I was wondering the other day what yesterday's Mars-Jupiter conjunction (in Aries, part of a large ongoing stellium in the sign) might bring, and thought of a military celebration or a victory parade, since Mars - at home in its own sign of Aries - rules war, battles and the military, whilst Jupiter rules celebration, justice and success, amongst other things. Aries can also be a triumphalist sign in which there are either winners or losers. So the death of Osama bin Laden seems like one of those headline-grabbing events that coincide neatly with the planetary line-up of the moment. Of course, the conjunction could also inflame or spread (Jupiter) anger (Mars), and so there are likely to be broader conserquences.

Just wish I'd posted something before it actually happened rather than after...

Graham

A small group of us met at the Pittville Pump Room in Cheltenham this morning and toasted Neptune's change of sign with the Spa waters, and over tea and cake in the park, a lively discussion on Neptune in Pisces, and the position of the astrological model in our culture, ensued.  Interesting that today there are Sun, Moon and four planets in Aries to welcome Neptune into Pisces.  (Incidentally, predicting the future position of Neptune more than ten years ahead is still a challenge to mathematicians, so the exact moment of change could be wrong in your ephemeris, by hours or even several days).

I noticed in the news today 'AC Grayling has written a book which offers atheists a "bible" of their very own'. I wonder if this was released to coincide with his birthday (3.4.49) - surely no-one would be so superstitious ? He has Sun and three planets in Aries, plus, a nice one for a philosopher, a Sun-Neptune opposition within a degree of exactness, transiting Saturn exact on his Neptune today. In the way that us 'apophenic' astrologers seek connections where perhaps none exist, it struck me that the 'Ten Commandments' he suggests, which are probably better considered as 'humanist' than 'atheist', might correspond to the ten planetary archetypes of astrology. So for fun, here's his list with my suggestions :

Love well (Venus), seek the good in all things (Jupiter), harm no others (Neptune), think for yourself (Uranus), take responsibility (Saturn), respect nature (Moon), do your utmost (Pluto), be informed (Mercury), be kind (Sun), be courageous (Mars).

KL

Jupiter is currently speeding through Aries since its abrupt entrance on Jan 22nd. A quick thought - Since Jupiter represents the principle of faith and expansion, and Aries is noted for its active and resolute nature, it seems entirely apt that we are seeing on the streets of Libya, Bahrain and other Middle East countries the courage to overcome fear and act decisively in the face of tyrannical power. Jupiter remains in Aries until June 5th.

Graham