiveness of this difficult, albeit temporary, cosmic storm. While fear and worry may plague many, this is most essentially a time to be self-protective -- moderation and caution in all things. Although Saturn is not the only enforcer here, its significations for responsibility suggest that its deity, Lord Shiva, will hold us held accountable for impetuous or otherwise risky actions from which, under calmer skies, we could escape unscathed. But like Floridians rebuilding stronger and better after hurricane Charlie's flood waters recede, after September 5, we too can begin the task restoring our democracy and cooperating in the world to achieve peace and prosperity.
August 13 Today is Friday the thirteenth. Thanks J.C. in Sedona for this account on the origin of the myth.
August 12 Yet, when after seven years in Arizona's desert I visited Sarasota's islands last February, I saw only more beachfront building and front page stories touting escalating real estate prices. The Longboat Key home I sold in 1987 for $180,000 had a for sale sign out front with a price of $769,000! Of course, only federally subsidized flood insurance protected the property, and that was either delusion or plain stupidity. Greenbacks are no replacement for realistic land planning. Insurance payouts not prevent drowning. The saying, No tree grows to the sky came to mind when the Realtor, disingenuous Midwest retirees in tow, let me walk through the home. Amazingly, nothing much had changed in the house, except of course, for the requirement to be a millionaire with big tax refunds. I left Longboat Key in 1997, a successful escape from the inevitable monster hurricane. But in Sedona, I soon realized I had only switched from watery hurricane threat to the peril of fires in forests tinder-dry from long term drought. Like in Florida, overbuilding and shortsighted federal policies threaten property and lives here; and like Hurricane Andrew, the West has had its share of warnings in raging forest fires. The common thread for both areas is personal greed, of course, and a failure of personal responsibility. While no one wishes for a monumental natural disaster to punish the hubris Floridians and Arizonans share, this Maya must be revealed for its illusion, or better yet, the delusion, it represents. Perhaps another big Florida hurricane or massive Arizona forest fire will be necessary to jolt us from our materialistic dreaming. Perhaps too, another major terrorist attack, collapse of Iraq and/or oil shortfall will shock us into piercing the Maya of our national hubris. Yet, we have a choice. We do have free will. We can take these cues of East and West natural disasters and act to reverse course; similarly, we can heed the signals of failed national policies to perceive and act with sensible humility. The next few months are hazardous for rolling the dice on overdue hurricanes, forest fires and the consequences of our national policies. It's time to step away from the craps table and act as spiritual citizens, for there is no longer any cloudiness in the crystal ball of reality revealing our mistakes in delegating to government our personal responsibilities.
August 11 Unlike last year, the Moon is dim for this year's Perseid meteor shower, and this darkened sky will reveal many more meteors. Also note on the map below that the Moon, Venus and Saturn will be conjunct in Gemini. You can see that Saturn is at the edge of this constellation. It is now at twenty-seven degrees, and will leave Gemini September 5. Saturn withholds its worst restrictions for the very end of its 2 1/2 year transit through each sign. So, expect economic, military and political setbacks during this interval.
August 10 Here's an example, from today's Washington Post editorial page about college tuition costs entitled Tuition Sticker Shock. The lead-in is classic Mercury retrograde, LISTENING TO presidential campaign rhetoric, it sometimes seems as if the candidates are offering not merely alternate policies but alternate descriptions of reality. Rarely is this truer than when Sen. John F. Kerry and President Bush talk about the costs of college tuition. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/articles/A52967-2004Aug9.html While both George Bush and John Kerry suffer afflictions to Mercury in their charts, on balance, Bush is and will have a much tougher time in being clear and convincing. Bush will also make further blunders and gaffs, such as his latest proposal to privatize social security; if Kerry is paying attention, he'll make the counter argument that when the people put moneys intended for social security into private savings accounts, this will rob the system of the moneys needed for social security payments to the swelling ranks of elderly Americans. The Mideast and related terrorism will be similarly fraught with misguided and ill conceived strategies Mercury will have retrograded back to conjoin Mars August 16 through 18. At that time, the Sun will have also transited into Leo, and the fast moving Moon will also be in Leo. Expect some fireworks in government during this period, as all the government indicators -- Leo and the Sun -- will be activated. There are some simple Ayurvedic techniques you can use to help turn Mercury's inward focus retrograde outward and alleviate Mars' selfishness.
