Eclipse Watch – An upcoming look at the next solar eclipse on 25th November 2011

I have always been fascinated by eclipses, maybe because I am closely associated with the Sun being a Sun sign Leo by birth. The Solaris name I use came to me on the day of a solar eclipse, and the effects of them and the ramifications of the totality point is something I study with great interest. The last eclipse of 1st July caused havoc for many across the world and as I have mentioned on this blog, the effects of that cardinal cross eclipse are still being felt.

I look at eclipses in a certain way. I look at the degree points of all the planets at the exact moment of the new Moon created, as if they burn a line on the horoscope chart. I believe that those points become highly sensitised, especially to transiting planets in the future. With regard to the last eclipse we still have one major hurdle to cross. As Pluto was retrograde at the time of the last eclipse, it has yet to get back to the point of 6 degrees 7 minutes where it was sitting on 1st July. It gets there just 2 days after the next eclipse of 25th November. Trust me, the end of November is going to be a very tricky time. Something big and noteworthy could well happen.

Ok let’s look at the astro weather for 25th November 11. We have a mutual eclipse this time around with the eclipse point at 2 degrees 36 in Sagittarius. This eclipse according to Bernadette Brady (the guru of astrological eclipse watchers) is part of the Saros Series 14N, one she says is quite unusual highlighting times of confusion in relationships, unexpected happenings in financial affairs and bring the possibility of possible illness. She says a lot of confusion will follow after this eclipse, potential despair, and peculiar events may happen.

The chart for the eclipse shows the New Moon in Sagittarius, so issues around Jupiter will be in focus. These are over expansion, wisdom, knowledge, education, religion, law and possibly long distance travel. The chart’s main feature is a grand earth trine which does feature Jupiter in Taurus. The other points of this trine include Mars and a conjunction of Venus and Pluto (Pluto is in earth in Capricorn and Venus is just in Sagittarius a mutual sign). The main theme of this chart I believe is money control, and changes in relationships. The Venus Pluto conjunction shows constriction of money and action (Mars) to cut the overexpansion and wastage (Jupiter). We already know that in the US as a result of the budget deal in August, a pan Democratic/Republican committee is to decide on cuts and where to swing the axe. In the UK we will have public sector strikes planned for 5 days after the eclipse against the cuts in pensions. Venus as well as finance rules relationships, and the influence of Pluto may affect them acutely, making and breaking. As Jupiter is highlighted, we may see international treaties or agreements coming about. Then again, potential treaties may be blocked because of the influence of Pluto. That Venus Pluto is square to Uranus, this Pluto Uranus square will keep on for another 3 years so expect the protests against the financial world and big business like in Wall Street to intensify yet more. One other possibility to consider. Underground religious sects may be formed around now, ones which in times to come may become more prevalent. Pluto conjunct Venus shows underground social movements, and the link to Mars and Jupiter show possible beginnings in faith based groups.

The eclipse point is square to Neptune and Mars. Is this a hint towards collective action? Neptune if anything is left wing, more socialist than capitalist. Is the world going to move towards more socially based policies on the back of this eclipse? Are the protests of mobs and collective groups going to force the hands of the leaders of the world? Uranus is also trine the eclipse point, so in the next 6 months while this eclipse is in action, I can see more change, progression and people continuing to taking things into their own hands, as in Libya. On a financial sense, there is another hint to change. We have a mini grand trine formed by a Neptune/Saturn trine with Venus at the point. I wonder if the capitalist system that we know now including banking is going to be tweaked with more emphasis on protecting the general population. With Mars, Jupiter (through a nasty inconjunct aspect), Uranus & Neptune directly connecting with this eclipse in Sagittarius, I get the feeling that we will see quite a few unusual, unexplained disasters and accidents, especially long distance travel based, maybe by ship or by plane.

Finally, I always look to see if any malefic planets are currently retrograde and will thus pass over the eclipse degree in the future. This often brings date to watch out for, times when unfortunate events may occur. Immediately we notice that Uranus is retrograde. Uranus will revisit it’s eclipse degree at Xmas 2011. This is relevant as after the last eclipse on 1st July, as Uranus hit it’s eclipse degree, the Norway tragedy happened. Something similar could happen, a shocking disaster that will reverberate around the world.

Ok, does this eclipse hit any countries directly. The effect of an eclipse on the US is always difficult to pinpoint, as we do not the official birth time of the country. I favour either a Sagittarius or Scorpio ascendant, in this case, the eclipse hits in either the 1st (Scorpio Ascendant) the overall prosperity of the nation or the 12th (Sagittarius Ascendant) in the house of hidden enemies, welfare state, institutions like hospitals and prisons and those in need and suffering.

