McCain, Palin & The Moon In Capricorn
- According to John McCain, his mother's reaction when it was reported that he yelled obscenities at his POW captors
Trolling around the web this weekend, I've come across a number of blog entries that attempt to explain the astrological 'voodoo' surrounding the McCain/Palin combo. There's a lot of heady and complex insight available, but perhaps there's as much to be gained from the appreciation of one simple astrological fact. Both John McCain and Sarah Palin were born while the moon was transiting the astrological sign of Capricorn.
Now your average astrological scribe could write a lengthy essay, if not an entire book, on what that might mean, but it's a holiday weekend and my brain is happy to have its feet up right now. So let me here share the simple of it. The moon has to do with our emotional reality as primarily established from the influence of our primary caregiver (usually mom); Capricorn is about all the conscientious striving that we do to achieve status and success in the real world.
In astrological terms, Moon in Capricorn is said to be in its detriment. That's because what we consider to be easiest energy flow of the 'planet,' in this case the moon which is responsible for our deepest feelings and emotional security, is forced to operate through the least conducive medium, in this case the harsh and demanding lens of worldly appearances and ambition. The Moon in Capricorn individual, to put a very fine point on it, is the individual who cannot be emotionally fulfilled until they do something important enough in the real world to impress what often turns out be a very hands-on and authoritarian mom (there is also sometimes an abused or abandoned mother pattern here, in which the mother demands the keeping up of 'normal' outward appearances, and the child consecrates themselves to some day making things right by acting out against or supplanting the father).
Before this registers as insanely judgmental, please consider a few of history's famous Moon in Capricorns: George Washington; Abraham Lincoln; Adolph Hitler; Napoleon Bonaparte; Robert Kennedy; Arnold Schwarzenegger; Ernest Hemingway; Lucille Ball; Phil Knight; Herb Kelleher; Jeff Bezos; Larry Page; Phil Jackson; Joe Torre; Lee Harvey Oswald; and Mark David Chapman. Clearly, you can't just talk about good or bad here. But if you dig a bit into the lives of these individuals you will almost invariably find a considerable 'mom' influence, one very much directed towards laying down a set of rules about right behavior and meaningful goals, resulting in lives that manifest with the most fierce intensity about making a public mark.
I can't presume to tell you how you should feel about voting for a pair of running mates who participate in this astrological condition. You might get Washington and Lincoln; you might get Hitler and Napoleon (you might get Jackson and Torre). What you will get under either circumstance, though, are individuals whose emotional reality was likely fashioned in the mills of unfettered ambition, and who see the world as a harsh and difficult place that can only be mastered by endless, sometimes ruthless, practical striving.
In the context of the preceding, I find it no small source of amusement that Sarah Palin's sun sign is Aquarius, the same sign as John McCain's mother. Talk all you want about generational inconsistencies but I'm guessing that McCain, psychologically speaking, may actually see Palin as a mother figure. Or perhaps to be more precise, Palin may be the sort of 'mate' of which McCain's mother might approve.
It's also interesting that the Moon will be in Capricorn during most of election day. This will however be under a set of circumstances known as "void of course," suggesting that the intensity signified by this position may be on people's minds but will fail to gain traction in the voting booth. Right now, I'd be forced to conclude that the heavens favor Obama but I wouldn't risk five cents to back that assertion. I'd only wager that history has not seen its last surprise.
That's it for now. I need to go call my mom.
September 2008
Overview
One of the great general cautions in business is the admonition against reinventing the wheel. By this month, however, it has become abundantly clear that the wheel of commerce has gone more than a little flat. And what we're looking at may require more than a patch and a little sealant.
Quite frankly, the cosmos this month appears to be set out in such a way as to virtually insist that business managers be anything but complacent regarding a faith-based reliance upon things rolling right along. Now is the time when true leaders must take full responsibility for the heavy responsibilities they have in the lives of others, and they must wade through the natural group fear and resistance to establish and communicate an improved way of accomplishing community goals. Indicated at this time, it should be emphasized, is not some sort of wild eyed visionary leap into the world of tomorrow but rather a sober and pragmatic assessment of those things that overly smack of haphazardness and a fey idealism.
Needless to say, I'm not personally too happy to offer this assessment, for what is an astrologer without a fair dose of imagination and fey idealism? But there is no honest way of getting around the fact that this is a moment for responsible pragmatists whose wholesome expectations of success are grounded in their ability to work within an historical perception that unites the material lessons of the past with the material needs of the future. The key here, personal predispositions aside, is that this rational and sober approach to base building is granted a vibe of success this month, and the ability to successfully communicate to and with others over these matters is under a very fortunate planetary alignment.
Now if the preceding sounds like something that could ultimately cause unanticipated pain to a large portion of an untrained, undisciplined and self-indulgent population, let me offer the following insight...bingo! While clearly in search of strong leadership, the general population is emotional and insecure right now and they are, so astrology would indicate, keeping their deepest feelings and thoughts quite to themselves. For some it is money, and for some it is love, but a population embroiled in its own private wants is simply inclined to hand over the responsibility for running the world, although such abdication may easily fail to grasp the personal implications of what is bound to be these strong leaders' belt tightening austerity programs.
Ultimately, while the world will keep its eyes glued to the American elections this month, the real story is (and will remain for quite a while) one of resources (material and cultural). It's not easy to see how the current management mindset in this area will avoid causing considerable pain, but that is not to say that success is ultimately outside the realm of collective possibility. For most individuals the key will be to successfully sync with the reinvention of the resource wheel paradigm, as getting crushed under it seems the only other realistic, and certainly far less desirable, alternative.
History Rhymes
Yeltsin Victorious - In the summer of 1996, Boris Yeltsin became the first ever democratically elected president of Russia. While on the face of it such an election may well be considered one of the most significant paradigm-shifting political events of the late 20th Century, pundits have concluded that "democratically elected" may have well been seasoned with a fair amount of totalitarian "business as usual." Whether one cares to debate the role of politically-controlled media or military posturing or election rigging in Yeltsin's victory, the key here is that the conducting of an election doesn't automatically change the ethos of a vested centuries-old authoritarian culture. Capitalistic oligarchs may have replaced the role of Communist party members in Russia, but Yeltsin's win did little to change the reality of a power-driven autocratic central authority.
Jonestown - Nobody alive at the time will ever forget the human horror. Reverend Jim Jones was the charismatic leader of the People's Temple, a cult ostensibly based upon the principles of economic egalitarianism, civil rights and religious revivalism. In the fall of 1978, the group's leadership was exposed for practices ranging from sexual predation to intimidatory beatings, and the 1,000-member cult fled en masse to a compound in Guyana. Shortly thereafter on the heels of the murder of a U.S. congressional delegation come to investigate, 913 members of the cult, including over 200 children, perished in a coerced communal "suicide." Today, the world still wonders how any leader could cast such a deadly spell over a group of fairly ordinary citizens. Well, he promised to solve their problems, and they believed him, and he did.