August 9 There remains a question as to whether Kerry was born at 7:10 AM or at 8:03 AM (sunrise) in Denver, as reported by his mother. (Note: because the mother is busy giving birth, she is the least reliable birth time source.) My primary reason for attending the rally was to again verify the more fitting 7:10 AM time as correct. 8:03 would give Kerry planetary cycles of Mercury/Mercury/Mars, and 7:10 gives Mercury/Mercury/Sun. While Mars and the Sun are similar in some ways, Mars in Kerry's chart overly stimulates and hardens the placid Moon. On the other hand, the Sun is Kerry's planet of the public, government and power, all of which I felt last evening. 7:10 AM, then, seems to fit. This is auspicious for Kerry's election prospects, and the specifics for this will be discussed in a later forecast effort. Coincidentally, yesterday morning I received the following e-mail from www.metalyifecycles.com Although I don't know who this is, it stimulated my attending the rally and is additional confirmation that the 7:10 AM time is correct.
August 8 The debate on renewing the Act is an obvious catalyst. However, something else is going on. People are powerless to do anything about government terrorist threat reports, which are escalated once again. We are frustrated in our inability to protect ourselves through personal efforts or via local government. Adding multiple investigations revealing intelligence mistakes (and failures to use intelligence information correctly) turns the frustration into distrust of the federal government. Basically, there's a perception of being cornered by Bush's fear-based patriotism.
It would be great if I were able
to report harmonious planetary dispositions, for we naturally and
inevitably weary of frustration and the growing resentment of
feeling powerless and cornered against our will. However, the
planets continue to stir up controversy, and fortunately the
November 2 election is now less than three months away. While
everyone should do their duty, each of us has own own way, just as
the Hindus say that all
paths lead to God.
As it is also true that power ultimately resides with the people,
and like the folks in Tumwater, I too felt an imperative to do what
I could to object.
Below is my August 2 Letter to
the Editor to Sedona's local paper, The Red Rock News.
While I thought afterwards that this effort was a waste of time, I happened to discuss the issue with a Sedona new-ager the next day while waiting in line to deliver a copy of my objection to the post office. He, of course, immediately agreed with me, showing me another intrusive form the postmaster required he fill out for his little business of publishing poetry. I was impressed, however, that a grizzled old Arizona cowboy standing next to us joined in, saying, Yeh, we need to keep those bastards out of our lives. Hmm.... I thought. Just this little exchange may very well convince this fellow to switch his vote to the democrats. Maybe it is true that individuals can make a difference -- one voter at a time. PS The Red Rock News hasn't yet printed my submission, which would stimulate others in our community to reconsider their positions. However, even if the media ignores me, there's one cowboy whose life I already touched without having to depend upon someone else.
August 7 Keep in mind that with Mercury's turning retrograde beginning August 10, communications will be clouded. It is useful, then, to use the next few days to complete projects and not plan to launch new endeavors.
August 6 With public opinion polls showing the candidates in a dead heat, many have a nagging worry Bush will somehow again steal the election. However, digging into news reports reveals mounting troubles with key issues: 1. his advisors 2. the economy 3. rising oil prices 4. Iraq. Below are some findings. 1. On August 2, I wrote about Bush's key advisors abandoning him. Today's Washington Post editorial, One Reform Worth Rushing, includes the revealing comment that, No government can function well when a fifth of its top positions are empty, as is estimated to be the case in the Bush administration. See, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44147-2004Aug5.html 2. Alan Greenspan has euphemistically called the slowdown in economic growth a rough patch, but the July job growth of just 32,000 is just the most recent indicator that economic recovery is slowing, as previously predicted. 3. Record high and rising oil prices are already reflected in soft stock markets, although it is too early for gas prices to inflate. Increased energy costs must harm the economy and will be vividly seen at pump prices well over $2.00 per gallon. 4. Yesterday, a New York Times reporter revealed on CNN that many Iraq cities have broken away from the central government. He concludes this return to tribal rule spells disintegration of Iraq as a nation state.. Although these setbacks certainly cheer no one, they reflect the inevitable karma of Bush's fated life. Others will certainly surface in the coming weeks. Just as the darkest hour is just before the dawn, it is important now to not allow these negatives to pollute ones consciousness and choose instead to look forward to a brighter future.
