"At least 160 people have been killed after an earthquake of 6.4 magnitude hit Balochistan province in south-western Pakistan. Officials in Balochistan say they expect the toll to rise.
The tremor struck 45 miles north of Quetta at 04:09am(23:09 GMT Tuesday) at a depth of 6.2 miles, the US Geological Survey said.
Many houses collapsed during the quake and some were destroyed in landslides that followed it." BBC News
Amazingly- this earthquake struck only 3 minutes before the powerful Scorpio New Moon! The New Moon chart for the epicenter(30n39/67e19) has Pluto- the ancient ruler of Scorpio, and significator of upheavals and eruptions, critically placed near the IC(4th house cusp) of 'foundations' & homes- and square the Ascendant(local conditions/people). But I'm more interested to learn how we astrologers may have foreseen such an event beforehand. And, in this regard, the charts for the recent eclipses tend to work, more often then not, in showing where the planetary energies are most sharply focused.
The Aug. 1 total solar eclipse chart for the location of the earthquake, appears to have foreshadowed the event. The eclipse path of totality passed north of Quetta, so this area experienced only a partial eclipse- about 50 percent of the Sun was obscured. However, the eclipse chart itself, is highly evocative of sudden disasters in this region of Pakistan.
Eclipse data: Aug. 1, 2008, 10:21:09 GMT, epicenter- 30n39/67e19.
Eclipse Midheaven = 22 Virgo 23, conjunct Denebola, a star linked to natural disasters.
Eclipse Mars = 19 Virgo = Uranus 22 Pisces 10. Mars opposes Uranus- the planet of sudden, and often disruptive events, which is exactly conjunct the IC, where it can really shake things up! And whenever we see a tense aspect between Mars and Uranus is angular, we can expect some kind of volatility.
Eclipse Ascendant = 10 Sagittarius 42, conjoined the red, violent star Antares- the heart of the Scorpion.
The transiting Sun is now square the Aug. 1 solar eclipse degree(9 Leo 32), and activating it's latent power.
I'm currently working on fine-tuning some predictions related to the solar eclipse of Jan. 26, 2009, which I will be posting in the near future.
Namaste...
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Scorpio New Moon in S.F.
The chart for Scorpio New Moon is quite dramatic in San Francisco. The New Moon Ascendant = 19 Pisces = Uranus 19 Pisces = Saturn 18 Virgo. In other words- the most important planetary aspect, which pits the old structural order(Saturn- McCain), against the rising tide of revolutionary change(Uranus- Obama), aligns with the horizon, and brings the tense, collective energies into high focus here.
The New Moon Midheaven(24 Sagittarius) conjoins the fixed star Lesath.
Vivian Robson's, 'The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology' says about Lesath, "Of the nature of Mercury and Mars. It gives danger, desperation, immorality and malevolence, and is connected with acid poisons." Although- my understanding is that Lesath is related to natural disasters, we need more then this one factor, to project the probability of such an event.
Today's New Moon occurs just a week before, what may be the most important Presidential election in our lifetimes. Both Scorpio the Scorpion, and it's modern ruler Pluto, are related to endings and regeneration. And transformative Pluto is now at the end(29th degree) of the sign Sagittarius, where it's been since 1995.
Astrologers associate this passage of Pluto through Sag, with excessive speculation in the financial markets, and ideological or religious extremism(Bush & Islamic extremists). The world-changing attack of 9/11 took place when Saturn and Pluto aligned in their Full Moon opposition phase(2001-02). And Pluto's first entry into the Saturn ruled sign of Capricorn on Jan. 26, 2008, marked the beginning of the global economic meltdown, that won't end anytime soon, as the fundamentals are weak.
A New Moon is typically a time of seeding something new, but as with all seeds, we don't see the results for awhile. So with this Scorpio lunation we have both the sense of an ending and new beginning, that's emotionally intense, and regenerative. Moreover, with Scorpio's ancient ruler Mars in square to Chiron('the wounded healer'), the Moon's Nodes(mass destiny), and Neptune- we can initiate a healing process, which is high on the collective wish-list. But whenever elusive Neptune is involved, it's hard to discern the difference between what we imagine, and what is real. Ideally, we can align our actions(Mars) with a vision(Neptune) aimed at healing the wounded spirit(Chiron) of our society(Aquarius), that has suffered during the Bush years. Or, on the other hand, we may feel somewhat lost, low-energy, and disillusioned- as we live in interesting, but uncertain times.
