Turkey – Will Erdogan decide to intervene by sending Turkish forces into Syria to topple Assad?

I have been keeping a close eye on the Turkish national chart over the past few weeks as I suspected that Turkey may hold the key to one or more of the problems in the Middle East region. Now with the Syrian crisis really heating up right on Turkey’s south east border, an area traditionally dominated by Kurdish citizens, I have a distinct feeling that Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s prime minister may decide to act before any disturbance spills over into his country.

Turkey was formed on 29th October 1923 at 20.30hrs in Ankara. The chart (above) has no planets in earth, and we have 4 planets in air and 5 in water. The Turks are an emotional people not only shown by the amount of planets in water signs, but also by the Moon Pluto conjunction straddling the Cancerian ascendant. They are hugely proud and protective of their nation. We find Uranus at the top of the chart as part of a grand water trine. Turkey was formed after a war of independence to expel foreign forces from Constantinople and Smyrna (now Istanbul and Izmir) in the west of the country, lead by Mustafa Kamal Ataturk. The grand trine shows that conflict, Uranus conjunct the Midheaven shows the rebellion taking the leadership through a social movement (Venus) via a brutal war (Pluto).

We have a very full 5th house and the Turks are huge sports fans and culture and dance are still very important in daily life, however Saturn here also shows restrictions. Conjunct to Mercury and trine to the Moon, we see that any criticism (Mercury) of the state (Saturn) by the people (Moon) will be cracked down upon heavily. It also shows that any communication, via mobile phone, or internet will ultimately be under the strict control of those in charge.

Turkey is a country of huge contrasts. For example Turkey traditionally is a Muslim nation, however with Uranus in the 9th house in Pisces (the spiritual sign), it shows very much a take it or leave it attitude with regard to faith. We find Neptune in 3rd house in Leo of the press and media square to outgoing Jupiter and Venus. The press and TV in Turkey is very colourful and full of sensationalist stories of who is going out with who (5th house). The Turks are very much a nation obsessed with affairs of the heart. Their attitude to alcohol is also interesting, the square shows a very liberal attitude to drink, something you would not find in other countries in the region.

Mars in the 4th house of the land and home show a violent underbelly to the country, especially with regard to the Kurdish minority. Mars makes a destructive square to Pluto and the Cancerian ascendant. This is an in house problem for the Turkish nation, and something that will forever be there for the police and military to deal with. Underground action against the people and the nation by those who oppose the national view of those in control will always unfortunately tend to end in bloodshed.

Now the transits to the Turkish chart are very interesting. We see Pluto approaching the 7th house cusp on the descendant and about to enter the 7th house of relations with other nations. Pluto opposing the ascendant will transform Turkey in some way, but how? Will Turkey be seen in a different light around the world as this aspect hits. As a country that enforces control, as Pluto suggests. Remember Pluto is very strong as Turkey is a Scorpionic nation. Maybe a bigger clue to what may happen is shown by transiting Saturn and Jupiter. Jupiter is opposing the Turkish natal Sun, therefore an international (Jupiter) situation is causing concern to Turkey’s leaders, highlighting the Syrian crisis.  Saturn is now exactly on the natal Mercury in the house of ambassadors (5th) so diplomatic words are now being used to affect change in conjunction with other nations in Syria  - Capricorn Saturn’s sign affects both the 7th and 8th houses.

Transiting Venus (the diplomatic planet in Mundane Astrology) as well as Mercury are both square to the Midheaven, so dialogue is at the moment the approach Erdogan is using. However will words work with Assad? I don’t think so, and with natal Saturn next to be hit very soon after the conjunction with Mercury, I think more strong arm tactics will have to be employed by Turkey to stabilize it’s border regions. Notice also that transiting Mars which is almost stationary is sextile to the Turkish Sun, so military action is one option that may come very easily right now to employ. I think that Turkey will try to do this in cooperation with other Arab nations, as this will yet strengthen Erdogan’s influence in the region, but if she has to go it alone, I think Turkey may do so.

It looks to me as if Turkey is trying very much to increase her regional influence, however internally there is unrest as Turkish society is split over the more controlling and pro-Islamic policies being brought in by the Erdogan government. Soon (in the next couple of years), transiting Pluto will start to oppose it’s own position at 12 degrees Cancer in the first house. This is one aspect very much to keep an eye on, as Turkey at that point will be transformed as a country. This transformation could get very nasty and bloody because of the natal Pluto Mars square. It is a topic I will return to in future posts… 

Other links - Syria Protests – Pressure mounts on Assad as the Syrian crisis reaches the end game

Syria Protests – Pressure mounts on Assad as the Syrian crisis reaches the end game

Back on 22nd March I looked at Syria and I predicted that the end of this particular saga would come in December this year. Right on cue the Arab league, Jordan’s King Abdullah, the European Union  in the form of sanctions and harsh criticism from Turkey are all tightening the noose around the neck of President Assad of Syria. Violence has escalated in the past couple of weeks and finally there may be a resolution to the situation before too long. I am reposting what I wrote back in March and afterwards I will look in a bit more detail how the end may come.

 

****Posted 22nd March 2011****

 

Oh my here we go again. Over the past few weeks the temperature has been rising in Syria. Yet another Arab country with this time the ruling Assad dynasty under pressure. President Bashar Al-Assad has been in power since 2000, when he succeeded his father who had been in charge for the previous 30 years. Seeing what has been going on in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, it seems the people are in a mood for change, however they have a huge obstacle to overcome in the name of President Assad and the Ba’ath party.

Like the Libya and Saudi Arabia I did in recent weeks, the Syrian natal chart is also very insular in nature with every planet in the Eastern hemisphere. Saturn sits with Uranus, and true enough Syria’s history has been a mixture of unstable government and authoritarian rule. The Moon representing the people is squared by both Mars in aggressive Aries and Mercury. Syria’s human rights record is appalling, the crackdown after the latest set of protests on the people comes right from the top as Mars sits in the 10th house of government. In Syria all forms of communication (Mercury), including the press, the internet is tightly controlled shown by the Moon/ Mercury square. That control is intensified with Pluto in the 1st house, however Pluto here always indicates that a metamorphosis or complete change of the nation will happen at some time in the future.

The transit charts for Syria are looking quite fraught. Syria’s Midheaven sits at 1 degree Aries and transiting Uranus is rapidly closing in on an exact conjunction. It connects exactly on 27th March. Uranus moves on and then goes retrograde in July and finally stations in December just 10 minutes from the Syrian Midheaven. Aquarius which Uranus rules is on the cusp on the 8th house of change. Supporting this rebellious uprising by the people, Saturn is currently conjunct Mercury square the Ascendant and Moon – protests (Mercury) by the people (Moon) against the authorities (Saturn). Transiting Neptune is square Saturn/Uranus so confusion and worries (Neptune) in government circles (Saturn) about the protesters (Uranus).

