The hours close from the 1st of August 2016 to the second, and we begin the hour-by-hour march from Mars in Scorpio to Mars’ ingress to Sagittarius once again as I begin this article. I usually start my ingress charts with a look to the UK since that’s where the Royal Observatory at Greenwich is located.
While some astrologers may look for the soap opera appearing in the domestic charts–or even in the natal ones they’re considering, I look with the thought that international soap operas may be there. It’s a matter of finding the whodunnit, the “whydunnit” and the “wheredunnit.”
As I look at the Mars ingress, I find myself needing to switch back and forth between the ingress and the New Moon. Despite that they’re a mere ±2 hours 55 minutes apart, it’s obviously enough time to change all of the houses and the positions of cosmic bodies within. Mars makes ingress with a first house Pluto certainly not in anything anyone could call a tight square as we’ve seen through the past seven years.
That doesn’t mean things are quieter however. Pluto in the first house can reflect the tensions from the outside world, blaming the individual (or nation) for just about anything that goes wrong in the world around him/her/it–whether or not that’s actually the case.
In the UK’s position, however, it’s wise to look a bit closer especially in light of recent events there. Although the Mars ingress chart points to a clean split between the Eastern and Western hemispheres, the third quadrant above the horizon takes the obvious lead to show the United Kingdom’s relationships in the world as the dominant factors perhaps coming into play in greater ways at this time. Think of its recent Brexit vote (yes, still!), its new events now circling around China, India and the Palestinians–and perhaps that’s not all.
Pay attention to the Part of Fortune conjunct the Ascendant from inside the 12th house and how this can reflect still on what I was saying this weekend about Mars’ role in these international affairs. A quick look back points to the perfected square between Mercury and Mars in the 24-hour period after the Moon had set a fixed T-square into motion–all while Uranus was slipping into its station to apparent Retrograde!
If 9th house Juno is truly the Centaur to which we look for treaties and other signing of legal documents, surely even that makes sense. But Mars just barely in the tenth points to the concerns now in my mind where it’s moving from these associations long in tenure and therefore at least somewhat well-established into the far more visible landscape where it will head into the judgment of the public–all of the public rather than just the voters.
As I moved more deeply into this analysis, these kinds of issues had already begun to arise with new headlines from the nuclear sector in re to the United Kingdom’s interactions with China. If you read my analysis from this past weekend, even that shouldn’t have been much of a surprise.
I suspect there will be more hidden dealings coming out especially with Transpluto (again), Mercury, Jupiter and even the North Node intercepted in the 8th in contrast to 2nd house Neptune and Chiron. Chiron, of course, will be taking center stage with 3rd house Uranus as they form their 11-minute partile semisextile in the 2nd and 3rd with the Resonant Blooming Undecaquartisextile placed in the 8th house at 9 Libra 36. Moneys owed will be the likely result of broken promises or vague suggestions of promises forthcoming that didn’t, the gentleman’s handshake sort of thing. Take note of Mars’ forming a 54-minute partile square to Transpluto in these two charts. One might try to whittle these tensions down to “The War of the Roses.” I’d be cautious and avoid being that simplistic.
A little sidestep here to explain my choice of video. Yes, I had thought about putting the trailer for the Michael Douglas comedy flick “The War of the Roses,” but I hadn’t known (blame it on the education I received on my side of “the pond”) there was such a thing actually in British history. Given my having thought of this back and forth rise and fall of emotional tides between the nations, it only seemed fitting to use the following instead since I referred to the current aspects leading to the New Moon and the Mars ingress to Sagittarius as an international soap opera. There, I think I’ve really touched on a truth about nations and their politics!
Now I readily admit I do not presume to know how the United Kingdom conducts business or politics. I can only say what I’m seeing in these charts. Take note of Saturn’s presence in the 11th house that should have indicated a responsibility since it’s still placed in square to Neptune, the Nodes and Mercury now closing in. Saturn is also coming in as a major player since we’ve moved into position for the shift of these energies from retrograde to direct motion taking place on the 13th of the month. While this seems still too far off to be especially meaningful, these energies can even take up to a month, depending on how other factors begin to play out. However this particular shift in events will take place whether on personal or mundane levels, don’t expect this New Moon to be especially pretty for the United Kingdom. We’re all likely to know about it.