The prominence of the epic Uranus-Saturn opposition here, may simply refer to the political climate in San Francisco, as we tend to be radically progressive, in our Uranian views or lifestyles, and desire to shake up the status quo. (San Francisco played a leading role in the collective changes of the mid. 60's, when last Saturn and Uranus were opposite in 1965-67.) Or other major events are on the horizon, locally- possibly more disruptive. I guess it's best to expect the unexpected, when erratic Uranus is rising at the intense Scorpio New Moon.
The New Moon Midheaven(24 Sagittarius) conjoins the fixed star Lesath.
Vivian Robson's, 'The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology' says about Lesath, "Of the nature of Mercury and Mars. It gives danger, desperation, immorality and malevolence, and is connected with acid poisons." Although- my understanding is that Lesath is related to natural disasters, we need more then this one factor, to project the probability of such an event.
Today's New Moon occurs just a week before, what may be the most important Presidential election in our lifetimes. Both Scorpio the Scorpion, and it's modern ruler Pluto, are related to endings and regeneration. And transformative Pluto is now at the end(29th degree) of the sign Sagittarius, where it's been since 1995.
Astrologers associate this passage of Pluto through Sag, with excessive speculation in the financial markets, and ideological or religious extremism(Bush & Islamic extremists). The world-changing attack of 9/11 took place when Saturn and Pluto aligned in their Full Moon opposition phase(2001-02). And Pluto's first entry into the Saturn ruled sign of Capricorn on Jan. 26, 2008, marked the beginning of the global economic meltdown, that won't end anytime soon, as the fundamentals are weak.
A New Moon is typically a time of seeding something new, but as with all seeds, we don't see the results for awhile. So with this Scorpio lunation we have both the sense of an ending and new beginning, that's emotionally intense, and regenerative. Moreover, with Scorpio's ancient ruler Mars in square to Chiron('the wounded healer'), the Moon's Nodes(mass destiny), and Neptune- we can initiate a healing process, which is high on the collective wish-list. But whenever elusive Neptune is involved, it's hard to discern the difference between what we imagine, and what is real. Ideally, we can align our actions(Mars) with a vision(Neptune) aimed at healing the wounded spirit(Chiron) of our society(Aquarius), that has suffered during the Bush years. Or, on the other hand, we may feel somewhat lost, low-energy, and disillusioned- as we live in interesting, but uncertain times.
The prominence of the epic Uranus-Saturn opposition here, may simply refer to the political climate in San Francisco, as we tend to be radically progressive, in our Uranian views or lifestyles, and desire to shake up the status quo. (San Francisco played a leading role in the collective changes of the mid. 60's, when last Saturn and Uranus were opposite in 1965-67.) Or other major events are on the horizon, locally- possibly more disruptive. I guess it's best to expect the unexpected, when erratic Uranus is rising at the intense Scorpio New Moon.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
July 2, 1776: Day of Decision
By Zip Dobyns and Julian Armistead
"As most of our readers know, since February of 1982 I have been working with my own rectification for the horoscope of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. The time I am using (9:36 A.M. EST) fits the records which state that the Congress met at 9 A.M., considered one minor item of business, then took up the Declaration to make minor changes in wording, after which the group voted to publish the document. A variety of other items of business were handled after the decision on the Declaration and before noon, so we can assume that the crucial vote occurred some time around 9:30 to 10 A.M. We do not know whether the Chairman, John Hancock, signed the document then or later, so we might have two charts for the same day; one for the decision on final wording and the vote by the whole Congress, and a later time for a signature. The chart for 9:36 (given in Eastern Time for our convenience though we know the group would have operated on local mean time), has had highly appropriate aspects for all of the U.S.A. major events, and when calculated for other areas of earth, the planets also have appropriate aspects to the local angles. I am convinced that this chart is a primary one for the United States as an independent country.
In spite of my satisfaction with the July 4 chart, I am also convinced that subsidiary charts can be useful, and I have wanted to look for a possible time for a chart on July 2, 1776. An article from Julian Armistead of New York precipitated an effort to find a July 2 chart that would also fit the events of our history. Julian’s article follows, with my appreciation both to Julian and to NCGR which is publishing his article in the fall 1985 issue of their Journal."
Read More
"As most of our readers know, since February of 1982 I have been working with my own rectification for the horoscope of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. The time I am using (9:36 A.M. EST) fits the records which state that the Congress met at 9 A.M., considered one minor item of business, then took up the Declaration to make minor changes in wording, after which the group voted to publish the document. A variety of other items of business were handled after the decision on the Declaration and before noon, so we can assume that the crucial vote occurred some time around 9:30 to 10 A.M. We do not know whether the Chairman, John Hancock, signed the document then or later, so we might have two charts for the same day; one for the decision on final wording and the vote by the whole Congress, and a later time for a signature. The chart for 9:36 (given in Eastern Time for our convenience though we know the group would have operated on local mean time), has had highly appropriate aspects for all of the U.S.A. major events, and when calculated for other areas of earth, the planets also have appropriate aspects to the local angles. I am convinced that this chart is a primary one for the United States as an independent country.