President Assad has a brutal chart. Born on 11 Sept 1965 in Damascus (no birth-time), he has a Sun, Pluto and Uranus conjunction in nervous critical Virgo opposite harsh Saturn in deceptive Pisces and maybe Moon forming a wedge pattern with Mars and Neptune in deep dark Scorpio at the point. Here is a man who is sly, sneaky, able to adapt to situations as he has 7 planets in mutable signs, and has no scruples in using brute force (Mars), torture (Pluto), unusual underhand (Neptune) or shock tactics (Uranus) to keep his hand on the levers of power (Saturn). By the astrology, this is someone not to be messed with, and a man who will cling onto power by his fingernails if possible. The transits on his personal chart favour him for the minute. He has a constructive sextile between transiting Saturn and natal Jupiter and a trine between that Saturn and natal Jupiter. It would be nice to see how his Ascendant and Midheaven is affected but unfortunately with no birth-time it isn’t possible. I have to rely on the national chart and it’s aspects to see how the head of State may be affected.

In my view, Assad will see out this wave of protests, however his power and standing will be weakened, and when Uranus comes round at the end of the year to complete it’s retrograde cycle finally stationing on Syria’s Midheaven in December, then it will be crunch time. It is going a lot of force and sacrifices by the people to get the change in power that they so desire.

 

****Update 16th Nov 2011****

 

On every chart I have looked at in the past day on Syria, things look as if they are definitely coming to a conclusion. On the transit chart, transiting Uranus is now almost exactly upon the Syrian Aries ascendant. The revolt is now reaching it’s peak. We also have transiting Saturn opposing Mars which is very disruptive and violent as well as indicating that other foreign nations are now taking action against the Syrian leadership (Capricorn sits across the 7th house cusp of relations with other nations). Also we have transiting Mars is square to the natal Saturn Uranus conjunction, activating progressive forces to overthrow the old guard (Mars rules the Syrian Ascendant) and transiting Neptune is also square this conjunction causing confusion and disruption.

By Solar Arc progression, Solar Arc Pluto is currently square to the Ascendant as well as square to the Moon. This is a double whammy as Syria’s Ascendant is in Cancer, the Moon’s sign. The country is going through a transformation and it is the people represented by the Moon who are slowly but surely pushing it to a conclusion.  There also is an exact square between Solar Arc Jupiter and natal Uranus. Here we see the international pressure (Jupiter) aiding the rebellion (Uranus) right on time.

As for President Assad, the transits hitting his chart are now so fraught, I cannot see him surviving much longer. Look at the transits chart above and you can see the transiting Nodes (blue diamond feature)  square to Saturn, Uranus and Pluto. I see it as almost impossible that he can see out such an nasty set of Nodal transits. The Nodes through problems at you that you have no control over and it looks as if time is up for him, Saturn is harsh, Uranus is revolutionary and Pluto signifies destruction. The South Node as it makes these transits is passing through the 7th house of open enemies, and at the moment Assad has many, both in Syria and abroad. Notice also transiting Uranus quindecile to both his natal Uranus and Pluto. If he is caught by the revolutionaries, then his life will be in serious risk, just like Gaddafi a few weeks ago. The quindecile to Pluto will be exact around the 23rd to 26th November and the quindecile to Uranus will be exact just a few days later. These are dangerous days for Assad, just as the next Solar Eclipse hits on 25th November (shame I don’t have his birth time, would be interesting to see in which house the eclipse hits).

What I can say about the next eclipse is that it hits a spot at 2 degrees Sagittarius directly opposite to Syria’s natal Saturn/Uranus conjunction, the signature for the Assad regime of unpredictable, authoritarian rule. It may signify the beginning of the end of the road for the Assad dynasty.

Other links - Turkey – Will Erdogan decide to intervene by sending Turkish forces into Syria to topple Assad?

Occupy Wall Street – The battle goes on. Examining the Astrology of the anti capitalist movement.

Tomorrow will be the 2nd month since the beginning of the Occupy Wall Street movement, a rolling protest that has gathered in steam and size as it’s effects and influence have spread around the world. As I write the main focus site for the group Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan, has been cleared by the New York police, however this will only enliven the protest yet further. It is a direct reflection of the current Pluto/Uranus square which is still in operation and will be for the next 3 years.

Occupy Wall Street according to the official protest website began officially with a gathering on 17th September 2011 at 12.00 at Bowling Green Park in New York. Looking at the chart we see a very critical Virgo Sun representing the tone of voice of the protesters and an even tempered Taurean Moon which suggests that even though there is protest here, those people involved will be relatively peace loving and will not react unless severely provoked. There is also great stubbornness to the protestors involved, remember, Taurus is a fixed sign which always shows huge determination. Believe me, these people will not be pushed off track until they have achieved their goals. The ascendant is Scorpio, very representative of an underground movement which again shows a ruthless and determined side to it. Just by these three most important indicators, it is going to take a bit more than some early morning police work to deter this group. Mayor Bloomberg beware.

The chart is dominated by a significant t-square formation. We have the Uranus/Pluto square which I referred to earlier formed into the t-square with an opposition between Venus and Uranus. Look at the placements of these three planets. Venus opposite to Uranus runs from 10th to 4th houses. Venus in Libra is in the public 10th house showing this is a social movement with revolutionary ideas and tendencies. Uranus in Aries in the 4th shows that the location of this protest will constantly change, and it will be very pro-active and fast in it’s organisation. As the police clear one area, it will form again elsewhere. There is a fluidity and unorthodox nature to the Occupy Wall Street movement that will be hard to contain. Uranus does also oppose the Virgo Sun, giving the movement a highly detailed, independent and aggravated voice. There is an intelligence to the way they will operate, and no detail will be left to chance.

The focus of course of the protests is at the point of the t-square, Pluto in Capricorn in the 2nd house. Here are the big money makers and business moguls in the 2nd house of personal finance. On the opposite side of the Venus/Uranus square we have Mars at the point of a wedge formation. Mars sits in the 8th house of big business and dealing with other people’s money, so again we see direct action (Mars) from the protesters against the investors and the stock market workers on Wall Street.

Elsewhere on the chart, we find a quindecile between Saturn in the 11th house and Uranus, so here is an intense focus to bring down the status quo and as Saturn sits in the 11th house of government. This is a shot across the bows of the politicians too. There is another quindecile between Mercury and Neptune in the 3rd house which also makes a square to the Moon. Here we see a spiritual and idealistic side to things, rather evasive and erratic. These people are on a mission to create an ideal society, something more representative, dare I say it with liberal and even rather socialist aims (a theme I have touched on before – see The Next Solar Eclipse 25th Nov 11)

In the 6th house we find both the Moon and Jupiter in Taurus. Here the Moon and Jupiter both show the need to help, to fix people’s lives and to make society a better place. Jupiter in the 6th does not mind having to get it’s hands dirty to achieve this goal. There are interesting trines between Pluto Mercury and Jupiter. This shows an optimism in the cause and more significantly luck on their side. Jupiter Pluto often show success in one’s aims where is appears in the chart. Jupiter in the sixth represents luck and success for the ordinary people as well as having a truly global outreach. Might it be that this is a movement that may actually change society in the end? With Pluto in Capricorn squared by Uranus in Aries, this might be just the start of huge changes around the world bigger and more profound than any of the initiators could have ever imagined.

