A joint publication of: Astro Logos and Zyntara Publications

  

ISSUE NO. 2

February 2005

The VAN is a free monthly electronic newsletter
dedicated to promoting awareness of the sky.

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    The Moon and the Gathering of Kings  
    Condoleezza Rice - Mars rising on the back of Capricorn  
   

VAN Archive - www.Zyntara.com

 
   
 
    Introduction  
       
   

Firstly, thank you to all those who have emailed us with such enthusiasm for the idea of this newsletter. We are passionate about this subject, so it is a joy to know that other astrologers also love the sky. If you missed out on the first edition of this newsletter you can find it archived on the Starlight website - www.Zyntara.com. Each month after the release of the newsletter it will be uploaded to the website so that we can all look back over past editions.

This month the newsletter examines the current unfolding imagery in the night sky and attempts to place some meaning on this narrative, as well as the sky at the birth of Condoleezza Rice. As we let go of the safety of the horoscope and train our eyes and our minds to embrace the whole panorama of the night sky, there will be many questions and most of these may go unanswered but at least we will endeavour to place them on the table of astrological discussion. As time passes, we will also re-examine the predictions made in this newsletter in the light of hindsight in order to learn more about this subject.

This is an exciting month for watchers of the sky as the Moon is approaching a major standstill (in 2006) and, in doing so, it will rise to an extraordinarily high altitude at a key moment in the story of kings.

The Moon, and the Gathering of Kings.  
Bernadette Brady

This is the story of the Gathering of Kings. It is a story that has slowly been unfolding in our sky over the last year and in this coming month one of the key moments of the story is emphasised. It is a pattern we have seen only twice before in recent history - once in the summer of 1914; and again in late 1945, both of these being interesting times.

So to our story. Saturn is currently turning around in the stars of the twins (or, in modern horoscopic language, Saturn is retrograde at about 150 - 250 Cancer). Now according to letters from Mesopotamian astrologers, Saturn is the planet of the king and thus its activity of turning amongst any stars was - and still is - of great interest to sky-watching astrologers. Therefore we can read its turning amongst the stars of Gemini as more than just one king. We can read this as two kings joining together or a group of kings in concert with one another.  

Now the action of “kings” coming together in this manner will happen every twenty-nine years as Saturn passes through the zodiac sign of Cancer and thus the stars of Gemini. Yet Saturn passing through this part of the sky is simply laying down the first part of the story. For as Saturn has been in this position, it has also been squaring Jupiter. Jupiter is currently extremely bright in our evening sky and, also retrograde, has been turning around near the beautiful star Spica in Virgo.

This pattern of Saturn and Jupiter has not been seen in the sky since late 1945 - 1946 coinciding with the end of the WWII and the formation of the United Nations.  

In Mesopotamian philosophy, Jupiter is classed as a force separate to the king, one which is capable of overpowering the king. If, for example, it turns in the stars of Leo, then the king will be overthrown. Jupiter is therefore the "Crown Prince" or foreign king or general who can gain the throne. A bright Jupiter harbingers a threat to the kingdom, a challenge to the establishment. However, this Jupiter is amongst the stars of Virgo and close to the brilliant star Spica and these parts of the sky are linked with harmony and gifts.

So this particular sky narrative may be a story about a "Crown Prince" who will take or secure a title in a peaceful manner, by agreement from the kings or gathering of kings. This story has been building in the sky for the last few months and will continue to do so until early June, 2005, but it is in this month of February that the Moon adds a most important comment, heralding the arrival of the peaceful "Crown Prince" between now and early June when Jupiter turns direct.

To understand how the Moon adds to this story, we need to take a step back and look at a basic rhythm that the Moon performs every month. This rhythm is neither the rhythm of its phases, nor of its aspects. It is another rhythm: that of the pathway it takes through the sky, night after night.

 The moon in the northern hemisphere starts its cycle by rising in the south-east. When it rises from this position, it will only gains a small amount of altitude before it falls to earth again. (This is the dotted red line in the diagram which happens every month when the Moon is in the sign of Capricorn). The next night it will rise a little closer to due east and it will rise a little higher in the sky. It then sets a little further towards due west. Every night its arc moves. Half-way through this rhythm it rises close to due east, sweeps a “middling” arch through the sky and then sets close to due west. (This is the white line in the diagram which happens every month when the Moon is in Aries or Libra). After this the Moon begins its time of high-flying. Every day it keeps rising further towards the north and each time it climbs higher and higher in the sky. (This is the yellow line in the diagram which happens every month when the Moon is in Cancer). Eventually it turns in its rising position and repeats the whole cycle again.  

