amounts of money and driving her car into something other than the garage.  For all intents and purposes Britney has lived much of the last decade on the wrong side of the tabloids. I see little reason to bring up her numerous mishaps. They would simply fill the space provided for this article and would not teach us anything about reading a horoscope. So, this article will examine her chart, apply some simple, basic astrology and ask and answer the question, "How could someone with all that talent, fame, attention and money,  become the Britney Spears that we all think we know?" Let me also say I feel sorry for Britney. She has a tough horoscope and I do not believe that she has received the guidance that children need to learn who they are, what they are all about and what they need to do to mature and become a useful member of society. With that in mind, let us examine the horoscope of Britney Jean Spears who on July 18th, 2008 gave up custody of her children to their father, Kevin Federline."

That was how I began the article about Britney Spears just a few months ago. In a nut shell we said that her rising sign (Libra) meant she could seem to be a pleasant, charming and socially oriented young lady who could be a bit indecisive but that Libra has also been called the "Iron fist in the velvet glove" and so it is also natural for her to do whatever it takes to accomplish her wants and needs. With Libra rising her ruling planet is Venus which was in Capricorn and the fourth house at her birth. This indicated a natural attraction to status and authority and that true love could come to her in the second half of life. She could easily be a bit of a social climber and was born with a natural business sense about art and its expression. With Venus in the fourth house I said she loved her home and family, some of which could also have more than a bit of artistic talent. But this is not all good as   her problems begin with her ruling planet. For openers it is square Jupiter. This is what creates the self indulgent, happy-go-lucky, wasteful person who over spends far too easily and parties far too much. Venus square Jupiter is all about waste, extravagance and self-indulgence.  In addition, this aspect indicates that generosity can be falsely expressed to gain social acceptance. So, if you are in trouble, don't ask your friend Britney for help as she is more of a fair weather friend who probably won't be there when you need her.  But there was more as Jupiter is also conjunct Pluto the dwarf planet of intensity. Jupiter conjunct Pluto is the aspect of "the desire for power." Britney is not only self indulgent, she also craves power and control. Is it any wonder now why she never wanted to listen to anyone else when they tried to control her actions? Jupiter Pluto aspects are found in the horoscopes of those who can rise to positions of great power because they are willing to assert the energy and do whatever is necessary to accomplish their goals. They see opportunity (Jupiter) where others don't and are very resourceful (Pluto) about taking advantage of it. One good example is Bill Gates who was born with Jupiter conjunct Pluto in his second house of money.

In addition to all this, her ruling planet (Venus) is also square Saturn.  So, Venus is square both Jupiter and Saturn. That is most definitely a two edged sword. It indicates that i nner tensions can easily create limitations, separations, difficulty's and problems with her relationships. She also needs to be careful with her money as this is one of the aspects that lends itself toward the loss of ones finances. Not a good aspect for a wasteful person. Perhaps that explains how she was capable of spending an average of $20,000.00 dollars a month on cloths but couldn't save a dime for the proverbial rainy day or the care, education and raising of her children. 
I went on in this vein for a while and ended this portion of our "reading" with, "So now we have an attractive (Libra rising) young lady with an instinctive need to be the center of attention (Moon in the fifth house) and who is self indulgent, wasteful and extravagant. (Venus square Jupiter) On top of all that, she has strong relationship issues (Venus square Saturn) and craves power and control. (Jupiter conjunct Pluto)"  Then we turned our attention to the present day as she had just given up custody of her children and asked the question, "What is going on in the heavens above that is encouraging young Britney, a woman with an emotional need for children, (Moon on the fifth house) to give up custody of her two little boys?"  To answer that question we examined The Saturn Cycle. Because I discussed this simple yet powerful cycle in last weeks celebrity column about Senator Hillary Clinton, a repeat display of its power would be good to drive home the use of this cycle for students. Back then I showed how her career had followed exactly the Saturn cycle by saying, "Britney's career began back in 1992 as a contestant on Star Search, which she won. Jupiter had entered her first house bearing a boatload of opportunity's for growth and expansion while Saturn was just beginning what astrologer Grant Lewi called Saturn's First Rise Phase. Young Britney was now on her way. As Saturn rose in her chart she landed a gig on the Mickey Mouse Club and her popularity grew. In 1999 Saturn had risen to cross her descendant and was now in its Public Rise Phase. That coincided with her first album. Saturn continued to climb as she rose to stardom until it peaked at the top of her chart back in the spring of 2002. This is when Forbes magazine ranked her as the world's most powerful celebrity. It also marked the debut of her fourth album as she became the first person in history to have her first four albums debut at number one. At the top of her horoscope, Saturn had bestowed all the blessing and more that it does when it reaches the top of ones chart. She then reaped the rewards of her hard work until Saturn entered her twelfth house of self undoing, sorrow and loss, and places of confinement". What can an astrologer say about Saturn transiting the twelfth house?  I am now going to copy, word for word, the interpretation of Saturn transiting the twelfth house that is found in Part 3 - Prediction of our astrology class.  Let's see if any of it fits the current circumstances of Britney Spears life.
 
