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Greetings Dearhearts,

We'll aim our arrows directly into the stormy winds of war and conflict, and let the fierce winds give them level flight. If I'm lucky, as the winds subside they will also settle level, and float upon healing waters. I feel lucky. Spirituality and Religion are targets this month, continuing the Pisces emphasis of the last issue and integrating the Sagittarius focus of the September '02 issue. We'll draw a rainbow arrow from the quiver and take aim at innocent inspiration from the Pisces tale of The Wizard Of Oz, and talk to the inner child in young and old. It is most fearful and least rational in the adults facing life that appears to be solely "in the worst of times."

Planets, Predictions, Principles and Politics

Our Cosmic Clock

Forecasting in Astrology involves a formulation of cosmically based hypotheses that prioritize planetary principles functioning through time. As a product of individual interpretation and analysis, it is furthermore subject to the rigors of objectivity, a lot of soul searching, and a comprehensive study of the subject matter of the forecast. Y'all know one of my favorite astromantras -

Planets don't speak, people do!

The only practical test of the value of a major mundane forecast is in its ultimate truth and profound global significance. All the planets cycle all the time and yet, always in a completely unique arrangement. Which ones are significant in what ways, and how do they prioritize through which times? Moreover, how far in advance of its arrival was a forecast made and what were the prevailing opinions at that time as to its possible accuracy and profound future importance? The reason I'm stressing these points is because of the deep divisions in the general population and, unfortunately, in the astrological community relative to this second chapter of WWIII, the conflict with Iraq. At this point the issues, polarized into political positions, have so crystallized, not only as respects this current imbroglio but our notions about the context of the entire war. A truly objective and detached analytical capacity is proving difficult, especially now with our feet in the fire. And I have strong sympathies for the core concerns of both sides of this current debate over what to do about Iraq and how to do it, and thereafter, where do we go in the future. The core concerns are equally sacred; fear blinds both sides from the sight of that greater truth.

I trust you will understand my deep concern and the reason why it's exceedingly difficult for me to not speak up since the events of these times have been on my mind for a very long time...as early as the mid 80's. To borrow some relevant copy from this site's bio page:

(Regarding the speech at the Marin County Civic Center, "The Future Isn't What It Used To Be")
In January of 1986 I made perhaps what seemed at the time to be the most shocking forecasts that eventually played out on the world stage. The prediction was that East and West Germany would soon be reunited. In answer as to what would the Soviet Union do in response; I maintained that it would be powerless to act since it would also, “collapse like a house of cards” in short order. <snip> It was maintained in that speech that not only would there not be a hot end to the cold war (with the collapse of communism), but that the greatest future threat would be international religious fundamentalist terrorists. <snip> There was one final item from that speech. In the question and answer period, I was asked as to what might be the likely targets in America of the international terrorists and I speculated that it would probably be Washington DC and New York City, with the World Trade Center building as a prime target.

For those of you who were present at that speech this is old hat, but perhaps now is a reasonable time to ask some basic questions. Was it true, and if so, why? Was it truly significant? Were there any other sources providing these precise perspectives on all these particular issues at the time? If those questions give all sides pause for thought, the only satisfaction I crave is that you consider a modified and hopefully healing perspective on the fundamental underlying cosmic mandates at work in what should by now be recognized as a rather important global issue, with momentous consequences to the whole of humanity. It is my hope, that as we all struggle through these times, there be a realization of the need to elevate the discussions and thoughts to the level of the gravity of the matter. Effective solutions will only result from an enlightened effort from all sides of differing opinions that will arise, to forsake demonizing individuals and groups involved in attempts at solutions, and make a heartfelt effort to understand and honestly address each other's concerns. Please don't make enemies of each other or, in the end, the enemy you genuinely have will consume you in more ways than one. Metaphysically, there is a sub rosa enemy manifesting in various degrees of expression within many cultural/religious infrastructures. In the months ahead I will delve more deeply and individually into many of the major elements that are intertwined in this complex issue of international fundamentalist religious terrorism and why I felt it was so important so long ago. We'll talk about the past, present and future of all of Islam in general and the Arab culture in particular. From Israel and Judaism to Pat Robertson/Jerry Falwell, Cardinal Bernard Law and Christianity and more, we'll piece them all together within the emerging cosmic mandates governing a pregnant global community - struggling to be born. They are all hot wired to the same circuit board, where Pluto modulates the high voltage panel while Uranus and Neptune supply the juice. I won't leave you completely hanging in the interim so I'll stick my oft-lonely neck out again with some hope for the future. Shocking forecasts are my stock and trade, so here's a double whopper -

There can, must, and will be a positive conclusion to this major world issue.

