The Best <there.is@in.the.world> wrote in message

EARLIER THIS YEAR 16 March 2003, Mars' theoretically
nearest approach to Earth in probably sixty thousand
years was charted for your perusal--and as a warning
to all that Mars shall begin receding verily malefic
the day before Mars reaches opposition (inferior) to
the Sun, with Mars just 34,646,368 miles/0.372719 AU
from Earth Wed 27-Aug-2003 09:46:13 UT then opposing
the Sun the next day, Thu 28-Aug-2003 at 17:58:42 UT.

Ares is known as "God of War" for a damn-good reason.
Read this excerpt from...\EdgarCayce\readings\3744-4:

"This psychic reading given... 24th day of
November, 1923,.. Time and Place: 3:30 P.M.
Phillips Hotel, Dayton, Ohio...
(Q) Give the description of the planet nearest
the earth at the present time, and its effect
upon the people.
(A) That planet now fast approaching the earth,
under whose influence the earth's minds trend,
will be for the next few years, as time is
known here, is Mars, who will be only thirty-
five million miles away from the earth in 1924.
The influence will be felt as this recedes
from the earth, and those of that nature; that
is, given through sojourn there, express in
their lives upon the earth the troublesome
times that will arise..."

As usual, Cayce's accuracy is proven exactly right:

Mars reached *nearest approach* to Earth at precisely
11:44:38 PM UTC 22-Aug-1924 [JPL-DE406] coming within
0.3728457 AU, i.e. ~ 55,777,160km or 34,658,320 miles:

Body X axis Y axis Z axis Length
Eart: 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000
Mars: -0.0533897 -0.3663912 -0.0438286 0.3728457 <=

With Mars fast-approaching his nearest distance
to Earth perhaps ever, Aries, tarot card of the
Devil, your archetypal self, takes center-stage
receding verily malefic, positively devastating.

Nothing in the Universe has built-in meaning such as your negative
portrayal of this event. You give it these meanings. There will be
positive and negative, as is the case with all things. The meaning you
give it, determines the effect you extract from it.
So far, it has had a positive impact in most of the world from my
view, because it is getting people out of the house to go look at it
and to alter perspective skyward and toward the larger view and
meaning of our solar system neighborhood (not unlike ancient times,
which lead to astronomy and astrology).
This coincides with its astrological position as well, being in Pisces
(introspection, the intrusion of the collective perspective into the
personal, the limits of self-promotion). I find it curious that Mars
is in a sign which is the antitheses of what Mars' archetype
represents (also being turned inward through retrogradation): War.
self identification and ego assertion. Pisces: The relinquishing of
ego for the good of the greater whole, the needs of the many
outweighing the needs of the one.

Now in the middle east we see the vicious cycle of killing and
retailiation, both by the idiotic Jews and Palestinians, definately
reflected in Mars current closest approach in the sign of christianity
and self denial--all involved missing the message of the christ
consciousness, which was that people need to recognize that we are all
a part of ALL THAT IS, expressing itself in all the ways it can, and
to see the neighbor as the self.
So now we clearly see the limits (Pisces) of ego assertion and self
aggrandizement, and how the (lack) of self-undoing and destruction go
hand in hand. This is also reflected in George W. Bush idiotic
warmongering as well.

So on the positive side, seeing the bigger picture of our universe and
seeing that we are all really very small is a positive effect towards
world peace, thinking we are some "chosen people" or somehow more
deserving than others (or that our beliefs are the "right"
beliefs--like the US asserts) so that we have the right to destroy
other belief systems is negative and the effect of a limited
persepective (Virgo/Pisces axis). This of course will accelerate in
our awareness over the next week as the new moon opposes the magnified
Mars. This can--in the positive sense; increase one's awareness and
understanding of that all--or in the negative; blind and limit one to
their own insistence on their truth as the only one.

Someday, the world will realize that there is no one truth, there are
infinite truths that no one person, place or thing can corner the
market on, and that only the combined recognition of all truths can
ever be THE truth. Only then will the silliness and narrow vision
called war, will cease.
An appreciation of the ALL=Universal Love.

"We were talking - about the space between us all
And the people - who hide themselves behind a wall of illusion
Never glimpse of truth - then it's far too late - when they pass away
We were talking - about the love we could all share - when we find it
To try our best to hold it there - with our love
With our love - We could save the world - if they only knew
Try to realize it's all within yourself no-one else can make you
change
And to see you're really only very small, and life flows on
wit-hin and wit-hout you
We were talking - about the love that's gone so cold and the people,
Who gain the world and lose their soul - then you may find,
peace of mind, is waiting there
And the time will come when you see we're all one, and life flows on
within and without you", The Beatles, "WITHIN YOU WITHOUT YOU"

Edmond H. Wollmann P.M.A.F.A.
© 2003 Altair Publications, SAN 299-5603
Astrological Consulting http://www.astroconsulting.com/
Articles http://www.astroconsulting.com/FAQs/info.htm
Artworks http://www.e-wollmann.com/TOC.htm