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01/18/2026

The Top Five Astro-Events to the US Scorpio Rising Chart

A regular reader is concerned about what she sees in the Scorpio Rising US horoscope. “The progressed chart of the US looks especially foreboding,” she writes. “Add the transits and I would love for you to share your insights.” Here are the major US astro-events shaping up over the next three months:

1. Two Mars-related dynamics keep everyone concerned about armed conflicts. ICE’s over-reach and US military intervention in Greenland, Iran, Cuba, and elsewhere become very real possibilities due to the US progressed Sun’s square to natal Mars. Adding to this is the faster moving US progressed Moon opposite the US progressed Mars on February 12.

2. Transiting Uranus turns direct at 27º27’ Ta**us on February 3 while forming a near exact trine to the US Pluto, the ruler of the Scorpio Rising chart. This astro-event supports the nation’s most powerful players, which includes the oligarchy that has control over the political, social, and economic systems.

3. The Solar Eclipse on February 17 takes place at 28º49’ Aquarius and activates at least three vital points in the US horoscope. It’s just three degrees past the US Moon at 25º28’ Aquarius, and sends a celestial danger signal to the American people since it also squares transiting Uranus.

4. The Saturn-Neptune conjunction at 0º45’ Aries becomes exact on February 20. This outer planet combination is key because it’s trioctile (135º) to the US Midheaven in Leo. It brings historic events that re-shape the international status and reputation of the US as the world’s leading superpower.

5. The US progressed Midheaven squares natal Mercury on March 27. This astro-event may bring a decisive shift to Trump’s tenure in office. Simultaneously, this phase coincides with the Chiron Return of Nixon’s resignation in 1974. Trump might resign or leave for health reasons. Or he may invoke the Insurrection Act, declare a national emergency, and cancel midterm elections. What do you think?

The above is an excerpt from this week's NewsScope. You can get the full picture here: https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

01/11/2026

Walk for Peace

Trump’s progressed Moon is entering his 4th house and will square his imperial Mars in Leo on April 15. This angular, forceful combination is making him unusually bellicose and aggressive on a variety of fronts. Whether it’s a natural distraction from the Epstein File, the health care crisis, or his collapsing approval ratings, Trump is becoming increasingly willing to use military force to gain the upper hand.

In the US horoscope, a parallel militaristic development is shaping up along the same timeline: the US progressed Sun is currently at 21º07’ Pisces and nearly square the US Mars at 21º17 Gemini. This one will be exact on March 18, but it’s already well within orb to be a recognizable dynamic. The progressed US Sun represents the nation’s leadership, and Mars is the nation’s war planet. This doubled astrological theme makes Trump’s threats real and dangerous.

In sharp contrast to the martial forces shaping the national dialogue, a group of Buddhist monks have embarked on an ambitious 2,300-mile walk with the stated intention of raising awareness about peace, loving-kindness, and compassion in the US and around the world. They began at 9:30 am* on October 26, 2025 at Fort Worth, Texas and expect to reach Washington DC in late February.

A horoscope drawn for this first step helps us understand their goals and how well they will proceed. At first glance, the cluster of planets around the Scorpio Ascendant is most telling. Mars in Scorpio is particularly determined, powerful, and single-minded. It’s closely conjunct Black Moon Lilith which suggests their silent mission. Mercury in Scorpio is nearby, a placement well known for its quiet demeanor, but also for carrying the message of the world’s mysteries.

These Scorpio planets certainly have a dark side, but in this case they are harmoniously contained within a Water Grand Trine, which brings out their best qualities. Mercury, Mars, Lilith and the Scorpio Ascendant are all trine the Saturn-Neptune conjunction in late Pisces, which in turn is trine Jupiter in Cancer. Famed astrologer Noel Tyl describes the Water Grand Trine as a “closed circuit of emotional self-sufficiency.”

With the social planets Jupiter and Saturn involved, their journey is meant to influence the world around them. And Neptune’s participation adds the spiritual touch. As they have said: “Walk with Us Mentally! As we take physical steps for peace, we invite everyone to join our journey in spirit. Peace and unity begin within each of us. Today, practice kindness in your own life to walk with us mentally!”