Colonel Gaddafi – Captured and killed by the Libyan rebel forces

Reports out this afternoon say that Colonel Muammar Al-Gaddafi was captured by the Libyan Rebel forces in Gaddafi’s home town of Sirte, apparently after a gun battle. Like Saddam Hussein before him, the dictator was finally caught hiding like a coward underground in some drain tunnels, in a vain attempt to avoid his enemies. The unconfirmed video of Gaddafi lying dead in front of his captors has just been shown on the UK’s Sky News.

This report does not surprise me. Back in August on this blog, I predicted that the end of October would be the end of the line for Libya’s fallen dictator. I am pleased for the Libyan people, as now they will have closure and they can look to the future hopefully with some optimism. I trust that they can now go on to make their homeland a peaceful and successful country.

I am reposting what I wrote back in August explaining the timeline as I then saw it for the endgame for the battle for Libya and the continuing hunt for their leader.

***Posted 11th Aug 2011***

It has been a long battle but as the rebel forces approach the outskirts of Libya’s capital city Tripoli, the end is surely nigh for Colonel Gaddafi’s rule of the country. A quick look at the current transits against the natal chart of Libya show the battle for the country is approaching the end game.

There are fierce battles going on right now as the rebel army approaches the Libyan capital and these are shown by transiting Mars which is conjunct to the natal Uranus. Mars is passing through the ruling 10th house of government and the nation’s public image, symbolising the bloody and chaotic nature of the advancement. The transiting Mars is also approaching a square with natal Saturn and its own position, so the battle in a few days will really start to be underway in the seat of government, Tripoli. If you wish to see the natal Libyan chart please click here – Libya

My post on Colonel Gaddafi published 27th Feb 11 - Colonel Gaddafi

I have tried to show the situation and movement of the planets month by month.

You can see the progression of events through Saturn. The natal Saturn/Mars Neptune conjunction in the natal Libyan chart fans out by aspect all the other planets. Saturn’s connection by transit here this time will herald the overthrow of the present regime. With transiting Saturn now conjunct to Saturn and square to Uranus and soon to move into a conjunction with natal Mars, this will be a violent and bloody end to the conflict. I would expect the end to be between mid and late September, because Libya’s Ascendant and Midheaven is ruled by Mercury. Natal Mercury lies at 18 degrees Sagittarius, and transiting Saturn will make a sextile with Mercury in the last week of September. This in turn will activate the natal Mercury Ascendant Midheaven t-square. Sextiles present opportunities and this will be an opportunity to complete the job started many months ago by the rebel forces. The transiting Sun and Mercury at this point make an opposition with Jupiter and square the natal Sun, which itself will be receiving a square again from retrograde Uranus.

Saturn then goes on to make contact with Neptune at the end of October. At this point, there will be a vey interesting mini grand trine as well as a wedge formation created. Transiting Mars conjunct Pluto and transiting Neptune opposite Pluto which is very brutal and grief stricken. Transiting Mercury also feeds into this Mars Pluto conjunction by way of a square, showing that this contact will affect the whole nation. The transiting North Node conjunct both natal Mercury (the chart ruler) and opposite the Midheaven and at the point is Saturn conjunct natal Neptune. Might this literally be the end of the dream for Gaddafi? Unless the Libyan leader has already got out of the country, then it will be nigh impossible for him to escape once the battle for Tripoli finally gets underway. The South Node conjunct to the Midheaven is a most unfortunate position, and the brutal Mars Pluto Neptune connection hitting the Saturn Neptune conjunction does say to me the end of the dream. If Gaddafi is caught, I suspect the rebels at this point will show no mercy to the dictator who ruled Libya for 40 years.

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Here is the transit chart for for Gaddafi on the day of his death.

Looking at the transits, it is easy to see the downfall of Gaddafi. The transiting South Node was exactly on Gaddafi’s Sun and the transiting North node was making a quindecile to his Saturn. This double connection showed the end of his power and Gaddafi meeting his fate at the hands of those now in charge. Transiting Pluto was trine his natal Moon, so emotionally he would have been at breakpoint. Transiting Uranus was trine to natal Pluto and transiting Mars sextile his Sun so danger and unexpected shock were coming their way to him. Finally transiting Neptune was square to his Saturn/Uranus conjunction. Neptune dissolves and disintegrates and his revolutionary power over the past few months that this square has been in operation has been slipping away. Today, the revolutionaries finally caught up with him and served their retribution.

Libya – Gaddafi’s hold on power coming to an end.

It has been a long battle but as the rebel forces approach the outskirts of Libya’s capital city Tripoli, the end is surely nigh for Colonel Gaddafi’s rule of the country. A quick look at the current transits against the natal chart of Libya show the battle for the country is approaching the end game.

There are fierce battles going on right now as the rebel army approaches the Libyan capital and these are shown by transiting Mars which is conjunct to the natal Uranus. Mars is passing through the ruling 10th house of government and the nation’s public image, symbolising the bloody and chaotic nature of the advancement. The transiting Mars is also approaching a square with natal Saturn and its own position, so the battle in a few days will really start to be underway in the seat of government, Tripoli. If you wish to see the natal Libyan chart please click here – Libya

My post on Colonel Gaddafi published 27th Feb 11 - Colonel Gaddafi

I have tried to show the situation and movement of the planets month by month.

You can see the progression of events through Saturn. The natal Saturn/Mars Neptune conjunction in the natal Libyan chart fans out by aspect all the other planets. Saturn’s connection by transit here this time will herald the overthrow of the present regime. With transiting Saturn now conjunct to Saturn and square to Uranus and soon to move into a conjunction with natal Mars, this will be a violent and bloody end to the conflict. I would expect the end to be between mid and late September, because Libya’s Ascendant and Midheaven is ruled by Mercury. Natal Mercury lies at 18 degrees Sagittarius, and transiting Saturn will make a sextile with Mercury in the last week of September. This in turn will activate the natal Mercury Ascendant Midheaven t-square. Sextiles present opportunities and this will be an opportunity to complete the job started many months ago by the rebel forces. The transiting Sun and Mercury at this point make an opposition with Jupiter and square the natal Sun, which itself will be receiving a square again from retrograde Uranus.

Saturn then goes on to make contact with Neptune at the end of October. At this point, there will be a vey interesting mini grand trine as well as a wedge formation created. Transiting Mars conjunct Pluto and transiting Neptune opposite Pluto which is very brutal and grief stricken. Transiting Mercury also feeds into this Mars Pluto conjunction by way of a square, showing that this contact will affect the whole nation. The transiting North Node conjunct both natal Mercury (the chart ruler) and opposite the Midheaven and at the point is Saturn conjunct natal Neptune. Might this literally be the end of the dream for Gaddafi? Unless the Libyan leader has already got out of the country, then it will be nigh impossible for him to escape once the battle for Tripoli finally gets underway. The South Node conjunct to the Midheaven is a most unfortunate position, and the brutal Mars Pluto Neptune connection hitting  the Saturn Neptune conjunction does say to me the end of the dream. If Gaddafi is caught, I suspect the rebels at this point will show no mercy to the dictator who ruled Libya for 40 years. 