The Western hemisphere comes strongly into view with the 2nd quadrant as the dominant position. But what the United Kingdom does as these events begin to come into play for the Kingdom itself is likely to be a matter of some public knowledge and a lot of closed door sessions. I’m not surprised. It’s good to see some politicians actually working, although I dearly hope more than just the Brexit resolutions are going to be resolved in those sessions.
To be sure, much work will be ahead of lawmakers and the powers that be for the next two weeks at least. Nevertheless, the Resonant Blooming Undecaquartisextile–now showing the resonance intercepted in the 7th house points to long term partnerships needing to be dealt with either to smooth ruffled feathers or to part ways amicably. It’s a point of energy we see here. Aspects to this point amount to a balancing act. A lot of talking and resolving matters will need to be done. Getting all parties to the same points of agreement however won’t be easy. In part, I’m expecting we’ll see the Palestinian suit end up in the courts. The Kohinoor diamonds? Well, from where I’m sitting, it feels like this is analogous to the native American issue of “this land is my land and your buildings are on it!”
It doesn’t seem to be a quickly resolved matter. India has wounds. Deep wounds. And the people hold the UK responsible. Just a quick guess as I see these two charts, I’m suspecting we’ll see huge sums of money will need to change hands to be placed in India’s coffers before this matter is brought to a conclusion. The alternative isn’t likely to rest easily on the United Kingdom. But then I’m sure the bill for keeping the diamond intact won’t be either.
In contrast to the Capricorn rising in the Mars ingress chart for the UK, we move on next to India and a Mars ingress Taurus rising chart. Of course the news about their wish to have the Kohinoor diamond returned to India comes as no surprise with the Taurus rising; but I find it interesting that India has a Gemini natal rising while Pakistan is actually home to where the 106-carat Kohinoor diamond made its way into British hands in Lahore. Pakistan has a Taurus rising, making me wonder whether this will cause still more hackles to be raised between India and Pakistan now. Readers, you can find the history linked in this paragraph to the word “diamond. The connection to the Kohinoor is unmistakeable to me through that Taurus rising in this case.
But Mars on the 8th house cusp again establishes that 4/8/12 bond giving me some concerns. Especially with Uranus intercepted in the 12th house in semisextile to 11th house Chiron with the third point of the Resonant Blooming Undecaquartisextile intercepted at 9 Libra 36 in the 6th house. Pluto again sits at the apex of the chart, but this time in the 9th house. For India in contrast to the even split of the Eastern and Western hemispheres, the West takes the emphasis and points to the likelihood that the Kohinoor diamond won’t be the only thing keeping India busy with matters related to internationl affairs–or even to legal ones for that matter.
The 2nd quadrant dominance in the chart indicates a likelihood of much banter in re to others’ opinions on international and legal affairs. Although Venus, the chart ruler now in the 5th, is in an out-of-sign square to Mars, Mars will be in an approaching partile square (54-57 minutes) during the ingress and New Moon to Transpluto which Lynn Koiner believes is in its sign of rulership in Virgo. Here, she says, “issues of discrimination, tearing apart and criticism are combined with the rise and rule of the common man against political figures. When it first expresses itself, it is taking on the negative form.”
With Mars so close to the 8th house cusp and Transpluto in the 5th, I wonder if the Indian Parliament might now be seeing a need to revisit whether their efforts to protect women and girls from the sexual violence has been enough so far. My saying they need to obviously isn’t enough. They need to realize it, and this might be a new beginning for their minds to start looking in this direction. One can hope especially in light of recent events where a 16-year-old girl was raped, murdered and then set on fire for her mother to find. Here, the sexual violence issues of Transpluto as Persephone (Valerie Vaughan, Transpluto Is Persephone) come to light. Even Pluto’s presence in the 9th seems to point to that. At least one can hope…
Jupiter in opposition to Chiron also may be related to these legal concerns, but it seems more fitting in this case to see the Jupiter link through the trine to the MC, indicating this being a good time for India to pursue these legal matters. It will be important, however, for the powers that be to remember the courts may or may not agree with how either side perceives these issues at hand. In the case of protecting women and children, certainly it’s incumbent on India to step up to the plate now to add some actual teeth to the law on this matter.
In re to Kohinoor and any other international legalities, exercising prudence about now would be wise. Each year as India moves to its new year of independence, celebrations should indeed signify a time of renewal, including renewed hope for a better tomorrow. One can hope indeed!
