Libra ingress of 2024 brings echoes of Fall 1991

Though we stand now in the height of summer, flush with heat and summer storms, the specter of fall and failing daylight approaches. The astrology of the coming season has already started to take shape, and this article is an attempt to constellate and name a few of the shapes that I've stumbled across in my work with the Libra ingress chart centered on Washington, DC.

The Libra ingress of 2024 – Washington, DC

The autumnal equinox is of special astrological relevance to the United States, as 1° Libra culminates on the midheaven of the US Sibly chart. I think it no accident that general elections and balloting are scheduled for November – this is, in some respects, a time that the founding chart of 1776 astrologically ordains.

Venus is in the ingress's 1st house, and Jupiter casts an exact trine to the degree of the ascendant. There is a liberality to these signatures, possibly portending good long-term outcomes of whatever is started this fall.

But Venus is in square to Pluto and mere minutes away from leaving Libra for Scorpio. And, Jupiter is slowing toward its eventual retrograde station on October 8. We may need to brace ourselves for retraction of some of the good these placements would otherwise indicate.

The Libra ingress is on September 22, and Venus enters Scorpio later that day. Venus in Libra indicates genteel relations, cordiality, amenability, diplomatic favor within the public domain. But Venus is at 29° of that sign, which may well indicate a fading grasp on these principles rather than a sturdy affirmation of them. As Venus enters into Scorpio, themes of envy, backbiting, and calumny emerge on a mundane level. Civility itself, and whether it continues to be valued, is due to be a central point of conversation this fall.

Jupiter's retrogradation on the cusp of the 9th house indicates trouble to be stirred in the courts. Justices themselves will come under intensified scrutiny, their power questioned and shaken. This signature suggests the wealthy are likely to lose some positioning in the courts and in foreign markets, or perhaps earlier losses (shown by Jupiter's separating squares with retrograde Saturn in Pisces and 9th-ruler Mercury in Virgo) will finally be realized.

The Sun and Moon are both positioned in dark, secluded areas of the chart: the truth of things will be harder to ascertain this season. It would be better for the relationship between the public and the ruling class if the luminaries were angular; still, lights do go out from time to time and we should be capable of navigating such times. Are we prepared for this? Do we have matches and substitute methods of lighting at the ready? Can we investigate emerging realities fairly, as the abundance of impressions in air signs (i.e., ascendant, Sun and Moon, ascendant-ruler, Jupiter) suggests we will need to?

The Sun in the 12th conjunct the South Node points to missteps in leadership, perhaps caused by efforts to secure undisclosed interests. The Moon in the 8th reflects the frenetic state of an anxious public. The Moon enters a void period briefly before forming a square with Saturn, suggesting increasing tensions as we move toward the Capricorn ingress later this year which features an angular and exact opposition between the Moon and Saturn at 13° Virgo/Pisces, both in applying square to a retrograde Jupiter in the 7th house.

The Moon signifies messages, and Mercury the channels used to transmit and receive information. Both planets are poorly positioned, indicating circumstances obstructing the clear and easy flow of data points and communication. The Moon's problem is as identified above – its placement in the 8th house imbues messaging with frantic, anxious energy, as does its recent conjunction to Uranus and trine to the 12th house Sun.

Mercury, which indicates channels of communication, is separating from an opposition with Saturn and Jupiter, and applying to an opposition with Neptune. It is also in the 12th house, and combust. Collectively, these underscore a history of misuse of proper channels by the most established powers (i.e., Mercury is separating from the two most superior planets who are themselves at war, as shown by their mutually separating square). Mercury is combust, which I interpret as systemic overwhelm, and Mercury's cadency and opposition to Neptune suggest messages will be delivered ineffectively, indirectly, and with awkwardness.

The position of Mars and Jupiter in the 9th house reflects ongoing investment in war abroad. It indicates challenges in the courts and to their structure, and as both superior planets are essentially debilitated, bad players – justices who act in bad faith – will continue to draw the national gaze. Ethics standards, and questions of court morality, are on the docket.