The 19 monks did meet with some trouble on November 20 when a passing truck struck the group’s es**rt vehicle, which then spun around and hit two monks. One was seriously injured and had a leg amputated. At the time, the New Moon at 28º Scorpio opposed Uranus at 29º Ta**us, seriously disrupting their journey. However, on November 25 the injured monk forgave the truck driver and continued on in a wheelchair.

The Sun at 3º Scorpio is a key placement since it’s perfectly s*xtile the Midheaven, the point of public recognition. It represents the group’s leadership but, in the 12th house, leaders who prefer to stay out of the limelight. The Sun squares Pluto in Aquarius, which suggests the power of their souls, their healing abilities, and as one of my references notes, their ability of “magnetically attracting, fascinating and captivating other people.”

Currently, transiting Pluto has advanced to 3º Aquarius where it forms an exact square to this chart’s Scorpio Sun. Under this celestial dynamic, we can expect more and more people to get involved with the Walk for Peace.

The Walk concludes under the auspices of the grounding spiritual conjunction of Saturn and Neptune in pioneering Aries, which favorably s*xtiles Pluto, the ruler of this chart. As observers have noted, their journey demonstrates how quiet, deliberate acts of kindness can awaken hope, inspire unity, and foster compassion, showing the power of mindfulness in a world often divided.

* Source: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article312653037.html =cpy

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01/04/2026

Trump’s Progressed Mercury

The Trump regime’s unprovoked military strike on Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Maduro has the international community in an uproar. Astrologically, Trump ordered the strike exactly as transiting Chiron turned direct at 22º35’ Aries where it forms a tight, opportunistic s*xtile to his Gemini Sun, which in turn conjoins the US Mars at 21º Gemini. Also, transiting Uranus and Saturn are both aspecting Trump’s natal Mars at 26º Leo.

Trump’s reckless mental state becomes clear when we look at his progressed Mercury. Using the one-day-for-a-year formula, in his lifetime Trump’s natal Mercury has advanced from 8º Cancer to 27º Leo, which is just past his natal Mars at 26º Leo and nearly conjunct his Ascendant at 29º Leo. Zeroing in on his progressed Mercury, on January 3, 2026 it was at 27º09’ Leo and advancing at the rate of 0º09’/month.

Currently, transiting Uranus is slowing down as it nears the end of its retrograde phase. Uranus turns direct on February 3 at 27º27’ Ta**us. At that time, his progressed Mercury will be at 27º19’ Leo, or only 0º08’ from the exact square to Uranus turning direct. My astrology books on transits are filled with dire warnings about this difficult square to Mercury.

For example, Robert Hand in Planets in Transit warns about the inability to handle all the new information coming in when making important decisions. He describes the nervous tension, the radical ideas and opinions, the potential for accidents, and the dogmatic positions that will be strongly challenged by others.
In his book Transits of the West, Dasas of the East, James Braha writes how negotiations break down, and how it’s a terrible time for keeping commitments and honoring contracts. The individual under this transit becomes hyperactive, opinionated, and impulsive.

The above is a brief excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. You can read the rest here: https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

12/27/2025

January’s Top Five Astro-Events

1. The Full Moon in Cancer arrives on the 3rd at 5:02 am (EST), bringing a culmination of family interactions as 2026 gets underway. The holidays are over and now it’s time to get back to one’s personal network of emotional support and strength.

2. Venus in Capricorn conjoins Mars on the 7th. These two love planets come together about every two years and usher in a phase when s*x, romance, and passion are in the air.

3. Saturn in Pisces s*xtiles Uranus in Ta**us on the 20th, but is a favorable influence from the 9th through 28th. These two combine to bring a sense of working within the system to allow new ideas, freedoms, and innovations full expression.

