If it has to do with cooking, gardening, or homekeeping, Martha Stewart has been the living icon to consult. Fans have been able to do that through her numerous magazines, Emmy Award-winning TV show, syndicated newspaper columns, and web site.

Her image has always been pristine and above reproach. That is, until a couple years ago when she became embroiled in a protracted legal case in which she was investigated for insider trading of her ImClone stock.

We will look at Martha Stewart's chart in the context of these charges and the events surrounding them.

According to Astrodatabank.com, Martha Stewart's birth data receives a 'AA' rating:

August 3rd 1941
01:33:00 PM
Jersey City, New Jersey
Lat: 40 N 44
Lon: 74 W 05
Sidereal Asc: Libra 17° 12'
Tropical Asc: Scorpio 10° 15'

Before we get into this chart, I would like to explain my approach. While many astrologers tend to cite every possible configuration that might have contributed to an event, I find that shotgun technique very unimaginative and boring. I prefer to focus on the main one or two factors that point to the event, and do so from a very basic level. Hopefully, this approach will be understandable to the new astrologer while giving the advanced astrologer a different prismatic view.

Timeline:

Decision to Sell ImClone:

Trading, legal documents, and such, are ruled by the 3rd house. In light of this, I would look at what is happening there. Ketu (South Node) is approaching within 1° of natal Moon. Ketu's influence is one of clarification or, in this case, ridding oneself of encumbrances no longer useful to a person. Its influence is always one of stripping away that which is unnecessary. In this case, Martha had become aware of the reduced value of the ImClone stock and decided to sell. We cannot really tell the motivation behind such activity. But, we can see, from the prevalence of 3rd house activity, a lot of influences are at play.

Dec 27 2001 Inner-Natal, Outer-Transit

Focus Turns to Martha:

The Investigation Begins:

In early September 2002, the House subcommittee asks the Justice Department to investigate Martha Stewart. Interestingly, this is within a month and a half of transit Saturn entering her 9th house. It is well-known that Saturn's transit through the ninth can cause legal entanglements.

This would especially be true since both transit Rahu and Pluto are applying an afflicting influence to natal Jupiter in the 8th house. When Pluto is in opposition aspect to Jupiter, it is a sign that personal affairs must be kept in the highest ethical order or suits are likely to occur. And you can be sure that the matters will be financial in nature, since Pluto transitting the 2nd brings a restructuring of financial affairs.

The Indictment:

Martha is indicted on June 04 2003 on securities fraud, obstruction of justice, and lying to investigators. Remember what was said above about Saturn entering the ninth house, and how it causes legal troubles? Well, obviously this depends on supporting or contraindicative factors in the chart. In this case, things have reached a point where natal Saturn is now under the approaching influence of Rahu. This creates a double indication by Saturn of legal matters becoming more serious. An important point to remember is this. The nature of a transit planet is influenced by its natal status. The natal always feeds the transit planet's energy. So, if natal Saturn is under negative pressure, as in this case, it will exacerbate its transit tendencies toward legal complications.

Jun 04 2003 Inner-Natal, Outer-Transit

Request to Dismiss:

While Martha's request to dismiss 2 of the 5 charges was rejected in November 2003, it was granted on February 25 2004 to dismiss the most serious charge leveled against her. What's the difference, astrologically speaking?

This gives me the opportunity to go back to a principle I've advanced before: when you know a planet is going to go retrograde over a sensitive point, never predict the event to occur on its transit direct motion because it will trigger the event on its retrograde motion.

This is exactly what happened here. Last Fall, Jupiter was in direct motion over the 11th house EBM and natal Venus. This influence therefore didn't produce the positive results of its trine aspect on the third house that it should have. Instead, after Jupiter went retrograde in early January, the ripening had occurred so that as Jupiter this time re-approached the 11th house EBM, and therefore the 3rd house EBM by aspect, justice could be served and the most serious charge thrown out.

The Outlook :

The case should be handed over to the jury in early March 2004. At this time, there is a contradictory influence. Transit Jupiter (the influence that gave the dismissal of one charge) continues approaching the natal Venus and the 3rd house EBM by aspect. This is in Martha's favor, without a doubt.

However, she also has the nodal axis in her first and seventh houses, indicating both nervous tension and victory over enemies. Oddly enough, both the Jupiter and nodal influences stay in place about the same amount of time, making it difficult to say which way things will go.

This would be my lay opinion. Understand I have no legal background, and so I'm somewhat handicapped in knowing the legal wrangling that is still available to her. But, if we use some logical deduction together with the astrological indications, we know the following:

1. The case is due to go to the jury in early March.

2. The jury deliberations are not likely to last more than a couple of weeks.

3. The transit influences of Jupiter and the nodes last until June.

4. Both judicial favor and nervous tension will be ongoing until June

It is likely then that some guilty verdict will be returned on one or more of the remaining charges. Sentencing will be scheduled perhaps some weeks into the future, during which time the nervous tension will heighten. Still, during this time, the positive influence of Rahu and Jupiter are at play in creating a benevolent influence around her in terms of judicial proceedings that are pending.

I mean, let's look at it this way. If she was to be found innocent on all charges (knowing jury deliberations are not likely to last 3 months), the tensions would be immediately over, right? Of course! So, we have to assume the jury will reach a verdict within a couple weeks, and there must be a reason for tensions to continue. That can only be due to one or more of the charges sticking with a guilty verdict. The nervous tension follows because of waiting for sentencing and/or appeals.

Also, look for a motion, appeal, or action of some sort to manifest around April 19th in this case and not reach resolution until 2 months later. This is due to direct/retrograde transit of Venus over Jupiter in the 8th. I believe this will be an influence where things are set right.

So, my assessment is an initial guilty verdict on one or more counts, followed by nervous tension as she awaits sentencing and/or appeals to be heard, during which time leniency favors her. The matters currently before this court should be over with by early to mid-June.

UPDATE:

So What Eventally Happened?:  This is a direct quote from Wikipedia:

After a highly publicized, five-week jury trial that was the most closely watched of a wave of corporate fraud trials, Stewart was found guilty in March 2004 of conspiracy, obstruction of an agency proceeding, and making false statements to federal investigators and sentenced in July 2004 to serve a five month term in a federal correctional facility and a two year period of supervised release (to include five months of home confinement). 

Stewart agreed in September 2004 to begin serving a five-month prison term while her appeal was still pending. In October 2004, she reported to Alderson Federal Prison Camp  in West Virginia.  She was released on March 4, 2005, after which she was placed under home confinement and required to wear an ankle bracelet for an additional 5 months.

-Ron Grimes