Elizabeth Edward's Second Saturn Return

Last week, Elizabeth Edwards courageously announced that her cancer was back. Talk about incredible survival skills. Although she's coping with metastatic, incurable cancer now, her demeanor is fearless and upbeat. There has rarely been such a public example of the right way to handle Saturn's challenges. Born on July 3, 1949, Edward's second Saturn Return begins this September. Her Saturn is in Virgo, the sector of the horoscope ruling health. The reverberations of this profound event started when she got her diagnosis. We don't know what time she was born, but Elizabeth is clearly a prime example of what it means to be a Saturn in Virgo -- she has created a life of public service, and now, just about to face her second return, has offered to sacrifice her needs in the interest of her country. It has nothing to do with ambition.

During her initial Saturn Return between late 1978 and 1980, she became pregnant and gave birth to her first son, Wade. Wade tragically died in a car accident in 1996, and Elizabeth has been open about her healing process and how this loss transformed her life. For those born into the Saturn in Virgo generation, trading alone-time and spirituality with an over-booked schedule is one of your greatest tests. Although Elizabeth has chosen to be at her husband's side throughout his campaign, she MUST listen to her body in the next two years. That is the key for surviving this second Saturn Return -- she has to find the perfect balance between her political obligations and her own needs.

We who have endured Saturn's challenges know that he offers parting gifts at the end of his two-and-a-half year transits. When Saturn leaves Virgo in 2009, it seems quite possible that Elizabeth will already be living in the White House, doing a whole lot more than decorating. If it comes to be, this mighty prize will be shared by every single citizen of the United States. We've never needed it more than we do now.

The Real Rudy

Most New Yorkers recall with angst the mayor we grew to hate in the 1990's. He seethed and lisped his way through town, shutting down museum exhibitions, defending corrupt police officers, and ruining our fair city with his "clean up" of Times Square. Before the world watched him do what anyone in his position would have done on 9.11, he was generally thought of as an evil skeezeball. But those images made him famous, and he became "America's Mayor". Truth be told, he didn't do anything out of the ordinary. The real heroes remain those firefighters, police officers, and ordinary citizens that acted with compassion and humanity on that awful day. Amazing what a TV camera can do for one's approval ratings.

Now power-hungry Rudy is enjoying his status as the front-runner for the GOP nomination in 2008. There are several reasons for this. First off, it's a shameful assortment of candidates, and some form of cream, no matter how rancid, has to rise to the top. (And pander to the right wing, apparently. Even though he supports gay marriage, is divorced, pro-choice, and has notably dressed up in drag, Rudy has somehow become the sweetheart of the Republican party.) Pluto is currently giving him quite a powerful boost, but come June, Saturn will swoop in and Rudy's karma will catch up with him. A series of ego-squashing transits are likely to bring him to his knees. Come September, he'll probably be out of the race.

Oh, Saturn, how we praise you for these small favors. Hopefully by then Aries superstar Al Gore will have announced. More on him in a few weeks.