Astrology by Paul Saunders : Revolution
Showing posts with label Revolution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Revolution. Show all posts

Monday 4 April 2011

Ivory Coast – A divided country now fighting for a fresh start.

Ivory Cast war

Since the disputed elections held on November 2010, the Ivory Coast or to give its official name, Cote D’Ivoire has been in virtual civil war. To explain the situation, the incumbent President Laurant Gbagbo who took control after winning election in 2000 following a coup in 1999. The Ivory Coast has been effectively split since 2000 with Gbagbo and his supporters coming from the Christian south of the country, whereas his main rival and opposition leader Allasane Ouattara hailed from the mainly Muslim north. Gbagbo has continually refused to hold elections until the ones called in November. In the elections, Ouattara was declared the winner with 54%  of the vote, but Gbagbo claimed the vote had been rigged in the north. Thus the current conflict and battle for power between the two bitter rivals and their supporters began. There have been reports of massacres and the international community wanting the conflict to end immediately without intervening have put down stringent sanctions on Gbagbo to strangle the life out of his administration, hoping that he will eventually step down.

IvoryCoast

One look at the Ivory Coast chart and immediately you can see a divided country. The Sun in Leo is in the insular 4th house and directly opposite it in the 10th house sits the Moon. The leader (Sun) is at odds with the will of the people (Moon). Also this is an 4th-10th house opposition, the 10th house has always in Mundane astrology signified the Government of the day and the 4th house relates to the official opposition – just like the North & South opposition in the actual country. Amazing how just the pattern of a chart can so accurately describe the situation on the ground, isn’t it? The showy Sun is accompanied by Uranus, Venus and Pluto in a packed 4th house. Sun with Uranus shows that the leader (Sun) gained accession after a coup (Uranus), Venus here shows an obsessional love of sport and entertainment by the people (quindecile Moon) and Venus’ influence is strong as Taurus rules by midheaven is on the ascendant. Pluto shows that great wealth and power is gained from the land, indeed major planets located in a 4th house on a national chart always tends to show an agrarian economy. Pluto also indicates metamorphosis, any malefic aspects to this group of planets all connected by conjunction would activate a change in direction of the leadership. That change would be aggressive and maybe bloody with a tight square between Mars in the first house and Pluto, with the  militarily involved. Just to clarify which planets and influences would affect that change, I look to Scorpio (Pluto’s ruler) and which house it is ruling and also Pluto’s own 8th house and any planets therein. Scorpio cuts across the 7th house cusp, which indicates a foreign influence and Jupiter sits in the 8th house, Jupiter’s movements would be key on this chart.

Time to analyse the  transits and solar arcs to see the situation. Looking back to the election date of 28th Nov last year, the closest aspects by solar arc progression were Jupiter almost exact conjunction with the “opposition” Moon, in essence the will of the people being favoured and Solar Arc Pluto sextile Jupiter, (metamorphosis and change Pluto and 8th house highlighted). One other thing to note, that Jupiter hitting the moon also activated the opposition to the Sun (the Leader) and the quindecile to Venus which through Taurus on the ascendant controls the face of the nation – there would be a change of direction. What did I say about Jupiter being key? The Sun was exact in trine to Mars so the leader activated his military forces, and the progressed North Node was opposite Neptune, confusion and allegations of corruption and dirty dealing about the direction the country would take. The transits echo the Solar Arcs. Saturn square Mercury, the government (Saturn) trying to affect the details of the vote (Mercury), transiting Neptune opposing Venus showing confusion and deception (Neptune) in the country (Taurus Ascendant). Finally transiting Pluto in that 8th house trine natal Pluto. This is very nasty and still in effect today. Death, destruction, genocide affecting the change Ivory Coast needed, the horrors of which are hitting the world newsstands now.

Looking at a horoscope is not always a pleasant site, it shows the very best and the very worst in situations. Ivory Coast will plummet the depths before a solution is found, however I am sure that the people in the end will get what they want and voted for.

