Chiron and sea level rise, part one: What's Chiron?

Have you ever heard of Chiron? It's a "short-period comet" orbiting between Saturn and Uranus and is variously referred to as the "wounded healer" or "rainbow bridge". In addition to its literal position in the solar system as a "bridge" between the slowest of the inner planets and the start of the outer or generational planets, in astrology it represents the connections between the physical and non-physical world. It is associated with wisdom and mentorship, as well as healing- though an appropriate image may be a shaman speaking to the spirits to intervene in the disease, rather than the institution-based health methodologies. In Greek mythology, Chiron was a centaur with a conscience. While most centaurs focused their energy on wine, misbehavior and just generally "gettin' their freak on," Chiron was a refined, cultured mentor, adept astrologer, and healer. Chiron was wounded himself, but was unable to cure this wound. This is the significant image for astrologers- Chiron as a player in the horoscope represents both an area in which we have deep pain, wounds or insecurities, and yet through this experience have great wisdom and healing power to give to others.

Understanding Chiron can help puncture the wall of physical reality that seems to surround us. Chiron can be particularly challenging, as well, because it forces us to open wounds that we may have long covered up and chose to ignore. Fitting with the theme of Chiron as a Shaman, however, it seeks to heal, or at least understand and work with, the wound itself. Modern medicine, in contrast, in some ways may focus more on treating symptoms in the interest of maintaining one's ability to function in society and feel "okay."

Chiron works in the generational realm of astrology as well, especially considering it's proximity to the outer generational planets. It was discovered relatively recently- 1977, during a time of increased "shamanic" awareness- in the environment, in increasing fascination with "new age" ideas, the further development of astrology, etc. More recently, it moved into the last sign of the zodiac- Pisces- last year on April 20, 2010. Pisces is associated, as the culminating sign of the 12 zodiac signs, with sensitivity, compassion, concern for the world at large and especially the world's oceans and sea life. Pisces has a shamanic energy itself- a sensitivity to the non-physical world which leads as much to Pisces' potential for spiritual awareness as a potential for confusion, non-action and martyrdom. What else happened on April 20th, 2010? The Deepwater Horizon oil rig blew up.

If you've seen my previous post, "The Day Before Jupiter Moves Into Aries", you'll have a little understanding of the significance of the anaretic degree of Pisces. It's a point of final culmination before bursting into the assertive leap forward of Aries. Here's a short quote from that post:

"So, the challenge with "packing our bags" at 29 degrees of Pisces is that what we take with us and what we leave behind aren't going to be entirely clear."

The last time Chiron was in Pisces was 1960-69. This was a time of increased sensitivity and compassion in connection with the world around us, and especially the great aquifer of the world's waters (such as the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring). In 1969, at the anaretic degree of Pisces, can you guess what happened? If you guessed The 1969 Santa Barbara Oil Spill, you'd be right! This horrible ecological disaster off the coast of California washed big fat globs of unignorable oil on the pristine beaches of the super-wealthy residents of Santa Barbara, and was one of several, if not the major, nitro boost to the budding development of American environmental stewardship. Oil had been growing and functioning in a non-physical dream world of infrastructure development without issue, fueling a comfortable way of life in the physical world of American wealth. Chiron, almost as a last warning after 10 years of struggle to increase environmental awareness, crossed the bridge between the worlds and brought oil literally to people's doorsteps. It worked, it helped... as much as it could.

What's at stake in our world now as the environment suffers, and policy makers continue to "cover up the wound"? Chiron is back to show us what we can lose, as well as how we can come together with wisdom and heal ourselves and our wounded earth. Chiron has 8 years with us in Pisces, but it's clear that we need to start examining our wounds now. We don't even know the long-term consequences of the Horizon Oil Spill... and what about global warming and sea level rise?

Lots to think about as I end part one of this post. I recognize how hard it is to feel the compassion that Chiron in Pisces demands, especially if you're comfortably using a computer with a Cappuccino or a nice brew (as I admit I am now). So... for all you lovers of British and Belgian Beer...

In part 2 I use sea level rise to KILL YOUR FAVORITE BREWERIES! We'll examine some maps in part two that you can't ignore...

Do you remember the Santa Barbara Oil spill? Were you affected by the Horizon Oil spill? What can we learn from the environment? Worried about a brewery and want me to make sure to include it in part two? Leave a comment!