In spite of my satisfaction with the July 4 chart, I am also convinced that subsidiary charts can be useful, and I have wanted to look for a possible time for a chart on July 2, 1776. An article from Julian Armistead of New York precipitated an effort to find a July 2 chart that would also fit the events of our history. Julian’s article follows, with my appreciation both to Julian and to NCGR which is publishing his article in the fall 1985 issue of their Journal."
Read More
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Deadly Quake Hits Chechnya
"An earthquake in the southern Russian republic of Chechnya has killed at least 13 people and injured more than 100 more, officials.
The magnitude 4.7 quake damaged roads, power supplies and communications across the Caucasus, and was felt as far away as Georgia and Armenia. It was centered 25 miles east of the Chechen capital, Grozny, said the US Geological Institute.
The tremor struck at around noon (0800 GMT) on Saturday and lasted some 40 seconds.
It left hundreds of residents sheltering in tents and more than 50,000 homes without electricity, a day before regional elections."
BBC News
Once again, the Mars ingress pinpointed the location of a major violent event, before it occurred.
Mars entered Scorpio on Oct. 4, 4:35 GMT. At Grozny(43n20-45e42) we find:
Ascendant = 29 Libra 02 = Mars 0 Scorpio = Midheaven 5 Leo 20.
I discovered this mundane technique after hurricane Katrina- when I noticed that a Moon-Mars conjunction rose in New Orleans, as Mars entered Taurus on July 28, 2005(5:13 GMT). Ascendant = 4 Taurus = Mars 0 Taurus = Moon 6 Taurus.
Recently, I noted the potential for increased violence in the Los Angeles area, because Mars conjoined the IC(4th house cusp) there, when the red planet entered Libra on Aug 19, 2008, 10:04 GMT. Midheaven = 1 Aries = Mars 0 Libra. The Ascendant of this chart is 15 Cancer 48- and on Sept. 12, 2008, two trains collided violently near L.A. with fatal results, as Mars(15 Libra 52) squared the ingress Ascendant.
The magnitude 4.7 quake damaged roads, power supplies and communications across the Caucasus, and was felt as far away as Georgia and Armenia. It was centered 25 miles east of the Chechen capital, Grozny, said the US Geological Institute.
The tremor struck at around noon (0800 GMT) on Saturday and lasted some 40 seconds.
It left hundreds of residents sheltering in tents and more than 50,000 homes without electricity, a day before regional elections."
BBC News
Once again, the Mars ingress pinpointed the location of a major violent event, before it occurred.
Mars entered Scorpio on Oct. 4, 4:35 GMT. At Grozny(43n20-45e42) we find:
Ascendant = 29 Libra 02 = Mars 0 Scorpio = Midheaven 5 Leo 20.
I discovered this mundane technique after hurricane Katrina- when I noticed that a Moon-Mars conjunction rose in New Orleans, as Mars entered Taurus on July 28, 2005(5:13 GMT). Ascendant = 4 Taurus = Mars 0 Taurus = Moon 6 Taurus.
Recently, I noted the potential for increased violence in the Los Angeles area, because Mars conjoined the IC(4th house cusp) there, when the red planet entered Libra on Aug 19, 2008, 10:04 GMT. Midheaven = 1 Aries = Mars 0 Libra. The Ascendant of this chart is 15 Cancer 48- and on Sept. 12, 2008, two trains collided violently near L.A. with fatal results, as Mars(15 Libra 52) squared the ingress Ascendant.
Friday, October 10, 2008
New York City Forecast
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New York City's horoscope(1/1/1898, midnight) drawn for the consolidation of the five boroughs, is clearly showing the stress of the current financial crisis, and even suggests a long-term downturn. I noticed this chart was under duress last year, but was not exactly certain how events would unfold. The intense transit of Pluto to New York's Venus-Mars conjunction began around March 2007. And on Sept. 8, 2008, Pluto stationed(direct) within a degree of the radix(natal) Venus(lord of Ascendant & 8th house), and Mars(lord of the 2nd house)- a day after the government rescued the 'too big to fail' mortgage giants, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
As Mars and Pluto co-rule New York's 2nd house(Scorpio) of money and resources, the rare transit of Pluto to Mars is unprecedented in it's capacity to transform the financial system there, through massive crisis and upheaval(Pluto).