Saturn occupies the 5th house, and Mars the 9th. They mutually apply by trine in water signs, which could show a great many things like floods and water-related disasters, and recurring disruptions in foreign markets and domestic real estate. Foreign markets are likely to be marked by greater inflation (Jupiter and Mars both contribute here), whereas property markets are continue to flag due to low inventory (Saturn in Pisces, Rx) and high interest rates (2nd-ruler Mars falling both by sign and house, Moon in the 8th with the 8th-ruler Venus in the ascendant).

The fixed star Pollux (of Castor and Pollux, Castor being the mortal twin and Pollux the immortal) crowns the midheaven. This star brings contest and fights, draws out brutal and tyrannical natures, and warns of ruin or disgrace to some great person.

In summary, the Libra ingress for the US intimates a period of joy which eventually comes to mix with bitterness. Challenge rises in the courts, from many corners, both case-related contest and contests questioning the very foundations of our judicial institutions and appointments procedures and policies; wealth tied down in foreign investment is more vulnerable than usual to inflationary pressures and poor discernment in speculation; media contributes to misinformation, stirring greater confusion in the public as it navigates its own confusion; improper use of communication channels or communication protocol is expected; trouble and volatility expected in domestic property markets; warning of floods and damaging rains; high traffic and volumes in international shipping, which could threaten the stability of port and shipping infrastructure; flashes of tyrannical intent; immortalization through infamy.

Overlaying with the United States national horoscope

When comparing the 2024 Libra ingress for Washington, DC with the Sibly chart for the United States, we have decidedly martial overlays. Jupiter on the 9th cusp of the ingress chart is on the US Mars (and will station retrograde upon it by degree), and transiting Mars is in square to the US Saturn.

These configurations are supportive testimonies of action coming through the courts. Because Jupiter is directly plugged in, we must consider whether the justices themselves, as well as the office they hold, will be subject to scrutiny and review.

This seems likely even without astrological indications considering the news we have seen in recent months about the Supreme Court, and recent indications* that the Biden administration intends to initiate reform policies through the congressional pipeline. [The Guardian]

* This article was written on Thursday, July 25 – but by the time of publishing on Sunday, July 28, Biden's announcement had been made.

I expect more to come from this story as Mercury, ruler of the 9th house of law, is poorly positioned in the Libra ingress (i.e., vulnerable to attack) and squares Jupiter at 20° Gemini, which reinforces the likelihood of 9th-house issues developing or coming to a head in the fall of this year.

At 23° Cancer, the Libra ingress midheaven falls within minutes of the US foundation chart's Mercury, which is both retrograde and in the 8th house. This radical connection seems, to me, to capture the essence of the period. This reinforces repeat indications of delays and hesitations, obstacles and obfuscations, shown by the positions of Mercury, the luminaries, Jupiter, and Mars.

Echoes from the past

The midheaven degree takes on great significance in charts for world astrology – with so much delay indicated, what success or profit is to be attained in this period? What could the nation's retrograde Mercury indicate when made angular against the backdrop of this year's Libra ingress?

To begin figuring out how to answer these questions, I went back to the last time this alignment happened: fall 1991. There are three events I would like to extract from that period to help guide an exploration of how fall 2024 could materialize:

• (1) the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and the courageous testimony of Anita Hill;
• (2) the liberation of Eastern European nations bringing the final collapse of the USSR; and,
• (3) a public power struggle between the Israel as a colonial-settler project and the United States president.

First, we owe it to ourselves to take in a high-level assessment of the 1991 Libra ingress. The similarities in themes will almost certainly strike you as it did me.

The Libra ingress of 1991 – Washington, DC

The angles of the 1991 and 2024 Libra ingresses are effectively the same, with the ascendant and midheaven falling in the same terms (the ascendants are in the term of Jupiter, the midheavens in the term of Mercury), being roughly one degree apart.

Like it is in the 2024 chart, the 9th cusp of the 1991 Libra ingress is on the United States Mars at 21° Gemini. But here, in 1991, Mars is on the US Saturn at 14° Libra. Transiting Saturn is angular in the 1991 chart, imparting the flavor of a Mars-Saturn influence that is present in the 2024 chart in their mutually applying trine.

