The Sudden Death of Jett Travolta
John Travolta's son Jett died suddenly last week after he had a seizure and hit his head. While John and his wife Kelly blame Jetts health problems on Kawasaki Syndrome and environmental toxins, neither of these would cause Jett's history of seizures. Critics claim that Jett was autistic, which is associated with seizures, but as Scientologists, the Travoltas deny the existence of mental issues.
John Travolta was born (February 18, 1954, 2:53 p.m., Englewood, NJ) with his Aquarius Sun in the eighth house and opposite Pluto, a double message associated with death and transformation. This combination accounts for his tremendous career swings as well as a systems-oriented approach (Aquarius) to metaphysics (eighth house). His most angular planet is Ceres, found on the fourth house cusp, which reflects his deep interest in parenting.
The planetary signature corresponding to Jett's death is evident: John's Mars in the Fifth House of Children had recently progressed into Capricorn, where it forms a T-square with progressed Ceres (at 2º Libra) and progressed Mercury (at 1º Aries). On the day Jett died, the transiting Mars-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn activated the whole complex. Transiting Pluto remains in this area through 2009, leading to extended grief (Ceres) and much to think about (Mercury).
Jett Travolta (April 13, 1992, 12:33 a.m., Daytona, FL) has his Sun in Aries, which resonates with John's fifth house Mars. Jett's Sun squares the epochal Uranus-Neptune conjunction in Capricorn, perhaps pointing to a mysterious or undiagnosed (Neptune) electrical activity (Uranus) in his brain (Aries). At the moment he died, his progressed Mars was exactly square his Sagittarius Ascendant, a sure sign of accident-prone hyperactivity.
*Astrodatabank rates his birth data (February 12, 1942, 1:30 p.m., Tel Aviv, Israel) as DD due to conflicting birth times. A popular alternative to the 1:30 p.m. time used here is 3:00 a.m.
Yellowstone Earthquake Activity
An unusual swarm of earthquake activity in Yellowstone National Park has scientists wondering if the Big One is on the horizon. Since December 27, over 500 small quakes have rippled around the famous geysers, giving evidence of magma on the move. Predicting earthquakes with any reliability remains a daunting challenge for both scientists and astrologers, although some successes point to improved accuracy.
The 9.2 Megathrust Earthquake on January 26, 1700 (9:00 p.m., Seattle, WA) that was felt across the entire Northwest and sent a tsunami that was registered in Japan can be used as a foundation horoscope for predicting earthquake and volcanic activity in the region. This monstrous quake features the Aquarius Sun forming a T-square with Pluto and Mars, and is also closely quincunx (150º) Uranus.
Mount St. Helens blew its top on May 18, 1980 (8:32 a.m., Cougar, WA) as the transiting Saturn-Neptune square aligned with the Megathrust's angles. The great San Francisco quake on April 18, 1906 took place as transiting Uranus and Neptune opposed each other while perfectly aligned with the Megathrust Uranus. Similarly, the San Francisco quake on October 17, 1989 also had major outer planets aligned with the Megathrust Uranus.
For exceptionally large events, the formula is clear: outer planets form hard aspects to each other and simultaneously activate key points in the Megathrust chart. We are now entering a phase when something like this could happen. Transiting Saturn and Uranus are opposing each other along the Megathrust Ascendant. Then, the Solar Eclipse this coming January 25 lands right on the Megathrust Sun, which provides an approximate activation date.
Ehud Barak's Rising Star
The chief strategist behind Israel's ongoing military operation in Gaza is Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who is one of three major candidates running for Prime Minister in Israel's February 12 election. Since the airstrikes began, Barak has seen his public approval rating soar from 34% to 53%, as he overtakes his rivals, the Likud Party's Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
Like the horoscopes for Mike Bloomberg and Kim Jong-Il, who were born within a few days of Barak, the Labor Party leader has his Aquarius Sun squaring a group of hard-core planets in Taurus. The Sun square Saturn is the classic signature of the ambitious, self-made success story, while the square to Uranus points to an eccentric side and periodic breaks from the expected path.
If Ehud Barak's birth time is correct*, his Taurus planets (including Mars) operate in the stealthy Twelfth House. He was Prime Minister for two years, beginning on July 6, 1999. He won based on his stellar military record as his progressed Sun was sextile Mars and his progressed Mars was conjunct his Ascendant. He lost to Ariel Sharon on March 7, 2001 during his Saturn Return (in the Twelfth House), and then abruptly quit politics to play at being a businessman.
In January 2007, he announced his return to politics as transiting Saturn opposed his Sun. Now, transiting Saturn is on an upward cycle as it rises from his Fourth House of New Starts. Transiting Neptune conjunct his Sun gives him the aura of a visionary who can take Israel forward. Watch around January 12 for a dramatic change of direction toward compromise and negotiation as Mercury turns retrograde on his Venus.
About the Author
Michael WolfStar is a professional astrologer and writer living in Oregon. He writes regularly for Dell Horoscope and American Astrology. Personal readings are available. Visit Neptune Cafe for more information. Reader feedback is welcome. Send an email to the author.
