EUROPEAN UNION

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Data:  Progressions and transits calculated for September 7, 2011.

On November 1, 1993, under the third Delors Commission, the Maastricht Treaty became effective, creating the European Union with its pillar system, including foreign and home affairs alongside the European Community.  Thus was formed the economic and political union known as the European Union, to function as a single market dedicated to the relative free movement of labor, capital, goods and services and to establish common policy towards the aim of political, economic and monetary union.

The most elevated planet in the chart is the Moon in the 3rd decanate of Taurus, indicating the reflective influence of Saturn, its sub-ruler.  Of the 25th degree, astrologer Dane Rudhyar states the keynote to be:  "The cultivation of natural energies for collective use and recreation."  The Moon, representing the people, is exalted in Taurus describing them as desiring ease in living.  The story of Ferdinand the Bull who wanted nothing more than to lounge under a tree sniffing flowers accurately depicts planets in Taurus.  The tremendous energies of Mercury-Mars-Pluto in opposing Scorpio are diverted by the Neptune-Uranus conjunction in 6th house Capricorn, close to the cusp...and so the people of the EU are readily willing to allow immigrants to flow into their midst to take upon themselves necessary labor in order to secure their desired life-style.  Trouble in the glen arrives via the Neptune-Uranus square to 3rd house Venus, which produces a need to help the less fortunate that brings contact with people flowing over the borders who are parasites only interested in taking advantage of any generosity bestowed upon them.  The result:  a social situation that is likely to change radically wrought by a self-executed trap that ends in an invasion of personal space and which proves to be financially costly.

Noteworthy in this chart is a Fixed T-Square with 7th house Saturn in Aquarius at the Apex that involves the Mercury-Mars-Pluto conjunction in 4th house Scorpio opposing 10th house Taurus Moon, describing the EU as a rigidly organized, intensely purposeful, but willfully unyielding entity, resistant to the greatest degree.  There is a desire to totally overpower and manipulate all matters under their authority, not likely to willingly share the catbird seat with any others.  There is a measure of ruthlessness in the calculation of securing power, always seeking to have the upper hand.

On September 5, 2011, transiting Mercury opposes natal Saturn to form a Fixed Cosmic Cross, just in time for the September 7th conference of the German constitutional court to decide on Berlin's participation in Eurozone bailouts.  Talk about finding oneself between a rock and a hard place, this temporary configuration manifests through deep-seated, difficult to eradicate problems that may result in rut-bound blockage.  There is a firm resistance towards compromising or sharing with others and a rigidity that refuses to allow for needed adjustments.

On September 7, 2011, transiting Moon will conjoin the Neptune-Uranus conjunction and trigger their square to Venus.  Debt is an 8th house matter, ruled in this chart by Neptune (Pisces on the cusp).  Pisces is natural ruler of the 12th house and so the EU has victimized itself with self-inflicted debt.  The time for sacrifice has arrived.

Germany will have transiting Moon conjoined natal Saturn, co-ruler of 7th and 8th houses, during part of the day on Sept. 7th.  An onerous responsibility engenders strong feelings of being independent stemming from the belief that the nation cannot depend upon anyone else for support.  The July 1st Solar Eclipse at 9* Cancer 12' that squared Germany's Sun demands that the country - and its Chancellor, Angela Merkel - allow a breath of fresh air to flow freely...to make a choice to either get out of a rut or to defend that rut against all challengers.  A make or break decision.

VENEZUELA - TRANSITS OF AUGUST 18, 2011

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The Solar Eclipse of July 1, 2011 @ 9* Cancer 12' conjoins Venezuela's natal 8th house Sun within 3* 35'.  An eclipse to a personal planet such as the Sun foretells an active period on the horizon, a time when actions are initiated having dramatic consequences.  The Sun in a country's horoscope represents their leader.  For Venezuela it is President Hugo Chavez, who on the day of the eclipse, announced that he had undergone surgery on June 10th in Cuba for a pelvic abscess and that during recuperation, cancerous cells had been identified.  He is currently undergoing treatment for cancer.

Chavez' natal chart has Sun in Leo squared by Saturn in Scorpio, the sign that rules the pelvic area and the colon.  On June 10th transiting retrograde Pluto was closely opposing his Ascendant at 6* Cancer 17'...Mercury (bowels) in Gemini was transiting his 12th house (hospitals) square natal Venus in Virgo, sign ruling the intestines...and transiting Venus formed a semi-square (45*) to natal Jupiter/Moon, Jupiter ruling abscesses.  Transiting Pluto has been and will continue to lean heavily opposing his Ascendant and will make its final thrust in early December while closely conjoined to transiting Venus, shortly after the Solar Eclipse of November 25, 2011 @ 2* Sagittarius 37' highlights by trine his natal Sun.  His health is precarious. 