The diagram is the monthly rhythm of the Moon as it sweeps its arch through the sky. For the northern hemisphere, if the Moon is in Capricorn, then it is low in the sky and in the south. In Aries or Libra it rises and climbs to its “middling” height; and when in Cancer, it rises further around to the north-east and  climbs much higher in the sky before setting in the north-west. [For the southern hemisphere reverse the signs of Cancer and Capricorn and swap north and south.]

So what has this to do with our sky story?

Well, if you were a sky-watcher, you would know the pathways of the Moon, how high the Moon could reach in the sky and the nature of this rhythm.

But on the 19th February, 2005, a new dynamic is added to the sky story. The Moon will leave its well-trodden path and climb higher in the sky than normal. It will be in Cancer, so we know it will gain its highest altitude. It will also have a northern declination of 270 43’ (technically called "out of bounds") meaning it will be pushed higher above the ecliptic. What we will see is that the Moon will trace an arc through the sky climbing very high, and as it does so, it joins with Saturn (the king) and dares to rise above him, passing over the top of Saturn as Jupiter rises brightly in the east with Spica.
 

The above sky map (from Starlight) is for the evening of 19th February, 2005, for the northern hemisphere. A bright Jupiter rises with Spica (bottom left, the black rim is the line of the horizon) as well as the Chalice (Crater the cup) - next along the horizon to the right - as the Moon “breaks free” from her pathway and climbs higher (660 of altitude) and passes over the top of Saturn in the stars of Gemini.  

The last time the Moon climbed above Saturn in the stars of Gemini (The Gathering of Kings) was the summer of 1914. At that time Mars was eclipsing Regulus, the Heart of the Lion, and thus the rage of hostility overcame the kings of Europe and filled their eyes with the blood of war. This was, of course, the commencement of WWI. 

If you own Starlight, have a quick look at the sky map for 23rd June, 1914. It is a powerful lesson on the role of sky omens for astrologers. Thankfully there is no Mars in this latest event. The Gathering of Kings which is being overshadowed is by a "Crown Prince" who gains power by consensus. The harmony and peacefulness of Virgo is the major statement in this pattern and it describes the quality of the force which is overpowering the gathering of kings.

There are several meanings we can link to this. Firstly, it may mean nothing at all. We may just enjoy a lovely visual of a high Moon climbing above Saturn followed by Jupiter rising with Spica. Or we can probe the meaning of the sky story and ask questions of this sky. Such questions are:

Will there be a Gathering of Kings?
Will there be a special meeting of the UN?
Will there be a gathering of the College of Cardinals in Rome due to the death of the Pope?
Will a crown be handed to a Crown Prince, officially or unofficially?

These are the questions in my mind as the sky sets the stage for this event to unfold any time between now and early June, 2005, when Jupiter finally goes direct. We have not had such a sky story since 1914.

Finally there is one other question we can ask: what will this say about any child born on this night in the northern hemisphere? For in their horoscope it will simply look like they have a Moon-Saturn conjunction when actually they have a great sky story. Watch the Moon on the 19th. I will be.

 

Condoleezza Rice - Mars rising on the back of Capricorn
A Case Study - Darrelyn Gunzburg

On 16th November, 2004, President Bush named his national security adviser, Dr Condoleezza Rice, as successor to Colin L. Powell in the role of secretary of state. Rice was sworn into office on 20th January 2005. I thought it might be interesting to have a look at one of the aspects that indicates ambition and prominence in Rice’s chart through the lens of the Fixed Stars in order to gain an understanding of how she may handle this position over the next 4 years.

Mars square Sun-Venus

Prominent in Rice’s natal chart * is Mars rising in Aquarius in the first house in the same sign as the Ascendant. It squares a Sun-Venus conjunction in Scorpio in the 10th house conjunct the MC. The Mars as the dispositor of the Sun-Venus thus receives them both - they both have reception from the Mars - making this even stronger. Mars also rules the MC (by old rulership) and the 3rd house. The Sun rules the 7th house and Venus rules the IC and the 9th house.

