Modern Vedic Astrology October Newsletter

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Modern Vedic Astrology Newsletter October 2006

 

In this issue:

 

I. Calendar

II. World News Brief - North Korea

III. People in the News - Mark Foley

IV. Controversies in Vedic Astrology - dussthana houses

 

 

 

I. Calendar

 

October 25

 

There is an ugly pattern forming involving the malefics Pluto, Rahu/Ketu (true)

and Saturn. The Pluto-Rahu square perfects just before Halloween while Saturn

moves into aspect with both. Pluto working at cross-purposes with Rahu can

bring out the worst side of both. Corruption, cover-ups, and abuses of power

may come to light at this time. The previous Pluto-Rahu square occurred in 1998

during the Clinton-Lewinsky affair. Saturn’s presence here this time may link

the action to losses and death, especially involving the poor, marginalized, and

the aged.

 

 

October 28

 

Mercury goes retrograde October 28 in the second degree of Scorpio. Watch for

miscommunication and media distortions involving espionage, poisons, and

pharmaceuticals. As an interesting wrinkle to this Mercury station, Jupiter

will be in near exact conjunction in early Scorpio. This may bring some

noteworthy research or intellectual news to light at that time. The retrograde

effect may manifest as revisiting or reforming previously accepted opinion.

However, the news doesn’t look entirely favourable or universally accepted given

the influence of Rahu’s trine on the Mercury-Jupiter conjunction and the

approaching Saturn square. Controversy and discord will also be present to some

degree.

 

October 30

 

Saturn’s ingress into Leo happens on October 31. This transit of Leo is a

temporary one since Saturn will move back into Cancer in December for some

months yet. As alluded to above, however, this ingress chart isn’t a happy one

given all the hard aspects and the malefic planets involved. With Saturn,

Pluto, Rahu involved, I can’t be optimistic about psychologically sensitive

structures such as the stock market at this time. Look for rising anxiety in the

geopolitical arena during Saturn’s short stay in Leo, as if there isn’t enough

already. Since Leo represents monarchies and gold, I would expect some problems

to beset both as well, although the real trouble may not begin until Saturn has

moved back into Leo for good in 2007.

 

November 20

 

Uranus finally turns direct again November 20 at 16 Aquarius. This looks mostly

favourable since Mercury in Libra will be in close trine to Uranus and Moon, Sun

and Jupiter will conjoin in Scorpio. Some scientific or research breakthroughs

could be announced around this date.

 

December 2

 

In the heliocentric chart, there will be a very challenging T-square involving

Mars, Saturn and Neptune. What is troubling here is that the long-awaited

Saturn- Neptune opposition becomes exact the very same day as Mars joins the

fray. A previous T-square involving Saturn, Neptune and Earth occurred in late

October 1998 when Hurricane Mitch killed thousands in Central America. There is

the potential for some significant loss of life with this configuration. This

is definitely not a good time to embark on new projects.

 

December 6

 

Saturn turns retrograde in the second degree of Leo on December 6. Coming so

closely on the heels of the helio T-square, this is likely to correspond with a

tense and depressing atmosphere in the world. Saturn here is closely squares

Mercury (and yes, at the same degree it went retrograde in October) while Moon

opposes Pluto. Obstacles and hardships in communication and transport are

likely at this time. International tensions resulting from failed negotiations

or exposed espionage activities are also possible.

 

 

II. World News Brief

 

North Korea and Kim Jong Il

 

With last week’s nuclear test by North Korea, Kim Jong Il (Feb 16 1942 no time)

and his bizarre retro-Stalinist regime have moved into the limelight. There

are a couple of telling patterns in his chart that show his desire to standout.

Transit Ketu (1 Virgo) is aspecting his natal Uranus (29 Aries). Natally, his

Uranus is square his Sun, making this contact quite pivotal for the whole chart.

This transit effect pushes Kim to act suddenly and impulsively since these are

significations of both Uranus and Ketu.

 

A source of difficulty for Kim is the applying Saturn (29 Cancer) opposition to

his natal Sun (3 Aquarius). The November station of Saturn will coincide with

intense pressure and opposition to his rule. No doubt some level of UN

sanctions against North Korea will pass by then and begin to hit hard. The

Saturn-Sun opposition is one of the most difficult aspects so I would expect the

mood in Pyongyang to grimmer than usual.

