Who holds the purse strings in America? How bad is this recession going to get? When will we regain fiscal stability? In the midst of these knotty and complex questions, I would offer, from my corner, some timely astrological answers. One sure thing I’ve learned is that, when hard times hit, you can come out intact and smiling by understanding the influences at play, then determining to make the most of them. It’s kind of a spiritual Mapquest—some-thing predictable to depend upon in unpredictable times.

At the center of the current economic roller-coaster is the inescapable fact that the Federal Reserve System, (the Fed for short), is experiencing an astrological Date with Destiny and is being shaken up badly.The Fed is the central bank of the United States. And like it or not, right or wrong, we are all tied into this system.

But is our money system morally right? Ask Peter Morci, professor at the U of Maryland’s School of Business, and former Chief Economist of the International Trade Commission, who recently warned,“The Federal Reserve continues to bail out major financial institutions without imposing meaningful conditions to improve their conduct and performance.”
Many of the Founding Fathers vociferously opposed the formation of a central banking system. A major impetus for the American War of Independence was the colonies’ resistance to being under the control of the Bank of England. Our first central bank was chartered in 1791, under George Washington. It was primarily the brain- child of Alexander Hamilton and passed, in spite of fierce opposition, because it was perceived as a means to manage our tremendous national debt from the war. The major astrological significator at the time was transiting Pluto, opposed transiting Uranus, denoting monetary power struggles.

Thomas Jefferson stated openly,“If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks, and the corporations that will grow up around them, will deprive the people of all property, until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs. The modern theory of the perpetuation of debt has drenched the earth with blood, and crushed its inhabitants under burdens ever accumulating .”
Our seventh president,Andrew Jackson, vowed “to pay the national debt and to prevent a monied aristocracy from growing up around our administration, that must bend to its view, which would ultimately destroy the liberty of our country.” With tooth and nail, Jackson fought the big bankers of his day and their entrenched interests. And he did make good on his words—the years during his administration, 1835 to 1837, were the only years this nation has ever been debt-free!

Recently, Senator Ron Paul has been the strongest voice advocating the return to a gold standard. You can check out his proposal for “The Federal Reserve Abolition Act” on YouTube. It makes a lot of sense.

Here are the astrological ABCs that will help us understand the texture of these difficult economic times. First of all, Saturn (tradition/law) in Virgo, and Uranus (change/revolution) in Pisces, are still in tight opposition, and will be throughout the winter. So, things are tense.There’s a feeling that anything can happen anytime, and none of it makes much sense exactly. (For instance, why would gas prices be dropping so much?) Moreover, Pisces/Virgo creates a particularly “karmic” polarity, like receiving a deadline on a utility bill. It’s time for the clearing of accounts and for sweeping reorganizations. (We see this in progress with Detroit’s Big Three.)

Secondly, Pluto re-entered Capricorn on November 28 of 2008, in a long transit that will last until 2025! For all of 2009, Pluto will only advance between zero and four degrees. Any person, company, or entity with positions in the early degrees of Capricorn, Cancer, Libra or Aries should decide to come up to the plate and stay there for the long haul. Pluto is the Roto-Rooter® of the Zodiac, exposing the “crap” that’s got to flush out! So, expect a purging cycle wherever it is needed. It could be intense, depending on the state of your own house, but we can all come out of this for the better.
Pluto in Capricorn brings about the establishment of new power structures. The last time we saw this was during the American Revolution. Cycles of Pluto in Capricorn mean constructive, dynamic change, but can also signify secret ploys by the power elite (Pluto) to gain or maintain control (Capricorn) over the economies and fates of nations.

So, who are these power elite?

During his tenure as mayor of New York from 1918 to 1925, John F. Hylan, spoke of an “invisible government” headed by private-interest bankers. Hylan described “this little coterie,” which, like an octopus, “sprawls its slimy legs over our cities, states and nation,” and exercises its control over the government for its own selfish ends through the Federal Reserve. Although he strongly opposed the Fed from its inception, Hylan was like a voice in the wilderness.

The Fed was born on December 23 of 1913. Back then, the time of the Fed’s reckoning had not yet arrived, but it has now. Transiting Pluto will conjoin the Fed’s Sun through- out 2009, with some months of greater intensity than others. Nevertheless, Plutonian power structures tend to be highly secretive, so the Fed’s behind-the-scenes manipulations are likely to continue until they can no longer be hidden.