Egypt´s horoscope in 2011

So I finally managed to make a post in Spanish, hopefully the first of many more for anybody who might be interested in astrological updates in Spanish. I started the Spanish version thinking I would tackle an "easier" subject (that I could translate more easily), but in so doing I realized that there's actually a really important event going on in Egypt's natal chart. While the Aries ingress chart and mundane interpretation is more like a "counsel of the stars" for any given location, on an impersonal level, the natal chart is more personal and shows us what's being activated in Egypt in light of being an individual, like a person. Interest and development in our personal identity study has certainly grown since the middle ages (when "group" astrology was more common), and taking a look at the identity of Egypt can help us see what's happening.

The inner ring of the chart on the left is Egypt's birth chart, while the outer ring is the current position of the planets. I'm not quite good enough at interpreting aspects in the birth charts of countries, but we can't ignore one very important aspect. Saturn, in its current position, has returned to the same place it was at the birth of Egypt- this is what we call the Saturn Return.

Saturn is associated with responsibility, pretty much across the board, countries included. The Saturn return is a time of crisis in identity and responsibility that occurs between the ages of 28 and 30. Saturn is a hardcore party-pooper, and provides difficult lessons wherever it goes over the 29 years it spends going around the zodiac. When it gets back to where it was, it means that this cycle of hard lessons has come to a close, and there is a crisis of meaning: What am I going to do with the hard lessons I've learned? What is the significance of my responsibility? How can I build the responsibility and challenges I've faced into a new cycle in life?
Now Egypt is facing this challenge. What does it signify? Well, for a hint we can look to what happened exactly 29 years ago. Any guesses? That's right, Hosni Mubarak took power (October of 1981). Now he has resigned, during the difficult process where Egypt turns the difficult lessons it has learned into a new beginning. We can also look to the position of Saturn to see where this crisis is focused. Saturn is in the 6th house of Egypt's birth chart, very close to the far right angle or descendant. The 6th house is associated with service and work, and the descendant as the 3rd angle as we go around the chart wheel is associated with others, relationships, friends and enemies at the same time. In addition, Saturn is in Libra (whose energy is associated with the descendant angle anyway) and is a sign of cooperation, awareness of others and relationships. As the crisis in Egypt continues over the following months and years, you can be sure that the focus of these questions and considerations will be people: citizens of Egypt and foreign relations alike.

While watching the developments in Egypt, instead of asking "What's changing?" consider asking "Who's changing, or what's changing people?" The difficulties in this process will be all about people. It's a difficult process, but necessary. There are many changes on the horizon...

I'd like to stimulate some discussion: what are your thoughts and reactions to this article or the events in general? I'm committed to making an effort to respond more to any responses and participate in discussion. Big topics folks! Pour yourself a brew and let's discuss...

El horóscopo de Egipto en 2011

Aunque dije que traduciría mi último artículo, sobre Egipto, me dio cuenta que eso artículo fuera demasiado largo para traducir sin perder la razón. Por eso, decidí escribir un artículo de nuevo sobre el mismo tópico, usando una sistema diferente para analizar los eventos allá. Entonces, hoy vamos a considerar la carta natal de Egipto. Esa forma de análisis enfoca en la identidad del país de Egipto como si fuera un individuo con sus propias características, las cuales son afectados por el estado de las estrellas ahora. La astrología mundano aparece más como el ´consejo de las estrellas´ tras de una ubicación específica. La astrología mundano es efectiva, claro, pero también es impersonal. En el desarrollo de nuestro interés en sí mismo, es importante considerar el estado de la identidad de Egipto también.

Al lado es la carta natal de Egipto (el círculo interior) con la carta de tránsito (el círculo exterior). Porque ya no soy experto con la análisis de los horóscopos del países, voy a enfocar en unos profundos aspectos cuales nos señalan que Egipto es en crisis de identidad.

El planeta de Saturno tiene que ver con la responsabilidad. Es un planeta difícil muchas veces, porque la responsabilidad nunca es lo más fácil. En este caso, podemos decir con gran certeza que Egipto es en una crisis de responsabilidad porque Saturno en el cielo ahora está en casi la misma posición de el nacimiento de Egipto, un evento que pasa en los horóscopos de todo el mundo entre 28 y 30 años de edad- la vuelta de Saturno. A menudo, esto tiempo es el fin de 29 años de desarrollo y practico con la responsabilidad, y las lecciones de la vida que porta Saturno por el círculo completo del horóscopo son completas. En países y individuos también, este tiempo proviene preguntas importantes: ¿Para qué tengo responsabilidad y porque? ¿Que significa mi vida y las lecciones de los 29 años pasados? ¿Cómo podría usar mi experiencia para dar a luz algo nuevo con mi vida? Esto llamamos en Inglés ´the midlife crisis´. ¿Qué es la importancia de esto en Egipto?