Tuesday 22 March 2011

Syria Protests – Trouble brewing in Damascus

syria-protest_001
Oh my here we go again. Over the past few weeks the temperature has been rising in Syria. Yet another Arab country with this time the ruling Assad dynasty under pressure. President Bashar Al-Assad has been in power since 2000, when he succeeded his father who had been in charge for the previous 30 years. Seeing what has been going on in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, it seems the people are in a mood for change, however they have a huge obstacle to overcome in the name of President Assad and the Ba’ath party.


The Syrian chart based around the country’s accession from France shows a very dominant and brutal mini grand trine with Pluto being at the point of the formation completed by Neptune in trine to a very disruptive Mars/Uranus conjunction. Often easy going aspects (trines and sextiles) with malefic planets can precipitate violence easier than stressful aspects. The quindecile between Mercury and the 10th house Pluto which is secretive and controlling shows that much of this brutal control goes under the radar than most people see.

Syria

The transit charts for Syria are looking quite fraught. Transiting Pluto is approaching the Syrian Sun and is quindecile to natal Saturn, so change of the Assad regime does look a potential on the horizon. Transiting Saturn which has just crossed into the Syrian first house is now square to the Midheaven so pressure will now be brought to bare on President Assad. transiting Uranus is trine to the second house Venus, so there is potential social unrest in the air and it is also opposing the 12th house Neptune, so mobs of groups may now be forming in response to the unrest, however this also may precipitate some suffering too. I suspect the Syrian leader may be readying his forces and the police in response as transiting Mars is now trine to the Moon representing the general public.


assad

President Assad has a brutal chart. Born on 11 Sept 1965 in Damascus (no birth-time), he has a Sun, Pluto and Uranus conjunction in nervous critical Virgo opposite harsh Saturn in deceptive Pisces and maybe Moon forming a wedge pattern with Mars and Neptune in deep dark Scorpio at the point. Here is a man who is sly, sneaky, able to adapt to situations as he has 7 planets in mutable signs, and has no scruples in using brute force (Mars), torture (Pluto), unusual underhand (Neptune) or shock tactics (Uranus) to keep his hand on the levers of power (Saturn). By the astrology, this is someone not to be messed with, and a man who will cling onto power by his fingernails if possible. The transits on his personal chart favour him for the minute. He has a constructive sextile between transiting Saturn and natal Jupiter and a trine between that Saturn and natal Jupiter. It would be nice to see how his Ascendant and Midheaven is affected but unfortunately with no birth-time it isn’t possible. I have to rely on the national chart and it’s aspects to see how the head of State may be affected.


PresidentAssad

In my view, Assad will see out this wave of protests, however his power and standing will be weakened, and when Uranus comes round at the end of the year to complete it’s retrograde cycle finally stationing on Syria’s Midheaven in December, then it will be crunch time. It is going a lot of force and sacrifices by the people to get the change in power that they so desire.

Saturday 19 March 2011

France and NATO intervene in the Libyan Crisis

France aircraft

The situation in North Africa has escalated quite considerably today as French aircraft bombed Libyan military vehicles. The French, wanting to assert their authority in a region where their influence has always been considerable, are now showing their muscle to the Gaddafi regime. Looking at the astrology, you can see the French influence on the current intervention.

First to set the scene a quick glance at the French Natal chart. There are two standout features. As befits a chart which was formed on the back of a bloody revolution, we see a fixed t-square with aggressive Mars at the point conjunct the Midheaven symbolising the bloody execution of the previous monarchical heads of state. Square this Mars is a Pluto/Uranus opposition which represents change by revolution. The other feature is a Saturn opposite Jupiter/Neptune. Here is a clamp on belief hence the secular French society. The national motto is France is Liberté, égalité, fraternité embodied in this opposition. Liberté or freedom shown by Jupiter, égalité or equality is an ideal or dream shown by Neptune in balanced and fair Libra and fraternité or brotherhood shown by Saturn in the third house of siblings (brothers and sisters).

