Never underestimate the power of Retrograde Mars. Stifling, frustrating, internally writhing.... one's hands are tied and actions curtailed. At the Winter Solstice, December 21, 2009, President Obama had set a Christmas deadline for health care reform. It didn't happen. It couldn't or wouldn't happen. Mars was Retrograde and applying to oppositions to Moon-Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron in Aquarius (health care reform), all sitting in the House of Congress.
It's not enough that Mars is Retrograde and opposing all those democratic planets (representative of a popular and democratic cause) arousing ire, outrage and defeat through confrontation, and partisanship. It's not enough that Saturn the planet of delays and obstruction is sitting in the house associated with the health of the nation. And it's not enough that Pluto, representing big money and corporations is squaring Saturn. Health care didn't stand a chance of being reformed in this climate.
Mars Retrograde has been merely frustrating this quarter in the US, as little has been accomplished and a lot put on hold. But probably the most nationally influential event this quarter has to do with a certain legal precedent that took place in January. On January 21st, a Supreme Court Ruling (Sun, Pluto in 9th; Venus in Sagittarius - aka wealthy and powerful corporations) now allows Corporations, Unions and other organizations to donate directly and openly in order to influence political campaigns. Previously corporations were barred from supporting candidates freely, although this has always been done surreptitiously. Now they can do so wantonly and in full regalia. The result? The Supreme Court with a vote of 5 to 4, just sold the country to the corporations. This is not terribly new.
The so-called regulatory bodies that were supposed to be regulating the banks and big businesses such as AIG turned a blind eye to questionable financial wheeling and dealing... because those who are supposed to be the regulators are being paid by the people they were supposed to regulate. There are no real regulators. They're just pretend regulators. And even if they were to do the job they are supposed to do, they don't have the power. The euphemistically named Office of Thrift Supervision, which was supposed to be regulating AIG, haven't the funds or the man power to come up against a multi-national corporation. Nor did they particularly want to. They courted big businesses with the promise that they would circumvent whatever regulations were in place. After all, they needed to have corporations to 'regulate' in order to stay in business.
I bring this up, because this Supreme Court ruling in favor of corporations vs. people, occurred at the first leg of the approaching Cardinal Cross. As Saturn square Pluto rocked the very foundation of Haiti killing hundreds of thousands of people, we have this open demonstration of oppressive politics. Saturn square Pluto is the rock, coming against an immovable force. With great power. Saturn is in Libra, the sign of agreements and treaties. Pluto is in Capricorn, the sign of government, those that are in power, as well as the bedrock. Pluto often represents big money. Those who have the real power and control. Pluto sits in the house of judgment and law, squaring Saturn in the 6th House (the working people, the lack of health care, the unemployed). In this atmosphere there is no chance of bipartisan agreement. Everyone thinks that they are right. Everyone wants to be the one in control. And will ruthlessly do all that they have to do to gain control. It looks like the only way that any health care reform can be passed is by forcing it through. It won't be easy... but when you're between a rock and a hard place sometimes you just have to shove one of them out of the way.