Consideramos un hecho interesante: ¿Qué pasó hace 29 años exactamente? Hosni Mubarak empecé su presidencia. Saturno, en el horóscopo de Egipto, está ubicado en la sexta ´casa´, muy cerca de la derecha de la carta, que llama el ´descendiente´. Esto, el tercero ángulo de la carta, tiene que ver con el servicio a otras personas, y las relaciones con amigos y enemigos a la vez. El sentido de responsabilidad en Egipto, entonces, tiene que ver con sus relaciones con otras países, y con sus propias ciudadanos. Además, Saturno es en el signo Libra, que tiene que ver con relaciones con otras también. Los dificultades con Egipto son sociales. Con la vuelta de Saturno, los cambios y preguntas de responsabilidad social es lo más importante. Durante los siguientes meses y años, mira los eventos de Egipto no enfocando en ´que está cambiando´, sino en ´quien está cambiando, o quien está cambiado y por qué´. La vuelta de Saturno es un proceso difícil, pero necesario. Hay muchos cambios en el horizonte...

Quiero estimular conversación y comentarios... ¿qué piensan uds.? Voy a hacer un esfuerzo a responder rápidamente y participar en sus reacciones.

Mundane Astrology- Egypt in 2011

The stereotype that Egyptians all ride around on camels and live near the pyramids is a lot like assuming all
British people ride around on sheep and live next to Stonehenge.

It's been a little while since my last post. I've done a lot of work on beer study, and I'll have a post soon about a couple new forthcoming beers. In the meantime, I'm trying something new- Old Mundane Astrology. In two different languages. I'm introducing a Spanish version of some of my posts, though they may be a little rough. If you're a Spanish speaker, feel free to correct me or comment in Spanish.

Egypt is in pretty bad shape. Thousands upon thousands of demonstrators have spent the past couple of weeks trying to oust president/dictator Mubarak. The government has since responded by paying people to fight against the protesters as "Pro-Mubarak Supporters." The economy and infrastructure of the country has ground almost to a halt, including one of their economic lifelines- tourism. A shockingly lengthy span of media attention has continued to cover the tireless protests. But the question on everyone's mind is: What will become of Egypt?

There's the possibility that Mubarak, despite his concessions to the protesters (including eliminating parts of the governing party and promising to not run in the next election) will wear down the protesters and not fulfill his promises. There's the possibility that the protesters will successfully oust Mubarak, though the problem of filling the government void is there. There's the possibility that Mubarak will be ousted, and despite the unanimous and democratic hopes of the protesters, a radical Islamist regime will take power, which could upset allied countries like Israel and the U.S. (as well as the Coptic Christian minority in Egypt). What's the outcome? We can get clues from examining the Aries Ingress Chart for Cairo, Egypt for this March. This is an old technique in Mundane Astrology (the astrology of politics, nations and world events) that basically paints the picture of the astrological "new year" (0 degrees of Aries, the Spring Equinox) for the location of the chart, in this case Egypt's capitol.

This is a bit of a rough copy, but you can see (after ample squinting?) at the top of the chart that the Moon and Saturn are conjunct the Midheaven, all in Libra. On the bottom of the chart, exactly opposing, are Mercury and Jupiter conjunct. Nearby are the Sun and Uranus, with Mars slightly behind. Pluto is on the very left, conjunct the Ascendant. A big, fat T-Square folks. My understanding of the focus of traditional Mundane Astrology is that it's based more on the houses of the chart, as well as the placement of the planets and their rulers (instead of the more popular evaluation of Natal Astrology using the attributes of different zodiac signs and their meaning in different houses). Here are the big players, a little condensed:

The Lights
Sun: the ruler
Moon: the populace
The Inner Planets
Mars: military, revolutions, violence. Venus: aesthetics, finances, economy. Mercury: communications, media.
The Outer Planets
Jupiter: Legal proceedings and ceremony. Saturn: traditions, elderly, responsibilities. Uranus: inventions, rebellions. Neptune: Fraud, charities, oil industry. Pluto: the "underworld" (scandal, mines, atomic power).

The Angles of the chart (Ascendant on left, IC, Descendant and Midheaven) represent the people and body of the country (1st); the history, weather and opposing government (4th); foreign affairs and politics (7th); and the ruling party and government or royalty (10th).

