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David Letterman’s Sextortion Scandal –
Beloved Late Night Host’s Confessional Monologue
Aced (would-be) Blackmailer
Full Moon in Aries-Libra, Mercury sextiles Mars- Twice!
SHELLEY ACKERMAN
Photo: Rich Press
Sometimes I amaze myself.
When the news broke of David Letterman’s imminent confession to his studio audience, I immediately checked his chart and the horoscope that I wrote for him (Aries) for the week of October 1-7:
ARIES: You’re in demand and your voice and energy count more than ever. Your ruler, Mars, fires up your 4th house of family affairs but things need not get testy. The red planet is aided by the benevolent aspect to Mercury in your 6th house of details making for an environment in which you can work out the nastiest of problems. Any conditions in the home that could compromise the health of you or a family member should be looked into and rectified once and for all. The Full Moon in 1st & 7th (houses) raises and aggravates partnership issues. A word of advice: Don’t take the bait.
As most readers of this column know, a one-size-fits-all horoscope has about as much to do with real astrology as Cliff Notes has to do with real literature.
Okay, that may not be the best analogy but you get the point.
Horoscopes are written as a general trend for each Sun sign (or rising sign). But an individual’s chart is extremely intricate and multi-faceted and no one-para horoscope can adequately cover it. At best, all an astrologer can do is to write about the transits in a way that gives some focus, direction and hopefully inspiration. Needless to say, I was surprised and pleased at how on target the Aries missive was for Dave’s predicament.
He began his monologue on October 1, 2009 @ 11:35 pm with a parable: “Don’t feed the skunks.” Am I the only one to have picked up on the sublime set-up?
David Letterman
(b. April 12, 1947)
David Letterman was born on April 12, 1947 at 6:00 AM in Indianapolis. Click here for his chart.
He’s an Aries with Taurus rising and the Moon in Capricorn. His Saturn-ruled Moon (in the philosophical 9th house of public relations) abhors humiliation, so while he handled this mess deftly, you can bet that confessing to his studio audience was excruciating, and a Hobson’s Choice. His Moon at 9º Capricorn is in exact square to tricky Neptune (at 9º Libra) which is in his 6th house of co-workers, servants, and support staff. Transiting Neptune, hovering at 24 Aquarius has been at his Moon/Neptune midpoint for the better part of a year and will remain close to that degree for another few months. I suspect several more of his office ‘girls’ will be coaxed to come forward in the weeks ahead. His Mercury, chatty ruler of his 2nd house of income, is at 25 degrees of Pisces. That degree has been ‘hot’ lately, and has been hit by both Saturn and Uranus. His Mars (ruler of Aries) at 0 Aries 25 has been challenged by Pluto in Capricorn, setting the stage for a ‘surrender’ of sorts, but if played right, could make him stronger. My only real concern is that transiting Saturn will be in his 6th house for the next three years. Simply put, his work life will have more restrictions and his health and vitality could be compromised and, his time at work may not be quite as fun for him as it’s been. Perhaps he doesn’t really care: “Happiness has never been one of his objectives” said Merrill Markoe, former head writer on the Letterman Show (and former long time girl friend) in an interview with the U.K. Telegraph.
Robert “Joe” Halderman
(b. Oct 12, 1957)
The alleged blackmailer, t.v. producer Robert Joseph Halderman, was born on October 12, 1957. What was this guy thinking? Freed on $200K bail the CBS Producer of 48 Hours pleaded “Not Guilty”. The divorced father (with four planets in Libra and his South Node in Taurus on Letterman’s ascendant) who until recently lived with Letterman’s former assistant (and lover) Stephanie Birkitt, is deeply in debt. Why didn’t he just try to get a book deal? Could he have picked a worse time to initiate his ridiculous plot? Mercury had just turned retrograde on September 9, 2009.
Stephanie Birkitt
(b. Jan 7, 1975)
By the way, when Letterman made his debut as a talk show host on June 23, 1980, Saturn was at 21 degrees of Virgo. 2009 marks the Saturn Return of his 1980 debut. The daytime talk show had a four month run, but Dave came back with his Late Night Show on Feb 2, 1982. He has hosted his night time show (in one form or another) ever since.
IMO, Letterman has, for the time being, made the best he could of a very bad situation. Transiting Mars squared his Sun and symbolically held a knife to his throat. He didn’t panic, he called his attorney, they worked with 90 year old NY District Attorney Robert Morgenthau’s office and he faced the music in about as public a forum as one can imagine. There's talk that CBS and Letterman may face future sexual harassment suits.
And while I feel awful for Dave’s wife Regina Lasko, his son Harry, and the staffers involved, I admire the way that he met the situation head-on (Pardon the pun, but Aries does rule the head). How I wish President Bill Clinton would have done the same thing back in 1998.
Chart: Mercury direct
Click for larger view
The Planets This Week: Times are Eastern
Oct 1: Moon in Pisces, Mercury sextile Mars @ 2:02 pm
Oct 2: Moon V/C @ 11:29 pm
Oct 3: Moon in Aries @ 5:21am
Oct 4: Full Moon @ 2:10 am, Mercury sextile Mars @ 7:37 am,
Mercury opposite Uranus @ 5:06 pm, Mars trine Uranus @ 9:36 pm
Oct 5: Moon V/C @ 1:46 am, enters Taurus @ 12:33 pm
Oct 7: Moon V/C @ 1:19 pm, enters Gemini @ 5:46 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
Note: In addition to this week’s full moon, there’s an equally significant celestial event, one that is extremely rare: Mercury (planet of thought, communication, and transportation) will aspect the same planet twice within a seven day period. This week, Mercury in Virgo will form a ‘sextile’ (a cooperative 60 degree aspect) with Mars in Cancer. This is an opportunity to integrate primal emotional drives and needs with the intellect, so that we can move forward with clarity and all circuits working together. The ‘message’ is doubly stated and therefore emphasized in a specific way for each of the 12 signs.
ARIES: You’re in demand and your voice and energy count more than ever. Your ruler, Mars, fires up your 4th house of family affairs but things need not get testy. The red planet is aided by the benevolent aspect to Mercury in your 6th house of details making for an environment in which you can work out the nastiest of problems. Any conditions in the home that could compromise the health of you or a family member should be looked into and rectified once and for all. The Full Moon in 1st & 7th (houses) raises and aggravates partnership issues. A word of advice: Don’t take the bait.
TAURUS: The harmonious Mars – Mercury aspect graces your houses of expression, creativity, speculation and romance enabling you to ace misunderstandings and build a bridge between your siblings, your children, and the people and hobbies you love most. This cooperative energy and spirit of mutuality means more than you realize and it may, in a roundabout way, help your wallet too. The Full Moon magnifies your need for down time to process and regenerate, but If you’re waiting on a friend to take that excursion-don’t. Things may come up unexpectedly for them.
GEMINI: The Mars – Mercury alliance can and should be tapped into to fix financial woes once and for all. The well-being of family members is a key component in what must be considered. Your ruler, Mercury opposite Uranus in your 10th house dictates that you be flexible and use your natural gift of agility to cope with sudden changes in the professional realm. A parent or boss may need your time unexpectedly, don’t gripe. The Full Moon will add fun and excitement to the mix - but overspending to partake is a no-no.
CANCER: Like your other ‘Cardinal’ counterparts (Aries, Libra & Capricorn), you’re on the hot seat and where the action is. Mars in your sign, though energizing, is also agitating, but you’re being supported by Mercury in level-headed Virgo. Take one thing at a time and allow the cooler head of a sibling or a neighbor to take the edge off. Their presence and advice is invaluable. And please don’t let the Oct 4th Full Moon throw you if a boss or parent’s demands strike you as over the top. (No need to respond THAT second). Someone close may need to travel unexpectedly.
LEO: Whether you’re catholic, protestant, Jewish, Baptist, Hindu, or Moslem, or agnostic or atheist, we all need a rabbi or someone to confess to. The Mars- Mercury alignment emphasizes the need to run things by someone wise who is worthy of your trust. This conversation (or communion) correlates to issues of income and finance. Could a sense of unresolved guilt be in the way of your earning ability? It’s worth exploring. Investing in the home pays off. But – read the fine print, read the fine print, read the fine print. The Full Moon helps you to recapture a sense and optimism. Anything is possible.
VIRGO: Speak now or forever hold your peace. Something’s been on your mind but you’ve been waiting for the right time to bring it up. Well guess what? Take a deep breath and go for it. The Mars-Mercury hookup all but guarantees that you WILL be backed by your circle of friends and what you have to say will be received better than you had anticipated. The Full Moon lights up your money houses. Don’t let an overly aggressive lender talk you into a package you can’t manage. You are the voice of reason and know best.
LIBRA: It’s always frustrating when we see things and know things that others cannot and will not. Perhaps you over-reacted to a ‘transgression’ in the past week, the fact remains that you were in the know and others involved were not. All will be revealed and smoothed out in the days ahead. Do not expend any more energy and time than needed on this. In the scheme of things, it’s small stuff. And PLEASE don’t space out or get lost in a daydream or while texting or on your cell phone - a banana peel may be under foot.
SCORPIO: Gently, and in a civilized and cultured way, you may need to take a stand and give voice to some very legitimate concerns. Once aired and hashed out, the resolution reached will benefit all concerned, and you may well be perceived as the hero who delivered! The Oct 4th Full Moon emphasizes that attention is needed to bring your energy and health back up to speed. A fitness coach (mental and/or physical) from another culture (or country) inspires and motivates.
SAGITTARIUS: The Mars -Mercury alignment drums up your inner creative mojo and moves you to take a chance on your professional future. What projects would you begin if the finances were in place? As the vintage TV ad says, “You have a friend at Chase Manhattan”. It needn’t be THAT particular bank, but you get the idea. No guts, no glory. If you don’t invest in yourself and stake a claim for a vision you’re holding no one else will.
CAPRICORN: The Mars-Mercury hookup can be both a boon and a hindrance: Negatively, an adversary may have an inroad with an underling or co-worker to get the inside dope of your private goings on. So in the event of an event, make sure you have your facts straight and nothing to hide. Ultimately, you have the upper hand and the final say. Clarity and being grounded is all important. To be more specific-don’t look up in the sky when you need to be focused on what’s happening in front of your nose and within range, be especially aware of construction and deliveries.
AQUARIUS: The Mercury-Mars alignment may place you in a better position to negotiate for yourself. Your request for a raise, better assignments, and more support is completely legit and well within reason. The ‘ear’ on the end of your request may not show it, but he or she is listening, doesn’t want to lose or offend you, and knows that the ante must be raised. An unforeseen expense is likely but you’ll manage it.
PISCES: The houses of love, creativity, money and partnership are in sync and a cooperative flow brings tears to your eyes and shekels to your wallet. Be careful to not inadvertently sabotage this run of good luck by being stuck in the familiar and not allowing the new energy in. A partner or spouse is the voice of reason. Be quiet, behave, and let them lead this week’s dance.