MANIFESTATION OF PLUTO: NEWTOWN

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Eric Francis has posted the noon birth chart of Adam Lanza, the twenty year old who gunned down twenty-six people last week, and there, at the November 13, 2012 solar eclipse degree of 21°57 Scorpio is Adam's natal Pluto at 22°6 Scorpio. As the late Robert Blaschke has said: solar eclipses are malefic. The eclipse stimulated Adam’s Pluto (natally trine Mars and sextile a partile conjunction of Uranus and Neptune), and last week when transiting Mars cast a sextile to the eclipse degree and the transiting North Node, he grabbed his weapons. In addition, transiting Uranus was conjunct natal Mercury at the North Bending of the natal nodes, trine transiting Mercury, when something in his brain, snapped. Given the involvement of transiting Neptune, psychotropic drugs may have been involved.

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            It is important to remember that the speed of the nodes is extremely variable. Their movement slows as an eclipse approaches and they can remain in a single degree for two months. For example, at the November 13^th eclipse, the transiting North Node was at 26°3 Scorpio, and it stood at this degree throughout October and November. In early December, the node entered 25° degrees, and by January it will be at 24°. By then it will have picked up speed and will cover 8° by April. At this time, it will slow again in advance of the May 10, 2013 solar eclipse at 19° Taurus. Because of this variable speed, any planet near an eclipse degree can be doubly activated. The planet is first thrown into crisis by the eclipse, and then stimulated for a prolonged length of time by the transiting node. For Adam, with the transiting North Node conjoined (3° degrees) his eclipse-activated natal Pluto, what he expressed outwardly was the archetypal energy of the dark planet.

What a sad statement of our society that this troubled twenty year-old youth felt so disconnected from others that this was his answer to whatever was disturbing him. If Pluto symbolizes the personal unconscious, that part of our psyche that is irrational, cruel, heartless, resentful, and raging, which ‘normal’ people manage to lock up and safely contain, well his materialized and broke free last Friday morning. The carnage was from Pluto, unleashed in the outer world. 

HILLARY AND THE VENUS-NORTH NODE CONJUNCTION

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Last week, Venus conjoined the North Node and two powerful women made news. The first was Hillary Clinton, preparing to end her term as Secretary of State amidst wild speculation she will run in 2016 for president. According to a Bloomberg National Poll published the day of the conjunction, 70% of Americans have a ‘mostly or favorable view of Clinton.’ Since Venus symbolizes a woman, the North Node indicates physical manifestation, and Scorpio represents power, that a powerful woman would make news was not too startling.

            But why Hillary?

The transiting conjunction provides no context, which is only obtained through the interactions of the transits with the natal chart. So, I was surprised to see the transiting North Node and Venus conjunct the natal South Node. Hillary was having a half-nodal return, a time when the North and South nodes exchange notes about the manifest and unmanifest realms. Since the transits activate the nativity, with the South Node stimulated, I was expecting some manner of loss. Typically, no matter how spiritual the South Node may be, its activation almost always coincides with suffering or loss. Yet, what was expressed here was high standing and professional accolades. This was doubly puzzling since the transiting North Node was square natal Saturn at the transiting South Bending, further suggesting some outward loss for Saturn (standing, authority). Nonetheless, here she was, practically being elected president four years in advance (transiting Venus-North Node trine natal Moon). I interpreted the meaning of the natal South Node as service; she is sacrificing herself for the country.

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            However, yesterday, news surfaced that at the ‘beginning of the week’ (likely Monday or Tuesday, December 10-11), Clinton picked up a stomach virus, became severely dehydrated, fainted and suffered a concussion. As a result she would be unable to testify on the Hill this week about the Benghazi attacks. On Monday December 10, 2012, transiting Venus was at 23°27 Scorpio, in partile conjunction with her natal South Node (applying 7'), conjunct the Ascendant, natal Mercury, progressed Chiron, and square natal Saturn. Here was an unhappy loss (Venus conjunct the natal South Node) from a manifest (North Node) head (first house) wound (Chiron) that negatively affected her health (Venus ruling the 6^th), left her unconscious (natal Mercury in the 12^th) and unable to fulfill her professional duties (Saturn at the transiting South Bending).

