This newsletter will be longer than usual, due to what I consider the gravity of the situation, as new events unfold across the USA and the world.
If you read my last newsletter you understand that the combination of Jupiter and Neptune together in Aquarius has to do with infectious diseases. This event has revealed itself to be the Swine Flu that authorities are calling epidemic. Infectious diseases are not, however, limited to the swine flu, and I include sexual diseases as well. The Jupiter-Neptune combination is occurring in the 8th house of the USA, and will occur in our individual charts as well. It will especially become apparent if it comes close to a personal planet in your chart.

The 8th house is the ruler of secrets, death, mortgages, banking, credit, insurance, and taxes, affairs of the dead and sex.  The Jupiter-Neptune conjunction may well effect all of these areas to some degree.

The Swine flu epidemic, we have now identified astrologically as the Jupiter-Neptune transit, is occurring in the 8th house for the USA which leads me to believe the situation is worse than we know, all of the information has not yet been revealed to the public, and it could soon be of concern everywhere in this country and other places in the world.

If we go back in history, the last major epidemic, the worst in US history, occurred with Uranus in the 8th house in 1918.  Uranus is the planet of sudden, unexpected events. US Army training camps became death camps, with 80% death rate in some camps, and many died. It also had a major effect on the US economy.It is estimated that 40 million people died worldwide. Additionally, at that time Pluto, the ruler of death and regeneration was at 3 degrees of Cancer, conjuncting the Venus of the USA.  This had an effect on the economy, and at it's worst, any Pluto-Venus aspect can relate to death.  Pluto is now at 3 degrees of Capricorn, opposing the Venus of USA. All transits of Pluto to Venus relate to money and values as well as women.


I can only advise individual caution and awareness, as well as keeping up with the latest information from the CDC. 
 
 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  

As the 8th house relates to credit, mortgages, taxes, banking, and other's people's money, the Jupiter /Neptune conjunction will involve these areas as well.  New scams will emerge . Protect your assets as best you can and don't fall victim to these scam artists who  will bend the law to their advantage such as the shady mortgage deals that have emerged and caused the economy to capitulate the state that it is in now. One of the worst offenders is  the credit card industry who bleed those dry who need credit the most, then raise their fees without warning to the highest allowable by law, thus creating more financial difficulty to those who need help the most. Thankfully, it appears that President Obama will take action in that area. But, it will not be easy or clear cut, and it is fraught with deception. It maybe hard to tell truth from fiction. President Obama has the generational Neptune opposing Uranus occurring in his chart at this time, and there is no doubt in my mind that he to may fall victim to lies and deception from those closest to him. I hope this is not the case.  It is unfortunate those who have worked successfully and ethically in these 8th house careers have been among the first to lose their jobs as a result of the deception of the few.

Neptune is the ruler of deception, illusion, lies and mis-information, and Jupiter expands whatever area it is activating.  Now, Neptune isn't all bad, and I look for some highly evolved art forms to be created, interest in religion and spiritually, and more universal understanding. Inevitably each planet brings both it's dark, as well as positive energy to the time, but the focus of this newsletter will be on what I believe we must be aware of to deal with the world as it exists today.

As Jupiter also rules governments I believe scandal will emerge relating to 8th house concerns. We will hear more about the condition of prisoners of war, and techniques used by the Bush Administration will be revealed.


New information will likely emerge on scams relating to the bailout money and how it has been used, a decision that was made before President Obama was elected. If you go back to my newsletter posted on October 4, 2008, you will understand the ramification of such a large undertaking occurring under a retrograde Mercury that was in effect at the time the original bailout plan was passed.


No matter what your party affiliation is, now is the time to be a unified country and world calling our leaders accountable for their actions as never before.The world has forced us into a situation that we must educate ourselves in areas we never considered. We the people, do this by phone calls, letters to elected officials, grassroots and political organizations.  As American's learned every vote counts during the 2000 election between  George Bush and Al Gore, every letter counts as well, and believe me, our elected officials take note of communication from their constituents.

As to the stock market and it's rally, as an astrologer I call it a 'fool's rally. First of all, earnings are in decline as never before. Money will absolutely, and has been made at this time in the stock market, and IRA's and retirement plans may inch further up and optimism may return to some degree. Jupiter, after all is in the 8th house of the USA ruling investments. But make no mistake:  this is not business as usual and we will not quickly return to the same world we have known for the past 15 years. Regardless of how things appear, I can only advise conservative investments at this time unless you have money to lose, or total faith in your broker, who should have a successful track record. If your IRA or retirement was in the stock market and it increases I urge you to consider the possibility of whether you should continue with that investment, and reexamine your financial portfolio. For some, this time presents a window of opportunity to make money, but unless you are schooled in the ways of the stock market, and are intuitive or bright enough to understand when it is time to fold your cards, you should take the most conservative approach possible.

And the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction will relate to adverse weather conditions, and potential problems that are weather related involving water.


It is likely that further information relating to 8th house activities will come out into the open when Mercury turns retrograde at 1 degree of Gemini, the planet of communication on May 7, in the the house of things secret and hidden in the USA as well as secret enemies.  There will be much talk, and politicians will back up on things they have said in the past. It then retrogrades into Taurus from May 14-31. Taurus, ruled by Venus relates to money and is the natural ruler of the 2ond house of money. It retrogrades in the USA's 11th house of friends, hopes and wishes, large corporations, and there will be revelations in these areas.  


In terms of timing the Jupiter-Neptune period is occurring now, and becomes exact on May 21-June 11th.  Not much changes as Jupiter moves 1 degree, but the transit becomes exact again June 20th-July 22.  As Jupiter is retrogrades this time, luck may not smile so brightly on those who have made money earlier in the year.  Financial luck will be delayed for many, until it turns direct on October 13th, and will again team up with Jupiter again December 8-13, a time when similar situations are likely to emerge. 

Good Luck, stay well,

Leslie