Since radix Venus rules the Ascendant(general conditions and well-being), and also the 8th house of banks, credit, debt, and losses- the transit from Pluto intimates extreme events in the Big Apple that may tarnish it's luster, until Jan. 2009.
Saturn's transit of New York's natal 12th house('secret enemies and self-undoing') began on Sept. 24, 2008- 3 days after Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley morphed into bank holding companies, and 2 days before WaMu crashed. Of course, this period of cleaning house, and dealing with unfinished business(12th house) is an ongoing process, that will continue until Oct. 2010, when Saturn crosses the Big Apple's Ascendant.
Even the current retrograde cycle of Mercury is important for New York, as Mercury entered it's shadow period as it neared the city's Ascendant-Jupiter(9-10Libra), and is virtually stationary there now(Oct.13).
New York City's 2008 Solar Return
I noticed the Big Apple's 2008 solar return looked highly stressful and volatile, with a grand cross between the Midheaven(28Pisces), Mars, Pluto, and the Part of Fortune(29Virgo43)! The possibly brutal Mars-Pluto opposition is exact to the degree(partile), and Mars conjoined the violent star Betelgeuse- prominent at the 9/11 attack, and the tragic South Asian tsunami.
In terms of midpoint pictures, we have the return Part of Fortune = Mars/Pluto, direct, and partile. And also- Midheaven = Mars/Pluto, which suggests "the misfortune to face overwhelming force without power, or danger through the intervention of fate".(Ebertin)
The Aug. 1, 2008 solar eclipse which fell in the return 2nd house($), will soon be activated by a transit from Mars in mid October.
Briefly, the other key features of New York's 2008 solar return are- Venus square Saturn('hard finances'), with Venus conjunct the radix Saturn-Uranus; and the return Moon(28Libra) forms a grand cross with the radix Moon(27Aries)-Node(27Capricorn) t-square. The radix Moon- symbol of the common people, rules the city's Midheaven, pertaining to it's status and reputation, which are obviously taking a hit now.
Saturn-Uranus Opposition
The epic Saturn-Uranus opposition(unpredictable change vs. business as usual status quo) in effect now, is naturally linked to events in New York, as the city plays such a leading role in world affairs. And the Feb. 5, 2009 opposition of these planets completes a t-square with New York's natal Neptune- or Neptune = Saturn/Uranus. "The inability to face emotional stresses, falsehood or malice caused through weaknesses. A resolve to resign oneself to the inevitable, the abandonment of resistance, weakening strength, separation, mourning, and bereavement."(Ebertin)
New York's 2009 Solar Return
The Big Apples 2009 solar return features the epic Saturn-Uranus opposition on the horizon and square the Midheaven. Return MC = 25 Gemini = AS 26 Virgo = Saturn 22 Virgo = Uranus 19 Pisces. And return Saturn conjoins the star Denebola, which 'warns of misfortune and disaster in mundane charts. And in natal charts, suggests there is a risk of loss of position or a fall from grace'.(Janus software) Furthermore, Mars and Pluto in the 4th house of this return, confirm some level of domestic intensity, or possible upheaval in New York during 2009. Moreover, the return Ascendant and Saturn in the radix 12th house, may portend problems whose roots are still hidden.
The total solar eclipse of July 21, 2009, is conjunct the New York's South Node(10th house), while the lunar eclipse of Dec. 31, 2009, straddles the city's natal meridian(11 Cancer-Capricorn). And the Jan 15, 2010 solar eclipse hits New York's 4th house North Node(27 Capricorn), and squares the radix Moon(27 Aries).
New York's 2010 Solar Return
This solar return with Uranus on the IC(4th cusp) suggests some basic instability in the Big Apple during 2010. And this chart shows an unusual emphasis on the money houses, with Pluto near 2nd cusp, in square to Saturn- lord of the 2nd house. Thus, we find clear indications of tough times, and economic struggles- but also dogged determination. The return Part of Fortune conjunct the dark star Algol, suggests that New York may face brutal conditions or hardships in 2010, requiring steadfast perseverance.
2012-2015
The epochal Uranus-Pluto square that's already within orb(10 degrees) in 2008, will hit New York's horoscope in a major way- aligning with the city's Ascendant, Jupiter, Sun, and Midheaven. The recent Full Moon of Sept. 15, 2008, that triggered the current economic crisis, activated the Uranus-Pluto alignment- sending shock waves from the future.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Sri Yukteswar on Astrology
An excerpt from- 'Autobiography of a Yogi'.