 

Look for Kim’s problems to multiply over the next one to two years. His

secondary progressed Sun squares his Pluto. This shows power struggles and

confrontations where he comes out on the losing end. January 2007 looks like

there may be some significant incident involving foreign governments that

doesn’t go his way. This may involve some military dimension, but it doesn’t

look major. I would expect more armed opposition to North Korea later in 2007

as Saturn again opposes his Sun and Pluto conjoins his natal Mars. At the end

of 2007, the nodes will aspect both his Sun and Mars, the planet of violence.

This time will also coincide with secondary progressed Mars squaring Pluto in

Kim’s chart. This is a classic Western signature for violence. While it is

hard to be definite about predictions when the birth time is not known, but the

late 2007 early 2008 period looks very dangerous for Kim and his repressive

regime. His days as Dear Leader may be numbered.

 

 

III. People in the News

 

US Congressman Mark Foley

 

As the Republicans stumble in the mid term elections, they were dealt another

body blow with the revelations of congressman Mark Foley’s sexual impropriety

with underage male congressional pages. His chart (Sep 8 1954 4.55 am EDT

Needham, MA) shows no shortage of stresses at this time.

 

The scandal of Foley’s sexually explicity text messages hit the media on

September 28. Foley resigned the next day. Using the Krishnamurti ayanamsha,

he had just begun his Jupiter-Venus period on September 8. Natally, we can see

a potential for problems with the Venus bhukti because it closely conjoins

Saturn, and in fact, it is hemmed in between malefics, Saturn and Neptune. And

although Venus is strong in its own sign of Libra, it’s noteworthy that its

nakshatra dispositor is Rahu and it is closely conjoined by Mars. This shows

the potential for exaggerated sexual actions and punishments during Venus’

periods. Mahadasha lord Jupiter is placed with Ketu in the 11th in Gemini which

is is fine in itself. However, it also suffers somewhat by virtue of Mars’

aspect, although it is much wider.

 

At the time the scandal broke, transiting Rahu was trining dasha lord Jupiter

within two degrees showing the sudden and upsetting nature of the event. Since

Rahu was connected with Mars natally, it brought that energy along with it by

transit. Transit Saturn was applying to conjoin the ascendant and natal Pluto

in the first degrees of Leo. The November station of Saturn would bring Saturn

to Foley’s lagna and bring full pressure on his Pluto. Bhukti lord Venus was

transiting through Virgo, its sign of debilitation, whilst conjoining malefic

Ketu. Transit Mars also exactly squared natal Rahu.

 

To see his homosexuality and excesses therein, one has to dig down into

nakshatra rulerships and the navamsa chart. What's fascinating here is the

importance of Rahu (NN). The 7th ruler is Saturn, and it is placed in a

nakshatra owned by Rahu. Its dispositor is Venus, which is also in the same

Rahu-owned nakshatra. Venus itself is significator of love expression, so that

repeats the Rahuvian theme.

 

Rahu is Rahu obviously, and that can create excesses or transgressive behaviours

under any circumstances. In Foley's chart, however, Rahu conjoins Mars (the

sexual planet) and the Moon. This is a destabilizing influence. Mars rules the

7th cusp by nakshatra rulership and Mars is conjunct Rahu. Mars as a

significator for sexuality and partners is further distorted by virtue of 7th

ruler Saturn's exact to the minute 3rd house aspect (sextile). Also note that

the Moon is ruling the 12th house of secrets and bed pleasures so having Rahu

and Mars influence here would tend to direct pleasures towards the

unconventional.

 

His navamsa chart (9th harmonic) is highly troubled. The nodes lie across the

1-7 axis showing problems with partners generally. Moreover a fallen Mercury in

Pisces occupies the Ascendant. Fallen planets in the 1st and 7th houses create

marital (and sexual) problems. Sun is also fallen in Libra which conjoins the

natal Venus Saturn conjunction. A third fallen planet in navamsa is Moon in

Scorpio. Also Saturn is in an exact opposition with Mars. Also intriguing is the

fact that navamsha Venus exactly conjoins the natal Mars.

 

 

 

IV. Controversies in Vedic Astrology

 

How bad are dussthana houses?

 

One of the first things someone learns when they take up the study of Jyotish is

that some houses are better than others. Alas, there is no socialism in Vedic

astrology! Actually, three of them are considered to be downright malefic so

that planets placed in them become damaged and their lords can similarly create

problems for the houses they tenant. But just how true is this basic rule of

Vedic astrology in practice?

