POPE BENEDICT XVI

by Robert P. Blaschke

 
On April 19th at 5:49 PM in Vatican City a fire was ignited that would release a smoke signal telling the world that a new Pope had been elected by the Conclave of Cardinals. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany had been chosen as the next Pontiff to lead the world's one billion Catholics. Born 16 April 1927 at 4:15 AM CET in Marktl, Germany, we find that the new Pope has a dignified Jupiter rising in Pisces and a second house Aries Sun in a highly spiritual trine to Neptune, along with a very intelligent sextile from that Sun to Mars in the anaretic 30th degree of Gemini.

Widely acknowledged as an academic with impeccable theological credentials, one can see his traditional doctrinal conservatism in his elevated ninth house retrograde Saturn in Sagittarius. With a Grand Cross exactly in the Cardinal Ingress degrees, comprised of Uranus in 0 Aries, the Part of Fortune in 0 Libra, and his Lunar Nodes in 0 Cancer-Capricorn, it is no small coincidence that Benedict XVI will likely be reigning when the powerful T-Cross in the Summer of 2010 containing both malefics hits those powerful Cardinal Ingress degrees.

It should be of interest to those researching the Book of Revelation in the New Testament that the new Pope's rising degree is Pisces 20, the degree symbol from Charubel being:
 

An angel blowing a trumpet.

"Denotes one whose office will be to publish to the world some important message:
a message having a bearing on the social or spiritual condition of mankind.
A preacher, a lecturer, or some popular person."

During this time of his elevation to the Papacy, Pope Benedict XVI has transit Uranus about to station on his progressed MC and his progressed Part of Fortune is at 22 Taurus 41, conjunct the Grand Conjunction degree of Jupiter and Saturn from May 2000 within two minutes of arc. He also has his progressed Venus conjunct progressed Neptune, and both in an exact trine with his natal Sun. That progressed Neptune, which was natally retrograde, turned direct in February 1947 when he was 19 and will perfect the trine with his Sun in March 2008. His progressed Mercury is also about to form a Fire Grand Trine with his progressed Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus, the pre-eminent aspect configuration for spiritual leadership through the written word. Transit Pluto will conjoin his natal Midheaven on 12 January 2006 for the first of three times, and the world should expect powerful leadership from the new Pope, perhaps even in the form of a new Vatican council.
 
 

 
Neptune stations retrograde on May 19th at 17 Aquarius 36. A Yod is forming in the heavens on that day comprised of an exact Mercury-Mars sextile, and a Moon in Libra applying to quincunxes with both celestial bodies. The Mercury-Venus Mutual Reception is a hopeful sign that discussions of peace will be taking place in most of the world's trouble spots. An Air Grand Trine is also found forming later in the day between the applying Moon, Venus and Neptune, perhaps lending itself to a conceptual breakthrough necessary for the advancement of peace.

The third and final Saturn-Pluto inconjunct perfects just four days later, and one hopes that the adjustments made by law enforcement to the changing tactics of Islamic terrorists will now render these violent extremists much less effective. One can also presume that the price of oil will begin to slightly decrease at this time. It is additionally of interest that the recent non-violent "People Power" revolutions which have taken place in Georgia, Ukraine and Kirgizstan occurred as Neptune neared, and then passed through the power degree of 15 Aquarius. With Neptune returning to this degree for the fourth and fifth times later this year at the end of September, and then again in November, more democratic revolutions are likely.

Jupiter stations direct early in the morning on June 5th at 08 Libra 55, and then heads for a third and final inconjunct with Uranus, perfecting on July 8th. chart These aspects, which occurred first on 10 October 2004, and which will form for a second time in two days from now on May 7th, have unfortunately contributed to the continuing political chaos in Iraq as that country has tried to form its fledging government. A new prime minister has now been chosen, Dr Ibrahim al-Jaafari, who is the leader of the Dawa party, a Shia political group. His new cabinet is said to consist of 17 Shia Arabs, eight Kurds, six Sunni Arabs and one Christian. Seven of the ministers will be women.