Now a natal interpretation of this would read how steady (fixed square) hard work and effort (angular Sun-Mars) would allow the angular Sun in the 10th house to gain her prominence in the community through her career (Sun in the 10th house/Mars ruling the 10th house) and with the help of a business partner or intimate relationship (Sun rules the 7th house); and how family support (Venus rules the IC) and a tertiary education (Venus rules the 9th house) would allow her intellectual creativity to flourish (angular Venus in Scorpio square Mars in Aquarius).

But added to this already hefty mix are the following empowering stars :

Mars in paran with Sadalmelek
Starlight says of this star and planet combination:
A person who makes their own luck; auspicious events follow concentrated effort.

It is no surprise to read in her biography that Rice was a piano prodigy at age 3, graduated college at age 19, became a college professor at age 26, a senior White House advisor at the age of 34 and provost of Stanford University at the age of 36. Sadalmelek is also known as the Lucky Star of the King and now she definitely has the ear of the king.   

Rice also has the following star active  

The Sun in paran with Regulus

Starlight says of this star and planet combination:
To receive honours and awards, provided one avoids matters of vengeance.

This star-planet combination suggests that Rice will always be placed in positions of prominence, for now we can see that she not only has her Sun conjunct the MC but that is also in paran with Regulus.

However, it also issues a warning: Rice must never, ever take revenge, for if she succumbs to the notion of vengeance, then she loses all that she has gained. For Regulus is a Royal Star of Persia. It promises great success but only as long as she can keep a cool head on her shoulders – a difficult request from an intense, obsessive and ambitious Sun in Scorpio in the 10th house.

This is a fascinating insight in itself but it becomes even more so when we look at the actual sky itself.

The Sky Story for the day of her birth

The sky had Mars being carried on the back of Capricornius, the Sea Goat. This would not have been visible at the exact time of her birth as she was born during the day. However, Starlight considers the patterns across the first 24 hours of life and Capricornius, carrying her Mars on its back, would have been visible in the western part of the sky from around 6:00 pm until 10:00 pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starlight gives us the background to this Sea Goat:

“Ea (the Sea Goat) was the protector of his people and from his place in the sky, the great rivers flowed, giving life. Periodically he would rise from these waters, take on human form and teach the people the knowledge they needed for civilisation. He was another Osiris-type of god: caring, educating and civilising…. “

So here is one of her angular planets, Mars, her motivation, her drive, her anger and her libido, being carried on the back of the one who educates and teaches, clearly expressed when Rice worked in the academy.

However, Capricornius also expresses that extraordinary phenomenon of society, the scapegoat. 

Starlight goes on to say: 

“The early Jews considered the goat sacred and a saviour. Every year the sins of the people would be placed on the head of a goat which would then be killed or hunted. The sacrifice of the goat was seen as a way of being absolved from sin and from this practice comes the concept of the scapegoat.” 

We know that Rice was raised as part of the rigidly-segregated black middle class of Birmingham, Alabama. As a people, African-Americans themselves are one of the holders of the scapegoat complex in society, so by her very background Rice is expressing that aspect of  Mars caught on the scapegoat’s back.

However, one can also question whether the scapegoat is still prominent in her life with the dance the USA plays with terrorism today? And if so, with such an empowered Sun-Mars and with Rice in such an obvious position of power, will she be able to resist taking revenge?

Rice has the following star active when she is in her Prime:

Mars with Alderamin

Starlight says of this star and planet combination:
To seek or be a leader of a noble cause; to play the game with dignity

There is no doubt that all of this is unfolding in Rice’s life and it will be interesting to see how life offers her the opportunity to take revenge and how she handles that in her position as secretary of state.

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 * The source of her birth data comes from Astro Data Bank. Approximate time deduced from a biography by Antonia Felix, "Condi: The Condoleezza Rice Story," Newmarket Press, NY, 2002, p. 36, "Condi was born on a Sunday morning while her father was leading the eleven o'clock service at Westminster…. On November 14, 1954, Angelena (her mother) gave birth to a girl, and she named her Condoleezza."

 


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