 

Certainly, the dussthana houses (6, 8,12) have more negatives associated with

them that the other houses. The 6th rules disease, theft, conflict, legal

problems, the 8th rules death, obstacles, and scandal while the 12th rules

losses, social isolation, and punishment. Not exactly enticing stuff. But

while these meanings are real enough, it’s important to remember that they will

only manifest if the houses and planets therein are afflicted or weak in some

way. If the planets are strong, then only the positive version of the house

meanings will manifest. The 6th also rules robust health, triumph over enemies,

service and healing, the 8th rules inheritance and unearned income, ancient and

secret knowledge, longevity, while the 12th rules enlightenment, gains from

foreign lands, and sexual pleasure.

 

Al Gore (Mar 31 1948 12.53 pm EST Washington, DC) , for example, has a

Moon-Jupiter conjunction in Sagittarius in his 6th house. Gore has enjoyed

excellent health throughout his life, has had few if any significant legal

problems, and has generally prospered in most areas of his life. Hard to say

that the 6th house has done much damage to those planets. One way that the 6th

house energy has manifested is that it has pushed him into politics which is

naturally adversarial. Since the 6th house is associated with conflict, it

makes sense that Gore has been so successful in that area. Despite his loss to

George Bush in 2000, he remains one of the most respected members of the

Democratic party. The key here is that the Moon-Jupiter are strong, unafflicted

planets. Moon rules the first house, while Jupiter is in its own sign of

Sagittarius.

 

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey (Jan 29 1954 7.51 pm CST Kosciusko, MS) has Sun,

Venus and Mercury in her 6th house. She is one of the richest women in the US

and was recently voted the most influential women in the world. Somehow, I

don’t think those dussthana placements are causing too many problems for her.

This is especially true since Sun and Venus rule her 1st and 10th houses. This

stellium in the 6th house will tend to display the positive side of the 6th

house (and the houses that the 6th house planets rule) because they are

unafflicted, their dispositor Saturn is exalted in Libra, and they aspected by

benefic Jupiter which also rules the favourable 5th house. We could make a

good case that the 6th house influence manifests in Oprah’s ongoing interest in

holistic healing and promoting the self-help movement.

 

Evangelical minister Billy Graham (Nov 7 1918 3.30 pm CST Moorhead, MN) is

perhaps America’s most famous religious personality. He has shared prayers with

the last ten US presidents all the way back to Truman. He has Sun and Venus in

his 8th house in Libra. Unlike many of the television evangelists who followed

in his footsteps, Graham has been scandal free throughout his long career.

Clearly, most of the favourable significations of the 8th house are manifesting

in his life. He has enjoyed longevity -- he is still preaching at the age of

86. He has received millions of “unearned” dollars through contributions to his

ministry, although he has been careful not to take too much of it for personal

use. And his knowledge and faith in the Bible is unparalleled, another

favourable 8th house signification.

 

Pop singer Madonna (Aug 16 1958 7.05 am EST Bay City, MI) is one of the richest

and most famous entertainers in the world. And yet she has both Sun and Venus

placed in the 12th house. Has she experienced losses, imprisonment, or a lack

of self-confidence? Hardly, although one might ponder the possibility that fame

has its own downside that might imitate some of these unfortunate 12th house

indications. Nonetheless, we can see how Madonna’s 12th house planets have

largely displayed their positive side. For the past 10 years, she has been

actively pursuing a more spiritual and enlightened life. She has also spent a

lot of time in foreign countries seeking religious and cultural insights. And

if the media reports are even partially true, certainly Madonna is something of

an expert when it comes to sexual pleasure. All of these things are contained

within the portfolio of the 12th house. This is due to the strength of both Sun

and Venus in his chart. Their sign

dispositor Moon is extremely well placed as it closely conjoins the ascendant,

the most powerful point in the entire horoscope.

 

So these are a few examples that I hope support the notion that dussthana

placements aren’t invariably negative. I feel these houses often get a bad rap

because astrologers are often forced to make quick judgements rather than

careful ones. Also inexperienced astrologers will sometimes prefer simple rules

rather than examining the complete circumstances of each planet. There are no

short cuts to a full and balanced assessment of each planet’s condition and

influences. House placement and rulership are just two out of many factors that

shape how a planet’s energies will manifest in the horoscope.

 

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