The Moon and Mercury are in poor position in the 1991 chart, just as they were in the 2024 chart. Here, they are in opposition with each other (Mercury is nearly in the same degree in both charts, 21°-22° Virgo). When the Moon and Mercury fall in opposition with each other, communication streams tend to be at their worst. A lack of illumination is repeated here with both luminaries, again, in dark houses – this time the Sun is in the 12th, and the Moon in the 6th.

Big takeaways – communication looks tough in both fall 1991 and fall 2024 charts; Mercury rules the 9th house in both charts (courts, foreign powers), the 9th cusp falls on the US Mars in both charts (war, strife, tension, conflict), and the national Mercury retrograde culminates on both midheavens (major hesitancies, delays, obstructions, crisis of confidence in processes and systems).

Clarence Thomas

Clarence Thomas's initial Supreme Court confirmation hearings began on September 10, 1991, following his nomination by then-President George H.W. Bush to replace retiring Justice Thurgood Marshall. These hearings immediately drew attention due to several factors:

• Thomas would be only the second African American to serve on the Supreme Court, following Marshall himself.
• At 43, Thomas was unusually young for a Supreme Court nominee, potentially influencing the court for decades.
• His conservative views contrasted sharply with those of Marshall, a liberal icon of the Civil Rights movement. [1]

The hearings focused intensely on Thomas's judicial philosophy and his brief tenure as a federal judge. Senators pressed him on controversial issues like abortion rights and affirmative action, with Thomas often deflecting by claiming he hadn't formed opinions on such matters. This evasiveness frustrated many committee members and observers, because he had indeed gone on record in other contexts. In 1987, Thomas praised an article that called Roe vs. Wade the precursor to "holocaust" and said abortion should be made illegal. [2]

Thomas's nomination also sparked debate within the Black American community. While some saw his appointment as a milestone, others criticized his opposition to affirmative action and other civil rights policies. Benjamin L. Hooks, then the executive director of the NAACP, said:

"Since Justice Marshall's statement of his retirement, we have expressed the view that another African-American should be appointed to this position, making it clear, however, that it should be someone who embodies many of the attributes Justice Marshall so ably articulated." [3]

Support for Thomas within the Black American community grew as the confirmation vote drew nearer. [4]

Initial hearings concluded on September 20, 1991, with Thomas's confirmation appearing likely.

NB: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Biden (D-DE) officially opened the hearing at 10:05am, [5] but the session was formally scheduled and advertised for 9:30am. As that was the pre-meditated time for this hearing to commence, that's the time I will take in my analysis as the more radical commencement chart.

The preceding lunation was a new Moon in Virgo. The midheaven brings the US Sibly Mars at 21° Gemini to a position of prominence – and the MC/IC axis would be commuted to the 9th/3rd axis (courts and public affirmation) at the time the confirmation hearings were scheduled to commence.

Have a look at the angles of the confirmation hearings – 19° Libra rising, 22° Cancer midheaven. They mirror, perfectly, the angles of the Libra ingress which was still two weeks away. This suggests that the events of the confirmation hearings would be revisited, or become a major point of focus, in the period following the autumnal equinox.

Confirmations began when the Sun came to the ascendant of the preceding lunation chart – 17° Virgo. The Moon was at 14° Libra, right on the 10th house Saturn in the US Sibly chart, and the same degree Mars would transit on the date of the Libran ingress.

Venus, ruler of the confirmation hearings' ascendant, was stationing at 21° Leo. With 22° Cancer on the midheaven, the US Mercury (retrograde, 24° Cancer) is brought to a position of angularity. These signatures of slowed or inhibited motion, coupled with the Mars/Saturn overlays on the confirmation Moon, augur delayed proceedings, obstructions and challenges, and attempts to overturn or reverse decisions.

Of particular note is the conjunction of Mercury and Jupiter, rulers of the 3rd and 9th houses of press and public messaging. They were conjoined at 29° Leo, just emerging from the Sun's light – an image of confidential information of direct relevancy to courts coming to the surface. The conjunction stood in opposition to the US Moon, reinforcing the role of mass media in what was to follow.

The testimony of Anita Hill

The trajectory of Clarence Thomas's confirmation process changed dramatically on October 6, 1991, when NPR's Nina Totenberg reported on a leaked FBI interview with Anita Hill, then a law professor at the University of Oklahoma. [6] Hill had worked under Thomas at the Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the early 1980s.

