Thursday, June 7, 2012

Uranus Square Pluto the 
Mayan Calendar and the 
Current Global Economic Crisis


Prophesies and predictions are often cloaked in mystery for good reason. The first reaction is to panic or to cast blame on the most recent version of the anti-Christ.

This may be why many prophecies blend philosophic principals of self accountability into the mix. The Hopi prophesies incorporate the concept of the outer world as a reflection of one's inner state. C. G. Jung reiterated this for us, stating that the outer state of affairs is a reflection of an inner "split" that presents outside ourselves through conflict.

But this is only part of the picture. The reality is that social, political, economic upheaval happens and the innocent suffer.



Pluto Square Uranus - A Historical Overview

Approximately every 70 - 110 years two planets in the farthest reaches of our solar system - Uranus and Pluto - form a ninety degree angle to one another in an aspect that astrologers refer to as a square. Each time this square formation or 90 degree aspect has taken place it has correlated to periods of global, political upheaval and economic hardship. Of course there are variations on the theme, but overall, the square seems to parallel historically relevant economic and political crisis. The importance of this current square cannot be overstated given the length of it in combination with Uranus' transit through the fiery sign of Aries. Also of note, the square between these two planets does reach it's climactic point on June 24th 2012, close to the end of the Mayan calendar.

Uranus Transit Through Aries
The mythical symbolism of Uranus in the astrological sign Aries bear significant resemblance to the dynamic momentum that characterizes the period of history that correlate to this transit.

There are many variations on the creation myths surrounding Uranos. In one of the Greek myths Uranos was the archetypal son of Gaia the primordial Earth Goddess and first being. He then became Gaia's husband and father of the first generation of gods and goddesses in the Greek pantheon. Uranos' death came at the hands of one of his sons (in some myths it is Saturn), who slayed him at Gaia's behest and cast him into the ocean. In one myth Saturn castrates Uranos because of his fathers excessive sexual appetite. Apparently Gaia was tired of bearing children.

Ironically, in humanistic astrology Uranus is associated with breaking down saturnine barriers to the degree of reckless abandon of conservative ideals with equal emphasis on the extreme reactive nature of Uranus. Creation myths worldwide attribute storms that bring change, particularly those that involve water, as a sign of Uranos' rage or wrath at having been overthrown by his son.

Other myths place him as the first king of Atlantes, a skilled astronomer and astrologer who used mundane astrology (Lat. Latin: world) to predict principal world events. C. G. Jung found archaic reference to Uranos as "the One" and the transcendent principal in the Trinity with Kronos and Zeus (Symbols of Transformation, 1956, p. 138).

In astrological terms, Uranus is the planet that governs electricity and electronics, science, progressive ideologies and genius. When afflicted, violent upsets and sudden events that remove the obsolete structure are common. As ruler of Aquarius Uranus governs collective ideals and freedom.

With regard to the current aspect, the focus on Uranus as opposed to Pluto bears significance in that the periods of history most profoundly marked by this aspect always involved Uranus in the constellation Aries.  Pluto on the other hand, a much slower moving planet, occupied a different constellation each time the two squared off. The combination of Uranus in Aries in square to Pluto seems to be the fuse that ignites and awakens the masses.

Uranus entered the sign Aries in 1928 just as it began to form the square to Pluto in Cancer, 1849 after it's square with Pluto (1817) and in 1761. The time it spent in Aries were decades that represented periods in history punctuated by one group or political body oppressing another and the violent liberation.

In the case of the first Uranus in Aries transit; in 1761 the Writs of Assistance was up for renewal, a law that authorized British officials to search shops, warehouses and private homes. The renewal of this Act sparked the first passions of revolution as colonists began to formulate resistance to British rule, opposing laws they felt restricted or limited their natural rights. Not only were they growing weary of subsidizing Britain's colonial imperialism abroad, they felt that it was unjust that they also be forced to pay for the support of the very soldiers that had the authority to search their homes and businesses at will. Uranus in Aries ushered in the cast of characters that sounded the early calls for independence.

