Month: August 2010
by Adrian Duncan | Aug 7, 2010 | Adrian's Articles 2010
If you happen to be on the moon some time, cast a glimpse down to Dubai on the Arabian Peninsular. Here a glittering palm tree shaped island will be visible shining into space – a man-made construction which contains more than 30 five-star hotels as well as residences for the glitterati like Brad Pitt, David Beckham, and other people who choose to be more anonymous. That is just in 2010 – two more paradise islands are planned, as well as a 300 island archipelago representing all the countries of the world. And another one featuring the universe.
Where is the world’s tallest building? The world’s only seven-start hotel? Which country currently has the most cranes in the world? The world’s largest indoor skiing slope? That’s right: Planet Dubai. Apparently when driving into town from the airport the visitor is greeted by billboards proclaiming “Welcome to Everything”, “Be Unlimited”, “Anything is Possible”. (Note 1)
You will not be surprised then to see that the horoscope of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which includes Abu Dhabi as well as Dubai, shows the Sun on the Midheaven conjoining and at the exact midpoint of Jupiter and Neptune in Sagittarius. What could be a better astrological signature for a country which expands out into the ocean creating fantasy islands that contain the world, the universe… well, Everything?
Dubai: 2.12.1971 12.00 25N18 55E18 (Book of World Horoscopes)
The United Arab Emirates were proclaimed at 12 noon in Dubai on December 2nd 1971 at the time of an exact full moon, with the Sun at 9.29 Sagittarius and the moon at 9.36 Gemini. What makes these degrees fascinating is that they are placed on the fixed stars Aldebaran- the Eye of the Bull – and Antares – the eye of the Scorpion. These are amongst the brightest stars in the universe, placed exactly opposite each other and they have traditionally been revered in the Arab world, far back in history when they formed the axis for the Age of Taurus. Furthermore, the epoch-making Pluto/Neptune conjunction of 1891-2 took place at 8-9 degrees Gemini, marking out a 492 year long planetary cycle, which encapsulates the iconic dreams and ideas of world history. With the full moon in Dubai’s chart activating this conjunction, it probably has a significant role to play for a half-millennium or so.
Which might explain why its ruler Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum feels the call to build a 21st century Xanadu in a desert country with average summer temperatures of 40+ C and virtually zero rainfall. Really the place should not exist. In a Muslim society with strict restraints on alcohol and sex, there is no difficulty getting a drink or buying other more forbidden services. Despite the apparent openness, there is no parliament or political parties, and no trade unions either. Which is bad news for the approximately 50% of the population who are Indians and Bangladeshis slaving away in temperatures that can reach 50C and living in labor camps conveniently placed an hour or so away out of town.
The rise of Dubai and Abu Dhabi has been meteoric. In the early fifties the population was about 20,000, whilst now it is 1.4 million. (Note 2) Even 30 years ago it was mostly desert and scrub. But with the rise of Arab fortunes after the first Oil Crisis of 1972, prosperity came quickly. Interestingly Mercury is exactly stationary in Dubai’s chart, which means that at the country’s inception it had extended itself to the furthest it can go in relation to the sun. Overextended in fact in its sign of detriment. From 1972 to 1992 it progressed retrograde, conjoining Jupiter in Sagittarius on the way – once in 1983 and then in 2007 – which pretty much indicates its expansion period. In 2011 it will once again be at the degree at which it started – 28 Sagittarius, and in 2012 it will enter Capricorn and face reality, where it will go on to meet the Venus/Pluto square. More on this later.
After the 2nd Gulf War, with oil prices hitting the roof, the region had more money than it knew what to do with. Dubai has in fact very little oil, so it wisely adopted a policy of building up its image as an international center, both politically and business wise. “Where shopping is a lifestyle” as the billboards say. With no income tax Western investors streamed to the country, and it embarked on an orgy of building.
However, if the truth be told, today the skyline is dominated by half-finished skyscrapers, and the hotels and shopping malls are in trouble. Dubai has proved to be just as vulnerable to the financial meltdown as other countries. When the global financial crisis hit Dubai, prices collapsed by 50 percent in a year leaving projects unfinished or scrapped. The horoscope for Dubai is dominated by the full moon conjoining Jupiter and on a Saturn/Neptune opposition. Whilst Saturn/Neptune does show a desert state with fortunes founded on oil (from Abu Dhabi), and does show the ability to build a new city on millions of tons of rock transported out into the sea, the Saturn/Neptune opposition also requires an element of realism. In many ways the full moon in Dubai’s chart shows an extravagant dream built on the slave labor of poor immigrants – the Moon/Saturn conjoining the IC.
Although Sheik Mohammed has been much worshipped hitherto by the business community, the Sun/Neptune/Jupiter square Mars in Pisces in Dubai’s chart shows rulers who not only are visionaries… but also dreamers. He has forged ahead with fairy tale developments, wooing investors and creating his own massive speculative bubble. Dubai’s own development vehicle, Dubai World, shook markets in December 2009 demanding a moratorium on its $60 billion debt, meaning that it can no longer keep up payments. Abu Dhabi has reluctantly indicated that it will help, but other major developments are still at risk. The creditworthiness of Dubai has been downgraded by international institutions.
Financial markets try to make reassuring noises about Dubai, pointing to the oil revenues in the region and to Dubai’s status as a business center, but all the astrological indications are that the current crisis with Dubai World is not just a blip on the radar screen. It is in fact the beginning of a long process of economic restructuring that will not end until 2014 at the earliest. The transit of Pluto over Dubai’s Venus in Capricorn is the warning shot. Clearly money is going to dry up, or at least be subject to draconian lending terms. The United Arab Emirates has a Venus/Pluto square to start with, so this is a development that has always been on the cards, it was just a matter of time. Now with transiting Saturn on Pluto on the one hand, and transiting Pluto on Venus on the other, Dubai is caught in a vice, and the screw will be tightened in 2010, bringing the highest level of discomfort from July to November 2010, the latter date being the final square from Pluto to Venus.
