Greece's Financial Crisis

from http://halloran.com/astnews.htm

Michelle Obama's Cause

On February 9, Michelle Obama launched "Let's Move", a national program aimed at solving the problem of childhood obesity. First ladies often have a favorite social cause they wish to champion, and ending the epidemic of childhood obesity is a widely recognized, worthy goal. Obama's interest in healthy, nutritious food began a year ago when she planted a garden on the White House lawn.


The astrological community does not yet have a birth time for Ms. Obama, though her solar chart (January 17, 1964; Chicago) tells us a lot. The closest aspect in this chart is Ceres in Sagittarius trine Jupiter, a double message since Jupiter rules Sagittarius. Ceres is associated with parenting and food, and with the Sagittarius-Jupiter influence, tends to be expansive, educational, and optimistic about these issues.

Michelle's Ceres also squares Chiron on one side and the generational Uranus-Pluto conjunction on the other, so that the problems associated with parenting and food issues are brought full force into her awareness. The Chiron influence describes the wounded psyche that can come with obesity, while the Uranus-Pluto side shows an interest in radical transformation using nutrition (in diet-conscious Virgo).

With her Capricorn Sun located at the midpoint between her Ceres-Chiron square, Michelle Obama's purpose and sense of fulfilment can come through working on these food and parenting issues. She kicked off her campaign as transiting Mars opposed her natal Mars. Mars, the planet associated with energy and physical activity, lent its symbolism to her movement. However, the opposition signals that she will face intense obstructionism, most likely from the entrenched junk food industry.

Greece's Financial Crisis

Last week, European Union leaders offered Greece moral support, but not any specific financial bailout package. Greece's massive debt puts it in danger of defaulting, making it the leading edge in a potential financial contagion that could spread across the global economic community. Greece's modern incarnation* began on July 24, 1974 (4:00 am; Athens, Greece).


A horoscope drawn for this moment rings true, especially considering that transiting Uranus, the planet of crisis, has been hovering over Greece's Pisces Midheaven for months now. It began when George Papandreou was elected last October 4, and he revealed that the debt was 12.7% of the GDP, not the 3% that the previous administration had claimed. At the time of this political transformation, transiting Pluto was forming an exact quincunx to Greece's Leo Sun.

Greece's Moon is empowered by a conjunction with Pluto, but tempered by squares to Mercury, Venus, and Saturn near the Cancer Ascendant. This combination has manifested as government support (Saturn) of the people's security needs (Moon), as enforced by the unions (Pluto). Venus in the mix describes the run-up of debt over the last decade which is now coming to a head, while the pressured Mercury reflects the cooked books.

The current transiting Saturn-Pluto square represents the contraction of global financial markets, squeezing the weakest political systems. Unfortunately for Greece, it's perfectly aligned with the natal Venus-Moon-Pluto configuration. When Papandreou announced a new austerity program last week, thousands of civil workers took to the streets in protest, precisely as transiting Uranus was conjunct Greece's Midheaven. Uranus moves on, but Saturn and Pluto haven't finished with this nation yet.

Ellen DeGeneres's Q Rating

Ellen DeGeneres's debut on American Idol last week drew high ratings and praise, with fellow judge Kara DioGuardia saying that she was kind and candid in assessing the vocal talent. Also last week, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" was renewed for three more years, while The New York Times revealed that her Q rating (popularity) made her well-positioned to take over daytime TV when Oprah departs.


Ellen DeGeneres (like Oprah) was born with a Sun-Venus conjunction in Aquarius (January 26, 1958; 3:30 am; New Orleans, LA). Ellen's Venus is exactly opposite Uranus, giving her a quirkiness and willingness to experiment in the relationship department. Since Juno, the marriage asteroid, trines her Venus, she readily moves into a committed relationship, as her marriage with actress Portia De Rossi will attest.

Oprah's and Ellen's Sun-Venus conjunctions in Aquarius are located in the U.S.'s third house of media where they square the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant. Oprah's Sun-Venus squares her Saturn in Scorpio, while Ellen's Sun-Venus squares her Jupiter-Neptune conjunction in Scorpio – all aligned with the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant. With these placements, they naturally shape the American dialogue.

Last week transiting Uranus, the ruler of her Sun sign, was forming a dynamic square to Mars in her first house, giving her an energetic new start. Over the next few months transiting Jupiter and Uranus will conjoin her progressed Sun at 28º Pisces, a very favorable alignment that may vault her into superstar status. However, with transiting Saturn opposing her progressed Sun and her progressed Juno opposing her Mars, the astrologer may question whether Ellen's relationship with her wife will survive.

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* According to Nicholas Campion in The Book of World Horoscopes.