At this Jupiter station, Mars is in a separating square to Pluto, but also in a separating trine with Saturn. One can only hope that the ongoing violent insurgency in Iraq, which has escalated bloodily over the last month as Uranus squared the USA Uranus, will soon be quelled and that U.S. troops there can gradually be reduced in number. As the seven Uranus-Pluto quintiles are now mercifully over, having begun in May 2002 and lasting until February 2005, heavenly forces pitting the ideas of freedom and democracy against the violent intimidation of Islamic terrorists and suicide bombers have run their course and the people of the Middle East can now choose their political allegiances.

Uranus stations retrograde on June 14th at 10 Pisces 45, having briefly entered the Cancer decan of this sign. Venus is conjunct the USA Sun on that day, as well as conjoining President Bush's natal Sun at 13 Cancer 46 within two minutes of arc. There is a violent Mutable T-Cross in angular houses forming on this day with the First Quarter Moon in Virgo as the apex, and applying to squares with the exact Sun-Pluto opposition. This Moon is in the 23rd degree of Virgo and in precise conjunction with Mr Bush's progressed Ascendant.

Mr Bush, a Tecumseh's Curse president, is living with the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head during this second term, and he experiences the third and final perfection of his second Saturn return on June 18th. Uranus is in stationary opposition to his progressed Sun during June and July, and his progressed Moon in Sagittarius arrives at a square to his natal Mars on July 20th, and to his progressed Sun on August 26th (creating a progressed First Quarter square). These progressed Moon aspects will also serve as triggers, forming a Mutable T-Cross with the violent Uranus oppositions to both his natal Mars and to his progressed Sun. It is certainly of note that the last time that Uranus squared the USA Uranus in late October 1963, within a month President Kennedy was assassinated. Uranus is again square to the U.S. Uranus during 2005.
 
 

On July 16th, Saturn ingresses into the second consecutive sign of his detriment, Leo, inhabiting the domicile of the Lion for the first time since July 1978. On that day there is a perfect Fire Grand Trine; consisting of Venus in Leo, Mars in Aries and Pluto in Sagittarius, and all at 22 degrees. One can expect many outstanding individual performances by both male and female athletes over the next two years, with several world records being broken. Additionally, Mercury is in 18 Leo, the degree of the August 1999 Grand Cross Solar Eclipse, a celestial event without equal for over 650 years (last occurring in 1341). Several works of impressive literary fiction are also likely to appear from now until September 2007, seizing the public imagination with their complex plots and unique characters. There is also a very close Moon-Neptune square, within two minutes of exactitude, and the effects of alcoholism, depression, prescription drugs and substance abuse on children in families will be a prominent concern for the next two years.

One can research the last passage of Saturn through Leo between September 1975 and November 1977, and between January 1978 and July 1978, to get a feel for what may transpire now. It is certain that the entertainment industry will suffer greatly from declining revenues, and that several new pieces of legislation protecting children will find passage in various State capitals. Research into heart disease may falter from funding setbacks due to budget cuts. The price of gold should steadily decline, and costly repairs to sports stadiums will drain the coffers of many a city. Leo is the sign of Heads of State, and it is also to be presumed that several monarchs, prime ministers and presidents will die in office or be assassinated during the next 27 months starting in July.

On a personal level, each of us will come to know the value of our lover, and making that extra effort to sustain and appreciate one's intimate human relationship will bear much fruit spiritually. Our children should become a primary focus of our attention and love, especially if other family duties or career concerns have detracted from our care and concern for them over the last two years. For the poetically inclined, one may sing this writer's ditty about Saturn in Leo:

 
On the day of his 52nd Solar Return, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has won a record third straight victory as a Labour Party leader. At day's end, it appeared from BBC exit polls that his party's majority in Parliament will dwindle from a 161-seat majority down to a 79-seat governing advantage over Michael Howard and his Conservative Party, and the other smaller political parties. Much of this loss in seats for the Labour Party can be attributed to the widespread opposition to the Iraq War. Will Mr Blair serve the full term of this election, or will he exit earlier and turn power over to Gordon Brown, the ambitious Labour Party Chancellor of the Exchequer?