The New Moon points to this renewal with the focus on independence through the dominant Eastern 1st quadrant below-the-horizon emphasis and introspection potentially coming from a sense of the spiritual in play. I’ve made the comment “one can hope” now three times in this segment of the Mars Ingress-New Moon analysis for India, and that is promising. If there is a true sense of the spiritual with the focus not on the “I” but on the “we the nation,” it’s highly possible then, of course! But the New Moon forms a quincunx to Neptune at the apex, conjunct the Midheaven. Keep in mind Saturn’s still in square to Neptune, and the Peeling of Life’s Onion is still very active. While Saturn is still in trine to the New Moon, that pair of hard aspects from both Saturn and the New Moon to Neptune indicates a possibility either of misunderstandings, double talk, or a matter of WYSIWYG being perceived differently by all those involved. Adjustment is needed on both sides.
Were I to give a caution to this beautiful land, I’d urge to remember the wisdom in avoiding the effort to paint rosy scenes in hopes of people believing when the intent isn’t there. There’s a struggle ahead still–and much to be mended already. With that Eastern 1st quadrant dominance, this New Moon is an outstanding place to start!
Not that the United States doesn’t have its own challenges in abundance. Don’t we all?! Saturn on the 2nd house cusp forms the trine to the New Moon now placed in the 9th house. Foreign affairs will always be a concern for the United States at home and in other nations. What the US does reminds us of the Butterfly Effect, and there’s no better time than now to point this out.
The Eastern dominance with even North-South and 1st and 4th quadrant splits points to Union efforts to balance the role it plays in the world at this time. In this chart, the semisextile of 5th house Chiron and 6th house Uranus unfolds to the Resonant Blooming Undecaquartisextile resolving in the 11th house, where we see the nations with whom the United States associates. I am not trying to imply that the USA somehow has it better, not with the quincunx to 4th house Neptune being in play. It’s a matter of balance–and balance is the key. It would seem to imply, if anything, that the United States is well aware of this need.
Take note of Venus at the apex now in a wide conjunction to the MC in a still active trine with Uranus in the 6th house. The efforts are working well, it would seem. But then that may depend on which side of the fence one is standing–or sitting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuSPz3qbGME
I’m far more concerned about the New Moon chart since this shows the 4/8/12 complex of houses coming into active state with 9th house Jupiter as the ruler of the chart. But far more importantly, take note of the semisextile of 3rd house Chiron and 4th house Uranus, neither of which are intercepted, unfolding to the Resonant Blooming Undecaquartisextile with the 3rd point–9 Libra 36–conjunct the Libra Midheaven! This chart points to the Western obvious 3rd quadrant above-the-horizon dominance, warning that energies will be in receptive mode.
Saturn squares 3rd house Neptune from the 12th while the New Moon now sits intercepted in the 8th, reminding us of the significance of this particular chart and the need to stay very much on top of things. It’s important at this time to be clear with communications and to remember that all of the things one hears won’t necessarily be truths. It will be necessary to make sure there are no mistakes in exchanges–either domestically or internationally. I’m especially concerned about trouble rising again from unexpected sources, and it’s possible we’ll see the nation on alert again as a result. If we were to call this a time in which the balance of the trapeze artist were needed, I don’t believe we’d be far off on that.
I can’t help but smile as I close out this article now. My having called this a balancing act brought me to the Sabian Symbols again, I see, and the reminder goes as follows: CHILDREN ON A SWING IN THE SAFETY OF A HUGE OAK TREE, LEO 11
This is a time to protect the people, reminding me of something my grandfather said about our ventures into outer space. He said we weren’t “ready yet because we haven’t bothered to take care of business at home.” His words fit this symbol, reminding us of the strength in offering us an environment in which all of us, like these children, can live and grow in safety. But we need to work to achieve this and not simply take it for granted. All of us have that right, not just a chosen few. (Wise words, Grandpa! Thank you again for the reminder, wherever you are.)
Trees (Joyce Kilmer)
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
Winding up, I’ll leave you with the following video. Please take it with the lighter note I intended as a close. Why? Because it’s all about balance this time. No matter where you are in the world, find the balance, and perhaps take time to do a bit off self-nurturing under one of the trees–and perhaps in the forest…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqdHhrs8Igk