Francenatal

France’s chart is definitely on edge right now with transiting Uranus conjunct the French natal Sun, and transiting Venus which often symbolises diplomacy is activating France’s natal Mars, Uranus Pluto t-square. This diplomatic action has a hard edge. Transiting Mars is opposite her natal Mercury so confirming the aggressive rhetoric coming out of Paris. By Solar Arc, the two aspects which are exact right now are SA Venus trine Mercury in the 8th house and SA Jupiter trine Venus. Not surprising then with France so on alert, NATO leaders and world diplomats met in the French capital. So why are the French so interested in Libya and the awful situation there?

Well, Libya’s natal Pluto sits at 21 Leo, exactly the same degree as France’s Uranus linking into the French t-square. Not only French investment on Libya will be a motivating factor but  French I think the French fear the loss of a part of the world where they have had so much influence for a long time, remember they have interests in Morocco and Algeria as well as Tunisia which is in a transitional position. President Sarkozy will not want to see his sphere of influence lessened. That Libyan Pluto sits in the French 7th house of foreign affairs, as such France will feel that this crisis affects their sphere of influence. French military action (Mars) supporting the rebels (Uranus) will cause a major change (Pluto) in the history of Libya, and the same t-square which toppled the French monarchy will now see the toppling of the Libyan dictator.

Saturday 5 March 2011

Saudi Arabia – Protests and the threat to the world’s oil supply.

Saudi Arabia

It was announced in the news today that authorities in Saudi Arabia have cracked down on potential unrest by banning all protests and marches in the country. The security forces have been ordered to use all measures to prevent  public disorder. Hmmm, I wonder how long this will actually last? The beauty about astrology is that you can have a glimpse ahead and see trouble on the horizon. Looking at Saudi Arabia and the general synopsis in the heavens just around the corner, the world needs to be concerned.

Lets have a quick look at the Saudi Natal Chart. By it’s appearance, it is remarkably similar to the Libya chart I looked at a few days ago. There is a Cancerian ascendant, security and the defence of the kingdom will be of utmost importance. We have a nervous Virgo Sun trine a very powerful Saturn in Capricorn the 7th. The ruler, King Abdullah has an iron grip on everything that goes on.  You can see the aspects radiating out from this Saturn touching all planets by aspect except the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction in the 3rd house. That Jupiter Neptune conjunction represents a large expanse (Jupiter) of oil (Neptune) in the local environment (3rd house) which is exploited by international (Jupiter) oil companies . We can see a brutal cruel attitude to justice (Pluto conjunct Mars opposite Saturn), a very restrictive attitude to women’s affairs (Venus quindecile Saturn), a very hard line taken over dissent (Saturn square Uranus) and control over communication, the press & travel (Saturn trine Mercury). The Moon representing the people is in the hidden 12th house inconjunct the all powerful Saturn. I suspect there will be a lot of chatter behind the scenes against the absolute monarchy, but the ruling family and it’s security forces keeps a lid on the population.