Pluto transits to the Sun can be especially difficult. Moreover, the Fed’s natal Sun is opposed to natal Pluto. Powerful—even at one time seemingly all-powerful. Add to this mix that transiting Pluto will simultaneously oppose Barrack Omaha’s natal Venus, at one degree Cancer, which conjoins the U.S.’s conceptual Venus at four degrees Cancer. Venus represents love and beau- ty, but also money and prosperity.

This line-up describes the challenging package that our incoming president is inheriting, as well as the celebrity sta- tus he has achieved. In January, Mars in Capricorn intensifies its action, opposing the U.S.’s Jupiter and its Sun in Cancer as well. Change is the order of the day—there’s no way of stopping it— but there are ways of influencing the direction it will take.

Obama’s natal Mars in Virgo fits right in to the volatile Saturn/Uranus opposition, which is active on January, 20 of 2009, the day of his Inauguration. This event is traditionally used by astrologers to chart the incoming president’s term. Obama will be riding a buckin’ bronco! Fortunately, Obama’s Mars is well aspected as part of a Grand Earth Trine, one of the strongest features in his natal chart, signifying his tremendous drive and persistence. Hopefully, he can galvanize America to be accountable and work together.

My concerns with Obama’s chart are those Neptune squares, indicating the “fuzziness” of which he has been accused. Will he be able to stand up, separate himself out, keep free of the money machine, and orchestrate the nation out of this mess? Our incoming president needs our prayers for guidance and protection in handling this monumental task.

Pluto transits shake us up and reveal the Pandora’s Box that we forgot was there.The transit is long—lasting about two years. So here’s the rule-of-thumb for dealing with intense Pluto cycles: determine to be glaringly honest with yourself. It’s tough, I know, but believe me, there’s nowhere to hide!

Basically, two options exist. Our first choice is to determine to purge ourselves of our extra baggage (debt, karma, self-defeating habits) and to travel lighter, freed of the negative elements of our past. The second choice is the scarier one. That is, when people (or the Fed, for that matter) refuse to acknowledge the shadowy, hidden parts of themselves, they actually take on the persona of their ghosts. We sometimes look at someone we have known for years, but after their Pluto transit, we hardly recognize them.“Who’s that?”

So, this is a time when we all need to be proactive and realistic, and to call upon your inner strengths and resources. Determine to avoid cynicism, a sign of Capricornian fear. Be willing to do the work it takes to walk the higher path.This is our chance to overcome obstacles that have blocked us for decades.We can emerge from this period ahead of the game!

Astrologer Isabel Hickey writes of the positive expression of Venus/Pluto transits in this way, “This is the great- est opportunity of a lifetime to know what love really means. It can purge the individual of possessiveness and selfishness.”
Apply this to the nation and to yourself! The implication is that, out of this dark night of America’s soul, this reckoning, much good can surely come. On the other hand, depending on the choices made, the negative potential is still there for all manner of deceit, corrupt dealings, financial or sexual misconduct in high places, etc.

Importantly, Pluto rules Scorpio, which influences our use of sexual energy, as well as joint finances and real estate. Add oil under this heading as well—the life-blood that fuels our nation. It’s all about commerce—who gives and who gets, what, when, and in what measure. It’s love’s opportunity to purge ourselves of selfishness!

Wanton misuse of sexual energy, the spilling of the life-force, inevitably results in abject isolation. Uncontrolled sex is like spending money with no thought of tomorrow. So, as we make out our budgets for 2009, let us raise our standards. Let’s plan for the judicious spending of not only our money, but all the uses of our life-energy—through sex, exercising control over others, and even our spoken word. As we conserve these, and use them kindly and unselfishly, we will see our fortunes increase.

On the bright side, as we enter 2009, Jupiter will move into the air sign of Aquarius, lightening up the Earth’s load. Our key opportunity in 2009 is Unity! Jupiter activates the conceptual U.S. Grand Air Trine, which, hopefully will bring in new ideas and reform. Aquarius relates to community. So, in this time of economic hardship, let’s band together and help one another!

First, get your own house in order—do what you can to be person- ally debt-free as soon as possible.The pressure in on—not just because of the accumulation of years of financial mis-handling, but because of the incoming light of Aquarius. Every day,Aquarius is accelerating its pulse into our lives! Jesus’ proverb remains true—you can’t put new wine into old wineskins, lest they will burst. [Luke 5:37-38]

As originally envisioned by our Founding Fathers, the cycle has come again for a Novus Ordo Seculorum, Latin for the “New Order of the Ages,” as inscribed on the Great Seal of the United States dollar bill. The New Age that we have already embarked upon is one of Freedom and Brotherly Love, and an economy that is based on honor and equal opportunity. Utopian, perhaps— but Aquarian? Decidedly!