Axis of Destiny

Sun and Saturn in Gemini opposite Moon and Pluto in Sagittarius: As these planetary positions indicate, the Sagittarius lunar eclipse takes place just hours after the third and final Saturn-Pluto opposition; (Saturn at 16.36 Gemini opposes Pluto in Sagittarius at 16.36 Sagittarius at 7:26 PM PDT May 25). These two titans - the mythic heavyweights of the zodiac - have been in a tense stand-off since August 5, 2001. But like the last act in a Greek drama, a catharsis is near and the end is in sight. The creative, chaotic restructuring underway for the last nine months is about to reveal the new shapes and forms of the future.

Indeed, it is the Saturn-Pluto influence that has cast a long and fearful shadow over the collective mood since the fateful day of September 11. But oppositions, like Full Moons, bring things to a head. Secrets are revealed. A critical stage is reached. Affairs peak, come to fruition, light up, reach fullness. Thus it is that a memo warning of terrorist attacks that reached President Bush's desk August 6th, 2001 came to light this past week. Authorities say the World Trade Center site will be completely cleared by May 30. The Enron debacle has shown the rotten core at the center of American capitalism. And suddenly, it appears doubtful that America will go to war against Iraq.

Indeed, the forces of fate figure strongly during this potent lunar eclipse, as Saturn and Pluto are each within one degree of the North and South nodes. (The North node is at 17.49 Gemini; the South node is at 17.49 Sagittarius.) Astrologers often interpret the nodes as destiny points; thus this month's alignment emphasizes the "axis of destiny" that is at work in the heavens during these fateful days. Unlike Bush's "axis of evil" with its clear-cut good guys and bad guys it is difficult to say in whose favor the Fates will spin the world wheel of destiny.

Continued on page 2: »