Israel-Gaza Violence Escalates

The recent escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas-ruled Gaza began precisely with the total solar eclipse @ 21.56 Scorpio on Nov. 13. So we know that there must be strong contacts between this eclipse, the Saros series 133 of which it belongs, and the horoscope for modern Israel as a nation-state.

The seed eclipse of Saros 133 occurred on July 13, 1219- almost 800 years ago. And this Cancer eclipse featured Mars, planet of war & aggression, sharply focused at this time and place (Eclipse Mars = Ascendant/Midheaven) in Israel. In fact, the eclipse Mars (23 Taurus) is square Pluto (28 Leo), and this aspect of extreme power, force and brutality, is closely linked with Israel's natal Sun-Mars square. And it's this natal Sun-Mars square that reflects the toughness and possible belligerent behavior of the Jewish nation- along with it's innate fear of destruction (natal Saturn conjunct Pluto).

From Asia & Mideast

A week before the Nov. 13 Scorpio eclipse I Tweeted; "Wondering if the Nov. 13 solar eclipse @ 22 Scorpio has deeper geo-political significance because it opposes the May 2000 Jupiter-0-Saturn." The May 2000 Jupiter-0-Saturn is otherwise known as the Great Conjunction of 2000, that involves the two planets said to rule time (the Great Chronocrators), Jupiter and Saturn. This 20 year cycle has long been studied and understood to best reflect the natural rise and fall, expansion and contraction, ebb and flow, of economies and civilizations. (As the next 2020 Great Conjunction is in Aquarius, we hope that the reign of materialism will begin to lose it's dominance.)

From Asia & Mideast

The Great Conjunction 2000 (on May 28 @ 23 Taurus) fell right on the Midheaven in the US capital, and conjunct the Israeli Sun (23 Taurus). And the Nov. 13 solar eclipse activated the Great Conjunction degree, and opposed Israel's Sun. The Sun in a national chart signifies the spirit of a country and it's leadership in particular. And the close ties between Israel and the US are obvious to all. But it's the Great Conjunction of 2000 that has brought these two nations to the fore in world events.

The red planet Mars just entered Capricorn (Nov. 17), where it's traditionally considered exalted- like an honored guest. But an exalted planet is thereby empowerd for good or ill, and Mars is currently OOB, out of bounds by declination, and therefore tending to wild extremes. Interestingly- at the minute Mars moved into Capricorn, Saturn (in Scorpio) was rising in Israel. Saturn in Scorpio seems especially important to Israel with an emphasis of fixed signs, and transiting Saturn first squared Israel's Moon (5 Leo) when recent fighting began. Saturn in hard aspect to the Moon (the common people) is often a heavy and even depressive influence. And when Saturn stations direct July 8, 2013 it will be tightly squaring Israel's Moon.

The version of the Israeli chart I prefer (4:37 pm, May 14, 1948) has the Ascendant in the first degree of Scorpio, ruled by Mars. As goes Mars, so goes the Jewish state. Now that Mars is exalted in Capricorn, Israel is emboldened to fight, but perhaps in a more controlled and systematic manner (Mars in Saturn-ruled Capricorn). And a dramatic hit specific to this Scorpio rising chart that's only now beginning, is solar arc Mars conjunct the natal Ascendant exact Oct. 2013. This is a rare contact that will naturally bring out the fighting spirit- especially if there is a perception of threat. Mars does not mess around under such circumstances.

The lunar eclipse at the end of November 2012, has the eclipse Moon and Jupiter rising in the entire region where the Mideast conflict is unfolding. The highest possibilities thereby implied are successful negotiations. But realistically speaking, the militant Hamas will not surrender it's weapons or rockets, and if the Israeli military goes into Gaza and Palestinian civilians are killed, it will stir international condemnation that might further the deep-seated enmities between the Jews and Arabs, and lead to a more widespread conflagration.

The two ancient malefic planets, Mars and Saturn, sharply focused in the Mideast battle zone at the 2012 Winter Solstice, aka the Capricorn solar ingress, does not inspire hope or optimism that this situation will be resolved quickly.

Nov. 20 First Quarter Moon in Tel Aviv

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Nation: Israel @ AstroDataBank
"The horoscope in Mundane Astrology is given for 4.37 PM on 14 May, based on a slightly different version of events...""It is that latter time that I have used. It yields a chart with 1° Scorpio rising which, to my mind, accords with the rise of the Israeli state two millenia after Rome's crushing conquest, which included the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem (70 CE). A recent watershed event supporting this contention- the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin (4 November 1995, 9:40 PM, Tel Aviv)- was preceded, two weeks earlier, by a total solar eclipse in that degree!"