Independence Day - Forget Will Smith for a second, and putt Jeff Daniels and Randy Quaid aside. Instead consider Bill Pullman as Thomas J. Whitmore the somewhat milquetoastish president who turns out to be an ex-fighter pilot and heads off to shoot down a few alien space jets himself when the action hits a crescendo. Somewhere during the movie, the mild mannered Whitmore comes to the realization that the aliens are galactic predators who consume a world's resources then move on "like locusts," and therefore should be "nuked." We lose New York, Los Angeles, Washington and Houston---among other population centers---but it's really the only decision he can make. So at the end he's feeling pretty good about himself amidst the carnage. There's a leadership parable for our times here, but it's way too obvious and painful to dwell upon.
Strange Days
September 9 - Luck does not always come on like a lightening strike. Here is a day for the tortoise rather than the hare, with a promise of those prizes that are said to come around after steady measured effort. This is not necessarily an easy or blithe day, but it is one that will grant a materially rewarding glimpse of long-range perspective and direction. Real mentors are available today.
September 14 - This day, which happens to be a Sunday, has a most significant stamp of abundance upon it. Now abundance can certainly take a lot of forms and it can energetically manifest as both inflow and outflow. But this is likely to be the sort of day that leaves just about everyone feeling broadened and enriched in some area of life. Nice.
September 16 - If there was a National Assertiveness Day, today would be a perfect fit. Certainly self-confidence has its uses, but on a day when everyone is feeling forceful and feisty the odds for conflict and collision are extremely high. Unless you like a good brawl, curb your impulses!
For more info, visit www.stevenmarkweiss.com
To contact Steve directly, smw@stevenmarkweiss.com
COSMARKETING: M&M's; Dunkin' Donuts
Cosmarketing (c) is a sophisticated business term that can be etymologically detailed as "cosmos" and "marketing" smooshed together. What follows here are some observations based upon a 'first publicity' horoscopes cast for specific product or service launches. If you are not pleased with the observations here just calmly remind yourself: "this is only astrology." Ultimately, the material in this section is for entertainment purposes only...unless it turns out to be accurate.
M&M's Puts Kyle Busch Face On Its Candy
NASCAR driver Kyle Busch is so hot this year that even M&M's would probably melt in his hands. And if he was disposed towards testing this out he probably wouldn't have far to look for a bag of the candy-shelled chocolates, as they're a sponsor of his Joe Gibbs race car right now. So cozy is the relationship that M&M's has just announced a promotion centered around a customized blend of M&M's, featuring the driver's car number, autograph, inspirational message and photo on each piece (what, no Gettysburg Address?).
Anyway, the astrological tale told here is a story of a business partnership that starts out brilliantly, with each party drafting happily on the success of the other. The timing of the customized candy launch contains a remarkably felicitous energy flow between the concepts of indulgence and racing. And horoscopes cast for Kyle Busch and last year's original announcement of the M&M's sponsorship bespeak a relationship born of easy compatibility and cooperation.
Alas, however, there may be some trouble down the track related to competitive grandiosity tantrums and a certain lack of clarity regarding the concept of "who's actually driving this relationship?" Busch is likely to feel that the M&M 's team is taking all of this way too seriously, and he may well flash a little petulance about the enterprise producing less fun (and cash?) then he thinks he deserves. Astonishingly, M&M's will want to treat this whole deal as a business effort for which they are footing the bill.
Interestingly, an escape valve is suggested via a meeting of the minds over the concept of philanthropy. There is already a small philanthropic component to this promotion, in support of the Kyle Busch Foundation. If push comes to shove, the greater opening of hearts, minds and wallets to this cause may be the best route to reconciliation.
Dunkin' Donuts Does Better-For-You
I look at the name of Dunkin' Donuts new healthier menu program, DDSMART (tm), and I can't help but think of a store that specializes in selling professional supplies to dentists. Although it's certainly not what the name is meant to convey, it feels like an uncomfortable etymological smooshing. And etymology aside, something doesn't feel right here.
Certainly one should have no objection to an enterprise that has made its bones in the doughnut and coffee game wanting to expand its gastrological and nutritional horizons. Why not knock off 25% of the fat and calories of a bagel or muffin if you can pull it off without noticeable culinary compromise? And who's to say the world won't beat a lunchtime path to the door of the first restaurant chain to offer an Eggwhite Flatbread Sandwich, with turkey sausage or vegetable filling to boot?
And another thing, you might almost think that Dunkin' Donuts consulted a good astrologer before launching this program. There's a very forceful and well-timed information flow at work here, with all the i's dotted and all the (iced) t's crossed. There's also a healthy "good fortune" complex of aspects here, so there's certainly at least a shot that this program is going to be a winner.
What no astrologer or marketing department could accomplish, however, is the obvious...and it is amply reflected in the launch horoscope. Net-net, it is going to be very hard for the average customer to reconcile their vested highly-caffeinated treat-oriented image of Dunkin' Donuts with the gospel of good-for-you food. It is not conceptually credible, and no matter how good the Dunkin' Donut product(s) may be, there is likely to be a nagging disconnect between product and place...maybe not on the lips or hips, but definitely in the back of the mind.
August 2008
Overview
As I sit down to write this I'm thinking of Phil Gramm's recent comment that America has become a nation of whiners. My guess is that if you polled astrologers as to which particular zodiac sign is the "whiniest," the clear winner would be the sign of the crab, Cancer. So as America was born on July 4th, in the sign of Cancer (also Phil Gramm's sign by the way...as well as that of George W. Bush), it seems that we are only guilty of acting out the national personality type that has been cosmically allotted to us.
This August it seems a fair bet that we will continue to whine. As a Cancer himself, Phil Gramm doubtlessly knows that the whining spigot is not easily attached to a flow of clarity and noble intent. Whining comes from that murky interior place full of our shadow monsters, from the depths of which fears of poverty, pain and failure surface unbidden and makes us want our mommies.
While there is every astrological reason to expect a continuation of our national angst, August does promise to be more than a sniffle-fest. In fact, the individual American citizen may actually appear far more resolute and in touch with brain and spirit than they have for a while. People in all areas of the culture, including those most closely attached to producing and consuming, will have a penchant for knowing who they are, correctly assessing what they think and feel, and a willingness to make that one profound move or declaration that will set all other problems to rights.
Now in America, this 'one profound move' often boils down to buying a new car, terminating a spouse, or in a presidential election year committing to a candidate. A very strong Leo theme in this month's cosmic alignment would seem to make Obama, a Leo, the people's choice and focus of attention this month, but Virgo John McCain has some pretty dismal weapons at his disposal to hammer on that angst thing and he will definitely be around. The real point I'd like to make here, though, is that no matter how much personal certainty is brought to divorce court, or to buying a new car or to picking a politician, rarely is this the end of all problems.
The real danger this month is that individuals who are entirely sure of themselves will make audacious choices that involve the idealization or demonization of people and principles that have no real substance or are being bizarrely assessed. To put it a slightly different way, when someone is very sure of themselves there's often little room left for the legitimate perception of others, and the real danger here is one of self-activated victimization and shattered dreams. People may feel oddly good about themselves this month but they are likely to do a poor job of reading others, who will appropriate their own personal freedom to make large stupid mistakes and, ultimately, experience their own angst.