            What of the other woman? Read on…

SUSAN RICE AND THE VENUS-NORTH NODE CONJUNCTION

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On Thursday, December 13, 2012, one day after the partile conjunction of transiting Venus and the North Node, Susan Rice withdrew her candidacy for Secretary of State amidst the political brouhaha over the Benghazi attack. In Republican circles, she has been widely criticized, particularly by Senator John McCain, for reiterating White House talking points on the Sunday morning news shows. Pundits have opined that his wrath is a response to her aggressive stance against him in the run-up to the 2008 election when she campaigned for Obama.

            As is too often the case, Susan has no recorded birth time. In these instances, a fountain of information can be gleaned from the nodes. Natally, Mercury rules the North Node, and Jupiter rules the South Node. This year, progressed Mercury will conjunct the progressed South Node, an indication of some manner of loss for Mercury. On Thursday the transiting Sun was conjunct this pair, activating the aspect. As a result of misinformation, received and delivered, she withdrew her name from consideration(Mercury ruling the North Node outwardly expressing the loss of the South Node).

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Meanwhile, the transiting Venus-North Node conjunction was conjunct the natal Sun. A repetition of aspects is a signal to pay attention: something important is happening. (Here the combination was between the Sun and a node). The natal Sun is square Saturn in Aquarius that was at the transiting North Bending. What appears to have materialized in Susan’s life was John McCain’s heavy hand of authority: he did not appreciate her power (or sincerely believes she has used it inappropriately – transiting Venus in detriment in Scorpio). In addition, the White House that provided the talking points, did little to support her (Saturn square Sun). Realizing her own weak position, Susan decided not to pursue a higher position of responsibility. Although the houses would shed further light on the circumstances, the nodes and the planets conjunct and square them, often supply sufficient information to tell the story.  

THE NEWTOWN MASSACRE

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The event chart of the elementary school shootings that killed twenty young children and six adults highlights the nodal axis and the South Node ruler. At 9.40 a.m., the time CNN reported the shooting began, the transiting North Node was conjunct the event MC. As I describe in my book, the angles and the nodes are astronomically – and astrologically – similar. I envision the angles and nodes as windows that allow the entrance of the astrological energy that brings aspecting planets to life. With the node and the MC together, the window is broad, and the incoming force is all the more powerful.

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            In the event chart, Venus, the ruler of the South Node was conjunct the North Node. In Scorpio, the planet of happiness, relationship, and love, is in detriment and more likely to express negatively. Since planets conjunct the North Node manifest outwardly, and the South Node ruler is typically related to loss, sacrifice, or sorrow, this was what Venus brought to bear to a children’s school on a cold December day: heartache, sadness, and loss of love.

            Pluto, ruler of the North Node, was in a yod with Saturn and Jupiter. Pluto is currently in partile sextile to Saturn and the planets are in mutual reception; both were quincunx Jupiter, debilitated by sign and retrogradation. The configuration was activated by the Moon, which had just left the degree of the apex planet, Jupiter, and its conjunction to Pluto. I view yods as a frustrating combination of energy that has no resolution. This yod expressed in the irrational actions of a twenty-year-old with assault weapons, and helpless children and teachers with no avenue of escape. The configuration describes the outward manifestation of terror and death to innocent children in an environment under the control of authority and typically assumed to be safe.

            Mercury in detriment in Sagittarius is also significant as it is in the degree of its first station on November 6, 2012 – a degree activated by the station. Mercury was opposite the November 28^th lunar eclipse degree of 6°47 Gemini, while the debilitated Jupiter was conjunct it. A lunar eclipse denotes culmination and events that unfold quickly and have far-reaching effects.