In the UK, the eclipse hits in the 2nd house so money and financial issues will tend to suffer, no surprise there then. The eclipse is also almost exactly square to Pluto. The financial squeeze is really going to hurt. As a side issue to the UK, the eclipse hits the natal Scottish Sun (25th Nov 1034). Might the issue of independence really start to hit home at this time? Pluto will be opposite the UK Midheaven very soon and conjunct the Scottish natal Mars. I can see action being taken to force the issue.

In Russia, the eclipse hits in the 4th house, the house of the land and the workers. Natal Pluto is almost on the Russian North Node also in the 4th opposite to natal Pluto in the 10th house of those in charge. As I mentioned earlier, this eclipse may see the rise of the political left. Is this the rise of communism again in Russia, taking tighter control of the state? This is a regenerative influence, and the likelihood of Putin re-taking control of the Presidency which seems a dead certainty, may well herald a return to the bad old days of socialist leadership.

With Israel, the eclipse hits in the 2nd house like in the UK, so financial and issues of national wealth are going to be under pressure. Natal Saturn lands within 2 degrees of the Israeli ascendant and exactly square to the Midheaven so I see a change at the top, precipitated by protest. The Palestine chart finds the eclipse in the 3rd house of local issues, transport, the press, internet as well as neighbouring nations and it is trine to natal Mars which is being hit by transiting Uranus. That Uranus also squares to natal Saturn (exact) and is square to it’s own position. I get the feeling that relations between Israel and the Palestinians are going to get soured and violent, possibly as the hope of a Palestinian state is crushed by opposition of other nations, especially the US.

Greece has been in the news recently so how does the eclipse affect the Greeks? The eclipse hits in the 5th house of entertainment and pleasure. Sport is also found here as are children and social functions. Are these going to be curbed, limited and affected due to the continuing financial pressure? The eclipse is trine to the natal Sun and sextile to the Moon Pluto conjunction. it appears to me that  Greek society as a whole is going to remain rather depressed and constricted, for the time being at least.

The European Union may well benefit from this eclipse. The eclipse hits very close to the North Node in the 4th house. Here is a new energy to push forward and bring new initiatives. Mars squares the nodal axis and trines the European Midheaven, so action should be taken to make the union work better, Mars will be in the first house at the time giving the European leaders plenty of initiative. The only thing is, will Europe be able under the complicated structure that it is be able to grab these new chances to restructure and renew what is necessary to change?  

If you want to know about any other specific country and how I see things fairing there, please email me and I will add to this post if I can track down the country’s natal chart.

Eclipses also affect everyone personally of course. If you want to know how the next coming eclipse will affect you, and you have all your birth details (name, date of birth and time of birth) then please click on the link below which will take you to a page where you can order a special eclipse report. I will look at the transits of 25th November against your chart and suggest the best course of action for you over the following 6 months.

To get your own eclipse report click on the link here - Your Personal Eclipse Report

As calls for a Palestinian state grow louder in Ramallah, is this a defining time for the state of Israel?

In Ramallah in the West Bank, the crowds are gathering ahead of a United Nations meeting in New York where the sticky problem of Israel & Palestinian independence is to be discussed. Their hope is that a Palestinian delegation visiting the UN this Friday can garner enough support (a two thirds majority) to put enough pressure on the United States and Israel to accept that Palestine should be allowed to gain autonomy. The likelihood is that this majority can be achieved at the UN, but crucially the US and Israel will almost certainly vote against it, potentially causing an almighty split, and plunging the region into a new wave of conflict & violence caused by disaffection with the whole process. How do the charts look?

The Palestinian chart formed on 15th November 1988 at 01.40 am in Jerusalem is picking a conjunction that is fuelling this uprising, Uranus conjunct to natal Mars. Looking at the natal chart, Mars sits in the Palestinian 7th house of relationships, the Palestinians have always been associated with violence and the fight for freedom, with Hamas and the PLO. Now the planet of freedom and independence, Uranus is conjunct to that reactionary Mars. Transiting Mars is now trine this connection and passing through confident Leo. The pressure is quickly building and there is direct action asking the World to back a Palestinian nation. Transiting Uranus is also square to natal Saturn, so here is a real bid to put back the barriers (Saturn) to bring about a new order. Uranus through Aquarius on the Palestinian chart rules the 6th house of the ordinary people and Aries ruled by Mars is on the cusp of the 8th house of change, death & underground action. If the people calling for change don’t get their way then the ramifications are clear. Uranus is a planet of revolution and progress, and if it’s will is not accepted, then violence and shock action will take place.

There are always two sides to this story so it is wise to look at the Israeli angle. The thing to notice is that transiting Saturn is closing in on the Libran Israeli ascendant. Looking back to last time Saturn was in this position, the Lebanon war was just beginning. At that time, Southern Lebanon had become home for 110,000 Palestinian refugees who had fled their homes in Palestine as well as home for the PLO. The war lasted 2 years and dragged in forces from Lebanon and Syria. The fact that Saturn is soon to cross the Ascendant again will have ramifications for Israel and her leaders. Capricorn on the Israeli chart is on the cusp of the 4th house, which amongst other things rules the land of the country. Questions of territory are going to dominate. Saturn hits the ascendant in the first week of November. This is going to be a critical time when decisions are going to be made.

