Mars enters Taurus to play with Saturn.

The Bulls are Running

When we think of the sign Taurus the image of the bull arises into conciousness. And if we have tuned into the stock markets of the world we have seen the bulls hard charging with new highs in every major index. Now with action oriented Mars planet of initiative and energetics we might even think about the annual running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. Pamplona was originally called Pompeiopolis, after Julius Caesar’s rival Pompey, who founded it in 75 b.c. as a military settlement - a fitting representation of Ares and Mars. Some of us might have noticed HBO's new offering Rome shines light on the history of Pompey Magnus and Gaius Julius Caesar Rome premiered August 28th and is set in 52BC but HIGHLY RELEVANT our current post technology drama.

Back to the Running of the Bulls
The festival of the running of the bulls takes place during the week of July 6 to July 14 when Daily bullfights are preceded by the running event. The mighty bulls are released from a holding pen and driven through the narrow streets of the city, behind crowds of men and boys, who dodge them and try to outrace them to the bullring. A dangerous sport of the brave and skillful in the past but in recent years foreign tourists have packed the streets where no one can move or maneuver actually dragging the animals down to the ground. When Mars turns retrograde in October we may have a created this type of situation with our own economy and lifestyles - More on that later.

Pasiphae, Queen of Minoan Crete
Besides Pamplona of compartively recent history, the bull figures into the ancient myths and legends of Crete iwth Queen Pasiphae. Pasiphae was the daugher of the sun-god Helios and the wife of Minos king of Crete. Myths tell of how Poseidon, God of the Oceans had given an impressively beautiful bull to Minos. His expectation was for Minos to do the honors and sacrifice the bovine prize to Poseidon. Rather than sacrifice the bull to Poseidon, Minos was selfish and kept the animal for himself. In this typical Greek tale of retribution, the God Poseidon made Pasiphae, the wife of Minos, fall madly in love with the bull. With the aid of Daedalus Pasiphae let herself become impregnated by the bull. Daedalus made a hollow wooden cow for her to get inside, so she could mate with the bull. The resulting offspring which she bore was a monster called the Minotaur. There is much more to tell regarding this legend but that is not the purpose of this document. I only add the tale of Pasiphae to bring lust and passion into the mix set the stage for this incredible transit of Mars in Taurus.
Interstingly enough the famous Amreican Artist Jackson Pollock who was born with Mars in Taurus did an impressionistic painting of Pasiphae.

Proceed with caution but move toward your goal, grab the prize with style - all in good time.
This could be one of the mottos of Mars in Taurus individuals who epitomize the power of acauistiveness and survival instincts. Ambition and action are synonymous with the warrior mars and in Taurus we find a more determined, calculated even stylish persona then the impatient hot headed Aries. This is a placement for many talented individuals from artists to singers like Stan Getz, Madonna, Tony Bennet, Astrud Gilberto, Billy Joel, Carly Simon or artists like Edgar Degas, Salvador Dali, M.C. Escher or Jackson Pollock.

The list of famous personages with Mars in Taurus is both long and surprising so besides the big time entertainers like Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro, Ginger Rogers or even Liberace there is another group of infamous even cruel people like Adolf Hitler,John Ehrlichman, Jesse James and Adolf Eichmann that share this placement. All of them have tremendous will to be grounded and eventually achieve their desired result no matter how long it takes.


Since July 27th we have begun to see the enhanced power of Fixed Signs in action. Already the lion is roaring and ready to take center stage in all his glory with Saturn's ingress into Leo on July 16th. Shortly afterward, Mercury stationed retrograde on July 22 at 20 degrees of Leo but even with that bit of warning, we all seem to be charging ahead like the Bulls at Pamplona. Instead of paying attention and embracing this as a time to revise, rethink, reconnect with people from and most importantly make mechanical repairs and get systems in order - everthing is launched forward. Bush makes an end run around the House and Senate and approve the poster boy for Bad Diplomacy, John Bolton, signs CAFTA and the launch of the shuttle Discovery on July 26th with Merc. Retro. even with the ominous specter of Columbia Tragedy.
Why are all these actions still going forward?
With the advent of action packed Mars over filled with testosterone packed Aries entering the slower strong enduring Taurus. And it has only just begun since Mars will stay in Taurus till February 16, 2006 the longest time since 1927. Usually the warrior Mars when in Taurus takes all those resentments that are not openly confronted and goes underground. Actually ground breaking and earth shaking is the right way to describe those turned inward feelings of jealousy,envy or resentment. Just like the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake (Mars was in Taurus)where a molten force under the earth can be much more dangerous than an open display of anger. Note that Mars in Taurus doesn't always know when to end the battle and can than prolong combat endlessly - the slow burn or storm prevails.


Unprecedented Monsoon Rains Push India Death Toll Close To 1,000
The rains begun in the Bombay region on July 27th and didn't really abate till August 1st. Within these five days of deluge Mars was TSQ Saturn/Leo and Chiron RX /Aquarius - the explosive aspect of Uranus Contraparallel to Mars by alignment/declination perhaps was the trigger for these historic downpours that flooded Mumbai. One thing that is for sure this was a relentless, persistent monsoon just like the stubborn charging Bull. The Saturn SQ Mars energy pounds against all forms of limitiations just as the bull's normally even temperament when angered is willing to gore anything in his way.

Screw the legislature's opinion, I want Bolton says Bush

With Bush and Bolton Mars was also a factor since T Uranus 9Pisces52 is applying to close opposition to GWB's natal Mars 9 Virgo18 - this unexpected appointment of Bolton symbolizes the deliberate, stubborn action of an infantile president. With Loe rising, there is a certain adolescent energy surrounding Georgie.
As Mercury in Leo moves backwards to catch up and stimulate GWB's Mercury/Pluto conjunction setting the stage for more power plays.
Bolton himself born with Scorpio Sun and Chiron November 20, 1948 has N Node at 3Taurus right in line with Transiting Taurus on Aug 1st. - Bolton's destiny point was activated putting him in contact with Rice (five planets in Scorpio). This mixture of Rice and Bolton negotiating with the world leaders is just in time for November's horsemen Jupiter to expand the the sign of death and renewal Scorpio.




Bolton's Natal Chart (Time Unknown using first house Sun)
Plus his natal Mercury in secretive obsessive Scorpio is now TSQ retro Mercury and Neptune so everything he says will be considered a lie and his trust level is in the tank according to the world's people.

Mars in Taurus is also about money and loving.
Since Mars/Mercury and Juno are all in parallel alignment we will also can experience a positive approach to sensuality in relationship with cash as the caveat.
Communications for couples whether gay or straight will be enhanced. Notice the recent golf club ruling in California that puts gay couples on par with straight counterparts when it comes to country club membership benefits. This ruling has markings of Mars in Taurus since Birgit Koebke and Kendall French have been trying to get the prestigious Bernardo Heights Country Club to accept their same access to its golf course afforded members who were in heterosexual marriage since 1998 - slow persistent and steady paid off. Also with sports being the central theme (Leo) and limitations by a country club (Saturn) we see how these two fixed signs can work together to get what they want.