Looking at his Solar Return, this coming year looks especially difficult with the Sun in the 7th house of open enemies and in square to Neptune, causing an erosion in his leadership abilities. Scandal is also a possibility with this aspect, and with that Neptune in the 3rd house Mr Blair will have to be quite cautious about what he says to the press. His popularity is likely to be quite a bit lower than after his 1997 and 2001 victories, as the solar return Moon opposes Jupiter. The MC is in 29 Leo, perhaps symbolizing a lame duck leader operating without full power. There is also a Yod in this chart with a sextile between Venus and Saturn, and with both in quincunx to a second house Pluto. Transforming the British economy is the likely focus here, as is the looming power struggle with Mr Brown for the reins of the Labour Party.

It would be a serious mistake to underestimate the staying power and intelligence of this fine leader. With his natal Sun in the power degree of 15 Taurus, and in exact sextile to Uranus within 06 minutes of arc, he is quite simply smarter than every other politician in the UK. His 2006 Solar Return is miraculous, with a tight Water Grand Trine consisting of Mars, Jupiter and Uranus, and additionally a Kite configuration pointing at the solar return Sun. The ruler of next year's Solar Return is trine with the IC ruler, suggesting that his popularity with the common people will come back strong. Congratulations, Mr Blair.
 
 

 
A major planetary aspect looming on the horizon is the 31 August 2006 opposition of Saturn and Neptune, the first of three such aspects forming until June 2007. Occurring for the first time since 1971-72, the world is now heading toward a major oil shortage in the summer of next year. During the last Saturn-Neptune opposition, Arab oil-producing nations moved to embargo shipments to the U.S., western Europe and Japan in retaliation for their support of Israel. That oil cutoff precipitated an energy crisis in the industrialized world. Could it happen again?

Yes, and it is likely to produce more global chaos this time around as the oil consumption needs of China, India, Brazil and other large developing nations are now fiercely competing for the available resources with the United States, Japan and Europe. In fact, it is presently suggested that, of the $55 + price for a barrel of crude oil, $7 to $15 of this is attributed to a "fear factor" in the futures markets, such as political instability in oil producing nations like Venezuela or Nigeria, or an Islamic terror attack on oil exporting facilities in Saudi Arabia. This latter scenario was analyzed in my last newsletter, as the Saudi national horoscope has an exact Jupiter-Neptune conjunction in 8 Virgo, which is presently not only conjoined by their progressed Mars, but which is also being opposed three times this year by transit Uranus.

What is striking about this to the astrologer is that, when casting the first Saturn-Neptune opposition for the USA, the precise degree of the Saudi Jupiter-Neptune conjunction, 8 Virgo, rises in Washington, D.C. This could only occur for about four minutes of clock time on that day. This horoscope has a secretive 12th house Sun, an extremely violent Mars-South Node conjunction in square to Pluto, and a wildly out-of-bounds Moon perched at 25S17 of declination. It does not escape this writer's attention that Saturn, at the time of the first opposition with Neptune, is only 07 minutes of arc away from the August 1999 Grand Cross Solar Eclipse degree of 18 Leo. This correspondent has previously gone on record with a prediction that Osama bin Laden will be captured or killed when Saturn transits the 1999 solar eclipse degree.

What is one to do? Your correspondent sold his car last year and now has a complete walking lifestyle. For a 3rd house Mercury such as mine, this is a delight, yet living where you work is not always a possibility. It is patently absurd to see the obscene number of gas guzzling SUV's and Hummers clogging the streets and further exasperating America's dependence on foreign oil. For those astrologers who question the USA Sibly chart, it is tough to argue with its 9th house Neptune as the underpinning of this American dilemma. While still more than a year away, a looming oil shortage is again front page news.
 

Source notes:
The Economist (various recent issues).
Charubel, The Degrees of the Zodiac Symbolised, London: L.N. Fowler & Co., 1898.
Charles E.O. Carter, The Astrological Aspects, London: L.N. Fowler & Co., 1930.
Charles E.O. Carter, An Introduction to Political Astrology, London: L.N. Fowler & Co., 1951.
Marc Edmund Jones, Lecture~Lessons, Stanwood WA: Sabian Assembly, 1931.
Bernard Grun, The Timetables of History, New York: Simon & Schuster, 1975.
Nick Campion, The Book of World Horoscopes, Bristol, UK: Cinnabar Books, 1996.
Robert P. Blaschke, Astrology: A Language of Life - Volume I: Progressions,
Lake Oswego, OR: Earthwalk School of Astrology, 1998.

by Rboert P. Blaschke - All Rights Reserved