The movement of progressed Mercury – as it returns to its birth position – will be a reminder of the latent folly in the UAR chart, and when Mercury progresses into Capricorn as 2012 starts, Dubai will start applying its first strong dose of reality as concrete steps will be taken to place limits on the unreal expansion that has taken place. A new iron administration will take control from 2012 to 2014 which embodies an acceptance of traditional business realities. In other words the concept “Be Unlimited” will no longer apply.
Other indications that the euphoric mood of Dubai will slump can be seen in the movement of the progressed Moon which has been in Libra and the 8th house since 2007, highlighting the architectural achievements with borrowed money. In February 2010 the Moon will move into Scorpio, still in the 8th house, and Dubai will find itself mired in debt.
Furthermore, transiting Neptune is now extending its tentacles to the UAR Ascendant which it will station on in May 2010 and subsequently transit three more times, leaving Dubai metaphorically submerged by the time the last transit takes place in December 2011. Fortunately Dubai’s geographical placement in the shallow waters of the Persian Gulf makes it immune to a tsunami, but there will be no immunity to the flood of dismay that the economic downturn will bring.
Of course Dubai will prevail, and in the future it will live out the dreams and fantasies of the world and the universe. With the Sun and Moon on Aldebaran and Antares – two of the four royal stars of the Persians, Dubai will continue to make fantastic architectural statements to the world once this time of crisis is over. But it will always be vulnerable to hubris – such is the nature of a Sun conjoining a strong Jupiter in the 10th house of a nation’s chart. Dubai is entering a period of contraction when loss and debt will eliminate its natural optimism for a while. It will enter a period of chaos, when there is no longer a clear sense of direction. The Neptune transit to the Ascendant may also have repercussions for the many immigrant workers, who will lose their jobs, but not want or be able to go home. The Pluto transiting Dubai’s Venus will see Sheik Mohammed losing investor friends… and discovering who his real friends are. Nevertheless it is worth noting that Dubai’s progressive Mars trines Dubai’s Sun from 2010 to 2011, and this could indicate that he will take an active role in leading Dubai out of economic danger in the years to come through courageous initiatives, not least in continuing to convince investors that Dubai has a future.
I do hope so… prices have already gone down for the Burj al Aran 7-star hotel. (Now starting at only $1500 per night).
Adrian Ross Duncan 14.12.2009
1. Guardian Weekly: journalist Jon Henley 11.12.2009.
2. Information from Wikipedia
by Adrian Duncan | Aug 7, 2010 | Adrian's Articles 2010
Normality is soon to be a thing of the past, and over the next half decade we will be witness to social, technological, political and personal transformations which will result in a world quite different to the one we know today. This could have been said in 1988 – just prior to the Saturn, Uranus and Neptune conjunctions opposite Jupiter, which precipitated the New World Order and fall of communism. It could also have been said of the mid sixties – just prior to the Uranus/Pluto conjunction opposite Saturn, which polarized youth and age and evoked a social revolution. It could have been said of the early 1940’s, when Jupiter conjoined Saturn in Taurus and squared Pluto going on to conjoin Uranus, which led to Germany’s seizure of most of Europe’s land.
But no historical period quite mirrors another, as no astrological combination is every exactly repeated. What makes the period between June 2012 to March 2015 significant are the seven Uranus/Pluto squares which take place over an unusually long period. (Note 1) But already in 2010 the wanderings of Saturn and Jupiter weave the connection between Uranus and Pluto, and therefore we are getting a taste of the extremes of behavior associated with these two outer planets. (If you want a visual expression of their craziness see Batman Forever, starring Tommy Lee Jones as Two Face – Pluto – and Jim Carrey as The Riddler – Uranus.)
Together Uranus and Pluto suspend normal moral behavior in favor of uncompromising change. Students in China during the cultural revolution in the mid-sixties threw their teachers out of upper floor windows on the grounds that their age and experienced had already corrupted their minds… Saturn was involved in this instance. When Pluto combines with Uranus, their mission is total revolution, and humanitarian concerns are sidelined.
Here in 2010 from April to July, Saturn returns to Virgo after making two squares to Pluto from Libra, and dwells in a powerful opposition to Uranus, which was exact on April 26th at 28 degrees Virgo/Pisces. This was the beginning of an extreme period of unrest, which was reflected in Europe by the financial crisis in Greece, which awakened great anxiety for the economies of Portugal and Spain and ultimately threatened the viability of the Euro. And in almost every country in the world, governments are trying to find a balance between cutting expenditure and dampening the subsequent social unrest.
But unrest is coming, and with unrest comes repression. Taking Thailand as an example, the government clampdown on protestors in mid-May 2010 – before Uranus had even entered explosive Aries – is an example of the choices the establishment faces, when confronted by its people. (Note 2)
Thailand. June 24th 1932 12.00 Bangkok AS 27.41 Virgo (Source BWH)
Although the birth time for Thailand is unknown, it is tempting to use the noon time, because the Saturn/Uranus opposition falls exactly on the Ascendant/Descendant axis. The transiting Pluto opposing Thailand’s Sun at 2 Cancer, shows the leadership dispute that lies at the root of the current unrest. What makes this horoscope interesting is the 1932 foundation year, when present constitutional system was established via a revolution. It was at this time that the last Uranus/Pluto square was exact, which predisposes this country to times in its history when extreme events wreak havoc… and the current repeat of the aspect may well be one of these times. It is worth noting that Mars in this horoscope has progressed and is now on the Pluto/Uranus square, which indicates dictatorial repression. And later, as the series of seven squares pick out the retrograde Venus at 10 Cancer, economic chaos and restructuring lie ahead, perhaps as a consequence of a second social revolution.
On May 28th – two weeks after this article has been written – Uranus moves into Aries, and almost immediately Jupiter also enters Aries, conjoining Uranus on June 8th at 0.18 Aries. Whilst Uranus in Pisces is prepared to play a victim’s role, it will not do so in Aries. The last time Uranus was in Pisces, Hitler was in jail and writing Mein Kampf, but when it came into Aries, he was well on the way to establishing his credentials as Führer (leader) of the Arian race.