Fortunately, during the revolutionary war years the Uranus transit through Aries was not accompanied by an afflicting square by Pluto or any of the other malefic planets. The end result, a new form of government, liberty and the promise of a progressive altruistic ideology. Democracies were also in the making in Europe.

The Uranus Pluto Square of 1817 and Uranus in Aries and the American Civil War 1844

In 1844 when Uranus entered Aries again, the square to Pluto had long since waned. Economically and politically the period of time marked by the square was not more dramatic than other periods in history. There was an economic crisis in Europe following the Napoleonic wars, however it did not reverberate globally like the square of 1929 and 2007. The 1800's were marked more by Uranus's movement through Aries preceding the Civil war. Fortunately, once again, the civil war, although one of the bloodiest did not escalate to world war or devolve into a totalitarian government, although all might not agree. World history documents this was as one war that ended in progressive political and social reforms. The end of government sanctioned slavery.

Uranus in Aries Again, Squaring Pluto in Cancer 1928 - 1941
In the late 1920's Uranus entered Aries again, this time accompanied by a waxing square from Pluto in Cancer that culminated at 23 degrees in 1934 at the peak of the great depression. The combination of the two aspects reflected one of the most tragic eras in world history. Political fanaticism and greed, genocide, forced famines, natural disasters, holocausts in Armenia, Germany, Russia, Poland, and China, to name a few. It was also marked by the same attempt on the part of one entity to monopolize on another through control of commodities, emblematic of the events that precipitated the two previous wars. Famine, political, social, economic and cultural oppression surfaced throughout the world. It was an era of radical and often rabid reaction to revolutionary agendas and political ideologues alike. During this square the U.S. was economy was challenged by the depression that often follows a war (WWI), and after a round of republican's in the White House, the country was ready to give the democratic party a go again. FDR, elected in 1932 launched his first term on the three "R's", Relief, Recovery and Reform. Relief for the poor and unemployed, recovery of the nations economy and reform of the financial system.

This aspect between uranus and pluto, with uranus in Aries and pluto in Cancer most closely aligns with the current global economic crisis with one major difference. When FDR introduced the liberal policies of the first and second "new" deals, those reforms were designed to nurture and restore the country as a whole, and from the foundation up. The programs subsidized the poor and economically challenged. New Deal Relief and Reform had a watershed effect with a spike in the US economy in the years following. Among the programs FDR introduced were the Social Security System, The United States Housing Authority and Farm Security Administration, the Fair Labor Standards ACT, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), FCIC, FHA and Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Our Current Economic Crisis 
Uranus in Aries Square Pluto in Capricorn 2006 - 2019

Uranus and Pluto began to form the square of the current century in July 2006. The position that the two planets were in during the months leading up to the sub prime mortgage crisis parallels the position that the two planets were in during the months leading up to Black Tuesday, October 1929
The difference between Black Tuesday 1929 and the crash of 2007 is that Uranus had already entered Aries in the months prior to Black Tuesday, whereas, currently, Uranus will not fully enter Aries until May 29th, 2010. Another dramatic difference is the astrological sign position of Pluto. During the great depression and throughout New Deal reconstruction Pluto was in the domestic, maternal sign of cancer while engaged in the tense square to Uranus. During the current recession Pluto is in the zodiac sign of Capricorn, the sign of the father and of big government.

Historically Pluto in Capricorn has also coincided with major reforms in governments, institutions and political structures;during Pluto's transit through Capricorn new Governments based on democratic principals have replaced totalitarian or imperialistic power structures (Sakoin and Acker, 1973). E.g., the U.S. Declaration of Independence became manifest when Pluto transited Capricorn, as well, Poland adopted the first democratic constitution in Europe during Pluto's transit through Capricorn in 1791 (Zamoyski, 1987). However, during the revolutionary war years and the birth of democracy here in the U.S. Uranus was not squaring Pluto. Logically it could be deduced that the current configuration would reflect a combination of the two eras, the revolutionary war era in which freedom fights donned the caps of liberty and fought economic imperialism, combined with the dramatic break-a-way from obsolete, ineffective political systems.

