Sea of Tears, at Starlight News

[Nancy Waterman]

http://starlightnews.com

The New Year floats into existence on a sea of tears. The tsunami disaster that has engulfed Southeastern Asia has grasped us all in its grisly tentacles. And perhaps that was its purpose, rather than some vengeful manifestation of divine wrath for a swath of supposed sinners. For a brief moment, we have awakened to the deeper truth of our united human family. Our petty disagreements have faded into the background, momentarily replaced by our collective effort to bring aid and comfort to the suffering of our brothers and sisters half a world away. This fleeting feeling is one we need to steadfastly remember and one that we all too often forget.

More commonly, nascent attempts at global cooperation to resolve the world’s most pressing problems clash with a regressive narcissistic nationalism that sees international geopolitics as a Darwinistic struggle for the survival of the fittest. Witness the examples of the International Court and the Kyoto Treaty in which the United States’ refusal to participate puts short-term national gain over long-term collective responsibility and benefit. At our peril, we ignore the handwriting on the wall, especially with regard to our choice of energy sources. The air we breathe causes an ever-increasing rate of asthma amongst our citizens; scientists warn of devastation related to global warning if we do not reduce our use of fossil fuels; we are fighting an unwinnable war against an indigenous and growing insurgency in our effort to control a waning resource upon which our civilization depends. And yet, we do not hear the trumpets blaring, calling us to awaken from our slumber.

[Nancy Waterman]

1. Deficit soars to its highest level yet

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/12/business/12cnd-trade.html?hp&ex=1105592400&en=b324eb4a4227918c&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Also David Podvin's latest is excellent.

http://makethemaccountable.com/podvin/more/050111_Waterloo.htm

[cliss]

2. Nice article.

Thanks, Nancy. I recall in one history class, the instructor said that the United States has always been isolated, because the country is bordered by 2 enormous oceans on either side. Policies have traditionally been isolationist.

If it seems like the Americans dont' care, it's probably because of this. When the tsunami hit, I believe it took Bush 4 days (?) to respond. Bush was too busy "clearing brush" on his ranch in Crawford. After a few days, however, the clamor started to rise. Bush made an appearance. He even offered $35 million to help.

A friend called me and told me about Bush's appearance. He looked surly; he seemed totally inconvenienced.

All I can think of is the Fable of the Lion and the Mouse. Bush could never imagine a day when we might need the help of others. The day could come.......as in "The Day After Tomorrow".

[Nancy Waterman]

3. cliss - This is where globalization comes in

I think it is a precursor to the creation of a real globalized community. The two oceans won't matter anymore. They didn't help on 9/11.

[NEOBuckeye]

4. Before that, the United States must fall very hard. Oil will be the cause.

I think many of us already know better by now, but it still amazes me how few among the American people realize our predicament with energy.

Our entire infrastructure since World War II has been built to use Oil almost exclusively. Naturally, the Texas Big Oil industry benefitted quite handsomely for this fact -- for a time. But Oil is a finite resource, and as we use more and more of it, we have grown more dependent upon other countries, like Saudi Arabia, to keep our 'fix' going. This also explains Iraq, Venezuela and Iran (and why we haven't touched North Korea). Our dependency upon Oil for so much -- for energy and transport, but also for food, for plastics, for clothing, consummable goods, etc., is what has so empowered the Oil industry more than any other industry, which in turn has backed the Bush Crime Family, the Neo-Conservatives and all of their cravings for power.

Oil is Power, quite literally, for these people. And they will stop at nothing to keep the supply of it going. For without Oil, the entire Bush-Neo-Conservative regime can only wither and crumble away to dust. Nothing else can so clearly explain the thorough, systematic corruption of our foreign policy, our electoral process, our media and our democratic government. These people are quite literally drunken with the power they derive through oil itself. And nothing, it seems at this point, except the giant keg in the ground running out, is going to put an end to this drunken, delusional party of riotous, maddening excess.

[Nancy Waterman]

6. Well put, NEO! I totally agree with your synopsis

eom

[mhr]

8. Try Listening To This Interview As Well - It Explains A Lot About US

Foreign policy over the last 50 years.