            I suspect that when the birth data of the shooter (and victims) are known, that the eclipse degree, nodes and yod will contact significant points in natal charts. Until then, the investigation continues, and a heartbreaking weekend ten days before Christmas unfolds without twenty children and six teachers who leave behind presents under joyless trees and loved ones asking ‘why’? 

THE RULERS CONNECT A THIRD TIME

Since the nodes regressed into Scorpio (North Node) and Taurus (South Node) on August 19, 2012, the rulers (Venus and Pluto) have made two contacts (see posts October 31st and November 21st). Each time there was news about the U.S. presidential election (including the attack in Benghazi), extreme weather, and conflict in the Middle East. On November 28th, an hour after the Lunar Eclipse, the two planets perfected their third aspect – a waning sextile (8° Scorpio to 8° Capricorn) and I expected these three areas would make headlines again. I was not disappointed.
        Astrologically, Venus was in detriment in Scorpio, Pluto’s sign, and separating from a conjunction with Saturn; while Mars and Pluto were in partile conjunction in Capricorn, in mutual reception with Saturn. The Lunar Eclipse at 6°46 Gemini, activated the sextile and formed a yod with the Moon at the apex. The yod is called the finger of god, and considered an aspect of fate. In my mind this is because the aspect indicates a situation that is out of your hands: you’re backed into a corner with no way out and you have to take whatever is handed to you. Here, with the apex planet in an opposition there is an outlet – the Sun in Sagittarius – suggesting a higher ground, a new tack is possible for the taking. Nonetheless, the energy remains combative and antagonistic.

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Given this astrology, what happened during the week (I generally look within three days either side of the exact aspect). On Tuesday, November 27th, Susan Rice, the U.N. Ambassador, headed to the Hill for a private meeting with Senator McCain and other disgruntled Republican leaders about the terrorist attack in Benghazi that led to the death of the Libyan Ambassador and three other Americans. The meeting settled nothing and left Senator Lindsey Graham “more disturbed now than I was before.” It would appear a new line has been drawn in the sand between the White House and Republican adversaries.

 Two days later, on Thursday, November 29th, a day after the aspect perfected, the President had lunch with his former opponent, Mitt Romney. The men shook hands, then lunched on turkey chili and grilled chicken salad. Here was a Full Moon culmination, a bitter loss for one, a triumphant win for another. Later that same day, in New York City, at the U.N., Palestine was granted non-member observer status, an upgrade that will provide more legal avenues for Hamas to address Palestinian grievances. This rebuke to the U.S. and Israel suggests a small shift in the balance of power in the Middle East. Also, November 29th was the one month anniversary of Hurricane Sandy. Tens of thousands of people were displaced by the storm, and the extensive cleanup is ongoing. Those affected are now rebuilding, and facing the power of big insurance. People are becoming increasingly upset as promised help is slow to arrive, and insurance companies are denying payouts. This is what they do. As occurred after Hurricane Katrina, insurance companies safeguard their profit, and later raise premiums to recoup losses, with the government powerless to intervene. Here may be another reset — perhaps enough people will say no — we will not put up with this. In summary, it would appear that at the closing sextile, there was closure on some fronts. One man won a new presidential term, another man conceded defeat. In an endless conflict, one country made strides toward legitimacy. But new battle lines were drawn. What will be the fall-out from Benghazi? What will happen when insurance companies flex their might and close their checkbooks?

 There is an astrological question too. How significant are minor aspects? The semi-sextile between Venus and Pluto will occur on December 24, 2012. At this time will a thread from these themes emerge in the news once more? I will be watching closely to see if there is development along these lines. On January 17, 2013, the two nodal rulers conjunct, indicating the start of a new cycle. Is the old cycle buried and put to rest, or will old conflicts re-emerge? Watch the news the week of January 14-20 for headlines that describe the Capricorn conjunction. These themes are certain to reoccur as the nodal rulers realign and sequentially make contact during the following year – up until February 19, 2014, when the nodal axis regresses into Libra-Aries.