The culmination of Pluto's transit through Capricorn forming the afflicting square with Uranus will climax when Uranus reaches 8 degrees 23 minutes Aries June 24th 2012, not far from the end of the Mayan Calendar and shortly after the Lunar eclipse and the 100 year transit of Venus across the sun. Pluto's position: 8 degrees 23 minutes Capricorn. However, the two planets remain in the tension of the square for another seven years. Hopefully the struggle will bring reform and transformation. 

What to expect: I would expect nothing less than a further collapse of the economy and quality of life for many through 2012 as the tension of the square reaches its climax, as big business continues to influence big government with little progress and few programs that provide long term relief.  The square represents a cyclic process of  re-orientation and repolarization and with Uranus in Aries, revolutionary movements when all else fails. When Uranus, the ruler of the revolutionary and altruistic sign Aquarius, is in the fearless, impulsiveness and confrontational sign of Aries, expect the unexpected.

The current "occupy" movements are symbolic of this revolutionary aspect as they challenge the steady move away from the pure capitalist ideology of the founding fathers and mothers to an ever more extreme version of modified capitalism where government becomes more incested and invested in our free enterprise system, beyond healthy regulations to the point of using the collective power to erode civil rights.  At the dawn of the great depression FDR decried the "unlikely alliance between big business and big government" and urged the American people to "resist the concentration of economic power...to don liberty caps like their revolutionary forebears..or risk all property [becoming] concentrated in the hands of a few with the overwhelming majority becoming serfs." 

The economic programs that FDR introduced did not tax the poor rather taxed the rich and used the revenue to create programs that pulled the country out of a severe economic crisis. At the peak of the great depression unemployment figures hit 30%. Today, many feel that the true unemployment level is closer to 21% than the 8% that the government would have us believe.



In 1776 Adam Smith said that the best regulator of the economy is the invisible hand of competition. By forcing individuals to purchase a product, the competition that would eventually challenge our hugely ineffective and overpriced health care system is eliminated. The current health care reform act is in many ways one step forward but two steps back because it does nothing to call Big Pharma to task on its health crippling policies. Remember both parties have an investment in this bill. But this is just a symptom of the alliance between Washington and Wall Street, one that has been in place for decades (Bartlett and Steele, The Betrayal of the American Dream).

Similar to the events characterized by the astrological configuration of the Great Depression battle lines have been drawn between those who would concentrate government power to amass wealth and those who like to see that power and wealth used for the benefit of the whole. We still have 7 years to go before this square has waned, will we elect a leader with the vision and the political competence of FDR, one who understood the necessity of infusing the economy with new life without further tipping the scales of our free enterprise system.

Clearly this is written from the perspective of American politics and economics. The effect of these transiting planets will vary. Astrologically, these variances can be explored through an analysis of the birth charts of individual nations and countries.

With respect to the prophesies and predictions that the end is near based on the Mayan calendar coming to an end in December of 2012, the combination of this square between pluto and uranus and uranus in the zodiac sign of aries has coincided with what has felt like the end of the world for those that lived through the holocaust and the great depression that swept the globe in the 30's. Having said that, the prophetic verses being quoted are very ambiguous and could apply to almost any dark era in history. Hopefully humankind has evolved enough this time around to perceive the crisis through the abstract rather than the concrete. Prophesies and predictions are often cloaked in mystery for good reason. The first reaction is to panic or to cast blame on the most recent version of the anti-Christ. This may be why many prophecies blend philosophic principals of self accountability into the mix. The Hopi prophesies incorporate the concept of the outer world as a reflection of one's inner state. C. G. Jung reiterated this for us, stating that the outer state of affairs is a reflection of an inner "split" that presents outside ourselves through conflict.

But this is only part of the picture. The reality is that social, political, economic upheaval happens and the innocent suffer.


