Stars Over America

Iraqis vote October 15 in a referendum of their draft Constitution. Intense bargaining between Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds has been on-going while suicide bombers continue to blow themselves up, insurgents plunge Baghdad into darkness, and foreign and local insurgents attack both American troops and Iraqis.

The country of Iraq has many different charts. This one is for the referendum on October 15 (view chart) and is calculated for noon in Baghdad so we can look at astrological factors on that day even though the vote occurs over several days. Among the multiple astrological factors or configurations, some look very stressful and others positive.

MARS in TAURUS RETROGRADE QUINCUNX PLUTO looks like a hellish combination of ghastly struggle, which is indeed occurring on a daily basis. MARS is the ancient Ruler, and PLUTO the modern Ruler, of the extremist sign of SCORPIO, the sign associated with life and death issues and power struggles. The SUN’S difficult aspect (quincunx) to MARS in TAURUS RETROGRADE indicates a very difficult adjustment and some upsetting surprises from the SUN’S semi-square to the disruptive planet, URANUS.

The STATION of CHIRON (painful healing from past wounds) at 27 CAPRICORN exactly squares JUPITER in LIBRA (principles of fairness and justice). Healing historical wounds is one of the main challenges for Iraq.

A new cycle of growth was initiated at the NEW MOON SOLAR ECLIPSE of October 3. This now comes to fruition at the FULL MOON LUNAR ECLIPSE on October 17.
These Eclipses in the signs of LIBRA and ARIES relate to the balance between individuals and partnerships. The Shiites and Kurds offered last minute concessions to the Sunnis to get their support.

THE MOON (representing the people) is in the sign of PISCES. PISCES is the sign of compassion and spirituality but also of the savior or the victim. The MOON SQUARE PLUTO supports the view that the masses in general have suffered a great deal in a ruthless national struggle for philosophical and religious power, not to speak of invasion by a foreign power (the U.S.).

SATURN, guardian of all that is conservative and limiting, blocks MERCURY (by square), which represents the “voice” of the people and the media. Also, NEPTUNE later challenges MERCURY (by square) indicating a possibly confused outcome from the vote.

However, there are also positive indicators that bode a more optimistic outcome. The SUN conjoins the favorable FIXED STAR “SPICA”, closely aspects (sextile) PLUTO in Sagittarius (power of religious belief), and eventually conjoins the “greater benefic”, JUPITER.

From an American perspective, the outcome of this referendum is critical. The sooner the Iraqis can control their own domestic security and a relatively stable government, the sooner the U.S. Administration can withdraw more troops. Also, the draw down of American troops from Iraqi soil will greatly diminish anger in the Middle East.

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