****Update*****

The death of Gaddafi - Colonel Gaddafi – Captured and killed by the Libyan rebel forces

Al Qaeda – Can the terrorist organisation survive the death of Osama Bin Laden?

I decided not to look at Osama Bin Laden as we never had a confirmed date of birth for him. It was reported that he was born on 10th Mar 1950 but that was never substantiated. However we do have a starting point for Al Qaeda which was Osama’s creation and baby, and is an organisation that exists on in his own image. Al Qaeda was formed on 11th August 1988 after a meeting between the main principles including Bin Laden in Peshawar, Pakistan.

The chart is focused around the Uranus/Saturn and Neptune conjunction of the late 1980’s. Saturn and Uranus sit in faith based Sagittarius and mystical religious Neptune is widely conjunct in conservative Capricorn. This conjunction is opposite Venus in emotional Cancer. The Neptune Venus opposition which promotes the idea of a social ideal, this ideal is based around a revolutionary yet conservative and religious philosophy. The notion of the ideal is squared by a very aggressive Mars in assertive Aries on one side of the opposition and Pluto in transformational controlling Pluto sits powerfully in it’s own sign of Scorpio at the point of a wedge formation on the other side it. To achieve the ideal, Al Qaeda would use force (Mars) and resort to destruction (Pluto) to achieve it’s aims. Jupiter in Gemini encourages the organisation to export and communicate it’s religious philosophies wide and far and square to Mercury the organisation will have many plans on the go at any one time. Here is the idea of franchising out to more specialised groups around the world. The Sun, Moon and Mercury all sit in showy, proud, stubborn Leo. Al Qaeda likes to be in the spotlight, likes to make a show of any action it does. These three planets show a huge amount of arrogance, showing the pride before the fall if you will. As with Seve Ballesteros who I wrote about yesterday, this is a very fiery chart, however if you cut off the oxygen, the fire will soon extinguish. We find Mercury trine to Uranus so technology including the internet would be used to connect to it’s followers. Pluto squares to the Moon and this indicates extreme emotional intensity, even obsessional tendencies and the Moon is trine to aggressive Mars so Al Qaeda will confront any difficulties it has in a no nonsense forthright approach, using direct action.

Put all this together – an organisation hell-bent on a hard-line revolutionary religious ideal, one who wants to be seen and heard and will spread the word with emotional words and actions, and one which would resort to force, death and destruction if necessary.

Last week when the Americans acted to to kill Bin Laden, the Al Qaeda chart was under huge stress. All three corners of the natal t-square were being affected by difficult transits. Mars opposed by authoritarian Saturn putting a stop to the Al Qaeda military command. This was mirrored by the transiting North Node conjunct to natal Saturn, which indicates the loss of an authority figure. Natal Venus was being squared by transiting Uranus, so the financial arm of Al Qaeda was being cut off and most devastating of all natal Neptune was and still is being conjuncted by transiting Pluto affecting. This is the religious ideal and ethos I talked of earlier being either completely destroyed or entirely restructured in a new way, causing confusion, disarray and the end of the dream for many in the group. When Pluto moves round to square natal Mars at the point of the t-square next year, then one has to think that Al Qaeda military command will be crushed completely. Pluto is remorseless and will destroy all in it’s path. Just look how the financial institutions in the world were immediately affected by Pluto as it rolled into Capricorn in October 2008 – that transformation will carry on for the next 20-25 years!! One thing that is certain after Pluto has rolled through there will be a vacuum that will need to be filled. Maybe in time, Neptune in it’s own sign of Pisces will see the rise of a new spiritual leader to replace Bin Laden. One hopes too that this leader will have a gentler more moderate message. Neptune in Pisces is non combative and far more gentle than the Neptune in Capricorn era which gave rise to the financial clout and the hard line conservative views that Osama Bin Laden and his band of mercenaries had. One can only but hope…

Ivory Coast – A divided country now fighting for a fresh start.

Since the disputed elections held on November 2010, the Ivory Coast or to give its official name, Cote D’Ivoire has been in virtual civil war. To explain the situation, the incumbent President Laurant Gbagbo who took control after winning election in 2000 following a coup in 1999. The Ivory Coast has been effectively split since 2000 with Gbagbo and his supporters coming from the Christian south of the country, whereas his main rival and opposition leader Allasane Ouattara hailed from the mainly Muslim north. Gbagbo has continually refused to hold elections until the ones called in November. In the elections, Ouattara was declared the winner with 54%  of the vote, but Gbagbo claimed the vote had been rigged in the north. Thus the current conflict and battle for power between the two bitter rivals and their supporters began. There have been reports of massacres and the international community wanting the conflict to end immediately without intervening have put down stringent sanctions on Gbagbo to strangle the life out of his administration, hoping that he will eventually step down.

One look at the Ivory Coast chart and immediately you can see a divided country. The Sun in Leo is in the insular 4th house and directly opposite it in the 10th house sits the Moon. The leader (Sun) is at odds with the will of the people (Moon). Also this is an 4th-10th house opposition, the 10th house has always in Mundane astrology signified the Government of the day and the 4th house relates to the official opposition – just like the North & South opposition in the actual country. Amazing how just the pattern of a chart can so accurately describe the situation on the ground, isn’t it? The showy Sun is accompanied by Uranus, Venus and Pluto in a packed 4th house. Sun with Uranus shows that the leader (Sun) gained accession after a coup (Uranus), Venus here shows an obsessional love of sport and entertainment by the people (quindecile Moon) and Venus’ influence is strong as Taurus rules by midheaven is on the ascendant. Pluto shows that great wealth and power is gained from the land, indeed major planets located in a 4th house on a national chart always tends to show an agrarian economy. Pluto also indicates metamorphosis, any malefic aspects to this group of planets all connected by conjunction would activate a change in direction of the leadership. That change would be aggressive and maybe bloody with a tight square between Mars in the first house and Pluto, with the  militarily involved. Just to clarify which planets and influences would affect that change, I look to Scorpio (Pluto’s ruler) and which house it is ruling and also Pluto’s own 8th house and any planets therein. Scorpio cuts across the 7th house cusp, which indicates a foreign influence and Jupiter sits in the 8th house, Jupiter’s movements would be key on this chart.

