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A Watershed Moment
in Sexual Harassment
Joyce Levine
(originally
published in NCGR
E-News Dec. 2017)
“History doesn't
repeat itself, but
it rhymes.”
(attributed) Mark
Twain
Jupiter went into
Scorpio on October
10, 2017 and will
remain there until
November 8, 2018.
Jupiter is the
planet with the best
reputation of the
Zodiac. It rules
opportunity, luck,
ease,
prosperity—good
fortune. But there
is a side of Jupiter
that can be seen as
being either
positive or
negative. Jupiter is
the planet of
expansion. That
means that if
something is
positive, Jupiter
cycles assist in
making it better. On
the other hand, if
something is
negative, expansion
can make it a bigger
problem.
Scorpio rules,
through its
association with the
eighth house, sex,
death, taxes, and
inheritance.
So what have we seen
since Jupiter began
its trek through
Scorpio?
Just before and
right as Jupiter
entered Scorpio, the
New York Times
broke the story of
accusations of
sexual harassment by
dozens of women
against Harvey
Weinstein. As head
of Miramax Studios
and the Weinstein
Company, Weinstein
was in a unique
position that
allowed him to get
away with (alleged)
rape and other forms
harassment for
decades.
In Hollywood this
was apparently a
well-known secret.
Yet as a result of
this exposé,
Weinstein was fired
from his production
company, suspended
from the British
Academy of Film and
Television Arts, and
expelled from the
Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and
Sciences. In
addition, his wife
left him.
A
“#me too” campaign
was started
encouraging
individuals to share
their stories of
harassment. This
overwhelming tide
made it safe for
women (and men) to
come forward.
Other celebrities
who lost jobs
because of sexual
harassment
allegations include
Charlie Rose, Glenn
Thrush (New York
Times White
House reporter),
David Corn (Mother
Jones Washington
Bureau Chief), Mark
Halpern (NBC
political analyst),
Matt Lauer (NBC
anchor), comedian
Louis CK, actor
Keven Spacey, and
star Fidelity fund
manager Gavin Baker.
(After firing Baker,
head of Fidelity
Investments Abby
Johnson sent out a
video to 40,000
Fidelity employees
reminding everyone
that Fidelity will
have no tolerance
for any type of
harassment.)
Congress has not
been immune – with
allegations against
Senator Al Franken
and calls for
liberal Michigan
Congressman John
Conyers to resign.
The Senate election
in Alabama is also
in focus. A number
of women have
accused Roy Moore of
behaving
inappropriately with
them when they were
teenagers. He
reportedly trawled
shopping malls
looking for teens
when he was in his
30s.
Republican Texas
Congressman Joe
Barton’s likelihood
of being re-elected
has been derailed
since nude photos of
himself that he sent
to a woman showed up
online. Tea Party
member Barton had
characterized
himself defender of
conservative rights
and ideals. His
ex-wife says she’s
not surprised as he
had multiple
extramarital
affairs.
(Forgive me, for
whom I may have left
out. This list is so
long, it’s hard to
keep track.)
But from an
astrological
standpoint, we ask
why now. Jupiter is
in Scorpio every
twelve years, and
we’ve seen nothing
like this before.
I’d point to the
combination of the
position of other
outer planets. Let’s
look at the
positions of other
planets,
specifically Pluto
in Capricorn, Uranus
in Aries, Neptune in
Pisces, and Saturn
in Sagittarius.
Planets do not need
to be in aspect to
one another in order
to set up “conditions.”
During Pluto
transits, the dark
side of a sign is
brought to light.
Pluto doesn’t create
the conditions; it
highlights them.
Healing is only
possible when light
shines on an issue.
The dark side
brought out by
Capricorn concerns
big business,
government, and
authority.
We’ve
certainly seen
plenty as Pluto has
moved through
Capricorn; financial
shenanigans are not
the only way to
misuse power. Those
in power can easily
prey upon those
without it. Pluto’s
transit brings these
issues to the
surface.
Uranus is the planet
most associated with
revolution, whether
it’s a political
revolution or a
personal one. Uranus
helps to break down
the structures and
limitations of the
past.
Aries is the perfect
fit for this planet.
Aries is the sign of
the individual, the
fighter, who cares
more about what he
thinks is right than
what other people
think. Standing up
for oneself becomes
in tune with the
times with Uranus
here.
Neptune is the
planet associated
with idealism and
spirituality, but
also victimization
and slavery. Since
Neptune rules
Pisces, this is a
very strong
placement as planet
and sign represent
the same ideas.
Uranus and Neptune
are transiting in a
semi-square (an
often overlooked
aspect), with exact
aspects on August
11, 2017; October 7,
2017; June 6, 2018;
December 15, 2018;
and May 1, 2019. A
semi-square is a
tension aspect
(one-half of a
square). This aspect
between Neptune and
Uranus can represent
the powerless
standing up for
themselves.
The semi-square
occurred with
Neptune in Pisces
and Uranus in Aries
from 1845 to 1847.
In 1848 the European
Revolution occurred
with middle classes
and working classes
banding together to
fight Europe’s
feudal system. (I
expect to see more
of this coming forth
in the political
arena as well. This
article is limited
to sexual
harassment, but
Watergate occurred
in the 1972-1973
closing
Uranus-Neptune
semi-square.)
Lastly, Saturn is in
Sagittarius. Saturn
is the task-master
of the Zodiac, and
Sagittarius, through
the ninth house,
rules laws.
Only time will tell
if a game changer
has occurred or once
again these issues
gets relegated to
the dust bin of
history.
Joyce
can be reached at
joycel@joycelevine.com
or 2353
Massachusetts Avenue
#91, Cambridge, MA
02140, 617-354-7075.
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