Bizarre Russian Lawsuit Triggers Explosion of Media Coverage

I monitor several keywords for astrological news using Google Alerts. This week there have been a huge number of stories featuring the bizarre claim of Marina Bei, a Russian astrologer, who is convinced that the recent "Deep Space" space shot has "ruined the natural balance of the forces of the universe." The Russian courts have allowed her to proceed with a lawsuit against NASA, provoking a predictable media circus replete with the obligatory snide, cynical and dismissive comments about astrology that are unfortunately commonplace in the press.

Ms. Bei claims that her life has been ruined by the experiment, and has been quoted as suggesting that this scientific adventure could spell the end of the world. She has appeared on CNN, was featured on USA Today, and one search I did on "Russian Astrologer Deep Impact" brought back over 90,000 pages, many of them dripping with derision, most of which I agree is well deserved in this particular case.

I cannot judge Bei’s merit as an astrologer as she appears to have no Internet presence and was completely unknown to me until now. She is certainly entitled to her beliefs, even though I strongly disagree with them. But considering her assertions and this bizarre lawsuit, I don’t want her to speak for me, and she does not speak for the astrological community at large.

I don’t speak for the astrological community at large, either. I know there are some people, in unfortunately large numbers, who agree with what appears to be a rather fatalist interpretation of celestial events. However, large numbers, and I hope the majority of astrologers, do not believe that a minor collision between NASA’s experiment and a comet none of us has been tracking until now can have a serious impact on the horoscope of individuals on the planet Earth. What astrological "impact" this may have (pun intended) is likely to be limited to the obvious increase in astronomy and space exploration that will result from NASA’s spectacular success. Or perhaps it reflects an "explosion" of ill-considered media coverage of astrology?

I do feel very comfortable in suggesting that the large majority of mainstream astrologers must be appalled by much of the media coverage of Ms. Bei’s claims. In the articles I have read, in the newscasts I have seen, I have yet to see one reasonable voice speaking for astrology to denounce her lawsuit or ideas. This cannot be because there is a lack of astrologers who are willing to speak out. Rather, I believe it comes from rather single-minded news coverage, from the assumption that we must all have putty in between our ears, and that none of us has much to add to the issues she has raised with her lawsuit. It is taken for granted we must agree with her. But each one of these articles does get the obligatory quote from the local skeptic’s society, or from the designated astronomy expert whose opinion of astrology isn’t colored by any actual or direct knowledge of the subject, or of what astrologers actually believe.

I’m calling on the press to at least make an effort to appear to be unbiased and impartial in news stories on this subject. Leave the opinion pieces to the editorialists and columnists. Get in touch with the local astrological society to get their comments and feedback on the story. Learn what mainstream astrologers actually believe before you report on our beliefs. If you are going to quote the local skeptic, get in touch with a credible local astrologer, and give them a chance to speak. Those who presume to speak for us so often misrepresent us when they have no clue what we actually believe.

For example, I am a practicing astrologer of over 20 years and I do not believe that:
the stars compel our fate (I believe they reflect them)
events can accurately be predicted from astrological charts (I believe that general trends and energies can be foreseen)

• that death can be predicted from an astrological chart
  
• that astrology is a "science" (it is an art form)
  
• that an astrological chart controls my life (I still have choices)
  
• that newspaper horoscopes are anything more than an entertaining diversion
  
• a small impact on a comet millions of miles away means the end of the world or will cause headaches in one astrologer in Russia.
  
  

Astrology is a noble and fascinating pursuit, with roots leading back to the formation of modern culture and science. We do have some rather interesting individuals on the fringes of astrology, and I admit there are more than the average number of true characters in the astrological community. I understand why the media finds the wild-eyed, colorful types more interesting than their own local astrologer, quietly practicing in sensible shoes in her small studio. But fair play demands comment from mainstream astrologers, otherwise the public is in danger of assuming (as the media apparently has) that the fringe speaks for the mainstream, and this is demonstrably not the case.

Alan Oken Australian Tour-September 2005

Maggie Kerr, one of the regular contributors to Astrology.ca will be co-hosting "Synthesizing Soul and Psyche" Adventures in Consciousness ... with A Wizard in Oz! September 2005

Alan Oken, one of the world's foremost spiritual teachers joined by Maggie Kerr in Australia.

"Synthesizing Soul and Psyche" What is the "stream of consciousness" and how can we learn to swim in it? What is the spiritual purpose of humanity's evolution and what about "me"?

