A round up

Besides the Pakistan flood we had a week where---

Russia agreed to give fuel to Iran for their nuclear reactors. Thanks for easing tensions, Russia.

MOSCOW – Russia announced Friday it will begin the start up next week of Iran's only atomic power plant, giving Tehran a boost as it struggles with international sanctions and highlighting differences between Moscow and Washington over pressuring the Islamic Republic to give up activities that could be used to make nuclear arms


Ten Aid workers targeted by Taliban were killed in Afghanistan. A terrible story.

Ten members of a medical team, including six Americans, were shot and killed by militants as they were returning from providing eye treatment and other health care in remote villages of northern Afghanistan, a spokesman for the team said Saturday.

Dirk Frans, director of the International Assistance Mission, said one German, one Briton and two Afghans also were a part of the team that made the two-week trip to Nuristan province. They drove to the province, left their vehicles and hiked for hours over mountainous terrain to reach the Parun valley in the province's northwest

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/08/07/aid-workers-killed-afghanistan.html#ixzz0wk6yZoHF


and of course Lil' Kim continues to shoot off his crazy mouth with his north korean rhetoric

North Korea said Sunday that it will "deal a merciless counterblow to the U.S. imperialists" and to South Korean "traitors," in response to word that the United States and South Korea will begin a joint military exercise on Monday

and of course a very stressful week on Wall Street which looks to be more messy (Google "Hindenburg Effect")

Jupiter/Saturn/Uranus/Pluto are in effect in case you hadn't noticed.

Pakistan & Cardinal Climax/Crisis/Square et al

When 911 happened I remember thinking, "Man, it doesn't get any worse than this."

Then we had Katrina which was awful followed by the Christmas Tsunami and I turned to friends and said ---"That's it!" Of course, just because I say something doesn't make it so because Haiti happened in January around one of our Saturn Uranus oppositions and we reached an all time low...that was awful. And now here we are in the middle of this cardinal mess and Pakistan floods have beaten all other issues.


United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said devastation caused by unprecedented flooding in Pakistan was among the worst he had ever seen, as he promised more relief funds for those who have lost homes and farms.

“This has been a heart-wrenching day for me,” Ban said yesterday at a press conference with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. “I will never forget the destruction and suffering I have witnessed today. In the past, I have witnessed many natural disasters around the world, but nothing like this.”


When the head of the UN says that this is the worst disasters he has ever seen that says a lot.

We all knew there would be an environmental component to this cardinal crisis. And it delivered. sigh.

What makes you happy?

I saw today an article in the NY Times which was forwarded to me by my friend Corina which I thought was perfect for the times that we live in.


She had so much.

A two-bedroom apartment. Two cars. Enough wedding china to serve two dozen people.

Yet Tammy Strobel wasn't happy. Working as a project manager with an investment management firm in Davis, Calif., and making about $40,000 a year, she was, as she put it, caught in the "work-spend treadmill."


So one day she stepped off.

Inspired by books and blog entries about living simply, Ms. Strobel and her husband, Logan Smith, both 31, began donating some of their belongings to charity. As the months passed, out went stacks of sweaters, shoes, books, pots and pans, even the television after a trial separation during which it was relegated to a closet. Eventually, they got rid of their cars, too----

CONTINUES HERE


If you read the article you will see other stories of people who had a gong hit them that said, "DONG! I don't have to live this way anymore. By cutting back and living less I have more life.

If there was ever a calling card for Pluto's journey through Capricorn it would be this article and the like. For a few years I have had the Story of Stuff as a signature to my emails. If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend it and I think you will also feel the pull of Pluto.

STORY OF STUFF

The under riding feeling that we are being played every time we are compelled to purchase something has been haunting me for awhile. Once I saw Story of Stuff (right around Pluto's initial move into Cap) I knew---"Oh, that's what I've been feeling!"

Last week it was announced that the GNP went down a couple of percentage points which perhaps reflects this austere period we are experiencing. I am sure economic forecasters would suggest people are buying less because they have less money. Sure, maybe. But I would also venture a guess that even if people did find themselves will fuller coffers they would not be as inclined to race out and buy more stuff. Kind of like after Major League Baseball strike a few years ago. Fans went away and then when the strike was over not as many fans returned. Not out of spite but more from a place of "Wow, I survived without baseball perfectly fine, I don't need it as much as I used to need it." And with that their numbers were lower.

I gotta wonder if the cardinal squares and crosses that we are experiencing now and with Pluto being the center of it all, if this summer will turn out to be the summer of "Less than" and happy for it.

Leo New Moon 2010

Leo New Moon is today, August 9 at 11:09pm EDT

I have just put up the Leo New moon on Margaret Wendt's website which of course you can find the entire article HERE

But here is a snippet of the report.


“TWINKLE, TWINKLE LITTLE STAR—Wait that’s me!”


As the “Summer of Crosses and Squares” continues we begin our fourth New Moon. Since May’s Taurus New Moon and the crunching sound began to emanate from the outer planets we have slogged through each twenty eight day cycle as refreshed and inspired as we can while processing the tension that surrounds us. During Taurus we put down our feet and tried to feel as grounded as possible, during Gemini we connected with others and tried to stay light and breezy and last month during Cancer no matter how uncomfortable it may have gotten we let our feelings guide us. Now in the final New Moon of this summer of tension we will let our enthusiasm, strength and inspiration guide us as we ask---“what is the heroic me?”

So here we are, tension swirling around us as we deal with the financial and economic beefs (Pluto in Capricorn), relationship problems (Saturn in Libra), breakthroughs that look like crisis (Uranus in Aries) and the desire for personal expansion (Jupiter in Aries) that disappoints before it rewards. Pretty murky stuff for a long hot summer, no? Thank goodness we have Leo to help save the day.