In her confidential interview with the FBI, Hill reported that Thomas had sexually harassed her during their time working together. The leak of this interview to the press forced the Senate Judiciary Committee to delay its planned vote on Thomas's nomination and to reopen the hearings.

Hill's allegations included claims that Thomas had repeatedly asked her out on dates, discussed pornographic films in detail, and made explicit sexual comments in the workplace. These accusations were particularly damaging given Thomas's role at the time as chairman of the EEOC, the federal agency responsible for enforcing workplace discrimination laws.

I strongly encourage all who are watching the recent news with Clarence Thomas to watch Anita Hill's testimony in full, made available by C-SPAN on YouTube:

The leak and subsequent public disclosure of Hill's allegations thrust the issue of workplace sexual harassment into the national spotlight. It also raised questions about the Senate's vetting process for Supreme Court nominees and the handling of sensitive information during confirmation proceedings.

On October 11, both Hill and Thomas testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a day-long session broadcast live on national television. This extraordinary hearing captivated the nation and set the stage for a bitter and divisive public debate about gender, power, and credibility in American politics.

Testimony began with Venus applying to Jupiter in Virgo in the 9th house, with the Moon approaching their squares from the 12th – a telling signature of impropriety and mishandling of one's duty of care, sexism and mistreatment of women, and failure of the law to protect.

The 10th-ruler, Mercury, is poorly positioned here, moving from the conjunction of a debilitated Sun to the conjunction of a debilitated Mars, both in Libra. All three of these planets were marching toward a square with a stationing Saturn underneath the earth.

In the 1991 Libra ingress, the Moon and Mercury were opposed at 25° Pisces and 22° Virgo respectively. These degrees fall upon the MC/IC axis of Hill's testimony chart. As the two communicators were engaged with one another across the 6th and 12th house axis (in the Libra ingress chart), workplace concerns and the treatment of one's employees is hinted, particularly where it concerns women given the lunar contribution to the signature.

Hill's testimony began on the day that the Sun conjoined the Libra ingress Mars and US Saturn (both at 14° Libra). By transit, Saturn had just stationed at 0° Aquarius, on Clarence Thomas's natal Moon at 1° Aquarius, and the 9th cusp was conjunct Thomas's natal Saturn at 19° Leo.

What Anita Hill shared with the Senate Judiciary Committee had the potential to be a time of reckoning. But, Saturn obstructs, and the application of the 10th-ruler to Mars then Saturn, the first combust and the other underneath the earth, indicates things being suppressed and submerged. The Libra ingress Moon on the 4th cusp argues the same.

Thomas was confirmed four days after Hill's testimony, on October 15, 1991. (CNN provides a robust timeline of events, starting with Thomas' nomination and ending in his confirmation.)

The next day, the New York Times ran an article titled Senate's Futile Search for Safe Ground – The Public Disgust May Not Be Eased, and the vote was summarized as follows:

At the end of the bitter fight over Clarence Thomas, Senators sat quietly and listened to dignified speeches. They usually don't. Then, even more unusually, they listened to each other vote, wondering how other senators had decided the issue.

At its simplest political level, tonight's 52-to-48 vote to confirm Judge Thomas as Supreme Court Justice was a search for safe political ground. But, despite the dignity of the last minutes, it was not a moment that is likely to do much to heal the self-induced doubts about the Senate and its confirmation process or to salve the anger of many Americans.

As individuals, a solid majority of senators had announced for Judge Thomas before last weekend's hearings on his former aide's accusation of sexual harassment. When the roll was called, with all their colleagues and a national television audience watching, three of them, all Democrats, admitted by switching their votes that they had found the record of that confrontation clear-cut and convincing. The rest stayed put.

Those switches, and the decisions of most unannounced senators to vote no produced a much lower, closer vote than the 60 or so expected a week ago when the vote was first scheduled. Close votes are sometimes exhilarating, but tonight even the victors showed little joy.