4. The New Moon in Capricorn takes place on the 18th at 2:51 pm (EST) and is highly energized by a nearby Mercury-Mars conjunction. While the Saturn-s*xtile-Uranus astro-event can be considered more of a process that plays out over weeks, this New Moon makes it personal and immediate.

5. Mars in Aquarius conjoins Pluto on the 27th, a powerful dynamic that comes into effect when Mars enters Aquarius on the 23rd. The Mars-Pluto conjunction in Aquarius pushes those under its influence to dominate their surroundings, to win at any cost, to have power within their social or personal network.

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. You can get the full picture here: https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

12/21/2025

Update on the Paris Climate Agreement

The growing intensity of droughts, wildfires, and superstorms has brought widespread recognition that global warming is real and getting worse. Ten years ago, UN delegates from the world’s 195 nations met in Paris and unanimously agreed to work toward limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5º C. The Paris Climate Agreement was signed at 7:29 pm* on December 12, 2015.

The Sagittarius Sun square Jupiter reflects the sense of enthusiasm at the outcome, shared by the many international diplomats. But the process took many years of negotiation and to overcome national interests and finalize this landmark macro-strategy. The PCA horoscope reflects these major disagreements with Mars in Libra squaring Pluto in Capricorn.

Pluto also squares Uranus in the 10th house, a long-term stress point that brought about the need to create a unique action (Uranus in Aries) under the direction of world governments (Pluto in Capricorn). Cancer Rising suggests the feeling that ultimately Planet Earth is everyone’s home. The chart’s ruling planet, the Moon in Capricorn, conjoins Mercury, representing the document before the delegates that awaited ratification by two-thirds of the world’s nations.

That happened on November 4, 2016 when the Paris Climate Agreement officially entered into force. For the first time in history, rich and poor nations were in a binding deal to cap global warming caused by coal, gas, and oil emissions. Note that Vesta at 1º Aries conjoins the Midheaven at 0º Aries, a combination that describes this agreement’s singular focus and devotion to this pioneering global initiative.

At the time the Agreement officially went into effect, the progressed Midheaven and Vesta were exactly conjunct (orb: 0º03’), which goes a long way in verifying the exact timing of this chart. Also, transiting Jupiter at 11º Libra was perfectly s*xtile the Part of Fortune at 11º Leo. Transiting Mars near the Descendant was at 26º Capricorn and forming a supportive trine to the natal North Node-Hygeia conjunction in Virgo, reinforcing the agreement’s design for a healthy planet.

Naturally, the advancement of the PCA’s plan would depend on the cooperation of the world’s greatest CO2 emitters. By far, the worst polluter is China which emits 34% of the world’s CO2 gases. The US is #2, emitting 12% and India at 7% is #3 (according to 2023 figures).

Problematically, Trump rejects the scientific consensus on climate change, which he has said was a hoax created by China to reduce American competitiveness. He announced the US withdrawal from the PCA during his first term on June 1, 2017. At the time, transiting Uranus at 26º Aries was making a disruptive square to a progressed Moon-opposite-Ascendant at 26º Cancer/Capricorn.

Biden rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement on his first day in office, on January 20, 2021. Among the PCA’s supportive astro-events that day was a transiting Mars-Uranus conjunction at 6º Ta**us forming a tight trine to the PCA Moon. Also, a transiting Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Aquarius was s*xtile the progressed Midheaven at 5º Aries. Transiting Pluto conjunct the Descendant (entering the 7th house) indicated the pivotal influence of the US implementing this agreement.

But then on Trump’s first day of his second term, January 20, 2025, he issued an executive order once again withdrawing from the PCA. It won’t come into effect until January 27, 2026. Three weeks later, the transiting Saturn-Neptune conjunction at 0º Aries will land right on the PCA Midheaven. At the same time, the progressed Sun at 0º Capricorn will square the Midheaven. Together, these two major alignments mark a critical turning point in our collective well-being.

Meanwhile, China has reached a peak of coal use and is leading the world in developing and implementing a clean energy economy. On December 11, 2025 Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the current Five-Year Plan’s goal of reaching carbon neutrality. He gave this national speech when transiting Jupiter in Cancer was favorably conjunct the PCA Ascendant, and trine transiting Saturn turning direct at 25º Pisces.

