I look at the world and I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don't know how you were inverted
No one alerted you.
By George Harrison

From the Media to (Steve) McFadden we just can’t miss the fact that Mars the red planet is rising in the sky with great intensity. We probably all know that Mars will be closest to Earth in the last 73,000 years. On August 27th Mars will be 34.65 million miles away (or 55.76 million kilometers) and on Aug. 28th . Perhaps such a dramatic astronomical event may have conjured up images of massive earth changes. Will our worst fears be realized? Are these visions of the oceans boiling over and volcanoes going off like giant firecrackers in the ring of fire, true? Probably Not! The real story is that Mars is retrograde (Rx) from July 29th to Sept. 27th. This is an inversion, a confusing diversion from the natural energy of Mars. For a view of Mars this August visit www.space.com

The Earth and atmospheric changes may not be as dramatic or truly cinematic compared to the human changes that will accompany this retrograde. We will experience events reflecting the inner world to match the outer - as above so below. Impulses and emotions will be charged with high levels of confusion, illusion and frustration and here is why:

RETROGRADE MARS – AN EXPLANATION

On 3:37AM July 29th EDT (see chart) Mars the planet of action, aggression and personal vitality went into a retrograde cycle and appears to be moving backwards. We on Earth appear to be accelerating thus we have a “retrograde.” Even though this particular Retrograde phase ends on September 27th, the planet Mars stays in Pisces till December 4th. Oh Lord, we all got dancin’ feet! (Pisces rules the feet and the shoes that go on them.) With Transiting Mars squaring Uranus at 8 Gemini 55 in the US Chart (see chart) and squaring GW Bush’s Mars 9 Virgo 18, vulnerability at these degrees will create a dance of anger and escapism. In early November these degrees will be touched again like a haunting shadow. Our Nation’s health is under fire. Note: Using the USA Sibley chart we see Mars transiting the Third House of all forms of communication (magazines, newspapers, radio and TV), ground traffic, railways, neighboring countries, public opinion, the Post Office. Mars is squaring Uranus in the Sixth House of public health, employment, working conditions, labor issues - the Military – and Dept. of Defense the Pentagon. Our communications will be more abrasive, reactive with a heavy emphasis on the freedom to break away. Strikes, slowdowns and Huelgas of all kinds will dominate the news. Example: Contracts covering 35% of Verizon's work force expired at midnight -- negotiations to continue. August 3, 2003: 3:10 PM EDT. Extreme health issues will also be in the forefront: AIDS Cases on the Rise in United States from Yahoo News on Aug. 3rd 2003. If ever there was a time to go with the flow instead of getting caught in a dramatic inversion punctuated by rumors of rumors, now is the time.

ESTOTERIC SYMBOL FOR MARS AND RETROGRADE CHART

The esoteric symbol for Mars has an arrow (phallic in nature) thrusting out sideways from the circle of spirit This planetary symbol is unlike any others which have the cross of matter facing in a straight vertical direction from the circle. So when Mars retrogrades the symbol is inverted and distorted in many ways. Normally in a natal chart a retrograde Mars indicates past lives of sublimation and negation of normal sexual fulfillment – kind of reminds us of the Catholic Clergy. It has been said that Mars Rx brings suppressed feelings of anger and hostility to the surface and they burst forth suddenly. It has been said that, Mars can bring events early, Saturn can delay them, but Uranus is always right on time! Keep an eye on which degrees are effected taking note when transits activate them. In this cycle there will be many unexpected surprises for the native or the nation.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that the potential for hurricanes, typhoons or the occasional tsunamis is not present. The real battleground will involve our watery emotions mixing with fiery impulses. To better explain this process let’s view the action of the mysterious thermal bulges near Nymph Lake in YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. Our emotions will be erupting like thermal steam vents, containing sharp silica glass shards from lava rock. Mars always involves cutting or abrasions of some kind.

Mars went retrograde (see chart) right after the Leo New Moon with (5) Planets in fire: Mercury, Moon, Sun, and Venus in Leo and Pluto in Sagittarius accompanied by the asteroid Pallas in Aries. We are starting to see many examples of explosions and fires derived from this chart. Per example today from Pakistan (a Leo country), on Aug. 3rd: ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Explosives stored in a road builder's home have detonated killing at least 49 people and injuring another 132. This influence is also evident by raging fires in Canada (Reuters) - Emergency crews battling the worst fire season in British Columbia for half a century.