These decades are ripe with awakening and revolution. We are participating in the birth of the "Group Soul' of humanity, where "inclusiveness" and co-participation must replace a "separative" and selfish world view. The current extreme global tension contains an impasse, a 'stuck' place, which can only be broken by large numbers of individuals embracing a unifying worldview!

Alan Oken has traveled the world for many decades imparting the knowledge of the"Ancient Mysteries" from many different cultural traditions. He brings warmth, candor, humor and insight to these profound questions which unite us all. Why am I here? How can I know the purpose of my Soul's challenges for growth and find true creative expression? This 2 day event contains both "Ancient Mystery" teachings, and the science of Astrology, for insight and answers to these most fundamental questions!

ALAN OKEN is the founder and director of The Wisdom School. He is the author of hundreds of articles for various astrological and metaphysical magazines and journals. He is also the author of over a dozen books, including: Alan Oken's Complete Astrology, Soul-Centered Astrology - A Key to Your Expanding Self, Houses of the Horoscope, and Rulers of the Horoscope. Alan has been a student and teacher of astrology and The Ancient WisdomTeachings since 1967. An internationally known lecturer and teacher, Alan speaks and writes six languages and has taught in more than 30 countries. He has an active astrological consulting practice in Santa Fe, NM.

MAGGIE KERR (AAT. Dip. Couns.) is a well known Australian Astrologer, a Counsellor and Teacher in communications and "People Skills", and has been in the front line of her field for over 20 years. Maggie has trained in the fields of Metaphysics, Philosophy, Astrology, Psychology and Psychotherapy. Her unique blend of these subjects offers understanding of our life purpose, and challenges to our empowerment. She has published 5 books in the "UniversalAstrology" series.

Contact maggiekerr@universalastrology.com.au for times and places.

Astrology and Tragedy - Shapelle Corby

Shapelle Corby is the Australian who was arrested last year in Indonesia, charged with smuggling 4.5 kilograms of marijuana in her luggage. Corby denies knowing about the drugs, and faces up to life in a Balinese prison.
Hazel Leung was kind enough to provide Shapelle's birth data and some comments - July 10, 1977 11:55 AM, Brisbane Australia. She obtained it from Maggie Kerr, who attributes it to Shapelle's mother.

Hazel Leung's Comments:

I think Uranus on the first says it all, but Pluto in the 12th indicates incarcertation too. She has "fame" sun at MC which is square to nodes, indicating fame is not good fame. I haven't had the time to track whether or not she will be jailed, I do believe she will be found guilty but haven't looked beyond that. The firdaria is Mercury/Sun which indicates that this is the period where the "fame" will be triggered. She has already been approached for interviews and books, which is usually what pays the legal bills althought there is a millionaire businessman backing her too. I doubt very much she is guilty, she is not a planner. I guess time will tell.

Brandi Jasmine's Comments:

Interesting things I noticed real quick ... a loose Pluto/NN conjunction in the 12th house, transited by Sun/Mercury/Vertex/Mars (conjunct), Chiron (square). It is surprising how many positive aspects there are in the transits. It is hard not to be overly optimistic - but others might see things in the charts I'm missing.

Natal Neptune is better aspected than I expected, with several trines/sextiles, but it opposes Venus. This girl is bright but isn't the most grounded, and doesn't think before she acts. She trusts too easily, and in one way she really needed a slap in the face to bring her to reality (she sure got a harsh one).

My feeling is she will likely be convicted, spend a while longer in jail, and be brought out when the two governments think that they can make a nice quiet deal, but it is unlikely to remain quiet. I think she is going to be%2

Astrology and History: Yasser Arafat's Death

I cast an astrological chart for the passing of Yasser Arafat today, asking the question, "How will this affect the state of world peace and the future of the Middle East?" The astrological chart was cast for 6:20 AM, local time in Jerusalem, the best time I have for the moment when his death was announced.

The first thing that pops out is Mars 12^th house, square Saturn in the 9^th. There will be secret negotiations and discussions, and the risk of violence is strong. The 11^th house is strong, and the astrological aspects there are considerably better. The best hope for peace is for a "friend or associate" from outside to broker discussions to help the Palestinian people to more smoothly manage the transition. It is possible that a woman or a spiritual leader will take an important role in getting the factions to work together.

There will be powerful, unexpected and dramatic changes to the "homeland" ideas of the Palestinian people following this event. There remain considerable difficulties ahead. There will certainly be more bumps along the road to peace. The leadership and peoples on both sides are divided. Sacrifices will have to be made to promote healing.