Within the next decade, the majority of people in the nations of Islam will be among the American peoples' best friends.

There will be much that will seem to contradict those statements until the time of their fulfillment. You would probably have laughed along with most folks if someone told you the same thing about America's relationship with Japan and Germany in the midst of WW II. Yet it was ultimately true for many years after the war. Pluto, the last planet, always has the last laugh.

Pluto Transformation ~ Death/Rebirth

Sagittarius ~ "I Perceive"

Astrology is a map, not a photograph - an abstract, not an extract. It reveals the functional and structural aspects of time, not it's physical construction. The heavens supply the first, humanity delivers the second. One of its advantages lies in its capacity to overlay the past, present and future. We know with mathematical certainty where the planets have been, are now, and will be in all the tomorrows. (Astronomers agree and use the same universal measurements; only they say it can't mean anything since nobody can prove how it physically operates. I'm devilishly tempted to have some fun with the "logic" in that one, but I'll save it for one of my "Mr. Spock" moods.) If we can grasp the full implications of where they've been and understand what they are doing now, we will more accurately perceive the promise of tomorrow.

All of these current world events and issues are driven by underlying functional purposes and objectives, and the better we become aware of the full scope of the processes unfolding, the more effective we will individually be in insuring a positive outcome, regardless of differing opinions concerning solutions. The fundamental cosmic mandates of the overall global conflict are rooted in the transit of Pluto through the Sign Sagittarius - the Sign of religion and principles (among other significant activities), in their evolution through time. Initial portions of this material were covered in the September issue of the Wanderer, which I urge you to review. As a reminder, all issues will remain permanently archived. This is the eighth and final time since the beginning of this current Age of Pisces that Pluto will transit Sagittarius. Its next transit in Sagittarius will occur over 250 years from now, during the Age of Aquarius. Judging from the historical impact the Pluto/Sagittarius transits have had in the past, it would appear that we are now in the process of cleaning up the most seriously dysfunctional expressions in the world's religions that have plagued mankind for the last 2,000 years. To put it another way, there simply is no way the Aquarian value structure can accommodate expression of the kind of nonsense human beings have been perpetrating for 2,000 years in the name of Jesus, Buddha or Mohammed, to name a few.

The fact that there are no burial remains for the spiritual masters is a sacred blessing; undoubtedly, by this time their bones would have worn out from rolling over.

One interesting and representative tidbit from the last time Pluto moved through Sagittarius (mid 1700's) was the final outlawing of the Inquisition. Pluto has until the year 2011 to start the ball rolling in a brand new direction, this time with an Aquarian value based bearing. It will take 250 years before the new paradigm will be fully integrated, but its direction will be irreversible. Pluto is like a cosmic laxative. No matter how healthy the life style and diet, without removal of the poisonous blockage, the organism will die. Individuals and groups on Plutonian power trips in the name of religion or those religious phonies embedded within the protection of a religious/cultural context are attempting suicide, whether by conscious or unconscious intention. The otherwise healthy manna of peace and reason cannot be digested by those obsessed with the dark side of a Plutonian obsessed crusade or jihad. Hitler was just one of the classic examples of this unfortunate truth operating in another Sign (Cancer), in another time, but for the same underlying reasons and similarly characteristic modus operandi.

Uranus	Pisces "I believe"	Neptune

What makes this moment in time unique is the overlapping of the above-mentioned Pluto in Sagittarius transit during the next seven years by the transit of Uranus in Pisces till the end of this decade. And then, there is the continuing (for fourteen years) of the Pisces emphasis by Neptune entering there just when Uranus leaves. It's exceptional since there is an underlying symbiosis operating within the dynamics of structural challenge between Sagittarius and Pisces. Astrologically, they exist in a 90-degree "square" angular relationship. It's the challenge of religion vs. spirituality. They are clearly two separate words with considerably different definitions. In synthesis, what will emerge in the long run will be the purging of seriously dysfunctional components within the institutions of religion plus a revolutionizing emergence of a newfound sense of universal spiritual connection. Then, beginning in the next decade and continuing through mid 2020s, there will be a period of increasing idealization of that elevated sense of spirituality during Neptune's transit in the very Sign that it rules, Pisces. Impossibly idealistic? It was thought to be impossibly idealistic to end slavery in the early part of the19^th century until both Uranus and then Neptune transited Pisces, before and after mid century. The same thing was thought about the Woman's Movement that emerged at the same time - both flying in the face of thousands of years of history to the contrary.