On August 18, 2011,  President Hugo Chavez ordered Venezuela's central bank to repatriate $11 billion of gold reserves held in institutions such as the Bank of England.  Transiting Pluto in Venezuela's horoscope, natally posited in the country's 4th house, is conjunct 2nd house Moon in Capricorn:  Bring home our gold!

The last aspect the Moon makes at the time an activity is commenced usually tells the outcome of what was initiated.  On August 18th the Moon in Aries makes a last aspect to Neptune in Aquarius...despite a qualified opportunity due to the retrograde condition of Neptune, nevertheless:  a promise of fortune delivered.  Well done, Hugo Chavez!

GERMANY UPDATE AUGUST 2011

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On August 16th, 17th transiting Mars reached conjunction of the July 1st Cancer Solar Eclipse Point in Germany's 12th house, opposing natal Neptune in the 6th house and square natal Sun in the 3rd house.

The initial occurrence of a difficult eclipse to the Sun in the 3rd house rendered the country vulnerable to its neighbors.  As the Sun is symbolic of the life force and the nation's vitality it emphasizes important contacts and the need for crucial decisions and brings to light issues concerning gains and losses.

An eclipsed Neptune in the 6th house signals self-deception, especially in matters of the economy and employment due to confusion...or some missing piece of information upon which to base an analysis.  Possibly a national phobia will arise now under this influence. 

Transiting Jupiter in the 10th house trine natal Neptune is in the position of acting as reconciler to the Mars/Eclipse Point/Neptune opposition. As energy takes the easiest route to manifest, it does so in this instance with a desire to rule.  There is the tendency for Germany to lay out their plans in leisure, to look carefully at what will expand productivity and how they can improve their physical strength.  They will attempt to improve the situation by demanding their rights and by improving their monetary situation.

The last aspect of note is transiting Pluto conjoined natal Uranus in the 6th house, guaranteed to cause change in the economy and the employment sector, change involving the nation's debt, and change regarding corporate welfare.  A rebellious energy to manifest that is bound to defy rules and conventions as a fierce independent nature comes to the fore.

As reported in the Daily Mail with reference to German Chancellor Angela Merkel:  "Although she will not yet admit it, this all suggests the first step has been taken towards a fiscal union that  will leave Germany dictating the financial terms for the rest of Europe."  The Daily Mail ended the story with this comment:  " Where Hitler failed by military means to conquer Europe, modern Germans are succeeding through trade and financial discipline. Welcome  to the Fourth Reich."

FULL MOON AUGUST 13, 2011 - ENGLAND

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Capricorn Rises with Aquarius intercepted and the intercepted Aquarian Full Moon posited therein (also intercepted Neptune retrograde and on a critical degree).  An intercepted sign is one that does not occupy a cusp (intersection) meaning those things it influences and those planets occupying the sign are hindered, failing to meet its destination...the energy is locked in.  This describes people (Moon) who have had little opportunity to leave an impression on the outside environment, whose emotions erupted in violence (Moon last over a retrograde 12th house Pluto) and must now learn a new way to express their emotional feelings...in short, to learn how to behave.

The Cardinal T-Square with 2nd house Uranus at the Apex that completes the empty leg in the 8th house speaks to purging and purification via emotional confrontation that will be done according to the characteristics of Virgo, sign on the 8th house cusp:  conforming to the morality of its times.  Good luck with that.

With the Full Moon falling in the same degree as the Nodes

we see a fateful testimony that brings sudden calamity; there is an indication of something going on which is beyond the control of the country.

FULL MOON AUGUST 13, 2011

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DATA: August 13, 2011 @ 2:59 P.M. - Washington, D.C.

Sagittarius Rises...chart ruler Jupiter is posited in the stock market 5th house inconjunct Saturn.  Jupiter and Saturn are the business  planets, the aspect suggesting a contradiction between expansion and contraction, being heavily influenced by the legislative branches, who as we have recently witnessed are brainless in the area of finances...perhaps except for their own personal millions/billions.  Clearly the inconjunct aspect of Jupiter and Saturn reveals a congress and senate that avoids duty whenever possible.  As it is an applying aspect (not yet exact) the meaning is that the legislative branch will continue to avoid doing their duty.  Enter the smoke-screen: Super Congress.  So why isn't the public demanding a recall of these parasites?  The country needs statesmen and women, not these self-serving monstrosities!

The Sun in a mundane chart symbolizes the country's leader (although the USA is bereft of leadership we nevertheless read the chart as if we did enjoy that blessing).  In this Full Moon chart transiting Sun in the 9th house is opposed by retrograde Neptune in the 3rd house...what we have is a president who is slip-sliding on shifting sand whenever he opens his mouth, who is obviously unclear as to his direction and who prefers to escape rather than apply himself to get the job done.  Thus, he finds himself in embarrassing situations...and further embarrasses the country.