*Source: https://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop21/enb/12dec.html

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12/16/2025

Here's Rob Reiner's chart. At the time of his death, his progressed Moon was exactly conjunct his natal Saturn at 2º38' Leo (orb: 0º00') which squared his progressed Mars at 2º48' Ta**us. Transiting Pluto at 2º14' Aquarius conjoined his natal Venus at 2º11' Aquarius (orb: 0º03') and activated this stressful configuration to make a powerful, confrontational, and dangerous T-square.

12/14/2025

Rachel Maddow’s Rising Star

As the national news conglomerates continue to be bought out and concentrated in the hands of a few rightwing billionaires, the political left has faced difficult times. As of November 15, MSNBC officially left its parent company NBC due to diverging political views. MSNBC rebranded itself as MSNOW but maintains its familiar hosts who have more freedom to express their perspectives on national and global events.

Executives at MSNOW made Rachel Maddow their focal point, and a look at her natal horoscope helps explain why she has become one of the nation’s most watched, most respected, and highest paid news anchors. Although her Sun is in forthright, bold Aries, it’s conjunct Venus, which gives her a pleasant, easy-to-watch personality. However, her Sun’s closest aspect is a conjunction with Eris, the outer planet known as a troublemaker. The Sun-Eris combination can be highly disruptive as well as powerfully energizing.

And where does this play out? Since her Sun-Eris conjunction is right on her Midheaven (along with Chiron), her disruptive instincts have emerged by speaking the truth about corruption in high places. Among the many examples to illustrate this proclivity is her book Blowout, which details how the oil and gas industry has ruined our democratic political system.

Natal Black Moon Lilith at 14º58’ Sagittarius is another strong influence on her professional standing and helps define her role since it’s exactly trine her Midheaven (orb: 0º05’). Lilith infuses her work with passion and perhaps concealed rage at the many injustices she uncovers. But with the help of her Sun-Venus conjunction, she maintains a pleasant persona when the cameras are rolling.

Undoubtedly, Saturn’s placement in her chart helps her to control her Inner Wild Woman. Saturn is at 15º Gemini, the sign of the spoken and written word. From this location, Saturn s*xtiles her Aries Sun and Midheaven where it fuels her ambition to make something of herself by working within the system. Without Saturn’s discipline and sense of responsibility, Eris, Chiron and Lilith would fashion her into an outsider, an outcast.

Part of Maddow’s popularity undoubtedly comes from her empathy for those in need. She has a mother’s instinct to protect the vulnerable, as shown by her Cancer Ascendant and Ceres at 17º Sagittarius (conjunct BML) trine her Midheaven. Her Moon, the ruler of her chart, is in sensitive Pisces where it conjoins Mercury. As a journalist, she not only reports the news, but offers insights and opinions that make viewers feel what is actually happening.

Her Pisces Moon is in the 9th house of religion, and she was raised in what she called “a very, very Catholic” and a “very conservative family.” Yet her Moon is strongly influenced by a close quincunx to Uranus in the partnership sign of Libra. We can imagine the disruption and chaos (Eris) that emerged when she was a high school freshman and the school newspaper outed her as a le***an before she could tell her parents.

Her ability to be herself and express her unique perspectives was cemented when she began hosting The Rachel Maddow Show, which premiered on September 8, 2008. At the time, transiting Uranus was at 20º Pisces where it was exactly conjunct her Pisces Moon. Also at the time, her progressed Jupiter was at 11º Aquarius where it was applying to a s*xtile to her Aries Sun. Since then, her progressed Jupiter has brought her much success. It’s advanced only one degree since 2008 and is now applying to a s*xtile to her elevated Eris.

Born with an energetic Mars-Jupiter conjunction in egalitarian Aquarius that’s fueled by a trine to Pluto, Maddow consistently brings the highest qualities we associate with the Age of Aquarius to her broadcasts. Her progressed Jupiter in Aquarius is and will continue fighting for the power of the people.