Indeed there were laments on all sides. Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, the president pro tempore of the Senate and a classic defender of the institution, claimed it had yielded to "blatant intimidation" by Judge Thomas and the White House. Other senators saw other failings: indifference to women, unfairness to the judge, the Judiciary Committee letting down its senators. [7]

Thomas was confirmed on some incredibly harsh signatures that reverberate in the 2024 Libra ingress.

Uranus and Neptune in the midheaven, showing an unsettling decision. The confirmation Moon separates from a square to the Sun, and applies next to the squares of both Mars and Mercury, and conjunction with Saturn. Mercury is in an exact square with Saturn, ruler of the 10th, 11th, and 12th houses. Saturn here disposits all visible planets save Mercury, and all planets above the horizon are applying to it.

Venus and Jupiter are found dejected under the earth, mirroring the failure of US Senators to unite around Anita Hill's testimony.

Remarkably, and not coincidentally, the 3rd and 9th cusps carry the same axis found on the MC/IC of the lunation preceding the confirmation hearings, and the 9th/3rd cusps of the Libran ingress for 1991 and the chart for the confirmation hearings' commencement.

Collapse of USSR

The fall of 1991 marked a period of unprecedented liberation for several nations as the Soviet Union began to dissolve, profoundly affecting the United States and reshaping the global geopolitical landscape.

Key events

• September 6: The Soviet Union officially recognized the independence of the Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania; this recognition came after years of struggle and peaceful resistance, known as the "Singing Revolution," and represented a major victory for these nations' sovereignty
• September 21: Armenia declared independence
• October 18: Azerbaijan declared independence
• December 1: Ukraine overwhelmingly voted for independence in a referendum, dealing a decisive blow to any hopes of preserving the Soviet Union
• December 16: Kazakhstan became the last Soviet republic to declare independence

The 1991 Libran ingress for the USSR brought Uranus and Neptune to the ascendant, which would become angular again upon the midheaven in the lunation preceding the final dissolution of the USSR and the lowering of the Soviet Flag at the Kremlin, replaced by the Russian flag we know today. This configuration signaled dramatic, transformative changes and the dissolution of established structures.

Saturn was retrograde in the ascendant of the Libra ingress, which in and of itself isn't so uncommon, but it rules the ascendant and is in square with the 3rd cusp of neighboring lands. The 4th-ruler, Venus, represents Russian territory – it came into conjunction with Pluto upon the Libra ingress midheaven at the final breath of the Soviet Union.

The collapse of the USSR in 1991 had far-reaching implications for the United States, reshaping its role on the global stage. As the sole remaining superpower, the US faced a rapid shift in its foreign policy landscape. The State Department, Defense Department, and intelligence agencies scrambled to establish new relationships with emerging nations, while simultaneously adapting to a more complex, multipolar international system. Economically, the transition of former Soviet states to market economies opened new opportunities for US investment and trade, albeit with challenges in navigating underdeveloped legal and financial systems.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union also brought new security concerns, particularly regarding the control of nuclear weapons in former Soviet states. Ideologically, the fall of the USSR was seen as a validation of American-branded democracy and capitalism, influencing US political discourse and foreign policy rhetoric. It spurred increased cultural exchange and humanitarian efforts, with American NGOs and educational institutions expanding their reach into newly independent nations.

The transition brought uncertainty and challenge – world leaders found it difficult to know who to talk to where, as regimes were rising and falling in rapid succession. Intelligence agencies underwent significant reorganization, shifting focus from the Soviet threat to emerging global challenges.

Yet, this transition also represented a triumph for democracy and self-determination. The liberation of these nations reshaped the geopolitical landscape for the entire world, ending decades of Soviet control in favor of cultural and political autonomy, and freedom to form productive relationships with other nations around the world.

US-Israel relations

Reverberations from the Soviet collapse caused a cascade of problems, some of which inflamed existing tensions in other global conflicts.

On May 5, 1991, Israeli Ambassador to the US Zalman Shoval announced Israel's intention to request $10 billion loan guarantees to help settle Soviet Jewish immigrants. [8] This request came at a delicate time, as the US was trying to organize a Middle East peace conference following the Gulf War.

