The devastation from hurricane Katrina that caused the flooding of New Orleans on August 30, 2005 involved an accumulation of several planetary configurations. A Neptune Pluto parallel aspect is one major culprit that began its influence last December 2004 and that I see as the backdrop of recent global events. The symbolism here creates deep and permanent changes that occur through water, waterways and storms, as well as both crude and refined oil. The parallel between Neptune and Pluto occurs at nearly 100-year intervals; the last was from 1916 through 1919. The current parallel has been in effect since the catastrophic tsunami after Christmas.

In review of last week’s Saturday and Sunday report, I mentioned the Mars Neptune aspect that brings storms and the poignant Mercury –Neptune opposition that occurred in the chart of the Gemini Last Quarter Moon, which gave rise to Hurricane Katrina. The Last Quarter was a family member to a solar eclipse on May 31, 2003. The Mars square Neptune blinded the threat of broken levees that caused the complete flooding of New Orleans.

When I wrote two weeks ago that storms, both wet and sand were likely, I did not imagine the horrible loss of life in Iraq on August 31, 2005 when nearly a thousand were killed by a fear reaction to a suicide bomber. These also relate to the Mars square Neptune aspect. Mercury remained an influence due to the position on its own node when the aspects between Mercury to both Mars and Neptune occurred. Along with other factors, the aspects drew the attention of the globe because the aspects occurred at 15° of fixed signs; Taurus, Leo and Aquarius. Look back to the reports for both August 20 and last weeks’ August 27, 2005 report.

I expect the drastic global changes to continue as the parallel between Neptune and Pluto tightens and becomes exact January 28, 2006. It remains within orb to influence geographic and economic statistics through January 8, 2007. Changes are to be expected through Neptune’s influence over the ocean and waterways, canals, ports and docks, commerce by the seas, and refined oil. Pluto rules crude oil and in combination with Neptune rules oil refineries. Water levels are likely to rise for various reasons around the globe. The presence of the Saturn - Pluto sesqui-square in January 2006 can demand alternative methods to produce energy because of the simple need for them. Our dependence on oil will eventually bankrupt all the major economies of the world.

Another daunting aspect occurs this week when Saturn is sesqui-square Pluto. Saturn is past the fullness of their 180° opposition that occurred in 2001 and is now separated by 225°. Saturn in Leo forms pressure to apply executive decisions complicated with the devastation indicated by Pluto in Sagittarius at the intensely powerful Pluto station point of the same week of hurricane Katrina. Pluto rules the over-powering events that dominate and force change. Memories of loss and damage from the past are revisited by all of us as observers of the great destruction that the people in the US south are experiencing as they abandon their homes and suffer intense grief.

An eighth house symbolism is associated with the sign of Scorpio and is derived from Pluto as ruler of Scorpio and the natural eighth house. Even with Pluto in Sagittarius, Pluto remains an influence over the heavy affairs associated with Scorpio and related eighth house matters. This is how the aspect presents itself: Pluto is the slower moving planet and is viewed from a 0° position of the 360° wheel – by measuring Saturn at 225° past Pluto it would appear in the virtual eighth house past Pluto’s position. All of the eighth house symbolism — abandonment, death, devastation, resources from crude oil, taxes and insurance companies— just to name a few, are exaggerated by Pluto’s rulership of the natural eighth house; it intensifies the pressure and brings the problems home requiring leadership. This pair often accompanies devastation as we have experienced in the past with 9/11 and the actions taken because of those events that led to the current war in Afghanistan and Iraq. With our resources depleted and most of our troops abroad the United States is in the most vulnerable position in nearly 100 years. The consequences loom large on more fronts then we are currently aware. The economic ramifications continue for years to come. I became aware of the significance of extreme financial consequences 18 months ago when a New Moon occurred at 0°Aries. Knowing that the Lunar Gestation Cycle would present the world with a plummeting economic picture I advised my business clients accordingly. I studied the history of New Moon’s that occurred at 0° Aries and found one at the root of the stock market crash of 1929.

The current devastation of New Orleans occurred two weeks prior to the exact aspect date of the September 9, 2005 Saturn and Pluto sesqui-square - but is related. A list of the past Saturn and Pluto aspects shows the pair in aspect just over a month before the terrorists’ attacks of 9/11. Currently the sesqui- square will repeat three times. The January 1, 2006 Saturn-Pluto aspects accompanies the exact Neptune – Pluto parallel.

Pluto rules the presence of the deepest fears and can act as a catalyst to great transformation. If as a result the fuel crisis and global warming issues are acknowledged with the implementation of alternative energy sources, the transformation will then bring our children’s children a cleaner world.

The following table is a report of Saturn and Pluto’s activity beginning 2000 through 2006: