Now, at the end of March, Bush’s nominee, Paul Wolfowitz, is OK’d by the Europeans to head the World Bank. Wolfowitz, the most superhawk of the neocons, with no experience in banking, economics, or development, was a principal architect of the Iraq War. He seems a very odd choice for this position. Some say he is being banished from the playroom as a way to remove his controversial persona from the center of action.

The World Bank is not known for front-page news. However, Wolfowitz’ tenure is going to be very interesting, and worth keeping an eye on.

This is because he is confirmed with transiting Chiron, freshly into Aquarius, square transiting Vesta, freshly into Taurus. This appointment at this time is a signal of global conflicts to come.

Planets in Aquarius see into the future, and are willing to change society to get on the road to reform. Practical Taurus wants to produce. It knows that using materials at hand in tried-and-true ways gets results. Only the present is real; the future is fantasy.

Both Aquarius and Taurus are fixed signs, i.e., they are both stubborn in their chosen pathways, and both resist change. Conflict between them is common. The U.S. has planets in both signs. Essentially, do we share resources, or do we hang onto them for ourselves? Can we combine productivity with sharing which enhances people’s lives?

Both Aquarius and Taurus are hosting planets now. Aquarius will continue to do so through 2011. Taurus will lend its energy off and on. A big dose of Taurus is coming up soon, when stimulating Mars travels in Taurus from August 2005 through February 2006.

But it is Chiron entering Aquarius that is the big deal now. (Chiron will shift back to Capricorn from August through November, and then re-enter Aquarius where it will travel until 2011.)

Chiron is a special planet of teachers, healers, counselors, astrologers, and ecologists. Just from these "rulerships," we can see the focus of some of its coming work in Aquarius. I see it as enhancing self-empowerment. It was first written about in the 1930’s by astrologers, but astronomers had no inkling of a planet in its location. It was a surprise discovery in 1977.

This is one of the qualities of Chiron. It brings us surprise breakthroughs. It acts by raising our vibrational levels, so that we function on a higher plane. But our cells may have problems adjusting, so we become ill or injured—and then we have the time to heal.

Aquarius is the sign of electrical energy, and Chiron here is very much at home. Aquarius’ healing qualities are emphasized, such as educating, inventing, and joining in community to enhance life. (Read last month’s feature article for a more complete description of Chiron in Aquarius.)

Aquarius is concerned with society as a whole, as well as with the future. Many U.S. presidents were born with Chiron in Aquarius, e.g. James Monroe, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson. They all presided over periods of U.S. expansion.

Issues which are up now that illustrate Chiron’s connection with illness and with healing are, of course, the Terri Schiavo case, the Pope’s grave condition, and the Red Lake High School massacre.

Chiron entered Aquarius on February 21. At that time, there was a 6.4 earthquake in Iran, Bush began his European trip speaking of "accord," the UK hosted a huge climate change meeting, and Sheila Kuehl introduced a model single-payer health plan into the California legislature.

Chiron was next stimulated by Mars on March 23. The Red Lake massacre occurred then, and Bush was in Europe again trying to mend fences. (He needs financial help in Iraq and allies re Iran.) Condoleezza Rice was in China, saying the U.S. might use force in Taiwan, and John Bolton and Paul Wolfowitz are both leaving the Administration.

These are all Chirotic events.

An ongoing obvious Chiron problem is the state of the health system in the U.S. (Transiting Saturn has been squaring the U.S. Chiron.)

For instance, nurses continue to fight California governor Schwarzenegger’s proposals for them, including a court case, which they won. (The Governor said, a year or so ago, that he was going to "kick their butts." They certainly kicked back.) Labor is, in fact, demonstrating and fighting for its rights all over the world right now.

Health costs are a huge issue, and most forms of health providers are in trouble now for one reason or another, including the FDA. Chiron traveling in Aquarius will lead to reform of the system—but maybe not before it falls apart.

Alternative healing is Chiron’s specialty, and this area will continue to grow.

We will also become more conscious of needs for healing around the world, such as the great devastation from the tsunami. Doctors Without Borders will increase their work.

Healing of hearts and souls will also be featured, with, for example, open discussions, counseling, teaching conflict resolution, and non-violent training.

Aquarius is an energy sign, and we will do progressive work on sustainable energy. Hopefully we will be ready for Chiron in Pisces in 2012, for it could bring chaos in the oil-gas arena.

Chiron was, essentially, a wise and noble teacher. He taught many of the heroes of mythology, such as Jason, Achilles, Hercules, and the great astrologer-physician, Asclepius.

The quality of education, then, both formal and informal, will improve.

Struggles for human rights, wherever they are, will continue to proliferate.

Let us see what Paul Wolfowitz, with his hand (and "hand"—Greek cheir—is a Chiron word) on a major world economic lever, does with our future-oriented Wounded Healer, Chiron.

Let us remember that wounding provides opportunities for healing.