Time to analyse the  transits and solar arcs to see the situation. Looking back to the election date of 28th Nov last year, the closest aspects by solar arc progression were Jupiter almost exact conjunction with the “opposition” Moon, in essence the will of the people being favoured and Solar Arc Pluto sextile Jupiter, (metamorphosis and change Pluto and 8th house highlighted). One other thing to note, that Jupiter hitting the moon also activated the opposition to the Sun (the Leader) and the quindecile to Venus which through Taurus on the ascendant controls the face of the nation – there would be a change of direction. What did I say about Jupiter being key? The Sun was exact in trine to Mars so the leader activated his military forces, and the progressed North Node was opposite Neptune, confusion and allegations of corruption and dirty dealing about the direction the country would take. The transits echo the Solar Arcs. Saturn square Mercury, the government (Saturn) trying to affect the details of the vote (Mercury), transiting Neptune opposing Venus showing confusion and deception (Neptune) in the country (Taurus Ascendant). Finally transiting Pluto in that 8th house trine natal Pluto. This is very nasty and still in effect today. Death, destruction, genocide affecting the change Ivory Coast needed, the horrors of which are hitting the world newsstands now.

Looking at a horoscope is not always a pleasant site, it shows the very best and the very worst in situations. Ivory Coast will plummet the depths before a solution is found, however I am sure that the people in the end will get what they want and voted for.

Syria Protests – Trouble brewing in Damascus

Oh my here we go again. Over the past few weeks the temperature has been rising in Syria. Yet another Arab country with this time the ruling Assad dynasty under pressure. President Bashar Al-Assad has been in power since 2000, when he succeeded his father who had been in charge for the previous 30 years. Seeing what has been going on in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, it seems the people are in a mood for change, however they have a huge obstacle to overcome in the name of President Assad and the Ba’ath party.

Like the Libya and Saudi Arabia I did in recent weeks, the Syrian natal chart is also very insular in nature with every planet in the Eastern hemisphere. Saturn sits with Uranus, and true enough Syria’s history has been a mixture of unstable government and authoritarian rule. The Moon representing the people is squared by both Mars in aggressive Aries and Mercury. Syria’s human rights record is appalling, the crackdown after the latest set of protests on the people comes right from the top as Mars sits in the 10th house of government. In Syria all forms of communication (Mercury), including the press, the internet is tightly controlled shown by the Moon/ Mercury square. That control is intensified with Pluto in the 1st house, however Pluto here always indicates that a metamorphosis or complete change of the nation will happen at some time in the future.

The transit charts for Syria are looking quite fraught. Syria’s Midheaven sits at 1 degree Aries and transiting Uranus is rapidly closing in on an exact conjunction. It connects exactly on 27th March. Uranus moves on and then goes retrograde in July and finally stations in December just 10 minutes from the Syrian Midheaven. Aquarius which Uranus rules is on the cusp on the 8th house of change. Supporting this rebellious uprising by the people, Saturn is currently conjunct Mercury square the Ascendant and Moon – protests (Mercury) by the people (Moon) against the authorities (Saturn). Transiting Neptune is square Saturn/Uranus so confusion and worries (Neptune) in government circles (Saturn) about the protesters (Uranus).

President Assad has a brutal chart. Born on 11 Sept 1965 in Damascus (no birth-time), he has a Sun, Pluto and Uranus conjunction in nervous critical Virgo opposite harsh Saturn in deceptive Pisces and maybe Moon forming a wedge pattern with Mars and Neptune in deep dark Scorpio at the point. Here is a man who is sly, sneaky, able to adapt to situations as he has 7 planets in mutable signs, and has no scruples in using brute force (Mars), torture (Pluto), unusual underhand (Neptune) or shock tactics (Uranus) to keep his hand on the levers of power (Saturn). By the astrology, this is someone not to be messed with, and a man who will cling onto power by his fingernails if possible. The transits on his personal chart favour him for the minute. He has a constructive sextile between transiting Saturn and natal Jupiter and a trine between that Saturn and natal Jupiter. It would be nice to see how his Ascendant and Midheaven is affected but unfortunately with no birth-time it isn’t possible. I have to rely on the national chart and it’s aspects to see how the head of State may be affected

In my view, Assad will see out this wave of protests, however his power and standing will be weakened, and when Uranus comes round at the end of the year to complete it’s retrograde cycle finally stationing on Syria’s Midheaven in December, then it will be crunch time. It is going a lot of force and sacrifices by the people to get the change in power that they so desire.

France and NATO intervene in the Libyan Crisis

The situation in North Africa has escalated quite considerably today as French aircraft bombed Libyan military vehicles. The French, wanting to assert their authority in a region where their influence has always been considerable, are now showing their muscle to the Gaddafi regime. Looking at the astrology, you can see the French influence on the current intervention.

First to set the scene a quick glance at the French Natal chart. There are two standout features. As befits a chart which was formed on the back of a bloody revolution, we see a fixed t-square with aggressive Mars at the point conjunct the Midheaven symbolising the bloody execution of the previous monarchical heads of state. Square this Mars is a Pluto/Uranus opposition which represents change by revolution. The other feature is a Saturn opposite Jupiter/Neptune. Here is a clamp on belief hence the secular French society. The national motto is France is Liberté, égalité, fraternité embodied in this opposition. Liberté or freedom shown by Jupiter, égalité or equality is an ideal or dream shown by Neptune in balanced and fair Libra and fraternité or brotherhood shown by Saturn in the third house of siblings (brothers and sisters).

France’s chart is definitely on edge right now with transiting Uranus conjunct the French natal Sun, and transiting Venus which often symbolises diplomacy is activating France’s natal Mars, Uranus Pluto t-square. This diplomatic action has a hard edge. Transiting Mars is opposite her natal Mercury so confirming the aggressive rhetoric coming out of Paris. By Solar Arc, the two aspects which are exact right now are SA Venus trine Mercury in the 8th house and SA Jupiter trine Venus. Not surprising then with France so on alert, NATO leaders and world diplomats met in the French capital. So why are the French so interested in Libya and the awful situation there?

Well, Libya’s natal Pluto sits at 21 Leo, exactly the same degree as France’s Uranus linking into the French t-square. Not only French investment on Libya will be a motivating factor but  French I think the French fear the loss of a part of the world where they have had so much influence for a long time, remember they have interests in Morocco and Algeria as well as Tunisia which is in a transitional position. President Sarkozy will not want to see his sphere of influence lessened. That Libyan Pluto sits in the French 7th house of foreign affairs, as such France will feel that this crisis affects their sphere of influence. French military action (Mars) supporting the rebels (Uranus) will cause a major change (Pluto) in the history of Libya, and the same t-square which toppled the French monarchy will now see the toppling of the Libyan dictator.

Saudi Arabia – Protests and the threat to the world’s oil supply.

It was announced in the news today that authorities in Saudi Arabia have cracked down on potential unrest by banning all protests and marches in the country. The security forces have been ordered to use all measures to prevent  public disorder. Hmmm, I wonder how long this will actually last? The beauty about astrology is that you can have a glimpse ahead and see trouble on the horizon. Looking at Saudi Arabia and the general synopsis in the heavens just around the corner, the world needs to be concerned.