The placement of these planets can suggest the orientation of different groups or aspects of Egyptian society as this revolution unfolds. We see Saturn and the Moon at the top of the chart- an indication perhaps of the people, coupled with the traditions and support of the elderly (perhaps more quietly, being retrograde. Indeed, many of the protesters are young people, and the older population has continued to support the cause from their homes). Opposing this, however, is both the media and legal system. (Mercury and Jupiter, at the bottom of the chart). This could indicate the difficulty in balancing the possible new position of the people of Egypt with the everyday dealings of legality and communication. Not far off is the Sun (or ruler...), conjunct Uranus. What's he doing at the bottom of the chart...? This chart bears a shocking resemblance to a King of the Hill game, and it looks like the "ruler" has been knocked off, and the "people" have ascended to the position of power at the top.

Squaring these is Pluto- right on the "body" of Egypt (The Ascendant, 1st house cusp). What could be churning under the surface of Egypt, that the media and even the population of Egypt themselves don't know about? At least, not yet. Pluto's same themes of sudden, cathartic though difficult revelations applies in the world of Mundane Astrology as well-although being in the most physical part of the chart (the 1st house represents your physical body and presentation in Natal astrology, after all) Pluto's power may take a physical or environmental form.

For extra fun, let's take a look at Rulerships. Each planet is in a particular sign, and that sign in turn is ruled by a planet. If we take a look at that ruling planet, we can see a little deeper into what's going on with the planets we started with.

The guys at the top, Saturn and the Moon, are in Libra. Libra is ruled by Venus (money). Venus, in this chart, is in the 2nd house (economy). This indicates a double-dose of financial issues associated with those at the top of the chart, the people and their responsibilities.

Looking at the bottom of the chart, where Jupiter and Mercury are hanging out, we see that they are ruled by Aries. The Sun (ruler) is ruled by Aries, too. Aries is ruled by Mars (military). Mars, in turn, is hanging out in the 3rd house. Communication is the battlefield upon which so much of this struggle is being played. While this is obvious in the news, its importance is only encouraged more by Mars' position here. There is a strong military element to this axis of struggle that may continue to express itself more through media, communication, etc. than physical violence. Furthermore, this house "axis" of the 3rd and 9th deals with foreign countries as well. The 9th represents long-distance relationships (perhaps with countries such as the United States and Europe), while the 3rd represents relationships with neighbors (Israel?). It's not entirely clear who will support whom, or for what reasons. The concentration of planets in these two houses, however, clearly indicates the importance of foreign relations in this revolutionary process.

The mysterious stick in the gears, for me, is our last rulership: Pluto. Pluto is ruled by Capricorn, and Capricorn is ruled by Saturn (responsibility and tradition). Saturn, therefore, may somehow be linked (or even precipitate in some way?) whatever "underworld" energy this Pluto may have. Pluto, as the third leg of this T-Square orientation, is not completely clear yet. But then again, that's usually the point. Pluto doesn't play by the rules. It's secrets will get churned up soon, however, I'm sure.

This is nebulous, to be sure. Part of the challenge of Mundane Astrology is the great level of uncertainty. But following the big, guiding general themes can help get a better picture of the events as they unfold, and perhaps provide enough information to take a stab a what the future may hold. Here's my interpretation of what this chart means for the coming months:

The people of Egypt, through their personal strength and the support of several generations of citizens, keeps pressure on Mubarak, forcing him to leave power. There is a great challenge to maintain a balance of power in the country, even though the people are successful. Financial concerns dominate the responsibilities of this governmental shift (which makes sense after such a devastating time of an economy and tourist industry on-hold). Media, transportation and international attention also dominate the focus of the transitioning government. Different countries support different agendas for Egypt's future. International attention strongly influences the country's actions. Two possible outcomes, both linked to Pluto's mysterious placement on the Ascendant:

1. International participation helps to establish a new governmental system.
2. A currently unclear but growing underground interest in an Islamic republic develops in the void of the cooperative and stalwart protests that unfortunately have left massive economic problems in their wake. People's control of the government turns to a source of conservative tradition, with international ties and the potential to help the economy. In the sudden eruptions of change for which Pluto is famous, Egypt out of necessity goes from a state of transition to a conservative Islamic republic, transforming the entire body and people of the country.

A part of me is leaning towards the second option. Regardless of the outcome, the protests in Egypt have shown the world how people can gather together to resist a corrupt government, and organize themselves well enough to maintain that resistance- as well as the fact that social media has become an integral part of our changing world. Politics are ever changing, and Egypt may have tough times ahead, but we can all be inspired by these events. From the BBC, discussing the Government's scare tactics during the protests:

The fear recreated local communities in a city where people had adopted the Western urban trait of not having met the family living next door.

