The story of OJ Simpson's fall as an American sports hero was a bookend drama that began and ended Pluto's transit through Sagittarius. All the themes are there -- the courtroom scenes, the victims' relentless pursuit of justice and his surreal attempt to reclaim his life in the spotlight, even though the fame had turned into infamy. In her final installment in the OJ series, Eileen Grimes shows how OJ embodied the walking wound of a culture obsessed with celebrity, including the notorious. She sees him as an archetypal figure, someone who has stood out for a reason, and been a catalyst for cultural purging and deep change.

And then there's the man OJ, and his inevitable date with karmic destiny, marked by Saturn transits that are astonishing mirrors. It's closure for Eileen's series, and with OJ in prison now, the end of his run for his life. Eileen says the hand of Saturn has been waiting for him to trip up, writing, sometimes its amazing how we can measure time by Saturn’s cycles, and see that the “cosmic cop” in our solar system has a very patient manner, and knows that we really cannot get away with things - especially murder.

Now contained both physically, in jail, in a way that reins in his runaway natal Saturn-Pluto in the 12th house, a new chapter begins for OJ. Eileen calls it a cage within a cage and maybe now he can begin his journey toward true soul freedom.

• OJ Simpson: Running for His Life, Part VII
• Click here for Part I in the Series

The Chinese New Year begins January 26th, in the sign of the Ox, in the element earth. The Ox is a working animal (some say beast of burden), and a valuable asset to a family that lives close to the land. It heralds a year of plodding, but steady progress, and the careful building of things meant to last.

Author Suzanne White has returned in 09 to grace the site with an overview of the Year of the Earth Ox, and a preview prediction for each sign. The strong, enduring Ox puts muscle into whatever does, and in Earth, has the ability to alter the landscape. Writes Suzanne, It suggests an environment dominated by cautious pragmatism rather than quixotic dreaming. Things will get done.

• Chinese Calendar (Find your Sign and Element)
• How Chinese Astrology Works

Let's entertain hope! Starting today, Jupiter's expansive essence will be soaring in Aquarius, a sign of progressive thinking, originality and a humanitarian outlook. That's at it's best, of course. And Jupiter pulls toward the highest ideal, with signs and serendipities of being on the right path, following the lucky star. Jupiter guides the search for meaning, reaching for higher truths. Aquarius likes to be mingling among the people, and is tuned in to the vibe of the whole. We could see unexpected changes come out of group efforts, through networking, friendship circles and citizen actions.

The world of technology is likely to speed forward with progress. In his Astrology of Culture blog, Eric Meyers of Astrology.com points out that it's the year we're all supposed to upgrade to digital television. The need for universities to rein in expenses, and restructure the budgets could bring a rise in online education, already a growing trend. Aquarius rules air and the distant corners of the universe, and the quest for truth could involve the mysteries of what's going on in space, and in our own earth environment. Maybe there will be more disclosure with the E.T. thing, and why our clouds come delivered as parallel lines, and their impact on Earth and our own energetic fields and health/well-being. The major planets in earth (Saturn, Pluto) will direct that bubbly Jupiter-inspired idealism in practical ways. Lots of communities and regions will take matters in their own hands, and look for fresh, cleaner energy solutions to resource and sustainability problems.

In fashion and style, we could see sleek, futuristic, cool and shiny. Out of Hollywood and elsewhere, we could see more stories about aliens, time travel and eccentric characters. Stories about those that dare to be different, or mass awakenings that change history, could rise to the surface of culture. The stranger and taboo face that's part of the human experience, portrayed by Aquarian actors like Christian Bale, becomes a societal focus. And we'll likely see more epics like HBO's John Adams, that celebrates the ideals of independence, humanitarian values and a society that makes a point to include the most downtrodden in the social web. Jupiter in Aquarius turns us all into champions for the underdog and lovers of individual freedom, ready to join forces for causes that bring real change.

The Bush shoe incident by the Iraqi journalist has sparked spontaneous shoe hurling around the globe. The Uranian spirit of revolution took off, in a Piscean theme, since Pisces rules the feet. Uranus is facing down Saturn, primed for quirky, visually remarkable acts. The gesture, as authority meets the people says, we stand together against all brutal acts of violence.

There's something poignant about old shoes...they tell a story about the day-to-day, walking in the world. I couldn't bear to look at my Dad's old nearly flattened penny loafers after he died. They bear the marks of rhythm of daily plodding, stagnation or bursts of momentum. That and standing in the facts on the ground, analyzed carefully for integrity (Saturn in Virgo). And they bring to mind that timeless truth, "walk a mile in my shoes," before you judge me. From Montreal to Bagdad, Washington to San Francisco and across Europe this weekend, the shoes are flying. There was even a odd incident in Miami on Friday, with thousands of shoes left by who knows who on the highway.

In related news, I just discovered that Jessica Murray has a blog on her MotherSky site. She writes about the scenario that's unfolding in Gaza, and has the courage not to give O a sleepy pass...but to listen to what he's saying, and whether it's balanced or not based on her sense of what's right and just. And that Pluto in Capricorn may well bring home the lesson, that the days of bowing to the patrician, just trust me to be the moral compass, are over. That it's a time for the heart of compassion, a truly egalitarian view that respects all sides equally, to come through the people....walking the walk, in their shoes.

She writes, We are entering a post-father-figure era. Obama's dreadful pandering was as much of an omen as the New Year war crimes to which he was referring. No leader, no matter how charismatic, no matter how vastly superior to the toxic clown he's replacing, can take the place of an individuated populace alive with self-awareness. The Uranus-Saturn opposition overhead echoes this idea. The global superpower of the years upcoming is not a politician, nor any one person; it is an informed citizenry. As we make our way to the Full Moon of January 10th, we must begin to realize that we are on our own.