Strong Venusian features stand out in Shoval's request for aid. In the lunation preceding this request, the Israeli ascendant of 29° Libra was rising on the 2nd cusp of wealth and national resources. Venus was positioned in the 9th house, and ruling both the 2nd and 9th to indicate aid to be sent abroad. Israel's natal Venus of 4° Cancer was upon the request lunation's midheaven. Jupiter at 4° Leo was also transiting Israel's national midheaven (2° Leo) and Moon (4° Leo). Saturn opposed these degrees from 6° Aquarius.

President George H.W. Bush and Secretary of State James Baker intended to aid Israel in resettling immigrants for humanitarian reasons, but were concerned that the funds might be used to expand settlements in occupied territories, potentially derailing the peace process. This expands on the Jupiterian-Venusian themes shown in the lunation preceding the aid request, and the obstruction represented by Saturn's opposition – peace could not be compromised.

The issue came to a head in early September 1991. Despite Bush's public plea for a 120-day delay in the request to avoid complicating peace negotiations, Israel formally submitted its application on September 6. This led to an intense lobbying effort by pro-Israel groups in Washington, where over a thousand Zionists came from across the country to lobby lawmakers. [9]

The lunation which preceded the Israeli Ambassador's public acknowledgement of a coming aid request was a full Moon at 8° Scorpio, and the Sun at 8° Taurus. The Sun and Moon had come to the MC/IC axis of the lunation preceding the official submission of the aid request, against the wishes of the Bush administration.

NB: Much of this stirred up before the Libra ingress had officially come into full swing, but this saga continued into the fall period, hence its relevancy.

On September 12, Bush held a contentious press conference where he criticized the pro-Israel lobbyists and threatened to veto any loan guarantee approval. He emphasized the need to prioritize the peace process over domestic political pressures. He was questioned on his support of Israel, to which he responded, saying:

"Just months ago, American men and women in uniform risked their lives to defend Israelis in the face of Iraqi Scud missiles, and indeed, Desert Storm, while winning a war against aggression, also achieved the defeat of Israel's most dangerous adversary. And during the current fiscal year alone, and despite our own economic problems, the United States provided Israel with more than $4 billion in economic and military aid, nearly $1,000 for every Israeli man, woman and child, as well as with $400 million in loan guarantees to facilitate immigrant absorption." [10]

This confrontation marked a rare instance of a US president publicly challenging the influence of the pro-Israel lobby. Bush's press conference brings us back to the important new Moon in Virgo from September 8, 1991, the lunation preceding the Libra ingress that was to follow.

In a few weeks' time, 18° Gemini become the 9th cusp of Libra ingress. This degree had already been activated in the lunation preceding both the ingress and Bush's press conference: it was on the midheaven, and squared by the new Moon in Virgo. Mars in the ascendant reinforces the fight element of the time, and the cadency and stationing of Venus, ruler of the 2nd house of national wealth and resources, reflected the attempt to stall consideration of foreign aid by the Bush administration.

The battle continued through the fall, with the Senate eventually agreeing to a four-month delay in considering the loan guarantees on October 2. This was seen as a temporary defeat for the pro-Israel lobby.

Despite Bush's initial strong stance, he ultimately failed to fully link the aid to settlement restrictions. Years later, in August 1992, facing a tough re-election campaign, Bush approved the $10 billion package to the new Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, even though Rabin insisted that some settlement activity would continue. [11]

By 1993, it became apparent that Israel hadn't used any of the loan guarantee money for resettling immigrants – less than half the anticipated number of Soviet Jews arrived, and the financial need was less than expected. Instead, plans were made to use the $10 billion for infrastructure projects and business loans, and as an economic cushion. [12]

Current political scenarios that could be raised

Election

Mars in Cancer applies to Saturn in Pisces, ruler of the 4th house (which shows the Republican party, or opposition of the party currently in power), might indicate a new name being put forward for the GOP vice presidential nominee – Mars often represents new or rising figures in the ranks, especially those who wrest a title from someone else.

Election odds aside, what does seem likely is court process and/or challenge whatever happens next. The comments from nominee Trump and the head of Project 2025 certainly intimate that surprises are ahead for the general public and the Democratic party:

The Republican Party seems to be planning something that is likely to flip tables – the question of what, exactly, might be interpreted between the lines of what these two have said, but eludes certainty at the present moment.