Lets have a quick look at the Saudi Natal Chart. By it’s appearance, it is remarkably similar to the Libya chart I looked at a few days ago. There is a Cancerian ascendant, security and the defence of the kingdom will be of utmost importance. We have a nervous Virgo Sun trine a very powerful Saturn in Capricorn the 7th. The ruler, King Abdullah has an iron grip on everything that goes on.  You can see the aspects radiating out from this Saturn touching all planets by aspect except the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction in the 3rd house. That Jupiter Neptune conjunction represents a large expanse (Jupiter) of oil (Neptune) in the local environment (3rd house) which is exploited by international (Jupiter) oil companies . We can see a brutal cruel attitude to justice (Pluto conjunct Mars opposite Saturn), a very restrictive attitude to women’s affairs (Venus quindecile Saturn), a very hard line taken over dissent (Saturn square Uranus) and control over communication, the press & travel (Saturn trine Mercury). The Moon representing the people is in the hidden 12th house inconjunct the all powerful Saturn. I suspect there will be a lot of chatter behind the scenes against the absolute monarchy, but the ruling family and it’s security forces keeps a lid on the population.

Now however, problems are in the pipeline. The Saudi Sun sits at 29 degrees Virgo and the Saudi Midheaven sits at 1 degree Aries. The Sun represents the absolute ruler, the King and the Midheaven represents the ruling government, those at the top. Right now as I write, transiting Uranus (which represents rebel opposing forces to the ruling monarchy) is 2 minutes from opposing the natal Sun. At the same time Uranus will conjunct the Saudi Midheaven on 30th March. Uranus is also making a square aspect to the natal Moon, the people, no doubt seeing what is happening in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia will be in a mood for revolt. Uranus when it connects to the major angles (Ascendant & Midheaven) or the personal planets (the Moon and the Sun) on a national chart always heralds change. Remember this too. Uranus is just about to change signs from confused dreamy Pisces into action dominated, war like Aries; the people will finally be able to get mobilised. You just watch the sparks fly around the world!! Just as worrying, transiting Pluto is trine the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction. Pluto is transformational, or can denote a blockage of some kind. Is the oil supply from Saudi Arabia going to be affected in some way? On the Solar Arc charts, there are two aspects virtually exact now. SA Pluto is square the Saudi Ascendant and SA Uranus will shortly conjunct it which means a transformation in the face of the country more than likely by revolution of some type, or by a dramatic change. SA Moon representing the people is conjunct the South Node. To me, this almost suggests a turning in on the country itself. Putting this all together, I can see the possibility of major popular unrest or even civil war. Two years down the line in approximately 2013, SA Mars will square Uranus! Ouch, disruption with violence, maybe military based. It doesn’t sound very hopeful, does it? Factor this in as well. King Abdullah is himself 87 and I understand his health is not too good. Should something happen to him, then the crown is up for grabs.

As you will be aware, Saudi Arabia controls the largest reserves of oil in the world. As I mentioned before, oil is ruled by Neptune and Neptune is just about to change signs too like Uranus. Neptune will move from Aquarius to Pisces in April. So what will this mean for the world oil supply? Neptune hasn’t been in this spot just about to move into Pisces since 1848, the first oil well was drilled in 1853. Will it mean that the main oil supplies of the world (Saudi Arabia, Libya) will be managed by countries in flux or disorganisation? Pisces is a nebulous sign, where control dissolves completely, and if that happens, what will happen to the price of petroleum world wide? Serious questions indeed for a world dependent still on oil supplies. If the Astrology holds out and I have read it correctly, the world will and needs to be worried.

 

** UPDATE 12th March 2011 **

After seeing how the last Solar Eclipse has affected the world in many ways, Japan Tsunami, New Zealand Earthquake and all the disruption across North Africa, I thought I would have a peek into the future and look at the next Solar Eclipse due for 1st July 11. What I saw shocked me. I have written that any planet hitting an angle on an eclipse chart relocated to a point on earth will severely affect that region. Located to Riyadh, the next eclipse itself not hits almost directly onto the Midheaven but the Cardinal cross formed at the time of the eclipse has Saturn on the Ascendant, Pluto on the IC and Uranus on the descendant. Major changes WILL happen in Saudi Arabia starting I would guess late summer this year. Please return back over time as I update this article…

Libya – The astrology of a country in crisis

As the confusion continues and Gaddafi is holed up somewhere in the desert away from the tide of rebel advance, I thought I’d have a more detailed look at the country chart and see what it is saying.

The natal chart has a insular 4th house Sun in controlling Capricorn sextile to the Moon in Libra which suggest the people are quite sociable, if only they were not so constrained by the leaders. There is a very hard-line and religious Saturn, Mars and Neptune at the point of a mini grand trine, extending by two sextiles and held in check by a trine between controlling Pluto and Mercury. Neptune conjunct Mars indicates that the military has been kept deliberately weakened to protect the leader from coups. Communication is restricted and there is a brutal undercurrent to the regime. Uranus in the 10th aptly describes the leader himself, someone who took power through a coup, a loose cannon at the helm, with strong beliefs (square Jupiter) and an iron grip on things (square Saturn, Mars). With most of the planets on the Eastern hemisphere, this is not a very outgoing country, happy to keep most of it’s affairs internal. Interestingly, the only planet in the Western hemisphere is Jupiter which suggests most of Libya’s wealth lies with overseas institutions!!

The current transits show major changes about to finally happen. Transiting Uranus is square the Libyan Sun so the revolution is in full flow, transiting Saturn has hit the Saturn Mars conjunction, there is death, public sorrow and challenge to authoritarian rule. Transiting Neptune is trine the Moon suggesting that the public are confused, there maybe looting, swindling and fraud. Transiting Mercury is square it’s own position, communication and regular transport is difficult, echoing the danger on the roads and also  the no fly zone just being enforced. Pluto is square natal Jupiter which lies in the 7th house, there is a blockage (Pluto) being put on the wealth of the country, the international embargos just announced. Jupiter has just past through a conjunction with itself; an optimism felt by the people for the first time in a long time of foreign influences installing belief (Tunisia, Egypt). On the Solar Arcs which are more long term, SA Mars is on the IC at the bottom of the chart opposite the Midheaven – a change at the top by force. The Moon will conjunct the Sun in around 2 years time thus I believe in approximately 2013 the people will herald a new leader. Until then, the battle for Libya will carry on. How easy it will be, and who will prevail only time will tell.

Colonel Gaddafi – Going out the same door he came in

Just a quick look at embattled Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Al-Gaddafi who is after 42 years of absolute rule is staring the exit door in the face. We have no birth time for the Colonel, born in Sirte, Libya on 7th June 42, which is a shame.