In certain ways and in certain times, the impossible is the only possible solution.

There are miracles in the making in the years ahead. New "movements" are afoot that are going largely unnoticed. When Bruce Feiler wrote his "Abraham - A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths" he was shocked to discover the many "ecumenical" groups with his perspective that had sprouted, spontaneously, independently around America and the world via the internet. The drums of war drown much. The very medium of the emerging world wide web through which you are accessing these words is another (obviously positive) manifestation of Pluto now transiting Sagittarius, also the Sign of broadcasting and global communication. Our blessings give us the means to manage our difficulties, all at the same time. The choice is ours to make. The world is in undeniable turmoil and anguish. If there's ever a time to believe and connect, it's now. We wouldn't be getting an upcoming double dose (Uranus and Neptune) of Planetary transits through Pisces if we didn't need it. The planets are always where they're supposed to be needed and we need a Pisces double scoop with star-studded sprinkles.

Wizard Of Oz

The tale of Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz is the tale of the Piscean journey in life. The concept of life begins in a supremely idyllic perspective. Unconditional love is experienced within an equally idyllic framework of the security of family, close friends (on the family farm) and special attachment with all other non-human life in the form of a faithful little dog that accompanies Dorothy throughout her journey. The last significant touchstone to her reality is contact with the promise of magic, of overcoming the limitations of the physical reality in her encounter with the man who was to later become the embodiment of "Oz." Her pristine vision is first shocked into awareness of evil, in the form of a threat to her faithful Toto. Then the vision is completely shattered in the violent winds of ultimate violence and obliteration as a tornado transports her to another world, outside the bounds of her known matter and time. Her blameless destruction of an evil witch upon landing in an altered reality earns her a blessing and a curse. The gift of ultimate salvation and restoration of her original pristine vision was embodied in the form of the magic ruby slippers and evil, in the form of undying hatred from the dead witch's equally rotten sister. Dorothy couldn't avoid being hated for simply being herself. "Herself" consists of an individual ego transcending everybody-loves-everybody existence. A good witch sets her upon the journey to Oz and ultimate, magical salvation. Dorothy's encounters with the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Lion elicit the quintessential Piscean concept of salvation - that it is inherently, functionally collective and not individual. Through her eagerness to make their salvation, her salvation, we are presented with the spiritual power of healing heart (Tin Man), mind (Scarecrow) and spirit (Lion). Through many trials and tribulations, facing impossible odds, they all finally overcome through clinging to the power of belief alone, when all seemed doomed. Once the goal is achieved, miraculous empowerment comes in the discovery that the "magical powers" were within them all the time. They couldn't find it within themselves alone without experiencing it together. I'm recalling a late 70's popular tune with the line, "Oz never gave anything to the Tin Man, that he didn't already have."

Magical Ruby Slippers

The cosmic connection in myths is always validated by the presence of the most significant symbols. Pisces rules the feet and, in all variations of Pisces themes, the feet and its adornments will play a critical final role. The same holds true for another popular Pisces personality, the rags-to-riches romantic tale of Cinderella and her famous glass slipper. Both are saved in the end through a belief that transcends the apparent limitations of the physical reality, a belief in a divine goodness that overcomes evil. Oh, and what about the faithful Toto who would have died for Dorothy in a heartbeat? He was symbolic of the spiritual lessons humans learn from their pets, the ambassadors from our earthly animal cohabitants...unconditional love...the lesson that was there all along.

Myths are the most real non-things in existence.

The basic factors underlying psychological power of the Capricorn myths that I outlined in the December '02 issue hold true in the Pisces myths in equal measure. There are 12 basic archetypes of the human personality embedded within the psychological framework of each individual and the collective. Each archetype has its ideal construction, embodied in myths and parables. That ideal construction, infused in childhood, is our unconscious goal and it will have the final word. It is the standard by which we measure the difference between what we ideally expect, and what we actually achieve. If the differential is of sufficient variance, they will exist in dis-ease with each other and are in need of healing.

The power of belief is real. The healing power of belief, expressed consciously through united prayer and meditation surrenders the individual ego need for salvation. Prayer is our primary vehicle for actualizing a seemingly miraculous force within humanity. For this reason I am initiating a new permanent feature in the "Healing" section of the Astrologics web site entitled Healing Hearts. Here are the details; I hope you'll join us in taking positive action concerning all the needs in all of humanity. We've got miracles to make, let's get busy.

Be good to yourselves,
Hannibal