The Full Moon falls across the 3rd/9th house axis, bringing to our attention transportation, communication, education and propaganda...with the Neptune influence, expect the media to present stories (fairy tales) in an attempt to maintain rose-colored glasses for the public's consumption.

We are oft to blame in this, --

'Tis too much prov'd, -- that with devotion's visage,

And pious action, we do sugar o'er

The devil himself.

Hamlet

FEDERAL RESERVE UPDATE

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A Fed statement was announced today that pledged two more years of near-zero interest rates.  Is Bernanke calling for a Deflationary Depression?

Whoa, Nellie, an announcement from the Fed occurs with a retrograde Mercury easing back into the 2nd house (wealth of the nation) in a tight opposition to retrograde Neptune in the 8th house of debts/bonds.  What is it the skipper of a submarine says when immediate danger lurks:  Periscope Down...Dive, Dive, Dive.

Guaranteed, the information put forth today has important omissions or distortions...or be an outright deception...the probability of being lied to is huge.  This is not a time to be making decisions about your personal financial future based upon this announcement.

The July 1, 2011 Solar Eclipse at 9* Cancer 12' fell into the 12th house and will be activated on August 17th as transiting Mars conjoins the eclipse point.  Lots of backroom sleight of hand as the Fed regroups and considers how to manage the toxic waste they have created.

"We are the hollow men
We are the stuffed men
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!
Our dried voices, when
We whisper together
Are quiet and meaningless
As wind in dry grass
Or rats' feet over broken glass.."

T.S. Eliot

USA UPDATE - AUGUST 8, 2011

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The Cardinal T-Square is now in brutal aspect, pulling in the USA Venus (currency) and Jupiter (wealth) as transiting Mars conjoined Venus (exact aspect August 7th) triggers the conflagration.

Cast of Transiting Characters:

Pluto retrograde in Capricorn = Debt created by bankers (Pluto rules 2nd house)...opposing natal Jupiter in 7th...the nation's wealth is in the hands of both open enemies of a foreign flavor (7th) and open enemies right here at home (Jupiter in Cancer).  And the people did nothing.

Uranus retrograde in Aries in the nation's 4th house = Our very foundations are being upheaved as the country begins to face a particular kind of oppression and outrage remains suppressed.  And the people did nothing.

Mars in Cancer = The trigger that moves the Pluto/Uranus square into a T-Square with Uranus at the Apex, the empty leg upon which action will take place being the 10th house - the administration...Mars - Uranus - Pluto - the three planets that represent treason.  And the people did nothing.

Saturn in Libra in the 10th house of the executive branch square to the Sun, the nation's lifeblood...being sucked dry for lo these many months...foretelling tremendous pain about to befall the general public.  Unlike the previous Saturn square to the Sun, this time the back-and-forth motion of direct/retrograde/direct is grinding our life energy to the end that as a country, we drift about, having neither direction nor purpose.  And the people did nothing.

Retribution

THOUGH the mills of God grind slowly,

Yet they grind exceeding small;

Though with patience he stands waiting,

With exactness grinds he all.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

AG and AU through end of 2011

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Data for Gold Comex:  December 31, 1974 @ 9:30 AM EST - New York City, NY

For any type action to manifest there must be planetary energy.  The progressed horoscope of the Gold Comex has it in spades.  Not only that...the 11th house natal Sun @ 9* Capricorn 32' has this year progressed to conjoin the Ascendant...time to shine!

Up, down, sideways...until early October...specifically, the week-end of October 1st and 2nd, when the transiting Sun conjoins natal Pluto, triggering the progressed Pluto/square/natal Sun.  Enjoy the ride!

Data for Silver Comex:  July 5, 1933 @ 10:03 AM EDT - New York City, NY

The price of Silver has been limited by the square of transiting Saturn in Libra to natal Sun in Cancer and will so continue through most of August.  Weakened by the contact and not reflecting as much energy as the Gold Comex horoscope, she goes into the latter part of the year with a Solar Eclipse to the IC (4th house cusp) on November 25, 2011 and on December 10, 2011 a Lunar Eclipse forms a close square (difficulties) to natal Jupiter, planet of expansion.  There is the possibility she will just limp along through the remainder of the year due to challenges that involve legal disputes.

Note:  The above is in response to a request from a viewer.  As it interrupted the essay I am composing for the Wednesday slot, please consider this essay on gold and silver as my normal first Wednesday contribution.  Thank you.
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ADDENDUM: My post on March 10, 2011 and the results:
The March 2011 Super Full Moon in Virgo occurs across the 1st and 7th house axis of the Silver Comex, the Moon conjunct 1st house Mars, planet of action.  My quick interpretation:  the silver shorts will soil their pants...probably on Friday, March 18th but it could go as far as Monday, March 21st, the day of the Vernal Equinox, as the Sun slips into Aries and conjoins Uranus in the 8th house of shared resources.  As a dear friend would say:  Happy Dance time, LOL

And here is the result: