SNOWDEN AND SNOOPING AT THE NSA

On June 5, 2013, information about a top-secret government data collection program was leaked by a 29-year-old NSA contractor and published by the Washington Post and The Guardian. Edward Snowden is currently on the lam after fleeing to Hong Kong and then Russia in attempt to evade the long arm of U.S. justice, which considers him a traitor and a danger to national security.

            Snowden is a whistle-blower and his act of civil disobedience was designed to expose a clandestine program that deserves public debate. “This is what is happening,” Snowden said. “You (American people) should decide whether we need to be doing this.” It’s a valid point.   

            The astrology of this story is fascinating. Eric Francis obtained a copy of Snowden’s birth certificate and the natal chart is shown below (Chart 1). If we focus on the nodes, they clearly describe the motive, circumstance, and timing of the leak. Natally, Snowden’s North Node is in Gemini conjunct Mars (within 1°) and the Sun (widely at 4°). Although the two bodies reside in the 1^st house and are therefore able to act, they are far from the cusp, which decreases this capability. However, since the North Node behaves—actually is—an angle, the energy of both Mars and Sun is easily expressed outwardly and he is able to act with willful purpose. Snowden sees himself (Sun) as a fighter (Mars) and his weapon is information (Gemini). The ruler of the North Node is Mercury, conjunct the Ascendant and ruling the chart. This is a doubly powerful Mercury, strong in its own sign, and contributing intelligence and a propensity to gather information. Despite a lack of formal education, Snowden was a well-paid computer expert who dealt with data.

Chart 1 (click to enlarge)

            The South Node is in the 7^th house in Sagittarius conjunct Neptune, and Snowden martyred himself, sacrificing his life by leaking what he viewed as a necessary truth. Jupiter, the South Node ruler, brought both loss and service. In  the 6^th, conjunct Uranus, and ruling the 7^th, through his daily work with software, he accessed (unspecified) data, which he leaked in the interest of a higher good,  and in so doing,  invited open enemies into his life.  

            Snowden is of the generation with Saturn conjunct Pluto in Libra, sextile Neptune in Sagittarius, which reflects his utopian vision of an accountable, transparent government that has an open relationship (Libra) with the truth (Sagittarius). He is both willing to fight for this (Sun, Mars trine Saturn-Pluto) and sacrifice himself for it (Neptune sextile Saturn-Pluto).  

            The timing of the leak (Chart 2) is related to the Lunar Eclipse on May 25, 2013 at 3°58 conjunct natal Jupiter (the South Node ruler). The time came to release his secret knowledge to the world  On the day of the leak (June 5, 2013), a grand cross had formed, with transiting Mars opposite the eclipse degree at 3°43, transiting Neptune square the eclipse degree at 5°22, and progressed Venus square it at 6°19. Mars activated the eclipse, and information was leaked that compromised Snowden’s happiness and left him in limbo (Neptune), ultimately without a country to call home; he is in a tight place, backed against a corner, with limited options. Transiting Jupiter (carrying the energy of natal South Node ruler) was conjunct natal Mars and the North Node, an indication that Snowden’s act was conducted for what he believed would be the greater good. The transiting North Node was conjunct the natal Moon in Scorpio, further describing the release of secret information (Moon ruling the 3^rd), as well as Snowden’s fear for his life. With natal Venus at the South Bending of the transiting nodes, his level of personal happiness was at an all-time low.

Chart 2

            The government’s response is also shown in the astrology (Chart 3). Snowden’s Mars is conjunct the U.S. Mars, activating the natal U.S. Mars square Neptune; and the government, helped by the media, has painted a bleak and likely disingenuous picture of the hacker, who has reputedly put the country in sudden peril. With Snowden’s Mars landing in the U.S. 7^th house, he has become a formidable enemy. For at least the moment, Snowden’s goal to initiate a conversation has been over-shadowed by a grand chase across the globe, with the U.S. government lobbing threats and warning of dire consequences to any country willing to provide him a safe haven. But with Pluto coming to oppose the Sibly Sun (the President in a mundane chart) and forming a grand cross with natal Saturn and transiting Uranus, like Snowden, the President, who ran for office on a promise of transparency, will find himself backed into a corner and trying to defend top-secret programs, while explaining, once again, why telling the truth is an imprisonable offense, and why undisclosed mass surveillance in a so-called free world is both constitutional and legal.

Chart 3

  

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.

                                 click to enlarge

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.