________________________________________________________________________________
(1)The dates reflect a calculation using a ten degree orb from the beginning of the waxing square to the waning square. For example, using the current square between the two, Uranus moved to the 18th degree of Pisces on May 2007 entering into the 90 degree aspect with a ten degree orb to Pluto's position at 28 degrees sagittarius.
(2) The current square formation will be the longest of the three lasting approximately 12 years compared to the relatively short square that took place during the Napoleonic wars (1817) and the economic depression that followed, which lasted only 7 years.



God is a Circle



God is a circle whose centre is everywhere and circumference is nowhere" (Hermes Trismegistus*).


The circle has long been associated with sacredness, a natural and perfect shape with no beginning and no end. The rotation of the earth around the sun is now known to be both spherical and spiraling, another symbol of eternity of time enclosing space, of space-less-ness above and below.

In modern culture Pi has become a symbol for the mystical, the autonomous, irrational, infinite or transcendental value found in the geometry of a sphere.

This concept of infinity in relation to the path of human evolution through the lens of transcendental philosophy converges with the concept of pi and the circle in that pi is a transcendental number the base of which is complex and elusive, and at the same time based on a simplistic theory (3.14). I.e., it represents the return to the constant through disintregration and regeneration, aptly symbolized by the tail-biting ouroboros, the ancient symbol of the alchemists.

The ouroboros is also an ancient symbol found worldwide and is not merely a symbol of infinity, but one of death and regeneration. To the alchemist Hermes, it might have represented the latent power of infinity through the unmanifest or unredeemed and the understanding that once the concept of infinity is mastered the field becomes static, much like the archetype or the old King who must relinquish his power. The godhead must at some point fall.

The myth of Osiris a case in point. It was through death and disintegration that Osiris was reborn, the power of the Gods transformed through the alchemy of Isis.

The circle has long been a sacred symbol of the universal man. The Greek philosopher Pythagoras theorized the earth and all the planets as also spherical. He believed that the most perfect or harmonious geometric form was the circle consisting of four parts, perhaps evolving into Plato’s Symposium; the theory of the “round man” as an entity of primordial wholeness. It would naturally follow that the very idea that the solar system being anything but circular would have been met with a charge of heresy as the lines between theology and science blurred.
My point is that the universe is not perfect, nor is man, nor is the circle. Transcending our imperfections may mean accepting them rather than aiming for a degree of perfection that doesn't exist.

So with all this talk of the circle as the most perfect symbol of life in our universe, where does the square fit in, the four points? It is the salt of the earth, what humanity cannot live without.

*The thrice (Trismegistus) great teacher Hermes (circa 250 B.C.) is accredited with imparting the knowledge and wisdom of the healing arts, astrology, philosophy, writing and alchemy to humankind.
*

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Is The Serpent Bearer the 13th Zodiac Sign?

The zodiac belt as we know it today, with or without the inclusion of the precession of the equinox and the wobble of the earth, are iconic images symbolic of the collective imaginations of ancient civilizations from the time the first human walked the earth to the present. The twelve constellations in the zodiac are symbols reflective of the cyclic process of becoming, natural evolutionary cycles of growth, death and rebirth. 


Ancient civilizations aligned their calendar systems with the zodiac belt and movement of the sun and moon because it worked with the whole of the cosmic order, the seasons - the phases of the moon, and division of the annual rotation of the sun into four quadrants – the vernal equinox, summer solstice, autumnal equinox and winter solstice. Not only did the belt of twelve constellations make sense to the naked eye, one major star configuration following another in a belt around the earth or solar system, it made sense in terms of the twelve annual revolutions of the moon around the earth and the division of the year by four quadrants or seasons.

With respect to the question of Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer, there are dozens of other constellations or stars that fill the night sky, that intrude on the stars that form the constellations in the zodiac belt, that fall in or around them, and their presence was not unknown, as illustrated by Kepler’s illustration in 1600 the constellations Scorpios and Sagittarius still follow closely, the tail of the scorpion curves just under the bow of the archer. The boundary between the two is ambiguous, all boundaries around the constellations mere projections of human civilization. Moreover, the constellation Ophiuchus is clearly not between the archer and scorpion but above them, with a star depicting his foot falling on the scorpion’s back. He is not new by any stretch, nor does he qualify as a zodiac sign, nor has he ever. He is quite impressive though!