On a happier note the Olympics are shaping up as must-see TV. Competition should be intense and the tube should do a stellar job of taking us there. Many unexpected and diverting performances would appear to be in store...and we could certainly use the escape. (As a somewhat relevant aside, it is very interesting to note that the Olympics are slated to begin at 8 PM local China time on 8/8/08. Guess which number is considered the luckiest in the Chinese system of numerology? And why is feng shui now considered so acceptable by American business, but astrology is most often treated like a ho? Yes, I have my own issues.)
Sell oil. Buy gold.
History Rhymes
The World According to Garp - Jonathan Irving's protagonist, T.S. Garp, summarizes the zeitgeist of his (and today's) times when he observes "life is an x-rated soap opera." Decades before the bizarre folks who populate today's so-called "reality" television shows, Irving introduced us to such characters as Roberta Muldoon, professional football's first post-career transsexual; Jenny Fields, an international feminist icon whose passing is commemorated at a violent males-prohibited funeral; and Garp himself, the writer/wrestling coach son of Jenny and a lobotomized soldier sperm donor. Key to the novel is a sense that people are rarely granted a life on their own terms, and are frequently made false icons in the value systems of others. It's worth appreciating now, as Garp observed then, that "serious" and "funny" are simply different ways of seeing the same thing.
The Caging of Tony Silva - A lifelong conservationist, a distinguished author, and an internationally acclaimed protector of endangered species, Tony Silva was sentenced to seven years in prison when the courts ruled he was actually a smuggler of rare birds, including more than a million dollars' worth of the extremely rare and beautiful hyacinth macaw. Years after his release he compared himself to Noah, claiming that he was merely trying to protect the birds from extinction. The photos of dead birds, a smuggling operations manual, and a telephone taped offering of 50 macaws for sale, all produced in evidence at his trial, told a different story. This month be careful to separate the conservationist from the con.
New York Newspaper Strike - In the late summer and through much of fall of 1978, New York City experienced a strike at its daily newspapers. Museum patronage and Sunday brunches boomed. Florists, in a world without newspaper obituaries, reported a decline in funeral-related business. People had to look at each other on subways and, as was reported in an article in Time Magazine, it became much less fun to go to the bathroom. Just some thoughts if we should ever lose the Internet for a couple of weeks...
Strange Days
August 6 - Aggressive confrontation is stamped on this day in bloody red letters. Everyone is hair-trigger anxious and nobody gets what is really going on. Avoid crowds and spur-of-the-moment thinking. Hiding out would be an excellent choice.
August 21 - Every once in a while the cosmos cuts a little slack, and being alive suddenly turns into a whole bunch of active fun. Today is likely to be one of those days. Everyone suddenly seems so darn smart and sexy and up for a good time. Very profitable power plays are also available to those determined enough to grasp the gold ring.
August 30 - Take this day very seriously and you could be off to a most worthwhile new beginning. Hard work and the settling of accounts are on tap today, but there's also a glimpse of the new road rising.
For more info, visit www.stevenmarkweiss.com.
To contact Steve directly, smw@stevenmarkweiss.com.
July 2008
Overview
If you've been with me here so far, or even if you're brand new, I hope that I have made it clear that I have deep reservations about fortune telling. Astrology is rich in both myth and cyclicality, and it very often seems to have an inexplicable knack for producing the right story at the right time. The relationship of these stories (even if they are grounded in actual historical events) and their past timing to what is specifically going to happen tomorrow is both complex and tenuous, however, and often seems to pertain far more to the 'energy' and/or subjective interpretation of events than to manifest particulars.
This caveat may be important this month as: 1) there seems to be the chance for an abnormally enormous inflow of energy into the affairs of mankind; and 2) the historical echoes of the time period (see 'History Rhymes' below) allow for manifestations ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime to...frankly...catastrophe. I hate having to include that last possibility, but I am superstitious enough to believe that saying it out loud will doubtless avert tragedy because obviously the chief concern of the universe is calling into question my talents as an astrologer. You're welcome.
Anyway, there seem to be three clear tiers of astro influence this month: the little picture; the big picture; and the bigger picture, as follows:
The little picture tells us that thought and emotion will be so closely aligned for most people this month that they are likely to be interchangeable. It will be easy (perhaps too easy) for people to talk about how they feel, and emotional/empathic messages of any sort have a great chance of resonating in the marketplace. The downside is that there is also a very strong indication of disconnect between these bonded thought-feelings and the true significance of the people & events upon which they are being brought to bear. Don't be afraid to judiciously detach from the 'needs' of others this month. And be very clear about any gut hunches you feel inclined to play.
The big picture has to do with the enormous energy previously alluded to and, despite the red light warning already attached here, this extra oomph may actually turn out to be a very fortunate influence. The symbolism of the forces involved here tells a story of passionate (ruthless) courage (aggression) dedicated to a large social objective. Whatever the negative outcome potential, there are even stronger indications that this is a period when real change can be made for the greater good of the world...so hopefully the politicians will have on their peace hats. Interestingly, it might have been an excellent month for the global frisson of the Olympics that will take place in August (but it will probably be a good month to market them).
The biggest picture may or may not be externalized in world events this month, but it is impossible not to catch the note of deep frustration that currently exists in the world generated by the conflict between what people want to be doing (for themselves and for others) and what they actually are doing. Pain may be the price of prosperity and progress, but many folks feel they are falling by the spiritual wayside, unheard and unfulfilled. These days the material universe seems only interested in sobriety, sacrifice, and enormous patience...and that's a trinity with which many of us unfortunately have a lot of trouble, with or without the chiding of disturbing external events.
History Rhymes
Mork & Mindy - Profoundly devoid of the relentless prurient content of modern sitcoms, the original manic persona of Robin Williams was brilliantly engaged by this show to explore the possibilities of a rational alien civilization investigating the virtually incomprehensible everyday mores of the inhabitants on planet Earth. Consider this show an HR instruction manual for this time frame (the first season premiered in 1978, is available on CD, and is well worth watching if you weren't there the first time around). If you don't have the time to do this, here's the lesson: most of us are thoughtful and good hearted, but our salient characteristic is that we are a hoot.
The Camp David Accords - The economy suffered during the Jimmy Carter administration, so his political pundit contemporaries tended to treat his presidency like a pile of rotting fruit. But during a remarkable 12 days in the summer of 1978 Carter became one of the greatest peacemakers in history when he hosted secret and successful negotiations between the leaders of Israel & Egypt at the Camp David presidential compound. Admittedly, this event has now been so spun by three decades of political pundits that even the facts, much less the interpretations of those facts, are in question. Not in question, though, is the simple astounding hopeful truth that an Arab nation and the Jewish state could negotiate, rather than fight, their way into the future.
Bhopal - This is way too much to get into right here with the solemnity and depth it deserves. Union Carbide. Toxic chemical leak. Estimates of 25,000 Indian citizens dead, and 100,000 more with devastating illnesses to this day. Really bad handling by the company of the human aftermath. It's hardly the main issue but the question here is, what was it like to go into work at Union Carbide the next day? Or the day after that?
Strange Days
July 9 - Today the universe is inviting you to accept a challenge. You must perform an important act but there will be a serious obstacle placed in your path. You will only succeed if you are capable of blending drive with discipline. Good luck. Don't hurt yourself.