"Charlatans have brought the ancient stellar science of astrology to its present disrepute. Astrology is too vast, both mathematically and philosophically, to be rightly grasped except by men of profound understanding. If ignoramuses misread the heavens, and see there is a scrawl instead of a script, that is to be expected in this imperfect world. One should not dismiss the wisdom with the wise.
All parts of creation are linked together and interchange their influences. The balanced rhythm of the universe is rooted in reciprocity. Man, in his human aspect, has to combat two sets of forces- first, the tumults within his being, caused by the admixture of earth, water, fire, air and ethereal elements; second, the outer disintegrating powers of nature. So long as man struggles with his mortality, he is affected by the myriad mutations of heaven and earth.
Astrology is the study of man's response to planetary stimuli. The stars have no conscious benevolence or animosity; they merely send forth positive and negative radiation's. Of themselves, they do not help or harm humanity, but offer a lawful channel for the outward operation of cause-effect equilibriums that each man has set into motion in the past.
A child is born on that day and at that hour when the celestial rays are in mathematical harmony with his individual karma. His horoscope is a challenging portrait, revealing his unalterable past and its probable future results. The natal chart can be rightly interpreted only by men of intuitive wisdom: these are few.
The message boldly blazoned across the heavens at the moment of birth is not meant to emphasize fate- the result of past good or evil- but to arouse man's will to escape from his universal thralldom. What he has done, he can undo. None other than himself was the instigator of the causes of whatever effects are now prevalent in his life. He can overcome any limitation, because he created it by his own actions in the first place, and because he possesses spiritual resources that are not subject to planetary pressure.
Superstitious awe of astrology makes one an automaton, slavishly dependent on mechanical guidance. The wise man defeats his planets- which is to say, his past- by transferring his allegiance from the creation to the Creator. The more he realizes his unity with spirit, the less he can be dominated by matter. The soul is ever free; it is deathless because birthless. It cannot be regimented by stars.
Man is a soul, and has a body. When he properly places his sense of identity, he leaves behind all compulsive patterns. So long as he remains confused in his ordinary state of spiritual amnesia, he will know the subtle fetters of environmental law.
God is harmony, the devotee who attunes himself will never perform any action amiss. His activities will be correctly and naturally timed to accord with astrological law."
"Charlatans have brought the ancient stellar science of astrology to its present disrepute. Astrology is too vast, both mathematically and philosophically, to be rightly grasped except by men of profound understanding. If ignoramuses misread the heavens, and see there is a scrawl instead of a script, that is to be expected in this imperfect world. One should not dismiss the wisdom with the wise.
All parts of creation are linked together and interchange their influences. The balanced rhythm of the universe is rooted in reciprocity. Man, in his human aspect, has to combat two sets of forces- first, the tumults within his being, caused by the admixture of earth, water, fire, air and ethereal elements; second, the outer disintegrating powers of nature. So long as man struggles with his mortality, he is affected by the myriad mutations of heaven and earth.
Astrology is the study of man's response to planetary stimuli. The stars have no conscious benevolence or animosity; they merely send forth positive and negative radiation's. Of themselves, they do not help or harm humanity, but offer a lawful channel for the outward operation of cause-effect equilibriums that each man has set into motion in the past.
A child is born on that day and at that hour when the celestial rays are in mathematical harmony with his individual karma. His horoscope is a challenging portrait, revealing his unalterable past and its probable future results. The natal chart can be rightly interpreted only by men of intuitive wisdom: these are few.
The message boldly blazoned across the heavens at the moment of birth is not meant to emphasize fate- the result of past good or evil- but to arouse man's will to escape from his universal thralldom. What he has done, he can undo. None other than himself was the instigator of the causes of whatever effects are now prevalent in his life. He can overcome any limitation, because he created it by his own actions in the first place, and because he possesses spiritual resources that are not subject to planetary pressure.
Superstitious awe of astrology makes one an automaton, slavishly dependent on mechanical guidance. The wise man defeats his planets- which is to say, his past- by transferring his allegiance from the creation to the Creator. The more he realizes his unity with spirit, the less he can be dominated by matter. The soul is ever free; it is deathless because birthless. It cannot be regimented by stars.
Man is a soul, and has a body. When he properly places his sense of identity, he leaves behind all compulsive patterns. So long as he remains confused in his ordinary state of spiritual amnesia, he will know the subtle fetters of environmental law.
God is harmony, the devotee who attunes himself will never perform any action amiss. His activities will be correctly and naturally timed to accord with astrological law."
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