SaudiArabiachart

Now however, problems are in the pipeline. The Saudi Sun sits at 29 degrees Virgo and the Saudi Midheaven sits at 1 degree Aries. The Sun represents the absolute ruler, the King and the Midheaven represents the ruling government, those at the top. Right now as I write, transiting Uranus (which represents rebel opposing forces to the ruling monarchy) is 2 minutes from opposing the natal Sun. At the same time Uranus will conjunct the Saudi Midheaven on 30th March. Uranus is also making a square aspect to the natal Moon, the people, no doubt seeing what is happening in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia will be in a mood for revolt. Uranus when it connects to the major angles (Ascendant & Midheaven) or the personal planets (the Moon and the Sun) on a national chart always heralds change. Remember this too. Uranus is just about to change signs from confused dreamy Pisces into action dominated, war like Aries; the people will finally be able to get mobilised. You just watch the sparks fly around the world!! Just as worrying, transiting Pluto is trine the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction. Pluto is transformational, or can denote a blockage of some kind. Is the oil supply from Saudi Arabia going to be affected in some way? On the Solar Arc charts, there are two aspects virtually exact now. SA Pluto is square the Saudi Ascendant and SA Uranus will shortly conjunct it which means a transformation in the face of the country more than likely by revolution of some type, or by a dramatic change. SA Moon representing the people is conjunct the South Node. To me, this almost suggests a turning in on the country itself. Putting this all together, I can see the possibility of major popular unrest or even civil war. Two years down the line in approximately 2013, SA Mars will square Uranus! Ouch, disruption with violence, maybe military based. It doesn’t sound very hopeful, does it? Factor this in as well. King Abdullah is himself 87 and I understand his health is not too good. Should something happen to him, then the crown is up for grabs.

As you will be aware, Saudi Arabia controls the largest reserves of oil in the world. As I mentioned before, oil is ruled by Neptune and Neptune is just about to change signs too like Uranus. Neptune will move from Aquarius to Pisces in April. So what will this mean for the world oil supply? Neptune hasn’t been in this spot just about to move into Pisces since 1848, the first oil well was drilled in 1853. Will it mean that the main oil supplies of the world (Saudi Arabia, Libya) will be managed by countries in flux or disorganisation? Pisces is a nebulous sign, where control dissolves completely, and if that happens, what will happen to the price of petroleum world wide? Serious questions indeed for a world dependent still on oil supplies. If the Astrology holds out and I have read it correctly, the world will and needs to be worried.


** UPDATE 12th March 2011 **

SolarEclipseRiyadh

After seeing how the last Solar Eclipse has affected the world in many ways, Japan Tsunami, New Zealand Earthquake and all the disruption across North Africa, I thought I would have a peek into the future and look at the next Solar Eclipse due for 1st July 11. What I saw shocked me. I have written that any planet hitting an angle on an eclipse chart relocated to a point on earth will severely affect that region. Located to Riyadh, the next eclipse itself not hits almost directly onto the Midheaven but the Cardinal cross formed at the time of the eclipse has Saturn on the Ascendant, Pluto on the IC and Uranus on the descendant. Major changes WILL happen in Saudi Arabia starting I would guess late summer this year. Please return back over time as I update this article…

Tuesday 1 March 2011

Libya – The astrology of a country in crisis

Libya rebels

As the confusion continues and Gaddafi is holed up somewhere in the desert away from the tide of rebel advance, I thought I’d have a more detailed look at the country chart and see what it is saying.

Libyanatal

The natal chart has a insular 4th house Sun in controlling Capricorn sextile to the Moon in Libra which suggest the people are quite sociable, if only they were not so constrained by the leaders. There is a very hard-line and religious Saturn, Mars and Neptune at the point of a mini grand trine, extending by two sextiles and held in check by a trine between controlling Pluto and Mercury. Neptune conjunct Mars indicates that the military has been kept deliberately weakened to protect the leader from coups. Communication is restricted and there is a brutal undercurrent to the regime. Uranus in the 10th aptly describes the leader himself, someone who took power through a coup, a loose cannon at the helm, with strong beliefs (square Jupiter) and an iron grip on things (square Saturn, Mars). With most of the planets on the Eastern hemisphere, this is not a very outgoing country, happy to keep most of it’s affairs internal. Interestingly, the only planet in the Western hemisphere is Jupiter which suggests most of Libya’s wealth lies with overseas institutions!!