July 18 - This is one of those days that the planets tell a rather coherent, if not entirely pleasant, story. The gist of it is that today you will likely have an opportunity to further your personal goals, or at least accomplish something that is pleasing to your ego. This will result in a desire to mix business with pleasure, and whatever comes of that is going to be strangely unsatisfying to you and will likely piss off a significant other. Cheers.
July 31 - Finally. You will shut out all the noise. You will act. It will work out.
For more info visit: www.stevenmarkweiss.com
To contact Steve: smw@stevenmarkweiss.com
Thank you, James.
This isn't the first time I've had a book published, but it is the first in the full tilt age of blogging. Net-net, there may still be a place for self-reflection, but there no longer seems to be cultural sanction for private self-reflection. So as long as you are here...
Signs of Success is about 21 days old and it's been an interesting three weeks. The big deal exposure so far has been a long feature in the New York Post by Brian Moore, and a very nice column written by Anita Bruzzese who does human resources columns for Gannett that appear in newspapers nationwide. I've been on a number of local market radio shows, mentioned in a few blogs, and flattered by the Midwest Review of Books, which called Signs of Success "an important mainstream business book."
While I have little control regarding the features positioning (so far, most are a bit apologetic for bringing up the subject of astrology), I have really enjoyed the interviews with the journalists. Chad Graham, a business writer for my hometown paper...the Arizona Republic...confessed that he had swiped a copy of the book off of a colleague's desk. After ascertaining that I had nailed the qualities of his Gemini business personality correctly, he went around reading other people their profiles.
"But you know, Steve," he said to me in totally right-on-point Gemini fashion, "I realized that the real value of this book is that you can use it to manipulate your boss."
Speaking of Gemini, the feedback that has most touched me to this point has come from an old friend who is anything but disposed towards astrological credulity. He's a career internal auditor for IBM, and when we recently payed a farewell visit to Shea Stadium, I sensed he was on the verge of outrage at my squandering talent and reputation on such a pursuit as an astrology book. A couple of days ago he called with a hint of admiration in his voice, pronouncing the book not only engaging but useful...high praise indeed.
Well, I guess that's it for right now. I haven't checked my Amazon ranking for about 45 seconds and they are probably out looking for me. Sorry about the so far deadly accuracy of the June business outlook, but astrologically there you are.
Keep those brains moving.
June 2008
Overview
I guess it's a blessing that I'm not more clear-sighted when it comes to this astrology stuff. Writing last month about "tidal waves," "oceans," and crowds being "swept away," it didn't occur to me how literally this material can sometimes manifest. So, anyway, here is a prayer for the consolation of the afflicted multitudes in Myanmar and China, and a small bit of thanks for my not having any more astrological skill than is absolutely necessary.
Alas, this month...if I had any real faith in my predictive abilities...I would have to raise the strongest cautionary flag regarding the American economy. To put it plainly, people will intensely feel (yes, more than they already have) the impact of declining personal resources at the same moment traditional loan sources will deny them access to capital. While May has been (at least of this writing) a fairly sanguine period for the financial markets, June has the specter of decline attached to it...and our old nemesis, oil inflation, looks like it's going to badly bully our sense of financial wherewithal in this period.
In the midst of this solemn scenario, the cosmos does seem to be offering at least a small gift. Minds that stay purposefully busy, even with the most mundane of paper work and communications chores, will be best temperamentally prepared to be resilient in the face of the ever-so-popular "matters beyond our control." Sincere and realistic planning undertaken in this period may well meet with success down the road...bearing in mind that "down the road" is likely to be a much better occasion for action than the present.
In the broad cultural arena, be particularly sensitive to the issues of haves vs. have-nots. Demographic changes in the American working class are pointing to a group-think that does not bode wall for golden parachute CEO's who anticipate a retirement of rocking on the veranda and reflecting upon their accomplishments. Labor is looking for a strong voice, and what today may seem to be manifesting as dispassion or passive resistance may sooner-than-you-think find expression in considerable anger and activism.
History Rhymes
Love Canal - Back in the summer of 1978 it was formally acknowledged by the federal government that this working class neighborhood in Niagara Falls, NY, had been built on a decades-old seeping toxic waste dump (eventually to become the first U.S. Superfund site). Of particular note was the fact that the neighborhood school had been built upon the nastiest patch of poisoned ground and that, horrifically, 56% of the children born in the community between 1974-1978 were afflicted with birth defects. The part of the story that somehow seems relevant here is that for the longest time there was just no interest on the part of the landlord petroleum company or the jurisdictional politicians. Even when a neighborhood activist, one valiant Lois Gibbs, started to publicly campaign for some sort of redress, she was actually rebuffed by most of the community members themselves who feared for their property values! Talk about quiet desperation.
Baseball Umpires Strike - There would eventually be far longer and far more disruptive actions, but in August 1978 the Major Leage Baseball umpires staged a one-day work stoppage, the first time ever that umpires participated in an in-season strike. Is nothing sacred?
Mars Attacks! - This movie likely answers the previous question. Densely populated with Hollywood stars such as Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Pierce Brosnan, Michael Fox, Sarah Jessica Parker, Danny DeVito, Annette Benning, Jim Brown, Rod Steiger and even a young Natalie Portman, this campy Tim Burton 'Martians vs. Earthlings' spoof was a box office disappointment. Respectful of nothing in the contemporary American zeitgeist, from Alabama trailer parks to Texas boardrooms to Las Vegas casinos to Capitol Hill, this film appeared shortly after the intensely jingoistic, and far more popular, Independence Day. The movie is actually pretty resonant and funny at times...if you are amused by cynicism, greed and cultural torpidity.
Strange Days
June 2 & 3 - With the exception of a small amount of frustration on Monday afternoon/early evening, most people will likely greet the new work month with a fair amount of personal poise, clarity and enthusiasm. This is not likely a long-term condition, though, so appreciate the moment.
June 15 to 18 - Don't be surprised if Dad's Day finds the old man a little cranky as by now the cosmic storm clouds have probably started to roll in. This period promises blockages, breakages, territorial disputes, and actions that must be undone. Bah, humbug.
June 27 to 30 - The last Friday of the working month may feel emotionally burdensome in the aggregate, but this is a day when there may be much value in subtle and quiet perceptions that point to a better way and a better day. The weekend vibe seems generally stressful, but soldiering on will allow for a sense of refreshment and renewal on Monday afternoon in the shedding of a month that will likely not be remembered too fondly.
For more information: www.stevenmarkweiss.com
To contact Steve Weiss: smw@stevenmarkweiss.com
May 2008
Overview
Tra la! It's May!
The lusty month of May!
That lovely month when ev'ryone goes
Blissfully astray.
Last month a caution was provided regarding the general untrustworthiness of communications and the aimlessness of over-thought plans. In this period, while one may expect to encounter a reasonable functionality in ordinary daily events, the collective brain is essentially being given the month off. As Guinevere suggests in the naughty Camelot tune quoted above, this May is very much likely to prove itself a month of "divine mistakes."
Now quickly, this is not entirely meant as a caution (although maybe it should be, but what the heck, tra la). In general, the planets seem to be quite fortunately aligned in this period, particularly with regard to partnerships. It's not an easy feat to balance intense emotional expression with a healthy dose of real world sobriety, but the planetary positions suggest we may just be able to pull this off in our personal spheres right now. Any close relationship entered into or refreshed with an honest heart at this time is likely to produce real psychological benefits...and maybe a few material ones as well.