Interview with John Perkins aka Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/12/31/1546207&mode=thread&tid=25

http://play.rbn.com/?url=demnow/demnow/demand/2004/dec/audio/dn20041231.ra&proto=rtsp&start=

http://www.archive.org/download/dn2004-1231/dn2004-1231-1_64kb.mp3

[Nancy Waterman]

9. Great interview, mhr.

I heard today on NPR some musings about the US no longer being the economic superpower and being eclipsed by China and India in the near future. The interviewee was basically trying to make it sound not too bad. In the same show they were discussing Jim Baker suggesting that we should have a phased pull out from Iraq. This will be the legacy of GWB.

[mhr]

10. Thanks Nancy, Here Is An Additional Presentation Related To Foreign Policy

There is a developing policy strategy that defines the use of our military in terms of defending and extending globalization.

This doctrine states that the reason the US military budget is so large is because the globalized countries are willing to subsidize the US military by buying our debt, provided we protect the global economy and attendant corporations.

Further this doctrine defines the globalized world as the "Core" and the non-globalized world as the "Gap". The goal of global economic policy is to align third-world countries from the Gap with the Core.

As a means of last resort, the US military is the last line of defense to enforce this transformation.

The invasion and occupation of Iraq is now being justified within this framework. As an example of the importance that this rational is given inside the beltway, the Air Force is requiring every new Flag Officer to be briefed on this policy paradigm.

More about this policy can be learned here:

rtsp://cspanrm.fplive.net/cspan/project/ter/ter122004_barnett.rm

http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com/index.htm

http://www.nationalreview.com/books/owens200407131548.a...

[Nancy Waterman]

11. mhr - Very interesting!!

It seems to be saying that the US govt and its military now work for the global corporations, no longer the country. This would seem the natural extension of the Bush agenda. And the UN, with its quint ideas of justice and combating world poverty, would even seem to be surpassed by the agenda of the corporations.

[mhr]

12. Exactly! Global Organizations Like The UN and Other NGOs

Have been usurped in the name of greater profits through globalization.

[pacifictiger]

16. so Nancy,

if ne'er-do-well greed types hiding behind corporate entities are now beginning to call the shots and control things, any speculations as to how Pluto in Capricorn will shake up this system?

[Nancy Waterman]

17. An excellent question, pacific tiger.

It enters in 2008, and all of the solstice and equinox charts will have a Sun Pluto hard aspect for that entire year. (Pluto at 00 or 1 or so Capricorn conjunct, square, or opposition the Ingress Suns) Thus, the rulers in essentially all the nations will be feeling tremendous stress and power struggles at the time. I don't want to speculate what it could mean.

Not much of interest happened in 1972, though there were some significant treaties, when Pluto entered Libra, but Pluto in Venus' sign seems more firendly than Pluto in Saturn's sign. OTOH, Pluto entered Cancer in 1914, and was on all the solsitce and equinox Sun's for that year and the next. Big upheaval and big power struggles then for sure.

For those who don't understand a lot of astrology, the Equinoxes and the Solstices are the birth moments of the 4 seasons, and the charts of those moments can be used to describe the following three months. Some say the chart for the Spring Equinox can be used as a birth chart for the entire zodiacal year. If a powerful planet is in the first degree of a cardinal sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn), it will make a hard aspect or conjunction to the Cardinal Ingress Suns (solstices and equinoxes) all year.

Certainly, things will be in turmoil in the US, with Pluto opposing our Venus Jupiter conjunction (the biggest indicator of success and wealth) in the early degrees of Pluto in Capricorn and transforming it in some way.

[pacifictiger]

18. thanks for the response Nancy

I do so much appreciate your talent to see beyond and your willingness to share with us, for humanity's greater good.

Another thought just came to mind so I'm throwing it out there too .....
If the beginning of the military-industrial complex came about as a result of our involvement in WW2, would the chart of Pearl Harbor, or Roosevelt's declaration of war, lend any clues as to what might be happening on that front?