The current transits show major changes about to finally happen. Transiting Uranus is square the Libyan Sun so the revolution is in full flow, transiting Saturn has hit the Saturn Mars conjunction, there is death, public sorrow and challenge to authoritarian rule. Transiting Neptune is trine the Moon suggesting that the public are confused, there maybe looting, swindling and fraud. Transiting Mercury is square it’s own position, communication and regular transport is difficult, echoing the danger on the roads and also  the no fly zone just being enforced. Pluto is square natal Jupiter which lies in the 7th house, there is a blockage (Pluto) being put on the wealth of the country, the international embargos just announced. Jupiter has just past through a conjunction with itself; an optimism felt by the people for the first time in a long time of foreign influences installing belief (Tunisia, Egypt). On the Solar Arcs which are more long term, SA Mars is on the IC at the bottom of the chart opposite the Midheaven – a change at the top by force. The Moon will conjunct the Sun in around 2 years time thus I believe in approximately 2013 the people will herald a new leader. Until then, the battle for Libya will carry on. How easy it will be, and who will prevail only time will tell.

Sunday 27 February 2011

Colonel Gaddafi – Going out the same door he came in

Gaddafi

Just a quick look at embattled Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Al-Gaddafi who is after 42 years of absolute rule is staring the exit door in the face. We have no birth time for the Colonel, born in Sirte, Libya on 7th June 42, which is a shame.

Gaddafi is a Sun sign Gemini (it is a very Gemini & airy chart) with 5 planets in the twins sign. He has an Aires Moon, so a need to be first and at the top dominates his emotions. There is a  Pluto/Mars conjunction, Pluto in Leo and Mars in Cancer, he will defend his family, homeland and powerbase in a no nonsense manner by any means if need be. That controlling Pluto and fiery Aries moon make a mini grand trine with Saturn and Uranus (2 of the Gemini planets). Here is the need to be the top dog (Aries Moon) to create revolutionary (Uranus) government (Saturn) by forceful control (Pluto). It also makes him very dangerous and unpredictable. The other 3 Gemini planets Sun, Mercury and Jupiter form the point of a T-Square with that Aires moon opposite Neptune in conservative Virgo – here is the motivation for his huge rambling, religious speeches he is so noted for. Emotionally he will be direct, but evasive and deceptive.

MuammarAl-Gaddafi

Ok a look at the transits on his chart. Transiting Mars is as I write exactly square his natal Saturn/Uranus, so his revolutionary authority is being challenged by force. Transiting Uranus is exactly square his Jupiter, so his freedom is now cut off by rebel actions and Uranus is opposite his natal Neptune causing confusion. Poignantly, the transiting Sun is sitting on his South Node this evening, time to go back from whence you came; he was brought up from peasant roots. If we look to Gaddafi’s presidency chart (1st Sept 69), there is the same picture. Transiting Uranus is square natal Uranus, the revolutionary being overthrown by those who wish to overthrow him, and transiting Pluto is square Jupiter and Mercury, so freedom and communications are cut off. It look as if for Muammar Al-Gaddafi, the party’s over, and for Libya confusion and a battle for control will begin.

***** Other Libya Articles *******

Posted on 21st August 2011 - Libya – Gaddafi’s hold on power coming to an end.

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Here is the transit chart for for Gaddafi on the day of his death.

MuammarAlGaddafi-transits_thumb2

Looking at the transits, it is easy to see the downfall of Gaddafi. The transiting South Node was exactly on Gaddafi’s Sun and the transiting North node was making a quindecile to his Saturn. This double connection showed the end of his power and Gaddafi meeting his fate at the hands of those now in charge. Transiting Pluto was trine his natal Moon, so emotionally he would have been at breakpoint. Transiting Uranus was trine to natal Pluto and transiting Mars sextile his Sun so danger and unexpected shock were coming their way to him. Finally transiting Neptune was square to his Saturn/Uranus conjunction. Neptune dissolves and disintegrates and his revolutionary power over the past few months that this square has been in operation has been slipping away. Today, the revolutionaries finally caught up with him and served their retribution.