Okay, that's the good news. The rest of it is not necessarily bad news. But I have to admit that the crystal ball is real, real foggy here.
What this May seems to portend is a considerably prominent event or set of circumstances that is primarily anchored in mass emotional reality. The astrological symbolism suggests such terms as "female," "mother," "family," "home," "security," "kitchen," "nurturer," and invokes a link to water, either actual (the ocean) or symbolic (oceanic consciousness). The emphasis appears to be far more on the unexpected than the tragic, but whatever it is I'm writing about here is likely to produce a tidal wave of emotion that risks sweeping away the crowd without any clear (i.e. thought out) sense of purpose or direction.
Obviously, this could be a troubling development. But remember one thing. It's May (tra la).
History Rhymes
You're The One That I Want - Close your eyes and experience it in your head. Danny Zuko (John Travolta) and Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John) are the cutest damn high school couple you've ever come across in this lifetime. And they're dancing, and singing, and they're dressed alike, and they're finally going to get it on! If you find yourself lost or searching for a deeper meaning this May, just play this song...or Franki Valli's rendition of Grease...on a loop in your head and you'll be perfectly in tune with the zeitgeist.
Jerry Maguire - I know how much you want to be cynical about this. A sports agent has an ethical dilemma that costs him his job, but the right client and the right woman bring about not only renewed riches but also spiritual enlightenment? I know this sounds lame in a column that purports to be about the business outlook...but sell this right now and you're going to make a bundle. Really, you'll have them at hello.
Jimmy Carter Visits Tobacco Country - When Jimmy Carter became president he appointed Joseph Califano as the Secretary of HEW. Califano, one may recall, was one of the greatest anti-smoking crusaders of all time, labeling smoking "public enemy number one." This was not a big hit in North Carolina, so Carter was persuaded to visit the state to mend political fences. Rhetorically, the highlight of the visit was a comment by North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture James Graham that "too much of anything will kill a person." (One insider has also commented that Carter was inadvertently assigned a staging room that had a flea infestation, so some in the crowd were primarily watching Carter during his remarks to see if he would scratch.) Keep most of your formal expectations at the Heehaw level this month and you'll be right on top of it.
((I missed it when I first wrote this outlook, but one of the key 'shadow events' of this period is former Fed chairman Alan Greenspan's "irrational exuberance" comment. Investors will remember that the global markets were badly spooked by Greenspan's late 1996 suggestion that investment assets were becoming unduly inflated. This roof-jumping concern lasted all of several trading days, after which the markets really roared into the stratosphere. And it wasn't even May.))
Strange Days
May 11 - Despite all the amazing and prescient insight you've been granted here regarding just how silly, frothy, and punctuated by craziness this month may be, today you are bound to get very serious at some point and to try to herd all the damn cats in your life at once. This is a very bad day, in an otherwise hugely tolerant month, to try to bear all the world's burdens or to attempt to force your will on the person for whom you care most.
May 17 & 18 - If you are planning to get married this month, I hope for your sake that this is the weekend. If you're not planning to get married, you should get married anyway. In all endeavors this is a wonderful time for what matters most to your heart. (To be fair, there may be a brief cranky squall early on Saturday evening...but oh the delights of making up.)
May 26 - Obviously life is never really as frivolous as I may have indicated in this particular outlook. Sometimes, though, when we are not taking ourselves so seriously, something is free in our spirits to soar to higher ground. Pay close attention to this day and you may get a glimpse of the world is...or should be...heading. Watch for that "tidal wave of emotion" here.
For more info visit: www.stevenmarkweiss.com
To contact Steve personally: smw@stevenmarkweiss.com
Astrology & The 2008 U.S. Presidential Election: '52 Deja Vu?
I despise people who go to the gutter on either the right or the left and hurl rocks at those in the center. - Dwight D. Eisenhower (1952 / Republican Presidential Candidate)
Can you imagine Barack Obama uttering the first quote? What about JohnMcCain as the deliverer of the second? Neither is a stretch, is it?
A recent business event at which gifted political pundits Tucker Carlson and James Carville squared off for some lively chat about the upcoming election brought this thought to light. It was Carville, a Hillary supporter who now puts her prospects of becoming the Democratic nominee as akin to drawing to a 16 in blackjack, who noted that an Obama - McCain duel resonates with nothing so much as the Stevenson vs. Eisenhower election of 1952. Certainly there are some mammoth differences---most significantly, at the earlier election the Democrats had controlled the presidency for two straight decades---but one gets the gist of Carville's observation in the elevated populism of the highly educated Obama and the iconoclastic centrist tendencies of former military-man McCain.
True political history fans will note a number of nifty in-fighting parallels in the respective nomination processes of Stevenson/Obama and Eisenhower/McCain, but there are certainly far more compelling cultural kinship ties between 1952 and 2008. One can see the correspondences in the entropic drag of unpopular ideology-driven wars (Korea, Iraq) and in the bullying domination of 'right-thinking' political forces (McCarthyism, The Patriot Act). And surely the bogeyman of terrorist attack that is paraded before us on a daily basis today is somewhat resonant with America's first test detonation of a hydrogen bomb, 30 more times more powerful than the Hiroshima A-bomb, in November of 1952.
Quite thrillingly (if one is an astrologer) the strongest cosmic tie between the two years is to be found in the identical placement of the nodes of the moon. Now as much as I'd like to get all astro-pedantic here, suffice it to say that the moon's nodes, which astronomically have to do with orbital inclination and intersection, are an essential calculation in any horoscope cast by a reputable astrologer. These extremely powerful points are said to deal with evolutionary direction, from the south node (where we have been, what we know, and where we are most comfortable) to the north node (where we must go, what we must learn, and where we are challenged to grow).
Right now, as in 1952, the nodes are suggesting that mankind is confronted with a choice on a path between a south node Leo foundation and a north node Aquarian destiny. Without intending this to sound judgmental, one may think of Leo as representing every human endeavor that grants preeminence to personal predilection and self-satisfaction. Aquarius, the diametric opposite of Leo, is emblematic of selfless social consideration and preeminence granted to the requirements of the collective.
Now it has rarely been a smart bet to push all of one's chips onto the self-sacrificing community-mindedness square of the humanity craps table. This is especially true at an astro-historical moment that emphasizes how familiar and comfortable (south node) it feels for humanity to be selfish. When one factors in the sheer anxiety of the times, how can anyone be blamed for worrying about numero uno?
The answer in 1952 was, of course, to go on a frenzy of production and consumption and baby making...and to elect as president a retired general who history suggests would rather golf than govern (although some historians celebrate the generally laissez-faire Eisenhower for not breaking anything, including the peace). It is now fashionable to disparage the values formed with the advent of Ike's election as selfish but, dammit, everybody was war-weary, anxious, and ready for the pay-off promised by victory in WWII - The Big One. It was about time for life to provide a nice car, and a decent payment schedule, and an interstate highway system to facilitate suburban living and personal adventure.
So where do we go this time around? Does a less promising environment for economic growth force our hands? Do we have to become socially-concerned citizens because we've run out of stuff...or maybe even the desire for stuff? Is social concern where we have to go inevitably, whether we want to go there or not?