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12/07/2025

Pete Hegseth’s Black Moon Lilith

Over the past week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been the lead news story following The Washington Post’s report that he ordered a second strike on a Caribbean boat after an initial strike left two survivors. The incident has snowballed into a full-blown scandal that has top Republicans and Democrats investigating what exactly is going on with Trump’s alleged war against Venezuela’s narco-traffickers.

Astrologically, Black Moon Lilith plays a key role in Hegseth’s natal horoscope, which continues a theme this month regarding Trump’s tenure. Last week we looked at how transiting Pluto activated Lilith in Marjorie Taylor Greene’s chart. Also, the December 21 Winter Solstice chart set in Washington DC features Lilith right on the Midheaven, which coincides neatly with the promised release of the Epstein File.

M. Kelley Hunter describes in her book, Living Lilith, “Lilith symbolizes a central factor that is subtle yet potent, unseen but felt. BML suggests invisible, subtle dimensions that underlie our conscious motivations, threading through both subconscious and superconscious layers. BML is the shadowy side of our power, the power that has not yet been tamed and put to use in service of our greatest gifts. When repressed or dominated, the Lilith aspect of our feminine selves reacts negatively, becoming neurotic or enraged.”

Hegseth was born with Black Moon Lilith placed right on his Midheaven where it shapes his career and professional status. Lilith is under pressure here by squaring Mercury in Cancer and forming an octile (semisquare) to Uranus in Scorpio. As Demetra George notes in her book Through the Dark, “Suppressing Lilith’s s*xual energy can lead to misogyny in men…. When we internalize this energy, we turn against ourselves and become bitter, hateful, blaming and vengeful.”

Like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Hegseth was born with his Sun in Gemini opposite Neptune. The potential negative expression of this aspect manifests early since this Sun-Neptune polarity squares Mars and Saturn in Virgo, making a dynamic T-square. The man with his Sun square a Mars-Saturn conjunction will constantly feel his masculinity and personal power threatened, either by internal doubts or external forces. From an early age, Hegseth has been working on the development of his Inner Warrior.

And with the prominence of Black Moon Lilith, he has become a misogynist. His first marriage ended in divorce after he admitted to having five affairs. He’s had numerous assault and s*xual abuse charges placed against him over the past decade. And he wants to reduce women’s roles in the military, including removing them from any combat duty.

With Lilith governing his professional life, the disrespect and even hatred of women extends to cover people or groups threatening his standing and political perspective. In his 2020 book American Crusade, Hegseth described Americanism as being opposed to movements such as feminism, globalism, socialism, environmentalism, Islamism, and leftism. He expressed support for election-rigging through gerrymandering to “screw Democrats.”

Hegseth was born with Mars at 12º Virgo, and since then it has progressed to 6º Libra. That’s exactly conjunct his natal Black Moon Lilith, which tremendously energizes the negative expression of this archetype. It pushes him to extremes in acting against the various groups he fears/hates. The date of the reported “kill everybody” order was September 2 when Black Moon Lilith was especially prominent.

Hegseth’s progressed Midheaven was at 17º Scorpio at the time, and activated by transiting Black Moon Lilith, also at 17º Scorpio. His progressed Mars was conjunct natal Lilith and precisely octile his progressed Uranus (orb: 0º04’). Also at this time, his progressed Moon at 22º Scorpio was exactly conjunct his natal Uranus (orb: 0º03’). The incident marked the beginning of many more attacks on Caribbean boats that continue to the present.

Hegseth’s progressed Mars conjunct his natal Lilith has been a major influence since his appointment by Trump and will continue over the next few years. Small wonder the Defense Department has been renamed the Department of War, and that Hegseth has been accused of a war crime.

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11/30/2025

Marjorie Taylor Greene as Black Moon Lilith

As described in NewsScope’s October 20 column, Nixon’s resignation in 1974 became inevitable when the Republican-controlled Congress began withdrawing its support. Last week, Marjorie Taylor Greene announced that she was retiring from Congress at the end of 2025. Surprisingly, many Republican lawmakers are silently agreeing with Greene’s sweeping criticism of Trump’s second term.