                                               SATURN TRANSITS THE TWELFTH HOUSE

"Feelings of inferiority, brooding, loneliness, and withdrawing often accompany this transit. You are at the end of a major cycle. Neuroses, hang-ups and fears are occupying your mind so they may be resolved allowing for the new you to come. Therapy and support groups may be indicated to help you confront and resolve your old negative habits. Saturn’s transit of your twelfth house could coincide with times of hospitalization or other places of confinement. This is especially true during times of additional stressful aspects. Working in a responsible manner with these same institutions is also indicated especially during times of Saturn’s more positive aspects. A more serious attitude concerning compassion, empathy, charity or metaphysical subjects can also accompany this transit. The desire for seclusion and a need to stop and recharge ones batteries is also common. This is not a good time to completely withdraw from the world but it is a very good time for therapy or help with any psychological problems. Negative aspects made while Saturn is transiting your twelfth house will coincide with the timing of twelfth house related difficulties.  During this transit you are also more aware of the burden of responsibility. You may experience difficulties with authority figures, your career, your father and/or your health. You may also feel restricted, inhibited and pessimistic. You could easily feel ill or tired and chronic or inherited health problems may well come to the fore. When did Saturn enter her twelfth house? On Oct 1, 2007. What was going on in her life at that time? A lot. Basically she hit what seemed to be the bottom. Appearing to "be constantly under the influence", she officially lost custody of her children to Kevin, had a traffic accident and was hospitalized. She was also diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and was in a deep and profound depression. Sounds like Saturn in the twelfth house to me. This is the time when circumstances dictate that she MUST take action to develop a more mature attitude and get her life together. The up side is that she seems to be doing just exactly that.  Hindsight tells us that on July 18 she lost custody of her children. That is when Mars, also transiting her twelfth house, squared her natal Sun and was forming a quincunx aspect of adjustment to her natal Moon. In addition, the Moon, by transit, had entered her fifth house of children. Aspects from or involving the Sun and Mars are often seen as the second hand in transit analysis telling the astrologer the exact day of an event or circumstance just as they did in this circumstance.  Now, with Saturn in her tw elfth house, it is time for her to gain maturity, get counseling and develop the skills of an adult so that she can become the parent she wants to be.  She needs guidance, not adoration, structure, not self indulgence and a sober and responsible attitude not an irresponsible and self-centered one. If she works hard we may see a newer and more mature Britney as Saturn nears her ascendant. Hopefully, she will reemerge then as a more responsible, young lady. Let's keep a good thought.
    

That was how we ended our article about Britney Spears. Now, as Saturn nears her ascendant bringing her to a second but temporary peak of power, what is going on in her life? The news says that Britney has been getting help, has been working hard, and that the early reviews of her new album say it is her best work ever.  All indications are that this album will be another chart topper.  And it should be. Both transiting Venus and Jupiter are now conjunct her natal Venus bringing success and renewed popularity. In addition, her transiting Sun and Mars are now in her third house (both conjunct her natal Sun) and have each just finished transiting her second house of money and her sense of self worth. During this period she says her father has been a big help to her finances as he has taken control of her money and is teaching her to be more responsible with it. It sounds like Britney is learning the lessons of Saturn transiting her twelfth house and is learning them well. Perhaps there is hope for her yet.  But, her work is not yet done. Saturn is still in her twelfth forcing her to deal with her problems and teaching her responsibility.  It will not enter her first house for another year. That is when she will experience the second peak of power that normally accompany's Saturn's transit of the ascendant. This will probably be due to the future success of the album being released tomorrow. However, as Saturn sets in her chart, she will soon begin to experience the effects of her "Obscure Phase" and will slowly disappear from the limelight. Her second peak of power should be in 2010 but will probably not be very long lasting. Shortly after Saturn crosses her ascendant in 2010 it will conjunct itself in Oct of 2011 and this is a turning point for young Ms. Spears. When Saturn conjuncts its natal position there is a wiping out of the past and a new direction is found. This occurs with a new lease on life just as she begins her obscure phase. Hmmm, a wiping out of the past, a new lease on life and the beginning of her obscure phase all coincide at the end of 2011. This new lease on life will last until the end of 2018 when, at age 37, Saturn will enter her fourth house and begin her next rise cycle.     

The point of this story is that when a transiting planet is stirring up the waters of our horoscopes we react to its stimulus and find ourselves confronted with circumstances that exactly fit the planet and house in question. We act on that stimulus in our own unique manner so easily indicated by our natal chart. This is especially true of the slower moving planets like Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. When a planet is transiting the individual houses of our horoscopes we place in motion conditions, circumstances and events that correlate with that planet and the house it is activating.  As concerns Saturn, look at the house of your horoscope that Saturn will transit next. Begin now to be more responsible in those areas and you will have done much to eliminate future problems. Next week, we will discuss the Saturn Cycle in great depth and will watch it exactly spell out the rise and fall of another celebrity (Roseanne Barr) over a much longer span of time. It is an amazing cycle in that it so easily indicates the exact rise and fall of Kings, Emperors and Presidents, as well as everyone else on the planet.  

Britney Spears
Born December 02, 1981@ 1:30 AM in
Mahon, Mississippi 

Britney Spears has a new albumin coming out this week and she certainly qualifys as a celebrity. A few months ago, when she was in the news for other reasons, I wrote a column about her. It started with these words. "When speaking of celebrity's, there is no celebrity bigger than Britney Spears who was born December 2,1981 in McComb, Mississippi at 1:30 AM. She is known as a singer, songwriter, dancer, actress and an icon for a self indulgent, spoiled little airhead who's primary interest is getting high, spending unbelievable