Of course the Uranus/Jupiter conjunction is not malefic in itself, and it plays a tremendous role in technological development cycles. The last conjunction in Aries in 1927 saw the first transatlantic flight, by Charles Lindberg, which led to an explosion of pioneering international flights the same year. This was also the year when the Talkies began… all movies until that time had been silent. (Initially people were extremely skeptical… who needed to hear people speak, when you could see them?) 1927 was also the year of Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, which stated that certain experiments could not be relied on because the presence of the observer affected the experiment. This was a concept which revolutionarized scientific materialism.
We can expect amazing pioneering discoveries now, especially because the digital world is so unlike anything experienced before in history. A scientific group in the USA has in fact just created – for the first time – life. The controversial leader of the project, Dr Venter, is quoted as saying:
“We were ecstatic when the cells booted up with all the watermarks in place,” “It’s a living species now, part of our planet’s inventory of life.” For 15 years his research time had coded genomes until they could be chemically combined by digital software to create living bacteria. (Note 4) Primitive life forms can now be digitally created in the laboratory. Unfortunately his company is patenting tis process, which raises the prospect of someone actually owning the building blocks for life creation. Otherwise known as god.
The current Uranus/Jupiter conjunction takes place just once in Aries… the next two take place in Pisces, as both planets retrograde. This could indicate a summer of unrest, with a mopping up effect from August 2010 to March 2011. But in the explosive period from the end of May to early September 2010, anything can happen. Probably the USA will not be exempt, because the IC on the USA (Sibley) horoscope is at 1 degree Aries, indicating unrest – or more extreme events – close to the White House. In 1969 Jupiter and Uranus conjoined at the opposite point – 1 degree Libra on the Midheaven – just as Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. This current conjunction is the time of the World Cup which takes place in South Africa on June 11th 2010. This is obviously going to be a riveting and electric international event. The security had better be good though. The World Cup took place for the first time in 1930, as the last Uranus/Pluto square was building up.
Security is exactly what Pluto in Capricorn is interested in. It is the solution to everything. This means surveillance cameras, extra police, control over the movement of people, the joy of the global database. As Jupiter and Uranus move into Aries, their message is freedom for the individual – at any price – whilst Pluto in Capricorn is interested in protecting the state – at all costs. As Saturn currently opposes Uranus and Jupiter, the incredible desire to break free is stopped by Saturn – it is simply impossible and impractical. With Saturn disposing of Pluto, the indications are that whilst Saturn is in Virgo it will serve the people, and whilst it is exalted in Libra until October 2012, the leaders of the state – Obama for example – will take a balanced and fair approach. But when Saturn moves in to Scorpio, which is does at the next presidential election in November 2012, all bets are off. Saturn in Scorpio sextile Pluto in Capricorn is successfully repressive… and may have to be with an economy that has hit rock bottom.
Uranus enters Aries tentatively, going retrograde at 0.35 Aries in July and returning to Pisces. Jupiter meanwhile, emboldened by its brother at arms Uranus, continues on, going retrograde at 3.24 Aries whilst in exact square to Pluto – an aspect that lasts for many weeks. The indications are that revolutionary behavior at this time is ill-judged and will be brutally stamped out. The last time Jupiter/Uranus conjoined in Aries in 1927 the palace of justice in Vienna was stormed and burned by an angry mob. Very appropriate. Angry mobs may want to mete out their own fiery brand of justice this summer and there are many places in the world this can happen. In Greece a government elected by the people to protect the laid-back social fabric of their society is being forced by the EU to impose draconic financial cuts, which the people find oppressive. Rather than contemplate a domino effect which causes the Euro to collapse, the EU must impose its will… Pluto in Capricorn. The Greek people are furious that the government they elected to protect them forces them to suffer even more.
Greece revolution – 24.03.1821 12.00 Kalavryla AS 19.25 CN (Source BWH)
Modern Greece was founded when the Ottoman occupation was overthrown on the last but one Uranus/Neptune conjunction in 1821 when both planets where in exact conjunction to the minute of arc at 3 Capricorn… where transiting Pluto is in 2010. Subsequent horoscopes for Greece consistently show 3 – 6 degrees of cardinal signs to dominate completely. For example the July 24th democratic revolution in 1974 against the military dictatorship shows a Moon/Pluto conjunction at 4 Libra square Venus at 3 Cancer. The pressures on Greece are massive, and the government cannot survive 2010. Even Greek membership of the Euro seems in doubt. Nothing less than a total reconstruction of Greece can be effective… an iron hand will probably initially keep the people under control, but the Uranus transit in 2011 will bring unrest and revolution.
How this will affect the rest of Europe is uncertain, but with Pluto slowly approaching 9 degrees Capricorn – where the sun is every New Year’s Day, which is the date for the foundation of many European institutions as well as the horoscope for the United Kingdom – turmoil is indicated until 2015. Russia, China and the US horoscope are all profoundly affected by the transits of Uranus and Pluto, so we are entering an unstable period for the world with continued recession and increasing unemployment. Scapegoats will be sought, and the wise individual must refuse to be drawn in to mass movements that demonize specific groups. It is worth remembering that the last Uranus/Pluto square in the early 1930’s did not coincide with war… just extreme political movements and economic depression.
It is quite likely that the two retrograde conjunctions of Uranus and Jupiter in Pisces will bring innovative solutions to environmental problems, as well as radical and effective solutions to help the unemployed and underprivileged, as well as providing finishing touches to health reform in the USA. Also, when Neptune enters Pisces in April 2011, there will probably be extremely strong humanitarian forces trying to heal those who are victims of the coming changes.
As the Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto are moving through cardinal signs in the coming years, this is a period of dynamic change rather than passive inactivity. What pays for the individual now is to act… to keep ahead of things. There is no status quo… everything is movement and this means taking personal initiatives for change. There are waves that need to be surfed, trains that need to be hopped on to, falling bridges that need to be sped over. After one initiative is taken, it is time to take the next, as each change rapidly becomes obsolete and consigned to the past. Therefore this is also a period of radical progress in all directions.
By the year 2020, with Pluto at the tail end of Capricorn and soon to enter Aquarius, and with the first of a 200-year cycle of Saturn/Jupiter conjunctions taking place at 0 Aquarius, a new era will dawn. At this time the repressive governments that were created to handle crisis will be swept aside. Technological change will sweep the last of an oil and coal based world away, people will unite in a one world state of digital union, and a new electromagnetic world of light will emerge. In the meantime perhaps we can find inspiration in the words of French philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau, who wrote – at another Jupiter/Uranus conjunction in Aries in 1762 – “Man is born free yet everywhere is in chains”. (Note 4) That was the state of things prior to the French Revolution in 1789, and now perhaps we are still slaves… to capital.
Adrian Duncan 20th May 2010
1. This aspect repeats itself about every 80 years, but you have to go back to 1755 – 1758 for the last series of seven squares.
2. The crucial date for the formation of Thailand can be traced back to April 6th 1782, when the capital was moved to Bangkok. In 1932 however the present constitutional system was established via a revolution. Interestingly Mars is at exactly the same degree – 1 Gemini – in both horoscopes.
3. Interview with The Guardian May 20th 2010.
4. Le Contra Social – 1762. This book expressed antimonarchist views and Rousseau has to take refuge in Switzerland to escape prosecution.
by Adrian Duncan | Aug 7, 2010 | Adrian's Articles 2010
The life of a miner is almost impossible to understand for someone who has never been down a mine. 2000 meters under the surface the temperature is 35C and the humidity 90%. There is no light, except for the lamp in your helmet. So when the mine collapses – as it did for the 33 Chilean miners on August 5th, 2010 – and you have two days food rations to survive on, death seems a near certainty. Death is what comes to most miners under these circumstances. In China at the same time there was a mine explosion which killed 37 miners. (In fact over 2500 miners lost their lives in China in 2009.)The Chilean miners were into their 17th day of darkness and starvation when a drill piece entered their chamber on August 22nd. They we able to send a note saying “estamos bien el refugio los 33″ – all were alive and well – and from that moment Chile was galvanized into national effort to liberate the miners from the bowels of Mother Earth. Engineers, designers, psychologists and experts from around the world devised a method to keep the miners sane and to bore through solid granite. They went into action, expecting – if all went well – to have the miners out by December. The story of the resurrection of the 33 miners has become a metaphor of rebirth with political repercussions worldwide.
After all, it has been estimated that one billion people witnessed the rescue of the miners 69 days after their burial. People in Pakistan ask why – in comparison to their president who was in Europe during their catastrophic floods – the president of Chile was present at the mine and welcomed each and every miner coming out of the birth channel so laboriously drilled. Chinese miners ask what Chile can do, that China is unable to. Workers listen the words of President Pinera of Chile (whose approval ratings have soared to 86% – re-election anyone?) who said that from now on Chile would start aiming to become the first Latin American country in which poverty, bad working practices and injustice would be eradicated.
Traditionally Chile has been one of the more enlightened Latin American countries, giving strong support to the UN and other international organizations, and welcoming free trade agreements and open banking. In the West we tend to associate Chile with the 17 years of repression under General Pinochet, but in actual fact this country has been remarkable free of military dictatorship at other times in its history, in comparison with for example Mexico, Argentina and Brazil.
Chile gained independence on February 12th, 1818, which was a time of the complete dissolution of Spanish power in South America.
CHILE: 12.02.1818 12.00 LMT – Santiago, Chile. AS 13.42 TA (BOWH)
Horoscopes in this period of history show that a new conjunction cycle of Uranus and Neptune began – a cycle which repeated once again in the early 1990’s with another dissolution of a dominant political entity – the Soviet Union. Napoleon had been defeated in 1815 and the European map was redrawn, and this awakened independence movements all over South America. In the horoscope for Chile, Uranus is catching up with Neptune in Sagittarius, and drawing ever closer to a square with Pluto, which in turn is conjoined by Saturn… an extremely unstable constellation, which brought revolution in Spain and the subsequent loss of Mexico and the rest of its colonies in South America.
Spain was not very happy about Chile’s declaration of independence and sent an army to crush the rebellion. This was thoroughly defeated at the Battle of Maipu on April 5th of the same year, which is an alternative horoscope that can be used for Chile. (Note 1)
In both horoscopes for Chile the Sun conjoins Venus. In fact, taking 12 noon as the timing for the independence chart, the Moon and North Node conjoins the Ascendant in Taurus, and this may well be an indication of Chile’s greatest resource – it is a major supplier of copper, which is traditionally ruled by Venus. Chile has thrived and prospered through these copper resources since 1818, but in the 1960’s the Cold War saw Chile being drawn in to the communist sphere of influence, which led to the election of President Allende, who promptly nationalized the US owned copper mines. As there were huge corporate US interests running major industries in Chile, and because the US did not take kindly to visits by Castro and Soviet officials, the US government started plotting the downfall of Allende.
It is difficult to know how much Allende contributed to his own downfall – his radical left-wing policies alienated students and workers alike. But the CIA financed the ultra-conservative forces in Chile and as recently released records show that President Nixon’s avowed policy was, quote, “Make the economy scream [in Chile to] prevent Allende from coming to power or to unseat him”, there were powerful forces arrayed against him. A military coup took place on September 11th, 1973, Allende was killed in the Presidential palace (or took his own life), and an era of brutal suppression followed under the dictatorship of general Pinochet. In fact about 3000 people lost their lives (and countless were imprisoned), strangely reminiscent of the 3000 people who also lost their lives under another infamous catastrophe that took place on September 11th … 28 years later in New York.