A look at Greene’s natal horoscope (b. May 27, 1974 in Milledgeville, GA) helps to explain the amazing about-face she went through over the past year. First, her Gemini Sun opposes Neptune, which opens her up to fantasies, delusions, and self-deceptions. Politically, the Sun-Neptune combination can be highly idealistic, seeking a vision that goes beyond ordinary reality. It’s not very practical and so becomes prone to disillusionment.

Her Gemini Sun is also octile (semisquare) Mars in Cancer, which makes her a natural fighter for what she believes in. Mars, in turn, squares Uranus in Libra, indicating that her fighting can go way beyond acceptable behavior. For example, she’s known for advocating violence against her political rivals, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. She accused Nancy Pelosi of treason, “a crime punishable by death.”

Unfortunately, we have no accurate birthtime for Greene, but a Scorpio Ascendant fits her intense determination and large, jutting jaw. I’m suggesting an approximate time of 7:00 pm, which puts 17º Scorpio on the Ascendant. It also prominently places her Moon at 28º Leo where it’s only four degrees from the Leo Midheaven. This readily explains her political interest in MAGA and her alliance with Trump since her Moon conjoins his Ascendant at 29º Leo.

Although she voted in favor of Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” in early July, a month later she commented that if she had actually read the bill, she would have voted “no”. Her main complaint was about the disruption to health care, and which initiated a series of additional disagreements with the party line. She was miffed that Trump’s team advised her not to run for the Senate in the 2026 midterms, and denounced the Republicans’ “good ole boy” network. She joined Democrats in demanding the release of the Epstein File.

Astrologically, such a dramatic transformation can naturally be attributed to Pluto. And in fact, Pluto was key, but only if one uses Black Moon Lilith in the charts. Transiting Pluto recently stationed direct right on her third house Lilith. Black Moon Lilith is directly associated with women’s rights and the demand for equality. If she doesn’t get that, then rage usually erupts, which is often shocking to those who never suspected such intense emotions were right under the surface.

Greene’s Lilith is located at 1º40’ Aquarius. Pluto turned direct at 1º22’ Aquarius on October 13 — only 0º18’ from conjoining her natal 3rd house Lilith. Transiting Pluto had retrograded over her Lilith in September when she became increasingly vocal about her demands for release of the Epstein File and her complaints against House Speaker Mike Johnson and the male leadership of the party.

After turning direct, Pluto made a final conjunction with her Lilith on November 20, only one day before she announced her retirement. The week leading up to this momentous decision was filled with open feuding between Greene and Trump as Congress was about to vote on the release of the Epstein File. Trump called Greene a traitor, and said he would support any candidate who opposed her in the next election.

As if Black Moon Lilith herself were speaking, Greene wrote on X, “Standing up for American women who were r***d at 14, trafficked and used by rich powerful men, should not result in me being called a traitor and threatened by the President of the United States, whom I fought for.”

11/23/2025

December’s Top Five Astro-Events

1. The Full Moon in Gemini takes place on the 4th (6:13 pm EST), bringing an upbeat, restless vibe to the celestial atmosphere. What makes this Full Moon especially interesting is the Sun-Moon polarity at 13º Sagittarius/Gemini is exactly square the Lunar Node axis at 13º Virgo/Pisces.

2. Black Moon Lilith opposes Uranus on the 9th, but this polarity is a noticeable influence from the 2nd to 14th. Both these two archetypal forces tend to be expressed beyond or outside normal expectations, so their tense juxtaposition can bring unusual events or interactions with others.

3. Juno squares Saturn on the 16th, but the influence is significant from the 14th through 18th. Juno, the partnership asteroid, is in outgoing Sagittarius but may feel restrained by Saturn in sensitive Pisces.