Now a truly wise person might suggest that the issue of the nodes is not a case of either/or but, rather, one of both. May we not simultaneously be wise stewards of our personal desires and our social obligations? Is the hybrid car a sort of religious object?
Anyway, the suggestion here is that McCain may be best understood as a symbolic step back towards Leo, and that Obama may be a symbolic step towards Aquarius. But don't count out Hillary just yet. As Tucker Carlson was prepared to concede, "Hillary Clinton is the toughest person who has ever lived...she's been attacked for everything since 1978 and she's still a game fighter who expects to win."
What else would you expect from a Scorpio?
For more info visit: www.stevenmarkweiss.com
To contact Steve personally: smw@stevenmarkweiss.com
April 2008
Overview
A few important themes compete for attention this month. The one that has me stumped regarding what to write and how to express it here, though, has to do with communications. It's not just a matter of clouded minds, misunderstood content, or a month long search for the right word that is highly unlikely to come; it's the possibility of the most intentional instances of public deceit and deception.
Now first, let me declare that the general mood is likely to be a little less heavy than it was in March, and we might just chalk it up to the first real signs of Spring and a possible temporary upturn in the fortunes and public dispensations of our nation's financial institutions (although the housing situation is probably still going to be a major pain). Sometimes though, on the back of a technological breakthrough or for really no good reason at all, the culture embraces emotional tranquility and the notion that all worldly problems can ultimately be solved by a humanity that has the evolutionary 'right stuff.' Whatever the reason, the public is generally likely to be inclined towards optimism in this period, even if we are planting hopes in sands that are notoriously shifty (particularly in California, if you catch my drift).
Unfortunately, while optimism has obvious value to the marketplace this is likely to be countered by an attendant laissez-fairest vulnerability towards overlooking bad, or at least highly suspect or unscrupulously manipulated, information. Poison may be lurking in our political machinations and our planetary resources, and we can almost apprehend this in the right light but, hey, it's the start of baseball season and ain't a beer and a hot dog grand? Just keep in mind that when those oh-so-irritating conspiracy theorists try to grab your attention, that "it ain't paranoia if it's true."
Of course, the enabler of all of the above and our most significantly unresolved cultural issue remains leadership or, more appropriately, an absence thereof. This month promises an even more remote (although not necessarily less manipulative) performance from a lame duck administration and a much more acid tone to the presidential campaign. The country may be capable of seeing the glass as half-full right now, but lurking in the collective zeitgeist is an unrequited thirst for strong, straight, capable leadership and a lot less politics as usual.
Good luck with that.
History Rhymes
Diana Nyad & Stella Taylor - Last month Jessica Dubroff was referenced. A seven year-old pilot who died during an attempt to make a trans-continental flight, Jessica was clearly over matched by time, fate and the elements. Nyad and Taylor, on the other hand, were two accomplished adult long-distance swimmers who, in the same week, attempted respective record setting swims: Nyad from Cuba to Key West; Taylor from the Bahamas to Miami. After considerable exposure to rough waters, uncooperative currents and poisonous jellyfish, fatigue claimed the intentions of both women mid-swim. The difference between this month and last is that Taylor summarized her experience: "it was a great time." Let's hear it for getting up and walking away.
Saudi Arabian Pilots + TWA 800 - A number of American pilots who were in the sky that July of 1996 night claimed to have seen what looked suspiciously like missile 'signatures' at the time of the TWA 800 'crash' off the coast of New York. The government explanation came down to the probability that these pilots were witnessing missile tests taking place some 2,000 miles away down the coast towards Florida, and that was that. Well it was 'that' until the FBI decided to interview a crew of commercial airline pilots from Saudi Arabia who testified seeing streaks of light heading towards the doomed airliner and confirmation of these on radar. In the course of the three days that this story became the lead on national news during December 1996: the Saudi sightings publicly morphed into a vague account of "strange green lights;" the National Transportation Safety Board (to the outrage of the FBI) finalized its conclusion that the crash was structural in nature; and medals were quite blatantly awarded to individuals who participated in the recovery operations after the 'crash.' So go back to bed everyone, everything's alright.
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America - Are we all sex-crazed and television-distracted adolescents who wouldn't recognize a terrorist plot if we were ourselves transporting the 'package?' Well, expect to have some conversations like this during April:
Little Old Lady: Hello there. Are you two heading for Las Vegas?
Beavis: Yeah. We're gonna score!
Little Old Lady: Oh, I hope to score big there myself. I'm mostly gonna be doing the slots.
Beavis: Yeah use... I'm hoping to do some sluts too! Do they have lots of sluts in Las Vegas?
Little Old Lady: They have so many slots you won't know where to begin.
Beavis: WOAH! Hey Butt-Head, this chick is pretty cool. She says there's gonna be tons of sluts in Las Vegas.
Butt-head: Cool!
Little Old Lady: It's so nice to meet young men who are so well-mannered.
Beavis: Yeah! hehuhe I'm gonna have money and a big screen TV and there's gonna be SLUTS everywhere! It's gonna rule!
Little Old Lady: Aww, that's nice.
(source: IMDB website)
Business insight: dumb sells this month.
Strange Days
April 3 - You don't know what you are talking about and I hate your guts. Yeah, it might be that sort of a day. People will be very prone towards forcing a point of view, and others will be hair-trigger quick to respond angrily. Recognize the fact that the news (quite possibly the financial news) is painful today, and really try to avoid any ego obsession that may feel like you're salt in the psychic wounds of others.
April 15 - This is the day that might best epitomize the month. Tax day notwithstanding, there's a lovely vibe in the air that will make most people feel both good-looking and lucky. It's an easy day to feel part of the crowd and to get one's ideas across in collegial conversation. The catch is that it's still going to be very hard to successfully connect actions with desired results. People may try whistling past their predicaments today, but there's no denying stress in the structure.
April 28 - Sometimes life hands us a day when we don't have a clue as to what is really going on, we operate on faulty information, and things tend to work out anyway. This could be that day. And on a Monday!
For more info visit: www.stevenmarkweiss.com
To contact Steve personally: smw@stevenmarkweiss.com
SIGNS OFSUCCESS available for pre-sale!
SIGNS OF SUCCESS available for pre-order on Amazon!
To link to Amazon click here.
To read pre-publication reviews for SIGNS OF SUCCESS, click here.
March 2008
BUSINESS OUTLOOK: MARCH 2008
Overview
Nobody likes to read a gloomy forecast, and I assure you they're not much fun to write. If you predict something wonderful and turn out to be wrong the critics will at least grant that your heart was in the right place. Detail a downer, however, and predictive failure makes you a scorn-worthy Chicken Little.
Having thus clucked a qualification, let it now be said that March looks murky at best and downright depressing at worst. The historical echo that seems most appropriate is August of 1978, a period that was entirely emblematic of the Carter era economy. A rapidly depreciating dollar, increasing unemployment, huge increases in lending rates (the very reason the Fed is so loathe to go in that direction today), general commodities inflation and an economy held hostage by oil all cast their dark shadows here.
But wait, there's more!