The military coup took place when transit Uranus was opposing the new moon conjunction Venus of the battle of Maipu horoscope. More significantly, Saturn at 3.37 Cancer was square Pluto 3.31 Libra. Saturn/Pluto aspects are the signature of repressive dictatorships, and in this case they activated the position of Jupiter at 4.52 Capricorn and Mars at 5.13 Cancer in the two 1818 foundation horoscopes.
It is interesting then that the mining drama in Chile also took place 37 years after the coup under the next Saturn/Pluto square… this time signifying resurrection for Chile.
MINE ACCIDENT: August 5th, 2010 12.00 Calama. AS 14.31 SC
I do not have the exact time for the accident, but the mine collapsed when the miners were having lunch in their shelter, which was very fortunate. Here we can see the massive T-square with Mars conjoining Saturn, both opposing the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction (still in Aries at this time) and squaring Pluto. The position of Jupiter at 4.52 Capricorn in the 1818 horoscope is powerfully stimulated by this T-square. This itself indicates are that there will be a major reform of the mining industry, which Jupiter in Capricorn symbolizes.
The unfolding of the drama deep inside the bowels of the earth in northern Chile, appeared to synchronize with the unique dance of Mars and Venus, as they conjoined twice with Venus entering Scorpio and moving retrograde, allowing the much slower Mars to catch up.
Seventeen days into their living burial, hope came to the miners, their families, and President Pinera who committed the resources of the Chilean state, and his own credibility, to rescue the miners from what at first seemed an impossible situation.
The horoscope for the discovery of the miners on August 22nd happened exactly as Venus moved through Libra to conjoin Mars. If Mars represents the men (in detriment in Libra) Venus was their savior. This conjunction exactly opposed the new moon for the Maipu horoscope. Furthermore, Mercury at this time had just moved stationary retrograde at 19.02 Virgo, exactly squaring independence Uranus and opposing independence Chiron. Surprising news for the healing of the nation.
The remaining 52 days was a media scramble that transformed the arid desert where the miners were buried into a hi-tech colony. But underground, as Venus and Mars entered Scorpio, the miners – now with food and communication – still had to battle with the darkness and desperation. We cannot know – yet – what they went through, but Venus will go direct in November and once again trace its steps through Scorpio. The miners had made a pledge of silence about the first 17 days, when nerves snapped and hysteria sometimes took over. However, with huge sums of money being offered for the full story, many details will come out during the period from November to January, when Venus makes its final pass through Scorpio. We will learn of the wives and mistresses left behind, and the way money can be used to get people to divulge secrets they would rather not.
RESCUE: First miner rescued 13th October, 2010 00.10 Calama. AS 4.30 CN
The first miner emerged from the earth – a second birth – just after midnight on October 13th. This rescue horoscope speaks eloquently of the rescue as the first man to be “reborn” emerges with the Descendant exactly on the Pluto/Node conjunction and Mercury exactly conjoining the IC – travel up the tube. Mercury is exactly opposing the new moon of the Maipu chart. By this time Mars had in fact overtaken Venus, which was now retrograde exactly on the South Node in Scorpio in the independence chart. Here the nodal axis from Taurus to Scorpio serves as a kind of birth canal, leading from the darkness underground to the blinding television lights above. The nodes are the escape route for Venus, uniting the men underground, with their women above. In parallel, during the course of the next day, the moon conjoins Pluto and the north node, and the god of the underworld releases his victims, allowing them to come back to the surface and a new life.
The actual date when all the miners reached the surface was 13.10.10, which – as President Pinera himself pointed out, adds up to 33. It took 33 days from commencement of drilling to reach the miners… one day per man. The diameter of the shaft was 66 cms. As Maria Segovia, sister of miner Dario Segovia said, “The 33 appears in everything, everything matches, it’s a miracle,” and the many devout Catholics in Chile point out that Jesus was 33 when he was crucified and resurrected.
The true miracle will be if mine owners review safety practices and improve conditions for their workers. The mine in Chile had actually been closed because of safety concerns and reopened because the price of copper has been extremely high. Miners worldwide have traditionally been exploited by corporations and governments. The bond of solidarity between miners and mining communities is extremely strong, but it is no compensation for the danger from accidents and lung disease that all too often claim the lives of miners. If the miracle in Chile is to have long-term impact, then Saturn in Libra must bring balance and justice in regulating that the heartless guardian of the mines… Pluto in Capricorn.
Adrian Duncan 19.10.2010
1. The Battle of Maipu took place on the new moon in Aries on April 5th, 1818 and ended at 14.30 with the defeat of the Spanish forces. Source: The Book of World Horoscopes – Nick Campion.
by Adrian Duncan | Aug 7, 2010 | Adrian's Articles 2010
Last month we looked at how the major planetary cycles will affect the first six signs of the zodiac using solar house astrology. These signs will be affected indirectly by the movement of the outer planets, but for the signs from Libra to Pisces, there will be greater personal change. Saturn moving in to Libra and constellating in a square aspect to Pluto will profoundly affect Saturn-ruled Capricorn and Aquarius, whilst Jupiter moving into Pisces, and further into Aries in conjunction with Uranus, is bound to make 2010 an exciting and unpredictable year for Pisces and Sagittarius.With the Saturn/Pluto square already having taken place on 15th November 2009, the signs are already there. The release of the disaster movie 2012 was for example one interesting sign. The control that Saturn always tries to exert becomes more obsessive when Pluto is involved, and this can lead to institutional oppression and its consequences. Fortunately an exalted Saturn in Libra stands up for justice and rights and actually disposes of Pluto in Saturn-ruled Capricorn. Drastic measures need to be taken, but they are less likely to be extreme. At the exact square world leaders announced in Singapore that the climate conference in Copenhagen would not take any binding decisions… they would have to come at a later stage. Greenpeace reacted with a banner saying “Your survival, your choice” – quite a polite protest, really. Legislation on climate change is very much related to the Saturn/Pluto square, and the anxiety it evokes, and will almost certainly be enacted whilst the aspect lasts.
For the individual affected by Saturn and Pluto, survival issues will be paramount and there will be a lot of anxiety to deal with. But the challenge of Saturn is to overcome anxiety through determination and perseverance, and through powerful alliances. Survival must not bring out dishonorable behavior, but neither must it evoke weakness. Long-term faith in ones abilities in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles is the way forward. After all, the Saturn/Pluto square is over in September 2010, and then it has a good run without problematic aspects. With retrograde Mars sextiling Saturn in February and March 2010, the indications are the Saturn is fully equipped to achieve its agenda.
If 2010 is going to be a year of transformation and empowerment for Capricorns and Aquarians, it is going to be quite a wild ride of Sagittarians and Pisceans. The year starts with Jupiter moving into Pisces, where it is dignified, but it races in into Aries, where it will be – together with Uranus – until September, and the last conjunctions of Jupiter with Uranus take place in Pisces, showing the combination of burning idealism and compassionate change. Early extremism will probably be dampened in the latter part of the year.
Looking at the last six signs of the zodiac, it is possible to get quite a good idea of general trends, just by studying the slow moving planets, and the retrograde cycles of both Venus and Mars:
Libra
The sign of Libra is sure to have an amazing year, and with Saturn in this sign until October 2012, there is a long period for you to build new life structures which will affect the important relationships in your life. You will already be feeling the influence of the Saturn/Pluto square on your family life, and this involves digging deep into sensitive areas that need transformation. It is important to grasp the nettle and eradicate bad family habits, or work on some sort of home rebuilding project, or to set limits in relation to authoritarian family figures. When Jupiter and Uranus move into your 7th house of relationships in June, an incredibly outgoing period begins. For the unattached Libra this will bring travel to exotic destinations, sudden meetings with exciting fringe groups or involvement with international organizations. For those in relationships it will be necessary to give partners more space, or to do some exciting – or even wild – things together. Partners may be gripped by a kind of craziness which goes against all the rules… and your better judgment. With your sign ruler Venus conjoining Mars in your sign in August, this is a time when there are positive relationship developments, but as Venus goes retrograde in Scorpio and Mars then catches up with Venus in October, it will be you who is compromised and partners who make the decisions. You will need to tread carefully – not least financially – in the last four months of the year.
Scorpio
The main issue for Scorpio from October 2009 to June 2010 is the retrograde and direct movement of Mars through Leo, which suggests that you will be able to express your creativity in your career, and gain recognition and prominence. Up until March 10th however, it may seem as if you are making very little progress and you may also have taken a few wrong turns or decisions that you have to change once more. Fortunately the influence of Saturn at this time means that you are helped considerably by people of integrity. There are a lot of developments in your working life this year, and the summer period is a time of radical change… a good time to seek some freedom from the power battles that are going on amongst colleagues, or even to change job. The most positive time of the year is when Mars is in your sign from September to the end of October. With Venus also in your sign this is an excellent time for love and sex, and you will be very much the one who decides how things shall be. The Mars/Jupiter trine in late October is a truly wonderful time for children, love and creative projects generally. December 2010 is the decisive period for you, and at the Mars/Pluto and Mars/Saturn square in the latter half of the month, you will be involved in a tough fight to get your views across.
Sagittarius
Your sign ruler Jupiter moves into Pisces on January 18th when it immediately connects with Pluto in Capricorn, suggesting that this is an empowering time for you, when you eliminate unrealistic dreams on the one hand, and implement practical changes – especially in home and family matters – on the other. Economic reform is much on your mind, and there are ways of cutting back on expenses and making sensible investments in January. When Jupiter joins Uranus in Aries in June, the fun really starts. This is an incredibly exhilarating period for you, when you are willing to take some amazing risks and gamble on getting things right. It is all about spontaneous action, but there are serious questions about your judgment and you really need to avoid getting into financial troubles. Travel will probably on the cards, and the urge to express freedom and do exactly what you want is irresistible. However, with Jupiter returning to Pisces, together with Uranus, from September onwards, the focus is back on the home, where deep and satisfying changes take place in the autumn period. For some the year is about developments with children, and for others visionary ideals will be implemented in connection with the home and environment.
Capricorn
With Pluto in Capricorn until 2024, you have some interesting years ahead, but 2010 is all about the Saturn square to Pluto, which you already have had a taste of in November 2009. Clearly this is about dealing with power and the professional challenges that occur at an executive level. You will encounter people who are willing to use power without much concern for how it affects others, and you in turn will develop the will and character to overcome whatever is thrown in your way in the process. You may choose to stay in a particular professional position despite the pressure, or you may drop a particular career direction completely. Everything hots up when Jupiter and Uranus conjoin in Aries and shake up your domestic and family life from June to the end of August, and this is surely a good time to get away from it all. Far away. But if you remain in the firing line, this can also be a time when you make a break for it and pursue a new and original direction which promises space and freedom. It does seem that you are torn in several directions at once at this time. As you get familiar with the power games of the time, you gain strength and resilience. You manifest this incredibly strongly in December 2010, when Mars conjoins Pluto to give you superhuman powers. You’ll need to be tough, but be gentle with loved ones.
Aquarius
With Mars in your solar 7th house of partnerships until June 2010, and favorably aspecting Saturn, this is a great period for getting into the harness together with your partner to achieve a specific professional goal. There is much to achieve, especially in connection with getting your message out to others. The Saturn/Pluto square which repeats itself in February and August evokes a lot of anxiety about survival and existence itself, and you learn that everything starts with thought, and that through thought you can gain sovereignty over your fate. You fight a battle for what is right, and you fight from a position of strength. Uranus, which is also associated with Aquarius, changes sign on May 28th 2010, ushering a period of dramatic change for you when you are energized, brave and unstoppable. The choices you make in the summer period will give a strong indication of where the next seven years will lead you. Communication is the field in which you will excel and you will reach a lot of people with your message. Some international commuting seems to be in the picture too. Saturn retrogrades back into Virgo from early April 2010 to mid-July, and this period will give you the chance to deal with the economic issues that worried you in 2009 and enable you to find practical solutions, especially in matters connected with tax, banking and other people’s money generally. From July 22nd and onwards, you forge ahead with your lofty vision for the future, which brings breathlessly exciting changes.