Walking around the city during curfew now means being stopped every 50 paces at vigilante checkpoints staffed by educated middle-class people, warming themselves from the winter chill by chopping up and burning the local police post.

One weary housewife, who was spending her nights in the street outside her home armed with her best kitchen carving knife, told me: "Someone, who if you saw them in the street you wouldn't know, you are now trusting to secure your family while you are protesting. This is amazing."

Links and sources: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12372421 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12394941 http://www.astrologyedmonton.com/article-ingresscharts.htm http://www.skyscript.co.uk/ingresses.html http://www.realitysandwich.com/what_egyptian_revolution_means

The day before Jupiter moves into Aries

Partially for fear of copyright problems, partially because I love Windows Paint and always will,
I bring you Drunken Astrology homebrewed artwork.

There's quite a bit of information out there about Jupiter moving into Aries. Moving from Pisces to Aries is a monumental transition in the Zodiac- Aries is the beginning of the circle, the Aries Point, the first degree. Pisces is mutable water, Aries is cardinal fire. Pisces is sometimes labeled as a martyr sign, while Aries is labeled as the brash, reckless pioneer. Jupiter is the "greater benefic" of ancient times, the sign of expansion, generosity, optimism and justice. Jupiter is typically not associated with generational trends- it has a pretty snappy 12 year orbit. The general rule with Jupiter is that it expands whatever it touches. This is not necessarily always a good thing. Limitations and reality checks (usually applied by something like Saturn) rain on the parade of pioneering, expanding energy that is Jupiter. However, without such limitations, things can expand out of control.

The unique aspect in the sky right now is Jupiter conjunct Uranus. Let me tell you, the club can't even handle Uranus right now. I see Uranus conjunct Jupiter as Mario eating a mushroom- all of a sudden he grows, and suddenly feels invincible and throws fireballs. The "fireballs" are gonna come from fiery Aries, first as Jupiter moves into Aries and then as Uranus follows suit in March. Uranus and Jupiter conjunct and then moving into Aries is an indicator of increased freedom, challenges to current power systems, and new ideas and creative developments. It's a call to action. You may recall that, during the Cardinal T-Square this past August, both of these planets were retrograde- turned around, driven into a more introspective state. Now they're full-speed ahead.

We do have the opportunity today, however, to look at the anaretic degree through which Jupiter is passing. Now I must give credit to my Mother, Nikki Davenport, who was the first person I heard use the idea of the anaretic degree, and I feel it's a very strong point. The anaretic degree is the last degree of a sign (29 degrees). It is a powerful culminating point for the energy of the sign, a critical and potentially uncomfortable point of increased energy. It demands attention in relation to the energies of the sign, almost (as I see it) one last chance to make sure you're all packed before moving to the next sign. Symbolically speaking, I feel that this is a particularly challenging demand in Pisces, where Jupiter is currently at.

Pisces, ruled by the dissolving waters of Neptune, does not provide the clear, cut-and-dried information and development provided by other signs (ask any Pisces who's trying to explain something clearly and is accused of being too "vague"...). The challenge of Pisces is that it opens (well, maybe washes away) the door to the metaphysical world, and it's not completely clear. In fact, the metaphysical waters can be awfully misleading. This is how Pisces can be associated with both spiritual insight and substance abuse. So, the challenge with "packing our bags" at 29 degrees of Pisces is that what we take with us and what we leave behind aren't going to be entirely clear. Gemini might have a nice list of what we have and what's still available to grab, Capricorn might have everything sorted and organized. But Pisces? It's just a mist, or a deep pool. We have to use our intuition to reach in and feel what we need to take with us into Aries.

So what can we intuitively take with us from Jupiter in Pisces today? More than anything, I would say compassion. Jupiter in Pisces expands our sympathy (perhaps for many empathy) for others. We can feel others more as Jupiter moves through Pisces, and in entering fiery Aries (which by nature cannot function if it concentrates on Piscean compassion) we need that empathy in our suitcases. As Jupiter and Uranus move into Aries, worldwide change may also get alot more physical. The line between Pisces and Aries is associated with the Ascendant of the chart, the beginning, the point of physical manifestation. This is a day to feel the expansion of our intuition, our global awareness, and our ability to sacrifice for the good of others. This global, compassionate intuition is what we need to reach through and grab out of the mist to take with us as Jupiter pulls us into Aries.