The specific astrological factors influencing March 2008 combine to tell a cautionary tale regarding the application of too much pressure on the pedal as one comes to a partially washed out bridge. While there is complexity here that can't easily be captured in a few words the signs point to a culture that has become hell bent on making things happen, even at a moment when nobody's vision regarding outcomes is particularly clear. This portends a period when individual entities will set priorities that are intended to certify their own worth, but will be both self-deceptive and outwardly deceiving...and perhaps even dangerous and destructive...regarding what they are likely to accomplish over the long haul.
In business, then, this is a time to keep two important thoughts in mind. First, The people who are coming to you with proposals at this time are seeking material self-validation but are probably not at all sure of what lies ahead or what they are building towards...and they are more than capable of exploiting any kindred vulnerability they see in you. The second, if you can manage it at all, is to give all the wiggle room you can to your most sacred policy and your most valued plan...it is far safer now to flow with the river for a time than to drive the bus or be the bridge.
History Rhymes
Jessica Dubroff - The story, you may remember, had a horrible conclusion. Jessica was a telegenic seven year-old California pilot attempting to be the youngest person ever to successfully undertake a trans-continental flight. Taking off from a Wyoming airport in foul weather conditions...apparently allowed to do so because of a tight itinerary related to overly ambitious media commitments...her plane crashed killing her, her father, and her flight instructor. With apologies to Jessica's spirit and condolences to those who loved and admired her, this is a month to remember that we are all sometimes seven year-olds ill-advisedly trying to take off in a hail storm.
MC Hammer Files For Bankruptcy - For a while the popular baggy-pants purveyor of so-called "pop rap" couldn't be touched for glamour or influence. Now Hammer is best remembered for blowing his considerable wad on a lavish lifestyle. The "stuff" came to define him, and eventually it was all gone. Interestingly, only the day before Hammer's filing another even more influential and dapper figure in American culture, the famed mobster John Gotti, was found guilty of murder, leading to a sentence of life imprisonment without chance of parole. The implication? It's a really bad season for grabbing the world by the unmentionables.
MST3000: The Movie - MST3K fans...and you know who you are...always remember that your infatuation with all things techie may lead to nothing more than life as a forgotten janitor on a mothballed space station populated only by yourself, terrible old movies and some robots made from spare parts. Shouldn't you have some interests that don't require being so plugged in and parked away? Shouldn't you occasionally laugh at yourself?
Strange Days
March 6 & 7 - This might be a good time if you happen to be a Spartan warrior, are being invaded by Persians, and have no fear of the odds or the consequences. For most of us, though, this period invokes some really intense confrontations that it might be way more comfortable to live without. The irony here is that there will always be (figuratively) Spartan warriors who will see the upside of confrontation...but in this particular time frame they are quite likely to mistake spoilage for spoils.
March 17 - Even a down month needs an up day, and this is likely to be it. It's perhaps ironic that it is St. Patrick's Day because the promise here is that clear-headedness may yield not only a truly brilliant idea but a very practicable plan for putting it into play. Or you could just go watch the Chicago River turn green.
March 27 - This is the day that may best capture the achy quality of this month. What you are likely to experience is a personal disconnect between expectations and results. Not to get all psychological here, but self-examination may prove that the problem is that you were never comfortable with the expectations in the first place, so the results---even if 'positive'---are no particular source of satisfaction.
For more info visit: www.stevenmarkweiss.com
To contact Steve personally: smw@stevenmarkweiss.com
Giuliani, Edwards Quit: Air Sucked Out of Campaign
GIULIANI, EDWARDS QUIT: Air Sucked Out of Campaign
It is hard to resist an astrological comment on the day that both Gemini candidates for the U.S. presidency drop out of the race. As the only "air sign" candidates in the campaign, their departure is noteworthy as a general indicator of the mood of the electorate. Distilled to its essence, voters seem to be affirming the message that "talk is cheap."
The air signs in astrology---Gemini, Libra & Aquarius---are said to be consecrated to the activities of the mind. While they can become distracted or overly abstract, their prime metier is the social exchange of ideas and they most often evince a talented facility for communication. For a politician born under the influence of an air sign, victory is attached to word-crafting that thoughtfully and inspiringly captures the collective requirements of the broad cultural moment...think Lincoln, FDR, Reagan, and JFK...and compels the electorate to think it's all going to work out fine.
As I've taken some pains to argue elsewhere, this week's movement of Pluto into the sign of Capricorn, a generational and cultural marker of significant import, is turning the zeitgeist towards an earthy preoccupation with materials and methods, and away from airy ideas and philosophies. Not only is this a difficult overarching enviornment for a Gemini politician, but other astronomical events were not going to make it easy for Giuliani or Edwards right now. For one thing, the planet Mercury (the planet of communication and the ruling planet of Gemini) is currently retrograde (moving 'backwards' in the sky from an earth perspective); for a Gemini a time when past seems more appropriate for contemplation than future. Also Mars, the planet of energy, has been retrograding in the sign of Gemini since the 1st of this year, creating a kind of blocked activity flow for most of the sign's natives. (Perhaps ironically, this is the very morning when Mars 'turns around' and starts moving in its usual direction, which is likely to have two effects on the departing candidates: 1) they are really going to feel like they can get on with their lives; and 2) the sudden energy surge may create a little early-withdrawl remorse.)
The candidate who might be most well advised to study on all this is Barack Obama, especially now that he has taken up with the Kennedy clan (John F. Kennedy being the classic example of gifted Gemini leadership). While Obama is clearly a spellbinder with exceptional intent, it is the continued supposition here that hard-edged reality will trump fancy rhetoric in this year's presidential election. Net-net the air has been let out of the room, and it seems more than ever a moment for getting down to earth.
For more info visit: www.stevenmarkweiss.com
To contact Steve privately: smw@stevenmarkweiss.com
The Presidential Candidates: A Cosmic Consideration
THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES: A Cosmic Consideration
When it comes to pundits and predictors, election seasons are like sugar to an ant colony. Since the dawn of politics there has always been an avid and edgy fondness for hearing out the soothsayers, and no shortage of high places from which to dispatch them when their predictions have soured. Indeed, one certainly hopes that in Soothsayer University there are cautionary studies constantly reminding that a swarming interpretation of tealeaves or tracking polls is undertaken at one's own peril.
The preceding is reasonably cited, as it shall now be revealed that what follows is an astrological take on the upcoming presidential election. Assuredly a smarter fortuneteller would wait until February's second week to envision a winner, as by February 6, 2008, more than 50% of the delegates to both the Republican and Democratic nominating conventions will have been selected. Even an astrologer should be smart enough to hedge that bet.
Now so as not to unduly build up suspense, let it immediately be stated that there will be neither prediction nor handicapping of an ultimate winner in this article. There are signs and suspicions, of course, but only a charlatan or a fool would get all certain about such a thing. And, frankly, allowance must be made for a real fear of heights.
What shall be undertaken here, rather, is a consideration of the candidates that is chiefly based upon their astrological sun signs with a few other planetary spices thrown in to flavor the stew. The intent here is not to answer who will win (a sucker's game), but rather to employ the aspect of astrology that garners its appeal from an imitation of psychological profiling. The chief issue here is with each of the chief candidates, in terms of their leadership upon election, what are you likely to get?