We also have a couple of other interesting oppositions. Transiting Pluto is opposite the Israeli Venus in the 9th house. Pluto can be translated as a blockage or constriction but also transformation, death and destruction and Venus often in Mundane Astrology represents diplomacy. Will diplomacy cause Israel to change it’s tune? Will Israel’s need for control of it’s land and borders block all efforts for a peaceful solution to this problem, leading to violence and death? Venus through Libra rules the Israeli chart, so the way the Israelis use this Pluto energy will be crucial. We also have transiting Neptune opposing the Israeli Mars. Neptune is often associated with mobs, with the collective as well as suffering and confusion, and it rules through Pisces on the cusp of the 7th house relationships with other nations. Will other countries in the region, enter the fray if aggression breaks out like last time in 1982? With transiting Mars conjoins natal Mars also in the first week of November, the potential for violence and suffering I think is very large. Through all this, Uranus stays very much in square to the Israeli Venus (the chart ruler) operating out of the 6th house of the common people and trine to the Israeli Moon which through Cancer rules the Israeli leadership. This as I see it, is revolution and revolt against the ruling establishment, the lawmakers, coming from within the Israeli borders. I can see the potential of the Palestinian people having had enough of the situation, seeing their hoped dashed and deciding to force the issue themselves, just like their brothers in sisters in Egypt and Libya, Syria and Tunisia.

The whole situation could get very messy, the United States could really isolate itself from the rest of the world in supporting Israel, in the process upsetting the Arab world and ratcheting up tension in the Middle East. Astrological history tells us that violence and conflict does come in cycles, and this time with many of the planets in cardinal signs, direct action is something that will precipitate this time very easily. It is worrying, and one hopes that at the end of this week, the correct decisions to take the heat out of the rising tensions in Palestine and Israel can be found.    

Israel, the PLO and Palestine – Violence and attacks on the rise again between two bitter enemies

An attack on a bus in Jerusalem, then rockets are fired from Gaza into Israeli territory. Tensions are rising again between Israel and the PLO, the Palestine Liberation Organisation. With the PLO, I use the declaration of Palestine chart, set for 15th Nov 1988 at 01.40am in Jerusalem. Looking at the composite and synastry charts between the two, the mistrust and aggressive attitude between the two is plain to see.

The synastry chart is truly horrible. Sun is opposite Sun (both share opposing points of view), Palestine’s Moon is opposite Israel’s Midheaven (the Palestinian people against the rulers of Israel and are under their thumb), Neptune is square Neptune each one trying to deceive the other, the PLO’s Saturn/Uranus conjunction trine Israel’s Mars (the Israel military trying to destroy the PLO’s revolutionary command), The PLO’s Mars is trine Israel’s Moon, the PLO are not afraid of attacking the Israeli people and finally the PLO’s Pluto & Mercury sits on Israel’s South Node square Israel’s Pluto/Saturn and obviously opposite Israel’s North Node. These two are fatefully joined together and the PLO is determined to control and destroy Israel’s rulers. In essence, they are bitter enemies who would like to wipe each other off the map of the world if they could and were allowed to.

The composite chart is not much better, with a nasty Pluto opposite Uranus, Moon conjunct harsh Saturn which is downbeat and depressing and Sun, Mercury Venus square Neptune which is deceptive and underhand. Mars is in a tight square to Jupiter, showing the tendency towards excessive force and violence.

So why are the attacks starting up again? Showing transits to the composite chart, both transiting aggressive Mars and transiting Uranus are conjunct the composite Uranus aggravating tensions between the two, transiting Uranus is opposite Pluto and potentially worse is transiting Pluto is a couple of degrees from hitting opposing the composite Midheaven at 10 Cancer and squaring the Ascendant at 9 Libra. Pluto’s effect is starting to take hold and it will first hit 9 degrees Capricorn in March 2012.

I do worry what will happen in that part of the world this time next year. Obviously we have had the situations in Tunisia, Egypt, currently Libya, Bahrain is unsettled, Syria looks nasty, Iran has the potential for trouble ahead, I believe the situation in Saudi Arabia will worsen and a conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people would plunge the region into utter chaos. Pluto inevitably will slowly start to disintegrate the already nasty relationship between the two as it closes in to exactitude and it’s ultimate role will be complete metamorphosis, maybe even destruction before new structures in the region can be built. With the current nature of the relationship including the mutual hatred shown in the charts, I can see the possibility of a very serious situation occurring. Watch this space…

**Update 27th March 11** Israeli air strike on Gaza Strip this evening killing 2 people even though the Palestinians offered a truce. With the planets in an angry mood as I wrote earlier, watch out for tit of tat violence.