Pisces
With sign ruler Jupiter coming into Pisces on January 18th, you get off to the best imaginable start to a year that will prove to be extremely exciting, not least in the way you choose to define your talents and generate your income. January and February is the time when you clear out the cobwebs in your life, throw out those unrealistic dreams that never got you anywhere, and concentrate single-mindedly on what is really important to believe in and go for. There is no doubt that there is a certain amount of survival anxiety, and other people may hold the money strings, but it is all for the best and you work very hard to build up your credit. The conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus in Aries on June 8th 2010 – which repeats, but this time in Pisces, on September 19th – is a rare occurrence that last took place in 1997, but this is the first and only time in your lifetime that it will happen in your sign. This is therefore the time to grab the opportunity of a lifetime and go for what really inspires you in life. For what you really dream of. This is where your future income can come from, and this is where your unique talents lie. July and August will be a very intense process for you and you tend to embrace an extreme ideology at this time, which risks alienating some important people. It is the soft values that you are so good at expressing, and the last part of 2010 will be a time when you express these values through a universal, humanitarian vision.
It should be said that astrologers have been looking at the year 2010 in awe for many years. It is so rare to see the outer planets changing sign simultaneously and forming a powerful T-square on the cardinal points – Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. This heralds dynamic change. The time for action is upon us, and there will be little debate and discussion. Those people, who grab the torch and run with it, making a leap into the unknown, will be those people that end up with success. Hesitation is not an option. Anxiety may be a driving force, but it will bring out the best human qualities – chivalry, honor, courage, perseverance… and dramatic progress.
Adrian Ross Duncan 17th November 2009
by Adrian Duncan | Aug 7, 2010 | Adrian's Articles 2010
As we head in to 2010, a series of extremely dynamic planetary constellations start shaping up, setting the scene for five or six years of dramatic change for the world. These patterns are reminiscent of the 1930’s when the world was struggling with economic depression on the one hand and political extremism on the others. The years of ideological battle, religious extremism and uncertainty connected with Uranus, Saturn and Pluto in mutable signs will soon be definitively over, and a new philosophy of decision-making and action will become dominant.
Major world capitals will undoubtedly go through important power battles and transformation processes in the coming years, as on every New Year’s Day the sun will be conjoining Pluto and square Uranus, especially between 2012 and 2016. In 2010 the Sun will constellate with Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter and Pluto at every major ingress – the spring and autumn equinox, and the summer and winter solstices, which form the Cardinal Cross of the horoscope.
The first major long-term planetary cycle to consider is the Saturn/Pluto square, which is part of a 36 year cycle that started with the conjunction in 1982 – 1983. Saturn enters Libra, where it is exalted, on October 28th 2009, and already makes its first square with Pluto on November 15th at 1.41 Libra/Capricorn. Subsequent squares take place on 31st January 2010 at 4.19 degrees and August 21st at 2.56 degrees. This square signifies colossal battles in trying to impose principles of justice and fairness. We can certainly expect the pressure to pile up on Iran and North Korea at this time, and this will probably result in a successful limitation of both countries nuclear ambitions.
It is worth remembering that the 1991 horoscope for Russia has the sun at 3.26 Capricorn. If there is anyone who thinks that the balance of power between Prime Minister Putin and President Medvedev will remain in harmonious, they will be proved wrong. (Note 1) With Putin thinking about becoming re-elected as president in 2012, there will almost certainly be an enormous power struggle taking place beneath the surface… and only one of them will survive it. Medvedev is said to be mild-mannered, but with a Sun conjoining the Uranus/Pluto conjunction in Virgo, and Mars in Scorpio, he is definitely a force to be reckoned with. And with his progressed Mars in a protracted square to Uranus and Pluto in these years, he is probably involved in a long battle for survival.
The other fascinating planetary cycle culminating in 2010 is the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction, which first takes place in Aries, when Jupiter and Uranus simultaneously enter that sign in May/June 2010. Jupiter just reaches Pluto where it dwells in a tight square aspect in July and August, bringing a high degree of brinkmanship and ideological extremism. We can expect some dangerous threats at this time, and an enormous indignation about the abuse of government power. This presages a period of world revolution that takes place between 2012 and 2016.
Jupiter returns to peaceable Pisces to make its last two conjunctions with Uranus in Pisces in September 2010 and January 2011, which I am sure will be excellent for idealistic climate initiatives, and innovative technologies that help the planet.
The Jupiter/Uranus conjunction in Aries however makes the period from the end of May to the middle of August extremely explosive. Considering that the (Sibley) horoscope for USA has its IC at 1.04 Aries, this can be uncertain times, perhaps dangerous times, for the White House. There is very likely to be domestic unrest in the USA at this time, and the rise of right-wing extremism in the form of militias will become a growing threat to the system.
But how will these dramatic planetary cycles affect the individual horoscope? To get a general picture, it works to make a solar horoscope for each sign, and then see which solar houses the outer planets find themselves in. Clearly this will be a major time of change for Saturn-ruled Capricorn and Aquarius… more so for Aquarius as co-ruler Uranus also changes sign. With Saturn exalted in Libra the trends will be positive, but power battles are inevitable because of the square to Pluto.
Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius and Pisces can also expect major changes, and with Jupiter most of the year dignified in its own sign, this will also be a positive year, but with unpredictable events in the summer as Jupiter enters Aries and conjoins Uranus.
This will also be an interesting year for Mars-ruled Aries and Scorpio, for Mars will be in Leo until June, completely untouched by aspects to the outer planets, which sounds like a lot of fun. For Venus-ruled Taurus and Libra, the most challenging period will be the retrograde cycle when Venus is in detriment in Scorpio from September to December.
