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Remembering Senator Edward M. Kennedy:
An Astrological Appreciation
SHELLEY ACKERMAN
Photo: Rich Press
“I slept and dreamt that life was joy, I awoke and saw that life was service, I acted and behold, service was joy”
- Rabindranath Tagore
Thank you to astrologer David Crook for posting that gem on Facebook.
“Ted” was the baby, the ninth and last-born of America’s most glamorous family but ended up as the patriarch of three generations and the only one of the four Kennedy sons to live well into his 70’s and die of natural causes.
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore Kennedy was born on a Full Moon on February 22, 1932, George Washington’s 200th birthday. And though he never became president, he made an ever-lasting mark in the Senate where he served an extraordinary 46½ years, precisely the length of his brother President John F. Kennedy’s entire life.
As she was about to introduce a tribute to her uncle at last year's Democratic Convention, JFK's daughter, Caroline Kennedy (a double Sagittarius) reminded us of Ted Kennedy's achievements:
"If your child is getting an early boost in life through Head Start or attending a better school or can go to college because a Pell Grant has made it more affordable, Teddy is your senator, too."
Today, 8/30/09, the NYT re-published Sarah Vowell's August 20 2008 op-ed, "Bringing Pell Grants to My Eyes", a moving piece about her gratitude to Ted Kennedy.
Caroline Kennedy
“The other night, after Vicki called, Ed and I went outside. It was a beautiful summer night. The moon had set. There was no wind. The sea was calm and the stars were out…. I looked up, and there was this one star hanging low in the sky that was just bigger than all the rest and brighter than all the rest, with a twinkle and a sparkle louder than all the others. I know it was Jupiter, but it was acting a lot like Teddy.”
* The Liberal Lion did have Jupiter in Leo.
A dreamy Neptunian and generous Jupiterian to the core, Ted Kennedy had the Sun in Pisces and the Moon conjunct empathetic Neptune in Virgo. With such a strong emphasis in the health-healing axis of the zodiac, it’s no surprise that he fought for affordable health care for all Americans. After his near fatal accident in June of 1964 he succeeded in getting Medicare passed.
The Kennedy Brothers
He loved the ocean, music, the arts, history, and most of all, people. As is the case with many Neptunian types, his life ran the gamut of delirious highs and disgraceful lows: As three US astronauts were on their way to the moon and fulfilling JFK’s goal of a manned moon-landing by the end of the 1960’s, a drunk Ted Kennedy drove off a small narrow bridge at Chappaquiddick and left Mary Jo Kopechne to drown. It was the low point of his life and it cost him the presidency. But over time he redeemed himself and his later years were triumphant.
Kennedy had Capricorn rising, with the ruler of his ascendant, Saturn, at 29¾ degrees of the sign:
On the one hand, demanding and judgmental Saturn rising in Capricorn set an impossibly high standard for Kennedy to live up to and the placement often outshouted and overrode the sensitive/dreamer Pisces/Neptune element that so dominated his chart and (early) life. But he had several creative bi-quintile aspects in his chart (Saturn to Venus, Moon/Neptune to Saturn, and Venus to Moon/Neptune) oozing magic whenever needed, and the sharp, quick-thinking genius of Mercury (conjunct Mars) in Aquarius (Mars in Aquarius was in mutual reception to Uranus in Aries): Those strong planetary placements enabled him to think clearly, prioritize brilliantly, and to act decisively and effectively in a crisis:
Ted Kennedy Jr.
The last part of Senator Kennedy’s life was marked by his commitment to electing Barack Obama President and his ongoing fight for health reform in a law that will guarantee affordable health-care to all Americans. Kennedy was deeply religious and at his grave side on Saturday, retired Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick read a good part of the contents of Kennedy's recent letter to Pope Bennedict and the pontiffs response.
In the many tributes that we’ve heard and read in the past few days, one that stood out was his reaching out to all of the Massachusetts families that lost a loved one in the 9-11 attacks. He never let an anniversary go by without an acknowledgment. He invited many of those families for sailing trips and gave some signed watercolors that he painted.
Kennedy was a profoundly thoughtful and caring man. When he read of the July 2008 death of author and historian Richard Wade in the New York Times, and although battling his own terminal illness, he sent a personal, handwritten note to his widow (my friend and Executive Secretary of the NCGR) Liane Thomas Wade in which he wrote, “Bobby adored him.”
Emily Baumbach
Health Reform - A “Soul Age” Issue?