August 5 Jupiter and Saturn will be changing signs soon -- Jupiter on August 28 and Saturn on September 5. While there will be other planetary influences stimulating further changes, it is useful to note that when Jupiter moves into Virgo, it will share this sign with Ketu. As Jupiter is wealth and Ketu oil and gas, look for energy to become a focus in the presidential campaign. Higher prices and terrorist attacks on Mideast oil facilities will bring the the topics of oil and terrorism together.
August 4 The use of old terrorist attack information to justify a new attack warning is, of course, disconcerting. Even in sleepy and remote Sedona, the tension is palpable. This also raises the question of whether the threat is real or is just a replay of Bush's fear-tactic to rally the public behind him to bolster poll ratings. There is also the arising issue of Bush's paranoia, and his Vedic chart certainly supports that view. Yet, as stated in yesterday's Celestial Wheel, As distressing as all this may be, it puts the administration's anti-terrorism efforts under the microscope. With Mercury running its semi-annual retrograde beginning August 10, confounding communications through September 3, let's hope this new terrorist attack issue is resolved this week. Otherwise, we'll all be on pins and needles through the Republican convention. While transits are definitive for world events, they do not similarly guide personal Vedic charts. Transits are catalysts bringing events that are first signified by ones planetary cycles -- Dashas. Like weather forecasts for Atlantic hurricanes or Arizona monsoons, the events tend to occur but your location will determine if you get wet. Yet, everyone is impacted by major weather events, even if indirectly. I recall an odd statement my father once made that, when he was a little boy and it stormed, he believed it rained all over the world.
August 3 Although the newly captured al Qaeda surveillance information is about three years old and doesn't indicate a current specific threat, the terrorism alert system has moved from yellow to orange and will stay at this elevated level through the election. How will Cheney be able to campaign from an undisclosed location? As distressing as all this may be, it puts the administration's anti-terrorism efforts under the microscope. I can only suggest that we not be pulled again into the fear-based ruse Bush has used since 9-11 to ensnare support. We're not subjects of a Pavlovian experiment, although I sometimes feel I'm living in a Dr. Strangelove sequel . Only through challenge comes growth.
August 2 Because this is a challenging few days, when everyone will benefit by being alert, I repeat again the caution first made in the July 26 Forecast #54 The Political Conventions.
One never knows how the planetary karmas will actualize. Pulpits were involved, not with religious exhortations, but rather with the five coordinated attacks upon Christian churches in Iraq. Terrorist attacks, although certainly elevated in the Mideast, are reported to also threaten the U.S. The reason for concern about U.S. financial institutions is that Mars is coming to strength today and tomorrow (Mars Tuesday) in Leo (government) where Jupiter (wealth -- banking) is placed. Further, Mars' violence is aggravated by ongoing aspects to Leo and Jupiter from Saturn and Rahu. When these three malefic planets influence together, criminal activity is indicated. Yet, I still do not see a major U.S. terrorist attack until November.
Today and tomorrow should be eventful, one way or the other. Now in his planetary cycles of Saturn/Jupiter/Mercury, Bush will both encounter further setbacks and have great difficulty convincing the public his policies have not harmed the U.S. Alternative media reports of Bush's emotional instability are already seeping into the main stream media. Keep in mind too, that the political conventions Forecast predicted government disruption and increasing challenges for Bush in the run-up to and through the Republican Convention.
Copyright 1999-2004 Doug Riemer
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