Twilight of Oil Age Part II by Gary Brand, Professional Astrologer

Most of this article is a continuation of a series of articles about the future with the general theme "Twilight of the Oil Age," the first segment of which was in the last issue of Echo* but first things first. I was wrong about the outcome of the 2004 presidential election - unfortunately. If you find anyone who is 100% correct in their predictions - be they astrologer, meteorologist, economist, stockbroker, or gambler - let me know. It appears that I was right about something I wrote in the October 2004 issue of Echo though - that fear determined the outcome. One commentator on ABC the night of the election said that he thought that fear and ignorance were the primary influences generating votes for Bush in this election. The good news, as Michael Moore pointed out, is that more than 55 million Americans voted for a liberal Democrat for president - more than the number of people who voted for Reagan, Bush I, Clinton or any president in history (other than the current White House resident)! That's right - more than voted for Reagan, who drew the previous highest vote count! These voters will be watching closely and I think we will hold the Bush regime accountable.

Now back to the future. Beginning in 2008, the transit of Pluto opposite U.S. Venus will usher in a period of transformation (Pluto) in what we enjoy, how we spend our money, and the financial system of the country (all symbolized by Venus in the U.S. chart). To understand what this is likely to mean, it's always helpful to review what happened when a similar transit occurred in the past. In 1913, when Pluto first began conjoining U.S. Venus, the 16th Amendment to the Constitution giving the power to Congress to tax our income was ratified (the rate of taxation was a reasonable 2% then). The Federal Reserve System (Venus), which radically changed (transiting Pluto conjunct Venus) our banking system and put it in the hands of a private corporation, was also created in 1913. In 1915, while transiting Pluto continued to conjoin U.S. Venus, U.S. banks loaned $500 million to Britain and France (U.S. Venus is in the 7th house of allies) to finance World War I and in 1916 the U.S. bought the Virgin Islands, a tourist destination (Venus), from Denmark.

It stands to reason that, when transiting Pluto opposes U.S. Venus 2008-2010, we can expect radical changes in the tax structure, the banking system, in foreign financing (probably including the U.S. debt), and the possible addition of territory to the U.S. This period is likely to herald a transformation in where we spend our money. Virtual computer programs and imagery will allow us to personally experience virtually anything imaginable in very realistic fashion. This revolution in amusement (Venus) will lead to technological breakthroughs (Pluto in Capricorn) from inventive people, similar to the way the motion picture industry did in the past. As the price of oil and gasoline escalates in the near future, human ingenuity will be applied to that problem. Hybrid gas/electric cars will be a popular transition to more economical solar-powered cars of the future. But the days of cheap shipping, travel and transportation will end and local cooperatives (Venus) will form to take the place of multi-national corporations. There will be cause for celebration as we revert to simpler, community-based cultures, pleasures, and financial transactions (all symbolized by Venus) with members of our community whom we personally know instead of with low paid employees of impersonal, uncaring, unaccountable, distant, conglomerate corporations.

"The war is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous. A hierarchical society is only possible on the basis of poverty and ignorance [and fear]. The war is waged by the ruling group against its own subjects and its object is not victory but to keep the very structure of society intact." George Orwell, from his book, 1984.

As for the war against Iraq, don't expect Bush to bring our troops home. There are two big incentives for the corporate plutocracy that dominates the government and economy of this country (and the world) to keep the U.S. Army in Iraq as long as they can. The first incentive is the huge windfall profits being made by the military-industrial complex and by war profiteering corporations "rebuilding" the Iraqi infrastructure destroyed by the Bush war. The second is the drive to keep the world price of oil low by maintaining control of (and by consuming) Iraqi oil - the second largest reserve in the world. However, future wide-spread objection to the escalating loss of U.S. life and limb in a country that will come to despise our occupation (like we despised the British by 1776) will eventually force withdrawal, just as Nixon was finally forced by popular demand to end the Vietnam debacle. When?

Significant aspects from Pluto, Neptune and Uranus in the U.S. birth chart at the beginning and end of the major wars fought by the U.S. comprise a pattern that sheds light on when the Iraq war/occupation will end. For example, the three most important wars in U.S. history - the Revolution, the Civil War and World War II - all ended while transiting Neptune was square the U.S. Jupiter! Since this square has occurred only three times during our history, this is an amazing correlation! Venus and Jupiter are more representative of peace than any other planets but, since Neptune represents unity, it could also be considered symbolic of peace. At the end of two major wars - the Civil War and World War I - Uranus was aspecting the Moon in the U.S. chart so a major aspect to this planet from the giant gas ball planets (especially Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) is potentially indicative of peace. Hence Neptune conjoining the U.S. Moon in 2009-2010 is one indicator of an end to this war. At the end of five wars - the Revolution, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and Vietnam - there was a conjunction, square or opposition from transiting Uranus, Neptune or Pluto to U.S. Jupiter (peace) so this is another powerful potential for peace. After 2005 (there is a chance next fall [2005] when Uranus trines U.S. Jupiter), the next aspect from one of these planets to U.S. Jupiter isn't until 2010-2011 when transiting Pluto opposes U.S. Jupiter. Finally, the War of 1812 ended when Neptune was opposite U.S. Mars and World War II ended when Uranus was conjunct U.S. Mars. The next aspect to U.S. Mars from either of these two planets is 2008-2009 when Uranus squares it. From the above three upcoming planetary transits, the logical conclusion based on past history is that U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq will most likely conclude by 2010 or 2011 [Gary made this prediction in November 2004 when he wrote this article].

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*Echo is a monthly newspaper about community, the environment, health, cuisine, and spirituality that is distributed in central Virginia.

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