Figure 1. Keppleri, Johannis. (1606). Ophiuchus, [Gk., The Serpent Bearer], a.k.a., Serpentarious. Retrieved from wikipedia.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

2012 Doomsday Prophesies : Those who ignore history are damned to repeat it...


 Is the End Near?
(Authors Note: Revisions-2010, 2012, 2020).

Prophesies and predictions are often cloaked in mystery for good reason. The first reaction is to panic or to cast blame on the most recent version of the anti-Christ.

This may be why many prophecies blend philosophic principals of self accountability into the mix. The Hopi prophesies incorporate the concept of the outer world as a reflection of one's inner state. C. G. Jung reiterated this for us, stating that the outer state of affairs is a reflection of an inner "split" that presents outside ourselves through conflict.

But this is only part of the picture. The reality is that social, political, economic upheaval happens and the innocent suffer.

The work is to figure out your place in the unfolding drama...

If you happened to catch the Discovery Channels series on the prophesies of Nostradamus viewed against the backdrop of the Mayan calendar, you know that the consensus of the experts is that the world as we know it would have come to an end in 2012. Analysis of Nostradamus' quatrains portends global warfare accompanied by storms and fire, the timing apparently supported by the Mayan calendar. Astrologically, the parallels that have been made between Nostradamus' quatrains and illustrations are notable; however, they could easily be applied to other apocalyptic periods in human history, in specific the era in which he lived.

While Nostradamus' predictions seem to apply more to his era, the final phase or stage depicted by the Mayan calendar system does correlate to some striking celestial events that have brought about significant change historically, that do correlate with the timing of the beginning of the last and ninth world or phase of human consciousness referred to in the Mayan Calendar. This last and ninth phase will be discussed in detail in a subsequent post.

July 6th 2012 Uranus in Aries Square Pluto In Capricorn...Once Every 78 Years

The two notable astronomical configurations currently unfolding that culminated in the summer of 2012 were rare, and, when they have taken place in the past, the events that  unfolded bore striking resemblance to one another. I am referring to the square between Pluto and Uranus, and Uranus transiting the constellation of Aries. Both of which were in effect in the early part of the twentieth century at the dawn of the Great Depression, persisting through the opening stages of WWII.

A little about Uranus as the mythology surrounding this planet is, well...Mythical.


The Greek God Uranos was the archetypal son of Gaia the primordial Earth Goddess and first being. He then became Gaia's husband and father of the first generation of Gods and Goddesses in the Greek pantheon. Uranos' death came at the hands of one of his sons, who slayed him at Gaia's behest and cast him into the ocean.

Subsequently, many myths attribute storms that bring change, particularly those that involve water, as a sign of Uranos' rage or wrath. Of note, during Uranus' passage through the water sign Pisces (the last 9 years) there have been an extremely high number of storms and weather events associated with too much water!

Other myths place him as the first king of Atlantes, a skilled astronomer and astrologer who used mundane astrology (Latin: world) to predict principal world events. C. G. Jung found archaic reference to Uranos as "the One" and the transcendent principal in the Trinity with Kronos and Zeus (Symbols of Transformation, 1956, p. 138).

In astrological terms, Uranus is the planet that governs electricity and electronics, science, progressive ideologies and genius. When afflicted, violent upsets and sudden events that remove the obsolete structure are common. As ruler of Aquarius Uranus governs collective ideals and freedom.
Uranus in Aries - March 2010 - March 2019

Uranus revolution around the sun takes approximately 84-90 years. In March of 2010 Uranus will enter Aries, a transit that will last until March of 2019.
Historically, when Uranus transits this constellation "freedom at all costs" becomes an issue. If the planet is afflicted the outcome can be gloomy for those on the sidelines; wars, violence, indiscriminate actions, and impulsive, explosive reactions are the order of the day. As I write this I am listening to Diane Rehm interview 21st century Militiamen organizing around the threat of loss of liberty, and the Second Amendment Armed March on Washington April 19, 2010.