What should we leave behind? Well, this would be a good day to achieve a more responsible handle on any sort of alcohol* or drug use that's been challenging of late. Leave behind the fear that what you're working on may not manifest physically. Leave behind the comfort zone of mental retreat that Jupiter may have helped you build (I know I have one.) That's not to say don't meditate, don't introspect, don't go to that quiet place where you feel re-energized and renewed (do it, especially today). Just don't let yourself get stuck in your own head, especially with all the things in the world that are changing as Jupiter prepares to burst forth into Aries. Don't be afraid of taking action.

I love the Sabian Symbols. I can't remember if I've talked about them before. They are a list of images described through a series of channeled messages that took place in Balboa Park, San Diego in the early 20th century. Each degree of the zodiac received an image describing its importance through a particular image or symbol. They may seem frustratingly cryptic, but can be interpreted and applied to many things. They even mean different things to different people, but their significance can be helpful in interpreting astrological points. You always round up for the Sabian symbols, so we would look at 0 degrees of Aries for Jupiter today (at 29 degrees of Pisces). I included the symbol before as well, because I think both are important. Here's how I interpret them for the Jupiter ingress tomorrow:

29-30 Pisces: "A majestic rock formation resembling a face is idealized by a boy who takes it as his ideal of greatness, and as he grows up, begins to look like it."

This is one of my favorite symbols. It reminds me of Michelangelo, who they say had such a strong power of visualization that he saw his artwork in the rock upon which he worked, and simply freed it from the surrounding slab. Likewise, the 29th degree of Pisces represents the open door of visualization. When we are sensitive (like the young boy in the symbol), we can plant the seeds of what we want to manifest, whatever it may be. As we hold onto those seeds, the grow develop, to the point that we actually become the foundation that we have planted for ourselves. We have the opportunity to identify with that intuition, compassion and service and become those things.

0-1 Aries: "A woman just risen from the sea; a seal is embracing her."

From the watery depths of the Piscean sea, we burst forward into the real world. But we still have the knowledge and experience from that intuitive passage through the waters of Pisces (perhaps embodied by the seal). We are equipped, in this fresh start and point of manifestation, to use embrace we know and perceive.

What happened when Jupiter last popped into Aries? Well, it moved in for a few months this past summer. Though brief (it went retrograde and returned to Pisces, the moved forward again and is about to return), think about this summer and changes you saw or felt. Full speed ahead this time!

*by no means should we not indulge in a responsible amount of tall, frosty brew. Pisces is often associated with the adult beverage industry- and I've learned alot about beer that I'm hoping (hop-ing?) to keep sharing with you guys!

Keep checking back everyone, I got a bunch of stuff in the works- peak oil, the astrology of the world's beer regions, and Chiron.

Ophiuchus- the 13th Zodiac Sign astrologers already knew about

Forgive my quick reaction to the news:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/13/new-zodiac-sign-dates-oph_n_808567.html#s223863&title=kristin_leigh

A lot of you Sagittarians out there may be a little concerned about the "news" that there is a 13th Zodiac sign called Ophiuchus. Don't worry too much just yet!

This astronomer, Parke Kunkle, is just stirring up excitement and getting attention by proposing that our Zodiac is out of date and missing a sign. This, however, is nothing new, and I am adamant that this gentleman not take credit for something that astronomers and astrologers alike have studied for thousands of years. It's called the Procession of the Equinoxes.

The western zodiac was developed in ancient times in relation to where the chief constellations (or signs as we know them) were located in relation to the equinoxes and solstices of the year. Aries is associated with the spring equinox, Libra with the fall equinox, and everything else falls in between. This is the system that has been used, and continues to be used with great accuracy, in Western Astrology.

There is another system called the Sidereal zodiac, and this system accounts for the procession of the equinoxes. This term simply means that the signs of the zodiac have moved from their original placement thanks to a very slow rotation of the earth's orientation to the heavens. To get an idea of this, picture a top. You spin it, and it spins very quickly around the axis. This is the earth's rotation. But you may also notice the odd, much slower wobbling of the handle of the top. This same motion occurs with the earth, and it changes our orientation to these constellations. This Sidereal zodiac is used extensively in Indian Astrology, or Vedic Astrology. India has an ancient heritage of astronomical and astrological study, and this sidereal zodiac is in common use there today.

In addition, this 13th sign, Ophiuchus, has long been known by astronomers and astrologers alike. It's there, along with other constellations that litter the sky close to the ecliptic.