Gaddafi is a Sun sign Gemini (it is a very Gemini & airy chart) with 5 planets in the twins sign. He has an Aires Moon, so a need to be first and at the top dominates his emotions. There is a  Pluto/Mars conjunction, Pluto in Leo and Mars in Cancer, he will defend his family, homeland and powerbase in a no nonsense manner by any means if need be. That controlling Pluto and fiery Aries moon make a mini grand trine with Saturn and Uranus (2 of the Gemini planets). Here is the need to be the top dog (Aries Moon) to create revolutionary (Uranus) government (Saturn) by forceful control (Pluto). It also makes him very dangerous and unpredictable. The other 3 Gemini planets Sun, Mercury and Jupiter form the point of a T-Square with that Aires moon opposite Neptune in conservative Virgo – here is the motivation for his huge rambling, religious speeches he is so noted for. Emotionally he will be direct, but evasive and deceptive.

Ok a look at the transits on his chart. Transiting Mars is as I write exactly square his natal Saturn/Uranus, so his revolutionary authority is being challenged by force. Transiting Uranus is exactly square his Jupiter, so his freedom is now cut off by rebel actions and Uranus is opposite his natal Neptune causing confusion. Poignantly, the transiting Sun is sitting on his South Node this evening, time to go back from whence you came; he was brought up from peasant roots. If we look to Gaddafi’s presidency chart (1st Sept 69), there is the same picture. Transiting Uranus is square natal Uranus, the revolutionary being overthrown by those who wish to overthrow him, and transiting Pluto is square Jupiter and Mercury, so freedom and communications are cut off. It look as if for Muammar Al-Gaddafi, the party’s over, and for Libya confusion and a battle for control will begin.

***** Other Libya Articles *******

Posted on 21st August 2011 - Libya – Gaddafi’s hold on power coming to an end.

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Here is the transit chart for for Gaddafi on the day of his death.

Looking at the transits, it is easy to see the downfall of Gaddafi. The transiting South Node was exactly on Gaddafi’s Sun and the transiting North node was making a quindecile to his Saturn. This double connection showed the end of his power and Gaddafi meeting his fate at the hands of those now in charge. Transiting Pluto was trine his natal Moon, so emotionally he would have been at breakpoint. Transiting Uranus was trine to natal Pluto and transiting Mars sextile his Sun so danger and unexpected shock were coming their way to him. Finally transiting Neptune was square to his Saturn/Uranus conjunction. Neptune dissolves and disintegrates and his revolutionary power over the past few months that this square has been in operation has been slipping away. Today, the revolutionaries finally caught up with him and served their retribution.

Mohamed Bouazizi – From street vendor to revolution martyr

Following on from my last post looking at the fire of revolt sweeping across North Africa and the Middle East, I am today concentrating on the humble man who became a martyr after standing up for what he thought right. Yesterday, I connected the recent Solar Eclipse of 4th January to the events now happening. The man who sacrificed himself and whose actions precipitated all this was connected to the eclipse too.

Below is Mohamed’s birth chart. We don’t have a birth time which is a shame as a lot of crucial detail is lost by not having it, but the basic outline of his character and thus his motivations remain.

Mohamed’s Aries Sun was square to Jupiter and trine to Uranus which gave him an independent streak, generosity and an optimism to succeed in life, however he would struggle with limitations imposed on him. His Moon in gentle Pisces bestowed a kind and sympathetic nature, however beneath was a far deeper intensity. Normally those with Aries Suns are full of vim and vigour, however an Aries Sun with a Piscean Moon dissipates all that energy, the need to be first is not so prevalent but rather the need for ideal is what he will search for. This Pisces Moon really smoulders with intensity as it trines Pluto in Scorpio. The Moon/Pluto trine formed a grand mini trine with Neptune in Capricorn at the point. Here was the signature of this ideal, the ultimate (Pluto) sacrifice (Neptune) to show the authorities (Capricorn). This Neptune was also at the point of a wedge formation feeding out to a Pluto/Mercury opposition.  This is a quite difficult aspect as Mohamed would have questioned everyone’s motives, not trusting anyone, feeling paranoid. He would have had powerful convictions and would have wanted to prove a point. He certainly did that!!  

Mohamed’s Saturn was retrograde suggesting that he missed the love of his father through his childhood. True enough, Mohamed’s father passed away when he was just 3 years of age. Even though his mother remarried, Mohamed at the age of 10 became the principle breadwinner in his family due to the ill health of his stepdad. Life must have been hard as he towed his barrow 2km each day to town laden with fruit & vegetables to sell, so that he and his family could earn enough money to exist. He would have been an hard willing worker, with a Saturn sextile Jupiter and generous with it too. Venus in Pisces is very gentle and selfless allowing those he loved to become overly dependent on his actions.  This generosity and selflessness is accentuated by the Jupiter square to the Sun, he would have kept optimistic throughout any troubles looking after those in need even if he had little himself, although anyone limiting his actions would have been hard for him to deal with. How would he have reacted if someone curtailed his business, thus threatening his ability to look after his loved ones? Look to Mars and the answer was there. Lying beneath that gentle exterior was a peregrine (unconnected to any other planet by major aspect) Mars in vengeful Scorpio. That Mars would harbour a fierce “I’ll show you at any cost” temper.

I understand that throughout his life, Mohamed had been subject to intimidation from the local police, being made to feel totally inadequate, and it was after one such incident when he was fined for selling without a license and having his scales and produce confiscated that his patience finally snapped. He went to the local administrator to complain, however no-one there was available to hear it. At around 11.30am on 17th Dec 10 having bought a can of petrol and in front of the administration building in Sidi BouZid probably angry and confused, he carried out the ultimate sacrifice; the act that had been lying in wait 26 years on his chart since his birth – he set fire to himself. Looking at the transit chart for that moment, the Uranus/Jupiter conjunction (having the belief to rebel) that had been one of the signatures of the recent uprisings was trine his natal peregrine Mars in Scorpio and square to Mars was transiting Neptune, the planet of sacrifice. Transiting Mars was square his Aries Sun making him feel angry, and transiting Mercury was exactly conjunct his impressionable Neptune causing confusion. In the background looking at his Solar Arc chart for the day, Mohamed had Solar Arc Pluto almost exactly conjunct his stand alone Mars in Scorpio as well as having Solar Arc Neptune being sextile to natal Mars, a mirror of what was happening on the transit chart.  Under all this planetary pressure, he vented the anger and rebellion inside him the only way he knew.

The suicide attempt provoked an uprising in the local community outraged that a popular young man had been treated in such a fashion. As anger grew and in a vain attempt to stem the rising tide of disaffection against his rule, President Ben Ali visited Mohamed in hospital (above). It was to no avail as the protests grew in size across Tunisia. Mohamed died on the 4th January of his burns and injuries, the day of the Solar Eclipse I mentioned before (see link below). The eclipse landed on his natal Jupiter. Natal Jupiter hit by a solar eclipse can be associated with spiritual enlightenment, a belief that you cannot fail, it has an international flavour across nations and boundaries, an influence beyond one’s normal environment. Also at that eclipse degree was the transiting Mars/Pluto midpoint (Mars representing the action of setting himself on fire – Mars rules Aries, the archetypal fire sign/Pluto represents a sacrifice, death and regeneration). Mohamed’s actions and his legacy encapsulated in the heavens; for him it signified martyrdom, and immortality right across the Arab world.