In the past, Uranus entered the sign Aries in 1928, 1849 and 1761; decades that represented periods in which one group or political body ran roughshod over another, pushing them (or their allies) to the extremes of wars that brought about dramatic change; political and social reforms.

In the case of the first Uranus in Aries transit (pertaining to U.S. history); in 1761 the Writs of Assistance was up for renewal, a law that authorized British officials to search shops, warehouses and private homes. The renewal of this Act sparked the first passions of revolution as colonists began to formulate resistance to British rule, opposing laws they felt restricted or limited their natural rights. Not only were they growing weary of subsidizing Britain's colonial imperialism abroad, they felt that it was unjust that they also be forced to pay for the support of the very soldiers that had the authority to search their homes and businesses at will. Uranus in Aries ushered in the cast of characters that sounded the early calls for independence.

Fortunately, during the revolutionary war years the Uranus transit through Aries was not accompanied by an afflicting square by Pluto or any of the other malefic planets. The end result, a new form of government, liberty and the promise of progressive, altruistic ideals.

Uranus in Aries and the American Civil War 1844

Without the dramatic and challenging square from Pluto, this transit of Uranus in Aries had a cleansing element to it. Progressive politics eventually reigned over tyranny and ideologues. In 1844 when Uranus entered Aries, U.S. President Polk was advancing his forceful and bloody requisition of Western territories in the name of Manifest Destiny.

The union began to split as the majority moved away from the flawed ideological values that had informed U.S. policies; the notion of "Freedom for me, but not for you." 
As historian Louis Menard so aptly phrased it, in a democracy, people are not supposed to solve their problems by killing one another (The Metaphysical Club: A Story of Ideas in America, 2001). With Uranus in Aries, without the ravaging square from Pluto, this ideology came up for reform, and that reformation was led by Polk's political opponent, Abraham Lincoln.

Fortunately, once again, the civil war, although one of the bloodiest, did not escalate to world war or devolve into a totalitarian government, although all might not agree. World history documents this was as one war that ended in progressive political and social reforms. The end of government sanctioned slavery.

Uranus in Aries - Pluto in Cancer 1928 - 1941
In the late 1920's Uranus entered Aries again, this time accompanied by a waxing square from Pluto in Cancer that culminated (23 degrees) in 1934 at the peak of the great depression. The combination of the two aspects reflected one of the most tragic eras in world history. Political fanaticism and greed, genocide, famines, natural disasters, holocausts in Armenia, Germany, Russia, Poland, and China. It was also marked by the same attempt on the part of one entity to monopolize on another through control of commodities, emblematic of the events that precipitated the two previous wars. Famine, political, social, economic and cultural oppression marked this era worldwide. It was an era of radical and often rabid reaction to revolutionary agendas and political ideologues alike.

Our Current Economic Crisis Uranus in Aries Square Pluto in Capricorn 2006 - 2019

Uranus and Pluto began to form the square of the current century in June 2006. The same position the two planets formed during the months leading up to the sub prime mortgage crisis, parallels the position that the two planets were in during the months leading up to Black Tuesday. The difference between these two celestial events is that Uranus had already entered Aries in the months prior to Black Tuesday, whereas, currently, Uranus will not fully enter Aries until May 29th of this year (2010).

The other difference is that during the Great Depression Uranus in Aries squared Pluto in Cancer. This time Pluto is in Capricorn, the sign directly opposite Cancer.

Historically Pluto in Capricorn in and of itself is a placement that coincides with major reforms in governments, institutions and political structures; Capricorn the sign of the father, Cancer the mother. Religious organizations will also come up for reform, particularly those that are fundamentally non-egalitarian.

Historically, during Pluto's transit through Capricorn new Governments based on democratic principals have replaced totalitarian or imperialistic power structures (Sakoin and Acker, 1973). E.g., the U.S. Declaration of Independence became manifest when Pluto transited Capricorn, as well, Poland adopted the first democratic constitution in Europe during Pluto's transit through Capricorn in 1791 (Zamoyski, 1987).