Emily Baumbach is one of my favorite people on the planet. She’s a terrific astrologer and is a channel of the “Michael System”, which is based on soul age and seven specific roles. To learn more, check out Emily’s website at causalworks.com. Here’s her excellent take on health care reform:
Everybody likes progress but nobody wants to change. Compassionate, karma-burning Mature Souls wanting to equalize the playing field and fix the health care system are butting up against outraged Young Soul pharmaceutical and medical companies who want to keep making money off the rest of us. Gun-toting Baby Souls have jumped into the fray demanding their 1st and 2nd Amendment rights to bear arms (as if that has anything to do with health care reform), and projecting their own Hitlerian attitudes onto Mature Soul leaders who actually have the wellbeing of the Baby Souls at heart. Baby and Young Souls are supposed to amass karmas, so they're doing what they should be doing at their age. Old Souls are hoping everybody else works it out so we can get back to our gardening. Everyone is perfectly being their Soul Age. A 30- to 35-year pattern from the 1930s and 1960s is now repeating itself. In the 60s hippies were against governmental control. Now in 2009, conservatives are against governmental control. Also, each side of the health care debate mirrors the other side: The insurance companies are the Shadow of the government, and government is the Shadow of insurance companies. Each exists to take care of the public. In an email, Emily clarified this by stating that:“Insurance companies were created to take care of the public's health, and government was created to take care of the public's safety. Insurance companies are pointing the finger at government with accusations that government is too powerful and doesn't listen to the public, and government does the same accusation back at insurance companies.”The identity of the US is in the process of being reorganized, and this may bring civil war.
Labor Day Travel Advisory:
Let's just cut to the chase:
If you’re thinking about traveling on Labor Day (Sun-Sept-6/Mon-Sept-7) don’t!
Mercury, the planet of communication and transportation, inched into Libra a couple of weeks ago, but is about to go retrograde (September 7-30), during which time it will go back into the sign of Virgo. The day that any planet changes it’s apparent motion in either retrograde or forward motion is referred to as the day of the ‘station’ (or ‘standstill’). Planetary stations are very powerful in the way that the energy on the day of the station can be stubbornly insistent that ‘it’ be paid attention to and that we stop or at least slow down so that we may listen more effectively. In general, traveling long distances is not advised, especially on a Mercury (or a Saturn) station.
As if to play a practical joke on us the forces, or “Gods”, have in recent years, ‘rigged’ it so that Mercury has stationed either on Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. And now, once again, Mercury stations retrograde on a big travel holiday, Labor Day. So, if there’s any way to avoid coming back on Monday Sept 7, do so. Mercury stations direct again- on September 29th.
By the way, Mercury turns retrograde later in the year, on December 26th, so take that into consideration when planning your Christmas/New Years holiday travel schedule.
Chart: First Quarter Moon
Click for larger view
The Planets This Week: Times are Eastern
Aug 27: Moon in Sagittarius,
Moon square Sun (1st Quarter) @ 7:42 am
Aug 28: Mercury sextile Venus @ 9:26 am
Aug 29: Moon V/C @ 1:26 am, enters Capricorn @ 10:44 am
Aug 30: Sun/Moon trine @ 12:51 am
Aug 31: Moon V/C @ 2:09 pm, enters Aquarius @ 11:43 pm
Sept 1: Moon opposite Venus @ 12:28 pm
Sept 2: Moon conjunct Jupiter @ 3:26 pm
*Moon v/c = ‘void of course’, Best for spiritual not earthly pursuits
Bonus: 2009 Astro Crib Sheet
Mercury begins 09 @ 0˚Aquarius07’ & ends 2009 @ 19˚Capricorn29’ Rx
Mercury Retrogrades 2009:
Jan 11-Feb 1, May 6-30, Sept 6-29, & Dec 26-Jan 15, 2010
Venus begins 2009 @ 27˚Aquarius48’ and ends 2009 @ 7˚Capricorn13’
Venus Retrograde: March 6-April 17, 2009
Mars begins 2009 @ 3˚Capricorn57’ and ends 2009 @ 18˚Leo54’ (Retro)
Mars turns retrograde on December 20th (thru March 10, 2010)
Jupiter begins 2009 @ 29˚Capricorn02’ and ends 2009 @ 26˚Aquarius15’
Jupiter enters Aquarius on January 5, 2009
Jupiter Retrograde: June 15-Oct 13, 2009
Saturn begins 2009 @ 21˚Virgo46’ Retrograde and ends 2009 @ 4˚Libra30’
Saturn Retrograde: Dec 31, 2008-May 16, 2009
Saturn enters Libra on Oct 29, 2009 (will retrograde back into Virgo in 2010)
Uranus begins 2009 @ 19˚Pisces15’ and ends @ 23˚Pisces05’
Uranus Retrograde: July 1-December 1, 2009
Neptune begins 2009 @ 22˚Aquarius27’ and ends 2009 @ 24˚Aquarius34’
Neptune Retrograde: May 28-November 4, 2009
Pluto begins 2009 @ 1˚Capricorn16’ and ends 2009 @ 3˚Capricorn17’
Pluto Retrograde: April 4-September 11, 2009
ARIES: So what if the rest of the world is on hiatus, you’ve never been one to follow the heard, so why should you now? Be your magnificent opportunistic self and seize the day (and night) this weekend when the Sun in Virgo forms a practical energy-building alliance with the Moon in ambitious Capricorn in your work-health-career houses. Even if there’s no higher-up in sight, whoever you’re in dialogue with probably has some useful advice or insight that you can take to the bank. Be on the lookout for and pay attention to a wise-woman type who has your best interests at heart.