Sunday 20 February 2011

Mohamed Bouazizi – From street vendor to revolution martyr

mb pic

Following on from my last post looking at the fire of revolt sweeping across North Africa and the Middle East, I am today concentrating on the humble man who became a martyr after standing up for what he thought right. Yesterday, I connected the recent Solar Eclipse of 4th January to the events now happening. The man who sacrificed himself and whose actions precipitated all this was connected to the eclipse too.

Below is Mohamed’s birth chart. We don’t have a birth time which is a shame as a lot of crucial detail is lost by not having it, but the basic outline of his character and thus his motivations remain. 

MohamedBouazizi-natal4

 

Mohamed’s Aries Sun was square to Jupiter and trine to Uranus which gave him an independent streak, generosity and an optimism to succeed in life, however he would struggle with limitations imposed on him. His Moon in gentle Pisces bestowed a kind and sympathetic nature, however beneath was a far deeper intensity. Normally those with Aries Suns are full of vim and vigour, however an Aries Sun with a Piscean Moon dissipates all that energy, the need to be first is not so prevalent but rather the need for ideal is what he will search for. This Pisces Moon really smoulders with intensity as it trines Pluto in Scorpio. The Moon/Pluto trine formed a grand mini trine with Neptune in Capricorn at the point. Here was the signature of this ideal, the ultimate (Pluto) sacrifice (Neptune) to show the authorities (Capricorn). This Neptune was also at the point of a wedge formation feeding out to a Pluto/Mercury opposition.  This is a quite difficult aspect as Mohamed would have questioned everyone’s motives, not trusting anyone, feeling paranoid. He would have had powerful convictions and would have wanted to prove a point. He certainly did that!! 

Mohamed’s Saturn was retrograde suggesting that he missed the love of his father through his childhood. True enough, Mohamed’s father passed away when he was just 3 years of age. Even though his mother remarried, Mohamed at the age of 10 became the principle breadwinner in his family due to the ill health of his stepdad. Life must have been hard as he towed his barrow 2km each day to town laden with fruit & vegetables to sell, so that he and his family could earn enough money to exist. He would have been an hard willing worker, with a Saturn sextile Jupiter and generous with it too. Venus in Pisces is very gentle and selfless allowing those he loved to become overly dependent on his actions.  This generosity and selflessness is accentuated by the Jupiter square to the Sun, he would have kept optimistic throughout any troubles looking after those in need even if he had little himself, although anyone limiting his actions would have been hard for him to deal with. How would he have reacted if someone curtailed his business, thus threatening his ability to look after his loved ones? Look to Mars and the answer was there. Lying beneath that gentle exterior was a peregrine (unconnected to any other planet by major aspect) Mars in vengeful Scorpio. That Mars would harbour a fierce “I’ll show you at any cost” temper.

I understand that throughout his life, Mohamed had been subject to intimidation from the local police, being made to feel totally inadequate, and it was after one such incident when he was fined for selling without a license and having his scales and produce confiscated that his patience finally snapped. He went to the local administrator to complain, however no-one there was available to hear it. At around 11.30am on 17th Dec 10 having bought a can of petrol and in front of the administration building in Sidi BouZid probably angry and confused, he carried out the ultimate sacrifice; the act that had been lying in wait 26 years on his chart since his birth – he set fire to himself. Looking at the transit chart for that moment, the Uranus/Jupiter conjunction (having the belief to rebel) that had been one of the signatures of the recent uprisings was trine his natal peregrine Mars in Scorpio and square to Mars was transiting Neptune, the planet of sacrifice. Transiting Mars was square his Aries Sun making him feel angry, and transiting Mercury was exactly conjunct his impressionable Neptune causing confusion. In the background looking at his Solar Arc chart for the day, Mohamed had Solar Arc Pluto almost exactly conjunct his stand alone Mars in Scorpio as well as having Solar Arc Neptune being sextile to natal Mars, a mirror of what was happening on the transit chart.  Under all this planetary pressure, he vented the anger and rebellion inside him the only way he knew.