This is a little small, but this shows the ring, called the ecliptic, which is essentially the path the sun takes around the heavens. The constellations closest to this line were associated with the even division in ancient times of the ecliptic path into the twelve different sections of the Zodiac. The constellations are by no means neatly cut into perfectly even 30 degree sections (just take a close look at this picture, you see that Leo is walking on the ecliptic, Cancer's got one claw on it, Pisces is sort of snagged on it, etc.). Rather, they are associations based upon their proximity to a mathematical division of the sky, based upon the four points of the Spring and Fall equinox and Winter and Summer solstices. This association has been long studied, and long used, with great accuracy. In Sidereal astrology, the shifting forward of this same division to keep up this association with the processed position of the constellations today has been used as a different system with great success in its own right.

Whoever wrote this paragraph on Wikipedia sums it up pretty well:

"A small number of sidereal astrologers (such as Walter Berg) wish to include other constellations, such as Ophiuchus, in their zodiac and use 13 signs instead of 12. While Ptolemy noted that Ophiuchus is in contact with the ecliptic, he was aware that the twelve signs were just conventional names for 30 degrees segments (especially since the Aries sign had ceased to be in contact with the Aries constellation already in his time).
For the purpose of determining the constellations in contact with the ecliptic, the constellation boundaries as defined by the International Astronomical Union in 1930 are used. For example, the Sun enters the IAU boundary of Aries on April 19 at the lower right corner, a position that is still rather closer to the "body" of Pisces than of Aries. Needless to say, the IAU defined the constellation boundaries without consideration of astrological purposes."

Those 30 degrees segments are what we base astrology on, and they are just as meaningful today as when they were developed by the Babylonians thousands of years ago. The dates, if you compare the IAU's determinations to the dates given by Kunkle, are basically the same. Much like the Babylonians made their conventions in ancient times, Astronomers made similar conventions of how they saw the Zodiac in 1930. And it doesn't have anything to do with traditional western astrology.

So Sagittarians- don't let some astronomer from Minnesota tell you what your zodiac sign is. Ophiuchus has many interesting ramifications that you can study in relation to your chart (and I'd be happy to point you in the right direction about what you could study in relation to it), but so do other stars that don't fit in the zodiac signs. There's nothing wrong with Ophiuchus. But nothing has changed! There's no new discoveries here! You're still a Sagittarius!

If only it wasn't so early (and I had to go to work)... I'd drown my frustration in a hearty winter brew of some sort. Say what you will about Minnesota astronomers- but they sure have some great beers up there!

The return of the Celebrity Sun Sign Series: Mao Zedong

The communist legacy of Mao Zedong... or how to trim your beard in installments

It's been a few months since I posted about someone for the Celebrity Sun Sign Series here. We're still in the sign of Capricorn (we actually just had a partial solar eclipse yesterday in the sign of Capricorn, which generally indicates a time of new ventures and building new structures within the framework of Capricorn (career, resources, the earth and practical matters, professional life, etc.) We discussed a little about Capricorn during the creation of the unfortunately Robitussin-esque gruit ale, but just to overview the energies of Capricorn again:

Capricorn is associated with winter, and (for the Northern Hemisphere at least) the period in which the sun's warmth and light are farthest away. This is a strong archetypal description of Capricorn, with it's practicality, no-frills earthiness and professionalism. It is a sign associated with ambition and responsibility, of doing what needs to be done with tenacity that often borders upon stubbornness and coldness. This description fits well with an infamous but perhaps poorly understood social revolutionary- Mao Zedong.

Mao Zedong, like Che Guevara, has an instantly recognizable face- but thankfully one that is not so readily available on kids' t-shirts at your local Hot Topic (an agonizing issue I don't even want to get started on). You may recognize his giant visage hanging up in Tienanmen Square:

A sense of conflict between China and the Imperialist West first came to a strong peak in the Opium Wars of the mid 1800's, the same time period that Neptune was discovered and moved into Pisces, a period in which Opium drama such as that in China increased. Trade disputes involving the Opium trade (which the Qing Dynasty sought to prohibit) eventually led to two wars, both of which China lost. In the wake of the first of these wars, Britain took control of Hong Kong and gained new trade rights, along with charging the Qing Dynasty millions of dollars in reparations. This, along with the second opium war, destabilized the Qing Dynasty, and contributed to its collapse in 1912 when Mao Zedong was a young man. Mao Zedong grew up in a poor peasant family in Hunan province, though his father eventually gained more financial security as a grain dealer. His heritage is fitting as a Capricorn, in that his climb up the hill of success did not begin as easily as it could, and indeed his long struggle to achieve success would require tenacity in the face of hardship.