[Nancy Waterman]

19. I think that may be stretching it

I don't think a chart of WWII would be more than a chart for WWII. But I do think your first idea, of watching Pluto through the signs, and especially the cardinal points, has more merit. Pluto is the planet of hidden wealth and power. The planet of the plutocracy and the planet of the power struggle between the powers that be and the masses. The masses can also be seen to be a source of hidden but potent power (Pluto), which, if unleashed, can be very forceful. Pluto going through Capricorn could unleash some powerful rebellion of the masses against the oligarchy. But Pluto tends to take things to extreme before it causes transformation. In effect, the transformation comes from the cycle reaching a climax before dissipating. So we may see more of an overactive and controlling plutocracy before we get our transformation. Just like we now have so much religious fundamentalism with Pluto in Sag. before people let go of that particular illusion.

[loudsue]

5. Great article, Nancy! And good links on the other articles, as well.

In fact, this is a great thread! Thanks, NeoBuckeye, for your sobering contribution concerning the addiction to oil.

We're in a state of chaos in the world right now. Order is inherent, but not yet ready to take form. It's going to take a little more evolution.... and some sobering knocks on the head.... for a bunch of greedy, power-drunk, people who are too lazy and comfortable to bother to THINK!

I'm wondering if the next "Pearl Harbor" attack, which will be blamed on Iran, and which will inevitably reinstitute the draft, is what it will take. I forsee it being either before or right after March 25th, when Iran opens their new Market for trading Oil. It is still being determined whether the new Oil Contracts will be traded in Euros or in a basket of currencies. One thing for sure, it is not going to be traded in dollars.

The U.S. oil industry is NOT going to allow it, so politics, and politicians, and the military they control, will follow.

Like Hexagram #3 in the I-Ching (Chaos: Difficulty at The Beginning), the "new" is struggling to be born, and has not yet taken form. In global time, the birth has to be a slow one, because this is a big ship to turn around. But it will happen.

BTW, Nancy, I'm really looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!! :hi: I'll give you a buzz while I'm on the road!

:kick::kick::kick:

[Nancy Waterman]

7. I don't think we will go into Iran so fast

I think we really got our fingers burned in Iraq and we won't go anywhere else for quite a while.

Loudsue - See you tomorrow!!

[Nancy Waterman]

13. Have a look at the planets for January 27

It looks like the 27th and the 28th will be very difficult. Not only is there a Pluto Mars waxing conjunction, there is a Venus Saturn opposition and a waxing Moon Uranus opposition. As the Moon passes the opposition, it moves to semisquare Saturn. Thus anyone currently under Pluto, Saturn, or Uranus transits will be triggered during that time. It seems to combine violence - Pluto Mars - with sorrow, Venus Saturn. And stress and upset continues with the Moon Uranus trigger. I would expect anger, violence, expolsions, and sorrow that will hit the news and upset everyone. A good day to be careful for everyone. The Mars Pluto continues through the 28th.

[hippiechick]

14. Isn't that on or near the Iraqi 'election' day ?

Thanks for all your insights, Nancy ~


:grouphug:

[Nancy Waterman]

15. Yes, it is just before the election, which is the 30th

This could certainly imply a surge of violence before the election. Both the Pluto and Uranus activations are likely to impact Iraq.

[flpeach]

20. Poor Iraqi people . . .

I fear many more innocents will be killed or maimed for trying to exercise their right to vote . . .

Maybe they will put off the election (doubtful, though) if an insurgency of violence erupts a few days beforehand. It's just that * is so damned stubborn!!

Nancy, love your article!

[Nancy Waterman]

21. Well, the planets are pretty ferocious a few days before

on the 27th and 28th. I am sure we will see some intense violence around then.

I continue to wonder about the Saturn station opposite Cheney's Venus. He is very invested in this whole neocon process and in Iraq going well. The station begins right around the time of the elections which makes me wonder about the period following and how much it will depart from Bush's fantasies.

[Cha]

22. Nancy, thank you so much for

enlightening us on the workings of the Stars and Planets!

I was wondering if you had any take on how con rice is going to be as SOS these next years?

I found this on the net..

It seems her time of birth is a little Fuzzy!