This month’s article will deal with developments for the first six signs of the zodiac in 2010, and the following article next month will deal with the last six signs:
Aries
The main issue for Aries in 2010 is the placement of Saturn on the solar Descendant up until April and then again from July onwards. This shows a series of challenges in relationships that require hard work and commitment, but the likelihood is that the demands of other people are reasonable, and because Mars in Leo repeatedly sextiles Saturn in early 2010, the wise Aries knows how to live up to responsibilities. In fact this position of Mars is excellent both for love and children… also in the long term. With Pluto positioned on the Aries Midheaven, where is has been for a year or more, the effect of the Saturn square will be to evoke major professional power struggles. Autocratic leaders can try and impose their will on you, and this can lead to important restructuring at work. And with Jupiter and Uranus affecting the Ascendant from June to August, there are also likely to be radical changes in life generally. This could show a long and exotic summer holiday, but the summer break can very well result in radical career change or a move, which may take effect immediately, or may manifest at the end of the year when Mars conjoins Pluto just before Christmas.
Taurus
For Taurus, 2010 promises to be somewhat more stable than for the rest of the zodiac. With Jupiter and Neptune in Pisces for most of the year, the emphasis will be on friendships and group allegiances, which can be very idealistic and very favorable too. With sign ruler Venus conjoining these two planets in February, this should be an excellent month for your social life, especially if you consider joining environmental groups or creative organizations. The long transit of Mars through your 4th house until June shows dynamic developments at home, with the emphasis on live-in partners who know how to live life, and on children. The Saturn/Pluto square may only affect you indirectly, mostly from restructuring in the work environment, perhaps due to draconian job cuts. With Venus conjoining Mars in Libra in August, love will happily be on your terms, but the last four months of the year are more challenging, and at this time the focus in on power structures in relationships. You will have to tread very carefully. As Venus is in Scorpio at this time, you will probably not feel secure enough emotionally, and you may obsess about not having enough control in your love life. As Venus slows and makes a long conjunction with Mars in Scorpio in September and October, relationships will be passionate and you will be dependant on the will of your partner. If you don’t mind a bit of domination, this can be quite rewarding.
Gemini
For Geminis, 2010 starts with intense mental pressure that culminated over the preceding Christmas period. With Pluto in your solar 8th house in this period of your life, you are moved to uncover your inner demons and work on psychological complexes that are normally buried. The Saturn/Pluto square brings power battles on an inner level, perhaps evoking anxiety about relationship security and your erotic life. This square aspect may also affect children, with whom there can be intense battles of will. When Jupiter and Uranus come into Aries in the summer period, there can be dramatic developments in your relationships, but because so many exciting events happen socially at this time, you can probably seek refuge with friends and exciting groups. This is an excellent time for personal development. This is also good year for career expansion, particularly if you can work on something idealistic, either socially on an ecological front, or creatively via art, film or music. There is a growing sense that you are not getting job satisfaction with what you are currently doing. The end of 2010 is eerily similar to the beginning, with deep self analysis which hopefully will make your relationships more meaningful and deep.
Cancer
As a Cardinal sign you will be profoundly affected by the placement of Pluto, Saturn, Jupiter and Uranus in cardinal signs in 2010. Furthermore, the lunar eclipse falls on 4 degrees Cancer/Capricorn – exactly on Pluto – on June 28th, which suggests that there will be significant developments for partners and in relationships generally, probably in the form of a transformation of power balance. With Saturn affecting your 4th house of home and family, you can expect a favorable consolidation of your domestic situation, but because of the aforementioned relationship developments, there can be considerable upheaval or a specific family crisis, which recedes towards the end of the year. The Pluto/Saturn square can also indicate implacable enemies, and you will need to mobilize total family solidarity to handle them. The Uranus/Jupiter conjunction in Aries brings a foretaste of amazing career changes from May to August, and this is the time to go for independence and innovation, especially in terms of technological advance and radical international initiatives. The end of July and beginning of August is likely to bring you and your family to an exotic location. This is also a time when there can be a sudden move because of career developments, which will become even more exciting in 2011.
Leo
With saucy Mars in Leo until June, 2010 will prove to be a very stimulating year for you, and there is a good chance you will be spared the upheavals that affect many of the other signs. The first part of the year is excellent for creativity and for love, and you do your best to live life to the full. The solar eclipse in February in Capricorn emphasizes the many upheavals that take place in your working environment this year, and it is likely that some colleagues will disappear as major restructuring takes place. It is unlikely you will be in agreement with the general autocratic line at work, which may incline you to change your work environment after the summer. This is an excellent year for studies and travels, and the summer will almost certainly bring a journey to a distant and exotic destination especially in late July and early August. If your education is important to you, there can be a radical change of direction at this time, perhaps because you cannot bear to be limited by the system. This is also an interesting time for partnership, and exotic possibilities may arise – especially when you are on your travels.
Virgo
The Saturn transit through Virgo ended in late October 2009, and this, along with the opposition to Uranus probably brought a lot of challenges and changes in personal relationships. With Saturn now in Libra, the focus is more on averting financial crisis through taking new initiatives. Love involvements at this time tend to be very erotic and intense, bringing considerable psychological insight, especially in the summer, when you can be involved with someone who is untraditional but also rather unreliable. Saturn actually returns to Virgo from April to July, and this may be a time when you have to put the final touches to lifestyle and relationship changes that began a few years back. As Virgo is an Earth sign and Mercury ruled, and the three retrograde cycles of Mercury take place in Earth signs, this will be a very constructive year for you, when you consolidate your footing and are ready to make the most out of the future. As Mercury conjoins Pluto at the very beginning and the very end of the year, it will nevertheless be a very intense period, especially in connection with children, or, if you like to live on the edge, love affairs. Having said that, with Jupiter in your opposing sign Pisces most of the year, this is an excellent time for a harmonious relationship with a kind, creative and generous person.
Adrian Ross Duncan 20.10.2009
Note 1: Putin is born on 7th October 1952 at 9.30 in St. Petersburg and Medvedev is born 14th September 1965 in St. Petersburg.