Same Sex Marriage Controversy and Religious Implications

The controversy surrounding the issue of same sex marriage is a prime example of how Mars in Pisces Rx will play out in our lives. Neptune ruler of Pisces touches all things religious and spirtual. On Thursday July 30th the Vatican “issued a 12-page document in seven languages, approved by Pope John Paul II, calling on Roman Catholic lawmakers to block legislation granting legal rights to homosexual unions in Europe and North America.” GW Bush the day before in his “we are all sinners speech” made it abundantly clear that he's not in favor of extending marriage rights to gays and he wants create even more conflict by codifying the definition of marriage. Bush has made it abundantly clear that he has direct audience with Jehovah can bring down the burning bush and lay down the Mosaic tablets at your feet anytime! So far the only state the has actually legalized same sex civil unions is Vermont, Massachusetts is not far behind with states like Oregon, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Ohio, New York and more with out laws that ban same sex marriage. Netherlands and Canada have legalized same sex marriages with many other countries ready to follow suit.

The confirmation of Rev. V. Gene Robinson as openly gay priest as bishop of New Hampshire is was approved on Sunday August 3rd. The debate will linger for weeks since this puts the Anglican Church under tremendous pressure with 77 Million Members Worldwide Episcopalians comprise the U.S. branch.. Expect sides to be drawn around the world and the media to have magnify this issue through the entire Mars in Pisces transit.

Historical Events with Mars in Pisces Retrograde in the 20th Century:

This century Mars in Pisces stationed and went RX twice before: September to October 1909 and again from August to October 1956.

Since both Mars in Pisces and Uranus in Pisces involve oil it is interesting to note that in 1909 marked the the establishment of the first Anglo-Persian Oil Company! These are the early roots of OPEC. and the commercial launch of the very first plastic product - Bakelite. Oil and oil derivatives are Piscean and their use and exploitation through heat, molding and drilling are all Martian endeavors. By the time December 17th rolls around we will be literally inundated by stories of oil and oil discovery and transport.

A more mysterious conncection of Piscean origin took place in 1909 dealing with a long forgotten discovery which claimed the an Egypto-Tibetan culture lived in the Grand Canyon. The lengthy front page story came from the PHOENIX GAZETTE on 5 April 1909 the long suppressed Archeological find by G.E. Kinkaid and Professor S.A. Jordan

Invasions that go bump in the night: 1956 the last time Mars was RX in Pisces, was a banner year for sudden invasions and regime changes. Egypt seized the Suez Canal after war between Israel and Jordan broke out. Eventually Egypt withdrew due to attacks by Anglo-French forces. The there was the Soviet invasion of Hungary. Fidel Castro led a courageous rebel force to overthrow Batitsa and eventually became the Cuban president. Undoubtedly August thru December 2003 will involve invasions and forced occupations that probably will be met with defeat or failure.

The Drug War, DEA and Marijuana Policy.

Another Mars in Pisces issue, drugs and drug use will be on the line with this retrograde. The DEA turned 30 on June 25th 2003. It’s budget has skyrocketed, with less than $75 million in fiscal 1973 (when created by tricky Dick Nixon) to an estimated $1.9 billion in the current fiscal year. On an international basis crop destruction of hemp and poppy plants in South America, Mexico and Afghanistan costs US taxpayers $75 billion per year. Who knows how many billions are spent in “black ops”? So instead of doing a concise reexamination of the DEA's priorities and tactics or an evaluation of the wisdom of keeping these antiquated drug laws, Bush the machine going. He even rammed thru the nomination of anti-marijuana crusader Karen P. Tandy who was confirmed on July 31st not even a squeak of dissent from the Senate.
With Mars in Pisces Rx expect the world to continue to oppose marijuana policy and began to question the idiocy of paying for these bloated agencies. Currently Canada has legalized Medical Marijuana along with Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington with Maryland, Oklahoma and South Dakota to follow later this year.

Bublican Party (Republican Party) is challenged by Mars Retrograde and the last Solar Eclipse

If we look at the chart for the inception of the Republican Party set for Michigan on July 6, 1854 we see that Saturn is at 10° Gemini. Our T Mars Rx touches off that sensitive 10° Gemini which adds fuel to the demise of the Buplicans. If we look back to the historic Solar Eclipse on May 31st (chart) we see a major challenges to the integrity and honesty of the White House and Bush Cabinet. In fact Mars will square with square the New Moon at 9° Gemini! eclipse point three times - on 18th July, 9th August and 6th November.

Remember that Honest Abe started the Republican party as a reaction to Democrats - single, dominant party in American government at the time! Sounds familiar huh? The inception of the Republican party in 1854 was founded with “good intentions” which has led to the “road to hell.” Lincoln’s party began after the Kansas-Nebraska Act passed repealing the Missouri Compromise, and allowed for the extension of slavery into the Western Territories. The Republicans were originally founded on the principle of fighting slavery and now almost 200 years later are attempting to setup a society ruled by an Elitist Upper Class with a majority of :"serfs" supporting them.