Rice, Condoleezza
Birth Date: 11/14/1954 (Nov 14, 1954)
Birth Time: 11:30 (11:30 AM) CST(+6:00)
Birth Place: Birmingham, AL
Latitude / Longitude: 33 N 31 / 86 W 48

http://www.astrodatabank.com/NM/RiceCondoleeza.htm

[Nancy Waterman]

23. Hi zidzi!! I think Condi will be having a very hard time

Except for the first 8 and half months of 2006, Condi will be under either strong Neptune or strong Saturn or at times both. I think generally she will seem indecisive, vascillating, weak, ineffective, and unable to clearly manifest goals (Neptune). She will enter things with great expectation and then things will fall apart.

[Cha]

24. Thanks, Nancy!

I was hoping her true colors would continue to be shown to the world and even the USA. They get away with so much that there needs to be more and more evidence of their ineptitude and down right twisted manipulation.

Already, she seems almost as bad as bush with her crass insensitivity..

snip~

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Asia's tsunami disaster provided a "wonderful opportunity" for the United States to show compassion with relief efforts that reaped "great dividends" on the diplomatic front, Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice said. end snip~


More at..
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/index.php?id=1013

[Nancy Waterman]

25. All this American narcissism makes me sick

Only in this adminsitration could the tsunami disaster be seen as an opportunity for us rather than simply a tragedy that we try to repair in whatever way possible. Why is it always about "us".

[jrthin]

26. So, Nancy, Condi

in essence will be doing the same old same old.

[loudsue]

27. Nancy, I got the time of the Oath of Office being at 11:56 AM EST

Is that what you got? I know you were going to go by "exact tiime", so you may have something more accurate. The time I used was what flashed up when I hit the "guide" on the satellite TV.

:bounce: I can't wait for your analysis of the Inaugural chart! It looks like Chiron is the most elevated planet, in the 10th house, at 27* 17" Capricorn, while the MH is at 25*10" Capricorn (Placidus/Tropical). The Sun is the second most elevated, at 0*44" Aquarius.

Lots of Septiles. Uranus/Mercury; Uranus/Venus; N.Node/Uranus; Pluto/Neptune.

Saturn (ruler of MH) is Rx. and in the 3rd, conj. the 4th house cusp.

Oh boy! I can't wait to get your take on this!!

:kick::kick::kick:

[Nancy Waterman]

28. Hi loudsue!!!

I posted a bit on this chart in the Inaugural thread. I'll be working on it for the next few days.

Cheney's oath has Saturn exactly on the IC within 28 minutes of arc. Ha!! No fun there at all. It could be quite noticable for the first 6 months. Interestingly it somewhat corresponds with the Saturn station opposite his Venus. So he is up for a bad time starting any day. Some Schadenfreude to look forward to for us!

Bush has the Saturn/ IC connection at 2 degrees and 4 minutes of arc. And the Chiron/MC connection at 1 degree 53 minutes of arc. Both very tight. The MC/IC axis is right on the midpoint of the two. It is hard to imagine Chiron Saturn not coloring his entire adminsitration with some very painful reality. I cannot help but think of the tsunami chart with Chiron Saturn across the horizon line. It makes me think of either Iraq as a festering wound or some kind of economic major recession or both.

[Pallas180]

29. Septiles are rarely talked about, but

they are an indicator of death.

So in this inaugural chart they would be very important

[Nancy Waterman]

30. Rice will be confirmed on Wednesday

Does that mean she will be sworn in on Thursday or Friday? Under a Mars Pluto conjunction and a Saturn Venus opposition? It could be a very bad few years for her.

[loudsue]

31. I hope the whole lot of them have a relatively awful time of it!

They need to personally experience SOMETHING that will expose for the whole nation who they really are, and how much damage they've already inflicted on us and the rest of the world.

I'm going to hop over to the inauguration thread to see whassup! :hi:

:kick::kick::kick:

[Cleita]

32. If there is a divinity in the universe, it seems to be calling the

good souls home to fight the influence of the evil ones taking over our world. That's how I am becoming to see the death of my husband and the innocents being killed around the world recently.

[Me.]

33. That's A Lovely Way Of Viewing It Cleita

And I'm positively sure there is a divinity in the universe.