TAURUS: It’s always a good omen when the other two earth signs are active in your chart as they invariably lend tangible support to and for anything you’re working on or building at the moment. The question is- what do you want to build next? Since your ruling planet, Venus, is in majestic Leo and in the sector of your chart that rules home base, it stands to reason that you’re focused on your surroundings and concerned about making your family members and guests comfortable while adding value to your home. Even if you rent- do something to spruce up the place, it’ll up your sense of self-worth which will add to your net worth.
GEMINI: The past few days have been tough and confrontational and you’ve probably dodged a bullet or two. But don’t throw yourself a party or drop your vigilance just yet: Your ruling planet Mercury is up to its old tricks and ready to do an about face, and round two (of this three part sequence) is but a couple of weeks away. In the meantime, you do catch a break, some respect and positive attention from a female who holds you in high regard. But don’t let the flattery distract you too much. If you’re smart, you’ll see to it that this energy motivates you to tackle a creative project that has been on hold for much too long. Do it already, or get off the pot.
CANCER: With impatient Mars in your sign (through mid October) you’re more of a prickly pear than ever these days, but do you really need to take your frustration out on the rest of the world? Besides, if you change the focus to getting your financial and domestic needs met (courtesy of the cooperative aspect between Mercury and Venus) your mood will lift naturally. If you can, see what help you may offer to a deserving female family member or a close friend who feels like kin. She will never forget you for it.
LEO: This weekend, as the transiting Virgo Sun in your 2nd house of income is supported by the Moon in Capricorn in your 6th house of work, you’re encouraged to put your nose to the grindstone and focus on work and the practical side of life as if everything depended on it- it does. As a matter of fact, if you’re in a position to influence a group (even a virtual one, like on Facebook), give them an assignment, one that puts the “fun” back in functionality – to be completed by Monday. That’s right, you’re a genius at mixing work with play, and times being what they are, it’s needed to keep the wheels greased and the morale up.
VIRGO: Your ruling planet, Mercury, now in your 2nd house of income, is in a lively exchange with the career sector of your chart and things look so promising. But Mercury is known to babble, bubble, and bob and weave before committing him or herself to anything. What you’re working on for Fall ’09 needs more consideration before it’s a go. All of it will happen eventually, just later than expected. And besides, it’s important to not over-commit yourself now: Starting in mid-October (and through early June 2010), count on at least half of your energy being devoted to getting to the bottom of what makes you tick.
LIBRA: It’s a woman’s (and a man’s) prerogative to change his or her mind, so prepare for a soul-searching cycle of deliberations and a possible scenario in which you have to take some of your words back. The latter is never pleasant, so it’s best to couch whatever you say in the next few weeks with a disclaimer that covers you just in case. Virgo month is always your self-reflective time of year and when you need privacy the most. Knowing that, it’s best to commune with those who allow you to be your truest self, warts and all.
SCORPIO: The alignment between the Sun, Moon and Pluto in practical earth signs this week promote a thorough purging of ideas and emotional attitudes that no longer serve you. This has been a long time coming and quite frankly, avoiding this ‘house cleaning’ sequence could prevent some of the good stuff on its way to you from getting through. And while you’re at it, throw some good energy on rebuilding a relationship with a sibling or a neighbor. You may be able to clear up a lifetime of misunderstanding with minimal effort.
SAGITTARIUS: In the last days of August, there’s a brief but spectacular window of opportunity to get different factions of your life on board with something that means a great deal to you financially. If you need a referral, an endorsement, a letter of introduction, or all three, ask and ye shall receive! Your friends and associates are there to help. Along the same lines, it’s time to revisit, release, and transform the way that you earn your living once and for all. The next ‘school year’ (Sept-June) will be a very inspiring one if you let go of the past and let your adventurous spirit lead the way.
CAPRICORN: As Mercury prepares to reverse itself in the most visible professional part of your chart, be careful to not make any promises that you won’t be able to keep. It’s not in your nature to be fickle nor is it pleasant for you to admit to things being beyond your control, but it’s best to do that now rather than disappoint someone (a female who is counting on you for support?) later. She may not be thrilled about the wait, but she will appreciate your truthfulness and will respect you for it forever.
AQUARIUS: Although you’re accused of being cool and detached, you’ve been deeply emotional lately and have possibly been confused by it. At the risk of sounding too heady, it might help you to know that you’ve been carrying and processing the ‘wounds of the collective’. Though lucky Jupiter is in your sign, so is empathetic Neptune and the asteroid Chiron, the one that is so focused on healing. Reforming health care is a very personal thing to many Aquarians these days: This week, it’s a good idea to take some of the pressure off, put your feet up, and listen to what others (who may understand less than you do) are thinking. You are in a position to bridge the gap in a loving way, between those who get it and those who don’t.
PISCES: When we’re feeling not quite present, and times are less than stable, we need the grounded-ness of others to help hold us up. The alignment this weekend between earth signs Virgo and Capricorn in the parts of your chart that link up partners, spouses, and your circle of friends will strengthen your support system big time - if you allow it. If a significant other waffles or flip-flops on an issue in the weeks ahead, cut them some slack. They’re simply struggling to get a handle on something that’s been bugging them for a long time.