Mao graduated from school in Hunan, and attended Peking University, where he was introduced to the Communist Party of China. In his earthy, Capricornian practicality, Mao was concerned with labor struggles and the issues of land and resources in the powerfully disparate landscape of feudal, imperial China. Capricorn, as a Cardinal sign, adds an element of assertion where fixed and mutable signs may be more passive. Mao was adamant that radical revolution was necessary for the people of China.

"Revolution is not a dinner party, nor an essay, nor a painting, nor a piece of embroidery; it cannot be advanced softly, gradually, carefully, considerately, respectfully, politely, plainly, and modestly. A revolution is an insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows another."

– Mao Zedong

This quote may sound more like the stereotypical Aries energy of "Shoot first, ask questions later" than the reservation and conservative nature associated with Capricorn. However, this strong statement shows Mao Zedong's commitment to action without compromise, his determination to build the structure of a new government. His conservative nature is evident in his fun-free determination to achieve. And achieve he did...

Mao and the Communist Party of China began to expand in the 30's and 40's, and soviet strength grew in China. The US- backed president of China at the time, Chiang Kai-Shek, and the Kuomintang (the party in power at the time) began to forcefully resist this growing communist strength. Eventually, however, Chiang Kai-Shek and the government forces were defeated, and he retreated to Taiwan. In 1949, Mao Zedong became Chairman Mao of the newly formed People's Republic of China.

The ambition and professional achievement of Capricorn can sometimes lead to a sense of coldness or lack of emotion. This analysis may be a good description for the following period of Mao Zedong's leadership. Following the establishment of the PRC, Mao Zedong implemented sweeping land reforms, executing wealthy land-owners as examples and redistributing lands to the poor. In addition, former officials of the Kuomintang as well as many intellectuals and former employees of western companies were killed. An estimated MILLION people were killed in the land reforms, 800,000 in the "Campaign to Suppress Counterrevolutionaries".

Mao further attempted to keep an iron fist on insurgency through his "Anti-3/Anti-5 Campaign", in which people were encourage to root out anyone suspected of political dissent. He also put down the Kuomintang Islamic Insurgency in 1953, an attempt by former members of Chiang Kai-Shek's government to lead Muslim Chinese against the Communists. Mao Zedong tolerated none of this. In his characteristic no-frills style, he also during this time implemented a new Simplified Character Chinese alphabet that reduced the number of strokes and details in written Chinese in an attempt to increase literacy. Through help from the Soviet Union, the PRC established heavier industrial development. Shortly thereafter, Mao Zedong implemented what is perhaps his most infamous program- the sadly ironic "Great Leap Forward".

In opposition to the more heavily industrial economy of Soviet Russia that many of his comrades supported, Mao foresaw an economy based on agricultural strength as well. To implement this, he formed "People's Communes", basically consolidating the disparate rural agriculture of China and forcing peasants to contribute to these, as well as small-scale metal production. Several factors combined in this instance- the use of new unscientific agricultural systems in the communes, reduced incentives for individuals, and the culture of fear of being "purged" for dissent amongst officials in the party. This combination lead to a drop in grain production while at the same time scared party members exaggerated the quantity of grain being produced in different areas, leading to a larger proportion being taken from rural areas and allotted to urban areas and export. No food was left, and between 1959 and 1962, 30 MILLION PEOPLE STARVED. It was the largest famine in human history. Imagine if the Jewish Holocaust happened 5 times in a row. Historians disagree as to whether or not Chairman Mao knew about these circumstances...

Mao Zedong died in 1976, ending a very uncomfortable few decades of rapid change, seen by some as very positive and others as very negative. In any case, China would never be the same again.

Mao Zedong also developed a bit of an odd "Personality Cult". People began to put his picture everywhere, carry a book of quotations by him, etc. In some ways, he is viewed with an aura of superhuman power. The cool, confident air of godliness is, perhaps, a trait shared by many of the more well-known Capricorns, such as Elvis, Cary Grant, or (perplexingly) Rush Limbaugh. While I feel I can say without political bias that spewing unmitigated hate on the air is disgusting, Rush Limbaugh is loved by many, much as these other famous people, or Mao Zedong himself. Being good or bad doesn't necessarily dictate either success OR how much one is adored. Capricorn is a sign that can achieve, good or bad. Whatever it may be, Capricorn gets it done. Period.

Fun times with Chairman Mao! Hope you guys enjoyed this post- look forward to another post soon about Neptune and Oil.