The suicide attempt provoked an uprising in the local community outraged that a popular young man had been treated in such a fashion. As anger grew and in a vain attempt to stem the rising tide of disaffection against his rule, President Ben Ali visited Mohamed in hospital (above). It was to no avail as the protests grew in size across Tunisia. Mohamed died on the 4th January of his burns and injuries, the day of the Solar Eclipse I mentioned before (see link below). The eclipse landed on his natal Jupiter. Natal Jupiter hit by a solar eclipse can be associated with spiritual enlightenment, a belief that you cannot fail, it has an international flavour across nations and boundaries, an influence beyond one’s normal environment. Also at that eclipse degree was the transiting Mars/Pluto midpoint (Mars representing the action of setting himself on fire – Mars rules Aries, the archetypal fire sign/Pluto represents a sacrifice, death and regeneration). Mohamed’s actions and his legacy encapsulated in the heavens; for him it signified martyrdom, and immortality right across the Arab world.

Please also see :-

Tunisia & Egypt revolutions - Seeds sown by a Solar Eclipse...

Egypt and Tunisia revolutions – Seeds sown by an eclipse. Who and where will be next? Bahrain? Iran? Libya? Saudi Arabia?

Egypt

The world has watched in disbelief in the past weeks as the people, first in Tunisia and then Egypt,  rose up as one against  a leader who had “overstayed their welcome” and forced them out of power. It is a big thing for the people to take on the establishment, filled with risk. Let’s look at the astrology.

In the background of the revolutions across North Africa and the Middle East right now is the Solar Eclipse that occurred at 09.02am GMT on 4th Jan 11. That eclipse according to Bernadette Brady is part of the group 13 North of eclipses. She says that this group of eclipses is associated with large, ambitious group projects which require the breaking of a bond that already exists. A very apt description of the people rising up against a leader who had overstayed his welcome and forcing him unceremoniously out of power. The ripples from this eclipse will be felt for another 4-5 months to come.

The eclipse itself had Uranus conjunct Jupiter (revolution given belief) trine Venus conjunct the Midheaven. Venus in Mundane astrology on a mass level can mean the afflicted or the suffering, the Midheaven represents an ideal that the society attains to. There was also a rather angry Mars conjunct the Eclipse square to Saturn. Authority being affected by action & force. If you look deeper the eclipse landed on the Mars/Pluto midpoint, a combination of energies that Ebertin describes as the ability to demonstrate extraordinary force, obsession, great ambition, attaining one’s objectives through ruthlessness, brutality or cruelty. This was an unusually powerful solar eclipse.

Tunisia-Eclipse

Putting the eclipse chart against the Tunisia natal chart is very revealing. Transiting Uranus/Jupiter conjunct Natal Sun (the ruling authority in the the 10th house of government). The eclipse hit on Tunisia’s Mars/Moon opposition – Mars (action) by the people (Moon) and was trine natal Venus in the 11th – group action by the afflicted. Sure there may have been civil unrest at this time anyway but I believe the effect of the eclipse was a galvanising factor in the background. Looking at the Solar Arc transits we see a similar picture. Uranus exactly on the IC opposite the Midheaven just about to enter the 4th house – a revolt against those at the top. Solar arc Moon was also square natal Saturn. The people against the ruler – in this case President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Within a couple of weeks he was driven into exile. Under the pressure being exerted on the Natal Tunisia chart, the outcome was almost inevitable.

I move now to Egypt. The natal Egyptian chart is interesting as it has a natal Saturn/Neptune square Uranus/Mercury. It is almost prone to revolution with such a configuration – tension constantly between a potentially evasive conservative ruler and progressive independently minded radicals. The current natal chart was formed off the back of the the 1952 revolution in the country.