This year it is blatantly obvious that the elephant trainer forgot to clean up the Bublican's excrement. The unabashed greed and acquisitiveness in the current California recall of Davis (brilliantly described by Claudia Dikinis in http://starcats.com/newsmakers.html ) will destroy their reputation. The eleven Texas Democrats who have vowed to fight the Publican vote grab through with their gerrymandering (redistricting bill) have become heroes and have shed light on the despicable tactics of U.S. Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

The principle of inversion is active with the Bublicans. Last year was the 5th Saturn return for the Buplicans and this year with T Mars Retro squaring Saturn, Venus and finally N Node the end of September – this party will be under major pressure like that lake in Yellowstone to implode from within.

Some NeoCons who will feel the pressure of Mars Rx.

Besides GW Bush who has his plate full with this Mars RX transits, most of his merry men will end up in the pressure cooker of the Mars Rx transit. Read Nancy Waterman’s great articles detailing the demise of GW and his cabinet this year.

A few of the Bush Cartel that will be embroiled include:

Our macho Minister of Defense Rumsfield will experience the Mars in Pisces energy like a laser beam. Piscean Mars will square his own Mars at 10 Gemini causing loss of physical energy. Then just four days before the historical new moon on Aug. 28th Mars will square his Neptune at 6 Virgo – he will be tempted to deceive the American people even further and this will be his undoing. Perhaps the planted WMD’s will appear with bring half-hearted vindication to the Bush Cartel.

John Ashcroft will feel the wrath of T Mars in Pisces over his Mercury at 7 Gemini, his Saturn at 0 Gemini and his N Node at 10 Virgo as his paranoia escalates. His security measures will help alienate many western European nations along with our North American neighbors Canada and Mexico.
John’s buddy Tom Ridge, head of Homeland Security will be caught in the crossfire since he has Sun in 2 Virgo and Mars at 22 Gemini.

Colin Powell will also meet the wrath of the Mars Rx squaring his natal Mars at 5 Sagittarius. We may see some angry outbursts from “General Colon P” aided by Pluto turning direct at 18 Sagittarius conjoining his N Node.starting on August 28th. This may drive the fate of the next US confrontation on foreign soil.
This cast of characters including their fearless figurehead Bobblehead Bush will be rattled big time by the Aug. 28th new moon with a five planet line-up in Virgo Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter. The whole five are opposite Mars/Uranus together in Pisces.

Just few days before the August New Moon, Pallas Athena the “supreme strategist” in the warring sign Aries turns direct on Aug. 22nd. As Maya Del Mar says “Pallas represents the principle of creative intelligence—often put into the service of the patriarchy. I call her "General Pallas." Well Gen. Powell a strong Aries has used Pallas, along with Rummy and Tommy Franks thinking that they had masterminded a 21 day war in IRAQ without repercussions form either the Iraqi or American people. Well they are unequivocally wrong. .Pallas, Mars, and Aries all relate to war and the retrograde movement of Mercury (everyone’s messenger) on Aug. 27th will put a dent into the NeoCons war plans further undermining the Bublicans.

New Paradigm for Mars: Illumination vs Domination.

Originally the Roman God Mars was similar to the Egyptian equivalent Anhur, who represented the positive side of the planet - protection against danger. For the Greeks, Ares was always violent and a God of war. The Romans on the other hand, connected Mars was to agriculture. He was worshipped for his ability to protect cattle and crops from diseases, bad weather, and evil influences. In essence, Mars was a God who gave life to the crops from the sun (ruler of Aries). The arrow represented strength for the farmer to persevere and defend his crops from all predators. The rituals observed by the Roman priests of Mars show that he also corresponded to the Indian god Indra, a warriors' god who combated the forces of evil. It was the Roman Emperor and solders who perverted the idea by creating a war-loving aggressor who attacks all his enemies with the power of the arrow (like Bush and the axis of Evil). Another example of perverting a pure idea representing good intentions.

During this Martian Rx period we will re-evaluate many of our macho need for aggression, our reactivity and our violent impulses that occur suddenly. Even though this is a time of great chaos there is an awesome opportunity to channel the healing energies that are stimulated. Perhaps if we choose peace instead of the destructive bravado that has marked the last 5,000 plus our hard work will pay off with the next ingress of Pisces in May 2005. One note of hope is that the Sabian Symbol for 10 Pisces 08 which is Men seeking illumination which according to Alan Leo is a living tradition of spiritual achievement. Alan tells more about this symbol: when positive the degree is an effective alignment with ultimate reality and when negative obvious hypocrisy. Even with the amount of Neptunian deception, confusion and media spin increasing with Mars in Pisces, we need to stay aligned with an ultimate spiritual prescence.
The choice is set for humanity, either illumination or domination.

Special Note: I have started a website that chronicles the current news events that symbolize this Mars Retrograde - Martian Chronicles Retrograde Style 2003

E-mail Your Observations and Links to Solutions at AquaSoul I will add to the site with your name.

I look at you all see the love there that’s sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
Look at you all . . .
Still my guitar gently weeps.
By George Harrison