Clarence Thomas and the Supreme Court reform

Controversy surrounding Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has resurfaced, echoing his contentious 1991 confirmation hearings. This time, Thomas faces scrutiny over undisclosed gifts and travel from wealthy Republican donors. In response to these and other concerns, President Biden plans to announce Supreme Court reform proposals, [13] including:

• Term limits for justices
• An ethics code for the Supreme Court
• A constitutional amendment limiting presidential immunity

These proposed reforms aim to address issues of transparency and accountability in the nation's highest court. However, implementing such changes would likely require legislation, which faces significant hurdles in the current divided Congress.

Russia-Ukraine War

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, with recent developments, [14] including:

• Increased civilian casualties, including children, from shelling in various regions of Ukraine
• Reports of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian military assets, including strategic bombers and helicopters
• Russian claims of territorial gains in the Donetsk region
• Continued diplomatic tensions, with China denying charges of aiding Russia's war effort

This war has been sinking in the news cycle, perhaps due to is prolonged longevity, but it has far-reaching implications affecting global diplomacy, energy markets, and humanitarian concerns. The conflict shows no signs of resolution in the near term, with both sides continuing to engage in military operations and strategic maneuvers.

US-Israel relations

In light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the relationship between the United States and Israel remains complex and triggered, [15] as seen by these recent developments that have captured headlines:

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Mileikowsky (he changed his name to Netanyahu later in life, perhaps to remove obvious association with direct Eastern European ancestry) recently addressed the US Congress, which drew mixed reactions in the US, Israel, and internationally
• Negotiations for a potential cease-fire and hostage release deal have been thus far unsuccessful, which Netanyahu mentioned but did not elaborate on in his speech
• Misinformation continues to be shared by the Israeli Prime Minister in his public addresses [16]
• Tensions within Netanyahu's coalition government continue to build, with far-right partners opposing potential cease-fire deals
• US Vice President and presumptive Democratic nominee for the presidential ticket Kamala Harris has been distancing herself from Biden's approach to Israeli's genocidal ambitions, and calls for an immediate end to the terrors of war [17]

Looking beyond

A cursory list of astrological configurations to watch:

• In August – Mars and Jupiter will conjoin at 17° Gemini (an important degree in many of the charts discussed in this article), conjunct Rigel, and square Saturn at 17° Pisces
  • Two foundation charts this T-square impacts that are not listed in this article are those for Hamas and Hezbollah – Hamas has its Mercury, Sun, Saturn and Uranus caught in the crosshairs; Hezbelloah, its Sun.
• In September – the lunar eclipse of 25° Pisces is an eclipse transit to the Moon at 25° Pisces in the Libra ingress chart of 1991; on this date, Jupiter will be at 20° Gemini in square with Mercury and Saturn in opposition (14° Virgo and 15° Pisces Rx, respectively), which hits Netanyahu's natal ascendant of 13° Sagittarius and his natal Saturn at 15° Virgo, and the United Nations Moon at 22° Gemini
  • These events also trigger the ascendant of the Aries ingress, 14° Pisces (with Saturn there at 12° Pisces), and the Aries ingress MC at 20° Sagittarius
• In October – Mars transits the degree opposing the midheaven of Thomas's confirmation chart; the full Moon at 24° Aries features Jupiter retrograde upon the cusp of the 9th house which falls on the Israeli ascendant/descendant axis and in exact square to Thomas's confirmation Moon at 24° Capricorn; and, Mars in late Cancer will oppose Clarence Thomas's confirmation Moon
• In November – the new Moon of 9° Scorpio features Mars at 29° Cancer on the cusp of the 9th house (this lunation precedes the 2024 US General Election), arguing stoked conflict in courts
• In December – the new Moon of 9° Sagittarius features Mercury and Jupiter, both retrograde, in opposition (Jupiter at 17° Gemini, Mercury at 20° Sagittarius), a signature carried over in the following full Moon at 23° Gemini (which hits Trump's Sun and Harris's ascendant); and, Mars, in early Leo, stations retrograde at 6° Leo, triggering the Moon/Pluto opposition of the 2024 Aries ingress