I have felt for several days that it might be possible that the true cause of death might never be revealed. The word "poison" kept coming to mind whenever I watched news reports about his illness. This may be confirmed by the Plutonian rulership of the ascendant of this chart, the strong 12th house, and the strongly negative aspects between Mars, Saturn, and North Node indicate political motivation for the events unfolding today.

Overall, the aspects are so mixed that it is difficult to say what the "outcome" may be – in fact, I am tempted to conclude that nothing will change immediately in terms of the daily struggle for peace in the middle east. The positive aspects are equally as powerful as the challenging ones. My sense of things psychically is that this will be a turning point in a more positive direction in the long run, there will be many shocking events to follow, but there will be considerably more time to pass before there is any demonstrably positive effect in the lives of the people in the Middle East.

New Executive Appointed at Astrology.ca

I would like to introduce Astrology.ca's new Executive Vice President in Charge of Wasting Time. This dear sweet kitten we've named "Punkin" joined my family a couple weeks ago, and I haven't gotten much done since then (besides taking lots of pictures of her, of course).

Luckily, before she arrived I did get some new Halloween images uploaded to the "How-To" section of the Jasmine's Gallery site. Click here to download some free Jack-O-Lantern carving patterns and Halloween Safety tips. I even have a couple patterns for you politics junkies down in the USA ... Jack-O-Lantern carving patterns of George W. Bush and John Kerry. Can you imagine anything scarier this Halloween? 

Current astrological aspects to note ...  Saturn Square Mercury, Orb 4°04' Applying. Have you noticed that some folks seem to be rather ornery, inflexible and stubborn in their thinking lately? That may be due to the current square between Saturn in Cancer and Mercury in Libra. 

Happy Birthday ... to me!

Questions from readers: 

For the last while I have interested in a girl who is a Sagittarius and I am a Pisces. Now I know we are not compatible
according to the charts but I love this girl and we get along extremely well. I know that I don't have all the characteristics of a Pisces but she has most of the characteristics of a Sagittarius. So I am wondering what the chances of us having a loving relationship?

KY

Dear KY:

You don't include her birth data with your chart so it's impossible for me to give you truly personal detail. But I wanted to answer your question, because it's one I get all the time. We have a small list of "compatible signs" here on Astrology.ca, but I introduce that page by saying that the most common question astrologers get is "Tell me what Sign I am compatible with?" There is no simple way to answer this question with integrity. There is no way to tell people who is compatible for them based on Sun-Signs.

Your Moon sign, Ascendant, Mars and Venus placements are each as important to compatibility as your Sun Sign is - perhaps more so! For example, if you are a Libra, you could meet a nice Aquarian, whose Moon in Scorpio would drive you right around the bend. Aquarius with Moon in Scorpio won't act like a typical Aquarius when aroused. Such a person is likely to be a lot more passionate, secretive, and jealous than you would expect of Aquarius. Then you'd come back, waggle your finger at us and say "Hey! Those online astrologers told me Aquarius was my ideal sign, they must have been a bunch of loonies!" ... and our other great fear is you might write off all the nice Taurus, Leo, and Scorpio folks, one of whom may have an Ascendant, Moon or Mars in Gemini, and end up shunning your soul mate on what is truly very spurious advice.

The bottom line is that an astrologer has to have full and complete natal data from both parties to cast a real compatibility chart. It would be irresponsible to try to give advice based on Sun-Signs alone. I will say looking at your chart, you are strong in Virgo energy, which is not particularly compatible with Sagittarius, but you have a Scorpio Ascendant, which might change the picture dramatically. I suggest you both have full natal charts cast and study them together.

Current astrological aspects to note ...  Uranus Quincunx Mars, Orb 1°48' Applying. There is a lot of impulsiveness and frustration floating around in the astrological ether right now.
Take deep breaths, let things go.

Libra Mars Conjunct Mercury, Orb 0°44' Applying. Mars Conjunct Jupiter, Orb 0°56' Separating. Mars Conjunct Sun Orb 4°34' Separating.Whew! That's a lot of energy for us poor Libras to work with. If you are in an air sign (Libra, Aquarius, Gemini), you may be feeling a lot of extra energy right now. Expect a war of words between the US Presidential candidates about legal issues, trial lawyers, and religious traditional values and marriage could come back up again too. Both sides are going to accuse the other of "waffling" and "fence-sitting" (Libra loves to look at both sides of an argument). With all of that Quincunx to Uranus, at least one of them is likely to make an impulsive statement that could come back to haunt him.

Current astrological aspects to note ... Pluto Trine Venus, Orb 4°59' Separating. Have you noticed strange but exciting changes in personal relationships the past few weeks?