THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF MARTHA STEWART

 ....AN ASTROLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

According to reliable and official sources, Martha Stewart  was born on August 3, 1941 at 1:33 PM in Jersey City, New Jersey.  At the time of this writing (March 2004), Martha Stewart, a high profile home crafts and cooking media personality, recently went to trial on January 26, 2004, in New York City with allegations of insider trading.  Martha had sold 4,000 shares of Imclone on December 27, 2001, for $227,824. On the day before the company's stock fell below $60. Her stock scandal later emerged publicly on June 6, 2002, with somber repercussions which escalated rapidly.  On March 6, 2004, Martha was found guilty on four counts: one conspiracy, two false statements and one obstruction of justice.  She plans to appeal.  Her sentencing has been scheduled for June 17, 2004.

A careful analysis of Martha's astrological transits and progressions provides an insightful and thought provoking framework to help us understand the profound stress and critical changes occurring in Martha's life.  All the great dramas of life, although painful and tumultuous, offer the potential of refined values, with the resultant raising of human consciousness, both individually and collectively.  The beauty and rich symbolism of an individual's  unique astrological mandala, offers a window of soulful understanding, evoking compassion and deep understanding. 

Let us now take a look at Martha's major astrological cycles to get a firmer sense of what underlying energies Martha is currently digesting and assimilating, metaphorically speaking.  Please be reminded that it is up to each of us, individually, to consciously choose how we will engage with these underlying energies or patterns.  In addition, as practicing astrologers or students of astrology, we have a great responsibility when translating our sacred art to others.  We must reserve critical judgments, and offer our compassion for the human experience and to all those who are suffering. 

To begin,  Let's take a look at Martha's Secondary Progressed (SP) Moon phase, which will indicate whether Martha is in waning period of deep inner integration or a waxing lunar period of growth, confronting obstacles and new beginnings.  Martha Stewart enters her SP Full Moon phase (occurs every 30 years) on March 18, 2004.  The Full Moon phase is a time of fulfillment.  Whatever has been developed up until this point, positive or negative, is now FULLY SEEN in the symbolic brightness of the Full Moon.  Many individuals must confront a full awareness of disintegration, along with feelings of deep seated failure during this time of illumination.  Certainly, Martha is facing such a time, where structures in her life may need to break down in the light of day, to be reformulated on stronger foundations.

On December 9, 2001, Martha had solar arc progressed (SA) Jupiter (confidence, expansion) conjoin natal Mars (action, impulsiveness).  This  happened to coincide with her fateful telephone call on December 27, 2001, when she sold her shares of Imclone the day before the stock fell below $60.  Jupiter-Mars aspects are famous for gambling, impulsivity and taking risks, often without thinking through the potential consequences. 

A year later, on or around December 20, 2002, Martha had her SA Pluto semisquare (obstacle or challenge) her natal midheaven, suggesting an EXTREMELY IMPORTANT CHANGE.  The midheaven is symbolic of one's professional status.  Pluto is representative of major transformation, most often coinciding with tumultuous themes of power, control and intensity.

Martha Stewart's annual Solar Return chart (SR) (a annual chart calculated when the natal Sun returns to its birth position each year) is quite revealing.  The Solar Return can be likened to a "thumbprint" synopsis of planetary themes, which add further depth and understanding to the astrological transits and progressions. Martha's SR Moon (ones emotional infrastructure for the year) is found in the 12th house of hidden sorrows, privacy and behind the scenes activities.  Furthermore, the Moon is square (major challenge) to Chiron (planetoid symbolizing painful emotions, wounding and healing) in her SR 3rd house of networking, communication, mindset and transactions with others.  This indicates that though Martha may not be showing hurt emotions on the outside, she is certainly enduring them in her private moments.  Her SR Sun is found in the 9th house (legalities, internationalism, advertising) in conjunction to the midheaven (public status).  Her Sun-Mc conjunction opposes Neptune (scandalous fall from grace, dissolving of personal image and confusion). 

Martha's secondary progressed aspects are also quite revealing.  One in particular is worthy of mention.  Her SP Black Moon Lilith has been in opposition aspect to her SP Venus from her 5th house of speculation, gambling and investments.  Her Venus rules her SP 5th house and 10th house (public reputation).  Black Moon Lilith (a deeply fascinating, hypothetical point in astrology), is symbolic of the darker side of our nature...hidden depths we prefer not to acknowledge.  It is a part of our personality we often deny and project onto others.  Inevitably, we are forced to confront and explore the hidden depths wherever it makes its presence known in our natal birthcharts.  Some Black Moon Lilith themes consist of guilt, shame, hatred, envy and vengefulness, often brought about by personal wounds and hurtful associations.

The transits of any outer planets to critical locations in our birthcharts are always important times in our life developments.  Martha has had transiting Neptune (dissolving, deception and/or vulnerability, spiritual concerns) in her 3rd house of communication in opposition aspect to her natal 9th house Leo Sun since March 2002 through January of 2004.  If that were not enough, transiting Neptune has also been in square aspect to her ascendant (identity, public persona and physical body).  The illusive and ethereal planet of Neptune takes 165 years to travel around the birthchart, so not all us will experience such a wipe out period of uncertainty.  Neptune is associated with anything that transcends everyday reality...meditation, dreaming, music, art or even drugs and alcohol in some cases.  It is a planet of deconditioning which can be especially turbulent for those who are used to being in total control, in denial or in the grip of an addiction.  During Neptune transits, we often grapple with disillusionment, confusion, identity loss and loss of focus in general.  Ultimately, Neptunian periods embody sacrificial initiatory periods of self realization offering eventual enlightenment, a connection to that which is sacred, inspired creativity and faith and trust in the unknown.  In short, Martha Stewart's ego is being "dissolved" to allow for something far greater and far more meaningful in the language of the soul.  She is learning to surrender and align with a higher power through dealing with a disorienting meltdown.