The culmination of Pluto's transit through Capricorn forming the afflicting square with Uranus will climax when Uranus reaches the 8th degree of Aries on July 6th 2012, not far from the end of the Mayan Calendar and two days after a Lunar eclipse, one of three. Pluto's position: 8 degrees Capricorn. However, the two planets remain in the tension of the square for another four years. Hopefully the struggle will bring reform and transformation rather than tyranny, environmental degradation and grand scale devastation.

What to expect:. I would expect nothing less than a further collapse of our economy as we know it, and, if my version of the U.S. birth chart is correct, the reforms will be in political systems, especially those tangled up with economic institutions. At present the square is still weak and waxing or far from culminating so there is still some sense that things may return to normal, however, the upcoming closing of the square will most likely bring further dissolution of outmoded structures. Of note, by the time the square culminated during the Great Depression unemployment was at 25%, six years after the crash.

With Pluto's position in Capricorn, the radical, sweeping reforms will not be unlike what took place during the U.S. revolutionary war. Remember, when Pluto squared Uranus during the Great Depression it was in the domestic, mothering sign of Cancer. The New Deal brought a watershed of domestic reforms unparalleled in U.S. history. This all began to unfold after six years of tension of the square. i.e.., there was total collapse and major reform politically - there had to be a breakdown of the old and rotting foundation, before a new house could be built. The combination of the square of these two planets, will bring about a major transformation in political and economic power structures fueled by the radical energies of Uranus in the impulsive and reactionary Aries. Between the years 2006 and 2019 changes will reflect political ideologies similar to what informed the American Revolution.

Clearly this is written from the perspective of American history. The effect of these transiting planets will vary. Astrologically, these variances can be explored through an analysis of the birth charts of individual nations and countries. There is no way to predict of course, as predictions usurp free will.

With regard to the U.S., the general consensus is that the U.S. birth chart is July 4th 1776. However, it was July 2nd that John Adams proclaimed the historical moment in  his letter to his wife Abigail. History shows that the actual vote for independence took place after heated discussion over the course of the 1st and into the morning of the 2nd. (McCullough, 2001). Rumor has it that it was Franklin who moved the date to the fourth because he believed the position of the moon on the 2nd was an ill omen for the birth chart of a new and progressive nation. Either way, the 2nd or the 4th of July, the sign positions of Uranus and Pluto in the U.S. birth chart remain unchanged, Uranus is at 8 degrees Gemini and Pluto at 27 degrees Capricorn, putting the transits of these two planets in position for dramatic and progressive change for the U.S.


The contact of Uranus through Aries to the U.S. charts Uranus in Gemini bodes well for progressive transformation.

Other countries will obviously be affected differently, just as each celestial event, aspect or transiting planet, will mean something different for each individual, i.e., depending on the natal chart. For example in the Middle East where the geography involved is relatively small, where principals invariably collide and all too often push comes to shove (Cahill, 2002) the more dramatic characteristics of this transit will be blurred against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict. Survival of these cataclysmic periods of human history will invariably depend on our individual and collective capacity for adequate self-criticism and genuine appreciation of the Other (Cahill, 2002).

With regard to weather related events. It's too easy to apply astrology to cataclysmic weather related events, and unfortunately, in doing so we loose credibility as astrologers. Having said that, it is also true that early astrologers made history predicting comets, eclipses and natural disasters.


The Grand CrossThe Players - Pluto (Capricorn), Uranus/Jupiter (Aries), Saturn (Libra), South Node (Cancer)
With Uranus' transit through the last degrees of the water sign Pisces, while accompanied by Jupiter also in the last degrees of Pisces, in hard square to Pluto and in opposition to Saturn, the subterranean tensions mount. Explosions, electrical storms, fires and accidents are all characteristic of these fitful and dynamic configurations. With each passing of the moon through the sign of cancer, and gemini in the spring of 2011, the grand cross is complete triggering catastrophic events.