4. Jupiter squares Chiron on the 21st, an aspect in effect from the 9th through 27th. Jupiter in Cancer emphasizes the benefits of family relationships, but the challenge from Chiron in Aries can bring up problem areas.

5. The Winter Solstice takes place on the 21st with Black Moon Lilith at the Midheaven over Washington DC. Astrologers often use the Equinox and Solstice charts to see what’s shaping up over the coming 3-12 months (depending on the school of thought).

The above is only an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. Get the full picture here: https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

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11/16/2025

Dick Van D**e Turns 100

As he nears his 100th birthday on December 13, Dick Van D**e acknowledges that he “spirals into anguish over the mayhem and cruelty inflicted on the entire world by those in power.” Yet his longevity also comes from his overall positive attitude. “Being alive has been doing life not like a job but rather like a giant playground,” he says. And in his later years, he regularly acknowledges that his wife, Arlene Silver, is the key force that keeps him vibrant.

Astrologers have no AA-rated birth time for this famous actor, though ADB notes that reliable sources indicate he was born in the evening. The time most commonly used is 9:00 pm, which gives him 15º Leo Rising. It makes perfect sense that this proud and radiant entertainer has Leo on his Ascendant, but 9:00 pm is too round a figure to be exact. I’ve slightly modified it to 8:52 pm. A look at his marriages helps to verify this time.

He married his first wife, Margerie Willett, on February 12, 1948. They had four children, each of whom later played roles on his TV shows, including the Dick Van D**e Show and Diagnosis: Murder. At the time he married, transiting Pluto was at 13º Leo, right on his suggested Leo Ascendant. His second life partner was Michelle Triola, and they lived together from 1976 until her death in 2009 without ever actually being married.

Then he met the make-up artist Arlene Silver and they married on February 29, 2012. Being 46 years younger than her elderly husband, Arlene (b. September 21, 1971) was more suited as a caretaker than an intimate partner. Yet her Mars at 12º Aquarius is conjunct his Venus at 7º Aquarius, a combination that does provide physical chemistry. But in Aquarius, their closeness may be better described as good friends.

When they married, transiting Jupiter was conjunct his Midheaven and his progressed Ceres was at 13º58’ Leo, only 0º07’ from conjoining his Leo Ascendant. Progressed Ceres defines this partnership development as entering into a close relationship with his loving caretaker. And the proof of their healthy, joyous, energizing camaraderie is further evidenced by a rare Venus-Jupiter combination.

As an aside, astrologers who don’t use secondary progressions won’t be able to see this planetary duo’s lucky location. Venus and Jupiter are known as the lesser and greater benefics, and they bring good fortune wherever they are by house or aspect. When Dick Van D**e and Arlene Silver were married, his progressed Venus was at 12º Aquarius and his progressed Jupiter was at 14º Aquarius — right on his Descendant, the cusp of the 7th house of partners.

Once we have an accurate Ascendant, the Part of Fortune can be calculated. It’s based on this formula: PF = Ascendant + Moon – Sun. Put another way, the Part of Fortune is where the Moon would be if the Sun were placed on the Ascendant. This puts his Part of Fortune, or Fortuna, at 21º Cancer where it’s tightly conjoined by the health asteroid Hygiea, also at 21º Cancer.

Van D**e wasn’t always health conscious. He was born a fun-loving Sagittarius with his Sun closely squaring Uranus in Pisces. The natural quirky, eccentric behavior engendered by this key dynamic is readily apparent in his many zany TV and film roles that have earned him innumerable Hollywood awards. His Sun also conjoins Mercury and opposes two asteroids (Pallas and Vesta) in Gemini. Together these placements create a nervous, high-strung T-square, which Van D**e alleviated by being an alcoholic and chronic smoker.

However, by 1972 he faced the damage that his addictions were doing to his health, and he sought treatment. He found the discipline to get free of these habits through his Mars-Saturn conjunction in Scorpio which trines Hygiea and his Part of Fortune. And as he says, “Having a beautiful young wife half my age to take care of me — that works!”

Yes, Hygiea conjunct Fortuna is indeed his good fortune.

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