During this entire ordeal Martha has been experiencing transiting Pluto (which takes 248 years to travel around a birthchart) in opposition aspect to Martha's SP Jupiter (legal issues and ethical concerns).  Pluto-Jupiter aspects are suggestive of a ruthless drive to get ahead as well as doing things in a very big way.  The opposition aspect often brings challenges from others, such as the unfortunate circumstances in this particular case.  Pluto-Jupiter symbolizes ground breaking transformations in areas dealing with ethics and the law.

In June of 2002, when Martha's trading became widely publicized, Martha's SP Mercury in her 12th house (private sorrows, hidden matters) squared her Chiron in the 9th house of advertising, ethics and legal concerns, suggesting a deep wound around issues of communication and legal affairs.  In January of 2003, Martha's SP Ascendant (public persona, identity point) conjoined her natal Moon in her second house of financial resources, ruler of her 9th house!  In April of 2003, transiting Chiron (51 year cycle) stationed retrograde squaring Martha's Sun-Moon midpoint, in effect through January 2004.  This important midpoint picture powerfully suggests that Martha was somehow destined to express or embody Chironic themes during this time period in her life ... wounding, isolation, emotional pain and deep healing around her image and self expression.  When Chiron=Sun-Moon, we are intensely encouraged to attend to our unresolved issues.

In July 2003, Martha's SP ascendant squared her natal Neptune, ruler of her 5th house of investments and speculation, further casting a Neptunian shadow of confusion and possible deceptiveness around Martha.  Chiron evokes further wounding in Martha's life once again when it opposes Martha's Mercury in the 9th house on June 5, 2004  (again...communications and legal affairs are suggested), in effect right through December 2004. Chiron-Mercury lends itself to painful communications with others, often precipitating a catalyst in regard to all matters involving anything ruled by Mercury (such as contracts, agreements, transactions).  In  May through June of 2004, transiting Saturn (29 year cycle), soon entering Martha's 9th house, will square her SP Sun and Moon, and later square her SP midheaven!  All of these aspects suggest a time of tremendous effort, restructuring and consolidation under stressful circumstances.  Saturn transits are cyclic periods of reality checks and balances. 

On or in the vicinity of July 25, 2004, SA Venus (ruler of Martha's 12th house of confinement or hidden matters) comes to Martha's ascendant point.  This could either be confinement brought conspicuously forward in Martha's personality, or it could even denote the bringing forward of a new relationship or significant partnership (Venus).  

Beginning in September 2004, transiting Saturn begins its long trek over Martha's 9th house stellium of planets (ethics, legalities, internationalism, publishing, the big picture).  Her Saturn-Mercury transit in late September 2004 suggests a time of deep and serious thinking.  This transit can also coincide with depressive and pessimistic thinking, or one's intellectual viewpoint is concerned with an extremely narrow range of ideas.  At this time, Martha will need to be acutely diligent in planning ideas which will have consequences for years to come.  Later on when transiting Saturn conjoins Pluto in August of 2005, I suspect Martha will be working incredibly hard to reinvent herself. Saturn-Pluto is ruthless, persevering and determined to overcome the toughest odds. 

In January 2005-2006, transiting Pluto will square Martha's nodal axis (destiny points), suggesting a difficult, but necessary transition and integration past and future.  Pluto to Martha's nodes should prove to be a life changing direction, ultimately leading her into the direction for her highest good.  Pluto-nodal contacts are also suggestive of major new contacts of great importance, such as a life significant relationship or powerful new identification with a large group of people.

In April through May of 2005, with transiting Uranus oppose Venus and SA Venus square her Sun, there is the suggestion of sudden new developments around home and work, as well as intensified partnership issues. 

The year 2006 will be yet another major year for Martha Stewart with transiting Pluto conjoining her Moon and transiting Neptune opposing her midheaven!  Many of us will never experience such potent transits in a lifetime!  Pluto-Moon will be a time of exaggerated new plans facilitating profound changes in Martha's emotional life and domestic arena, evoking great transformation with zeal and intensified self-application.  Neptune's transit across Martha's 4th house cusp will occur beginning August of 2006, an extremely sensitive and impressionable time within Martha's deepest self and family.  Individuals often experience a reversal of values at this time, with increased interest in metaphysics, art, music or creative pursuits.  Often, they bring these new interests forward in their vocations.

In summary, there are major stumbling blocks on the road ahead for Martha Stewart.  I personally feel that Martha will most likely experience a reversal in values, more in alignment with her soul's destiny.  After all, her natal Neptune-North Node conjunction in Virgo, in her 11th house of group consciousness, squares her natal Moon (located in her 2nd house of financial and spiritual resources) and it rules her 9th house!   This natal aspect corroborates that the doorway to Martha's highest destiny involves surmounting obstacles in the areas of life we have discussed in this article.  Neptune-Node is symbolic of a creative and compassionate connection to humanity...to serve humanity (Virgo, 11th house) with the highest standards, discrimination and clarity of purpose (Virgo).

Lastly, Martha's Leo Sun-Chiron-Pluto conjunction in her 9th house is suggestive of the natal promise of profound transformation of her identity-ego (Leo Sun) in the realm of the justice system and public approval (9th house, conjoin midheaven).  The very same experiences that are currently evoking such stress and pain in Martha's life, can ultimately facilitate deep and lasting healing around her self image and long term goals.  When transiting Saturn reaches Martha's midheaven (public status) in July of 2006, I suspect Martha will be in a very different place, metaphorically speaking.

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