Looking at the Solar Arcs first, Solar Arc Sun is conjunct Pluto so those in charge due a drastic change. Pluto reminds me of a wildfire – from the ashes of a destroyed forest rises new growth. The Uranus/Mercury conjunction had moved to conjunct the Egypt’s natal Moon – the people being whipped up into a revolutionary frenzy by news – news of the Tunisian revolt days earlier. Uranus/Mercury perfectly describes the internet and I understand it was in the internet cafes where a lot of the organising took place. Without the internet and news being transferred quickly, this revolution may not have got off the ground. Looking ahead on the solar arcs, there may be more instability and confusion in around 4 years time approximately 2015/16 when SA Pluto hits the natal Saturn Neptune conjunction.

Egypt eclipse

Egypt’s natal chart opposite that same 4th Jan eclipse chart demonstrates the violent and confusing reaction that eventually ousted President Mubarak. The eclipse was located in Egypt’s 4th house opposite the Sun/Mars conjunction in Egypt’s 10th house – a change was heralded in the homeland affecting the government. Also in the 4th transiting Pluto was opposite natal Mars and transiting Mars was opposite Uranus/Mercury square Saturn/Neptune. Add in transiting Uranus/Jupiter square the natal Sun and transiting Saturn square Uranus Mercury. No wonder there was violence and confusion with all this disruptive energy, you can almost visualize the two factions pro and anti government opposing each other from all the 4th/10th house oppositions.  In the background there was an exact to the minute transiting Neptune from the 5th house trine the natal Sun. Mubarak at the start tried to hoodwink the protesters with false promises of early elections. It was a gamble that failed miserably.

Looking at Bahrain, the Solar Eclipse picture is nowhere as severe as in Egypt however the revolutionary Jupiter/Uranus conjunction opposed Bahrain’s natal Pluto so changes are on the agenda too. What type? Well Transiting Mercury was exactly to the minute conjunct Bahrain’s natal Sun, will the secretive insular monarchy (Sun in 4th) headed by Sheikh Al Khalifa be forced to communicate major changes and concessions?

The Eclipse hit directly opposite Libya’s Uranus, so revolution is definitely in the air however as far as I see General Gadaffi will not give up without a fight. Libya’s chart has a brutal Saturn/Mars conjunction (rule by violent suppression) and the eclipse squared this with transiting Saturn right on this conjunction and transiting Mars squaring the natal Mars. If there is to be a revolt, I fear it will be a bloody one – Gadaffi will use all force at his disposal to crush any rebellion.

In Iran, the eclipse was trine Iran’s Sun, the transiting Uranus/Jupiter conjunction that has been fundamental to the shake-up in North Africa & the Middle East square Iran’s midheaven. Transiting Pluto was square Iran’s Moon and transiting Mercury conjunct Neptune, so maybe suppression of the people through blanking out the media and the internet may be the tactic used by Iran’s rulers to hold things in check. I suspect this will only be stoking up the fires as in 2012/13 solar arc Uranus hit’s Iran’s midheaven and enters it’s 10th house and Saturn opposes Iran’s Sun. At that point we may see a overhaul of those in power.

Very worryingly Saudi Arabia looks in a perilous state if the eclipse chart is anything to go by. The eclipse hit very close to Saudi’s descendant – a change in the public face of Saudi is imminent. Transiting Uranus/Jupiter this time is opposite Saudis’ Sun/Mercury and square the natal Moon (sounds like an uprising of some sort) and transiting Mars square natal Uranus and opposite natal Pluto. That is an explosive combination if ever I have seen one. The ascendant of the eclipse chart relocated to Riyadh hit bang on Saudi’s natal Uranus. This is a bomb waiting to explode. By solar arc Pluto is exactly square right now the Saudi natal Ascendant, the end of an era is due very soon. The health of 87 year old ruler King Abdullah has been reported to be in decline. I can see all hell breaking loose if there is forced to be a change in leader, a change that could upset the whole balance of the Middle East.

SaudiArabia eclipse

Revolution is in the air in my view caused in a large part by the Solar Eclipse of 4th January. I haven’t had time to look at Yemen, Jordan Algeria and Morocco although looking initially I think Israel will be unaffected for now. Maybe I will at a later date…

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