 

Please also see :-

Tunisia & Egypt revolutions - Seeds sown by a Solar Eclipse...

Egypt & Tunisia revolutions – Seeds sown by an eclipse. Who & where will be next? Bahrain? Iran? Libya? Saudi Arabia?

The world has watched in disbelief in the past weeks as the people, first in Tunisia and then Egypt,  rose up as one against  a leader who had “overstayed their welcome” and forced them out of power. It is a big thing for the people to take on the establishment, filled with risk. Let’s look at the astrology.

In the background of the revolutions across North Africa and the Middle East right now is the Solar Eclipse that occurred at 09.02am GMT on 4th Jan 11. That eclipse according to Bernadette Brady is part of the group 13 North of eclipses. She says that this group of eclipses is associated with large, ambitious group projects which require the breaking of a bond that already exists. A very apt description of the people rising up against a leader who had overstayed his welcome and forcing him unceremoniously out of power. The ripples from this eclipse will be felt for another 4-5 months to come.

The eclipse itself had Uranus conjunct Jupiter (revolution given belief) trine Venus conjunct the Midheaven. Venus in Mundane astrology on a mass level can mean the afflicted or the suffering, the Midheaven represents an ideal that the society attains to. There was also a rather angry Mars conjunct the Eclipse square to Saturn. Authority being affected by action & force. If you look deeper the eclipse landed on the Mars/Pluto midpoint, a combination of energies that Ebertin describes as the ability to demonstrate extraordinary force, obsession, great ambition, attaining one’s objectives through ruthlessness, brutality or cruelty. This was an unusually powerful solar eclipse.

Putting the eclipse chart against the Tunisia natal chart is very revealing. Transiting Uranus/Jupiter conjunct Natal Sun (the ruling authority in the the 10th house of government). The eclipse hit on Tunisia’s Mars/Moon opposition – Mars (action) by the people (Moon) and was trine natal Venus in the 11th – group action by the afflicted. Sure there may have been civil unrest at this time anyway but I believe the effect of the eclipse was a galvanising factor in the background. Looking at the Solar Arc transits we see a similar picture. Uranus exactly on the IC opposite the Midheaven just about to enter the 4th house – a revolt against those at the top. Solar arc Moon was also square natal Saturn. The people against the ruler – in this case President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Within a couple of weeks he was driven into exile. Under the pressure being exerted on the Natal Tunisia chart, the outcome was almost inevitable.

I move now to Egypt. The natal Egyptian chart is interesting as it has a natal Saturn/Neptune square Uranus/Mercury. It is almost prone to revolution with such a configuration – tension constantly between a potentially evasive conservative ruler and progressive independently minded radicals. The current natal chart was formed off the back of the the 1952 revolution in the country.

Looking at the Solar Arcs first, Solar Arc Sun is conjunct Pluto so those in charge due a drastic change. Pluto reminds me of a wildfire – from the ashes of a destroyed forest rises new growth. The Uranus/Mercury conjunction had moved to conjunct the Egypt’s natal Moon – the people being whipped up into a revolutionary frenzy by news – news of the Tunisian revolt days earlier. Uranus/Mercury perfectly describes the internet and I understand it was in the internet cafes where a lot of the organising took place. Without the internet and news being transferred quickly, this revolution may not have got off the ground. Looking ahead on the solar arcs, there may be more instability and confusion in around 4 years time approximately 2015/16 when SA Pluto hits the natal Saturn Neptune conjunction.

Egypt’s natal chart opposite that same 4th Jan eclipse chart demonstrates the violent and confusing reaction that eventually ousted President Mubarak. The eclipse was located in Egypt’s 4th house opposite the Sun/Mars conjunction in Egypt’s 10th house – a change was heralded in the homeland affecting the government. Also in the 4th transiting Pluto was opposite natal Mars and transiting Mars was opposite Uranus/Mercury square Saturn/Neptune. Add in transiting Uranus/Jupiter square the natal Sun and transiting Saturn square Uranus Mercury. No wonder there was violence and confusion with all this disruptive energy, you can almost visualize the two factions pro and anti government opposing each other from all the 4th/10th house oppositions.  In the background there was an exact to the minute transiting Neptune from the 5th house trine the natal Sun. Mubarak at the start tried to hoodwink the protesters with false promises of early elections. It was a gamble that failed miserably.

Looking at Bahrain, the Solar Eclipse picture is nowhere as severe as in Egypt however the revolutionary Jupiter/Uranus conjunction opposed Bahrain’s natal Pluto so changes are on the agenda too. What type? Well Transiting Mercury was exactly to the minute conjunct Bahrain’s natal Sun, will the secretive insular monarchy (Sun in 4th) headed by Sheikh Al Khalifa be forced to communicate major changes and concessions?

The Eclipse hit directly opposite Libya’s Uranus, so revolution is definitely in the air however as far as I see General Gadaffi will not give up without a fight. Libya’s chart has a brutal Saturn/Mars conjunction (rule by violent suppression) and the eclipse squared this with transiting Saturn right on this conjunction and transiting Mars squaring the natal Mars. If there is to be a revolt, I fear it will be a bloody one – Gadaffi will use all force at his disposal to crush any rebellion.

In Iran, the eclipse was trine Iran’s Sun, the transiting Uranus/Jupiter conjunction that has been fundamental to the shake-up in North Africa & the Middle East square Iran’s midheaven. Transiting Pluto was square Iran’s Moon and transiting Mercury conjunct Neptune, so maybe suppression of the people through blanking out the media and the internet may be the tactic used by Iran’s rulers to hold things in check. I suspect this will only be stoking up the fires as in 2012/13 solar arc Uranus hit’s Iran’s midheaven and enters it’s 10th house and Saturn opposes Iran’s Sun. At that point we may see a overhaul of those in power.

Very worryingly Saudi Arabia looks in a perilous state if the eclipse chart is anything to go by. The eclipse hit very close to Saudi’s descendant – a change in the public face of Saudi is imminent. Transiting Uranus/Jupiter this time is opposite Saudis’ Sun/Mercury and square the natal Moon (sounds like an uprising of some sort) and transiting Mars square natal Uranus and opposite natal Pluto. That is an explosive combination if ever I have seen one. The ascendant of the eclipse chart relocated to Riyadh hit bang on Saudi’s natal Uranus. This is a bomb waiting to explode. By solar arc Pluto is exactly square right now the Saudi natal Ascendant, the end of an era is due very soon. The health of 87 year old ruler King Abdullah has been reported to be in decline. I can see all hell breaking loose if there is forced to be a change in leader, a change that could upset the whole balance of the Middle East.

Revolution is in the air in my view caused in a large part by the Solar Eclipse of 4th January. I haven’t had time to look at Yemen, Jordan Algeria and Morocco although looking initially I think Israel will be unaffected for now. Maybe I will at a later date…

 

Please also see

Mohamed Bouazizi - From street vendor to martyr...