February 18, 2001
Nancy Lubar Sommers, LCSW
Since the Inauguration of George Bush, transiting Mercury has twice crossed the exact degree of the tenth house Uranus in the Inaugural Chart, activating the natal conjunction between these two planets. The first time, on January 22, coincided with the unexpected announcement that funds would be cut from all family-planning clinics worldwide that mentioned the word “abortion” to their clients, the reinstitution of the notorious “gag” rule abandoned by President Clinton in 1993. This was a veritable bombshell and provoked a furious response from many quarters both nationally and internationally. The second time was on February 16, when the administration precipitously carried out significant air strikes against Iraq destroying several radar installations. Once again, a huge outcry resulted from numerous countries around the globe, and Saddam promised retribution.
Uranus is the planet of unexpected, tumultuous situations that can bring sweeping change in a moment. Conjunct Mercury, it brings quick and incisive thinking that is attuned to its own truth and not overly concerned with the reaction of others. The Uranus/Mercury conjunction in the Inaugural chart, however, becomes problematic because it is in square aspect (a stressful relationship) to two very troublesome planets. Connected by a tight square to Mars, it signifies poor judgement, rash action, violence, and the possibility of war. Connected by a wider square to Saturn (which in turn opposes Mars), we find obstacles, difficulties, and criticism that press against the determined and aggressive Mars/Mercury/Uranus energies causing continual conflict.
From March 5 through March 7, transiting Mercury will make its final pass across Uranus at 19 Aquarius. A few days later, from about March 11 through April 1, we can expect another and far more powerful stimulation of Inaugural Uranus, this time by tertiary progressed Mercury. (Tertiary progressions are based on one day equals one month, rather than the one day equals one year technique of secondary progressions.) This Mercury/Uranus combination will be intensely activated by transiting Mars from the 25th through the 29th from 19 Sagittarius. If we look at the Resident-in-Chief’s chart, we see corroborating evidence of a tense, aggression-filled, high stakes period from March 24 through 29: progressed Ascendant (19 Virgo) square natal Uranus (19 Gemini) being strongly activated by the same transiting Mars (19 Sagittarius). Thus, the last week of March promises to be the violent culmination of a very tense and controversial month for the administration.
On August 2, 1990, when Iraq invaded Kuwait, there was a Mars/Pluto opposition at 14 degrees Taurus/Scorpio. On March 18, 2001, there will be a Mars/Pluto conjunction at 15 Sagitarius16. This is a highly inflammatory and violent aspect that may well augur the beginning of an explosive and painful episode on our planet for the next several months. As we can see from the above, the United States will be involved right from the beginning. Moreover, the tertiary progressed Mars coming to exact square of Uranus in the Bush Inauguration chart from early June through the end of July indicates a very volatile period of war and violence in the summer. This is especially likely in light of the turbulent planetary alignments during that same period and the many national charts that are set off by them: including the charts of Israel, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, and the PLO. One can only hope that the tendency toward rash and explosive action found in the Inaugural chart and activated over the next few months will not exacerbate what already promises to be a very dangerous situation.