Of course, feel free to make a copy of this article and carry it into the polling booth.
Generational Considerations: Pluto Still Has A Vote
Most people's interest in astrology, if they have one at all, stops with a consideration of sun signs. Indeed, most of this article will be directed towards such a consideration. But it is worth taking just a moment to point out that there are a lot of other factors that figure into a well-read horoscope.
Key here is an understanding of Pluto (yes, despite all you have heard, it is still classified as a planet in astronomy, albeit a small one) as a generational values signifier. Because of its long orbital period around the Sun (248 years) Pluto passes relatively slowly through the signs of the zodiac, in the course of its eccentric orbit spending anywhere from twelve to 20-plus years in a single sign. So as not to make this an unwieldy discourse on either astrology or generational demographics, suffice it to say that Pluto's passage from sign to sign squares up quite neatly, for the most part, with our popular understanding of generations: Pluto was in the sign of Cancer during the birth period of the Greatest Generation; in Leo during the births of the Baby Boomers; in Virgo during the advent of Generation X; in Libra during the natal period of Generation Y; and in Scorpio at the births of the Millennials.
Now it is certainly possible, without the use of astrology, to explore an argument regarding the influence that generational values might have on the appeal of a specific presidential candidate. What Pluto adds, however, is the equivalent of a particularly potent hot sauce. Identified iconologically with the development of atomic power, Pluto is representative of a consuming and transformative passion that a generation brings to its own values and, by implication, against the values of other generations (usually the ones immediately before and after) that are not well aligned with one's own.
Thus it becomes useful, at least from an astrological perspective, to identify two factors regarding Pluto for each of the candidates. The first of these is where Pluto appears in the birth horoscope of each candidate, a factor that will indicate an over-arching generational orientation expressing how an individual is likely to conceptually collectivize society. The second factor is how each candidate's Pluto relates to where Pluto is in the sky right now, an indicator of how one's generational orientation may or may not blend with the current broad cultural zeitgeist.
The leading candidates with Pluto in Cancer are: John McCain and Ron Paul.
Pluto in Cancer generations have a strong tribal consciousness and a severely inclusive/exclusive sense of those who belong and those who do not. The keys to their value system are a set of culture-enforcing rules and an active, often militaristic, defense of credo. Their ideology is bound up in community security, chiefly reflected in the development and protection of a stockpile of assets.
The leading candidates with Pluto in Leo are: Michael Bloomberg, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney.
Pluto in Leo generations are well-known for their collective sense of personal entitlement, but they are also marked by tremendous willpower and a shared proclivity towards lighting the candle rather than cursing the darkness. There is a collective accommodation to the twists and turns of life's soap opera, with boredom usually being a far greater calamity than experiencing a crisis. Their ideology is bound up in a pursuit of things, both worthy and unworthy, that make them feel good.
The leading candidate with Pluto in Virgo is Barack Obama.
Pluto in Virgo generations tend to be practical and realistic about life's challenges, which finds them collectively ensconced in a worldview that is concurrently fact-based, service-oriented and cynical. There is definite mistrust of big ideas and big personalities in a generation that finds pragmatic solutions to small problems infinitely more valuable than grand hopes about large ones. Their generational ideology is built around factors of "how" rather than "why."
(Note: If it somehow seems that Barack Obama is more aptly described by the Leo description than the Virgo one, then, congratulations, you are starting to learn some astrology. Obama is a sun sign Leo, more on this a little further on.)
In general, one can readily see how a Pluto in Virgo voter (current ages 37 to 50) might more readily be more temperamentally apt to support a Pluto in Cancer (current ages 72 to 86) candidate than one with Pluto in Leo (current ages 51 to 71). What needs to be stressed here, however, is that these broad generational analyses are deeply impacted by the sun sign qualities of the candidates (it is ironic that Obama, for example, is likely to appeal on a personal level to the Pluto in Leo generation more than his own, as well as to the Pluto in Libra generation whose search for optimistic and inclusive solutions is likely to resonate with Obama's charismatic message of change). What is most worth noting, however, is Pluto's placement in the sky right now.
Although they have no candidates in the race, there are three more Pluto generational threads in the current American cultural fabric: Pluto in Libra (current ages 25 to 36); Pluto in Scorpio (current ages14to 24); and Pluto in Sagittarius (current ages 0 to 13). While these generations, especially the older two, are very likely to exert influence in this election, the remarkable thing from an astrological perspective is that the next big shift, Pluto's entrance into Capricorn, is occurring at the very moment you are reading this. And what this means is that this current crop of candidates are running for election at the exact moment of change from a Sagittarian cultural perspective (marked by the virtually unrestricted global intermingling and exchange of people, products and philosophies) to a Capricorn period (likely to be marked by competent and disciplined leadership dedicated to the stewardship of limited resources).
If you've been following along so far, what you get is a period in which a Pluto in Leo value system (which stresses a sort of unrestrained search for personal fulfillment, and is happy in a global Sagittarian culture) is falling out of cultural favor to be replaced by the value orientation of a Pluto in Virgo generation, in which Larry the Cable Guy's "Git-R-Done" is the apex of relevant insight. Now this does not mean that Obama, who as has already been pointed out comes across very much as a Leo, has a particular advantage here. It does, however, mean that the successful candidate is likely to resonate with Capricorn values---which tend towards the capable, the stable, the vested and the conservative---and our analysis of the candidates individual profiles is necessarily informed by this insight.
The Candidates (presented alphabetically)
Candidate: Michael Bloomberg
Date of Birth (Sun Sign): Feb 14, 1942 (Aquarius)
Past Aquarius Presidents: William Harrison, Abraham Lincoln; William McKinley, Franklin Roosevelt; Ronald Reagan
Other Notable Aquarius Leaders: Paul Allen; Oprah Winfrey
Aquarius Leadership Characteristics: Aquarians rarely seek leadership because they are enthralled with the trappings of power or because they have a fondness for directing large bureaucracies. More than with any other astrological type there is an authentic calling to serve broad humanitarian goals. Far more future-oriented rather than loyal to history, Aquarians are characterized by sudden brainstorms and idiosyncratic behaviors that more often than not prove to be crowd pleasers. They are leaders who sincerely believe in, and often successfully construct, human progress.
X-Factors: With four planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus) in the sign of Aquarius, Bloomberg is likely to be the candidate who is most tuned into the real needs and desires of the masses at this time. While he is certainly a remote possibility in this election, there would likely be significant popular support for his candidacy given enough time and exposure. (Also note how smart Obama is to have Aquarius Oprah Winfrey on his team, who he has 'jokingly' mentioned as his choice for Vice President)
Candidate: Hillary Clinton
Date of Birth (Sun Sign): Oct 26, 1947 (Scorpio)
Past Scorpio Presidents: John Adams, James Polk, James Garfield, Theodore Roosevelt, Warren Harding
Other Notable Scorpio Leaders: Jack Welch, Bill Gates
Scorpio Leadership Characteristics: Teddy Roosevelt's famous quote about speaking softly and carrying a big stick is as germane to the Scorpio leadership style as one can get. These are individuals who see everything on the planet in terms of competition, and they are justifiably legendary for their intensity and indomitable wills. What is most attrac