Leo is the second fire sign of the zodiac--- during Aries which is the first fire sign, the fire is bright, blustery and combustible, by the time of Sagittarius, the final fire sign, the flame is lower but the coals and embers are still hot enough to ignite—in Leo, the middle fire sign, the flame is high, strong and capable of much action--the flame is pronounced. As to what kind of action? Some good, some not so good, that would be determined by what is going on in our heart. It is no surprise that Leo is associated with performers or ‘stars’, since those are the people who put themselves out there on our televisions and our movie screens. But really there is more to Leo than being a star.

When we are living our positive Leo energy we are generous, honest, swift and BIG. Someone needs help, it is Leo that flies in, knows immediately what to do and does it in a big way—thus saving the day. The “knowing” what to do speaks to the flame of the fire and the thing that pulsates in their heart--- no matter how great a task. Who is going to climb a high ridge and carry their wounded friend out harm’s way? —Leo. Their confidence is breathtaking. While others contemplate, “Hmm can I do it?” Leo has already completed the task.

But why can they do great things, heroic things and others wilt under pressure? Because the journey of Leo is the hero’s journey and if they are not being a hero they are a miserable lot.

Venus ..in search of joy and abundance

As I indicated earlier this week today Venus opposes Uranus 3:59am. Uranus demands changes and swings high and low and Venus who is just looking for a good time is taking those peaks and valleys with him. Case in point, yesterday's wild swing on Wall Street because as we have discussed, Venus rules values and that includes MONEY.

Tomorrow, August 8, Venus hooks up with Saturn which is tough for love, romance and once again values. There is a natural 'barrenness' with Saturn and Venus aspects and frankly Venus in Libra adds to that 'lack' feeling. Libra is airy and intellectual and does not put a lot of value on feelings. It will ponder this thing or that thing and compare and contrast which is all very 'heady'. Having Saturn there is putting a chill to a lot of relationships as we measure them. With a transit by Venus we are wondering, 'what is their (relationships) value?" or "Am I valued in the relationship?" And although that sounds like an emotional question, the energy is not emotional it is more reasonable than that. It truly is weighing the good and the bad. See what comes up this weekend and where you fall.

On Monday August 9 Venus will oppose Jupiter and we will pit our need to expand for self (Uranus in Aries) versus our needs to be in a partnership (Venus Libra). We'll feel torn and stressed.

It is hard to not see an after affect of Sunday's Venus/Saturn aspect impacting Wall Street on Monday. Coupled with Venus/Jupiter on Monday. And then when you add Venus Square with Pluto on Tuesday August 10th..expect big news about money. And perhaps love. And love of power. And people or companies who want to go rogue.

Tough few days. Hold on.

Mars In Libra aspects, Venus enters the fray

Last Thursday Mars, the warrior planet moved into Libra the sign of relationships and balance. This by itself is snarky enough but at the same time we already have Saturn in Libra which has us pulling up our bootstraps and working on our abillity to 'relate' and relationships in general. On Friday and Saturday Mars opposed Uranus and then conjunct Saturn which amped up the juice and I'm sure made for a crunchy, perhaps bitchy Friday and Saturday. Perhaps we will get a reprieve on Sunday (accent on 'perhaps') but the week amps up again and with it comes more of a sense of urgency.

On Wednesday August 4 Mars opposes Jupiter at 12:20am and also on August 4 it squares Pluto at 12:58. It is impossible to overstate the volatilty of these aspects. Last week's wikileaks certainly speak to the energy and we should expect more potent action this week both globally and personally. What are you fired up about? How is it impacting your relationships? Or what is worth you being fired up but you are opting out? For the sake of your relationship? Are you remembering we all drive on two way streets?

On Friday Venus moves into Libra and once it does this it will begin it's (hideous) dance with all the other cardinal planets. Venus is money and currency. Its first hit will be an opposition with Uranus on Saturday August 7 at 3:59 am. As I say often, I am not an econoastrologer but given the aspects we are experiencing with the outer planets and now the inner planets are in the mix in a profound way--including Venus---well, in my mind, this week everything is on the table including our money.

Grab the oxygen mask if you see it falling.

Jupiter & Pluto

Jupiter Square Pluto Tuesday August 3 1:32am EST

Jupiter who has a very big mouth and throws around laws and judgements and is in the fiery sign of Aries will form an exact square to Pluto who is stealthy, sneaky and as powerful as nitroglycerin. What happens when someone shakes up nitroglycerin? Well, you do the math.

This aspect is part of the cardinal crisis that we are feeling all month including others (remember Uranus and Saturn are still throwing weight around on this mess). With Jupiter there is a judgement and opinion and with Pluto there is power and betrayal and sometimes power through betrayal. Aries wants to break new ground, do his own thing, not be owing to anyone and more importantly not answer to anyone. Capricorn of course is "anyone". Capricorn will ask "why should I give you ____?" Capricorn lives for authority, it either wants to be the boss (and probably should) or it wants to uphold the status quo---"Long live the Queen!" or "Long live the Dow Jones!" As you can see these two energies have a rub.

And the fact that these two planets are strong and effective in such difficult signs---well, it is not an understatement to say, expect POW, WOW,SOCK EM, KNOCK EM.

If you feel your own self at war remember the houses that these two signs impact in your chart. See if the tension that comes up makes sense for these two battlers. My suggestion is for you to take the tension and try to make it work for you. Jupiter is not without vision so under your big opinions and judgements you should ask, "What do I want for me? Where do I see my life going?" and then with Pluto who is of course stealthy and sneaky but under that he is very much connected to the power of change. So ask, where do I need to effect change to get the life I vision for myself? How can I do it? Focus on you and things will be more manageable. You'll be in trouble if you try to focus on changing others. That is one big KA-BOOM!